An imprint method of forming a pattern of a resin on a substrate held on a holding surface. An uncured resin on the substrate is brought in contact with a mold. A partial region of the substrate is thermally deformed by irradiating the region with light so as to change an outer circumferential shape of the region. The uncured resin is cured on the region by irradiating light having a wavelength different from the deforming light. The mold is released from the cured resin on the region in contact with the mold. In at least a portion of a period during the deforming step, a region different from the region is held at a first suction force, while the region is held at a second suction force less than the first. The first suction force and the second suction force act between the substrate and the holding surface.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imprint method, an imprint apparatus, and an article manufacturing method.
Description of the Related Art
As the demand for microfabrication of semiconductor devices or MEMS increases, not only has conventional photolithography technology, but also, microfabrication technology, in which an uncured resin on a substrate is molded by a mold to thereby form a resin pattern on the substrate, has been receiving attention. This technology is also referred to as "imprint technology", by which a fine structure with dimensions of a few nanometers can be formed on a substrate. One example of the imprint technology includes a photo-curing method. An imprint apparatus employing the photo-curing method first applies an ultraviolet curable resin (imprint material, photocurable resin) to a shot (imprint region) on a substrate (wafer). Next, the resin (uncured resin) is molded by a mold. After the ultraviolet curable resin is irradiated with ultraviolet light for curing, the cured resin is released from the mold, whereby a resin pattern is formed on the substrate.
Here, in a series of device manufacturing steps, heat processing in a film formation step, such as sputtering, is performed for a substrate to be subjected to imprint processing. Consequently, the entire substrate may be expanded or reduced, resulting in a change in the shape (size) of the pattern in the direction of two orthogonal in-plane axes. Thus, in an imprint apparatus, the shape of the substrate-side pattern formed on a substrate needs to be matched with the shape of the pattern section formed on a mold when the mold is pressed against the resin on the substrate. In a conventional exposure apparatus, such shape correction (magnification correction) can be ensured by changing the size of each shot during exposure processing by changing the reduction magnification of a projection optical system in accordance with the magnification of the substrate or by changing the scanning speed of a substrate stage. However, the imprint apparatus does not have a projection optical system and the mold is brought into direct contact with the resin on the substrate, and thus, it is difficult to perform such correction. Hence, the imprint apparatus employs a shape correction mechanism (magnification correction mechanism) that physically deforms a mold by imparting an external force to the sides of the mold or by expanding the mold by heating.
For example, assume a case wherein the imprint apparatus is applied to a manufacturing step of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a half-pitch of about 32 nm. At this time, according to ITRS (International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors), the superposition accuracy is 6.4 nm. In order to accommodate this, shape correction also needs to be performed with an accuracy of a few nm or less. On the other hand, the mold (pattern section) used in the imprint apparatus may also be distorted by the following causes. For example, the pattern surface of a mold is directed upward when the mold is being prepared, whereas the pattern surface thereof is directed downward when the mold is used (during pressing). Thus, the pattern section may be deformed upon usage under the influence of gravity. Although the pattern section is typically formed by a drawing apparatus using an electron beam, or the like, the pattern section may also be distorted due to distortion aberration of the optical system of the drawing apparatus during formation thereof. Furthermore, even if the pattern section can be prepared without distortion, the occurrence of distortion in a substrate-side pattern may result in an adverse effect on the superposition accuracy. Accordingly, in order to suppress such distortion (deformation) of the mold and to improve superposition accuracy, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-259985 discloses a pattern forming apparatus that controls the temperature of a mold and a substrate by means of a retention temperature control unit, and corrects the shape of the mold or the substrate by generating desired thermal deformation in the mold or the substrate.
In the conventional imprint apparatus, however, a substrate is held by a substrate holding unit, such as a wafer chuck, with the bottom surface of the substrate restricted thereto. Thus, even if thermal deformation is generated on the substrate under temperature control disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-259985, it is still difficult to sufficiently change the shape of the substrate-side pattern relative to the shape of the pattern section. Accordingly, an imprint apparatus is desired that is capable of improving superposition accuracy between a mold and a resin on a substrate by readily implementing not only the correction of the shape of the mold, but also, the correction of the shape of the substrate (including the substrate-side pattern) relative to the shape of the mold.

Imprint method, imprint apparatus, and article manufacturing method


This invention is to a process of making olefin, particularly ethylene and propylene, from an oxygenate feed. The invention uses two or more zeolite catalysts. Examples of zeolite catalysts include a first catalyst containing of ZSM-5, and a second catalyst containing a 10-ring molecular sieve, including but not limited to, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM35, ZSM-48, and mixtures thereof. The ZSM-5 can be unmodified, phosphorous modified, steam modified having a micropore volume reduced to not less than 50% of that of the unsteamed ZSM-5, or various mixtures thereof.

Ethylene is an important petrochemical. In 1998 about 80 million tons of ethylene was produced, and demand is expected to reach 100 million tons by 2003. The primary use for ethylene is as a monomer for the production of low and high density polyethylene. Approximately 60% of world ethylene consumption goes into making polyethylene for such products as plastic films, containers, and coatings. Other uses for ethylene include the production of vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, ethylbenzene and alcohols. Presently, about 90% of the ethylene is produced by the steam cracking of light paraffin, naptha, and gas oil.
Propylene is another important raw material. In 1998 about 46 million tons of propylene was produced, and demand is expected to reach 60 million tons by 2003. About 55% of the world consumption is directed to the production of polypropylene. Other important end products using propylene include acrylonitrile for acrylic and nylon fibers, and propylene oxide for polyurethane foams. About two-thirds of the propylene is produced from steam cracking, and the remaining third as a by-product of FCC gasoline refining.
A potential alternative to producing ethylene and propylene from petroleum feedstock is to use an oxygenate feedstock. Particularly promising oxygenate feedstocks are alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, diethyl ether, dimethyl carbonate, and methyl formate. Many of these oxygenates can be produced from a variety of sources including synthesis gas derived from natural gas; petroleum liquids; and carbonaceous materials, including coal. Because of the wide variety of these relatively inexpensive sources, alcohol and other oxygenates have promise as an economical, non-petroleum source for ethylene and propylene production.
One way of producing ethylene and propylene is by the catalytic conversion of methanol using a silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) molecular sieve catalyst. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,327 discloses making olefins from methanol using SAPO molecular sieve catalysts. The advantage of using SAPO catalysts is that such catalysts have relatively high ethylene and propylene selectivities.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,017 teaches the use of a SAPO-34 catalyst to first convert methanol to an olefin hydrocarbon product. The ethylene and propylene are then separated from the olefin hydrocarbon product. Di-olefin, such as butadiene, is selectively hydrogenated, and any isobutene is catalytically converted to methyl-t-butylether before the remainder of the olefin-hydrocarbon stream is directed to a second reaction zone. The second reaction zone is a cracking unit that converts a portion of the olefin-hydrocarbon stream to additional ethylene and propylene using SAPO-34 catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,433 teaches a one catalyst system to increase ethylene yields by cracking the butylene produced during the oxygenate conversion reaction. The cracking of the butylene may take place in a second conversion zone within the oxygenate conversion reactor, or in an external reaction unit. If an external reaction unit is used, the catalyst from the regenerator is used to convert the butylene to additional ethylene. In either case, the same catalyst is used for oxygenate conversion and for the butylene cracking.
GB 2171718 teaches that a zeolite catalyst, particularly a dealuminated, mordenite zeolite can be used to convert an oxygenate to a product containing olefin. The olefin product from this reaction is then separated into ethylene and propylene and a C4+ olefin portion that contains butenes. The C4+ olefin is then recycled back to the oxygenate conversion reactor to produce additional ethylene and propylene. DE 3524890 teaches that ZSM-5 can be used to convert butenes to ethylene and propylene.
Methods are known for increasing the production of ethylene and propylene from a conventional catalyst or steam cracker by a disproportionation or metathesis of the produced butenes. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,935, propylene and butenes are directed to a reaction zone containing a metathesis catalyst, e.g., MoOx or WOx, to produce more ethylene. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,936 ethylene and butenes are directed to a reaction zone using a metathesis catalyst to produce more propylene. U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,369 also describes the potential benefit of providing an olefin metathesis reaction unit to maximize ethylene or propylene yield from an oxygenate feedback.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,816 teaches a phosphorous modified ZSM-5 catalyst for the conversion of methanol to light olefin. The catalyst converts methanol to a light olefin stream containing over 30% by weight of ethylene and propylene.
European Patents 0 109 059 B and 0 109 060 B teach the use of ZSM-5, a modified ZSM-5, or ZSM-11 to convert butenes to propylene and smaller amounts of ethylene at temperatures between 400° C. to 600° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,522 to Leyshon teaches that a feed containing 40 to 95 wt. % paraffin having 4 or more carbon atoms and 5 to 60 wt. % olefins having 4 or more carbon atoms will produce more ethylene and propylene than if the two streams were directed to separate catalytic cracking units. The preferred catalyst for such a zeolitic cracking process are of the ZSM-type, particularly ZSM-5, and borosilicates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,864 discloses that SAPO molecular sieve, particularly SAPO-37 catalyst, has an alternative use as a cracking catalyst. However, Edwards indicates that activated SAPO molecular sieves have poor storage stability.
The references suggest that SAPO molecular sieves are preferred over zeolite molecular sieves for converting oxygenates, particularly methanol, to obtain significant quantities of ethylene and propylene. However, SAPO molecular sieves are reported to have poor storage stability. It would, therefore, be advantageous to obtain significant quantities of ethylene and propylene using catalysts which have good storage stability.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A camera is used in a photogrammetric analytical measurement, and has a distance-measuring sensor unit for measuring a vertical distance between the camera and a sloping surface of the ground and a minimum distance between the camera and the sloping surface of the ground when the camera is placed above the sloping surface of the ground. The camera has a memory medium for storing the vertical distance and the minimum distance as vertical distance data and minimum distance data, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera, with a distance-measuring sensor unit, for use in a photogrammetric analytical measurement.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, photogrammetry is carried out at a traffic accident spot. The traffic accident spot is photographed by a camera in at least two different locations, and a set of photographed pictures is selected to establish a survey map of the traffic accident spot.
In particular, a two-dimensional coordinate system is defined on each of the photographed pictures, and two-dimensional positions of objects, which are recorded on each picture, are determined in accordance with the two-dimensional system. Then, a three-dimensional coordinate system is produced based on the two sets of two-dimensional coordinate systems, and three-dimensional positions of the recorded objects are determined in accordance with the three-dimensional coordinate system. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a survey map of the traffic accident spot by drawing the objects on a sheet of paper such that the objects are projected on one of the three planes defined by the three-dimensional system.
Before accurately scaled distances and lengths can be reproduced on the survey map, a standard measurement scale must be recorded together with the objects in the photographed pictures. Also, a standard reference plane, on which the survey map should be based, must be defined in the photographed pictures.
Usually, in order to define the standard measurement scale and the reference plane, three respective cone-shaped markers, which are identical to each other, are positioned at suitable locations of a traffic accident spot. Namely, a distance between two apexes of the cone-shaped markers, measured, for example, with a measuring tape, is defined as being the standard measurement scale, and a plane, defined by the three apexes of the cone-shaped markers, is utilized as the reference plane.
If the ground is flat at the traffic accident spot, i.e. if the reference plane, defined by the apexes of the markers, coincides with a horizontal plane, it is possible to properly and precisely draw the survey map on the reference plane. However, if a surface of the ground is sloping, i.e. if the reference plane is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, the survey map cannot be properly and precisely drawn.
Accordingly, when the ground surface is sloping, a slope angle must be measured and the determination of the three-dimensional positions of the objects should be carried out, taking the measured slope angle into consideration, before a proper and precise drawing of the survey map can be ensured. Nevertheless, it is troublesome to measure a slope angle of the ground surface, and the measurement of the slope angle may be mistakenly not taken into account.
On the other hand, there is also a demand for drawing a survey map on a vertical plane, perpendicular to the horizontal plane or the reference plane. Before this demand can be satisfied, a vertical distance between the camera and the ground surface should be measured. Similarly, it is troublesome to measure such a vertical distance between the camera and the ground surface, and the measurement of the vertical distance may also be mistakenly not taken account.

Camera with distance-measuring sensor unit for use in photogrammetric analytical measurement


A method for synchronizing symbols at the output of a blind equalizer, the method being characterized by the following steps: on sending, inserting into a succession of sent symbols, one or more known sequences of symbols repeated in said succession of symbols; detecting said one or more known sequences at the output of said blind equalizer; deducing any shifting of the symbols at the output of the blind equalizer from the result of said detection; and retiming the symbols at the output of the blind equalizer as a function of the deduced shift.

Digital communications systems conventionally use receivers that include, in cascade, demodulator means, equalizer means, decoder means, etc.
The function of the equalizer means is to combat intersymbol interference caused in particular by the presence of multiple paths that are static or non-static over time.
Many kinds of equalizer means are already known in the art.
Historically speaking, the first systems used to combat intersymbol interference were essentially "synchronous" linear transversal filters.
Other equalizer structures that have been used include recursive non-linear decision feedback equalizers (DFEs) in which data that has been decided on is injected into a backward filter constituting the recursive portion of the equalizer.
The above kind of equalizer structure is generally used for transmission channels with adaptation algorithms for adjusting the parameters of the structures, in which case equalization is carried out in two stages. During a first stage, the structure is controlled by known training sequences that are inserted into the frames that are sent and cause the equalizer algorithm to converge. During the second stage, the structure becomes self-adaptive, i.e. it controls itself on the basis of its own decisions.
However, using a training stage has a serious drawback; in particular, it corresponds to a loss of efficiency in terms of bit rate.
For this reason considerable research has already been conducted with a view to proposing blind equalizer systems whose structure is able to converge towards an optimum solution in a "self-trained" manner, i.e. without using training sequences.
Blind equalizers that use different adaptation algorithms and structures according to the severity of the transmission channel have recently been proposed in patent application FR 2 738 967 and in a paper by J. Labat, O. Macchi and C. Laot "Adaptive Decision Feedback Equalization: can you skip the training period?", IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. 46, No. 7, July 1998.
In particular, when reception is difficult, those equalizers use a convergence structure that includes, in cascade, a purely recursive filter and a transversal filter, whereas when reception is easy, they function in a tracking mode that uses conventional DFE structures, the decision to switch from one mode of operation to the other being a function of the performance achieved at the equalizer output.
It should be noted that the reversible nature of the change from one of the above two modes of operation to the other means that those equalizers can always function with a configuration that corresponds to optimum performance. They can therefore operate according to their own decisions with no risk of divergence, unlike conventional DFE. This essential property enables them to adapt to severe channel fluctuations, and therefore makes them particularly suitable for non-stationary channels, such as mobile radio channels, ionospheric channels, and submarine acoustic channels.

Method for synchronizing an equalizer output data


A transfer mattress is provided including a top sheet having a width, a length, and longitudinally oriented peripheral edges and a bottom sheet having the same width, the same length, longitudinally oriented peripheral edges and a plurality of perforations. The longitudinally oriented peripheral edges of the top and bottom sheets are sealingly fastened to one another often by heat sealing. A plurality of baffles, each having a width and a length, are attached to an inner surface of the top sheet and an inner surface of the bottom sheet so as to be transversely oriented between the top sheet and the bottom. The baffles along with the widths of the top and bottom sheets define a radially-outwardly curved perimeter wall that is disposed between an edge of the baffles and the sealed peripheral edges of the top and bottom sheets. The radially-outwardly curved perimeter wall has a width y that is determined by the following relationship:

Patient handling mattresses are known in the art which include at least two flexible material sheets, that together define a plenum chamber, with at least one sheet being perforated with small pinholes over at least a central surface area, and which open up directly to the interior of the plenum chamber. Such prior art mattresses are used by arranging the perforated sheet so that it faces an underlying fixed, generally planar support surface, such as a floor or table. When the mattress is charged with pressurized air, the escape of air under pressure through the pinholes acts initially to jack a load placed upon the mattress above the perforated flexible sheet, and thereby creates an air bearing of relatively small height between the underlying fixed, generally planar support surface and the perforated flexible sheet.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,690, issued to Wegener, an air pallet is disclosed that is formed from upper and lower thin flexible film sheets sealed at their edges to form a plenum chamber. Wegener's air pallet functions to move a load with minimal friction over an underlying generally planar fixed support surface. The bottom thin flexible material sheet is perforated by small diameter perforations such as pin holes at the load imprint area.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,873, issued to Weedling, provides an inflatable flexible pallet within which an array of structurally interrelated inflatable chambers are formed to support a load when inflated. The flexible pallet is configured to resist lateral and longitudinal shrinkage of the load support surface, as well as ballooning and hot dogging. Rotational instability is also reduced by providing a greater load surface support area.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,291, issued to Davis, an inflatable medical patient transfer apparatus is disclosed that has a combination of transverse partition members and a raised perimeter section to reduce deleterious ballooning and uneven inflation as well as quick emergency deflation. Additional differentially inflatable patient rolling chambers are disclosed on the top of the transfer apparatus to provide assistance to medical personnel in beginning to roll patients reclining or lying upon the transfer apparatus, particularly in a deflated condition on a hospital bed.
All of the foregoing devices have suffered from an inability to be cleaned sufficiently and quickly so as to prevent transmission of disease from their patient engaging surfaces after use. Such a mattress would need to have the material contacting the patient be readily washable, and also be non-absorbent, since patients often experience loss of bodily fluids with resultant messing of bed linen and the like.
One solution to this ongoing problem is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,426, issued to Wegener et al., which discloses a highly absorbent sheet is provided to be placed onto the top of an operating table, and is weakened longitudinally through the center to form paired separable center-joined sections for lateral removal to respective sides of a patient lying on the sheet and centered longitudinally therewith. Thus after surgery, the absorbent pad carrying a significant mass of blood can be quickly removed from the patient by pulling with sufficient force on the opposites sides of the pad, severing the pad along the weakened portion. The pad may have several layers with one or more layers being weakened by thinning the sheet material or perforating the same longitudinally.
Unfortunately, many of the foregoing devices also suffer from the fact that their uninflated area is significantly larger than their inflated area. Consequently, peripheral edge portions of these devices tend to hang over the peripheral edges of a hospital bed or patient transfer cart, adding to the aforementioned cleaning problems. In the medical field, there is a continuing need to easily, safely and comfortably transport an injured person, hospital patient or injured person at the scene of an accident, using an air mattress. There is also a continuing need to be able to easily and safely clean such a mattress after use.

Abstract: d                                                  π            -      x        2    ≤  ywhere d comprises a height of the longitudinally extensive pontoon and x comprises the width of the baffles.


Dried fibers which are designated for the production of fiber boards are supplied to a fiber roller (17) from a metering device through a feed chute (10) which is subjected to negative pressure, which fiber roller is provided on its surface with a plurality of pins (18) and rotates in such a manner that the fibers (14) are deflected by the pins (18), are directed along a chute section (22) defined by means of a partial section (20) of the periphery of the fiber roller (17) and an opposite-lying wall (21) and gluing means and said fibers are accelerated to approximately the peripheral speed of the fiber roller (17) by means of the pins (18) and an air flow generated by said pins. The fibers (36) lie against a section of the wall and are glued in the region of or adjacent to one end of the wall section and exit at an outlet orifice (23) of the chute section (22). In the case of an alternative process, after exiting the chute section substantially horizontally the fibers are deflected in an upward or downward direction and are glued in this region by means of at least one spray nozzle.

The invention relates to processes and devices for gluing dried fibers designated for the production of fiberboards. The fibers preferably consist of lignocellulose-containing and/or cellulose-containing materials. The fiberboards are light, medium-density or high-density fiberboards.
It is conventional to glue fibers, which are designated for the production of MDF- or HDF-boards, in the wet state. By means of this so-called blow-line gluing system, the binding agent is sprayed into a blowpipe, which terminates in the inlet region of the pipe drier, behind a refiner and on to the wet, still hot fibers. The fibers are then dried. The blow-line gluing system renders it possible to glue fibers in a uniform manner and thus to obviate the formation of lumps made up of glue and fibers. However, one considerable disadvantage of the blow-line gluing system is the relatively high glue consumption (cf. e.g.: Buchholzer, P., "Leimverlusten auf der Spur" [on the track of glue losses], pages 22–24, MDF-Magazin 1999). The increased glue consumption is caused by virtue of the fact that a part of the reactivity of the glue during the process of drying the fibers is lost by reason of the high temperatures. Therefore, in the dryer system the emission of formaldehyde, which originates from the glue, is considerable, whereby it is necessary to implement a costly process of minimizing pollutants. A further disadvantage of the blow-line gluing system is that the fibers which are glued in this manner have a low level of cold-stickiness due to the pre-curing in the dryer, so that after preliminary pressing a fiber mat which is formed from the fibers has a high spring-back tendency. During compaction of the fiber mat, this can cause the fiber mat structure to be destroyed by reason of a substantial displacement of air from the fiber mat.
The disadvantages of the blow-line gluing system can also be avoided by gluing the fibers in the dry state. It is thus known to glue dried fibers in a mixer. However, the process of dry-gluing fibers in mixers has the disadvantage that fiber agglomerates and matted fibers are produced which lead to non-uniform gluing of the fibers and to an undesired formation of glue spots on the surfaces of the boards (cf. ibid.). A dry gluing machine, in which mixing tools can be provided, is described in EP 0 744 259 B1.
EP 0 728 562 A2 discloses a process of dry-gluing fibers, wherein the fiber flow is separated in a pneumatic delivery line by the generation of substantial turbulence by reason of the reduced flow rate and the fibers in this separation zone are wetted by spraying.
DE 199 30 800 A1 describes a process of dry-gluing fibers, wherein the gluing process is performed in an end section of a pipe dryer. In our view, there is still no evidence of experience of this process in an industrial trial. The disadvantage of this process appears to be that an extremely large proportion of hot gas and water vapor together with the fibers must pass through the gluing zone, as it is absolutely necessary for the glue to be atomized to the smallest particles upon being sprayed into the gluing zone. In the case of this proportion of hot gas and water vapor which in the process is separated from the fibers immediately after the gluing process by means of a cyclone, it is to be assumed that a portion of the glue escapes into the atmosphere together with the hot gas and the water vapor from the fiber mixture. Furthermore, in the case of this known process, problems can arise in relation to the uniformity of the gluing in view of the random air turbulence generated. Furthermore, in the case of this process it appears to be difficult to keep the drying moisture of the fibers under control within the tolerances of +/−0.5% of the desired value which is very important for the further process.
It should also be mentioned that gluing devices of the so-called "roller blender" type have been known for some time, wherein glue is applied to wood particles by means of rollers (Maloney, Thomas M., "Modern Particleboard & Dry-process Fiberboard Manufacturing", page 439 f., Miller Freeman Publ. 1977, San Francisco, Calif., USA).

Process and device for gluing dried fibers designated for the production of fiberboards

Fritz Schneider Flakeboard Company Limited


Present invention has brought practically a unique software concept which has a purpose of creating an interactive digital trying experience of any object in any environment without getting help of another software. Present invention can accomplish this by combining two main features which are creating an object pattern/patterns automatically (as per user/client requirements) and completing by the confirmation of user/users then applying these created object pattern/patterns to an environment image/images automatically with the confirmation of a user/users all in one software concept.

The present invention is in the technical field of an Information Technology. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of the software concept which lets users to try any object on any chosen environment digitally to be able see how chosen objects will look like in a chosen environment.
There will be a terminology inside of this paperwork and it will mean as it is explained in the following descriptions. In this entire paperwork "object image" will refer to a picture/image that contains wanted/chosen object/item/product that user would like to try digitally. "Environment image" will refer to a picture/image which is a picture/image of the environment that user would like to see a wanted/chosen object/item/product on this "environment image". "Object pattern" will refer to a processed shape of an "object image" (how it will look like, will be shown on drawings and will be explained inside of this specification) which is the image of only a wanted object/item/product but nothing else.
There has been found some digital trying applications which let users to try some objects on environment images. These type of applications has been found while searching if there is any software concept available as the present invention. Prior art of invention which has been found, has some objects (seems like object patterns) which are already uploaded into this type of software by developer and saved inside of these applications for users to digitally try these object patterns. These few applications allows users to try only objects patterns which are already exist inside of the application and as they have been reviewed, they do not allow users to try any other object/objects (user may want to try any object other than what is available in the application). That is why these few applications may not be compared with the present invention because these type of applications does not have technology/functionality to allow users to try any object image in any environment. These few applications has only some object patterns inside of these applications which has been chosen and prepared by the creator of the application/software and users of these type of applications can only try objects which are available inside of these applications. It means that every time, if users of these prior art of invention demand to try a different object (other than what is already saved inside by developer) then creator or developer of these applications should prepare the object pattern in another software (outside of their own application/software) then upload and add these object pattern/patterns inside of their applications (prior art of invention) to make it useful for the user. These type of digital trying software model/concept has been found so limited. (These applications have been searched and found by me when I was looking to find out if any software concept exist like the present invention and the prior art of invention that I mentioned above, have been found in social media channels—reality of these applications are unknown, they may have been even just a project or project design) (This search have been made before applying a provisional application of this non-provisional application which was before Jul. 18, 2017). Also data base of USPTO has been searched by the inventor of the present invention to find out if there is any prior art or similar invention/inventions exists. As per the knowledge of the inventor, search has been done by entering different key words to the data base such as "digital try", "digital trying software" and so on, nothing related or similar patent has been found.
If we go back to comparison of applications that has been found through social media channels, because of the way a prior art of invention have been built, users were not able to try anything and everything they want to try other than what exists inside of the application. The way these applications/software's function is almost same as digital "clothing games" which were existed long time back. Basically the way these "clothing games" works was, there was a body model (most of the time an image of a carton body) and available dress patterns, clothing patterns (object patterns) which could be tried by applying (merging) these dress patterns (object patterns) on a body model/models (both object patterns and body model image was ready, saved inside of these games by developer, users were only merging dresses/clothing's with the body model in these applications). I strongly believe that users need much more flexible and functional software concept which can allow users to be more flexible and carry digitally trying experience to another level. The prior art of digital trying applications need a new version that can be used to try any wanted object on any environment. When users want, they should be able to upload any object image to the present invention or take directly picture of the object through the present invention and the present invention should be capable to process these object images to generate object pattern/patterns by giving importance to users choices then apply this generated object pattern or patterns to any environment image in a way users want to try objects more interactive way. This trying experience can be on an image or more dynamic environment like while a making video (all of these different options have a potential to be different versions of the present invention by using same technology).
I believe, it is also important to mention that the prior art of invention as I mentioned above in this section has been found before submitting a provisional application (on Jul. 18, 2017) of this non-provisional application. After I had submitted a provisional application of "Software concept to digitally try any object on any environment", as per my search on the internet somewhere in October 2017 (falls after a filling date of provisional application of this non-provisional application) Microsoft released their Windows 10 Fall Creators Update which includes a feature called "mixed reality" and I believe as a concept it was almost same as what I came up with as style and functionality. Previous versions of Microsoft products such as Power Point, Paint had a back ground removal function but not "mixed reality". In case if it is needed by USPTO, I do have also proof of documents which shows that I created this software concept before submitting a provisional application No. 62/533,667 of this present invention.


A display apparatus includes a display panel including a driving part arranged along one side of the display panel, the display panel including a plurality of first gate lines that zigzag across the display in a diagonal direction between the first and second directions by alternately extending in the first and the second directions. The display device includes a first display area and a second display area, pixels within the first display area always receiving gate signals from a driving part connected to an end of the first gate lines. Within the second display area, a second gate lines extending in the first direction may be electrically connected to the first gate lines that relay gate signals to the first gate lines. This results in a reduced peripheral area of the display area, so that many displays can be combined together to produce a single image.

Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a display apparatus capable of improving display quality.
Description of the Related Art
A flat panel display apparatus such as a liquid crystal display apparatus, an organic light emitting display apparatus and etc may realize high definition and large screen by increasing resolution or display area. For example, a liquid crystal display apparatus may include an array substrate including a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form, an opposite substrate facing the array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the array substrate and the opposite substrate. The liquid crystal display apparatus may further include a driving part to apply a predetermined voltage to the pixel electrodes. For example, the driving part may include a circuit part to control an image signal.

Display with gate lines in a diagonal direction


A new beverage can opening tab for preventing insects from entering the interior of a beverage can through the beverage can opening. The inventive device includes a tab body with a seal opening portion, a mounting portion, a lifting portion, and at least one wing portion positioned adjacent the lifting portion. The mounting portion is mountable to the top lid of a beverage can such that the tab body is rotatable between an opening position and a covering position over the top lid. When the tab body is in the opening position, the seal opening portion is positioned adjacent the opening of the can so that the seal opening portion may be pivoted to open the frangible sealing member covering the opening on the top lid into the interior of the can. When the tab body is rotated to the covering position, the wing portion and the lifting portion are positioned over the opening to cover the opening in order to prevent insects from passing through the opening into the interior of can.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to beverage can opening tabs and more particularly pertains to a new beverage can opening tab for preventing insects from entering the interior of a beverage can through the beverage can opening.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of beverage can opening tabs is known in the prior art. More specifically, beverage can opening tabs heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art beverage can opening tabs include U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,712; U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,022; U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,238; U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,924; U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,835; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 268,250.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new beverage can opening tab. The inventive device includes a tab body with a seal opening portion, a mounting portion, a lifting portion, and at least one wing portion positioned adjacent the lifting portion. The mounting portion is mountable to the top lid of a beverage can such that the tab body is rotatable between an opening position and a covering position over the top lid. When the tab body is in the opening position, the seal opening portion is positioned adjacent the opening of the can so that the seal opening portion may be pivoted to open the frangible sealing member covering the opening on the top lid into the interior of the can. When the tab body is rotated to the covering position, the wing portion and the lifting portion are positioned over the opening to cover the opening in order to prevent insects from passing through the opening into the interior of can.
In these respects, the beverage can opening tab according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing insects from entering the interior of a beverage can through the beverage can opening.


An exhaust gas processing device includes a cylindrical metallic member and an insulating layer. The insulating layer has a thickness of about 20 μm to about 400 μm and is densely formed such that no through pores exist in a thickness direction of the insulating layer. The insulating layer is provided on an inner surface of the cylindrical metallic member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust gas processing device.
2. Discussion of the Background
Many technologies are developed for purification (conversion) of an exhaust gas emitted from automobiles. However, increasing traffic is making countermeasures for the exhaust gas insufficient. On a global mass scale, automobile exhaust gas regulations are becoming strict.
In order to deal with the automobile exhaust gas regulations, catalytic agent carriers capable of processing predetermined toxic substances contained in the exhaust gas are used in an exhaust gas treatment system. A honeycomb structure is known as a member for the catalytic agent carrier.
The honeycomb structure includes plural cells (through holes) extending from one end surface of the honeycomb structure to the other end surface of the honeycomb structure in its longitudinal direction. The cells are formed in a honeycomb unit mutually separated by cell walls and carrying the catalytic agents. Therefore, if the exhaust gas passes through the honeycomb structure, the catalytic agent carried on the cell wall may convert (oxidize or reduce) materials such as a hydrocarbon compound (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and so on contained in the exhaust gas to treat the components in the exhaust gas.
The cell wall (base material) of the honeycomb unit forming the above honeycomb structure may be made of cordierite. A catalytic agent carrying layer made of γ-alumina is formed on the cell wall. A noble metal catalytic agent such as platinum, rhodium, platinum and rhodium, and so on is carried on the catalytic agent carrying layer.
Further, a honeycomb unit made of a material having a lower electrical resistivity such as silicon carbide than that of cordierite may be used in order to enhance an exhaust gas processing capability at a temperature lower than a temperature causing the catalytic agent to be active. An electrode for applying a voltage is provided in the honeycomb structure and electric power is applied to the honeycomb structure to heat the honeycomb structure according to Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 49-124412.
The entire contents of which Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 49-124412 are incorporated herein by reference.


A cleaning apparatus for a gas filter may include a movable support, a plurality of orifices, and a control system. The orifices may be arranged on the support for selective discharge of cleaning gas toward corresponding ones of filter openings disposed in a segment of a partition in the gas filter when the support is proximate that segment. The orifices may be grouped into at least first and second groups of orifices that may be fluidly connected to first and second valves configured for selective delivery of cleaning gas The control system may be configured to activate the first valve to cause a discharge of cleaning gas from the first group of orifices when the support is proximate a first segment and to activate the second valve to cause a discharge of cleaning gas from the second group of orifices when the support is proximate a second segment.

Examples of cleaning apparatus for gas filters, such as baghouse filters cleaned by way of a reverse pulse jet, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,421,845; 5,116,395; 4,878,926; 4,854,951, 4,655,799; 4,544,389; 4,539,025; 4,306,890; 4,293,320; 4,233,041; 4,157,899; 4,097,254; 4,022,595; 3,951,627; 3,832,832; 3,793,811; 3,695,007; 3,648,442; 3,543,481; 3,487,609; 3,482,378; 3,280,980; 3,277,633; and 2,974,748. The disclosures of these and all other publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.


Optical articles such as ophthalmic lenses containing a thin hydrophobic surface layer of a fluorinated material adsorbed thereon are disclosed.

Optical devices such as ophthalmic lenses and display devices typically comprise a polymeric substrate. The substrate is susceptible to dirt collection and smudging. The surface can be cleaned by wiping with a surfactant-treated cloth or paper towel, but the cleaning is temporary and the surface will become smudged in a matter of days requiring repeated cleaning.
Therefore, there is a need for optical articles having a surface that is hydrophobic (and/or oleophobic) which will be resistant to dirt collection and smudging on a more permanent basis.
The present invention addresses this issue by providing a thin hydrophobic layer that is adsorbed on the surface of the optical article. The surface layer is thin and does not affect the optical properties of the article. In one embodiment of the invention, the coating is designed to have a semi-permanent lifetime (e.g. 1-12 weeks for a cellular phone coating) in order to allow it to be deposited using a very simple and safe method. In another embodiment of the invention, a more permanent layer is deposited.

Optical articles with thin hydrophobic layers


An added information encoding part repeatedly arranges two kinds of copy inhibition code arrays of the unit two-dimensional arrays to which copy inhibition codes are assigned, and condition code arrays of the unit two-dimensional arrays to which codes for removing the copy inhibition are assigned, into a two-dimensional array according to given rules. A background image formation part generates a background image in which copy inhibition pattern image areas and condition pattern image areas are repeatedly and two-dimensionally arranged according to given rules, while referring to this array, and the pattern images corresponding to respective codes stored in the background image formation part, and stores the generated background image into a background image buffer. An image composing part reads out document images from a document image buffer, and the background image from the background image buffer, and superimposes them into a composite image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image generating method and device, a program, and an illicit copying prevention system including an image generating device and an image reader or an image forming apparatus utilizing the image reader. More particularly, the invention relates to a technique for inhibiting the unauthorized copy of a document of which the unauthorized copying is inhibited when the document image is read by a copying machine, in generating the document image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the image forming apparatus having a copying function, such as a personal computer, printer and copying machine, is in wide spread. Accordingly, it is very easy to copy documents. In this circumstance, even a copyrighted document or a document with the unauthorized copy prohibition mark, such as "copy inhibition", "copy forbidden" or "confidential" (those documents will be referred to as "confidential documents") is easily copied. There is an original document, called "confidential document", of the type which contains character strings, graphics, tables, graphs, etc., and important information to be prevented from being leaked. Recently, this type of document is copied in an unauthorized manner, and the important information (confidential content) of the document is leaked. This information leakage becomes problematic. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus with the copying function must be given the function to prohibit the fraudulent copy of the confidential document.
To prohibit voluntary and arbitrary copying operations of confidential documents or to permit the copying operations within fixed limits, various techniques have been proposed. Those techniques may be classified into the following techniques. A first technique is that the confidential document may be copied, but the quality of the resultant copy is extremely poor. A second technique is that the confidential document is printed on a copy/forgery protect sheet. In a third technique, a pattern image hard to see by the human eye or a copy prohibition mark, e.g., "copy prohibition", is printed in a copy prohibiting area. The pattern or mark is registered in advance. When the document is read, the mark is detected, and the detected one is compared with the registered mark or pattern. When those are coincident with each other, the copying operation is controlled.
A conventional art for the control of the illicit copying of the confidential document is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 231384/1995. In the publication, a pattern image having a function equivalent to that of the copy/forgery protect sheet is generated by the image processing technique. The copy/forgery protect sheet is a sheet having a special pattern image previously printed thereon. The special pattern is hard to see by the human eye, but it comes forth into view on the sheet when it is copied by the copying machine. When a document printed on the copy/forgery protect sheet is copied by the copying machine, warning characters, e.g., "copy inhibition", appears on the copied sheet. As a result, psychological deterrent acts on the illicit copying act, and one can distinguish between the original and the copied sheet.
In the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 231384/1995, the warning character part and the background part, which is dither processed at a specific common density, are superinterposed, whereby a pattern image, which produces an effect equivalent to that by an anticopy/counterfeit sheet, is composed with the input image data, whereby the effect equivalent to that by the copy/forgery preventing sheet is produced using a normal sheet.
In this technique, when it is copied by using the copying machine, the warning characters emerges on the background of the copied sheet. Accordingly, the illicit copying act is psychologically deterred. However, the illicit copying act preventing technique cannot inhibit the copying act per se. In this sense, the technique fails to prevent the illicit copy.
A technique to solve this problem is proposed. In the technique, copy inhibition information is embedded in advance in the confidential document. The copying machine detects the copy inhibition information from the image as read, and controls the copying operation in accordance with the read information. The technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2000-76458, 2001-189855, 2001-346032 or others.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-76458, there is disclosed a technique in which the copying machine recognizes a specific symbol attached to a copy-inhibited document. In other words, the copying machine is given the function of recognizing the specific symbol, thereby inhibiting the illicitly copying of the copy-inhibited document.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-189855, copy inhibition information and/or information to permit the user to copy if special conditions are satisfied are embedded in a document to be printed out by using the bar code or electronic watermark technique. The copying operation is controlled in accordance with those pieces of information detected.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-346032, two-dimensional codes are embedded in the background of the copy/forgery protect sheet. In this technique, the copy inhibition information may be contained in the two-dimensional codes of the background. The copying machine is given the function of detect the two-dimensional information. If the copy inhibition information is contained in the two-dimensional codes, the copying operation is stopped. In this way, it is possible to prevent information of the confidential document from being leaked by the illicit copying.
The conventional techniques involve the following problems, however. The technique of judging as to if the copying operation is to be stopped upon the recognition of the specific symbol as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-76458, cannot perform such high level copying operation controls as to permit a specific user to copy for each document, and to permit the user to copy the document after predetermined date and time are past.
In the technique of embedding copy inhibition information by using the electronic watermark technique as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-189855, the electronic watermark easily becomes unrecognizable through the copy generation (copying repeated a plurality of times). In other words, the watermark is easily deleted by the hard copying operation. Accordingly, the information embedded by the electronic watermark technique disappears. As a result, it becomes unknown whether or not the document is the confidential document.
Any of the publications mentioned above can deter the user from illicitly copying the confidential document, but cannot prevent the illicit copying act completely. To ensure the prevention of the illicit copying, the copying machine must be given the function to recognize that an object to be copied put on the machine is a confidential document of which the copying is inhibited, and to control the copying operation. The function of detecting the copy inhibition mark, bar code and the like may be realized by a relatively simple technique. Accordingly, it is not difficult to incorporate this function to all the copying machines.
To realize the function of detecting the electronic watermark, however, it is necessary to use relatively large scale process and high level technique. The realizing of its function is costly. Specifically, the following processes must be used: skew correction process, code data positioning process, process to detect a dot pattern embedded as a latent image in the image (electronic watermark detecting process), error correction process for increasing the judgement accuracy, and the like. For this reason, the current actual circumstance is that most of the machines are not provided with the electronic watermark detecting function. This tendency is found also in the case of the two-dimensional code. In this circumstance, also when the confidential document is copied by the copying machine not having the function to detect the two-dimensional code or the electronic watermark, the information as embedded in the form of the two-dimensional code or the electronic watermark disappears. As a result, even the fact that the document is the confidential document becomes unknown.
In the techniques of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-76458 or Nos. 2001-189855 and 2001-346032, copy inhibition information is embedded in the form of the special symbol, or the bar code or two-dimensional code. And, the copy inhibition information is located on the white background part in a state that it is visible to the human eye. Accordingly, the user can clearly see a place of the copy inhibition information in the document. When a user with malice easily removes (hides, paints out, cuts out) the part of the document containing such copy inhibition information as bar code embedded therein, the document is printed out without stopping the copying operation. It is impossible to prevent the secret information from being leaked outside. In this case, the special symbol or the bar code which is indicative of the confidential document is invalid for the copying machine. This results in that security protection depends only on the morals of the user.
In the techniques of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-189855 and 2001-346032, judgement as to if the copying operation is to be stopped or permitted is not made till the electronic watermark or bar code embedded in the document. High level detection/judgement process, such as the skew correction process, is required for the detection of the electronic watermark or bar code, as described above. Accordingly, long processing time is consumed, and an efficiency of copy reproduction is lowered.

Image generating method, device and program, and illicit copying prevention system


Provided is a photolithography apparatus including a photomask. The photomask includes a pattern having a plurality, of features, in an example, dummy line features. The pattern includes a first region being in the form of a localized on-grid array and a second region where at least one of the features has an increased width. The apparatus may include a second photomask which may define an active region. The feature with an increased width may be adjacent, and outside, the defined active region.

The present disclosure relates generally to integrated circuits and more particularly to a method of layout design associated with an integrated circuit device.
The process of manufacturing integrated circuits (ICs) include several stages, of which, the definition of a pattern associated with the circuit is of critical importance. The pattern may be generated during the design process, and in particular in a layout design. The pattern may then be fabricated on a substrate using photolithography processes. There is significant pressure on the semiconductor industry to enable smaller and smaller critical dimensions of integrated circuits. Several approaches have been taken to decrease the linewidths of an IC even beyond the critical dimension provided by present lithography equipment (e.g., stepper or scanners). One such approach includes a method of fabricating integrated circuits by forming a masking element that provides a pattern at half critical dimension of the photolithography tool used. However, as critical dimensions further decrease, such approaches face issues such as insufficient process margins. The insufficient process margins may provide for errors in the linewidths of features fabricated on a substrate. Examples of errors that may occur include overlay errors between photomasks including patterns used to form the devices.
Therefore, what is needed is an improved method of layout design for a semiconductor device.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


An integrated DWDM transmitter apparatus includes a silica-on-silicon substrate which includes a silica layer and a silicon layer. A plurality of input waveguides and a plurality of gratings are provided within the silica layer. Each of the plurality of gratings is coupled to a corresponding one of the input waveguides. An arrayed waveguide grating within the silica layer is coupled to the plurality of input waveguides, and at least an output waveguide within the silica layer are coupled to the arrayed waveguide grating. The transmitter also includes a plurality of lasers disposed in a recessed region of the silica-on-silicon substrate, and each of the lasers is optically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of input waveguides. The integrated transmitter also includes plurality of photodiodes, each of the plurality of photodiodes overlying a corresponding one of the plurality of grating.

The present invention is directed to fiber optical transport systems. More particularly, an embodiment of the invention provides a compact, low-cost, integratable solution for monitoring individual optical power in a DWDM transmitter array integrated on a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) platform. Merely by way of example, the invention provides a method for using weak refractive index gratings formed on a silica/silicon waveguide to redirect a portion of the optical power vertically out of the transmission medium for detection by a photodiode flip-chip bonded on the PLC above the grating. But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability.
Considerable effort has been devoted to the development of compact, low-cost transmitters for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) applications since early 1990s. One of the promising approaches is to integrate semiconductor lasers, optical taps, and silica-based waveguide devices such as arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) or couplers, together to have a 1×N DWDM transmitter array. Compared to discrete devices, this approach eliminates fiber jumpers between transmitters and the MUX unit. Also, instead of packaging each transmitter and MUX individually with their own physical cases and fiber pigtails, this hybrid integration uses only one box with significantly low number of pigtails. In addition, the physical size of the transmitter array is much smaller than those made with discrete devices, increasing considerably the port density.
Even though these conventional DWDM systems are useful in some areas, they have many limitations that restrict their effectiveness in broader applications. Some of these limitations are discussed below, and then improved techniques based on embodiments of the present invention are provided.

Method and system for grating taps for monitoring a DWDM transmitter array integrated on a PLC platform


A combination coin and key holder includes a coin holder housing which has an outline shaped as a vehicle. A closed loop is attached to the coin holder housing, preferably in the front end of the vehicle outline, for connection of a key ring, chain, or other key holding device thereto. A pair of coin slots are provided in the coin holder housing on the bottom side of the vehicle outline, with each slot being dimensioned to hold a specific coin. The coin slots are positioned and configured such that coins inserted thereon are reliably, yet removably retained in place, but such that they protrude sufficiently to have the appearance of a wheel or wheels on the vehicle outline.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a combination coin and key holder, and more specifically to a such a coin and key holder with a housing shaped as a vehicle with the housing including coin slots which removably hold coins in positions in which they present the appearance of wheels of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vehicle operators occasionally need quick access to coins for pay phones, toll booths, or other travel related necessities. There have been prior attempts to associate coins with key holding devices such that the coins are available to a vehicle operator.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,648 to Paluzzi discloses a car-key/coin holder with a coin holding sleeve with an end opening closed off via a spring loaded key holder. In order to remove the coins from the sleeve, the spring clip must first be removed by pressure exerted through top and/or bottom openings in the sleeve. The coins are thus not readily accessible without disassembly of the key holder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,503 to Bundy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,489 to Lemelson and U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,694 to Miller et al. are all directed to combination coin and key holders, each of which holds coins in a pouch or sleeve such that the coins are not visible and such that the pouch or sleeve must be opened to allow access to the coins.
It is clear, then, that a combination coin and key holder is needed which holds both keys and coins in such a manner that the coins are visible and quickly and readily accessible. It would also be desirable if the coins form a visible part of the design of the holder such that it is readily apparent when coins are missing, thus giving a user a reminder and incentive to keep it loaded with coins.


The present invention relates to a method for balancing the distribution of interference between radio cells in a wireless communication system comprising cells in which subcarrier blocks are used for communication. A number of adjacent cells build a cell cluster. Moreover, the present invention relates to a corresponding method adapted for use in a system in which multi beam antennas or multiple antennas are used. Furthermore, the present invention relates to base stations performing the above method as well as a communication system comprising the base stations. To reduce the large average SIR variations without causing additional SIR estimation, measurement and calculation problem as introduced with power control the invention suggests to group subcarrier blocks into a plurality of subcarrier block sets in each cell of a cell cluster, to determine transmission power levels for each of the cells of said cell cluster, and to assign transmission power levels to the subcarrier block sets.

In modern packet-based cellular mobile communication systems, Dynamic Channel Assignment (DCA) schemes are popular, since they are an efficient tool to increase the (air interface) system throughput. DCA schemes utilize the short term fluctuations (fast fading) of the channel quality of the links between base stations (BS) and mobile stations (MS). In such a system a so-called scheduler (usually part of the base station) tries to assign system resources preferably to mobile stations in favorable channel conditions.
In time domain DCA works on a frame-by-frame basis, where a frame duration is typically in the (sub-)millisecond region. Furthermore—depending on the multiple access scheme—the air interface resources are divided in e.g. code and/or frequency domain.
The following description concentrates on downlink scenarios (BS transmits to MS), however without loss of generality, DCA can also be applied to the uplink (MS transmits to BS). In any case, the scheduler performing the DCA needs to have detailed channel knowledge of the BS-MS links, which is gathered by channel estimation. If the scheduler is located in the network and the measurement is performed in the MS, the channel information is signaled from MS to BS. It is important, that the channel quality is measured on a instantaneous basis in order to reflect the instantaneous received signal power and the instantaneous interference.
In Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, DCA is performed in time-frequency domain, since physical layer channels are defined in frequency domain. Typically, the channel quality varies significantly in frequency domain (frequency selective fading). Hence, depending on the conditions of the channels over all available frequencies and all active mobile stations, the scheduler can assign the channels dynamically at each scheduling instant to specific BS-MS links.
In an OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) system, the frequency resource is partitioned into narrowband subcarriers, which typically experience flat fading. Here, generally the scheduler dynamically assigns subcarrier blocks (containing M adjacent or separated subcarriers) to a specific MS in order to utilize favorable channel conditions on a link. Example of such a system is known from Rohling et al., "Performance of an OFDM-TDMA mobile communication system", IEEE Proceedings on the Conference on Vehicular Technology (VTC 1996), Atlanta, 1996.
In case of a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) the system resources are defined in code domain and, therefore, the scheduler dynamically assigns codes to specific BS-MS links. Note, that in contrast to FDMA, for a given link the channel quality is similar for all resources/codes (fading is not code selective) and, hence, in code domain the DCA is performed with respect to the number of codes to assign to a specific MS and not which codes to assign. The DCA is focused on the time domain scheduling utilizing the fast fading characteristics. HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) within the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standard is such a CDMA system employing DCA.
A MC-CDMA (Multi-Carrier CDMA) system can be considered as a combination of CDMA and (O)FDMA. Hence, DCA can be performed as well in code as in frequency domain.
Generally, the DCA throughput efficiency increases with the number of active mobile stations in a cell, since this increases the number of links in good channel conditions and, therefore, increases the probability that a channel in favorable conditions is scheduled (multi-user diversity).
Typically, DCA is combined with link adaptation techniques such as Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) and hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ).
Furthermore, DCA can be combined with power control schemes, where the power assigned to a specific channel (in code, frequency domain) is controlled in order to compensate the channel power variations and/or to support the AMC operation.
Systems without Power Control
As described in the previous section, for efficient DCA operation the scheduler in the BS when assuming a non-power controlled system needs detailed knowledge on the instantaneous quality of all channels over all available subcarrier blocks and all involved BS-MS links.
Considering a DCA OFDMA multi-cell scenario and a frequency re-use factor of 1, the system is typically interference limited. I.e. the channel quality per subcarrier block is primarily defined by the signal (S) to interference (I) ratio (SIR), where the interference is dominated by the intercell-interference (co-channel interference) caused by the transmissions on the respective channel (subcarrier block) in adjacent cells (C denotes the set of adjacent cells):
                              ChannelQuality          ≈                      S                                                                          I                                                                          R                          =                              S            I                    ≈                      S                                          ∑                C                                                          I                c                                                                        (        1        )
In case of an OFDMA system with DCA and frequency selective fading, the instantaneous SIR(t) for a given link to a mobile station m varies over the subcarrier blocks b, since both the signal and the interference experience fading:
                              S                                                              I                                                                                R              b              m                                                  (              t              )                                      =                                                            S                b                m                                                          (                t                )                                                                    I                b                m                                                          (                t                )                                              ≈                                                    S                b                m                                                          (                t                )                                                                    ∑                C                                                                            (                                                            I                      b                      m                                                                                (                      t                      )                                                        )                                c                                                                        (        2        )
As mentioned earlier, the performance of a system employing DCA and AMC greatly depends on the accuracy of the SIR estimation. Therefore, according to equation (2) the following problems occur:
All values in equation (2) experience fast fading and will change between the point in time of the measurement and the point in time of the actual transmission (after performing DCA and AMC selection). This delay causes inaccurate DCA and AMC operation. The delay even increases, if the measurement is performed at the MS and needs to be fed back by signaling to the BS.
The number of interferers in the denominator depends on the actual usage (allocation) of the subcarrier block in the adjacent cells. I.e. depending on the actual load in the adjacent cells some subcarrier blocks might not be used. Generally, at the point in time of the measurement, the usage of subcarrier block at the point in time of the transmission is unknown in adjacent cells due to the following reasons:
The channel quality measurement is performed based on an outdated interference caused by the subcarrier block allocation (scheduling) in the adjacent cells (measurement for the n-th frame is performed at the (n-k)-th frame, where the subcarrier allocation is most likely different).
Further, there exists the so-called chicken-and-egg allocation problem: In cell A, the subcarrier block allocation and AMC can only be performed after the SIR measurement/calculation in cell A has been performed, which requires knowledge of the subcarrier block allocation in cell B (adjacent cells). However, before the subcarrier block allocation in cell B can be performed the SIR measurement/calculation in cell B needs to be performed, which requires the knowledge of the subcarrier block allocation in cell A.
In case the chicken-and-egg problem may be avoided/solved by e.g. an iterative process, signaling of e.g. the allocation status between base stations would be required. However, since the scheduling frames are in the millisecond region, the signaling would introduce additional significant delay.
Additionally, without any power control, the average SIR (neglecting fast fading influences) for a BS-MS link strongly depends on the geometry (e.g. distance to BS) of the MS causing the following effects:
With increasing distance between BS and MS, the SIR for the respective links decreases, since the average received signal power decreases and the average received interference power increases. This translates in a significantly lower achievable data rate per subcarrier-block for links to mobile stations in low geometry.
The difference in average SIR can be on the order of tens of dB, which requires a large dynamic range for the AMC scheme definition. This leads to an increased amount of signaling, since the required number of combinations of modulation schemes and code rates increases when keeping the AMC granularity with respect to smaller dynamic ranges.
Compared to power controlled systems, in non-power controlled systems it is more likely that multilevel modulation schemes (e.g. 8-PSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, etc) are chosen for links to mobile stations in high geometry. Although, this increases the available throughput for those mobile stations, it can decrease the overall system throughput compared to a system, where the available power is distributed such that only non-multilevel modulation schemes (e.g. QPSK) are used. This is caused by the reduced power efficiency of multilevel modulation schemes.
Further, in contrast to power controlled systems, in non-power controlled systems it is more likely that mobile stations in low geometry cannot receive any data with single transmission attempts, but would need several retransmissions. Therefore, the average number of transmissions (ARQ retransmissions) increases, which in turn increases the transmission delay and feedback signaling, as well as decreasing the bandwidth efficiency.
Data transmission to mobile stations in high geometry is burstier in the time domain, since on average higher modulation and coding schemes can be selected. This results in a burstier subcarrier block allocation. This will make the SIR estimation according to equation (2) more difficult, since the subcarrier block allocation changes more often.
Properties of Power Controlled Systems
DCA and AMC can also be combined with Power Control (PC) schemes. Employing PC the system tries to compensate fluctuations of the received signal power due to the signal path loss, shadowing effects (slow fading) and or fast fading effects. Generally, PC schemes can be classified into two categories: Fast PC and slow PC.
In contrast to systems without PC, for slow PC systems the average SIR does not depend on the geometry of the mobile stations, assuming only slow fading effects and unlimited minimum and maximum transmit power. Hence, the achievable data rates per subcarrier block do not depend on the MS position. Note however, the slow PC can only operate within certain limits (dynamic range of the control commands), i.e. the power compensation might not be sufficient or fast enough for any link.
Fast power control is usually performed jointly with the AMC in order to adapt the transmission rate to short term fluctuations and in order to optimize the overall power usage.
With slow/fast PC the instantaneous SIR estimation/measurement/calculation problem as outlined in the previous sections above, is more severe compared to the non-PC case. That is, the unknown number of interference components of the sum in the denominator equation (2) do not only experience fast fading, but significantly vary in amplitude due to the PC in adjacent cells. I.e. the intercell-interference on a given subcarrier block from a given adjacent cell can vary from frame to frame in tens of dB depending on which MS is scheduled on the respective subcarrier block, since the transmitted power might vary significantly depending primarily on the MS location. This is especially critical, if the interference is dominated by few interferers, since there is no interference averaging effect.

Transmission power level setting during channel assignment for interference balancing in a cellular wireless communication system


An integrated circuit package includes an interposer with an embedded clock network formed by multiple clock trees. A die with first and second clock circuits is disposed over the interposer. At least one of the first and second clock trees is a resonant clock tree and both the first and second clock circuits may provide clock signals at different frequencies. The first clock circuit may provide clock signals at one frequency to a clock tree in the embedded clock network while the second clock circuit may provide clock signals at another frequency to another clock tree in the embedded clock tree network.

Integrated circuit (IC) devices include circuits or logic elements that may be used to perform any of a variety of functions. As an example, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device includes configurable logic elements that may be adapted to perform a variety of functions. As another example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) device, though generally not configurable, may be designed to perform specific desired functions. Such devices, either configurable or not configurable, are relatively complex and generally use clock signals to synchronize different circuit elements in the device.
Accordingly, an IC device generally includes a clock tree structure or clock network that is used to route clock signals to different parts of the IC. The clock network, therefore, is an important component in an IC as its performance may impact other circuitry within the IC. To ensure proper synchronization, a balanced clock structure is preferred as it minimizes clock skew when clock signals are transmitted to different parts of the IC.

Interposer with embedded clock network circuitry


A system, method and program product for processing a stream of data events based on shifts. A system is provided comprising: a real time statistical processing system for updating a statistical summary each time a new data event is obtained, wherein the statistical summary is calculated based on the new data event and a previously calculated statistical summary; an analysis system that analyzes the statistical summary after it is updated; and a shift system that maintains separate statistical summaries for each of a plurality different shifts associated with the stream of data events.

There exist numerous applications in which real time data analysis may be required. For example, data events may be collected in a financial setting to identify potentially fraudulent activity, in a network setting to track network usage, in a business setting to identify business opportunities or problems, etc. Often, it may be necessary to examine individual data events as they occur to immediately investigate any suspect behavior. Challenges however arise when analyzing data events in real time since historical data values are typically necessary to identify trends and patterns. Namely, accessing historical data can be a relatively slow process, and thus limits real time processing.
There exist various known techniques (e.g., running estimates, moving windows, etc.) for analyzing data events in real time (or near real time). Such techniques utilize little or no historical data to provide a statistical analysis of detected event values. Instead, they, e.g., maintain a running value, which is updated each time a new data event value occurs.
Because real time analysis techniques do not have the luxury of examining significant amounts of historical data, the efficacy of their results may be less than desirable, particularly where regular trends and patterns cannot be readily identified. For example, a given data event stream may be subject to a certain behavior (e.g., very high values) during one time period, and then subject to a different behavior (e.g., very low values) during a second time period, and then revert back to the first behavior during a third time period, etc. This type of "shifting" behavior significantly impacts the ability to analyze individual data events.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method of providing real time data analysis for data events subject to shifting behaviors.

Real time analytics that accounts for shifts

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to aqueous non-ionically hydrophilised binding-agent dispersions based on polyurethane ureas with terminal polyethylene-oxide groups, to the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof for producing coatings.

The present invention relates to aqueous non-ionically hydrophilised binding-agent dispersions based on polyurethane ureas with terminal polyethylene-oxide groups, to the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof for producing coatings.
Coating agents that are based on polyurethanes play a major role by reason of their outstanding properties such as, for example, high scratch resistance and low-temperature flexibility. By reason of increasingly stringent ecological and other statutory regulations, particular importance is attached to the solvent-free, aqueous polyurethanes. Coatings that are based on polyurethane dispersions find use in varying applications such as, for example, textile coating, plastics lacquering and automobile lacquering. For certain applications—such as in electronics, for example—it is necessary that coatings exhibit a conductivity that is as low as possible, in order to guarantee high electrical insulation. At the same time, it is desirable that the aqueous coating agents are stable as regards coagulation within a wide temperature-range, in order to be able to apply them using the differing processes—such as, for example, spraying or blade coating—under conditions that are as variable as possible.
Stabilisation of the polyurethane particles in an aqueous phase can be effected by means of two mechanisms, either by charges on the surfaces resulting in the repulsion of the particles (ionic stabilisation), or by water-soluble or partly water-soluble oligomer chains or polymer chains that are adsorbed on the surface or covalently bonded preventing an agglomeration by virtue of van der Waals interactions. (non-ionic stabilisation). The ionic stabilisation of dispersions of such a type results in systems that are relatively insensitive to coagulation with respect to an increase in temperature but that display enhanced conductivity by virtue of the presence of ions. In the case of non-ionic stabilisation, the situation is reversed—i.e. these systems can be destabilised by temperatures higher than 60° C., as described in DE-A 26 51 506, for example. However, these systems present the disadvantage of comparatively low conductivity. In addition, it is sufficiently well-known to combine the two stabilisation mechanisms, in order to obtain ionically/non-ionically stabilised dispersions that are stable as regards coagulation within a wide temperature-range, these systems likewise exhibiting higher conductivity by reason of charges.
The non-ionic stabilisation is based on the incorporation of functional hydrophilic polyethylene oxides that are reactive with respect to isocyanate groups (abbreviated in the following as PEG), it being possible for the PEG to be linearly, laterally or terminally incorporated in the main chain of the polyurethane.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,929 non-ionic polyurethane dispersions are described in which PEG chains have been attached laterally in the polyurethane dispersion. The resulting binding agents are distinguished by relatively good mechanical properties. But the PEG groups are consequently not terminally anchored, and by-products may arise during the process.
In EP-A 0 317 258 difunctional, non-ionic PEG-containing emulsifiers are disclosed which can be employed for synthesising a polyurethane dispersion. The PEG-containing hydrophilising agents described therein are likewise incorporated in bifunctionally lateral manner. Although the polyurethane dispersions produced in such a way are distinguished by relatively high thermal stability, the hydrophilising agents have to be generated in a further process step, constituting a disadvantage from the point of view of economy.
EP-A 0 792 900 describes polyurethane dispersions for use in glass-fibre sizing materials. These dispersions may have been ionically and/or non-ionically hydrophilised, the polyisocyanate consisting, in a proportion amounting to at least 50%, of 1-methyl-2,4-diisocyanatocyclohexane and/or 1-methyl-2,6-diisocyanatocyclohexane. In the dispersions mentioned therein, quantities amounting to ≦15 wt. % of a non-ionic terminal hydrophilising component are employed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,732 non-ionic polyurethane dispersions are described, a monofunctional polyethylene-glycol component being converted in intermediate manner with a diisocyanate, and the reaction product subsequently being caused to react with a dihydroxyamine so as to yield a hydrophilising component. Accordingly, the polyethylene oxide is likewise anchored laterally in the polyurethane.
However, the polyurethane dispersions known from the state of the art all display inadequate stability in storage, particularly at elevated temperatures, and therefore, in addition, have a tendency to coagulate prematurely.
The object of the present invention consequently consisted in the provision of new aqueous polyurethane dispersions that exhibit a coagulation temperature of at least 75° C. and consequently possess adequate stability in storage.
The object has been achieved in accordance with the claims. Polyurethane-urea dispersions are claimed therein that in the polymer backbone exhibit monofunctional PEG-containing components having a certain molar mass and in a certain weight ratio terminally on the polyurethane chain.

Non-ionically hydrophilised binding-agent disperisions


A method of verifying identity which includes recording coordinates of a reference signature which include two dimensional space coordinates x and y exerted by a writer's writing instrument on a recording medium. The method measures and records an indicium, which identifies a reference biometric within the reference signature having a selected characteristic. Next the reference biometric and the indicium are placed on a portable, readable substrate. The coordinates of an unknown signature which include two dimensional space coordinates x and y covered by a writer's writing instrument are also recorded. The method further includes reading and storing the indicium and the reference biometric in memory and using the indicium to locate an extracted biometric within the unknown signature. The extracted biometric is compared to the reference biometric to determine if they match within predetermined threshold criteria. The reading and storing or the reference biometric and indicium, the recording of the unknown signature, the location of the extracted biometric, and the comparison of the reference and extracted biometrics are all performed on-site.

In credit card transactions, a major security problem exists whenever credit card information is transmitted over the Internet or telephone lines. In addition, because of the frequency with which credit cards, passports, and other personal documents, are lost and stolen, there exists a need to correctly, quickly and reliably verify the identity of the bearers of these documents.
In a typical credit card transaction, as seen in FIG. 1, a merchant 10 transmits a credit card number, the expiry date and a purchase order over the Internet or telephone lines 12 to a verification agent 14. The agent 14 receiving this information accesses the cardholder's credit information and after comparing the latter to the purchase order amount, either accepts or rejects the transaction. If the transaction is accepted, an approval, code is transmitted back 16 to the merchant 10 via telephone line 12. Even if the transaction is accepted there is a risk that the card is stolen and is being used fraudulently. Accordingly, there is a need to be able to quickly, accurately and securely identify the bearer of the card.
Biometrics can be used to accurately verify identity, however, biometric information sent over the Internet or telephone lines can still be intercepted and subsequently utilized for fraudulent transactions.
Various approaches have been developed to identify persons by biometrics, including unique gestures such as speech and handwriting. Such speech and handwriting recognition systems perform recognition of something that moves, leaving a "trajectory" in space and time. Typical speech recognition systems match transformed speech against a stored representation. Most speech recognition systems use some form of spectral representation, such as spectral templates or Hidden Markov Models (HMMs).
Handwriting can be analyzed in real time or after it has been formed. "Real time" or dynamic recognition systems identify handwriting as a user writes, identifying such things as number of strokes, the ordering of strokes and the direction and velocity profile of each stroke. "Real time" systems are also interactive, allowing users to correct recognition errors, adapt to the system, or see the immediate results of an editing command. Most on-line tablets capture writing as a sequence of coordinate points.
Handwriting recognition is complicated in part, because there are many different ways of generating the same character. For example, the four lines of the letter E can be drawn in any order. Handwriting tablets must also take into account character blending and merging, which is similar to the continuous speech problem. In other words, blending and merging make it difficult for a recognition system to determine where one character ends and the next one begins (or in the case of speech recognition systems, where one word ends and the next one begins). In addition, different characters can look quite similar and are, therefore, difficult to distinguish. Thus, prior to performing the character recognition, handwriting tablets pre-process the characters. Preprocessing typically involves properly spacing the characters and filtering out noise from the tablet. The more complicated processing occurs during actual character recognition.
Some character recognition processes, using binary decision trees, prune possible characters by identifying features. Normally simple features are identified first, such as searching for the dots above the letters "i" and "j". Features based on both static and dynamic features can be used for character recognition. Other character recognition processes involve the creation of zones, which define the directions a pen point can travel (usually eight), and define each character in terms of a set of zones. Look-up tables or dictionaries can be used to classify or identify the characters based on their features or sets of zones.
Another character recognition scheme relies on signal processing, in which curves from unknown forms are matched against prototype characters. They are matched as functions of time or as Fourier coefficients To reduce errors, elastic matching schemes (stretching and bending drawn curves) may be used. However, these methods are computationally intensive and, therefore, tend to be slow and expensive.
Most handwriting examination tablets reveal that recognition of dynamic features of characters is possible, as in speech. However, for the reasons discussed above, it is easier to recognize isolated characters than strings of characters. In most systems, the lag-time in recognition is typically about a second, and recognition rates are not very high. Reported rates of 95% are achieved only for very carefully formed writing.
Most handwriting examination tablets reveal that recognition of dynamic features of characters is possible, as in speech. However, for the reasons discussed above, it is easier to recognize isolated characters than strings of characters. Most systems lag recognition by about a second, and recognition rates are not very high. Reported rates of 95% are achieved only for very carefully formed writing.
For each of the types of recognition systems discussed above, a sample input (i.e. a voice or signature sample) must be processed and compared with a stored reference gesture in order to verify the identity of the subject. Normally, the reference gestures are located on a remote server and accessed by telephone lines or the Internet. The sample input must be sent to the remote server where it is compared to the reference gesture. Such a procedure is obviously exposed to the risk of security breaches. Furthermore, there is a cost associated with the maintenance of a remote server, and processing is delayed by the need to access the server. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a quick and secure on-site method of identification, which is accurate and cost effective.

Method and device for verifying a person's identity by signature analysis