A container deployment method increases access speed between isolated containers on a same host. The method includes: receiving a container deployment message including container image information and association information of a container; creating a container for a first service, and a first network namespace and a first IPC namespace corresponding to the container for the first service; creating a first load balancing container corresponding to the container for the first service, and setting a running parameter of the first load balancing container to a parameter of the first network namespace; creating a loopback interface in the first network namespace; determining that the network device has a container that is for a second service and that is associated with the container for the first service; and setting a starting parameter of the first load balancing container to a parameter of a second IPC namespace.

With the emergence of a container technology represented by docker, a trend of using a container as an operation form of an application (application, App) appears in the industry. The docker container technology is a lightweight operating system virtualization technology. Although containers on a same host (a physical machine or a virtual machine) share an operating system kernel, resources (such as a CPU and a memory) used by different containers are mutually isolated. Isolation between containers is usually implemented by using a namespace (namespace) technology provided by a Linux kernel. The Linux kernel provides isolation functions of a host name, an interprocess communication (interprocess communication, IPC), a network (Network), a mount point (Mount), and a user (User) by using the namespace technology.
In the prior art, communication between different containers on a same host is usually performed through network communications. A docker container engine is taken as an example. When receiving a container deployment message and deploying a container, the docker container engine creates a bridge (bridge) named docker 0 on a host to provide a data exchange service for all containers, establishes a separate network namespace (network namespace, net namespace for short) for each container, and establishes a network interface (eth) in the network namespace of each container. Finally, a virtual network device pair (veth pair) technology (the virtual network device pair across the network namespace has two ends, and is similar to a tunnel) is used to start the network interface of the container to communicate with the docker0 bridge, as shown in FIG. 1a. The docker0 bridge may provide a network data exchange function for different containers on the same host, or may send a data packet in a container to an overlay network (overlay network) specified by the user, to perform cross-host node communication.
With the development of technologies, especially the development of Internet technologies, scale and complexity of an application are greatly increased. A conventional stovepipe monomer application architecture cannot adapt well to current application development, and therefore a microservice architecture appears. A general idea of the microservice architecture is to decouple the application, and divide a conventional monomer application into a plurality of services of a fine granularity, so as to reduce coupling of a system, and improve flexibility of the system. Microservices provide final value for a user through mutual coordination and cooperation. In the microservice architecture, the system is divided into a large quantity of independent services. Each service is served by a plurality of specific service instances. Therefore, traffic between services is relatively large, and the communication is relatively frequent. Compared with a conventional software architecture, a possibly quick communication method between services is required. In an existing application deployment solution based on a docker container shown in FIG. 1b, a service consumer application (SC App for short) and a load balancing (load balance, LB) module are deployed in a same docker container. A data communication speed of a memory access level between the SC App and the LB module may be reached in an IPC manner. The LB module communicates with a to-be-accessed service provider application (SP App for short) by using a network between containers. That is, the LB module sends, by using a virtual network interface eth0 of a container to which the SC App belongs, data of the SC App to the bridge named docker0 (docker0 bridge) on the host, and forwards, by using the bridge, the data of the SC App to a virtual network interface eth1 of a container to which the SP App belongs. Therefore, the containers on the same host access each other by using a network path from the virtual network interface eth0 to the bridge docker0 bridge, and then from the bridge docker0 bridge to the virtual network interface eth1. During the process, a series of link-layer and network-layer operations such as data packing and routing need to be performed. A data communication speed can be optimized.
To increase the data communication speed between the containers on the same host, the IPC manner may be used to increase the data communication speed. That is, containers that communicate with each other may be disposed in a same IPC namespace (namespace), so that the containers may communicate with each other by using the IPC, as shown in FIG. 1c. However, in the solution, although different containers may perform high-speed communication with each other by using the IPC, a container that does not need to perform communication performs IPC communication. For example, a container B needs to access a container A, a container C also needs to access the container A, but the container B and the container C do not need to perform data communication. In the solution, the container B and the container C also run in a same IPC namespace, and consequently, isolation between the container B and the container C is damaged. Therefore, if one container needs to be accessed by a plurality of other containers, isolation between all containers is damaged when the solution is used.

Container deployment method, communication method between services, and related apparatus


A four-quadrant multiplier which is constructed from two squaring circuits using the quarter-square technique and is suitable for an integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). Each of the squaring circuits has a pair of differential input terminals, an output terminal and two differential pairs. Each of differential pairs is composed of first and second transistors whose sources or emitters are connected in common, receives a differential input voltage impressed between the differential input terminals. In each differential pair, a constant current source of a predetermined current value and an dynamic bias current source are inserted in parallel between the common sources or the common emitters and the grounding point. The dynamic bias current source is realized by a current mirror circuit which outputs current equal to the drain current or the collector current of the second transistor. Therefore, the tail current of each differential pair is current given by the sum of the output current of the second transistor and the predetermined constant current. The output current of each squaring circuit is represented by the sum of the drain currents or the collector currents of the second transistors of both of the differential pairs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a four-quadrant multiplier which multiplies two analog signals, and particularly to a multiplier constructed as a semiconductor integrated circuit using MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistors or bipolar transistors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multipliers are indispensable function blocks in the field of analog signal processing, and multipliers of a wide variety of circuit configurations have been proposed, including multipliers of circuit configuration suitable for incorporation in semiconductor integrated circuits (IC) or large-scale integrated circuits (LSI).
In recent years, with the advances in micro-scaled circuit patterns in the manufacture of IC and LSI, the power voltage of IC and LSI has fallen to 3.3 V or even 3 V from the usual conventional level of 5 V, therefore calling for multipliers that can operate at lower voltage. In addition, the growing recognition that CMOS (Complementary MOS) technology is best suited for LSI fabrication in turn calls for a circuit technology for realizing multipliers using a CMOS process.
However, multipliers that have been proposed to date do not in principle allow low-voltage operation, and moreover, have the drawback that satisfactory multiplier operation is possible over a narrow range of input voltage. The applicant of the present invention has proposed various types of four-quadrant multipliers that allow low-voltage operation, and moreover, provide excellent linearity over a wider range of input voltage (IEICE Transactions on Electronics, Vol. E76-C, No. 5, pp. 714-737, May 1993). The inventor has further endeavored to broaden the range of input operation voltage.

Quarter-square multiplier based on the dynamic bias current technique


An animal sleeping bag well suited for small animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets or the like, has a sleeping compartment and reinforced border attached to the opening end of the sleeping bag. The sleeping compartment is made of an opaque, air-permeable material, allowing the animal to safely burrow within. This lightweight, resilient material enables the animal to easily relocate its sleeping place and comfortably burrow during daylight hours within a cage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sleeping bag adapted for use by hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, or other small animals, simulating a cave-like, sleeping compartment, enabling the animals to burrow and easily relocate their sleeping area within the cage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A pet bed comprising a pair of semi-circular cushions connected along their circumferential perimeters to a circular cushion is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,843, issued to Beth Henry on Apr. 30, 1991. A pocket is formed between the adjacent surfaces of the semi-circular and circular cushions whereby a pet may crawl into the pocket to burrow and rest.
U.S. Pat. No's. 2,775,222, issued to Eugene Kruck on Dec. 25, 1956, and 4,893,586, issued to Betty J. Carson on Jan. 16, 1990, disclose animal sleeping bags including top and bottom members sewn about their perimeters, and having at least one access passage for the animal to enter and burrow within. U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,428, issued to Dorothy C. Waugh on Oct. 2, 1979 also discloses a sleeping bag having at least one access passage for the animal to enter, along with a plurality of small air apertures formed in the edge portions of at least the upper layer.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No's. 3,989,008, issued to Gerhard Neumann on Nov. 2, 1976 and 4,729,343, issued to Lydia Evans on Mar. 8, 1988, include sleeping quarters arranged in a housing comprising a bottom plate and having an opaque framework attached to each side defining one entrance opening for the animal. The framework provides a cave-like sleeping environment having a permanently opened entrance, allowing air circulation in and around the burrowing animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,687, issued to Francis Jackson Keys discusses an oversized slipper adapted to provide a sleeping nook for a house pet. The heel of the sole is provided with a fastener portion on the outer end, providing a more confined nook for the pet while having sufficient openings on either side of the slipper, enabling the animal to breathe and peer out.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No's. 981,192, issued to William R. Hollingshead on Jan. 10, 1911 and 4,959,881 issued to Ellen E. Murray on Oct. 2, 1990, discuss cleaning mitts comprising a plurality fabric layers secured together along the peripheral edge providing a hand compartment proportioned to accommodate the hand of a user. U.S. Pat. No's. 2,279,100, issued to Henry Worth et al. on Apr. 7, 1942, 5,010,617, issued to Walter Nelson on Apr. 30, 1991 and 5,172,427, issued to Peter J. Van Bergen on Dec. 22, 1992, each disclose a fingerless mitt having a plurality of fabric layers secured together along the peripheral edge, forming a hand-receiving pocket with wrist gripping means lightly engaging the wrist of the user.
U.S. Pat. No's. 4,457,261, issued to Tina Marshall on Jul. 3, 1984 and 4,563,911, issued to Tina Marshall on Oct. 1, 1985 discuss a mitten for canines comprised of a lightweight, waterproof, flexible latex material, whereby the top of the mitten has a self gripping material to secure the mitten to the canines foot.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


An example information processing device determines a sound input to a microphone. The information processing device includes an obtaining section, a mean amplitude calculation section, and a determination section. The obtaining section obtains data of a sound detected by the microphone. For a sound of a predetermined determination segment, the mean amplitude calculation section calculates a mean amplitude, which is an average amplitude, for each of a plurality of partial segments included in the determination segment. The determination section determines whether or not the sound input to the microphone is a predetermined type of a sound (e.g., a sound made by breath blowing) based on the mean amplitudes for the partial segments.

There are conventional techniques for detecting an input of a breath blown against a microphone. For example, a conventional breath blowing determination device is provided in advance with a frequency distribution representing a sound made by breath, and detects the frequency distribution of a sound input on a microphone. Then, the determination device determines whether or not a breath-blowing input has been made by determining whether or not the provided frequency distribution matches with the frequency distribution of the detected input sound.
With conventional methods, however, the processing burden may become large due to frequency analysis and frequency distribution matching processes.
Thus, the present application discloses a storage medium storing an information processing program, an information processing device, an information processing system, and a sound determination method, with which it is possible to determine an input sound by a simple method.
(1)
An example storage medium described herein is a computer-readable storage medium storing an information processing program to be executed by a computer of an information processing device for determining a sound input to a microphone. The information processing program causes the computer to function as an obtaining unit, a mean amplitude calculation unit, and a determination unit. The obtaining unit obtains data of a sound detected by the microphone. For a sound of a predetermined determination segment, the mean amplitude calculation unit calculates a mean amplitude, which is an average amplitude, by using the obtained data of the sound, for each of a plurality of partial segments included in the determination segment. The determination unit determines whether or not the sound input to the microphone is a predetermined type of a sound based on the mean amplitudes for the partial segments.
The term "determining whether or not the sound is a predetermined type of a sound" as set forth above means to include "determining whether the sound is a predetermined type of a sound or another type of a sound". That is, the determination unit may be a unit that only detects the predetermined type of a sound and does not detect other types of sounds, or may be a unit that detects, and distinguishes between, the predetermined type of a sound and other types of sounds.
With configuration (1) above, based on the mean amplitudes for the partial segments, it is possible to know, by a simple method, the amount of frequency components below the frequency corresponding to the length of a partial segment. That is, with configuration (1) above, it is possible to make the determination by the simple method of calculating the mean amplitudes, without having to perform a complicated process such as frequency analysis (frequency conversion) and frequency spectrum pattern matching.
(2)
The determination unit may calculate an absolute value of the mean amplitude for each partial segment, and make the determination based on the calculated absolute values.
With configuration (2) above, the determination is made based on the absolute value of the mean amplitude, which is an index representing the amount of components below the frequency corresponding to the partial segment of the sound of the determination segment. That is, the determination can be made based on the amount of components below the frequency corresponding to the length of a partial segment. Thus, it is possible to precisely make the determination.
(3)
The determination unit may calculate an average value among the absolute values, and make the determination based on a determination value which is based on the calculated average value.
With configuration (3) above, by using the average value, it is possible to easily determine a particular type of a sound (e.g., a sound made by breath blowing) having components below the frequency corresponding to the length of a partial segment.
(4)
The determination unit may calculate a difference between two mean amplitudes for two partial segments next to each other within the determination segment for each pair of two partial segments next to each other, and make the determination by using a determination value which is based on absolute values of the differences.
With configuration (4) above, it is possible to determine a particular type of a sound (e.g., a sound made by breath blowing) having components below a frequency corresponding to the length of a partial segment and above a frequency corresponding to the length of two partial segments. Then, it is possible to distinguish between a particular type of a sound and another type of a sound having a lower frequency than the sound, and it is therefore possible to more precisely make the determination.
(5)
The determination unit may calculate a difference between a mean amplitude for one partial segment and a mean amplitude for a group segment, which is made up of two or more successive partial segments including the one partial segment for each partial segment, and make the determination by using a determination value which is based on absolute values of the differences.
With configuration (5) above, it is possible to determine a particular type of a sound having components below a frequency corresponding to the length of a partial segment and above a frequency corresponding to the length of a partial segment multiplied by a predetermined number (the number of partial segments included in a group segment). Then, it is possible to distinguish between a particular type of a sound and another type of a sound having a lower frequency than the sound, and it is therefore possible to more precisely make the determination.
(6)
The determination unit may make the determination based on a comparison between the determination value and a predetermined threshold value.
With configuration (6) above, it is possible to easily perform the determination process using the determination value.
(7)
The determination unit may make the determination based on a ratio of the determination value with respect to a sound volume over the determination segment.
With configuration (7) above, it is possible to precisely perform the determination process using the determination value.
(8)
The determination unit may determine whether or not a sound input to the microphone is a sound made by breath blowing.
With configuration (8) above, it is possible to detect, by a simple method, a sound made by breath blowing which is input to the microphone. For example, it is possible to distinguish between a voice and breath blowing, and to perform a predetermined process in response to a breath-blowing input.
(9)
The determination unit may determine whether or not the sound input to the microphone is a sound made by a voice.
With configuration (9) above, it is possible to detect, by a simple method, a sound made by a voice input to the microphone. For example, it is possible to distinguish between a voice and breath blowing, and to perform a predetermined process in response to a voice input.
(10)
A plurality of partial segments included in the determination segment may be set to a generally equal length.
With configuration (10) above, it is possible to precisely calculate the amount of components below a predetermined frequency which is determined based on the length of each partial segment of the sound of the determination segment, thereby enabling precise determination.
(11)
The partial segment may be set to a length of 1/700 [sec] or more.
With configuration (11) above, it is possible to detect, by a simple method, a sound made by breath blowing which is input to the microphone.
(12)
The partial segment may be set to a length of 1/400 [sec] or more.
With configuration (12) above, it is possible to detect, by a simple method, a sound made by breath blowing which is input to the microphone.
Note that the present specification discloses an information processing device and an information processing system having units equivalent to those realized by executing the information processing program of (1) to (12) above. The present specification also discloses a sound determination method to be carried out in (1) to (12) above.
Thus, with the storage medium storing an information processing program, the information processing device, the information processing system and the sound determination method set forth above, it is possible to determine an input sound by a simple method.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Sound determination unit based on mean amplitudes of partial sound segments


The cross-country ski according to the invention is characterized by a relatively regular curvature of the lower surface of the ski, i.e., a curvature such that the modules of variation of slope of the lower surface of the ski is less than 9.10.sup.4 cm.sup.-1 when the ski is at rest. Simultaneously, the front zone of the ski has a relatively high rigidity. Likewise, the rear zone can be relatively rigid. Preferably, the lateral surfaces of the ski are hollowed. Such a ski structure is particularly well adapted to obtain a good gripping of the edges, a good sliding on the edges, and a good sliding in direct tracks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cross-country skis utilized for moving on snow using racing techniques on cross-country tracks, while going up, going down and on uneven terrain.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
Cross-country skis generally comprise a central portion which is slightly bent between a front contact line and a rear contact line, with a front end zone curved upwardly to form a spatula in front of the front contact line, and with a rear end zone generally slightly curved upwardly, at the rear of the rear contact line.
When the cross-country ski is positional on a plane, through its lower slide surface, at rest, it rests on the plane through two transverse lines, referred to as front and rear contact lines. Between the two front and rear contact lines, the slightly bent central portion detaches from the support plane, from the front contact line, the distance increases progressively between the support plane and the lower slide surface of the ski, until reaching a maximum in the central zone of the ski, then this distance diminishes progressively until reaching the rear contact line.
For many years, the traditional racing technique for cross-country skiing, for progression on flat ground and when going uphill, has comprised alternating steps. According to this technique, the two skis remain parallel in the direction of movement, the skier alternatively pushing on one ski to make the other slide. For the support to be efficacious, so as to give a good impulsion towards the front, one has always sought to give to the ski a particular structure in which the slight bend of the central zone of the ski has a relatively pronounced elbow in its center: from the front line of contact, the ski resting on a flat surface, the traditional slight bend is such that the distance increases progressively along a slope which diminishes slightly until reaching the central zone of the ski. In the central zone of the ski, the slope decreases very rapidly, to reverse, and then diminishes slightly when one moves in the direction of the rear contact line, until reaching this rear contact line. In the central zone of traditional skis, the modulus of variation of slope is relatively constant and is on the order of about 10.sup.-3 to about 2.10.sup.-3 cm.sup.-1. By virtue of this strong variation in slope, such a traditional slight bend constitutes, adjacent to the central zone of the ski, a portion which is slightly lifted from the support plane when the skier is simply resting on his skis. To apply this central zone against the support plane, it is necessary to give to the ski an impulse from top to bottom with a relatively substantially force.
Such a slight bend configuration, having a pronounced elbow, makes it possible, in the traditional technique of alternating steps, to reserve a central zone of the ski having good qualities of adherence on the snow. Thus, in the absence of impulse from top to bottom on the ski, the central adhering zone can rest slightly lifted from the snow, and not oppose sliding of the ski. On the other hand, by giving an impulse from top to bottom, the skier can apply the central adhering zone on the snow, thus taking advantage of this adherence for support and to progress forwardly.
To obtain good sliding qualities despite the presence of the central elbow, it has been necessary, in conventional cross-country skis, to make the ends of the ski particularly flexible. One can characterize this flexibility by subjecting the ends of the ski to flexions under weight. Thus, when a length of 570 mm. of ski of a traditional cross-country ski, beginning at the front line of contact, is retained at its ends by free support and is subjected at its center to a substantially perpendicular force of 200 newtons, the elastic displacement of its central zone is about 200-350 mm.
Likewise, if a similar length of ski, adjacent the rear contact line is subjected to a similar test, the displacement of the central zone is approximately 100-250 mm.
For these flexibility tests, the contact lines are determined in a particular manner as will be seen below, so as to obtain a good reproduceability of the measures.
More recently, the technique of cross-country skiing has evolved, and it is now oriented towards movement by means of a skating step. In this technique, the skier places his skis along slightly diverging directions with respect to the direction of movement, and alternatively pushes on one ski and the other: at each step, one of the skis slides substantially flat while the other serves as a support and is for this reason inclined to make the interior edge of the ski bite.
However, it appears that the conventional cross-country skis are not adapted for such a skating technique.
In particular, the great flexibility of the front and rear ends of a traditional ski do not make it possible to take advantage of a good support on the interior edge to give a skating step impulse. And if one increases the rigidity of the ski, one obtains a cross-country ski whose sliding qualities are quite insufficient and are no longer compatible with the anticipated utilization.


A receiver system processes signals transmitted via a multipath dispersive transmission medium. It includes a device for digitizing the received signals to supply corresponding digital signals. An adaptive digital equalizer responsive to the digital signals supplies information symbols. A symbol-clock signal controls the digitizer and the equalizer. A timing signal recovery device responsive to the digital signals and to the information symbols derives a phase control signal for controlling the phase of the symbol-clock signal.

1. Field of the invention
The field of the invention is that of signal transmission systems, in particular systems transmitting digital signals modulated by a form of modulation such as Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) in which the signals are transmitted over a multipath dispersive medium.
The invention is more particularly concerned with a receiver system for processing signals transmitted over a multipath dispersive medium and received on a plurality of diversity channels.
2. Description of the prior art
It is standard practice to use adaptive digital equalizers in receiver systems to minimize the disturbing effects of the transmission medium. In particular, multipath propagation of signals generates inter-symbol interference. This is the case with transmission by a line of sight or tropospheric microwave beam, for example. The signal received by the receiver system is then the time-varying weighted sum of differently delayed different replicas of the transmitted signal.
Digital equalizers are usually implemented in the form of digital tranversal filters with multiple coefficients and corresponding symbol taps. Adaptive digital equalizers may incorporate a backward decision filter which offers an improvement in performance, especially on media subject to severe distortion.
The performance of an adaptive digital equalizer is critically dependent on the phase of the symbol-clock signal regenerated locally in the receiver to digitize the demodulated received signals and to clock the digital equalizer at the same rate as the digitized complex samples.
Known adaptive digital equalizers include oversampling adaptive digital equalizers in which the demodulated received signal is sampled at a frequency which is a multiple of the symbol-clock signal frequency. Oversampling adaptive digital equalizers comprise digital filters adapted to vary their group propagation time according to the phase of the symbol-clock signal using algorithms such as the stochastic gradient algorithm, for example, to calculate coefficients of the digital transversal filters which automatically compensate phase errors of the symbol-clock signal.
In practice, however, it is found that this advantageous feature of oversampling adaptive digital equalizers is not sufficient to compensate for serious phase errors in the regenerated symbol-clock signal because the number of coefficients of the digital filters is necessarily limited. Consequently it is necessary to provide a symbol-clock signal control device to monitor and correct the phase of the symbol-clock signal to ensure correct operation of the digital equalizer.
The document IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON COMMUNICATION, vol.COM-24, N.degree. 8, AUGUST 1976, pages 856-863 discloses a receiver system comprising an oversampling adaptive digital equalizer and a timing recovery device controlling means for generating a symbol-clock signal. The timing recovery device derives a phase control signal from the coefficients of the transversal filter of the adaptive digital equalizer to control the phase of the generated symbol-clock signal. The control signal is representative of the weighted sum of the coefficients of the equalizer filter. This weighted sum is expressed by the equation: ##EQU1## in which M has a selected value slightly greater than N/2. Thus movement of the coefficients of the filter causes the value D to vary either side of the null value. The value D is filtered to form the phase control signal which controls the phase of the symbol-clock signal.
However, it has been found that the performance of the clock recovery device remains mediocre because the range of adjustment, in terms of bandwidth, of the phase of the symbol-clock signal is essentially limited by the loop bandwidth of the digital equalizer, which is a few hertz.
What is more, the performance of the equalizer is degraded because the phase control signal is generated from the movement of the coefficients of the equalizer filter, which must adapt to random variations in the phase of the symbol-clock signal, whereas the transmission medium may remain stable. This leads to the selection of costly highly stable clocks.
Finally, this timing recovery device is not suitable for a digital equalizer with multiple diversity channels comprising multiple digital transversal filters. The above equation caters for only one diversity channel and it would not seem possible to expand this equation to cover multiple diversity channels.
An object of the invention is therefore to alleviate the aforementioned drawbacks and in particular to solve the problem of symbol-timing recovery in a receiver system comprising an adaptive digital equalizer with multiple diversity channels.

Receiver system for processing signals received on diversity channels


The present invention is a catch container for retaining debris or other materials wiped from the edge of a work surface. The present invention catch container includes a receptacle structure, a mounting bracket adjustably attached to the receptacle structure, and a sloped surface descending toward the receptacle from the mounting bracket. The present invention catch container is mounted under a work surface so that debris displaced from the work surface lands upon the sloped surface. The sloped surface then guides the debris into the receptacle without slashing or spillage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container mountable on the side of a work table or counter top to provide a catch basin for debris. More particularly, the present invention relates to catch container devices that include a sloped face that descends into the container, wherein the entire catch container device is mountable to the face of a drawer below a work surface such that debris on the work table can be readily wiped off the edge of the work surface and into the container without spillage.
2. Background of the Invention
When food is prepared on a work surface such as a table or kitchen counter top, there inevitably remains debris in the form of small bits of food, packaging, inedible portions of the food, etc., that remains on the work surface after the food is prepared. The debris is often wet and comprised of numerous small pieces that tend to stick to the work surface. Consequently, the debris is not effectively picked up by hand. Rather, the food debris is commonly wiped off the work surface with a rag, sponge or the like.
Typically, in a kitchen, food is prepared on the work surface of the kitchen counter top. When the food preparation is finished, the waste and other debris is often wiped into the sink (if a garbage disposal is available) or wiped off the edge of the counter top into the hand of the person cleaning or directly into a trash receptacle. As will be recognized by people who clean work surfaces in such a manner, there exist certain disadvantages that complicate this typical cleaning procedure.
The waste and debris associated with food preparation is often wet. Additionally, it may also include fluids such as gravy, blood, sauce, etc. that give the debris a significant fluid volume. When such debris is wiped off a counter top and into a trash receptacle, the fluid tends to cohere to the side surfaces of the counter top, resulting in the fluid dripping off the counter top onto the floor in areas not corresponding to the position of the trash receptacle. Similar unsatisfactory results are obtained when the wet debris is wiped into a cupped hand. A person's hand can only contain a limited volume of fluid and often leaks. As such, the traditional use of just a cupped hand also results in the debris dripping down the face of the kitchen cabinet or dripping directly onto the floor. Yet another disadvantage of using a cupped hand to remove debris wiped from a counter top, is that the debris may be offensive to the individual cleaning the work surface. For example, the debris may contain blood, entrails, animal fat or grease which requires the person cleaning the debris to thoroughly wash his or her hands after contacting the debris.
As will be later thoroughly described the present invention is a shaped catch container that mounts to the face of a cabinet drawer below the edge of a kitchen counter top. The prior art is replete with container devices designed to be mounted at various locations and in the prior art there exist container patents that can be adapted to be mounted to vertical planar surfaces such as cabinet drawers. These prior art patents are exemplified by the following.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,072,022 to Miller, entitled GARBAGE CAN, and issued Sep. 2, 1913 shows a container supportable against a vertical planar surface by two J-shaped brackets. Additionally, the bottom surface of the receptacle is sloped, directing any contained debris to a hinged door. The Miller patent is not adjustable in its mountings and does not contain a receptacle structure capable of retaining fluid.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,041 to Medgebow, entitled COMMERCIAL KITCHEN RACK STRUCTURE and issued Sep. 9, 1975 shows a container structure mountable to the edge rail of a kitchen table via two J-shaped brackets. The container includes multiple flange receptacles for holding kitchen accessories and is not formed to effectively retain debris.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,803 to Richer et al, entitled RECEPTACLE HOLDER and issued Dec. 4, 1990 shows a device for supporting various other containers off the edge of a veranda. The Richer patent includes a continuous J-shaped bracket but does not disclose a bracket adjustment means or other features that would suggest its use with a kitchen counter top.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,276 to O'Mahoney entitled SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND BASKET, and issued Jun. 22, 1971 shows a container mountable onto a tabular frame. The O'Mahoney patent shows a J-shaped bracket supporting a container but does not disclose the features needed to hold fluid and debris wiped from a kitchen counter top without spillage.
Kitchens vary from residence to residence and very few kitchens are identical. As such it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a container that can be selectively mounted below the edge of a kitchen counter in most every type and style of kitchen, and to provide a means associated with the present invention container to prevent fluids from cohering to the sides of the kitchen counter top and dripping down the face of the kitchen counter when waste and debris are wiped off the counter top into the container.


A rope system includes an endless rope, a measuring device and a rope cutter. The endless rope is configured to travel through a machine, while the endless rope is under tension. The measuring device is used to measure the tension in the endless rope. The rope cutter is positioned to sever the endless rope if the tension exceeds a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rope system and more particularly, an endless rope which is arranged to travel through a machine while being tensioned in its longitudinal direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional rope systems, sometimes there is a danger that a rope gets stuck or that a rope is inadvertently wrapped around a drying cylinder or around a roll. This may result in serious damage to the equipment, e.g. to the rope tensioning device or to other elements of the rope system.
In the paper technology, in particular in paper or cardboard making machines or in paper or cardboard finishing machines, a rope system is often used for threading the paper or cardboard web into the machine (in particular into the drying section) when the machine is started up or after a web break. Basically, two (sometimes three) endless ropes are used which travel together along the web travel path through a drying section, a calendar section or a coating section. At the upstream end of a section, the two ropes form a rope nip. At this point, the ropes grip the beginning of an edge strip (a so-called xe2x80x9ctailxe2x80x9d) of the paper or cardboard web and transfer the edge strip through the section.
What is needed in the art is a rope system wherein the potential of damage to the equipment is eliminated or at least reduced.
The present invention provides a rope system and method for using a rope system that includes a measuring device for measuring the tension value in at least one endless rope. Preferably, the tension value is measured continuously during operation of the machine.
The measuring device is adapted to detect excessive tension, which is above the desired tension value normally maintained in the rope. Excessive tension may appear if the rope gets stuck or if other damage occurs to the rope system.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a rope cutter is provided for severing the endless rope if the rope suddenly is excessively tensioned. The rope cutter becomes immediately active when excessive tension is detected.
Generally, after severing the rope, the paper making machine is able to continue operating in the normal way because any danger of damage to the machine has been eliminated. Certainly, some loss arises from severing the rope. However, this loss is inconsequential in comparison to the damage that would occur to the mechanical equipment if the rope was not cut.
Preferably, the rope system of the present invention includes a rope tensioning device with a cylinder which is adapted to move at least one sheave, that is wrapped by the rope, for tensioning the rope. A selected pressure will be supplied to the cylinder which corresponds to the desired tension value. The measuring device is adapted to measure the prevailing pressure in the cylinder. The measuring device may be embodied as a pressure switch which creates a signal if the pressure in the cylinder exceeds the selected pressure. That signal will then be transmitted to the rope cutter.
In one embodiment of the invention, the rope cutter includes a cylinder for actuating the rope cutter. A control valve may be provided to control the cylinder such that the cylinder actuates the rope cutter when the signal exists. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control valve is controlled by a pressure fluid (e.g. compressed air) which is admitted to the control valve when the signal exists.


A dual coil floating mass transducer for assisting a person's hearing is provided. Inertial vibration of the housing of the floating mass transducer produces vibrations in the inner ear. A magnet is disposed within the housing biased by silicone springs so that friction is reduced between the magnet and the interior surface of the housing. Two coils reside within grooves in the exterior of the housing which cause the magnet to vibrate when an electrical signal is applied to the coils.

The present invention relates to the field of assisting hearing in persons and particularly to the field of transducers for producing vibrations in the inner ear.
The seemingly simple act of hearing is a task that can easily be taken for granted. The hearing mechanism is a complex system of levers, membranes, fluid reservoirs, neurons and hair cells which must all work together in order to deliver nervous stimuli to the brain where this information is compiled into the higher level perception we think of as sound.
As the human hearing system encompasses a complicated mix of acoustic, mechanical and neurological systems, there is ample opportunity for something to go wrong. Unfortunately this is often the case. It is estimated that one out of every ten people suffer some form of hearing loss. Surprisingly, many patients who suffer from hearing loss take no action in the form of treatment for the condition. Unfortunately this is often the case. It is estimated that one out of every ten people suffer some form of hearing loss. Surprisingly, many patients who suffer from hearing loss take no action in the form of treatment for the condition. In many ways, hearing is becoming more important as the pace of life and decision making increases as we move toward an information based society. Unfortunately for the hearing impaired, success in many professional and social situations may be becoming more dependent on effective hearing.
Various types of hearing aids have been developed to restore or improve hearing for the hearing impaired. With conventional hearing aids, sound is detected by a microphone, amplified using amplification circuitry, and transmitted in the form of acoustical energy by a speaker or another type of transducer into the middle ear by way of the tympanic membrane. Often the acoustical energy delivered by the speaker is detected by the microphone, causing a high-pitched feedback whistle. Moreover, the amplified sound produced by conventional hearing aids normally includes a significant amount of distortion.
Attempts have been made to eliminate the feedback and distortion problems associated with conventional hearing aid systems. These attempts have yielded devices which convert sound waves into electromagnetic fields having the same frequencies as the sound waves. A microphone detects the sound waves, which are both amplified and converted to an electrical current. A coil winding is held stationary by being attached to a nonvibrating structure within the middle ear. The current is delivered to the coil to generate an electromagnetic field. A separate magnet is attached to an ossicle within the middle ear so that the magnetic field of the magnet interacts with the magnetic field of the coil. The magnet vibrates in response to the interaction of the magnetic fields, causing vibration of the bones of the middle ear.
Existing electromagnetic transducers present several problems. Many are installed using complex surgical procedures which present the usual risks associated with major surgery and which also require disarticulating (disconnecting) one or more of the bones of the middle ear. Disarticulation deprives the patient of any residual hearing he or she may have had prior to surgery, placing the patient in a worsened position if the implanted device is later found to be ineffective in improving the patient's hearing.
Although the Floating Mass Transducer (FMT) developed by the present assignee is a pioneering technology that has succeeded where prior art devices have failed, improved floating mass transducers would be desirable to provide hearing assistance.


In identifying base stations in cellular telecommunication, system information is normally sent out on the Broadcast Control Channel, BCCH, taking up the first time slot (B) of a TDMA frame. In case of interference from other base station transmitting on the same frequency or when neighboring base station use the same identity code, BSIC, another BCCH (b) is transmitted on another time slot. The double BCCH, according to the invention, makes it possible to identify base stations, for example suitable as handover candidates in urban environments, even if they have sent their regular control information on the same frequency or with the same BSIC.

A cellular telephone system is, as the name implies, built up by cells each covering a certain smaller area of a greater territory assigned to an operator giving mobile telecommunication service to its subscribers. An example of such a cell configuration is shown in FIG. 1. Each cell has a base station communicating with mobile stations occupying the area of the cell. A certain number of radio frequencies are allocated to the operator and a task for him is to optimise his resources in serving his subscribers. As the number of frequencies is limited they must be used efficiently. Depending on the services one or several frequencies are used in a particular cell. None of these frequencies may be used in neighbouring cells because of interference. The reuse distance, that is the distance to another cell area where the same frequency can be used again without interference, is at least the cross-distance of the neighbouring cell, assuming that the radio coverage area of a base station is its own cell area and partly into the neighbouring ones but not beyond that.
The sizes of the cells depend on the radio propagation distance and the number of users in the cells. In urban environments, where the number of users can be quite high, the cells tend to get small. Especially with these small cells and also with a complicated topography, big houses, indoor and underground users, etc, the ideal picture of the cell configuration as shown in FIG. 1 is certainly not true. A more likely situation is depicted in FIG. 2. As can be seen in the figure the coverage of a base station is not just the area surrounding it. Spots of coverage could be found even far away from the base station. On the other hand there are places close to a base station, which are shadowed for example by a building. In that case transceivers situated further away have to be used for the system to work even in those shadowed places.
Such a telephone system is configured, to start with, by making a rough estimation of coverage and placing out the base stations. Thereafter the system is refined by using test mobiles moving around in the area and reporting back measurement results to the system controller. Based on these results the system may be reconfigured. Also the normal users of the system report measurement results. In fact, the whole thing is an ongoing process taking accounts of the dynamic behaviour of the users and the changes in the environment. The goal is to have an optimised system at all times.
Another object of the measurements is for the mobile to know which base station to turn to when using the system. Depending on where the mobile is located, a list of suitable frequencies is sent out to the mobile for it to listen to and choose from when it wants to contact the system and making handovers as the mobile, for example, moves into other coverage areas.
In a Time Division Multiple Access, TDMA, cellular system like the GSM-system, the information is physically sent out in the form of bursts in short time slots. In GSM eight time slots form a TDMA-frame, which continuously repeats itself during transmission. The type of message sent out on these physical channels categorises the channels as Logical Channels. There are two basic types of logical channels, Control Channels, CCH, for control purposes and Traffic Channels, TCH, which carry the actual payload. One of the standardised control channels is the Broadcasting Control Channel, BCCH, which broadcasts information about the base stations, e.g. its transmitting frequency and the so called Base Station Identity Code, BSIC. The BSIC is composed of just a few bits and may discriminate between the closest neighbouring base stations. The BCCH is sent out at regular intervals in a certain time slot, normally the first (i.e time slot number zero) and with no power reduction. The mobiles are programmed to listen to the BCCHs sent out by neighbouring base stations and report back to the system measurement results concerning signal strength and quality concerning the identified BCCHs. The purpose of the measurements is, as mentioned above, to help refining the system configuration and to facilitate handovers.


A timer alarm device is supported on an ear as an earring by pinching an earlobe of the ear with an arm and a clip. Spring force to pinch the earlobe is produced by permitting a spring provided on the clip to run on a corner of a flat part. A timer circuit, a piezoelectric buzzer, and a battery cell, etc., are accomodated on a head part provided on the upper part of the arm. Since the piezoelectric buzzer for outputting an alarm sound is located in the vicinity of an earhole, a user can hear a greater sound even with a smaller sound volume and hence attention of the user can be securely called. Since functions and component parts are limited to eliminate the need of setting and confirmation that rely upon eyes, even a visually handicapped user can conveniently use the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a miniature timer alarm device for informing a user of the lapse of arbitrarily set time with an audio alarm sound.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An alarm clock and a timer-equipped radio set are capable of informing a user of arbitrary set time or the lapse of the arbitrary set time with use of an intermittent sound from a piezoelectric buzzer, a sound message, a regenerated sound of broadcasting, and so on. For users however, it is difficult to wear it on usually.
In this respect, there is known an alarm-equipped wristwatch which is worn on a user's hand every day and has a timer function of informing the user of the lapse of arbitrarily set time using a piezoelectric buzzer.
When a user gets off a train at a station in the course of the line, for example, provided the user sets the alarm-equipped wristwatch with a little shorter time than the necessary time up to the station, the user is prevented from being carelessly carried beyond the station, because a piezoelectric buzzer rings on this side of the station.
Further, provided such an alarm-equipped wristwatch is used when a user intends to make a telephone call after 30 minutes or when a meeting is held within the limits of 1 hour, for example, even if the user concentrates upon another work or meeting, the wristwatch correctly informs the user of the lapse of set time with an intermittent sound of a piezoelectric buzzer and recalls the user to things which he must do.
The alarm-equipped wristwatch however has a drawback that the volume of an alarm is small so that there is the possibility of the alarm sound being missed to be heard. Further, an excessive increase of the volume of a sound causes severe exhaustion of an electric battery cell and an alarm sound draws attentions of other unrelated persons around the user to bring about a trouble.
Furthermore, the alarm-equipped wristwatch usually has a wristwatch function as a first main function and an alarm clock function of informing a user of set time as a second fucntion, so that the timer function is only one non-important attached function.
Accordingly, a set operation of time and a start operation as a timer are complicated or unkind, and hence practical use of a timer function itself is sometimes lower. Thus, even if a timer function is incorporated in the alarm-equipped wristwatch, actual use thereof is hesitated or troublesome or anxious in the setting and operation thereof to result in substantially non-applicability thereof.

Portable timer alarm device with ear attachment


A sprocket assembly for a track-type machine comprises a plurality of teeth, radially-disposed about a center of the sprocket assembly, each of the plurality of teeth comprising opposing tooth flanks, wherein successive pairs of teeth defines a substantially concave channel for receiving therein a cylindrical pin member associated with a track link member of a continuous track chain, each tooth flank having a tooth angle less than about 17 degrees.

Track-type machines typically include a track assembly having a plurality of interlocking links, each link being coupled to a ground-engaging traction panel. Adjacent links may be interconnected via a laterally disposed track pin to form a continuous chain. A rotatable bushing may be disposed about the track pin, the rotatable bushing being configured to rotate relative to the track pin. The rotatable bushing is adapted to engage a portion of a sprocketed drive hub. As a drive motor rotates the sprocketed drive hub, teeth of the sprocketed drive hub engage spaces between the bushings forcing the track link to move in the direction of rotation of the hub, thereby propelling the machine.
Because the rotatable bushing enables rotation of the track bushing relative to the track link, which decreases the friction at the interface between the bushing and the sprocket, track assemblies that employ the rotatable bushings may be less susceptible to wear caused by friction than track assemblies with stationary (i.e., non-rotatable) bushings. However, because the friction for track links having rotatable bushings is significantly lower than track links with stationary bushings, rotatable bushings may be more susceptible to accidental rolling or slipping out of the space defined by the teeth of the sprocket. Under heavy loading conditions, this slippage can cause the track to seemingly "jump" during operation of the machine, potentially leading to premature wear (or breakage) of the teeth of the drive sprocket. This phenomenon may also negatively impact the operator's ability to control the machine.
To reduce bushing slippage and track "jumping" caused by such slippage, some systems rely on increasing the width and size of the components that interact with the drive sprocket, thereby increasing the surface area of the component at the sprocket interface, which effectively increases the friction force—a force which must be overcome in order to for the bushing to slip or jump. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,242 ("the '242 patent") to Tucker, Jr. discloses a tracked-belt driven vehicle having a drive sprocket with spaces that interact with rubber drive lugs of a drive belt. In order to reduce the tendency of the rubber drive lugs to deform under heavy loading conditions (which can lead to slipping), the vehicle of the '242 patent employs drive lugs with larger-than-conventional width and height parameters that are designed to more precisely conform to the size and shape of the drive sprocket. Increasing the size of the drive lugs may increase the surface area of interaction between the drive sprocket and the drive lugs, potentially reducing the deforming effects of "point loading" on the lugs. By increasing the surface area of interaction, the prior art system may also effectively increase the friction force, reducing the likelihood of track slipping and/or jumping.
Although increasing the width and size of the drive sprocket and the drive lugs to increase the surface area of interaction therebetween may reduce deformation of the drive lugs and "jumping" of the drive belt in certain situations, it may have significant disadvantages. For example, increasing the amount of material on the track assembly may increase manufacturing and material costs of the machine. Furthermore, increasing the width and size of the drive sprocket and drive lugs may unnecessarily add to the weight of the track assembly, effectively decreasing the power to weight ratio (efficiency) of the machine.
The presently disclosed sprocketed drive assembly for a track-type machine is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

Sprocketed drive assembly for track-type machine


Described are stereoscopic eyewear, methods and systems for manufacturing the same. The stereoscopic eyewear includes right- and left-eye filters for analyzing stereoscopically-encoded polarized light. The filters are made using a roll-type polarizer having an absorption axis. A polymer alignment layer is deposited on a portion of the roll-type polarizer. A liquid crystal polymer (LCP) layer is deposited on the polymer alignment layer. The polymer alignment layer and LCP layer provides at least one retarder having an optic axis at a predetermined angle to the absorption axis of the roll-type polarizer. Described embodiments include a polymer alignment layer that may include at least one of a linearly photopolymizerable polymer (LPP), a brushed or rolled polyimide.

Stereoscopy, stereoscopic imaging, or three-dimensional (3-D) imaging is any technique capable of recording 3-D visual information or creating the illusion of depth in an image. The illusion of depth in a photograph, movie, video game, or other two-dimensional image is created by presenting a slightly different image to each eye. Many 3-D displays use this method to convey images. Traditional stereoscopic imagery includes creating a 3-D illusion, starting from a pair of 2-D images. The easiest way to create depth perception in the brain is to provide the eyes of the viewer two different images, representing two perspectives of the same object, with a minor deviation similar to the perspectives that both eyes naturally receive in binocular vision.
Various types of 3-D imaging techniques are known, including polarization encoding of the light bound for each eye with different polarizations. Such schemes may involve using orthogonally linearly polarized states, or circularly polarized states of opposite handedness.
With respect to linearly polarized 3-D schemes, to present a stereoscopic picture, two images are projected superimposed onto the same screen though orthogonal polarizing filters. It is best to use a silver screen so that polarization is preserved. The viewer wears eyeglasses, which also contain a pair of orthogonal polarizing filters. As each filter only passes light, which is similarly polarized and blocks the orthogonally polarized light, each eye only sees one of the images, and the effect is achieved. Linearly polarized glasses require the viewer to keep his or her head level, as tilting of the viewing filters will cause the images of the left and right channels to bleed over to the opposite channel (also known as crosstalk). In addition, since no head tracking is involved, several people can view the stereoscopic images at the same time.
With regard to the circularly polarized 3-D image systems, to present a stereoscopic picture, two images are projected superimposed onto the same screen through circular polarizing filters of opposite handedness. The viewer wears eyeglasses, which contain a pair of analyzing filters (circular polarizers mounted in reverse) of opposite handedness. Light that is of left-circular polarization is extinguished by the right-handed analyzer; while right right-circularly polarized light is extinguished by the left-handed analyzer. The result is similar to that of stereoscopic viewing using linearly polarized glasses, except the viewer can tilt his or her head and still maintain left/right separation. Lipton, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,850, uses electronically driven circular polarizers that alternate between left and right handedness, and do so in synchronization with the left or right image being displayed by the movie projector. Direct view displays may also be used to encode the polarization states for different eyes, for example, by having alternate pixels of polarization encoded. Another possibility is when a single display or projector creates alternate right/left eye images that are actively encoded using a polarization switch, such as that disclosed in commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 11/424,087, entitled "Achromatic Polarization Switches" filed Jun. 14, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Polarized motion pictures have been around since the middle of the twentieth century. In order to watch such a movie, the viewer is usually given a pair of paper or plastic polarization glasses to wear to watch the show. However, such glasses can be expensive to produce, and offer a relatively low performance, which can cause the viewer to incur eye strain, headaches, and generally a negative perception of stereoscopic imagery. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus for producing high performance and low-cost stereoscopic eyewear.


A bad block identifying method for a flash memory, a storage system, and a controller thereof are provided. The bad block identifying method includes determining whether a programming error occurs in a block of the flash memory after the block is programmed and marking the block as a bad block when the programming error successively occurs in the block. Since the block is determined to be a bad block only when the programming error repeatedly occurs in the block, misjudgment of bad block in the flash memory can be avoided and accordingly the lifespan of the flash memory storage system can be prolonged.

1. Technology Field
The present invention generally relates to a method for identifying bad blocks in a memory, in particular, to a bad block identifying method for a flash memory, a storage system, and a controller thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the widespread of digital cameras, camera phones, MP3, and MP4 in recently years, the consumers' demand to storage media has increased drastically too. Among all the existing storage media, flash memory is one of the most adaptable memories for such portable multi-media products due to its characteristics such as data non-volatility, low power consumption, small volume, and non-mechanical structure.
Conventionally, a storage system having a flash memory checks whether a writing or erasing operation it executes to a block in the flash memory is correct or not. If an error occurs during the operation, the block is determined as a bad block, and the block is marked as a bad block or the address thereof is recorded in a bad block management table so that later on the storage system will not use the bad block for storing data.
The cycle time for writing or erasing a flash memory is shortened along with the advancement of the fabricating technique thereof. Besides, the time for writing into a flash memory is further shortened through the technique of programming two pages at one time. However, more noises may be produced in a storage system along with the increment of programming speed, and accordingly, a block may be mistakenly determined as a bad block during a programming operation. Such a misjudged block will be marked in a bad block management table therefore will not be used again so that available system resource (i.e. the block) will be wasted and the lifespan of the flash memory storage system will be shortened.

Bad block identifying method for flash memory, storage system, and controller thereof


A development processing method comprising developing a silver halide photographic material with a developing solution, (i) wherein the silver halide photographic material comprises a support having thereon at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and contains: (a) at least two kinds of light-sensitive silver halide emulsions which are each spectrally sensitized and have sensitivities different from each other with respect to a certain exposure wavelength; and (b) at least one hydrazine derivative in at least one of the silver halide emulsion layer and other hydrophilic colloidal layers, and (ii) wherein the developing solution is substantially free from a dihydroxybenzene compound, has a pH of from 9.0 to 10.5 and contains: (1) at least one ascorbic acid developing agent and (2) at least one auxiliary developing agent represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent group; and R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or a heterocyclic group.

In the field of graphic arts, in order to improve the reproduction of continuous gradation images with halftone dot images or the reproduction of line images, image formation systems exhibiting ultrahigh-contrast (particularly, .gamma. is 10 or more) photographic characteristics are required.
As methods for obtaining high-contrast photographic characteristics, lithographic development systems utilizing the so-called "infectious development effect" have been used for long. However, they have the disadvantage that the developing solutions are unstable and hard to use. In contrast, as methods using more stable developing solutions, there are methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,224,401, 4,168,977, 4,166,742, 4,311,781, 4,272,606, 4,221,857, 4,332,878, 4,634,661, 4,618,574, 4,269,922, 5,650,746 and 4,681,836.
These image formation systems are systems for processing hydrazine derivative-containing silver halide photographic materials of the surface latent image type with stable MQ developing solutions (in which hydroquinone is used in combination with a p-aminophenol) or PQ developing solutions (in which hydroquinone is used in combination with a 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone compound) having a pH of 11.0 to 12.3 to obtain ultrahigh-contrast negative images in which .gamma. exceeds 10. According to these methods, ultrahigh-contrast and high-speed photographic characteristics can be obtained, and sulfites can be added in high concentration to the developing solutions. Therefore, the stability against air oxidation of the developing solutions is far improved, compared with the conventional lithographic developing solutions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,929 (JP-A-61-267759 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application")), U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,452 (JP-A-60-179734), U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,769 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,780, JP-A-1-179939, JP-A-1-179940, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,998,604 and 4,994,365, and JP-A-8-272023 disclose methods of using high-active hydrazine nucleating agents and nucleating accelerators for obtaining ultrahigh-contrast images by use of stable developing solutions having a pH of less than 11.0. It is also disclosed that silver halide emulsions high in silver chloride content and chemically sensitized have high nucleating activity. However, the use of the high-active hydrazine nucleating agents and nucleating accelerators as described above or high-active emulsions raises the problem of uneven density at the time of an output of a definite halftone dot area, which is called processing unevenness.
On the other hand, it is known that enediols such as ascorbic acid function as developing agents, and attention is given to them as developing agents having no ecological and toxicological problems. For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,688,549 and 3,826,654, it is described that image formation is possible under high alkaline conditions of pH 12 or higher. However, high-contrast images can not be obtained by these image formation methods.
Some attempts have been made to increase the contrast in development systems using ascorbic acid. For example, Zwicky describes that the use of ascorbic acid as a sole developing agent causes a kind of lithographic effect to appears (J. Phot. Sci., 27, 185 (1979)). However, this system was considerably low in the contrast, compared with hydroquinone development systems. Further, U.S. Pat. No. T896,022 and JP-B-49-46939 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication") disclose a system in which ascorbic acid is used in combination with a bis-quaternary ammonium salt. This system has the development accelerating effect, but scarcely shows the contrast increasing effect. JP-A-3-249756 and JP-A-4-32838 also describe the effect of using ascorbic acid in combination with a quaternary salt. However, the contrast of images obtained is not sufficient. Furthermore, JP-A-5-88306 describes that high contrast is obtained by using ascorbic acid as a sole developing agent and keeping the pH at 12.0 or higher. However, this system-also has a problem with respect to the stability of a developing solution because of its high pH.
There is an example in which a particular developing solution containing ascorbic acid and a hydrazine derivative as main components is used to obtain a development system high in sensitivity and low in stain and fog (U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,727). However, no reference is made to contrast enhancement.
It is known that photographic materials containing hydrazine are processed with ascorbic acid developing solutions, and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,816 and WO 93/11456. However, both are insufficient in terms of the contrast. In the latter, the contrast is enhanced by adding an amine to a developing solution, but this is environmentally unfavorable. A developing method has therefore been desired in which toxicologically preferable ascorbic acid is used as a developing agent to obtain a high-contrast image. Previously, Metol or phenidone compounds have been used as auxiliary developing agents for the ascorbic acid developing solutions. Also in the above-mentioned patents, either of these auxiliary developing agents is used.
Further, a high-contrast photographic material containing silver halide grains spectrally sensitized with a non-desorptive sensitizing dye, silver halide grains not spectrally sensitized, and a hydrazine derivative is described in the claim of British Patent Publication (Laid-Open) 9,407,599. The light-sensitive grains spectrally sensitized and the light-insensitive grains not spectrally sensitized contribute to silver images formed, by imagewise exposure and development, because of the presence of the hydrazine derivative. However, this photographic material has the disadvantage that, when a developing solution is fatigued or the replenishment rate is low, the development of the light-insensitive grains by the presence of the hydrazine derivative becomes difficult to take place, resulting in reduced density of the silver images, and is not sufficient from the viewpoint of processing stability in running.
The system for forming ultrahigh-contrast images using hydrazine derivatives is a system using dihydroxybenzene compounds such as hydroquinone as developing agents, as described above, and have some disadvantages from the ecological and toxicological viewpoints. For example, hydroquinone is an unfavorable component because of its allergy inducing effect. In this image formation system, amines as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,354 are used simultaneously, and they are unfavorable in terms of toxicity and volatility.


A hydraulic system including a multi-flow hydraulic pressure supply unit, especially a dual-flow hydraulic pressure supply unit, such as a pump, by which a volumetric flow of pressurized fluid is supplied to a hydraulic-fluid-operated device. A valve arrangement is provided either for switching between the individual pump flows or for interconnecting the individual pump flows.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic system with a multi-flow hydraulic pressure supply unit, especially a dual-flow hydraulic pressure supply unit, such as a pump, through which a volumetric flow of hydraulic fluid is fed to a hydraulic-fluid-operated device. The invention also relates to an automatic transmission for motor vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
In modern motor vehicles, hydraulic systems in which at least one pressure supply unit supplies at least one hydraulic-fluid-operated device with a defined pressure are being used to improve safety and comfort. The known hydraulic systems indeed have a high power density, a low power-weight ratio, and high dynamics, but they nonetheless require more energy in relation to regulated electric drives, which leads to higher fuel consumption. Previously, mostly single-flow pumps have been used to supply pressure to, for example, automatic transmissions. Single-flow here means that the pump conveys one pump flow. In contrast, multi-flow pumps convey several pump flows independently of one another. The pump flows are thus connected in parallel.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the losses in known hydraulic systems. The hydraulic pressure supply unit used in the hydraulic system should meet the demands of the automotive industry over a wide range of hydraulic requirements.

Hydraulic system and automatic transmission

LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


A method includes receiving at a receiver circuit a composite signal including non-interfered data resource elements and interfered data resource elements from a plurality of radio cells, and determining a first mutual information metric based on the non-interfered data resource elements. The method further includes determining a second mutual information metric based on the interfered data resource elements, and determining effective mutual information based on a combination of the first mutual information metric and the second mutual information metric.

Wireless communication networks may include multiple base stations and multiple User Equipments (UEs). Signals transmitted between components of a wireless communication network may include different kinds of interferences. The UE may be subject to strong interference fluctuations due to enhanced inter cell interference coordination (eICIC). Interference measured on a subframe belonging to a particular set shall not be mixed with the interference measured on a subframe belonging to another set. Methods and devices employed in wireless communication networks constantly have to be improved. In particular, it may be desirable to measure channel quality information (CQI) depending on the interference situation in the wireless communication network.

Methods and devices for determining effective mutual information


A progressive prize method for a group of linked gaming machines includes maintaining both a respective local progressive pool for each respective gaming machine in the group and a group progressive pool shared among the group of gaming machines. A local progressive prize trigger is used to determine when a progressive prize is to be awarded from a local progressive pool and a separate group progressive trigger is used to determine when a progressive prize is to be awarded from the group progressive pool. The group progressive trigger may be based on a count of local progressive prizes that have been awarded. Thus a local progressive trigger may ultimately result in the award of a progressive prize from the group progressive pool rather than the respective local progressive pool.

Numerous types of wagering games have been developed in an attempt to provide players with new and varied gaming experiences. In addition to providing different wagering games with different primary games and various different types of bonus or secondary games, games may offer various types of payout schedules in different wagering games and may vary the payout volatility of the games. Progressive prizes represent another feature which may be offered in gaming systems to increase player interest. Progressive prizes are prizes which are based on wagering activity in the gaming system and thus vary over the course of play. In progressive gaming systems, some fraction of wagers in the gaming system are allocated to one or more progressive prize pools, and these pools are used to pay progressive prizes in response to progressive prize triggering events. One advantage of a progressive gaming system is that the progressive pools may be allowed to grow to very large values and thus provide players with an opportunity to win very large progressive prizes, prizes far in excess of prizes that may be defined in a fixed payout table.
There remains a need in the field of wagering games for systems and arrangements to enhance the player's gaming experience and encourage the player to continue play at a given gaming facility. In particular, there remains a need for progressive gaming systems which maintain player excitement and enhance the gaming experience.

Wagering game method, gaming machine, gaming system, and program product providing local and group progressive prizes


3,5-Dimethyl-1-(4-nitrophenyl) pyrazole having at least one deuterium atom and a non-linear optical material comprising the same is described herein.

In recent years, materials which are non-linear between a polarization and an electric field, said fields appearing after exposure to a strong optical field such as a laser light, have attracted attention.
Such materials are generally known as non-linear optical materials, and are described in detail in the following publications: "Nonlinear Optical Properties of Organic and Polymeric Material", ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES 233, edited by David J. Williams (American Chemical Society, 1983); "Organic Nonlinear Optical Materials", under the supervision of Masao Kato and Hachiro Nakanishi (C.M.C. Company, 1985); and "Nonlinear Optical Properties of Organic Molecules and Crystals", Vols. 1 and 2, edited by D. S. Chemla and J. Zyss, (Academic Press Company, 1987).
One utility of the non-linear optical material is as a wavelength conversion device, useful in the development of a second harmonic generation (SHG) which is based on a secondary non-linear effect and an addition of frequencies and a subtraction of frequencies. What has been used actually heretofore is an inorganic perovskite typified by lithium niobate. In recent years, it has been found that a .pi.-electron conjugated-type organic compound, having an electron donative group and an electron attractive group, has various properties as a non-linear optical material, which greatly upgrades the above-mentioned inorganic material.
For the formation of a secondary non-linear optical material having higher properties, compounds having high non-linear sensitivity in a molecular state should be aligned so as not to generate inverse symmetry. It is known that for the generation of high non-linear sensitivity, compounds having a long .pi.-electron conjugated chain are useful. As described in the above-mentioned publications, it is evident that in these .pi.-electron conjugated compounds, the absorption maximum wavelength increases, and the transmittance of blue light decreases. This result is detrimental with respect to generation of blue light as a second harmonic. This also occurs when using a p-nitroaniline derivative. For generating a second harmonic, the effect of the transmittance of the p-nitroaniline derivative's wavelength is great as is shown in Plain Azema, et al., Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 400, New Optical Materials, (1983), page 186, FIG. 4.
Accordingly, a non-linear optical material having a high transmittance to a blue light is desired. Heretofore, investigations have been made to substitute a carbon atom with a nitrogen atom in a benzene ring of nitroaniline, but no satisfactory result has been obtained.
Further improvement has been attempted and many materials are shown in JP-A-62-59934, JP-A-63-23136, JP-A-63-26638, JP-B-63-31768. JP-A-63-163827, JP-A-63-146025, JP-A-63-85526, JP-A-63-239427, JP-A-1-100521, JP-A-64-56425, JP-A-1-102529, JP-A-1-102530, JP-A-1-237625 and JP-A-1-207724. (The term "JP-A" means unexamined published Japanese patent application and "JP-B" means examined Japanese patent publication.)
The present inventors have disclosed an excellent method in JP-A-62-210430 and JP-A-62-210432.
Particularly, 3,5-dimethyl-1-(4-nitrophenyl) pyrazole, disclosed in JP-A-62-210432, provides for a non-linear optical constant of maximum value, which comprises a tensor component of an off diagonal element capable of phase matching among heretofore known organic non-linear optical materials, and is a very useful compound.
In addition to the transmission of the second harmonic to be generated as mentioned above, attention should be paid to the transmission of the fundamental wave to be contained in the non-linear optical material. This has been widely studied in the investigations of plastic optical fibers. It has been made clear that in the case of organic high molecular materials, an absorption is seen in the vicinity of 1 .mu.m, and results in propagation loss. It is considered that this absorption in the vicinity of 1 .mu.m is due to the triplicate wave of stretching vibration of a carbon-hydrogen bond, a nitrogen-hydrogen bond, or an oxygen-hydrogen bond. By replacing the hydrogen atom of these bonds with a deuterium atom, the absorption strength can be curtailed, as described in JP A-54-65556, JP-A-57-81204, JP-A-57-142601, JP-A-58-149003, JP-A-58-154803, JP-A-61-20906, and JP-A-61-223805.
In the field of organic non-linear optical materials, a description of deuterium compounds is seen in JP-A-49-81051, JP-A-63-21627, JP-A-63-163825, JP-A-2-149825, and JP-A-2-247620. DLAP (Deutrated L-Arginine Phosphate) obtained by partly deuteration of LAP is well-known. However, these described compounds do not have sufficient properties, and deuterated compounds derived from compounds having excellent properties are desired.


A pixel array of an image sensor includes multiple red, green, blue and panchromatic pixels. The red, green and blue pixels are formed on a substrate during a first process. Planarization material is deposited to form the panchromatic pixels on the substrate and to form a planarization layer on the red, green and blue pixels during the same second process subsequent to the first process. The planarization material of the panchromatic pixels and the planarization layer is characterized in high transmittance and high aspect ratio.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a pixel array of an image sensor and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a pixel array of an image sensor with intermixing color-sensing and a method of fabricating the same
2. Description of the Prior Art
Light is the portion of electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength is between 300 nm (ultraviolet) to 14,000 nm (far infrared). The optical spectrum of visible light lies in a wavelength range from about 380 to about 780 nm. An image sensor configured to convert optical signals into electrical signals is widely used in digital cameras, cellular phones, surveillance, medical, automobile, and other applications. The pixel array of an image sensor normally includes color pixels such as red, green and blue pixels. Panchromatic pixels, also known as clear pixels or white pixels, may also be adopted for improving the sensitivity of the image sensor.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the cross-sectional view of a pixel array 10 in a conventional image sensor during different manufacturing stages. For illustrative purpose, only one red pixel R, one green pixel G, one blue pixel B and one panchromatic pixel P are depicted. At stage S1, the red pixel R, the green pixel G, the blue pixel B and the panchromatic pixel P are formed on a substrate 12. At stage S2, planarization material is deposited on the red pixel R, the green pixel G, the blue pixel B and the panchromatic pixel P to form the planarization layer 14. At stage S3, micro-lenses LR, LG, LB and LP are formed on the planarization layer 14 at locations corresponding to the red pixel R, the green pixel G, the blue pixel B and the panchromatic pixel P, respectively.
In the conventional pixel array 10, the color pixels R, G, B and the panchromatic pixel P are fabricated in difference processes. More specifically, at least one photo mask is required to define the pattern of the color pixels, and another photo mask is required to define the pattern of the panchromatic pixels. Although the panchromatic pixels can improve the sensitivity, they require using extra photo masks in an extra step, thereby increasing the complexity and cost of the manufacturing process.

Pixel array of image sensor and method of fabricating the same