A packaging container comprises a one-piece blank of cardboard or the like. The container has side walls which are joined to a base. The base comprises two main triangular panels which rise from a common diagonal fold, and each main triangle panel is connected via an intermediate triangular panel to the edges of the base. Longitudinal edge strips disposed on opposite longitudinal edges of the container body are secured to each other to close the sides of the container.

The invention concerns a packaging container made of a one-piece cut-out blank of an essentially rigid sheet material, in particular, cardboard with a container body consisting of side walls connected at the longitudinal edges with each other and with a common rectangular base at four bottom edges.
Packaging containers of this fundamental design are known in different form of realization, for example as folding boxes, the container bottom of which is formed by a closure with insert straps or adhesively bonded closing flaps. Although folding boxes may be used in very broad fields of application, they are not suitable for example for tight, internally coated containers for liquids.
For the latter purpose, butt-ended bags made of plastic-metal composite sheets are used, which are folded while forming a container bottom in a manner such that they are in contact only with their coated insides and therefore may be made tight by edge sealing. However, the mechanical stability of such bags is low in view of the flexibility of the composites used. Their use is therefore restricted to liquids.
In a known packaging container of the abovementioned generic type (EP 16 848), the rectangular container bottom, which is also the support surface for the packaging container, is in the form of a container closure, preferably as a conventional folding box insert strap closure. The stability of this known packaging container is determined essentially by the strength of the closure forming the container bottom. Although the inherent stability of the upwardly tapering container body is very high and would permit the use of a relatively thin material, the configuration of the closure at the container bottom requires a certain minimum thickness and rigidity of the material used. In addition, this known packaging container may be used in the manner of a folding box only in view of its bottom closure, i.e. not as a tightly welded packaging container for liquids or flowable goods.
It is therefore the object of the invention to develop a packaging container of the abovementioned type so that it may be used for very different purposes, in particular as a container for liquids or flowable goods. The packaging container is to combine the advantageous properties of a folding box with those of a butt-ended bag, without their respective disadvantages.

Real-Pack Entwicklungs und Verpackungstechnik GmbH


A method and apparatus are provided for digitally correcting sector pulse placement in a direct access storage device. A sector clock signal is generated equal to a sub-multiple clock rate of a predetermined servo identification clock. An individual servo identification field location is identified and compared with an expected location of said individual servo identification field to identify an error value. The sector clock signal is modified by adding or subtracting clock pulses responsive to the identified error value for generating a sector pulse.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for determining data sector locations, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for digitally correcting sector pulse placement in a direct access storage device (DASD).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Computers often include auxiliary memory storage units having media on which data can be written and from which data can be read for later use. Disk drive units incorporating stacked, commonly rotated rigid magnetic disks are used for storage of data in magnetic form on the disk surfaces. Data is recorded in concentric, radially spaced data information tracks arrayed on the surfaces of the disks. Transducer heads driven in a path toward and away from the drive axis write data to the disks and read data from the disks.
All DASD units must have a method to position each data head over the proper radial location to write a track and again, to position it very close to the same location to read the track. With the higher level files using a voice coil type of actuator, a feedback mechanism must be provided to locate and stably hold the head on a given track. Typically, track accessing and track following is provided utilizing a magnetically written pattern in the DASD unit. A dedicated servo system employs one surface of one of the disks in the DASD on which to have all the tracking and access information. A sector servo system uses small portions of tracks between each or between several sectors on each track of each data surface to provide the tracking and access information. A hybrid servo system uses both to obtain advantages of each type of servo.
Inherent to a fixed block DASD is the division of the disk into equally sized segments or sectors around the disk surface. Individual sectors contain a predefined size of individual groups of customer data saved for later retrieval and updates.
It is desirable to provide a DASD with variable sized sectors that can be defined to be unique according to the individual data format desired by the customer. Many known DASD units using sector servo are limited to the use of predefined areas of the disk for storing customer data. To provide variable sector sizes, known arrangements typically require analog circuitry for supplying a sector clock locked to the rotational speed of the disk. Locking the sector identification pulses to the rotational speed of the disk is necessary to ensure that the location of each sector is known, without requiring large sector overhead or wasted disk space for sector identification bytes to accommodate for variability of the motor speed over time. Known DASD units using dedicated servo do not easily facilitate the use of a large flexible array of sector sizes.

Sector identification method and apparatus for a direct access storage device

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention related to a cell interface. The cell interface includes four diode D1 to D4. A first terminal connected to a voltage terminal of first cell; a second terminal connected to a voltage terminal of second cell; and a third terminal connected to an external voltage terminal of an external electric circuit, another external voltage terminal connected to another voltage terminal of first cell and second cell. The cell interface can prevent from occurring loop current in parallel cell.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a cell interface, comprises: anode of the first diode D1 connected together cathode of the third diode D3 form a first terminal, the anode of the fourth diode D4 connected together cathode of the second diode D2 form a second terminal, and the external positive voltage terminal VP connected between cathode of the first diode D1 and anode of the third diode D2, and connected between anode of the third diode D3 and cathode of the fourth diode D4 form a third terminal, the first terminal connected to a positive voltage terminal of first cell E1, the second terminal connected to a positive voltage terminal of second cell E2, the third terminal is external positive voltage terminal VP, can be not occur loop current in cells parallel circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a prior art circuit. The first cell EA and second cell EB uses conventional parallel circuit. Such scheme comes with the following drawbacks:    1. When operation of charge of the first cell E1 and second cell E2, can be occur loop current between the first cell E1 and second cell E2, form a power consumption.    2. When operation of discharge of the first cell E1 and second cell E2, can be occur loop current between the first cell E1 and second cell E2, form a power consumption.    3. When operation of no load of the first cell E1 and second cell E2, can be occur loop current between the first cell E1 and second cell E2, form a power consumption.


There is provided an imaging device that includes a pixel, the pixel comprising: a photodetector; a control transistor; a capacitor coupled to the photodetector; a reset transistor coupled between the control transistor and the capacitor; an amplifier transistor having a gate terminal coupled to the capacitor; and a select transistor coupled to the amplifier transistor; a first signal line coupled to the select transistor; and a first amplifying circuit including a first input terminal coupled to the first signal line and a second input terminal configured to receive a first reference signal and an output terminal coupled to the control transistor.

Conventionally, an image sensor employing a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) structure is used as an image sensor. This image sensor includes pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array. When picking up an image, this image sensor causes a charge holding unit in the pixel to hold a charge generated by a photoelectric conversion element disposed in the pixel. Typically, as the charge holding unit, a floating diffusion formed in a diffusion layer of a semiconductor chip is used. This floating diffusion is connected to a charge conversion amplifier via a charge detection node. This charge conversion amplifier outputs, as an image signal in the pixel, a signal corresponding to the charge held in the floating diffusion.
It is necessary to perform resetting before this charge holding in the floating diffusion. Note that resetting is processing of discharging the charge held in the floating diffusion, and making an image signal output from the pixel equal to predetermined reference voltage, for example, voltage corresponding to a black level. The resetting can be performed by disposing a reset transistor and applying reset voltage to the floating diffusion. However, there is a problem that noise occurs when the reset transistor operates, and a part of this noise remains in the floating diffusion, causing an error in the image signal.
In this regard, a system in which an amplifier for amplifying a difference between the above-mentioned reference voltage and the image signal is disposed and the output of this amplifier is fed back to the floating diffusion via a coupling capacitor to perform resetting has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation


A CMOS output driver circuit with p-channel substrate tracking provides an output driver to full power supply voltage. The circuit is especially useful as a redundant circuit where its power supply connection is connected to ground and the circuit is kept in unbiased storage until it is needed.

The present invention relates to fault tolerant systems and particularly to a CMOS driver circuit for use as a spare or redundant circuit.
In high reliability applications, e.g., spacecraft, cold spare is the condition where a spare or redundant parts power supply, V.sub.DD, is connected to ground, V.sub.SS, and kept in unbiased storage until the part is needed. The power savings from not using power while in the cold spare mode as compared to providing a warm or hot standby circuit is an important benefit of the cold spare circuit.
The cold spare circuit output remains connected to an active signal or data bus while in the cold spare mode and must therefore present a high impedance to the active signal.
A problem occurs where a typical CMOS output driver having a p-channel transistor drive to a high data state, i.e., V.sub.DD or V.sub.CC and an n-channel transistor drive to a low data state, i.e., V.sub.SS.
FIG. 1 shows a typical CMOS output driver 1 including input 2, inverter 3, node A, inverter 4, node B, p-channel transistor P10, n-channel transistor N10, power supply connection V.sub.DD, ground connection V.sub.SS, and output 5.
FIG. 2 shows p-channel and n-channel MOS transistor schematic pin definitions as shown in the present patent application. The design of output driver 1 prevents using the part as a cold spare if the output node 5 to a package pin remains connected to an active signal or bus.
In FIG. 1, if V.sub.DD is connected to V.sub.SS but output node 5 remains connected to an active signal or bus as is the common situation, as an external output driver from another part on the signal or bus pin tries to drive the signal or bus, i.e., output node 5 high, the drain (D) to substrate (B) on junction of P10 will forward bias. Its substrate is connected to V.sub.DD, which is connected to V.sub.SS, resulting in a current path to V.sub.SS. P10 is typically a very wide transistor resulting in a low impedance path to V.sub.SS. The external driver will be unable to drive the signal or bus pin to a high state thereby preventing valid operation.
One proposed output driver in the past which does not use CMOS is shown in FIG. 6. The circuit of FIG. 6 only provides an output drive to V.sub.DD minus a bipolar junction transistor saturated VCE plus forward bias voltage drop. In addition, the circuit of FIG. 6 requires a diode type device and is implemented in BiCMOS technology.
Thus, a need exists for a CMOS driver circuit that provides a full CMOS output and can be used in a cold spare mode.

CMOS output driver with p-channel substrate tracking for cold spare capability


Methods, systems, and devices are described for wired communication. In one aspect, a method includes selecting a gain scalar based at least in part on a constellation point distance associated with a constellation mapper for a line and a tone. The method also includes applying the gain scalar to a tone data output signal of a vector processor.

Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure, for example, relates to data communications, and more particularly, to techniques for reduced precision vector processing in wired communication systems, such as but not limited to digital subscriber line (DSL) systems.
Description of Related Art
DSL communications, like other wired communications, suffer from various forms of interference, including but not limited to crosstalk. Vectored DSL systems can be used to mitigate interference and increase the data throughput. For vector processing, signals need to be transported from a modem physical layer (PHY) to a vector processor unit. Lossless (or near lossless) transportation of the data associated with these signals may require large bandwidth. Also, a multiplier width of the vector processor unit can depend on a bitwidth of the signals to be input into the vector processor unit. Generally, reducing the bitwidth of the signals representation introduces quantization noise. Also, in some scenarios, such as but not limited to nonlinear precoding, the signals may have a very high dynamic range and number of bits required for representation of such signals increases accordingly. In situations where only lower precision (e.g., reduced or shorter bitwidth) vector processing resources are available, the use of lower precision vector processor units may introduce significant quantization to signals with high dynamic range.


In the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage, an adsorbent is used to remove through adsorption at least a part of rough flavor components from malt, a malt alcohol beverage intermediate product, or the malt alcohol beverage. As a result, the aging of flavor after production can be suppressed and the flavor immediately after production can be maintained over a prolonged period of time.

In malt alcohol beverages (such as beer and low-malt beer (Happoshu)) that use malt as a raw material, a variety of reactions, including oxidation and dehydration of their components, are promoted during or after their production by virtue of the lapse of time or the increase in temperature (generally referred to as "the stale flavor of malt alcohol beverages"). Consequently, it is known that the original flavor of malt alcohol beverages is impaired.
Therefore, different measures are taken in order to prevent the qualities of such malt alcohol beverages from being deteriorated. Specifically, among others the quality control after production, the time management after production to sale, the temperature control during transportation are strictly enforced, which allows products with freshness and high quality to be provided. However, even if the aforementioned management is thoroughly employed, it has been difficult to stably maintain the freshness obtained immediately after production for a prolonged period of time.
A method of suppressing the oxidation of a malt alcohol beverage during its production to stably maintain the freshness immediately after production was developed that relays on decreasing the oxygen concentration of the atmosphere in the entire process or a part thereof during the production of the malt alcohol beverage (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No. 2000-4866). According to this method, by decreasing the oxygen concentration of the atmosphere during production, the reducing power of intermediate products in the production process is enhanced with the result of increased reducing power of the final product, which has made it possible to enhance resistance to the oxidation or aging of the malt alcohol beverage.
However, while the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No. 2000-4866 can prevent the malt alcohol beverage from being oxidized to certain degree, it is not necessarily adequate to suppress the aging of the flavor after production for a prolonged period of time.

Process for producing malt alcoholic drink


A method comprises receiving an input event associated with a first user ID, the input event being a command for selecting at least one graphic object; determining if a selection is currently associated with the first user ID; and if no selection is currently associated with the first user ID creating a first selection; associating the first selection with the first user ID; and including the selected at least one graphic object in the first selection.

Interactive input system's that allow users to inject input (i.e., digital ink, mouse events etc.) into an application program using an active pointer (e.g., a pointer that emits light, sound or other signal), a passive pointer (e.g., a finger, cylinder or other suitable object) or other suitable input device such as for example, a mouse or trackball, are known. These interactive input systems include but are not limited to: touch systems comprising touch panels employing analog resistive or machine vision technology to register pointer input such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,448,263; 6,141,000; 6,337,681; 6,747,636; 6,803,906; 7,232,986; 7,236,162; and 7,274,356 and in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0179001, all assigned to SMART Technologies ULC of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, assignee of the subject application, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference; touch systems comprising touch panels employing electromagnetic, capacitive, acoustic or other technologies to register pointer input; laptop and tablet personal computers (PCs); personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other handheld devices; and other similar devices.
Above-incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,906 to Morrison et al., discloses a touch system that employs machine vision to detect a pointer interaction with a touch surface on which a computer-generated image is presented. A rectangular bezel or frame surrounds the touch surface and supports digital cameras at its corners. The digital cameras have overlapping fields of view that encompass and look generally across the touch surface. The digital cameras acquire images from different vantages and generate image data. Image data acquired by the digital cameras is processed by on-board digital signal processors to determine if a pointer exists in the captured image data. When it is determined that a pointer exists in the captured image data, the digital signal processors convey pointer characteristic data to a master controller, which in turn processes the pointer characteristic data to determine the location of the pointer in (x, y) coordinates relative to the touch surface using triangulation. The pointer coordinates are conveyed to a computer executing one or more application programs. The computer uses the pointer location data to update the computer-generated image that is presented on the touch surface. Pointer contacts on the touch surface can therefore be recorded as writing or used to control execution of an application program executed by the computer.
Interactive systems such as those referred to above enable interactive presentations and collaborations. A presenter typically uses a pointer such as a finger or a pen, to select and manipulate displayed graphic objects. The user may add annotations, change colors or fill patterns of graphic objects; and/or move, rotate, enlarge, reduce and generally manipulate displayed graphic objects using certain gestures.
Touch based interactive input systems are sometimes operated by multiple users for collaborative purposes. However, application programs for use with interactive input systems are typically designed with a single user in mind. For example, when two or more users operate a single interactive input system at the same time, a graphic object selected by a first user may be inadvertently de-selected, manipulated or even deleted by a second user making another selection. Such object selectivity may disrupt collaboration between the users.
Improvements are therefore generally desired. Accordingly, it is an object to provide a novel method and apparatus for supporting multiple selections and a novel interactive input system employing same.

Method of supporting multiple selections and interactive input system employing same


A multi-layer structure in a reaction cell for a diamond growth is provided. The multi-layer structure includes: a diamond seed; a first metal catalyst layer provided on the diamond seed, the first metal catalyst layer containing a first concentration of carbon; a second metal catalyst layer provided on the first metal layer, the second metal catalyst layer containing a second concentration of carbon that is higher than the first concentration; and a carbon source layer provided on the second metal layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present subject matter relates generally to a multi-layer structure in a reaction cell for growing a diamond and a method of providing the multi-layer structure, particularly to a multi-layer structure including a multi-layer metal solvent catalyst for stabilizing the initial diamond crystal growth by the temperature gradient method and a method of providing the same.
2. Related Art
Growing diamond crystals using a high temperature and high pressure processes via a temperature gradient method is generally known in the art, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,066. As a result of subsequent large-scale production, grown diamonds are commercially available as heat sinks, super-precision cutting tools, and other fabricated products.
The diamond growth process includes a reaction cell which contains graphite as a carbon source, a diamond seed crystal, and a solvent metal. The solvent metal separates the carbon source from the seed crystal. During growth of diamond crystals, the carbon source dissolves into the solvent metal upon heating, and a temperature gradient exists between the carbon source and seed crystal. Temperature and pressure are regulated to permit diamond crystal growth on the seed crystal. By very carefully adjusting pressure and temperature and utilizing a small temperature gradient with extended growth times, larger diamonds can be produced. However, attempts to increase crystal sizes have shown a strong tendency for spontaneous nucleation of diamond crystals to occur at the underside of the molten catalyst-solvent metal. This develops into a serious problem, because the diamond nucleation occurring near the seed diamond competes with the growth from the seed diamond, resulting in the development of multiple crystals which collide as they grow. In addition, the seed diamond may be dissolved if the metal solvent composition is improper, resulting in no growth from the seed crystal at all.
The prior art for the growth of diamonds uses a single layer metal catalyst that provides a fixed composition of the solvent catalyst. A disadvantage of only a single layer metal catalyst is that high quality single diamond crystal growth can only be achieved by a precise control of temperature and/or pressure. If the temperature is too high, the seed diamond will be completely dissolved and thereby no diamond growth will be obtained. On the other hand, if the temperature is too low, the tendency of spontaneous nucleation will be increased. To increase the productivity, the temperature gradient is preferably set as high as possible. This will, however, increase the tendency of spontaneous nucleation. Thus, according to the prior art adopting a single-layer metal catalyst, the operable pressure/temperature window for high-quality diamond crystals is narrow. For commercial High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) diamond production, it is preferable to have a wider operating window for high quality diamond crystal growth.

Multilayer structure for a diamond growth and a method of providing the same


A multithreaded wavefront routing system for simultaneously planning routes for wiring a semiconductor chip surface. The surface has a plurality of grids located thereon, and routes are planned according to a predetermined netlist. The system steps across the surface from a first location to a second location in a wave-type pattern. The system sequentially steps through the grid arrangement on the chip surface and plans routing one grid at a time using a plurality of threaded processors. The system recognizes pins as it steps through grids and determines a plan for the current grid by evaluating current wire position, target pin location, and any currently planned routes, designating reserved locations wherein the route may be planned subsequent to the current grid, and establishing a wire direction for each wire traversing the current grid. The system plans wiring through grids using multiple threaded processors employing shared memory and a semi-hard coded rule based expert system applying heuristics by planning various routes based on current and potential wire locations.. The system propagates wiring and performs memory bookkeeping functions. The system also has the capability to plan an additional route from one target pin toward a first pin. Meetings between routes are designated and resolved. Reservations may be established when a processor plans a route. Mutex locks may be utilized to avoid multiprocessor conflicts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the art of microelectronic integrated circuits, and more specifically to a microelectronic integrated circuit structure and method for routing wires between cells of the circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microelectronic integrated circuits consist of a large number of electronic components fabricated by layering several different materials on a silicon base or wafer. The design of an integrated circuit transforms a circuit description into a geometric layout known as a layout. A layout consists of planar geometric shapes in several layers.
The layout is evaluated to ensure that it meets all of the design requirements. The result is a set of design files collected in an unambiguous representation known as an intermediate form that describes a layout. The design files are converted into pattern generator files used to produce patterns, known as masks, by an optical or electron beam generator.
During fabrication, these masks are used to pattern a silicon wafer using a sequence of photolithographic steps. The component formation requires highly exacting details about geometric patterns and the separation between them. The process of converting the specifications of an electrical circuit into a layout is known as the physical design. Physical design tends to be a tedious and error-prone process due to the tight tolerance requirements and the minuteness of the individual components.
Currently utilized minimum geometric feature sizes of components used in microelectronic integrated circuit fabrication are on the order of 0.5 microns. It is anticipated that the feature size may be reduced to 0.1 microns within several years, permitting fabrication of as many as 4.5 million transistors or one million logic gates on a 25 millimeter by 25 millimeter chip. This feature size improvement trend is expected to continue, with even smaller feature geometries and more circuit elements available on an integrated circuit. Larger die or chip sizes will permit far greater numbers of circuit elements.
Each microelectronic circuit cell includes a plurality of pins or terminals, each of which is connected to pins or terminals of other cells via an electrical interconnect wire or net. A goal of the optimization process is to determine a cell placement such that all of the required interconnects can be made, and the total wirelength and interconnect congestion are minimized.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional microelectronic integrated circuit 10 comprises a substrate 12 on which a large number of microelectronic circuits are formed. These circuits include large functional macroblocks such as indicated at 14 which may be central processing units, input-output devices, or the like. A typical integrated circuit further comprises a large number of cells 16 arranged in the areas of the substrate 12 not occupied by macroblocks.
The cells may comprise individual logic gates, or more preferably may each compromise a plurality of logic gates that are interconnected to form functional blocks. A cell library consisting of standardized cells that perform desired logical operations are typically provided and combined with other cells to form an integrated circuit having the desired functionality.
The cells 16 have terminals 18 to provide interconnections to other cells 16 on the substrate 12. Interconnections have typically been made via vertical electrical conductors 20 and horizontal electrical conductors 22 that extend between the terminals 18 of the cells in such a manner as to achieve the interconnections required by the netlist of the integrated circuit 10. Other systems have connected cells via electrical conductors which are not orthogonally oriented, and thus interconnections between the various cells of a net may be multidirectional.
In typical conventional integrated circuit design, the electrical conductors 20 and 22 were formed in vertical and horizontal routing channels in a rectilinear (Manhattan) pattern.
Pins or terminals of prior systems were routed in two steps. First, a global router would plan the general location of wires on the layout. Second, a more detailed routing would be prepared by a channel router. With more routing layers becoming available and process technology improving, as well as increases in the number and of cells and corresponding decrease in feature size, it becomes highly desirable to increase the portion of the chip area used for active components as opposed to wiring. As chip utilization reaches 100 per cent, the physical routing channels tend to disappear and the artificial importance of channel routing becomes insignificant.
The prior art method of hierarchal layout has proven to be inadequate from a runtime standpoint to significantly improve routing for chips having large and complex layouts.
Programs used to route integrated circuits in the two step process described above have been utilized on a single processor. As chip size and complexity continue to increase, the time required to route a chip on a single processor is becoming too long for an efficient design cycle in spite of ever increasing processing speed and efficiency.
It is therefore an object of the current invention to provide a system able to provide detail routing for an entire integrated circuit chip in a single step, i.e. routing the entire chip at the detail level in a single operation.
It is another object of the current invention to provide a system of routing which avoids the extensive time associated with performing the routing function using a single processor.

Integrated circuit layout routing using multiprocessing


A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having a fuel gas flow path and an oxidant gas flow path; a compressor for supplying humidified air to the oxidant gas flow path; a back-pressure regulating valve for controlling pressure of humidified air in the oxidant gas flow path; a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the humidified air in the oxidant gas flow path; and a control section for controlling the compressor and the back-pressure regulating valve. In this system, the pressure of humidified air in the oxidant gas flow path is regulated to become equal or approximate to a target pressure by the back-pressure regulating valve. When the pressure difference between the pressure measured by the pressure sensor and the target pressure is larger than a predetermined pressure difference, the control section corrects operating conditions of the compressor, so that the measured pressure becomes the target pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, studies have been widely made to develop a fuel-cell stack (hereinbelow, frequently referred to as "fuel cell"), in which a plurality of single cells are stacked as a power supply for a fuel cell vehicle or the like. In the fuel cell, electric power is generated by supplying hydrogen gas (fuel gas) and humidified air (oxidant gas) to an anode side (fuel electrode side) and a cathode side (air electrode side), respectively, of a solid polyelectrolyte membrane (hereinbelow, this membrane is frequently referred to as "electrolyte membrane") forming a single cell.
Generally, hydrogen gas stored in a high-pressure hydrogen tank or the like is introduced to a reducing valve (pressure regulator) where the pressure of the hydrogen gas is reduced to a predetermined pressure, and then fed to the anode side of the fuel cell. However, the pressure of the hydrogen gas fed to the anode side is still higher than that of the humidified air on the cathode side. In order to adjust the balance in pressure between two sides of the fuel cell, a back-pressure regulating valve is disposed downstream of the fuel cell, which controls the pressure of the humidified air. Introduction of such a valve provides a means to prevent failures that may occur in various devices composing a fuel cell, such as electrolyte membrane (see JP2002-352837A, paragraph 0046 and FIG. 1).
However, even when the back-pressure regulating valve is opened to a predetermined degree, some foreign substance may clog the back-pressure regulating valve or the like and elevate the internal pressure of the fuel cell. As a result, devices such as a back-pressure regulating valve or a single cell composing a fuel cell will suffer stress, which may lead to deterioration or failure of the devices.
Examples of the foreign substances that may cause such a problem include ice and water expelled from the fuel cell by scavenging gas (air having a predetermined pressure) when the fuel cell with the inside thereof being frozen is started up.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a fuel cell system which can prevent failure and the like of devices that may be caused by the above-mentioned factors.
Illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above.


A computer-implemented prediction model evaluation method includes specifying many prediction models and a benchmark model against which the prediction models will be evaluated. A primary data matrix is arranged by data indices, and the primary matrix is sampled with replacement N times to bootstrap N observation matrices. Then, all the matrices are filled with measurement criteria, with each criteria being representative of a respective data index and a respective model. A p-value estimate is returned that measures the statistical significance of the best prediction model relative to the benchmark, where the p-value represents the probability of wrongly rejecting the null hypothesis that a best prediction model has expected performance no better than that of a benchmark. The p-value accounts for the examination of all of the prediction models, i.e., the p-value depends on the examination of all of the models as a group, and not simply on a single model.

Prediction models are used to forecast future events on the basis of past performance data. For example, prediction models exist for forecasting the performance of publicly-traded stocks based on "indicators", i.e., particular data pertaining to past stock performance. Similarly, prediction models exist for forecasting the response of a patient to a given medical treatment based on such indicators as age, gender, and known medical history, among other things. Also, prediction models exist for forecasting the outcome of horse races based on certain indicators that can be gleaned from the past performance charts of the horses, and so on.
As recognized herein, it is problematic to ascertain whether a successful forecast is due to luck, or due to the effectiveness of the prediction model used to generate the forecast. As an example, if a prediction model forecasts the winner of a particular horse race, it might be that the successful prediction was a result of a "good" model, but it is also possible that the horse actually won for reasons not accounted for by the model. For example, the prediction model might have used the horse's breeding as an indicator for its forecast, when in fact the horse won because of factors unrelated to breeding. In such a circumstance, the model is not "good", only lucky.
Nevertheless, it might be evaluated under such circumstances that the prediction model is a good model, useful for further forecasts, based on one or more lucky yet successful forecasts. Such lucky forecasts can arise easily when, as is common, a given set of past data is used more than once for purposes of attempting to find a "good" prediction model. This data re-use is referred to as "data snooping". When one engages in data snooping there is thus a significant danger that lucky results will be mistaken for good results.
Accordingly, as also recognized herein, to avoid the adverse consequences of data snooping, it is desirable to provide an indication of the statistical significance of a model's performance. As further recognized herein, one way to measure the statistical significance of a model's performance is to compare the model with the performance of a benchmark model, often one that is simple and straightforward. To use the horse racing analogy, a benchmark model against which the performance of other handicapping models might be compared is "always bet on the favorite".
As still further recognized herein, however, it is desirable to understand the statistical significance of prediction models vis-a-vis a benchmark model in the context of more than a single proposed model, to avoid the adverse consequences of data snooping. That is, the present invention recognizes that it is desirable to generate plural prediction models that use differing combinations of indicators, indicator weighting factors, and so on, and then determine the statistical significance of the best of the models relative to the benchmark. Such consideration of a plurality of models is called a "model specification search", or simply a "specification search", and is a form of data re-use. Stated differently, a statistic that represents the statistical significance of a "best" model vis-a-vis a simple benchmark can be misleading, unless a complete specification search is reflected in the statistic. By accounting for a specification search in the statistic, incorrectly positive evaluations of the effectiveness of a prediction model can be avoided.
The present invention accordingly recognizes the need to provide a computer method for evaluating the statistical significance of the best of a plurality of prediction models, vis-a-vis a benchmark model by computing an estimate of a p-value for a test of the formal null hypothesis that a best prediction model has expected performance no better than that of a benchmark, where the p-value is the probability of wrongly rejecting the null hypothesis on the basis of the evidence provided by the data. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for evaluating prediction models in the context of several computer-generated models. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for evaluating prediction models that is easy to use and cost-effective.

System and method for testing prediction model


Systems and methods for location identification and tracking of a person, object and/or vehicle. The methods involve: obtaining, by a computing system, a video of a surrounding environment which was captured by a portable camera coupled to the person, object or vehicle; comparing, by the computing system, first images of the video to pre-stored second images to identify geographic locations where the first images were captured by the portable camera; analyzing, by the computing system, the identified geographic locations to verify that the person, object or vehicle is (1) traveling along a correct path, (2) traveling towards a facility for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter, or (3) traveling towards a zone or secured area internal or external to the facility for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter; and transmitting a notification from the computing system indicating the results of the analyzing.

There are numerous systems used for location tracking. These systems include Global Positioning Systems ("GPSs"), Radio Frequency ("RF") based indoor positioning systems, fixed camera systems, and mobile camera systems. The GPSs require an external system with additional requirements that cannot always be met (e.g., visibility of satellites). GPSs do not work indoors, do not provide direction, and are limited to outside locations under specific circumstances. The RF based indoor positioning systems require installed infrastructure with specific vendor technology. The fixed camera systems require an extensive system of installed infrastructure with specific vendor technology. The fixed camera systems have limited ability to indicate an individual's facing direction and path. The mobile camera systems simply record the camera's perspective and do not provide locational information.
The tracking of objects through a space is a common need in areas (such as security, traffic management and advertising) for the purposes of path verification, path optimization, security monitoring, etc. Object tracking has also traditionally been solved using static video cameras or attached video cameras.
Human security personnel routinely monitor facilities by walking, driving or otherwise monitoring a patrol route. However, verification of the performance of those duties requires additional management personnel, easily circumvented auxiliary verification measures, or complex techniques to adequately certify the execution of security monitoring duties.
Even in the instances where the path can be verified, the procedure and environment cannot. The individual's perspective is lost using current methods, which fail to provide details about what was done, where it was done, and how it was done.
Other techniques (such as GPS) require external systems with additional system requirements that cannot be met (e.g., visibility of satellites). Although such technologies may record a path, they cannot provide the perspective of the individual. Recorded video surveillance at a location and recorded perspective video from a body-mounted camera require personnel to view and potentially detect irregularities in procedure or environment, but cannot automatically demonstrate that correct procedures were followed nor immediately detect variations in procedure or environment.

Systems and methods for location identification and tracking using a camera


In a method for obtaining near-surface characteristics of a material, a series of single frequency ultrasonic Rayleigh waves are generated, with a generating system, in the material. The Rayleigh waves are detected with a detection system remote from the generating system. Velocities of the detected Rayleigh waves are determined at the selected frequencies. A depth profile of one or more characteristics of the material is prepared based on the determined Rayleigh wave velocities.

Ultrasonic methods are well established in the field of nondestructive material evaluation. Most previous methods are based on bulk ultrasonic waves. Bulk ultrasonic waves, called longitudinal and shear waves, may be used for materials characterization and flaw detection. Longitudinal waves have a particle displacement which is parallel to the direction of propagation. For shear waves, the particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of propagation. The frequency of these waves is above the audible range. Therefore, they are labeled as ultrasonic waves. For nondestructive evaluation, the ultrasound is in the form of stress waves having amplitudes that are sufficiently small to remain in the elastic regime and not cause any permanent deformation of the material in which the ultrasonic waves are propagating.
The velocities of the bulk ultrasonic waves are well known to be dependent on the elastic properties of the material. The velocity of an ultrasonic wave is determined by the interatomic forces that bond the material together. Thus, the velocity of an ultrasonic wave is directly dependent on the mechanical properties of the material. If there is a change in the mechanical properties, it is detected as a change in the velocity. Therefore, chemical and compositional changes in the material may be detected as changes in the ultrasonic velocity.
Bulk ultrasonic waves are merely one mode of propagation. As indicated by their name, they require a bulk material in which to propagate. The theoretical work that has been performed with these materials typically applies to semi-infinite half-spaces that do not have any geometrical constraints. Another class of ultrasonic waves is surface waves. Ultrasonic surface waves, or so-called "Rayleigh waves," are bound to the surface of the material in which they propagate. They have several unique physical parameters that are used in the present invention for determining the depth profile of material properties. These features include a non-dispersive nature, a penetration depth into the material of approximately one wavelength, and the ability of control of penetration depth by altering wavelength.
When an ultrasonic wave is non-dispersive, its velocity is independent of its frequency. Thus, the velocity of the Rayleigh wave does not change when the frequency of the wave is altered. Using the well known equation in ultrasonics that the velocity is equal to the wavelength multiplied by the frequency, it is clear that if the frequency of a non-dispersive wave changes, the wavelength must also change to maintain the constant velocity. Thus, as the frequency of a Rayleigh wave decreases, the wavelength must increase.
When the wavelength increases, the penetration depth of the Rayleigh wave must also increase. Typically, the penetration depth of a Rayleigh wave in a material is said to be about one wavelength. However, the exact penetration depth is dependent on the properties of the material and may vary between about 1.15 and 1.25 wavelengths in depth. The exact amount of energy that is carried in the final 20 percent of the penetration depth is typically not accounted for as it contains a very small percentage of the overall energy of the Rayleigh wave. The amplitude of the wave decreases by an exponential function, resulting in very little energy in the final penetration depth beyond one wavelength.
The prior art has made use of certain of these unique features of Rayleigh waves to simplify the development of nondestructive materials evaluation methods. As expected, most of these efforts have concentrated on the use of Rayleigh waves to determine near-surface phenomena. It is, for example, known to use the frequency dependent penetration depth characteristics of Rayleigh waves to determine the depth of surface breaking cracks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,288 to Tittmann et al. discloses a method for determining the depth of a surface flaw based on generating a Rayleigh surface wave that interacts with the flaw. A sensor is used to determine the acoustic signal reflected from the flaw, which includes one portion of the signal from the surface edge of the flaw and a second portion of the signal from the bottom of the flaw. The depth of the flaw is determined from analyzing the interference between the two portions of the reflected signals in the frequency domain. The signals are converted to the frequency domain by means of a Fourier transform. The crack depth is determined by selecting the frequency for the maximum amplitude of the frequency domain response, which is independent of the angle of detection, and converting this frequency into a crack depth using a formula given in the patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,163 to Tittmann et al. discloses the use of broadband generation and detection of Rayleigh waves for materials evaluation. The signals are detected at two locations along the travel path of the Rayleigh wave. The signals are converted into the frequency domain using a Fourier transform. The dispersion of the wave in the surface is calculated by utilizing the distance between the first and second locations and the change in phase of the frequency components of the detected waves between the first and second locations. The calculated dispersion data is inverted to derive a subsurface profile of the physical structure of the object to characterize the surface properties of the object.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,750 to Wadley discloses the use of narrow band electromagnetic acoustic transducers to obtain Rayleigh wave velocities at several distinct frequencies. Once the velocities are obtained at each frequency, the results are plotted to determine the velocity changes as a function of frequency. The velocity changes indicate the presence of changes in the material properties at different depths. By performing these measurements, the depth profile of the material properties can be obtained. By this method, changes in temperature as a function of depth may be measured after the material has been cast.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for obtaining near-surface characteristics of a material is disclosed. According to the method, a broadband ultrasonic Rayleigh wave including a plurality of components is generated, with a generating system, in the material. The Rayleigh wave is detected with a detection system remote from the generating station. The detected Rayleigh wave is filtered to obtain selected ones of the plurality of components of the detected Rayleigh wave at selected frequencies. Velocities of the selected components of the detected Rayleigh wave are determined at the selected frequencies.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for determining near-surface characteristics of a material includes a generator for generating a broadband ultrasonic Rayleigh wave having a plurality of components in the material. The system further includes a detection system for detecting the Rayleigh waves. A filter arrangement is provided for filtering the detected Rayleigh waves to obtain selected ones of the plurality components of the detected Rayleigh waves at selected frequencies, and a processor is provided for determining velocities of the selected components of the detected Rayleigh wave at the selected frequencies.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for obtaining near-surface characteristics of a material is disclosed. According to the method, a series of single frequency ultrasonic Rayleigh waves are generated, with a generating system, to provide a plurality of Rayleigh waves in the material. The Rayleigh waves are detected with a detection system remote from the generating station. Velocities of the detected Rayleigh waves at the frequency generated by the generating equipment are determined. A depth profile of one or more characteristics of the material is prepared based on the determined Rayleigh wave velocities.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a system for determining near-surface characteristics of a material is disclosed. The system includes a generator for generating a series of single frequency ultrasonic Rayleigh waves in the material. The system also includes a detection system, remote from the generator, for detecting the Rayleigh waves at the frequency generated by the generator. The system also includes processing means for calculating Rayleigh wave velocities based on a time of flight from generation of the Rayleigh waves by the generator to detection of the Rayleigh waves by the detection system and for preparing a depth profile of one or more characteristics of the material based on Rayleigh wave velocities.

Method and system for obtaining near-surface characteristics of materials using ultrasonic Rayleigh waves


A method for the early detection of sunburn is provided in which the reflection spectrum of the irradiated skin is considered. A color change made perceptible to the human eye is obtained from the specific absorption and reflection behavior. The change is made to occur when a predetermined borderline spectrum is reached. A device is also provided that changes the reflection spectrum of the irradiated skin, which is determined by the specific absorption and reflection behavior, such that the changed reflection spectrum brings about a color change perceptible to the eye when a predetermined borderline spectrum is reached, whereas no color change perceptible to the eye is yet noticeable if the reflection spectrum is unchanged. The device is used with the method including: defining a borderline spectrum by irradiating a skin area of a person with a predetermined radiation dose and measuring the reflection spectrum of the irradiated skin area after the end of the irradiation; defining a target spectrum that is perceived by the eye in a shade deviating from the natural skin color; and determing a transmission, reflection or emission spectrum by forming the quotient from the individual values of the target spectrum divided by the corresponding individual values of the borderline spectrum.

The present invention pertains to a method for the early detection of sunburn, to an auxiliary means for the early detection of sunburn, as well as to a method for determining a suitable transmission, reflection or emission spectrum of an auxiliary means.
Interest has been increasingly focused in the past years on research into the effects of UV rays on humans. An excessively intense irradiation of the skin with UV light leads, among other things, to sunburn in humans. Signs of sunburn also include tenderness and functional impairment, besides reddening, swelling and overheating of the irradiated skin area. These reactions are signs of an inflammation, as a consequence of which damage to the epidermal cells may develop. Mediators, including prostaglandins, which lead to a dilatation of the blood vessels and to painful burning in the case of sunburn, are released in the process. The immigration and cytolysis of numerous cells occur during the further course. Besides these temporary consequences of a sunburn, permanent skin damage may also occur, depending on the intensity of the irradiation and the sensitivity of the particular person, e.g., due to a change in the genetic information in the cell nucleus, which may cause skin cancer in the worst case.
Since the ozone layer filters UVB and UVC components out of the natural solar radiation, increasing amounts of this radiation reach the surface of the earth as the ozone layer is increasingly destroyed. In addition, man is increasingly frequently exposed to natural UV radiation in the form of sunlight or natural UV radiation in solaria in order to meet the ideal of beauty of a tanned body. An increase in the number of cases of skin cancer was able to be observed in the wake of these developments.
It has now been ascertained that there is a direct relationship between the radiation dose to which a person is exposed and the probability of developing skin cancer.
To prevent skin damage as a consequence of sunburn, a certain UV radiation dose must not be exceeded within a certain time interval. The radiation dose that is currently still considered to be medically acceptable is the radiation dose that leads to a visible red coloration after 24 hours and is called the minimal erythema dose (MED). The value of this dose depends on the skin type and the pretanning of the person.
The fundamental problem in avoiding sunburn is the time delay with which the signs of sunburn appear after irradiation. Since the inflammation reaches its maximum only about 24 hours after the irradiation, it is not sufficient to avoid sunlight after the first reddening of the skin is observed in order to avoid a sunburn because the medically harmless radiation dose had already been exceeded by that time. A further irradiation going beyond the harmless MED radiation should rather be avoided already at the time at which an incipient sunburn is not yet perceptible.
To determine this point in time, a method and a device, with which it can be determined how long a person can still continue to be exposed to UV irradiation without damage have been known from WO 93/16635 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,598. A skin area is irradiated and its reflection is subsequently measured here. Based on these values, a reflection coefficient can be determined, which can be assigned to a certain degree of reddening of the skin. The drawback of this procedure is the complicated measuring means and evaluation of the measurement results, so that the method and the device are unsuitable for the common use, e.g., during tanning.
In addition, it has been known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,736 that the intensity of the reddening of the skin and thus the intensity of the sunburn can be inferred from the specific reflection spectrum of irradiated skin areas. The method disclosed there is, however, limited to an exact determination of the remission spectrum with subsequent evaluation of the reflection curve. The fact that a complicated apparatus, by means of which the remission spectrum is first determined and subsequently evaluated, is needed to detect the remission spectrum is a drawback in this case as well. Thus, a complicated apparatus and a time-consuming procedure are consequently needed to obtain information on the degree of sunburn, and this approach is therefore rather impractical.
Furthermore, it has been known from DE 31 37 326 A1 that the degree of tanning of the human skin can be determined by means of a device in which the skin is exposed to a light source of a defined spectral composition and the light is again received by a light sensor. This arrangement is tailored to and at the same time limited to the determination of the degree of tanning of the human skin. The tanning of human skin depends on the melanin content in the skin and begins only after a sunburn. Thus, it is not possible to predict a sunburn to be expected.
Finally, it has been known from DE 34 19 872 A1 that the coloring of the skin as a consequence of solar radiation can be determined by means of logically ordered color carriers. Even though the instantaneous state of the color of the skin can thus be determined, a sunburn is noticed in the manner disclosed in DE 34 19 872 A1 only after it has occurred because the red coloration as a consequence of sunburn follows the irradiation with a time delay only and reaches its maximum approx. 24 hours after the irradiation. Thus, this device is not suitable for avoiding sunburn.
Against this background, the basic object of the present invention is to provide a reliable, easy-to-handle and effective method for the early detection of a sunburn as well as a corresponding auxiliary means therefor.
The present invention is based on the discovery that the UV irradiation of the skin leads to skin changes, e.g., the accumulation of hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin in the near-surface layers of the skin. Based on the characteristic absorption behavior of these substances, the reflection spectrum of the skin is changed to the extent that a sunburn is perceived as reddening of the skin beginning from a certain degree of change. A certain reflection spectrum can be graphically assigned to each grade of reddening of the skin, and any change in the shade thus brings about a changed reflection spectrum.
In addition, it has been recognized that the change in the reflection spectrum and thus the intensity of the reddening or the extent of the sunburn will still increase even when there is no further irradiation. The maximum of this development is reached after about 24 hours. It is also assumed in the present invention that the change in the red coloration of the skin over time as a function of the UV radiation dose is known and is essentially the same within certain limits.
As was already mentioned, a medically harmless radiation dose, which just does not yet lead to any skin damage, can be assigned for each person depending on his or her skin type. This dose can be determined experimentally and leads to a just visible red coloration of the skin after about 24 hours, after the sunburn shows its maximum effects. Typical reflection spectra, which describe the characteristic course of the reddening of the skin in the case of a sunburn, can be assigned to this radiation dose, also called MED, as a function of time. Of this large number of reflection spectra, precisely the spectrum at the time of the end of the irradiation is significant for the present invention, because this spectrum indicates unambiguously when a person must stop being exposed to further radiation if the delayed skin reaction should not lead to any more damage.
The insufficient color sensitivity of the human eye is a problem in utilizing this discovery. A shade is determined basically by the mixing ratio with which individual spectral ranges come together. If all spectral ranges are changed uniformly, this does not affect the mixing ratio, i.e., the shade remains the same, and only the lightness is changed. If, by contrast, only individual spectral ranges are changed, this leads to a change in the mixing ratio, which can lead to a change in the shade. However, the human eye can perceive a significant change in shade only when the change exceeds a certain threshold value.
The addition of different spectral components of the non-irradiated skin leads to the perception of a shade typical of the skin in the human eye. Due to the increasing concentration of hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin as a consequence of UV irradiation, there is increased absorption of spectral components in the wavelength ranges from 400 to approx. 630 nm. This leads to reduced reflection of the light in these wavelength ranges, so that the shade perceptible to the human eye is composed of another mixing ratio of the different spectral ranges. However, this leads to a perceptible red coloration of the skin, which becomes increasingly intense with increasing concentration, only beginning from a certain threshold concentration of hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin. Even though the reflection spectrum of the skin is changed below the threshold concentration, the change is not perceptible to the human eye as a color change to red. The reflection spectrum that indicates that the MED radiation has been reached and thus shows that more radiation should be avoided also falls within this range, which is still imperceptible to the naked eye. This spectrum will hereinafter be called the borderline spectrum.
Thus, the person is unable to detect this slight change in the shade of the skin until the just still tolerable radiation dose is reached without suitable auxiliary means.
The present invention makes this borderline spectrum visible, which does not yet lead to a color change of the skin when viewed with the naked eye in daylight, directly to the eye. This is achieved by selectively changing the borderline spectrum over at least part of the entire spectral range, where wavelength ranges from 620 nm to 700 nm possibly remain unchanged, whereas the other wavelength ranges from 400 to 620 nm are absorbed to an increased extent.
If the spectrum of the auxiliary means according to the present invention is correspondingly adapted, a clearly perceptible color change can be achieved when a certain reflection spectrum of the skin is reached when viewing the skin with a light to be specified (sunlight or artificial light).
The advantage of the present invention is that a simple and yet reliable method and auxiliary means have been created for the early detection of sunburn, which method can be carried out without a complicated device. The method can be correspondingly carried out and the device can be manufactured at an extremely low cost and they are thus accessible to many users.
The user obtains the result of the examination immediately and without complicated evaluation by means of reference curves, reference areas or charts. Possible sources of error are thus avoided and the reliability of the present invention is at the same time increased.
The examination of the skin is not linked with any discomfort because it is carried out in a completely contactless manner. Free movement is possible during the examination and the result is obtained immediately. Even an examination performed from a distance yields reliable results. This is advantageous especially in the case of supervising children, in whom a sunburn causes damage sooner than adults and who should therefore be checked for signs of a sunburn especially frequently.
Another advantage of the present invention is its independence from the skin type and the skin color. What is decisive for the method according to the present invention is the appearance of a certain reflection spectrum, which is made visible by a color change. This reflection spectrum is caused by a certain radiation dose, which may be different for different skin types and skin colors, but it always leads to sunburn when it is reached. This means that even though people with different skin types or skin colors can expose themselves to an equal UV radiation over different lengths of time, they should stop being exposed when a red coloration visible with the auxiliary means has been reached in order to avoid skin damage.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a filter with a corresponding transmission spectrum, because a filter can be manufactured and handled in an extremely simple manner. In addition, there are situations in which an auxiliary means meaningfully comprises a reflecting surface with a corresponding remission spectrum, e.g., a mirror. Such a case would occur, e.g., when one would like to detect a beginning sunburn in the face himself. Daylight is a suitable light source for the irradiation, but the auxiliary means may also be designed for viewing in artificial light.
Technically more complicated but just as reliable in operation is the use of a light source with a corresponding emission spectrum. A light source according to the present invention has increased emission in the red range compared with the other spectral ranges.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Method and aid for the early recognition of sunburn


A synchronous signal generator according to the present invention outputs a pulse with low jitter by setting the sine wave output of a crystal oscillator close to an ideal sine wave, and converting it into a pulse signal. By passing the sine wave output from the crystal oscillator of an oscillation frequency f through a filter unit having an equal center frequency f0, inputting output of a filter unit into a pulse converter, and converting the result into a pulse of a rectangular waveform, thereby obtaining an output signal. By configuring the filter unit by the crystal filter and setting it equal to the crystal oscillator in frequency-temperature characteristic, an output signal can be obtained with low jitter although the temperature changes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a synchronous signal generator using a crystal oscillator, and more specifically to a synchronous signal generator for suppressing the jitter (fluctuation of a signal with time) of a synchronous signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A synchronous signal generator is known as a pulse generator for controlling a signal with time for a computer, etc. For example, a synchronous signal generator converts the sine wave outputted from a crystal oscillator into a pulse and outputs it. Recently, to ensure the synchronization of a signal, a high precision synchronous signal is demanded, and the synchronous signal generator is requested to reduce the jitter of an output signal.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory block diagram of a common synchronous signal generator.
The synchronous signal generator shown in FIG. 1 includes a crystal oscillator 1 and a pulse converter 2. The crystal oscillator 1 includes a crystal vibrator 3 and an oscillator circuit unit 4, and forms, for example, a Corpitts type oscillator circuit. The crystal vibrator 3 is configured by, for example, enclosing an AT-cut crystal piece, an exciting electrode formed on the crystal piece, etc., in an airtight container not shown in the attached drawings. An AT-cut crystal piece (crystal vibrator 3) indicates a vibration frequency (resonance frequency) in inverse proportion to its thickness.
Then, the output signal from the crystal oscillator 1 contains a higher harmonic component fs (f2˜fn) having a multiple of the frequency of the fundamental wave component f1 as shown in FIG. 2. In this example, the oscillation frequency f of the crystal oscillator 1 is a frequency of a fundamental wave component f1 of the crystal vibrator 3, and the output waveform is substantially a sine wave output (the output is referred to as sine wave output). However, there is a shift in the frequency value of the crystal vibrator 3 and the crystal oscillator 1, between the fundamental wave component f1 and the higher harmonic component fs.
The pulse converter 2 is formed by, for example, a complementary output driver IC, and converts the sine wave output from the crystal oscillator 1 into positive/negative rectangular pulses. Normally, the sine wave output of the crystal oscillator 1 is amplified by an amplifier 5, and then input into the pulse converter 2.
However, in the synchronous signal generator with the above mentioned configuration, there is the problem of the jitter generated in the output (pulse waveform) by the pulse converter 2.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, although the sine wave output of the crystal oscillator 1 mainly contains the fundamental wave component f1, it also contains the higher harmonic component fs for even or odd values. Therefore, the sine wave output is not an ideal sine wave that includes only the fundamental wave component f1, generates the distortion by the higher harmonic component fs, and causes the jitter as a result. That is, the smaller the higher harmonic component fs is to the fundamental wave component f1, the closer to the ideal sine wave is the sine wave output of the crystal oscillator 1.
The pulse converter 2 generates a rectangular pulse with the jitter depending on the level of the higher harmonic component fs of the output sine wave of the crystal oscillator 1. In short, the closer to the ideal sine wave the input sine wave is, that is, the smaller the level of the higher harmonic component fs is to the fundamental wave component f1, the smaller jitter of the pulse is generated by the pulse converter 2. However, although the oscillation output of the crystal oscillator 1 mainly contains the fundamental wave component f1, it contains not a small amount of higher harmonic component fs. Therefore, there necessarily occurs the problem of the jitter in the output of the pulse converter 2.

Synchronous signal generator using a crystal oscillator and filter


A micro column electron beam apparatus having a reduced number of interconnections is provided. The micro column electron beam apparatus includes: a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate; a plurality of deflector electrodes attached to a predetermined top portion of the LTCC substrate; a pad electrode placed at a top edge of the LTCC substrate and transmitting an external signal to the deflector electrodes; and a connection unit placed in the LTCC substrate and electrically connecting the deflector electrode and the pad electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a micro column electron beam apparatus, and more particularly, to a micro column electron beam apparatus having a reduced number of interconnections.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, micro column electron beam apparatuses or micro columns are used for radiating electron beams generated by an electron emission source or a cathode source onto a wafer. Specifically, micro columns are used to form a photoresist pattern on a wafer by supplying electron beams thereon.
Micro columns include an electron emission source or a cathode source, a silicon electrostatic lens or a micro lens, and at least one deflector. The deflectors include 8 bar-shaped electrodes arranged like the blades of a propeller. The deflectors are made of silicon by reactive ion etching (RIE). When a plurality of micro columns with high resolution are used in a lithography process, lithography throughput can be remarkably improved.
However, in conventional micro columns, a plurality of interconnections are needed in one micro column. Specifically, an electron beam deflector as one of the elements of a micro column includes 8 unit electrodes. The unit electrodes include 16 electrodes and are attached to upper and lower portions of the substrate. In order to transmit signals to the electrodes, 16 interconnections are required. In addition, in order to focus electron beams irradiated in a radial shape, a lens module including three silicon lenses is needed at the upper and lower portions of the substrate, and the lens module requires at least 6 interconnections. As such, one micro column has at least 22 interconnections.
Furthermore, when micro columns are arranged in parallel so as to improve productivity, for example, when 4 micro columns are arranged in parallel (2×2), 88 (22×4) interconnections are required. Accordingly, when n×m micro columns are arranged in parallel, 22×m×n interconnections are required. Thus, the number of interconnections increases with the number of micro columns. In addition, since the conventional interconnections are arranged above a substrate, an interaction such as a parasitic capacitance may occur between the interconnections.
A pad electrode to which an external signal is applied is located at an edge of the substrate, and the pad electrode is connected to each electrode of a micro column via the interconnections. In this case, as the pad electrode is formed at the edge of the substrate, the lengths of the interconnections between micro columns close to the pad electrode and micro columns far from the pad electrode may be different from each other although the same signal is applied to the interconnections. As such, the interconnections have different resistances, and due to this resistance difference and the parasitic capacitance, an RC signal delay between the interconnections occurs. As a result, due to the RC signal delay, different signals are applied to an electrode of each micro column to which the same signal should be applied. Thus, a micro column electron beam apparatus having a small number of interconnections and a small signal delay is required.

Micro column electron beam apparatus formed in low temperature co-fired ceramic substrate

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


An accelerometer wireless position transducer or sensor is physically coupled to a control device in a process control system and includes an accelerometer that generates a signal based on a position of the control device or its actuator. The transducer converts the accelerometer signal into a wireless signal that includes a value indicative of the actuator position, and causes the wireless position feedback signal to be transmitted over a wireless channel to a valve controller, e.g., by using a short-range wireless protocol. The controller controls the valve based on the value included in the wireless signal. In some configurations, the feedback signal is received at a device paired with the transducer, and the paired device transmits the feedback signal to the controller. The paired device may be paired with multiple transducers and/or sensors, and may transmit various feedback signals to multiple recipient controllers and other devices.

Electronic controller devices (e.g., an electro-pneumatic controller, programmable controllers, analog control circuits, etc.) are typically used to control process control devices (e.g., control valves, pumps, dampers, etc.). These electronic controller devices cause a specified operation of the process control devices. For purposes of safety, cost efficiency, and reliability, many well-known diaphragm-type or piston-type pneumatic actuators are used to actuate process control devices and are typically coupled to the overall process control system via an electro-pneumatic controller. Electro-pneumatic controllers are usually configured to receive one or more control signals and convert those control signals into a pressure provided to a pneumatic actuator to cause a desired operation of the process control device coupled to the pneumatic actuator. For example, if a process control routine requires a pneumatically-actuated valve to pass a greater volume of a process fluid, the magnitude of the control signal applied to an electro-pneumatic controller associated with the valve may be increased (e.g., from 10 milliamps (mA) to 15 mA in a case where the electro-pneumatic controller is configured to receive a 4-20 mA control signal).
Electro-pneumatic controllers typically use a feedback signal generated by a feedback sensing system or element (e.g., a position sensor) that senses or detects an operational response of a pneumatically-actuated control device. In an example, in the case of a pneumatically-actuated valve, the feedback signal may be a feedback current signal corresponding to the position of the valve as measured or determined by a position sensor. Typically, the feedback current signal corresponding to the position of the valve is transmitted to the controller via a wired or wireless connection, and the position of the valve is calculated by the controller, e.g., based on a voltage differential across a resistor at two inputs of the controller.
In some systems, a pneumatically-activated valve is connected in a wired manner to both an electric isolator and to a electro-pneumatic controller. The electric isolator is also connected in a wired manner to the electro-pneumatic controller. As such, the valve has a first connection directly to the controller, and a second connection to the controller through the electric isolator. The electric isolator provides power to both the valve and the controller from a three-pronged AC power supply, and causes feedback current signals from the valve to be delivered to the controller over a resistance. As both the valve and the controller are powered by a same power supply, the use of the electric isolator minimizes the occurrence of ground loops.
The controller determines a voltage differential between two electrical input connections from the valve, i.e., between a first wired connection at which a feedback current signal is directly received from the valve, and a second wired connection at which the feedback current signal is received from the valve over the resistance associated with the electric isolator. The controller then uses the voltage differential to calculate a position of the actuator of the valve, compares the calculated position to a desired set-point or control signal, and utilizes a position control process to generate a drive value based on (e.g., a difference between) the calculated position and the control signal. This drive value corresponds to a pressure to be provided to the pneumatic actuator to achieve a desired operation of the control device (e.g., a desired position of a valve) coupled to the pneumatic actuator.
In some systems, a wireless position transducer converts a motion or a position of an actuator of the valve into a wireless signal including a value indicative of the position of the actuator. The transducer may include, for example, a potentiometer, a magnetic sensor or array of sensors, a piezo-electric transducer, a Hall effect sensor, a string potentiometer, etc., and the transducer causes the wireless signal to be transmitted over a wireless communication channel to a valve controller, such as by using the WirelessHART®, Wi-Fi®, or other wireless protocol. The valve controller may then control the valve based on the value included in the wireless signal.

Control device position feedback with accelerometer


A printed circuit board having embedded capacitors includes a double-sided copper-clad laminate including first circuit layers formed in the outer layers thereof, the first circuit layers including bottom electrodes and circuit patterns; dielectric layers formed by depositing alumina films on the first circuit layers by atomic layer deposition; second circuit layers formed on the dielectric layers and including top electrodes and circuit patterns; one-sided copper-clad laminates formed on the second circuit layers; blind via-holes and through-holes formed in predetermined portions of the one-sided copper-clad laminates; and plating layers formed in the blind via-holes and the through-holes. The manufacturing method of the printed circuit board is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board having embedded capacitors therein and a manufacturing process thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a printed circuit board having embedded capacitors therein, in which dielectric layers are formed using a ceramic material having high dielectric capacitance by atomic layer deposition (ALD), so as to form a capacitor having a high dielectric constant corresponding to the capacitance of decoupling chip capacitors, as well as a printed circuit board manufactured by the method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Common discrete chip resistors or discrete chip capacitors have been mounted on the surfaces of most printed circuit boards (PCBs). Recently, printed circuit boards having embedded passive devices, such as resistors, capacitors, etc., have been developed.
Such printed circuit boards having embedded passive devices therein are manufactured by a process comprising inserting passive devices such as resistors, capacitors, etc., into an inner or outer layer of a substrate using novel materials (substances) and processes, thereby replacing the functions of conventional chip resistors and chip capacitors. That is, the printed circuit boards having embedded passive devices therein include passive devices, e.g., capacitors, buried in the inner or outer layer of the substrate. The term "embedded capacitors" as used herein refers to capacitors as passive devices which are mounted as parts of a printed circuit board, regardless of the size of a substrate. The substrate is referred to as an "embedded capacitor PCB". The most important advantage of the embedded capacitor PCB is that since the capacitors are integrated as parts of the printed circuit board, there is no need to mount the capacitors on the surfaces of the printed circuit board.
Meanwhile, recent techniques for manufacturing the capacitor-embedded printed circuit board are largely classified into the following three techniques:
The first technique is a method for manufacturing polymer thick film type capacitors comprising applying a polymer capacitor paste and thermal curing (that is, drying) the paste. Specifically, according to this method, the embedded capacitors are formed by applying the polymer capacitor paste on the printed circuit board inner layer, drying the polymer capacitor paste, printing a copper paste on the resulting printed circuit board to form electrodes and drying the copper paste.
The second technique is a method for manufacturing embedded discrete type capacitors comprising coating a ceramic filled photo-dielectric resin on a printed circuit board. The related patent is held by Motorola Inc. (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,456). Specifically, according to this method, the discrete capacitors are formed by applying the photo-dielectric resin containing ceramic powder on both surfaces of a substrate, laminating copper foils thereto to form respective top electrodes and bottom electrodes, forming circuit patterns thereon, and etching the photo-dielectric resin.
The third technique is a method for manufacturing capacitors comprising inserting dielectric layers having a capacitance characteristic into the printed circuit board inner layer, thereby replacing decoupling capacitors which have been mounted on the surfaces of the conventional printed circuit boards. The related patent is owned by Sanmina Corp. (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,079,069, 5,261,153, and 5,800,575). Specifically, according to this method, power-distributed decoupling capacitors are formed by a process comprising inserting dielectric layers composed of power electrodes and ground electrodes into the inner layers of the printed circuit board.
A variety of processes have been developed based on the three techniques discussed above. Procedures for carrying out the processes are different from each other. Since the market for printed circuit boards having embedded capacitors therein is small, these techniques have not yet been standardized and trials to develop commercially available processes are still ongoing.
The above-described embedded capacitors are advantageous in that, because the capacitors are inserted into a board, they can reduce the area occupied by chip capacitors, leading to an increase in the mounting density of chips. Another advantage is that the embedded capacitors eliminate the need to mount chip capacitors on the surface. In the prior art, the connection distance between devices is so long that electrical parasitism occurs at a high level, thereby reducing the electric performance of products. Also, an increase in the number of electrical connections by soldering, etc., causes a problem with the reliability of products. However, the use of embedded capacitors can shorten the connection length between devices to reduce electrical parasitism, thus improving the electrical performance of products.
The material of the embedded capacitors in the embedded capacitor PCBs according to the prior art is a polymer material or ceramic-filled photosensitive resin which is suitable for use in printed circuit board processes. However, there is a problem in that the material is too low in dielectric capacitance to perform the role of chip capacitors.
To obtain high-capacity capacitors, a dielectric material having a high dielectric constant needs to be used. The smaller the thickness of the dielectric material and the larger the surface area, the higher the capacitance of capacitors.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,224 issued to 3M Corporation discloses an embedded capacitor fabricated by forming a thick film-type dielectric layer having a thickness of 0.5-10 μm between copper foils acting as power and ground electrodes, the capacitor being formed of a composite of BaTiO3 ceramic powder and thermosetting resin, such as epoxy or polyimide. The embedded capacitor according to said patent has the following properties: surface roughness of the copper foils: 10-300 nm; capacitance per unit area of the dielectric layer: 10 nF/in2 or more; and adhesion: 3 lb/inch or more. As described above, the capacitance per unit area of the embedded capacitors according to the prior art is about 5-1 nF/in2 or 10 nF/in2, which is significantly lower than 100 nF/in2 for generally used decoupling discrete chip capacitors. This indicates that there are many limitations in forming embedded capacitors having high capacitance.
High dielectric materials and process conditions used in forming embedded capacitors according to the prior art are summarized in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1FormationThicknesstemperatureof dielectricof dielectricDielectricDielectricthin filmthin filmcapacitancematerials(μm)(° C.)(nF/in2)Methods of forming embedded capacitorsTa2O50.3500425Forming a Ta2O5 film 0.3 μm thick on a Si substrate(50 μm thick) by an anodic oxidation process, forminga top electrode (Cr/Cu) thereon and fabricatingmulti-layer PCB through a build-up process.BaTiO310350650Forming a BaTiO3 ceramic thin film 0.5 μm thick ona copper foil by a sol-gel process, and forming a topelectrode (Ni/Cu) by thermal treatment at 350° C.SrTiO30.6>500 300Forming a bottom electrode (0.2 μm thick) in theFR4 substrate, depositing an SrTiO3 film 0.3 μmthick thereon by sputtering, and forming a topelectrode (Ni/Cu) on the film.(Ba, Sr)TiO30.12602400Forming dielectric films of 100 nm on a Si substrateby sputtering at 260° C., and forming Pt films as topand top electrodes. thereonCeramic3R.T.2580Forming a dielectric thin film on the FR4 substratefilmby an aerosol deposition process.(Dk = 400)BaTiO325900 15-700Forming a ceramic paste on a copper foil by screenprinting, sintering the paste at 900° C. in a nitrogenatmosphere, and forming a top electrode using aconductive paste.(Pb, Zr)TiO30.26501290-1935Forming a (Pb,Zr)TiO3 film on a copper foil by asol-gel process, crystallizing the film at 650° C. in anitrogen atmosphere, and forming top and bottomelectrodes using Cu/Ni.
As shown in Table 1, a dielectric ceramic material having a high dielectric constant is difficult to actually apply onto a printed circuit board because it necessarily involves a crystallization process at a high temperature, at which deformation of the resin board occurs. Also, if the dielectric material can be formed into a film at low temperature, the material will be difficult to apply onto a printed circuit board having a large area.
Accordingly, there is an urgent need for technology to manufacture a printed circuit board including embedded capacitors which not only have a higher dielectric capacitance than sheet-type capacitors embedded in the prior printed circuit boards, but also can be formed to have a large area at relatively low process temperatures.

Printed circuit board with embedded capacitors therein and manufacturing process thereof


Systems and methods to determine a disparity map using row causal scanline optimization stereo matching are presented. A method includes, for each corresponding pixel P between a pair of input stereo images, and for each considered disparity, determining a basic match cost and a match cost for each of a set of given orientations including an east orientation and one or more other orientations, determining an overall match cost for each pixel at each considered disparity based on a sum of the determined match costs for all considered orientations for each pixel and disparity pair, and determining a resulting disparity for each pixel based on a minimum of the determined overall match costs, where a subset of the determined resulting disparities becomes available prior to completion of the input images being read in, and where the resulting disparities for all pixels are determined in a single pass through the input images.

A camera may produce radiometric measurements of the space within its field of view. It may periodically produce an image, or collection of these measurements. Each radiometric measurement may provide some information about the intensity, frequency and/or polarization of the electromagnetic waves traveling along a physical line, from a point on the line towards the camera at the time of the measurement. For example, a monochrome camera may produce measurements of the intensity of visible light traveling along a ray. A color camera may produce measurements R, G and B of the respective red, green and blue components of the visible light traveling along a ray.
Cameras may produce data in raster order, beginning data output at the upper left pixel, and progressing across the top row from left to right, then returning to the beginning of the next row, etc., until the bottom right pixel is reached. This sequence of pixels in raster order may he referred to as a stream of pixels, or a pixel stream. Each row of data can often be referred to as a scanline.
Stereo vision is the reconstruction of a three-dimensional (3D) structure in a 3D scene using two or more images of the 3D scene, each acquired from a different viewpoint. The images of the 3D scene may be obtained using multiple cameras or one moving camera. Two cameras are often used, termed binocular vision, which is similar to human vision through two eyes. With binocular vision, a stereo image is based on a left image as "seen" from a left camera (a perspective from the left) and a right image as "seen" from a right camera (a perspective from the right).
In image processing, more particularly computer vision, the term disparity refers to the difference in coordinates of similar features within left and right images of a stereo image. The disparity of features between the left and right images may be computed as a shift to the left (e.g., in pixels) of an image feature when viewed in the right image. If stereo images have lens distortion, or are not correctly aligned, image rectification may be performed to remove distortion and correct alignment of the images such that disparities exist only in the horizontal direction, Once rectified, stereo matching may be performed by a linear search for correspondence of features. For stereo matching, an algorithm may be used to scan the left and right images (i.e., process pixels of the images in a particular order) to search for matching image features. A pixel and one or more of its surrounding pixels in the left image are compared to all of the disparities in the right image by comparing corresponding pixel groups. Various metrics may be used for the comparisons. Using one of the metrics, the disparity with the best computed match is considered the disparity for the image feature. This minimum match score is an indication that the matched pixels correspond and hence the shift represents the disparity.
Stereo algorithms can be divided into those that can be done in one pass over the image data and algorithms that require multiple passes, One-pass algorithms tend to he the algorithms used for real-time applications due to their low computational cost and latency. These algorithms generally decide what the best disparity answer is for a pixel based upon a small amount of surrounding local image information. Multi-pass algorithms tend to aggregate information from all parts of the image and have tended to produce denser accurate results, but at considerable additional computational cost and latency.
In the drawings, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number may identify the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Systems and methods for row causal scan-order optimization stereo matching