A radio communication system includes a plurality of radio communication stations. Each radio communication station performs a random-access operation in a communication environment having a plurality of available communication channels, and assigns a communication channel on a per packet basis to transmit a packet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio communication system, a radio communication apparatus, a radio communication method, and a computer program for performing communications among a plurality of radio stations in a local area network (LAN) or a personal area network (PAN) and, in particularly, to a radio communication system, a radio communication apparatus, a radio communication method, and a computer program for constructing a radio network in which each communication station, free from a slave-master station relationship, performs, in an autonomous distributed manner, a random access operation such as carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) based on a carrier detection or media status monitoring.
The present invention also relates to a radio communication system, a radio communication apparatus, a radio communication method, and a computer program for constructing an autonomous distributed radio network without the intervention of a particular control station with nearby radio systems being free from mutual interference in a communication environment having a plurality of available communication channels. More specifically, the present invention relates to a radio communication system, a radio communication apparatus, a radio communication method, and a computer program for constructing a multi-channel autonomous distributed radio network in which each communication station dynamically and autonomously switches the communication channel in response to the usage status of the communication channel while workload on the network is minimized.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radio networks draw attention as a communication system that frees users from cable connection between devices. Since the radio network eliminates most of cable connection in office work space, communication terminals such as personal computers are relatively easily moved around in an office. With a high-speed and low-cost radio local-area network (LAN) system, the demand for such a system is mounting. A plurality of electronics are set up around individuals as a small scale radio network, namely, a personal area network (PAN). For example, frequency bands, such as a 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band, each requiring no government license, may be specified for radio communication systems and radio communication apparatuses.
Typical standards of radio networks includes IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 (see International Standard ISO/IEC 8802-11:1999(E) ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition, Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications), and Hiper LAN/2 (see ETSI Standard ETSITS101761-1V1.3.1 Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN); HIPERLAN Type 2; Data Link Control (DLC) Layer; Part 1; Basic Data Transport Functions), and ETSI TS101761-2V1.3.1 Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN); HIPERLAN Type 2; Data Link Control (DLC) Layer; Part 2: Radio Link Control (RLC) sublayer), IEEE802.15.3, and Bluetooth communication. Standards IEEE802.11 include various radio communication methods specified by IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, etc., depending on radio communication method and frequency band in use.
To form a local area network based on radio communication techniques, a control station called an access point or a coordinator is typically arranged to generally control the network.
When a communication apparatus transmits information in a radio network having an access point, an access control method is widely used based on a reserved frequency band. In the access control method, a frequency band required to transmit information is reserved at the access point to use a transmission line that does not collide with information transmission of another communication apparatus. By arranging the access point, a synchronous radio communication is established to keep communication apparatuses synchronous with each other in a radio network.
If a transmitting communication apparatus and a receiving communication apparatus performs a non-synchronous communication in the radio communication system having the access point, the two apparatus must communicate with each other via the access point. This requirement reduces the usage efficiency of the transmission line.
An ad-hoc communication has been proposed as another technique for forming a radio network. In the ad-hoc communication, terminals directly communicate with each other in a non-synchronous manner. Particularly, the ad-hoc communication is appropriate as a small-scale radio network composed of a relatively small number of nearby clients, because terminals directly communicate with each other in a random fashion not via a particular access point in the ad-hoc communication.
The ad-hoc radio communication system, without central control station, is appropriate for use as a home network of home electronics. Even if one electronic apparatus is switched off or fails in the ad-hoc network, routing is automatically updated. The network is thus robust to damage, and data is transferred to relatively far distant location with a high data rate maintained by hopping a packet by several times among mobile terminals. A variety of ad-hoc systems are known as disclosed in the book entitled "Ad Hoc Mobile Wireless Network" authored by C. K. Tho, Prentice Hall PTR.
In an IEEE802.11 based radio LAN system, ad-hoc mobile terminals operating in an autonomous distributed peer-to-peer manner is available without the need for a control station. The IEEE802.11 networking is based on a concept of BSS (basic service set) and divided into two types. In one type, the BSS is defined by an infrastructure mode having a master such as an access point (AP). In the other type, and independent BSS (IBSS) is used and defined by an ad-hoc mode operating with a plurality of mobile terminals (MTs).
The infrastructure mode BSS requires an AP establishing coordination in a radio communication system. The AP integrates an coverage area surrounding own station into a BSS, which is also referred to as a "cell" in a cellular system. An MT near the AP is accommodated into a network as a BSS member. More specifically, the AP transmits a control signal called a beacon each time a target beacon transmit time (TBTT) comes at appropriate intervals. An MT that can receive the beacon recognizes the AP present nearby, and establishes connection with the AP. The MT near the AP receives the beacon, and is ready to recognize a next beacon transmit time by decoding an internal TBTT field. If it is not necessary to receive the beacon each time, the MT can enter a sleep state with power of a receiver switched off for the next TBTT or next several TBTTs.
In the ad-hoc mode IBSS, a plurality of MTs autonomously defines IBSS subsequent to negotiation. Once the IBSS is defined, the plurality of MTs determine TBTT at regular intervals. Upon recognizing the arrival of TBTT referencing own clock, each MT transmits a beacon if the MT recognizes after a random time of delay that no other MTs have transmitted the beacon. Any MT belonging to the IBSS transmits the beacon each time the TBTT comes.
The ad-hoc radio LAN network is known to be subject to the problem of hidden terminals. One station may be exposed to another station, but may be hidden from a third station. Two hidden stations are not able to negotiate with each other, and transmission operations thereof can collide with each other.
CSMA (carrier sense multiple access)/CA (collision avoidance) combined with an RTS/CTS procedure is known to overcome the hidden terminal problem. Standard IEEE802.11 also adopts this method.
In the CSMA (carrier sense multiple access), multi-access is performed based on carrier detection results. In radio communication, it is difficult for own apparatus to receive a signal from own apparatus. To avoid collision in SCMA/CA (collision avoidance) rather than in SCMA/CD (collision detection), own apparatus starts transmitting own information after checking that no information is transmitted from the other communication apparatuses. The CSMA is appropriate for non-synchronous data communication such as a file transfer or an electronic mail.
Carrier detection cannot be performed in an ultra-wide band (UWB) communication, in which one of an extremely short pulse wave having a pulsewidth of one nanosecond or shorter, a signal spread over a band width of several giga-hertz, and a multi-carrier signal is used instead of a carrier in a very wide frequency band. By causing a communication station transmitting data to detect clear status of media, the same random access is performed.
In the RTS/CTS method, a communication station as a data source transmits a transmission request packet RTS (request to send), and starts transmitting data in response to the reception of a notification packet CTS (clear to send) from a communication station as a data destination. Upon receiving at least one of RTS and CTS, a hidden communication station avoids collision by setting, on own station, a transmission suspension period throughout which data transmission is expected in accordance with the RTS/CTS procedure. The hidden communication station, if viewed from a transmitting communication station, sets a transmission suspension period in response to the reception of a CTS to avoid collision with a data packet, and, if viewed from a receiving communication station, stops a transmission period in response to a RTS to avoid collision with an ACK (acknowledgement).
As described above, a network can be established in the ad-hoc mode without any intervention of a control station. But the ad-hoc mode is based on the premise that an IBSS is constructed of a plurality of MTs mutually communicable with each other. A plurality of networks independently operating using the same communication channel are subject to beacon collision or packet collision if communication coverage areas of the networks overlap each other subsequent to the shifting of one network or removal of a blocking object between networks, for example.
FIG. 15 illustrates networks independently operation in IBSS0 and IBSS1 modes, each network composed of three MTs. Even if these two networks use the same channel, no problem is expected because the radio wave of one network is unable to reach the other network. But if the communication coverage areas of two stations STA1 and STA2 overlap each other as a result of shifting of one network IBSS1 as shown in FIG. 16, the packets of the two MTs collide with each other. It is almost impossible to overcome this problem in the radio network having a single communication channel.
The multi-channel communication having a plurality of communication channels is thus introduced. When communication is interrupted by another system or when the spacing in the band becomes scarce because of an increase in the number of participating stations, a communication operation can be started by selecting a communication channel to be used. The network is thus continuously operated together with the other network in coexistence.
The multi-channel communication scheme is adopted in a high-speed radio PAN system of IEEE802.15.3. More specifically, in the adopted algorithm, a radio communication device scans a plurality of usable channels subsequent to power on, recognizes the presence or absence of a device transmitting a beacon signal as a piconet coordinator (PNC) therearound, and selects a frequency channel to be used.
As shown in FIG. 16, the IBSS1 now dynamically switches to a communication channel different from that of the IBSS0 in the network overlapping as shown in FIG. 16. Stations ST4 and ST3 are forced to switch to another communication channel although the two stations are free from interference from the MTs belonging to the IBSS0. More specifically, part of the network under interference causes the entire network to be channel switched. Negotiation involved in the channel switching increases, leading to a reduced throughput.
In the autonomous distributed type ad-hoc network having no control station, resource management of the communication channels is important to minimize mutual interference between radio networks operating nearby. To switch the frequency channel used in the entire network at a time, a representative station referred to as a coordinator or an access point needs to issue, to each terminal, a command indicating a channel in use. After all, it is difficult to switch the frequency channel in the ad-hoc network.
In the IEEE802.11 based LAN system, a network is formed using a frequency channel set by the access point. It is difficult to set up an ad-hoc network without arranging a base station. To communicate with a radio communication apparatus (terminal) belonging to an AP operating at another frequency channel, APs must be connected via a wired LAN cable, for example. Without any connection between the APs, the radio communication apparatuses (terminals) physically adjacent to each other, belonging to different APs, cannot communicate with each other.
In the IEEE802.15.3 high-speed radio PAN system, all frequency channels can be first scanned to search for a coordinator present nearby. Once an operation starts at a particular frequency channel, the usage status of another frequency channel cannot be learned. Even if a piconet at a different frequency channel is present nearby, communications with a radio communication apparatus connected to that piconet cannot be performed.
In the Bluetooth communication, a central control station called a master performs a frequency hopping operation in a random fashion, thereby evenly using frequency channels. The master serves as a standard for a hopping pattern of the frequency channels and synchronization of in time axis, and the presence of the master is essential in the construction of the network. If the master is missing, the network thus constructed is blocked, and a new master must be selected.
The known radio communication systems thus require complex mechanisms including timing for switching the frequency channel, a setup process, such as message exchanging, for participating terminals to start the frequency channel switching in synchronization with each other, and an arbitration process for frequency switching. To carry out self-contained control, the presence of the central control station such as the AP in the IEEE802.11 and HiperLAN/2 communications, and the master in the Bluetooth communication is required. If the central control station, such as the AP or the master, is missing, a protocol or an artificial update process for selecting a new central control station is required. Communications are suspended during such a process.
Network construction methods using a distributed beacon are disclosed as a step to overcome the problem of packet collision in response to a shifting network in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-26457, for example.
In the autonomous distributed radio communication system free from a slave-master station relationship, each station transmits beacon information to notify other stations present nearby (within the communication coverage area) of the presence of own station while notifying the nearby stations of the network construction. Upon receiving a beacon signal, a communication station emerging in the communication coverage of a given station recognizes that own station enters another communication coverage. By reading information in the beacon, the emerging station recognizes the network and can participate in the network.
The stations, mildly time synchronized with each other at beacon transmission timing, performs transmission control utilizing effectively channel resources by means a transmission (MAC) frame permitting a time division multiple access. Each communication station performs a time-synchronized access such as autonomously reserving a frequency band, and setting a priority use period.
In the autonomous distributed network using a distributed beacon, each MT transmits a beacon with TBTTs unoverlapped. Information relating to beacon time of nearby MTs within the coverage area is described in the beacon so that the stations form a network having a beacon position not overlapping an adjacent MT. In other words, a mild IBSS is constructed with respect to each MT.
FIG. 17 illustrates a network that is autonomously constructed using a distributed beacon. If viewed from station STA1, the area represented by an broken-lined ellipse containing station STA4 is an IBSS, and if viewed from station STA5, the area represented by a dot-and-dash-chain-lined ellipse containing station STA3 is an IBSS.
In this way, the problem of hidden station is alleviated while response to the dynamic change in the network becomes possible. More specifically, only an MT having a beacon position overlapping another MT as a result of network shifting updates the beacon position TBTT of own station, and the problem of collision is thus overcome.
The dynamic network is thus constructed using the distributed beacon. However, the construction of the dynamic network is based on the premise that all MTs use the same channel, because the border of the network is different from MT to MT. To switch to another channel, all MTs must be switched in channel as in the ad-hoc mode of IEEE802.11.
Since all MTs use the same channel, and repeatedly use the same time point (slot) or the same band at predetermined transmission frame intervals, each MT is subject to interference from an MT unknown to own MT. If such interference becomes strong depending on radio-wave status, transmission and reception become impossible because predetermined SINR requirements are not satisfied even with a desired available slot.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-025506 discloses a technique to overcome this problem. In accordance with the disclosure, transmission power from own station is minimized to a level that satisfies the required SINR at a receiver side (transmission power control), and a signal coverage area is controlled by changing a threshold value for detecting a preamble on the receiver side in order to reduce interference (operation of the coverage area by modifying power control and threshold value). Since all MTs use the same channel, interference reduction efforts are subject to limitation depending on the number of communication stations accommodated in the channel.
In the network using the distributed beacon, one channel is divided into slots, each slot being a minimum unit assuring a frequency band for data transmission. A plurality of slots form a transmission frame period (namely, a super frame). Each MT transmits a beacon at each super frame and selects slots not overlapping any MT within an identified area (namely, to a next MT), as a beacon transmission position. Since the length of the super frame is fixed (in other words, the number of slots within the super frame is fixed), the maximum number of MTs that are allowed to participate in the network is equal to or less than the number of slots in the super frame, because of the minimum number of beacon intervals. Even if unused slots remain in the super frame, a new MT cannot participate in the network if the maximum number of MTs is already reached.
A plurality of networks can use different channels as shown in FIG. 18. Networks IBSS0 and IBSS1 using different channels are free from interference. A new STA6 now moves into the network in this communication environment. The newly participating station STA6 is located as shown in FIG. 19, and desires to communicate with both stations STA1 and STA5.
The station STA6 must participate in one of the networks IBSSs. To this end, the station STA6 participates in and then withdraws from each of the IBSS0 and IBSS1 or all MTs must be switched to the same channel. In the former case, the overhead between stations STA1 and STA6 and stations STA1 and STA6 increases. In the latter case, MTs not directly related must be switched to the new channel, and such an operation is otherwise unnecessary.
In the autonomous distributed network having a large number of MTs, the border of the network is different from MT to MT, and it is difficult to effectively share a plurality of channels in known channel assignment methods.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003-281586 and 2003-315280 disclose communication systems that use a beacon transmission channel different from station to station, of the MTs belonging to the same network in a communication environment having a plurality of channels. In these disclosed communication systems, an ad-hoc network with interference level lowered is provided by selecting the transmission channel depending on the interference status of each channel.
In accordance with Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-281586, each communication station transmits a beacon in a channel appropriate for reception not overlapping the beacon of another station. A communication station having a priority transmission right subsequent to the beacon transmission shifts to a channel appropriate on the receiver side and starts transmission. Communications are thus performed at optimum interference level on the receiver side.
In accordance with Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-315280, each communication station determines an average level of interference each nearby station suffers from, and determines, as a transmission channel, a channel resulting in the lowest average interference level. Interferences of nearby stations having high priority with respect to own station are weighted averaged on a per channel basis. A channel resulting in the lowest level of interference the nearby stations suffer from is selected as a transmission channel. The throughput of the entire system is thus heightened.
Each communication station roams or persons frequently move as a radio wave blocking body. If a radio distributed communication system having a plurality of channels is used in such environments, propagation path varies frequently, leading to variations in a beacon transmission channel and a data communication channel. Each communication station frequently needs to scan beacons transmitted from other communication stations, leading to large communication overhead.
In communications using a plurality of channels, the scan operation must be repeated by the number of channels to scan beacons of the other communication stations. Overhead becomes larger than in the communication system using a single channel.

System, apparatus, method, and computer program for radio communication using a preamble part of a packet to determine a communication channel


A tailgate for enclosing a pickup truck bed includes a sheet metal wall having upper and lower edges and opposite sides, and a stair with at least two steps integrally formed in the wall and extending between the opposite sides. Side walls are mounted on the opposite sides of the sheet metal wall. The lower edge of the tailgate includes a mount for mounting the tailgate to the pickup truck bed for pivotal motion between open and closed positions. A latch on the wall releasably secures the tailgate to the truck bed in the closed position. Flexible cables hold the tailgate in the open position with the steps horizontally orientated.

The present invention relates generally to tailgates for vehicle beds. In particular, the present invention is a pickup truck tailgate with an integral stair.
The use of a step mounted on a pickup truck tailgate to assist people entering and exiting the truck bed is generally known. One such tailgate step is disclosed in the Sleger U.S. Pat. No. 2,991,118. This step is in the form of a V-shaped piece of sheet metal bolted to the tailgate of the vehicle. It is somewhat bulky, and will occupy space and possibly interfere with cargo carried within the truck bed.
The Dawes U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,429 discloses a recreational unit for vehicle beds. The tailgate of the unit includes a step. However, the step extends rearwardly from the vehicle when the tailgate is raised, and is therefore poorly suited for pickup trucks.
The Criley U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,487 discloses a foldable step which is mounted to the tailgate of a pickup truck. This step is relatively complicated in construction.
It is evident that there is a need for an improved tailgate step. The step which should occupy relatively little space within the truck bed. To be commercially viable it must also be rugged and efficient to manufacture.


Disclosed is a technique that facilitates the oral ingestion of adiponectin in a large quantity and enables the expansion of the range of use applications of adiponectin. Specifically disclosed is an appetite control agent for oral administration, which comprises adiponectin as an active ingredient. Particularly, the appetite control agent comprises a transformant capable of expressing adiponectin. Also specifically disclosed is a food composition for controlling appetite, which comprises the appetite control agent.

Adiponectin is a kind of adipocytokines excreted from adipocytes, and is indicated to be closely related to metabolic syndrome. To date, in order to improve metabolic syndrome, various substances, including lactic acid (Patent literature 1), yeasts (Patent literature 2), hydrothermal extracts of plant worm (Patent literature 3), triglyceride (Patent literature 4), acylamide compounds (Patent literature 5) and others, have been investigated with the aim of facilitating adiponectin production. Meanwhile, there have been attempts by administering adiponectin or fragments thereof into the body to treat or prevent cancers (Patent literature 6), inflammatory diseases (Patent literature 7), arterial sclerosis (Patent literature 8) and others. Furthermore, adiponectin has been reported to activate AMP kinase in the hypothalamus and to increase food intake (Non-patent literature 1), and an appetite control model by adiponectin has been proposed (Non-patent literature 2).
The inventors of the present invention have already searched for the possibility of oral administration of adiponectin, and investigated the biological activity of adiponectin upon its oral administration (Non-patent literature 3); the contents of this study required further investigation and verification.

Adiponectin-containing eating behavior control agent for oral administration

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

National University Corporation Hokkaido University


A method and system are described for applying MLD detection to SC-FDMA data streams. Embodiments obtain initial estimates of at least some symbols encoded within an SC-FDMA data input using a non-MLD algorithm, and then use the initial estimates to reduce the search space and the MLD complexity. In addition, the reduced complexity MLD (“RC-MLD”) is applied only to a limited search window within the digital communication input, thereby modeling only a subset of the symbols included in the digital communication input. The MLD complexity is thereby reduced sufficiently for an RC-MLD decoder to simultaneously model and extract a plurality of the symbols included in the data input. Symbols initially decoded by the non-MLD algorithm can be subtracted from the data input in a serial interference cancelling module. This cancellation can be applied successively in a turbo-loop.

A variety of detection algorithms are currently in use for extracting symbols from a digital telecommunication input. In general, the communication input that is to be analyzed may comprise one or more digital communication signals, each of which may include one or more data streams transmitted by one or more user devices. Each of the user devices may include one or more transmitters, and may transmit one or more data streams using one or more antennas.
For example, the digital communication input may include SU-MIMO (Single User-Multiple Input Multiple Output) data streams, where one user simultaneously sends multiple data streams using multiple transmit antennas that are received by multiple receive antennas. The data input may also include MU-MIMO (Multi User-Multiple Input Multiple Output) data streams, where multiple users simultaneously send multiple data streams using multiple transmit antennas that are received by multiple receive antennas. MUD (Multi-User Detection) is sometimes used as a generalized term, for modeling of multiple simultaneous data streams by the receiver, regardless of the number of users, transmit antennas, or receive antennas. In addition, the data streams may be transmitted using any of a number of transmission strategies, such as CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) and SC-FDMA (Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access).
For these transmission strategies, a maximum likelihood detector ("MLD") detection algorithm provides the best performance in recognizing and extracting symbols from the digital communication input. This makes MLD a desirable choice for receiver detection algorithms. Any of several forms of MLD can be applied, depending on the detection requirements. For example, a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Detector ("MLSD") can provide received data with the lowest average probability of bit errors, while a Maximum A-Posteriori Sequence Detector ("MAPSD") can be used to minimize the individual probability of bit errors.
A simplified example of MLD is illustrated by the flow diagram of FIG. 1A. In this simplified example, an OFDMA data stream is received 100, and a Fourier transform 102 is applied. The symbols are then extracted by MLD 106, as is well understood in the art.
The fundamental strategy of MLD detection is to search over all possible combinations of transmit waveform sequences in order to find the combination that matches the received waveform most closely. Therefore it can be viewed as an exhaustive search over all combinations of how a received waveform could have been generated. The exhaustive search of the MLD detection algorithm often requires a significant amount of computing resources and/or time in order to perform the required calculations, because the number of required calculations can grow exponentially based on changes to various conditions. Therefore, many communication receivers use reduced complexity versions of the MLD, such as the sphere decoder or M-Algorithm, or lower performance, non-MLD based approaches such as linear techniques or successive interference cancellation.
SC-FDMA data streams (used for example in LTE uplinks) are especially challenging to process with MLD. In SC-FDMA, a series of symbols are spread in frequency by a Fast Fourier Transform ("FFT") before being returned to the time domain by an inverse FFT ("iFFT"), where the iFFT size may be larger than the FFT size. The FFT spread causes the effect of a single symbol to be distributed over the entire time period that is associated with the iFFT. This typically provides a lower peak power to average power ratio, and allows user device transmitters to function more efficiently and allows use of transmitters having lower maximum power ratings.
A simplified example of SC-FDMA detection is illustrated by the flow diagram of FIG. 1B. In this simplified example, an SC-FDMA data stream is received 100, and a Fourier transform 102 is applied. A preprocessor 104 performs equalization and/or other operations on the transformed data, and then an inverse Fourier transform is applied 108. Finally, the symbols are extracted, typically by a simple demodulator since the signal has already been properly equalized by the preprocessor 104.
FIGS. 2A through 2D compare the OFDMA and SC-FDMA transmission strategies in terms of the distribution of the symbols in time and frequency during transmission. FIG. 2A illustrates QPSK modulating of the data symbols. FIG. 2B illustrates a sequence of transmitted QPSK symbols. FIG. 2C illustrates the symbols of FIG. 2B as they are distributed in time and frequency during transmission by OFDMA. Because a single inverse Fourier transform is applied before transmission, the symbols are concentrated in frequency and therefore extended in time. FIG. 2D illustrates the symbols of FIG. 2B as they are distributed in time and frequency during transmission by SC-FDMA. Because both a Fourier transform and an inverse Fourier transform are applied to the symbols before they are transmitted, the symbols are spread primarily in frequency, and are relatively concentrated in time, even though the energy from a single symbol does span the entire iFFT time window.
Due to the spreading of the symbols across all time, it is essentially impossible to process an SC-FDMA data stream using a full MLD algorithm. This is because the MLD search space would have to include all combinations of all possible symbols. As an example, for a 20 MHz LTE uplink including four 64-QAM data streams, an MLD algorithm would be required to perform 64^(4*1200) or 4.6×108669 operations. This is clearly infeasible, because the MLD detector would be required to perform this number of calculation every 66 microseconds, but in fact the most powerful supercomputer would not be able to perform this number of operations even if it started at the beginning of the known universe. Even a traditional, reduced complexity MLD, such as the sphere decoder or M-Algorithm, could not reduce the MLD complexity enough to make it a feasible detection method for SC-FDMA. Accordingly, extracting of symbols from multiple simultaneous SC-FDMA data streams has been limited to non-MLD detection algorithms, as illustrated in FIG. 1B.
What is needed, therefore, is a method and system for applying MLD detection to SC-FDMA data streams.

Methods and apparatus for extracting symbols from an SC-FDMA digital communications signal using a maximum likelihood detector


A method of transmitting data from a sender to a number of recipients in a system with a multilayer protocol architecture, in which the data are divided for organizational purposes into data packets having header data and payload data, a transmitting and/or receiving unit and a communication system. The transmission of data in the form of a point-to-multipoint transmission over a general channel, in particular in a mobile radio system, is carried out by adding to packet data which are being sent to multicast groups control data for the identification of a specific multicast group.

The present invention relates to a method of transmitting data from a sender to a number of recipients in a system with a multilayer protocol architecture, in which the data are divided for organizational purposes into data packets having header data and payload data, a transmitting and/or receiving unit and a communication system.
The term data is understood within the present invention to refer to not only any form of information and/or message but also information which is essentially promotional or unsolicited; that is, in particular, an offer, an advertisement or promotion for a product innovation and consumer information in some other form.
In the case of many services and applications offered in known modern communication systems, information is to be transmitted not only to one mobile radio user but also to two or more mobile radio users. Examples of such services and applications are newsgroups on the Internet, video conferences, video on demand, distributed applications and many more. When messages are transmitted to various users, it is possible to send a copy of the data separately to each recipient. Although this technique is simple to implement using what are known as unicast connections, it is unsuitable for large groups. Since, when sending to N recipients, the same message is essentially transmitted over N individual connections and, in the process, sent repeatedly over common connection paths, this method requires a very high bandwidth.
The present invention is, therefore, directed toward providing a method, a transmitting and/or receiving unit and a communication system which make it possible to send messages to a targeted group of recipients without significant additional administrative effort and with a low transmission bandwidth requirement.

Method of transmitting data in a communication system


An exercising and/or amusement device for receiving a person's feet and engaging a ground surface has a first and second platform spaced apart from each other. Each platform has an upper surface being adapted to receive one of the person's feet. A ground engaging element is associated with each of the platforms and has a dome-shaped bottom surface wherein the outer edge selectively engages the ground surface. A pivotable connector connects the platform and the associated ground engaging element and consists of a curved surface on the platform spaced from the upper surface. The element has a complimentary curved surface spaced from the bottom surface. The curved surfaces on the platform and ground engaging element slideably engage each other. The curved surface of the platform has a slot with its major axis extending along a longitudinal axis defined by an imaginery line between the platforms. A bolt extends from the curved surface of the ground engaging element and through the slot in the curved surface of the platform for limiting relative movement between the curved surfaces. A compression spring carried by the platform and encircling the bolt urges the curved surface of the ground engaging element into engagement with the curved surface of the platform and urges the ground engaging element towards a centering position relative to the platform.

The present invention is directed to improvements over my earlier U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,285,516, 4,530,498, and 4,700,947 entitled "AMUSEMENT AND/OR EXERCISING DEVICE." The present invention improves the devices disclosed in the earlier patents in a number of areas including ease of manufacturing, providing for ease of learning to use the device, etc.


A pad signal detecting circuit for detecting a reference voltage input to a pad of a semiconductor device. This invention may be used in high speed terminated interfaces using a reference voltage, such as those using stub series termination logic (SSTL). The invention allows the manufacture of semiconductor devices having more than one type of interface, because the device can sense the type of interface which is connected to the pad and activate the appropriate interface circuitry. This feature eliminates the need to manufacture different devices for different types of interfaces, and it facilitates high volume and low cost production of semiconductor devices that are compatible with more than one type of interface circuitry.

The present invention relates to a pad signal detecting circuit in a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a pad signal detecting circuit for detecting a reference voltage input to a pad of a semiconductor device. This invention is particularly applicable to high speed terminated interfaces using a reference voltage, such as those using Stub Series Termination Logic (SSTL). The invention allows the manufacture of semiconductor devices having more than one type of interface, because the device can sense the type of interface which is connected to the pad and activate the appropriate interface circuitry. This feature eliminates the need to manufacture different devices for different types of interfaces, and it facilitates high volume and low cost production of semiconductor devices that are compatible with more than one type of interface circuitry.
It is well-known that the operating clock speed of the central processing unit (CPU) in computers has increased substantially. The increased CPU operating speed requires that the peripheral devices connected to the CPU, such as semiconductor memory devices and application-specific integrated circuits, must also operate at a high speed. The high-speed operating requirements are satisfied to a certain extent by semiconductor memory devices such as synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) and RamBus DRAM (RDRAM).
Despite the development of high speed peripheral devices, the lack of a high speed data bus for connecting the devices with the CPU and with each other is an obstacle to the implementation of high-speed computers. In addition, the time required to transmit signals via a data bus increases with a longer bus. To overcome this problem, the Transistor Transistor Logic (TTL) level interface has been replaced by terminated interfaces which use signals referenced to a reference voltage Vref rather than to a ground voltage. There are many types of interfaces that use a reference voltage Vref, such as Stub Series Termination Logic (SSTL), Terminated Low Voltage TTL (T-LVTTL), Gunning Transceiver Logic (GTL), and High Speed Transceiver Logic (HSTL). Typical values of Vref for these interfaces are 1.5 volts, 1.5 volts, 0.8 volts, and 0.75 volts, respectively.
One type of SSTL interface has been defined by the Electronic Industries Association EIA/JEDEC standard number JESD8-8, which is incorporated by reference herein. The SSTL interface is a terminated high-speed interface, so the actual signal voltages are dependent in part on the terminated impedance of the signal lines, such as 25 ohms or 50 ohms. The SSTL signals are referenced to a voltage Vref, which is set at Vref=0.45.times.Vdd. Therefore, for a Vdd of 3.3 volts, Vref=0.45.times.3.3=1.5 volts. The SSTL "high" and "low" signals are above and below Vref, and they are specified differently for steady-state DC operation and for AC operation. DC operation requires input voltages which are Vref+200 millivolts for a high and Vref-200 millivolts for a low. AC operation requires input voltages which are Vref+400 millivolts for a high and Vref-400 millivolts for a low. For example, in a 3.3 volt system terminated at 50 ohms, Vref is 1.5 volts, a SSTL "high" input signal is 1.9 volts, and a SSTL "low" input signal is 1.1 volts.
In terminated interfaces using a reference voltage, such as SSTL, the small voltage swing about Vref facilitates implementations that run at clock speeds greater than 100 MHz. The decreased voltage swing not only facilitates higher speed, it also reduces the operating power required to drive the interface and thereby lowers the operating temperature of semiconductor devices using this type of interface.
Semiconductor devices that operate with multiple types of interfaces, including at least one of which uses a reference voltage, require a Vref detecting circuit. In this type of application, a circuit for detecting Vref applied to a pad in a semiconductor device is termed a pad signal detecting circuit.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are circuit diagrams of conventional pad signal detecting circuits in a semiconductor device. FIG. 1A illustrates a Vss detecting circuit and FIG. 1B illustrates a Vcc detecting circuit.
In FIG. 1A, a single pad 11, a PMOS transistor 13, and three inverters 15, 17, and 19 connected in series are arranged in a semiconductor device 1. The drain of the PMOS transistor 13 is connected to the pad 11, its gate is grounded, and its source is connected to a power source Vdd. The drain of the PMOS transistor 13 is also connected to the input terminal of the first inverter 15, and an output signal PDET is generated by the output terminal of the third inverter 19. PMOS transistor 13 is a long channel transistor, so it acts as a resistance element.
The circuit shown in FIG. 1A operates as follows. When a voltage of a logic high level, for example Vdd, is input to the pad 11, it is inverted three times while passing through three inverters 15, 17, and 19. Therefore, PDET is set to a logic low level, or false output state. On the other hand, if a voltage of a logic low level, for example Vss, is input to the pad 11, the input of first inverter 15 is pulled to a logic low level and PDET is set to a logic high level, or true output state. Here, the PMOS transistor 13 prevents PDET from being true (high) when the pad 11 is disconnected from a peripheral device, and thus it supplies a voltage of a logic high level to the first inverter 15 when the pad is in an open circuit state. As described above, the circuit of FIG. 1A detects an input of Vss to pad 11 so that PDET is set to a high level (true) when Vss is applied to the pad.
In FIG. 1B, the semiconductor device 1 contains the pad 11, an NMOS transistor 21, and three inverters 15, 17, and 19 connected in series. The drain of the NMOS transistor 21 is connected to the pad 11, its gate is connected to Vdd, and its source is grounded. The drain of the NMOS transistor 21 is connected to the input terminal of the first inverter 15, and an output signal PDETB is generated by the output terminal of the third inverter 19. NMOS transistor 21 is a long channel transistor, so it acts as a resistance element.
The circuit shown in FIG. 1B operates as follows. When Vdd is input to the pad 11, it is inverted three times while passing through three inverters 15, 17, and 19. Thus, PDETB is set to a logic low level, or true output state. When Vss is input to the pad 11, or pad 11 is connected to an open circuit, PDETB is set to a logic high level, or false output state. As described above, the circuit of FIG. 1B detects an input of Vdd to pad 11 so that PDETB is set to a logic low level (true) when Vdd is applied to the pad.
However, if Vref of 1.0 V, for example, is input to pad 11 in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the inverters 15, 17, and 19 malfunction. The malfunction is described below in connection with the detailed circuit diagram of an inverter shown in FIG. 2.
In FIG. 2, if a Vref of 1.0 V is input to an input terminal 23, a PMOS transistor 25 and an NMOS transistor 27 are simultaneously activated. This allows current to flow directly from Vdd to ground through the PMOS and NMOS transistors 25 and 27, thereby increasing the power dissipation of the interface circuitry. Furthermore, the voltage at an output terminal 29 is set to an intermediate level which is neither a logic high level nor a logic low level, due to the activation of both PMOS and NMOS transistors 25 and 27. As a result, the inverter does not perform the expected function of inverting the signal present at its input terminal 23.
As described above, an input of Vdd or Vss to a pad 11 can be detected in the prior art, whereas an input of Vref to the pad 11 is not properly detected. Therefore, interfaces using Vref generally cannot be connected to a semiconductor device having conventional interface circuitry. This invention allows the manufacture of semiconductor devices having more than one type of interface, because the device can sense the type of interface that is connected to the pad 11 and activate the appropriate interface circuitry. This feature eliminates the need to manufacture different devices for different types of interfaces, and it facilitates high volume and low cost production of semiconductor devices that are compatible with more than one type of interface circuitry.

Pad signal detecting circuit in a semiconductor device for detecting a reference voltage in a high-speed interface


An intelligent GUI touch control method and system, the method includes the steps of: generating at least one masking plane according to a GUI, wherein the GUI includes at least one option object, the masking plane has at least one masking block corresponding to the at least one option object, the masking block has a plurality of sub-blocks, and each of the sub-blocks has a weighting coefficient; reading a sensed data array from a touch panel; and performing a weighting operation according to the at least one masking plane and the sensed data array, so as to make each of the at least one option object correspond to at least one weighted value, and determine at least one target object among the at least one option object according to the at least one weighted value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch control method and system, especially to an intelligent GUI touch method and system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art touch control methods generally use an X-Y sensor array to detect a touch coordinate, and then transmit the touch coordinate to activate a corresponding function. However, when the X-Y sensor array is of a large size, the generation of the touch coordinate can take much time, and the activation of the corresponding function can be therefore too late to keep up with a user's touch operation.
Besides, as prior art touch control methods use the transmission of the touch coordinate to activate an object function, therefore, when there are multiple objects—for example a GUI(Graphical User Interface) virtual keyboard—tightly arranged in a touch screen, a user, in pressing a target object, is likely to accidently option objects surrounding the target object and get an unexpected result.
In addition, because prior art touch control methods use the transmission of the touch coordinate to activate an object function, as a result, the prior art touch control methods can only make a touch event correspond to a specific function, and not able to use a single touch to activate multiple object functions and thereby provide a vector or 3D control mechanism.
To solve the foregoing problems, the present invention proposes a novel touch control method and system, which can improve the efficiency in processing a touch operation and provide novel touch control functions by utilizing an intelligent GUI touch control mechanism.

Intelligent GUI touch control method and system


A method of treating coloured fabrics with a luminance (L*) less than 50, preferably black garments, which comprises contacting the fabrics with a wash liquor comprising 0.001-0.1 g/L of a hydroxyl C2-C4 alkyl derivative of a beta 1-4 polysaccharide, which is preferably hydroxyethyl cellulose, and a surfactant.

Most people are aware that washing and wearing clothes is not good for them. Clothes suffer damage due to abrasion in the wash, particularly around seams and hems. On dark cellulosics (such as black jeans, for example) this damage exposes fibrillated regions of the textile which scatter light differently than undamaged regions.
While the damaged regions may have lost relatively small quantities of dye, they are very easy to perceive and produce a strong visual impact. It has been suggested to reduce the incidence of such damage by using lubricating agents in wash liquors. However the skilled worker is faced with a problem when choosing the right lubricant. Prior proposals have included acrylic materials, dextrans, oily and waxy materials.
Hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC) is widely commercially available and is well known as a thickener in a range of surfactant-containing products as well as in paints and other coatings. It is generally produced by the treatment of cellulose with ethylene oxide to give materials with a specified degree of substitution. Related materials are known which comprise other short alkyl chain substituents (typically C2-4). Hydroxy-alkyl derivatives of other beta 1-4 linked poly-saccharrides are also known.
In order to bring about viscosity changes HEC is typically present at levels of 1-2% wt on liquor, depending on the molecular weight of the polymer. It is known that bulk viscosity increases in a wash liquor can have beneficial effects on fabrics being laundered, as the increase in viscosity reduces certain fabric-fabric interactions which can cause degradation of the fabrics through such mechanisms as abrasion etc. However, viscosity increases have negative consequences as well. In particular, they can significantly reduce cleaning.
WO 99/14295 discloses compositions and methods for fabric treatment to impart appearance and integrity benefits, which utilise cellulosic based polymers having ether substituents on the hydroxyl groups of the glucose rings. The substituents take the form —OR where R is one of:    a) —H and —C1-4 alkyl (i.e. an unmodified hydroxyl or an alkyl ether,    b) —(CH2)y—CO—OZ (i.e. a carboxyl terminated alkyl ether which can be esterified with another group, or    c) —[Et.R20]n-RH. In these compositions n is 0-5 and RH comprises an alkyl chain, so this comprises either a poly-oxyethylene linker to the alkyl chain or simply the alkyl chain connected to the backbone via an ether linkage.
The benefits disclosed in WO 99/14295 are believed to be obtained by the active component, i.e. the ether, associating itself with the fibres of the fabric to reduce or minimise the tendency for the fabric to deteriorate. It is believed that in many cases the association with or 'recognition' of cellulose by another beta 1-4 chemical species involves an interaction between the backbones of the cellulose and the beta 1-4 polymer.
None of the formulations mentioned above with reference to WO 99/14295 comprise a simple hydroxy alkyl derivative of the saccharide backbone. It has been thought that these materials would not associate with cellulose because the hydroxy alkyl groups would interfere with the backbone-backbone interaction that is believed to be necessary for cellulose recognition.
Several other documents relate to the use of hydroxy-ethyl cellulose (HEC) in laundry detergent products and processes. While several of these mention that HEC can bring cleaning benefits none address the issue of lubrication benefits.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,602,781 discloses the use of hydroxy-ethyl cellulose to enhance soil removal by synergy with the surfactant. Levels of HEC taught are between 1 and 63%, (preferably between 5 and 57%) by weight of product and the stain used was a mixture of carbon black and mineral oil. Tests would probably have been performed on white cloth (standard 'Indian Head' muslin) as they concerned removal of soil.
EP 467,485 is concerned with the provision of softness and antistatic benefits. The formulations comprise alkyl cellulose ethers selected from methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and derivatives of hydroxyethyl cellulose wherein the terminal hydrogen of the hydroxyethyl group is replaced with an alkyl chain having 10-24 carbon atoms.
GB 1,537,287 discloses compositions which comprise 0.1% to 3% of a component selected from alkyl cellulose ethers, hydroxy-alkyl cellulose ethers and hydroxy-alkyl alkyl cellulose ethers. Hydroxy ethyl cellulose DS hydroxy ethyl 1.2 is mentioned (see page 7 lines 4ff). Closely related case U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,305 discloses cellulose based soil release polymers and mentions hydroxy-ethyl cellulose (column 6, lines 24ff). Both patents illustrate soil removal with dirty motor oil. Again, this patent contains no examples of the treatment of coloured cloth with HEC.
EP 0 331 237 discloses the use of a hydrophobically modified nonionic cellulose ether in a fabric softening composition. Hydroxy-ethyl cellulose is mentioned in the body of the patent but it is present only as an example of the substrate that is then modified to form the hydrophobically modified cellulose derivative. Preferred are derivatives of methyl, hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl cellulose which have been modified with a C10 to C24 hydrocarbon.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,351 B1 discloses the use of a soil release polymer based on a copolyester of a dicarboxylic acid and a diol or polydiol in the surfactant-free, pre-treatment step of an institutional washing process. Hydroxy-ethyl cellulose derivatives are mentioned (see colum5 lines 55ff).

Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.


A titanium aluminide is composed of 31 to 34 mass % of Al, 1.5 to 3.0 mass % of Fe, 0.5 to 2.0 mass % of V, 0.18 to 0.35 mass % of B with remainder being Ti and inevitable impurities. The 0.5 to 2.0 mass % of V may be replaced with a 1.0 to 3.0 mass % of Mo or a 0.3 to 1.5 mass % of Cr. By precision casting this alloy, a novel titanium aluminide alloy is obtained in which numerous whisker-like Ti--B compound are uniformly dispersed. The titanium aluminide alloy does not possess a coarse lamellar structure which would cause cracking.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to titanium aluminide, i.e., an intermetallic compound known by a chemical formula of TiAl, as an advanced material for precision casting. It relates in particular to that species of titanium aluminide whose fluidity is excellent, the precision cast articles made therefrom have a high strength in cast state and will not crack even when their thickness is small.
2. Background Art
Titanium aluminide (an intermetallic compound known by a chemical formula of TiAl referred to as "TiAl" hereinafter) is drawing attention as an advanced material for its higher specific strength at high temperature than those of the nickle-base superalloys and better oxidation resistance than those of the titanium alloys. Since TiAl has other admirable properties in addition such as low density, the strength of which becomes greater with elevating temperature and good creep resistance, there are demands to make aircraft jet engine parts such as blades and vanes out of this material in the form of thin and intricately configured precision cast articles.
On the other hand, however, TiAl is known to have low ductility at ambient temperature and have a strong dependency on the deforming speed even at high temperatures where sufficient toughness develops. To overcome these difficulties, research is being conducted from crystal structural and physical metallurgical viewpoints. For example, methods of improving the low ductility by strengthening the grain boundaries have been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 41740/1986, 255632/1989, 2874243/1989 and 298147/1989 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,615.
Despite these efforts, however, the reality is that precision cast articles made of binary Ti--Al alloy remain so liable to cracking that they cannot be called an industrial product. Even with addition of a third element, e.g., V, which the above-mentioned U.S. Patent has found effective to improve a ductility, ternary Ti--Al--V alloys containing appreciable amounts of the third element, e.g., V as much as 1.5 mass %, cannot make castings, such as turbine vanes, perfectly crack-free.
Furthermore, even while the above-cited Japanese patent applications claim to produce TiAl cast articles having strengths surpassing those mentioned in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,615, the strengths achieved at ambient temperature are in the 400 MPa level; even with addition of a strength improving element as in JPA No. 255632/1989, strengths over 500 MPa have not been realized.
For another thing, there is an observation that the poor toughness of TiAl should be considered as due, on top of the inherent brittleness of this material arising from its being an intermetallic compound, to the coarse lamellar grains that characterize its microstructure. Here, it is to be noted that the stoichiometric titanium aluminide, i.e., the one that corresponds to an Al content of 36 mass %, does not develop the lameller structure, but this material has a lower ductility than a lameller structured TiAl. With these so-called industrial TiAl alloys, which are generally of an Al content of 32 to 34 mass % because of the addition of property-modifying elements of one sort or another, on the other hand, development of the lameller structure has been considered inevitable.
As a countermeasure thereto, a proposal has been made to add B or Y so as to strengthen the lamellar grain boundaries. Even then, however, attainment of acceptably low rates of rejection is often impossible when the product is a thin and intricately configured cast article such as turbine blades because these coarse lamellar grains still induce cracking.
Now, those thin and intricately configured articles such as turbine blades and impellers are commonly manufactured by the precision casting (e.g., the lost wax or investment casting) method because other methods such as precision forging and machining are generally very difficult. Here, to ensure good fluidity (i.e., the ability of the molten matter to fill up the casting mold or cavity to its tips) for the material is a must to attain a high yield of good castings or low enough rejection rates. In the case of TiAl, however, deterioration of the rejection rate is simply inevitable if an additive such as Mo, V and Nb has been added in a large quantity even for the sake of improving the toughness, because such an addition inevitably raises the melting point, enlarges the solidification temperature range and decreases the melting latent heat, all contributing to aggrevate the fluidity. In particular, the melting temperature having been elevated means that Ti is activated that much and its reaction with the casting mold is promoted that much, thereby making sound casting that much more difficult.

Titanium aluminides and precision cast articles made therefrom

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.


A display device includes a plurality of pixels and drive circuits which drive the plurality of pixels, wherein each drive circuit includes a first input/output terminal, a second input/output terminal, a scanning-direction changeover terminal, and a position designation terminal. In response to a voltage applied to the position designation terminal and a scanning-direction control signal applied to the scanning-direction changeover terminal, the scanning direction is switchable between the first scanning direction which acquires a start pulse from the first input/output terminal and outputs the start pulse from the second input/output terminal and the second scanning direction which acquires the start pulse from the second input/output terminal and outputs the start pulse from the first input/output terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device which is easily capable of performing an inversion display in the vertical direction as well as in the lateral direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional liquid crystal display device, the direction of an image displayed on a liquid crystal display panel is generally fixed.
However, when the direction of the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel is inverted laterally and/or vertically, it is possible to provide various mounting modes to the liquid crystal display panel.
In this case, to realize the inversion of the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel in the lateral direction as well as in the vertical direction, a driver (a drain driver or a gate driver) is required to possess a scanning-direction changeover function and a start pulse input-direction changeover function.
Although the former function can be obtained by controlling a voltage level of a signal inputted to the driver, to obtain the latter function, it is necessary to changeover an external switch in determining one of input and output terminals which are arranged on left and right sides of the driver to which the start pulse is inputted. (see JP-A-10-207430)


A quick change conveyor roll assembly for metal or glass processing comprising an inner roll shaft having a rigid and elongated cylindrical surface supported and rotationally driven by an associate rotor mean. At least one removable spool having a cylindrical body with a first diameter, a hollow interior therethrough and a collar rigidly adapted at a first end, the collar having a second diameter whereby the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. At least one removable and replaceable insulated roll sleeve being slidably mounted over at least a portion of said removable spool and abutting said collar, the insulated roll sleeve including at least one layer of an insulation material and a securing means operably adjustable to hold said roll sleeve about said removable spool at a second end in a predetermined location on said inner roll shaft.

The present invention relates to a device and method of providing a quick change roll sleeve. It finds particular application in conjunction with conveyors in various high temperature applications such as galvanizing baths as well as steel and glass processing applications, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment is also amenable to other like applications.
Rolls are used as conveyors in various high temperature applications, such as galvanizing baths as well as steel and glass processing. In such environments, the surface of such rolls are corroded and degraded by the harsh conditions in which they operate. Thus, the surfaces of such rolls need to undergo maintenance or be replaced on a regular basis, which can lead to down time and reduced productivity.
Rolls such as those employed as roller conveyors for use in high temperature glass processing applications can be made from an inner metal or ceramic shaft that has an outer high temperature insulation cover. In manufacturing the roll, the insulating cover can be supplied as annular discs, or "washers", which are assembled on the shaft and pressed together, as discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,495 (the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference). These discs are pressed together between end walls by a compressive force. Because the binding agent used in the insulating cover tends to be destroyed at high temperature, it is important to maintain the discs under the axial pressure between the end walls.
A conveyor roll can also be made by sliding a plurality of compressed high temperature millboard annular discs onto a shaft, i.e., annular discs of an organic and inorganic binder materials reinforced with fiber materials. These millboard discs can be compressed axially on the shaft. The surface of the roll can be heated to produce a non-marking abrasion resistant covering on the roll on which the glass is conveyed.
Likewise, sink rolls and stabilizer rolls used in molten zinc and zinc/aluminum galvanizing baths must be replaced or serviced often due to dross buildup, oxidation and corrosion of the roll surface.
There is a need in the industry for an improved method of servicing such rolls without the need to return the entire roll to the manufacturer or service agent and incur the corresponding extended downtime entailed by this.

Quick change conveyor roll sleeve assembly and method


Various embodiments provide an illumination system. The illumination system includes at least one effect lamp configured to emit radiation, a mobile lamp, which can be arranged on a mobile object and which is configured to emit radiation, and at least one control unit configured to control at least one of the effect lamp or the mobile lamp. The control unit is configured to control the effect lamp as a function of at least one of one or more state information items of the mobile lamp or of the effect lamp or of an object or in such a way that it controls the mobile lamp as a function of one or more state information items of at least one of the mobile lamp or of the effect lamp or of an object.

Effect lamps, for example moving heads, i.e. spot lamps with a moving head, or mobile or aimable follow spots, emit light spots, or directed light spots, which may be used in order to produce light effects, but also for controlled lighting of stage regions or for the illumination of an object. It is also possible that the effect lamp can follow the movement of an object and therefore illuminates the object. Fully automatic or semiautomatic following of objects is also possible, by optical and/or radio-controlled measuring systems, for example camera systems, light detection and ranging systems (LiDAR Systems) or radio systems. Furthermore, besides visible radiation, the effect lamps may also emit infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation. The objects on the stage may also include light-emitting lamps, for example luminous textiles. In the conventional effect lamps, the objects are often fitted with light-emitting diodes such as micro-LEDs, OLEDs and/or fluorescent and phosphorescent layers. Systems are furthermore known in which the light of one or more LEDs is input into an elongate fiber, reflected and scattered along a length extent of this fiber and then laterally output again so as to produce the impression of a self-illuminating fiber. It is furthermore possible to integrate self-illuminating fibers into textiles. For example, it is conceivable to weave organic light-emitting diode fibers (OLED fibers) into a textile.


A mechanical coupling device includes a spring retainer wound up around two tie rods inside a housing, a driving device supported on a bearing plate above the spring retainer and having an axle extended out of the housing through a center hole. Inserting a rod member through an opening on the housing into openings on two side sections and an intermediate section of the spring retainer causes locating spring leaves on the spring retainer to be spread out to hold the rod member firmly fastened. Rotating the axle of the driving device in one direction causes the spring retainer to be contracted in moving back the locating spring leaves and releasing the rod member; rotating the axle of the driving device in the reversed direction causes the locating spring leaves to be spread out to hold the rod member being inserted firmly fastened.

The present invention relates to coupling devices and relates more particularly to a mechanical coupling device adapted to couple mechanical parts together.
Bolts and nuts are commonly used in a variety of industries for connecting mechanical parts together. However, it takes time to fasten or unfasten a bolt or nut, and a special tool may be required when turning a bolt or nut with the hand. Furthermore, a bolt or nut may be loosened from position as the mechanical parts joined thereby are vibrated, or stuck in place when it is covered with rust.

1F, No.9-2, Lane 128, Sec. 1, Shih Pai Rd.


A method and system for patient-specific planning and guidance of an ablation procedure for cardiac arrhythmia is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical heart model is generated based on pre-operative cardiac image data. The patient-specific anatomical heart model is registered to a coordinate system of intra-operative images acquired during the ablation procedure. One or more ablation site guidance maps are generated based on the registered patient-specific anatomical heart model and intra-operative patient-specific measurements acquired during the ablation procedure. The ablation site guidance maps may include myocardium diffusion and action potential duration maps. The ablation site guidance maps are generated using a computational model of cardiac electrophysiology which is personalized by fitting parameters of the cardiac electrophysiology model using the intra-operative patient-specific measurements. The ablation site guidance maps are displayed by a display device during the ablation procedure.

The present invention relates to patient-specific planning and guidance of ablative procedures for cardiac arrhythmias using medical imaging data, and more particularly, to method and system for calculating advanced measurements to target ablation sites during an intervention.
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is responsible for over 300,000 deaths per year in the United States. Severe cardiac arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF), are the most common causes of SCD. Currently, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices (ICD) are the primary treatment of choice for patients at high risk for VT or VF. These devices prevent life-threatening VT/VF events by automatically sending strong defibrillator shocks when VT/VF is detected. However, the morbidity associated with ICD shocks is high and ICDs do not provide complete protection against SCD. When arrhythmias become incessant or too severe, an alternative therapy becomes necessary.
Ablation procedures for cardiac arrhythmias have proven to be successful for a large variety of cardiac electrophysiology troubles. Atrial fibrillation (Afib), VT, or VF, for example, can be treated, or at least controlled, in several classes of patients. The general idea behind ablation therapy is to destroy the cells that trigger the arrhythmias. These cells can be ectopic, i.e., they trigger uncontrolled electrical signals spontaneously, or exits points slow conducting pathways that can be found, for example, around myocardium scars. The success of the ablation therapy relies on the ability of the electrophysiologist to identify the arrhythmogenic regions. While Afib ablation has become systematic in most patients, finding the regions to ablate in post myocardium infarction (MI) patients is extremely challenging due to the variability in scar geometry and local tissue substrate. Current practice is still lacking of a systematic clinical strategy, which may explain the rather unsatisfactory success rate of ablation therapies for VT (from 50% to 90%). There is therefore a need for efficient tools for improving ablative procedures as a primary therapy, in terms of maximizing outcomes, decreasing risks and minimizing intervention time.

System and method for patient specific planning and guidance of ablative procedures for cardiac arrhythmias


An apparatus and method for displaying television (TV) video data in a portable terminal having a TV video signal receiving function. The apparatus and method include displaying first video data on a first display unit in a TV mode, displaying a channel list during a channel change, displaying video data for a channel selected from the channel list on a second display unit, and displaying the video data displayed on the second display unit on the first display unit when the video data displayed on the second display unit is selected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a portable terminal having a television (TV) video signal receiving function. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for displaying multiple channels in a portable terminal having a tuner, and an apparatus and method for changing a channel based on a user's preference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable terminals are evolving into advanced portable terminals capable of offering not only voice communication but also high-speed data transmission. If International Mobile Telecommunications for the year 2000 (IMT-2000) mobile communication networks are commercially deployed in the near future, people can enjoy high-speed data communication as well as voice communication using the portable terminals. Data processed by the portable terminals for data communication may include packet data and video data.
The portable terminals include display units, whose sizes have become larger. In recent years, consumers have also witnessed the emergence of portable terminals that can display picture data (or pixel data) received from a base station and process picture data photographed by built-in cameras. TV video signals can be received and displayed using such portable terminals. In this case, a TV video signal receiving function should be added to the portable terminals, and the portable terminals should be able to process the TV video signals simultaneously with or independently from radio communication.

Apparatus and method for displaying multiple channels and changing channels in a portable terminal having a television video signal receiving function


An object of the invention is to reduce the weight of a pretensioner by reducing the length of a piston and a wire of the pretensioner. A pretensioner (1) is used in a seat belt device and pulls a seat belt. Due to gas supplied into a cylinder (10) from a gas generator (4), a piston (20) is moved in the cylinder (10). A wire (60) is connected to the piston (20) and the seat belt and pulls the seat belt when the piston (20) moves. The wire (60) has both ends that are connected to the seat belt and has a folded portion (63) that is connected to the piston (20) via connecting means (51). The connecting means (51) has a connecting hole (24) that is formed in the piston (20) and through which the folded portion (63) passes and has a detachment preventing member (52) that is positioned between the folded portion (63) and the piston (20) to prevent the folded portion (63) from being detached from the connecting hole (24).

In an emergency of a vehicle, a seat belt device stops paying out of a seat belt by means of a retractor. Furthermore, a pretensioner provided in the seat belt device pulls the seat belt. At this time, the pretensioner moves a piston in a cylinder to pull a wire with the piston, using gas generated by a gas generator. By pulling the seat belt with the wire, the seat belt is tightened. An occupant is restrained to a seat by the seat belt and is protected.
In a conventionally known pretensioner, a piston moving in a cylinder pulls a wire attached to a seat belt (see PTL 1).
In such a conventional pretensioner, one end of the wire is inserted into a hole in the piston and is fixed to the piston by a tubular wire end. At this time, by crushing the wire end, the wire end is fixed to the end of the wire. When the piston moves, the wire is pulled by the piston, and then pulls the seat belt.
When the pretensioner is activated, the wire needs to be reliably secured to the piston by the wire end. To achieve this, by increasing the length of the wire end (a portion to be crushed), the wire end is securely fixed to the end of the wire.
Therefore, in the conventional pretensioner, the length and weight of the piston, including the wire end, tend to increase in response to an increase in the holding power of the wire. Furthermore, because a length of a portion of the wire to be fixed to the wire end increases, the weight of the wire also increases. As a result, the cost of the pretensioner increases, and the weight of the pretensioner increases.
Furthermore, in the conventional pretensioners, typically, a gas generator generates high-temperature, high-pressure gas. In order to deal with this gas, the gas generator is accommodated in a thick-walled, heavy pressure container and is fixed to the pressure container by a cap. The pressure container is securely fixed to an end of the cylinder so as not to leak the gas. Furthermore, a base that supports the wire is fixed to the pressure container. The base is made of a strong, heavy member and is fixed to the pressure container with screws or by crimping.
Like this, the conventional pretensioner is made of a plurality of components including heavy components and components that are difficult to handle. These components of the pretensioner are machined (for example, screw machining) for fixing. By sequentially fixing the plurality of components with screws or by crimping, a pretensioner having a complex structure is assembled. Due to this assembly method, the assembly of pretensioner tends to require time and effort. Furthermore, because the assembly of the pretensioner is complex, the assembly man-hours and the cost of the pretensioner increase.
To counter this problem, a pretensioner that is composed of a reduced number of components by using a base cartridge having a plurality of functions is known (see PTL 2).
However, because the base cartridge is large and heavy, the handling of the base cartridge is difficult. Because this base cartridge needs to be fixed to a cylinder, the assembly of the pretensioner requires effort. Furthermore, similarly to the above, a gas generator is fixed to the base cartridge with a cap. Thus, the conventional pretensioner requires machining for fixing and complex assembly work, and, due to the complex structure of the base cartridge, the structure of the pretensioner also becomes complex.


A downconversion downconverts a received signal. The downconverted signal includes IQ mismatch. A compensation module generates a compensated signal based on (i) the downconverted signal and (ii) an IQ mismatch compensation value. First and second mixers mix the compensated withal with first and second oscillating signals, respectively. First and second Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) modules perform FFTs on outputs of the first and second mixers to generate a first and second FFT signals, respectively. An IQ mismatch estimation module captures portions of the first and second FFT signals generated in response to the received signal including a first and second predetermined sequences. The IQ mismatch estimation module generates the IQ mismatch compensation value based on: the portions of the first and second FFT signals; the first predetermined sequence; and the second predetermined sequence.

A radio frequency (RF) receiver can downconvert a modulated signal at a carrier frequency to a baseband frequency. During the downconversion of the modulated signal, certain receiver impairments are introduced due to non-ideal behavior caused by, for example, component process-voltage-temperature (PVT) variations. The receiver impairments degrade system performance. Receiver impairments introduced by a homodyne (direct-conversion) receiver include carrier frequency offset (CFO), IQ mismatch, DC offset, phase noise, etc. The receiver impairments can be minimized via signal processing.
FIG. 1 illustrates an ideal downconversion circuit 10, operating based on local oscillator (LO) signals (cosine and sine signals) that are 90° out-of-phase from one another. The downconversion circuit 10 includes a first mixer 12, a second 14, a first low pass filters (LPF) 16 and a second LPF 18. The mixers 12, 14 receive an RF modulated signal xRF(t). The modulated signal xRF(t) includes a baseband signal x(t) that is shifted to a carrier frequency (ωc). The modulated signal xRF(t) may be represented by equation 1, and the baseband signal may be represented by equation 2.xRF(t)=xI(t)cos ωct−xQ(t)sin ωct  (1)x(t)=xI(t)+jxQ(t)  (2)
The mixers 12, 14 receive and multiply the modulated signal xRF(t) by local oscillator signals 2cos ωct and 2sin ωct to generate I and Q baseband signal components xI(t)cos ωct and xQ(t)sin ωct, respectively, and some unwanted high frequency components. This may be referred to as quadrature mixing. xI(t) and xQ(t) include I and Q baseband components, respectively, and ωc is the carrier frequency. The filters 16, 18 filter out the high frequency components from the outputs of the mixers 16, 18.
Deviation from 90° difference in phase between the I and Q baseband signal components and difference in gains between the I and Q baseband signal components results in distortion and degraded quality of the resulting baseband signal x(t). Deviation of the local oscillator (LO) frequency (ωc) from the actual frequency of the carrier signal results in carrier frequency offset (CFO) and also degraded quality of the resulting baseband signal x(t).
FIG. 2 illustrates another downconversion circuit 20 operating based on local oscillator signals that are both gain mismatched and phase mismatched. The gain mismatch is modeled by the variable ε, and the phase mismatch is modeled by the variable θ. The downconversion circuit 20 includes a first mixer 22, a second mixer 24, a first low pass filter 26, and a second low pass filter 28. The mixers 22,24 receive and multiply a modulated signal xRF(t) by local oscillator signals
      2              (              1        +                  ɛ          2                    )                  cos                    (                                            ω              c                                    t                    +                      θ            2                          )              ,            -      2                  (              1        -                  ɛ          2                    )                  sin                    (                                            ω              c                                    t                    -                      θ            2                          )            that are gain mismatched and phase mismatched, resulting in non-ideal downconversion.
The non-ideal downconverson results in mixing of I and Q components of the corresponding baseband signal components to provide received signal components wI(t) and wQ(t) having IQ mismatch. The received signal components with wI(t) and wQ(t) may be represented by equations 3 and 4, where ε and θ are respectively gain and phase mismatch parameters.
                                          w            I                                          (            t            )                          =                              (                          1              +                              ɛ                2                                      )                                          (                                                                                x                    I                                                                          (                    t                    )                                                                  cos                                                  θ                  2                                            +                                                                    x                    Q                                                                          (                    t                    )                                                                  sin                                                  θ                  2                                                      )                                              (        3        )
                                          w            Q                                          (            t            )                          =                              (                          1              -                              ɛ                2                                      )                                          (                                                                                x                    I                                                                          (                    t                    )                                                                  sin                                                  θ                  2                                            +                                                                    x                    Q                                                                          (                    t                    )                                                                  cos                                                  θ                  2                                                      )                                              (        4        )            In equation 3, wI(t) includes a Q component (xQ(t)). In equation 4, wQ(t) includes an I component (xI(t)). Equations 3 and 4 can be represented in complex form, as shown by equation (5), where equation 6 provides the received signal w(t) with IQ mismatch, equation 7 provides the baseband equivalent received signal prior to IQ mismatch x(t), and equation 8 provides a corresponding complex IQ mismatch parameter a.
                              w                                (            t            )                          =                                                            (                                                      cos                                                              θ                      2                                                        -                                      j                                                              ɛ                      2                                                            sin                                                              θ                      2                                                                      )                                                          x                                                  (                  t                  )                                                      +                                          (                                                                            ɛ                      2                                                            cos                                                              θ                      2                                                        +                                      j                                                                                sin                                                              θ                      2                                                                      )                                                                            x                  *                                                                  (                  t                  )                                                              ≈                                    x                                            (                t                )                                      +                                          a                                                  (                  m                  )                                            ·                                                x                  *                                                                  (                  t                  )                                                                                (        5        )            w(t)=wI(t)+jwQ(t)  (6)x(t)=xI(t)+jxQ(t)  (7)
                    a        =                              ɛ            2                    +                      j                                      θ              2                                                          (        8        )
A final approximation in equation 5 for the received signal w(t) may be obtained by assuming that the gain and phase mismatch parameters ε and θ, respectively, are small values. In the frequency domain, the received signal w(t) may be represented by equation 9, which shows that IQ mismatch introduces an image a·X*(−f) into the corresponding signal spectrum.W(f)=X(f)+a·X*(−f)  (9)The image a·X*(−f) is a frequency byproduct of the actual signal X(f).

Method and apparatus for performing run-time compensation of I/Q mismatch in a baseband signal


The invention relates to an electronic module having plug contacts, which has a semiconductor chip embedded in a plastics composition with its rear side and its edge sides. An active top side of the semiconductor chip forms, together with the plastics composition, an overall top side, there being arranged on the latter a rewiring layer with plug contact areas and rewiring lines that connect the plug contact areas to contact areas of the top side of the semiconductor chip.

Electronic modules have the disadvantage that the transition between the contact areas of the semiconductor chip and external contacts, such as plug contacts of a plug-in card for memory expansion, for interface adaptation or for modem connection, is of complex configuration, thereby jeopardizing the plug-in card functions. The production of complex plug contact module constructions is cost-intensive by virtue of the subsequent introduction of a semiconductor chip into a depression of the plug-in card.

Electronic module having plug contacts and method for producing it


An easy fold layout hunting blind framework structure comprises two upper supporting frames, two side supporting frames, and four supporting feet. When folding, four supporting feet can be folded towards four foot stocks, and two side supporting frames can turn downwards to come close to each other, and two upper supporting frames can be folded towards the two side supporting frames and, thus, the operation is easy. On the other hand, when developing for use, the only thing to do is to develop two side supporting frames, and develop four supporting feet, when turning both upper supporting frames so as to make their straight portions closely press each other thereby completing the developing operation. The operation is simple without using hand tools or detaching any component parts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an easy fold layout hunting blind framework structure which can be easily folded and developed for conveniently and rapidly usable in the hunting site.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, this is a hunting blind on whose framework there is attached a camouflaged cloth structure formed of machine sewing or binder hook bound. Such a structure is so complicated to handle because it has to employ a number of screw bolts 901 to engage the structure parts by aiming at their precise positions when developing for use at site. In Case removing to a new hunting site of folding to put away in the customary place, the tedious procedure of detaching a number of screw bolts 901 one by one must be repeated for folding up the structure. Besides, the structure is bulky and inconvenient to transport.
Referring to US Publication No. 2013/0291916, a structure of hunting blind is disclosed whose two upper supporting frames do not necessary to lock, but instead, both upper supporting frames require to be positioned on the outer cover cloth. In this way, the structure is not easy to be built up and relieved from the outer cover cloth when detaching, therefore it is not easy to carry when changing the hunting sites. Moreover, the entire structure is bulky and inconvenient to put away.

Easy fold layout hunting blind framework structure


An anchor bolt setting template is used to position an anchor bolt in a wall for attachment of a first plate or a second plate to the wall. The first and second plates having different dimensions from each other. The template includes a rigid washer plate having first and second ends and defining a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends. An opening is formed in the washer plate lying along the longitudinal axis. The opening is non-equidistant between the first and second ends and defines a first distance between the opening and the first end and a second distance between the opening and the second end. The first distance is established to position the anchor bolt in the wall to properly position the first plate for attachment to the wall, and the second distance is established to position the anchor bolt in the wall to properly position the second plate for attachment to the wall. The template can include a sleeve frangibly connected to the plate for receiving the bolt. The template in combination with an anchor bolt is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an anchor bolt and bolt setting template. More specifically, the present invention relates to a template for an anchor bolt for setting the distance and depth of the bolt and a bolt for use therewith.
Anchor bolts are used in all manner of construction projects, commercial as well as residential. Anchor bolts are used to secure a structural element or member to concrete. Anchor bolts are of two types, namely those installed in concrete that has already cured (drilled and installed in a drilled hole) and those that are set into concrete while the concrete is still "wet".
Anchor bolts that are set into cured concrete are typically more costly both in material and labor than those that are set into "wet" concrete. The higher cost is due to the more complex nature of the bolt (e.g., split bolt sleeves) and the costs incurred in drilling a hole into the cured and set concrete. On the other hand, while bolts that are set into "wet" concrete are easier to install and less costly, there are difficulties with positioning these bolts.
For example, when an anchor bolt is used to install a sill plate to a footing, in order to properly position the sill plate (e.g., space the sill plate from the outside surface of the footing), it is necessary to determine the exact location on the sill plate for a hole location to match the hole in the plate. That is, since the anchor bolts may not be a consistent distance from the outside edge of surface of the footing, individual measurements must be made and transcribed to the sill plate to match the bolt locations.
In addition, in order to properly fasten the bolt to the sill plate, a predetermined amount of thread must extend up from the footing. That is the bolt must extend up from the footing a minimum amount so that the bolt can be threaded. Moreover, in order to assure a minimum tensile strength is met, the bolt must be set into the concrete a certain minimum distance.
Known setting devices for anchor bolts include a template having a threaded sleeve that extends upwardly from a plate that threads onto the end of the anchor bolt. The template includes graduated frangible, i.e., break-away elements to measure distance from an object, such as a wall edge. While such a device may function well, it is impractical in that it must be threaded onto the bolt and the entirety of the device removed from the bolt in order to make use of the bolt. Moreover, such a template, in its entirety, must be removed from the bolt to make use of the bolt.
Accordingly, there is a need for an anchor bolt template that is easy to use, and can be used with different size sill plates to establish a proper and correct distance between the bolt and an edge of the foundation wall into which it is installed. Desirably, such a template also provides for setting the proper depth of the bolt into the concrete. More desirably, such a template can be left in place, so that the sill plate is installed over the template.