Various methods and arrangements are provided to form an interface that allows portable token devices to be used within static machine concentric cryptographic environments. One example of a portable token device is a smart card that can be read or other accessed by a computer through a smart card reader. A cryptographic API, associated with the operating system of the computer, is configured to separate the applications from the cryptographic functions that require the portable tokens. The cryptographic API accesses a smart card cryptographic server provider (SC-CSP) that is configured to work with a smart card cryptographic provider (SCCP) program as part of the interface. This SC-CSP/SCCP interface determines that the requested cryptographic function requires a specific smart card and requests that the user provide the appropriate smart card. The SC-CSP and SCCP are object-oriented and utilize method invocation to provide an efficient and reliable interface that can support a variety of different portable tokens and cryptographic needs.

This invention relates generally to cryptography and, more particularly, to methods and arrangements that allow widely disparate portable tokens to be employed within a static machine concentric cryptographic environment.
Cryptography is commonly employed to authenticate data, encode data, or encrypt/decrypt data in a manner that allows the data to be stored and/or transmitted securely. Cryptography is becoming more and more popular as computers and networks increase in number, size and complexity.
By way of example, public/private key pairs are commonly used in personal computers (PCs) to provide asymmetric encryption of data that is exchanged between communicating parties. Asymmetric encryption uses public-key encryption algorithms. Public-key algorithms use two different keys (known as a key pair), namely, a public key and a private key. These two keys are typically derived from extremely large prime numbers making them mathematically related. However, it is practically impossible to derive one key from the other. As suggested by their names, the public key is made public, while the private key is kept private. In a typical static machine concentric PC environment, the private key may never leave the PC on which it was generated.
Information (i.e., data) that is encrypted with either one of the keys can only be decrypted with the other one of the keys. Thus, for example, data encrypted with the private key can only be decrypted with the public key, and vice versa.
Since, public-key algorithms can be somewhat slow, particularly when encrypting large amounts of data, a digital signature can be used instead to sign the data. A digital signature can be produced by passing the data through a specific one-way hashing algorithm. The hashing algorithm produces a much smaller message digest. As a result of the hashing algorithm, the message digest is a unique value that can essentially act as a xe2x80x9cfingerprintxe2x80x9d for the larger data file. Once a message digest is created, it can be encrypted, for example, using the private key and attached to the larger data file when it is sent or otherwise provided.
As an additional safety measure, a session key may also be used during a communication session. A session key is essentially a temporary private key or secret that is shared between the communicating parties. Upon decrypting the session key the receiving party can further decrypt the encrypted data by running the hash to produce the message digest, and process it as described above.
One problem associated with such cryptography techniques is that a third party might attempt to masquerade as one of the communicating parties, for example, by fraudulently holding out a public key that is represented to be one of the communicating parties public keys. Any messages or hashes that are intended for the communicating party and encrypted with the fraudulent public key could conceivably be decrypted with the accompanying private key by the third party.
To address this problem and others, a digital certificate can be employed by the communicating parties. A digital certificate is a credential issued by a trusted organization or entity called a certification authority (CA), such as, for example, VeriSign, Inc. This credential typically contains a public key and data that identifies the certificate""s subject (i.e., the applicable communicating party). A certificate is usually issued by a CA only after the CA has verified the certificate""s subject""s identity and has confirmed that the public key included with the certificate belongs to that subject. The certificate may also include a digest of the certificate""s contents that is signed with the private key of the CA to ensure that the certificate has not been altered or forged.
A CA may also provide self-signed certificates, or root certificates, that are to be inherently trusted. A CA may itself be certified by a hierarchy of other CAs; such information is usually included within the certificate. When a digital certificate is used to sign documents and software, this information is stored with the signed item in a secure and verifiable form that can be displayed to a user to establish a trust relationship.
Over a period of time, digital certificates will tend to accumulate on a PC. These digital certificates are usually collected in a certificate store. Tools are provided, typically as application programming interface (API) functions, that allow the user to store, retrieve, delete, enumerate, verify, or otherwise maintain the digital certificates within the certificate store.
With this in mind, Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., develops software, operating systems and other applications for use with a variety of xe2x80x9cmachinesxe2x80x9d, including general and special purpose computers, PCs, portable devices, and the like. Microsoft Corp. has developed a Cryptographic API (hereinafter, generically referred to as xe2x80x9cCryptoAPIxe2x80x9d) that provides a controlled/expandable interface between applications seeking cryptographic services and programs/devices that can provide such cryptographic services. Within CryptoAPI tools (e.g., functions) are provided that can be used to manage the digital certificates in the digital store and attach the digital certificates to data files. For example, CryptoAPI maintains a certificate revocation list (CRL) that is typically issued by the CA and lists digital certificates that are no longer valid. CryptoAPI also supports a certificate trust list (CTL) that identifies items that have been signed by a trusted entity. The various digital certificates, CRLs and CTLs within the certificate store are normally kept in non-volatile memory within the machine, such as, for example, a disk file or the system registry.
The cryptographic programs/devices that can provide the requested cryptographic services may include general purpose and/or special purpose hardware/software that is added to the machine and provides the necessary unique cryptographic token. Thus, for example, CryptoAPI allows new/additional cryptography devices/tokens to be added to the machine and acts as an interface between the requesting application(s) and the added cryptographic device/tokens. This type of API functionality/interface is well known and described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,565, issued Nov. 18, 1997 to Spies et al.
The above-described API functionality/interface tends to work well with static machine concentric tokens, since it basically assumes that the cryptographic device(s) is fixed in place, always available, and used only by the local machine. However, if some of the tokens are portable, then the API functionality/interface will not always be able to locate the needed token(s).
Consequently, with the recent introduction of smart cards (SCs) and other similar portable token carrying devices, there is a need for improved methods and arrangements that allow widely disparate portable tokens to be used within static machine concentric cryptographic environments. Preferably, these methods and arrangements will provide a generic interface between existing static cryptographic functions and portable cryptographic functions that reduces development efforts/expenditures and increases processing efficiency.
The present invention provides improved methods and arrangements that can be incorporated into existing static machine concentric machines and/or newly developed appliances to allow a plurality of different portable tokens to be used in support of, or as otherwise necessary for completion of cryptographic functions.
In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, the methods and arrangements essentially provide a clean and powerful generic interface between the computing machine and the portable token device. Thus, for example, a variety of different portable token vendors may invoke or otherwise access features associated with the present invention in a manner that reduces their development efforts/expenditures while potentially increasing the processing efficiency/capability of their respective products.
Thus, for example, in accordance with certain implementations of the present invention, an arrangement is provided for use with a machine having the capability to operatively couple with at least one removable portable token device. The arrangement includes an operating system having at least one application programming interface (API) that is configured to provide an interface between application programs and a plurality of cryptographic server provider functions. The arrangement further includes at least one portable token cryptographic server provider that is operatively configured to provide an interface between the API and the portable token. At least one portable token service provider is also included in the arrangement. The portable token service provider is operatively configured to use the portable token cryptographic server provider to create an object-based information interface to the cryptographic information maintained within the portable token.
Using this arrangement, for example, portable token vendors are able to develop portable token service providers that rely on the interface and features provided by the developer of the portable token cryptographic server provider. Thus, each portable token and its associated software can interface with the computer through a generic interface.
Thus, in accordance with one exemplary interface method for each portable token, a single card control object is provided that is operatively configured to manage the portable token. From this card control object, at least one container control object is then provided and configured to manage a specific key container. Within a container control object, at least one key pair control object is provided and configured to manage at least one individual key pair maintained within the portable token.
In still another exemplary implementation, an object-based interface arrangement is provided for use within a portable token device. Here, the object-based interface arrangement includes a card control object and at least one container object enumerated under the card control object that includes evidentiary data and associated key data. The evidentiary data can include, for example, digital certificates, certificate lists, etc.
By way of still further example, a portable token apparatus is also provided for use with one or more computers, in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. Here, the portable token apparatus includes at least one controller, an interface coupled to the controller, and memory coupled to the controller. The memory includes instructions that cause the controller to present the computer with a control object and at least one subordinate container object, when the portable token apparatus is operatively coupled to the computer. Here, the container object includes at least one digital certificate and associated key data.

Methods and arrangements for mapping widely disparate portable tokens to a static machine concentric cryptographic environment


In one embodiment, a power converter system comprises an input terminal operable to connect to a DC power source and an output terminal at which an output voltage can be provided. An active clamped forward converter is operable to provide forward power flow from the DC power source to the output terminal. A flyback converter is operable to provide backward power flow from the output terminal to the DC power source. The active clamped forward converter and the flyback converter cooperate to generate a rectified sinusoidal waveform at the output terminal.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to power conversion, and more particularly, to direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) generation.
2. Description of Related Art
Power converters are essential for many modern electronic devices. Among other capabilities, power converters can adjust voltage level downward (buck converter) or adjust voltage level upward (boost converter). Power converters may also convert from direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power, or vice versa. Power converters are typically implemented using one or more switching devices, such as transistors, which are turned on and off to deliver power to the output of the converter. Control circuitry is provided to regulate the turning on and off of the switching devices, and thus, these converters are known as "switching regulators" or "switching converters." The power converters may also include one or more capacitors or inductors for alternately storing and outputting energy.
Previously developed designs for DC-to AC power converters suffer from numerous problems such as inefficiency due to heavy switching losses, the need for a low pass filter made up of many components, and relatively high total harmonic distortion (THD).

Direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) generation


An observation system configured to observe one or more initially unknown state variables of an observed system includes an input interface configured to receive a system input, and a processing module coupled to the input interface. The processing module is configured to determine the one or more initially unknown state variables, and the determination is based at least in part on the system input, a plurality of known state variables, and a time varying mode vector that is time dependent.

A system's input-output relationship can be classified as either linear or nonlinear. The input-output relationships in systems can typically be represented mathematically using equations referred to as transfer functions. Linear systems such as linear filters used in signal processing applications have linear transfer functions, therefore are typically easier to model than nonlinear systems.
A linear filter with an infinite impulse response can be generally described using the following equation:yn=h0un+ . . . +hN−1un−N+1−g1yn−1− . . . −gN−1yn−N+1  (Equation 1),where un−j is the filter input at time n−j, yn−j is the filter output at time n−j, hk and gk are filter coefficients. A linear filter with a finite impulse response can be generally described asyn=h0un+ . . . +hN−1un−N+1  (Equation 2).
Linear filters have states, which can be fully described using linear equations. One example of a state-space description is the following:Xn+1=AXn+Bun  (Equation 3),yn=CXn+Dun  (Equation 4),where Xn+1 is the next-state vector at time n+1, Xn is the current state vector at time n, A is an N×N state-transition matrix, B is an N×1 vector that maps the input variable to the next-state, C is a 1×N vector that maps the current state to the output, D is a scalar that maps the input to the output.
The state-space description can be used to observe state variables that characterize the system. State variables are useful for controlling system properties such as noise and stability, and for providing better observability of system parameters. State variable description of linear systems is well developed and various implementations of the state-space models of linear systems exist. In contrast, state variables in nonlinear systems such as communication and control systems are often not directly accessible to the user. Furthermore, because of their deviation from the standard linear filters and linear systems, nonlinear systems typically do not offer an easy way to derive their state-space representations. As a result, it is often difficult to control nonlinear systems using state variables. Some of the existing techniques use averages to approximate the nonlinear relationships in order to derive state-space representations. However, the approximations are often inaccurate and complex to implement.
It would be desirable to have a better way to model the state variables in nonlinear systems, so that the systems' dynamics and stability could be better controlled. It would also be useful if the state variables of inverse nonlinear systems could be determined as well.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Nonlinear system observation and control


An improved KVM switch is provided which enables computers to be connected to the KVM switch by reduced numbers of cables. It also supports transmission of digital audio signals between the computers and the KVM switch. A single USB port is provided to transmit keyboard, mouse, speaker and microphone signals between the KVM switch and each computer. The improved KVM switch is provided with one or more USB hubs to separate the keyboard/mouse signals and the digital audio signals, and one or more audio codecs to convert the audio signals from a digital form to an analog form and vice versa.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to KVM (keyboard video mouse) switches, and in particular, it relates to a KVM switch with internal USB hubs that can be connected to computers with a reduced number of cables.
2. Description of the Related Art
KVM (keyboard video mouse) switches are devices that allow one user console to be connected to and communicate with multiple computers. In a typical KVM configuration, one or more consoles and a plurality of computers (such as PCs) are connected to a KVM switch, and each console can selectively communicate with any one of the computers. Each console includes a plurality of user interface devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a monitor, a microphone and a speaker. In some conventional KVM switches, shown in FIG. 1, each user interface device of the console is connected to the KVM 100 switch by a separate cable. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the user console is connected to the KVM switch by a VGA (video) cable C1 for the monitor, a cable C2 for the speaker, a cable C3 for the microphone, a cable C4 for the keyboard, and a cable C5 for the mouse. The keyboard and mouse cables are USB cables in this example. Likewise, each computer (PC) is connected to the KVM switch by multiple cables to transmit various signals. As shown in FIG. 1, the first computer PC1 is connected to the KVM switch by a VGA (video) cable A1 for the monitor signals, a cable A2 for the speaker signals, a cable A3 for the microphone signals, a cable A4 for the keyboard signals, and a cable A5 for the mouse signals. The keyboard and mouse cables are USB cables in this example. The second computer PC2 is similarly connected to the KVM switch. It can be seen that a large number of cables are used, making it inconvenient to manage. Although FIG. 1 schematically shows one switch 101, various signals may be switched separately within the KVM switch. For example, the keyboard/mouse signals (which are digital signals) are typically switched separately from the video signals (which are analog signals).
In the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 1, in addition to a large number of cables connecting the computers with the KVM switch, another disadvantage is that the audio signals (speaker signals and microphone signals) are transmitted between the computers and the KVM switch by analog cables. Such cables often cause distortions in audio signals.

Keyboard video mouse (KVM) switch between plurality of internal USB hubs each associated with plurality of audio codecs connected to the downstream port of associated USB hub


A static memory device has memory cells each having a pair of driver MOSFETs, two load resistors each connected between a power source and a drain of each of the driver MOSFETs, two access MOSFETs each of which is connected between the drain of each of the driver MOSFETs and each of bit lines and gates of which are connected to a word line. In the memory cell, the thickness of a gate oxide film of the access MOSFET is made thicker than that of the gate oxide film of the driver MOSFET. The operation stability of the memory cell is enhanced, without the need of increasing a chip size, by increasing a ratio between the driver MOSFETs and the access MOSFETs of the memory cell (the ratio of current supplying capabilities of the two transistors) without making a gate size large or without making it so small as to cause process variations.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a static memory device, and more particularly to a high stability static memory device having metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (hereinafter referred to as "MOSFETs").
(2) Description of the Related Art
Generally, how a flip-flop is designed for static memory device determines good or bad of a product it is The most important concern in designing a flip-flop relates to the stability of the memory. The IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. Sc-22, No. 5, October, 1987, discusses the stability of a memory cell by comparing a static memory cell in which the flip-flop is formed by CMOS inverters and a static memory cell in which the flip-flop is constituted by inverters with resistor loads. As discussed therein, the most effective and assured way for enhancing such stability is to increase the so-called "cell ratio".
Herein the relation between the cell ratio and the stability of the cell is explained with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a bit line load circuit and a memory cell circuit for a typical static memory device. In the drawings, D, D denote a pair of bit lines; W denotes a word line; Q1, Q2 denote driver MOSFETs of inverters constituting a flip-flop of the memory; Q3, Q4 denote access MOSFETs for connecting the memory cell with the bit lines D, D; R1 and R2 denote load resistors of the inverters of the flip-flop for the memory; and Q5, Q6 denote load MOSFETs of the bit lines D, D. Here, it is assumed that the MOSFETs constituting the memory cell are all N-channel MOSFETs and the load MOSFETs of the bit lines are both P-channel MOSFETs.
The operation of the above circuit is briefly explained hereunder.
When data are written to the memory cell, the data to be written are sent to the bit lines from a write circuit (omitted in FIG. 1) and one of the bit lines is raised to a V.sub.CC level and the other becomes approximately a GND level. For example, when the opposite level data are to be written to the memory cell in which a node A is a high level (hereinafter referred to as "H-level") and a node B is a low level (hereinafter referred to as "L-level"), the word line W is caused to be in a selecting state (the V.sub.CC level) with the bit line D being approximately at GND level and the bit line D being at the V.sub.CC level. Then, the level of the node A which is H-level will be discharged through the access MOSFET Q3 so that the level of the node A will be turned to the L-level. Consequently, the driver MOSFET Q2 will be OFF, and the H-level of the bit line D enters into the node B through the other access MOSFET Q4. In this manner, the opposite level data with respect to the initial data can be written in the memory cell.
Immediately after the writing of the data, the H-level of the memory cell is at a voltage lower than the V.sub.CC by a threshold voltage V.sub.T of the access MOSFET. When the writing is completed, the word line W becomes the L-level and the memory cell is then in a holding state. Under this state, both the access MOSFETs Q3 and Q4 are OFF, the driver MOSFET Q1 is ON and the driver MOSFET Q2 is OFF. Each of the load resistors R1 and R2 of the cell used has a high resistance value of above 100 G.OMEGA. so that the L-level of the memory cell becomes approximately the GND level. On the other hand, although the H-level of the memory cell is at a voltage lower than the V.sub.CC by the threshold voltage V.sub.T of the access MOSFET immediately after the writing of the data as already explained, there develops a gradual charging through the cell load resistor, so that the H-level of the memory cell eventually reaches the V.sub.CC level. Thus, in the data holding state in which once a sufficient time has passed after the data writing, the L- and H-levels of the cell are the GND level and the V.sub.CC level, respectively.
Next, the read-out operation is explained. In the read out operation, the word line is selected normally in a state in which the bit lines have been precharged. That is, before the word line becomes the H-level, the potential of the bit lines D, D has already raised to the V.sub.CC level. Therefore, when the level of the word line gradually rises, first the access MOSFET connected to the node at the L-level side of the memory cell becomes ON and, thus, the potential of the L-level of the memory cell starts to rise. However, under the normal state, this level is lowered by the driver MOSFET in an ON-state, followed by the lowering of the level of the word line in a precharged state down to the neighborhood of the GND level. On the other hand, the bit line at the node of the H-level side remains at a precharged state without being discharged to the L-level. That is, the data held by the memory cell has been thus read-out to the bit lines.
In performing the data read-out operation, an important factor for determining the stability of the memory cell is the degree as to how high the L-level at the L-level side node rises. If the L-level exceeds a threshold voltage of the driver MOSFET, the H-level of the memory cell abruptly drops from the V.sub.CC level to a voltage lower by the threshold voltage of the access MOSFET than the voltage of the word line. This results in the reduction of a potential difference between the H-level and the L-level of the memory cell and, in an actual memory cell, there is a risk in which the H-level and the L-level of the memory cell is reversed. In order to prevent the levels of the memory cell from being reversed, it is necessary to limit the rising of the L-level of the memory cell (which means that the rising of the L-level of the memory cell be limited so as not to exceed the threshold voltage of the driver MOSFET).
Next, how the L-level of the memory cell results is explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing a portion of the circuit shown in FIG. 1. A transistor Q30 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the load transistors Q5, Q6 of FIG. 1; a transistor Q20 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the transistors Q3, Q4 of FIG. 1; a transistor Q10 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the driver transistors Q1, Q2 of FIG. 1; and a resistor R in FIG. 2 corresponds to the load resistors R1, R2 of FIG. 1, respectively.
Now, in FIG. 1, if the potential of the word line W rises and reaches the V.sub.CC level when the node A is at the L-level and the node B is at the H-level, the level of the node A equals the level of the node A under the state in which the V.sub.CC is applied to the gate electrode (node B) of the transistor Q10 in FIG. 2. Here, the circuit of FIG. 2 can be considered as an inverter circuit which is constituted by the transistor Q10 used as a driver MOSFET and a parallel circuit of the two MOSFETs Q20 and Q30 connected in series and the resistor R used as a load element. Input/output characteristics of such inverter are shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows variations in the input/output characteristics when the ratios between the current supply capability of the transistor Q10 and that of the transistor Q20 (generally and simply referred to as "cell ratio") are used as parameters, and this shows that the current supply capability of the transistor Q10 is two times, three times and four times greater than that of the transistor Q20. It can be appreciated from this that the greater the cell ration is, the lower are the output voltages with respect to the same input voltage.
Thus, in order to ensure a high stability of the memory cell, it is necessary to increase the current supply ratio between the driver MOSFET and the access MOSFET so that, when the level of the word line rises, the L-level of the memory cell does not go high.
As a constant for expressing the current supply capability of the MOSFETs, the gain coefficient .beta. is used. This gain coefficient .beta. derives from the product of the process gain coefficient K determined mainly by process variations and the aspect ratio (W/L, W and L being the width and the length of the gate, respectively) of the gate of the MOSFET. This is given by: EQU .beta.=K.W/L.
Also, the cell ratio r is given by the ratio between the gain coefficient .beta..sub.D of the driver MOSFET and the gain coefficient .beta..sub.A of the access MOSFET. This is: EQU r=.beta..sub.D /.beta..sub.A.
According to the conventional technique, the means for making the cell ratio large has been to increase the aspect ratio (W/L) of the driver MOSFET and to decrease that of the access MOSFET. In other words, the gate width of the driver MOSFET is made large and the gate length thereof is made short while the gate width of the access MOSFET is made small and the gate length thereof is made long.
Thus, according to the conventional techniques referred to above, it has been the practice that (1) either the gate width of the driver MOSFET is made large or the gate length of the access MOSFET is made long and that (2) either the gate length of the driver MOSFET is made short or the gate width of the access MOSFET is made small. However, if this technique is attempted to be further advanced, the problem that the former faces is an increase in the chip size involved and the problem that the latter faces is an increase in process variations which cause the lowering of breakdown voltage and the operational instability as well as the lowering of production yields to a large extent. Thus, today, it is considered that neither the practice (1) nor the practice (2) above can help producing a desirable result if used along the line of the conventional technology.

High stability static memory device having metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors


A fixture for holding a brake drum or other similarly shaped workpiece for machining. The fixture includes a body having a body cavity and a clamping assembly disposed therein. The clamping assembly includes a positioning plate having a plurality of positioning posts secured thereto. The positioning posts are received within fastener apertures formed in the brake drum mounting face for locating the drum within the fixture so that the drum axis is coaxially aligned with the fixture axis for proper machining. The clamping assembly further includes a clamping plate and clamping flange for clamping the mounting face of the brake drum during machining to simulate the compressive forces applied to the drum as it is mounted to a vehicle during operation. The fixture further includes first and second pluralities of chucking assemblies for gripping the body of the brake drum along respective first and second spaced apart planes thereby reducing distortions caused by the cutting tool during machining.

This invention relates to a fixture for holding a workpiece for machining, and more particularly to a fixture for holding and centering a hollow generally cylindrical or cup shaped workpiece for machining.
Workpieces are typically machined by pressing a cutting tool against the piece to remove portions of the workpiece until the desired dimensions are achieved. A known technique for machining includes holding the workpiece in a fixture and moving the cutting tool relative to the workpiece. The workpiece may be held stationary or it may be moved. It is desirable to machine hollow, generally cylindrical workpieces including brake drums and similarly shaped pieces. The workpiece will hereinafter be referred to as a brake drum, although any suitably shaped workpiece may be used.
The brake drum includes a hollow generally cylindrical body portion defining a longitudinal axis and having radially inner and outer surfaces, and an end portion or mounting face extending radially inwards from one end of the body portion. The brake drums are typically gripped on the radially inner or outer surfaces of the body portion by a plurality of grippers or chucks when the drum is machined. However, gripping the drum in this manner with sufficient pressure to hold it steady during machining tends to distort the cylindrical shape of the drum. Although the drum may have the desired dimensions after machining while it is still held in the fixture, it will often change its shape after the fixture gripping forces are removed. The shape of the finished brake drum may change so much after removing it from the fixture that it no longer has the desired dimensions. Furthermore, additional distortion may occur when the placement and direction of forces against the drum are changed as the cutting tool is moved during machining.
To accommodate the changing forces applied to the brake drum during machining, one prior art fixture device includes a plurality of discrete flexible chucking fingers actuated by a pliable inflatable ring for radially deflecting the fingers into gripping, non-distorting engagement with the body of the drum. Others have used a first plurality of lock-up fingers, and a second plurality of gripping fingers. The lock-up fingers are individually biased radially outward into engagement with the body of the brake drum to initially support the brake drum in a predetermined position, irrespective of the eccentricity of the body wall. The locking fingers locate the brake drum along an axis of the fixture. A bladder flexes the gripping fingers into engagement with the body to support the body for machining. However, the chucks grip the body along a single plane which does not prevent distortions by forces changing in the axial direction.
Another prior art fixture attempts to prevent distortions to a hollow, cylindrical workpiece using a relatively thin wall sleeve together with a sleeve of pliant material to grip the workpiece. The pliant sleeve conforms to the surface of the workpiece and exerts a uniform pressure on the workpiece. However, the forces exerted to hold the workpiece are not always sufficient to hold the workpiece stationary during machining.
It is desirable to hold the brake drum which sufficient pressure to keep the drum stationary during machining without distorting the drum. It is also desirable to locate the drum on the fixture in a manner such that the axis of the drum coaxially aligns with the axis of the fixture.

Apparatus and method for machining a hollow generally cylindrical workpiece


The present invention provides a LDNMOS device for an ESD protection structure, by means of disposing a metal portion above the isolation portion and overlapping thereof, so as to protect the internal device from ESD more completely, comprising: a substrate; an ILD; a deep N-well region; a P-body region; a doped region, the doped region defines a diffusion area on the top thereof; a Poly gate electrode; an isolation structure disposed between the Poly gate electrode and the doped region; a contact portion connecting to the diffusion area of the doped region; and a metal portion disposed above the doped region, connecting to the contact portion. Wherein there is an overlap between the isolation structure and the metal portion, the direction of the overlap is parallel to the direction of channel length.

ESD is a phenomenon of electrostatic motion along a nonconductive surface. Semiconductor devices and circuits in ICs may be damaged by ESD. For example, a charge carrying object, such as a human body walking on a carpet, a machine for packaging ICs or an apparatus for testing ICs, may discharge static electricity to the IC chip when they are in contact with each other. Thus, the IC chip is apt to be damaged or broken by the transient power of ESD.
Meanwhile, ESD is a transient process of high energy transformation from external to internal of an integrated circuit (IC) when the IC is floated. Hundreds or even thousands of volts are transferred during ESD. Such high voltage transformation is a common failure mechanism that is seen on integrated circuit devices. Due to the ever increasing shrinkage in transistor geometries, prevention of ESD damage will become increasingly important.
Currently, a LDNMOS device is an electronic device widely applied in the power management. When the internal device is a high voltage device such as a large-sized output driver, the output driver is coupled to a control circuit, and a gate-grounded LDNMOS device is used as an ESD protection device. The current LDNMOS ESD devices for high voltage process are almost manufactured by means of shortening the dimension of isolation structure, such as FOX (Field Oxide), so as to gain a lower breakdown voltage. However, this kind of shortening the dimension of the FOX is apt or prone to result in the problem of failure of the reliability.
Accordingly, it is preferable to design an LDNMOS device which can protect the internal device from ESD more completely.


A pressure measurement device for determining a pressure of a fluid located inside a cylindrical casing includes: at least one sensor for determining a force acting thereon; and a clamp for peripheral attachment to the casing. The at least one sensor is arranged inside the clamp and is operatively connected thereto. The clamp includes a peripheral link chain having chain links that are pivotably coupled to one another at end joints, and a closure device that interacts with a first chain link and a final chain link.

The field of application of the invention relates to a plurality of industrial fields, such as process control engineering, but also to non-industrial fields, such as monitoring gas or water mains in structural engineering. In this case, sensors are often used that are guided in an intrusive or invasive manner through a casing of the fluid to be measured, for example through a line that conveys a fluid flow, or through a container that stores a fluid, the casing being cylindrical at least in portions, and often having a circular or oval cross-section.
However, introducing a sensor into the fluid through a corresponding opening is associated with disadvantages. In addition, a suitable opening can often be made in the casing only with difficulty. The measurement diaphragm of the pressure sensor is often separated from the process by means of a hydraulic circuit filled with oil, as a result of which, owing to thermal expansion of the oil, the feasible temperature range of the sensor is often greatly limited.
As a result, non-intrusive or non-invasive pressure measurement assemblies are found in the prior art, in the case of which assemblies a clamp is attached, in a tensioned manner, to the outside of the casing, for example around the line, a pressure sensor being arranged in the clamp. If the casing then deforms due to increasing or falling pressure, this deformation can thus be measured by means of a force acting on the sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,496 B2 discloses a non-intrusive pressure measurement assembly in which a basically circular clamp is closed by a connection means that comprises a pressure sensor. Said connection means is not located in the circumference of the basically circular clamp, but rather is offset radially outwardly with respect thereto. If the clamp is then pushed open as a result of expansion of the line to which it is attached, the connection means comprising the pressure sensor is subjected not only to a force extending axially along the connection means, but also to a load that is oriented perpendicularly thereto and by means of which the connection means is buckled or bent. This results in particular in non-linear stress on the pressure sensor, and therefore said sensor essentially provides incorrect values.
EP 0 720 006 B1 discloses a method and a device for measuring pressure fluctuations of a fluid in a cylindrical pipeline, pressure sensors again being assigned to a connection means that is radially spaced from the otherwise substantially circular structure of the device. Non-linear stress on the pressure sensors, and thus incorrect evaluation of the pressure, results in this case too.

Device for the non-intrusive measurement of the pressure of a fluid inside a cylindrical casing using chain links


A reaction vessel for use in producing large diamond crystals of good quality and yield includes a reaction volume and a reaction mass located in the volume. The reaction mass comprises a plurality of seed particles located in or on a surface in the reaction volume and a carbon source separated from the seed particles by a mass of metallic catalyst/solvent for diamond synthesis. The mass comprises alternating layers of carbon-rich and carbon-lean metallic catalyst/solvent which lie parallel or substantially parallel to the surface. There is also provided a mass of alternating layers of carbon-rich and carbon-lean metallic catalyst/solvent.

This invention relates to diamond synthesis.
The synthesis of diamonds using high pressure/high temperature technology has become very well established commercially. This process involves exposing a carbon source to temperatures and pressures in the diamond stable region of the carbon phase diagram in the presence of a suitable catalyst/solvent. Catalysts/solvents useful in diamond synthesis are well known and include metals of Group VIII of the Periodic Table.
While most commercial processes for synthesising diamond produce small or relatively small particles, there are processes known for producing much larger diamonds. These processes generally involve producing the diamond in a reaction vessel in which diamond seed material is separated from a source of substantially pure carbon by a mass of metallic catalyst/solvent such that during synthesis a predetermined temperature gradient between the diamond seed material and the source of carbon is created. The diamond seed material is at a point at which the temperature of the reaction medium will be near the minimum value whilst the source of carbon is placed at a point where the temperature will be near its maximum. A layer of diamond nucleation suppressing material and/or an isolating material is interposed between the mass of metallic catalyst/solvent and the diamond seed material. By way of illustration, reference in this regard may be had to the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,340,576, 4,073,380, 4,034,066, 4,301,134, 3,297,407, 4,322,396 and 4,287,168.
European Patent Publication No. 0290044 describes a method of synthesising large diamond having a diameter of 8 mm or more by the temperature gradient method wherein a (111) or (100) surface of a seed crystal having a diameter of 3 mm or more is used as a growing surface. The entire area of the growing surface is first dissolved in the diamond stable region before crystal growth is started. The crystal growth is effected using a plug of solvent in which the height of the central portion is higher than the height of the peripheral portion. The plug of solvent may contain a certain amount of added carbon.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2631/1986 describes a process for producing large crystal diamond in a reaction vessel in which a diamond seed is separated from a carbon source by a layer of catalyst/solvent. To minimise seed crystal dissolution, carbon is added to the layer of catalyst/solvent in an amount of 80 to 120 percent of the carbon saturation of the catalyst/solvent under the reaction conditions.


A process for the preparation of (co)polymers employing a peroxide composition comprising at least one organic peroxide wherein at least 20% of the total active oxygen content of said organic peroxide is attributable to one or more cyclic ketone peroxides represented by the following formulas I-III: ##STR1## These cyclic ketone peroxides are highly efficient as polymerization initiators. Also new cyclic ketone peroxides and compositions comprising such compounds are provided,

A wide variety of peroxy compounds is known from the literature as initiators for polymer production. A fairly great number of these are commercially used. See, for example, the product catalogue of Akzo Nobel entitled "Initiators for polymer production", 1992, in which several dozens of initiators for radical polymerization have been mentioned under the trademarks Laurox.RTM., Lucidol.RTM., Perkadox.RTM. and Trigonox.RTM.. Other examples of commercially available initiators are included in the Akzo Nobel range of products sold under the trademarks Butanox.RTM. and Cyclonox.RTM., respectively .sup.1). FNT .sup.1) Laurox.RTM., Lucidol.RTM., Perkadox.RTM., Trigonox.RTM., Butanox.RTM. and Cyclonox.RTM. are registered trademarks of Akzo Nobel N.V.
Commercially available initiators for polymer production may be classified in different chemical groups, which include diacylperoxides, peroxydicarbonates, dialkylperoxides, peroxyesters, peroxyketals, hydroperoxides, and ketone peroxides.
Various ketone peroxides have also been described in the literature as radical polymerization initiators in the (co)polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,126 discloses some peroxides derived from the interaction of 1,3- and 1,4-diketones, which are said to be useful inter alia as catalysts in polymerization reactions and in the cross-linking of polymers. The cyclic ketone peroxide identified as Compound VII is only obtained in an analytical amount and described as very volatile, sensitive to shock and exploding with considerable brisance.
U.S. Pat. 3,003,000 discloses a group of peroxides which are said to be useful as catalysts in polymerization reactions and as accelerators of diesel fuel combustion. These formulations may include cyclic ketone peroxides which are formed in side reactions leading to cyclic condensations products. However, the compositions disclosed in this reference clearly contain only minor amounts of cyclic ketone peroxides.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,606 discloses fluorinated organic cyclic peroxides which are stated to be much more stable thermally than the corresponding hydrocarbon cyclic peroxides, which can be used, besides their utility as oxidants, as polymerization initiators.
German Offenlegungsschrift 21 32 315 discloses trimeric cycloketone peroxides and in particular tricycloalkylidenperoxides are said to be useful as initiators for polymerization. The disclosure merely concentrates on synthetical aspects of preparing these structures.
British Patent 827,511 discloses formulations of ketone peroxides in paraffinic diesel oil. These formulations may include cyclic ketone peroxides though the goal of this publication is to minimize the amount of cyclic peroxide present in the compositions and thus such compositions contain only minor amounts of cyclic ketone peroxides. Moreover, the reference does not suggest the use of these formulations in polymer production.
British Patent 912,061 discloses formulations of ketone peroxides in dimethyl phthalate and paraffinic diesel oil. These formulations may contain minor amounts of cyclic ketone peroxides. No teaching was given with respect to the possible use as initiators for polymerization.
British Patent 1,072,728 discloses stabilized ketone peroxide compositions formulated in safety solvents which are selected from alcohols and glycols. Such compositions optionally contain diluents other than the safety solvents, such diluents being phthalate esters. These ketone peroxide formulations also contain only minor proportions of cyclic ketone peroxides. Again, no teaching was given as to the possible use as polymerization initiators.
International Patent Applications PCT/EP95/02829 and PCT/EP95/ 02830, both filed on Jul. 14, 1995 and not prepublished, disclose transportable, storage stable cyclic ketone peroxide compositions comprising 1.0-90% by weight of one or more cyclic ketone peroxides and 10-99% by weight of one or more diluents selected from the group of liquid phlegmatizers, plasticizers, solid polymeric carriers, inorganic supports, organic peroxides, and mixtures thereof, as well as the use of these cyclic ketone peroxide formulations in the modification of (co)polymers.
Commercial formulations of methylethyl ketone peroxide and methylisobutyl ketone peroxide are known to be mixtures of several different ketone peroxide compounds, among which the non-cyclic ketone peroxides predominate. However, these ketone peroxides do contain some small quantities of cyclic ketone peroxides which result from side reactions during the preparation of the methylethyl and methylisobutyl ketone peroxides. For example, in commercially available methylethyl ketone peroxides about 1-4% of the total active oxygen content is attributable to cyclic ketone peroxides.
Although the aforementioned peroxides are known for use in the initiation of polymerization reactions, their performance in, for example, acrylic (co)polymerization and the curing of unsaturated polyesters at higher temperatures (i.e. above about 100.degree. C.), is disappointing and they often cause yellowing of the polymer. Furthermore, many commercially available peroxides generate undesired by-products.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for polymerization initiators which provide improved performance. These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the summary and detailed description of the present invention which follow.

Cyclic ketone peroxides as polymer initiators


A pixel structure includes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub-pixel, the three sub-pixels are arranged in a row and are all divided into a first region and a second region. The first region of the first pixel is above the second region of the first pixel. The first region of the third pixel is above the second region of the first pixel. The first region of the second pixel is below the second region of the second pixel. The first regions of two adjacent sub-pixels are not adjacent such that two first regions do not form the two consecutive points and thus do not form a lightspot. Furthermore, in a low grey value display, the color-mixing effect is better because the first regions of sub-pixels are arranged in a triangle distribution. This also improves the color-mixing effect of RGB colors.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a liquid crystal display field, and more particularly, to a pixel structure, a display panel, and a liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As the progress of the information society, demands for displays are growing rapidly. In order to meet these demands, several types of flat displays are introduced. For example, LCD (liquid crystal display), PDP (plasma display panel), and OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays are developed. In these flat displays, LCD display is widely utilized because of its low weight, small volume, low power consumption.
TN (twisted nematic) type or STN (super twisted nematic) type LCD displays have some problems of low contrasts or small view angle. In order to solve the problems, IPS (in plan switch) display mode and VA (vertical alignment) display mode are developed to provide a wide view angle.
For IPS display mode, it has very good wide view angle effect. However, in order to achieve a better display effect, the demands in the friction procedure of the manufacturing process are strict. This highly limits the tolerance of frictions. In mass productions, related problems may occur.
For VA display mode, as shown in FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b, the LCD display is composed of an upper substrate 11, a lower substrate 12, and negative liquid crystals 14 embedded between the two substrates. Transparent conducting layers (ITO) 13 are set on the inner sides of the two substrates 11 and 12, and form a vertical electrical field. The dielectric constant of the long axis of the negative liquid crystal is less than the dielectric constant of the direction vertical to the long axis. Therefore, when no vertical electrical field acts on the negative liquid crystals 14, the long axis of the liquid crystal is vertical to the substrate. When a vertical electrical field acts on the negative liquid crystals 14, the liquid crystal rotates in a specific direction under the effect of the electrical field and become vertical to the electrical field because the dielectric constant of the long axis of the liquid crystal is less. In contrast to the IPS display mode, the VA display mode does not need the rubbing procedure in the manufacturing process and thus has a great advantage in mass production.
But in contrast to the IPS display mode, the VA display mode has a severe color shift when it's viewed in a large viewing angle. Multiple solutions are provided. For example, coupling capacitor method (CC method), double TFT driving method (TT method), and charge sharing method are provided. Each of the method has its own advantages and disadvantages. But they have something in common. That is, they all divide a sub-pixel into two portions. One of the portions is called as Main portion, and the other is called as Sub portion. Usually, the Main portion is smaller than the Sub portion. This kind of design is called as 8-domain design.
The lighting point on the display panel is called as display panel lightspot, which is a physical damage of the display panel. This lightspot is formed because the inner light reflection plate is pressed by an external force or heated to slightly change its shape. As the demands of consumers are getting higher, a lightspot larger than ½ sub-pixel is unacceptable. However, in the actual manufacturing process, the lightspot is inevitable. Even the lightspot can be repaired into a normal spot, more production capacity is consumed.
The lightspot of the above-mentioned 8-domain design has its own characteristic. One condition is that the entire sub-pixel is bright. One condition is that only the Main portion of the sub-pixel is bright. One condition is that only the Sub portion of the sub-pixel is bright.
Under the condition that only the Main portion of the sub-pixel is bright, it does not influence display effects because it is smaller than ½ sub-pixel. It can be regarded as a normal spot instead of a lightspot. As shown in FIG. 2, if the Main portions of two adjacent sub-pixels are both bright, although each one of the Main portion cannot be regarded as a lightspot, they become a lightspot larger than ½ sub-pixel in horizontal because two Main portions are close to each other. This can be called as two consecutive points.

Pixel structure, display panel, and liquid crystal display

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A method for adaptive false contour reduction includes: detecting contour location information by removing a flat region having certain brightness values from a first input image based on a bright value difference between the first input image and a second input image with a bit depth of the first input image reduced; detecting false-contour direction and location information by measuring directional contrast of the flat region-removed first image, and distinguishing the false contour area and an edge area out of the false contour location information based on the measured contrast; and smoothing the false contour area by using the false contour direction and location information, and removing the false contour from the first input image. Thus, a flat region can be automatically removed by using a brightness value difference between a bit depth-reduced image and an original input image and detect a false contour, thereby enhancing a precision degree of false contour detection. Further, signal components can be prevented from being degraded by performing smoothing over only a false contour.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to adaptive false contour reduction, and more particularly, to adaptive false contour reduction which is capable of removing a false-contour region by detecting the false-contour region of an input image and smoothing only the false-contour region.
2. Description of the Related Art
As display devices are increasing in size in the digital television (DTV) era, an artifacts problem rises which did not appear in the past. That is, there is no artifacts problem when images are displayed on a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor or a small-sized TV, but various artifacts problems have come up with larger and wider TV screens in the DTV era. In order to obtain much clearer images, images input in digital data are image-processed by an enhancement process such as Contrast Enhancement (CE), Detail Enhancement (DE), and the like, but there has emerged a side effect of artifacts that was not taken into account in the past.
Artifacts refer to unnatural components on images, which contains diverse kinds of noise occurring due to limits to the Charge Coupled Device (CCD) sensor, mosquito noise, dynamic false contours due to characteristics of display devices, ghosts occurring due to problems in transmission channels, and so on. The false contours are typical of such artifacts. The false contours refer to contour-shaped artifacts appearing on a flat region of an image such as sky, water surface, skin, or the like. The flat region can be referred to as a region of which brightness is gradually changing rather than a region of which pixels have the exact same values. If such a flat region has some distinct brightness values to an extent offensive to eyes, the flat region has parts appearing like contour lines. The eye-offensive contour lines in the flat region are referred to as false contours or false edges, which are differentiated from edges being a signal component of an image.
The false contour occurs due to various causes, but, in general, mainly occur at the time the quantization level for a brightness value is not enough. The quantization level determining a brightness value is decided based on the number of bits (a bit depth) expressing a digitized brightness value. The false contour does not appear to an extent of the existing bit depth, but appears on the scaled-up display devices. Further, the false contour appears at the time of the CE or the DE process and even at the time of compressions or decompressions of images into or from Joint Photographic Experts Groups (JPEG) or Moving Picture Experts Groups (MPEG). The conventional false contour removal methods include the blue noise mask method, dithering method, Daly and Feng method, and so on.
FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the conventional Daly and Feng method for removing a false contour. The bit depth of an input image is P, and the bit depth of an input image through a low-pass filter 10 is R.
In the conventional false contour removal method, an image having the bit depth of P is input to the low-pass filter 10 which smoothes the image by adding adjacent pixels to the pixels of the input image. The input image passing through the low-pass filter 10 increases its bit depth since the adjacent pixels are added to the pixels of the image. Thus, the bit depth R of an input image passed through the low-pass filter 10 becomes higher than the bit depth P of an input image.
The quantization unit 20 re-quantizes the pixel values of the input image having the bit depth increased through the low-pass filter 10.
Further, the first adder 30 outputs a difference value between an output value of the low-pass filter 10 and an output value of the quantization unit 20.
The second adder 40 outputs a difference value between an output value of the first adder 30 and the original image. That is, the second adder 40 adds to the original image a difference between a re-quantized pixel value and an original pixel value. Thus, the brightness value of the input image is gradually changed so that a false contour disappears since the second adder 40 adds to the original image a difference value between a value of the original image and the re-quantized value.
However, the conventional Daly and Feng false contour removal method is applied to all pixels of an input image. Thus, the method has a problem that an output image has edges or texture corresponding to signal components which are degraded to become blurry since the entire input image passes through the low-pass filter. Further, the method has a problem since it can be applied only with limited conditions assuming that the bit depth of an input image is lower than the bit depth of an output image or knowing an original image prior to false contour occurrence due to quantization.
Further, the conventional false contour removal method can be properly applied when the causes of the false contour are known, and has limitations that false contour can not be precisely determined. In particular, the Daly and Feng method can not be used as a proper false contour removal method at the time a difference between a value obtained through a low-pass filter and a re-quantized value is not enough for false contour removal.
Accordingly, it is necessary to first detect a false contour from an input image and adaptively remove only the detected false contour.

Adaptive directional edge-preserving false contour filtering

Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Sogang University


A process for producing cumene is provided which comprises the step of contacting benzene and propylene under at least partial liquid phase alkylating conditions with a particulate molecular sieve alkylation catalyst, wherein the particles of said alkylation catalyst have a surface to volume ratio of about 80 to less than 200 inch−1.

Cumene is a valuable commodity chemical which is used industrially for the production of phenol and acetone. Cumene has for many years been produced commercially by the alkylation of benzene with propylene over a Friedel-Craft catalyst, particularly solid phosphoric acid or aluminum chloride. More recently, however, zeolite-based catalyst systems have been found to be more active and selective for propylation of benzene to cumene. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,606 describes the use of MCM-22 in the alkylation of benzene with propylene.
Typically, the zeolite catalysts employed in hydrocarbon conversion processes, such as aromatics alkylation, are in the form of cylindrical extrudates. However, it is known from, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,644 that shaped catalyst particles having a high surface to volume ratio, such as those having a polylobal cross-section, can produce improved results in processes which are diffusion limited, such as the hydrogenation of resid.
Moreover, it is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,990 that a polylobal catalyst particle having a non-cylindrical centrally located aperture can reduce the diffusion path for reagents and the pressure drop across packed catalyst beds while minimizing catalyst loss due to breakage, abrasion and crushing. In particular, Example 8 of the '990 patent discloses that hollow trilobal and quadrilobal ZSM-5 catalysts are more active and selective for the ethylation of benzene at 770° F. and 300 psig pressure than solid cylindrical catalysts of the same length. Under these conditions, the reagents are necessarily in the vapor phase.
Recently, attention has focused on liquid phase alkylation processes for producing alkylaromatic compounds, since liquid phase processes operate at a lower temperature than their vapor phase counterparts and hence tend to result in lower yields of by-products. Work by the present inventors has shown that shaped catalyst particles, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,966,644 and 4,441,990 show little or no advantage when used in the liquid phase ethylation of benzene. Surprisingly, however, it has now been found that shaped catalyst particles can yield improved results in the liquid phase propylation of benzene to produce cumene.


There is provided with an image coding method including: splitting an image into a plurality of block images each having plural pixels; performing a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) processing on the block image to calculate DCT coefficients from the block image; determining whether the block image is in a flat state or non-flat state depending on the DCT coefficients calculated from the block image; specifying as quantization step sizes for first DCT coefficients which are DCT coefficients equivalent to one-dimensional DCT coefficient out of the calculated DCT coefficients, adjusting step sizes equal to or smaller than values of the first DCT coefficients and as quantization step sizes for second DCT coefficients other than the first DCT coefficients out of the calculated DCT coefficients, standard step sizes given beforehand, when the block image is in the flat state; and quantizing the calculated DCT coefficients with respective quantization step sizes specified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image coding device, method and program to compress moving images.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, block coding such as block DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) coding has been known as a coding method to efficiently compress still image data, moving image data and the like.
When image data is compressed or decompressed by such block coding, block distortion may occur. The higher a compression rate is, the more likely the distortion occurs. Since the DCT coding and the like makes conversion in a closed space in a block without considering correlation between blocks across a block boundary, block continuity cannot be retained at the boundary. Thus, the difference of a restored data value at the boundary with an adjacent block is recognized as the block distortion. Additionally, if high-frequency components are removed to raise a compression rate, the continuity cannot be retained at the boundary with the adjacent block, causing the distortion. The block distortion, which occurs when the block coding is performed on image data, is more easily to be recognized than usual random noises because it has a kind of regularity. And it is a main cause of image quality degradation.
To reduce this block distortion, for example, a document of "A denoising filter in an MC-DCT coding method", Ida and Dachiku, IEICE (The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers) 1990 Shunki Zenkoku Taikai Koen Ronbun-shu (in Japanese) (Spring National Convention Lectures Transactions) 7-35 discloses a technique of using a quantization step size to decide filter ON/OFF, or executing a multiple courses of processing by changing a processing direction to retain edges and perform denoising. Although in this method it is easy to perform the processing, there is a disadvantage that the image's high-frequency components are lost and resolution is degraded.
Additionally, a document of "Characteristics of adapted denoising filters in image block coding", Izawa, Kiyo (in Japanese) (Annals) No. 74, pp. 89-100, Faculty of Engineering, Shinshu University discloses a technique of performing the DCT even on surrounding blocks and removing noise frequency components. Although this method effectively reduces block distortion while maintaining resolution, the processing is complex and expensive, so it is unsuitable to apply to some devices, especially consumer devices.
While the above methods are techniques used in decoding images, many other techniques have been proposed. However, with reducing the block distortion at the decoding, erroneous determination of the block distortion or pseudo-edges of the blocks can occur. To resolve this problem, as a method to make the block distortion as unremarkable as possible at the encoding, the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-130735 proposes a method for specifying a different reference coordinates position for block splitting for each frame to shift the block distortion for each frame to make the distortion unremarkable. In this method, however, since encoding and decoding are a pair in an algorithm, the opportunity to apply the algorithm is significantly limited.
Additionally, the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-268580 proposes a method for using motion vectors to encode parts remarkable in motion with high-frequency components reduced to raise the compression rate, and encode parts unremarkable in motion without highly reducing high-frequency components to retain resolution. This method, however, has a problem that since it assumes that the motion vectors are correctly detected, image quality drops if the motion vectors are falsely detected.
Incidentally, one example of block coding methods for image data may include the MPEG (Moving pictures Experts Group) scheme in which the DCT using correlation inside an image, motion compensation using correlation between images, and the Huffman coding using correlation between code strings are combined.
The MPEG scheme accomplishes the compression by reducing high frequency components of space frequency of image data by weighting quantization. Thus, there is a problem that if raising the compression rate is attempted, the high frequency components are removed accordingly and block distortion occurs. Additionally, if high frequency components are sufficiently reduced when image data is input, high frequency components removed afterward by the quantization decrease and the distortion due to the compression reduces. If, however, too many high frequency components are lost at the input, a restored image looses sharpness, making a blurred image. This seriously affects, especially, images unremarkable in motion.

Device, method, and program for image coding


A pixel structure comprises at least two scan and data lines. The scan and data lines substantially intersects one another to form at least one region therein. The pixel structure further comprises at least one thin film transistor, at least one passivation layer, at least one defect detection pattern, and at least one pixel electrode. The pixel electrode is disposed on the passivation layer and electrically connected to the thin film transistor via an opening of the passivation layer. The defect detection pattern is disposed in the region to detect whether any residue remains therebelow.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pixel structure and, more particularly, to a structure which can facilitate to detect if there exists any residue.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In general, a liquid crystal panel mainly comprises a light filter substrate, an array substrate, and a liquid crystal material layer filled between the light filter substrate and the array substrate. By controlling the electric field occurred between the array substrate and the light filter substrate, the direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer can be twisted to change the path of light transmitting in the liquid crystal panel. Thereby, each of the light beams transmitting out the filter substrate can present particular brightness and thus a respective image corresponding to the incident light control can be displayed.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic top-view of an array substrate 1 in the liquid crystal display.
The array substrate 1 has a plurality of scan lines 10 and data lines 11. The scan lines 10 and data lines 11 are substantially interlaced with each other. Upon such an arrangement, the array substrate 1 is divided into a plurality of pixel structures 12, each of the pixel structures 12 has a thin film transistor 121 and a pixel electrode 122. Wherein, the thin film transistor 121 is a three-terminal switch electrically connected to the scan line 10, the data line 11, and the pixel electrode 122. The thin film transistor 121 can be turned on or turned off according to the input electric signals form the scan lines 10, and thereby to control the voltage signal transmitted from the data line 11 to the pixel electrode 122.
Besides, the scan lines 10, the data lines 11, the thin film transistor 121, and the pixel electrode 122 are all fabricated through respective depositing processes and etching processes so as to have various materials formed on the array substrate 1 in sequence by predetermined patterns. During the fabrication processes, residues may still remain outside the predetermined patterns, and thereby may lead to various defects.
For instance, FIG. 2 shows a schematic top-view of a pixel structure 12. Wherein the thin film transistor 121 is fabricated, an amorphous silicon material is disposed on a gate 1211 acting as a channel layer 1212 of the transistor 121. If the amorphous silicon material is not disposed in the predetermined position, the possible residues 13 would be formed to remain in the pixel structure as shown in FIG. 2. Else, the external materials may also be dropped onto the pixel structure and cause the residue 13.
If the residue 13 were located at an overlap region of the data line and the pixel electrode 122, a coupled capacitance will be generated between the residue 13 and the pixel electrode 122 located on the residue 13. While the array substrate 11 is operated and a voltage level is applied to the scan line 10 and the data line 11, the voltage of the data line 11 can cross the residue 13 so as to have the pixel electrode 122 to generate a coupled capacitance to affect common operation of the pixel electrode 122, and thereby a possible point defect can be introduced.
In FIG. 3, a schematic top-view of another pixel structure is shown. When a metal layer is deposited on the array substrate to form a plurality of the scan lines 10, and when a metal material is disposed outside the predetermined position, a residue 13 in the pixel structure would be formed, as shown in FIG. 3. If the residue 13 just happens to connect two scan lines 10, a short circuit leading to a line defect would be inevitable.
Accordingly, the above-mentioned residue 13 can become one of major reasons that cause defects on a liquid crystal panel. The currently testing method is to input a voltage across the scan lines and the data lines, to measure the voltage of each of the pixel electrodes, and then to compare if there exists any abnormal voltage at any one of the pixel electrodes. However, this testing exists a major drawback. In the above-mentioned pixel structure, a coupled capacitance circumstance is not enough to affect the voltage of the pixel electrode. Namely, it is difficult to sensitively detect the difference of voltages between the pixel electrodes with the coupled capacitance and those without the coupled capacitance. Thus, it is unable to identify whether or not the pixel structure contains an unnecessary residue, which causes the coupled capacitance.
If the residue remains in the pixel structure, a short circuit would exist between two adjacent scan lines. After a voltage is fed into the scan lines and the data lines of the device that meets a short circuit, all the response voltages measured at the pixel electrodes connected to the scan lines would become abnormal. However, the difference of the response voltages at the pixel electrodes would be extremely small. In other words, even that the short circuit between two adjacent scan lines can be located, it is still difficult to verify which pixel electrode has the residue causing the short circuit.
Hence, for the ordinary skilled people in the art, how to effectively detect the unnecessary residues on array substrates so as to prevent from the defect problems resulted from the residues is one of the main topics in the industrial circles.

Pixel structure and methods for fabricating, detecting, and repairing the pixel structure


A semiconductor system includes a master chip and a plurality of slave chips. The master chip controls internal voltage levels of the respective slave chips based on signals outputted from the plurality of slave chips such that, by referring to any one slave chip of the plurality of slave chips, internal voltage levels of remaining slave chips are controlled.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments relate to a semiconductor system, and more particularly, to a semiconductor system which is constituted by a master chip and a slave chip.
2. Related Art
In order to increase the capacity and the degree of integration of a semiconductor apparatus, a 3D (three-dimensional) semiconductor apparatus which includes a plurality of chips stacked and packaged in a single package has been developed. Recently, a through-silicon via (TSV) method has been used, in which a plurality of stacked chips are electrically coupled through TSVs.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a conventional semiconductor apparatus 10. In FIG. 1, the semiconductor apparatus 10 includes a master chip 11 and a plurality of slave chips 12. The master chip 11 may communicate with a host device and receive signals for controlling the respective slave chips 12. The master chip 11 may provide the signals received from the host device, to the slave chips 12, and may receive the data which are outputted from the slave chips 12.
The master chip 11 and the plurality of slave chips 12 may be stacked through through vias 13, 14, 15 and 16 and bumps 17. The through vias 13 and 14 of the slave chips 12 are electrically coupled in series and form data channels. The first through vias 13 of the slave chips 12 may form a first data channel DQ1, and the second through vias 14 of the slave chips 12 may form a second data channel DQ2. The slave chips 12 may include increased numbers of through vias and may be formed with increased numbers of data channels. The third through vias 15 may form a command channel CMD, and the slave chips 12 may receive a command signal through the command channel CMD from the master chip 11. The fourth through vias 16 may form an address channel ADD, and the slave chips 12 may receive an address signal through the address channel ADD from the master chip 11. The slave chips 12 may receive the command signal and the address signal from the master chip 11 and may output stored data to the master chip 11 through the first and second data channels DQ1 and DQ2. In this way, the slave chips 12 share the data channels DQ1 and DQ2, the command channel CMD and the address channel ADD.
Since it is difficult for the slave chips 12 constituting the semiconductor apparatus 10 to be manufactured under perfectly the same processing conditions, the slave chips 12 cannot help but have processing skews. For example, in the case where a lowermost stacked slave chip has an earliest processing skew and an uppermost stacked slave chip has a latest processing skew, times from when the master chip 11 provides the command signal to the slave chips 12 to when data are received from the respective slave chips 12 may have substantial errors. These errors may serve as factors that degrade the operation performance of the semiconductor apparatus.

Semiconductor system for tuning skew of semiconductor chip


An industrial computer case structure with modular interface card expansion capability comprised of a main case and an expansion case that are both less than 2U (1U=4.445 cm) in height. The connector section of a mainboard installed inside the main case projects through an end wall of the main case. The slot connector of a unitary two-to-one expansion frame projects from one end wall of the expansion case, enabling the connection of the slot connector to the connector section of the mainboard and the connection of the two slot connectors at the other end of the expansion frame to additional interface cards. This results in the establishment of electrical continuity between the mainboard and the interface cards, while also effectively reducing overall computer case height and space occupancy.

1 Field of the Invention
The invention herein relates to an industrial computer case structure with modular interface card expansion capability in which the structural design of the two-section computer case is limited to a height of less than 2U (1U=4.445 cm) and supports the establishment of electrical continuity between the mainboard inside a main case and the interface cards contained in an expansion case, which not only permits configuration as per application requirements, but also achieves the objectives of flexible interface card expansion and the effective reduction of the total height and space occupancy of the computer case.
2 Description of the Prior Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional industrial computer case 100, the said case 100 typically has a minimum of one internally installed hard disk drive 200 and a back plane 300; disposed on the said back plane 300 are a plurality of slots 301 that provide for the vertical insertion and connection of interface cards 500 to a minimum of one mainboard 400 and, furthermore, the brackets 401 and 501 of the said case 100 have different capability input/output connection ports mounted in them that provides for respective input/output connectivity (such as to an a PS/2 port, a parallel port, a serial port, and a USB port, etc.); since industrial computers are often utilized for specific applications, it is necessary to first define the intended capability (such as a firewall system or a mail server, a printer server, and a proxy server, etc.), with the resulting machine ordinarily tall to accommodate the installation of the requisite hard disk drive 200 and mainboard 400 inside the said case 100; however, utilizing such an original specification case 100 occupies a space that is considerably larger than expected and, furthermore, is of higher production cost.
In view of the said shortcomings of conventional industrial computers, the inventor of the invention herein addressed the existent structure by improving the deficiencies based on rational solutions which, following extensive research and design, culminated in the successful completion of the improved structure industrial computer of the invention herein.
The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide an industrial computer case structure with modular interface card expansion capability, the main case of which limited to a height of less than 2U and connected to an expansion case that is also limited to a height of less than 2U such that when a minimum of one application is defined, the total space occupancy is reduced below that of a conventional industrial computer, wherein the connector section of a mainboard installed inside the main case projects through an end wall of the main case and the slot connector of a unitary two-to-one expansion frame projects from one end wall of the expansion case, enabling the connection of the said slot connector to the connector section of a mainboard and the connection of interface cards inserted in the two slot connectors at the other end of the expansion fame and linked in parallel to the mainboard to thereby achieve the objectives of establishing electrical continuity between the mainboard and the interface cards as well as flexible expansion capability.
Another objective of the invention herein is to provide an industrial computer case structure with modular interface card expansion capability, wherein the conjoining of the expansion case to the main case is located by a tab and a slot disposed at four positions and following conjoinment, the said tab is fastened to the main case or the expansion case by screws.
Yet another objective of the invention herein is to provide an industrial computer case structure with modular interface card expansion capability, wherein a recessed opening is formed in the end wall of the main case, with the said recessed opening capable of accommodating the insertion through of the connector section of the mainboard and, furthermore, an upright tab extends from the said expansion case at four positions along the end wall of the expansion frame that are utilized to reduce impact to the slot connector by external objects.
To enable a further understanding by the examination committee of the arrangement, structure, and functions of the invention herein, the brief description of the drawings below are followed by the detailed description of the most preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Industrial computer case structure with modular interface card expansion capability


A sensor node for deployment in association with an earth surface has a biodegradable plastic housing, an electronic circuit board within the housing, and at least one battery for providing electrical energy to the circuit board. The circuit board has a non-toxic substrate and at least one lead-free solder element. Each battery is a non-toxic battery.

Wireless sensor networks are being applied to agriculture and natural resource management. An example of a wireless network used in an agricultural application is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0039745 A1 (Anderson et al.), which is assigned to the Assignee of the present invention. A wireless network of this type typically includes a plurality of sensor nodes, with each sensor node having a printed circuit board connected to a battery. The circuit board and battery are typically placed within a housing. For certain applications, it may not be possible or economically feasible to retrieve the sensor nodes after the battery is depleted. Printed circuit boards used in conventional sensor nodes contain lead solder and are considered hazardous waste. Batteries may also contain environmentally unfriendly chemicals and/or materials. Thus, the widespread use of existing sensor nodes can lead to environmental damage over years of use.

Non-toxic, biodegradable sensor nodes for use with a wireless network


An emergency notifying apparatus of a moving object, having: image pick-up devices for picking up a part of the moving object and surroundings thereof, a video recording apparatus for recording signals related to the images taken by the image pick-up devices according to an output from at least one of shock sensors for detecting a shock applied to the moving object, a thermal sensor for detecting a heat or a temperature in a given portion of the moving object, and a manual switch, and a control unit for generating a signal for transmitting the image signals recorded in the recording apparatus to a given station via a radio communication device.

The present invention relates to a notifying system such as, for example, a traffic accident emergency notifying system affecting an operation of a moving object such as an automobile and more particularly to a technology which enables a center station to make more rapid arrangements for sending a rescue party on optimum emergency cars or the like by notifying the center station of an occurrence of a trouble quickly and a content thereof accurately by means of a transmission of image information (video information) even if any trouble occurs to the automobile, for example, in case of an accident disabling a driver of the automobile to make a response.
In addition, the present invention relates to an improvement of a mobile terminal, namely, a mobile phone and a radio communication system for the mobile phone whose communication function is partially limited in case of some trouble which has occurred to the mobile phone, a mobile phone owner, or an automobile on which the mobile phone is mounted, for example, in case of a shock or an impact applied by a collision, a heated condition or a temperature rise caused by a fire, or a decrease of a temperature inside the automobile caused by a decrease of an air temperature or the like.
Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a typical block configuration of an emergency information notifying system using a conventional technology such as, for example, an automobile. Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a diagram of assistance in explaining an appearance of the moving object in which the emergency information notifying system is installed, as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, a typical configuration of an emergency information notifying system utilizing the conventional technology is shown in FIG. 9.
In FIG. 7, there is shown a shock sensor 1f. This shock sensor 1f is mounted at a forefront of the automobile. Furthermore, there are shown an airbag device 2, a Global Positioning System receiver (GPS receiver) 3, and an antenna 3a of the Global Positioning System (GPS).
In this condition, if the shock sensor 1f detects a shock, the airbag device 2 works as a result of the detection to reduce a shock given to passengers inside the automobile and to protect them with an output of airbag working information 2a. On the other hand, the GPS receiver 3 outputs position or location and time information 3b of the automobile. These airbag working information 2a and the position and time information 3b are transmitted to an emergency notification control unit 4 to generate a notification signal 4a for notifying an occurrence of an accident involving the detected shock, a time of the automobile at the occurrence of the accident and a position of that. The notification signal 4a is supplied to a mobile phone 5 and then the mobile phone 5 automatically transmits the signal, thereby notifying the accident to the center station shown in FIG. 9 such as, for example, an emergency information center 30′ by a radio communication or via a communication network 32.
The emergency information center 30′ checks the occurrence of the accident on the automobile 10 and its position by means of the received notification signal 4a and have a passenger, particularly, a driver explain an accident situation via the mobile phone 5. Then, the center selects emergency cars to be dispatched to an accident site out of patrol cars, ambulance cars, fire engines, tow cars and the like and arranges them on the basis of the checked content or the content of the explanation.
If there is no response from the driver via the mobile phone 5 to the emergency information center 30′ by which the center cannot receive the explanation of the accident situation in this condition, it is determined that there has occurred "a serious accident putting a driver in an unconscious state (consciousness disorder) or the like" and a patrol car is dispatched first on the basis of the determination. Then, according to the situation of the accident site checked by the patrol car, emergency cars such as ambulance cars, fire engines, tow cars or the like are dispatched.
Furthermore, without an output of the airbag working information 2a, an emergency notification can be made by a driver's manipulation of an emergency notification switch 6, in the same manner as with the output of the airbag working information 2a.
An introduction of this system enables an emergency notification without a need for looking for a public telephone or an emergency telephone occurrence of an emergency such as an accident and therefore the emergency information center 30′ can locate the position of the accident site quickly even if a passenger is unhinged or the passenger is in an unknown place, thereby enhancing first aid and critical care effects.
In JP-A-9-297838, there is disclosed a technology of, for example, taking photographs of a car in an accident damaged as a result of the accident involving a shock as described above, comparing the image with a previously registered image of the car having no damage, and of calculating an assessed amount of a damage insurance according to the damage on the basis of a difference obtained by the comparison. In this technology, however, the assessed amount of the damage insurance is just calculated based on only a situation of a single car in the accident to be assessed and, for example, in an accident involving a plurality of automobiles, the assessed amount cannot be determined unless a proportion of mutual liabilities is determined and only a single car image indicating the extent of damage is insufficient to calculate the proportion of the liabilities.
In "NTT DoCoMo Technical Journal" (pp. 18-22, issued on Oct. 1, 2000) and "ITS Industry and Economy 2001" (pp. 54-60, issued on May 1, 2001), there is described an example of an emergency notification service at an occurrence of a car accident with a mobile phone. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,080, there is described a notification from an automobile to a Mayday center. In JP-A-11-165661, there is disclosed transmitting information on a vehicle driving condition to a base station. In JP-A-2000-205890, there is disclosed notifying a call center of accident occurrence information. In JP-A-2001-243579, there is disclosed notifying a monitoring center of passenger information when an accident occurs. In the notifying systems described in the above literature and publication, there is disclosed a transmission of identification information (character information) related to a driver or a vehicle in an accident to a given station, but there is no disclosure of recording images before and after the accident taken from the car in the accident and transmitting the images to the emergency notification center.
In a serious traffic accident affecting a human life, it is widely known that a time duration between an occurrence of an accident and an ambulance car arrival decides the first aid and critical care effects. Even in the above notifying systems having greatly improved notifying effects in comparison with the conventional notification depending on a public telephone or an emergency telephone, it is sometimes impossible to rapidly and optimally cope with an accident in case of a serious accident disabling the driver of the accident car to make a response.
In addition, in the above conventional technology described in JP-A-9-297838, an assessed amount of a damage insurance is just calculated based on only a situation of a single car in an accident to be assessed and, for example, in an accident involving a plurality of automobiles, an assessed amount can be determined only after a proportion of mutual liabilities is determined and only a single car image indicating the extent of damage is insufficient to calculate the proportion of the liabilities.

Emergency information notifying system, and apparatus, method and moving object utilizing the emergency information notifying system