An LGA connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2), a stiffener (3) defined around the housing, a clip (4) pivotably engaged on one end of the stiffener, and a lever (5) engaged on an opposite end of the stiffener for fastening the clip onto the housing. The stiffener includes a bottom plate (31) and a plurality of side walls (32) extending from the bottom plate, and the housing includes a plurality of side surfaces aligned with said side walls. A gap is formed between corresponding side surface of the housing and side wall of the stiffener. The clip includes a main plate (41) and a pair of side plates (42) extending from the main plate. A slot (34) is formed in corresponding position of the bottom plate of the stiffener for accepting the side plate of the clip partly when the clip is rotated to a horizontal closed position.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector for electrically connecting an electronic package such as an integrated circuit (IC) chip with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), and particularly to a land grid array connector adapted for receiving a land grid package (LGP) therein and electrically connecting the LGP with a PCB.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Land grid array (LGA) connector for electrically connecting a Land Grid Package (LGP) with a printed circuit board (PCB) is widely used in the field of electrical connectors. The LGA connector typically comprises an insulative housing, a stiffener defined around the housing, a clip pivotably engaged on one end of the stiffener, and a lever engaged on an opposite end of the stiffener for fastening the clip onto the housing. The LGP is clasped between the clip and the housing.
Referring to FIGS. 5–6, a conventional Land Grid Array (LGA) connector is illustrated. The LGA connector 6 comprises an insulative housing 61, a stiffener 62 defined around the housing 61, a metal clip 63 pivotably engaged on one end of the stiffener 62, and a lever 64 engaged on an opposite end of the stiffener 62 for fastening the clip 63 onto the housing 61. The stiffener 62 comprises a bottom plate 621 and four sidewalls 622 therefrom. Said clip 63 and lever 64 are pivotably engaged on two sidewalls 622 of the stiffener 62 respectively, and the housing 61 is mounted on the bottom plate 621 of the stiffener 62, with a gap between a side surface of the housing 61 and corresponding sidewall 622 of the stiffener 62. The clip 63 has a substantially rectangular configuration, with a window in the middle thereof. The clip 63 comprises a main plate 630 and a pair of side plates 632 extending downwardly from opposite sides of the main plate 630. The lever 64 comprises an operation lever 641 and a perpendicular pressing lever 642 for pressing the clip 63 to clasp the LGP 7 between the clip 63 and the housing 61.
In use, the clip 63 is first rotated to a vertical open position, and the LGP 7 is seated onto a predetermined position of the housing 61. Then the clip 63 is rotated to a horizontal close position. When the main plate 630 of the clip 63 is fittingly rested on LGP 7, the side plate 632 goes into the gap between the side surface of the housing 61 and corresponding side wall 622. When the operation lever 641 is subsequently actuated, the pressing portion 6422 presses an end of the clip 63, therefore fastening the housing 61 and LGP 7 between the stiffener 62 and the clip 63.
Because the clip 63 presses onto the LGP 7 for sandwiching the LGP onto the housing 61, the main plate 630 is required rigid enough for avoiding distortion under pulling force. In order to improve the anti-bending performance of the main plate 630, the side plate 632 is proposed to extend relatively farer from the main plate 630, therefore preventing the main plate 630 from bending downwardly. However, if the side plate 632 is elongated, it is liable to engage with the bottom plate 621 of the stiffener 62. The upshot is that the firm clasping the LGP 7 between the clip 63 and the stiffener 62 is diminished.
In view of the above, a new LGA connector which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.

Land grid array connector without undesired engagement


The present invention provides a composition of hydraulic fluid that mainly contains alkyl benzenes. In addition to alkyl benzenes, the composition also contains an antioxidant, an antifoaming agent, a pour point dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor and a detergent-dispersant additive, an extreme pressure additive, a lubrication additives, comprising of the following steps (I) removing of insoluble matter from the base stock, (II) tailoring the base stock by vacuum distillation and blending, (IV) removing the oxidized matters by adsorption, (V) addition of performance additives and homogenizing the mixture. The product of this invention has utility as an general purpose hydraulic fluid.

Hydraulic oil is an industrial lubricant used in many applications, from gear pumps to axial piston pumps to heavy-duty farm and industrial equipment. All hydraulic oils should prevent components from excessive wear and maintenance costs even under extreme temperatures. The deterioration can result from a variety of factors. Rust is one common problem that plagues small parts in engines, transmissions, and hydraulics systems. This problem often arises from the presence of excess water vapor in the system. Oxidation and foam build up is other problems that build up over time and affect the performance of hydraulics systems. For optimal functioning, a hydraulic fluid must be relatively incompressible and must flow readily. In addition, it should provided adequate lubricity for moving parts, stability under anticipated conditions of use, compatibility with materials used to construct the hydraulic system, and the fluids should have the ability to protect system components against chemical reaction with materials which may enter the system. Finally, they should have a minimal impact on the environment.
The hydraulic oil serving as the power transmission medium in a hydraulic system. The most commonly used fluids are petroleum oils, synthetic lubricants, oil-water emulsion, and water-glycol mixtures. The principal requirements of a hydraulic fluid are proper viscosity high viscosity index, anti-wear protection, good oxidation stability, adequate pour point, good de-emulsibility, rust inhibition, resistance to foaming, and compatibility with seal materials. Anti-wear oils are frequently used in compact, high-pressure, and high-capacity pumps that require extra lubrication protection. Certain synthetic lubricants and water-containing fluids are used where fire resistance is needed. Synthetic lubricants also are used in extreme-temperature conditions.
Only slight change in volume during usage, adequate oxidation resistance, for some cases of application adequate de-emulsification capacity, adequate shear stability, if polymer viscosity index improvers are used viscosity-temperature behavior, so that oil changes due to summer and winter operation become redundant, adequately low viscosity-temperature behavior, and minimal characteristics changes of standard elastomers are desirable. Now, pollution and environmental aspects of various products have become important issues. The uncontrolled loss of lubricants can endanger environment by coming into contact directly with the nature (organisms, soil, live water etc.) as a consequence of leakage, throw off, emissions, spillage or careless disposal. Great efforts have been made during the last 25 years by several countries and major industries to develop and find more and more environment friendly—nontoxic products and technologies which have a less negative impact on our precious environment.
In the prior art for producing hydraulic oils, generally, mineral oils or mineral oil with synthetic fluids or complex ester of fatty acids were used. The focus has been on the use of such oil base to enhance the performance.
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,565 Junga, Nov. 1, 1994 Petro-Lube, Inc. (Whitemore Lake, Mich.) Hydraulic oil. An improved anti-wear, high-pressure hydraulic oil which contains essentially no zinc or phosphorous is described. The hydraulic oil protects against corrosion and oxidation as well as provides anti-wear, anti-weld, and demulsibility properties. This improved hydraulic oil contains (1) petroleum hydrocarbon oil; (2) esters of dibasic and monobasic acids; (3) butylated phenol; (4) phenol; (5) sulfurized fatty oil; (6) fatty acid; and (7) sulfur scavenger. This hydraulic oil has a reduced tendency towards sludge formation and has, therefore, an increased lifetime. (mineral oils was used)
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,292 Konishi, et al. Oct. 9, 2001 Nippon Mitsubishi Oil Corporation (Tokyo, JP) Hydraulic oil composition. A hydraulic oil composition which is excellent in oxidative stability, lubricating properties and biodegradability; comprising vegetable oil as base oil, and one phenol antioxidant, an amine antioxidant and a zinc dithiophosphate antioxidant. (edible vegetable oils are used)
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,883, Nieh, Aug. 20, 2002, Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation (Austin, Tex.) Hydraulic and gear lubricants. Provided herein are functional fluid compositions useful in hydraulic fluid and gear oil formulations. The formulations according to the invention include a predominant amount of at least one polyoxyalkylene glycol derived from the addition polymerization of an alcohol in the presence of an alkylene oxide mixture, which contains a substantial amount of ethylene oxide. Fluids according to the invention exhibit suitable lubricity and stability characteristics and are generally water soluble to a degree sufficient to preclude formation of a sheen on the surface of a body of water into which a fluid according to the invention is brought into contact. (polyethylene glycol was used)
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,658, Hoppe, et al., Nov. 22, 1994, Huls Aktiengesellschaft (Marl, Del.) Use of polymethylalkanes as biodegradable base oils in lubricants and functional fluids The invention relates to the use of polymethylalkanes having terminal methyl groups and methylene and ethylidene groups in which the total number of C atoms n+2 m+2 is 20 to 100 and the ratio of the methyl and methylene groups to the ethylidene groups is 3 to 20:1 and the ethylidene groups are always separated by at least one methylene group, as biodegradable base oils for lubricants and functional fluids. Suitable polymethylalkanes are obtained by oligomerization of .alpha.,.omega.-diolefins, for example in particular according to P 41 19 332.6, or by pyrolysis of ethene/propane copolymers and subsequent hydrogenation in each case. The polymethylalkanes can be combined with conventional additives and other degradable or non-degradable base oils. (polymethyl alkanes was used)
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,274 (Jokinen et al., Nov. 8, 1988) Concerned with an anhydrous oily lubricant, which; is based on vegetable oils, which is substituted for mineral lubricant oils, and which, as its main component, contains triglycerides that are esters of saturated and/or unsaturated straight-chained C.sub.10 to C.sub.22 fatty acids and glycerol. The lubricant is characterized in that it contains at least 70 percent by weight of a triglyceride whose iodine number is at least 50 and no more than 125 and whose viscosity index is at least 190. As its basic component, instead of or along with the said triglyceride, the lubricant oil may also contain a polymer prepared by hot-polymerization out of the said triglyceride or out of a corresponding triglyceride. As additives, the lubricant oil may contain solvents, fatty acid derivatives, in particular their metal salts, organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic polymers, and customary additives for lubricants. (edible vegetable oils are used)
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,654 (Lawate et al., Jul. 23, 1996) Describes a food grade lubricant composition, which is useful as hydraulic oil, gear oil, and compressor, oil for equipment in the food service industry. This composition comprises (A) a major amount of a genetically modified vegetable oil and (B) a minor amount of a performance additive. In other embodiments the composition contains either (C) a phosphorus compound or (D) a non-genetically modified vegetable oil. (edible vegetable oils are used)
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,482 (Chassan et al., Dec. 3, 1996) A lubricant composition stabilized against the deleterious effects of heat and oxygen said composition comprising a triglyceride oil or an oil which is an ester wherein unsaturation is present in either the alcohol moiety or the acid moiety and an effective stabilizing amount of either an N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl-1,2,4-triazole or an N,N-disubstituted aminomethylbenzotriazole and a higher alkyl substituted amide of dodecylene succinic acid. (edible vegetable oil with an additive was used)
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,947 (Lambert et al., Mar. 30, 1999) A composition that has three main components: a base oil, an oil source containing hydroxy fatty acids and an oil source containing vegetable or animal waxes. The base oil used in the reference needs to consist of primarily triglycerols (triglycerides) and mono- and diglycerols (glycerides) and free fatty acids. The composition further consists of vegetable oils where the glycerols contain hydroxy fatty acids, preferably making up 5% to 20% of the oil. A third major component is waxes composing 5% to 10% of the oil additives by volume. Additional synthetic mimics or natural products derived from animal or vegetable compounds may be added up to 5% of the compositional volume. (glycol fatty esters and fats are used)
A patent filled by the inventors of the present invention disclosed the use of Heavy Alkyl Benzene alkaline earth metal sulfonates that are used as detergent-dispersant-anti rust additive in various types of lubricants (Patent application IPA number 1306/DEL1998 & 1307/DEL/1998 by A. K. Singh et al assigned to CSIR). The alkyl benzenes are mono, di and poly substituted alkyl aromatics having one benzene or toluene aromatic ring and straight or branched paraffinic chains having carbon atoms 1 to 15 preferably 10 to 15, preferably mono and di alkyl benzene. Alkyl benzenes are produced as by-products during the preparation of, (1) linear alkyl benzene (LAB) in detergent industry, (2) heavy aromatic produced in catalytic reformer, and (3) naphtha or gas steam cracker liquid product. Alkyl benzene consists of substituted benzenes and no poly-aromatics/condensed ring or olefinic compounds are present in the alkyl benzenes. It can be used as an alternate to mineral base stock of lubricants. It will reduce the hazard potential of the lubricants. It will provide required properties such as good hydraulic properties, lubricity, load carrying, stability, anti-corrosion properties and more eco-friendliness.
There is a need for developing new hydraulic fluid composition, which is free from harmful, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons generally found in mineral oil and produce less pollution. These objectives must be met, while simultaneously satisfying stringent performance standards, e.g., good lubricity, load carrying, stability and anti-corrosion.

Composition of hydraulic fluid and process for the preparation thereof

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


A reconfigurable antenna structure includes first and second reconfigurable antennas, a configuration module, and an antenna processing circuit. The first reconfigurable antenna is configured, in response to a first configuration signal, to have a first radiation pattern and to have a first frequency bandwidth and the second reconfigurable antenna is configured, in response to a second configuration signal, to have a second radiation pattern and to have a second frequency bandwidth. The configuration module is configured to generate the first and second configuration signals. The antenna processing circuit is configured to send one or more transmit signals to one or more of the first and second reconfigurable antennas for transmission via one or more of the channels of interest and receive one or more receive signals from the one or more of the first and second reconfigurable antennas.

Technical Field
This invention relates generally to wireless communication systems and more particularly to antenna structures used in such wireless communication systems.
Description of Related Art
Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire lined communications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices. Such communication systems range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-home wireless networks to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems to radio frequency radar systems. Each type of communication system is constructed, and hence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards. For instance, radio frequency (RF) wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one or more standards including, but not limited to, RFID, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), WCDMA, local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), LTE, WiMAX, and/or variations thereof. As another example, infrared (IR) communication systems may operate in accordance with one or more standards including, but not limited to, IrDA (Infrared Data Association).
For an RF wireless communication device to participate in wireless communications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiver and transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g., a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communication networks, RF modem, etc.). The receiver is coupled to the antenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediate frequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage. The transmitter includes a data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier, which is coupled to the antenna.
Since a wireless communication begins and ends with the antenna, a properly designed antenna structure is an important component of wireless communication devices. As is known, the antenna structure is designed to have a desired impedance (e.g., 50 Ohms) at an operating frequency, a desired bandwidth centered at the desired operating frequency, and a desired length (e.g., ¼ wavelength of the operating frequency for a monopole antenna). As is further known, the antenna structure may include a single monopole or dipole antenna, a diversity antenna structure, an antenna array having the same polarization, an antenna array having different polarization, and/or any number of other electro-magnetic properties.
Two-dimensional antennas are known to include a meandering pattern or a micro strip configuration. For efficient antenna operation, the length of an antenna should be ¼ wavelength for a monopole antenna and ½ wavelength for a dipole antenna, where the wavelength (λ)=c/f, where c is the speed of light and f is frequency. For example, a ¼ wavelength antenna at 900 MHz has a total length of approximately 8.3 centimeters (i.e., 0.25*(3×108 m/s)/(900×106 c/s)=0.25*33 cm, where m/s is meters per second and c/s is cycles per second). As another example, a ¼ wavelength antenna at 2400 MHz has a total length of approximately 3.1 cm (i.e., 0.25*(3×108 m/s)/(2.4×109 c/s)=0.25*12.5 cm).
While two-dimensional antennas provide reasonable antenna performance for many wireless communication devices, there are issues when the wireless communication devices require full duplex operation and/or multiple input and/or multiple output (e.g., single input multiple output, multiple input multiple output, multiple input single output) operation. For instance, antenna arrays and other antenna structures use antennas with the same radiation pattern and bandwidth.

Reconfigurable antenna structure with reconfigurable antennas and applications thereof


An image managing apparatus for managing a plurality of image data units includes: an image data acquiring unit for acquiring the image data units; an attribute information acquiring unit for acquiring attribute information units respectively associated with the image data units in such a manner that each attribute information unit corresponds to an associated one of the image data units; an image data classifying unit for classifying the image data units into a plurality of image-data groups based on the attribute information units; a thumbnail image creating unit for creating thumbnail image data units in order to display the image data units as thumbnail images; and a display unit for displaying the thumbnail images for each image-data group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a program, an image managing apparatus, and an image managing method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a program, an image managing apparatus and an image managing method for managing data of a plurality of images.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an image processing apparatus, software, an image capturing apparatus and the like can display data of a plurality of images in form of list or table by reducing the sizes of the acquired images to create thumbnail images.
In a case where the image processing apparatus, the software, the image capturing apparatus and the like displays the thumbnail images of a number of images, it is desired that the image processing apparatus, the software, the image capturing apparatus and the like that allow a user to easily manage of data of the images.

Program, image managing apparatus and image managing method


A synchronization circuit for electronic devices and components, being of the type which includes an internal synchronization signal generator and an input/output terminal whereat an external synchronization signal can be received. The synchronization circuit further includes a comparator for receiving both synchronization signals and having a control output for supplying a terminal with the signal corresponding to the master/slave mode of operation of the synchronization circuit. A method of generating and supplying a synchronization signal to a plurality of electronic devices being operated as slave devices to a synchronization circuit acting as the master device is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a synchronization circuit for electronic devices and components and more specifically to a synchronization circuit capable of operating in a master and a slave mode. One embodiment of the invention relates to a synchronization circuit for electronic devices and components, the circuit being of the type which comprises an internal synchronization signal generator and an input/output terminal whereat an external synchronization signal can be received, or the internal synchronization signal can be supplied from the circuit.
Another embodiment of the invention also concerns a method of generating and supplying a synchronization signal to a plurality of electronic devices being operated as slave devices to a synchronization circuit acting as the master device, and wherein the synchronization circuit can, in turn, be operated in the slave mode to receive an external synchronization signal.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Many applications require in the electronic industry that a number of electronic devices from the same circuit family, or from families of some different type, be rendered compatible with one another. This means that the devices should be capable of operating at the same working frequency to avoid the occurrence of intermodulation phenomena.
This requirement is usually met by using a special synchronization circuit which enables one of the devices to act as the master device, while the other active devices operate in the slave mode.
In essence, one of the devices--referred to as the master--functions as a synchronization circuit and impresses a synchronization signal clock which is picked up by all the slave devices to time their synchronization signals.
A good synchronization circuit should be able to receive or supply the synchronization signal at/to a single output node, but should not form its synchronization signal at that node when operated in the slave mode.
One known synchronization circuit is shown in FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 1, a synchronization circuit 10 includes a squaring or clipping circuit 11 connected after an oscillator 12. An input terminal IN of the oscillator 12 is supplied an enable signal OSC which is also supplied in parallel to the input of an ON/OFF switch 13. The ON/OFF switch 13 has an output which is coupled to activate the oscillator 12. The switch 13 can be regarded as being part of the synchronization circuit 10.
The clipper 11 is effective to clip the saw-toothed signal output by the oscillator 12. The output of the clipper 11 is connected to a circuit node U supplying a synchronization signal SINC to other circuit components, which are generally designated 14 and internal to the circuit 10.
The synchronization circuit 10 may be operated in a master mode. In master mode, the circuit 10 may supply the signal SINC to electronic devices connected to the terminal A. Alternatively, the circuit 10 may be operated in slave mode, whereby the signal SINC is received at the node U over a connection 15 from the terminal A connected to the output of another master device, not shown in the figure.
In other words, when operating in slave mode, no saw-toothed signal is generated, and the synchronization signal SINC is delivered from outside, i.e. from the terminal A.
The input terminal IN is utilized for controlling the master or slave mode of the synchronization circuit, where a capacitor or a resistor is connected toward ground outside the oscillator. Both the capacitor and the resistor would normally be provided to form an RC circuit.
The known synchronization circuit of FIG. 1 has, however, the following drawbacks. First, a second terminal must be made available for controlling the synchronization circuit. In addition, because the saw-toothed signal is not generated when operating in the slave mode the circuit 10 cannot be used in many applications to which that signal is essential, including Pulse Width Modulators.
A second prior art synchronization circuit is illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the components already mentioned in connection with FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The circuit of FIG. 2 can be implemented without a control terminal because the saw-toothed signal from the oscillator is controlled through the synchronization signal SINC alone. In fact, upon detection of the synchronization signal, the saw-toothed signal will be forced to discharge. The receipt of the first input the synchronization signal will also force the outputting of its synchronization signal at node U, as generated by the clipper 11, after a predetermined time delay Td, where the time delay Td is due to the delays of the oscillator 12 and the clipper 11. One problem associated with the circuit of FIG. 2 is that when the two synchronization signals have equal duration, the delay Td of the slave synchronization circuit will cause the synchronization signal to expand, thereby lowering the oscillation frequency. In addition, consumption is bound to increase due to the master circuit clipper tending to force the terminal to discharge, but meeting the opposition of the clipper incorporated to the slave which can deliver a larger current than the master can accept.
If the duration of the synchronization signal of the slave is longer than that of the master, the frequency is further reduced and consumption increased accordingly. Where several devices are to be synchronized, these problems become more serious as a result of the propagation delays introduced by the length of the layout connections.
Plots illustrating the status of the SINC signals versus time are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, where FIG. 3A illustrates an ideal synchronization and FIG. 3B illustrates a real synchronization. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, SINC is the synchronization signal, and I (SINC) is the current flowing through the terminal to which the signal SINC is applied.
An additional problem with the circuit of FIG. 2 is that if the synchronization pulse is a very short one, it may be depleted by the time the slave synchronization signal arrives. In this case, the slave would turn into master and force a synchronization signal to the real master, causing the signal to bounce from one circuit to another and the system oscillation frequency to rise until the inverse of the propagation time Td. This phenomenon is illustrated in FIG. 4, which shows the pattern of a synchronization signal whose period is equal to Td.
It would be desirable to provide a synchronization circuit and synchronization method which have such constructional and functional features that would overcome the limitations and drawbacks mentioned above in connection with the background art.

Clock circuit and corresponding method for generating and supplying a clock signal to electronic devices


A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays portions of a scroll program guide on the viewer's display screen. A tuner receives TV radio frequency or optical transmission signals in a plurality of cable channels and passes a viewer usable signal to a signal combiner. A computer receives control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It controls the tuner to pass the viewer usable signal in response to one of the control signals. It receives and stores a scroll input picture image signal containing local program guide data and generates a scroll output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion of the scroll input picture image signal. The signal combiner combines the viewer usable signal from the tuner with the output picture image signal from the computer to provide a display signal for input to the viewer's display screen. The computer is responsive to variable control signals from the remote to advance, back up, and freeze the scroll output picture image signal. It is also responsive to directional control signals from the remote to reposition "highlight" background to corresponding program data slots on the scroll grid and to display further program information coresponding to the program of the data slot shown in "highlight". In addition, it is responsive to further directional control signals to redraw the grid to display earlier or later time segment program data than is normally displayed on the viewer's screen.

This invention relates generally to interactive video communications and more particularly concerns viewer controlled channel programming guide displays.
Channel programming guide information is presently displayed to the home TV viewer in a non-interactive scroll. When the home viewer selects the channel programming guide display, the display is viewed as it is transmitted from the cable network. Consequently, the viewer may have to wait for almost the entire running time of the scroll for a desired segment of the scroll to be displayed on the viewer's screen. Furthermore, the program information on the scroll is changed at discrete time intervals selected by the cable provider. Consequently, only the programming information included in the discrete time interval of the transmitted scroll can be observed by the home viewer. Later programming information will become available to the viewer only when that programming information comes into the particular discrete time interval selected for transmission by the cable provider. In other words, the viewer has no alternative but to wait for the scroll to display the desired programming time slot and, when it is displayed, can view it only for as long as that scroll segment remains on the screen during its normal running time. Any distraction at this juncture starts a new waiting period. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a process and in-home scrolling hardware by which a home viewer may interactively control a channel programming guide. Another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home scrolling hardware in which the scroll can be stopped by the home viewer. Another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home scrolling hardware by which a home viewer may forward scroll the channel programming guide. Another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home scrolling hardware by which a home viewer may reverse scroll the channel program guide. Another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home scrolling hardware by which a home viewer may select a discrete time interval of channel program guide information from a plurality of discrete time intervals of such information.


Disclosed is a polyvinyl chloride resin powder composition containing (A) a granular polyvinyl chloride resin and (B) a fine granular vinyl chloride copolymer resin containing a copolymer composed of a vinyl chloride monomer and a carbonyloxy group-containing vinyl monomer, along with a stabilizer and a plasticizer. The composition is suitable for powder molding to produce covering materials of automotive interiors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polyvinyl chloride resin powder composition and also to a process for producing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The recent trend in the automotive interior covering materials for crash pad, armrest, headrest, console box, meter hood, door trim, etc. is toward those which are not only light in weight but also soft to the touch and quality-looking owing to embossing for the leather-like finish and stitch-like pattern.
These covering materials are conventionally produced by the powder slush molding method which consists of contacting a powder composition with a heated mold, thereby causing particles to fust together, and removing excess powder remaining unfused, said powder composition being formed by dry-blending polyvinyl chloride resin, plasticizer, stabilizer, pigment, etc.
The product from the powder composition is often backed with a polyurethane layer to be made into a covering material. The thus obtained covering material has a disadvantage of being poor in adhesion between the polyvinyl chloride resin layer and the polyurethane layer.
In order to overcome the disadvantage, there has been proposed an improved polyvinyl chloride resin powder composition comprising the above-mentioned composition and a polypropylene glycol or polyether polyol (Japanese Patent Kokai No. 136542/1986).
The composition is, however, not satisfactory because it does not adhere uniformly to the mold or the excess composition is not removed uniformly after fusing in powder molding so that the composition-causes so-called powder dropping. Thus, -the resulting covering material greatly fluctuates in thickness, and when a polyurethane layer is laminated to it, the surface of the laminate product is defectively uneven.
With the foregoing in mind, the present inventors carried out a series of researches which led to the finding that a powder composition containing a fine granular vinyl chloride copolymer resin, which contains a specific copolymer composed of a vinyl chloride monomer and a carbonyloxy group-containing vinyl monomer, has the good property of powder dropping and gives a covering material having uniform thickness and good adhesion to a polyurethane layer. Further making additional various investigations, they have completed the present invention on the basis of the finding.

Polyvinyl chloride resin powder composition and production thereof


An optical RF stereo systems includes multiple remote vehicles, a processing center, and optical RF link systems for transmitting RF signals from remote vehicles to the processing center and for transmitting command and control signals from the processing center to remote vehicles.

A live musical production consists of many voices, instruments, and sound effect generators. These sound sources constitute a very dense acoustical environment. Stereo is a high fidelity sound reproduction scheme which uses many channels to record a live musical production. The intrinsic characteristics associated with the excitements, locations and movements of these sources are faithfully recorded in a stereo sound reproduction scheme. On a play back mode, the stereo systems will truly reproduce these intrinsic characteristics. An audiophile can enjoy a live musical production in his own living room with the help of his stereo play back system. He is able to identify and locate each of the musical sources without any confusions. Meanwhile he is deceived by his stereo play back system as if a live musical production is performing for him specially.
While stereo systems are dominated ones in acoustics, RF deception systems in use today are mono in nature, i.e. each deception system is comprised of a single antenna to receive and transmit RF radiations. Mono RF deception systems suffer from many drawbacks. They lack the sophistication and spatial diversity as in comparison with acoustical stereo systems. They can not reproduce many important features and RF signatures of fighting platforms for achieving successful deceptions. In light of the above, there is a need in the art for more advanced RF systems for deception, and other applications.
The objectives of the present invention are for electronic deceptions as well as intelligence gathering, and other applications. The invention is based on the RF modulation of laser sources. An optical fiber RF link system was introduced in the previous invention of optical fiber based bistatic radars. The inventor has discovered that RF links can also be accomplished through direct laser transmissions. The difference between optical fiber and direct laser RF link systems is only in the replacement of the optical fiber by a direct laser. Both optical fiber and direct laser RF link systems will be referred to as an optical RF link system. The optical fiber based bistatic radar should be properly referred to as an optical bistatic radar.
RF interferometers as used in radio astronomy employ multiple antennas, which are regularly spaced and properly placed. They function as a whole antenna for attaining the finest angular detail in astronomical observations. Like the placement of speakers in the stereo sound reproduction, no strict regularities are imposed on the placement of antenna subsystems in the present invention. In most cases, these antennas mounted on respective remote vehicles move separately to achieve objectives of the present invention.


A partially preemptive quality of service (“QoS”) scheduling model for application in an optical burst switched (“OBS”) network node is described. In one aspect, the invention comprises a method for dropping only an portion of a data burst under consideration that overlaps with a portion of an already-scheduled data burst. In another aspect, the invention comprises preempting only that portion of an already-scheduled data burst that overlaps with a portion of a data burst under consideration and scheduling the data burst under consideration in its entirety. In one embodiment, the decision whether to drop a portion of the data burst under consideration or preempt a portion of the already-scheduled data burst is based on the relative priorities of the bursts. Similarly, the decision whether to perform a partial or full drop or preempt is based on the amount of overlap between the bursts.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to optical burst switching ("OBS") networks. More particularly, and not by way of any limitation, the present invention is directed to a method of implementing partially preemptive burst scheduling in an OBS network.
2. Description of Related Art
In OBS technology, data bursts, each of which is made up of multiple packets, are switched optically at core nodes in the OBS network. A small control packet, called the Burst Header Packet ("BHP") travels an offset time ahead of the data burst along the same data burst route and configures the optical switch for the duration of the data bursts at the core node. Basically, the BHP travels an offset time ahead of the data burst and establishes a path for the burst.
Because a BHP arrives at core nodes prior to its corresponding data burst trying to configure the switch for transparent fly-through, a short-term scheduling calendar, referred to as a "Sliding Frontier" or "SF", must be maintained for prospective data burst arrivals. The SF includes all of the data channels and control channels for core node adjacency in the core OBS network. The SF progresses with the current time on the near-end and the latest scheduled burst on the far-end. All scheduled data bursts and their corresponding BHPs are maintained in the SF data structures such that each pair is doubly linked to each other.
FIG. 1 illustrates an SF 100 comprising k data channels D1-Dk and n control channels C1-Cn. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first data burst 102a and its BHP 104a are scheduled on data channel Dk and control channel Cn, respectively. A second data burst 102b and its BHP 104b are scheduled on data channel D1 and control channel C1, respectively. A third data burst 102c and its BHP 104c are scheduled on data channel D2 and control channel C1, respectively.
Contention may occur between multiple data bursts attempting to traverse the same egress link. In current OBS technology, data bursts are scheduled intact.
Accordingly, when a burst overlaps another already-scheduled burst, it is dropped in its entirety, even if the overlap is minimal. This results in a drop in utilization. As will be defined herein, five different overlap situations may occur. FIG. 2A illustrates a case in which there is "No Overlap" between an already-scheduled burst 200 and a burst under consideration 202. In this case, there is no contention between the two burst 200, 202, and both can be scheduled without conflict. FIG. 2B illustrates a case of "Head Overlap", in which case a front portion or "head" 212 of a burst under consideration 214 overlaps with a rear portion 216 of an already-scheduled burst 218. FIG. 2C illustrates a case of "Tail Overlap", in which case a rear portion or "tail" 222 of a burst under consideration 224 overlaps with a front portion 226 of an already-scheduled burst 228. FIG. 2D illustrates a case of "Head-Tail Overlap", in which case a head 232a and tail 232b of a burst under consideration 234 respectively overlap with a rear portion 236a of a first already-scheduled burst 238a and with a front portion 236b of an second already-scheduled burst 238b. FIG. 2E illustrates "Full Overlap", in which case the entirety of a burst under consideration 244 overlaps with a portion 246 of an already-scheduled burst 248.
In normal practice of OBS technology, if any of the above-described types of overlap occur, the entire burst under consideration is dropped, even if only a small fraction thereof overlaps with an already-scheduled burst. This causes a fragmentation effect that results in an inefficient use of bandwidth because it leaves raw bandwidth unutilized. It also increases packet loss.
Possible solutions to inefficient bandwidth utilization, fragmentation, and high packet loss caused by the above-described practice include optical buffering and wavelength dimensioning. For quality of service ("QoS") support in OBS, there is an approach that uses offset value adjustments. Unfortunately, optical buffering is not a matured technology and can be performed only in a limited way by Fiber Delay Lines ("FDLs"), which have a big footprint in equipment design and are a source of optical impairments. FDLs do not offer random access feature and can be designed only in segments. Further, optical buffering itself causes additional fragmentation. Wavelength dimensioning also has a physical limit in terms of number of wavelengths band requires full-scale wavelength conversion, which is not an easy practice. Offset value adjustments affects negatively the end-to-end delay and is not flexible enough; for example, it is not capable of accommodating multiple classes.

Partially preemptive burst scheduling model for an optical burst switching network


An apparatus may include a first plurality of registers, each register in the first plurality of registers configured to store data wordss, a first selector coupled to the first plurality of registers, the first selector configured to receive a data words stored in each register in the first plurality of registers, and configured to output the data words from a selected register from the first plurality of registers in response to a selection signal, a second plurality of registers, each register in the second plurality of registers configured to store a pointer associated with each register in the first plurality of registers, a second selector coupled to the second plurality of registers, the selector circuit configured to receive data from each register in the second plurality of registers, and configured to output data from a selected register from the second plurality of registers in response to the selection signal, the data comprising a pointer associated with the selected register from the first plurality of registers, a shift register coupled to the first selector and to the second selector circuit, the shift register configured to receive the data words from the selected register in the first plurality of registers, configured to receive the pointer, and configured to output a portion of the data words, the portion of the data words determined by the pointer, and a decoder coupled to the shift register, the decoder configured to receive the portion of the data words, and configured to output decoded data in response to the portion of the data words.

The present invention relates to multiple stream switching mechanisms. More particularly, the present invention relates to enhanced context switching for variable length and/or fixed length packets of data. In some embodiments, the switching allows for context switching for two-way, or reversibly, encoded packets of data.
The Internet has provided a wealth of new information and information sources available to users. Typical types of information or data include text articles, images, sounds, videos, and the like. Presently, text articles (.html, .pdf, .txt, and the like), images (.jpg, .gif, .tiff, and the like), and sounds (.wav, .mp3, .pcm, and the like) can be provided to users in a short amount of time, depending upon the data. In other words, the users""connection bandwidth is such that data of this type can be downloaded to the user""client computers in fairly short amounts of time.
Several problems arise, however, with regards to the transfer of video data. One problem with regards to video data is that the user""bandwidth connections to the Internet are often narrow and often video playback is blocky, jumpy, and of poor resolution. As a result, the play back of such video data is often unsatisfactory. Another problem with regards to video data is that many formats for video data are pursued by major Internet companies. For example, streaming video formats are propagated by Microsoft, RealNetworks, Apple Computer, and the like. As a result, users are forced to download and install players for each of the many different formats. Yet another problem with regards to video data is that the processing power of the user""client may vary greatly. For example, the client may be a PDA, a cellular telephone, home computer, and the like. As a result, video servers may be wasting processing power when providing high bandwidth video data for clients with limited bandwidth.
One of the first companies to recognize the above problems was Luxxon Corporation of San Jose, Calif. The solutions proposed by Luxxon included providing servers with the ability to dynamically transcode video sources from one video format to another. Further, the solutions proposed further provided the ability for virtually any video data stream to be converted to a video data stream more consistent with the bandwidth and processing power of the client system. As a result, with the dynamic transcoding processes video data, or the like could be efficiently provided for client systems coupled to the network via telephone modems, via DSL or cable modems, via wireless methods, routers, and the like.
In light of the above, what is desired are methods and apparatus to expand the capabilities of the video servers by adding M to N, source to client processing, while reducing the need for redundant circuitry.
The present invention relates to M server to N client, multiple stream encoding and decoding mechanisms. More particularly, the present invention relates to enhanced context switching for variable length and/or fixed length packets of data.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is described. The apparatus may include a first plurality of registers, each register in the first plurality of registers configured to store data wordss, a first selector coupled to the first plurality of registers, the first selector configured to receive a data words stored in each register in the first plurality of registers, and configured to output the data words from a selected register from the first plurality of registers in response to a selection signal, a second plurality of registers, each register in the second plurality of registers configured to store a pointer associated with each register in the first plurality of registers, and a second selector coupled to the second plurality of registers, the selector circuit configured to receive data from each register in the second plurality of registers, and configured to output data from a selected register from the second plurality of registers in response to the selection signal, the data comprising a pointer associated with the selected register from the first plurality of registers. The apparatus may also include a shifter coupled to the first selector and to the second selector circuit, the shifter configured to receive the data words from the selected register in the first plurality of registers, configured to receive the pointer, and configured to output a portion of the data words, the portion of the data words determined by the pointer, and a decoder coupled to the shifter, the decoder configured to receive the portion of the data words, and configured to output decoded data in response to the portion of the data words.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for decoding streams of encoded data is disclosed. The method may include receiving a first stream of encoded data, the first stream from a first source, receiving a second stream of encoded data, the second stream from a second source, storing a first set of data in a first register, the first set of data from the first stream of encoded data, and storing a second set of data in a second register, the second set of data from the second stream of encoded data. The technique may also include storing a first pointer in a third register, the first pointer associated with the first set of data, storing a second pointer in a fourth register, the second pointer associated with the second set of data and applying a first signal to a selector. When the first signal is applied to the selector, coupling the first register and the third register to a shifter, and outputting data with the shifter, the data comprising a portion of the first set of data in response to the first pointer. Further, when the first signal is not applied to the selector, coupling the second register and the fourth register to the shifter, and outputting data with the shifter, the data comprising a portion of the second set of data in response to the second pointer. Decoding the data from the shifter and outputting decoded data may also be included.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an encoding apparatus is disclosed that is configured to receive data input from data sources and offsets associated with the data sources. The apparatus may include a first plurality of registers, each register in the first plurality of registers configured to store data wordss, and a first selector coupled to the first plurality of registers, the first selector configured to receive a data words stored in each register in the first plurality of registers, and configured to output the data words from a selected register from the first plurality of registers in response to a selection signal. The encoding apparatus may also include a second plurality of registers, each register in the second plurality of registers configured to store a pointer, a second selector coupled to the second plurality of registers, the selector circuit configured to receive data from each register in the second plurality of registers, and configured to output data from a selected register from the second plurality of registers in response to the selection signal, the data comprising pointers associated with the data sources, and an accumulator coupled to the second selector, the accumulator configured to combine the pointers associated with the data sources and the offsets. A shift register coupled to the accumulator, the shift register configured to receive the data input, configured to receive output from the accumulator, and configured to output the data input at a shifted position in response to the output from the accumulator, and a logic circuit coupled to the shift register and to the first selector, the logic circuit configured to perform a logic function on the data words from the selected register and output from the shift register are also contemplated. The first plurality of registers is also coupled to the logic circuit and the first plurality of registers is configured to store output from the logic circuit.

Multiple stream variable length encoder and decoder


A driving support method and apparatus for displaying, on a medial side of a pillar of the vehicle, an image of an area which is hidden as a blind spot in a rear-view mirror mounted on or in a vehicle, when looking in the mirror from the driver's position and which is created by the pillar. The apparatus detects a head position of a driver, detects the angle of the rear-view mirror, calculates the area which is hidden as the blind spot on the basis of the detected driver's head position and the detected angle of the rear-view mirror, and projects an image of the area corresponding to the blind spot onto the pillar, the projected image being formed from image data which is obtained from a blind spot camera mounted on the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving support method and a driving support apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known apparatus for supporting safe driving includes an on-board system for capturing an image of an area, hidden as a blind spot of the driver, with an on-board camera, and a display monitor for displaying the image on a display monitor. One such system captures an image of an area which is hidden as a blind spot of the driver, created by a pillar in the vehicle, with an on-board camera and displays the image on the interior side of the pillar, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-184225. Such pillars are located to the front right and left of the driver and serve to support the windows and the roof of the vehicle and require a certain thickness to ensure the safety of the driver. With the known apparatus, the direction in which the camera is pointing does not necessarily coincide with the direction in which the driver is looking and therefore the image captured by the camera is converted into coordinate values not matching the direction of the driver's view.
Further, the apparatus described above does not assist the driver in viewing an area behind the vehicle or an area to the rear of the vehicle in a rear-view mirror. When the driver looks toward the area behind the vehicle or to the rear of the vehicle in the rear-view mirror, a rear pillar which is located in the back of the vehicle and/or a center pillar which is located between a front seat and a rear seat may obstruct the driver's view in the rear-view mirror.
To solve the problem described above, another apparatus projects an image onto the rear pillar and/or the center pillar and allows the driver see the projected image in the rear-view mirror. However, the driver's range of view and the driver's eye direction for such area in the rear-view mirror are different from the driver's range of view and from the driver's eye direction in looking directly at such area, so that the driver may feel some reluctance to use this method because the image projected on the pillar is significantly different from the driver's actual view.

Driving support method and driving support apparatus


Systems and techniques for presenting travel information to a user are described. A code that includes predetermined travel parameters specified by the user is included in a web page. Access to the web page by a user is detected. A travel query is populated with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user. Cached travel options that are obtained from prior queries and that satisfy the travel query are presented to the user.

Conventional travel planning systems (TPSes) are used to produce itineraries and prices by selecting suitable travel units from databases containing geographic, scheduling and pricing information. In the airline industry, for example, fundamental travel units include "flights" (sequences of regularly scheduled takeoffs and landings assigned a common identifier) and "fares" (prices published by airlines for travel between two points). The term "itinerary" refers to a sequence of flights on particular dates and the term "pricing solution" refers to a combination of fares and itineraries.
In conventional travel planning such as for air travel scheduling, flight pricing and low-fare-searching, travel queries are posed by users from travel agent systems, airline reservation agent systems, travel web sites, and airline-specific web sites. Low-fare-search (LFS) queries typically include origin and destination information, time constraints, and may include additional information such as passenger profile and travel preferences. TPSes respond to these LFS queries and typically return a list of possible travel options of a flight combination with price information.
TPSes expend considerable computational resources responding to LFS queries. It is not uncommon for a TPS to spend more than 30 seconds responding to an LFS query, even for a relatively straightforward round-trip query leaving and returning from specific airports on specific dates. This delay is undesirable for the user of the system, as it reduces interactivity.

Providing travel information using cached query answers


Apparatus, systems, and methods for reducing resonance in a multiple inverter system are provided. One apparatus includes an inverter coupled to a decoupling element, wherein the inverter and the decoupling elements are couplable to a power source. A system includes a motor vehicle power source including first positive and negative terminals, and a plurality of inverters coupled to the power source. Each inverter includes a second positive terminal coupled to the first positive terminal and a second negative terminal coupled to the first negative terminal. A first inverter of the plurality of inverters includes a decoupling element coupled between the first positive terminal and the positive terminal of the first inverter. One method includes operating first and second inverters at different frequencies, and controlling the impedance of a decoupling element coupled between a power source and the first inverter based on the second inverter frequency.

Many electric drive systems employ multiple inverters that power multiple electric motors while sharing a common DC link power source. Typically, these electric drive systems are designed so that the natural resonant frequency of each inverter is the same so that any given inverter does not excite a resonance in any of the other inverters. While this is a convenient design because the inverters are essentially uncoupled, it can significantly impact system costs.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide multiple inverter systems that do not consider neighboring inverter operation and/or resonant frequencies, and that can be more cost-effective. In addition, it is desirable to provide methods for enabling two or more inverters in a multiple inverter system to operate at different frequencies. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Apparatus and methods for reducing resonance in multiple inverter systems


A random number generator, RNG, a method of fabricating the same, and a method of generating a random number. The RNG, comprises at least one first avalanche photodiode, APD, configured for producing “1” events based on dark electron initiated avalanches in the first APD; at least one second avalanche photodiode, APD, configured for producing “0” events based on dark electron initiated avalanches in the second APD; and a feedback circuit configured for substantially evening out the respective numbers of generated avalanches in the first and second APDs by independently controlling respective dynamic bias voltages of the first and second APDs.

Any mention and/or discussion of prior art throughout the specification should not be considered, in any way, as an admission that this prior art is well known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Random number generators (RNG) fall into two general categories: software-based and hardware-based. There is a growing awareness of the limitations of software-based RNGs due to the fact that these rely on algorithms and are sensitive to the initial seed. The output of a typical software RNG in general computing is typically of low quality, as they generally try to harvest the input seed from events (such as keystrokes and background computing processes) that may be highly correlated.
Physical or hardware based RNGs in turn tend not to suffer from these problems as they typically rely on very complicated physical processes that rely on complex internal dynamics of particles or states, which are difficult to predict. Examples of these RNGs include sampling Johnson noise, or current fluctions in a diode of some kind. Typically, these RNGs provide some fluctuation that is analogue in nature, requiring some software processing to produce a digitized random number that is useful in general computing.
A recent trend has been to try and identify quantum processes to use as a resource for Quantum RNGs. In these processes, there are both analogue and "digitized" options. An example of a "digitized" format is the approach where single photon detectors monitor single photon pulses falling on an even-probability beamsplitter [1], so that the output of each arm is converted into a 1 or 0. Furthermore, there is theoretical interest in certifiable RNGs, where it is possible to certify the randomness behind the physical process as quantum and not just based on physical chaotic processes.
All the above physical RNGs suffer some disadvantage. The classical analogue RNGs do not provide an output that is native to general computing, relying heavily on software to produce a useable random number. The quantum processes typically require some kind of particle source in addition to the detectors, raising the cost of production. Although some of the above devices are already available in a commercial setting, it is not foreseen that there will be a significant uptake from the general computing market due to the complexity of implementation, and hence increased cost.
Embodiments of the present invention seek to address at least one of the above problems.

Random number generator and method of fabricating the same


A latch assembly includes a forkbolt biased to rotate in a first direction about a first pivot point, and a detent biased to rotate in a second direction about a second pivot point, the detent configured to engage with the forkbolt in at least two different positions. The latch assembly further includes a tertiary catch biased to rotate in the first direction. The detent is configured to engage a portion of the tertiary catch and rotate the tertiary catch when the detent is rotated in the first direction.

Many current motor vehicles include compartments (e.g., hoods, trunks, etc.) that are latched with latch assemblies. The latch assemblies enable an operator to push down on the compartment, and to have the compartment latched and locked in place until the operator desires to unlatch the compartment.
Frunks (front trunk compartments) are now commonly found in certain electric vehicles and mid/rear-engine vehicles, and are used in place of the common rear trunk to store materials such as luggage or other items. Frunks, however, must meet certain Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) relating to front opening hoods. For example, frunks must have a two-step release for any latch that is used to secure the frunk. Additionally, frunks must meet FMVSS entrapment regulations similar to a traditional rear trunk when the vehicle is not moving, and open partially when the vehicle is above a certain speed.


A code support device providing emergency code displays for caregivers responsible for infant patients in an infant care device. The code support device has a graphic user interface display for gathering, recording and displaying information used in the routine operation of the infant care device and when needed displays a code screen in response to an emergency situation that directs caregivers through a preprogrammed emergency code of activity to respond to the emergency.

A code is medical slang for a situation where a patient experiences cardiopulmonary arrest, requiring a team of providers (sometimes called a "Code team") to rush to the specific location and begin immediate resuscitative efforts. It is not uncommon for an infant patient to experience a Code following delivery or while being cared for in an intensive care area. The Code team ideally consists of 4-6 people, each with defined roles, though often fewer are available. A Code is an intense period of time involving many people that can have very serious consequences. An infant radiant warmer is often the platform on which an infant code is treated.
There are many actions the Code team is responsible for during a code. The infant may require warming, airway suctioning, oxygen, pulmonary resuscitation, chest compression, drugs, or other care. Individual members of the team are responsible for specific tasks, e.g. manual resuscitation, cardiac massage, drug preparation, etc. Usually, if available, one individual is responsible for keeping a record of the activities and the time they take place. Some hospitals are making video records of a code and using these as a tool for post code analysis for the purpose of improving code team performance and patient outcome.
This invention provides a valuable tool that assist the code team in performing their task.

Code support device for infant care devices


A system and method for providing a high voltage ultrasonic drive signal from an ultrasound transmitter are disclosed herein. An ultrasound transmitter includes a first plurality of drive transistors. A bias network is coupled to at least one transistor of the first plurality of drive transistors. A first switch is coupled to the bias network. The first switch selectively connects a first voltage to the bias network. The first switch is closed when generating an ultrasonic drive signal. The first switch is open when the transmitter is not generating an ultrasonic drive signal.

Ultrasonic imaging has become a widely used tool in medical applications. Ultrasound techniques introduce high-frequency acoustic waves into a subject's body. The received echoes of those waves provide information allowing a trained observer to view the subject's internal organs. Ultrasound imaging equipment uses transducers that convert electrical energy into acoustic energy. Piezo-electric crystals are one commonly used type of electrical to acoustical transducer. To obtain a clear image, a high signal to noise ratio is desirable to overcome random noise associated with the imaging process. One way to increase the signal-to-noise ratio is to increase the amplitude of the signal driving the transducer. Generally, the transducer drive signal may require voltages in the range of +/−75 volts to +/−100 volts.
There are two broad categories of ultrasound transmitters, digital and analog. The analog type takes a signal generated digitally and after being converted to analog form, by a digital to analog converter, the signal is amplified to the required higher voltage by a power amplifier. This type of transmitter is capable of generating complex waveforms by using a high-resolution digital to analog converter with a resolution of, for example, 12 bits. This technique is expensive and finds application in high-end ultrasound imaging systems.
Digital transmitters are simpler and less expensive than analog transmitters. Unfortunately, the semiconductor process technologies used to fabricate digital circuits do not typically accommodate the high voltages required to produce an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio in an ultrasound imager. Moreover, lower voltage processes are often faster and less expensive. Thus, an ultrasound transmitter compatible with low-voltage semiconductor processes is desirable.


A circuit board mounted data card reader includes an elevated card receiving assembly for receiving a data card such as a SIM card, UIM card, or the like, and a support assembly. The card receiving assembly is elevated or spaced away from the circuit board by the support assembly for conserving space on the circuit board and allowing other components to be mounted to the circuit board beneath the data card reader.

The present invention relates generally to mobile telephones and like wireless communication enabled electronic devices employing data cards such as SIM cards, UIM cards, or the like, and more particularly, to an elevated data card reader for receiving a data card in such devices.
Many mobile telephones employ small removable smart cards or "data cards" to provide secure user authentication, secure roaming, and a platform for value-added services in wireless communications. Typically, such data cards comprise a small plastic card containing an integrated circuit that provides the card with a limited amount of memory and/or processing capability. Presently, data cards are used mainly in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard in the form of a SIM (subscriber identification module) card. However, data cards can also be used to customize mobile telephones employing other air interface standards (e.g., personal communications service (PCS), satellite, digital cellular system (DCS), and the like). Moreover, new wireless network specifications currently being developed typically require mobile telephones utilizing data cards (e.g., a user identification module (UIM) card), performing functions similar to SIM cards.
In use, data cards (e.g., SIM cards, UIM cards, and the like) are inserted into a data card reader contained in the mobile telephone so that data may be read from or written to the card. Presently such data card readers are mounted directly to the main circuit board within the mobile telephone. However, because mobile telephones are typically compact in size, electronic components must be densely spaced on the telephone's main circuit board. Thus, the data card reader, being a comparatively large component, occupies space on the circuit board that could be used to mount other electronic components. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a typical surface mounted SIM card reader 100 mounted to the main printed circuit board (PCB) 102 of a mobile telephone. The SIM card reader 100 occupies an area 104 of the circuit board 102 of approximately 75.75 square millimeters (approximately 7.5 millimeters by 10.1 millimeters). If the SIM card reader 100 were removed from the circuit board 102, this area 104 could be used for mounting additional electronic components, or for locating such electronic components in a more efficient manner.
Consequently, it is desirable to provide a circuit board mounted data card reader having a card receiving assembly for receiving a data card such as a SIM card, UIM card, or the like, wherein the card receiving assembly is elevated or spaced away from the circuit board, conserving space on the circuit board and allowing other components to be mounted to the circuit board beneath the data card reader.


A tertiary mode vibration type Coriolis flowmeter includes a flow tube, a drive device driving the flow tube, and a pair of vibration detecting sensors detecting a phase difference in proportion to a Colioris force acting on the flow tube. The drive device drives the flow tube by bending vibration in a tertiary mode. The flow tube further comprises an approximately loop-shaped body part. A pair of parallel leg parts deflected in a direction approximately orthogonal to the vibrating direction of both end parts of the body part, namely, to the outside of the both end parts are formed continuously with the both end parts of the body part. Fixed end parts supporting the flow tube are formed at the leg parts.

In a Coriolis flowmeter, a tube through which a fluid to be measured flows is supported at one end or both ends thereof, and vibration is applied to a portion of the tube around the supporting point in a direction vertical (orthogonal) to the flowing direction of the tube (hereinafter, a tube to which vibration is applied is referred to as a flow tube). The Coriolis flowmeter is a mass flowmeter, which utilizes the fact that the Coriolis forces applied to the flow tube when vibration is thus applied thereto, are proportional to a mass flow rate. The Coriolis flowmeter, which is well known, is roughly classified into a straight tube type and a bent tube type in terms of flow tube structure.
In a Coriolis flowmeter of the straight tube type, when vibration is applied to a straight tube, whose both ends are supported, in a direction vertical (orthogonal) to the straight-tube center portion axis, a difference in displacement due to the Coriolis forces is generated between the support portions and the central portion of the straight tube. In other words, a phase difference signal is obtained, and, based on this phase difference signal, the mass flow rate is detected. The straight tube type Coriolis flowmeter thus constructed has a simple, compact, and solid structure. On the other hand, there arises a problem in that it is difficult to achieve high detection sensitivity.
In contrast, the bent tube type Coriolis flowmeter is superior to the straight tube type Coriolis flowmeter from a viewpoint that the bent tube type Coriolis flowmeter allows selection of a shape for effectively obtaining the Coriolis forces. In fact, the bent tube type Coriolis flowmeter is capable of performing mass flow rate detection with high sensitivity. Known examples of the bent tube type Coriolis flowmeter include one equipped with a single flow tube (see, for example, JP 4-55250 A), one equipped with two flow tubes arranged in parallel (see, for example, JP 2939242 B), and one equipped with a single flow tube in a looped state (see, for example, JP 2951651 B).
In a Coriolis flowmeter, forming the flow tube by a single path without being branched off is the best method of solving a problem of clogging in a small diameter sensor. When measuring a fluid having compressibility or discontinuous fluids differing in density and viscosity, it is impossible to effect flow separation in a stable manner if the flow is branched off. From this viewpoint also, it is desirable to form the flow tube by a single flow path. Further, when the flow tube is formed exclusively in one and the same plane (i.e., a single plane), the production of the flow tube is facilitated since the configuration and structure involved are the simplest, which proves effective when reproducibility in form at low cost is required.
However, in a conventional Coriolis flowmeter formed by a single flow path, which does not adopt an opposing construction to cancel vibration, leakage of vibration from the fixed ends to the exterior of the mass flowmeter occurs when the flow tube is vibrated in a tertiary mode or an even-number mode, resulting in generation of zero-point drift or span fluctuation depending upon changes in piping conditions. Further, even in a vibration system using a counter balancer for the purpose of mitigating vibration leakage, a change in vibration leakage is caused by a change in density, resulting in a deterioration in terms of instrumental error property.
As stated above, a counter balancer is usually adopted in order to mitigate vibration leakage. However, in a Coriolis flowmeter utilizing bending vibration of a single tube, the influences of the counter balancer system in terms of density, temperature, and vibration are inevitable.

Tertiary mode vibration type coriolis flowmeter


The present invention provides a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises an aperture stop, first, second, third and fourth lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. The first lens element with positive refracting power has a surface facing toward the object side. The second lens element with negative refracting power has a convex surface facing toward the object. The third lens element has a positive refracting power. The fourth lens element has a surface facing toward the object side with a concave portion in the vicinity of the optical axis and a surface facing toward the image side with a convex portion in the peripheral vicinity. The optical imaging lens of the present invention is capable of shortening the total length of the optical imaging lens efficiently and has good optical characteristics.

The present invention relates to a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof, and particularly, relates to a mobile device applying an optical imaging lens having four lens elements and an optical imaging lens thereof.
The ever-increasing demand for smaller sized mobile devices, such as cell phones, digital cameras, etc. has correspondingly triggered a growing need for smaller sized photography modules contained therein. Size reductions may be contributed from various aspects of the mobile devices, which includes not only the charge coupled device (CCD) and the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), but also the optical imaging lens mounted therein. When reducing the size of the optical imaging lens, however, achieving good optical characteristics becomes a challenging problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,453,654, U.S. Pat. No. 8,184,383, R.O.C. Patent No. M356127, R.O.C. Patent Publication No. 201224568, R.O.C. Patent Publication No. 201217852, and R.O.C. Patent Publication No. 201215941 all disclosed an optical imaging lens constructed with an optical imaging lens having four lens elements. The thickness of the second image lens therein is thicker.
Japan Patent Publication No. 2011-090127, Japan Patent Publication No. 2009-169005, U.S. Pat. No. 7,777,972, U.S. Pat. No. 7,920,340, U.S. Pat. No. 7,277,238, U.S. Pat. No. 7,957,079, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 20110115962 all disclosed an optical imaging lens constructed with an optical imaging lens having four lens elements. The excessive sum of all air gaps between the lens elements is unfavorable for endeavoring slimmer mobile devices, such as cell phones and digital cameras.
Especially, in the third embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 7,920,340, the length of the optical imaging lens is over 7 mm, which is not beneficial for the slimmer and smaller design of mobile devices.
How to effectively shorten the length of the optical imaging lens is one of the most important topics in the industry to pursue the trend of smaller and smaller mobile devices. Therefore, there is needed to develop optical imaging lens with a shorter length, while also having good optical characteristics.

Mobile device and optical imaging lens thereof


A printing process for forming high contrast color images on polymer surfaces, comprising: (a) forming a layer of substantially opaque liquid toner comprising polymer based toner particles and a carrier liquid, on an imaging surface; (b) transferring the layer to an intermediate transfer member; (c) heating the layer on the intermediate transfer member to a temperature at which the toner particles at least partially coalesce; (d) repeating (a) to (c) sequentially for at least one subsequent layer in at least one subsequent layer in at least one color, said at least one subsequent layer being transferred to the intermediate transfer member onto the opaque layer to form multiple layers on the intermediate trnsfer member; and (e) transferring the multiple layers to a polymer surface.

The coating of plastic films or surfaces e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene. etc. for aesthetic or functional purposes is of great utility and importance. A major use of such films is in food packaging.
Electrostatic printing has inherent advantages which would appear to make it particularly desirable for printing on plastic films. The inherent advantages include adaptability to short runs economically, high resolution, on demand printing and good visibility. However, at present, printing on transparent films, especially multi-color printing is commercially performed in multi-head presses, and only in long runs.


A computer program is searched for one or more select terms. A first type of search is performed on source code of the computer program to search for one or more select terms in the source code. Results of the first type of search, if any, are included in a result set. A second type of search is performed on one or more particular elements of the computer program to search for the one or more select terms in the one or more particular elements. Results of the second type of search, if any, are added to the result set. Another search is performed, based on analysis of the result set. The other search searches for the one or more select terms in one or more selected source artifacts of the computer program to provide a refined result set. An action is performed using the refined set.

One or more aspects relate, in general, to processing within a computing environment, and in particular, to searching computer programs for particular terms.
Computer programs may be searched for particular terms using various types of searches. One type of search is an unstructured search, in which the computer program source code is treated as unstructured text data, and the unstructured data is searched for the particular terms. Another type of search is a structured search, in which the search is based on the structure of the computer program source. This type of search is based on direct knowledge or an educated guess of the structure of the searched program source.

Refining search results generated from a combination of multiple types of searches

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


In a disclosed method, a piezoelectric element 1 has an asymmetrical hysteresis characteristic of polarization-electric field different in absolute values between a coercive field of positive electric side and a coercive field of negative electric field side, and is polarized in the film thickness direction of the piezoelectric element 1 and in a direction of smaller absolute value of the coercive field, and as a position control voltage Q1 for position control by ditorting the piezoelectric element 1 in a direction orthogonal to the film thickness direction of the piezoelectric element 1, a voltage equivalent to an electric field of 0.4 or less of the coercive field value is applied in the film thickness direction of the piezoelectric element 1 in a direction of larger absolute value of the coercive field. Further, a position control voltage Q2 for recovering from deterioration of polarization of the piezoelectric element 1 is applied by superposing on the position control voltage Q1, or changing over with the position control voltage Q1, or while the position control voltage Q1 is not applied, and therefore recovering from deterioration of polarization characteristic, the displacement characteristic is stabilized for a long period of time.

Micro machines are intensively developed recently, such as ultrasmall piezoelectric actuators, motors and pumps, by utilizing the micro machine technology. Among them, the piezoelectric actuator is developed for ink jet printer or use in head positioning in a disk recording and reproducing apparatus (hereinafter called disk apparatus) in which positioning of high precision is demanded in a miniature region.
For use in a disk apparatus, for example, it is developed as follows. Usually, a head for recording and reproducing information in a disk-shape recording medium (hereinafter called disk) is mounted on a head slider, and is attached to an actuator arm. By oscillating this actuator arm by a voice coil motor (hereinafter called VCM), it is positioned on a desired track position on the disk, and information is recorded or reproduced by the head. As the recording density is enhanced, however, sufficient positioning precision can be no longer assured by the conventional VCM alone.
Therefore, in addition to the positioning means using the VCM, it has been proposed to position at higher speed and higher precision by finely driving the head slider by using fine positioning means by a piezoelectric actuator using a piezoelectric element (Ultrahigh TPI and piggyback actuator, IDEMA Japan News No. 32, pp. 4–7, International Disk Drive Association).
The piezoelectric elements used in such piezoelectric actuator may be manufactured by green sheet laminating method, multilayer ceramic method formed by thick film multilayer lamination, or thin film method fabricated by thin film technology.
In the piezoelectric actuator using these piezoelectric elements, displacement of the piezoelectric element deteriorates in the course of time due to impression of voltage. In order that the piezoelectric actuator may operate stably without such aging or deterioration, it is required to suppress changes of initial polarization characteristic of the piezoelectric element. Various measures of stabilization of polarization are devised in the manufacturing process.
For example, to stabilize the polarization characteristic, in a piezoelectric actuator manufactured in a conventional manner, sinusoidal waves oscillating from 0 voltage to maximum operating voltage of the piezoelectric actuator are applied for more than 1 hour, preferably about 10 hours, and the piezoelectric actuator is stabilized (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2814607, FIG. 3).
In this method, prior to use of the piezoelectric element, it is stabilized by applying sinusoidal waves ranging from, for example, 0 V to 150 V. However, when such high voltage is applied for 1 hour, or preferably as long as 10 hours, the insulation resistance may deteriorate in the case of the piezoelectric element fabricated by the thin film technology. Further, since such method is intended to stabilize by slightly decreasing initial displacements of the piezoelectric actuator, and as compared with the displacement in the initial polarization state, the displacement is smaller in the actual operating state, and the performance as the piezoelectric actuator is slightly lowered.
Concerning an asymmetric hysteresis characteristic of a piezoelectric thin film, it is proposed to form a platinum (Pt) film of (100) azimuth on a single-crystal magnesium oxide (MgO) substrate of (100) azimuth, and form a (001) oriented lead zirconic titanate (PTZ) film thereon by sputtering method (Appl. Phys. Lett. 70 (11), 1378–1380, 17 Mar. 1997, "Piezoelectric properties of c-axis oriented Pb (Zr, Ti) O3 thin film"). This publication, however, teaches nothing about driving method as piezoelectric actuator for stabilizing polarization of piezoelectric element or preventing deterioration of insulation resistance.

Driving method of piezoelectric actuator, piezoelectric actuator, and disk recording and reproducing apparatus using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Techniques for coupling output laser beams from multiple lasers into multiple fibers and using a collimating lens and a steering mirror to individually couple the laser beams from the fibers to a laser control system.

An optical wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) system uses a single fiber link to simultaneously transmit optical signals at different carrier wavelengths. Dense WDM (DWDM) techniques have been used to increase the number of multiplexed wavelengths in a WDM fiber link by reducing the wavelength spacing between two adjacent wavelengths. Such WDM and DWDM systems use multiple lasers at different WDM wavelengths to produce the optical carriers.
It is desirable to stabilize the laser wavelengths of the multiple lasers at their respective, pre-selected WEM wavelengths. One standard for the WDM wavelengths is established by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in which the separation between two adjacent communication channels is 0.8 nm, or 100 GHz in frequency. Thus, the lasers for WDM systems should have narrow output linewidths at those ITU WDM wavelengths. In addition, the wavelength of each WDM laser should be stable to avoid drifting into the wavelength range allocated for an adjacent channel.
A wavelength control system, e.g., a wavelocker, may be used to control the output laser wavelength of a laser. Such a system may include a detection unit to measure the variation of the output laser wavelength from a desired laser wavelength and a locking mechanism to adjust the laser by negating the variation so that the output laser wavelength is locked at the desired laser wavelength.

Multi-input wavelocker for controlling laser wavelengths of multiple lasers


An apparatus for determining 3D load displacement characteristics of an anatomical joint formed by a first body portion and a second body portion moveable with respect to the first body portion. The apparatus includes a first frame for receiving and securing the first body portion and a load displacement assembly. The load displacement assembly includes a first axis for alignment with a first anatomical plane of the joint, a second frame for receiving and securing the second body portion. The second frame is movable relative to the first frame. The load displacement assembly also includes a first counterweight configured to balance the weight of the second frame, a force for applying a load to the second frame, and a displacement sensor for measuring displacement of the second frame relative to the first frame upon application of the force.

The present invention relates generally to a measurement device that characterizes the three dimensional (3D) load displacement response of a joint. Specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for determining load displacement characteristics of an anatomical joint in a clinical or experimental environment, including primary and coupled motions while negating the influence of gravitational forces.
Clinical assessment of joint pathologies, including those involving soft tissues or other ligament injuries, is primarily subjective. The clinician relies on the manual manipulation of the joint. During clinical examination, the clinician obtains a qualitative and subjective "feel" for the amount of laxity or stiffness in the involved joint as compared to the clinician's previous intuition regarding what the normal joint should feel like and/or compared with the contralateral joint should it be uninjured. This clinical examination is then supplemented by the clinical history of the patient and by radiological evaluations. Moreover, assessment of the effectiveness of treatment be it conservative (e.g., rehabilitation) or surgical is subjective and relies on feedback from the patient.
Knee rotations and coupled motions as measured during clinical examination of the knee (pivot shift phenomenon) are an important predictor of clinical outcome and a potential risk factor for osteoarthritis following ligament injuries, such as the ACL. However, conventional knee arthrometers are unidirectional, measuring the translation or rotation only in the direction of the applied force or torque, respectively. They were not designed to characterize knee rotations and coupled motions occurring in response to multiplanar torques, such as what occurs during the pivot shift exam. Therefore, a need remains for a standardized, quantitative, objective, clinically-usable method to assess rotations and coupled motions. Previous devices that measured rotations and coupled motions were cumbersome or relied on complicated, time-consuming methods making them unsuitable for clinical use. Robotic technology has been used extensively in vitro to explore the rotations and coupled motions occurring in response to combined valgus and internal rotation torques, thus simulating the pivot shift exam. Unfortunately, such data has not translated to development of a useful clinical tool. Knee laxity has also been assessed using MR-compatible devices to negate soft tissue artifact; however, the approach is time-consuming and costly, which limits its clinical utility.
Further, conventional arthrometers do not have the capability of balancing each axis of the system resulting in interference with free movement along each axis of the device because the weight of the various segments forming the device act on each axis and generate undesired forces and moments across the anatomical joint due to gravity. Consequently, there is a need for a quantitative, reliable technique to assess the 3D load displacement response of a joint for the purposes of contributing to the clinical management of joint pathologies.

Apparatus and method for determining 3D load displacement response of a joint


The present disclosure is directed to source/drain (S/D) epitaxial structures with enlarged top surfaces. In some embodiments, the S/D epitaxial structures include a first crystalline epitaxial layer comprising facets; a non-crystalline epitaxial layer on the first crystalline layer; and a second crystalline epitaxial layer on the non-crystalline epitaxial layer, where the second crystalline epitaxial layer is substantially facet-free.

The source and drain contact resistance in fin-based field effect transistors can be inversely proportional to the interfacial area between the source/drain contacts and underlying epitaxial layers of the source/drain terminals. In other words, the smaller the interfacial area between the source/drain contacts and the underlying source/drain epitaxial layers, the higher the source/drain contact resistance. Epitaxial layer growth on a fin can be based on a crystallographic orientation of the fin's surfaces such that epitaxially-grown source/drain regions may result in a top surface with limited surface area for the source/drain contacts.

Method of manufacturing a facet-free source/drain epitaxial structure having an amorphous or polycrystalline layer

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.