A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes, in the given order: a first substrate; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first electrode, a second electrode closer to the liquid crystal layer than the first electrode is, and an insulating film between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode is provided with openings including a first opening and a second opening adjacent to each other. The first opening and the second opening are independent of each other and are point-symmetrical to each other. The first opening and the second opening each have a shape including: curved portions that expand an opening periphery outward at the respective ends in the longitudinal direction; and paired protruding portions that allow the opening periphery to protrude partially in the lateral direction in the middle of the longitudinal direction. The liquid crystal molecules are aligned parallel to the first substrate in a no-voltage-applied state where no voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Liquid crystal display devices are display devices that utilize a liquid crystal composition for display. A typical display mode thereof is applying voltage to a liquid crystal composition sealed between paired substrates to change the alignment state of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal composition according to the applied voltage, thereby controlling the amount of light transmitted. These liquid crystal display devices, having characteristics such as thin profile, light weight, and low power consumption, have been used in a broad range of fields.
The display modes of liquid crystal display devices include horizontal alignment modes, which control the alignment of liquid crystal molecules by mainly rotating them in a plane parallel to the substrate surfaces. The horizontal alignment modes have received attention because these modes make it easy to achieve wide viewing angle characteristics. For example, the in-plane switching (IPS) mode and the fringe field switching (FFS) mode, both a type of horizontal alignment mode, are widely used in recent liquid crystal display devices for smartphones or tablet PCs.
There is continuing research and development of the horizontal alignment modes to achieve higher definition pixels, an improved transmittance, and an improved response speed to improve the display quality. With respect to techniques for improving the response speed, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of providing a comb-teeth portion of a specific shape for a first electrode of a liquid crystal display device utilizing a fringe electric field.

Liquid crystal display device having shaped openings


A bracket for a suspension system for control units, control panels and the like, including a support body portion, having a substantially U-shaped base profile portion that is subdivided, by means of a separation rib extending parallel to its rib, into a closed supporting part and an open, U-shaped receiving part remote from the rib, in which continuous, longitudinally oriented screw receptacles are formed on the support part and the receiving part. To improve the torsional rigidity of the bracket and the entire suspension arrangement, the support part is stiffened in the longitudinal direction of the support body portion by means of two continuous diagonal ribs, which are joined together in the middle, and the screw receptacles of the support part are constructed in the corner regions that the diagonal ribs form with the base profile section.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a bracket for a suspension system for control units, control panels and the like, including a support body portion, having a substantially U-shaped base profile section that is subdivided, by means of a separation rib extending parallel to its rib, into a closed supporting part and an open, U-shaped receiving part remote from the rib, in which continuous, longitudinally positioned screw receptacles are formed on the support part and the receiving part.
2. Description of Prior Art
A bracket of this type is known from German Patent 38 05 425. The separating rib of the base profile portion increases the stability of the bracket, and the screw receptacles of the support body portion serve to install angles, intermediate joints, couplings and the like. In this known bracket, the screw receptacles are formed onto the side legs of the U-shaped base profile portion and are provided with a longitudinal slit. The screw receptacles enclose only a small portion of the bracket cross section, so that if the cross section is small, adequate torsional rigidity of the bracket is not achieved.
Increasing torsional rigidity can be achieved by enlarging the bracket cross section. This results in a heavy, expensive bracket that moreover makes the suspension arrangement look too bulky.

Bracket for a suspension system for control units, control panels and the like


The present invention makes it possible to (i) obtain a sufficient and uniform luminance on an entire surface, which is irradiated with light, of a light guide plate and (ii) achieve a reduction in cost. LED light source substrates (140a) and (140b ) are each configured to emit light having a first luminance gradient on an edge of a range, to be irradiated with light, which first luminance gradient is smaller than a second luminance gradient of light having a substantially uniform luminance on an entire range to be irradiated with light.

An edge-light type surface light source device in which a light guide plate is employed has come into widespread use mainly as a backlight for a liquid crystal.
An edge-light type surface light source device has become prevalent in a backlight for a liquid crystal. This is because the edge-light type surface light source device is more effective in thinning (i) a backlight module for a liquid crystal and (ii) a product to which the backlight module is applied, as compared with a direct type backlight. Note that (a), in the direct type backlight, a light source is arranged directly under a liquid crystal panel instead of using a light guide plate, whereas (b), in the edge-light type surface light source device, (i) a linear light source is arranged on an edge of a light guide plate and (ii) the light guide plate converts light into plane emitting light (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). Furthermore, in some cases, the edge-light type surface light source device is employed also as an illumination.
Conventionally, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) has been prevalent in a light emitting source of such a light source device. Note, however, that the cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) has been recently replaced with a light emitting diode (LED). This makes it possible to (i) eliminate use of mercury, which (a) is employed in the CCFL and a fluorescent tube and (b) imposes a heavy burden on the environment, (ii) reduce power consumption, (iii) increase color reproducibility, and (iv) prolong a life of the light source device.
The following description will discuss a conventional edge-light type surface light source device with reference to FIGS. 14 through 25. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a conventional edge-light type surface light source device. FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view illustrating the conventional edge-light type surface light source device, illustrated in FIG. 14, which the conventional edge-light type surface light source device has been assembled.
An LED light source device 100, which is a conventional edge-light type surface light source device, includes a housing 160, a light guide plate 120, a reflecting sheet 130, a diffusing sheet 150, and an LED light source substrate 140 (see FIGS. 14 and 15).
In a case where a relatively thin light guide plate is used as the light guide plate 120, such a light guide plate may be referred to as a light guide sheet. Note, however, that there is no accurate difference between the light guide plate and the light guide sheet, so that these two terms have been in general use to suit the occasion. Note, under this description, that a member referred to as the light guide plate 120 is a general light guide section including a member referred to as the light guide sheet.
The LED light source substrate 140 emits light with which the light guide plate 120 is irradiated. The light emitted from the LED light source substrate 140 enters the light guide plate 120 via an incident surface which is a side surface of the light guide plate 120. Such incident light is mixed and uniformized in the light guide plate 120 so as to be surface light and then exit via a top surface of the light guide plate 120, i.e., via which the surface light exits.
The reflecting sheet 130 is arranged on a back surface side (on a side of a surface opposite to the surface via which the surface light exits) of the light guide plate 120. This causes light, which has leaked to the back surface side, to return into the light guide plate 120, so as to contribute to an increase in utilization efficiency of light.
The diffusing sheet 150 (i) is arranged on a front surface side (on a side of the surface via which the surface light exits) of the light guide plate 120 and (ii) uniformizes light which has exited via the front surface side so as to bring about an effect of reducing unevenness of luminance. The diffusing sheet 150 is used, as needed, in combination with various other optical sheets (e.g., a lens sheet, a polarization reflecting sheet, etc.).
The housing 160 (i) contains therein the aforementioned members and (ii) fixes and supports therein the members.
With the arrangement, the LED light source device 100 functions as a surface irradiation device which uses light emitted from the LED light source substrate 140.
The following description will specifically discuss, with reference to FIGS. 16 through 19, a configuration of an LED light source substrate of a conventional edge-light type surface light source device.
FIG. 16 is an external view illustrating an LED light source substrate of the conventional edge-light type surface light source device. FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view illustrating the LED light source substrate illustrated in FIG. 16.
The LED light source substrate 600 is configured such that a plurality of LED packages 620 and a connector 601 are provided on a flat wiring substrate 610 (see FIG. 16). The LED package 620 is electrically connected to an outside (not illustrated), via the connector 601 and a harness (not illustrated), so that light emitting is externally controlled.
The following description will further discuss in detail configurations of surroundings of the LED package 620 with reference to FIG. 17.
The wiring substrate 610 is configured such that a substrate 611, a wiring layer 612, and a solder resist layer 613 are laminated. The LED package 620 is connected and fixed on the wiring layer 612 via a solder 626.
The LED package 620 includes an LED element 621, a sealing resin 622, a bonding wire 623, a wiring layer 624, and a substrate 625. The LED element 621 is provided on the substrate 625 and is connected to the wiring layer 624 via the bonding wire 623. The sealing resin 622 seals an inside of the substrate 625 with a resin so as to protect parts and connections in the substrate 625. The sealing resin 622 can contain phosphors so as to convert a luminescent color of the LED element 621. For example, the sealing resin 622 can configure, by use of a blue LED element and yellow phosphors, an LED package which emits a white color. Via the wiring layer 624, (i) parts connected via the solder 626 and (ii) a part in which the LED element 621 are wired.
According to an example illustrated in FIG. 17, the wiring layer 624 is configured to pass through the substrate 625. The solder 626 is connected to the wiring layer 624 on a bottom surface side of the substrate 625, and the LED element 621 is connected to the wiring layer 624 on a top surface side of the substrate 625.
With the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 17, the LED element 621 is mechanically fixed, while being electrically connected to the outside (not illustrated) via the wiring substrate 610, the connector 601, and the harness (not illustrated). This allows light emitting of the LED element 621 to be externally controlled.
FIG. 18 is a view illustrating another example of an LED light source substrate of a conventional edge-light type surface light source device. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view, taken on A-A line of FIG. 18, illustrating the LED light source substrate. An LED light source substrate 500, illustrated in each of FIGS. 18 and 19, is configured such that an LED element 515 is provided on a substrate 511 by use of a COB (Chip On Board) technique, instead of employing an LED package. That is, the LED element 515 is directly provided on the substrate 511. Alternatively, the substrate 511 can include another layer (e.g., a wiring layer 513) on a surface of the substrate 511. In this case, the LED element 515 can be provided on the another layer. In any case, in a case where the COB technique is employed, the LED element 515 is directly provided as it is, instead of being indirectly provided on a wiring substrate after being contained in a package.
The substrate 511 has a surface (a horizontal top surface of the substrate 511 illustrated in FIG. 19) and depressed parts recessed from the surface. Each LED element 515 is provided in a corresponding one of the depressed parts.
According to the LED light source substrate 500, the wiring layer 513 and the LED element 515 are electrically connected via a bonding wire 516. The wiring layer 513 is electrically connected to an electrode terminal of a connector 512 (not particularly illustrated). With the arrangement, it possible to control light emitted from the LED element 515, by electrically controlling the harness (not illustrated) connected to the connector 512.
The LED element 515, the bonding wire 516, and their connected parts are easily damaged by an impact. In order to prevent such a damage, the LED element 515 and the bonding wire 516, including their connected parts, are sealed with a sealing resin 514. That is, the sealing resin 514 is injected into each of the depressed parts. With the arrangement, the LED element 515 and the bonding wire 516 (i) are tolerable to a certain degree of externally applied impact and (ii) are protected from moisture, a foreign matter, and the like.
By adding a colorant and/or phosphors to the sealing resin 514, it is possible to adjust a color tone of light emitted from the LED light source substrate 500. For example, in a case where (i) the LED element 515 emits blue light or an ultraviolet ray and (ii) suitable phosphors are contained in the sealing resin 514, the LED light source substrate 500 can emit white light.
In a case where the LED light source substrate 140 is configured by use of an LED package and a wiring substrate, as with the LED light source substrate 600, at least the following advantages (1) and (2) are obtained: (1) since an outer shape of a substrate can be prepared by press processing or router processing, it is easy to prepare a substrate with a relatively large size; and (2) it is possible to mount an LED package by use of a general mounter. On the other hand, a method of providing an LED element by use of the COB technique, as with the LED light source substrate 500, has at least the following advantages (i) and (ii): (i) since no solder needs to be used when the LED element is mounted, there is no limitation of a temperature caused by a temperature of a solder in use; and (ii) since an LED light source substrate can be produced in a final form in a step similar to a step employed during producing of the LED package, a substrate can be produced at a low cost in a case where the substrate has a small size.
FIG. 20 is a view illustrating a reflection pattern of light observed in a case of a conventional edge-light type surface light source device. According to FIG. 20, light emitted from an LED light source substrate 140 enters a light guide plate 120 via an incident surface of the light guide plate 120 (a left side of the light guide plate 120 illustrated in FIG. 20). The light guide plate 120 is made up of a light guide body 121 and a reflection pattern 122.
According to FIG. 20, a typical trajectory of incident light is indicated by the arrows. Light, which is (i) emitted from the LED light source substrate 140 and then (ii) incident on the incident surface of the light guide body 121, travels as follows. That is, in a case where an incident angle of the incident light is less than a certain angle, such incident light is refracted and enters inside the light guide body 121. On the other hand, in a case where the incident angle is more than a certain angle, such an incident light is totally reflected from the incident surface and will never enter inside the light guide body 121.
The incident light, which has entered the light guide body 121, repeats a total reflection on a top surface and a bottom surface of the light guide body 121. In a case where the incident light reaches a reflection pattern 122, the incident light is diffused and reflected from the reflection pattern 122. This causes many components of the incident light to exit via the top surface, i.e., an emitting surface of the light guide body 121.
Normally, the reflection pattern 122 is properly set in order to (i) uniformize a surface light emitting pattern or (ii) realize a desired surface light emitting pattern. For example, in order to realize a uniform light emitting pattern, the reflection pattern 122 is set as follows. That is, the reflection pattern 122 is set so as to have a high density in a part far from a light source (e.g., (i) constituents of the reflection pattern are large, (ii) the number of the constituents per unit area is large, or (iii) a combination of the above (i) and (ii), etc.), whereas the reflection pattern is set so as to have a low density in a part near the light source (e.g., (a) constituents of the reflection pattern are small, (b) the number of the constituents per unit area is small, or (c) a combination of the above (a) and (b), etc.).
Examples of a material of the light guide body 121 encompass (i) an acrylic resin which has a very high transmittance, (ii) a polycarbonate which has (a) a certain degree of high transmittance and (b) a high strength. Particularly, the acrylic resin is often employed as a material of a surface light source module having a certain degree of large size. This is because an amount of light, which is lost due to light absorption by the light guide plate, cannot be ignored. On the other hand, the polycarbonate is often employed as a material of a surface light source module which is in a relatively small size and needs a strength.
The reflection pattern 122 can be added to the light guide body 121 by carrying out laser marking with respect to the light guide body 121, applying a paint to the light guide body 121, or the like. Alternatively, the reflection pattern 122 can be realized in a shape which is simultaneously formed when the light guide body 121 is formed.
The following description will discuss, with reference to FIGS. 21 through 24, an arrangement of a light source substrate of a conventional edge-light type surface light source device. FIG. 21 through are each a view schematically illustrating an arrangement(s) of a light source substrate(s) of a conventional edge-light type surface light source device.
According to an example illustrated in FIG. 21, a light source substrate 140a and a light source substrate 140b are arranged on a respective pair of long sides of the light guide plate 120 (an upper side and a lower side of the light guide plate 120 illustrated in FIG. 21). The light source substrate 140a and the light source substrate 140b have lengths equal to those of the respective pair of long sides of the light guide plate 120.
According to an example illustrated in FIG. 22, a light source substrate 140a and a light source substrate 140b are arranged on a respective pair of short sides of the light guide plate 120 (a left side and a right side of the light guide plate 120 illustrated in FIG. 22). The light source substrate 140a and the light source substrate 140b have lengths equal to those of the respective pair of short sides of the light guide plate 120.
According to an example illustrated in FIG. 23, a light source substrate 140 is arranged on a long side of a light guide plate 120 (a lower side of the light guide plate 120 illustrated in FIG. 23). The light source substrate 140 has a length equal to that of the long side of the light guide plate 120.
According to an example illustrated in FIG. 24, a light source substrate 140 is arranged on a short side of a light guide plate 120 (a left side of the light guide plate 120 illustrated in FIG. 24). The light source substrate 140 has a length equal to that of the short side of the light guide plate 120.
Note here that a total length of a light source substrate can be made shorter in a case where the light source substrate is arranged on a short side of a light guide plate, as compared with a case where the light source substrate is arranged on a long side of the light guide plate. The total length of the light source substrate can be made shorter in a case where the light source substrate is arranged on one (1) side of the light guide plate, as compared with a case where light source substrates are arranged on respective two sides of the light guide plate.
For example, a total length of a light source substrate can be made shorter in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 22, as compared with the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 21. The total length of the light source substrate can be made shorter in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 23, as compared with the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 21. The total length of the light source substrate can be made shorter in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 24, as compared with the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 22.
Generally, shortening a total length of a light source substrate brings about many advantages. Examples of such advantages encompass (i) a reduction in production cost, (ii) a reduction in product weight, (iii) a reduction in burden on the environment due to a reduction in amount of a material to be used, and (iv) a reduction in a transportation cost due to a reduction in size and weight of a product.
Note, however, that even in a case where the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 24 is employed which can make shortest the total length of the light source substrate, the light source substrate needs to have lengths each equal to that of a corresponding side of the light guide plate. This is because it is necessary to meet a demand for uniformizing a luminance in the light guide plate as much as possible. Such a demand can be easily met in a case where the light source substrate has lengths each equal to that of a corresponding side of the light guide plate. For example, in a case where (i) the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 24 is employed and (ii) the light source substrate has a length shorter than that of a corresponding side of the light guide plate, a problem arises that a sufficient luminance cannot be obtained in a part of the light guide plate.
The following description will specifically discuss such a problem with reference to FIG. 25. FIG. 25 is a view illustrating a range which is irradiated with light emitted from a light source substrate of a conventional surface light source device in which the light source substrate is arranged on a side of a light guide plate. FIG. 25 illustrates an example in which the conventional surface light source device is configured such that a light source substrate 140 which has a length shorter than that of a short side of a light guide plate 120 is tentatively arranged on the short side of the light guide plate 120.
According to the conventional surface light source device, light emitted from the LED light source substrate 140 travels in a right side direction of the light guide plate 120. A range 210a which is irradiated with the light has (i) a spread which is at a refraction angle α with a direction where an upper side of the light guide plate 120 extends and (ii) a spread which is at a refraction angle α with a direction where a lower side of the light guide plate 120 extends (see FIG. 25).
This is because the light emitted from the LED light source substrate 140 is refracted when it goes through a side surface (i.e., a boundary surface) of the light guide plate 120. This causes dark parts (unhatched parts illustrated in FIG. 25), which are not irradiated with light emitted from the LED light source substrate 140, to be formed in respective of an upper left corner part and an lower left corner part of the light guide plate 120 (see FIG. 25).
As described above, in a case where the light source substrate 140 has a length shorter than that of a corresponding side of the light guide plate 120, the range 210a can be directly irradiated with light, while the dark parts cannot be directly irradiated with light. This prevents the light guide plate of the conventional surface light source device from obtaining a sufficient luminance. Accordingly, the light source substrate 140 cannot have a length shorter than that of a corresponding short side of the light guide plate 120.
It is true that, in a case where the length of the long side of the light guide plate 120 is extended, instead of shortening the length of the light source substrate 140, an entire range of the light guide plate 120 in an original size can be a range which is irradiated with light. Note, however, that a length of an extended part of the long side of the light guide plate 120 cannot normally exceed ten percent of the length of the short side of the light guide plate 120.
For example, in a case where the light guide plate 120 is made of an acrylic resin (a refractive index: 1.49), a critical angle α is approximately 42 degrees. Some optical glasses each have a refractive index of approximately 1.43, which is lower than that of the acrylic resin. In this case where the light guide plate 120 is made of such an optical glass, a critical angle α is approximately 45 degrees. In this case, if the light source substrate 140 has a length less than 0.8 times of a length of a corresponding short side of the light guide plate 120, a length of the extended part of the long side of the light guide plate 120 exceeds ten percent of the length of the corresponding short side of the light guide plate 120. Accordingly, it is very difficult that the light source substrate 140 has a length not more than 0.8 times of the length of the corresponding short side of the light guide plate 120.
Having said that, a demand remains unchanged for realizing an arrangement in which a light source substrate has a length shorter than that of a corresponding side of a light guide plate. In view of the circumstances, in order to meet such a demand, a technique has been devised in which a light source substrate has a length shorter than that of a corresponding side of a light guide plate.
For example, Patent Literature 2 discloses an arrangement in which (i) a light source has a length shorter than that of a short side of a light guide plate and (ii) an illumination light introducing section is provided so that illumination light emitted from the light source is spread so as to be introduced to the light guide plate.
Patent Literature 3 discloses an arrangement in which (i) a light source has a length shorter than that of a short side of a light guide plate and (ii) the light guide plate has a light scattering hole so that light is diffused in the light guide plate.
Patent Literatures 4 and 5 each disclose an arrangement in which a light source having an L shape is arranged in a corner part of a light guide plate so as to uniformize a display luminance, while reducing power consumption of the light source.

Edge-light type planar light source device


A hoverboard is described. The hoverboard includes four hover engines each including a motor. The motor rotates an arrangement of magnets to induce eddy currents and generate magnetic lift which causes the hoverboard to hover in the air. The hoverboard can be tilted to propel it in a particular direction. The hover engines can each be coupled to a tilt mechanism which is coupled to a flexible rider platform. When rider platform is flexed via rider induced forces, the hover engines can be tilted individually to provide translational forces.

Prior to October 2014, Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, described a hoverboard as a fictional levitating (hovering) board used for personal transportation in the films "Back to the Future Part II" and "Back to the Future Part III." Hoverboards resemble a skateboard without wheels. Through special effects the film-makers depicted the boards hovering above the ground.
Since these movies, people have dreamed of riding a hoverboard. A few groups have claimed to have created a hoverboard. However, the devices have proven to be elaborate hoaxes. As follows, a hoverboard, which uses magnetic forces to hover, is described.

Hover engine for a hoverboard which generates magnetic lift to carry a person


A lock structure includes a mounting plate, a positioning member, an escutcheon and a constraining member, wherein the mounting plate comprises a ring wall, guiding slot and a limiting slot, and the escutcheon comprises a limiting protrusion. The positioning member is disposed in the limiting slot and clamped between the escutcheon and the constraining member. The limiting protrusion penetrates the guiding slot of the escutcheon and is constrained inside the limiting slot. The limiting protrusion of the escutcheon is blockable by the constraining member to prevent the rotating escutcheon from separation from the mounting plate.

A conventional lock structure 10 in FIG. 1 comprises a handle 11, an escutcheon 12 and a mounting plate 13 covered with the escutcheon 12, wherein the mounting plate 13 comprises a longitudinal slot 13a and a transverse slot 13b, and the escutcheon 12 comprises a protrusion 12a. The protrusion 12a is rotatable in a first direction via the longitudinal slot 13a to make the protrusion 12a constrained inside the transverse slot 13b. The mounting plate 13 can not prevent the escutcheon 12 from rotating toward a second direction opposite to the first direction, once the escutcheon 12 rotates toward the second direction, the escutcheon 12 separates apart from the mounting plate 13 thereby causing the lock structure 10 to be damaged. Besides, a transmission tube (not shown in Figure) of the lock structure 10 is driven to rotate by the handle 11 and actuates a transmission mechanism (not shown in Figure). Once the handle 11 is collided by an external force, the transmission tube and the transmission mechanism are deformed by compression of the handle 11. Thus, the lock structure 10 has failed in operation.


An inflating device has a casing, an air bag tray, an gas generating device and a check valve. The gas generating device is mounted on the casing and has a tube, an gas generator and a guiding plate. The tube extends into the casing and has an air channel and vents. The gas generator is attached to one end of the tube and has a housing, a chemical holder and an igniting device. The chemical holder is mounted inside the housing to contain chemicals. The igniting device is attached to housing and extends into the chemical holder to ignite the chemicals. The guide plate is mounted inside the casing and corresponds to the vents. The check valve is mounted in the casing and corresponds with and closes an inlet of the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inflating device, and more particularly to an inflating device for an air bag of a vehicle and one that can reduce the amount of chemicals used in such air bags.
2. Description of Related Art
In moving vehicles such as cars and trucks, serious injury often occurs in sudden braking as the vehicle occupants are violently thrown around. Although seat belts are fitted to cars, many people refuse to wear them and so non-choice methods, such as air bags were devised. That is, the air bag will automatically inflate in certain circumstances and this actuation needs no input from occupants. Furthermore, the airbag does not restrict the occupants in any way during normal driving conditions. To inflate an air bag, specific chemicals are contained in the air bag and an igniting device is mounted in the vehicle beneath the air bag. When the vehicle experiences impact such as in collision with another, the igniting device will be actuated to ignite the chemicals so as to make the chemicals to release nitrogen. Consequently, the air bag can be inflated in 20 to 30 ms (millisecond) to keep the occupants from being injured.
To provide a sufficient damping effect to the driver or passenger in time, the air bag must be entirely inflated as rapidly as possible. However, the bag must be of quite a large size to prevent the vehicle occupant from being thrown around, yet to inflate such a volume in a dramatically short amount of time is challenging for the designers. During the reaction of the chemicals for releasing nitrogen, the temperature in the air bag is raised to the extent that the driver or passenger could be burned.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an inflating device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Inflating device for an air bag of a vehicle


An industrial process field device includes an active component, a latching relay, a controller, a relay drive, and a reset circuit. The active component may be a sensor configured to sense a process parameter, or a control device configured to control a process of the industrial process. The controller is configured to generate a switch signal, and the relay drive is configured to set the latching relay in one of a set state and a reset state based on the switch signal. The reset circuit is configured to set the latching relay to the reset state in response to an interruption of electrical power to the relay drive.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to industrial process control systems for industrial plants. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an industrial process field device having a reset circuit for resetting a latching relay of the field device.
In industrial settings, control systems are used to monitor and control inventories of industrial and chemical processes, and the like. Typically, the control system performs these functions using industrial process field devices distributed at key locations in the industrial process and coupled to the control circuitry in the control system by a process control loop. The term "field device" refers to any device that performs a function in a distributed control or process monitoring system, including all devices currently known, or yet to be known, that are used in the measurement, control, and/or monitoring of industrial processes.
Typical field devices include device circuitry that enables the field device to perform conventional field device tasks such as process parameter monitoring and measurements using one or more sensors, and/or process control operations using one or more control devices. Exemplary sensors include pressure sensors, level sensors, temperature sensors, and other sensors used in industrial processes. Exemplary control devices include actuators, solenoids, valves, and other control devices.
The device circuitry of field devices may also include a controller that is used to control the sensors and/or control devices, and communicate with a process control system or other circuitry, over a process control loop, such as a 4-20 mA process control loop, for example. In some installations, the process control loop is used to deliver a regulated current and/or voltage to the field device for powering the field device. The process control loop can also carry data, such as a process parameter value corresponding to a sensed process parameter. This data may be communicated over the process control loop as an analog signal, or as a digital signal.
Some field devices may include a switch, such as latching relay, that is configured to connect or disconnect electrical power from an external power supply to an external device, such as a pump. The use of a latching relay conserves critical power used by the field device, but prevents the latching relay from returning to a reset condition in response to a power loss. Unfortunately, this could leave the external device in an undesired activated state, which could potentially cause damage or create a dangerous condition in the industrial plant.


A traveling duct allows a bonnet to remain over the exhaust pipes of diesel-powered locomotives in motion, and to remain in fluid communication with an Emissions Control Unit (ECU). The bonnet includes a shell with a compliant fender for enclosing the exhaust pipes. One or more of the bonnets are positioned over the exhaust pipe or pipes of the locomotive and are secured to the exhaust pipes or to a top surface of the locomotive. The traveling duct includes an outer duct having a bottom gap or slot. The bonnets may either be connected to an extendable inner duct within the traveling duct, or to a duct transport unit slidably residing within the traveling duct. Exhaust from the locomotive is captured by the bonnet and fed from the bonnet into the traveling duct. The exhaust is then carried by the traveling duct to the ECU for processing.

The present invention relates to capturing exhaust gases from moving diesel locomotives and in particular to a duct transport unit traveling along a horizontal duct allowing a bonnet to remain in place over a locomotive exhaust pipe of a railroad locomotive in motion at a slow speed.
Railroad locomotives generally have a large diesel engine coupled to a generator which provides power to drive motors attached to the locomotive's wheels. For example, a General Motors FP 59 diesel electric locomotive has a 12 cylinder main diesel engine producing approximately 3200 hp. The FP 59 locomotive also includes a second smaller 12 cylinder diesel engine for providing electricity for air conditioning, lights, kitchen facilities, and other auxiliary requirements of a train.
Substantial quantities of pollutants are produced by locomotives burning diesel fuels. The exhaust produced by an engine burning these fuels is a complex mixture of tens of thousands of gases and fine particulates. The particulates, which make up the commonly observed discharges known as soot or smoke, contain more than forty toxic air contaminants. The exhaust may include arsenic, benzene, and formaldehyde along with other ozone-forming pollutants that are components of smog and acid rain, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Such contaminates create a substantial health risk to railroad workers and residents of surrounding communities and may physically damage structures and equipment.
Studies of diseases and health problems tied to air-borne pollutants, including various forms of cancer, have identified geographic clusters with occurrences of such diseases and health problems significantly higher than statistical norms. These geographic clusters have been shown to conform closely to the geographic distribution of emissions plumes from railroad yards and test facilities. Although these health issues have been identified, there is presently no effective system for capturing locomotive emissions in these areas.

Traveling duct for carrying exhaust captured from moving diesel-powered locomotives


An agricultural implement, such as a planter, having a telescoping tongue for placing the implement in either a transport or field use configuration, includes an hydraulic pump located on the planter frame, preferably toward the rear, for powering the planting functions. A mechanical drive line from the PTO of the tractor to the remote hydraulic pump is disengaged as the planter frame begins to move from the planting position. The drive line permits the tractor to make full 90° turns in the field.

An agricultural implement, such as a planter, may have a telescoping tongue connected to a tractor hitch and including at least first and second elongated tubular members arranged in telescoping relation and moveable under hydraulic power (i.e., a hydraulic cylinder) between an extended and a retracted position. In the illustrated embodiment, the retracted position of the telescoping tongue is the field position of the implement—that is, the wings are extended to the side for planting; and with the tongue in the elongated position, the implement is configured for road travel or storage.
In the extend position of the tongue, the wings are folded to extend in the direction of travel. The front of the inner telescoping member is mounted to the tractor hitch; and the outer telescoping member is moved by a hydraulic cylinder between the field and transport positions, as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,205,937 and 6,408,950.
Over the years, planters have become larger (i.e. they have a wider planting swath), and many additional operational features have been added to the conventional ones, such as row markers, and the like. Many of the added accessories or functions require hydraulic motors or hydraulic cylinders to operate, such as air fans for seed delivery, conveyors for central seed distribution, storage hopper augers, lift cylinders, etc.
To accommodate these needs, some farmers have had larger hydraulic pumps installed in the tractors, but as features have continued to be added to the planter frame, the number and size of hydraulic feed hoses have increased as well. It will be realized that the hydraulic hoses must be routed along the wing braces or tongue of the planter (usually with special retainers), and this has created a problem with the mounting and routing of the hydraulic feed lines along the wing braces or telescoping tongue to the tool bar where the planter row units and accessories are mounted. These hose routing inconveniences are exacerbated when it is considered that they run through the wing braces and thence back to the center of the planter frame.


An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to convert an incident electromagnetic wave into current; a current/voltage conversion circuit that is configured to convert the current input from the image sensor into voltage and includes an operational amplifier configured to output voltage corresponding to the current input from the image sensor; and a sampling circuit that is configured to sample output of the operation amplifier and is provided between input/output terminals of the operational amplifier.

The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus, a current/voltage conversion circuit, and an imaging method.
In the past, a transmission X-ray imaging technique in which the internal state of a living body or object is observed by the applying X-rays to the living body or object and detecting transmitted X-ray for visualization has been known. In the transmission X-ray imaging technique, a photographic plate or photograph film has been used to detect the transmitted X-ray. In recent years, however, a flat panel detector has been developed extensively (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-098621).
The flat panel detector employs one of two methods: a direct conversion method in which an X-ray is directly converted into an electric signal; and an indirect conversion method in which an X-ray is converted into an optical signal before the optical signal is converted into an electric signal. With any of the methods, it does not need to use a film, and it is possible to improve image quality and support diagnosis using digital image processing. In addition, the flat panel detector has such advantages that electronic filing or networking of a transmitted X-ray image can be easily performed, for example, and is expected to be used in various fields.
FIG. 21 is an equivalent circuit schematic showing an example of an image sensor and a current/voltage conversion circuit constituting a flat panel detector. The flat panel detector shown in FIG. 21 includes a plurality of (M×N) image sensors 230 arranged in a two-dimensional matrix pattern in an X-direction and Y-direction, and is configured to convert an incident X-ray into current directly (direct conversion method) or indirectly (indirect conversion method).
The plurality of (M) image sensors 230 arranged in the X-direction are connected to one current/voltage conversion circuit 240 via a switching circuit 232 and a row wiring 233. The current/voltage conversion circuit 240 is configured to successively convert current input from each image sensor into voltage. In FIG. 21, the reference number 231 represents a parasitic capacitance (capacity value: Cpd) of the image sensors 230.
The current/voltage conversion circuit 240 is a well-known current/voltage conversion circuit (a kind of integration circuit) including an operational amplifier 241, a capacitor unit 242 (capacity value: Cint), and a short circuit 243 having a reset switching circuit 244. To a non-inversion input unit of the operational amplifier 241, a reference voltage Vref is input. The non-inversion input unit of the operational amplifier 241 is connected to the row wiring 233. The capacitor unit 242 and the short circuit 243 are connected to each other in parallel, and are connected to an inversion input unit and an output unit of the operational amplifier 241.

Imaging apparatus, current/voltage conversion circuit, and imaging method


A data processing system includes a plurality of processing units and a system memory coupled to a memory controller. The system memory includes a persistent memory device and a non-persistent cache interposed between the memory controller and the persistent memory device. The memory controller receives a flush request of a particular processing unit among the plurality of processing units, the flush request specifying a target address. The memory controller, responsive to the flush request, ensures flushing of a target cache line of data identified by target address from the non-persistent cache into the persistent memory device.

The present invention relates generally to data processing and, in particular, flushing data to a persistent memory having an associated cache or buffer.
A conventional symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) computer system, such as a server computer system, includes multiple processing units all coupled to a system interconnect, which typically comprises one or more address, data and control buses. Coupled to the system interconnect is a system memory, which represents the lowest level of shared memory in the multiprocessor computer system and which generally is accessible for read and write access by all processing units. In order to reduce access latency to instructions and data residing in the system memory, each processing unit is typically further supported by a respective multi-level cache hierarchy, the lower level(s) of which may be shared by one or more processor cores.
Because multiple processor cores may request write access to a same cache line of data and because modified cache lines are not immediately synchronized with system memory, the cache hierarchies of multiprocessor computer systems typically implement a hardware-based cache coherency protocol to ensure at least a minimum level of coherence among the various processor core's "views" of the contents of system memory. In particular, cache coherency requires, at a minimum, that after a processing unit accesses a copy of a memory block and subsequently accesses an updated copy of the memory block, the processing unit cannot again access the old copy of the memory block.
A cache coherency protocol typically defines a set of coherence states stored in association with the cache lines of each cache hierarchy, as well as a set of coherence messages utilized to communicate the coherence state information between cache hierarchies and a set of actions taken by the cache memories in response to the coherence messages to preserve coherency. In a typical implementation, the coherence state information takes the form of the well-known MESI (Modified, Exclusive, Shared, Invalid) protocol or a variant thereof, and the coherency messages indicate a protocol-defined coherency state transition in the cache hierarchy of the requestor and/or the recipients of a memory access request.
In addition to the hardware management of cache coherency described above, at least some MP systems also support software management of cache coherency through the implementation of specific cache management instructions. For example, the POWER® architecture supports the data cache block flush (DCBF) instruction, which causes each of the processing units in the MP system to invalidate a specified cache line of data, if resident in its cache hierarchy, and if the cache line is modified with respect to main storage, to push a copy of the modified cache line to the memory controller.

Data flush of a persistent memory cache or buffer

International Business Machines Corporation


A method (100) of controlling an inverter in an electronic ballast for at least one gas discharge lamp protects the inverter from damage due to lamp fault conditions, and provides enhanced noise immunity and multiple ignition attempts for low-temperature lamp starting. The method (100) includes repeating a filament preheating step and a frequency shifting step up to a predetermined number of times in order to facilitate lamp ignition under low-temperature conditions and to verify the legitimacy of a detected lamp fault.

Electronic ballasts typically include an inverter that provides high frequency current for efficiently powering gas discharge lamps. Inverters are generally classified according to switching topology (e.g., half-bridge or push-pull) and the method used to control commutation of the inverter switches (e.g., driven or self-oscillating). In many types of electronic ballasts, the inverter provides a square wave output voltage. The square wave output voltage is processed by a resonant output circuit that provides high voltage for igniting the lamps and a magnitude-limited current for powering the lamps in a controlled manner.
When the lamps fail, or are removed, or begin to operate in an abnormal fashion, it is highly desirable that the inverter be shut down or shifted to a different mode of operation in order to protect the inverter and resonant output circuit from damage due to excessive voltage, current, and heat. Circuits that alter the operation of the inverter in response to lamp faults are usually referred to as inverter protection circuits.
In many existing ballasts that include inverter protection circuits, spurious electrical noise or a momentary variation in the lamp current, such as what may normally occur during the "break-in" period for a new fluorescent lamp, may be mistakenly interpreted as a lamp fault condition. Consequently, the inverter may be unnecessarily shut down or shifted to a different mode of operation. This poses a significant inconvenience to users and encourages wasteful replacement of functional lamps.
Additionally, many existing ballasts include no provision for ignition of lamps under low-temperature conditions at which the lamps may not properly ignite on the first attempt. In such ballasts, failure of the lamps to ignite on the first attempt is treated as a lamp fault condition. Several existing ballasts address this problem by employing "flasher" type protection circuits that periodically attempt to ignite the lamps. Flasher type circuits provide an indefinite number of ignition attempts and are therefore potentially useful for low-temperature starting. Unfortunately, flasher type protection circuits often produce sustained repetitive flashing in one or more lamps, a characteristic that has proven to be an annoyance to users/occupants.
Another problem common to many existing ballasts with inverter protection circuits relates to fault detection sensitivity. Ideally, a protection circuit should tolerate a certain amount of erratic behavior during lamp ignition without treating such behavior as a lamp fault condition, but should be considerably more sensitive during normal operation after the lamp has ignited. Many existing ballasts utilize the same lamp fault detection threshold during ignition and normal operation. In such circuits, in order to avoid false detection during lamp ignition, the fault detection threshold must be set somewhat high. Unfortunately, a high fault detection threshold has the unfavorable effect of precluding or interfering with the detection of legitimate lamp faults during normal operation, and may therefore limit the ability of the protection circuit to fulfill its intended purpose of preventing damage to the inverter and output circuit.
Many existing protection circuits require a large number of discrete components. This makes the ballast physically large, materially expensive, and difficult to manufacture. From the standpoint of reliability and manufacturability, it is highly desirable to have a ballast that requires only a modest amount of discrete lamp fault detection circuitry and that incorporates the greater portion of the protection logic and circuitry in an inverter control circuit that is well-suited for implementation as an integrated circuit.
It is therefore apparent that a need exists for an electronic ballast with an inverter control method and inverter control circuit that offers enhanced immunity to electrical noise and normal transient variations in lamp current, and that provides multiple ignition attempts for igniting lamps under low-temperature conditions, but that does not produce sustained flashing of the lamps. A need also exists for an electronic ballast with an inverter control method and inverter control circuit that includes an adjustable lamp fault detection threshold for decreased sensitivity during lamp starting and enhanced protection during lamp operation. A further need exists for an electronic ballast with an inverter control circuit that minimizes the required amount of discrete lamp fault detection circuitry and that is well-suited for implementation as a single integrated circuit. Such a ballast would offer improved operation, enhanced reliability, and greater ease of manufacture, and would therefore represent a significant improvement over the prior art.

Inverter control method for electronic ballasts


A partial bit demodulation section demodulates partial bits among a plurality of bits that form one symbol of each modulated signal using a detection method different from likelihood detection. Signal point reduction sections reduce the number of candidate signal points using demodulated partial bits. A likelihood detection section obtains received digital signals by performing likelihood detection based on the Euclidian distances between the reduced candidate signal points and a reception point. Only some bits which are unlikely to be erroneous are found by the partial bit demodulation section, and other bits can be found by the likelihood detection section, enabling bit error rate performances to be effectively improved with a comparatively small computational complexity.

Hitherto, the technology disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 has been known as a demodulation method using a plurality of antennas. The contents disclosed in this Non-Patent Document 1 are briefly described below using an accompanying drawing.
In FIG. 1, in a transmitting apparatus 30, a transmit signal A digital signal 1 and transmit signal B digital signal 2 are input to a modulated signal generation section 3. Modulated signal generation section 3 executes BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying), QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), 16 QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), or such like modulation on transmit signal A digital signal 1 and transmit signal B digital signal 2, thereby obtaining a transmit signal A baseband signal 4 and transmit signal B baseband signal 5, and sends these signals to a radio section 6.
Radio section 6 executes predetermined radio processing such as frequency conversion and amplification on transmit signal A baseband signal 4 and transmit signal B baseband signal 5, thereby obtaining a transmit signal A modulated signal 7 and transmit signal B modulated signal 8, and supplies these signals to an antenna 9 and antenna 10 respectively. By this means, transmit signal A modulated signal 7 is emitted as a radio wave from antenna 9, and transmit signal B modulated signal 8 is emitted as a radio wave from antenna 10.
In a receiving apparatus 40, a radio section 13 executes radio processing such as frequency conversion and amplification on a received signal 12 received by an antenna 11, thereby obtaining a baseband signal 14, and sends this signal to a maximum likelihood detection section 19. Similarly, a radio section 17 executes radio processing such as frequency conversion and amplification on a received signal 16 received by an antenna 15, thereby obtaining a baseband signal 18, and sends this signal to maximum likelihood detection section 19.
By detecting baseband signals 14 and 18, maximum likelihood detection section 19 obtains a transmit signal A received digital signal 20 and transmit signal B received digital signal 21. At this time, maximum likelihood detection section 19 performs Maximum Likelihood Detection (MLD) as shown in Non-Patent Document 1. Non-patent Document 1: IEEE WCNC 1999, pp. 1038-1042, Sep. 1999.

Receiving apparatus and transmitting apparatus


Disclosed is a digital video record/playback apparatus and playback method thereof, by which a trick play mode of a digital video stream is processed. In the present invention, the transport stream is stored without additional data, the index information extracted in the storing process includes picture type, location of PCR packet of the corresponding picture, record location of the corresponding picture, etc., and the decoding time point of the picture is determined to display the corresponding picture by appropriately adjusting the transmission bit rate and the status of the VBV buffer according to the trick play mode in playing back the digital video stream. Therefore, without additional appended devices and a series of processing, the present invention enables to implement the trick play of the user-selected direction and speed and to reduce costs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to recording and playback of digital video stream and playback method thereof, and more particularly, to a digital video record/playback apparatus and playback method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, data formats of the MPEG (mobbing picture experts group) standard used for compression and transmission of digital video follow either a program stream or a transport stream. The program stream is used in storing digital video having less transmission error in a storing medium, whereas the transport stream using fixed-length packets is used for digital broadcasting having a relatively unstable transport channel and the like. A system, i.e. ISO/IEC 13818-1 system, for transmitting digital video by parsing it into uniform-unit packets is advantageous in error reduction and detection features.
As an apparatus for recording previously and playing back a transmitted transport stream of digital broadcasting, we can consider a device of converting to record a transport stream to a program stream to facilitate playback by extracting appended information required for the playback at a time point of recording digital video and using a player for a conventional storage device. For instance, a digital broadcast stream is converted to a program stream for playback facilitation of a DVD (digital versatile disc) player and is then played back on a display device in accordance with a variety of playback techniques using DVD appended information.
Yet, a general transport stream storage device firstly extracts a number of information required for playback without additional process and device for conversion to a program stream and then inserts timestamps therein to record in a storage device. In doing so, the information required for the playback includes a starting location of picture, a picture type, an encoded frame rate, a bit rate, etc. In playback, such a kind of information is used for a trick play at high or low speed and the like in accordance with an output mode setup.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,16,843 entitled 'Recording and playback of audio-video transport streams' proposes an apparatus and method for playing back a transport stream at a normal speed using a timestamp after a series of recording process for inserting the timestamp into the transport stream using PCR (program clock reference).
In the above-explained playback, a digital video stream recorded in the storage device enables to implement the trick play according to various output mode setups, which is proposed and disclosed in U.S. Patent Public Laid-Open Ser. No. US2002/044761 A1 entitled 'Transmitting apparatus of image information, transmission system, and transmitting mode'.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image information transmitting device disclosed in the U.S. Patent Public Laid-Open Ser. No. US2002/044761 A1. In case of outputting an MPEG stream of trick play, such an output mode as a fast forward playback, fast reverse playback, slow playback, and the like s determined by a control of an output control unit 16. The determined output mode is outputted to an interpret/re-record unit 15. The interpret/re-record unit 15 reads the stream by picture unit, interprets a picture header, and carries out a trick play processing according to output mode information determined in the output control unit 16.
For instance, when a stream displaying the same picture multiple times by slow playback, a skip P picture (hereinafter abbreviated Ps) is used. Namely, if the picture to be displayed is an I or P picture, the skip P picture is outputted to keep being displayed for the original picture. In other words, in case of repeating to display the I picture, 'IPsPsPs . . . ' is outputted in place of 'IIII . . . '. And, in case of repeating to display the P picture, 'PPsPsPs . . . ' is outputted in place of 'PPPP . . . '.
In doing so, when the picture is outputted, two kinds of processing are carried out for the conversion to bit streams suitable for the MPEG standard.
First of all, a value of temporal_reference within the picture header is re-recorded as an accurate value. The temporal_reference indicates a display sequence of the picture within GOP (group of picture). Hence, if the temporal_reference value is outputted without being re-recorded, it violates the MPEG standard.
Secondly, a value of vbv_delay (accumulation quantity of a virtual input buffer of decoder) within the picture header is re-recorded as '0xFFFF'. This value is a code indicating a null of the vbv_delay. In doing so, the re-recording is carried out because a wrong result is brought about in case of using an original value of the vbv_delay is used as it is, since the picture sequence is varied from an original one on trick play.
Thus, the re-recorded trick play stream is decoded by a general video decoder to be outputted to a screen.
For this, additional devices, i.e., interpret/re-record unit 15 and skip P picture generating unit 18, indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1 are needed.
The skip P picture generating unit 18 is a unit of generating arbitrarily added P pictures to regulate a frame rate of fast or slow playback in a trick play mode.
In this case, a first macro block of a picture slice is encoded as No MC Not Coded MB (macro block) and the rest macro blocks of the slice are encoded as Skip MB. The No MC (i.e., prediction between simple frames) Not Coded (i.e., having no DCT coefficient) macro block has a motion vector (0, 0) and is a macro block where a motion compensation differential value, i.e., inverse discretion cosine transform (IDCT) coefficient, fails to exist. And, the skip macro block (SB) in the P picture has a motion vector (0, 0) like the No MC Not Coded macro block and is processed as having no motion compensation differential value.
When the skip P picture proposed by the related art is transferred to a video decoder to be decoded accordingly, it brings about an effect that the previous I or P picture is repeatedly played back. In the related art, the skip P picture is encoded into the above-explained picture structure and recorded in a memory device. The skip P picture is then transferred to the video decoder in case of being needed as the trick play mode is set up.
Most of bit data of the skip P picture are encoded into skip macro blocks not to thereby occupy a quite great bit quantity. In spite of small quantity, needed are a memory device for recording the skip P picture and an additional process of reading picture data from the memory device to transfer to the video decoder. Moreover, added are steps of demultiplexing the transport stream to correctly reset the values of the temporal_reference and vbv_delay, decoding the demultiplexed transport stream into PES (packetized elementary stream), and decoding the PES into ES (elementary stream).
Besides, in case that the trick play mode is a slow mode, in the related art shown in FIG. 1, a copy of a B picture is transferred to the video decoder, in which an additional process of reading from the storage device a previous B picture to transfer is needed as well.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate a trick play method according to a related art. FIG. 2 shows a case that the trick play mode is set to a fast forward playback mode, in which I and P pictures are just selected to transfer from an original video stream to cope with a frame rate of 1.5× speed playback and a skip P picture is added in the middle to be transferred to the video decoder. The skip P picture added to a location of which temporal_reference is 1 repeats the I picture at a location of which temporal_reference is 0 to display on the display device.
FIG. 3 shows a case that a trick play mode is set to a slow forward playback mode, in which skip P picture and copied B picture are added to an original video stream to be transferred to the video decoder in order to implement a frame rate of 0.5× speed. And, the copied B picture plays a role in repeating a previous B picture to be displayed on the display device.
However, in the related art shown in FIG. 1, additionally needed to implement the trick play are the memory device for storing the skip P picture as well as the process for reading from the memory and storage devices the skip P picture and copied B picture to transfer to the video decoder.
Moreover, the related art additionally needs a mandatory process of updating the picture header information including temporal_reference and the like.

Digital video record/playback apparatus and playback method thereof


Methods of normalizing bile acid production in a mouse engrafted with human hepatocytes by the administration of human FGF19 are disclosed. Also disclosed is a transgenic host animal, such as a mouse, that expresses human FGF19 that has normalized bile acid production when engrafted with human hepatocytes.

The use of experimental animals in scientific research has enabled some of the most important breakthroughs in medical research (The use of non-human animals in research: a guide for scientists: The Royal Society, 2004, incorporated by reference herein). Further refinement of animal models through genetic manipulation is an important and powerful tool in research today. By transplanting human cells and tissues into genetically engineered mice these possibilities are taken to a new level. Humanized mouse models present opportunities to study whole cellular systems in an in vivo setting (Strom S C et al, Methods Mol Biol 640, 491-509 (2010); Kamimura H et al, Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 25, 223-235 (2010); Schultz L D et al, Nat Rev Immunol 7, 118-130, (2007); Katoh M et al, Toxicology 246, 9-17 (2008) all of which are incorporated by reference herein). One such humanized mouse model is a mouse engrafted with human hepatocytes.

Normalization of the enterohepatic circulation in animals with a chimeric humanized liver


A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system and a PSA process including a PSA cycle schedule are disclosed. The PSA cycle schedule includes an unlimited number of equalization steps, no idle steps, no dead time and a minimum number of three PSA adsorbent beds assisted with two or more equalization tanks. The PSA system, process and cycle schedule include the following sequence of cycle steps: a feed step, two or more down equalization steps either between beds or between a bed and a tank, an optional forced cocurrent depressurization step coupled with a forced intermediary light end pressurization step, a countercurrent depressurization step, a light reflux step, two or more up equalization steps between beds or between a bed and a tank, an optional forced intermediary light end pressurization step coupled with the forced cocurrent depressurization step, and a light product pressurization step.

Field of the Invention
Example embodiments relate to a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system and process designed for recovering and concentrating the heavier species from a feed gas stream also containing lighter species, or recovering and concentrating the lighter species from a feed gas stream also containing heavier species, or recovering and concentrating both the heavier and lighter species from a feed gas stream containing such heavier and lighter species. More specifically, example embodiments relate to systems and methods for enhanced separation of lighter from heavier species.
Description of Prior Art
A PSA process is generally used for the purification and recovery of a light gas species from a gas mixture wherein the rest of the gas species have either a stronger thermodynamic affinity or faster adsorption kinetics with the adsorbent or layers of adsorbents being utilized in the process. In these processes the light product stream containing the lighter species leaves the beds at the same pressure of the feed stream, while the rejected heavy product stream leaves the beds at the lowest pressure of the PSA cycle. Examples of processes utilized in this way are the purification of hydrogen from reforming gas, the concentration of oxygen from air, the concentration and purification of methane from nitrogen, and the purification of ethanol from water at elevated temperatures.
Less commonly, PSA is also used for the concentration and recovery of a heavy gas species from a gas stream wherein the rest of the species have either less thermodynamic affinity or slower adsorption kinetics with the adsorbent or layers of adsorbents being utilized in the process. In these processes the heavy product stream containing the heavy species leaves the beds at the lowest pressure of the PSA cycle while the rejected light product stream leaves the beds at the same pressure of the feed stream. Examples of processes utilized in this way are the separation of carbon dioxide from flue gas, the removal of carbon dioxide from the tail gas of a PSA process for hydrogen purification, the purification of oxygen from a stream containing nitrogen and oxygen impurities, the purification of nitrogen from air, and the purification of methane from a stream containing nitrogen as impurity.

Pressure swing adsorption process for enhanced separation of lighter from heavier species


A method and apparatus for deslagging a cyclone furnace in which a series of flexible hollow tubes are inserted into the combustion chamber and the explosive charges in each hollow tube are detonated sequentially. Each of the hollow tubes is biased outwardly against the accumulated slag and ash in the combustion chamber. The hollow tubes may be formed in arcs or rings in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the combustion chamber, and spacer rings may be positioned between each ring.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for removing the accumulation of combustion ash and slag from the interior of a cyclone furnace and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for deslagging a cyclone furnace by establishing vibrations in the furnace with controlled, sequential explosions.
2. Description of the Related Art Steam operated generators are used for producing electricity in electric power plants. Steam is produced by heating the external surfaces of panels of tubing. Commonly, heat is provided by the combustion of gas, oil, coal or other hydrocarbon fuels. Combustion of these fuels is incomplete, producing large amounts of waste material.
The controlled combustion of pulverized coal is a common fuel source. However, coal contains numerous impurities that are not efficiently burned and show up as waste material, such as fly ash and slag. This ash and slag collects on the interior surfaces of the cyclone furnaces used to burn the fuel.
In a typical coal fired steam operated generator, several cyclone furnaces are used. Pulverized coal is introduced into the furnace and is ignited in the firebox or combustion chamber. The walls of the cyclone furnace include a number of tubes, and the combustion of the pulverized coal heats water in the tubes to form steam, which is then introduced to a steam turbine.
As discussed above, incomplete combustion of coal produces ash and slag that accumulates in the cyclone furnace. As molten fuel cools, the ash and slag accumulates on the interior surfaces of the combustion chamber. Although it is possible to limit the accumulation of ash and slag by using coal with a heavy pig iron content, environmental concerns make this type of coal undesirable, in many instances, because of its heavy metal content. With other types of coal, the impurities, including dirt and clay, result in large amounts of ash and slag, and these impurities collect on the bottom and sides of the cyclone furnace.
Typically, a steam-operated generator will have as many as 12 to 16 cyclone furnace units. A typical cyclone furnace 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The fire box or combustion chamber 20 of the furnace has a diameter anywhere from approximately 4 feet to 12 feet. In that combustion chamber, there are generally included at least two air inlets, as well as gas inlets, oil inlets, coal inlets, etc. to enable the input of fuel. The pulverized coal and other fuel swirls around during the combustion process in the combustion chamber. Ideally, molten slag exits the combustion chamber by the slag tap hole 23 shown in FIG. 1 and collects in a slag tank for disposal. However, when there are heavy accumulations of ash and slag due to impurities in the coal, there is a collected residue of ash and slag at the bottom of the furnace.
The slag and ash accumulated in the cyclone furnace may be as thick as 12 to 18 inches at the bottom of the combustion chamber, and approximately 2 inches thick at the top and sides. As shown, the fire box or combustion chamber is generally a cylindrical shaped chamber. The slag or ash that accumulates is very smooth, dense and hard.
As shown in FIG. 2, tubes around the combustion chamber of the cyclone furnace are used to heat water that is then delivered to a steam turbine. The ash and slag buildup in the combustion chamber reduces the overall efficiency of the generator by requiring additional combustion and fuel to properly heat the water within the tubes. In fact, when the slag buildup has occurred, the thermal efficiency of the plant is reduced substantially.
In the past, it is a common practice to periodically clean out the ash and slag from the combustion chamber of cyclone furnaces. This cleaning process normally involves extensive washing with a high pressure water solution, commonly referred to as hydroblasting. Hydroblasting involves inherent problems such as requiring a complete shutdown of the facility for approximately the 12 to 24 hours needed to hydroblast out several cubic yards of accumulated slag and ash. With the typical number of 12 to 16 cyclone furnace units in a plant, well over a million gallons of water are needed to hydroblast out the accumulated slag and ash. This time to hydroblast out the buildup results in lost revenue to the plant because of the down time. The combination of water and ash produces a concrete like material which, if allowed to dry, would harden like concrete and further exacerbate the cleanup problem. In addition, a hydroblasting operation requires the use of expensive wet ash handling equipment, as well as the extensive manpower required to operate it.
An additional byproduct of a hydroblasting operation is the production of sulphuric acid. The water combines with the sulphur oxide in the fly ash, particularly with sulphur laden coal, to produce an acid that is highly corrosive. Thus, immediate attention must be given to the dilution or removal of the sulphur acid to prevent undesirable corrosion and repair of the facility.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

Apparatus for deslagging a cyclone furnace


An audio processing device includes an analyzer and a filter. The analyzer extracts an envelope of a noise signal and derives therefrom noise envelope parameters. The filter has coefficients which vary in response to noise envelope parameters and filters a useful signal to form a filtered signal. The coefficients are varied so that the filter enhances frequency bands of the useful signal that correspond to frequency bands of the noise signal having a higher energy than a predetermined value.

The invention relates to an audio processing device and a receiver for receiving and filtering a useful signal that has a spectral envelope situated in the voice band, and for restoring the useful signal in the presence of ambient noise.
The invention also relates to a telephone equipment comprising such a receiver.
The invention finally relates to a filtering method and a method of receiving a useful signal that has a spectral envelope situated in the voice band, for modifying the spectral envelope of the useful signal before restoring the useful signal in the presence of ambient noise.
The invention has many applications in electronic audio devices that may be used in a noisy environment. The invention is notably applied to mobile radiotelephony equipment that may be used inside a car and enables to reduce the acoustic annoyance linked with the noise of the engine and/or of the car radio.
United States patent published under U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,720 describes a dynamic ambient noise control system for distributing a random ambient noise at a workplace having surround sensors and for adjusting the spectrum and the amplitude of the distributed ambient noise as a function of the value of certain surround parameters measured at predetermined time intervals by the various sensors.
This system is intended to have a positive effect on users at their workplace, notably for enhancing their productivity or reducing the effect of interference between the various conversations. It shows the main drawback of increasing the sound level of the overall ambient noise, which, over a long period, may generate a specific tight feeling with the users.
It is an object of the invention to provide an audio processing device, a radio receiver and a filtering method and a receiving method for improving the acoustic comfort of the user in a noisy environment, even in the case of intensive and/or prolonged use.
For this purpose, the invention provides an audio processing device of the type defined in the opening paragraph, characterized in that it comprises means for tapping ambient noise, spectral envelope extraction means for extracting parameters of the tapped ambient noise envelope and digital filter means controlled by said envelope parameters for modifying the spectral envelope of the useful signal to be restored, said filter means comprising a digital filter having coefficients that can be parameterized, and co-operate with said envelope extraction means for parameterizing the filter with the aid of the envelope parameters.
According to a characteristic feature of the invention, a device as already mentioned is provided, characterized in that it comprises an echo canceling loop controlled by the output signal of the digital filter for suppressing the acoustic echo that exists in the sampled ambient noise and for supplying an estimate of the ambient noise to said extraction means. Similarly, the invention provides a filtering method as mentioned in the opening paragraph, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
an acquisition and spectral analysis step of tapping the ambient noise, extracting an estimate of a spectral envelope therefrom and of deriving envelope parameters therefrom,
a step of calculating a time average between the envelope parameters to obtain average parameters called control parameters,
a parameterizing step of parameterizing a digital filter with the aid of said calculated control parameters, and
a filtering step of filtering the useful signal with the aid of said digital filter.

Audio processing device, receiver and filtering method for filtering a useful signal and restoring it in the presence of ambient noise


A lavatory may include a vanity including a wash basin, and a handle assembly connected to a portion of the wash basin. The handle assembly provides an ergonomic shape that is configured to be grasped by an individual.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a lavatory within a confined space, such as within vehicle, such as an aircraft, and, more particularly, to a handle assembly within a lavatory.
Various vehicles may include one or more onboard lavatories. For example, commercial aircraft typically include one or more lavatories within a cabin. An aircraft lavatory typically includes a compact vanity and a toilet. The space within an aircraft lavatory is limited, as aircraft operators seek to maximize seating capacity within a limited cabin space. Due to the limited space within an aircraft lavatory, many, if not most, individuals may have difficulty stabilizing and positioning themselves therein.
Further, during periods of turbulence, an individual within the aircraft lavatory may reflexively brace his/herself by grabbing onto a portion of the vanity. In particular, it has been found that many individuals reflexively grab an outer edge of a wash basin of the vanity. However, the outer edge is typically a thin, flat surface that is not easily grasped. As an individual grasps the outer sink edge, his/her fingers may slip from the surface. As such, in order to maintain a secure grip on the outer edge, the individual typically exerts a force that may cause cramping or other discomfort in his/her hand.
Mounting separate handles to walls within an aircraft lavatory is obtrusive, and protrudes into valuable space therein. Further, handles at various points within an aircraft lavatory may not be ergonomically ideal or possible. Moreover, attempting to mount such handles to portions of the lavatory may be restricted due to other features within the lavatory. For example, if a separate handle is affixed to a door of the lavatory, the separate handle may abut into a wall of the lavatory when an individual opens the door, and the structure to which the handle is mounted may have to be reinforced, which would add extra weight to the vehicle. As such, the handle may prevent the door from being fully opened. Also, protruding handles may prevent efficient ingress and egress of individuals, particularly individuals that utilize wheelchairs. Further, components within the aircraft lavatory, such as baby changing tables, foldaway center walls, and the like, often prevent handles from being mounted thereto.
A need exists for a system that allows an individual to comfortably grasp a component within a vehicle lavatory that is not obtrusive.


A data collecting device is selectively attachable to a tread base of a treadmill. The device includes a foot fall sensing mechanism that collects foot fall data from the tread base, an inclination sensing mechanism that collects inclination data regarding the inclination of the tread base, and a communication mechanism that selectively transmits the foot fall data and the inclination data to an external computing device.

Stationary exercise devices have become an increasingly popular way to exercise. Over time, stationary exercise devices have evolved to include a wide variety of advanced features. For example, some exercise devices may communicate information to an external computing device. This information may include data regarding use of the exercise device. The external computing device may record and analyze the information. A user may access the exercise related data or other information on the external computing device in order to stay motivated by monitoring his or her progress. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,060, U.S. Pat. No. 7,060,006, U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,062, U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,622, U.S. Pat. No. 7,645,213, U.S. Pat. No. 7,981,000, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,047,966 disclose exercise devices that communicate exercise related data to separate computers or media players.
While newer exercise devices may come equipped with an internal feature that allows exercise related data to be transmitted to an external computing device, many earlier devices do not. Additionally, some advanced exercise devices may not be compatible with certain external computing devices. Thus, owners of older exercise devices who want to use an external computing device to track and view their progress may be required to record the data and enter it into an external computing device manually.

Systems, methods, and devices for gathering and transmitting exercise related data


System and methods for videoconferencing using an avatar are described. The presence of a user may be detected by analyzing video captured by a digital camera. The avatar may be provided to a remote device to represent the detected user.

The present disclosure relates generally to using an avatar in a videoconferencing system. The present disclosure more specifically relates to detecting the presence of a user in a video stream and representing the user as an avatar.
Videoconferencing generally involves combining a video stream with an audio stream, to allow users to see and hear one another. For example, a videoconference may be initiated between a user in Tokyo, Japan and a user in Rockford, Ill. Each user may operate a videoconferencing device that includes a camera, a microphone, a display and a speaker. Video captured via the camera at one device may be transmitted to the other device and presented on that device's display. Similarly, audio captured via the microphone at one device may be transmitted to the other device and played via that device's speaker. Such a system allows a user in one location to converse with the remote user as if the remote user were located in the same room.

Using an avatar in a videoconferencing system


System, methods, and computer-readable storage media that may be used to detect excitation faults for electrical devices, such as generators and/or condensers, connected in a parallel configuration are provided. A method includes determining a change in a terminal voltage of one of the electrical devices with respect to a steady state terminal voltage. The method further includes determining a change in a reactive power of the electrical device with respect to a steady state reactive power. The method further includes determining whether an excitation fault condition exists based on the determined changes in terminal voltage and reactive power.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of protection systems for electrical devices. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems of and methods for detecting excitation fault conditions associated with an electrical device, such as a generator or condenser (e.g., synchronous condenser).
Electrical systems often include multiple electrical devices, such as generators and/or synchronous condensers to form or support a single power source. Multiple devices may be connected in parallel to form a single electrical power source, or (e.g., in the case of synchronous condensers) connected to a single electrical power source. A single electrical bus may be formed by connecting several (e.g., many) devices to the power source. However, a failure of one of the electrical devices can compromise the integrity of the entire power bus. In some instances, failure of a single device may cause cascading failures across entire groups of devices connected to the bus. Some systems may utilize protection devices to detect failures and take measures to prevent the failures from affecting other connected devices.

Systems and methods for detecting over/under excitation faults


The medical imaging diagnosis apparatus includes: a region-of-interest setting unit configured to acquire an image of an examination target region in the body of a subject, and thus to set up, on the image, a region of interest, in which change in concentration of a contrast medium is observed; a calculator configured to calculate an average of CT values each representing the concentration of the contrast medium in the region of interest; an approximation unit configured to find an approximation for the region of interest on the basis of multiple CT values calculated by the calculator for the region of interest; and a comparison unit configured to compare a coefficient of the approximation with a value representing a setup condition beforehand stored, and to detect the timing of a definitive scan on the basis of the approximation which agrees with the setup condition within a predetermined range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical imaging diagnosis apparatus which detects an optimal scan timing for radiographing and collecting information on the inside of the body of a subject by use of a contrast medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In current practice, when information on the inside of the body of a subject is radiographed, for example, by use of an X-ray CT (computed tomography) apparatus, a contrast medium is administered to an examination (or tomography) target region. The tomography using a contrast medium makes the geography of the target region appear sharper in contrast than any other region administered with no contrast medium.
In such tomography using a contrast medium, the contrast medium is administered not directly to an examination (or tomography) target region, but to a region other than the examination target region through intravenous injection or the like. After administering the contrast medium, the examination target region is radiographed by timing the arrival of the administered contrast medium at the examination target region.
The easiest way to observe the change in concentration of the contrast medium in the examination (or tomography) target region is to determine the change in concentration of the contrast medium by paying attention to blood vessels through which the contrast medium flows. With this taken into consideration, generally, the change in concentration of the contrast medium is observed in the blood vessels through which the contrast medium flows to the examination target region from the region in which the contrast medium has been administered. This is because the observation and determination is designed to be carried out by use of a property of the contrast medium which makes a region administered with the contrast medium appear sharper in contrast than any other region administered with no contrast region, in other words, by use of change in brightness (corresponding to change in CT values) on the display screen of the X-ray CT apparatus. In order to carry out such an observation, for instance, an examiner sets up an observation target region (hereinafter referred to as a "region of interest (ROI)") in an appropriate blood vessel while checking on a fluoroscopic image generated, and radiographs the region (this type of radiography will be referred to as "scout scan" in contrast to "definitive scan" with which the examination target region is radiographed), thereby observing the change in concentration of the contrast medium in the region, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. Hei. 6-114049 (hereinafter referred as Document 1), Hei. 11-342125 (hereinafter referred to as Document 2) and 2004-113779 (hereinafter referred to as Document 3).
The time taken for the contrast medium to reach the examination target region after its administration varies depending on where the examination target region is. In addition, the time suitable for radiographing the examination target region is short. This makes it very difficult to evaluate whether or not the contrast medium has reached the examination target region. In some cases, for example, the target region may start to be radiographed before the contrast medium reaches the target region, or after the contrast medium has passed the target region.
For the purpose of preventing such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-245797 (hereinafter referred to as Document 4) discloses an X-ray CT apparatus including: a holder configured to hold an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector at their respective predetermined angles; a fluoroscopic image generator configured to generate a fluoroscopic image of the body of a subject taken in a predetermined direction on the basis of the dose of an X-ray beam which is continuously applied on the body of the subject from the X-ray tube thus held, and which is detected by the X-ray detector thus held; a display configured to display the fluoroscopic image thus generated; a determination unit configured to determine the start of a scan for tomography on the basis of change in concentration of a contrast medium in the fluoroscopic image.
Use of the X-ray CT apparatus of this type is considered to make it possible to obtain a tomographic image appropriately highlighting the geography of the predetermined region, and to reduce the radiation exposure dose on the body of the subject in comparison with the current practice using a pre-scan in the real prep scan method.
As to Documents 1, 2 and 4, however, it is considered to be difficult to observe the change in concentration of the contrast medium in the fluoroscopic image in determination of the start of a scan for tomography.
That is because only a single ROI is set up to observe the change in concentration of the contrast medium. This sometimes makes it difficult for even a skilled examiner to set up an ROI in an exact position on a blood vessel to be observed. If an ROI is not successfully set up on the blood vessel, for instance, when the ROI is unsuccessfully set up on a bone, it is impossible to observe the change in concentration. As a result, the examination target region is not appropriately radiographed. Depending on where the examination target region is, a blood vessel suitable for observing the change in the concentration is not always found. Moreover, in some cases, it is difficult to find an image representing blood vessels in the generated fluoroscopic image. In these cases, it is impossible even to set up an ROI.
According to Document 3, multiple ROIs are set up. The multiple ROIs are set up because a CT value of image data needs to be measured by means of a first low-dose X-ray scan (or a first scan), a high-dose X-ray scan (or a second scan) and a second low-dose X-ray scan (or a third scan) for the purpose of determining the timings of the start and end of a high-dose X-ray scan in the contract-enhanced dynamic CT. This makes it possible to grasp the start timing and the like with high exactness. On the other hand, this requires much labor and time. For this reason, it is impossible to easily set the start timing and the like.
The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a medical imaging diagnosis apparatus capable of, when change in concentration of a contrast medium is observed prior to radiographing and collecting information on the inside of a body of a subject by using the contrast medium, more easily specifying a region including a blood vessel suitable for the observation of the change in concentration of the contrast medium, and thus of increasing the diagnosis efficiency, as well as of informing an operator of the optimal timing to scan an examination target region on the basis of the change in concentration in the region.