Aspects described herein relate to measuring a signal quality at at least one receive beam while transmitting, in full duplex communications, over each of one or more transmit beams associated with the at least one receive beam, and determining, based at least in part on the measured signal quality associated with each of the one or more transmit beams and the at least one receive beam, a transmit/receive beam pair to use in full duplex communications with one or more other nodes.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to determining beams to use in full duplex wireless communications.
Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems, and orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems.
These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. For example, a fifth generation (5G) wireless communications technology (which can be referred to as 5G new radio (5G NR)) is envisaged to expand and support diverse usage scenarios and applications with respect to current mobile network generations. In an aspect, 5G communications technology can include: enhanced mobile broadband addressing human-centric use cases for access to multimedia content, services and data; ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) with certain specifications for latency and reliability; and massive machine type communications, which can allow a very large number of connected devices and transmission of a relatively low volume of non-delay-sensitive information.
In some wireless communication technologies, an access point and/or other nodes can be configured for full duplex (FD) communications where the access point or other node can concurrently transmit and receive over wireless communication resources within the same frequency band or the same component carrier. Access points can communicate with one another over one or more backhaul links; however, there can be clutter in a wireless communications path between two access points or other nodes, which can have an impact on signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) at one or more of the access points or other nodes.

Techniques for beam training in full duplex wireless communications


This disclosure provides devices and methods for limiting the duration of pulses resulting from frequency modulation so as to provide for better propagation of a frequency doubler output within a communication device. The frequency doubler may be configured to receive a frequency doubler input and produce a modified frequency doubler output, wherein the frequency doubler includes a first flip-flop gate configured to receive a data input, a reset input, and a clock input and produce a first gate output; a first delay control configured to receive the gate output and produce a first delayed control output; and a first logic gate configured to receive the delayed control output and the frequency doubler input and produce a first logic gate output, wherein the modified frequency doubler output is based on the first logic gate output.

As wireless communications begin to operate in higher frequencies, new problems arise when formulating solutions to meet the increasing demands for higher speeds and data throughputs while also considering hardware complexity and implementation issues. These problems may arise in the transmission and/or reception of signals between two or more devices or in the signal processing within a device itself. For instance, the introduction of devices operating at higher frequencies, e.g. in Wi-Fi devices operating in frequencies up to 7.2 GHz or beyond, presents issues in the modulation of signals for transmission. At these higher frequencies, propagating pulsed signals between signal processing components within a device prior to transmission becomes much more challenging due to the decreased duration of the pulses as a result of the frequency modulation. While these issues may presently be more prevalent in Wi-Fi communications operating in the 7.2 GHZ frequency band, for example, these issues may also apply to other radio access technologies (RATs) as they begin to operate in higher frequency bands.

Frequency doubler pulse limiter and methods for limiting pulse widths produced by a frequency doubler


The invention claimed is a method for creating and utilizing a paper intermediary, ideally termed a document routing form, to serve as a lead sheet to a set of documents to be scanned on a scanner connected to a computer, or a computer connected to a workgroup. Computer readable data, such as bar code, printed on the routing form serve as data instructions to the inventive software to process a set of scanned documents in a variety of end outcome options. The document routing forms may be printed on an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper, or on an adhesive type label, and contain selection options that determine an outcome to documents scanned.

The invention most closely corresponds with USPTO Class 399, wherein the invention provides for machine control and document handling via electrophotography and software for control thereof.
In its simplest form, the invention comprises a paper medium upon which a User may place instructions relating to a set of scanned items, or "scan job". An example may be a User simply hand writing "fax to Bob" on the paper medium and placing it as the lead page to the items to be scanned. The inventive method, having the capability to recognize the characters "fax to Bob", then processes the scan as per the instructions on the document routing form. A second example is a document routing form on which is encoded complete data instructions wherein a User does not have to intervene. Another example may be comprised of a routing form with coded data that includes direction to the inventive software to obtain information from a secondary source, such as a User's electronic archive, in order to process the scan job. Currently, there exists no identifiable process for utilizing a paper intermediary which essentially "instructs" a scanner and its appropriate software on what actions to take in regard to a scan job. The invention relates primarily to an environment or configuration comprising a user's computer with a scanner attached thereto.
The scanning process as it exists prior to the invention requires a user to place items to be scanned in or upon a scanner, make some choice as to the character of the scan, i.e. press a button on the physical scanner or give commands in a software program which was previously installed on a user's computer. Typically such software was bundled with the scanner when purchased. The scan job is then processed optically and results in either a printed or electronic form, such as a simple copy of the document scanned. The invention herein provides for a paper medium which will instruct the scanner how to process the scan job, and offers routing form options which range from requiring no User intervention (a novice computer user) to enabling a more advanced User to insert additional instruction data. The printed paper medium contains coded data instructions specifying the nature and outcome of the scan job to the scanner. The best example being termed a "document routing form".
The document routing form allows a user to quickly and efficiently perform a scan job without having to configure the scanner either manually or via software. The document routing form may contain all required data to instruct the scanner as to how to process the scan job without other computative intervention, or the form may contain data instructions to cause the inventive software to seek data from a secondary location to complete the scan job. An example of a secondary program being a User's electronic archive containing data such as an email address, or fax number. Accordingly, the invention provides a significant benefit to the market in terms of providing an efficient, user friendly method to route scanned documents to an ultimate source. A further benefit of the invention results in the option of use of a single scanner by multiple Users thereby obtaining the maximum benefit from a single scanner purchase. The inventive software allows a User to create and a print a document routing form. Once printed, the User takes the form and processes his scan job utilizing a scanner connected to a computer at a location other than his workstation or office. The inventive software provides for program code which then electronically returns the scanned documents as a file to the User's computer. Once the User returns to his desk, the scanned documents are existent on his computer in electronic format.

Document routing method for utilizing paper medium to direct outcome of scanned documents and software therefor

Abstract: Options for end outcomes may include processing the scan as an email, a fax, or being sent to a User's electronic archive. The inventive software facilitates data retrieval from a secondary source such as a User's electronic archive to be utilized in the outcome process. The inventive method also allows for a combination of encoded data and hand written data to be read from a document routing form, and processed by a secondary program such as an email or fax program.


A system and method in a network-based telephone system for simulating a typical plain old telephone system (POTS) connection by generating sounds in response to conditions in the telephone connection that simulate POTS sounds that occur during the typical POTS connection. Telephones in a network-based telephone system are connected to a wide-area network (WAN) such as the Internet via an Internet telephony gateway. A calling telephone connects to the local exchange carrier to permit a user to connect to a calling Internet telephony gateway by dialing an access telephone number. The calling Internet telephony gateway receives access information and the destination telephone number and uses the destination telephone number to determine the Internet telephony gateway that is closest to the called telephone with the destination telephone number. The calling Internet telephony gateway connects to the called Internet telephony gateway which connects to the called telephone number. During the setup of the connection, the calling Internet telephony gateway generates dialing sounds to the calling telephone. The Internet telephony gateway may also generate busy signals, fast busy signals, click sounds and comfort noise sounds to provide the caller with a POTS feel.

The present invention relates to telephony services using a wide-area network (WAN) as a transport medium, and more particularly to the simulation of telephone use in an Internet-based telephone system.
The growth of the Internet has made it possible for users to obtain information from sources located virtually anywhere in the world. Users communicate over the Internet by connecting computers and computer networks to the Internet""s data transport facilities.
In order to facilitate such communication, industry and international standards bodies have established sets of functional requirements, conventions or rules that govern the transmission of data over both telephone and packet switched computer networks. These functional requirements or rules are known in the art as xe2x80x9cprotocols.xe2x80x9d The implementation of protocols is necessary in order to bring order, and standardization, to the communications field and allow equipment of diverse manufacturers to be interoperable.
Some protocols are considered low level transmission media related modulation protocols, such as modulation schemes implemented in a modem, for example V.34, V.22 bis, etc. Other protocols are considered higher level, and relate to such features as error control, transmission control protocols and network level routing and encapsulation of data. Examples of such protocols are the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), the Serial Line Interface Protocol (SLIP), and the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP). The requirements of these latter protocols are typically prepared as a xe2x80x9cRequest For Commentxe2x80x9d document, circulated among the industry, and eventually adopted by developers.
Developers have applied the various functions defined in protocols to develop devices and systems that improve the performance and capabilities of the Internet. One such device is a xe2x80x9cnetwork access serverxe2x80x9d. The network access server is a device that is capable of receiving a plurality of simultaneous incoming calls from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and routing them to a packet switched computer network for transmission to a host computer system, or telephone or other device connected to the computer network. The network access server is also capable of handling multiple simultaneous calls from the computer network and directing them onto a communications link in the PSTN for transmission to the remote user.
The patent to Dale M. Walsh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,595, which is fully incorporated by reference herein, describes an integrated network access server suitable for use in the present invention. Such a device has been commercialized widely by 3Com Corporation (previously U.S. Robotics Corp.) under the trade designation Total Control(trademark) Enterprise Network Hub. Network access servers similar in functionality, architecture and design are available from other companies, including Ascend Communications, Livingston Enterprises, Multitech, and others. The invention is suitable for implementation in network access servers from the above companies, and other similar devices.
Improvements in network access servers and in the development of protocols for a variety of functions have resulted in the development of other applications for the Internet. For example, Internet Telephony would use the Internet to connect two or more plain old telephones (POTS). Internet telephony would make long distance calls substantially less costly. Internet telephony would potentially add functions to phone service that may currently not be easy to provide. For example, impromptu conferences (like CHAT ROOMS), anonymous meeting services, etc. may be needed.
Examples of Internet telephony systems are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/970,834, xe2x80x9cDISTRIBUTED PROCESSING OF HIGH LEVEL PROTOCOLS, SUCH AS REAL TIME TRANSPORT PROTOCOLS, IN A NETWORK ACCESS SERVERxe2x80x9d to Daniel Schoo et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference. Schoo et al. discloses a network access server that uses the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) to connect a H.323 client PC to a telephone. In the system in Schoo et al., telecommunications devices may connect via the PSTN to a network access server. The network access server converts audio and video signals to separate audio and video streams in H.323 format. The streams are transported over the Internet to H.323 computers connected to the Internet.
The systems disclosed in Schoo et al. are particularly suited for use in real-time video conferencing. It would be desirable to have an Internet telephony system that would provide the functions and services of a plain-old telephone service. One way to connect two telephones over a wide-area network (WAN), such as the Internet, is to connect them to separate, called and calling, network access servers by using methods and systems disclosed in Schoo et al. The first telephone would communicate with the second telephone by starting Internet sessions to carry audio signals from the called network access server to the calling network access server closest to the second telephone. The calling network access server may dial a call to the second telephone according to call-setup instructions from the called network access server. The advantage of using the Internet for telephone service is that long distance calls may be made for the cost of local calls and new features may be added to phone service. When the first telephone initiates the connection by connecting to the first network access server, it makes a local call.
In order to communicate audio signals in an Internet-based telephone system, the network access server uses the audio signals received from the first telephone over the PSTN. These audio signals are typically pulse code modulated (PCM) signals according to the international G.711 standard. As described in Schoo et al., G.711 audio signals may need to be transcoded to G.723 or G.729 compressed audio signals to conserve bandwidth. The compressed audio signals are packetized and communicated in streams of packets over the Internet as discussed in Schoo et al.
The sound made on a telephone in an Internet-based telephone system is transported to the destination telephone number in a digitized form. Consequently, many of the sounds associated with plain old telephone service (POTS) over analog lines are not transported. For example, periods of silence in a POTS telephone create a sound while the telephone connection is available. The sound may be a soft noise, however, it is perceptible and different from the complete silence that a user would hear when the connection is no longer available. Many of the sounds in a POTS telephone may arise from limitations of the telephone system, however, the sounds provide feedback to the user that informs the user as to the status of the connection. Many of these sounds are so familiar that they are capable of communicating the status of a call more efficiently than a voice message.
The digitized form in which sound is transported in an Internet-based telephone system may not allow a user to determine the status of a call. The digitized form may sound completely silent during periods of silence. The sound heard by the user is different from the sound heard on a POTS telephone. In an Internet-based telephone system, a user picks up a telephone and hears complete silence before beginning to dial. There would be no indication that the telephone system is even working. Tones may be generated during dialing. However, until voices are generated at the telephone, the user hears nothing. If the other party in the telephone call hangs up first, only silence is heard. The user may let several seconds elapse before wondering if perhaps the other party hung up. Users may find it difficult to accept such differences in Internet-telephone service.
It would be desirable for the network-based telephone system to sound more like a plain old telephone to provide a user of the network-based telephone the xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d of plain old analog telephone service.
In view of the above, a network-based telephone system provides telephone connections in a network-based telephone system with the feel of a typical POTS telephone connection. A telephone connection in the network-based telephone system permits a calling telecommunications device and a called telecommunications device to communicate over a wide-area network (WAN). The system comprises a calling network access server connected to the calling telecommunications device and a called network access server connected to the called telecommunications device.
The calling network access server comprises a call process driver for connecting to the called network access server to initiate a telephone connection when a user actuates the calling telecommunications device. The call process driver also monitors and detects conditions in the telephone connection. The calling network access server also includes a POTS-sound generator for generating POTS-sounds similar to sounds made in the typical POTS telephone connection when the call process driver detects a corresponding condition in the telephone connection. The POTS-sounds may be generated using WAV files or by inputting strings of sound data in the telephone connection. The sounds are communicated to the calling telecommunications device, the called telecommunications device or both. The called network access server completes the telephone connection by connecting to the called telecommunications device when the call process driver connects to the called network access server.
The telephone connection provides the user with a POTS-like xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d because the user hears sounds that are familiar and for which the causes are well known. For example, a user on a telephone in a POTS service knows that a xe2x80x9cclickxe2x80x9d sound from the other party is an indication that the other party is no longer connected. The POTS-sound generator makes it possible to give the user a similar type of feedback over an Internet-telephone connection.
In another aspect of the invention, a method provides a network-based telephone connection with a POTS-like feel. The network-based telephone system comprises a calling telecommunications device communicably connected to a wide area network (WAN) to communicate with a called telecommunications device. The method provides a POTS-like feel by simulating a typical plain old telephone system (POTS) connection for a user of the telecommunications device. According to the method, a condition is detected in a telephone connection between the calling telecommunications device and the at least one called telecommunications devices. A sound is generated in response to the condition. The sound is similar to a corresponding POTS sound when a POTS condition corresponding to the condition exists in the typical POTS telephone connection.
In another aspect of the present invention, the method further includes steps for establishing the telephone connection when the user actuates the telecommunications device to connect to the WAN. A destination telephone number is dialed to the called telecommunications device. A dialing sound similar to a corresponding dialing sound in the typical POTS connection is generated while the telephone connection is being established. The calling telecommunications device is connected to the called telecommunications device using the destination telephone number. The telephone connection is completed by actuating the called telecommunications device.
These and many other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

System and method for simulating telephone use in a network telephone system


A telephone headset including a boom microphone, an earphone, and an ear support constructed and arranged to be adjusted and comfortable for a wearer. The headset is configured with an adjustable ear support to fit a variety of ear sizes without affecting the balance of the ear support on the ear of the wearer. The ear support includes a rotational hinge which is biased into a given position by a compression washer. The earphone is removably and adjustably attached to a mounting ring which in turn is smoothly is movably attached to the ear support by a spring biased ball and socket joint. The combination of flexible joints and removability of the earphone provides the degrees of freedom and striction necessary to permit the earphone to be worn comfortably on either ear of the wearer. A strain relief for the electrical connections is attached to the earphone which directs the electrical connections toward the plane of the head, thereby eliminating a torque which otherwise would tend to dislodge the ear support from the ear. The earphone includes a series of openings in its rear surface to maximize its acoustics. The boom microphone includes a spring biased ball and socket joint to movably fix the orientation of the microphone with respect to the wearer to a good comfort level. The boom microphone ball and socket joint is configured with a tab and stop to prohibit 360 degree rotation of the boom to prevent strain on the electrical connections to the microphone.

Telephone headsets permit the use of a telephone microphone and earphone while freeing the user's hands for other activities such as note taking and computer keyboard entry. The earliest forms of headsets included an earphone portion which included an over-the-head band which positioned a speaker adjacent the ear of a user and a microphone portion which rested on the user's chest and which included a "horn" to conduct sound from the user's mouth to the microphone. As the technology progressed, the headsets became smaller and lighter and the modern headset now includes a ear support portion which rests on the ear of a user and which positions an earphone against the ear of a user without the use of an over-the-head band. The microphone portion of a modern headset may include a microphone at the end of a boom attached to the ear support, or alternatively the microphone may be positioned within the ear support and sound brought to it from the user's mouth by way of a hollow boom.
The concern today is to make the headset as non-intrusive and comfortable as possible. In such an attempt to make the new headsets more comfortable, the ear support has been contoured to better fit between the pinna of the ear and the mastoid process of the skull and has been made to adjust to a wide variety of ear sizes. However, the boom microphone and the electrical cable apply torques to the ear support which tends to dislodge the headset from the ear of the wearer. This tendency reduces the comfort level of the wearer.
The present invention provides a headset in which the ear support is adjustable to fit a variety of ear sizes without affecting the balance of the ear support on the ear of the wearer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Triangular wave oscillation circuits generate A-wave and B-wave with phases opposite to each other, and are capable of independently controlling oscillation levels of the A-wave and the B-wave. A slope switching circuit including an output voltage monitoring circuit, a slope switching control circuit, and an inverter, monitors output voltages of the triangular wave oscillation circuits, to switch an output voltage generation mode of one triangular wave oscillation circuit whose triangular wave reaches a high level, from an up-slope waveform mode to a down-slope waveform mode, and to switch an output voltage generation mode of the other triangular wave oscillation circuit, from the down-slope waveform mode to the up-slope waveform mode. An oscillation level control circuit controls an oscillation level of the other triangular wave oscillation circuit so that the output voltage of the other of the triangular wave oscillation circuit becomes a reference lower limit crest value during the switching.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology of generating triangular waves, and more particularly, to a technology of generating two phased triangular waves with phases opposite to each other.
2. Description of Related Art
Up to now, a switching regulator is often used for a device incorporating a single high-current power supply, such as a television device or a personal computer. In recent years, along with a demand for a reduction in size, a prolonged battery life, or the like of a mobile device, the switching regulator is generally implemented in the mobile device, and functional blocks such as a CPU, a memory, and a display panel are supplied with power using a single chip.
However, power supply voltages or currents required by the functional blocks are different from each other. Accordingly, in a case of supplying power to those functional blocks by using a single chip, when control thereof is performed with a single triangular wave as a reference, there is a limit to an increase in efficiency and a reduction in size of peripheral parts. If triangular waves with phases opposite to each other are used for the control by the switching regulator with an output of a multi-power supply, a further increase in efficiency and down-sizing of parts can be achieved.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-50310 discloses a triangular wave generation circuit for generating two phased triangular waves with phases opposite to each other. FIG. 11 shows the triangular wave generation circuit disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-50310, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-50310.
As shown in FIG. 11, the triangular wave generation circuit includes: a triangular wave generation circuit 10A; a triangular wave generation circuit 10B; a midpoint potential fixing unit 20 for fixing a midpoint potential VN between output voltages of an A-wave and a B-wave of the triangular wave generation circuits 10A and 10B at a constant value (reference midpoint potential VRN); and a mode switching unit 30 for switching an output voltage generation mode (up-slope waveform generation mode or down-slope waveform generation mode) of each of the triangular wave generation circuits 10A and 10B.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the triangular wave generation circuits 10A and 10B share a source constant-current circuit 14M and a sink constant-current circuit 16M in a switching manner. Specifically, the source constant-current circuit 14M is selectively connected to one of a first node NA and a second node NB through a changeover switch 18P. The sink constant-current circuit 16M is selectively connected to one of the first node NA and the second node NB through a changeover switch 18Q. The changeover switches 18P and 18Q operate in response to a switching control signal CS from a switching control circuit 36 of the mode switching unit 30. The source constant-current circuit 14M is configured as a PMOS transistor having a constant bias. The sink constant-current circuit 16M is configured as an NMOS transistor having a variable bias, and an output of a midpoint potential control circuit 24 provided to the midpoint potential fixing unit 20 is input as a bias to a control terminal of the sink constant-current circuit 16M.
The midpoint potential fixing unit 20 includes a midpoint potential detection circuit 22 and the midpoint potential control circuit 24. The midpoint potential detection circuit 22 includes resistors 26A and 26B having the same resistance value, and detects the midpoint potential VN between the A-wave and the B-wave. The midpoint potential control circuit 24 controls an output current of the sink constant-current circuit 16M so that the midpoint potential VN becomes equal to the reference midpoint potential VRN supplied from a reference voltage generation circuit 28.
The mode switching unit 30 includes two comparators 34A and 34B and the switching control circuit 36. The comparators 34A and 34B monitor output voltages of the triangular wave generation circuits 10A and 10B, respectively, and output the monitoring results to the switching control circuit 36. The switching control circuit 36 causes the changeover switches 18P and 18Q to be switched in response to the switching control signal CS when the output voltage of one of the triangular wave generation circuits 10A and 10B reaches a reference upper limit crest value. As a result, the output voltage generation mode of one of the triangular wave generation circuits 10A and 10B, which has an output voltage that reaches the crest value, is switched from an up-slope waveform mode to a down-slope waveform mode. Further, the output voltage generation mode of the other of the triangular wave generation circuits 10A and 10B is switched from the down-slope waveform mode to the up-slope waveform mode.
The triangular wave generation circuits each having the configuration shown in FIG. 11 are provided for outputting triangular waves of the A-wave and the B-wave with phases opposite to each other as shown in FIG. 12. The A-wave and the B-wave have the same frequency and the same crest value. The midpoint potential VN between the A-wave and the B-wave is fixed at the reference midpoint potential VRN. A high level shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to the reference upper limit crest value, and a low level shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to a reference lower limit crest value.
Incidentally, when the capacitors 12A and 12B which are included in the triangular wave generation circuits 10A and 10B, respectively, do not vary in capacitance, oscillation waveforms as shown in FIG. 12 can be obtained with the triangular wave generation circuit having the configuration shown in FIG. 11. On the other hand, the present invention has recognized that when the capacitors 12A and 12B vary in capacitance, there may arise a problem in that it is impossible to maintain the crest values of the A-wave and the B-wave at the same level.
When the capacitors 12A and 12B, which are included in the triangular wave generation circuits 10A and 10B, respectively, vary in capacitance, in order to maintain the crest values of the A-wave and the B-wave at the same level, it is necessary to supply a discharging current according to the variation of each of the capacitors 12A and 12B. Incidentally, since current sources for discharging the capacitors 12A and 12B each serve as the sink constant-current circuit 16M, there occurs a difference in discharge time constant between the A-wave and the B-wave due to a relative error between the capacitors 12A and 12B. As a result, even by controlling the sink constant-current circuit 16M, it is impossible to control the midpoint VN between the A-wave and the B-wave to be matched with the reference midpoint potential VRN. Therefore, there is a fear that the A-wave and the B-wave that have the same frequency and different crest values, for example, oscillation waveforms as shown in FIG. 13 may be generated.


Time slices of seismic data are transformed from rectangular space-time domain to cylindrical space-time domain. 2-D seismic migration is performed on the transformed data for each radial direction. Slices of the migrated data are inverse transformed back to the rectangular space-time domain, generated migrated 3-D data for generally inhomogeneous media.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of geophysical prospecting. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of seismic data processing. Specifically, the invention is a method for imaging the earth through seismic migration.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the oil and gas industry, geophysical prospecting is commonly used to aid in the search for and evaluation of subterranean formations. Geophysical prospecting techniques yield knowledge of the subsurface structure of the earth, which is useful for finding and extracting valuable mineral resources, particularly hydrocarbon deposits such as oil and natural gas. A well-known technique of geophysical prospecting is a seismic survey. In a land-based seismic survey, a seismic signal is generated on or near the earth's surface and then travels downward into the subsurface of the earth. In a marine seismic survey, the seismic signal may also travel downward through a body of water overlying the subsurface of the earth. Seismic energy sources are used to generate the seismic signal which, after propagating into the earth, is at least partially reflected by subsurface seismic reflectors. Such seismic reflectors typically are interfaces between subterranean formations having different elastic properties, specifically sound wave velocity and rock density, which lead to differences in acoustic impedance at the interfaces. The reflected seismic energy is detected by seismic sensors at or near the surface of the earth, in an overlying body of water, or at known depths in boreholes and recorded.
The appropriate seismic sources for generating the seismic signal in land seismic surveys may include explosives or vibrators. Marine seismic surveys typically employ a submerged seismic source towed by a ship and periodically activated to generate an acoustic wavefield. The seismic source generating the wavefield may be of several types, including a small explosive charge, an electric spark or arc, a marine vibrator, and, typically, a gun. The seismic source gun may be a water gun, a vapor gun, and, most typically, an air gun. Typically, a marine seismic source consists not of a single source element, but of a spatially-distributed array of source elements. This arrangement is particularly true for air guns, currently the most common form of marine seismic source.
The appropriate types of seismic sensors typically include particle velocity sensors, particularly in land surveys, and water pressure sensors, particularly in marine surveys. Sometimes particle displacement sensors, particle acceleration sensors, or pressure gradient sensors are used in place of or in addition to particle velocity sensors. Particle velocity sensors and water pressure sensors are commonly known in the art as geophones and hydrophones, respectively. Seismic sensors may be deployed by themselves, but are more commonly deployed in sensor arrays. Additionally, pressure sensors and particle velocity sensors may be deployed together in a marine survey, collocated in pairs or pairs of arrays.
The resulting seismic data obtained in performing the survey is processed to yield information relating to the geologic structure and properties of the subterranean formations in the area being surveyed. The processed seismic data is processed for display and analysis of potential hydrocarbon content of these subterranean formations. The goal of seismic data processing is to extract from the seismic data as much information as possible regarding the subterranean formations in order to adequately image the geologic subsurface.
In order to identify locations in the Earth's subsurface where there is a probability for finding petroleum accumulations, large sums of money are expended in gathering, processing, and interpreting seismic data. A crucial step in processing seismic data is seismic migration. Seismic migration is the process of constructing the reflector surfaces defining the subterranean earth layers of interest from the recorded seismic data. The processing procedure of seismic migration provides an image of the earth in depth or time.
The image of the structure of the Earth's subsurface is produced in order to enable an interpreter to select locations with the greatest probability of having petroleum accumulations. To verify the presence of petroleum, a well must be drilled. Drilling wells to determine whether petroleum deposits are present or not, is an extremely expensive and time-consuming undertaking. For that reason, there is a continuing need to improve the processing and display of the seismic data, so as to produce an image of the structure of the Earth's subsurface that will improve the ability of an interpreter, whether the interpretation is made by a computer or a human, to assess the probability that an accumulation of petroleum exists at a particular location in the Earth's subsurface.
Migration is intended to account for both positioning and amplitude effects associated with the transmission and reflection of seismic energy from seismic sources to seismic receivers. Since transmission and reflection occurs in three rather than two dimensions, migration is better performed in three rather than two dimensions. However, three-dimensional (3-D) migration is computationally more complicated than two-dimensional (2-D) migration, because azimuth effects are involved. Thus, 3-D migration is more expensive than 2-D migration.
In practice, this complication with azimuths presents many more challenges for inhomogeneous (vertically or laterally varying velocity) media than for homogeneous (constant velocity) media. Most 3-D migration algorithms for inhomogeneous media comprise implementation of complicated one-pass 3-D migration operators. Great efforts have been dedicated to resolving the azimuth effects inherent in all 3-D migration operators and computations.
Consequently, one approach in the development of 3-D seismic imaging has been an attempt to reduce 3-D migration back to the less expensive 2-D migration. Because of the azimuth effects involved in 3-D operators and calculations, 3-D migration can not generally be realized exactly by implementation of 2-D migration algorithms. So, only limited success has been achieved and only exactly in the constant velocity case, using two-step (or two-pass) migration methods. Two examples of two-step migration techniques are described here.
Gibson B., Lamer, K., and Levin, S., in their 1983 article, "Efficient 3-D migration in two-steps", Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 31, p. 1-33, describe a two-step 3-D post-stack time migration, utilizing cascading 2-D time migrations as a substitute for 3-D post-stack time migration. This two-step approach first migrates all time sections in one direction with a 2-D algorithm and then sorts the resulting data into time sections in the orthogonal direction and migrates all these sections with a 2-D algorithm. Gibson et al. (1983) show that their method provides increased efficiency when applied to Kirchhoff summation and finite difference techniques, but is found to be less efficient than conventional one-pass 3-D migration in the frequency-wavenumber domain. The method is exact for homogeneous media, but not for inhomogeneous media. For vertically inhomogeneous media, the correct migration velocity is unavailable for the first 2-D migration step, so migrated positions are inaccurate. For laterally inhomogeneous media, Gibson et al. (1983) cannot provide the required depth migration version.
Devaux, V., G. H. F. Gardner, and T. Rampersad, in their 1996 article, "3-D pre-stack depth migration by Kirchhoff operator splitting", 66th Annual International Meeting, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Expanded Abstracts, p. 455-458, describe two-step 3-D pre-stack depth migration, utilizing two alternating 2-D migrations as a substitute for 3-D pre-stack depth migration. The first step is a 2-D time migration in the cross-line direction. The second step is an iterative 2-D depth migration in the in-line direction, with the velocity model being updated between iterations. Devaux et al. (1996) state that their 2-D method is equivalent to full 3-D pre-stack depth migration for constant velocity media, but only an approximation for variable velocity media.
Therefore, migrating 3-D seismic data in a general inhomogeneous velocity media is conventionally done with either a one-pass implementation of 3-D migration operators or with a two-pass implementation of 3-D migration by 2-D migration operators that is only an approximation. A one-pass 2-D migration operator would be computationally much less expensive than the one-pass implementation of 3-D migration operators, but much more accurate than the approximate two-pass implementation of 3-D migration.
Pan, N., et al., (including the present inventor) in their 1992 article, "Efficient 3-D filtering using projected 2-D true-dip sections", 62nd Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstract, p. 1042-1045, describe a transform method for 3-D post-stack time migration which can accomplish exact 3-D time migration by using any accurate 2-D migration algorithm. The method of Pan et al. (1992) is a one-pass implementation of a 2-D migration operator as a substitute for 3-D seismic migration, at least for the post-stack time migration case.
However, in areas with structural complexity, seismic migration should be performed with pre-stack data and in the depth domain, rather than post-stack in the time domain, in order to obtain more accurate stacked images. This, too, is computationally more expensive in general. Pan et al. (1992) does not discuss how to handle pre-stack data or depth migration.
Thus, a need exists for a transformation method to reduce a one-pass 3-D migration operator to a one-pass 2-D migration operator for general inhomogeneous media, which applies to pre- or post-stack data, time or depth migration.

Method for reducing 3-D migration operator to 2-D migration operator for inhomogeneous media


The desulfurization catalyst for catalytic cracked gasoline according to the present invention has high performance in removal of sulfur compounds in gasoline fractions. This catalyst contains particulate vanadium oxide having the average particle diameter in the range from 0.1 to 10 μm at the content in the range from 0.3 to 3 weight % calculated as that of V2O5. The porous spherical particles of inorganic oxide are made of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite and a porous inorganic oxide matrix, and furthermore contain antimony.

The FCC gasoline obtained by means of the fluidized catalytic cracking of heavy hydrocarbon oil or vacuum gas oil contains sulfur compounds. Recently, in view of the environmental concerns such as prevention of air pollution or the like, it is required that a sulfur content in the FCC gasoline should be reduced because catalyst for removing NOx contained in exhaust gas from vehicles rapidly decreases its activity due to the effect by the sulfur content. An amount of sulfur contained in gasoline is regulated to be less than 50 ppm at the end of 2004 in Japan, and there have been proposed various methods for desulfurization of FCC gasoline in the FCC unit.
For instance, Japanese Patent No. 3545652 discloses a method for reducing sulfur contents in catalytic cracked oil fractions. This method includes a step of catalytic cracking feed oil fractions containing organic sulfur compounds in the presence of catalyst for reduction of sulfur contents at a high temperature and under the fluidized catalytic cracking conditions to produce a liquid product with the sulfur content substantially reduced. The commercially available catalyst for reduction of a sulfur content is porous molecular sieve, contains oxidized vanadium metal in an oxidized state of more-than-zero in inner pores of the molecular sieve crystalline structure, and the vanadium metal is present as a cation species produced by ion exchange in the pores of the sieve crystalline structure.
However, because the commercially available catalyst for reduction of sulfur contents contains oxidized vanadium metal in an oxidized state of more-than-zero in inner pores of the molecular sieve structure and the vanadium structure is present as a cation species produced by ion exchange in the pores of the sieve structure, the vanadium metal breaks a crystalline structure of the molecular sieve to disadvantageously lower the capability for catalytic cracking oil feed fractions.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-27065 discloses a desulfurization method for catalytic cracked gasoline with catalyst for desulfurization by means of catalytic cracking, and in this method, feed oil is catalytically cracked in a fluidized catalytic cracking unit or a heavy oil fluidized catalytic cracking unit with catalyst homogeneously carrying at least one type of metal selected from a group consisting of vanadium, zinc, nickel, iron, and cobalt on an inorganic porous carrier. This patent document also describes that it is preferable to use vanadium or zinc from the view point of desulfurization of the produced gasoline fractions.
However, the catalyst homogeneously carrying vanadium on the inorganic porous carrier has low affinity with sulfur compounds, so that the activity for desulfurization is low, and the improvement has been desired. Furthermore, if the inorganic porous carrier is fluidized catalytic cracking catalyst (sometimes referred to as FCC catalyst hereinafter) containing Y-zeolite, the catalyst has the effect of removing a sulfur content in gasoline fractions when heavy hydrocarbon oil is catalytically cracked, but because the Y-zeolite is destroyed by vanadium, the cracking activity drops, so that mounts of generated hydrogen and coke disadvantageously increase.

Desulfurization catalyst for catalytic cracked gasoline and method for desulfurizing catalytic cracked gasoline using the same


A system for controlling an implantable medical device (e.g., a drug delivery device) susceptible to malfunctioning during exposure to a magnetic field and/or Radio Frequency field (e.g., during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure) and a method for operating the same. Exposure of the implantable device to the magnetic field and/or the Radio Frequency field is detected using the sensing device. When the detected magnetic field and/or Radio Frequency field exceeds a corresponding predetermined threshold level, an input signal is generated at the microcontroller. In response to the generated input signal, the microcontroller automatically triggers (i) a safety mode enabling a predetermined safety mode operation that alters some operation, without ceasing all operation, of the implantable medical device and/or (ii) after expiration of a predetermined safety mode time interval when the at least one field being detected falls below its corresponding predetermined threshold level or a predetermined period of time elapses, a self testing mode enabling a predetermined self testing operation to verify proper operation of the implantable medical device. Preferably, both the safety and self testing modes are automatically triggered.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an implantable medical device and, in particular, to an implantable medical device that automatically triggers a safety mode when exposure to a static magnetic field and/or Radio Frequency (RF) field, e.g., produced by a Magnetic Resonance Imaging unit, exceeds predetermined threshold levels followed by a self testing mode once the magnetic field and/or RF field falls below the associated predetermined threshold level.
2. Description of Related Art
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) devices are widely used as a medical diagnostic tool primarily due to its non-invasive properties. MRI is based on the intrinsic property of atomic nuclei known as spin. Specifically, atomic particles in the nuclei spin about their respective axes thereby producing angular momentum. When an atom has an odd number of both protons and neutrons then an angular momentum is produced; otherwise, the angular momentum is zero when an even number of both protons and neutrons exist in the atom.
In addition, certain nuclei exhibit magnetic properties. Specifically, protons as a result of their mass, positive charge and spin produce a relatively small magnetic field (a magnetic dipole moment). When no magnetic field is present the direction of magnetic dipole moments of population of nuclei are randomly oriented. However, when subject to a relatively large external static magnetic field (e.g., along the z-axis), the proton will assume one of two possible positions, i.e., aligned substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the direction of the external magnetic field. Exposure of the proton to the external static magnetic field also causes the proton to precess (spin like a top) about their magnetic dipole moments at some frequency expressed by the following Larmor Frequency Equation:ω0=γB0
where,                ω0 represents the Larmor frequency;        γ is the gyromagnetic ratio representing the ratio between the angular momentum and the magnetic moment, wherein the gyromagnetic ratio is specific to each magnetically active nuclei; and        B0 is the strength of the external static magnetic field. Typically, MRI machines currently apply a static magnetic field in the range between approximately 0.7 T and 1.5 T, or even upwards of 3.0 Tesla. Even higher static magnetic fields are contemplated since the higher the field the better the resolution and definition of the image.
Generally, hydrogen nuclei spin is used in MRI procedures due to its abundant quantities in the human body. The gyromagnetic ratio for hydrogen is 42.6 MHz/T. Accordingly, the Larmor frequency for hydrogen is approximately 30 MHz for 0.7 T and approximately 64 MHz for 1.5 T.
A proton with a magnetic moment can have one of two possible energy states I=±½. When subject to an external static magnetic field, the protons align themselves substantially parallel or non-parallel (anti-parallel) to the direction of the external static magnetic field. Those protons that are non-parallel (anti-parallel) have a slightly higher energy state than those that are parallel. While in the presence of the external static magnetic field, if the protons are irradiated with a Radio Frequency (RF) signal in the x-y plane at the Larmor frequency some of the lower energy parallel protons will absorb energy from the RF wave and rotate the magnetic dipole moment to a non-parallel (anti-parallel) orientation, referred to as magnetic resonance. Those protons that have rotated to the non-parallel (anti-parallel) orientation are now in a higher energy state. After the radiation is removed, some of the non-parallel (anti-parallel) protons will rotate back to its lower energy parallel orientation (equilibrium state) and release or emit a relatively small amount of energy at the Larmor frequency to the environment as an RF wave. Detection of this relatively low level energy emission is detected by sensors and constitute the signal of interest that is used as the basis for the image.
Patient's having implanted medical devices that undergo an MRI procedure may be subject to two different types of potentially deleterious effects. This is especially noteworthy considering the fact that MRI procedures typically range in time from approximately 20 minutes to 90 minutes, or even longer. Therefore, patient's will be subject to these effects over an extended period of time.
The first effect is that resulting from the required static magnetic field at relatively high levels. While undergoing an MRI procedure, exposure to such a relatively high magnetic field may potentially cause malfunctioning or disruption in an implanted medical device of a mechanical or electromechanical component thereof that is sensitive to such relatively high static magnetic fields. For example, exposure to the magnetic field may undesirably cease or alter operation of a motor comprising magnets and coils, an electro-magnetically actuated part (e.g., a valve of a drug delivery device), an actuator, a sensor or any other component of an implantable medical device that may be sensitive to such relatively high static magnetic fields as required during MRI procedures.
Another safety precaution is the effect due to the RF field. For instance, an RF field will generate a relatively high voltage if coupled to a conductive loop. Accordingly, the RF field may cause dysfunctions at the level of electronic components (e.g., RAM, EEPROM, Flash memories, CPU function, sensors, actuators) or at the level of the system (e.g., circuit, leads).
These deleterious effects are of particular concern to those patient's having implantable medical devices (e.g., drug delivery devices, pacemakers, defibrillators or stimulators) employing components (e.g., motors, valves, actuators, sensors, integrated circuits, memory chips or solid state sensors) that may be sensitive to the relatively high magnetic fields and/or RF fields produced during the MRI procedure. These adverse effects on implantable medical devices produced during MRI procedures has led the medical industry to recommend that patients having such devices forego MRI as a diagnostic imaging tool. In the event that a patient still chooses to undergo an MRI then the manufacturers of the electronically operated implantable medical devices typically advise the patient to have the implant parameters verified and reset after the procedure generally using an external reading unit that communicates by telemetry with the implant device. This verification or checking of the operation of the implantable medical device is impractical in that it does not alter or correct the potentially inaccurate operation of the device during the procedure and requires external reading instrumentation particular to the implant device by specially trained medical personnel to be present immediately following the medical procedure to verify the accuracy of its operation.
Recently research and development has focused on finding a solution for detecting when electronic implantable devices are subject to adverse interference from electromagnetic radiation (Radio Frequency radiation). U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,972 discloses an apparatus for limiting unwanted current induced by a significant level of an external signal such as a time-alternating electromagnetic field in a conductive loop used to deliver electrical stimulation to electrically excitable tissue. Such electrical stimulation for instance may be applied to brain tissue to reduce or suppress tremors, peripheral nerve tissue to promote blood circulation and for pain management. The electrodes are electrically connected by a conductive lead wire to an implantable pulse generator. A switch is operatively connected within the conductive loop between the two devices and is controlled by control circuits. The switch is turned on when the level of detected electromagnetic radiation is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold thereby closing the conductive loop and allowing the electrical stimulation to excite the tissue, whereas the switch is turned off and the conductive loop is opened when the detected electromagnetic field exceeds the specified threshold. Since the switch is turned off and the conductive loop is opened when the external electromagnetic field exceeds the specified threshold all operations or actions by the medical device cease during this period of adverse electromagnetic exposure until the switch is once again turned on and the conductive loop is closed when exposure ceases. For instance, no electrical stimulus can be applied during this time as a result of the cutoff of connectivity to the pulse generator. This patented device would therefore not be suitable for a medical device that must continue some type of operation or functionality during this interval of exposure. Furthermore, no testing is disclosed to verify that the stimulating electrodes are working properly once exposure has ceased and the switch changes to a closed state.
Another device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,630 in which the field strength and amplitude modulation of the electromagnetic radiation is detected. So long as the combined field strength and amplitude modulation of the detected electromagnetic radiation (Radio Frequency radiation) exceeds a predetermined threshold level, the operation of the electronic device is continuously tested. Specifically, a series of testing pulses are continuously generated and sent to the CPU of the electronic device so long as the combined signal of field strength and amplitude modulation of the detected electromagnetic radiation exceeds the predetermined threshold. A response from the CPU to each pulse is expected within a predetermined time interval as confirmation that the medical device is operating properly. Each time the CPU responds to a testing pulse a countdown timer is reset. The timer counts down with each pulse signal that is not responded to by the CPU until the timer reaches zero whereupon an alarm may be sounded. Therefore, this device does not assume that the medical device will not operate properly simply because the device is subject to electromagnetic radiation that exceeds a predetermined threshold level. Instead, a second level of criteria is applied when the threshold level is exceeded, that is, testing the operation of the CPU in responding back to continuously generated test pulses. Only if both criteria are met, i.e., the radiation exceeds a threshold level and no response is received to the generated test pulse within a predetermined time period, is the medical device classified as working improperly. This patented device is inefficient in its expenditure of energy to generate the testing pulses during the entire time interval that the medical device is subject to electromagnetic radiation exceeding the predetermined threshold. In addition, the device fails to take into consideration the situation in which the CPU responds to the test pulse but nevertheless operation of the medical device has been altered or disrupted in other ways (e.g., timing frequency has been altered or data stored in memory has been corrupted, altered or erased) due to interference from exposure to the electromagnetic radiation. Yet another disadvantage is that no verification of operation of the medical device is conducted after its exposure to the electromagnetic radiation ceases, testing occurs only while the device is subject to the electromagnetic radiation exceeding the predetermined threshold level.
It is therefore desirable to develop an implantable medical device that automatically activates at least one of, preferably both, a safety mode triggering some modified or altered operation of some part of the implantable medical device when exposed to a magnetic field and/or RF field that exceeds acceptable predetermined thresholds. When exposure to the static magnetic field and/or RF field falls below the predetermined threshold, thereafter automatically switching from a safety mode to a self testing mode so as to verify that the medical device is operating properly.

System and method for controlling an implantable medical device subject to magnetic field or radio frequency exposure


A unit having differing thermal emissivities at differing regions thereof is monitored with an infrared camera for deriving a signal having magnitudes representing infrared emission from multiple pixels in the camera field of view. A computer responsive to the signal (a) stores data representing emissivity and standard temperature of the unit at each of the pixels, (b) combines indications of the infrared emission from each pixel and the stored data representing emissivity of each pixel to derive an indication of monitored temperature of each pixel, (c) compares the stored data representing standard temperature of each pixel and the indications of monitored temperature of each pixel, and (d) derives an indication of the deviation between the magnitude of the standard temperature and monitored temperature at each pixel. In response to the indication of the deviation at each pixel, a property of the unit related to the deviations at the pixels is derived.

Life-cycle methods have been previously used for determining the presence and location of defective parts and regions of a manufactured device by vibrating and temperature cycling the device for prolonged periods, typically about 48 hours. After the device has been life-tested by being vibrated and/or cyclically heated, it is inspected to determine defects by obtaining an infrared image of the device while the device is being stimulated. An infrared television camera supplies a signal to a color television monitor for deriving a multi-color image viewed by a human observer, who functions as an inspector for the device. Typically, hot and cold regions respectively appear on the monitor as the colors red and blue. The inspector is trained to recognize which areas should be red and which areas should be blue. Based on the inspector's training and the image on the monitor, the inspector decides whether a particular inspected device is defective or acceptable. In an automatic mode, a computer makes the decisions as to whether the device is acceptable.
In the prior art arrangement, the inspected life-tested device is environmentally stress screened by sine or random vibration, and/or by burn-in techniques. The environmental stress screening is used mainly to artificially improve reliability of a product by aging the product. However, the aging process actually reduces reliability because it fatigues marginal and sound parts of the device. Aging is the very characteristic which frequently accelerates wear of the product or device being tested or screened. Hence, with the prior art arrangement, there is a risk of damaging and weakening good parts and, in many cases, good parts are destroyed. Invariably, during this process, there is damage, to some degree, to all components having absolutely no flaw during manufacture.
The prior art arrangement is relatively expensive from initial capital and operational standpoints. The high capital cost is attributed to the expenses associated with the equipment for long term vibration, as well as heating and cooling of every produced device. Temperature testing employs heaters and associated cooling mechanisms, custom temperature fixtures and associated electronic hardware for each tested assembly. A factor in the capital expense of a typical prior art arrangement is that the required floor space is usually in excess of 200 square feet. The high operational expense results from operating the vibration as well as heating and cooling equipment, in addition to the relatively slow product throughput associated with the time required to conduct prolonged vibration and/or elevated thermal tests and/or temperature cycling. The need for a highly trained human inspector for each produced device adds a considerable operational expense. The tested device must be powered up during temperature cycling. In both cases (vibration and temperature), a fixture for the tested device is aged, causing constant maintenance of the test fixture.
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for and method of inspecting and analyzing manufactured devices in response to the infrared energy emitted from the device while it is being stimulated.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for and method of inspecting and analyzing manufactured devices and determining the worthiness thereof without subjecting the device to prolonged vibration and/or temperature cycling so that the tested device is not prematurely aged due to the inspection process.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for and method of inspecting a manufactured part in such a manner that the inspection time is considerably reduced relative to the prior art.
A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved relatively inexpensive apparatus for and method of testing manufactured devices for defects.
A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for more accurately determining minor and major fault defects in manufactured devices.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for and method of inspecting manufactured device which is easily incorporated into production lines and requires relatively little space in such lines.
Scanned x-ray systems were also previously used to determine the presence of defects in manufactured devices. In such systems, the device is effectively scanned by an x-ray source. A human observer notes the presence of cracks or other abnormalities and defects from an x-ray image of the device. Such systems are expensive, and invasive of the device, as well as possibly the inspector and other personnel, with adverse effects on both.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for and method of testing manufactured devices wherein the apparatus is completely passive to the product and personnel, so that there is no need for invasive devices such as x-rays.

Infrared inspection system and method employing emissivity indications


An adjustable quick release grip contains: a handlebar, a central shaft, a quick releasing shaft, a plurality of steel balls, plural springs, a returning spring, an adjusting seat, and a screw nut. The handlebar includes a spherical knob, a groove, an eccentric hole, a pulling lever, and a connecting stem. The quick releasing shaft includes a hollow body with an outer screwing section, and the hollow body has a slot, an aperture, a stopping rim, an opening, a retaining head, and a shoulder, wherein the retaining head has a plurality of receiving holes. The adjusting seat includes an adjustment cover, a first forcing ring, a second forcing ring, a pore, a notch, and a circular gasket, the notch has inner threads arranged around an inner wall thereof, wherein the adjustment cover has an external screw section surround around a bottom end thereof and screwed with the inner threads.

A conventional quick release grip is fixed on a front fork or a rear fork of a bicycle, so in operation, a pulling lever is pushed and is linearly aligned with a quick releasing shaft, and then a handlebar is rotated to drive the quick releasing shaft to force a screw nut. Thereafter, the pulling lever is pushed to retain with the quick releasing shaft at an angle, but the pulling lever is stopped by the front fork or the rear fork, it cannot therefore retain with the quick releasing shaft at the angle, and then the pulling lever is pushed and is linearly aligned with the quick releasing shaft so as to rotate the quick releasing shaft, such that the pulling lever is not stopped by the front fork or the rear fork so that it is pushed tightly to retain with the quick releasing shaft. However, the quick releasing shaft cannot retain with the pulling lever fixedly.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.


An apparatus and method thereof to improve a response speed of an LCD includes a noise rejection unit and a comparator. The noise rejection unit rejects noise in current digital image data and previous digital image data at a same pixel position as in the current digital image data. The comparator compares the current digital image data and the previous digital image data of which noises are rejected within a reference value, changes the current digital image data based on a comparison result, and outputs a result indicative thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method to operate a liquid crystal display (LCD), and more particularly, to an apparatus that rejects an error due to noise in a digital image signal to improve a response speed of an LCD, and a method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
As size and weight of personal computers (PCs) and televisions (TVs) reduce continuously, light and compact displays devices have been developed. As a result, flat-panel type displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), have appeared and are replacing the conventional cathode ray tubes (CRTs).
The LCD is a display device that produces a desired image signal by applying an electric field to a liquid material that has anisotropic permittivity and is injected between two substrates. An amount of light transmitted to the two substrates is adjusted by controlling an intensity of the applied electric field.
Liquid crystals used in LCDs present a hold-type physical property. In other words, a state of the liquid crystals corresponding to current data is maintained until next data is input. A response speed of the liquid crystals indicates how fast the liquid crystals change according to input data. Most LCD panels have the response speed faster than 1/60 seconds, which corresponds to a speed of one frame per 16.6 ms. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, a long period of time corresponding to several frames is necessary between intermediate levels of a general image until the liquid crystal reaches an appropriate voltage in response to the input data. For this reason, ghost, a reduction in a dynamic contract ratio, and blurring edges occur in moving-image display devices such as TVs, digital TVs or DVD players, thereby deteriorating image quality.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional apparatus to improve the LCD response speed, which prevents deterioration of the image quality. Input digital image data is temporarily stored in a buffer 200 in conjunction with a frame memory 201. Current image data Dn stored in the buffer 200 and previous image data Dn-1 stored in the frame memory 201 are input to a comparator 202. The comparator 202 compares a gradation of the current image data Dn and a gradation of the previous image data Dn-1 at a same pixel position. If the gradation of the current image data Dn and the gradation of the previous image data Dn-1 are the same, the comparator 202 outputs data Dn′ that has a response speed of the gradation of the current data Dn. If the gradation of the current image data Dn is larger than the gradation of the previous image data Dn-1, the comparator 202 outputs the data Dn′ that has a gradation larger than that of the current data Dn. On the contrary, if the gradation of the current image data Dn is smaller than the gradation of the previous image data Dn-1, the comparator 202 outputs the data Dn′ that has a gradation smaller than that of the current data Dn. A controller 203 controls reading or writing data from or to all blocks.
However, the use of the apparatus to improve the response speed of FIG. 2 leads the LCD to be sensitive to every kind of noise. In this case, noise on a screen, which is not serious in the LCD having slow response speed, grows worse after improving the response speed, thereby causing serious deterioration of the image quality.

Apparatus and method to improve a response speed of an LCD


Ventilation device is mounted on inner wall in wind tunnel communicating between indoor and outdoor sides, having a ventilation louver. The ventilation louver includes a louver frame and a movable louver. Horizontal distance from position of gravity center of the movable louver to the inner wall is greater than horizontal distance from the movable louver shaft to the inner wall. A lever is disposed at a lower part of the louver frame to move in a left-right direction along bottom end face of the lower part of the louver frame. A connection element is provided to connect the movable louver with the lever between the movable louver and the louver frame, which is configured to be a slidable structure in the up-down direction, and transform the movement in the left-right direction of the lever to opening and closing movement of the movable louver around the movable louver shaft.

Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates to a ventilation device.
Description of the Related Art
In the prior art, the conventional ventilation device is provided with a driving machine, which controls opening/closing action of an ornamental panel board. For example, JP2000-346411 discloses a ventilation device. With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the conventional ventilation device is described in detail below.
As illustrated in Figures, a ventilation device includes a removable ornamental panel board 103 on side of suction air port, in front of a body frame 102 of a wind tunnel with a ventilating blower 101 built therein. A ventilating air flow is created from a flared suction air port 106 in a front side of the body frame 102 towards an air outlet at rear side of the body frame 102. A panel frame portion 107 of the ornamental panel 103, which is configured to be able to be opened forward, and the bottom end side thereof are supported by a shaft. A movable louver portion 109 of the ornamental panel 103 is disposed in the ornamental panel 103 to be rotated by a drive means, thereby forming a substantial sectorial ventilating space 108 by the movable louver portion 109 and the periphery portion of the panel frame portion 107.
The panel frame portion 107 has a protrusion part 110, a front face of which is joined with circumference side of the body frame 102. The protrusion part 110 is formed at a higher position than lower portion of the movable louver portion 109 on the shaft supported side. The upper portion of the movable louver portion 109 on the side opposite to the shaft supported side is formed in an arc shape and the height thereof is gradually reduced. A lower edge portion 111 of the front face of the panel frame portion 107 is in part formed to protrude forward so as to provide a section difference part 112, which provides a gap as a downward slot-shaped insertion port 113 for the movable louver portion 109. Further, the movable louver portion 109 protrudes at a lower edge thereof to provide a support flange 118, which is rotatably cooperated with the insertion port 113 of the panel frame portion 107. Upon inserting the support flange 118 into the insertion port 113, the shaft supported movable louver portion 109 is supported by the support flange 118, as a pivot point, so as to be rotatable.
A spring 121 is provided as a resilience component between rear side of the movable louver portion 109 and front face of the panel frame portion 107, and urges them to abut against to each other. The driving unit comprises a driving machine 122, a transmission mechanism and a crank 123. The driving machine 122 is mounted so as to be close to lower portion of the panel frame portion 107 and includes electrical wire 124 winded therein, which may be sent out in succession. The crank 123 is formed in M shape and located just under center of the front opening portion of the panel frame portion 107. The crank 123 is supported by a support formation 125 at both ends thereof and is configured to be rotatable.
In addition, when the wire 124 is driven by the driving machine 122, the crank 123 is rotated so as to push rear side of the movable louver portion 109, against the resilience force from the spring 121. As a result, the movable louver portion 109 is rotated and opened.
As for such ventilation device in prior art, a driving machine for opening and closing the movable louver and a driving mechanism including a spring and a crank are needed. This in turn makes the structure of the conventional ventilation device complicated.
In addition, when difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures is large and such conventional ventilation device has been operated for long time, temperature of the body thereof will be decreased as sucking in cool air outside of the chamber. When inside warm air from the chamber contacts indoor outer surface of the movable louver portion 109, it will be cooled and condensed to generate liquid droplets, which slides down along the louver portion 109 and falls into indoor room. These condensed droplets degrade environmental sanitation and causes humidity and mold.

Panasonic Ecology Systems Guangdong Co., Ltd.


A mechanism for attaching a bike rack to a vehicle including a support member located behind an exterior wall of the vehicle. An attachment assembly, including a receiver operative to move between the first, stowed position any second, use position is connected to the support member. The exterior wall includes a removable portion wherein upon removal provides access to the attachment assembly. Once the removable portion is removed, the attachment assembly, including the receiver is moved from the first, stowed position to the second, use position wherein the bike rack then connects to the receiver. Additionally, the removable portion may include a detachable license plate bracket, which upon being detached from the vehicle, can be mounted to the rear of a bike rack. Sensors are mounted on the license plate bracket to allow for a functional back-up or park assist when the bike rack is attached to rear of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a vehicle bike rack attachment; and more specifically a vehicle bike rack attached to a vehicle liftgate, trunk lid, or decklid.
2. Description of Related Art
Vehicle bike racks often rest on or are supported by the vehicle body, often the liftgate, decklid, or trunk lid. Straps attached to the vehicle body secure the rack to the vehicle body. Resting or supporting the bike rack on the vehicle body results in discrete attachment points or sites, which in some instances may result in body damage such as dents, paint scratches or chips, or cracked glass. The straps may vibrate or rub on the vehicle surface resulting in body damage. In some instances, such vehicle bike racks may obscure or cover and thereby reduce the working of the back-up sensors, rear camera and park assist. It can also block the view of the license plate.
Another type of bike rack attaches to the roof of the vehicle. Such racks may increase the difficulty in mounting the bike on a high surface and the need to avoid low clearance areas.
Either style of bike rack requires time to remove and install the rack when not in use.


One or more devices, systems and/or methods for managing waste are provided. For example, a waste profile may be generated, based upon inputs received from a first device via a profile interface of a waste data aggregation platform. An approval notice may be received, via an approval interface of the waste data aggregation platform, from a second device. Shipping information may be entered into a plurality of digital forms of a shipping documentation interface based upon the waste profile and/or one or more inputs received from the first device and/or the second device. A shipping order for shipment of the waste may be generated. One or more notifications corresponding to the shipment of the waste may be transmitted to one or more devices associated with the shipment. The waste profile may be analyzed to generate a risk report, a sustainability report, a landfill report, a raw material source report, etc.

Many waste facilities, waste generators, research centers, government agencies, sustainability organizations, companies, etc. may attempt to determine parameters of waste generated and/or disposed of in an area (e.g., a city, a state, a country, etc.), determine effects of the waste on various aspects of the environment and/or determine sustainability performances in the area. However, waste information may be difficult to access and/or manage as a result of waste transactions being performed using different formats, inconsistent terminology and/or units of measurement, paper forms, different databases, etc.


There is provided a camera module including: a lens; an image pickup device arranged on an optical axis of the lens; and an actuator section configured to reciprocate the image pickup device in an optical axis direction of the lens, wherein the actuator section includes a movable joint section on which the image pickup device is fixed, a parallel link mechanism section having a movable end section attached to the movable joint section and a mounting end section, and a movable element that is configured to perform displacement motion by a displacement amount depending on a level of a voltage to be applied and that is coupled to a coupling region between the movable joint section and the movable end section of the parallel link mechanism section in such a manner that the displacement motion is transmittable.

In an autofocusing mechanism of a camera module in use for a mobile apparatus such as a mobile phone, a method of moving a lens has been typically available, and the development of a variety of actuators for activating such a lens movement has been also advanced on the premise of the lens driving.
On the other hand, in terms of the camera performance, the demand for making a lens aperture as large as possible has been created to achieve the higher sensitivity. However, reduction in size has been sought out as a module, and thus it has been difficult to meet such a demand by the use of a lens-drive actuator.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a small-sized camera module adopting a typical VCM (Voice Coil Motor) actuator method.
A camera module 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a lens system 2 that is formed of a plurality of lenses, a lens holder 3 that holds the lens system 2 with an optical axis thereof aligned, and a VCM actuator 4 including a yoke, magnet, and a coil that are all arranged on the outer circumferential side of the lens holder 3. The camera module 1 has a structure in which an image sensor 5 is attached to a substrate 7 that is arranged on a bottom surface 6B of a housing 6 of the camera module 1, and the lens system 2 is moved in the optical axis direction by the VCM actuator 4.

Camera module and camera apparatus and parallel link mechanism for reciprocating an image pickup device


The invention relates to an adaptation of a level of an air suspension element of a vehicle from a starting level to a desired level. Usually, such adaptation is done by opening a control valve connecting an air container with the air suspension element for an opening interval.

A closed system for an adaptation of a level of a vehicle is known from DE 101 60 972 C1 corresponding to U.S. 2003 0101791 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,988 B2. In such system a quantity of air is moved due to a pressure difference or due to the activity of a pump from an air container to a bellow or in opposite direction in order to change the level of a vehicle. Prior to such change of the level of the vehicle the temperature of the environment of the vehicle is measured. The actual mass of the quantity of air inside the closed system is calculated from the air pressure in the different components of the air suspension system, an actual level of the vehicle and the measured temperature of the environment. Furthermore, a desired mass of the air and a desired pressure of the air inside the closed system are calculated from the level of the vehicle, the temperature of the environment and the maximum change of the level of the vehicle which is possible from the actual level of the vehicle. In case of the actual pressure being smaller than the desired pressure an augmentation of the actual mass of air in the system is necessary. However, in case of the actual pressure exceeding the desired pressure the actual mass of air is decreased. Such changes result in adapting the pressure and the mass of air inside the air suspension system also in case of changes of the temperature of the environment such that the pressure and the mass of air is always sufficient to cause the maximum change of the level of the vehicle. A change of the mass and the pressure of the air inside the system might be provided by a pneumatic exchange of the air suspension system which could be done by means of an increase of the mass of air by a pump or by draining air to the environment. In summary, such technique relies on the assumption that the pneumatic conditions of the air suspension system should be held constant or comparable also in case of changes of the temperature in order to achieve a constant behavior throughout a change of a level of a vehicle.
Another method is known from EP 1 375 207 A2. According to that method for a change of the balance of the load of different axles the level of at least one axle is changed. The method aims at providing a minimum load for a steered front axle. By means of a change of the level of a rear axle the load of the steered front axle might be influenced. The load of the front axle is measured throughout a change of the level of the rear axle. In the following it is observed if the measured load of the steered front axle drops below a predetermined minimum load. In case of such criterion not being fulfilled the change of the level of the rear axle is continued until the minimum load is reached. Such method relies on a control under feedback of an actual value of a load of an axle.
Also document DE 43 33 823 A1 relates to an adaptation of a heavy duty vehicle from an actual level to a desired level. In order to provide for a fast adaptation process control valves with large opening cross-sections are used leading to a decreased precision of the approximation of the desired level. On the other hand, it is mentioned that the air inside the air suspension system comprises elastic features so that any actuating of the related valves into a closed state do not immediately finish any changes of the level but require further adaptation steps. In order to avoid such problems DE 43 33 823 A1 summarizes known methods basing on a control of the air suspension system to reach an intermediate level located between the starting level and the desired level. If such intermediate level is reached the valves are opened and closed in several steps in an intermittent way in order to approach the precise desired level. According to an alternative embodiment a valve responsible for the change of the level is not closed at the moment that the desired level is reached. However, throughout the change of the level a hold-back time is calculated from a measured speed of the change of the level. Throughout the change of the level of the vehicle the actual level is measured and compared to the desired level decreased by the hold-back level. In case of the actual level exceeding the desired level decreased by the hold-back level the valve is actuated in a closed state under the assumption that following to closing the valve any subsequent changes of the level are covered by the hold-back level. In case of further measurements showing that such assumption is not valid, the hold-back level is adjusted for future adaptations of the level of the vehicle. In special cases, the difference between the starting level and the desired level could be below a critical value. This might result in the time interval for a change of the level of the vehicle being too short to measure the speed of the change of the level. Only in such cases the opening interval is determined from an a priori known relationship between the difference of the starting level and the desired level and response time of the used valve. According to DE 43 33 823 A1 different load conditions of the heavy duty vehicle might be considered by making the aforementioned critical value of the difference between the starting level and the desired level dependent on the loading condition of the heavy duty vehicle.
Furthermore, DE 196 40 149 A1 discloses a control of the actual value of the level of a vehicle throughout the changes of the level. By means of an adapted linear relationship the after-running after the step of closing the valve is stored in dependence on a measured velocity of the change of the level of the vehicle. The after-running level is closely related to the hold-back level according to DE 43 33 823 A1. In case of the actual level of the vehicle exceeding the desired level of the vehicle decreased by the after-running level the valve being responsible for the change of the level is actuated in a closed state.

Method for adaptation of a level of a vehicle with an air suspension element

Abstract: According to the invention, a control unit determines an estimate for a future point in time for a suitable closing time of the valve. The estimate is determined considering                a desired future level,        actual loading conditions of the vehicle and        an actual pressure level of the air container.


A ball and socket arrangement for aiding the handicapped or persons having limited reach or mobility and including one of a plurality of socket elements secured to an object which is to be moved and which is engageable by means of a manually grippable wand including an elongated handle having a ball at one end which is adapted to engage the socket to apply either a pulling or a pushing force thereto and wherein the angle and orientation of the sockets varies depending upon the object to which the socket is attached and which may be, for example, a drawer, door, slidable shelf, or the like.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for providing a mechanical advantage, and more particularly to manually gripped apparatus for aiding persons having limited reach and mobility, such as the handicapped, to move an object such as a drawer, a movable shelf, a door, or the like.
Various types of implements for extending the reach of a person are generally known and cover a wide spectrum of tools and mechanical devices depending upon their intended use. One group of implements is directed to cooking utensils which, for example, have detachable handles for lifting and moving a cooking utensil from one place to another. Another group includes those having a relatively long handle with a manipulator at one end, such as tools for enabling a driver of an automobile, for example, to operate a door lock or turn a window crank. Also known are such devices as farm tool implements and mechanic's tools which include interchangeable tools at one end thereof. However, none of the prior art teaches or suggests apparatus for aiding people in wheelchairs or who are handicapped in ways which impede their reach or mobility to gain access to a drawer, door, window, or the like.
It is a primary object of the subject invention, therefore, to provide a system of mechanical components for aiding the handicapped.
It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for aiding persons with limited reach or mobility.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system of mechanical components for enabling people in wheelchairs or who are handicapped in ways which impede their reach or mobility to gain access to an otherwise inaccessible location.
Briefly, the foregoing and other objects are achieved by a ball and socket arrangement including one of a plurality of socket elements secured to an object which is to be moved and which is engageable by means of a manually grippable wand including an elongated handle having a ball at one end which is adapted to engage the socket to apply either a pulling or a pushing force thereto and wherein the angle and orientation of the sockets varies depending upon the object to which the socket is attached and which may be, for example, a drawer, door, slidable shelf, or the like.

Apparatus for aiding persons, particularly handicapped persons, in moving unreachable objects


The disclosure is directed to a software and hardware system that includes recording and storing audio data (digital or analog) for introduction into a voice channel of a communication device. The disclosure also includes establishing a voice channel (e.g., a phone call), using one or more keystrokes on a number pad of a voice communication channel to retrieve the audio data (e.g. audio segments) that are stored in the voice communication device and mixing the audio data with the voice data in the voice channel so that the audio data is audible along with the voice data during a conversation using the voice communication device.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to communication devices that establish a voice channel for the transmission of voice communications.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Mobile communication devices, e.g., wireless or cordless phones, that establish a voice channel for transmission of voice communications include, for example, conventional telephones and cellular phones. Once these mobile communication devices establish a voice channel, sound segments from within the devices themselves or other independent sources cannot be mixed into that established voice channel (other than those sounds transmitted conventionally through the built-in microphone and dial tones generated by the device keypad). Specifically, unique sound segments (or sound bytes) that are stored in data chips or on an analog medium on the device itself cannot be mixed into the voice channel because separate chips or chip sets process the voice channel from the data or analog applications. This limits functionality, flexibility, and enjoyment of use of the mobile communication device during a conversation over these devices.
Therefore, there is a need for a communication system and method that allows for mixing a sound segment (or sound byte) represented by digital data or an analog signal directly into an established voice channel between two mobile devices where the sound segment is independent of the voice information.

Insertion of sound segments into a voice channel of a communication device


A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, active devices and transparent conductive patterns. The active devices are formed on the semiconductor substrate. The transparent conductive patterns are formed over the active devices and electrically connected to the active devices. The transparent conductive patterns are made of a metal oxide material. The metal oxide material has a first crystalline phase with a prefer growth plane rich in oxygen vacancy, and has a second crystalline phase with a prefer growth plane poor in oxygen vacancy.

In recent years, conductive/semi-conductive metal oxides have been widely used in various applications including optoelectronic devices and memory devices. Integrating the optoelectronic devices or the memory devices with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology provides a preferable choice for minimization and multi-functionality. However, the combination of the optoelectronic devices or the memory devices with CMOS technology results in increase of complexity in manufacturing process, and reliability of the optoelectronic device may be compromised.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.