A process for reading data (including verifying during programming) from a selected non-volatile storage elements of a group (e.g., NAND string) of non-volatile storage elements includes maintaining an intermediate voltage as a control gate voltage for an unselected non-volatile storage element and subsequently changing the control gate voltage for the unselected non-volatile storage element from the intermediate voltage to a read enable voltage. The control gate voltage for the selected non-volatile storage element is raised from a standby voltage (which is different than the intermediate voltage) to a read compare voltage. While the control gate for the selected non-volatile storage element is at the read compare voltage and the control gate for the unselected non-volatile storage element is at the read enable voltage, the state of the selected non-volatile storage element is sensed to determine information about the data stored in the selected non-volatile storage element.

1. Field of the Invention
The technology described herein relates to non-volatile memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory has become more popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is used in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices. Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) and flash memory are among the most popular non-volatile semiconductor memories.
Both EEPROM and flash memory utilize a floating gate that is positioned above and insulated from a channel region in a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate is positioned between the source and drain regions. A control gate is provided over and insulated from the floating gate. The threshold voltage of the transistor is controlled by the amount of charge that is retained on the floating gate. That is, the minimum amount of voltage that must be applied to the control gate before the transistor is turned on to permit conduction between its source and drain is controlled by the level of charge on the floating gate.
When programming an EEPROM or flash memory device, such as a NAND flash memory device, typically a program voltage is applied to the control gate and the bit line is grounded. Electrons from the channel are injected into the floating gate. When electrons accumulate in the floating gate, the floating gate becomes negatively charged and the threshold voltage of the memory cell is raised so that the memory cell is in a programmed state. More information about programming can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,397 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,917,542; both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Typically, the program voltage applied to the control gate is applied as a series of pulses. The magnitude of the pulses is increased with each pulse by a predetermined step size. In the periods between the pulses, verify operations are carried out. That is, the programming level of each memory cell being programmed in parallel is read between each programming pulse to determine whether it is equal to or greater than a verify level to which it is being programmed. One means of verifying the programming is to test conduction between the memory cell's source and drain at a specific compare point.
Conduction represents an "on" state of the device corresponding to the flow of current across the channel of the device. An "off" state corresponds to no current flowing across the channel between the source and drain. Typically, a flash memory cell will conduct if the voltage being applied to the control gate is greater than the threshold voltage and the memory cell will not conduct if the voltage applied to the control gate is less than the threshold voltage. By setting the threshold voltage of the memory cell to an appropriate value, the memory cell can be made to either conduct or not conduct current for a given set of applied voltages. Thus, by determining whether a memory cell conducts current at a given set of voltages, the state of the memory cell can be determined.
Flash memory cells are erased by raising the p-well to an erase voltage (e.g. 20 volts) and grounding the word lines of a selected block (or other unit) of memory cells. The source and bit lines are floating. Erasing can be performed on the entire memory array, separate blocks, or another unit of cells. Electrons are transferred from the floating gate to the p-well region and the threshold voltage becomes negative.
Some flash memory systems use group the memory cells into an array, organized so that a set of bit lines and word lines can be used to address a particular memory cell. In one example, the memory cells are grouped into a set of NAND strings. Each NAND string includes multiple transistors in series between two select gates (a drain side select gate SGD and a source side select gate SGS). In typical read and verify operations for NAND flash memory, the select gates (SGD and SGS) are raised to approximately 3 volts and the unselected word lines are raised to a read pass (or enable) voltage (e.g. 5 volts) to make the transistors operate as pass gates. The selected word line is connected to a compare voltage, a level of which is specified for each read or verify operation in order to determine whether a threshold voltage of the concerned memory cell has reached such level. The source and p-well are at zero volts. The selected bit lines are pre-charged to a level of, for example, 0.7V. If the threshold voltage is higher than the verify or read level applied to the selected word line, the potential level of the concerned bit line maintains the high level because of the non-conductive memory cell. On the other hand, if the threshold voltage is lower than the read or verify level, the potential level of the concerned bit line decreases to a low level, for example less than 0.5V, because of the conductive memory cell. The state of the memory cell is detected by a sense amplifier that is connected to the bit line.
Typically, in between read operations and in between program and verify operations the word lines are at 0 volts. The unselected word lines are raised to the read pass voltage at the same time as the selected word line is raised to the read compare voltage. Because the read pass voltage is generally much larger than the read compare voltage, the word lines are close together and the word lines can be relatively long, coupling noise can appear on the selected word line when it is raised to the read compare voltage while the unselected word lines are raised to the read pass voltage. This coupling initially raises the voltage of the selected word line; however, the raised voltage will dissipate over time so that the selected word line settles at the intended read compare voltage. To avoid errors, some systems will need to delay the read process in order to wait for the selected word line to settle at the intended read compare voltage. This waiting slows down the reading and/or verification process.
One proposal to remedy the coupling issue described above is to slow down the ramp-up of the read pass voltage on the unselected word lines. However, this solution also slows down the reading and verification process.
Another proposal is to reduce the capacitive coupling of the word lines. However, to reduce the capacitive coupling of the word lines more expensive materials need to be used or die size needs to be increased in order to increase space in between word lines.
Another proposal is to maintain the word lines at the read pass voltage in between read operations and in between program and verify operations. Therefore, the unselected word lines would not need to be ramped up during a read process. A problem with this approach is that to move the word lines to the read pass voltage from other voltages using during the programming process (or other processes) requires a charge pump or other circuit to sink a large amount of current to bring down the word lines to the read pass voltage. For example, during a program-verify process, the word lines must move from a boosting voltage (e.g. 10 volts) to the read pass voltage (e.g., approximately 5 volts). Some charge pumps and other circuit typically found on flash memory device today cannot efficiently sink current to bring the voltage down to any specific voltages except for standby voltage. New circuits for more complicated sequence and voltage detection control may need to be added that itself will require additional space on the device.

System for reading non-volatile storage with efficient setup


An illustrative example embodiment of a controller associated with a container includes a processor and memory. The controller is configured to generate a derived key based on global positioning system information corresponding to a location of the controller. The controller uses the derived key to authenticate a user device.

Intermodal shipping containers are in widespread use for transporting a variety of items. An advantage of such containers is that they can be used by different carriers without unloading the contents of the container. For example, the same container can be loaded, placed onto a truck, carried to a shipping port, removed from the truck and placed onto a ship that carries the still-loaded container to another location. Other transporting scenarios are possible with such containers.
Some shipping containers, such as those mentioned above, include systems for preserving perishable items. For example, some containers include a refrigeration circuit for providing air conditioning or refrigeration within the container. Depending on the transportation specifics, it may be necessary to adjust the operation of such a system at one or more times between when the container is first loaded and when it reaches its final destination. In many instances multiple containers are stacked on top of one another and multiple stacks are arranged very close to each other so that direct access to at least some of the containers is not practical or possible. Without direct access to a container, there is a need for an alternative way of adjusting or controlling operation of an in-container system, such as a refrigeration system.
One challenge associated with providing such control is maintaining security over access to the system and its controls to ensure proper conditions for the contents of the container. Another challenge is giving different authorized individuals appropriate access at various times and locations along the travel route of the container. There is a need for an efficient and secure way to observe and adjust the operation of such on-board or in-container systems.

Geographically secure access to container controller


A dielectric filter having plural resonator cavities in a dielectric block, at least one resonator cavity comprising a large inner-diameter portion, a small inner-diameter portion and a diameter-changing portion formed between the large and small portions, an inner conductor being formed on the inner surface of each of the resonator cavities. The large and small inner-diameter portions of the stepped resonator cavity may have different sectional shapes, and may be either coaxial or non-coaxial. One of the portions may have an elongated cross-sectional shape and/or be arranged obliquely with respect to the dielectric block. One of the portions may moreover be arranged eccentrically with respect to the other portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dielectric filter, and particularly to a dielectric filter in which a plurality of resonator cavities which contain resonator holes having step portions are formed in a single dielectric block.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known a dielectric filter in which a step portion is formed in a resonator cavity, forming two resonant portions having different line impedance, with the step portion at the boundary thereof, thereby obtaining a desired filter characteristic. FIGS. 1A and 1B show the construction of a conventional dielectric filter in which resonator cavities having step portions as described above are formed. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the dielectric filter, taken from the open-circuited end surface of the dielectric filter, and FIG. 1B is a plan view showing the dielectric filter, also taken from the open-circuited end surface.
The dielectric filter shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B comprises a dielectric block 1 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and resonator cavities 2a and 2b which are formed in the dielectric block 1, so as to penetrate through a pair of confronting surfaces of the dielectric block 1. As seen in FIG. 1A, each resonator cavity has an inner conductor 3 formed on the inner surface thereof. Further, input/output electrodes 5 are formed on the outer surface of the dielectric block 1, and an outer conductor 4 is formed substantially over the whole surface of the dielectric block 1 except for the areas at which the input/output electrodes 5 are formed.
At one end surface 1a of the dielectric block 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "open-circuited end surface"), a portion at which no inner conductor 3 is formed (hereinafter referred to as the "non-conductor portion"), is provided at one end portion of each of the resonator cavities 2a, 2b which is in the neighborhood of the end surface 1a as shown in FIG. 1A. Thus the inner conductor 3 formed in each resonator cavity 2a, 2b is separated from the outer conductor 4 by this non-conductor portion. On the other hand, at the opposite end surface 1b (see FIG. 1A) of the dielectric block 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "short-circuited end surface), each inner conductor 3 is short-circuited to the outer conductor 4.
In the dielectric filter thus constructed, a step portion 21 (see FIG. 1B) is provided substantially at the center portion between the open-circuited end surface 1a and the short-circuited end surface 1b in each resonator 2a, 2b, and these resonators 2a and 2b are designed so that the inner diameter thereof at the end surface 1a is larger than that at the end surface 1b. Hereinafter, the portion of each resonator cavity 2a, 2b which has the larger inner diameter is referred to as the "large inner-diameter portion", and the other portion of the resonator cavity which has the smaller inner diameter is referred to as the "small inner-diameter portion".
In this structure, the large inner-diameter portion is formed at the side of the open-circuited end surface 1a, and the coupling between both resonators is ordinarily strong capacitive coupling, so that a filter characteristic having a broad pass band and an attenuation pole at a low side of the pass band is obtained. Further, the resonant frequency of each resonator which is formed in each resonator cavity 2a, 2b, and the coupling degree of the resonators, can be varied by changing the ratio of the length of the large inner-diameter portion and the length of the small inner-diameter portion of the resonator cavity 2a or 2b and the ratio of the inner diameters of the resonator cavities 2a and 2b, thereby obtaining a desired filter characteristic.
However, in the conventional dielectric filter as described above, the large inner-diameter portions and the small inner-diameter portion of the resonator cavities 2a, 2b are designed to have a circular cross-sectional shape, and the center axes thereof are disposed coaxially. This places restrictions on the self-capacitance which is formed between the inner conductor 3 and the outer conductor 4, and the mutual capacitance which is formed between the neighboring inner conductors 3, and thus the degree of freedom in the design of a desired filter characteristic is low. That is, it is difficult to obtain various filter characteristics in a dielectric block 1 having a required body size. In other words, it is difficult to design the dielectric block 1 so that it has a desired body size and also to obtain required filter characteristics.

Dielectric filter having obliquely oriented stepped resonators


On an aircraft, primary power distribution control and secondary power distribution control may be performed with a single line replaceable module (LRM) having an integrated architecture. The LRM may be provided with trip engines that are based on digital signal processors (DSP's). The DSP's may be programmed to allow the trip engines to perform either ELCU functions or SSPC functions. Use of the single LRM precludes a need for complex circuitry that might otherwise be required to coordinate prior-art independent ELCU and SSPC controls.

The present invention is in the field of power distribution systems and, more particularly, power distribution systems which operate in vehicles such as aircraft.
In a typical prior art aircraft, power distribution control is performed with two or more independent systems which are distinctly different from one another. A first system may control primary power distribution. Primary power distribution may comprise wiring and contactors for high amperage circuitry. This high amperage circuitry may be considered electrical trunk lines. A second system may control secondary power distribution on relatively low amperage branch circuitry.
Some control units for aircraft secondary power systems are typically configured as modules which can be replaced as needed. These replaceable modules are referred to as "line replaceable modules" or LRM's. This type of LRM may utilize solid state devices and it may be referred to as a "solid state power control" or an SSPC.
In a typical prior-art aircraft, a separate "electrical load control unit" (ELCU) may be employed to control power primary distribution. Electronic architecture of a typical prior art ELCU is distinctly different from that of a prior art SSPC. But, all elements of an aircraft electrical system must be able to operate in a coordinated manner to achieve the singular purpose of controlling and operating the aircraft. In order to achieve this requisite coordinated electrical operation, there is a requirement for complex circuitry which provides coordination between the distinctive architectures of the prior art ELCU's and SSPC's. This coordinating circuitry is expensive, and because of its complexity, it is subject to possible failure.
Additionally, use of multiple control systems to perform control functions contributes to increased cost and weight of an aircraft and increased maintenance costs. When an aircraft employs different control systems for electrical power control, there is an obvious need for additional inventory of spare parts for the aircraft.
As can be seen, there is a need to provide a system of power distribution control which precludes a need for complex circuitry to coordinate operation of two or more different electronic architectures. Additionally, there is a need to reduce the number of components required for control of electrical power distribution and thereby reduce weight and operational costs of an aircraft.

Multi-functional LRM performing SSPC and ELCU functions


A method determines the optimal turn direction of an aircraft among two directions, right and left, following a lateral trajectory to join an arrival straight charted by an angle of arrival, based on a departure point and angle of departure defining a departure straight oriented along movement of the aircraft, the direction defined by a respectively positive or negative optimal turn sign, comprising: determining a conventional departure sign of the departure point; determining a center value of an angle of change of course equal to the difference between the angle of arrival and angle of departure referred back between −180° and +180°, the center value exhibiting a logical sign corresponding to the center value sign of the angle of change of course; determining the sign of the optimal turn based on comparison between the departure sign and the logical sign, the sign of the optimal turn defining optimal turn direction.

Most current aircraft possess a flight management system, for example of the FMS type, the acronym standing for the term "Flight Management System". These systems allow navigational aid, by displaying information useful to pilots, or else by communicating flight parameters to an automatic piloting system.
Notably, a system of FMS type allows a pilot or another qualified person, to input, pre-flight, a flight plan defined by a departure point of the flight plan, an arrival point of the flight plan, and a series of passing points or waypoints, customarily designated by the abbreviation WPT. All these points can be chosen from among points predefined in a navigation database, and which correspond to airports, radionavigation beacons, etc. The points can also be defined manually by their geographical coordinates and optionally their altitude.
The passing points can be input through a dedicated interface, for example a keyboard or a touchscreen, or else by transferring data from an external device.
A flight plan then consists of a succession of segments, or "legs" according to the terminology customarily employed in this technical field.
Other data can be entered into the flight management system, notably data relating to the aircraft's load plan and to the quantity of fuel aboard.
When the aircraft is in flight, the flight management system precisely evaluates the position of the aircraft and the uncertainty in this item of data, by centralizing the data originating from the various positioning devices, such as the satellite-based geo-positioning receiver, the radionavigation devices: for example DME, NDB and VOR, the inertial platform, etc.
A screen allows the pilots to view the current position of the aircraft, as well as the route followed by it, and the closest passing points, the whole on a map background making it possible to simultaneously display other flight parameters and distinctive points. The information viewed allows notably the pilots to adjust flight parameters, such as heading, thrust, altitude, rates of climb or of descent, etc. or else simply to check the proper progress of the flight if the aircraft is piloted in an automatic manner. The computer of the flight management system makes it possible to determine an optimal flight geometry, notably in the sense of a reduction in operating costs related to fuel consumption.
FIG. 1 presents a summary diagram illustrating the structure of a flight management system of FMS type, known from the prior art.
A system of FMS type 100 has a man-machine interface 120 comprising for example a keyboard and a display screen, or else simply a touch-sensitive display screen, as well as at least the following functions, described in the aforementioned ARINC 702 standard:                Navigation (LOCNAV) 101, for performing the optimal location of the aircraft as a function of the geo-location means 130 such as satellite-based or GPS or GALILEO geo-positioning, VHF radionavigation beacons and inertial platforms. This module communicates with the aforementioned geo-location devices;        Flight plan (FPLN) 102, for inputting the geographical elements constituting the skeleton of the route to be followed, such as the points imposed by the departure and arrival procedures, the waypoints, the air corridors (or "airways" as they are commonly known);        Navigation database (NAVDB) 103, for constructing geographical routes and procedures with the help of data included in the bases relating to the points, beacons, interception legs or altitude legs, etc;        Performance database (PRFDB) 104, containing the craft's aerodynamic and engine parameters;        Lateral trajectory (TRAJ) 105, for constructing a continuous trajectory on the basis of the points of the flight plan, complying with the performance of the aircraft and the confinement constraints (RNP);        Predictions (PRED) 106, for constructing an optimized vertical profile on the lateral and vertical trajectory. The functions forming the subject of the present invention affect this part of the computer;        Guidance (GUID) 107, for guiding in the lateral and vertical planes the aircraft on its three-dimensional trajectory, while optimizing its speed. In an aircraft equipped with an automatic piloting device 110, the latter can exchange information with the guidance module 107;        Digital data link (DATALINK) 108 for communicating with the control centres and the various other aircraft 109.
The flight plan is entered by the pilot, or else by data link, with the help of data contained in the navigation database. A flight plan typically consists of a succession of segments, customarily designated by the name "legs", which are formed of a termination and of a geometry, for example a geometry of turn type, or else of straight line type as great circle or rhumb line. The various types of legs are defined in the ARINC 424 international standard.
The pilot thereafter inputs the parameters of the aircraft: mass, flight plan, span of cruising levels, as well as a or a plurality of optimization criteria, such as the CI. These inputs allow the modules TRAJ 105 and PRED 106 to compute respectively the lateral trajectory and the vertical profile, that is to say the flight profile in terms of altitude and speed, which for example minimizes the optimization criterion.
The lateral trajectory of the aircraft is thus computed from leg to leg while complying with a certain number of conventions.
For example, for safety reasons, ARINC 424 makes provision, when a change of course (that is to say a change of track) between two consecutive legs of the flight plan is too big (typically greater than 135°), to impose a track for joining the following leg by imposing a turn direction of the aircraft or "Forced Turn Direction" as it is commonly referred to.
Moreover, when stringing the legs together, certain transitions also exhibit a "forced" direction or "Forced Turn Direction". Thus, the stringing together of leg n and leg n+1 must absolutely be performed by a trajectory complying with an imposed turn direction.
When there is no "Forced Turn Direction" between a leg and the following one, the FMS according to the prior art computes a joining trajectory comprising a turning of the aircraft according to a turn direction dubbed the logical direction or "Logical Turn Direction" (LTD). The LTD is determined in a basic manner, it is related directly and solely to the change of track between the legs.
There exist other situations in which for diverse reasons the aircraft has quit its flight plan and is therefore flying a trajectory outside of the initially computed lateral trajectory. To join the flight plan, the FMS then computes a trajectory for joining an arrival leg on the basis of the current position of the aircraft. In this case also the FMS chooses an initial turn according to the LTD direction.
We shall firstly explain in FIGS. 2a and 2b certain conventions making it possible to define the parameters necessary for a proper understanding of the computation of the LTD according to the prior art.
In FIG. 2a, a departure leg is defined by a departure point Pd and a track according to the direction of movement of the aircraft, corresponding to an oriented straight Dd charted by an angle of departure Ad defined with respect to a reference track Ref, typically North. By convention, the angle is considered positive clockwise, and lies between 0° and 360°. This departure point Pd can be a leg n when computing a lateral trajectory according to a predetermined flight plan, or the current position of the aircraft when computing a joining trajectory of an aircraft that has quitted its flight plan and wishes to join it at the level of a given arrival leg.
For the computation of the trajectory for joining the following leg or arrival leg, the FMS according to the prior art takes into consideration only the straight oriented in the desired direction of arrival of the aircraft on this leg, dubbed the arrival straight Da, without considering the exact position of the arrival point Pa corresponding to the geographical coordinates of the navigation point associated with the leg.
FIG. 2b explains the geometric situation of the departure and arrival legs according to the above conventions.
The system computes a joining trajectory so that an aircraft situated at Pd and flying according to a track corresponding to the angle of departure Ad, joins the straight Da. This trajectory begins with a turning of the aircraft and continues with a typically straight part which intersects the straight Da according to a joining angle AR. Typically the capture of the arrival straight Da is done according to a joining angle of 45° for a civil aeroplane. This angle may reach 90° for a fighter plane capable of performing tight turns. Likewise for flight time optimization reasons, the value of 45° can be decreased in zones of light air traffic.
The direction of a turn is left if the aircraft banks to its left and right if it banks to its right. By convention, a sign is allotted to the direction of the turn: a turn to the left (anti-clockwise) is negative, a turn to the right (clockwise) is positive.
The principle of computing the LTD is illustrated in FIG. 3 for various configurations of departure and arrival courses. The LTD ("Logical Turn direction") is related directly to the change of track between the legs, that is to say it is dependent only on the angle between Ad and Aa. This angle between Aa and Ad is customarily dubbed the angle of change of course or "Track Change" as it is commonly referred to.
The LTD corresponds to the turn direction which minimizes the amplitude of the change of track from Ad to Aa. The LTD is defined by a sign, positive when it is right (clockwise) and negative when it is left (anti-clockwise). Stated otherwise, the sign of the LTD corresponds to the sign of the difference Aa−Ad, if necessary converted so that this difference is referred back between −180° and +180° (smaller angle in absolute value between Ad and Aa):For 0<Aa−Ad<180°, sign of LTD=+For −180°<Aa−Ad<0°, sign of LTD=−
Thus, according to the prior art the system always chooses joining according to the smallest, in absolute value, "track change" angle, doing so whatever the position Pd of the aircraft with respect to the arrival straight Da.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the direction of the logical turn LTD, computed by the system to join the straight Da, is left, i.e. negative (LTD=−). This logical direction LTD determined by the system is independent of the position of Pd with respect to the straight Da, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The trajectory 40 is the computed lateral trajectory of the aircraft when the departure point Pd is situated on the right of the arrival straight Da and the trajectory 41 is the computed lateral trajectory of the aircraft when the departure point Pd is situated on the left of the arrival straight Da. These two computed lateral trajectories 40 and 41 both begin with a left turn.
Thus the computation of the LTD takes no account of the geometric characteristics of the flight plan, and more particularly of the position of the departure point Pd with respect to the arrival straight Da. This mode of computation thus presents the drawback of not corresponding, for certain geometries, to the natural direction that would be chosen by the pilot or to the direction minimizing the distance travelled by the aircraft to join the straight Da.
Moreover, for certain geometries, an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 5, the joining of the straight Da on the basis of the LTD computed is performed downstream of the arrival point Pa, since the position of the point Pa is not taken into account in the computation of the LTD. Let us consider that the point Pd and the angle Ad correspond to a leg n, and that the arrival point Pa and the angle of arrival Aa correspond to the leg n+1 following the leg n of a flight plan. After leg n+1, the aircraft must join leg n+2 and so on and so forth.
The FMS according to the prior art computes a joining trajectory 50 passing beyond the point Pa and directly joining leg n+2 see n+3 of the flight plan. This computed trajectory is not satisfactory since it is not slaved sufficiently to the flight plan and hinders the pilots as well as the air traffic control.

Method and device for determining the optimal turn direction of an aircraft


A camera module for small digital cameras and camera-equipped cellular phones includes a lens unit; a holder housing the lens unit and displaceable along an optical axis; a coil on the holder; a yoke and magnets in the yoke providing a magnetic field to the coil; a leaf spring for supporting the holder; and an imaging element below the lens unit. The leaf spring includes an outer annular portion attached to the yoke, an inner annular portion attached to the holder, and bridge portions coupled between the outer and inner annular portion to resiliently support the inner annular portion. Each bridge portion has an outer and an inner annular portion side base part, and extends between an inner peripheral edge of the outer annular portion and an outer peripheral edge of the inner annular portion, the outer annular portion welded to the top surface of the yoke.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera module, and more specifically to a camera module that can be used in small-sized electronic apparatuses such as digital cameras, camera-equipped cellular phones and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A camera module having a function of displacing a lens unit in a direction of an optical axis of the lens unit is used in relatively small-sized digital cameras, camera-equipped cellular phones and the like. This function is used for providing an autofocus function and/or zoom function and the like, and is achieved by an interaction between a magnetic field generated by an electrical current flowing in a coil and a magnetic field generated by a yoke and magnets provided on the yoke.
Such a camera module includes a barrel which holds the lens unit, a holder which houses the barrel therein, and a pair of leaf springs for supporting the holder so that the holder is displaceable in a direction of an optical axis of the lens unit.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an autofocus actuator assembly 100 used in a conventional camera module for displacing a lens unit (not shown) in a direction of an optical axis thereof. It is to be noted that an imaging element (not shown) is provided below a base 111 of the actuator assembly 100.
A holder 108 that houses a barrel (not shown) holding the lens unit is provided between a cover 101 and the base 111 so that the holder 108 is displaceable in a direction of an optical axis of the lens unit together with the lens unit.
A ring-shaped inner annular portion 104b of an upper leaf spring 104 and a ring-shaped inner annular portion 110b of a lower leaf spring 110 are attached to the upper and lower cylindrical portions of the holder 108, respectively. Further, a ring-shaped outer annular portion 104a of the upper leaf spring 104 is attached to a top surface of a yoke 105 which is mounted on the base 111 and a ring-shaped outer annular portion 110a of the lower leaf spring 110 is attached to the base 111, respectively.
Three bridge portions 104c are coupled between the outer annular portion 104a and the inner annular portion 104b of the upper leaf spring 104. As is the same with the upper leaf spring 104, three bridge portions 110c are coupled between the outer annular portion 110a and the inner annular portion 110b of the upper leaf spring 110. By resilient deformation of the respective three bridge portions 104c and 110c, the holder 108 can be displaced in a direction of an optical axis of the lens unit.
A plurality of magnets 106 are provided on the yoke 105 so as to produce a magnetic field. The yoke 105 has an axial bore 105a for receiving the holder 108. Further, a coil 107 is provided around an outer periphery of the holder 108 so that the coil 107 is disposed in the magnetic field produced by the magnets and the yoke 105 in a state that the holder 108 is received in the axial bore 105a. By supplying a current to the coil 107 to generate a magnetic field, the holder 108 can be displaced in a direction of an optical axis of the lens unit by a driving force generated by the interaction of the magnetic fields. In this regard, it is to be noted that a component denoted by the reference numeral 103 is a flexible printed circuit board used for supplying a current to the coil 107, a component denoted by the reference numeral 102 is a stopper arranged above the upper surface of the inner annular portion of the upper leaf spring 104, and a component donated by the reference numeral 109 is a plate provided between the lower leaf spring 110 and the bottom surface of the yoke 105.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper leaf spring 104 and the yoke 105. As described above, the upper leaf spring 104 includes the outer annular portion 104a and the inner annular portion 104b arranged inside the outer annular portion 104a through an annular spacing 104f and having the common axis with the outer annular portion 104a, and the three bridge portions coupled between the outer annular portion 104a and the inner annular portion 104b for resiliently supporting the inner annular portion 104b with respect to the outer annular portion 104a. Each of the bridge portions 104c has an arc shape and provided in the annular spacing 104f so as to extend along an inner periphery of the outer annular portion 104a and an outer periphery of the inner annular portion 104b.
The bottom surface of the outer annular portion 104a of the upper leaf spring 104 is bonded to a top surface of the yoke 105 with a synthetic resin (adhesive) at several locations. The bonding operation is carried out by first applying the synthetic resin onto the top surface of the yoke 105, and then attach the upper leaf spring 104 onto the top surface of the yoke by pushing the upper leaf spring 104 against the yoke 105. The bonding portions by the synthetic resin are present between the upper leaf spring 104 and the top surface of the yoke 105, and they are indicated by the reference numerals 105a.
It is to be noted that an actuator assembly similar to the actuator assembly 100 having such upper leaf spring 104 and lower leaf spring 110 described above is disclosed in JP-A-No. 2004-280031.
In the case where the upper leaf spring 104 is bonded to the yoke 105 with the synthetic resin as described above, there is a problem in that the synthetic resin at any one or more of the bonding portions is spread out due to the pressure applied when the upper leaf spring 104 is pushed against the top surface of the yoke 105 at the bonding operation. If the synthetic resin is spread out onto a base part 104d of the bridge portion 104c from the side of the outer annular portion 104a and then it is hardened on the base part 104d of the bridge portion 104, such a bridge portion 104c becomes difficult to be deformed desiredly, that is a spring constant of the bridge portion 104c is changed. As a result, a load characteristic of such a bridge portion 104c becomes different from those of the other bridge portions 104c, which results in the case that a stable load characteristic cannot be obtained in the upper leaf spring 104. If the upper leaf spring 104 does not have such a stable load characteristic, an initial response speed and an amount of an initial displacement of the holder 108 when an electrical current is supplied to the coil 107 become not stable, and thus it becomes difficult to precisely control the position of the holder 108.
In order to solve this problem, it may be contemplated to reduce an amount of the synthetic resin to be applied onto the top surface of the yoke 105. However, this approach in turn arises a new problem in that the upper leaf spring 104 may be partially peeled off from the top surface of the yoke due to the reduced bonding force in the event that the electronic apparatus equipped with the camera module is dropped by accident.
Further, in order to solve the problem as described above, it may be also contemplated to use a resistance welding method for attachment of the upper leaf spring 104 to the top surface of the yoke 150 without using any synthetic resin. However, in this method, it is necessary to apply a load to the upper leaf spring 104 placed on the top surface of the yoke 105. Due to this load, a stress deformation is likely to occur at the outer annular portion 104 of the upper leaf spring 104 as well as the base parts of the bridge portions 104c, which may result in variations in a load characteristic (spring constant) of the bridge portions 104c. Further, there is another problem in that, in the case where the resistance melding method is used, if the bottom surface of the outer annular portion 104c and/or the surface of the yoke 105 is oxidized, an electrical resistance at the resistance welding changes due to the oxidation, which may result in the case that a predetermined welding strength cannot be obtained.

Camera module with improved leaf spring attachment


An image displaying medium, a method of generating composite image displaying data, and an image generating system are disclosed. A color image on the image displaying medium is composed of plural mesh points whose shape is an ellipse having linearity. The mesh point has, for example, a color of cyan, magenta, yellow, or black in the CMYK system. The color image is a composite image composed of a displaying image and a latent image. When the composite image is viewed through a lenticular lens, a moire pattern having thick vertical lines corresponding to the displaying image and a moire pattern having thin oblique lines corresponding to the latent image appear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image displaying medium on which a composite image constituted of a displaying image and a latent image is displayed, a method of generating composite image displaying data of the composite image and an image generating system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to recent technological progress, it has been difficult to distinguish an original from a fake in which contents are added to the original or a part is deleted from the original. In order to surely distinguish the original from the fake, an image processing apparatus which can detect the fake or falsification of the original on a generally used paper has been disclosed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, letter information and a background pattern are formed in a document. The background pattern is formed depending on the letter information not to contact the letter information. When some information is added to or deleted from the document, the background pattern overlaps the letter information or a blank appears on the document. Therefore, adding or deleting information to/from the original is distinguished.
Documents such as a personal ID card for a company and securities must be prevented from being faked. In these documents, there is a technology in which a latent image appears when a document is duplicated. Specifically, a latent image is formed on an original by using a color which cannot be recognized with the naked eye, and when the original is duplicated, a letter (latent image) showing the duplication is formed on the duplicated paper. As one of the technologies, a dot pattern displaying medium technology which can easily determine whether a document is an original has been disclosed (for example, refer to Patent Document 2). In Patent Document 2, a dot pattern composed of two or more colors having the same pitch as that of lenses of a lens array is formed. A first letter appears when the lens array focuses on a first position and a second letter appears when the lens array focuses on a second position. That is, the first letter and the second letter appear by shifting the position of the lens array. In addition, in a dot pattern composed of mesh points in which the number of screen lines is 300 lpi (line per inch) or more, the dot pattern is blurred when duplicated because the resolution of a generally used duplicating machine is not large enough. With this, it can be determined whether the document is the original or the fake by a letter condition composed of the dot pattern.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-358931 (FIG. 4)
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-324949 (FIGS. 3 and 6)
However, in Patent Document 2, in order to determine whether the document is the original or the fake, a letter must be formed by mesh points of 300 lpi or more. That is, a latent image must be formed by the mesh points of 300 lpi or more. Consequently, costs and man hours are increased because the latent image must be formed by thin mesh points. In addition, it is difficult to form the latent image by a generally used copying machine or printer, and only when a large quantity of a document is formed, the latent image is formed by using a suitable printing machine having the mesh pints of 300 lpi or more. In addition, in Patent Document 2, since it is determined whether the document is the original by using the blurring condition of the dot pattern, a complicated pattern cannot be used because it is difficult to determine whether the appeared pattern is an original pattern or a pattern which is a blurred form of the original pattern.

Image displaying medium, method of generating composite image displaying data and image generating system


A thin arc segment magnet made of a  an R-T-B based, rare earth sintered magnet substantially comprising 28-33 weight % of R and 0.8-1.5 weight % of B, the balance being substantially Fe  T, wherein R is at least one rare earth element including Y, and T is Fe or Fe and Co, which has an oxygen content of 0.3 weight % or less, a density of 7.56 g/cm3 or more, a coercivity iHc of 1.1 MA/m (14 kOe) or more at room temperature, and an orientation Br/4πImax of 96% or more in an anisotropy-providing direction at room temperature can be produced by using a slurry mixture formed by introducing fine alloy powder of the above composition into a mixture liquid comprising 99.7-99.99 parts by weight of a mineral oil, a synthetic oil or a vegetable oil and 0.01-0.3 parts by weight of a nonionic surfactant and/or an anionic surfactant.

Rare earth sintered magnets put into practical use are produced by pulverization of an alloy, molding, sintering, heat treatment and machining, and further surface treatment, if necessary. Among them, R-T-B-based rare earth sintered magnets having R2T14B intermetallic compounds, wherein R is at least one rare earth element including Y, and T is Fe or Fe and Co, as main phases are widely used as high-performance magnets. However, alloy powder is rapidly oxidized in the air, resulting in deterioration in magnetic properties. In extreme cases, rapid oxidation leads to ignition, posing safety problems.
Proposed as a method for preventing rapid oxidation are methods for producing a rare earth sintered magnet comprising introducing a starting material powder for the rare earth sintered magnet into a non-oxidizing mineral oil or synthetic oil, molding it in a magnetic field while preventing oxidation, and then carrying out oil removal, sintering and heat treatment in this order (see Japanese Patents 2,731,337 and 2,859,517). These methods provide sintered bodies having a low oxygen content and a high density almost equal to the theoretical density, which has remarkably improved maximum energy product (BH)max.
Proposal was further made that remarkably improved continuous moldability is achieved by introducing the above fine alloy powder into an oil comprising a mineral oil, a synthetic oil or a vegetable oil and 0.01-0.5 weight % of oleic acid to form a starting material slurry for molding, thereby making it possible to efficiently produce a rare earth sintered magnet with improved magnetic properties (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-130142).
However, the rare earth sintered magnets produced by the above methods have magnetic properties such as (BH)max that are not so high as expected by the inventors, as shown in COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES described later, and further improvement in performance has been difficult. Also, when a thin (or thin and long), arc-segment-shaped green body for a rare earth sintered magnet is formed by compression molding in a magnetic field by the above conventional methods, remarkable cracking occurs. Further, the above thin (or thin and long) green body for a rare earth sintered magnet has an extremely uneven density distribution, resulting in largely deformed sintered bodies due to locally large differences in density. This leads to large deformation of the sintered bodies in an anisotropy-providing direction, resulting in decrease in orientation and thus failure to put them into practical use. Thus, these conventional methods fail to sufficiently satisfy the recent demand of making magnet products thinner, smaller and higher in performance. The term "thin" used herein means that the thickness of a magnet is as small as 4 mm or less, and the term "long" means that the axial length of a magnet is as large as 40 mm or more.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-37716 discloses in EXAMPLE 2 that an alloy having a composition of Nd12.8Febal.Co4.5B6.2Ga0.1 (at. %) is finely pulverized to an average particle size of 5 μm, and that the resultant fine powder is mixed with an mineral oil and then subjected to molding in a transverse magnetic field under the conditions of an extremely high orientation magnetic field of 2.0 MA/m (25 kOe) and an extremely low molding pressure of 16.7 MPa (0.17 ton/cm2) without contact with the air, to provide an R-T-B-based sintered magnet with high magnetic properties of iHc=1.1 MA/m (14.1 kOe), (BH)max=398.8 kJ/m3 (50.1 MGOe), orientation=96%, and I(105)/I(006)=1.32.
However, when thin (or thin and long) green bodies for arc-segment-shaped, R-T-B-based sintered magnets are formed by compression molding in a magnetic field under the conditions described in EXAMPLE 12 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-37716, remarkable cracking occurs. Even when green bodies without cracking are obtained, they have an extremely uneven density distribution, resulting in largely deformed sintered bodies, leading to largely deformed sintered bodies poor in orientation, and cannot be put into practical use.
When radially anisotropic, R-T-B-based, sintered ring magnets (hereinafter referred to as radial rings) or arc segment magnets are formed under the conventional production conditions described in Japanese Patent 2,859,517, a radially orienting magnetic field should be applied from the inner surface side to the outer surface side of a cavity of a molding die in the course of molding to impart radial anisotropy to the green bodies, posing the problem that the smaller the inner diameter of a cavity, the weaker the radially orienting magnetic field. Thus, the smaller the inner diameters of radial rings, the poorer the radial orientation of green bodies. In actuality, if an orientation (static) magnetic field of more than 795.8 kA/m (10 kOe) can be applied in a radial direction for several seconds, it would be possible to obtain substantially the same level of radial orientation as the orientation of R-T-B-based sintered magnets formed though a molding step in a transverse magnetic field or a vertical magnetic field. However, in the industrial production of radial rings of 10-100 mm in inner diameter, the radially orienting magnetic field applied at the time of molding is as low as about 238.7-795.8 kA/m (3-10 kOe).
As shown in COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 7 in Table 6, when a radial ring of 100 mm or less in inner diameter is produced using a starting material slurry described in Japanese Patent 2,859,517, high orientation cannot be achieved. As a result of investigation of these causes, the inventors have found that this is caused by poor radial orientation of green bodies.
Also, a radially orienting magnetic field applied during a molding step of radially anisotropic, R-T-B-based, sintered arc segment magnets in usual industrial production is as low as about 238.7-795.8 KA/m (3-10 kOe). Thus, like radial rings, the problem of poor radial orientation occurs in the case of R-T-B-based, sintered arc segment magnets of 100 mm or less in inner diameter.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Arc segment magnet, ring magnet and method for producing such magnets


An apparatus for recording or reproducing information on an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate, includes a laser source to emit a light beam having a wavelength of .lambda. nm; and an objective lens to converge the light beam emitted from the laser source on the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium through the transparent substrate. When the light beam is converged through the transparent substrate of the optical information recording medium, a wavefront aberration of the objective lens has a curve which has a step at a numerical aperture (NA), and the following conditions are satisfied, EQU W.sub.1 -W.sub.2 =m.lambda.-.delta., EQU 0<.delta.<0.34.lambda.. where W.sub.1 represents a wavefront aberration at a point of the step when the curve is traced from a periphery toward an axis of the lens, W.sub.2 represents a wavefront aberration at the point of the step when the curve is traced from the axis toward the periphery of the lens, m represents an integer including zero, and .vertline.m.vertline..ltoreq.10 is satisfied.

The present invention relates to a recording and/or reproducing optical system and an objective lens for an optical information recording medium, and more specifically to a recording and/or reproducing optical system and an objective lens for an optical information recording medium by which light flux from a laser source is converged on an information recording surface of the optical information recording medium as an optical spot through a transparent substrate, and information is recorded on the information recording surface and/or information on the information recording surface is reproduced.
Conventionally, various types of optical systems of optical pick-up apparatus, by which information on a CD (compact disk) as an optical information recording medium is recorded and/or reproduced, are widely known. Further, recently, development of a DVD (digital video disk) which is an optical disk having the same size as that of the conventional CD, and has larger capacity than the conventional CD, is being advanced. To be more precisely, in the DVD, as the a short wavelength red semiconductor laser has been put into practical use, this laser is used as the semiconductor laser to be used corresponding to an increase of the capacity; and the density of the DVD is highly increased such that a numerical aperture NA of an objective lens of the optical pick-up is 0.6, and the thickness of the transparent substrate is 0.6 mm which is a half of the thickness of the conventional CD, and further, a track pitch is 0.74 .mu.m and the minimum pit length is 0.4 .mu.m, which are smaller than a half of the track pitch of 1.6 .mu.m and the minimum pit length of 0.83 .mu.m of the CD.
When the CD is used for recording and/or reproducing in the DVD optical system, the wavefront aberration is increased, and the shape of optical spot which can record and/or reproduce information, can not be obtained. It will be further detailed referring to the drawings. FIG. 16 is a view showing the relationship between the thickness of transparent substrate and the wavefront aberration. When the thickness of the transparent substrate is changed in an objective lens system, which is optimized under the condition that NA is 0.6, the wavelength of the laser beam emitted from the laser source is 635 nm, the thickness of the transparent substrate is 0.6 mm, and the refractive index of the transparent substrate is 1.58, the wavefront aberration is increased by 0.01.lambda. rms per 0.01 mm deviation of the thickness of the substrate. When the thickness of the transparent substrate deviates by .+-.0.07 mm, the wavefront aberration deviates by 0.07 .lambda.rms, and reaches the Marechal limit value which is a criterion within which recording and/or reproducing operations can normally be performed. As described above, when the thickness of the transparent substrate is switched to that (1.2 mm) of the CD in the optimally designed optical system in the thickness (0.6 mm) of the transparent substrate of the DVD, very large spherical aberration is generated, and thereby, it is difficult to record and/or reproduce both the CD and DVD by a single optical system.
Accordingly, as an optical pick-up apparatus to record and/or reproduce information of these 2 optical information recording medium, an optical pick-up apparatus using the optical system shown in FIG. 17 is widely known. In the optical system of the optical pick-up apparatus, an optical element which is a part of the optical system, is switched so that both the CD and DVD can be used. Referring to the drawing, it will be more precisely detailed. FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a recording and/or reproducing optical system for the optical information recording medium (CD, DVD) of a conventional example. In the drawing, when the DVD is recorded and/or reproduced, the light flux emitted from a laser source 11 passes through a hologram beam splitter 62, enters a collimator lens 21, and becomes parallel flux; this flux is limited to predetermined flux by an aperture-stop 51, passes through an objective lens 451, and a non-aberration light spot is image-formed on an information recording surface 91 through a transparent substrate 81 of an optical information recording medium 71. The light flux, modulated by an information pit and reflected by the information recording surface 91, returns to the hologram beam splitter 62 through the objective lens 451 and the collimator lens 21, separated here from an optical path from the laser source 11, and enters a light beam detector 61. This light beam detector 61 is composed of multi-divided PIN photodiodes, from each element of which a current proportional to the intensity of the entered light flux is outputted, and the current is sent to a detection circuit system, not shown in the drawing, in which an information signal, a focus error signal, and a track error signal are generated. According to these focus error signal and the track error signal, the objective lens 451 is controlled in the focusing direction and the tracking direction by a two-dimensional actuator (not shown in the drawing) composed of a magnetic circuit, a coil, etc., so that the light spot position is always adjusted onto the information track. When the CD is recorded or reproduced, the aperture-stop and the objective lens are respectively switched to an aperture-stop 52 and an objective lens 452. The light flux emitted from the laser source 11, enters a collimator lens 21, and becomes parallel light flux; the light flux is limited to the predetermined light flux by the aperture-stop 52, passes through the objective lens 452, and the non-aberration light spot is image-formed onto an information recording surface 92 through a transparent substrate 82 of an optical information recording medium 72.
However, in the optical pick-up apparatus, it is necessary to switch a portion of the optical system, and therefore, there are problems of troublesome operations, complicated structures, or an increase of the overall size of the apparatus.
Accordingly, a proposal has been made in which the DVD and CD can be recorded and/or reproduced by a single objective lens in the optical system of the optical pick-up apparatus.
According to a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 98431/1995, a hologram is provided on the information pick-up apparatus, and when the 0-order light and the 1-order light passing through the hologram, are respectively allocated to the DVD and CD, a spot, having diffraction limited performance corresponding to each optical information recording medium, can be obtained.
Further, according to a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 302437/1995, when a refractive surface of the objective lens is divided into a plurality of ring-shaped areas, a spot having diffraction limited performance corresponding to either of optical information recording media, can be obtained, although the objective lens is positioned at the almost same position in the direction of the optical axis with respect to both the DVD and the CD.
However, in the method in which the light flux from the laser source is divided for the DVD and the CD, in the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection Nos. 98431/1995 and 302437/1995, because plurality of light flux are always emitted to the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium, when information is read out by the light spot of one light flux, the other light flux does not contribute to the reading, and becomes unnecessary light, resulting in a factor of an increase of noise. Further, because the laser light intensity is divided for use, there are problems of a decrease of S/N ratio due to a decrease of a quantity of light, or an increase of power consumption and a decrease of the laser life when a quantity of light is increased.
As a problem of a technology by which the first optical information recording medium (DVD) which has a thin transparent substrate and has high density, and the second optical information recording medium (CD) which has a thick transparent substrate and has low density, can be recorded and/or reproduced without switching the optical system in the optical system of the above optical pick-up apparatus, a technology to obtain a more accurate light spot by which the first optical information recording medium and the second optical information recording medium can be recorded and/or reproduced, on respective information recording surfaces, is greatly required.

Recording and/or reproducing optical system and objective lens for optical information recording medium


Wireless networking transceiver circuitry for an integrated circuit device includes a plurality of wireless networking transceiver subsystems, each subsystem including respective processing circuitry configurable for coupling to radio circuitry to implement a respective set of protocol features selected from at least one overall set of protocol features. Memory circuitry is provided, sufficient to support a respective set of protocol features in each subsystem when at least one respective set of protocol features is smaller than the overall set of protocol features. Memory-sharing circuitry is provided, configurable to couple respective portions of the memory circuitry to the processing circuitry of respective subsystems. The memory circuitry and the memory-sharing circuitry may be outside the subsystems, or distributed within the subsystems. The memory may be 60% of an amount of memory sufficient to support the overall set of protocol features in all subsystems. Each processing circuit may be coupled to radio circuitry.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the inventors hereof, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted to be prior art against the subject matter of the present disclosure.
A wireless networking transceiver of the type commonly referred to by the trademark BLUETOOTH® typically includes, in addition to BLUETOOTH® radio circuitry, processing circuitry and memory for executing BLUETOOTH® functions. For example, the amount of memory required to support a full BLUETOOTH® feature set is measured in the hundreds of kilobytes. However, a particular implementation may call for less than the full feature set, or for an earlier BLUETOOTH® version, in which even the full feature set requires less memory than a more recent version. Some implementations may call for more than one instantiation of a BLUETOOTH® transceiver. Or an implementation may call for instantiation of a combination of Wi-Fi and BLUETOOTH® transceivers. Each Wi-Fi transceiver may have radio, processing circuitry and memory requirements comparable to the requirements of a BLUETOOTH® transceiver.
Heretofore, in providing an integrated circuit device (e.g., a system-on-chip) for such implementations, unless the specific intended configuration was known, each transceiver would be provided with sufficient memory for the largest possible BLUETOOTH® or Wi-Fi feature set, which would result in wasted unused memory in the event that one or more of the instantiated BLUETOOTH® or Wi-Fi transceivers implemented less than the largest possible feature set. Indeed, in some known implementations, extra memory was provided, even where the current requirements were known, against the possibility of future upgrades, resulting in even more potentially wasted memory.

Wireless networking transceiver system with shared memory


Nitrogen doped titanium oxide coatings on a hot glass substrate are prepared by providing a uniform vaporized reactant mixture containing a titanium compound, a nitrogen compound and an oxygen-containing compound, and delivering the reactant mixture to the surface of a ribbon of hot glass, where the compounds react to form a nitrogen doped titanium oxide coating. The nitrogen doped titanium oxide coatings deposited in accordance with the invention demonstrate an increase in visible light absorption.

Typically, coated glass articles are produced by continuously coating a glass substrate while it is being manufactured in a process known in the art as the "Float Glass Process." This process involves casting glass onto a molten tin bath which is suitably enclosed, then transferring the glass, after it has sufficiently cooled, to take-away rolls which are aligned with the bath, and finally cooling the glass as it advances across the rolls, initially through a lehr and thereafter while exposed to the ambient atmosphere. A non-oxidizing atmosphere is maintained in the float portion of the process, while the glass is in contact with the molten tin bath, to prevent oxidation. An air atmosphere is maintained in the lehr. The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of various coatings may be conveniently performed in the bath or the lehr, or even in the transition zone therebetween, by contacting the surface of the hot glass with chemical vapor-containing reactants which pyrolytically decompose to form the metal oxide coating. This, of course, requires that the chemical reactants have vaporization temperatures below their thermal decomposition temperatures. A number of metal-containing compounds exist which may be vaporized to prepare a metal oxide coating on glass by CVD technology. Of particular interest are titanium compounds which are vaporized to form titanium oxide coatings.
The desirable performance characteristics of certain metal oxide coatings, such as titanium oxide coatings, on glass, for example, photocatalytic activity, hydrophilicity, high light transmittance, high infrared reflectivity, etc., can be improved by the incorporation of a dopant into the metal oxide coating. Among the materials used in the prior art as dopants for titanium oxide is nitrogen. Typically, nitrogen doped titanium oxide (TiO2:N) coatings and films have been prepared by physical vapor deposition (PVD) such as direct current magnetron sputtering etc. To be compatible with the float glass process, the coatings must be formed by chemical deposition methods, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), preferably atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD).
The physical form of the reactants employed in glass coating processes is generally a liquid, solid, vaporized liquid or solid, liquid or solid dispersed in a carrier gas mixture, or vaporized liquid or solid dispersed in a carrier gas mixture. The chemical vapor deposition process generally employs a vaporized liquid or solid, which is typically dispersed in a carrier gas mixture.
It is further known to deposit thin coatings having one or more layers with a variety of properties onto glass substrates. One property of interest is photocatalytic activity which arises by photogeneration, in a semi-conductor, of a hole-electron pair when the semi-conductor is illuminated by light of a particular frequency. The hole-electron pair can be generated in sunlight and can react in humid air to form hydroxy and peroxy radicals on the surface of the semi-conductor. The radicals oxidize organic grime on the surface which both cleans the surface and increases the hydrophilic properties (i.e. wettability) of the surface. A hydrophilic surface is beneficial because water will wet the surface better, making the surface easier to clean with water containing little or no detergent. In addition, water droplets will spread over the surface reducing the distracting visual effects of rain or spray. Thus, photocatalytically active coated glass has a use in self-cleaning glass windows.
Commonly, TiO2 only becomes photocatalytic and hydrophilic upon irradiation with UV light (λ<400 nm). It is known that doping TiO2 with certain metals, and more recently, with anions as described in the publication "Visible Light Photocatalysis in Nitrogen-Doped Titanium Oxides," Asahi, R. et al., Science, Vol 293, p. 269–271 (2001), can introduce a visible absorption band into the TiO2 which may lead to visible light activated photocatalysis. The thin films described in the Asahi, et al. article are formed by physical vapor deposition processes.
Titanium dioxide may be deposited onto glass to form a transparent coating with photocatalytic properties. In WO 98/06675, a chemical vapor deposition process is described for depositing titanium oxide coatings on hot flat glass at high deposition rate. In EP 901 991 A2, a photocatalytic active titanium oxide coating deposited by CVD is disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,343 describes a method of decomposing material by contacting the subject material with a photocatalyst exposed to light including visible light. The photocatalyst is said to be formed by subjecting TiO2 to plasma CVD treatment, where the plasma contains a mixed gas of a hydrocarbon and a reducing agent.
Published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 20020012779 A1 describes a multi-layer film of the form substrate/TiO2/TiO2—SiO2. This film stack is said to exhibit photocatalytic properties upon exposure to visible light.
Published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 20020151434 A1 describes a photo-catalyst comprising an oxynitride containing at least one transition metal wherein the transition metal is one chosen from the group, La, Ta, Nb, Ti and Zr, or Ca, Sr, Ba, K, and Rb. The oxynitride thus formed is said to be responsive to visible light.

Process for chemical vapor desposition of a nitrogen-doped titanium oxide coating


A first cooling fin and a second cooing fin are separated to have a predetermine clearance, and a plurality of connecting portions for partly connecting the first and second cooling fins are formed. When the first and second cooling fins are unfolded, the length E of each the connecting portion in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the first and second cooling fins is equal to 5% or less of the length F between the adjacent connecting portions. Further, the first cooling fin is projected from the condenser tube toward the radiator tube side with a projection length Lc being in a range of 1.7 to 7.0 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger in which different core portions are integrated with each other, and more particularly the present invention can be effectively applied to an integration of a radiator of an engine which is a driving source of a vehicle and a condenser of an automotive air conditioning apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an automotive air conditioning apparatus is assembled into a vehicle in a car dealer or the like after the vehicle has been completed. Recently, however, the automotive air conditioning apparatus is generally installed in the vehicle when the vehicle is completed, and therefore the automotive air conditioning apparatus is assembled with automotive parts in the assembling steps of the vehicle at the manufacturing plant.
There have been proposed a plurality of heat exchangers in which different core portions such as a radiator and a condenser are integrated. By integrating the radiator which is an automotive part and the condenser which is an automotive air conditioning apparatus part with each other, the heat exchanger is downsized and the assembling steps can be decreased.
However, because the different core parts are integrated with each other, heat transmission is generated through the integrated part so that there is a problem in that the heat exchange efficiency of the core portion to which heat is transmitted is decreased. That is, when the radiator and the condenser are integrated with each other, heat is transmitted from the radiator to the condenser so that the heat exchange efficiency of the condenser is decreased.
To suppress the heat transmitting amount, as disclosed in JP-A-3-177795, for example, cooling fins of first core portion and second core portion are integrated with each other, and a slit shaped recess portion is formed in a zigzag shape in a height direction of the integrated cooling, and a heat transmitting passage for transmitting heat is meanderingly formed so as to prolong the heat transmitting passage.
In the above-described heat exchanger, the heat transmitting passage is prolonged so that heat transmitted from the radiator to the condenser is suppressed, however, the heat transmission cannot be interrupted completely. Thus, to maintain a desired heat exchange amount in the condenser core portion, it is necessary to decide the capacity of the condenser core portion by considering the decrease of the heat exchange efficiency.
That is, when designing a heat exchanger in which different core portions are integrated with each other, it is necessary for a core portion to which heat is transmitted (condenser core portion) to be made larger by considering the decrease of the heat exchange efficiency in the core portion to which the heat is transmitted (condenser core portion).
However, if only the heat transmitting passage is simply made larger, the principal object for a small-sized heat exchanger in which different core portions are integrated with each other cannot be achieved.

Heat exchanger having several exchanging portions


A spring compressor of the type having a base, a post, upper spring mounting members fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the post, lower spring mounting members slidably mounted on the lower portion of the post, and a moving device for moving the lower spring mounting members toward the upper spring mounting members to compress a spring mounted between the spring mounting members. The upper spring mounting members have spring engaging elements, preferably in the form of angle irons, for engaging the top of the spring assembly. The spring engaging elements can include retaining bolts for preventing movement of the spring assembly toward or away from the post. The spring compressor can also have adapters mounted on at least one of the upper and lower spring mounting members to engage portions of the side of a coil of the spring.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed toward an improved spring compressor of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,470. The invention is also directed toward a dolly for use with the improved spring compressor to move the compressor.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under CFR .sctn..sctn. 1.97-1.99
Spring compressors of this type employ a top spring mounting means fixed on a vertical post and a bottom spring mounting means that is movable toward the top spring mounting means to compress the spring of a spring assembly mounted between them. Hook means on the top and bottom spring mounting means engage coils of the spring in the spring assembly to enable the spring to be compressed in order to service the spring assembly. However, some spring assemblies, such as certain MacPherson strut assemblies for example, employ too short a spring for the spring to be sufficiently compressed, by engaging the coils of the spring, so as to allow removal of a shock absorber mounted within the spring. These spring assemblies, with short springs, also usually employ a top mounting plate which prevents the hooks from engaging the uppermost coil of the spring thereby further limiting the amount that the spring can be compressed. If the spring assembly also employs a bottom spring plate, the bottom coil cannot be engaged thus further limiting the amount that the spring can be compressed.
Some of the spring assemblies being compressed also have coatings on the springs, such as an epoxy coating, to protect the springs. The hooks on the known spring compressors can damage these coatings. The known spring compressors, which sit on the floor, are also difficult to move because of their size and weight.


Methods and related systems are described for high pressure chromatographic analysis. The described system includes a flowpath adapted to flow a mobile phase and the sample at high pressures, an injector adapted to inject the fluid sample into a flowpath, a separation column adapted to operate at high pressures for separating various components, a detector and a processor that calculates the amount of at least one component of the fluid sample. The system can operate a pressures above 20 atm or even 100 atm, and temperatures above about 100 degrees Celsius. The system can deployed in a wellbore in a subterranean rock formation, and include fluid collection system for obtaining the fluid sample downhole. The system can also be located close to a wellhead and includes a tap in fluid communication with a surface flowline carrying produced fluids and the injector.

1. Field of the Invention
This patent specification relates to chromatography. More particularly, this patent specification relates to systems and methods for chromatography under high-pressure and/or high temperature environments.
2. Background of the Invention
Chromatography is the field of separating chemicals based on differences in properties such as volatility, absorption, adsorption, size, etc. In this field, different rates of migration along a given flow path (gas, liquid, supercritical fluid, etc) result in the spatial separation of chemical analytes. This differential migration is achieved by differing rates of interaction with the separation column or by different values of analyte mobility.
Typical gas chromatography (GC) separation columns are small diameter tubes that can be more than 15 meters long. The column, usually wound in a coil, is housed inside a heated compartment or co-wound with heater wires. The heater is designed to keep the column at either constant temperature, or for certain analyses, provide it with an increasing and fast temperature ramp. In the case of a ramped system, after a sample analysis is completed, the column must be cooled to the lower starting temperature. The cooling process can be particularly time consuming unless means of cooling such as fan, thermal switch, etc. is provided. However, the heating and cooling apparatus contributes significantly to the total mass, which makes the heating and especially the cooling function slow and inefficient.
Certain environments, such as oil and gas wells, have unusually harsh ambient conditions. For example, it is not uncommon for the ambient conditions within the borehole to be greater than about 100° C. and greater than about 100 atmospheres in pressure. In order to operate a chromatograph under such conditions, existing methods would require depressurization of sampled fluid to around 1 atmosphere, and cooling of certain components of the chromatography apparatus considerably below the ambient temperature. Such methods pose significant challenges for implementing chromatography equipment in downhole environment. Additionally, for the high temperature downhole environment, it is difficult to reject heat from the column/heater/cooler apparatus.
Samples of downhole fluids such as collected using a downhole sampling tool or collected on the surface very close to the wellbore are typically stored in bottles and shipped to laboratories for analysis. This transportation process to the laboratory takes a significant amount of time which can be very costly for some applications such as off shore operations. Additionally, the sample at the laboratory, in order to be analyzed using convention chromatography systems, needs to be depressurized. The process is sometimes complex and during transportation, handing and preparation the pressure and temperature changes can induce significant changes in the chemical properties of the sample prior to analysis.
Some research has been published on the relationship of high pressures to the retention times in chromatography. For example, T. L. Kwa, High-pressure gas chromatography: I. A precision high-pressure gas chromatograph for isobaric-isothermal measurements, Journal of Chromatography A, Vol. 270, 1983, P. 105-115 discloses a high pressure chromatograph with a packed column used to investigate thermodynamic and transport properties of certain fluids. In another example, Viktor B. Berezkin, Alexander A. Korolev, and Irina V. Malyukova, Pressure effect on Relative Retention in Capillary Gas-Liquid Chromatography, J. High Resol. Chromatogr., 1997, Vol. 20, June, P. 333-336 discloses experiments up to about 10 atmospheres to understand the dependence of relative retention and retention indexes on average column pressure. However, these prior systems and methods were primarily concerned with understanding pressure relationships with retention time and did not attempt to propose any techniques for optimizing resolution at high pressures.

High pressure and high temperature chromatography


A chemical sensing device comprises a fiber core and a fiber cladding. The fiber core comprises an index-modulated grating region having an apodized profile configured for increasing shedding of light into the fiber cladding, and the fiber cladding of the chemical sensing device is configured for reflecting at least some of the deflected light back towards the fiber core. The sensing device is applicable in methods and systems for sensing chemicals.

The invention relates generally to chemical sensing and more particularly to fiber grating-based chemical sensing devices, systems and methods.
Fiber optic sensing methods have advantages including flexibility, small size, negligible weight, passivity, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. These characteristics make fiber optic sensors ideally suited for monitoring dynamic chemical and physical processes that are associated with changes in environment. The cascading capability of fiber optic sensing enables a distributed sensing application for large-area infrastructure embodiments such as oil tanks, pipelines, and power grid utilities in which fiber optic chemical sensing devices are embedded in multiple locations, some of which may be otherwise inaccessible.
Various sensing devices have been used. For example, some chemical sensing embodiments depend on dye molecules that absorb a particular wavelength of light and re-emit the light a short time late at a longer wavelength. Other sensing devices are employed to detect chemical parameters such as pH-value or corrosion, toxic chemicals, organic and inorganic fouling, and metal ions in an industrial processing system. These chemical sensing devices typically include electrochemical sensors, surface plasma resonance sensors, and attenuated total reflection sensors. Most of these sensors are limited by the operational conditions in which the sensors are employed. For example, conventional optical and electrochemical sensing devices are often limited to relatively mild pH conditions and, as such, limited operational temperature ranges. More specifically, conventional devices are typically limited to a pH range from about 5 to about 11 and temperatures lower than about 100° C.
Several fiber optic-based chemical-sensing devices have been used with examples including chemically active tapered fiber tips, chemically active fiber bundle distal ends, and chemically active fiber cladding embodiments. These chemical sensing devices typically include fluorescent dye immobilized doping, chemical sensitive thin film coatings, or combinations thereof. Chemical sensing with these fiber devices is based either on the reflectance intensity or on the fluorescence intensity. However, it is difficult to use these fiber optic sensors as real-time monitoring sensing devices because the fluctuation of the light source and environmental sensitive fluorescent dye luminescence limit measurement accuracy.
It is difficult to identify different chemicals in an environment like a water exchanger, a pipeline, oil and gas storage tanks, or an industrial processing system. Further, for large scale systems, a relatively large number of discrete chemical sensors may be required to map characteristics such as the structural health condition, pH-value, metal ion concentration, or inorganic fouling and scaling. Discrete optical, electrochemical and fiber optic sensors may not be scalable to meet a desired spatial resolution that is beneficial for accurate mapping of system conditions.
Short-period fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing devices have been used for refractive index measurement, pH-value sensing, and chemical identification. These sensing devices are typically based on D-type fibers, cladding etched fibers, or side-polished fibers. Such sensors utilize a wavelength encoding within a core of the sensor to measure a parameter based upon a Bragg wavelength shift that is generated on illumination of the grating through an illumination source. Thus, environmental effects on the periodicity of the grating alter the wavelength of light reflected, thereby providing an indication of the environmental effect, such as, pH, salinity, or temperature, for example.
Conventional telecommunication type FBG sensing devices have very little sensitivity to chemicals because the evanescent wave field is confined inside the fiber core (at a distance of about one wavelength from the fiber core and cladding interface). In order to make such FBG sensing devices chemically active, the fiber is mechanically modified to have an asymmetrical shape such as a D-shape, or is polished on one side, or has cladding thinned by a hydrofluoric acid etching process for example. In these processes, the fiber gratings are carefully prepared by polishing, cleaving, chemical etching, or shape- or polarization-controlled fabrication processes to turn a conventional fiber into a chemical sensing device. Processes to modify either the fiber cladding thickness or the fiber shape are intended to expose the evanescent wave field of the fiber core mode to an external medium.
It is difficult to simultaneously detect multiple parameters, such as pH, salinity, corrosion, and temperature, through a single mechanically or chemically modified Bragg grating sensing device. Further, multiple spectral signals at different wavelengths may be required to separate the effect of multiple sensed parameters from one another. Such separation of sensed parameters is difficult and time-consuming. Additionally, it is particularly challenging to fabricate multiple sensors on a single fiber cable when chemical etching a fiber with an inscribed Bragg grating structure. In principle, these fiber optic sensors have potential distribution capability, but, as a practical matter, it is not an easy task to handle multiple delicate sensors. In addition, the weak mechanical strength due to the thinner fiber grating cladding thickness can create failure modes.
Fiber long-period grating (LPG) sensors have demonstrated high sensitivity to surrounding medium refractive index variations due to forward cladding modes and core mode coupling efficiency. In LPG-based chemical sensors, the light in the fiber core is shed into the fiber cladding region. The resultant transmission loss depends strongly upon surrounding medium refractive index. Despite the removal of the cladding etch requirement, it is difficult to distribute many LPGs in a common chemical sensing system due to cladding modes crossover. Typically, within a bandwidth of one hundred nanometers, for example, the number of the LPG sensors is limited because of the multiple transmission peaks from each LPG. More practical difficulty lies in the detection of the chemical while other environmental factors such as temperature are varying. The different temperature and chemical sensitivities of the transmission peaks make it difficult to distinguish the chemical signal from the environmental influence.
Although cladding modes numbers or crossover can be reduced for LPG sensors by chemical etching for a LPG-based sensing device, the same mechanical processing challenge occurs as that associated with mechanically modifying short-period FBGs.

Fiber optic sensing device and method of making and operating the same


One or more non-zero diffraction orders are selected, and these selected one or more zero or non-zero diffraction orders are selected for eliminating or obtaining corresponding zero or non-zero diffraction order terms or interference term from measurements from a periodic target using an optical metrology tool. The periodic target has a pitch, and the measurements contain a zero diffraction order and one or more non-zero diffraction order terms. Using the optical metrology tool, an incident beam is directed to positions on the target, and the measurements are obtained from the target in response to the incident beam. The measurements are processed to eliminate or obtain each zero or non-zero diffraction order term or interference term associated with each selected zero or non-zero diffraction order, resulting in a processed metrology signal. The positions are shifted from each other so as to cause the zero or non-zero diffraction order term or interference term corresponding to each selected zero or non-zero diffraction order to be eliminated or obtained.

The invention described herein relates generally to semiconductor metrology of a specimen, such as a wafer or reticle. More specifically, it relates to metrology that employs detection of an optical signal from a periodic target.
Generally, the industry of semiconductor manufacturing involves highly complex techniques for fabricating integrated circuits using semiconductor materials which are layered and patterned onto a substrate, such as silicon. Due to the large scale of circuit integration and the decreasing size of semiconductor devices, the device must comply with rigorous specification requirements prior to shipment of the device to the end users or customers.
Optical metrology techniques (such as spectroscopic ellipsometry, scatterometry, reflectometry, etc.) provide powerful, high-throughput capabilities for measuring critical dimensions, overlay, film thicknesses, composition, and other parameters of nanoscale structures. The measurements are often performed on targets that are in the form of repeating periodic structures, e.g., gratings. These gratings usually represent the actual device geometric and material structure or an intermediate design during device fabrication.
Although some optical metrology techniques for analyzing periodic targets work well for certain applications, it would be beneficial to provide improved mechanisms for performing metrology for periodic targets.

Optical metrology of periodic targets in presence of multiple diffraction orders


A method for authentication of GNSS messages by an authentication transmitter apparatus comprising a reference receiver, an authentication server and an authentication transmitter. The method comprises: receiving, by the reference receiver, a plurality of navigation messages from a plurality of GNSS satellites; hashing, by the authentication server, the navigation messages to create a plurality of hashed messages; creating, by the authentication server, a table comprising the plurality of hashed messages; signing, by the authentication server, the table to create a signed table comprising the hashed messages and acryptographic signature, and transmitting, by the authentication transmitter, the signed table to an authentication receiver apparatus.

A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is a system of satellites that can be used for determining the geographic location of a mobile receiver with respect to the earth. Current GNSS include GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou.
Satellite navigation systems provide navigation for which security and integrity is of outmost importance. The position, navigation and time (PNT) information obtained by the receivers must be reliable. However, problems may be encountered when trying to provide a receiver with information. First, the signals must arrive at the receivers with an acceptable quality level, which is already a challenge due to the multiple factors that affect the satellite communication link. A major threat is signal interference that may be natural, incidental or deliberate and that can degrade the signal observed by the receiver. But even if a signal is received with a sufficiently good quality in order for the information to be decoded and used, it is possible that said signal is not the signal originally sent by the satellite. GNSS signals are vulnerable to said interference that may be inserted to perform different types of attacks, such as jamming, spoofing, and meaconing. Jamming relates to deliberately interfering in a communication by emitting radio noise in the frequency band so that the receiver is not able to track the signal. Spoofing relates to broadcasting counterfeit signals that the receiver will interpret as genuine GNSS signals and so will deceive the receiver, and meaconing relates to intercepting and retransmitting genuine signals with delays aiming at deceiving the receiver to establish false PNT. One important feature to reduce the vulnerability of GNSS receivers to such attacks is to provide authentication mechanisms that allow verification of the authenticity of received GNSS messages.
A GNSS may also be augmented with corrections to the satellite position and the clock offset as given by the satellite navigation message. This augmentation aims at enhancing the accuracy of the PNT solution, but the correction messages may be subject to similar attacks as the navigation messages and have need for authentication, too.
European patent EP2583117B1 presents a high-level description of standalone signal-in-space authentication, which allows a GNSS receiver to authenticate radio navigation signals that arrive at the receiver (which are to be used for computing positioning information), to verify that these GNSS signals actually originate and are received directly from a set of GNSS satellites instead of from jamming/spoofing/meaconing entities.
Message authentication may be performed using various types of cryptographic protocols. These protocols typically operate based on signatures, which have to be transmitted together with the messages and thus pose a considerable increase in the needed bandwidth, which is a crucial parameter.
Several authentication service approaches have been proposed in the Galileo Open Service and Commercial Service. Exemplary proposals use a time efficient loss tolerant authentication (TESLA) symmetric cryptographic protocol. They provide a bandwidth efficient authentication mechanism, but verification of the signatures needs to take place at the receiver a certain time after it was transmitted.
It would be desirable to provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for authentication of GNSS messages by use of cryptography, which allow reliable authentication of GNSS message data from all visible GNSS satellites, even when transmission capacity (bandwidth) of the communication channel is relatively small.