Methods and network devices estimate power of signals received from a user equipment in a sector of a cellular network cell using a data signal, which is not a predetermined reference signal. An exemplary method includes (1) saving a data signal received from the user equipment in a first sector of the cellular network cell, (2) acquiring a reference signal that corresponds to the data signal as received in a second sector of the cell and demodulated, and (3) comparing the saved data signal and the reference signal to estimate power of the data signal as received in the first sector.

Interest in using mobile and landline/wired computing devices in day-to-day communications has been increasing in recent years. Many of today's wireless data networks comply with Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards for wireless data communications technology. In LTE, the capacity and speed of wireless data networks are increased by using digital signal processing and modulations techniques in the context of an Internet Protocol-based network architecture, yielding significantly reduced transfer latency compared to previous wireless data networks (e.g., 3G).
Recently, a concept called shared cell (also known as "cell merge" or "multi-sector cell") has been developed in the context of the LTE standard. In contrast to regular LTE deployment, in which each sector is associated with a cell identifier (ID), in a shared cell concept deployment, one cell ID is associated with (i.e., used for) several sectors.
FIG. 1 illustrates a regular LTE deployment, in which each sector 10, 20, and 30 is associated with an individual cell identifier (ID). One cell ID, "Cell A", is associated with higher power and wider spatial coverage antenna 10 (which may be part of a base station); another cell ID, "Cell B", is associated with antenna 20; and yet another cell ID, "Cell C", is associated with antenna 30.
FIG. 2 illustrates an LTE deployment using the shared cell concept in which the same cell identifier, "Cell A", is associated with antennas 40, 50, and 60.
Two advantages of using shared cell deployment are (1) reduced amount of Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS) interference in downlinks, and (2) no handover needed when user equipment (UE) moves from one sector to another having the same cell ID.
Shared cell deployments use Spatial Division Multiplexing (SDM) to handle the capacity problem, i.e., to schedule spatially separated users (those who do not interfere with each other), located in the same cell but in different sectors, at the same time. FIG. 3 illustrates an LTE system with shared cell using SDM (antennas 70, 80, and 90 are associated with the same cell ID, "Cell A"). A first communication of UE 85 associated with antenna 80 may occur in the same time slot and the same frequency as a second communication of UE 95 associated with antenna 90 if the respective communications' signals do not interfere. In order to determine which users' communications interfere, powers of the same signal emitted from an individual UE and received in different sectors are measured.
The power measurements indicate in which sector or sectors the UE is located (the UE may be located in several sectors at the same time). That is, if the received power of the UE's emitted signal exceeds a predetermined threshold in a sector, the UE is located in the respective sectors. If two UEs are located in the same sector, they may interfere with each other and, therefore, should not be scheduled at the same time.
Intuitively, one would foresee such power measurements using predetermined reference signals such as a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) or a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). A description of these reference signals is provided in the current 3GPP documentation (e.g., up to release 11).
Currently, the DMRSs are cell-specific, which means that all UEs in a cell will have the same DMRS, making it impossible to distinguish between UEs in the same cell if the UEs are using the same resources (i.e., frequency and time slot). Although it is possible that, in the future (e.g., devices designed based on 3GPP release 11 documentation), UEs will be able to support UE-specific DMRS, UEs currently in use cannot be distinguished based on the DMRS and, therefore, power measurements cannot be performed using these predetermined reference signals.
The SRS is a UE-specific symbol and, thus, SRS emitted by different UEs can be distinguished from each other. However, emitting SRS uses resources that could have been used for data transmission, which results in reduced data rates.
Accordingly, it would then be desirable to provide methods and devices for estimating the power of UE signals received in different sectors without using reference signals.

Apparatuses and methods for estimating power using data signals


A processor system and method for pretreating ALL FUELS prior to combustion of a any combustion device such as an engine in which fuel in a liquid state is contained in a high pressure chamber and superheated to a state of elevated temperature and pressure.super heated fuel is then injected into the combustion chamber for burning as demanded by the combustion device. This process holds true for ALL FUELS, Liquids, Gaseous, Pulverized Solids and Solids. Making it an Ideal UNIVERSAL self contained process that can be adapted to existing needs as well as new needs for total energy use. This Process will allow ALL FUELS to burn more cleanly and efficiently and will promote optimum combustion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a new and useful process that involves the burning of any combustible fuels: liquid, gaseous, and solids; such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, alcohol, natural gas, coal, medical waste, hazardous waste, and/or any fuel medium, to generate mechanical or heat energy. This new process is useful for any fuel, natural or man made, etc. Thus, it may increase the efficiency of all fuels, while reducing emissions of fuels being processed prior to combustion with this new process, thus to eliminate pollution of land, air, and water, and preserve energy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The efficiency developed by combustion devices such as engines, boilers, or any device depends, to a large degree, on the completeness of combustion for any fuel. Emissions, also, will increase or decrease to a great extent to the degree when complete combustion occurs.
Accordingly, considerable efforts have been exerted towards improving the efficiency of gasoline fuel in engines and some other combustion devices, such as boilers. These other efforts seem to be very limited in their applications.
Through patent research, I cannot find an invention of this like. This invention, that I have created, is a very truly needed and a new and useful process. My invention is especially unique in the fact that this same new process is intended for all fuels. My claims are specific and clear cut, in that, this process is intended for use of all fuels: solid, liquid, and gaseous, which no other invention claims.
The present invention seeks to provide a new process in such a way as to further enhance combustion of all fuels, making this a truly universal new process that can be adapted to all combustion mediums, new and old.

Multi all fuel processor system and method of pretreatment for all combustion devices


A mechanical-model based earthquake-induced landslide hazard assessment method in earthquake-prone mountainous area includes: obtaining the cohesion and internal friction angle through a geological map of the study area and a geotechnical physical parameter; obtaining simulated ground motions by combining a pulse-like ground motion effect model and a pulse-like ground motion response model; calculating slope permanent displacement according to the simulated ground motions, the cohesion, the internal friction angle and other parameters; obtaining a statistical relationship between the permanent displacement and a landslide probability according to permanent displacement data derived from historical earthquake-induced landslides and historical strong earthquake records; and predicting earthquake-induced landslide probability according to the slope permanent displacement and the statistical relationship between the permanent displacement and the landslide probability, and quantitatively evaluating earthquake-induced landslide hazard through the earthquake-induced landslide probability.

Earthquake-induced landslides are a secondary earthquake disaster and result in serious casualties and substantial property loss. China is located between the Pacific Seismic Belt and the Himalaya-Mediterranean Seismic Belt. Strong earthquakes are common as a result and some cause severely destructive earthquake-induced landslides. This is especially the case in complex mountainous areas that have high seismicity. There, geological disasters induced by earthquakes can be extremely severe. The Great Wenchuan earthquake, which occurred on May 12, 2008, for example, triggered a large number of landslide geological disasters and caused massive casualties. More than 1600 people lost their lives in the Wangjiayan landslide in old Beichuan County. Four villages were reported buried in the Donghekou landslide in Qingchuan County, and more than 700 people killed. Earthquake-induced geological disasters also damage railway infrastructure, lead to major safety accidents, like derailment and overturning of trains, cause damage to roads and bridges, hinder traffic and threaten lives and property. It is, therefore, highly desirable to provide a new mechanical-model based earthquake-induced landslide hazard assessment method in order to minimize the losses caused by earthquake-induced landslides.
The earthquake-induced landslide hazard assessment refers to analyzing spatial-temporal distribution probability of earthquake-induced landslides and providing hazard descriptive elements, such as the specific location, volume and the like, of the landslide under a potential earthquake. The earthquake-induced landslide hazard assessment method can be substantially divided into: (1) a probability analysis method based on landslide cataloging, (2) a qualitative analysis and reasoning method, (3) a semi-quantitative method using related mathematical models and (4) a deterministic method based on a mechanical model. The mechanical-model based earthquake-induced landslide hazard assessment method based on a mechanical model originated from the classical seismic slope stability analysis method. This method is practicable in practice and can form a simplified empirical model together with a geographic information system (GIS) after being transformed. Due to the late use of this method in China, however, this method currently relies on permanent displacement empirical models and displacement-probability models to perform hazard assessment. This method is based on historical seismic events and landslide samples and thus has extremely strong time discrepancy and geographical dependence.

Mechanical-model based earthquake-induced landslide hazard assessment method in earthquake-prone mountainous area


An engine control device capable of decreasing engine output while giving less uncomfortable feeling to the rider in the event of a failure, with a simple configuration. Engine output is decreased when a failure has been detected in a throttle valve. When engine speed after the occurrence of the failure is larger than preset target rotational speed at the time of the occurrence of the failure, an ignition of the engine is cut off. The engine speed thereby can be decreased according to the preset target rotational speed. Thus, engine output can be decreased uniquely.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine control device and an engine control method for a straddle type vehicle, and more specifically to an engine control device and an engine control method having engine output decreasing means for decreasing engine output when a failure is detected in a throttle valve control system.
2. Description of Related Art
An electronic throttle valve system for electronically controlling the opening of a throttle valve can control the amount of intake air to an engine accurately. Thus, the electronic throttle valve system can reduce emission and fuel consumption and has been used in some four-wheeled motor vehicles.
Such an electronic throttle valve system is equipped with a function that stops the actuation of the throttle valve by an electric motor and returns the throttle valve in the closing direction by the urging force of a spring when a throttle valve control system has a failure.
The speed at which the throttle valve is rotated in the closing direction by the urging force of the spring is very high. Thus, the output of the engine is rapidly decreased. In the case of a four-wheeled passenger vehicle, a driver does not feel a change in the behavior of the vehicle even when the engine output is rapidly decreased since the vehicle is heavy. In the case of a two-wheeled motor vehicle which is light, however, a rapid decrease in the engine output gives the rider an uncomfortable feeling.
Japanese Patent Document JP-A-Hei 6-248979 discloses a method of closing a throttle valve gently by applying a resistance to the rotation of the throttle valve, which is urged in the closing direction by a spring, to prevent rapid rotation of the throttle valve. A rapid decrease in the engine output can be thus avoided and the vehicle does not make jerky movements even when running in low gear.
Japanese Patent Document JP-A-2003-65140 discloses a method of decreasing engine output gradually by controlling ignition to the engine, as well as by controlling the throttle valve as in JP-A-Hei 6-248979. More specifically, retarding ignition timing, decreasing the frequency of ignition, or cutting off ignition is conducted to decrease engine output smoothly.
It is certain that closing the throttle valve gently can avoid a rapid decrease in the engine output. However, there might be a range of the opening of the throttle valve in which the engine output does not decrease. In this case, since the engine output is constant, the rider might feel an acceleration feeling.
Meanwhile, in the case of controlling ignition to the engine to control the engine output, more responsive control of the engine output is enabled compared to the case in which the rotation of the throttle valve is controlled, so that the engine output is decreased invariably. The rider thus does not feel any acceleration feeling as described above.
However, retarding ignition timing, decreasing the frequency of ignition, or cutting off ignition is conducted under preset conditions. Thus, the way the engine output decreases varies depending on the vehicle's operating conditions including engine speed in the event of a failure, and is not uniquely defined. As a result, the engine output decreases but the rider might get an uncomfortable feeling.

Engine control device and engine control method for straddle type vehicle


A drywall joint assembly strip device comprised of an elongate core having a cover bonded to its exterior surface and extending beyond its longitudinal edges to form flexible flaps in which longitudinal, parallel grooves and ridges and/or spaced-apart perforations are formed for flow of joint compound during the installation process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to drywall finish trim devices typically utilized in finishing a drywall installation at a corner joint or other terminus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Drywall, sometimes also referred to as wallboard, is a staple in the construction industry as an economical alternative to plaster for forming the interior walls and ceilings of rooms in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The materials used in drywall construction include gypsum board, plywood, fibre-and-pulp boards, and asbestos-cement boards. The large, rigid sheets are fastened directly to the frame of a building with nails, screws, or adhesives, or are mounted on furring (strips of wood nailed over the studs, joists, rafters, or masonry, which allow free circulation of air behind the interior wall). A significant advantage of drywall construction is that the craftsman is not required to delay his or her finish work while the plaster spread over the interior support structure dries. Wallboard is manufactured in both finished and unfinished forms, and in its finished form may be faced with vinyl or other materials in a variety of permanent colors and textures so that they do not need to be painted when installed.
Drywall construction allows the drywall hanger to easily cut the panels to many different shapes and sizes for assembly and hanging from the building frame. However, workmen face a challenge in finishing drywall panels at an edge or corner. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to cut the edges of such panels with the precision, straightness, and smoothness required to abut the edges of adjoining panels in a sufficiently straight corner to provide an aesthetic finish. Additionally, cut edges expose the soft, raw cores of the drywall panels, thus requiring some sort of covering or treatment to afford a finished appearance.
As a result, several different devices and techniques have been developed in effort to produce a structurally sound corner or other joint that exhibits a smooth and seamless intersection. Devices proposed to achieve this result include drywall tape, trim and corner beads. Conventional drywall tape may be applied to the joints and edges of abutting panels to be covered by wet joint compound that is feathered and smoothed to cover the newly created seams. When the joint compound has dried, the tape and drywall can be sanded, painted, covered, or otherwise finished in whatever manner is desired. Great deal of skill is required, however, to apply and form the joint compound to create a sufficiently straight intersection that will exhibit, when taped and sanded to a finish, no evidence of scuffing and tearing in the tape.
In light of the limitations on use of drywall tape to trim a joint, trim strips or corner beads are often utilized to cover a joint and produce a seamless and aesthetically pleasing edge trim or intersection at the corners of drywall panels.
Such trim strips may take many different configurations and are typically in the form of an angle corner bead having diverging flanges or may be, for instance, a J strip to cap the edge of a dry wall panel. For the purposes of this invention, the particular configuration is not critical and use in conjunction with numerous different configurations is contemplated. For instance, the trim may be flat or configured with any one of a number of well known configurations, including corner trim with perpendicular flanges, corner trim with a rib formed at the juncture of the flanges defining a bead, flanges angled at 135° to one another, those configured with somewhat of a Z shape, those with soft line or rounded corners, and those with offsets or other configurations traditionally used in the trade and known to those skilled in the art.
One common feature of many of the trim strips or corner beads currently available is the use of a rigid or semi-rigid core that caps the drywall corner joint to provide support and to prevent the drywall from being chipped or cracked along the otherwise exposed edges of the panels. Typical materials known and used in the art for such cores include galvanized steel, aluminum, plastic, and sometimes stiff, thick paper. A disadvantage of these cores is that they must be anchored in some way as by nailing, screwing, or otherwise fastening to the drywall panels. A further disadvantage of such cores is that the drywall finishing compound applied to the corner joints to complete the assembly may not readily adhere to such rigid and semi-rigid core materials or easily conceal nail or screw heads, making it difficult to cover, sand, paint or otherwise finish out the corner joint in an aesthetically-pleasing manner.
To enhance the function and finished appearance of drywall corner joints configured with corner beads, efforts have been made to provide such beads with an exterior covering of some other material such as paper or fabric to facilitate both installation and application of the joint compound to the exterior surfaces thereof. The challenge is to provide such an exterior covering that is substantial enough to secure the inner core in position while being thin enough to create a smooth transition between the cover and the underlying drywall. One bead developed to address some of the problems with the prior art is a corner bead with a metal core, covered on its exterior with a paper cover which projects beyond the opposite lateral edges to form flexile, flaps to be secured in place as by nailing and embedding in joint compound. I have discovered that such flaps often fail to securely anchor the corner bead device in place thus allowing for shifting of the bead relative to the drywall thereby producing an irregular appearance.
It has been common practice to form such flaps with small holes for communication of moisture during the curing process for the joint compound. Oftentimes, such holes are formed by punching chads from one side of the flap often leaving one side of the chad attached. Consequently, some of the attached chads end up acting as flaps which close over the holes upon installation thus serving to block communication of joint compound through the respective chad holes.
It has also been discovered that prior art corner beads suffer the shortcoming that such flaps are often wavy throughout their length, making it difficult to effectively cover the flap material with a smooth layer of joint material to adequately securely anchor them in the joint compound.
Because these features have not been optimally satisfied in a single drywall bead design, there still exists a need for such a finishing bead that addresses each of these challenges. The present invention is directed to just such a drywall bead.

Drywall bead with knurled paper flaps and method of making same


A mine treatment method for treating a mine placed in the ground includes a step of freezing the soil around the mine; and a step of digging up the mine together with the frozen soil. The method may further include a step of making water penetrate into the soil around the mine before the step of freezing the soil. In the method, the soil around the mine is frozen by liquefied nitrogen. After the soil around the mine is frozen, the mine is dug up together with the frozen soil from the ground.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mine treatment method for use in treating a mine placed in the ground and a mine treating apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, there are a considerable number of unexploded mines all over the world attracting a lot of international public attention presently treatment of mines mostly depends on hand work. That is, a mine is found by hand work or using a mine detector and then that mine is dug out from the ground. After its fuse is removed, it is exploded.
Alternative devicer for treating miner includes using a mine field exploding apparatus that is currently available. According to the mine field exploding apparatus, a bomb containing an explosive is launched by a rocket to a mine field and exploded so as to induce explosion of mines placed nearby.
According to the above described conventional mine treatment method, the hand work includes inherent danger. In case of the mine field exploding apparatus, this can be used only in an environment permitting a rocket to be fired and there is a fear that all mines are not induced to explode, and further there is a problem that mine parts are left. A solution for these problems has been tried in the conventional art.

Mine treatment method and mine treating apparatus


A pilot neutralizing system of a work vehicle may include a pilot neutralizer. The work vehicle may include a first frame portion and a second frame portion. The work vehicle has an actuating assembly used to pivot the first frame portion relative to the second frame portion. The pilot neutralizer is electrically coupled to a controller receiving a signal indicative of an articulation position. The pilot neutralizer is hydraulically coupled between an operator control member and a steering valve to selectively change a pilot signal at the steering valve. The pilot signal is used to switch the steering valve to change a direction of a hydraulic fluid flowing from the steering valve to the actuating assembly. When the articulation position reaches a cushion region during steering, the pilot neutralizer is de-energized or energized by the controller to change the pilot signal at the steering valve to resist the actuating assembly from moving.

Pilot (steering) neutralizers are used in articulated machines to provide a steering stop cushion prior to frame to frame contact. This is accomplished by neutralizing either the steer right or steer left pilot signal working on the main steering valve when the machine nears full articulation. For instance, when approaching full steer left, the steering valve left pilot is neutralized. Similarly, when approaching full steer right, the steering valve right pilot is neutralized. Once the steering valve left or right pilot is neutralized, the steering motion slows down or is stopped.


Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to communications. The systems and techniques involve transmitting to a remote location a first signal at a first energy level followed by a second signal at a second energy level, determining a target transmission energy level as a function of a target quality parameter at the remote location, and computing the second energy level as a function of the target transmission energy level and the first energy level. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided solely to assist a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to communications, and more specifically, to deboosting in a communications environment.
2. Background
Wireless communication systems are designed to allow multiple users to share a common communications medium. One such wireless communications system is a code division multiple access (CDMA) system. The CDMA communications system is a modulation and multiple access scheme based on spread-spectrum communications. In a CDMA communications system, a large number of signals share the same frequency spectrum and, as a result, provide an increase in user capacity. This is achieved by transmitting each signal with a different code that modulates a carrier, and thereby, spreads the signal over the entire spectrum. The transmitted signals can be separated in the receiver by a demodulation process using a corresponding code to de-spread the desired signal. The undesired signals, whose codes do not match, contribute only to noise.
The performance of a CDMA communications system may be enhanced by providing powerful coding methods to facilitate forward error correction (FEC) capability. The coding process provides redundancy that the receiver may use to correct errors. This may be achieved by generating a data packet containing systematic symbols and redundancy symbols from a group of payload bits. The systematic symbols replicate the payload bits. A subpacket containing the systematic symbols and a portion of the redundancy symbols may be initially transmitted to the receiver. If the receiver is able to decode the data packet, the remaining redundancy symbols do not need be transmitted to the receiver. If, on the other hand, the receiver is unable to decode the data packet, a new subpacket with different redundancy symbols may be sent to the receiver on a retransmission. The subpackets may be combined and decoded jointly at the receiver, resulting in a very efficient retransmission, because the energy of the previous transmission is not discarded. This process is known in the art as incremental redundancy.
The drawback to incremental redundancy techniques is that the retransmission process consumes valuable resources. Conventional systems employing incremental redundancy have generally been configured to retransmit each subpacket as a stand-alone transmission. That is, the retransmission energy is sufficiently high such that, even if the previous transmissions had not been received, the receiver still has a good chance of being able to decode the retransmission. This is true even when the incremental energy needed to decode the data packet is very small. Accordingly, there is a need for a more efficient and robust methodology for handling retransmissions that takes into account the energy of previous subpacket transmissions derived from the same data packet.

De-boosting in a communications environment


Image forming apparatus includes a movable image bearing member, a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit, a detection member, an execution unit and an adjustment unit. A toner image for adjustment formed on an upstream photoreceptor is made to pass a photoreceptor while facing an area exposed by a downstream image forming unit and is detected by a detection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image forming apparatus, such as a copier and a printer. More particularly, the present invention relates to image forming apparatus in which density correction single-color and multi-color is performed.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is image forming apparatus which includes a plurality of photoreceptors and an intermediate transfer member. Each photoreceptor is exposed and carries a toner image. The intermediate transfer member functions as an image bearing member which carries the toner image transferred from each photoreceptor. In this configuration, it is effective to adjust a condition under which an image is formed in accordance with a detection result after detecting a toner image for adjustment on an intermediate transfer member for adjusting density of the image. If the toner image for adjustment is made to overlap a toner image for adjustment of another color, toner is not able to be detected for each color. Then, the toner image for adjustment is formed so as not to overlap the toner image of another color on the intermediate transfer member. That is, when passing a downstream photoreceptor ("second photoreceptor") after being transferred to the intermediate transfer member, a toner image for adjustment formed on an upstream photoreceptor ("first photoreceptor") faces an area of the second photoreceptor in which no toner image is formed, i.e., an area which has not been exposed.
If a color image is to be formed on a recording material, a toner image is made to overlap a toner image of another color to express secondary color. That is, when passing the downstream photoreceptor ("second photoreceptor") after being transferred to the intermediate transfer member, the toner image formed on the upstream photoreceptor ("first photoreceptor") faces an area of the second photoreceptor in which the toner image is formed, i.e., an area which has been exposed.
However, electrical potential of the exposed area differs from the potential of the unexposed area. Therefore, an amount of toner image which is retransferred from an intermediate transfer belt to the photoreceptor when the toner image passes the photoreceptor is changed depending on whether the toner image faces the exposed area or faces the unexposed area. Then, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-166558, an apparatus is described in which, when a patch conveyed from the upstream passes a downstream transfer unit, a downstream transfer electric field is weakened so that the amount of a toner image to be retransferred in the downstream transfer unit is reduced, and thereafter, density of the patch on which the toner image is transferred is detected and a developing condition of the toner image to be formed on the upstream is changed.
However, in the apparatus described above, if the toner image for adjustment is detected in a condition in which colors do not overlap each other, the toner image for adjustment formed on the upstream photoreceptor is detected in a condition different from a condition in which a color image is formed on the recording material due to the amount of retransferred toner image on the downstream photoreceptor. In that case, since detection of the toner image for adjustment is not performed in a condition in which color image formation is reproduced, there is a possibility that density adjustment in color image formation is not properly performed using the toner image for adjustment. Although the foregoing description is related to a configuration in which a plurality of photoreceptors are in contact with the intermediate transfer member as an image bearing member which carries a toner image, the same problem may exist in a configuration in which a plurality of photoreceptors are in contact with a recording material conveyance member which conveys a recording material.

Image forming apparatus for performing an adjustment based on detected image data


Scalable selective alarm suppression is achieved through a new class of management packet, such as a new class of Ethernet management frame, adapted to convey a reachability relationship between a lower level maintenance point and a single higher level maintenance point, and more particularly adapted to convey to a first higher level maintenance point that receives the packet an identity of a single second higher level maintenance point that will become unreachable to the first higher level maintenance point in the event of a loss of continuity involving the lower level maintenance point. Once the first higher level maintenance point has learned a totality of operative reachability relationships through receipt of such packets and is notified of a loss of continuity involving the lower level maintenance point, the first higher level maintenance point can reference the learned reachability relationships and readily determine under what circumstances it should suppress an alarm in response to a detected loss of continuity with a higher level maintenance point.

The present invention relates to fault reporting in data communication networks, and more particularly to scalable and accurate methods and systems for suppression of alarms in Ethernet networks.
Connectivity fault management (CFM) refers to the ability to monitor the health of a network. CFM in Ethernet networks has historically been performed by a network management system (NMS) running an application layer protocol such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). In a typical SNMP-based NMS, faults in an Ethernet network are detected by SNMP agents running on managed data communication nodes (e.g. nodes supporting Ethernet bridging capability) and reported to a central SNMP manager. Fault reports are typically made in response to individual polling of the SNMP agents, which can be cumbersome and slow in networks with large numbers of managed nodes. While SNMP agents may be configured to make unsolicited fault reports, for example, to send a fault notification to the SNMP manager in direct response to fault detection, they cannot send fault notifications if their managed nodes have experienced a catastrophic failure.
The inadequacy of SNMP-based NMS alone to deliver CFM in large Ethernet networks that often span a multiple of customer, provider and operator networks has led to development of a native Ethernet CFM solution that is more robust. This native Ethernet CFM solution, which is being standardized in a document styled IEEE 802.1ag and is hereinafter called "Ethernet CFM," provides proactive fault detection and reporting for bridged Ethernet networks through in-band transport of Ethernet management frames.
Operation of Ethernet CFM is shown by way of example in FIG. 1. A bridged Ethernet network 100 includes customer equipment CE1, CE2, CE3 in a customer network and provider equipment PE1, PE2 in a provider network. The customer and provider equipment include Ethernet bridging capability. Provider equipment PE1, PE2 is maintained by a service provider. Customer equipment CE1, CE2, CE3 is maintained by a customer of the service provider and CE1 communicates with CE2 and CE3 through provider equipment PE1 and PE2. The customer network further includes a customer network management system (CE NMS) 110 for monitoring faults in the customer network, while the provider network includes a provider network management system (PE NMS) 120 for monitoring faults in the provider network.
Maintenance associations (MA) are configured at different maintenance levels for performing CFM. In the example shown, a customer maintenance association (CMA) 115 is configured at a customer level to perform CFM in the customer network. CMA 115 includes maintenance endpoints (MEP) A, D, E and maintenance intermediate points (MIP) B, C. A provider maintenance association (PMA) 125 is configured at a provider level to perform CFM in the provider network. PMA 125 includes MEP F, G. MEP and MIP are software or hardware entities created on either a per-node or per-port basis. Generally speaking, MEP transmit and receive Ethernet management frames in their respective MA to detect faults which are selectively reported to an NMS so that corrective action can be taken. When a MEP detects a fault and reports the fault to NMS the MEP is said to raise an alarm. When a MEP detects a fault but does not report the fault to NMS the MEP is said to suppress an alarm.
MEP infer faults from loss of continuity with other MEP. In the example shown in FIG. 1, MEP G detects a fault on PMA 125 as a result of failing to receive a continuity check (CC) frame from MEP F. A CC frame is generally speaking a heartbeat message transmitted between MEP in a MA to confirm connectivity with the sending MEP. Detection of the fault causes MEP G to transmit a fault notification via SNMP to PE NMS 120 reporting the fault. Detection of the fault also causes MEP G to transmit an alarm indication signal (AIS) frame in CMA 115 to notify MEP D and MEP E of a lower level fault and thereby cause suppression of an alarm in CMA 115. Were the AIS frame not transmitted in CMA 115, MEP D and MEP E would detect the same fault through failure to receive a CC frame from MEP A and would report the fault to CE NMS 110 even though CE NMS 110 has no operational control over the provider network where the fault exists. Since the AIS frame is transmitted in CMA 115, MEP D and MEP E suppress the alarm in CMA 115 and refrain from making a superfluous report to CE NMS 110.
One problem with Ethernet CFM alarm suppression as generally described above is its accuracy when distinct faults are detected in MA operating at different levels, such as PMA 125 and CMA 115. Consider the situation where a lower level fault is detected in PMA 125 between MEP F and MEP G and a higher level fault is then detected in CMA 115 between MEP D and MEP E. When that occurs, an AIS frame transmitted by MEP G in CMA 115 should ideally inhibit reporting to CE NMS 110 of the lower level fault (over which CE NMS 110 has no operational control) but should not inhibit reporting to CE NMS 110 of the higher level fault (over which CE NMS 110 has operational control). One possible solution to this problem resides in providing to MEP D and MEP E a reachability relationship from which they can discern that higher level MEP A becomes unreachable as a result of a fault involving lower level MEP F. With knowledge of such a reachability relationship, MEP D and MEP E can suppress an alarm resulting from failure to receive CC frames from MEP A while raising an alarm resulting from failure to receive CC frames from one another.
One known implementation of Ethernet CFM alarm suppression, called nonselective AIS, fails to provide reachability relationships and therefore does not address the problem of distinct faults on multiple levels. Instead, all alarms are suppressed at a higher level in response to an AIS frame received from a lower level.
Other known implementations of Ethernet CFM alarm suppression, called selective AIS, do not scale well. In one selective alarm suppression implementation, a lower level MEP snoops CC frames transmitted by higher level MEP to learn which higher level MEP will become unreachable to other higher level MEP in the event of a fault involving the lower level MEP. The lower level MEP transmits a complete list of conditionally unreachable higher level MEP in a CC frame sent to another lower level MEP. In the event of a fault involving the lower level MEP, the lower level MEP that received the list transmits to the other higher level MEP in an AIS frame the complete list of conditionally unreachable higher level MEP so that other higher level MEP can suppress alarms resulting from failure to receive CC frames from the higher level MEP in the list. In networks with large numbers of MEP, this complete list of conditionally unreachable MEP transmitted in CC and AIS frames can have an extremely high bit count and cause such frames to violate the maximum transfer unit (MTU) size for Ethernet.

Scalable selective alarm suppression for data communication network


The present invention includes repelling magnetic fixtures implanted within opposing bones in an articulating joint to hold the bones apart during relative articulating movement of the bones in the joint.

A first embodiment of the present invention relates to a magnetic weight-bearing prosthetic socket system for coupling a prosthesis to an artificial limb. In this first embodiment, the system has two opposing magnetic fixtures repelling each other: one implanted at the point of amputation of a bone, and a second incorporated into the prosthesis. In a second embodiment of the present invention opposing magnetic fixtures are implanted into adjacent bone surfaces on either side of an articulating joint. The magnetic fixtures are oriented to repel each other and thus hold the bones apart. In a third embodiment, the magnetic fixtures are positioned in pairs on either side of an articulating joint to reduce lateral movement of the joint.
Artificial joints using magnetism to connect two opposing parts are known. For examples see U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,037 to Esformes et al., Italian patent 514,679 to Rosa, or German patent 320,756 to Heegewaldt. These patents all illustrate the use of the attractive force of magnets to hold a joint in place so that the artificial joint can move in a somewhat normal manner.
It is also true that artificial joints using the repulsive properties of magnets are known. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,588 to Janssen et al. However, the illustrated device requires repelling magnets to operate within a cooperatively shaped magnetic socket for the device to work. Soft tissue covering a remnant bone can not be accommodated. The implantation requires that the end of each bone entering the joint be destroyed in order to effect the implantation. The magnets are positioned in a ball and socket relationship.
A need exists for a socket system which can be used to couple a prosthesis to an amputated limb. The socket system should be capable of transferring weight directly between the bone structure and the associated prosthesis without causing pain or discomfort to the person wearing the prosthesis. A first embodiment of this invention has as an object a requirement to transfer weight directly to a remnant bone so that any soft tissue covering the remnant bone will not be rubbed and irritated as the device is being used.
A need also exists for a magnetic system which can be used with an existing but damaged articulating joint to comfortably hold the bones of the joint apart. As the bones rotate in the articulating joint, a repelling force is needed which will keep the bones separated and reduce the friction associated with the rotation of the bones relative to one another. The structure should be capable of being inserted into ends of the bones forming the joint, but at the same time conserve and preserve the preexisting contour of the recipient bones.
A need also exists for a magnetic system which can be used with an existing but damaged articulating joint to comfortably hold the bones of the joint apart and at the same time reduce lateral movement of the joint.


A side airbag apparatus includes an airbag main body. The inside of the airbag main body is divided by a vertical partition including a gas flow restrictor at least into an upstream inflation portion, which is located rearward of the vertical partition and receives inflating gas, and a downstream inflation portion, which is located forward of the vertical partition and receives the inflating gas that has passed through the upstream inflation portion and the gas flow restrictor. The dimension of the vertical partition in the widthwise direction of the automobile seat is set to a dimension that is equal or approximate to the dimension of the airbag main body in the widthwise direction in a case in which the airbag main body is inflated without the vertical partition.

The present invention relates to a side airbag apparatus that protects an occupant seated in a vehicle seat from an impact by deploying and inflating an airbag main body on a side of the occupant when the impact is applied to a vehicle from a side.
A side airbag apparatus having an airbag and an inflator is effective as an apparatus that protects an occupant seated in an automobile seat when an impact is applied to an automobile from a side, for example, due to a side collision. One form of the side airbag apparatus has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2013-035535. More specifically, an airbag includes an airbag main body that forms an outer shell and a vertical partition having a gas flow restrictor such as a pressure regulator valve. The vertical partition divides the inside of the airbag main body into an upstream inflation portion and a downstream inflation portion. The upstream inflation portion is located rearward of the vertical partition and receives inflating gas from the inflator. The downstream inflation portion is located forward of the vertical partition and receives the inflating gas that has passed through the upstream inflation portion and the gas flow restrictor.
If a lateral impact is applied to a body side portion, such as a side door, of a vehicle that employs the side airbag apparatus, the inflator supplies inflating gas to the upstream inflation portion to deploy and inflate the upstream inflation portion between an occupant and the body side portion that bulges inward of the vehicle. The inflating gas in the upstream inflation portion flows into the downstream inflation portion through the gas flow restrictor and deploys and inflates the downstream inflation portion. The upstream inflation portion and the downstream inflation portion that are deployed and inflated between the occupant and the body side portion as described above restrain the occupant and reduce a lateral impact transmitted to the occupant via the body side portion.
The downstream inflation portion starts to be deployed and inflated later than the upstream inflation portion. Thus, even if any obstacle is front of the deploying airbag main body, the airbag main body is inhibited from pushing the obstacle hard unlike a case in which the airbag main body has no partition and is deployed and inflated at once.
To restrain and protect the occupant, it is effective to increase the dimension in the vehicle widthwise direction (inflation thickness) when the airbag main body is inflated, or to deploy and inflate the airbag main body in the fore-and-aft direction by a large amount. However, if the airbag main body is deployed and inflated forward by a large amount, the downstream inflation portion that is deployed and inflated in addition to the upstream inflation portion may possibly push the obstacle hard.
The conventional side airbag apparatus of the above Patent Document merely divides the airbag main body and restricts the inflation thickness of the airbag main body with the vertical partition. Thus, the side airbag apparatus is susceptible to improvement through modification of the vertical partition in restraining and protecting an occupant and inhibiting pressure on an obstacle.


A multi-functional yoga brick comprises a multi-sectional holding portion at a middle section thereof. The holding portion has a shape of “8”, or a round shape or an elliptical shape. The holding portion has a through hole or no through hole. The holding portion has a plurality of layers. The multi-functional yoga brick is an elastic body. The multi-functional yoga brick is made of elastic plastics or rubber or injected plastic material. The user has a better balance in exercise and can support effectively so as to expand the body.

Yoga brick is used to help the yoga exercise. It is mainly used for retaining, supporting and balancing the body. When a user makes yoga exercise, he (or she) often retains at a fixed pose. At this moment, the yoga brick can be used as a supporter for expanding the body with a great extent. Current yoga brick has a rectangular shape and is not suitable for being held by a hand. Thus, it is possible that the hand's bone will release to hurt the user. Thus, there is an eager demand for a novel one which can improve these defects to help the exerciser to make yoga exercise effectively.


A new cultivar of Daphne named ‘Blacir’ that is characterized by its bushy growth habit with natural branching (not requiring pinching), its height of 45 to 60 cm, its bright green and glossy foliage, its fragrant flowers that are deep pink in color, and its long blooming habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Daphne of hybrid origin. The new cultivar will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'Blacir'. 'Blacir' is a new cultivar of Daphne grown for use as a landscape shrub.
The new cultivar arose as a controlled breeding program by the Inventor in Kilmeston, Alresford, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new cultivar of Daphne with flowers that are bright in color, fragrant, and long blooming combined with tolerance to a wide range of growing conditions with ease of propagation. The Inventor made a cross between an unnamed plant of Daphne circassica as the female parent and an unnamed plant of Daphne sericea as the male parent in June of 2011. The Inventor selected the new cultivar as a single unique plant from the above cross in 2016.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings by the Inventor in 2014 in Kilmeston, Alresford, United Kingdom and further evaluated. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings and tissue culture using meristematic tissue has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A frequency synthesizer which can effect a high speed frequency hopping operation without causing deterioration in stability in phase and frequency in a phase frequency-locked condition and also in output spurious characteristic is disclosed. An output range controlling circuit clips the output voltage of a phase frequency to voltage converting circuit at a voltage corresponding to an input signal. The phase frequency to voltage converting circuit outputs a voltage corresponding to a pulse width inputted thereto from a phase frequency detector. A low-pass filter removes high frequency components of a signal inputted thereto. A voltage-controlled oscillator outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to a voltage of a signal having passed through the low-pass filter. The phase frequency detector effects phase frequency detection between a reference signal and a signal obtained by frequency dividing the output of the voltage-controlled oscillator by an arbitrary value by a variable frequency divider.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a frequency synthesizer, and more particularly to a frequency synthesizer for which a high speed frequency hopping operation is required.
2. Description of the Related art
Various frequency synthesizers are conventionally known, and an exemplary one of such conventional frequency synthesizers is shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, the conventional frequency synthesizer shown includes a phase frequency detector 7. The phase frequency detector 7 inputs a reference signal 6 and the output of a variable frequency divider 8, effects phase frequency detection and outputs pulse signals having pulse widths corresponding to differences in phase and frequency between the input signals to a phase frequency to voltage converting circuit 2. The phase frequency to voltage converting circuit 2 outputs a voltage corresponding to the pulse widths of the pulse signals inputted thereto to a low-pass filter 11. The low-pass filter 11 removes high frequency components of the signal inputted thereto and passes the other components of the input signal therethrough. A voltage-controlled oscillator 10 inputs the signal having passed through the low-pass filter 11 and outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to the voltage of the signal inputted thereto to the variable frequency divider 8. The output of the voltage-controlled oscillator 10 also makes a synthesizer output 5 of the frequency synthesizer. A dividing ratio generating circuit 9 outputs a signal for controlling the dividing ratio of the variable frequency divider 8 in accordance with frequency data 4 inputted thereto to the variable frequency divider 8.
With the conventional frequency synthesizer, a high speed frequency hopping operation seems to be realized by such means as to raise the loop gain of a feedback system or to widen the passing frequency band of the low-pass filter 11. However, when any of such means is provided actually, if the hopping speed is raised, then this will result in deterioration in stability in phase and frequency in a phase frequency locked condition and also in spurious output. Accordingly, the conventional frequency synthesizer is disadvantageous in that it is difficult to achieve a high speed frequency hopping operation.


A method of optimizing link transmission parameters between access nodes within a mesh network is disclosed. The method includes each access node within the mesh transmitting packets at N different combinations of data rates and power levels. Each receiving node that receives the data packets at one or more of the N combinations, selects a most desirable one of the received combinations. The receiving nodes indicate to the transmitting nodes the selected most desired combination for transmitting to the receiving node.

Wireless networks, such as wireless mesh network, can include multiple transmitting devices simultaneously transmitting. The simultaneous transmission can cause interference between different devices of the network. For example, FIG. 1 shows transmitting devices 110, 120 and receiving devices 130, 140. Transmitting device 110 is attempting to transmit to the receiving device 130. The transmitting device 120 is attempting to transmit to the receiving device 140. However, as shown, some of the transmission signal of the transmitting device 110 interferes with the receiving device 140.
It is desirable to have a wireless network and a method of operating transmission of signals within the wireless network that mitigates self-interference within the network.

Regulation of transmission power control in mitigate self interference by optimizing link transmission parameters in a wireless network


Embodiments included herein are directed towards a system and method for addressing discontinuous transmission (DTX) in a network device. Embodiments may include receiving, at a computing device, an audio signal and generating at least one silence descriptor (SID) frame associated with the audio signal. Embodiments may also include generating at least one no data frame associated with the audio signal. Embodiments may also include initiating a speech decoder, voice enhancement, and speech encoder operation for the at least one SID frame during a DTX operation and bypassing the speech decoder, voice enhancement, and speech encoder functions for the at least one no data frame.

Discontinuous transmission (DTX) may refer to a method of momentarily powering-down, or muting, a mobile or portable wireless telephone set when there is no voice input to the set. In a typical two-way conversation, each individual speaks slightly less than half of the time. If the transmitter signal is switched on only during periods of voice input, the duty cycle of the telephone set can be cut to less than 50 percent. This conserves battery power, eases the workload of the components in the transmitter devices, and frees the voice channel so that time-division multiplexing ("TDM") and code-division multiplexing access ("CDMA") networks can take advantage of the available bandwidth by sharing the channel with other signals. On the receiver side, the speech decoder generates comfort noise matching the background noise during DTX to avoid annoying effect of "total silence" when the transmission is switched off.
Among others, it has been established that the DTX operation in wireless networks such as GSM networks and CDMA networks provides a number of advantages, some of which may include, but are not limited to, saving power and battery usage in the user equipment and reducing the overall interference and load in the networks. This optimizes the overall efficiency of a wireless voice communication system. The downlink DTX improves the overall carrier to interference ("C/I") levels in the network, which results in better spectrum utilization and increased capacity.

System and method for addressing discontinuous transmission in a network device


A method for processing a first optical face and a second optical face of a lens, where a lens blank is positioned and gripped by a gripping device relying on reference datum indications rendering it possible to obtain topographic orientation for processing both faces of the lens, and wherein not more then one reference datum indication extends on a face of the lens.

Each optical lens comprises two optical surfaces, each formed with some physical characteristics (lens topography), the combined effect of these two surfaces when positioned relative to each other impart the lens with a desired optical performance. These characteristics fall in two categories:                A. Surface quality, of both optical surfaces, affecting the ability of the surface to be transparent to light.        B. Surface topography, of both optical surfaces, influencing the direction of the light as it passes through the lens.
These characteristics are obtained by different process by which the surfaces of the lens are formed, by different means and at different processes, as known in the art.
The surface topography is achieved by one or more of processes such as grinding, cutting, machining, molding, etc. The surface quality is achieved by processes such as smoothing, lapping and polishing. These and other procedures for obtaining the lens surface are referred to herein the specifications and claims as processing.
According to any of the processes mentioned above and as known in the art, the lens blank has to be firmly griped in the respective machine while the surface is being processed.
A common practice in the optical industry, for holding a lens blank during process, is to adhere the lens to a so-called blocking element, also referred to as a 'blocker' or a 'blocking chuck'. The blocker is attached to the lens at the surface not being processed.
The blocker is made of a hard material such as Aluminum or stainless steel and usually has a typical and standard shape that provides for easy attachment of the blocker to conventional gripping means of the machine while the lens is adhered to it, such that the lens blank can be easily and safely processed by the machine tools.
The process of adhering (attaching) the blocker to the lens or lens blank is referred to in the art as blocking. The terms blocking, attaching and adhering are interchangeably used herein the specification and claims. The hard blocking material may damage the surface of the already formed lens surface. In some cases adherence of the blocker to the lens may be insufficiently strong. In order to ensure strong and safe attaching of the blocker to the lens, some preparations are needed.
One commonly used method of protecting the lens surface is by applying a protective tape (also known as surface saver) over the lens. This tape is a plastic tape with an adhesive face for adhering to the lens by a dedicated taping system ('surface saver applicator'), and the blocker is attached to the other face of the tape.
Another method of protecting the lens is by applying on to the lens a material that dries and hardens and remain as a coating layer on the lens surface. Such a material may be applied for example by spraying.
However, the surface of the lens must be clean prior to taping or spraying and therefore requires some particular care and attention during the process. For that purpose, in some lens production lines, a cleaning step is introduced prior to protecting step.
The first step in blocking the lens is precisely positioning the blocker with respect to the lens. In some cases, the position of the lens with respect to the blocker is critical. Mispositioning of the lens on the blocker may lead to poor optical performance of the final lens. In order to ensure an accurate positioning of the lens on the blocker, an enlarging imaging device is used whereby the operator views the lens and moves the lens over the blocker, until premarked reference marks on the lens surface appear in a predetermined position.
According to one process, the operator is required to position the lens such that a point printed at the geometrical center of the lens appears at the center of the lens blocker. A printing machine is used for printing the reference mark and in most cases printing takes place prior to protecting by tape or spray. Once the operator confirms that the lens is in the right position, a temporary clamping device is used to make sure the lens doesn't move during the next step.
The adhering material used for attaching the lens to the blocker is, by one form, a special alloy known as "Wood Alloy". This alloy melts at low temperature to ensure minimum risk for damaging the lens. Typically the melting temperature is in the range of about 47° C. to 85° C. Alternatively, a special wax is used for that purpose.
A typical blocking system comprises a hot reservoir of melted alloy or wax, a mechanical system to hold the blocker, a vision or imaging system for viewing the lens and the reference marks at large scale. During the blocking process, when the operator confirms that the lens is properly positioned with respect to the blocker, the alloy is pumped to fill the gap between the blocker and the lens.
Once the alloy or wax cools, it hardens such that the lens and the blocker are rigidly attached to one another, and now the other face of the lens may be formed.
The process disclosed above requires several steps which is time consuming and where accuracy is dependant up to great extent on the skills of the operator and on his vision, which is a differing and un-reliable parameter.


In order to measure a distance with high accuracy, a corresponding pixel extraction section reads a projection transformation matrix from a storage section, determines a reference pixel corresponding to a standard pixel, and outputs the pixel value thereof to a correlation value computation section. The correlation value computation section computes the mutual correlation value between a predetermined small area with the standard pixel being the center and a similar small area with the reference pixel being the center, as the sum of the squares of the difference of each pixel within the small area. A distance computation section extracts the point of the smallest value of an addition value input from the correlation value computation section and the points before and after it, creates a second-order curve passing through the three points, and outputs a distance corresponding to the smallest value of the second-order curve, as the distance of the standard pixel, to a distance image memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and to a medium therefor and, more particularly, relates to an image processing apparatus and method for measuring a distance to an object by using a plurality of stereo image pairs, and to a medium therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in, for example, FIG. 1, a stereo image distance measurement system is known in which the same object 5 is photographed by a standard camera 1 and a reference camera 2, and in an image processing apparatus 31, corresponding pixels of a pair of photographed images (a standard image and a reference image A) are specified, and a distance from the standard camera 1 to the object 5 is determined by using parallax information.
The operation of this stereo image distance measurement system is described below. FIG. 2 shows the relationship between a reference image A and a standard image in which an object point P in a three-dimensional space is photographed by the standard camera 1 or the reference camera 2. That is, if a pixel corresponding to the object point P within the standard image is denoted as a pixel mb and a pixel corresponding to the object point P within the reference image A is denoted as a pixel mi, the coordinates of the pixel mi are as described below by using a projection transformation matrix H of 3 rows and 3 columns:
mi=Hxc2x7mb
Therefore, the projection transformation matrix H can be computed if the coordinates of the pixels mb and mi are determined.
Accordingly, in a system in which the positional relationship between the standard camera 1 and the reference camera 2, and a distance Z from the standard camera 1 to the object point P are measured in advance, the coordinates of the pixels mb and mi are specified, and the projection transformation matrix H corresponding to the distance Z is computed in advance by using these coordinates. The computed projection transformation matrix H is stored in the image processing apparatus 31.
As shown in, for example, FIG. 1, when the distance from the standard camera 1 to the object point P is to be determined, the image processing apparatus 31, as shown in FIG. 3, assumes the distance to be Z1 from among the distances Z1 to Zn which are discretely set in a distance measurement range, and determines a reference image mi1 by using the projection transformation matrix H, corresponding to the distance Z1, in which the corresponding pixel (standard pixel) mb on the standard image is computed in advance and stored such that the object point P is photographed by the standard camera 1.
Thereafter, the image processing apparatus 31 computes the mutual correlation value S1 between the determined reference image mi1 and the standard pixel mb. The mutual correlation value S1 is computed by using the normalized mutual correlation between a predetermined small area with the pixel mb on the standard image being the center and a similar small area with the pixel mi1 in the reference image A being the center, and an evaluation function, such as the sum of the squares of a luminance difference.
Next, assuming the distance from the standard camera 1 to the object point P to be Z2, the image processing apparatus 31 determines a reference pixel mi2 by using a projection transformation matrix H corresponding to the distance Z2 which is computed in advance and stored. Thereafter, the image processing apparatus 31 computes a mutual correlation value S2 between the determined pixel mi2 and the pixel mb.
Hereafter, in a similar manner, assuming a distance from the standard camera 1 to the object point P to be Z3 to Zn in sequence, the image processing apparatus 31 determines the reference pixels mi3 to min by using a projection transformation matrix corresponding to the assumed distance and computes the mutual correlation values S3 to Sn.
It is known that pixels mil to min, in which the pixel mb on the standard image is projected within the reference image A, are present on one straight line called an xe2x80x9cepipolar linexe2x80x9d, as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the distances Z1 to Zn and the mutual correlation values S1 to Sn. In the figure, it is shown that the smaller the value S of the mutual correlation value, the higher the correlation between pixels (the compared pixels are more similar).
Next, the image processing apparatus 31 creates a curve (for example, a second-order curve) passing through the smallest (highest correlation) one (a mutual correlation value S3 in the example of FIG. 4) from among the mutual correlation values S1 to Sn and the values (the mutual correlation values S2 and S4 in the example of FIG. 4) before and after it, and outputs a distance Ze corresponding to the smallest value Se thereof as a distance of the standard pixel mb.
FIG. 5 shows the construction of a stereo image distance measurement system which measures the distance from the standard camera 1 to the object 5 by using two sets of stereo image pairs (a standard image and a reference image A, and a standard image and a reference image B). For the operation thereof, a process similar to the construction shown in FIG. 1 is performed on two sets of stereo image pairs. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, an image processing apparatus 41 determines the pixels mi1 to min in the reference image A corresponding to the pixel mb on the standard image and computes the mutual correlation values S1 to Sn with respect to the pixel mb. Also, the image processing apparatus 41 determines pixels mi1 to Min on the reference image B corresponding to the pixel mb in the standard image, and computes the mutual correlation values S1xe2x80x2 to Snxe2x80x2 with respect to the pixel mb.
Thereafter, the image processing apparatus 41 adds together the mutual correlation values S1 to Sn and the corresponding mutual correlation values S1xe2x80x2 to Snxe2x80x2. FIG. 7 shows that the mutual correlation values S1 to Sn are indicated by xe2x97xaf marks, the mutual correlation values S1 to Snxe2x80x2 are indicated by ▴ marks, and the mutual correlation values SS1 to SSn are indicated by xe2x96xa1 marks.
Next, the image processing apparatus 41 selects the smallest (highest correlation) one (the addition value SS4 in the example of FIG. 7) from among the addition values SS1 to SSn, and creates a curve (for example, a second-order curve) passing through the selected value and the values (the addition values SS3 and SS5 in the example of FIG. 7) before and after it, and outputs a distance Ze corresponding to the smallest value SSe as a distance of the standard pixel mb.
In a manner as described above, use of two sets of stereo image pairs makes it possible to obtain a result with higher accuracy than when one set of stereo image pairs is used.
In the above-described stereo image distance measurement system, in order to determine the pixel on the standard image corresponding to the pixel mb on the standard image plane, a search is made (mutual correlation values are compared) discretely on the epipolar line. In order to measure a distance with a higher accuracy, it is preferable that a search be made on the epipolar line at shorter intervals.
However, on the epipolar line, if the number of searches is increased, the number of computations is increased correspondingly, resulting in problems in that the scale of the system is increased and the processing time is increased.
The present invention has been achieved in view of such circumstances. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to measure a distance with a higher accuracy without increasing the number of searches which must be performed.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for measuring a distance to an object by using a plurality of images of the same photographed object, the image processing apparatus comprising: first extraction means for extracting, from a first reference image, a first candidate pixel which is a candidate for a first corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on a standard image, for each distance in a first group of distances formed of a plurality of distances which are set discretely in a measurement range; second extraction means for extracting, from a second reference image, a second candidate pixel which is a candidate for a second corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on the standard image, for each distance in a second group of distances formed of a plurality of distances, different from those of the first group of distances, which are set discretely in a measurement range; computation means for measuring a similarity between the desired pixel on the standard image and the first candidate pixel on the first reference image, and a similarity between the desired pixel on the standard image and the second candidate pixel on the second reference image; and determination means for determining the distance to the object on the basis of the result computed by the computation means.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method for measuring a distance to an object by using a plurality of images of the same photographed object, the image processing method comprising: extracting, from a first reference image, a first candidate pixel which is a candidate for a first corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on a standard image, for each distance in a first group of distances formed of a plurality of distances which are set discretely in a measurement range; extracting, from a second reference image, a second candidate pixel which is a candidate for a second corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on the standard image, for each distance in a second group of distances formed of a plurality of distances, different from those of the first group of distances, which are set discretely in a measurement range; measuring a similarity between the desired pixel on the standard image and the first candidate pixel on the first reference image, and a similarity between the desired pixel on the standard image and the second candidate pixel on the second reference image; and determining the distance to the object on the basis of the result computed by the computation means.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium for providing instructions to an image processing apparatus to execute a process for measuring a distance to an object by using a plurality of images of the same photographed object, the process comprising the steps of: extracting, from a first reference image, a first candidate pixel which is a candidate for a first corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on a standard image, for each distance in a first group of distances formed of a plurality of distances which are set discretely in a measurement range; extracting, from a second reference image, a second candidate pixel which is a candidate for a second corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on the standard image, for each distance in a second group of distances formed of a plurality of distances, different from those of the first group of distances, which are set discretely in a measurement range; measuring a similarity between the desired pixel on the standard image and the first candidate pixel on the first reference image, and a similarity between the desired pixel on the standard image and the second candidate pixel on the second reference image; and determining the distance to the object on the basis of the result computed by the computation means.
In the image processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention, first extraction means extracts, from a first reference image, a first candidate pixel which is a candidate for a first corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on a standard image, for each distance in a first group of distances formed of a plurality of distances which are set discretely in a measurement range; second extraction means extracts, from a second reference image, a second candidate pixel which is a candidate for a second corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on the standard image, for each distance in a second group of distances formed of a plurality of distances, different from those of the first group of distances, which are set discretely in a measurement range; computation means measures a similarity between the desired pixel on the standard image and the first candidate pixel on the first reference image, and a similarity between the desired pixel on the standard image and the second candidate pixel on the second reference image; and determination means determines the distance to the object on the basis of the result computed by the computation means.
In the image processing method and the medium therefor in accordance with the present invention, in the first extraction step, a first candidate pixel which is a candidate for a first corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on a standard image is extracted from a first reference image, for each distance in a first group of distances formed of a plurality of distances which are set discretely in a measurement range. In the second extraction step, a second candidate pixel which is a candidate for a second corresponding pixel corresponding to a desired pixel on the standard image is extracted from a second reference image, for each distance in a second group of distances formed of a plurality of distances, different from those of the first group of distances, which are set discretely in a measurement range. In the measurement step, a similarity is measured between the desired pixel on the standard image and the first candidate pixel on the first reference image, and a similarity is measured between the desired pixel on the standard image and the second candidate pixel on the second reference image. In the determination step, the distance to the object is determined on the basis of the result computed by the computation means.
The above and further objects, aspects and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Image processing apparatus and method, and medium therefor


Improved lithographic printing plates adapted to be imagewise-exposed with ultraviolet- or visible-light-emitting lasers such as argon-ion lasers and frequency doubled Nd:YAG lasers, are comprised of a radiation-sensitive layer and an oxygen barrier layer. The radiation-sensitive layer includes one or more addition-polymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated compounds and a photopolymerization initiator system comprised of a spectral sensitizer that sensitizes in the ultraviolet or visible regions of the spectrum and an N-aryl, O-aryl or S-aryl polycarboxylic acid co-initiator; the oxygen barrier layer comprises fully hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol; and a basic compound is incorporated in the oxygen barrier layer or the radiation-sensitive layer or both in an amount sufficient to control thermal fog susceptibility of the lithographic printing plate. Such plates are able to effectively meet the requirements of very high photospeed, freedom from thermal fog and very good shelf-life required in computer-to-plate systems.

It is well known in the art relating to the manufacture of lithographic printing plates to utilize a photopolymerizable composition as the image-forming layer. Typical photopolymerizable compositions for this purpose comprise one or more addition-polymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated compounds and a photopolymerization initiator system. The addition-polymerizable compounds can be monomers, oligomers or polymers, or mixtures thereof, and frequently the photopolymerizable composition will also include a film-forming polymeric binder.
Photopolymerizable compositions of the type which are suitable for direct digital exposure are of increasing importance to the printing industry. Such compositions find particular utility in so-called "direct-to-plate" or "computer-to-plate" systems which utilize image setters. Practical considerations have resulted in visible-light-emitting lasers, such as low power argon-ion lasers, being preferred for use with plate-capable image setters. The need for high writing speeds, coupled with the constraint of the low-powered lasers favored in the industry, has resulted in a requirement for printing plates that have very high photosensitivities. However, high photosensitivity alone is not enough as it is essential that the photopolymerizable composition also have good shelf-life.
In an effort to meet the dual objectives of high photosensitivity and good shelf-life, the prior art has proposed the use of a wide variety of different photopolymerization initiator systems, but has not been fully successful in simultaneously meeting the dual objectives. Among the most effective prior art photopolymerization initiator systems are those which comprise a spectral sensitizing dye and an N-aryl-.alpha.-amino acid, such as N-phenylglycine (NPG) or a derivative thereof, as a co-initiator. Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,751 describes an initiator system comprising NPG and an amine-substituted ketocoumarin; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,868,092 and 4,965,171 describe an initiator system in which the spectral sensitizing dye is a xanthene, coumarin or merocyanine and which includes both NPG, or certain derivatives thereof, and a diaryliodonium salt; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,236 describes an initiator system which includes an N-aryl-.alpha.-amino acid, such as NPG, and in which the spectral sensitizing dye is a thioxanthone, an isoalloxanine or a coumarin. Photopolymerizable compositions containing an initiator system comprising a coumarin, an iodonium salt and NPG are also described in J. P. Fouassier et al, "A New Three-Component System In Visible Laser Light Photo-Induced Polymerization", Journal Of Imaging Science And Technology, Vol. 37, No. 2, March/April, 1993.
In addition to the use of N-aryl-.alpha.-amino acids as co-initiators, it is also known to employ O-aryl and S-aryl compounds as described for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,069, issued Jul. 3, 1990.
Photoinitiating systems of the bimolecular type consisting of a radical generator and a sensitizing dye and mechanisms whereby they are believed to function are described in Yamaoka et al, "N-Phenylglycine-(Thio)xanthene Dye Photoinitiating System and Application to Photopolymer for Visible Laser Exposure", Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 38, 1271-1285 (1989). As pointed out by Yamaoka et al, bimolecular type photoinitiators consisting of N-phenylglycine and a xanthene or thioxanthene dye exhibit high initiating efficiency. However, such systems are deficient in regard to shelf-life.
Fluorone dyes are shown to work well as visible light photoinitiators in combination with NPG and iodonium salts in an article by Thomas L. Marino et al, entitled "Chemistry And Properties Of Novel Fluorone Visible Light Photoinitiators" published in the Proceedings of the Radtech '94 Conference, Vol. 1 page 1691, 1994 by Radtech International North America. The fluorone dyes described provide panchromatic absorption throughout the visible spectrum.
Use of NPG as a co-initiator in a photopolymerization initiator system provides excellent photospeed, but the composition tends to rapidly lose photospeed on aging, i.e., its shelf-life is poor. Thus, for example, D. F. Eaton has noted that the improvements in photosensitivity provided by amine activators in general and by NPG in particular are lost within days of preparation of photosensitive films containing such materials. See "Dye Sensitized Photopolymerization" by D. F. Eaton in Advances In Photochemistry, Vol. 13, D. Volman, K. Gollnick and G. S. Hammond, eds., Wiley Interscience (1986).
European Patent Application No. 0 522 568, published Jan. 13, 1993, describes a photopolymerizable composition in which the NPG co-initiator has been derivatized with a compound such as glycidyl methacrylate in an effort to improve shelf-life. Such use of glycidyl methacrylate is, however, highly undesirable from an environmental standpoint, because of concerns relating to toxicity, and improvement in shelf-life is marginal at best.
Additional references relating to the use of iodonium salts in photopolymerizable compositions include Japanese Patent No. 1,660,964 (Patent Application No. 58-198085, filed Oct. 21, 1983, KOKAI No. 60-88005, published May 17, 1985, KOKOKU No. 3-62162, published Sep. 25, 1991) which describes a photopolymerization initiator system comprising a 3-ketocoumarin and a diaryl iodonium salt; U.S. Pat. No. No. 4,921,827, issued May 1, 1990, which describes a photopolymerization initiator system comprising at least one merocyanine sensitizer containing a constrained alkylamino group and an initiator selected from the group consisting of photosensitive iodonium salts, sulfonium salts and halomethyl s-triazines; and European Patent Application No. 0 290 133 which describes a photopolymerization initiator system comprising an aryliodonium salt, a sensitizer and an electron donor having an oxidation potential that is greater than zero and less than or equal to that of p-dimethoxybenzene.
A particularly advantageous photopolymerizable composition which meets the needs of the art for both high sensitivity and good shelf life is described in copending commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 395,352, filed Feb. 28, 1995, "Sensitized Photopolymerizable Compositions And Use Thereof In Lithographic Printing Plates" by Paul R. West and Jeffery A. Gurney. As described in this patent application, the improved photopolymerizable composition is comprised of:
In addition to the spectral sensitizer and the polycarboxylic acid co-initiator, it is preferred to include in the photopolymerization initiator system of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 395,352 a second co-initiator selected from the group consisting of (1) iodonium salts, (2) titanocenes, (3) haloalkyl-substituted s-triazines, (4) hexaaryl bisimidazoles, (5) photooxidants containing a heterocyclic nitrogen atom that is substituted by either an alkoxy group or an acyloxy group such as, for example, the N-alkoxypyridinium-salts, and (6) alkyltriarylborate salts.
As also described in the aforesaid patent application, the photopolymerizable imaging layer is preferably overcoated with an oxygen barrier layer in order to realize maximum photosensitivity and particularly good results are obtained with oxygen barrier layers composed of polyvinyl alcohol. Use of polyvinyl alcohols which are fully hydrolyzed, for example 98% hydrolyzed, is preferred, in particular because of the improved adhesion of the oxygen barrier layer to the underlying photopolymerizable imaging layer that is achieved. It is believed that the need for fully hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol in the oxygen barrier layer to obtain good adhesion is dictated by the presence in the photopolymerizable layer of ionic or zwitterionic materials such as alkoxypyridinium salts, iodonium salts and/or N-aryl, O-aryl or S-aryl polycarboxylic acids. While the use of fully hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol effectively avoids the adhesion problem, it results in greatly increased susceptibility to thermal fogging. In particular, the lithographic printing plate has a tendency to incompletely develop in the non-exposed areas if exposed to high temperatures. Such exposure to high temperatures can occur, for example, during storage of the plate. Use of a less than fully hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, for example use of 88% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, avoids the thermal fogging problem but results in poor adhesion.
It is toward the objective of providing an improved lithographic printing plate which overcomes both the problem of poor adhesion and the problem of thermal fogging that the present invention is directed.

Lithographic printing plates having a photopolymerizable imaging layer overcoated with an oxygen barrier layer


A continuous passive motion device for achieving full extension of the leg of a patient includes a base and a four-bar articulated limb support member which is mounted for movement on the base. For the articulated limb support member one bar is a femoral support member which is pivotally mounted on the base. Another one of the bars is a tibial support member which is pivotally joined to the femoral support member. Also included in the device is a drive bar which has a first end reciprocally mounted on the base of the device and a second end which is pivotally attached to the femoral support member. A cross bar having a first end pivotally attached to the tibial support member and having a second end pivotally attached to the drive bar interconnects the tibial support member and the drive bar. The device further includes a motor which is connected to the device for reciprocating the first end of the drive bar to alter the configuration of the device for exercising the leg. A method is disclosed for passively exercising the leg of a patient, using the above described device.

As is well known, there are many different types of leg injuries. Not surprisingly, each type of leg injury is characterized by its own complexities and requires its own special and unique form of treatment. Like other kinds of injuries where bones may be broken and tissue may be torn or ruptured, the healing and rehabilitation process for leg injuries is typically complicated. Normally, this healing process evolves in stages and, it is not uncommon for there to be different prescribed treatments during the different stages of the healing process. One form of rehabilitative therapy which is extensively used during prescribed portions of the leg healing process is accomplished using continuous passive motion (CPM) devices.
Unlike active motion of a leg which results when the patient has sufficient muscle strength to bend the joint and flex or extend the leg, passive motion is caused or induced by the application of external forces to the leg. Of course, passive motion can be manually accomplished by a trained therapist. This, however, can be very tiring for the therapist and can be somewhat inaccurate. Therefore, CPM is most often accomplished by attaching a mechanical device to the affected limb which will move the limb through a prescribed motion regimen for appropriate periods of time. It is well known that when such devices are properly used, continuous passive motion of a jointed limb can have several beneficial effects. To name but a few, continuous passive motion is known to reduce post-operative pain, to decrease muscle atrophy caused by immobility of the limb and, to enhance the speed of recovery.
For many prescribed rehabilitation therapy regimens, it is very important that the CPM device precisely accomplish the desired movement and articulation of the limb. In some instances, this needs to be accomplished even in opposition to any active forces which the patient may voluntarily or involuntarily create against the device. Stated differently, there are passive motion regimens for leg rehabilitation wherein it is essential that the leg be predictably moved, both as to time and position.
Several CPM devices have been proposed for use in therapy for the rehabilitation of legs. Though these devices commonly include an articulable base for supporting the leg, and an associated motor assembly for articulating this base, the specifics of their structures are conceived and designed with different purposes and objectives in mind. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,060 which issued to Precheux for an invention entitled "Splint" discloses a device which incorporates traction to provide some partial passive motion for the limb. Unlike the device of the present invention, the Precheux patent discloses a device which requires active movement by the patient to accomplish a full extension of the leg. Further, it relies on elastic members or counterweights to assist in this movement. In reality, the device of the Precheux is not a purely passive device. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,440 which issued to Berner et al. for an invention entitled "Orthosis for Leg Movement with Virtual Hip Pivot". Essentially, the Berner et al. patent discloses a cradle on which the leg rests, and which requires a double, or stacked, four-bar assembly that must be intricately and precisely aligned to establish the virtual hip movement in accordance with the particular anatomy of the patient. The Berner et al. patent is primarily concerned with maintaining leg movement relative to a virtual hip. Neither the Precheux device nor the Berner et al. device, however, are specifically constructed to accomplish all of the objectives of the present invention.
Specifically the present invention recognizes that in the rehabilitation of the knee joint, care must be taken not to provide inappropriate constraints on the joint. This is especially true with a patient who has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. As the knee flexes and extends, the articular surfaces undergo a combination of rolling and gliding movements. These movements are controlled by a combination of the forces of the muscle-tendon units, the ligamentous constraints, and the bony geometry.
During flexion and extension, the tibia undergoes a combined translational and rotational movement relative to the femur. If the cruciate ligaments are approximately isometric, that is, if they do not stretch or shorten significantly as the knee bends, then the flexion angle determines the orientation of these ligaments. The cruciate ligaments control the sliding/rolling movement needed to match the long femoral surface to the shorter tibial surface. If a constraint is added by the CPM device, the coupling between the bones changes and new and different loads are applied to the coupling structures. As an example, if the femur and foot are not properly supported during extension the tibia may be forced in an anterior direction relative to the femur. For a patient who has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, this may be painful and detrimental to the rehabilitation process.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a CPM device which ensures full extension of the leg. Another object of the present invention is to provide a CPM device in which the tibia is not moved anteriorly relative to the femur during extension of the leg. Another object of the present invention is to provide a CPM device which requires either a continuously positive or negative rate of change in the angle of the leg as the leg is being respectively extended or flexed. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a CPM device which maintains the cooperation of the leg with the device during cyclical operation of the device. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a CPM device which has a stall capability that establishes a threshold beyond which the patient can actively stop the operation of the device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a CPM device which is simple to operate, relatively easy to manufacture, and comparatively cost effective.

Continuous passive motion device for full extension of leg


An optical element for a light source and a lighting system using the optical element are disclosed. In example embodiments, the optical element includes an entry surface and an exit surface opposite the entry surface. The entry surface includes at least three subsurfaces, wherein each subsurface is disposed to receive light rays leaving light source. Each of the three subsurfaces is geometrically shaped and positioned to receive light rays entering the optical element through that subsurface in order to direct the light passing through the optical element. In some embodiments the optical element includes a concentrator lens disposed in the exit surface. The optical element can also include a mixing treatment. A lighting system can include multiple optical elements, each paired with a light source such as an LED or LED package.

Light emitting diode (LED) lighting systems are becoming more prevalent as replacements for existing lighting systems. LEDs are an example of solid state lighting and have advantages over traditional lighting solutions such as incandescent and fluorescent lighting because they use less energy, are more durable, operate longer, can be combined in red-blue-green arrays that can be controlled to deliver virtually any color light, and contain no lead or mercury.
In many applications, one or more LED dies (or chips) are mounted within an LED package or on an LED module, which may make up part of a lighting fixture which includes one or more power supplies to power the LEDs. Some lighting fixtures include multiple LED modules. A module or strip of a fixture includes a packaging material with metal leads (to the LED dies from outside circuits), a protective housing for the LED dies, a heat sink, or a combination of leads, housing and heat sink.
An LED fixture may be made with a form factor that allows it to replace a standard threaded incandescent bulb, or any of various types of fluorescent lamps. LED fixtures and lamps often include some type of optical elements external to the LED modules themselves. Such optical elements may allow for localized mixing of colors, collimate light, and/or provide the minimum beam angle possible.
Optical elements may include reflectors, lenses, or a combination of the two. Reflectors can be, for example, of the metallic or mirrored type, in which light reflects of opaque silvered surfaces. Reflectors may also be made of glass or plastic and function through the principle of total internal reflection (TIR) in which light reflects inside the optical element because it strikes an edge of the element at and angle which is equal to or greater than the critical angle relative to the normal vector.

Optical element for a light source and lighting system using same