A liquid crystal display system is provided where a light irradiated onto each pixel provided at a liquid crystal display panel can be divided for each frame interval to selectively transmit and absorb the divided light. A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a timing controller that controls switching of a light transmission area and a light absorption area of the plurality of pixels for each frame interval. A liquid crystal shutter selectively absorbs and transmits a light irradiated onto each pixel for each frame interval. Electrode lines provided in a horizontal direction are symmetrically arranged at a front side of the liquid crystal display panel. The electrode lines makes a pair to be positioned at the front side of each pixel in the horizontal direction. A shutter driver alternately supplies a current to the pair of electrode lines positioned at the front side of each pixel in response to a control of the timing controller.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof where a light irradiated onto each pixel provided at a liquid crystal display panel can be divided for each frame interval to thereby selectively transmit and absorb the divided light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a liquid crystal display (LCD) controls light transmittance of liquid crystal cells in accordance with video signals to there by display a picture. An active matrix type of liquid crystal display device having a switching device provided for each liquid crystal cell is advantageous for an implementation of moving picture because it permits an active control of the switching device. The switching device used for the active matrix liquid crystal display device mainly employs a thin film transistor (TFT) as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the active matrix LCD converts a digital input data into an analog data voltage based on a gamma reference voltage to supply the analog data voltage to a data line DL and, at the same time, supplies a scanning pulse to a gate line GL to thereby charge a liquid crystal cell Clc.
A gate electrode of the TFT is connected to the gate line GL while a source electrode thereof is connected to the data line DL. Further, a drain electrode of the TFT is connected to a pixel electrode of the liquid crystal cell Clc and to one electrode of a storage capacitor Cst.
A common electrode of the liquid crystal cell Clc is supplied with a common voltage Vcom.
The storage capacitor Cst charges a data voltage fed from the data line DL when the TFT is turned on, thereby constantly keeping a voltage at the liquid crystal cell Clc.
If the scanning pulse is applied to the gate line GL, then the TFT is turned on to provide a channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode thereof, thereby supplying a voltage on the data line DL to the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal cell Clc. Liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal cell have an alignment changed by an electric field between the pixel electrode and the common electrode to thereby modulate an incident light.
A configuration of the related art LCD including pixels having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a general liquid crystal display device. Referring to FIG. 2, a general liquid crystal display device 100 includes a liquid crystal display panel 110 provided with a thin film transistor (TFT) for driving the liquid crystal cell Clc at an intersection of data lines DL1 to DLm and gate lines GL1 to GLn crossing each other, a data driver 120 for supplying a data to the data lines DL1 to DLm of the liquid crystal display panel 110, a gate driver 130 for supplying a scanning pulse to the gate lines GL1 to GLn of the liquid crystal display panel 110, a gamma reference voltage generator 140 for generating a gamma reference voltage to supply it to the data driver 120, a backlight assembly 150 for irradiating a light onto the liquid crystal display panel 110, an inverter 160 for applying an alternating current voltage and a current to the back light assembly 160, a common voltage generator 170 for generating a common voltage Vcom to supply them to the common electrode of the liquid crystal cell Clc of the liquid crystal display panel 110, a gate driving voltage generator 180 for generating a gate high voltage VGH and a gate low voltage VGL to supply them to the gate driver 130, and a timing controller 190 for controlling the data driver 120 and the gate driver 130.
The liquid crystal display panel 110 has a liquid crystal injected between two glass substrates. On the lower glass substrate of the liquid crystal display panel 110, the data lines DL1 to DLm and the gate lines GL1 to GLn perpendicularly cross each other. Each intersection between the data lines DL1 to DLm and the gate lines GL1 to GLn is provided with the TFT. The TFT supplies a data on the data lines DL1 to DLm to the liquid crystal cell Clc in response to the scanning pulse. The gate electrode of the TFT is connected to the gate lines GL1 to GLn while the source electrode thereof is connected to the data line DL1 to DLm. Further, the drain electrode of the TFT is connected to the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal cell Clc and to the storage capacitor Cst.
The TFT is turned on in response to the scanning pulse applied, via the gate lines GL1 to GLn, to the gate terminal thereof. Upon turning-on of the TFT, a video data on the data lines DL1 to DLm is supplied to the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal cell Clc.
The data driver 120 supplies a data to the data lines DL1 to DLm in response to a data driving control signal DDC from the timing controller 190. Further, the data driver 120 samples and latches a digital video data RGB fed from the timing controller 190, and then converts it into an analog data voltage capable of expressing a gray scale level at the liquid crystal cell Clc of the liquid crystal display panel 110 on a basis of a gamma reference voltage from the gamma reference voltage generator 140, thereby supplying it the data lines DL1 to DLm.
The gate driver 130 sequentially generates a scanning pulse, that is, a gate pulse in response to a gate driving control signal GDC and a gate shift clock GSC from the timing controller 190 to supply them to the gate lines GL1 to GLn. At this time, the gate driver 130 determines a high level voltage and a low level voltage of the scanning pulse in accordance with the gate high voltage VGH and the gate low voltage VGL from the gate driving voltage generator 180.
The gamma reference voltage generator 140 receives a power voltage Vcc of 0V to 3.3V supplied from a system mounted with the liquid crystal display device 100, for example, a controller (not shown) of an image display equipment such as a television receiver to thereby generate a positive gamma reference voltage and a negative gamma reference voltage, and outputs them to the data driver 120.
The backlight assembly 150 is provided at the rear side of the liquid crystal display panel 110, and is radiated by an alternating current voltage and a current supplied to the inverter 160 to irradiate a light onto each pixel of the liquid crystal display panel 110.
The inverter 160 converts a rectangular wave signal generated at the interior thereof into a triangular wave signal and then compares the triangular wave signal with a direct current power voltage Vcc supplied from said system, thereby generating a burst dimming signal proportional to a result of the comparison. If the burst dimming signal determined in accordance with the rectangular wave signal at the interior of the inverter 160, then a driving integrated circuit (IC) for controlling a generation of the AC voltage and current within the inverter 160 controls a generation of AC voltage and current supplied to the backlight assembly 150 in response to the burst dimming signal.
The common voltage generator 170 receives a high-level power voltage VDD to generate a common voltage Vcom, and supplies it to the common electrode of the liquid crystal cell Clc provided at each pixel of the liquid crystal display panel 110.
The gate driving voltage generator 180 is supplied with a high-level power voltage VDD to generate the gate high voltage VGH and the gate low voltage VGL, and supplies them to the data driver 130. Herein, the gate driving voltage generator 180 generates a gate high voltage VGH more than a threshold voltage of the TFT provided at each pixel of the liquid crystal display panel 110 and a gate low voltage VGL less then the threshold voltage of the TFT. The gate high voltage VGH and the gate low voltage VGL generated in this manner are used for determining a high level voltage and a low level voltage of the scanning pulse generated by the gate driver 130, respectively.
The timing controller 190 supplies a digital video data RGB from a digital video card (not shown) to the data driver 120 and, at the same time, generates a data driving control signal DCC and a gate driving control signal GDC using horizontal/vertical synchronizing signals H and V in response to a clock signal CLK to supply them to the data driver 120 and the gate driver 130, respectively. Herein, the data driving control signal DDC includes a source shift clock SSC, a source start pulse SSP, a polarity control signal POL and a source output enable signal SOE, etc. The gate driving control signal GDC includes a gate start pulse GSP and a gate output enable signal GOE, etc.
A structure of a color filter provided at the related art liquid crystal display device having the above-mentioned configuration and function will be described with reference to FIG. 3 below.
FIG. 3 depicts a structure of a color filter in the related art liquid crystal display device. Herein, FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of RGB color filters of each pixel provided at the liquid crystal display panel 110.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of pixels provided at the liquid crystal display panel 110 has one RGB color filter, respectively. The pixel consists of three sub-pixels. The three sub-pixels are provided with a R color filter, a G color filter and a B color filter, respectively, and are provided a thin film transistor TFT corresponding to each color filter.
In the case of the related art liquid crystal display device as described above, a number of pixels are provided on the liquid crystal display panel by intersections between the gate lines and the data lines. Also, the number of gate lines and thin film transistors provided at the liquid crystal display panel 110 has been increased in proportion to the number of pixels. Therefore, in the related art liquid crystal display device, an aperture ratio is reduced in proportion to the number of gate lines and thin film transistors provided at the liquid crystal display panel 110, and hence brightness also is reduced.

Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof


The present invention relates to a swing trainer apparatus for the teaching of a sport player the power xe2x80x9cfollow-throughxe2x80x9d of a swing to hit a ball or puck. The swing trainer apparatus comprises a supportable frame and a plurality of webs supported from the frame. The webs defining a swing zone through which the training player must fully empower and continue his/her swing, to order to practice and improve that swing. The webs are made of an elongated flexible material and hang downwardly from the frame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for improving the swing of a player utilizing a sports bat, club or racquet.
2. Prior Art
Being successful in any sport requires concentration, muscle development and xe2x80x9cfollow-throughxe2x80x9d, particularly in those sports utilizing a bat, club, or a racquet. xe2x80x9cFollow-throughxe2x80x9d may be defined as completing the swing of that bat, club or racquet through an arc from an initial start position, then around and into the strike zone, and thereafter maintaining that swing until the player""s arm has been fully extended. The necessity for such follow-through is often a requirement for directing the ball or puck in the direction in which the player has intended and for providing the power to drive the ball or puck with maximum force. Such follow-through, though, is a difficult lesson to learn and to remember. Muscle memory would ensure that such follow through would take place if the player could in fact develop such a muscle memory capability.
The sports of baseball, golf, tennis, and hockey all require an arcuate and full swing of a bat, club, or racquet. Other body motion other than movement of the arm is also required. It is thus significant to instill in the player, a muscle memory so that such follow through becomes automatic.
There exists no arrangement or apparatus to instill upon the player, the reminder that the follow-through be undertaken each time, except for a coach or personal trainer who must otherwise be present during practice or playing and remind that player each time a swing is undertaken.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will provide a sport player with the follow-through skills necessary which are not taught by the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sport skill training device which does not require assistance to operate.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a training apparatus which is adaptable to a number of sports so that its use may be appreciated by a number of different players.
It is a still yet further object of the present invention to provide a sport training apparatus which is stepwise adaptable to the improving skill level of the particular player or user of that apparatus.
The present invention comprises a moveably supported swing trainer apparatus for instructing a player of baseball, tennis, hockey, or golf in lessons of following through with the swing of their bat, racket, club, or stick. The swing trainer apparatus in its most general form, comprises a rectilinearly shaped frame arrangement defining a periphery of the swing trainer apparatus. A plurality of removable support rods are arranged across the frame in a parallel and spaced apart manner, so as to be supported therein in generally horizontally. The removable support rods each have an end portion which is matable with an opening spaced apart from one another around the frame.
A plurality of elongated web-like members, each of which may be comprised of for example, plastic straps, leather strips, heavy canvas, rope or the like, are attached at an upper end thereof, to the support rods. The elongated webs are preferably about two to three feet in length, and an inch to two inches wide. The elongated webs may also be draped over the removable sport rods in an inverted xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d shape orientation.
The plurality of support rods are disposed in the frame structure in a parallel and spaced-apart manner. Those elongated webs are disposed on each support rod preferably spaced slightly apart from one another as they extend across portions of the frame. Each support rod is spaced apart from its adjacent support rod and may have different types of web supported therefrom going from one support rod to an adjacent support rod.
In facing the swing trainer apparatus, the down-hanging webs provide a generally rectangular area defining a xe2x80x9csweet spotxe2x80x9d, into which the bat, racquet, stick, or club is to be swung. In an initial use of the swing trainer apparatus by a beginner level player, it is contemplated that only one or two parallel support rods would be carrying or supporting any down-hanging or elongated webs. The sport player, in use of the swing trainer apparatus, swings thereat and follows through with the swing to make sure that by the swing, he/she makes sure that each successive adjacent row of downwardly supported webs are all passed through or brushed by the club, bat, racquet, or stick with a strong and equal force. The webs hanging down from the swing trainer apparatus will make a sound as they are struck, and they will move and swing in response to being struck, thus providing both a visual and an audible indicator to the player that all successive webs have been hit. Swing practice in this manner provides the xe2x80x9cmuscle memoryxe2x80x9d to the player. As the player advances in his or her skills, additional successive rows of downwardly hanging elongated webs may be supported on adjacent support rods extending across the frame. When those webs are struck by the swing of the player, they provide a resistance through an arcuate path of the player""s swing of the club, racquet, bat, or stick. Thus the enhancement to the musculature of the player and the muscle memory to affect a full swing and follow through in an automatic fashion.
In a general embodiment of the present invention, the front panel of the down-hanging webs have a sweet spot or mid-portion which is in line with the likely preferred swing of the club, bat, racquet, or stick. It is to be noted that such a swing trainer apparatus may be supported from a ceiling, tree, rafter, pole, or the like in a stationary manner and in a limited space.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the swing trainer apparatus may be supported by its support lines from an overhead support apparatus. The overhead support apparatus may in one instance comprise for example, an elongated swivel arm having a distalmost end from which the swing trainer apparatus may be suspended. An attachment cable may extend from a ring at the high end of the support line and be connected to the distal end of the swivel arm. The swivel arm may be arranged on a support column which is swingable about an arc back and forth so as to swing toward and/or away from the player, and may be moveable in an upwardly or a downwardly direction by a vertical actuator mechanism arranged between the support column and the swivel arm. Such a motion may be controlled by a random drive computer within the drive unit. The distal end of the swivel arm may be telescopable so as to permit the swing trainer apparatus to be moved from side to side of the player as well as away and toward that player while the player is attempting to swing the bat, racquet, club, or stick. Depending upon the height of the swing trainer apparatus on the ground to an upper level at shoulder height would thus permit a player to play hockey, tennis, baseball, or golf swing training.
Thus, what has been shown is a unique swing trainer apparatus, which permits the individual sport player to train by himself or herself to develop muscular control and follow through in the arcuate swing of a racquet, bat, club, or stick necessary to properly play many sports. The swing trainer apparatus is adaptable to beginning level players as well as seasoned veterans, by adding or removing parallel rows of downwardly supported web members of elongated flexible material from the support rods extending across the frame. Articulation of the swing trainer apparatus by an overhead support mechanism permits a random motion to the swing trainer apparatus, thus additionally training the player in foot movement and concentration in addition to the swing follow through.
The invention thus comprises a swing trainer apparatus for the teaching of a sport player the follow-through of a swing to hit a ball or puck. The swing trainer apparatus comprises a supportable frame and a plurality of webs supported from said frame, the webs defining a swing zone through which the player must fully and forcefully swing to practice and improve that swing. The webs are comprised of an elongated flexible material. The frame includes a plurality of support rods extending thereacross and wherein the webs of material are distributed thereon in a spaced-apart manner. The support rods are arranged across the frame in a parallel and spaced-apart manner. The support rods may be removably replacable in the frame. The webs may be selected from the group comprised of: strips of plastic, strips of woven material, rope and leather or the like. An arrangement of overhead support lines are attached to the frame for supporting the swing trainer apparatus from a ceiling or an overhead support. The overhead support may be movable to provide a moving target into which a player may swing. The overhead support may comprise an articulable arm which is swingable about an arc, up and down and left and right to provide the swing trainer apparatus as a movable sweet-spot target.
The invention also comprises a method of improving the swing and follow-through of a player using a bat, racquet, club or stick against a ball or puck. The method may comprise the steps of arranging a three-dimensional array of web members supported by a frame, which web members provide a sweet spot target, and swinging at the sweet spot of the web members by a holder of the bat, racquet, club or stick, to teach the holder to swing and follow all the way through the array of web members. The method may include the steps of: adding a row of web members to the array of web members supported by the frame, removing a row of web members from the array of web members supported by the frame, changing the physical characteristics of adjacent web members supported on the frame to impart different resistance to a swing through the web members, moving the frame supporting the web members so as to provide a moving sweet spot target to the holder of the club, bat, racquet or stick. The frame may be supported on an articulable arm member arranged to be swingable so as to provide movement to the webs.


Apparatus and methods for providing Rendezvous point Interpiconet Scheduling (RIPS) in an ad hoc polling based communication infrastructure such as a Bluetooth system in which a PMP node (Participant in Multiple Piconet nodes) belongs to more than one piconet. The rendezvous (RV) points of a PMP node is defined based on information specific to the node, rather than being associated with the links between slave and master nodes. By defining RV points per PMP node rather than per link, the master node of a piconet in the RIPS system is aware of the RV points that its slave PMP nodes have in other piconets. This advantageously allows a master node in the RIPS system to know when its slave nodes will be present in the piconet and when they will not be present.

A polling based communication infrastructure may be used for the wireless communication of data and voice between devices. One method of achieving this is through the use of Bluetooth, an open specification for wireless communication. Bluetooth is a wireless personal area network (PAN) technology for short-range transmission of digital voice and data between mobile devices (e.g., laptops, PDAs, phones) and desktop devices. Bluetooth supports point-to-point and multipoint applications and is described in further detail in the Bluetooth Baseband Specification 1.1 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which in expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. Of a historical note, the name "Bluetooth" is derived from the 10th century King of Denmark, Harald Bl{dot over (a)}tand, alias Bluetooth, who introduced Christianity to Denmark.
The emergence of Bluetooth as a default radio interface in various types of devices provides an opportunity to turn them from stand-alone tools into networked equipment. Bluetooth offers a number of advantages over conventional wireless technologies. For example, unlike conventional infrared data transmission techniques which require line-of-sight between devices, Bluetooth uses omnidirectional radio waves that can transmit through walls and other nonmetal barriers. To counteract interference from outside sources or from other devices, Bluetooth units downgrade the transmission rate instead of halting transmissions altogether. However, there are also a number of new challenges associated with the Bluetooth technology, partly stemming from the fact that Bluetooth was originally developed for single hop wireless connections.
Bluetooth systems, in accordance with the Bluetooth Baseband Specification 1.1, use short range radio technology operating in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz Industrial-Scientific-Medical (ISM) band using a frequency hopping scheme. The hopping is performed on 79 RF channels spaced 1 MHz apart using a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique that changes its signal 1600 times per second. Bluetooth provides considerable data transfer capability at short ranges; e.g., up to 720 Kbps within 10 meters and up to 100 meters with a power boost. The Bluetooth system provides full-duplex transmission based on slotted Time Division Duplex (TDD) scheme, where each slot is 0.625 ms long.
FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary Bluetooth piconet. Bluetooth (BT) units are organized into "piconets" which are collections of devices connected in an ad hoc fashion. Bluetooth piconets are "ad hoc" in that Bluetooth units are free to enter and leave, that is, the piconets are not fixed networks. A piconet is initially formed with two connected devices, herein referred to as "nodes". One Bluetooth device in each piconet acts as the master, and can have any number of slaves, out of which up to seven can be active simultaneously. The piconet in the figure has one master node, BT 11, and one slave node, BT 12. A "master" is the device in a piconet whose clock and hopping sequence are used to sequence other devices in piconet. A "slave" is any other device in the piconet. The terms "master" and "slave" are defined as logical states, in that a particular Bluetooth device can be a master or a slave. In fact, a Bluetooth unit can simultaneously be a master in one piconet and a slave in one or more other piconets.
FIG. 2 illustrates a piconet with a master node 21 and a plurality of slave nodes 22–28 arranged in a star network topology. In a Bluetooth system, a slave node can only communicate directly with its master node. If slave node 22 wishes to communicate with slave node 26, slave node 22 would have to transmit the information it wished to communicate to master node 21. Master node 21 would then transmits the information to slave node 26. In addition to being classified as a master node and slave node, a node may be classified as an idle node. An idle node is a node which is not currently participating in a piconet.
The communication within a piconet is organized by the master which polls each slave according to some polling scheme. Master-to-slave transmissions always start in an even-numbered time slot, while slave-to-master transmissions always start in an odd-numbered time slot. A "frame" includes a pair of corresponding master-to-slave and slave-to-master slots. A master has frames which are in common with those of its slaves since a master's clock and hopping sequence are used to sequence its slaves. A slave is only allowed to transmit in the current slave-to-master slot if it has been polled by the master in the previous master-to-slave slot. The master may or may not include data in the packet used to poll a slave. Bluetooth packets can be one, three or five slots long and they can carry synchronous data (e.g., real-time traffic such as voice data) on Synchronous Connection Oriented (SCO) links. Bluetooth packets can also be used to communicate asynchronous data (e.g., elastic data traffic which tend to be less sensitive to delays) on Asynchronous Connectionless (ACL) links.
FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary scatternet comprising piconet 1, piconet 2 and piconet 3. A scatternet is formed by multiple independent and unsynchronized piconets. A Bluetooth unit can participate in (e.g., belong to, or be a member of) more than one piconet at any time, but it can be a master in only one piconet. A Bluetooth unit can be a master of one piconet and also be a slave of one or more other piconets. A unit that simultaneously belongs, or may belong, to more than one piconet is a Participant in Multiple Piconets (PMP) node. Since Bluetooth units can transmit or receive in only one piconet at a single point in time, PMPs switch between piconets on a time division basis. That is, a PMP switches back and forth between piconets to communicate in one or the other, hence abiding by the premise that a Bluetooth unit can transmit or receive in only one piconet at a single point in time. A set of independent, non-synchronized piconets that are interconnected is referred to as a "scatternet" network. Since different piconets are not synchronized in time, a PMP tends to lose some time when switching from one piconet to another. Furthermore, the temporal unavailability of PMP nodes must be taken into account when coordinating the communication with them. The inefficiencies of switching between piconets present a significant constraint in building scatternets.
The piconet 1 of FIG. 3 includes a master node 33, and the slave nodes 31, 32 and 34. The piconet 2 includes the master node 35, and the slave nodes 34, 36, 37 and 38. The piconet 3 includes the master node 39, and the slave nodes 38, 40 and 41. PMP nodes 34 and 38 are used to implement the scatternet shown in the figure. If, for example, node 31 wishes to communicate with node 40, then nodes 34 and 38 might act as bridging nodes by forwarding packets between the two piconets and in particular between nodes 31 and 40. Node 31 transfers the information to node 33, the master node of piconet 1. Master node 33 transmits the information to forwarding node 34. Forwarding node 34 then forwards the information to master node 35, which in turn, transmits the information to forwarding node 38. Forwarding node 38 forwards the information to master node 39 which transmits the information to the destination node 40.
Each Bluetooth unit has a globally unique 48 bit IEEE 802 address. This address, called the Bluetooth Device Address (e.g., BD_ADDR) is initially assigned at the time the Bluetooth unit is manufactured. In addition, the Master of a piconet assigns a local active member address (e.g, AM_ADDR) to each active member of the piconet. The AM_ADDR, which is only three bits long, is dynamically assigned and deassigned and is unique only within a single piconet. The master uses the AM_ADDR when polling a slave in a piconet. However, when the slave, triggered by a packet from the master addressed with the slave's AM_ADDR, transmits a packet to the master, it includes its own AM_ADDR (not the masters) in the packet header.
Even though all data is transmitted in packets, the packets can carry both synchronous data, on Synchronous Connection Oriented (SCO) links which is mainly intended for voice traffic, and asynchronous data, on asynchronous connectionless links (ACL) links. Depending on the type of packet that is used, an acknowledgment and retransmission scheme is used (not for SCO packets transferring synchronous data) to ensure reliable data transfer, as well as forward error correction (FEC) in the form of channel coding.
A Bluetooth unit participating in multiple piconets does so on a time division basis. Hence, its presence in the different piconets must be controlled by some scheduling mechanism. Such scheduling is denoted interpiconet scheduling as opposed to intrapiconet scheduling which is a mechanism controlling the master's polling of its slaves.
Interpiconet scheduling is perceived as one of the greatest obstacles on Bluetooth's path to success. Due to the need to synchronize its radio from one piconet to another, a Bluetooth unit necessarily loses some time while switching, which represents an important performance constraint in scheduling the scatternet. Furthermore, the temporal unavailability of PMP nodes must be taken into account when coordinating the communication with them. The inefficiencies of interpiconet communication present a significant constraint in building scatternets.
There are two effects that can significantly reduce the efficiency of the polling based communication in Bluetooth scatternets. First, nodes that have no data to transmit may be unnecessarily polled, while other nodes with data to transmit may have to wait to be polled. Second, at the time of an expected poll one of the nodes of a communicating node pair may not be present in the piconet. For example, the slave that is being polled may not be listening, or the slave expecting to be polled is not polled by its master. Both situations give rise to inefficiencies in carrying out communications.
One primary problem in interpiconet communication arises in trying to effectively coordinate the presence of PMP nodes in different piconets such that the occurrence of timing conflicts is minimized. A conflict occurs if a PMP node is assumed to be active by one or more of those piconets it participates in, but the PMP node is out of the piconets or otherwise unavailable. It can be equivalently disadvantageous if the PMP node is active in one of the piconets that assumes the PMP node to be inactive at that time. These are not the only issues leading to inefficiencies in an interpiconet scheduler. For example, the pre-scheduling and the intrapiconet communication should also be considered.
The timing of reaction time is a common idealization which does not always reflect real-world conditions. For instance, designs of Bluetooth scheduling algorithms often assume that the scheduler reacts in frame f(n+1) to occurrences in frame f(n). However, due to the non-ideal nature of electronic hardware, it is often not possible to react that fast. In effect, what happens in frame f(n) will generally not affect the schedule until k frames later, i.e., frame f(n+k), where k>>1. Such delay can, for example, be introduced by batched scheduling. Batched scheduling means that instead of scheduling frames one by one in a continuous flow, a schedule is computed for a number of frames; e.g., a batch of frames is scheduled all at once. While one batch is being executed the next batch is computed. Since the frames are batched for execution rather than continuously scheduling them, a delay is introduced which leads to inefficiencies in the system.
The fundamental building block in Bluetooth is the piconet. One system for intrapiconet scheduling is the Fair Exhaustive Polling system (FEP). Such schedulers divide the capacity within the piconet according to the dynamic bandwidth demands of the traffic. However, interpiconet scheduling is still needed to enable devices to simultaneously participate in multiple piconets. In fact, even for devices with interpiconet scheduling capabilities most traffic tends to be contained within one piconet. That is, large portions of their time will be as members of one piconet. The importance of efficient intrapiconet scheduling will not decrease when interpiconet scheduling is introduced, and therefore an interpiconet scheduler must not deteriorate the intrapiconet scheduler.

Rendezvous point interpiconet scheduling


The GNSS-RTK-based positioning method includes the following steps: Step 1, performing data quality control according to analyzed raw satellite-ground observation values; Step 2, performing SPP positioning by using a pseudorange observation value, and performing RTD positioning according to an RTD pseudorange residual of a previous epoch and a pseudorange residual of a current epoch obtained through SPP positioning calculation; Step 3, calculating a float solution by means of the least squares method and Kalman filtering of additional ambiguity parameters in which the RTD positioning result is used as an initial value; and Step 4, converting the float ambiguity solution into a fixed solution by using an optimized partial ambiguity fixing strategy.

GNSS (Global Satellite Navigation System), also referred to as Global Navigation Satellite System, is a space-based radio navigation positioning system which can provide users with three-dimensional coordinates, speed, and time information in all weather conditions at any place on the surface of the earth or in near earth space. In RTK (Real-time Kinematic) carrier phase differential technology, a method for processing difference of carrier phase observations of two measuring stations in real time is used. In the method, a carrier phase collected by a reference station is sent to a user receiver to calculate difference and calculate coordinates. With an increasing requirement for position information by users, the conventional high-cost and high-precision positioning mode can no longer meet actual requirements. Especially when positioning is performed in complex environments such as places shaded by buildings and trees, the conventional high-cost and high-precision positioning mode has problems of poor accuracy and reliability.

ZHEJIANG YAT ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE CO., LTD


A robot apparatus having no need for securing a space for installing both a robot movable section and a robot controller. The robot apparatus includes a frame having strength enough to support the robot movable section, and containing the robot controller therein. The robot movable section is installed on the frame. The robot controller and the robot movable section are electrically connected to each other via a coupling cable passing through a hole formed inside. Over the base of the robot movable section, first, second and another arms are provided via rotating mechanism portions. The distal end of the third arm constitutes a wrist portion of a robot. Various types of hands are attached to this wrist portion. Thus, the robot movable section can be installed on the frame containing the robot controller.

(1) Field of the Invention
A present invention relates to a robot apparatus and, more particularly, to a robot apparatus in which a robot movable section and a robot control section are adjacently disposed.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A conventional robot apparatus has a robot movable section and a robot controller which are separated from each other, and the robot movable section and the robot controller are electrically connected to each other via a coupling cable. Thus, the robot controller makes the robot movable section perform an arbitrary motion by giving a motion command to the robot movable section.
One method of connecting the robot movable section and the robot controller is by installing the robot controller at a place distant from the robot movable section and by connecting the robot movable section and the robot controller to each other via a long coupling cable. With this method, a space for installing the robot controller must be provided additionally. Further, a facility for protecting the coupling cable is needed. Therefore, the method of connecting the robot movable section with the robot controller, which is positioned apart therefrom, by using a long cable is disadvantageous in terms of effective use of limited space and facility.
To overcome this disadvantage, a method can be used in which the robot movable section and the robot controller are directly connected to each other by means of connectors which both of the robot movable section and the robot controller have, without the use of a cable. With this method, the robot controller is installed adjacent to the robot movable section in a dead space outside the work envelope of the robot movable section.
FIG. 6 shows a conventional robot apparatus. In this figure, a robot controller, contained in a housing 100a, is installed adjacent to a robot movable section 10a. The robot controller and the robot movable section 10a are electrically connected to each other via a connector 114aprovided on the housing 100a and a connector 12a provided on the back side of the robot movable section 10a.
The robot movable section 10a is fixed to the floor via a base 11a. On the base 11a, a J1 arm 17a is provided via a rotating mechanism portion. At the distal end of the J1 arm 17a, a J2 arm 13a is provided via the rotating mechanism portion. Further, at the distal end of the J2 arm 13a, a J3 arm 14a is provided via the rotating mechanism portion. The distal end of the J3 arm 14a constitutes a wrist portion 15a. Various types of hands can be attached to this wrist portion 15a. The central position of the wrist portion is called TCP (Tool Center Point). The TCP can move in a region inside a work envelope 20a. Hereinafter, "the work envelope of robot" refers to a range in which the TCP moves.
Thus, the housing 100a containing the robot controller is reduced in size so that it can be installed outside the range 20a in which the TCP moves, by which the robot controller can be installed close to the robot movable section. As an example of this configuration, the applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 5-259635.
However, for the space to install the robot controller, a space in which both of the robot movable section and the robot controller can be installed must be secured. Therefore, a broad installation space is needed. Also, in order to increase the work envelope of the robot, the space occupied by the robot controller must be decreased.
Moreover, as the application of the robot apparatus is diversified, the decrease in the installation area for the robot apparatus and the expansion of the work envelope of the robot are demanded. For example, when a production line at a factory using robot apparatuses is laid out, the less the installation area for the robot apparatus is, the more freely work benches or the like can be arranged around the robot apparatus. Further, by expanding the work envelope of the robot, the space around the robot can be used effectively, by which the flexibility of the layout is increased. Therefore, a layout which brings about improved productivity can be achieved.

Robot apparatus for installing both a robot movable section and a robot controller


A water spray deflector to deflect water spray produced from aircraft landing gear from components of the aircraft. The water spray deflector has an inner diameter and an outer diameter. Coupled to the spray deflector are attachment arms that are adapted to couple with an outer portion of a rim of the landing gear. The attachment arms are also configured to support the water spray deflector position the water spray deflector a distance from a side wall of the tire to prevent the side wall of the tire from coming in contact with the water spray deflector under various loading conditions placed on the tire. In some versions, the water spray deflector is weakened in areas to encourage a failure mode of the water spray deflector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to aircraft technologies, and more specifically to aircraft wheel assemblies.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
When water is present on an aircraft runway, the tires of aircraft on the wet runway displace water on take-off and landing. Some of the displaced water is projected up and away from the aircraft's tires at a relatively high velocity.
Aircraft engines, e.g., gas turbine engines, typically tolerate ingestion of a small percentage of water in relationship to the air volume that is pulled through the engine. Ingestion of large quantities of water, however, can pose a safety risk to the aircraft in the form of an unacceptably high probability of engine shutdown or thrust loss.
In addition, water potentially poses risks to vulnerable structures and/or systems on the aircraft, e.g., doors, high lift devices and hydraulic lines.


A printer includes: a platen having an ink-collection slot extending across its width; a wick bar received in the ink-collection slot, wherein an upstream gap and a downstream gap are defined at either side of the wick bar relative to a media feed direction; a printhead positioned over the wick bar; and a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the ink-collection slot. The wick bar is absent from a mid-portion of the platen and the mid-portion of the platen is aligned, in the media feed direction, with an upstream media picker.

The Applicant has developed a range of Memjet® inkjet printers as described in, for example, WO2011/143700, WO2011/143699 and WO2009/089567, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. Memjet® printers employ a stationary printhead in combination with a feed mechanism which feeds print media past the printhead in a single pass. Memjet® printers therefore provide much higher printing speeds than conventional scanning inkjet printers.
Ink mist (or ink aerosol) is a perennial problem in inkjet printers, especially high-speed, pagewide inkjet printers where microscopic ink droplets are continuously jetted onto passing media. Ink mist can result in a deterioration in print quality and may build up over time during longer print jobs.
Mist extraction systems generally employ suction above and/or below a media platen to remove mist from the vicinity of the printhead. For example, US 2011/0025775 describes a system whereby ink aerosol is collected via vacuum collection ports positioned above and below the media platen.
Mist extraction systems having a vacuum collection port above the media platen are usually more efficient at reducing ink mist. Such systems continuously extract ink mist from the vicinity of the printhead during printing. However, above-platen mist extraction systems have the drawback of occupying a relatively large amount of space in the printer. In printers having a plurality of pagewide printheads, it is desirable to minimize a spacing between adjacent printheads in the media feed direction and above-platen mist extraction systems can impact this critical spacing.
On the other hand, below-platen mist extraction systems do not impact on printhead spacing, but such systems are relatively inefficient. Since suction is applied through aperture(s) in the media platen, opportunities for mist extraction only arise between printing onto sheets of media and it is difficult encourage ink mist into platen apertures during a relatively short inter-page time period, especially during high-speed printing. Furthermore, an increase in suction pressure is generally not viable, because the suction pressure at the platen surface must be low enough to enable smooth feeding of print media over the platen surface during printing.
It would be desirable to provide an efficient mist extraction system, which occupies a relatively small space in a printer. It would further be desirable to provide a mist extraction system, which does not impact on the spacing between printheads in a printing system having multiple printheads.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A compound of Formula (I):

The incidence of microbial infections (e.g., mycobacterial, fungal and protozoal infections) in the immunocompromised population has significantly increased over the past several years. In particular, Candida species, especially Candida albicans, are often significant pathogens in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Another pathogen, Pneumocystis carinii, causes a form of pneumonia (PCP) that is believed to be one of the leading causes of death in patients suffering from AIDS.
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) has reemerged as a threat to over 60 million people. Current estimates are that between 350,000 and 450,000 people are infected.
Other severe and life-threatening microbial infections are caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Aspergillus spp., Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Plasmodium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Fusarium solani, and Cryptococcus neoformans.
The antimicrobial properties of dicationic molecules have been studied since the 1930's. Compounds of this type have typically utilized amidine groups as the cationic moieties, and their activities against a number of pathogens including Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Leishmania spp., Plasmodium spp., Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma spp., Candida albicans, Aspergillus spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans have been reported. See e.g., King, H. et al., Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 1938, 32, 177–192; Blagburn, B. L. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1991, 35, 1520–1523; Bell, C. A. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1991, 35, 1099–1107; Bell, et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1990, 34, 1381–1386; Kirk, R. et al., Ann. Trop. Med. Parastiol. 1940, 34,181–197; Fulton, J. D. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 1940, 34, 53–66; Ivady, V. G. et al., Monatschr. Kinderheilkd. 1958, 106, 10–14; Boykin, D. W. et al., J. Med. Chem. 1995, 38, 912–916; Boykin, D. W. et al., J. Med. Chem. 1998, 41, 124–129; Francesconi et al., J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 2260–2265; Lindsay, D. S. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1991, 35, 1914–1916; Lourie, E. M. et al., Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 1939, 33, 289–304; Lourie, E. M. et al., Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 1939, 33, 305–312; Das, B. P. et al., J Med. Chem. 1976, 20, 531–536; Del Poeta, M. et al., J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 1999, 44, 223–228; Del Poeta, M. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1998, 42, 2495–2502; Del Poeta, M. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1998, 42, 2503–2510.
Despite the broad range of activity exhibited by diamidines, only one compound of this chemical type, pentamidine, has seen significant clinical use. Pentamidine has been used clinically against African trypanosomiasis, antimony-resistant leishmaniasis and P. carinii pneumonia. See e.g., Apted, F. I. C., Pharmacol. Ther. 1980, 11, 391–413; Bryceson, A. D. M. et al., Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1985, 79, 705–714; Hughes, W. T. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1974, 5, 289–293.
Thus, there continues to be a need for improvement in the art for additional compounds having desirable anti-microbial activity, whether against the representative pathogens referenced above or against other pathogens. Of particular interest would be a compound having activity in the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis, an infectious disease having no currently available oral treatment in its second stage. This present invention addresses this and other needs in the art.

Dicationic 2,5-diarylfuran aza-analogs as anti-protozoan agents

Abstract: A compound of Formula (I):

Abstract: wherein:                X is selected from the group consisting of O, S, and NR17, where R17 is hydrogen or lower alkyl;        A and Y are CH, N, NR17, O, or S;        C1 and C2 are each C or N, wherein C1 and C2 are the same or different;        D1 and D2 are each C or N, wherein D1 and D2 are the same or different;        B and Z are CH, N, or NR17, provided that B, Z, or both B and Z are not present when A, Y, or both A and Y are O, S, or NR17;        R13, R14, R1 and R8 can be present or absent, and when present are selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, halogen, alkoxyl, aryloxyl, aralkoxy and hydroxyl;        R15 and Rare selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, halogen, alkoxyl, aryloxyl, aralkoxy and hydroxyl;        R3 and R6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, hydroxy, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, alkoxycycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, acyloxy, acetoxy, and alkylaminoalkyl; and R2, R4, R5 and R7 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, and alkylaminoalkyl, or R2 and R4 together or R5 and R7 together represent a C2 to C10 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkylene, or R3 and R4 together or R6 and R7 together are:

Abstract: wherein n is a number from 1 to 3, and R9 is H or —CONHR10NR11R12, wherein R10 is lower alkyl and R11 and R12 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc.


A self-contained backup power source such as a battery is provided for components within an electrically powered device such as a storage controller, photocopier or the like, to maintain diagnostic status data and to power a service indicator aid, or diagnostic indicator, such as an LED. A switch selects the backup power source when a primary power source of the electrically powered device is no longer available to the component, such as when the component is removed from the electrically powered device, the primary power source is disconnected as a safety precaution when servicing or replacing the component, or a higher-level assembly, in which the component is provided, is removed from the electrically powered device. The diagnostic indicator may be powered separately from the data storage device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of service indicators such as diagnostic LEDs that are used to display information regarding a component of an electrically powered device such as a computer storage system, photocopier or the like, and, more specifically, to a way of providing backup power so that the service indicator continues to be active even when power is removed from the component.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various electrically powered devices such as computer systems, storage controllers, photocopiers and many others have a diagnostic functionality to indicate when servicing or replacement of their components is needed. Diagnostic control logic may process signals from sensors and actuators of the components to determine when a component is not performing properly or otherwise requires servicing, for instance. The components may have diagnostic indicators, e.g., service aid indicators, such as LED lights, that are illuminated to convey specified information. In a simple case, the light is illuminated when the component requires attention. In other cases, a series of flashes identifies the type of attention that is needed. However, for devices that have packaging concepts that require component assemblies to be removed from a chassis and therefore an associated electrical power source, the use of the diagnostic indicators to direct maintenance actions is compromised. Typically, the electrical power at the device is disconnected from the component, e.g., when the component is removed from the device, when a component is a subassembly located within a higher level assembly that must be removed from a chassis and disassembled, or when the technician switches off the power to the component for safety reasons, e.g., to avoid being shocked while working on the component.
For example, during field maintenance of such devices, a directed service action is typically performed, where the device has identified and isolated a failure to a component within a subassembly that cannot be seen by the technician while the subassembly is installed within the higher order assembly. The service action may include servicing, including repair or cleaning, or replacement of a component, for instance. The technician may therefore require access to components internal to a sub-assembly to continue the maintenance activity. For instance, when a memory module is being serviced within a computer chassis, a common practice is for the technician to remove power to the computer chassis prior to disassembly. Once power has been removed from the chassis, service/diagnostic indicators that are powered from the chassis power source no longer have power. Once the chassis is opened, the technician wants to identify which component is being identified, by its diagnostic indicator, for servicing or replacement.
In such situations, when the diagnostic indicator is no longer powered, it cannot aid the technician at a time when it is most needed.

Battery backed service indicator aids for field maintenance

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods and apparati for measuring entrained gas content. One of the disclosed apparatus embodiments includes a chamber and piping for process fluid, the piping including two different sectors each comprising a density and temperature gauge having a pressure gauge located upstream and a second pressure gauge located downstream, the two sectors being operatively joined together by a pressure-changing device. The pressure measurement feature may be incorporated into the combination density and temperature gauge, eliminating the need for separate pressure gauges. Data generated by this invention reduces measurement error caused by the dissolving or exsolving of gases with changes in pressure of a fluid, while providing instantaneous measurement, through apparatuses that measure system conditions at each of two pressure states within a very short period of time. For instance, in the context of continuously coating a substrate, the method of this invention comprises: a.) setting a quantitative target for weight-% of one or more solids, e.g. kaolin clay, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, or alumina trihydrate, to be coated onto a substrate such as a paper web; b.) continuously applying the solids to the substrate via a carrier fluid; c.) measuring the apparent density of the slurry; d.) determining the true density of the slurry; e.) calculating the weight-% of solids in the slurry as disclosed above; f.) comparing the calculated weight-% solids to the target weight-% solids; and, g.) if the calculated weight-% is greater or less than the target weight-%, lowering or raising the amount of solids applied in step b.). Many other method and apparatus embodiments are also disclosed.

Those skilled in the arts of processing liquids desire to know how much air and/or other gases are entrapped therein for a variety of reasons. Entrapped air can cause undesired foaming during processing, e.g. in papermaking and in the preparation of foodstuffs, and can result in disruption of film products, e.g. from paints. Entrained gases distort such processing parameters as density, making precise control of processes impossible. U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,435 illustrates the utilization of slurry density determination in fluid processing at an oil well site.
Those skilled in the art know that, generally, the more viscous a fluid being processed, the more difficult it is for any entrained air to escape from it and consequently the greater the amount of air bubbles likely to be accumulated therein. Also, as pressure on a fluid is lowered or temperature of a fluid is raised, dissolved air or other gas therein tends to leave solution and form bubbles in the fluid.
There are a number of instruments that are currently commercially available for measuring the air or gas content in a liquid. Such instruments include BTG's CCA3000, Metso's COLORMAT, Mütek's GAS-60, Papec's PULSE))))AIR, Capella Technology's CAPTAIR, Anton-Paar's CARBO 2100 CO2 analyzer, and CyberMetrics' AIR TESTER.
Mütek's GAS-60, for instance, is said to be useful in the context of minimizing pinholes (voids) in papermaking processes. Pinholes develop when pressure is reduced and dissolved gases—which accumulate in the papermaking process due to mechanical effects and chemical and biological reactions—are released. The GAS 60 is installed on line and is used to determine the gas content of entrained and dissolved gases in pulp suspensions. Having determined gas content, process engineers are able to calculate how much (expensive) deaerating additive should be used, and thus to avoid unnecessarily increased manufacturing costs due to employing too much deaerating additive.
Papec's PULSE))))AIR_V3 is a sensor for the measurement of entrained air and gases in process fluids. It is said to be useful in the pulp and paper industry in connection with machine headboxes and white water systems, coatings, and brownstock washers, in the secondary fiber industry (for effluent treatment), in the paint industry, in oil bottling processes, in the processing of well drilling muds, and in general in any application needing entrained air information.
Anton-Paar's CARBO 2100 CO2 analyzer employs a patented impeller method which is said to make it significantly faster than other commercially available systems for measuring and monitoring tasks and also for regulating the CO2 content of process liquids during production runs in the beer and soft drink industry.
It is believed that all of these instruments adopt a common approach, using Boyle's Law. Boyle's law is given by the equationP1V1=P2V2  (1)where V1 and V2 are the volumes of the entrained gas in the liquid at two different pressures, P1 and P2, respectively. This common approach measures the volume difference ΔV=V1−V2 between P1 and P2, and calculates the volumes of entrained gas, V1 and V2, from Boyle's Law as
                              V          1                =                                                                              P                  2                                                Δ                                                                                V                                                              P                  2                                -                                  P                  1                                                                                and                                                                                V              2                                =                                                                      P                  1                                                Δ                                                                                V                                                              P                  2                                -                                  P                  1                                                      .                                              (        2        )            More general formulas, which correlate the volumes of entrained gas with the pressures being acted upon, can be derived from the Ideal Gas Law asP1V1=n1RT1  (3)andP2V2=n2RT2  (4)where R is the gas constant, and n1, T1 and n2 T2 are moles of entrained gas and temperatures at P1 and P2, respectively. In the case of n1=n2 and T1=T2, equations (3) and (4) can be simplified to the equation of Boyle's Law given in (1). Hence, Boyle's Law is, in fact, a special case of the Ideal Gas Law and is valid only if the moles of entrained gas and temperatures at P1 and P2 are kept constant.
The present inventors had previously developed a method for the improved control of continuous processes that handle liquids, which method is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/046,240 (filed Jan. 16, 2002). In that method, the amount of gas in a liquid is determined by subjecting a mixture of an incompressible liquid sample and a compressible gas to three or more different equilibrium pressure states, measuring the temperature and volume of the mixture at each of the pressure states, determining the changes in volume of the mixture between at least two different pairs of pressure states, and calculating the amount of gas in the liquid sample.

Apparatus and method for real time determination of density and related parameters in manufacturing processes


A wireless digital personal communications system (or PCS) having a plurality of radio cell base stations, fixed terminals, and portable handset terminals, each having a predetermined radio cell coverage area. The wireless PCS has a full digital network interface. The personal communications system facilitates the interconnection and switching of PCS call traffic through the digital network interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network. The personal communications system has voice/data/image (or any combination thereof) and incoming and outgoing calling capability. The PCS is fully operational and compatible with any and all modulation approaches selected for wireless communications. The intercell protocol hand-off being provided through distributed logic which is implemented in software that is resident in the intelligent portable handset terminals, in the intelligent fixed terminals, in the intelligent base stations, and in the public switched telephone network (or any switched network). Alternative embodiments of the present invention include a wireless digital personal communications system having authentication means for authenticating a remote device; a wireless digital personal communications system having a combination of authentication means for authenticating a remote device and security means for securing signal and message content between an intelligent base station and a remote device, the security means including a predetermined encryption and decryption technique; a wireless digital personal communications system having dynamic zone grouping of portable handset terminals or fixed terminals; and a wireless digital personal communications system having call forwarding for unanswered calls.

This invention relates generally to a wireless digital personal communications systems having a plurality of intelligent base stations, intelligent portable handset terminals, and intelligent fixed terminals, each having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, and more particularly to a digital, radio cell, radio-telephone, personal communications system (or PCS) having a full ISDN interface (or any standardized digital network interface), thereby facilitating direct interconnection and switching of PCS call traffic through the ISDN interface and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or any switched network, the personal communications system having voice/data/image (or any combination thereof) and two-way full-duplex incoming and outgoing calling capability, and being fully operational and compatible with any modulation approach selected for wireless communications, with the intercell protocol hand-off being provided through distributed logic which is implemented in software that is resident in the intelligent base stations, intelligent portable handset terminals, intelligent fixed terminals, and the public switched telephone network (or any switched network) equipped with a PCS service control data base.

Wireless digital personal communications system having voice/data/image two-way calling and intercel hand-off


An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of image processing module parts, a module arbiter part, and a DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) part. Each of the image processing module parts includes a module core for executing a predetermined image processing. The plurality of image processing module parts is connected to the module arbiter part. The module arbiter part arbitrates memory access which is given by the plurality of image processing module parts through a bus. The DMAC part is connected between the module arbiter part and the bus, and executes memory access related to the arbitration result obtained by the module arbiter part.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing interface circuit. The image processing interface circuit is connected to a module core for executing predetermined image processing.
Description of the Background Art
In an image processing apparatus, conventionally, a DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) is utilized for a data transfer between an image processing module core and a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). For instance, dedicated DMACs are connected to the respective module cores and are directly connected to buses respectively.
Moreover, there is known a module core for performing image processing on a so-called macroblock unit. For instance, it is possible to select a size of a macroblock from 16×16, 16×8, 8×16, 8×8, 8×4, 4×8, and 4×4 pixels in H.264. Such an image processing module core performs access to a DRAM, that is, reading and writing on the macroblock unit.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-74412 discloses another example of the related art.
With the structure in which the dedicated DMAC is provided in each of the module cores, however, a large number of DMACs are present so that a chip area is increased.
When the access to the DRAM is performed on the macroblock unit, moreover, the efficiency of memory access is reduced. For instance, one line has only eight bytes in a macroblock having 4×4 pixels in 8-bit YUV422. For this reason, an ROW address of the DRAM is to be switched with reading of only eight bytes. When a read request is issued every line of the macroblock, moreover, consumption of a bus band is increased due to a large number of request issues. These respects are the same in writing.

Image processing apparatus and image processing interface circuit


A soda-lime-silica glass having, at a thickness in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm, a visible light transmittance of 35% to 75%, a total solar radiation transmittance in the range of 20% to 60%, an ultraviolet radiation transmission less than 55%, and a blue color defined by the "CIELAB" system of L=65 to 90, a*=-15 to -4, and b*=-15 to -2. The soda-lime-silica glass composition includes the essential ingredients of about 0.5% to about 0.9% weight percent total iron (as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3), about 50 ppm to 100 ppm CoO, and about 0.1 to about 2.0 weight percent TiO.sub.2, with a ferrous iron to total iron ratio of about 20% to about 40%.

The present invention relates to blue colored glass compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to blue colored glasses which can be made by the float process and which are primarily, but not exclusively, intended for use in architectural applications.
It has become desirable that glasses primarily intended for use in architectural applications, e.g. glazings for buildings, should be heat absorbing. A useful colorant for such purposes is iron because the presence of ferrous, as distinct from ferric, iron in the glass reduces the infrared transmission of the glass. Iron provides the glass with a green coloration. However, a blue colored glass would in some instances be preferred by architects.
Blue colored glasses are most easily produced simply by adding cobalt oxide to a batch composition. However, cobalt oxide reduces the light transmission of the glass and does relatively little to reduce the infrared (heat) transmission.
Alternatively, blue glasses can be produced by using solely iron as the colorant. This is achieved by increasing the proportion of total iron in the ferrous state to very high levels or values, often in excess of 50%. However, the glass then becomes progressively more difficult to melt without the risk of inclusions being formed in the glass, particularly silica scum. Furthermore, sulphate is often used to refine the glass and, at very high ferrous levels, iron sulphide may be produced which makes the predominant color of the glass yellow or amber.
Accordingly, to overcome these problems, batches containing very low amounts of sulphate and techniques such as vacuum refining have been suggested. It has been reported that this latter procedure is, in itself, difficult to operate. Alternatively, special reagents, which are relatively expensive, may be used to avoid the need for special refining techniques. For example, oxides of tin may be required. Ultraviolet radiation absorption is, however, reduced in glasses having a high ferrous to ferric iron ratio. This is because ferric iron absorbs strongly in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum.


A wet-doping process for producing an oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS), creep-resistant molybdenum alloy is disclosed. The alloy is made by adding nitrate or acetate salts of lanthanum, cerium, thorium, or yttrium to molybdenum oxide to produce a slurry, heating the slurry in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a powder, mixing and cold isostatically pressing the powder, sintering in a hydrogen atmosphere, and thermomechanically processing (swaging, extruding, cold drawing) the product. The ODS molybdenum alloy produced by the process contains 2-4% by volume (.about.1-4% by weight) of an oxide of lanthanum, cerium, thorium, or yttrium. The alloy has high strength and improved creep-resistance at temperatures greater than 0.55T.sub.m of molybdenum.

Molybdenum (Mo), a refractory metal from Group VI of the Periodic Table, can be strengthened by (a) solid-solution strengthening additions, (b) precipitation or dispersion strengthening by second-phase particles, (c) strain hardening and grain size refinement, and (d) retaining a worked structure at high temperatures. For service at elevated temperatures (>0.5T.sub.m, where T.sub.m is the absolute melting temperature) only a combination of (b), (c), and (d) has the potential for success.
Strengthening by second-phase particles can be both direct and indirect as demonstrated for the SAP (sintered aluminum product) and TD (thoria dispersion strengthened) Nickel and TD NICHROME.RTM. alloys. Direct strengthening is caused by particles acting as barriers to dislocation motion during deformation. Indirect strengthening is caused when a dispersoid-containing metal is thermomechanically processed, so that the particles help to develop and stabilize a worked structure. An additional strength increment resulting from the fine grain size and substructure can be achieved at high temperature if the structure is stable. Carbides have been the favored second-phase particle for strengthening molybdenum, as is evident in the commercially available Mo-TZM and Mo-TZC molybdenum alloys. Mo-TZM is an arc cast and powder metallurgy product containing 0.5% by wt. Ti, 0.08% Zr, 0.02% C, and the balance Mo. Mo-TZC is an arc cast and powder metallurgy product containing 1.25% by wt. Ti, 0.15% Zr, 0.15% C, and the balance Mo. However, these alloys do not possess sufficient creep or tensile strength to survive operating temperatures at or above 2400.degree. F. (0.55 T.sub.m of molybdenum) for long-term service applications. These alloys, strengthened by a combination of solid-solution strengthening additions and carbide particles (precipitation strengthening) plus thermomechanical processing, lose their desired mechanical properties in relatively short time periods above these temperatures. The carbide particles are not stable at high temperature and will coarsen and/or dissolve into solution, thereby negating their effectiveness as a strengthener.
The development of a thermally stable, high-strength, molybdenum alloy is highly desirable, and would be useful to extend the lifetime or replace other material systems for a number of important uses. A few of the important uses are for: electrical posts for lamp filaments, creep-resistant boats for nuclear fuel sintering, high temperature components for metal matrix composites for critical high temperature aerospace and space nuclear power and propulsion system components, and medium caliber gun barrel liners for use with high impetus propellants.
An alternative to carbide strengthening of refractory metals such as molybdenum, is strengthening by an oxide dispersion. Tungsten, molybdenum, or their alloys, which are processed using powder-metallurgy techniques, are excellent candidates for oxide dispersion strengthening (ODS) because these metals have very low solubility for oxygen and only moderate affinity to form oxides.
The first oxide dispersion strengthened tungsten alloys containing a coarse, thermodynamically stable oxide (e.g. thoria, ThO.sub.2) particle addition, were developed to improve electron emission properties for use as welding rod in the gas tungsten arc (GTA) and other welding processes. However, ODS tungsten alloys containing a finer thoria particle were produced with exceptional creep strength and microstructural stability (i.e. recrystallization temperature, grain growth, etc.) up to 80% of the melting temperature of tungsten (0.8 T.sub.m =4839.degree. F.). In fact, the creep strength (i.e., stress to give 1% creep strain in 1,000 hours) of thoriated tungsten alloys was measured to be up to five times higher than commercially-pure tungsten. These alloys are used in several high-temperature applications such as lamp filaments which have improved resistance to shock loading during service, rocket nozzle inserts, and missile nose tips.
Cold-worked pure molybdenum will exhibit poor long-term creep properties above 2000.degree. F. because the cold-worked microstructure is not stable and will recrystallize during service. Some improvements to heat and creep resistance properties of Mo alloys have been made by adding oxides of metals to molybdenum. U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,327 (Eck et al.) discloses a mechanical preparation method, or dry blended process, of preparing an ODS molybdenum alloy, wherein powders of Mo metal and up to 10% by weight of an oxide, or a low temperature decomposable hydroxide or carbonate oxide, are mixed. The resulting powder batch mixture is then cold isostatically pressed (CIP), hydrogen sintered, and processed to wire or sheet. As shown in Table 1 of the Eck et al. patent, the steady-state creep rate of this ODS molybdenum alloy was improved over commercially pure molybdenum. However, no data are given concerning the maximum rupture life and rupture ductility which are more meaningful properties for evaluating the alloy. The ODS molybdenum alloys made by the wet-doping process of the invention disclosed herein, containing 2-4 volume % of the oxides of La, Ce, and Th show improved creep rate and superior rupture life and ductility.
Another method of making a Mo alloy which is creep-resistant up to high temperatures is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,068 (Rowe et al.). The method is a wet-doping process wherein Mo metal or Mo oxide is mixed with the salt of a metal. Under the conditions of the process, a Mo alloy is produced which contains 0.2 to 1% by weight of the metal oxide. Lanthanum salts. are not disclosed, nor are oxide weights above 1% disclosed. No mechanical property test data for the alloy produced are given in the Rowe et al. patent.
Therefore there is a need for a molybdenum alloy which will have sufficient and stable creep strength, over a long period of time, and sufficient tensile strength, to be stable at operating temperatures above 0.55 T.sub.m of Mo, i.e. above 2400.degree. F. (1315.degree. C.).
It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermally stable molybdenum alloy at temperatures above 2400.degree. F.
It is another object of the invention to provide a molybdenum alloy with high tensile strength.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a molybdenum alloy which has improved creep resistance especially above 2400.degree. F.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a molybdenum alloy with improved ductility.
The present invention provides a wet-doping process wherein salts of the metal lanthanum, cerium, thorium or yttrium are added to molybdenum oxide to produce a fine-grained oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS) molybdenum alloy containing about 2-4% by volume (.about.1-4 weight percent) of the oxides of lanthanum, cerium, thorium or yttrium.

High-strength, creep-resistant molybdenum alloy and process for producing the same

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


An improved adhesive sheet can exhibit an excellent anti-blister characteristic without susceptible to the property of the base material. The adhesive sheet includes a base material that is formed from a base material film and a thin film laminated onto the base material film, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. The adhesive layer contains an adhesive component and a curing component as its main composition. The curing component is of the type that is to be cured by irradiation with radiation. As for such radiation-curing type component, materials containing acrylic-based monomer or oligomer can be used. The adhesive layer has a storage modulus (dynamic modulus) in which a ratio of storage modulus G2xe2x80x2/G1xe2x80x2 of the adhesive layer lies within the range of 1.2 to 50, wherein G1xe2x80x2 is a storage modulus of the adhesive layer before curing at a temperature of 25xc2x0 C. and at a frequency of 1 Hz, and G2xe2x80x2 is a storage modulus of the adhesive layer after curing at a temperature of 25xc2x0 C. and at a frequency of 1 Hz.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an adhesive sheet, and in particular relates to an adhesive sheet, which is used by being stuck onto a display device such as CRT or LCD, for example.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the conventional display devices such as CRT or LCD, a protective film, which is constructed in the form of an adhesive sheet, is being stuck. Such an adhesive sheet includes a base material film, and the base material film is normally formed of a resin material. In the case where such a base material film is formed of a material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which is likely to generate gas due to decomposition when irradiated with ultraviolet light, a blister will be produced at the adhesive layer due to bubbles of the generated gas.
Further, in recent years, there are known adhesive sheets having a laminated film, which is formed by laminating a thin film on a base material film of the adhesive sheet. Examples of such a laminated film include an AR (anti-reflection) film and a multi-layered film, which is formed by laminating a plurality of thin films made of metal or metal oxide. These laminated films have very low gas-permeability due to existence of the thin film, so that gas generated by decomposition of the base material film or the like is difficult to pass the adhesive layer and then vaporize. With this result, gas which is generated in the adhesive layer or at the boundary surface between the adhesive layer and the base material film is likely to accumulate, and therefore a blister is produced in the adhesive layer due to bubbles of the generated gas.
In order to solve the problem described above, there is known an anti-blister type adhesive sheet, which uses an adhesive component in which a macro-monomer is mixed. This type of adhesive sheet can effectively prevent a blister from being produced in the adhesive layer for the case where only the base material film is provided. However, this adhesive layer can not prevent the formation of such a blister sufficiently for the case where a thin film is laminated on the base material film as described above.
In view of the above problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved adhesive sheet, which can exhibit an excellent anti-blister characteristic without susceptible to the property of the base material.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to an adhesive sheet which comprises a base material; and an adhesive layer which contains, as its main component, an adhesive component and a curing component, wherein the adhesive layer has a storage modulus (dynamic modulus) in which a ratio of storage modulus G2xe2x80x2/G1xe2x80x2 of the adhesive layer lies within the range of 1.2 to 50, wherein G1xe2x80x2 is a storage modulus of the adhesive layer before curing at a temperature of 25xc2x0 C. and at a frequency of 1 Hz, and G2xe2x80x2 is a storage modulus of the adhesive layer after curing at a temperature of 25xc2x0 C. and at a frequency of 1 Hz.
According to the invention as described above, it is possible to provide an adhesive sheet which can exhibit excellent anti-blister effect irrespective of properties of the base material and possess high adhesive strength.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the base material has gas-impermeability. Further, it is also preferred that said base material includes at least one thin film.
Further, in the present invention it is also preferred that the weight-average molecular weight of the adhesive component is 300,000 to 3,000,000. Preferably, the adhesive component contains alkyl esters of acrylic acid or alkyl esters of methacrylic acid as its main composition.
Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferred that the curing component is the type, which is to be cured by irradiation with radiation. Further, it is preferred that the curing component contains acrylic-based monomer or oligomer. In this case, it is preferred that the acrylic-based monomer or oligomer is a reactive monomer or oligomer, which has acryloyl group.
Moreover, in the present invention, it is also preferred that the amount of the curing component is 0.05 to 50 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the adhesive component.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an adhesive sheet for use on a display device, comprising:
a base comprising a base film having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side and at least one thin film provided on the first side thereof; and
an adhesive layer provided on the second side of said base film for stacking the adhesive sheet onto the display, said adhesive layer containing, as its major component, an adhesive component and a curing component, wherein the adhesive layer has a storage modulus (dynamic modulus) in which a ratio of storage modulus G2xe2x80x2/G1xe2x80x2 of the adhesive layer lies within the range of 1.2 to 50, wherein G1xe2x80x2 is a storage modulus of the adhesive layer before curing at a temperature of 25xc2x0 C. and at a frequency of 1 Hz, and G2xe2x80x2 is a storage modulus of the adhesive layer after curing at a temperature of 25xc2x0 C. and at a frequency of 1 Hz.
According to the invention as described above, it is possible to provide an adhesive sheet which can exhibit excellent anti-blister effect when it is used on a display device irrespective of properties of the base material, and the adhesive sheet possesses high adhesive strength.
The above described and other object, structure and advantage of the present invention will be more apparent when the following description of the preferred embodiment will be considered taken in conjunction with the appended drawing.


The invention relates to a bridge assay that can be used on an automatic diagnostic apparatus in order to detect anti-thyrotropin receptor autoantibodies, wherein the chimeric TSH receptor used comprises the extracellular portion of the chimeric TSH receptor and is N-terminally fused to a protein causing secretion of the chimeric TSH receptor from culture cells, and the anchored chimeric TSH receptor is immobilized on paramagnetic particles.

The TSH receptor (TSH-R) has a key role in the growth and function of thyroid cells. This receptor is a member of a subfamily of the G protein-coupled glycoprotein receptors, which also includes the receptors for luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin (LH/CGR) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHR). The receptors of this subfamily have a large N-terminal extracellular domain which is of essential importance for ligand binding and which has been shown to be in signal transmission. The transmission of the TSHR signal is predominantly mediated by activation of adenylate cyclase, which leads to an increase in the intracellular cAMP level.
Part of the major interest in the TSH receptor is attributable to its role as a primary autoantigen in thyroid autoimmune diseases which are accompanied by the occurrence of autoantibodies against the TSH receptor. Among such thyroid autoimmune diseases is Basedow's disease, an autoimmune disease leading to thyroid hyperfunction, which is among the commonest human autoimmune diseases overall. Basedow's disease is caused by activation of adenylate cyclase and a resulting increase in cAMP. This leads to thyroid hyperfunction, goiter formation and sometimes ocular changes. The autoantibodies against the TSH receptor can however also be of a blocking nature and thus inhibit the adenylate cyclase and the cAMP. In this case, hypofunction of the thyroid occurs. Simultaneous occurrence of stimulating and blocking autoantibodies in the patient affected is also possible, in which case the contribution of the stimulating autoantibody as a rule predominates.
For detecting such autoantibodies, there has for some time been a bioassay in which the increase in cAMP is measured. This measurement method is very time-consuming. In addition, the bioassay is not reliable, since it can yield false positive results. In the context of this description, this type of measurement method is described as a bioassay to distinguish it from the in vitro method for determining autoantibodies against the TSH receptor. In one in vitro detection method for autoantibodies available on the market, a TSH receptor extracted from porcine thyroid membrane is used [first creation of the in vitro method]. In another test for detecting autoantibodies against the TSH receptor, a human complete recombinant TSH receptor protein (wild type) is used in a competitive test.
Thyroid Vol. 7 (1997) 867-877 describes the epitopes for stimulating and blocking autoantibodies at the TSH receptor. The majority of the functional epitopes for stimulating autoantibodies are present in the region of the amino acids 8 to 168 and those for the blocking autoantibodies in the region of the amino acids 261 to 370 of the receptor protein. For activity measurements, the aforesaid bioassay is used.
Through WO 01/27634 A1, a quantitative method for detecting autoantibodies of different specificity in parallel, which is rapidly reproducible and performable with high precision, is for the first time provided. For this purpose, TSH receptor chimeras are used which differ from the wild type receptor in that individual sequences to which autoantibodies bind are replaced by corresponding sequences of another receptor from the class of the G protein-coupled receptors. The TSH receptor chimeras otherwise comprise the complete TSH receptor. However, the measurement cost is high. The separation by centrifugation renders the method too laborious for routine use. Also, the test must be performed in the ice bath or at 4° C., since the TSH receptor chimeras are not very stable. A similar technical teaching is to be found in WO 01/63296 A1, in which the use of a sandwich technique for the detection is proposed. However, it has been found that as a rule with the test materials proposed there the nonspecific binding is too high. A test for detecting autoantibodies on the basis of the knowledge in the two aforesaid patent applications is not obtainable on the market.
WO 00/00590 A1 describes a C-terminally truncated TSH receptor and in a general manner its suitability for diagnosis and therapy. WO 2007/036511 A1 describes a so-called bridge assay for detecting autoantibodies against the TSH receptor, which for the first time can be performed on an automatic device. To perform this bridge assay, two TSH receptor chimeras are used, wherein the signal-producing receptor chimera only comprises the extracellular region of the TSH receptor and the so-called anchor receptor chimera is a holoenzyme. From spring 2014, this method will be offered worldwide for automatic diagnosis of autoantibodies directed against the thyroid hormone receptor and is performed on the so-called Immulite® analyzer. The anchor receptor is bound onto plastic particles for example about 6 mm in diameter as the solid phase.

Detection of autoantibodies against the TSH receptor