A multimedia projector (30) employing a color wheel (42) in a frame sequential color display system includes a light sensor (68) positioned to receive light scattered from a point in an optical path (34) after the color wheel. The light sensor detects particular colors of light propagating through red, green, and blue filter segments (R, G, and B) on the color wheel and toward a display device (50). The light sensor provides, without any adjustments, an inherently accurate timing mark signal (78) to a display controller (56) to ensure that red, green, and blue image data are properly synchronized with the respective filter segments R, G, and B. In particular, the light sensor receives polychromatic light through a yellow optical filter (74) to illuminate an optoelectric detector (70) that is responsive to visible and near IR light wavelengths. The photodetector drives a timing mark signal generator (80) to detect a sudden increase in yellow (red plus green) light, which indicates to the display controller that filter segment R has just rotated into the optical path.

Projection systems have been used for many years to project motion pictures and still photographs onto screens for viewing. More recently, presentations using multimedia projection systems have become popular for conducting sales demonstrations, business meetings, and classroom instruction.
In a common operating mode, multimedia projection systems receive analog video signals from a personal computer ("PC"). The video signals may represent still, partial-, or full-motion display images of a type rendered by the PC. The analog video signals are typically converted in the projection system into digital video signals that control a digitally driven image-forming device, such as a liquid crystal display ("LCD") or a digital micromirror device ("DMD").
A popular type of multimedia projection system employs a light source and optical path components upstream and downstream of the image-forming device to project the image onto a display screen. An example of a DMD-based multimedia projector is the model LP420 manufactured by In Focus Systems, Inc., of Wilsonville, Oreg., the assignee of this application.
Significant effort has been invested into developing projectors producing bright, high-quality, color images. However, the optical performance of conventional projectors is often less than satisfactory. For example, suitable projected image brightness is difficult to achieve, especially when using compact portable color projectors in a well-lighted room.
Because LCD displays have significant light attenuation and triple path color light paths are heavy and bulky, portable multimedia projectors typically employ DMD displays in a single light path configuration. Producing a projected color image with this configuration typically requires projecting a frame sequential image through some form of sequential color modulator, such as a color wheel.
The use of color wheels in frame sequential color ("FSC") display systems has been known for many years and was made famous (or infamous) in early attempts to develop color television sets. However, more modern color wheel display implementations are still useful today.
FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art FSC display system 10 in which a sensor 12 senses a timing mark 14 to detect a predetermined color index position of a motor 16 that rotates a color wheel 18 having respective red, green, and blue filter segments R, G, and B. A light source 20 projects a light beam 22 through color wheel 18 and a relay lens 24 onto a display device 26, such as an LCD-based light valve or a DMD. A display controller (not shown) drives display device 26 with sequential red, green, and blue image data that are timed to coincide with the propagation of light beam 22 through the respective filter segments R, G, and B of color wheel 18. Clearly, successful operation of a FSC display system depends on properly synchronizing the red, green, and blue image data to the angular position of color wheel 18.
Sensor 12 typically employs any of optoelectrical or electromechanical shaft position or motor armature position detectors and usually requires some means for aligning timing mark 14 to the start of one of the filter segments. This alignment is typically a costly and error prone mechanical adjustment that accounts for angular differences between motor 16 and the mechanical mounting of filter segments R, G, and B. Of course, electrical or mechanical delays associated with sensor 12 further contribute to alignment errors.
The accumulated angular errors open the possibility of synchronization errors between the red, green, and blue image data to the angular position of color wheel 18, a possibility that prior workers avoided by building a timing duty cycle into the display controller electronics. The timing duty cycle provides for driving display device 26 with the red, green, and blue image data for only a portion of the time when light beam 22 is propagating through each of respective filter segments R, G, and B, thereby preventing illuminating display device 26 with an improper color. Unfortunately, the timing duty cycle reduces the total amount of illumination available for displaying each color and, therefore, reduces the brightness of the resultant displayed color image.
What is needed, therefore, is a color wheel synchronization technique that substantially eliminates any mechanical, optical, and electrical rotational timing errors that are intrinsic to prior color wheel systems.

Color wheel synchronization apparatus and method


The invention provides an imprinted matrix which exhibits selective binding interactions through metal chelates with a predetermined molecule or biological particle. Also provided is a preformed, fluid-imprinted matrix having sufficient rigidity to maintain selective binding interaction with a predetermined molecule or biological particle through interactive moieties. Methods for producing such matrices are additionally provided.

This invention relates to affinity ligands in general and, more particularly, to methods of producing highly selective matrices with reversible binding characteristics.
Separation and purification accounts for a very large percentage of the production cost of proteins and many specialty chemicals used for human therapeutics. Considerable effort is being expended on developing and optimizing techniques for the large-scale separation and purification of proteins. The difficulties lie in the high degrees of purity required for human therapeutics and therefore the extreme selectivity that is required for the separation process. These requirements result in complex, multi-step processes with concomitant high cost and low yield. Similar considerations hold true for specialty chemicals.
High selectivity in purification appears to be incompatible with low cost. For example, precipitation processes, or even ion-exchange chromatography, are relatively inexpensive operations, but they are also relatively nonselective and often must be accompanied by additional purification steps. Affinity separations often give a very high degree of purification in a single step, but biologically derived ligands such as monoclonal antibodies which are used in affinity chromatography are very costly, are unstable, and are not particularly easy to recycle or sterilize.
Affinity separations have been developed which exploit the affinity exhibited by proteins for metal ions. This property has been utilized in immobilized metal-affinity chromatography (IMAC) of proteins from natural sources and from recombinant organisms. A related technique, known as ligand-exchange chromatography, has been used in the purification of specialty chemicals such as amino acid derivatives and chiral precursors. In these techniques, a chelated metal ion with at least one available coordination site is covalently attached to a solid support and used as an affinity ligand to retain molecules which exhibit metal-coordinating moieties on their surfaces. Examples of such metal coordinating moieties are the amino acid side chains of histidine and cysteine on the surfaces of proteins. IMAC holds a number of important advantages over the use of biologically derived affinity ligands as recognition agents in protein separations. The small metal chelates generally used in metal-affinity separations are stable under a wide range of solvent conditions and temperatures. As a result, they can be recycled numerous times with negligible loss in performance. Other advantages of metal-affinity separations include the high metal loadings and therefore high protein capacities that can be attained and the relative ease of product elution and ligand regeneration. Proteins bound to chelated metals are easily removed by lowering the pH or by introducing a metal-binding ligand such as imidazole, and metal-affinity columns are regenerated simply by replenishing the supply of chelated metal. Metal chelate ligands have the additional advantage of being inexpensive.
Although metal-affinity separations are attractive from a number of economic and practical viewpoints, the metal-affinity ligands used are, unfortunately, not nearly as selective as biologically derived molecules such as antibodies. For example, chromatography on iminodiacetic acid-bound Cu(II), the most commonly used metal chelate, distinguishes proteins primarily by their surface histidine contents. While such current metal-affinity separations distinguish among proteins that contain widely different numbers of exposed histidines, it becomes more difficult to separate those with similar numbers of histidines.
One method to create polymeric matrices which exhibit selective binding interactions is to prepare polymers by a technique known as molecular imprinting or template polymerization. The technique is reviewed in Ekberg and Mosbach, TIBTECH 7:92-96 (1989), and in Wulff, Am. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser. 308:186-230 (1986), and which describe molecular imprinting of small organic molecules and amino acids. Imprinting utilizes a template molecule with which to orchestrate the synthesis of individual monomers into a polymer matrix. The resulting matrix exhibits a large number of complementary interactions between the monomers and template molecule and can be viewed as a molecular "mold-like" structure. Such polymers are capable of specific recognition of template molecules and have been exclusively limited to small molecules.
A major disadvantage of this molecular imprinting technique is that the chemistry involved in synthesizing such polymer matrices is largely limited to organic solvents. While organic solvents can be used with small organic molecules and amino acids, they cannot be used with biological macromolecules or particles since they result in denaturation and inactivation of such molecules. Another disadvantage is that a large number of interactions are needed to selectively recognize a molecule as large as a protein. It is extremely difficult to synthesize materials with such a large number of complementary interactions.
There thus exists a need for inexpensive compositions which exhibit the high selectivity of biologically derived affinity ligands toward molecules, including macromolecules and biological particles, and yet retain reversible interactive and stability properties of metal-chelate ligands and imprinted polymers. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides related advantages as well.

Composition of matter comprising an imprinted matrix exhibiting selective binding interactions through chelated metals


A system and method is disclosed for providing DRM in a broadcast environment. In accordance with the embodiment, a DRM system distributes encrypted service keys over the mobile telephone network to a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives the encrypted service key and uses it to decrypt encrypted content keys received from a DVB set top box. The decrypted content keys are sent to the set box over local link where they are used to decrypt encrypted broadcast content. A power management technique for mobile receivers is also disclosed that enables the receiver hardware to power off during a portion of the rendering process.

DVB provides a standard for the distribution of digital broadcast video content. One of the issues concerning the adoption of DVB is that the pristine digital content provided by the standard could potentially be recorded and distributed without loss of quality and without the content owner's consent. To avoid unauthorized distribution the DVB standard includes a mechanism for encrypting the distributed content prior to transmission. DVB, however, does not dictate a digital rights management (DRM) scheme or key delivery standard. These two elements ensure the secure transmission and conditional access to the protected content. DVB leaves this aspect of content protection to the development of proprietary DRM systems.
In any rights managements system encryption of the delivered content is relatively simple. What is more difficult is distributing conditional access to the rights needed to decrypt and use the distributed information. Rights embody what an end user is allowed to do with the encrypted content, for example, play the content for a certain period or copy the content a limited number of times. DRM accomplishes this conditional access to the content by wrapping the keys required to decrypt the content into a tightly controlled system where the rights themselves cannot be freely copied or distributed, see Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2003-0076955-A1. The successful control of these rights requires that they be individualized to restrict distribution of the rights beyond a particular authorized end user.
Current DVB DRM solutions transmit these rights as vouchers sent along with the same broadcast that carries the DVB transmission. This approach can be very wasteful of bandwidth because each user needs to receive an individualized rights voucher. As the number of vouchers grows the broadcast link's bandwidth, which must also carry the digital content, will be needlessly wasted. This method of voucher transmission is particularly wasteful because every user that receives the broadcast receives not only the voucher intended for that user but also the vouchers intended for every other user.
Other approaches to provide DRM control utilizing specialized equipment, such as set top boxes with smart cards and modems, to distribute rights vouchers through different communications links, for example over telephone lines. However, the specialized equipment required to carry out the rights delivery prevents over-the-air broadcasters from efficiently controlling an end user's equipment the way a cable distributor might. The problem is that while the over-the-air broadcasters would like to develop additional broadcast pay systems, they cannot without first developing a unified hardware infrastructure for the end users, including DRM infrastructure (hardware and software) and billing mechanisms. The investment required to create a system would be substantial for any one broadcast channel. Additionally end users would be unlikely to invest in or acquire new equipment for a system that worked for one only channel.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for using DRM to control conditional access to broadband digital content


An elongated building element (14) to form a series of walls (10) to (13). The elements (14) each have longitudinally extending flanges (21) that snap engage with longitudinally extending grooves (19) in the next adjacent element (14). Accordingly the wall (10) is constructed by joining the elements (14) in a direction transverse their general direction of extension. If so required the elements (14) may be filled with concrete.

It is known to form walls from building elements which are vertically extended extruded hollow members. Adjacent members are connected by cooperating flanges and grooves with the elements joined by longitudinal sliding relative movement. The elements are hollow and are subsequently filled with concrete to provide them with strength and rigidity. Typically, the building elements are formed of extruded plastics material.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,845 discloses a building element typically as described above. A wall is constructed by connecting adjacent elements by first connecting one element to a floor and then coupling subsequent elements thereto by vertically sliding relative motion. A similar construction is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,189,269, 5,974,751, 5,953,880, 5,729,944 and 5,706,620.
The above discussed elements have a disadvantage in that their sliding relative movement for coupling purposes hinders their assembly. Their lengths makes them difficult to handle when being placed in position to form a wall.
A further disadvantage is that each element has either two male or two female coupling portions. Thus there is the need to manufacture and stock a variety of different elements.
Less relevant structures are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,440,785, 3,555,751, 3,815,311, 3,828,502, 4,104,837, 5,274,975, 5,293,728, 5,404,686 and 6,247,280.

Hollow interconnecting panels as lost formwork


An earphone jack for a mobile communication terminal and a driving method thereof, wherein the earphone jack includes a first speaker terminal for providing a positive (+) differential call voice signal when a call voice signal is output, a second speaker terminal for providing a negative (−) differential call voice signal when the call voice signal is output, and a switchable ground terminal for maintaining a ground on state when a media sound source is output, and becoming a ground off state when the call voice signal is output. The method includes the steps of determining whether an audio signal to be currently output is a media sound source signal (that is, a sound source media data signal), or a call voice signal (that is, a wireless call voice signal), and when the media sound source signal is output, maintaining a ground on state and outputting the media sound source signal in stereo, and when the call voice signal is output, maintaining a ground off state and outputting a differential signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an earphone jack for improving a call quality in a mobile communication terminal, and an operating method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to an earphone jack for eliminating power noise interference in a voice call, thereby improving a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and an operating method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an earphone is a device for allowing a user to hear a media sound source signal from a media-recording media, a mobile communication terminal, wireless broadcasting, or the like. The earphone apparatus has been advanced in various product areas such as those related to headphones for use convenience, and is further being advanced to provide increased use ranges. The earphone is applied to the mobile communication terminal to allow the user to hear a call voice signal from a counterpart, as well as to hear a media sound source signal.
In a typical application, the user holds and uses the mobile communication terminal in his/her hand in the same manner as a telephone. When the user drives a car, he/she can connect the earphone to the mobile communication terminal and can then easily communicate with the counterpart without holding the mobile communication terminal in his/her hand. Accordingly, the earphone can be easily connected to a device such as an MPEG layer-3 (MP3) phone and used for allowing the user to hear MP3 data from the MP3 phone, and can also be used for transmitting and receiving data in the mobile communication terminal.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conventional earphone jack and earphone included in a mobile communication terminal.
In FIG. 1, the earphone 110 is electrically coupled with the earphone jack 100, thereby outputting an audio signal from the mobile communication terminal through both speakers 112 and 114 of the earphone 110. In general, the earphone jack 100 includes a total of five terminals comprising microphone bipolar terminals, speaker bipolar terminals, and a ground single-pole terminal. However, for clarity in the description of the earphone jack 100 of FIG. 1, only the speaker bipolar terminals 102 and 106, and the ground single-pole terminal 104, are illustrated, as these result in many of the problems solved by the embodiments of the present invention, and the microphone bipolar terminals are not illustrated.
In the earphone jack 100 of the mobile communication terminal of FIG. 1, the speaker bipolar terminals 102 and 106 output a call voice signal in a call mode, and a media sound source signal (for example, an MP3 media sound source signal) from a sound source recording media. An output format of the speaker bipolar terminals 102 and 106 can be comprised of a mono sound format (that is, the same call voice signal) that is output to the speaker terminals of both sides, and a stereo sound format (that is, media sound source signals different from each other) that is output to the speaker terminals of both sides.
When the media sound source signal is output in stereo, the mobile communication terminal outputs a regular electric power level of a power source and therefore, the media sound source signal can be stably output, almost without any influence of power noise. However, when the call voice signal of the call mode is output, there is a drawback in that when a voice call is performed, power noise is generated at the earphone 110 and therefore, a clear voice signal without power noise cannot be output.
Specifically, a time duration (hereinafter referred to as an "awake time") for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal at a predetermined time interval is required for setting a connection link or maintaining a call state between a mobile communication base station and the mobile communication terminal. During the awake time, an electric power level of a battery is required for transmitting and receiving the wireless signal. For example, in a time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system, such as a global system for mobile communications (GSM) mobile communication system, the mobile communication terminal wirelessly communicates in the call mode with the mobile communication base station only during its allocated driving time duration (that is, the awake time). Therefore, electric power is consumed to a greater extent during the awake time than during other times.
An electric power waveform, which is output when the electric power of the battery is consumed during the awake time, is shown in FIG. 2. During the awake times of 202a, 202b, 202c, and 202d, the battery is consumed and an output reduced by about 0.4V. For example, in the mobile communication terminal, the battery outputs a voltage of 4.2V at other times, but during the awake times, the battery is consumed and an output reduced by as much as about 0.4V. This consumption and output reduction is the result of performing a wireless link with the base station. Therefore, the battery outputs a voltage of 3.8V, which is lower by as much as 0.4V than the 4.2V output at other times.
Accordingly, while the call voice signal of the mono sound format is output in the call mode through the left and right speakers 112 and 114, power noises 212a, 212b, 212c, and 212d, and power noises 222a, 222b, 222c, and 222d, are respectively generated in a voice output waveform 210 of the left speaker terminal 104 and a voice output waveform 220 of the right speaker terminal 106 at a corresponding awake time, due to the electric power consumed during the awake time taken to perform wireless communication.
Power noise refers to noise interference in the call voice signal when a battery output is not stably provided and a low electric power level is output during a specific time duration. When the electric power is not supplied normally, power noise causes noise interference in an analogue voice signal waveform. Accordingly, there is a drawback in that when the voice call is performed, optimum call quality cannot be provided for a terminal user due to power noise interference in the call voice signal.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for eliminating power noise interference in a voice call during the awake time taken to perform wireless communication.

Earphone jack for eliminating power noise in mobile communication terminal, and operating method thereof


A picture quality diagnostics apparatus and method generates a human vision model response based on a human vision model for a test input video signal. Also objective measure maps for different impairment types are generated from the test input video signal. The objective measure maps are applied as masks to the human vision model response to produce objectively filtered subjective maps. The objectively filtered subjective maps are analyzed to give the respective proportions of the different objective impairment types contributing to perceptual impairment or difference for the test input video signal.

The present invention relates to video quality of service, and more particularly to picture quality diagnostics for revealing the cause of perceptible picture impairments.
Current picture quality measurement algorithms use a human vision system model to which a test picture/video signal and an optional reference picture/video signal are input. The result is a subjective quality map that shows regions of the picture/video that have perceptible impairments, but not the reason for the impairments. For example there may be a trade-off between blockiness, blurring and jerkiness of motion at a given compression rate, depending on encoder settings. How visible these impairments are determines how to set encoder parameters to improve video quality of the compressed video. It is desirable to determine how visible each impairment type is in order to set the encoder parameters.
What is desired is picture quality diagnostics that reveal the cause of perceptible picture impairments.

Picture quality diagnostics for revealing cause of perceptible impairments


A pharmaceutical composition is provided comprising a vitamin E derivative, an anionic phopholipid-binding protein, an anionic phospholipid and a sterol. Also provided is a method for preparing a composition for delivering a cargo to a subject comprising a) forming liposomes from a vitamin E derivative, an anionic phospholipid-binding protein such as annexin, an anionic phospholipid such as phosphatidylserine and a sterol; and b) encapsulating the cargo in the liposomal composition.

Topical drug delivery to the eye has always been an attractive route of administration, but there has been limited success in finding effective carriers that can effectively overcome the physical and physiological barriers for a drug to reach the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. In their earlier patent application, PCT/GB2008/004233, the inventors described the problems encountered when using eye drops which are the usual route of topical drug administration to the eye. Further, the inventors provided a carrier for use in topical drug administration which enables the delivery of drugs to the rear segments of the eye, without the need for direct invasive administration.
There has been a further demand for non-invasive delivery systems, with the advent of treatments targeting VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in blinding conditions such as AMD (age-related macular degeneration) and DR (diabetic retinopathy), which currently use intraocular (intravitreal) injections as the route of administration. With increasing rates of ageing diseases and diabetes, the need for therapies is rising steeply, especially those that are not invasive, easy to administer and inexpensive. Improved carriers for topical delivery of pharmaceuticals to inhibit VEGF, and treat AMD, DR and other similar conditions would be useful.
Development of therapeutics for the central nervous system (CNS) and the eye is one of the most challenging areas in drug development, especially with systemic administration. This is primarily because of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) in the eye and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the CNS. Despite recent advances, the BBB remains a real problem in preventing many potential therapeutic agents reaching the CNS. The current challenge is to develop drug-delivery systems that ensure that drugs cross the BBB in a safe and effective manner.
Drugs which have until now been used in CNS treatments have been limited by having to be small, relatively lipid-soluble compounds which pass across the BBB by means of transmembrane diffusion. In addition, as in Alzheimer's disease, passive and active immunization have been used—but again the main difficulty being that antibodies cross the BBB poorly, with IgG molecules in particular having poor penetration due to their large size.
The inventors have developed carriers that enable agents to cross the BBB and BRB. Such carriers may be used in pharmaceuticals for administration in a variety of methods, such as intravenous, nasal, transdermal and topical administration.

Carrier comprising a vitamin E derivative


Described is a system for object detection from dynamic visual imagery. Dynamic visual input obtained from a stationary sensor is processed by a surprise-based module. The surprise-based module detects a stationary object in a scene to generate surprise scores. The dynamic visual input is also processed by a motion-based saliency module which detects foreground in the scene to generate motion scores. The surprise scores and motion scores are fused into a single score, and the single score is used to determine the presence of an object of interest.

(1) Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a system for object detection from dynamic visual imagery and, more particularly, to a system for object detection from dynamic visual imagery that fuses surprise-based object detection with motion processing based object detection.
(2) Description of Related Art
Several systems exist that detect anomalies in a scene, such as for surveillance applications. Such systems typically employ an attention algorithm (i.e., saliency) as a first pass that analyzes the entire scene and extracts regions of interest, which are typically advanced to some other system for analysis and/or identification. The attention algorithm is also often used as a seed to a "surprise" algorithm that finds salient regions of interest that change and, therefore, could be a potential anomaly in the field-of-view (FOV). The attention and surprise algorithms must be very accurate, as any event that is not detected by these algorithms cannot be analyzed by subsequent algorithms in the system. However, since attention/surprise must be processed on every pixel in the imagery from a wide FOV, the attention/surprise algorithm requires a large amount of computational resources and often requires hardware to run the algorithms. Depending on the hardware used to run the algorithm, the requirement may either exceed the available resources of the hardware or require larger and more complex hardware (e.g., multiple field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), which results in bulky and high-power systems.
The pure surprise algorithms (both feature and object-based) are incomplete because they yield poor results when applied to video imagery of a natural scene. Artifacts from ambient lighting and weather often produce dynamic features that can throw off a saliency algorithm and cause it to think that "everything is salient". Mathematically, it may be the case that everything in the scene is salient, but when a system is tasked with a specific purpose, such as surveillance, one is only interested in legitimate short-term anomalies that are likely to be targets. Therefore, simple saliency systems cannot provide the service that the current invention does.
An alternative approach to "pure surprise" is to use a full surprise algorithm. Full surprise algorithms employ a great deal of additional processing on the features in each frame of the video and create statistical models that describe the scene. If anything unexpected happens, the surprise algorithm is able to return the location of the happening. The closest known prior art to this invention is the surprise algorithm of Itti and Baldi (see the List of Cited Literature References, Literature Reference No. 2). The work of Itti and Baldi employs a Bayesian framework and features that contribute to the saliency map to construct a prior distribution for the features in the scene. The current saliency map is used as the seed for a "posterior" distribution. This algorithm uses the Kullback-Leibler divergence (or KL distance) between the prior and posterior as the measure of surprise. KL distance is a non-symmetric measure of the difference between two probability distributions. Because it takes the entire history of the scene into account, it exhibits a much lower false alarm rate than that of a system that exclusively uses saliency.
However, as one might expect from the description of the algorithm, the Itti and Baldi surprise algorithm (see Literature Reference No. 2) is very complicated and computationally expensive. It was designed to run on very high-end computer hardware, and even then cannot currently run at real-time on high-resolution video imagery. The computer hardware it runs on is very bulky and power-consuming, which prevents its use on a mobile platform. Furthermore, the complexity of the algorithm largely prevents it from being ported to low-power hardware, which is essential for deployment on a mobile platform.
Furthermore, several additional researchers have shown interest in systems that compute the saliency of a scene. Two particular theories have emerged from this interest: attention that focuses on features at specific loci in the scene, and attention that focuses on the saliency of specific objects or colored "blobs" in a scene. These methods are called feature-based and object-based attention, respectively.
Feature-based algorithms work at the pixel level and compute attention based on the saliency of a given location within the scene at a specific location. The attention work of Itti and Koch (see Literature Reference No. 3) employs such an approach, which computes attention by constructing a saliency map from a set of biologically inspired features extracted from the image. The algorithm breaks apart the image into a set of Gaussian pyramids corresponding to color, intensity, and orientation at a series of scales, which are combined across scales and merged into the saliency map. The system attends to the point that corresponds to the maximum value in the saliency map, applies inhibition of return to that location, and shifts to the next most salient point. This process continues until the program attends to a maximum number of locations, or the user terminates the program. The most significant problem with the method described in Literature Reference No. 3 is its inefficiency; in spite of the inhibition of return mechanism, the algorithm routinely returns to previously attended locations if a better point is not found. The algorithm lacks the type of queuing system required to efficiently attend to every location in the image. Some groups have also found that this algorithm does not exhibit invariance to the orientation of a scene: when the algorithm analyzes the same image twice, one being slightly rotated relative to the other, it returns dramatically different salient regions for each.
The work described in Literature Reference No. 12 employs motion processing using a codebook in order to extract anomalous motion patterns from a series of frames in video. The work described in Literature Reference No. 12 is capable of processing motion information from dynamic imagery. However, the blobs it returns sometimes leave out pieces of objects or are incomplete.
Each of the prior methods discussed above exhibit limitations that make them incomplete. This is due to the problems that they exhibit in their limited application to natural scenes and in their theoretical structure. Thus, a continuing need exists for an improved system for finding surprised-based objects of interest in dynamic scenes.

Method and system for fusion of fast surprise and motion-based saliency for finding objects of interest in dynamic scenes


A ferroelectric memory of a 1T/1C type has a pair of dummy memory cells DMC2nxe2x88x921 and DMC2n. Different information have been stored in the dummy memory cells. When the information is read out from each dummy memory cell, a potential Va is developed on a bit line BL2nxe2x88x921, a potential Vb is developed on an adjacent bit line BL2n. Since the bit lines BL2nxe2x88x921 and BL2n have the same capacitance, a potential Vave of each bit line which was short-circuited by a short-circuit portion s2a is equal to a just intermediate value (Va+Vb)/2 of the potentials Va and Vb. The potential Vave is applied to sense amplifiers SAnxe2x88x921 and SAn as a reference potential.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor memory and a driving method of a semiconductor memory. More particularly, the invention relates to a semiconductor memory having a ferroelectric capacitor and a driving method of such a memory.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, an interest in a memory using a ferroelectric substance as a capacitor dielectric film (hereinafter, such a memory is referred to as a xe2x80x9cferroelectric memoryxe2x80x9d) is increasing more and more. The ferroelectric memory stores information by using a spontaneous polarization of a ferroelectric substance. When a polarizing direction is oriented to one direction by once applying a voltage to the ferroelectric capacitor, the polarization remains (referred to as a xe2x80x9cresidual polarizationxe2x80x9d) even if no electric power is supplied after that, and the stored information is held. The ferroelectric memory having such a feature can be used as a non-volatile memory.
Further, in case of a general volatile memory such as a DRAM or the like, a voltage of 10V or more is necessary for writing data. According to the ferroelectric memory, a polarizing direction of the ferroelectric capacitor is reversed by a voltage of a few volts and data can be written. A data writing time of the general non-volatile memory is on the order of microseconds. A polarization reversing time of the ferroelectric memory is on the order of nanoseconds. As mentioned above, the ferroelectric memory is largely expected as a non-volatile memory of the next generation in which the operation of a low voltage and a high speed can be executed.
At present, a ferroelectric memory having a plurality of memory cells comprising MOS transistors (selective transistors) each of which functions as a switching device and ferroelectric capacitors mainly becomes a target of study and development. A construction and the operation of the memory cells of the ferroelectric memory will now be described with reference to FIG. 5.
In case of writing data into a memory cell MC, a word line WL is asserted and a selective transistor Tr is turned on. 0v is applied to a bit line BL and a positive voltage is applied to a plate line PL. Thus, a polarization of a ferroelectric capacitor C is directed to one direction (↑ direction) shown in FIG. 5 and it is stored as information of, for example, xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d into the memory cell MC. On the contrary, when a positive voltage is applied to the bit line BL and 0V is applied to the plate line PL, the polarization of the ferroelectric capacitor C is directed to the direction (↓ direction) opposite to the above one direction and it is stored as information of, for example, xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d into the memory cell MC.
In case of reading out the information from the memory cell MC, the bit line BL is precharged to 0V and a positive voltage is applied to the plate line PL. If the ferroelectric capacitor C has already been polarized in the opposite direction (↓ direction) (the information xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d has been held), the polarizing direction is reversed. On the other hand, if the ferroelectric capacitor C has already been polarized in one direction (↑ direction) (the information xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d has been held), the polarizing direction is not reversed. An electric potential of the bit line BL changes in accordance with the polarizing state of the ferroelectric capacitor C. Therefore, by detecting and amplifying a change amount of the electric potential of the bit line BL by a sense amplifier SA connected to the bit line BL, the information stored in the memory cell MC is read out.
The sense amplifier SA amplifies the electric potential of the bit line BL to either the L (low) level (for example, 0V) or the H (high) level (for example, a power potential Vcc) by using a reference potential Vref as a reference.
Generally, a dummy memory cell (not shown) in which information opposite to that in the memory cell MC is stored is provided for the ferroelectric memory. The reference potential Vref is inputted from the dummy memory cell to the sense amplifier SA. In this case, one information is stored by two memory cells in which complementary data is stored, respectively. Such a memory configuration is called a 2-transistor/2-capacitor (2T/2C) type.
As a memory configuration of the DRAM, a 1-transistor/1-capacitor (1T/1C) type in which one information is stored by one memory cell is used. According to the memory of the 1T/1C type, as compared with the 2T/2C type, since a layout area of a memory cell array is reduced, a large capacity of the memory can be easily realized.
The conventional ferroelectric memory having the memory array of the 1T/1C type has been disclosed in, for example, JP-A-793978. FIGS. 18(a) and 21 of this Official Gazette show circuit constructions of the conventional ferroelectric memory, and FIGS. 18(b) and 22 show the data reading operations thereof
Although the 1T/1C type has a structural advantage as mentioned above, the use of it to the ferroelectric memory is not progressed due to the following reasons.
In case of the memory of the 1T/1C type, a circuit for generating the reference potential Vref is additionally necessary. In the ferroelectric memory, its circuit construction is more complicated than that of the DRAM.
In case of the DRAM, the bit line is set to xc2xd of the power voltage Vcc, the plate line is set to the power voltage Vcc or 0, and data is written into the memory cell. After that, in order to read out the data, it is sufficient to precharge the bit line to xc2xd Vcc and activate the word line. An electric potential which is induced to the bit line is set to a voltage which is either higher or lower than xc2xd Vcc in accordance with the data stored in the memory cell. That is, in case of the DRAM, if xc2xd Vcc is used as a reference potential Vref, the stored data can be accurately read out.
Also in case of the ferroelectric memory as a target of the present invention, in a manner similar to the DRAM, an electric potential of the bit line during the data reading operation differs in dependence on contents of the data which is read out. Since an absolute value of the bit line potential differs in dependence on a variation of characteristics of the ferroelectric capacitor, it is not easy to decide such a value at the stage of design. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to generate the reference potential Vref adjusted to an intermediate value of two electric potentials which show a binary value and are induced on the bit line during the data reading operation, that is, an average value of the bit line potential in case of reading out the information xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d and the bit line potential in case of reading out the information xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d. Unless the reference potential Vref is accurately adjusted to the intermediate value of the two electric potentials induced on the bit line, there is also a possibility that the stored information is erroneously read out.
As mentioned above, hitherto, in case of using the memory array construction of the 1T/1C type for the ferroelectric memory, since the reliability of the data which is read out deteriorates, the memory construction of the 2T/2C type which is disadvantageous to realize a large capacity has to be used.
The invention is made in consideration of the above problems and it is an object of the invention to provide a ferroelectric memory from which stored information can be accurately read out and to provide a driving method of such a memory.
To accomplish the above object, according to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory comprising: a first sense amplifier which has a first terminal and a second terminal, compares an electric potential of the first terminal with an electric potential of the second terminal, and outputs an amplified voltage to each of the first and second terminals in accordance with a result of the comparison; a second sense amplifier which has a third terminal and a fourth terminal, compares an electric potential of the third terminal with an electric potential of the fourth terminal, and outputs an amplified voltage to each of the third and fourth terminals in accordance with a result of the comparison; a first bit line connected to the first terminal; a second bit line connected to the second terminal; a third bit line connected to the third terminal; a fourth bit line connected to the fourth terminal; a first memory cell which is connected to the first bit line and has a ferroelectric capacitor; a first dummy memory cell which is connected to the second bit line and has a ferroelectric capacitor polarized to a first direction; a second memory cell which is connected to the third bit line and has a ferroelectric capacitor; a second dummy memory cell which is connected to the fourth bit line and has a ferroelectric capacitor polarized to a second direction opposite to the first direction; and first short-circuit means which can short-circuit the second and fourth bit lines. It is preferable that the first and third bit lines belong to a first area and the second and fourth bit lines belong to a second area which does not overlap with the first area.
In the semiconductor memory of the invention, each of the first and second memory cells is used for storing data of one bit in the data which is stored in the semiconductor memory. Unlike the first and second memory cells, the first and second dummy memory cells operate so that the ferroelectric capacitors are certainly polarized to the opposite directions. That is, if the first dummy memory cell stored, for example, information xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d, the second dummy memory cell certainly stores information xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d. Under this condition, by reading out the stored information from the first dummy memory cell, an electric potential according to the information xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is induced on the second bit line. By reading out the stored information from the second dummy memory cell, an electric potential according to the information xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is induced on the fourth bit line.
When the stored information is read out from the first dummy memory cell to the second bit line and the stored information is read out from the second dummy memory cell to the fourth bit line, if the second and fourth bit lines are short-circuited by the first short-circuit means, the electric potential of both bit lines is set to the intermediate value (average value) of the electric potentials of the bit lines before the short-circuit.
If the first memory cell, second memory cell, first dummy memory cell, and second dummy memory cell are formed in almost the same size, the electric potential of the short-circuited second and fourth bit lines coincides with an intermediate value (average value) of the electric potential of the first bit line (or the third bit line) at the time when the stored information xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is read out from the first memory cell (or the second memory cell) and the electric potential of the first bit line (or the third bit line) at the time when the stored information xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is read out from the first memory cell (or the second memory cell).
After the short-circuited second and fourth bit lines were released, if the electric potential of the second bit line (second terminal) and the electric potential of the first bit line (first terminal) which was changed by reading out the stored information from the first memory cell are amplified by the first sense amplifier, the stored information in the first memory cell is accurately outputted to the outside. Similarly, if the electric potential of the fourth bit line (fourth terminal) and the electric potential of the third bit line (third terminal) which was changed by reading out the stored information from the second memory cell are amplified by the second sense amplifier, the stored information in the second memory cell is accurately outputted to the outside. In this case, the electric potentials at the second and fourth terminals become the reference potential.
According to the invention, the first and third bit lines belong to the first area and the second and fourth bit lines belong to the second area which does not overlap with the first area. According to the above construction, a situation such that another bit line is arranged between the first and third bit lines and another bit line is arranged between the second and fourth bit lines is prevented. Therefore, the first and second short-circuit means for short-circuiting those bit lines can be also easily arranged.
The semiconductor memory can also further have: a third dummy memory cell which is connected to the first bit line and has a ferroelectric capacitor polarized to a third direction; a third memory cell which is connected to the second bit line and has a ferroelectric capacitor; a fourth dummy memory cell which is connected to the third bit line and has a ferroelectric capacitor polarized to a fourth direction opposite to the third direction; a fourth memory cell which is connected to the fourth bit line and has a ferroelectric capacitor; and a second short-circuit means which can short-circuit the first and third bit lines. According to the above construction, the stored information can be read out from the first and second memory cells at high precision and the stored information can be also read out from the third and fourth memory cells at high precision. In this case, the third and fourth dummy memory cells function as a generating source of the reference potential.
According to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a driving method of a semiconductor memory, comprising: a first step of reading out information stored in a first memory cell and inducing a first electric potential onto a first bit line; a second step of reading out information stored in a first dummy memory cell having a ferroelectric capacitor polarized to a first direction and inducing a second electric potential onto a second bit line; a third step of reading out information stored in a second dummy memory cell having a ferroelectric capacitor polarized to a second direction opposite to the first direction and inducing a fourth electric potential onto a fourth bit line; a fourth step of short-circuiting the second and fourth bit lines by first short-circuit means after the third step; a fifth step of releasing the short-circuited second and fourth bit lines; and a sixth step of activating a first sense amplifier, comparing an electric potential of the first bit line with an electric potential of the second bit line and outputting an amplified voltage to each of the first and second bit lines in accordance with a result of the comparison.
By forming the first memory cell, first dummy memory cell, and second dummy memory cell in an almost same size, an electric potential of the short-circuited second and fourth bit lines coincides with an intermediate value (average value) of the electric potential of the first bit line at the time when stored information xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is read out from the first memory cell and the electric potential of the first bit line at the time when stored information xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is read out from the first memory cell. Therefore, the stored information in the first memory cell is accurately outputted to the outside.
Further, after the sixth step, it is preferable to execute: a seventh step of writing predetermined information into the first dummy memory cell so that the ferroelectric capacitor which the first dummy memory cell has is polarized to the second direction; and an eighth step of writing predetermined information into the second dummy memory cell so that the ferroelectric capacitor which the second dummy memory cell has is polarized to the first direction. By executing those steps, the polarizing direction of the ferroelectric capacitor which the first dummy memory cell has and the polarizing direction of the ferroelectric capacitor which the second dummy memory cell has are reversed from the initial states, so that the occurrence of an imprint phenomenon in the ferroelectric capacitor is prevented.
According to the third aspect of the invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory comprising: a memory cell having ferroelectric capacitors which can be connected to a first bit line through a switching device; a sense amplifier comparing an electric potential of the first bit line with a reference potential in order to read out data in the memory cell; first and second dummy memory cells having ferroelectric capacitors which can be connected to a second bit line and a third bit line through switching devices in order to apply the reference potential to the sense amplifier; and short-circuit means which short-circuits the second and third bit lines at the time of reading the data, wherein the ferroelectric capacitors of both of the dummy memory cells are mutually polarized to the opposite directions as storage information in the dummy memory cells, when the data is read out, the operation to apply the electric potentials from both of the dummy memory cells to each bit line corresponding thereto is executed in a state where both of the second and third bit lines are mutually electrically shut off, and thereafter, an intermediate value of both electric potentials of both of the second and third bit lines which is obtained by the short-circuit of both of the second and third bit lines by the short-circuit means is supplied as a reference potential to the sense amplifier.
Preferably, each time the data is read out, the polarizing directions of the ferroelectric capacitors of both of the dummy memory cells are sequentially reversed to the opposite directions.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory comprising: a memory cell having ferroelectric capacitor which can be connected to a first bit line through a switching device; a sense amplifier comparing an electric potential of the first bit line with a reference potential in order to read out data in the memory cell; first and second dummy memory cells having ferroelectric capacitors which can be connected to a second bit line and a third bit line through switching devices in order to apply the reference potential to the sense amplifier; and short-circuit means which short-circuits the second and third bit lines at the time of reading the data, wherein the ferroelectric capacitors of both of the dummy memory cells are mutually polarized to the opposite directions as storage information in the dummy memory cells, and each time the data is read out, the polarizing directions of the ferroelectric capacitors of both of the dummy memory cells are sequentially reversed to the opposite directions.
Preferably, an intermediate value of both electric potentials of the bit lines which are applied from the ferroelectric capacitors of both of the dummy memory cells to each of the bit lines corresponding thereto is supplied as a reference potential to the sense amplifier.
For example, the operation to apply the electric potentials from both of the dummy memory cells to each bit line corresponding thereto is executed in a state where both of the second and third bit lines are mutually electrically shut off, and thereafter, an intermediate value of both electric potentials of both of the second and third bit lines which is obtained by the short-circuit of both of the second and third bit lines by the short-circuit means is supplied as a reference potential to the sense amplifier.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Semiconductor memory and its driving method


An elevator group control apparatus to control an elevator system in which an upper car and a lower car serve in a single shaft and go up and down independently. If a new destination call is registered, a car travel range calculator provisionally assigns a car to the new destination call and calculates the travel range of the provisionally assigned car and the travel range of the other car in the same shaft. Based on the calculated travel ranges, an assignment candidate selector selects or rejects the car as a candidate for assignment to the new destination call. Later, several evaluation index values are calculated for each of the selected candidate cars. By comprehensively evaluating these calculated evaluation index values, a determination is made as to which car is to be assigned to the new destination call.

To control a bank of elevators, a group control apparatus is typically used to efficiently run these elevators. In some elevator systems, a plurality of cars serve in a single shaft. Different from an elevator system where only a single car serves in each shaft, such an elevator system requires its group control apparatus to not only raise the transportation efficiency but also avoid collision between them. An example of such a prior art group control apparatus is an operation control apparatus employed in a multi-car elevator system as described in Japanese Patent No. 3029168. This operation control apparatus always checks the current position of the front car and the stoppable position of the rear car and, if the stoppable position of the rear car enters a zone of a certain length assumed behind the front car, this apparatus controls to stop the rear car. Although it is therefore possible to avoid collision between the cars, the rear car must be stopped to prevent collision. In addition, since this operation control apparatus assumes application to a circulation-type elevator system including an up-only shaft and a down-only shaft, it is not possible to lift up and down each car independently, making it difficult to raise the transportation efficiency as an elevator system.
In the case of an elevator group control apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-335244, if a new destination floor is entered, the elevator group control apparatus computes the expected positional transition of a car at a desired time taken until the desired car reaches the destination floor inputted and those of the other cars in the same shaft and predicts whether the car would collide with another car before it reaches the destination floor. Based on the result of such predictions, the elevator group control apparatus determines which car is to be assigned to the new destination floor call. However, since this assignment is determined based on predictions subject to calculation errors, etc., there remains a possibility that the car assigned to the new destination floor call may collide with another car. Therefore, to avoid collision between cars, emergency stop is required. This makes it difficult to improve the operation efficiency.
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems with an elevator system having two cars capable of going up and down independently in each shaft. Control according to the present invention can reliably avoid collision between cars serving in the same shaft while efficiently operating the same bank of plural elevators.


A semiconductor memory device and a method for manufacturing the same, capable of increasing the effective cell capacitor area by virtue of steps each defined between a semiconductor substrate surface and each field oxide film formed over the semiconductor substrate. Over the semiconductor substrate, a thin film MOSFET is formed, which includes a charge storage electrode and an active region both connected with a charge storage electrode of each memory cell through a charge storage contact hole. With this structure, a second effective capacitor area is obtained, thereby enabling the capacitance to increase. Also, the semiconductor substrate is connected with a substrate of the thin film MOSFET by a substrate contact hole. Accordingly, it is possible to control the electrical characteristic of the thin film MOSFET. In spite of a decrease in cell area, a higher charge storage capacity can be also obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, the most important factor for an integration of dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) which are the memory devices having the most wide applications is to provide the charge storage capacities of memory cells.
The most important parameters for the charge storage capacities of DRAM's memory cells include surface areas of charge storage electrodes and thicknesses of dielectric films.
Conventional DRAMs comprise a memory cell circuit and a peripheral circuit with a metal oxide silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET) both formed over a semiconductor substrate. For increasing effective areas of cell capacitors, the trenched structure or the stacked structure is employed.
However, such conventional DRAMs encounter a problem of a complexity of processes due to an increase in topology and thereby a limitation on increase in topology.

Method for manufacturing a DRAM having a second effective capacitor area

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A counterfeit detection method includes electronically reading a label on a desired item in a store, transmitting an item identification code encoded in the read label to an authentication unit, receiving an indication from the authentication unit whether or not the item identification code is registered to the store and if the indication is positive, generating a certificate of authenticity for the desired item.

Every year, the retail industry loses money to the production of counterfeit designer products. Counterfeit items are often very hard to reveal, as they are copied so well it is often difficult to tell the difference between the copy and an original. Many tools and techniques have been proposed to protect against counterfeiting, including difficult to copy labels and hidden signs on the actual product. These techniques have not been extremely successful, however, because counterfeiters are extremely skillful in copying even difficult labels, and hidden signs in the product are hidden so well that they become inaccessible.
It may be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

International Business Machines Corporation


A conferencing endpoint selects a background for a conferencing system. The conferencing endpoint captures an initial series of images of a foreground object in front of a background image, and segments at least one frame of the initial series of images into the foreground object and the background image according to a first segmentation technique. The conferencing endpoint generates one or more test backgrounds and evaluates the test backgrounds according to a second segmentation technique. The conferencing endpoint selects a final background from the test backgrounds for segmenting a subsequent series of images according to the second segmentation technique.

Image segmentation is used to separate portions of captured images corresponding o different physical objects. For instance, background segmentation may be used to separate a foreground object that is placed in front of a background. Chroma keying is one common approach for background segmentation of images of people. Various colors of backgrounds (e.g., green and blue) have been used to optimize the segmentation result. However, background segmentation presents challenges when the people in the foreground look similar to what the segmentation algorithm classifies as the background. For instance, the segmentation algorithm may classify a person's torso as part of the background if the person is wearing a shirt that is a shade of green similar to a green screen background.


A measurement device intended to be immersed in water, includes a set of arms and a reference axis, the measurement device being able to be in a deployed configuration, the measurement device comprising a set of measurement units borne by arms of the set of arms and each comprising an acoustic-waves sensor, the set of measurement units being configured and arranged in such a way as to generate a torque on the measurement device about the reference axis upon a vertical translational movement of the measurement device in the deployed configuration, the measurement device comprising compensation means configured and arranged in such a way as to generate another torque on the measurement device about the reference axis during the vertical translational movement, the other torque being directed in the opposite direction to the torque and having an intensity less than twice that of the torque.

The invention relates in particular to air-launchable acoustic buoys (sonobuoys) of the type described in patent application WO2010025494. The measurement device in air-launchable buoys is a receive antenna receiving acoustic signals and comprising a network of acoustic sensors. The measurement device is able to be in a stowed configuration in which it is housed in a tubular casing until the buoy becomes immersed. The arms then extend parallel to the axis r. The arms are released and deployed when the buoy is immersed. A perspective view of one example of a measurement device 500 of a sonobuoy of the type comprising arms 502 bearing acoustic sensors 501 and a reference axis r extending substantially vertically along the longitudinal axis of a dunking line 503 is depicted in FIG. 1. The sensors 501 each take the form of a plate that is inclined with respect to the axis r because of the need to house the arms 502 and the sensors 501 in a cylindrical tubular casing 504 of axis r prior to immersion, as depicted in FIG. 2. The arms 502 are inscribed inside the interior cylinder delimited by the casing 504 and in an annulus centered on the axis r and occupied by the arms 502.
Now, because of their inclination, the acoustic sensors generate a torque on the measurement device 500 about the axis r of the, substantially vertical, dunking line, when the measurement device 500 effects a translational movement along a vertical axis. The direction of the rotation brought about by a vertical translational movement of the measurement device 500 in the upward direction is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1.
This rotation of the measurement device has the effect of impairing its performance. On the one hand, the flow of water over the acoustic sensors disrupts their hydroacoustic performance. On the other hand, the rotational movement of the acoustic sensors makes it difficult to determine their positions about the axis of the dunking line with precision and this has an unfavorable impact on the precision of the measurements of the receive antenna, and notably on the precision of the position of targets detected in a terrestrial frame of reference.
One solution for improving the positional accuracy is to equip the buoy with a compass capable of providing sufficiently accurate positioning data even in the presence of the rotation brought about by the arrangement of the sensors. However, that increases the cost of the compass at least tenfold. Furthermore, that solution does not improve the hydroacoustic performance of the hydrophones which are still subjected to the flow of the water, thereby limiting the performance of the buoy.
An alternative solution is to equip the buoy with a tarpaulin that deploys between the sensors as the arms deploy. This tarpaulin, which increases the vertical drag of the measurement device, has the purpose of limiting the vertical movements of the sensors. The drag of the tarpaulin greatly limits vertical movements. However, it may be desirable to change the depth of the hydrophones at a sufficient speed notably in order to take measurements at various depths. Furthermore, this solution is truly effective only with lightweight antennas and is bulky and expensive.
The uncontrolled vertical movements of the measurement device are chiefly caused by the swell, namely by a vertical movement of a body exhibiting positive buoyancy (referred to hereinafter as a buoyant body) positioned above the measurement device and connected to that device by the dunking line. The movements of the buoyant body as a result of the swell are transmitted to the measurement device via the dunking line. One solution is to limit the vertical movements of the measurement device by making part of the dunking line between the buoyant body and the measurement device in the form of a damping spring which dissociates the vertical movements of the buoyant body from those of the measurement device. The movements due to the swell have an amplitude of the order of 5 meters on either side of an equilibrium position. Now, when the weight of the immersed part of the buoy is great, it may prove complicated, if not to say impossible, to find a spring capable of exhibiting variations of elongation of 5 m on each side of an equilibrium position in order to afford this dissociation, while at the same time exhibiting drag greater than the weight of the immersed part of the buoy. In other words, in order for that solution to be effective, the forces associated with the movement of the swell need to be greater than the forces present in the damping spring under static conditions. As a consequence, in order for that solution to work, the buoy needs to be lightweight and exhibit significant drag. Furthermore, choosing that solution entails replacing a long length of cable of the dunking line with a damping spring which is expensive and bulky.

Measuring device intended to be immersed


A display device includes a plurality of pixels each including a mechanical shutter. The display device electrically controls the position of the mechanical shutter to provide image display. Each of the pixels includes a pixel circuit for electrically controlling the position of the mechanical shutter. The pixel circuit includes a first control electrode and a second control electrode provided as a pair with respect to the mechanical shutter; a first mean for applying a prescribed control voltage to the first control electrode and the second control electrode to put the mechanical shutter and the first control electrode or the second control electrode into contact with each other; and a second mean for, in a state where the mechanical shutter is at a stop, decreasing a potential difference between the mechanical shutter and the first control electrode or the second control electrode which is in contact with the mechanical shutter.

A method of using an image display device for electrically controlling the position of a mechanical shutter to provide image display (hereinafter, referred to as a "movable shutter-type image display device") is described in US 2008/0174532.
FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing a pixel circuit of a conventional movable shutter-type image display device.
Hereinafter, the conventional movable shutter-type image display device will be described with reference to FIG. 16.
Each pixel circuit 213 includes a signal line 206. The signal line 206 and a signal storage capacitance 204 are connected to each other by a signal transfer switch 205.
The signal storage capacitance 204 is also connected to a gate of an n-type MOS transistor 203 for shutter negative voltage write. A drain of the n-type MOS transistor 203 for shutter negative voltage write is connected to a drain of a p-type MOS transistor 202 for shutter positive voltage write via a cascode n-type MOS transistor 216 and a cascode p-type MOS transistor 215.
Each pixel includes a dual actuator shutter assembly 201 connected to a shutter voltage line 211. One of two control electrodes of the dual actuator shutter assembly 201 is connected to the drain of the n-type MOS transistor 203 for shutter negative voltage write via the cascode n-type MOS transistor 216. The other control electrode is connected to a control electrode voltage line 209.
The other end of the signal storage capacitance 204 is connected to the shutter voltage line 211. A source of the n-type MOS transistor 203 for shutter negative voltage write is connected to an nMOS source voltage line 212 for shutter negative voltage write.
A gate and the drain of the p-type MOS transistor 202 for shutter positive voltage write are respectively connected to a pMOS gate voltage line 207 for shutter positive voltage write and a positive voltage line 208. A gate of the cascode n-type MOS transistor 216 and a gate of the cascode p-type MOS transistor 215 are connected to a cascode gate voltage line 217. A gate of the signal transfer switch 205 is connected to a scanning line 210.
The dual actuator shutter assembly 201 is provided to face an opening in a light blocking surface. This image display device includes a plurality of such pixel circuits 213 arrayed in a matrix.
Now, an operation of the conventional movable shutter-type image display device will be described.
An image signal voltage written to the signal line 206 is stored on the signal storage capacitance 204 via the signal transfer switch 205 by scanning the scanning lines 210 sequentially.
Then, after the scanning operation for writing an image signal voltage on the signal storage capacitances 204 of all the pixels is finished, each pixel performs amplified write of an image signal to one of the control electrodes of the dual actuator shutter assembly 201, based on the written image signal voltage. Namely, in all the pixels, the pMOS gate voltage line 207 for shutter positive voltage write is put into a low voltage state for a prescribed time period, so that the p-type MOS transistor 202 for shutter positive voltage write is put into an ON state for this period. Thus, one of the control electrodes of the dual actuator shutter assembly 201 is precharged with a prescribed positive voltage, which has been applied to the positive voltage line 208.
Next, the nMOS source voltage line 212 for shutter negative voltage write is put into a low voltage state for a prescribed time period. For this period, only in a pixel which includes the signal storage capacitance 204 having a high voltage as an image signal voltage written therein, the n-type MOS transistor 203 for shutter negative voltage write is put into an ON state. As a result, the voltage of one of the control electrodes of the dual actuator shutter assembly 201 is re-rewritten with a prescribed low voltage applied to the nMOS source voltage line 212 for shutter negative voltage write.
In a pixel which includes the signal storage capacitance 204 having a low voltage as an image signal voltage written therein, the n-type MOS transistor 203 for shutter negative voltage write is kept in an OFF state for the above-mentioned period. Therefore, the voltage of one of the control electrodes of the dual actuator shutter assembly 201 is kept in the state of being precharged at the prescribed positive voltage.
In this manner, amplified write of an image signal is performed on one of the control electrodes of the dual actuator shutter assembly 201. In parallel with this, a voltage applied to the control electrode voltage line 209 is controlled, so that the dual actuator shutter assembly 201 can be electrostatically operated to be opened or closed. The opening provided in the light blocking surface of the dual actuator shutter assembly 201 is opened or closed in this manner, so that the amount of transmitted light is controlled. Thus, the image display device can display an image corresponding to the written image signal voltage on the pixel matrix.
In the above-described operation, the cascode n-type MOS transistor 216 and the cascode p-type MOS transistor 215 are provided in order to protect the p-type MOS transistor 202 for shutter positive voltage write and the n-type MOS transistor 203 for shutter negative voltage write against write of a high drain voltage which may spoil the reliability life thereof.
It was found that in a movable shutter-type image display device, a control fault of a mechanical shutter which reduces the life of the device is caused by an adhesive force caused between the shutter electrode and the control electrode.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 provides schematic views of a shutter electrode 20 and a control electrode 21 provided in each of pixels in a movable shutter-type image display device. An insulating film 50 of alumina or silicon nitride is provided around the electrodes.
FIG. 6(a) shows that the shutter electrode 20 is electrostatically attracted to the control electrode 21. A voltage of, for example, 25V is applied between the electrodes. At this point, a prescribed electric field is generated in the insulating film 50 located between the electrodes, and thus a leak current is generated due to Poole-Frankel or Fowler-Nordheim injection current.
Which of the current injection mechanisms mainly acts is determined by the quality of the film, electric field, temperature or the like. For example, in the case where the shutter electrode 20 is supplied with a negative voltage and the control electrode 21 is supplied with a positive voltage, the generated leak current is defined as electron injection directed from the shutter electrode 20 toward the control electrode 21. It should be noted that the insulating film 50 located between the electrodes has a contact interface and a great number of electron trap levels are existent around the contact interface.
Electrons released from the insulating film 50 on the shutter electrode 20 side are concentrated in tiny convexed portions on the insulating film, and therefore the influence of the electron trap is small. By contrast, on the control electrode 21 side, injected electrons are dispersed in a large area of the interface of the insulating film 50, and therefore a great number of electrons are trapped at the electron trap levels. This is shown in FIG. 6(b).
FIG. 6(c) shows a state where no voltage is applied between the electrodes after the state of FIG. 6(b). Even when there is no voltage applied anymore, electrons, once trapped, stay at the interface of the insulating film 50 for a relatively long period. Even when a negative electrode is kept applied to the shutter electrode 20 and a positive electrode is kept applied to the control electrode 21 in order to close the electrodes, the residual charges decrease the potential of the positive electrode. As a result, the control on the shutter performed by use of electrostatic attraction is destabilized. As a result, the life of the mechanical shutter or the life of the display device may be reduced.
The present invention for solving these problems of the conventional art has an object of providing a technology capable of, in a movable shutter-type image display device, significantly decreasing the amount of trapped electrons (charges) caused by a leak current to alleviate the control fault of the mechanical shutter and thus to significantly extend the life of the display.
The foregoing and the other objects and novel features of the present invention will be made clear by the description in this specification and the attached drawings.

Pixel circuits and methods for displaying an image on a display device


Described herein are novel cerebroside compounds, designated as Turbostatin 1, Turbostatin 2, Turbostatin 3, and Turbostatin 4. These compounds were extracted and isolated from the marine mollusk Turbo stenogyrus, and their structures elucidated. The new compounds exhibit significant cancer cell growth inhibition activity against a variety of murine and human cancer cell lines, and as such appear will be useful in the treatment of various forms of neoplastic disease.

Topshells of the marine phylum Mollusca are members of the gastropod family Trochidae and are best known for use of some species in the manufacture of pearl ornaments and as a seafood in the Caribbean and Central America. Since topshells are primarily algae feeders, it is not surprising that one species, Turbo pica has been reported to contain toxic tissue (2). In 1968, one or more of the inventors found the snail component from 0.5 kg of T. stenogyrus to give a 2-propanol extract which displayed strong activity (T/C at 400 mg/kg) against the murine P388 lymphocytic leukemia (in vivo) (References 3,4). In 1971 they proceeded with the 2-propanol extract from 22.7 kg of T. stenogyrus, and with separation techniques then available, isolated taurine as one of the anticancer constituents (Ref. 4). Evaluation of taurine using P388 in vivo at dos levels from 4.0 to 800 mg/kg led to T/C values that never exceeded 123 (i.e., 23% increase in median survival time). Furthermore, taurine was found inactive against the in vivo L-1210 lymphoid leukemia and human epidermoid carcinoma of the nasopharynx (KB) cell line.
Using recent bioassay and chemical separation techniques, the inventors have isolated and elucidated the structure of four specific compounds, said compounds being cancer cell growth inhibitory glycosphingolipids. Thus, the present invention involves the discovery of pure forms of certain compounds from extracts of T. stenogyrus.

Isolation and structure of turbostatins 1-4

Arizona Board of Regents, a body corporate of the State of Arizona, Acting for and on Behalf of Arizona State University


A method of generating a layout for a semiconductor device includes the following step. A first layout having a first well region and second well regions is received. Mandrel blocking regions is defined in the first layout. First mandrels are generated outside of the mandrel blocking regions. Active structures are generated to overlap with the first mandrels in the second well region, and a width of the active structures in the second well region is adjusted. Second mandrels are generated in the first well region on two opposite sides of the first mandrels. Active structures are generated to overlap with the second mandrel in the first well region, and a width of the active structures in the first well region is adjusted. A second layout is generated based on the active structures located in the first well region and the second well regions.

Static random access memory (SRAM) has been widely used as a representative memory for logic integrated circuits. This is because SRAM array operates fast as logic circuits operate, and consumes a significantly low power at standby mode. In general, a layout topology of a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) SRAM cell is different from a layout topology of a nanosheet SRAM cell. Different design rules are needed to meet the requirements of these different SRAM layouts.

Apparatus and method of generating a layout for a semiconductor device

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Process for the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) and minor sulfur compoundsxe2x80x94mainly hydrogen sulfide (H2S)xe2x80x94from a sour gas mixture, such as natural gas, iron ore reduction gas, etc. The process uses a continuous absorption process with an alkaline aqueous liquid mixture containing 15-40% by weight of equivalent K2CO3 and is conducted at a temperature of about 150 degrees F. to 300 degrees F. The H2S is removed from the sour gas as elemental sulfur. A high concentration (at least 10 to 1 molar ratio) of penta-valent vanadium (V+5) to H2S is maintained at a high temperature (150 to 300 degrees F.) to help minimize thiosulfate formation, raise the absorption temperature, and increase the speed of conversion of H2S to elemental sulfur. CO2 is stripped from the aqueous alkaline solution and vented directly into the atmosphere since the sulfur that usually contaminates the CO2 was removed earlier in the process as elemental sulfur.

With an increasing concern over the pollution in the atmosphere, there is a great burden placed on industry to produce environmentally safe products and to do so in an environmentally safe manner. An area that has been of particular concern is the release of sulfur and sulfur compounds into the atmosphere during the refining of petroleum, the sweetening of natural gas, the processing of ore, the destructive distillation of coal, and other processes which produce sulfur containing gases.
The presence of significant quantities of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in various xe2x80x9csourxe2x80x9d industrial gaseous streams poses a persistent problem. Although there are various procedures that have been developed to remove and recover these contaminants, these procedures are deficient in some way or another. For example, one process that has been developed utilizes aqueous alkaline solutions to absorb H2S from a gas stream and to convert the absorbed H2S to elementary. sulfur. Generally, this type of a process utilizes an aqueous alkaline solution containing vanadium ions and anthraquinone disulfonate, i.e., acid (ADA). This particular type of process, however, only works with dilute aqueous solutions and low H2S loading. A dilute aqueous solution is required because when higher concentrations are used, sufficient levels of vanadium that oxidize the sulfur compounds can not be maintained in solution. Low concentrations, however, result in high circulation rates, large capital investments, and higher production costs. In addition, a dilute aqueous alkaline solution is not capable of CO2 removal.
Another problem associated with these processes is the breakdown and disposal of the ADA, an additive used in this type of process. The breakdown and disposal of this compound and compounds similar to it is difficult and expensive. Thus, adding ADA and/or ADA-like compounds actually increase the cost associated with this type of process.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved process to control the removal of H2S and C02 from various xe2x80x9csourxe2x80x9d gases in an economical and environmentally safe way. The improved process should be capable of removing H2S and CO2 with solutions having adequate H2S loads without using harmful additives like ADA or ADA-like compounds. The present invention is directed to such an improved process.
The present invention relates to a process for the removal of minor sulfur compoundsxe2x80x94mainly H2S and CO2 from a gaseous mixture that contains the same. Examples of a gaseous mixture include natural gas, iron ore reduction gas, etc. The process contacts a sour gas mixture with an aqueous alkaline solution comprising an oxidizing agent in a 10 to 1 molar ratio of an oxidizing agent to H2S gas. The oxidizing agent is contacted with the gaseous mixture at a temperature of about 150 degrees F. to about 300 degrees F. so that the gaseous mixture is absorbed into the aqueous alkaline solution.
Once absorbed, H2S is oxidized by vanadium ions present in the aqueous alkaline solution into elementary sulfur. The elementary sulfur is removed from the aqueous mixture to produce an aqueous alkaline solution having less sulfur than the initial gaseous mixture absorbed into the aqueous alkaline solution. After H2S is removed from the aqueous alkaline solution as elementary sulfur, CO2 is stripped from the aqueous alkaline solution to produce an aqueous alkaline solution containing less H2S and less CO2 than the initial gaseous mixture absorbed into the aqueous alkaline solution.
The aqueous alkaline solution used in the process described above comprises about 15% to about 40% by weight of K2CO3, up to about 10% by weight of V2O5, and up to about 10% by weight of equivalent H3BO3 The pH of the aqueous alkaline solution is buffered at a pH below 10 and the pressure is maintained above atmospheric pressure. The pressure and temperature ranges maintained keep a more concentrated alkaline solution and, therefore, help to maintain the tetravalent vanadium ions from V2O5, above 65% of the total vanadium ions in the aqueous solution. This high percentage of tetravalent vanadium ions facilitates regeneration of spent V+5 and, thus complete oxidization of the sulfur compounds in the aqueous gaseous mixture without the use of additives like ADA and/or ADA-like compounds.

Methods for removing sulfur containing compounds and carbon dioxide from gas mixtures


An approach is provided to verify a network address. In the approach, a network address is received from a domain name service (DNS) based on a requested uniform resource locator (URL) that corresponds to a requested domain. A set of one or more network addresses previously established as corresponding to the requested domain is retrieved from a data store accessible from the information handling system. The information handling system is automatically connected to the network address in response to the received network address matching one of the set of one or more retrieved network addresses.

When a user starts an encrypted connection to a website, the user is traditionally asked to trust two independent sources. First, the user places trust in the Certification Authority (CA), which signs the certificate of the website as being genuine. Second, the user places trust in the Internet protocol (IP) address obtained from the Domain Name System (DNS) that translates the domain name to the IP address and verifies that the IP address belongs to the website to which the user wishes to connect. The problem is that both of these sources can be compromised. Past attacks against Certification Authorities have shown that it is possible to steal a certificate, which is valid for a domain name, and which does not belong to the owner of the certificate. Ownership of a certificate alone is useless to the attacker until he is able to send the user to an alternate website that is controlled by the attacker. To reroute the user's request, the attacker manipulates the DNS response. Various methods of manipulating DNS responses include (1) DNS cache poisoning, (2) direct manipulation of the DNS records, and (3) manipulation of the local DNS storage on client side. In such an attack scenario, a user requests a website by entering a domain name. The user gets a fake DNS response and is consequently redirect to a different server that is controlled by the attacker. Since the fake server has a valid certificate, no attack indication is provided to the user. The user may then unwittingly provide sensitive or confidential information, such as bank account numbers, passwords, etc. since the user does not realize he is being attacked.

Providing a domain to IP address reputation service


A method for mapping a motion of a first object within a first motion path defined by a path planner based on a second motion path of a second object. The method includes creating the first motion path for the first object using the path planner, initializing a start position of the first object within the first motion path, determining a value for an initial condition for each segment of a plurality of segments in the first motion path created by the path planner, and calculating an elapsed time between a current sample call time to the path planner and a last sample call time to the path planner. If the calculated elapsed time is one of greater than and less than a sample period, a current location of the second object in the second motion path is determined utilizing the calculated elapsed time, an expired time within a first segment of the plurality if segments between a start time of the first segment and the current sample call time is calculated, and an output command is generated from the path planner. Execution of the generated output command alters the first motion path.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to a system and method for path planning and, more particularly, to a system and method for mapping a motion of an object within a motion path defined by a path planner.
Conventional motion control systems include a motion controller that provides a signal to a motor driver that activates a motor to turn. As a feedback device, a pulse encoder creates a discrete pulse for every unit of motion that occurs and transmits the pulse back to the motion controller. This is referred to as a motion event. Such conventional motion control systems accumulate motion events only over a fixed sample period. Therefore, conventional motion events are only identified as occurring over a fixed sample period.
A path planner may be required to run periodically, such as every 1 millisecond (ms), in order to accumulate motion events over one or more fixed sample periods (e.g., if the motion system is accumulating pulses over a sample period of 1 ms). An additional task of the motion control system that requires more than 1 ms to plan a path for a sample period may starve the path planner of computation. For example, a computer in a car may be interfacing with a Global Position System (GPS) as well as generating a path for the car via a path planner. Each of the GPS and the path planner are time critical tasks that are required to run every 1 ms for the motion control system to work correctly. However, if, for example, the GPS requires more than 1 ms to calculate coordinates for a sample period, the path planner, which is required to run every 1 ms, is then starved of computation. Thus, the path planner cannot run properly because the path planner does not have an understanding of a sample period not occurring on a 1 ms interval and the process must be aborted as the motion control system can no longer determine a proper location.


An improved device for signaling traffic on roadways including a fixed display surface with one or more additional display surfaces rotatably attached, such that different indicia can be displayed to motorists. A rotation grip allows an operator to manually change the position of the additional display surfaces. This manual adjustment ensures the operator is displaying the appropriate messages not only to oncoming traffic but also to traffic approaching from the rear.

Under certain road conditions, such as on undivided two-way roads, a flagman uses a STOP/SLOW sign (paddle) to control traffic.
One side of the paddle displays a "STOP" message, and the other side of the paddle displays a "SLOW" message. When controlled traffic is shown the "STOP" side of the paddle, opposing traffic is shown the "SLOW" side of the paddle. This is, in most cases, not only acceptable, but also desirable. In some cases, a flagman wants to control traffic in one direction only. The flagman faces oncoming traffic and displays the paddle, regulating oncoming traffic without intending to regulate traffic traveling in the opposite direction (opposing traffic). However, opposing traffic can be unintentionally regulated because the STOP/SLOW paddle is in full view from both directions. When controlled traffic is shown the "SLOW" side of the paddle, an unintentional and potentially dangerous consequence is that opposing traffic is shown the "STOP" side of the paddle. While the flagman does not intend to convey a "STOP" message to opposing traffic, the message is conveyed. A motorist may see the "STOP" sign and stop, creating the potential for rear-end collisions and chain reaction pile-ups.
An illustration is the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) Traffic Control Plan (TCP) TTP TCP-2-04 for 2 Lane, Undivided with Shoulders scenarios. While performing motorist surveys using this TCP, vehicles must be brought to a full stop to allow surveys to take place. When oncoming vehicles are shown the "SLOW" sign, opposing traffic can clearly see the backside of the STOP/SLOW paddle displaying a "STOP" sign.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the Federal Highway Administration's guide to traffic signs, barriers, construction zone traffic control plans, and similar items. The specifications for STOP/SLOW paddles are in Chapter 6, Section 6E. These specifications can be found at the following URL:
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003/part6/part6e.htm
These federal government specifications provide guidance for flaggers, including apparel, signaling devices like STOP/SLOW paddles, flagger procedures, and flagger stations. However, the MUTCD does not address the issue of motorists unintentionally being shown a "STOP" message.
Therefore, there is a need for a signaling device which allows a flagman to effectively control the messages displayed to both directions of traffic.