Disclosed herein is a separate learning system and method using a two-layered neural network having target values for hidden nodes. The separate learning system of the present invention includes an input layer for receiving training data from a user, and including at least one input node. A hidden layer includes at least one hidden node. A first connection weight unit connects the input layer to the hidden layer, and changes a weight between the input node and the hidden node. An output layer outputs training data that has been completely learned. The second connection weight unit connects the hidden layer to the output layer, changing a weight between the output and the hidden node, and calculates a target value for the hidden node, based on a current error for the output node. A control unit stops learning, fixes the second connection weight unit, turns a learning direction to the first connection weight unit, and causes learning to be repeatedly performed between the input node and the hidden node if a learning speed decreases or a cost function increases due to local minima or plateaus when the first connection weight unit is fixed and learning is performed using only the second connection weight unit, thus allowing learning to be repeatedly performed until learning converges to the target value for the hidden node.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a separate learning system and method using a two-layered neural network having target values for hidden nodes and, more particularly, to a separate learning system and method using a two-layered neural network having target values for hidden nodes, which set the target values for hidden nodes during separate learning, so that a computational process is separated into an upper connection and a lower connection without changing a network structure and a weight updating rule, thus reducing computational work.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a neural network system has various uses and application fields. For example, a neural network system can be applied and utilized in various fields such as customer management and electronic commerce in data mining, network management, speech recognition, and financial services.
In detail, in data mining fields, Amazon.com and NCOF use a neural network system to manage of customers who purchase books, and to support searches for products on electronic commerce sites. In financial service fields, a neural network system is used to analyze the shape of charts, and to predict tendencies of the price index of stocks. Visa international and Mellon bank in the United States use a neural network system in a general system for detecting the risk of transactions and in a method of picking out persons who are a high credit risk. Further, in the modeling and scientific theory development fields, a neural network system is used to determine conditions such as optimal temperature, pressure, or chemical materials, in a process of manufacturing fluorescent lamps, and is also utilized to detect inverse functions occurring during a manufacturing process in MIT and a simulation process in productivity laboratories.
Learning in a neural network is a process of setting weights to obtain a desired value at an output node that outputs results corresponding to some input. A representative learning method used in a neural network is a backpropagation learning method.
That is, a backpropagation learning method, which is a learning method used in multi-layer and feedforward neural networks, denotes a supervised learning technique. In order to perform learning, input data and desired output data are required.
However, a backpropagation algorithm has convergence problems, such as local minima or plateaus. The plateaus result in the problem of very slow convergence, and the local minima result in a problem in which gradients in all directions equal zero, thus causing the learning process unexpectedly to stop.
Therefore, an arbitrary set of initial weights is problematic in that it cannot guarantee the convergence of network training. In order to solve the above problems, there are methods such as 1) dynamic change of learning rate and momentum, and 2) the selection of a better function for activation or error evaluation based on a new weight updating rule.
Meanwhile, Quick-propagation (QP) and resilient propagation (RPROP) can provide a fast convergence rate, but cannot guarantee convergence to a global minimum.
Further, a genetic algorithm, conjugate gradient and second-order methods, such as Newton's method, require a greater storage space than backpropagation (BP). Therefore, there is a problem in that imbalance exists between convergence stability, required to avoid learning traps in a wide range of parameters, and a convergence speed, or between overall performance and the requirement of a storage space.
In other words, a backpropagation learning method is problematic in that, since it concentrates only on solving the imbalance between convergence speed and convergence stability due to its function, which is to solve the problem in which convergence speed is low and a learning process stalls at a local minimum, thus convergence fails, the backpropagation learning method is not flexible for arbitrary initial weights, cannot guarantee convergence in a wide range of parameters, and cannot solve the problem of local minima and plateaus.

Separate learning system and method using two-layered neural network having target values for hidden nodes


A vehicle power distribution and control system controls and distributes the power supplied to the wheels of a motor vehicle with at least two driven axles. One of the axles includes an axle differential gear. The control system includes a steering angle sensor, rotational speed sensors to monitor the rotational speeds of the wheels of at least one axle, and an electronic control unit. A differential lock for the axle differential gear is controlled by the control unit to equalize sliding effects that can occur between the wheels of one axle. The control unit calculates a theoretical rotational speed difference ratio from the value of the sensed steering angle for conditions of rolling without any slip and an actual rotational speed difference ratio from the sensed rotational speed values. The control unit compares the two rotational speed difference ratios with each other in predetermined time intervals and transmits control signals to the axle differential locks to increase the degree of locking of the axle differential lock when the actual rotational speed difference ratio is greater than the theoretical rotational speed difference ratio, and to reduce the degree of locking when the actual rotational speed difference ratio is smaller than the theoretical rotational speed difference ratio.

The invention relates to a control system for the control and distribution of power to the wheels of a motor vehicle, such as an agricultural tractor.
A known control system for the control and distribution of power to the wheels of a vehicle with all-wheel drive is described in German Patent No. DE 34 08 991 C2. In order to reduce the radius of the turning circle this control system includes a shift arrangement which automatically raises the wheel speed of the front wheels upon exceeding a predetermined steering angle of the front wheels so that their circumferential speed is two to three times as high as that of the rear wheels. Furthermore, at high vehicle speeds the all-wheel drive is automatically shifted to a two-wheel drive. The abrupt changes in the distribution of the power supply to the individual wheels that occur in this shift, however, impairs the stability of steering and safety.
To improve the steering stability and avoid skidding of the vehicle, German Patent No. DE 36 26 025 C2 proposes to control the distribution of the power supply to the front and rear wheels when slippage occurs. For this purpose the vehicle speed, the circumferential speed of the wheels and the turning circle radius are detected. The latter corresponds to the steering angle of the front wheels. See also, for example, German patent No. DE 34 27 725 C2. These values are used to generate a control signal corresponding to the desired drive torque which is used to control a distribution clutch in order to apply the desired drive torque to the rear wheels. However, this drive arrangement does not permit equalizing slippage that can occur between the wheels of an axle.

Vehicle power distribution and control system


An illumination system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a light source (1) for generating projection light, a masking arrangement (5) for masking a reticle (R) and a masking objective (6) for imaging the masking arrangement (5) on the reticle (R). A polarizer (10) for generating linearly polarized light is arranged in the masking objective (6). The polarizer (10) may comprise, for example, polarization-selective beam splitting layers (54, 56; 154, 156; 292, 294) arranged at an angle to one another, which are transparent to light in a first polarisation state (68) and reflect light in different second polarisation state (70).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an illumination system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and in particular to an illumination system that comprises a polarizer. The invention further relates to polarizers suitable for such illumination systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated electrical circuits and other microstructured components are usually manufactured by applying a plurality of structured layers to a suitable substrate which may be, for example, a silicon wafer. In order to structure the layers they are first covered with a resist which is sensitive to light of a given wavelength range, e.g. light in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) spectral range. The wafer coated in this way is then exposed in a projection exposure apparatus. A pattern of diffractive structures arranged on a reticle is imaged on the resist by means of a projection lens. Because the imaging scale is generally less than 1:1, such projection lenses are frequently also referred to as reduction lenses.
After the resist has been developed, the wafer is subjected to an etching process whereby the layer is structured according to the pattern contained in the reticle. The remaining resist is then removed from the remaining parts of the layer. This process is repeated until all the layers have been applied to the wafer.
In important part of a projection exposure apparatus used for the exposure is an illumination system which generates a projection light beam and directs it onto the reticle. The illumination system generally includes a laser as a light source that generates linearly polarized light. Especially with the use of very short-wave projection light (e.g. λ=157 nm), however, undesired polarization-dependent effects which disturb the imaging properties of the projection lens may occur with certain optical elements. An example of such disturbing factors is the intrinsic birefringence of calcium fluoride (CaF2), which has a significantly higher transparency than usual lens materials such as quartz glass at these short wavelengths and therefore partially or even wholly replaces these materials.
In order to reduce such polarization-dependent effects, additional methods are provided in some projection exposure apparatuses of this kind. For example, the linearly polarized projection light generated by the laser may be converted into circularly polarized light or even into unpolarized light, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,273.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,880 discloses an illumination system including a masking objective, referred to generally in that document as a relay and field optical system, and a polarizer which converts the polarization direction of incident linearly and homogeneously polarized light into radially polarized light practically without loss. For this purpose the polarizer includes a plurality of hexagonal birefringent elements which form a honeycomb arrangement and ensure the radial polarization state through position-dependent rotation of the polarization direction. The radial polarization has the advantage that disturbances resulting from polarization-dependent reflections on the light-sensitive layer to be exposed are reduced.
However, in projection exposure apparatuses whose projection lenses comprise a beam-splitter cube having a polarization-selective beam splitting layer, it may be advantageous to direct linearly and homogeneously polarized projection light on the beam splitting layer. This allows to keep light losses at the beam splitting layer low. It has also been found that in certain cases, e.g. when projecting reticles containing particularly fine structures, the use of polarized light produces higher contrast in the image of the reticle. For this reason one often attempts to preserve the linear polarization state produced by the laser in the illumination system as good as possible. This entails that disturbances of the polarization distribution which may be caused, for example, by birefringence, have to be reduced. However, the complexity and cost associated with such a reduction are relatively high.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,247 an illumination system for a projection exposure apparatus is known which includes an aperture plate which is rotatable about the optical axis. The aperture plate includes two pairs of apertures which are filled by polarization filters in the form of polarizing films. The two pairs differ in the orientation of the polarization filters. A further large-area polarization filter is arranged upstream of the aperture plate, relative to which polarization filter the polarization filters in the apertures can be aligned. With this known arrangement, different pairs of apertures are used for successive exposures.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,369 discloses a polarization-selective beam splitter for use in liquid-crystal projectors. The polarization-selective beam splitter consists of thin glass plates provided on both sides with polarization-selective beam splitting layers. The glass plates are arranged one behind the other in a staggered formation in the propagation direction of the light.

Illumination system and polarizer for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus


A circuit is disclosed which allows an IN-Test to be performed on an integrated circuit (IC) without having to stop the external clock sources by disabling the IC's internal phase-locked loops. Information indicative of the IC's clock mode and of the desired stop mode is contained within the IC's clock control register. In one embodiment, the internal clocks may be stopped in either of three stop modes while operating in one of three clock modes. When it is desired to stop the IC's internal clocks, the clock control register provides a stop instruction signal STOP.sub.-- INSTR to a clock control circuit which, depending upon the particular stop mode and clock mode encoded in signal STOP.sub.-- INSTR by the clock control register, asserts a enabling signal to a disable clock circuit. In response to this active-high enabling signal, the disable clock circuit asserts a zero feedback signal to the internal phase-locked loops of the IC and thereby forces the voltage controlled oscillators within the phase-locked loops to hold internal clocks low. In this manner, the IC internal clocks may be stopped to allow a test vector to be scanned out of the IC during an IN-Test without stopping the external clock source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure and method for stopping internal clocks of an integrated circuit to facilitate IN-testing of the integrated circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
The market for semiconductor devices is becoming increasingly competitive as more manufacturers are introducing a wider variety of semiconductor products. With many products from which to choose, consumers are able to make greater performance demands. Recognizing the significance that an integrated circuit's performance may play in the marketplace, manufacturers employ various tests to ensure that each of their respective integrated circuits (ICs) performs as intended.
One well known method of testing the performance of a particular IC is to subject the IC to what the semiconductor industry has termed an "IN-Test." To perform such a test, scannable elements within the logic of the IC are connected in a signal path to one another to form a scan chain. With the IC in a scan mode, a test vector is provided as an input signal to the IC. After allowing the IC to operate for a number of clock cycles, the internal clocks of the IC are stopped, thereby disabling the IC system logic so as to "freeze" the logic states within the scannable elements. The IC is then clocked with a separate scan clock so as to capture, or "scan" out, these logic states as an output vector. The output vector is read from an output port of the IC and compared to a reference vector to determine if the IC has operated correctly.
In performing such an IN-Test, the internal clocks are typically stopped by stopping the external oscillator that generates the internal clocks. Stopping the external oscillator in such a manner is not only inconvenient but also may result in harmful jitters.
Thus, it would be desirable to perform an IN-Test without stopping the external oscillator that provides the internal clocks to the IC.


A linear actuator includes dual bucking magnets, dual pole pieces, and dual spacers. The linear actuator includes a coil-and-housing assembly disposed around a magnet assembly. The magnet assembly includes two bucking magnets sandwiched around a central magnet. The central magnet and the bucking magnets may be separated by spacers. A housing is disposed around the magnet assembly. Between the housing and the magnet assembly, a dual coil is wound in two opposing directions to generate additive forces on the magnet assembly.

A voice coil motor linear actuator uses a coil disposed around a magnet to generate a linear motion. Linear actuators are commonly used in tape drives to move a tape head used to read and/or write to a tape. The tape head is attached to a supporting structure. The linear actuator moves the supporting structure, causing the head to move across the tape. Recording head actuators require high bandwidth linear head motion: the head position changes to keep the head in the correct location on the media must be made quickly. One method to increase the speed by which the head is positioned relative to the media is to increase the force used to drive the head.
In a voice coil motor linear actuator, current is transmitted through the coil, generating a linear force to actuate the head. Typically, the coil is actuated while the magnet is stationary. U.S. Pat. No. 8,422,173 B2 ("the '173 patent," incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) discloses a dual pole magnet linear actuator that includes a stationary coil disposed around an actuated magnet. It is advantageous to actuate the magnet instead of the coil, as actuating the magnet significantly reduces vibrational resonances interfering with the head, as compared to actuating the coil.
In a voice coil motor, the coil may be wrapped around one side of the magnet, and the coil is actuated up and down about one pole of the magnet. Traditional voice coil motors only take advantage of the magnetic flux on one end of the magnet. The '173 patent discloses a dual pole magnet linear actuator that extends the coil about both poles of the magnet, increasing the region in which the motor generates linear force.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Dual pole dual bucking magnet linear actuator


An apparatus has an arrangement for the transmission, via conductors, of electrical energy and/or signals from an apparatus part to electrical devices which are displaceable relative to the apparatus part. The arrangement has a rotatable reel onto which another conductor is wound when one conductor is unwound.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an apparatus having a transmission arrangement for the transmission of electrical energy and/or signals from an apparatus part to electrical devices which are displaceable relative to the apparatus part, the transmission arrangement including a reel onto which and from which a conductor can be wound.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For example, German Utility Model 89 09 486 discloses an apparatus of this general type. This known apparatus has two apparatus parts which are adjustable relative to one another and which are connected to one another by the conductor. The transmission arrangement, which is held in one of the two apparatus parts, includes an outer, hollow cylinder-like drum forming a reel that is seated so as to be rotatable around an inner hollow cylinder-like drum that is stationary relative to the outer drum. The respective outer surfaces of these drums have an opening through which the conductor, namely a ribbon conductor, is conducted.
The ribbon conductor is first conducted through a lateral opening of the inner drum, then through the opening in the surface of the inner drum into the region between the drums, and is wound around the inner drum as a helix, and is conducted toward the outside through the opening in the surface of the outer drum. The section of the ribbon conductor that is located between the drums thus has its section ends respectively secured to the inner and outer drums such that the ribbon conductor is wound onto the surface of the outer drum, or is unwound therefrom with the assistance of a guide given rotation of the outer drum around the inner drum. When the ribbon conductor is wound onto or unwound from the outer drum, the helix formed by the region of the ribbon conductor lying between the drums narrows or widens in the direction toward the surface of the inner drum.
Given an adjustment of the two apparatus parts of the apparatus relative to one another, a tensile force or thrust is thus exerted on the ribbon conductor secured to the other apparatus part, causing the outer drum to rotate and thereby effecting the winding or unwinding of the ribbon conductor.
German OS 40 19 513, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,390, discloses an apparatus having two apparatus parts which are adjustable relative to one another and which are connected together by an electrical conductor, which is again a ribbon conductor, and having an arrangement for the acceptance of the ribbon conductor and a cable, the arrangement being held in one of the two apparatus parts. The arrangement includes a rotatable drum onto which or from which the ribbon conductor and the cable, which are secured to the other apparatus part, namely at a one end of the other apparatus part, are wound or unwound in opposite directions on different regions of the drum. Upon exertion of a tensile force onto the ribbon conductor by adjusting the two apparatus parts relative to one another, the ribbon conductor is unwound from and the cable is wound onto the rotatable drum and, given exertion of a tensile force on the cable due to oppositely directed adjustment of the two apparatus parts relative to one another, the cable is unwound from and the ribbon conductor is wound onto the rotatable drum. A spring, by means of which the cable end is secured to the other apparatus part, thereby serves the purpose of exerting a constant tensile force on the cable, and thus on the ribbon cable as well, so that this is wound onto the drum with a slight pre-stress.
Because they operate by rolling up the cable, these known arrangements are structurally complicated devices that are only suitable for winding or unwinding a single cable reliably, i.e. without the formation of loops. Ultimately, they function reliably only with ribbon conductors. Ribbon conductors, however, are expensive and occupy a large space when wound onto a drum.

Apparatus having means for the transmission of electrical energy and/or of signals


A library apparatus includes a storage shelf that has a plurality of cells for housing a cartridge that stores a plurality of recording media; a recording and reproducing unit that performs recording/reproducing of information to/from the recording media; and a conveying mechanism that conveys the cartridge to a predetermined position in the storage shelf, between the storage shelf and the recording and reproducing unit. The conveying mechanism includes a first conveying mechanism that conveys the cartridge during a normal operation of the library apparatus; and a second conveying mechanism that conveys the cartridge during an abnormal-operation of the first conveying mechanism.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a library apparatus that automatically conveys a storage medium, such as a magnetic tape, to a recording and reproducing unit (a drive) to perform reading and writing of information or data from/in the storage medium, and more particularly, to a library apparatus that allows an operation to be performed without stopping the library apparatus, even in a state that a conveying mechanism is malfunctioning.
2) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for a library apparatus provided with magnetic tape cartridges for increase in data or information amount in a computer system or for retrieval of data requiring a mass storage, such as multi-media data or graphics data. The library apparatus has a function that automatically performs loading of each magnetic tape cartridge to a cell, unloading the same, storing the same, recording/reproducing data or the like.
Specifically, a magnetic tape library apparatus includes a medium handling robot (a conveying mechanism) called as "an accessor" for automating conveyance of each recording medium (each magnetic tape cartridge), with which insertion/ejection of the recording medium to/from a medium storage unit (a cell) or mounting and demounting to the cell and a recording and reproducing unit (MTU/drive) are automatically performed. The magnetic tape library apparatus is connected to a host computer for communication to automatically perform saving of a magnetic tape cartridge, recording/reproducing of data or the like according to an instruction from the host computer.
As explained above, a magnetic tape library apparatus of this type establishes a library system that conveys a magnetic tape cartridge to a predetermined position in a storage shelf and performs recording/reproducing in the recording/reproducing apparatus (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H7-174475, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H7-44335, and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. 2003-515867).
In the conventional magnetic tape library apparatus, however, there is a problem described below. In the conventional magnetic tape library apparatus, since it is necessary to stop the magnetic tape library apparatus (shut off the power) to work during a maintenance thereof, or when a trouble occurs in a mechanical unit in the conveying mechanism provided in the magnetic tape library apparatus (at a time of failure), a system on the client side has to be down due to stopping of the library system itself.
Specifically, in a configuration where only one conveying mechanism is provided like the conventional magnetic tape library apparatus, when a trouble occurs in any of the mechanical units configuring the conveying mechanical apparatus, the magnetic tape library apparatus falls into malfunction as a whole. Consequently, there occurs a problem that the system on the client side is considerably affected by such a trouble.


The various embodiments provide selective real-time monitoring of one or more flows of packets over a network, real-time buffering of packets for the one or more monitored flows, real-time recording of packets for one or more monitored flows and its corresponding buffered packets based on initiation of at least one trigger, and real-time analysis of the one or more recorded flows of packets regarding at least the occurrence of the at least one trigger. One or more flows of packets may be selected for monitoring by an administrator or an automated process based on different factors. In at least one of the various embodiments, the one or more monitored flows of packets are tagged and threaded so that they are separately accessible in a ring buffer.

On most computer networks, bits of data arranged in bytes are packaged into collections of bytes called packets. These packets are generally communicated between computing devices over networks in a wired and/or wireless manner. A suite of communication protocols is typically employed to communicate between at least two endpoints over one or more networks. The protocols are typically layered on top of one another to form a protocol stack. One model for a network communication protocol stack is the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, which defines seven layers of different protocols that cooperatively enable communication over a network. The OSI model layers are arranged in the following order: Physical (1), Data Link (2), Network (3), Transport (4), Session (5), Presentation (6), and Application (7).
Another model for a network communication protocol stack is the Internet Protocol (IP) model, which is also known as the Transport Communication Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model. The TCP/IP model is similar to the OSI model except that it defines four layers instead of seven. The TCP/IP model's four layers for network communication protocol are arranged in the following order: Link (1), Internet (2), Transport (3), and Application (4). To reduce the number of layers from four to seven, the TCP/IP model collapses the OSI model's Application, Presentation, and Session layers into its Application layer. Also, the OSI's Physical layer is either assumed or is collapsed into the TCP/IP model's Link layer. Although some communication protocols may be listed at different numbered or named layers of the TCP/IP model versus the OSI model, both of these models describe stacks that include basically the same protocols. For example, the TCP protocol is listed on the fourth layer of the OSI model and on the third layer of the TCP/IP model. Additionally, the HTTP protocol is listed on the seventh layer of the OSI model and on the fourth layer of the TCP/IP model.
To assess and troubleshoot communicated packets and protocols over a network, different types of network monitors can be employed. One type of network monitor, a "packet sniffer" may be employed to generally monitor and record packets of data as they are communicated over a network. Some packet sniffers can display data included in each packet and provide statistics regarding a monitored stream of packets. Also, some types of network monitors are referred to as "protocol analyzers" in part because they can provide additional analysis of monitored and recorded packets regarding a type of network, communication protocol, or application.
Generally, packet sniffers and protocol analyzers passively monitor network traffic without participating in the communication protocols. In some instances, they receive a copy of each packet on a particular network segment or VLAN from one or more members of the network segment. In other instances, they may receive these packet copies through a port mirror on a managed Ethernet switch, e.g., a Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) port, or a Roving Analysis Port (RAP). Port mirroring enables analysis and debugging of network communications. Port mirroring can be performed for inbound or outbound traffic (or both) on single or multiple interfaces. In still other instances packet copies may be provided to the network monitors from a specialized network tap.
In some instances, a network monitor may operate as a proxy that is actively arranged between two endpoints, such as a client device and a server device. A network monitor proxy intercepts each packet sent by each endpoint and retransmits or forwards each intercepted packet to the other endpoint. Since network monitor proxies actively monitor network packets, they often enable a variety of additional services such as caching, content filtering, and access control.
However, the sheer volume of packets that are regularly communicated over networks in even a short period of time has made it relatively difficult and/or inefficient for network monitors in real time to record and store all monitored packets in a readily accessible format that is both useful for analysis and helpful for troubleshooting a particular issue or event.
Additionally, one challenge with continuous packet recording is that hard disks are relatively slow compared to network speeds. Other memory media like Dynamic Access Random Memory devices (DRAMs) are fast and can keep up with network speeds, but their storage size is relatively limited (or cost prohibitive), which is why a DRAM buffer can historically only go back in time for a limited amount. Also, even a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAIDs) with substantially greater capacity have trouble keeping up with network speeds.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Trigger based recording of flows with play back


Radiation from an illumination source (102) is directed to a total internal reflector (TIR) modulator (10). The modulator includes a an electro-optic member (213) with a plurality of individually addressable pixel regions (210) comprised of a plurality of electrodes arranged in a first and second set. At least one electrode of the first set is adjacent to at least one electrode of the second set and at least one of the pixel regions is controlled to form at least one image pixel on a surface. A first electric potential is imposed on the first set of electrodes selected from a first predetermined group of electric potential values. A second electric potential is imposed on the second set of electrodes selected from a second predetermined group of electric potential values. The first and second predetermined groups of electric potential values together comprise at least three different electric potential values.

Electro-optic materials are those whose optical properties change in accordance with the strength of an electric field established within them. These materials make possible an electrically controlled electro-optic modulator for use in a light valve array.
One well known form of electro-optic modulator arrays are total internal reflection (TIR) modulators which can be employed in laser-based imaging systems for example. FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically show plan and side views of a conventional TIR modulator 10 comprising a member 12 which includes an electro-optic material and a plurality of electrodes 15 and 16 arranged in an interdigitated relationship on a surface 18 of member 12. Surfaces 20 and 22 are arranged to cause input radiation 25 to refract and undergo total internal reflection at surface 18.
In this typical conventional configuration, various electrodes 15 and 16 are grouped into electrode groups S1, S2, S3, S4 . . . Sn which are collectively referred to as electrode groups S. Each of the electrodes 15 in each of the groups are coupled together and driven with corresponding one of individually addressable voltages sources V1, V2, V3, V4 . . . Vn which are operated in accordance with various image data signals. To simplify interconnect and driver requirements, all electrodes 16 are interconnected to a common source (e.g. a ground potential). In this case, electrodes 16 are coupled in a serpentine fashion among all the groups S.
Upon the application of a suitable voltage by one of the voltage sources V1, V2, V3, V4 . . . Vn to a corresponding one of the electrode groups S1, S2, S3, S4 . . . Sn, an electric field is established in a portion of the of the electro-optic material referred to as a pixel region. The application of the voltage alters the refractive index of the electro-optic material, thereby changing a birefringent state of the pixel region. Under the application of the corresponding drive voltage, the arrangement of electrodes 15 and 16 in each of the electrode groups S1, S2, S3, S4 . . . Sn causes each of the electrode groups to behave in a manner similar to a diffraction grating. A birefringent state of the each of the pixel regions can therefore be changed in accordance with the selective application of various voltages by corresponding voltage sources V1, V2, V3, V4 . . . Vn. For example, in this case when no voltage is applied to a particular electrode group S, the corresponding pixel region assumes a first birefringent state in which output radiation 27 is emitted from surface 22 and is directed by one or more lenses (not shown) towards a surface of a recording media (also not shown) to form an image pixel thereon. In the case when a suitable voltage is applied to a particular electrode group S, the corresponding pixel region assumes a second birefringent state in which output radiation 27 is emitted from surface 22 in a diffracted form which can be blocked by an obstruction such as an aperture to not form an image pixel.
Various image features are formed on a recording media by combining image pixels into arrangements representative of the image features. It is a common desire to form high quality images with reduced levels of artifacts. In particular, the visual quality of the formed image features is typically dependant on the visual characteristics of the formed image pixels themselves. For example, one important characteristic is the contrast between an image feature and surrounding regions of the recording media. Poor contrast can lead to the formation of various image features whose edges lack sharpness or are otherwise poorly defined. Another important characteristic is the accurate placement of the image pixels on the recording media.
The conventional method of driving the arrangement of electrodes 15 and 16 as previously described can lead to various problems which can adversely impact a desired visual characteristic of the final image. For example, the sharpness of feature edges can suffer or an undesired deflection of output radiation 27 can arise. FIG. 1C schematically shows a subset of electrode groups S1, S2, S3, and S4 driven with various voltage levels by their corresponding voltage sources as follows: (V1:V); (V2:V); (V3:0); and (V4: V). Voltage level V corresponds to a drive voltage level selected to cause substantial diffraction to be created by a pixel region whereas voltage level 0 corresponds to a voltage level (i.e. a ground potential in this case) selected to not cause substantial diffraction to be created by a pixel region. When a pixel region is made non-diffracting (e.g. the pixel region corresponding to electrode group S3) the average electric potential of the electrodes 15 and 16 of the pixel region is null. However, when a pixel region is made diffracting (e.g. the pixel regions corresponding to electrode groups S1, S2 and S4) the average electric potential of the electrodes 15 and 16 of the pixel region is approximately V/2. This creates an electric potential difference of V/2 between the average voltages of non-diffracting and diffracting regions of TIR modulator 10. This can give rise to long-range electric fields that deflect radiation that is propagated within the electro-optic material to produce a beam steering effect. Although the long-range fields can be relatively weak, they typically interact with the radiation over a longer path length than the shorter range diffraction grating fields.
One possible consequence of this deflection is that image pixels formed on the recording media can be shifted and a placement error arises. The degree of the placement error can vary in accordance with the image data which controls the selective application of the drive voltages. Another possible consequence can include an increase in the diffraction broadening of an image pixel since the output radiation 27 is deflected to one side in the pupil of the imaging system, thereby reducing the effective aperture of the system. Other possible consequences can include an increased sensitivity to aberrations in the imaging system.
There is, therefore, a need for improved TIR modulators that can mitigate beam steering effects. There is also a need for improved TIR modulators that can reduce occurrences of improperly formed image pixels.


In one embodiment, taped and pant articles of the present disclosure may comprise first and second chassis that are at least substantially identical.

Disposable, reusable and durable products such as diapers, adult incontinence articles, feminine hygiene tampons, sanitary napkins, underpants, shirts, shorts, swimsuits, gowns, pants, coats, gloves, scarves, surgical drapes, bibs, blankets, sheets, pillow cases, etc. may be manufactured on high speed converting lines. Such converting lines may utilize a web-based carrier to which many source materials, whether in a continuous web or discrete pieces, are processed and/or attached to the web to create a finished product.
Although a converting line may allow for high speed production of a specific type of absorbent article, some converting lines may be inflexible in that line changes that would be required to accommodate the production of different types of products would be so time consuming and/or expensive as to be economically impractical. For instance, some converting lines are custom designed and built to make specific products within a narrow range of parameters and operating conditions. For example, converting lines may be custom designed to make only taped diapers, whereas other converting lines may be custom designed to make only pant diapers. Thus, such custom converting lines may be used to produce particular types of diapers, e.g. taped or pant, in certain markets in an effort to provide a good match with business needs. However, the inflexibility of such converting lines to produce more than one type of product can place unwanted limitations on a manufacturer's ability to provide multiple product offerings in some markets. And, beyond the expense and complexity with making these diapers separately, there is often a fundamentally different fit and performance between taped and pant diapers. This is often true even when they are made by the same company and sold under a common brand name and/or trade name.
In markets having consumer demand for both taped diapers and pant diapers, a manufacturer may be required to have separate converting lines, each custom designed to produce one of the two products. However, consumer demand of one or both of the products may not be high enough to justify the manufacturer's cost of having separate converting lines dedicated to each of the product types. For example, if the demand for pant diapers in a particular market is not high enough to justify the cost of a converting line that produces only pant diapers, the manufacture may decide not to offer pant diapers in the market. In such markets, the flexibility to produce both products on the same converting line and therefore produce the proper mix of product to meet the market needs may provide the most efficient and cost effective approach.
In some markets, disposable taped diapers are used for infants from birth to a point when infants begin potty training. As an alternative to taped diapers, disposable pant diapers may be desirable and useful products for children in the potty training stage. In yet other instances, the use of pant diapers may start at an earlier age than ages typically associated with potty training, and therefore, pant diapers may be used more like a taped diaper than a training pant. One difference between taped diapers and pant diapers is how the two products are delivered from the manufacturer to the consumer, i.e., packaged. In particular, both taped diapers and pant diapers can generally include an absorbent chassis having a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious body-side liner, and an absorbent structure. However, a taped diaper may not have a closed initial waist opening circumference or leg openings prior to being removed from the package, whereas the absorbent chassis and/or the flaps (when present) of a pant diaper may be pre-closed to form an initial waist opening circumference and two leg openings. Since the percentage of users that prefer taped diapers versus a pant style, pull-on, diaper varies market to market it may be advantageous for a manufacturer to have the flexibility to produce both a taped diaper and a pant, pull-on, diaper on the same converting line in any desired ratio to meet the needs to the intended market.
Some attempts have been made to create converting lines that are capable of producing more than one type of diaper, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0213678A1. However, such converting lines represent a mere conglomeration or assembly of different converting lines designed to build specific types of diapers. These converting lines may utilize a relatively low number of the same processes and machinery when producing different types of diapers. Thus, a relatively large number of different processes and machinery in such converting lines are either turned-on or turned-off depending on what type of diaper is being produced. As such, a converting line that includes a relatively large number of processes that may not be used when producing different types of diapers may result in large capital costs, require large amounts of space and require additional maintenance. Thus, it is an object of the present application to disclose a converting line that is capable of producing different types of diapers while at the same time utilizing a substantial number of the same processes and machinery to produce either the range of diaper types resulting in greater efficiency and lower overall cost. Further, it is an object of the present application to disclose how to make substantial portions of taped and pant diapers in the same manner, such that there is a substantial overlap between components, including disposition of components, of taped and pant articles. Still further, it is an object of the present application to disclose the use of the same chassis on both pant and taped diapers. And it is an object of the present application to disclose how to display and arrange said diapers for sale.

Converting lines and methods for fabricating both taped and pant diapers comprising substantially identical chassis


A process is specified for producing a radiation-emitting component comprising a housing body and a carrier for a radiation-emitting semiconductor body, in which the carrier is produced in an injection molding process from a molding compound containing a metal.

In conventional surface-mountable optoelectronic components, a prehoused component is produced by overmolding a prefabricated leadframe with a suitable plastic material that forms the housing of the component. This component is provided, for example on its top side, with a depression or recess into which leadframe interconnects are run from two opposite sides, and on which a semiconductor chip, such as for example an LED chip, is glued and electrically contacted. Usually a transparent potting compound is then poured into this recess. This basic design for surface-mountable optoelectronic components is known for example from the article "Siemens SMT TOPLED for surface mounting," by F. Möllmer and G. Waitl, Siemens Components 29 (1991), Vol. 4, pp. 147-149.

Radiation-emitting component provided with metallic injected-molded carrier


Method and apparatus are provided for determining an effect of characteristics of a first message on interaction with the first message over an electronically meditated forum. The first message may be posted to the electronically mediated forum to provide a first posted message. The first posted message includes characteristics. The electronically mediated forum may be monitored to detect at least one instance of interaction with the first posted message. Interaction data may be extracted. Interaction data may include data describing at least one interaction the first posted message. The interaction data may be analyzed to determine the effect of the characteristics of the first posted message on the interaction(s) with the first posted message to provide determined effect data.

Electronically mediated forums are digital forums where messages may be posted, viewed, and engaged with. For example, well known electronically mediated forums include social network websites (e.g., Facebook®, MySpace®, and Twitter®), blogs, conventional websites, etc. The unifying characteristic shared by each of these different types of forums is that they all allow users to post messages that other users can interact with. As used herein, a message may include textual content and, in some instances, may be associated with media content (e.g., a sound-clip, an image, a video, etc.). For example, a message posted on Facebook® may include (i.e., be "associated with") an image, such as a photograph of the poster of the image.
Many conventional electronically mediated forums allow users to post messages on specific pages dedicated to those users (e.g., a user's individual Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter page). Other users of the forum may then view the posted message and interact with it. Users may interact with a posted message in a variety of ways. For example, merely viewing a posted message (e.g., by navigating to the page containing the posted message) may constitute interaction with that message. However, users can interact with a posted message in more intimate ways as well.
For example, users can interact with a posted message by posting a comment in response to the originally posted message, indicating that they "like" the originally posted message, denoting themselves as a "fan" of the entity responsible for the posted message, sharing the posted message and/or address of the page containing the posted message with other users, re-tweeting a posted message, etc. Additionally, where the originally posted message includes, for example, a link to another webpage where a user can purchase a product/service described in the posted message, a user may interact with the posted message by clicking on the link.
Increasingly, entities are recognizing electronically mediated forums as valuable channels for both advertising and market research. For example, many companies now have their own Facebook page. Companies often use their Facebook pages to post messages announcing the release of new products and services. These message are essentially "micro-campaigns" meant to engage a target audience in various ways and, in some cases, incite them to action (e.g., motivate the target audience to purchase the product and/or services described in the posted message, recommend such products/services to others by forwarding information, etc.). Other entities besides corporations have been utilizing electronically mediated forums in similar ways. For example, many rock bands now have their own electronically mediated forum page wherein they can post messages in order to engage with their fans, announce concert dates and album release dates, etc.
Despite the heightened awareness regarding the value of electronically mediated forums as a means of reaching a target audience, little has been done in the way of determining how message characteristics (i.e., characteristics of a posted message) effect audience interaction with that message. That is to say, conventional tools for analyzing audience interaction with a message posted to an electronically mediated forum have proven themselves incapable of determining what about a given message (i.e., what characteristics of a message) prompts certain interactions with the message. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide techniques for determining the effect of characteristics of a message on interaction with the message over an electronically mediated forum.

Method and apparatus for determining an effect of characteristics of a message on interaction with the message


A system and method for detecting digital symbols carried in a received optical signal. The system comprises a functional element operative to receive a stream of samples of an electrical signal derived from the received optical signal and to evaluate a non-linear function of each received sample, thereby to produce a stream of processed samples. The system also comprises a detector operative to render decisions about individual symbols present in the received optical signal on the basis of the stream of processed samples. In an embodiment, the non-linear function computes substantially the square root of each received sample.

In optical transmission systems, optical pulses travelling along a transmission medium are affected by dispersion, which causes individual pulses to be distorted by neighbouring pulses in time, a phenomenon known as inter-symbol interference (ISI). Consequently, decisions about a transmitted pulse, which are based upon the received but distorted version of that pulse, will be inaccurate, leading to a high bit error rate (BER).
In order to combat inter-symbol interference in optical signals, various techniques have been proposed. For example, a purely optical solution provides for a dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) at intervals of several kilometers along the transmission path. A DCF is a specially doped fiber which re-aligns the pulses travelling therealong in time. However, DCFs are not only expensive but also ineffective for long-haul and dense wavelength-division multiplexed (DWDM) systems.
Other proposed techniques have borrowed from the field of electrical signal equalization. These include linear tapped delay structures which are directly applied to the electrical version of the received optical signal following opto-electronic conversion. While such techniques may improve system performance, they tend to do so only to a limited extent since they can only compensate for linear components of the ISI. Conventional approaches fail to take into account that the opto-electronic conversion process in the receiver leads to non-linearities in the ISI and also to non-Gaussianity of the noise statistics, neither of which can be compensated for successfully through the use of a conventional equalizer.
Thus, there is a need in the industry to provide an improved system and method for detecting received optical symbols, especially in the presence of inter-symbol interference.


Modern modulator drivers must be capable of delivering a large output voltage into a tens of ohms modulator, while minimizing the amount of distortion added by the driver. The driver should deliver the output voltage without exceeding a maximum distortion while minimizing the DC power consumption. Accordingly, a modulator driver includes a final stage amplifier with auxiliary transistors that turn on when the conventional differential pair of transistors approaches their maximum voltage of the linear region of their transfer function, thereby providing a more linear transfer function, in particular at large input voltages.

Information is transmitted in an optical channel using optical modulation. In a transmitter, the information in the form of an electrical signal is used to modulate an optical signal, which may be modulated in amplitude, phase, polarization or a combination thereof. The modulation of the optical signal is done using a transducer that converts the electrical signal to the modulated optical signal, e.g. Mach-Zehnder modulator. The transducer uses both an electrical and an optical input signal, by modifying the optical input according to the electrical signal, such the optical output signal contains the information to be transmitted. Typically, the electrical input signal is a voltage.
Information is processed locally in the electrical domain, and then for optical transmission the electrical signal is mapped using a modulation scheme, e.g. 64 QAM. The resulting electrical signal is amplified using a voltage-to-voltage amplifier called a driver, since its output "drives" the electro-optical modulator e.g. Mach-Zehnder modulator. The optical modulator usually requires a voltage with low distortion and several volts of magnitude.
To increase optical channel capacity complex modulation schemes may be used, e.g. quadrature modulation. Therefore, the amplitude and phase of the electrical signal have constraints that translate to large voltage amplitude, e.g. several volts, and high linearity, e.g. low distortion. A driver circuit generates the electrical signal used by the modulator. Large output voltages, high linearity, and low power consumption are the constraints that make the driver one of the most challenging components to design in an optical transmitter
Typically, the driver input signal has been processed, e.g. by the manipulation of magnitude and phase, to maximize the channel capacity. In order to reduce power consumption, all processing may be done with low power circuits, which limit the maximum voltage magnitude that can be provided to the driver. Accordingly, the function of the driver is to amplify the incoming signal to values required by the modulator while adding minimum distortion.
The driver circuit typically includes several blocks, for example: an input buffer, one or more variable gain amplifiers (VGA), and an output or driver stage. The driver's last stage must deliver the output voltage. In a current-mode logic design, the driver output voltage equals the last stage current times the modulator's impedance. The modulator's impedance may be a value in the order of tens of ohms; however, if several volts of output voltage is required by the modulator, the last stage current must be in the order of tens of milliamps.
The requirements for the output voltage necessitates that the transistors in the driver conduct current ranging from the full current in the final stage to almost no current, i.e. the transistors steer the last stage current in the differential output. When the transistors operate under these constrains, they operate almost as switches turning ON and OFF. Therefore, they are operating in their most non-linear operation mode, and they contribute to the generation of undesired distortion.
An alternative is to trade-off power consumption for linearity. Increasing the current handled by the last stage enables the output transistors to operate in a linear region, for example using a differential pair with increased bias current and increased degeneration. However, this alternative increases the power consumption of the driver.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by extending the linear output voltage range of a driver, and reducing the power consumption compared to other solutions with comparable output voltage and linearity.

Broadband driver with extended linear output voltage


A folding chip planar stack package is realized by employing folding chips. The folding chip planar stack package includes a substrate, first and second semiconductor chips attached to an upper surface of the substrate while being folded and spaced in parallel to each other, a bonding wire for electrically connecting the first and second semiconductor chips with the substrate, a sealing material for sealing the upper surface of the substrate including the first and second semiconductor chips and the bonding wire, and solder balls attached to a lower surface of the substrate.

As generally known in the art, semiconductor packages have been developed to have a compact size while improving various electrical characteristics thereof. A representative example of the semiconductor package is a so-called BGA (ball grid array) package. As is known to those of ordinary skill in the art, a BGA package has a size similar to that of a semiconductor chip, so that the mounting space for the BGA package can be minimized. In addition, since the BGA package is electrically connected to external circuits through one or more solder balls on the BGA package, the transmission path between the BGA package solder ball and a semiconductor chip inside the package is kept as short as possible, so that the electrical characteristics of the BGA package can be improved.
Recently, an FBGA (fine-pitch BGA) package has been suggested. The FBGA package not only has the advantages of the BGA package, but also realizes a fine pitch or close spacing of solder balls used for a signal/power input/output pins and is suitable for highly integrated semiconductor devices. FIG. 1 shows a representation of the structure of a typical FBGA package.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional BOC (Board On Chip) type FBGA package includes a center pad type semiconductor chip 11 bonded to a substrate 15 having a window by means of an adhesive 13 and provided at a lower portion thereof with a bonding pad 12. In addition, the bonding pad 12 of the semiconductor chip 11, which is exposed through the window of the substrate 15, is connected to a bond finger (not shown) of the substrate 15 through a bonding wire 16. An upper surface of the substrate 15 including the semiconductor chip 11 and the window part of the substrate 15 including the bonding wire 16 are sealed by means of a sealing material 17, such as EMC (epoxy molding compound). In addition, solder balls 18, which are used for mounting the FBGA package on an external circuit, are attached to a ball land (not shown) formed at a lower surface of the substrate 15.
However, according to the above BOC type FBGA package, the window must be formed at the center portion of the substrate so as to wire-bond the bonding pad of the semiconductor chip to the bond finger of the substrate, so that the manufacturing cost for the substrate may increase as compared with that of the substrate, which does not require the window, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost for the BOC type FBGA package. In addition, since only one semiconductor chip is accommodated in the BOC type FBGA package, it is difficult to increase the capacity of the BOC type FBGA package.
In order to increase the capacity of the semiconductor package, as shown in FIG. 2, a chip stack package has been suggested. The chip stack package has a structure similar to that of the above BOC type FBGA package, except that it can theoretically accommodate two semiconductor chips therein but as a practical matter, such a chip stack package requires a bonding wire 26b having a very long length in order to electrically connect an upper semiconductor chip 24 with a substrate 25. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the bonding wire 26b is long and can be easily broken during a packaging molding process. In particular, since transmission paths of electric signals between a lower semiconductor chip 21 and the upper semiconductor chip 24, are different from each other, that is, the lengths of bonding wires 26a and 26b are different from each other, the signal transmission characteristics, such as propagation delays will be different and the operation of the semiconductor chips can be degraded. In addition, if bonding pads are aligned in a dual array structure, it is difficult to variously design the substrate relative to the stack, making it difficult to apply the semiconductor package to a high-speed product.
In FIG. 2, reference numerals 23, 27 and 28 represent an adhesive, a sealing material and solder balls, respectively.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional planar stack package. As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional planar stack package includes semiconductor chips 31 and 34 aligned on a substrate 35 in parallel to each other while being sealed by means of a sealing material. Such a planar stack package can be easily fabricated and can improve the signal transmission characteristics because the transmission path for the electric signal between the semiconductor chips 31 and 34 and the substrate 35 can be uniformly established. In addition, since bonding wires 36a and 36b have relatively short lengths, the bonding wires 36a and 36b can be prevented from being broken during the molding process.
However, although the above planar stack package is suitable for edge pad type chips, it is not suitable for center pad type chips. In addition, if the size of the semiconductor chip is enlarged, it is difficult to fabricate the planar stack package. That is, if the size of the semiconductor chip is enlarged, the planar stack package must be fabricated while increasing the size of the substrate corresponding to the size of the semiconductor chip. However, in this case, the mounting space for the planar stack package may be increased, so that the planar stack package has no practical use. In addition, due to the limitation of the mounting space for the planar stack package, it may happen that fabrication of the planar stack package is impossible.


A method of seeking images, from an example image, from amongst a plurality of images stored in a database, each of the stored images being associated with an index, representing at least one characteristic of the visual content of the image, includes the following steps: a step of receiving a data item of a second type representing the location of at least one region of interest in the example image; a step of receiving, for each region of interest, a data item of a third type indicating a type of taking into account of the content of the region of interest for the seeking of images; a step of calculating an index of the example image, representing at least one characteristic of the visual content of the example image, the method of calculating this index depending on the data item of the second type and the data items of the third type; a step of calculating a similarity between the example image and each of the images from amongst at least one subset of the stored images, this similarity being calculated from the index associated with the stored image and the index associated with the example image; and a step of supplying at least one image, referred to as the result image, of the database, this result image being selected from amongst the images in the database according to its degree of similarity with the example image.

A conventional method of seeking digital images in a database containing images is based on a system of indexing the images in the database.
The purpose of the indexing system is to associate, with each image in the database, an item of information characteristic of the content of the image referred to as the index of the image. All these information items form the index of the database.
A user can then interrogate the image database through a request containing an item of information characteristic of the type of image sought. The content of the request is then compared in accordance with a search strategy with the content of the index of the database.
Finally, the image in the database whose indexed information item has the greatest similarity to the content of the request is then extracted. A plurality of images extracted from the database can also be presented to the user, ordered according to their degree of similarity to the request.
In a traditional system of indexing digital images, the index of the database is composed of textual descriptors of the images stored.
The request of the user then consists of key words describing the characteristics of the content of the image to be sought.
This type of indexing by textual descriptors has the drawback of being imprecise, in particular because the same image may be described in different ways by different users.
In order to mitigate this type of drawback, the need has therefore been felt to develop techniques for representing and extracting the semantic content of a digital image.
Methods have appeared in which an image is characterised according to the distribution of the colours or textures making it up.
In other methods, an image is characterised by the shape or contour of an object making it up.
However, all these descriptors, referred to as "primitives", of the image, reflect only physical characteristics of the image, and are therefore of a low semantic level.
In order to increase the semantic character of the indexing of the images, indexing systems which use a combination of low-level primitives are beginning to appear.
One of the most well-known is certainly the QBIC ("query-by-image-content") system developed by IBM.
To obtain more details on this system, reference can be made to the article "The QBIC Project: Querying Images by Content Using Color, Texture, and Shape", by Niblack, W et al., which appeared in IBM Computer Sciences Research Report, pp 1–20 (1st Feb. 1993). Reference can also be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,471 of IBM entitled "Image query system and method".
The QBIC system makes it possible to find digital fixed (or video) images from a request by means of the example. In the particular case of fixed images, this request is defined either as a complete image or as an object with a rectangular or arbitrary shape, extracted from an image or defined by the user.
The content of the images in the database is characterised by its colour distribution (histogram), texture and shape.
Where the request is defined as a portion, also referred to as a region, of an image, the similarity measurement also takes account of the spatial position of this region.
However, the request relates at best only to a single portion of the example image.
Moreover, the user has no possibility of designating particular areas of the example image whose content he does not wish to find in the type of images which he is seeking.
In addition, the user cannot specify to the search system that he wishes for the search to be made only from the content of particular regions which he has defined in the example image, without taking into consideration the content of the remainder of the image.
These particular areas or regions of the example image are referred to, in the remainder of the description, as "regions of interest".

Method and device for seeking images based on the content taking into account the content of regions of interest


A wind noise and vibration noise reducing microphone arrangement is formed in a bullet-shaped housing (12) having a rounded front portion (13) and a flat rear portion (15). The rear portion is substantially perpendicular to the side portions (14) and contains a transducer (10) facing in the opposite direction from the forward portion. The transducer is mounted to the housing with an elastomeric member (25) that also serves as a seal between the transducer and the housing. The elastomeric member also reduces vibrations transmitted to the microphone. A mounting means (30) is attached to the housing. The mounting means has a vibration isolation member (32) to reduce vibrations transmitted to the housing. The mounting means can be an aerodynamic pedestal attached to the housing, with an elastomeric member attached to the pedestal to reduce vibrations. The pedestal is attached to a vehicle such as a bicycle (6), motorcycle, glider, or boat, and the elastomeric member reduces the vibration transmitted from the vehicle to the housing. The microphone arrangement is connected to a radio transmitter (4) mounted on the bicycle, and transmits the rider's voice to another remote radio receiver.

Outdoor uses of radio communications are many, such as hiking, camping, hunting, biking, warehousing, construction, security, etc. One example of a communication device for these applications is a portable two-way FM transceiver that utilizes an earphone-microphone to transmit via vibrations in the auditory canal. This system provides rudimentary communications, but suffers from poor intelligibility of the spoken word. In these applications, communications involves the use of a microphone that is exposed to winds. Microphones used outdoors are subject to background noise. One method typically used to reduce environmental noise in microphone assemblies is the well-known noise canceling microphone. They are sometimes also referred to as pressure gradient microphones. These microphones consist of a vibratable diaphragm which is actuated by speech or other sounds. The diaphragm is arranged so that sound paths are provided through ports to both the front and rear sides thereof. Far field signals, consisting of environmental noise, reach both sides of the diaphragm simultaneously and are canceled. Near field signals, such as the user's voice, predominately reach only one side of the diaphragm, and are not canceled. Prior art microphones of this type are unsuitable for use in high wind environments because they are ineffective due to the directional nature of wind. Optimal sound characteristics and reproduction of natural sound for a communication device also requires a flat frequency response to a near field sound source. In a noise canceling microphone, the frequency response varies with the acoustic loading on the two ports.
Wind noise is caused by the wind vibrating the diaphragm of the microphone, creating a signal which can be equal to or greater than the user's voice signal, thereby obliterating the voice message. One method of reducing wind noise is to cover the microphone with a layer of foam. The foam ball wind suppresser, typically used by television reporters, is a well-known example of this type of wind noise reducing mechanism. Unfortunately, these types of suppressers are only effective in light winds. In strong winds, such as those experienced by a rider on a bicycle or motorcycle, for example, the foam suppresser does not adequately remove the background wind noise, and the voice signal is unintelligible.
A third source of noise in microphones used outdoors is vibrational noise. This noise arises from mechanical vibrations transmitted to the microphone diaphragm through the mounting structure and the housing. Sources of mechanical vibrations in vehicle mounted microphones are road vibration, engine vibrations, noise from a moving bicycle chain, and other mechanical noise induced by the vehicle.
None of the conventional microphone designs are suitable for use in an environment that has high winds and vibrations. Furthermore, noise canceling microphones are not noted for their environmental sealing ability, and are thus unsuitable for use in inclement weather.

Wind noise and vibration noise reducing microphone


The present invention provides a method for producing hepatic stem/progenitor cells from mammal hepatocytes, comprising bringing a TGFβ-receptor inhibitor, and optionally a GSK3 inhibitor and/or a ROCK inhibitor into contact with the hepatocytes in vitro.

Although advances in stem cell biology have aroused great interest in its applications in liver regenerative medicine, they have not yet been realized. Although induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), one of the most promising cell sources, have been studied intensively, their applications are still limited due to difficulty in efficient differentiation into functional hepatocytes, and the remaining presence of tumorigenesis risk. Even a recently developed method is incapable of generating hepatocytes with the ability to regenerate an injured liver as efficient as mature hepatocytes (Non-patent document 1). Meanwhile, recent study has shown that cells of different lineage can directly be converted (directly reprogrammed) into hepatocyte-like cells (Non-patent documents 2 and 3). In spite of such a promising finding, direct reprogramming is still associated with unexpected risks since it involves genetic modification like iPS cells, and thus cannot be applied to regenerative medicine.
Recently, several groups reported surprising findings that adult hepatocytes are reprogrammed into proliferative, bipotential hepatic stem/progenitor cells when a liver is chronically injured (Non-patent documents 4 and 5). These innovative findings provide great insight not only to the hepatic stem cell theory but also to the liver regeneration studies. Specifically, if such reprogramming can be reproduced in vitro, the resulting hepatic stem/progenitor cells are expected to serve as a new cell source in liver regenerative medicine.
However, a method for reprogramming mature hepatocytes into hepatic stem/progenitor cells without genetic modification is totally unknown.
The present inventors and other groups have previously reported that a combination of certain types of low-molecular weight inhibitors contributes to the induction and maintenance of pluripotency of stem cells (Non-patent documents 6 and 7). However, there is no report about contribution of these low-molecular weight inhibitors to the reprogramming of mature hepatocytes into hepatic stem/progenitor cells at all.

Method for producing hepatic stem/precursor cells from mature hepatic cells using low-molecular-weight compound


In an embodiment, a method for determining the phase shift between a first signal and a second signal includes: delivering the first signal to a first input of a 90° hybrid coupler; delivering the second signal to a second input of the 90° hybrid coupler; determining a first piece of information relating to a power of a first output signal delivered to a first output of the 90° hybrid coupler; determining a second piece of information relating to a power of a second output signal delivered to a second output of the coupler; and adjusting the phase of the second signal until obtaining a calibrated phase for which the first piece of information is substantially equal to the second piece of information, wherein the first and second signals have identical frequencies, and wherein the phase shift between the first signal and the second signal is equal to the calibrated phase.

Generally, an electronic device dedicated to the transmission of information comprises a transmission chain including several transmission lines each connected to an antenna. Each transmission line performs spatial filtering operations (beamforming) allowing to control the phase and amplitude of the signals emitted by each antenna of the device to create constructive or destructive interference between the emitted electromagnetic waves.
In this regard, it is consequently advantageous to be able to determine the phase shifts between different signals conveyed on the different transmission lines.
Conventional phase detectors generally include either analog components such as analog multipliers or digital circuits such as logic gates or flip-flops.
However, such detectors are not adapted for applications in the radiofrequency field, in particular in the field of millimeter bands.

Method and device for determining the phase shift between two signals


An internal combustion engine (10) is designed with a cylinder section (11) which is pivoted on a crankcase section (13) to provide different compression ratios. The crankcase section (13) is provided with raised lateral walls (21, 22, 24, 25) with upper surfaces (82-85), which lie in the same plane and thereby allow simple assembly of a seal (34) between the cylinder section (11) and crankcase section (13). The lateral walls (21, 22, 24, 25) also enable auxiliary devices for the engine to be easily secured without having to allow for the mobility of the cylinder section (11) relative to the crankcase section (13).

This invention relates to an internal combustion engine and, more particularly, to an internal combustion engine having a cylinder section which may be pivoted with respect to the crank case section thereof to vary the compression ratio of the engine.
In engine technology it is known, of prior art, that an engine with a variable compression ratio can improve the efficiency of the engine, particularly when the engine is operated on partial load, enabling the maximum performance of the engine to be increased considerably.
There are a number of different basic solutions for providing adjustment of the compression ratio of an engine. The American patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,224 describes a piston engine with a fixed crankcase section, to which is hinged a cylinder section, with associated cylinder head. Under is the influence of an eccentric shaft the cylinder section can be pivoted to a greater or lesser degree about a longitudinal shaft, enabling the volume of the combustion chamber to be varied.
In the engine shown the cylinder section is hinged to the crankcase section by means of a hinge shaft which may also be regarded as constituting a central shaft for the engine camshaft. This is advantageous because the mechanism for controlling the engine valves by means of the camshaft, and in this case also push rods, is not therefore appreciably affected by the fact that the cylinder section is hinged.
Although an engine of this design may be regarded as favourable from the point of view of combustion, it nevertheless suffers from several disadvantages which limit its potential for practical application.
The possibilities of arranging a perfect seal between the cylinder section and the crankcase section are limited. Because the divisions between the two sections extend in different planes around the periphery of the engine, it is necessary to arrange seals which also extend in the vertical direction of the engine. On one side of the engine the seals will be subjected to torsional forces, whilst the seals on the other side are subjected to combined tens le and bending stresses. There is no suitable material for simultaneously meeting these requirements, but it is probably necessary to arrange such types of seals at different points along the divisions. This in turn creates problems in connecting the seals to each other. A good seal between the cylinder section and the crankcase section is essential both for preventing the ingress of dirt in the crankcase and for preventing oil and/or gases present in the crankcase from leaking out.
Internal combustion engines for vehicle use are also used to drive a number of different auxiliary units, e.g. generator, servo pumps, compressor and water pump. In engines with a fixed compression ratio these components are secured to the cylinder section of the engine by means of various brackets, and are driven by the crankshaft of the engine by means of belt transmissions. In an engine with a moving cylinder section this is not possible unless complicated arrangements are provided for their drive. The above-mentioned patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,224 does not provide a solution for arranging this in practice either.
In an engine for vehicle use the output shaft of the engine is connected by a clutch to a gearbox. The possibilities in practice of arranging a flange plane for securing a clutch case or gearbox to one end of the engine are similarly limited if the cylinder section of the engine is moving. Internal combustion engines for use other than in vehicles present similar problems.

Combustion engine with variable compression ratio


Electrostatic footwear in the form of a cover with a sole and an upper having an opening to receive the foot or shoe of a user. The opening may be provided with elastic or an elastic cuff for retention about the user. The cover may be worn over the foot or the shoe of a user. The cover has an excess electrical charge to attract particulate matter including but not limited to dust, dirt, pollen, and dander. The electrostatic charge causes the particulate matter to be drawn and held thereon as the user moves about. The sole may include anti-skid material over a limited portion thereof to prevent the user from sliding or slipping.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to footwear and, more specifically, to a shoe/foot electrostatic-slipper covering that when worn by a user within a structure having a floor electrostatically attracts particles from the floor to the slipper(s) and therein reduce the amount of airborne particles that can irritate allergies.
Furthermore, the types of particles that would be attracted are not easily swept up and are more inclined to become airborne such as lint, pollen and dust. Therefore, the present invention provides means for reducing the amount of airborne particles on a structure's floor by simply wearing the foot covering of the present invention that will electrostatically bind floor particles thereto.
The invention is in the form of a cover for a shoe or a foot which, when worn indoors on a smooth floor surface, will clean the floor by attracting lint, dust, hair and small debris.
The invention is a shoe covering comprised of a body made of any material that is capable of being appropriately formed to surround a shoe or foot with preference to non-woven fabric. The sole of the shoe cover will be made of material with properties, which will enable it to pick up dust and other small debris. An example of such material would be an electrostatic charged fabric or microfiber. The shoe covering can be used indoors so that when the user walks into a house or building, will slip it on by inserting the foot into the elastic opening at the top of the shoe cover. Once the shoes or feet are covered by the shoe cover, the wearer can go about normal indoor activities and while walking around the house or building, the shoe cover acts as a floor cleaning instrument. This enables the user to keep the floor free of dust and small debris without having to take any extra time to do it.
The invention can be used indoors where cleanliness is desired with the purpose of keeping tile, wood, laminate and vinyl floors free of dust and small dirt debris without having to take any extra time to do it. The shoe covering could also be used for the dual purpose of keeping floors (including carpeted floors) from getting dirty from soiled shoes. The shoe covering is made of non-woven porous materials such as spunbound polypropylene or non-woven laminates, such as spunbound/meltblown/spunbound laminates. It includes an opening that enable the shoe cover to be slipped over the foot or shoes of the wearer. The opening can optionally include a stretchable or resilient material such as rubber or elastomer to maintain the shoe cover on the foot of the wearer. The bottom (sole) of the shoe cover is made of any material that is capable of attracting dust and small debris, but preferably, electrostatic charged fabric or microfiber. The sole also has a print or sprayed on traction adhesive, making the shoe covers slip resistant.
The invention is a shoe/foot cover comprising a body that configures to surround the shoe or foot of the wearer with a bottom portion of the body designed to contact the ground when the cover is worn. The shoe cover is made of non-woven porous material such as spunbond polypropylene or non-woven laminates, such as spunbond, meltblown or spunbond laminates. It includes an opening that enables the shoe cover to be slipped over the foot or shoes of the wearer. The opening can optionally include a stretchable or resilient material such as rubber or elastomer to maintain the shoe cover on the foot of the wearer. The bottom (sole) of the shoe cover is made of a material such as, electrostatic charged fabric or microfiber, with properties for attracting dust or small dirt particles.
Furthermore, the footwear has particular application in research and manufacturing facilities where cleanroom technology is used to control environmental contaminents, such as lint, dust, dirt and pollen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other cleaning devices worn over shoes. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,813 issued to Puskas on Jul. 8, 1997.


Methods and systems for selecting a talkgroup for a portable communications device. One method includes storing a set of missions in a memory of the portable communications device and receiving a selection of at least one of the set of missions at the portable communications device and therewith creating a selected mission. The method also includes sending the selected mission to a call controller. The method also includes receiving, from the call controller, a talkgroup identifier associated with the selected mission at the portable communications device.

Some organizations (e.g., police departments, first responders, and the like) use portable communications devices, such as land mobile radios (LMRs), to facilitate communication between the organization's members. These organizations often place members in different departments and assign members certain roles. Also, an organization may assign members to different communication groups (sometimes referred to as "talkgroups") to streamline communication. In particular, to send a communication to a group of members, a member may send a single communication to an assigned talkgroup rather than sending a communication to individual members.
An organization may have several talkgroups, and these talkgroups need to be pre-programmed and updated as needed into a portable communications device. Once a portable communications device is programmed with talkgroup information, a member may select a talkgroup (e.g., using a selector on the portable communications device) and initiate a communication (e.g., a push-to-talk communication) with the selected talkgroup.
In many organizations, members and/or portable communications devices may be moved and assigned to different departments of the organization. In other situations, a member may be participating in multiple missions for multiple departments. These departments and missions commonly have different talkgroups. However, a member does not have the option to select a list of talkgroups based on the mission or department the member is participating in. Instead, when a member switches missions, departments, or roles, the member's portable communications device needs to be reprogrammed with the applicable talkgroup information.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods and systems for selecting a talkgroup for a portable communications device.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Methods and systems for selecting a talkgroup associated with a mission for a portable communications device


A lever type connector which includes a set of a female connector part and a male connector part to be fitted to each other, and a lever member pivotally journalled on the female connector part. For temporarily stopping the female connector part and the male connector part in place, temporary stopper recesses of the female connector part and temporary stopper projections of the male connector part are engaged with each other. Therefore, it is not necessary to expand the lever member by depression, with guide pins of the male connector part. Thus, combining and releasing of the connector parts are simplified for quick operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a lever type connector arranged to couple a set of connector parts to be fitted to each other, through a lever member journalled in either of said connector parts.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, for example, in the case where a multi-polar connector having more than twenty poles, etc. is to be connected, since a large coupling force is required, there has been provided a lever type connector arranged to facilitate the connection by applying a comparatively small force through employment of a lever member utilizing the principle of a lever.
For the lever type connector as referred to above, there is available an arrangement, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 in which a lever member 3 is pivotally journalled through support shafts 4 provided on outer walls of one connector part 1 of a set of connector parts 1 and 2, while guide pins 5 are provided to project outwardly from the other connector part 2 for engagement with guide recesses 3a formed on said lever member 3, whereby, based on the pivotal operation of said lever member 3, the other connector part 2 is displaced in a direction for fitting or disengagement via the guide recesses 3a through guide pins 5.
In the known lever type connector as described above, since the fitting is effected by one hand, it becomes indispensable to temporarily hold or stop the set of connector parts in position, and therefore, it has been a practice to provisionally hold them by inserting the guide pins 5 of the connector part 2 in the starting ends of the guide recesses 3a of the lever member 3.
According to the conventional lever type connector of the above described kind, as shown in FIG. 6(A), a shallow insertion groove 3b is provided between the starting end and outer end face of each of the guide recesses 3a for the lever member 3, and as illustrated in FIG. 6(B), when the guide pins 5 of the other connector part 2 are inserted into said insertion grooves 3b, the guide pins 5 are engaged with the starting ends of the guide recesses 3a while the lever member 3 being depressed for expansion outwardly, by which a temporary stopping arrangement of a so-called forced insertion type is adopted.
In the lever type connector in general, a large force is applied from the guide recesses 3a of the lever member 3 to the guide pins 5 of the other connector part 2 when the set of connector parts 1 and 2 are to be fitted to each other, and therefore, it is necessary to set the length for engagement between the guide pins 5 and the guide recesses 3a of the lever member 3 to be long. Since the guide pins 5 tend to be long by the above arrangement, there are problems that such guide pins 5 are difficult to be led into the starting ends of the guide recesses 3a of the lever member 3, while on the contrary, they are not easily disengaged from the starting ends of said guide recesses 3a when the set of connector parts 1 and 2 are to be disengaged from each other, and thus, much labor is required for the fitting and disengagement of the connector parts, with consequent increase of time required therefor.
Furthermore, in order to provide the temporary stopping mechanism as described above, it is necessary to increase the width of the lever member in a lateral direction by a length L as shown in FIG. 6(B), and thus, the size of the connector is undesirably increased by a width of 2.times.L at both sides of the connector.