A vehicle rack includes a non-pivotal portion and a pivotal portion. The non-pivotal portion is adapted to be mounted on a motor vehicle such as a public transportation vehicle such as a bus, a trolley, train, van, or car. The pivotal portion, when in the bicycle receiving position, includes in a preferred embodiment retractable arms to hold bicycles in place by their tires. The bicycle rack includes elements that assist in the raising of the pivotal portion from the vehicle receiving position into a stowed position and for lowering the pivotal portion from the stowed position to the bicycle receiving portion. Other elements assist in the single-handed reposition-ability.

This invention relates in general to racks for carrying vehicles transportable by larger vehicles, such as motor vehicles, including tricycles, recumbents, wheelchairs, and Segways, and in particular to an improved vehicle rack having a means to assist in the raising and lowering of the rack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,659 discloses a bicycle rack which is a good example of a type of vehicle rack for which the present invention can be used to great advantage. The disclosure of said patent is incorporated herewith by reference.
Vehicles used to move within shorter distances or used recreationally or as part of a fitness regime often need to be transported via motor vehicles such as by bus, trolley, train, van or car. Very often the vehicles are secured to the outside of the motor vehicles. The racks often have a stowed position and a vehicle receiving position. As the racks are made of a rugged, often heavy, material movement from the stowed position to the vehicle receiving position and vice versa can take some strength. Also, the user may have one hand occupied holding, or steadying the vehicle while attempting to reposition the rack.
In addition, as vehicle racks are modified to carry more vehicles such as bicycles, tricycles, recumbents, wheelchairs, and Segways, including multiples of each type or combinations of different vehicles, the weight of the rack can be considerable. So, in connection with a rack as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, and also in connection with other racks, moving the rack from a stowed, upright position, to a lowered, carrying position, or from the lowered position to the upright position, can require a certain level of strength to lift the rack. While this is easily accomplished by many people, in some cases, it would be desirable to have a way to minimize the amount of strength and exertion required to move a rack between positions.


A foot pillow including at least one cushion having a top side, a flat bottom side a right side and a left side. The flat bottom of the at least one cushion prevents the at least one cushion from rolling. A cover having an outer wall and a right side and a left side is provided. The at least one cushion is removably insertable through each of the right side and the left side of the cover. An elastomeric strap having a right end and a left end is provided and attached to the cover. The strap wraps around the perimeter of a foot rest item such as a foot end of a mattress or a recliner foot rest, securing the foot pillow in place.

Various types of foot pillows are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a foot pillow including a removable at least one cushion, a cover, and an elastomeric strap that wraps around the perimeter of a foot rest item such as a foot end of a mattress or a recliner foot rest, securing the foot pillow in place. People suffer from many ailments pertaining to their feet. Some of these ailments include pain in the ball of the foot, heel pain such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, bone spurs, tendonitis, stress fractures, hammertoes, gout and arthritis in the feet, ankles and or toes. Many people also suffer from tired legs and feet during pregnancy or after standing for extended periods of time. At times, people are bedridden and may develop bedsores. The foot pillow is designed to help relief the listed ailments along with many others not listed.


A method and apparatus for producing a product of predetermined shape from a vegetable, in which a cylindrical core is cut from the vegetable, and a predetermined shape is cut laterally from the core. In another aspect of the invention a cylindrical plug is cut into the vegetable, a cylindrical pocket is cut in the plug, and the base of the plug is severed from the vegetable for form a cup.

It has long been known to cut, by hand, vegetables and the like into various shaped configurations for decorative purposes. It has also been long known to use a mechanical apparatus to cut vegetables into various simple, generally longitudinal shapes. For example, a CUISINART (a trade-mark) can be used to cut food produce into strips or juliennes and the like.
However, such known methods and apparatus cannot be applied on an industrial level where a high volume of produce is to be cut into complex, generally non-longitudinal shapes.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and an apparatus for automatically cutting produce into shaped configurations.

Method for producing a vegetable product


The present invention relates to a process for producing a microfluidic device which involves providing a substrate with a surface and writing a first flowable material on the surface of the substrate. The first flowable material is then solidified to form spacer elements, each with a top surface distal from the surface of the substrate, and a second flowable material is written on the surface of the substrate. A cover having a surface is provided and applied to the substrate, with the surface of the cover contacting the top surfaces of the spacer elements. The second flowable material is solidified to form walls, where the walls, the surface of the substrate, and the surface of the cover form flow channels of a microfluidic device. The resulting microfluidic device is also disclosed.

Microfluidic devices are critical components for achieving miniaturization of a broad range of products including biochemical reactors, total chemical analysis systems, instrumentation, and systems-on-chip. Because the field has not yet matured, there is a need to quickly and inexpensively verify device designs. Thus, rapid prototyping techniques that can create complex, multi-functional microfluidic devices are sought by the art.
A wide variety of fabrication techniques have been described in the literature. M. J. Madou has provided a thorough overview in Fundamentals of Microfabrication: The Science of Miniaturization, 2nd ed. (CRC Press, New York, 2002). N.-T. Nguyen and S. T. Wereley have summarized fabrication techniques of particular utility in the construction of microfluidic devices in Fundamentals and Applications of Microfluidics (Artech House, Boston, 2002). To appreciate the advantages of the present invention it is useful to categorize fabrication processes by the manner in which pattern formation of the elements of a microfluidic device is effected.
A first category of fabrication approaches consists of those that rely on photolithography employing a fixed photolithographic mask to define the structural features of a microfluidic device. Included among this group are the well-known batch fabrication techniques applied in the semiconductor and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) industries. Some particularly well-documented batch fabrication techniques used to build microfluidic devices include thick film photopatternable materials such as the epoxy material known as SU-8 and the class of microcontact printing techniques known as soft lithography. As is widely recognized in the art, batch fabrication techniques generally involve a very lengthy and complicated set of processing steps, including spin casting, material deposition, material etching, thermal processing, and surface cleaning and preparation.
In this first category of fabrication approaches, the fixed photolithographic mask may be used to directly expose a photopatternable material which upon development the remaining portions of the material form structural elements of a microfluidic device. This is generally the approach used in SU-8 fabrication. Alternatively, the fixed photolithographic mask may be used to expose a relatively thin photoresist layer which upon development forms a stencil that can be used to effect pattern transfer through subsequent process steps. This is generally the approach used in the semiconductor and MEMS industries where the developed photoresist layer forms an impermeable stencil against an etch process capable of removing the substrate material not protected by the stencil. After removal of the remaining photoresist the substrate exhibits a surface height modulation that corresponds to the pattern of the fixed photolithographic mask. Soft lithography uses this approach to create a microstamp or molding master in a hard substrate such as silicon. The molding master can then be used to transfer pattern features to a polymer such as polydimethylsiloxane which can be poured onto the molding master, cured in place, removed from the molding master, and adhered to a second substrate to form microfluidic channels.
A second category of fabrication techniques has been developed wherein the overall fabrication schemes of the first category of techniques are preserved with the one exception that lithographic exposure is performed by a programmable exposure unit without the need for a fixed photolithography mask. The pattern information required to form the elements of a microfluidic device is stored electronically as a computer file and thus can be quickly modified. Examples of programmable exposure units well known in the literature include rastered laser exposure systems and programmable two-dimensional arrays of optical modulators such as micromirrors.
Direct writing technologies form a third category of fabrication approaches. As with the programmable exposure units described above, pattern information is manipulated and stored electronically so that no fixed photolithography masks are required. However, instead of the generally lengthy and complicated fabrication schedules of the first two categories, direct writing technologies form structural elements of a microfluidic device directly on or in the substrate using few processing steps. Direct writing technologies can be either subtractive or additive processes. Laser machining, wherein substrate material is selectively removed under the influence of an intense optical beam, is a subtractive direct writing technology. Additive direct writing technologies include inkjet printing, pulsed laser ablation, microstereolithography, and micro-capillary deposition. The method described in the present invention uses an additive direct write technology employing micro-capillary deposition.
The fabrication approaches known within the current state-of-the-art all suffer from a large number of problems and limitations. The use of fixed photolithography masks imposes significant costs and time delays in the fabrication process. Substituting a programmable exposure unit for fixed photolithography masks involves costly capital equipment. Batch fabrication approaches generally involve a lengthy and complicated process schedule. These approaches also generally require large numbers of different types of expensive processing tools that carry high costs associated with floor space and environment, maintenance, and operations. Existing fabrication approaches all suffer a limited palette of materials, defined as the variety of materials a given processing tool can handle. For example, several of the techniques cited above are specific for polymers and have limited or no application to other materials such as composites, ceramics, or metals. Inkjet printing is limited to low viscosity liquids and cannot readily form thick film structural elements. Because of this limited palette of materials, devices formed from these fabrication approaches may be constrained to operate over restricted temperature ranges and may have inferior performance characteristics. Many of the current fabrication approaches impose severe limitations on substrate size, geometry, surface topography, and existing substrate features.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the deficiencies in the prior art.

Microfluidic devices fabricated by direct thick film writing and methods thereof


A sliding property improving agent comprising a multi-phase structure thermosplastic resin which consists of a dispersion of 5 to 95 parts by weight of a non-polar .alpha.-olefin polymer (a) and 95 to 5 parts by weight of a vinyl polymer (b), with the dispersing polymer having a particle size from 0.001 to 10 .mu.m. A thermoplastic resin containing said resinous agent exhibits excellent mechanical strength, high anti-brasion and improved sliding properties.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a sliding property improving agent which is especially applicable to thermoplastic resins and effectively improves the sliding property of the resins while not negatively affecting other physical properties, mechanical properties and thermal properties thereof. This invention also relates to a process for making the sliding property improving agents. Resins having improved sliding properties through the additional said improved resin of this invention may be widely used in the field of electrical and electro-mechanical industries, precision machine industries and automobile industries.
2. Prior Art
Resins are widely used in many industrial fields as an alternative for metal materials because of their mechanical and electrical characteristics, productivity, anti-corrosive properties, anti-abrasion properties and their lighter weight.
One of the advantages of using a resin is its sliding property and the resins having self-lubricating properties are in practical use in the fields of the automobile industry, building industry and electrical industry. Both thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins are used where sliding properties are required, and thermoplastic resins are especially widely used because of the ease and economics of that fabrication.
Recently, a requirement of improved sliding properties has increased as the area of use of the resin expands.
Attempts have been made to improved the sliding properties of resins and it has been well known as a method of improving sliding properties of resins to add a solid or a liquid luburicant thereto.
The following are some examples of various kind of resins having improved sliding properties by the addition of lubricants or various resins.
Japanese laid open 87-253650 (Kokai Sho 62-253650) and 88-37198 (Kokai Sho 63-37198) disclose a composition for improving the sliding properties of a polyoxymethylene resin comprising a poly-acetal polyethylene with a specific MI (melt index) and a conductor which reduces the coefficient of friction and noise while sliding .
Japanese laid open 88-33465 (Kokai Sho 63-33465) discloses a polyoxymethylene resin composition procduced by uniformly dispersing a ultra high molecular weight fine polyethylene powder having high moldability properties, anti-friction properties and anti-abrasion properties.
Japanese laid open 85-144351 (Kokai Sho 60-144351), corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,508, discloses a thermoplastic resin composition comprising a melt mix product of polyoxymethylene and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene powder with specified properties, which have excellent abrasion resistance, impact resistance and a high critical PV limit.
Japanese laid open 87-253651 (Kokai Sho 62-253651), corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,391, discloses a polycarbonate resin composition comprising an aromatic carbonate resin and a partially fluorinated polyolefin composition which exhibits improved wear resistance. Japanese laid open 88-16756 (Kokai Sho 63-162756) discloses a polycarbonate resin composition comprising an aromatic carbonate resin and a fluorinated polyolefin, a polyolefin, or a silicone liquid composition which also exhibits improved wear resistance.
Japanese laid open 88-182361 (Kokai Sho 63-182361) discloses a styrene resin composition containing rubber-modified styrene resin, polyolefin resin, styrene-olefin graft or block copolymer and dimethylsilicon having improved sliding properties, and Japanese laid open 89-201351 (Kokai 01-201351) discloses a styrene resin composition having an improved sliding property which contains silicone oil and a tin stabilizer and is used for sliding parts of a gear or a cam.
With regard to improving the sliding properties of thermoplastic polyester resins. Japanese laid open 84-170138 (Kokai Sho 59-170138) discloses a polyester resin having improved sliding properties containing a thermoplastic polyester resin, solid lubricant, lubricating oil and polyoxyalkylene compounds. Japanese laid open 89-140253 (Kokai Sho 59-140253) discloses a polybutylene terephthalate resin composition used as a frictional material which is prepared by adding potassium titanate fiber and fluorocarbon resin to polybutylene terephthalate resin and has improved sliding property. Japanese laid open 88-213551 (Kokai Sho 63-213551) discloses a resin composition containing polybutylene terephthalate resin mixed with tetrafluoroethylene resin, reinforcing material and solid lubricant. Japanese laid open 88-297455 (Kokai Sho 63-297455) discloses a polyester resin composition containing dispersed carbon fiber and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having good sliding properties.
For improving the sliding properties of polyarylene sulfide resins, Japanese laid open 75-119040 (Kokai Sho 50-119040) discloses a polyphenylene sulfide resin containing tetrafluoroethylene resin as a lubricant.
Japanese laid open 77-129761 (Kokai Sho 52-129761) and Japanese patent publication 81-50124 Kokoku sho 56-50124) disclose a polyphenylene sulfide resin containing graphite a polytetrafluoroethylene resin and lubricating oil as a lubricant.
Japanese laid open 76-28145 (Kokai Sho 51-28145) and Japanese patent publication 82-13586 (Kokoku sho 57-13586) disclose a polyphenylene sulfide resin containing a molybdenum disulfide and a carbon fiber having improved sliding properties.
Japanese laid open 85-228558 (Kokai Sho 60-228558) discloses a polyphenylene sulfide resin containing a fiber reinforcement agent, tetrafluoroethylene resin powder, and an inorganic filler having cleavage properties.
Japanese laid open 87-232457 (Kokai Sho 62-232457) discloses a polyphenylene sulfide resin containing a tetrafluoroethylene resin, a reinforcing filler and a specified organic silane.
For improving sliding property of polyamide resins, Japanese laid open 85-96649 (Kokai Sho 60-96649) corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,495, discloses a polyamide resin containing a high density polyethylene powder, and potassium titanate whiskers having good sliding properties. Japanese laid open 85-144351 (Kokai Sho 60-144351), corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,508, discloses a polyamide resin mixed with a ultra high molecular weight polyethylene powder having a specified particle size having good sliding properties. Japanese laid open 87-218453 (Kokai Sho 62-218453) discloses a polyamide resin mixed with a carbon fiber and a specified molecular weight polyethylene.
Further a for improving sliding properties of polyphenylene ether resins, Japanese laid open 85-186560 (Kokai Sho 60-186560) discloses a polyphenylene ether resin blended with a polyamide elastomer having improved frictional and abrasion properties.
For improving the sliding properties of polyarylate resins, Japanese laid open 84-179662 (Kokai Sho 59-179662) discloses a polyarylate resin containing a lubricating oil, a lubricating oil carrier, mica, and a solid lubricant.
However, there are defects in the above mentioned prior art. For instance, in the compositions for improving the sliding properties of a polyoxymethylene resin disclosed in Japanese laid open 87-253650 (Kokai Sho 62-253650) and Japanese laid open 88-37198 (Kokai Sho 63-37198), the polyethylene is melted, then kneaded and dispersed into a polyoxymethylene resin but the compatibility of polyethylene with polyoxymethylene is not large enough so that the basic nature and properties of the resin, such as mechanical strength and heat resistance are adversely affected. Moreover, a surface of the molded product often causes delamination and the mixed resin adheres to the cavity of the mold after molding.
A thermoplastic resin composition comprising a mixed melt product of polyoxymethylene and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene powder with specified properties is disclosed in Japanese laid open 85-144351 (Kokai Sho 60-144351), corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,508, in which ultra high molecular weight polyethylene powder is dispersed in the system as comparatively large sized particles. The reduction effect of the friction coefficient of the resin is not successful.
Polycarbarbonate resins disclosed in Japanese laid open 87-253651 (Kokai Sho 62-253651) and Japanese laid open 88-162756 (Kokai Sho 63-162756) have improved sliding properties by blending in a fluorinated polyolefin solely, or by blending in a fluorinated polyolefin, a polyolefin and a silicone liquid composition, and exhibit improved wear resistance. However, compatibility of the polycarbonate resin with the fluorinated polyolefin, a polyolefin, and a silicone liquid is not large enough. Consequently, preferable physical and mechanical properties of the polycarbonate resin are adversely affected and the resulting products show a bleeding phenomenon, surface delamination or adhering to a cavity of the mold.
Although a styrene resin composition containing rubber modified styrene resin, polyolefin resin, styrene-olefin, graft or block copolymer and dimethylsilicon disclosed in Japanese laid open 88-182361 (Kokai Sho 63-182361), exhibits a slightly improved sliding property, the resultant product resin does not exhibit good mechanical properties and shows surface delamination and bleeding phenomena, which are all adverse effects.
A styrene resin composition blended with silicone oil and tin stabilizer, disclosed in Japanese laid open 89-201351 (Kokai Hei 01-201351) exhibits an improved anti-burning property during molding but the effect of decreasing of the burned phenomenon of resin when molding is still not satisfied.
A thermoplastic polyester resin containing solid lubricant, lubricating oil and polyoxyalkylene compounds and disclosed in Japanese laid open 84-170138 (Kokai Sho 59-170138), exhibits a slightly improved sliding or friction resistance property but lubricating oil often forms at the surface of the products and the surface thereof becomes sticky.
Thermoplastic polyester resins blended with a fluorine resin or a ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having improved sliding properties disclosed in Japanese laid open 84-140253, 88-213551 and 88-297455 exhibits a slightly improved sliding property but compatibility of the fluorine resin or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with the thermoplastic polyester resins is not large enough so the basic nature and properties of the thermoplastic polyester resin are adversely affected. Specifically, the mechanical strength thereof is badly affected, surface delamination of the products occurs and the mixed resin adheres to the cavity of mold after molding.
A polybutylene terephthalate resin composition prepared by adding potassium titanate fiber and fluorocarbon resin thereto disclosed in Japanese laid open 89-140253 (Kokai Sho 59-140253), a resin composition containing polybutylene terephthalate resin mixed with tetrafluoroethylene resin, reinforcing material and solid lubricant disclosed in Japanese laid open 88-213551 (Kokai Sho 63-213551) and a polyester resin composition containing dispersed carbon fiber and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene disclosed in Japanese laid open 88-297455 (Kokai Sho 63-297455) all exhibit improved sliding properties but because of poor compatibility of the tetraluforoethylene resin and of the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with the thermoplastic polyester resins, the thermoplastic polyester resins could not exhibit basic physical and mechanical properties and, more than that surface delamination and adhesion to the cavity of the mold were big problems.
Polyarylene sulfide resins disclosed in Japanese laid open 75-119040, 77-129761, Japanese patent publication 81-50124, 82-13586, and Japanese laid open 85-228558, containing tetrafluoroethylene resin or a solid lubricant such as molybdenum disulfide and graphite exhibit a slightly improved sliding property but abrasion resistance of these resins decreases when a comparatively large amount of the solid lubricant is added. Especially, when tetrafluoroethylene is blended with a polyarylene sulfide resin, the compatibility of the tetrafluoroethylene with the polyarylene sulfide resin is not sufficient and the mechanical properties and surface conditions of the resultant resin decreases as the tetrafluoroethylene sometimes coagulates and does not become uniformly dispersed.
To solve the problem of poor compatibility of the tetrafluoroethylene with the polyarylene sulfide resin, a specified organic silane is added as disclosed in Japanese laid open 88-232457 but the result is still not satisfactory.
Polyamide resins disclosed in Japanese laid open 85-96649, 85-144351 and 87-218453 containing a high density polyethylene resin, an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or a polyethylene for the purpose of improving the resins sliding properties, have defects in physical and mechanical properties the resin adheres to a cavity of a mold after molding and the delamination of the surface of the product sometimes occurs because the compatibility of the polyethylene resin with the polyamide is not essentially large enough.
Polyphenylene ether resins disclosed in Japanese laid open 85-186560, exhibit a slightly improved abrasion resistance but the coefficient of friction of the resin is not improved.
Polyarylate resins disclosed in Japanese laid open 84-179662 shows improved frictional and anti-abrasion properties but lubricating oil bleeds out to the surface thereof and causes damage to the surface and the mechanical properties of the resins decreases because of the poor compatibility of the lubricating oil and solid lubricant with the resins.
As discussed above, thermoplastic resins having improved sliding properties by adding conventional solid or liquid lubricants or various resins lost their basic mechanical properties.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a sliding property improving agent which does not adversely affect the mechanical strength of the resin.

Sliding property improving agent and process for making the same


A method for minimizing and optimizing a list of active reference pictures to be used for (forward or backward) inter coding of a current picture, or of a pixel region (e.g., video object) within the current picture. Setting the number of active reference pictures in a list equal to one based upon one or more decisions related to the pixel data and movement between the current picture and one or more reference pictures. Otherwise, minimizing the number of active reference pictures in the list based upon one or more other decisions related to the pixel data and movement between the current picture and one or more reference pictures. Minimizing the number of active reference pictures in a second reference picture list based upon the utilization of reference pictures in the first reference picture list. A video encoder processes data representing a two-dimensional video image which has been produced by a conventional commercially available video camera. The video encoder is adapted to determine, select, and to minimize the number of active reference pictures to be used to inter code a current picture. The bit stream transmitted by the encoder can be decoded by decoders of the related art.

A video encoder can be used to encode one or more frames of an image sequence into digital information. This digital information may then be transmitted to a receiver, where the image or the image sequence can then be reconstructed. The transmission channel itself may be over any of a number of mediums; for example (for illustrative purposes only and not meant to be an exclusive listing), the medium may comprise a wireless broadcast, a radio link, a satellite link, coaxial cable television or data, fiber optic, mobile phone connection, or fixed line telephone link, the Internet, or a combination of these or other mediums.
Various international standards have been agreed upon for video encoding and transmission. In general, a standard provides rules for compressing and encoding data relating to frames of an image. These rules provide a way of compressing and encoding image data to transmit less data than the viewing camera originally provided about the image. This reduced volume of data then requires less channel bandwidth for transmission. A receiver can re-construct the image from the transmitted data if it knows the rules (that is, the standard) that the transmitted data conformed to. The H. 264 standard avoids redundant transmission of parts of the image, by using motion compensated prediction of macroblocks from previous frames.
Video compression architectures and standards, such as MPEG-2 and JVT/H.264/MPEG 4 Part10/AVC, encode macroblocks using only either an intraframe ("intra") coding or an interframe ("inter") coding method for the encoding of each macroblock. For interframe motion estimation/compensation, a video frame to be encoded is partitioned into non-overlapping rectangular, or most commonly, square blocks of pixels. For each of these blocks, the best matching same-shaped block is searched from a reference frame in a predetermined search window according to a specified matching error criterion. Then the matched block is used to predict the current block, and the prediction error block is further processed and transmitted to the decoder. The relative shifts in the horizontal and vertical directions of the reference block with respect to the original block are grouped and referred to as the motion vector (MV) of the original block, which is also transmitted to the decoder. The main aim of motion estimation is to predict a motion vector such that the difference block obtained from taking a difference of the reference and current blocks produces the lowest number of bits in encoding.
Recent video coding standards and architectures employ multiple reference pictures for motion estimation and compensation in an attempt to improve coding efficiency. Predictively coded pictures (called "P" pictures) in. MPEG-2 and its predecessors use only one previous picture to predict the values in a current picture. The H.264 standard allows the usage of multiple reference pictures (or frames), which are usually pictures at different time instants, many of which can be spatially and temporally unrelated to the current picture. In MPEG-2 only a single reference index is used, while for the encoding of motion vectors a special code named the f-code parameter is also transmitted within the bitstream for every picture that is used for the determination and decoding of the motion vectors. This f-code parameter is derived during the motion estimation process, and affects the VLC coding of the motion vectors. Previous proposals for automatically adapting the f-code parameter for every picture, depending upon its motion parameters and range, could achieve better coding efficiency, when compared to keeping the parameter fixed. H.264, does not support this parameter, and essentially uses predefined VLC codes for the encoding of the motion vectors. On the other hand, H.264 allows multiple reference use, therefore a reference index parameter is also transmitted.
The use of multiple references can increase considerably the complexity of the encoder, since more pictures need to be examined during the motion estimation process. The H.264 standard allows an encoder to select, for motion compensation purposes, among a larger number of pictures that have been decoded and stored in the decoder. The same extension of referencing capability is also applied to motion-compensated bi-prediction, which is restricted in MPEG-2 to using two specific pictures only (one of these being the previous intra (I) or P picture in display order and the other being the next I or P picture in display order).
Typically, the encoder calculates appropriate motion vectors and other data elements represented in the video data stream. The process for inter prediction of a macroblock in the encoder can involve the selection of the picture to be used as the reference picture from a number of stored previously decoded pictures. A "reference index" specifies the location (index) in a reference picture list (list 0 or list 1) of the reference picture to be used for prediction of an inter coded macroblock. A "reference index" is an index of a list of variables (PicNum and LongTermPicNum) that identify selected pictures for a frame sequence, which is called a reference picture list. When decoding a P or SP slice, there is a single reference picture list RefPicList0. When decoding a B slice, there is a second independent reference picture list RefPicList1 in addition to RefPicList0. Which pictures are actually located in each reference picture list is an issue of the multi-picture buffer control. A picture can be marked as "unused for reference" by the sliding window reference picture marking process, a first-in, first-out mechanism, and thereafter will not be listed in either of the reference picture lists. The H.264 standard allows reordering of the references within reference lists.
Multiple reference-picture motion-compensated prediction requires both encoder and decoder to store the reference pictures used for inter prediction in a multi-picture buffer. The decoder replicates the multi-picture buffer of the encoder according to memory management control operations specified in the bitstream. If the size of the multi-picture buffer is set to one picture and if the maximum reference index for list0 or list1 is not signaled to be equal to one, the reference index at which the reference picture is located inside the multi-picture buffer has to be signaled with each inter coded macroblock transmitted.
Because the reference index must to be signaled within the bitstream, for every inter coded microblock, or macroblock partition (e.g., subblocks of 16×8, 8×16 or 8×8 pixels) when the size of the reference picture list is larger than one picture, it is not always certain that multiple references will increase compression gain in the encoding of a particular picture (e.g., a picture may be biased towards only a single reference). For an inter coded macroblock (or subblock), one motion vector difference and one reference index may be present in the bitstream. For a Bi-predictively inter coded macroblock (or subblock), two motion vector differences and two reference indices may be present in the bitstream. Considering for example that for each macroblock in H.264 it is possible to transmit up to 4 reference indices for Predictive (P) pictures, and 8 for Bi-directionally (B) predictive pictures, the bitrate overhead due to the reference indices can be quite significant.
In H.264, the number of references is controlled through the num_ref_idx_IN_active_minus1 parameter that is signaled at the slice level, wherein N is equal to 0 for list0 and 1 for list1. The num_ref_idx_IN_active_minus1 parameter specifies the maximum reference index for reference picture list N that shall be used to decode each slice of the picture in which list N is used (e.g., num_ref_idx_I0_active_minus1 specifies the maximum reference index for reference picture list 0 that shall be used to decode the slice). The value of num_reg_idx_IN_active_minus1 ranges between 0 and 31, inclusive. If this parameter is equal to 0, then for the current slice, only one reference picture will be used to inter code the macroblocks in that slice and no reference index needs to be transmitted with the inter coded macroblocks of that slice.

Method and apparatus for minimizing number of reference pictures used for inter-coding


The invention provides an optical communication system (10) comprising a plurality of mutually interconnected bi-directional optical waveguide rings (20, 30, 40, 50, 60) in which radiation modulated with communication traffic propagates. The radiation is partitioned into 32 distinct wavebands. Interfaces (70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120) are included in the system (10) where communication traffic propagating in the rings transfers from one ring to another. Each interface (70) is capable of providing an all-optical waveband reconfigurable communication link between the rings (20, 30, 40, 50, 60). At each interface (70), conversion of optical radiation to corresponding electrical signals is not required when transferring communication traffic from one ring to another, thereby providing the system (10) with a potentially larger communication bandwidth compared to conventional optical communication systems. If required, the interfaces (70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120) can include one or more of regenerative amplification (440, 850, 852, 854, 856, 858, 860, 862, 864) and wavelength-switching transponders (1332, 1410).

The present invention is concerned with an optical communication system, in particular, but not exclusively, with an optical communication system including interconnected optical communication rings. Moreover, the invention also relates to a method of operating such a system. Furthermore, the invention also relates to an interface for use in the system.
Conventional optical communication systems comprise nodes interconnected by optical fibre waveguides. Communication traffic is communicated between the nodes by conveying optical radiation through the waveguides, the radiation being modulated by the communication traffic. Optical radiation in the context of the present invention is defined as electromagnetic radiation within a free-space wavelength range from 560 nm to 2000 nm, although a free-space wavelength of substantially 1550 nm is a preferred part of this range.
Each node is operable to convert modulated radiation received thereat into corresponding electrical signals. Moreover, each node is further operable to convert electrical signals thereat into corresponding modulated optical radiation and emit the radiation into waveguides connected thereto. Electrical signals can be input and output from the nodes if required, for example to provide signals to clients connected to the nodes and to receive signals from the clients for transmission within the systems.
Examples of conventional optical communication systems including interfaces are to be found in the prior art and will now be described.
In a PCT published patent application PCT/SE96/01265, an optical cross-connect node architecture is described which is capable of interfacing a plurality of optical fibre input and output links, each link itself providing a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) channels. In a first embodiment of the architecture elucidated, the input links are connected to an optical coupler. Pairs of tunable optical filters and optical wavelength converters are each connected to an output port of the optical coupler and perform wavelength channel routing and switching in the wavelength domain, namely without the need for any optical space switch. In a second embodiment of the architecture elucidated, an additional input wavelength converter is connected to each input fibre link to convert the plurality of wavelength channels on each link to different non-interfering wavelengths. Such conversion prevents wavelength contention in the optical coupler to which the input wavelength converters are connected. New fibre links may be added in modular fashion without significant impact on the pre-existing optical cross-connect structure. Similarly, new wavelength channels may also be multiplexed onto existing fibres to provide wavelength modularity without having to reconfigure the node.
In a U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,785, a multiplexer for use in optical telecommunications is described. The multiplexer is operable to add WDM optical radiation components to a group of existing WDM optical radiation components, the existing components having wavelengths belonging to a group of wavelengths λ1 to λN. Moreover, the multiplexer is also operable to drop from the group of existing components at least one WDM optical component having a given wavelength chosen from within the aforementioned wavelength group. The multiplexer comprises at least one circulator having an optical input port for receiving the group of existing WDM components and an optical output port, and an optical selection means coupled on one side thereof to the circulator. The selection means comprises at least one photoinduced Bragg grating, the grating being associated with a corresponding wavelength. The grating can selectively switched between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the grating reflects a WDM radiation component having the given wavelength and transmits WDM radiation components having a wavelength different from the given wavelength. In the second state, the grating transmits all WDM radiation components. Means for controlling the selection means for switching it between the first and second states is provided. Moreover, the selection means cooperates with each optical circulator for adding and dropping the one or more WDM radiation components. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,785 is primarily addressed at the problem of selectively routing WDM radiation components.
In a European patent application no. EP 0 862 071 A1, an optical branching device and a method of optical transmission is described. In the application, it is identified that, in an optical transmission system comprising an optical branching device for routing WDM radiation components, the number of radiation components can change or the intensity of the components can change for a number of reasons during operation. Such a system can include an output optical amplifier for compensating for such change to achieve a substantially constant output power. However, as the number of radiation components changes, the power of each of the remaining components will be modified by such compensation which often represents a departure from optimum device operating conditions. Thus, there is provided in the patent application an optical branching device comprising two optical circulators and plurality of optical fibre gratings arranged in series. The gratings are connected between the two optical circulators. Each grating is operable to reflect one or more radiation components having a wavelength different to the radiation components being transmitted. If a malfunction or similar disruption occurs, the device is operable to divert one or more radiation components different from the transmitted radiation components from a first node including the device to an auxiliary node remote from the terminal node, thus maintaining the radiation components transmitted through the first node to a prescribed power level and ensuring that, for example, the optical amplifier is operated at its optimum function point. Thus, the patent application EP 0 862 071 A1 is concerned with a problem of selectively diverting WDM radiation components to maintain optical working power levels when the number of components is dynamically changing in operation.
In another European patent application no. EP 0 926 853 A2, there is described a wavelength-selective add-drop multiplexer for adding and/or dropping spectral components from a WDM optical signal. 1×1 and 2×2 optical switches are included in the multiplexer; the switches are either used alone or in conjunction with other optical elements to separate WDM spectral components for dropping from other spectral components. The switches are disclosed as being micro-electromechanical actuators for positioning a reflective device into or out of a path of a spectral component for controlling its routing in the multiplexer. Thus, the patent application EP 0 926 853 A2 is concerned with addressing the problem of selective WDM spectral component routing within an optical communication system.
In a United Kingdom patent application GB 2 321 809 A, an add/drop multiplexer is described for coupling trunk and branch optical fibre waveguides in a WDM optical network. The multiplexer selectively feeds particular carrier wavelengths λ1, λ2 from first and second trunk inputs to first, second and third trunk and branch outputs, and from a third branch input to the first and second branch outputs. WDM spectral components are selected by, for example, fibre Bragg gratings acting as reflecting filters, and routed via circulators. During such routing, the spectral components may be amplified by pumped bi-directional doped optical fibre amplifiers. Thus, the patent application GB 2 321 809 A is concerned with a problem of WDM spectral component routing and amplification.
In another European patent no. EP 0 720 408 A2, there is described a tunable add/drop optical filter providing arbitrary channel arrangements between two input WDM signals and two output WDM signals. The filter comprises two N-port wavelength grating routers (WGRs) connected by 2×2 optical switches in each WGR port branch. The switches can, for example, be opto-mechanical switches capable of switching in 50 ms. Thus, the patent application EP 0 720 408 A2 is concerned with selective routing of WDM signal spectral components.
In a scientific publication "Analysis of Hot-Potato Optical Networks with Wavelength Conversion", Bononi and Castanon, Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 17, No. 4 April 1999, there is described a general analysis of WDM spectral component routing. However, practical hardware for performing such routing is not disclosed in the publication.
In the aforementioned conventional systems, the optical radiation propagating therein typically has a wavelength in the order of 1550 nm. This wavelength corresponds to a radiation frequency of around 200 THz and theoretically offers a maximum communication bandwidth in the order of 100 THz taking into consideration the Nyquist criterion, namely that carrier radiation must have a carrier frequency at least twice that of the highest frequency of a signal modulated onto the carrier radiation to circumvent aliasing and information loss. It is conventional practice, as elucidated in the foregoing, to partition radiation propagating in the conventional systems into wavebands, each waveband having associated therewith information-bearing radiation; such partitioning is known as WDM.
In practice, converting optical radiation into corresponding electrical signals at each node in conventional systems imposes a severe limitation on the communication bandwidth which can theoretically be provided by these systems. Such a limitation of bandwidth represents a serious first problem for the conventional systems.
In order to address the first problem, there has recently been theoretical studies concerning optical soliton wave propagation within optical systems. Such soliton waves are capable of propagating over relatively long distances through optical waveguides whilst suffering negligible dispersion and loss. It is not practicable to exploit soliton wave propagation in conventional optical communication systems on account of frequent conversions between modulated optical radiation and corresponding electrical signals which occur in such systems; these conversions negate any potential benefits from exploiting soliton propagation.
The inventors have appreciated that it is highly desirable in an optical communication system to perform as much processing as possible within the optical domain to address the first problem and only convert between optical radiation and corresponding electrical signals when absolutely necessary for performing specialist functions, for example signal regeneration. Regeneration is required for at least partially reversing the effects of dispersion which arise when optical signals are transmitted through relatively long lengths of optical fibre waveguide, for example 100 km lengths of optical fibre. The inventors have therefore devised a regenerative interface for a communication system, the interface capable of providing flexible re-routing of communication traffic whilst performing as much optical processing as possible; attempts so far in the prior art to provide an all-optical communication system have been frustrated by technical difficulties, particularly with regard to achieving all-optical reconfigurable radiation routing.
Moreover, the inventors have appreciated a second problem in conventional communication systems regarding bandwidth limitation arising from inefficient use of system wavebands. The inventors have realized that it is also desirable to be able to redistribute communication traffic within the system between wavebands to ensure that the system is capable of providing its full communication bandwidth in operation when heavily loaded with communication traffic.
Furthermore, the inventors have appreciated a third problem that it is highly desirable to be able to redistribute communication traffic within the system without having to convert information-bearing radiation into corresponding electrical signals which can represent a bandwidth limitation.


In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features an illumination system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus configured so that during operation the illumination system illuminates a reticle plane of the microlithographic projection exposure apparatus with light of a desired polarization distribution. The illumination system includes a first polarization-influencing optical element and a second polarization-influencing optical element. During operation the first polarization-influencing optical element converts a first polarization distribution produced by a light source unit into a second polarization distribution which is different from the first polarization distribution. The second polarization-influencing optical element converts the second polarization distribution into a third polarization distribution corresponding to the desired polarization distribution, the second polarization-influencing optical element causing an effective rotation of the preferred polarization direction through 90° over its optically effective surface.

Microlithography can be used for the production of microstructured components such as for example integrated circuits or LCDs. The microlithography process is generally carried out in what is referred to as a projection exposure apparatus which has an illumination system and a projection objective. The image of a mask is typically illuminated by the illumination system (=reticle) and is typically projected by the projection objective on to a substrate (for example a silicon wafer) which is typically coated with a light-sensitive layer (for example photoresist) and arranged in the image plane of the projection objective in order to transfer the mask structure on to the light-sensitive coating on the substrate.

Subsystem of an illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus


A system for providing credit card sub-accounts with varying credit limits is useful to consolidate many accounts into one account. The present invention allows a user to add others to an existing account with the safety of setting credit limits for each sub-account to prevent sub-account holders from abusing the user's account features, funds, credit limits, and the like. Credit limits for sub-accounts can be configured by an exact amount, a percentage of the total credit limit, a percentage of the credit available, or a combination of these methods, and can also be per transaction, type of establishment where transaction takes place, or types of products or services attempting to be purchased.

In the current art relating to banking and credit card accounts, an account holder may have a savings account and a checking account with one bank, a mortgage account with another bank, and multiple credit card accounts with multiple providers. The account holder may have additional banking and credit card accounts for dependents, resulting in many statements that need balancing and many transactions for the account holder to monitor. Further, in the current art, an account holder with ample funds wanting to establish a credit card account for a dependent has only the options of either opening a separate credit card account which must be managed and reconciled as a separate account, or adding the dependent to the account holder's existing account as a joint account holder with full access to all features, funds, credit limits, and the like, of the user. This creates a burden on the account holder in managing various accounts. A method and system to provide ease of use of banking and/or credit card accounts is needed.

Method and system for creating banking sub-accounts with varying limits

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods and systems for broadcasting game sessions to be viewable by spectators are disclosed. After receiving game information from game participant clients, the title server determines whether the broadcast the game session to spectators, analyzes and repackages the received telemetry data, optionally embedding additional data, and rebroadcasts the repackaged telemetry as a spectator feed to non-participant spectator client devices for viewing by users of the spectator client devices. Embedded data may include commentary data, a director's cut specifying camera information, instructional data, etc. Each spectator client device can analyze and manipulate the received telemetry data using a copy of the video game executing on the spectator client device, or may simply playback the feed when the feed includes a complete audiovisual file. Spectator clients may submit feedback to the participant clients through the title server.

Computer and video games have matured from the likes of "Pong" into epic adventures having rich storylines, photorealistic graphics, and complex interaction systems, thereby allowing a player to immerse herself in the alternative reality that is emulated by the video game. The term video or computer game typically refers to any game played on a data processing device. Examples of video games may include computer games, game console games (e.g., playable on the XBOX®, PLAYSTATION®, and/or NINTENDO® brand game consoles), coin-operated or token-operated arcade games, portable gaming device games (e.g., playable on the Nokia N-GAGE®, PLAYSTATION PORTABLE®, NINTENDO DS®, Gizmondo, mobile phone, etc.), or other software-driven games. A video or computer game may refer to any software driven application that provides a graphically depicted virtual environment, and having one or more objectives that one or more characters attempt to complete within the virtual environment under a set of predetermined constraints or rules. Each character controlled by a player/user may be referred to as a player-character (PC); each computer controlled character may be referred to as a non-player-character (NPC).
Video games can be divided into many genres, such as first-person shooters (FPS), role-playing games (RPG), simulation, sports, strategy, action and driving, to name a few. Each video game is not necessarily limited to a single genre, and may indeed encompass multiple genres. For example, one genre of video games is referred to as a first-person shooter (FPS) genre. The display screen for FPS games typically provides a first person point of view, e.g., as if the player is viewing the video game's virtual world through the eyes of the character the player is controlling. Popular FPS games include the HALO®, DOOM®, QUAKE®, DUKE NUKEM™, and HALF-LIFE® franchises.
FPS games are very popular, in part because they are particularly well suited to multiplayer game play. In many multiplayer games, each participant controls a player-character within the virtual environment, and the participants either work alone or in teams to complete their objective(s) for a particular game. Multiplayer FPS games may provide different objectives in various game modes, thus providing a variety of gameplay types to participants. Some known multiplayer game modes include every-man-for-himself, every-team-for-itself, capture the flag, assault, and king of the hill. Every-man-for-himself format, referred to in the HALO® franchise as Slayer mode, and referred to in the QUAKE® franchise as Deathmatch mode, refers to a multiplayer game where each participant tries to kill all other participants in the graphically simulated virtual environment, e.g., within a specific period of time, a specific number of times, etc. Every-team-for-itself refers to a multiplayer game where groups of participants attempt to kill competing groups of participants in the graphically simulated virtual environment. In capture the flag, the video game simulates a flag in the virtual environment, and teams compete to capture the flag from an initial position and return the flag to a home base of the capturing team. In the assault game mode, teams attempt to penetrate a home base of competing teams and plant a bomb or flag in the competing team's base. Finally, in king of the hill, players or teams attempt to control a specific location for a preset period of time. The first player or team to control the specific location for that preset period of time wins. Each of the above game modes may have various modifications and settings that can be customized from one game to the next.
Regardless of the game mode, players naturally progress in skill, some faster than others, and certain players become very skilled at particular FPS games or other game types. Other less-skilled players subsequently might have a difficult time developing skills as a result of being so easily beaten by the more skilled players. Some games allow other participating players to spectate game play between lives, or between rounds but before all players have finished the current round, etc. Spectating in this manner is accomplished by the participating players' game consoles joining the game and sending game telemetry data to the other participating players' game consoles. However, non-participating players cannot spectate the game. Thus, it would be an advance in the art to provide a system whereby non-participating players or users could also spectate a game, thereby able to observe game play styles and strategies of other players.


A fishing pole support for securement to a chair leg member is arranged such that the support includes an elongate body, having a body leg oriented at an acute angle relative to the body to support a fishing pole thereon. The body is arranged to include an arcuate flange arranged for reception within a receiving cup cavity permitting ease of assemblage of the shaft body and leg relative to the receiving cup. The receiving cup is integral with a split cylindrical sleeve secured to the chair member.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to fishing pole accessory apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved chair attached fishing pole support wherein the same is arranged to provide for support to a fishing pole relative to a chair member.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Chairs of various types such as lawn chairs of a folding and stackable type, as well as wheelchairs and the like, are arranged to accommodate the instant invention to provide for support of a fishing pole to permit an individual to recline and enhance the enjoyment of a fishing procedure. While the prior art structure has been indicated to include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,835,896; 4,159,816; and 5,063,701, the prior art has heretofore failed to permit the use of a readily mounted and dismounted fishing pole support arrangement arranged for ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A method for starting a sensorless brushless DC motor. The present invention uses the physical equations of motion of the motor to calculate commutation advancement rates during the motor's start-up period. An algorithm initially calculates the commutation advancement rates for the motor's maximum theoretical accelleration. The commutation applied to the motor is advanced through a predetermined number of commutation states using these maximum rates. After the predetermined number of commutation states have been applied, the speed of the motor is checked to determine whether the motor is spinning at a high enough speed to permit use of the motor's normal commutation state advancement system. If the motor is not up to speed, the rate at which the commutation states are advanced is incrementally decreased until satisfactory operation of the motor is obtained or until motor failure is diagnosed and starting is aborted. By starting at a high commutation state advancement rate and incrementally reducing the commutation advancement rate until proper accelleration of the motor is attained, the present invention continuously adapts the rate of advancement of the applied commutation states to the condition of the motor, thereby automatically compensating for changes in the motor's performance over time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of brushless DC motors, and more particularily to a method for starting sensorless brushless DC motors.
2. Background Art
In a brushless DC motor, commutation is provided by selectively applying DC current to the motor's field windings. Whether and in what direction current is applied to a particular winding depends on the physical and operational configuration of the motor and the rotational position of the motor's armature. Each motor has a discrete number of commutation states, depending on the number of windings or phases of the motor and the motor's mode of operation (e.g. unipolar, bi-polar, etc.). A three-phase motor in unipolar operation has three different commutation states. A three-phase motor in bi-polar operation has six different commutation states. The commutation states for a three-phase, bipolar motor are shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ COMMUTATION STATES FOR THREE-PHASE BIPOLAR DC MOTOR Commutation State Winding 1 Winding 2 Winding 3 ______________________________________ 1 Positive Negative Open 2 Positive Open Negative 3 Open Positive Negative 4 Negative Positive Open 5 Negative Open Positive 6 Open Negative Positive and repeating: 1 Positive Negative Open ______________________________________
where:
Positive means that a positive potential is applied to the indicated winding. PA1 Negative means that a negative potential is applied to the indicated winding. PA1 Open means that no potential is applied to the indicated winding PA1 THETA=angular displacement in radians PA1 PI=3.14159265 PA1 POLES=number of poles on armature PA1 PHASES=number of phases
For continuous operation of the motor, the commutation applied to the motor must be advanced to successive commutation states as the motor rotates. Each commutation state is applicable over a finite angular displacement of the motor's armature. This finite angular displacement can be calculated from the formula: EQU THETA=(2*PI)/(POLES*PHASES)
where:
For a three-phase motor having a 12-pole armature, the above equation results in a value for THETA of 0.1745 radians or 10 degrees. Anotherwords, each commutation state applies for 1/36th of a revolution. The applied commutation must be advanced to the succeeding commutation state after every 10 degrees of the armature's rotation. For one complete revolution, 36 successive commutation states must be applied, corresponding to six cycles through the six commutation states listed on Table 1.
For the proper timing of commutation advancement, a means for determining the angular position of the motor's armature is required. In sensored brushless DC motors of the prior art, optical or hall effect position sensors are used to determine the angular position of the motor's armature. In sensorless brushless DC motors, however, the angular position of the armature is not measured directly. Instead, it is deduced from a characteristic polarity reversal that occurs in back EMF induced by the rotation of the armature in the motor's undriven field coil windings. Sensorless brushless DC motors have the advantage of simplicity and reduced cost since the need for separate angular position sensors is eliminated. However, the armature must be rotating at a significant angular velocity before sufficient back EMF is produced to allow back EMF sensing. It has heretofore been difficult to provide effective commutation of a sensorless brushless DC motor during the motor's start up period when the motor is spinning below this speed.
One method that has been used in the prior art is generating a fixed frequency timing pulse that triggers successive commutation states. The frequency of the timing pulse must be greater than the frequency at which commutation states advance at a rotational speed of the motor at which sufficient back EMF is generated to allow effective back EMF sensing.
This starting method has several drawbacks. Upon initial start-up, the timing pulses advance the applied commutation states more quickly than the angular position of the armature requires. As a result of this incorrect timing, the current supplied to the motor's field windings by the successively applied commutation states at times will oppose the motor's rotation, causing erratic and inefficient rotational accelleration of the motor and long start-up times. In the worst case, reverse rotation of the motor can occur.

Sensorless brushless DC motor starting system and method


A processor detects a data error in the TS packet by utilizing a value of “adaptation_field_control” and a value of “adaptation_field_length” included in the TS packet of a transport stream. A TS packet filter of the processor deletes the relevant TS packet in the transport stream if the data error in the TS packet is detected, and outputs the relevant TS packet to a PID filter if the data error in the TS packet is not detected. The PID filter detects PCR (Program Time Clock) from the TS packet. In a period of time when the PCR does not arrive at a clock reproducer, a frequency of a reference clock when the last PCR arrived is maintained, and then, when the PCR arrives at the clock reproducer, a value of STC (System Time Clock) is set and the frequency of the reference clock CK is controlled by the clock reproducer such that the value of the STC becomes equal to a value of the new PCR.

In recent years, in television broadcasting, an encoding method compliant with MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard defined in ISO/IEC13318-1 or the like has been employed as a method for applying a video signal and an audio signal to a high-efficiency compression encoding.
In a receiving device that decodes the video signal and the audio signal encoded in such a high-efficiency compression encoding method, a reference clock thereof needs to be synchronized with a reference clock of a transmitting device. Therefore, as a time reference value, for example, data of PCR (Program Clock Reference) indicating a reference time is included in a transport stream packet (hereinafter, referred to as a TS packet) in a transport stream transmitted from the transmitting device. More specifically, the PCR is stored in an adaptation field of the TS packet.
In the receiving device, an STC (System Time Clock) is reproduced, based on the PCR detected from the received TS packet. Based on a value of the STC, a frequency of the reference clock is adjusted. As a result, the synchronization between the reference clock of the receiving device and the reference clock of the transmitting device can be ensured.
A data error may be caused in the TS packet of the transport stream by a transmission error due to a jitter in a transmission channel, or the like.
For example, in Patent Document 1, an error recovering method when an error arises in section data in the TS packet is suggested. In this error recovering method, by matching an extracted effective data length with data length information in the section on a byte basis, a starting position of the next extracted section can be recognized.
[Patent Document 1] JP 3065276 B

Transport stream processing device and transport stream processing method


A combination valve stem extension hose and pressure indicator is disclosed. The extension is threaded onto a standard valve stem. The extension tube is available in a variety of lengths to accommodate filling inside dually tires. The extension tube also is available with various bend angles. A pressure indicating piston is provided to give visual status of the pressure within the tire in a static filled condition and while air is being added to the tire. The construction of the pressure indicator allows for threading or welding of the sight glass. Improvements in the pressure indicator include locating, aligning and positioning features to improve operation and longevity of the gauge.

The amount of air pressure in an automobile tire is important for a number of reasons. If the air pressure is too low the friction of the tire on the ground is increased, resulting in lower gas mileage. This increased friction produces more heat from the tire rolling on the ground and can cause the tire to disassemble. If the pressure is too high it is possible for the tire to explode and cause injury. In the case of pressure being outside of an optimal range the tire will not wear evenly resulting in a shortening of the expected life of the tire. Ideally tire pressure should be checked when gas is being added to the vehicle but this is not always the case. While this is an ideal situation, the pressure in most tires are only checked when the oil is being changed.
Part of the reason for people not checking the pressure in their tires on a regular basis is the difficulty involved in locating a tire pressure gauge, removing the cap on each tire, checking the pressure and re-installing the cap. To eliminate the problem associated with using a pressure gauge to check the pressure on a tire several devices have been patented that provide for a valve cap or cover with an integrated pressure indicator. While this has made it easier to visually check the pressure in each tire, the pressure indicator needs to be removed to add air to the tire, and the filled pressure is then determined after replacing the valve cover. A simpler solution is to provide a tire stem or tire stem extension with an integrated pressure indicator. Some patents have been issued on combination valve stem and valve stem adapters with integrated pressure indicators. The bulk of these devices have the pressure indicator existing concentric with the fill line. While these provide the function, their construction is complex and the indicator window is not always placed in an ideal location for viewing.
Examples of patents that show or describe this type of configuration are with U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,297 issued on Sep. 25, 2001 to Maldonado et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,747 issue on Feb. 20, 1990 to Enrique M. Yabor. In Maldonado the device threads into an existing valve stem and in Yabor the device is a valve stem. Both of these patents show and describe a device where the indicator is concentric with the fill line. These devices are not made with a branch from the filler line making alterations to the construction possible. The branch allows the filler line to be constructed at various angles and with various lengths to optimize the device based upon the vehicle the device will be placed into. Other patents have been issued where the fill line and the indicator is not concentric. Some exemplary examples of these patents are described herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,232 issued Nov. 9, 1999 to Halcomb discloses a tire pressure filler with a gauge where the pressure indicator is located in a parallel relationship to the fill valve. In this patent the filler screws onto a standard tire valve stem, but the filler is a different size from the valve stem. It is further possible for the filler port to exist in a location that blocks the view of the sighting hole. This device is further not intended to be used as a valve stem, and the length of the device is fixed thereby reducing installation options.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,012 issued Apr. 2, 1996 to Masoud Rabizadah discloses a combination filler and pressure indicator where the indicator gauge is located along side the filler port. In this patent the indicator is a ball that moves within a sight glass. The device is further configured as a valve stem. While this patent discloses the basic components, it is not configurable to different lengths, it is installable in a condition where the sight glass is not visible, and is not usable where multiple or dually tire are mounted.
Various other improvements have been made to improve the overall operation of the tire filler and pressure indicator that include internal features that are part of the pressure indicator. These features further improve the manufacturability of the apparatus and most if not all of these features are not claimed or described in the prior art.
What is needed is a tire filler with an integrated pressure indicator that is manufacturable to various lengths with improved design and construction features that allow it to be made in a cost effective and configurable manner. The proposed application provides these features and is described in detail herein.


A method of using a user terminal to provide secure authenticated registration between a user and a third party, the method comprising: reading a chip to receive chip data stored on the chip (S408); transmitting the chip data, via a network interface of the user terminal, over a network to an authentication server associated with said third party (S410) and in response receiving via said network interface a notification message from the authentication server (S412); determining whether the identification document is authentic based on the notification message from the authentication server (S414), wherein in response to determining that the identification document is authentic, the method further comprising: outputting, via at least one output device of the user terminal, an authentication challenge to the user (S418); receiving image data as a response to the authentication challenge (S420); and transmitting the image data, via the network interface, over the network to the authentication server for authenticating the user with the third party (S422).

As part of the giant move towards digitalisation a continued growth in the number of on-line services becomes available. Based on the recent eIDAS (electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions) regulation of the EU it is now possible to legally sign electronic documents using remote signing. In order for this to have the equivalence of a legally binding handwritten signature (the equivalence called a QES—Qualified Electronic Signature) strong authentication is used. Prior to authenticating a user, a trusted service provider must establish the identity of the signee. Whereas many organisations such as banks know the identity of their current customers there are many cases where the user initially is not known but needs to be identified and it is not possible to meet in person to identify the individual.
Currently there are solutions in place where people use device cameras to capture real time photos or videos of themselves together with their identification document (such as their passport, their national ID card or drivers license) in order to identify themselves and register with a service.

User authentication based on RFID-enabled identity document and gesture challenge-response protocol


A submersible pumping system for use downhole, wherein the system includes a pump and a pump motor for driving the pump. The pump motor includes a housing with corresponding stator and rotor lamination stacks disposed within the housing. Also included with the pump motor is an anchoring system for axially securing the stator lamination stack within the motor housing.

1. Field of Invention
The present disclosure relates to downhole pumping systems submersible in well bore fluids. More specifically, the present disclosure concerns axially stabilizing submersible pump stators with mechanical anchoring.
2. Description of Prior Art
Submersible pumping systems are often used in hydrocarbon producing wells for pumping fluids from within the wellbore to the surface. These fluids are generally liquids and include produced liquid hydrocarbon as well as water. One type of system used in this application employs an electrical submersible pump (ESP). ESPs are typically disposed at the end of a length of production tubing and have an electrically powered motor. Often, electrical power may be supplied to the pump motor via a power cable. Typically, the pumping unit is disposed within the well bore just above where perforations are made into a hydrocarbon producing zone. This placement thereby allows the produced fluids to flow past the outer surface of the pumping motor and provide a cooling effect.
FIG. 1 provides in side view an electrical submersible pump (ESP) system used for the production of wellbore fluids produced from a hydrocarbon borehole. Here, the ESP system 20 is shown disposed in a wellbore 5, where the wellbore 5 is lined with casing 11. The wellbore 5 is formed through a formation 7 and intersects a hydrocarbon producing zone. Perforations 9 are formed through the casing 11 and into the surrounding formation 7, thereby allowing for hydrocarbons entrained in the formation 7 to enter into the wellbore 5. A produced hydrocarbon, is shown exiting the perforations 9 and into the wellbore 5 as arrows A. The ESP system 20 comprises a pump motor 22 at its lowermost section. Adjacent the pump motor 22 is the seal section 24. The seal section 24 is responsive to ambient pressure and transfers the ambient pressure to the internal portions of the pump system thereby substantially equalizing pump system internal pressure with ambient to minimize the pressure differential across the pump system seals. A fluid inlet 26 is provided on a gas separator 28 and configured to receive wellbore production fluid therein for delivery to the pump 29. The pressurized wellbore fluid exiting the pump 29 flows into production tubing 30 for delivery to the surface where is then transmitted for further refinement. Gas removed in the separator is typically discharged from the pumping system and back into the wellbore where it flows to the wellhead.
Motors for electrical submersible pump systems are typically formed by stacking a series of stator laminations inside a pump motor housing. Grooves are formed within the housing at the top and bottom terminal ends of lamination stack. The grooves are configured to receive a snap ring, where the snap ring inner diameter extends into the pump motor from the housing inner diameter. Forming the motor typically comprises inserting the snap ring located at the bottom of the housing, then adding the lamination stack within the housing. The laminations are then compressed, with a press or some other mechanical device; while the laminations are still under compression the stop snap ring is inserted. After the pressure on the lamination stack is released, the stack will slightly spring back and exert an axial force on both top and bottom snap rings, where the opposing force is in opposite directions. This force on the snap rings will slightly stretch the housing along its length. The residual force in the lamination stack and the snap rings locks the laminations into place thereby preventing lamination spin during motor operation.
The ESP pump motors also comprise a rotor attached to a pump motor shaft. The rotor also consists of corresponding rotor laminations. The stator lamination stack and the rotor lamination stack include openings that axially run along the length of the motor, wherein the openings contain wires, or other electrical conducting elements that form corresponding coils in each of the rotor and stator lamination stack. Typically the coil in the stator lamination stack is energized to form an electrical field that through electromagnetic forces produces a rotation in the rotor stack and thus correspondingly rotates the pump motor shaft.

Electric submersible pump (ESP) having a motor with mechanically locked stator laminations


Systems, devices, and techniques relating to optical communications are described. A described hub optical module includes an optical transceiver configured to communicate with edge optical modules of respective edge devices via an optical communication network, the edge optical modules comprising edge interfaces; and a controller coupled with the optical transceiver. The controller can be configured to provide, to a hub device, hub interfaces which are configurable to respectively correspond to different optical subcarriers transmitted from and received by the optical transceiver. The controller can advertise, to the hub device, an application select code to enable the hub device to configure an operational mode and to selectively enable each of the hub interfaces in the operational mode, store one or more associations among the hub interfaces and the edge interfaces, and configure one or more cross-connections among the hub interfaces and the optical subcarriers based on the one or more associations.

Optical communication networks can include a first node that outputs an optical carrier(s) to one or more second nodes. The first and second nodes can be connected to each other via transport devices and an optical line system. The nodes in an optical communication network can include, for example, an internet protocol (IP) router, as well as an optical module that plugs into the router and connects to other components within the optical communication network. The optical module includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data. An optical control channel (OCC) such as an optical supervisory channel (OSC) can be used to monitor and control optical modules. The optical modules and other node equipment, such as the router, can be provided by the same vendor or by different vendors.
In some optical communication networks, multiple optical signals, each having a corresponding wavelength, and each being modulated to carry a different data stream, are multiplexed onto an optical fiber. In such systems, a laser and a modulator can be provided to generate each optical signal. Additional lasers, modulators, and associated circuitry can be used to increase the capacity of such systems. In some networks, separate lasers/modulators are used at the first node to communicate with respective second nodes.

Optical modules with virtual transport functions


The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a two-dimensional polymer optical waveguide, which is used for manufacturing a two-dimensional optical waveguide through simplified processes using a single imprint original master. The method includes: replicating a pattern through a first hot-embossing process on a thermoplastic polymer sheet using a single original master; forming a buffer layer on the surface of the replicated pattern; manufacturing a polymer mold having a cladding pattern on the other side without a buffer layer through a second hot-embossing process using the original master; replicating a pattern by molding the polymer mold out of an elastic material and forming an upper elastic mold and a lower elastic mold by vertically separating the elastic material; and forming middle cladding using the upper and lower elastic molds, filling regions on and below the middle cladding with core resin patterns, and performing a curing process after stacking upper and lower cladding to form a two-dimensional optical waveguide.

An optical waveguide is a field which has been actively studied in a next generation communication system for a fast transmission of massive information.
In order to manufacture a highly integrated optical waveguide, a process for manufacturing a planar optical waveguide has been actively studied. In order to find a solution for the highly integrated optical waveguide, a process for manufacturing a two-dimensional optical waveguide has been studied.
Among process techniques for manufacturing a planar optical waveguide, an imprinting process is a method for transcribing a pattern onto a polymer layer using a mold having a micro structure. A direct transcription technique of a pattern causes mass replication of a micro structure to be possible with a simple process, a short process time and a low process cost, thereby having a considerable advantage over the other processes.
A study for manufacturing a two-dimensional optical waveguide by the imprinting process is implemented by using two imprint molds. Specifically, according to the study for manufacturing a two-dimensional optical waveguide, a clad polymer layer is inserted between two imprint molds, and then an intermediate clad is manufactured.
Hereinafter, a process for manufacturing a planar optical waveguide will be described.
FIGS. 1 to 5 are sectional views of a process for manufacturing an optical waveguide using a conventional hot-embossing process.
A planar optical waveguide is generally manufactured by means of a photo lithography process.
The process for manufacturing an optical waveguide using a photo lithography process is composed of the steps of: (1) coating a silicon wafer of a quartz wafer with an adhesion promoter for enhancing an adhesion effect between a wafer and a polymer; (2) coating an upper surface of the adhesion promoter with a lower clad of a polymer resin once again and curing it; (3) coating the lower clad with a polymer core resin having a refractive index higher than that of the lower clad and curing it; (4) coating the polymer core resin with another photosensitive polymer (photoresist) and soft-baking it; (5) exposing the photoresist using a photo mask; (6) baking (post exposure baking) an exposed pattern in the photoresist; (7) developing the pattern of the photoresist and baking (hard baking) it; (8) etching a core layer using the photoresist as an etching mask; (9) removing the photoresist pattern remaining on the core pattern; and (10) manufacturing an upper clad of the same polymer resin as the lower clad on the core pattern.
A process for a more simplified process, a lower cost and shorter process steps to manufacture the same optical waveguide has been actively studied, and an imprinting process is one of the processes which have been in the limelight among others.
The imprinting process is composed of the steps of (1) manufacturing a lower clad on a polymer layer using a mold having a micro-pattern; (2) filling an inside of a pattern of the lower clad with a core; and (3) completing an optical waveguide by manufacturing an upper clad.
A detailed method for manufacturing an optical waveguide using an imprinting process will be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
First of all, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an imprint mold 11 is used to form a lower clad 12a having a core structure on a polymer layer 12.
At this time, the imprinting process for manufacturing the lower clad may be classified into a hot-embossing technique in which mobility of a polymer due to an increase in temperature is used to manufacture the lower clad, and an ultraviolet embossing technique in which an ultraviolet curable polymer is used to manufacture the lower clad.
Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower clad 12a and the imprint mold 11 are separated from each other.
As shown in FIG. 4, a core channel of the lower clad 12a is filled with a core resin 14, i.e., a polymer resin having a refractive index higher than that of the lower clad 12a.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper clad 13 is stacked, and the core resin is cured by ultraviolet to complete the optical waveguide.
The method for manufacturing the optical waveguide as described above is a representative method for manufacturing an optical waveguide.
Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a two-dimensional optical waveguide in connection with the method for manufacturing the optical waveguide as described above will be described as follows.
A method for manufacturing a two-dimensional polymer optical waveguide by a photolithography process sequentially repeats once more the method for manufacturing the optical waveguide as described above.
Accordingly, repetitive and complicated processes require a long process time.
In addition, a method for manufacturing a two-dimensional optical waveguide by an imprinting process is implemented through a study for various processes. Specifically, two imprint molds are used according to a study for manufacturing a two-dimensional optical waveguide, wherein a clad polymer layer is inserted between the two imprint molds and then an intermediate clad is manufactured.
However, the molds required in the imprinting process are manufactured of a material, such as silicon, nickel, quartz, or the like by a process of electron beam lithography or optical lithography.
Accordingly, there is a connotation of a limitation concerning a higher process cost for manufacturing an imprint mold.
In order to resolve the above-mentioned problem, a technique for manufacturing a two-dimensional optical waveguide in a simple manner and in a short process time using a single imprint mold has been urgently required.

Method for manufacturing a two-dimensional polymer optical waveguide

Pusan National University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation


Systems and methods for providing games, such as wagering games, that include game features, such as symbols, that may be temporarily replaced or modified by player provided elements, if desired, wherein the player provided elements may function in the same manner as the symbols in one or more rounds of the game.

At least some known slot machine is played by inserting cash, or in newer Ticket-In, Ticket-Out machines (TITO), a paper ticket with a barcode, into the machine. Play is initiated by pressing a lever or button, or on newer machines, by pressing a touchscreen on its face. The game itself may or may not involve skill on the player's part—or it may create the illusion of involving skill while only being a game of chance.
The object of the game is to win money from the machine. The game usually involves matching symbols, either on mechanical reels that spin and stop to reveal one or several symbols, or on simulated reels shown on a video screen. The symbols are usually brightly colored and easily recognizable, such as images of fruits, numerals or letters, and simple shapes such as bells, diamonds, or hearts; newer video slot machines use animated cartoon characters and images of popular characters from movies or television shows.
Most games have a variety of winning combination of symbols, often posted on the face of the machine (or available on a different screen, accessible by touching a button on the main touchscreen, on video slot machines). If a player matches a combination according to the rules of the game, the slot machine pays the player cash or some other sort of value, such as extra games.
Millions of dollars a year are spent by Slot Machine Manufacturers researching what symbols will appeal to the widest and most profitable demographic of slot players. As such, game manufacturers spend millions of dollars on licensing and entering into partnership agreements which allow for the use of specific brands and imagery within the content of their games. This is all done in an attempt to lure the player with images and symbolism that the slot manufacturers hope will appeal to their target demographic.
Therefore, it is extremely desirous to offer a machine that utilizes a player's own imagery which is stored on their mobile device, eliminating the "guess work" in the research and development process. Accordingly, new features are necessary to appeal to player interest and enhance excitement in order to entice longer play and increased profitability. The present invention is directed to satisfying these needs. The present invention also eliminates the need for slot machine manufacturers to pay licensing fees to various brands and content owners.

Electronic gaming device and method of providing games having player provided game elements