A photoconductor that includes, for example, a substrate; a first layer like a ground plane layer; an undercoat layer thereover wherein the undercoat layer contains an aminosilane and a crosslinked acrylic resin; a photogenerating layer; and at least one charge transport layer.

There are disclosed herein hole blocking layers, and more specifically, photoconductors containing a hole blocking layer or undercoat layer (UCL) comprised, for example, of an aminosilane and a crosslinked acrylic resin, and which layer is coated or deposited on a first layer like a ground plane layer of, for example, gold or a gold containing compound.
In embodiments, photoconductors comprised of the disclosed hole blocking or undercoat layer enables, for example, the blocking or minimization of the movement of holes or positive charges generated from the ground plane layer; excellent cyclic stability, and thus color print stability especially for xerographic generated color copies. Excellent cyclic stability of the photoconductor refers, for example, to almost no or minimal change in a generated known photoinduced discharge curve (PIDC), especially no or minimal residual potential cycle up after a number of charge/discharge cycles of the photoconductor, for example 200 kilocycles, or xerographic prints, for example from about 80 to about 200 kiloprints. Excellent color print stability refers, for example, to substantially no or minimal change in solid area density, especially in 65 percent halftone prints, and no or minimal random color variability from print to print after a number of xerographic prints, for example 55 kiloprints.
Further, in embodiments the photoconductors disclosed may, it is believed, possess the minimization or substantial elimination of undesirable ghosting on developed images, such as xerographic images, including improved ghosting at various relative humidities; excellent cyclic and stable electrical properties; acceptable charge deficient spots (CDS); and compatibility with the photogenerating and charge transport resin binders, such as polycarbonates. Charge blocking layer and hole blocking layer are generally used interchangeably with the phrase "undercoat layer".
The need for excellent print quality in xerographic systems is of value, especially with the advent of color. Common print quality issues can be dependent on the components of the undercoat layer (UCL). In certain situations, a thicker undercoat is desirable, but the thickness of the material used for the undercoat layer may be limited, in some instances, in view of the inefficient transport of the photoinjected electrons from the generator layer to the substrate. When the undercoat layer is too thin, then incomplete coverage of the substrate may sometimes result due to wetting problems on localized unclean substrate surface areas. The incomplete coverage may produce pin holes which can, in turn, produce print defects such as charge deficient spots (CDS) and bias charge roll (BCR) leakage breakdown. Other problems include image "ghosting" resulting from, it is believed, the accumulation of charge somewhere in the photoreceptor. Removing trapped electrons and holes residing in the imaging members is a factor to preventing ghosting. During the exposure and development stages of xerographic cycles, the trapped electrons are mainly at or near the interface between the charge generation layer (CGL) and the undercoat layer (UCL), and holes are present mainly at or near the interface between the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer (CTL). The trapped charges can migrate according to the electric field during the transfer stage where the electrons can move from the interface of CGL/UCL to CTL/CGL, or the holes from CTL/CGL to CGL/UCL, and become deep traps that are no longer mobile. Consequently, when a sequential image is printed, the accumulated charge results in image density changes in the current printed image that reveals the previously printed image. Thus, there is a need to minimize or eliminate charge accumulation in photoreceptors without sacrificing the desired thickness of the undercoat layer, and a need for permitting the UCL to properly adhere to the other photoconductive layers, such as the photogenerating layer, for extended time periods, such as for example, about 1,000,000 simulated xerographic imaging cycles. Thus, a number of conventional materials used for the undercoat or blocking layer possess a number of disadvantages resulting in adverse print quality characteristics. For example, ghosting, charge deficient spots, and bias charge roll leakage breakdown are problems that commonly occur. With regard to ghosting, which is believed to result from the accumulation of charge somewhere in the photoconductor, consequently, when a sequential image is printed, the accumulated charge results in image density changes in the current printed image that reveals the previously printed image.
A thick undercoat layer is sometimes desirable for xerographic photoconductors as such layers permit photoconductor life extension and carbon fiber resistance. Furthermore, thicker undercoat layers permit the use of economical substrates in the photoreceptors. Examples of thick undercoat layers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,312,007, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. However, due primarily to insufficient electron conductivity in dry and cold environments, the residual potential in conditions, such as 10 percent relative humidity and 70° F., can be high when the undercoat layer is thicker than about 15 microns, and moreover, the adhesion of the UCL may be poor, disadvantages avoided or minimized with the UCL of the present disclosure.
Also included within the scope of the present disclosure are methods of imaging and printing with the photoconductive devices illustrated herein. These methods generally involve the formation of an electrostatic latent image on the imaging member, followed by developing the image with a toner composition comprised, for example, of a thermoplastic resin, colorant, such as pigment, charge additive, and surface additives, reference U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,560,635; 4,298,697 and 4,338,390, the disclosures of which are totally incorporated herein by reference, subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, and permanently affixing the image thereto. In those environments wherein the device is to be used in a printing mode, the imaging method involves the same operation with the exception that exposure can be accomplished with a laser device or image bar. More specifically, the imaging members, photoconductor drums, and flexible belts disclosed herein can be selected for the Xerox Corporation iGEN3® machines that generate with some versions over 100 copies per minute. Processes of imaging, especially xerographic imaging and printing, including digital, and/or high speed color printing, are thus encompassed by the present disclosure.
The photoconductors disclosed herein are, in embodiments, sensitive in the wavelength region of, for example, from about 400 to about 900 nanometers, and in particular from about 650 to about 850 nanometers, thus diode lasers can be selected as the light source.

Aminosilane and self crosslinking acrylic resin hole blocking layer photoconductors


The present invention provides a semiconductor device of a double-side mounting structure including a circuit board and a plurality of semiconductor chips arranged and joined together on the opposite surfaces of the circuit board, wherein in an area in which the semiconductor chip 31 mounted on the top surface of the circuit board 2 overlaps with the semiconductor chip 32 mounted on the bottom surface of the circuit board 2, a recess portion 21 (or a protruding portion 22) is formed in the surfaces of the circuit board 2.

In a general mounting method, IC chips are sealed in a package made of plastics and so on and mounted on a circuit board. Bare chip mounting has recently been utilized which enables a sharp reduction in mounting area compared to such semiconductor package mounting.
The bare chip mounting, in which IC chips unsealed in a package are mounted on a circuit board, is classified into three types.    (1) Electrodes on the chips are wire-bonded to electrodes on the circuit board.    (2) The electrodes on the chips are connected to the electrodes on the circuit board via a film having leads.    (3) The IC chips are placed face down and connected directly to the circuit board.
The flip chip in (3) is face-down mounting. In this case, a circuit formation surface of each of the semiconductor chips is placed opposite a circuit formation surface of the circuit board. The semiconductor chip is then laid on top of the circuit board via bumps formed of metal such as gold (Au) so as to be electrically continuous with the circuit board. The wire bonding in (1) is face-up mounting. In this case, the circuit formation surface of the circuit board is placed opposite a surface of the semiconductor chip which is located opposite the circuit formation surface thereof. Thin metal wires are then drawn out from the resulting structure by wire bonding. Compared to the face up mounting, the face down mounting enables a size reduction and is commonly utilized.
In recent years, for improved functions, a method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-23045 or the like has been utilized. That is, even when a double-side mounting structure is adopted which includes a circuit board and semiconductor chips mounted on the opposite surfaces of the circuit board, the bare chips are connected to the circuit board by face-down mounting in order to achieve a size reduction.


A clothing illumination device is switchable between illumination with visible light only and illumination with visible light mixed with ultraviolet light. The clothing illumination device also has an LED light source and an IC tag reader. A clothing illumination system has a first and a second clothing illumination device which are each switchable between illumination with visible light only and illumination with visible light mixed with ultraviolet light, and which operate in a fashion coordinated with each other to perform the switching.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to clothing illumination devices and clothing illumination systems.
2. Description of Related Art
There are conventionally proposed a variety of illumination devices and illumination systems for illumination of merchandise. Also proposed is the use of LEDs as light sources for illumination of merchandise. For example, according to one proposal, for illumination of a ceiling surface and display shelves with proper light, while the ceiling surface, which has a large area, is illuminated with an upward illuminating LED light source to enhance perceived lightness in an entire space, merchandise or the like on the display shelves is illuminated brightly with a downward illuminating LED light source which illuminates downward over a small area without illuminating passages between the display shelves (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-113855).
However, in connection with clothing illumination devices and clothing illumination systems, many problems still remain to be addressed.

Clothing illumination device and clothing illumination system


In a computer system, an architecture for optimizing aspects of data movement operations by performing functions such as memory allocation and notification on hardware rather than software. The invention thereby optimizes several higher-level processor operations that involve data movement, including internodal messaging, data copying, and data zeroing. Method and apparatus is also disclosed for detecting and responding to translation lookaside buffer (TLB) purges indicating a change in physical memory mapping during translation of virtual memory to physical memory.

Data movement is an important "core" function of systems, incorporated into many standard, regularly-used system operations such as messaging, data copying or clearing memory to zero. Data movement in systems typically involves three general steps. First, memory is allocated to enable the movement of the data. Second, the data movement itself is performed. Third, the system notifies appropriate components, such as processors or processor agents, that the data movement has completed successfully and processing can continue based on the new location of the data.
In systems of the current art, the first and third steps (memory allocation and notification) are typically performed by software, while the second step (data movement) is performed by hardware. The data movement hardware typically includes a message/copy state machine, an expensive hardware component whose operations are pivotal to enabling the data movement.
The software operations for the first and third steps of data movement (memory allocation and notification) inevitably require several machine cycles to complete. The software is typically found in microkernels loaded onto memory nodes that are local to the processor issuing the request requiring a data movement operation. It would thus be highly advantageous to be able to perform these first and third steps on hardware, obviating the need to refer to microkernel software, thereby speeding up the processing time to execute a data movement operation.
It would be even more advantageous if resources (such as registers) in the message/copy state machine could assist in performing these first and third data movement steps (memory allocation and notification), since the message/copy state machine is required anyway to perform the second (data movement) step. Not only would processing efficiency be optimized by replacing software operations with hardware operations, but the resources of the message/copy state machine (an expensive hardware component) would also be leveraged better. Additionally, efficiency-enhancing features such as data translation on the fly (in applications such as translation from virtual to physical memory), and pipelining of overlapping operations would be facilitated, being more easily enabled in a hardware environment than in a software environment.

Optimizing data movement with hardware operations


Provided herein are VHH-containing polypeptides that bind CD33. Uses of the VHH-containing polypeptides are also provided.

CD33, also known as p67, SIGLEC3, or SIGLEC-3, binds sialic acids and regulates inflammatory and immune responses of hematopoietic cells. CD33 also can influence initiation, proliferation and progression in a variety of hematologic cancers. For example, over 85% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases express the CD33 antigen. Thus, CD33 is a suitable tumor-associated antigen for targeted therapies for hematologic cancers, such as leukemia. Therefore, there exists a therapeutic need for more potent antagonists of CD33.

CD33-binding polypeptides and uses thereof


A method is described that involves directing a configuration request through a switch core to a configuration agent. The method also involves processing the configuration request at the configuration agent. The method also involves sending a configuration command derived from the configuration request from the configuration agent to the switch core. The method also involves executing the configuration command at an agent to which the configuration command pertains.

Prior art multi-processor computing systems have typically used a "front side bus" between its one or more processors and its memory controller. FIG. 1 shows a traditional multi-processor prior art computing system. According to the depiction of FIG. 1, the front side bus 105 is a "shared medium" component in which electrical signals passed between any processor and any other processor and/or the memory controller 103 are carried over the same electrical wiring.
The front side bus 105 becomes a bottleneck, particularly for multi-processor systems, because there tends to be heavy communication over the front side bus 105 (through small communicative sessions called "transactions") between the processors 101_1 through 101_4 and the memory controller 103. In order to improve the performance of multi-processor systems, a new architecture has emerged (which may be referred to as "link based") in which the front side bus is replaced with a network having point-to-point links between the processors and memory controller.
FIG. 2 shows an example. Here, note that the system nodes 201_1 through 201_4 and memory controller 203 are communicatively coupled by a network 205 having point-to-point links between these components. For ease of drawing the point-to-point links are depicted as being bi-directional. Typically, however, these bi-directional point-to-point links are actually implemented with a pair of uni-directional point-to-point links directed in opposite directions with respect to one another. The links may be physically implemented as copper wiring with (e.g., coaxial) shielding and/or fiber optic links. According to the architecture of FIG. 2, a "system node" is a unit containing one or more processing cores (e.g., one or more units of logic circuitry that executes program code). A "system node" may also have associated cache 202_1 through 202_4 for its respective processing cores. A "home agent" 203 having a memory controller controls access to system memory 204. An "agent" is a component of a link based computing system that has its own network address so that it can receive packets from the network (and send packets into the network). According to this definition, system nodes 201_1 through 201_4 and home agent 203 each correspond to separate "agent" instances.

Band configuration agent for link based computing system


The present invention relates to an equalizing structure (10) and method for a receiving device of a wireless communication system, in which two or more information signals are transmitted in parallel from one or more transmitters, wherein for the information signals transmit information is modulated onto carrier signals according to a modulation scheme, whereby all possible data symbols are represented as constellation points in the signal constellation of the modulation scheme and whereby the equalizing structure (10) performs, for each information signal, a maximum likelihood detection in order to determine a constellation point with a minimum Euclidean distance to a received signal vector as a most likely received signal vector by searching over the whole set of possible transmit signals, Sm, the equalizing structure (10) comprises means (11) for detecting channel estimation information in the information signals and means. (31) for calculating the product of channel matrix, H,n, and transmit signal vector, sm, based on the channel estimation information detected by the detecting means (11), wherein the calculating means (31) calculates the product of channel matrix, Hm, and transmit signal vector, s,n, in at, least two steps, wherein in the first step a partial product of channel matrix, Hm, and transmit signal vector, sm, based on at least one or a part of the channel estimation information detected by the detecting means (11) is calculated. The reference signals used for channel estimation are sent from the different transmitter antennas with time offset from each other.

Equalising structures with maximum likelihood detection (MLD) are typically (but not exclusively) used in communication systems in which two or more independent symbols are transmitted in parallel from one or more transmitters within the same time slot and the same frequency band. In such cases, the symbols interfere with each other. Although such interference is generally not desirable in communication systems, it is in some systems used to increase the data rate, the spectral efficiency and/or the system throughput. Examples of such systems are so-called multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) systems, code division multiple access (CDMA) systems and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing-code division multiple access (OFDM-CDMA) systems.
Generally, a MIMO system has nT transmitting antennas (each transmitting a different data symbol) and nR receiving antennas. Such a system has a maximum achievable data rate, which is nT time greater than an equivalent non-MIMO system. For example, in a MIMO system which has two transmitting antennas (nT=2) and two receiver antennas (nR=2), the maximum achievable data rate is two times higher than in a non-MIMO system. FIG. 1 shows the schematic block diagram of such a MIMO system for transmitting two independent symbols in parallel.
The example MIMO system shown in FIG. 1 comprises a receiver 1 and a transmitter 20 for wireless communication on the basis of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). The receiver 1 comprises a radio frequency (RF) part 2 and a base band part 3. The radio frequency part 2 has two antennas 4 and 5, each being connected to a low noise amplifier/downconversion unit 6 and 7, respectively. It is to be noted, that the receiver 1 can e.g. be part of a pure receiving device, or can be part of a receiving and transmitting device. In the later case, the antennas 4 and 5 are receiving as well as transmitting antennas. The downconverted signals from the units 6 and 7 are respectively forwarded and processed by a fast fourier transformation unit (FFT) 8 and 9, respectively. The transformed signals from the fourier transformation units 8 and 9 are forwarded to an equalising structure 10 and a channel estimator 11. The channel estimator 11 performs, based on the receive signal (burst) including training sequences (preamble section), the channel estimation, wherein the channel estimator 10 uses the training sequence (or reference pilots) to derive the channel estimate. Signals from the channel estimator 11 are supplied to the equalising structure 10. The equalising structure 10 performs a maximum likelihood detection in order to determine a constellation point of the signal constellation of the modulation scheme with a minimum Euclidean distance to a received signal vector as a most likely received signal vector. The specific processing is explained further below. After the equalising processing, the signals are further respectively processed in a demodulator/channel decoder 12 and 13, respectively. The output signals from the demodulator/channel decoders 12 and 13, respectively, are forwarded to a parallel/serial processing unit 14, which outputs the received data bit stream.
The example OFDM transmitter 20 schematically shown in FIG. 1 comprises a radio frequency part 21 and a base band part 22. In the base band part 22, transmit data are split into two parallel data bit streams by a serial/parallel converter 23. The two parallel data bit streams output from the converter 23 are respectively supplied to a channel coder/modulator 24 and 25, respectively. The coded and modulated signals are supplied to an inverse fast fourier transformation (IFFT) unit 26 and 27, respectively, which supply the transform signals to a respective digital/analogue-converter (DAC) and filter unit 28 and 29, respectively. The analogue filtered signals are then forwarded to a respective upconversion/power amplifying unit 30 and 31, respectively, which transmit the amplified signals via a respective transmit antenna 32 and 33, respectively. It is to be noted, that the transmitter 20 can be part of a transmitting and receiving device and the antennas 32 and 33 can be receiving as well as transmitting antennas.
As indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1, the signals transmitted in parallel interfere with each other. For general MIMO systems the received signal column vector for each symbol is given by x having nR rows, wherein each row of the vector represents the received signal for each of the receiver antennas. The received signal x is given by,x=Hs+n  (1)where s is the column vector (nT×1) of the sent signal, H is the channel matrix (nR×nT), representing the channel response from each of the transmitter antennas to the receiving antennas and n is the noise vector (nR×1).
For the case of OFDM systems (an example of which is shown in FIG. 1), we shall denote the number of sub-carriers as M. We shall refer to the received baseband signal at sub-carrier m (m=1, . . . , M) as the received column vector xm(nR×1). Each row element of the vector is the signal from the FFT output corresponding to the mth sub-carrier for each receiver output at the receiver. The receiver vector xm can therefore be expressed as,xm=Hmsm+nm  (2)where sm is sent signal vector (nT×1), Hm is the channel matrix (nR×nT), and nm is the noise vector (nR×1). Each row element of the sent signal vector sm corresponds to the input signal of the IFFT corresponding to the mth sub-carrier for each transmitter. The elements of the channel matrix Hm correspond to the different channel responses from the elements of the transmitted vector to the elements of the received vector. It is therefore the combination of the IFFT, the multi-path channel and the FFT. It accounts for the combined effect of the IFFT, the multi-path channel and the FFT. It is well known, that for OFDM systems that such a combination leads to a channel matrix Hm whose elements hm,ij(i=1 . . . nR, j=1 . . . nT) are single complex values. For the example shown in FIG. 1 with two transmitting antennas 32, 33 and two receiving antennas 4, 5, the received signal for carrier in can be written as,
                              x          m                =                              [                                                                                x                                          m                      ,                      1                                                                                x                                          m                      ,                      2                                                                                ]                    =                                                    [                                                                                h                                                  m                          ,                          11                                                                                h                                                  m                          ,                          12                                                                                h                                                  m                          ,                          21                                                                                h                                                  m                          ,                          22                                                                                ]                                                          [                                                                                s                                                  m                          ,                          1                                                                                s                                                  m                          ,                          2                                                                                ]                                      +                          [                                                                                n                                              m                        ,                        1                                                                                n                                              m                        ,                        2                                                                                ]                                                          (        3        )
For each sub-carrier m, the normal state-of-the-art maximum likelihood detector searches over the whole set of possible transmit signals smεA (where A is the set of all possible transmit vectors) to decide in favour of the transmit signal vector ŝm which has the minimum Euclidean distance to the receive vector xm,
                                          s            ^                    m                =                  arg                                                                                min                                                s                  m                                ∈                A                                                                                                                                      x                    m                                    -                                                            H                      m                                                                                s                      m                                                                                                  2                                                          (        4        )
The size of the possible transmit signal set A, containing all of the possible sent signal vectors depends upon the number of possible sent symbols from each antenna (which depends upon the modulation constellation size) and the number of transmit antennas nT. The number of possible sent signals vectors is given by,NSV=Number of possible sent signal vectors=(Modulation Constellation Size)nT  (5)
Therefore for higher-level modulation schemes with more than two antennas, the set size can be extremely large and the number of comparisons needed to be performed for each sub-carrier in equation (4) is given byNumber of comparisons=NSV−1=(Modulation Constellation Size)nT−1  (6)
To summarise, table 1 shows the number of comparisons that have to be made in equation (4) for each sub-carrier for the commonly used modulation schemes BPSK, QPSK, 16 QAM and 64 QAM.
TABLE 1Number of comparisons for each sub-carrierfor the MLD algorithmModulationAntennas (nT, nR)Scheme2, 23, 34, 4BPSK3715QPSK156325516QAM25540956553564QAM40952621431.7 × 107
Before the comparisons for each sub-carrier in equation (4) can be performed, the vector products Hmsm have to be formed for each of the possible sent signals sm(smεA). Since the elements of Hm(hm,ij(i=1 . . . nR, j=1 . . . nT)) cannot be known perfectly at the receiver, they have to be estimated and this is traditionally achieved using a pilot tones. The elements of Hm at the receiver are therefore denoted by ĥm,ji(i=1 . . . nR, j=1 . . . nT). The vector Hmsm is a (nR×1) vector and is therefore given by,
                                          H            m                                          s            m                          =                                            [                                                                                h                        ^                                                                    m                        ,                        11                                                                                …                                                        …                                                                                h                        ^                                                                    m                        ,                                                  1                                                                                n                            T                                                                                …                                                        …                                                        …                                                        …                                                                                …                                                        …                                                        …                                                        …                                                                                h                        ^                                                                    m                        ,                                                                              n                            R                                                                              1                                                                                …                                                        …                                                                                h                        ^                                                                    m                        ,                                                                              n                            R                                                                                n                            T                                                                                ]                        ·                          [                                                                                s                                              m                        ,                        1                                                                                …                                                                                …                                                                                s                                              m                        ,                                                  n                          T                                                                                ]                                =                      [                                                                                Hs                                          m                      ,                      1                                                                                …                                                                              …                                                                                Hs                                          m                      ,                                              n                        T                                                                                ]                                              (        7        )
Since Hm is a (nR×nT) matrix containing complex values and sm is a (nT×1) vector containing complex values, the total number of real multiplications and real additions to form Hmsm for all sent signal vectors is given as follows:Total real multiplications=4×nR×nT×(Modulations Constellation Size)nT  (8)Total real additions=nR×((4×nT)−2)×(Modulation Constellation Size)nT  (9)
To summarise, there are therefore two high complexity parts of the MLD algorithm (as described by equation (4)), which have to be performed for each received sub-carrier of a multi-carrier system. These are summarised as follows:    Part one: The large number of multiplications and additions of equation (7) (see equations (8) and (9), which are needed to generate the Hmsm products).    Part two: The large number of comparisons, which are required (see equation (6)).
Both these high complexity parts need to be performed M times, where M corresponds to the total number of sub-carriers. As can be seen from the above, the complexity of the prior art maximum likelihood detection schemes used in equalising structures for receiving devices in wireless communication systems is very high. Therefore, the prior art proposes several ways of reducing the complexity for maximum likelihood detection processing for multiple-input, multiple-output type systems:
Xiaodong, Li, H. C. Huang, A. Lozano, G. J. Foschini, "Reduced Complexity Detection Algorithms for Systems Using Multi-Element Arrays", Global Telecommunications Conference (Globecom 2000), San Francisco, USA, 27-Nov.-1 December, pp. 1072-1076. This paper proposes two types of algorithms. The first algorithm uses Adaptive Group Detection (AGD), which places the possible transmitted signals from the different transmitter antennas into groups. The interference between the groups is then suppressed using interference cancellation or projection techniques. MLD detection is then performed within each group. Since MLD is only performed on a sub-set of the total transmitter antennas, the complexity is reduced. The second algorithm called Multi-step Reduced Constellation Detection performs the processing in a number of steps. The first step uses zero forcing techniques (alternatively MMSE or matched filtering can be used) and provides the second step with a coarse estimate of the sent constellation points from the different transmitter antennas. The second step then uses MLD on neighbours of the coarse estimate obtained from the zero forcing stage. Since MLD is only performed in the second stage using the nearest neighbours of the coarse estimation as candidates complexity is reduced.
G. Awater, A. van Zelst, Richard van Nee, "Reduced Complexity Space Division Multiplexing Receivers", IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (Spring VTC' 2000), Tokyo, Japan, 15-18 May 2000 Vol. 1. pp. 11-15. This paper describes three different algorithms for reducing the complexity of Maximum Likelihood Detection (MLD). The first algorithm uses a 2-D tree approach to represent the mathematical metrics (from the MLD equation) for the different possible sent sequences. Subsequent lower branches of the tree include the signals from an increasing number of transmit antennas. Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) techniques such as Fano's algorithm, stack decoding or retain "k-best" path are then used to decide on the best sent sequence. The second algorithm considers the different metrics in N-dimensional space and uses a survivor algorithm to select the best sent sequence. The third algorithm uses QR decomposition to reduce the N-dimension space and then uses a survivor algorithm.
J Li, K. B. Letaief, et al, "Multi-stage Low Complexity Maximum Likelihood Detection for OFDM/SDMA Wireless LANs", IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC#2001), Helsinki, Finland, 11-14 Feb. 2001, Vol. 4, pp. 1152-1156. The algorithm described in this paper is a 2-stage algorithm. The first stage of the algorithm uses a conventional detection method like Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) or Interference cancellation (IC). From this stage, "sensitive bits" (where "sensitive bits" as bits which are likely to be in error) are identified and passed to the second stage. The second stage of the algorithm uses Maximum Likelihood Detection (MLD). Since MLD for this algorithm only operates on the sensitive bits (which are sub-set of the total bits) complexity is reduced.
Jacky Ho-Yin Fan et al, "A Sub optimum MLD Detection scheme for Wireless MIMO Systems", IEEE International Symposium on Advances in Wireless Communications (ISWC) 2002, Victoria, Canada. The algorithm discussed in this paper is similar to the algorithm discussed in (3). The algorithm consists of two stages. The first stage performs a conventional detection scheme like, Zero Forcing (ZF) or V-BLAST. If the error probability of the symbols (or vectors of symbols) from the first stage, are above a certain threshold, they are then passed to the section stage in which MLD is performed. Since only a subset of the symbols, are passed to the second stage, the complexity is reduced.
As described above, before the comparisons for each sub-carrier in equation (4) can be performed, the vector products Hmsm have to be formed for each of the possible sent signals sm (smεA). Traditionally for state of the art equalisers, all of the Hmsm products would be calculated once all of the channel estimates ĥm,ji(i=1 . . . nR, j=1 . . . nT) have been obtained. Since data information symbols are traditionally transmitted shortly after the pilot tones, the state of art equaliser has a very short period of time to calculate all of the Hmsm products and therefore the corresponding peak processing requirements are very high.

Equalising structure and method with maximum likelihood detection


An objective of this invention is to conduct an accurate quantitative analysis on the Ar element contained in a sample gas by an element analysis device comprising a heating furnace and a mass spectrometer for conducting a quantitative analysis on an element in a vacuum atmosphere. The element analysis device comprises: a heating furnace that heats a graphite crucible containing a sample while introducing a carrier gas into the heating furnace, thereby vaporizing the sample to generate a sample gas; a quadrupole mass spectrometer that conducts the quantitative analysis on the Ar element contained in the sample gas in a mixed gas comprising the carrier gas and the sample gas discharged from the heating furnace, a first pressure regulator that controls the pressure of the carrier gas to be introduced into the heating furnace, and a second pressure regulator that controls the pressure of the mixed gas discharged from the heating furnace.

As shown in the patent document 1, some conventional element analysis device puts a sample into a graphite crucible housed in a heating furnace, produces a sample gas by evaporating the sample by generating Joule heat by flowing impulse current in the graphite crucible while introducing a carrier gas into the heating furnace, introduces a mixed gas comprising the carrier gas and the sample gas discharged from the heating furnace into a quadrupole mass spectrometer (Q-MS), extracts an element contained in the sample gas in the mixed gas and conducts a quantitative analysis on the element.
However, it was not possible for the conventional element analysis device to fully reduce the pressure of the mixed gas discharged from the heating furnace until the mixed gas was introduced into the quadrupole mass spectrometer so that it was difficult for the quadrupole mass spectrometer to conduct the element contained in the sample gas in the mixed gas with high accuracy.
More specifically, the quadrupole mass spectrometer ionizes the sample gas introduced into an ionization part by thermoelectron released from high temperature filament, followed by introducing the ion produced by the ionization part into the quadrupole mass spectrometer, classifies the ion by applying DC and AC to, for example, four columnar electrodes, finally detects the ion that is classified by the quadrupole mass spectrometer by means of an ion detecting part and conducts the quantitative analysis on the element contained in the sample gas by making use of the principle of a property that the element contained in the sample gas changes in accordance with an amount (a partial pressure·a concentration) of the element possessed by the ion current. However, if the atmosphere pressure of the quadrupole mass spectrometer becomes high, probability of collision between the ion flying in the quadrupole mass spectrometer and a gaseous body becomes high so that it becomes difficult for the ion to reach the ion detection part. In addition, since detection sensitivity of the ion detection part changed due to an influence of space charge, if the atmosphere pressure exceeds the maximum working pressure (for example, 1.5 Pa), the ion current begins to decrease. Then the sample gas whose pressure exceeds the maximum working pressure is introduced into the quadrupole mass spectrometer, measurement accuracy is lowered.
However, in accordance with the above-mentioned conventional element analysis device, since the pressure of the mixed gas discharged from the heating furnace is very high and it is not possible to reduce the pressure of the mixed gas sufficiently prior to introducing the mixed gas into the quadrupole mass spectrometer, the measurement accuracy is lowered. Then, it is not possible to satisfy requirement to measure the concentration of Ar contained in metal power if the concentration is low. A new element analysis device that can satisfy this requirement should be developed.

Element analysis device and element analysis method


In a method of forming a chalcogenide compound target, a first powder including germanium carbide or germanium is prepared, and a second powder including antimony carbide or antimony is prepared. A third powder including tellurium carbide or tellurium is prepared. A powder mixture is formed by mixing the first to the third powders. After a shaped is formed body by molding the powder mixture. The chalcogenide compound target is obtained by sintering the powder mixture. The chalcogenide compound target may include a chalcogenide compound that contains carbon and metal, or carbon, metal and nitrogen considering contents of carbon, metal and nitrogen, so that a phase-change material layer formed using the chalcogenide compound target may stable phase transition, enhanced crystallized temperature and increased resistance. A phase-change memory device including the phase-change material layer may have reduced set resistance and driving current while improving durability and sensing margin.

Semiconductor memory devices are generally divided into volatile semiconductor memory devices such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices or static random access memory (SRAM) devices, and non-volatile semiconductor memory devices such as flash memory devices or electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) devices. The volatile semiconductor memory device loses data stored therein when power is off. However, the non-volatile semiconductor memory device keeps stored data even if power is out.
Among the non-volatile semiconductor memory devices, the flash memory device has been widely employed in various electronic apparatuses such as a digital camera, a cellular phone, an MP3 player, etc. Since a programming process and a reading process of the flash memory device take a relatively long time, technologies to manufacture a novel semiconductor memory device, for example, a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device, a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) device or a phase-change random access memory (PRAM) device, have been constantly developed.
The phase-change memory device stores information using a resistance difference between an amorphous phase and a crystalline phase of a phase-change material layer composed of a chalcogenide compound, e.g., germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST). Particularly, the PRAM device may store data as states of "0" and "1" using a reversible phase transition of the phase-change material layer. The amorphous phase of the phase-change material layer has a large resistance, whereas the crystalline phase of the phase-change material layer has a relatively small resistance. In the PRAM device, a transistor formed on a substrate may provide the phase-change material layer with a reset current (Ireset) for changing the phase of the phase-change material layer from the crystalline state into the amorphous state. The transistor may also supply the phase-change material layer with a set current (Iset) for changing the phase of the phase-change material layer from the amorphous state into the crystalline state. The conventional PRAM device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,467, Korean Patent No. 546,406 and Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-1105.
In the conventional PRAM device, however, the phase-change material layer may not have proper properties so that the PRAM device may not have desired electrical characteristics. For example, the phase-change material layer may be rapidly deteriorated, to thereby considerably reduce data retention characteristics of the PRAM device. Additionally, the PRAM device may have a relatively great ser resistance when the phase-change material layer includes a normal GST compound.
Considering the above-mentioned problems, a phase-change material layer has been formed using a chalcogenide compound doped into additional elements such as nitrogen in order to improve electrical characteristics of a PRAM device including the phase-change material layer. For example, Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication 2004-76225 discloses a phase-change memory device including a phase-change material layer composed of a GST compound doped with nitrogen. However, in the above-mentioned phase-change memory device having the phase-change material layer pattern of the GST compound doped with nitrogen, the phase-change memory device may have a considerably large initial writing current although a set resistance of the phase-change memory device may be decreased. To improve an integration degree of the phase-change memory device, a driving current of the phase-change memory device needs to be reduced. However, the set resistance of the phase-change memory device may be greatly increased in accordance with a reduction of the driving current thereof when the phase-change material layer pattern of the phase-change memory device includes the GST compound doped with nitrogen only. Further, the phase-change memory device of GST compound doped with nitrogen may not ensure good adhesion strength relative to the first electrode and the second electrode. Thus, the first electrode and/or the second electrode may be separated from the phase-change material layer pattern, and also an interface resistance between the first electrode and the phase-change material layer pattern or the second electrode and the phase-change material layer pattern may be undesirably reduced.
Meanwhile, Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-4137 discloses a sputtering target for forming a phase-change memory layer including a GST compound that contains nitrogen. However, the sputtering target includes carbon with a low content so that the phase-change memory layer may not have sufficient carbon content when the phase-change memory layer is formed using the sputtering target. As a result, the phase-change memory layer may not have desired thermal and electrical characteristics when the phase-change memory layer is employed in a phase-change memory device.

Method of forming a chalcogenide compound target


A pearlescent pigment includes a ceramic flake coated with a metal oxide. The metal oxide is, preferably, an oxide of titanium, iron, tin, chromium1, zirconium or a combination thereof, and the refractive index of the metal oxide coating is preferably at least 0.5 higher than that of the ceramic flake. The pearlescent pigment may be included in a coating applied to a metallic or plastic surface to give the surface a lustrous or pearlescent optical effect.

The use of metal oxide-coated platelets to form a basis of a pigment providing one or more of various visual effects, including a pearlescent lustre and a metallic lustre, has been disclosed in, for instance, Pigment Handbook, Vol. 1, Second Edition, pp 829-858 (John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. 1988).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,371 discloses a pearlescent pigment consisting essentially of flakes of C glass having a layer comprising iron oxide or rutile titanium dioxide thereon. The source for the rutile titanium dioxide is stated to be selected from titanium tetrachloride and titanyl sulphate.
While the glass baked pigment of U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,371 can be provided in a form which is a high quality, high lustre pearlescent pigment, it is relatively expensive to produce and there is a need for an alternative, preferably cheaper to produce, material which is of high quality.


An apparatus and method for stabilizing and changing the direction of a web moving in a web path between web handling devices. The apparatus includes an airfoil having a bulbous front end tapering to a narrowed rear end, the airfoil having first and second oppositely facing surfaces. A coplanar surface extends from the rear end of the airfoil to define an active surface with the second surface of the airfoil. The web is arranged to move in spaced relation with and along the active surface such that the interaction between the active surface and the boundary layer air associated with the moving web serves to both stabilize and alter the direction of the boundary layer air and the moving web.

The invention relates to a non-powered web stabilization apparatus in which an airfoil is specifically configured to utilize the boundary layer air associated with a moving web to stabilize the web and to assist changes to the web path as desired with minimal friction and without the use of externally supplied air.
In the manufacture of tissue (light weight, porous paper), there generally is a spacial separation (draw) between the exit from the dryer section of the paper machine, such as the Yankee cylinder dryer, and the winder area where the paper is wound into rolls for subsequent further processing at some location typically remote to the paper manufacturing machinery. This spacial separation provides isolation of the winder from the paper machine, while accommodating intermediate operations such as calendaring (bulk uniformity control), slitting (cutting the "as manufactured" paper width into multiple narrower widths), caliper control (real time measurement and adjustment of paper unit weight and/or moisture), and repulping (gathering, shredding and reconstituting as recycled pulp) that paper which is not being wound, such as at start-up or at a web break. Each of these intermediate operations has a stabilizing effect on the web, while at the same time may place special requirements on the position and steadiness of the web. Since these devices may or may not be continuously in use, a means must be provided in the web path to compensate for the non-use condition.
Historically, various means have been employed to control the web as it passes from the paper machine dryer section to the winder. These include bowed pipes or rolls, straight pipes or rolls, and large flat plates or other similar devices. The nature of tissue is such that it has substantial bulk with the surface being comprised to a multitude of pulp fibers radiating outwardly. These fibers are readily broken by firm contact with stationary rigid devices such as rolls or pipes, resulting in the production of an extremely fine paper dust which presents both a fire hazard situation, as well as a health hazard for the workers through ingestion into the lungs. The quantity of this dust present in the work-place air is now subject to Federal and State regulation, and its generation is an issue of concern. Ideally, physical contact with the virgin web should be avoided entirely, but this is neither practical or possible.
The most popular means of changing the web path through the tissue manufacturing process is the rigid pipe, whether bowed or straight, due to its simplicity and minimum cost. The pipe method has three major problems inherent in its use. The first is that the web is in firm contact with the pipe, thus requiring additional tension to be applied to the web. Secondly, since paper is abrasive (even soft, delicate tissue) the pipe will become worn and require replacement periodically. Thirdly, once the web is in contact with the pipe, it wants to remain attached to the curved surface of the pipe, thus requiring additional tension to break the web loose. Typically, dust particles will collect near the breakaway point, forming an extension of the pipe which eventually breaks off, falling onto the web and either contaminating the web or breaking it. The simple rigid pipe is effective in controlling the web and reducing web vibrations, although it does require frequent cleaning and periodic replacement.
Another popular web stabilizer and web transport system is the large flat plate style. These plates are typically several feet in machine direction length and are effective at holding webs which are subject to very strong air currents such as those emitted from the broke pit of the repulper system. Since this large flat plate generally occupies the majority of the draw between the dryer cylinder and the next machine element, it must be moved at time of start-up or web break to provide an unobstructed path for the web traverse to the repulper system broke pit. Movement of this plate requires the use of a mechanically driven member which adds to the total system complexity. The flat plate style exhibits two problems which are detrimental. First, the machine direction length is such that the web can alternately collapse against the surface of the plate, then pick up from the plate and subsequently collapse again (flutter), resulting in the generation of dust due to physical contact which in turn adds to the total web tension. Also, to provide sufficient structural rigidity, the plate must be made with some finite thickness to accommodate the inclusion of internal structural reenforcement. As a result of this thickness, the entry and exit ends are shaped (generally rounded) to facilitate smooth entry and exit. The behavior of these curved ends is similar to that of the rigid pipe design, except that the tendency for web attachment to the adjacent surface is more aggressive because the radius employed is greater than that of the typical rigid pipe.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a non-powered web stabilization apparatus to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies in conventional devices.

Airfoil web stabilization and turning apparatus and method


A signal amplifier having an inverted topology may include: a first common source-type amplifying unit connected to a power supply terminal and amplifying a first band signal among input signals; a second common source-type amplifying unit connected to a ground terminal and amplifying a second band signal among input signals; and an output matching unit performing impedance matching with respect to a first band between the first common source-type amplifying unit and an output terminal and performing impedance matching with respect to a second band between the second common source-type amplifying unit and the output terminal. The first common source-type amplifying unit, the output matching unit, and the second common source-type amplifying unit may form a single current path between the power supply terminal and the ground terminal.

The present disclosure relates to a signal amplifier having an inverted topology.
In general, as demand for wireless communications devices and standards governing the use thereof have increased, demand for multi-band transceivers capable of simultaneously processing signals within various bands in a single portable device has increased.
For example, a wireless local area network (WLAN) may simultaneously use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, while the domestic Korean long term evolution (LTE) band simultaneously uses the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2.1 GHz bands.
Thus, a device capable of transmitting and receiving multi-band signals with a single radio frequency (RF) front-end module is required, and in particular, a technique of processing signals within several frequencies with a single low-noise amplifier (LNA) disposed within a front stage of a receiver is required.
Here, an LNA supporting a concurrent dual-band capable of simultaneously processing signals within two different bands may have a cascode or cascade structure.
In general, an amplifier having a cascode structure includes two transistors stacked between a power source terminal and a ground, and since such an amplifier only has a single current path, only a small amount of current is consumed thereby; however, since such an amplifier includes a common gate amplifier, gain characteristics of which may not be optimal, and a common source amplifier having excellent gain characteristics, gain characteristics thereof require improvement.
Also, such an amplifier having a cascade structure includes at least two-stage amplifying units between an input terminal and an output terminal. The amplifying units in the respective stages may be configured as common source amplifiers having excellent gain characteristics, but two or more current paths thereof consume relatively large amounts of power, requiring improvement in terms of power consumption.
Patent Document 1 relates to a dual-band LNA. This related art document, however, does not disclose technical matters regarding an inverted structure using a common source-type amplifier.

Signal amplifier having inverted topology


A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant (Fragaria×ananassa), was developed from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross between ‘NJ96-12-1’ and ‘Camarosa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708). The new strawberry named ‘NJ99-204-1’ is distinguished by its ability to produce large, smooth, long wedge and conical shaped fruit, with attractive red color and excellent flavor. ‘NJ99-204-1’ plants have vigorous growth and an upright form.

A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) named 'NJ99-204-1' is a short day, June bearing cultivar similar to 'Chandler' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262), but it is distinguished by its large fruit with long wedge to long conical shape, uniform deep red color, and exceptional flavor. The cultivar is well adapted to high density plasticulture growing systems and has been shown to perform well in the eastern United States (Zones 5b, 6a & b, 7a & b, 8a & b). 'NJ99-204-1' should be of commercial value, particularly for farmers with pick-your-own operations or access to local farmers markets. In this fresh market segment, the excellent shape, color and flavor of 'NJ99-204-1' fruit will appeal to consumers who are increasingly interested in locally produced flavorful fruit.


An electronic message board includes a housing removably affixed to an interior surface of a selected window of a vehicle. Such housing is visible to another driver during driving conditions and includes a back wall with front and rear planar surfaces respectively and a first electrically conductive plate with a planar rear surface directly attached to the front surface of the back wall. The message board further includes a light display removably interfitted within the housing, a light emitting diode array, a transparent faceplate with predetermined indicia formed in a front surface thereof, and a mechanism for selectively actuating the light display.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to message boards and, more particularly, to an electronic message board for vehicles for allowing a driver of an existing vehicle to convey a predetermined visual message to another driver of another existing vehicle during driving conditions.
2. Prior Art
Americans, more than any other nationality, rely on the automobile as the primary means of transportation and our roads and highways are becoming increasingly congested. One of the more disturbing developments that have evolved as a result of the increased traffic and congestion on roads and highways has been a much higher incidence of confrontational incidents, many of a violent nature, between motorists. There have even been a number of random shootings on freeways, evidently spurred on only by the frustration and anger experienced by drivers, manifested by the violent act of willfully committing a very serious crime, a crime which could lead to accidents, injury, or death.
Federal and local authorities are very concerned with the violent trends being exhibited by more and more motorists but are basically at a loss as to what to do to alleviate this situation as the crux of this behavior is directly related to congested traffic conditions and there are no ready solutions which can be implemented in a reasonably short time. Many plans to reduce traffic congestion are being considered but all of these plans will take time, a matter of years, to be developed and implemented. Obviously, it would be advantageous to provide a means for promoting courtesy between drivers and to encourage better cooperation among motorists.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,269 to Miller discloses a visual communicator for a rear window of a vehicle. The communicator is semi-transparent and adapted to be disposed in the rear window of the vehicle for viewing from outside of the vehicle. The degree of transparency is such as to accommodate normal use of an inside rearview mirror of the vehicle by a driver of the vehicle. The communicator also includes a message display unit including a plurality of light emitting diodes comprises in a matrix arrangement and disposed in a limited discrete portion of the rear window. The light emitting diodes are selectively energizable to emit light in the form of a message. The communicator further includes a message control unit operationally interconnected to the light emitting diodes for selectively energizing the light emitting diodes. The message control unit is programmed to energize the light emitting diodes in any one of a plurality of preselected patterns. With this arrangement, the preselected patterns form messages for viewing from outside of the vehicle upon selective actuation of the message control unit. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed to be displayed with the push of a button.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,212 to Findley discloses a signaling device that provides a means for signaling an operator of a vehicle that the lights of that vehicle are distracting and annoying to an operator of another vehicle. The signaling device includes at least one display member having a message, such as "DIM LIGHTS", positioned thereon for conveying the message to the operator of the vehicle. The message may be constructed from a reflective or fluorescent material for enabling the lights of another vehicle to illuminate the message. The signaling device may be stored within the vehicle by attaching the signaling device to a sun visor of the vehicle with a clip. The signaling device may include a plurality of display members for conveying the message and at least one attachment member for attaching together the display members. The signaling device further includes a handle for enabling a person to manipulate the sign. The attachment members and the handle may be constructed of a flexible material for enabling the signaling device to be folded during storage. A fastener may be attached to the display members for securing together the components of the signaling device during storage of the signaling device. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed for promoting courtesy among drivers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,434 to Steffan discloses a vehicle communications system having a remote control unit installed in the interior of a vehicle and a display unit located on the exterior of the vehicle. The display unit has an input from the remote control unit and an input from a vehicle interface module that has inputs from the vehicle such as the braking system and the turning signal system. The remote control unit is controllable by the driver in the vehicle and has a table of preset and preprogrammed messages selectable by the driver. The driver selects a message to be displayed and sends the message to the display unit. Any input to the vehicle interface module from the vehicle signaling systems overrides the signal input from the remote control unit unless the display unit is mounted on the front of the vehicle. The driver can select a message from a table of messages that are sequentially displayed on the remote control unit. The table of messages is stored on a flash memory in the remote unit and in a flash memory in the display unit. The table of messages in the remote unit is programmable via a USB programming port. The table of messages in the display unit can be programmed via an RF signal sent to the display unit by the remote unit. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed for promoting courtesy among drivers.
Accordingly, the present invention is disclosed in order to overcome the above noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a device that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, and designed for allowing a driver of an existing vehicle to convey a predetermined visual message to another driver of another existing vehicle during driving conditions. The electronic message board provides a unique way to acknowledge the courtesy of another driver by displaying the words "thank you" in the rear window of an automobile. The present invention is simple to use, inexpensive, and designed for many years of repeated use.

Electronic message board for vehicles and associated method


An electronic device includes an enclosure accommodating a plurality of electronic elements therein, a circuit board positioned in the enclosure and spaced from the panel, and a key assembly positioned between the panel and the circuit board. The enclosure includes a panel defining an opening. The circuit board includes a plurality of switches. The key assembly includes a plurality of key bodies protruding out from the opening of the panel and movable relative to the panel, and a supporting frame attached to the panel for supporting and fixing the plurality of key bodies. The switches are positioned under the plurality of key bodies. Movement of a portion each of the plurality of key bodies along a first direction allows movement of another portion of each of the key bodies along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to open or close a corresponding switch.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to a key assembly of an electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDA), mobile phones, set-top boxes, for example, often utilize a plurality of keys to control one or more operations thereof. One such frequently used electronic device includes a plurality of switches positioned on a daughterboard to control the one or more operations of the electronic device, a plurality of keys each aligning with the corresponding switch and including a projection projecting from a central bottom thereof to open or close the corresponding switch, and a motherboard electronically connecting to the daughterboard. However production cost of the electronic device is increased by the daughterboard and the connection between the motherboard and the daughterboard, as well as efforts toward minimizing the electronic device profile being compromised.
Therefore, a need exists in the industry to overcome the described limitations.


A self-actuated cyclical flow interruption valve on a deployment tool is positioned at a proximal end of a well completion assembly. Fluid is pumped though the self-actuated cyclical flow interruption valve and vented immediately distal of the valve, to return to surface of the well. A water hammer pulse is generated each time the self-actuated cyclical flow interruption valve closes, thereby generating an impact force that acts to push the completion equipment distally into the well. The continuous cyclic force of the impact facilitates placement of the completion equipment where desired in the well, including within a horizontal extension of the well. Fluid discharged through the self-actuated cyclical flow interruption valve circulates up to the surface through a vertical and inclined section of the well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to placement of wellbore completions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Downhole drilling operations have seen use of well casings for some time. After a well is drilled, casings are inserted into the borehole to provide structural integrity to the borehole. Casings are often made up of sections of steel pipe that connect end-to-end as they are inserted into the borehole. Many wells that are drilled require a casing, and typically as the depth of the well increases, the diameter of successive sections of the casing decreases. A final completion, which may incorporate a casing section, screens, liners, valves or other components, is often required in the producing formation.
Often a borehole that begins as a vertical well will be extended in a horizontal direction, for example, to reach a petroleum reservoir that is disposed in a region laterally offset relative to the vertical portion of the well. In such wells, there is a need to ensure placement of completion equipment in the horizontal portion, and the horizontal extension can be relatively long.
In addition, various types of downhole vibratory tools have been used for through-tubing well intervention operations, including cleaning and milling operations inside liners after they are placed. It would be desirable to provide a specialized tool that can assist in the placement of completion equipment such as liners, screens, valves, patches, plugs, packers, velocity strings, diverters, flow control devices, monitoring equipment, whipstocks or any other equipment in the horizontal portion of a borehole.

Extended reach placement of wellbore completions


An audio data dubbing system includes a reproduction side device and a recording side device. The reproduction side device reproduces intermittently from a reproduction side disc compressed audio data on the basis of a predetermined reproducing unit, which is first stored in a reproduction side memory and read out continuously therefrom to be provided as compressed audio data for recording. Recording side device first stores in a recording side memory compressed audio data for recording provided from the reproduction side device and reads out the same therefrom intermittently in a predetermined recording unit to be recorded on a recording side disc. The recording side device suspends the reproduction operation of compressed audio data from the reproduction side disc in the reproduction side device when the data amount in the recording side memory is increased to exceed a first reference value. The reproduction side device suspends the recording operation of the compressed audio data for recording to the recording side disc in the recording side device when the data amount in the reproduction side memory is decreased to become lower than a second reference value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to audio data recording/reproduction devices, and more particularly, to an audio data recording/reproduction device that can carry out digital high speed dubbing of audio data using an optical recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium, and an audio data dubbing system using such devices.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, a system is proposed such as the commonly called minidisc system that records compressed audio data intermittently on a disc using the magneto-optical recording principle. In the recording device of such a minidisc system, audio data of approximately 2 seconds of each channel provided from an audio signal source are digitalized and data-compressed to, for example 1/5, to be stored in a memory. When compressed audio data of a predetermined recording unit (1 cluster=36 sectors: here 1 sector is 2332 bytes) are stored in the memory, recording of compressed audio data to the disc is carried out.
In accordance with such a recording method using a memory, recording of compressed audio data to a disc is carried out intermittently with compressed audio data of 1 cluster as the recording unit. Therefore, even if there is a tracking error of the head due to vibration and the, like during recording to result in recording failure of compressed audio data to a disc, the recording operation of the compressed audio data can be carried out again before the start of recording operation of compressed audio data in the next recording unit. Therefore, drop out or termination of recorded data due to recording error can be prevented.
In a device that reproduces compressed audio data from a disc having digital compressed audio data recorded therein using the optical recording principle or the magneto-optical recording principle, a method is proposed in which compressed audio data reproduced intermittently from a disc is first stored in a memory and then sequentially read out therefrom to carry out continuous reproduction of compressed audio data.
According to such a reproduction method using a memory, reproduction of audio data from a disc is carried out intermittently. Therefore, even if reproduction of compressed audio data from a disc fails due to a tracking error of the head by vibration during reproduction or due to a scratch on the surface of the disc, drop out or termination of reproduced data due to reproduction failure can be prevented by sequentially reading out compressed audio data continuously which have already been stored in a memory and by carrying out again the reproduction operation of the compressed audio data before the start of reproduction operation of the next compressed audio data. Such a recording/reproduction device of a minidisc system is disclosed in a copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 964,787 assigned to the same assignee of the present application.
A method of carrying out high speed dubbing of digital audio data using 2 units of disc recording/reproduction devices is proposed. Such a method is disclosed, for example, in a copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 876,365 assigned to the same assignee of the present application. In brief, this method is implemented where audio data recorded on a disc of the reproduction side is read out by a disc reproduction device at the reproduction side using an optical pickup. The read out audio data is subjected to a predetermined decoding process and provided to a disc recording device at the recording side. The provided reproduced audio data is subjected to a predetermined encoding process in the disc recording device at the recording side and then recorded on a disc of the recording side by a head.
In the above-described dubbing method, the digital audio data reproduced from the disc of the reproduction side is provided to the device at the recording side without being stored in a memory. Therefore, if data reproduction fails due to tracking error caused by vibration or due to a scratch on the surface of the disc in the device at the reproduction side, the data not reproduced can no longer be recorded on the disc of the recording side. Furthermore, because the data for recording is recorded on a disc without being first stored in the memory at the recording side, if recording fails due to tracking error at the recording side even when reproduction of data at the reproduction side is possible, the data can no longer be recorded on the disc of the recording side.
Such problems of the conventional proposed dubbing method can be solved as follows when a dubbing system is implemented using the above-described minidisc system. More specifically, even when reproduction of audio data fails in the device at the reproduction side, the reproduction operation can be carried out again as mentioned above, wherein the reproduced audio data obtained by the re-reproduction operation is provided to the device at the recording side to be recorded on a disc thereof. Thus, proper dubbing with no interruption of audio data can be carried out continuously. Furthermore, even when recording of audio data fails at the device of the recording side, the recording operation can be carried out again, so that proper dubbing with no terminated audio data can be carried out continuously.
However, the above-described system using a minidisc generates the following problems when reproduction fails continuously in the device at the reproduction side or when recording fails continuously in the device at the recording side. For example, consider a case where recording of audio data to a disc is prevented continuously by some cause in the device at the recording side while reproduction of audio data is continuously carried out properly in the device at the reproduction side. Because provision of audio data from the device at the reproduction side to the device at the recording side and storage of the audio data to the memory in the device at the recording side are continued, the memory in the device at the recording side will eventually overflow.
Considering a contrary case where reproduction of audio data from a disc is prevented by some unrestorable cause such as scratch of a disc in the device at the reproduction side, the recording operation of data to a disc in the recording side device can never be carried out even though the recording side device retains a standby state of the recording operation, since the amount of supplied audio data for recording in the memory at the recording side never attain the predetermined recording unit.
Thus, a conventional dubbing system using a disc recording/reproduction device had the problem that proper dubbing could not be carried out since audio data to be recorded to the disc of the recording side is dropped or the recording operation never start when a reproduction disable state at the reproduction side or a recording disable state at the recording side continues.

Audio data recording/reproduction device having digital high speed dubbing function and audio data dubbing system using such devices


A planar type ferrite core having a rectangular shaped flat part, a pair of outside legs projecting out from two ends of the flat part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the flat part, and a center leg positioned between the pair of outside legs and projecting out from the flat part in the same direction as the outside legs, wherein the two ends of the center leg are formed with arc surfaces of a predetermined radius of curvature, and a length of the center leg in the longitudinal direction is at least 90% of a width of the flat part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a planar type ferrite core to be attached to a coil pattern forming circuit board etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Circuit boards are sometimes provided with so-called E-shaped planar type ferrite cores at parts of the circuit boards formed with coil patterns in order to mount transformers, inductors, and other coil devices (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2003-151838).
An E-shaped planar type ferrite core generally has a rectangular flat part, a pair of outside legs projecting out from the two ends of the flat part in a-direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flat part, and a center leg positioned between the pair of outside legs and projecting out from the flat part in the same direction as the outside legs.
In such an E-shaped planar type ferrite core, in the past, the two ends of the center leg in the longitudinal direction were often made right angle surfaces. A coil pattern formed on the circuit board is formed by a pattern designed to surround the center leg. Therefore, if the two ends of the center leg are right angle surfaces, the coil pattern formed on the board would be wound around the right angle surfaces with great clearance and dead space would result.
In the days when reduction of the size of electronic devices including circuit boards was not demanded that much, these coil patterns did not pose any problem, but as power supplies have been reduced in size, they have come to be considered a problem. That is, there is fierce competition going on to improve the output current densities of power supplies even incrementally. Securing space for mounting electronic devices has become an element in development.
Further, in thin type power supplies used for planar type ferrite cores, reduction of the Joule's heat has become an important element in development in the same way in terms of improvement of the power efficiency.


An object detection apparatus includes a storage section storing a plurality of selection patterns as combinations of one of a plurality of recognition dictionaries and one of a plurality of image recognition algorithms, a specifying means for specifying at least one of a distance from a position at which an input image is taken and a target corresponding to the detection object within the input image and a state of light of the input image, a selection means for selecting one from the plurality of the selection patterns based on at least one of the distance and the state of the light specified by the specifying means, and a detection means for detecting the detection object within the input image by performing an image recognition process using the image recognition dictionary and the image recognition algorithm included in the selection pattern selected by the selection means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object detection apparatus for detecting an object from an input image using an image recognition dictionary.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known to perform image recognition based on an image recognition algorithm on an input image obtained by a camera or the like mounted on an own vehicle using an image recognition dictionary describing reference data regarding detection objects for the purpose of detecting an object such as a human or a vehicle present in front or back of the own vehicle. For example, Japanese Patent application Laid-open No. 2010-79716 describes a technique in which an image obtained by an imaging device is collated with template data (recognition dictionary) for detection of a pedestrian.
The recognition dictionary used for detecting a detection object is prepared in advance so as to suit assumed environment conditions. Accordingly, if the actual environmental conditions at the time when the imaging device obtains an image are far apart from the assumed environmental conditions, the robustness of the image recognition performed using the recognition dictionary is degraded, and the detection performance is lowered.
Environment conditions which may affect the detection performance include the distance between the imaging position and a detection object, the brightness, contrast and color of an input image which depend on the solar radiation, weather and time of day. Hence, when the environment conditions vary greatly with time, the performance of object detection performed using the same recognition dictionary may be unstable.


An extendible-retractable device, which is made up of a number of interconnected members and to which a suitable tool may be attached. The device makes it possible to continually change the position of the tool as a task is being performed. The device includes members which are attached to each other through flexible cables so that relatively small movements of a handle or similar device in the hand of the user results is relatively large extension or retraction movements of the farthest member which carries the tool.

The present invention relates to a device which is useful for efficiently extending and retracting a wide variety of tools and, more particularly, to a device made up of a plurality of interacting members which can be easily extended and retracted so as to place in the desired location a tool or other instrumentality attached to the device.
It is often desirable to be able to place and cause to operate a tool or other instrumentality (hereinafter "tool") at a location which is more distant than can be comfortably be reached by extending one's arm with the tool therein. For example, when one wishes to change an incandescent light bulb located in a ceiling which is ten feet tall, it is necessary to grab and rotate the light bulb. To this end one might climb on a ladder and use one's hand to replace the bulb. Alternatively, one could obviate the need to use a ladder by using a sufficiently long pole which had a tool at its end which was capable of grabbing and rotating the bulb. In this case, the operator would remain standing safely on the ground while replacing the light bulb and would carry out the operation through the use of the long pole.
While a pole as described is useful in certain application, it is not free from shortcomings. Primarily, it is known that, unlike the case of replacing a light bulb described above, in many operations the location at which the operation is to take place is not at a fixed distance from the user but varies either discretely or continually during the operation.
For example, if one wished to paint the ten-foot tall walls and the ceiling of a room with a paint roller, means must be at hand for locating the roller at every point on the walls and ceiling. Furthermore, the location of the roller varies instantaneously during each painting stroke, regardless of the position of the painter. One option is to use a hand-held roller and make use of a ladder or scaffolding to reach the top portions of the walls and the ceiling. Another alternative is to mount the roller on a sufficiently long pole which will allow the top portions of the walls and the ceiling to be reached with the painter remaining standing on the floor without requiring the use of a ladder.
One disadvantage of this technique is that the length of a stroke is limited by the distance through which the painter's arms can move, i.e., if the painter is able to translate the pole a distance of three feet, the paint stroke on the wall will be limited to three feet.
A further disadvantage of this technique is that the pole is of fixed length and may therefore be of limited use in other applications. Thus, a five foot pole which may be useful in painting a room having ten-foot high walls and ceiling, may be largely inadequate in painting a room having fifteen-foot high walls and ceiling.
To partially overcome the latter disadvantage and to thereby increase its versatility, it is possible to form the pole from a number of detachable modules. In this way modules could be added or removed before each use so as to produce a pole with overall length which is adequate for the intended task. While the modularization of the pole overcomes certain difficulties, it remains a tedious chore to add or remove modules before each task. More importantly, once a pole of proper length has been assembled, it continues to suffer from the disadvantage described above relating to the limitation on the length of the stroke.
A possible solution is to form a pole made up of a number of interconnected members which are able to move relative to one another and thereby alternately lengthen and shorten the pole. Such a pole may use hydraulic or pneumatic means, not unlike those used in a variety of winches, for example, the system used to position a basket carrying an electrical repairman sufficiently near a transformer as to allow the repairman to work on the transformer. However, such systems are heavy and mechanically complicated and are thus not suitable for a simple hand-held pole for use in properly locating a relatively light tool.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, an extendible-retractable device which can be actively and positively extended and retracted, as desired by the user, with the device oriented at any angle, to which a tool could be attached and which could be easily used to rapidly vary the length of the pole during the performance of a particular task.

Device capable of positive extension and retraction using a casading force transfer

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An air bag module including a canister and a cover coupled to said canister. One of the cover and canister has a projection and the other of the cover and canister has an opening. The projection is disposed in the opening and engages the other of the cover and canister to restrict movement of the cover relative to the canister and create a frictional force acting to resist movement of the cover relative to the canister.

The present invention is directed to an air bag module for a vehicle and, more particularly, to an air bag module having a cover coupled to a canister by a connection assembly that permits movement of the cover relative to the canister during assembly, to facilitate achievement of a proper fit and finish relative to the vehicle's instrument panel.
The fit and finish of visible interior components of a vehicle (i.e., class A surfaces) are of critical importance to vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, and purchasers. One area where the fit and finish is particularly important is the vehicle's instrument panel and the components that are coupled thereto. Suppliers in the automotive industry have developed a variety of approaches to improve the fit and finish of these components. Despite these efforts, a need remains for improved component configurations and assembly methods.
An area of particular interest is the fit and finish of air bag modules with other class A surfaces. In order to achieve widespread acceptance in the automotive industry, the configuration of the air bag module should address a number of competing interests. For example, the module should securely attach to its supporting structure, permit unimpeded operation of the restraint system, present an attractive appearance to the vehicle operator, simplify the assembly process, and be capable of production in a cost effective manner. Despite numerous attempts to satisfy these demands, a need exists for an improved air bag module.


The present invention relates to novel pyridone derivatives capable of inhibiting α4 integrin mediated cell adhesion, processes for their preparation, compositions comprising them and their use in the treatment of diseases capable of being modulated by the inhibition of cell adhesion.

The multiple adhesive interactions between leukocytes and endothelial cells or extracellular matrix proteins are a key factor in the regulation of immunity and inflammation. The earliest events in the migration of leukocytes out of the vasculature at site of inflammation include leukocyte rolling followed by changes in integrin avidity, which lead to subsequent firm adhesion (for reviews see Butcher, Cell 67:1033-1036 (1991); Harlan, Blood 3:513-525 (1985); Hemler, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 8:365-400 (1990); Osborn, Cell 62:3-6 (1990); Shimizu et al., Immunol. Rev. 114:109-143 (1990); Springer, Nature 346:425-434 (1990); and Springer, Cell 76:301-314 (1994)). In response to chemotactic factors, the leukocytes migrate through two adjacent endothelial cells and into tissues that are composed, in part, of the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin (FN) (see Wayner et al., J. Cell Biol. 105:1873-1884 (1987)) and collagen (CN) (see Bornstein et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem. 49:957-1003 (1980); and Miller, Chemistry of the collagens and their distribution, in "Extracellular Matrix Biochemistry", K. A. Piez and A. H. Reddi, editors, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 41-78 (1983)). Important recognition molecules that participate in these adhesive reactions belong to the integrin gene superfamily (for reviews see Hemler, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 8:365-400 (1990); Hynes, Cell 48:549-554 (1987); Shimizu et al., Immunol. Rev. 114:109-143 (1990); and Springer, Nature 346:425-434 (1990)).
Integrins are heterodimers composed of non-covalently associated subunits, referred to as the alpha (α) and beta (β) subunits. To date, 8 integrin β subunits have been identified which can associate with 16 distinct α subunits to form 23 distinct integrins.
The α4β1 integrin, also known as VLA-4 (Very Late Antigen-4), is constitutively expressed on the surface of leukocytes including lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils (see Hemler et al., J. Bio. Chem. 262:11478-11485 (1987); and Bochner et al., J. Exp. Med. 173:1553-1556 (1991)). VLA-4 is reported to be present on neutrophils from septic patients (see Ibbotson et al., Nature Med. 7:465-470 (2001)). VLA-4 binds to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on activated endothelial cells, resulting in extravasation of leukocytes (Elices et al., Cell 60:577-584 (1990)). Once the cells have reached the extravascular space, VLA-4 can bind to the connecting segment 1 (CS-1), an alternatively spliced region of the FN A chain (Wayne et al., J. Cell Biol. 109:1321-1330 (1989)). In addition, VLA-4 is known to bind to osteopontin, a protein upregulated in arteriosclerotic plaques (see Bayless et al., J. Cell Science 111:1165-1174 (1998)).