A traffic flow change monitoring system is disclosed, which uses data obtained from a vehicle perceiving sensor placed on a road and which can detect a traffic congestion or an unexpected event. Since a change in traffic flow is monitored on the basis of the speeds or the like of individual vehicles and the distances between successive vehicles, it is possible to monitor a positional relationship between successively running vehicles Also, it is possible to make a prompt detection of an unexpected event such as an accident by detecting a change in relative vehicle speed difference between traffic lanes at each measurement spot.

In recent years, as social demands for information offering services to drivers have been increased replenishment of a transportation control system to support such services has been required. Especially, there is a need to improve the function of a traffic flow change monitoring system for grasping changes in traffic flow more rapidly and more accurately.
The conventional traffic flow change monitoring system will now be explained on the basis of the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the construction of the conventional traffic flow change monitoring system.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 designates vehicle perceiving sensors such as ultrasonic sensors placed on a road, numeral 2 designates a signal detection section for detecting vehicle perception signals from the vehicle perceiving sensors 1, and numeral 3 designates a vehicle perception data compiling section for compiling the vehicle perception signals detected by the signal detection section 2 as a parameter such as a vehicle speed.
Numeral 4 designates a vehicle perception data classification section which ranks vehicle perception data compiled by the vehicle perception data compilation section 3 by means of predetermined threshold values concerning vehicle perception data.
Numeral 5 designates a change judgement section which judges a change in traffic flow by monitoring a time-dependent change of the result of ranking of the vehicle perception data by the vehicle perception data classification section 4. Numeral 6 designates an output section for outputting the result of judgement by the change judgement section 5.
Next, explanation will be made of the operation of the above-mentioned conventional system.
When a vehicle running on a road passes a perception range of the vehicle perception sensor 1, the signal perception section 2 detects the passage of the vehicle as a vehicle perception signal. This vehicle perception signal is compiled in the vehicle perception data compilation section 3 as a parameter such as a pulse indicative of a signal detecting time corresponding to the speed of the vehicle and the compiled vehicle perception data is sent to the vehicle perception data classification section 4 in a block at every unit time.
In the vehicle perception data classification section 4, the predetermined threshold values and parameterized vehicle perception data are compared to classify the individual vehicle perception data. The result of classification is sent to the change judgement section 5 which in turn monitors a time-dependent change of the result of classification of the vehicle perception data at a same measuring spot to judge a change in traffic flow. The result of judgement is outputted from the output section 6.
In this manner, even the above-mentioned conventional traffic flow measuring system can monitor a change in traffic flow by processing vehicle perception signals obtained from the vehicle perceiving sensors.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional traffic flow monitoring system, since the change in traffic flow is monitored in accordance with the speed or the like of individual vehicles, it is not possible to monitor a positional relationship between successively running vehicles. Accordingly, there is a problem that it is not possible to make a prompt forecast of occurrence and dissolution of a traffic congestion and to make a prompt detection of an unexpected event such as an accident.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem in the prior art and to provide an excellent traffic flow change monitoring system which is capable of promptly and accurately detecting a change in traffic flow.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A reciprocating compressor is provided that includes a compression chamber inside of a cylinder and a piston inserted therein. The piston includes a head, a skirt extended from a lower end of the head so as to be spaced away from an inside wall of the cylinder, and guide surfaces extended from an outside surface of the skirt. Since the skirt is not in contact with the cylinder, a friction loss between the piston and the cylinder is reduced, and the guide surfaces assist the piston to make stable reciprocation. The head has a projection so as to be inserted into a discharge hole when the piston is at a top dead center. According to this, a dead volume formed when the piston is at the top dead center is reduced, thereby improving an efficiency of the compressor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compressors, and more particularly, to a reciprocating compressor having a piston for reciprocating in a cylinder to compress a working fluid.
2. Background of the Related Art
The compressor boosts a pressure of the working fluid by receiving a power from an electric motor or a turbine, and applying a compressive work to air, refrigerant, or other special gas. The compressor is widely used starting from home appliances, to plant industries in the fields of air conditioners, or refrigerators.
Depending on methods of compression, there are positive displacement compressors, and dynamic compressors, or turbo compressors. In the positive displacement compressors for boosting a pressure by reduction of a volume, there are reciprocating compressors, and rotary compressors.
The reciprocating compressor, compressing the working fluid by means of a piston reciprocating inside of a cylinder, is advantageous in that a high compression efficiency can be provided by using comparatively simple mechanical components.
The rotary compressor, compressing the working fluid by means of a roller revolved inside of a cylinder with an eccentricity, can provide a high compression efficiency at a speed lower than the reciprocating compressor.
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical example of the reciprocating compressor, referring to which the reciprocating compressor will be described in more detail.
Referring to FIG. 1, two pieces of cases 1 assembled together form an enclosed space, in which a frame 2 is provided. The frame 2 is supported on an inside of the case 1 with springs 4.
There is a crankshaft 6 mounted passed through a central part of the frame 2. For this, there is a boss 3 in the central part of the frame 2 for stable support of the crankshaft 6.
The crankshaft 6 mounted thus, is rotated by the motor 5 having a stator 5a and a rotor 5b. The stator 5a is fixed to the frame 2, and the rotor 5b is fixed to the crankshaft 6. Since the rotor 5b positions inside of the stator 5a, the crankshaft 6 rotates together with the rotor 5b when power is provided to the motor 5.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is an eccentric pin 6a on top of the crankshaft 6 at an eccentric position from a rotation center of the crankshaft 6. There is a balance weight 6b on top of the crankshaft at an opposite side of the eccentric pin 6a. The balance weight 6b prevents the crankshaft 6 from shaking due to weight of the eccentric pin 6a during rotation of the crankshaft 6.
In the meantime, there is lubricating oil held on a bottom of the case 1, and the crankshaft 6 has oil passages 6c inside of the crankshaft 6. Accordingly, when the crankshaft 6 rotates, lubricating oil moves following the oil passage 6c, and sprayed from the top of the crankshaft 6. According to this, the lubricating oil is supplied to all mechanically operative components in the case 1.
There are a cylinder 10 having a compression chamber 11 therein in one side part of top of the frame 2, and a piston 15 in the compression chamber 11 to reciprocate in the cylinder 10 when the crankshaft 6 is rotated by the connecting rod 7. For this, one end of the connecting rod 7 is connected to the eccentric pin 6a of the crankshaft 6, and the other end of the connecting rod 7 is coupled to the piston 15.
There is a valve assembly 20 mounted on an end of the cylinder 10 for controlling flow of a working fluid introduced into the compression chamber 11, compressed therein, and discharged therefrom, which will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, the valve assembly 20 is provided with a valve plate 21, a suction valve 22, and a discharge valve 23.
The valve plate 21 has a suction hole 24 for introduction of the working fluid into the compression chamber 11, and a discharge hole 25 for discharging the working fluid to an outside of the compression chamber 11.
The suction valve 22 is between the cylinder 10 and the valve plate 21, for automatic opening/closing of the suction hole 24 according to a pressure change of the compression chamber 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge hole 25 is provided, not only to the valve plate 21, but also to the suction valve 22.
The discharge valve 23 is provided to one surface of the valve plate 21 opposite to a surface the suction valve 22 is fitted thereto, for automatic opening/closing of the discharge hole 25 according to a pressure change of the compression chamber 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the suction hole is provided, not only to the valve plate 21, but also to the discharge valve 23.
In the meantime, there is a head assembly 30 on the valve assembly 20, more specifically, the discharge valve 23. Though not shown, there is a gasket between the head assembly 30 and the valve assembly 20, for preventing leakage of the working fluid, and pressure drop of the compression chamber. The head assembly 30 guides flow of the working fluid controlled by the valve assembly 20.
In the meantime, referring to FIG. 1, there is a suction muffler 13 connected to the head assembly 30, for attenuating noise of flow of the working fluid introduced into the compression chamber 11 through a suction pipe 12. There is a discharge pipe 14 connected to the head assembly 30 for discharge of the working fluid to an outside of the compression chamber through the discharge hole 25. Though not shown, there is a discharge muffler between the discharge pipe 14 and the head assembly 30 for attenuating noise from the working fluid.
In operation, upon application of power to the motor 5, the rotor 5b and the crankshaft 6 rotates, and the rotation of the crankshaft 6 is converted into linear reciprocating movement. According to this, the refrigerant introduced into the compressor through the suction pipe 12 is compressed by the piston reciprocating in the cylinder 10, and discharged to an outside of compressor through the discharge pipe 14.
Meanwhile, while above process is carried out, the piston 15 makes linear reciprocating movement within the cylinder 10 at a fast speed. In this instance, an inside wall of the cylinder 10, and an outside surface of the piston cause friction on each other, which drops an efficiency of the compressor due to a friction loss taken place in this time.
In the meantime, when the piston 15 is at a top dead center, a dead volume is formed, which has a size a top clearance existing between a top end of the piston 15 and the valve plate 21 and an inside volume of the discharge hole 25 are added together.
The dead volume formed thus drops the efficiency of the compressor. Therefore, it is preferable to minimize the dead volume.


A resonator including a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and a piezoelectric film that is formed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. A MEMS device is provided that includes an upper lid that faces the upper electrode, and a lower lid that faces the lower electrode and that seals the resonator together with the upper lid. A CMOS device is mounted on a surface of the upper lid or the lower lid opposite a surface that faces the resonator. The CMOS device includes a CMOS layer and a protective layer that is disposed on a surface of the CMOS layer opposite a surface that faces the resonator. The upper or lower lid to which the CMOS device is joined includes a through-electrode that electrically connects the CMOS device to the resonator.

Currently, existing piezoelectric resonance devices for which a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technique is used, are used as timing devices, for example. Typically, the piezoelectric resonance device is mounted on a printed circuit board that is incorporated in an electronic device such as a smart phone.
The piezoelectric resonance device needs an oscillation circuit (for example, a CMOS device) for oscillating a resonator. However, a product in which the piezoelectric resonance device is mounted on the CMOS device has an increased height due to the CMOS device. Accordingly, a technique for mounting the piezoelectric resonance device on the CMOS device without increasing the height of the product is needed.
For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 (identified below) disclose techniques for inhibiting the height of a product from increasing by substituting a CMOS device for a part of a package of a piezoelectric resonance device.
Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,570.
Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 9,114,977.
In the piezoelectric resonance device, a vibration space in which a resonator vibrates needs to be sealed in an airtight state by using a package and a vacuum state needs to be maintained to stabilize resonance characteristics. However, the CMOS device is not designed in consideration for outgassing. According to the existing techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a circuit of the CMOS device is exposed, outgassing occurs depending on a material used for the circuit, and the degree of a vacuum in the vibration space decreases.


A full-zone optical image addressing apparatus, including an addressing device, an image extraction converter, a comparator, an AND gate and a counter. The addressing device is located at the enclosure of the scanner and includes a plurality of geometric patterns. Each of the geometric patterns includes a plurality of rows of pixels. While receiving an exposure signal, the image extraction converter extracts one row of pixels from the addressing device, such that a series of analog signals is obtained and output to the comparator. The comparator then compares the series of analog signals to an analog critical voltage to output a series of analog comparison signals to the AND gate. The AND gate synchronously processes the series of analog comparison signals and a pixel rate clock to output the pixel data corresponding to the extracted row of pixels to the counter. After receiving the synchronously processed pixel value from the AND gate, the counter calculates and outputs the extracted row of pixels, including the amount of pixels and the geometric patterns in the row of pixels.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a full-zone optical image addressing apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method using the addressing information of addressing patterns to perform full-zone addressing for a scanner.
2. Related Art of the Invention
In the basic structure of a typical scanner, an optical scan module (chassis) 111 and a driver structure 112 are included as shown in FIG. 1. The optical scan module 111 includes an image extraction device (not shown) to extract the image of the object to be scanned. An analog/digital converter converts the scanned image into digital data to be processed subsequently. Therefore, when the scanner starts scanning, the whole optical scan module 111 is driven by the driver structure 112, such that the image extraction device and the analog/digital converter perform image extraction and digital/analog conversion, respectively.
The driver structure 112 further comprises a driving motor and a guiding device (not shown). The driving motor includes a DC motor or stepping motor. When the DC motor is used as the driving motor for scanning, only the scanning speed is controlled to be gradually increased or gradually decreased. The address or position at certain time during the scanning process cannot be realized. As a result, the scan timing and address information for each line of the scanned document cannot be obtained. This increases the difficulty in the subsequent scanned image processing since there is no reference address to be referred for reassembling scanned lines into a complete scanned image.
The application of the stepping motor controls each scan line to be output in sequence in the subsequent image-processing step, the scanned image can be assembled in a first-in-first-out arrangement. However, such an arrangement is problematic for color scanner. Each scan line scanned by the color scanner has three sets of image information (R, G, B). Therefore, the image processes such as reassembly, compensation and correction all require address information as a reference for adjustment. Otherwise, the scanned image observed by the user may include chromatic aberration or distortion
A prior art image scanning apparatus and fast addressing method have been proposed, for example, in the Taiwanese patent No. 408552. As shown in FIG. 1 in this disclosure, an object 13 to be scanned is placed on a scan platform 12. The scan platform includes an initial scan line 121, a marking pattern 14 printed by optical black, and a region 15 completed by correction white. The distance between a specific point A of the marking pattern 14 and the scan initial line 121 is referred to as predetermined length Yb. When the driver device 112 drives the image extraction device to start extracting the image, reference point coordinates c and b of the marking pattern 14 are obtained. A function of the angle between the reference point coordinates c, b and the specific point A of the marking pattern 14 is obtained. According to the predetermined length Yb, the reference point coordinates c and d, and the function of .theta., the scanner chassis can be quickly addressed in the scan initial line 121.
However, the prior art technique can only address the initial scanning position, but fails to provide the addressing technique during the scanning process. Therefore, when an external force such as vibration causes deviation of the addressing point, the image color is easily distorted.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Full-zone optical image addressing apparatus and method


A printing system includes a receiving unit, a printing unit, a grouping unit, a determining unit, and a control unit. The receiving unit receives a job in which a sheet feeding source is designated. The printing unit prints an image on a sheet fed from one of a plurality of sheet storage units. The grouping unit groups some of the sheet storage units as one virtual sheet storage unit. The determining unit determines which of one of the sheet storage units or the virtual sheet storage unit is the sheet feeding source. The control unit controls sheet feeding to continue the printing. When the sheet feeding source is determined to be a sheet storage unit, a sheet is fed from the designated sheet storage unit. When the sheet feeding source is determined to be the virtual sheet storage unit, sheets are respectively fed from the grouped sheet storage units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing system, a method for controlling the printing system, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has conventionally been offered a printing apparatus that includes a plurality of sheet storage units such as a sheet storage cassette, a sheet storage deck, or a manual feed tray for storing sheets. There is known a technique for grouping the plurality of sheet storage units for each sheet size or type, and continuing, even when paper running-out or the like occurs in a designated sheet storage unit, printing by switching to another sheet storage unit in the group to which the designated sheet storage unit belongs (as discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-256076). This is a technique for improving productivity of print products in the printing apparatus, and suited to the need of performing a great volume of print jobs by preventing sheet running-out as much as possible.
There is similarly a need original to sheet storage unit designation to perform printing by always feeding sheets only from a designated sheet storage unit. Also in this case, the method for designating the sheet storage unit at the time of starting printing is used. However, if the designated sheet storage unit is grouped with the other sheet storage units, there is a possibility that a sheet will be fed from an undesignated sheet storage unit, thus disabling an expected operation to be obtained. Thus, the conventional technique cannot be used.
The print job is a job to be performed by designating sheet storage unit. Thus, control of grouping should not be performed for such a print job. Further, in a printing environment having such two types of needs, various printing apparatuses are generally present, and thus customization unique to a printing apparatus is not suited. A print job is generated by a more general-purpose standard method, such as a standard page description language (PDL) command for designating a sheet storage unit.
In other words, control must be performed to simultaneously satisfy both needs not by a PDL command uniquely extended by the printing apparatus but within the standard PDL command.

Printing apparatus for controlling sheet feeding from a grouped plurality of sheet feeding units


A long-range lightning detection and characterization system and method. Electromagnetic radiation produced by a lightning strike is sensed at a sensing location and a measured signal representative of the strike is produced that defines an amplitude versus time. A set of reference data containing waveforms comparable to the measured signal is established. The set of reference data defines a set of reference amplitudes versus time, representative of one or more predetermined reference lightning strikes at various predetermined distances, where for each of the distances, the reference lightning strikes have associated therewith various predetermined day/night percentages. The measured signal is compared with the reference data, the comparison including finding a correlation between the measured signal and a correlating waveform in the reference data. At least one of a propagation distance, a time-of-arrival, a polarity, and an amplitude of the measured signal is inferred by reference to the correlating waveform.

A number of lightning detection networks are currently in operation for detecting and locating cloud-to-ground (CG) discharges, i.e., discharges resulting in lightning strikes. The networks utilize a number of geographically dispersed sensors for sensing the RF emissions produced by the lightning.
It is also desirable to detect lightning strikes anywhere in the world, and so the sensors are likewise distributed across and around the globe. However, it is not practical to place sensors in many parts of the world, and it is costly to require more sensors than are needed, so it is of great practical advantage to utilize "long range" sensors. Such sensors are adapted to respond to ELF/VLF emissions (in the range of about 3 Hz-30 kHz), which are guided through the space between the earth's surface and the ionosphere, and therefore the sensors do not need to be within the line of sight of the strike. This provides a sensor range of up to about 10,000 km (about ¼ of the circumference of the earth).
To estimate the location of a lightning strike, lightning detection systems perform a triangulation based on data obtained from a number of geographically dispersed sensors. All but one prior art long-range lightning detection network triangulate based on what are known in the art as "time of arrival" (TOA) measurements. Each sensor has a GPS synchronized clock and determines the absolute time that a particular part of an RF emission is sensed. TOA data from a number of sensors are compared to obtain the difference in arrival time of the emission at the different sensors. Each time difference defines a hyperbola on which lie points of possible locations for the lightning strike. In general, N sensors define N−1 hyperbolas, and a minimum of three hyperbolas are necessary to triangulate a location unambiguously. For this reason, at least four sensors, positioned within a sufficient proximity to a strike to detect and measure the RF emissions, are generally necessary to provide the data needed to triangulate the position of the strike, and the use of additional sensors is highly desirable to improve the estimate.
One prior art detection network utilizes "angle" or "azimuth" measurements. The angle measurements are obtained from the ratio of outputs of a crossed loop magnetic field antenna. If angle measurements are accurate enough, triangulation can be performed using angle information only. However, angle measurements at long distances are known to have substantial errors, perhaps around 5 degrees. Where the sensor may be located up to 10,000 km from the lightning strike, a 5 degree error can produce an uncertainty in location of nearly 900 km. In long-range detection systems, a 5 degree error has been found to be unacceptable, with the result that triangulation is not performed with angle measurements. In the one prior art system that employs angle measurements, they are used as a supplement to TOA measurements.
In all the prior art systems, triangulation is performed at a "central analyzer" to which the sensors transmit their data over a communications channel for analysis.
In addition to determining the location of a lightning strike, it is considered important in the art to determine as well its peak amplitude and polarity. The emission produced by a lightning strike initially has a waveshape, polarity, and amplitude, and all of these characteristics of the wave change as the wave propagates. As a result of interaction of the wave with the surface of the earth and the ionosphere, by degrees as a function of the distance traveled, the wave becomes attenuated and more complex, and the polarity changes. The wave interacts with the earth differently over land than water, and interacts differently with the ionosphere depending on whether it is day or night. In TOA measurements, it is not possible to know that a particular point on the wave as it is initially produced maps or corresponds to a particular point on the wave as it is received, guaranteeing significant TOA measurement errors. It is likewise not possible to know how polarity as perceived at the sensor corresponds to initial polarity. So it is a severe drawback of prior art long-range lightning detection systems and methods that the emitted wave degrades over long distances to a point where it does not provide sufficient intelligible information about the original lightning strike to characterize the strike as desired.

Long-range lightning detection and characterization system and method

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


An apparatus and method are provided for producing a wide E-plane half power beamwidth. The apparatus can include a dipole antenna and a complimentary slot antenna in an infinite ground plane. The apparatus can also include a waveguide with surrounding structure that can be adjusted to produce the desired half power beamwidth.

Communication systems known in the art use polarization diversity to improve system performance. For example, dual polarized base station antennas often include two ports that individually radiate or receive signals of orthogonal polarizations. These antennas typically are directional in azimuth and are used for sectoral coverage. Therefore, it is desirable for the two antenna ports to have equal azimuth beamwidths.
Known cellular base station installations are designed to provide 360 degree coverage divided into three 120 degree wide sectors. Dual polarized sector coverage base station antennas with both vertical and horizontal polarizations and nearly equal azimuth beamwidths of about 120 degrees are desirable. However, such antennas have been difficult to design. This is because a simple dipole can be appropriately placed over a small ground plane to achieve a 120 degree beamwidth in the H-plane, but not in the E-plane.
To overcome the known design difficulties of producing vertical and horizontal polarized radiation patterns with azimuth beamwidths of about 120 degrees, known antennas have employed dual slant polarizations (+/−45 degrees). Characteristics related to geometric symmetry in the antenna structure provide comparable beamwidths for each polarization.
However, the use of dual slant polarizations has been insufficient for several reasons. First, on mechanical boresight of a dual slant polarized antenna, the two polarizations are predominantly orthogonal. However, at angles off boresight, the polarizations become progressively less orthogonal until at 90 degrees azimuth, the polarizations are predominantly vertical. This characteristic results in a reduction of polarization diversity gain.
Furthermore, dual 45 degree slant antennas typically exhibit poor port-to-port isolation performance because the array elements of one polarization are not orthogonal to all elements of the other polarizations. This results in significant coupling between various elements of the two polarizations, thus degrading isolation.
In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for a structure that can provide a 120 degree E-plane half power beamwidth. Preferably, such a structure can be easily adjusted for other beamwidths and provide high isolation between polarizations.

Waveguide or slot radiator for wide E-plane radiation pattern beamwidth with additional structures for dual polarized operation and beamwidth control


An entropy source and a random number (RN) generator are disclosed. In one aspect, a low-energy entropy source includes a magneto-resistive (MR) element and a sensing circuit. The MR element is applied a static current and has a variable resistance determined based on magnetization of the MR element. The sensing circuit senses the resistance of the MR element and provides random values based on the sensed resistance of the MR element. In another aspect, a RN generator includes an entropy source and a post-processing module. The entropy source includes at least one MR element and provides first random values based on the at least one MR element. The post-processing module receives and processes the first random values (e.g., based on a cryptographic hash function, an error detection code, a stream cipher algorithm, etc.) and provides second random values having improved randomness characteristics.

I. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to electronics circuits, and more specifically to techniques for generating random values.
II. Background
Random number (RN) generators are widely used to generate random values for various applications. For example, a computer-like device that implements a cryptographic security algorithm typically needs a source of random values (usually random binary bits). A RN generator may be used to provide random values to the computer-like device for the cryptographic security algorithm. A RN generator is also commonly referred to as a RNG or a random bit generator (RBG).
A RN generator may be implemented with an entropy source that can provide a sequence of random bits. The entropy source may be implemented with a physical device having state transitions that can be modeled by a simple first-order Markov process to the most extent, so that entropy quality and related security strength can be more easily quantified to ensure sufficient security strength. Random bits may be derived from a sequence of state transitions of the physical device. However, most physical devices that can be used for an entropy source are expensive, require high power, and generate data slowly. Furthermore, it may be difficult or impractical to model the state transitions of these physical devices as simple Markov process, which may make it more difficult to quantify the performance of the physical devices.

Entropy source with magneto-resistive element for random number generator


A method of detecting sensor obstructions in a computing device includes: at an emitter, emitting a beam of light through a scan window toward a treaded surface; at an image sensor, for a sequence of positions of the computing device along the treaded surface: capturing a sequence of images corresponding to the sequence of positions, each image in the sequence having a first region and a second region; wherein the first regions depict a first subset of reflections of the beam of light originating from a first depth range; and wherein the second regions depict a second subset of the reflections originating from a second depth range; at a controller: receiving the sequence of images; determining, based on the second regions, whether an intensity of the second subset of the reflections exceeds a occlusion threshold; and when the determination is affirmative, generating an alert indicating obstruction of the scan window.

Tire wear dictates the need for replacement of a tire, and is typically assessed by measuring the depth of tire treads. A worn tire exhibits shallower treads, and may require replacement. Tire tread depth is typically measured manually with a tread depth gauge, but such measurements may be prone to inaccuracies or measurement errors. Imaging-based tread depth mechanisms may suffer from reduced accuracy resulting from contact between the measurement device and the tire.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Computing device and method of detecting sensor obstructions


Described herein is a low power high-speed digital receiver. The apparatus of the receiver comprises: a sampling unit operable to sample a differential input signal and to boost input signal gain, the sampling unit to generate a sampled differential signal with boosted input signal gain; and a differential amplifier to amplify the sampled differential signal with boosted input signal gain, the differential amplifier to generate a differential amplified signal.

In a typical Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) high-speed input-output (I/O) receiver (Rx) circuit, incoming data stream is sampled at an analog front-end (AFE) unit controlled by a 4-phase sampling clock signal (φ1-φ4) provided from a phase interpolator (PI). FIG. 1 is a typical AFE 100 which consists of an amplifying stage 101, a passive discrete-time linear equalizer (DTLE) 102, and a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) 103.
The AFE 100, however, suffers from bandwidth degradation due to multi-stage circuit architecture—the multiple stages being 101, 102, and 103. The AFE 100 being a multi-stage architecture also exhibits high power dissipation due to the presence of several active circuit stages. The power dissipation further increases when bias current to the analog circuits in the AFE 100 is increased to achieve higher bandwidth for Rx channels. The incoming data stream (Rx+ and Rx−) at the AFE 100 is effectively sampled inside the DFE/Sampler stage 103 which is physically far away from the Rx input ports near 101. This physical distance increases the chances of noise injection to the sampled signals and degrades the performance of the link.
The term "performance" herein generally refers to power supply rejection ratio (PSRR), power consumption, process-temperature-voltage (PVT) variations, area, scalability to lower power supply voltages, I/O transfer rate, etc.
The AFE 100 has many analog circuits requiring high precision analog voltage and current circuits for their operation. These analog circuits make the AFE 100 highly sensitive to process-voltage-temperature (PVT) variations and transistor device mismatch effects. The AFE 100, and similar AFEs, are unable to meet the stringent low power specifications of Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI®) as described in the MIPI® Alliance Specification for M-PHYSM Version 1.00.00 of Feb. 8, 2011 and approved on Apr. 28, 2011.


A semiconductor device comprising a substrate and an electronic circuit thereon is described. The electronic circuit comprises a first voltage provider node, a second voltage provider node, and an intermediary node connected to the first and second voltage provider node by a first and second network with a first and second resistance, respectively. The substrate is susceptible to conducting a substrate current. The semiconductor device further comprises a substrate current sensor. The first network is arranged to reduce the first resistance in response to the substrate current sensor signaling an increase of the substrate current and vice versa. Similarly, the second network is arranged to reduce the second resistance in response to the substrate current sensor signaling an increase of the substrate current and vice versa.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a semiconductor device 10, e.g., a CMOS device. The semiconductor device 10 comprises a substrate 12 on which an electronic circuit 14 is provided. The electronic circuit 14 may be formed at least partly on or in the substrate. For example, the electronic circuit 14 may comprise components such as diodes or transistors comprising doped regions of the substrate 16 and suitably interconnected by metal conductors on or in the substrate. In the example, the electronic circuit 14 is a micro controller unit (MCU). However, it may be any other kind of electronic circuit. The electronic circuit 14 may comprise multiple contact pads 16, e.g., two or more contact pads, for connecting the electronic circuit 14 to an external device (not shown).
A problem that may be encountered with a semiconductor device of this kind is that a spurious electrical current may temporarily be injected into the substrate 12 via the pads 16. Current injection may, for example, be caused by radio frequency perturbations in an environment of the semiconductor device 10, or by perturbations generated or transmitted by an external device connected to the electronic circuit 14 via the contact pads 16. At least part of the injected current may flow through regions of the substrate that are not part of the electronic circuit 14 and may therefore cause various undesired effects such as voltage surges and state transitions. The injected current may notably pass through isolating regions of the substrate 12, e.g., through regions intended to isolate diodes, transistors, or other components of the circuit from each other.
In one scenario, negative charge carriers, e.g., electrons, are injected via the pads 16 and accumulate at a negative well, e.g., a negatively doped region, of the substrate 12, thus temporarily lowering the electrical potential at the negative well. In another scenario, negative carriers are injected via a subset of pads, traverse the substrate and leave the substrate via another subset of pads. In both scenarios, the injected current may have undesired effects.
In order to protect sensitive parts of the electronic circuit 14 against injected currents, a guard ring 18 may be provided, as proposed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,340 (Nishimura). The guard ring 18 may surround the electronic circuit 14 or a sensitive region thereof, or it may extend along a major portion of a contour surrounding the sensitive region. The guard ring 18 may, however, be insufficient when the magnitude of the injected current exceeds a critical magnitude. Furthermore, it may be desirable to produce substrates which do not require a guard ring.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,315,026 B2 (Roth) proposes integrating a substrate current sensor 20 in the substrate 12, for sensing an injected substrate current. The substrate current sensor 20 may, for example, be connected to a current meter 22 for generating a signal 24 indicative of a magnitude of the substrate current. The signal 24 may be provided to the electronic circuit 14, thus enabling the electronic circuit 14 to respond to the substrate current in a suitable manner, for instance, by switching to a safe mode. The substrate current sensor 20 and the meter 22 may be part of the electronic circuit 14. Notably, the meter 22 may be arranged on or in the substrate 12 and be integrated in the electronic circuit 14, although this is not shown in the figure.
FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross section of an example of a substrate 12 as may be included in, e.g., the semiconductor device 10 shown in FIG. 1. A similar substrate has been described in greater detail in the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 8,315,026 B2 by Roth et al. It may comprise, for example, an injecting device 26, e.g., a PMOS field effect transistor (FET), the substrate current sensor 20, the guard ring 18, and a sensitive device 28, e.g., a PMOS FET. In a variant of the example, the guard ring 18 may be absent.
In the event of, e.g., an external perturbation, negative carriers may be injected into the substrate 12 via the injecting device 26 and be attracted by the sensitive device 28. In the example, the substrate is of a p type, and the sensitive device 28 comprises a negative well (n well) which may attract the negative carriers. A substrate current from the sensitive device 28 to the injecting device 26 through the substrate 12 may thus occur. The sensitive device 28 may thus be charged negative, which may be undesired. The substrate current may be supressed or reduced by the guard ring 18. The attraction of negative carriers by the negative well is an example of a bipolar coupling effect. In the case of an n-doped substrate (not shown), positive carriers (holes) may be attracted by a p-well.
Capacitive coupling of currents is another effect that may be observed in a semiconductor substrate. In one example, an aggressor pumps current into and out of the substrate through its capacitance to the substrate. As the resistance of the substrate is finite, this may modulate the substrate potential and a component located on or in the substrate (referred to as a victim) may then experience an exchange current through its own capacitance to the substrate. This can cause a variation of the potential into either direction on the victim's side.
An example of an embodiment of the sensor 20 and an example of a mode of operation of the sensor 20 are described in reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.
As schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, the substrate current sensor 20 may be arranged to attract carriers injected into the substrate 12, e.g., negative carriers. To this end, the substrate current sensor 20 may comprise a charge collecting region 30 for attracting the carriers, e.g., a negative well 30 for attracting the negative carriers. Furthermore, the sensor 20 may comprise a current source 32 for removing carriers from the charge collecting region 30; e.g., for removing a quantity of negative carriers from the negative well 30.
As schematically illustrated in FIG. 4, the current source 32 may be connected to the negative well 30 and be arranged to produce a reference current Iref (also referred to herein as the threshold current) from a supply node 34 to the negative well 30, thus charging the negative well 30 and raising the potential at the negative well 30 to a sensor potential Vsensor which may be the potential at the supply node 34. Thus, a current comparator may be formed. When the injected current Iinjected exceeds the reference current Iref, the negative well 30 may decharge and its potential may fall accordingly. The current source is not an ideal current source. Rather, it is an implementable current source. It may sustain the reference current Iref only as long as the potential at the negative well is below a supply level of the current source.
A flip flop 38, e.g., a RS flip flop, may be connected, e.g., via an inverter 36, to the negative well 30 so as to detect the voltage drop at the negative well 30 that may be caused by the injected current Iinjected. In the example, when the injected current is less than the reference current of the current source 32, the input of the inverter 36 is high and the set input (S input) of the flip flop 38 is low. When the injected current exceeds the reference current Iref, the input of the inverter 36 is pulled low and the S input of the flip flop 38 is driven high, thus setting the flip flop 38. The flip flop 38 may thus indicate that the injected current Iinjected has exceeded the reference current Iref. The Q output of the flip flop 38 may be connected, for example, to a control unit (not shown). The control unit may be arranged to set the electronic circuit 14 into an appropriate operating mode or into an appropriate state in dependence of the state of the flip flop 38. The sensor 20 as well as the control unit may be integrated in the electronic circuit 14.

Semiconductor device and method of operating a semiconductor device

Abstract: A method of operating a semiconductor device is also disclosed.


An apparatus includes a kickstand assembly having a height-adjusting mechanism. A planetary gear assembly is operatively mounted to the height-adjusting mechanism of the kickstand assembly. The planetary gear assembly is configured to adjust the height-adjusting mechanism in such a way that a vertical height of the kickstand assembly is adjusted.

A kickstand is a device on a bicycle or motorcycle (a vehicle) that is configured to allow the bike to be kept upright without leaning against another object or the aid of a person. The kickstand is usually a piece of metal that flips down from a vehicle frame of the vehicle (the bike), and makes contact with the ground. The kickstand is generally located in the middle of the bike or towards the rear of the bike. Some touring bikes have two instances of the kickstand: one instance at the rear and a second instance at the front.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a data transmission method based on cross-carrier scheduling. The method includes: determining a first downlink subframe according to a timing relationship of an uplink HARQ of a reference uplink and downlink configuration, where the first downlink subframe is used to indicate timing of sending uplink scheduling grant information of a first uplink subframe of a scheduled cell; transmitting the uplink scheduling grant information in a subframe of a scheduling cell corresponding to the first downlink subframe, under a circumstance that the subframe of the scheduling cell corresponding to the first downlink subframe is a downlink subframe, where an uplink and downlink configuration of the scheduling cell and an uplink and downlink configuration of the scheduled cell are different; and receiving or sending uplink data in the first uplink subframe. In the present invention, the cross-carrier scheduling may be implemented effectively.

In an LTE (Long Term Evolution) system, the smallest time interval for a base station to schedule a user equipment is a subframe. Data transmission in an uplink direction is based on a policy of a synchronous (hybrid automatic repeat request, Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest) HARQ. Specifically, the base station sends uplink scheduling grant (Uplink_grant, UL_grant) information in a downlink subframe to schedule a physical uplink shared channel (Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH) in a certain subsequent uplink subframe; the user equipment (User Equipment, UE) sends the PUSCH according to the UL_grant; the base station receives the PUSCH, and sends feedback information (ACK or NACK) of the PUSCH, that is, physical HARQ indicator channel (Physical HARQ Indicator Channel, PHICH) information, at fixed timing, and negative PHICH information (that is, NACK) triggers PUSCH retransmission in a subsequent uplink subframe. Herein, after the base station schedules a PUSCH, timing of retransmitting a PHICH corresponding to the PUSCH and the PUSCH is fixed.
In LTE release 10, a carrier aggregation (Carrier Aggregation, CA) technology is introduced, so as to increase a peak rate of a system by supporting data sending on multiple carriers simultaneously. Two methods for scheduling uplink data, that is, non-cross-carrier scheduling and cross-carrier scheduling, are introduced in the LTE release 10. Because in the release 10, it is supposed that a primary cell (Pcell) and a secondary cell (Scell) adopting the CA technology adopt the same time division duplexing (Time Division Duplexing, TDD) uplink and downlink configuration, in the two scheduling policies, the primary cell and the secondary cell may work according to a timing relationship of an HARQ in an uplink and downlink configuration defined in an LTE release 8. For the non-cross-carrier scheduling, the UL_grant and the PHICH used to schedule a PUSCH of the Scell are sent by the Scell; and for the cross-carrier scheduling, the UL_grant and the PHICH used to schedule a PUSCH of the Scell are sent by the Pcell.
In LTE release 11, for a TDD system, it is necessary to study how to process different uplink and downlink configurations of multiple cells adopting the CA technology are different. For example, the PCell adopts an uplink and downlink configuration 1, and the SCell adopts an uplink and downlink configuration 2. For some subframes, a duplexing direction of the PCell and a duplexing direction of the SCell are consistent, for example, subframes 0 of the two cells are downlink subframes, and subframes 2 of the two cells are uplink subframes; however, for some special subframes, for example, a subframe 3 and a subframe 8, duplexing directions of the two cells are different.
For the foregoing circumstance that the uplink and downlink configurations of the two cells adopting the CA technology are different, if the non-cross-carrier scheduling is adopted, scheduling of PUSCH transmission of the Scell may still be performed according to timing of an uplink HARQ of the Scell. However, in the case of cross-carrier scheduling, because the UL_grant and the PHICH need to be sent by the Pcell, and a subframe of the Pcell used for timing for scheduling the PUSCH may be an uplink subframe, where and the timing is obtained according to a certain timing policy. The uplink subframe is incapable of supporting the cross-carrier scheduling of the PUSCH of the Scell, thereby failing to effectively implement the cross-carrier scheduling.

Data transmission method based on cross-carrier scheduling, user equipment, and base station


A shopping method comprises the steps of displaying a line of merchandise within a retail establishment; training sales assistants to operate portable sales checkout devices and to match the line of merchandise with shoppers' needs; recording purchases and simultaneously producing and delivering a paper sales receipt and a paper pickup voucher to each of the shoppers wherein, the pickup voucher identifies a pickup point access code, pickup point identity and pickup point compartment identity; reserving the pickup point compartment associated with the compartment identity; wrapping and marking the purchases with a pickup point access code, pickup point identity and pickup point compartment identity; delivering the purchases to the pickup compartments and enabling the pickup vouchers of the shoppers to provide access to the respective pickup compartments.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to commercial retail methods and more particularly to a shopping method offering great convenience to shoppers.
2. Description of Related Art
The following art defines the present state of this field and each disclosure is hereby incorporated herein by reference:
Bianco, U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,614: Describes a method and means to aid shopping which includes the use by a consumer of a portable bar code scanner having an electronic memory. The consumer enters desired items into the memory by scanning bar codes on, for example, containers, coupons, advertisements, and pamphlets furnished by a store. The memory is then read by a store terminal which may compile a printed shopping list and/or may transmit the order to a warehouse environment for manual and/or automatic order picking. The memory may be read by the store terminal over a telephone line via a modem.
Wolfram, U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,565: Describes a system and method for matching all loaded baggage with passengers during aircraft boarding to provide each passenger with a boarding pass and baggage tags, each having the same unique machine readable code imprinted thereon. A scanner and memory device at the boarding point scans and reads a passenger's pass and stores the code. A portable scanner and memory at the baggage loading point scans and reads each luggage tag and stores each code. The stored codes are delivered to the passenger loading gate prior to departure of the aircraft. A computer compares stored passenger codes with stored baggage codes. Lack of a stored loading pass code with a matching stored code of loaded baggage is indicated to permit inspection of such baggage prior to aircraft departure.
Schneider, U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,961: Describes a system and method for dispensing a viscous adhesive onto a glass member to be attached to a vehicle body. A reciprocating pump supplies adhesive to a dispensing point, with a pulse dampener member disposed between the pump and the dispensing point. A rolling diaphragm defines two chambers within the pulse dampener member, with the adhesive being communicated into a first variable volume chamber. A pressurized gas force is maintained on the opposite side of the diaphragm from the first variable volume chamber. The pulse dampener member includes a T-connection, with the pump supplying fluid into a first leg, the second leg being connected to the variable volume chamber and the third leg connected to the dispensing point. As fluid enters the first leg, the amount of fluid demanded at the dispensing point moves from the first leg directly into the third leg. Any excess fluid supplied into the first leg moves upwardly into the variable volume chamber through the second leg. Should there be a deficiency in the amount of adhesive supplied by the pump, as would typically occur during low flow rate portions of the cycle of the reciprocating pump, the-force from the pressurized gas chamber forces the rolling diaphragm to reduce the volume of the variable volume chamber and dispense fluid stored in the variable volume chamber into the third leg. A rotary valve is mounted at the dispensing point to provide accurate and rapid control of the amount of fluid dispensed. Most preferably, the rotary valve is mounted to a robot arm, and the pulse dampener member is mounted to a base of the robot.
Trotta, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,264: Describes a system and method of automated shopping, including a portable bar code scanner for scanning bar code indicia information on items selected to be purchased, securing the scanner in a holder for limited access, and releasing the portable bar code scanner upon receiving an authorized payment card. A plurality of items for purchase are displayed in a store such that a customer can select an item to be purchased from the store display. The customer scans the bar code indicia on the selected item from the store display. The payment card is debited for the purchase price of the selected item and then returned to the customer.
Campo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,077: Describes a point of sale terminal that as disclosed provides all of the usual point of sale terminal functions, but that is entirely field portable. Data pertinent to each purchase can be input to the terminal via a keyboard assembly, a touch-screen display or a signature-capture screen assembly, or via an antenna and radio link from an associated bar code scanner. Data may be communicated at any time to a remote host computer, also via a separate antenna and radio link. The communication links with the host computer and the bar code scanner operate independently and simultaneously, using mutually compatible modulation schemes such as a spread spectrum scheme for the host computer link and a narrowband or spread spectrum scheme for the bar code scanner link. The terminal thereby functions as a portable repeater or node in a data communications network.
Tiley et al., U.S. 2001/0032443: Describes a method for package storage and retrieval by providing within a retail outlet, a receptacle with a compartment capable of receiving, retaining and releasing at least one package deposited by a sender for pick-up by a recipient thereby beginning a transaction. A sender is provided access to the receptacle for a recipient. A recipient is provided access to the receptacle to retrieve the package and thereby completing a transaction such that the compartment may be used for another transaction.
Razumov, U.S. 2002/0016747: Describes a novel retail system that is provided with an advance ordering system that enables a customer to order a purchase in advance. At least one storage facility is arranged for storing goods available for ordering. Multiple retail facilities remote with respect to the storage facility enable a customer to obtain the ordered purchase after a time period sufficient to deliver the ordered purchase from the storage facility to a retail facility selected by the customer. At least one of the retail facilities has a drive-through check-out arrangement that enables a customer sitting in a vehicle to pick up the ordered purchase without leaving the vehicle.
Moreno, U.S. 2002/0035515: Describes a system and process for securing goods delivered to and retrieved from a secure storage unit. The system utilizes a locker having an interior into which at least one good may be inserted and secured by a door via a locking mechanism. Access to the interior of the locker is controlled by a server which is in communication with the locker via an Internet or other network connection. The server controls the accessing and operation of the locker either directly or in combination with a controller. The controller is suitably situated in a kiosk that provides user interfaces by which customers, vendors, and/or carriers access and utilize the locker. The locker may be any suitable storage container including garages, mailboxes, heated/cooled compartments, and other storage units. The kiosk may also include other vending machines and dispensing devices, the operation of which are preferably controlled by the server.
Hungerford, III, U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,980: Describes a package and delivery system method and display to be used in a retail business environment where customers choose to purchase an item represented by a displayed example. The delivery is handled through a central facility and a post card is used by the purchaser to notify the recipient of the impending receipt of the purchased item. The invention allows for a retailer to operate in essentially an inventory free environment. Graphic designs included on the postcard may be limited edition prints. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the claims.
Beach, E.P. 0856812: Describes an invention that relates to an improved order fulfillment system. The system is provided with improved data entry system for selecting items for purchase by a customer, and an improved item collection terminal and order delivery system.
The portable terminal to be used for collecting of items is provided with an audio as well as a video presentation means which are used to provide assistance to the to terminal user.
Accenture Global Services GMBH, W.O. 056490: Describes a method and system for the delivery of goods. Remote locker banks are used to distribute parcels of previously requested goods to a field operative. The field operative requests via a computer one or more goods from a distribution center, which packages the goods into a parcel and transports the parcel to a locker in a locker bank at a location nearest to the field operative. The distribution center and remote locker banks are connected via a central server computer that facilities communications and operations among them. The distribution center also communicates locker information to a field operative's remote unit, such that the field operative can open the specified locker when he or she goes to retrieve the parcel. The remote locker banks may be placed near retail stores or service stations, where spillover parcels may be stored when the locker bank is full.
Our prior art search described above teaches: a portable point of sale terminal, a baggage and passenger matching method and system, a method and apparatus for computer-aided shopping, a system and method for automated shopping, a supermarket with self-service checkout, minimal inventory package and delivery system in a retail business environment, a retail system with drive-through check-out arrangement, a method of providing an automated package receptacle for the receipt, storage and pickup of a package at a retail site and for providing marketing and other communications to package recipients, a delivery of goods to electronic storage lockers, a portable shopping and order fulfillment system, a system and method for remotely coordinating the secure delivery of goods. Thus, the prior art shows, various techniques for automating shopping and for separating the purchasing and the merchandise pickup functions. However, the prior art fails to teach the use of sales assistance personnel trained in both sales assistance as well as sales checkout, and fails to teach a method of shopping wherein plural purchases from plural sales venues may be combined into a single merchandise pickup procedure. The prior art also fails to address the reserving of a pickup compartment at the moment of the purchase. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.


An upright steerable vacuum cleaner is provided, which includes the use of a pivotable cylindrical motor housing, as well as a universal joint which is attached to the motor housing, such that twisting at the upper body of the vacuum cleaner clockwise causes the base of the unit to turn right, twisting in the opposite direction causes if to turn left.

In the field of vacuum cleaners, a need has been recognized to provide vacuum cleaners which have improved maneuverability features. The prior art is replete with powered upright vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaners which include L-shaped nozzles which allow the operator to vacuum around objects such as chair legs.
However, a need still exists for an upright vacuum cleaner which has improved maneuverability features not provided by the prior art.

Vacuum cleaner having improved steering features


A process for the restoration of the initial chemical lighting potential of the oxalate component of a chemiluminescent lighting system. The oxalate component comprises an oxalate diester in a first liquid solution which prior to restoration exhibits a failure to produce initial high intensity luminosity upon mixture of the oxalate component with a liquid activator component comprising a peroxide in a second liquid solution. The process comprises contacting the oxalate component with magnesium silicate or calcium silicate for a period of time sufficient to correct the failure and thereafter separating the oxalate component from the selected silicate.

The chemiluminescent lighting system to which the present invention relates is prepared by mixing two liquid components which are kept separate until light is desired. At the desired time, the two liquid components are mixed and chemical light is produced. Typically, the first component is an oxalate component dissolved in a suitable solvent, while the second component is typically a peroxide compound dissolved in a suitable solvent. Usually the first component includes a fluorescer to heighten the chemiluminescence of the system, and the second component usually includes a catalyst to eliminate the induction period before light is produced upon mixing the two components.
The prior art recognizes that occasionally, light is not produced or, if produced, light is not produced at the desired maximum intensity level, when the first and second components are mixed, even after a prolonged induction period. Such failures are known to occur, even when the fluorescer is present in the first component and the catalyst is present in the second component.
The failure associated with no, or low-level, light production has been traced to an unexplained fault in the oxalate component. Studies have shown that the oxalate component is extremely sensitive to the presence of trace quantities of moisture and by-products remaining with the oxalate after its synthesis, notwithstanding that rigorous efforts are taken during the synthesis of the oxalate component (e.g. an environment of dry argon, purification of reactants and solvents, control of reaction time and temperature, repeated distillation/re-crystallization of the oxalate product, etc.). Therefore, it is desirable to have a process which will quickly and inexpensively insure that the oxalate component may be purified such that the oxalate component will never fail to produce the maximum possible luminosity intensity promptly upon mixing of the first and second components.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,797 describes a process for overcoming the oxalate component failure which involves treating the oxalate component at room temperature with an alkali-metal alumino-silicate, i.e. a solid molecular sieve material, e.g. Linde Molecular Sieves--Type 5A or the like. However, this process has several drawbacks: firstly and most importantly, such treatment is not successful in every case; secondly, alkali-metal alumino-silicates are expensive materials; thirdly, treatment times are of the order of several hours and a period of about 16 hours of standing is required before the oxalate component may be decanted from the alkali-metal alumino-silicate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,415 recognizes the drawbacks of the process of the '797 patent and substitutes anhydrous activated alumina for the alkali-metal alumino-silicate. However, anhydrous activated alumina is expensive and the treatment involves a relatively high level of alumina. Moreover, separation of the oxalate component from the alumina entails the use of laborious, time-consuming and expensive filtration methods.

Process for restoration of chemical lighting potential of a chemiluminescent lighting system


A system includes an information processing apparatus and a peripheral which are connected to each other. Initially, the information processing apparatus transmits, to the peripheral, a request to use a service provided by the peripheral. The peripheral determines whether to grant use permission to the received request, and notifies the information processing apparatus which has transmitted the request of the determination result. The peripheral stores information associated with the information processing apparatus to which use permission is granted in response to the request. The information processing apparatus then receives, from the peripheral, a response to the request.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing system, information processing apparatus, and peripheral and, more particularly, to an information processing system comprising an information processing apparatus such as a PC and a peripheral such as a multifunction printer having a scanner function which connect to a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, computer techniques and communication techniques have remarkably advanced, and networks have become widespread not only in offices but also in households. As terminals forming these networks, peripheral devices such as printers which have network functionalities are commercially available and becoming increasingly popular.
It is easy to enable terminal apparatuses connected to a network to communicate with each other. For example, a wired LAN may be used to enable a given terminal apparatus to connect to a network by using a cable to connect to the network and setting up an IP address. A wireless LAN allows a given terminal apparatus to connect to a network from, for example, outside a room, if the apparatus satisfies predetermined conditions, e.g., its identifier matches an identification code called an SSID (Service Set Identifier) which indicates a network group. For this reason, it may be possible for an unintended terminal apparatus (e.g., unauthorized terminal apparatus) to connect to a network. As a result, the unintended terminal apparatus may be used to read out or rewrite files in other apparatuses connected to the network without authorization. In certain cases, it may be possible for a user of an unauthorized apparatus to use a printer connected to the network without authorization. Furthermore, it may be possible for a user of an unauthorized apparatus to read a document placed on the document table of a scanner connected to the network. Moreover, it may be possible for a user of an unauthorized apparatus to change settings for a device connected to the network.
To address the above concerns, an access restriction function typified by a function called MAC address filtering is sometimes provided for a network transfer unit, a network recording apparatus, or the like. A MAC address is an address which is assigned to the media access control layer of a network and is unique to each network device. This address is displayed by using 16 digits in hexadecimal notation. MAC address filtering or the access restriction function is a function of registering in advance a MAC address which permits communication and receiving communication from only a network device having the registered MAC address on the basis of the fact that the MAC address is a unique address.
In order to use such an access restriction function or MAC address filtering function, it is necessary to register the MAC address of a device whose communication is permitted or rejected. As described above, however, a MAC address has 16 digits in hexadecimal notation, which an average user might be unfamiliar with. It is therefore very difficult for the user to understand the address, and it is very cumbersome to input the MAC addresses of a plurality of devices.
In order to solve this problem, various proposals have been made conventionally. For example, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-203422, a printer discriminates whether a received packet complies with a predetermined protocol. Upon determining that the packet complies with the protocol, the printer stores a transmission source address in advance, and displays the stored address upon activation of an access restriction setting utility. There has also been proposed a technique of allowing a user to register an address which permits access by selecting it from the displayed addresses.
In addition, with regard to an authentication apparatus for an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-110551 discloses the following technique. This technique displays, on a display, identification information which can identify a terminal apparatus on the basis of the apparatus address transmitted from the terminal apparatus, and allows the user to select, by using input keys, a terminal apparatus for which a predetermined service is permitted to be provided on the basis of the displayed identification information. The technique then transmits an apparatus address corresponding to the identification information of the selected terminal apparatus to the service providing apparatus by using a wireless unit or the like. On the other hand, the service providing apparatus of the MFP stores the apparatus address transmitted from the authentication apparatus in a RAM. In addition, the service providing apparatus collates the apparatus address transmitted from the terminal apparatus with the apparatus address stored in the RAM. If the two apparatus addresses match, a service request from the terminal apparatus is permitted to allow the terminal apparatus to be registered in the service providing apparatus of the MFP.
These proposals implement an access restriction function or MAC address filtering function which can register, in a target apparatus, a terminal apparatus for which communication and service request are permitted without making the user manually input a MAC address.
There has also been proposed a technique of reducing the load of user authentication on a device which provides services for a network by eliminating any service requests from users having no use right, and reducing network load by preventing the generation of useless service request packets.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-330801 discloses the following technique. This technique registers device information such as a use right in a directory server and makes a user PC acquire device information from the directory server. The user PC then checks whether it has a use right of a service from the device, i.e., the self-address is registered in a service use right item. If the address is registered, the user PC transmits a service request job to the device. If no service use right is available, the user PC searches for, from the previously obtained device information, a device which can provide a service similar to the requested service and for which the PC has a use right. If an alternative device exists, the user PC transmits a service request job to the alternative device upon obtaining permission from a job issuer. If no alternative device exists, the user PC notifies the job issuer that the PC has no service use right, and terminates the processing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-132029 discloses techniques in a network system shared by visitors who are unfamiliar with the installed system and staff who are familiar with the system. These techniques are designed to prevent troubles caused by operation errors by visitors who are unfamiliar with the system and prevent confusion due to complicated function display. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-132029, this system comprises a means for specifying the user of a second device which can communicate with a first device, refers to the use history of the first device by the specified user, and restricts a function of permitting the use of the first device in accordance with the use history.
Peripherals connecting to a conventional network include one having a so-called scanner function of transmitting data generated by reading a document (which will be referred to as scan data, image data, or document data hereinafter) to an information terminal apparatus.
This scanner function includes a pull scan function and a push scan function. The pull scan function is a function of transmitting scan data from a peripheral to an information terminal apparatus when the peripheral activates the scanner function upon operation on the information terminal apparatus side. The push scan function is a function of determining, by operation on the peripheral side, an information terminal apparatus to which scan data is to be transmitted, and transmitting the scan data to the information terminal apparatus. With regard to this push scan function, several techniques have been disclosed.
In an image reading system including an image reading apparatus which reads a document image and outputs image data and an information processing terminal which inputs the output image data, for example, the following image data transmission/reception control is performed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-150520 discloses a technique of checking, by referring to information held by an image reading apparatus, whether the operation unit of the image reading apparatus has issued an image read instruction, and instructs the image reading apparatus to start reading an image, when an image read instruction has been issued. The information processing terminal receives image data obtained by causing the image reading apparatus to read an image in accordance with this instruction.
In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-077504 discloses a method in which, in order to transmit image data to a desired terminal apparatus through a network by scanner operation, mail is generated and transmitted upon attachment of the image data thereto.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-215009 discloses a technique of reading an image and transmitting image data by selecting a transmission destination information terminal apparatus and an application with respect to the push scan function of an image reading apparatus connecting to a network. This technique allows transmission of image data in accordance with the application executed by the transmission destination information terminal apparatus.
In general, a network system which comprises a plurality of clients and a server and in which communication between a specific client and the server is not occupied has two methods of recognizing event notification from the server to a specific client.
One is a method of making the server notify all or a specific one of the clients of the occurrence of an event. According to this method, in a system comprising PCs as clients and an MFP as a server, in order to make the MFP body notify a PC of an event, the MFP notifies the PC of the occurrence of the event.
More specifically, the MFP itself notifies all the PCs on the network of the occurrence of the event by using broadcasting based on UDP (User Datagram Protocol) communication. Thereafter, the corresponding PC alone recognizes the notification of the event, and requests the MFP to provide a service using TCP communication. This method is simple as an event notification method, and produces only a small time difference from event occurrence. However, from the client viewpoint, unintended communication is performed. In order to cope with sudden event notification from the server, each client must always open a specific communication port, resulting in instability in terms of security. Some firewall function comprising security software, in particular, shuts off event notification communication from the above server. As a consequence, the clients cannot detect any event occurrence.
The other is a method of making the clients poll the server. According to this method, in a system comprising PCs as clients and an MFP as a server, in order to detect event occurrence in the MFP, each PC polls the MFP.
More specifically, a PC issues a polling request to the MFP by UDP communication, and at the same time, the MFP holds the list information of the PC with which the MFP is communicating. Upon occurrence of the polling request event from the PC, the MFP notifies the occurrence of the event through only the polling response to the PC as an event target. This makes the PC recognize the notification of the event and request the MFP to provide a service using TCP communication. Although this method is more complicated in operation than the above method, the server reflects the occurrence of an event in a polling response, and hence can reliably notify only a predetermined client of event occurrence. In addition, since no client receives any unintended communication, the reliability of security is high.
This method, however, produces a time difference from the occurrence of an event. Therefore, simply shortening the polling cycle will increase the loads on the network and its constituent devices. In contrast, simply prolonging the polling cycle will increase the time difference from the occurrence of an event to the detection of the event. That is, it is necessary to properly set a polling cycle, and hence a polling cycle changing method has been proposed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-260987.
According to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-203422 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-110551, however, the access restriction or MAC address filtering function is one-sidedly set in a peripheral, and any information about the setting is not notified to a terminal apparatus which tries to access the peripheral or receive a service therefrom. When, for example, a terminal apparatus which is set so as not to receive any service from the peripheral tries to communicate with the peripheral without knowing this fact, the terminal apparatus receives no response. Therefore, the terminal apparatus repeats retry until timeout, thus producing useless traffic and processing. The user of the terminal apparatus is not either notified that the apparatus is set so as not to receive any service from the peripheral. For this reason, the user performs operation for the use of a service from the peripheral. As a result, the user wastes much effort and time.
According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-330801, a directory server registers device information such as a use right, but does not notify any user PCs of the information. Each user PC must therefore inquire of the directory server, and hence traffic occurs between the user PC and the directory server, and the user PC needs to perform processing for an inquiry.
According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-132029, the timing at which restriction contents are determined coincides with the timing at which the user tries to use a first device from a second device, and the user is notified of the contents upon determination thereof. When the second device requests the first device to execute a print job or executes processing for actually using the first device, e.g., detecting the state of the first device, the user is specified, and restriction contents are determined. The user is then notified of the contents. In addition, this technique notifies the user of the contents by screen display, voice output, or the like by the second device at best. Therefore, after performing some kind of operation for the use of the function of the first device by using the second device, the user is notified of the restriction of the function if the function is restricted. Therefore, the operation and time during this period are wasted.
The push scan operation disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-150520 is based on the assumption that an image reading apparatus and an information processing terminal directly and locally, i.e., one-to-one, connect to each other by IEEE1284 or the like. In order to allow a plurality of information processing terminals to share an image reading apparatus through a network, this technique can use an arrangement in which one of the information processing terminals connects to the network, and the remaining information processing terminals receive image data through the information processing terminal connecting to the network. This reference, however, makes no reference to a case wherein the image reading apparatus connects to the network. Therefore, an intermediary information terminal apparatus is always required to allow the remaining information terminal apparatuses to receive image data. In order to allow an information processing terminal to check, for example, whether the operation unit of an image reading apparatus has issued an image read instruction, it is necessary to store the information input from the operation unit in the memory of the image reading apparatus and make the information processing terminal read out the information stored in the memory. It is therefore inefficient for a plurality of information processing terminals to read out information from the memory of the image reading apparatus, and this reference does not clearly indicate any means for specifying to which information processing terminal image data is to be transmitted.
For the push scan operation disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-077504, a scanner apparatus needs to have a mail generation function and mail transmission function, and requires a means for processing image data into an attached file to be attached to mail. This imposes a processing load on the scanner apparatus and increases the apparatus cost. In addition, it is cumbersome to input an mail address to the scanner apparatus for every transmission and register information in advance.
The push scan function disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-215009 registers in advance an information terminal apparatus to which read image data is to be transmitted, and allows the user to select one of the pieces of registered information terminal information at the start of push scan operation, thereby eliminating the cumbersomeness of address input operation and the like.
According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-215009, however, when push scan operation is performed for the image reading apparatus, the image reading apparatus requests the information terminal apparatus to transmit a read command. In other words, the image reading apparatus issues a read command transmission request to the information terminal apparatus by a so-called interrupt system. In this case, if, for example, an information terminal apparatus cannot receive image data for some reason, for example, because the apparatus is in a power OFF state, timeout occurs and the image data cannot be transmitted. In such a case, the push scan operation is useless operation, and time is wasted. Assume that such information is notified by the interrupt system. In this case, since the notification packet is abruptly transmitted, the firewall of the information terminal apparatus may discard the packet, and the notification may not reach the information terminal apparatus. In addition, this technique is based on the assumption that information terminal apparatuses and a scanner apparatus are arranged in one-to-one correspondence or many-to-one correspondence, and gives no consideration to a case wherein a plurality of scanner apparatuses connect to a network.
The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-260987 needs to additionally have a mechanism of explicitly transmitting a request to set a polling cycle, and hence requires an additional arrangement on the system.
While a server which periodically receives polling signals for state acquisition from a plurality of clients is processing a high-load service request, polling from the clients becomes a load. This may affect processing for a service. In addition, when polling from a plurality of clients concentrate on the server, it imposes a load on the server. As a result, if the server cannot receive a service request from a client which is generated as a result of polling during the processing of a service, polling causes useless network traffic. On the other hand, when performing polling in accordance with a requested cycle on the server side, the client side cannot perform operation in consideration of the processing load on the client, resulting in a reduction in the degree of freedom of the client.

Information processing apparatus requesting registration with peripheral, and peripheral determining whether to accept registration request of information processing apparatus


A data processing device includes a registering unit, a display unit, a status acquiring unit, and a virtual device renaming unit. The registering unit registers a plurality of communicable printers as a plurality of virtual devices. The display unit displays a plurality of virtual device names for the plurality of virtual devices. The status acquiring unit acquires a status of each of the plurality of virtual devices. The virtual device renaming unit changes at least one of the virtual device names for the plurality of virtual devices to a device name representing the status of a corresponding virtual device acquired by the status acquiring unit.

In recent years, personal computers and other data processing devices have been used in an environment allowing access to a plurality of printers. For example, a system that has a plurality of data processing devices connected to a plurality of printers via a network may be set up so that each of the data processing devices can access each of the printers. With this system, virtual devices corresponding to the printers are registered in each data processing device so that the user can specify which of the printers is the output destination.
By registering a plurality of virtual devices in the data processing device, the user of the data processing device can select a virtual device as the output destination from a list of the virtual device names. However, the user cannot print on a printer corresponding to the virtual device selected from the list if the power to the corresponding printer is not turned on or if the corresponding printer is out of paper, for example.
When this happens, the user can select another virtual device from the list to print the data on a different printer, but this method requires the user to perform extra operations in order to change the output destination. Further, the printer corresponding to the new output destination may also be inoperable due to the power not being turned on or the printer being out of paper, forcing the user to perform still more annoying operations.
One data processing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-85132 addresses this problem by acquiring status data from the printers and switching the default printer based on the acquired status data. This data processing device can switch the default printer to a different printer if the current default is set to a printer that is not powered on or is out of paper, thereby reducing the potential for problems in printing to the default printer.

Data processing device for renaming virtual device


According to aspects of the disclosed subject matter, an active non-visible reflective system can include one or more retroreflective sections coupled to one or more predetermined locations on an object designated for active non-visible reflection. The one or more retroreflective sections can be configured to actively reflect at least a portion of a predetermined frequency of incoming radiation back to a source of the incoming radiation, the incoming radiation being non-visible, wherein the one or more predetermined locations are illuminated. Additionally, the one or more retroreflective sections can be further configured to enable a perception system to determine that one or more retroreflectors are detected in response to the illumination, and enable processing circuitry communicably coupled to the perception system to detect the illuminated object defined by the one or more detected retroreflective sections.

The "background" description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.
The number of semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles continues to increase. These autonomous vehicles may depend entirely on automated methods of detecting other vehicles, requiring more robust detection and classification techniques. For example, vehicles with black paint are currently the most difficult for autonomous vehicles to detect. In other words, the reliability and confidence an autonomous vehicle has when detecting other vehicles can depend on the paint color of the vehicle.

Systems and methods for detection by autonomous vehicles


An ammonium removal system includes an ion-exchange medium, a brine source, and an electrophysical separation system. The ion-exchange medium may be used to remove ammonium from a waste stream. A brine may be flushed through the ion-exchange medium to remove the ammonium from the ion-exchange medium. The ammonium containing brine may be treated using an electrophysical separation system.

As the world's population grows and reserve supplies of clean water dwindle, the treatment of wastewater is becoming an increasingly important concern worldwide. Beginning in 1972 with the Clean Water Act, the United States substantially increased government regulations on wastewater treatment. These regulations along with aging water infrastructure, global population shifts, and the time pressures of existing treatment facilities further highlight the growing pressures on wastewater treatment industry.
Conventional wastewater treatment facilities employ a single or multi-stage process involving one or more of four main systems to remove the small amount of contamination contained in most wastewater. These systems include settling systems, biological systems, chemical treatment systems, and filtration/polishing systems.
Settling systems often comprise a primary treatment phase and involve the removal of solids suspended in wastewater. Such settling systems typically include settling ponds, primary classifiers, and the like. Larger solids are typically removed by screens, and smaller suspended solids by allowing them to settle to the bottom where they form sludge.
Biological treatment systems typically form a secondary phase of treatment, and are used primarily for the removal of organic materials. Typical biological treatment processes include facultative ponds, partially mixed lagoons, aerated lagoons, activated sludge, and the like. All of these systems employ microorganisms which remove harmful organics from the water. These microorganisms are contained in large ponds or lagoons where wastewater must sit for several days in order to allow sufficient time for the microorganisms to interact with and neutralize the contaminants contained in the water. Biological systems are highly effective and are used in approximately one third of all treatment systems worldwide. However, biological systems have certain limitations. For instance, if the microorganisms contained in the lagoons are shocked or killed by environmental changes or introduction of other agents, it can take weeks to produce a healthy colony of treatment bacteria. Furthermore, biological processes produce an enormous amount of toxic sludge (comprised largely of dead microorganisms and their waste products), which must be subsequently treated before disposal. Additionally, due to the large costs and time involved in constructing the facilities necessary for biological systems, they must be planned out well in advance of the anticipated need and may not respond to short term increases in the need for water treatment.
Various chemical treatment systems typically comprise a tertiary phase of wastewater treatment. These processes are designed to remove harmful bacteria from the wastewater, including any remnants of biological treatment processes. Additionally these processes are designed to remove dissolved contaminants contained in the wastewater stream. This phase can involve one or more of numerous processes including chlorination, ozonation, ion exchange or oxidation.
For most of the twentieth century, chlorination has been the most common method for removal of microorganisms from wastewater. While highly effective, chlorination has considerable drawbacks including the necessity of containing, transporting, and manipulating large quantities of potentially lethal chlorine. Frequently, the expense of maintaining appropriate chlorination facilities and training qualified personnel are cost prohibitive for smaller wastewater treatment facilities.
Another common chemical treatment method is the introduction of inorganic cationic coagulants such as aluminum salts and chlorides and sulfates of iron and calcium. Such treatments often create large amounts of residual sludge which must be disposed of. Further, chemical treatments are not well suited to influents of highly variable compositions.
The final phase of conventional wastewater treatment typically comprises polishing. During this phase the water is often filtered and treated depending on the particular waste-stream so that any unwanted coloration or odor is removed. Following this phase, the water is typically ready for discharge into the environment, consumption, or other use.

Ammonium removal system including an electrophysical separation system