A motion vector detector detects a motion vector from a first reference image for a coding target block. A multiple reference image composition unit creates a composite reference block that a first reference block extracted from the first reference image using the motion vector has been composited with a predetermined region of at least one of other reference images. Setting the composite reference block as a prediction block, an entropy encoder encodes a prediction difference block that the prediction block has been subtracted from the coding target block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coding technology and a decoding technology of a video signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a service to distribute digitized image and audio contents via a broadcast wave such as a satellite and a ground wave, and a network has been realized, and a highly-efficient coding technology for efficiently recording and transmitting contents having a massive amount of information is being required. Used as the highly-efficient video coding is a method for compressing information using a correlation between spatially adjacent pixels in the same frame of a video signal, and correlations between temporally adjacent frames and fields, as represented by MPEG-4 AVC.
In MPEG-4 AVC, used as compression using a temporal correlation is motion compensated prediction to use a locally decoded image of an already-coded frame as a reference image for a target image being a coding target frame, detect the amount of motion (hereinafter described as "motion vector") between the target image and the reference image in units of two-dimensional blocks (hereinafter described as "target blocks") of a predetermined size, and create a prediction image based on the target block and the motion vector.
In MPEG-4 AVC, it is possible to improve the prediction accuracy of motion compensated prediction by using a prediction method using a motion vector of each target block by making the size of a target block variable in a two-dimensional block of 16×16 pixels being the unit of an encoding process (hereinafter described as "macroblock"), a method for storing a plurality of reference images to select a reference image to be used for prediction, and a method for obtaining motion vectors between two reference images and a target block to create a motion estimated image, and accordingly a reduction in the amount of information is realized.
Moreover, it is necessary in motion compensated prediction to encode and transmit a created motion vector. In order to prevent an increase in the amount of information due to motion vectors, a predicted motion vector value that is predicted from motion vectors for already-decoded blocks around the target block is used for coding; accordingly, it is possible to use motion compensated prediction called a direct mode that does not transmit a motion vector.
However, since the above prediction of motion vectors cannot necessarily be obtained with high accuracy, a method for detecting a motion vector between reference images on both of the coding and decoding sides, assuming that the motion vector is temporally continuous, creating the predicted motion vector of a target block, and configuring the direct mode is also presented as shown in Patent Document 1.

Video coding apparatus, video coding method and video coding program, and video decoding apparatus, video decoding method and video decoding program


A preparation method of polymerid rod using free radical bulk polymerization with temperature gradient, comprising the steps of, charging a mixture of monomer which can be subjected to a radical polymerization, polymerization initiator and cross linking agent into a reaction container of tube shape having a constant inner diameter and performing radical polymerization of the monomer, by passing the said reaction container in a constant dipping speed through a zone downwardly from upper part to lower part of the said zone, wherein the upper part of the zone is maintained at a relatively low temperature (TL) and the lower part of the zone is maintained at a relatively high temperature (TH) than that of the said upper part so that the medium part located between the upper part and lower part has a temperature gradient of (TH-TL)/L (wherein, L is defined as a vertical distance of the temperature-gradient zone). By the present method, it is possible to decrease a transmission loss of the obtained polymeric rod due to scattering. The obtained polymeric rod by the present method having nearly perfect outer shape can be used in preparing a polymeric gradient-index rod lens which is used as an optical component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a preparation method of polymeric rod and gradient index rod lens using free radical bulk polymerization with temperature gradient. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for preparing polymeric rod having nearly perfect outer shape by free radical bulk polymerization with temperature gradient which enables significant decrease of transmission loss of polymeric rod caused by scattering, and a method for preparing a polymeric gradient-index rod lens employed as an optical component.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A polymeric gradient-index rod lens is generally employed in connection of optical fibers or connection between laser diode and optical fiber since it has an advantage of lowering connection loss.
Such polymeric gradient-index rod lens may be prepared from glass or polymer. Particularly, when using polymer, it is possible to produce polymeric gradient-index rod lens having various gradient-index due to diverse polymer types, while avoiding toxic preparation condition which has been a problem when using glass. Moreover, it is another advantageous aspect of using polymers to operate the process in a relatively low temperature of about 100.degree. C., compared by excessively high temperature of 300.degree. to 700.degree. C. which is inevitable when using glass. For these reasons, recent studies have been focused on the preparation method using polymers see Y. Koike, in Polymers for Lightwave and Integrated Optics, Edited by L. A. Hornak, Dekker (1993)!.
Since a polymeric gradient-index of gradient-index rod lens largely depends on the geometric shape while the coarse surface and internal defects thereof may cause an transmission loss due to a scattering, it is essential to obtain a polymeric rod having perfect outer shape without internal flaws in order to prepare the above-mentioned polymeric gradient-index rod lens.
Almost all of the conventional preparation methods of a gradient-index rod lens use a free radical bulk polymerization in forming polymeric rod see Y. Koike et al., Appl. Opt., 24(24):4321-4325, 1985!.
Although free radical bulk polymerization is advantageous in that the resultant polymer is not nearly contaminated as it is prepared directly from monomers, it is hard to control its polymerization rate due to an exothermic reaction, high activation energy and the difficulty in heat dissipation by gel effect, etc.
Also, as shown in Table 1, the density of polymer is higher than that of monomer, since the volume of a polymer decreases as a conversion of monomer into polymer proceeds and bubbles are generated at that amount. Such bubbles not only affect geometric shape of the polymeric rod but also cause transmission loss when they remain inside of the rod.
Despite said problems, there have been little effort in the prior art method for preparation of polymeric gradient-index rod lens to effectively remove the bubbles which are generated by volume change.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Densities of the representative monomers and polymers.sup.# Density (g/cm.sup.3) Volume (25.degree. C.) change Monomers monomers polymers (%) ______________________________________ vinyl chloride 0.919 1.406 34.4 acrylonitrile 0.800 1.17 31.0 vinylidene chloride 1.213 1.71 28.7 methyl acrylate 0.952 1.223 22.1 methyl methacrylate 0.940 1.179 20.6 styrene 0.905 1.062 14.6 ______________________________________ .sup.# G. Odian, Principles of Polymerization, 3rd Ed., John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1991.
Generally, as conversion of monomers into polymer proceeds, the viscosity increases gradually or rapidly. As seen in the attached FIG. 1, when monomers are homogeneously heated to proceed radical polymerization in the entire monomer solution, bubbles (3) generated by the density difference between monomer and polymer are fixed by prepolymer (1) or gel (2), and they cannot be released into the atmosphere and inevitably remained inside of the polymers. As higher the polymerization temperature, greater the addition amount of cross linking agent, and smaller the inner diameter, the amount of the residual bubbles present inside the polymers becomes large.
Meanwhile, as one of the most recent methods of preparing gradient-index rod lens, it is disclosed that a mixture of at least two monomers and polymerization initiator having different reaction rate and refractive index is placed in an optically transparent reaction tube and the photocopolymerization is carried out by moving the UV source upward in a vertical line while rotating the reaction tube see: Y. Ohtsuka and I. Nakamoto, Appl. Phys. Lett., 29(9): 559-561, 1976!.
However, the process of the aforementioned prior art is cumbersome since the reaction tube must be rotated. Another problem is that there are many possibilities of bubble generation during the procedure of completing polymerization of prepolymer or gel by heating to obtain solid polymer, which is common in the conventional method employing photocopolymerization reaction.

Preparation method of polymeric rod and gradient-index rod lens using free radical bulk polymerization with temperature gradient

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A compact spectrometer apparatus for characterizing a microscope illumination source in real time, and without interfering with the observation and/or characterization of a sample under observation with the microscope. The spectrometer apparatus is comprised of a light probe comprising a mirror disposed in a housing, the mirror positioned to reflect light from the illumination source into an optical coupling; an optical waveguide receiving reflected light into the optical coupling; and a spectrometer comprising a light sensor receiving reflected light directed by the optical waveguide from the optical coupling of the light probe, the sensor adapted to sense light over a range of wavelengths and output a signal indicative of the intensity of the light at any wavelength over the range.

1. Technical Field
Compact devices for characterizing spectral content of illumination sources, and more particularly, a compact spectrometer apparatus for characterizing an illumination source of a microscope.
2. Description of Related Art
Microscope illumination systems are varied in their excitation spectra and/or by the type of illumination method used to illuminate a sample that is under examination. Currently, mercury, metal halide, tungsten, halogen, and xenon lamps, along with lasers and LED's are the most common illumination sources. Each method and illumination source has a unique light spectrum to illuminate the sample for bright field, fluorescence, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF), or confocal microscopy. Along with the different spectra and power from the light source, there are multitudes of filters and dichroics that may be used to modify the light. Microscope users need to know that they are getting the proper light to their sample, with regard to both spectrum and power. There are power meters on the market that measure the total power to the sample, but they do not measure the full light spectrum. Knowing the actual light spectrum allows a user to know if he is applying the proper light to his sample.
Light sources can shift and change intensity over time. During an experiment, results can be compromised if the illuminator light output changes. In many circumstances, this occurs without the user being aware of the problem. During a long time-lapse experiment, it is very important for the light to be consistent. There are currently no devices to accurately measure the light output during these experiments.
What is needed is a compact device for measuring the brightness and spectral content of a microscope illumination source that can be used to check the validity of the excitation or transmitted light illumination. Another need is to do this check in real time, and without interfering with the microscopic observation and/or characterization of a sample itself.

Spectrometer for microscope illumination sources


A disk drive recording apparatus includes an actuator arm with first and second heads extending from the actuator arm for writing and reading data to and from a first surface of a disk recording medium. The first and second heads are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction along the first surface of the disk recording medium. A switching device switches a data input/output path between the first head and the second head in response to a control signal. A microprocessor identifies a target position on the first surface of the disk recording medium and determines which one of the first and second heads is closer to the target position. The microprocessor then generates the control signal to switch the data input/output path to the first head when the first head is closer to the target position, and generates the control signal to switch the data input/output path to the second head when the second head is closer to the target position. The disk recording medium is preferably divided into three equally spaced intervals in the circumferential direction, and the first head is spaced apart from the second head by one of these intervals.

The present invention relates to a disk drive recording apparatus, and more particularly, to a disk drive recording apparatus having an actuator arm with dual magnetic heads.
Generally, a disk drive recording apparatus, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) using a disk as a recording medium, includes one head gimbals assembly (HGA) connected to an actuator arm. The actuator arm is driven by a voice coil motor to enable a magnetic head to write and read servo information and data to and from a surface of the disk. In reading and writing data, the seek time required to access a target position on the disk is always a major concern.
One way to reduce seek times is to utilize an actuator arm that is bifurcated to support a pair of spaced transducing heads. This type of configuration has been previously disclosed in U.S Pat. No. 5,343,347 issued to Gilovich. While Gilovich ""347 does recognize that the aforementioned configuration can be used to reduce seek times, the reference fails to disclose any specific details regarding how the configuration can be utilized to produce optimal results. Accordingly, the present invention has been contemplated to optimize the results achievable with this configuration.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved disk drive recording apparatus.
It is another object to provide a disk drive recording apparatus having an actuator arm with dual heads that optimizes performance results.
It is still another object to provide a disk drive recording apparatus capable of improving a seek time by utilizing two magnetic heads on a single surface of a disk.
It is yet another object to provide a head switching control method for seeking a target position on a disk surface by driving two magnetic heads on a single surface of a disk.
These and other objects can be achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention a disk drive recording apparatus comprising an actuator arm with first and second heads extending from the actuator arm for writing and reading data to and from a first surface of a disk recording medium. The first and second heads are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction along a single radius of the first surface of the disk recording medium. A switching device switches a data input/output path between the first head and the second head in response to a control signal. A microprocessor identifies a target position on the first surface of the disk recording medium and determines which one of the first and second heads is closer to the target position. The microprocessor then generates the control signal to switch the data input/output path to the first head when the first head is closer to the target position, and generates the control signal to switch the data input/output path to the second head when the second head is closer to the target position. The disk recording medium is preferably divided into three equally spaced intervals in the circumferential direction, and the first head is spaced apart from the second head by one of these equally spaced intervals.

Disk drive recording apparatus having actuator arm with dual heads and head switching control method


Provided is a certificate transmission server transmitting a certificate stored in a fixed terminal to a mobile terminal, a system including the same, and a method using the same. The method includes forming a security channel to the mobile terminal and performing authentication of the mobile terminal, forming a security channel to the fixed terminal and performing authentication of the fixed terminal, and if the authentication of the mobile terminal and the fixed terminal is successful, receiving the certificate from the fixed terminal and transmitting the certificate to the mobile terminal. Accordingly, authentication of a mobile terminal and a fixed terminal can be performed by a certificate transmission server, and the certificate can be transmitted by establishing a safe communication channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a server having the ability to safely transmit a user's certificate to a mobile terminal in order to use the certificate in mobile terminal-based environment, a communication system to which the server is applied, and a method using the same.
This work was supported by the IT R&D program of MIC/IITA [2005-S-060-02, Development of Universal Security Service Platform Technology for Protecting e-Identity].
2. Description of the Related Art
Nowadays, the use of wireless Internet with mobile terminals is rapidly increasing, and wireless Internet using habits of mobile terminal users are diversifying. However, compared to using Internet with fixed terminals such as a Personal Computer (PC), a complex process is required to use Internet with mobile terminals. In addition, due to problems in a mobile terminal's performance compared to a PC's performance, it is difficult to provide a sufficient level of security while using Internet with mobile terminals. In the past, Wireless Public Key Infrastructure (WPKI) suitable for a processing rate of mobile terminals was suggested. However, recently, with an increase of the performance of mobile terminals, a method of carrying a wired certificate has been discussed to provide a sufficient level of security.
Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2004-0082362 disclosed in Sep. 24, 2004 titled "authorized certificate management method and user authentication method using mobile terminal" relates to a method of managing an authorized certificate by using a mobile terminal as a storage medium, by which an authorized certificate stored in a user's network terminal is downloaded to the mobile terminal, and if the authorized certificate is necessary, the authorized certificate stored in the mobile terminal is transmitted for an authentication process. However, in order to drive a certificate management module of the mobile terminal and transmit the authorized certificate to a certificate management server, a Short Message Service (SMS) including a callback Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is required, and the mobile terminal simply acts as a certificate storage medium. In addition, since the certificate management server can read all communications between the mobile terminal and the network terminal, the certificate management server may be used for a malicious purpose.

Server and system for transmitting certificate stored in fixed terminal to mobile terminal and method using the same

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Disclosed is a modular bridge, typically for temporary use to enable persons to pass between upper floors of adjacent buildings during fire fighting or disaster relief operations, which can be rapidly assembled and deployed within a confined space and entirely from the “home” side of the gap to be crossed. It comprises a plurality of man-portable box section bridge modules adapted to be connected together end to end and projected in cantilever fashion from one side of the gap to the other. The assembly of modules is supported in and guided through a launch frame, with modules being added to the rear of the assembly and pushed through the frame until the gap is spanned. Removable lever arms of the frame are used to counterbalance the weight of the projected bridge modules during the course of deployment.

The present invention relates to modular bridge construction.
More particularly (though not exclusively) the invention seeks to provide a means for enabling personnel to pass across gaps e.g. within damaged or partially collapsed buildings or between upper floors of adjacent buildings when passage through the lower floor(s) of either or both is too difficult or dangerous, which can be rapidly assembled and deployed, typically within a confined space and entirely from the "home" side of the gap. Such capability may be required for example during firefighting, disaster relief or the like search and recovery operations, or certain military operations. Heretofore the only devices which have been generally available for such service are conventional ladders. Ladders are not, however, designed to carry the loads which are likely to be encountered when used as a bridge, are difficult and dangerous to cross when laid horizontally, offer limited span capability and/or may be too unwieldy to be carried through buildings.


A locking bracket for a vehicle accessory that has a main portion and a secondary portion, the main portion is configured to position the vehicle accessory in an operating position and includes opposite first and second faces extending between opposite ends, a spring leaf extending from the first face, first and second ribs extending from the second face, the first and second ribs being spaced from one another and having cooperating geometry to provide force to the spring leaf, at least first and second hinges separated by a distance, the first rib being located between the first and second hinges, and a locking mechanism provided on at least one of the ends, the locking mechanism being configured to maintain the vehicle accessory in the operating position.

Mounting of vehicle accessories, such as cameras and sensors, on a vehicle is often cumbersome and time consuming, requiring assembly and fastening of multiple parts. A need exists for a locking mechanism, such as a bracket, for mounting a vehicle accessory that has a simplified compact design and locks the vehicle accessory in proper position without the need for multiple parts or fasteners.


A flash memory device is configured to store multi-bit data on one cell utilizing fewer program operations. The flash memory device includes a memory cell, a sense amplifier and a write driver circuit. The sense amplifier is connected to a word line and a bit line. The sense amplifier and write driver circuit store data bits to be programmed on the memory cell. The sense amplifier and write driver circuit drives the bit line through a program voltage during a program execution period when at least one bit from among the data bits to be programmed is a program data bit, and performs a verify read operation when a program verify code representing a verify read period corresponds to a state of the data bits to be programmed.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to semiconductor memory devices. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a flash memory device configured to store multi-bit data on one cell.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Storage devices such as volatile and non-volatile memories have been increasingly utilized in mobile electronic devices such as MP3 players, PMPs, mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, etc. However, these mobile devices require high capacity memory storage to provide various operational functions (e.g., multimedia). One type of memory storage device is a multi-bit memory device which is used to store more than 2-bit data on one memory cell. These exemplary multi-bit memory devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,188, entitled "NON-VOLATILE MEMORY DEVICE HAVING MULTI-BIT CELL STRUCTURE AND A METHOD OF PROGRAMMING SAME", and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,587, entitled "MULTI-BIT MEMORY CELL ARRAY OF A NON-VOLATILE SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME" which are hereby incorporated by reference.
When storing 1-bit data on a memory cell, the memory cell has a threshold voltage included in one of two threshold voltage distributions. That is, the memory cell has one of two states representing data 1 or data 0. However, when storing 2-bit data on one memory cell, the memory cell has a threshold voltage included in one of four threshold voltage distributions where the four states represent data 11, data 10, data 00, and data 01. Two data bits stored in each memory cell respectively constitutes page data (hereinafter, referred to as least significant bit (LSB) data and a most significant bit (MSB) data). An LSB data bit is programmed into a memory cell and then an MSB data bit is programmed into the same memory cell. This is called a page program method.
A memory cell may be programmed to have one of the states 11, 10, 00, and 01. For convenience, states 11, 10, 00, and 01 correspond to ST0, ST1, ST2, and ST3, respectively. A threshold voltage of a memory cell with state 11 is an erased memory cell. A threshold voltage of a memory cell with state 10 is higher than that of a memory cell with state 11. A threshold voltage of a memory cell with state 00 is higher than that of a memory cell with state 10. A threshold voltage of a memory cell with state 01 is higher than that of a memory cell with state 00. As illustrated in FIG. 1a, once an LSB program operation is performed a memory cell has an erased state corresponding to state 10 (ST1). Once an MSB program operation is performed after the LSB program operation, as illustrated in FIG. 1b, the memory cell having state 11 has an erased state 01, but the memory cell with state 10 has states 10 or 00. That is, the memory cell is programmed with state 01 when LSB data is 1 and programmed with state 00 when the LSB data is 0. The MSB program operation is performed using an LSB data value programmed during the LSB program operation. The LSB data are read from the memory cell before performing the MSB program operation which is performed according to the read LSB data. This read operation is called an initial read operation.
The above page program method requires an initial read operation and causes disturbances due to an increase in the number of program operations. The number of program operations includes the LSB program operation and the MSB program operation where each program operation includes a plurality of program loops.

Flash memory device utilizing multi-page program method


A process for producing hydrogen comprising the steps of: (i) gasifying a fuel into a raw synthesis gas comprising CO, hydrogen, steam, sulfur and halide contaminants in the form of H2S, COS, and HX, wherein X is a halide; (ii) passing the raw synthesis gas through a water gas shift reactor (WGSR) into which CaO and steam are injected, the CaO reacting with the shifted gas to remove CO2, sulfur and halides in a solid-phase calcium-containing product comprising CaCO3, CaS and CaX2; (iii) separating the solid-phase calcium-containing product from an enriched gaseous hydrogen product; and (iv) regenerating the CaO by calcining the solid-phase calcium-containing product at a condition selected from the group consisting of: in the presence of steam, in the presence of CO2, in the presence of synthesis gas, in the presence of H2 and O2, under partial vacuum, and combinations thereof.

The production of gaseous hydrogen, and particularly, gaseous hydrogen of high purity, is known in the prior art. A variety of feedstocks are known to be useful for these processes, including petroleum, coal, biomass, oil sands, coke, tar, wax oil shales, or combinations of these materials. Depending upon the feedstock selected, the amount of sulfur and halogens present in the feedstock can vary extensively, and many considerations, including catalyst poisoning and the cost of environmental control equipment can be effected by these specific contaminants.
Also, the process used will affect the amount of carbon dioxide produced. As carbon dioxide is associated with global warming, emissions of carbon dioxide must be controlled.
It is therefore an unmet advantage of the prior art to provide a process of this type wherein the carbon dioxide, sulfur and halides are captured as a part of the hydrogen production process.
The rising energy demand coupled with the depleting global oil reserves and the environmental degradation due to emissions has led to extensive research in the field of clean energy production. The total energy use, globally, has been predicted to increase from 421 quadrillion BTU in 2003 to 722 quadrillion BTU in 2030.1 In the United States, the annual energy consumption is projected to increase by 71% from 2003 to 2030, which is much higher than the predicted increase in the domestic energy production. Currently, the United States is dependent on foreign oil for 56% of its energy needs. This translates to the fact that although the production capacity of petroleum products and natural gas will increase, the US will be dependent on foreign oil for 70% of its energy needs by 2025.1 On the other front, the energy related CO2 emission has increased at an annual average percentage of 1.3% in the past decade and is projected by the EIA to increase at the same rate till 2030. To add to this, oil prices are expected to soar up by 50% at the end of 2030.1 Hence, the implementation of energy generation technologies as well as production of "Green" fuels which will reduce the dependence on oil, limit the emissions of CO2, sulfur and other pollutants and be economically feasible are the need of the hour.
This need has led to a global push towards the development of efficient, economical, and reliable carbon capture and sequestration technologies (CCS) for application to fossil fuel based power plants. Coal is present in abundance, about 494 billion tons of reserves in the United States, within which the state of Ohio has 5% or 24 billion tons of reserves. While it gives rise to harmful emissions it can be used to provide a major portion of our energy needs if CCS is implemented in a carbon constrained scenario. The implementation of CO2 capture could be through post combustion capture, oxy-combustion and pre-combustion. These technologies could be applied to either coal, natural gas or biomass based systems. FIG. 1 illustrates these concepts through simplified flow diagrams.
Post combustion capture technology involves the combustion of coal or natural gas to produce hot flue gas which is used to generate steam. The CO2 from the flue gas is then captured using solvents or sorbents. Although coal combustion for power generation is economically viable in a non-carbon constrained scenario, this will not be true when a CO2 regulation is applied. This is because the combustion of coal or natural gas results in the production of large volumes of flue gas in which the CO2 concentration is very low (13-14% for coal combustion and 3-4% for natural gas combustion) and hence the capture of CO2 becomes inefficient and expensive. Addition of CO2 capture results in plant efficiency losses of 8-12% resulting in a net efficiency of 35% for a Super Critical Pulverized Coal Combustion (SC-PCC) plant on an LHV basis.2 In oxy-combustion, the fuel is burnt in oxygen and recycled flue gas, to produce a concentrated stream containing CO2 and H2O which is then dried, compressed and transported for sequestration. Although oxy-combustion obviates the need for a separate CO2 capture stage, it requires an Air Separation Unit (ASU) which is energy intensive and expensive. Oxy-combustion also yields in an overall LHV efficiency of 35% for an SC-PCC plant similar to the post combustion capture case.2 Pre combustion capture involves the gasification of coal or the reforming of natural gas to produce syngas. The syngas is then cleaned and sent to shift reactors (WGSR) to convert the carbon monoxide to H2 and CO2 in the presence of steam. The CO2 is then captured from the shifted syngas and the H2 is either combusted to produce electricity or purified in a Pressure Swing Absorber (PSA) and used for the production of chemicals and liquid fuels. The overall efficiency of an IGCC plant with CO2 capture is 38-40% which is higher than that for post combustion and oxy-combustion systems.2
Pre-combustion capture technologies are a potential solution to efficient and economical CCS implementation as gasification results in the production of a lower level of criteria pollutants when compared to combustion and the application of CCS to gasification systems is more efficient and economical when compared to CCS for post combustion systems. It has been estimated that with the implementation of CCS using solvent based systems, the increase in the COE for an IGCC is 25 to 40% while that for PC boilers is 60 to 85%. In a carbon constrained scenario, it has been estimated that the cost of a super critical PC boiler will be $2140/KWe while that of an IGCC will be $1890/KWe. In addition to being more economical and efficient, gasification is also very versatile and capable of producing H2 and liquid fuels in addition to electricity.3
Applying CO2 capture to coal gasification requires the addition of shift reactors, a CO2 separation process and CO2 compression and drying. In a typical gasification system, coal is partially oxidized in the presence of steam and oxygen to produce syngas which is then converted to H2, electricity or liquid fuels.Coal Gasification:CxHy+H2O=xCO+(½+1)H2  (1)
For the implementation of CCS, the CO in syngas needs to be converted to H2 and CO2 via the WGS reaction so that a large fraction of the carbon content can be captured.WGS reaction:CO+H2O=CO2+H2  (2)
In the conventional scenario, a series of shift reactors with catalysts and excess steam addition is used due to the thermodynamic limitation of the WGS reaction. Depending on the sulfur tolerance of the catalyst, the WGSR can be conducted as a raw syngas (sour) shift or the clean syngas (sweet) shift. Commercially the clean WGSR is carried out in two stages: the high and low temperature shift reactors using iron oxide and copper catalysts respectively. The high temperature shift is conducted to convert the bulk of the carbon monoxide to H2 due to the fast kinetics. The lower temperature shift reaction is carried out as the equilibrium conversion is higher at lower temperatures but the gas stream has to be cooled down to 210 C-240 C which makes the process, energy inefficient.4 Further, the commercial iron oxide catalyst has a sulfur tolerance of only about 100 ppm and the copper catalyst has a lower tolerance to sulfur (<0.1 ppm) and chloride impurities. Hence syngas clean up is required upstream of the shift reactors to remove sulfur, chloride and other impurities and downstream of the shift operation to remove CO2. Cleanup is achieved using conventional scrubbing technology which is energy intensive due to the cooling and heating requirements. The sour gas shift uses a sulfided catalyst which is resistant to high sulfur concentrations in the syngas stream and operates at a temperature of 250-500 C. By using the raw gas shift, sulfur removal and CO2 removal can be conducted down stream of the shift reactor in an integrated mode. However the extent of CO conversion is lower in the raw gas shift than in the clean gas shift. Addition of the CO2 capture step results in a 25-40% increase in the cost of electricity (COE), 7.2% decrease in the efficiency, 2.1% due to CO2 compression and 0.9% due to CO2 capture.3
Conventional pre-combustion capture in a natural gas based plant involves methane reforming which is conducted at temperatures greater than 900 C and is highly energy intensive.5 Steam Methane Reforming(SMR):CH4+H2O=CO+3H2  (3)
The syngas obtained is then shifted similar to the operation in the IGCC system and CO2 capture is achieved at low temperatures using physical (eg. selexol, rectisol, chilled ammonia) or chemical (eg. amine solutions) solvents resulting in a large increase in the parasitic energy requirement and related cost of energy. Hence there is a need to improve the energy efficiency and economics by implementing process intensification to reduce the foot print and improve the heat integration within the system.
The Calcium Looping Process (CLP) developed at the Ohio State University6, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, improves the efficiency of the coal/natural gas to H2 process by integrating various unit operations into a single stage. The CLP not only aids in curbing CO2 emissions but also improves the efficiency and reduces the CO2 foot print. It utilizes a high temperature regenerable CaO sorbent which in addition to capturing the CO2, enhances the yield of H2 and simultaneously captures sulfur and halide impurities. It also enhances the yield of liquid fuels by reforming the lighter hydrocarbons and unconverted syngas into hydrogen which is used to increase the H2:CO ratio in the syngas to 2 and for hydrotreating the liquid fuel.
FIG. 2 depicts the integration of the CLP in a coal gasification system. Syngas obtained from coal gasification is sent through a particulate capture device to the integrated H2 production reactor. When CaO is injected into the syngas it reacts with the CO2, H2S, COS and HCl to form a mixture containing predominantly CaCO3 and small amounts of calcium sulfide and calcium chloride. The insitu removal of CO2 removes the equilibrium limitation of the WGS reaction thereby obviating the need for a catalyst and excess steam addition. The CaCO3 is subsequently calcined to yield a pure CO2 stream for sequestration and the CaO is recycled back. In this process, naturally occurring limestone which is cheap and abundantly available is used and its capture capacity is maintained at 12.5 moles CO2/Kg of CaO over multiple cycles which is significantly larger than other solvents and sorbents. Thus the CLP integrates several unit operations, such as the WGSR, CO2 capture system, sulfur removal and halide removal in one process module. FIG. 3 shows the integration of the CLP in a natural gas reforming process in which the unit operations namely, reforming, WGS, CO2 capture and sulfur removal are integrated in a single reactor system. Within the H2 production reactor, the natural gas is reformed with steam in the presence of the reforming catalyst and CaO sorbent. The removal of CO2 removes the thermodynamic limitation of the WGSR and the reforming reaction and results in a high conversion of the methane to H2. The H2 production reactor is heat neutral due to the exothermic energy from the WGS and carbonation reactions being equal to the endothermic reforming reaction heat duty. Hence the temperature of operation for the reforming reaction can be reduced from over 900 C to 650 C. The spent sorbent containing CaCO3, CaO and CaS is separated from the H2 and regenerated in a calciner to produce a sequestration ready CO2 stream. The CaO sorbent is then recycled back to the integrated H2 production reactor.
The overall objectives of the CLP are to improve process efficiency and economics by process intensification, produce H2 for electricity generation, chemicals and liquid fuels synthesis with integrated carbon and contaminants capture at high temperatures, produce a sequestration ready CO2 stream, reduce excess steam requirement and obviate the need for a WGS catalyst. Experimental investigation in a bench scale facility reveals that high purity H2 of 99.7% purity with less that 1 ppm sulfur impurity can be produced. Process evaluation using ASPEN Plus® software suggests that the overall efficiency of the coal to H2 process integrated with the CLP is 64% (HHV) which is significantly higher than 57% (HHV) achieved by the state-of-the-art H2 from coal process.
This and other unmet advantages are provided by the device and method described and shown in more detail below.

Calcium looping process for high purity hydrogen production integrated with capture of carbon dioxide, sulfur and halides


In order to improve a withstand voltage and implement a gate array SOI semiconductor integrated circuit device having a large gate width, a region consisting of end cells (49) is provided on each end of a region formed by repeatedly arranging basic cells (BC) consisting of both transistor regions (32, 33) in a first direction and while symmetrically arranging the same to be folded in a second direction. Both ends of a channel region of a PMOS transistor (42) are drawn out in the second direction to provide a P-type semiconductor layer just under a field shielding gate electrode (FG), and this semiconductor layer is drawn also in the first direction to be connected with a P-type semiconductor layer of the end cell (49). A first source potential is applied to a region (PBD) which is bonded with one of the P-type semiconductor layers. Also as to an NMOS transistor (41) which is adjacent through a field oxide film (FO), on the other hand, an N-type semiconductor layer is similarly provided so that this N-type semiconductor layer is also connected with that of the end cell (49). A second source potential is applied to a region (NBD).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gate array semiconductor integrated circuit device employing MOS transistors which are formed on a semiconductor layer (SOI (silicon on insulator) substrate) provided on a surface of an insulating layer.
2. Description of the Background Art
A gate array semiconductor integrated circuit device is widely employed as a technique capable of forming an LSI circuit in a short development period. In the gate array semiconductor integrated circuit device, steps (generally called a master step) up to those of forming PMOS and NMOS transistors are previously advanced, and connection of the transistors is varied with the user's order so that desired functions can be implemented through contact and wiring steps (generally called a slice step). Due to the previous preparation of the master step, it is possible to form a semiconductor integrated circuit device in a shorter development period as compared with a general semiconductor integrated circuit device.
FIG. 93 is a top plan view showing the structure of a conventional gate array semiconductor integrated circuit device in a block system. As shown in FIG. 93, input/output buffer regions 4 are arranged to enclose an internal transistor region 3 which is formed by foldedly arranging a portion consisting of a PMOS transistor region 1 and a NMOS transistor region 2 adjacent to each other.
FIG. 94 is a top plan view showing a part 5 of the internal transistor region 3 (it is done up to the master step) in FIG. 93 in an enlarged manner, to illustrate the structure of a basic cell BCP. Referring to FIG. 94, symbols PGP, PSDP and PBDP denote gate electrodes, source/drain electrodes and substrate contact arrangement regions of PMOS transistors respectively. Further, symbols NGP, NSDP and NBDP denote gate electrodes, source/drain electrodes and substrate contact arrangement regions of NMOS transistors respectively. In the figure, marks X show actual contact hole opening portions, and the respective electrodes of the transistors and wiring layers as well as the wiring layers themselves are connected with each other through the portions of the marks X. A portion consisting of one of the gate electrodes PGP and two source/drain electrodes PSDP which are adjacent to the gate electrode PGP forms one PMOS transistor, while a portion consisting of one gate electrode NGP and two source/drain electrodes NSDP which are adjacent to the gate electrode NGP forms one NMOS transistor, respectively. The region BCP which is formed by the PMOS transistor region 1 and the NMOS transistor region 2 is called a basic cell. Such basic cells BCP are repeatedly arranged along a transverse direction 6 (a first direction) while being foldedly arranged along a vertical direction 7 (a second direction), thereby forming the internal transistor region 3 (FIG. 93).
FIGS. 95 and 96 are sectional views taken along broken lines AP-BP and CP-DP in FIG. 94 respectively, showing the gate array semiconductor integrated circuit device in the case of employing a bulk silicon substrate 8. Referring to FIGS. 95 and 96, the first letters N and P of respective symbols indicate N-type and P-type semiconductors respectively, while a plus symbol + indicates a semiconductor concentration, i.e., an impurity concentration. Regions provided with the plus symbol + have high impurity concentration. When wiring layers and semiconductor layers are connected with each other, the semiconductor layers corresponding to the connecting regions are increased in concentration.
Referring to FIG. 96, symbols NCP and PCP denote channel regions of NMOS and PMOS transistors respectively, the NMOS and PMOS transistors are structured on P and N wells 9 and 10 which are formed on a major surface of the bulk silicon substrate 8 respectively. The PMOS transistors are isolated from the NMOS transistors by field oxide films FOP, while the PMOS transistors themselves and the NMOS transistors themselves are also isolated from each other by field oxide films FOP. The field oxide films FOP isolating the PMOS transistors themselves and the NMOS transistors themselves from each other are so opened that N+ and P+ substrate contact arrangement regions PBDP and NBDP are formed from bottom surfaces of the respective openings toward the interior of the corresponding N and P wells 10 and 9. When voltages are applied to the N+ and P+ substrate contact arrangement regions PBDP and NBDP, potentials of channel regions PCP (N-type semiconductors) of the PMOS transistors and those of channel regions NCP (P-type semiconductors) of the NMOS transistors are fixed at the applied voltages through the N and P wells 10 and 9 respectively.
FIG. 97 is a top plan view showing such an example that a slice cell (also called a macro cell) of a CMOS invertor circuit shown in FIG. 98 as an example is arranged on a master (processed up to the master step). As shown in FIG. 97, the N+ contact arrangement region PBDP (FIG. 96) of the PMOS transistor is connected to a wiring layer 12 having a first source potential through a contact 11, whereby the channel regions PCP (FIG. 96) of the PMOS transistors are biased at the first source potential. On the other hand, the P+ substrate contact arrangement region NBDP (FIG. 96) of the NMOS transistor is connected to a wiring layer 13 having a second source potential through the contact 11, whereby the channel regions NCP of the NMOS transistors are biased at the second source potential.
The PMOS transistors are isolated from each other by connecting adjacent gate electrodes to the wiring layer 12 having the first source potential through contacts, while the adjacent PMOS and NMOS transistors are isolated from each other by connecting adjacent gate electrodes to the wiring layer 13 having the second source potential through the contacts, although such structures are not shown in FIG. 97. In the gate array semiconductor integrated circuit device, several hundred types of such macro cells are generally prepared, to be capable of coping with various semiconductor integrated devices.
On the other hand, MOS transistors which are formed on the surface of a semiconductor layer (SOI (silicon on insulator) substrate) provided on the surface of a buried oxide film (insulating layer) are noted as new devices since the same can implement low power consumption operations at a high speed with parasitic capacitances which are smaller than those of the MOS transistors formed on the ordinary bulk silicon substrate shown in FIGS. 95 and 96. However, the MOS transistors which are formed on the SOI substrate have such problems that withstand voltages across source/drain electrodes are reduced as compared with those formed on the bulk silicon substrate due to a substrate floating effect of the SOI layers serving as channels of the transistors.
FIG. 99 is a sectional view schematically showing the mechanism of the aforementioned substrate floating effect as to an NMOS transistor, for example. Holes 15 which are generated by impact ionization in the vicinity of a drain electrode 14 are stored in a channel region 17 under a gate electrode 16, to increase the potential of the channel region 17. This induces injection of electrons 19 from a source electrode 18. The electrons 19 injected through the induction reach the vicinity of the drain electrode 14, to newly generate holes 15. Thus, a feedforward loop which is formed by the injection of the electrons 19 and the generation of the holes 15 serves as a factor reducing the withstand voltage across the source/drain electrodes 14 and 18.
In the case of a PMOS transistor, on the other hand, electrons are stored in the channel region to reduce its potential, to deteriorate the withstand voltage of the PMOS transistor, similarly to the above.
Such deterioration of the withstand voltage is more severe in the NMOS transistor storing holes, to dominantly influence on deterioration of the withstand voltage of the semiconductor integrated circuit device.
FIGS. 100 and 101 show source-to-drain electrode potential Vds--source-to-drain electrode current Ids characteristics of MOS transistors which are formed on bulk silicon and SOI substrates respectively.
In the case of the MOS transistor which is formed on an SOI substrate, withstand voltages VB1, VB2 and VB3, corresponding to the voltage Vds which is attained when the current Ids is abruptly increased with respect to the source-to-drain electrode voltage Vds, are reduced due to the aforementioned substrate floating effect and, as the result, the source-to-drain electrode current Ids is abruptly increased when the voltage Vds applied across the source/drain electrodes is increased as shown in FIG. 101.
One of methods of preventing the substrate floating effect is that of preventing storage of holes and electrons by fixing the potentials of the channel regions. When this method is applied to the case of driving an integrated circuit device between a first power source and a ground (GND), the channel regions of NMOS and PMOS transistors are fixed at the ground potential and the first source potential respectively, whereby stored holes and electrodes are extracted toward the ground and the first power source respectively.
When the structure (FIGS. 95 and 96) of the conventional gate array semiconductor integrated circuit device which is formed on a bulk silicon substrate is formed on a surface of a buried oxide film 20 as such as shown in FIG. 102 illustrating a conventional gate array which is formed on an SOI substrate as a sectional view taken along the broken line CP-DP in FIG. 94, however, substrate contact arrangement regions PBDP and NBDP and transistor channel regions PCP and NCP are inevitably isolated from each other due to the presence of the buried oxide film 20, and hence the potentials of the channel regions PCP and NCP cannot be fixed. Thus, the aforementioned solving method cannot be implemented.
In order to solve this problem, there has been proposed a method of drawing out an SOI layer from lower portions of gate electrodes PGP and NGP toward substrate contact arrangement regions PBDP and NBDP as shown in FIG. 103, which is drawn as a sectional view taken along the broken line CP-DP in FIG. 94, to thereby fix the potentials of the channel regions PCP. NCP (International Electron Devices Meeting, 1993, 18.5.1-18.5.4, pp. 47-5.478). When this method is applied to the case of driving an integrated circuit device between the first power source and the ground (GND), for example, field shielding gate electrodes FGP are provided as to a PMOS transistor region 1 in a certain basic cell BCP (FIG. 94) and a PMOS transistor region 1 which is adjacent thereto and in relation to an NMOS transistor region 2 in the basic cell BCP and an NMOS transistor region 2 which is adjacent thereto, thereby drawing out respective channel regions PCP and NCP toward substrate contact arrangement regions PBDP and NBDP and forming N-type and P-type regions 21 and 22. Due to the presence of the regions 21 and 22, the channel regions PCP and NCP of PMOS and NMOS transistors are fixed at the first source potential and the ground potential respectively. The field shielding gate electrodes FGP of the PMOS transistor regions are connected to the first power source so that the source/drain electrodes of the PMOS transistors will not conduct through N-type semiconductor layers provided just under the field shielding gate electrodes FGP, while the field shielding gate electrodes FGP of the NMOS transistor regions are connected to ground so that the source/drain electrodes of the NMOS transistors will not conduct through P-type semiconductor layers provided just under the field shielding gate electrodes FGP. Thus, it is possible to suppress the substrate floating effect, thereby improving the withstand voltage.
In the master structure of the gate array shown in FIG. 103, however, the withstand voltage is disadvantageously reduced when the gate width WP (see FIG. 94) of each transistor is set at a large level. Namely, the gate width WP and the withstand voltage VB are in relation shown in FIG. 104. Even if the potentials of the channel regions are fixed to improve the withstand voltage by the structure shown in FIG. 103, therefore, the withstand voltage may be reduced depending on setting of a desired gate width. Thus, the design range for the gate width is inevitably limited.
Further, the channel regions of the PMOS and NMOS transistors are connected to the first power source and ground respectively and hence threshold voltages of the transistors turned "on" are at high values by a back gate effect. Thus, the conventional gate array cannot be applied to a semiconductor integrated circuit device which operates at a higher speed.
In the prior art shown in FIG. 103, further, the two techniques of the field shielding gate electrodes FGP and the field oxide films FOP are employed for isolating the transistors from each other, and hence the fabrication process is complicated, leading to increase in cost.

Method of fabricating a gate array semiconductor integrated circuit device


A method and system for generating by a server, a recommendation for a venue or an event of interest proximally located to an inferred current location of a user of a portable media player devise. In an embodiment, a server may determine one or more media preferences for a user based at least in part on media stored on or accessed using the portable media player devise of the user. The server may generate information related to the current location or a recommendation for a venue or an event of interest to the user based at least in part on the one or more media preferences and the inferred current location of the user. Once generated, the server then may communicate the recommendation (or the information) to the user, e.g. the portable media player devise. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.

Portable media player devices are increasing in popularity. A portable media player device is a transportable device that plays one or more media file types, including text, audio, video, graphics, interactive, and other media file types. For purposes of this disclosure, a portable media player device does not include a general purpose laptop or tablet computer, nor any computing device attached or installed on a mobile vehicle (such as a dash mounted radio or DVD player in an automobile) but rather includes only a handheld device (also referred to as palm-sized device) for the purpose of displaying and/or playing media files. The hardware and/or software components embodied in the device for the displaying and playing of media files are collectively referred to as a media player. Examples of portable media player devices include the ipod available from Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif.; the Zune available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.; the ibiza™ Rhapsody® from Varia Mobil of Seattle, Wash., and other like devices.
Media may be stored on a portable media player device (e.g., by downloading media such as music to the portable media player device), accessed via a portable media player device from a network site (e.g., by streaming from a network site), or acquired by a user via a portable media player device in one or more ways (e.g., by the purchase and installation of a flash memory card containing media). With the advance of storage technology, the amount of media that can be stored in a portable media player device has grown exponentially. Couple that with the advance of telecommunications and networking technology, the number of sites offering media and other media-rich environments to provide new and/or replacement media content for portable media player devices have also grown exponentially. As a result, portable media player devices are increasingly "connected", and users almost never travel (leave home) without their personal portable media player devices.

Venue and event recommendations for a user of a portable media player device


A containment device for containing leakage from a stuffing box is provided. The containment device can have a base defining an interior space, a structural member positioned substantially vertically with an interior passage sized to allow a polish rod to pass through and a lid. The containment device can be adapted for connection to the stuffing box so that a bottom of the structural member rests on the stuffing box when the containment device is installed on the stuffing box. The containment device can be installed by removing a dust cap from the stuffing box and attaching the containment device to a top of the stuffing box with the interior passage aligning with the stuffing box. The dust is installed on top of the lid and the lid placed on the base. The polish rod can then be run through the interior passage of the containment device.

Oil wells are used to remove oil from subterranean reservoirs. Typically, the oil is removed from the well using artificial lift techniques which cause the oil to be pumped up the well to the ground surface. A common artificial lift technique is the use of a downhole pump that has a device at the bottom of the well that is used to pump the oil up the well to the ground surface. The device at the bottom of the well is driven by a string of sucker rods that extend from the ground surface down to the pumping device and by reciprocating the string of sucker rods up and down in the well, the pumping device is driven causing it to pump oil up the well. The sucker rods are reciprocated at the ground surface typically with a pump jack or other device.
When a pump jack is used to cause the reciprocating of the sucker rods, a head of the pump jack is typically connected by a bridle to a polish rod that passed into the well head. The well head caps the top of the well and the polish rod is inserted into the well head through a stuffing box that is connected to the top of the well head. The stuffing box is meant to prevent liquid from the well leaking out where the polish rod enters into the well. The stuffing box contains packing (or stuffing) inside of it which presses against the polish rod as it move up and down in the stuffing box forming a seal and preventing oil and other liquid from escaping along the polish rod and out of the well head. The polish rod has a smooth (i.e. polished) surface meant to form a better seal with the packing in the stuffing box.
The stuffing box, however, is not infallible and it is possible for it to leak. In some cases if liquid stops being pumped up the well for a period of time, such as if the pump jack is stopped or liquid stops flowing from downhole, the packing in the stuffing box can dry out and when the pumping of oil or other liquid up the well begins again, some of this liquid may leak out past the dried packing. If the pump jack continues to reciprocate while the packing has dried out, the packing might become damaged by the movement of the polish rod past it. Sometimes the packing might just wear out over time and it is not until oil is detected leaking out of the stuffing box that it is discovered that the packing has worn out.
Leaking oil is obviously a problem because the oil or other liquid can leak out the stuffing box and run down the well head where it can contaminate the ground surrounding the well head. If left for long enough, a large amount of oil can collect around the well head.
A number of containment devices have been devised to try and contain any fluid leaking out of the containment box, but they typically involve enclosing the entire stuffing box to try and contain any leaks. Enclosing the entire stuffing box can make it hard or even impossible to access the stuffing box for maintenance without removing some or all of the containment device, this is especially troublesome on stuffing boxes that use bolts that must be frequently tightened to compact the packing as it wears to keep the seal between the packing and polish rod. Additionally, many of these have relatively open tops which allow rain water to collect in them and they may fill up with rain water, surrounding the stuffing box in water.
Many of these prior art devices also have multiple pieces that connect or "snap" together in place around the stuffing box. While this can make these devices easier to install, the result is that there are seams in the devices where the pieces are joined together. While they seals are originally used, these prior art devices can leak if improperly installed (i.e. snapped together) or over time if the seals dry out or become aged.
Additionally, when service is performed on the pump string it can involve hanging the pump string on the well head. This typically involves placing a collar on the polish rod or other portion of the pump string and letting the weight of the entire pump string hang on the top of the well head (i.e. the top of the stuffing box). Typically, these previous devices are not strong enough to support the entire weight of the pump string so they must be removed so that the weight of the pipe string can rest of the stuffing box.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


When a sub-section of a predefined path temporarily cannot be traversed by an autonomous mobile unit, an extended path is found for subsequently traversing the temporarily blocked sub-section. A first path point of the predefined path is determined using at least one predefinable distance criterion, which takes into consideration the distance of the temporarily blocked sub-section from the first path point. An extension sub-section is determined which begins at the first path point, terminates at a second path point of the predefined path and encompasses at least the temporarily blocked sub-section. The extended path is programmed with the extension sub-section being integrated into the predefined path at the first path point.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and system for programming an extended path for an autonomous mobile unit and to a computer program product and a computer-readable storage medium with a computer program stored thereon for programming an extended path for an autonomous mobile unit.
2. Description of Related Art
Repetitive activities are increasingly being reassigned to service robots. Examples of such activities include cleaning, transporting, distributing seed over relevant areas, and lawn mowing.
The problem with the service robots, to which associated surface-processing devices are attached, is that the surface-processing device is expected to cover as much of the available space as possible with as few paths as possible being traversed more than once. Moreover, the effort needed to program this path must be sufficiently low to require little computing capacity. This is the only way to ensure acceptable time characteristics during the programming process.
There is the added problem in the case of a cleaning robot whose function is to perform cleaning tasks in a supermarket, for instance, that additional obstacles in the form of customers with trolleys appear when the robot is being used while the supermarket is open for business. If the dimensions of the work area and the position of the obstacles located therein are known, it is possible with the aid of a pre-programming method to program an optimum path the traversing of which takes minimum time while simultaneously taking into consideration as much of the surface to be traversed as possible. The service robot starts traversing the path when the pre-programmed path has been pre-programmed and determined.
A pre-programming method of this type is known, for example, from DE 198 04 195 A1. However, any obstacles that may briefly appear, for example customers with their trolleys, consequently cannot be taken into consideration when the path is being pre-programmed. In this case the service robot detects the obstacles while moving. The robot takes evasive action, which is to say it departs from the pre-programmed path, bypasses the obstacle, and returns after the evasive action to its original path. A type of programming and execution of such evasive action is also known from DE 198 04 195 A1. However, the section of the original path that was not traversed owing to the evasive action remains unprocessed or uncleaned at this time and will have to be processed or cleaned subsequently.
Two different post-programming methods are known for subsequently processing unprocessed path sections of this type. In the case of the first post-programming method, the previously executed pre-programming method is executed a second time. The already traversed and accordingly processed sub-section of the original path is no longer taken into consideration here, while the unprocessed, omitted sub-section is taken into consideration during subsequent programming.
The disadvantage of this method, however, is that a completely new path is determined for the remaining section of the original path still to be processed on account of taking the omitted sub-section into consideration. Yet this complete re-programming results in unnecessarily long programming times and places a high demand on computing power. A provision in this case of the second known post-programming method is for the unprocessed path section to be appended at the end of the original path and to be traversed on completion of the path. However, this method results in unnecessarily extended paths and so is also inefficient.
Other path programming methods are known from "Approximation Algorithms for Lawn Mowing and Milling", Arkin E. M. et al., Angewandte Mathematik und Informatik (Applied Mathematics and Computer Science), University of Cologne, Report No. 97.255, 1997.

Programming of an extended path for an autonomous mobile unit for the subsequent traversing of path sections that are temporarily blocked


An intake air filter box utilizing an intake air heater that inhibits the buildup of snow and ice within the intake air filter box, keeping the associated flow passages clear such that pressure loss is not adversely affected. This intake air heater can include an electric heater or a radiant heater coupled to the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of the vehicle, or to another source of heated fluid. Preferably, the intake air heater is disposed on the “dirty” side of the filter disposed within the intake air filter box, adjacent to the intake air conduit and air intake of the vehicle. This is where the snow and ice accumulation occurs. A drain is provided in the bottom of the intake air filter box housing to allow the escape of water from the melted snow and ice, ensuring that this moisture is not delivered to the turbocharger and engine with the intake air.

In cold climates and under cold conditions, the buildup of snow and ice in the intake air filter box of a vehicle can be a problem. Such intake air filter boxes are typically coupled via an intake air conduit to an air intake that is open to the surrounding environment. The buildup of snow and ice in the intake air filter box can block flow passages therein, which are typically protected by restrictor structures, and adversely affect pressure loss. This can degrade turbocharger and engine performance. Clear flow passages provide enhanced turbocharger performance and greater engine power. This can be especially pronounced in vehicles incorporating an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, which preferentially requires warm intake air to operate properly in cold climates and under cold conditions.
As fuel efficiency and emissions concerns become increasingly important, more and more vehicles are being equipped with turbochargers utilizing EGR systems. EGR systems increase the fuel efficiency of an internal combustion (IC) engine and reduce the emissions of noxious exhaust gases by recirculating a portion of the unused fuel and exhaust gases back to the engine for subsequent use, instead of releasing them into the environment. In a low pressure (LP) EGR system, the exhaust gases are reintroduced to the engine just upstream of the turbocharger compressor, at the turbocharger compressor inlet. At this location, the pressure is low, even under high engine boost conditions. This solves some of the quality issues associated with related high pressure (HP) EGR systems.
EGR gases are mixed with conventional intake air just before entering the turbocharger compressor. The ratio of EGR gases to intake air determines the efficiency of the EGR system and engine overall. The utilization of EGR gases, however, is often limited by the condensation of water droplets in the EGR gases near the mixing point as the hot, humid EGR gases are cooled by the cool, dry intake air. This cooling usually occurs through (and condensation usually occurs on and adjacent to) the wall that divides the hot, humid EGR gases from the cool, dry intake air just prior to the mixing point, in the hot, humid EGR gases. This problem is especially pronounced under cold start and low temperature operating conditions, sometimes delaying the normal activation of the EGR system. This can compromise emissions testing results, for example, and otherwise degrade engine performance. In a worst case scenario, under extreme conditions, ice particles can even be formed in the EGR gases, exacerbating these issues.
Problematically, the condensed water droplets (or ice particles) near the mixing point of the EGR gases and the intake air are fed directly to the turbocharger compressor. These water droplets (or ice particles) can impact the turbocharger compressor wheel, blades, and other components, damaging them. The water droplets initially exert a force perpendicular to the component surface, which causes a blast wave upon component surface contact, resulting in a force exerted parallel to the component surface. This force exerted parallel to the component surface can impinge upon surface imperfections, causing spalls, cracks, etc. at or near such surface imperfections.
Warm intake air is often preferred to inhibit the condensation of water droplets and the formation of ice particles near the mixing point of the EGR gases and intake air, and especially on and adjacent to the wall separating the EGR gases from the intake air, such that the subsequent turbocharger compressor wheel, blades, and other components are not damaged by the condensed water droplets or formed ice particles.
Thus, what is needed in the art is an intake air filter box that inhibits the accumulation of snow and ice therein, keeping the associated flow passages clear, and that provides warm intake air under predetermined vehicle operating conditions, optimizing EGR system performance.


A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus for managing a voice communication are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, an audio phrase produced by a first user is identified in the voice communication between the first user and a second user. A determination is made whether the audio phrase is present in a policy which prohibits the transmission of the set of undesired audio phrases. Responsive to a determination that the audio phrase is present in the policy which prohibits the transmission of the set of undesired audio phrases, a communication of the audio phrase is modified.

1. Field:
The disclosure relates generally to an improved data processing system and more specifically to voice communications in data processing systems. Even more specifically, the disclosure relates to a method, computer program product, and apparatus for managing a voice communication.
2. Description of the Related Art
Voice communications are often employed by users to send and receive information. A voice communication is a collection of messages in the form of spoken words between two or more users. An example of a voice communication is a telephone call between two users. Voice communications are frequently used to conduct transactions between users. For example, a customer may call a salesperson to order a product sold by the salesperson.
In conducting the transactions, users are frequently requested to provide confidential information to a receiving party. The receiving party may request the confidential information to verify the identity of the user and/or complete a transaction, such as discussing the details of a bank account or making a purchase. The confidential information is data or an identifier known only to the user. The confidential information may include a passcode, bank account number, credit card number, social security number, or other suitable identifiers. Once the receiving party receives the confidential information, the receiving party completes the transaction, discusses the details of the account, or another suitable activity.
Some unauthorized parties attempt to receive confidential information belonging to other users. In the event that the confidential information becomes known to an unauthorized party, the confidential information may be used by the unauthorized parties to perform unauthorized activities on behalf of the user. For example, an unauthorized party may use the credit card number of a user to make a purchase for the benefit of the unauthorized party without the consent of the authorized party.
In some examples, an unauthorized party attempts to receive confidential information by contacting a user using voice communication and alleging that the unauthorized party is associated with a party trusted by the user. For example, an unauthorized party may call a user using a telephone and state that the unauthorized party is an employee of a bank with which the user has an account. The unauthorized party may also request confidential information from the user. For example, the unauthorized party may state that the bank is updating the records of the bank and that the account of the user may be closed if the user does not provide the social security number of the user.
Some users may recognize the attempt to receive the confidential information by the unauthorized party and end the voice communication or report the unauthorized party to the authorities. However, other users may not recognize the attempt to receive the confidential information and trust the allegation that the unauthorized party is associated with the party trusted by the user. Thus, some users may speak the requested confidential information to the unauthorized party during the voice communication.

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus for efficiently transferring at least two subtractive color toner images simultaneously onto a substrate. The apparatus includes a photoreceptor, transfer charger, mechanism for placing the substrate between the photoreceptor and transfer charger, a plurality of print stations and a stabilizing charger unit. Each of the print stations include a charger unit, an exposure unit, and a developer unit for applying a respective color toner to the latent image formed by the exposure unit in conjunction with the charger unit upon the photoreceptor. Upon application to photoreceptor, each toner has an initial charge-to-mass ratio, which is subsequently increased to a saturated charge-to-mass ratio when the toner passes under the charger unit of a subsequent print station. Thus, the stabilizing charger unit substantially conforms the charge-to-mass ratio of the toner deposited by the last print station to the charge-to-mass ratio of the toner developed previously. This results in more homogeneous transfer characteristics for all toners. A similar method is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copier, printer or the like and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for stabilizing the charge-to-mass ratio of the various toner components in such a color imaging system.
Electrophotographic imaging (or xerography) is a well known method of copying or otherwise printing documents. In general, electrophotographic imaging uses a charge-retentive, photosensitive surface (known as a photoreceptor) that is initially charged uniformly. The photoreceptor is then exposed to a light image representation of a desired image that discharges specific areas of the photoreceptor surface creating a latent image. Dry toner powder is applied to the latent image, forming a developed image. This developed image is then transferred from the photoreceptor to a substrate (e.g. paper, transparency, and the like) generally by the use of electrostatic attraction between the charged toner particles and oppositely charged ions sprayed on the substrate by a transfer charger.
This electrophotographic process can be used to produce color images by repeating the above-described process for each color of toner used. However, in this tone-on-tone (also known as xe2x80x9cimage-on-imagexe2x80x9d) color accumulation approach, recharging the photoreceptor between toner applications results in increasing the charge-to-mass ratio of any toner previously deposited on the photoreceptor until the toner reaches a saturated charge-to-mass ratio. Unfortunately, the last toner color applied is not subjected to any recharging; consequently it has a different charge-to-mass ratio than the other toner colors. Inasmuch as the charge-to-mass ratio of toner affects its transfer efficiency, image quality is likely to be adversely affected by this disparity in the charge-to-mass ratios.
While various prior art references disclose the use of a pretransfer charging corona to ensure that all of the toner particles have the same electrostatic polarity, none of those references acknowledge the problem of differing charge-to-mass ratios between toner particles of the same polarity. Still other electrophotographic processes including: Rees, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,828,933 and 5,978,628 and Appel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,182, teach the use of a pretransfer erase lamp in addition to a corona charger to encourage uniform charging of the toner components. This approach adds additional cost and results in a lower overall charge-to-mass ratio, thus, requiring the generation of a higher electrostatic attraction to transfer the toner from photoreceptor to substrate.
In yet another prior art approach to tone-on-tone electrophotography a selective pretransfer charger for use in association with a tri-level, highlight electrophotography system that uses two wavelengths of light to discharge a uniformly charged photoreceptor surface to three electric charge levels (each level corresponding to the latent image of one toner color) is used. See Parker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,738. This electrophotographic approach is highly complex.
Thus, among other potential needs, a need exists for a method and apparatus for tone-on-tone electrophotography having toners of a higher, substantially uniform pretransfer charge-to-mass ratio.
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for efficiently transferring at least two subtractive color toner images simultaneously onto a substrate. The apparatus includes a photoreceptor (drum or belt), a transfer charger operably associated with the photoreceptor; a mechanism for placing the substrate between the photoreceptor and transfer charger; and a plurality of print station. Each of the print stations is operably associated with the photoreceptor to form a plurality of color images thereon in registration with one another to form a subtractive color image on the photoreceptor. Each print stations includes a charger unit, an exposure unit, and a developer unit for applying a respective color toner to the photoreceptor, while these print stations are preferably uniform to aid in maintenance of the unit.
Upon application of a color tone image to the photoreceptor each color images consists of toner having an initial charge-to-mass ratio. Essentially, an example is shown wherein each of charger units charges the photoreceptor to substantially the same potential and induces a saturated charge-to-mass ratio in any toner previously laid down on the photoreceptor. This saturated charge-to-mass ratio being significantly greater than said initial charge-to-mass ratio.
Consequently, the apparatus further includes a stabilizing charger unit, which substantially conforms the charge-to-mass ratio of the last applied toner to the previously applied toner before the composite color images are electrostaticlly attracted from the photoreceptor to the first substrate surface by operation of the transfer charger. In this manner, the apparatus ensures transfer rate uniformity, thus, leading to potentially improved image quality. The stabilizing charger unit includes a non-contact charging system, which may include a corona wire and may even be a corotron, scorotron and pin scorotron. In one example, the print station charger and stabilizing charger units are the same apparatus type.
The method for efficiently transferring a composite toner image having at least two subtractive color toner images simultaneously onto a substrate from a photoreceptor includes: (a) charging the photoreceptor to a desired potential; (b) forming a respective color latent image on the photoreceptor; (c) developing the respective color latent image with a respective color toner to form a respective color toner image with the respective color toner having an initial charge-to-mass ratio; (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) for each of the color toner images, including a last color toner image, that together completely form the composite toner image; (e) charging the color toner of the last toner image to the saturated charge-to-mass ratio; and (f) electrostatically transferring the composite toner image onto the substrate surface.

Method and apparatus for stabilizing the charge-to-mass ratio of various toner components in a multi-toner tone-on-tone electrophotographic device


An electronic instrument includes an input device having a plurality of channels to each of which an audio signal is input. A demodulation device demodulates audio signals and converts the audio signals into digital signals that control the electronic instrument. The electronic instrument also includes a feeding device that feeds the digital signals to a sound source and a detection device that detects whether or not the audio signals in any of the plurality of channels are modulated by the digital signals. A controller controls the demodulation device, in cases where it has been detected that any of the audio signals are modulated by the digital signals, so as to demodulate the digital signals from the audio signals that have been input to the channels, such that another channel's audio signals that are not modulated by the digital signals are output to an audio output.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic instrument and, in particular, embodiments to an electronic instrument in which an analog signal that is modulated by a digital signal is input, is demodulated, and fed to a sound source.
2. Description of the Related Art
For some time electronic instruments have been known in which Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) data, which is data that conform to the MIDI standard, (a standard for performance data that carries out instructions such as the starting or stopping of the production of musical tone signals mutually between electronic instruments or between an electronic instrument and a personal computer), is input and a musical tone signal is generated in conformance with the inputted MIDI data. For example, an electronic instruments that conforms to the MIDI standard is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication (Kokai) Number 2002-297132.
In addition, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication (Kokai) Number 2004-233416, an electronic instrument is disclosed in which the frequency or the frequency band of an audio signal that has been reproduced using a compact disc (CD) is detected as required and the key of the pitch that corresponds to the frequency or the frequency band that has been detected is pressed down.
In addition, an electronic instrument is presented in which one or the other of the analog signals of the left and right audio channels reproduced by a CD or a digital versatile disc (DVD) and the like is modulated by a digital signal (the MIDI data) and stored. The digital signal is demodulated from the analog signal and converted into MIDI data. The musical tone is produced by driving the keyboard of a piano. The analog signal of the channel which is not modulated by the digital signal is reproduced as a musical accompaniment of the musical tone that is produced by driving the keyboard.
However, problems can be encountered with an electronic instrument in which one or another of the analog signals of the left and right audio channels of a CD and the like is modulated by a digital signal and stored, where this analog signal is demodulated to produce a digital signal that controls a keyboard. For example, whether or not the analog signal is modulated by the digital signal that controls the instrument must be confirmed referring to the CD or to the instruction book that is attached to the CD. The electronic instrument must be set by an operation to either simply reproduce the CD or to control the electronic instrument based on the analog signal that has been modulated and stored in one or the other channel.
In addition, since one of the two left and right channels that are reproduced, on which channel the analog signal is modulated by the digital signal that controls the instrument is different depending on the type of CD and the like, there has been the drawback that it is necessary to make the settings of that type in accordance with the operation. In those cases where the user makes a mistake in the connection with the left and right input channels, the intended operation of the electronic instrument will not be achieved.
In addition, in the past, a reproduction system has not existed with which images and audio signals that have been stored on a DVD and the like are reproduced, where the digital signal like the MIDI data that controls the electronic instrument is demodulated from the audio signal, the electronic instrument is controlled by the control signal that has been demodulated, and the images and musical tones that have been generated by the electronic instrument are synchronized and reproduced.

Electronic instrument and reproduction system


The application discloses an optical imaging lens assembly including, sequentially from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, and a sixth lens, wherein the first lens has a positive refractive power, the second lens has a negative refractive power with a convex object side surface and a concave image side surface, the third lens has a refractive power, the fourth lens has a refractive power, the fifth lens has a positive refractive power with a convex image side surface, the sixth lens has a negative refractive power with a concave object side surface and a concave image side surface, and an effective focal length f of the optical imaging lens assembly, an effective focal length f3 of the third lens and an effective focal length f4 of the fourth lens satisfy |f/f3|+|f/f4|≤0.3.

With the progress of science and technology, the electronic products with the photographing function develop rapidly, and the consumers has made higher and higher requirements for the imaging function of electronic products. In such a case, it raises higher requirements for the imaging quality of the imaging lens assembly. At the same time, with the progress of image sensors such as CCD and CMOS, the number of pixels on chip is increased and the size of a single pixel is reduced. Therefore, the requirement on the miniaturization of the imaging lens assembly is even higher.
The disclosure provides an optical lens assembly with an ultra-large optical imaging surface, which can be used in a 1/2.3-inch chip and has an ultra-large aperture.


A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer, an oxide buffer layer, a protective layer, and source and drain electrodes. The gate electrode is formed on a substrate. The gate insulating layer is formed on the substrate. The oxide semiconductor layer is formed on the gate insulating layer and includes a source, a channel and a drain region. The oxide buffer layer is formed on the oxide semiconductor layer, and has a carrier concentration lower than that of the oxide semiconductor layer. The protective layer is formed on the oxide buffer layer and the gate insulating layer, and has contact holes formed therein so that the oxide buffer layer in the source and drain regions are exposed therethrough. The source and drain electrodes are coupled with the oxide buffer layer in the source and drain regions through the contact holes.

Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a thin film transistor having an oxide semiconductor layer and a method for fabricating the same.
Description of the Related Technology
In general, a thin film transistor includes a semiconductor layer configured to provide a channel region, a source region and a drain region; and a gate electrode overlapped with the channel region of the semiconductor layer, the gate electrode being insulated from the semiconductor layer by a gate insulating layer.
Recently, an oxide semiconductor has been used as the semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor.
The oxide semiconductor including zinc oxide (ZnO) as a main component has an amorphous form and is evaluated as a stable material. If the oxide semiconductor is used as the semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor, the thin film transistor can be fabricated at a low temperature, using the existing equipment and an ion injection process can be is omitted.
However, the electrical characteristics of the thin film transistor having the oxide semiconductor layer are easily changed depending on its structure and process conditions, and therefore, the reliability of the thin film transistor is low.

Thin film transistor and method for fabricating the same


Tamper resistant plastic fastener which may be used, among other things, to attach a tag to a desired article, such as a garment of clothing, a product label or the like. The fastener comprises an elongated unitary plastic member shaped to include a cross bar, a paddle, and a flexible filament interconnecting the cross bar and paddle. The cross bar is sufficiently small so that it cannot easily be manually aligned with the installation hole for removal therethrough.

The present invention relates generally to plastic fasteners and more particularly to a plastic fastener which, once attached to a desired item, cannot easily be removed therefrom intact.
Plastic fasteners are well known and widely used in the retail industry, e.g., to attach tags to articles of clothing. Typically, such fasteners comprise an elongated plastic member having a first end shaped to define a cross bar (also commonly referred to as a "T bar"), a second end shaped to define a paddle, and a thin filament portion interconnecting the cross bar and the paddle. The cross bar typically has a length of 0.25 inch or greater and is otherwise dimensioned for insertion first through a tag and then through a desired article. The paddle is appropriately dimensioned to keep a tag from being pulled off the second end of the fastener. Typically, such fasteners are mass produced by a molding process in either one of two different forms known as fastener stock. One type of fastener stock, which is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,103,666 and incorporated hereinto by reference, comprises a plurality of fasteners joined together at their respective cross bars by an orthogonally disposed runner bar. The other type of fastener stock, which is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,475 and incorporated hereinto by reference, comprises a plurality of fasteners arranged in an end to end alignment, the heads and opposite ends of successive fasteners being joined together by severable connectors so as to form a continuously connected fastener stock.
Typically, the cross bar portion of a single fastener is separated from a quantity of fastener stock and then inserted first through a tag and then through a sheet of material with a hand held apparatus commonly referred to as a tagging gun. (Connections, if any, between the paddles of a pair of adjacent fasteners are severed by pulling the tagging gun away from the piece of fabric after the cross bar of one of the fasteners has been inserted thereinto.) Examples of tagging guns are illustrated in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,024,365, 4,121,487, and 4,456,161, all of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.
While plastic fasteners of the type described above function reasonably well to attach tags to clothing and the like, it is nonetheless known that certain unscrupulous consumers make it a practice to remove such fasteners intact from their respective items, only to later re attach the fasteners either to the same or to different items. One such practice of the type described above is commonly referred to as "ticket switching" and typically involves removing the fastener and tag from a low priced item and re attaching them to a high priced item. As can readily be appreciated, to remove and re attach the fastener to the high priced item, the fastener must be removed intact from the low priced item. Typically, such removal of the fastener is accomplished first by manipulating the cross bar so that one of its ends is aligned with the installation hole, i.e., the opening in the sheet of material through which the cross bar and filament were originally inserted, and then by pushing the cross bar and the filament back through the installation hole.


A device for storing and discharging a viscous liquid has a unit forming a storage chamber for storing a viscous liquid, a unit forming at least one mixing chamber which communicates with the storage chamber, and a unit for heating the viscous liquid in the mixing chamber so as to reduce viscosity of the liquid in the mixing chamber and permit a withdrawal of the liquid from the mixing chamber, while the liquid in the storage chamber is heated because of the communication of the storage chamber with the mixing chamber and flow from the storage chamber into the mixing chamber.

The present invention relates to a device for storing and discharging of viscous liquids.
Storing and discharging of viscous liquids in containers at low temperatures is very complicated because of high viscosity of such liquids. The viscosity of the liquid substantially reduces when the liquid is heated; however, a high quantity of heat is consumed for this purpose.

Device for storing and discharging of viscous liquid