The preset invention relates to a pharmaceutical cream composition for topical application for the treatment of skin disorders and skin diseases, comprising 1-6 wt. % Dead Sea Mud as an active ingredient. Said composition is for use in treating skin disorders and skin diseases such as psoriasis, saborrehic dermatitis, xerosis, attopic dermatitis, eczema, diaper rush, skin burns of stage I and sensitive skin. Said cream composition is also for use as a leave-on cosmetic cream for beautifying and enhancing the skin appearance. In addition to Dead Sea Mud said composition comprises ingredients suitable for the preparation of cosmetic cream. Said cream can further comprises up to 4 wt % Dead Sea water.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical and cosmetic cream compositions containing Dead Sea Mud for topical skin application. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions for prevention and treatment of skin related disorders such as saborrehic dermatitis, xerosis, eczema, psoriasis and skin burns and for cosmetic use for retaining skin moisture and repairing of impaired skin.
The skin is the largest organ in the body, serving as a protective barrier from the external environment. As such it is susceptible to various disorders and diseases caused by microorganisms, exposure to radiation, contact with irritating materials and loss of water.
Dead Sea mud and water are known for their therapeutic and cosmetic properties (for example see Ma""or Z. and Yehuda S. (1997) International Journal of Cosmetic Science 19: 105-110). Various cosmetic products based on these properties exist in the market. For example, Japanese application JP 96011775 discloses a beauty plaster, comprising among other ingredients, natural salt and mud from the Dead Sea. PCT application No. PCT/IL98/00311 (applicant: Dead Sea Laboratories Ltd.) discloses a composition for skin care and protection comprising 10-15% of Dead Sea water.
Dead Sea mud is especially known for its therapeutic properties on psoriasis and other skin related disorders. Patients, suffering from various skin diseases come to the Dead Sea to have treatments with Dead Sea Mud, often upon their physician recommendation.
However, treatment with raw Dead Sea Mud has several drawbacks. It may be quite expensive and inconvenient for patients to travel to the Dead Sea for receiving treatment. The other possibility, delivering raw mud to the patient""s home, is inconvenient due to the large amounts that must be applied for each treatment (10 Kg). Furthermore, the treatment with Dead Sea mud is quite messy and is limited to short time periods, since the mud cannot be left on the body for long periods of time due to inconvenience and aesthetic reasons.
It is the aim of the present invention to overcome the problems associated with treatments with Dead Sea water by providing an easy and pleasant to use creams that while having the therapeutic benefits of the Dead Sea mud do not suffer from the above mentioned disadvantages.
The incorporation of mud (in our case, Dead Sea mud) into a leave-on cream which should be evenly spreadable, aesthetic (i.e., unnoticeable), pleasant to use and absorbed easily to the skin, is not simple, because it involves a suspension of solid particles in an oil-in-water emulsion that contains electrolytes in a very high concentration. Such a combination has a high tendency to aggregate and to separate into phases. Still the cream must be stable and with a reasonable shelf life.
The present invention overcomes said difficulties by proper selection of stabilizers and other components, and provides a cream that has the benefits of treatment with Dead Sea mud, but non of the drawbacks. It is an easy and simple to use hypoallergenic cream that is absorbed into the skin and in contrast to the treatments used today, it may be in prolonged contact with the skin (i.e., leave-on cream), enhancing the beneficial effects of the Dead Sea mud. It is also stable, does not separate to phases, and has long shelf life.
In the context of the present invention the term xe2x80x9ccosmetic creamxe2x80x9d relates to an oil-in-water emulsion, suitable for applying to skin, of various viscosity ranges including milk, lotion, cream and ointment.
The term xe2x80x9cpharmaceutical creamxe2x80x9d relates to an oil-in-water emulsion of various viscosity including milk, lotion, cream and ointment for the use of treating (healing) and preventing or delaying skin disorders and diseases.
The term xe2x80x9cleave on creamxe2x80x9d (in contrary to xe2x80x9crinse offxe2x80x9d) relates to a cream that may be in prolonged contact with the skin and can be applied to the skin without the need to wipe it off in any way.
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical cream composition for topical application for the treatment of skin disorders and skin diseases, comprising 1-6 wt. % Dead Sea Mud as an active ingredient. Said composition is for use in treating skin disorders and skin diseases such as psoriasis, saborrehic dermatitis, xerosis, attopic dermatitis, eczema, diaper rush, skin burns of stage I and sensitive skin.
Said cream composition is also for use as a leave-on cosmetic cream for beautifying and enhancing the skin appearance.
In addition to Dead Sea Mud said composition comprises ingredients suitable for the preparation of cosmetic cream.
In a preferred embodiment, said ingredients are selected from Octyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-30, Hexadeacanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, PEG-40 Stearate, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Tristearate, Allantoin, Methylparaben, Propylparben, Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Bronopol.
Said cream can further comprises up to 4 wt % Dead Sea water.
The present compositions can further contain a fragrance.
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical cream composition for topical application for the treatment of skin disorders and skin diseases, comprising 1-6 wt. % Dead Sea Mud as an active ingredient. Said composition is also for use as a cosmetic leave-on composition for beautifying and enhancing the skin appearance.
Said composition is prepared by adding 1-6 wt. % Dead Sea Mud and optionally up to 4% Dead Sea water to cosmetic oil-in-water emulsion comprising of ingredients suitable for the preparation of a cosmetic cream such as ingredients selected from Octyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Ceteareth-30, Hexadeacanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, PEG-40 Stearate, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol (and) Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Tristearate, Allontoin, Methylparaben, Propylparben, Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Bronopol and fragrance.
The present composition was found to be efficient in the treatment of the following skin disorders and diseases: Psoriasis, Saborrehic dermatitis, Xerosis (very dry skin), Attopic dermatitis, Eczema, Diaper rush, sensitive skin, and skin burns of stage I.
Dead Sea Mud (Silt) as defined in the present invention is (at 25xc2x0 C.) stable black paste solid with specific density of 1.6-1.8 g/ml, pH=6.4-7.6, Water content of 30-40 %/w and less than 100 cfu/gr and non-pathogenic microbes. The chemical identity of Dead Sea mud is natural sediment, mixture of solid mineral clays with interstitial solution of inorganic salts and sulfide compounds originated from microbiological activity, with particle size 86-98%  less than 0.005 mm, 2-9% 0.005-0.02 mm, 0-7%  greater than 0.02 mm.
The major constituents of the Dead Sea Mud are:
The solid phase which is 60-70% of the total weight consists of:
Water soluble: Halite (20-40%)
HCl soluble: Carbonates (30-40%): calcite, dolomite, aragonite
Non HCl-Soluble matter: Silicates (30-40%): quarts, montmorollonite, feldspar, kaolonite
In the liquid phase (30-40% dissolved as ions in water):
chloride (Clxe2x88x92)148-190 g/l
sodium (Na+) 22-32 g/l
magnesium (Mg2+) 30-40 g/l
calcium (Ca2+) 10-15 g/l
potassium (K+) 6-8 g/l
Dead Sea Water, as defined in the present invention, comprises a clear colorless viscous liquid (at 25xc2x0 C.) with a specific density of 1.2-1.36 g/ml, pH=4.5-5.5 (at 25xc2x0 C.), less than 100 cfu/gr and non pathogenic microbes.
The major constituents of the Dead Sea Water are:
The preparation of creams according to the present invention involves the facilitation of non-ionic emulsifiers such as ethoxilated sorbitan esters, sorbitan esters, ethoxilated alcohols or fatty acids, alkyl glucosides, mono- and di-glycerides etc.
A preferred embodiment of a cream composition according to the present invention is given in the following Table 1.
Table 1. Raw Ingredients List of preferred embodiment of the present invention:
The preparation of the cream composition of the present invention is preferably done by the following steps:
1) Preparing an aqueous phase comprising distilled water, allanotin, methyl paraben, PEG-40 sterarate and glycerin by mixing said components and heating to 75xc2x0 C.
2) Preparing a lipophilic phase comprising octyl palmitate, cetearyl alcohol, ceteareth-30, hexadeacanol, glyceryl stearate, zinc oxide, propylene glycol, dimethicone, sorbitan tristearate, propylparben, and vitamin E (tocopherol), by mixing at 75xc2x0 C.
3) Introducing the lipophilic phase dropwise into a reactor containing the aqueous phase (the distance between the rotor and the stator is adjusted to 4 mm) while stirring at 30 rpm and homogenizing the mixture at 1500 rpm.
4) Cooling said mixture obtained in step 3 slowly and adding following components at following temperatures through homogenization,
5) Adding bronopol dissolved in water at 60xc2x0 C.
6) Adding the fragrance at 45xc2x0 C.
7) Adding Aloe Barbadensis extract at 35xc2x0 C.
8) Adding Dead Sea Mud and Dead Sea Water at 25xc2x0 C.
9) Removing from the reactor to suitable containers.
The composition so obtained is a gray light cream with ingredients concentrations as specified in Table 1 and with the following properties:
Density: 1.00xc2x10.1 g/ml; Viscosity as determined by Brookfield viscometer with needle c: 108,600 cps at 5 rpm and 190,400 cps at 2.5 rpm; pH: 7.0xc2x10.5 and less than 100 cfu/gr. The cream is stable and does not separate into phases and has a shelf life of 3 years.
The present invention will be further illustrated by the following experiments. These experiments do not intend to limit the scope of the invention, but to demonstrate and clarify it only.

Cream composition comprising Dead Sea Mud


An apparatus and a method for generation of channel state information in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes transmitting, by an evolved Node B (eNB), a first reference signal to a plurality of User Equipments (UEs), receiving channel state information generated based on the first reference signal from the plurality of UEs, selecting candidate UEs to which wireless resources are to be allocated and transmitting second reference signals to the selected candidate UEs, receiving channel state information generated based on the second reference signals from the candidate UEs, and selecting final UEs, to which wireless resources are to be allocated, from the candidate UEs based on the channel state information generated based on the second reference signals, and transmitting control information for data reception to the selected final UEs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless mobile communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for effectively transmitting and receiving a Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) and measuring interference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current mobile communication systems are developing, beyond the initial level of providing voice-oriented services, into a high quality wireless packet data communication system in order to provide a data service and a multimedia service. To this end, various standardization organizations, such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the 3GPP2, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), are preparing 3rd generation evolution mobile communication system standards employing multiple access schemes using multi-carriers. Recently, various mobile communication standards, including Long Term Evolution (LTE) of the 3GPP, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) of the 3GPP2, and 802.16m of the IEEE, have been developed in order to support a high speed-high quality wireless packet data transmission service based on a multiple access scheme using a multi-carrier.
The current 3rd generation evolution mobile communication systems, such as LTE, UMB, and 802.16m, are based on a multiple carrier multiple access scheme, employ multiple antennas based on a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) scheme, and use various technologies, such as beam-forming, Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC), channel sensitive scheduling, and the like. These technologies improve the system capacity performance by, for example, concentrating a transmission power of multiple antennas or controlling the quantity of data transmitted from the antennas according to the channel qualities and selectively transmitting data to a user having a good channel quality. These techniques are based on the channel state information between a base station or an evolved Node B (eNB) and a mobile station or a User Equipment (UE). Therefore, an eNB or a UE needs to measure the channel state between them, and a CSI-RS is used in the measurement. The eNB refers to an apparatus for downlink transmission and uplink reception, which is located at a predefined position, and one eNB performs transmission and reception with respect to cells. In one mobile communication system, a plurality of eNBs are geographically scattered and each eNB performs transmission and reception with respect to the cells.
A reference signal is a signal used for demodulation and decoding of a received data symbol by measuring channel states, such as the intensity or distortion of a channel, the intensity of interference, Gaussian noise, or the like, between an eNB and a UE. Furthermore, a receiver can determine the channel state of a wireless channel between the receiver and a transmitter by measuring an intensity of a signal received through the wireless channel, which has been transmitted with a predefined transmission power by the transmitter. The measured channel state of the wireless channel is used by the receiver to determine a data rate which the receiver will request from the transmitter.
The resources of time, frequency, and transmission power are limited in a mobile communication system. Therefore, an increase in the quantity of resources allocated to a reference signal may decrease the quantity of resources that can be allocated to transmission of traffic channels and thus may reduce the absolute quantity of transmitted data. In this case, although the performances of channel measurement and estimation may be improved, the reduced absolute quantity of transmitted data may rather decrease the performance of the entire system throughput. Therefore, in order to obtain an optimum performance in view of the entire system throughput, a proper distribution between resources for the reference signal and resources for transmission of traffic channels is necessary.
FIG. 1 illustrates transmission of various signals in a Physical Resource Block (PRB) pair in a Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) system according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, one PRB pair includes 14 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols along the time axis and 12 subcarriers along the frequency axis. The 14 OFDM symbols and the 12 subcarriers form 168 (=14×12) Resource Elements (REs), wherein each RE corresponds to a resource having an orthogonality with respect to a neighboring RE. In the PRB pair, a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) used for transmission of traffic data, a Cell-Specific Reference Signal (CRS) transmitted for each cell, a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) used for transmission of a control signal, a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) used for reception of a PDSCH, and a CSI-RS used for measuring a downlink channel state and generating channel state information are allocated different REs for transmission. The CSI-RS supported in an LTE-A system can support signals for one antenna port, 2 antenna ports, 4 antenna ports, and 8 antenna ports, and the number of REs allocated in one PRB pair are different according to the number of antenna ports of the CSI-RS as illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 illustrates a transmission of a CSI-RS having four antenna ports in one PRB pair in an LTE-A system according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 2, as indicated by reference numerals 200 and 210, sequences for four CSI-RS antenna ports are spread by orthogonal codes, Code-Division-Multiplexed (CDM), and transmitted to four REs. The sequences for CSI-RS port 0 and CSI-RS port 1 are transmitted using the sequences for CSI-RS port 2 and CSI-RS port 3 and another RE pair. In this way, sequences for a plurality of CSI-RS antenna ports may be transmitted using a plurality of REs. In a case of an LTE-A system, since transmission to a maximum of 8 CSI-RS antenna ports is possible, an eNB can transmit CSI-RSs for a maximum of 8 transmission antennas.
In the case of an LTE-A system, transmission and reception can be performed using CSI-RSs supporting a maximum of 8 CSI-RS transmission antennas to one transmission point as described above. In a case of performing a beam forming transmission using a maximum of 8 transmission antennas, a beam forming gain of a maximum of 9 dB is obtained, so as to improve the Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR).
Therefore, a need exists for a method and an apparatus for transmitting a reference signal for effective data transmission and reception, measuring interference, and generating channel state information in a MIMO transmission and reception.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving reference signal


A method and a device for obtaining a secondary timing advance are provided. The method includes: after a secondary cell activation command is received or after a secondary cell is activated, if a secondary time alignment timer TAT of the secondary cell does not run, initiating, by a terminal, a random access procedure; and obtaining, by the terminal, the secondary TA according to a TA received in the random access procedure. With the method and the device for obtaining a timing advance according to embodiments of the present invention, a terminal initiates a random access procedure to obtain a secondary timing advance after the terminal receives a secondary cell activation command sent by a base station or after a secondary cell is activated, thereby saving signaling overhead and system resources.

A long term evolution (LTE) system is a next-generation wireless communication standard being formulated by the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). It has advantages such as high spectrum utilization and transmission speed, and low transmission delay. The terminal of an LTE system implements uplink transmission synchronization with a base station by using a timing advance (TA), and maintains uplink synchronization by using a time alignment timer (TAT). With the introduction of a TA, uplink transmission of all terminals can be accomplished at the time expected by the base station, thereby avoiding collision between terminals during the uplink transmission and implementing time division multiplexing.
To provide a higher data rate, the base station may configure, for the terminal, one or more secondary cells (SCells) to assist a primary cell (PCell) in data transmission. The primary cell and secondary cells correspond to an uplink carrier each, where transmission over different uplink carriers may need to use different timing advance s. The TA corresponding to a primary cell is known as a primary TA, and the TAT corresponding to a primary cell is known as a primary TAT; the TA corresponding to a secondary cell is known as a secondary TA, and the TAT corresponding to a secondary cell is known as a secondary TAT.
In the conventional art, after a secondary cell is configured, if the secondary cell does not use an existing TA of a primary cell, a terminal obtains a secondary TA of the secondary cell by initiating random access in the secondary cell. This may increase signaling overhead in a random access procedure and a TA maintenance procedure and waste system resources.

Method and device for obtaining secondary timing advance


A computer-implemented method of displaying traffic conditions on a road system includes creating a 3D graphical map of the road system that includes one or more segments. The status of at least one of the segments on the 3D graphical map is determined. The status of the segment corresponds to traffic data associated with that segment. A 3D model of the road system is created by combining the 3D graphical map and the status of that segment.

Traffic information providers have struggled with the ability to convey traffic information in a usable and compelling way for television audiences. Typically, traffic information providers show a video image from a camera or other similar, simple graphic with an arrow pointing to a general area to convey the current state of the traffic conditions.
Graphics used to display traffic flow conditions or other traffic information to a broadcast television or cable network audience are well known in the art. Generally, static graphic images are manually placed on a static background map or web page, which is then rendered into a NTSC or similar signal for delivery to viewers. FIG. 1 depicts an example of such a system presently used to convey traffic information on television using a flat map. Television announcers use flat static maps containing traffic information as backdrops to talk over and convey traffic conditions.
Two-dimensional ("2D") displays limited to a static display of colors and objects with no motion to depict current road conditions are also known in the art. The status colors do not change to reflect real-time, actual road conditions, since a static web image must initially be created from traffic flow data to generate the 2D display. Rather, a user manually places selected icons on the display map when it is desirable to add an additional visual traffic feature or item.
A known traffic display system designed and utilized by Mobility Technologies, Inc., converts real-time traffic flow data from a proprietary system into an animated, color-coded 2D video format, such as NTSC, SDI, AVI, DPS or MPEG. This product is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/447,530, filed May 29, 2003, entitled "Method of Displaying Traffic Flow Data Representing Traffic Conditions," the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 2 shows an example of the system described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/447,530 which conveys traffic flow conditions to viewers. In FIG. 2, traffic information is depicted using different colors and animation to represent different current traffic conditions on the road system. The status colors (i.e., green, yellow, red) and corresponding animation of cars (i.e., fast, moderate, slow) represent the traffic flow data for a particular portion, or link of the road system. Although this data results from real-time sensor or flow data, there is no direct integration of any traffic congestion or other incident data with the traffic conditions shown on the animated display map.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/611,494, filed Jun. 30, 2003, entitled "Method of Creating a Virtual Traffic Network," the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a Virtual Geo-Spatial Traffic Network ("VGSTN") which provides spatially oriented traffic data and information, including flow data, incidents, events, congestion and news all synaptically integrated in a unified virtual network. The contents of the VGSTN are represented in several ways, including a 2D animated traffic flow display representation that is output in various video formats. Such representations are limited by a 2D view of the traffic conditions as well as the inability to cover a large road system or portion thereof without overwhelming a viewer. FIG. 3 depicts a representation of a TV output of the 2D traffic flow display used with the VGSTN application.
Although integrated traffic systems have been added to show animated, real-time traffic flow conditions, none of the existing methods of displaying traffic conditions has the ability to accurately display the traffic conditions of an entire region or road system in a detailed, multi-dimensional fashion. Traffic information providers have struggled with a method to convey a significant amount of information that allows the viewer to quickly ascertain the traffic conditions of a road system relative to various landmarks, and with the viewer's perspective relative to the direction of travel.
Additionally, although three-dimensional ("3D"), "fly-through" displays have become more popular in scenes and other "produced" television segments (such as weather reporting), these 3D displays have not been leveraged by traffic information providers. 3D technology allows for a more compelling traffic product, and also gives the traffic information provider the ability to convey several pieces of traffic information at once, including traffic flow data and incident data, across an individual roadway or entire road system within a single television broadcast segment.
It would be desirable to convey traffic conditions in an animated or non-animated 3D view, to display traffic conditions in a geo-spatially correct virtual road network, and to display traffic conditions based on proximity of that data to the current view of the display.
The present invention allows for proximity settings of traffic data, thereby managing the traffic information shown to the viewer in a way that is easily viewed. The present invention also allows for animated and non-animated billboards for advertisements along with other signage to be presented within a 3D graphic display. Additionally, using 3D technology allows the television viewer to enjoy watching a portion of the news broadcast that is typically considered a bland and lifeless segment.

Method of displaying traffic flow conditions using a 3D system


A method of making roofing shingles in several lanes in which, after the asphalt saturated base sheet is covered with a first granule layer, a pattern of asphalt patches is printed on each lane and contrasting color granules are adhered to the patches. Each patch pattern repeats each shingle length but is non-symmetric about the center line of the length of each shingle. When the sheet is cut into shingles, the shingles from each lane have a different patch pattern from the other lanes. The shingles are assembled in bundles containing shingles from at least two lanes and approximately equal numbers of the patch patterns are located on opposite sides of the bundle to make sure the bundle is not tilted. The patch pattern is such that when each shingle is cut into tabs (thirds), at least one and preferably two tabs from each shingle has its center free of patches, enabling the tab to bend over a ridge with less risk of cracking. Preferably no patches are located at the lines where the shingles are cut into tabs.

Asphalt roofing shingles are manufactured by taking a continuous base sheet of organic felt or fibreglass, saturating it in a base asphalt, covering it with a coating asphalt, and then embedding granules on the top side of the coated sheet. The granules protect the asphalt from breaking down through oxidization by ultra violet rays. The finished sheet is cut into lanes and to a desired length of shingles.
The granules are applied with a pattern of colored blends that repeat over several shingles. This pattern allows for a colorful and decorative capping for the house yet ideally prevents any undesired repetitive patterns from forming on the roof once the shingles are installed. In some cases, it is desired to provide additional decoration by providing a second layer of asphalt coating to portions of the exposed parts of the shingle and then embedding granules in these patches of fresh asphalt. These patches of asphalt and granules allow for two contrasting colors on top of each other to add to the variety of the shingle appearance.
In the past, the patches of contrasting color granules have often been applied in a regular pattern which is the same on each shingle. A difficulty with this is that when the shingles are installed, the resultant pattern is repetitious or uniform and may not be sufficiently attractive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,837 issued Oct. 5, 1982 to Certain-Teed Corporation suggests a way of dealing with this problem. In the Certain-Teed patent, a series of spaced apart bands or patches of granules are applied as a second layer to the first uniform layer of granules, the patches of the second layer having various widths and being applied with a periodicity different from the shingle length. This results in a random appearance since the same pattern does not repeat on any two shingles for a relatively large number of shingles.
When the random method described above is used for applying a second layer of asphalt and granule patches, the roofer can experience difficulty while applying capping and ridges. When a roofer applies capping and ridges, he usually cuts the shingles into thirds (called tabs) and bends the tabs over the peak. If a patch, ie. a second layer of asphalt and granules, is on the apex of the ridge, it will tend to crack as the tab is bent over the ridge. Therefore, preferably the roofer should have a series of shingles available which do not have patches at the centers of the tabs. However, when the pattern of patches is relatively random, the roofer will not usually be able to find sufficient such shingles, at least not without a great deal of looking.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method of making shingles which achieves a variable arrangement of pattern and yet which at the same time also provides groups of shingles which are identical. Thus a roofer can use such shingles to produce a roof which will have a pleasing appearance, and yet it is possible, using such a method, to produce shingles where at least one or two thirds of such shingle (ie. one or two tabs) do not have patches (ie. second layers of asphalt and granules) at their centers. This will permit less waste and allows the roofer to help ensure that caps and ridges are properly installed.

Roofing shingles and method of making same


A refrigerant and transfer system has a vapor suction inlet connector to introduce refrigerant from a refrigerant line of a refrigerant system under repair containing refrigerant in vapor form to an input end of a first fluid path which pumps the refrigerant to its output end. The first fluid path has a filter and drying stage, a high pressure compressor, and an oil separator to purify the refrigerant passing therethrough. The refrigerant is then passed to a condenser and stored in a receiver tank of the receiver section. If the refrigerant line of the refrigerant system under repair contains a refrigerant in liquid form, then the refrigerant line should be connected to a liquid refrigerant connector of the refrigerant processing and transferring system. The refrigerant is then stored in a receiver tank of the receiver section. The refrigerant can be further processed by transferring the refrigerant from one receiver tank to another using the first fluid path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refrigerant processing and transferring system for recovering the refrigerant from a refrigeration system during repairs, separating contaminants from the refrigerant removed from the refrigeration system, and then returning the processed refrigerant to the repaired refrigeration system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Refrigerant recovery systems are used to prevent the loss of refrigerants in refrigerant systems when the refrigerant has to be removed in order to effect repairs. Due to the increase in the cost of refrigerants, as well as the growing concern on the adverse effects refrigerants have on the environment when discharged into the atmosphere, refrigerant recovery systems have been used to remove and store the refrigerants of refrigerant systems under repair. Most refrigerant systems also include some scheme for removing contaminates from the removed refrigerant before transferring the processed refrigerant back to the repaired refrigerant system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,020 issued Jan. 1, 1991 to Carmerlo J. Scuderi discloses a refrigerant recovery system using a filter dryer to remove moisture and particulate contaminants from the removed refrigerant. The processed refrigerant is then sent to a discriminator chamber to direct vaporous refrigerants to a condenser before being stored in a receiver, while liquid refrigerants are channeled directly to the receiver.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,416 issued Mar. 12, 1991 to Van Steenburgh, Jr. discloses a refrigerant recovery system using a filter dryer, oil separator, a condenser, and a compressor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,908 issued Mar. 26, 1991 to Donald K. Mayer discloses a refrigerant recovery system in which an oil separator recycles some of the oil recovered from the refrigerant to the crankcase of the compressor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,230 issued Jun. 11, 1991 to James J. Todack discloses a portable refrigerant recovery system designed to retrieve, clean, filter, transfer, and reclaim refrigerants such as refrigerant R-11, R-12, R-114, R-500, and R-502.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

Refrigerant processing and transferring system


The invention relates to a fastening device for implant device, the fastening device comprising at least two fastening sections, where a first fastening section is arranged with a through hole, a second fastening section is arranged with a protruding part, and where said protruding part is in place in said through hole in a fastening device locking state, where the protruding part on the second fastening section is arranged with a through channel having an inlet and an outlet, said through channel being arranged to receive an implant device feed member, said inlet and outlet being accessible from the exterior of the fastening device in said fastening device locking state, wherein the first fastening section is securely locked to the second fastening section when, in said fastening device locking state, said implant device feed member is in place in the through channel and protrudes from both the inlet and the outlet of said through channel. The invention further relates to an implant device comprising a fastening device, and a method for securely locking a first fastening section of a fastening device for an implant device to a second section of a fastening device for an implant device.

Implant devices are devices that are adapted for being placed in e.g. human bodies or animals, and that e.g. replace body parts that have been damaged or removed e.g. due to cancer.
In order to keep the implant device in place so that it does not move freely within e.g. a human body cavity, it is known to fasten the implant device in position using a fastening device. A known fastening device is a band type device having two ends, where a first end has a hole and a second end has a protruding part arranged to be placed in said hole in order to lock the two ends of the band device together after having been looped around an implant device and a body part such as an intestine, thereby fastening the implant device in place. In order for the band ends not to be separated when e.g. a person carrying the implant moves around, the protruding part is of flexible material and has a ball shaped outer end of somewhat larger cross-section than the diameter of the hole, whereby the ball shaped end is elastically deformed when pushed through the hole and regains its shape when leaving the hole, thus keeping the band ends locked to each other.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fastening device, implant device, locking method, and operation method


Embodiments of an optical compensator for a liquid crystal display is disclosed. One embodiment of the optical compensator includes an A-plate and a C-plate wherein:                the retardation of the A-plate satisfies the following formula:0.644<R0(450)/R0(550)<1        the retardation of the C-plate satisfies the following formula:1<Rth(450)/Rth(550)<1.35        where R0(450) and R0(550) represent the retardation of the A-plate at wavelengths of 450 nm and 550 nm, respectively, and Rth(450) and Rth(550) are the values calculated by Rth=[[nx+ny]/2−nz]×d (where nx, ny and nz represent the three-dimensional refractive indexes of the C-plate as the refractive indexes in the direction of the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis, respectively, and d represents the thickness of the C-plate) for the C-plate at a wavelength of 450 nm and 550 nm, respectively. Other embodiments are also included.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to an optical compensator for enhancing the viewing angle of a liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various liquid crystal display (LCD) modes and compensation films have been proposed to enhance the viewing angle of LCDs. Vertically-aligned (VA) LCD is a typical example of LCDs with wide viewing angle. Vertically-aligned (VA) LCD is a mode using a negative liquid crystal material and vertical alignment film. When no voltage is applied, liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a vertical direction and black display appears. When a predetermined voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a horizontal direction and white display appears. Comparing to the twisted nematic (TN) LCD, the vertically-aligned (VA) LCD provides higher contrast, higher response speed, and excellent viewing angle characteristics. However, the VA LCD still has problems of color shift or narrow viewing angle due to a dark-state light leakage at large viewing angles which reduces the contrast. Typically, these problems can be reduced by introducing compensation films.
However, the performance of conventional compensation films are not acceptable since all of them are optimized for a single wavelength of light while not considering other wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum which are visible by human eyes.

Optical compensator for liquid crystal display


A therapeutic aerosol device in which an aerosol generated by a nebulising device is supplied through a nosepiece to a patient's nostril so that the main aerosol flow supplied is able to emerge from the other nostril. The main aerosol flow is superimposed by pressure fluctuations. In order to guarantee that, due to the pressure fluctuation, aerosol is transported to the paranasal sinuses, a low resistance device is provided in the other nostril.

Known in this context from "Ability of Aerosols to Penetrate Paranasal Sinuses" H. Kauff. Archive. klin. Exper. Ohren-,Nasen- and Kehlkopfheilk. 190, 95-108 (1968) is that pressure fluctuations and vibrations can cause aerosols to penetrate the paranasal sinuses through which the main aerosol flow through the nasal cavities does not actively flow. An example of the application of these findings is known from EP 0 507 707 A1. According to this, an aerosol flow is superimposed with pressure fluctuations which are intended to cause the aerosol particles/droplets in the main aerosol flow to pass through the ostia and enter the paranasal sinuses.
In this way, although the main aerosol flow does not directly flow through the paranasal sinuses, they can be reached and treated by a drug administered in aerosol form. As with other types of aerosol therapy, it is attempted to deposit sufficient quantities of the drug at the desired points, for which in the case of the paranasal sinuses a sufficient quantity of the aerosol in the main aerosol flow must pass through the ostia and penetrate the paranasal sinuses.
Experimental investigations on different models of human nose have demonstrated that when known therapeutic aerosol devices are used deposition in the paranasal sinuses is less than expected and desired. The opening size of the ostia, which due to the disease is often extremely small, also has a greater influence on deposition than generally assumed.

PARI GmbH Spezialisten fuer effektive Inhalation


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a first source/drain region formed in an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate, a metal silicide layer that covers a top surface of the first source/drain region, and a semiconductor pillar that penetrates the metal silicide layer and is connected to the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor pillar includes a second source/drain region formed in an upper portion of the semiconductor pillar, a gate electrode on the metal silicide layer, with the gate electrode surrounding the semiconductor pillar in a plan view. A contact is connected to the metal silicide layer.

Inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device having a transistor.
Semiconductor devices include integrated circuits having metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). As sizes and design rules of the semiconductor devices are gradually decreased, sizes of the MOSFETs are also increasingly scaled down. The scaling down of MOSFETs may have negative effects on the operational characteristics of semiconductor devices. For example, the scaling down of MOSFETs may induce short channel effects. Accordingly, various methods have been developed to obtain semiconductor devices having superior performances while overcoming limitations due to integration of the semiconductor devices.

Vertical transistor having a semiconductor pillar penetrating a silicide formed on the substrate surface


This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to at least partially compensate for temperature sensitivity in a digital microphone system including, for example, a temperature sensitive membrane, such as an electrets condenser microphone (ECM).

An electret is a dielectric material having a quasi-permanent electric charge or dipole polarization. Electret materials are quite common in nature. For example, quartz and other forms of silicon dioxide are naturally occurring electrets. However, many electrets are synthetic, prepared by heating a dielectric above its melting temperature and then cooling the melted dielectric in a strong electric field.
In certain examples, electret material can be used as a membrane for a microphone. An electret condenser microphone (ECM), for example, eliminates the need for a polarizing power supply in a digital microphone system by providing a permanently charged or polarized material. However, ECMs can be sensitive to temperature.

ECM digital microphone temperature compensation


The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatus and systems for automatically adapt the zoom coefficient of the camera of a system when running an augmented reality application. A pose estimation is performed for the camera which captures the real scene and the boundaries of the AR scene are calculated. According to the camera frustum and the boundaries, three-dimension rectangles are computes to determine a zoom coefficient that would optimize the seeing of the seen and the optimal position for the camera. The zoom is automatically optically or digitally adapted and the optimal position is indicated to the user by visual, audio or haptic means.

An Augmented Reality (AR) application overlays three-dimensional artificial objects (e.g. computer-generated imagery, also called CGI) atop the real world. Realism and real-time performance are key criteria to assess AR applications. There are two types of AR devices: "optical see-through devices", like smart-glasses for example and "video pass-through" devices, like smartphones or tablets for instance. The present disclosure relates to this second type of AR devices.
Video pass-through devices are apparatus equipped with a display screen, a camera and means for the user to control the pose (location and aiming direction) of the camera in real time. For example, smartphones and tablets are AR devices when running an AR application, using their front screen and their rear-facing camera. In this case, the user controls the camera pose by handling the device. The video captured by the camera is rendered on-the-fly on the screen. The AR application overlay virtual objects of an AR scene on the images of the video.
In certain optimal camera angles, the user may watch an entire AR scene. However, if the camera is too close from the location of the AR scene or if the aiming direction of the camera is not in the optimal direction, some of the AR objects are out of the scope of the camera. If the camera is too far from the location of the AR scene, AR objects are small and details may be not seeable on the screen. To resolve this problem, the user has to search for the optimal pose by himself. Such a solution is not satisfying because the user is not always aware that he is missing objects or details and because the search of the optimal pose is a tedious task which disturbs the pleasant use of the AR application.

Methods, devices and systems for automatic zoom when playing an augmented scene


The free radical copolymerization of vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, and bis(hydrocarbyl)vinyl phosphonate in emulsion is moderated by the addition at the beginning of the reaction of an electronically resonating additive such as alphamethylstyrene. The use of such an additive limits the increase in viscosity of the system without retarding the rate of polymerization.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to free radical polymerization. More particularly it relates to the free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers, especially copolymers of vinyl chloride. Furthermore it relates to the control of free radical copolymerization in emulsion of vinyl chloride, when a bis(hydrocarbyl)vinylphosphonate is a comonomer.
Emulsion polymerization of vinyl monomers generates large amounts of heat usually 18 to 25 kilocalories per mole, termed by those in the art as the "exotherm". If the exotherm is not carefully controlled, the temperature of the reaction can rapidly escalate into an explosion. At the commercial level of batchwise production, 1000 to about 250,000 liters per batch, the temperature of the contents in the reactors is controlled by applying either steam to heat or cold water to cool jacketed reactors.
Temperature control by heating or cooling means surrounding the reactor depends on good heat transfer through the walls of the reactor. Any factor inhibiting good heat transfer, therefore makes large scale vinyl polymerization potentially dangerous.
Before the instant invention, copolymerization of a bis(hydrocarbyl)vinylphosphonate with vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate to make useful vinyl resins generated a rapid rise in viscosity which caused the resin to coat out on the walls of the reactor. This coating lowers the heat transfer characteristics of the reactor to such an extent that temperature control becomes difficult. Absent the control of temperature, the copolymerization process is hazardous when scaled up to the level of 1000 liters or more, restricting production to laboratory (less than 20 liters) or pilot plant scale (20 to 80 liters). With the use of the process of this invention, commercial copolymerization of a bis(hydrocarbyl)vinylphosphonate with vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate may be carried out in batchwise reactors of up to 250,000-liter capacity.
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate/bis (hydrocarbyl)vinylphosphonate copolymers have a low fusion temperature so that laminates can be made with fabrics or substrates of comparatively low fusion points themselves, e.g. polypropylene. The bis(beta-chloroethyl)vinylphosphonate comonomer, "bis beta", imparts a rubbery nature to the resin. It is precisely this rubbery attribute which causes the polymerizing latex particles to stick to each other and to the walls of the vessel, reducing the heat transfer coefficients of jacketed reactors. Furthermore, the exotherm in the copolymerization of "bis-beta" with vinyl chloride occurs earlier, at a lower conversion, than does the exotherm for the homopolymerization of vinyl chloride alone. The peak of the exotherm for the homopolymerization of vinyl chloride in emulsion or suspension comes at about 70% conversion. The exotherm for the copolymerization of "bis beta" with vinyl chloride comes at about 30-35% conversion, which makes the reaction more difficult to control. The rate of polymerization of the "bis beta" alone or with vinyl chloride is faster than that of vinyl chloride alone.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,663 granted to Gallagher and Goswami on June 27, 1978 a process for the copolymerization of 75 to 90% vinyl chloride, 5 to 15% vinyl acetate, and 5 to 15% bis(hydrocarbyl)vinylphosphonate is disclosed. The low fusion resins of Gallagher et al are useful in making cellular polyvinyl chloride laminates of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,294 granted to Goswami on Sept. 28, 1976.
Gulbins et al were granted U.S. Pat. No. 3,781,243 on Dec. 25, 1973 for a process of controlling the temperature in vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and vinyl acetate polymerization. Their controlling additive is a copolymerizable additive which has a copolymerization parameter r.sub.1 (r.sub.R) greater or equal to 1, a copolymerization parameter r.sub.2 (r.sub.M) less than 1, and a reactivity ratio of these two numbers greater than 20.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,462 granted to Farber et al on Feb. 2, 1971 a method for controlling the rate of polymerization of vinyl chloride alone is given. The rate is speeded up in the first half of the polymerization and slowed down in the second half by the addition of a long-chain alpha-olefin.
As reported in Chemical Abstracts 64, 12796 (1966), Tudos and other Hungarian workers inhibit the homopolymerization of vinyl acetate by adding aromatic comonomers.

Process for the control of free radical polymerization


Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory processor-readable storage media are disclosed for determining one or more biometric properties of a subject using multiple sensors positioned along a flexible backing. At least one processor of the multi-sensor device may be configured to receive output signals from the multiple sensors, identify at least one output signal from the received output signals that exhibit measurements of a targeted biological structure, determine the one or more biometric properties of the subject based on the identified at least one output signal received from at least one of the multiple sensors, and provide the determined one or more biometric properties.

Biometric properties, such as blood pressure, pulse rate and other cardiovascular properties, may be monitored using one or more of bio-impedance, optical, and ultrasonic sensor techniques. There are a number of challenges associated with the use of such non-invasive devices for monitoring cardiovascular and other biometric properties. Conventional sensors may need to be arranged close to the skin surface to detect targeted biological features and/or properties. For example, optical sensors may penetrate only a few millimeters below the skin, while ultrasonic sensors may penetrate several centimeters below the skin. Such short-range sensors may need to be positioned over or close to a subcutaneous biological structure (e.g., an artery, vein, bone, etc.) to obtain suitable measurements. However, it may be difficult to determine where to position such a conventional sensor on a subject. Some biological structures, such as arteries and muscle tissue, can move around within a volume of tissue, such that the location of the biological structure may change from one measurement to the next, further complicating accurate positioning of short-range biological sensors on a subject.

Multi-sensor device and method of using multi-sensor device for determining biometric properties of a subject


A protocol is provided that permits a third-party key issuing entity to have its issued keys protected by an unrelated key protecting entity. In at least some embodiments, a trusted key protecting entity is injected, in a sense, in a conversation between the third-party key issuing entity and a client to which one or more keys are distributed. The trusted key protecting entity is able to apply various protections which, in at least some embodiments are unknown to the key issuing entity, to a distributed key which can then be used by the client to access protected content.

Traditionally, digital rights management or DRM has been used to protect various types of content that can be distributed to users. DRM protections can include using one or more keys to cryptographically protect content that is to be distributed.
Some types of DRM techniques in the past have included two different but related functions—that of key issuance and key protection.
Key issuance involves issuing keys that are used to cryptographically protect content. Key protection involves protecting issued keys to prevent tampering and the like. In the past, in at least some protection systems, the role of key issuer and key protector has been played by a single entity. Thus, the entity associated with issuing keys has also been the entity associated with protecting those keys.

Protocol for protecting third party cryptographic keys


An image sensor has a frame including a reading window formed therein at the top of the frame. The reading window is closed by a glass covering which is adhered to the frame through an adhesive. First and second grooves are provided in the frame to extend along the reading window. After the adhesive has been charged into the first groove, the glass covering is placed and pressed against the frame top so that the glass covering will be adhered to the frame top through the adhesive. At this time, any excess adhesive may be received and held by the second groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sensor usable in facsimile machines, optical character readers and others.
2. Description of the Related Art
One example of the conventional image sensor is shown in FIG. 1 which is a cross-sectional view of the primary parts of the image sensor, taken along a plane perpendicular to the scan direction. The image sensor comprises a frame 30, a transparent covering (glass covering) 31 mounted on the frame 30 at the open top thereof, a base plate 33 mounted within the frame 30, a light emitting section 32 mounted on the base plate 33, another base plate 35 mounted on the frame 30 at the open bottom thereof, and a light receiving section 34 mounted on the base plate 35. The base plate 33 also supports a resilient member 37 which includes a spring-like element formed therein at the leftward end as viewed in FIG. 1. The resilient member 37 fixedly urges an optical system (rod lens array) 36 against the inner mounting wall 30a of the frame 30. In the conventional image sensor, the glass covering 31 is generally adhered to the top end face 30b of the frame 30 through any adhesive. In such a ease, any excess adhesive may flow onto the outer and/or inner wails of the frame 30 to damage the property of the rod lens array 36 and/or to contaminate the frame 30. In order to overcome such problems, a proposal has been made that the top end face 30b of the frame 30 is provided with a groove 39, as shown in FIG. 2. The groove 39 is filled with an adhesive. However, such an arrangement could not completely prevent some excess adhesive from flowing onto the outer and/or inner walls of the frame 30.

Image sensor with improved mount for transparent cover


A system for fastening a first wooden member to a second wooden member includes a tenon configured to couple to the first wooden member such that the tenon extends from the first wooden member. The tenon has a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole. A first fastener extends through the first hole of the tenon and secures the tenon to the first wooden member. A second fastener extends through the second hole of the tenon and secures the tenon to the first wooden member. A third fastener extends through the second wooden member and is received into the third hole of the tenon to thereby secure the first wooden member to the second wooden member. The third fastener can be removed to thereby disconnect the first wooden member from the second wooden member repeatedly without aesthetic damage or loss of structural integrity.

Mortise and tenon is a part of human wood-framed construction history and has been used to construct many different objects such as furniture, buildings, or other house appliances. However, existing methods of mortise and tenon joinery are far from perfect and create several issues when the user is applying mortise and tenon to various situations. First, traditional wood-to-wood mortise and tenon joinery requires a skilled craftsperson or expert in the trade to cut the rectangular tenons and bore the matching, deep, rectangular mortises. Second, the traditional method of wood-to-wood mortise and tenon requires glue to ensure the mortise and tenon remain attached to each other. Using glue adds the elements of application time, glue costs, drying time and glue cleanup. Third, clamps or other tools are required to bring and then hold the mortise and tenon together until the glue is dried. Moreover, clamps only work for short perpendicular or parallel connections and not for connections where the plurality of objects or members is long or at angles other than perpendicular or parallel. Fourth, metal-to-metal connections require welding skills and a welding machine and/or metalworking equipment. Fifth, metal-to-wood connections require both metalworking and woodworking skills, tools, and machinery. Sixth, connections made of wood-to-wood are not as weather-resistant as metal-to-metal, metal-to-wood or synthetics and will shrink and leave a gap between the object's joints and may lead to further deterioration from weather or insects. Seventh, where the first object is in horizontal position and the second object is in a vertical position, with through-tenons joined at 90.0 degrees where the horizontal object must be offset, higher or lower, on the vertical object, to prevent the through-tenons from colliding inside the vertical object. Eighth, if the plurality objects are connected with glue or welded to each other, the plurality of joined objects cannot later be separated and then reconnected multiple times without severe damage. Ninth, if conventional wood screws are used to connect the first object and the second object, and then attempts are made to remove and then reinsert those screws, for purposes of disconnecting the first object and the second object, the hole created by the screw is enlarged with each attempt resulting in a connection that will fail.
Other variations of mortise and tenon joinery include dowel or biscuit mortise and tenon methods. However, these methods also create issues. For example, boring a mortise on the butt end of the first object to receive a dowel or biscuit is difficult due to the small surrounding surface area. Also, the dowels, biscuits, and the tools or jigs to create the mortises are sized to work with furniture-sized second object thus not available for larger-scale objects such as those used for timber-frame or post and beam construction. Furthermore, timber-frame and post and beam construction methods also have issues. For example, timber-frame and post and beam are very heavy, highly skilled carpenters and expensive tools are required to create the large tenons, to bore the deep mortises and difficult to test-fit without long, heavy, expensive clamps.
Accordingly, the present inventor has endeavored to develop fasteners, systems, and methods for wood construction that eliminate or minimize issues of conventional wood constructions methods, and through research and development, the present inventor has developed the fasteners, systems, and methods described hereinbelow.

Fasteners, systems, and methods for wood construction


A voice server and method for providing integrated voice mail and email messaging for use with an email server and an email client. The voice server includes a telephone interface means for providing telephone services to the voice server, a network interface means for providing communications between the voice server and each of the email server and email client, a processor, and a program memory for storing program instructions for controlling the processor to provide voice mail messaging services for a plurality of voice mailboxes. At least one voice mailbox on the voice server is adapted to create a message reference to uniquely identify each recorded voice mail message and to send each message reference to an email address on the email server, where the message can be retrieved by the email client. The voice server is further adapted to provide voice mail services corresponding to each recorded voice mail message, to the email client through the network interface means. Alternatively, the voice server may include at least one voice mailbox that is adapted to forward each recorded voice mail message as part of an email message, to a designated email address on the email server, where it can be retrieved by the email client. The email message in this alternate embodiment is adapted so that the email client can play the voice mail message.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer telephony systems and methods, and more particularly to a system and method for integrating voice and fax messages with email messages.
2. Description of the Related Art
Voice mail systems have been widely used in businesses to provide voice messaging and facsimile messaging. In addition, individuals are increasingly using voice mail services in their homes, replacing conventional answering machines, and on their cellular telephones. Voice mail services are typically provided by a central voice server connected to a public switched telephone network, allowing access to individual voice mailboxes from most telephones worldwide.
Electronic mail (xe2x80x9cemailxe2x80x9d) has also increased in popularity among both businesses and individuals for personal use. Businesses typically provide email through an email server connected to a local area network or through an Internet Service Provider. The Internet has also become more accessible to individuals who often have personal email addresses, in addition to work email addresses. Email messaging has become standardized over the Internet, and now most email messages conform to the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). In addition, most users access their email through a standard email reader, such as Microsoft Mail, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, or Netscape Mail.
As both forms of messaging have grown in popularity, many individuals have both voicemail and email accounts, with each providing unique advantages. Voicemail is accessible through virtually any telephone, and can thus be accessed remotely from a cellular telephone or a payphone, and is the most common messaging format for conveying audio messages. Email is usually textual or graphical in nature and requires a computer for access. Because individuals often rely on both voicemail and email it would be desirable to integrate the messaging features.
One solution known in the art is to provide a unified messaging system that can be used to retrieve various types of messages. However, such unified messaging systems usually require a proprietary reader program or the replacement of an email server with a specialized unified messaging server. These prior art systems are costly and generally require users to replace their current email reader program.
The present invention is directed to a system and method for integrating voice and fax messages with email messages that is cost-effective and can be utilized with standard email readers.
In one embodiment, a voice server for providing integrated voice mail and email messaging is provided. The voice server includes a telephone interface for providing telephone services to the voice server, and a network interface for providing communications between the voice server and each of an email server and an email client. The voice server also includes a processor and a program memory for storing program instructions for controlling the processor to provide voice mail messaging services for a plurality of voice mailboxes. At least one of the voice mailboxes is adapted to forward each recorded voice mail message to a designated email address on the email server. The voice mail message is forwarded as part of an email message which is adapted so that the email client can play the voice mail message through speakers on the email client.
In an alternate embodiment, the voice server includes at least one voice mailbox that is adapted to create a message reference to uniquely identify each recorded voice mail message and to send each message reference to a designated email address of the email client. The message reference is forwarded as part of an email message. The voice server is further adapted to provide voice mail services corresponding to each recorded voice mail message to the email client through the network interface.
A method for integrating voice mail and email is also provided. The method is for use in a network system including a voice server for providing voice mail services for at least one voice mailbox, an email server for providing email services for a plurality of email addresses, and at least one email client for retrieving email messages from an email address on the email server.
The steps of a first preferred embodiment of the method are performed by the voice server. First, a voice mail message is recorded in the at least one of the voice mailboxes. Next, an email message is created and is addressed to an email address associated with the at least one voice mailbox. The recorded voice mail message is attached to the email message and then the email message is sent from the voice server to the designated email address on the email server. In one embodiment, the voice server operates as an SMTP server and communicates with the email server and email client by sending the receiving messages over the Internet.
The email client is adapted to retrieve the email message, and by utilizing the message reference, can provide services for retrieving and manipulating the voice mail message through the email client. If the voice mail message is in a format that is unreadable by the email client, the voice mail message may be converted to a multimedia audio file by the voice server. The voice server can also verify that the email message was received at the designated email address and delete the voice mail message from the voice mailbox after the email message is properly received by the email server.
In addition, the voice server may also receive email messages. If the voice server receives an email with an attached audio file, the voice server will determine a voice mailbox that should be associated with the email message. The attached audio file would then be saved as a new voice mail message in the determined voice mailbox.
A second preferred embodiment of the method for integrating voice mail and email, performed by the voice server is also provided. After a first voice mail message is recorded in at least one voice mailbox, a first email message addressed to an email address associated with the at least one voice mailbox is created. A message reference for the first voice mail message is then created. The message reference includes data to uniquely identify the first voice mail message on the voice server. Next, the first email message and the message reference from the voice server are sent to the designated email address on the email server. The email client is adapted to retrieve the first email message from the email server, and by utilizing the message reference, provide services for retrieving and manipulating the first voice mail message.
The voice server may also be adapted to receive certain commands from the email client. The voice server may receive a command to download the first voice mail message from the voice server to the email client so that the email client may play the voice mail message through speakers on the email client. The voice server may also receive a command to play the first voice mail message over a designated telephone. The voice server will then place a call to the designated telephone and play the first voice mail message over the telephone after the telephone call is answered.
The voice server is also adapted to receive a command to reply to the voice mail message over a designated telephone. In such a case, the voice server will place a call to the designated telephone and record a second voice mail message over the telephone after the telephone call is answered. The second voice mail message is then saved in the voice mailbox of the party that left the first voice mail message.
The user of the email client may reply to the voice mail message through email. The email client will send a reply command to the voice server, including a message file. Upon receipt of the command and message file, the voice server will save the message file as a second voice mail message in the voice mailbox of the party that left the first voice mail message. If the message file is in a text format, then the voice server may convert the message file to an audio format so that the message file may be played over a telephone.
The first voice mail message may also be deleted from the email client. The voice server may receive a delete command from the email client to delete the corresponding first voice mail message. When the first voice mail message is deleted from the voice server, the voice server will create a second email message to the designated email address and include instructions to delete the first email message corresponding and its corresponding message reference. The first email mail message will be deleted when the second email message is processed by the email client.
The voice server and methods described above can also be utilized to integrate facsimile messaging with email messaging in similar manners.
A more complete understanding of the System and Method for Providing Integrated Messaging will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings which will first be described briefly.

System and method for providing integrated messaging

Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.


Disclosed herein is a thin film field effect transistor and a method for producing such a thin film transistor. The thin film transistor has a transistor gate and thin film active and channel regions. The transistor gate has a top surface and sidewalls which are coated with a thin gate insulating layer. A thin semiconductor film is provided over the transistor gate and thin gate insulating layer to form a conductively doped thin film channel region and conductively doped thin film active regions. The thin film channel region contacts the thin gate insulating layer opposite the transistor gate top surface and opposite the sidewalls. The transistor gate sidewalls in operation gate the opposite thin film channel region through the thin gate insulating layer. The thin film field effect transistor can be fabricated over an underlying MOSFET to form a CMOS inverter with the transistor gate being common to both the thin film transistor and the MOSFET. In this configuration the thin film channel region contacts the thin gate insulating layer opposite an underlying MOSFET active region. The underlying active region in operation gates the opposite thin film channel region through the thin gate insulating layer.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art semiconductor circuit 10 in which a p-channel thin film transistor is formed over an underlying n-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The transistors are connected to form a CMOS inverter.
The underlying MOSFET comprises heavily doped n-type (n+) underlying transistor active regions 12 and 14 formed in a lightly doped p-type (p-) silicon or other semiconductor substrate 16, a channel region 18 in substrate 16 between underlying n+ active regions 12 and 14, and a conductively doped polysilicon gate 20 over channel region 18. Gate 20 has a top surface 22 and sidewalls 24. An underlying gate oxide layer 26 insulates gate 20 and channel region 18 from each other.
Gate 20 functions as a gate for both the MOSFET and the thin film transistor. Spacers 38 are formed along gate sidewalls 24 to a thickness of which is generally over 1000 Angstroms. Spacers 38 are used to create lightly doped regions within underlying MOSFET active regions 12 and 14 beneath spacers 38. The lightly doped regions are created by performing a light implanting or active regions 12 and 14 before spacers 38 are formed on sidewalls 24. A heavier implanting of active regions 12 and 14 is performed after spacers 38 are formed, with spacers 38 blocking or restricting the heavier implanting thereunder.
The thin film transistor comprises gate 20, heavily doped p-type (p+) thin film active regions 30 and 32, and a thin film channel region 34 between thin film active regions 30 and 32. Thin film channel region 34 is slightly offset from transistor gate top surface 22, extending somewhat beyond transistor gate top surface 22. Such an offset reduces leakage current in thin film transistors. Channel region 34 is formed of lightly doped n-type (n-) silicon.
An isolation oxide layer 36 insulates gate 20 and underlying active regions 12 and 14 from thin film active regions 30 and 32 and from thin film channel region 34. Isolation oxide layer 36 typically has a thickness of greater than about 2000 Angstroms over underlying active regions 12 and 14 to isolate the MOSFET from the thin film transistor. Isolation oxide layer 36 is thinner over transistor gate top surface 22 so that gate 20 will gate thin film channel region 34. Isolation oxide layer 36 has a typical thickness over top surface 22 of about 100 Angstroms to about 800 Angstroms.
Underlying active region 12 forms the source of the underlying n-channel MOSFET and is typically connected to V.sub.ss or ground. Thin film transistor active region 30 forms the source of the underlying p-channel thin film transistor and is typically connected to V.sub.cc or a positive logic voltage. Underlying active region 14 forms the drain of the MOSFET and thin film active region 32 forms the drain of the thin film transistor. The two drains are connected to a common n+ conductive runner 40. Semiconductor circuit 10 thus forms a CMOS inverter. Gate 20 forms the input of the inverter and conductive runner 40 forms the output.
A problem arises in prior art thin film transistors such as described above when the junction between thin film source 30 and thin film channel region 34 is not accurately aligned with gate 20. FIGS. 2 and 3 show examples of inaccurate gate alignment.
In FIG. 2, the junction between thin film source 30 and thin film channel region 34 is located too far in the direction of thin film drain region 32. This alignment results in an offset region, indicated by the reference numeral 50, which is significantly longer than the corresponding optimal offset region of FIG. 1. The longer offset region decreases the transistor's conductivity when turned on.
In FIG. 3, the junction between thin film source 30 and thin film channel region 34 is located too far in the direction of thin film source region 30. A portion of channel region 34, indicated by the reference numeral 52, overlies spacer 38 and is not gated at all. In addition, there is no offset region since the junction between thin film drain region 32 and thin film channel region 34 is directly over gate 20. Without an offset region, the transistor shown in FIG. 3 has a significantly larger leakage current than the transistor shown in FIG. 1.
The invention described below overcomes the misalignment problems mentioned above, while creating a greater effective thin film transistor gate length and a self-aligned thin film transistor source. According to the methods described below, only two layers of polysilicon are required to create a CMOS inverter which utilizes a thin film transistor over an underlying MOSFET.

Thin film field effect transistor, CMOS inverter, and methods of forming thin film field effect transistors and CMOS inverters


The invention provides a circuit for electronic control of an internal combustion engines including injection valves that can be activated electrically as a function of regulated variables such as crankshaft position, engine speed, exhaust-gas composition and engine torque. The circuit includes an electronic control unit with means to activate the intake valves, exhaust valves, injection valves and ignition device as a function of ignition duration and ignition timing. The control unit also includes a start-up program with which ignition sequences of the engine cylinders, intake valves, injection valves and ignition device can be activated for any desired cylinder position of an engine-start-up process. The circuit further includes a program memory, an engine-standstill detection circuit, and an absolute-value angle transmitter to which the engine-standstill detection circuit is responsive. The absolute-value angle transmitter includes a coding disk that is integrally connected with the crankshaft of the engine, circuitry for generating signals corresponding to the crankshaft position during standstill and during rotational movement, and circuitry for generating electrical signals corresponding to engine temperature, engine load and engine knocking. The signals are fed as regulated variables to the electronic control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for electronic control of an internal combustion engine having an electronic control unit and an electronic memory with programs for the control unit, the control unit activating injection valves as a function of regulated variables.
2. Related Art
The use of electronic components, especially for control of internal combustion engines, e.g., in motor vehicles, is known. Such components are employed preferably in order to improve the functional sequence inexpensively in interaction with mechanical components. For example, in conventional internal combustion engines, the ignition behavior (ignition timing) is controllable by means of an electronically conditioned characteristic curve that depends on the speed of the engine.
From West German Patent 3,537,000 there is also known the use of a coding disk, which is provided with a Gray code, and of a sensor that samples the coding disk for static acquisition of the load acquisition determined for initiation of ignition in the case of a constant-pressure carburetor.
From West German Laid-open Application 3,630,272 there are also known devices for controlling an internal combustion engine in which devices the position of a transmitter disk that is connected to a shaft of the internal combustion engine and that has a perforation designed as marking is registered by a spatially fixed recording segment. A disadvantage of these known control devices is that they permit only the control of a single regulated variable (e.g., initiation of ignition).
In West German Patent 3,609,070 Al there is described an electronic control system for internal combustion engines in which two central computing units interconnected by transmission lines are fed on the input side with individual variables characterizing the engine condition. In addition to the operating parameters indicating the load on the engine, engine rotation parameters that correspond to a predetermined crank angle position and that are acquired by a sampling device are fed to a central unit. In this process, a sampling sensor generates a reference crank angle signal which corresponds to a predetermined fixed crank angle position of an individual engine cylinder, whereby, in particular, only relative crank angle positions can be determined.

Circuit arrangement for electronic control of an internal combustion engine


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that asynchronously controls sending data items from a sender to a receiver. This system includes a set of sending FIFOs, a set of receiving FIFOs, as well as a shared data path between the sender and the receiver. The system also includes a set of control paths that operate in parallel between the sender and the receiver, wherein a given control path controls the transmission of data items between a corresponding sending FIFO and a corresponding receiving FIFO through the shared data path. The system further includes a round-robin scheduling mechanism which activates one control path at a time in a predetermined sequence. An activated control path asynchronously controls the sending of a data item from a corresponding sending FIFO to a corresponding receiving FIFO. By operating the control paths in parallel in the predetermined sequence, the system does not have to wait a request-acknowledge cycle time between the sender and the receiver before sending consecutive data items through the shared data path, but can instead send multiple data items through the shared data path within a single request-acknowledge cycle time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication networks. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for high-throughput asynchronous communication over high-latency communication channels.
2. Related Art
Dramatic increases in computational speed in recent years have largely been facilitated by improvements in semiconductor integration densities, which presently allow hundreds of millions of transistors to be integrated into a single semiconductor chip. This makes it possible to incorporate a large amount of computational circuitry onto a semiconductor chip. Moreover, the small circuit dimensions made possible by improved integration densities have enabled this computational circuitry to operate at greatly increased speeds. While computational circuitry within semiconductor chips continues to grow increasingly faster, the delay involved in communicating data between semiconductor chips has not decreased significantly. Consequently, communication delay is beginning to create a significant bottleneck to computer system performance.
For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a typical communication system that includes sender 100, receiver 102, and communication channel 104, wherein sender 100 comprises sending control module 106 and sending data latch 108, and wherein receiver 102 comprises receiving control module 110 and receiving data latch 112. The control modules 106 and 110 have inputs marked with triangles, and outputs, which have no triangles. Sending control module 106 is coupled to receiving control module 110 through request line 114 and acknowledge line 116. Sending data latch 108 is coupled to receiving data latch 112 through data path 118. Request line 114, acknowledge line 116, and data path 118 are collectively referred to as "communication channels" 104.
During operation, when data is available in sending data latch 108 and data path 118 is free, sending control module 106 sends a request signal on request line 114 and simultaneously causes sending data latch 108 to send a data item onto data path 118. After a transit time, the request signal and the data item arrive at receiving control module 110 and receiving data latch 112, respectively.
In response to the request signal, if the downstream channel is available, receiving control module 110 causes the data to be latched into receiving data latch 112 and simultaneously sends an acknowledge signal on acknowledge line 116. After an additional transit time, the acknowledge signal arrives at sending control module 106, which causes sending control module 106 to send a subsequent data item from sending data latch 108 onto data path 118. Note that above steps can be repeated.
Unfortunately, the above-described communication scheme has a serious drawback. The data rate of the communication channels is restricted by a request-acknowledge cycle time required to send a request signal and to receive a corresponding acknowledge signal for each data item. Note that while the acknowledge signal is in-flight, data path 118 is idle. Thus, data path 118 is busy at most half of the time, and is hence significantly underutilized.
In order to alleviate this problem, a previous invention described alternately using two sets of control paths to asynchronously control transmission of consecutive data items between the sender and the receiver, thereby allowing an improved data rate up to twice as high as the implementation illustrated in FIG. 1. However, this technique does not provide a solution for a communication system that requires an even higher data rate.
Hence, what is needed is an apparatus and a method for high-throughput asynchronous communication between a sender and a receiver without the above-described limitation.

Apparatus and method for high-throughput asynchronous communication with flow control


Lateral cathode field emission devices and methods of fabrication are set forth. Conventional integrated circuit fabrication techniques are advantageously used to produce the lateral FEDs. Cathode tips on the order of several hundred angstroms are consistently obtained as well as exact spacing of the cathode to gate and cathode to anode. Various cathode and device configurations are described, including a circular field emission device. A single integrated structure having multiple cathodes and multiple gates is possible to perform various logic operations and/or enhance current output from the device. Multiple field effect devices, with cathodes disposed parallel or perpendicular to the substrate, are integrally coupled through a sharing of one or more metallization layers definitive of the elements of the devices. Significant advantages in current density and circuit layout can be obtained. Methods for fabricating the various devices are also explained.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates in general to integrated microelectronic devices having a field emission cathode structure and, more particularly, to novel lateral field emission device structures and methods of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Field emission devices (FEDs) or micro-vacuum tubes have many advantages over conventional semiconductor silicon devices for signal and data processing. For example, FEDs are much faster switching in the terahertz regime, are temperature and radiation insensitive, and are relatively easy to construct. Applications range from discrete active devices to high density SRAMs and displays, radiation-hardened military applications and temperature insensitive space technologies, etc. The literature on field emission devices principally focuses on process problems associated with producing the sharpest tip (e.g., with photolithography), controlling cathode to anode and cathode to gate distances and achieving self-alignment between these elements. By way of example, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,766, entitled "Solid State Electron Amplifier," and U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,885, entitled "Very High Speed Integrated Microelectronic Tubes." In these devices, as in all known field emission devices, the sharply pointed tip of the cathode is the only physical structure that is not commonly produced by standard integrated circuit fabrication processes.
Activity in the field of cold cathode emission at VLSI levels has been increasing in the past few years. The present application is believed to further advance the state of this art by providing FEDs which have cathode tips produced by integrated circuit fabrication processes. Further, FED structures are provided with extremely fine cathode tips, exact control of cathode to anode distance and exact alignment of gate and cathode, along with precise distance control of gate to cathode. In addition, the cross-sectional area overlap of gate to cathode is kept low to minimize coupling capacitances. In another aspect, presently available field emission devices are often characterized by low active current. The typical solution to this problem has been to couple multiple structures in parallel, which works but is expensive in terms of the layout area required. The structures and methods of fabrication described below provide significant advantages in device current and circuit layout area.

International Business Machines Corporation


Positioning mobile devices in a three-dimensional space includes receiving multiple traces, each trace corresponding to a sequence of atmospheric pressure readings from a respective mobile device, receiving indications of signals received by the mobile devices from signal sources concurrently with the atmospheric pressure readings, generate similarity metrics for the multiple traces using the indications of other signals received by the mobile devices, the similarity metrics being indicative of associations between the signal sources and the atmospheric pressure readings, and determine estimated changes in elevation over time for the multiple traces using the generated similarity metrics.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Generally speaking, techniques for positioning computing devices rely on high-altitude signal sources as Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites or pseudo-satellites, terrestrial signal sources such as 802.11 (or Wi-Fi™) access points or cellular base stations, or proximity sensing. For example, a portable computing device such as a smartphone can receive GPS signals from several satellites and determine its location on the surface of the Earth based on these signals. Similarly, a portable computing device can determine its location using a signal from an 802.11 access point or, for greater accuracy, signals from several 802.11 access points.
However, GPS satellites generally are obscured inside buildings, tunnels, underground, etc., causing multipath errors or failure to generate a positioning fix at all. Moreover, GPS positioning techniques generally are not optimized for determining elevation, and, as a result, the vertical component of a typical GPS positioning fix is relatively inaccurate even when GPS signals are not occluded. To the extent that a barometer can be used to determine elevation, barometer measurements often also are highly inaccurate.

Determining position of a device in three-dimensional space and corresponding calibration techniques