The trailer backup assist system has a human machine interface coupled to a controller having a setup module, a calibration module, an activation module and a control module configured to receive trailer measurements, apply trailer measurements, activate and control vehicle systems to calibrate and implement a curvature control algorithm that controls the reverse movement of the vehicle-trailer combination in a manner consistent with a driver request.

It is well known that backing up a vehicle with a trailer attached is a difficult task for many drivers. This is particularly true for drivers that are untrained at backing with trailers such as, for example, those that drive with an attached trailer on an infrequent basis (e.g., have rented a trailer, use a personal trailer on an infrequent basis, etc.). One reason for such difficulty is that backing a vehicle with an attached trailer requires counter-steering that is opposite to normal steering when backing the vehicle without a trailer attached and/or requires braking to stabilize the vehicle-trailer combination before a jackknife condition occurs. Another reason for such difficulty is that small errors in steering while backing a vehicle with an attached trailer are amplified thereby causing the trailer to depart from a desired path.
To assist the driver in steering a vehicle with a trailer attached, a trailer backup assist system needs to know the driver's intention. One common assumption with known trailer backup assist systems is that a driver of a vehicle with an attached trailer wants to back up straight and the system either implicitly or explicitly assumes a zero curvature path for the vehicle-trailer combination. Unfortunately most of the real-world use cases of backing a trailer involve a curved path and, thus, assuming a path of zero curvature would significantly limit usefulness of the system. Some known systems assume that a path is known from a map or path planner. To this end, some known trailer backup assist systems operate under a requirement that a trailer back-up path is known before backing of the trailer commences such as, for example, from a map or a path planning algorithm. Undesirably, such implementations of the trailer backup assist systems are known to have a relatively complex Human Machine Interface (HMI) device to specify the path, obstacles and/or goal of the backup maneuver. Furthermore, such systems also require some way to determine how well the desired path is being followed and to know when the desired goal, or stopping point and orientation, has been met, using approaches such as cameras, inertial navigation, or high precision GPS. These requirements lead to a relatively complex and costly system.
Another reason backing a trailer can prove to be difficult is the need to control the vehicle in a manner that limits the potential for a jack-knife condition to occur. A trailer has attained a jackknife condition when a hitch angle cannot be reduced (i.e., made less acute) while continuously backing up a trailer by application of a maximum steering input for the vehicle such as, for example, by moving steered front wheels of the vehicle to a maximum steered angle at a maximum rate of steering angle change. In the case of the jackknife angle being achieved, the vehicle must be pulled forward to relieve the hitch angle in order to eliminate the jackknife condition and, thus, allow the hitch angle to be controlled via manipulation of the steered wheels of the vehicle. However, in addition to the jackknife condition creating the inconvenient situation where the vehicle must be pulled forward, it can also lead to damage to the vehicle and/or trailer if certain operating conditions of the vehicle relating to its speed, engine torque, acceleration, and the like are not detected and counteracted. For example, if the vehicle is travelling at a suitably high speed in reverse and/or subjected to a suitably high longitudinal acceleration when the jackknife condition is achieved, the relative movement of the vehicle with respect to the trailer can lead to contact between the vehicle and trailer thereby damaging the trailer and/or the vehicle.
Embodiments of the inventive subject matter are directed to trailer backup assist functionality that provides for a user interface for a system that controls curvature of a path of a trailer being backed by a vehicle. More specifically, trailer backup assist functionality configured in accordance with embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide for such trailer path curvature control by allowing a driver of the vehicle to specify a desired path of the trailer by inputting a desired trailer path curvature as the backup maneuver of the vehicle and trailer progresses. In response to such path of the trailer being specified by the driver, embodiments of the inventive subject matter control a power assisted steering system (e.g., electric power assisted steering (EPAS) system) of the vehicle for implementing steering angle changes of steered wheels of the vehicle to achieve the specified trailer path. Kinematics of the vehicle and the trailer are used to determine the steering angle changes that are required for achieving the specified trailer path. Accordingly, embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide for implementation of trailer backup assist functionality in a manner that is relatively simple and that enables use of an intuitive vehicle operator interface for specifying trailer path curvature control.


An intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring system includes an adaptive threshold detection circuit adapted for use in monitoring with a plurality of electrodes placed in muscles which are enervated by a selected nerve and muscles not enervated by the nerve. Nerve monitoring controller algorithms permit the rapid and reliable discrimination between non-repetitive electromyographic (EMG) events repetitive EMG events, thus allowing the surgeon to evaluate whether nerve fatigue is rendering the monitoring results less reliable and whether anesthesia is wearing off. The intraoperative monitoring system is designed as a “surgeon's monitor,” and does not require a neurophysiologist or technician to be in attendance during surgery. The advanced features of the intraoperative monitoring system will greatly assist neurophysiological research toward the general advancement of the field intraoperative EMG monitoring through post-surgical analysis. The intraoperative monitoring system is preferably modular, in order to allow for differential system pricing and upgrading as well as to allow for advances in computer technology; modularity can also aid in execution of the design.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surgical apparatus and more particularly to a neurophysiological monitoring system including a nerve integrity monitoring instrument for use in conjunction with one or more electrical stimulus probes as an intraoperative aid in defining the course of neural structures. The invention is particularly applicable for use in monitoring facial electromyographic (EMG) activity during surgeries in which a facial motor nerve is at risk due to unintentional manipulation, although it will be appreciated that the invention has broader applications and can be used in other neural monitoring procedures.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Despite advances in diagnosis, microsurgical techniques, and neurotological techniques enabling more positive anatomical identification of facial nerves, loss of facial nerve function following head and neck surgery such as acoustic neuroma resection is a significant risk. Nerves are very delicate and even the best and most experienced surgeons, using the most sophisticated equipment known, encounter a considerable hazard that a nerve will be bruised, stretched or severed during an operation. Studies have shown that preservation of the facial nerve during acoustic neuroma resection may be enhanced by the use of intraoperative electrical stimulation to assist in locating nerves. Very broadly stated, the locating procedure, also known as nerve integrity monitoring, involves inserting sensing or recording electrodes directly within cranial muscles enervated or controlled by the nerve of interest. A suitable monitoring electrode is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,533 (to Richard L. Prass et al.), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
One method of nerve localization involves the application of electrical stimulation near the area where the subject nerve is believed to be located. If the stimulation probe contacts or is reasonably near the nerve, the stimulation signal applied to the nerve is transmitted through the nerve to excite the related muscle. Excitement of the muscle causes an electrical impulse to be generated within the muscle; the impulse is transferred to the recording electrodes, thereby providing an indication to the surgeon as to the location of the nerve. Stimulation is accomplished using hand held monopolar or bipolar probes such as the Electrical Stimulus Probe disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,105 (to Richard L. Prass), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The probe of Pat. No. 4,892,105 has become known as the Prass Flush-Tip Monopolar Probe and is insulated up to the distal tip to minimize current shunting through undesired paths. An improved structure for a bipolar probe is disclosed in the provisional patent application entitled Bipolar Electrical Stimulus Probe (filed Aug. 12, 1998, application No. 60/096,243), the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.
Another method of nerve localization involves mechanical stimulation of the nerve of interest by various dissecting instruments. Direct physical manipulation of a motor nerve may cause the nerve to conduct a nerve impulse to its associated musculature. If those muscles are being monitored using a nerve integrity monitoring instrument, the surgeon will hear an acoustic representation of the muscle response in close temporal relationship to the antecedent mechanical stimulation. This will allow the nerve of interest to be roughly localized at the contact surface of the dissecting instrument.
Prior art nerve integrity monitoring instruments (such as the Xomed® NIM-2® XL Nerve Integrity Monitor, manufactured by the assignee of the present invention) have proven to be effective for performing the basic functions associated with nerve integrity monitoring such as recording EMG activity from muscles innervated by an affected nerve and alerting a surgeon when the affected nerve is activated by application of a stimulus signal, but have significant limitations for some surgical applications and in some operating room environments.
A first problem is users have noticed certain EMG measurement artifacts have a disruptive effect on monitoring and tend to cause undesirable false alarms. In particular, EMG monitoring often is performed during electrocautery in a surgical procedure, wherein powerful currents surge through and cauterize the tissue, often to devastating effect on the monitor's sensitive amplifier circuits. Electrocautery can also induce an undesired direct current (DC) offset from buildup of charge on the monitoring or sensing electrodes or within recording amplifier circuitry. A method of muting during periods of electrocautery using in-line detection of electrocautery, based upon frequency and amplitude was disclosed in Prass, et al.: "Acoustic (Loudspeaker) Facial Electromyographic Monitoring: Evoked Electromyographic Activity", Neurosurgery 19: 392–400, 1986; and an improved method involving an inductive probe pickup was described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,377, entitled "Intraoperative Neuroelectro-physiological Monitoring System", by Prass, et al., the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Brief pop noise in the form of high frequency bursts (caused by spurious electromagnetic and current artifacts or when non-insulated metal instruments are accidentally brought into physical contact) may be recorded during nerve integrity monitoring. These brief artifacts may be confused for true electromyographic (muscle) responses and may lead to misinterpretation and false alarms, thereby reducing user confidence and satisfaction in nerve integrity monitoring. Maintenance of high common-mode rejection characteristics in the signal conditioning path has helped to reduce such interference, however, false alarms still occur. Any solution tending to eliminate or minimize false alarm problems would increase the accuracy and effectiveness of monitoring procedures.
Prior art nerve integrity monitoring devices incorporate a simple threshold detection method to identify significant electrical events based upon the amplitude of the signal voltage observed in the monitoring electrodes, relative to a baseline of electrical silence, a methodology having disadvantages for intraoperative nerve integrity monitoring. Use of intramuscular electrodes in close bipolar arrangement (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,533, cited above) provides adequate spatial selectivity and maintenance of high common mode rejection characteristics in the signal conditioning pathway for reduced interference by electromagnetic artifacts, but yield a compressed dynamic range of electrical voltage observed between the paired electrodes. When physically situated near one of the electrodes, a single nerve motor unit (e.g., activation of a single nerve fiber) may cause an adequate voltage deflection to be heard (by a surgeon listening to the EMG audio signal feedback) as a clear signal spike or exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold. Moreover, with close electrode spacing and bipolar amplification, recording of larger responses is frequently associated with internal signal cancellation, significantly reducing the amplitude of the observed electrical signal. The resultant compressed dynamic range is advantageous for supplying direct or raw EMG audio signal feedback to the operating surgeon, in that both large and small signal events may be clearly and comfortably heard at one volume setting, but an EMG audio signal feedback having compressed dynamic range provides limited ability to fractionate responses based upon magnitude of the response or obtain an accurate measure of signal power. Another disadvantage of prior art methodology of threshold detection is that the surgeon cannot readily distinguish or select between electrical artifacts and EMG activity.
A second problem is that the nerves of interest may frequently exhibit a variable amount of irritability during the surgical procedure, which may be caused by a disease process or by surgical manipulations such as mild traction or by drying or thermal effects. Such nerve irritability is recorded by nerve integrity monitoring electrodes and is displayed and annunciated to the operating surgeon as a series of "beeps" caused by repetitive triggering of threshold detection or by repetitive electromyographic spikes. Because nerve irritability does not appear in close temporal relationship to particular surgical manipulations, it provides no localizing information. When such repetitive activity is observed, the surgeon usually ceases all ongoing surgical manipulations and may irrigate the surgical field in an attempt to reduce nerve irritability. Once a reasonable effort to reduce nerve irritability has been carried out, any residual nerve irritability becomes "noise" and may interfere with the ability to detect electrically and mechanically stimulated nerve activity. Any methods to reduce the effect of background nerve irritability on detection of brief bursts of nerve activity would enhance localization of nerves of interest during periods of increased nerve irritability.
A third problem arises when monopolar probes, bipolar probes or electrified instruments are selected for electrical stimulation during intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. Each type of probe has its own advantages, disadvantages and "best application" during intraoperative procedures. Because of a variable tendency for current shunting, the optimum stimulus intensity may vary significantly among probes. For a given probe type, the ideal stimulus intensity is low enough to allow spatial selectivity, but high enough to avoid false-negative stimulation as a result of current-shunting or other influences. The commercial EMG-type nerve monitors of the prior art have a single current-source terminating in either one or two outputs. If there are two outputs, the outputs are connected in parallel with a single common stimulus intensity setting and so there is no ability to provide separate (optimized) stimulus intensities or to guard against parallel communication between the two outputs. If both outputs are connected to stimulus instruments, undetected current-leak could occur through parallel channels and result in false-negative stimulation. At least one manufacturer or prior art monitoring instruments offers a switchable connector at the stimulus probe terminus, allowing more than one stimulus instrument to be kept in readiness, and avoiding parallel connections to the unused instruments, but performing the act of switching requires a surgical staff member such as a nurse or technician and so is cumbersome and, being time consuming, expensive.
A related problem is that prolonged nerve irritability may be due to light anesthesia, rather than to inherent nerve irritability. Any method to distinguish these two possibilities would enhance interpretation during nerve integrity monitoring.
Another problem confronting users of prior art nerve integrity monitoring devices is that quantative measurements of nerve function are relatively cumbersome to obtain, since equipment setting changes must be performed by operating room personnel while electrical stimulation procedures are performed by the operating surgeon. For example, a threshold determination for electrical nerve stimulation is an accepted indication of functional nerve integrity. Determination of response threshold requires stimulation at multiple stimulus intensities, which must be changed manually, and nerve responses must be recorded at each stimulus intensity level. With prior art technology, this process is time-intensive and discourages serial determinations during the operation as an ongoing measure of nerve integrity. Threshold determinations are typically performed only at the end of the operative procedure as a prediction of immediate postoperative function. When using prior art methods, if the threshold is found to be abnormal, the surgeon is usually unaware of when the change to abnormality occurred during the operative procedure. Any method making quantitative measurements of nerve function convenient and rapid to obtain would enhance nerve integrity monitoring.
Another concern is how functions are controlled. There is a relatively strong conceptual separation between off-line control (performed at some time other than during the procedure) and on-line control (performed during a surgical procedure), as pertains to control of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring system functions through the use of input devices. "Off-line" operations are performed when monitoring is not actively being performed, for example, as when logging-in patient information, setting system preferences or retrieving saved-data for "post-production" analysis, whereas "on-line" refers to periods of active intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring.
In prior art nerve integrity monitoring devices, controls for off-line functions consist of front panel knobs and switches or keyboard and mouse with proprietary software to perform common setup functions and parameter adjustments. Additional back panel switches may be available to adjust less commonly changed parameters, such as stimulus rate and duration. For multi-channel nerve integrity monitoring with qualitative and quantitative signal analysis, front and back panel hardware is cumbersome and too limited in scope. Greater flexibility and convenience in off-line controls is available through use of keyboard and mouse input and software capabilities to modify and store setup information in archival files for facilitation of off-line setup functions. A limitation of prior art strategies is that the setup information is held in volatile memory during actual monitoring operations, rendering the setup information vulnerable to strong electrical surges, electromagnetic noise or accidental power interruptions. An electrical surge or accidental unplugging may cause loss of all new (different from "default") setup information, requiring a "reboot" of the system and adjustment to get back to the desired settings. Any method for off-line control allowing similar flexibility a to keyboard and mouse input and having the convenience of designated software with archival (file) storage of setup information, but without risk of erasure by spurious electrical events or accidental equipment unplugging, would represent a significant advance for nerve integrity monitoring. Stimulation devices of the prior art for neurophysiological monitoring are manually controlled through front panel potentiometers and switches or with mouse and keyboard to produce paired or burst stimuli and stimuli of opposite polarity in an alternating pattern, but lack the ability to deliver consecutive stimuli of differing intensities or alter the pattern of stimulation at a predetermined time without that time consuming manual input. Analogously, none of the monitoring instruments of the prior art provide delivery of selected stimuli in coordination with data acquisition, analysis, display, and storage. Moreover, in prior art nerve integrity devices, control of on-line functions is performed by keyboard and mouse or by front panel controls and, because of a possible breach of sterility, the operating surgeon cannot perform such functions by himself or herself and so changing equipment settings requires involvement of hospital personnel at the request of the operating surgeon and may be time-consuming, cumbersome and possibly risky, since the changed settings may be inaccurate. Any method allowing rapid and accurate changes in equipment function without the need of ancillary operating room personnel and without risk to maintenance of sterility would be considered an enhancement of nerve integrity monitoring.
An important function of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is detecting brief episodes of EMG activity, caused by direct electrical and mechanical stimulation. Detection allows the surgeon to localize a nerve of interest approximately at the contact surface of the dissecting or stimulating instrument. Detection of brief, localizing EMG activity is frequently obscured by the presence of repetitive EMG activity caused by "baseline" nerve irritability. Such irritability may be due to nerve compromise caused by the disease process itself or to various surgical manipulations, such as mild traction, drying, thermal stimulation, or chemical irritation. When significant repetitive activity is observed, the surgeon typically ceases all surgical manipulations and may irrigate the wound in an attempt to "quiet" nerve irritability. Once a reasonable attempt has been made to allow the nerve to become quieted, any remaining repetitive activity is essentially "noise" and may interfere with hearing more important brief EMG responses that allow localization of the nerve of interest. Such background irritability is particularly a problem during acoustic neuroma resections, which is one of the most common procedures for which facial nerve monitoring is used.
Redundancy afforded by multi-channel monitoring of (single) nerves of interest provides some opportunity to maximize the ability to detect localizing information during periods of problematic repetitive (non-localizing) activity. The most common application of nerve integrity monitoring involves monitoring the facial nerve. The facial nerve has a long course, beginning in the cranial cavity, then through a bony channel (fallopian canal) within the temporal (ear) bone, exiting behind the ear to swing forward and innervate the nerves of the facial expression. The nerve is at risk during a number of surgical procedures involving the ear, the temporal bone and intracranially. Intracranially, and in its course through the temporal bone, the nerve appears as a single nerve bundle, with no internal topographical organization. As the nerve exits the temporal bone behind the ear it finally separates into two major trunks, which further divide into 5 major branches. Multi-channel nerve integrity monitoring of the facial nerve involves placing electrodes into multiple facial muscles, representing multiple branches of the nerve. While not necessarily the preferred approach, the lack of topographical organization of the intracranial and intratemporal portions of the facial nerve, allows monitoring during removal of acoustic neuromas and during ear surgery with only one or two electromyographic channels.
Multichannel monitoring of the facial nerve is preferred in order to increase sensitivity and to provide redundancy in the event of electrode failure. Redundant facial nerve monitoring channels also provides flexibility to maximize the ability to detect localizing, brief non-repetitive EMG activity. The upper and lower facial musculature have been observed to have differential tendencies to exhibit mechanically evoked EMG activity. The lower face tends to be more sensitive in eliciting mechanically-stimulated EMG activity but also has a greater tendency to exhibit "background" nerve irritability. During periods when background repetitive EMG activity obscures auditory detection of more important and localizing non-repetitive activity, the most active EMG channels can be deleted (muted) from the signal directed to the surgeon through audio loudspeaker(s). The remaining EMG channels, having less competing background noise to interfere, are more easily heard by the operating surgeon in order to detect (localizing) mechanically and electrically stimulated EMG activity.
The majority of prior art nerve integrity monitoring devices have only two channels, which allows little redundancy and flexibility. When repetitive activity becomes bothersome and persistent, despite reasonable efforts on the part of the operating surgeon to allow the nerve to quiet down, the surgeon may ask an operating room employee to "turn the monitor down." This solution is problematic, because it may cause the surgeon to miss hearing important localizing EMG information. Alternatively, with the availability of multiple (redundant) EMG channels, a nurse or operating room technician may individually eliminate each electrode channel in an attempt to identify the offending channels, so that they may be (temporarily) eliminated. This process may be greatly facilitated, if there is some visual indication of relative EMG activity among the various EMG channels. However, even with visual displays, the process may still be time consuming and, therefore, expensive. Moreover, once certain "offending" channels have been muted, there may be long periods before the surgeon, the nurse, or operating room technician remember or "feel safe" to add these channels back to the audio signal. This may cause unnecessarily long periods of decreased sensitivity.
There is a need, then, for a nerve integrity monitoring instrument having greater flexibility and stability in use, greater sensitivity and specificity (e.g., noise rejection and artifact identification), and a user interface more readily adapted to performing the monitoring procedures required without distraction to the surgeon while concentrating on the medical aspects of the surgical procedure.

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring system


An intumescent structure provides a hermetic-type barrier within a fiber duct through which communications cabling is extended. The structure is formed of a fire-resistant body possessing a plurality of pre-perforated forms that extend through the body. Each of the pre-perforated forms may be sized to have cross-sectional dimensions and geometries that generally correspond to the cross-sectional configurations of communications cabling that are typically placed in a fiber duct to interconnect electronic equipment. Selective removal of the pre-perforated forms establish associated passageways through the body for receiving the appropriately sized cabling therethrough. This facilitates the maintenance of a barrier to gasses and other substances escaping through the duct, while still allowing cabling to freely pass through the duct.

Buildings that house electronic telecommunications equipment may be segmented into a number of rooms. In the case of mobile switching centers (MSCs), or similar facilities, one or more rooms may house various servers, routers, switches, and other telecommunications equipment, and another set of rooms may house computers that control operation of such equipment. Many advantages are provided by maintaining certain electronic equipment in separate rooms, including configuration of the indoor environment (e.g., temperature and humidity) for reliable operation of specific types of equipment, efficiency of operation and ease of interconnectivity of related equipment in close proximity.
Electronic equipment spread across various rooms of an MSC may be interconnected through communications cabling, or fiber, that extends through fiber ducts formed in the walls separating the rooms. These fiber ducts present problems when planning a fire suppression scheme for a multi-room facility. A given facility will typically have a fire suppression system specifically designed to put out the types of fires that are commonly encountered, such as electrical fires. Traditional fire suppression systems utilized where electronic equipment is present accomplish their intended function by either (a) absorbing a large amount of heat energy present in a room to reduce the surface temperature of burning material below it's ignition point, or (b) reducing the oxygen level in a room to a level that is too low for combustion to occur. For instance, fire suppression systems that work on the principle of heat energy absorption may employ various gasses and aerosols, such as potassium compounds suspended in carrier gasses, that are discharged into a particular room when a fire is detected. A similar principal may be applied in systems that reduce room oxygen levels, such as by the discharge of gasses containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide. In either case, the effectiveness of the fire suppression system depends on the ability to maintain the discharged gasses within a room of a given volume until the fire has been eliminated. Unfortunately, fiber ducting provides a path by which the discharged gasses can leave a room, reducing the effectiveness of fire suppression. This is because the cabling does not completely fill the space at the entrance and exit regions of the duct. The fiber ducting may also provide a direct path by which a fire may travel between rooms.
Efforts to fill in the open space around cabling within a duct have led to the use a fire barrier "pillows" or "blocks". These blocks are formed of materials that have a high ignition temperature to resist being consumed by a fire, as well as with intumescent properties so that the blocks expand to fill an open space when exposed to the extreme heat of a fire. Once cabling is extended through a duct, the blocks are placed in the opening of the duct around the cabling.
Fire barrier blocks are effective in blocking the escape of fire suppression system gasses to some degree, but an airtight seal remains difficult within a duct due to imprecision of fitting one or more blocks around cabling and cable trays or within cable-carrying conduits of varying geometries. It is also labor intensive for an installer to cut the blocks on site in order to achieve an improved geometry within the duct for a tighter fit around the cabling.

Intumescent structure for ducting carrying communications cabling


A charge monitor having a Langmuir probe is provided, wherein a positive and negative charge rectifier are operably coupled to the probe and configured to pass only a positive and negative charges therethrough, respectively. A positive current integrator is operably coupled to the positive charge rectifier, wherein the positive current integrator is biased via a positive threshold voltage, and wherein the positive current integrator is configured to output a positive dosage based, at least in part, on the positive threshold voltage. A negative current integrator is operably coupled to the negative charge rectifier, wherein the negative current integrator is biased via a negative threshold voltage, and wherein the negative current integrator is configured to output a negative dosage based, at least in part, on the negative threshold voltage. A positive charge counter and a negative charge counter are configured to respectively receive the output from the positive current integrator and negative current integrator in order to provide a respective cumulative positive charge value and cumulative negative charge value associated with the respective positive charge and negative charge.

In the semiconductor processing industry, ions are often implanted into a workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, in order to provide specific characteristics in the workpiece. One common process involves implanting ions into a workpiece, wherein transistor devices have been previously formed and isolated across the workpiece, and wherein a polysilicon contact is positioned over a gate of the device. The gate further overlays a so-called "well", wherein contacts to the well generally define source and drain contacts for the device, therein defining terminals of the device. A thin oxide further resides between the gate and the channel, wherein the contacts on either side of the gate define the source and drain. In operation, when a positive voltage is applied to the gate, such as in an n-channel transistor device, the positive voltage enhances or attracts negative charge and pushes out the positive charge, therein effectively cutting off conduction through the transistor. When the positive voltage is relaxed, charge is allowed to enter into the channel, therein permitting the transistor device to conduct.
When a positive voltage is applied to the gate that exceeds specifications for the oxide (e.g., a voltage that would create a relatively high electric field in the oxide on the order of 5-10 MV/cm), a current will generally start to flow through the oxide. Initially, current flows through the oxide via quantum-mechanical tunneling current (often referred to as Fowler-Nordheim or FN tunneling current) or direct tunneling, and the initial current flow typically produces no significant damage to the thin oxide, as little to no heat is initially produced during the initial flow of current. Over time, however, charge traps are generated by the current flow, thus eventually causing the oxide fail. A relatively large amount of charge (e.g., 1-3 coulombs/cm2) is typically required to flow through the oxide before the oxide breaks down or fails.
The voltage at which current is initially conducted in a known, good, oxide is quite predictable. For example, for a given oxide thickness, the tunneling current is typically known, and can start at around 6-10V. During semiconductor processing, such as during an ion implantation process, it is desirable to determine whether the ion implantation will cause the device to reach the tunneling voltage, and if it does, whether current flow exists.
Conventionally, charge monitors have been utilized to measure the peak voltage that is impressed on the workpiece by an ion beam or ion implantation process. Such a peak voltage is commonly measured using a floating probe (e.g., a Langmuir probe). The floating probe is typically a planar probe (e.g., a small disc, approximately 1 mm in diameter), wherein when the probe is passed through the ion beam, it experiences either a positive or negative charging voltage, depending on whether there is an excess of ions or electrons in the beam. Typical charging voltages are in the range of +/−10V. In the small devices implemented in modern semiconductor processing, however, such charging voltages are often enough to induce a current to flow within the gate oxide structures.
Such a charging voltage inducing a current flow, however, does not necessarily indicate, by itself, that damage and/or break down is occurring within the device. Further, such a peak voltage measurement fails to provide enough information to determine whether damage to the device occurs, because as a general rule, the tunneling current is not damaging to the workpiece.
Another conventional methodology to monitor charges has been the use of consumable monitor wafers. Monitor wafers (also called test element group wafers) are comprised of semiconductor wafers having various capacitor structures formed thereon, wherein the capacitor structures have large contacts coupled thereto. The large areas of the contacts collect a relatively large amount of charge and focus it on a small capacitor gate. Various sizes of contact areas and gate areas for the gate contacts (e.g., the thin oxide), are provided, with the remainder of the device residing over a thick oxide layer. When a voltage is impressed across the monitor wafer, the flow of current in the device is focused onto the gate, itself. Various ratios of areas of contacts to areas of gates (called the "antenna ratio") are provided, and give a large current density in the gate, itself, such that the failure of the monitor devices is accelerated. Monitor wafers, however, are very expensive, and are used as a consumable or disposable test wafer for an implant.
Accordingly, a need exists for a new, more robust, and inexpensive bipolar measurement system and methodology for in-situ measuring of charge build-up during ion implantation.

Bipolar wafer charge monitor system and ion implantation system comprising same


A method for re-establishing a communication link that has been lost between a portable unit (406) and a fixed unit or base station (402) provides for a way of quickly re-establishing the lost communication link, on the previously used RF channel. The method is begun by transmitting a link re-establishment code word (900) using MUX 1 after determining that synchronization has been lost (502) for a predetermined period of time (504). This is followed by automatically switching the portable unit (406) from MUX 1 to MUX 3 communication protocol. Followed by re-establishing communication (re-establish synchronization) between the portable (406) and base station (402) in MUX 3 and switching the two communication devices (402 and 406) back to MUX 1 after the communication link has been re-established. The same steps can be followed by base site (402) if it had been the first to detect loss of the communication link.

A portable telephone system, such as the second-generation digital cordless telephone (CT2) system, has multiple transceivers (providing multiple RF channels) which are located at a call point station or public base station known as a telepoint. These transceivers allow persons using portable telephones or cordless telephone handsets to access the public telephone network when in range or within a service area after the cordless handset has established a synchronous link with the base system.
In the CT2 system, the cordless handset initiating a call, asynchronously transmits on one available channel of the handset's transceiver which corresponds to a transceiver radio frequency (RF) channel of the base. For a good understanding of the CT2 system communication protocol one is referred to a publication entitled, "Common air interface specification to be used for the interworking between cordless telephone apparatus in the frequency band 864.1 MHz to 868.1 MHz, including public access services", Version 1.1, dated Jun. 30, 1991, which is published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute and is hereby incorporated by reference. The present standard for cordless telephones is publication entitled, "Common Air Interface Specification To Be Used For The Interworking Between Cordless Telephone Apparatus Including Public Access Services., MPT 1375: May 1989", Amendment No. 1, dated November 1989, published by the Department of Trade and Industry, London, England, and which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In the typical CT2 system three main communication protocols, called multiplex 3 (MUX 3), multiplex 2 (MUX 2) and multiplex 1.4 or 1.2 (MUX 1.4 or MUX 1.2) are utilized for communication between the cordless handset (or as referred to in the industry cordless portable part, "CPP") and the base station (or cordless fixed part, "CFP"). MUX 3 is utilized mainly for communication link initiation (link establishment and reestablishment) between the CPP and CFP. The MUX 2 protocol is used primarily for communication link establishment and for link initiation from the base (CFP). While the MUX 1 protocol is used primarily for voice/data communications, signalling information, and control messages from the CPP (portable) and CFP (base).
In the CT2 system, the cordless handset initiating a call, asynchronously transmits on one available channel of the handset's transceiver which corresponds to a transceiver radio frequency (RF) channel of the base.
According to one protocol out of other applicable protocols, called multiplex 3 (MUX3) of the CT2 specification, the channel used by the cordless handset is first divided in the time domain into 7 frames, F1-F7, as illustrated in FIG. 1a. Accordingly, the cordless handset transmits continuously for five frames or transmission bursts of ten milliseconds and the receiver receives for four milliseconds in a receiving time-slot window, when the transmitter is turned off for two frames. Within the ten milliseconds of transmit time comprising 5 frames, the information is repeated four times (in each submux) within a two millisecond frame, as seen in FIG. 2.
A typical layout of the MUX3 format in a sequential order of the frames is shown in FIG. 2. The labels F1 through F7, respectively, indicate frame numbers. The period of a single frame is two milliseconds. Referring to both FIGS. 1b and 2, each frame, F1-F7, is divided into four smaller subframes s1-s4 containing differently sized data (D) or frame synchronization words (CHMP), each preceded by a different number of preamble bits (P). The entire synchronization and data information of the repeating data signal 16 is then repeated four times in each of the four subframes s1-s4.
All the subframes, where the complete information is periodically provided once, are grouped together to form a submultiplex or submux 40. Each frame thus consists of four submuxes 40, corresponding to the subframes s1-s4. Within each submux 40, a D channel synchronization character (SYNCD), 3 address code words (ACW), and a frame synchronization character of twenty-four bits (CHMP) exist. Each of these information words are preceded by some number of preamble bits. Each subframe or submux consists of thirty-six bits, in a row. Finally, the first two bits of the 8 bit preamble word of the next 10 bit SYNCD data word ends the first row of the first submux or subframe s1. The rest of the D channel data are arranged accordingly, as seen in FIG. 2.
On the other end as seen in FIG. 1b, the base station asynchronously receives (14) and transmits (12) alternately for one millisecond in a time domain duplex (TDD) burst mode, after a synchronous link has been established with another CT-2 protocol MUX1 or MUX2. While scanning through the different radio frequencies of its transceivers, the base station looks for the presence of a synchronization signal (i.e. the frame synchronization character CHMP) to determine if that channel or frequency is used by a handset in a call attempt.
Acknowledged and unacknowledged information transfer over the link occurs through codewords sent in the D channel at regular intervals. The general codeword structure, depicted in FIG. 11, contains 64 total data bits. Address codewords (ACW) are preceded with a 16 bit synchronization word (SYNCD) to enable the receiver to establish codeword framing.
In FIG. 3A, a simplified MUX 3 link initiation packet is shown. The two other important communication protocols utilized in a CT-2 communication system are MUX 2, shown in FIG. 3B, and MUX 1 (implemented either via MUX 1.2, 2 bit signalling, or MUX 1.4, 4 bit signalling), shown in FIG. 3C. MUX 2 is used after link initiation under MUX 3 has been achieved. MUX 2 is used to carry the D, or signalling channel information, and SYN, or synchronization channel information, for communication link establishment and re-establishment. B channel information which carries the 32 kbit/second speech or data is nonexistent in MUX2. MUX 2 carries the D channel at a data rate of 16 kbit/second and the SYN channel at an overall rate of 17 kbit/second. The SYN channel consists of ten bits of preamble (one-zero transitions) followed by a channel marker (CHMF) or synchronization marker (SYNC). Data bits in the D channel are aligned in MUX 2 so that the D channel synchronization word, SYNCD, occurs as the first 16 bits in the D channel after the SYN channel.
In FIG. 3C, the MUX 1 signalling packet is shown. MUX 1 is envoked from MUX 2 by a control message. MUX 1 is used bi-directionally over an established link to carry D channel (Data) and B channel (speech/data). The SYN (synchronization) channel is nonexistent in this multiplex and therefore should burst synchronization be lost, it cannot be recovered without reinitializing the communication link. MUX 1 supports both 68 bit (referred to as MUX 1.4) or 66 bit (referred to as MUX 1.2) burst structures. It is up to each system manufacturer to decide which of the two to utilize for MUX 1 signalling. MUX 1 data rates are 2.0 kbit/second for MUX 1.4 and 1.0 kbit/second for MUX 1.2. Data bytes in the D (data) channel are aligned in this multiplex so that bytes always start on a frame boundary.
As can be seen from the above discussion, if after a communication link between a cordless telephone and a CT-2 base station is lost after the link is in MUX 1 (voice communication has begun) or in MUX 2, the units must both return to MUX 3 to resynchronize with each other. The present link re-establishment protocol in CT-2 systems has been found not to provide the level of performance that is required for such systems. Typical problems experienced with present CT-2 systems include "selective multipath" which causes loss of link synchronization in MUX 1 and thereby requires link re-establishment in order to continue voice communications. Another major problem is caused by another communication unit operating in an asynchronous mode occupying an RF channel closely spaced to the RF channel being utilized by the cordless telephone. Finally, given the low power (10 milliwatt) maximum power output of the CT-2 portable unit, communication links can be lost by a portable user moving out of range of the base station. All of the above mentioned problems cause the communication link to fail by causing loss of synchronization in MUX 1 between the base station and portable, thereby requiring link re-establishment.
A need exists in CT-2 systems for a communication link re-establishment protocol which can provide more reliable and efficient link re-establishment after loss of a communication link between a CT-2 portable unit and a CT-2 base station.

Cordless telephone communication system link re-establishment protocol


A low-noise fluorescence image and a low-noise luminescence image are acquired even if a luminescent substance having a high luminescence level is used. Provided is a measuring apparatus including an illumination optical system that radiates excitation light coming from an excitation light source onto a specimen A, an image acquisition portion that acquires an image by measuring light generated at the specimen, and an image processing portion that, based on a first image, which is acquired by the image acquisition portion without radiating the excitation light, and a second image, which is acquired by the image acquisition portion while radiating the excitation light, generates a fluorescence image by removing a luminescence component from the second image.

In the related art, there are known measuring apparatuses with which both fluorescence images and luminescence images can be acquired (for example, see Patent Literature 1).
With this measuring apparatus, because the luminescence level of a luminescent substance is so weak that it is negligible as compared with the fluorescence level of a fluorescent substance, it is possible to acquire a fluorescence image regardless of the presence/absence of luminescence from the luminescent substance when measuring fluorescence.

Measuring apparatus and fluorescence measuring method


A controller allows use of a battery protection circuit that limits electrical current to a safe level regarding short circuits and hazardous locations as well as determining each battery configuration having a voltage-temperature profile associated with that enhances cold weather operation; high battery temperatures are also detected and then rectified by the controller.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is related to battery powered lanterns and lights and more specifically to an electronic control module for a lithium-ion battery powered lantern.
2. Background
It is the goal of every designer of battery-powered devices to prolong battery discharge life as much as possible. Battery life is particularly important in lanterns and other lighting devices used by firefighters and other emergency personal. Use of such battery powered lights in emergency environments is further complicated by the effect of increased or decreased temperatures in which the lights are used.
Li-ion batteries have a higher energy to weight ratio than any other commercially available rechargeable batteries. This makes them very desirable as a power source for portable devices. For safety, most Li-ion battery packs must have a safety circuit to protect them from over voltage, under voltage and over-discharge conditions. This presents some limitations for viable applications of Li-ion batteries. Namely, desired high discharge currents may not be possible because the battery protection circuit will not allow them. This controller safely allows high discharge currents from a Li-ion battery pack by controlling current to the main lamp. It prevents high currents from activating the safety circuit. It is possible to use a safety circuit that would allow higher currents, but this would also allow high currents during undesirable conditions such as a short circuit at the external charging contacts on the lantern. A high current short across these external contacts may result in an unsafe condition during use in hazardous locations.
At lower temperatures, the voltage is depressed. At higher temperatures the voltage is elevated.
Since low temperatures depress the voltage of Li-ion cells, application of a high power load further drops the cell voltage to the point that the protection circuit may activate and disconnect the load due to a low-voltage condition. This effect is further increased as the ratio of the size of the load to the capacity of the battery is increased.
In a typical lantern, main lamp is of the incandescent type, and can be of low power or high power. While a high power lamp produces more light, it draws much more current from the battery. As is well known, higher currents cause the battery to discharge rapidly and thus reduce the useful life of the battery charge. In addition to the nominal current drain resulting from the lamp in the "ON" condition, there is an initial spike of current that is many times the nominal. Further, because of the potential presence of in ignitable vapors, dust or other chemicals, the powering-up sequence of such lights must be carefully controlled as not to create a spark or other harmful electrical discharge. This "turn on" current spike can be large enough to cause a safety circuit, if present, to disconnect the battery from the load or appear as a short.
It is therefore a goal of manufacturers and users of battery powered lanterns to provide control over battery discharge that minimizes battery depletion and provides regulation of the start-up charge to maximize the safe operation of the lanterns in potentially hazardous environments. It is further goal to maximize battery depletion based on the temperature of the battery.

Electronic control module for a lithium-ion battery powered lantern


The present invention provides a system, method and an apparatus for a digital video decoder, which includes a data processor that utilizes at least an encoded video data stream to produce one or more output streams. The one or more output streams includes at least a set of motion compensation instructions.

The present invention relates in general to the field of video decoding devices, and more particularly, to a system, method and apparatus for a variable output video decoder.
The storage and/or transmission of digital audio-visual data, which typically includes not only video data and audio data, but also other data for menus, sub-pictures, graphics, control/navigation, etc., is made possible through the use of compression or encoding techniques. For example, the amount of data required to represent the video images and audio signal of a movie in an uncompressed digital format would be enormous and could not fit entirely onto a conventional recording medium, such as a compact disk (xe2x80x9cCDxe2x80x9d). Similarly, transmitting a movie in uncompressed digital form over a communication link (for real-time video) would be prohibitively expensive due to the large quantity of data to be transmitted and the large bandwidth required to transmit the data.
The video compression techniques typically used for storing audio-visual data on a digital video disc (xe2x80x9cDVDxe2x80x9d), which can hold up to 18 gigabytes of data, have been formulated by the International Standard Organization""s (xe2x80x9cISOxe2x80x9d) Motion Picture Experts Group (xe2x80x9cMPEGxe2x80x9d). The MPEG standards use a discrete cosine transform (xe2x80x9cDCTxe2x80x9d) algorithm to encode, or compress, the large amount of audio-visual digital data into a much smaller amount of audio-visual digital data that can be stored on a conventional recording medium. In general terms, this is accomplished by eliminating any repetitive video data, reducing the video data needed to depict movement, and eliminating any audio data that is not discernable by the human ear.
MPEG-1, which is defined in ISO/IEC 11172 and is hereby incorporated by reference, sets forth a standard format for storing and distributing motion video and audio. This standard has been used as a basis for video CDs and video games. MPEG-1 was designed for the playback of digital audio and video at a bit rate of 1.416 megabits per second (xe2x80x9cMbpsxe2x80x9d) (1.15 Mbps is designated for video) from data stored on a standard CD.
MPEG-2, which is defined in ISO/IEC 13818 and is hereby incorporated by reference, enhances or expands MPEG-1 to cover a wider range of applications. MPEG-2 was originally designed for the transmission of all-digital broadcast-quality video and audio at bit rates between 4 and 9 Mbps. MPEG-2, however, has become useful for may other applications, such as high definition television, and supports applications having bit rates between 1.5 and 60 Mbps.
Although the MPEG standards are typically used only for one-way communication, the H.261 and H.263 standards, which are also based on the DCT algorithm, are typically used for two-way communication, such as video telephony.
Video and/or audio compression devices, typically referred to as encoders, are used to encode a video and/or audio sequence before the sequence is transmitted or stored. The resulting encoded bitstream may then be decoded by a video and/or audio decompression device, typically referred to as a decoder, before the video and/or audio sequence is output. An encoded bitstream can only be decoded by a decoder if the encoded bitstream complies with the standard used by the decoder. Therefore, to facilitate compatibility for products produced among several manufacturers in the consumer electronics industry, the MPEG standards are being utilized for the digital video and audio decompression.
In simple terms, the DVD stores video images to be retrieved and displayed on a video display, as well as audio data to be retrieved and heard. A DVD player reads the audio-visual data stored on the DVD, decompresses and decodes the data, and generates video and audio signals for output to a video display system and audio system (i.e., to be played). In addition, DVD players typically include the capability to read, decompress and decode audio data using a variety of audio decompression techniques, such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, PCM, Dolby AC-3 (commonly referred to as Dolby Digital), etc. Accordingly, DVD players are well-suited for playing audio-visual works, such as movies, video games, etc.
Generally, the video and audio signals are output from a DVD player to a video display (e.g. television) and a sound system (e.g. stereo system). In other words, when playing an audio-visual work, such as a movie, the DVD player reads an audio-visual stream of data from the DVD and displays the video portion of the stream (including a sub-picture portion) on the video display (television) and plays the audio portion of the stream on one or more audio speakers (stereo system).
Once the audio-visual data has been read, decompressed and decoded, the audio data must be synchronized with the video data. To facilitate the synchronized playing of the video and audio portions of the audio-visual data stream, the data stream is stored on the DVD using time stamps from a referenced frequency. The referenced frequency is defined as an integer multiple of a 27 megahertz (xe2x80x9cMHZxe2x80x9d) clock. The time stamps indicate when a particular portion of the data stream is to be played, and are also used to synchronize the display of the video portion with the playing of the audio portion. As a result, the DVD player requires an integer multiple of a 27 MHZ clock to ensure that portions of the data stream are played at the appropriate time and that both the video portion and audio portion of the data stream are synchronized.
The present invention can provide an apparatus for a digital video decoder, which includes a data processor that utilizes at least an encoded video data stream to produce one or more output streams. The one or more output streams includes at least a set of motion compensation instructions.
The present invention can also provide a digital video decoder having a bit unpacker that utilizes at least an encoded video data stream to produce a prediction data stream and a coding data stream and a motion compensation instruction encoder communicably coupled to the bit unpacker. The motion compensation instruction encoder utilizing at least the prediction data stream to produce a set of motion compensation instructions. A block decoder is also included and is communicably coupled to the bit unpacker. The block decoder utilizing at least the coding data stream to produce a set of error terms.
In addition, the present invention may provide a digital video decoder comprising a bit unpacker that utilizes at least an encoded video data stream to produce a prediction data stream and a coding data stream, a prediction mode determination function communicably coupled to the bit unpacker, a motion vector decoder communicably coupled to the prediction mode determination function, a motion compensation instruction generator communicably coupled to the motion vector decoder. The prediction mode determination function, the motion vector decoder and the motion compensation instruction generator utilizing at least the prediction data stream to produce a set of motion compensation instructions. The present invention can also include a variable length decoder communicably coupled to the bit unpacker, an inverse zig-zag scanner communicably coupled to the variable length decoder, an inverse quantizer communicably coupled to the inverse zig-zag scanner, an inverse discrete cosine transformer communicably coupled to the inverse quantizer, and a prediction error assembly communicably coupled to the inverse discrete cosine transformer. The variable length decoder, the inverse zig-zag scanner, the inverse quantizer, the inverse discrete cosine transformer and the prediction error assembly utilizing at least the coding data stream to produce a set of error terms. Each motion compensation instruction comprising an instruction descriptor followed by one or more stripe descriptors wherein the instruction descriptor comprising at least a first data field and a second data field, the first data field indicating an operation to be performed and the second data field indicating how many of the stripe descriptors follow the instruction descriptor, and the stripe descriptor comprises a third data field and a fourth data field, the third data field indicating a memory address of a first word in a current stripe and the fourth data field indicating a number of words in the current stripe. The operation to be performed comprising either a load operation, a merge operation or a write operation.
The present invention can provide a method for decoding an encoded video data stream comprising the steps of receiving the encoded video data stream, and utilizing at least the encoded video data stream to produce one or more output streams, the one or more output streams comprising at least a set of motion compensation instructions and a set of error terms.
In addition, the present invention may provide a method for decoding an encoded video data stream comprising the steps of selecting an output stream comprising either a color space data stream or a set of motion compensation instructions and a set of error terms, receiving the encoded video data stream, utilizing at least the encoded video data stream to produce a prediction data stream and a coding data stream. If the color space data stream is selected, utilizing at least the prediction data stream to produce the set of predicted video data, utilizing at least the coding data stream to produce the set of error terms, and utilizing at least the set of error terms and the set of predicted video data to produce the color space data stream. If the set of motion compensation instructions and the set of error terms are selected, utilizing at least the prediction data stream to produce the set of motion compensation instructions, and utilizing at least the coding data stream to produce the set of error terms.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for decoding an encoded video data stream wherein the system comprises a DVD drive, a track buffer communicably coupled to the DVD drive, a demultiplexer communicably coupled to the track buffer, a video input buffer communicably coupled to the demultiplexer, and a digital video decoder communicably coupled to the video input buffer. The digital video decoder utilizes at least an encoded video data stream to produce one or more output streams. The one or more output streams comprising at least a set of motion compensation instructions and a set of error terms, a picture memory communicably coupled to the digital video decoder, a mixer communicably coupled to the digital video decoder, and a video renderer communicably coupled to the mixer.
This implementation allows the motion compensation pipeline to be specified and implemented either separately or together with the block decode section with minimal coordination. The calculation of memory addresses and generation of pipeline control information may proceed in parallel with the data manipulation. In addition, the parsing and data filtering functions are decoupled from the motion compensation functions. And finally, the motion compensation pipeline may be fabricated in hardware while the parsing and motion compensation calculation are implemented in software.

System, method and apparatus for a variable output video decoder


[Object] To provide a pneumatic tire 82 which is excellent in durability.

In recent years, run flat tires including load support layers inside sidewalls have been developed and widespread. Highly hard crosslinked rubber is used for the support layers. Such run flat tires are called a side reinforcing type. In this type of a run flat tire, if the internal pressure is reduced due to puncture, a load is supported by the support layers. The support layers suppress flexure of the tire in a punctured state. Even if running is continued in the punctured state, the highly hard crosslinked rubber suppresses heat generation in the support layers. This run flat tire allows for running for some distance even in the punctured state. An automobile having such run flat tires mounted thereon need not be always equipped with a spare tire. The use of this run flat tire avoids change of a tire in an inconvenient place.
When running with the run flat tire in a punctured state is continued, deformation and restoration of the support layers are repeated. Due to the repetition, heat is generated in the support layers, and the temperature of the tire reaches a high temperature. The heat causes breakage of rubber components of the tire and separation among the rubber components of the tire. It is impossible to run with the tire in which the breakage and the separation have occurred. Run flat tires are desired which allow for running for a long period of time in a punctured state. In other words, run flat tires are desired in which breakage and separation due to heat are less likely to occur.
WO2007/032405 discloses a run flat tire having a large number of fins on sidewalls thereof. The surface area of the tire having the fins is large. The large surface area promotes release of heat from the tire to the atmosphere. In the tire, the temperature is less likely to rise.
JP2009-298397 discloses a run flat tire having a large number of dimples on sidewalls thereof. In the tire, turbulent flow is generated by the dimples. The turbulent flow promotes release of heat from the tire to the atmosphere. In the tire, the temperature is less likely to rise.

Abstract: [Solution] A tire 2 includes a tread 4, wings 6, sidewalls 8, clinch portions 10, beads 12, a carcass 14, support layers 16, a belt 18, a band 20, an inner liner 22, and chafers 24. Dimples 62 are formed on the sidewall 8 that is at an inner side in a width direction of a vehicle when the tire is mounted on the vehicle. No dimples 62 are formed on the sidewall 8 that is at an outer side in the width direction of the vehicle when the tire is mounted on the vehicle. The ratio (Ha/Hb) of a height Ha at an outer end 52, in a radial direction, of the bead 12 from a base line BL relative to a height Hb at a maximum width position Pmax from the base line is equal to or greater than 0.80 but equal to or less than 1.10.


A system may receive a beacon identifier. The system may translate the beacon identifier to a virtual beacon identifier. The virtual beacon identifier may be associated with an entity. The system may determine message information based on the virtual beacon identifier. The message information may include information associated with a message to be provided for display to a user and may be associated with the entity. The system may provide, for display to the user, the message associated with the message information.

A proximity beacon may transmit a beacon identifier, associated with the proximity beacon, such that a nearby user device (e.g., smart phone, mobile phone, etc.) receives the beacon identifier. The user device may automatically provide the beacon identifier to an application server, and the application server may generate and transmit a message (e.g., a text message, an email message, a video message, etc.), associated with the proximity beacon, to the user device for display to a user.

Providing a message based on translating a beacon identifier to a virtual beacon identifier


An elastomeric connector having fine pitched contacts is provided in addition to a method for connecting components using such a connector and a method of manufacturing the same. The connector includes a body formed from an elastomeric material with contacts arranged to extend through the body and exposed at each side of the body. The contacts are bent to form a contact surface that is oriented at an angle with respect to the sides of the body. The contacts may include a radiused section that is formed in the elastomeric material. Grooves may be formed in the body of the connector separating adjacent contacts and providing additional flexibility of the connector.

The present invention generally relates to a connector, particularly a high density connector. More specifically, the present invention relates to an elastomeric connector particularly suitable for interconnection between a device and a printed circuit board or between two or more printed circuit boards requiring fine pitch interconnection. The present invention further relates to a method for connecting two components and a method for manufacturing such a connector.
It is, of course, generally known to provide connectors for providing interconnection between components, such as printed circuit boards and other devices that require the interconnection under conditions of high density, fine pitch, as well as requiring high performance.
An important consideration in the manufacture and design of elastomeric connectors is the contact force applied to the connectors which affects the performance and reliability of the same. This is particularly relevant for connectors that are repeatedly mated and unmated with the devices or printed circuit boards in which they are associated. In addition, taking this factor into consideration, current elastomeric connectors are costly to manufacture and nonetheless often encounter problems such as permanent deformation of the contact or contacts of the connector due to the large contact forces required when using the same.
In addition, most known elastomeric connectors do not provide "wiping action" to break down oxidation layers produced through use of the connector. Without the wiping action, oxidation layers or buildup is often formed on the contact causing the connector to become unreliable in its performance. Wiping action serves to clean the metallic contacts during insertion and assists in maintaining clean surfaces at the interface during operation of the device in which the connector is implemented. Wiping action is particularly important for separable connectors that require repetitive mating and unmating and also in environments where dust can be a factor.
A need, therefore, exists for an improved elastomeric connector that overcomes the deficiencies of known elastomeric connectors and improves the reliability and performance of the contact even through repeated usage of the same. In addition, a method for connecting components using such a connection as well as a method for manufacturing such a connector are also needed.

Elastomeric connector having a plurality of fine pitched contacts, a method for connecting components using the same and a method for manufacturing such a connector


A structure and driving method for a plasma display panel is disclosed in which discharge efficiency is improved and service-life of phosphors is increased. The structure for a plasma display panel includes a plurality of upper electrodes formed on an upper substrate at certain intervals in one direction, a dielectric layer formed on the upper substrate including the upper electrodes, an auxiliary electrode formed on the dielectric layer between adjacent upper electrodes, a passivation film formed on the dielectric layer including the auxiliary electrode, a lower electrode formed on a lower substrate opposite to the upper electrodes to be orthogonal to the upper electrodes, and a dielectric layer formed on the lower substrate including the lower electrode. The driving method for a plasma display panel includes the steps of generating discharge by a first pulse applied to one electrode of the electrodes, and applying a second pulse to other electrode within 1 xcexcm from the time when the first pulse is applied to the one electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly to a structure and driving method for a plasma display panel.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a plasma display panel and a liquid crystal display (LCD) have lately attracted considerable attention as the most practical next generation display of flat panel displays. In particular, the plasma display panel has higher luminance and a wider viewing angle than the LCD. For this reason, the plasma display panel is widely used as a thin type large display such as an outdoor advertising tower, a wall TV and a theater display. The plasma display panel can be divided into a three-electrode type and a two-electrode type.
A related art plasma display panel of three-electrode area discharge type will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1a, the related art plasma display panel of three-electrode area discharge type includes an upper substrate 10 and a lower substrate 20 which face each other. In FIG. 1b, the lower substrate 20 is rotated by 90xc2x0.
The upper substrate 10 includes a plurality of scan electrodes 16 and 16xe2x80x2, a plurality of sustain electrodes 17 and 17xe2x80x2, a dielectric layer 11, and a passivation film 12. The scan electrodes 16 and 16xe2x80x2 are formed at certain intervals in parallel to the sustain electrodes 17 and 17xe2x80x2. The dielectric layer 11 is deposited on the scan electrodes 16 and 16xe2x80x2 and the sustain electrodes 17 and 17xe2x80x2.
The lower substrate 20 includes a plurality of address electrodes 22, a dielectric film 21 formed on an entire surface of the substrate including the address electrodes 22, a plurality of barriers 23 formed on the dielectric film 21 between the respective address electrodes, and a phosphor 24 formed on surfaces of the barriers 23 in each discharge cell and of the dielectric film 21.
Inert gases such as He and Xe are mixed in a space between the upper substrate 10 and the lower substrate 20 at a pressure of 400 to 500 Torr. The space forms a discharge region.
The scan electrodes 16 and 16xe2x80x2 and the sustain electrodes 17 and 17xe2x80x2 are of transparent electrodes and bus electrodes of metals so as to increase optical transmitivity of each discharge cell, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. That is to say, the electrodes 16 and 17 are of transparent electrodes while the electrodes 16xe2x80x2 and 17xe2x80x2 are of bus electrodes.
FIG. 2a is a plane view of the sustain electrodes 17 and 17xe2x80x2 and the scan electrodes 16 and 16xe2x80x2, and FIG. 2b is a sectional view of the sustain electrodes 17 and 17xe2x80x2 and the scan electrodes 16 and 16xe2x80x2.
A discharge voltage from an externally provided driving integrated circuit (IC) is applied to the bus electrodes 16xe2x80x2 and 17xe2x80x2. The discharge voltage applied to the bus electrodes 16xe2x80x2 and 17xe2x80x2 is applied to the transparent electrodes 16 and 17 to generate discharge between the adjacent transparent electrodes 16 and 17. The transparent electrodes 16 and 17 have an overall width of about 300 xcexcm and are made of indium oxide or tin oxide. The bus electrodes 16xe2x80x2 and 17xe2x80x2 are formed of a three-layered thin film of Crxe2x80x94Cuxe2x80x94Cr. At this time, the bus electrodes 16xe2x80x2 and 17xe2x80x2 have a line width of ⅓ of a line width of the transparent electrodes 16 and 17.
The operation of the aforementioned AC type plasma display panel of three-electrode area discharge type will be described with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3d.
If a driving voltage is applied between each address electrode and each scan electrode, opposite discharge occurs between the address electrode and the scan electrode as shown in FIG. 3a. The inert gas injected into the discharge cell is instantaneously excited by the opposite discharge. If the inert gas is again transited to the ground state, ions are generated. The generated ions or some electrons of quasi-excited state come into collision with a surface of the passivation film as shown in FIG. 3b. The collision of the electrons secondarily discharges electrons from the surface of the passivation film. The secondarily discharged electrons come into collision with a plasma gas to diffuse the discharge. If the opposite discharge between the address electrode and the scan electrode ends, wall charges having opposite polarities occur on the surface of the passivation film on the respective address electrode and the scan electrode, as shown in FIG. 3c.
If the discharge voltages having opposite polarities are continuously applied to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode and at the same time the driving voltage applied to the address electrode is cut off, area discharge occurs in a discharge region on the surfaces of the dielectric layer and the passivation film due to potential difference between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode as shown in FIG. 3d. The electrons in the discharge cell come into collision with the inert gas in the discharge cell due to the opposite discharge and the area discharge. As a result, the inert gas in the discharge cell is excited and ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 147 nm occur in the discharge cell. The ultraviolet rays come into collision with the phosphors surrounding the address electrode and the barrier so that the phosphors are excited. The excited phosphors generate visible light rays, and the visible light rays display an image on a screen. That is, the plasma display panel is operated.
A related art plasma display panel of two-electrode area discharge type will be described with reference to FIG. 4.
Opposite discharge occurring between a pair of electrodes formed to face each other on facing substrates is controlled to display an image.
The plasma display panel of two-electrode area discharge type includes electrodes in a matrix arrangement. That is, this plasma display panel includes a plurality of cathodes 50 formed on a lower substrate, a plurality of display anode electrodes 60 formed on an upper substrate to be orthogonal to the cathode electrodes, and a plurality of auxiliary anode electrodes 70.
The cathode electrodes 50 are separated from the anode electrodes 60 and 70 by barriers 23. A space of a display charge cell 80 and a space of an auxiliary discharge cell 80xe2x80x2 are respectively formed. A space having a certain area is formed between most of the barriers 23 and the upper substrate 10 and between most of the barriers 23 and the lower substrate 20, so that a priming path is formed. The priming path induces auxiliary discharge generated by the auxiliary discharge cell 80xe2x80x2 to the display discharge cell 80.
The aforementioned plasma display panel adopts a pulse memory system. A method for driving the pulse memory system will now be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, a sustain discharge pulse 90 is always applied to the cathode electrodes and a scan pulse 95 is applied from the first cathode electrode to the next cathode electrode in turn. At this time, auxiliary discharge occurs whenever the scan pulse 95xe2x80x2 is applied to the auxiliary discharge cell 80xe2x80x2.
The discharge of the auxiliary discharge cell 80xe2x80x2 is successively spread into an adjacent auxiliary discharge cell, thereby generating charge particles. The charge particles are spread into the adjacent display discharge cell 80 through the priming path. Thus, delay time required to discharge the display discharge cell is reduced.
A data pulse 93 is applied to the display anode electrode 60 when the scan pulse 95 is applied to the cathode electrode 50. Since a discharge voltage of the display discharge cell 80 is lowered by the auxiliary discharge for generating display discharge, once addressed cell sustains discharge by applying the sustain discharge pulse 90 thereto.
However, the related art plasma display panel of two-electrode area discharge type has problems that each electrode is degraded and service life of the phosphors is reduced due to opposite discharge. The related art plasma display panel of three-electrode area discharge type has problems that aperture ratio and discharge efficiency are lower than those of the plasma display panel of two-electrode area discharge type.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a structure and driving method for a plasma display panel that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a structure and driving method for a plasma display panel in which degradation of electrodes is reduced and service-life reduction of phosphors is minimized.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the scheme particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a structure for a plasma display panel according to the present invention includes a plurality of upper electrodes formed on an upper substrate at certain intervals in one direction, a dielectric layer formed on the upper substrate including the upper electrodes, an auxiliary electrode formed on the dielectric layer between adjacent upper electrodes, a passivation film formed on the dielectric layer including the auxiliary electrode, a lower electrode formed on a lower substrate opposite to the upper electrodes to be orthogonal to the upper electrodes, and a dielectric layer formed on the lower substrate including the lower electrode.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Structure and driving method for plasma display panel


A health and safety apparatus for entities such as individuals or objects includes a housing containing at least one side opening, a plurality of fluid atomizing dispensers, and a reservoir containing a fluid which includes a sanitizer, sterilizer or disinfectant. The housing includes a top wall and at least one side wall defining an inner chamber. The dispensers are mounted in spaced relation on the top and side walls and are connected with the reservoir. When an entity is arranged in the housing, the atomizing dispensers are activated to spray the fluid onto the entity. In a preferred embodiment, the housing further includes a bottom wall configured for collecting fluid. Preferably, the apparatus includes at least one motion sensor mounted on the housing for detecting motion at a threshold of the side opening to electronically operate the atomizing dispensers for a defined period of time.

The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus designed for safe and healthy entry to a building or space, and more specifically to an enclosure designed for safe and healthy entry to a building or space.
A wide range of apparatuses are used to provide safe and healthy entry into buildings and/or spaces. Chemicals are used with many methods of application to disinfect individuals and objects. Such methods might include using liquid sanitizers, wipes, or sprays, to name a few. Most sanitizing dispensers treat hard surfaces and hands while many pathogens can be transmitted via hair, clothing, mobile phones, handbags, shoes, or other objects. To provide more comprehensive disinfecting, mists and fogs are used in an attempt to sanitize an entire body of an individual or object.
Beyond the use of disinfectants, metal detectors are often used at the entry of a building or space to detect if individuals have weapons or other such devices on their person. In some instances, for example in airports, millimeter wave scanners are used to detect concealed objects. Other devices, such as thermal imaging, also provide a method for detect concealed object. These and other such devices are often used to ensure safe entry to a building or space.

Apparatus and method for disinfecting entities


A modified display list contains a series of n nested bounding volumes. The first bounding volume in the series contains the remaining n-1 bounding volumes the series. The second bounding volume contains the remaining n-2 bounding volumes in the series, and so on. Upon invocation, the graphics display system processes the modified list sequentially and tests the bounding volumes as they are encountered. As soon as a bounding volume is encountered whose coordinates define a region that should not be rendered, further sequential processing of rendering commands in the list may be halted. If any state commands remain in the list, those commands or an equivalent set of state commands may be executed, and then processing of the list is complete. Alternatively, if push/pop state commands exist on either side of the list, then processing of the list may be halted without more.

OpenGL. The graphics standard known as "OpenGL" defines a software interface for controlling graphics display systems. More specifically, it defines a number of commands that may be issued by client software to cause an OpenGL-compliant graphics system to draw. Some OpenGL commands are designed to place the graphics system into a particular state (e.g., set the current color to a particular color, or set the current model view matrix to a certain value). Other commands are designed to specify primitives for rendering (e.g., define the vertices of a triangle or other polygon).
Display Lists. It is common for client software to issue OpenGL commands in what is called immediate mode so that the commands will be executed upon receipt by the graphics system. But OpenGL also includes a notion of display lists. A display list represents a set of one or more commands. Once created, a display list is stored for possible later or repeated invocation by client software. For example, a display list might be created for rendering a wheel and then invoked four times to draw the four wheels of a car. A display list may contain both rendering commands and state commands. For lists containing state commands, the effect of the state commands persists in an OpenGL-compliant display system after the list has been invoked. It is possible to call a second display list from within a first display list. For further background information on OpenGL and OpenGL display lists, see for example OpenGL Programming Guide (Addison-Wesley, 1993).
Bounding Volumes. One known performance enhancement technique in computer graphics is the concept of a bounding volume. For example, a simple shape such as a cube may be defined to enclose a more complex shape such as a star. In such an example the cube would be referred to as the bounding volume for the star. During rendering the coordinates defining the cube are compared with the coordinates defining a viewing volume. If the cube is outside the viewing volume, then the star is not rendered. It is computationally simpler to compare the viewing volume with a simple shape such as the cube than it is to compare it with a complex shape such as the star. Consequently, the use of bounding volumes helps to conserve resources and improve performance.
Bounding volumes may also be nested. For example, two objects in a scene may each have their own individual bounding volumes defined, and a third bounding volume may be defined to enclose the first two bounding volumes. If the third bounding volume is not in the viewing volume, then both of the objects can safely not be rendered. In such as case, testing the viewing volume against the third bounding volume saves computing resources that would have been required to test the first and second bounding volumes individually. Nested bounding volumes are often referred to as hierarchical bounding volumes.
The Hewlett-Packard Visualize Center SV6. In one OpenGL-compliant graphics system called the Hewlett-Packard Visualize Center SV6, display list logic utilized bounding volumes at two levels: the leaf level and the root level. First, the SV6 system created bounding volumes for each of the primitives defined in a display list. It did so on a primitive-by-primitive basis and stored the bounding volumes in the display list along with the corresponding primitives. This feature enabled culling to be performed on a primitive-by-primitive basis (the leaf level) whenever the display list was invoked. Second, the human user was able to set an environment variable if he wished to operate in a "stateless" display list mode. The implicit promise made by the user when operating in stateless display list mode was that no display lists created by his application would contain any state commands. When in stateless display list mode, for each list, the SV6 system created a single global bounding volume that enclosed all of the primitives in the list (the root level). It did this in addition to creating separate bounding volumes for each individual primitive at the leaf level. When operating in stateless display list mode, an entire list could possibly be culled when the list was invoked, depending on the outcome of testing the global bounding volume against the viewing volume. But stateless display list mode could not be used if even a single one of possibly numerous created display lists would contain a state command.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for performing DC offset cancellation for a wireless receiver that includes one or more amplification stages between a demodulator and a baseband digital signal processor (DSP). During operation, the system calibrates values of static DC offset associated with a plurality of gain settings for at least one amplification stage, stores the calibrated DC offset values in a lookup table, receives a current gain setting for the amplification stage, maps a DC offset value from the lookup table based on the current gain setting, and cancels static DC offset for the amplification stage using the mapped DC offset value.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a direct conversion RF receiver. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a direct conversion RF receiver equipped with an adaptive DC offset cancellation (DCOC) circuitry.
2. Related Art
Traditional wireless communication systems are usually designed for a specific standard, such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Wi-Fi® (registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance of Austin, Tex.), LTE (Long Term Evolution), just to name a few. Current demand for the convergence of wireless services, so that users can access different standards from the same wireless device, is driving the development of multi-standard and multi-band transceivers, which are capable of transmitting/receiving radio signals in the entire wireless communication spectrum (most are in a frequency range of from 300 MHz to 3.6 GHz).
A direct-conversion receiver (DCR) directly demodulates an RF (radio frequency) modulated carrier to baseband frequencies. This is in contrast to the standard super-heterodyne receiver where an initial conversion to an intermediate frequency (IF) is needed. The simplicity of performing only a single frequency conversion reduces the basic circuit complexity, and is thus preferable for meeting the multi-band/multi-standard requirement where high-density integrated circuits (ICs) are needed.
However, one of the major challenges facing the implementation of the DCRs is the DC offset issue. In a standard DCR architecture, RF band selection is typically the only filtering performed in the receive path before the signal is down-converted directly to baseband. Therefore, a strong, nearby signal, including the receiver's own local oscillator (LO) signal, can mix itself down to zero-IF, which is known as self-mixing, and generate a DC level that appears as interference at the center of the desired band. This self-mixing is often caused by signal leakages resulting from finitely isolated substrate and bond-wire coupling. For example, in the typical silicon-based IC, port-to-port isolation (such as the isolation between the LO and RF ports of a mixer) is limited by low-resistivity substrate coupling, bond-wire radiation, and capacitive and magnetic coupling. In addition, since the LO is typically a strong signal, it can leak with sufficiently high amplitude through these unintended paths, reaching into the mixer RF input and mixing with itself, thereby generating a static DC level. The LO signal can also be radiated by the antenna, or reflected off obstructions (such as a building or a moving vehicle), and then be recaptured by the front-end and generate a DC offset. With fading and multipath reception, the received power level can vary rapidly, which results in time-varying or dynamic DC offset. In addition, DC offset can be generated by self-mixing of a strong nearby interferer or interaction of an interfering signal and circuit generated second-order nonlinearity.

Adaptive DC offset cancellation for direct conversion RF receivers


A swimming goggle structure includes two frames each having a lens fixed thereon, two cushion pads each mounted to one of the frames and adapted to contact wearer's face, a bridge connected between inner sides of the frames and a head strip connected between outer sides of the frames. Each of the cushion pads has a connection device which includes an extension section extending from an outer side of the cushion pad and having a substantial length to define a free end away from the outer side of the extension section. A fastener is mounted on the free end of the extension section to connect the head strip. By the provision of the connection device, the connection of the head strip to the lens frames of the swimming goggles is located at a position away from the outer canthus of the wearer so as to allow the force caused by the tension of the tightened head strip to be more uniformly distributed along the lens frames and thus providing a more comfortable and more leakage proofness engagement between the lens frames and the wearer's face.

Swimming goggles are comprised of two frames each having a lens fixed thereon. The frames have an inward facing side which is to be in sealing or leakage proof contact engagement with the wearer's face in order to prevent water from entering the space between the frames and the wearer's face. To provide a comfortable engagement between the frames and the wearer's face, soft and resilient pads are provided on the frames to be sandwiched between the frames and the wearer's face. Such pads may be made of a number of materials and in a numer of wayes.
For example, in FIG. 1 which shows a prior art swimming goggle structure, the pads are made of foam material 32 which are attached to the frames 31 of the swimming goggles. FIG. 2 shows another prior art design of swimming goggles, wherein the pads comprise a resilient ring 40 having a face contact flange 401 and received and held in an engaging slot 411 formed on the respective lens frame 41. In addition, conventionally, all swimming goggles are provided with a connection section on the outer side to connect a head strip, such as the connection section 33 or 43 formed on the lens frame 31 or 41 of the swimming goggles illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The head strip 34 or 44 is secured to the connection sections 33 or 43 to allow the lens frames 31 or 41 to be fixed on the wearer's head.
The foam body 32 and face contact flange 401 adapted in the prior art swimming goggle designs, although effective in providing a comfortable engagement with the wearer's face, yet has a drawback that is the force caused by the tension induced in a tightened head strip when the swimming goggles are worn and acting upon the connection sections of the lens frames is generally concentrated in the areas of the wearer's face that are close to the connection sections, making the wearer uncomfortable to some extent. This may be further explained with reference to FIG. 2. Conventionally, the connection sections 43 are located close to the outer canthus of the wearer's eyes so that when the head strip 44 is tightened in wearing the swimming goggles, the tension of the head strip 44 causes a force acting upon each of the connection sections 43 which concentrates at the area of the wearer's face in the proximity of the eye canthus. The skin and muscle near the outer canthus are then stretched and strained, creating irritation.
In view of such a drawback present in almost all the prior art designs of swimming goggles, it is desirable to have an improved swimming goggle structure which reduces or substantially eliminates such an irritation problem caused by tightened head strip.