A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate containing Si as a main component, and an active element formed on the semiconductor substrate and including an insulating metal silicide thin film formed on the semiconductor substrate, dangling bonds of Si of the semiconductor substrate being terminated by the insulating metal silicide thin film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, for example, a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) field-effect transistor, a semiconductor device having a structure in which a dangling bonds of a semiconductor are terminated by an insulating metal silicide thin film formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been a demand for thinning of a gate insulating film for miniaturization of an ultra large scale integration (ULSI) device or reduction of power consumption. The gate insulating film has heretofore been thinned in order to increase a capacitance and thereby secure an electric charge amount induced in a channel of a field-effect transistor (FET). As a result, the thinning of an SiO2 film, which is a gate oxide film, has been propelled, and the film has almost reached a thickness largely below 1 nm at present.
In the SiO2 film, a gate leakage current has increased to such an extent that the power consumption cannot be suppressed because of standby power dissipation. For example, even when the SiO2 film has a film thickness of 0.8 nm, MOSFET normally operates, but the gate leakage current reaches 1 kA/cm2, and the problem in the power consumption has become remarkably pronounced.
From a viewpoint how the power consumption be reduced, it is effective to increase an actual film thickness. Therefore, attempts to secure the charge amount with a film thicker than the SiO2 film by the use of a high-dielectric-constant material, so-called high-K dielectrics have been actively studied. There are many oxides as high-dielectric-constant stable materials, and they have been developed as insulating films. At present, as an especially prospective material, there has been HfSiON or the like. However, when high-dielectric-constant oxide is directly formed into a film on an Si substrate, a low-dielectric-constant layer is generated in an interface in the process of film formation or a subsequent high-temperature process. There is a demand for a film thickness, as an equivalent SiO2 film thickness (EOT), of 0.5 nm or less in the future, so that the generation of the low-dielectric-constant layer can be said to be fatal.
Moreover, with regard to the interface, defect density has a very important meaning. That is, when there are defects in the interface, movements of electrons or holes are obstructed, and mobility is remarkably deteriorated. An interface between SiO2 and Si, which has been used for years, can be constituted in such a manner as to have very few interface defects. In this case, a density of interface trap (Dit) can be reduced to the order of 109 cm−2 eV−1. From this respect, it is considered that the interface defects can be reduced to some degree with an SiO2-based silicate material, and the material has been intensively developed. However, silicate is not sufficient in the sense of dielectric constant for the next generation, and a high-dielectric-constant oxide needs to be developed as the insulating film for the future. However, this represents a large problem. When a high-dielectric-constant oxide is directly formed into a film on an Si substrate, there is a problem that very many interface defects are generated in the interface. For example, when CeO2 is actually epitaxially grown on an Si (111) surface, Dit reaches 5×1013 cm−2 eV−1. Moreover, in consideration of a high-speed operation of an integrated circuit, it is an essential proposition to suppress Dit to that of an SiO2/Si interface or less (order of 109 cm−2 eV−1 or less).
On the other hand, many methods of epitaxially growing an insulating material on the Si substrate have been proposed (see, e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-100766). In view of a strong demand for inhibition of generation of the low-dielectric-constant layer and minimization of the interface defect density, in any of the epitaxially grown insulating film which have heretofore been proposed, both the prevention of the low-dielectric-constant layer from being generated and the suppression of the interface defect density to a degree of the density of the SiO2/Si interface cannot be achieved at the same time. On the other hand, a large number of proposals that amorphous oxide be grown on Si have been made, but there has not been any development to solve the problem and achieve both the inhibition of the generation of the low-dielectric-constant layer and the minimization of the interface defect density.
Furthermore, it has also been pointed out that when a high-dielectric-constant oxide is epitaxially grown directly on Si, electron barriers cannot be sufficiently high, and a tunnel current cannot be suppressed (e.g., McKee, Science vol. 293 p468 (2001), etc.).
Moreover, a technique of forming Sr, Ti metal or the like into a thick film while SiO2 remains on the Si substrate has been reported in the following two papers (Ishiwara, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 30 p1415 (1991), Ishiwara, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 33 p1472 (1994)). In this case, the low-dielectric-constant layer is generated in the vicinity of the interface, and strictly speaking, it is impossible to achieve an equivalent SiO2 film thickness of 0.5 nm or less, which is necessary for the gate insulating film.
For example, when a Ti metal is formed into a film, Ti silicate is generated in the interface. Moreover, Ti has a further problem. Since the band offset of the conduction band of dielectric (TiO2 or SrTiO3) made in this film formation process is very low, Ti has not originally been suitable for the gate insulating film. This also applies to the following series of documents, which are aimed principally at the epitaxial growth of oxide on Si, and do not present any solution to the interface characteristic or band offset, which are very important for the field-effect transistor.
As development obtained by expanding the above-described two documents, a technique for obtaining Sr silicate has been reported in which an initial SiO2 film is thinned, and an Sr film is formed on the SiO2 film while changing the Sr amount (Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B18 p2139 (2000) (Motorola)). However, after a heat treatment, the dielectric constant of the interface is lowered as low as that of SiO2. Since resistance to oxidation is very low in this manner, it is impossible to achieve an equivalent SiO2 film thickness of 0.5 nm or less, which is necessary for the gate insulating film.
A technique in which an SrO film is directly formed using hydrogen termination has also been reported (Saiki, Applied Physics Letter 65 p3182 (1994)). Hydrogen comes off the interface during film formation, but it is substantially impossible to terminate the dangling bonds of the Si interface by SrO, which is a material having no polarity. Therefore, a large amount of interface defects are generated. In general, when a hydrogen-terminated surface is used, the termination breaks during the film formation, and an interface portion becomes active. Even when forming gas annealing (FGA) is performed, recovery after the interface completion is limited. Since the recovery is not completed, reactivity of the interface remains as much. Therefore, interface oxidation proceeds depending on the post-processing temperature, and the low-dielectric-constant layer is generated. Even when the high-dielectric-constant material is epitaxially grown, the interface defect density is large (Dit=5×1013 cm−2 eV−1). Even when the FGA is performed, a recovery is expected only in an order of magnitude. It is also seen that when the annealing is performed in oxygen, low-dielectric-constant silicate is generated in the interface as described above.
A research has also been reported in which one mono-layer (1 ML) of SrSi2 is formed into a film, and excessive metal Sr is further formed into a film, and thereafter oxygen is introduced (McKee, Science vol. 293 p468 (2001), McKee, 2002 IEDM Technical Digest p955 (2002)). When excessive Sr is introduced onto SrSi2, a silicide film thickness increases even at low temperature, the insulating property is broken, and the termination structure cannot be constituted. Additionally, since time or Sr amount is not sufficiently controlled, the silicide film thickness is distributed at random, and the interface is considerably roughened. On a metal silicide roughened in this manner, SrO is formed into a film. Usually, the silicide is metallic. Even when SrO is formed on silicide, a band gap does not open. This is because SrO does not generate excessive bonds as an oxide. Since the dangling bonds are left in metallic silicide, the resistance to oxidation remarkably deteriorates. Reflecting that the metal silicide having a random thickness is introduced as described above, there are many defects in the interface. Even when the forming gas annealing is performed, the defect density Dit remains in the order of 1011 cm−2 eV−1. In the development performed in this document, there is a point where silicide such as BaSi2 and SrSi2 is adopted as a substrate for epitaxially growing mainly SrTiO3 or the like on Si. In this case, it is most important to take over lattice information of the substrate into an oxide or the like grown in an upper part, and a small number of defects may exist in the interface. The defects of the interface in a case where oxides such as SrO, BaO, SrTiO3, BaTiO3 are epitaxially grown on silicide are about 1012 cm−2 eV−1 at the film formation time (improvement in an order of magnitude is seen by the annealing after the film formation). This value of 1012 cm−2 eV−1 is very small for the substrate for taking over a lattice constant at the time of the epitaxial growth on Si. On the other hand, this is an excessively large value as the defect of the Si/insulating film interface in a case where the gate insulating film is formed on Si to form the field-effect transistor.
Development similar to the above-described McKee's development has been reported as follows (Norton, Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B20 p257 (2002)). However, initially formed SiSr2 silicide has a differing film thickness, depending on the location, and the interface is in a very active state because of this film thickness profile. Therefore, a silicate structure is generated at the time of Ba film formation in oxygen at a low temperature of 550° C. As compared with the above-described McKee, there is a large film thickness change in the silicide of this document, therefore activity of the interface is higher, and resistance to oxidation is low.
In a case where a high-dielectric-constant film including silicate is directly formed on the Si substrate for a purpose of preparing the field-effect transistor, the interface low-dielectric-constant layer is generated, thus it is difficult to form a gate insulating film having an equivalent SiO2 film thickness largely below 1 nm (thickness of 0.5 nm or less is a target at present, but there is a possibility that the thickness further decreases in the future). As an example, Zr silicate is generated with ZrO2, and SiO2 is generated with SrTiO3 in the interface. There has thus been a demand for enhancing the resistance to oxidation. Even in a case where the film is directly formed on the Si substrate, and the low-dielectric-constant layer cannot be formed, it is meaningless if the interface defect density is large.
Moreover, in the above-described Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-100766, a field-effect transistor has been described in which the Si substrate is terminated by silicide having a thickness of two mono-layers or less, such as La silicide, and further the insulating film is formed thereon. However, the silicide of this document is regarded as a metal, thus reactivity is very strong, and the silicide is not suitable for forming a thin film. This is caused by a trivalent material such as La, in which the bond on the La side is excessive, and Si dangling bonds are not terminated well. Once a silicate is formed, oxidation of substrate Si proceeds at random, and the interface with the upper-part thin film is roughened, because silicate itself has a low dielectric constant, and oxygen cannot be blocked by silicate. This causes a problem in the gate insulating film.
Therefore, there has been a demand for realization of a semiconductor device in which the dangling bonds of Si of the semiconductor substrate are terminated by an insulating metal silicide thin film formed on the semiconductor substrate containing Si as a main component, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device


A filter ladle is provided with twoside projections with a helical contact surface consisting of two portions with different pitches and engaging a shoulder on the end of bearing pins mounted under the ladle holder of a coffee machine. The device is useful for coffee machines.

In present coffee machines, the filter-carrying cups are introduced in a cylindrical recess surrounding the pressurizer provided with its water inlet sprinkling grill.
The securement of a filter-carrying cup in such a cylindrical recess is achieved by means of a bayonet connection combined with helicoidal ramps permitting obtaining simultaneously the progressive compression of the dose of ground coffee, previously introduced into the filter, before securement of the filter-carrying cup to the coffee machine, and the seal between the edge of the filter-carrying cup and the cup joints situated about the pressurizer, in the bottom of the recess. This is the case for the patents FR-A-666,825, BE-A-894,192, FR-A-574,079 and DE-B-1,077,843.
To do this, the filter-carrying cup comprises, at its periphery, two diametrically opposed projections adapted to engage in free spaces between two helicoidal ramps, located at the base of the interior of the cylindrical recess. It suffices, after having introduced a filter-carrying cup into said recess and having engaged its projections on the lower end of the ramps, to exert, on said filter-carrying cup, with the aid of the handle with which it is provided, a rotative couple in the direction and with sufficient force to obtain both the temporary securement of the filter-carrying cup to the cylindrical recess, the compression of the dose of coffee and sufficient penetration of the cup joint to ensure sealing.
Removal of the filter-carrying cup, after the infusion has flowed out into the cup or cups, takes place much more easily because it suffices to exert a shock in the opposite direction on the handle of the cup, to obtain loosening of the edge of the cup relative to the cup joint and the sliding, in the reverse direction, of the projections along the helicoidal ramps, toward complete disengagement.
Such devices, although they give together satisfaction from a strictly functional standpoint, nevertheless have certain major drawbacks, that should be emphasized.
First of all, the user must ensure precise positioning of the filter-carrying cup relative to the recess, to obtain the engagement of the projections on the end of the ramps, which are, by their nature, masked from view.
Then, a rather great effort must be exerted on the handle of the filter-carrying cup, to obtain the complete engagement of the filter carrier in its recess, this force must be sufficient to overcome the frictional resistances between projections and ramps; as a result, there is a certain cumulative fatigue suffered by persons who by their occupation must repeatedly daily use coffee machines with this conventional device.
Moreover, the helicoidal ramps are masked from the view of the operator, which is also the case of the sprinkling grill, of the compactor and above all of the cup joint, which, located at the bottom of the annular space delimited by the recess and the compressor, can be only very difficulty inspected, cleaned and replaced.
As a result, these devices, given their difficulty of access, are not easy to clean and do not satisfy the rules and regulations of construction to ensure cleanliness and use of materials suitable for foods (French Unified Standard 60.010 and USA Standard NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) Standard 4, particularly).
Moreover, this type of construction requires the provision of members of rather complicated shape, difficult to produce and as a result very costly.
There is already known from Swiss patent CH-A-162,960, a device partially overcoming certain of these drawbacks mentioned above. The recess comprises two diametrically opposed notches, opening outwardly; each notch providing two helicoidal ramps that are opposite and symmetrical. The projections for securing the filter-carrying cup are replaced by carrying rollers. Thus, the difficulties of engagement are in large part overcome, because the entry of the notches of the recess and the carrier rollers of the filter-carrying cup remain permanently visible from the exterior, and as a result, by the operator. Add to that that the filter-carrying cup can be if desired locked against the cup joint toward the left or toward the right.
However, the difficulties of cleaning remain, because the pressurizer, and above all the cup joint, remain masked from view and difficult of access.

Device for securing a filter-carrying cup below the cup carrier of a coffee machine

Residence Isola Celesta 4 Corniche Fleurie


The invention relates to a method for transmitting signals in a radio communication system consisting of at least two frequency signal-transmitting channels. At least the first (fcoord) of said frequency channels is used for organizing radio resources, and at least the second (fi) of the frequency channels is used for transmitting signals between the stations of the system where the signal transmission is carried out by the frequency channels from/in a direction of said stations in conformity with a predefined temporal pattern (P1, P2, P3).

The invention relates to a method for transmitting signals in a radio communication system, in particular in a mobile telephone system.
Future radio communication systems will support very high data rates in order to be able to operate multimedia applications with the necessary quality of service. A continued increase in subscriber numbers is also to be anticipated such that further frequency bandwidths must be developed for use by radio communication systems. In order to make efficient use of these frequency bandwidths however radio communication systems need to operate over a large frequency range.
Various methods are used in radio communication systems for segmenting resources and multiplexing. In addition to Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) and Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), various frequency channels are created through Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM). The FDM method involves segmenting a wide frequency spectrum into many separate frequency channels, each with a narrow bandwidth, within the frequency range, thus creating a frequency channel grid defined by the gaps between the carrier frequencies. Advantageously this allows a plurality of subscribers on different frequency channels to be served simultaneously and resources to be better tailored to individual subscriber requirements. A sufficient distance between frequency channels ensures that interference between the channels can be reduced and controlled.
In order for the narrow band frequency channels to be used by a corresponding access method known as FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access), the transmitter and receiver must each select a corresponding carrier frequency in a coordinated manner. Before using the corresponding resource, i.e. the radio channel, continued checks need to be made to establish whether the selected resource is not already being used by other stations. The resource is then reserved, if necessary the reservation being communicated to other potential stations so that these stations do not subsequently access the resource at the same time and cause collisions. The challenge here is to optimize the efficient use of these frequencies, using few resources and as far as possible only one transmitter and receiver (transceiver) for each terminal. A further constraint is that all stations have equal rights i.e. no station assumes a control function for assigning the frequency channels via a plurality of stations. In particular in self organizing networks and networks without an infrastructure, so-called ad-hoc networks, stations with equal priority frequently perform the same algorithms and protocols. A known example for such networks is the local wireless network (Wireless LAN) according to the IEEE 802.11.standard.
If stations in networks such as these are not informed about the use of frequency channels because the appropriate information is not collated and distributed via a central station, a station will be unable to decide which frequency channel it should propose or select for communicating with another station. Also, a station will not know when another station is ready to receive and on which frequency. Consequently, a station would generally be unable to establish a connection with another station if both were free to select the frequency channels. Also, a distribution service (broadcast) on one frequency would only reach one part of the station which happened to be ready to receive on this frequency.
The requirement is therefore to coordinate the use of these orthogonal resources. If a particular frequency is to be used for this purpose, at fixed, predetermined times i.e. all stations are ready to receive on this frequency, then the frequencies which exist alongside them cannot be used. These resources would then be unused and unavailable for these stations.
In existing cellular mobile telephone systems, the frequencies are allocated to the mobile stations (MS) located within one radio cell of the base station via a central station, the base station (BS). With GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) for example, one central frequency channel per radio cell is used for transmitting general information used by the mobile stations for determining the frequency channel for logon and request of resources. If a mobile station wishes to transmit data, it requests the data from the base station on the frequency channel it knows. The base station then notifies the mobile station of the appropriate carrier frequency on which it can communicate with the base station. The allocation and management of available resources is controlled centrally in a Base Station Controller (BSC) subordinating the base station and signaled from the base station. The same applies to third generation UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) systems which also use a base station to signal the frequency allocation according to this central principle.
Because of the central control, this approach cannot be used in a decentrally organized system without a central entity. Other systems, such as for example WLAN systems (Wireless Local Area Networks) according to the HIPERLAN Type 2 Standard known for example from the ETSI/BRAN document "Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN); HIPERLAN Type 2 Functional Specifications Data Link Control (DLC) Layer; Part 4—Extension for Home Environments., draft DTR/BRAN-0020004-4, ETSI, Sophia Antipolis, France, April 2000 or according to the IEEE 802.11 standard, use only one carrier frequency for communicating. Switching to a different frequency serves to avoid interference. If a new, usable carrier frequency is found, all stations transmit and receive on this frequency. In HIPERLAN/2 this method is known as Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS). A simultaneous needs-based use of several frequencies by any stations to increase the total possible capacity of the system or of an individual connection is however not provided. Consequently, the maximum date rate is limited to one frequency channel.
Similar to the DFS method according to the HIPERLAN/2 Standard, a system is proposed in the document by R. Sakata, K. Naha, H. Murata, S. Yoshida Performance Evaluation of Autonomous Decentralized Vehicle-grouping Protocol for Vehicle-to vehicle Communications, in Prov. IEEE VTC, Boston, Mass., Sep. 24-28, 2000 pp 153-157, in which vehicles form groups using different frequencies. In this method, neighboring vehicles share the same carrier frequency. By measuring the active frequency channels, it is possible to participate simultaneously in a plurality of groups and switch groups to take account of the changing network topologies. This assumes that, generally speaking, only one frequency is used for exchanging data whereas the other frequencies only receive so as to prepare for occupancy and a possible change of frequency. In order to be able to receive simultaneously on other frequencies, it is proposed that two transceivers be used, one for data exchange and the second for measuring other potential frequencies. The use of a plurality of available frequencies for communicating with neighboring stations for the exchange of data is however not described, even here.
The DECT cordless telephone standard (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone) specifies a flexible use of resources including different frequency channels. The method by which the resources are used is called Dynamic Channel Selection (DCS). Although in this system, when in so-called "Basic Mode", one base station has exclusive control over resource allocation, the relaying of data packets is supported. To achieve this, as in a distributed, decentralized system, resource availability is checked and occupied.
For each carrier frequency, DECT specifies a frame with 24 time slots, 12 time slots being used for the downlink and 12 for the uplink with a fixed allocation in the Time Division Duplex method (TDD), see FIG. 1.
DECT is thus an FDMA/TDMA/TDD system in which 10 carrier frequencies can generate up to 120 communication (bearer) channels. Before setting up a connection, a station measures different communication channels. The resulting Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is recorded in a table. All channels with a signal level lower than the lowest level (−93 dBm) are classified as "quiet" and may be used to set up a communication channel. The upper threshold, which is classified as "busy" defines the range of busy channels and is variable. As a rule the upper threshold is set to −33 dBm. Channels with signal levels in excess of this threshold may not be used for setting up a communication channel.
The maximum number of channels in a cell depends on the number of base station transceivers. If only one transceiver is available per base station, only one mobile station per time unit (time slot) can be operated. A free allocation of time slots for direct communication between mobile stations in parallel with the communication between a mobile station and base station is not defined in greater detail. DECT, however, supports this "walkie-talkie" mode. As soon as a mobile station with only one transceiver occupies a channel, the remaining frequency channels parallel to this time slot are marked as so-called blind slots, see FIG. 1. Stations may neither transmit nor receive on these blind slots and conduct measurements of the received signal level. Depending on how quickly the stations are able to switch from transmitting to receiving and vice versa (Transceiver Turn-Around), time slots before and after are also to be marked as blind slots. The base station periodically transmits control information to all mobile stations via the currently busy time slots. This information allows the mobile stations to measure the remaining unoccupied time slots which can be used as potential candidates for a future communication between the base station and mobile station. Owing to the base station's special role, the methods described and implemented in the DECT system are not applicable to a target system in which no central entity exists but in which simultaneous use of time slots on different frequencies is to be facilitated.

Method for transmitting signals in a radio communication system


A vehicle includes a transmission including a plurality of operating modes, a shift selector including a switch mechanism associated with at least two operating modes of the plurality of operating modes, and a controller operably coupled to the transmission and to the shift selector. The controller is configured to receive a signal associated with the switch mechanism, identify a current operating mode associated with the transmission, and selectively shift the transmission from the current operating mode to one operating mode of the at least two operating modes. The one operating mode is determined based at least in part on the current operating mode.

The present disclosure relates to vehicles and, more particularly, to methods and systems for shifting a transmission gear in a vehicle.
At least some vehicles include a gear shift selector. For example, at least some vehicles include a lever movable along a first axis to enable a user to shift transmission gears. At least one known lever is positionable along the first axis in a plurality of positions that are each associated with a respective operating mode, such as park (P), reverse (R), neutral (N), and drive (D).
At least some vehicles include a fifth operating mode: sport (S). To accommodate the fifth operating mode, at least some known levers are moveable along a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis when the lever is in the D position, such that the vehicle is shiftable between the D mode and the S mode.

Methods and systems for shifting a transmission gear


A food display including a container for holding a product and having at least one translucent portion that facilitates viewing the product from outside the container, a sign panel that is coupled to the container and is at least partially translucent, and a light assembly that includes a light source positioned to provide light to both the container and the sign panel. Preferably, the sign panel and the light source are both positioned above an upper plane of the container to facilitate backlighting the sign panel. The food display may further include a fan positioned above the upper plane of the container, and an air circulation system that circulates air within the container. In one embodiment, the container includes a conduit, such as a hollow corner post that supports a side panel of the container, extending from the upper portion to the lower portion.

The present invention relates to food displays that are heated so that warm food products can be displayed to the consumer prior to purchase.
Heated food displays typically include a container having transparent side walls that facilitate viewing the food product by the consumer. The container can be opened to facilitate insertion and removal of the food product. Such displays also commonly include a light for illuminating the food product, a heater for heating the air in the container, and a fan for circulating the heated air. These electrical components are typically positioned above the container and are covered by a hood for aesthetic reasons.
Heated food displays can also include signage that indicated the type of product being offered for sale. For example, such signage is commonly positioned on the hood above the container.
Some heated food displays also include an air circulation system for circulating air in the container. Such systems commonly include a fan mounted above the container, and including inlet and outlet ports in the ceiling.


A magnetic or virtual hinge defining a virtual hinge axis includes first and second plates of non-magnetic material, and first and second magnets disposed in the respective plates adjacent the hinge axis for movement therewith. The first and second members are movable about the hinge axis between closed and open orientations.

The present invention relates to a virtual hinge, and more particularly to a magnetic hinge having a virtual hinge axis.
A conventional physical hinge consists of a pair of hinge plates pivotably secured together by a hinge pin enabling movement of the hinge plates between first and second orientations relative to one another. For ease of reference, the first and second orientations are commonly referred to as "closed" and "open" orientations. In the closed orientation the first and second plates are generally parallel and at least partially overlapping, while in the open orientation the first and second plates are generally parallel and at least partially non-overlapping or (that is, the plates have been moved 180° relative to one another) or the plates are non-parallel (whether at right angles or non-right angles) relative to one another. While the conventional physical hinges typically perform well in a variety of different environments, they have not proven to be entirely satisfactory in particular environments for one or more of the following reasons:
1. The conventional physical hinge is either internally or externally hinged. When two structural components are externally hinged, the overall dimensions of the structural components (e.g., the hinge plates) must be increased to incorporate the physical hinge pin and also so that at least one edge of each structural component is at least partially wrapped around the common hinge pin; this is disadvantageous as it increases the size of the structure formed by the structural components. Where the hinge is internal (that is, disposed between the structural components when the hinge is in the closed orientation), some of the space between the structural components in the closed orientation must be sacrificed to allow for the volume occupied by the physical hinge pin. In other words, the conventional physical hinge either limits the compactness of the structure employing it or requires the a portion of the otherwise useable space within a structure be dedicated to the hinge pin.
2. The conventional physical hinge is not readily deconstructed—that is, in order to separate the hinge plates from one another, typically either the hinge pin must first be removed from the hinge or the edge portion of at least one of the hinge plates which at least partially wraps around the hinge pin must be stretched, broken or the like to enable its separation from the hinge pin. This is frequently an arduous and difficult operation, often as arduous and difficult as the reconstruction or reconstitution of the hinge subsequently when the same is desired. Thus the conventional physical hinge has hinge plates which are neither readily manually separable from one another nor readily manually joinable together (with the hinge pin), as desired.
3. The conventional mechanical hinge is by its nature neither monostable nor bistable—that is, it favors positioning of the hinge plates in neither the closed nor open orientations, as opposed to any of the intermediate orientations. While in many applications it is preferred that the hinge remain with the hinge plates in whatever orientation they were last left by the user, in other applications it is preferred that the hinge be biased to assume an open orientation, a closed orientation or either orientation. (The "open" orientation may be with the hinge plates either transverse to one another (that is, at 90° to one another) or parallel and substantially non-overlapping (that is, at 180° to one another)). It is typically necessary for the conventional mechanical hinge to employ a biasing element (or gravity) acting on at least one of the hinge plates if the hinge is to be monostable, (i.e., biased to a preferred orientation) or bistable (i.e., biased to one of two preferred orientations as opposed to an intermediate orientation therebetween).
4. The conventional physical hinge has a single constant pivot axis aligned with the physical hinge pin. For particular applications it may be preferred to have a hinge with a floating hinge axis—that is, a hinge axis which moves from one position to another as the plates move between the open and closed orientations.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic or virtual hinge characterized by a virtual hinge axis.
Another object is to provide such a hinge wherein in one preferred embodiment there is no hinge pin either to increase the physical dimensions of the hinge or occupy space intermediate the hinge plates.
A further object is to provide such a hinge wherein in one preferred embodiment the hinge plates are readily manually separable to deconstruct the hinge and readily manually joinable to reconstitute the hinge.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a hinge wherein in one preferred embodiment the hinge is monostable or bistable.
It is another object to provide such a hinge wherein in one preferred embodiment the hinge axis relocates as the hinge plates move between the closed and open orientations.
It is a further object to provide various devices which may profitably incorporate such a hinge.

Magnetic hinge and device including magnetically-attracted plates


Techniques are provided for deploying services to multiple public clouds using cloud-specific encapsulated communication logic. One method comprises performing, in response to a request associated with a given public cloud of multiple public clouds having corresponding encapsulated communication logic for communicating with the respective public cloud: obtaining an image for the encapsulated communication logic for the given public cloud; instantiating an orchestration service for the given public cloud using the image for the encapsulated communication logic for the given public cloud, wherein the instantiated orchestration service for the given public cloud makes a connection to an endpoint of the given public cloud using the encapsulated communication logic for the given public cloud; and processing a request to create a service in the given public cloud using the instantiated orchestration service for the given public cloud as a connection gateway to the given public cloud.

Information processing systems increasingly utilize virtual resources to meet changing user needs in an efficient, flexible and cost-effective manner. For example, cloud computing systems implemented using virtual resources such as virtual machines and containers have been widely adopted. Such virtual resources may be used to provide at least a portion of the virtualization infrastructure of a given cloud-based information processing system. However, significant challenges can arise in the deployment of services in cloud-based information processing systems.

Deploying services to multiple public cloud environments using cloud-specific encapsulated communication logic


A surgical guide system for dental implantology has a plate (10) provided with a guide sleeve (2) delimiting a through hole with an axis oriented to a predetermined direction. A drill (4) for osteotomy has a spindle connected to a handpiece with drilling portion (41), the drill (4) being for association with the guide sleeve (2) during osteotomy. The diameter (d41) of the drilling head portion (41) is larger than the inner diameter (d2) of the guide sleeve (2) and the spindle is of smaller diameter, such that the association of the drill (4) to any of the guide sleeves (2) can be performed only by inserting the spindle through a gingival side of the sleeves. Upon association of the drill with the sleeve, the drilling head (41) protrudes from the gingival side (2G) thereof. The surgical guide has a void (100) accommodating the drilling head (41) of the drill.

It is known that, in dental surgery, a missing tooth can be replaced by a prosthetic tooth generally made of ceramic or other suitable material, applied on a dental implant, which is previously inserted into the jawbone of the patient. The dental implant must be properly oriented in the bone tissue and osseointegrated. The procedures usually adopted for this purpose include the execution of an osteotomy, i.e. the provision of a hole in the maxillary or mandibular bone, inserting the implant into the hole so practiced, and the subsequent attachment of the prosthetic tooth implant. The osteotomy is a particularly delicate stage of the procedure and must be located precisely at a proper distance from the adjacent teeth and must be properly oriented and of the right depth to not cause any damage to adjacent vital structures and to ensure the right set of prosthetic device with an acceptable result both from the functional point of view and from the aesthetic point of view. In an attempt to facilitate the location and drilling the hole in the maxillary or mandibular of the patient for the correct arrangement of the dental implant, techniques of various kinds, have been proposed as well as guidance systems which assist the physician in the execution of the osteotomy. In particular, the surgical guides for dental implantation are masks or plaques or templates made of plastic reproducing the dental arch and/or soft tissue of the oral cavity of the patient, including the edentulous areas in correspondence of which the implants must be positioned, provided with holes with suitably oriented tubular sleeves that guide the physician in the execution of the osteotomy and sometimes the actual positioning of the system. According to a known technique, such masks can be made by using CAD-CAM techniques based on computerized elaborations of the three-dimensional images of the bone concerned and of the underlying neural structures obtained by computerized axial tomography (TAC). In this way, the physician can intervene with greater accuracy by choosing the type of plant, the inclination and the depth on the basis of the actual state of the bone. Generally, the techniques of guided implantology provide for the positioning of a surgical guide on the arch concerned and the execution of the osteotomy that is practiced by using drills with a diameter appropriate to be inserted through the sleeves of the guide. The space available to perform the osteotomy in the mouth of the patient is, however, reduced by the encumbrance of the surgical guide limiting the operating stroke of the drill, and therefore limiting the depth of insertion of the implant into the bone, which in practice reduces the benefits arising from the use of the guide itself because a greater insertion depth of the implant in the available bone, corresponds to a higher stability of the system and consequently to a greater duration, unless the doctor decides to remove the template and operate without the aid of the latter thus giving up its benefits.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Surgical guide system for dental implantology and method for making the same


Disclosed is an adaptive channel estimator for improving a performance of a general channel estimator in a mobile communication system, and a method for controlling the same. The adaptive channel estimator further detects a noise level of a channel and a channel speed, and implements an optimum noise elimination filter on the basis of the detected noise level and channel speed. A comparison between mapping degrees predetermined by the detected noise level and channel speed allows an optimum noise elimination filter to be implemented, If such a channel estimator is implemented, then optimum packet data transmission is available for not only a low-speed channel but also a high-speed channel. A channel compensation caused by a difference between a spreading factor (SF) of a pilot channel and a spreading factor (SF) of a data channel can be compensated on the condition that a slope compensator executed by a SF ratio is controlled by a filter coefficient controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for performing channel estimation in a mobile communication system, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for performing adaptive channel estimation according to wireless channel environments in a mobile communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile communication systems have evolved from providing a user with voice signals to providing the user with high-speed and high-quality wireless data packets, allowing users to use a variety of data services and multimedia services. A third-generation mobile communication system classified as a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) is an asynchronous system, and a 3GPP2 is a synchronous system. Both 3rd generation systems are being standardized to implement high-speed and high-quality wireless packet communication services. For example, a HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) standardization is in progress for the 3GPP, and a 1×EV-DV standardization is in progress for the 3GPP2. Standardization is needed for users or subscribers to receive high-speed (more than 2 Mbps) and high-quality wireless data packet transmission service in the third-generation mobile communication system. A fourth-generation mobile communication system is needed for users or subscribers to receive higher-speed and higher-quality multimedia communication services.
Typically, the HSDPA scheme is a specific data transfer scheme for processing a HS-DSCH (High Speed-Downlink Shared Channel) and its associated control channels. The HS-DSCH is a downlink data channel for supporting a downlink high-speed packet data transmission service in an asynchronous UMTS (Universal Mobile Terrestrial System) mobile communication system.
The HSDPA scheme requires general techniques used for a conventional mobile communication system, and other advanced techniques for improving channel environment adaptability. Recently, three schemes have been developed for supporting a high-speed packet transmission service in the HSDPA, i.e., an AMCS (Adaptive Modulation and Coding Scheme), a n-channel SAW (Stop And Wait) HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) scheme, and a FCS (Fast Cell Selection) scheme.
Firstly, the AMCS determines modulation and coding methods of a data channel according to a channel status between a cell and a user. This results in increased channel usage efficiency of overall cells. A combined scheme between the modulation method and the coding method is called a MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme), and can be defined as a plurality of MCSs ranging from a level "1" to a level "n". The AMCS adaptively determines individual levels of the MCSs according to a channel status between a user and a cell. This results in increased overall channel usage efficiency.
Secondly, the n-channel SAW HARQ scheme functioning as one of many HARQ schemes successively transmits a plurality of packets even though an ACK (ACKnowledgement) signal is not received, resulting in increased channel usage efficiency. In other words, provided that N logic channels are set up between a UE (User Equipment) and a Node-B, and these N logic channels can be identified by a specific time or a specific channel number, the UE serving as a reception end can recognize which one of the channels contains a packet received at a predetermined time. Further, the UE can reconstruct packets in the order of reception.
Thirdly, the FCS scheme receives packets from a cell which maintains the best channel status when the UE using the HSDPA enters a soft handover region. This results in reduced overall interference between channels. If the cell for providing a user with the best channel status is changed to a new cell, the FCS scheme performs packet transmission using a HS-DSCH of this new cell. When performing such packet transmission, there is a need for the FCS scheme to minimize transmission discontinuity time.
The AMCS contained in the aforementioned three high-speed packet transmission services will hereinafter be described in more detail.
There are a variety of modulation/demodulation schemes being currently investigated for the AMCS, for example, a QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), a 8PSK, and a 16QAM (16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), etc. A variety of code rates ranging from "¼" to "1" are being considered by many developers as a coding scheme. Therefore, a mobile communication system using the AMCS provides high-order modulation/demodulation schemes (e.g., 8PSK, and 16QAM) and a high code rate to UEs (e.g., UEs located in the vicinity of a Node-B) assigned to a good channel, whereas it provides a low-order modulation scheme such as a QPSK and a low code rate to UEs (e.g., UEs located at a cell boundary) assigned to a relatively poor channel. Rather than use the QPSK, it is possible for the QPSK serving as a low-order modulation scheme to perform channel estimation using a phase prediction function, because the QPSK contains one symbol for every quadrant with respect to the constellation. However, two or four symbols for every quadrant are provided for the 8PSK and 16QAM serving as a high-order modulation scheme. Specifically, several symbols having different amplitudes are positioned in the same phase region, such that not only phase estimation but also channel estimation based on precise amplitude information is needed.
In the meantime, the utilization of the high-order modulation scheme for performing high-speed and high-quality data services and the high code rate is mainly restricted due to a variety of wireless channel environments, for example, a white noise, a variation in signal reception power levels due to the fading phenomenon, a shadowing occurrence, a Doppler effect caused by UE's mobility and UE's frequent speed change, and a signal interference caused by either another user or multipath signals, etc. Therefore, a mobile communication system requires appropriate modulation/coding schemes according to wireless channel environments which vary according to the above mentioned factors. A receiver of the mobile communication system should have a channel estimator functioning as an additional signal compensator for changing reception signals undesirably distorted by the above mentioned factors to original signals.
Typically, a conventional mobile communication system adapts pilot signals to predict such wireless channel environments. Specifically, a Node-B transmits pilot signals over a common pilot channel such as a PICH or CPICH. All UEs contained in a given area of the Node-B receive the pilot signals from the Node-B, and predict the wireless channel environments such as the fading phenomenon using the received pilot signals. However, it is difficult for the above method to predict a wireless channel environment change caused by random white noise characteristics. To solve this problem, the channel estimator includes a noise elimination filter for smoothing random characteristics of the white noise, such that the noise can be considerably reduced. For example, IIR (Infinite Impulse Response) filter is mainly adapted as the noise elimination filter, and is suitable for a mobile communication system adapting a QPSK as a modulation scheme.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a channel estimator for use in a conventional mobile communication system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a channel estimator for use in a receiver of a conventional mobile communication system. The channel estimator shown in FIG. 1 includes a first integration/dump filter 110, a second integration/dump filter 130, a complex conjugate pattern generator 120, and a noise elimination filter 140.
Referring to FIG. 1, input signals IN are provided to the first integration/dump filter 110. The input signals may be pilot signals received from common pilot channels, for example. The first integration/dump filter 110 accumulates the input signals (i.e., the pilot signals) in response to a SF (Spreading Factor) used for the common pilot channels, and numerically integrates the accumulated input signals. A measurement detected by the first integration/dump filter 110 may be reception intensity in symbol units in association with the input signals. This measurement is provided to a multiplier 150.
The complex conjugate pattern generator 120 generates a complex conjugate pattern corresponding to a symbol pattern of a pilot signal transmitted over the common pilot channel. The complex conjugate pattern generated from the complex conjugate pattern generator 120 is applied to the multiplier 150. The multiplier 150 multiplies the complex conjugate pattern generated from the complex conjugate pattern generator 120 by the measurement generated from the first integration/dump filter 110, and thus generates a subdivided signal corresponding to a desired antenna. The subdivided signal associated with the desired antenna is received from the multiplier 150, and is transmitted to the second integration/dump filter 130. The second integration/dump filter 130 receives subdivided signals for desired antennas from the multiplier 150, accumulates the subdivided signals in two-symbol units, numerically integrates the accumulated signals, and thus outputs a channel prediction value. But, this channel prediction value does not consider the white noise contained in the input signals IN. Therefore, the channel prediction value is transmitted to the noise elimination filter 140 to obtain a more accurate value which considers the white noise. The noise elimination filter 140 then removes the white noise component contained in the channel prediction value from an output signal of the second integration/dump filter 130, and thus generates a correct channel prediction value. The IIR filter may be adapted as the noise elimination filter 140.
A detailed circuit diagram of the IIR filter functioning as the noise elimination filter 130 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of an example of an N-th IIR filter adapted as another example of the noise elimination filter of FIG. 1. Specifically, FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of a primary IIR filter, and FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of an N-th IIR filter.
I/O (Input/Output) characteristic of the primary IIR filter is represented by the following Equation 1:y(n)=b·x(n)+a·y(n−1)  [Equation]
where y(n) is a current output signal, x(n) is a current input signal, and y(n−1) is a previous output signal.
With reference to the above Equation 1, the output signal "y(n)" is the sum of the input signal "x(n)" multiplied by a constant "b" and one-delayed output signal "y(n−1)" multiplied by the other constant "a".
The I/O characteristic of the N-th IIR filter is represented by the following Equation 2:
                              y                                (            n            )                          =                                            b                            •                                                                                x                                            (                n                )                                              +                                    ∑                              k                =                1                            N                                                                  a                k                                                          •y                                                  (                                      n                    -                    k                                    )                                                                                [Equation  2]
As can be seen from the above Equation 2, the I/O characteristic of the N-th IIR filter considers first to N-th previous output signals y(n−1), y(n−2), . . . , y(n−N). As shown in the above Equation 2, the output signal "y(n)" is the sum of the input signal "x(n)" multiplied by a constant "b" and individual delayed output signals (i.e., first to N-th delayed output signals) multiplied by the other constant "a".
As can be seen from the above Equations 1 and 2, the characteristic of the IIR filter is determined by filter coefficients "a" and "b". The filter coefficient "a" is a feedback weight, and the other coefficient "b" is an input weight.
Referring to FIG. 2, an input signal x(n) is provided to a first multiplier 210. The signal is multiplied by the first filter coefficient "b", and is then transmitted to one input terminal of an adder 212. The other input terminal of the adder 212 receives a signal a·y(n−1) derived by multiplication of a previous output signal y(n−1) and a second filter coefficient "a". The adder 212 adds an output signal b·x(n) of the first multiplier 210 and the output signal a·y(n−1) of a second multiplier 216 to create a result signal b·x(n)+a·y(n−1), resulting in a channel prediction value y(n) equal to the result signal b·x(n)+a·y(n−1). The channel prediction value y(n) is transmitted to a delay 214. The delay 214 delays the received signal y(n) to provide a delayed signal y(n−1), and transmits the delayed signal y(n−1) to the second multiplier 216.
The IIR filter applies a previous output signal to a new input signal, and thus prevents its output signal from being abruptly changed due to a white noise.
The frequency characteristic of the primary IIR filter shown in FIG. 2 is represented by the following Equation 3:
                              H                                (                          ⅇ                              j                                                                                w                                      )                          =                  b                      1            -                          a                                                                                •ⅇ                                                      -                    j                                                                                w                                                                                [Equation  3]
A direct current (DC) gain of the primary IIR filter having the above frequency characteristic shown in the above Equation 3 is a specific value at a prescribed condition of ω=0 indicating a frequency of "0", such that the DC gain can be represented by the following Equation 4:
                                                    H                                      (              1              )                                                =                                          b                                                                      1              -              a                                                                      [Equation  4]
Therefore, with reference to the above Equation 4, the DC gain at a predetermined condition of |b|=|1−a| is normalized to "1".
Referring to FIG. 3, an input signal x(n) is applied to a first multiplier 310. The input signal is multiplied by the first filter coefficient "b", and is then applied to an adder 312. The other input terminal of the adder 312 receives signals a1·y(n−1) to aN·y(n−N) from N second multipliers 316-1 to 316-N. The received signals a1·y(n−1) to aN·y(n−N) are created by a multiplication previous output signals y(n−1) to y(n−N) and second filter coefficients a1 to aN. The adder 312 adds an output signal b·x(n) of the first multiplier 310 and the output signals a1·y(n−1) to aN·y(n−N) of the second multipliers 316 to create a result signal b·x(n)+a1·y(n−1)+ . . . +aN·y(n−N), resulting in a channel prediction value y(n) equal to the result signal b·x(n)+a1·y(n−1)+ . . . +aN·y(n−N). The channel prediction value y(n) is transmitted to a plurality of delays 314-1 to 314-N to create delayed signals y(n−1), y(n−2), . . . , y(n−N). In this case, the delays 314-1 to 314-N have different delay values.
As stated above, the N-th IIR filter shown in FIG. 3 uses N feedback signals composed of first to N-th feedback signals, resulting in more precisely correcting a noise component contained in a desired signal.
The frequency characteristic of the N-th IIR filter shown in FIG. 3 is represented by the following Equation 5:
                              H                                (                          ⅇ                              j                                                                                w                                      )                          =                                            Y                                            (                                  ⅇ                                      j                                                                                w                                                  )                                                    X                                            (                                  ⅇ                                      j                                                                                w                                                  )                                              =                      b                          1              -                                                ∑                                      k                    =                    1                                    N                                                                                a                    k                                                                          •ⅇ                                                                  -                        j                                                                                w                                                                                [Equation  5]
A DC gain of the N-th IIR filter having the above frequency characteristic shown in the above Equation 5 is represented by the following Equation 6:
                                                    H                                      (              1              )                                                =                                          b                                                                      1              -                                                ∑                                      k                    =                    1                                    N                                                                  a                  k                                                                                                    [Equation  6]
Therefore, with reference to the above Equation 6, the DC gain at a predetermined condition of
          b        =                1      -                        ∑                      k            =            1                    N                                  a          k                        is normalized to "1".
The channel estimator can be implemented with a plurality of channel estimators according to whether or not a Tx-diversity (i.e., a transmission diversity) is used. If the Tx-diversity is not used, the channel estimator can be implemented with only one channel estimator. Otherwise, if the Tx-diversity is used, a plurality of channel estimators equivalent to the number of antennas used are needed. However, the channel estimator has the same configuration as FIG. 1, irrespective of the use of Tx-diversity. Referring to FIG. 1, a complex conjugate pattern generated from the complex conjugate pattern generator 120 contained in the channel estimator may be one or more patterns according to the use of Tx-diversity. If Tx-diversity is provided, only one antenna is used, such that only one symbol pattern is generated. If Tx-diversity is adapted using a plurality of antennas, a plurality of symbol patterns are adapted to discriminate among the plurality of antennas. The symbol patterns are adapted to discriminate among the antennas so as to separate each pilot signal from orthogonal pilot signals for every antenna, allowing individual symbol patterns associated with individual antennas to be orthogonal to each other.
In another example, individual channel estimators should be configured to be associated with individual antennas, one channel estimator selected from among many channel estimators should always be operated, irrespective of the use of Tx-diversity. The remaining channel estimators other than the selected one channel estimator should be operated only when they use the Tx-diversity.
Although a channel estimator having the IIR filter is suitably used for a QPSK being a low-order modulation scheme, several problems may occur if a high-order modulation scheme is applied to the channel estimator. For example, a 16QAM being a high-order modulation scheme is very sensitive to a noise problem as compared to QPSK, such that the 16QAM is mainly used at a relatively high SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio). In conclusion, there is less necessity for the IIR filter in the 16QAM compared with the QPSK. In more detail, a noise elimination filter may deteriorate performance of the channel estimator in a wireless channel environment where there is a white noise lower than that of the QPSK. This problem of the noise elimination filter is called a lagging phenomenon, and is caused by characteristics of the IIR filter.
The following Table 1 shows examples of preferable coefficient values "a" and "b" which are adapted to the IIR filter according to the Doppler frequency and a moving speed of a mobile terminal (i.e., a UE). As shown in the Table 1, it is assumed that a chip rate is 3.84 Mcps, and a sample frequency fs, for updating channel estimation in units of 516 chips is 3.84 Mcps/512 chip, i.e., 7500 Hz.
TABLE 1Ab = 1 − aCutoff frequency (3 dB)Transfer speed1/43/42024 Hz1093 km/h1/21/2 862 Hz 465 km/h3/41/4 346 Hz 197 km/h7/81/8 159 Hz 86 km/h
Typically, a mobile communication system determines a moving speed of a mobile terminal, and sets the filter coefficients "a" and "b" associated with the determined moving speed to fixed values, respectively. Specifically, the filter coefficients "a" and "b" for use in the IIR filter are respectively fixed to only one value corresponding to a specific moving speed of the mobile terminal, such that the IIR filter can be operated by the fixed values "a" and "b" even though a wireless channel environment is changed to another wireless channel environment, resulting in unexpected problems.
Such unexpected problems will hereinafter be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b. A feedback signal (i.e., a previous output signal) of the IIR filter shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 incurs the lagging phenomenon, because a current output signal of the IIR filter is based on a previous output signal. The lagging phenomenon is more critical to a wireless channel environment changing at a high speed, and is more clearly shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. FIG. 4a is a graph illustrating an example of a lagging phenomenon of the IIR filter in a conventional high-speed fading channel. FIG. 4b is a graph illustrating an example of a lagging phenomenon of the IIR filter in a conventional low-speed fading channel. As can be seen from FIGS. 4a and 4b, the lagging phenomenon of FIG. 4a has a signal level higher than that of FIG. 4b. Therefore, provided that a wireless channel environment is abruptly changed, there are large differences in predicted values of a channel estimator even though the same delay time is provided, such that it is impossible for a reception signal to further reduce its own BER (Bit Error Rate).
To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, the low-order modulation scheme is generally operated at a region of a low SNR lower than that of the high-order modulation scheme, and is more sensitive to a signal distortion than a signal amplitude, such that it is not affected by the lagging phenomenon. However, if a high-order modulation scheme is used in a same way as in a HSDPA mobile communication system, the lagging phenomenon deteriorates the overall system performance. Therefore, a new method for solving the above problems is needed.

Apparatus and method for performing adaptive channel estimation in a mobile communication system


An ad hoc conferencing system and methods are provided. Information is stored to associate a particular meeting link with an endpoint device. A first request to initiate a communication session is received from the endpoint device, wherein the first request is generated by a local participant interacting with the endpoint device. A second request to join the communication session is received from a remote device, wherein the second request is transmitted in response to a remote participant inputting, on the remote device, the particular meeting link. The communication session is established between the endpoint device and the remote device based on receiving the first request and receiving the second request.

Video conferencing solutions enable remote participants to exchange audio and video communication in real-time. Joining a virtual meeting by video can be a complicated process however; for example, a host must typically know participants' email addresses or other contact information so that the host can send invitations, or participants must register a device or otherwise authenticate with a conferencing service.


A foldable shipping container, having a main body and first and second side wall panels, which in an assembled configuration forms a display container, wherein a display portion is detached from the main body at a predetermined separation region to form an erected display panel and wherein each of the first and second side wall panels includes a detachable access panel.

It is often desirable to provide a container which can be used for both the shipment of small articles and the subsequent display of such articles at a point of distribution. Paperboard containers are particularly favorable for this purpose because of their relative ease of manufacture and low cost of production.
From a production standpoint, a paperboard container may be formed from a single flat sheet of paperboard or other suitable material which has been cut to a predetermined shape. Through a series of folding and gluing operations this flat sheet of paperboard can be transformed into a container of generally rectangular configuration suitable for packaging articles.
Additionally, because a paperboard container is formed from a single flat sheet of material, it is particularly well adapted to applying printed material to its surfaces. The printing is typically applied to selected surfaces of the unfolded paperboard which form the outwardly exposed surfaces of the paperboard container in its folded state. These surfaces may be coated prior to printing to provide a smooth printable surface.
When a shipping container will also be used as a display means at a point of distribution, a removable container wall may be provided for accessing the contents of the container. Frequently, the removable wall, providing access to the contents of the container, will have perforations about its periphery to facilitate removal thereof.
In some instances a removable container wall is provided, wherein the container wall remains hingedly attached to the container rather than being entirely removed. This hingedly attached wall may be imprinted on its inside surface, such that when the hinged wall is folded away from the container, the wall's inner surface is directly visible to a person accessing the contents of the container. The inner surface of the hingedly attached wall functions as a billboard for advertising the contents of the container. This type of container configuration is prevalent in consumer products markets, where a corrugated shipping container is converted to a display bin at the point of distribution.
One of the disadvantages of such an arrangement is that the paperboard container in its unfolded state must be subjected to two separate printing operations. This is necessary to apply printed media to both the outer surface of the container, as well as the inner surface of the hingedly attached wall, to permit the wall to function as an advertising billboard. Furthermore, printing on both surfaces of the unfolded paperboard carton may require the additional coating of the inside surfaces of the container which will contain printed media. These additional manufacturing operations require added time and expense in the production of such dual function paperboard containers.
Another disadvantage of conventional shipping/display containers is their inability to accommodate billboards of varying size, while still providing sufficient accessibility to the entire container interior. Existing containers typically utilize a billboard which completely encloses the top surface of the container. The billboard is hinged at the rear of the container at the junction between the top wall and back wall. This structure allows access to the entire interior of the container. An undesirable consequence of this design is that the billboard height increases proportionately with an increase in container depth. In instances where the available head room at a display location is limited, a tall billboard cannot be displayed. In such instances, the billboard is typically completely removed from the container and discarded.
Another disadvantage of conventional shipping/display containers is that when the individualized articles housed in the container are sized such that their height and width dimensions closely match those of the container, the edges of the article are not easily accessible and it becomes difficult to grasp and remove such individual articles from the container.
Yet another disadvantage of conventional shipping/display containers is that they require an added support structure to maintain the billboard in its unfolded or vertical display position. When a hinged container wall is used as a display billboard, it is either left freestanding in an unfolded display position, or it may be attached to an additional support structure separately provided. In the case of a freestanding billboard, any disturbance of the container (e.g., someone accessing the contents) may cause the billboard to shift from its substantially vertical orientation. This shifting may result in a billboard orientation in which the advertising media contained thereon is no longer directly visible to a consumer accessing the contents of the box.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present designs of shipping/display containers. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an improved display container directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Foldable container having display portion acting as source indicia


A method of manufacturing an Electricity-Generating Assembly (EGA) includes: preparing an electrolyte membrane including a central portion and a peripheral portion; providing a contact member to the peripheral portion of the electrolyte membrane; providing at least one of a first Gas Diffusion Electrode (GDE) including a reaction portion of a first Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) and a first electrode layer or a second GDE including a reaction portion of a second GDL and a second electrode layer, on at least one central portion of the first surface of the electrolyte membrane or the second surface of the electrolyte membrane; and providing a gas diffusion portion of a respective GDL among the first and second GDLs on the contact member.

Currently, a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is most commonly used as a fuel cell for automobiles. In order for this polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell to normally exhibit high output performance of at least tens of kW under various driving conditions of automobiles, the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell must be capable of being stably operated in a wide current density range.
The fuel cell is used in the form of a stack in which unit cells are layered and assembled so as to meet the required power level. The unit cell includes bipolar plates or separators that include a Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) and a gasket layered on the outer side of a Membrane-Electrode Assembly (MEA), that is, on the outer side where a cathode and an anode are located, and a flow path (flow field) which is provided on the outer side of the gas diffusion layer and through which a reaction gas (hydrogen as fuel and oxygen or air as an oxidant) is supplied and a cooling water passes. After several hundred of such unit cells are layered, an end plate for supporting the unit cells is bonded to the outermost side.
An electrochemical reaction for the generation of electricity in fuel cells occurs in a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane 100 and electrodes of an anode/cathode. In the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell, after hydrogen supplied to the anode, which is an oxidation electrode of the fuel cell, is divided into hydrogen ions (proton) and electrons due to a Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction (HOR), the hydrogen ions move to the cathode, which is a reduction electrode, through a membrane, and the electrons move to the cathode through an external circuit, as shown in the following Reaction Equation [1]. The hydrogen ions and the electrons are reacted with oxygen gas supplied from the outside at the cathode to generate electricity and heat and also generate water as a reaction by-product due to an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), as shown in Reaction Equation [2].H2→2H++2e−, E°=0.000 V (vs. SHE)  [1]½O2+2H++2e−→H2O, E°=1.229 V (vs. SHE)  [2]
Herein, Eo is a standard electrode potential and SHE is a standard hydrogen electrode.
The electrode applied on a gas diffusion layer (GDL) is called a Gas Diffusion Electrode (GDE). When an Electricity-Generating Assembly (EGA) is manufactured in the form of the electrode evenly applied on the GDL, it is critical to make the amount of electrode in contact with the electrolyte membrane similar to the amount of electrode applied thereon.
A conventional method of manufacturing a GDE is focused on conventional coating systems (such as a slot die coater, a doctor blade coater, a spray process, a screen printing process, a doctor blade process, a gravure process, and a slot-die coater) or novel methods (such as coating using electrical conductivity and coating using electrostatic force). That is, when the EGA is manufactured using the GDE, conventionally, the manufacture is limited only to the case where both an electrolyte membrane and an electrode are flat and there is no separate protruding structure in order to make the surface bonding easier.
Accordingly, when the EGA including a structure having a stepped portion is manufactured in the state in which it is not easy to perform the surface bonding, in the case of the application of the GDE methods, there are problems in that the GDL in the GDE is damaged or a warpage phenomenon occurs due to the stepped portion.
The information included in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the present disclosure and may not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Method of manufacturing electricity-generating assembly


A camera assembly, an image acquisition method, and a mobile terminal are provided. The image acquisition method is applied to a mobile terminal including the camera assembly provided in this disclosure, and the image acquisition method includes: acquiring first image data derived from an exposure of a filtering and photosensitive module in the camera assembly and second image data derived from an exposure of a photosensitive module in the camera assembly; generating a target image from the first image data and the second image data.

At present, there are some common problems in the application of a single camera. First, an image of a low light scene has a low brightness, a large noise, and a poor detail. Since the ambient light passing through the lens has limited light energy per se, and further subjects to infrared filtering, color filtering, filtering of a coating film, and the like, the light energy actually arrives at a surface of a photosensitive module is very small Therefore, in a low light scene, the actual signal is greatly affected by noise, and it is difficult to reproduce the actual signal, thereby affecting the image quality.
Second, when a high-brightness scene or a high-contrast scene is photographed, it is difficult to render details of both a high-brightness portion and a low-brightness portion of a same image well in one exposure due to the limitation of the dynamic range of the photosensitive module. Although, a dual-camera or multi-camera scheme may set different operation modes according to requirements, thereby mitigating the problem caused by noise in the low light scene and the problem caused by limited dynamic range in the high-variance scene; however, the dual-camera or multi-camera scheme is limited by available space in the mobile device and hampers portability; additionally, implementing multiple cameras adds significant costs.

Camera assembly, image acquisition method, and mobile terminal


Measurement data associated with a service element is obtained and analyzed to determine whether one or more aspects of the service element are to be revised. The data collected may be classified as standard, custom, or ad-hoc. Further, the measurement data can be collected for various areas associated with the service element, and may be maintained within a data structure. In one example, collection and analysis of the measurement data are facilitated by a Service Development Tool.

Services are provided in various ways. For example, services are provided in-house by a service provider or by a company itself, or are outsourced to a requesting customer. With the latter, a customer, such as a company, requests that a particular service be provided to the company. For instance, the company may request consulting services. With such a request, the company specifies the number of desired hours of labor and/or other requirements.
In order to purchase the number of hours of labor and/or other requirements, one or more service elements representing the requirements are created by the service provider and purchased by the company. This defines for the company what is provided and at what cost.
The development of a service element is performed based on assumptions made by a service element designer. Validity of those assumptions is ascertained based on empirical data collected in response to use of the service element. Therefore, a need exists for a capability that facilitates collection and analysis of measurement data usable, for instance, to tune and adjust future versions of service elements.

Collection and analysis of measurement data associated with service elements

International Business Machines Corporation


A kit for forming a panel including a panel component, the panel component including a surface sheet formed from a first material, and a body layer to which the surface sheet is adhered generally parallel to the body layer, wherein the body layer has a thickness greater than a thickness of the surface sheet, the body layer has a density less than a density of the surface sheet, and a separate side edge portion adapted to be adhered along at least one edge of the panel component.

It is known to use solid panels of quartz stone, marble or granite for different purposes such as benchtops and cladding. Such panels are desirable due to their appearance and feel, but are very heavy in weight.
The applicant has identified that the heavy weight of such panels is the cause of many occupational health and safety (OHS) problems/claims, causing injury and even death. The applicant has also identified that the heavy weight of solid panels contributes significantly to the expense in importation, handling and installation of such panels.
Examples of the invention seek to provide an improved panel which overcomes or at least alleviates disadvantages associated with existing solid panels.

Kit for forming a panel and a method of forming a panel


A data recording/reproduction apparatus classifies each request into any one of a real-time processing data request, a metadata request, and a non-real-time data request and accumulates each classified request. A request readout device in the apparatus sequentially reads out each accumulated input/output request in accordance with a predetermined reference time. In order to attain a desired data rate of the real-time processing data, the request readout device delays reading out a metadata request for a fixed period specified by the reference time. A processing of delayed metadata input/output request collectively is executed with a subsequent processing metadata input/output request.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording/reproduction apparatus that has a file system and executes the data required real-time recording/reproduction processing. In particular, the present invention relates to a recording/reproduction apparatus having a mechanism for managing an operation log of a file system and synchronization of metadata at the time of a the data required real-time recording/reproduction operation, a recording/reproduction method executed by the recording/reproduction apparatus, and a recording/reproduction program for causing the recording/reproduction apparatus to execute recording/reproduction processing.
2. Description of Related Art
As a recording/reproduction apparatus that executes video recording processing and reproduction processing, there has conventionally been known a recording/reproduction apparatus having a construction where video writing (recording processing) and reading (reproduction processing) are distinguished from each other. For instance, in JP 11-69279 A (see FIGS. 1 to 3 of that document) Patent document 1, there is disclosed a technique with which in a recording/reproduction apparatus that simultaneously performs recording and reproduction of multiple pieces of video data, a queue is provided for each of writing and reading and the queue on a writing side is controlled with a higher priority, thereby eliminating a failure on a recording side.
Also, for instance, in JP 2001-309333 A (Patent Document 2), there is disclosed a technique with which in a video server that utilizes a disk array or the like, band allocation is managed, the transfer of real-time data between apparatuses is realized, the real-time data transfer of a video or the like is distinguished from the transfer of data that does not require a real-time property, and the band allocation is performed based on a result of the distinguishing.
The recording/reproduction apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs processing without distinguishing among various kinds of processing such as logging concerning a recording operation and writing of metadata for file management. Consequently, it is impossible to manage the degree of an I/O load imposed by the management of information other than video data midway through a video recording operation.
Also, in Patent Document 2, no description is given concerning metadata necessary for file management, management of an execution timing thereof, and the like, and there does not exist an idea that a load is suppressed based on a parameter concerning a processing request frequency in an operation such as video recording/reproduction.
Meanwhile, it is conceivable that there frequently occurs a situation where a recording/reproduction apparatus used in an ordinary household is powered off during execution of recording/reproduction processing, and it is impossible to avoid a possibility that data will be lost due to such a situation. As a countermeasure against such a problem, there is generally performed establishment of synchronization or logging of input/output operations (recording of contents of executed operations).
Accordingly, input/output operations accompanying the synchronization operation or the log generation are frequently performed, so that particularly in the case of a recording/reproduction apparatus for an optical disk or the like whose random access performance is low, considerable time is consumed by the input/output operations. Consequently, there occurs a problem that processing performance concerning video data is lowered due to an influence of the input/output operations accompanying the synchronization operation or the log generation.
The present invention addresses and seeks to solve, at least in part the problems described above and making it possible, in a recording/reproduction apparatus, such as an optical disk recorder, whose random access performance is low, to adjust a processing time consumed by a synchronization operation or log generation and to improve the reliability of the apparatus without causing a lowering of the processing performance.
Also, the present invention is aimed at making it possible, in a recording reproduction apparatus, such as an optical disk recorder, whose random access performance is low, to enable I/O scheduling based on importance of data, and consequently to increase processing efficiency under an environment where the recording/reproduction processing of information, such as a video, coexists with the input/output of another file to improve the function of the apparatus.

Data recording/reproduction apparatus, method and program for real-time processing


In an ATM communication control device, a cell transmission timing via a virtual channel is determined based on peak rate instructed in a received predetermined ATM cell, such as a received RM cell. Upon determining the transmission timing, a next transmission time for a virtual channel is stored in a CAM, and when a counter value agrees with the stored transmission time, the virtual channel corresponding to an address storing the agreed transmission time is determined as a virtual channel for transmission. The CAM may be replaced by a combination of comparators and a normal storage device.

The present invention relates to a communication control device and a communication control method for use in transmitting ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) cells in an ATM network.
In general, the ATM network of this kind includes a plurality of ATM terminals and an ATM server which are connected to each other via ATM switches. Normally, each of the ATM server and each of the ATM terminals is provided with a communication control device, as an ATM device, for transmitting ATM cells.
From the ATM terminals and the ATM server, ATM cells each having a header and a payload are sent to the ATM switches or the like via VCs (virtual channels) assigned to the ATM terminals and the ATM server. For controlling the data transmission rate of the ATM cell, a CBR (constant bit rate) mode is normally used. In the CBR mode, when the ATM cells are transmitted using a certain VC, a peak rate representing a minimum interval between the ATM cells in the same VC and a mean rate representing a mean value of transmission rates for a long time are fixedly determined before transmission of the ATM cells, and these rates are held unchanged during transmission of the ATM cells via the VC. As appreciated from this, the same VC is assigned in a time-division fashion at time intervals, that is, at a constant rate determined by the peak rate and the mean rate.
In the CBR mode, for keeping the foregoing rate and controlling data transmission timings among the ATM terminals and the ATM server in the network, a traffic shaper is provided at each of the ATM devices of the ATM terminals and the ATM server. This means that, during transmission of the ATM cells via the particular VC, the particular traffic shaper is fixedly connected. Thus, as many traffic shapers are required as.
Further, in the CBR mode, when the cells are transmitted at peak rates via a plurality of the VCs and full on the transmission line, it is possible that the cells can not be transmitted via another VC on the same line. Accordingly, when employing the CBR mode, it is necessary to assume in advance that a number of the VCs are used on the same line, and set a peak rate of each VC with a margin. Thus, the CBR mode h as a drawback where vacancies occur on the line or a drawback where a VC which can not transmit the cells is generated.
On the other hand, instead of the CBR mode an ABR (available bit rate) mode has been proposed as a de facto standard by an organization called The ATM Forum. In the ABR mode, since a peak rate of the VC c an be changed dynamically during transmission, cells can be newly transmitted via another VC by adjusting a band of the transmission line, that is, a transmission density. Accordingly, in the ABR mode, as compared with the CBR mode, since the peak rate can be freely changed, the transmission density can be flexible, and thus, the high-density transmission can be achieved with fewer virtual channels which can not transmit the cells.
However, in practice, specific operations and structures of the ATM device suited for the ABR mode have not been proposed up to now.
Now, it is assumed that the ATM devices having the traffic shapers employed in the CBR mode are applied to the ABR mode. In this case, since each traffic shaper regulates a fixed bit rate, it is necessary, for dealing with a plurality of the bit rates, to provide a plurality of the traffic shapers, each corresponding to one of the bit rates, relative to one VC. Further, the software is necessary for dynamically switching among the traffic shapers at high speed during transmission on the same VC.
However, the switching based on the software takes time and can not achieve real-time processing.
Further, if the foregoing structure for the CBR mode is applied to the ABR mode, it can not deal an increment the number of the VCs. Specifically, due to the recent advancement in ATM technique, it has been required that one ATM device controls as many as 1,000 VCs. Now, it is assumed that the foregoing CBR mode structure is applied to the ABR mode where three bit rates are switched relative to one VC. In this case, three traffic shapers are necessary relative to one VC so that as many as 3,000 traffic shapers are required for one ATM device. This makes the structure of the ATM device complicated. Further, on a practical basis, it is difficult to realize as many as 3,000 traffic shapers on a single LSI chip.
As appreciated from the foregoing, it is practically difficult to apply the software and the hardware of the CBR mode to the ABR mode with respect to both software and hardware.

Communication control device and method for use in an ATM system operable in an ABR mode


A system and method for converting an image to the available paper size being used by the image forming apparatus. A print job is sent to a spooler. A RIP processor then generates image faces for the print job. After the RIP process, the image forming apparatus converts the print job to the paper being used by the image forming apparatus. The print job may also be scaled if desired. Typical conversions are Letter size to A4, A4 to Letter size, Ledger size to A3, and A3 to Ledger size.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to image forming and more specifically to a system and method for an image forming apparatus to convert an image for outputting on a paper size that is different from the image size.
2. Description of the Related Art Includind Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
As documents are transmitted between various countries, oftentimes the papers size of the image forming apparatus is incompatible with the size of the original image. In other countries, particularly in Europe, often times documents are printed with mixed letter and A4 paper sizes. The controller will rasterize "RIP" the image at the paper size as specified by the print driver and prompt a user to input the correct size paper in the Bypass tray of the image forming apparatus. However, Letter paper size is not popular in European countries, hence a need exists for a controller to convert Letter or Ledger paper size to A4 or A3 paper size respectively. More generally, a need exists for a printer which can convert an image sent to it to the proper paper size. RIP can do the conversion during the its processing of the print job. However, this technique has been slow.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.