A method and apparatus implement reciprocal and square root calculations using Chebyshev polynomial approximation by scaling the mantissas of IEEE floating point numbers based on splitting them into intervals, thereby allowing Chebyshev polynomials of few terms to approximate each interval and resulting in high performance. A reciprocal or square root operation is implemented in a floating point unit (FPU) of a computer having a pipelined multiply accumulate function using a Chebyshev polynomial approximation. A plurality of Chebyshev coefficients are stored in read only storage. Mantissas m of floating point numbers are scaled based on splitting the mantissas into 2.sup.n intervals i as: EQU m'=2N.times.m-(2N+2i+1),. where m' is the scaled mantissa and N is a power of 2. Using a predetermined number of high bits of the scaled mantissa, a set of stored coefficients are read from read only storage to compute the polynomial. The actual computation of the reciprocal or square root is performed by a plurality of multiply accumulates in the piplined function of the FPU to compute the polynomial approximation of the function f(m), which approximation differs from a correct answer by no more than 1 bit: EQU f(m)=c.sub.0 +m'.times.(c.sub.1 +m'.times.(c.sub.2 +m'.times.(c.sub.3 + . . . +m'.times.c.sub.n))),. where c.sub.0. . . c.sub.n are the set of coefficients selected by the high bits of the mantissa. In addition, the method and apparatus distinguish approximations potentially requiring one bit error correction from those known to be correct.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to digital computer calculation of reciprocals and square roots and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus implementing reciprocal and square root calculations using Chebyshev polynomial approximation by scaling the mantissas of IEEE floating point numbers based on splitting them into 2.sup.n intervals, thereby allowing Chebyshev polynomials of few terms to approximate each interval and resulting in high performance. In addition, the invention is directed to a method and apparatus distinguishing approximations potentially requiring one bit error correction from those known to be correct.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Workstations are now widely used for solving complex engineering problems. These machines are designed to comply with ANSI/IEEE (American National Standard Institute/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Standard 754-1985, "IEEE Standard for Binary Floating-Point Arithmetic", published by IEEE, Inc., New York, August 1985. These machines typically use RISC (for Reduced Instruction Set Computer) technology for increased computational speed. An example of one such workstation is described in IBM RISC System/6000 Technology, IBM product number SA23-2619 (1990).
One of the most common floating-point arithmetic constructs is the dot product. At the heart of the dot product are the multiply and accumulate functions; i.e., A.times.C+B. Many algorithms implemented on workstations also use divides and square roots. On a typical workstation, however, the performance of a double precision multiply exceeds that of a double precision divide or square root by an order of magnitude or more. For example, on the IBM RISC System/6000 workstation, a double precision A.times.C+B operation is completed in two cycles, and since this operation can be pipelined, it may be effectively performed in one cycle. In contrast, a divide takes nineteen cycles and a square root takes fifty-five cycles. Moreover, divides and square roots cannot be pipelined.
While polynomial approximations can boost the performance of square roots and divides, they suffer from two drawbacks which make their implementation a problem:
Intractable Precision Problems--Polynomial approximations, no matter how good, always result in some one bit errors. Since the IEEE 754 floating point standard specifies a result accurate to the least significant bit of a floating point mantissa for both square root and divide, none of these errors is acceptable when trying to meet the 754 standard. Although error detection and correction steps are possible, they usually result in vitiating the performance which was the reason for choosing a polynomial approximation in the first place. PA0 Excessive Storage Requirements--In order to execute quickly, polynomials must have few terms. With just a few terms, a polynomial can only approximate a narrow interval accurately; therefore, the input argument must be split into many intervals, each of which is approximated by a different polynomial. The coefficient storage required for all these polynomials quickly adds up. PA0 Reciprocal PA0 Square Root PA0 1/Square Root PA0 Non pipelined speeds of about 9 cycles PA0 Pipelined speeds of about 4 cycles PA0 ROM sizes of about 225 Kbits per function

Fast IEEE double precision reciprocals and square roots

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention presents a high efficiency linear power amplifier of plural frequency bands reduced in the number of parts and elements, simplified in the circuit construction, and saved in the circuit space, and in FIG. 1, signals entering from a common input terminal 1 in frequency bands A and B are matched in both frequency bands A and B in a wide band matching network 2, amplified in a pre-amplifier 3, put into a common terminal 4a of a switch circuit 4, and the signal in frequency band A is put into a changeover terminal 4b, matched in a matching network 5 and amplified in a post-amplifier 6, and its output is matched in a post-matching network 7 and sent out into an output terminal 8, while, similarly, the signal in frequency band B is put into other changeover terminal 4c of the switch circuit 4, matched in a matching network 9, amplified in a post-amplifier 10, and its output is matched in a post-matching network 11 and is sent out into an output terminal 12.. The invention also presents a power amplifier capable of maintaining a similar high efficiency characteristic if the output power is lowered from the output power of maximum efficiency, and in FIG. 10, first and second power amplifiers 113, 114 are disposed in parallel, and a necessary number of power amplifiers are connected depending on a required output power by switch circuits 115 to 118, and the power source is turned on only in the connected power amplifiers, while the other power amplifiers are turned off, and therefore by the lowering portion of the output power, the current consumption decreases in proportion, so that the equivalent high efficiency operation same as in the case maximum efficiency is realized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high efficiency linear power amplifier of plural frequency bands capable of using two or more plural frequency bands by changing over, and a high efficiency power amplifier used in cellular telephone, PHS and other mobile communication appliances.
2. Related Art of the Invention
Hitherto, as a high efficiency linear power amplifier of plural frequency bands, the constitution as shown in a block diagram in FIG. 7 has been known. In FIG. 7, in an input terminal 20 of frequency band A, for example, a signal of 950 MHz band (940 to 956 MHz) is entered, matched in impedance in a matching network 21, amplified in a pre-amplifier 22, matched in impedance in a matching network 23, amplified in a post-amplifier 24, matched in impedance in a matching network 25, and obtained as signal output of frequency band A of 940 to 956 MHz from an output terminal 26.
Similarly, in an input terminal 27 of frequency band B, for example, a signal of 1,900 MHz band (1895.15 to 1917.95 MHz) is entered, matched in impedance in a matching network 28, amplified in a pre-amplifier 29, matched in impedance in a matching network 30, amplified in a post-amplifier 31, matched in impedance in a matching network 32, and obtained as signal output of frequency band B of 1895.15 to 1917.95 MHz from an output terminal 33.
In such conventional high efficiency linear power amplifier of plural frequency bands, circuits of similar constitution are required in both frequency band A and frequency band B, and the number of parts is great and the occupation space is significant. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, it is attempted to enter a signal of band A, that is, 940 to 956 MHz, or a signal of band B, that is, 1895.15 to 1917.95 MHz in an input terminal 34, adjust a wide band matching network 35 to match the impedance at frequencies in both frequency bands, amplify both frequency bands in a wide band pre-amplifier 36, match the impedance similarly in both frequency bands A and B in a wide band matching network 37, amplify in a wide band post-amplifier 38, match the impedance again in both frequency bands in a wide band matching network 39, change over the frequency bands in a switch circuit 40, and change over and issue to either an output terminal 41 for band A or an output terminal 42 for band B.
However, in this method, although the number of parts may be decreased, the problem is that the adjustment of the wide band matching network (in particular at the later stage) cannot be extremely improved in efficiency. FIG. 9 is an example of output impedance and load impedance of FET of the post-amplifier 38. Generally, the load impedance maximum in gain is a complex conjugate with the output impedance of the FET. Incidentally, the load impedance maximum in gain, the load impedance maximum in efficiency, and load impedance minimum in distortion differ in each frequency band.
Generally, in the post-amplifier 38, the emphasis is placed on low distortion or high efficiency, and in the wide band matching network 39, therefore, it is necessary to compose the matching network to realize such characteristics, but it is hard to design and the characteristics are likely to deteriorate because plural restraint conditions are present in plural frequency bands. In a switch circuit 40 using an electronic circuit, meanwhile, since the passing electric power is large, the elements to be used must have a large capacity, and the loss is large because it is used in a place of high power level, and the efficiency of the power amplifier cannot be enhanced.
Recently, cellular telephones are rapidly promoted in the trend of smaller size, lighter weight and lower cost. Accordingly, owing to the restriction of the battery used in the cellular telephones, the power amplifier is required to have both high efficiency and low voltage operation.
FIG. 19 shows an example of a constitution of a conventional power amplifier. In FIG. 19, reference numeral 194 is an input terminal, 195 is an output terminal, 196 is a transistor, 197 is a gate bias terminal, 198 is a drain bias terminal 199 is an input matching network, 200 is an output matching network, and 201, 202 are first and second DC blocking capacitors.
In thus constituted power amplifier, a conventional method of enhancing the efficiency is described below.
In the conventional power amplifier, a high efficiency is realized by adjusting the output matching network 200 connected to the transistor 196 so that the load impedance of the transistor 196 may have the maximum efficiency at a desired output power.
In this constitution, however, when the output power is lower than the specified output power, the efficiency drops as shown in FIG. 20.

High efficiency linear power amplifier of plural frequency bands and high efficiency power amplifier

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A duplex simultaneous reading apparatus having an image reading unit for simultaneously reading a first surface and a second surface of a document, the duplex simultaneous reading apparatus includes: a detection unit for detecting any specified pattern image from image data read by the image reading unit; and a selection unit for selectively inputting the read image data of the first surface of the document and the read image data of the second surface to the detection unit in block units, wherein the detection unit detects the specified pattern image in the first surface or the second surface of the document, from the block-unit image data inputted by the selection unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a duplex simultaneous reading apparatus which is capable of reading a duplex document and which is used for a copying machine, a facsimile, a scanner, etc., and so forth.
2. Related Art
In recent years, with the spreads of personal computers, printers, scanners, copying machines, etc., there has occurred the problem that information items on papers leak out, because even the papers the copying of which is to be prohibited can be easily copied.
In order to prevent the leakage of the information, there has been proposed a technique wherein, when the paper of which the prohibition of copying without permission is required is printed, specified patterns such as copy prohibition information are embedded together with document images such as characters and figures. When the paper in which the copy prohibition information is embedded is read by a copying apparatus such as scanner, the copy prohibition information is detected by a detection unit, and an output is controlled in accordance with the result of the detection.

Duplex simultaneous reading apparatus, copying apparatus, image processing apparatus and image processing method


In an optics system, a flexible mirror is deformed with an electromagnetic force. In one embodiment, an electrical current is directed through the mirror, or a conductor attached to the mirror, in the presence of a magnetic field. In one application in an adaptive optics system, the membrane mirror is used in a wavefront sensor. Deformed to oscillate between convex and concave positions, the mirror is used to alternately defocus a received light signal for determining aberrations in the light signal. By detecting aberrations in the light signal, the adaptive optics system can correct for those aberrations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to membrane mirror assemblies as may be used in adaptive optics systems, and in particular to deforming a membrane mirror used in a wavefront sensor for detecting aberrations in light signals.
2. Background of the Invention
There is an increasing interest in the use of free-space optical communications for various applications. For example, much of the current telecommunications infrastructure is based on the transmission of optical signals via optical fibers. While the use of fiber optics has increased the capacity and efficiency of data transmission, there are many situations where the installation of new fiber is not the best solution. As a result, there is interest in augmenting the telecommunications infrastructure by transmitting optical signals through the free-space of the atmosphere.
Free-space optical communications links can also be used advantageously in applications outside of the telecommunications infrastructure. Compared to other communications technologies, a free-space optical communications link can have advantages of higher mobility and compact size, better directionality (e.g., harder to intercept), faster set up and tear down, and/or suitability for situations where one or both transceivers are moving. Thus, free-space optical communications links can be used in many different scenarios, including in airborne, sea-based, space and terrestrial situations.
However, in many of these potential applications, the free-space optical communications link suffers from optical aberrations. For example, changes in atmospheric conditions can be a significant impediment to the accuracy, reliability, and efficiency of free-space optical communications systems. Wind, heat waves, man-made pollutants, and other effects can create constantly changing aberrations. This, in turn, can degrade the quality of the optical signal that is available at the receiver, resulting in degradation of the overall quality and efficiency of the communications channel.
To address the problem of optical aberrations, adaptive optics systems have been developed to compensate for these aberrations, thus improving the performance of free space optical communications systems. In addition to free-space optical communications, adaptive optics systems can be applied in other areas where optical aberrations are also problematic, such as in telescope imaging systems.
Many adaptive optics systems have a wavefront sensor, which senses the aberrations in the wavefront of received light waves. Existing methods and devices for sensing and measuring the wavefront include several interferometric techniques, the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing techniques, and various other systems that involve the projection of patterns of light through an optical system. Once the wavefront senor has measured these aberrations, it can provide a signal to a device for correcting the aberrations, such as a deformable mirror. By adaptively deforming to compensate for the measured aberrations in the light waves, the optical system can correct for these aberrations.
In some wavefront sensors, a modulation device adds a focus (spherical phase factor) term to the incoming light signal at an image plane. To do this, for example, a membrane mirror introduces a dither in the optical path, and the wavefront sensor evaluates the wavefront based on the dithered signal. This can be accomplished using an acoustically driven membrane mirror, using air pressure to deform the membrane mirror and cycle it between convex and concave positions. However, such mirrors are difficult to manufacture in a small form factor and tend to be somewhat unstable over time. Additionally, an acoustic driving mechanism cannot work in environments with little or no air, such as in space and high flying aircraft applications. Acoustic systems also suffer from poor performance due to complicated resonance peaks at various frequencies. Moreover, acoustic systems are highly sensitive to their environment, where changing temperatures and/or pressures during operation further complicates the performance characteristics of the wavefront sensor.
To obtain the spherical deformation for the correct operation of the wavefront sensor, it is desirable to exert a uniform force or pressure on the membrane surface of the mirror. Although acoustic drivers tend to exert this uniform pressure, they suffer from the drawbacks outlined above. Accordingly, it is desirable to produce a sufficient uniform pressure on membrane mirror as desired for a wavefront sensor without suffering from the deficiencies of acoustically driven membrane mirrors.

Electromagnetically driven membrane mirror assembly


Methods and devices for the treatment of airway obstruction, sleep apnea and snoring, by tongue suspension for treatment of airway obstruction in a human subject, including the steps of inserting a bone anchor into the mandible of the subject, and fastening at least one suture to the bone anchor to suspend the tongue to the mandible. Preferably, the bone anchors used are surgical screws. The sutures are fastened to at least one surgical screw, and are preferably inserted in positions adjacent to the mandible's midline. Alternatively, suspension of the hyoid bone is accomplished.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a potentially life-threatening disorder, which affects up to 2-4% of the adult population. OSA, it has been determined, is associated with snoring, which affects 20% of adults. Both of these conditions can be triggered when the base of the tongue collapses during sleep, so that it partly obstructs the airway.
Various methods are known in the art for treatment of snoring and OSA, with varying degrees of success. Generally, the most successful non-surgical approach is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), in which a positive pressure is maintained in the airway to prevent blockage. CPAP, however, requires that the patient sleep with a respirator mask over his or her face, with a bedside air compressor to supply positive air pressure to the mask. Because of the discomfort and inconvenience, patient compliance with CPAP therapy is low, and 60% of patients who commence using CPAP stop using the apparatus within three months.
Oral appliances, such as "SnorBan," distributed by SnorBan of Rancho Cordova, Calif., generally operate by holding the patient's jaw forward. These appliances generally require careful fitting, and relatively few patients find them comfortable enough to sleep with them in place through the entire night.
Surgical procedures for treatment of snoring and OSA include uvulo-pharyngeal-palatoplasty (UPPP), midline glossectomy, hyoid suspension and tracheotomy. In UPPP, the lateral portion of the soft palate is removed, a painful procedure with high post-operative morbidity and only partial success. In midline glossectomy, a central, posterior portion of the tongue is removed, which is likewise associated with high morbidity, and requires a perioperative tracheotomy. Hyoid suspension, in which the tongue is pushed forwardly by tying the hyoid bone to the anterior mandible, is somewhat less invasive than the other procedures described, but has in the past been an open surgical procedure that has so far met with limited success. In serious cases of OSA, tracheotomy may be the only currently effective surgical treatment.
European patent application EP 0 743 076 A1, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes an apparatus for treatment of sleep apnea by electrical stimulation of a patient's hypoglossal nerve. An electrode is positioned in electrical contact with a portion of the nerve, and a stimulating electrical current is applied to the electrode. The electrical current thus stimulates muscles of the upper airway, so as to cause contralateral extension of the patient's tongue and/or to increase the volume of the oropharynx. The apparatus requires, however, that the electrode be maintained in wired connection with an electronic nerve stimulator unit located outside the body. It also requires accurate and consistent contact with the nerve so as to avoid unwanted tongue movements.


A compression system for an inductively heated pusher furnace controls movement of susceptors during thermal contraction thereof. The system includes a plurality of furnace sections each having a susceptor wherein each susceptor abuts an adjacent susceptor and wherein the susceptors include first and last susceptors. A compression plate abuts the first susceptor to apply force thereon toward the last susceptor to keep the susceptors in abutment with each other during contraction of the susceptors during cooling thereof. An actuator for moving the compression plate is preferably automatically controlled by a computerized control system. The susceptors together form a tunnel through which pusher plates travel and have overlapping joints which seal against the escape of gasses and allow for a degree of susceptor contraction without forming a gap therebetween even in the absence of compression of the susceptors.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to pusher furnaces. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the position of the sections of a pusher furnace in response to changes in temperature. Specifically, the invention relates to a compression system which engages at least one furnace section and applies pressure thereto to maintain contact between adjacent furnace sections in the pusher furnace.
2. Background Information
Pusher furnaces are designed in various lengths and may contain multiple heating and cooling sections as required by the application. These furnaces include a substantially continuous flat surface or a pair of slide rails running through the interior of the furnace. A plurality of pusher plates, carrying the material to be processed on their upper surfaces, are pushed sequentially along the flat surface and through the heating sections. Materials processed in this manner may include various materials required for electronic or ceramic components, as well as different metals that are to be annealed, sintered or de-waxed. In order to process a particular material properly, that material typically has to be subjected to very specific temperatures and atmospheric conditions as it passes through the furnace.
When the individual heating sections are heated, the overall length of the longitudinally extending furnace increases, sometimes by as much as several inches. Each heating section may be heated to a different temperature and consequently adjacent heating sections will likely expand to differing degrees. Furthermore, if the pusher furnace needs to be shut down in an emergency situation, for example, the various heating sections will tend to cool down at differing rates and, consequently, the heating sections may shrink to differing degrees. This difference in cooling rates can result in adjacent heating sections pulling apart from each other as they contract, thus creating gaps between the adjacent heating sections. Heat and gasses escape through these gaps, potentially causing damage to insulation within the sections and even potentially increasing the risk of catastrophic explosions. Even if the escaping heat and gasses do not cause explosions, they do cause a sudden change in the thermal and atmospheric conditions within the adjacent heating sections and thereby likely lead to damage of the materials being processed.
There is therefore a need in the art for a method and apparatus for keeping the heating sections in a pusher furnace substantially in contact with each other, thereby maintaining the temperature gradients over the entire length of the longitudinally extending furnace.

Method and apparatus for controlling furnace position in response to thermal expansion


A bracket angle adjustment mechanism has two wedge members (16A, 16B) fit in an eccentric space between a large-diameter hole (14c) of an external-tooth gear (14) and a small-diameter shank (15c) of an internal-tooth gear (15), and a wedged-state release member (19) is held by the external-tooth gear (14) so that an outer peripheral surface of the wedged-state release member (19) is fit rotatably into the large-diameter hole (14c). The wedged-state release member (19) has a clearance groove (19a) for avoiding interference with the wedge members (16A, 16B), a wedged-state release portion (19e), and a noncircular mounting hole (19d) non-rotatably fit with a attaching portion of a control shaft (20) penetrating through the small-diameter shank (15c) in a non-fitting manner. The bracket angle adjustment mechanism achieves enhanced strength and lower production cost, based on the improved mounting position of the wedged-state release member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bracket angle adjustment mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, there has been known one type of bracket angle adjustment mechanism. For example, in a vehicle seat assembly 1 as shown in FIG. 21, the bracket angle adjustment mechanism comprises a first bracket 4 fixed to a seat cushion 2, and a second bracket 5 fixed to a seat back 3, wherein a handle 7 fixed to a control shaft 6 is manually rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust an angle of the second bracket 5 relative to the first bracket 4, i.e. a frontward/rearward reclining angle of the seat back 3 (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-47443: Patent Publication 1).
More specifically, the first bracket 4 includes an external-tooth gear 4a, and the second bracket 5 includes an internal-tooth gear 5a which has a larger number of teeth than that of the external-tooth gear 4a. The control shaft 6 has an inward end supported by a central hole 5b of the second bracket 5.
The bracket angle adjustment mechanism further includes a pair of wedge members 11A, 11B and a spring member 12. The pair of wedge members 11A, 11B are fitted in an eccentric space 10 which is defined between an inner peripheral surface of a large-diameter hole 4a formed in a central region of the external-tooth gear 4a and an outer peripheral surface of a small-diameter shank 9a integral with or constituting a central portion of the internal-tooth gear 5a (in this conventional example, the small-diameter shank 9a corresponds to a given circumferential portion 9a of a follower disk 9 fixed to the control shaft 6), when respective portions of the external-tooth gear 4a and the internal-tooth gear 5a are engaged with one another. The spring member 12 is interposed between the pair of wedge members 11A, 11B in the eccentric space to apply a biasing force to each of the wedge members 11A, 11B in a wedging direction, i.e. in a direction allowing each of the wedge members 11A, 11B to be wedged between the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter central hole 4a and the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter central shank 9a. The control shaft 6 is adapted to move a wedged-state releasing portion (which corresponds to a follower protrusion 9b formed in the follower disk 9) located between respective wedging ends of the wedge members 11A, 11B. In FIG. 21C, the reference numeral 13 indicates a cover plate fixed to the second bracket 5. The cover plate 13 extends to cover the external-tooth gear 4a of the first bracket 4, and has a bearing portion 13a supporting an outward portion of the control shaft 13a.
In an operation for adjusting an angle of the second bracket 5 relative to the first bracket 4, i.e. a frontward/rearward reclining angle of the seat back 3, the handle 7 is manually rotated to rotate the control shaft 6. In conjunction with the rotation of the control shaft 6, the wedged-state releasing portion 9b is rotated to move the pair of wedge members 11A, 11B together with the spring member 12 circularly in the eccentric space 10, so that the small-diameter shank 9a is eccentrically moved relative to the large-diameter hole 4b to allow an engagement position of the internal-tooth gear 5a relative to the external-tooth gear 4a to be changed.
As shown in FIG. 22, there has also been known a bracket angle adjustment mechanism which comprises a pair of wedge members fitted into an eccentric space 10 defined between a large-diameter hole 4a formed in a central region of a first bracket 4 and a small-diameter shank 5c constituting a central portion of a second bracket 5, a wedged-state release member 8 having a wedged-state release portion 8a and a tubular portion 8b fitted in a small-diameter shank 5c of a second bracket 5, and a control shaft 6 fitted into and splined to the tubular portion 8b (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-284422: Patent Publication 2).
In the bracket angle adjustment mechanisms as disclosed in the Patent Publications 1 and 2, there remain much needs to be improved. For example, in the bracket angle adjustment mechanisms as disclosed in the Patent Publication 2, the tubular portion 8b of the wedged-state release member 8 is fitted in the small-diameter shank 5c of the second bracket 5, and the control shaft 6 is fitted into and splined to the tubular portion 8b. Thus, in connection with layout conditions, this mechanism has difficulties in increasing a thickness of the small-diameter shank 5c of the second bracket 5 and the tubular portion 8b of the wedged-state release member 8, and in including a diameter of the control shaft 6.
Moreover, this mechanism has a problem about increase in production cost due to the need for the spline connection between the control shaft 6 and the tubular portion 8b of the wedged-state release member 8, and a complicated shape of the wedged-state release mechanical 8.


A pixel, an organic light emitting display, and a method for driving an organic light emitting display using the pixel, which can display an image with substantially uniform luminance. In one embodiment, the method for driving an organic light emitting display having a pixel disposed at an i-th horizontal line, the pixel having a drive transistor for enabling the flow of current to an organic light emitting diode, the method including providing a reference voltage to a gate electrode of the drive transistor, charging a second capacitor with a threshold voltage of the drive transistor, charging a first capacitor with a voltage corresponding to a data signal, and providing a current corresponding to the voltages in the first and second capacitors to the organic light emitting diode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pixel, an organic light emitting display, and a method for driving the organic light emitting display including the pixel.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Recently, various flat panel displays having advantages such as reduced weight and volume over cathode ray tubes (CRT) displays have been developed. Flat panel displays include liquid crystal displays (LCD), field emission displays (FED), plasma display panels (PDP), and organic light emitting displays.
Among the flat panel displays, the organic light emitting displays make use of organic light emitting diodes that emit light by re-combination of electrons and holes. The organic light emitting display has advantages such as high response speed and low power consumption.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a pixel 4 of a conventional organic light emitting display.
With reference to FIG. 1, the pixel 4 of a conventional organic light emitting display includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and a pixel circuit 2. The pixel circuit 2 is coupled to a data line Dm and a scan line Sn, and controls light emission of the organic light emitting diode (OLED).
An anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode (OLED) is coupled to a pixel circuit 2, and a cathode electrode thereof is coupled to a second power supply ELVSS. The organic light emitting diode (OLED) generates light of a predetermined luminance corresponding to an electric current from the pixel circuit 2.
When a scan signal is supplied to the scan line Sn, the pixel circuit 2 controls the amount of electric current provided to the organic light emitting diode (OLED). The amount of current corresponds to a data signal provided to the data line Dm. The pixel circuit 2 includes a second transistor M2, a first transistor M1, and a storage capacitor Cst. The second transistor M2 is coupled to a first power supply ELVDD and the organic light emitting diode (OLED). The first transistor M1 is coupled between the data line Dm and the scan line Sn. The storage capacitor Cst is coupled between a gate electrode and a first electrode of the second transistor M2.
A gate electrode of the first transistor M1 is coupled to the scan line Sn, and a first electrode thereof is coupled to the data line Dm. A second electrode of the first transistor M1 is coupled with one terminal of the storage capacitor Cst. The first electrode can be either a source electrode or a drain electrode, and the second electrode is the other one of the source electrode or the drain electrode. For example, when the first electrode is the source electrode, the second electrode is the drain electrode. When a scan signal is supplied to the first transistor M1 coupled with the scan line Sn and the data line Dm, the first transistor M1 is turned-on to provide a data signal from the data line Dm to the storage capacitor Cst. At this time, the storage capacitor Cst is charged with a voltage corresponding to the data signal.
The gate electrode of the second transistor M2 is coupled to one terminal of the storage capacitor Cst, and a first electrode thereof is coupled to another terminal of the storage capacitor Cst and a first power supply ELVDD. Further, a second electrode of the second transistor M2 is coupled with the anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode (OLED). The second transistor M2 controls the amount of electric current flowing from the first power supply ELVDD to a second power supply ELVSS through the organic light emitting diode such that the current corresponds to the voltage charged in the storage capacitor Cst. At this time, the organic light emitting diode (OLED) emits light corresponding to the amount of electric current supplied from the second transistor M2.
However, the pixel 4 of the conventional organic light emitting display may not display an image of substantially uniform luminance. Threshold voltages of the second transistors M2 (drive transistors) in the pixels 4 vary according to process deviations during fabrication. When the threshold voltages of the second transistors M2 vary, although data signals corresponding to the same luminance are supplied to the pixels 4, the organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) emit light of different luminance due to variations in the threshold voltages of the second transistors M2.

Pixel, organic light emitting display, and driving method thereof


A switching power supply circuit of current-resonance type with the capability of power factor improvement includes a filter capacitor (C.sub.N) connected between the positive and negative output terminals of the rectifier, a filter choke coil (L.sub.N) and fast-recovery diode (D.sub.2) connected in series to cut in on the rectifier output line, and a resonant capacitor (C.sub.2) which forms a resonant circuit in unison with the filter choke coil. The output of a series resonant circuit (C.sub.1,N.sub.1) on the primary side is superimposed on the rectifier output so that the power factor is improved, thereby eliminating the need of a choke coil (CH). The circuit accomplishes the more compact, light-weight and low-cost design, and improves the power conversion efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switching power supply circuit of current-resonance type with the capability of improving the power factor.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to recently-developed switching elements that withstand relatively high voltages and large currents and operate at high frequencies, power supply units for producing intended d.c. voltages by rectifying the a.c. line voltage are mostly designed to be switching power supply units. Switching power supply units operating at higher switching frequencies enable the size reduction of the transformer and other circuit components, and are used as large-power d.c. to d.c. converters in power supply units of various kinds of electronic equipment.
Generally, when power of the a.c. line is rectified, the current flowing in the smoothing circuit has its waveform distorted, resulting unfavorably in the degradation of the power factor which indicates the efficiency of use of power. It is therefore required to suppress the harmonic waves derived from the distorted current waveform.
For dealing with this situation, the applicant of the present invention has previously proposed a switching power supply circuit with the capability of power factor improvement as shown in FIG. 13. This power supply circuit is a self-excited current-resonance power converter of half-bridge configuration.
In the figure, supplied a.c. line power AC is subjected to full-wave rectification by a bridge rectifier D.sub.1 made up of four diodes. The bridge rectifier D.sub.1 has its positive output terminal connected to the positive electrode of a smoothing capacitor Ci by way of a serial connection of a filter choke coil L.sub.N, a fast-recovery diode D.sub.2 and a choke coil CH, as shown. A filter capacitor C.sub.N is connected between the node of the filter choke coil L.sub.N and diode D.sub.2 and the positive electrode of the smoothing capacitor Ci, with the filter capacitor C.sub.N and filter choke coil L.sub.N in unison constituting an LC low-pass filter used in the normal operation.
The LC low-pass filter is intended to prevent the high-frequency switching noise from entering to the a.c. line. The fast-recovery diode D.sub.2 is used to cope with the current of the switching frequency flowing on the full-wave rectifier output line as will be explained later.
The capacitor C.sub.2 is used as a parallel resonant capacitor, which is connected in parallel to the choke coil CH as shown in the figure to form a parallel resonant circuit with it. The parallel resonant circuit has its resonant frequency set virtually equal to the resonant frequency of the switching power supply unit. The operation of the parallel resonant circuit will be explained later.
A half-bridge switching circuit is configured by a pair of switching elements Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2, with their collectors and emitters being connected in cascade between the positive electrode of the smoothing capacitor Ci and the ground as shown in the figure. The switching elements Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 have their collectors and bases connected by respective starting resistors R.sub.S and have their bases and emitters connected by respective damper diodes D.sub.D.
The Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 have base resistors R.sub.B for adjusting their base drive currents connected in series to respective resonant capacitors C.sub.B, which constitute series resonant circuits for self-excited oscillation in unison with respective drive windings N.sub.B of a driving transformer PRT. The driving transformer PRT, which controls the switching frequency of the switching elements Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2, has drive windings N.sub.B and a resonant current detecting winding N.sub.D, and it further has a control winding N.sub.C which is wound orthogonally to the windings N.sub.B and N.sub.D, thereby forming an orthogonal saturable reactor.
One drive winding N.sub.B has one end connected to the resistor R.sub.B and another end connected to the emitter of the switching element Q.sub.1. Another drive winding N.sub.B has one end grounded and another end connected to the resistor R.sub.B of the switching element Q.sub.2, and it has the opposite polarity of voltage relative to the former winding N.sub.B. The current detecting winding N.sub.D has its one end connected to the node of the emitter of Q.sub.1 and the collector of Q.sub.2 and another end connected through a series resonant capacitor C.sub.1 to one end of the primary winding N.sub.1 of an insulating transformer PIT.
The insulating transformer PIT, which transfers the switching output of the switching elements Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 to the secondary side, has a primary winding N.sub.1 which is connected at one end to the current detecting winding N.sub.D through a series resonant capacitor C.sub.1 and at another end to the node of the fast-recovery diode D.sub.2 and choke coil CH. The series resonant capacitor C.sub.1 and the inductance component of the insulating transformer PIT including the primary winding N.sub.1 form a resonant circuit permitting the switching power supply circuit to be of current-resonance type.
The insulating transformer PIT has a secondary winding N.sub.2, on which a voltage is induced in unison with the primary winding N.sub.1, and the induced voltage is rectified by a bridge rectifier D.sub.3 and smoothing capacitor C.sub.3 to produce a d.c. output voltage E.sub.o.
A control circuit 1 evaluates the difference of the d.c. output voltage E.sub.o from the reference voltage and amplifies the differential signal to produce a d.c. control output I.sub.C to be fed to the control winding N.sub.C of the driving transformer PRT.
In operation, when the a.c. line power is supplied to the switching power supply unit arranged as described above, the base currents are fed to the bases of the switching elements Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 by way of the starting resistors R.sub.S. In this case, one of Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2, e.g., Q.sub.1, that turns on first causes another switching element, i.e., Q.sub.2, to be cut off. The resonant current flows from the switching element Q.sub.1 to the current detecting winding N.sub.D, to the capacitor C.sub.1, and to the primary winding N.sub.1. When the resonant current decreases to zero, the switching element Q.sub.2 turns on and the switching element Q.sub.1 turns off. The resonant current flows through the switching element Q.sub.2 in the direction opposite to that of the switching element Q.sub.1. In this manner, the switching elements Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 turn on alternately, and the self-excited switching operation starts.
The switching elements Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 turn on and off cyclically for the operational power on the smoothing capacitor Ci to feed a drive current with a waveform close to the resonant current waveform to the primary winding N.sub.1 of the insulating transformer PIT, and a.c. power is obtained on the secondary winding N.sub.2.
If the d.c. output voltage E.sub.o falls, the control circuit 1 controls the current of the control winding N.sub.C to lower the switching frequency (close to the resonant frequency) so as to increase the drive current of the primary winding N.sub.1, thereby stabilizing the output voltage E.sub.o (this is a method for switching frequency control).
In regard to the improvement of the power factor based on this circuit arrangement, the switching output corresponding to the resonant current flowing on the primary winding N.sub.1 of the insulating transformer PIT is superimposed directly on the rectified current of the a.c. line power flowing through the self-inductance Li of the winding Ni of the choke coil CH. Accordingly, the smoothing capacitor Ci is charged to the full-wave rectified voltage with the switching output voltage superimposed on it, and the terminal voltage of the capacitor Ci is lowered periodically by the superimposed switching output voltage. Consequently, a charging current flows during the period when the terminal voltage of the capacitor Ci is lower than the rectified voltage of the bridge rectifier, and the average a.c. input current is made close to the a.c. voltage waveform and the power factor is improved. The series resonant capacitor C.sub.1 is discharged back to the smoothing capacitor Ci by way of the primary winding N.sub.1 of the insulating transformer PIT during the period when the a.c. input current does not flow in.
The power supply circuit based on this scheme of power factor improvement has a smaller drive current of the insulating transformer PIT in small load condition, and accordingly the switching current flowing on the full-wave rectifier output line in response to the drive circuit is also small. Based on the charging current which is proportional to the load, it becomes possible to prevent the terminal voltage of the smoothing capacitor Ci from rising abnormally in small load condition and thereby improve the regulation. Even for a .+-.20% variation of the a.c. input voltage, for example, the variation of the rectified-and-smoothed voltage Vi is suppressed sufficiently, and the need to use switching elements and a smoothing capacitor with higher withstand voltages is eliminated.
The resonant capacitor C.sub.2 connected to the self-inductance Li of the choke coil CH is intended to suppress the switching voltage which is fed back to the rectify-smoothing line when the load of the switching power supply unit decreases, and it becomes possible to prevent the terminal voltage Ei of the smoothing capacitor Ci from rising in small load condition.
Namely, the power supply circuit of FIG. 13 operates to raise the switching frequency when the load power decreases, and in this case the switching voltage returning to the charging circuit is suppressed by the capacitor C.sub.2 and the rise of the terminal voltage is prevented. On the other hand, when the load power increases, the switching frequency falls close to the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit formed of the self-inductance Li and capacitor C.sub.2, thereby raising the feedback switching voltage. Accordingly, this power supply circuit has little variation of the terminal voltage of the smoothing capacitor caused by the variation of load, making the stabilization of d.c. output voltage Eo easy.
FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B show the filter choke coil L.sub.N and choke coil CH used in the power supply circuit of FIG. 13. The filter choke coil L.sub.N is arranged by winding a copper wire coated with polyurethane directly on a drum-shaped ferrite core D without using a bobbin as shown in FIG. 14A. The choke coil CH is made up of a pair of E-shaped ferrite cores facing each other, with a gap G being formed between the confronting central arms so that the magnetic flux does not leak to the outside of the choke coil as shown in FIG. 14B. A winding Ni which is a polyurethane-coated copper wire of 60-.mu.m diameter is wound on a bobbin (not shown) such that the inductance Li is not saturated in maximum load condition. Specifically, for the output power rating of 120 W of the d.c. output voltage E.sub.o, a choke coil CH of Li=15 .mu.H is arranged by winding a Litz wire at 60 .mu./80 bunch on the EE-16 core, or for the output power rating of 230 W, a choke coil CH of Li=100 .mu.H is arranged by winding a Litz wire at 60 .mu./130 bunch on the EE-25 core.

Switching power supply circuit of current-resonance type without a choke coil


An example-based filling system identifies appropriate filling material to replace a destination region in an image and fills the destination region using this material, thereby alleviating or minimizing the amount of manual editing required to fill a destination region in image. Tiles of image data are borrowed from the proximity of the destination region or some other source to generate new image data to fill in the region. Destination regions may be designated by user input (e.g., selection of an image region by a user) or by other means (e.g., specification of a color or feature to be replaced).

Editing digital images, particularly digital photographs, is a common activity in both domestic and professional contexts. Common tasks include repairing (e.g., hiding tears, scratches, stains, and other damage), correcting (e.g., removing red eyes and other undesirable features in the image), and modifying (e.g., removing features of the image to change its semantics) a digital image.
In many such activities, the task may be accomplished by "filling" a region in the image with other image data. For example, in FIG. 1, a digital image 100 depicts a house with a satellite dish 102 on its roof. If a user wishes to remove the satellite dish 102 from the roof of the house in the image 100, the user may employ an existing approach called "cloning". In cloning, the user manually copies one or more portions of backgrounds 104 and 106 and pastes them over the satellite dish 102 in appropriate locations and orientations, so as to hide the satellite dish 102. More sophisticated users may supplement this approach by manually introducing some local feathering at the borders of the pasted regions to conceal the seams.
However, the cloning approach is often time-consuming and tedious, if not impractical, and typically produces poor results at least in the following cases:                1. the region to fill (the "destination region") is large, at least in one dimension (e.g., a whole person, a long scratch);        2. the area available in the rest of the image for potential background sources is small;        3. the regions to fill in are small but numerous (e.g., superimposed text); and        4. the region to fill in is surrounded by more than one type of texture, thereby requiring re-creation of inter-region boundaries.
Therefore, the existing cloning approach fails to satisfactorily fill destination regions in some images, is primarily manual, and is particularly ill-suited for many common scenarios.

Image region filling by example-based tiling


A circuit for transferring data from one bus system to another is disclosed. The circuit allows the write bus to perform write operations indiscriminately of any handshaking, wait states or other control signals which would otherwise reduce the bus efficiency of the system. Similarly, the read bus system has no handshaking or wait states but is provided with a data ready signal to indicate when valid data may be read. This circuit is used in applications where less than 100% data integrity is permissible.

This invention relates generally to a circuit for arbitrating between two bus systems and, more specifically, to controlling the writing by one bus system to a second bus system.
Different arbitration schemes exist for coordinating the transfer of data from a first bus system to a second bus system. Such arbitration schemes must insure that the write data bus does not overwrite previously written data and that the read data bus only reads valid data. In order to prevent the write data bus from overwriting previous data, traditional arbitration schemes sometimes use handshaking control signals to regulate the write operations.
Another traditional arbitration scheme uses a control signal to force the write bus system to suspend a write operation. Where the write bus system is controlled by a microprocessor, this suspension of the microprocessor is achieved by using "wait states." The read bus system can be controlled in a similar manner by using either handshaking signals or suspension of processing to prevent the read data bus from receiving invalid data.
However, each of the above arbitration schemes has a drawback in that the maximum number of bus operations possible per second for each bus system is decreased due to the delay in either acknowledging the handshake control signal or in the suspension of the processor by forced wait states. In most bus systems, such bus efficiency degradation is acceptable as a design trade-off toward achieving data integrity.
However, in data systems where some data losses are acceptable, it is preferable to maintain the highest bus operation rate possible. For example, in digitized voice data transmissions less than 100% data integrity will be acceptable because a sample lost will only mean a slight, often undetectable, degrading of the voice quality. If desired, processing techniques such as interpolation can be used to compensate for the error. Similarly, the transmission of digitized pictures for human viewing will have a certain allowable data loss. Another example would be in communications systems where error detection and correction is built in, as by using coding schemes or providing for the retransmission of a message in error.
In such data systems, an arbitration scheme need not be concerned with delaying the writing or reading of data in an attempt to ensure 100% data integrity. It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide an arbitration scheme that allows a first data bus to write to a second data bus without delaying the operation of the writing data bus. A second objective of the invention is to make known to the reading data bus when a data overrun condition occurs, so that corrective measures can be taken. A third objective is to implement the arbitration scheme in a cost effective and efficient electronic circuit.

Data transfer circuit for interfacing two bus systems that operate asynchronously with respect to each other


An image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, a conveyance roller which conveys a sheet; a driving source which provides a driving force to the developing roller and the conveyance roller, a developing driving gear mechanism which transmits the driving force of the driving source to the developing roller, and a conveyance driving gear mechanism which transmits the driving force of the driving source to the conveyance roller. The developing driving gear mechanism includes a developing driving switching mechanism which causes a rotating direction of the developing roller when the first driving source rotates in a first direction to be same as the rotating direction of the developing roller when the first driving source rotates in a second direction reverse to the first direction.

For example, JP-A-2011-203361 describes an image forming apparatus such as a printer which drives a sheet discharge roller configured to convey a sheet and the like, and a developing roller configured to supply developer to a photosensitive member, with a common motor. This image forming apparatus is configured such that a rotating direction of the sheet discharge roller is switched as a rotating direction of the motor is switched.
In a configuration of driving a conveyance roller configured to convey a sheet and the developing roller with the common motor, when a rotating direction of the developing roller is switched upon switching of a rotating direction of the conveyance roller, a contact state between a surface of the photosensitive member and a surface of the developing roller is changed, so that the surfaces may be damaged such as wear and scratch.


This disclosure provides a method for quantum dots ligand exchanges and an apparatus of the same. The method includes providing a first ligand modified quantum dot, a second ligand and a first polymer. The method includes mixing the first ligand modified quantum dot, the second ligand and the first polymer in a solvent to perform the first ligand exchange, so as to obtain a second modified quantum dot. The first polymer contains a first functional group, which can have a first reaction with the first ligand, but do not react with the second ligand under the same conditions.

Quantum Dots Light Emitting Diode Display (QLED) is a new display technology based on organic light emitting displays. Compared with organic light emitting diode display devices (OLEDs), QLEDs have the advantages of narrow emission peak, high color saturation, wide color gamut, and the like. The quantum dots used in the preparation of QLED devices are synthesized currently with long-chain oil ligands. Although long-chain oil ligands are useful to the stability of quantum dots in the synthesis system, the transport performance of carriers are degraded due to the insulating property of such ligands, which accordingly adversely affect the subsequent applications of quantum dots. Therefore, the ligand exchange of quantum dots is a necessary process in the preparation of QLED devices.

Method and apparatus for quantum dots ligand exchange


An InGaN-based resonant cavity enhanced detector chip based on porous DBR, including: a substrate (10); a buffer layer (11) formed on the substrate (10); a bottom porous DBR layer (12) formed on the buffer layer (11); an n-type GaN layer (13) formed on the bottom porous DBR layer (12), wherein one side of the n-type GaN layer (13) is recessed downward to form a mesa (13′), and the other side of the n-type GaN layer (13) is protruded; an active region (14) formed on the n-type GaN layer (13); a p-type GaN layer (15) formed on the active region (14); a sidewall passivation layer (20) formed on an upper surface of the p-type GaN layer (15) and sidewalls of the protruded n-type GaN layer (13), the active region (14), and the p-type GaN layer (15), wherein the sidewall passivation layer (20) on the upper surface of the p-type GaN layer (15) has a window in a middle; a transparent conductive layer (16) formed on the sidewall passivation layer (20) and the p-type GaN layer (15) at the window; an n-type electrode (18) formed on the mesa of the n-type GaN layer (13); a p-type electrode (19) formed on a periphery of an upper surface of the sidewall passivation layer (20); a top dielectric DBR layer (17) formed on the transparent conductive layer (16) and the p-type electrode (19).

Currently, visible light communication has broad application prospects in the field of smart homes and smart cities. As an important part of the visible light communication system, the photoelectric conversion efficiency and response speed at the light receiving end will directly restrict the transmission distance and transmission rate of the visible light communication. At present, conventional Si-based or GaAs, GaP-based commercial semiconductor visible light detectors are used in the light receiving end, but such conventional detectors are susceptible to background signal interference in outdoor complex communication environments. GaN and its ternary compounds such as AlGaN and InGaN, have wide and adjustable bandgap. Therefore, GaN-based devices have unique advantages in photoelectric applications of ultraviolet light and visible light. GaN-based materials have excellent thermal and chemical stability and are highly resistant to radiation, thereby enabling the GaN-based optoelectronic devices to operate under extreme conditions. In addition, GaN-based materials also have a high electron drift speed, which facilitates the fabrication of high-frequency photo-detector devices. In particular, in the terms of integration of visible light communication systems, since the InGaN-based visible light detector may have the same material as the light emitting device commonly used in visible light communication, InGaN/GaN quantum well light-emitting diode, it is compatible with the latter in the manufacturing, thus having a pleasant prospect.
However, the InGaN-based visible light detector that has been developed recently still has a large gap with respect to the Si-based visible light detector in performance, which is mainly reflected in the low quantum efficiency. A common method of increasing quantum efficiency is to increase the thickness of the absorption layer. However, for InGaN materials, it is very difficult to obtain a thick InGaN layer by epitaxial growth on GaN. Problems such as phase separation, indium (In) polymerization, high background carrier concentration, and material unevenness in the nanometer level may tend to occur. These problems are more severe in thick InGaN layers with high In composition. A common solution is to fabricate an InGaN/GaN super-lattice structure to relieve stress in each layer and suppress phase separation, thereby increasing the effective thickness of InGaN. However, the effective thickness of the InGaN layer obtained by this method is still limited. In addition, improving the quantum efficiency of the detector by increasing the thickness of the absorption layer may increase the drift time of the photo-generated carriers in the absorption layer, limiting the response speed of the detector.

Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences


A fuel heating control method and apparatus includes an operation of a heater heating a fuel for an engine started by being driven by a starting motor. The heater is not operated until after an operation of the starting motor is substantially terminated at a time of starting the engine.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-355952 filed on Nov. 22, 2000 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an engine of a vehicle such as a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a control relating to heating a fuel supplied to an engine.
2. Description of Related Art
In an engine of a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, it has been a common practice to provide an electric heater at a fuel injection valve, that injects a fuel into an engine combustion chamber, for heating the fuel injection valve to inject thus heated fuel. Further, there have been suggested various kinds of inventions which improve durability of the heater by preventing overheat thereof and which control heating of the fuel by the heater based on a temperature of atmospheric air and the engine or a combustion state of the fuel or the like. Examples of the inventions mentioned above are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 5-288131, 11-148441, and the like.
These conventionally given suggestions correspond to inventions relating to how heating of the fuel should be controlled according to the temperature of the atmospheric air and the engine or the combustion state of the fuel or the like, exclusively to improve a fuel heating performance of the heater and a durability of the heater or improve a startability of the engine through heating of the fuel by the heater.
In the engine provided with the heater for heating the fuel, conventionally in general, application of electric current to both of a motor for starting the engine and the heater for heating the fuel is simultaneously started at a time of starting the engine. This is because heating of the fuel by the heater improves a startability when the engine is cold, and this operation is as a matter of course when consideration is given to improvement of an exhaust property at a time of starting the engine under a cold temperature. It is true that in view of the object and effect of the heater operation, it can be considered that the heater is started at the same time the engine is started.
However, the above-mentioned heater for heating the fuel consumes a lot of electric power for operation, and the consumed electric power corresponds to a significantly heavy load for an electric power storage device having a limited capacity. Accordingly, in the case of operating the heater for heating the fuel at the same time driving of the engine is started by the motor for starting the engine, two heavy loads are simultaneously applied to the electric power storage device having a limited capacity. This reduces an electric power supply to each of the loads (the motor for starting the engine and the heater for heating the fuel). Accordingly, on one hand, a driving revolution for starting the engine is decreased, thereby delaying the engine to start running on its own, and on the other hand, a degree of heating the fuel by the heater is reduced, thereby delaying the engine to start running on its own and prolonging a discharge of unburned content at start-up, so that a synergistically adverse effect is generated with respect to an improvement of the engine startability and controlling of unburned content emitted at start-up. This becomes conspicuous at a time when a storage state of the electric power storage device is lowered, and a specific attention will be necessary.
The invention has been made by focusing attention on the fact that there is a risk that an adverse result may be brought about with respect to an object and an operation and effect of a heater for heating a fuel in an engine depending on operating periods of the heater. An object of the invention is to improve an operating period control of the heater for heating the fuel.
In accordance with one exemplary aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling an operation of a heater for heating a fuel in an engine started by being driven by a starting motor, in which the operation of the heater is started after the operation of the starting motor is substantially terminated at a time of starting the engine.
In the exemplary aspect mentioned above, the operation of the starting motor may be substantially terminated at a time when a switch of a power circuit in the starting motor is opened.
Further, in the above exemplary aspect, the operation of the starting motor may be substantially terminated at a time when the engine is first able to run on its own.
It is true that a startability of the engine under cold temperature is improved by heating the fuel by the heater. However, considering an improvement of the engine startability by the fuel heating in more detail, it can be seen that the fuel heating actually becomes effective at a time when the engine is able to run on its own and the operation thereof is to be stabilized through warm-up. The respective elapses of an engine starting motor operating command signal, an electric power consumption of the motor and an engine revolution at a time of starting the engine are generally as shown in FIG. 1. In a normal engine start, the engine is able to run on its own at a time t1 which is less than 1 second after driving of the engine is started by the motor, and thereafter, the engine revolution is increased by the power of the engine itself. On the contrary, with respect to the heating of the fuel by the heater, even when the heater is provided at a fuel injection valve closest to an injection end of the fuel, a time delay exceeding 1 second is generated until the heat generated by an electric current application is substantially transmitted to the fuel, because the heater itself and the fuel injection valve have a considerable heat capacity. Accordingly, even if the electric current application to the heater is started at the same time the electric current application to the motor is started, the fuel injected before the engine is able to run on its own would be barely heated.
Accordingly, it is assumed that the engine is able to run on its own when driven at a predetermined revolution or more until a predetermined times even when the engine is cold without the fuel being particularly heated at that time. Further, if the fuel is heated after the engine becomes capable of running on its own, an improved fuel explosion can be obtained and the engine can start up more rapidly and more smoothly. Further, if the fuel is heated during the time, it is possible to prevent the fuel from attaching to a wall surface of a combustion chamber, a start-up operation of the engine can be performed at stoichiometric air fuel ratio, and an exhaust property at a time of starting the engine can be improved. Accordingly, when the engine is driven by the motor, it is preferable to restrict the electric current application to the heater, increase an amount of electric current application to the motor as much as possible, increase an engine driving revolution by the motor, and ensure that the engine is able to run on its own at an early stage.
If a time, when the operation of the starting motor is substantially terminated, for starting the electric current application to the heater is set to a time when the switch of the power circuit for applying an electric current to the starting motor is opened, as a time t3 shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to securely prevent the motor load and the heater load from being simultaneously applied to the electric power storage device. However, in this case, when the electric current application to the motor is executed for a time longer than necessary, there is a problem that the operation start of the heater is delayed more than necessary.
On that point, if a time when the operation of the starting motor is substantially terminated is set to a time when the engine becomes capable of running on its own, it is possible to avoid the problem that the operation start of the heater is delayed more than necessary due to the electric current application to the motor being executed for a time longer than necessary as mentioned above. In this case, the engine is judged to be capable of running on its own at a time when self-running of the engine has progressed at a certain degree to be sure, whereby the engine driving load applied to the motor is largely reduced and the operation of the motor is not completely terminated but substantially terminated, as at a time t2 shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, when the electric current application to the heater is started, the switch of the motor power circuit is still closed, and even if a state occurs where the load of the motor and the load of the heater are simultaneously applied to the electric power storage device, the load applied by the motor has been already largely reduced. Therefore the heater can immediately obtain a strong electric current from the electric power storage device to operate.
In the exemplary aspect mentioned above, the operation of the heater can be such that a plurality of heaters with respect to all the cylinders are simultaneously started operating upon substantial termination of the operation of the starting motor. Further, when a plurality of heaters are separated into groups, the operation of the heaters may be started step by step by each group upon substantial termination of the starting motor.
In this case, if the heaters with respect to all the cylinders are separated into a plurality of groups and the operation of the heaters can be started step by step by each group, even in the case that the operation of the heater is started at a time when the operation of the motor is not yet completely terminated as mentioned above, it is possible to better avoid the load increase caused by the overlapped loads by starting the operation of the heaters step by step by each group.


Embodiments of the invention broadly described, introduce systems and methods for enabling the searching of encrypted data. One embodiment of the invention discloses a method for generating a searchable encrypted database. The method comprises receiving a plurality of sensitive data records comprising personal information of different users, identifying one or more searchable fields for the sensitive data records, wherein each searchable field is associated with a subset of the personal information for a user, generating a searchable field index for each of the one or more searchable fields, and encrypting the sensitive data records using a database encryption key.

As the internet continues to gain popularity, the need to store sensitive personal information on untrusted server computers is growing. For example, in order to provide users with fast response times, many organizations are offloading data storage and processing to third-party data centers geographically close to users. In addition, storage as a service and other "cloud" services are gaining popularity with organizations for cost and scalability reasons. Typically, these services are operated by third party organizations with uncertain security standards. Thus, ensuring the security of data at rest continues to be a necessity.
In order to address this problem, some systems may upload encrypted data to an untrusted server computer. Although data encryption is a well-known technique to protect sensitive personal information, encryption typically precludes searching. Thus, in order for a user to search an encrypted database for a desirable row, the user must first download and decrypt the entire database. This requires an excessive amount of bandwidth and processing, especially for large databases.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other problems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An airfoil including: an airfoil portion having an airfoil surface; and a communication hole extending at least in the airfoil portion and a first opening open in the airfoil surface, through which the first opening is communicated with a second opening provided in a portion of the airfoil. On a cross-section perpendicular to the spanwise direction through a position of the first opening of the spanwise direction, an angle A1 satisfying a condition (a) exists within an angle range −10 degrees to 10 degrees with respect to an extension line obtained by extending a camber line of the airfoil portion from a leading edge. The condition (a) is a static pressure at a position of the first opening is equal to a static pressure at a position of the second opening when the airfoil portion receives a fluid flow from a direction of the angle A1 toward the leading edge.

In airfoils applied to mechanical machines such as a rotary machine or a fluid machine, a loss is generated due to flow separation on an airfoil surface or the like, and this reduces performance or operation efficiency of the mechanical machine in some cases. In this regard, an airfoil profile is designed to reduce the loss caused by the fluid separation or the like in some cases.
Patent Document 1 discusses a turbine blade (airfoil) having a bypass passage provided around a support wall surface to penetrate from a ventral side (positive pressure side) to a back side (suction pressure side) in the vicinity of a maximum thickness portion of the airfoil portion. In this turbine blade, a pressure difference between the ventral side and the back side around the support wall surface is reduced by bypassing a part of the working fluid from the ventral side to the back side via the bypass passage described above around the support wall surface, so that the flow loss is reduced by reducing a secondary flow.

Airfoil and mechanical machine having the same


A circuit board is disposed on a support plate, with electronic components mounted on this circuit board being accommodated in recessed portions of the support plate. Thermal adhesive members intervene between rear surfaces of the electronic components and bottom surfaces of the recessed portions of the support plate. The support plate has degassing grooves. Furthermore, the support plate has raised portions provided on its upper surface for supporting the circuit board in a floated condition with a gap between them.

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device having an excellent heat radiation structure.
As a conventional heat radiation structure for an electronic device, the U.S. Pat. application publication No. 2003/0148070A1 discloses a circuit board mounting an electronic component and disposed on a support plate. According to this prior art document, the ceramic body arranging the support plate is a porous member whose cavities are filled with aluminum. Furthermore, both surfaces of this ceramic body are covered with a metallic coat. The electronic component mounted on the circuit board is accommodated in a recessed portion of the support plate covered with this metallic coat. Moreover, the electronic component is fixed to the recessed portion with a thermal conductivity adhesive material.
However, according to this conventional electronic device, the electronic component is accommodated via the thermal adhesive member in the recessed portion to transfer the heat of the electronic component to the support plate. In this case, there will be the possibility that the thermal adhesive member includes voids and the heat generated from the electronic component cannot be effectively released to the support plate. More specifically, the assembling of this electronic device includes a step of inserting the circuit board mounting the electronic component into the recessed portion of the support plate and a step of fixing the electronic component to the recessed portion with a thermal adhesive member. In these assembling processes, the gas generates from the thermal adhesive member and will stay in the recessed portion and accordingly the thermal adhesive member will contain a great amount of voids. These voids will make it difficult to effectively release the heat generating from the electronic component to the support plate.


Disclosed is a method for managing the starting of a combustion engine of a hybrid drive system including a combustion engine and an electric machine, as well as a drive shaft, the electric machine producing torque to start the combustion engine and drive the drive shaft at least during an initial phase of the start. In a transient starting phase, the combustion engine drives the drive shaft and the electric machine is stopped. The electric machine is regulated, during the initial phase and transient phases, with a first engine speed setpoint. The transient phase begins when the drive shaft reaches the first engine speed setpoint and remains steady. Torque control produced by the electric machine during the transient starting phase being configured so that the electric machine is stopped as soon as the control determines that the torque produced by the electric machine is tending toward zero torque.

In the known way, vehicles referred to as hybrid comprise a hybrid drive system having a combustion (heat) engine and an electric machine. In this context, those skilled in the art are well aware that controlling the transient phase, as the combustion engine takes over from the electric machine to drive the drive shaft, upon start-up of such a hybrid drive system, is somewhat tricky.
There are two techniques conventionally used for starting the combustion engine. The first known technique, which is the more widespread, uses a "traditional" starter; in this case the drive shaft is driven by a toothed wheel, via the crankshaft, in order to allow the combustion engine to start. The second technique uses an alternator-starter. In this case, the electric machine drives a belt system engaging with a set of pulleys to turn the drive shaft and start the combustion engine. The operation of the electric machine in the context of the electric starting of the combustion engine of a hybrid drive system is overseen by an electronic control unit or ECU, the English acronym ECU being well known to those skilled in the art. The overseeing of the start by the ECU also involves a dimension whereby the combustion engine injection device is controlled.
Furthermore, as is known, there are numerous configurations of hybrid engine, it notably being possible for the electric machine to be positioned in different locations within the drivetrain.

Method for managing a transient phase of the starting of a heat engine by an electric motor


A method for selecting a subscription to receive cell broadcast service (CBS) messages for a multi-subscriber identity module (SIM) mobile communication device may include: camping on a first communication network with a first subscription; camping on a second communication network with a second subscription; determining whether system information blocks (SIBs) received on the first subscription and the second subscription contain information elements including one or more parameters that define a broadcast multicast control (BMC) scheduling message (SM) period; in response to determining that the SIBs received on at least one of the first subscription and the second subscription contain the information elements including the one or more parameters defining the BMC SM period, selecting the one of the first subscription and the second subscription associated with the SIBs containing the information elements to receive the CBS messages.

Mobile communication devices have -discontinuous receive (non- DRX) and DRX modes of reception for over-the-air (OTA) transmission modes of cell broadcast service (CBS) messages for commercial mobile alert system/earthquake tsunami warning system (C,MAS/ETWS) in wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) communication networks. When a subscription reselects or camps on a cell, in non-DRX mode the subscription continuously decodes all common traffic channel (CTCH) occasions until a broadcast multicast control (BMC) scheduling message (SM) is read. Subsequently, the subscription wakes up at specific occasions to read required CBS messages based on scheduling pattern learned from the SM. In a WCDMA+WCDMA dual subscriber identity module (SIM), dual standby (DSDS) mobile communication device. CBS message reception is supported only by a single subscription. Supporting CBS message reception by only a single subscription litigates degradation in throughput of a subscription on a packet switched (PS) call and reduces battery discharge observed when both subscriptions support CBS messages.

Dynamic subscription selection for energy efficient commercial mobile alert system/earthquake tsunami warning system (CMAS/ETWS) reception


A method for dry-cleaning articles such as fabrics and clothing in carbon dioxide comprises contacting an article to be cleaned with a liquid dry cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the fabric. The liquid dry-cleaning composition comprises a mixture of carbon dioxide, water, a surfactant, and an organic co-solvent. After the contacting step, the article is separated from the liquid dry cleaning composition. The method is preferably carried out at ambient temperature. The surfactant may be either one that contains a CO.sub.2 -philic group or one that does not contain a CO.sub.2 -philic group. The organic co-solvent is preferably an alkane that has a flash point above 140.degree. F.

Commercial dry cleaning systems currently employ potentially toxic and environmentally harmful halocarbon solvents, such as perchloroethylene. Carbon dioxide has been proposed as an alternative to such systems in U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,194 to Maffei. A problem with carbon dioxide is, however, its lower solvent power relative to ordinary solvents.
PCT Application WO96/27704 (12 Sep. 1996) by Unilever, describes dry cleaning systems using densified carbon dioxide and special surfactant adjuncts. The term "densified carbon dioxide" means "carbon dioxide in a gas form which is placed under pressures exceeding about 700 psi at about 20.degree. C." (pg. 5, lines 1-3). The surfactants employed have a supercritical fluid CO.sub.2 -philic moiety connected to a supercritical fluid CO.sub.2 -phobic moiety (pg 3, lines 30-32). In the method and apparatus described, a vertical rotating drum 5 (FIG. 1) containing soiled fabrics, surfactants, modifier, enzyme, peracid and mixtures thereof is charged with densified CO.sub.2 fluid at a pressure ranging between 700 and 10,000 psi. The CO.sub.2 is then heated to its supercritical range of about 20.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. by a heat exchanger 4 (pg. 36 line 26 to pg. 37 line 8) and the cleaning cycle initiated. Other densified molecules that have supercritical properties, ranging from methane and ethane through n-heptane to sulfur hexafluoride and nitrous oxide, are noted that may also be employed in the described process, alone or in mixture with CO.sub.2 (pg. 6 lines 25-35).
A problem with the Unilever dry-cleaning technique is that supercritical CO.sub.2 is extremely damaging to some fabrics and buttons used in clothing. In addition, the need for a heater makes the process more energy intensive and expensive, and the need for a container that can hold CO.sub.2 at supercritical temperatures and pressures makes it difficult or impossible to practice the process on conventional dry-cleaning apparatus. Further, because the CO.sub.2 is supercritical, there is no phase boundary in the rotating drum, such as the liquid-vapor boundary found in most traditional dry cleaning process. The presence of the phase boundary in the rotating drum (particularly in horizontal rotating drums) exerts a physical scrubbing and penetrating action on the garments that enhances the cleaning thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,705 to Smith et al. describes a precision cleaning system in which a work piece is cleaned with a mixture of CO.sub.2 and a co-solvent. Smith provides an entirely non-aqueous system, stating: "The system is also designed to replace aqueous or semi-aqueous based cleaning processes to eliminate the problems of moisture damage to parts and water disposal" (col. 4 line 68 to col. 5 line 3). Co-solvents that are listed include acetone and ISOPAR.TM. (col. 8, lines 19-24). Use in dry cleaning is neither suggested nor disclosed. Indeed, since some water must be present in dry-cleaning, such use is contrary to this system.
In view of the foregoing, there is a continuing need for effective carbon dioxide-based dry cleaning systems.


An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a multifamily dwelling which may include: at least one building, which may include: a townhouse façade on at least a front of the building; at least three dwelling units in the building, each of the at least three dwelling units may include: an individual garage, and a non-shared, individual entry between each individual garage and an associated dwelling unit.

1. Field
This application relates generally to buildings and more particularly to residential multi-family dwelling unit buildings.
2. Related Background
Various conventional residential dwelling unit types exist including, e.g., but not limited to, apartments, flats, condominiums, townhouses, duplexes and single family houses. As cities grow, there is a need for increased dwelling unit densities that overcome shortcomings of conventional dwelling units.

Multi-family, multi-unit building with townhouse facade having individual garages and entries


A reconfigurable truck bed has a plurality of receivers. A variety of accessories have structure that mates with the receivers in order to support the accessories on the truck bed. The accessories may be selectively positioned in a particular receiver or set of receivers. The accessories may also be conveniently oriented or reoriented for a particular circumstance or use. As such, the truck bed may be selectively reconfigured to meet the needs of a user and provide a particular benefit. In another aspect, a body structure or a chassis structure of any motor vehicle may be provided with receivers. Frames providing the receivers may be added onto bodies or chassis of any motor vehicle.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates generally to motor vehicles bodies and more specifically to reconfigurable truck beds.
2. State of the Art
Pickup trucks have longitudinally vertical stake holes opening through upper edges of the side walls of the truck beds. Flatbed trucks have similar stake holes in the upper surface of the bed for forming stake bed trucks. These trucks of the past can be reconfigured to include livestock guards around peripheries of the truck beds.
Other accessories applied to motor vehicles include bike racks, sports equipment racks, and luggage carriers. These accessories are typically mounted on bumpers, originally provided luggage racks, and vehicle rain gutters.

Reconfigurable truck bed or vehicle body


An in-ear stabilizer with a compression strut securely holds an in-ear communications device within the human ear. The in-ear stabilizer comprises an in-ear device housing which fits into the human ear and has a receiver and speaker. Attached to the in-ear device housing is a compression strut which extends, when in the human ear, across the crus of helix and fits securely under the antihelix in the upper concha of the ear. The housing of the in-ear device fits into the lower concha of the human ear. The compression strut exerts outward pressure when compressed, comfortably holding the in-ear device in place through pressure on the lower and upper concha of the human ear.

A typical concha-style earphone or headset positions an ear piece or receiver in the lower concha (cavum) adjacent to the ear canal and between the tragus and anti-tragus of the ear. The abutment of the receiver against the tragus, anti-tragus, and auditory tract provides modest stability for the earphone. However, different ear sizes and shapes prevent a one-size-fits-all approach, and users often struggle with the instability and uncomforting feeling of these devices because they do not adapt to fit all users. In response to such instability, several devices have been designed to hold a headset or earphone in place. For example, on-the-ear headsets have a plastic or wire loop that fits around the ear allowing the headset to hang in place. In-the-ear designs generally fit within the lower concha, and have various stabilization techniques. These current designs continue to have stability, user-adaptation and comfort issues, however.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an in-ear stabilizer with a compression strut that securely holds an in-ear device within the human ear and that is adaptable to different ear sizes.

In ear communications device and stabilizer


A single-bearing fan structure includes a fan frame having a bearing cup with a bearing received therein, the bearing cup having a radially inward protruded lip portion formed at a first end to abut on a top of the bearing, and a groove internally formed at a second end; a blade hub having a rotary shaft fixedly connected thereto with a distal end of the rotary shaft inserted into the bearing; a retainer engaged with the groove; a first elastic element fitted around the rotary shaft and located between the blade hub and the bearing; and a second elastic element received in the bearing cup and located between the bearing and the retainer. The first and second elastic elements and the bearing respectively axially and radially support the blade hub, enabling the fan structure to operate stably and have extended service life.

Following the developments in different technological fields, more and more finely designed and high-power products have been introduced into the market. However, the high-power products would inevitably produce high temperature during the operation thereof to endanger the products. The electronic elements in the products might become burned-out to cause failed products or even more serious problems. Therefore, most of the precision products are provided with a cooling fan to force away the heat produced by the products during the operation thereof.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are exploded and assembled sectional views, respectively, of a conventional dual-bearing fan structure. As shown, the dual-bearing fan structure includes a fan frame 10 and a blade hub 11. The fan frame 10 is provided at a central portion with a base 101, which has an open end 102 and a closed end 103. A first bearing 12, a second bearing 13, and a spring element 14 are received in the base 101. A radially inward annular protrusion 104 is formed in the base 101, so that the first and the second bearing 12, 13 are separately located at two axially opposite sides of the annular protrusion 104.
The blade hub 11 has a rotary shaft 110, which has a proximal end embedded in the blade hub 11 and a distal end extended into the base 101 through the spring element 14 and the first and second bearing 12, 13 to project from the second bearing 13 into the closed end of the base 101. A stop ring 15 is connected to the distal end of the rotary shaft 110 in the closed end of the base 101, 50 as to hold the second bearing 13 in place in the base 101. The spring element 14 is put around the rotary shaft 110 and located above the first bearing 12 in the open end 102 of the base 101, such that two ends of the spring element 14 are tightly pressed against the blade hub 11 and the first bearing 12. When the dual-bearing fan operates, the first and the second bearing 12, 13 together radially support the blade hub 11 for the same to rotate, so that blades on blade hub 11 of the dual-bearing fan structure can be rotated rapidly.
The base 101 of the fan frame 10 is formed by injection molding. On injection molding, it is difficult to control the concentricity of the spaces in the base 101 at two axially opposite sides of the annular protrusion 104 for separately holding the first and the second bearing 12, 13. Therefore, when assembling the rotary shaft 110 of the blade hub 11 to the first and the second bearing 12, 13, it is uneasy to control the concentricity between the first and the second bearing 12, 13 and the perpendicularity of the inner bore of the base 101. As a result, when the fan structure operates, abnormal wearing tends to occur on the rotary shaft 110 and the first and second bearings 12, 13, which will produce noise and shorten the service life of the fan.
By providing two bearings to enable the fan structure to operation, the manufacturing cost of the fan will correspondingly increase. Moreover, for a super slim-type fan, there would not be sufficient space for two ball bearings. Therefore, the normal bearings must be replaced by ball bearings with smaller size to also increase the manufacturing cost of the fan.
In brief, the conventional dual-bearing fan structure has the following disadvantages: (1) increased manufacturing cost; (2) uneasy to control the concentricity between the two bearings when assembling the fan structure; (3) producing noise during operation; and (4) shortened service life.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop an improved single-bearing fan structure to overcome the problems in the conventional dual-bearing fan structure.

Asia Vital Components ( Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.


An integrated circuit built-in type power delay circuit which is capable of supplying a stable supply power to each circuit of the integrated circuit by generating a supply power control signal voltage after a predetermined time. The circuit includes a receiving unit for receiving a supply voltage VDD and charging the same, a supplying unit for supplying a current, an inverting unit for inverting an output value from the charging unit, a switching unit controlled in accordance with an output value from the inverting unit for switching an output from the current supply unit, a current regenerating unit for receiving a control of the switching unit and discharging an output value from the charging unit, an electric potential value conversion unit controlled by an output value from the inverting unit for converting an output value from the charging unit into a low level, and a buffering unit for receiving an output value from the inverting unit for buffering the output value and outputting a non-inverted signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit built-in type supply power (power-on) delay circuit, and in particular, to an improved integrated circuit built-in type supply power delay circuit which is capable of supplying a stable power by implementing a regeneration operation based on a delay and negative feedback by a current discharging in a capacitance or MOS capacitance.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Conventionally, the integrated circuit built-in type power supply (power-on) delay circuit is a circuit for delaying a power supply for a predetermined time when an unstable power is supplied to the circuit, and then supplying a stable electric power to each element of the circuit.
In particular, a bias circuit which generates an accurate reference voltage and current and a power supply-sensitive circuit need a stable electric power supply. Generally, since the power supply greatly affects the stability of the entire circuit, much study has been intensively performed on the method of stabilizing the supply power.
As one of the conventional methods, there is a method of using a control logic such as a flip-flop for charging/discharging a capacitor in a supply power reset circuit and checking the operational state by using a comparator. In addition, there is a sequence power delay circuit which includes a complicated time delay rectifier and a relay unit with respect to an alternating current (AC).
However, the conventional supply power delay circuit has a complicated construction, and when additional devices are used in an electronic system, the supply power delay circuit is disposed in an integrated circuit, for thus complicating the configuration of the circuit.

Integrated circuit built-in type supply power delay circuit

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute