A tool and process for installing a trim clip to a mounting surface. The tool includes a handle attached to a grasping portion. The grasping portion is provided with a base that is adapted for insertion into a hollow pocket that exists within the trim clip. A pair of retaining arms are maintained at some distance above the base and extend outwardly along the length thereof. The retaining arms each include at least one spring-loaded ball that extends downward from an underside thereof. When the grasping portion is engaged with the trim clip, the trim clip is retained by the presence of the base within the pocket and by a downward force exerted on the trim clip by the spring-loaded balls. The tool can be used to easily remove a trim clip from a storage medium, install the trim clip to a mounting surface, and subsequently release the trim clip.

The present invention is directed to a tool and process for installing a trim clip to a mounting surface. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a tool and process for ergonomically and cleanly transferring a trim clip from a storage element to the flange of a vehicle windshield and ensuring the melt clip is sufficiently seated thereto.
Trim clips can be used to attach a variety of trim pieces to different mounting surfaces, such as to different parts of a vehicle. Such clips are often installed to a vehicle at some point fairly early in the assembly process, such that they are present on the vehicle prior to the time the vehicle is subjected to a primer and or paint process.
Trim clips may also be attached to a vehicle by a number of methods. For example, such clips may have protruding portions that are designed to engage a receptacle on the vehicle. Commonly, however, such clips are attached to a vehicle by some form of adhesive.
In any event, certain installation criteria must be met regardless of trim clip design or the method used to attach the trim clip to a vehicle. Particularly, each trim clip must be securely attached to the vehicle and it must be attached in the proper location with the proper orientation. With respect to the installed location and orientation of a trim clip, it can be easily understood that if a trim clip is installed in the wrong location and/or in an incorrect orientation, the trim piece that the clip is designed to retain may not mate properly thereto. In the case of adhesive-employing trim clips, these criteria also generally require that the trim clip be pressed to the vehicle with sufficient force to set the adhesive and that the adhesive not be contaminated prior to installation of the clip to the vehicle.
Depending on the design, size, shape and/or other characteristics of the trim clip of interest and the location on the vehicle to which the trim clip is to be installed, meeting one or all of these criteria may be problematic. First, adhesive-backed trim clips require that a sufficient amount pressure be exerted thereupon during installation to the vehicle. Absent the exertion of such pressure, it is quite possible that the trim clip will not be sufficiently adhered to the vehicle, and may become dislodged. Further, and in support of proper adhesive-backed trim clip installation, the clip must typically be transferred to the vehicle with little or no contamination to the adhesive layer. In addition, there is often little or no indication on the vehicle as to the proper location and/or orientation of the trim clip. And, indicating marks or other location aids that are present can easily be covered by corrosion resistant coatings, primer, paint, or various other substances.
Meeting these criteria may be difficult for several reasons. For example, trim clips are commonly installed to a vehicle by hand. However, the design, size, shape and/or other characteristics of a given trim clip can make grasping and or installing the trim clip by hand very difficult—particularly if a worker must wear gloves. This situation can be compounded by the need to place a trim clip in a hard to reach location on/in the vehicle.
Repeated application of trim clips with adequate setting force can also lead to excessive hand stress. This predicament may be due to the exertion of force and the need to repeatedly install a considerable number of clips during each work period. Further, it is generally difficult for a worker to judge whether a clip has been set with sufficient force, which may lead to the use of inadequate or excessive force.
The process of manually installing trim clips also lends itself to the contamination of the adhesive backing. Workers in an industrial setting will commonly have grease, oil or other contaminants present on their hands. Even worse, they may be required to wear gloves where such substances may collect over time. Transfer of such substances to the adhesive backing of a trim clip can adversely affect its ability to adhere to a vehicle surface.
Thus, for these and other reasons it is desirable to employ a tool and a process that allows a user to install a trim clip to a vehicle quickly and easily, and in a clean and ergonomically friendly manner. Preferably, the tool and process also allows a trim clip to be automatically set with a proper amount of force, thereby eliminating the need for the user to speculate as to the level of force being applied. It is also desirable that the tool and process allow for a trim clip to be transferred directly from a shipping or storage medium to a vehicle, thereby minimizing the opportunity for contamination of the adhesive backing.


An identity provider (IdP) discovery service operative at a service provider (SP) is described. In operation, and as valid requests are received by the SP via normal IdP-initiated flows, the SP builds-up knowledge about the relationship between the IdP (that redirected the request) and the initiator of the request. The IdP instance typically is inferred from an HTTP referrer field, and information about the initiator may be ascertained from client-specific information, such as client system IP address, client DNS domain, a domain of a user e-mail address, a target URL for the incoming request, or the value associated with a particular HTTP header field. This knowledge is maintained in one or more mapping table(s) that associate request attributes-to-IdP instance data. The mappings are then used to facilitate IdP discovery for a new incoming request to the SP that has been determined to originate from other than an IdP.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to management of computing resources in a federated environment.
2. Background of the Related Art
Federated environments are known in the art. A federation is a set of distinct entities, such as enterprises, organizations, institutions, or the like, that cooperate to provide a single-sign-on, ease-of-use experience to a user. A federated environment differs from a typical single-sign-on environment in that two enterprises need not have a direct, pre-established, relationship defining how and what information to transfer about a user. Within a federated environment, entities provide services that deal with authenticating users, accepting authentication assertions (e.g., authentication tokens) that are presented by other entities, and providing some form of translation of the identity of the vouched-for user into one that is understood within the local entity. Federation eases the administrative burden on service providers. A service provider (SP) can rely on its trust relationships with respect to the federation as a whole; the service provider does not need to manage authentication information, such as user password information, because it can rely on authentication being accomplished by a user's authentication home domain, which is the domain at which the user authenticates.
In particular, a federated entity may act as a user's home domain that provides identity information and attribute information about federated users. An entity within a federated computing environment that provides identity information, identity or authentication assertions, or identity services, is termed an identity provider (IdP). Other entities or federation partners within the same federation may rely on an identity provider for primary management of a user's authentication credentials, e.g., accepting a single-sign-on (SSO) token that is provided by the user's identity provider. An identity provider is a specific type of service that provides identity information as a service to other entities within a federated computing environment.
It is also known to use a login service where SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) security has been deployed. The SAML security model offloads user authentication to an IdP, which handles the user login. After the IdP has verified the user's identity, the IdP issues to a service provider (SP) application an identity assertion representing the authenticated user. On receipt of the identity assertion, the SP cryptographically verifies the user's assertion, and the SP may allow the user access to resources if the assertion verification is successful. As a prerequisite to verifying assertions, typically the SP is partnered with the IdP and obtains information about the IdP, including the IdP's certificate used with cryptographic operations.
A service provider may also support web-based single sign-on (SSO) with many different Identity Provider partners. In a typical use case, a user accesses a secured business application without yet being authenticated. The service provider is required to start an SSO service to authenticate the user. When multiple IdPs are available, a challenge arises in determining which identity provider is appropriate for a particular request. To address this problem, it is known in the art to provide Identity Provider discovery services and protocols, such as WAYF ("Where Are You From" service), OASIS Identity Provider discovery service, IBM® Tivoli® Federated Identity Manager (TFIM), which is a WAYF-based solution, and the like. The TFIM WAYF-based solution may be configured to automatically redirect a user to a single IdP that meets specific criteria based on the HTTP request data. U.S. Publication No. 2012/0144034, which is assigned to the assignee of this application, describes an alternative IdP discovery service that directs a user to a specific instance of an IdP based on geographic location or IdP system load.
Known identity provider discovery services that are built on WAYF or OASIS often require explicit action by the user (or other unspecified means) to select the appropriate IdP. Discovery services that are provided in commercial products (namely, IBM TFIM) provide significant advantages, but they may require administrator configuration and a deep awareness of the patterns and use cases to fully configure the correct IdP selection parameters.

Dynamically selecting an identity provider for a single sign-on request

International Business Machines Corporation


Devices, systems, and methods for event detection using distributed event devices are described herein. In some examples, one or more embodiments include a first event device and a second event device, where the first event device is configured to detect an event in an area and wirelessly transmit a notification of the detected event and location information associated with the first event device to the second event device, and where the second event device is configured to receive the notification of the detected event and the location information from the first event device, determine whether the location information matches a location included in a database in response to receiving the detected event, and perform an activation action responsive to determining the location information matches a location included in the database.

Large facilities (e.g., buildings), such as commercial facilities, office buildings, hospitals, and the like, may have an alarm system that can be triggered during an emergency situation (e.g., a fire) to warn occupants to evacuate. For example, an alarm system may include a control panel (e.g., a fire control panel) and a plurality of event devices (e.g., hazard sensing devices, input devices, output devices, etc.) located throughout the facility (e.g., on different floors and/or in different rooms of the facility) that can perform an action when a hazard event is occurring in the facility and provide a notification of the hazard event to the occupants of the facility via alarms or other mechanisms.

Event detection using distributed event devices


Method and apparatus for processing one or more fragment data. In one embodiment, the method includes processing one or more fragment data to generate one or more texture map addresses for one or more texels, determining relevance information that correspond to the texture map addresses, and translating the relevance information into a rendering constraint data structure.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to computer graphics, and more particularly to occlusion culling during rendering in a computer graphics processing pipeline.
2. Description of the Related Art
During graphics processing, a computer is commonly used to display three-dimensional representations of an object on a two-dimensional display screen. In a typical graphics computer, an object to be rendered is divided into a plurality of graphics primitives. The graphics primitives are basic components of a graphics picture and may be defined by geometry, such as point, line, vector or polygon, such as a triangle. The graphics primitives are fed through a graphics pipeline where various types of processing occur and then are commonly displayed on an output device.
Render-to-texture is a mechanism for using the graphics pipeline to compute textures that will be used in subsequent rendering phases. One of the problems with the render-to-texture mechanism is that when it is used to generate dynamic textures, most (if not all) of the scene visibility information is lost. Current culling technology is only useful for reducing the cost of shading in the camera's screen space, but not useful for reducing the cost of computing dynamic textures.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for methods of increasing the efficiency of rendering dynamic textures.


A method for increasing sensitivity and/or specificity of a magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging technique for detecting a neurodegenerative disease is provided. The method includes acquiring magnetic resonance spectroscopy data from the brain of a subject, while suppressing certain metabolites in the spectrum via a data acquisition protocol, to improve quantification accuracy for the remaining metabolites, and quantifying a metabolite concentration or a metabolite concentration ratio from the spectral data as an indicator of the neurodegenerative disease.

The invention relates generally to a magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data acquisition technique and in particular to detection and monitoring of a neurodegenerative disease using this MRS technique.
The use of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy data acquisition techniques for the determination of the presence and/or concentrations of individual chemical compounds is known as MR spectroscopy (MRS). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is generally considered as a possible sensitive, non-invasive technique for detecting neurodegenerative diseases and monitoring therapy in such diseases. However, repeatability issues associated with the common spectroscopy techniques, as well as the inherent biological variability make the sensitivity/specificity of these techniques less than ideal in tracking metabolite changes due to disease or treatment.
Common spectroscopy techniques employed for neurodegenerative diseases detection and treatment monitoring generally include data acquisition protocols like STEAM (stimulated echo acquisition mode) and PRESS (Point RESolved Spectroscopy, a double spin echo imaging sequence). The spectra yielded by these two sequences are extremely complex, as all of the protons in the selected region of brain tissue produce a detectable signal. Consequently, it is difficult to reliably extract the concentration of every metabolite in the brain, and in particular the concentration of metabolites that change with disease and treatment. Therefore, relatively low sensitivity and specificity exist for MRS techniques in detecting early stages of a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer disease (AD). AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and even though its symptoms were first described almost a century ago, no definitive diagnostic exists even now. A "probable AD" diagnostic is usually given based on a series of neuropsychological, imaging and laboratory tests, only to ultimately be confirmed or infirmed (in ˜10% of the cases) through post-mortem pathological examinations. For example using existing MRS techniques, a patient may be classified as "probable" AD, that is, with a sensitivity (true positive rate) and specificity (false positive rate) for less than ideal (ideal numbers being 100% and 0%). Moreover, clinical studies that have used MRS as a marker for treatment efficacy involve a large number of subjects (treated and untreated) in order to show a statistically significant difference that could be assigned to the treatment.
Therefore there is a need for using more sensitive imaging or MRS techniques for detecting the metabolites of interest for early detection and treatment of a neurodegenerative disease in a patient. There is also a need to identify a suitable neuronal integrity marker that could be used as an indicator for the existence of the disease and follow its response to therapy in a timely fashion.

Methods and systems for detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases using magnetic resonance spectroscopy


To provide a semiconductor device having improved reliability at an improved production yield.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, in particular, to a technology effective when applied to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a step of forming element isolation regions.
Element isolation regions are formed by making trenches in a semiconductor substrate and then filling these trenches with an insulating film. A semiconductor device is manufactured by forming various semiconductor elements in active regions defined by these element isolation regions. Active regions can be electrically isolated from each other by these element isolation regions.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-173260 (Patent Document 1) describes a technology of neutralizing a semiconductor substrate before wet etching treatment.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-113028 (Patent Document 2) describes a technology of attaching a substance, which has a more positive potential than the standard electrode potential of hydrogen, to a portion of a silicon surface, causing an oxidation reaction between HF and the silicon at the portion of the silicon surface to which the substance has been attached to form electron e−, while blocking light to the silicon and thereby suppressing formation of an electron-hole pair in the silicon, and reacting the electron e− and a hydrogen ion H+.
The technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-49293 (Patent Document 3) has a step (a) of forming a first insulating film 11 on a substrate 12, a step (c) of selectively removing the first insulating film 11 by wet etching, and a step (d) of forming a second insulating film 17 on a region of the substrate 12 from which the first insulating film 11 has been removed. In the step (c), the surface of the substrate 12 is irradiated with illumination light of visible light or infrared light during at least a period from when wet etching is started until the substrate is brought into contact with a chemical solution (symbols used here correspond to those used in Patent Document 3).    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-173260    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-113028    [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-49293

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device

Abstract: After forming an insulating film on the main surface of a semiconductor substrate as an oxide film, form a silicon nitride film on the insulating film. Then, form an element isolating trench by plasma dry etching, form an insulating film made of silicon oxide so as to fill the trench by using HDP-CVD, and remove the insulating film outside the trench by CMP, while leaving the insulating film in the trench. Then, remove the silicon nitride film, followed by removal of the insulating film by wet etching to expose the semiconductor substrate. At this time, the insulating film is wet etched while applying light of 140 lux or greater to the main surface of the semiconductor substrate.


A display system for trade shows and method for assembly thereof. The display system comprises lower and upper lateral frame members, and a plurality of vertical members adapted to connect releasably at the top and bottom to the lateral frame members. Each vertical member has a lower portion that extends outside a first reference plane, and an upper portion that extends outside said first reference plane in the direction opposite the direction of extension of the lower portion. The system further comprises a plurality of legs connected to respective vertical members and releasable fasteners for attaching a sheet of flexible material to the lower and upper lateral members and at least two vertical elongate members for displaying information. The invention also includes a method for assembling a display as described above without the use of extrinsic tools.

All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
In a trade show or convention setting, it is often the case that the most eye-catching display will garner the most interest among the attendees. To help distinguish their exhibit from exhibits of their competitors and thereby achieve maximum attendee traffic, exhibitors typically desire to use a display system that creates maximum impact and visual appeal. At the same time, exhibitors must often transport their display systems from place to place for various trade shows or other exhibits, and have only minimal labor available to set up and break down the display for each use. It is particularly convenient and advantageous if a display system is constructed such that it can be shipped by a door-to-door express freight service, such as United Parcel Service, Federal Express, and the like. This enables the exhibitor staff to travel without having to carry boxes, crates, or other containers for display material, and no special arrangements are required for shipping the display system to the next venue.
Numerous patents have issued in the United States for advertising and display systems. However, many of them consist of straight sections that interlock to form square or rectangular display surfaces. For example, Downing, U.S. Pat. No. 3,113,392 ("Downing"), discloses a "knock down display" for trade shows and demonstrates several shortcomings common to the prior art.
Downing describes a finished display that is flat in both vertical and horizontal axes, and therefore is not particularly eye-catching. In addition, the display system comprises a multitude of components which must be assembled to create subassemblies, and then these subassemblies must be mounted together to create a large display surface. Finally, the surface of the display forms part of the structure, and each time the message is to be changed, new panels must be constructed and then printed.
Healy, U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,591, discloses a modular sign system that employs a curved display surface that produces greater visual impact. However, the structure itself does not lend itself to large-scale displays incorporating higher order curved surfaces.
Similarly, Lanier, U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,084, discloses a sign adapted to be anchored to the ground for applications such as outdoor real estate advertising, and employs a horizontally-curved surface. In this design, the size of the display is limited to relatively small signs since the panel must be somewhat stiff in order to provide some rigidity to the assembled unit.
Volpe, U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,180, describes a temporary display for advertising soon-to-be-released movies or DVD's where a "life size" cutout of the lead character is often utilized. The display includes an S-curved shape in the horizontal axis, though the vertical axis is not curved. The display is built of one piece, shipped flat and assembled on-site by following fold lines. However, the display is to be constructed of inexpensive paperboard or printed cardstock, providing only enough strength to support itself. It is thus a "one time use" display which would be thrown away after use.
Based on the state of the art, as shown in part by the aforementioned examples, there is a need for a lightweight, easily assembled, visually pleasing display system that can be broken down into components small enough for shipment via express freight delivery services.


An excavating bucket includes a bottom surface section, a bucket body having a rear surface section and a side surface section, a lip section, a bracket, and teeth. The lip section is fixed to an edge portion of the bucket body at an opposite side to the rear surface section. The bracket has a hole through which a coupling pin for attaching to the arm passes. When the length of a virtual line S1 linking the center of the hole and the front end of the lip section is set as a wrist radius V, a length of the longest line segment perpendicular to the virtual line S1 from the virtual line S1 to the bottom surface section is set as a bucket depth D, and the angle formed between the lip section and the virtual line S1 is set as a lip angle θ, 62°≦θ≦72° and 0.7≦D/V≦0.8.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an excavating bucket and a work vehicle.
Description of the Related Art
An excavating bucket which is mounted in a work vehicle is provided with a plurality of teeth, a bracket, and a bucket body. The teeth are provided at a front side upper section of the bucket body. The bracket is provided on a rear surface section of the bucket body. In addition, a hole is provided in the bracket and the excavating bucket is attached to an arm by passing a coupling pin through the hole. Due to this, the excavating bucket is attached to the arm so as to be able to rotate centering on the coupling pin.
As such an excavating bucket, a configuration is disclosed (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H4-117046) where there is a bottom surface section where a linear section, an arc section and a linear section are formed in this order from the teeth side in a side view.
Furthermore, an excavating bucket is proposed (for example, refer to International Publication No. 2011/049061) which lengthens the life of the excavating bucket by reducing excavation resistance and reducing wear. In the excavating bucket, a bottom surface section is formed which has two curved surface sections with different radii of curvature in a side view.


In a game apparatus, when a user name input mode is selected on a screen displayed with a mode selecting software input region, a user name inputting software input region (including a software keyboard area, and an SW button (decision) and an SW button (cancel) which are formed at positions other than a position of the software keyboard area) is set on a displaying portion. When the SW button (decision) or the SW button (cancel) is touched, a process just as an HW button (A) or an HW button (B) is operated is executed. When a cursor is moved by an HW button (cross) in order to designate or select any one of the SW buttons within the software keyboard area, a combined mode is established to form a user name inputting software input region (an expanded software keyboard area, and an SW button (input) and an SW button (erase) which are formed at positions other than a position of the expanded software keyboard area) on the displaying portion. At this time, within the expanded software keyboard area, the SW button (decision) and the SW button (cancel) are set.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for information processing and a storage medium therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a program therefor capable of inputting predetermined data (user name, etc.) by utilizing keys or buttons at a hardware (hereinafter, referred to as "HW") input portion such as a pushbutton switch, a direction key, a joystick, etc. or keys or buttons at a software (hereinafter, referred to as "SW") input portion which is displayed on a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one example of such kind of information processing apparatus, there is a game apparatus with touch panel, like NINTENDO DS (product name). In a game apparatus of this kind, for example, as explained in a reference (NINTENDO DS product instructions (released on December, 2004)), by a selection on a menu screen, a mode selecting software input region 1 is displayed on a displaying portion, and within the mode selecting software input region 1, four SW buttons 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, an SW button (decision) 3, and an SW button (cancel) 4 are displayed. On the mode selecting screen 1, by touching any one of an option setting function actuating button 2a, a date and time setting function actuating button 2b, a user information setting function activating button 2c and a touch screen setting function actuating button 2d with a touch pen (stylus pen: not illustrated) or the like, a user can activate each function (an option setting function, a date and time setting function, etc.). Furthermore, on the mode selecting screen 1, by an operation of an HW button (cross) to thereby move a cursor left and right, any one of the SW buttons 2a-2d can be selected with the cursor, and by a touch of the SW button (decision) 3 or by an operation of an HW button (A), a function corresponding to the SW button cursor-selected at that time can be then activated.
When the option setting function is activated, a language selecting software input region 5 shown in FIG. 2 for setting a language to be used on the game screen is set to the displaying portion. In the language selecting software input region 5, by touching an SW button indicating a desired language (Japanese, English, etc.), the corresponding SW button can be selected with the cursor. Also, by an operation of the HW button (cross) to thereby move the cursor, any one of the SW buttons can be selected. Then, by a touch of the SW button (decision) 3, a selection of the language corresponding to the SW button currently cursor-selected is decided (the language is set), or by a touch of the SW button (cancel) 4, the displaying portion can be returned to the mode selecting screen 1 without the current language setting being changed.
Furthermore, when the date and time setting function is activated, a time setting software input region 6 for setting a time shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. In the time setting software input region 6, by a touch of an up arrow key or a down arrow key with respect to each of "hour" and "minute", a desired value can be set to each of the "hour" and "minute". Then, by a touch of the SW button (decision) 3, the set values can be decided, or by a touch of the SW button (cancel) 4, the displaying portion can be returned to the mode selecting screen 1 without the time setting being changed. In addition, by the HW button (cross), the setting of"hour" and "minute" can be changed.
When the user information setting function is activated, that is, when the user name mode is set, a user name inputting software input region 7 for registering a user name shown in FIG. 4, for example, is set on the displaying portion. The user name inputting software input region 7 includes a software keyboard area 8 surrounded by a boldface box in FIG. 4. The software keyboard area 8 includes a portion for inputting a character and a symbol ("a" (Japanese hiragana character) button, etc.; hereinafter called an SW button (character)) and a portion for executing a function (a "kana" (Japanese hiragana character) button, a "katakana" (Japanese katakana character) button, a "←: backspace" button 8a, a "decision" button 8b, a "cancel" button 8c, etc. ; hereinafter called an SW button (function)). The user can input a desired character and symbol, or execute a predetermined function by touching the SW button (character) or the SW button (function) displayed on the software keyboard area 8 with a pen or the like. In a case that the SW button (function) is touched, a touch of the SW button (←: backspace) 8a allows the character and the symbol input immediately before to be erased, a touch of the SW button (decision) key 8b allows the input user name to be decided, and a touch of the SW button (cancel) 8c allows a return to the mode selecting screen 1 without the current user name being changed. In addition, by an operation of the HW button (cross) to thereby move the cursor, any one of the SW button (character) and the SW button (function) within the software keyboard area can be selected. Then, by a touch of the SW button (input) 3′, if the SW button (character) is selected with the cursor, the relevant character is input, and if the SW button (function) is selected with the cursor, a predetermined function is executed. Furthermore, by a touch of the SW button (erase) 4′, the character and the symbol which are input immediately before can be erased. It should be noted that by the HW button (cross), the SW key (input) 3′ and the SW key (erase) 4′ cannot be selected with the cursor.
Also, as to the language selecting software input region and the time setting software input region, by an operation of the HW button (A) instead of a touch of the SW button (decision) 3, it is possible to decide a selection, and by an operation of the HW button (B) instead of a touch of the SW button (cancel) 4, it is possible to return to the setting of the mode selecting software input region 1 without the current setting being changed.
On the other hand, in the user name inputting software input region, by an operation of the HW button (A) instead of a touch of the SW button (input) 3, the character corresponding to the SW button (character) currently selected with the cursor can be input, or the function corresponding to the SW button (function) currently selected with the cursor can be executed. Furthermore, by an operation of the HW button (B) instead of a touch of the SW button (erase) 4, the character and the symbol input immediately before can be erased.
As described above, while the process to be executed by an operation of the HW button (A) and the HW button (B) and the process to be executed by a touch of the two SW buttons arranged at the lower part of the screen mean "decision of selection" and "return to the setting of the mode selecting software input region without changing the current setting" in the language selecting software input region and the current time setting software input region, but mean "input of the character which is being currently selected with a cursor (or execution of the function)" and "erasure of the character and the symbol which are input immediately before" in the user name inputting software input region, being short of a unity in sense of an operation.
Furthermore, in the user name inputting software input region, the SW button (SW button (decision) 8b and the SW button (cancel) 8c) for executing processing of "decision of selection", and "return to the setting of the mode selecting software input region without changing the current setting" are added to the software keyboard area anew.
In the related art, in a case that the user name inputting software input region 7 shown in FIG. 4 is set to the displaying portion, the processing to be executed by an operation of the HW button (A) or the HW button (B) and the processing to be executed by a touch of the SW buttons 3′ or 4′ arranged at the lower part of the screen are changed from the first for the purpose of a character input as described above. Thus, even if the user uses the HW button (A) or the HW button (B) and the two SW buttons 3′ or 4′ displayed at the lower part of the screen in a state that the user name inputting software input region is displayed, the user cannot decide the input from that time or return to the previous state (mode selecting screen in FIG. 1, for example) just as the language selecting software input region or the time setting software input region is displayed. Furthermore, in a case that the user inputs a user name by utilizing only the touch panel without utilizing the HW button, the functions of the SW buttons at the lower part are changed, so that the positions of the SW buttons and the keys of "character input", "character erase", "decision" and "cancel" are different from those displayed on other screen. Accordingly, in the related art, the functions of the SW button and the HW button are partly changed from one screen to another, causing uncomfortable feeling in operation.

Apparatus and method for information processing and storage medium therefor


A remote control system includes an RC comprising a first processor, a first RF unit, and a temperature sensor; a receiver on an air conditioner and comprising a second processor and an IR receiver; and a retransmission device proximate the air conditioner and comprising a third processor, a second RF unit, and an IR unit. The first processor compares temperature measured by the temperature sensor with a set temperature of the air conditioner, the first processor sends a temperature adjustment instruction to the first RF unit if the measured temperature is not within a predetermined range of the set temperature, the first RF unit transmits the instruction to the second RF unit via RF signals, the third processor processes received RF signals into IR signals, the IR unit transmits received IR signals to the IR receiver, and the second processor processes received IR signals into a temperature adjustment instruction.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to remote controls and more particularly to a remote control having a temperature sensor for an air conditioner such that people in the room may feel an increased degree of comfort.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, most of remote controls (RCs) communicate to their respective devices via IR (infrared) signals. Further, a transmission unit is provided in the RC and a receiver is provided in the device to be controlled.
A typical RC comprises, in addition to the transmission unit, a keypad and associated circuitry, and a printed circuit board (PCB). The transmission unit comprises an LED (light-emitting diode) for emitting IR rays. The device to be controlled comprises, in addition to the receiver, a decoding circuit which is adapted to amplify, filter, and decode the received control signals for further processing.
However, a couple of drawbacks of the conventional RCs have been found. First, a person has to point an RC at an appliance (e.g., air conditioner) to be controlled due to the nature of IR transmission. Second, an effective distance between the RC and the appliance to be controlled is typically less than 10 meters. It is thus typical that a person walks to a position close the appliance and points the RC at the appliance in operation. This is very inconvenient in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,068,181 discloses a programmable appliance remote control. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of remote control are constantly being sought.

Remote control with temperature sensor for air conditioner


A method of fabricating a high voltage device includes the step of forming a patterned photoresist layer on a conductive layer and a dielectric below the conductive. The conductive layer and the dielectric layer are patterned by taking the patterned photoresist layer as a mask. Subsequently the patterned photoresist layer is shrunk. The conductive layer and the dielectric layer are then patterned by taking the shrunk photoresist layer as a mask.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a method for fabricating a high voltage transistor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Every electrical device has a particular working voltage and frequency condition; therefore, electrical devices and related passive elements utilized in the electrical devices, such as inductors, capacitors, resistors and transformers, act as a switch to determine the value of the voltage and the type of current thereof. High voltage transistors may also function as switches and are broadly utilized in CPU power supplies, power management systems, AC/DC converters, LCD/plasma TV drivers, automobile electronic components, PC peripheral devices, small DC motor controllers, and other consumer electronic devices.
A high-voltage transistor may include a gate, a channel formed under the gate, source/drain regions formed on both sides of the channel, and a drift region for distributing an electric field applied to the source/drain regions at the time a device is driven.
In high voltage applications, the transistor is designed to withstand high voltages. Due to their structural design, however, a current leakage problem may occur through the gate dielectric layer.

Method of fabricating high voltage device


An exemplary method involves reading a first identification tag. The first identification tag includes an instruction to form a logical connection with a computing device. Address information associated with the computing device is used to form the logical connection with the computing device in accordance with the instruction. Data is obtained. The data is transmitted to the computing device via the logical connection.

Computer technology has entered many areas to simplify manual tasks and to make information more readily available. Many people use several computer-related products every day that greatly simplify their work day. In addition, through the use of a computer, vast amounts of information are readily available. Computer software and electronic information sources are typically found on storage media or storage devices such as hard drives, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, etc., on a local computer, on a local computer network or a global computer network, such as the Internet.
Computer programs can be used for many purposes including assisting a person in performing his or her job. For example, word processors help computer users prepare documents, spreadsheet programs help users perform accounting functions and numerical analysis, diagnostic programs assist users in diagnosing problems, etc. There are many programs available to help users with almost any need they may have. Computer programs often need some type of manual input to help a user, from simply starting the program to entering a significant amount of input.
Before a user can access relevant electronic information, he or she usually enters some input before helpful information becomes available. By way of example, many computer users, when looking for particular information, will use the World Wide Web (the "Web") to find information. Typically users will begin their search for information by using a search engine on the Web. To perform a search, a user first enters one or more search terms. Typically, a user will then browse the results by clicking on various links and reading through the information found. After some manual browsing, the user often finds the relevant information. Finding and accessing electronic information from a CD-ROM or from a hard drive is similar in that some manual searching and browsing of data is generally required.
A machine-readable identification tag (hereinafter, "ID tag") is a machine-readable data storage medium that is used to uniquely identify something, such as a product or a representation of a product (e.g., a picture of a product in a catalog). Examples of ID tags include machine-readable graphical codes ("graphical codes"), radio frequency identification tags ("RFID tags"), magnetic stripes, and so forth. Machine-readable ID tags may be placed on objects, printed on labels that can be affixed to objects, inserted into printable documents that contain representations of objects, and so forth. An ID tag reader is a device that "reads," or obtains data from, an ID tag.
As mentioned, one type of ID tag is a graphical code. A graphical code is a graphical representation of information that consists of multiple graphical code elements having different light reflective or light emissive properties. Examples of different types of graphical codes include bar codes, data matrix codes, MaxiCodes, optical character recognition ("OCR") text, and so forth. Graphical codes have become widely used in many commercial environments, such as point-of-sale stations in retail stores and supermarkets, inventory and document tracking, and the like.
In view of the foregoing, benefits may be realized if means were provided for establishing electronic communication between a machine-readable ID tag reader and a computing device.

Systems and methods for establishing communication between an identification tag reader and a computing device


A method for data storage includes storing data in a group of analog memory cells by writing respective input storage values to the memory cells in the group. After storing the data, respective output storage values are read from the analog memory cells in the group. Respective confidence levels of the output storage values are estimated, and the confidence levels are compressed. The output storage values and the compressed confidence levels are transferred from the memory cells over an interface to a memory controller.

Several types of memory devices, such as Flash memories, use arrays of analog memory cells for storing data. Each analog memory cell holds a certain level of a given physical quantity such as an electrical charge or voltage, which represents the data stored in the cell. The levels of this physical quantity are also referred to as storage values or analog values. In Flash memories, for example, each analog memory cell holds a certain amount of electrical charge. The range of possible analog values is typically divided into regions, each region corresponding to a programming state that represents one or more data bit values. Data is written to an analog memory cell by writing a nominal analog value that corresponds to the desired bit or bits.
Some memory devices, which are commonly referred to as Single-Level Cell (SLC) devices, store a single bit of information in each memory cell, i.e., each memory cell can be programmed to assume two possible memory states. Higher-density devices, often referred to as Multi-Level Cell (MLC) devices, store two or more bits per memory cell, i.e., can be programmed to assume more than two possible memory states.
Flash memory devices are described, for example, by Bez et al., in "Introduction to Flash Memory," Proceedings of the IEEE, volume 91, number 4, April, 2003, pages 489-502, which is incorporated herein by reference. Multi-level Flash cells and devices are described, for example, by Eitan et al., in "Multilevel Flash Cells and their Trade-Offs," Proceedings of the 1996 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), New York, N.Y., pages 169-172, which is incorporated herein by reference. The paper compares several kinds of multilevel Flash cells, such as common ground, DINOR, AND, NOR and NAND cells.
Eitan et al., describe another type of analog memory cell called Nitride Read Only Memory (NROM) in "Can NROM, a 2-bit, Trapping Storage NVM Cell, Give a Real Challenge to Floating Gate Cells?" Proceedings of the 1999 International Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials (SSDM), Tokyo, Japan, Sep. 21-24, 1999, pages 522-524, which is incorporated herein by reference. NROM cells are also described by Maayan et al., in "A 512 Mb NROM Flash Data Storage Memory with 8 MB/s Data Rate", Proceedings of the 2002 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC 2002), San Francisco, Calif., Feb. 3-7, 2002, pages 100-101, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other exemplary types of analog memory cells are Floating Gate (FG) cells, Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) cells, magnetic RAM (MRAM) cells, Charge Trap Flash (CTF) and phase change RAM (PRAM, also referred to as Phase Change Memory—PCM) cells. FRAM, MRAM and PRAM cells are described, for example, by Kim and Koh in "Future Memory Technology including Emerging New Memories," Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Microelectronics (MIEL), Nis, Serbia and Montenegro, May 16-19, 2004, volume 1, pages 377-384, which is incorporated herein by reference. Data is sometimes read from memory cells using quality measures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,766, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a memory system. The quality of data stored in the memory system is assessed by different methods, and the memory system is operated according to the assessed quality. The data quality can be assessed during read operations. Subsequent use of an Error Correction Code (ECC) can utilize the quality indications to detect and reconstruct the data with improved effectiveness. Alternatively, a statistics of data quality can be constructed and digital data values can be associated in a modified manner to prevent data corruption. In both cases, corrective actions can be implemented specifically on the poor quality data, according to suitably chosen schedules, and with improved effectiveness because of the knowledge provided by the quality indications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Efficient readout from analog memory cells using data compression


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enabling anonymous posting of content, e.g., over a network (e.g., the internet). In some instances, users may inform a system of various attributes of the user, for example, job title, skills, and/or interests. The system may group similar users together. In some cases, users grouped together can see messages posted by the other users in the group in an anonymous discussion forum. In other cases, users grouped together can have other users in the group presented to them as potential options of users to follow, e.g., as part of an anonymous social media platform. In some implementations, users can identify particular user subsets to view posted content.

An online discussion website such as a message board, or a social media website, provides an online forum where users of the website can hold discussions by posting messages. In message boards, messages posted for a particular topic can be grouped into a thread, often referred to as a conversation thread. A user interface (e.g., a web page) for an online forum can contain a list of threads or topics. Each thread can be expanded to a list of messages, often arranged in a chronological order. Each message typically comprises a text message, a time stamp, and an author identified by a real name or a user name (e.g., for an account of the online forum). In social media websites, users are typically followed by other users and/or select other users to follow. In this context, "follow" means being able to see content posted by the followed user. Users typically select other users to follow based on the identity of the other users, which is provided by the social media platform, e.g., by providing a real name, a user name, and/or a picture.


A capacitance amplifying circuit applied to a controller of a power convertor includes a comparison unit and a capacitance amplifying module. The comparison unit receives a feedback voltage corresponding to a load coupled to the power convertor, a dimming signal, and a reference voltage, and outputs a compensation current. The capacitance amplifying module generates an equivalent capacitor. A capacitance of the equivalent capacitor is K times to a capacitance of a reference capacitor of the capacitance amplifying module, and K is a real number greater than 1. The compensation current and the equivalent capacitor are used for determining a compensation voltage, and when the dimming signal is disabled, a closed loop within the capacitance amplifying module is changed to an open loop to keep the compensation voltage at a fixed value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a capacitance amplifying circuit applied to a controller of a power convertor and an operation method thereof, and particularly to a capacitance amplifying circuit and an operation method thereof that can make a compensation voltage within a capacitance amplifying circuit be not continuously increased or decreased with offset and leakage of a transconductance amplifying unit when a dimming signal is disabled.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, a controller applied to a power convertor has a compensation pin to couple to an external compensation capacitor, wherein the controller can generate a compensation voltage at the compensation pin according to the external compensation capacitor, a reference voltage, and a dimming signal, and provide the compensation voltage to a gate driving circuit within the controller. Then, the gate driving circuit within the controller can generate a gate control signal according to the compensation voltage, and output the gate control signal to a power switch of the power convertor. Thus, the power switch can be turned on and turned off to have a dimming function according to the gate control signal.
However, in highly integrated trend of integrated circuits today, the external compensation capacitor outside the controller and the compensation pin of the controller will increase cost of the controller, resulting in the controller with the external compensation capacitor and the compensation pin losing competitiveness. Therefore, how to integrate the external compensation capacitor into the controller and remove the compensation pin of the controller becomes an important issue of a designer of the controller.

Capacitance amplifying circuit applied to a controller of a power convertor and operation method thereof


The present invention provides a top-feeding double-swirl type gasifier: a feed line through which pulverized coal is supplied by nitrogen; a distributor for dividing the pulverized coal supplied; a plurality of burner nozzles for supplying the pulverized coal, divided in the distributor, and an oxidizer; a pressure reactor in which the pulverized coal and the oxidizer react with each other to produce a flow of synthesis gas; and a swirl generator for imparting a swirling force to the oxidizer which is fed into the pressure reactor, the gasifier further comprising a slag cooling and storing container placed beneath the pressure reactor. Each of the burner nozzles consists of a triple tube having a circular cross section. The pulverized coal and carrier gas are supplied to the most central region of the burner nozzle, and an oxidizer is supplied to an annular region 34 surrounding the central region.

As is well known, new and renewable energy is a solution to fossil energy depletion problems and environmental problems, despite there being an excessively large initial investment. In this respect, in advanced industrial nations, extensive research and development of new and renewable energy have been being performed and policies for the dissemination thereof have been adopted.
According to Article 2 of the Korean Act on the promotion of the development, use and dissemination of new and renewable energy, new and renewable energy is defined as energy that is obtained as a result of having converted fossil fuels or converting renewable energy, including sunlight, water, the heat of the earth, precipitation, biological oil, gas, etc. into energy. Also, the Act stipulates 11 new and renewable energy fields, that is, 8 renewable energy fields, including sunlight, solar heat, biomass, wind force, water power, ocean energy, waste and the heat of the earth, and 3 new energy fields, including fuel cells, coal liquefied gas and heavy residual oil gas, and hydrogen gas.
Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology is a new technology in which low-grade raw materials such as coal or heavy residual oil are subjected to incomplete combustion and gasification with limited oxygen together with water vapor in a gasifier at high temperature and high pressure to make a synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen as its main components, which is then subjected to a refining process and used to derive gas turbines and steam turbines, thereby generating electricity.
For example, according to US Patent Publication No. 20060242907 (entitled "Gasifier Injector"), pulverized coal is injected into a gasifier through a plurality of branched tubes placed above the gasifier, wherein each of the injection tubes are passed through a plate made of porous material, and an oxidizer is fed through the porous material. Apertures are formed in the side of the branched tubes for supplying the pulverized coal, such that a major amount of the oxidizer is fed into the surroundings of the branched tubes, and the oxidizer fed through the apertures is rapidly mixed with the pulverized coal. A minor amount of the oxidizer passes through the porous material into the gasifier and flows downward from the entire upper region of the gasifier.
In the above patent publication, in order to rapidly mix the oxidizer with the pulverized coal which is fed into the gasifier through the plurality of branched tubes, the pulverized coal feed unit is passed through the porous material, the apertures are formed in the side of the feed unit so as to supply the oxidizer therethrough, and the oxidizer flows downward from the entire region except for the pulverized coal feed unit. However, because the pulverized coal and the oxidizer all flow downward vertically, a general slagging phenomenon in which pulverized coal particles melt and flow along the wall of the gasifier hardly occur. Thus, in the above patent publication, there is difficulty in realizing a slagging gasifier. Namely, a relatively large amount of the pulverized coal particles are discharged as particulate material. Also, it is impossible to control the flow rate of both the oxidizer flowing along the inner periphery of the pulverized coal feed unit and the oxidizer flowing around the feed unit, and thus it is difficult to cope with various operating conditions, including replacing fuel and changes in the flow rates of pulverized coal and oxidizer.
As another example, US Patent Publication No. 20080141913 (entitled "Dump Cooled Gasifier") discloses a gasifier having a structure in which the wall of the gasifier comprises ceramic tubes and a gaseous or liquid coolant is allowed to flow into the ceramic tube so as to protect the inner wall of the gasifier from a high-temperature environment and high-temperature gas and slag during gasification. However, the gasification region is surrounded by the ceramic tubes made of ceramic material having weak mechanical strength, and for this reason, if the joint between the tubes is incomplete, the gasifier can be damaged in a high-temperature and high-pressure environment, thus making it difficult to stably operate the gasifier.
In most gasification technologies developed to gasify fuel such as coal or heavy residual oil into clean energy, a large-sized gasifier is used in order to complete a relatively slow gasification reaction in the gasifier. Despite this increase in the volume of the gasifier, when pulverized coal is used as fuel, it is difficult to completely convert carbon into gas.


A Method and Apparatus for Automatic Jammer Frequency Control of Surgical Reactive Jammers is disclosed. The system and method to autonomously and selectively jam frequency-hopping signals in near real-time. The system has the ability to automatically detect short duration signals (such as those output from frequency hoppers), to automatically determine if detected signal(s) should be jammed, and subsequently to automatically and extremely quickly activate the jamming transmitter on the frequency-hopper transmitter's frequency. Furthermore, the system improves upon the FFT-based front-end system by incorporating a module that automatically and iteratively comparing the digital FFT results to the analog RF signal to the arrive at a total frequency offset between the FFT results and the analog signal so that the transmitted jamming signal will be more accurately applied on the desired or target frequency. Finally, the system provides a programmable user interface so that operators can set up the system to act autonomously as intended, such that operator intervention is unnecessary when the system is placed in jamming operation mode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to advanced military grade communications jamming systems and, more specifically, to a Method and Apparatus for Automatic Jammer Frequency Control of Surgical Reactive Jammers.
2. Description of Related Art
Modern military grade communication systems today employ short, burst type transmissions that constantly cycle through a secret sequence of frequencies in order to prevent detection and jamming. Such systems are commonly known as frequency hoppers. Typically, these systems (both foreign and domestic) only transmit on a particular frequency for no more than a few milliseconds at the most. This creates a problem for those who want to detect and jam such transmissions as they happen so quickly. Practically, it is not feasible to simply "splash" the radio frequency spectrum with random noise in order to jam such transmissions. The reasons are that it requires an unpractical amount of power to apply sufficient RF energy to wash out all transmissions. In addition, there may be friendly transmissions that should not be jammed. Also, since the duration of the target transmissions is so short, it is not practical to have (for instance) a CPU that is programmed to evaluate signals, make a determination, and then command transmitters to jam. There is simply not enough time to engage the frequency hopping signals before they have moved on to a new frequency.
This invention relates to an enhanced electronic warfare capability over enemy signals and communications; it is an extension and an augmentation to a previously filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/912,976: "System and Method to Autonomously and Selectively Jam Frequency Hopping Signals in Near Real-Time," also written by this author. That patent will be referenced continually throughout this description.
The jammer device described by patent application Ser. No. 10/912,976 is sometimes referred to in the Electronic Warfare industry as a "wideband reactive jammer", "surgical follower jammer," or a "surgical reactive jammer" because it has the ability to quickly find enemy signals and then very rapidly apply jamming energy right on targets so as to jam those enemy communication signals. This is possible because it uses a wideband digital reception technique to instantaneously detect the presence of enemy signal energy. Once the enemy signals are detected, they are then immediately jammed by using fast direct digital synthesizers to output RF energy right on those detected enemy signal frequencies.
One of the tradeoffs of this sophisticated technology, though, is that to enhance jammer reaction speed, absolute frequency resolution is often sacrificed. Thus, the reactive jammers output signals might not be exactly on target, given that the frequency detected was not completely precise. There are a variety of jammer techniques, which have been invented and employed by this author to overcome this shortcoming. One such unique technique is shifting the jammer frequency very quickly, and pseudo-randomly, across the maximum theoretical error deviation. Thus, the target receiver experiences pulsed frequency and amplitude modulated jamming tones that hit the right frequency most of the time. That technique is the topic of a separate patent application. The other technique is the very topic of this patent application, which is hereby coined as Automatic Jammer Frequency Control (AJFC).
What is needed therefore in order to feasibly detect and jam modem fast narrowband transmissions as efficiently as possible is a system that has not only has: 1) The abilities stated in the aforementioned previous patent application Ser. No. 10/912,976, but also 2) The ability to implement AJFC to fine tune the jammer signals in real time.
FIG. 1 is a functional depiction of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a near real-time frequency hopper jamming system. Once armed for jamming, the system first receives and instantaneously processes a wide bandwidth of RF spectrum. The invention will then detect short duration signals such as frequency hopping signals and burst transmissions. Such suddenly appearing signals are then automatically evaluated and then automatically jammed by this invention. The combination between the automatic detection of sudden, short duration signals, and the intelligent evaluation and jamming of such signals, was unique until the disclosure of that prior jamming system and method of the parent application to this continuation-in-part.
The system 80 is implemented in hardware and preset by software programming. The system 80 uses a device 12 that is a wideband front-end downconverter (i.e. a radio receiver tuner) that outputs a wideband intermediate frequency (IF). Thus all the signal information contained within the bandwidth of the IF filter can be analyzed instantly. The resulting IF output may contain one or many short duration communication signals. The front-end section of the System utilizes portions of wideband detection technology described by the patent application entitled: "Method And Apparatus For The Intelligent And Automatic Gathering Of Sudden Short Duration Communications Signals" (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/829,858). The next sections contain the selection logic by which it is automatically determined whether or not received signals should be jammed. There are various programmable criteria. For example there is a section that determines priority for jamming, as well as a lookup table for jammer programming. The cycle generator section 30 regulates the user configurable System timing. The final section of the invention executes the jamming frequency generation and output (as determined by the previous sections), which must also occur extremely quickly. All of these processes occur in near real time.
Operation
As a high level description, the invention described herein first basically has the hardware and method required to capture high speed frequency hopping transmissions. Then the frequencies of those detected signals are passed along through a series of decision modules to determine whether or not it should be jammed. The signal logic modules of the jammer take those results and strip out the signals that are not of interest. What remains are the signals that should be jammed and are subsequently passed on to the invention's signal generation circuitry for jammer output. All of this occurs automatically and without CPU intervention, everything can be done in hardware.
To jam high speed frequency hoppers requires equipment that has extremely fast and especially precise timing. The invention of that prior patent application uses such a concept and implements it with a hardware module called the cycle generator 30. The jammer system has all of the timing regulated and coordinated by the cycle generator 30, which has its' timers pre-programmed in the Setup Mode. After the Setup Mode is complete and the system is properly "armed" (please see below a discussion of Modes), the operator can begin the Attack Loop Mode by initiating the cycle generator into action which will in turn make the entire jammer system operate autonomously until the jammer is manually turned off by the user, or the attack timer expires.
During operations, a converter device 12 is first tuned to a region of the RF spectrum where the enemy frequency-hopping signals are expected to be. A PIN diode switch 10 is placed on the input to this converter device 12. At first, the PIN diode switch is naturally in the closed, or connected, position to allow signals to pass through and into the converter. Incidently, during the Attack Loop Mode of operations, this switch 10 is commanded open by the cycle generator 30 to protect the converter's 12 front-end amplifiers (so-called "blanking" of the front-end) when the System 80 is transmitting at high power RF.
The converter 12 acts as a down-converter device to properly shift the received spectrum into a usable IF range. The wide band analog IF output is then fed through a bandpass filter and then the filtered analog IF is fed directly into the analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion component 14 for digitization. The digitized IF data is then fed to a hardware logic component that performs fast Fourier transformations (FFT). This FFT module (such as an FPGA device) performs various DSP algorithms. But the FFT function is not initiated until the cycle generator sends it the "Start FFT" command.
When the operator is ready, or upon order from military command, the cycle generator 30 is initiated. This cycle generator then sends the Start FFT command to the FFT module and the "detection timer" begins. This gets the entire jammer going and listening for enemy signals (as described above). The FFT module performs the FFT's and transforms the incoming digitized IF (which is in the time domain) to the frequency domain. The FFT length can be 1024 points or more. The output of eatch FFT bin is digital I and Q data. The I and Q data is combined by a magnitude algorithm which takes the square root of the sum of the individual squared values of I and Q. The result is the normalized amplitude of the I/Q, which is the processed spectrum. Thus the spectrum data is completely in the mathematical real domain, without any imaginary components. The amplitude of the "bins" of the FFT correspond to the signal energy detected in each FFT sample over the total IF bandwidth. Each FFT bin value thus contains the amplitude value over a narrow frequency band.
The output of the FFT module is an FFT bin array of information (so-called FFT frame) that is then fed to another hardware logic component 18 (such as an FPGA) that determines if the incoming spectrums contain signals on frequencies that were preprogrammed to not be jammed. The module takes in the incoming FFT bins and excludes those bins that the user does not want to jam. These "lockouts" are bins that translate to no-jam frequencies of friendly or coalition forces (which are provided during the System pre-programming phase—Setup Mode). These are "fixed" lockouts; there are also "real-time" lockouts that may be applied as a function of the hopping pattern that friendly and coalition forces' radios are expected to use at that current time. These real-time lockouts protect the so-called "fill of the day" hopping pattern so that they are not jammed. The result is that the FFT frame that is allowed to pass will only contain present signals that were not designated to be locked out by the jammer. These lockouts can alternatively be done at a later stage without affecting the function of the jammer. The hardware logic then takes the remaining FFT bins and performs various peak detection algorithms 20 (such as two, three or five-point methods) on the set. This algorithm 20 continually takes in new FFT bins all the time and updates the calculated output values for each bin. This is done to improve the overall signal-to-noise (S/N) of the system to receive the new signals. This process all occurs within the Setup Mode programmable "Detection Time" period. The longer detection time used, the higher signal to noise ratio. After the detection period has expired, the cycle generator sends a "Stop FFT" command to the FFT module 16. The FFT module 16 will finish its current FFT frame generation and then pass them on to the following modules. But after that, there will be no more FFT frame generation until the very next attack cycle begins.
The FFT module 16 then sends a command to the peak detection algorithm module 20 to wait for the final FFT frame to arrive, and then to release the final values of the FFT bins and send them to the signal evaluation algorithm module 22.
This algorithm 22 makes a determination if a signal is present in each of the bins or not by using the user provided "window amplitude threshold settings" as a rule set. The window threshold settings are configurable upper and lower amplitude bounds for a signal to be declared present. These values are input during the Setup Mode phase (described below). If a signal does not land within the configurable window threshold setting, then the signal is not jammed. The idea is to not jam signals that have too high a signal strength, since they are typically considered to be from nearby (friendly) forces. If the signal is too low, then it does not meet the minimum signal threshold requirements. This avoids jamming noise spikes. If one or several targets are identified as suitable to jam by the signal evaluation logic 22, those are then sent to the priority logic algorithm module 24 of the hardware.
This priority logic algorithm module 24 decides which one of the signals (or which group of signals) will be jammed. Priority rules can be either hard coded, or configured by the user during the Setup Mode phase. Some signals might be pre-programmed to have higher importance than others for example. After a determination of which signals to jam has been made, those frequencies are matched to the proper Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS) programming data that is determined from a lookup table.
Next, the information is then sent, along with the DDS programming data, to a Direct Digital Synthesizer module 26 (DDS) that in turn outputs the required jamming frequency, or frequencies. To program DDS chips may require many CPU operations that would take precious milliseconds to accomplish. Thus, one way to effectively program the DDS chips with enough speed is to have a pre-programmed lookup table of every single DDS programming array of bits that are matched to each and every frequency bin of the final FFT frame that comes out of the priority select logic module 24. Thus, there is no CPU intervention required to program the DDS chips. The DDS frequencies are then generated automatically in FPGA hardware.
The output of the DDS module 26 are jammer signals. The jammer signals are then sent to an upconverter stage that contains a oscillator 28, mixer 32 and output filter. The proper final jamming frequency is then output from the System to the external high power amplifier 34 (PA) for long range transmission.
Operation Modes
As mentioned earlier, this system 80 has two major operational modes, a Setup Mode, and the Attack Loop Mode. In the Setup Mode, the operator inputs several parameters to "arm" the System properly with the right information in order to perform fast reactive jamming. For example, the System is programmed with which specific frequencies are NOT to be jammed (i.e. lockouts). This is important since friendly communications should not be attacked during a jamming cycle. The Setup Mode has several major parameters to be input prior to allowing it to go into Attack Mode.
The first Setup Mode parameter involves the tuning of the wideband downconverter 12. This is necessary so the system can "listen" in the right RF spectrum range where enemy frequency-hopping signals are expected to be.
The second Setup Mode parameter involves the programming of the memory logic, window threshold settings, and the priority selection criterion 24. In addition, the DDS setting tables are pre-loaded. The lockout memory logic 18 contains the frequencies that are "locked out" so the System will not jam those. The jammer also contains the priority selection algorithms 22 that are used to evaluate the amplitudes of the FFT bins to see whether or not there is a signal present. The DDS tables are pre-calculated arrays of DDS programming information. Each element in the array corresponds to a different frequency bin within the processed spectrum. For example, if a signal is detected in bin #45, then that frequency has a proper DDS setting in order to jam that frequency. The DDS table thus contains the proper DDS programming information in order to quickly set the DDS chipset 26 to any frequency that a signal appears on within the IF spectrum. When a jamming signal is identified, the hardware logic 24 does a lookup on the table and feeds the correct DDS programming to the DDS 26 itself. And as mentioned, this in turn automatically makes the DDS output the proper frequency.
This method is employed because to program a DDS chipset 26 to output a frequency would take several cycles for a CPU to execute. And those cycles are too long for jamming a fast frequency hopper. Thus, pre-programming fast memory logic to output the correct DDS input which corresponds to the correct jamming signal frequency is there to make the Attack Loop time short enough to—engage fast frequency hopping signals.
The third Setup Mode parameter involves the tuning of the upconverter oscillator 30. Since the DDS chipset 26 may not have enough frequency range to do full frequency coverage, it may be necessary to do the upconversion in a separate stage. But to prepare it for the Attack Loop Mode, the upconverter oscillator 30 is set in advance so the upconverter will cover the targeted frequency range.
The fourth Setup mode parameters that need to be set involve programming the cycle generator 30. The cycle generator 30 is a set of registers that will command the System during the Attack Loop Mode. This is necessary to orchestrate the series of events in the right times, needed to successfully jam a received signal. One parameter that needs to be set is the detection time. This time is how long the System listens for incoming signals and processes the FFT'S. Another parameter that needs to be set is the jamming transmission ON time, or "jamming dwell time". It is necessary for the System to jam for only a certain dwell time, after which the System needs to see if any of the attacked frequencies have hopped to a new location. And the final parameter that needs to be input is the attack time. The attack time is how long the invention should remain in Attack Loop Mode, before stopping and going back into Setup Mode. A manual stop can also be done at any time.
The cycle generator 30 also provides the physical signaling controls to open and close the input PIN diode switch 10 to protect the front-end downconverter 12. This is done to limit the jammer signal power into the downconverter 12 when the PA 34 is transmitting. The cycle generator 30 also sends the signal commands at the proper microsecond timing in a jamming cycle to turn on the PA 34 at the beginning of the jamming dwell period. It also turns off the PA 34 at the end of the jamming dwell period at the proper microsecond timing. After turning off the PA 34, the cycle generator 30 also opens the PIN diode switch 10 and resets the detection timer. Thus, a whole new jamming cycle can begin. This process loops over and over until the user manually cancels Attack Loop Mode, or until the system attack timer expires.
After all these parameters are set, the operator then commands the invention 80 into the Attack Loop Mode when ready, or ordered to by Military Command. In this mode, the system 80 simply monitors the RF spectrum that it was assigned to. And if any short duration frequency-hopping signal arrives within that range, the system 80 will automatically send out a jamming signal in near real time. As mentioned, the operation continues for a user programmable period of time (attack time), or until the operator manually cancels the Attack Loop Mode and brings the System back into Setup Mode.
What is needed is a modification to this extremely responsive surgical reactive jammer that enables the jammer to more accurately determine the target frequency of the jammer than this prior system can.

Method and apparatus for automatic jammer frequency control of surgical reactive jammers


A sleep aid system and an operation method thereof are disclosed. The sleep aid system includes a sleep aid device including a retrieving module, a processing module, and a transmitting module, and a server. The retrieving module retrieves a brainwave signal including specific frequency band signals. The processing module analyzes the brainwave signal to obtain an index in each of the specific frequency band signals and calculates a sleepless degree parameter representing one of at least five brainwave states regarding sleep accordingly. The transmitting module transmits a parameter signal corresponding to the sleepless degree parameter. The server receives the parameter signal from the transmitting module. The server stores comparison data, compares the parameter signal to the comparison data, and generates a first feedback signal according to a comparison result. The first feedback signal includes a command to switch an audio file or stream which is currently being played.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a sleep aid system and an operation method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sleep aid system and an operation method thereof in order to create a comfortable sleep environment.
Description of Related Art
Having quality sleep is vital to one's health. In general, it's easier for people to fail asleep in a comfortable and familiar environment. Some people may like to watch television program or listen to music in bed in order to aid sleep.
However, a person who is nearly asleep can be awoken or disturbed because the television screen nearby is too bright or the playing music is too loud, etc. In other cases, the playing music might not help the person to enter into sleep when the person is trying to sleep. In summary, people may lose the feeling of sleepiness easily due to environmental factors, and therefore sleep disorder problems are caused.
Accordingly, a system for establishing or improving a comfortable sleep environment is strongly needed, so as to help a person to smoothly enter into sleep.

Sleep aid system and operation method thereof


Apparatus includes a mold cavity and a molten plastic inlet channel for communication with the mold cavity for transmission of molten plastic to the mold cavity. A valve stem is provided with substantially no net resulting forces on the valve stem due to melt pressure acting on the projecting area of its upstream and downstream faces.

Typical hot runner valve gated nozzles in plastic molding systems use a single central melt channel to convey the resin from a supply channel in a hot runner manifold to the mold cavity gate. A valve stem is generally employed which is a small diameter rod that is positioned centrally in the nozzle's melt channel and reciprocates to control the opening and closing of the valve gate.
Hot runner valve gate systems use a variety of mechanisms to operate the valve stem. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,786,246 and 3,241,191 use an external moving mold plate to operate the valve stem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,258 uses an externally operated rack to drive a gear which in turn via a thread moves the stem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,448 to Rees et al. uses a double acting air operated piston to move the stem. These references all positively move the stem to an open or closed position by using some external means operating on the stem.
Some devices, typically using springs, provide single acting forces to close the stem. Opening the stem is performed by the pressure of the resin in the nozzle assembly. Examples of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,491,408 and 4,095,931, which uses a cam to close the stem. Further examples of this type of device miniaturize the stem/spring assembly to fit inside the nozzle. These are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,677,682 and 4,171,941.
All of the above devices are limited in size of gate opening that can be provided. Typically the valve stem must be operated to close the gate immediately after injection or hold pressures have been reached. These pressure values can be as much as 20,000 psi and accordingly the projected area of the valve stem, and hence the gate diameter it can close, is limited by the amount of external force that can be applied to close the stem against this resisting melt pressure. For example a typical 0.060" diameter gate at 20,000 psi will exert a force of 245 lbs. against a valve stem of 0.125" diameter. Thus an air piston operating at a nominal 80 psi air supply pressure must be approximately 2" diameter to develop sufficient force to close the valve. Obviously a larger diameter gate and stem would require greater forces, this in turn would require larger air piston diameters or using hydraulic pistons operating at higher fluid pressures, or alternately mechanical cam or rack and gear mechanisms. These alternate methods all have disadvantages. Hydraulic circuits in close proximity to heated mold components invite the risk of fire. Mechanical methods, like larger diameter air pistons, rack and gear drives and cams, take up a lot of space in the structure of the mold and are prone to seizing or failure since they must operate on components that thermally expand and physically move out of their cold condition alignment.
Large diameter valves, providing larger gate opening sizes, are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,808,106 and 5,002,480. The '106 reference relies on the deflection of the valve material itself to open and close the valve, whereas the '480 reference uses a sliding stem. The operation of the valve is performed by controlling the melt pressure itself. This greatly limits the usefulness of the valve since accurate melt pressure control in the midst of a molding cycle may not be accurate enough to effect opening or closing the valve at the optimum points in the cycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,280 shows a sliding gate needle contained within the hot runner nozzle. The needle is not a valve gate and cannot operate to shut off the resin flow, rather it is a heat conducting means to maintain the melt temperature in the gate area. The needle is able to slide back and forth within the nozzle by virtue of the melt pressure acting on each side of the stem's structure.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved injection molding apparatus which utilizes a pressure balanced valve stem.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus as aforesaid which is versatile, enables the use of large valve gates, does not result in delay of the molding cycle and enables precise control of the gate in a simple, convenient and expeditious manner.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.


The invention concerns a thin film of a permanent hydrophobic and optionally oleophobic finish for polymer surfaces. The film is formed from at least one layer of a water-soluble polycation and cationic synthetic resin. For further improvement of the oleophobic and permanent hydrophobic properties the film can additionally contain a long-chain surfactant or an alkyl-substituted polyanion.

It is well known that hydrophobic finishes for fibers are based on aluminum and zirconium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids. Such hydrophobic finishes are described, for example, in E. B. Higgings, Waterproofing and Water Repellance, J. L. Moilliet, Editor, Elsevier Publishing Co., Amsterdam, p. 188, 1963. However, the finishes do not exhibit wash permanency due to the alkali solubility of the compounds (i.e. the ability of a finish to remain on the surface of a substrate after several wash cycles).
A paraffin-based finish described in DE 24 20 971 is currently preferred for use as an extender for polymer fluorocarbon finishes. This paraffin-based finish requires addition of salts or polymers in order to achieve adequate stability and wash resistance. A high application weight and the related changed hand and water vapor transport represent drawbacks of these finishes.
Metal compexes of chromium and pyridinium complexes of long-chain aliphatic compounds are regarded with increasing criticism with respect to toxicological problems. Similar concerns apply to formaldehyde resins, which impart good water repellency to the substrate, but tend to release formaldehyde.
Fluorinated copolymers based on polyacrylate (methacrylate) copolymers that are used as oleophobic and hydrophobic finishes such as in combination with cationically modified polyurethanes are described in DE 39 39 341. The specific application method of the finish depends on the fiber material. Also, organic solvents of the partially fluorinated copolymer must be used for application of these partially permanent finishes. In addition, the application of several fluorocarbon layers to the substrate is required, as well as the addition of various auxiliaries.
The combination of a perfluoroalkyl group-containing compound with quaternization products of basic fatty acid amides is described in DE 36 20 033. The use of fluoropolymers required for the finish is distinctly reduced by using this combination. However, for optimal hydrophobicity values during finishing of cotton/polyester at least 10 g/l are required. As a result significant amounts of additional products are also required including, for example, 60 g/l of synthetic resin, 4 g/l of catalyst or 20 g/l of fatty acid amide.
A modification of polyamide soft with 10 g/l acrylate copolymer and, for example, 10 g/l of a polycationic compound known as a paper glue component is proposed in EP 0 008 761. A good water repellant effect is achieved here, but water breakthrough is not satisfactory.
Oleophobic finishes for textiles cannot be obtained when an exclusively hydrophilic compound containing perfluoroalkyl groups is used. A hydrophobic and oleophobic effect can only be achieved in a combination of acrylate (co)polymer and fatty acid amide. An extender must be added in this case to improve permanence.
The use of low-molecular weight fluorocarbons (perfluoroalkanoic acids and their chromate complexes) fails due to insufficient wash resistance, especially hydrolysis under alkaline conditions. It should also be noted that waste disposal problems of fluorocarbon solutions must be viewed more critically in the future.
There is a need for an improved permanent hydrophobic finish that can be produced using limited amounts for coating forming monolayers or limited multilayers having good chemical and mechanical stability even in the presence of aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic solutions.

Permanent hydrophobic and oleophotic modification for polymer surfaces and process of making same


The purchasing aid is temporarily connected to a housing for the advertising surface which is permanently present, said housing being arranged fixedly on the shopping trolley, wherein the fastening for the purchasing aid is arranged outside the advertising surface, and the advertising surface which is permanently present can optionally also be used as a display for the purchasing aid.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of advertising displays on a shopping cart.
2. Prior Art
The product description "Portable Store Assistant" from the Wincor Nixdorf company, printed in October 2004, discloses a shopping assistant.
The shopping assistant is a standalone PC which is operated under the Windows CE operating system and represents a not inconsiderable value.
This shopping assistant can be fitted on the push handle of a shopping cart and displays various information to the customer on its display.
The shopping assistant also comprises a bar code reader. As soon as a bar code on a product is brought close to the scanner, the shopping assistant's display displays price information for the scanned product.
On account of this value, the shopping assistant is issued only to registered customers of the shop for the shopping period and is mounted on the shopping cart only temporarily.
The product description shows the shopping assistant connected to the push handle of the shopping cart by means of a swan neck connection.
The base of the swan neck is seated centrally in a region of the push handle which is normally provided as an advertising area.
A drawback of the known solution is the fact that the shopping assistant has a special holder which is fitted directly centrally in the region of the push handle which is otherwise available as an advertising area.
This disadvantageously means that this region of the push handle can no longer be used as an advertising area.
This is a drawback particularly because the shopping assistants—as already mentioned—are issued only to registered customers and therefore the majority of the customers, using shopping carts without a shopping assistant, no longer have an advertising area.
In addition, the shopping assistant is relatively large because it has its own display on which the information is displayed for the customer. This size of the shopping assistant in turn creates a correspondingly large space requirement for keeping and collecting the shopping assistants temporarily issued to the customers.
DE 19843531 A1 discloses an advertising display for a shopping cart in which electronic, possibly programmable information media are used. The advertising display described therein has nothing disclosed regarding its use as a display for a shopping assistant. The shopping assistant therefore needs to be relatively large in order to have a sufficiently large display.
DE 4232287 A1 discloses an advertising medium for holding an information medium, the information medium being able to be of holographic and/or electronic type. This information medium can perform the task of a display, but there is no disclosure regarding the use of this information medium as a display for a shopping assistant. The shopping assistant therefore needs to be relatively large in order to have a sufficiently large display.
EP 0601064 B1 discloses a shopping assistant which is temporarily fitted to the shopping cart and has its own display. The use of an advertising area permanently fitted to the cart as a display for the shopping assistant is not disclosed. This means that the shopping assistant needs to be made relatively large in order to have a sufficiently large display.
WO 97/43163 discloses a holder, which is permanently borne by the shopping cart, for a scanner or a shopping assistant, but this holder does not have any kind of display. In this case too, the shopping assistant needs to be made relatively large in order to have a sufficiently large display.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,880 B1 discloses a shopping assistant which is permanently integrated in the push handle of the shopping cart. In this case, the shopping assistant's display can be used as an advertising area, but increased complexity is required because, in order to produce an advertising area on any shopping cart, every shopping cart needs to be equipped with a high-value shopping assistant in this prior art.

Shopping trolley with display or advertising surface