A VCR or laserdisc player includes circuitry for detecting a code provided by VCR tapes, tape cassettes, or laser videodiscs, which indicates that the material recorded on the videotape or videodisc has been recorded in a compressed fashion to enable proper playback on a 16.times.9 television receiver. In response to detection of this code, the VCR or laserdisc player applies a DC signal to the chrominance output terminal of its S-Video connector. Circuitry in the television receiver detects the DC signal on the chrominance terminal of its S-Video input connector, and controls a wide-screen processor to expand the image by displaying it over the entire width of the 16.times.9 display screen.

NTSC television instruments having 16.times.9 aspect ratio picture tubes and format converters to convert 4.times.3 aspect ratio NTSC signals to a form suitable for display on a 16.times.9 display are now available. It therefore becomes desirable to have VCR tapes that play back signals electrically in the NTSC format but which were optically produced in a 16.times.9 aspect ratio. These signals may be produced by special lenses or by 16.times.9 CCD imagers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,722 (Flory), entitled WIDESCREEN TELEVISION TRANSMISSION SYSTEM UTILIZING CONVENTIONAL EQUIPMENT INCLUDING A CAMERA AND VCR, issued Jan. 30, 1990 (herein incorporated by reference), discloses a system in which a conventional NTSC format video camera utilizes an anamorphic lens to optically produce images in a 16.times.9 aspect ratio. That is, the anamorphic lens compresses the image horizontally by a factor of 4/3, which is the exact amount needed to compensate for the expansion of a 4.times.3 aspect ratio NTSC image by a factor of 4/3 which automatically occurs when it is displayed on a wider 16.times.9 aspect ratio display screen.
If a such an optically-compressed NTSC video signal is played back to a standard 4.times.3 television receiver, the image would appear correct in height, but compressed in width, or "skinny". However, as noted above, a horizontal expansion of 4.times.3 aspect ratio signals occurs automatically when these signals are displayed on a 16.times.9 aspect ratio display screen because the time to scan a single horizontal line in both aspect ratios is the same. In other words, the same amount of video data is spread out over a greater distance in the same amount of time as the electron beam scans across the longer distance of the 16.times.9 aspect ratio display screen.
Unfortunately, if a standard 4.times.3 image is displayed on a 16.times.9 display screen, the same automatic horizontal expansion takes place, making everything appear "fatter". In order to prevent this undesirable display, the 4.times.3 image is typically displayed on the 16.times.9 display screen in its proper 4.times.3 aspect ratio, by displaying blank vertical bars on each side of the 4.times.3 image to fill up the remainder of the 16.times.9. International patent application PCT/ US91/03746, filed May 29 1991, published as WO 91/19397 on Dec. 12, 1991, (Willis), entitled SYNCHRONIZING SIDE BY SIDE PICTURES, (herein incorporated by reference) discloses a system in which a 4.times.3 image is "speeded up" to enable the video data to be read out at a faster rate and avoid the appearance of stretching.
Clearly, a 16.times.9 aspect ratio television receiver should be able to properly display the optically-compressed 16.times.9 NTSC signals over the entire expanse of the wide-screen, and properly display the 4.times.3 video signals in a 4.times.3 aspect ratio with accompanying blank vertical bars. A problem exists in that an optically-generated 16.times.9 compressed NTSC video signal is indistinguishable from a standard 4.times.3 NTSC video signal, because it is the image content of the signal which changes; not its format which is the standard NTSC format in both cases. Thus, there is no way to examine the video signal stream and automatically direct the television receiver which way to display the image (i.e., 16.times.9, or 4.times.3 with blank bars).

Wide-screen picture indication signal detector for a television receiver


A disk playback device comprises a magazine having a plurality of disk spaces for accommodating disks in an upright position, and an inlet-outlet portion provided externally of the magazine for permitting the disk to pass therethrough into the magazine from outside a device main body. Sensors for detecting loading of the disk into the magazine are disposed beside a path of travel of the disk and connected to a processor for storing information as to presence or absence of the disk in each of the disk spaces. The device main body has an automatic loading mode wherein an empty disk space having no disk accommodated therein is searched for based on the information stored in the processor as to presence or absence of the disk, the magazine is rotated to position the empty disk space as opposed to the inlet-outlet portion and the operation to search for an empty disk space is repeated again after completely loading a disk into the empty disk space.

FIGS. 15 to 17 show a recording-playback device of the autochanger type proposed by the inventors of the present invention and comprising a magazine for accommodating a plurality of disks as positioned upright for playing back the desired disk (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,184). In the following description, the direction in which the disk is loaded will be referred to as the "front," and the disk unloading direction as the "rear. "
The device comprises a magazine 3 formed with 24 disk spaces 31 in a radial arrangement and rotatably mounted on a chassis 2 within the main body 100 of the device, and an inlet-outlet portion 4 and recording-playback unit 7 arranged outside the path of rotation of the magazine 3 and spaced apart from one another.
The inlet-outlet portion 4 has a roller unit 6 disposed between the outer wall of the device main body 100 and the magazine 3 for holding and transporting the disk. The roller unit 6 is provided at opposite sides thereof with sensors SE3 to SE8 for detecting the passage of the disk. The disk spaces 31 are assigned respective identification numbers, No. 1 to No. 24, which are stored in a processor 200 connected to a front panel 20 of the main body 100.
When a disk is inserted into the inlet-outlet portion 4, the sensors SE3 to SE8 detect the passage of the disk, which enters the magazine disk space 31 opposed to the inlet-outlet portion 4. With reference to signals from the sensors SE3 to SE8, the processor 200 stores data indicating that the disk has been inserted into the space 31.
The front panel 20 is provided with a display 330 for displaying, for example, an operating state. With reference to FIG. 17, the display 330 has an indicator 300 comprising segments 310 each comprising a circular-arc contour surrounding the identification number of each disk space 31. The processor 200 turns on the segment 310 corresponding to the disk space 31 into which the disk is placed.
When on, the segment 310 indicates that the magazine disk space 31 of the corresponding number has a disk accommodated therein. If the segment 310 is off, the disk space 31 of the corresponding number is empty with no disk placed therein.
When placing a disk into the device main body 100, the user searches for a vacant disk space 31 with reference to the information represented by the segments 310 of the indicator 300 and enters the identification number of the vacant space 31 on the front panel 20. The magazine 3 rotates, positioning the disk space 31 of the identification number as opposed to the inlet-outlet portion 4 and preparing space for the accommodation of the disk.
Another device has been provided in recent years onto which disks are loaded as classified according to the type of music recorded thereon into groups such as jazz and classical music, so that when a particular group is specified by an input for playing, the disks belonging to the group are played one after another. The inventors of the present invention have previously proposed such a device, which is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 (see JP-B-176176/1995).
With this device, a magazine 3 is connected to a disk select-takeout mechanism 450. The disk is taken out from the magazine 3 by the select-takeout mechanism 450 and sent to a recording-playback portion 7.
The disk select-takeout mechanism 450 is connected to a system controller 600, which is in turn connected to a front panel 20 having various manual keys and to a memory 290 having stored therein data as to the groups. The system controller 600 comprises a group register means 610 for causing the memory 290 to store the name of the group keyed in on the front panel 20, group indicator means 650 for indicating the name of the group on the front panel 20 and autoplayer means 620. As shown in FIG. 19, the front panel 20 has a display 330, on which the output from the group indicator means 650 is shown in a group indicator box 370a.
When a disk is to be placed into the magazine 3, the name of group to which the disk belongs is entered on the front panel 20. The group register means 610 stores the identification number of the disk space 31 accepting the disk and the group name in the memory 290.
When the disk is to be played, the name of the group is entered via the front panel 20, whereupon the group register means 610 searches the memory 290 for a particular disk space 31 accommodating a disk in the group, and transmits the data to the autoplayer means 620. The autoplayer means 620 gives the disk select-takeout mechanism 450 a command to take out the disk from the disk space 31, and operates the recording-playback portion 7 to play the selected disk.
On completion of playing, the group register means 610 is notified of this, and searches the memory 290 for the next disk to be played. In this way, the disks belonging to the specified group are played one after another.
However, the devices described above have the following problems.
1. When a disk is to be placed into the magazine 3 of the device shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, there is a need to locate an empty disk space 31, enter the identification number of the disk space and rotate the magazine 3 every time the empty space is found. This procedure is cumbersome when many disks are to be invented. PA1 2. Such devices are used chiefly indoors. However, with automobile stereo systems and portable players placed into wide use, disks are frequently used outdoors. There is a case wherein disks belonging to a specified group are withdrawn from the magazine 3 for outdoor use.
With the device shown in FIG. 18, the identification numbers of the disk spaces 31 containing the disks belonging to the specified group must be entered one-by-one on the front panel 20 to repeat the disk taking out operation, hence a cumbersome procedure. Although the disks belonging to the specified group can be played in succession on the conventional device, the disks can not be taken out successively.
Furthermore, it may be desired to stow the disks belonging to the same group and used outdoors into the magazine 3 as originally positioned therein, whereas the conventional device fails to meet such a need.

Disk recording-playback device and disk loading or unloading method


A cooling device includes a branch line with one end thereof communicating with a supplying line, and the other end communicating with a recovery line, wherein a part of the refrigerant supplied to the supplying line by a pump, flows as a branch; a heater installed in the middle of the branch line, for heating the refrigerant up to temperature higher than that for freezing moisture dissolving in the refrigerant; and a moisture adsorption filter installed in the middle of the branch line, through which the refrigerant heated by the heater passes, for adsorbing moisture mixed in the refrigerant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling device.
2. Description of Related Art
In semiconductor producing equipment or semiconductor inspection equipment, and the like, cooling of an integrated circuit element is carried out by flowing a refrigerant, as a cooling liquid, while directly contacting with the integrated circuit element, as an object of cooling. In the case of cooling the integrated circuit element, moisture in the refrigerant has to be removed to prevent short circuit between end terminals. In a cooling device for supplying a refrigerant to an object of cooling which does not accept moisture, a moisture adsorption filter is equipped with to adsorb moisture being mixed and dissolved in the refrigerant (see JP-A-2001-50624). The cooling device includes a tank for storing the refrigerant, a pump for supplying the refrigerant to the object of cooling, and a heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant returning from the object of cooling. The moisture adsorption filter includes an adsorbent, and is installed in the tank.
The cooling device is sometimes operated under the condition that temperature of the refrigerant to be supplied to the object of cooling becomes not higher than that for freezing the moisture dissolving in the refrigerant. Operation of the cooling device under such condition separates or release moisture, not able to dissolve, from the refrigerant, and converts the separated moisture to fine ice crystals, and thus suspends the crystals in the refrigerant. The moisture adsorption filter can not adsorb the moisture in the form of the ice crystals anymore. Therefore, the fine ice crystals formed in the refrigerant adhere to the heating transfer face of a heat exchanger, which consequently causes reduction of heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. If the ice crystals adhesion to the heat exchanger develops more, cooling capacity is reduced, and resulting in continuous operation of the cooling device impossible.


A railcar cushion device is tested by applying a force necessary to move the cushion device in a controlled motion at a predetermined velocity or velocities according to a motion profile. The cushion device's performance is analyzed by measuring the force applied at various positions during the motion profile and comparing the force to a standard for cushion devices in good condition at the positions. Alternatively, a damping coefficient or other performance parameter for the cushion device is calculated from the force applied and position of the cushion device and compared to a standard to analyze cushion device performance. A tester for performing cushion device testing comprises a hydraulic ram and an electronic motion controller for applying the force to the cushion device. The motion controller uses motion feedback from a position transducer to provide the controlled motion to the cushion device.

In general everyday use, railcars collide together frequently. For example, the railcars of a train in motion generally bump into each other when the train slows or stops. Also, railcar collisions occur when assembling railcars into a train. The difference in velocity between the railcars in such collisions is typically low. However, due to the large mass of the railcars, the railcars collide with sufficient impact energy, unless otherwise absorbed, to cause damage to the railcars and any cargo carried by the railcars even in these collisions at low velocity differences. To absorb the impact of normal railcar collisions, a railcar generally includes cushion devices mounted at each end of the railcar between the railcar and its couplers. (In some railcars, a centrally mounted cushion device and sliding sill are used.)
Currently in common use on railcars are hydraulic cushion units which generally comprise a piston within a cylinder barrel filled with a hydraulic fluid, typically oil. In general, the devices can be described as non-linear hydraulic shock absorbers. In a railcar collision, the piston is displaced through the barrel. As the piston travels through the barrel, the hydraulic fluid in the barrel is compressed by the piston, forcing the fluid through orifices in the cylindrical wall of the barrel. The action of forcing the fluid through orifices acts to absorb impact energy by heating the fluid. Generally, the amount of force that can be translated into heat energy is proportional to the square of the piston velocity.
Typically, hydraulic cushion units are configured to absorb a constant force throughout the piston stroke by varying the number of orifices through which the fluid vents as the piston is displaced. More specifically, the orifices are distributed along the length of the barrel. Therefore, during the course of the piston's travel through the barrel, the piston bypasses orifices one (or more) by one, leaving fewer and fewer orifices through which the fluid can vent. When the force absorbed by a cushion device is maintained substantially constant, the rate of change of acceleration is minimal. Thus, this configuration serves to minimize sudden changes in velocity or "jerking" motions of railcars connected in a train. After absorbing an impact, the piston is returned to its initial position in the barrel of the cushion device by mechanical springs or a gas charged device.
In the typical operating environment, railcar cushion devices are subject to failure, particularly in the hydraulic seals, from the wearing of moving parts and from rust and corrosion. Failure can also result from the stress of impacts greater than the rated capacity of the devices. To assure proper functionality of the devices, the performance of the devices is periodically tested.
Various test methods are known. Some test methods involve visual inspection for noticeable signs of impairment, e.g. rust, breaks, and leaked hydraulic fluid. However, failures frequently occur without producing noticeable signs of impairment. Therefore, with visual inspection alone, many failures remain undetected. Also, the cushion devices may be difficult to inspect visually while installed on a railcar.
Another type of test, referred to herein as range of motion testing, involves moving the cushion devices through a normal range of motion to detect failures that result in binding or obstruction of free movement. This type of test can detect impairments that are not visually apparent, but fails to detect abnormal cushion device operation short of binding. It is possible to perform this type of test on an installed cushion device.
Most other test methods are of a type, referred to herein as impact testing, that involves exposing a cushion device to kinetic energy and then analyzing the forces produced by the cushion device to detect nonconforming operation. A variety of means for exposing the cushion device to kinetic energy are known.
One such means is a drop hammer. In general, a drop hammer comprises a hammer member and an anvil member. The cushion device is removed from the railcar and mounted on top of the anvil member. The hammer member is raised on a vertical frame or track above the cushion device and anvil member by pulleys or the like. The hammer member is then allowed to drop on the cushion device from a predetermined height above the cushion device thereby applying a known amount of kinetic energy to the cushion device. The forces produced by the cushion device are measured using a load cell comprising a pressure transducer, a piston, and a fluid filled cylinder in the anvil member.
One disadvantage of the drop hammer is that it requires removal of the cushion device from the railcar. Removing and reinstalling the cushion device is time-consuming and expensive. The railcar must be placed out of service while the cushion device is removed, possibly resulting in lost revenue to the railroad company for the cargo that could have been carried by the railcar during this time. Further, to allow regular testing of cushion devices involving removal of cushion devices from railcars, a railroad company may be required to maintain more rolling stock or a larger stock of replacement cushion devices.
The standard means in the railroad industry of applying kinetic energy to a cushion device involves simply running a rolling railcar into a stationary railcar on which the cushion device is installed. Typically, the rolling railcar is released from a predetermined elevation on an incline so that the amount of kinetic energy is applied to the cushion device can be estimated. The forces produced by the cushion device are typically calculated indirectly from a measurement of the post-collision velocity of the stationary railcar.
The disadvantages of this method are that the method is inexact, time-consuming to carry out, not easily repeatable or reproducible, and can result in damage to one or both railcars. More specifically, the amount of kinetic energy applied to the cushion device is generally assumed from the elevation on the incline at which the rolling railcar was released. The actual final velocity of the rolling railcar at the time of the collision, however, is affected by friction and other forces. Typically, there is significant variance in the final velocity between repetitions of the test and for different rolling railcars used in the test. Since kinetic energy is a function of the square of velocity, this variance in final velocity can significantly affect the actual kinetic energy applied by the rolling railcar to the cushion device at the time of the collision. The applied kinetic energy is also a function of the mass of the rolling railcar which typically varies for different rolling railcars used to test cushion devices and may not be accurately known. Results of this test methodology are therefore inexact and not sufficiently repeatable.
In general, prior impact testing methods and apparatus apply a predetermined amount of kinetic energy in an initial impact to a railcar cushion device and analyze the forces produced by the cushion device. However, after the initial impact, the motion of the cushion device is uncontrolled and generally unknown, being dependent on the function or performance of the cushion device itself and other factors. An analysis of the forces produced by cushion devices according to such tests are therefore often not comparable to those of other cushion devices because the applied motion after the initial impact is not identical and not known.
A test method and apparatus is therefore needed to provide repeatable and reproducible testing of railcar cushion devices in a short amount of time with or without removal of the cushion device from the railcar. Further, a test method and apparatus is needed for accurately diagnosing conformance of railcar cushion device performance with rated parameters.

Railcar cushion device tester and method


The disclosure relates to a system for generating a status output based on sound emitted by an animal. The system comprising: a client (102), a server (104) and a database (106); the database (106) is accessible (107) by the server (104) and comprises historic sound data pertaining to the animal (302) or animals of the same type as the animal; the client (102) comprising circuitry (110) configured to: detect (202) sound emitted (308, 312) by the animal (302); record (204) the detected sound (308, 312); analyze (206) the recorded sound for detecting whether the sound (308, 312) comprises a specific sound characteristic out of a plurality of possible sound characteristics, wherein the sound characteristic includes at least one of intensity, frequency and duration of the detected sound; transmit (208), in response to detecting that the sound (308, 312) comprises the specific sound characteristic, the recorded sound to a server (104); the server (104) comprises circuitry (122) configured to: receive (210) the recorded sound; classify (212) the recorded sound by comparing one or more sound characteristics of the recorded sound with the historic sound data comprised in the database (106); generate (214) the status output based on the classification of the recorded sound. A method (200) for generating a status output based on sound emitted by an animal is also provided.

Feeling safe is of fundamental importance to humans. Discomfort or stress is therefore caused if one worries that an event such as a break-in or a trespass should occur, when one is away. Knowledge about the current status of one's home is consequently desirable. It is also reassuring to know that systems such as power, heat and water systems are as they should at home and to know that no damage or destruction is taking place to the home while one is away. It is further comforting to know that a companion animal staying at home is feeling fine.
Many home owners therefore invest in different electronic security systems to feel secure. Prevention of burglary or trespassing is, for instance, hoped to be achieved by monitoring their homes or properties with such systems. The monitoring also allows for detection of failures which may occur at home such as a power cut or a broken heater. The electronic security systems installed in a home are typically built with a control unit configured to communicate with different hardware components such as cameras, thermometers, different types of sensors for windows and doors, and alarms for detecting and alerting in case of a malfunction or safety risk. Most sensors are passive sensors based on "activation", meaning that they will alarm when e.g. a window is broken, a door is opens, the temperature increases or in case of fire or smoke.
Surveillance systems utilizing, for example, network cameras may alternatively or in combination be used to monitor the status of a home.
These security systems are, however, complex as they typically require number of dedicated sensors to provide an adequate surveillance of the home. The wealth of information provided by the hardware components, especially by the cameras, may, moreover, be demanding to handle. Large amount of information may, for instance, put demands on the needed bandwidth and speed for the communication between the security system or surveillance system and a remotely located homeowners or a security company.
There is therefore a need for novel security and surveillance systems having less complexity and which requires reduced amount of information when monitoring the status of a home or the status of an animal such as a dog or cat in the home.

System and method for generating a status output based on sound emitted by an animal


A bale wagon is disclosed having rolling rack tines that pivot, by only a few degrees, so as to reduce the angle between said rolling rack tines and the bale wagons loading bed surface at several preset positions, allows improved control over the lean angle of the unloaded bales.

In the past, considerable effort has been devoted to the development of bale wagons. Note for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 418,091; 2,848,127; 3,065,866; 3,430,783; 3,436,903; 3,620,384; 3,662,900; 3,974,926; 4,095,701; 4,119,218; 5,501,562; 5,547,334; and 6,247,885. However, little attention has been devoted to improving the characteristics of the unloaded stacks of bales themselves. Consequently, the stackability of baled crops, depends less upon the nature of the baling machinery than upon the inherent nature of the baled crop, i.e. its weight, shape, density, moisture content, etc. For example, tightly gathered, highly dense bales will stack more uniformly than loosely gathered softer bales. Also, even the tightly gathered bales have irregularities which cause inconsistent spacing between individual bales, and in turn leads to individual bales toppling from the stack. Variations in baler settings, feeding speeds, and other factors involving baler mechanisms also limit the height at which the bales can be stacked without falling over. Even the topography of the ground on which the bales are stacked can be detrimental to stackability.
Presently, more uniform, higher stacks and less spillage from toppling is desired. An advancement that would save money and time by enhancing the tidiness of the stacked bales, regardless of the type of crop or topography, but without modifying baler settings, would be welcomed and would satisfy a longfelt need in the industry.

Bale wagon having improved rolling rack tines


The present invention includes a hair clarifying composition for removing residue from hair. The composition includes an acid component and an amphoteric surfactant. The present invention further includes a method for using the hair clarifying composition to remove residue from the hair.

Hair is chemically straightened through a hair straightening treatment. Hair is chemically altered to produce a wavy appearance through a permanent wave treatment. Both commercial hair straightening treatments and commercial permanent wave treatments include applying an alkaline composition to the hair to disrupt the bonds in the hair fibers, in particular the disulfide bonds. Generally, permanent wave treatments have a pH in the range of 9.0 to 9.5 pH and hair straightening treatments have a pH of greater than 12.0, and typically greater than 13.0.
Commercial hair straightening products and commercial permanent wave products are typically based on an alkaline metal hydroxide, such as calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, or combinations thereof. Other commercial hair straightening products include guanidine hydroxide.
A result of the permanent wave treatments or the hair straightening treatments is that residue of the alkaline composition remains in the hair causing the hair to be dull, stiff, crusty or gritty. For example, when a calcium hydroxide based product is used in a hair straightening treatment calcium deposits are left on the hair. The presence of the calcium deposits causes the hair have a dry and gritty feeling and a dull appearance.
As such a need exists for a hair treatment to improve the feel and appearance of the hair subsequent to a hair straightening treatment or a permanent wave treatment without detrimentally affecting the straightness or waviness of the hair achieved through the straightening treatment or permanent wave treatment, respectively.


An image processing apparatus includes a region clipping unit configured to clip an interest image of a region of interest from a captured image captured by an image capturing unit using a wide-angle lens, a distortion correcting unit configured to correct distortion, which is caused by image capture using the wide-angle lens, of the interest image by transforming coordinate data from captured image space to corrected image space, an image-capture control unit configured to control the image capturing unit so as to perform image capture at a zoom ratio, which makes number of coordinate data sets per unit area of the interest image equal to or larger than a predetermined value, of the wide-angle lens, and a distortion-correction control unit configured to control the distortion correcting unit so as to correct the distortion of the interest image captured at the zoom ratio.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an image forming apparatuses, an image forming method, and an image communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known methods for obtaining an image captured in a desired image-capture direction include mechanical methods and electronic methods. To obtain an image captured in a desired image-capture direction with a mechanical method, a camera unit is rotated in the desired image-capture direction using a pan/tilt mechanism. By contrast, to obtain an image captured in a desired image-capture direction with an electronic method, a region corresponding to the image-capture direction is cut out from an image captured by a camera unit using a wide-angle lens. The image captured in the desired image-capture direction can thus be obtained without rotating the camera unit. The captured image can be digitally enlarged or reduced. Such an electronic (digital) method can be regarded as a virtual pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) feature.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2010-239221 discloses an image communication system aimed at reducing degradation in image quality resulting from distortion correction applied to correct distortion of an image caused by image capture using an ultrawide-angle lens. The image communication system operates as follows. A camera clips a region of interest (ROI) from a captured image produced using an ultrawide-angle lens, and transmits coded data of the ROI to a terminal device. The terminal device decodes the coded data and performs a distortion correcting process on the data. The distortion correcting process is a process of correcting large distortion of the ultrawide-angle lens to thereby generate an image similar to an image captured using a normal camera. The distortion correcting process corrects distortion caused by image capture using the ultrawide-angle lens by performing coordinate transformation from captured-image space to corrected-image space.
Wide-angle lenses such as ultrawide-angle lenses have a characteristic that the number of coordinate data sets per unit area of a not-yet-corrected captured image, on which coordinate transformation is to be performed, varies with distance from an image center portion of the captured image. An encoding unit allocates an amount of coded data to each of encoding blocks in an ROI depending on a distance from the image center portion of the captured image to the encoding block. This operation is performed to reduce degradation in image quality in the captured image on which the distortion correcting process has been performed.
However, the image communication system disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2010-239221 does not take characteristics of projection of an ultrawide-angle lens or a fisheye lens into consideration and allocates coded data amounts to encoding blocks in a region without taking such lens characteristics into consideration.
This will be described more specifically below. Examples of known projection of an ultrawide-angle lens or a fisheye lens include orthogonal projection and equidistant projection. Such projection of an ultrawide-angle lens or a fisheye lens allows capturing an image with a considerably wide angle of view. However, distortion which is not present in an image captured using a normal lens is present in an image captured using an ultrawide-angle lens or a fisheye lens.
Distortion correction of an image captured using an ultrawide-angle lens may be implemented by coordinate transformation from distorted, captured image space to corrected image space. Meanwhile, a subject in a captured image is squeezed more in a radial direction as the distance from an image center portion increases. As for coordinate transformation, the number of coordinate data sets (i.e., the number of reference data sets) per unit area of a not-yet-corrected captured image, on which the coordinate transformation is to be performed, is not uniform in captured image space but decreases with the distance from the image center portion. Thus, the original amount of data is small in a portion away from the image center portion; furthermore, the amount of data is further reduced by an encoding process. As a result, image quality of a distortion-corrected image is disadvantageously degraded.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an image forming apparatuses, an image forming method, and an image communication system that can reduce degradation in image quality caused by distortion correction applied to an image captured using a wide-angle lens.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method and image communication system


Systems and apparatuses are disclosed for providing a uniform RF field and magnetic bias field to a nitrogen vacancy center diamond.

The present invention relates generally to a sensor assembly of a magnetic sensor.
Magnetic sensors based on a nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond are known. Diamond NV (DNV) sensors may provide good sensitivity for magnetic field measurements. Such magnetic sensor systems often include components such an optical excitation source, an RF excitation source, and optical detectors. These components are all formed on different substrates or as separate components mechanically supported together.

Diamond nitrogen vacancy sensor with common RF and magnetic fields generator


A combination of square alloy rulers with precisely machined planes, each ruler unit having two 1.5v batteries and two bubble levels to level in all directions. A line generator is mounted in front of a laser diode module. This basic laser line ruler unit can produce an accurate laser level line or plumb line after it is calibrated. By adjusting the calibrating knob, the laser line ruler will produce a precise level line or plumb line when the level bubbles are centered. Putting a properly aligned level line unit and a properly aligned plumb line unit together will produce a cross line in front of the combination. Adding at least one more laser line ruler, that is combining three or more line units, will produce 90.degree. lines, 45.degree. lines, and 180.degree. lines, as well as 270.degree. lines up and down or on the right and left sides by simply adjusting the position of the relevant ruler. The housing of the ruler unit is machined with accurate planes and vertical angles. Therefore, the combination of several rulers can project accurate level lines, vertical lines, 45.degree. lines, 90.degree. lines, etc. This simple, small, and unique ruler combination is affordable to the public and can be widely used in hardwood layout and cutting, carpet cutting, squaring the surfaces of any plane object, etc. in addition to its usage in construction.

The present invention relates generally to leveling instruments, and more particularly, is a laser leveling instrument capable of multiple modes of operation. The combination can produce several lines useful for construction.
Lasers have been used in the construction industry for many years. The rotary laser level is a very useful instrument which produces a plane of light for a reference for construction projects. However, the rotary laser level costs thousands of dollars, so only those who regularly undertake large construction projects can justify purchasing a rotary laser level. The laser level has not achieved widespread adoption by the general public despite the time savings because of its initial cost. In addition, its relatively large volume is not easy to carry about. Moreover, it has to be operated by a professional at a construction site. Therefore it is necessary to invent a new tool which is small, easy to carry and use, and affordable to ordinary workers and do-it-yourself builders. The present invention not only accomplishes the above, but it is also capable of producing level lines, plumb lines, cross lines, 90.degree. lines, 45.degree. lines, and so on. These lines are very useful in construction, particularly when installing drop ceilings, mounting cabinets, laying tiles, installing doors and windows, building outdoor decks, etc.


A system may include sensor modules configured to generate sensor signals representative of an environment surrounding a vehicle, and a sensor configured to be coupled to the frame of the vehicle at a location spaced from a first sensor module and configured to generate sensor signals representative of movement of the first sensor module relative to a portion of the frame. The system may also include a sensor processor configured to receive the sensor signals representative of movement of the first sensor module and estimate relative motion of the first sensor module relative to the portion of the frame of the vehicle. The sensor processor may also be configured to calculate, based at least in part on the relative motion estimation, a position, orientation, and/or velocity of the vehicle, and a position of objects in the surrounding environment and/or movement of the objects in the surrounding environment.

Sensors may be used to detect or identify objects in an environment being monitored by the sensors. In many applications, the information determined based on sensor signals received from the sensors relies on knowledge of the locations of the sensors. However, in some situations the locations of the sensors may not be fixed, and movement of the sensors relative to other sensors of the system may impart inaccuracies in the information determined based on the sensor signals. As a result, the information determined based on some sensor systems may not be as accurate as desired for certain applications.

Determining and using relative motion of sensor modules


A method for making a composite magnetic-dielectric disc assembly includes forming a dielectric ceramic cylinder, forming a magnetic ceramic rod, assembling the magnetic ceramic rod coaxially inside the dielectric ceramic cylinder to form a rod-and-cylinder assembly, kilning (firing) the rod-and-cylinder assembly, slicing the rod-and-cylinder assembly to form a plurality of composite magnetic-dielectric disc-shaped assemblies. The magnetic-dielectric disc assemblies can be used in manufacturing, for example, circulators, isolators or similar electronic components. Accordingly, the method for making the disc assemblies can be included as part of a method for making such electronic components.

Circulators and isolators are passive electronic devices that are used in high-frequency (e.g., microwave) radio frequency systems to permit a signal to pass in one direction while providing high isolation to reflected energy in the reverse direction. Circulators and isolators commonly include a disc-shaped assembly comprising a disc-shaped ferrite or other ferromagnetic ceramic element, disposed concentrically within an annular dielectric element. One of the most commonly used ferrite materials is yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG), due to its low-loss microwave characteristics. The annular dielectric element is similarly commonly made of ceramic material.
A conventional process for making the above-referenced composite disc assemblies is illustrated by the flow diagram of FIG. 1. At step 12, a cylinder is formed from a dielectric ceramic material. At step 14, the (unfired or "green") cylinder is then fired in a kiln (commonly referred to simply as "firing"). At step 16, the outside surface of the cylinder is then machined to ensure its outside diameter (OD) is of a selected dimension. Achieving precise dimensions in the assembly elements is important because the dimensions affect microwave waveguide characteristics. At step 18, the inside surface of the cylinder is similarly machined to ensure its inside diameter (ID) is of a selected dimension. In addition, at step 20, a rod is formed from a magnetic ceramic material. At step 22, the rod is then fired, and at step 24 its surface is machined to a selected OD. The rod OD is slightly less than the cylinder OD so that the rod can be fitted securely within the cylinder, as described below. Achieving a close fit that promotes good adhesion between the rod and cylinder is a reason that both the outside surface of the rod and the inside surface of the cylinder are machined to precise tolerances.
At step 26, epoxy adhesive is applied to the one or both of the rod and cylinder. At step 28, the rod is inserted inside the cylinder to form a rod-and-cylinder assembly, and the epoxy is allowed to cure (harden), as indicated by step 30. At step 32, the outside surface of the rod-and-cylinder assembly is again machined to a precise OD. Lastly, at step 34, the rod-and-cylinder assembly is sliced into a number of disc assemblies. Each disc assembly thus comprises a magnetic ceramic disc disposed concentrically within a dielectric ceramic ring. Each disc assembly is typically several millimeters in thickness.
The time involved in machining the inside surface of the cylinder to promote adhesion, applying epoxy to the parts, carefully handling and assembling the epoxy-laden parts, and curing the epoxy, contributes to inefficiency in the process. It would be desirable to provide a more efficient method for making composite magnetic-dielectric disc assemblies.

Co-firing of magnetic and dielectric materials for fabricating composite assemblies for circulators and isolators


A pneumatic tire is provided in the tread portion (2) with a circumferential groove (3, 3b, 3c) extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction and having a pair of oppositely opposed groove walls (6). The circumferential groove (3, 3b, 3c) is provided in at least one of the groove walls (6) with radial grooves (9) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the circumferential groove (3). The radially outer end (9o) of the radial groove (9) is positioned in a range (a1) of from 0 to 20% of the depth (GDt) of the circumferential groove. The radially inner end (9i) of the radial groove (9) is positioned in a range (a2) of from 80 to 100% of the depth (GDt) of the circumferential groove. The radial groove has an opening width (g) of not less than 1.0 mm, but not more than 6.0 mm.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire, more particularly to a tread groove structure capable of improving stone-entrapment and noise performance without sacrificing wet performance.
It is well known to be effective for improving wet performance of a pneumatic tire to provide wide circumferential grooves in the tread portion. Such a wide tread groove is however very liable to trap small objects such as gravel stones therein. In the case of heavy duty tires having very rigid tread portions, small objects entrapped deep in a tread groove are hard to self-eject. As a result, the groove bottom and inner structure of the tread portion are liable to be injured by the entrapped objects.
On the other hand, in the case of a wide circumferential groove, an air column formed in the circumferential groove in the ground contacting patch is liable to resonate during running and the noise performance of the tire is deteriorated.
If the groove width is decreased, these problems may be solved, but as the drainage is decreased, deterioration of the wet performance is inevitable.

Pneumatic tire with tread having radial grooves and shutoff walls


An eye-moistening device comprising spectacles includes a pair of side covers for covering at least left and right sides of eyes, and an eye-moistening member provided on the inner surface of the side cover. This eye-moistening member is adapted to be impregnated with water or medicine. This impregnated water or medicine can be slowly evaporated thereby wetting or soaking the eyes with water or medicine when the spectacles are put on one's face.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an eye-moistening device which, when put on one's face, is adapted to moisten eyes with water and/or medicine which is slowly evaporated from the device.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
In general, spectacles comprise a pair of rims supporting lens, and a frame for attaching the spectacles to one's face.
Therefore, when the spectacles are put on one's face, the enviroment inside the spectacles near the eyes is almost the same as outer enviroment. On the other hand, in the case of spectacles such as goggles or safety spectacles, which are adapted to hermetically enclose the eyes, the environment surrounding the eyes is always the same.
When the eyes suffer from lactrimation deficiency or so-called dry eyes, which causes the eyes to feel driness or weariness, moistening in some degree of the atmosphere surrounding the eyes is found to be very effective in healing such dry eyes.
However, prior to the present invention, there has been no proposal to provide spectacles with a moistening means.
Further, in the case of ordinary spectacles, even though the forward portion of the eyes are covered with a lens, both sides of the eyes are substantially opened to the outer atmosphere through rather narrow frames of the spectacles crossing the sides of the eyes. Therefore, any dust, cigarette smoke, photochemical smog or other noxious materials are easily allowed to enter into the eyes.


A material with spectrally selective reflection in the primary valences of red, green and blue is applied preferably onto laser projection screens in order to make possible the projection even in daylight. In a first embodiment, a first layer of a material that is highly reflective over the entire range of visible light, e.g., aluminum is applied onto a substrate, e.g., glass or a synthetic material, followed by a second layer of a material that is essentially non-absorbing over the entire range of visible light, e.g., SiO2. A third layer in contact with air is applied to the second layer and is made of a material that is partially transmissive over the entire range of visible light, e.g., of NiCr An alternative embodiment comprise five layers, The first layer is made a material with a high index of refraction, e.g.; TiO2, a second of a material with a low index of refraction, e.g., SiO2, the third of a material with a high index of refraction, e.g., TiO2: a fourth of a material with a low index of refraction. e.g., SiO2, and a fifth layer of a material with a high index of refraction, e.g., TiO2.

Materials with specific optical properties are needed in numerous technical fields. For example specific layers are applied onto synthetic materials in order to generate mirror properties (DE 39 27 087 C2), or multilayer systems are applied onto window panes in order to provide thermal protection (DE 197 45 881 A1).
Multilayer filter systems, which have specific reflection and/or transmission properties (WO 95/17690), are also employed in the case of liquid crystal displays. These filter systems comprise for example in each pixel region filters for red, green and blue, with each filter having a common dielectric broadband mirror. The difference between the filters consists in the tuning thickness between the mirrors for each filter. Use of the common dielectric broadband mirror simplifies the process of production of mosaic arrays in the RGB filter.
Furthermore a color filter grouping for a surface image sensor is known, which comprises several color filters on the sensor, which selectively filter out different colors (U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,803). Each color filter comprises at the bottom a semitransparent and partially reflecting silver layer. On this silver layer is disposed a transparent and absorption-free dielectric layer having a thickness which is selected such that it corresponds to the wavelengths of the light to impinge onto the image sensor.
A further known optical filter is comprised of two mirror layers which form an optical resonance space with a dielectric layer being disposed between these mirror layers (U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,805).
Another filter with variable wavelengths of modifying etalon type comprises at least two reflecting surfaces whose spacing from each other is not constant but rather increases or decreases monotonically from the spacing in a selected direction in a light-sensitive plane of the etalon (EP 0 442 738 A2).
Interference filter groupings on the basis of a thin metal filter and comprising at least one dielectric layer between two metal layers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,653. The two metal layers are of a thickness which is less than the penetration depth of the radiation.
Furthermore is known an optical filter in which several optical layers are disposed one on the other, which are alternately comprised of a high-refraction material, TiO2, and a low-refraction material, SiO2 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,898).
None of the filters listed above reflects spectrally selectively in the primary valences of red, green and blue, as a consequence of which the filters are not suitable for a laser projection screen.
Projection screens must have special optical properties in order to ensure brilliant image representation. This applies especially to laser projection, in which a deflectable laser beam, into which the primary colors red, green and blue are coupled, scans the screen (cf DE 196 40 404 A1). The projection screens must have reflection maxima in the red, green, blue wavelengths of approximately 629 nm, 532 nm and 447 nm, respectively. In addition, a broadband background light must be absorbed, for example in a subjacent black layer.
A further requirement made of the properties of laser projection screens comprises that the reflection must not involve a mirror-like reflection but rather a diffuse reflection in a preselectable solid angle range in order for the viewing of the projected images to be possible from different locations. Reflections in a spatial region in which no observer is present must be avoided in order to minimize intensity losses. The screen must thus not be a Lambert radiator in which the luminance is constant in all directions of a half space. According to DIN standard 19045, Bereich Betrachtungsbedingungen {Area: Viewing Conditions}, the reflection should be up to ±40° in the horizontal direction, measured from the projection axis, and ±10° in the vertical direction, measured from the visual axis of a central viewer. In addition, the shift which can be observed of the reflection characteristic with changed reflection angle—the so-called color flop—should also be largely suppressed.
Lastly, projection screens should meet the requirement that they also ensure good recognizability of the projected images in non-darkened rooms.
The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a material for projecting screens which is suitable for laser projection. This problem is solved according to the present invention.
The invention consequently relates to a material with spectrally selective reflection in the primary valences of red, green and blue. This material is preferably applied onto laser projection screens in order to make projection possible even in daylight. In a first solution, onto a substrate, for example glass or synthetic material, a first layer of aluminum is applied, which is followed by a second layer of SiO2, on which, in turn, a layer of NiCr is disposed. The latter is in contact with air. A second solution comprises five layers, of which the first is comprised of TiO2, the second of SiO2, the third of TiO2 the fourth of SiO2 and the fifth of TiO2. The first layer is here connected with the substrate, while the fifth layer is in contact with air. The first solution is much simpler than the second solution.
In an embodiment of the invention, a material is provided having spectrally selective reflection in the ordinary valences of red, green and blue, having a first layer highly reflecting over the entire range of visible light: a second layer, essentially non-absorbing over the entire range of visible light, which is disposed on the first layer and whose optical thickness is between approximately 600 nm and 900 nm, with the optical thickness being defined as 4 .n .d where n is the index of refraction and d the geometric thickness: a third leyer, partially transmissive over the entire range of visible light, which is disposed on the second layer, with the third layer having a geometric thickness of approximately 20 to 80 rim.
In an alternative embodiment, the material has a first layer of a material with a high index of refraction which is approximately 400 to 600 nm thick; a second layer of a material with a low index of refraction which is approximately 127 nm thick and which is disposed on said first layer: a third layer of a material with a high index of refraction which is approximately 400 to 600 um thick and which is disposed on said second layer: a fourth layer of a material with a low index of refraction which is approximately 72 nm thick and which is disposed on said third layer: a fifth layer of a material with a high index of refraction which is approximately 400 to 600 nm thick and which is disposed on the fourth leyer. The material with a high index of refraction in at least one of said first layer, the third layer and the fifth layer is selected from TiO2. Ta2O5, TiOxNyand the material with a low index of refraction in said second and fourth layers are each SiO2,
The advantage attained with the invention comprises in particular that utilizing only three layers, one metallic layer and two dielectric layers, the above stated requirements are met in a laser image screen. It is here especially advantageous that the metallic layer can be produced cost-effectively, for example by vapor deposition in film coating installations. In comparison to sputter processes the metal layer can be applied at approximately the 10- to 100-fold rate. The dielectric layer can alternatively be applied with the cost-effective vapor deposition technology or the sputter technology. The requirements are alternatively also fulfilled with the aid of a five-layer system of dielectric materials with a high index of refraction. However, the production of the five-layer system is significantly more costly than the production of the three-layer system. Both layer systems can be readily produced as a large-area system by means of a DC or a medium frequency sputter process. Consequently the expensive production of the fully dielectric layer systems commonly used up to now becomes superfluous. The reproducibility of the layer thickness and the indices of refraction is better than 1%.
It is understood that projection operation under daylight conditions entails a certain desaturation of the colors. Daylight contains a component in the RGB range. If the laser is switched off and only daylight falls onto the coated screen, the screen appears white since the reflected daylight component in the RGB range yields the color white through an additive color mixture. This white is superimposed onto the laser colors such that the color saturation decreases slightly in comparison to pure spectral colors. The decrease of the color saturation, however, is less than is the case with conventional white screens, since a large component of the daylight spectrum, which is outside of the RGB maxima, is absorbed.
Embodiment examples of the invention are depicted in the drawings and will be described in further detail below.

Material with spectrally selective reflection


A source follower is disclosed. A driving transistor comprises a first gate receiving an input signal. An active load is connected to the driving transistor in series between a first voltage source and a second voltage source and coupled to the driving transistor at a first point. A first switch is coupled between the first voltage source and the first gate. A first capacitor is coupled to a second switch at a second point. A third switch is connected to the first capacitor at a third point and connected to the second switch and the first capacitor in series between the first gate and the second voltage source. A fourth switch is coupled between the third point and the first point. A fifth switch is coupled between the first point and a fourth point.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a source follower and an electronic system utilizing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
High gain analog amplifiers are typically high impedance and connect a load, such as a capacitor comprising high capacitance or a resistor comprising low impedance. When the load is a resistor comprising low impedance, a voltage buffer is disposed between the analog amplifier and the load for maintaining high gain effect. The voltage buffer refers to a source follower.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional source follower. Source follower 100 comprises transistors 110 and 120. Transistors 110 and 120 are coupled between voltage sources Vdd and Vss. The gate of transistor 110 receives an input signal Vin and the source thereof provides an output signal Vout. Transistor 120 is served as a current source.
The size of transistor 110 is equal to that of transistor 120 for arriving to a voltage following effect. When the current flowing transistor 110 is equal to the current flowing transistor 120, the voltage difference between the gate and the source of transistor 110 is equal to the voltage difference between the gate and the source of transistor 120. Because the voltage difference between the gate and the source of transistor 120 is equal to zero, the voltage difference between the gate and the source of transistor 110 is also equal to zero. Thus, the output signal Vout is close to the input signal Vin.

Source follower and electronic system utilizing the same


An optical network includes: an optical switch; a plurality of optical interface devices provided respectively for a plurality of servers and connected to the optical switch; and a manager to manage communication traffic of the plurality of servers. Each of the optical interface devices includes a fixed-wavelength optical transmitter and a wavelength tunable optical transmitter. A first optical path is set up via the optical switch by using the fixed-wavelength optical transmitters of the plurality of optical interface devices. The manager identifies first and second optical interface devices from among the plurality of optical interface devices in accordance with the communication traffic of the plurality of servers. A second optical path is set up between the first and second optical interface devices via the optical switch by using the wavelength tunable optical transmitters of the first and second optical interface devices.

As cloud computing is becoming more popular, communication traffic in data centers is increasing. Accordingly, the speedup of interfaces accommodating huge communication traffic has been desired. Optical path setup technologies for interconnecting servers via optical links have been developed for data centers and so on.
As one optical interconnect technology, an optical communication network for interconnecting a plurality of communication nodes has been proposed. The optical communication network includes an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). The AWG has N input ports and N output ports and has a routing function for guiding input light to a corresponding output port according to a wavelength of the input light. M (M is smaller than or equal to N) communication node equipments are connected to the AWG via optical transmission lines. To dynamically change a logical network topology representing the geometry of the path of signal light used for data transmission and reception between the communication node equipments, each of the communication node equipments includes wavelength switching means for switching the wavelength of the signal light. (For example, WO 2004/073225)
As a related art, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-60922 describes a network interconnecting a plurality of nodes using a WDM system and an AWG. Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-101432 describes an optical switch network and an optical crossconnect.
In an optical network in which a plurality of node equipments are connected in a star configuration by an AWG, it is preferable that the node equipments be one-hop connected to enhance the efficiency of the data transmission between the node equipments. To one-hop connect optional node equipments to each other, it is logically necessary to adopt a full mesh topology.
To achieve such a network, however, each node equipment needs to include many optical devices. As an example, to connect N node equipments in a full mesh topology by using an N×N AWG, each node equipment needs to include N−1 transmitters for transmitting N−1 different wavelengths and N−1 receivers for receiving the N−1 wavelengths.
As described above, in the prior art, a transceiver of each node needs to include many optical devices to enhance the efficiency of the data transmission between the node equipments. Accordingly, the power consumption of a node equipment increases. The size of a transceiver increases and cost of the transceiver also increases.

Optical network and optical path setup method


The invention features a circuit wherein a serially connected transistor and anti-fuse element are biased for current to flow in a first direction or the current flows in the first direction during a programming operation and biased for a current to flow in a second direction or current is flowing in the second direction during a normal circuit operation, such as a read operation, wherein the first and second directions are opposite of one another. Thus the invention facilitates the use of a low programming potential while minimizing leakage current.

Integrated electronic circuits are usually made with all internal connections set during the manufacturing process. However, because of high development costs, long lead times, and high manufacturing tooling costs of such circuits, users often desire circuits which can be configured or programmed in the field. Such circuits are called field programmable circuits and they can contain programmable links. Programmable links are electrical interconnects which are either broken or created at selected electronic nodes by the user after the integrated device has been fabricated and packaged in order to activate or deactivate the selected electronic nodes.
Programmable links have been used extensively in programmable read only memory (PROM) devices. Probably the most common form of programmable link is a fusible link. When a user receives a PROM device from a manufacturer, it usually consists of an X-Y matrix or lattice of conductors or semiconductors. At each cross-over point of the lattice a conducting link, call a fusible link, connects a transistor or other electronic node to this lattice network. The PROM is programmed by blowing the fusible links to selected nodes and creating an open circuit. The combination of blown and unblown links represents a digital bit pattern of ones and zeros signifying data which the user wishes to store in the PROM. By providing an address the data stored on a node may be retrieved during a read operation.
In recent years, a second type of programmable link, call an anti-fuse link, has been developed for use in integrated circuit applications. Instead of the programming mechanism causing an open circuit as in the case with fusible links, the programming mechanism in an anti-fuse circuit creates a short circuit or relatively low resistance link. Thus the anti-fuse link presents an open circuit prior to programming and a low resistance connection after programming. Anti-fuse links consist of two electrodes comprised of conductive and/or semiconductive materials and having some kind of a dielectric or insulating material between them. During programming, the dielectric at selected points in between the conductive materials is broken down by predetermined applied voltages, thereby electrically connecting the conducting and/or semiconducting materials together.
A plurality of such anti-fuses may be disposed in a semiconductor integrated circuit, and may be selectively blown to create low impedance interconnects at selected locations within the integrated circuit. The anti-fuses may be blown either before or after packaging of the integrated circuit die.
Critical issues facing the designer of the anti-fuse device is the capability to program the device using a low potential while minimizing leakage currents. The two basic circuit configurations for the anti-fuse element are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In both configurations a transistor is serially connected to the anti-fuse element. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the anti-fuse 5 is connected to a reference potential and the transistor 10 is connected to a supply potential. There is a transistor source bias associated with this approach which requires a higher supply potential than would be required if there were no transistor source bias. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the anti-fuse 15 is connected to a supply potential and the transistor 20 is connected to a reference potential. The circuit of FIG. 2 is much easier to program than the circuit of FIG. 1 due to the elimination of the transistor source bias associated with the approach depicted in FIG. 1. Elimination of the source bias allows the anti-fuse element to be programmed using a lower potential. However, it has been observed that leakage current is increased between the supply potential at supply node 25 and the reference potential at reference node 30, and/or that leakage current is increased between supply node 25 and the substrate. This leakage is not desirable in the programmable circuit for it increases the standby current.
Post program transistor current-voltage curves are shown in FIG. 3. The drain voltage has been increased from 0 V to 5 V in 1 volt increments with the resultant drain current measured and plotted at each increment. The solid lines represent the data plotted for FIG. 2 and the dashed lines represent the data plotted for FIG. 1. The curves have been lettered. The solid lines are represented by a letter having no prime symbol and the dashed lines are represented by a letter having a prime signal. Each of the curves having corresponding letters have the same gate voltage. For example F and F' had a gate voltage of 0 V. It can be clearly seen that when the supply node 25 is the drain of the transistor, as shown in FIG. 2, the leakage current for V.sub.g =0 is too large for the transistor to handle, see curve F. Conversely, if we were to use reference node 35 as the transistor source and the supply node 40 as the transistor drain, as shown in FIG. 1, the transistor leakage at V.sub.g =0 is much lower, see curve F'. However as was discussed earlier, the configuration of FIG. 1 has a transistor source bias which requires a higher supply potential than the circuit of FIG. 2. Therefore a need exists to minimize leakage current while providing a low programming potential.

Anti-fuse circuit and method wherein the read operation and programming operation are reversed


The invention relates to a demodulator to demodulate frequency-modulated signals FM including a phase locked loop PLL including at least a phase detector, a loop filter and a voltage controlled oscillator function VCO′, characterized in that said voltage controlled oscillator function VCO′ has modifiable gain. The invention allows to eliminate drawbacks presented by the conventional use of a complex gain modifiable amplifier at the input of demodulated signal processing means. Application: demodulation of modulated signals: wireless phone, home network.

FIG. 1 presents a standard architecture of the demodulation of a modulated signal followed by an amplification of the demodulated signal obtained.
Such a standard architecture is for example implemented and described in the data sheet of UAA3515 from Philips semiconductors. In such architecture the demodulation is realized by a demodulator DEM using a conventional phase locked loop including a phase detector PDT, a loop filter LFI and a voltage controlled oscillator function VCO. Then the demodulated signal FDM is applied to a first amplifier stage G1 comprising a high gain amplifier G∝ and passive elements C1, R1 and R2. In integrated circuit technology, the use of passive elements generally implies the use of at least two connection pins P1 and P2 as shown in FIG. 1. Then the output of the amplifier stage G1 is conventionally connected using an intermediate filter INF to a second amplifier stage G2 including a complex gain control amplifier GGC. This second amplifier stage is then connected to a processor PRO that processes the signal so that this signal can be used.
Such architecture presents the drawbacks that two connection pins are needed, external components are needed that are found on a PCB and moreover impose their time constant (this time constant is even greater than the R1C1 multiplication and has to be high so as not to deform the audio signal), the presence is needed of a complex gain control amplifier that often deteriorate noise floor characteristics.

Phase locked loop demodulator with gain control


A dive computer system that utilizes a direct skin temperature measurement is provided. The dive computer system includes a measurement device that includes a temperature sensor and is attached to a strap. The strap is placed around a diver's chest and configured to measure the diver's skin temperature. The skin temperature is wirelessly transmitted to a dive computer that utilizes a dive algorithm to determine compartment inert gas saturation and desaturation. The dive algorithm determines an updated skin perfusion factor that is in turn utilized to determine an updated half time for the skin compartment for inert gas desaturation and a pressure tolerance for the skin compartment for inert gas saturation.

SCUBA and freedivers face a variety of dangers associated with these sporting activities. One such danger is decompression sickness that results from inert gas uptake during a dive. The amount of inert gas uptake is affected by the depth/pressure experienced over time by the diver. Dive computers have been used that employ diving decompression algorithms that track depth and time in order to determine dive stops in order to help avoid the danger of decompression sickness.
Further, physiological data from the diver can provide improved information to be utilized by the diving algorithm operating on a dive computer that determines dive time and decompression stop times and depth. For instance, the ZHL-8ADT model uses workload from a diver's heart rate to improve the diving algorithm. An example of a dive computer that utilizes heart rate information to improve a dive algorithm is found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,310,549 entitled Dive Computer with Heart Rate Monitor, assigned to Johnson Outdoors Inc., the entire teachings and suggestions of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Another physiological data point that may be utilized to improve a diving algorithm is skin temperature. Skin temperature has an influence on a perfusion rate of the diver's body. The perfusion rate of various compartments of a diver's body during a dive will affect transfer of inert gases as well as metabolized oxygen within each compartment. During a typical dive, the perfusion rate determines how the inert gases are solving to tissues in the compartment at higher ambient pressures and dissolving when ambient pressure is decreased. Because the perfusion rate of a diver's skin is affected by skin temperature, a diving algorithm determining decompression parameters that does not take into account skin temperature is inefficient.
Further, a diver's skin forms the largest compartment exposed directly or indirectly to water during a dive. Water conducts heat approximately 20 times better than air, and as a result divers tend to protect themselves from excessive heat loss by wearing thermal isolating suits such as wet and dry suits. In wet suits, the isolation is based on water circulation not directly cooling skin, as a smaller amount of water is trapped between the suit and the skin such that the trapped water is raised in temperature and thereby acts as a buffer to the cooler water outside of the wet suit. In dry suits, the skin protected by the suit is separated from the water by a watertight barrier and body temperature is regulated by thermally protective undergarments.
Regardless of whether a diver utilizes a wet suit or a dry suit, the skin is generally covered. Therefore, dive computers that utilize skin temperature for improving a dive algorithm generally estimate the skin temperature based on surrounding water temperature and diver workload, which is typically estimated from the diver's heart rate or breathing rate.
A better way to determine skin temperature is a direct measurement from the skin of the diver. However, a direct measurement of skin temperature is difficult because a diver's skin is generally covered in order to protect the diver from the cooling effect of the water surrounding the diver's body. Therefore, what is needed is a method and device to directly measure skin temperature of a diver during a dive and provide that measurement data to a dive computer to utilize the skin temperature measurement in a diving algorithm in order to improve the diving experience.
The invention provides such a method and device to directly measure skin temperature of a diver during a dive and provide that measurement data to a dive computer to utilize the skin temperature measurement in a diving algorithm. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

Wireless skin temperature measurements in diving


Disclosed herein is an antenna device for use with a portable wireless terminal having a main body, and a sub-body slidably coupled thereto, with a first antenna mounted in the main body and a second antenna mounted on the sub-body. The second antenna is selectively exposed to the outside as the sub-body moves slidingly on the main body. Conventional sliding-type terminals incorporate an antenna device in its main body that is interfered with by user body parts, thereby causing deteriorated performance. The antenna device of the present invention improves performance by using an additional second antenna mounted on the sub-body of the terminal to improve transmitting/receiving signal quality of the terminal. Furthermore, as such an antenna device is incorporated inside a sliding-type terminal or a pop-up type terminal, it is possible to eliminate risk of damage and to diversify the design of the terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable wireless terminals, and more particularly to an antenna device for use with a portable wireless terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, "portable wireless terminals" are mobile communication devices that are portable and enable owners of the devices to wirelessly communicate with partners or mobile communication carriers through base stations. At an initial stage of commercialization, the possible service provided by portable wireless terminals was limited to a simple voice communication service, short message transmitting/receiving service, etc. However, nowadays, the service provided by portable wireless terminals is gradually expanding to include video communication, video clip service, mobile banking, etc. as mobile communication techniques progress.
The portable wireless terminals require an antenna device in order to perform wireless communication with partners and base stations. Moreover, as mobile communication service expands to include multimedia service such as video clip service, performance of the antenna device has become an important measure to determine signal quality of the portable wireless terminals.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional portable wireless terminal 100 having an integrated, protruding antenna device 103. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a sub-body 102 of the portable wireless terminal 100 shown in FIG. 1 slid open.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna device 103 of the portable wireless terminal 100 is extended out of, i.e. protrudes from, the terminal 100.
The portable wireless terminal 100 is a sliding-type terminal, and comprises a main body 101, and the sub-body 102 slidably coupled to the main body 101 so as to longitudinally move thereon. The main body 101 is provided, at a lower region of its front surface, with a keypad 111 in a 3×4 array, and a transmitter module 113, and further provided with the antenna device 103 extending upward from an upper end of the main body 101. At a front surface of the sub-body 102 are provided a display unit 121, a receiver module 123, a keypad 125 consisting of functional keys, and a camera unit 129 for use in video communication and video recording.
It will be recognized that the antenna device 103, which is fixedly mounted to the main body 101, may vary in size to accommodate different antenna lengths, as required according to frequency bands used by mobile communication carriers.
Such conventional antenna devices of the type extending out of a portable wireless terminal, however, have various problems such as increased risk of damage due to external shock, can be inconvenient when carrying the terminal, and limit diversification in design of the terminal.
In order to solve the above problems exhibited by protruded antenna devices, antenna devices have been in the interior of portable wireless terminals, and portable wireless terminals having an internal antenna device are gradually being commercialized.
Although the antenna device extending out of the portable wireless terminal has a risk of damage, presents an inconvenience when carrying the terminal, and limits the options for diversifying the design of the terminal, as stated above, conventional antenna devices mounted so as not to extend out of the terminal, i.e. that do not protrude, present other problems such as degraded performance, as well as degraded transmitting/receiving signal quality due to interference with body parts of a user, such as the user's hands, when in a communication mode.

Antenna device for portable wireless terminal


A speech recognition method includes providing a processor communicatively coupled to each of a local speech recognition engine and a server-based speech recognition engine. A first speech input is inputted into the server-based speech recognition engine. A first recognition result from the server-based speech recognition engine is received at the processor. The first recognition result is based on the first speech input. The first recognition result is stored in a memory device in association with the first speech input. A second speech input is inputted into the local speech recognition engine. The first recognition result is retrieved from the memory device. A second recognition result is produced by the local speech recognition engine. The second recognition result is based on the second speech input and is dependent upon the retrieved first recognition result.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to speech recognition (SR) and, more particularly, relates to speech recognition using server-based speech systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, speech recognition is available not only on local machines, such as laptops, tablet computers and embedded systems, but also over servers that are connected via the Internet or cell phones. While the local speech engines can guarantee the availability of the functionality, their performance is typically inferior to that of the server-based speech systems in certain domains and their improvements and upgrades are less frequent than those of the server-based systems. On the other hand, the server-based speech systems are not always available when they are needed due to lack of connectivity, especially in remote areas.

Methods and systems for adapting grammars in hybrid speech recognition engines for enhancing local SR performance


A polish rod clamping device, for use as part of a wellhead production pumping tree to secure a polish rod. The device includes a pressure-containing body forming a central vertical and opposed first and second side bores. A pair of clamping rams are positioned in the side bores for sliding movement therealong, each clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front ends of the clamping rams being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the polish rod between their front ends when the clamping rams are advanced across the central bore. The front end of at least one of the clamping rams is configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the polish rod. The invention extends to the V-groove rams themselves and to composite wellhead assemblies containing the V-groove clamping device.

The invention relates to a device capable of clamping, and preferably also sealing, the polish rod of a pumping wellhead.
A conventional wellhead comprises an assembly of spools, valves and assorted adapters which provide pressure control of a production well. In a rotary pumping oil well typical components include, from the bottom up:
a flanged casing head attached to the well casing;
a flanged tubing head having an internal hanger from which the well tubing string is suspended;
a tubing head adapter having a flanged connection at its bottom end and a threaded connection of smaller diameter at its top end;
a production blowout preventer (BOP) body having top and bottom threaded connections and including side openings for receiving the BOP ram components;
a flow tee body having threaded bottom and top connections and a threaded or flanged side opening for connecting with a flow line;
a polish rod stuffing box; and
a rotary drive assembly for rotating the well's rod string to power a downhole progressive cavity pump.
These components, except for the rotary drive assembly, combine to form a vertical central bore extending through the pressure-containing wellhead body members. The polish rod of the rod string extends through this central bore in the pressure zone maintained in the wellhead body members. The polish rod rotationally drives a drive string or "sucker rods" which in turn drive the progressing cavity pump located at the bottom of the installation to produce well fluids to the surface through the wellhead.
The combination of the tubing head adapter, BOP body and flow tee body components is commonly collectively referred to as a "pumping tree." The assembly of wellhead components above the tubing head is usually referred to collectively as the "Christmas tree."
Composite wellhead assemblies exist which include, between a top connector and bottom connector, one or more of the following components, in any sequence, adapter, valve, gate valve, flow tee, blowout preventer, and polish rod clamp. To that end, attention is directed to the devices disclosed in the following U.S. Patents, all of which are owned by Stream-Flo Industries Ltd., the assignee of the present application:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,332, issued Apr. 28, 1998, entitled "Integral Wellhead Assembly for Pumping Wells. This patent teaches integrating the tubing head adapter, BOP body and flow tee body into a unitary structure, referred to as an 'integral or composite pumping tree', by forging, casting or machining a single steel body. This composite pumping tree forms the lower end of the Christmas tree.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,530, issued Oct. 1, 2002, entitled "Wellhead Production Pumping Tree". This patent is similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,332, but includes a Y-arm to provide access for coiled tubing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,466, issued Jan. 23, 2001, entitled "Composite Pumping Tree with Integral Shut-Off Valve. This patent application teaches integrating a tubing head adapter, shut-off valve body, BOP body, and flow tee body into a composite pumping tree.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,278, issued Jul. 22, 2003, entitled "Assembly for Locking a Polished Rod in a Pumping Wellhead". This patent includes multiple embodiments to incorporate a polish rod locking device in a composite pumping tree.
Each of the above patents discloses wellhead equipment used in connection with pumping oil wells, but in a composite form, meaning that one or more functional components of a conventional pumping tree are included in an integral pressure-containing wellhead body between a top and a bottom connector.
Canadian Patent No. 2,349,988 to Oil Lift Technology Inc. issued on May 7, 2002, discloses a polish rod lock out clamp for securing the polish rod in an oil well installation. In one embodiment, the polish rod lock out clamp is integrated with a blowout preventer. The pistons, or BOP rams, are of metal and include an arcuate recess (or radial groove) at their front or inner ends to accommodate and grip the polish rod in metal to metal contact. An elastomeric seal across the arcuate recess is provided to seal against the polish rod. To grip the polish rod, the arcuate recess has a diameter which is undersize relative to that of the polish rod. However, the smaller diameter of the arcuate recess in the ram can cause difficulty in aligning and gripping of an off-centre polish rod. As well, with repeated use in gripping the polish rod, the polish rod becomes scored or damaged as the clamp bites into the polish rod to achieve a sufficient gripping action. Damaging the polish rod in this manner can effectively reduce the diameter of the polish rod in this area, making it more difficult to clamp. Eventually, the damage to the polish rod can lead to an inability to seal against the downhole pressure in this area.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,888, issued Feb. 21, 2006, naming Andrew Wright et. al., as inventors, discloses a polish rod clamp or combination BOP/clamp for gripping a polish rod, without requiring the metal to metal contact set forth in the above Oil Lift patent. The clamping members in the Wright et al. patent application include gripping inserts, which may be coated with non-metallic ceramic materials, to clamp the polish rod without scoring or damaging the rod surface. This patent application still includes the arcuate recess (generally semi-circular in cross section) at the front ends of the clamping members, which can cause difficulties as set forth above in aligning with an off-centre polish rod.


A shared-nothing database system is provided in which parallelism and workload balancing are increased by assigning the rows of each table to “slices”, and storing multiple copies (“duplicas”) of each slice across the persistent storage of multiple nodes of the shared-nothing database system. When the data for a table is distributed among the nodes of a shared-nothing system in this manner, requests to read data from a particular row of the table may be handled by any node that stores a duplica of the slice to which the row is assigned. For each slice, a single duplica of the slice is designated as the “primary duplica”. All DML operations (e.g. inserts, deletes, updates, etc.) that target a particular row of the table are performed by the node that has the primary duplica of the slice to which the particular row is assigned. The changes made by the DML operations are then propagated from the primary duplica to the other duplicas (“secondary duplicas”) of the same slice.

Databases that run on multi-processing systems typically fall into two categories: shared-persistent-storage databases and shared-nothing databases. A shared-persistent-storage database expects all persistent storage devices in the computer system to be visible to all processing nodes. Consequently, a coordinator process in a shared-persistent-storage database system may assign any work granule to a process on any node, regardless of the location of the persistent storage that contains the data that will be accessed during execution of the work granule. Shared-persistent-storage databases may be run on both shared-nothing and shared-persistent-storage computer systems. To run a shared-persistent-storage database on a shared-nothing computer system, software support may be added to the operating system or additional hardware may be provided to allow processes to have direct access to remote persistent storage devices.
A shared-nothing database assumes that a process can access data only if the data is contained on a persistent storage that belongs to the same node as the process. Consequently, a coordinator process in a shared-nothing database can only assign a work granule to a process if the data to be processed in the work granule resides on persistent storage in the same node as the process. Shared-nothing databases may be run on both shared-persistent-storage and shared-nothing multi-processing systems. To run a shared-nothing database on a shared-persistent-storage machine, a mechanism may be provided for logically partitioning the database, and assigning ownership of each partition to a particular node.
Based on the foregoing, it is clearly desirable to provide a shared-nothing database system that has less constraints with respect to which node of the shared-nothing database system is able to process work. For example, when the task is reading a particular version of a particular data item that is stored in the database system, it is desirable to provide a shared-nothing database system in which multiple nodes are capable of performing the task. The larger the number of nodes that are able to perform the same task, the easier it is for workloads to be balanced among the available nodes. In addition, it is desirable that a node that is performing a read operation be able to read the data as of a designated snapshot time. To further improve performance, it is desirable that the read operations be performed without obtaining locks, and without blocking even when reading data items that were touched by transactions that have not yet committed.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Further, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section are well-understood, routine, or conventional merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

System and method for an ultra highly available, high performance, persistent memory optimized, scale-out database


In a texturing system with a texturing nozzle and a first drum connected thereto and a further drum, a thread is guided on the outlet side of a texturing nozzle at the circumference of a drum in the form of a strip by friction and at least in part in positive manner, so that the longitudinal speed of the strip at the circumference of the drum corresponds with the circumferential speed of the drum in the area of the guide, whereby, by means of a pressure difference in an air guidance system, the effect is achieved by pressing the strip onto the surface of the drum. Further, the thread is guided in relation to its conveying speed and packing density, by positive and friction guidance under the imposition of air, as far as an outlet point on the first drum, and is transferred onto a second drum, on which the strip is cooled, extended if appropriate, and passed on to further guide or conveying rollers, respectively.

The invention relates to a texturing system, or a thread processing device, with a texturing nozzle for forming a textured thread. A nozzle of this generic type is described, for example, in the German published examined application 20 3 6856. The yarn, entering the nozzle from above, is conveyed by a hot-air flow to a compression part, which is provided with passage apertures, for example in slot form. Due to the lateral escape of the air being blown in, and as a result of the reduction in speed in the passage channel, the continuous filament yarn compresses, and thus also incurs a braking effect. The yarn strip which forms is ejected relatively slowly from the nozzle and cooled. In this situation, a rotating cooling drum can be used, on the surface of which the compressed yarn is laid, whereby, as a result of perforations in the drum, air at a lower temperature is sucked into the nozzle, e.g. ambient air, which has the effect of cooling the yarn.
The invention also relates to the compression part of a texturing system, in particular a BCF texturing nozzle, for high velocities. A compression part of a texturing nozzle according to the conventional design is usually formed from an upper and lower lamellar plate holder and a plurality of lamellar plates.
The texturing air and the yarn enter the compression part of high speed from above, i.e. in the direction of flow of the fibres and air respectively. The air flows in the area of the compression part in impart manner through the slots or intermediate spaces between the lamellar plates in a more or less radial direction, and mostly emerges to the outside at the lamellar plates. This has the effect of reducing the air speed in the longitudinal channel of the nozzle. The yarn is braked as a result and forms a strip, which fills the entire inner diameter of the slotted part, namely the compression part. The strip slides downwards through a strip guide tube to a cooling drum or to a conveying device, in particular a pair of rollers.
The strip formation inside the nozzle is influenced by the flow circumstances and geometric conditions which prevail there. If interruptions occur, or specific parameters on which the strip formation depends are altered, the quality of the thread may change impermissibly.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,010, the principle is known of conducting the yarn strip from the texturing nozzle onto a drum and of steering the material flow on the circumferential surface thereof between two rows of needles, which project vertically from the surface. The strip formation in this situation, however, is only influenced at the transition point from the nozzle onto the drum by the conditions which prevail there, which in practice has not led to the desired consistent thread quality.
In EP Application No. 1101 849, it is proposed that the thread be deposited in a drum groove, in order thereby to control the conveyance of the strip better, and at the same time to cool it. In this situation, however, very narrow tolerances are to be maintained in the manufacture of the drum.

Textile machine texturing system and texturing nozzle therefor