A block judgment section judges whether a subject block including a plurality of subject pixels is a white block, a black character block or a graphic/color block, on the basis of the frequency of white subject pixels and the density distribution of grey subject pixels. A macro-correction section corrects a judgment value of a character block to that of a graphic block, or vice versa on the basis of a first judgment whether there exists a graphic area larger than a predetermined size in the blocks surrounding the subject block, and a second judgment on the ratio between character blocks and graphic blocks in the blocks directly adjoining the subject block. The macro-corrected judgment value of the subject block is used to select image data of a development color or colors required for reproducing the subject block.

The present invention relates to an image processor which reproduces a composite document consisting of both binary images such as characters and half-tone images such as graphic images by identifying a character area and a graphic area during pre-scanning and switching parameters every area during main scanning.
FIG. 12 shows the configuration of a digital color image processor; FIG. 13 shows an exemplary configuration of a conventional edge processing circuit; and FIGS. 14(a) to 14(c) show the configuration of a hue detection circuit.
In a digital color copying machine, a document is usually read optically with a line sensor to obtain image data in the form of color separation signals of B (blue), G (green) and R (red), and, as shown in FIG. 12, the obtained image data are converted to toner color signals Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) through an END (equivalent neutral density) conversion circuit 31 and a color masking (color correction) circuit 32. Further, a toner signal X of a development color is selected after replacing, for black print generation, the Y, M, C signals of the same quantity with a signal K (black) by an UCR (under color removal) circuit 33. Then, the selected toner signal X is subjected to a smoothing process and an edge enhancement process at a hue separation type nonlinear filter section, and to a tone adjustment process at a TRC (tone reproduction control) circuit 40. The signal X thus processed is converted to binary data at a screen generator (SG) 41, and this binary data is used to control a laser beam so that a charged photoreceptor is exposed on and off. A full-color document is reproduced by superposing dot images of the respective colors.
In the color image reproduction, such a digital color image processor necessarily requires a large-capacity memory if it is constructed so as to store full-color data for 4 development processes obtained by one document-reading scanning. To avoid this problem, the document-reading operation by the main scanning is performed every development color, and the resultant image data is subjected to the signal processing and then to the development process. Prior to the main scanning, pre-scanning is performed to detect the size of a document and judge whether the document is a color document or a monochrome one. Based on the information obtained by the prescanning, such operations as the copy operation control and parameter switching are performed so that a full-color output process is applied to color documents and a black (K) output process is applied to monochrome documents. To binary image documents consisting of characters and line drawings, edge enhancement is applied to improve the sharpness of images, while to half-tone documents such as photographs and dot prints, a nonlinear filtering process is applied to smooth images to improve the smoothness and granularity.
Then, the phase separation type nonlinear filter section for improving the reproduction performance of binary images and half-tone images will be described. The UCR circuit 33 selects, in accordance with the development process, development color image data X from among Y, M, C and K signals which have already been subjected to the black print generation and under color removal. The hue separation type nonlinear filter section receives the image data X and bifurcates it. A smoothing filter 34 performs a smoothing process on one image signal, while a gamma conversion circuit 36, an edge detection filter 37 and an edge enhancement LUT (look-up table) 38 perform an edge enhancement process on the other image signal. As a final stage, an adder 39 synthesizes the two outputs to produce a nonlinear filter signal. FIG. 13 shows an exemplary configuration of such an edge processing circuit.
In the edge processing, a hue detection circuit 35 detects the hue of an input image, and judges whether or not the current development color is a required color for the image. If the input image is black, the control is performed so that the Y, M and C color signals are subjected to no enhancement but only the K signal is enhanced commensurate with an edge enhancement degree.
As shown in FIG. 14(a), the hue detection circuit 35 includes: a maximum/minimum circuit 42 for calculating a maximum and a minimum of the Y, M and C signals; a multiplexer 43 for selecting a development color; a subtracting circuit 44 for calculating the difference between the maximum and the minimum; a subtracting circuit 45 for calculating the difference between the minimum and the development color; and comparators 46 to 48. Each of the comparators 46 to 48 compares its input value with a threshold and, if the input value is greater than the threshold, sets its output, such as r, m, c', m' and y', to a logic value "1". These outputs are used to obtain a Judgment hue based on the judgment conditions shown in FIG. 14 (b), and it is further judged whether the development color is a required color "1" or a non-required color "0" based on the required color/non-required color judgment conditions shown in FIG. 14(c). Ordinarily used character colors, Y, M, C, B, G, R and K are employed as the judgment hues.
As is apparent from the required color/non-required color judgment conditions, if the hue is, e.g., B, the development colors m and c are selected as the required colors while the other development colors as non-required colors. The development color image signal is subjected to the edge enhancement by using an edge enhancement LUT 38-(1) during the required color cycle while it is not subjected to the edge enhancement by using an edge enhancement LUT 38-(2) during the non-required color cycle.
However, in the above edge processing circuit, the edge enhancement LUT is controlled by specifying binary image areas for the edge enhancement in advance and generating an area signal in accordance with such specification. When processing binary images such as characters and line drawings and half-tone images such as photographs and dot prints, optimal parameters can be selected by specifying the type of image on a document or an area basis, as long as it is easy to specify a document or area in advance, and this hence contributes to improving the reproduction performance of the image. However, this step of area specification complicates the reproduction process if it is not easily conducted. Thus, if the area specification is cumbersome for a composite document consisting of both binary images and half-tone images, parameters which allow both types of images to be reproduced with moderate performance may be selected. In other words, however, neither types of images are processed optimally, thereby making it difficult to have both types of images reproduced satisfactorily. For example, a binary image becomes blur or unclear due to weak edge enhancement, and turbidity occurs in small black characters and at the edge of black characters. On the other hand, because of the enhancement of frequency components near the edge detection frequency, a half-tone image loses smoothness, becomes a coarse image having undesired moires and edge enhancement.
Thus, to identify the image type, there have been proposed a method in which a means for extracting a black component is provided and character area judgment is performed on the extracted black data (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. Hei. 1-95673); a method using an average, standard deviation, etc. of pixels within a predetermined pixel block (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. Sho. 63-205783); a method using binary outputs obtained by a plurality of dither conversions with different phases (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. Sho. 63-193770); and other methods. However, these methods are neither capable of distinguishing color characters from black characters, nor capable of distinguishing characters from half-tone images, thus not contributing to improving judgment accuracy for a wide area.
Further, the above edge processing circuit has another problem that a smoothed signal remains in the signals Y, M and C even when processing a black character. This problem occurs in the following manner. As shown in FIG. 13, the edge enhancement LUT 38 just works such that the required color signal is enhanced by using the table (1) and the non-required color signal is not enhanced by using the table (2). As a result, in the case of a filter input signal of a black character, the edge enhanced signals are generated such that the signal K is enhanced, but not the signals Y, M and C, while the smoothed signals are generated in the smoothing filter 34 such that all the signals Y, M, C and K are smoothed. When the edge enhanced signal and smoothed signal are synthesized, the smoothed signals Y, M, C, K remain. Thus, despite the black character, not only the signal K but also the signals Y, M and C are carried, and this causes a color derived from the smoothed signals Y, M, C to appear at the edge portions of the character, disturbing reproduction by black (K). Comparing this example with a reproduction using only one color of black (K), there occur thickened lines, and edge discoloration and turbidity due to staggered registration, which results in impaired image quality with reduced sharpness.

Identification of graphic and character areas in color image processor


The present invention is directed to a method of detecting gene expression and analysis of both known and unknown genes. In the method utilizing combinatorial oligonucleotide PCR™, no single molecular species of DNA gives rise to more than one fragment in a collection of products which are subsequently amplified and representative of each expressed gene. More specifically, the present invention improves known methods by eliminating the recovery of restriction fragments with two identical ends and furthermore regards amplification and isolation of the restriction fragment utilizing a labeled primer.

The degree of differentiation or physiological state of a cell, a tissue or an organism is characterized by a specific expression status, i.e., the degree of transcriptional activation of all genes or particular groups of genes. The molecular basis for numerous biological processes that result in a change in this state is the coordinated transcriptional activation or inactivation of particular genes or groups of genes in a cell, an organ or an organism. Characterization of this expression status is of key importance for answering many biological questions. Changes in gene expression in response to a stimulus, a developmental stage, a pathological state or a physiological state are important in determining the nature and mechanism of the change and in finding cures that could reverse a pathological condition. Patterns of gene expression are also expected to be useful in the diagnosis of pathological conditions, and for example, may provide a basis for the subclassification of functionally different subtypes of cancerous conditions.
Several methods that can analyze the expression status of genes are known in the art. Differential display RT-PCR™ (DDRT) is one method for analyzing differential gene expression in which subpopulations of complementary DNA (cDNA) are generated by reverse transcription of mRNA by using a cDNA primer with a 3′ extension (preferably two bases). Random 10 base primers are then used to generate PCR™ products of transcript-specific lengths. If the number of primer combinations used is large enough, it is statistically possible to detect almost all transcripts present in any given sample. PCR™ products obtained from two or more samples are then electrophoresed next to one another on a gel and differences in expression are directly compared. Differentially expressed bands can be cut out of the gel, reamplified and cloned for filter analysis.
It is possible to enrich the PCR™ (polymerase chain reaction) amplification products for a particular subgroup of all mRNA molecules, e.g., members of a particular gene family, by using one primer which has a sequence specific for a gene family in combination with one of the 10 base random primers. This technique of DDRT is described (Liang and Pardee, 1992; Liang et al., 1993; Bauer et al., 1993; Stone and Wharton, 1994; Wang and Feuerstein, 1995; WO 93/18176; and DE 43 17 414).
There are a number of disadvantages to the experimental design of DDRT. The differential banding patterns are often only poorly reproducible. Due to the design of the primers even the use of longer random primers of, e.g., 20 bases in length does not satisfactorily solve the problem of reproducibility (Ito et al., 1994). In order to evaluate a significant portion of differentially expressed genes, a large number of primer combinations must be used and multiple replicates of each study must be done. The method often results in a high proportion of false positive results and rare transcripts cannot be detected in many DDRT studies (Bertioli et al., 1995.)
Due to the non-stringent PCR™ conditions and the use of only one arbitrary primer further analysis by sequencing is necessary to identify the gene. Sequencing of selected bands is problematic since the same primer often flanks DDRT products at both ends so that direct sequencing is not possible and an additional cloning step is necessary. Due to the use of short primers, a further reamplification step with primer molecules extended on the 5′ side is necessary even if two different primers flank the product. Finally, due to the use of random primers, it is never quite possible to be sure that the primer combinations recognize all transcripts of a cell. This applies, even when using a high number of primers, to studies which are intended to detect the entirety of all transcripts as well as to studies which are directed towards the analysis of a subpopulation of transcripts such as a gene family (Bertioli et al., 1995).
A variant of DDRT, known as GeneCalling, has been described (Shimkets et al., 1999) which addresses some of these problems. In this method, multiple pairs of restriction endonucleases are used to prepare specific fragments of a cDNA population prior to amplification with pairs of universal primers. This improves the reproducibility of the measurements and the false positive rate, but the patterns are very complex and identification of individual transcripts requires the synthesis of a unique oligonucleotide for each gene to be tested. In addition, the quantitative data obtained are apparently significant only for changes above 4-fold (Shimkets et al., 1999) and only a weak correlation with other techniques is obtained. The ability of the technique to distinguish the gene-specific band from the complex background for any arbitrarily chosen gene has not been documented (Shimkets et al., 1999).
AFLP based mRNA fingerprinting further addresses some of the deficiencies of DDRT. AFLP allows for the systematic comparison of the differential expression of genes between RNA samples (Habu, 1997). The technique involves the endonuclease digestion of immobilized cDNA by a single restriction enzyme. The digested fragments are then ligated with a linker specific for the restriction cut site. The tailed fragments are subsequently amplified by PCR™ employing primers complementary to the linkers added to the digest with the addition of variable nucleotides at the 3′ end of the primers. The products of the amplification are visualized by PAGE and banding patterns compared to reveal differences in RNA transcription patterns between samples. Although based RNA fingerprinting provides an indication of the RNA message present in a given sample, it fails to restrict the potential number of signals produced by each individual RNA strand. With this technique, each RNA strand may potentially produce multiple fragments and therefore multiple signals upon amplification. This failure to restrict the number of signals from each message complicates the results that must be evaluated.
Song and Osborn (1994) describe a method for examining the expression of homologous genes in plant polyploids in which the techniques of RT-PCR™ and RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis are combined with one another. In this method a cDNA is produced from RNA by reverse transcription, then amplified by using two gene-specific primers. The amplification products are transcript-specifically shortened by endonuclease cleavage, separated by electrophoresis according to their length, cloned, and then analyzed by sequencing. This method has the disadvantage of low sensitivity, as a cloning step is necessary to characterize the expression products. A further disadvantage of this method is that gene specific sequence information must be available on at least two regions within the analyzed genes in order to design suitable primers.
In principle, gene expression data for a particular biological sample could be obtained by large-scale sequencing of a cDNA library. The role of sequencing cDNA, generated by reverse transcription from mRNA, has been debated for its value in the human genome project. Proponents of genomic sequencing have argued the difficulty of finding every mRNA expressed in all tissues, cell types, and developmental stages. It is also believed that cDNA libraries do not provide all sequences corresponding to structural and regulatory polypeptides (Putney et al., 1983). In addition, libraries of cDNA may be dominated by repetitive elements, mitochondrial genes, ribosomal RNA genes, and other nuclear genes comprising common or housekeeping sequences. While some mRNAs are abundant, others are rare, resulting in cellular quantities of mRNA from various genes that can vary by several orders of magnitude. Therefore, sequencing of transcribed regions of the genome using cDNA libraries has been considered unsatisfactory.
Techniques based on cDNA subtraction or differential display can be used to compare gene expression patterns between two cell types (Hedrick et al., 1984; Liang and Pardee, 1992), but provide only a partial analysis, with no quantitative information regarding the abundance of messenger RNA. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) have been valuable for gene discovery (Adams et al., 1993; Okubo et al., 1992), but like Northern blotting, RNase protection, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR™) analysis (Alwine et al., 1977; Zinn et al, 1983; Veres et al., 1987) the approach only evaluates a limited number of genes at a time.
In Chen et al. (2001), amplified differential gene expression (ADGE) is used to quadratically amplify the ratio of a gene in two samples before displaying them. This amplification does not alter the ratio of expression of genes that are expressed at the same level, but quadratically increases the ratio for those with different expression levels. It is used to reveal gene expression profiles between two samples and may be used to perform global analysis. The technique requires hybridization and addition of separate adaptors to the tester and driver cDNAs. Jiang et al. (2000) describe Rapid Subtraction Hybridization (RaSH) as involving enzymatically digesting cDNA into small fragments, ligating to adaptors, PCR amplifying and then incubating with tester and driver PCR fragments. The key component of this technique is subtractive hybridization, and multiple fragments are recovered from a single cDNA species. Reciprocal subtraction differential RNA display (RSDD) combines reciprocal subtraction of cDNA libraries followed by differential RNA display (Kang, et al. 1998). The approach results in the enrichment of unique sequences and reduction of common sequences. All of these techniques require cloning and sequencing to identify differences in gene expression.
Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) (U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,330; Kinzler et al., 1995) was developed for global gene expression analysis. It is based on the use of short (i.e. 9–10 base pair) nucleotide sequence tags that identify a defined position in an mRNA and are used to ascertain the identity of the corresponding transcript and gene. The cDNA tags are generated from mRNA samples, randomly paired, concatenated, cloned, and sequenced. While this method allows the analysis of a large number of transcripts, the identification of individual genes requires sequencing of tens of thousands of tags for comparison of even a small number of samples. Although SAGE provides a comprehensive picture of gene expression, it cannot be specifically directed at a small subset of the transcriptome (Zhang et al., 1997; Velculescu et al., 1995). Data on the most abundant transcripts is the easiest and fastest to obtain, while about a megabase of sequencing data is needed for confident analysis of low abundance transcripts.
Microarray technology utilizes hybridization of cDNAs or mRNAs to microarrays containing hundreds or thousands of individual cDNA fragments or oligonucleotides specific for particular genes or ESTs. The matrix for hybridization is either a DNA chip, a slide or a membrane. This method can be used to direct a search towards specific subsets of genes, but cannot be used to identify novel genes. In addition, arrays are expensive to produce (DeRisi et al., 1996; Schena et al., 1995). For those methods using cDNA arrays, a library of individually cloned DNA fragments must be maintained with at least one clone for each gene to be analyzed. Because much of the expense of utilizing microarrays lies in maintaining the fragment libraries and programming equipment to construct the microarray, it is only cost-efficient to produce large numbers of identical arrays. Data interpretation between experiments and laboratories have been problematic as data derived from arrayed elements are not directly comparable (Lakhani and Ashworth, 2001). Either SAGE and microarray technologies lack the flexibility to easily change the subset of the transcriptome being analyzed or to focus on smaller subsets of genes for more detailed analyses. Hybridization methods are also limited by lack of detection of genes not represented in ESTs.
Kornmann et al. (2001) describes amplification of double-stranded cDNA end restriction fragments (ADDER). cDNA is synthesized using an oligo dT containing two restriction sites and a biotin moiety. The 3′ most cDNA fragment from each gene is recovered by digestion with a 4-base recognition restriction enzyme and recovered using SA-magnetic beads. An adaptor is ligated to the 5′ end of the restriction fragment. The fragment is released from the oligo dT by restriction with AscI. A master cDNA stock is generated using universal primers. Differential display touchdown PCR is then carried out with 16 upstream and 12 downstream primers. The process uses radioisotopes and sequencing gels. The number of PCR products generated per reaction is greater than methods described herein, which makes results more difficult to interpret. In addition, no software exists to predict or aid in identification of the PCR product. Therefore, each differentially expressed PCR product must be cloned and sequenced.
As described above, current techniques for analysis of gene expression either monitor one gene at a time, are designed for the simultaneous and therefore more laborious analysis of thousands of genes or do not adequately restrict the signal to message ratio. There is a need for improved methods which encompass both rapid, detailed analysis of global expression patterns of genes as well as expression patterns of defined sets of genes for the investigation of a variety of biological applications. This is particularly true for establishing changes in the pattern of gene expression in the same cell type, for example, in different developmental stages, under different physiologic or pathologic conditions, when treated with different pharmaceuticals, mutagens, carcinogens, etc. Identification of differential patterns of expression has several utilities, including the identification of appropriate therapeutic targets, candidate genes for gene therapy (including gene replacement), tissue typing, forensic identification, mapping locations of disease-associated genes, and for the identification of diagnostic and prognostic indicator genes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,600 and Wang et al. (2001) describe a combinatorial oligonucleotide PCR method for global gene expression, wherein a cDNA gives rise to no more than one fragment in a collection of products, which is subsequently amplified and therefore representative of each expressed gene. In these methods, artifactual amplification of multiple fragments from the same cDNA can occur during PCR by priming with a single primer.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method for gene expression analysis which exceeds the capabilities of the state of the art. Thus, the present invention described herein provides novel improvements to the art of gene expression analysis, particularly using combinatorial oligonucleotide polymerase chain reaction with labeled linkers and amplification of restriction fragments comprising nonidentical ends.


A multilayer metal gasket, such as a multilayer steel head gasket, for an internal combustion engine has upper and lower functional layers and at least one intermediate layer. At least one of these layers has a circumferential compression control feature in the form of a protrusion or groove which varies in thickness or depth, respectively, around its circumference. The variable thickness of the compression control feature enables uniform sealing pressure on the sealing surfaces of the gasket.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to multilayer metal gaskets. The invention relates more particularly to multilayer metal gaskets having a compression limiting feature. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a multilayer metal gasket having a compression limiting feature which varies along the length of a selected sealing surface of the gasket.
2. Related Art
Two common issues exist with multilayer metal gaskets, such as multilayer steel cylinder head gaskets, they relate to the fatigue resistance of the gaskets and joint distortion associated with the use of the gaskets. Multilayer metal gaskets are made from thin sheets of metal, such as steel. In many applications, such as cylinder head gasket applications, these multilayer metal gaskets are subjected to temperature and pressure extremes associated with the operation of the internal combustion engine and the environmental conditions under which it is utilized. Thus, as the engine is operated, the internal combustion processes subject the cylinder head gasket to repeated pressure-induced cyclic motion and stresses and extreme temperatures. Over the operating life of an engine, this cyclical motion and stresses at the extreme operating temperatures can cause fatigue within the metal gasket, particularly fatigue in the region of the embossments which are used to provide the sealing surfaces of the gasket. While a cylinder head gasket is used as an example, other applications of multilayer metal gaskets are also subject to cyclic temperatures associated with their operating environment, and are thus also subject to the fatigue processes described above.
In the case of multilayer metal gaskets used in cylinder head gasket applications, this motion within the cylinder head gasket is known to play a significant role in cylinder bore distortion as the cylinder head gasket is the interface between the cylinder bore located within the engine block and the cylinder head. In operation, the cyclic changes described above also result in distortion of the cylinder bore in the region of the gasket. Cylinder bore distortion can cause high rates of wear on the piston rings or combustion gas blow-by within the head gasket.
One of the primary factors effecting fatigue and cylinder joint distortion is the fact that the common practice of applying a uniform bolt sealing pressure to the cylinder head bolts produces a non-uniform sealing force along the length of the sealing surfaces of the cylinder head gasket. Therefore, at various points along the circumference or length of the sealing surface associated with the cylinder bore opening, there exists a variation in the sealing force applied to and by the gasket. As the gasket is subjected to cyclic temperature variations, this can result in a tendency for fatigue failures at locations within the gasket where the sealing forces are highest.
Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the sealing force peaks along the gasket sealing surface, particularly to levels which are below a threshold associated with fatigue processes within a particular gasket design, so as to improve the fatigue performance of the gasket and reduce joint distortion associated with the gasket.
It is, therefore, desirable to improve the fatigue and joint distortion performance of multilayer metal gaskets. Further, it is desirable to make such improvements by controlling the sealing force along the length of the sealing surface of these gaskets for a particular engine block and cylinder head design, including the bolt pattern, particularly so as to make the sealing force more uniform along the length of the sealing surface.


An antenna mounting bracket assembly is disclosed which enables an antenna to be secured to either a vertically disposed support member or an angularly disposed support member with the antenna being disposed in a vertical plane in either case.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an antenna mounting bracket assembly and more particularly to a mounting bracket assembly which may be mounted on either a vertically disposed support member, structural member or leg as found in towers, or on a support member, structural member or leg which is inclined with respect to vertical due to the fact that the tower tapers inwardly at certain parts thereof. In either case, the mounting bracket assembly of this invention enables the antenna to be supported thereon so that it is disposed in a vertical plane.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many instances, antennas are mounted on towers which taper inwardly from the lower end thereof to the upper end thereof which results in some of the support legs of the towers being vertically disposed while some of the support legs are disposed at an angle with respect to vertical. When the antenna is mounted on a tower, the antenna must be disposed laterally of the tower by some sort of an antenna support means. If the antenna mounting bracket assembly is to be mounted on a support member or leg which is vertically disposed, the antenna supported thereon will be disposed in its desired vertical position if the mounting bracket assembly is rotated with respect to the support member. However, if the mounting bracket assembly is mounted on an angled or tapered support member or leg of the tower, if the supporting arm structure is rotated with respect to the angled support member, the antenna will not be vertically disposed. At the present time, a pipe mount with adjustable brackets must be utilized to take out the taper of the tower support member or leg in order to be able to rotate the antenna assembly without tilting the antenna assembly. This method is cumbersome and expensive.


A latch plate for swing doors of a truck is disclosed which is movable between a latch engaging position and a retracted position. The latch plate in its retracted position would not interfere with vertically movable parts of a tailgate lift.

This invention relates to a latch for a swing door mounted to the rear of a truck body. Truck bodies are commonly provided with a pair of swing doors. Each of these doors is pivoted at a rear side corner of the body. They are pivoted together in a common plane to close the rear entry of the door, and are provided with locks to hold them closed. When unlocked they can be swung apart to give entry to the truck body.
Pivoted latches are well known for this purpose. They customarily include a vertical rotary shift with a latch tongue that fits into a latch pocket on the truck bed. The shafts are locked in an engaged position to keep the door secure when closed.
This is a common and useful closure which is encountered every day on the highways. However, it does have limitations. One of them is the inherent interference with some types of lift means which also are commonly provided at the rear of trucks. In particular, lift means which include vertical tracks at each side of the truck body have vertically movable components that move in the plane of conventional latch means of this type, and render this type of latch unsuitable for many applications.
It is an object of this invention to provide latch means for this type of closure which is compatible with it, and which does not interfere with vertically-movable parts of tailgate lifts.
It is another object of this invention to provide such latch means in a bi-stable configuration such that when not actively used for latching it can readily and reliably be pivoted out of the path of vertically-moving tailgate lift components.
It is another object of this invention to provide such latch means which can be used in vehicles of various widths.


A satellite antenna switching apparatus has LNB ports to which LNBs are connected, receiver ports to which receivers that exchange signals with the LNBs are connected, cascade ports to which another switching apparatus is cascade-connected, and impedance circuits that function as means for detecting the signals exchanged between the LNBs and receivers. The impedance circuits provide impedances according to the connection states of the cascade ports, and are electrically disconnected from the signal paths when another switching apparatus is cascade-connected to the cascade ports. With this configuration, the satellite antenna switching apparatus suffers from less attenuation of the exchanged signals even in a cascade connection of a plurality of stages of switching apparatuses.

1. Field of the Technology
The exemplary embodiment described herein relates to a switching apparatus for controlling the interconnection among a plurality of devices. More particularly, the exemplary embodiment relates to a satellite antenna switching apparatus, as installed between a converter that performs a predetermined conversion operation on a signal received by a satellite antenna and a receiver that exchanges signals with the converter, for controlling the interconnection between such a converter and such a receiver on a one-to-many or many-to-many basis.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In reception of satellite broadcast or satellite communication, a high-frequency signal received by a satellite antenna is fed from an LNB (low-noise block converter), which is fitted to the satellite antenna, by way of a coaxial cable or the like to a receiver (for example, a STB (set-top box)). In a case where the received signal outputted from a single LNB is distributed among a plurality of receivers, or in a case where one of the received signals outputted from a plurality of LNBs is selected to be fed to a single receiver, or in a case where the received signals outputted from a plurality of LNBs are distributed among a plurality of receivers in a desired manner, a satellite antenna switching apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a "switch box") is installed between the LNB(s) and receiver(s) for the purpose of controlling the interconnection between those devices (for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H4-159824).
Some models of conventional switch boxes have, as well as LNB ports to which LNBs are connected and receiver ports to which receivers are connected, a cascade port to which an LNB port of a switch box of the same configuration can be connected. This permits a cascade connection of a plurality of switch boxes.
It is true that a switch box configured as described above permits the number of receivers that share the same LNB to be increased easily simply by connecting another switch box to the cascade port so that the switch boxes are cascade-connected. This makes this type of switch box very useful.
However, with the switch box configured as described above, due to its circuit configuration, when a plurality of them are cascade-connected, the signals exchanged between the receivers and LNBs are attenuated so severely as to make, in the worst case, their detection impossible. Now, how this problem occurs will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a principal portion (signal exchange portion) of a conventional switch box. In this figure, for simplicity's sake, it is assumed that only one LNB 31 and one receiver 21 are connected to a first-stage switch box 110, and that only one receiver 22 is connected to a second-stage switch box 120.
When a command signal is fed from the receiver 21 to the LNB 31, according to this command signal, a microcomputer ml turns a transistor n1 on and off so as to vary the current that flows through an impedance circuit z1 that is provided for signal detection. As a result of this control, the potential at a node a1 pulsates according to the command signal, and thus the command signal is, in a form superimposed on a direct-current voltage fed from the receiver 21, fed out via an LNB port LP1. In this way, the LNB 31 is fed with electric power along with the command signal.
On the other hand, when a command signal is fed from the receiver 22 to the LNB 31, according to this command signal, a microcomputer m2 turns a transistor n2 on and off so as to vary the current that flows through an impedance circuit z2. As a result of this current control, the potential at a node a2 pulsates according to the command signal, and thus the command signal is, in a form superimposed on a direct-current voltage fed from the receiver 22, fed out via an LNB port LP2. The voltage fed out via the LNB port LP2 is fed to the cascade port CP1 of the switch box 110, and only the alternating-current component of this voltage is fed through a coupling capacitor c1 to the node a1. Thus, the command signal is, in a form superimposed on the direct-current voltage fed from the receiver 21, fed out via the LNB port LP1.
When these conventional switch boxes 110 and 120 are cascade-connected, however, the impedance circuits z1 and z2, which are both grounded when considered on an alternating-current basis, are connected in parallel with each other (see the equivalent circuits shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B), and thus, assuming that the impedance circuits z1 and z2 are designed to have equal impedances, the actual impedance at the nodes a1 and a2 are reduced to half the impedance as designed. On the other hand, the collector currents of the transistors n1 and n2 are previously determined according to their peripheral constants, and therefore, when the impedance is reduced to a half as described above, the voltage drop at the nodes a1 and a2 (i.e., the amplitude of pulse signals) is accordingly reduced to a half. On the same principle, when n switch boxes are cascade-connected, the amplitude of pulse signals is reduced to 1/n, making it impossible, in the worst case, to detect the exchanged signals as described above.

Switching apparatus and satellite antenna switching apparatus


A graded-index microcylindrical lens functioning in combination with a laser diode beam to change the divergence of the fast axis on an incoming laser beam from one divergence to another, but not to collimate the beam. In one embodiment of the present invention, the graded-index microcylindrical lens changes the divergence of one axis of the laser beam to be substantially equal to the divergence of the slow axis.

The output beam of a laser diode typically diverges a t a small angel (5.degree.-15.degree.) in one axis, the "slow" axis, and at a much larger angle (25.degree.-80.degree.) in the other, or "fast" axis, and it is desirable to correct the beam so as to provide an angularly symmetric beam.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,224, titled "Microoptic Lenses", filed May 10, 1991, there are taught a number of configurations including cylindrical microlenses, although not of the graded-index type. Some of these configurations include lenses which change the divergence of an entering beam in the fast axis to a different divergence; in some cases the output beam is collimated; and in cases the angle of the fast axis is reduced to match the angle of the slow axis, i.e., the beam is circularized.
In recent years a new type of cylindrical microlens has come into use, a graded index lens, in which the index of refraction is graded in a radially symmetric manner. This resultant graded-index lens will affect the propagation of one axis of a light beam incident on the microlens in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lens. Such a lens is described in various publications by Sead Doric, including product literature and Canadian Patent Application No.: 2,135,128 (laid open for inspection), entitled: "NONFULL APERTURE LUNEBERG-TYPE LENS WITH A GRADED INDEX CORE AND HOMOGENOUS CLADDING, METHOD FOR FORMING THEREOF, AND HIGH NUMERICAL APERTURE LASER DIODE ASSEMBLY" (hereafter the '128 reference.).
In each of the Doric references of which the present inventor is aware (including the '128 reference), the graded-index cylindrical microlenses are always used to collimate the fast axis of the incident laser beams.
The present inventor is also aware of a "posting" on the Internet, in which a graded-index lens is used to reimage, rather than collimate, the beam on the slow axis, but not in the fast axis.

Graded index cylindrical microlens for laser diode beam correction


A method is provided for reducing the reflectivity of a metal layer prior to photolithography. A thin buffer layer, such as oxide, can be deposited over the metal layer. A short plasma etch is performed in order to roughen, but not completely remove, the thin oxide layer. This roughened layer significantly reduces the reflectivity of the underlying metal layer. As an alternative, the brief plasma etch can be applied directly to the metal layer, which results in a significant roughening of its upper surface. This also reduces the reflectivity of the metal layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits, and more specifically to a technique for improving photomasking processes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The processing of semiconductor integrated circuits includes multiple steps of masking and etching various layers which have been deposited over a substrate and other earlier deposited layers. Photoresist is used for these masking steps. When a layer of photoresist is exposed to light of a proper frequency, such as ultraviolet for example, a physical change occurs in the polymers of the resist. After exposure using a mask as a pattern, the undesired portions of the resist are washed away using a chemical solvent. Those portions washed away may be either the unexposed or exposed portions, depending upon whether a positive or negative resist was used. The pattern of the photomask is thus transferred to the resist, which is used as an etch mask for the underlying layer or layers.
Problems can arise when resist is used in this manner as a mask to pattern layers of materials having a high reflectivity which have been deposited over the device. Metal layers are especially troublesome in this respect. Such metal layers are typically used as metal interconnect layers. Aluminum is a typical metal used for this purpose. A problem results during photolithography because metals such as aluminum are highly reflective, causing the light used to expose the resist to reflect back into the resist and further expose it. Since, in general, the light is not traveling perfectly perpendicularly to the upper surface of the metal layer, it is reflected at an angle to the side of the desired region. This is especially true where the metal layer passes over steps and other uneven topographical features. Since adjacent portions of the resist become exposed by the reflected light, accurate control of feature sizes is extremely difficult when patterning metal layers.
A number of approaches have been used to solve the reflectivity problem, but most such techniques introduce undesirable issues as side effects. It is not possible merely to reduce the intensity of the light used to expose the resist, because this can result in underexpose of some portions of the resist layer. Some techniques have used a thinner layer of photoresist in order to minimize the unwanted side effects from reflection off of the metal layer. However, the thinner resist layer is less effective as a mask for later etching steps. Also, the use of multiple resist layers introduces additional complexity into the process flow. Some techniques for using anti-reflective coatings have been used, but these often introduce additional processing complexity or provide only a partial solution to the problem.
It would be desirable to provide a technique for reducing the reflectivity of a metal layer prior to the deposition and patterning of a photoresist masking layer.

Method for reducing reflectivity of a metal layer


Embodiments are directed to a method of enriching and electrically isolating a fin of a FinFET. The method includes forming at least one fin. The method further includes forming under a first set of conditions an enriched upper portion of the at least one fin. The method further includes forming under a second set of conditions an electrically isolated region from a lower portion of the at least one fin, wherein forming under the first set of conditions is spaced in time from forming under the second set of conditions. The method further includes controlling the first set of conditions separately from the second set of conditions.

The present disclosure relates in general to semiconductor devices and their manufacture, and more specifically to the formation of an enriched, high mobility strained SiGe fin having bottom dielectric isolation.
Typical semiconductor devices are formed using active regions of a wafer. The active regions are defined by isolation regions used to separate and electrically isolate adjacent semiconductor devices. For example, in an integrated circuit having a plurality of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), each MOSFET has a source and a drain that are formed in an active region of a semiconductor layer by implanting n-type or p-type impurities in the layer of semiconductor material. Disposed between the source and the drain is a channel (or body) region. Disposed above the body region is a gate electrode. The gate electrode and the body are spaced apart by a gate dielectric layer.
One particularly advantageous type of MOSFET is known generally as a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET). The basic electrical layout and the mode of operation of a FinFET does not differ from a traditional field effect transistor. There is one source and one drain contact, as well as a gate to control the source to drain current flow. In contrast to planar MOSFETs, however, the source, drain and channel are built as a three-dimensional bar on top of the semiconductor substrate. The three-dimensional bar is known generally as a "fin," which serves as the body of the device. The gate electrode is then wrapped over the top and sides of the fin, and the portion of the fin that is under the gate electrode functions as the channel. The source and drain regions are the portions of the fin on either side of the channel that are not under the gate electrode. The dimensions of the fin establish the effective channel length for the transistor.
The use of silicon germanium in semiconductor devices provides desirable device characteristics, including the introduction of strain at the interface between the silicon germanium of the active device and the underlying semiconductor substrate. In general, a strained semiconductor's atoms are stretched beyond their normal inter-atomic distances. As the atoms in the silicon align with the atoms of the silicon germanium (which are arranged a little farther apart, with respect to those of a bulk silicon crystal), the links between the silicon germanium atoms become stretched, thereby leading to strained silicon germanium. Moving atoms farther apart reduces the atomic forces that interfere with the movement of electrons through the silicon germanium, which results in better mobility, better chip performance and lower energy consumption. The faster moving electrons in strained silicon germanium allow faster switching in transistors having strained silicon germanium channel regions.
The strain introduced by using silicon germanium in the active region of a semiconductor device is increased as the concentration of germanium in the silicon germanium increases. However, after growing silicon germanium to a certain level of thickness, defects begin to form, and these defects are proportional to the concentration of germanium in the silicon germanium. Thus, there is generally an inverse relationship between the concentration of germanium in the silicon germanium layer and the thickness to which the silicon germanium layer can be grown without introducing defects.

Enriched, high mobility strained fin having bottom dielectric isolation

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A disc brake having a brake caliper provided with a hydraulic actuating device including a brake cylinder and a brake piston. The brake piston is sealed relative to the brake cylinder by way of a sealing ring arranged in a surrounding annular groove of the brake cylinder. The annular groove is provided with a recess arranged in the transitional area between a groove wall and the cylinder surface. The recess is confined by at least three surrounding conical surfaces whose angles towards the cylinder surface increase progressively, starting from the surface which borders on the cylinder surface up to the surface which borders on the groove wall.

This invention relates to a disc brake.
A disc brake of the generic type is known from DE (German Patent Application) No. 32 41 164 C2. This known disc brake has a hydraulic actuating device consisting of a brake cylinder and of a brake piston arranged axially displaceably in the brake cylinder. Brake piston and brake cylinder are sealed relative to each other by means of a sealing ring. The sealing ring is arranged in a surrounding annular groove inside the brake cylinder and frictionally rests for sealing purposes on an outside surface area of the brake piston. The sealing ring does not only have the duty to seal the inside of the brake cylinder; it also helps adjust a clearance between the friction surfaces of the brake pads and the brake disc after the brake has been applied.
When the brake is actuated hydraulic pressure is applied to the brake piston which thus moves axially out of the brake cylinder. The friction between the sealing ring and the brake piston causes the sealing ring which rests on the outside surface area of the brake piston to be elastically deformed during axial displacement of the brake piston. If the hydraulic pressure is removed, the sealing ring will return to its original form, thus moving the brake piston by a small degree to the brake cylinder. A brake pad resting on the brake piston follows the axial displacement of the brake piston, with its friction surface being lifted away from the brake disc and thus a clearance being adjusted.
In general, the size of the adjusted clearance depends on the condition of the sealing ring and of the annular groove which accommodates the sealing ring, particularly on the cross-sectional shape of the annular groove. There exists a further undesired dependence on the hydraulic pressure prevailing in the brake cylinder during brake application. It is a general aim always to keep an invariably constant clearance after any brake application, no matter what hydraulic pressures will appear during brake application. In order to achieve this object there have already been many suggestions concerning different cross-sectional shapes of the annular groove. However, a generally valid measure which will reliably perform in all applications has not yet been found. For instance, the disc brake known from DE 32 41 164 C2 features a step in the transitional area between a groove wall and the cylinder surface of the brake cylinder.

Disc brake cylinder groove with a recess consisting of three sector surfaces


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a first medium at an image forming position, a fixing unit configured to fix the image formed on the first medium by heating the first medium at a first temperature, a conveying unit configured to convey the first medium to the fixing unit through a first path extending from the image forming position to the fixing unit and convey a second medium to the fixing unit through a second path that merges with the first path at a position between the image forming position and the fixing unit, and a control unit configured to control the fixing unit to be a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature, when the control unit determines that the conveying unit is conveying the second medium to the fixing unit through the second path.

Conventionally, a technology for printing an image on a sheet with a decolorizable material has been employed. The decolorizable material has, for example, a characteristic of being decolorized when heated at a certain temperature. Therefore, by using such a decolorizable material, a printing operation and an erasing operation can be carried out repeatedly on the same sheet.

Image forming apparatus having multiple medium paths to a fixing unit


A device for acoustic monitoring of a monitoring area includes first and second sensor systems which have first and second acoustic sensors, processors, and transmitter, respectively, and which may be mounted at different locations of the monitoring area. The first and second processors may be configured to classify first and second audio signals detected by the first and second acoustic sensors so as to obtain first and second classification results, respectively. The first and second transmitter may be configured to transmit the first and second classification results to a central evaluator, respectively. In addition, the device may include the central evaluator, which may be configured to receive the first classification result and to receive the second classification result, and to generate a monitoring output for the monitoring area as a function of the first classification result and the second classification result.

Monitoring areas have been monitored in most varied ways up to now. For example, building-site documentation may be performed, or other monitoring areas may be supervised, by means of a video/infrared camera (e.g. http://www.1000eyes.de/videoueberwachung/baustelen-webcam). The motivation for video/infrared camera systems usually lies in the protection against theft, vandalism and sabotage. With the help of the video/infrared cameras, manual evaluation of the construction progress may be possible in some circumstances, or monitoring of a traffic volume on a road system. To this end, however, large amounts of data are typically transmitted and processed.
On construction sites, the area to be monitored is often monitored by persons rather than by machines or appliances. For example, a comparison of the construction plan with the actual construction progress may be carried out (more or less regularly) by the site manager. The site manager checks, for example, which construction goals (e.g. completion of the 3rd floor in building construction) have been reached/have not been reached within the given time frame. Thus, an analysis of causes for construction delays is possible only within a rough time period and entails considerable expenditure in terms of personnel.
For precisely timed process monitoring in your monitoring area, there are currently only very complex monitoring systems that can hardly be implemented in terms of logistics. If, for example, activities, phases of a process or events in a monitoring area are to be monitored, there is no simple monitoring system that can be implemented at low cost.
In view of this, there is a need for a concept that provides an improved compromise between precisely timed and spatial process monitoring, a simple system that may be implemented logistically, and a reduction in the amount of data to be transferred from the monitoring area to, for example, a central server.

Device, method and computer program for acoustic monitoring of a monitoring area

FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.


The embodiment of the present invention provides a pixel structure, pixel unit structure, display panel and display apparatus, which is used to increase the electrical-optical efficiency of the display apparatus. The pixel structure includes an active matrix driving circuit, also includes at least two light emitting devices connected in series which are connected to the active matrix driving circuit, the light emitting devices compose the light emitting device group, and the active matrix driving circuit drives the light emitting devices to emit light.

An organic light emitting display is called a new generation of fantastic display because of its many advantages, such as all-solid-state, active emission, high contrast, ultra thin, low power consumption, wide visual angle, fast response speed, wide operation ranges, easy to realize the flexible display and 3D display. Meanwhile, because the light emitting device has a characteristic of capable of forming a large area of film, which can be used for an ideal large size of a flat panel display apparatus. Currently, the light emitting device widely used is an organic light emitting diode (Organic Light Emitting Diode, OLED). A large size organic light emitting display apparatus made by the OLED, such as the OLED color TV, the OLED flat panel computer, becomes the pursuit of many manufactories currently.
A light emitting device needs a certain driving current to emit light, this driving current is usually provided by a peripheral circuit, for example, a reference voltage source provides a certain voltage VDD to the light emitting device via an active matrix driving circuit of the organic light emitting display panel. As the size of the organic light emitting display apparatus increases, the amount of wiring of the active matrix driving circuit increases, which causes the wiring resistance also increasing, thus a voltage drop generated by the wiring resistance (IR Drop) increases. But IR Drop does not contribute to the light emitting of the light emitting device, instead, it becomes heat power consumption to dissipate, not only reducing the electrical-optical efficiency of the display device, increasing the power consumption, but also affecting the display effect of the display apparatus due to the performance of the light emitting martial of the electrical element will be influenced if the heat in the circuit achieves a certain level.
In the color display technical field, a pixel unit includes three pixels of red pixel, green pixel, and blue pixel. In the existing mainstream technology, in order to simplify the circuit, a light emitting device of the red, green, or blue pixel in a pixel unit is driven by a single voltage source VDD-VSS to emit light. However, due to the preset working voltage of the light emitting device of different color is usually different, for example, the working voltage of the blue light emitting device is higher, and the working voltage of the red and the green light emitting device is lower, which causes the fact that if the supply voltage VDD-VSS applied to the active matrix driving circuit is the same, in order to ensure realizing the white balance display, the matrix driving supply voltage VDD-VSS must be set according to the working voltage of the blue light emitting device. In the case that the blue light emitting device can work normally, due to the preset working voltage of the red and the green light emitting device is lower, in order to make all of the light emitting devices of three colors work normally and form the white balance display according to a proper proportion of strength, the driving transistors set in the active matrix driving circuit needs to substantially share the voltage beyond the range of the preset working voltage of the device. However, for the blue light pixel, the driving transistors in the red and green active matrix driving circuits sharing the excesses voltage and the corresponding power consumption, which does not contribute to the light emitting of the light emitting device, but becomes the heat power consumption to dissipate, which not only reducing the electrical-optical efficiency of the display device, but also affecting the working performance of the light emitting martial of the electronic components due to the heat in the circuit achieves a certain degree, thereby affecting the display effect of the display apparatus.

Pixel structure, display panel and display apparatus


A method and apparatus for layer 3 switching packets between locally attached virtual local area networks without using a routing protocol are provided. A learning internetwork switch is connected between a router and a plurality of virtual local area networks. Communications between devices on the virtual local area networks and the router pass through the learning internetwork switch. By inspecting certain packets that flow between the devices and the router, the learning internetwork switch learns the location of the devices without having to use a routing protocol. The learning internetwork switch learns the network layer and the data link layer addresses of the various devices. Once the learning internetwork switch has learned the location, the network layer address and data link layer address of a device, the learning internetwork switch can forward packets between devices on different virtual local area networks using layer 3 switching without involving the router.

Large computer network systems are often logically partitioned into numerous smaller networks, referred to as subnets, virtual local area networks or VLANs. Referring to FIG. 1, it is a block diagram of a network system 100 that has been logically partitioned into three VLANs: VLAN 102, VLAN 110 and VLAN 118. VLAN 102 includes a server 104 and two clients 106 and 108. VLAN 110 includes a server 112 and two clients 114 and 116. VLAN 118 includes a server 120 and two clients 122 and 124. The members of each VLAN communicate with each other through a hub or switch. In the illustrated example, the members of VLANs 102, 110 and 118 communicate with each other through switches 134, 136, and 138, respectively.
All messages sent between members of a given VLAN are sent at the data link layer (level two) of the ISO reference model. Messages sent between VLANs are routed at the network layer (level three) of the ISO reference model. Control information is transmitted with a packet to indicate the device that sent the packet, the device that is to receive the packet, and the protocol-type of the packet. A packet sent between VLANs may include, for example, control information that indicates the protocol-type (PT) of the packet, the data link layer address of the source device (SA), the data link layer address of the destination device (DA), the network layer address of the source device (SNLA), and the network layer address of the destination device (DNLA).
The larger network system 100 is formed by connecting the VLANs to each other through a router 126. Specifically, VLANs 102, 110 and 118 are respectively connected to ports 130, 128 and 132 of router 126. Because the VLANs are connected to each other through router 126, the members of each VLAN are able to communicate with members of other VLANs that are part of the larger network system 100. However, a different mechanism is used to communicate between members of different VLANs than is used to communicate between members of the same VLAN.

Method and apparatus for forwarding traffic between locally attached networks using level 3 addressing information


An expression estimation device configured to estimate an expression of a person from an image has an expression determination unit that analyzes the image of the person to generate first expression information indicating an expression of the person, a motion determination unit that analyzes the image of the person to determine a type of motion of the person, and an expression estimation unit that generates second expression information indicating the expression of the person according to the first expression information generated by the expression determination unit and the type of motion determined by the motion determination unit.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a technology for estimating an expression of a person in an image.
2. Related Art
Nowadays, with the progress of an image analysis technology, a face portion of a person can be specified from an image, or an expression of the face can be estimated. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-066844, the face is detected from a moving image content to recognize the expression of the face, and a feeling of the person is determined from existence or non-existence or size of the motion of the person in which the face is detected and existence or non-existence or volume of a sound made by the person. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-237561, an expression and a body motion of the person image included in image information are detected, and mind and body conditions of a user are detected based on the expression and the body motion as well as sound information and biological information which are acquired by sensors.
Sometimes false estimation, in which the expression different from the feeling of the person in the image is estimated, is generated in the expression estimation based on the image. For example, because the expression of hate and the expression of anger are similar to each other, sometimes the expression is estimated to be anger in the case that the person in the image feels the hate, or the expression is estimated to be hate in the case that the person feels the anger. Therefore, there is a demand to enhance accuracy of the expression estimation such that the generation of the false estimation is minimized.
However, in the conventional technology as described above, unfortunately the accuracy of expression estimation of the person in the image cannot be enhanced. This is because, in the technology of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-066844, the face expression is used as one of factors determining the feeling of the person, but the technology is not aimed at the estimation of the expression. Similarly, in the technology of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-237561, the expression is used as one of factors detecting the mind and body conditions of the user, but the technology is not aimed at the estimation of the expression. Therefore, the accuracy of the expression estimation cannot be enhanced.

Expression estimation device, control method, control program, and recording medium


A navigation service generates a route for navigating from a route origin to a route destination using a private roads repository. A ghost road is along the route, and a ghost origin and a ghost destination of the ghost road is identified. Using an application programming interface of a base roads engine, a request for a route is sent from the ghost origin to the ghost destination. From the base roads engine and in response to the request, a replacement section from the ghost origin to the ghost destination is received. The ghost road is replaced with the replacement section to create an updated route, which is presented.

Various computer services offer digital maps and driving instructions on known public roads. In order to provide maps and driving instructions, the services rely on a single repository of geocoded road information. When a request is received for a route, the single repository of geocoded road information is searched to identify the path.
A problem exists in providing maps and navigation for routes that span public and private roads, such as rural company roads, roads of oil leases and other such unmapped roads. For example, oilfield companies may have challenges in obtaining navigation for routing that includes oilfield roads. Many private roads are constructed quickly and may be dirt or gravel roads which have changing conditions. As such, computer services that are focused on public roads do not provide routing for private routes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A first image (200) of a transmitted signal is detected within a received signal containing a plurality of images of the transmitted signal. This is accomplished by detecting a second image (210) of the transmitted signal. A set of characteristics of the second image of the transmitted signal is determined, and subsequently used to detect the first image (200) of the transmitted signal.

In communications systems, multipath is a well-understood phenomenon. Signals propagate from a transmitter to varying degrees in all directions. While one image of the signal (known in the art as the direct-path image) travels in a straight line from the transmitter to the receiver, other images are reflected from any number of surfaces and arrive at the receiver at other times, those times being largely dependent on the length of the path traveled from the transmitter to the receiver.
Aside from well-understood issues of fading and destructive interference, multi-path propagation is generally welcomed in the communications arena. In most cases, the direct-path image must penetrate several obstacles before arriving at the receiver. Given a large number of images of the signal following other paths between the transmitter and receiver, it is likely that many of them will penetrate fewer obstacles and experience less attenuation than the direct-path image. Since all images of the signal carry the same information, it is unimportant which particular image is detected and decoded. Thus, the arrival of stronger images that arrive at the receiver by other paths is generally beneficial.
Unfortunately, however, the receiver receiving multipath images of a signal from various paths is not beneficial for location systems. While signals in location systems generally carry some information modulated onto them by the transmitter, the primary purpose of detection of these signals is to gain physical information that indicates the spatial relationship between the receiver and the transmitter. Signal strength or received signal strength information ("RSSI") systems estimate the distance from a transmitter to a receiver based on the strength of the arriving signal, assuming that the signal is attenuated roughly 6 db each time the distance doubles. Angle-of-arrival ("AOA") systems estimate the direction of the transmitter from the receiver based on the angle from which the detected signal arrived. Timing-based systems, such as ranging or time difference of arrival ("TDOA") systems, estimate distances in a system based on the arrival time of signals at receivers, using the approximation that the signals propagate at a constant speed. In all of these cases, detection of an image of the signal other than the direct path image is disruptive, since these other images will generally have different amplitudes, come from different directions, and arrive at different times than the direct-path image.
Because of these considerations, a location system must be capable of detecting and characterizing the direct-path image despite interference from other images of the same transmitted signal. Rejecting images other than the direct path image cannot be accomplished by simple filtering or averaging, since the interfering image is, unlike noise or other emissions, highly correlated with the desired image. For this reason, many location systems use broadband spread-spectrum techniques. Two images of a signal appear as distinct entities if their arrival times differ by a factor on the order of the inverse of the occupied bandwidth. It is generally valid to assume that the image arriving earliest is the direct-path image, since the overwhelming majority of the propagation of any signal is through air on the Earth's surface, and the propagation speed of the signal is substantially equal to the speed of light in free space.
While using broadband modulation addresses the issue of distinguishing the direct-path image from other images arriving along substantially different paths, it assumes that the direct-path signal is strong enough to be detectable. As mentioned previously, the direct-path signal is usually not the strongest, as it must generally penetrate multiple barriers, such as walls, floors, vehicles, or buildings before reaching the receiver. This issue is compounded by the fact that, while a single connection between a transmitter and a receiver is adequate for communication, most location systems require characterization of the propagation paths between the transmitter and several receivers, increasing the required system density significantly. It is well known in the art that, by significantly reducing the information capacity of a system relative to its bandwidth (e.g., by sending largely redundant information), it is possible to increase the effective gain of the system. This increase is called coding gain. Direct sequence spread spectrum ("DSSS") is one implementation of this technique, and is used extensively by modem broadband location systems, including the Global Positioning System, ("GPS"). A pseudonoise (PN) code is superimposed on the data, generally at a higher modulation rate than the data itself. The receiver is given a priori knowledge of the PN code. The rate at which symbols are modulated onto a carrier is called the chipping rate, and determines the bandwidth of the signal. The rate at which information is transmitted is called the bit rate, and determines the utilized bandwidth. The ratio is the number of chips per bit, and establishes the coding gain for a particular bandwidth. The coding gain may be approximated as 3 db*log2(N), where N is the number of chips per bit. Coherent averaging, which takes into account signal phase as well as amplitude, is possible over the number of chips in a bit because the receiver knows the pattern of the chips within a bit a priori. Because the receiver must know this pattern, it cannot contain any information; in information theory, information is by definition unknown to the receiver, and any data in a message (such as the PN code) that is known to the receiver before the message is detected is not considered information. This is why the tradeoff between coding gain and information rate becomes possible.
The teaching of prior art communication systems design is that coherent averaging to improve the detection of a digital signal can be performed only over a length of time corresponding to the duration of one information symbol or less. A symbol is a quantum of information, which corresponds to one bit in the binary system. The reason for this is that the symbol carries information and, as such, its state cannot be determined a priori by a receiver. If the receiver were to have a priori knowledge of the state of a symbol, information theory holds that no information would be contained therein.
This technique, however, is not without its disadvantages. Most location systems send at least some data with location transmissions. Examples of data needed to supplement location transmissions includes transmitter identification, ephemeris or status data, alerts, configuration data, and control information. Given a particular amount of data to be sent in a location transmission, for each 3 db increase in bandwidth, the duration of the transmission must be doubled. This reduces system capacity and battery life proportionally. Some implementations add a known synchronization pattern to the message in addition to the transmitted data to improve the detection sensitivity. This could be regarded as the sending of two distinct signals, one for location characterization and one for data. It is obvious that this also increases power consumption and decreases system capacity.
Thus, there exists a need for a technique that is capable of utilizing the entirety of the transmitted signal to improve the sensitivity of the receiver to the direct-path image of the signal, without imposing excessive limitations on the amount of information that may be sent with the message.

Method for increased location receiver sensitivity


In one example embodiment, an information processing apparatus causes a display device to display a first image in a display range. In this embodiment, the first image is from images associated with an observation target object. The images include a first image, a second image, and a third image. In response to a request to change the display range, the information processing apparatus changes the display range at a first speed, and causes the display range to display the second image. In response to a request to terminate the change of the display range, the information processing apparatus changes the display range at a deceleration speed, and causes the display range to display the third image.

In a field of medicine, pathology, or the like, there has been proposed a system that digitizes an image of a cell, a tissue, an organ, or the like of a living body, that is obtained by an optical microscope, to examine the tissue or the like by a doctor or a pathologist or diagnose a patient based on the digitized image.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-37250 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a method in which an image optically obtained by a microscope is digitized by a video camera with a CCD (charge coupled device), a digital signal is input to a control computer system, and the image is visualized on a monitor. A pathologist performs examination while watching the image displayed on the monitor (see, for example, paragraphs [0027] and [0028] and FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1). Generally, such a system is called a virtual microscope.
Incidentally, in the case of the past virtual microscope disclosed in Patent Document 1, for moving a display range of an image or zooming an image by a user, a user has to repeatedly perform operations of dragging a mouse or rotating a scroll wheel thereof, for example. However, an image used in the virtual microscope has a large size of 50×50 (Kpixel: kilopixel), for example. For this reason, to thoroughly observe such an image is a very hard task for a user. In particular, a pathologist performs such a task all day long. If the operations are troublesome, they may be stressful. There is fear that a change in pathological tissue that should be found may be missed, which may cause a misdiagnosis.
In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is desirable to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program therefor capable of reducing user's operations necessary for moving a display range of an image in a virtual microscope and make an observation task efficient.

Information processing apparatus, method and computer-readable medium


A lead-acid battery with a charge capacity indicator comprises a sensor that includes a reversible electrode, such as PbO.sub.2, as a reference electrode that does not participate in the battery charge and discharge reactions, and the voltage is measured between the reference electrode and the negative plates, for example, by using the negative terminal.

It has long been recognized that it would be highly desirable to have a reliable means of determining the capacity of lead-acid batteries. Over the years, a considerable amount of effort has been directed to providing an economical, yet accurate, means of indicating the capacity of lead-acid batteries.
It has been recognized, that, in lead-acid batteries, the average concentration of the bulk electrolyte is proportional to the capacity of such a battery. Sulfuric acid is thus involved in the following electrochemical reaction in lead-acid batteries: EQU Pb+PbO.sub.2 +2H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 .revreaction.2PbSO.sub.4 +2H.sub.2 O
Accordingly, as may be seen from the above-identified electrochemical reaction, the specific gravity of the electrolyte is raised and lowered as the battery is charged and discharged, respectively.
While simple in principle, the measurement of the average acid concentration in lead-acid batteries is complicated by the size of batteries, acid stratification, and the corrosive battery environment itself. For example, acid concentration gradients or stratification occurs when lead-acid batteries are charged or discharged. Accordingly, measurements can easily have more than 30% error if just the top part of the sulfuric acid is used in determining the specific gravity. Indeed, under certain conditions, an error of the magnitude of anywhere from 50 to 100% can result.
Ideally, perhaps, the open circuit voltage could be used as an indication of the specific gravity of the electrolyte. Unfortunately, however, the use of the open circuit voltage of a lead-acid battery does not give an accurate indication of the average bulk acid concentration unless the acid is destratified by vigorously gassing or by the use of other mechanical means, and the PbO.sub.2 plates are also stabilized for a long period of time.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,193 to Pitsch et al. measures the concentration of an electrolyte by utilizing two electrodes immersed in the electrolyte. U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,721 to Swain discloses, what is termed, a proportional electric comparator of strong electrolytes. A sensor is made by placing a sensor electrode in a sensed electrolyte, and a reference electrode in a stable electrolyte, and electrically connecting the electrolytes with a capillary-joining electrolyte. This sensor is ordinarily constructed so that its electrical resistance is proportional to the resistivity of the joining electrolyte.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,824 to Howes discloses an electronic hydrometer for monitoring the specific gravity of a solution. This hydrometer includes a probe having spaced apart electrodes that are adapted to be inserted into the solution to be monitored and is provided with A.C. resistance electrically connected in series with an electrode of the probe to form, with the probe, a voltage divider network.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,571 to Yonezu et al. describes, by way of background, various types of specific gravity sensors that have been developed which provide an output that changes according to changes in the specific gravity of the electrolyte, as well as what are considered to be the disadvantages of those various types. Yonezu et al. disclose a lead electrode and a lead dioxide electrode which are immersed in the electrolyte, and the potential between those electrodes is converted to data indicative of the specific gravity of the electrolyte. A method for stabilizing the potential of the electrodes used is likewise disclosed.
Despite all of the substantial prior efforts in this field, there still exists the need for a reliable and efficient means for determining the capacity of a lead-acid battery. Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a lead-acid battery having a reliable and efficient capacity indicator. A more specific object provides a battery including an indicator which can reliably and rapidly determine the average specific gravity of the electrolyte in the battery.
Another object of this invention provides a lead-acid battery having a capacity indicator whose accuracy is essentially independent of the extent of acid stratification within the battery.
Yet another object lies in the provision of a capacity indicator that can be readily and economically incorporated into existing commercial lead-acid battery configurations.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a capacity indicator that will be operable over the expected life of a lead-acid battery.
Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a capacity indicator that may be utilized with a sealed lead-acid battery.
Yet another object of this invention provides a capacity indicator allowing the dynamic measurement of the capacity of a lead-acid battery.
An additional object of this invention lies in the provision of a direct electrical signal output to an electrical instrument for controlling the charging and/or discharging of lead-acid batteries.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

Capacity indicator for lead-acid batteries


A method and apparatus for providing a source operand for an instruction to be executed in a processor. Some embodiments may include a register file unit that has registers and a scheduler to schedule instructions. In some embodiments, the scheduler is to asynchronously receive an instruction and a source operand for that instruction, the source operand being received from the register file unit.

A processor in a computer system typically carries out the execution of instructions in a series of stages, which may be referred to as a pipeline. Each of these stages may be performed by a different section of the processor. As an example, an instruction may be decoded by a decoder and, at a later time, the decoded instruction(s) executed by a functional unit. In an "out-of-order" architecture, instructions may be executed by an execution unit in a different order than is specified by the program from which they are derived. In such a case, the instructions may be dispatched by a dispatcher into a scheduler, and the scheduler may determine the order in which the instructions are issued to a functional unit that executes the instructions.
The instructions that a processor performs typically use registers to store data. An instruction may have one or more source operands, which may be stored in register(s), and an instruction may produce a result, which may also be stored in a register. An instruction may be said to use a register if a source operand is stored in that register (i.e., it reads from the register) or a result is stored in that register (i.e., it writes to the register). For example, for a given instruction the processor may read a data operand out of register R0, read a data operand out of register R3, add these data operands, and then store the results back into register R4. Some prior architectures may have a register cache, and in such architectures source operands may be obtained from the register cache or, if a cache miss, from the register file unit. In prior architectures, every instruction in the pipeline must flow through the register file unit (or associated register cache). For example, some prior out-of-order architectures have the register file unit either in the main pipeline after the schedulers, in which case the register file unit may be accessed as instructions are scheduled out of the scheduler to functional units, or may have the register file unit in the main pipeline before the schedulers, in which case the register file unit may be accessed as instructions enter the scheduler.

Method and apparatus to provide a source operand for an instruction in a processor


A transfer sheet placed between a vacuum chuck and a stamp in a soft lithography aligner facilitates three dimensional manufacturing with elastomeric materials.

Lithography or printing refers to any number of processes for creating a permanent image on a substrate. In semiconductor and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing, photolithography is widely used as a method of patterning substrates. Recently, however, "soft lithography" methods have become popular, especially in prototyping applications.
Soft lithography is analogous to rubber stamping, but with greater pattern resolution, accuracy and image quality. Soft lithography also encompasses three-dimensional manufacturing processes in which a stamp with grooves or other surface indentations is brought into contact with a substrate and permanently stuck to it.
Compared to photolithography, soft lithography is inexpensive and straightforward. The utility of soft lithography has been somewhat limited, however, by a lack of readily available alignment tools. Often a stamp and substrate are only aligned by unaided human visual inspection.
There is a need therefore for alignment tools that are appropriate for soft lithography and three-dimensional manufacturing.


A base station of the cellular network receives a history of wireless access of a user device. When the history indicates that the user device is a mobile device, the base station commands the user device to perform a mobility measurement. When the history indicates that the user device is a stationary device, the base station commands the user device to bypass the mobility measurement. The user device is determined to be a mobile device when the history indicates that the user device is wirelessly connected with at least two different base stations within a threshold period of time. The user device is determined to be a stationary device when the history indicates that the user device is connected with the base station and no other base station within a threshold period of time.

User devices designed to support Internet of Things (IoT) applications aim to achieve low cost and longer battery life. Long-Term Evolution (LTE) category M1 (CAT-M1 or CAT-M) is a wireless technology that allows IoT user devices or user equipment to connect directly with an LTE/4G network without gateway. CAT-M caps the maximum system bandwidth at 1.4 MHz rather than at 20 MHz of CAT-0.
Typical CAT-M user devices may include stationary devices such as utility meters, sensors, and alarm monitors. CAT-M user devices may also include smart watches and tracking devices, which are mobile devices. When a CAT-M user device moves from one place to another, handover operations are performed so that the user device may switch from using one base station to communicate with the LTE network to using another base station to communicate with the network.

Handover optimization based on mobility characteristics of user devices


A double wall venturi chamber having a converging section, a diverging section and a cylindrical section wherein said chamber defines a venturi zone in which compressed air, fuel and combustion products flow downstream through converging section, diverging section and cylindrical section, and has a cooling gas passage between the walls of the venturi chamber, a least one cooling gas inlet in an outlet wall of the venturi chamber, and at least one cooling gas outlet in an inner wall of the venturi chamber, wherein said cooling gas outlet is in at least one of the diverging and the cylindrical section, and the outlet is downstream of the at least one cooling gas inlet and upstream of an axial end of the chamber.

This invention relates to gas turbine combustors and, in particular, to combustors having primary and secondary combustion chambers divided by a venturi.
A combustor in an industrial gas turbine typically has dual combustion chambers. A venturi typically divides the combustor into primary and secondary combustion chambers. Combustion gases generated in the primary chamber flow through the venturi to the secondary combustion chamber. The conventional venturi chamber generally has dual-walls with cooling gas passages between the walls. Cooling air enters an upstream inlet to the passage between the walls of the venturi. The cooling air flows out from an axial end of the venturi. A conventional venturi chamber is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,146.
Conventional dual-wall venturi chambers exhausts cooling air from the annular passage between the walls of the venturi. The air from the venturi chamber is discharged from the axial end of the venturi chamber adjacent the combustor liner wall in the secondary combustion chamber. The combustion air is discharged from the venturi in an axial direction paralleling the centerline of the combustion chamber. The air from the discharge end of the venturi flows into the secondary combustion chamber along the liner wall of the combustor and flows in a direction generally parallel to the centerline of the chamber. The air discharged from the axial end of the venturi generally flows along the surface of the liner wall and does not quickly mix with the combustion gases in the combustion chamber.
There is a long felt need for combustors having robust mixing of compressor air and combustion products. This need also exists with the gas flow through a venturi. Robust mixing of air and combustion products tends to reduce emissions, such as reduced nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Inboard radial dump venturi for combustion chamber of a gas turbine


There is provided the fuel tank disposition structure of the vehicle, in which a plurality of passenger seats are disposed longitudinally in the cabin, comprising the tunnel portion provided so as to project upward toward the inside of the cabin at the central portion of the floor panel forming the lower face of the cabin, the tunnel portion including the wide portion and the narrow portions, the fuel tank disposed in the tunnel portion below the floor panel, the fuel tank including the wide portion and the narrow portion so as to correspond to the tunnel portion, wherein the front seat is disposed above the wide portion of the tunnel portion, and the rear seat is disposed above the narrow portions.

The present invention relates to a fuel tank disposition structure of a vehicle in which a plurality of passenger seats are disposed longitudinally in a cabin.
Conventionally, the following structure is known as such a fuel tank disposition structure of a vehicle. Namely, there is provided a tunnel portion which projects upward toward an inside of the cabin at a central portion of a floor panel forming a lower face of the cabin in a vehicle width direction. And, there are further provided a central projecting portion which further projects upward from the above-described tunnel portion between a driver seat and a assistant seat, and a pair of side projecting portions which respectively project upward from portions of the floor panel below respective seat cushions of the driver and assistant seats. Herein, the side projecting portions are formed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction between the tunnel portion and side sills, and a fuel tank is disposed below the central projecting portion and the right and left side projecting portions so as to extend in the vehicle width direction (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-85382).
In this conventional structure, since the fuel tank is disposed effectively by utilizing a dead space below the front seat (driver seat and assistant seat), there is an advantage that a roomy cabin can be ensured even for a compact car. However, this structure has a problem that since the fuel tank is disposed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction, some measures against a vehicle side crash may be necessary and protecting the fuel tank with frames enclosing the fuel tank may cause a weight increase of the vehicle.
Generally, by raising the seat cushion of the assistant seat toward the seat back in its upright position and then sliding the seat cushion and the seat back forward together, a space for a luggage or the like can be created at a portion where the assistant seat was located originally. Herein, in the above-described structure, the side projection portions might prevent such a proper luggage space to be created. Thus, this conventional structure has another problem that a proper utilization of space during a seat arrangement of the vehicle may not be attained.
Meanwhile, the following structure is also known as another conventional fuel tank disposition structure. Namely, the tunnel portion which projects upward toward the inside of the cabin at the central portion of the floor panel forming the lower face of the cabin in the vehicle width direction, and there is provided a cover member which is located at substantially the same level as the floor panel so as to cover the lower of the fuel tank. The fuel tank is disposed between the cover member and the tunnel portion so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 59-78131).
In this conventional structure, since the fuel tank is provided in the tunnel portion such that the lower portion of the fuel tank does not project below the floor panel, the height of the fuel tank is apt to be greater in order to ensure a sufficient volume of the fuel tank. Accordingly, this conventional structure may need a relatively large-sized tunnel portion, and it may be difficult to facilitate a walk-through arrangement in the vehicle width direction. Thus, this conventional structure may not be suitable for the compact car particularly, either.

Fuel tank disposition structure of vehicle