A combination keyboard/mouse is realized using a touch-sensitive member. The touch-sensitive member (or an area of a larger touch-sensitive member) may be approximately the size of a business card (2".times.3.5"). Data obtained from a touch sensor array is software manipulated to achieve a simple, powerful method of user interaction in which the traditional keyboard and mouse disappear, being replaced by a display window (manipulable like other display windows) overlaid by the touch sensor array. The resulting input window allows for realization of a sketch-pad computer having essentially no external moving parts but providing keyboard/mouse interaction (as opposed to pen-only interaction, for example). The window need not obscure underlying text and graphics but need only delineate its extent. The keyboard/mouse may instead be housed in a housing in the same manner as a conventional mouse.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer input devices and more particularly to touch-sensitive computer input devices.
2. State of the Art
Touch-sensitive electronic keyboards are known, as for example from U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,555 issued Sep. 12, 1972 to Looschen (originally assigned to Burroughs Corporation). Also known are touch-sensitive pointing devices, exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,221 issued Oct. 29, 1985 to Mabusth. Neither class of touch-sensitive input device, however, has achieved widespread public acceptance for use with personal computers.
In the case of touch-sensitive electronic keyboards, the lack of public acceptance suggests that typists found such keyboards to be harder to use, producing more errors. Touch-sensitive electronic keyboards do not in general allow the typist to as easily find a comfortable, accustomed "home position" and to detect mishits, i.e., mistaken keystrokes.
In the case of touch-sensitive pointing devices, such devices have typically offered only low pointing resolution, contrary to the computing trend of ever-increasing resolution.
Nevertheless, touch-sensitive computer input devices continue to offer the advantages of simplicity and reliability, as well as offering the potential for significant cost savings in relation to mechanical computer input devices. Furthermore, touch-sensitive computer input devices are not subject to size constraints imposed by mechanical considerations, an important factor in an era of increasing miniaturization.
An example of a particularly advantageous touch-sensitive computer input device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,862 issued Mar. 16, 1993 to Edwards (assigned to U.S. Philips Corporation), incorporated herein by reference. The patent discloses a touch sensor array built in a similar manner as a TFT active matrix liquid crystal display and which may be used as an overlay for the same. The touch sensor array offers comparable resolution as the liquid crystal display.


The invention concerns a testing framework, comprising                a first computer system, adapted for communication with nodes in a distributed node environment,        first code, capable of creating a task manager,        second code adapted for defining tasks, including test tasks,        third code, capable of creating a task agent,        test related data,        a test launcher capable of interacting with said first code for starting a task manager in said first computer system, of delivering test related data to said task manager, and, upon the sending of the third code to remote nodes, capable of requesting the starting of one or more task agents on said remote nodes,        the task manager responding to the test related data for providing said one or more task agents with said test related data, said one or more task agents responding to said test related data for retrieving respective tasks available in the second code, said task manager being capable of thereafter monitoring the execution of such tasks.

The invention relates to the testing of applications or products, more particularly that run in a distributed environment.
A distributed environment comprises a group of interconnected machines, also called nodes, that share information and resources. Applications or products using such an environment have to be tested in order to simulate a controlled real functioning, to detect possible errors and to validate and verify such products or applications. To test these applications or products on a single machine, a test may be developed as known. Development and management of such a test is quite easy as it runs on a single machine and operating system.
On the contrary, developing a distributed test on such environment is becoming incrisingly difficult for the developer to manage and synchronize the various parts of the test that are running on the distributed environment. Moreover, the development of such a test in a distributed environment is made more difficult since machines in a distributed environment support different architectures, e.g. different operating systems, hardware and so on. Such difficulties limit the development of a complex test in distributed environment.

Testing framework for communication in a distributed environment


A mower includes a plurality of cutting units carried on a traction vehicle in a staggered and overlapped orientation to provide a cutting swath. The cutting units are rotary type cutting units having cut-outs at each front corner thereof to eliminate or reduce streaking between adjacent cutting units. In addition, each cutting unit has two spaced, ovately shaped ground engaging rollers adjacent each front corner. The ovately shaped rollers are positioned so that a tapered outer end of each roller points to the outside of the cutting unit with the broader, basal end of the roller being positioned closer to the longitudinal centerline of the cutting unit. Such rollers support the front of the cutting unit and allow the front of the cutting unit to roll over the ground.

This invention relates to a rotary cutting unit for use on a mower, preferably a mower in which a plurality of spaced and staggered cutting units collectively cut a swath of grass as the riding mower is operated.
Riding mowers are known which carry a plurality of rotary cutting units for cutting a relatively wide swath of grass. For example, the Ransomes AR 250 is a five-plex rotary mower having three, front rotary cutting units arranged in a first row and two, rear rotary cutting units arranged in a second row. The front rotary cutting units are arranged in advance of the front wheels of the mower while the rear rotary cutting units are arranged between the front and rear wheels of the mower. The rear cutting units are further arranged to cover the gaps between the front cutting units. Thus, as the mower is driven forwardly and the cutting units are operated, the five cutting units cut a single swath of grass.
While such cutting units are effective in cutting a relatively wide swath of grass with each pass, the cut grass swath exhibits streaking, at least in certain grass conditions. Such streaking comprises a row or streak of uncut grass or of grass that is not cut as evenly and uniformly as the rest of the grass in the cut path. The Applicant has noticed such streaking occurring between the multiple rotary cutting units in a mower of this type, especially when the mower is turning or is traversing slopes. The streaks often occur generally along the line where one side of one of the front cutting units overlaps with a side of one of the rear cutting units. The presence of such streaks is obviously not aesthetically pleasing and is a disadvantage to such a mower having rotary cutting units.
Each cutting unit in a mower of this type carries a combination of rollers and wheels for allowing the cutting unit to roll over the ground as the mower moves forwardly. In the known Ransomes AR 50 mower, each cutting unit is supported at the rear by a full length rear roller. At the front, each cutting unit is supported by two caster wheels adjacent the front corners of the unit. The caster wheels are supported for turning about vertical pivots in a well known manner.
While the caster wheel/rear roller structure adequately supports the cutting unit for rolling on the ground, the use of caster wheels has some disadvantages. In order to support the caster wheels for free pivoting about their vertical pivots, the wheels must be set fairly far forwardly of the front of the cutting unit to allow for mounting of the pivot structure and to allow the caster wheels to swing about their vertical pivots without hitting the front of the unit. Mounting the caster wheels far enough forwardly to allow for proper pivoting of the wheels hinders or interferes with the ability of the unit to follow the ground contour and puts the support provided by the front caster wheels further forwardly relative to the blade than would be desirable. A more compact way of supporting the front of the cutting unit for rolling over the ground would be advantageous.
One aspect of this invention is directed to reducing or eliminating streaking between adjacent cutting units. This aspect is provided in a mower which comprises a traction vehicle. A plurality of cutting units are carried on the traction vehicle which cutting units collectively cut a swath of grass as the traction vehicle is operated. The cutting units comprise rotary-type cutting units each having at least one cutting blade which is rotated in a substantially horizontal cutting plane. In addition, the cutting units each include a cutting deck which includes cut-outs at each front corner thereof in which the cutting blade is exposed to uncut grass approaching each front corner of each cutting deck.
Another aspect of this invention relates to ground engaging rollers for the cutting deck. This aspect is provided in a mower comprising a traction vehicle. At least one cutting unit is carried on the traction vehicle. At least two ground engaging rollers are carried on the cutting unit with the rollers being laterally spaced apart relative to one another. Each roller has an ovate shape.

Rotary cutting unit with ovate rollers and front corner cut-outs


A fall protection system for use by a person in climbing a pole includes an outer strap, an outer strap connector adapted to adjust the length of the outer strap in operative connection with the outer strap, a sliding member slidably positioned on the outer strap, a cross strap attached at one end thereof to the sliding member, the cross strap being in operative connection with the outer strap connector at another end thereof, a first adjustment strap operatively attached to the outer strap connector via a first adjustment buckle at a first end thereof and attached to a first end connector at a second end thereof.

The following information is provided to assist the reader to understand the technology described below and certain environments in which such technology can be used. The terms used herein are not intended to be limited to any particular narrow interpretation unless clearly stated otherwise in this document, References set forth herein may facilitate understanding of the technology or the background thereof. The disclosures of all references cited herein are incorporated by reference.
Climber of wooden structures (for example, wooden poles, trees etc.), including lineman who climb wooden power poles, often use fall protection systems including a safety strap assembly including a pole strap having two ends with a loop that can be opened to allow the user to engage and disengage the loop from the structure to be climbed. The climber pushes the pole strap up or down the pole during ascent and descent. In the case of a fall, the force of the user's body causing tightening of the loop of the pole strap around the pole to limit the length of the fall.
Pole climbing safety devices or systems are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 869,383, 1,120,496, 1,721,517, 2,920,714, 3,407,898, 3,840,091, 4,579,196, 4,712,646, 5,137,113, 5,141,074, and 6,752,242, U.S. Design Patent No. D604,912 and Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2010/0051382.
Many such fall protection systems are cumbersome to operate. Moreover, many such fall protection systems are also quite heavy.

Fall protection device for use in climbing poles


When a catechin-free tea water according to the present invention is contained in a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition, enzymes are inactivated and catechin contained in tea leaves is removed by steaming unprocessed raw tea leaves, thereby preventing the oxidation of tea water. Therefore, a composition containing the tea water according to the present invention can prevent offensive odor generation or discoloration of the composition, thereby enabling the stable use thereof in various industrial fields such as food, cosmetics and medicine. In addition, plenty of skin helpful ingredients, contained in raw tea leaves, can be contained, and thus excellent skin barrier function recovery or skin moisturization effects can be provided.

Tea water is prepared by brewing the bud or leaf of Camellia sinensis in the family Theaceae. It has been used as a drink from before Christ. Beneficial pharmacological mechanisms of active ingredients contained in tea water, such as catechins, amino acids, vitamin C, β-carotene, dietary fibers, etc., are being elucidated gradually. In particular, the effects of the ingredients contained in tea including antioxidant, antiaging, anticancer, blood cholesterol-lowering, heavy metal-detoxifying, anticavity and bad breath-preventing effects, are drawing a lot of attentions.
Among them, the tea catechins have antioxidant, anticancer, cardiovascular disease-preventing and detoxifying effects because they can bind easily to various substances due to many hydroxyl (—OH) groups. Therefore, a method for preparing tea water rich in catechins among the useful ingredients of green tea is being studied actively.
However, catechin worsens the preference for tea as a drink due to its astringent taste. In addition, due to the presence of many hydroxyl (—OH) groups, browning of tea occurs due to oxidation when the tea is stored at room temperature. Moreover, the catechin often interrupts the uptake of other active ingredients contained in the tea such as caffeine.
Accordingly, when a cosmetic or a medicine is prepared using a catechin-containing tea water, there are problems in that other active ingredients contained in the tea water are oxidized, thereby lowering their efficacy and causing offensive odor generation and discoloration.

Catechin-free tea water and composition containing same


A method and system incorporating the use of interference cancellation during synchronized demodulation of a code division multiple access (CDMA) signal is described. A wireless communications receiver uses synchronized demodulation techniques to estimate the data contained in multiple orthogonal sub-channels of multiple CDMA signals. In response to these estimates an ideal waveform is constructed for each CDMA signal. These ideal waveforms are subtracted from the original signal received to form an interference-cancelled version of the original signal which is used when demodulating individual orthogonal sub-channels.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system incorporating the use of interference cancellation during the forward link portion of a wireless telecommunication system communication.
II. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a illustration of the radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic signal transmissions associated with the forward link portion of a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless telecommunications system. Base transceiver stations 100(a) and (b) transmit multiple access spread spectrum forward link signals 102(a) and (b) that are upconverted to an RF bandwidth. Via the process of reflection, building 106 generates forward link signal 102(c) in response to forward link signal 102(a). Subscriber unit 104(a) is positioned such that it receives forward link signals 100(a), (b) and (c), while subscriber unit 104(b) is positioned such that it receives only forward link signals 102(a) and (b). In an alternative configuration, one or more of base transceiver stations 100 generate multiple forward link signals 102 that are transmitted to portions of the surrounding area, usually referred to as "sectors", via directional antenna systems.
Each forward link signal 102 is comprised of a set of channels each of which carries one kind of information necessary to conduct the forward link portion of any communication (normally a telephone call) with subscriber units 104(a) and (b). The various kinds of information include pilot data for detecting the presence of a forward link signals 102, synchronization data for synchronizing with forward link signal 102, paging data for notifying a subscriber unit 104 of an incoming communication, and various sets of traffic data which generally consist of digital audio information, digital data, or both. The digital audio information is usually an electronic representation of the physical sound waves associated with actual audio information, preferably generated via the process adjusting the voltage level of a node within a telephone or other electronic system based on samples of the sound waves. The electronic information is digitized by performing periodic sampling of that voltage, and by generating binary numbers corresponding to the voltage potential detected at each sample. Various techniques for encoding and compressing these binary numbers well known in the art may also be employed. Upon receiving each forward link signal 102, subscriber units 104(a) and (b) separate the channels they need for their particular communication from the remaining channels via various type of signal processing. The remaining channels contain the information used to conduct other communications with other subscriber units 104 in the same area (not shown) which are also carried by each forward link signal 102.
The generation of the set of channels necessary for transmitting the multiple kinds of information via a single forward link signal 102 is performed via the use of a set of channel codes each of which is orthogonal to the remaining set. Before transmission, each bit of data associated with each kind of information is direct sequence modulated in a synchronized fashion with one of the channel codes from the set of channel codes. In one implementation of such a system, sixty-four channel codes are used, each channel code containing sixty-four chips with each chip having a value or either 1 or -1, with a -1 being used to represent a logic 1 and a 1 representing a logic 0. Once modulated, the various types of data are spread via direct sequence modulation with a common spreading code which is also comprised of a series of 1 and -1 values. The spreading code is generally much longer than the channel codes and only a portion of it is applied to any particular bit of data. The spread data is then summed together and upconverted for transmission via forward link signals 102. As shown in FIG. 1, multiple instances of these forward link signals are generated either by separate base transceiver stations 100, or via the process of reflection. Each of the forward link signals can then be received by subscriber units 104(a) and (b).
Upon receiving a set of multiple forward link signals 102, subscriber units 104(a) and (b) despread and demodulate a sub-set of these forward link signals in order to separate out the data necessary to conduct a communication. The sub-set is selected on the basis of signal quality and which forward link signals 102 promote diversity of signal source. If fewer than a certain number of forward link signals 102 are received, all of the forward link signals 102 can be demodulated. The demodulation is performed with a particular channel code from the set of orthogonal channel codes that has been assigned to the desired data. The demodulation of the forward link signal 102 with a particular channel code removes other orthogonal energy from that forward link signal 102, thereby isolating the desired data associated with that channel code from the remaining data so long as the set of channels within each forward link signal remain synchronized.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the RF signal reception and processing portion of a subscriber unit 104 (FIG. 1) when configured in accordance with the prior art. During operation, any RF signals received by antenna system 202 having frequencies that fall within a predetermined bandwidth are downconverted by RF signal processing system 203 and supplied to AGC system 200. AGC system 200 measures the energy level of the downconverted signals and amplifies or attenuates them as necessary to place the energy level of those signals within a predetermined decibel range. The gain adjusted signals are then applied to analog signal processing system 201 which further downconverts and digitizes the signals, and applies the digitized signals to searcher 206. Searcher 206 receives the digitized signals and identifies any forward link signals 102 transmitted from base transceiver station 100 by searching at various time offsets for the associated pilot channel.
When a forward link signal 102 is detected, searcher 206 calculates an arrival time for that forward link signal 102, which in the preferred embodiment takes the form of a time offset from a synchronization signal, and provides that information to control system 205. Control system 205 then assigns one of despreaders 208(a)-(c) to despread the forward link signal 102 using the time offset. Despreading is generally performed via direct sequence demodulation, which in one implementation constitutes performing a chip-by-chip multiplication operation on the data using the same spreading code used to spread the data originally. As additional forward link signals 102 are detected, control system 205 identifies those of the highest quality and assigns despreaders 208(a)-(c) to despread those signals.
The resulting despread signals from despreaders 208(a)-(c) are passed to traffic channel demodulators 210(a)-(c) which demodulate the signals using a channel code associated with the desired traffic data, with the appropriate channel code being unique for each subscriber unit 104 engaged in a communication with a particular base transceiver station 100. In one implementation of such a system, the demodulation with the channel code comprises performing a chip-by-chip multiplication operation with the data using the entire channel code and then summing the results of the multiplications to obtain an estimate of the data being transmitted. The estimates from traffic channel demodulators 210(a)-(c) can then be received from nodes 212(a)-(c) by other signal processing systems within a subscriber unit 100 (not shown), which will generally combine the estimates using various well known techniques in order to generate a single estimate of the data used for further processing.
During the processing of a particular forward link signal 102, the channels within that forward link signal 102 remain synchronized because they are transmitted via a single RF signal, and therefore travel the same path to arrive at a particular destination such as subscriber unit 104. This is not the case for channels carried by different forward link signals 102, however, because different forward link signals 102 generally travel different paths and therefore different distances to arrive at a particular destination. These different distances causes each forward link signal 102 to arrive with a slight time offset with respect to other forward link signals 102 which removes any orthogonality between the channels carried by one forward link signal 102 with respect to channels carried by another forward link signal 102. This lack of orthogonality prevents the energy associated with the channels of a first forward link signal 102 from being removed completely from a second forward link signal 102 via demodulation with a channel code. While the presence of this unremoved energy degrades the quality of any data produced using the second forward link signal 102, the degradation is generally not to a degree sufficient to prevent proper operation of the wireless telephone system. Nonetheless, if a method for processing a forward link signal could be developed that allowed at least some of the non-orthogonal energy from the other forward link signals 102 to be removed, such a development would substantially improve the quality of the data produced by a subscriber unit 104 incorporating the use of that method. This improved quality would also result in a reduction in the amount of power necessary to complete the transmission of data, which in the context of a CDMA wireless telecommunications system allows for increased data carrying capacity. Therefore, such a development would be highly desirable.

Method and system for processing a plurality of multiple access transmissions


An optoelectronic distance sensor with slant component 200 having a spacer 202 bonded on a mother substrate 201 is disclosed. The spacer 202 has slant surface for receiving one or more optoelectronic components 204, such as an optical sensor, that are mounted at an angle to the mother substrate 201. Such electronic components 204 are bonded on a daughter substrate 203 which attaches to the spacer 202 at the slant surface. The optoelectronic assembly 200 can be manufactured at chip-level, including by one ore more of exemplary methods disclosed herein.

One known method for measuring a distance against a remote object is by using an optical reflective sensor based on the triangulation principle. A wide variety of applications have been derived from the method including semiconductor assembly equipment, manufacturing process control, liquid level monitoring, camera, ranger finder, and 3D profile measurement.
A conventional optical reflective sensor generally includes an optical emitter or light source for emitting an optical wave such as infrared light, an optical sensor for receiving the optical wave reflected by a remote object, and an electronic circuit for processing the wave signal from the optical sensor and may be in communication with other components in the system, such as a microprocessor or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The optical emitter, optical sensor and the electronic circuit are normally packaged and manufactured into a single electronic assembly or a module.
Designs of mechanical structures for optical reflective sensor assembly have been developed to achieve higher performance. For example, the optical sensor may be oriented at a slant position angularly offset from the optical axis of the emitted light such that the optical sensor is aligned with the image plane. Accordingly, more sensitive and accurate measurement can be performed when the image on the optical sensor is in focus.
Like many other electronic devices, shrinkage in the assembly size is preferred for the distance sensor to accomplish lower materials cost and portability of the final product. In specific manufacturing industries, such as the semiconductor packaging industry, where on-line monitoring is required, there is a strong need for short-range distance sensors with high accuracy to be mounted in most assembly machines under the constraints of limiting space, and light weight to enable fast-moving of assembly machine parts. Furthermore, there is also a large quantity of applications for miniature distance sensors in consumer electronics. For example, by incorporating a range-finder consisting of miniature distance sensor in a cell-phone, a device so equipped becomes capable of switching to speaker mode from handset mode when sensing the cell-phone being away from user for a certain distance. This feature is particular advantageous for users who need to use the cell-phone often during driving.
However, known manufacturing processes for distance sensor assemblies are performed at the component level, limiting the further shrinkage of distance sensor size. This is because the assembly equipment in the packaging industry works on a planar platform with standard accessories in order to avoid the problems of wire-bonding on slant surfaces. Dedicated and hence costly equipment is required for making miniature assembly with the foregoing slant sensor arrangement, for example, below the size of about 2 mm×2 mm. As a result, the manufacturing cost for small size optical distance sensors becomes undesirably high.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,899 entitled "Triangulation displacement sensor" describes an optical sensor based on a triangulation method. The beam shaping elements are arranged such that the image formed on the detector element is slightly homogenized. As a result, the intensity of the image has smooth peaks and symmetrical variation.
US Patent Application Publication Number US2004/066499A1 entitled "Optical distance measuring device" discloses an optical distance detecting device having two detectors. One of the detectors is inclined at an angle between 10° and 170° with respect to the reference plane of the emitting axis in order to improve the result of measurement and to realize background suppression sensors having small dimensions.
JP Patent Application of publication number JP2006134922 entitled "Lead frame and physical value sensor using this, and further, method of packaging physical value sensor chip" discloses a lead frame structure which improves the yield of chip mounting at an inclined surface.
While the foregoing examples suggest slant arrangement of sensors, none of them provide a cost effective solution for assembling the slant structure.
Another problem for manufacturing miniature distance sensor relates to calibration. Sensing distances using small-sized photodiodes and position sensing detectors (PSD) are based on the magnitude of the photo-current generated by the light that is reflected from the objects being detected. The photo-current magnitude depends on the reflectivity of the object. Accordingly, there exists discrepancy in distance detection for objects with different reflectivity. To tackle this problem, more expensive detectors such as CCD/CMOS sensors are used to detect the actual light spot location on the sensor in order to provide high sensing accuracy and high tolerance against variation of object reflectivity. However, this approach requires complex lens structure and signal processing electronics to accomplish the whole sensing algorithm. This substantially increases the device size and the manufacturing cost. The object reflectivity issue discourages people from using the low cost and small size photodiodes and position sensing detector (PSD) for distance sensing applications. Therefore, the art would benefit greatly from cost-effective calibration methods for distance sensors using photodiodes and PSD which perform routine measurement on limited types of materials, such as for distance sensors in semiconductor packaging machines. The art would further benefit from improved optoelectronic distance sensors containing slant mounting surfaces and methods for manufacturing and calibrating the same that may be utilized in miniature assembly while keeping a low production and maintenance cost.

Hong Kong Applied Science & Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.


A data transfer device connected to a bus and a control signal line, includes: a judgment circuit for judging whether or not a state change of the bus, which occurs in a case where the data is manipulated to be output to the bus, is smaller than the state change of the bus, which occurs in a case where data is output to the bus without manipulating the data; a first manipulation circuit for manipulating the data in accordance with the result of judgment; a first output circuit for selectively outputting one set of the data and the data manipulated by the first manipulation circuit to the bus in accordance with the result of judgment; and a second output circuit for outputting a control signal indicating the result of judgment to the control signal line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data transfer device and a data transfer method for transferring data with low power consumption.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dynamic power consumption (P) of a data transfer line is generally expressed by the expression: EQU P=fCV.sup.2
where f is the number of times of charge and discharge, C is a load capacitance, and V is a voltage applied to the load capacitance. But structures are adopted as data transfer lines in many integrated circuits for processing data for simplification of internal structures. However, since the bus is long and a number of resources are connected to the bus, the load capacitance of the bus is large in many cases. This results in an increase in power consumption.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-128914 discloses a data transfer device for reducing the load capacitance of an internal bus. In the data transfer device, the internal bus is divided into two parts: a main data bus and an input/output bus. The main data bus and the input/output data bus are connected to each other via a bidirectional buffer only when data is output to the exterior of the integrated circuit.
However, the external bus has a remarkably larger load capacitance than that of the internal bus. This is because while the internal bus of the integrated circuit has a line width of a micrometer order and a line length of a millimeter order, the external bus which is connected to a terminal of the integrated circuit has a line width of a millimeter order and a line length of a centimeter order. Therefore, in kinds of integrated circuits which should transfer data to the exterior of the integrated circuits, power, which is consumed at the terminal, increases. As described above, the integrated circuit suffers from a problem that a remarkable reduction in the consumption power cannot be expected only by reducing the load capacitance of the internal bus.

Data transfer device and data transfer method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A hydrochlorofluoropropane azeotropic or azeotropic-like composition comprising at least two members selected from the group consisting of hydrochlorofluoropropanes of the formula I: EQU CH.sub.a Cl.sub.b F.sub.c CF.sub.2 CH.sub.x Cl.sub.y F.sub.z (I). wherein a+b+c=3, x+y+z=3, a+x.gtoreq.1, b+y.gtoreq.1, and 0.ltoreq.a,b,c,x,y,z.ltoreq.3.

Chlorofluorocarbon compounds (hereinafter referred simply as CFCs) have little toxicity and are, in many cases, non-flammable and chemically stable. Various CFCs having different boiling points are available. By virtue of such properties, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (R113) is used as a solvent or a blowing agent; trichloromonofluoromethane (R11) is used as a blowing agent or a propellant; and dichlorodifluoromethane (R12) is used as a propellant or a refrigerant.
Chemically stable R11, R12 and R113 have long lifetime in the troposphere and reach the stratosphere, where they will be dissociated by solar radiation to release chlorine radicals, which initiate a chain reaction with ozone and deplete the ozone layer. Accordingly, the regulations for limiting the use of such conventional CFCs have been implemented. Therefore, a research has been actively conducted to develop a CFC alternative which scarcely depletes the ozone layer.

Azeotropic or azeotropic-like composition of hydrochlorofluoropropane


A method and system for providing feedback for docking a content pane in a host window is disclosed. The method and system include providing a docking map. The docking map includes a plurality of docking areas there within. The method and system also include positioning a thumbnail associated with a content pane over one of the plurality of docking areas. Finally, the method and system include providing a hotspot on the thumbnail. The hotspot indicates that the content pane can be dropped into the one docking area. The feedback enables a user to precisely dock a content pane. In addition, a user can predict the final configuration of the host window. In addition, the docking of the content pane can determine complex configurations within a host window including nested splitters and notebooks whose tabs are oriented in any direction.

Computer systems, which utilize a graphical user interface in a windows-like environment, will typically display a plurality of windows. Each of the windows can be moved via a pointing device. Typically each window has a separate existence on a graphical user interface desktop with its own content pane, docking pane, borders, title bar, and tool bar. A "content pane" is a pane that has arbitrary contents such as text. A content pane can be "undocked" and "docked" by moving it from one window into another window, referred to as a "host window." The user moves or "drags" the content pane using a dragging gesture of the mouse. A user can also move the content pane with arrow keys on a keyboard. When a content pane is docked, it may rest in a docking pane. A "docking pane" is an area inside the host window, which can host the content pane. So a content pane is undocked from the docking pane of one window and then docked or redocked into the docking pane of another window. To illustrate the docking and undocking feature, refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional docking and undocking of a content pane 12 into a host window 10. In FIG. 1, docking and undocking feedback is provided by a dragged gray or black outline 14 through which the underlying components can be seen. This outline 14 shows the size and orientation of a window whether docking or undocking. When undocking the content pane 12, the outline 14 is a thick granular gray border with the size and orientation of the resulting window. In FIG. 2, when docking the content pane 12, the outline 15 is a thin black border with the size and orientation (but not the precise docking area) of the resulting docking pane. A result of docking (not shown) is a border region separated from the center of the host window with a splitter bar. A splitter bar, or "splitter," divides two panes arranged horizontally or vertically. The problems with the conventional docking and undocking of content panes utilizing the conventional method are described herein below.
Docking occurs only in the four border regions of the host window, not in the center of the host window. In a border region, multiple docking panes can be arranged in only one direction. Docking areas are limited to four docking areas. In the direction of the splitter bar, docking always occurs outside the split panes. Given a vertical splitter bar, for example, the left-top, left-bottom, right-top, and right-bottom docking areas are not available. The feedback during docking and undocking shows only the orientation and size of the resulting docked content pane, but not how the existing docking panes will be moved and resized. One conventional solution uses a technique where a transparent rectangle is displayed. The outline of the transparent rectangle changes shape and size to indicate a dockable docking area. Another conventional solution also uses this technique in combination with displaying different cursors to show dockable docking areas. Nevertheless, users still have difficulty predicting the arrangement of views that will result if they drop a view at a given location, because the feedback during docking and undocking does not show how the existing docking panes will be moved and resized.
Furthermore, a point on the mouse cursor, or a point on the object being dragged, called the hotspot, must be over a particular area on the screen to get a particular arrangement. Both the hotspot and the docking areas on the screen must be visible to the user to more accurately predict the resulting arrangement. Otherwise, when a content pane is placed in an ambiguous area, such as between two border regions, it is unpredictable where the content pane will be ultimately docked. Therefore, the visual feedback to the user must give the user an adequate indication of the ultimate result of the docking. Finally, there are typically areas in a host window that are not eligible for docking, and the locations of these areas are not clear unless both the hotspot and the docking areas on the screen are visible.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method and system for overcoming the above identified problems. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and system for providing feedback for docking a content pane in a host window

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention provides an optical disk device that has a laser unit including a first objective lens and a second objective lens. A numerical aperture of the first objective lens is different from a numerical aperture of the second objective lens. The optical disk device has a first focus driver that detects a first voltage value indicating the value of a driving voltage to drive the first objective lens when light beams are irradiated onto the surface of an optical disk via the first objective lens and a focus is achieved. The optical disk device has a second focus driver that detects a second voltage value indicating the value of a driving voltage to drive the second objective lens when light beams are irradiated onto the recording surface of said optical disk via the second objective lens and a focus is achieved. The optical disk device has a controller that discriminates the type of an optical disk, based on a difference between the first voltage value and the second voltage value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk discrimination method for recording/reproducing information to/from multiple types of optical disks by using an optical pickup and an optical disc device using the method.
2. Description of the related art
In recent years, optical disks as disc-shaped recording media have been in general use as an external storage device of a personal computer. Such optical disks are available in a variety of types including a CD initially developed for the purpose of appreciation of music, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-R, a DVD±RW, a DVD-RAM, and a Blu-ray Disc (hereinafter also referred to as a BD) developed for recording of data on personal computers. An optical disk device that supports these optical disks is designed so that multiple optical disks can be used on a single optical disk device. This means that an optical disk must have a feature to detect the type of an optical disk mounted on the optical disk.
With these optical disks, the emission wavelength of laser beams used for recording/reproducing data differs between a CD system a DVD system and a BD system. The corresponding optical system differs according. It is thus important to discriminate the type of an optical disk mounted on an optical disk device.
A related art optical disk device that supports both the CD system and the DVD system will be described referring to FIG. 9.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the pickup controller of an optical disk device. In FIG. 9, a numeral 1 represents an optical disk, 2 a pickup module, 3 a spindle motor, 4 an optical pickup, 5 a carriage, 6 a feed part, 7 a feed motor, 8 an analog signal processor, 9 a servo processor, 10 a motor driving part, 11 a digital signal processor, 12 a laser driving part, and 13 a controller.
Operation of a pickup controller thus configured in the related art will be described.
In FIG. 9, the pickup module 2 is composed of the spindle motor 3 for rotating the optical disk 1, the optical pickup 4 for reading an information signal from the optical disk 1, and the feed part 6 for moving in the radial direction of the optical disk 1 the carriage 5 where the optical pickup 4 is mounted. The analog signal processor 8 generates a focus error signal and a tracking error signal based on signal output from an optical sensor (not shown) inside the optical pickup 4 in the carriage 5 provided inside the pickup module 2 and outputs the signals to the servo processor 9.
The focus error signal indicates a displacement of a light beam spot emitted from an objective lens (not shown) included in the optical pickup 4 from the recording surface of the optical disk 1 in the focal direction. The tracking error signal indicates a displacement of the optical spot from the information track of the optical disk 1 in the radial direction of the optical disk.
The analog signal processor 8 generates a lens position signal indicating the relative positions of the objective lens and the carriage 5 by extracting the low range components of a tracking error signal.
The servo processor 9 is composed of an ON/OFF circuit, an arithmetic circuit, a filter circuit and an amplifier circuit. The servo processor 9 performs focus/tracking control over the objective lens so that the light beam spot will trace the information track of the optical disk, and performs feed control so that the objective lens will maintain an almost neutral position by using the low range components of the tracking error signal. The feed part 6 is composed of a feed motor 7, a gear (not shown), and a screw shaft (not shown). When the feed part 6 rotates the feed motor 7, the carriage 5 moves as a feed motor pulse is periodically outputted from the feed motor 7. The controller 13 controls the entirety of thus configured servo part.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the focus control system of a related art optical disk device.
In FIG. 10, a numeral 14 represents an objective lens, 15 a half mirror, 16 a division sensor, 17 a head amplifier, 18 a differential amplifier, 19 a division sensor, 20 a head amplifier, 21 a differential amplifier, 22 a selector switch, 23 a filter, 24 a selector switch, and 25 a driving circuit.
Operation of a focus control system of an optical disk device thus configured will be described. To discriminate the type of an optical disk, generally laser beams having a longer wavelength for CDs are irradiated first and laser beams having a shorter wavelength for DVDs are irradiated next in consideration of the difference in the optical power level.
When laser beams for CDs are irradiated, light reflected on the reflecting surface of the optical disk 1 in FIG. 10 reaches the half mirror 15 via the objective lens 14. For example, light for CDs passes through the half mirror 15 and impinges on the division sensor 16 and gain-adjusted by the head amplifier 17. Differential arithmetic operation is made by the differential amplifier 18 on a signal from the head amplifier 17 to generate a focus error signal related to laser beams for CDs are used.
The focus error signal thus generated that is related to laser beams for CDs are used as a signal to pass through the selector switch 22 and control a focus actuator via the filter 23, selector switch 24, and driving circuit 25.
The focus error signal is transmitted to the controller 13 for the controller 13 to control focus driving.
Next, an exemplary method for discriminating the type of an optical disk mounted will be described.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory drawing to discriminate the type of an optical disk.
As shown in FIG. 11, the objective lens is brought closer to a recording surface from a distance to the optical disk. A focus error signal (FE signal) is detected and the detected s-curve characteristic and added value FS of the FE signal are obtained. The CD system or DVD system is determined as follows: when the normalized FE amplitude value shown in FIG. 11 is greater than a threshold, a CD disk is assumed; when the value is smaller than a threshold, a DVD disk is assumed.
FIG. 12 shows normalized FE amplitude values by optical disk type and optical disk device.
As shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to set a threshold for a normalized FE amplitude value and use the threshold to discriminate between optical CD disks and optical DVD disks. When the detected normalized FE amplitude value is greater than the threshold, a CD disc is assumed. When the value is smaller, a DVD disk is assumed.
A technique to discriminate the type of an optical disk is described on Patent Reference 1.
Patent Reference 1: JP-A-2005-85351
However, there are some cases where a CD disk and a DVD disk cannot discerned using a threshold specified based on a normalized FE amplitude value due to variations in the assembly of optical components of optical disk devices or variations in the manufacture of optical disks.
FIG. 13 represents normalized FE amplitude values corresponding to several types of optical disks.
Part A in FIG. 13 corresponds to an optical disk device that determines a DVD disk as a CD disk because the s-curve amplitude value of the focus error of DVD is large. Part B in FIG. 13 corresponds to an optical disk device that determines a CD disk as a DVD disk because the s-curve amplitude value of CD is small.
In this way, each of the optical disk devices is accompanied by variations in the manufacture of optical components and amplitude of s-curve characteristic of a focus error signal. This results in failure to discriminate between CD disks and DVD disks.

Optical disk discrimination method and optical disk device


An integrated inkjet-cartridge refilling system that is comprised of an arrangement of mechanical, electrical, electronic, pneumatic, and software elements, which is used by an operator in a retail environment to automatically connect one of many types of inkjet cartridges that are used in printing devices and refill the cartridge.

Printing devices, such as printers for use with computers, facsimile machines and copiers, are typically sold with at least one, and in many cases, multiple ink cartridges. These cartridges include a housing that contains a reservoir of printing ink, either black or color, along with printer nozzles, which allow the ink to be transmitted to the intended medium, and electrical contacts for communicating with the cartridge.
Many such cartridges are intended to be disposable; when the cartridge is exhausted of ink, of course, printing becomes impossible. The emptied cartridge must be removed and a replacement cartridge must be substituted therefor to enable further printing. The disposable cartridge must then be disposed of in a proper fashion to reduce spillage of any remaining ink and to reduce any potential adverse environmental impact of the ink and other materials of the cartridge. Unless properly recycled, disposing of the empty cartridge increases the amount of garbage added to landfills.
In reaction to the negative environmental impact of disposable cartridges, refillable cartridges have been developed and welcomed by the marketplace. At present, these refillable cartridges are refillable by the consumer by purchasing a refill kit including a syringe filled with ink and needle. In use, the cartridge is refilled by insertion of the needle into a refill port provided through the housing of the cartridge and emptying the syringe of ink into the reservoir of the cartridge. In practice, this is a less than ideal solution.
Often, the refilling of a refillable cartridge is accompanied by some spillage of ink. The process can therefore be messy as well as time-consuming. Furthermore, the introduction of ink by way of the syringe and needle also tends to introduce unwanted pressure into the cartridge, which causes ink to be expelled through the inkjet printing head portion of the cartridge. In some cases, combining the remaining ink with the new ink may cause unwanted color variations and other inconsistencies. After refilling, many so-called refillable cartridges are rendered unusable.
Many cartridge manufacturers allow customers to return their empty cartridges to the manufacturer. The manufacturer then refills the cartridge and resells the refilled cartridge for a discounted price. Further, many companies obtain empty cartridges, refill them with ink and sell the refilled cartridges for a discounted price, creating competition and lower prices. However, refilling an empty cartridge is the least expensive alternative, with the least amount of waste.
There are numerous printer manufacturers, such as Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Canon, etc., and each manufactures multiple cartridges for the many printing devices. Each cartridge has a housing that contains a number of electrical contacts and print nozzles in various configurations, and is designed or configured such that it may only fit into a particular printing device and no other.
In use, the cartridges are properly inserted into a printing device which receives a signal in order to print on the medium. For example, a printer connected to a computer may receive a print signal from the computer, while a facsimile machine may receive a signal over a telephone line. The printing device converts that signal, depending on its driver program, and sends the appropriate control signal to the cartridge, or in the case of a color printing device, to multiple cartridges. Once the control signal is received, each cartridge will transfer ink through its print nozzles as the medium passes beneath. When the control signal is complete, the printing device will have generated a document or drawing on the medium.
Each use of the cartridge reduces the amount of toner or ink remaining in the cartridge. Depending on the size of the cartridge, a number of documents or drawings can be generated before the cartridge is empty or near empty. The larger the cartridge, the more ink it contains and the more documents can be printed. When empty, the cartridge needs to be replaced.
Cartridges can be expensive depending on many different variables, including the overall need for a particular cartridge, the popularity of the printing device (the more cartridges manufactured the less expensive the cartridge due to economies of scale), and the amount of competition for the cartridge manufacturer, among others.
Further, the cost of the ink or toner in a cartridge is relatively inexpensive and has very little effect on the cost of the replacement cartridge itself. Thus, as many printing device owners understand, merely replacing the ink or toner in a cartridge can be an extremely inexpensive alternative to replacing the entire cartridge.
A demand therefore exists for an automatic mechanism and method in which the customer can refill a printer cartridge that reduces or eliminates ink spillage, does not destroy the cartridge and is convenient and reliable. The present invention satisfies this demand.

Apparatus for refilling inkjet cartridges and methods thereof


A connector cable assembly has first and second plugs wired to permit plugging into a first pair of electrical plugs with a pair of terminals in a first configuration to place the terminals of those plugs in parallel connection, and to permit plugging into a second pair of electrical plugs with a pair of terminals in a second configuration, to place the terminals of those plugs in series connection. In a commercial embodiment, such a cable assembly can be used to provide power to electrical devices such as gas valves connected to receive power in parallel from the first pair of electrical plugs, and to connect in series, safety switches connected to plugs with a pair of terminals in the second configuration. By using an adapter with specialized connections between two sets of terminals it is possible to use additional cable assemblies to connect in excess of two switches in series.

Two types of components are used in certain electrical systems. Two or more of a first type must be connected in parallel with each other. Two or more of a second type must be connected in series with each other. One such electrical system is that for controlling flow of gaseous fuel to a burner. An electronic controller provides the operating power to the various components of the burner control system. Burners, particularly larger ones, have a number of operating requirements for safety. For example, startup must proceed according to a prescribed series of steps involving combustion chamber purging and proving pilot flame. During normal combustion, it is important to constantly monitor the output of a flame detector. If flame is not present, then the flow of fuel to the combustion chamber must be immediately stopped to prevent dangerous accumulations of unburned fuel.
Because the potential for harm when fuel flows uncontrollably is so great, it is customary to have two valves in series flow relationship so if one fails in the open position, the other will still be closed to prevent flow of fuel to the combustion chamber. These valves typically have electrical operators or solenoids to open and close them, with the power for operating them provided by the controller. While the valves are in series flow relationship, their operators are in parallel electrical connection, so that the controller can provide operating power at a single source for simultaneously opening and closing them.
In operating a burner, a number of operating conditions must be present for safety. For the burner itself, proper fuel pressure, sufficient combustion air, and presence of flame are necessary. In a case where the burner is used to heat water or generate steam, other conditions must also be present, such as proper water temperature and water pressure. It is customary to sense many of these conditions with safety or limit switches that open if the condition is not within the preset range. All of these safety switches are connected in series to provide power to the controller or to provide power for the valve operators when all are sensing conditions within the preset limits. If any condition is outside its prescribed limit, the associated switch opens, removing power to the valve operators, and causing the fuel valves to close. For example high and low pressure sensor switches sense fuel pressure. If the fuel supply pressure is below the low-pressure limit setting or above the high-pressure limit setting, the associated switch opens.
Proper installation is a concern with these burner control systems. For example, if the safety switch for a particular condition is omitted or by-passed by mistake or is wired in parallel with another switch, the safety test is absent. Where a number of switches are present in a burner installation, it is relatively easy to miswire one or more switches and relatively difficult to detect the miswires. Accordingly, the fewer switches that must be individually wired by the installer the better.
Limiting the number of parts and wiring present in a burner installation saves cost. If it is possible to use identical parts for different purposes in an installation, returns to scale reduce cost of that part. Further, internal point-to-point wiring within a component of the system is time consuming and thus relatively expensive, so replacing this wiring with more standardized wiring reduces cost.
One way to accomplish this is by combining related safety switches and the fuel valve sets in a single package. First of all, this is less costly because a large number of a few identical devices can be made in a factory setting. Secondly, by combining many of these components in the same package, the space required is reduced. Space in many installations is limited, so by combining a number of required or common components in a single package, the installation process is simplified and less likely to have errors. We find that one particularly advantageous package combines fuel pressure safety switches and two fuel valves with their operators. We will call a package containing both a pair of pressure safety switches mounted to sense out of range inlet fuel pressure and a pair of fuel valves in series, each with their own operator, a fuel control module.
We have developed a universal cable assembly that can be used either for connecting components in serial or parallel. This cable assembly has particular advantage for wiring or connecting fuel control modules. Such a cable assembly comprises a (usually) flexible cable with first and second ends, and having at least first and second internal conductors insulated from each other. A first connector plug is mechanically attached to the first end of the cable. The connector plug has at least first, second, and third terminals. By xe2x80x9cterminalxe2x80x9d we mean a conductive element designed to make electrical contact with another conductive element carried on a separate connector plug, and which may be but not necessarily is, electrically connected to a conductor in the cable. The first plug""s first and third terminals are electrically connected with each other and with the first conductor. The first plug""s second terminal is electrically connected with the second conductor.
A second connector plug is mechanically attached to the second end of the cable and also has at least first, second, and third terminals. The first terminal is electrically connected to the first conductor, and the second terminal is electrically connected to the second conductor. A third terminal is not connected to either conductor.
A cable assembly conforming to nothing more than this broad statement of the invention has little use. In a preferred embodiment, each of the first and second plugs includes first through third slots, for respectively receiving first through third connecting pins and within each of which is respectively the first through third terminal. The terminals within the slots are shaped and positioned to make electrical contact with the connecting pin within the slot. Further, this preferred cable assembly has for each of the second plug""s terminals, a projecting connecting pin. Since usually these components will be assembled in a factory environment, the likelihood of proper connection from the component terminals to the plug terminals is quite high.
The slots in the two plugs and the connecting pins of the second plug should all have what we call xe2x80x9cpredetermined polarized geometryxe2x80x9d. By this we mean that all of the pins in the second plug will simultaneously mate with their respective slots of either plug in only one orientation of the pins with respect to the slots and while mated, make electrical connection with the terminals within the slots, first pin in first slot, second pin in second slot, etc. Such a cable assembly can be used either to connect in series two safety switches each having two connecting pins mounted to match the predetermined polarized geometry, or to connect two valve operators in parallel, each operator having two connecting pins mounted to match the predetermined polarized geometry.
The design makes it irrelevant which plug of the assembly is connected to a particular one of the switches or the operators, and which to the other. Of course, the switches and the operators must be properly connected to their connector pin sets for the proper connection of the individual components to each other, and to the controller.
In one embodiment of the invention, the connecting pins of each of the safety switches must connect to the second and third terminals of each plug.
By using a special adapter, two or more of these cable assemblies can be used to connect more than two devices in series. Such an adapter comprises a plug having a first surface having therein first through third slots having a predetermined polarized geometry. The respective one of first through third conductive pins may be inserted into each of these slots. A first terminal is mounted in the first slot to make electrical contact with an inserted connecting pin. A third terminal is mounted in the third slot to make electrical contact with an inserted connecting pin. A second surface of the adapter has at least second and third conductive pins projecting therefrom and has the predetermined polarized geometry of the second and third slots. The second pin is electrically connected to the first terminal and said third pin is electrically connected to the third terminal. This arrangement creates the situation where the two devices connected in series by the first cable assembly appear across the adapter""s second and third pins as a single two-terminal switch or other device.

Universal cable assembly for both parallel and serial component connections


A system and the like are provided, which increase user enjoyment in a plurality of types of games through management of a plurality of types of money. A virtual money management system includes: a gaming server which can be accessed by a plurality of user terminals and controls a multiplayer game played by the plurality of user terminal accessing; and a management server which manages virtual money bet in the multiplayer game, wherein the gaming server operates a plurality of types of multiplayer games, and the management server (A) manages different types of virtual money used in the plurality of types of multiplayer games, respectively, (B) performs exchange processing for exchanging the different types of virtual money with each other, and (C) in at least one type of multiplayer game among the plurality of types of multiplayer games, grants rewards to players based on reward values defined according to rankings in the game.

Conventionally, so-called multiplayer games that can be played by multiple players have been operated via a network. In such events, there are some games in which betting is possible in proceedings of the games, and virtual money circulating online has been used for an object of betting.
In recent years, many types of money and credit are in circulation online, and techniques for system operation involving such money and credit have been devised.
First, a system has been proposed, which can deal with all types of money, tokens, credit, and the like that can be used on gaming machines that are not limited to network games, and which can provide accurate gaming machine accounting data (Patent Literature 1).
That is, Patent Literature 1 discloses an accounting and data collection system for a gaming machine adapted to accept game credit purchases and wagers from a player using one or more forms of monetary value, to generate game winnings or losses in response thereto and to dispense available game credit collected by the player in one or more forms of monetary value, comprising: means for storing the amount of residual game credit purchased corresponding to credit purchased which has not yet been risked by the player; means for tracing game activity within said gaming machine including the total wagers accepted and the total winnings paid to the players of said gaming machine; and event processing means for sensing gaming machine events including the amount and form of game credit purchase and the amount of a wager by the player and having means for updating said residual credit storing means when game credit is purchased, when a wager is placed and when credit is collected by the player and incrementing said game activity tracing means by the amount of credit collected in excess of the amount of residual credit available to the player.
Moreover, a virtual store system has also been proposed, in which it is possible to differently use virtual currency (first currency or town currency) that can be used in a whole virtual space (town) on a network and virtual currency (second currency or game currency) that can be used only at a predetermined game store (where a game application is offered) within the virtual space (Patent Literature 2).
That is, Patent Literature 2 discloses a virtual store system including a terminal, accounting means, and service provision means that are connected to a network, wherein a user accesses a virtual space from the terminal and uses a service at a virtual store installed in the virtual space, wherein the accounting means includes an accounting database for managing first currency that can be used in the virtual space, and the service provision means includes a service database for managing second currency that can be used only at the virtual store provided by the service provision means.

Virtual money management system and method


A modular communication fixture is installed in a passenger aircraft adjacent to an entrance and exit area adjoining a passenger boarding door. The fixture includes a housing, at least one access door that is selectively movable to an open position and a closed position relative to the housing, an information and communication terminal arrangement that is installed at least partly in the housing and that includes a control section, and a seat that is adapted to support a person seated thereon and that is arranged movable into and out of the housing. In the open position, the at least one access door permits access to the control section and the seat, and extends into the entrance and exit area. In the closed position, the at least one access door prohibits access to the control section and the seat, and does not obstruct the entrance and exit area.

Conventional fixtures of the above mentioned general type have only the capability of an audio/video control center in an aircraft. The center is constructed for operation by the cabin personnel and does not provide any services for individual passengers. A conventional center is frequently installed in a luggage compartment or in a stowing cabinet where it takes up space that could otherwise be used for luggage and/or clothing. Moreover, a conventional center of this type serves exclusively for the cabin specific controls by personnel, but does not provide any conveniences for the passengers.
Other conventional terminals of this kind that are constructed for the convenience of customers are not installed in a transport conveyance, but rather in buildings, such as banks offering an automatic teller, or in train stations offering automatic ticket vending machines, or in airports offering flight insurance policies and so forth. It is also known to equip a sleeping car on a train, for example, with an information center including bar counter elements. A train attendant may temporarily be positioned behind such a counter where the attendant can reach individual sleeping cabins by telephone. Generally, these terminals or information centers have a rather rigid construction which requires a substantial space for installation. Additionally, conventional fixtures of this kind are quite heavy and therefore not suitable for installation in a passenger aircraft.

Modular communication fixture for installation on board of a passenger conveyance


A vertical diamond field effect transistor includes a nondiamond substrate, preferably a heavily doped silicon substrate, having a diamond layer on one face thereof, a source contact on the diamond layer, a gate contact on the diamond layer adjacent the source contact, and a drain contact on the back face of the substrate. The diamond layer is preferably a single layer of large polycrystalline diamond grains, having a heavily doped region adjacent the silicon substrate. The gate and source contacts may extend across many polycrystalline diamond grains in the single layer of polycrystalline diamond grains. Alternatively, the source and gate contacts may be narrower than the average grain size of the polycrystalline diamond grains. Interdigitated source and gate fingers, narrower than the average polycrystalline diamond grain size, may also be provided. The single layer of polycrystalline grains may be formed on the silicon substrate. High performance vertical diamond field effect transistor devices are thereby provided.

There are two general schemes for integrating a Field Effect Transistor (FET) into a semiconductor substrate: horizontal and vertical integration. In horizontal integration, carrier flow in the field effect transistor, from source to drain, occurs in the direction parallel to the plane of the substrate, i.e. parallel to the top and bottom faces of the substrate. In contrast, in a vertical FET, current flow from the source to the drain occurs transverse to the plane of the substrate, i.e. transverse to the top and bottom faces of the substrate.
Horizontal FETs are widely used because of the relative ease of isolation among devices, and because of the ease of application to large scale integration. Large scale integration is more easily implemented with horizontal FETs because the drain, source and gate contacts are all located on one face of the substrate. Vertical FETs, on the other hand, generally have a superior power-delay product and a higher power handling capacity compared with their lateral counterparts. Moreover, for high power devices, the provision of a source contact on one substrate face and a drain contact on the opposite substrate face maximizes power handling ability.
In view of these advantages, much development effort has been focused on vertical field effect transistors in silicon and gallium arsenide. Silicon based vertical field effect transistors are described in publications entitled A Vertical FET With Self-Aligned Ion-Implanted Source and Gate Regions by Ozawa et al., IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. ED-25, No. 1, January 1978, pp. 56-57; Proposed Vertical-Type Amorphous-Silicon Field-Effect Transistors by Uchida, IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. EDL-5, No. 4, April 1984, pp. 105-107; Vertical-Type Amorphous-Silicon Field-Effect Transistors with Small Parasitic Elements by Uchida et al., Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 25, No. 9, September 1986, pp. L798-L800; A High-Power High-Gain VD-MOSFET Operating at 900 MHz by Ishikawa et al., IEEE Transaction on Electron Devices, Vol. ED-34, No. 5, May 1987, pp. 1157-1162; and Complementary Vertical Bipolar Transistor Process Using High-Energy Ion Implantation by Ragay et al., Electronics Letters, Vol. 27, No. 23, November 1991, pp. 2141-2143.
Gallium arsenide based vertical field effect transistors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,089 to Hollis et al. entitled Vertical Transistor Device Fabricated With Semiconductor Regrowth, and in publications entitled Ion-Implanted FET for Power Applications by Lecrosnier et al., Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. ED-21, No. 1, January 1974, pp. 113-118; Semiconductors for High-Voltage, Vertical Channel Field Effect Transistors by B. J. Baliga, J. Appl. Phys. 53(3), March 1982, pp. 1759-1764; Vertical FET's in GaAs by Rav-Noy et al., IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. EDL-5, No. 7, July 1984, pp. 228-230; Vertical Field-Effect Transistors in III-V Semiconductors by Rav-Noy et al., Appl. Phys. Let. 45(3), August 1984, pp. 258-260; A Numerical Analysis of a Short Vertical n.sup.+ -n.sup.- -n.sup.+ GaAs MESFET by Lyden et al., IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. EDL-5, No. 2, February 1984, pp. 43-44; Vertical Integration of GaAs/AlGaAs Laser Diode and Vertical JFET by Yoo et al., Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 27, No. 3, March 1988, pp. L431-L433; Determination of Electron Energy Distribution in a GaAs Vertical Field-Effect Transistor With Hot-Electron Injection by Yamasaki et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 54(3), January 1989, pp. 274-276; A Vertical Integration of GaAs/GaAlAs LED and Vertical FET With Embedded Schottky Electrodes by Hong et al., Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 29, No. 12, December 1990, pp. L2427-L2429; and A High Voltage-Gain GaAs Vertical Field-Effect Transistor With an InGaAs/GaAs Planar-Doped Barrier Launcher by Won et al, IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 11, No. 9, September 1990, pp. 376-378.
Diamond is a preferred material for semiconductor devices because it has semiconductor properties that are better than silicon, germanium or gallium arsenide. Diamond provides a higher energy bandgap, a higher breakdown voltage and a higher saturation velocity than these traditional semiconductor materials.
These properties of diamond yield a substantial increase in projected cutoff frequency and maximum operating voltage compared to devices fabricated using silicon, germanium or gallium arsenide. Silicon is typically not used at temperatures higher than about 200.degree. C. and gallium arsenide is not typically used above 300.degree. C. These temperature limitations are caused, in part, because of the relatively small energy band gaps for silicon (1.12 eV at ambient temperature) and gallium arsenide (1.42 eV at ambient temperature). Diamond, in contrast, has a large band gap of 5.47 eV at ambient temperature, and is thermally stable up to about 1400.degree. C.
Diamond has the highest thermal conductivity of any solid at room temperature and exhibits good thermal conductivity over a wide temperature range. The high thermal conductivity of diamond may be advantageously used to remove waste heat from an integrated circuit, particularly as integration densities increase. In addition, diamond has a smaller neutron cross-section which reduces its degradation in radioactive environments, i.e., diamond is a "radiation-hard" material.
Because of the advantages of diamond as a material for semiconductor devices, there is at present an interest in the growth and use of diamond for high temperature and radiation-hardened electronic devices. Since FETs are fundamental building blocks of modern integrated circuits, there is interest in the design and fabrication of diamond FETs.
The design and fabrication of horizontal diamond FETs have been widely reported in the art. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,848 entitled Complementary Field-Effect-Type Semiconductor Device by Sato et al. and publications entitled High-Temperature Thin-Film Diamond Field-Effect Transistor Fabricated Using a Selective Growth Method by Gildenblat et al., IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 12, No. 2, February 1991, pp. 37-39; Fabrication of an Insulated Gate Diamond FET for High Temperature Applications by Hewett et al., presented at the International High Temperature Electronics Conference in Albuquerque, NM, June 1991, pp. 168-173; IGFET Fabrication of Homoepitaxial Diamond Using in Situ Boron and Lithium Doping by Fountain et al., presented at the Electrochemical Society meeting held in Washington, DC in May, 1991; and Diamond MESFET Using Ultrashallow RTP Boron Doping by Tsai et al., IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 12, No. 4, April 1991, pp. 157-159. See also the publication by A. J. Tessmer, K. Das and D. L. Dreifus entitled Polycrystalline Diamond Field-Effect Transistors, Diamond and Related Materials I (1992), pp. 89-92, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam, Holland.
Development of vertical diamond FETs has not been as widely reported or as successful. A proposed diamond vertical FET structure is described in a publication entitled Diamond Transistor Performance and Fabrication by Geis, Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 79, No. 5, May 1991, pp. 669-676. Described at FIGS. 2 and 3 is a possible vertical field effect transistor formed on a conducting diamond substrate and having a bottom drain contact thereon, and a homoepitaxial boron doped diamond layer including gate and source regions. The publication notes, at page 670, that "at present, the technical problems in manufacturing a highly conductive diamond substrate have not been solved . . . ". See also an earlier publication by Geis et al. entitled Device Applications of Diamonds, Journal of Vacuum Society Technology, Vol. A6, No. 3, May-June 1988, pp. 1953-1954.
In conclusion, although vertical diamond field effect transistors are highly desirable, the art has not heretofore suggested a viable vertical diamond field effect transistor structure, or manufacturing process therefor.

Vertical diamond field effect transistor


Certain embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing congestion notification and control across a network. In certain aspects, a protocol for managing sender and receiver-based congestion control is provided using a format for streaming parameters, such as the Session Description Protocol format. In certain aspects, a system and method for operating an interworking gateway between different user devices is provided.

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, data, video and the like, and deployments are likely to increase with introduction of new data oriented systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems. Wireless communications systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., bandwidth and transmit power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems and other orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems.
Generally, a wireless multiple-access communication system can simultaneously support communication for multiple wireless terminals (also know as user equipments (UEs), or access terminals (ATs)). Each terminal communicates with one or more base stations (also know as access points (APs), EnodeBs or eNBs) via transmissions on forward and reverse links. The forward link (also referred to as a downlink or DL) refers to the communication link from the base stations to the terminals, and the reverse link (also referred to as an uplink or UL) refers to the communication link from the terminals to the base stations. These communication links may be established via a single-in-single-out, single-in-multiple out, multiple-in-single-out or a multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO) system.
A MIMO system employs multiple (NT) transmit antennas and multiple (NR) receive antennas for data transmission. A MIMO channel formed by the NT transmit and NR receive antennas may be decomposed into NS independent channels, which are also referred to as spatial channels. Generally, each of the NS independent channels corresponds to a dimension. The MIMO system can provide improved performance (e.g., higher throughput and/or greater reliability) if the additional dimensionalities created by the multiple transmit and receive antennas are utilized. A MIMO system also supports time division duplex (TDD) and frequency division duplex (FDD) systems. In a TDD system, the forward and reverse link transmissions are on the same frequency region so that the reciprocity principle allows estimation of the forward link channel from the reverse link channel. This enables an access point to extract transmit beam-forming gain on the forward link when multiple antennas are available at the access point.
Base station nodes, sometimes referred to as eNBs, have different capabilities for deployment in a network. This includes transmission power classes, access restriction, and so forth. In one aspect, heterogeneous network characteristics create wireless coverage dead spots (e.g., Donut coverage hole). This may cause severe inter-cell interference requiring undesirable user equipment cell association. In general, heterogeneous network characteristics require deep penetration of physical channels which may cause unwanted interference between nodes and equipment on the respective network.
Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) is an extension to the Internet Protocol (IP) and to the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and is defined in RFC 3168 (2001). ECN allows end-to-end notification of network congestion dropping packets, and is an optional feature that is only used when both endpoints support it and are willing to use it. ECN is only effective when supported by the underlying network. Traditionally, TCP/IP networks signal congestion by dropping packets. However, when ECN is successfully negotiated, an ECN-aware router may set a mark in the IP header instead of dropping a packet in order to signal impending congestion. The receiver of the packet echoes the congestion indication to the sender, which must react as though a packet was dropped. Some outdated or buggy network equipment may drop packets with ECN bits set, rather than ignoring the bits.
ECN functionality can be used to perform end-to-end rate adaptation between user equipment or devices (UEs) in a wireless network. However, if the transport network or devices in it does not properly support ECN functionality, the terminals will have to disable ECN and the UEs will not be able to perform rate adaptation.

Methods and apparatus for ECN receiver driven congestion control


A system for broadcasting a notification. In response to receiving a new telephone number for a communication device from a service provider, a telephone number change notification is automatically broadcast to a plurality of contact telephone numbers within a contact list. Each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers within the contact list is tracked to determine whether each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers received the telephone number change notification. In response to a contact telephone number within the plurality of contact telephone numbers not receiving the telephone number change notification, a configurable indicator is displayed in a display when a user inputs the contact telephone number into the communication device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved communication device. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a computer implemented method and computer usable program code in a communication device for automatically notifying a plurality of contacts of a telephone number change and tracking actions taken by each of the plurality of contacts in response to receiving the notification of the telephone number change.
2. Description of the Related Art
Innovations in communications technologies have made a wide range of enhanced communications services available to a user. For example, a user may dial a telephone number at the press of a key by using speed-dialing, retrieve a telephone number for a missed call, view a telephone number of an incoming call on a display by using caller identification (caller ID), and send or retrieve a voice message by using voice mail. A communications provider often provides these services through a network such as an intelligent services network (ISN) that is privately owned but that works in conjunction with the public switched telephone network (PSTN). These services also may be offered by a dedicated device, such as a telephone with advanced electronics or a telephone answering machine, located at the user's premises.
However, one problem associated with current communications technologies is that there is no way for a user of a communication device to automatically inform all the contacts contained within a contact list of a telephone number change for the user's communication device. Presently, after changing the telephone number of a communication device, a user may become concerned that contacts within the user's contact list may not be aware of the telephone number change. Consequently, the user worries about missing important telephone calls from contacts that are not aware of the telephone number change. Currently, because there is no way to automatically notify contacts of the telephone number change, the user must individually dial each telephone number in the contact list to disseminate the new telephone number to the contacts. This process of manually dialing all the telephone numbers in the contact list is very tedious and time consuming.
In addition, the user may not immediately connect with a contact on the first try. As a result, the user may leave a voice message in a voice mailbox or on an answering machine message, but only if either of these two options is available. If the user is not able to leave a voice message, or simply does not want to leave a voice message, the user must remember to call that contact again later. Further, if the user is able to leave a voice message regarding the telephone number change, the user has no way of knowing whether the contact received the voice message or if the contact wants the new number.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to have an improved computer implemented method and computer usable program code in a communication device for automatically notifying a plurality of contacts of a telephone number change and tracking actions taken by each of the plurality of contacts in response to receiving the notification of the telephone number change.

Method and system for telephone number change notification and tracking


An electric appliance remote control apparatus includes a wireless module, a memory unit, a connection unit, a controlling module, a power supply unit, and a power input end. The wireless module can receive a remote control signal and convert the remote control signal into an enabling signal. The controlling module controls ON/OFF of power from the power supply unit to the connection unit according to the enabling signal. In a method using the electric appliance remote control apparatus, the connection unit is connected to an electric appliance. Monitoring programs corresponding to the electric appliance remote control apparatus are downloaded by and installed in a handheld device and provide an operation interface on a screen of the handheld device. The remote control signal is sent to the wireless module through the operation interface of the handheld device to control or monitor the electric appliance through the electric appliance remote control apparatus.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for wireless remote control of an electric appliance and, more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for controlling power supplied to an electric appliance through a wireless transmission technique.
Use of various electric appliances becomes more frequent as a result of development of techniques. Due to reliance on the electric appliances, the plugs of many electric appliances in homes and companies are often left in the power sockets. However, these electric appliances still consume electricity even though they are not in use, and the electricity consumed by the frequently plugged electric appliances is not a low account in the total electricity consumption. Thus, the environmental protecting units keep teaching the users to unplug the electric appliances not in use to avoid unnecessary waste, yet the effect is limited. The main reason is that most users can not effectually unplug the increasing number of electric appliances in their busy lives.
Even though many electric appliances are equipped with switch timers and/or long range wireless controlling switches, the power saving effect is not as good as unplugging. In a different approach, a power switch timer is mounted between the plug of an electric appliance and a power socket to effectively cut off the power supply. However, the design for turning on/cutting off the power supply is complicated and rigid. Specifically, the user has to remove the power switch timer if it is desired to use the electric appliance while the power switch timer is in a mode cutting off the power supply or if it is desired to cut off the power supply while the power switch timer is in another mode supplying power from the power socket to the plug. Furthermore, the power switch timer can be used with only one power socket. A significant increase in the costs is inevitable if control of power supplies to many locations is required.
In a company or factory using a lot of electric appliances, controlling the power switches not only saves electricity but involves safety. As an example, the risk of wires catching fire exists, because the electric appliances still consume electricity even though they are not turned on. However, precise control of power requires professional workers and increases the costs of labor and time.

Method and apparatus for wireless remote control of an electric appliance


The invention relates to a starch and fiber mixture, and the application of a starch and fiber mixture in paper manufacturing. The starch and fiber mixture is applied to a paper mat, after the paper mat is formed. The starch and fiber mixture may be obtained by the selective filtering of white water from the papermaking process, particularly by use of a pressure screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the application of a starch and fiber mixture in paper manufacturing. The starch and fiber mixture is applied to a paper mat, after the paper mat is formed. In an embodiment of the invention, the starch and fiber mixture is obtained by the selective filtering of the white water from the papermaking process. The white water is filtered to remove larger particles so that the filtered white water can be used in a spraying process.
2. The Prior Art
Paper and board can be made by a number of processes as known in the art. These processes include the Fourdrinier process, dual former machines, gap former machines and other machines. For example, in the Fourdrinier process, paper and board are generally produced by forming a fiber mat from aqueous cellulosic slurry on a wire screen. These papermaking systems generally comprise a head box having a flow chamber upstream from the wire screen. The head box receives the aqueous cellulosic slurry and deposits the slurry onto the wire screen where a paper mat is formed. The paper mat is removed from the wire screen and further processed, including drying, to form the paper or board.
The aqueous cellulosic slurry generally has a solids content of less than 1% and, therefore, a large amount of liquid is drained off the mat. This liquid is referred to as white water and is a source of fiber. White water comprising fiber is a by-product of most papermaking processes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,087 describes the use of fiber from white water that is premixed with granulated starch and then flocculated for use as an additive to paper stock prior to the formation of the paper mat.
We have discovered that a fiber source, including that obtained by white water in a papermaking process, can be sprayed onto the paper mat after its formation to improve the properties of the paper. The fiber source is incorporated into a starch slurry and the resulting starch and fiber mixture is sprayed onto the paper mat. The fiber allows the starch to remain on the mat where it is cooked during further processing. In a preferred embodiment, the white water is selectively filtered, such as in a pressure screen, to obtain optimum sized fiber particles that are capable of being sprayed and will retain the starch on the paper.
In the present Specification, all parts and percentages are on a weight-by-weight basis unless otherwise specified.

Starch and fiber mixture for papermaking and methods of making paper with the mixture