The present invention is a submarine mast antenna controller for controlling a plurality of functions performed by an antenna mast of a submarine. The submarine mast antenna controller is a solid state electronic control unit on a single card that monitors various submarine mast antenna system sensors and motors, and controls electromechanical devices associated with the sensors and improves functionality over the former ACU system by consolidating control interfaces and indicators in one computer terminal via a VXI interface.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a submarine mast antenna system and more particularly, to a control device for controlling the submarine antennas, monitoring a variety of sensors and providing control signals to electromechanical devices.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Typically, a submarine has an antenna mast proximate but outside its pressure hull. The antenna mast has several antennas mounted thereon. Numerous electromechanical components such as servomotors and relays are positioned inside the antenna mast. Currently, the antennas have antenna control units (ACUs) for electromechanical control of tuning, pre-amplification, and band selection settings. An electromechanical synchro-resolver, light bulb, or other indicator is positioned inside the submarine to monitor and provide feedback for the antenna and components mounted in the antenna mast. This ACU is a bulky, expensive, and heavy electromechanical device that requires manual activation of buttons and switches to operate it.
There is a need for a device and system that consolidates the indicators and manual activation buttons and switches of the ACU to a single computer terminal. Further, there is a need for a device and system that controls the various functions of the antenna mast components. Finally, there is a need for a solid-state electronic control unit that has improved functionality and is simpler to use.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A latch is provided for engagement between the closure member of an enclosure and the frame of the enclosure, the latch comprising a member with a first portion, including a hook portion to engage the frame and prevent the closure member frame from fully opening. The first portion and a complementary second portion each may include buttressing wall sections, one of which must be deflected from alignment with the other to allow the hook portion to be deflected and clear the frame. The latch may be useful as a childproof device to prevent unwanted entry into the enclosure. In addition, a pin may extend from the hook portion and engage a hole in the frame to provide a third feature which must be actuated in order to fully open the closure member.

Drawers are commonly used in daily life in kitchens, bedrooms, offices, etc. to store a wide range of articles, some of which may be harmful to children. Small children may also attempt to climb on, or even in, drawers and cabinets in an effort to hide. Drawers and cabinets may house many types of materials which may be potentially hazardous to children such as medicines, household cleaners, knives, tools, paint, etc.
To prevent young children from accessing these storage areas, numerous items have been patented and sold, most of a multi-piece assembly. Generally, some sort of a longitudinal member with a hook portion is attached to the inside surface of a drawer or door to limit the amount the drawer or door may be opened. The hook portion may engage with a stop installed on a frame portion of the cabinet as the drawer or door is withdrawn. Only a small space may then remain for an adult to insert their finger to depress the longitudinal member such that the hook may clear the stop on the frame of the enclosure.
While the disengagement of the latch is relatively easy for an adult, the latches are intended to be difficult to manipulate by a child. However, since the actuation may be easily learned by an attentive child, the latch may soon prove inadequate.
In many cases, these latches require at least two components, which need alignment during installation or adjustment after installation. These components generally include a stop portion, or catch, attached to the enclosure and a hook portion attached to the inside of the drawer. This mechanism may further require a biasing member (springs, etc.) to bias the hook member against the stop member.
Other latch designs have included complex assemblies which challenge the manual dexterity of children and which may require the broad hand span of an adult to actuate. However, children may defeat these by using two hands.
Some of the current latches may require attachment to the exterior of the enclosure and look unsightly or attract unwanted attention.
Examples of previously disclosed latches are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,249 to Hillman; U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,001 to Freidman; U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,992 to Shelton; U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,649 to Hinrichs; U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,526 to Leck; U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,463 to Hawkins; U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,372 to Vogt; U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,304 to Richardson, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,044 to Trewlulla, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,759,782; 3,519,299 and 4,286,809 to Goodwin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,411 to Rodgers; U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,949 to Chrones; U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,477 to Bialobrziski, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,438 to McKinney; U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,184 to Boyce; U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,451 to Harmony; U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,618 to Lambreth; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,517 to Carde; U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,730 to Roth, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,257 to Wong, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,380 to Barr.
What is needed is a one-piece "child-proof" safety latch that is easy to install on the inside surface of a drawer, or door, and which includes more than one feature which must be actuated to release the latch. Thus, a drawer, or cabinet door, may only be partially opened and its contents kept secure from children. Upon actuation of the more than one feature by an adult, the contents may become accessible.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a one-piece latch which may preferably be molded of plastic to provide a low cost safety latch.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a childproof safety latch which may be easily installed on the interior of a drawer or door without the need for power tools or taking measurements.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety latch which requires at least two cooperating efforts, a deflection of a sidewall prior to the depressing of a resilient member to allow a hook portion to clear an engaging surface.


A method, system, and computer program product to efficiently delete data from a database is disclosed. The method, system, and computer program product may include structuring the database to have a plurality of tables having indexes to related rows and having keys with key values associated with particular rows. The method, system, and computer program product may include deleting rows in the database tables by deleting keys in indexes related to the rows in an order such that corresponding rows are deleted based on relation to the keys. The method, system, and computer program product may include ordering the rows to be deleted based on concepts such as hierarchy, spatial locality, temporal locality, frequency of access, number of rows, and value uniqueness. Comparatively closely related relationships may be prioritized to be deleted.

Databases are used to store information for numerous types of applications. Examples include various industrial, commercial, technical, scientific, and educational applications. Database management systems (DBMSs) are a typical mechanism for accessing data stored in a database. DBMSs are typically configured to separate the process of storing data from accessing, manipulating, or using data stored in a database.
A database may not be able to grow indefinitely. A database administrator may desire to purge data from the database. Deleting a large amount of data may take an amount of time that is not insignificant. The database administrator may have a small maintenance window. The maintenance may need to occur in real-time while applications remain active. It may be desirable for maintenance such as deleting data to be performed efficiently.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present application relates to a multi-stage encoder/decoder system that provides image compression using hierarchical auto-regressive models and saliency-based masks. The multi-stage encoder/decoder system includes a first stage and a second stage of a trained image compression network, such that the second stage, based on the image compression performed by the first stage, identify certain redundancies that can be removed from the bit string to reduce the storage and bandwidth requirements. Additionally, by using saliency-based masks, distortions in different sections of the image can be weighted differently to further improve the image compression performance.

As cameras in portable electronic devices produce more detailed images and applications incorporate images and video content, there is an increasing need for better image compression techniques. In such cases, image and/or video content is typically compressed to reduce storage and bandwidth requirements. Image compression usually involves a trade-off between file size and retained quality of an image. The disclosed technology is directed to improved image compression techniques.

Hierarchical auto-regressive image compression system


The invention provides for a chimeric construct comprising a regulatory region obtained from a hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) gene in operative association with a heterologous gene of interest. Even though the HPL gene is known to be expressed in response to wounding, unexpectedly, it was observed that the HPL regulatory region or one or more fragments thereof, result in constitutive expression of the gene of interest in a range of tissues and organs in the absence of any wound or stress treatment. This invention also provides for a transgenic organism comprising the chimeric construct defined above, and a method for preparing a transgenic organism using the chimeric construct.

Hydroperoxide Lyase (HPL) catalyzes the cleavage of hydroperoxide lipids to form six carbon volatile compounds and a 12-Carbon product. The C6-volatiles are responsible for the "green-note" flavour characteristic of plant products and have been discussed as playing a role in the defence response in plants. For example, the volatile aldehydes are known to exhibit anti-fungal (Vaughn et al 1993, J. Chem Ecol. 19:2337–2345), anti-bacterial and anti-insect (Matsui et al 1986, FEBS Let. 394:21–24) activities. The C12 compound gives rise to thaumatin a wound-related signalling compound. The cleavage of hydroperoxide lipids also produces jasmonic acid that is also involved in stress and disease resistance signalling. WO 00/00627 and Matsui (1986 FEBS Let. 394:21–24) describe increased expression of HPL in wounded plants.
The HPL gene has been cloned from bell pepper (WO 00/00627; Matsui et al. 1986, FEBS Let. 394:21–24), maize (WO 00/22145), banana (EP 0 801 133) and Arabidopsis (Bate et al., 1998. Plant Physiol. 117:1393–1400; WO 00/00627), and the preparation of expression cassettes to increase or decrease HPL expression within these plants is described. The HPL gene has been sequenced by the Arabidopsis genome sequencing project (Accession number: Z97339) and reveals an open reading frame interrupted by eight introns. However, there is no teaching of the characterization of the regulatory region of HPL.
As described herein, the upstream region of the HPL gene has been characterized and used to drive the expression of a gene of interest. Even though the HPL regulatory region is known to drive wound-, insect-, fungal-, and bacterial-induced expression, unexpectedly, it was observed that large portions of the HPL regulatory region and fragments thereof, resulted in constitutive expression of the gene of interest in a range of tissues and organs in the absence of any wound or stress treatment. Therefore, the present invention relates to providing a regulatory region capable of driving expression of a gene of interest.
It is an object of the invention to overcome disadvantages of the prior art.
The above object is met by the combinations of features of the main claims, the sub-claims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food


A toy stuffing apparatus, including a stuffing drum with a rotating member and a rotating auger below the stuffing drum for transporting the stuffing along the auger shaft and out an exit. Also included is the kit for use in stuffing a stuffed toy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the field of stuffed toys, in particular, an apparatus or kit for stuffing toys.
2. Description of the Related Art
Retail shops at which customers can make customized stuffed toys such as teddy bears are extremely popular. Such toys are also known in the toy trade as "plush". At such retail shops customers choose from a variety of pre-made animal or character "skins", which are the outer fabric casings of the plush toy comprised of fabric panels sewn together into the forms of the animal or character and act as the container, which is inflated into the full shape of the animal or character by being stuffed full of a soft, fluffy stuffing material. In essence, the skin is the plush toy absent the stuffing and decorative detailing. The customer also selects from a variety of facial features to be attached to the skin in the appropriate location after the skin is stuffed and choose from a variety of clothing and other accessories to complete the plush creation.
The focal point of the in-store manufacturing process is the stuffing machine. It is a large piece of heavy equipment that typically measures several feet in length, width, and height, and weighs hundreds of pounds. It is powered by a/c current that runs large motors, blowers and air compressors which, together, generate and direct significant air velocity and pressure needed to force the stuffing from the machine, through an injection tube, and into the skin through a hole in the fabric of the skin. Once filled with stuffing, the skin is removed from the injection rube and the store employee closes the skin fill hole by tying shut laces around the hole, or by some other method of closure, which requires the skill of the store employees.
Due to the size of the machine required for this method of stuffing a plush toy, the machine is also noisy, expensive, and too dangerous to be handled by customers, especially young children. Therefore, the customer merely passively watches, while the employee performs the entire manufacturing process.
Attempts have been made to reduce the size and cost of these stuffing machines to make them more portable and more suitable for the mass market, but the degree to which they can be reduced is restricted by the requirements of the large motors and compressors needed to generate sufficient pressure to fill the skins. Such machines require skill and dexterity not possessed by young children.
Therefore, there remains a need for a toy stuffing apparatus to be reduced to a size, price, or level of skill and safety that would allow them to be used at home by small children as an activity toy, or craft kit.

Mechanical apparatus for stuffing plush toys


A system and method are disclosed that may allow a STA to selectively change frequency bands from an operating band to a candidate band based on operating conditions. In response to determining that a channel condition is within a band switch region associated with a candidate band, the STA may select the candidate band and temporarily switch to it. The STA may select an initial modulation and coding scheme for the candidate band and probe the candidate band with data to determine an estimate of candidate band goodput. If the estimate of candidate band goodput is greater than the operating band goodput, the STA may switch to the candidate band.

A wireless local area network (WLAN) may be formed by one or more access points (APs) that provide a shared wireless communication medium for use by a number of client devices or stations (STAs). Each AP, which may correspond to a Basic Service Set (BSS), periodically broadcasts beacon frames to enable any STAs within wireless range of the AP to establish and/or maintain a communication link with the WLAN. In a typical WLAN, only one STA may use the wireless medium at any given time, and each STA may be associated with only one AP at a time. Due to the increasing ubiquity of wireless networks, when a STA seeks to join a wireless network, the STA may have a choice between multiple wireless networks and/or between multiple APs that form an extended BSS. As the STA is moved into the coverage area of one or more wireless networks, the STA may select the best AP with which to associate. After the STA becomes associated with the selected AP, the STA may be moved within and/or between the coverage area of the one or more wireless networks, and may subsequently benefit from switching its association from the currently associated AP to one of a number of candidate APs (e.g., APs with which the STA is not associated).
Some APs and STAs are capable of operating on a number of different frequency bands. For example, some APs and STAs may operate on frequency bands centered at approximately 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 60 GHz, and/or other frequency bands. Accordingly, it is desirable for the STA to determine the best available AP with which to associate and/or to determine the best frequency band upon which to operate.
Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawing figures.


An active ossicular replacement device is configured to couple the malleus to the stapes, and conduct sound through the vibratory structures of the ear in response to the transmitted electromagnetic energy. The electromagnetic energy may comprise light so as to decrease interference from sources of noise external to the user. The prosthetic device may comprise an assembly that can be implanted in the middle ear in a manner that simplifies surgery. The assembly may comprise a narrow cross-sectional profile such that the assembly can be positioned in the middle ear through an incision in the eardrum, for example without cutting bone that defines the shape of the ear canal or the shape of the middle ear. The prosthetic device can be sized to the user based on a measurement of the ear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to hearing systems, devices and methods. Although specific reference is made to hearing aid systems and prostheses, embodiments of the present invention can be used in many applications in which a signal is used to stimulate the ear.
People like to hear. Hearing allows people to listen to and understand others. Natural hearing can include spatial cues that allow a user to hear a speaker, even when background noise is present. Natural hearing can include orientation cues that allows a listener to determine the spatial location of a sound in at least some instances. People also like to communicate with those who are far away, such as with cellular phones.
Hearing devices can be used with communication systems to help the hearing impaired and to help people communicate with others who are far away. At least some hearing impaired people have a mixed hearing loss. With mixed hearing loss, a person may have a conductive hearing loss that occurs in combination with a sensorineural hearing loss. The conductive hearing loss may be due to diminished function of the conductive components of the ear such as the eardrum and ossicles that transmit sound from the ear canal to the cochlea. The sensorineural hearing loss may comprise diminished function of the cochlea, such that the cochlea does not convert sound waves to neural impulses as effectively as would be ideal.
Many of the prior therapies for mixed hearing loss are less than ideal in at least some instances. One approach has been to replace, at least partially, one or more of the ossicles of the middle ear with an ossicular replacement prosthesis. Although the ossicular replacement prosthesis can improve the conductive portion of the mixed hearing loss, such treatment may leave the patient with diminished hearing due to the remaining sensorineural hearing loss in at least some instances.
At least some of the patients who receive an ossicular replacement prosthesis may use hearing aids following surgery in at least some instances. Although hearing aids can help some, many of the prior hearing aids do not offer the sound localization cues of natural hearing, as placement of a microphone in the ear canal to detect the sound localization cues can result in feedback in at least some instances. Further, at least some of the prior hearing devices can result in occlusion, which can be a tunnel-like hearing effect and may be caused by large hearing aids which block the ear canal in at least some instances. Occlusion may be noticed by the user when he or she speaks and can result in an unnatural sound during speech.
For the above reasons, it would be desirable to provide hearing systems which at least decrease, or even avoid, at least some of the above mentioned limitations of the current prosthetic devices. For example, there is a need to provide a hearing prosthesis which provides hearing with natural qualities, for example with spatial information cues, and which allow the user to hear with less occlusion, distortion and feedback than current devices.
2. Description of the Background Art
Patents and publications that may be relevant to the present application include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,585,416; 3,764,748; 3,882,285; 5,142,186; 5,554,096; 5,624,376; 5,795,287; 5,800,336; 5,825,122; 5,857,958; 5,859,916; 5,888,187; 5,897,486; 5,913,815; 5,949,895; 6,005,955; 6,068,590; 6,093,144; 6,139,488; 6,174,278; 6,190,305; 6,208,445; 6,217,508; 6,222,302; 6,241,767; 6,422,991; 6,475,134; 6,519,376; 6,620,110; 6,626,822; 6,676,592; 6,728,024; 6,735,318; 6,900,926; 6,920,340; 7,072,475; 7,095,981; 7,239,069; 7,289,639; D512,979; 2002/0086715; 2003/0142841; 2004/0234092; 2005/0020873; 2006/0107744; 2006/0233398; 2006/075175; 2007/0083078; 2007/0191673; 2008/0021518; 2008/0107292; commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,259,032; 5,276,910; 5,425,104; 5,804,109; 6,084,975; 6,554,761; 6,629,922; U.S. Publication Nos. 2006/0023908; 2006/0189841; 2006/0251278; and 2007/0100197. Non-U.S. patents and publications that may be relevant include EP1845919 PCT Publication Nos. WO 03/063542; WO 2006/075175; U.S. Publication Nos. Journal publications that may be relevant include: Ayatollahi et al., "Design and Modeling of Micromachines Condenser MEMS Loudspeaker using Permanent Magnet Neodymium-Iron-Boron (Nd—Fe—B)", ISCE, Kuala Lampur, 2006; Birch et al, "Microengineered Systems for the Hearing Impaired", IEE, London, 1996; Cheng et al., "A silicon microspeaker for hearing instruments", J. Micromech. Microeng., 14 (2004) 859-866; Yi et al., "Piezoelectric microspeaker with compressive nitride diaphragm", IEEE, 2006, and Zhigang Wang et al., "Preliminary Assessment of Remote Photoelectric Excitation of an Actuator for a Hearing Implant", IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology 27th Annual Conference, Shanghai, China, Sep. 1-4, 2005. Other publications of interest include: Gennum GA3280 Preliminary Data Sheet, "Voyager TDTM. Open Platform DSP System for Ultra Low Power Audio Processing" and National Semiconductor LM4673 Data Sheet, "LM4673 Filterless, 2.65 W, Mono, Class D audio Power Amplifier"; Puria, S. et al., Middle ear morphometry from cadaveric temporal bone micro CT imaging, Invited Talk. MEMRO 2006, Zurich; Puria, S. et al, A gear in the middle ear ARO 2007, Baltimore, Md.; Puria et al, Malleus-to-Footplate Ossicular Reconstruction Prosthesis Positioning: Cochleovestibular pressure optimization, Otology and Neurology, 26(368-379), 2005; Murugasu et al, Malleus-to-Footplate versus Malleus-to-Stapes-Head Ossicular Reconstruction Prosthesis: Temporal Bone Pressure Gain Measurements and Clinical Audiological Data, Otology and Neurology, 26(572-582), 2005; Lee et al., "The Optimal Magnetic Force For A Novel Actuator Coupled to the Tympanic Membrane: A Finite Element Analysis," Biomedical Engineering: Applications, Basis and Communications, Vol. 19, No. 3(171-177), 2007.

Optically coupled active ossicular replacement prosthesis


An optical imaging system including an illumination system, a Cartesian PBS, and a prism assembly. The illumination system provides a beam of light, the illumination system having an ƒ/# less than or equal to 2.5. The Cartesian polarizing beam splitter has a first tilt axis, oriented to receive the beam of light. A first polarized beam of light having one polarization direction is folded by the Cartesian polarizing beam splitter and a second polarized beam of light having a second polarization direction is transmitted by the Cartesian polarizing beam splitter. The Cartesian polarizing beam splitter nominally polarizes the beam of light with respect to the Cartesian beam splitter to yield the first polarized beam in the first polarization direction. The color separation and recombination prism is optically aligned to receive the first polarized beam. The prism has a second tilt axis, a plurality of color separating surfaces, and a plurality of exit surfaces. The second tilt axis may be oriented perpendicularly to the first tilt axis of the Cartesian polarizing beam splitter so that the polarized beam is nominally polarization rotated into the second polarization direction with respect to the color separating surfaces and a respective beam of colored light exits through each of the exit surfaces. Each imager is placed at one of the exit surface of the color separating and recombining prism to receive one of the respective beams of colored light, wherein each imager can separately modulate the polarization state of the beam of colored light.

This invention relates to the use of 3M Cartesian polarizing beam splitter ("PBS") films to make electronic projection systems that use color separation and recombination prisms (e.g. Philips Prisms) with very efficient, low ƒ/# optical beams while preserving high contrast. More specifically, the present invention relates to an optical imaging system including a reflective imager and a Cartesian wide-angle PBS having a fixed polarization axis and using the tilted reflective surfaces of a Philips prism.
Optical imaging systems may include a transmissive or a reflective imager or light valve. Traditional transmissive light valves allow certain portions of a light beam to pass through the light valve to form an image. By their very function, transmissive light valves are translucent; they allow light to pass through them only where required electrical conductors and circuits are not present. Reflective Liquid Crystal on Silicon ("LCOS") imagers, in turn, reflect selected portions of the input beam to form an image. Reflective light valves provide important advantages, as controlling circuitry may be placed below the reflective surface, so that these circuits do not block portions of the light beam as in the transmissive case. In addition, more advanced integrated circuit technology becomes available when the substrate materials are not limited by their opaqueness. New potentially inexpensive and compact liquid crystal display ("LCD") projector configurations may become possible by the use of reflective LC microdisplays. Reflective LCOS imagers in the past have been incorporated into inefficient, bulky and expensive optical systems.
For projection systems based on reflective LCD imagers, a folded light path wherein the illuminating beam and projected image share the same physical space between a PBS and the imager offers a desirably compact arrangement. A PBS is an optical component that splits incident light rays into a first polarization component and a second polarization component. Traditional PBS's selectively reflect or transmit light depending on whether the light is polarized parallel, or perpendicular to the plane of incidence of the light: that is, a plane defined by the incident light ray and a normal to the polarizing surface. The plane of incidence also is referred to as the reflection plane, defined by the reflected light ray and a normal to the reflecting surface.
Based on the operation of traditional polarizers, light has been described as having two polarization components, a p-component or direction and a s-component or direction. The p-component corresponds to light polarized parallel to the plane of incidence. The s-component corresponds to light polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence. A so-called MacNeille PBS will substantially reflect s-polarized light incident on the PBS surface (placed along the diagonal plane connecting two opposing edges of a rectangular glass prism), and substantially transmit p-polarized light incident upon this surface. Traditional MacNeille PBS technology is known and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,403,731 and in H. A. Macleod, Thin Film Optical Filters, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 1989, pp. 328-332.
To achieve the maximum possible efficiency in an optical imaging system, a low ƒ/# system is desirable (see, F. E. Doany et al., Projection display throughput; Efficiency of optical transmission and light-source collection, IBM J. Res. Develop. V42, May/July 1998, pp. 387-398). The ƒ/# measures the light gathering ability of an optical lens and is defined as:ƒ/#=f(focal length)÷D(diameter or clear aperture of the lens)
The ƒ/# (or F) measures the size of the cone of light that may be used to illuminate an optical element. The lower the ƒ/#, the faster the lens and the larger the cone of light that may be used with that optical element. A larger cone of light generally translates to higher light throughput. Accordingly, a faster (lower ƒ/#) illumination system requires a PBS able to accept light rays having a wider range of incident angles.
The maximum incident angle θmax (the outer rays of the cone of light) may be mathematically derived from the ƒ/#, F:θmax=tan−1((2F)−1)
Traditional folded light path optical imaging systems have employed the previously described optical element known as a MacNeille PBS. MacNeille PBSs take advantage of the fact that an angle exists, called Brewster's angle, at which no p-polarized light is reflected from an interface between two media of differing index. Brewster's angle is given by:θB=tan−1(n1/n0),
where n0 is the index of one medium, and n1 is the index of the other. When the angle of incidence of an incident light ray reaches the Brewster angle, the reflected beam portion is polarized in the plane perpendicular to the plane of incidence. The transmitted beam portion becomes preferentially (but not completely) polarized in the plane parallel to the plane of incidence. In order to achieve efficient reflection of s-polarized light, a MacNellie PBS is constructed from multiple layers of thin films of materials meeting the Brewster angle condition for the desired angle. The film thicknesses are chosen such that the film layer pairs form a quarter wave stack.
There is an advantage to this construction in that the Brewster angle condition is not dependent on wavelength (except for dispersion in the materials). However, MacNeille PBSs have difficulty achieving wide-angle performance due to the fact that the Brewster angle condition for a pair of materials is strictly met at only one angle of incidence. As the angle of incidence deviates from this angle, a spectrally non-uniform leak develops. This leak becomes especially severe as the angle of incidence on the film stack becomes more normal than the Brewster's angle. As will be explained below, there are also contrast disadvantages for a folded light pat projector associated with the use of p- and s-polarization, referenced to the plane of reflection for each my.
Typically, MacNellie PBSs are contained in glass cubes, wherein a PBS thin-film stack is applied along a diagonal plane of the cube. By suitably selecting the index of the glass in the cube, the PBS may be constructed so that light incident normal to the face of the cube is incident at the Brewster angle of the PBS.
MacNeille-type PBSs reportedly have been developed capable of discrimination between s- and p-polarized light at f/#'s as low as f/2.5, while providing extinction levels in excess of 100:1 between incident beams of pure s- or pure p-polarization. Unfortunately, as explained below, when MacNeille-type PBS's are used in a folded light pat with reflective imagers, the contrast is degraded due to depolarization of rays of light having a reflection plane rotated relative to die reflection plane of the central ray. As used below, the term "depolarization" is meant to describe the deviation of the polarization state of a light ray from that of the central light ray. As light in a projection system generally is projected as a cone, most of the rays of light are not perfectly parallel to the central light ray. The depolarization increases as the f/# decreases, and is magnified in subsequent reflections from color selective films. This "depolarization cascade" has been calculated by some optical imaging system designers to effectively limit the f/# of MacNellie PBS based projectors to about 3.3, thereby limiting the light throughput efficiency of these systems. See, A. E. Rosenbluth et al., Contrast properties of reflective liquid crystal light valves in projection displays, IBM I. Res. Develop. V42, May/July 1998, pp. 359-386, (hereinafter "Rosenbluth Contrast Properties") relevant portions of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Recently, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing has developed a novel type of birefringent polymeric multi-layer polarizing film ("3M Advanced Polarizing Film" or "APF"). Co-assigned and (co-pending) parent application U.S. Ser. No. 09/312,917, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,997, mentions the use of such a film as a PBS. European Patent Application EP 0 837 351 A2 attempts to utilize another 3M Dual Brightness Enhancing Film ("DBEF"), an early 3M multi-layer film material, in a projection display apparatus having a "wide-angle" reflecting polarizer. Such reference refers to p- and s-differentiation and uses the 3M material as a common reflective polarizer. Moreover, while "wide-angle" performance is a widely recognized design goal, references to "wide-angle" are meaningless absent contrast limits and spectral leak reduction and teachings on how to achieve such a goal. The 3M product DBEF is a reflective polarizer with typical block direction leakages of 4 to 6 percent at normal incidence. At higher angles the leakage is somewhat reduced, but at 45 degrees the extinction is typically still a few percent. Contrast ratios when using DBEF typically will be limited to maximum values at or below 99:1 for white light. However, DBEF suffers from spectral leaks that reduce the contrast of certain color bands to as low as 25:1, depending on the nature of the illumination source and the exact DBEF sample. To obtain superior performance it is desirable that good screen uniformity and the absence of spectral leaks in the dark state accompany good average contrast in all relevant color bands.
There has been previous work with non-telecentric configuration, reported by Paul M. Alt in the Conference Record of the 1997 International Display Research Conference (p. M 19-28) and in the IBM Journal of Research and Development (Vol. 42, pp. 315-320, 1998). These systems, however, used conventional MacNeille PBS cubes rather than a Cartesian PBS, and achieved a contrast ratio of only 40:1 at ƒ/5. The PBS and the color prism were used in an s-orientation.
The need remains for an optical imaging system that includes truly wide angle, fast optical components and that may allow viewing or display of high-contrast images. Furthermore, it is desirable to enable optical designs that minimize the size of individual components, such as the color separation prism.
A color separation prism receives the polarized beam of light and splits the beam, generally into three-color components. Color prisms and imagers naturally have an orientation, including a long axis and a short axis. Optical designers are presently constrained to one of two options. The first is to place the imager on the color prism such that the long axis of the imager is parallel to the long axis of the color prism exit aperture (to the imagers). This allows the use of smallest possible color prism, but under this condition, if the tilt axes of the PBS and the color prism are kept parallel to each other, then the designer is constrained to build the projector in a tower configuration. Such a configuration places the longest dimension of the projector in a vertical orientation, which may be unsuitable for a variety of applications. The second option is to place the long axis of the imager along the short direction of the color prism exit aperture (to the imagers). This allows the use of more desirable low-profile projector configurations, wherein the longest dimension of the projector is horizontal. However, this requires that the color prism be made larger and therefore that the projection lens have a longer back focal length. Consequently, this configuration will require larger, heavier, and more expensive projection lens and color prism components.

Reflective LCD projection system using wide-angle cartesian polarizing beam splitter and color separation and recombination prisms


Apparatus and methods for channel estimation in a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) are disclosed. A representative method includes a wireless communication device receiving multiple frames, each frame including multiple subframes, each subframe including multiple symbols. The wireless communication device determines whether subframes include MBMS data or not. For subframes that include MBMS data, the wireless communication device excludes all or certain symbols of the subframes that include MBMS data from a channel estimation process. The wireless communication device determines whether the subframes include MBMS data based at least in part on a channel impulse response and/or a channel energy response for one or more symbols of the subframes.

An MBMS (or an enhanced MBMS, i.e., E-MBMS) can be provided by a wireless network using an MBMS Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) transmission mode defined by a 3rd Generation Protocol Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) specification. The MBMS can deliver multimedia content such as text, pictures, audio, and video to multiple wireless communication devices through a broadcast or multicast arrangement using one or more serving nodes of a wireless network. The MBMS provides transport features for sending the same content to all users (broadcast) in a cell or to a given set of users in a cell (multicast). The MBMS differs from an Internet Protocol (IP)-level broadcast and multicast service in that the MBMS shares resources at a radio access level, i.e., within a radio access network portion of the wireless network, while an IP-level broadcast and multicast need not share the radio resources, i.e., each user can receive the content using individually assigned radio resources. In this regard, an MBSFN transmission exploits the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) radio interface and the LTE frame structure to subdivide transmissions into frames that carry MBMS data and other frames that do not. A control message, e.g., a system information block (SIB) message, can specify in which frames the MBMS data can be transmitted. A specific set of subframes of the frames that support MBMS data can be configured to be MBSFN subframes. The set of frames that transport MBMS data can be configured with a periodicity (how often in number of frames that they repeat), an offset (a frame position at which they start), a number of consecutive frames that carry MBMS data, and a subframe pattern of MBSFN subframes (and non-MBSFN subframes) within the consecutive frames that contain MBMS data. A serving node, e.g., an evolved Node B (eNB) of the wireless network can broadcast periodically in system information blocks (SIBs) information by which the wireless communication device can determine the MBSFN frame and MBSFN subframe patterns.
Channel estimation can be impacted by the presence of MBSFN frames and subframes, particularly in situations in which the MBMS pattern is not known and in "High-Doppler" scenarios when a wireless communication channel's characteristics can rapidly change as a wireless communication device moves within cells of the wireless network. In this regard, the wireless communication channel between the wireless communication device and the cells of the wireless network can vary dramatically within a short time window in a high-Doppler scenario. As such, the wireless communication device can need a greater number of cell specific reference signals (also referred to as pilot signals) in high-Doppler scenarios to be able to closely track the wireless communication channel's variation. When the wireless communication device is aware that certain frames include MBMS data, e.g., based on broadcast system information block (SIB) messages, a channel estimation process in the wireless communication device can be modified to account for which frames/subframes include MBMS data. Before the wireless communication device has received the MBSFN configuration of MBSFN frames and subframes from the broadcast system information blocks, the wireless communication device can benefit from an adaptive channel estimation process that determines potential MBSFN frames and/or subframes and adjusts channel estimation accordingly.


A base station for a radio telephone system includes a monitoring device for monitoring operation of the base station. The base station has two antennas, and two couplers for coupling the monitoring device respectively to first and second ones of the antennas. Thereby, test calls can be made between the base station and the monitoring device without the need for the monitoring device to have an antenna. Each of the coupling means is operative to enable selective transmission and reception of signals at the monitoring device via a respective one of the first and the second antennas.

This invention relates to a radio telephone base station which includes, or is associated with, monitoring means for monitoring test calls.
A radio telephone base station for a cellular system communicates by radio with portable handsets carried by subscribers to the system. The base station has a main antenna (providing receive and transmit functions) and a second or so-called diverse antenna providing a receive function only. At or adjacent the base station is located a monitoring means which is like a dummy portable handset in that the monitoring means has an antenna and test calls can be set up between the base station antennas and the monitoring means antenna, in this case to test the correct functioning of the base station.
The need for the monitoring means to have an antenna has disadvantages: apart from the cost of antenna construction and erection there can be difficulties in obtaining planning consent for a further antenna, particularly if it is proposed to add monitoring means to an existing base station. The invention aims to provide a base station with monitoring means which do not require an antenna additional to the antennas of the base station.

Radio telephone base station with a monitoring apparatus


A system for monitoring a quench tube of a superconducting magnet in an MRT apparatus has an illumination unit and at least one image acquisition unit arranged inside the quench tube. Images acquired by the image acquisition unit are supplied to a monitoring location for viewing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a system for monitoring a quench tube of a superconducting magnet in a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus (MRT apparatus).
2. Description of the Prior Art
In medical imaging MRT apparatuses have increasingly gained importance in recent years. In order produce images with such apparatuses, typically different magnetic fields that are matched to one another in terms of spatial and temporal characteristics are combined with one another. One of these magnetic fields is a static magnetic field with a high field strength of typically 1.5 to 3 Tesla. In order to generate such high field strengths, usually superconducting magnets are used with conductor wires formed by a superconducting material, for example a niobium-titanium alloy. The cooling of the conductor wires and the maintenance of the superconducting state ensue with liquid helium.
In a superconducting magnet on rare occasions an event known as a quench occurs. Various causes can lead to the situation that the superconducting state of the conductor wire changing into the normally-conductive state. The resulting severe heating of the conductor wire leads to a sudden vaporization of the liquid helium. In order to prevent damage to the apparatus, the large volume of helium gas suddenly created must be quickly directed away from the apparatus. In MRT apparatuses with a superconducting magnet this ensues by means of what is known as a quench tube through which the helium gas is conducted away from the apparatus into the ambient atmosphere. The diameter of such a tube is calculated dependent on its length and its curvatures and is typically 20 to 40 cm. The quench tube can never be blocked or leaky during the long-term operation of an MRT apparatus, otherwise the housing of the MRT apparatus could be damaged (even an explosion) given a quench or the building could be flooded with helium (possible asphyxiation danger).
A ventilation tube arrangement for a superconducting magnet system is known from DE 696 34 719 T2, which arrangement also serves as a flow path in the case of a magnet quench.
A quench tube can be damaged by multiple causes. Animals or plants can penetrate into the quench tube via the opening discharge to the atmosphere or discharge the opening. Also, water can accumulate in the quench tube over the course of many years of operation, for example as condensation water that forms after tanking up the magnet reservoir with liquid helium (the cold helium exhaust thereby created is directed through the quench tube) or in the case of disadvantageous weather conditions, or as rainwater that can penetrate the discharge opening in the case of faulty mounting. The quench tube can thereby be damaged. Upon a quench the water located in the quench tube represents a significant problem since it can be frozen by the very cold helium gas and thus block or even burst the tube.
Quench tubes are regularly checked by an overview during maintenance tasks. Since an intact quench tube is an important, safety-relevant component but not an operationally-relevant component of an MRT apparatus, it can occur that the quench tube is only insufficiently checked in the maintenance, particularly since the quench tube is often not accessible over its entire length. Possible blockages or damages that are caused by penetrating foreign bodies can easily be overlooked, or not detected at all if maintenance intervals that are too long.
A method for space monitoring and a space monitoring system for traffic spaces (in particular tunnel regions) for situation recognition by means of evaluation of video signals is known from DE 103 41 426 A1. The system includes illumination units and image acquisition units (CCD cameras).

System for monitoring a quench tube of a superconducting magnet in an MRT apparatus


An embodiment includes a first system for computing a contribution to a greater-than comparison of a first private value and a second private value. The first system includes: an accessing unit configured to access the first private value; a processor unit configured to compute a first encrypted value by encrypting the first private value, compute a decrypted value by decrypting a third encrypted value, and compute a contribution to a result of the greater-than comparison by checking a relation between the decrypted value and a modulus value; and a communication unit configured to send the first encrypted value to a second system and to receive the third encrypted value.

In recent years, processing of electronic data has increased continuously. With the processing of the data also the exchange of the data has increased. This is also true for data that have to be protected against unauthorized reading or writing of the data. For this, encryption systems have been developed that are widespread, for example, public key encryption systems.
Private data are data that an owner of the private data does not want to share with a further party. Such private data may for example be legally protected because they may belong to a protected privacy area of a person. In a further example, private data may also be an amount of money that a person is willing to pay for an acquisition of an object. Furthermore, private data may also be a demanded amount of money for which a further person is willing to sell the object.
Yao's millionaires problem involves a comparison of private data. In an article with title "Protocols for Secure Computations" for the Proceedings of the annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science 23, 1982, A. Yao defined the millionaire's problem: two millionaires want compare an amount of money that each one has without revealing the amount of money to each other. A plurality of solutions has been suggested to Yao's millionaire problem some of which involve a third party. Such a third party has to be found by the two millionaires and may not be available. Two-party solutions involve only the two parties that own the two private values that are desired to be compared. An efficient two-party solution has been described by M. Fischlin in a publication titled "A Cost-Effective Pay-Per-Multiplication Comparison Method for Millionaires" in RSA Security Cryptographer's Track, 2001. The solution is efficient, that is, allows for a high-performance computation of a comparison of two private values. The solution has a probability for an incorrect result of the comparison, but the probability can be reduced to low values by using variants of the solution that require more computational efforts.

System and method for comparison of private values


An ink supply apparatus for printers is installed on an ink cartridge housing compartment of a printer and includes a liquid storing cartridge which has an ink channeling chamber and a buffer chamber that communicate with each other. The ink channeling chamber has an ink inlet corresponding to an ink intake aperture formed in the ink cartridge housing compartment. An ink storing unit is provided to hold the ink which can flow to the liquid storing cartridge through a duct. The ink cartridge housing compartment further has a chip dock which holds control chips corresponding to signal receiving sections of the printer. A bucking member is provided to press the chip dock so that the control chips may form a tight coupling with the signal receiving sections.

Inkjet printers are widely used in offices, houses and by individuals nowadays. With increasing awareness of environmental protection, more and more products are designed with recycling and a reusable concept. As the ink cartridge of inkjet printers is a consumption material, besides to improve the printing quality, vendors also try to explore the possibility of recycling the ink cartridge. This has become one of the focuses of product design these days.
There are three types of the ink-refilling apparatus. The first one has an external injection tube to inject ink into the cartridge. The cartridge has an ink-storing chamber, ink-supply chamber and ink-channeling element to perform an ink-refilling operation.
The second one has a coupling trough on one side of the ink cartridge to enable a chip to be movably wedged therein. The third one includes a positioning unit, duct and ink storing unit. The positioning unit includes an anchor seat fixedly located on the printer case and a detachable coupling member to form a duct anchoring mechanism in the printer.
While the cited references can function reasonably well to achieve some specific effects, there are still rooms for improvement. For instance, the first type of the ink-refilling apparatus is the most commonly used ink replenishment technique at present. It has to inject ink into the ink storing chamber of the ink cartridge through the injection tube, then a tubular ink channeling element is used to channel the ink to the ink supply chamber of the ink cartridge. Its structure is complicated. Fabrication is difficult and cost is higher. The second one has an ink cartridge with a movable chip that allows the chip to be recycled and used repeatedly. While the chip may be reclaimed, the ink cartridge has to be discarded after the ink has been consumed. Hence the environmental pollution problem because of the discarded ink cartridge still remains unresolved. In the continuous ink supply apparatus proposed by the third one, users have to send the printers to the printer manufacturers for modification to install the positioning unit on the rear side of the printer. A duct has to be connected to the ink-storing unit when in use. This method of relying on the manufacturers for installation is not convenient to users. Moreover, such a design is targeted to selected types of printers. For used elements, installation locations and dimensions have to be designed to match the interior space of the selected printers. Hence this is not applicable to other types of printers.
All this shows that the conventional techniques or products now on the market still have problems to be solved.


An apparatus for simulating flames using fabric flame sheets or elements. The apparatus includes a fan or blower for producing a volume of air flow and two or more flame elements positioned in the fan air flow. First and second light sources, such as high powered light emitting diodes (LEDs), are provided to produce light beams having two differing colors such as an amber beam and an orange/red beam. The light beams are directed so as to mix or cross on or near the flame elements when the flame elements extend outward from their mounting location into the fan air flow. Each of the LEDs has a brightness level that can be tuned or adjusted by a controller, which may be manual or may be automated to modify the brightness level of at least one of the LEDs and typically both LEDs during the operation of the flame simulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to special effect devices and systems and residential theme lighting products that imitate or simulate flames from an actual fire, and, more particularly, to a flame simulator that produces realistic flame effects with flowing air, fabric flame elements, and multiple light sources with reduced heat, with reduced maintenance requirements, and as a standalone unit, i.e., a device that continues to operate unaided once it is switched on or is powered.
2. Relevant Background
There are many applications and uses for devices that simulate fire or the flames of a fire. For example, simulated flame devices or flame simulators are used in amusement parks to provide desired lighting and to create the illusion to people on a ride that they are passing fire. Simulated flames and fire are used in place of real fire to address safety and maintenance concems. The flame simulators may be provided as burning logs, torches held by ride characters or mounted on walls, and in many other situations. Additionally, there is a growing trend toward the use of flame simulators in residential settings such as outdoor theme lighting, imitation logs burning in a fireplace, and the like.
A number of challenges face the designer of a flame simulator. There is a demand that the flame be realistic even from relatively short distances. Homeowners, amusement park operators, and other users also require that the flame simulators be very safe to use, be easy to maintain, and be relatively inexpensive. Existing flame simulators have not been able to effectively address all of these requirements, and there is a continuing demand for improved ways of producing a flame special effect.
One type of flame simulator uses a silk flame element that is illuminated by a light source. To make the effect more realistic, air current or flow from a fan is directed over the flame element that can make produced "flame" appear to flicker. Unfortunately, there are a number of problems with using silk flame simulators especially in applications that require many hours of service such as in amusement parks and in outdoor residential and commercial lighting fixtures. Typical silk flame simulators use incandescent lighting to illuminate the flame elements. The bulbs have fairly short lives and need to be replaced regularly. Also, incandescent bulbs or lamps produce significant amounts of heat that may result in fire hazards and, at the least, results in safety hazards as the simulator housing the incandescent bulb or lamp becomes very hot. Hence, the heat must be removed and/or the simulator has to be positioned in locations where it will not be contacted by people and flammable materials.
In addition to unwanted heat, silk flame simulators often use fans or blowers that are noisy, which may ruin the fire effect (e.g., the simulator will not sound like a real fire). The fans or blowers often also move a large volume of air over the flame element, and this may cause the flame element to move unrealistically and/or cause air currents near the device that tend to spoil the desired fire simulation. The flame elements themselves are also often not very realistic in their shape or in their pattern of movement. For example, a single flame element or sheet is used that may be heavy and shaped in a pattern that does not move like a real flame or look like a flame when illuminated. Often, the flames are simply cut out in a pattern that leaves exposed threads or edges, which unravel or fray as the elements flap in the high volume air current produced by the fan. The effect achieved also rapidly deteriorates, and the flame elements have to be replaced often. The replacement of the flame elements can also cause problems as the flame elements are often attached in a manner that makes their replacement subjective to the person installing the new flame. As a result, the original orientation of the flame elements may not be produced as the flame elements are positioned in a new location or orientation, which often results in a much different visual effect that generally is not the one intended by the designer of the simulator. Yet another problem with many flame simulators, including silk flame simulators, is the amount of extra unwanted light that passes by the flame (i.e., blow-by). Blow-by is a particular problem in dark, enclosed areas such as ride tunnels or chambers and can essentially destroy the overall look of the flame illusion that is produced by the flame simulator.
There continues to be a demand for innovative flame simulators. Preferably, such flame simulators will be easy to maintain, will produce less heat, will be inexpensive to manufacture, and will produce improved visual effects (i.e., more accurately represent flames of a fire to an observer).


This invention includes a method and system for viewing data comprising detecting visual markers within view of a wearable camera worn by a human worker, and displaying data associated with at least one of those visual markers on a see-through wearable display worn by the operator.

This invention relates to information processing systems and methods in an industrial environment. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for displaying information for use by human operators in a mobile working environment.
An increasing number of workers today in mobile working environments are assisted by hand-held or wearable computer systems. Rather than using computer kiosks or workstations at locations throughout the work environment, the hand-held or wearable computers allow the worker to move freely about the workspace and retrieve information from computer networks accessible at their fingertips, while they maintain in proximity to the object of the task. Examples of these include retail operations where sales assistants or inventory control clerks carry hand-held computers with bar code scanners that can identify products by scanning the bar code and then displaying information associated with that product. Another example includes car rental return agents who key information into a wearable computer in the parking lot of the rental agency when the car is returned, and then print out a receipt from a wearable printer to be able to give to a customer standing in the parking lot by the rental car.
While these systems are useful, they have limited capabilities. Hand-held computers require the worker to devote one or both hands to the task of inputting information into the computer. Wearable computers generally require the use of at least one hand for inputting data into a computer, as well as requiring the worker to focus his gaze and attention to the hand-held computer rather than on the object or task before him. While these wearable computer solutions are an advance over stationary kiosks and strategically located catalogs, wall charts or instruction manual books accessible to the worker, there is still much room for improvement to free up the hands and attention of the worker, to thereby increase the workers' productivity.

Abstract: Another aspect of the invention provides a method and system for coordinating movement of human workers comprising detecting one or more visual markers within view of a camera worn by the worker, and determining the location of the worker from the stored location of the visual marker within view of the camera.


A device and a method are presented for generating an intermitted oscillating signal comprising a plurality of oscillating portions separated from each other in time. The device and method are suited for communication systems, in particular for Ultra-Wide Bandwidth (UWB) applications. The device comprises a variable oscillator for generating the oscillating portions; switching circuitry for switching on/switching off the variable oscillator at the beginning/end of each oscillating portion; and circuitry for setting initial conditions in the variable oscillator to impose a predefined transient and a characterizing frequency upon each start-up.

The present disclosure relates to a device and a method for generating an intermitted signal at least part of which is an oscillation signal with a characterising frequency and a constant phase at start-up, suited for communication systems, in particular for Ultra-Wide Bandwidth (UWB) applications.
Devices designed to generate signals with a controlled frequency are commonly used in a variety of applications. Typical examples are radio transmitters, transmitters and receivers in telecommunications, computer devices and other electronic applications where it is desired to stabilize a generated signal or to detect signals in the presence of noise.
Traditionally, the controlled frequency is implemented by a phase locked loop (PLL). This is a closed-loop feedback control system that generates and outputs a signal in relation to the frequency and phase of a reference signal. The PLL comprises of a phase detector, a variable oscillator, and a feedback loop. The circuit reacts to both the frequency and the phase, automatically raising or lowering the frequency of the variable oscillator until there is a match with both the frequency and the phase of the reference signal.
A disadvantage of this technique is the large start-up time for both phase and frequency compensation, demanding significant power. This is not well suited for many battery-operated, portable and hand held device applications. A second drawback of this approach is the accumulative jitter process typically initiated by the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) (in series with jittery circuitry).
Another idea is presented in European Publication EP-A 0601780. A technique is described for a programmable frequency generator. The frequency is established in a ring oscillator. This is done by a set of transistors that supply an operating current to the ring. The device can be turned off to reduce the power supply. The tuning in phase and frequency is solely done by adapting the frequency. This approach results in a reduced accuracy and slows down the process.
It is an aim of the present disclosure to provide a device and a method for generating an intermitted signal with a characterising frequency in a very fast, accurate way consuming little power.
This aim is believed to be achieved with the use of devices and methods as described herein.

Device and method for generating a signal with predefined transcient at start-up


A display device comprising at least one accepting member capable of accepting a product, and at least one view enhancing member associated with the at least one accepting member, at least a portion of the at least one view enhancing member comprising a reflective surface, so as to reflect at least a portion of a product accepted by the accepting member to, in turn, enhance the viewing of same.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a display device and, more particularly, to a product display device adapted to show or exhibit both the top and bottom surfaces of the product, for example, athletic shoes.
2. Background Art
In today's competitive economy, effective product displays have become more important in promoting and selling products. One particular area in which product displays have become critical is in the sale of athletic shoes. For several years logos, designs, and colors provided on the top of athletic shoes have been vital to effective marketing of the products. More recently, graphics, logos, and other designs which are incorporated into the bottom or sole of the shoe have also been critically important. The prior art displays do not provide a mechanism for effectively and simultaneously displaying the soles and the upper portions of shoes. The product display system according to the invention overcomes these problems, among others, without dramatically impacting the space required to display the shoe products.


A method is provided of associating in computer memory    (i) a digital electronic version of printed human-discernible content of a printed document comprising a sheet having a machine-readable pattern adapted to enable the position of a digital pattern reading device to be determined and said human-discernible content with    (ii) the identity of a sheet upon which the content is printed, the method comprising:            printing the content onto a sheet using a printer, said sheet comprising a pre-patterned sheet that has been pre-printed with said pattern;        transferring a machine-readable identity code between said printer and said sheet at around the time of printing said content; and        storing a correlation between said identity code and said digital electronic version in computer memory.

The invention arose out of a consideration of the work of Anoto Group AB and others in relation to digital pattern paper and digital pens. It is convenient to discuss the invention in that contextual background, but it will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to use with any proprietary system.

Digital documents, apparatus, methods and software relating to associating an identity of paper printed with digital pattern with equivalent digital documents

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Alignment methods of IC device substrates. A first IC device substrate has a first front side for defining a plurality of first IC features, a first backside opposite the first front side, and a first alignment pattern formed on the first front side or the first backside. A second IC device substrate has a second front side for defining a plurality of second IC features, a second backside opposite the second front side, and a second alignment pattern formed on the second front side or the second backside. A first optical detector and a second optical detector are applied to detect the first and second alignment patterns, so as to align the first and second IC device substrates. Specifically, the first and second alignment patterns face toward the first and second optical detectors in opposite directions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to IC device substrates alignment and in particular to semiconductor substrates with alignment structures for three dimensional IC fabrication.
2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art
The conventional process to align an IC device substrate is practiced by forming several alignment patterns on the front side of the substrate. Here, a semiconductor wafer W, as shown in FIG. 1a, is used as an example. The semiconductor wafer W comprises a silicon substrate S on its backside WB. An interconnection structure C is formed on the front side WF of the semiconductor wafer W for defining a plurality of IC features. Several alignment patterns M, such as cross patterns, are generally formed on the front side WF for alignment. In some specific fabrication processes, such as metallization or damascene processes, however, the alignment patterns M may be difficult to detect from the backside WB due to obstruction of opaque metallic material in the interconnection structure C. Additional processes for removing a part of the opaque material can be involved thereby improving visibility of the alignment patterns M, however, fabrication costs may potentially increase.
To detect and recognize the alignment patterns M from the backside WB when obstructed by opaque material, as shown in FIG. 1a, a traditional IR imaging apparatus D is applied. The IR imaging apparatus D can capture an image of each alignment pattern M from the backside WB for aligning the wafer W during processes, however, the accuracy and resolution are adversely limited due to IR wavelength substantially longer than 0.75 um. A resolution better than 0.1 um is usually required for the modern semiconductor process, such as the 90 nm technology and beyond.
In three dimensional IC fabrications, such as MEMs and SOI devices, two or more substrates W1 and W2 are bonded and aligned by alignment patterns M as shown in FIG. 1b. The front sides WF1 and WF2 of the substrates W1 and W2 are bonded face to face. Both front sides WF1 and WF2 define a plurality of IC features and comprise alignment patterns M thereon. It may be difficult, however, to detect the alignment patterns M from the backsides WB1 and WB2 of the two substrates W1 and W2 by IR detection during bonding. Hence, conventional wafer alignment is not convenient for three dimensional IC fabrications, and the accuracy can be adversely limited due to IR wavelength when opaque material obstructs the alignment patterns M on the front sides WF1 and WF2 of the substrates W1 and W2.

Three dimensional IC device and alignment methods of IC device substrates

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A column decoder of a semiconductor memory device includes an internal address output circuit, an address decoder, and a control circuit. The internal address output circuit converts an external column address into an internal column address and outputs the internal column address. The address decoder decodes a pre-decoded column address, which is obtained by decoding the internal column address, in response to a write column enable signal or in response to a read column enable signal activated earlier than the write column enable signal, and generates a column selection line signal for activating a memory cell designated by the external column address. The control circuit outputs a write signal or a read signal for controlling an output time of the internal column address. The address decoder generates a valid column selection line signal in response to a write signal in the write operation, and generates a valid column selection line signal in response to the read signal in a read operation.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a column decoder of a semiconductor memory device and a method of generating a column selection line signal in the semiconductor memory device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a semiconductor memory device such as DRAM includes a memory cell array for storing data. A memory cell in the memory cell array is designated (or selected) by a row address and a column address so data can be read from the memory cell and written to the memory cell.
Semiconductor memory devices select the row address and the column address by decoding an address of a memory cell applied together with a write command or a read command. In general, a column selection line is used for selecting the column address. A column decoder used for activating the column selection line, includes a pre-decoder and a main decoder.
FIG. 1 is a timing diagram showing the operation of a column decoder of a semiconductor memory device according to the prior art.
A pre-decoded column address DCAi is a signal obtained by a pre-decoder of a semiconductor memory device by decoding an internal column address and used with a read operation and a write operation of the semiconductor memory device. The pre-decoded column address DCAi is synchronized with a rising edge of an external clock signal CLK.
The main decoder of the semiconductor memory device activates the column selection line signal (not shown) by combining logic states of the pre-decoded column address DCA<1> valid in the read operation and the read column enable signal R_CSLE activated to a high level. The column selection line signal activates the column selection line of the semiconductor memory device.
In addition, the main decoder of the semiconductor memory device activates the column selection line signal by combining logic states of the pre-decoded column address DCA<1> valid in the write operation and the write column enable signal W_CSLE activated to a high level.
In the read operation of the semiconductor memory device, the read column enable signal R_CSLE for enabling (or activating) the main decoder of the semiconductor memory device is activated to a high level in the time interval of the valid pre-decoded column address DCA<1>. The read column enable signal R_CSLE is activated to a high level in synchronization with (or in response to) the rising edge of the first cycle CLK1 of an external clock signal CLK applied from outside the semiconductor memory device, and deactivated to a low level in synchronization with the rising edge of the second cycle CLK2 of the external clock signal CLK.
The time interval from the rising edge of the first cycle CLK1 to the time when the read column enable signal R_CSLE is activated to a high level is an absolute timing margin ATM_R, and is a fixed time interval independent of the operating frequency of the semiconductor memory device, which is needed for the read operation.
In the write operation of the semiconductor memory device, the write column enable signal W_CSLE for activating the main decoder of the semiconductor memory device is activated to a high level in the time interval of the valid pre-decoded column address DCA<1>. The write column enable signal W_CSLE is activated to a high level in synchronization with the rising edge of the first cycle CLK1 of the external clock signal CLK, and is deactivated to a low level in synchronization with the rising edge of the second cycle CLK2 of the external clock signal CLK. The time interval during which the write column enable signal has the high level is the same as the time interval during which the read column enable signal has the high level.
The time interval from the rising edge of the first cycle CLK1 to the time when the write column enable signal W_CSLE is activated to a high level is an absolute timing margin ATM_W and is a fixed time interval independent of the operating frequency of the semiconductor memory device, which is needed for the write operation.
The read operation of the semiconductor memory device is quicker than the write operation, because the data read path of the read operation is shorter than the data write path of the write operation, so the absolute timing margin of the read operation ATM_R is shorter than the absolute timing margin of the write operation ATM_W.
The time interval from the time when the read column enable signal R_CSLE is deactivated to a low level to the rising edge of the third cycle CLK3 of the external clock signal CLK is a read frequency timing margin FTM_R, and is a variable time interval dependent on the operating frequency of the semiconductor memory device. The higher the operating frequency of the semiconductor memory device, the shorter the read frequency timing margin.
Similarly, the time interval from the time when the write column enable signal W_CSLE is deactivated to a low level to the rising edge of the third cycle CLK3 of the external clock signal CLK is a write frequency timing margin FTM_W, and is a variable time interval dependent on the operating frequency of the semiconductor memory device. The higher the operating frequency of the semiconductor memory device, the shorter the write frequency timing margin.
Since the absolute timing margin of the write operation ATM_W is longer than the absolute timing margin of the read operation ATM_R, the write frequency timing margin FTM_W is shorter than the read frequency timing margin FTM_R.
Accordingly, when the operating frequency of the semiconductor memory device is relatively high, for example 800 MHz, an invalid pre-decoded column address DCA<2> can be decoded in response to the write column enable signal W_CSLE at a high level. As a consequence, since an invalid column selection line signal is generated, the write operation of the semiconductor memory device may malfunction.

Column decoder of semiconductor memory device, and method of generating column selection line signal in semiconductor memory device


The present invention aims to provide a fluid pressure control apparatus which allows the gradient of pressure increase to be adjusted finely without using any accumulator. The fluid pressure control apparatus of the present invention includes a hydraulic pump driven by a drive motor and a wheel brake. A first orifice is provided in a passage portion on the side of an outlet of the hydraulic pump. Another passage portion on the side of an inlet of the hydraulic pump is connected to the passage portion between the first orifice and the hydraulic pump through a return passage. A switching valve and a second orifice are connected in series along the return passage. The pressure increase gradient can be set to a small value by changing the amount of fluid flowing into the wheel brake. This is effected, for example, by changing the ratio of the fluid passage area of the first orifice to that of the second orifice, the operational speed of the hydraulic pump, or the duty ratio of the switching valve.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a fluid pressure control apparatus for wheel brakes, more specifically, to a fluid pressure control apparatus which generates a braking force by supplying a fluid pressure generated by a pressure source to a wheel brake based on information representative of a driving state of a vehicle detected by a wheel speed sensor or a distance sensor. The fluid pressure control apparatus of the present invention is especially used to keep the vehicle away from a preceding vehicle by a certain distance.
The construction of a conventional fluid pressure control apparatus varies in many respects. According to a conventional foot-operated braking apparatus, a fluid pressure generated in a master cylinder is supplied to a wheel brake upon depression of a brake pedal. However, the fluid pressure control apparatus disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 6-199215 or Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. HEI 7-35221 automatically supplies a fluid pressure generated by a pressure source other than the master cylinder to the wheel brake, regardless of whether the brake pedal is depressed or not.
In the above-mentioned fluid pressure control apparatus, an automatic braking actuator is installed such that a brake fluid supplied from the master cylinder and that supplied from the pressure source flow through the same passage. The pressure source includes a pump driven by a drive motor and an accumulator for accumulating a fluid-pressure generated by the pump. When the automatic braking process is triggered, the fluid pressure accumulated in the accumulator is supplied to the automatic braking actuator.
Since this fluid pressure control apparatus necessitates a relatively bulky accumulator as a pressure source, it is disadvantageous in terms of installation.
Another fluid pressure control circuit disclosed in Japanese Published Patent No. HEI 5-65388 employs a pump as a pressure source and ensures a sufficient fluid pressure without using the accumulator. However, this fluid pressure control circuit is only capable of generating a fluid pressure required for traction control (TRC). This fluid pressure control circuit allows the entire amount of fluid discharged by the pump to be supplied to the wheel brake, and thus is unsuitable for control processes in which a gradient of pressure increase has to be finely adjusted in accordance with the circumstances surrounding the vehicle.
For this purpose, a variable capacity pump may be used. However, the use of the variable capacity pump is equally unsuitable because it has a substantially complicated structure, is very expensive, and requires a space almost as large as that for accommodating an accumulator.
2. Description of the Related Art

Fluid pressure control apparatus for wheel brakes


An electrical neon display device that allows for the interchangeability of the material being displayed and includes a power track, a track head and at least one display member that is electrically connected to said track head and includes a neon tube that is preferably shaped in the configuration of a desired letter or design to be displayed by said device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to electrical display signs that preferably include neon display elements and more specifically relates to a display sign that displays individual letters or designs and allows for the interchangeability of the letters or designs being displayed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During at least the last decade, a form of electrical lighting commonly referred to as "track lighting" has become highly popular not only in commercial situations but also in residential environments. Typically, track lighting systems are formed with an H-track power strip into which are plugged incandescent or halogen light bulbs. Although the use of a variety of lighting systems that employ neon bulbs is well-known, up to this time neon bulbs have not been employed with track lighting systems.
It is also well-known in the art to use neon signs for use as exterior signage on buildings or advertising media to promote a business. Typical neon signs employ relatively expensive neon tubing that is generally formed in one piece to provide lighting for the display. Such neon signage not only is highly expensive, but is also difficult to produce or replace. Accordingly, the present invention is designed to provide a neon light display that preferably includes a plurality of individual lighting members.

Electrical display device with individual display members


A method for the control of photoresist develop processes employing multiple spray-puddle steps in which process changes other than time, such as endpoint are used to determine the length of the spray and puddle steps.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the use of optical devices to sense the progress of processes, transmit signals related to such progress, detect such signals and extract from such signals information to control such processes. More particularly, this invention relates to the use of an endpoint controller to control photoresist development in a multiple spray-puddle process for the fabrication of micro-electronic devices, including, but not limited to semiconductor devices.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Photolithography makes it possible to transfer a desired circuit pattern to a surface of a semiconductor device. In a simplified photolithograpic process a silicon or gallium arsenide wafer or other substrate with a suitable substrate coating such as silicon dioxide, polysilicon, or aluminum or other metal is coated with a photoresist film and then subjected to an imaging and developing process which exposes regions of the substrate coating in a pattern defined by a mask having opaque and transparent portions positioned to form the desired pattern. The wafer is then etched by a subsequent process in the pattern formed by the developing process.
To maximize the yield of useful devices, the photolithography process must be controlled and certain dimensions, known as critical dimensions, kept within specified ranges.
The point at which photolithographic reactions proceed far enough to expose the underlying material or film is commonly called endpoint. However, for reasons which will become apparent that point is more accurately called breakthrough.
The use of devices to detect the breakthrough point in the photoresist development phase of the manufacturing process has been shown to significantly improve critical dimension control. This approach has been successfully used with constant spray processes and with spray-puddle processes(processes within which a developer is first sprayed upon the wafer and then allowed to puddle on the surface of the wafer) with a short spray period. A short spray period is defined as a spray period that consistently ends prior to breakthrough. It is desirable to use spray-puddle processes as they permit the conservative use of more expensive, developers, such as Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide, rather than Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide, which can contaminate the wafer. In addition spray-puddle processes generally provide a more uniform development. As geometries get smaller, process latitude could be increased by diluting the developer, however the diluted developer tends to run out of active chemicals before the develop is complete. Thus multiple spray-puddle periods are used as a way of replenishing the developer. However attempts to use endpoint control devices within processes which include double or triple spray puddle stages, i.e. spray-puddle-spray-puddle or spray-puddle-spray-puddle-spray-puddle, have been generally unsuccessful because the change from spray to puddle or vice versa frequently occurs at about the same time within the process when breakthrough can be expected and tends to mask the signal. In addition, the change from spray to puddle or vice versa sometimes significantly changes the reflectivity of the wafer and such reflectance can be read as a false breakthrough point or prevent the detection of the real breakthrough point.
Various methods have been used to overcome the problems described above. For example, a constant spray process using a specialized low volume ultrasonic spray nozzle has been utilized. In one approach a multi-step detection process, changing steps whenever the process changes from spray to puddle or vice versa has been employed. Attempts have been made to overprocess based upon a percentage of step time or a percentage of the recipe time, however this approach only works if breakthrough occurs within finite time limits within a spray or puddle, and may require undesirable modification of the development process to meet the endpoint controller's requirement. In another approach the practice has been to increase the dynamic range of the endpoint controller to include both spray and puddle without changing steps. This method suffers when used with wafers where a small percentage of the wafer area has been exposed, as the signal cannot be both enlarged enough to see changes in the signal and also retain both the spray and the puddle signals on the monitor screen of the endpoint controller. Neither method solves the problem of missing breakthrough, if breakthrough occurs during a change from spray to puddle or vice versa, or the problem of reading a change as a false breakthrough point. Furthermore, none of these methods have been found to improve critical dimension uniformity, from wafer to wafer, enough to warrant the necessary recalibration of the process.
As a result of the above described problems, endpoint control of the develop process has been limited to those processes using immersion develop or track develop with either constant spray or a single spray-puddle step with a short spray. Since approximately 50% or more of existing track develop applications involve a multiple spray-puddle step, it is highly desirable to have an endpoint controlled development process which is useful with multiple spray-puddle steps. It is thus the primary object of this invention to provide a method for using process changes, including breakthrough detection, that is applicable to multiple spray-puddle photoresist develop applications and allows the operator or equipment to decide in real time when to go from puddle to spray and vice versa.
It is well known that wafers arc not uniform from wafer to wafer. Because of this lack of uniformity, a system which uses fixed times to control the length of spray and puddle steps within a develop process cannot provide consistent development and thus perpetuates nonuniformity.
As discussed above, a problem with using endpoint detection to control spray-puddle processes, is the commonly occurring coincidence in time of breakthrough with a transition from spray to puddle. A simplistic solution to this problem would suggest that the process times be adjusted to avoid the anticipated time of breakthrough. However, the develop steps and the timing of such steps, are merely parts of a whole process, the design of which has been determined, both scientifically and empirically to provide an acceptable yield. If changes are made in the lengths of the times of the interim steps, the entire process would have to be recharacterized and the critical dimensions reanalyzed and recalibrated. For example, change in develop time will change the linewidth, an important critical dimension. An overall goal of fabricators in this field is to hold everything constant and thus proposals to change develop times are generally deemed to be undesirable. It is another object of this invention to provide a method for scientific, rather than empirical, control of interim process times during the develop process. Furthermore it is an object of this invention that the improvement of critical dimensions by the adjustment of process times be of sufficient magnitude to justify recharacterization of the process and recalibration of the critical dimensions.
In the develop stage of the photolithographic process, endpoint controllers have been used to determine breakthrough and to adjust the total develop time based upon the time to breakthrough. After breakthrough, the process is commonly allowed to continue for a period called overprocess or overdevelop. During this period, the area of breakthrough is widened and the reaction continues to complete the developing process along the sidewalls of the etched area. It is submitted that the point at which the area of breakthrough is widened and the horizontal development is completed is, in fact the end of the development process and within the develop stage of semiconductor fabrication more accurately called the endpoint and the term will be used accordingly herein.
Heretofore there has been no recognition that endpoint control devices could be used to control portions of the develop process other than the total process time. It is thus another object of this invention to control not only the total develop time, but the interim development stages of the develop process so that the range of variations will be narrowed and will more proximately approach the target or center of the critical dimensions range.
It is axiomatic that the more accurately the process is controlled the more likely it is that the resulting product will be within the critical dimensions and that the yield will be improved. Current develop practice is to select a constant total time and within that total time to empirically select constant times to switch from spray to puddle and from puddle to spray. It is still another object of this invention to teach a develop process wherein variable spray and puddle times are used.
Presently, the total time is the critical parameter used by fabricators. In processing according to our invention, neither the final time nor the interim times are critical. At a point when either a puddle reaches breakthrough or when the chemicals require replenishment, spray begins. Thus interim and total develop times are determined using factors other than time alone, such as the following process changes; percent of time to breakthrough, rate of develop, dissolution rate or chemical depletion rates. A further object of this invention is to find breakthrough and control spray-puddle cycles, independently from the total time of the develop process.
Pertinent references related to endpoint detection of photoresist development include the following: U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,860, End Point Detection, issued Jul. 31, 1984 to Charles R. Szmanda; U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,480, System for Developing a Photo-Resist Material used as a Recording Medium, issued Feb. 26, 1985 to Matsui et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,172, Resist Development Method, issued Mar. 3, 1987 to Batchelder et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,940, issued Jan. 30, 1979 to Lin.

Method for control of photoresist develop processes


A night vision device includes an objective lens assembly, an image detector assembly, an eyepiece lens assembly and a housing. The objective lens assembly receives low intensity light. The image detector assembly converts the low intensity light into a visible output image. The eyepiece lens assembly provides for viewing the output image from the image detector assembly. The housing receives the objective lens assembly, the image detector assembly, and the eyepiece lens assembly. Additionally, the housing aligns the objective lens assembly with the image detector assembly and the eyepiece lens assembly along an optical axis.

The primary head worn, night vision devices used by the United States (US) military are night vision goggles (NVGs). Although these devices can be monocular (one eye looking at an image), biocular (two eyes looking at the same image), or binocular (two eyes looking at two images) in design, conventional NVGs all use image intensification (I2) tube technology. An I2 tube multiplies ambient visible and near IR light several thousands of times. I2 tube technology allows a user to see and operate in very low light conditions. In extreme low light conditions additional near IR illumination can be used. Although this near IR illumination can be seen with the aid of a night vision device, the near IR illumination is invisible to unaided human eyes.
Current night vision technologies use the visible (400-780 nanometer), near infrared (IR) (780 nanometer-1 micron), mid wave IR (3-5 micron), and long wave IR (8-12 micron) bands. The proliferation of night vision technologies has placed devices into the hands of US adversaries, thereby reducing the US military's advantage during low light operations.
The strength of night vision goggles is also one of its disadvantages. The I2 tube is inherently a direct view system. Light enters objective optics on one end of a night vision device and is focused onto the I2 tube. The light is amplified by the I2 tube and exits the device through eyepiece optics. I2 tube night vision devices can be small, light-weight, and rugged. One disadvantage with I2 tube night vision devices is I2 tube night vision devices can not generate an image as a video signal that can be displayed on a monitor or transmitted externally. The I2 tube is also sensitive to too much light. Too much light can over saturate the I2 tube and prevent the user from seeing any scene detail. This problem is called blooming or a halo effect. Therefore, an I2 device can only be used in low-light conditions. In very low-light conditions, additional near IR illumination or lasers can be used. This active illumination technique can be seen by all I2 devices. So if an adversary has an I2 device, any opposing force using near IR illuminators or lasers may inadvertently disclose their position. Additional disadvantages are the narrow applications the night vision devices are designed for. These devices are primarily mobility devices with a fixed field of view, e.g., 40°.
An example of an I2 night vision device is the Army's AN/PVS-14. The AN/PVS-14 is a monocular device that can be handheld, mounted onto a helmet or on a weapon. However, the AN/PVS-14 does not have video output, power input, or external video input capabilities. Additionally, the AN/PVS-14 does not accept alternative objective lenses other than magnifiers that narrow the field of view. Another example of a monocular night vision I2 device is a commercial off the shelf (COTS) Pocket Scope MK-880 sold by OSTI. Although similar to the AN/PVS-14, the Pocket Scope MK-880 can accept external power and alternative objective lenses. But the Pocket Scope MK-880 is still susceptible to too much light, the inability to export the amplified image, and the inability to display external video.
Irvine Sensors has developed a Personal Miniature Thermal Viewer (PMTV). The PMTV is a compact thermal imager with an integrated display. The PMTV is compact, direct-view, battery operated, and can produce imagery in the mid-wave IR band. However, the PMTV can not display an external video.
What is needed is an alternative imaging device that utilizes wavelengths of the electro-magnetic (EM) spectrum currently unused in military environments.

Direct-view, compact short wave infra red (SWIR) viewer

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army