The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a circumferentially zoned tread including stratified lateral tread zones and peripheral sidewall extensions. The tread zones are comprised of three circumferential load bearing zones, with each zone containing a portion of the running surface of the tread, comprised of an intermedial zone positioned between and two stratified lateral tread zones together and, in addition, peripheral sidewall extensions. The intermedial and stratified lateral zones are comprised of rubber compositions having differentiated 100° C. hot rebound physical properties. The intermedial rubber zone, or layer, overlays a tread base rubber layer and underlies the lateral tread layer zones. The lateral tread zones are stratified in a sense of being separated from each other and also separated from the from the tread base rubber layer by the intermedial rubber layer. The tread includes a peripheral carbon black rich rubber layer as a sidewall extension which extends radially outward from the outer tire sidewall to thereby join a portion of the peripheral tread zone rubber layer and extends to and includes a portion of the running surface of the tread.

Tire treads for pneumatic tires typically have running surfaces of a unitary rubber composition and therefore rubber properties attributed to the tread rubber composition across the face of the tread. The tread is usually composed of a lug and groove configuration composed of ground-contacting lugs with intervening grooves between the lugs.
Tires intended for heavy duty, in a sense of carrying large loads, such as for example truck tires, are typically intended to experience internal heat generation during the service, or operation, of the tire and to experience considerable stress at peripheral outer, or lateral, portion(s) of the tread, including tread grooves contained in the tread's ground-contacting stratified lateral zones due to, for example, vehicular cornering and tire scuffing against roadside objects including, for example, roadside curbs. When such tire stress is excessive, a surface cracking of a surface of a groove wall contained in a stratified lateral zone of the tread may occur in response to the considerable stress.
The outer, ground-contacting, tread cap rubber layer is typically comprised of a relatively low hysteretic rubber composition to promote relatively low internal heat generation as the tire is used in service as evidenced by relatively high rubber rebound and relatively low tan delta physical properties to, in turn, thereby promote a low rolling resistance of the tire tread as well as extended tread shoulder groove durability.
For this invention, it is proposed to provide the outer tread cap rubber layer in a form of circumferential zones of significantly different physical properties, particularly rubber compositions of differing physical properties such as hot rebound (100° C.) properties which are indicative of hysteresis of the rubber composition and predictive of rate of internal heat generation during use of the tire and also predictive of rolling resistance of the tire. For this invention, such tread zones are provided as an intermedial rubber zone to promote lower hysteresis with resultant lower internal heat build-up across the breadth of the tire tread positioned between and underlying lateral, stratified rubber zones.
In particular, it is proposed to provide the intermedial rubber zone, which extends across the underlying tread base rubber layer, with a higher 100° C. hot rebound property, thereby a lower hysteresis property, than the stratified overlying lateral tread zones to promote a relative maximization of reduced internal heat build-up within the tread. The stratified lateral tread zone rubber composition is therefore proposed to have a relatively lower 100° C. hot rebound property, thereby a higher hysteresis. It is further desired for the lateral tread zone rubber composition to have a greater or equal, preferably greater tear resistance property compared to the intermedial tread zone rubber, particularly to reinforce tread grooves contained in the stratified lateral tread zones.
Historically, tires have heretofore been proposed having an outer surface composed of a plurality of circumferential zones of rubber compositions to promote various properties for the tread's running surface.
For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,662,123; 7,789,117; 7,559,348; 7,131,474 and 6,959,744; Patent Publication Nos. 2007/0017617 and 2009/0107597; EP0718127, EP0798142 and DE19812934.
However, it is hereby proposed to provide a tire with tread containing a plurality of circumferential zones of rubber compositions to promote significantly different physical properties to include rebound properties to therefore promote differentiated hysteresis properties together with a peripheral sidewall extension rubber layer. The differentiated rebound properties (e.g. hysteresis properties) for the tread zones is desired to promote, or maximize, a beneficially lower internal heat buildup for the tread.
In this manner then, the central portion of the tread is a dual layered composite of an intermedial tread cap rubber zone layer and tread base rubber layer. The lateral portions of the tread are triple layered composites of the stratified rubber zones, the portion of the intermedial tread zone which extends beneath and underlies the lateral tread zones and the tread base rubber layer which underlies the intermedial tread zone.
The tire tread it thereby comprised of a cooperative layered composite of the aforesaid circumferential rubber layers.
In one embodiment, tread grooves are contained in both the intermedial tread zone and the lateral tread zones. By providing the lateral tread zone rubber layers with a tear resistance property, it is intended that tear resistance of the surface of the grooves contained in the lateral portion of the tread is promoted.
In the description of this invention, the terms "rubber" and "elastomer" may be used interchangeably, unless otherwise provided. The terms "rubber composition", "compounded rubber" and "rubber compound" may be used interchangeably to refer to "rubber which has been blended or mixed with various ingredients and materials" and such terms are well known to those having skill in the rubber mixing or rubber compounding art. The terms "cure" and "vulcanize" may be used interchangeably unless otherwise provided. The term "phr" may be used to refer to parts of a respective material per 100 parts by weight of rubber, or elastomer.

Tire with circumferentially zoned tread including stratified lateral zones and peripheral sidewall extensions


The communications system has an ISDN central switching station (VSTa), to which at least one special-purpose terminal device (SE) provided with electroacoustical transducers (MIC, LS) is connected and with which a mobile set (MT) is associated. The special-purpose terminal devices (SE1, . . . , SEn) are provided with a processor (MP) and a switching unit (SWUe), by means of which a connection between a terminal device (EGx) and the mobile substation (MT1; MT2; . . . ) associated with the special terminal (SE1; SE2; . . . ) can be switched through. To set up a call from the mobile set (MT1; MT2; . . . ) via the switching unit (SWUe) to the terminal device (EGx), target addresses of the terminal device (EGx) are transferred to the special-purpose terminal device (SE1; SE2; . . . ), so that the special-purpose terminal device (SE1; SE2; . . . ) is suitable for extracting this information and switching the connection through. Means for speech monitoring and/or recording the switched-through telephone call are also provided in the special-purpose terminal device (SE1; SE2; . . . ). All the calls carried by the mobile set (MT) can therefore be listened in on at the workstation of the person carrying the mobile set. Conference calls can also be switched, or functions (call recording, alarm, etc.) can be tripped by remote control from the mobile set (MT1; MT2; . . . ) to the special-purpose terminal device (SE1; SE2; . . . ).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a communications system having an ISDN central switching station coupled, via a server module, to at least one special terminal with an electroacoustical transducer, and having at least one mobile set for establishing connections to the central switching station via base stations and associated server modules. The present invention is also directed to a method for operating a communications system having an ISDN central switching station coupled, via a server module, to at least one special terminal with an electroacoustical transducer, and having at least one mobile set for establishing connections to the central switching station via base stations and associated server modules.
2. Discussion of Background Information
The cordless telephone systems of today allow the user to conduct his conversions independently of his workstation. Systems with a base station that is fixedly assigned to a mobile set, for instance via a secret code number, normally have a range of from 30 m in buildings to 300 m in the open. Other systems have base stations arranged in various service zones, and a mobile set automatically enters into communication with a base station as soon as it enters its range. The display of relevant information, such as the called number, stored numbers, charges incurred, battery status, etc., normally takes place on the mobile sets. Based on this concept, base stations can be mounted separately, outside the site and reach of the user. From International Application WO-A 90/12469, a cordless telephone system is known in which there are fewer fixed stations than mobile sets. By way of the service features of call rerouting and call rerouting tailing, made available via the private automatic branch exchange (PABX), the change of a mobile set to the radio region of a different fixed station is updated. The base stations described in European Patent Application EP-A 0 569 061 can also be provided with various identification codes, so that a plurality of mobile sets can get in contact with one base station, or individual mobile sets can contact various base stations. For the user and his work environment, it does not matter which base station the call is routed through. Communications take place solely between the bearer of the mobile set and another user. Third parties neither gain access to call-specific data nor are capable of listening in on the speech signals transmitted or entering into a conference call. This is particularly disadvantageous if the mobile set bearer is a member of a work team within which fast, problem-free data exchange is important.

Communications system with mobile telephones and operating method


An all purpose socket disc for use in lighting fixtures and their assembly, each disc including a planar insulating member having a central aperture and a radially offset pin extending outwardly from one surface thereof adapted for cooperation with a bore in a lamp socket. An axially thick head grommet spacer means with an integral thin-walled tubular rivet projecting coaxially from a bore through the spacer and adapted to be secured through the central aperture of the planar member with said spacer extending in the opposite direction from said offset pin. The head also having means on at least one face thereof for preventing rotation relative to said disc and said lighting fixture said means insuring a positive ground with the lighting fixture. The spacer means and the diametral extent of said disc being capable of engaging the interior of said housing at radially spaced points to reinforce said housing and prevent dimpling or clacker effect on said housing when said socket and disc are assembled by screw means to said housing.

A common method of assembly of incandescent lighting fixtures is to provide an insulated lampholder housing having suitable internal conductive means for accepting a complimentary lower end of a lamp in such a stable fashion as will support the lamp and provide a source of electrical energy for the energizing of the lamp and thereby providing light. Such insulated lampholder housings, hereinafter referred to as sockets, in the normal household have metallic means for engaging the helical threads on the lower extremity of the lamp, plus, a centrally located generally spring loaded contact for engagement with a central metallic contact on the end of the lamp and insulated from said helical threads. Other configurations such as slot and pin locking means, i.e. bayonet receptacles, are also utilized.
Such light sockets are also provided with secondary fastening means, such as nuts or threaded stems, both solid and hollow, for accepting fasteners introduced from the exterior of or integral with the lighting fixture for securing the insulated housing relative to the interior of the lighting fixture and usually with the fastener serving as a grounding means. In most instances such fasteners are screw threaded members that are coaxial with the helical threads of the socket and lamp. Often over extended usage the fasteners become loosened during the relamping procedures. This results in a deleterious situation wherein the socket and lamp are loose and wobbly relative to the light fixture and can result in overheating of the light fixture, short-circuiting due to damage to insulation and wiring, general deterioration of reflective qualities of the light fixture due to mispositioning of the lamp, and elimination of ability to properly seat the lamp relative to the socket contacts during relamping, as well the possibility of destroying the grounding capability of the fastener.

All purpose socket disc for use in lighting fixtures and their assembly


The image correlation method and apparatus correlates or matches a test image with a template. The image correlation apparatus includes an image processor for partitioning the template into a number of labels, for determining the total number of pixels N.sub.T which form the template and for determining the number of pixels N.sub.i which form each of the labels i. The image correlation apparatus also includes comparison means for comparing the test image to the template. The comparison means determines, for each predetermined gray level j, the number of pixels of the test image N.sub.j,i representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to a predetermined label i of the template. The comparison means also determines, for each predetermined gray level j, the number of pixels of the test image N.sub.j representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to the template. The image correlation apparatus further includes correlation means for determining the correlation X between the test image and the template according to a predetermined equation which is based, at least in part, upon N.sub.j,i, N.sub.j, N.sub.i and N.sub.T. The image correlation apparatus can also include an address generator for creating a number of relative offsets between the template and the test image. Thus, the test image can be compared to the template at each relative offset and the relative offset which provides the greatest correlation therebetween can be determined. Consequently, the test image and the template can be effectively matched such that a preselected object designated within the template can be located and identified within the test image.

It is desirable in many instances to match or otherwise correlate a test image with a template. For example, the test image may be an image which was recently obtained or captured, while the template may be based upon a reference image obtained at some prior time. By matching the test image to the template, specific objects or targets which are designated in the template can be identified within the test image. This ability to identify specific objects within the test image which have previously been designated within a template is quite useful in a number of applications, including robotic control and other machine vision applications, automated inspection systems, automated surveillance systems and medical imagery applications. More specifically, in missile guidance applications, it is particularly desirable to automatically identify a target within a test image which has previously been designated in a template or a reconnaissance photograph.
A number of image correlation and image detection methods have been developed to identify previously designated objects within a test image. For example, a number of image correlation systems have been developed which detect edges or other boundaries within the test image. As known to those skilled in the art, edges or boundaries of objects tend to create intensity discontinuities within the test image. Accordingly, by identifying the edges or boundaries of objects, an outline of the objects can sometimes be created. Thereafter, the edge detection systems generally attempt to recognize previously designated objects based upon their spatial relationship to an edge or other boundary which has been identified within the test image.
Another common image detection method is the Hough method. The Hough method is particularly applicable if little, if any, information is known regarding the relative location of an edge or other boundary within the test image, but if the shape of the designated object can be described as a parametric curve since the Hough method is well suited to detect such curves. The Hough method, as well as other image detection methods, are described in a book entitled Computer Vision by Ballard, et al., published by Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J. (1982).
Although extensive research has been conducted to efficiently implement image detection systems, such as edge detection systems and systems based upon the Hough method as described above and in more detail in the book entitled Computer Vision, these conventional image detection and correlation systems still suffer from several deficiencies. For example, many conventional image detection methods require significant amounts of data processing and computation in order to effectively compare the test image to the template or reference image. Thus, image detection systems based upon these conventional detection methods may require a significant amount of time in order to compare the test image to the template and to identify the designated object within the test image. While the delays engendered by these lengthy comparison processes are acceptable in many applications, some applications, such as robotic control or other machine vision applications and missile guidance applications, typically require a relatively rapid comparison of the test image to the template and, in some instances, may demand a near real time comparison of the test image to the template in order to effectively identify the designated object or target.
In addition, at least some of these conventional image detection systems require the test image as well as the reference image from which the template is created to be obtained under relatively similar lighting and other environmental conditions in order to properly compare the test image to the template. These environmental conditions include, among other things, the viewpoint, i.e., the angle and direction, from which the template and the test image were obtained. If the lighting or other environmental conditions change between the time at which the reference image from which the template is created is obtained and the time at which the test image is obtained, at least some of these conventional image detection methods require that the image depicted by the template be modeled.
For example, in missile guidance applications in which the template and the test image are images of the terrain or landscape at a predetermined location, conventional image detection methods generally require the viewpoint from which the reference image and the test image are obtained to closely correspond in order to properly identify a designated object within the test image. If, however, the lighting or environmental conditions, such as the respective viewpoints, change between the time at which the reference image is obtained and the time at which the test image is obtained, the terrain at the desired location must generally be modeled from the reference image according to a manual mensuration procession. As known to those skilled in the art, the terrain at the desired location can be mensurated by constructing three-dimensional models of the landscape, including three-dimensional models of any buildings of interest, at the desired location. As also known to those skilled in the art, the construction of appropriate three-dimensional models generally requires the craftsmanship of an expert who is skilled and experienced in the mensuration process. Even with the assistance of a mensuration expert, however, the construction of the appropriate three-dimensional structures can consume hours or sometimes even days.
Once the terrain has been modeled based upon the reference image, the template can be created based upon the model in order to compensate for the variations in the lighting and other environmental conditions between the time at which the reference image was obtained and the time at which the test image is obtained. In this fashion, these conventional image detection systems can compare the template to the test image.
Conventional image detection systems also typically require the reference image and the test image to be obtained by sources of the same spectral type. For example, conventional image detection systems may require both the reference and test images to be obtained by visible wavelength sensors, such as photographic systems. Alternatively, conventional image detection systems may require both the reference and test images to be obtained by infrared sensors or by synthetic aperture radar. In any instance, conventional image detection systems generally do not permit the reference and test images to be obtained by different types or cross-spectral sources. In addition, conventional image detection systems may restrict the types, shapes, locations or materials of the objects which can be reliably designated and identified due, at least in part, to limitations imposed upon the types of sensors which can be employed to create the reference and test images.

Image processing method and apparatus for correlating a test image with a template


An emission driver, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display including the same, and electronic device are disclosed. In one aspect, the emission driver includes first through (n)th emission circuits configured to output a plurality of emission control signals. The emission circuits are connected to a display panel of an OLED display via emission-lines. The emission driver also includes a plurality of first switches configured to electrically connect the emission circuits in series when the first switches are turned on and a plurality of second switches configured to electrically connect the emission circuits in parallel when the second switches are turned on. The second switches are further configured to be turned off when the first switches are turned on and the second switches are further configured to be turned on when the first switches are turned off.

Field
The described technology generally relates to an emission driver for an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, an OLED display including the emission driver, and an electronic device including the OLED display.
Description of the Related Technology
Recently, OLED displays have become widely used as components of various electronic devices. OLED displays can be driven via different driving techniques such as a progressive emission technique and a simultaneous emission technique. Specifically, the progressive emission technique sequentially drives a scan signal to the pixels via a number of scan-lines and then sequentially drives an emission signal to the pixels via a number of emission-lines. In contrast, the simultaneous emission technique sequentially drives a scan signal to the pixels via the scan-lines and then simultaneously drives an emission signal to the pixels.

Emission driver, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display including the same, and electronic device


A technique is provided for selecting among a plurality of service models for addressing serviceable events and faults in a complex machine system. Indicators established for each of the models serve as the basis for comparison to input data acquired from the complex system or from manual or semi-automated data acquisition methods. Based upon the comparisons, and upon flexible selection criteria, one or more of the service models is selected to most efficiently address the most likely root cause of the serviceable event or fault.

The present invention relates generally to the field of mechanisms for identifying faults and serviceable conditions in complex systems. More particularly, the invention relates to techniques for improving detection, isolation and servicing of failures or serviceable events, and serviceability models used in detecting and correcting failures and serviceable events.
In a field of complex machine systems, various techniques have been employed for detecting faults or serviceable conditions and for correcting them. Early techniques were simply reactive and manual in character. That is, as a fault condition or failure occurred, technicians or service personnel carried out manual troubleshooting operations to identify where the fault may have occurred and correct the malfunction. Such systems, while adequate on simple systems generally, do not provide a highly reliable and extendable service strategy. Moreover, such approaches rely upon the experience level, skill, intuition and knowledge of human technicians and service personnel, which may very greatly both between individuals and over time.
Approaches have been made to more analytically and repeatably identify faults and serviceable conditions in reactive and proactive manners. However, existing approaches do not typically benefit from a systematic strategy for establishing a serviceability model or system, implementing the model or system, and correcting the model and system following implementation. There is a significant need, therefore, for improved systems designed to provide service to complex systems. There is a particular need for an overall service strategy approach which can be applied to complex machine systems of a wide range of types, that include many different subsystems, components, functions, field replaceable units, and so forth. The art has not as yet successfully developed a comprehensive approach to serviceability design, implementation and improvement.

Complex system diagnostic service model selection method and apparatus


In image-data recording processing performed when a video output conforms to the PAL system, a display-signal processing section receives image data having a frame rate of 30 Hz recorded in a memory, through a bus, converts the image data to image data having an NTSC frame rate of 29.97 Hz by a frame-rate conversion method in which thinning out is performed according to the ratio of frame rates, and outputs it to a display section and a codec-IC interface. The display-signal processing section also converts to image data having a PAL frame rate of 25 Hz, and outputs it to a video-output interface. In other words, image data is processed at a frame rate not related to the output, and then converted to image data having a frame rate suited for the output, and output. This invention can be used in digital cameras.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing apparatuses, image processing methods, recording media, and programs, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a recording medium, and a program, suited to cases in which images are output in a predetermined format.
2. Description of the Related Art
In digital cameras (digital still cameras, digital video cameras, and digital cameras which can capture still pictures and moving pictures), liquid-crystal viewfinders are used in stead of optical viewfinders to determine images to be captured. The digital cameras are provided with a video output terminal for outputting image data recorded inside the cameras to an external display unit, such as a television receiver, to display captured images.
Video output formats include the format of the National Television System Committee (NTSC) system and the format of the Phase Alternating Line (PAL) system. The NTSC system is a color television signal system standardized in 1953, has 525 (60 fields) scanning lines, a frame rate of 29.97 frames/second, and an aspect ratio of 3:4, and is mainly used in the United States of America and Japan. The PAL system is a color television signal system proposed in 1962 in West Germany, has 625 (50 fields) scanning lines, a frame rate of 25 frames/second, and an aspect ratio of 3:4, and is mainly used in Western European countries except France.
Since the whole processing of conventional digital cameras is driven by a reference clock signal conforming to the frame rate of the NTSC or PAL system according to the video output format, images in the NTSC or PAL system are displayed on the liquid-crystal viewfinders.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional digital camera 1. In the figure, solid lines indicate image signal transfer, dotted lines indicate control-signal transfer, one-dot chain lines indicate code-signal transfer, and two-dot chain lines indicate synchronization-signal transfer.
An image signal captured by a charge coupled device (CCD) camera section 11 is converted to a digital signal by an A/D conversion section 12, and input to a signal processing section 13. The signal processing section 13 applies processing, such as gamma processing and processing for converting an RGB signal to Y/Cb/Cr signals, to the input signal, and sends processed image data to a memory controller 14.
The memory controller 14 writes the input image data into a memory 19 through a bus 16, and sends image data written into the memory 19, through the bus 16 to an image compression processing section 17 or a resolution conversion processing section 18 for processing and records processed data into the memory 19, under the control of the central processing unit (CPU) 15. The memory controller 14 also sends image data processed by the signal processing section 13 or image data processed by the image compression processing section 17 or the resolution conversion processing section 18, if necessary, and recorded in the memory 19 to a display-signal processing section 20 through the bus 16, and reads the image data through the bus 16 and outputs to a drive 23.
The CPU 15 controls the operation of the digital camera 1. The CPU 15 receives a reference timing signal from a synchronization-signal generation section 31, described later, and generates control signals for controlling the operations of the signal processing section 13, the memory controller 14, and the display-signal processing section 20 and outputs them.
The image compression processing section 17 applies compression encoding (software encoding) to received image data according to a predetermined compression encoding method, such as JPEG. The resolution conversion processing section 18 applies horizontal or vertical image-resolution conversion processing to received data.
The display-signal processing section 20 receives image data recorded in the memory 19, through the bus 16, and converts the image data to a signal suited when it is output to a display section 21 and displayed, or to a signal suited when it is output to an external unit through a video output interface 22, according to a reference signal generated by a synchronization-signal generation section 31 disposed inside the display-signal processing section 20. The reference signal generated by the synchronization-signal generation section 31 is sent to the CCD camera section 11, to the signal processing section 13, and to the CPU 15.
The display section 21 is formed, for example, of a liquid crystal panel, and displays image data having a predetermined display format (such as that of the NTSC or PAL system), sent from the display-signal processing section 20. The video-output interface 22 is connected to an external unit by a predetermined interface form, and outputs to the external unit, image data having a predetermined display format (such as that of the NTSC or PAL system), sent from the display-signal processing section 20. The video-output interface 22 may be connected to the external unit by wire or by radio.
The memory controller 14 is connected to the drive 23, if necessary. A magnetic disk 41, an optical disk 42, a magneto-optical disk 43, or a semiconductor memory 44 is mounted to the drive 23. By the processing of the memory controller 14, for example, an image compressed by the image compression processing section 17 is sent and recorded in one of the above-described recording media.
In image capturing, a signal input from the CCD camera section 11 is converted to a digital signal by the A/D conversion section 12, and input to the signal processing section 13. The signal processing section 13 applies processing, such as gamma processing and processing for converting an RGB signal to Y/Cb/Cr signals, to the input signal, and sends processed image data to the memory controller 14. When the image size is changed, the image data is sent to the resolution conversion processing section 18 through the bus 16 by the processing of the memory controller 14, horizontal and vertical image conversion is executed, and converted data is recorded in the memory 19 through the bus 16 by the processing of the memory controller 14.
When the image data is recorded in a recording medium mounted to the drive 23, the image data is sent to the image compression processing section 17 through the bus 16 by the processing of the memory controller 14, and compressed by a predetermined compression encoding method, such as JPEG. The compressed image data is output to the drive 23 and recorded in the recording medium, such as the magnetic disk 41, the optical disk 42, the magneto-optical disk 43, or a semiconductor memory 44, by the processing of the memory controller 14.
When moving pictures are captured, the image signal captured by the CCD camera section 11 and processed by the A/D conversion section 12 and the signal processing section 13 is recorded in the memory 19 in units of frames by the processing of the memory controller 14. The memory controller 14 is controlled by the CPU 15, and sends the image signal recorded in the memory 19 to the image compression processing section 17. The image compression processing section 17 compresses the received image signal according to the frame-rate specification (for example, 15 frames/second or 16.6 frames/second) of the moving pictures. More specifically, the image compression processing section 17 compresses the received image signal to images each having 66.6 milliseconds when the frame-rate specification is 15 frames/second, or compresses the received image signal to images each having 60 milliseconds when the frame-rate specification is 16.6 frames/second. The compressed image data is written into the memory 19 or a recording medium mounted to the drive 23, by the processing of the memory controller 14.
The timing reference used in the above-described processing is a vertical synchronization signal VD generated by the synchronization-signal generation section 31 of the display-signal processing section 20. This signal is input to the CPU 15 and to the signal processing section 13, and serves as the reference for necessary signal processing and the processing of the CPU 15.
Conventionally, this reference timing (vertical synchronization signal VD) is generated based on the frame rate of the format (for example, the format of the NTSC or PAL system) of the video signal output from the video output interface.
In many cases, the liquid-crystal panel of the display section 21 used for the liquid-crystal viewfinder has 240 scanning lines according to the NTSC system. In digital still cameras which use such a liquid-crystal panel and operate according to the PAL system, the scanning lines are thinned out to display images on the liquid-crystal panel.
When PAL images are displayed on a liquid-crystal panel having scanning lines according to the NTSC system, since the scanning lines are thinned out, the image quality deteriorates. In such a case, if on-screen-display (OSD) character information is included in a display content, a part of characters may be missing due to thinning out of the scanning lines.
As the performance of CCDs, image capturing devices, has advanced these days, it is demanded that a frame rate and image quality be improved when moving pictures are displayed. As described above, in the conventional digital camera 1, the vertical synchronization signal VD generated according to the format of a video output serves as the processing reference. Therefore, the CCD camera section 11, the signal processing section 13, and the CPU 15 operate at timing based on the NTSC or PAL system according to the format of the video output.
When the processing reference is based on the NTSC or PAL system, however, it is not preferred that the two formats be used in terms of commercial products. In addition, a need to process image data having different frame rates when moving pictures are captured should be avoided. Therefore, in conventional digital cameras, image processing is performed at a PAL frame rate of 25 frames/second, which is the lower frame rate. Even in NTSC operations, images are processed at a frame rate of 25 frames/second. In other words, a high frame rate cannot be implemented.
When a compressed file of a moving picture is generated by software by the processing of the image compression processing section 17, it is difficult to synchronize images with sound at a frequency of 29.97 Hz based on the NTSC system. Therefore, when the image compression processing section 17 actually performs encoding by software, a frame rate (such as 15 frames/second, 16.6 frames/second, or 30 frames/second) which is not based on the NTSC system is used.
When the image compression processing section 17 performs encoding by software, since high compression with the use of motion vectors cannot be executed, the bit rate cannot be largely reduced and high image quality cannot be obtained. When software processing is used for encoding, the same reference timing needs to be used both in capturing mode and reproduction mode.
To capture and record moving pictures with high quality, it is preferred that a special codec integrated circuit (IC) be used for encoding. In these days, many special codec ICs suited to capture and record moving pictures with high quality have been developed and made commercially available.
The already made commercially available codec ICs have been designed so as to operate in the NTSC or PAL system according to the conventional video output. When the codec ICs are used, since the cost increases, systems which allow a method in which software is used for high-frame-rate encoding and a method in which special codec ICs are used for high-image-quality encoding to be both used have been demanded. If both encoding methods can be used in a system, the system can handle either a video camera structured without a codec IC or a video camera structured with a codec IC, according to cost and quality requirements. Specifically, video cameras which can be connected to codec ICs can be structured.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, recording medium, and program


In some aspects, the disclosure provides methods for modulating mitochondrial transport of serine in a cell, the methods comprising modulating expression or activity of one or more sideroflexins. In some aspects, methods of identifying agents that modulate sideroflexin expression or activity are provided. In some aspects, methods of treating cancer are provided.

The one-carbon metabolism pathway generates reactive one-carbon units used in the biosynthesis of nucleotides, proteins, and lipids. Flux through the pathway is especially critical in rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells, and not only generates biomass, but also maintains redox homeostasis and epigenetic gene regulation.
One-carbon metabolism is compartmentalized ((1,2)) with at least one isozyme for each step in the pathway in the cytosol and in mitochondria. In proliferating cells, mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism supplies the majority of one-carbon units for purine synthesis and methylation reactions (3-12) and enzymes in the mitochondrial branch of the pathway are highly expressed in cancer cells (13-15).
The amino acid serine is the major one-carbon donor in most organisms and its contribution to cellular biomass is estimated to be second only to glutamine (16). Serine enters mitochondria, where it is oxidized by serine hydroxymethyltransferase-2 (SHMT2) to glycine and 5,10-methylene-THF (tetrahydrofolate), which is further converted to formate by methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase-2/2L (MTHFD2/MTHFD2L) and MTHFD1L. Formate then exits mitochondria and is fixed in the cytosol by MTHFD1 to regenerate one-carbon units needed for nucleotide synthesis. While the import of serine into mitochondria is a critical step in the generation of one-carbon units, how it enters mitochondria is not known (3, 17-20).

Sideroflexins as mitochondrial serine transporters

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research


A ceramic body, as well as a method for making the same, wherein the ceramic body contains aluminum oxynitride and whiskers, (and optionally) one or more of titanium carbonitride, and/or alumina, and/or zirconia, and/or other component(s).

The present invention pertains to a whisker-reinforced ceramic and a method for making the same. More specifically, the invention pertains to a whisker-reinforced ceramic that contains aluminum oxynitride, and optionally, other materials, and a method for making the same.
Whisker-reinforced materials such as, for example, whisker-reinforced ceramics have been known for some time. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,345 to Wei describes a silicon carbide whisker-reinforced alumina ceramic material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,277 to Rhodes et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,757 to Rhodes et al. each disclose a ceramic cutting tool wherein the ceramic is a silicon carbide-whisker-reinforced alumina.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,896 to Augustine discloses a coated ceramic cutting tool wherein the ceramic contains silicon carbide whiskers. According to the Augustine patent, there is a listing of many ceramics suitable for use as a whisker-reinforced ceramic. These ceramics include, among many, alumina, titanium carbonitride, zirconium oxide and aluminum oxinitride.
Further, European Patent No. 0 247 630 B1 to NGK Spark Plug pertains to a ceramic material that is useful as a cutting tool. The ceramic substrate is based on a matrix composed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, AlN, AlON, 3Al2O3.2SiO2 (mullite) and TiC, and the substrate further comprises 5 to 50% by weight of SiC whiskers with respect to said substrate.
European Patent No. 0 861 219 B1 to Kennametal Inc. (as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,390 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,213 B1 to Mehrotra et al. that are assigned to Kennametal Inc.) discloses titanium carbonitride-alumina-silicon carbide whisker ceramics. In these ceramics, the titanium carbonitride is the dominant matrix component.
While the above ceramic materials exhibit satisfactory properties, at least in certain situations, there still remains the need to develop new and useful ceramic materials. This is especially true for ceramic materials that are useful as cutting tools.
Heretofore, in experimental work done in the in-house facilities of Kennametal Inc. of Latrobe, Pa. 15650 USA (the assignee of the present patent application), the inventors have considered the use of aluminum oxynitride as a component of a ceramic material useful as a cutting tool. Aluminum oxynitride has mechanical properties that are similar to those of alumina, but it has a higher strength and a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than alumina. In light of these properties, the inclusion of aluminum oxynitride in a ceramic was thought to improve its thermal shock resistance. It was believed that the principal failure mechanism of alumina-silicon carbide whisker reinforced ceramic cutting tools in turning nickel-based high temperature alloys was depth-of-cut notch. There was the belief that this failure mechanism, i.e., depth-of-cut notch, was related to the thermal shock resistance and the impact strength of the cutting tool material.
Still in experimental work the inventors did in the past in the in-house facilities of Kennametal Inc., the typical way to make a ceramic material that contained aluminum oxynitride and silicon carbide whiskers was to use alumina and aluminum nitride as a part of the starting components. These starting components were hot-pressed at temperatures on the order of about 1950 degrees Centigrade. It was found that by hot pressing this powder mixture containing aluminum nitride and silicon carbide whiskers at temperatures on the order of about 1950 degrees Centigrade, the aluminum nitride and the silicon carbide whiskers formed a solid solution that caused a strong interface there between. This interface prevented whisker pull-out, i.e., pull-out of the silicon carbide whiskers from the ceramic matrix. The absence of whisker pull-out resulted in the degradation of the performance properties of the ceramic cutting tool.
In regard to whisker pull-out, U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 34,446 to Wei sets forth a discussion of whisker pull-out at Column 2, lines 30 through 53:
The use of the single crystal whiskers in the ceramic composite provide a significant improvement in the fracture toughness of the composite due to their ability to absorb cracking energy. More specifically, in a ceramic matrix where the SiC whisker-matrix interface sheer strength is relatively low as provided by radial tensile stresses across the whisker-matrix bond a process termed "whisker pull-out" occurs during cracking to absorb the cracking energy and effectively reduce the tendency to crack and also inhibit crack propagation. Whisker pull-out occurs as the matrix is subjected to crack-forming stresses. As the crack-front propagates into the composite many of the whiskers which span the crack line and extend into the ceramic matrix on opposite sides of the crack must be either fractured or pulled out of the matrix in order for the crack to grow or propagate through the ceramic. Since the single crystal SiC whiskers possess sufficient tensile strength so as to resist fracturing they must be pulled out of the matrix for the crack to propagate. As these whiskers are pulled out of the matrix they exhibit considerably bridging forces on the face of the crack and effectively reduce the stress intensity at the crack tip so as to absorb the cracking energy.
In experimental work done by the inventors in the in-house facilities of Kennametal Inc., when titanium carbonitride was a component in the starting powder, along with aluminum nitride and alumina and silicon carbide whiskers, it was found that the titanium carbonitride and the silicon carbide considerably delayed the formation of the aluminum oxynitride. In order to overcome this consequence, the hot-pressing temperature had to be raised to such a level that the silicon carbide whiskers suffered damage.
In experimental work done by the inventors in the in-house facilities of Kennametal Inc., it was also found that when using aluminum nitride and alumina to form the aluminum oxynitride, it was difficult to control the final composition of the ceramic. More specifically, this was due to the difficulty associated with controlling the amount of aluminum oxynitride produced when using aluminum nitride and alumina in the starting powders.
Thus, it can be seen that it would be highly desirable to provide an improved whisker-reinforced ceramic material, and especially a whisker-reinforced ceramic material useful as a cutting tool, that contains aluminum oxynitride.
It can also be seen that it would be highly desirable to provide an improved whisker-reinforced ceramic material, and especially a whisker-reinforced ceramic material useful as a cutting tool, that contains aluminum oxynitride wherein the whiskers exhibit satisfactory pull-out which can be considered to be satisfactory crack-bridging pull-out from the ceramic matrix.
Further, it can be seen that it would be highly desirable to provide an improved whisker-reinforced ceramic material, and especially a whisker-reinforced ceramic material useful as a cutting tool, that contains aluminum oxynitride wherein the hot-pressing of the powder mixture occurs at a temperature low enough so as to not damage the silicon carbide whiskers and minimize the grain growth of the aluminum oxynitride.
Finally, it can be seen that it would be highly desirable to provide an improved whisker-reinforced ceramic material, and especially a whisker-reinforced ceramic material useful as a cutting tool, that contains aluminum oxynitride wherein there is control over the amount of aluminum oxynitride in the ceramic.

Whisker-reinforced ceramic containing aluminum oxynitride and method of making the same


An apparatus for gripping tubular members in a single or multi-string arrangement about their outer diameter without causing surface damage or structural deformation to the tubular members, so that they may be axially rotated or secured against axial rotation. A generally cylindrical internal sleeve is contained within a molded flexible liner. One side of the internal sleeve is releasably attached to the flexible liner, forming an annular bladder-like structure within the flexible liner. Introduction of pressure into the bladder-like structure causes the flexible liner to inflate radially inward causing the flexible liner and torque transmitting bushing to thereby grip the tubular work piece within the new improved friction grip. Movable anti-extrusion rings at the axial edges of the flexible liner prevent deformation of the liner into the annular space between the outer sleeve of the new improved friction grip and the tubular, and also prevent wear between the axial edges of the liner and the edges of the outer sleeve. An additional, non-rigid sleeve, or coating, of friction enhancing material may be placed on the inner face of the torque transmitting bushing to increase the frictional characteristics of the new improved friction grip and/or increase service life of the surface of the torque transmitting bushing. The new improved friction grip may be made of two, or more, hingedly connected sections, and has a small enough outside diameter to be mounted side-by-side with an identical second grip in a multi-pipe string arrangement without deflecting the pipe.

In well drilling and production operations, equipment for running and retrieving multiple pipe strings is typical. In order to grip the tubulars for the purpose of axially rotating or securing the tubulars against axial rotation, a gripping type device is used. Many of these devices utilize gripping means which cause surface or structural damage to the tubular being gripped. Even minor damage to the surface of the tubular, may result in a premature leak or rupture.
Prior art devices which have reduced the tendency to damage the tubulars being gripped have been relatively complicated in design, and too large for dual string operations. In order to install these devices in a dual string arrangement, the tubulars must be deflected from their normal centerline. This results in damage to the tubular members.
Hitherto, prior art means for gripping tubular members has been by the use of gripping means which result in damage to the surface of the tubular member, or a complicated design which may result in pipe damage when installed in a dual string arrangement. Therefore, the prior art has not disclosed a grip, which does not score or damage the outside diameter of the pipe, nor which may be easily used with an identical second device in a dual string application.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a new improved friction grip for gripping tubular goods by means of frictional engagement only.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a new improved friction grip with a flexible gripping surface to compensate for manufacturing irregularities of tubulars.
For the foregoing reasons there is a need for a new improved friction grip with lowered gripping (radial) forces per unit of contact area.
For the foregoing reasons there is a need for a new improved friction grip which provides a simpler and lower maintenance internal structural design.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a new improved friction grip that can easily be used in a dual string application without damage to or deflection of the tubular member, or which requires modification of traditional torque transfer equipment.
The new improved friction grip apparatus, for gripping tubular goods, without causing surface or structural damage, is characterized by a generally cylindrical outer sleeve; a flexible liner disposed inside of the outer sleeve; an annular bladder-like structure disposed within the flexible liner; an inner sleeve disposed within the flexible liner; a torque transmitting bushing for the distribution of rotary forces throughout the bladder-like structure; a means for introducing fluid pressure into the bladder-like structure; anti-extrusion rings to prevent deformation of the liner into the annular space between the outer sleeve and tubular member within the new improved friction grip; and, an inner lining or coating of friction enhancing material.
The new improved friction grip is installed around the circumference of the tubular to be gripped, then a controlled amount of fluid pressure is introduced into the bladder-like structure. Initial introduction of pressure causes the flexible liner to expand radially inward and drive the friction sleeve and inner face of the flexible liner into contact with a tubular member.
Further introduction of fluid pressure into the bladder causes the flexible liner and friction sleeve to thrust against the tubular with increased radial pressure. By controlling the amount of fluid pressure introduced into the bladder the lowest amount of radial force necessary to produce adequate torquing (frictional force) can be selected.
Once the new improved friction grip has been engaged with fluid pressure, rotary torque is applied to the outer sleeve by various conventional means (tongs, pipe wrenches, etc.). The torque applied to the outer sleeve is transmitted through the outer sleeve, torque transmitting bushing, and flexible liner to the gripped pipe.
When the tubular work piece has been sufficiently tightened, external torque is removed from the new improved friction grip and fluid pressure in the bladder-like structure released. Upon release of the fluid pressure the flexible liner elastically retracts from contact with the work piece and the new improved friction grip is removed. The new improved friction grip may be made in two (or more) hingedly connected sections to facilitate installation on, or removal from, tubular goods.

Apparatus for gripping oilfield tubulars without causing damage to such tubulars

Frank""s Casing Crew and Rental Tools, Inc.


Compounds having the formula I: ##STR1## are inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis. These compounds are useful as anti-asthmatic, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective agents. They are also useful in treating diarrhea, hypertension, angina, platelet aggregation, cerebral spasm, premature labor, spontaneous abortion, dysmenorrhea, and migraine.

European Patent Applications 166,591 and 275,667 disclose a series of indole-based compounds with activity as prostaglandin antagonists and inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis respectively. In EP 181,568 and EP 200,101 are disclosed a series of compounds, containing two aromatic nuclei, which are described as possessing activity as lipoxygenase inhibitors. In EP 279,263 is disclosed a series of indoles, benzofurans and benzothiophenes which are described as possessing activity as lipoxygenase inhibitors. U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,733 describes novel indolinones which are antithrombotic and inhibit both phosphodiesterase and tumor metastasis. The chemical preparation of quinolylindoles is referred to by Sheinkman, et al., Chem. Ab., Vol. 67, 54017 (1967), without mentioning any utility for such compounds. A number of N-acyl derivatives of indole-3-acetic acid are described as potential anti-inflammatory agents by Biniecki, et al., Chem. Ab., Vol. 98, 197936 (1983), by Pakula, et al., Chem. Ab., Vol. 105, 190835 (1986), and in British Pat. Spec. 1,228,848.
EP 419,049 (Mar. 27, 1991) teaches (quinolin-2-ylmethoxy)indoles as inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis.

(hetero-arylmethoxy)indoles as inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis


A method of manufacturing a hot-cathode element which consists of a rare-earth-oxide-doped refractory metal, notably thoriated tungsten, and which also contains carbon components, first a plurality of layers of the hot-cathode element being successively deposited on a substrate member (2) by means of a CVD process, after which notably the hot-cathode element is separated from the substrate member (2). The strength required for further working of the hot-cathode element is improved in that in the course of the CVD process decarburizing intermediate treatments are performed, the hot-cathode element being carburized during an aftertreatment.

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a hot-cathode element from a rare-earth-oxide-doped refractory metal where initially a plurality of sub-layers of the hot-cathode element are successively deposited on a substrate member by means of a CVD process. The invention also relates to a cathode ray tube comprising such a hot-cathode element.
A method of this kind is described in EP-A-0204 356. Therein, during a plasma-activated CVD coating (PCVD) of an inner surface of a substrate cylinder, tungsten carbide (W.sub.2 C) is also introduced into a hot-cathode element consisting of thoriated tungsten. Because of the C-content, during and after the later activation of the hot-cathode element during operation, the formation and sustenance of an approximately monatomic film of thorium on the surface of the hot-cathode element at comparatively low temperatures of approximately 2000K is stimulated. The W.sub.2 C which is important for the operation of a thoriated tungsten cathode ensures that metallic thorium is released via the reaction ThO.sub.2 +2W.sub.2 C.fwdarw.Th+4W+2CO.uparw. and is diffused along the grain boundaries to the surface where it supplements the essentially monatomic Th film deposited at that area. On the other hand, the carbon content causes embrittlement of the hot-cathode element, so that it must be very carefully handled in order to avoid fractures.

Method of manufacturing a hot-cathode element


Recovery systems and methods for sustaining the operation of a plurality of networked computers (20a, 20b) in the event of a fault conditions are described. The basic recovery system comprises a plurality of virtual machines (31a, 31b) installed on a recovery computer (30), each virtual machine being arranged to emulate a corresponding networked computer, and the recovery computer being arranged, in the event of a detected failure of one of the networked computers, to activate and use the virtual machine which corresponds to the failed networked computer (20). The recovery computer (30) may be located on the same network (12) as the networked computers (20), or alternatively on a remotely located local network in case of failure of the entire local network (12).

Enterprises around the world require ways to protect against the interruption of their business activities which may occur due to events such as fires, natural disasters, or simply the failure of server computers or workstations that hold business-critical data. As data and information may be a company's most important asset, it is vital that systems are in place that enable a business to carry on its activities such that the loss of income during system downtime is minimised, and to prevent dissatisfied customers from taking their business elsewhere.
To achieve business continuity, it is necessary for such a system to be tolerant of software and hardware problems and faults. This is normally achieved by having redundant computers and mass storage devices such that a backup computer or disk drive is immediately available to take over in the event of a fault. Such a technique is described in Ohran et al., International patent application WO 95/03580. This document describes a fault-tolerant computer system that provides rapid recovery from a network file server failure through the use of a backup mass-storage devices. There are, however, a number of reasons why the techniques used by Ohran and others may be undesirable.
As can be seen from the Ohran, each server requiring a fault-tolerant mode of operation must be backed up by a near-duplicate hardware and software architecture. Such one-for-one duplication may make it infeasible and uneconomic to run a redundant network file server instead of a normal network file server. Further, the need for a redundant network to be continuously on-line to ensure that it is updated at the same time as the normal network server renders its use as an off-line facility for testing infeasible. In addition to this, the majority of redundant networks are unable to provide protection against application failure and data corruption because they either use a common data source (e.g. the same disks) or they use live data. Also, the majority of redundant networks are unable to provide for test and maintenance access without the risk of either network downtime or loss of resilience of the network.
The present invention aims to overcome at least some of the problems described above.


A method for providing passenger accountability for airports and other mass transit facilities is disclosed. In operation, a check-in agent receives information identifying a passenger seeking to board a commercial carrier. The passenger is designated as checked-in, and then the present system may use a frequent flyer card or a boarding pass to monitor a location of the checked-in passenger prior to boarding the commercial carrier.

Most airport security systems provide physical security through airport security patrols and monitoring, badging and security doors. Control of airport employees is included with stringent security checks prior to employment. A second layer of airline baggage security is provided using manual search, traveler questioning and matching, and an assortment of detection hardware. Historically, traveler screening has been performed by visual identification with a traveler provided picture government ID card or passport, metal detectors and carry on baggage checks. Given the ease with which these ID cards can be fraudulently made, and after the Sep. 11, 2001 terrorist acts, a more reliable means for traveler screening is required.
Examples of U.S. Patents on airport security and baggage accountability are PCT No. WO 02/29744 A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,993,068 and 6,158,658. PCT publication number WO 02/29744 discloses an ingress/egress control system for airport concourses and other access controlled areas wherein a series of security portals are arranged to provide additional screening for persons suspected of carrying prohibited items. The system fails to teach or disclose an airport security system that is adapted to communicate with external databases to identify wanted criminals or other persons of interest, prior to their boarding a commercial carrier. The system also fails to disclose the capability to monitor the movements of passengers while in the airport terminal. Nor does it disclose a system capable of retrieving an immutable image (facial image or digital fingerprint) of the traveler and correlating that image to the traveler's baggage.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,658 discloses a system and method for matching passengers and their baggage. One embodiment of the invention includes a reader for scanning the passenger's boarding pass before the passenger is permitted to board the commercial carrier. The system then compares the boarded passengers' passenger identifiers to the passenger identifiers generated at check-in to identify passengers who checked baggage but failed to board the commercial carrier. Having these passenger identifiers enables a baggage handler to find the positive passenger bag matching identifiers corresponding to the unboarded passengers. From the positive passenger bag matching identifiers, the baggage handler may recover the image of the unboarded passenger's baggage, thereby allowing the checked baggage to be located visually and removed from the commercial carrier. The system fails to teach or disclose an airport security system that is adapted to communicate with external databases to identify wanted criminals or other persons of interest, prior to their boarding a commercial carrier. The system also fails to disclose the capability to monitor the movements of passengers while in the airport terminal. Nor does it disclose a system capable of retrieving an immutable image (facial image or digital fingerprint) of the traveler and correlating that image to the traveler's baggage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,068 discloses an unforgeable personal identification system. One embodiment of the identification system includes an apparatus for generating encrypted physically immutable identification credentials of a user that are stored on a portable memory device. A remote access control site first reads the encrypted identification credentials from the portable memory device. Next, the user has his actual physical characteristics input to the access control site via a physical trait input device. Lastly, the identification credentials input directly from the user and those input via the portable memory device are compared. If the comparison is successful, the requested access is granted to the user. Otherwise, the requested access is denied by the remote access control site. The system fails to teach or disclose an airport security system that is adapted to communicate with external databases to identify wanted criminals or other persons of interest, prior to their boarding a commercial carrier. The system also fails to disclose the capability to monitor the movements of passengers while in the airport terminal.
What is therefore desired is an airport security system that is adapted to communicate with external databases to identify wanted criminals or other persons of interest, prior to their boarding a commercial carrier. It is also desirable to provide a system and method for monitoring the movements of passengers while in the airport terminal.

Method and apparatus for providing heightened airport security


An arrangement is described for compensating intra-channel nonlinearities in an optical communications system which combines optical dispersion compensation with electronic pre-distortion (EPD). EPD with moderate lookup table size can effectively suppress intra-channel nonlinearities over optical transmission links incorporating optical dispersion compensation. The arrangement can be implemented for a variety of optical communications systems, including 10 Gb/s, 40 Gb/s and higher bit rate systems as well as single-channel and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems.

The use of electronic pre-distortion (EPD) to compensate chromatic dispersion was proposed as early as two decades ago. (T. L. Koch et al., JLT, vol. 3, 1985, pp. 800-805.) Thanks to progress in high-speed electronic digital signal processing, there has recently been a revived interest in this technique for 10 Gb/s systems. The aim of more recent studies of this technique has been to entirely eliminate inline optical dispersion compensators (ODCs) by compensating chromatic dispersion at the transmitters. (See, e.g., M. M. El Said et al, JLT, vol. 23, 2005, pp. 388-400; D. McGhan et al, OFC'05, paper PDP27; R. I. Killey et al, IEEE PTL, vol 17, 2005, pp. 714-716.)
Due to large temporal power variations in such systems and the absence of nonlinearity compensation through dispersion mapping, nonlinearities in EPD systems are much larger than systems using ODCs. (See R. J. Essiambre et al, OFC'06, paper OWB1; R. J. Essiambre et al, ECOC'05, paper Tu3.2.2.)
Although EPD has the ability, in principle, to compensate self-phase modulation (SPM), inter-channel cross-phase modulation (XPM) greatly impacts EPD systems, especially systems operating at 10 Gb/s. Moreover, operation of EPD at 40 Gb/s increases transmitter complexity considerably due to an increase by a factor of 16 in bit overlap. Alternatively, multi-level modulation formats with advanced receivers have been required when implementing EPD at 40 Gb/s. (P. J. Winzer et al, ECOC'05, paper Tu4.2.2.)

Intra-channel nonlinearity compensation for optical data communications


A service gateway maintains forwarding components operative to forward data packets within corresponding VPNs, and also maintains subscriber sessions for subscribers via respective subscriber interfaces. The association between the subscribers and the forwarding components is independent of the subscriber interfaces, such that the subscribers reachable via a given interface are associable with any forwarding component. Upon detecting an appropriate event, such as a service selection action, the service gateway modifies the forwarding components of first and second VPNs to reflect that the subscriber session is active in the second VPN and is not active in the first VPN. The service gateway also effects a change of a network address that identifies the corresponding subscriber from a first network address defined in the first VPN to a second network address defined in the second VPN. Mechanisms for effecting such a change of network address include DHCP, IPCP, RADIUS, and NAT. The service gateway employs control policies to govern the transfer of subscribers among VPNs.

The present invention is related to the field of data communications networks.
It is known to use network devices such as routers, switches and bridges to forward data packets within data communications networks. A router is an example of a device operating at the network layer, or layer 3 of the well-known Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model. Bridges and switches are examples of layer-2 devices.
It is known to define so-called "virtual private networks" or VPNs within larger (often public) networks such as the global Internet. A VPN can be seen as a collection of specialized network devices and/or specialized functions on otherwise standard network devices that co-operate to carry out data communications in a manner that segregates such communications from other data communications carried by the larger network. There are a variety of known VPN technologies, including technologies based on the Internet Protocol (IP), virtual local area network (VLAN) technologies, and virtual private dial-up networks (VPDNs). Routers may offer support for layer-3 VPNs through the use of multiple so-called "virtual routing and forwarding" tables or VRFs. The VRFs correspond to multiple independent "virtual routers" within a physical router, with each virtual router operating as a node on a corresponding VPN. VLANs generally employ bridging or switching instances located within network devices.

Dynamic, policy based, per-subscriber selection and transfer among virtual private networks


The present invention provides a high-performance partial discharge detection device which is user-friendly and compact and which allows detection of the electromagnetic waves caused by partial discharge, over a wide bandwidth with a simple constitution and a favorable S/N ratio. The waveguide antenna which receives electromagnetic waves that leak from the insulating spacer is attached to the outer circumferential face of the insulating spacer. The waveguide antenna is constituted by a waveguide portion and a coaxial cable connector which is installed on the waveguide portion. The waveguide portion has a metal short-circuit plate provided at one end thereof, and an opening formed at the other end thereof, which covers part of the outer circumferential face of the insulating spacer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a partial discharge detection device that detects partial discharge which is generated in a gas-insulated equipment, and more particularly to a partial discharge detection device which is capable of detecting, with high sensitivity, electromagnetic waves caused by the partial discharge generation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, gas-insulated equipments such as gas-insulated switchgears, gas-insulated generating lines, and gas-insulated transformers are employed in transformer substations. Gas-insulated equipments are devices in which a high voltage conductor is housed in a hermetically sealed metal container which is charged with an insulating gas and supported by means of an insulator. It is known that, in a gas-insulated equipment, when there is a defective part with which there is poor contact in the metal container or which is invaded by a metallic foreign body, partial discharge from the defective part is generated.
When partial discharge in a gas-insulated equipment is neglected, before long insulation damage is incurred and there is the danger that the damage will develop into a serious accident. Hence, it is essential to discover partial discharge at an early stage and take precautions against serious accidents by implementing countermeasures of some kind such as the repair of defective parts. Therefore, a partial discharge detection device that detects partial discharge in a gas-insulated equipment has been proposed as a technology for preventive maintenance for insulation diagnosis of the gas-insulated equipment.
Methods for detecting partial discharge in a gas-insulated equipment include methods for detecting electric current, electromagnetic waves, sound, vibration, and light, and so forth. Among such detection devices, devices for determining the existence of partial discharge by detecting electromagnetic wave signals caused by partial discharge have favorable detection sensitivity, a good S/N ratio, and a wide detection range and so forth and have garnered attention. In particular, because the electromagnetic waves caused by partial discharge include signals extending from several dozen MHz to several GHz, procedures for detecting UHF-band electromagnetic waves (300 MHz to 3 GHz) have come into the mainstream.
A conventional example of a partial discharge detection device will be described here using FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, in a gas-insulated equipment 10, an insulating gas such as SF6 gas is enclosed in a ground-potential hermetically sealed metal container 22 which houses a high-voltage conductor 25, and the high-voltage conductor 25 is supported by an insulating spacer 24 comprising an insulator. The partial discharge detection device which is inserted in the gas-insulated equipment 10 is constituted by an internal detector 27, a matching circuit 28, an amplifier 29, a measurement tool 30, and a determination tool 31.
Among these components, the internal detector 27 is an electrode that detects electromagnetic waves 36 in the metal container 22 and is installed on a flange 26 of a low electric field hand hole of the metal container 22. Furthermore, the matching circuit 28 comprises a filter or the like and is adapted to pull the detection signal of the internal detector 27 outside the metal container 22 via a pullout section and to specify the frequency band of the detection signal. The amplifier 29, measurement tool 30, and determination tool 31 are sequentially connected to the matching circuit 28. The amplifier 29 performs processing to amplify the detection signal whose frequency band has been specified by the matching circuit 28 and the processed signal is measured by the measurement tool 30 so the existence of partial discharge which is generated inside the gas-insulated equipment 10 is ultimately determined by the determination tool 31.
The partial discharge detection device as described above operates as follows. First, when partial discharge is generated in a defective part 35 inside the gas-insulated equipment 10, electromagnetic waves 36 from several dozen MHz to several dozen GHz due to partial discharge in the metal container 22 are generated. Here, the hermetically sealed metal container 22 propagates electromagnetic waves 36 as a result of waveguide theory. Further, the internal detector 27 detects electromagnetic waves 36 in the metal container 22 and the matching circuit 28 specifies the frequency band of the electromagnetic waves 36 thus detected. In addition, the amplifier 29 and measurement tool 30 perform signal processing on the specified frequency and the determination tool 31 judges the existence of an anomaly with the gas-insulated equipment.
Thus, by detecting electromagnetic waves 36 by means of the internal detector 27, the partial discharge detection device is able to detect, with high sensitivity, partial discharge by defective part 35 which is generated in the gas-insulated equipment 10. Moreover, in the conventional example in FIG. 5, because the internal detector 27 is installed inside the metal container 22, a noise signal from outside the metal container 22 can be attenuated and the partial discharge in the metal container 22 can be detected with a favorable S/N ratio.
Further, the electromagnetic waves which progress within the waveguide must satisfy boundary conditions at the boundary plane of the waveguide and Maxwell's electromagnetic equations. Hence, when electromagnetic waves are propagating within the metal container 22 which is the waveguide, the boundary conditions of the metal surface, that is, the conditions that the electric field be perpendicular to the metal surface and that the magnetic field be parallel must be satisfied. The following progressive waves exist as electromagnetic waves which satisfy these conditions.
First, in the case of electromagnetic waves for which the direction of travel is the axial direction of the metal container 22, progressive waves which do not possess an electric field or magnetic field component in the direction of travel are called 'Transverse Electromagnetic Waves (TEM waves). However, as a result of the boundary conditions, although the electric field travel direction component is zero, there exist also Transverse Electric waves (TE waves) in which a magnetic field travel direction component exists or Transverse Magnetic waves (TM waves) in which the magnetic field travel direction component is zero but in which an electric field travel direction component exists. Various modes exist for such TE waves and TM waves.
In a rectangular waveguide, a cut-off frequency which is determined by the shape of the waveguide exists and electromagnetic waves of a lower frequency than TE10 mode which is the lowest frequency are attenuated. Hence, the electromagnetic waves of a frequency equal to or less than the cut-off frequency are attenuated greatly and not propagated. For example, in cases where a rectangular waveguide and a coaxial waveguide are connected by means of a microwave circuit or the like, for example, it is said that only electromagnetic waves at or below the cut-off wavelength which can be propagated by the waveguide can be converted to electromagnetic waves which propagate along the coaxial waveguide and that electromagnetic waves at or above the cut-off wavelength cannot propagate along the coaxial waveguide.
With regard to this point, the coaxial waveguide converter that appears in 'Basis for Microwave Engineering', Hiratani et al., Japan Science and Technology Publishing) will be described as a specific example (See FIGS. 6 and 7). In FIG. 6, 40 is a rectangular waveguide made of metal at one end of which a metal short-circuit plate 41 is provided and at the other end of which a waveguide connection flange 42 for a connection with another waveguide is provided.
Furthermore, a coaxial cable connector 43 is provided on one face of the waveguide 40 (upper side in FIG. 6). FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the coaxial waveguide converter and the impedance which corresponds with the coaxial conversion of the rectangular waveguide differs from the coaxial characteristic impedance. Therefore, in order to alleviate the mismatch caused by the disparity between the two impedances, L and d shown in FIG. 7 are adjusted through experimentation. Numeral 44 denotes electrical wiring.
The operation of the coaxial waveguide converter will be described next. The electromagnetic waves which are propagated by the waveguide (not shown) which is connected to the waveguide connection flange 42 are converted into electromagnetic waves which propagate along a coaxial structure line constituted by a coaxial inner conductor 43a and a coaxial outer conductor 43b. Here, the coaxial waveguide converter in FIG. 6 propagates only electromagnetic waves at or below the cut-off wavelength which can be propagated within the waveguide to a coaxial line but is unable to propagate electromagnetic waves at or above the cut-off wavelength to the coaxial line.
In addition, as a conventional technology for a partial discharge detection device which detects the existence of partial discharge from electromagnetic waves which are produced by a gas-insulated equipment, a technology that detects electromagnetic waves which leak in from the opening in an impedance discontinuous plane of a spacer or bushing by means of an antenna which is placed close to the opening has been proposed. Otherwise, a method that involves disposing a slit antenna or dipole antenna along a spacer flange as per the technology of Japanese Application Laid Open No. H3-78429 is also known. According to these methods, there is no need to attach a detector inside the metal container of the gas-insulated equipment and there is therefore the advantage that electromagnetic waves can be detected using a simple constitution.
As mentioned hereinabove, in a gas-insulated equipment 10 that comprises a hermetically sealed metal container 22, because electromagnetic waves are propagated within the metal container 22 on the basis of the waveguide theory, the electromagnetic waves can be detected with high sensitivity by the internal detector 27. However, the internal detector 27 shown in FIG. 5 is provided inside the metal container 22 of the gas-insulated equipment 10. Hence, it has proven difficult to retro-fit an internal detector 27 to a gas-insulated equipment which does not have the internal detector 27 attached beforehand and hard to detect electromagnetic waves.
Therefore, as a method that makes it possible to detect electromagnetic waves with a simple constitution, a test that detects electromagnetic waves which have leaked from an opening in an impedance discontinuous plane such as a spacer or bushing is carried out and a method in which an antenna is installed in an external space of the gas-insulated equipment and a method that involves disposing a slit antenna or dipole antenna along the outer circumference of the spacer have been proposed.
However, the following problems with these methods were noted. That is, with a slit antenna, an electrical connection to the metal container was essential. Further, because the impedance is discontinuous, the detection sensitivity of both methods was low and there was a high susceptibility to the effects of external noise. Hence, the S/N ratio was inadequate and the partial discharge could not be detected highly accurately.
Moreover, in the case of a rectangular waveguide, the cut-off frequency is decided by the shape of the waveguide and the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves propagated by the long side dimension of the waveguide is constrained, meaning that propagation of electromagnetic waves of wavelengths equal to or more than two times the long side dimension of the waveguide cross-section is inefficient. More specifically, in order to propagate electromagnetic wave signals in the UHF band (300 MHz to 3 GHz, wavelength: 100 mm to 1000 mm), a rectangular waveguide with a long side that is equal to or more than 500 mm is required. Therefore, the coaxial waveguide converter shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a large form and, when the form is integrated in a partial discharge detection device, this has the inconvenience of enlarging the device.


A circuit board surface structure includes a circuit board having at least one surface provided with a plurality of electrically connecting pads, an insulating protective layer characterized by photosensitivity and solder resisting and formed on the circuit board, and a plurality of openings formed in the insulating protective layer to expose the electrical connecting pads on the circuit board and tapered upward; and a conductive element formed in the opening, so as to increase the contact area and reinforce bonding between the electrically connecting pads and the conductive element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to circuit board surface structures, and more particularly, to a circuit board surface structure comprising a circuit board with electrically connecting pads having conductive elements formed thereon for external electrical connection.
2. Description of the Prior Art
According to flip chip technology nowadays, a semiconductor chip is electrically connected to a circuit board, in which electrode pads are provided on the active surface of the integrated circuit-equipped (IC-equipped) semiconductor chip, and the circuit board is provided with electrically connecting pads corresponding to the electrode pads. A solder structure or other conductive adhesive material is formed between the electrode pad of the semiconductor chip and the electrically connecting pad of the circuit board for providing electrical connection and mechanical coupling between the semiconductor chip and the circuit board.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the flip chip technology, a plurality of metallic bumps 11 are formed on the electrode pads 12 of a semiconductor chip and a plurality of pre-solder structures 14 made of solder materials are formed on the electrically connecting pads 15 of a circuit board 16, then after a reflow soldering process, the pre-solder structures 14 are reflow soldered to the corresponding metallic bumps 11, so as to form a plurality of solder points 17. Subsequently, an underfill material 18 is provided between the semiconductor chip 13 and circuit board 16, coupling the semiconductor chip 13 with the circuit board 16, so as to ensure a satisfactory electrical connection.
Referring to FIGS. 2A-2D, cross-sectional views illustrating the steps of depositing a solder material on electrically connecting pads of a circuit board are shown. As shown in FIG. 2A, a circuit board 20 having electrically connecting pads 201 on a surface thereof is provided, whereon a solder resisting layer such as solder mask layer 21 is applied on the surface of the circuit board 20. A photomask 22 is formed above the electrically connecting pads 201, and through a series of exposure and development processes, openings are formed to expose the electrically connecting pads 201. In the exposure process, light rays which might otherwise travel straight on bend beneath the opaque region 22a of the photomask 22 due to diffraction, as indicated by the direction S, such that part of the solder mask layer 21 under the photomask 22 is illuminated. Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, after the development process, the opening 210 is tapered downward. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2C, a stencil board 23 having a plurality of grids 23a is disposed on the circuit board 20, in which each grid 23a of the stencil board 23 is corresponding to each electrically connecting pad. A solder material is applied on the surface of the stencil board 23, followed by using a roller 24 to roll back and forth on the stencil board 23, or spraying the solder material (not shown) in each grid 23a of the stencil board 23 on each electrically connecting pad 201 after removal of the stencil board 23. As shown in FIG. 2D, then a reflow soldering process is performed to reflow solder the solder material to form solder bumps 25 on the electrically connecting pads 201 of the circuit board 20, such that solder structures can be successfully formed on the circuit board using a stencil printing technology.
However, in the demand of miniaturization and increased functionality of electronic products, the circuit layout is designed to be higher in density and the distance between each circuit layer is also shortened. Thus, a circuit board with high density of circuit layout must have a reduced circuit width and smaller electrically connecting pads. As a gap between the circuits is reduced, the opening on the solder mask layer above the electrically connecting pads must be miniaturized further, and this may reduce the contact area between the solder structure and electrically connecting pad, such that it is more difficult to form a solder material on the electrically connecting pad, thereby failing to satisfy the requirement for fine pitch of the electrically connecting pads in advanced electronic products.
Moreover, as the opening 210 of the solder mask layer 21 is have a tapered downward shape, the bottom portion of the solder bump 25 is smaller than the top portion thereof, causing a decrease in the contact area between the solder bump 25 and the electrically connecting pad 201, thereby reducing the bonding between the solder bump 25 and the electrically connecting pad 201. In addition, the solder bump 25 in the opening 210 of the solder mask layer 21 is also tapered downward, but is not provided with any other coupling means, and thus the solder bump 25 is likely to detach from the electrically connecting pad 201.
Accordingly, there is an urgent need for developing an electrical connection structure for circuit boards with a view to overcoming drawbacks of the prior art, namely difficulty in forming a solder structure on surfaces of electrically connecting pads, difficulty in meeting the requirements for a fine pitch between electrically connecting pads of advanced electronic products, and detachment of conductive elements.


A fluidic device is provided which is adapted to subject a fluid to light. It generally comprises a capillary that is adapted for conducting the fluid and which furthermore and comprises at least one bending and at least one waveguide having an end face that is adapted for at least emitting or receiving light. The end face is coupled with the bending for emitting light into the fluid or receiving light from the capillary.

Photochemical reactions including photo polymerization or photochemical cleavage of molecules in smaller units, as well as optical detection of fluids or components comprised in fluidic substances are well described in the literature and known to those skilled in the art. They are carried out in detecting devices or in reactors having technical size or lab size. Devices for microfluidic applications are known and described. These devices ought to meet the requirements which result from sophisticated techniques:
Optical detection of fluidic samples succeeding to chemical separation or preparation is a most preferred technique since it is applicable without interfering in the chemical system being in the focus. In order to perform such optical detection generally a measuring chamber for the reception of the fluid, a light emitting device and a light receiving device are needed. Performing online detection means designing a measuring chamber as a flow through cell. One may perform transmission or absorption measurements which are corresponding as indicated by optical laws such as Beer's law, which is known to those skilled in the art. Whichever technique is chosen, it presumes guiding light through the sample, accordingly a light path between a light emitting and a light receiving means is required. Simplified, light emitting and light receiving means comprise a light source, detector and the corresponding waveguides. Applying Beer's law furthermore means knowing precisely the geometrical dimensions of the measuring device as far as they are needed to determine optical coefficients such as e.g. extinction. The extinction coefficient refers to the relation of light throughput through a volume of fluid having certain physical and chemical properties. The length of the light path, correlated with said volume of fluid and being correlated with the concentration of the components in the fluid, is accordingly a key parameter in optical detection, being comprised in said extinction coefficient.
The length of the light path is a key parameter in photochemistry, too, since the light throughput frequently determines the yield of a reaction or the conversion: The above cleavage reaction may be performed with an optimal conversion rate if the relation light path-to-reactor volume is optimized, which comprises length of a flow through cell which serves as photo reactor.
A number of microfluidic devices has already been described in the art, the below devices referring on the function of an optical fluidic device as detection device:
A device for microfluidic optical detections is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,975, to Munk. He describes a capillary flow cell with protruding bulb ends providing a high light throughput entrance window for the cell, aiming for an improved sample illumination.
EP 0,089,157 to Le Febre discloses an optical detector cell for determining the presence of a solute in a sample fluid, for the particular application in miniature chromatographic and micro spectroscopic applications. An optical flow path which is parallel to the fluid flow path is provided, allowing maximizing of the sample corresponding to a fixed sample volume, whereby the ability results to measure low threshold concentrations in solutes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,186 to Carlson refers to a photometric cuvette for optical analysis of through flowing media, designed for the measurement of minimum sample amounts.


An improved dressing for the fiber optic leads of a fiber optic gyroscope sensing coil and method for forming the same. A pair of fiber optic leads connect the sensing coil of a rotation sensing device to an integrated optics chip. The fiber optic leads are originally arranged to extend around the fiber optic sensing coil in different directions. The leads are formed of unequal lengths, where the longer of the leads is extended along an outer circumference of the sensing coil. The longer lead is bent so that the circumferential direction of longer lead reverses itself, and the longer lead then extends around the sensing coil in the same direction as the shorter lead. A low modulus adhesive is applied to the leads and cured to initially bond the leads in place against the sensing coil. The pair of leads are then wound in the same circumferential direction adjacent to each other fashion around the outer circumference of the sensing coil. After the desired amount of winding has been completed, a predetermined length of each of the leads is left available to be routed to the rotation sensing device. The entire outer surface of the wound fiber optic leads surrounding the temporary adhesion is then coated with a low modulus adhesive and cured to bond the wound leads against the sensing coil structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fiber optic gyroscope, and specifically to an improved dressing for the leads of a fiber optic gyroscope sensing coil.
2. Description of Related Art
Fiber optic gyroscopes are used to measure the rate of rotation of a particular vehicle or platform. In order to measure the rotation of a fiber optic gyroscope, often counter-propagating waves are input through fiber optic leads attached to a fiber optic sensing coil. A phase shift between the counter-propagating waves develops as a result of the rotation of the fiber optic sensing coil. The fiber optic leads extend from the fiber optic sensing coil to a device, such as an integrated optics chip, for measuring the relative phase difference between the waves.
There have been various dressing techniques attempted in the past for attaching the fiber optic leads to the fiber optic sensing coil. Usually, these dressing techniques have included some form of bonding, such as the use of adhesive tape or transfer adhesive. These prior bonding techniques generally either failed to provide enough support for the leads or used an adhesive having too high of a modulus of elasticity, which can cause strain-induced bias errors in the gyroscope output. It is often necessary to remove the fiber optic leads from their attachment to the fiber optic sensing coil to perform troubleshooting. When a defect occurs in the fiber optic leads or the fiber optic sensing coil, the bond between leads and the fiber optic sensing coil needs to be broken so that the fiber optic leads can be removed and reworked. An adhesive having too high of a modulus of elasticity precludes removal of the fiber optic leads without damage to the jacket of the leads or to the sensing coil fiber.
Further, various environmental conditions and vibrations confronted by the fiber optic sensing coil over time impute a stress on the fiber optic leads. When a high modulus adhesive is used to affix the fiber optic leads to the sensing coil, the leads are rigidly retained against the sensing coil and prevented from moving relative to the sensing coil. Any imputed stress on the sensing coil structure is then exerted on the leads themselves. This stress on the leads causes their shape to distort, where even the slightest deviation in shape affects the wavelength propagation characteristics of the fiber optic leads.
Clearly, there is a need for an improved dressing for the fiber optic leads of a fiber optic gyroscope sensing coil which allows the fiber optic gyroscope to function consistently over a variety of environmental conditions. Moreover, there is a need or an improved dressing for the fiber optic leads of a fiber optic gyroscope sensing coil which stably retains the fiber optic leads in position against the fiber optic sensing coil while allowing the fiber optic leads to be repeatedly reworked without damaging either the leads or the sensing coil.

Fiber optic gyroscope coil lead dressing and method for forming the same