As a capacitor Cj is connected in parallel to a non-reciprocal circuit 3, in a predetermined frequency band in which a power amplifier 2 is used, or in other words, in a predetermined frequency band used in communication, an input impedance of the non-reciprocal circuit 3 is adjusted and the length of an impedance curve (reflection coefficient S11) at an input terminal P2 of the non-reciprocal circuit 3 can thus be reduced. In addition, an output impedance of the power amplifier 2 and an input impedance of the non-reciprocal circuit 3 can be matched in a broad band through an interstage matching circuit 7 (input matching circuit 6) provided between an output terminal P1 of the power amplifier 2 and the input terminal P2 of the non-reciprocal circuit 3.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transmission modules that include an amplifier circuit, a non-reciprocal circuit, and an interstage matching circuit connected between an output end of the amplifier circuit and an input end of the non-reciprocal circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been a demand for multiband and multimode portable communication terminals, such as cellular phones and portable information terminals, which are compatible with a plurality of communication modes using mutually different frequency bands or modulation methods. Thus, in a transmission module mounted in a transmission section of such a portable communication terminal, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a non-reciprocal circuit 300 having broadband isolation characteristics for a plurality of high frequency signals of mutually different frequency bands is provided (e.g., Patent Document 1). The non-reciprocal circuit 300 illustrated in FIG. 8 includes an isolator 130, a broadband circuit 4 that is connected in parallel to the isolator 130, and an output matching circuit 5 that is connected in series to the isolator 130 at a subsequent stage thereof. The isolator 130 includes a microwave ferrite 31 having a pair of principal surfaces located so as to be opposite to each other, and a first center electrode (inductor L1) and a second center electrode (inductor L2) are provided on the ferrite 31. The first center electrode is connected at one end to an input port of the ferrite 30 and connected at the other end to an output port of the ferrite 31, and the second center electrode is connected at one end to the output port and grounded at the other end in a state in which the second center electrode is isolated from the first center electrode on both principal surfaces. Then, a direct current magnetic field is applied to a portion where the first center electrode (inductor L1) and the second center electrode (inductor L2) intersect with each other through permanent magnets.
The broadband circuit 4 includes a capacitor C1 that is connected in parallel to the inductor L1 (first center electrode), and a series circuit that is connected in parallel to the inductor L1 and formed by a terminator R and an LC series resonant circuit (inductor L3 and capacitor C3). The output matching circuit 5 includes a capacitor CS2 that is connected in series to the output port of the isolator 130, and a capacitor C2 that is connected to the output port of the isolator 130 so as to be in parallel with the inductor L2. In addition, an input matching circuit 6 that includes a matching capacitor CS1 is connected to an input end of the non-reciprocal circuit 300.
In the non-reciprocal circuit 300 illustrated in FIG. 8, when a high frequency current is inputted to the input end through the input matching circuit 6, a large high frequency current flows through the second center electrode (inductor L2), whereas the high frequency current rarely flows through the first center electrode (inductor L1). Thus, an insertion loss is small, and the non-reciprocal circuit 300 operates in a broad band. At this point, the high frequency current rarely flows through the terminator R and the LC series resonant circuit (inductor L3 and capacitor C3), either. In the meantime, when a high frequency current is inputted to an output end of the non-reciprocal circuit 300, the high frequency current is matched in a broad band through the impedance characteristics of the terminator R and the LC series resonant circuit formed by the inductor L3 and the capacitor C3, and thus the isolation characteristics of the non-reciprocal circuit 300 improve. It is to be noted that the center frequency of the non-reciprocal circuit 300 is determined by a parallel resonant circuit that is formed by the capacitors C1 and C3 and the inductor L3 of the broadband circuit 4 and the inductor L1 (first center electrode).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-302742 (paragraphs 0014 to 0018, FIG. 1, Abstract, etc.)


A system for monitoring electrical current passing through a cured bondline may include a current sensor network embedded in an adhesive layer of the cured bondline. The current sensor network may include a plurality of inductive coils and a plurality of current sensor nodes electrically interconnecting the inductive coils to form a plurality of current sensor loops generating induced current in response to a magnetic field associated with an electrical current passing through the adhesive layer. The current sensor nodes may generate current signals representative of the induced current. The current sensor network may include a digital data communications network located external to the cured bondline and receiving the current signals from the current sensor nodes and detecting and monitoring electrical current passing through the cured bondline based on the current signals.

The manufacture and assembly of structures and structural components has increasingly involved the use of bonded joints or bondlines, such as adhesive bonded joints or bondlines, instead of fastener devices, to bond or join the structural components together. Adhesive bonded joints may be used in bonding of composite structural components in combination with other composites or other materials such as metal. In this regard, adhesive bonded composite structures and structural components may typically be used in the manufacture and assembly of aircraft, spacecraft, rotorcraft, watercraft, automobiles, trucks, buses, and other vehicles and structures due to the design flexibility and low weight of such composite structures and structural components.
Known inspection methods and devices exist for assessing the integrity of adhesive bonded joints or bondlines in order to measure the quality, soundness, effectiveness, performance, strength, or other characteristics of the adhesive bond, as well as to assess the ability of the adhesive bond to function reliably as required throughout the predicted lifetime of the bonded structure or structural components. Such known inspection methods and devices may include a variety of time-consuming techniques such as visual inspection, localized non-destructive inspection methods, laser bond and ultrasonic inspection devices, or other known methods and devices. These known inspection methods and devices may require that the hardware be pulled out of service for the inspection and may not have the ability to interrogate the bondline while the component part is in-service. In addition, such inspection methods and devices may increase costs and flow time to the process of assuring bondline integrity. Moreover, such known inspection methods and devices may only be carried out at certain times or on a periodic basis, rather than having the information about the bondline integrity available at all times on demand and available on a continuous, real time basis.
In particular, known visual inspection and localized non-destructive inspection methods and devices may not be effective where visual access to the adhesive bonded joints or bondlines is limited or not possible, for example, if such adhesive bonded joints or bondlines are located in a remote or interior location or beneath the surface. Access to interior bonded joints and bondlines may be difficult or not possible without disassembly or damage to the structures or structural components, such as removing a part or drilling a hole into a structure for insertion of a measurement tool. In addition, ultrasonic inspections may require specialized equipment, substantial operator training, and effective access to the structural component.
In addition, known methods and devices exist for monitoring the health of a composite structure with the use of external sensors. For example, U.S. Patent Publication Number 2007/0166831 A1 to Watkins, Jr. et al., discloses a method for monitoring the health of a composite structure by disposing a condition sensor on the surface of the composite structure. However, positioning sensors on the external surface of the structure may provide measurements of the whole structure including measurements through the structural components and the bondline. Such known methods and devices may provide only indirect and less accurate measurements of bondline characteristics and not direct and more accurate measurements of bondline characteristics at or within the bondline. In addition, alignment and positioning of external sensors may be complicated by accessibility to the structure or structural component, for example, inaccessibility to one side of a composite sandwich structure.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved system and method for monitoring bonding integrity directly at or within adhesive bonded joints or bondlines of structures or structural assemblies where such improved system and method provide advantages over known systems and methods.
A related aspect of monitoring the integrity of adhesively-bonded joints is with regard to detecting and monitoring high-intensity transient electrical currents that may pass through bonded joints. For example, aircraft must be capable of withstanding high-intensity current due to lightning strikes. In view of the undesirable effects of high-intensity electrical current on adhesive, and considering the increasing use of adhesively-bonded joints in the primary structure of an aircraft, it is becoming necessary to detect and monitor electrical current flow through bonded joints as may occur in the event of a lightning strike. In this regard, it is necessary to understand the distribution of current flow from a lightning strike toward and through bonded joints to facilitate the testing, design, and development of aircraft structures capable of withstanding or avoiding excessively-high current flow through bonded joints. As indicated above, known methods for assessing the integrity of adhesively-bonded joints are limited to time-consuming techniques such as visual inspection, localized non-destructive inspection methods, the use of laser bond and ultrasonic inspection devices, or other known methods and devices.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a system and method for detecting and monitoring electrical current flow through bonded joints so that appropriate lighting protection may be provided to such bonded joints.


A system (100) configured to facilitate ordering of goods or services from a vendor (150) by a customer may include one or more base stations (130) configured to receive an abbreviated dialing sequence that corresponds to an order from a mobile terminal used by the customer. A processing center (140) may be coupled between the one or more base stations (130) and vendor (150) and may be configured to receive the abbreviated dialing sequence. Processing center (140) may also transmit customer information that relates to the order to vendor (150), and may bill the customer's wireless account for a monetary amount of the order.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for ordering goods or services using wireless communication systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Vendors of goods or services have an interest in fulfilling customers' orders efficiently to maximize the number of customers that can be served (and hence the amount of profit) per unit of time. Similarly, customers are also interested in having their orders fulfilled efficiently, to minimize wasting their valuable time (e.g., standing in lines, waiting for delivery of the good or service, etc.). Conventional systems and methods for fulfilling orders have several shortcomings, however, some of which will become apparent in the following example.
Sometimes motorists (i.e., potential customers), for example while on travel, will not stop to get food, because they feel it will take too much time. This problem of missed sales is most commonly encountered on interstate highways, where motorists are often in a hurry and do not want to take time to get out of their vehicles for food. In addition, often the service areas located on highways are crowded with customers, especially during holiday travel. Currently, restaurants cannot anticipate when a customer will arrive. Hence, the restaurants cannot begin working on an order until the customer is at a drive-up window or is placing the order at a walk-up register.
Waiting until a customer arrives to begin taking and filling an order wastes valuable time for both the customer and the restaurant. The restaurant cannot process as many customers within a given time frame as they otherwise might. Customers may become frustrated because they must wait for longer than desired periods of time to have their orders taken and filled. Also, the restaurant risks losing revenue, because the customer, faced with such probable difficulties, may avoid stopping entirely.
As a result, a need exists for systems and methods that facilitate order placement and order fulfillment in a manner that avoids delays inherent in waiting for the physical presence of customers to initiate the process of ordering and fulfilling orders.

Systems and methods for fulfilling orders using location-based abbreviated dialing


This invention relates to a surface heat treatment method in a salt bath at low temperature, suitable for partially hardening the surface of a workpiece through heat treatment, including plating the surface of a workpiece with a first metal layer; partially peeling the first metal layer; heat treating the workpiece at a temperature of 400 to 500° C. for a predetermined period of time; and totally peeling the first metal layer. Thereby, low-temperature heat treatment is effective at heat treating the workpiece while minimizing deterioration of corrosion resistance.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a partial heat treatment method in a salt bath at low temperature, and more particularly, to a partial heat treatment method in a salt bath at low temperature, wherein heat treatment which enables a specific metal to penetrate to the surface of a workpiece to thus increase surface hardness is performed by an immersion process in a molten salt solution at low temperature, thereby preventing corrosion resistance from deteriorating.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heat treatment is widely utilized to enhance surface hardness of a workpiece. Typically, heat treatment is performed by bringing a workpiece into contact with a gas or molten salt solution for carburizing or nitriding at high temperature to thus diffuse the carbon or nitrogen atoms to the surface of the workpiece.
Heat treatment using a salt may be used to increase hardness of a metal having high corrosion resistance such as iron (stainless steel) containing chromium. An increase in hardness is achieved via formation of a nitride precipitate or a carbide precipitate abbreviated to "nitride" or "carbide".
As such, a nitride or carbide is configured such that chromium is precipitated with respect to nitrogen or carbon. When a non-uniform surface structure is formed through precipitation in this way, a difference in electronegativity may occur between a portion where chromium is lacking due to removal of chromium and a portion where chromium is precipitated. Such a difference allows for action as a kind of galvanic cell, and thus a metal product may easily corrode. The precipitation easily takes place when the same element as in the precipitate is present in a large amount in the workpiece or it is easy to permeate particles due to high heat treatment temperature.
Although a workpiece needs to be totally hardened, a part such as a ferrule is required to have high hardness only on a portion thereof.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are a cross-sectional view and a perspective view, respectively, illustrating a ferrule having a predetermined shape used to connect two pipes.
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connection structure of two pipes using a ferrule.
When the two pipes, for example, a front pipe 11 and a rear pipe 15 are connected, the ferrule functions to close a gap between the front pipe 11 and the rear pipe 15 and is responsible for swaging the pipes to ensure a sealing function and for preventing separation of the pipes.
The ferrule may include a front ferrule 13 and a back ferrule 14.
The back ferrule 14 plays a role in that while the rear (tail portion 14b) of the back ferrule 14 is pushed by a nut 12 for tightening the pipes, a force is transferred to the front ferrule 13. As such, while the nut 12 rotates, it tightens the pipes, and thus rotational torque is created. The back ferrule 14 performs a linear motion in the travel direction of the nut 12 when the nut 12 is moved forward while rotating.
By the back ferrule 14, the lower beveled portion of the rear of the front ferrule 13 is lifted up, and a nose portion 14a swages the pipes to thereby prevent the separation of the pipes.
Accordingly, desired purposes may be achieved only when the hardness of the nose portion of the back ferrule 14 is high. If the entire back ferrule 14 has high hardness, rotational torque of the nut 12 is not efficiently absorbed, thus increasing brittleness. Thus, only the nose portion 14a of the back ferrule 14 has to be selectively hardened.
FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating the ferrule. The ferrule is ring-shaped and the nose portion thereof is transformed by a force applied to the front while being twisted from the back. Hence, the nose portion needs to be particularly hardened.
The front ferrule 13 includes a support portion 13b to which pressure is applied while the nut 12 is tightened, and a nose portion 13a which receives the applied pressure and thus undergoes irreversible transformation and closes and swages the edge of the pipe. As high friction and force are applied in the course of transformation, the nose portion 13a has to possess high hardness and elasticity. The parts that selectively require high hardness on a predetermined portion, such as the ferrules 13, 14, should undergo selective partial hardening treatment.
When high hardness is required only on a predetermined portion in this way, such a portion is hardened through partial heat treatment. Typically, a partial heat treatment method includes plating a workpiece with a different kind of metal, wherein the resulting plating is used as a mask against heat treatment. Specifically, the workpiece is plated with a different kind of metal, and the plating is removed from a portion to be hardened, so that the surface of the workpiece is externally exposed. Then, heat treatment is performed, and thereby the portion which is not externally exposed blocks permeation of nitrogen or carbon due to the plating, and thus precipitation does not easily occur. Consequently, only the exposed portion is selectively hardened.
However, upon long-term heat treatment at high temperature while carrying out partial hardening through such a plating process, chromium is excessively precipitated on the portion which undergoes partial heat treatment, undesirably deteriorating corrosion resistance.

Partial heat treatment method in salt bath at low temperature


A system and method of scanning a machine-readable indicia may include, in response to determining that the scan engine module is in an engaged state and electrically connected to a computer, communicating the decoded data to the computer via a wired communications channel. Otherwise, in response to determining that the scan engine module is in a released state and wirelessly connected to the computer, communicate the decoded data to the computer via a wireless communications channel. The scan engine module may be configured to operate autonomously from the mobile computer to be able to scan machine-readable indicia, decode the machine-readable indicia to generate decoded data, and store the decoded data. In response to the machine-readable indicia being electrically connected to the mobile computer, the machine-readable indicia may be batched uploaded to the mobile computer.

Mobile computers are often used for assisting workers with scanning machine-readable indicia (e.g., barcodes, QR codes, etc.) in performing a variety of tasks. Such tasks often involve reading machine-readable indicia for taking inventory in warehouses and retail stores, reading identifiers of products (e.g., performing rental vehicle checkout at airports, checking out customers in retail environments), and other routine tasks in which the workers are to use the mobile computers to perform the scanning of the machine-readable indicia. In some environments, using a mobile computer in performing scanning can be inconvenient or even dangerous, such as when workers are on ladders to perform scanning. In some uses of mobile computers to perform scanning of machine-readable indicia, bulkiness of mobile computers can make it difficult or impractical in performing a variety of different types of scanning, such as in the case of vehicle-mounted terminals (VMTs) that use rugged, industrial tablets as the mobile computers.
To improve the ergonomics for workers, a variety of mobile computers have been developed that are handheld and configured to be in the form of a gun. The handheld mobile computers are smaller and lighter than conventional laptop or ruggedized computers. However, despite the mobile computers being more ergonomic than previous models of mobile computers, even these current versions mobile computers are still too bulky as both arm and hand fatigue result for workers who use the mobile computers. Moreover, even these more ergonomic handheld mobile computers are inconvenient when working in tight spaces, such as within shelves in warehouses or in fast-pace distribution centers.
The mobile computers typically have scan engines fixedly attached to the mobile computers. These scan engines are typically screwed into the mobile computers and limited to operating only when fixedly attached to the originally mated mobile computers. As such, the limitations of existing mobile computers used for scanning machine-readable indicia present challenges for workers in terms of ergonomics and efficiency in their tasks. Accordingly, new mobile computer systems and processes for supporting workers in scanning machine-readable indicia are needed.

Mobile computer with modular / companion scan engine unit


A method for immunologically determining antistreptolysin O antibody comprises contacting a test sample solution containing antistreptolysin O antibody with a binding agent to selectively bind the antistreptolysin O antibody to the binding agent, and determining an amount of the bound antistreptolysin O antibody, wherein the binding agent comprises a streptolysin O-immobilized carrier obtained by contacting a solution containing streptolysin O with a carrier having immobilized thereon at least one steroid represented by formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a side chain moiety of cholesterol or a side chain moiety of cholic acid, wherein each of the side chain moieties is independently unsubstituted or substituted and independently saturated or unsaturated; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or hydroxyl; and each dashed line independently represents a single bond or no bond. The method of the present invention can be used for determining antistreptolysin O antibody specifically, accurately and easily and can be practiced not only by manual operation but also by automated operation.

1. Field of The Invention
The present invention relates to a method for determining antistreptolysin O antibody. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a method for immunologically determining antistreptolysin O antibody, which comprises contacting a test sample solution containing antistreptolysin O antibody with a binding agent capable of specifically binding the antistreptolysin O antibody thereto, thereby selectively binding the antistreptolysin O antibody to the binding agent by antigen-antibody reaction, and determining an amount of the antistreptolysin O antibody bound to the binding agent, wherein the binding agent comprises a streptolysin O-immobilized carrier obtained by contacting a solution containing streptolysin O with a carrier having immobilized thereon at least one specific steroid. The binding agent to be used in the method of the present invention is capable of specifically binding the antistreptolysin O antibody thereto, so that the determination of antistreptolysin O antibody can be readily conducted with high specificity and accuracy. Further, the method of the present invention need not use erythrocytes, which are unstable and have different qualities depending on the lot of erythrocytes. Due to the above-mentioned advantages, the method of the present invention enables automation of specific and accurate determination of the antistreptolysin O antibody, differing from conventional determination methods which cannot be employed to automate specific or accurate determination of the antistreptolysin O antibody. The method of the present invention can be advantageously used for the diagnosis of infection with group A hemolytic streptococci.
2. Description of Related Art
Antistreptolysin O antibody is an antibody against streptolysin O. Streptolysin O is a toxin (which is a member of the group of thiol-activated bacterial cytolysins) produced, for example, by group A hemolytic streptococci classified according to the serological classification by Lancefield (see Lancefield, R. C., J. Exp. Med., Vol. 57, pp.571-595, 1933), and is generally known as a protein having a molecular weight in the range of from 50,000 to 70,000. Streptolysin O is known to interact with cholesterol and related sterols (see Prigent, D. et al., BBA, Vol. 443, pp.288-300, 1976), and exert cytolytic effects on a broad range of mammalian cells. Streptolysin O lyses erythrocytes, usually under reductive conditions, e.g. in the presence of mercaptoethanol, by an interaction with membrane cholesterol. It is known that antistreptolysin O antibody level is elevated in the serum from a patient infected with group A hemolytic streptococci.
Group A hemolytic streptococci are pathogenic microorganisms which are causative of various diseases including tonsillitis, pharyngitis, skin purulence and scarlet fever, and secondary diseases, such as rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis, and the like. Most of these diseases manifest no specific clinical symptoms from which pathogenic microorganisms causing the diseases can be identified and, therefore, for clinical diagnosis of infections with group A hemolytic streptococci, confirmation of the presence of antistreptolysin O antibody and determination of the antibody titer have generally been utilized see Tomika Nagata, "Rinshokensa (Laboratory Examinations)", Vol.23, Supplementary Edition, pp.1172-1175, 1979!.
As methods for the determination of antistreptolysin O titer, the Rantz-Randall method using rabbit erythrocytes, sheep erythrocytes or human type O erythrocytes (see L. A. Rantz et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., Vol.59, pp.22-25, 1945), and a modification of the Rantz-Randall method, i.e., the microtiter method (see Edwards, E. A.; J. Bacteriol., Vol.87, pp.1254-1255, 1964) have conventionally been widely used in routine assays. Both determination methods are based on the principle that antistreptolysin O antibody in a test sample solution neutralizes the hemolytic activity of streptolysin O.
Group A hemolytic streptococci, which have infected living bodies, produce not only streptolysin O, but also various other antigens, such as erythrogenic toxin, streptokinase, streptodornase, hyaluronidase, ribonuclease and neuraminidase and, in addition, various antibodies against these antigens occur in the blood see "Rensakyukin-kansensho II: Sono Kiso-to-Rinsho (Streptococcicosis, Volume II: the basic and clinical)"; edited by Yuichi Shiokawa, Morimasa Yoshioka and Shigeyuki Hamada; pp.317-359, Hirokawa Shoten K. K., Japan, Jun. 25, 1992!. However, since the above determination methods utilize the hemolytic activity characteristic of streptolysin O, streptolysin O to be used as a reagent for the above determination methods need not necessarily be a purified one, and in the above determination methods, non-purified streptolysin O can be used for specifically recognizing and determining only antibody against streptolysin O, i.e. antistreptolysin O antibody, among antibodies against a number of antigens Fujimoto et al., "Rinsho-byori (Clinical Pathology)", Vol.40, pp.21-27, 1992!.
However, these determination methods require the use of fresh erythrocytes. Erythrocytes are unstable and different in quality between different lots, so that these determination methods using erythrocytes are likely to be unstable. Further, these determination methods necessarily involve complicated operations. Therefore, it is very difficult to automate these determination methods (see European Patent Application Publication No. 0 475 786 A2 corresponding to Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. Hei 6-186233).
In recent years, a determination method for antistreptolysin O antibody titer which is based on the principle of immunoagglutination and uses a carrier (such as colloidal latex particles) having streptolysin O immobilized thereon, has been used see T. Miura et al., "Eisei-kensa (Hygienic Examinations)", Vol.36, pp.36-40, 1987!. This conventional determination method using a streptolysin O-immobilized carrier is improved in that unstable erythrocytes need not be used and that this method can be automated, thus differing from the above-mentioned conventional determination methods utilizing as a criterion the hemolytic activity of streptolysin O.
However, the conventional determination method using a streptolysin O-immobilized carrier has the following disadvantages. Streptolysin O is generally prepared from a culture mixture of group A hemolytic streptococci. It is very difficult to obtain a highly purified streptolysin O from such a culture mixture, so that streptolysin O obtained from such a culture mixture of group A hemolytic streptococci usually contains a wide variety of other antigens produced by group A hemolytic streptococci. Therefore, when such streptolysin O is immobilized on a carrier, other antigens produced by group A hemolytic streptococci are also immobilized on the carrier together with the streptolysin O. Thus, the antibody titer which can be obtained by the conventional determination method using the above-mentioned streptolysin O-immobilized carrier is one which is obtained with respect to all antibodies which react with the various antigens immobilized on the carrier. Therefore, this conventional determination method using a streptolysin O-immobilized carrier has a problem in that it is unsatisfactory in reaction specificity to antistreptolysin O antibody see Fujimoto et al., "Rinsho-byori (Clinical Pathology)", Vol.40, pp.21-27, 1992!.
In these situations, it has been desired to develop a determination method which solves the problems accompanying the conventional methods for the determination of antistreptolysin O antibody. That is, it has been desired to develop a method for the determination of antistreptolysin O antibody, which can be used for accurately, easily determining antistreptolysin O antibody with high reaction specificity, and which can be performed by automated operation as well as by manual operation.

Method for determining antistreptolysin O antibody


A trench-gated MOSFET includes adjacent mesas formed on opposite sides of a trench. A body region in the first mesa extends downward below the level of the trenches and laterally across the bottom of the trenches. The body region in the second mesa extends part of the way down the mesa, leaving a portion of the drain abutting the trench. The body region in the second mesa includes a channel region adjacent a wall of the trench. The area where the drain abuts the trench is thus relatively restricted and the drain-gate capacitance of the device is reduced. Moreover, the drain-gate capacitance is made independent of the depth and width of the trenches, allowing greater freedom in the design of the MOSFET.

Trench-gated MOSFETs have achieved wide acceptance because of their superior on-resistance characteristics. Because the current flow is primarily in a vertical direction, through a channel located adjacent a side wall of the trench, it is possible to obtain a higher cell packing density than is the case with MOSFETs having a significant horizontal current flow. This allows a greater flow of current per unit of area of the semiconductor chip. Thus the on-resistance characteristics of trench-gated MOSFETs are generally superior to those of, for example, planar double-diffused MOSFETs.
One problem, however, that has occurred with trench MOSFETs relates to the capacitance that exists between the gate and the drain. This problem is illustrated in FIG. 1, which is a cross-sectional view of a conventional trench MOSFET 10 formed in a semiconductor chip 12. A trench 14 is etched in chip 12, and is filled with a polysilicon gate 16. An insulating layer 18, typically oxide, lines the walls of trench 14 and insulates the gate 16 from chip 12. Chip 12 includes an N− drain region 20, a P-body region 22 and an N+ source region 24. Current flows between N+ source region 24 and N− drain region 20 through a channel region indicated by the dashed lines. The gate-drain capacitance develops in the area designated 26, where N− drain region 20 is separated from gate 16 by oxide layer 18. As indicated, area 26 is created by the fact that trench 14 extends into, i.e., overlaps, the N− drain region 20. This overlap has both a vertical component along the side walls of trench 14 and a horizontal component along the bottom of trench 14.
The presence of a sizeable gate-drain capacitance limits the speed at which MOSFET 10 can be operated. This effect has become more problematical as the device size has decreased and the speed (frequency) has become greater.
One possible solution to this problem is illustrated in FIG. 2, which shows a MOSFET 30 having many similar components (which are like-numbered) to those shown in MOSFET 10. In contrast, oxide layer 18 in MOSFET 30 includes a thick gate oxide portion 18A at the bottom of trench 14. Thick gate oxide portion 18A limits the capacitance between gate 16 and N− drain region 20. Since an accumulation region does not form under thick gate oxide portion 18A, the on-resistance of MOSFET 30 is somewhat greater than it would be if the bottom gate oxide were thin. Moreover, the bottom junction of P-body region 22 must be aligned properly with the top of thick gate oxide portion 18A. If, for example, thick gate oxide portion 18A extends sufficiently upward to the extent that it overlaps P-body region 22, the device cannot be turned on.
Thus a definite need exists for a technique for reducing the gate-drain capacitance of a MOSFET without sacrificing on-resistance.


This invention concerns a method for recovering carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from Fischer-Tropsch off-gas by feeding Fischer-Tropsch off-gas through a column comprising an adsorbent bed, and discharging effluent, optionally rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed by feeding NG and discharging effluent until at least 60% of the carbon monoxide that was present in the bed is discharged, pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed with NG, rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed by feeding NG until at least 50% of the carbon dioxide present at the commencement of this rinsing step is discharged, rinsing the column and adsorbent bed by feeding a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed by feeding a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. With this method a feed comprising at least 50 vol % carbon monoxide can be produced. Furthermore, methane and carbon dioxide at a high pressure can be recovered from the Fischer-Tropsch gas. This can be fed to a gasifier or a reformer. In a preferred embodiment a gas comprising at least 80 vol % hydrogen is produced as well.

The Fischer-Tropsch process can be used for the conversion of hydrocarbonaceous feed stocks into normally liquid and/or solid hydrocarbons (i.e. measured at 0° C., 1 bar). The feed stock (e.g. natural gas, associated gas, coal-bed methane, residual oil fractions, biomass and/or coal) is converted in a first step into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This mixture is often referred to as synthesis gas or syngas. The synthesis gas is fed into a reactor where it is converted over a suitable catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure into paraffinic compounds ranging from methane to high molecular weight molecules comprising up to 200 carbon atoms, or, under particular circumstances, even more.
The hydrocarbon products manufactured in the Fischer-Tropsch process are processed into different fractions, for example a liquid hydrocarbon stream comprising mainly C5+ hydrocarbons, and a gaseous hydrocarbon stream which comprises methane, carbon dioxide, unconverted carbon monoxide, unconverted hydrogen, and lower hydrocarbons. The gaseous hydrocarbon stream may also comprise nitrogen as the syngas sent to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor may contain some nitrogen.
The gaseous hydrocarbon stream is often referred to as Fischer-Tropsch off-gas. Fischer-Tropsch off-gas can be recycled to the syngas manufacturing or to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor. Sometimes lower hydrocarbons are removed before the off-gas is recycled. Lower hydrocarbons may be removed by decreasing the temperature of the off-gas and then applying a gas-liquid separation. However, when the off-gas is recycled to the syngas manufacturing or to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, the components in the off-gas which do not take part in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen and methane, occupy reactor space. The components which do not take part in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction are also referred to as "inerts".
The level of inerts in the Fischer-Tropsch reactor increases with increasing Fischer-Tropsch off-gas recycling. The pace of the build-up of inerts can be reduced by treating the off-gas before it is recycled. When the off-gas is passed through a pressure swing adsorption unit (PSA), it is normally possible to remove carbon dioxide and water from the off-gas. It is often possible to recover a hydrogen stream from the off-gas by means of a PSA unit; the hydrogen stream can be recycled to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor. Nevertheless, common commercial PSA units are often not designed to recover a carbon monoxide stream. And some common commercial PSA units result in a hydrogen stream comprising a significant amount of nitrogen. Therefore it is common to recycle only a relatively small part of the off-gas. One possibility is to recycle a part of the Fischer-Tropsch off-gas to one or more Fischer-Tropsch reactors while another part of the off-gas is used as fuel. A downside of this is that only a part of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbonaceous feed stock is converted to the desired C5+ hydrocarbons.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,590 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,470 describe the separation of gases using specific PSA systems with a first PSA unit for producing hydrogen and a second PSA unit for producing carbon monoxide. Such systems may be useful for gas mixtures comprising a relatively high amount of hydrogen. Such systems are, however, not suitable for gas mixtures comprising a relatively low amount of hydrogen, e.g. less than 50 volume % calculated on the total gas mixture. Furthermore, in case of a gas feed comprising a significant amount of nitrogen such systems will not result in the product cuts as described. When, for example, pure hydrogen would be separated using the first PSA, nitrogen would contaminate the intermediate carbon monoxide stream in a system according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,590 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,470. The systems of U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,590 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,470 may therefore be suitable to treat a hydrogen-rich gas mixture exiting a steam methane reformer, but they are not suitable to treat a nitrogen-comprising hydrogen-lean off-gas of a Fischer-Tropsch process.
US20110011128 describes a PSA comprising system in which purified hydrogen is produced using a PSA, which may be a conventional co-purge H2 PSA unit. Such a system may be useful to a hydrogen-rich gas mixture exiting a steam methane reformer, but is not suitable to treat nitrogen comprising hydrogen-lean off-gas of a Fischer-Tropsch process.
US20040077736 mentions a process in which a liquid phase and a vapour phase are withdrawn from a hydrocarbons synthesis stage. In a vapour phase work-up stage, hydrocarbon products having 3 or more carbon atoms may be removed and the residual vapour phase may then pass to a PSA. Using the PSA first, second and optionally third gas components are separated. The first gas component comprises carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The second gas component comprises methane, and the optional third gas component comprises carbon dioxide. The first gas component is recycled to the hydrocarbon synthesis stage. US20040077736 does not provide details on the method PSA method used. A regular use of a normal PSA would result in a relatively low recovery of carbon monoxide in the first gas component, and a build-up of nitrogen in the reactor upon recycling the first gas component to the hydrocarbon synthesis stage.
US20080300326-A1 describes the use of a PSA method to separate Fischer-Tropsch off-gas. The method produces at least one gas stream comprising hydrogen, at least one gas stream mainly comprising methane, and at least one gas stream comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen and/or argon, and hydrocarbons with at least 2 carbon atoms. The PSA used comprises at least three adsorbent beds: alumina, carbon molecular sieves or silicates, activated carbon, and optionally zeolite. The alumina is used to remove water. The carbon molecular sieves or silicates are used to adsorb carbon dioxide and partially methane. The activated carbon is used to adsorb methane and partially nitrogen and carbon monoxide. Zeolite may be used to adsorb nitrogen, argon and carbon monoxide. The product stream of the PSA mainly comprises hydrogen. The other gas streams are obtained during the decompression phase. Disadvantages of the method of US20080300326-A1 are at least the following. Nitrogen is only partially adsorbed in the PSA. This results in a build-up of nitrogen in the Fischer-Tropsch reactor when the hydrogen stream is used, i.e. recycled, as reactant gas. Also the methane stream comprises nitrogen and thus results in the build-up of nitrogen in the syngas, and thus in the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, when the methane stream is used for generating syngas. Another disadvantage of the method of US20080300326-A1 is that carbon monoxide is only recycled to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor in a limited amount. Carbon monoxide is present in the hydrogen stream and in the methane stream. Nevertheless, at least 50% of the CO initially present in the off-gas ends up in the third stream which is used as fuel.
There is a desire to recover both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from Fischer-Tropsch off-gas in an efficient way. The carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide could then, together or separately, be recycled to one or more units in a Fischer-Tropsch line-up. This would make it possible to convert most of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbonaceous feed stock to the desired C5+ hydrocarbons. It is even more desired to additionally obtain a pure hydrogen stream from Fischer-Tropsch off-gas, which may be recycled to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor.

Method for processing Fischer-Tropsch off-gas


A display device convertible between a cave configuration and a wall configuration. The present display device includes a first display module having a display screen including first and second opposite peripheral edges and a first video projector for displaying an image on the display screen. The display device includes a second display module having a display screen including a peripheral edge and a second video projector for displaying an image on the display screen, and a third display module having a display screen including a peripheral edge and a third video projector for displaying an image on the display screen, wherein the second and third display modules are positionable with the respective peripheral edges of the display screens thereof in abutting relation to the display screen of the first display module with all of the display screens generally coplanar in the wall configuration, and wherein the second and third display modules are positionable with the respective peripheral edges of the display screens thereof in abutting relation to the display screen of the first display module and the display screens of the second and third display modules angularly related to the display screen of the first display module in the cave configuration.

This invention relates generally to cave type display devices for simulation and virtual reality applications and wall type display devices for wide screen display applications, and more particularly, to a display device convertible between a cave configuration and a wall configuration.
Currently, display devices including a plurality of display screens for creating an immersive environment for simulation and virtual reality applications include relatively small CRT or LCD monitors fixed or movable in desired angular relation to one another, or much larger projection type devices fixed in an angularly related arrangement known as a cave configuration. The smaller display devices have proven quite useful for applications such as virtual reality games and driver training, wherein the display devices can be positioned relatively closely to the operator and small angular adjustments can be made between the monitors as required. Further, for simulation of another direction, such as a rearward direction after simulating forward and side directions, one of the small monitors can be repositioned at a more rearward location to provide the desired directional view.
The known cave type devices, however, typically used for instance where the operation of a large machine such as a construction machine, mining machine, or earthmoving machine or the like is to be simulated, due to the large size of the projector type displays used and operator control area required, do not provide such display screen mobility.
Similarly, the known wall type display devices, that is, devices wherein several large display screens are arranged in side by side, generally coplanar relation, are also dedicated arrangements.
A problem with dedicated cave type display devices and wall type devices is that due to the large size of the projection display devices used, a correspondingly large area is required. Thus, if it is desired to have both a cave capability and a wall capability, a correspondingly large space is required.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
A display device convertible between a cave configuration and a wall configuration is disclosed. The present display device includes a first display module having a display screen including first and second opposite peripheral edges and means for displaying an image on the display screen. The display device includes a second display module having a display screen including a peripheral edge and means for displaying an image on the display screen, and a third display module having a display screen including a peripheral edge and means for displaying an image on the display screen, wherein the second and third display modules are positionable with the respective peripheral edges of the display screens thereof in abutting relation to the display screen of the first display module with all of the display screens generally coplanar in the wall configuration, and wherein the second and third display modules are positionable with the respective peripheral edges of the display screens thereof in abutting relation to the display screen of the first display module and the display screens of the second and third display modules angularly related to the display screen of the first display module in the cave configuration.

Display device convertible between a cave configuration and a wall configuration


Reduced-dimension configuration for retaining a diaphragm spring release-load compensating conical spring in a push-type clutch. The clutch diaphragm spring is retained by a support mechanism that includes axially extending, circularly spaced supports, fixed to the clutch cover, that pass through holes formed at the inter-digital vertices of the diaphragm spring fingers. A diaphragm spring annular pivot is provided on the supports, on the clutch cover side of the diaphragm spring. One edge of the conical spring is supported on an engagement surface of the clutch cover, and the other edge is seated on the diaphragm spring. Engagement tabs project from the edge of the conical spring that is supported on the clutch cover. The engagement tabs are engaged into conical spring engagement holes formed in the clutch cover, or in an alternative embodiment, into inter-digital holes of the diaphragm spring not penetrated by the circularly spaced supports. The engagement tabs thus rigidly retain the conical spring against rotation relative to the clutch cover, or in the alternative embodiment, relative to the diaphragm spring. The configuration reduces the axial dimension of the assembly, on the clutch cover side of the diaphragm spring, to the axial height of the conical spring/diaphragm spring annular pivot, thereby reducing the bending moment on the supports when the clutch is operated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clutch cover assembly, and in particularly to a clutch cover assembly having a truncated conical spring between a diaphragm spring and a clutch cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a clutch cover assembly is composed of a clutch cover that is fixed to a flywheel, a pressure plate for clamping a frictional member of a clutch disk to a flywheel, and an elastic member for pressing the pressure plate toward the flywheel.
Usually, a diaphragm spring is used as the above-described elastic member. The diaphragm spring is composed of an outer circumferential disk-like elastic member that extends annularly, and a plurality of lever portions that extend radially inwardly from an inner circumferential edge of the disk-like elastic member. Generally, there are two functions associated with the diaphragm spring, the first is to bias movement of the pressure plate with respect the flywheel and the second function is to provide a lever for counteracting the biasing force acting on the pressure plate.
Stated more specifically, in a so-called push type clutch, the radially inward portion of the disk-like elastic member of the diaphragm spring is supported by the clutch cover through a support mechanism. The radially outward portion of the disk-like elastic member thereof pushes the pressure plate toward the flywheel. When end portions, in the radially inward direction, of the lever portions are depressed by a release bearing, the pressure from the diaphragm spring to the pressure plate is released to thereby disengage the clutch.
The force used to counteract or release the biasing force of the diaphragm spring is generally referred to as a release load and the movement of the diaphragm spring as the release load is being applied is referred to as the release stroke. The diaphragm spring typically has spring characteristics such that the required release load decreases as the release stroke progresses (as the level of deformation of the diaphragm spring progresses).
Accordingly, if the diaphragm spring is the only elastic member used in the clutch for the above-mentioned functions, it is possible that undesirable clutch operation feeling may be experience by the vehicle operator. To cope with this, in some clutches, a conical spring is disposed between the clutch cover and the diaphragm spring.
The conical spring extends along the disk-like elastic member of the diaphragm spring with its outer circumferential edge seated on a back surface (surface opposite to the pressure plate) of the diaphragm spring and with its inner circumferential edge supported by the clutch cover. Also, the spring characteristics of the conical spring are set so that the force applied from the conical spring to the pressure plate increases as the release stroke of diaphragm spring increases.
Accordingly, the composite loads of the two springs are applied to the pressure plate. The release load applied to the pressure plate substantially in proportion with the release stroke due to the combination of the force of the diaphragm spring and the conical spring. As a result, a desired clutch operation feeling may be obtained.
However, in the conventional structure, to prevent the rotation of the conical spring and to position it, a support plate or ring is mounted on an inner surface of the clutch cover. The support plate is fixed to studs of the support mechanism fixed to the clutch cover and has cutaway portions with which projections or the like of the conical spring engage.
If such a support plate is provided, the structure becomes more complicated from the resulting increase in the number of the mechanical parts. Also, the length of the stud pins would have to be increased to correspond to the thickness of the support plate. Accordingly, a bending load that would be applied from the diaphragm spring to the stud pins would likely result in slanted stud pins. As a result, there is a fear that the desired clutch engagement/disengagement characteristics may not be obtained.

Configuration for retaining clutch cover assembly release-load compensating conical spring


In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises a mixer circuit and a local oscillator circuit. During testing a frequency divider circuit in the integrated circuit divides a local oscillator signal to a frequency below a normal operating range of the local oscillator. The integrated circuit applies the divided local oscillator signal to the mixer circuit instead of the local oscillator signal during testing. Signal properties of a signal derived from the mixer circuit are measured while the divided local oscillator signal is applied to the mixer circuit.

Testing of integrated circuits that contain a mix of RF circuits and logic circuits is described in an article by R. Nelson, titled "RF test join SOC ATE", published in Test and Measurement world dated Apr. 1, 2002. Increasingly, state of the art semi-conductor integrated circuit manufacturing techniques make it possible to produce integrated circuits with integrated capability of handling RF signals. "RF", as used herein, loosely refers to signals with frequencies used for wireless transmission, for example in microwave bands above 10 GHz, but also to lower frequency bands.
The main tests of RF circuits involves the application to the circuit of RF signals at frequencies that will be used during normal operation of the circuit, or measurement of such signals after their generation by the circuit. On the other hand, logic functions of integrated circuits are generally tested by applying logic test patterns and observing test responses at much lower frequencies. Test equipment for the latter type of test is generally standard in most integrated circuit manufacturing facilities and is applied to almost all more complex digital integrated circuits. On the other hand equipment for RF testing is not widely available and implies additional investment if integrated circuits with RF circuits have to be manufactured and tested.


A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes an optical source that provides an optical signal having a wavelength is described. This optical source includes a reflecting layer, a bottom cladding layer, an active layer (such as a III-V semiconductor) having a bandgap wavelength that exceeds that of silicon, and a top cladding layer. Moreover, an optical coupler (such as a grating coupler) that couples the optical signal out of a plane of the active layer is included in a region of the active layer. In this region, the top cladding layer is absent. Furthermore, in an adjacent region, the top cladding layer includes an inverse taper so that the top cladding layer is tapered down from a width distal from the region. In conjunction with the optical coupler, the inverse taper may facilitate low-loss optical coupling of the optical signal between the PIC and another PIC.

1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to the design of photonic integrated circuits (PICs). More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a PIC that includes a grating coupler that couples an optical signal to another PIC.
2. Related Art
Optical interconnects or links based on silicon photonics have the potential to alleviate inter-chip communication bottlenecks in high-performance computing systems that include multiple processor chips and memory chips. This is because, relative to electrical interconnects, optical interconnects offer significantly improved: bandwidth, density, power consumption, latency, and range.
In order to make a very low power (for example, less than 1 pJ/bit) optical interconnect, a high-efficiency optical source, such as a semiconductor laser or a laser source, is typically required. In particular, the required optical-waveguide-coupled wall-plug efficiency (defined as the laser power coupled into a silicon optical waveguide divided by the total consumed electrical power) of such a laser source usually needs to be greater than 10%. In addition, if silicon-photonic resonator devices (such as ring modulators) are used in an optical interconnect, the spectral linewidth of the laser source may need to be less than 10 μm.
However, most state-of-the-art laser sources have a wall-plug efficiency of only 1-2%. In these laser sources, a large amount (in excess of 80%) of the electrical power is usually consumed by thermal-electric cooling (TEC) to maintain high-power (greater than 10 mW) lasing with stable wavelength and good slope efficiency. While uncooled laser sources with sufficient wall-plug efficiency (around 10%) and output power (for example, 2-4 mW) are available for use in optical interconnects, the wavelength stability of these laser sources is often larger than 100 μm (because of the lack of temperature control). In addition, these laser sources are usually based on III-V semiconductors (such as indium phosphide, etc.). The large optical coupling loss between an optical waveguide in the III-V semiconductor laser source and a silicon optical waveguide could reduce the efficiency by 3-10 times.
Hence, what is needed is an optical source without the problems described above.

Grating coupler for inter-chip optical coupling


A probe of scanning probe lithography which provides a long time of useful life. The probe has a tip part comprising a conductor and an insulator, the insulator is formed to cover the conductor, and the conductor is formed to provide a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration with respect to a surface to be patterned through scanning.

The present invention relates to a probe for scanning probe lithography and a making method thereof.
As an integration scale of semiconductor devices and a density level of recording media have increased, it has been required to provide an advanced technique for microstructure fabrication thereof. At present, in photolithography process for production of common semiconductor devices, a minimum fabrication dimension is limited to approximately 100 nm due to characteristics of an optical wavelength of a light source and a material of a lens used in photolithography equipment. Further, in laser process for production of masters of recording media, a minimum fabrication dimension is approximately 200 nm, which might cause a decrease in margin of resolution.
In recent years, particular attention has been focused upon a microstructure fabrication technique based on scanning probe microscopy to be employed in lieu of the conventional art mentioned above, e.g., this technique is found in Journal of Vacuum Science Technology B4 (1986), pp. 86–88, reported by M. A. McCord et al. In the microstructure fabrication technique based on scanning probe microscopy, a voltage is applied between a probe and a substrate for forming microstructure patterns, and extremely high resolution is attainable to allow atomic-level or nanostructure fabrication in principle. In Journal of Vacuum Science Technology B6 (1988), pp. 293–296, reported by M. A. McCord et al., and in Applied Physics Letter 61 (1992) pp. 2293–2295, reported by A. Majumdar et al., there is disclosed a microfabrication process method of scanning probe lithography in which patterns are formed using a resist film as in conventional lithography. Since a well-established pattern transfer method for transferring patterns from a resist film to a substrate, which has been developed for the conventional lithography, is applicable to the scanning probe lithography, it is expected that the scanning probe lithography will find widespread use in practice of the next generation of microfabrication. In particular, a scanning probe lithography technique in which a micro-cantilever type of probe designed for an atomic force microscope is used and the exposure is controlled by varying a voltage for keeping a constant current flowing, as proposed by K. Wilder et al. in Journal of Vacuum Science Technology B15 (1997), pp. 1811–1817, has received considerable attention because of its advantageous controllability and reproducibility of uniform pattern linewidths.

Probe for scanning probe lithography and making method thereof


Apparatus that realizes a substantial advantage by employing implied interleaving to create a systematic interleaver, that can result in a superior block error rate compared to the current data interleaving techniques in which uncorrected error bursts are distributed by the deinterleaver. The disclosed principles lead to a embodiments that essentially eliminate transmitter memory regardless of the interleaving approach employed. By way of example, block interleaving (regular or random), convolutional interleaving (regular and random) and product interleaving approaches are described. In implied interleaving, all incoming data is treated as if it is pre-interleaved and transmitted directly to its destination without alteration to its sequence, and essentially without delay. Concurrently with the transmission of the data, the data is applied to apparatus that treats the data as if it had been interleaved in accordance with a selected interleaving approach and, in accordance with such treatment, redundant symbols are generated and inserted into the transmitted data stream. At the receiver, the incoming data is delayed, corrected, and the information symbols in the incoming data are delivered to the user, corrected as necessary, in the same order as the information symbols arrived at the receiver.

This invention relates to systematic interleavers and deinterleavers that are used in conjunction with error correcting coders.
Communication of signals invariably must deal with transmission of signals through noisy channels where errors are introduced. FIG. 1 presents the block diagram of a fairly sophisticated prior art arrangement for such an environment, where data is first applied to encoder 100, the encoded data is passed on to interleaver 200, the interleaved data is modulated in block 300 and the modulated data is applied to the channel. The signal provided by the channel is demodulated in block 400, deinterleaved in block 500 and decoded in block 600.
Interleaver 200 is interposed in the system in order to account for burst errors in the channel. Specifically, interleaver 200 disperses adjacent signal elements in time prior to modulation, that burst errors do not affect too many adjacent signal elements of the original uninterleaved signal. Conversely, when considering the signal coming from the channel, errors that are closely spaced in time are interspersed at the output and are, therefore, far apart from each other. The consequence of this dispersing is that decoder 600 is able to recover the data entered into encoder 100 by virtue of the error-correcting redundancy included in the signal which decoder 600 utilizes.
As is well known, modulator 300 and demodulator 400 may be subsystems that themselves include robust coding and decoding. For example, modulator 300 may include a front end section that is a trellis encoder. Correspondingly, the tail-end of demodulator 400 would include a Viterbi decoder.

Implied interleaving a family of systematic interleavers and deinterleavers


A retracting eye drape assembly is disclosed for use around a patient's eye to seclude and seal off the operative field during eye surgery. The drape assembly includes a retraction member connected to the drape and configured to engage the patient's eyelid, an extension member connected to the retraction member or to the drape and configured to substantially enclose the patient's eyelid, and a retraction flap configured to secure the patient's eyelid in a substantially retracted position. A method of applying an eye drape assembly is disclosed. After application of the drape to the patient's face, and while the patient's eyelid is closed, the patient's eyelid is engaged by a retraction member connected to the drape and retracted. While retracted, the patient's eyelid is substantially enclosed to seclude the eyelid and eyelashes from the operational area. The secluded eyelid and eyelashes are then secured in a retracted position.

As part of virtually every eye surgery, the facial area around the eye must be sealed off to expose the eye to the surgeon. Various techniques have been used to accomplish this goal. Most of the techniques incorporate the use of a sterilized surgical drape, typically made of plastic, having adhesive on one surface, together with an eyelid retraction device, typically a speculum.
The typical prior art technique for draping an eye 10 having an upper eyelid 12 with upper eyelashes 14 and a lower eyelid 16 having lower eyelashes 18 for surgery is described with reference to FIGS. 1–3. As shown in FIG. 1, the patient's upper eyelid 12 is held open, preferably with a sterile finger or tool (e.g., cotton tipped applicator stick) and the patient is asked to look down. A drape 20 having an adhesive surface 22 and a non-adhesive surface 24 is applied to the facial area 28 around the eye 10. After application of the drape with the eye open underneath the drape, a slit 26 is carefully cut extending at least the width of the eye. After the slit is cut in the drape, the drape 20 is positioned over the eye such that the slit 26 extends transversely over the eye and the drape extends to cover both the upper eyelid 12 (in its partially retracted position) and the lower eyelid 16.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, once the drape is securely in place on the facial surface around the eye, a retractable eyelid speculum 30 having an upper arm 32 and a lower arm 34 is used to fully retract both eyelids. With reference to FIG. 2, a portion of the drape extending over the eye 10, lower eyelid 16 and lower eyelashes 18 is folded under the lower eyelid and lower eyelashes and held in place, in a retracted position, by the lower arm 34 of the speculum 30. With reference to FIG. 3, a portion of the drape extending over the eye 10, upper eyelid 12 and upper eyelashes 14 is folded under the upper eyelid and upper eyelashes and held in place, in a retracted position, by the upper arm 32 of the speculum 30. The drape 20 is maintained in place with relation to the eye by the adhesive surface 22 and the eye is fully exposed, in an open position, by virtue of the speculum 30 retracting both upper and lower eyelids and eyelashes.
As illustrated in the above description of the prior art technique, the available drapes require the eyelids to be held open while the drape is applied. This is awkward and cumbersome, and uncomfortable to the patient. Additionally, these techniques frequent result in a mild abrasive effect on the corneal surface during application of the drape. This in turn can make visualization of the eye difficult during surgery. In addition, as described above, the surgeon often has to cut an opening in the drape This is frightening to the patient, and increases the likely hood of cutting skin, or cutting an eyelash, or abrading the cornea. Frequently, the patient manages to squeeze their eyelids closed under the drape, eliminating the overlap of the drape to the lid margin, thus making it impossible for the drape to wrap around the lid margin.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for a retracting eye drape that is easily applied without requiring the eyelids to be held open, that facilitates the incorporation of the eyelashes and lid margin and that reduces the possibility of corneal surface abrasion.


The present disclosure provides a charging control method, a charging trigger apparatus, and an online charging system. The method includes: generating, by a CTF, a resource quota request according to a trigger condition; and sending the resource quota request to an online charging system (OCS), so that the OCS determines a quota type and number after receiving the resource quota request, and allocates a quota for the resource quota request according to the quota type and number determined by the OCS, where the quota type and number are determined by the OCS according to the resource quota request. In the foregoing method, a problem that in the prior art, a charging control error occurs due to different determining bodies of a quota type is solved.

Current charging manners include: online charging and offline charging. Online charging is a currently most popular charging manner. In an online charging manner, credit authorization can be performed before a user uses a service, fee deduction can be performed in real time according to usage information of the user, and further, real-time control on credit can be achieved, thereby preventing the user from using a service beyond credit to cause loss to an operator, and improving user experience (accurate balance and use information can be queried in real time). In addition, by using a real-time capability of the online charging, granularity information of a user service layer can be obtained in real time, and further, refined control can be triggered on a service used by a user.
A main mechanism of the online charging is credit authorization, that is, before a service is used, a charging trigger function (CTF) apparatus applies for a credit quota from an online charging system (OCS); the OCS performs credit quota authorization; and after the authorization, the CTF performs service control according to the credit quota authorized by the OCS. When the CTF applies for a credit quota, credit unit determination (UD) is required as a reference for the OCS to perform credit quota authorization. The Unit determination herein specifically refers to the number of credit units required for calculation. Credit units include a service unit, traffic, duration, an event, and the like.
There are two existing credit unit determination manners: a first one, centralized unit determination (CUD), where an OCS determines the number of required credit units; and a second one, decentralized unit determination (DUD), where a CTF determines the number of required credit units, and requests credit units of the number from an OCS.
However, in a process of implementing the online charging, the following problem may occur: Determining bodies of UD are different, causing a conflict between determined quota types. Specifically, a CTF and an OCS are provided by different vendors, and the CTF and the OCS both have a function of implementing quota type determination. However, the CTF implements quota type determination according to a service session request, and the OCS implements quota type determination according to information reported by the CTF and an operation mode of an operator. The determined quota types may conflict, and therefore a charging session is further affected, and a charging control error may occur.

Charging control method, charging trigger apparatus, and online charging system


In a timer apparatus, the clock controlling circuit thereof outputs a clock signal during a period in which an input signal is significant. The counter thereof counts the number of pulses of the clock signal to generate a count-up signal when the value of count reaches a prescribed value. The initialization circuit thereof outputs an initialization signal when the input is not significant. The clock controlling circuit stops the output of the clock signal when the count-up signal is generated. Thereby, it is prevented to misjudge the detection of an effective pulse width to achieve the effective pulse width though the pulse width of the pulse does not actually reach the effective pulse width actually.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a timer apparatus for detecting a pulse having an effective pulse width.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional timer apparatus. This timer apparatus is built in an apparatus such as a microcomputer. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a counter counting the number of pulses of a clock signal C. Reference numeral 2 denotes a clock controlling circuit outputting a clock signal shown in FIG. 18(C) while an input signal A is at a low logic level shown in FIG. 18(A). The counter 1 is a down-counter that decreases the value of the count thereof by one by every input pulse.
The operation of the conventional timer apparatus is described below. The clock signal B is always supplied to the clock controlling circuit 2. As shown in FIGS. 18(A), 18(C), 18(Q), and 18(D), while the input signal A is at a low logic level, the clock signal passes through the clock controlling circuit 2 to the counter 1 as the clock signal C. The counter 1 counts the pulses in the clock signal C and when the value of count underflows, the counter 1 generates a count-up signal D of FIG. 18(D). Consequently, when a pulse having a pulse width corresponding to a value n set in the counter 1 as an initial value appears in the input signal A as shown in FIG. 18(A), the count-up signal D is generated. FIG. 18(Q) shows the value of the count of the counter 1, and the reference characters of the other diagrams correspond to the characters of respective signals in the block diagram.
Such a timer apparatus is used for the detection of an effective pulse width. The effective pulse width is defined as a pulse width used as a reference for dealing with an input pulse having a pulse width equal to the effective pulse width or more as an effective signal. Such a timer apparatus is used, for example, the detection of an input by a switch. In that case, the state of on or off of a contact of the switch is input as the input signal A. Consequently, when an on-state continues for a prescribed time or more, the count-up signal D is generated. The prescribed time is defined as a time necessary for the counter 1 to count the value n previously set as an initial value in the counter 1. The count-up signal D is used as, for example, an interrupt signal or a flag setting signal of a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU recognizes a depression of the switch by the occurrence of the interrupt signal or the turn on of a flag. If the on-state of the switch does not continue for a time necessary for the counter 1 to count the value n or more, the CPU regards the state as the occurrence of an on-state for a short time owing to a noise or the like, and concludes that the switch was not depressed.
If a simple counter is employed as the counter 1, a certain problem occurs. As shown in FIGS. 19(A), 19(C), 19(Q), and 19(D), if a pulse having a short pulse width F occurred before the occurrence of a pulse having a prescribed pulse width E, namely the effective pulse width, the value of count of the counter 1 advances during the period of the pulse width F. And then, when the pulse having the pulse width E is input into the counter 1, the counter 1 resumes counting from the value of count thereof at that point of time. As a result, the counter 1 underflows before the end of the period of the pulse width E. That is to say, the count-up signal D is output before the end of the period of the pulse width E. In FIGS. 18(A) and 19(A), a pulse width corresponding to three clocks of the clock signal C is shown as the prescribed pulse width.
Since the conventional timer apparatus is constructed as above, there is a problem that the count-up signal D is output though there is no input of a pulse having the effective pulse width.

Mitsubishi Electric Semiconductor Software Co., Ltd.


In an example embodiment, a system may include a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may be configured to receive a first signal including a first time advance value. The first signal may be transmitted by a first base station. The mobile terminal may be further configured to receive a second signal. The second signal may be transmitted by a second base station. The mobile base station may be further configured to determine a difference in propagation delay between the first and second signals. The mobile terminal may be further configured to determine a second time advance value by correlating the first time advance value with the difference in propagation delay.

The increasing amounts of signal transmissions sent over radio access networks is acting to degrade the experience of the radio access network's end-users by increasing latency and lowering individual throughput. Some methods to avoid or at least decrease the degradation experienced by end-users of radio access networks have been developed. Some of these methods may include but are not limited to coordinated multipoint (CoMP) downlink (DL) joint transmission (JT), CoMP uplink (UL) joint reception (JR), DL load balancing, and UL load balancing. Methods such as ULJR, UL offloading and others may include transmitting UL transmissions from mobile terminals to multiple neighboring base stations. When a UL transmission is sent to multiple neighboring base stations, each of the multiple neighboring base stations may receive and/or process a portion of or all of the overall UL transmission.
In some circumstances, a base station of a radio access network may have a scheduled time window for receiving UL transmissions from a mobile terminal. Because of propagation delays of the UL transmissions, resulting from the UL transmissions traveling over a physical distance, mobile terminals may transmit the UL transmissions in advance of the scheduled time window such that the UL transmissions arrives at the base station during the scheduled time window. In some circumstances, time advance information may be transmitted from the base station to the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal may advance the UL transmissions accordingly, from the mobile terminal by a time advance value to compensate for propagation delays.
Circumstances where UL transmissions are sent to multiple neighboring base stations from a mobile terminal may pose a challenge because the mobile terminal may be expected to simultaneously accommodate a different time advance for each neighboring base station that receives a UL transmission. For example, a mobile terminal may be closer propagation-channel-wise to a first base station than a second base station as the mobile terminal transmits a UL transmission to both base stations. If the UL transmission is time advanced for the first base station, the portion of the UL transmission received by the second base station may not arrive at the second base station within its scheduled time window.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Multiple time advance for radio access networks


An interconnect structure includes in a first layer a clock line and a ground line running substantially parallel to the clock line, and a plurality of conductive regions lying in a second layer parallel to the first layer. The ground line is coupled to a source of ground potential. The conductive regions are aligned with the clock line and are disposed around a signal line routed in the second layer across the clock line. The conductive regions are electrically connected to the ground line, thereby forming a shield for the clock line that helps prevent clock signals propagated on the clock line from electromagnetically coupling with other signal lines. In one embodiment, a clock distribution network includes conductive regions (501, 503, 505. . . ) in the metal layer below the clock line layer and two parallel ground lines (201, 203) in the same metal layer as the clock line (101). The conductive regions (501, 503, 505 . . .) are electrically connected to the ground lines (201, 203) with vias (603A, 603B, 605A, 605B . . . ). In the same metal layer as the conductive regions, conductive signal lines (509, 511) are routed between the regions (501, 503, 505, 507. . . ) to cross below the clock line. The conductive regions (501, 503, 505, 507. . . ) form a shield between the clock line (101) and any signal lines (105) routed in the next metal layer adjacent to the metal layer containing the conductive regions.

Clock signals are typically routed to various clocked circuit elements within a large circuit through a clock distribution network. In general, large drivers or buffers capable of providing large currents are used by the network to transmit the clock signals to the clocked circuit elements. Because large currents are used, the clock signals can couple to signal lines running parallel to the clock line. As a result, the clock signal can inject spurious signals or other noise into these signal lines.
In many conventional clock distribution networks, the clock lines are shielded to reduce the aforementioned coupling. Shielding is typically accomplished by routing ground lines parallel to the clock lines. In addition, in a multi-layer interconnect structure, ground lines parallel to the clock line are routed in the layers above and/or below the layer containing the clock line. For example, FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of an interconnect structure 100 implemented in an integrated circuit with three metal layers. The interconnect structure 100 includes a clock line 101 in the top metal layer (i.e., the M3 layer). The interconnect structure 100 also includes a shield line 103 in the next lower metal layer (i.e., the M2 layer) that is parallel to and below the clock line 101 in the top metal layer. The shield line 103 is connected to a source of ground potential (not shown) and serves to shield a signal line 105 in the next lower metal layer (i.e., the M1 layer) having a portion running substantially parallel to and below the clock line 101. The ground line 103 helps prevent the coupling of clock signals propagated on the clock line 101 into the signal line 105 and any other signal lines in the M1 layer having a portion running parallel to the clock line 101.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the M3 layer of the portion of the interconnect structure 100 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the interconnect structure 100 also includes ground lines 201 and 203 running parallel to the clock line 101. The ground lines 201 and 203 serve to shield the clock line 101, thereby helping prevent coupling of clock signals propagated on the clock line 101 into other signal lines (not shown) located in the same layer (i.e., the M3 layer). In this embodiment, the ground line 103 located beneath the clock line 101 in the M2 layer is slightly greater in width than the clock line 101 and is shown in part with dashed lines.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, because the ground line 103 is substantially continuous and located beneath the clock line 101, other signal lines in the same metal layer as the ground line 103 (i.e., the M2 layer) cannot be routed to cross beneath the clock line 101. As a result, any signal lines that need to cross the clock line 101 must be routed in another metal layer. For example, "crossing" signal lines can be routed in the next lower metal layer, i.e., the layer that contains the signal line 105. Consequently, the clock line 101, in effect, occupies two metal layers, thereby inefficiently utilizing the area available for routing signal lines in the interconnect structure 100. This inefficient routing may undesirably cause the interconnect structure 100 to include an additional metal layer, which increases the complexity and cost of the interconnect structure. Alternatively, the number of signal lines can be reduced, which can undesirably decrease the functionality of the circuitry coupled to the interconnect structure.

Clock distribution network with efficient shielding


A system includes a first information exchange device associated with a first automobile, where the first information exchange device is configured to provide a first data set indicative of first information relating to the first automobile. The system includes a second information exchange device associated with a second automobile, where the second information exchange device is configured to provide a second data set indicative of second information relating to the second automobile. The system also includes one or more officiating components configured to, based on a determination that the first data set and the second data set meet a threshold data requirement, transmit a third data set indicative of third information relating to the first automobile to the second information exchange device, and a fourth data set indicative of fourth information relating to the second automobile to the first information exchange device.

The present disclosure relates generally to automobile traffic and collision management. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for mutually secured information exchange between possessors (e.g., owners, renters, lessees, or drivers) of automobiles, such as parties to an automobile collision.
Modern travel (e.g., short, middle, and long distances), especially in automobiles, often involves unexpected delays resulting from unpredictable traffic patterns. For example, traffic delays are often at least partially dependent on automobile collisions, and corresponding automobile traffic and collision management. Those stuck in a traffic jam may prefer that automobile collisions be handled quickly. On the other hand, parties to an automobile collision may prefer that automobile collisions be managed comprehensively. Unfortunately, automobile collisions often involve disputes between parties to the collision, incomplete insurance information from the parties to the collision, involvement of local traffic police, and other delays and inefficiencies. Accordingly, there is a need for enhanced automobile collision and traffic management that is both more efficient and more comprehensive.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for mutually secured information exchange between possessors of automobiles

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


An infrared sensor includes a circuit board, at least two support portions, a FET element and a pyroelectric element. The circuit board has an upper principal surface formed with plural electrodes. Each of the support portions has an upper surface, a lower surface, an upper conductive pattern formed on the upper surface and a lower conductive pattern formed on the lower surface. The upper conductive pattern is electrically connected with the lower conductive pattern. The lower conductive pattern is connected to an electrode of the upper principal surface of the circuit board. The FET element is located between the at least two support portions and arranged on the upper principal surface of the circuit board. The pyroelectric element is electrically connected with the upper conductive patterns of the support portions, and is supported by the support portions so as to be located above the FET element.

This invention relates to an infrared sensor comprising a pyroelectric element.
For example, this type of infrared sensor is disclosed in each of JP-A 2012-122908 (Patent Document 1), JP-A 2012-37250 (Patent Document 2) and WO 2006/120863 (Patent Document 3), contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The infrared sensor of each of Patent Documents 1 to 3 comprises a pyroelectric element and a FET driven by the pyroelectric element.


A method, system and program storage device are provided for interjecting messages into a real-time isochronous discourse (such as a telephone call) between a plurality of callers wherein the method, system and device accesses the call between the callers, monitors the discourse to determine if the discourse relates to a system message desired to be communicated to the caller, chooses and communicates the system message to the callers when the discourse is determined to be relevant to the system message and continues the above accessing, monitoring and communicating steps until the call being accessed between the callers is terminated. The interjected messages are primarily related to advertising and can be introduced to one or more callers, or, separate messages in different languages can be introduced to one or more callers depending on the caller's accessing the telephone. Caller subscribers of the system will typically have the cost of the call partly or totally subsidized by the method and system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to interjecting messages into a real-time isochronous discourse between a plurality of users and, more particularly, to interjecting advertising messages into phone conversations with the advertisements being directed to the subject matter of the conversation.
2. Description of Related Art
The seminal importance of the telephone as a generalized communication medium has been clear from the very outset. In contrast to the Internet, which is an asynchronous (random delay) communication media, the telephone is an isochronous (fixed delay) channel. What this means is that while the latency of a given packet of information on the Internet is random, and could (potentially) be infinite, the latency in the telephone-model is predetermined and fixed. In the telephone model, fixed latency is desirable because information is generally sent in regulated streams of data (as opposed to random bursts), and because the conversation is live, and thus dependent upon smooth flow and continuity.
Despite the popularity of real-time communication using the telephone-model, the implications of this paradigm for dynamic and automated commercial advertising purposes have largely been overlooked. Most advertising using the telephone model takes the form of telemarketing or soliciting customers by explicitly placing personal (or, in some cases, prerecorded) calls to them. Current day advertising using the telephone-model typically involves calling a random sample of potential consumers, chosen probabalistically from some set, and presenting them with an advertisement of premeditated content and form. This is a crude, non-scalable, and an expensive approach of questionable efficacy.
Efforts have been made to somewhat alter how the advertising is presented so as to increase its relevance to the telephone caller. The most notable example of this is the case of "hold" recordings. Often upon calling a company, the caller is placed "on hold" for a certain amount of time, until a service representative becomes available. During the time the caller is "holding" he or she may be exposed to prerecorded audio advertisements which attempt to inform the caller about the organization, the scope of its operations, and about specific product offerings that the user is likely to be interested in. For example, a person calling an airline for ticket reservations when put on hold will be told about "hot airfare deals" while he or she is waiting for an agent to personally service their request. Such rate information is likely to be of interest to the caller who, presumably, is calling to buy an airline ticket.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for interjecting messages into a real-time isochronous discourse between a plurality of users.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for interjecting advertising messages into telephone conversations which advertising messages are specifically directed to the subject of the conversation.
A further object of the invention is to provide a system for interjecting messages into a real-time isochronous discourse between a plurality of users.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system for injecting advertising messages into telephone conversations which messages are specifically directed to the subject of the conversation.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for interjecting messages into a real-time isochronous discourse between a plurality of users.
It is another object of the invention to provide a program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for interjecting advertising messages into telephone conversations which advertising messages are specifically directed to the subject of the conversation.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

System and technique for dynamically interjecting live advertisements in the context of real-time isochronous (telephone-model) discourse

International Business Machines Corporation