A laptop computer with an alarm function using an LCD on/off switch includes: a microcomputer both for controlling the LCD back-light section on/off operation in response to the on/off state of an LCD on/off switch and for generating an interrupt signal; an alarm processor for determining whether or not the interrupt signal is a burglar alarm signal and outputs an alarm in case of a robbery; and a password determining section for comparing a password entered by a user with a previously set password and interrupting the generation of an alarm only when both passwords are identical. A burglar alarm is sounded when an interrupt occurs so when to indicate a robbery as the LCD on/off switch is turned on against a user's will during the operation of the computer. Also, it can interrupt the alarm by a user inputting a correct password during the generation of the alarm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laptop computer with an anti-theft alarm function, and more particularly, to a laptop computer capable of generating an anti-theft alarm in accordance with a switching signal occurring upon a liquid crystal display (LCD) on/off switch being operated by an unauthorized user and a method of controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a typical laptop computer has several kinds of functions, such as the turning on/off of an LCD back-light section, a password procedure and a locking/unlocking mode.
A laptop computer is known to be provided with an LCD on/off switch and a keyboard, and LCD cover having an LCD screen, and a main computer body having a front panel for pivotally mounting the keyboard. Such a computer further includes an LCD on/off switch installed on the front panel of the body and capable of turning the LCD screen on or off and a switch compressing projection installed on the LCD cover and capable of pushing down on the LCD on/off switch when the LCD cover is pivotally folded over the upper panel of the main computer body.
If such a laptop computer is not supplied with an externally supplied power source, it may be operated with an internal battery until the internal battery is completely discharged. It is well known in the art that a back-light section of the LCD screen consumes more power than any of the other components of the computer. For this reason, most laptop computers are provided with a power saving circuit to prevent an excessive power consumption during the operation thereof. The power saving circuit allows for the interruption of the supply of power from the battery to the backlight section of the LCD screen when the computer is not in use for a predetermined time, such as, when there is no data provided from the keyboard or a mouse or when the LCD cover is pivotally folded over the main computer body, that is, the LCD on/off switch is pushed down by the switch compressing projection.
In the latter case, battery power can be saved by switching off the back-light section of the LCD screen.
When the switch on the computer is switched off to turn the LCD back/light section off when the LCD cover is pivotally folded over the main computer body, a microcomputer contained within the laptop computer receives data from the keyboard and/or a switching on/off signal from the switch to generate a control signal. A controller for turning the LCD back/light section of the LCD cover on and off in response to the control signal from the microcomputer and a power supply controller for supplying power to the main computer body and the LCD screen and for changing from a previous power mode to a power saving mode in response to the control signal from the microcomputer are also contained within the laptop computer. If the LCD on/off switch is pushed down during the operation of the computer, the microcomputer provides the control signal to the controller to turn the LCD back-light section off. Then, the power supply controller controls the power to the computer and effects a power saving mode in response to the control signal.
The above noted computer may have a password identification function for identifying a previously set password by a user every time it is reset and restarted. This password identification function is provided in the computer to prevent any other person from changing the computer environment which has been previously set by a user. If a password entered by a user is not identical with the previously set password, the laptop computer with the above noted password identification function can not be operated by the unauthorized user. This function may also be performed only in case of a cold booting operation or a warm booting operation. Thus, by such a password identification function, other unauthorized users can not use the computer.
Even when an unauthorized user operates the computer for the purpose of altering the user environment thereof including the previously set password during an authorized user's absence, the computer requires the input of a previously set password at the beginning of the operation thereof. Thus, if a password which is the same as the previously set password is not entered, the computer can not be used by the unauthorized user. The authorized user can, however, enable or disable the password identification function of the computer, and change the password, if necessary.
In addition, the laptop computer further includes an anti-theft function, which is composed of a mechanical and physical locking system therein.
Since the above described functions are independently performed in the computer, the abovenoted computer has some problems in that it can not be prevented from being moved against the user's will and in that it's functions can not be performed simultaneously with one another.
The following patents each disclose features in common with the present invention but do not teach or suggest the specific combination of a laptop computer in which an alarm is sounded when the computer is opened or closed, thereby turning on or off its liquid crystal display, the alarm being turned off by the entry of the proper password on the keyboard of the computer as in the present invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,299 to Pattern el al., entitled Showcase Alarm System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,991 to Scholder, entitled Security System And Method For A Portable Personal Computer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,706 to Nose, entitled Transaction Processing Apparatus With A Monitor System For Monitoring Drawer Opening And Closing Conditions, U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,249 to McClung et aL, entitled Method And Apparatus For Controlled Access To A Computer System, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,566 to Duwel et al, entitled Electronic Postage Meter Having Check Date Warning With Control For Overriding The Check Date Warning.

Laptop computer with an anti-theft alarm function and a method of controlling the same


The notion of a “PTP aware” path is one current proposed approach to reduce asymmetry effects. In a fully PTP aware path there is the notion of on-path support mechanisms such as boundary clocks and transparent clocks at every switching or routing node. However, on-path support methods only address time-transfer errors introduced inside network elements and any asymmetry in the transmission medium, such as, for example, the fiber strands for the two directions of transmission, cannot be compensated for by on-path support mechanisms. Furthermore, in a real operational network, which may traverse different operational domains administered by different entities, full on-path support is a difficult challenge. In certain managed network scenarios full on-path support can be contemplated. Nevertheless, the universal asymmetry compensation method described herein mitigates the asymmetry in a network path, without requiring on-path support mechanisms such as transparent clocks and boundary clocks.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to time and frequency alignment systems operating over communications networks and, more specifically, to methods and apparatus for precision time transfer wherein the inherent asymmetry error introduced in networks is estimated and compensated for.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been recognized that synchronizing network elements in communications networks to a high level of precision enables the provision of advanced services. In fact, time and frequency alignment are essential to certain types of systems. For example, accurate time alignment is required by cellular networks, services carried out in real time over a network, and network elements that use packet-based signal formats for multiplexing, transmission, and switching. Similarly, frequency alignment is required in time-division multiplexing (TDM) and media streaming systems that require fixed video or audio sample rates across multiple clients. Modern mobility services are demanding more and more bandwidth and lower and lower latency, placing increasing demands for tight time coordination in the wireless transport (radio access networks). Another example is the demand for much higher time coordination of transactions in high speed financial trading. To gain some perspective into the increasing demand on precision, whereas legacy time distribution targets at the more stringent end are of the order of sub-milliseconds, emerging application and services targets are now of the order of sub-microseconds.
The distribution of time over packet networks is now ubiquitous. The dominant method is the use of the Network Timing Protocol (NTP) for support of general timing applications in general computing applications. However, these implementations, based on existing standards and conventions are suitable for time alignments of the order of (several) milliseconds. Over the last decade, a new protocol, Precision Timing Protocol (PTP) has emerged supported by industry standards (IEEE 1588v2, ITU G.827x series). The key differentiator between NTP and PTP is that the new levels of precision that can be obtained with PTP will support the needs of a variety of new applications and services. Both PTP and NTP are protocols for exchanging time-stamps associated with time-of-arrival and time-of-departure of designated packets and are thus, in principle if not practice, capable of similar performance levels.
In both cases the single, dominant, source of time error, error that cannot be corrected by the protocol, is asymmetry. Asymmetry as considered here is the difference in transit delay of the designated event packets in the two directions between the communicating clocks. Whereas packet delay variation is an expected phenomenon in packet networks and does contribute to asymmetry, there is an underlying asymmetry component that is entirely independent of the network loading and depends substantively only on the path between the clocks. The path, as considered here, includes all transmission links, including multiplexers and signal-format converters and transmission media, and intermediate network elements, such as switches and routers, between the communicating clocks.
One approach known in the art that provides both time and frequency alignment involves computing an aligned time signal based on a master timing signal from a primary reference clock, such as a global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) satellite timing signal, which is held in precise alignment with a global clock reference. The most common GNSS in use is the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. This is depicted in FIG. 1. The two clocks, CLOCK-1 110 and CLOCK-2 120 both receive timing signals 130 from the GNSS system 150. By aligning themselves to the GNSS timescale, the two clocks are, albeit indirectly, aligned to each other. Using GPS signals or other master timing signals at each network element to achieve time or frequency alignment requires each network element to be able to receive satellite time signals from GPS satellites. There are many situations where visibility of GPS satellites may be compromised, interfered with, or interrupted. It is generally accepted that whereas GPS is a reliable and robust system, in many installations the visibility of a sufficient number of satellites simultaneously may not be available continuously.
Packet-based schemes such as PTP and NTP are discussed next. One of the principal drawbacks of such schemes for transferring time is the potential asymmetry of the transit delay between the two clocks. Such asymmetry cannot be determined or estimated using PTP/NTP itself. The negative impact of such network impairments can be mitigated by combining PTP/NTP packet-based methods with other, complementary, GNSS-based schemes (e.g. GPS).
Packet-based network synchronization methods such as Precision Time Protocol (PTP) and Network Time Protocol (NTP) transfer time and frequency references using packets containing time stamps that identify the times of departure/arrival of packets. These protocols can be used to distribute timing and frequency alignment throughout a network in a point-to-point fashion similar to the way that TDM networks distribute frequency alignment, as described above. For specificity the discussion here considers PTP though essentially identical statements apply in the case of NTP and all other packet-based time transfer methods.
A PTP "grandmaster" can transfer time to a network element coupled to it, a "slave" instantiated on that network element can reconstitute the time, and then a "master" connected to the slave in the same network element can transfer time to a subsequent network element in this point-by-point fashion. PTP and NTP can also operate in a mode where the "slave" clock in a network element can communicate directly with the "master" clock system for timing purposes. In all cases, the accuracy of two-way time-transfer protocols is adversely affected by asymmetry introduced by the communications network connecting the two network elements, including asymmetry in the physical medium, asymmetry in the construction of the forward and reverse paths in the network elements, and other sources. PTP and NTP assume that transit delays between master and slave clocks are symmetric, i.e., the transfer packet delay from a master clock to a slave clock is equal to the transfer packet delay from the slave clock to the master clock. But because forward and reverse physical paths are often different in coupled network elements, they are typically not symmetric. The goal of packet-based methods is to establish the "offset from master" (OFM) of the slave. That is, if we denote the master time by TM and the slave time by TS, then the goal is to establish ε where TS=TM+ε.
The premise of time-stamped packet exchange as used in PTP (and NTP as well) is illustrated in FIG. 2 (prior art). Traditional packet-based two-way time transfer methods follow the event diagram shown in FIG. 2. The terminology used here is that from PTP but the same principles apply to all methods and protocols. Referring to FIG. 2, the sequence of events and important items of information associated with an exchange of packets between master 210 and slave 220 are:
Event A 230: Packet is transmitted by Master and time-of-departure is t1.
Event B 232: Packet arrives at Slave that measures the time-of-arrival as τ2; assuming that the slave time offset from master is ε, the actual time-of-arrival with respect to the master timescale is t2=τ2−ε.
Event C 234: Packet is transmitted by Slave that notes the time-of-departure is τ3; assuming that the slave time offset from master is ε, the actual time-of-departure with respect to the master timescale is t3=τ3−ε.
Event D 236: Packet arrives at Master that measures time-of-arrival as t4.
Such a two-way exchange of packets can provide information suitable for allowing the slave to align in time with the master (assuming that both sides have knowledge of the time-stamps). There are four measured values that can be communicated between the Master and Slave, namely, (t1, τ2, τ3, t4). Denoting by ΔMS and ΔSM the transit delays between the Master and Slave and vice versa, the following equations can be established:t4=τ3−ε+ΔSM (from an S-to-M packet)t1=τ2−ε−ΔMS (from a M-to-S packet)  (Eq. 1)
The round-trip delay, RTD, is estimated simply as:RTD=(t4−τ3)+(τ2−t1)  (Eq. 2)
The two quantities in parentheses in the right-hand side of (Eq. 2) comprise the reverse and forward offset measurements, respectively.
Note that there are two equations with three unknowns (ε, ΔMS, ΔSM) so it is common in conventional PTP methods to assume reciprocity of transit delay between the two devices, thereby reducing the number of unknowns to 2 and therefore computing ε, the slave time offset from master. This assumption implies that there is an inherent error in the time transfer that is related to the asymmetry of the transit delay in the two directions. Specifically, the error in time transfer will have an error that is nominally
                              ɛ          A                =                                            Δ              MS                        -                          Δ              SM                                2                                    (                  Eq          .                                                    3                )            The asymmetry in transit delay of timing packets between slave and master provides a statistical bound to the accuracy of time transfer that can be guaranteed. For example, packet-based methods like PTP and NTP use separate fiber strands or fiber wavelengths for carrying the signal in the two directions (S-to-M and M-to-S). Consequently the difference in the length of the fiber strands in each direction introduces an asymmetry in transit delay. Since the velocity of light in the fiber is wavelength dependent, using different wavelengths in the two directions introduces an asymmetry in transit delay. These are in addition to asymmetry that may result from the behavior of intervening network elements. The example of fiber transport just cited is one of a number of different transport options supported the effective physical layer of the protocol stack. The network path may be over any network transport including a variety of physical layers transports including but not limited to:                1. Native Physical Layer Ethernet        2. SONET/SDH (Synchronous Optical Network)        3. Optical Transport Network (OTN)        4. Microwave radio        5. Millimeter wave radio        6. Non-Line-of-Sight Radio        7. xPON (different flavors of Passive Optical Networking)        8. DOCSIS (standard applicable to transmission over cable-TV networks)        9. Infiniband (standard for intra-computer-system communication)
The transport technology introduces some transit delay impairment in the form of delay variation. In addition, since the transmission path is distinct in the two directions, transit delay asymmetry can be introduced. Prior art methods for addressing the asymmetry include calibration of the transit delays in the two directions. The calibration step is generally performed when there is no information traffic such as during the equipment deployment phase or during intervals where the network is taken out of service for maintenance purposes or if the transmission medium is dedicated to timing with no information traffic present. Other methods in the prior art include the use of burst transmission employing the same link in the two directions as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,594,134, entitled "Precision Time Transfer over Optical Fiber," and the use of multiple wavelengths as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,600,239, entitled "Precise Clock Synchronization over Optical Fiber."
The asymmetry introduced by the transport layer is depicted in FIG. 3. For simplicity, the asymmetry is shown with delay greater in the reverse path (from slave to master).
Thus, the ability of PTP and NTP to accurately transfer time between network elements in a packet network is limited. Specifically, the asymmetry in transit delay of timing packets between slave and master clocks provides a bound to the accuracy of time transfer.

Universal asymmetry compensation for packet timing protocols

Microsemi Frequency and Time Corporation


A vehicle mirror assembly includes a vehicle attachment member, a mirror housing, a mirror and a camera. The vehicle attachment member is configured for attachment to a vehicle. The mirror housing is telescopically coupled to the vehicle attachment member between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the vehicle attachment member. The mirror housing defines a camera receiving recess. The mirror is coupled to the mirror housing. The camera is coupled to the vehicle attachment member and disposed in the camera receiving recess of the mirror housing at a fixed position relative to the vehicle attachment member while the mirror housing is moved between the extended position and the retracted position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle mirror assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle mirror assembly that includes a vehicle attachment member, a mirror housing and a camera within the mirror housing but being fixed in position relative to the vehicle attachment member, and the mirror housing is configured to undergo telescopic movement relative to the vehicle attachment member.
2. Background Information
All vehicles typically include at least one mirror assembly that is mounted to a door of the vehicle. The mirror assembly is positioned such that a vehicle operator can look in the mirror and see areas at the side of the vehicle behind the vehicle operator and observe areas behind the vehicle. Recently, the mirror assembly has been modified to include features like telescopic movement and pivoting movement (aka folding movement). The telescopic movement includes the mirror housing being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, where in the extended position, the mirror itself is positioned laterally further away from the side of the vehicle than in the retracted position. The telescopic movement is advantageous when the vehicle is pulling, for example, a trailer. The lateral telescopic movement away from the vehicle provides the vehicle operator with an increased field of view through the mirror of the mirror assembly. The pivoting movement of the mirror assembly allows the mirror assembly to be moved to a folded position where the mirror is pivoted to face the vehicle door. In the folded position, the mirror assembly does not extend much beyond the side of the vehicle, making it easier to move around the side of the vehicle when parked in cramped spaces.


An audio/visual (AV) content providing system is disclosed. The AV content providing system provides AV contents to audiences who exist in a closed space. The AV content providing system has an audio information obtainment section, an AV content database, an attribute index, a selection section. The audience information obtainment section obtains information that represents audiences who exist in the closed space and information that represents the relationships of the audiences. The AV content database contains one or a plurality of AV contents. The attribute index is correlated with an AV content contained in the AV content database and that describes attributes of the AV content. The selection section collates the information that represents the audiences and the information that represents the relationships of the audiences, and the attribute index and selects an AV content that is provided to the audiences from the AV content database according to the collated result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an audio/visual content providing system and an audio/visual content providing method that allow audio/visual contents suitable for audiences to be automatically selected and provided to them.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since a long time ago, it has been known that beautiful scene and music allow humans to calm down their soul and encourage them. To use these characteristics, background music (BGM) systems have been installed in work places and stores to improve work efficiency and consumer interest. In hotels, restaurants, and so forth, services that use audio/visual (AV) devices that create atmospheres that fit them have been provided.
In the past, the user needed to select for example music genre or song title of an AV content that an AV device or the like reproduces. The larger the number of music contents becomes, the more troublesome the selection operation becomes. As a method of solving such a problem, patent document 1 describes a technology of defining various attributes, collating favorites of the user with his or her watching/listening history, and providing him or her with his or her favorite AV contents.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-259318
In addition, patent document 2 describes a technology of determining the number of attendees of for example a meeting where a plurality of people exist in the same space, estimating the state of the meeting according to the sound level thereof, and controlling the sound level of the BGM.
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 4-268603

Audio/visual content providing system and audio/visual content providing method


A grating driving circuit, including: a grating including a plurality of grating elements, each having an on/off state controlled by a grating driving signal; a viewpoint tracker for determining a viewing distance of a viewer; a plurality of grating control electrodes with each configured to control the on/off state of a corresponding grating element in the grating according to a grating driving signal; a grating driving signal generator for generating a plurality of sets of grating driving signals with each set corresponding to a viewing distance and including a plurality of grating driving signals; and a grating driving controller for determining a set of grating driving signals corresponding to the viewing distance, and forming grating periods corresponding to the viewing distance, each grating period including a plurality of grating control electrodes that correspond to the plurality of grating driving signals in a one-to-one relationship.

With the development of scientific technologies and the improvement of life quality, people are no longer satisfied with the traditional two-dimensional image display, and stereoscopic display technology has become an astonishing technical field. In a stereoscopic display technology, users need to view stereoscopic images with the aid of an external auxiliary tool, such as polarizing glasses, complementary color glasses, LCD glasses, which is subject to great limitations and is not convenient for users.
In addition, there is also a stereoscopic display technology which is a naked-eye 3D (three-dimensional) display technology. Naked-eye 3D display technology is developed on the basis of binocular disparity and mainly comprises grating stereoscopic display technology. Because a grating has a light dispersing effect, it has an effect of separating images when being applied to a display. In recent years, naked-eye 3D display technology has developed rapidly. Grating naked-eye 3D technology is now an important direction of naked-eye 3D technology due to its simple manufacturing process and better 3D effect. As for a liquid crystal grating, there is an optimal viewing distance, and there is a liquid crystal grating period corresponding to the optimal viewing distance. At the optimal viewing distance, a left eye and a right eye may see a corresponding left eye view and a corresponding right eye view respectively with less crosstalk and an optimum 3D effect.

Grating driving circuit, driving method and naked-eye 3D display


A security system in a vehicle extends its protection to installed equipment of the vehicle, such as audio components, navigation systems, and entertainment systems. The installed equipment is armed and disarmed by the security system, preventing the equipment from normal functioning after unauthorized removal. The security system further enables programming, monitoring, and diagnosing of the installed equipment through the security system's remote control, through a configuration and maintenance tool that connects to the security system, or through other items of installed equipment within the vehicle, such as a rear-seat entertainment system.

A modern automobile is a technological marvel of substantial economic value. Often, it is protected by a security system designed to prevent theft and vandalism. The security system is just one of the optional equipment items present in a typical automobile or another vehicle. There are many others, for example, high-performance stereo sound reproduction systems, rear-seat entertainment systems, and navigation systems. These systems and similar entertainment, safety, and convenience items typically installed in cars and other vehicles ("installed equipment" or "installed components" hereinafter) can account for a considerable part of the total value of the vehicle. Left in the vehicle, the installed equipment is subject not only to the danger of being stolen together with the vehicle, but also to its own vagaries: for example, the installed equipment can be stolen from the vehicle, or the equipment can be abused while the vehicle is entrusted to a third party, such as a mechanic or a parking attendant.
Consider, for example, a high-power audio amplifier. Its cost can be in many hundreds or thousands of dollars, and much effort can be spent on its installation. Obviously, it presents a tempting target to a potential thief. Furthermore, the power produced by the amplifier can damage the loudspeakers of the vehicle under some circumstances. The vehicle's owner may not want to allow access to the amplifier and to the rest of the sound reproduction system when leaving the vehicle with a parking attendant or an auto mechanic. For these and other reasons, some amplifiers have a mode in which they are non-functional. When locked in this mode, the amplifier cannot be used in the vehicle where it was originally installed or in another environment, without a key used to unlock it. Unfortunately, inserting and removing a physical key, such as a key that includes an electronic memory with burned-in code, is inconvenient because the amplifier is likely to be located in a trunk or another location that is not conveniently accessible. A need thus exists for a convenient method and apparatus to lock and unlock installed equipment electronically.
Moreover, the installed equipment may need to be configured, periodically monitored, and diagnosed. The stereo amplifier discussed above, for example, can be a rather sophisticated piece of audio equipment with programmable configuration and diagnostic features. One example of such features is the availability of programmable gain adjustment and gain adjustment lockout mechanisms. Another example is the programmability of turn-on delay. Yet another example is the availability of self-diagnostic information stored within the amplifier. Typically, access to such configuration and diagnostic features requires specialized equipment used by dealers and installers of electronic equipment. It would be desirable to provide at least limited access to these features to the end-user, and to dealers and installers without the specialized equipment. A need thus exists for a method and apparatus that would allow convenient access to configuration and diagnostic features of the installed equipment.

Security and remote access for vehicular entertainment, safety, and convenience systems


The present invention includes phase shifters, interrogators, methods of shifting a phase angle of a signal, and methods of operating an interrogator. One aspect of the present invention provides a phase shifter including a first power divider configured to receive a signal and provide plural quadrature components of the signal; plural mixers coupled with the first power divider and configured to scale the quadrature components using a phase shift angle; and a second power divider coupled with the mixers and configured to combine the scaled quadrature components to shift the phase angle of the input signal by the phase shift angle.

Electronic identification devices, such as radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs), are known in the art. Such devices are typically used for inventory tracking. As large numbers of objects are moved in inventory, product manufacturing, and merchandising operations, there is a continuous challenge to accurately monitor the location and flow of objects. Additionally, there is a continuing goal to determine the location of objects in an inexpensive and streamlined manner. One way of tracking objects is with an electronic identification system.
One presently available electronic identification system utilizes a magnetic coupling system. In some cases, an identification device may be provided with a unique identification code in order to distinguish between a number of different devices. Typically, the devices are entirely passive (have no power supply), which results in a small and portable package. However, such identification systems are only capable of operation over a relatively short range, limited by the size of a magnetic field used to supply power to the devices and to communicate with the devices.
Another type of wireless electronic identification system is an active wireless electronic identification system. Attention is directed towards commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/705,043, filed Aug. 29, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference, which describes such active systems in detail. One such system is sold by Micron Communications Inc., 3176 S. Denver Way, Boise, Id. 83705 under the trademark Microstamp Engine (™).
These systems include integrated circuit devices which include an active transponder and are intended to be affixed to an object to be monitored. The devices are capable of receiving and processing instructions transmitted by an interrogator. A device receives the instruction, if within range, then processes the instruction and transmits a response, if appropriate. The interrogation signal and the responsive signal are typically radio-frequency (RF) signals produced by an RF transmitter, circuit.
Because active devices have their own power sources, they do not need to be in close proximity to an interrogator or reader to receive power via magnetic coupling. Therefore, active transponder devices tend to be more suitable for applications requiring tracking of a tagged device that may not be in close proximity to an interrogator. For example, active transponder devices tend to be more suitable for inventory control or tracking.
The active transponder is capable of using backscatter communication techniques in responding to an interrogator. The interrogator outputs a polling signal followed by a continuous wave (CW) signal. The integrated circuit devices are configured to modulate the continuous wave signal in backscatter communication configurations. This modulation typically includes selective reflection of the continuous wave signal. The reflected continuous wave signal includes the reply message from the remote devices which is demodulated by the interrogator.
Certain drawbacks have been identified with the use of backscatter communication techniques. For example, the transmission of the continuous wave signal using the interrogator can desensitize the receiver of the interrogator during reception thereby of reply signals from associated remote devices. In particular, some of the continuous wave signal tends to bleed through to the received reply messages. Such results in degradation of wireless communications.
Systems have been provided which improve wireless communications without the drawbacks associated with conventional devices. Variable phase shifters can be used in such systems. However, conventional variable phase shifters are typically very expensive and typically only lo operate within a certain specified range, (e.g., 0 to 180 degrees).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Interrogators, methods of operating a coherent interrogator, backscatter communication methods, interrogation methods, and signal processing methods


An improved chute for conveying bulk materials from a higher location to a lower location includes a number of frustoconical hoppers, which are held in vertically-spaced relationship with the conical axes of adjacent hoppers inclined in different directions relative to the longitudinal axis (35) of the chute. The chute is much less liable than prior chutes to cause segregation or degradation of the bulk material being conveyed.

The present invention is an improved chute, devised for conveying a bulk material from a higher location to a lower location.
The movement of bulk material, for example ores, sand or bulk foodstuffs, in quantity presents many problems. For example, conventional conveyors may be of limited capacity and may require continuous regular maintenance. Thus in many situations it is preferred to rely upon forced air systems to transfer such bulk materials. However the movement of material by air introduces other problems, not the least of which is that the particles conveyed may become degraded by collision and/or segregated into quantities of different weight or particle size. The generation of quantities of airborne dust is another severe problem; the separation and collection of dust arising in such systems entails the provision of equipment such as cyclones, scrubbers and dust collectors specifically for this purpose.
When it is desired to transfer bulk material of this type from a higher to a lower location, for example in loading bulk ore into the hold of a ship or into a storage silo, even when the transfer is simply by gravity, similar problems arise. If the material is allowed to fall freely over vertical distances, dust generation is substantial. If the material is discharged on to a heap at high velocity, segregation and degradation of the material occurs and dust is generated.
Attempts have been made to reduce these problems by providing loading chutes through which the material is required to flow along a non-linear path between staggered baffles. Such chutes, however, have had only limited success and can readily become damaged and/or blocked in use.


According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for adjusting tiering based on operation types in a multi-tier storage system is provided. The present invention may include retrieving an extent to be managed and operations associated with the extent; analyzing the operations of the extent to determine an IO pattern associated with the extent; receiving a list of storage devices within the multi-tier storage system; querying each storage device of the storage devices for suitable pattern types; selecting, based on the querying and the IO pattern associated with the extent, a suitable storage device; and transferring the extent to the suitable storage device.

The present invention relates, generally, to the field of computing, and more particularly to tiered data storage.
Data storage is the field concerned with efficiently and safely storing and maintaining digital data. Tiered data storage is an increasingly common methodology of data storage where data is stored on various types of storage devices primarily based on criteria of the access, frequency of the use, security and data recovery requirements. For example, data that is frequently accessed by an application that is response time sensitive might be stored on solid state drives. Other data that is infrequently accessed and for which a higher response time is more tolerable might be stored on high capacity 7.2K RPM drives. The cost per gigabyte of storage is much higher for solid state drives (SSDs) than it is for the 7.2K RPM drives. In any multi-tiered storage system, there should be at least two tiers available, where one tier provides fast response time and the other provides relatively slow response times. Since storage with faster response times is usually more expensive than storage with slower response times, faster storage is typically manufactured at a comparatively lower capacity than that of slower storage. Based on the data access frequency, multi-tier algorithms relocate hot data to the upper tier and cold data to the lower tier. Optimizing data access while minimizing wearing of the drives and hewing to use, security and data recovery requirements is a goal of any multi-tiered storage system, and, by extension, the field of tiered data storage.

Drive utilization in multi-tiered systems with read-intensive flash

International Business Machines Corporation


System for cooling a downstream cavity of a centrifugal compressor impeller in a turbomachine, this compressor being connected to a diffuser comprising a downstream annular flange, an annular plating being mounted coaxially around the flange of the diffuser and substantially extending over the entire axial dimension of the flange so as to define an annular ventilation passage fed with air which is cooler than the air exiting the centrifugal compressor.

The present invention relates to a system for cooling a downstream cavity of a centrifugal compressor impeller in a turbomachine such as in particular a turbojet, an airplane turboprop or a gas generator.
The cavity which is formed downstream of the rotor or impeller of a centrifugal compressor in a turbomachine must be ventilated to discharge the thermal energy afforded by the impeller. This ventilation is generally done by bleeding off air at the outlet of the compressor, at the junction with the inlet of an annular diffuser which feeds a combustion chamber.
However, as this ventilation air is bled off at the outlet of the compressor, its temperature is already relatively high. It is further increased by viscous friction on the downstream face of the impeller, so that this face may be raised to a high temperature capable of attaining and exceeding the maximum temperature allowed by the material of the impeller, with a risk of deterioration of the impeller.


Methods and systems for reconstructing a full query based on a partial query are disclosed. Existing interfaces for search engines may be rigid and require users to submit full queries to perform searched. The methods and systems described herein may solve these problems by allowing a flexible way for users to submit a partial query and reconstruct a full query based on the partial query. A search may then be performed using the reconstructed query.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to search engines. In particular, this application relates to a flexible and intuitive system for reconstructing a search query based on a received partial query.
2. Related Art
The transfer of information over computer networks, such as the Internet, has become an increasingly important means by which institutions, corporations, and individuals do business. Computer networks have grown over the years from independent and isolated entities established to serve the needs of a single group into vast internets which interconnect disparate physical networks and allow them to function as a coordinated system. Currently, the largest computer network in existence is the Internet. The Internet is a worldwide interconnection of computer networks that communicate using a common protocol. Millions of computers, from low end personal computers to high end supercomputers, are connected to the Internet.
The availability of powerful new tools that facilitate the development and distribution of Internet content (this includes information of any kind, in any form or format) has led to a proliferation of information, products, and services offered through the Internet and a dramatic growth in both the number and types of consumers using the Internet. To sift through this sea of information, user's typically employ the use of search engines that allow users to submit queries and provide responsive information, such as a list of references, that meet criteria specified in the query.
Additionally, the number of devices capable of accessing the Internet has also dramatically increased. Today, user's may access the Internet using a wide variety of devices, such as personal computers, cell phones, personal digital assistants, and the like which may utilize different networking technologies to connect to the Internet. The portability of the device and/or connection type has become an increasingly important concern for users. However, increased access costs and decreased input capabilities are often associated with portable Internet access. As a result, users are limited in their ability to access the full depth of the Internet. For example, users may not be able to take full advantage of a search engine on a mobile device, such as a cell phone, because the user is unable to enter a search query without substantial effort.

Method and apparatus for reconstructing a search query


Lead terminals of a plurality of motors disposed inside a drive unit casing are lead out through a plurality of elongated through-holes formed in the casing and connected to a plurality of power-supply sheathed wires by connecting terminals. A plurality of elongated concavities is formed adjoining to the corresponding through-holes on the outer surface of the casing. With the connecting terminals connected to the plurality of sheathed wires, the plurality of lead terminals extended from the motor are bent through a nearly right angle at the open ends of the through-holes along the outer surface of the casing and the connecting terminals are forcibly fitted on the side walls of the elongated concavities. Therefore, the electrical connection between the lead terminals extended from the plurality of motors and the plurality of power-supply sheathed wires needs no soldering. The sheathed wires can be very easily connected to the lead terminals of the motors and they can not be easily disconnected from the lead terminals.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mirror drive unit for tilting a mirror pivotably supported in a mirror housing. In particular, it relates to an improved structure for an electrical connection from a battery to a plurality of mirror-tilting motors housed in a power unit fixed in the mirror housing.
b) Statement of Related Art
In an electrically remote-controlled mirror assembly, a pair of motors for driving a mirror about the horizontal and vertical axes, respectively, thereof is housed in a power unit and the mirror is fixed to a mirror holder and tiltably supported on a ball-and-socket joint provided outside the power unit. The power unit supporting the mirror is housed in a mirror housing forming the profile of the remote-controlled mirror assembly. A pair of plungers or threaded rods to tilt the mirror about the horizontal and vertical axes, respectively, is disposed for a reciprocal movement in relation to the power unit. The forward or reverse revolution of each motor is converted into a forward or backward movement of each plunger through a corresponding reduction gear train, whereby the mirror is tilted about the horizontal and vertical axes, respectively, thereof. The pair of motors which drive the mirror is supplied with power from a battery through a control circuit having a control switch. Generally, the motors and control switch are electrically connected to each other through a plurality of sheathed wires extended from the control switch and of which the ends are introduced into the power unit through through-holes formed in the latter and soldered directly to the output terminals of each motor or soldered to the electrically conductive plates connected to the output terminals. This structure of electrical connection is disadvantageous because soldering is required, which adds to the number of assembling steps.
To overcome such disadvantages, a structure of electrical connection using sockets and connectors has been proposed in which a plurality of conductor pieces electrically connected to the terminals of each motor in the power unit is formed integrally with the power unit to form a socket of which the one end is exposed outside the power unit and in which the ends of a plurality of sheathed wires extended from a control circuit are connected to one connector. Such conventional structures of electrical connection are known from the disclosures in the Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 61-204845 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,370. However, this structure of electrical connection is disadvantageous in that the connector is easily disconnectable from the socket and that the freedom in design of the mirror housing in which the power unit is provided is limited since the socket protrudes out of the power unit.


A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a sacrificial conductive material layer. The method also includes forming a trench in the sacrificial conductive material layer. The method further includes forming a conductive feature in the trench. The method additionally includes removing the sacrificial conductive material layer selective to the conductive feature. The method also includes forming an insulating layer around the conductive feature to embed the conductive feature in the insulating layer.

Generally, semiconductor devices include a plurality of circuits which form an integrated circuit fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. A complex network of signal paths will normally be routed to connect the circuit elements distributed on the surface of the substrate. Efficient routing of these signals across the device involves formation of multilevel or multilayered schemes, such as, for example, single or dual damascene wiring structures. The wiring structure typically includes copper (Cu), since Cu based interconnects provide higher speed signal transmission between large numbers of transistors on a complex semiconductor chip as compared with aluminum, e.g., Al-based interconnects.
Within a typical interconnect structure, metal vias run perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate and metal lines run parallel to the semiconductor substrate. Further enhancement of the signal speed and reduction of signals in adjacent metal lines (known as "crosstalk") are achieved in integrated circuit (IC) product chips by embedding the metal lines and metal vias (e.g., conductive features) in a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of less than silicon dioxide.
The damascene processes used in forming interconnect and via structures face challenges as the size of devices and associated interconnects shrinks. In typical formation of an interconnect or via, a seed layer is formed on surfaces of a trench prior to forming the conductive material, e.g., copper, etc., in the trench. However, sufficient seed layer coverage on the patterned dielectric is difficult to achieve with ultra thin seed layers, e.g., seed layers having a thickness less than 2 nm. Moreover, void-free plating is becoming difficult due to poor liner and/or seed coverage, and also due to high aspect ratio (AR) challenges for plating. For example, interconnects and/or vias formed in high AR trenches may detrimentally experience pinch-offs, voids, etc., if the liner is too thick at the top of the trench or via hole.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described hereinabove.

Interconnect structures and methods for back end of the line integration

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A vehicle-mounted internal combustion engine controller is provided that can properly stop an internal combustion engine in accordance with an operational state no matter whether a vehicle body is inclined. The vehicle-mounted internal combustion engine controller comprises an inclination sensor for detecting vehicle body inclination; a mechanism for determining the operational state of a combustion engine; and a controller for stopping the operation of the combustion engine in accordance with a vehicle body inclination and an operational state. The cutoff mechanism stops the operation of the vehicle-mounted internal combustion engine when it is judged that a vehicle body inclination angle α detected by the inclination sensor is greater than a predetermined angle A for a greater or equal period of time as a threshold stop time T1, T2 setting, which varies with the operational state determined by the operational state sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted engine control system and method for an internal combustion engine, in which the system includes a control unit and an inclination sensor for detecting a vehicle body inclination.
2. Description of the Background Art
The applicant of the present invention previously filed an application for a patent, JP-A No. 68062/2002, to disclose a motorcycle-mounted internal combustion engine controller that includes an inclination sensor for detecting a vehicle body inclination.
The controller disclosed in JP-A No. 68062/2002 includes an inclination sensor. A plumb bob is suspended within a case, which is integral with a vehicle body, and allowed to swing from right to left and vice versa. The inclination sensor detects a vehicle body inclination by determining a relative angle that is formed between the plumb bob, which constantly indicates verticality, and the case, which inclines together with the vehicle body. The controller stops the operation of the internal combustion engine when a predetermined period of time is exceeded by the period during which a vehicle body inclination angle detected by the inclination sensor is greater than a predetermined angle.
When, for instance, the vehicle body repeatedly inclines, the plumb bob may temporarily swing from the vertical. Therefore, the inclination sensor may erroneously detect an undue vehicle body inclination that is greater than the actual one. When such erroneous detection of vehicle body inclination occurs, there is no need to stop the internal combustion engine.
The above-mentioned erroneous vehicle body inclination detection is temporary. The internal combustion engine is stopped only when a vehicle body inclination is continuously detected for a certain period of time. Therefore, the internal combustion engine does not stop in the event of an erroneous or short-term temporary vehicle body inclination detection.
Although the known devices have some utility for their intended purposes, a need still exists in the art for a vehicle control system having an improved threshold stop time setting. The threshold stop time setting of the previously known system, which defines the vehicle body inclination period, is constant no matter what operational state the internal combustion engine is in. Therefore, the threshold stop time setting defined in JP-A No. 68062/2002 may unexpectedly stop the operation of the internal combustion engine depending on its operational state.

Vehicle-mounted control system and method for an internal combustion engine


A method used to fabricate a semiconductor device comprises etching a dielectric which results in an undesirable charge buildup along a sidewall formed in the dielectric during the etch. The charge buildup along a top and a bottom of the sidewall can reduce the etch rate thereby resulting in excessive etch times and undesirable etch opening profiles. To remove the charge, a sacrificial conductive layer is formed which electrically shorts the upper and lower portions of the sidewall and eliminates the charge. In another embodiment, a gas is used to remove the charge. After removing the charge, the dielectric etch may continue. Various embodiments of the inventive process and in-process structures are described.

During the manufacture of a semiconductor device such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), and other memories, microprocessors, and logic devices, several structures are commonly formed. For example, contact openings in one or more dielectric layers are typically used to expose an underlying layer such as a conductive land. A conductive layer is then formed within the opening to contact the land and to provide electrical access to the pad. Trenches are also formed, for example to define conductive interconnects.
FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a process to form openings to conductive lands. FIG. 1 depicts a wafer substrate assembly 10 comprising a semiconductor wafer 12 with conductive lands 14, a first dielectric layer 16 between about 2,000 angstroms (Å) and about 2,600 Å thick, for example about 2,300 Å thick, and a second dielectric layer 18 between about 3,000 Å thick and about 3,600 Å thick, for example about 3,300 Å thick. FIG. 1 further depicts conductive polysilicon pads 20 which are electrically coupled with lands 14. Also depicted in FIG. 1 is a first borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) layer 22 between about 15,000 Å and about 15,600 Å thick, preferably about 15,300 Å thick. Further depicted is a second BPSG layer 23 between about 2,700 Å and about 3,300 Å thick, for example about 3,000 Å thick, and portions of a polysilicon capacitor top plate 24 between about 500 Å and about 700 Å thick, for example about 600 Å thick. The capacitor top plate comprising portions 24 is formed after forming BPSG 22, and prior to forming BPSG 23.
Next, a patterned photoresist layer 26 is formed which defines openings 28 which overlie the conductive pads 20. Other structures may also be formed which are not depicted depending on the type of device, such as storage capacitors for use with a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device. FIG. 1 is generally to scale, except the photoresist will be between about 6,000 Å and 8,000 Å thick for this exemplary structure. The spacing between each photoresist feature 26 is about 2,700 Å and the pitch is about 6,700 Å.
After forming the structure of FIG. 1, a vertical anisotropic oxide dry etch is performed to remove the exposed BPSG 22, 23 in an attempt to result in the structure of FIG. 2. A portion of the photoresist, typically about 90% is removed during the etch.
Various problems can occur during the etch of the BPSG 23, 24 of FIG. 1. For example, while etching the openings there is a tendency for a positive charge to build up at the bottom of the openings while a negative charge is generated at the top. As a result, positively charged ions which are used to etch the openings have difficulty reaching the bottom of the opening where they are needed to continue etching the openings to expose the conductive lands 20. This can result in a slowing or cessation of the etch before the material is completely removed from the lands or other features, and can also result in profile anomalies.
A method which reduces or eliminates the problems described above would be desirable.

Etch aided by electrically shorting upper and lower sidewall portions during the formation of a semiconductor device


An air heater arranged in an air pipe of an electronic system of a radar antenna. The electronic system is mounted on a body of an aircraft and the electronic system is enclosed in a housing with at least one air inlet that is adapted to provide outside air for cooling of the electronic system. The air pipe is located between the air inlet and the electronic system.

During the use of the radar antennas, the components in the electronic system of the radar antenna heats up and must be cooled not to be overheated. Electronic systems of radar antennas mounted on the body of an aircraft are, during flight, cooled by the airflow from the surrounding air. The electronic system is arranged within a housing, wherein the airflow is lead into the components of the electronic system through an air inlet and an air pipe. The electronic system of the radar antenna is thereby exposed to varied temperatures, wherein the lowest temperatures are below −55° C.
Due to the very low temperature caused by airflow, special designed components are used in the electronic system of the radar antenna. The special designed components can withstand lower temperatures than conventional industrial components; this makes the electronic system of the radar antenna more insensitive to low temperatures. For industrial components used today the critical temperature is normally at −40° C. The special designed components are supplied by just a few suppliers and are much more expensive than conventional components.
The electronic systems must not just be designed to be able to stand low temperatures; the same system is subjected to high temperatures, essentially because of the heating effect of the system itself. For electronic system with soldered components, the temperature can not be allowed to be raised above the critical temperature +85° C., because the soldered seems can start to degrade.

Air heater for an air inlet of an electric system


A fitness garment that promotes excessive water weight and body fat loss at targeted areas of the wearer's body. The fitness garment is adjustable, machine washable, and conforms close to the user's body to specifically target problem weight loss areas to ensure maximum results. A lower panel formed of neoprene is held in close conformity to a user's torso to retain body heat at targeted locations. An upper panel is formed of a breathable resilient material and extends around the user's chest and shoulders, when worn. A zipper closure on a front face of the garment is operable to regulate the user's body heat. A lateral side zipper is provided as a closure of a side opening of the lower panel to selectively retain body heat around the user's stomach and back around the waistline.

The present invention relates to fitness garments, and more particularly to fitness garments that promote water weight and body fat loss.
There are a variety of weight loss fitness garments in the art. Some of them are poorly made, basically a baggy vinyl suit. These garments, and others of similar design, do not provide suitable coverage to target weight loss problem areas. In addition, these ill fitted garments have a tendency to catch snag on articles while the user may be working out in a fitness regimen, leading to tears in the garment.
Other fitness garments may be closer fitted to the user, however, no provision is made to accommodate weight loss during the contemplated successful use of the garments. Accordingly, as the user succeeds in their weight loss, they are forced to purchase a new garment to accommodate their weight loss.
As can be seen, there is a need for a fitness garment that is adjustable, machine washable, and conforms close to the body to specifically target problem areas to ensure maximum results.


A GPS receiver includes a demodulator for obtaining ephemeris data and almanac data from a navigation message sent by satellites, and includes a calculator. The calculator is used for calculating almanac correction parameters according to coordinate differences between ephemeris-based coordinates of the satellites and almanac-based coordinates of the satellites. The GPS receiver also includes a satellite position calculator for calculating the ephemeris-based coordinates of the satellites according to the ephemeris data, for calculating the almanac-based coordinates of the satellites according to the almanac data, and for calculating positions of the satellites according to the ephemeris data, the almanac data and the almanac correction parameters.

Currently the demands of automobiles, electronic devices, etc. are increasing since the related technologies have been rapidly developed. A global positioning system (GPS) has been widely used in the above-mentioned systems to meet the demands in different fields (e.g., navigation systems and portable devices).
A GPS receiver is used to receive signals from various satellites and to process the received signals in order to perform GPS positioning. Typically, GPS positioning can be performed in a certain time period after the GPS receiver is powered on. The GPS receiver has a parameter named time to first fix (TTFF) that can be defined as a time period for the GPS receiver to find satellites after the user first turns it on and to provide the first geographical location fix when the GPS receiver has been staying in a standby mode for hours or days. The TTFF can be relatively slow (e.g., a few minutes), e.g., in a weak-signal environment.


Provided is an inverter power supply including a measurement function of measuring deterioration of a rectifier element such as a diode.

In recent years, high tensile steel plates having higher tensile strength than conventional steel plates have been used for automobile bodies in order to secure strength and reduce weight. When high tensile steel plates are spot-welded, it is necessary to energize a larger welding current for a longer time than when the conventional steel plates are spot-welded. Consequently, an inverter-type resistance welder as disclosed in JP 2017-087280 A, JP 2000-42751 A and JP 3008433 U that can set a wide range of welding conditions and perform high-quality welding has been used for spot-welding the high tensile steel plates. The inverter type resistance welder includes an inverter power supply and an inverter transformer, and the inverter transformer has a diode stack (a unit combining two or more diodes) that rectifies a welding current. The diode stack provided in the inverter transformer easily deteriorates because a large welding current is energized to the diode stack during spot-welding.

Abstract: The inverter power supply includes a step-down stabilization unit that applies a reverse voltage increasing gradually to diodes, an isolation amplifier that detects a current value of a current flowing to the diodes when the reverse voltage is applied, and an inverter control unit that decides that the diodes have deteriorated when the detected current value is larger than a determination current value for determining deterioration of the diodes, and decides that the diodes have not deteriorated when the detected current value is smaller than the determination current value.


A user equipment (UE) performs a transform domain (DFT) based method to detect the cyclic prefix (CP) length that is being used by a base station for cellular communications. The detected CP length is then used to reduce the amount of time required to complete the synchronization and cell search procedures. In particular, the UE uses the detected CP length information to obtain Cell Identification parameters (NID1, NID2) along with information including a Maximum energy Tap location and a reference signal receive power (RSRP) while completing the synchronization and cell search procedures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to mitigating the adverse effects of inter-symbol interference (ISI) at the receiver of a network system such as, for example, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system. The present disclosure also relates to reducing the amount of time required by a receiver to complete the initial synchronization procedure and cell search procedure.
2. Background Art
In OFDM systems using wireless channels, when a data signal is transmitted over a wireless channel, the signal can be distorted due to multipath. Multipath occurs when the transmitted signal travels over multiple paths, and the multiple signals reach the receiver at different times depending on the distances traveled along the respective multiple paths. The distances traveled along the respective multiple paths are different because some paths are more direct than others. As such, the same signal travels over multiple paths and reaches the receiver at different times. As explained below, the delays between the different times at which the same signal is received at the receiver causes ISI.
The data included in the signal is organized in frames which contain a plurality of symbols. ISI can occur when the same symbol is received at different times due to channel multipath, and therefore may interfere with an adjacent symbol, causing bit errors.
Channel estimation is a process used to estimate the frequency and spatial response of a channel or the path between a transmitter and receiver, and is used to configure receiver parameters (e.g. gain control, equalizer parameters, and the like). One or more pilot signals may be sent from transmitter and receiver, where the pilot signals are previously known to the receiver. Upon reception of the transmitted signal, the receiver compares the received pilot information to the known pilot information and derives the channel estimate based on the results of the comparison. The pilot signals may be interspersed with the data signals to periodically perform the channel estimate during data transmission. Similar to the actual data signals, ISI also has a deleterious effect on pilot reception and therefore channel estimation. Further, since channel estimation is used to configure receiver parameters, any ISI effects on pilot reception has an even greater effect on future data signal reception and bit error rate (BER).
Therefore, there is a need to mitigate the effects of ISI on the accuracy of the channel estimation process.

Receiver with cyclic prefix determination


An optical fiber, including a cylindrical core of light conducting material having a first refractive index, surrounded by a cladding having a second refractive index that is lower than the first refractive index. The optical fiber includes at least one endface formed with a cone tip for controlling the characteristics of light entering or exiting the fiber. The polish angle of the cone tip can be selected according to the desired emergence/acceptance properties of the fiber.

In recent years, the use of optical fibers has become increasingly widespread in a variety of applications. For example, high capacity optical fibers are rapidly replacing traditional telephone and coaxial cable lines to transmit voice and video signals across the country. Fiber optic sensors and probes are also commonly used by physicians and researchers for such things as the treatment of cancer and for spectral analysis of samples.
The term "optical fiber" is used herein to refer generally to any optical waveguide or structure having the ability to transmit the flow of radiant energy along a path parallel to its axis and to contain the energy within or adjacent to its surface. The optical fiber category includes both "step index" and "gradient index" fibers. The term "multimode" optical fiber refers to an optical waveguide that will allow more than one bound mode to propagate. This property is typically achieved in fibers whose core diameter is relatively large (typically at least equaling about 10 microns) compared with the wavelength of the luminous radiation carried by the fiber. In contrast, "single mode" optical fibers have a core diameter on the order of magnitude of the wavelength, generally only a few microns.
In the general sense, numerical aperture (NA) refers to the vertex angle of the largest cone of meridional rays that can enter or leave an optical system or element, multiplied by the refractive index of the medium in which the vertex of the cone is located. In the context of fiber optics, numerical aperture is used to refer to the light acceptance or emergence characteristics and is a measure of light gathering ability. Numerical aperture value is often used to characterize bare, unterminated fiber, and in this context, it specifies the characteristics of the fiber with the ends polished flat. Thus, numerical aperture for conventional optical fibers has often been defined as: EQU NA=n.sub.2 sin.theta..sub.e
where n.sub.2 is the refractive index of the medium (typically air) through which the light is initially propagated so as to be incident upon an input end of the fiber, and .theta..sub.e is one half the included acceptance angle (or, conversely, the emergence angle) at the input end of that fiber. The "acceptance angle" of a fiber refers to the angles within which the input end of the fiber will accept a cone of light and undergo total internal reflection, while the "emergence angle" corresponds to the illumination pattern of light that it emitted from the output end of the fully filled fiber. Thus, an acceptance angle of .theta..sub.e indicates that the fiber will accept a cone of light within .+-..theta..sub.e. The greater the acceptance angle, the larger the light gathering ability of the optical fiber. Similarly, the fully filled fiber will have an illumination pattern defined by these angular limitations.
Numerical aperture may also be defined as a function of the physical (optical) properties of the fiber's materials of construction: ##EQU1## where n.sub.0 is the refractive index of the fiber core, and n.sub.1 is the refractive index of the cladding (the medium cylindrically encircling the core). Thus, conventional flat-faced optical fibers have numerical apertures which are primarily a function of the refractive indices of the core, cladding and media surrounding the endface.
Depending on the particular application, it may be preferable to have an optical fiber with larger or smaller angles of acceptance and emergence. For example, in certain sensing applications, it may be desirable to use an optical fiber with a relatively large acceptance angle so that the fiber will collect light more efficiently from the sample being measured. Similarly, when an optical fiber is used for illumination or indicating purposes, it is often advantageous for the light to emerge from the optical fiber with a large illumination pattern so that the light will be visible from wide viewing angles.
On the other hand, for many other applications, it may be desirable to minimize the acceptance and emergence angle of the optical fiber. For example, a fiber optic probe commonly includes at least one transmitting optical fiber that emits light into a sample to be measured and at least one adjacent receiving optical fiber that receives light reflected from the sample. By measuring the light scattered by the sample and comparing it to the source light, certain characteristics of the sample can be determined. In these cases, it is undesirable for light to pass from the transmitting fiber directly to the receiving fiber without first interacting with the sample to be measured. This criterion is difficult to meet when the fibers are positioned behind a window. To minimize this effect, it may be preferable for the transmitting fiber to have a specialized emergence pattern which projects its energy through the window and outward into the sample before rapidly diverging, and likewise for the receiving fiber.
Traditionally, the pattern and characteristics of light entering or exiting the fiber was controlled by selecting a combination of core, cladding and surrounding media such that the numerical aperture or acceptance/emergence angles were suitable for the specific application. However, there are significant physical limitations with this method that affect the ability to adjust the numerical aperture of those optical fibers. As a result, conventional flat-faced optical fibers have a relatively narrow acceptance angle, so that these fibers have poor light gathering characteristics and can often collect only a small fraction of the available light. This is particularly problematic in the case where the light beam is incident on the fiber face from extreme and highly diverse angles as the optical fiber can only accept those light rays that arrive at an angle less than or equal to its acceptance angle.
A variety of different solutions have been proposed in attempting to improve the light gathering ability of flat-faced optical fibers. Many proposals utilize discrete optical elements in front of the fiber face, such as lenses, prisms, mirrors, etc. in order to enlarge the acceptance angle of the optical fiber. However, this adds significantly to the complexity and the cost of the device, and the resulting fiber assembly is bulky and not mechanically robust. The optical elements are also inherently prone to misalignment, shifting, stresses, shock, cracks, scratches, etc.
In attempts to improve upon the displacement sensitivity in laser diode source-to-fiber coupling of conventional flat-faced optical fibers, the fiber faces of some single mode fibers have been formed into various shaped surfaces, usually spherically shaped. However, these fibers lack control of light acceptance characteristics, are constrained by the size of the fiber, are limited in their ability to collect light at wide angles, and are not effective at preventing light reflected off the endface from back propagating toward the light source.
Thus, there is a need for an improved optical fiber that provides better control of the pattern and characteristics of light entering or exiting the fiber.
There is also a need for an improved optical fiber that provides better light gathering ability, without the need for expensive and complex optical elements.

Optical fiber with enhanced light collection and illumination and having highly controlled emission and acceptance patterns


White, biaxially oriented polyester films which have a base layer B which comprises a thermoplastic polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate, and which comprise substantially only TiO2 as a white pigment, whose R value is less than 43 daN/mm2, whose emax ratio is less than 2.5 and at least one of whose two surfaces of the film has been provided with an acrylate-containing coating, are particularly tear-resistant and do not tend to delamination and are therefore suitable in particular as lid films for food containers, for example yoghurt cups. A process is described for producing the films.

The invention relates to a white, biaxially oriented polyester film having at least one base layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer and at least one acrylate-containing layer which is preferably applied to the film as an aqueous dispersion. The invention further relates to a process for producing the film and to its use.
An example of a known use of white-colored, biaxially oriented polyester films is as lids for yoghurt cups. They are used there as an alternative to aluminum films. Such lids are printed and embossed on the outer side and provided on the inner side with a varnish or hotmelt, which sticks the lids to the cups. To improve the shelf life of the yoghurt, both the cup and the lid have to ensure adequate light protection. This is generally provided by coloring the lid with suitable pigments. A further requirement on the lid film is that, when it is removed from the cup, it neither delaminates nor starts and continues to tear. The film obtains the properties required for this purpose by the biaxial stretching and by an appropriately large thickness. The mechanical properties of the film (stiffness, puncture resistance, tear propagation resistance) improve greater than proportionally with the thickness of the film. For use as lids for yoghurt, useful polyester film thicknesses have been found to be from 50 to 90 μm. The thickness of the film cannot be as large as desired, since the material costs grow with the thickness and the sealing cycle times decrease, which is undesirable from an economic point of view. There is an observable trend to lower thicknesses.
Lids of Polyester Films Have a Series of Advantages:
The lid has a smooth, very shiny surface which guarantees excellent color reproduction and therefore has a very pleasing visual appearance.
Compared to conventional material, the film has a puncture resistance which is up to 700% higher, which has the consequence of significantly higher product protection.
The lid is easy to open, without fragments of the lid remaining on the cup, as is observed in the case of conventional materials, for example aluminum films. This property in particular is valued by the consumer.
The complete separation of cup and lid is of great advantage for the recyclability of the two materials. The lid film consists of thermoplastic polyester which has excellent recyclability. The product is therefore environmentally friendly. Moreover, the polyester film, as a consequence of its high stiffness and its good gliding ability (in accordance with the requirement profile, the film has low frictional coefficients), has outstanding processability for use as a lid.
In addition, the lid is absolutely free of metal. This guarantees very high reliability in metal detection, which is ever more frequently used in the production of foods. It is therefore possible with the method to determine the proportion of metallic constituents present in the contents with high precision.
Processors use certain criteria for the further processing of the films to produce yoghurt cups. The testing parameters which are customarily used in the production of lid films are the R value and the emax ratio. The R value can be reported as a measure of the orientation and is measured in the middle of the film web directly after production of the film. The emax ratio describes the orientation distribution over the web breadth (known as the "bow") and is likewise measured in the production of the film, but at discrete intervals over the entire breadth of the film web (cf. under measurement methods). In the case of transparent films (not the white films of the present context), the R values are in the range from 42 to 48 and the emax values in the range from 2.2 to 2.8. Investigations have shown that these values cannot be transferred from transparent films to the present white films. When the above-specified values are observed for white film, this generally leads to delamination of the film. The film delaminates internally, it tears in the thickness direction, the tear destroys the film and the film continues to tear.
The abovementioned properties are not attained in their entirety by the films known from the prior art. For example, EP-A-0 605 130 describes a multilayer film for use as a lid which has at least one opaque layer of crystalline polyester and at least one transparent layer of crystalline polyester. The film is also described by a deformation index which should be ≧2.5%. In addition, the film can be coated with certain substances, which improves the adhesion to printing inks and/or lacquers. Suitable substances which are listed are certain acrylates. There is no information about the R values and the emax ratio of the film. A film reproduced in accordance with EP-A-0 605 130 (example 1, longitudinal stretching temperature approx. 80° C., stretching ratio in the longitudinal stretching 3.3) delaminated, and also exhibited poor processing behavior, since the film curled after punching to give the lids.
From an economic point of view, it is necessary to permanently reduce the costs for the production of the lid film. An important handle for this purpose is the thickness of the film. A low thickness of the film is accompanied directly by a reduction in the material costs and, as a consequence of shorter sealing cycle times, leads to higher fill rates. However, the thickness of the lid cannot be reduced as far as desired, since this leads to processing and handling problems. Lids of polyester film having too low a thickness have a tendency to tear and to delaminate. There is then no longer any product security nor the advantage of 100% separation of lid and cup. The more pigments and the larger the pigments incorporated into the polyester film, the greater the risk of tearing and of delamination of the lid. Pigments, especially when they are relatively coarse, form weak points in the film at which the destruction of the film begins when it is removed from the cup.
In addition, it is advantageous when the film receives a coating which improves the ability of the film to slip, enables better adhesion to printing inks, adhesives (e.g. hotmelts) and sealing varnishes, but moreover does not change the other properties of the film, for example its optical properties. This is an important point, in particular for possible use of its own regrind in the production of the film, said regrind inevitably containing the coating material.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a white, biaxially oriented polyester film, in particular for use as a lid, which features improved properties compared to the polyester films established on the market. In particular, the novel polyester films should feature the following combination of properties:                economic producibility, good windability, good processability;        good adhesion of at least one film side to inks, adhesives, sealing varnishes;        very good removal behavior from the cup, no delamination, no commencement nor propagation of tearing;        good optical properties, especially even when its own regrind has been added in the course of film production, and good light protection properties.
Attempts to provide a conventional transparent film with the desired combination of properties by addition of pigments failed. The film delaminated on removal from the yoghurt cup.


An illumination apparatus includes a first LED, a second LED, and a control unit. The first LED emits white light. The second LED emits white light having a correlated color temperature lower than that of the white light emitted from the first LED and a chromaticity deviation Duv higher than that of the white light emitted from the first LED. The control unit changes a light output ratio of the first LED and the second LED. The first LED emits the white light of the correlated color temperature ranging from 1563K to 4500K and the chromaticity deviation Duv ranging from −1.6 to −12. The second LED emits the white light of the correlated color temperature ranging from 1563K to 4500K and the chromaticity deviation Duv ranging from +10 to −1.6.

Conventionally, an illumination apparatus has been developed to realize an original color of an illumination target. Specifically, it is preferable to make visual performance of various colors of the illumination target closer to visual performance thereof under a reference light. This can be objectively evaluated by using a general color rendering index.
However, the general color rendering index Ra is not enough for an index for evaluating "legibility" of characters written on a paper. Therefore, a chroma value that is calculated by using the simple version of the CIE 1997 Interim Color Appearance Model is known as an index for quantitatively calculating whiteness of a paper from correlation between the whiteness of the paper and the "legibility" of characters.
As for an illumination apparatus for irradiating light of a controlled chroma value, there is known one for irradiating light of a correlated color temperature ranging from 5400K to 7000K (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-75186).
In the case of using such an illumination apparatus described above as a task illumination apparatus in a low color temperature environment, a large difference in correlated color temperature exists between task illumination light and ambient illumination light and this makes a user uncomfortable. Although the light irradiated from such an illumination apparatus improves legibility of characters, it does not make a user, who is reading a book before sleep, feel relax for a comfortable sleep.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Apparatus 10 discloses a shoe 12 incorporating a ventilation system comprised of a port 14 positioned within the wall of the shoe, which in the preferred embodiment is located approximate the in-step 20. In communication with the port 14 is a cavity situated within the arch 29 whereby as a force applied to the base of the shoe causes the cavity to expand and contract drawing air from the shoe's exterior. Extending from the arch cavity 29 are a plurality of conduits 22 spatially around and across the base of the shoe 12 terminating in a plurality of apertures 24 extending from the conduits into the interior of the shoe. In addition, a plurality of nodules 30 are formed on the top side of the sole 26 to provide comfort to the user and to space the foot away from the sole, which will aid in the circulation of the air.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to shoes and, more specifically, to a shoes incorporating a ventilation system whereby ambient air is moved from the exterior of the shoe to the interior of the shoe proving climate control within said shoes with the intake port optionally providing a replaceable filter element.
The ventilation system is comprised of a port positioned within the wall of the shoe, which in the preferred embodiment is located approximate the in-step. In communication with the port is a cavity situated within the arch whereby as a force is applied to the base of the shoe caused the cavity to expand and contract drawing air from the shoe's exterior. Extending from the arch cavity are a plurality of conduit spatially around across the base of the shoe termination in a plurality of apertures extending from the conduits into the interior of the shoe. In addition, a plurality of nodules are formed on the top side of the sole to provide comfort to the user and to space the foot away from the sole, which will aid in the circulation of the air.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other shoes having vents for moving air from the interior to the exterior and vis versa While these shoes may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
Therefore, it is felt that a need exists whereby ambient air is moved to the interior of the shoe to reduce the temperature and moisture accumulation and thereby giving the user comfort and significant climate control inside of the shoe during physical exercises such as, hiking, playing, running and various other sport activities.


A system and method for carrying a downstream optical signal and an upstream optical signal on a fiber optic link is disclosed. The system and method includes a first transceiver unit that receives an input communication signal from at least one external communication device at an electrical input port, a transmitter that converts the input communication signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal as an downstream optical signal on a fiber optic link, a receiver at the second transceiver unit that receives the downstream optical signal and converts the downstream optical signal into an electrical communication signal, and a first circuit in the second transceiver unit that determines whether the second transceiver couples the electrical communication signal to a two wire intercom circuit or a four wire intercom circuit.

Television broadcast professionals often require the ability to extend one or two channels of voice intercom systems over a long distance. This functionality is required so that certain key production personnel at a remote location can communicate with the rest of the production team on site reliably, clearly, and with full access to the intercom system's functions, including those functions over and above the simple bi-directional transmission of voice communications. Specific television broadcast applications include "outside broadcast" such as sporting, entertainment, or event production, terrestrial (ENG) and satellite (SNG) news gathering, corporate events, and industrial testing environments.
These voice communications may be transmitted and received according to a "two-wire" or "four-wire" format. The two-wire format allows users connected to a communication line to communicate with other users connected to the communication line at any given time. Four-wire communication allows users connected to a communication line to selectively communicate privately with other specific users on a one on one basis. The four-wire formats may include a connection matrix that allows any user connected to the matrix to communicate privately with any other user connected to the matrix. Accordingly, two-wire and four-wire communication lines can operate under separate communication formats and typically require separate hardware units and/or communication lines.

Intercom transceiver with fiber optic link