A golf tee shot-green placement monitoring system for monitoring golf tee shots to a designated green of a three-par golf course hole for determining the placement of such tee shots upon the green in connection with hole-in-one and closest-to-the-pin contests or challenges. The system comprises a club house base unit, a tee unit, and a green unit. Upon payment of a specified nominal fee, the participating golfer is issued a game card at the club house terminal. Upon reaching the designate three-par hole tee, the golfer inserts the card, or inputs encoded data, into the tee unit which then activates the green unit. Upon driving the tee shot, the green unit, comprising photodetectors and ultrasonic ranging devices, determines the achievement of a hole-in-one or the placement of the tee shot within specified distances from the cup or hole. If the golfer achieves a hole-in-one or places his tee shot within the specified distances from the hole or cup, prize money is awarded.

Golf has become one of the world's favorite pastime and recreational activity. There are more than fourteen thousand golf courses within the United States, according to the National Golf Foundation, and of these courses, more than twelve thousand are listed with the United States Golf Association. The game of golf was played by more than twenty-four million people in the United States in 1991 according to statistics compiled by means of the United States Golf Association, and these golfers played more than four hundred seventy-nine million rounds of golf. Golfers comprise one of the most diverse market populations of any recreational sport. The average golfer spends in excess of two hundred fifty dollars per year for equipment, not including golf balls, and more than two hundred dollars per year in green fees.
While most golfers will certainly agree with the premise that golf can be quite challenging, and can certainly be frustrating at times, it is felt that an additional "challenge" for the golfers is needed, particularly if such is considered from the viewpoint of a combination of skill, amusement, and the potential for remuneration. In particular, in order to impart additional interest or additional competition to a round of golf, not only for an individual golfer who may be a sole participant, but also for a group of golfers playing together, the present invention contemplates and implements a mini-tournament or contest integrally incorporated within the overall round of golf so as not to interfere at all with the overall round of golf, or upset the continuity of the round of golf for the tournament or contest participants or for the non-participating members of the golfing group, or hinder other groups of golfers who may subsequently follow the tournament or contest participants. In particular, the present invention contemplates the implementation and monitoring of a hole-in-one golf competition either for a sole participating golfer or a plurality of golfers playing within a group of golfers. Concomitant to the hole-in-one competition, the present invention likewise contemplates the implementation and monitoring of a golf competition comprising golf tee shots upon a predetermined par-three golf hole wherein golfers can effectively be winners of the competition by placing their tee shots within specified distances from the hole or cup, such as, for example, within one, two, or three feet of the hole or cup.
The present invention therefore comprises and embodies a system for implementing and monitoring the above-identified hole-in-one and concomitant green placement golf tee shots in connection with the aforenoted hole-in-one and pin-closeness golf shot competitions or contests.

Golf tee shot-green placement monitoring system


The invention provides systems and methods in which an incoming call port is looped back at a switch and, under control of a call segment controller, is directed to applications and/or other termination points to provide enhanced calling services. According to a preferred embodiment, the call segment controller is provided with initial call instructions to initially direct an incoming call. The call may then be directed to an application which interacts with the call to determine further call instructions. These further call instructions are passed to the call segment controller to further process the call. Under control of the call segment controller the call may be directed to multiple termination points, including redirection to the application to provide subsequent interaction with the call.

In systems without intelligent network (IN) signaling, or similar robust and feature rich control signaling infrastructure, it is difficult to provide full featured enhanced calling services. For example, a call may be coupled to a first termination point, such as a prepaid system interactive voice response (IVR) unit, and subsequently a voice connection provided for the original caller to communicate with a called party at a second termination point. However, systems without robust control signaling capabilities providing such services typically require backhauling of circuits to the IVR, which requires the continued use of resources throughout the call, such as trunks etc., which are not necessary in providing the communication between the calling and called party.
Switches used in systems without interconnect network signaling generally do not provide a reoriginate calling function, or they have a proprietary solution (e.g., RLT), to allow the IVR to tear down its voice links to the switch, or backhaul links, and still allow the switch to establish full voice communication between the calling and called parties. Moreover, in particular scenarios, such as prepaid calling, debit calling, and even some postpaid calling, the tearing down of links to the IVR, even if available, may present implementation problems, such as the inability to accurately accumulate call records for call accounting, without adding substantial functionality to the switches or other network equipment.
A further concern in tearing down links to the IVR arises in providing robust services. For example, in a system that does not provide intelligent network signaling or similar functionality, it is typically accepted that when the calling party/called party link is released, further services cannot be provided, such as to provide an ending prepaid balance or to allow connection to a second called party.
Additionally, the IVR or other enhanced calling service application typically is fully intertwined with the control of the call segments. However, if the enhanced calling service application could be separated from the control of the call segments advantages could be realized in implementation of the systems. For example, enhanced calling services such as IVR could be developed independently of the actual network upon which they are to be deployed.

System and method for providing segmented applications


A radio base station including: a first interface configured to communicate with a different radio base station via a network among radio base stations, a second interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a radio terminal, and a processor configured to control a transmission of a first signal to the radio terminal when a load of the network among the radio base stations is higher than a given level, the first signal indicating to reject a second signal transmitted from the radio terminal, the second signal requesting to add a bearer between the radio base station and the radio terminal via the different radio base station.

Various ideas have been devised in order to increase a transmission capacity in the radio communication system (hereinafter, referred to as a "system capacity" in some cases) of the related art. For example, in 3rd generation partnership project long term evolution (3GPP LTE), a technique for increasing the system capacity by utilizing a "small cell" other than a "micro cell" has been discussed. Here, the "cell" is a term which indicates a range covered by a radio base station so that a radio terminal transmits and receives a radio signal, but since the concept of the radio base station and the concept of the cell almost correspond to each other, the "cell" and the "radio base station" may be properly replaced with each other in the following description. Then, the "micro cell" represents a cell of a base station capable of transmitting a signal at a high transmission power level, that is, a cell of a base station having a large coverage area. In addition, the "small cell" is a cell of a base station transmitting a signal at a low transmission power level, that is, a cell of a base station having a small coverage area.
In the 3GPP LTE, as a configuration of a mobile communication system, for example, a configuration of including a plurality of small cells in the micro cell has been considered. In addition, a technique of concurrently connecting the micro cell and the small cell to the mobile terminal has been considered. Additionally, a technique of concurrently connecting two small cells, which are different from each other, to the mobile terminal has been considered. In this manner, the communication executed by being connected two different cells to the mobile terminal is referred to as dual connectivity in some cases. In addition, the base station, with the dual connectivity, is directly connected to a device of a superordinate layer in some cases. Note that there is no limit to this configuration. Generally, the dual connectivity is configured so that the terminal is connected to a plurality of base stations and thus concurrently communicates with each of the base sections, thereby transmitting and receiving different pieces of information concurrently with each of the base stations. In the description, the dual connectivity will be described, but similar discussion may be applied to a case of multiple-connectivity, that is, more than ternary connectivity. For this reason, the dual connectivity in the following description may be regarded as the concept including the multiple-connectivity, or may be replaced with the multiple-connectivity.
In a case where the mobile terminal concurrently is connected to the micro cell and the small cell, for example, a control plane for transmitting L3 control information is connected to the micro cell, which performs the setting of a transmission line for transmitting data and the control of a handover. In addition, a data plane for transmitting and receiving data is connected to the small cell. Here, the control plane is also referred to as a C-plane or a signaling radio bearer (SRB). Further, the data plane is also referred to as a user plane, a U-plane, or a data radio bearer (DRB).
In addition, in a case where the mobile terminal is concurrently connected to two different small cells, for example, a configuration in which the control plane is connected to one small cell and the data plane is connected to the other small cell, or a configuration in which the data plane is connected to both of the base stations may be considered. As described above, generally, the dual connectivity is configured so that the terminal is connected to a plurality of base stations and thus concurrently communicates with each of the base sections, thereby transmitting and receiving different pieces of information concurrently with each of the base stations.
As such, in the dual connectivity, a radio base station to which the control plane is connected is referred to as a primary radio base station (cell) in some cases. In addition, a radio base station (cell) to which the data plane is connected and which cooperates with the primary radio base station (cell) to perform data communication is referred to as the secondary radio base station in some cases. In addition, each of them is referred to as an anchor radio base station (cell), or an assisting radio base station (cell) in some cases. Furthermore, each of them is referred to as a master radio base station (cell) or a slave radio base station (cell) in some cases. Here, in a case of the dual connectivity, when a radio communication terminal is capable of receiving data from two radio base stations, both of the primary and secondary radio base stations may be configured to output data to the radio communication terminal so as to improve communication properties. Note that names of the radio base stations are not limited to those in this description. Generally, similar to an LTE communication system of the related art, as long as the radio base station which performs communication by connecting both of the control plane and the data plane is a main base station, it is possible to use various names within the scope of the disclosures.
As a configuration of the dual connectivity, various configurations have been proposed according to layers separating the data plane.
For example, there is a configuration of separating the data plane in a previous stage of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. In addition, for example, there is a configuration of separating the data plane between the PDCP layer and a radio link control (RLC) layer. Furthermore, for example, there is a configuration of separating the data plane between the RLC layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer. However, a configuration of separating in the layer may be employed without limiting the above described configurations. For example, it is possible to employ a configuration in which the primary base station performs a function of a portion of the PDCP layer, and the secondary base station performs the remaining functions of the PDCP layer. In addition, the same is also true for the RLC layer and the MAC layer.
When employing the configuration of the dual connectivity, the primary radio base station and the secondary radio base station are connected to each other via a wired link or a wireless link. Then, after separating the data plane, data is transmitted to the secondary radio base station via a link connecting the primary radio base station and the secondary radio base station.
An example of the related art includes Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-250211.

Radio base station and communication control method


An anti-peeping device, an anti-peeping display, and a control method. The anti-peeping device comprises an external light source, a grating mirror structure, and a first controller coupled to the grating mirror structure. The external light source is configured to emit light towards the grating mirror structure, and the first controller is configured to control the grating mirror structure to rotate such that light emitted from the external light source towards the grating mirror structure is reflected to a first direction by the grating mirror structure, the first direction deviating from a normal perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the grating mirror structure.

With the continuous development of display technologies, intelligent display screens are being applied in various aspects of our daily life, for example, touch screen mobile phones, touch screen televisions, ATMs (Automatic Teller Machine) and so on. The intelligent display screens have brought various conveniences to users. For example, the users are allowed to perform related operations on their own initiatives; for another example, the displays are made thinner and lighter and thus more beautiful, e.g., touch screen cell phones and tablet computers.
Currently, although the display technologies have been relatively mature, the users' requirements for displays are higher and higher. For instance, in some cases, when a user is performing related operations on a display or the display is displaying certain content, he/she may not want other users to see what is displayed. As an example, when the user is entering a password on an ATM, as the password relates to the user's property security, he/she may not want it to be seen by other users.

Anti-peeping device, anti-peeping display and control method

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Disclosed is a ferroelectric ceramic composition that does not contain harmful lead and that have satisfactory sinterability, as well as a nonlinear optical element including the ferroelectric ceramic composition. The ferroelectric ceramic composition includes a main component represented by a general formula (Ba1-x-ySrxCay)Ag1-dNb5O15-d/2 and having a tungsten bronze structure; and auxiliary components represented by a general formula aMnO2+bSiO2 (wherein a and b each represent parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the main component), wherein x, y, a, b, and d meet expressions 0.1≦x+y≦0.8, a+b≦5, and 0≦d≦0.6.

Conventionally, ferroelectric ceramic compositions each composed of lead zirconate titanate (Pb(TixZr1-x)O3) or lead titanate (PbTiO3) as a main component have been widely used as piezoelectric elements. Non-Patent Document 1 and the like disclose (Ba,Sr)2NaNb5O15. Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 2 discloses Ba2AgNb5O15.
Non-Patent Document 1: J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 52(1976)276
Non-Patent Document 2: J. J. Appl. Phys., 13(1974)1291

Ferroelectric ceramic composition and applied ferroelectric element including same


The present disclosure is drawn to methods for treating various types of pain. Specifically, a method for treating various types of pain includes the application of an analgesic system to a skin surface of a subject experiencing the pain and maintaining the analgesic system on the skin surface for a period of time of at least 30 minutes. The analgesic system applied to the skin surface can include a heating component and a local anesthetic formulation which includes at least one local anesthetic. The heating component can be capable of heating the skin surface to a temperature of 36° C. to 42° C.

Pains associated with nerve conditions such as nerve entrapment and neuroma are suffered by many people. Examples of these pains and similar pains include point pain, nerve entrapment pain (carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy, pudendal nerve entrapment), focal pain, IT band pain, pain associated with trigger points, occipital neuralgia, headaches associated with trigger point pain, pain associated with arthritis, pain associated with injury, and from over use of muscles or joints.
These pains are frequently treated with opioid and non-opioid analgesics delivered orally or by injection. Unfortunately, these treatment options suffer from various drawbacks and undesirable side-effects. These undesirable side-effects are frequently due to their systemic delivery. Accordingly, research continues into alternative methods of ameliorating these pains.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods of treating pains associated with neuroma, nerve entrapment, and other conditions


Access control electronics for wireless locks comprise one or more battery operated radios that receive access control codes. The wireless accessed locks locate the electronic components, circuits, sensors and antennas and many of the lock components away from the container being secured and closer to the operator/user. The disclosed access control electronics combine a proximity detection circuit comprising sensor pads and a capacitive sensing circuit and one or more short-range radio frequency antennas for reading RFID devices. The proximity sensor pads are in close proximity with the antennas, without the antennas interfering with the proximity sensing process, and the sensor pads to not attenuate the signals between the RFID devices and the antennas after the RFID devices are detected.

In the embodiment(s) disclosed herein, the lock housing encloses some different and enhanced electronic access control assemblies. Locks that utilize wireless forms of access control have their functional advantages but are very challenging to optimize from an engineering perspective. Wireless access potentially offer convenience and speed for the operator/user, but are demanding in terms of power dissipation, sensitivity to their surroundings, and packaging implementation.
The lock(s) of the embodiment(s) disclosed herein comprise one or more battery operated radios that receive access control codes. Such battery operated radios are problematic for a performance and power dissipation stand point. These radios must be designed to be power efficient to operate on small batteries of less than 1 amp-hour, but the trade-off is the performance of the radios are susceptible to deficiencies such as slow signal detection, false signal detection, and lost signal detection.
Most wireless accessed locks comprise of a lock mechanism, control and radio electronics inside the container being secured, and an antenna to receive the electronic signals located on the outside of the container in order to avoid interference and attenuation from a) the container, b) items stored in the container and c) the lock/latch mechanism materials (which are usually metallic). Mounting an antenna and routing wires to/from an antenna through an opening in the container being secured can be problematic. Containers and the lock/latch mechanisms inside the containers consist of different metallic materials, thicknesses, coatings, etc. Methods of routing the wires vary with different containers and installation workers. To electrically compensate for these variations, the radio circuits are typically designed to withstand attenuation effects from the container, items stored in the container and from the antenna being separate from the radio circuits. Designing for such radio frequency interference and attenuations typically requiring the radio circuits to transmit greater dbm levels and receive lower dbm levels (greater levels of sensitivity and noise filtering). Thus, these radio circuits will dissipate more power than radio circuits and antennas that are in very close proximity to each other and are not separated or surrounded by the container surface, items in the container and/or internal lock mechanisms.
The object of the wireless access embodiments are to offer the advantages of wireless access, but to overcome the problems associated with high power dissipation, radio interference between the multiple radios, interference from components in the secured enclosure such as the metallic enclosure itself and the metallic latch components, and operation inconvenience. It is one advantage to house or package as much of the electronic components, circuits, sensors and antennas and many of the lock components and offset them away from the container being secured and to move them closer to the operator/user. The closer these antennas and circuits are to the user, the more efficient they can operate, the less they are effected and attenuated by the secured container and the more efficient and faster they can operate and the less power they will consume. The closer these circuits can be packaged together the faster and the more power efficient they can operate. By reducing the distance from the radio receiver circuits to the antennas will serve to reduce stray capacitive, inductive and resistance impedance variations between the circuits and the antennas, thus eliminating the need to tune the circuits to compensate for the impedance effects of the secured enclosure.
In order to meet the power requirements and to dissipate less power, the embodiment combines a proximity detection circuit comprising sensor pads and a capacitive sensing circuit and one or more short-range radio frequency antennas (typically 125 KHz and 13.56 MHz) for reading RFID devices. The object is to provide proximity sensor pads in close proximity with the antennas to detect the RFID devices without the antennas interfering with the proximity sensing process, and for the sensor pads to not attenuate the signals between the RFID devices and the antennas after the RFID devices are detected.


A waste water purifying apparatus utilizes microorganisms, which comprises an inner casing (1), an outer casing (2), a waste water supply tank (3) and an air supply pipe (4). The inner casing is a vertical type and its upper and lower end are open. Plural porous discs 7 of polyethylene which have liquid passages (6) are piled in the inner casing with each space between every two carrier discs.. The outer casing is a vertical type whose bottom is closed by a bottom cap (12) and arranged coaxially with the inner casing with a downward circuit (13) for liquid there between. The outer casing has outflow ports (14) for the treated water.. The waste water supply tank is for having waste water a head to flow into the outer casing, above which a waste water supply pipe (15) is open. The tank communicates with the outer casing by means of a leading pipe (19) and it is provided with an overflow to keep a water level constant.. The air supply pipe is connected with an air scattering disc (22) below the lower end of the inner casing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for treating organic waste water utilizing microorganisms and more particularly to an apparatus for treating waste water contained organic matter, or the like such as, living drainage, factory drainage, etc., by utilizing microorganisms.
2. Prior Art
A former apparatus for treating organic waste water has, as shown in FIG. 26, a reaction tank 51 to bring floating active sludge germ (a flock of various microorganisms) into contact with waste water. The reaction tank 51 is connected with a settling pond 52 and the waste water contacted with active sludge germ is separated by gravity in the settling pond 52. The active sludge germs precipitate and the supernatant water is to be a treated water.
The settling pond 52 is connected with the reaction tank 51 through a sludge return pump 53. A precipitated active sludge germ is sucked by the pump 53 and returned as a second seed germ into the reaction tank 51.
The operation according to the apparatus is done continuously, and parts of active sludge germs do not precipitate in the settling pond but float in the supernatant water and flow out with the treated water.
The more active sludge germs increase in number in the reaction tank, the speedier waste water is purified. However, as stated above, parts of active sludges flow out the settling pond so that the quantity of active sludge germs in the reaction tank is limited. Further, active sludge germs are not aggregates of only microorganisms which oxidize and resolve organic matters in the waste water, and generally they contain inactive microorganisms which do not directly take part in purifying.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of less running cost.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of high efficiency for purifying waste water.
Further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can be assembled in a suitable scale under its using condition.

Apparatus for treating organic waste water utilizing microorganisms


A system for controlling a flow rate of a compressed cooling medium between a compressor section and a turbine section of a gas turbine includes a flow path that is defined between the compressor section and the turbine section of the gas turbine and a thermally actuated variable flow valve disposed within the flow path. The variable flow valve defines an opening that changes in size based on a temperature of the compressed cooling medium flowing therethrough.

A gas turbine generally includes an axial compressor, a combustion section downstream from the compressor and a turbine section downstream from the combustion section. The compressor generally includes a casing and an inlet that is disposed at an upstream end of the casing. The combustion section generally includes a plurality of combustors arranged in an annular array around an axially extending shaft that extends at least partially through the gas turbine. The turbine section generally includes an outer casing that at least partially circumferentially surrounds the shaft. The turbine section further includes multiple rows or stages of stationary vanes that extend radially inward from an inner surface of the outer casing so as to circumferentially surround the shaft. Each row of the stationary vanes is axially separated by a row of turbine blades that extend radially outward from the shaft.
In operation, a working fluid such as air is ingested through the inlet of the compressor and is progressively compressed as it flows through the compressor towards the combustion section. A primary portion of the compressed air is routed to each combustor of the combustion section for cooling various hot gas path components and/or for mixture with a fuel for combustion.
A secondary portion of the compressed air is extracted from the compressor upstream from the combustion section through one or more extraction ports that extend through the compressor casing. The secondary portion of the compressed air is routed from the compressor through one or more fluid conduits and/or couplings and into various cooling circuits defined within the turbine section of the gas turbine. The secondary portion of the compressed air is used as a cooling medium to cool various components of the turbine section such as one or more of the rows of the stationary vanes.
Generally, one or more flow control valves such as modulating valves are disposed between the extraction ports and the turbine section to control the flow rate of the secondary portion of the compressed air that flows from the compressor into the turbine section. During base-load or peak-load operation of the gas turbine, when the cooling requirements for the turbine section are the highest, the flow control valves are set to allow a higher flow rate of the compressed air than when the gas turbine is being operated at a part-load or in an unloaded condition. During part-load operation, when the cooling requirements of the turbine section are reduced, the flow control valves restrict or limit the flow of the compressed into the turbine section to improve compressor and/or overall gas turbine efficiency. One concern with this type of system for controlling the flow rate of the compressed air to the turbine section is that the flow control valves require measurement and feedback control, thereby potentially compromising the overall reliability of the gas turbine.
In alternate gas turbine configurations, the flow control valves do not modulate or actuate to reduce the flow rate. As a result, excess compressed air is routed into the turbine section during part-load operation, thereby reducing the overall efficiency of the compressor and/or the gas turbine. Accordingly, an improved system for reducing the flow rate of the compressed air flowing from the compressor to the turbine section during part-load operation of the gas turbine would be useful.

System for controlling a cooling flow from a compressor section of a gas turbine


A display device and terminal equipment including the display device are described. The display device includes a first panel having a first area; a liquid crystal display panel disposed below the first panel and having a second area, configured to display an image based on an image signal; a backlight disposed below the liquid crystal display panel, configured to produce light; a light guide plate disposed below the liquid crystal display panel and having a third area, configured to fix the backlight and cause the light produced by the backlight to be uniformly irradiated on the liquid crystal display panel; and a reflection unit disposed below the light guide plate, configured to reflect the light produced by the backlight to the light guide plate. A space for accommodating and protecting the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight is formed between the light guide plate and the first panel.

The present invention relates to a display device and a terminal equipment comprising the display device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ultra-thin display device and a terminal equipment comprising the display device.
In recent years, as the user's requirement for portability of terminal equipment such as a laptop or the like increases continuously, lightness and thinness has always been the development trend of laptops, and during the design of many laptops, thickness of a display unit such as a liquid crystal screen or the like is reduced as much as possible. For example, thickness of a display unit may be reduced by grinding panel glass to be thin, reducing thickness of housings on both sides of the display unit, or using plastics instead of glass as a substrate (a part of the housing) of a liquid crystal panel.
However, it is difficult to further reduce a total thickness of the display unit due to the limits of materials and techniques.

Display device and terminal equipment comprising the display device


Provided is an electric connector for connecting electric equipment to a power device. The electric connector includes a connector body defining an outer appearance thereof, a connection bar disposed on the connector body to electrically the connect electric equipment to the power device, an insertion part disposed on the connector body, the insertion part being inserted into the electric equipment, and a sealing disposed on a shaft of the insertion part in a circumferential direction.

The present disclosure relates to an electric connector for an electric vehicle.
Electric vehicles mean vehicles driven by using electricity. Electric vehicles may be largely classified into battery powered electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Here, the battery powered electric vehicles mean vehicles driven by using only electricity without using fossil fuel. Thus, such a battery powered electric vehicle may be generally called an electric vehicle. Also, the hybrid electric vehicles mean vehicles driven by using electricity and fossil fuel. Such a hybrid electric vehicle includes a battery that supplies electricity for driving. Particularly, in a case of the battery power electric vehicle and a plug-in type hybrid electric vehicle of the hybrid electric vehicle, a battery is charged by using power supplied from an external power source to drive an electric motor by using the power charged in the battery.
A power control device for the electric vehicle includes a connector for electrically connecting the electric vehicle to an external device. The connector has to supply an electrically connecting function and a sealing function between the inside and outside of a product. An existing connector may be coupled from the outside by using a bolt and fixed to an enclosure of the product to provide the sealing function.

Electric connector and housing having a simple mounting structure


A section of a bed has a mattress support grid comprising a plurality of intersecting wire segments. The intersecting were segments define an opening. A handle is engageable with the opening.

The present invention relates to handling implements and more particularly, to a handle or grip for hand carrying a grid structure.
Handles and grips assist a user in negotiating articles of varying shapes, sizes and compositions. Handles are especially useful in handling articles that may otherwise be difficult, cumbersome or even hazardous to handle. Some handles are specifically provided to meet a particular purpose. Some handles are also uniquely structured and dimensioned to cooperate with particular articles.
Some articles, particularly parcels, have been configured to include handles. Some parcels are configured to include an integral handle. For example, it is well known to provide a parcel generally fabricated of a corrugated material, such as cardboard, having one or more integral handles. Cardboard parcels are known to have handles stamped in the cardboard. The parcels can be assembled in a manner such that the handle extends from the parcel. Alternatively, the handle may be substantially flush with the parcel's exterior and extensible at the option of the user. Such a configuration is more amenable to stacking and thus, is more adaptable to shipping and conserving inventory space.
Other parcels are configured to cooperate with separate handles formed of diverse materials. For example, it is known to provide a parcel having a pair of spaced slots. The slots are arranged and configured to receive opposed ends of a handle. The handle is generally a plastic handle having ends. The ends engage the slots and are subsequently turned ninety degrees to prevent the handles from escaping the slots. Although a plastic handle is most prominent, rope handles are also common. Rope handles typically include opposed ends. The ends pass through openings in the parcel and are knotted. The knots prevent the ends from escaping through the openings.
Another handle commonly associated with parcels is in the form of an opening in the parcel. A user can extend his or her fingers through the opening to grasp the parcel. The opening can be stamped into the parcel material. It is known to allow the openings to remain plugged until needed. This may be desirable to preserve or protect the contents of the parcel.
As set forth above, some handles or grips are uniquely configured for particular parcels. One area where a uniquely configured handle would be well suited is in the packaging and transport of beds, such as hospital beds. Hospital beds H, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, generally include a peripheral frame F and a supporting structure, such as legs L, for supporting the peripheral frame F on a supporting surface. The peripheral frame F supports a mattress support grid G. The mattress support grid G is generally formed of wire segments W. The wire segments W provide a rigid structure for supporting a mattress M, eliminating the need for a box spring. Conventional hospital beds H include sections, such as the head section S1 and the foot section S2 shown. The sections S1, S2 are pivotally attached relative to one another and the frame F so as to be movable relative to one another and to the frame F. For example, the head section S1 of a hospital bed H typically inclines. Moreover, the foot section S2 of a hospital bed generally elevates so as to raise the knees of the user in a bent knee orientation.
Hospital beds can be sectioned for packaging and shipping. The sections are assembled when they reach their destination. The parcels containing the sections can be heavy and can be cumbersome and uncomfortable to carry. A retrofit handle that cooperates with a hospital bed section would aid the user in handling and transporting the hospital bed section as a parcel. A handle that is engageable with hospital bed section in the form of a parcel would enable a carrier of the parcel to manage or control the parcel with greater ease.


A telecommunications system (18) is provided that includes a first controller (20) and a second controller (22) coupled using a packet-switched network (32). The controllers provide a low cost means of coupling isochronous telecommunication devices. The first controller (20) receives one or more isochronous input channels from a common control shelf (24), such as a private branch exchange (PBX), over a circuit-switched network (27). The first controller (20) encapsulates an isochronous frames from the common control shelf (27) into a data frame that is transferrable over the packet-switched network (32). The second controller (22) is configured to receive the data frame and extract the isochronous frame, which is then transmitted to a peripheral shelf (26), such as a line trunk unit (LTU), using an isochronous circuit-switched network (38). The controllers contain identical functionality, permitting bi-directional transmission of data between the common control and peripheral shelves. Each controller includes multiplex/de-multiplex functions normally associated with isochronous telephony, as well as a packetize/de-packetize functions for transferring data over the packet-switched network (32). The arrival rate of the data packets is used for synchronizing the two controllers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telephony networks, and in particular, to a telecommunications system that allows isochronous networks to be interconnected by non-isochronous packet-switched networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital communications network simultaneously connects many users to one another over shared transmission paths. To accomplish this, these networks typically include some form of xe2x80x9cswitchingxe2x80x9d. Switching enables the reconfiguration of point-to-point connections in the network, and usually takes one of two basic formsxe2x80x94circuit switching or packet switching.
In circuit switching, the network connects a bit stream to a destination for relatively long periods of time using a dedicated circuit. For example, in a telecommunications network, the circuit is formed for the duration of one telephone call. An important property of circuit switching is the need to set up an end-to-end path before any data can be sent over the network. Once a call has been set up, the dedicated circuit between nodes exists, and will continue to exist until the telephone call is finished. As a consequence of establishing a dedicated circuit, there is no danger of having the call disconnected due to excessive network traffic.
An alternative to circuit switching is packet switching. When this form of switching is used, no dedicated path is established in advance between the transmitter and receiver. Instead, when the transmitter is ready to send data, the data is encapsulated into relatively short bundles of bits called xe2x80x9cpacketsxe2x80x9d, and a destination address is appended. Then, the packet is sent over the network to the destination address without using a dedicated circuit. The advantage of packet switching is that the bit stream between the source and destination includes only the packets needed to transmit data. This leads to a more efficient use of network bandwidth.
The key difference between packet-switching and circuit-switching is that circuit switching statically reserves the required bandwidth in advance, whereas packet switching acquires and releases it as it is needed. With circuit switching, any unused bandwidth on an allocated circuit is wasted. In contrast, with packet switching, unused bandwidth can be utilized by other packets from unrelated sources because the transmission circuits are not dedicated to individual sources.
Telecommunication devices are typically interconnected using circuit-switched networks, such as the T1, T2, T3, and T4 carriers developed by the Bell System, or the E1, E2, E3 carriers established by CCITT. These standard networks are isochronous, that is, data is transferred between devices which are operating at the same average bit rate.
In addition to being isochronous, conventional telecommunications networks are designed to handle pulse-coded modulated (PCM) voice as well as signalling information. PCM voice is a digital representation of voice input or computer data that is transmitted through a conventional analog telephone input using a modem. Signalling information is digital data that does not represent PCM voice and is generally used for call setup.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art subscriber telecommunications network. The network include a common control shelf 10 connected to two remote peripheral shelves 12 using a conventional circuit-switched network 14. The common control shelf 10 is also connected to the central office (CO) 16 of a common carrier using a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 17. The circuit-switched network 14 and the PSTN 17 are both isochronous networks. One or more peripheral units 15, such as telephones, modems, faxes, etc., are connected to the peripheral shelves 12.
The common control shelf 10 mediates digital communications among the peripheral shelves 12, as well as communications between the peripheral shelves 12 and the CO 16. The common control shelf 10 provides switching and call setup services to the peripheral shelves 12 and can be implemented using a private branch exchange (PBX), such as the Hicom 300 E manufactured by Siemens Corporation.
Each peripheral shelf 12 includes a plurality of analog or digital ports and interface circuits for connecting a group of peripheral units 15. All calls placed between peripheral units or to the CO 16 are routed through the common control shelf 10. The peripheral shelves 12 can be local line trunk units (LTUs) or remote LTUs located several kilometers (up to 700 miles) from the common control shelf 10. Remote LTUs can be implemented using a Remote Communication Module (RCM) manufactured by Siemens Corporation. Private subscriber networks, such as shown in FIG. 1, can be used to interconnect users within a local campus. For example, in a campus environment having many distributed users, RCMs can be remotely located throughout the campus to serve various groups of telecom users. The RCMs can be connected to one or more PBXs using standard circuit-switched network technology. Typically, a PBX is used to interconnect a plurality of RCMs or LTUs allowing calls to be placed between various groups located within the campus. In addition, the PBX can also be attached to a telephone company""s central office, allowing users to place calls outside the campus. A PBX typically provides bandwidth and switching capacity to the LTUs/RCMs and thus, a PBX can act as a central switching hub for several RCMs and LTUs.
Although PBXs provide communications bandwidth, they can only support a limited number of users. When new users are added to the campus system, it is often necessary to increase the telecommunications bandwidth by adding more LTUs and RCMs or more PBXs. In many instances, this is very expensive because adding new PBXs and LTUs and RCMs requires additional copper cabling and networking of the PBXs.
In other situations, it is often necessary to move users to different locations within a campus. This frequently requires additional copper cabling. Thus, a simple move can become very expensive because of the high costs of relocating conventional phone lines and PBXs.
In order to eliminate the cost of copper cabling it is known to provide circuit-switched PBXs and RCMs that rely on fiber optic technology. However, these PBXs and RCMs are generally expensive. Moreover, incorporating fiber-optic telecommunications equipment into pre-existing copper-based subscriber networks typically requires costly upgrades that are often unacceptable to many customers.
It is also known to use low-cost packet networks for telephony. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,732 discloses a network bridge for transferring isochronous signalling messages using a non-isochronous packet network. However, this reference does not disclose a device that performs the multiplexing/demultiplexing associated with isochronous telephony, as well as the xe2x80x9cpacketizingxe2x80x9d associated with packet-switched networks. Therefore, the ""732 patent does not provide a device that can be easily integrated into an existing telephone network.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that allows a conventional telephony network to be expanded at a lower cost and without the need for replacing the existing infrastructure of switching gear.
It is an advantage of the present invention to overcome the limitations of the prior art telecommunications networks. It is also an advantage of the present invention to provide a system and method that allows a low-cost packet-switched network to be inserted into an isochronous circuit-switched network. This allows public or private telecommunications networks to be upgraded and expanded with a substantial savings in cost.
These and other advantages of the present invention are realized by providing a novel system and method for transmitting isochronous telecommunications data frames over a packet-switched network.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a telecommunications system is provided that includes a first controller and a second controller coupled using a packet-switched network. The first controller receives one or more isochronous input channels from a common control shelf, such as a private branch exchange (PBX), over a circuit-switched network. The first controller encapsulates an isochronous frames from the common control shelf into a data frame that is transferrable over the packet-switched network. The second controller is configured to receive the data frame and extract the isochronous frame, which is then transmitted to a peripheral shelf, such as a line trunk unit (LTU), using an isochronous circuit-switched network.
The controllers contain identical functionality, permitting bi-directional transmission of data between the common control and peripheral shelves. Each controller includes multiplex/de-multiplex functions normally associated with isochronous telephony, as well as a packetize/de-packetize functions for transferring data over the packet-switched network.

Apparatus and method for interconnecting isochronous systems over packet-switched networks

Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.


A makeup support apparatus includes an image capturer that captures an image of a user's face, a display that displays the captured image, and a guide superimposer that superimposes a guide image upon the displayed image. The guide image indicates a region of the user's face in which makeup is to be applied.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a makeup support apparatus and a method for supporting makeup that support a user in putting on facial makeup.
2. Description of the Related Art
When putting on makeup, people often use others' makeup as references, such as photographs of models included in fashion magazines. However, because the arrangement, shapes, and sizes of facial components (for example, eyes, nose, and mouth) vary between individuals, it is difficult to accurately imitate others' makeup.
Therefore, a technique for displaying a simulated image of a user's face after makeup has been disclosed (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-257194). In the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-257194 (hereinafter referred to as a "technique disclosed in an example of the related art"), the simulated image of the user's face after makeup is generated by superimposing an image of applied makeup upon a still image of the user's face. According to the technique disclosed in the example of the related art, the user can put on makeup in accordance with the simulated image.

Makeup support apparatus and method for supporting makeup

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A detachable front panel of an electronic device, containing push-buttons corresponding to actuating rods in the chassis of the device. The push buttons are provided with springs which urge the buttons against the actuating rod, and causes the buttons to be moved into the front panel when the panel is detached from the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a front panel intended to be mounted on the front surface of an electronic home-entertainment apparatus, which front surface carries an actuating rod which projects from said surface and is actuated by pushing, which front panel is provided with a slide button secured to it and arranged so as to be disposed opposite the actuating rod when the front panel has been mounted on the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Such a detachable front panel is known from the document EP 0,566,128. In accordance with said document a removable front panel carries push-buttons corresponding to push-buttons which project from the front surface of the chassis, for controlling a cassette player.

Front panel of an electronic apparatus, provided with a push-button


A vehicular wireless apparatus continues a standby state even after an ACC switch of the vehicle is turned off. In the vehicular wireless apparatus, when it is determined that the ACC switch is turned from on to off, paging area information stored in a RAM (volatile memory) is stored in an EEPROM (nonvolatile memory). When the ACC switch is then turned from off to on, a power-on-reset is done for the whole of the vehicular wireless apparatus and paging area information stored in the RAM is reset. The paging area information stored in the EEPROM is then read. Whether a location registration should be newly done is determined based on the read paging area information.

For example, a mobile phone is in a standby state while it is supplied with power. The mobile phone can receive incoming calls from other phones. To receive incoming calls, the mobile phone needs to report a present paging area, where the mobile phone is present, via a base station to a location registration DB of a base station controlling station. The base station controlling station controls multiple base stations that form wireless areas as paging areas.
On receiving the report from the mobile phone, the base station controlling station stores and registers the mobile phone number in the location registration DB, in association with the paging area information. The base station controlling station notifies the mobile phone that its mobile phone number has been stored in the location registration DB in association with the paging area information, via the base station.
In particular, the mobile phone sends a location registration message to the DB via the base station. When the mobile phone receives a receipt acknowledgement (so-called ACK signal) of the message, the mobile phone determines that the location registration is complete. Then, the mobile phone stores information about the paging area, where the corresponding location registration is done, in its volatile memory device (hereinafter called a RAM).
Through these processes, the base station controlling station can specify which mobile phone is present in which paging area out of the multiple paging areas. The mobile phone can recognize the paging area from which the mobile phone receives incoming calls. These processes are generally called a location registration.
For example, a mobile phone makes a call, and there is an incoming request for a certain mobile phone which has registered its location in the base station controlling station. The base station controlling station notifies the paging area where the location of the certain mobile phone is registered, that there is an incoming request, by use of a paging channel. Accordingly, the certain mobile phone can receive the call and perform communications.
When entering a new communications area, the mobile phone receives information of a new paging area. The mobile phone determines whether the new paging area matches the paging area stored in the RAM. When the new paging area does not match, the mobile phone notifies the base station controlling station of a location registration message, which shows that the mobile phone is present in (moves to) the new communications area, via a base station. The mobile phone updates the information stored in its own RAM by using the new paging area where a new location registration is done. Accordingly, the mobile phone can perform communications anywhere in wireless areas.
The mobile phone has a power supply button (or switch) which can turn on or off the power supply, and for example, the power supply can be turned off on a train or in a hospital if necessary. When the user turns off the power supply of the mobile phone, a control device of the mobile phone writes information about the paging area stored in the RAM (hereinafter also called RAM-storing information), in a nonvolatile memory device (EEPROM) of the mobile phone. The control device then turns off the power supply for the mobile phone.
When the user presses the power supply button to turn on the power supply again, the control device receives new paging area information sent from the base station controlling station via a base station. The control device writes the information about the paging area which is stored in the EEPROM (hereinafter also called EEPROM-storing information), in the RAM. The RAM-storing information is thus returned to the state just before the power supply is tuned off.
The control device of the mobile phone compares the paging area information in the RAM with the paging area information received after the power supply is turned on. When the control device of the mobile phone determines that both do not match each other, the control device does a location registration with the base station controlling station via the base station. When the control device determines that both match each other, the mobile phone enters a state of waiting for incoming calls without doing the location registration. Accordingly, the redundant location registration can be avoided in the same paging area.
As a result, every time the power supply of the mobile phone is turned on and off, the redundant location registration can be avoided. This reduces loads in the communications with the base station controlling station via the base stations for the location registration. The writing in the EEPROM is executed only when the power supply is turned off. The number of the writings in the EEPROM can be small in comparison with the case where the writing is executed every time the paging area information in the RAM is updated. As a result, a longer time to reach the limit of the number of the writings in the EEPROM of the mobile phone leads to a longer life span of the mobile phone.
In recent years, vehicular wireless apparatuses have appeared. For example, use of a vehicular wireless apparatus provides the following: a remote car security function for reporting that a vehicle has been broken into even when the driver is away from the vehicle; an emergency report function for communicating with an outside in case of a contingency such as a traffic accident; and a guide function for obtaining congestion information or guide information about shops the driver wants to visit from an outside via communications.
For example, the car security function requires continuous communications even when the driver is away from the vehicle. Even when an ACC switch of the vehicle is off, the vehicular wireless apparatus needs to communicate with an outside of the vehicle.
As a result of the inventors' examination of this apparatus, the following operations are found. For example, regardless of whether the ACC switch of the vehicle is on or off, a control device of the vehicular wireless apparatus determines whether received new paging area information is different from RAM-storing information about the paging area (i.e., RAM-storing paging area information). When the new paging area information is different, the location registration is done as described above, and the paging area information in the RAM is updated to the new paging area information. The control device of the vehicular wireless apparatus does not update the paging area information in the EEPROM. These operations are the same as the above mobile phone.
The inventor has installed a power-on-rest in the whole of the vehicular wireless apparatus to stabilize; the power-on-reset runs when the user turns the ACC switch from off to on.
The RAM-storing paging area information of the vehicular wireless apparatus is reset by the power-on-reset and disappears. Accordingly, a location registration is newly done after the power-on-reset even though the paging area does not change actually.
Regarding the mobile phone, user's turning off the power supply button becomes a trigger of writing or duplicating the RAM-storing paging area information in the EEPROM. In contrast, the vehicular wireless apparatus does not have such a trigger.
Accordingly, with or without a change of the paging area information after the power-on-reset operated when the ACC switch is turned on, a location registration is newly done.


Disclosed is a system for routing print jobs to one of a plurality of printers or print queues, such as a logical print queue. After providing a print job, a set of printers capable of printing the print job is determined. The set of printers is queried to determine status information thereon. A criterion is then applied to the status information for the set of printers to determine a subset of printers. The determined subset is dependent upon the determined status information. A printer is selected from the subset and the print job is routed to the selected printer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for applying rule based criteria to select a printer from a list of candidate printers and, in particular, to select a logical printer associated with a queue that routes print jobs to a printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Network printing systems generally comprise an assemblage of different printers, client computers, servers, and other components connected over a network. A print job is assembled at a client computer and transmitted over the network to a server linked to a variety of printers. The printers may have different printing capabilities. Thus, for a given submitted print job, some printers in the network may not be able to process the print job. To route print jobs through a network printing system, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides Printing Systems Manager (PSM) products that provide centralized and distributed management of a network printing system. The IBM PSM systems manage the flow of print jobs and insure that a print job is routed to a printer that can handle the job.
A print job is comprised of one or more electronically-stored files and the print attributes therefor. The print attributes inform the printer how to process the files. To assemble print jobs, previous systems include software installed on the client computer that displays a graphical user interface (GUI). Using a mouse, keyboard, etc., the user selects from a menu of options displayed in the GUI the components and print attributes for a print job. The client computer, under control of the installed software, would then create an electronically-stored job ticket based on the information entered by the user or systems operator.
Job tickets typically only define the print attributes for a single file. However, a document may be comprised of multiple files, each having one or more print attributes. A file submitted to the printer often includes printer instructions in a page description language (PDL) such as POSTSCRIPT(trademark). POSTSCRIPT is a trademark of Adobe Systems, Incorporated. The PostScript language is used by many printers and applications to provide the complex fonts, graphics, and image handling capabilities required by today""s applications. The PostScript language must be interpreted by a transform process in the printer or elsewhere in the network to produce a printed image file that is ready to be printed. Print image files are in a bit-mapped image format, also known as a raster image. A raster image processor (RIP) translates PDL files to a raster image or RIP version of the file. In the desktop publishing environment, it can take several hours to transform a large PDL print file to its RIP version.
The IBM AIX(copyright) PRINT SERVICES FACILITY(trademark)/6000 (PSF/6000) software system transforms PostScript files into an Advanced Function Presentation data stream (AFP data stream) for printing on printers attached to a machine implementing the PSF/6000 software. AIX is a registered trademark of IBM and PRINT SERVICES FACILITY is a trademark of IBM. The PSF/6000 software uses the PS2AFP transform command to transform PostScript and other file formats into an AFP data stream file without submitting it immediately to the printer. The PS2AFP command runs as a daemon, which is a program that runs unattended in the background of the operating system. Daemon processes generally provide services that must be available at all times. A daemon runs continuously, looking for work to do, performing that work, and waiting for more work.
In previous systems, including those that implement the ISO DPA 10175, POSIX 1387.4 and PSIS printing standards, such as the IBM Printer Resource Manager products, print jobs are received and queued at a single point before being routed to a logical printer or printer that can handle the print job. Such a single point queue is sometimes referred to as a xe2x80x9cspooler.xe2x80x9d Spoolers are servers that accept requests from many clients, validate job and document attributes with those of the intended print destination, provide queuing and scheduling, and then route jobs/documents to the appropriate printer. A queued print job is then transferred to a logical printer, which then routes the print job to a queue for one or more physical printers.
Current techniques for routing print jobs to logical printers are often based on the first available logical printer. Such techniques do not efficiently route print jobs to optimize throughput as factors that can effectively optimize throughput are not considered with such techniques.
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, preferred embodiments disclose a method and system for routing print jobs to one of a plurality of printers. After providing a print job, a set of printers capable of printing the print job is determined. The set of printers is queried to determine status information thereon. A criterion is then applied to the status information for the set of printers to determine a subset of printers. The determined subset is dependent upon the determined status information. A printer is selected from the subset and the print job is routed to the selected printer.
In further embodiments, printers are organized according to print queues, wherein each print queue routes print jobs to at least one associated printer. In such case, the print queues are processed and the criterion are applied to the queues to determine a subset of print queues. The print job is then routed to a print queue, which then routes the print job to a printer associated with the print queue.
In further embodiments a second criteria may be applied to the subset determined from the first criteria to obtain a second subset from which the print queue is selected.
In further embodiments, criteria can be encoded as rules in a rule-based system to allow for modification of the type and order of the rule criteria.
In further embodiments, the queue may contain pointers to the content of the print job or tokens representing the print job to avoid transferring the content of the print job when queuing and transferring the print job throughout the system. In this way, only the pointer or token for a print job is queued and routed through the system. The actual content of the print job is routed to the printer selected to print the job.
In still further embodiments, the first and second criteria may involve a queue depth rule and a reuse rule to optimize load balancing and minimize network traffic, respectively.
Current techniques often do not consider the load balancing of print jobs across logical printer queues and, thus, tend to over or under utilize printer resources in the system. Moreover, current techniques often do not consider reuse capabilities and the number of component print jobs that are already on the machine including the logical printer queue. Still further, in the prior art, routing occurs after the print job is queued. Routing print jobs to queues without consideration of reusability at the machine including the queue increases network traffic because the components of the print job that reside on separate machines must be routed to the machine including the selected logical printer queue.
Preferred embodiments provide a method and system for selecting a printer queue, such as a logical printer queue, based on criteria that optimize a desired goal.
For instance, if the first criteria is based on selecting a logical printer queue of minimum depth, then the rule based criteria optimizes load balancing by insuring that queues are not over or under utilized. If the first criteria is based on a reuse factor, then network traffic is minimized because logical printer queues are selected that are implemented in machines that already maintain copies of the print job. In this way, a systems operator or user may select different rule-based criteria to control how print jobs are distributed to different printers or to queues associated with logical printers.

Rule based selection criteria for controlling print job distribution


It is an object of the invention to provide a method of reducing flicker noises in an X-Y address type solid-state image pickup device for reducing flicker noises generated by a fluorescent light for room illumination when taking a picture in door.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of reducing flicker noises which are generated on a screen of an X-Y address type solid-state image pickup device by a fluorescent lamp for room illumination when photographing a room with the pickup device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Solid-state image pickup devices are recently used in an enormous quantity by incorporating them in various products such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras, and portable telephones. Solid-state image pickup devices are generally classified into CCD (charge coupled device) solid-state image pickup devices comprising a charge transfer type image sensor and X-Y address type solid-state image pickup devices in which an image sensor is constituted by a CMOS transistor (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). X-Y address type image pickup devices utilizing a CMOS image sensor are expected to replace CCD solid-state image pickup devices for the reason that they can be manufactured using a technique similar to a MOSFET manufacturing process; they can be driven by a single power supply with small power consumption; and various signal processing circuits can be loaded on the same chip.
A CMOS image sensor has a plurality of pixel regions which are connected to a plurality of vertical selection lines and horizontal selection lines and which are arranged in the form of a matrix. A photoelectric conversion device such as a photodiode is formed in each of the pixel regions. Light which has entered a light-receiving surface of each of the photoelectric conversion devices is subjected to photoelectric conversion, and an electric charge is accumulated in the device. The accumulated electric charge is converted by a source follower amplifier or the like provided in the pixel into a voltage which is then amplified and read out as image data for one pixel at predetermined timing.
Image data of a plurality of pixels connected to a predetermined horizontal selection line are output at a time in response to a line selection signal from a vertical scan shift register and are sequentially output to an external system based on a column selection signal from a horizontal scan shift register.
In an in-door photographic environment, a fluorescent lamp is often used as illumination. In Japan, the emission frequency of fluorescent lamps depends on districts. The emission frequency is 100 Hz (power supply frequency is 50 Hz) in some districts and 120 Hz (power supply frequency is 60 Hz) in some districts. FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), 7(a) and 7(b) show relationships between the emission frequencies of fluorescent lamps and a signal storage time of a conventional CMOS image sensor. Those figures indicate time along the abscissa axes and indicate quantities of light emitted by the fluorescent lamp along the ordinate axes. FIGS. 6(a) and 7(a) show a case wherein a fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 100 Hz (emission period (blinking period): 1/100 sec.) is used, and FIGS. 6(b) and 7(b) show a case wherein a fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 120 Hz (emission period (blinking period): 1/120 sec.) is used.
Referring to FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), a description will now be made on signal storage performed by a photodiode at a pixel connected to a horizontal selection line in an x-th place from the beginning of a frame (hereinafter referred to as "x-th line"). A time at which signal storage is started on the x-th line is represented by 1xb; a time at which signal storage is terminated is represented by 1xe; and the signal storage time (integration time) is represented by ts.
For example, one frame period T is 1/30 (sec.) where frame period T is the sum of a vertical scanning period and a vertical blanking period required for the first horizontal selection line through the last horizontal selection line. Therefore, a frame frequency f is 30 Hz.
Since the signal storage time ts of a photodiode is a period required for reading image data after a reset pulse for resetting the photodiode is input, the signal storage time ts can be changed by changing the timing of the input of the reset pulse.
First, in the case of a fluorescent lamp having an emission period of 1/120 sec. as shown in FIG. 6(b), an integral multiple (four times) of the emission period of the fluorescent lamp corresponds to one frame period of a CMOS image sensor. Therefore, the signal storage starting time 1xb and signal storage ending time 1xe on the x-th line are the same timing relative to the emission periods of the fluorescent lamp in an n-th frame and an (n+1)-th frame. Thus, when an image is picked up under the fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 120 Hz, the brightness (the area of the hatched regions in the figure) of the image is constant between the frames.
In the case of a fluorescent lamp having an emission period of 1/100 sec. as shown in FIG. 6(a), an integral multiple of the emission period of the fluorescent lamp does not agree with one frame period of a CMOS image sensor, and there are 100/30≅3.3 periods per frame. Therefore, the signal storage starting time 1xb and signal storage ending time 1xe on the x-th line will not be the same timing relative to the emission periods of the fluorescent lamp in the n-th frame and (n+1)-th frame unless the signal storage time ts is adjusted to the emission period of the fluorescent lamp. Thus, when an image is picked up under the fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 100 Hz, the brightness of the image will be different between the frames.
A description will now be made on signal storage at pixels connected to different horizontal lines (an x-th line and a y-th line) in the same frame as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b). A time at which signal storage is started on the y-th line is represented by 1yb, and a time at which signal storage is terminated is represented by 1ye. A signal storage time ts is the same as that of the x-th line.
As apparent from the figures, the signal storage starting time 1xb and signal storage ending time 1xe for the x-th line and the signal storage starting time 1yb and signal storage ending time 1ye for the y-th line will not be the same timing relative to the emission periods of both of the fluorescent lamps having emission frequencies of 100 Hz and 120 Hz. Therefore, those lines appear with different brightness in the same frame under both of the fluorescent lamps having emission frequencies of 100 Hz and 120 Hz.
FIGS. 8(a) through 8(d) show a specific example of the phenomenon described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 8(a) illustrates an image in the n-th frame picked up under the fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 100 Hz, and FIG. 8(b) illustrates an image in the (n+1)-th frame. As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), on the images picked up under the fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 100 Hz, a phenomenon is observed in which bright and dark horizontal fringes having a period of 3.3 appear in the screen and the fringes gradually move upward or downward. This phenomenon is flicker noises that appear in an image picked up under a fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 100 Hz.
FIG. 8(c) illustrates an image in the n-th frame picked up under the fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 120 Hz, and FIG. 8(d) illustrates an image in the (n+1)-th frame. As shown in FIGS. 8(c) and 8(d), bright and dark horizontal fringes in four periods which are stationary in the screen are observed in the images picked up under the fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 120 Hz. This phenomenon is flicker noises that appear on an image picked up under a fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 120 Hz.
Flicker noises occurs not only in a CMOS image sensor but also in a CCD image sensor. Since a CCD image sensor employs a unique method for reading image data, irregularity of luminance as shown in FIGS. 8(a) through 8(d) does not appear on the same screen. Therefore no flicker noise occurs under the fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 120 Hz. Further, only flicker noises that result in a difference in brightness between frames occur under the fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 100 Hz. A method for reducing such flicker noises will now be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b). FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) show relationships between emission frequencies of fluorescent lamps and a signal storage time ts of a conventional CCD image sensor. Those figures indicate time along the abscissa axes and indicate quantities of light emitted by the fluorescent lamps along the ordinate axes. FIG. 9(a) shows a case wherein a fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 100 Hz is used, and FIG. 9(b) shows a case wherein a fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 120 Hz is used.
According to a method of reducing flicker noises of a CCD image sensor, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the signal storage time ts (a signal storage stating time sb and a signal storage ending time se) in one frame is fixed to a value which will not result in flickers under the fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 100 Hz, e.g., three times the emission period 1/100 of the fluorescent lamp. When the signal storage time is preset at 3/100 sec., a fluorescent lamp can be used without flickers whether it has an emission frequency of 100 Hz or 120 Hz.
In the case of a CMOS image sensor, however, flickers occur at either of the emission frequencies 100 Hz and 120 Hz as described above, and a signal storage time ts resulting in no flicker at both of the emission frequencies 100 Hz and 120 Hz does not exist in a frame period of 1/30 sec. Therefore, the above-described method of reducing flickers in a CCD image sensor can not be used as it is in a CMOS image sensor.

Method of reducing flicker noises of X-Y address type solid-state image pickup device

Abstract: A configuration is provided in which signal storage time ts resulting in no flicker noise under a fluorescent lamp having an emission frequency of 120 Hz is preset (step S1); average luminance of image data is calculated for each frame in a predetermined average luminance detection area allocated in the frame (step S2); a difference in average luminance is calculated between frames (step S3); and the signal storage time ts is changed based on the difference in luminance (steps S4, S5 and S6).


A transparent display panel and a transparent display device are provided. The transparent display panel includes multiple display regions arranged in an array along a first direction and a second direction. Each of the display regions includes a non-transmissive region, a first light transmissive region and a second light transmissive region. In a same display region, the non-transmissive region and the first light transmissive region are arranged sequentially in the first direction, and the non-transmissive region and the second light transmissive region are arranged sequentially in the second direction. Lengths of the display regions in the first direction change non-periodically among multiple display regions arranged along the first direction; and/or, the first light transmissive regions of any two adjacent display regions are misaligned in the first direction among multiple display regions arranged along the second direction.

With the development of the display technology, various new display technologies continuously emerge. In which, transparent display technology has attracted more and more attention. A transparent display device generally refers to a display device that can display images in a transparent display mode so that a viewer can see both a display image of the display device and a background of the display device. However, image ghosting often occurs in the conventional transparent display devices, resulting in image blurring and affecting the user experience.

Transparent display panel and transparent display device

SHANGHAI TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


A stylet unit is provided for implanting in a body, with the aid of an earlier installed tubular delivery sheath having a lumen with an inner diameter, a lead system including a distal electrode for an implantable cardiac stimulation device being slidably received in the lumen of the introducer device. An elongated main member is engageable with a thrusting region of the lead for advancing the distal electrode to a desired body stimulation site and an integral resilient knob at a proximal end serves to manipulate the main member. The knob has a nominal outer dimension greater than the inner diameter of the delivery sheath lumen and is compressible in directions transverse of the longitudinal axis. The delivery sheath can be slidably advanced across the knob which becomes compressed, enabling its continued slidable transit across the knob and, eventually, free of the lead system and of the stylet unit.

Although it will become evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention is applicable to a variety of implantable medical devices utilizing pulse generators to stimulate selected body tissue, the invention and its background will be described principally in the context of a specific example of such devices, namely, cardiac pacemakers for providing precisely controlled stimulation pulses to the heart. However, the appended claims are not intended to be limited to any specific example or embodiment described herein.
Pacemaker leads form the electrical connection between the cardiac pacemaker pulse generator and the heart tissue which is to be stimulated. As is well known, the leads connecting such pacemakers with the heart may be used for pacing, or for sensing electrical signals produced by the heart, or for both pacing and sensing in which case a single lead serves as a bi-directional pulse transmission link between the pacemaker and the heart or may be used to deliver defibrillation shocks to the patient. A typical transvenous type pacing/sensing lead, that is, a lead which is inserted into a vein and guided therethrough into a cavity of the heart, includes at its distal end an electrode designed to contact the endocardium, the tissue lining the inside of the heart. The lead further includes a proximal end having a connector terminal pin adapted to be received by a mating socket in the pacemaker. A flexible, coiled or cabled conductor surrounded by an insulating tube or sheath typically couples the connector terminal pin at the proximal end and the electrode at the distal end.
The implantable cardiac stimulation leads with which the present invention is concerned may take the form of pacemaker leads capable of pacing and sensing in at least one chamber of the heart. Indeed, the present invention, may relate to a programmable dual chamber pacemaker wherein the basic configuration of the pacemaker, e.g. unipolar or bipolar, can be changed, including the grounding configuration and ground potentials used within the pacemaker.
Generally, a heart stimulator, commonly known as a "pacemaker" or "pacer", uses one, two, or more flexible leads having one end connected to the pacer and the other end connected to electrodes placed in close proximity to the heart. These leads are used to stimulate or pace the heart. These leads are also used to sense the heart's electrical activity by sensing the heart's signals from their electrodes.
In order to properly pace or sense, the pacer has to be able to deliver a stimulating pulse to the heart or sense an electrical signal from the heart, and this requires that there be an electrical return path. If, within a given heart chamber, a unipolar lead is used—containing a single conductor—the return path is the conductive body tissue and fluids. The return path is connected to the pacer by connecting the pacer electrical common or ground to the pacer metal enclosure, typically referred to as the pacer case or housing. The case, in turn, makes contact with the body tissue and/or fluids. Then the current flows from the pacemaker through the lead's conductor, then through the lead's electrode, then through tissue, and finally to the pacer case.
An alternative solution to using a unipolar lead in a given heart chamber is to use a double lead/electrode in the heart chamber, known as a bipolar lead. In a typical bipolar lead, a second conductor coil or cable is spiraled over or positioned in a separate lumen and insulated from a first conductor along the length of the lead. At the distal end of the lead, one of the conductor cables or coils (inner) is connected to a first electrode, referred to as the "tip" electrode, and the second (outer) conductor coil is connected to a second electrode, referred to as a "ring" electrode. The ring electrode is generally situated about 10 to 20 mm from the tip electrode. The tip electrode is typically placed in contact with heart tissue, while the ring electrode is likely to be mostly in electrical contact with the blood. Because both body tissue and fluids are conductive, the ring electrode of a bipolar lead, in contact with the body fluids, serves as an electrical return for both pacing and sensing.
As earlier noted, the present invention has application to placing leads whose electrodes are either endocardial usage or epicardial usage. In the customary manner, a transvenous lead with an endocardial electrode provides an electrical pathway between the pacemaker, connected to the proximal end of the lead, and endocardial tissue in contact with the distal end of the lead. Endocardial tissue refers to a specific layer of tissue in the interior of the heart's chambers. In such a manner electrical pulses emitted by the pacemaker travel through the endocardial lead and stimulate the heart.
Transveous leads with endocardial electrodes are often placed in contact with the endocardial tissue by passage through a venous access, such as the cephalic or subclavian veins or one of their tributaries. In such a manner transvenous leads offer as an advantage that their electrodes may be placed into contact with the heart without requiring major thoracic surgery. Rather, transvenous leads may be introduced into a vein and maneuvered therefrom so that their electrodes make contact with the endocardium of the heart.
A multi-step procedure is often used to introduce such leads within the venous system. Generally this procedure consists of inserting a hollow needle into a blood vessel, such as the subclavian vein. A wire guide is then passed through the needle into the interior portion of the vessel. The needle is then withdrawn and a delivery sheath and dilator assembly is then inserted over the wire guide into the vessel. The assembly is advanced into a suitable position within the vessel, i.e. so that the distal end is well within the vessel but the proximal end is outside the patient. Next, generally, the dilator and wire guide are both removed, although sometimes the wire guide is retained in place, in case it is needed again. The delivery sheath is left in position and through its hollow lumen offers direct access from outside the patient to the interior of the blood vessel. The ultimate positioning of the lead is often performed with the aid of a stylet unit. The stylet unit has an elongated main member and in its known configuration has a rigid knob at its proximal end for manipulating an enlarged distal tip end engageable with a thrusting region of the lead. In such a fashion a transvenous lead can be easily passed into the vessel through the delivery sheath and ultimately be positioned within the heart. Finally the delivery sheath is removed from the body. With respect to pacemaker leads, however, which typically have a relatively bulky connector pin assembly at the proximal end, the delivery sheath is removed from the body by being split or slit apart. In such a manner the delivery sheath does not have to be large enough to be removed over the relatively bulky connector pin assembly at the proximal end of the lead.
There is an added problem, however, in that the proximal end of the sheath has an integral valve with a lumen and a bore dimensioned smaller than the knob of the stylet unit. The present invention addresses this situation. Typical of the known prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,482 to Williams, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,728,148 and 5,807,339 to Boström et al. which disclose stylet constructions with a ball at the distal end. U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,642 to Harris discloses a stylet with a distal region which includes, successively, a decreasing taper, a flat, an increasing taper, and a tip. U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,480 to Kuo et al. discloses an electrode catheter with a body constructed of PTFE and is electrically conductive. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0077583 to Clemens et al. a catheter with a stylet lumen that collapses upon removal of the stylet. U.S. Patent Application Publications US 2002/0165536 to Kelley et al. and US 2002/0173785 to Spear et al disclose implantable systems in which the delivery sheath and rotatable hemostatic valves are splittable for removal around a manipulating knob.
It was in light of the foregoing that the present invention was conceived and has now been reduced to practice.


A seat apparatus includes a base having a central ridge structure on the top of the base. The central ridge structure is round on the top and slopes downward from front to back. A secondary ridge structure may be included on top of the central ridge structure. Using the seat apparatus, a person with a hemorrhoid condition can sit on the seat apparatus, and using their own body weight, create pressure between the affected area and the central ridge structure. The pressure bias the hemorrhoid to be repositioned in the user's body, relieving discomfort and, with long term use, can improve sphincter control to better prevent hemorrhoid conditions.

Many people suffer from hemorrhoids, and experience ongoing or intermittent discomfort as a result. The pain caused by a hemorrhoid can be severe enough to prevent a person from engaging in ordinary daily tasks and activities. A wide range of treatments have been developed to help people cope with the discomfort. Some forms of treatment include ointments and other topical treatments to reduce or shrink the hemorrhoid. These are not easy to apply, and cannot be applied in public, and often have undesirable odors. Other treatments include devices that are used to cool the affected area as a form of relief. Often these require insertion of a portion of a device that is chilled, either passively or actively, into the anus. Obviously such applications are not able to be used in public.
Other means of treating hemorrhoids include seat devices. A common seat device for reliving discomfort includes a negative space (e.g. hole) over which a person positions the inflamed area, with the surrounding cushion supporting the person. These are commonly referred to as "donut" cushions due to their similarity to the toroid-shaped pastry of the same name. While a negative space cushion may provide some relief, it is not a solution to the problem. Another seat device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,151 which described a pair of rigid seat halves that are separated by a gap that acts as a negative space. The user sits on the seat with their anus over the gap, creating a "positive pressure" around the anus that is intended to cause a negative pressure inside the body to draw the hemorrhoid up into the body. However, the efficacy of this approach is limited, and requires the user to adjust the seat in order to adjust the pressure and location of the pressure being created.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Seat apparatus for repositioning of hemorrhoids


A compact optical receiver exhibiting polarization-diversity and employing an arrayed-waveguide-grating (AWG).

Coherent detection of optical signals is a technique known to improve the spectral efficiency of fiber-optic transmission. [See, e.g., F. Derr, "Coherent Optical QPSK Intradyne System Concept and Digital Receiver Realization," J.Lightwave Technol., vol. 10, pp. 1290-1296, September 1992; Y. Han and G. Li, "Coherent Optical Communication Using Polarization Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output," Optics Express, vol. 12, pp. 7527-7534, 2005; A. Leven, N. Kaneda, V. V. Koc, and Y. K. Chen, "Coherent Receivers for Practical Optical Communication Systems," Optical Fiber Communication Conference, OThK4, 2007; R. Nagarajan, et. al., "Large-Scale Photonic Integrated Circuits," J.Sel.Top.Quant. Electron., vol. 11, pp. 50-65, January-February 2005; H. Takeuchi, et. al., "Monolithic Integrated Coherent Receiver on InP Substrate," IEEE Photon.Technol.Lett., vol. 1, pp. 398-400, November 1989; T. L. Koch et. al., "GaInAs/GaInAsP Multiple-Quantum-Well Integrated Heterodyne Receiver," Electron Lett., vol. 25, pp. 1621-1623, November 1989; and R. J. Deri et. al., "Ultracompact Monolithic Integration of Balanced, Polarization Diversity Photodetectors for Coherent Lightwave Receivers," IEEE Photon Technol. Lett., vol 4., pp. 1238-1240, November 1992]. This technique allows the detection of information encoded in optical magnitude, phase, and polarization and—when combined with wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)—facilitates large, information-carrying capacity in a single optical fiber.
Unfortunately contemporary receivers employing coherent detection typically require numerous components and consequently are both complex and costly.


A system and method for processing a substrate. The system includes a substrate heating station, a processing station, a conveyor for transporting the heated substrate from the substrate heating station to the processing station and a conveyor heating station. A substrate transfer station is located between the substrate heating station, the conveyor heating station and the processing station for the transfer of the heated substrate to the conveyor in a thermally controlled environment isolated from contaminants. The substrate transfer station includes a housing having an interior chamber, first and second inlets for the separate passage of a substrate and conveyor into the interior chamber, and an outlet for the egress of the substrate and conveyor. The transfer station also includes a heater and a guide assembly for directing the conveyor between the conveyor inlet and the outlet. The method includes heating a substrate, heating a conveyor and moving the heated conveyor through an enclosure, moving the heated substrate into the enclosure through a separate inlet port and positioning the heated substrate on the heated conveyor in the interior chamber, moving the heated conveyor and substrate through the outlet port of the enclosure, and moving the heated conveyor and substrate through at least one processing station.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems are used to form a thin, uniform layer or film on a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. During CVD processing, the substrate is exposed to one or more chemical vapors such as silane, phosphane, diborane and the like, and gaseous substances such as oxygen. The gases mix and interact with the other gases and/or the surface of the substrate to produce the desired film. The desired reactions generally occur at elevated temperatures, for example 300.degree. C. to 500.degree. C., with the substrate and chamber being heated to the appropriate temperature for a selected process. In many applications including semiconductor processing, film characteristics such as purity and thickness uniformity must meet high quality standards.
In general, CVD systems include an injector positioned to inject chemical reagents and other gaseous substances into a clean, isolated reaction chamber. For processing occurring at atmospheric pressure, the substrate, for example a thin glass substrate, is often carried through one or more chambers on a conveyor. As the substrate travels toward the processing chamber, the substrate and the conveyor carrying the substrate are heated by heaters positioned adjacent to the conveyor as the conveyor and substrates move together toward the processing chambers. To heat the substrate and conveyor to the desired temperatures without damaging the substrate, the conveyor typically moves the substrate along a heating path having a length of about six feet before the substrate reaches the first reaction chamber. After processing, the substrate is carried along a cooling path of a similar length, requiring that the CVD system occupy about twelve feet solely for heating and cooling the substrate before and after processing. A thermal conditioning system requiring a smaller footprint to heat and cool the substrate would reduce the size of the overall system, allowing the system to be operated in a smaller area. Heating the substrate as it is carried by the conveyor heats the leading edge of the substrate first, producing a thermal gradient in the substrate during the heating process. This thermal gradient may have adverse effects on the substrate or materials previously deposited on the substrate. A heating system which uniformly heats the substrate is desirable. Similarly, a system which thermally conditions the conveyor before a substrate is deposited on the conveyor is desirable. A system in which the heated substrate is transferred to the heated conveyor in a heated and contaminant free compartment is also desirable.

High temperature substrate transfer module