A transistor voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a frequency synthesizer having the transistor VCO are provided. The frequency synthesizer adopts a divide-by-five injection-locked frequency divider, which includes a five-stage inverter ring oscillating frequency dividing circuit for reducing the operating frequency of the oscillating signal from the VCO, thus decreasing power consumption due to counting operation of the frequency synthesizer. The transistor VCO includes three transistor switching capacitor sets connected in parallel to one another to form a parallel structure. The gates of the transistor switching capacitor sets are connected to respective operating voltage sources, so as to switch the status of the corresponding transistor switching capacitor set, which in turn adjusts the harmonic frequency generated by the VCO, thereby allowing the VCO to generate a corresponding operating frequency with enough bandwidth.

Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a conventional phase-locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer is shown. The PLL frequency synthesizer includes a phase frequency detector (PFD), a charge pump, a loop filter, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider and a reference signal.
In operation, an original signal with a frequency fo and a phase Θo(t) is output by the VCO. An operating signal with a frequency fd and a phase Θd(t) is generated by using the frequency divider to divide the original signal by an integer M. Then, the operating signal is input to the PFD and compared with the reference signal, which has a frequency fr and a phase Θr(t). Since the frequency divider is a divide-by-M frequency divider, fo=M*fd.
If the phase Θd(t) of the operating signal is equal to the phase Θr(t) of the reference signal, the PFD outputs two identical digital comparing signals UP and DN to the charge pump. The charge pump converts the digital comparing signals UP and DN into an analog current signal, which is input to the loop filter. The loop filter generates an operating voltage Vc in accordance with the analog current signal and outputs the operating voltage Vc to the VCO. The VCO regenerates the signal with the frequency fo and the phase Θo(t), thereby forming a feedback mechanism. This feedback mechanism allows the frequency fo of the original signal to be locked to M times of the frequency fr of the reference signal.
In order to accommodate applications in higher band WLAN, a pulse-swallow divider has been developed, which comprises a dual-modulus divide-by-N or divide-by-(N+1) prescaler and two variable dividers: one is a program counter (P counter), the other is a swallow counter (S counter), wherein the P counter is usually selected to have a counter capacity larger than that of the S counter.
The concept behind the pulse-swallow divider is as follows. Initially, the prescaler functions as a divide-by-(N+1) divider and divides the original signal by N+1, and inputs the divided original signal to the P and S counters simultaneously. Since the counter capacity of the P counter is larger than that of the S counter, the S counter will reach zero earlier than the P counter does. Upon reaching zero, the S counter sends a signal to the prescaler to change the prescaler to function as a divide-by-N divider, while the P counter keeps counting down to zero, when the whole operations will start over again. Thus, the total count in one complete cycle of the pulse-swallow divider is M=(N+1)S+N(P−S)=NP+S. In other words, the pulse-swallow divider functions as a divide-by-(NP+S) divider. By adjusting N, P and S appropriately, the pulse-swallow divider can divide a signal by any specified integer.
In the design of IEEE 802.11a WLAN frequency synthesizers, the above-mentioned pulse-swallow divider is often used. Referring to a research paper entitled "Study of 2 GHz and 5 GHz CMOS frequency synthesizers used in 802.11 WLAN" by Shin-Hong, Kuo in June 2004, it discloses the circuit design for a 16/17 pulse-swallow divider, which divides a 5 GHz operating frequency to 5 MHz. This allows the frequency of the reference signal to be selected down to 5 MHz. The corresponding M, N, P and S are listed in Table 1 below:

Transistor voltage-controlled oscillator and frequency synthesizer having the same


A run flat safety band 1 has a wireless sensor 11 incorporated therein, which can be remotely interrogated in order remotely to confirm that the safety band is fitted on a wheel 4. The sensor 11 includes a pressure and temperature sensor, enabling the pressure and temperature within the tire 2 mounted on the wheel 4 to be remotely checked, by means of which remote indication can be provided that the tire 2 has deflated and is running on the runflat band 1 and also that the tire 2 is overheating and likely to break up prematurely while running on the runflat band 1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wheel well fillers or runflat safety bands and more particularly to such bands which incorporate a wireless device for remotely confirming the presence of the band on a wheel.
2. The Prior Art
A wheel well filler or runflat safety band is a type of run flat system that can be retro fitted to a standard wheel and which operates to prevent the tire bead from dropping into the wheel well when the tire pressure decreases, either gradually due to a simple puncture or suddenly due to a blowout. Were the bead to drop into the wheel well, the tire could work itself off the wheel. The runflat safety band is engaged into the well of the wheel, allowing the tire bead to move across the wheel when the pressure within the tire drops, but preventing the beads from falling into the wheel well and thereby locking the tire onto the wheel and ensuring that there is always rubber between the wheel rim and the road surface or ground. Thus, steering, braking and cornering control are better maintained and the risk of accident due to tire deflation greatly reduced. The system enables the driver to continue driving after deflation for a short period to a safe place where the wheel can be changed. The distance achieved before the tire breaks up depends on the speed, on the amount of cornering and on surface conditions. There are different designs of band made from metal, or plastic, or a combination of the two, but all are basically composed of a ring, in one or more parts, whose width is equal to the width of the wheel well and which has dimples or inserts which rest on the bottom of the wheel well to space the band radially outwardly from the bottom of the well.
However, since the runflat safety band is mounted inside the wheel well, it is completely concealed within the wheel once the tire is fitted, and hence it is not possible from an external inspection to check whether the band is fitted to the wheel or not, for example after replacement of the tire. With a number of countries proposing regulations requiring the fitment of runflat safety bands to certain categories of vehicles, there is a concern that the authorities will not have a ready means of checking that the runflat safety bands have been fitted.

Confirming the presence of a run flat safety band incorporating a wireless device


A method for producing a linear pattern having a width less than 100 microns and a resistivity of the order of 10.sup.-6 .OMEGA..multidot.cm on a substrate includes maintaining a low melting point metal in its fused state, applying the fused metal to a tip of a drawing head disposed close to or contacting a substrate by capillary action, applying the fused metal to the substrate in a line with a width less than 100 microns while moving the tip of the drawing head relative to the substrate, and cooling and solidifying the linear pattern of fused metal. Therefore, a linear pattern having a width less than 100 microns and a resistivity of the order of 10.sup.-6 .OMEGA..multidot.cm is directly formed on the substrate in a simple process with high efficiency and the production yield is significantly improved.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a conventional solar cell. In FIG. 9, the active layer of the solar cell 500 comprises an n type Si layer 51 and a p type Si layer 52. A p side electrode 53 comprising a linear pattern is disposed on the p type Si layer 52 and an n side electrode 54 is disposed on the rear surface of the n type Si layer 51.
As a method for forming an electrode of such a conventional solar cell, vapor deposition or sputtering, screen printing, drawing-printing, or the like has been employed. In addition, an Ag paste has been employed as an electrode material of the conventional solar cell. Recently, an Ag paste whose baking temperature is low, i.e. only 150.degree..about.180.degree. C. has come to be used. If an Ag paste whose baking temperature is high, e.g. 700.degree..about.800.degree. C. is used for forming an electrode of an amorphous silicon solar cell or a microcrystalline silicon/crystalline silicon junction type solar cell, the junction in an active layer of the solar cell is damaged during the baking process.
Meanwhile, in the above-described screen printing method, an Ag paste comprising Ag powder, glass frit, and an organic binder is printed on a substrate through a print mask comprising a stainless mesh on which an emulsion pattern is formed and then it is dried and baked to form an electrode pattern having a desired resistivity. However, the minimum width of the electrode formed by this method is 100.about.150 microns and an electrode narrower than that cannot be formed. If the electrode 53 on the light receiving surface of the solar cell 500 shown in FIG. 9 is formed by this screen printing method, the width of the electrode 53 exceeds 100 microns, thereby decreasing the effective power generating area 55 of the incident light surface. In addition, when the electrode pattern is changed, a new screen mask is needed, resulting in a poor production yield.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a method for applying a paste on a substrate using a drawing-printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Published Application No. 64-39078. In the drawing-printing method, a vessel 10 is filled with paste 13 and kept warm by constant-temperature water 14 circulating around the vessel 10. The constant-temperature water 14 is sent from a constant temperature tank 15 by a pump 17. The paste 13 is compressed by a float 12, to which air pressure 11 is applied, and discharged through a nozzle 18, and a desired pattern is drawn on a substrate 16. This method solves the problems in the conventional screen printing method. However, when a linear pattern having a width below 100 microns is drawn by this method using the low temperature baking Ag paste and then baked at 150.degree..about.180.degree. C. to form an electrode pattern on an amorphous silicon solar cell or a microcrystalline silicon/crystalline silicon Junction type solar cell, the resistivity of the electrode pattern is higher than 5.times.10.sup.5 .OMEGA..multidot.cm, so that current generated in the cell is not efficiently taken out, adversely affecting the characteristics of the solar cell.
Furthermore, since the above-described screen printing method and drawing-printing method use a paste, a step of baking the paste is required after forming the pattern, and the baking step takes a lot of time. Therefore, the pattern is not formed with high efficiency. In addition, when a baking high temperature paste is used, there is a sudden change of temperature between the baking step and a cooling step after the baking, so that the substrate, on which the pattern is formed, is unfavorably deformed by the temperature change.

Solar cell with low resistance linear electrode


A racing game device for use with non-powered toy vehicles which are released from a starting incline and travel along independent tracks through a finish gate. Electronic starting light tower signals players for remote vehicle release which are electronically interconnected with starting lights and finish gate to indicate winner and elapsed time on a digital display. Sound effects are activated during the start by players remote release mechanism which simulates actual race car sounds.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to toy car racing tracks which simulate racing between two cars. Such racing simulations include a starting area and a finishing line interconnected by a guide track along which the toy cars travel. Specifically, this invention is directed to non-powered toy race cars known within the industry as "Hot Wheel" type cars that require an initial incline surface on which to gain momentum from the start.
2. Description of Prior Art
Prior art devices of this type have used a variety of different car track configurations emulating drag strip racing in which a pair of toy vehicles are staged and then launched down a short track to determine the fastest vehicle i.e. player based on car performance and player reaction skills, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,403,908, 3,986,717, 4,605,229, 4,715,602 and 4,876,680.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,908 a drag strip for slot cars is shown in which an electric power supply is connected to each car independently through a simulated shift lever. Photocells are used at the starting line to stage the cars which activate a starting signal light sequence. Finish photocells are used to determine a winner.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,717 discloses a method and apparatus for starting model vehicles on a race track wherein self-powered slot type cars are used. Start blocks hold the cars stationery until released by the player's activation.
A toy drag strip and starting tower is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,229 having a plurality of colored marbles within that roll down simultaneously a progressive simulated starting light display ending in a green go marble.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,602 claims a racing game apparatus with a pair of inertia powered toy racing vehicles being released from corresponding starting ramps. A trap door in each ramp allows the vehicle release lever to extend from the track to hold and then selectively release the vehicles for the race.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,680 is directed to an electric drag strip apparatus having staging light display for a photo-electric eye positioned at the finish line. A simulated tire burn-out area is featured to emulate race cars in which the tires are rapidly rotated to heat them up for better performance.


The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a pixel sensing circuit. The photoelectric conversion sub-circuit is configured to collect an incident light, and generate an electrical signal based on the incident light collected. The first resetting sub-circuit is configured to write a first power supply voltage to the signal collection point. The threshold compensation sub-circuit is configured to obtain a threshold voltage of the conversion transistor and a second controlling signal from the second controlling signal line, generate a compensation voltage according to the threshold voltage, and write the compensation voltage to the signal collection point. The conversion transistor is configured to output a current signal at the second electrode according to a voltage at the signal collection point. The selection sub-circuit is configured to output a current signal from the second electrode of the conversion transistor.

An active pixel sensor (APS) is used to convert an optical signal into an electrical signal. The active pixel sensor may include a charge coupled device (CCD) type APS and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) type APS. The CMOS type APS can be fabricated on a silicon substrate by a semiconductor manufacturing process, so that the CMOS type APS can be easily integrated into a peripheral system having an amplification circuit and a signal processing circuit.

Pixel sensing circuit and driving method thereof, image sensor and electronic device

BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


Passively measured NEO bearings are used to augment an existing navigation system on-board the platform to correct the position estimate generated by the navigation system. The technology provides only a position correction based on passive NEO sightings but is applicable to a wide variety of platforms with different maneuvering profiles and update requirements. The technology directly calculates a position error based on the current position estimate and the passively measured and estimated bearings to three or more NEOs and provides the position error to the navigation system as a correction to the position estimate. The estimated bearings are computed from the current position estimate and the known orbits of the NEOs. The position error may be calculated from a single observation of multiple NEOs, allowing for frequent updates as needed and placing no restriction on platform maneuverability.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to navigation, and more particularly to techniques for augmenting navigation with measurements of Near Earth Objects (NEOs).
2. Description of the Related Art
Long-range navigation such as for satellites, aircraft or missiles is commonly accomplished by providing an initial position, velocity and acceleration ("PVA") and attitude, using inertial sensors on-board the platform to provide inertial measurements and integrating those measurements to update a navigation PVA and attitude over time. The inertial measurements may be provided by acceleration and angular rate sensors, which may be provided in an Inertial Measurement Unit or IMU. The navigation PVA and attitude include an error component that is bounded by an uncertainty region. The uncertainty region is dependent on several factors including the accuracy of the initial PVA and attitude, the quality of the inertial sensors (which tend to drift over time), and the accuracy of the clock. Without correction, the uncertainty region of the navigation PVA will continue to grow over time.
A Kalman Filter is typically used to reduce the noise and some of the bias errors in the integrator's estimate of PVA. The noise reduction and bias corrections a Kalman Filter provides are limited to the errors that are observable with the platform's IMU and a priori knowledge of the platform's dynamics in the form of a "motion model". Kalman filtering reduces but does not eliminate the growth in the uncertainty region.
One option to improve the navigation accuracy is to use very high precision (and high cost) inertial sensors that exhibit minimal drift over time. The integrated error remains low and external correction is unnecessary. An example of this approach is found in the Minute Man Missile. Due to the high cost of the inertial sensors this approach is not viable for many platforms.
In some systems gyroscopes are utilized to directly measure attitude. This also simplifies the integration and position estimation process. Star sighting is also used to correct attitude. This technique is passive in the sense that no information passes from the star to the platform. The platform obtains the required information through the use of internal instrumentation, typically a stellar camera or telescope. An example of a star sighting augmentation is found in the Trident Missile system.
The inertial navigation system can be augmented with other instrumentation or measurements to periodically correct the navigation PVA. GPS is often used to augment inertial navigation systems. GPS is an active system in that GPS requires data to be actively sent from an external source (GPS satellites) to a receiver on the vehicle. The GPS signals can be used to provide external measurement, separate from the internal measurement system, of true position and velocity. These are in turn provided as inputs to the Kalman Filter to correct the inertial position estimates. The active transfer of data form the GPS system to the platform is often seen as a significant limitation. Many platforms must be designed and rated to operate in a GPS denied environment.
Another technique uses celestial (star) navigation to provide a correction to latitude and longitude if the altitude is precisely known. The drawbacks to celestial navigation are that the altitude must be precisely known in order to correct position and that the error in the correction itself is at best 1 km due to the extreme distances to the stars and the difficulty in obtaining a precise altitude measurement.
Another technique to augment navigation PVA and attitude uses inertial measurements combined with near earth object (NEO) sightings. NEOs are typically other Earth-orbiting satellites, and thus are much closer to the platform than stars. The Kalman filter states are extended to include the bearings to some number of NEO's. The inclusion of the NEO data in the Kalman filter improves the accuracy of the navigation PVA and attitude. This technique described in Long Duration Strapdown Stellar-Inertial Navigation Using Satellite Tracking, A. Brown et. al., IEEE 1992 requires a large number of NEO sightings over a long period of time to improve the accuracy of the navigation PVA and attitude.
This approach depends on tracking the NEOs relative to inertial space. The Kalman filter develops and updates its track estimates using angle observations from an onboard stellar camera, and ephemeris orbit data for the NEO's. The Kalman filter is fed the on-board inertial measurement data, the stellar camera data, and the NEO orbital parameters and predicts the platform's navigation PVA and attitude and the NEO positions.
Filter convergence is achieved only after there is sufficient time to observe the motion of the NEOs in their orbits. In effect the technique requires sufficient time to compare the predicted or modeled motion of the NEO positions with the observed data. As each new observation is made this comparison is used to update the motion model of the NEO and platform's PVA and attitude data. When the model prediction and the observations agree within a prescribed amount the filter is said to have converged.
The Kalman filter predicts the variance in the PVA and attitude estimates. The variance estimates are a measure of how well the model prediction agrees with the observed data, and is therefore the standard measure used to determine convergence. Experiments with these methods show that the Kalman filter requires at least several minutes, often 30 minutes to hours, to converge to obtain a precision correction. A further limitation seen in these experiments was the apparent requirement to restrict the acceleration or turns of the platform while the Kalman filter converges.

Correction of navigation position estimate based on the geometry of passively measured and estimated bearings to near earth objects (NEOS)


A terminal block includes a terminal block body, an engaging member, an elastic member, and a hook member. The terminal block body includes left and intermediate blocking portions. The engaging member is slidably provided on the terminal block body and includes a clawed operating portion, a connecting portion connected to the operating portion, and a stop block provided on the operating portion in order to be blocked by the left blocking portion. A blocking portion is formed where the connecting portion and the operating portion are connected. The elastic member is provided in the operating portion and pressed between the intermediate blocking portion and the blocking portion. The hook member includes an upper end movably connected to the connecting portion, a hooked lower end, and a pivotal connecting portion located therebetween and pivotally connected to the terminal block body. The terminal block is space-saving and features increased convenience of operation.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a terminal block with an improved rail-engaging structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a terminal block which has an improved rail-engaging structure, is space-saving, and features increased convenience of operation.
2. Description of Related Art
Terminal blocks are electronic components extensively used in a variety of machines to connect at least two power cords, control cables, or data transmission lines.
Referring to FIG. 1 for a perspective view of a conventional terminal block 9, the conventional terminal block 9 has a rail-engaging structure 91 which can slide in the left-right direction against or due to the elastic force of a spring (not shown) provided in the rail-engaging structure 91.
FIG. 2 shows a state of use of the conventional terminal block 9, in which the terminal block 9 is engaged with a rail 8. More specifically, as shown FIG. 2, the terminal block 9 is engaged with the rail 8 via the rail-engaging structure 91. To do so, the rail-engaging structure 91 is pulled outward with a tool, such as a screw driver (not shown), in order to put the rail 8 into the space thus formed. Once the rail 8 is in place, the tool is removed, allowing the rail-engaging structure 91 to return to its original position under the elastic force of the spring and thereby engage with the rail 8.
FIG. 3 demonstrates how the terminal block in FIG. 2 engages with the rail 8. In order for the terminal block 9 to engage with the rail 8, referring to FIG. 3, the entire terminal block 9 must be tilted so that the fixed side 92 of the terminal block 9 engages with the rail 8 first. Then, the entire terminal block 9 is rotated so that the rail-engaging structure 91, which is slidable in the left-right direction, is brought into engagement with the rail 8 by the elastic force of the spring.
According to above, the process of engaging the conventional terminal block 9 with the rail 8 not only is complicated and inconvenient, but also requires a large space for the engaging operation. In other words, there is still room for improvement.

Terminal block with improved rail-engaging structure


A method of treating waste matter from animals, the method comprising: a) collecting waste matter from the animals; b) inhibiting urease activity in said collected waste matter; and c) separating said urease-activity inhibited waste matter into a urea-rich fraction and a urea-lean fraction; a system for treating waste matter from animals; a urea-lean biogas fuel product; a urea-rich animal waste-matter product; a method of controlling the content of nitrogen in manure from animals; a method of reducing gaseous ammonia in stables for animals; a stable for animals; a biogas reactor system for producing biogas from waste matter from animals; a method of producing urea from waste matter of animals; a method of producing urea formaldehyde; and a method of producing biogas fuel from waste matter of animals.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method and system for treating waste matter from animals, in particular farm animals; a urea-lean biogas fuel product; a urea-rich animal waste-matter product; and uses thereof, in particular in a method of controlling the content of nitrogen in manure, in a method of reducing gaseous ammonia in stables, in a stable for farm animals, in a biogas reactor system for producing biogas, in a method of producing urea from waste matter, in a method of producing urea formaldehyde, and in a method of producing biogas fuel from waste matter.
2. Background Art
Commercial utilisation of livestock in the production of meat from e.g. pig, cattle, or sheep produces large quantities of animal waste matter to be disposed.
Present methods of disposing animal waste matter include recycling thereof through the agricultural system e.g. by storage and spreading the animal waste matter such as animal manure on land, optionally spreading it on land after treatment thereof for removing excess polluting nutrients which cannot be absorbed in the soil. However, although such treatment methods provide improved disposable waste matter having reduced amounts of nutrients such as phosphorous, nitrogen-containing compounds, and accumulating minerals such as copper, the treated waste matter is still spread on the land. Consequently, lack of land sites with suitable capacity and risks of excess fertilisation or excess manuring resulting in undesired pollution put an upper limit to the amount of treated animal waste matter that can be disposed this way. Additionally, removed nutrients and minerals in the waste matter treatment would have to be disposed.
Consequently, there is a need for a method and apparatus for disposing animal waste matter which does not depend, or does not totally depend on disposal through the agricultural system.

Method and system for treating waste matter from animals, urea-rich and urea-lean waste-matter products, and uses thereof


A memory module device for use in a high frequency operation provides for ease in synchronization. In one example, the memory module includes integrated buffers, each having first and second data ports connected to respective data buses in a point-to-point configuration, such that data input through either data port of the first and second data ports is transferred to the memory device and is simultaneously output through the other data port of the first and second data ports. The integrated buffers each further include first and second command address ports connected to respective command address buses in a point-to-point configuration, such that a command address signal input through either port of the first and second command address ports is transferred to the memory device and simultaneously output through the other command address port of the first and second command address ports.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a configuration of a high frequency DRAM module, and more particularly to a memory module device for use in a high-frequency operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In electronic data processing (EDP) systems such as a personal computer (PC), a work station, a server etc., a memory device that is a main memory is commonly configured in a module in which a plurality of DRAMs are connected with one another via a system bus. To increase the overall efficiency of the EDP system, data transfer between the memory module and a system chip set, for example a CPU etc., must occur at a higher speed.
Referring first to FIG. 1, which illustrates a block diagram of a conventional DRAM module, each of bilateral data buses (hereinafter, referred to as "DQ bus") is connected directly to each of plural DRAMs 10–17 through a connector, and a command-address bus (hereinafter, referred to as "CA bus") is connected to each of the DRAMs 10–17 equipped in the module 50 through a register 20. A memory system employing such a module has a problem in achieving greater than a 600 Mbps/pin data rate in the event that operating frequency is dictated by a 300 MHz dual edge clock, because of the "stub" connection configuration of the respective DQ buses.
To improve this limitation on the operation frequency, referring to FIG. 2, module devices 100, 200 utilize respective buffers 40, 42, 44, 46 for the DQ buses. As shown in FIG. 2, in each DQ buffer 40, 42, 44, 46, two ports PO1, PO2 are allocated to single data, and the single data input through any one of the two ports is re-driven to another port. Further, through one port, input data is transferred to the DRAM or the data output from the DRAM is externally transferred. In such a memory system in which a DRAM module is used and equipped with buffers, all data buses have a "point-to-point" configuration. Thus, these systems enjoy data transfer rates that can be increased up to several gigahertz (GHz).
However, although data operating frequency is increased in the configuration of FIG. 2, the difference in operating frequency between the data DQ and command address CA lines becomes large because the bus structure of the CA line s still in a "stub" configuration. Furthermore, a phase difference is generated, since structures of the data bus DQ and the command address CA bus are different from each other. Further, since a register and a buffer having each of process operations are independent of each other, it is difficult to achieve synchronization between the command address bus CA and the data bus DQ.

Memory module device for use in high-frequency operation


A backlight assembly apparatus, including a conductive receiving container, a flat fluorescent lamp provided over the conductive receiving container, and an insulating member positioned between the conductive receiving container and the flat fluorescent lamp to provide insulation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a display device having the backlight assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a backlight assembly capable of enhancing luminance and luminance uniformity, and a display device having the backlight assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
An arrangement of liquid crystal molecules changes according to strength and direction of the electric fields when electric fields are applied to liquid crystal. An optical transmissivity changes when the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules changes.
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device displays an image according to at least the above-mentioned electrical and optical properties. To display an image, the LCD device use an external light or a light generated from a backlight assembly.
The backlight assembly includes a light emitting diode (LED), a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), a flat fluorescent lamp, etc. The flat fluorescent lamp has higher luminance and luminance uniformity than the LED or the CCFL. However, improved luminance and luminance uniformity of the flat fluorescent is needed.

Backlight assembly and display device having the same


A cell for high temperature electrochemical reactions is provided. The cell includes a container, at least a portion of the container acting as a first electrode. An extension tube has a first end and a second end, the extension tube coupled to the container at the second end forming a conduit from the container to said first end. A second electrode is positioned in the container and extends out of the container via the conduit. A seal is positioned proximate the first end of the extension tube, for sealing the cell.

Applications such as high temperature electrolysis and high temperature batteries include a sealed container to prevent reaction of active materials with air and moisture. Conventional designs attempt to seal the entire battery cell at the container level, thus requiring a high temperature seal. In addition to sealing the cell, the seal also electrically insulates the electrodes (e.g., the top and bottom halves of the container) such that conductive seal materials are prohibited. High temperature seals typically use glass or ceramic and are designed to maintain good sealing at a narrow range of operating temperatures. The glass or ceramic composition is usually tailored to match the thermal expansion of the container material at the targeted operating temperature. As a consequence, high temperature seals are generally limited in terms of thermal cycling.
A previous cell design utilizes low temperature seals by including a large thin flange that limits thermal conduction, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,419,432 (Hesson), which is incorporated herein by reference. However, this design has a large area for thermal conduction and is not thermally efficient. Moreover, as the cell of Hesson is scaled to larger sizes, its major thermal conduction area scales with its circumference.

High temperature sealed electrochemical cell


A method, device and user equipment (UE) for transmitting multi-cell scheduling information is provided. When at least two cells are serving the UE, the method for transmitting multi-cell scheduling information includes determining a main cell of the UE from the at least two cells and transmitting, in the main cell, the scheduling information of the main cell and an auxiliary cell which are serving the UE.

In Beyond 3rd Generation/4th Generation (B3G/4G) wireless communication systems, the coordinated multi-point transmission (CoMP) technology has become an important direction in improving the overall cell performance and the performance of the edge users of the cell. In a CoMP system, a network node includes an Evolved NodeB (eNB) and an Access point (AP). Each eNB manages one or more cells, and one or more APs may scatter in each cell in a centralized or distributed form. The eNB establishes a connection with User Equipment (UE), manages the UE, and communicates with the UE through the AP.
In the CoMP system, one UE may be served by multiple cells at the same time; these cells may be managed by the same eNB, or may be managed by different eNBs. These cells are classified into main cells (serving cell) and auxiliary cells (cooperative cell), the main cells provide basic services and centralized services for the UE, and the auxiliary cells provide enhanced services and distributed services for the UE.
The fading conditions for the wireless transmission channels from the network nodes to the UE in different cells are independent from one another. In order to achieve larger scheduling gain, the system allocates the frequency resources and adjusts the links adaptively according to the frequency selection of the wireless channels, thus producing, for each cell, dedicated scheduling information specific to the cell. The scheduling information of the multiple cells serving the UE all needs to be sent to the UE. Upon the receipt of the scheduling information, the UE sends or receives data on specified wireless resources according to the information, thereby accomplishing the communication with the eNB. The scheduling information all needs to be transmitted to the UE through a downlink control channel.
However, in existing systems, when one cell is serving the UE, the cell has to send its scheduling information to the UE through its own downlink control channel. The downlink control channel only comprises therein the scheduling information for the cell, without the scheduling information for neighboring cells. However, when multiple cells are serving one UE, the differences between the channel conditions from the APs in the cells to the UE determine the parameter setting and transmission quality of the downlink control channels from the cells to the UE. When the channel condition is relatively poor, it is desired to use more wireless resources, such as frequency band, time slot, and power, to obtain a certain satisfying receiving effect, thus resulting in a reduction of resource efficiency.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method, device and user equipment for transmitting multi-cell scheduling information


A trunk organizer for the trunk cavity of a police vehicle that forces the orientation of long, stiff items typically carried within the trunk cavity of police vehicles into a transversely extending orientation. The transverse orientation of these items typically found in police vehicle trunks reduces the likelihood of a high speed rear collision driving the items through the walls defining the trunk cavity, particularly the waterfall of the trunk cavity, into the fuel tank. The trunk organizer is preferably formed from high density polyethylene with a forward panel of Kevlar affixed to the front panel of the trunk organizer to provide further penetration resistance. Translucent lids provide a ready inspection of the items without requiring the opening of a compartment. The trunk organizer is sized and configured to fit snuggly within the trunk cavity of a conventional police vehicle and permits an easy removal therefrom.

Police vehicles, such as Crown Victoria Police Interceptors manufactured by Ford Motor Company, due to the particular use of the vehicle have been involved in rear end collisions at high speeds. Police vehicles typically carry unique items in the trunk cavity, such as a hydraulic jack, a cross-spinner lug wrench, hard edge radio boxes, fire extinguishers, shovels, flares, first aid kits, etc., some of which are capable of penetrating the walls of the trunk defining the trunk cavity and puncturing the fuel tank of the vehicle. The lack of containment of these unique items within the trunk cavity can result in leakage of gasoline from the fuel tank and the result possibility of fire.
The likelihood of any particular item within the trunk cavity penetrating the walls of the trunk cavity and puncturing the fuel tank is enhanced when the items within the trunk cavity are oriented longitudinally, i.e. parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle, within the trunk cavity. The energy imparted to the items within the trunk cavity during a high speed rear end collision with the police vehicle can propel these items longitudinally within the trunk cavity and be driven into and through the forward walls of the trunk cavity and possibly into the fuel tank.
The reduction of the risk for one of these unique items to puncture the vehicle fuel tank can be attained by use of a trunk organizer that requires orientation of these items to extend transversely, rather than longitudinally. Further reduction of the possibility of puncture of the police vehicle fuel tank can be attained by providing a trunk organizer that is resistant to being penetrated by these unique items, thus maintaining these items within the confines of the trunk cavity.
Portable trunk organizers for vehicles are known in the prior art, as is represented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,242, issued to Thomas Leek on May 23, 1989, and by U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,733, issue to Garry Geeves on Dec. 5, 1989. The Leek patent is directed to a portable trunk organizer that stores items often carried in a trunk cavity, including first aid kits, flares, jumper cables, and the like. This organizer has a plurality of compartments for restraining a number of such items, and is formed with a bottom tray supported on legs on the floor of the trunk cavity and a top lid that is carried by the trunk lid for engagement with the bottom tray in an abutting relationship. The Geeves patent also teaches a compartmentalized organizer structure. Neither the Leek patent nor the Geeves patent teach that items within the trunk cavity should be transversely oriented, nor does either the Leek or Geeves patent contain any teaching for a penetration resistant organizer structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,940, issued to David Wright on Jan. 17, 1995, depicts a formed tray for disposal in the cargo area of a vehicle. The tray can be formed in a shape that will conform to the specific shape of the cargo area, such as the wheel wells, spare tire, and fuel tank, in order to prevent the tray from moving around in the vehicle cargo area. The tray contains formed sections or dividers that are sized and configured to receive boxes and other appropriate containers for carrying items within the cargo area. While the material for forming the tray and the cover therefor, are preferably formed from "high impact, strong, lightweight plastic", this material will not provide resistance to penetration during a high speed rear impact. Furthermore, the Wright patent does not contain teachings for requiring the orientation of items within the trunk in a transverse manner.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,987, issued to Sham Tickoo on Mar. 28, 2000, is directed to a tubular frame that is formed into an organizer structure on which divider plates are mounted to define compartmentalized spaces. The divider plates are transversely movable to enable the size of the compartments to be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of containers or items to be restrained within the compartments. This Tickoo patent contains no structure that requires orientation of items within the trunk cavity to be oriented transversely. Certainly, the tubular frame of the organizer structure is not puncture resistant and would not prevent or restrain items from penetrating the walls of the trunk cavity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,994, issued to Joel Ham, et al on Jun. 11, 2002, is directed to an organizer structure for utilization on the outer surface of the trunk lid of police vehicles. This Ham organizer is provided with a locking apparatus that securely stores and transports weapons, contraband, evidence, or miscellaneous personal property from one location to another. The organizer is provided with lids covering individual lockable compartments. The organizer is mounted to the exterior surface of the trunk lid through bolts which extend into the interior of the trunk cavity to secure the organizer in a manner that cannot be removed from the trunk lid so long as the lid of the organizer is closed. Ham contains no suggestions for organizing items within the trunk cavity of a police vehicle and does not incorporate any penetration resistant device into the structure of the organizer.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a trunk organizer for the trunk cavity of a police vehicle that will orient long items in a transverse manner, and will incorporate a penetration resistant member to restrain items within the organizer within the confines of the trunk cavity.

Penetration resistant trunk pack for police vehicles


A device and a method for the analysis and troubleshooting of a system, based on the use of a model of the system, with application in particular in the area of industrial installations controlled by automatic control systems of the programmed or wired logic type. The method includes a stage for initialisation of the model, and a stage for the creation of a list of discordant variables whose value in the system differs from that predicted by the model. For each of the variables belonging to a discordance list, an initial list of suspect variables, suspected of having generated the discordant value, is created, and then a restricted list of suspect variables is obtained by filtration of the initial list.

This present invention has as its subject a device and a method for the analysis and troubleshooting of a system, in particular, but not only, in the area of industrial installations. The invention is, in particular but not only, suitable for application in industrial installations controlled programmed or wired logic automatic control systems.

Device and method for a system analysis and diagnosis


The invention relates to a device for joining together at least two material flows in a laminar coextrusion machine comprising at least two extruders, more precisely as many extruders as layers of different materials used, a device for joining together the flows coming from the extruders into a so-called global flow, said device being also called a distribution box, and an extrusion head supplied by the global flow. The joining device includes a main channel wherein open annexed channels called supply channels convey the different material flows coming from the extruders, the channels being provided with means for restricting the flow passage cross-section. The supply channel connecting each extruder to the main channel is at least partially in the form of a cylindrical plug valve having means which transform a cylindrical rod into a planar sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for joining at least two material flows in a laminar coextrusion machine.
2. Description of Related Art
Extrusion machines are used to transform plastic raw material into a sheet that can then be worked.
The plastic materials known at this time have specific characteristics.
Also, there is no single plastic material which combines all the characteristics desired for a particular use.
For example, some materials have good mechanical strength while others are resistant to external factors, such as ultraviolet rays, and still others are particularly suitable for working at high or low temperatures.
In order to obtain an object having the desired characteristics, it is known to produce multilayered products by means of a process known as coextrusion.
There are two types of coextrusion, one called "manifold" coextrusion which consists of using, for each material, an extruder and as many extrusion heads as there are layers to be constituted.
These heads converge on an extrusion die where the layers are joined.
With this type of coextrusion, each material is handled separately along its entire path, which makes it possible to use extremely different materials with widely varied melting points, but operation is very complex and the material very expensive.
The other coextrusion process, which is the one to which the invention relates, is the process known as laminar extrusion.
In this process, the joining of the layers takes place in a channel disposed upstream from a single extrusion head in a tool called an extrusion box.
For this reason, the different layers must move at the same speed and continuously in order to prevent any shear.
It is therefore necessary to obtain a laminar flow in each layer.
In order to obtain and maintain this laminar flow, it is necessary to reduce the causes of disturbances, that is mainly, the losses of pressure that result in changes in the cross-section of the channels for transporting the flows and in their directions.
A laminar coextrusion unit of this type comprises:
at least two extruders and, more precisely, as many extruders as there are layers of different materials to be joined, PA1 downstream from the extruders, a device for joining the different flows issuing from the extruders into a so-called global flow, this device also being called a distribution box, and PA1 downstream from this joining device, an extrusion head supplied by the global flow. PA1 at least two extruders, PA1 a device for joining the flows issuing from the extruders into a global flow, and PA1 an extrusion head supplied by the global flow,
This joining device essentially comprises a main channel into which opens, for each material flow, a so-called supply channel connecting each end to the main channel.
In the first coextrusion systems, the flow of a first viscous material was introduced into this extrusion box in the form of a cylindrical rod which constituted the core of the product, and the other flows conformed to the circular cross-section of the flow up to its outlet, where all of the flows were then transformed into a planar sheet with the aid of a geometric transformation means.
This geometric transformation means was essentially comprised of a so-called geometric transformation channel of rectangular cross-section which was perpendicular to the axis of movement of the rod downstream from the main channel and wherein the cross-section of this geometric transformation channel increased in at least one of the two dimensions of its cross-section, and in the direction of movement of the flow, until the desired cross-section was obtained.
This geometric transformation on output is not easy to obtain given that this is a multi-component product with different viscosities and properties.
Thus, it was difficult to conform to the different tolerances of each layer.
In order to eliminate the problems of the geometric transformation of a multi-layer rod, it is known to preform each layer before they are joined, and for this reason, the above-mentioned geometric transformation means is placed in the path of each extruder flow and upstream from the point at which these flows are joined (U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,675).
Thus, extrusion devices become extremely complicated when it is necessary to equip the extruders with a multiplicity of parts designed to be removable for cleaning.
The devices are even more complicated when each supply channel of the joining device comprises means for adjusting the flow.
In the known solutions, the means for adjusting the flow essentially comprise a restricting bar which is placed across the flow in order to modify the cross-section of flow of the supply channel.
At the present time, these adjusting means are placed at a non-negligible distance from the plane in which the supply channel of the extruder in question connects to the channel for joining the flows.
Because of this situation and the means used, it is not possible to increase the number of layers, and the known solutions are generally limited to one central layer and one layer on each side.
Moreover, while the axis of the extruder of the main rod is within the axis of the extrusion, that is, horizontal, this is not the case with the other extruders whose supply is vertical, thus increasing the lengths of the channels and the number of changes of direction, which considerably increases the losses of pressure.

Device for joining at least two material flows in a laminar coextrusion machine

Extrusion de Basse Normandie-Exbanor S.A.


A circuit apparatus and method for generating multiphase clocks in a delay lock loop (DLL) at sub-picosecond granularity. The circuit and method of the invention involves locking a number of cycles M in an N stage DLL, e.g., M cycles, where M is an prime number, which results in clock edges in each cycle that are not located at the same phase locations in each of the M cycles. Any of the phase locations from any of the cycles can be used to generate a clock edge for all cycle in the system application. This requires a special technique to “lock” the DLL loop over a M cycle period instead of a one cycle period. The benefit is that it improves the clock placement granularity by a factor of M over the previous art.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to multi-phase clock generator circuits and more particularly to a novel delay locked loop (DLL) circuit providing a multi-phase clock using a same amount of delay stages in DLL but producing smaller clock spacing resolution than the propogation delay of delay stages in DLL.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Multi-phase clock is generated through delay locked loop (DLL). Spacing or resolution between these clocks are limited to the propagation delay of each stage in DLL.
FIG. 1 is a prior art DLL circuit 10 showing the current method of generating a Phase Shifted clock using a DLL. In this circuit 10, comprising a N stage DLL, e.g., N=32, the phase shift is equal to Tck/N where the Tck is the "locked" clock cycle and N is the number of stages. That is:
Tpd=Tck/N, where Tpd is limited to the propagation delay of each stage.
It would be highly desirable to provide a circuit apparatus and method of providing a phase shifted clock at sub-picosecond granularity wherein the time difference between rising clock edge appearance between each delay stage is Tpd/M, where M is equal to the number of clock cycles captured within the DLL and Tpd is the propagation delay of each delay stage.
It would be highly desirable to provide a DLL circuit apparatus and method for capturing M clock cycles where M is an odd number (greater than one) of clock cycles (e.g., 3 or 5 clocks) in the DLL.
It would be highly desirable to provide a DLL circuit apparatus and method for capturing M number of clock cycles, the number of clock cycles is a prime number greater than 1 that would provide a multi-phase clock resolution in an N-stage DLL that is less than the propagation delay of a single stage.

Sub-picosecond multiphase clock generator

International Business Machines Corporation


Computerized techniques are provided for linking digitized images of serial sections of a biological tissue sample. Linked, digitized images of the serial section are displayed on a display and manipulation of one digitized image causes other digitized images to be similarly manipulated. To link digitized images, a copy of a digitized image of one serial section is positioned over a digitized image of another serial section. The digitized image of the other serial section is visible through the copy. The copy is registered to the digitized image of the other serial section.

This invention relates generally to the analysis of samples such as biological tissue samples that are chemically stained for protein based markers, and more specifically to the use of a linking system and method for linking sets of images of the samples in such analysis.
Visual analysis of biological tissue samples often involves slicing the biological tissue samples into thin cross sections, often referred to as serial sections, to visualize structures of interest within the biological tissue sample. Serial sections are typically mounted on glass or plastic microscope slides. Visual analysis of mounted serial sections is often carried out by the naked eye (grossly) or by microscopy. In a typical slicing process, a tissue sample is dehydrated and embedded in paraffin to lend rigidity to the sample during slicing and mounting on a slide. Tissue samples are typically sliced into serial sections that are about 4–9 micrometers (μm) thick, however, other useful thicknesses are sliced. Once sliced, the serial sections are typically floated in water onto the microscope slides and moved into an appropriate location by a technician who physically manipulates the serial sections using, for example, a pair of tweezers or artist's brush. Being relatively thin, the serial sections are relatively delicate and when placed on microscope slides tend to deform by stretching, shrinking, being compressed, folding or a combination thereof Moreover, the serial sections also tend to be placed on the microscope slides in rotated positions relative to one another. Such deformations and relative rotations often add to the difficulty in cross comparing serial sections.
Serial sections of a tissue sample are typically cross-compared by histologists and pathologists, as well as others, to identify and locate the same tissue structure through the serial sections. For example, pathologists often cross compare serial sections that have been variously stained to aid in identifying and locating tissue structures of interest, such as groups of cancer cells or pre-cancerous cells. Stains of use have different affinities for different tissue structures and tend to color more intensely structures for which the stains have relatively high affinity. For example, a first serial section of a tissue sample is often stained with haematoxylin and eosin, referred to as H&E staining. Haematoxylin has a relatively high affinity for nuclei, while eosin has a relatively high affinity for cytoplasm. H&E stained tissue gives the pathologist important morphological and positional information about tissue of interest. For example, typical H&E staining colors nuclei blue-black, cytoplasm varying shades of pink, muscle fibers deep pinky red, fibrin deep pink, and red blood cells orange/red. The pathologist uses positional (e.g., color) information derived from the H&E stained tissue to estimate the location of corresponding tissue regions on successive serial sections of the tissue that are typically immunohistochemically stained. The successive serial sections may be immunohistochemically stained, for example, with HER-2/neu protein (a membrane-specific marker), Ki67 protein (a nuclei-specific marker), or other known stains. The use of such stains is well known in the art and will not be discussed in further detail.
Positional information derived from H&E stained serial sections is often crudely used to locate corresponding tissue on immunohistochemically stained serial sections. Pathologists commonly hold two or more slides up to a light and grossly attempt to judge the relative locations of structures of interest. As corresponding tissues may be distorted compared to the H&E section, and/or in a different location or orientation, position estimates may be many millimeters off leading to poor and/or lengthy-repetitious analysis.
Poor and lengthy analysis arise not only in naked eye analysis of serial sections but also in computer-aided analysis of serial sections. Images of serial sections are often digitized and stored in a computer for computer-aided analysis. Present computer-aided analysis techniques do not correct for distortions and relative rotations of serial sections captured in digital images of these sections. As a result of the distortion and relative rotations of a set of serial images captured in digitized images, using location information derived from one serial section image to locate structures in another serial section image using computer-aided techniques is a laborious process fraught with misidentification and lengthy, repetitious analysis.
Accordingly, what is needed in the fields of pathology, histology, morphology, and others are new and useful methods and tools to simplify and automate cross comparisons of serial sections. Also needed are new and useful methods and tools that provide improved positional accuracy during cross comparison of serial section images by correcting for serial section deformations and relative rotations that often arise during serial section slicing and mounting.

Linking of images to enable simultaneous viewing of multiple objects


The present invention provides methods for assessing a condition in an individual by analyzing a cerebrospinal fluid sample from the individual, for example, by spectroscopy. Further, the invention provides methods for determining an amount of blood in the cerebrospinal fluid sample; methods for determining concentrations of analytes in the cerebrospinal fluid sample; methods for determining a length of time the blood has been in the cerebrospinal fluid sample; and methods for rapidly obtaining a differential diagnosis between conditions indicated by blood in the cerebral spinal fluid. Moreover, the present invention provides instruments capable of rapidly assessing a condition in and individual by point-of-care analysis of a cerebral fluid sample from an individual.

A cerebral aneurysm is a weakened and diseased portion of an artery in the brain. When a cerebral aneurysm ruptures, the brain is bathed in blood, and a specific type of bleeding known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurs. Approximately fifty percent of patients die immediately after an aneurysm ruptures, and no test exists currently to screen people for the presence of a cerebral aneurysm. The diagnosis of a SAH is made only after an aneurysm ruptures, and the literature indicates that 23-51% of patients with a SAH are originally misdiagnosed with the average delay in diagnosis being 6 days. At present, clinicians do not possess the diagnostic modalities sufficient for assessing patients with a suspected ruptured cerebral aneurysm and a normal computerized tomography (CT) scan.
In patients with a suspected SAH and a negative CT scan, the performance of a lumbar puncture (LP) is strongly recommended. Typically, a needle is used to sample the fluid surrounding the spinal cord in LP. Collected from the patient's lumbar spine, the cerebrospinal fluid communicates with the fluid around the brain and is tainted with blood after an aneurysm ruptures. In other words, the presence of blood in the CSF raises the possibility of a SAH. The difficulty with the performance of a spinal tap is that nearly 1 in 5 of these procedures results in a "traumatic tap". This term implies the needle used for collection of the CSF penetrated a blood vessel in the patient's back prior to entering the space where the CSF is found. In these circumstances, part of the sample is the patient's CSF and a portion is from a blood vessel in the muscle, bone or a ligament of the spine. At present, no test can reliably identify the source of blood in CSF and differentiate a SAH from a traumatic spinal tap. A correct diagnosis is critical to directing patients toward repair of their cerebral aneurysm before another rupture occurs.
About 2 million people in the United States are thought to harbor a cerebral aneurysm, while an SAH affects 30,000 people per year. To detect a small or sentinel SAH, CSF analysis should be rapid and sensitive. Likewise, the specificity of CSF analysis is crucial, and the misinterpretation of a traumatic spinal tap as a SAH may lead to the treatment of an un-ruptured aneurysm. If the CSF contains zero or very few red blood cells, a diagnosis of SAH is extremely unlikely. The difficulty arises when large numbers of (red blood cells) RBC's are found. At present, no method of CSF analysis has the ability to fully direct a patient's care.
A key concept to the differentiation of a SAH from a traumatic tap is the identification of a marker for SAH. The measurement of CSF bilirubin, if collected 12 hours after the onset of symptoms, can distinguish between a SAH and a traumatic spinal tap. Furthermore, the production of bilirubin occurs over a predictable time-course and can be detected following a low volume SAH. Effectively, the presence of elevated CSF bilirubin excludes the diagnosis of a traumatic tap. Hence, methods are needed for rapidly assessing a condition of elevated CSF bilirubin in an individual suspected of having suffered from an SAH.
The determination of blood in the CSF is frequently done simply with a visual inspection for xanthochromia, a discoloration of the CSF indicating the presence of blood. This subjective and low sensitivity technique cannot determine the amount of blood in the CSF or the degradative processes that have acted on the blood. Nor can this visual inspection estimate the amount of time the blood has been in the CSF. The results of visual interpretation of spectra are qualitative in nature and depend strongly on the experience of the technicians; results, therefore, are prone to large inter- and intra-individual variation. Thus, there exists a substantial need for improved methods for analyzing blood in the CSF to assess a condition, such as a hemorrhage and methods are needed which objectively quantify spectral output and do not depend on the skills of the technician.
Similar needs existed and were developed in the field of diabetic study to quantify glucose in blood. In measurements of blood glucose, the doctors withdraw some quantity of blood and analyze it. To extract the glucose information in the presence of other constituents, spectral analysis is performed where different physiological components produce spectral signals. The main idea is to separate the glucose signals from the other dominating signals in the spectra. There have been a number of ways to find a solution for this problem using mathematical algorithms. These include, for example, the methods of principal components regression (PCR), partial least squares (PLS), and artificial neural networks (ANN).
Performance reliability and validity of the signal processing is very dependent on the quality of the data. The PLS and the ANN algorithmic models are not always dependable because they are sensitive to the changes in time and the resultant variance in data that varies with the concentration of the solution. Moreover, given their complexity they are more appropriate to implement when multiple variables need to be predicted. Other work has concentrated on using pattern recognition algorithms to extract the respective signals. It has been reported that derivative analysis of the absorption or transmittance spectra can be a useful tool in drastically improving the selectivity of a bilirubin in a mixed component sample. Others have tried to use an extension to the above model by characterizing the absorbance/transmittance curves by Gaussian peaks and then applying the first derivative algorithm. The problem with this work is that the results have been obtained in very diluted samples that are not physiologically achievable and hence have no application to assessment of a condition in an individual by subjecting fluid samples drawn from the individual to those analyses. Recent research has concentrated on the first and the second order derivative applications on the spectral signals of bilirubin and other components to analyze patterns that reflect changes that can be used in analysis. Also, other mathematical algorithms like logarithmic ratios of signals are compared to extract the wanted component. None of the above work has been applied to describe aneurysm models or SAH models.

Methods for assessing a condition by analyzing blood in cerebrospinal fluid


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining breakpoints in a media item. Methods can include determining a candidate set of breakpoints within a media item. A machine learning model is used to generate a score for each particular candidate breakpoint in the set of candidate breakpoints based on presentation features of the media item. A subset of candidate breakpoints is selected from the set of candidate breakpoints based on the score. A final set of breakpoints is selected from the subset of candidate breakpoints based on a combination of the score for each particular candidate breakpoint and a location of the particular candidate breakpoint relative to a different candidate breakpoint. The final set of breakpoints is stored in a database and during playback of the media item, a digital component is presented when the media item reaches a stored breakpoint.

This specification relates to data processing and analysis of media items.
The Internet provides access to media such as a video clip, an audio clip or a multimedia clip that are provided by a media distribution system (e.g., a search platform, a social media platform, or another platform that hosts digital contents). Users can use applications (e.g., a web browser, a native application) executing on client devices such as smartphones, tablets and personal computers to view such media items.
The digital component system may also provide digital components (e.g., content that is not part of, or originally included in, the media item) for presentation on the client device during playback of the media item. In such a scenario, the media item that is presented on the client device is paused at a particular time during the playback of the media item (referred to as breakpoint) and one or more digital components that are provided by the digital component system are presented. The presentation of the media item is resumed after the digital components have been presented or after a duration of the breakpoint has elapsed.

Generating breakpoints in media playback


A method and apparatus for detecting the absence of an activity or event during a time period D divides the time period D into N equal time sub-periods. A register is reset upon the occurrence of an event or activity. The register is incremented at the end of each sub-period and examined to determine if it exceeds the value N in which case there has been no activity during the time period D. The precision of the measurement is regulated by increasing or decreasing the value of N and the sub-periods are determined by dividing D by N.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an event occurrence driven method and apparatus of a data processing system and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for timing and monitoring inactivity periods in said data processing system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A timer is a device which can be set to furnish an interrupt or a timeout indication, at a specific time instant or after a selected time interval. Timers are required in communication systems in which protocols require supervision of a very large number of simultaneously occurring events to detect whether the events occurred within predetermined delays. Referring to FIG. 1, three operations are used to implement a timer. A START operation is requested to start the timer for a certain delay TO in order to supervise a corresponding event occurrence. A STOP operation is requested when the supervision of an event occurrence timing has to be interrupted before the expiration of the delay. However, while the timer is still running, a RESTART operation may be requested in order to delay the timing of the corresponding event occurrence by the same delay TO. A new START can be requested if the previous STOP has been performed or if the delay TO has expired and the timer has ended.
In a communication system, because the transmission of messages is very short, thousands of START, RESTART and STOP operations are requested at nearly the same time. Each time a RESTART is requested, many instructions are required from the operating system which impair the performance of the communication system.
In the prior art, each event occurrence is handled by a piece of hardware or a software program. In the case of a hardware implementation, a timing device is used in order not to interrupt frequently the processor. In case of a software implementation, the code calls the Operating System upon each event occurrence to RESTART a timer.
In the software case, great effort has been spent to reduce the CPU utilization induced by restarting the timer thereby improving the restart.sub.-- timer function performance in the Operating System. In Communication systems, this evolution is linked to the network speeds that grow much faster than processor performances. A European patent application number 92480130.1 discloses a method and an apparatus for implementing an efficient multi-users timer using control blocks which are adapted to the START, STOP and RESTART operations.
FIG. 2 shows an implementation of a hardware timing device in the prior art using a separate timer device 11 that notifies a main processor. In FIG. 2, a generic hardware system handles event occurrence 13 in an event handler machine 10. Upon each event occurrence 13, the event handler 10 raises a signal 14 that resets a hardware timing device 11. The hardware timing device 11 integrates the inactivity of signals for a period. If that period has expired (overflow), the timing device 11 interrupts the main processor 12 through an interrupt signal 15. Then an interrupt handler located in the interrupt processor 12 can now schedule the Inactivity process for that event occurrence. However, such a hardware implementation has a main drawback which is the cost of an external timing device 11.
FIG. 3 shows an implementation of a software timing device in the prior art using an interface queue 24. FIG. 3 describes a system in which each event occurrence 22 received by an event handler machine 20 generates an interrupt 23 directly to a main processor 21 or via an interface queue 24. In this implementation, the processor 21 now participates in the handling of the event occurrence 22. One of the software action during this process is to RESTART an inactivity timer by calling the Operating System. RESTART wastes a lot of processor's instructions overall when many events occur during the delay TO which degrades the performance of the communication system. For instance, previous enhancements in the Operating System (OS) of the IBM Communication Controller 3746-950 which allowed a 50% saving in the restart.sub.-- timer function path length, lead to 20% traffic improvement. In such a case, however, timers still cost another 20% of the traffic.
Therefore, in any event occurrence driven system, such as a telecommunication Network Node or any other devices that use a timer function of an attached operating system or a timing hardware device to monitor the inactivity of an event, it is desirable to avoid a request to the timer for a RESTART operation when the delay has not expired, especially when a frequent event does not occur during a very long period.

Method and apparatus for timing and monitoring inactivity periods

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus and method for effecting and enhancing wound closure in tissue is disclosed. Wounds and tissue are sealed by heating a sealant material, such as collagen, in an applicator (10) to a temperature sufficient to melt the sealant. The melted sealant is then extruded through a distal tip of an elongate shaft (22) and applied to the target site, where it cools and sets to form bonds with the underlying tissue. The heated sealant flows over the wound to create an effective barrier against further blood leakage and, upon cooling, it readily adheres to the tissue to seal the wound. In addition, since high intensity energy is not applied directly to the wound, damage or destruction of neighboring tissue is minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices, articles, and methods for effecting and enhancing wound closure in tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for heating a sealant material and applying the heated sealant to tissue to close wounds and to join severed vessels.
Most surgical disciplines are concerned with the repair of damaged tissues and vessels. Tissue damage can be the result of direct trauma to the body or as part of a surgical procedure in which there is a separation of normally continuous tissue such as blood vessels. Historically, suturing has been the accepted technique for rejoining severed tissues and closing wounds. To suture a wound, the surgeon manually stitches the surrounding tissue with a surgical needle and suturing thread, and more recently, with a variety of polymeric or metallic staples.
While suturing and stapling techniques are often successful, there are a number of limitations inherent in such mechanical approaches. The practice of suturing or stapling tissue together not only requires significant skill, but is a relatively slow process, particularly when extensive repair is required or when anastomosing tiny biological structures. Even when suturing is properly performed, however, this technique can be less than satisfactory because of the gaps which are left between the stitches and the possibility of progressive structural weakening over time. For example, the gaps leave the wound open to bacteria, producing a risk of infection. In addition, the suture needle or staples puncture the tissue, producing holes through which biological fluid may leak.
In an effort to overcome the difficulties associated with conventional suturing techniques, sutureless repairs using surgical adhesives or glues have been developed. These surgical adhesives adhere to tissue surfaces and form a bond until the tissue heals. For example, one common tissue adhesive is fibrin adhesive or glue typically containing a concentrate of fibrinogen and thrombin. These agents are mixed together to form a clot joining separated tissues, forming a biocompatible bond therebetween. Fibrin adhesive, however, is usually obtained from pooled human plasma and the threat of infection from agents such as Hepatitis "B", HIV virus or others has outweighed the benefits of obtaining commercial quantities of fibrin adhesive. Non-biological materials, such as isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate, have also been examined as potential surgical adhesives. These materials, however, are generally irritating to tissues, difficult to apply and often fail to form a permanent closure.
In another approach, electrosurgical, cauterization and cryogenic techniques have been developed to reduce the flow of blood in a wound or a surgically-induced incision. Electrosurgical procedures, either monopolar or bipolar, usually operate through the application of very high frequency currents to cut or ablate tissue structures. Cauterization involves using intense heat to sear and seal the open ends of the tissue. This heat can be generated by a variety of different methods, such as resistance heating of a metallic probe. Cryogenic techniques involve applying a cryogenic temperature to freeze the tissue, thereby discontinuing undesired blood flow. These electrosurgical, cauterization and cryogenic techniques, however, may damage or destroy the surrounding tissue leading to longer healing times, infection and scarring. Electrosurgical techniques, particularly monopolar procedures, also create the potential danger that the electric current will flow through undefined paths in the patient's body, thereby increasing the risk of unwanted electrical stimulation to portions of the patient's body.
More recently, lasers have been utilized to controllably generate high intensity optical energy that is absorbed by the damaged tissue. The heat produced by absorption of the optical energy converts biological tissue into a denatured proteinaceous substance which forms a biological glue that closes the wound. Similar to cauterization techniques, however, the high intensity optical energy in this procedure creates a substantial risk of damaging neighboring tissues.
For these and other reasons, it would be desirable to provide procedures for effectively sealing damaged tissue structures, such as torn vessels or open wounds. These procedures should be capable of forming an immediate closure of the damaged tissue to prevent further blood leakage and creating a permanent seal around the wound, while minimizing damage or destruction of surrounding tissue.
2. Description of the Background Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,854,320 and 5,140,984 describe the use of laser emitted optical energy to heat biological tissue to a degree suitable for denaturing the tissue proteins such that the collagenous elements of the tissue form a "biological glue" to seal the tissue. PCT Application WO 94/21324 describes an applicator for introducing a fluent prepolymer liquid onto a wound. The prepolymer is then heated in situ to solidify the prepolymer, thereby creating a bond with the tissue. U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,750 describes a method for electrochemically-linking collagen membranes to the damaged collagen fibrils of an animal body. U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,613, PCT Application WO 92/14513, and copending application Ser. No. 08/231,998, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, describe a method for joining or reconstructing tissue by applying energy to a tissue site in the presence of a collagen filler material. Copending application Ser. No. 08/370,552 describes the use of an inert gas beam energy source for fusing collagen and other materials to tissue for joining or reconstructing the tissue. U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,417 describes the application of laser energy to biological materials to seal anastomoses.


The present invention relates to a spread spectrum signal demodulating method whereby spread-code synchronous acquisition and carrier synchronous acquisition are performed using FFT at high speed, wherein a received signal, of which the carrier wave is modulated with a signal obtained by spectrum-spreading data with a spread code, is subjected to the FFT and the result of the FFT is stored in a first memory. The FFT result of the received signal stored in the first memory and the result of FFT of the spread code, the result being stored in a second memory, are read out and the results are multiplied to detect the correlation between the received signal and the spread code. During the detection of the correlation, a readout address of either the FFT result of the received signal or the FFT result of the spread code is shifted by an amount corresponding to a carrier frequency of the received signal and the result is read from the first or second memory. The result of the multiplication is subjected to inverse FFT, thus detecting the correlation point between the received signal and the spread code.

In a GPS system for measuring the location of a mobile unit using satellites (GPS satellites), a GPS receiver has a basic function of receiving signals from four or more GPS satellites, calculating the location of the receiver on the basis of the received signals, and informing the user of the location.
The GPS receiver demodulates the signals from the GPS satellites to capture orbital data of the GPS satellites and then derives the three-dimensional location of the present receiver from the orbits of the GPS satellites, time information, and delay time of the received signals by means of simultaneous equations. The reason why the four GPS satellites from which signals are obtained are needed is that there is an error between time in the GPS receiver and time in each satellite and the signals are used in order to eliminate the effect of the error.
A civilian GPS receiver receives spread spectrum signal waves called C/A (Clear and Acquisition) codes on the L1 band from GPS satellites (Navstar) to perform the positioning operation.
The C/A code is a signal, of which carrier wave (hereinbelow, referred to as a carrier) having a frequency of 1575.42 MHz is subjected to BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying) modulation with a signal obtained by spreading 50-bps data with a PN (Pseudorandom Noise) sequence code such as a Gold code having a transmission signal rate (chip rate) of 1.023 MHz and a code length of 1023. In this case, since the code length is 1023, as shown in (A) of FIG. 21, the C/A code serving as the PN sequence code repeats on condition that 1023 chips correspond to one period (therefore, one period=one millisecond).
The GPS satellites use different PN sequence codes as the C/A codes. The GPS receiver can previously distinguish the kinds of PN sequence codes used by the respective GPS satellites from each other. The GPS receiver also determines that a signal transmitted from each GPS satellite can be received on a predetermined location at predetermined time using a navigation message, which will be described later. Accordingly, for example, in the three-dimensional positioning, the GPS receiver receives radio waves from four or more GPS satellites which can be acquired on that location at that time and then performs spectrum despreading and the positioning operation to obtain its own location.
As shown in (B) of FIG. 21, one bit of satellite signal data is transmitted every 20 periods of the PN sequence code, namely, 20 milliseconds. That is, the data transmission rate is 50 bps. A code pattern of 1023 chips corresponding to one period of the PN sequence in a case where a bit indicates "1" is opposite to that in a case where a bit indicates "0".
As shown in (C) of FIG. 21, in the GPS, one word is composed of 30 bits (600 milliseconds). As shown in (D) of FIG. 21, one subframe (six seconds) is composed of 10 words. As shown in (E) of FIG. 21, preamble is disposed at the head word of one subframe, the preamble serving as a bit pattern which is always fixed even when data is updated. Data is transmitted subsequent to the preamble.
Further, one frame (30 seconds) is composed of five subframes. The navigation message is transmitted every one frame serving as a data unit. Information called ephemeris information peculiar to satellites is composed of three former subframes of the one-frame data. This information includes parameters to obtain the orbit of the satellite and transmission time of a signal from the satellite.
Each GSP satellite has an atomic clock and uses common time information. The transmission time of a signal from the GSP satellite is measured in seconds of the atomic clock. The PN sequence code of the GPS satellite is generated on condition that the code is synchronized with the atomic clock.
Orbital information of the ephemeris information is updated every several hours. The same orbital information is used until the information is updated. However, when the orbital information of the ephemeris information is stored in a memory of the GPS receiver, the same orbital information can be used accurately for several hours. The transmission time of a signal from each GSP satellite is updated every second.
The navigation message composed of the latter two subframes of the one-frame data denotes information called almanac information which is transmitted from all the satellites in common. The almanac information needs 25 frames to obtain all information. The almanac information comprises approximate positional information of the GPS satellites and information indicating which GPS satellite can be used. The almanac information is updated every several months. The same almanac information is used until the information is updated. However, when the almanac information is stored in a memory of the GPS receiver, the same information can be used accurately for several months.
In order to receive the GPS satellite signal and then obtain the above-mentioned data, the carrier is first removed. After that, using the same PN sequence code (hereinbelow, the PN sequence code will be referred to as a PN code) as that of the C/A code used in the GPS satellite to be received, the same PN code being prepared in the GPS receiver, the phase of the signal from the GPS satellite is synchronized with the phase of the C/A code to capture the signal from the GPS satellite. Then, the captured signal is spectrum-despread. After the phase synchronization with the C/A code is acquired and the despreading is performed, bits are detected. Thus, the navigation message including time information and the like can be obtained from the signal from the GPS satellite.
The signal from the GPS satellite is acquired by searching the phase synchronization with the C/A code. In searching the phase synchronization, the correlation between the PN code of the GPS receiver and the PN code of a received signal from the GPS satellite is detected. For example, when a correlation value of the correlation detection result is larger than a predetermined value, it is determined that both of the codes are synchronized with each other. If it is determined that they are not synchronized with each other, the phase of the PN code of the GPS receiver is controlled using any synchronizing method so as to be synchronized with the PN code of the received signal.
As mentioned above, the GPS satellite signal is a signal, of which carrier is subjected to BPSK modulation with a signal obtained by spreading data with a spread code. Accordingly, in order to allow the GPS receiver to receive the GPS satellite signal, it is necessary to acquire only spread-code synchronization but also carrier synchronization and data synchronization with the GPS satellite signal. However, the spread-code synchronization and the carrier synchronization cannot be separately performed.
In the GPS receiver, generally, the carrier frequency of the received signal is converted into an intermediate frequency of several MHz and the above-mentioned synchronization detecting process is performed using the intermediate frequency. The carrier in the intermediate-frequency signal includes a frequency error caused by Doppler shift corresponding to the moving speed of the GPS satellite and a frequency error of a local oscillator, the error being caused in the GPS receiver when the received signal is converted into an intermediate-frequency signal.
Therefore, the carrier frequency of the intermediate-frequency signal is unknown due to these frequency errors. It is necessary to search the carrier frequency. Since a synchronization point (synchronized phase) in one period of the spread code depends on the positional relationship between the GPS receiver and the GPS satellite, the synchronization point is also unknown. As mentioned above, any synchronizing method is needed.
In conventional GPS receivers, frequency search with respect to carriers and a synchronizing method using a sliding correlator+DLL (Delay Locked Loop)+Costas loop are used. This method will now be described hereinbelow.
Serving as a clock to drive a PN code generator in a GPS receiver, a clock having a frequency obtained by dividing the frequency of a reference frequency oscillator prepared in the GPS receiver is generally used. A high-precision quartz oscillator is used serving as the reference frequency oscillator. On the basis of an output of the reference frequency oscillator, a local oscillation signal used to convert a received signal from a GPS satellite into an intermediate-frequency signal is generated.
FIG. 22 is a diagram explaining the frequency search. That is, when the frequency of a clock signal to drive the PN code generator of the GPS receiver is set to a frequency f1, phase synchronization search with respect to the PN code is performed. In other words, the phase of the PN code is sequentially shifted chip by chip. The correlation between the GPS received signal and the PN code at each chip phase is detected to detect the peak correlation value. Thus, the phase at which synchronization can be acquired is detected.
In the case where the frequency of the clock signal is set to f1, if there is no phase for synchronization in searching all the phases of 1023 chips, for example, a frequency dividing rate for the reference frequency oscillator is varied to change the frequency of the driving clock signal to a frequency f2. Then, phases of 1023 chips are similarly searched. As shown in FIG. 22, the above operation is repeated while the frequency of the driving clock signal is being changed stepwise. The above-mentioned operation is the frequency search.
When the frequency of the driving clock signal at which the synchronization can be realized is detected by the frequency search, the final phase synchronization between the PN codes is performed at the clock frequency. Thus, even when there is oscillation frequency drift in the quartz frequency oscillator, satellite signals can be captured.
However, in principle, the above-mentioned conventional method serving as the synchronizing method is not suitable for high-speed synchronization. In actual receivers, in order to compensate the method, it is necessary to realize multi-channel formation and search for a synchronization point in parallel. As mentioned above, the spread-code synchronization and the carrier synchronization require long time, resulting in slow response of the GPS receiver. Disadvantageously, it is inconvenient in actual use.
For the phase synchronization for the spread codes, the improvement of the capability of hardware represented by DSP (Digital Signal Processor) realizes a method for high-speed code synchronization using a digital matched filter utilizing fast Fourier transform (hereinbelow, referred to as FFT (Fast Fourier Transform)) process without using the above-mentioned method using the sliding correlation.
However, the use of the digital matched filter needs to synchronize with the carrier of the received signal to cancel carrier components. Hitherto, in order to cancel the carrier components, information regarding a carrier frequency is derived from others through, for example, a radio network. On the basis of the information, the oscillation frequency of a variable frequency oscillator is controlled. Then, in a time domain prior to the FFT, the received signal is multiplied by the oscillation output of the variable frequency oscillator, thus canceling the carrier components.
Accordingly, in addition to a multiplier for converting a signal into an intermediate-frequency signal, another multiplier is needed. Disadvantageously, the construction for synchronization with the received signal is complicated.
In consideration of the above disadvantages, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method whereby spread-code acquisition and carrier acquisition with a spread spectrum signal such as a GPS satellite signal can be performed at high speed using FFT with a relatively simple construction, and an apparatus utilizing the method.

Spread spectrum signal demodulation method and apparatus


A method of sensing the concentration level of at least one particular electrolyte in the sweat fluid of a subject, includes providing a sweat sensor system having sweat fluid absorbing material, measuring apparatus for sensing the electrical conductivity of sweat fluid absorbed by the absorbing material and producing ionic concentration data for said at least one particular electrolyte, and a user interface connected to the measurement apparatus for interpreting the data to a user. The absorbing material is applied to the skin of the subject to cause sweat fluid thereon to be absorbed by the absorbing material whereby the measurement apparatus produces ionic concentration data for the sweat fluid absorbed and the user interface interprets the data for a user.

It is often advantageous to monitor and carry out an analysis of both the rate of production and the composition of a person's sweat while they are performing strenuous physical exertion, since such knowledge enables the individual to more accurately replenish lost sweat fluid and electrolytes. The analysis of sweat may also be useful for other reasons, such as diagnosing cystic fibrosis, since such analysis currently forms the basis on which such a diagnosis is made.

Sweat sensor system and method of characterizing the compositional analysis of sweat fluid