Method and apparatus for combining high data rate traffic and low data rate traffic on a common transmission medium while maximizing efficient use of available spectrum. Since spectrum is an economically valuable resource and transport of data generates revenue, the present invention directly leads to more profitable network operation. The disclosed systems are applicable to both wired and wireless transmission media. In one embodiment, a bandwidth reservation scheme provides that data rate may be varied so that when a particular data communication device is allocated a frame, it is also assigned a data rate for use in that frame. Because bandwidth usage varies with data rate, the division of available spectrum into channels for use by individual data communication devices may also vary among frames.

The present invention relates to digital communication and more particularly to protocols for communicating data originating from sources having disparate data rates over a shared medium.
Trends in digital communication point toward a common transmission medium providing both high data rate services such as digital video and low data rate services such as voice. Internet access is inherently a mixed service. Upstream requests for information typically include minimal data while downstream traffic may include graphics or even live video.
Specific examples of such a common transmission medium include a wireless local loop (WLL) that substitutes for the local telephone loop and provides additional high data rate services such as video and Internet access. Another example is a CATV network that has been updated to provide high data rate services and voice service.
A key objective is maximizing efficiency in use of bandwidth. The available bandwidth is shared among multiple data communication devices. When a data communication device is allocated all or part of the available bandwidth, it should make efficient use of its allocation. Depending on the protocols and modulation systems used, a certain percentage of the data is devoted to network operation rather than customer service. This is referred to as overhead. Consider a network where packets of information are communicated in successive frames and:
dp=Payload data (bits)—the number of payload bits contained in a frame,
r=Data rate (bits/sec), proportional to spectrum used (Hz). Data rate refers to the rate at which information is communicated through the wireless medium. Information rate roughly represents the rate of generation of payload data.
tf=Frame time (sec)—the duration of the smallest unit of time that may be allocated to a data communication device for transmission on the shared medium. Note that a packet of like data, such as voice or data, may be transmitted in a single frame or may be divided among many frames.
tg=Overhead time (sec), including guard time, training, and synchronization that is required for each frame.
The system efficiency associated with the overhead given by tg is
  eff  =                              d          p                          r                                (                                          t                g                            +                              t                f                                      )                              ·      This                              value                          of                          efficiency                          reaches                          100                          %                                                                  when                          the                          overhead  time is zero and the frame time equals the payload data divided by the data rate (when the frame time is exactly the time required to transmit the payload data at the transmission rate).
The network designer is left free to vary frame time to maximize efficiency. However, it is difficult to reconcile the needs of different traffic types. Consider choosing one frame time to accommodate both low information rate voice traffic and high information rate data traffic. Due to transmission latency requirements, voice traffic requires frequent frame transmissions to reduce latency. Hence, voice requires a short frame time. Furthermore, the amount of data to be sent in these frames is small since voice is low information rate. If long frames are sent, voice traffic is insufficient to fill each frame, resulting in wasted bandwidth. However, sending small frames incurs a different type of bandwidth loss. The fixed overhead associated with each frame substantially reduces spectral efficiency. This becomes particularly significant for high information rate traffic, where data must be divided over many frames instead of being efficiently transmitted in long frames. This conflict can be described in an example.
Consider choosing a frame time to efficiently transmit both a 64-byte voice packet and a 1000-byte data packet. Assume an overhead time of 3 us (tg=3 us), a data rate of 30 Mbits/sec, and two candidate frame times of 17 us and 267 us. For a frame time of 17 us, the efficiency for a 64-byte packet of data is,
      eff    64    =                    d        p                    r                          (                                    t              g                        +                          t              f                                )                      =                  512                  30          ×                      10            6                                          (                                          (                                  3                  +                  17                                )                            ×                              10                                  -                  6                                                      )                              =                        17                      3            +            17                          =                  85                                                                          %            .
Since the frame time is exactly the amount of time required to transmit 64 bytes at a 30 Mbit/sec rate, this is the maximum efficiency at this data rate. A 1000-byte packet would be spread among 64-byte transmission opportunities corresponding to individual frames. Hence the efficiency for a 1000 byte packet is approximately the same as for the 64-byte packet. (To be precise, the efficiency is slightly less than 85% since the final frame is not fully utilized.)
Increasing the frame time can increase this efficiency by reducing the overhead. For example, a frame time of 267 us results in close to 99% efficiency for a 1000 byte packet,
      eff    1000    =                    d        p                    r                          (                                    t              g                        +                          t              f                                )                      =                  8000                  30          ×                      10            6                                          (                                          (                                  3                  +                  267                                )                            ×                              10                                  -                  6                                                      )                              =                        267                      3            +            267                          =                  99                                                                          %            .
Unfortunately, this large frame time causes severe inefficiency for the 64-byte packet because a large portion of the frame is left unutilized. Here it is assumed that because of latency requirements, it is not feasible to collect multiple 64-byte packets to fill a frame. For example, it would take a 64 kbps voice source over 125 ms to fill a 1000-byte frame, which results in intolerable latency. Allowing 8 ms of latency for the collection of one 64-byte packet, the long frame capable of support6ing 1000 bytes which carries 64-byte packet has very poor efficiency:
      eff    64    =                    d        p                    r                          (                                    t              g                        +                          t              f                                )                      =                  512                  30          ×                      10            6                                          (                                          (                                  3                  +                  267                                )                            ×                              10                                  -                  6                                                      )                              =                        17                      3            +            267                          =                  6                                                                          %            .
No single choice of frame time leads to efficient use of the spectrum for both high data rate and low data rate traffic.

MAC protocol employing multiple data rates


An apparatus and method to discriminate cardiac events by sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations having associated refractory periods thereafter. A fast ventricular rate is detected in response to the sensed ventricular depolarizations. Responsive to detecting the fast ventricular rate, at least one stimulus pulse is delivered to atrial tissue within the associated refractory period of the ventricle but outside of an associated refractory period of the stimulated atrial tissue. A ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse is determined, and the cardiac event is discriminated based on the ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse.

Clinical evidence has shown that implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reduce mortality, which has led to a significant increase in their use. Patients implanted with an ICD, however, potentially face the problem of defibrillator shocks delivered unnecessarily for rhythms other than ventricular fibrillation or sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). Unnecessary ICD shocks cause undue pain, psychological disturbance and can potentially induce more serious arrhythmias in some patients. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), including atrial fibrillation, atrial tachycardia and sinus tachycardia, are a common cause of unnecessary ICD shocks. The actual cause in a given case can often be ascertained by analysis of data recorded by the ICD. ICD shocks due to SVT being detected as VF or VT can account for some shocks delivered to ICD-implanted patients. Therefore, appropriately distinguishing SVT from VT could lead to a reduction in unnecessary ICD shocks being delivered, without decreasing ICD efficacy.

Using focal myocardial stimulation to distinguish supraventricular tachycardia from ventricular tachycardia


A thermal barrier coating system and a method for forming the coating system on an article designed for use in a hostile thermal environment, such as superalloy turbine, combustor and augmentor components of a gas turbine engine. The coating system includes a carburized zone at the surface of a component on which a thermal barrier coating system is to be formed. An aluminum-rich bond coat is then formed on the carburized surface, followed by oxidation of the bond coat to form an aluminum oxide layer. A thermal insulating ceramic layer is then formed on the oxide layer, so as to be chemically bonded thereto. According to the invention, appropriately carburizing the surface of a component serves to form carbides that tie up refractory metals present in the underlying superalloy substrate of the component, and thereby prevents the detrimental effects of these metals on the bond coat-oxide layer interface. The benefit of the carburized zone is particularly notable where the component is a superalloy containing relatively high levels of one or more refractory metals, such as tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, titanium, chromium, hafnium and zirconium.

Higher operating temperatures for gas turbine engines are continuously sought in order to increase their efficiency. However, as operating temperatures increase, the high temperature durability of the components of the engine must correspondingly increase. Significant advances in high temperature capabilities have been achieved through the formulation of nickel and cobalt-base superalloys, though such alloys alone often do not retain adequate mechanical properties for components located in certain sections of a gas turbine engine, such as the turbine, combustor and augmentor. A common solution is to thermally insulate such components in order to minimize their service temperatures. For this purpose, thermal barrier coatings (TBC) formed on the exposed surfaces of high temperature components have found wide use.
To be effective, thermal barrier coatings must have low thermal conductivity, strongly adhere to the article, and remain adherent throughout many heating and cooling cycles. The latter requirement is particularly demanding due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion between materials having low thermal conductivity and superalloy materials typically used to form turbine engine components. Thermal barrier coating systems capable of satisfying the above requirements have generally required a metallic bond coat deposited on the component surface, followed by an adherent ceramic layer that serves to thermally insulate the component. In order to promote the adhesion of the ceramic layer to the component and inhibit oxidation of the underlying superalloy, the bond coat is typically formed from an oxidation-resistant aluminum-containing alloy such as MCrAlY (where M is iron, cobalt and/or nickel), or by an oxidation-resistant aluminum-based intermetallic such as nickel aluminide or platinum aluminide.
Various ceramic materials have been employed as the ceramic layer, particularly zirconia (ZrO.sub.2) stabilized by yttria (Y.sub.2 O.sub.3), magnesia (MgO), ceria (CeO.sub.2), scandia (Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3), or another oxide. These particular materials are widely employed in the art because they can be readily deposited by plasma spray, flame spray and vapor deposition techniques, and are reflective to infrared radiation so as to minimize the absorption of radiated heat. In order to increase the resistance of the ceramic layer to spallation when subjected to thermal cycling, the prior art has proposed ceramic layers having enhanced strain tolerance as a result of the presence of porosity, microcracks and segmentation of the ceramic layer. Thermal barrier coating systems employed in higher temperature regions of a gas turbine engine are typically deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques that yield a columnar grain structure that is able to expand without causing damaging stresses that lead to spallation.
The bond coat is also critical to promoting the spallation resistance of a thermal barrier coating system. As noted above, bond coats provide an oxidation barrier for the underlying superalloy substrate. Conventional bond coat materials contain aluminum, such as diffusion aluminides and MCrAlY alloys noted above, which enables such bond coats to be oxidized to grow a strong adherent and continuous aluminum oxide layer (alumina scale). The oxide layer chemically bonds the ceramic layer to the bond coat, and protects the bond coat and the underlying substrate from oxidation and hot corrosion.
Though bond coat materials are particularly alloyed to be oxidation-resistant, oxidation inherently occurs over time at elevated temperatures, which gradually depletes aluminum from the bond coat. In addition, aluminum is lost from the bond coat as a result of diffusion into the superalloy substrate. Eventually, the level of aluminum within the bond coat is sufficiently depleted to prevent further growth of aluminum oxide, at which time spallation may occur at the interface between the bond coat and the oxide layer. In addition to depletion of aluminum, the ability of the bond coat to form the desired aluminum oxide layer can be hampered by the diffusion of elements from the superalloy into the bond coat, such as during formation of a diffusion aluminide coating or during high temperature exposure. Oxidation of such elements within the bond coat can become favored as the aluminum within the bond coat is depleted through oxidation and interdiffusion.
From the above, it is apparent that the service life of a thermal barrier coating is dependent on the bond coat used to anchor the thermal insulating ceramic layer, which is prone to degradation over time at elevated temperatures as a result of depletion of aluminum and interdiffusion with the superalloy substrate. Once spallation of the ceramic layer has occurred, the component must be refurbished or scrapped at considerable cost. Therefore, it would be desirable if further improvements were possible for the service life of a thermal barrier coating system.

Thermal barrier coating system and method therefor


The present invention provides an apparatus and method of reporting logged measurements in a wireless communication system. User equipment receives an MDT (Minimization of Drive Tests) configuration from a base station, and logs a measurement on the basis of the MDT configuration in order to collect logged measurements. The user equipment determines whether the logged measurement needs to be reported. If it is determined that the logged measurement needs to be reported, the user equipment transmits to the base station a report indicator indicating the need for reporting of the logged measurement.

A 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) which is improved universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) is introduced as 3GPP release 8. The 3GPP LTE uses orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) in a lower link and uses single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) in an upper link. A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) having maximum four antennas is employed. Recently, a discussion on LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) which is evolved 3GPP LTE is being developed.
A minimization of driving tests (MDT) is to test by operators for coverage optimization by using a terminal instead of a vehicle. The coverage is varied according to a location of a base station, an arrangement of neighboring buildings, and a use environment of a user. Therefore, the operator needs to periodically perform a driving test, which consumes a lot of cost and resources. The MDT measures the coverage by the operator using the terminal.
The operator may draft a coverage map indicating availability of a service over an overall service area of the operator and distribution of a quality of the service by summarizing the MDT measurement received from a plurality of terminals, thereby utilizing the coverage map for operating and optimizing the network. For example, when a coverage problem of a particular area is reported from the terminal, the operator may increase transmission power of the base station which provides a service to the corresponding area to expand the coverage of a corresponding area cell.
A result of the MDT measurement is information not needed for the terminal but information used for optimizing the network. Therefore, the terminal may not learn whether the MDT measurement result is important for optimizing the network or for other purpose.
As a result, when the network does not send a command for reporting the logged measurement to the terminal or delays in sending the command, the stored logged measurement may not be reported to the network and may be lost.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method of reporting logged measurements in a wireless communication system


A light-receiving and amplifying device includes a plurality of photodiodes and amplifier circuits which receive inputs from anodes of the photodiodes. There is provided a first current mirror circuit for outputting a second current having the same magnitude as that of a first current which is a sum of currents flowing through cathodes of the photodiodes. Further provided is a second current mirror circuit which receives the second current from the first current mirror circuit and receives divided currents each having an even magnitude from the anodes of the photodiodes. An AC operation range of the light-receiving and amplifying device is widened in a simple manner at a low cost without significant dimensional increase of the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to light-receiving and amplifying devices, and more particularly to a light-receiving and amplifying device having a photodiode and an amplifier circuit to be used as a constituent part of a pickup for a magneto-optic disc player, a mini-disc player, or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to FIG. 7, a conventional light-receiving and amplifying device of the above type is provided with four photodiodes PDA, PDB, PDC, and PDD having a common cathode and four amplifier circuits AMPA, AMPB, AMPC, and AMPD which receive photocurrent signals I.sub.PDA, I.sub.PDB, I.sub.PDC, and I.sub.PDD from the anodes of the photodiodes PDA, PDB, PDC, and PDD. PDE indicates a parasitic photodiode. The amplifier circuits AMPA, AMPB, AMPC, and AMPD generate low-impedance voltage outputs V.sub.A, V.sub.B, V.sub.C, and V.sub.D. A pickup carries out signal processing operations such as a calculation operation based on the voltage outputs V.sub.A, V.sub.B, V.sub.C, and V.sub.D to regenerate the data recorded on a disk (recording medium).
The above-mentioned photodiodes PDA, PDB, PDC, and PDD are fabricated in a N-type epitaxial layer 12 provided on a P-type semiconductor substrate 10 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 (where FIG. 8 shows a pattern layout, while FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional construction). In more detail, four P-type diffusion layers 15, 16, 17, and 18 are formed on a surface of the N-type epitaxial layer 12, where the P-type diffusion layers 15, 16, 17, and 18 and the N-type epitaxial layer 12 constitutes the photodiodes PDA, PDB, PDC, and PDD. The above-mentioned N-type epitaxial layer 12 is separated from its periphery by means of a P-type isolation diffusion layer 13. It is noted that the reference numeral 11 denotes a N-type buried layer, and the reference numeral 14 denotes a N-type collector compensating diffusion layer. In the above-mentioned construction, there is the parasitic photodiode PDE between the common cathode of the photodiodes PDA, PDB, PDC, and PDD and the P-type semiconductor substrate 10 as shown in FIG. 9.
There are contained many DC light components in the input signal (representing light reflected on the disk) to the pickup. In the aforementioned conventional light-receiving and amplifying device, the photocurrent signals I.sub.PDA, I.sub.PDB, I.sub.PDC, and I.sub.PDD containing the DC components are directly input to the amplifier circuits AMPA, AMPB, AMPC, and AMPD. The above-mentioned fact leads to a problem that the device has a narrow operation range of AC components. Particularly a pickup for a portable appliance is required to operate on a low voltage of 3 V, and therefore the AC operation range is further narrowed.
As a means for solving the above-mentioned problem, there can be considered a method of removing the DC components with provision of a high-pass filter circuit between the photodiodes PDA, PDB, PDC, and PDD and the amplifier circuits AMPA, AMPB, AMPC, and AMPD to let only the AC components pass. However, a pickup for use in an audio appliance is required to operate at a relatively low disk address signal frequency of about 22 kHz. Therefore, the above-mentioned high-pass filter circuit necessitates a capacitor having a large capacitance, which results in the dimensional increase of the device. Furthermore, when the photodiodes PDA, PDB, PDC, and PDD and the amplifier circuits AMPA, AMPB, AMPC, and AMPD are integrated in an identical chip, a complicated circuit results to increase the production cost.

Light-receiving and amplyfying device capable of widening an AC operation range


A fluid dispensing apparatus is provided with at least two identically configured reservoirs, each of which may be functionally adapted to serve as the washer portion or the collecting portion of the apparatus.

The use of devices for dispensing cleaning solutions or fluids used in the washing and cleaning of machine tools and parts is well known. Such devices typically include a cleaning solution reservoir which pressurizes the cleaning solution by means of a pump. In this inventor's experience, such pumps are either air or electrically actuated and operated. The cleaning solution or fluid is discharged from the reservoir through a hose. The hose, in turn, is connected to a washing apparatus which is typically a nozzle, a spigot or a brush. The machine tools or parts can thereby be washed and cleaned by using the cleaning solution or fluid which passes through the washing apparatus.
In the experience of this inventor, disadvantages exist in the presently available systems. Among other things, such washers, for example, tend to use much more cleaning solution or fluid than is necessary to accomplish the job, require the use of a separate pressurizing device and are not readily portable. Additionally, the hazard of combining electricity and flammable cleaning solutions or fluids exists when electrically actuated and operated pumps are used.


There is provided a highly safe steam oven capable of controlling the amount of steam generated appropriately. Water dripped from a water feeder to the inside of a cooking chamber is converted into steam by a heater in the cooking chamber. The thus generated steam in the cooking chamber is discharged through a steam channel which keeps the inside of the cooking chamber connected to the outside of the steam oven. The temperature of steam passing through the steam channel is measured by a steam temperature measuring device. The amount of water fed from the water feeder is controlled in response to the measured temperature.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steam oven, more specifically, a steam oven that humidifies food during its heating so as to prevent drying of the food or steams food.
(ii) Description of the Related Art
For example, a steam oven of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,941. In this steam oven, water dripped to the inside of a cooking chamber is converted into mist by a fan, and the mist is then heated due to the high temperature inside the cooking chamber, whereby steam is generated. The inside of the cooking chamber and the outside of the oven are connected to each other by a channel. At least during generation of the steam, a valve provided near the outlet of the channel is kept closed to seal the inside of the cooking chamber. The amount of steam generated inside the cooking chamber can be controlled by adjusting the amount of water dripped to the inside of the cooking chamber, in response to the pressure inside the cooking chamber. The pressure inside the cooking chamber is relatively high. Therefore, water feeding by the channel must be conducted forcibly by a pump or the like.
In this steam oven, a pressure sensor is provided in the cooking chamber so as to control the amount of steam generated in the cooking chamber. When the pressure inside the cooking chamber measured by the pressure sensor becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, the amount of steam is increased by dripping water, while when it becomes higher than the predetermined pressure, the amount of steam is decreased by decreasing the amount of dripping water.
As is obvious from the above description, this conventional steam oven has a problem that it cannot control the amount of steam generated appropriately, because it controls the amount of steam generated in response to the pressure inside the cooking chamber. Further, the conventional oven also has a problem that it lacks safety because the cooking chamber is sealed during cooking of food and the pressure inside the cooking chamber becomes high accordingly.
The present invention has been conceived to solve the above problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a steam oven which is capable of controlling the amount of steam generated appropriately in response to the steam temperature. Another object of the present invention is to provide a steam oven which is rendered highly safe by keeping a cooking chamber connected to the outside of the oven so as to prevent the inside of the cooking chamber from being exposed to high pressure.


Video signal coding and decoding functions can generate lists of potential candidates to use in coding and decoding, for example, predictors. Video signal coding component candidate undergo operations before potential inclusion in candidate lists. The candidates are checked after being modified by the operations to see if other equal candidates are already in the candidate list. If equal candidates are not in the list, the modified candidates are added to the candidate list. If equal candidates are already in the list, the modified candidates are not added to the list. Operations that can be performed comprise rounding and clipping.

Video coding organizations strive to develop more efficient coding standards and tools. Some of these standards are High Efficiency Video Coding ISO/IEC ITU-T H.265 (HEVC), MPEG-4 Part 10, Advanced Video Coding (MPEG-4 AVC) and Joint Exploration Test Model (JEM) or H.266. Many coding tools construct lists of possible candidates for such things as motion vector prediction and intra prediction. The aim is to find the best candidate in the RDO (Rate Distortion Optimization) sense.
By ensuring the uniqueness of the candidates within these lists, it is possible to improve the performances of tools with limited size lists, by adding diversity within these lists, and/or reduce the complexity of tools with unlimited lists, for example, by removing identical candidates within these lists.
Under the aspects described herein, several embodiments for candidate list pruning are described.

Method and apparatus for candidate list pruning


An object of the present disclosure is to provide a management apparatus, a communication apparatus, a system, a method, and a program capable of providing a service that meets a targeted KPI. A management apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: KPI management means for acquiring a target Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of a service that is provided to a communication terminal by a business operator; operation state acquisition means for acquiring element data regarding a component necessary for the service, the element data indicating a feature of a control system of the service; KPI prediction means for calculating a predicted KPI which is a predicted value of the KPI of the service based on the element data; and communication performance calculation means for, when the KPI is defined so that a value becomes lower as performance becomes better, detecting the component in which the predicted KPI is equal to or greater than the target KPI.

Service providers use radio resources to provide real-time services to Internet of Things (IoT) devices from communication apparatuses such as base stations. It should be noted that the real-time service refers to a service that monitors and analyzes the state of an IoT device and the state of a user, and takes measures based on the results of the monitoring and the analysis in real time through an application or communication. The state of an IoT device is, for example, a position and a speed of a vehicle. The state of a user is, for example, the degree of arousal of a driver who is driving a vehicle. The measures include alerting a driver and controlling a vehicle. Examples of the real-time service include safe driving support, automated driving, remote control of equipment, control of entrance/exit gates, control of robots, control of drones, a video image monitoring including control of cameras, and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR). When a real-time service is provided to an IoT device, a management apparatus controls the service provided to the IoT device from a communication apparatus so that it meets a targeted Key Performance Indicator (KPI). A KPI is a quantitative indicator for measuring the quality of experience of a service. In a service using radio resources, a KPI depends on the operation environment of an IoT device.
Patent Literature 1 discloses that a network node, such as a QoE orchestrator, monitors data traffic related to a terminal device to detect a data flow related to an application session, derives resource requirement information defining a required QoE level to be provided to the terminal device regarding the application session, performs QoE measurements in order to obtain information on QoE experienced by the terminal device regarding the application session, executes, based on the QoE measurements, one or a plurality of actions in order to enforce the QoE of the application session to meet the resource requirement. Patent Literature 1 does not disclose that element data regarding a component necessary for providing a service is acquired and a predicted KPI of the service is calculated based on the element data.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a radio communication control apparatus including: a communication unit that performs radio communication; an achievement value acquisition unit that acquires an achievement value of a quality of experience, which is a quality regarding the radio communication performed by the communication unit and is a quality corresponding to a user's experience; an observation result acquisition unit that acquires an observation result including a sensing result regarding the radio communication performed by the communication unit; a target value generating unit that generates a target value which is a targeted value of the quality of experience by using the observation result; a calculation unit that calculates difference information indicating a difference between the target value and the achievement value; and a control unit that controls at least one of allocation of radio resources using the observation result and a change of a radio network topology so that the difference indicated by the difference information becomes small. Patent Literature 1 does not disclose that element data regarding a component required for providing a service is acquired and a predicted KPI of the service is calculated based on the element data.

Management apparatus, communication apparatus, system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium


A radiation device for computer or electric appliances includes a heat inhalant block under a CPU of a computer, a heat transmission block positioned next to the heat inhalant block, a bridge block, a peltier device and a cooling source block sequentially disposed on the top of the heat transmission block with a bridge block engaged therebetween, a transparent cover covering the top of the cooling source block to form a left and a right flow canals therein, an upper heat radiation module superimposed a lower heat radiation module positioned next to the heat transmission block, a fan on the top of the upper heat radiation module, a set of the heat pipes extended from the heat inhalant block to the lower heat radiation module through the heat transmission block, a pair of lateral pipes connected between the bridge block and the lower heat radiation module and a set of the cold pipes connected between the cooling source block and the upper heat radiation module.

The present invention relates to a heat radiation devices and more particularly to a radiation device for computer or electric appliances which includes the cold pipe and the peltier in cooperation with a number of heat radiation components.
The computer is comprised of small and accurate parts. The lives of the electronic parts are shorten because of the high temperature resulting from the processing of the CPU, especially the heat generating from the radiation plates and fans on the top of the CPU. Nowadays, various types of computers, such as the note-book type, mini-type or thin type computers and/or the appliances are improved to expedite the speed of processing (rotation), wherein the processing speed of the CPU over 3.2 GHZ, the 64 bit CPU or multi-core technique is the new trend, however such a new technique will cause a high temperature to damage the related components of the computer. Thus the manufactures research and improve the heat radiation, especially in the radiation fins as well as the radiation fan.

Radiation device for computer or electric appliances


A multilevel frequency-shift keying (FSK) modulator is disclosed in which the transient response for frequency transition can be easily set. The modulator is of a type in which a frequency generated by a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is changed in accordance with multilevel code and is phase-locked by a phase-locked loop (PLL). The modulator is provided with a phase-lock feedback circuit that, combined with a VCO, makes up a PLL, and includes first and second VCOs and a filter having a desired transient response characteristic. At a transient time of frequency transition due to a change of the multilevel code, the first VCO and feedback circuit makes up the PLL, and a first control voltage for the first VCO produced in the PLL is inputted as a second control voltage to the second VCO through the filter. Accordingly, the FSK signal delivered from the second VCO has a transient response characteristic depending on the characteristic of the filter, and as a result, the transient response characteristic of the FSK modulator can be set to a desired characteristic by modifying the characteristic of the filter without changing the other circuit parameters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multilevel Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) modulator, and particularly to a multilevel FSK modulator applicable to a transmitter for a paging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, the FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) format has the advantages that modulated signals transmitted according to this format are of constant envelope wave form, and consequently, there is little level fluctuation or noise, and that modulating and demodulating circuits can be easily constructed. Modulation according to the FSK format is carried out either by switching n number of oscillators corresponding to an n-level input signal, or by controlling the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) according to the control voltage signal corresponding to the input signal. In the latter case, the modulating circuit includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) in order to stabilize the frequency.
The European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) established the standards for the European Radio Message System (ERMES) as a new paging system in 1991. According to these standards, it is established that the term "symbol" is defined as
Two bits of information which are the basic unit of information on the air interface. It corresponds to one of the four modulation levels specified in subclause 9.3.1 of ETS 300 133-4 (4). [cf. Paging System: European Radio Message System (ERMES) , Part 6: Base station conformance specification, 3 Definition]; PA0 n=67 when the symbol is "10", PA0 n=65 when the symbol is "11", PA0 n=63 when the symbol is "01", and PA0 n=61 when the symbol is "00". PA0 f1=67 MHz when the symbol is "10" PA0 f1=65 MHz when the symbol is "11" PA0 f1=63 MHz when the symbol is "01" PA0 f1=61 MHz when the symbol is "00" PA0 f2=100 kHz+4687.5 Hz when the symbol is "10" PA0 f2=100 kHz+1562.5 Hz when the symbol is "11" PA0 f2=100 kHz-1562.5 Hz when the symbol is "01" PA0 f2=100 kHz-4687.5 Hz when the symbol is "00"
that four-level pulse amplitude modulated FM (4-PAM/FM) is used as the modulation format [cf. ibid. 6.2 Modulation]; and that a rise (or fall) time of 88.mu. sec for the frequency transition between two successive symbols is the standard of the transient response characteristic of the modulator [cf. ibid. 6.2.1 Symbol Transition Shaping].
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example from the prior art of a multilevel FSK modulator applicable to the above-described paging system. This modulator carries out 4-level FSK modulation in response to an input data signal D.sub.i composed of a 2-bit symbol.
The voltage-controlled oscillator 1 is controlled by a phase-locked feedback circuit made up of a programmable frequency divider 2, a phase comparator 3, a loop filter 4, and a standard oscillator 5 and generates a 4-level FSK modulated signal S1. A frequency divider 7 frequency-divides the 4-level FSK modulated signal S1 and converts it to a signal S2 having a prescribed frequency shift. A mixer 8 mixes a local signal S3 supplied from a local oscillator 9 with signal S2 and converts the signal S2 so that it has a prescribed center frequency. An output filter 10 is made up of a filter circuit having a linear-phase characteristic and a band pass characteristic that passes a desired frequency band in order to prevent generation of high frequency components due to frequency transition and eliminate unnecessary frequency components, and transmits an output signal S.sub.0.
In operation, a data converter 6 receives input data Di, sets a scale factor n corresponding to each 2-bit symbol, produces a signal Cn indicating the scale factor and delivers it to the programmable frequency divider 2. The voltage-controlled oscillator 1 changes the oscillation frequency in response to the control voltage Cv and outputs signal S1. The programmable frequency divider 2 frequency-divides the signal S1 according to the scale factor n designated by signal Cn and sends the output signals Sn to the phase comparator 3. The phase comparator 3 compares the phases of standard signal Ss generated by the standard oscillator 5 and frequency-divided signal Sn and produces, by way of the loop filter 4, a voltage corresponding to the phase difference as the control voltage Cv.
As an example, it is assumed that the range of oscillation frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator 1 is 61 MHz-67 MHz and the scale factor set by the data converter 6 is
Furthermore, by making the frequency of standard signal Ss 1 MHz, the frequency f1 of signal S1 can be controlled as follows:
In other words, a 4-level FSK signal having frequency that shifts corresponding to four symbols can be produced. In addition, the scale factor of the divider 7 is set in order to achieve a fixed frequency shift. For example, if the scale factor is 640, the frequency f2 of signal S2 is as follows:
In the above-described multilevel FSK modulator of the prior art, the 4-level FSK signals are produced by controlling, in accordance with input data Di, the scale factor to be supplied to the programmable frequency divider provided in the phase-locked loop. Accordingly, the transient response for frequency transition of the FSK signal due to a change in the input symbol (known as symbol transition shaping by ETSI) is determined by the response (step response) characteristic of the phase-locked loop. As is easily understood from automatic control theory, it is no simple matter to set the parameters of the loop circuit such that the loop circuit will have both a desired transient response characteristic and stable characteristics free of overcontrol or oscillating behavior. This point has been a key problem with FSK modulators to date. An additional problem has been that, when revising the transient response characteristic of a PLL, it is necessary to revise the phase characteristic of the output filter provided on the output terminal side as well, which involves redesigning and readjusting of the output filter.
The multilevel FSK modulator described above is a typical example of an FSK modulator that employs a PLL, but an example of an FSK modulator that does not employ a PLL is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 135555/82. The FSK modulator that uses a PLL and an FSK modulator described below that does not use a PLL will hereinafter be referred to as the first and second FSK modulators of the prior art, respectively.
The second FSK modulator of the prior art is intended to narrow the bandwidth of the spectrum of the output modulated signal by smoothing the phase change at the transition point from mark to space of an input data signal (a modulating signal). To this end, when altering the scale factor at the transition between mark and space, subdivided intervals are provided that take intermediate values of the scale factor between the marking and spacing intervals, and the frequency transition is made from the mark to space frequencies through subfrequencies corresponding to the subintervals, or vice versa.
Because this FSK modulator does not employ a PLL, difficulty is to be expected in obtaining a stable center frequency or a stable frequency shift, and there are also the following additional problems: because the frequency of the output modulated signal is produced by dividing the standard frequency by a programmable frequency divider, the standard frequency must be a common multiple of the output frequency. However, in the above-mentioned ERMES paging system in which the frequency shift of an output signal is prescribed, for example, to be 4.6875 kHz, 1.5625 kHz, -1.5625 kHz, -4.6875 kHz (i.e., if the center frequency is 100 kHz, the output frequency is (100+4.6875) kHz, (100+1.5625) kHz, (100-1.5625) kHz, (100-4.6875) kHz), it is difficult to set the standard frequency at a common multiple of these output frequencies; moreover, the second FSK modulator of the prior art is not provided with a means to regulate the response characteristic for the transition between the mark and intermediate frequencies and the transition between the intermediate and space frequencies. Accordingly, in a case in which symbol transition shaping for an ERMES paging system is prescribed as (88.+-.2).mu. sec., it is difficult for the second FSK modulator of the prior art to satisfy the required conditions.

Multilevel FSK modulator having phase locked loop with controlled transient response


A current sensor is provided including a Rogowski coil in an assembly that is easily positioned about a conductor, e.g. without cutting the line or deenergizing the line. In one arrangement, the Rogowski coil is formed about a split helical structure such that the ends of the Rogowski coil are not coincident. While this does introduce a small error in the current measurement, this small error is easily correctable by calibration and/or application software. The current sensor includes suitable insulation such that it can be placed about energized, high-voltage lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to current sensors and more particularly to a Rogowski coil provided in an assembly that is easily positioned about a conductor.
2. Description of Related Art
Various current sensors have been proposed for sensing the current flowing through a conductor. For example the voltage induced in a Rogowski coil about a conductor is processed by an integrator to provide a sensed current. The Rogowski coil is an "air-cored" toroidal coil formed by winding turns around a core or support structure of non-magnetic material, e.g. diamagnetic or paramagnetic material of relative permeability of 1. The conductor to be measured in then placed through the coil structure. In some arrangements, the Rogowski coil is formed as a split coil with some effect on the amplitude of the output signal.
While the arrangements of the prior art may be generally useful, it would be desirable to provide a current sensor that is easy to position about a conductor.


A spectral imaging device with a narrow band spectrally tunable light source. The light source includes an optical parametric oscillator that can be tuned across a wide range of wavelengths while illuminating a target. In a preferred embodiment, a Q-switched YAG laser pumps the OPO. Two-dimensional images of the target may be detected at various wavelengths by a imaging sensor with a many pixel focal plane array to generate data arrays known as hyper-spectral image cubes. These images detecting variations is optical parameters including transmission, reflectivity, and fluorescence of the target can be obtained in various spectral ranges from ultraviolet to infrared for a variety of applications in metrology, agriculture, life sciences, and in the pharmaceutical industry.

Near infrared spectroscopy is recognized as an important diagnostic analytical tool in a wide variety of industries, including agriculture, medicine, and chemical and pharmaceutical production. The information obtained is used for checking source materials, process intermediates, and characterization and validation of finished products. The technique is based on measuring the wavelength dependent spectral response of materials (absorption, reflection, polarization etc.) as a function of wavelength. Each material has a unique spectral signature, which can be recorded and used for identification. These instruments may obtain spectral information utilizing either a broadband light source to illuminate a sample and a filter to select the wavelength reaching these detectors, or use dispersing elements (e.g. a grating or prism) or filters to select a single wavelength from a broad light source to illuminate the sample. The signal from the sample is then collected by a detector, which provides averaged information about a target area within the field of view of the instrument.
In cases where spatial information is required a typical solution is to perform multiple single-point measurements over different areas of the target, or scan the target. The resolution of the image is determined by the field of view of the detector. The main drawback of this technique is the length of time it takes to compile the multiple points that make up a spectral image, which limits the practicality of imaging instruments utilizing this approach.
It is also known to use detector arrays to obtain spectral data. In a typical prior art instrument broadband near infrared light source may be used to illuminate a target. The light from the target is passed through either a set of fixed wavelength transmission filters or a tunable filter that passes only a narrow spectral band. The light is then collected by an imaging detector array, which operates in the near infrared spectral range. The imaging array records the image of the target at a number of wavelengths and the collected data is used to construct a hyper-spectral cube consisting of the spectral responds of each point as a function of illumination wavelength. The performance of such prior art systems is limited by numerous factors:                The intensity of a wideband source within a spectral band is inversely proportional to the bandwidth, therefore in order to increase the signal intensity of a given source the spectral resolution must be sacrificed.        The use of discrete filters provides a limited data set consisting only of a small set of discrete wavelengths.        Tunable filters, such as a liquid crystal tunable filter, limit the field of view of the camera as well as the intensity of the collected signal.        The spectral range is limited by the material properties of the filters, e.g. liquid crystal tunable filters operate in the range of 1100–1800 nm, whereas significant spectral information is available at longer wavelengths.
Selecting a wavelength from a broadband light source either by dispersive elements or filters results in low intensity that limits the types of measurements and samples that can be analyzed.
Tunable optical parametric oscillators produce narrow band light across a broad wavelength spectrum. They are very well known and have been available for many years. The OPO wavelength is determined by the choice of the non-linear crystal, the pump wavelength, the temperature of the crystal, and the orientation of the crystal with respect to the pump laser beam. Wide wavelength tuning is achieved by varying the angle between the optical axis of the crystal and the direction of the pump beam (angle tuning). The spectral resolution of the instrument is defined by the OPO linewidth. The linewidth of the OPO beam is primarily a function of the crystal material, the crystal orientation, and the pump wavelength, e.g. a relatively narrow linewidth of less than 10 cm−1 is obtained over a wavelength range of 410–2600 nm from an OPO incorporating a BBO crystal in a type II orientation, pumped at 355 nm.
Spectral imaging, and specifically NIR imaging, is well documented in the literature and in numerous patents: Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,368 presents a NIR imaging device (microscope) based on a broadband NIR light source and tunable filters. U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,954 discuses the use of special bundle of fiber optics to convey infrared light for infrared spectroscopy of solid compounds of organic base. U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,277 discloses a support structure for holding a sample (a pharmaceutical product) for NIR spectroscopy. U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,464 describes an instrument in which multiple LED emitting a various wavelengths are used as the light source. U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,944 discloses a system incorporating a white light source and two sets of filters for hyper-spectral imaging of fluorescence. U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,047 discloses a method for multi-spectral analysis of organic blood analytes in noninvasive infrared spectroscopy. The system includes a broadband source and filters. Applicants' Patents related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,276,548 and 6,259,160 both relating to optical parametric oscillators. All of the above patents are incorporated herein by reference.

Spectral imaging device with tunable light source


A cooling device utilizes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, a receiver, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and an accumulator to cool a heat source with a coolant. The receiver separates the coolant having been subjected to heat exchange by the condenser into gas and liquid. The accumulator separates the coolant having been subjected to heat exchange by the evaporator into gas and liquid. The cooling device opens a switch valve capable of bringing the receiver and the accumulator into communication with each other to move the coolant liquid in the accumulator to the receiver. The cooling device restores the pressure difference between the receiver and the accumulator after the movement of the coolant liquid to the pressure difference before the movement of the coolant liquid by a pressure regulating unit.

In recent years, as one of countermeasures against environmental problems, attention has been paid to a hybrid vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, an electric vehicle, and the like running with driving force of a motor. In such vehicles, electric devices such as a motor, a generator, an inverter, a converter, and a battery generate heat by transmission and reception of electric power. Therefore, these electric devices need to be cooled. Accordingly, there is a proposed technique for cooling a heat-generating body utilizing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle used as an air-conditioning apparatus for a vehicle.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2007-69733 (PTD 1) discloses a system for cooling a heat-generating body utilizing a coolant for an air-conditioning apparatus. In the system, a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange with air-conditioning air and a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange with the heat-generating body are arranged in parallel on a coolant passage extending from an expansion valve to a compressor.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-82066 (PTD 2) discloses a cooling system, in which when a coolant is accumulated in an evaporator, a compressor is operated to recover the coolant accumulated in the evaporator, and then, an HV device of the vehicle is started to start the operation of a pump.

Cooling device and vehicle equipped with the same, and control method for cooling device


Colorwiping and dynamic positioning of subtitles is achieved by encoding and decoding the subtitles separately from the video image. At the encoder, subtitles are generated for each respective video image. Colorwiping is performed by changing the color of the subtitles at a certain location in the video image. At the decoder, a buffer stores the subtitles along with subtitle decoding information. A controller precisely times a reading operation of the buffer to read out the subtitles during a real time display of the respective video image; and colorwiping is performed by changing the color of a portion of the subtitles at a location indicated by the subtitle decoding information. Dynamic positioning of the subtitles is achieved by delaying the time the controller executes the read operation. When the decoding technique is repeated for a number of frames, the viewer senses motion as the colorwiping and positioning gradually changes.

The present invention relates to subtitles and, more particularly, to colorwiping and positioning the subtitles.
Subtitles are superimposed on a video image to convey information to a viewer which supplements the video image. In Karaoke, for example, lyrics of songs are displayed on the video image as subtitles while a viewer sings along to an audio track of an accompanying video image. The subtitles also convey information to the viewer in the manner in which they are displayed. Highlighting the lyrics of songs in Karaoke, for example, cues the singer to sing, while moving the lyrics off the video screen indicates to the viewer to stop singing.
Television broadcasting or video reproduction (such as from a video disk) provides subtitles for display with the video image. However, the subtitles are permanently combined with the underlying video image and can be manipulated only at the transmitting (or recording) end and not at the receiving (or reproducing) end. That is, subtitles displayed in television broadcasting or video reproduction are "fixed" and cannot be highlighted or moved at the receiving (or reproduction) end. The subtitles also cannot be turned off, which is particularly important in Karaoke where a singer wants to test his/her singing abilities or enjoy the music video without the interruption of the subtitles.
The television broadcasting and reproduction systems cannot adequately manipulate the subtitles at the transmitting (or recording) end. The television broadcasting and reproduction systems require painstaking trial and error creation and manipulation of subtitles. In Karaoke, for example, where sing-along music videos are mass produced, it is desirable that each music video be produced quickly and efficiently. This is not possible with the television broadcasting and reproduction systems which require slow and tedious work to custom tailor each music video. Notably, dynamic positioning in a fixed-type television broadcast or recording is not possible because the subtitles are an integral part of video picture. Moving the subtitles, therefore, would leave a blank space where the subtitles were once superimposed.
Compact Disc Graphics (CD-G) provide more flexibility in displaying subtitles because this technique records graphics on a compact disc (CD) in the form of subcodes. However, CD-G has a serious disadvantage because this technique is limited to CD applications, which are slow by television standards. That is, the CD-G technique does not lend itself to creation and manipulation of subtitles in real-time television broadcasts or video reproductions.
CD-G is successful for computer applications because the graphics are programmed in advance and the large processing time required to create the graphics is largely unseen by the end user. As will be shown with reference to FIGS. 16a-16c and 17, however, the lead time required to generate a full CD-G screen is 10.24 seconds, which is grossly inadequate for normal television or video broadcasts.
FIG. 16a depicts the CD-G data format in which one frame includes 1 byte of a subcode and 32 bytes of audio channel data. Of the 32 bytes, 24 bytes are allocated for L and R audio channel data (each channel having 6 samples with 2 bytes per sample) and 8 bytes are allocated to an error correction code. The frames are grouped as a block of 98 frames (Frame 0, Frame 1, . . . , Frame 96 and Frame 97) as shown in FIG. 16b. Eight blocks P,Q,R,S,T,U,V and W are transmitted as shown in FIG. 16c. The subcodes for Frames 0 and 1 in each block are defined as sync patterns S0, S1, whereas the remaining 96 frames store various subcode data. Among a group of 8 blocks, the first 2 blocks P, Q are allocated to search data employed for searching through record tracks; and graphic data can be allocated to the subcodes in the remaining 6 blocks R,S,T,U,V and W.
Since each block of 98 frames is transmitted at a repeating frequency of 75 Hz, the data transmission rate for 1 block is (75.times.98 bytes) 7.35 kHz, resulting in a subcode bit rate of 7.35K bytes/s. The transmission format for transmitting the information present in blocks R,S,T,U,V and W is shown in FIG. 17. Each of the 96 frames (2,3, . . . 97) of the 6 blocks (R,S,T,U,V and W) is arranged as a packet including 6 channels (R to W) of 96 symbols per channel. The packet is further subdivided into 4 packs of 24 symbols each (symbol 0 to symbol 23), with each symbol representing a frame.
A CD-G character is made up of 6.times.12 pixels. Since each pack is 6.times.24, a 6.times.12 character is easily accommodated in each pack. The CD-G format allocates the six channels of (R,S,T,U,V and W) and the 12 symbols 8 to 19 to a character. The remainder of the symbols in each of the packs store information about the character.
Mode information is stored in the first 3 channels (R, S, T) of symbol 0 in each pack, and item information is stored in the last 3 channels (U, V, W) of symbol 0. A combination of the mode information and the item information defines the mode for the characters stored in the corresponding pack as follows:
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Mode Item ______________________________________ 000 000 mode 001 000 graphics mode 001 001 TV-graphics mode 111 000 user's mode ______________________________________
An instruction is stored in all of the channels of symbol 1. Corresponding mode, item, parity or additional information for the instruction is stored in all of the channels of symbols 2 to 7. Parity for all of the data in the channels of symbols 0 to 19 is stored in all of the channels of the last 4 symbols (symbols 20 to 23) of each pack.
As discussed, the data is transmitted at a repeating frequency of 75 Hz. Therefore, a packet which contains 4 packs is transmitted at a rate of 300 packs per second (75 Hz.times.4 packs). That is, with 1 character allocated to the range of 6.times.12 pixels, 300 characters can be transmitted in 1 second.
However, a CD-G screen requires more than 300 characters. A CD-G screen is defined as 288 horizontal picture elements.times.192 vertical picture elements and requires more than twice the 300 characters transmitted in 1 second. The total transmission time for a 288.times.192 screen is, therefore, 2.56 seconds as shown by the following equation: EQU (288/6).times.(192/12).div.300=2.56 seconds
This is extremely long to regenerate each screen when it is considered that screens are usually refreshed every 0.6 seconds. This problem is compounded when hexadecimal codes are used for the characters because each hexadecimal expression requires 4 bits to represent 1 pixel. As a result, 4 times the data described above is transmitted increasing the transmission rate to 10.24 seconds (4.times.2.56 seconds). Since each screen requires a sluggish 10.24 seconds for transmission, a continual transmission of screens means that a lag time of 10.24 seconds is experienced when transmitting screens using the CD-G technique.
Thus, the CD-G technique is not performed in real time and is unacceptably slow for use in a real time broadcast. In generating Karaoke music videos, for example, it would be nearly impossible to synchronize the subtitles with the precise moment the lyrics are to be sung because the subtitles would have to be generated 10.24 seconds in advance of the music video.
The CD-G system also suffers from defects in reproducing the subtitles. The CD-G system displays subtitles only upon normal reproduction and not during special reproduction such as a fast forward or fast reverse reproduction. CD-G pictures are also subject to sing phenomena (in which oblique portions of a character are ragged) or flickering because this system allocates only one bit of data for each picture element. The lag time of the CD-G picture also prevents switching the subtitle display on or off at a high speed.
In one type of system (known as the CAPTAIN system), dot patterns, as well as character codes, represent the subtitles. This system, however, does not appear to be any better than the CD-G system and suffers from some of the same disadvantages. In both systems, for example, the subtitles lack refinement because these systems do not provide sufficient resolution power in displaying the subtitles. The CAPTAIN system, for example, is developed for a 248 (horizontal picture elements) by 192 (vertical picture elements) display and not for high resolution video pictures of 720.times.480.

Subtitle colorwiping and positioning method and apparatus


The present invention provides a method and associated apparatus providing a signal metric for a transmitter of a communication system including: accumulating a plurality of power terms, each power term corresponding to a product of one of symbol amplitudes and one of scaling factors; and calculating the signal metric according to the accumulated power terms.

Communication systems, especially wireless communication systems, have become an important portion of modern society. Generally speaking, in a wireless communication system, a base station (e.g., NodeB) establishes radio coverage over a cell, and a terminal (e.g., UE, user equipment) can therefore communicate with the base station by signal transmission through a wireless communication channel between the base station and the terminal. By different communication parameter combinations such as combinations of different modulation schemes and/or coding schemes, the communication channel, involving medium and environment where wireless signals propagate, can be separated to a plurality of physical channels for multiple-access. Some of the physical channels implement downlink channels for transmission from the base station to the terminal; others are allocated as uplink channels for transmission from the terminal to the base station. From another aspect, some of the physical channels are used for data transmission, and others are used for transmission of control information which is used for initiating, managing, handover and/or ending of the communication channel.
In wireless communication systems, the terminal is equipped with a transmitter for forming and sending uplink signals to the base station; in the transmitter, a power amplifier (PA) is adopted for signal transmission. The Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) of transmitted waveform limits the maximum transmitted power due to the linearity of the power amplifier. For example, in the third generation (3G) wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) standard, higher data rates are supported in the uplink direction through the technique of multi-code transmission. Uplink channels such as four E-DPDCHs (Enhanced-Dedicated Physical Data CHannels), one E-DPCCH (Enhanced-Dedicated Physical Control CHannels), one DPCCH (Dedicated Physical Control CHannels), and one HS-DPCCH (High-Speed-Dedicated Physical Control CHannels) can be simultaneously established in the Release 6 specification, and it is known that it leads to higher PAPR, and therefore larger linear range of PA is required to achieve the same root-mean-square (RMS) power since more complicated amplitude modulation schemes are adopted. One way to prevent the higher requirement of PA's linearity is to reduce the requirement of maximum transmitted power for keeping reasonable cost and power consumption at the terminal. Moreover, if the transmitted power exceeds the maximum power with linear characteristic, the nonlinear distortion will appear and form a source of interference for the in-band and out-of-band. In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical specification 25.101, a cubic metric (CM) is then defined to determine the amount of 3rd-order inter-modulation distortion and to approximate the PAPR of transmitted signals. Based on the value of CM, the maximum power reduction (MPR) can be determined and the maximum transmitted power can be reduced by a back-off of MPR to minimize the nonlinear effect. Hence, by changing the maximum power dynamically, the PA's linear range can be fully utilized regardless of physical channel configurations and the characteristic of PAPR. The formulas of CM and MPR are:v=rl+j*rQ,vnorm=v/|v|  (eq1)CM_unq=c1*20·log10((vnorm3)rms)+c2CM=CEIL0.5dB(c1*20·log10((vnorm3)rms)+c2)  (eq2)MPR=max(CM−1,0)  (eq3)MPR_unq=max(CM_unq−1,0)where the term v is the transmitted waveform after spreading, scaling by scaling factors, IQ mapping, scrambling, and pulse-shaping filtering; the term CM_unq is an un-quantized CM, and the term MPR_unq is an un-quantized MPR. The term vnorm is the normalized version of the waveform v; the function |x| is the absolute value of x; the function (•)rms is the root-mean-square value of the input argument; and the terms c1 and c2 are two constant depending on the physical channel configuration, including number of physical channels (Nphch), spreading factor, channelization codes, etc. The two constants c1 and c2 also depend on the CM normalization based on the reference waveform. The ceiling function CEIL0.5dB( ) rounds the input argument upwards to the closest multiplication of 0.5 dB.
MPR will be used for the transmitted power control to determine the allowed maximum power. That is, MPR must be calculated before the generation of waveform and highly depends on the physical channel configurations. In 3GPP, the channel configuration could be changed twice per slot (a slot is a predetermined time interval) and thus available processing time of MPR is limited. The CM calculation has to predict the actual CM before forming of the transmitting waveform, and it has to work under tight timing limitation. Another difficulty is that the calculation involves cubic operations and it involves the high dynamic range in the fixed-point implementation.

Method and apparatus providing signal metric for transmitter


A compatibilized silica for incorporation into natural and synthetic polymers in latex form using precipitated or fumed silica with at least two organosilicon coupling compounds in an aqueous suspension. Polymer-silica reinforced masterbatches are prepared by addition of the compatibilized silica slurry using the formed compatibilized silica.

Silica and carbon black have been commonly used as reinforcing agents and/or fillers in rubber and thermoplastic polymers. A number of techniques have been developed to incorporate such reinforcing agents and fillers into the polymer compositions, including both wet and dry blending processes. The incorporation of silica and carbon black as reinforcing agents and/or fillers is far more complex than might otherwise appear. One problem in wet blending of silica with water-based lattices of such polymers arises from the fact that the hydrophilic silica has a tendency to associate with the aqueous phase and not blend uniformly with the hydrophobic polymer.
Perhaps the most commonly employed practice, used commercially, is the technique of dry blending either silica, carbon black, or both into rubber or thermoplastic polymers in a high-shear mixer. This practice has many limitations. Notable among them include the tendency of the filler particles to agglomerate with each other, resulting in a non-uniform dispersion of the filler throughout the polymer constituting the continuous phase. Another problem commonly experienced in such high-shear mixing operations is the tendency of the polymers to degrade, or break down, during processing. This necessitates the use of higher molecular weight polymers, which sometimes require the incorporation of various types of processing aids to facilitate the mixing and dispersion of the filler particles into the polymer constituting the continuous phase. The cost associated with the use of such processing aids also increases the manufacturing cost of the polymeric compound or article. The use of processing aids has the further disadvantage in that such processing aids may have a negative effect on the cure or end-use properties of the polymeric compound or article. In addition, dry blending techniques add additional processing costs due to excessive equipment wear caused by the abrasive fillers.
To improve dispersion of the silica during dry mixing, it has been proposed that such compounding operations employ silica that has been pre-treated with an organosilane coupling agent having dual functionality. Representative of such coupling agents are those well-known compounds that include both an organic group, along with a readily hydrolyzable group, such as an alkoxy group as represented by a methoxy group or an ethoxy group likewise bonded directly to the silicon atom. In those systems, it is generally recognized that the alkoxy group hydrolyzes in the presence of moisture typically found on the surface of the silica to form the corresponding silanol that reacts with or condenses in the presence of the silica surface to bond the silicon atom to the silica surface. The polymer matrix may become chemically bonded by means of the coupling agent to the silica surface during cure or vulcanization of the polymer. Problems associated with the use of such silanes during compounding include the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) due to the hydrolysis of the readily hydrolysable groups, unpleasant odors due to the presence of mercapto or sulfur containing organic groups, and premature curing and/or scorching. A need exists to provide a process that allows for the incorporation of silica into natural or synthetic polymers during the latex stage that overcomes the foregoing disadvantages.
There is a need to provide a process for the incorporation of silica reinforcing filler alone or with other fillers, particularly carbon blacks, into natural and synthetic polymers during the latex stage that is simple and inexpensive.
Another need is to provide a process for the incorporation of silica reinforcing filler alone or with other fillers, particularly carbon blacks, into natural and synthetic polymers such that the silica can be substantially—uniformly dispersed throughout the polymer matrix, and such that the silica can functionalized to react with the polymer matrix during processing or curing for end use compound or article.
A need also exists for a wet process for treating precipitated or fumed silica with a coupling agent whereby it becomes compatible with the natural or synthetic polymer phase of a polymer latex.
The present embodiments meet these needs.

Compatibilized silica with a plurality of silanes and a polymer silica-reinforced masterbatch


A rack for supporting at least one bicycle in position includes a base. Two beams are pivotally connected with the base. At least one supporting device is attached to each of the beams in order to support one wheel of the bicycle. A post is pivotally connected with the base. A hooking device is attached to the post in order to hook the bicycle.

Referring to FIG. 11, a conventional rack includes a first frame 100 and a second frame 200. The first frame 100 includes a U-shaped element 110 and two rectilinear elements 120. The U-shaped element 110 includes two ends each for receiving an end of one rectilinear element 120. A spring-biased detent 300 is provided in order to lock each rectilinear element 120 to one end of the U-shaped element 110. The second frame 200 includes two U-shaped elements 210 and 220. The U-shaped element 210 includes two ends each for receiving one end of the U-shaped element 220. A spring-biased detent 400 is provided in order to lock each end of the U-shaped element 220 to one end of the U-shaped element 210. Each end of the U-shaped element 220 defines an aperture 224. Each end of the U-shaped element 210 defines four apertures 213, 217, 218 and 219. The spring-biased detent 400 can be inserted in the aperture 213, 217, 218 or 219 through the aperture 224. Thus, the length of the second frame 200 is adjustable. To connect the first frame 100 with the second frame 200, each rectilinear element 120 is connected with one end of the U-shaped element 220. In use, referring to FIG. 12, the U-shaped element 110 is put on the trunk or boot of a vehicle. The U-shaped element 210 is put on the rear bumper of the vehicle. Two belts 500 are wound around the trunk or boot. Each belt 500 includes an end tied to an end of the U-shaped element 110 and another end tied to an end of the U-shaped element 210. The upper tube of a bicycle can be supported on the rectilinear elements 120. However, the bicycle tends to slide on the rectilinear elements 120.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.


A system for detecting certain improperly soldered electrical component connections to a printed circuit board includes methods and apparatus providing an automated means for detecting unsoldered component leads is disclosed. A connection pad divided into two portions, or land areas is bridged by the component lead when soldered. A test pad connected to one of the land areas provides a test point for detecting the presence or absence of an open circuit condition through the lead of an electrical component to a point in the circuit to which it is to be electrically connected.

The technological advances made in semiconductor processing have enhanced soldering of surface mounted electronic components to conductor pads on etched circuit boards. These circuit boards are generally known as printed circuit boards without regard to the method of forming the circuit traces on the insulating substrate. The economies of scale resulting from this advance have led to the predominance of printed circuit boards for surface mounted devices. Numerous different components and devices (collectively "components") can be surface mounted.
By placing test pads and contacts at specific electrical and/or physical board locations, most circuits and components may be tested for quality control by automated test equipment. For various reasons, certain components (including certain surface mounted components) do not lend themselves to direct electrical testing. Thus, the technology presently known is unable to provide for the electrical testing of either the component or the reliability of the solder connection(s) to it, once the soldering assembly is completed. Examples of such components include intrinsic safety components, surge suppressors, gas discharge tubes, certain semiconductors, and myriad other components. Only costly visual inspection of the connections to these components can be performed to ensure that they are properly soldered.
Occasionally, component to solder pad connections that remain unsoldered may be difficult or impossible to detect. This is especially true of the untestable components previously discussed. Often, through partial physical contact of a component lead and its respective solder pad, the component may still function sufficiently well to pass an initial electrical inspection, at least until shock, vibration, oxidation, and/or corrosion degrades the electrical contact. This defect may be difficult to detect since an intermittent electrical connection may be present when the component or circuit functionality is tested. Often, these improper contacts are very difficult to locate and identify, even under repeated visual inspection.
Automatic testing techniques typically test the electrical or electronic functionality of the components. The equipment and methods for practicing automatic testing are well known to the person having ordinary skill in the art. Automatic testing techniques are desirable since they are faster than manual testing techniques, more efficient, generally more reliable, and more cost effective. Automatic continuity/value testing cannot, however, be used with many of the foregoing special components. Often, these components cannot be electrically tested because testing would destroy the component for its intended function. However, it may still be necessary to verify the solder connection of each component lead to ensure that electrical connection is made. Presently, this inspection must be performed visually. A reliable electrical test of the connection would be preferable, especially if performed with conventional automatic test equipment and testing processes. Automated test of these special components cannot be performed at present since there is no mechanism that can test the solder connection of each lead of these components in an automated manner.
The use of test pads connected to component leads is well known. Such test pad connections provide an electrical connection point for the known automated means for testing electrical connections between various devices and for testing the component functionality. However, there is no automated mechanism directed to testing for the presence or the mechanical stability of the solder joints of individual component leads to the circuit board. When the component can be automatically tested, an unsoldered lead may go undetected if it does not affect the electrical functionality of the tested component(s) at the time of the test.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/451,954, filed May 26, 1995, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a system and method for detecting unsoldered thru-hole component connections. The teaching of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/451,954 is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.
In Ser. No. 08/451,954, a peripheral land area is positioned very closely circumjacent the land area of a thru-hole on one or both sides of a PC board, through which thru-hole a component lead is inserted. The circumjacent land area(s) may be connected to one or more test pads. The separation between the thru-hole land area and the circumjacent land area forms an isolation gap which is very narrow; it is easily bridged by flowing solder over the separation. Thus, application of solder to secure the components to the thru-hole land area of the PC board effectively bridges, by surface tension of the molten solder, the narrow space between the thru-hole land area and the circumjacent land area connected to the test pad. When the soldering process is completed, measurement of electrical conductivity between the test pad(s) indicates that the component lead is properly soldered on both sides of the board. No portion of the component lead is ordinarily used in bridging the gap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,529 to Zaleckas illustrates a bifurcated component connect lead area on a printed circuit board, joined by the circuit board trace at a location spaced apart from the connect land area. The document does not address automated testing of unsoldered component leads.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,928 to Parla et al discloses a method and structure for manufacturing printed circuit board traces in which multiple land areas are formed at open areas of the board and in such close proximity to one another that an intentional interconnect can be formed between many of them by solder bridging. A multiplicity of such interconnect areas enables manufacture of a minimal number of printed circuit boards to each meet the multiple connection possibilities of multiply functional printed circuit boards. The document does not address the problem of defectively soldered component leads or automated testing of unsoldered component leads.
Accordingly, where the component is not susceptible of direct electrical testing there exists no technique for automatically detecting unsoldered component leads. Only a manually performed visual check of each such solder connection can detect such defective solder joints.

System for detection of unsoldered components


An exemplary embodiment of the present invention discloses a coating apparatus including a stage configured to receive a substrate and a coating slit part. The coating slit part includes a guide member, a first body, a second body, and a discharge nozzle. The coating slit part is configured to dispose a coating material on the substrate.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for coating and a method for coating using the apparatus. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for coating using a coating slit and a method for coating using the apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Background
An electro wetting display ("EWD") has recently been introduced for use as a is display apparatus. The EWD uses the characteristics of oil and water, which do not mix with each other. The oil may be provided in a display panel, and a voltage applied to the electrically conductive water, so that the oil may be controllably gathered or spread by the applied voltage. When the voltage is not applied, the oil may cover the entire of an insulation layer and the color of the oil may be displayed. When the voltage is applied, the oil may be gathered near the insulation layer and light transmitted or reflected through the area where the oil has been removed. Thus, according to the moving amount of the oil, contrast ratio may be adjusted and a color displayed.
In order to manufacture the EWD, an electrolyte including water may be disposed on an oil layer in a thin film transistor ("TFT") substrate. Since the oil layer may float above the electrolyte layer in a normal condition, in order to displace the oil layer under the electrolyte layer, the oil layer may be formed in a tank, which is filled with the electrolyte. The electrolyte layer may be formed on a substrate by slowly moving the substrate along the slope of the tank.
Using such a manufacturing process, the layers may be formed on the substrate by a few millimeters per second. Thus, mass production may not be adaptable. In order to produce the EWD at a faster manufacturing speed, another faster manufacturing concept may be needed.

Coating slit apparatus for coating a substrate and method for coating using the same


The present disclosure relates to a backlight source device, a light guide plate, and a display device. The backlight source device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a light guide plate, a light source and a plastic frame, the light source is provided at an end of the light guide plate and is opposite to a side wall of the light guide plate; the plastic frame is provided at least at an end of the light guide plate away from the light source, wherein a plurality of wedge-shaped recesses are provided at an end of a light emitting surface of the light guide plate away from the light source.

With the progress and development of technology, display modules of display devices such as mobile phones and tablet computers tend to be designed with a high screen ratio, so frames are usually designed to be relatively narrow. The narrow frame of the related technology is usually made of a white plastic frame, and a part of light is diffusely reflected at the white plastic frame, which causes the edge of the light guide plate to form a bright area. In addition, brightness defects such as light leakage may occur at the edge of the light guide plate.

Backlight source device, light guide plate and display device

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A contact lens case includes a platform portion. The platform portion can include a receiving body, an inner wall formed in the receiving body, a floor connected to the inner wall, the inner wall and the floor defining a chamber, and a lens positioning guide formed in the floor of the chamber.

Contact lenses are provided to users in various modalities. While some contact lenses are identified as daily disposable lenses, intended to be discarded every day after use, some contact lens are constructed to be worn by a user for multiple days. To preserve these contact lenses at night or during other times that they are not being worn by a user, the contact lens is often immersed in a storage solution. The storage solution can contain saline that includes a contaminant neutralizing or sterilizing component. The contaminants can have come from the user's own eye when the contact lenses were being worn by the user. In some cases, the contaminants can have come from a user's hands when the user was handling the contact lenses. Other sources of contaminants can include the user's environment when wearing the contact lenses on his or her eyes. The storage solution can also keep the contact lenses hydrated until the user is ready to wear the contact lenses again. The storage solution can be contained within a contact lens case.
One example of contact lens case is disclosed in Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2002-6274 (JP2002-6274A). In this reference, a structure contains a conservation liquid, a package body provided with a concave portion in which a contact lens is stored, and a lid with which an upper opening of the concave portion is equipped that can cover the upper opening. The contact lens is immersed into conservation liquid and the lid can be secured to the package body to seal preservation liquid and the contact lens within the concave portion. This publication is incorporated by reference for all that it contains.


A mounting support for a portable computing device is described, the mounting support being at least part of a drawer. The mounting support is mounted in a drawer that may be inserted an instrument panel of a motor vehicle. The mounting support is used for the secure accommodation and the simple operation of the computing device, particularly in a motor vehicle.

An operating element for an automobile radio device is described in German Published Patent Application No. 198 03 178, and is designed as a portable, so-called personal digital assistant (PDA). The PDA is used as a portable computer that allows data to be transmitted to the radio device, and which can be used for the storage of addresses and telephone numbers. Its operation is performed via a touch screen monitor, which is situated on the operating element. For the operation of the car radio, it is necessary to mount the operating element in a mounting support.

Retaining element for a portable computer device


A fiber optic connector system includes male and female mating connectors for interconnecting a pair of optical fibers each having a central core and an outer jacket. Each connector includes a housing adapted for receiving an end of one of the optical fibers and for mating with the other connector. Each connector housing is a plastic structure overmolded about the outer jacket of its respective optical fiber in an area at the end of the fiber. The outer jacket of the fiber has circumferential grooves into which the overmolded material of the connector housing extends for axially retaining the overmolded housing on the fiber. A band-like locking clip surrounds telescoped portions of the male and female connectors. The locking clip has a radially inwardly projecting locking tab extending into aligned apertures in the telescoped mating portions when the connectors are mated.

In the optical fiber art, lightguide fibers are used in optical transmission systems wherein the fibers are connected end-to-end to transfer light therebetween. The fibers usually are terminated in connectors which center the fibers to provide low insertion losses. The connectors are coupled together so that their encapsulated fibers connect or abut end-to-end.
Typical optical fibers that are used in the telecommunications art are fabricated of glass and have diameters on the order of approximately 100 microns. Appropriate connectors for such optical fibers usually include a connector body or housing, a forwardly projecting ferrule of ceramic or other rigid material, and a connecting member such as a coupling ring for coupling a connector to a complementary connector. The fiber projects slightly from the distal end of the ferrule. The ferrule also might be inserted within an end of a precision sleeve which aligns or centers the ferrule and thus the fiber. Because of the small size of the optical fibers, such ferrules and sleeves must be very accurate or precision manufactured to ensure that a pair of fibers which are connected end-to-end are coaxially aligned to minimize light transmission losses.
On the other hand, fiber optic connector systems are used in less costly environments for interconnecting optical fibers which are used to transmit light primarily for the purpose of illumination. Fibers used in such environments often are fabricated of plastic and have diameters on the order of approximately 5,000 microns. Therefore, the accuracy required for connecting small fibers in environments such as telecommunications systems is not required. Yet, optical fiber connector systems in these environments continue to be quite complex and unduly expensive. There is a definite need for a connector system which is accurate, inexpensive and which will enable the ends of a pair of lightguide fibers to be connected end-to-end to minimize transmission losses of light through the interconnection.
This invention is directed to satisfying that need and to solve the problems of providing unduly complex and expensive connector systems in lightguide illumination environments.


A wall frame for building. The wall frame includes a generally horizontally extending plate which is engaged by a stud. Relative movement between the plate and stud are inhibited by the use of clips or brackets and deformations formed in the plate. In one embodiment, the plate is provided with eyelets which project through the stud, with the eyelets being engaged by a clip. In another embodiment, a bracket surrounds the stud and engages the plate side walls to secure the stud in position.

For economy and ease of erection metal frames have been utilised in the construction of walls for buildings and incorporate principally a pair of spaced channelled wall plates and a plurality of channelled bridging studs interlocking with the plates. An example of such a construction is the subject matter of Australian Patent Application No. 51891/86 and Australian Patent No. 421805. In both instances the studs are generally "C-shaped", in cross-section, with small return flanges and have slots at opposite ends of each stud for locking with respective ones of the wall plates. Each of the wall plates is generally "U-shaped" with inwardly projecting lugs at the open ends of the arms. In the case of Patent 421805 lead-in chamfers are provided at the ends of the studs over which the lugs ride for engagement within the slots in the studs, in erection of a frame. In the case of Application 51891/86 erection is achieved by seating a stud within the channel of a plate and twisting the stud about its axis for engagement with securing lugs. In view of manufacturing tolerances in the construction of both plates and studs, the rigidity of an erected wall frame sometimes suffers. Additionally it has been found that this form of connection lacks sufficient strength to withstand a separation force imposed on the frame under cyclonic conditions, without additional bracing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,271 describes a wall frame structure having a bottom wall plate which engages a wall stud. Both the wall plate and stud are formed of rolled steel. The wall plate has lugs which snap engage within recesses formed in the stud in order to retain the stud in position. However this particular arrangement has the disadvantage that the stud can be removed from the wall plate under stress, that is the longitudinally extending sides of the stud can become disconnected from the longitudinally extending sides of the wall plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,854,439 discloses a building frame including vertically extending stud members joined by strips acting as noggings. There is no consideration given to anchoring the vertical studs with a wall plate. Australian Patent 579216 describes a metal stud which engages with a bottom wall plate. The stud is provided with apertures through which lugs protrude to anchor the stud in position. However, the side flanges of the stud can become easily deflected from engagement with the longitudinally extending sides of the wall plate, when stressed.
The above discussed prior art all suffer from the disadvantage that no means is provided to ensure that the sides of the stud do not become deflected from the longitudinally extending sides of the wall plate when stressed.