A bottom bracket assembly of a bicycle that cooperates in an eccentric or off-center manner with a bottom bracket shell of a bicycle frame. The eccentric bottom bracket assembly has a cylindrical insert with an off-centered opening for receiving a spindle that connects to cranks of the crankset. Rotating the cylindrical insert repositions the off-centered opening relative to at least the longitudinal direction of the bicycle and thus can be used to adjust the tension in the flexible drive member of the bicycle. A worm gear arrangement provides controlled manipulation of the position of the insert relative to the bicycle frame.

The present invention relates to a bottom bracket assembly for a bicycle and, more particularly, to an adjustable bottom bracket assembly for adjusting the tension of a flexible drive member such as a chain or a belt of the bicycle drive train.
The primary structural component of a conventional two-wheel bicycle is the frame. On a conventional road bicycle, the frame is typically constructed from a set of tubular members assembled together to form the frame. For many bicycles, the frame is constructed from members commonly referred to as the top tube, down tube, seat tube, seat stays and chain stays, and those members are joined together at intersections commonly referred to as the head tube, seat post, bottom bracket tube or shell and rear dropout. The top tube usually extends from the head tube rearward to the seat tube. The head tube, sometimes referred to as the neck, is a short tubular structural member at the upper forward portion of the bicycle which supports the handlebar and front steering fork, which has the front wheel on it. The down tube usually extends downwardly and rearward from the head tube to the bottom bracket shell. A bottom bracket assembly usually comprises a cylindrical tubular member or spindle for supporting the pedals and corresponding crankset or chainset which cooperate with the flexible drive mechanism or chain to power the bicycle. The bottom bracket assembly commonly slidably cooperates with the bottom bracket shell of the bicycle frame assembly. The seat tube usually extends from the bottom bracket assembly upwardly to where it is joined to the rear end of the top tube. The seat tube also usually functions to telescopically receive a seat post for supporting a seat or saddle for the bicycle rider to sit on.
The chain stays normally extend rearward from the bottom bracket shell. The seat stays normally extend downwardly and rearward from an upper end of the seat tube. The chain stays and seat stays are normally joined together at a rear dropout and cooperate to support the opposite ends of a rear axle associated with the rear wheel. The portion of the frame defined by the head tube, seat post and bottom bracket shell and the structural members that join those three items together is commonly referred to as the main front triangular portion of the frame, with the seat stays and chain stays defining a rear triangular portion of the frame. Understandably, the above description is merely exemplary of one bicycle frame assembly useable with the present invention.
The bottom bracket assembly commonly includes a spindle that is associated with the crankset of the bicycle and allows the crankset to rotate freely relative to the bottom bracket shell when the flexible drive member is dissociated from the drive train. A bearing is commonly associated with one or both of the opposite ends of the spindle and rotationally supports the spindle and corresponding crankset relative to the bottom bracket shell. One of more gears or chain rings and the crankarms associated with the pedals are attached to the spindle such the rotation of the pedals rotates the chain rings which in turn drive the flexible drive members. Commonly, the spindle rotationally cooperates directly with the cavity defined by bottom bracket shell or tube of the bicycle frame. Proper operation of the bicycle drive train relies in part on the proper tensioning of the flexible drive member associated with a respective drive and driven gear or chain ring or crankset gear associated with the drive train.
Commonly, the flexible drive member such as a chain or belt extends between one or more drive and driven members or chain rings associated with the crankset and a gear cassette associated with the driven wheel. Inadequate tensioning of the flexible drive member can result in the flexible drive member becoming disengaged or derailed from desired engagement with a respective drive or driven ring. Commonly, the tension of the flexible drive member is only periodically adjusted via manipulation of the rear wheel relative to an elongated slot that defines the dropout of the driven wheel. During use of a bicycle, the chain or belt can become worn or "stretched" which can result in undesired derailing of the flexible drive member if the bicycle is not properly maintained. Accordingly, it is occasionally desired to monitor and/or adjust the tension of the flexible drive member to ensure desired operation of the drive train.
Rather than manipulating the position of the rear wheel assembly relative to the bicycle frame, other provide means of adjusting the tension of the flexible drive member via manipulation of the bottom bracket assembly relative to the bottom bracket shell of the frame. One type of such a bottom bracket assembly is an eccentric bottom bracket assembly that allows selective translation of the axis of rotation of the spindle relative to the bottom bracket shell. In an eccentric bottom bracket assembly, a cylindrical plug includes a cavity that accommodates the spindle and is shaped to fit into the cylindrical cavity defined by the bottom bracket shell. The plug is commonly machined to accept a spindle such that the axis of rotation of the spindle is offset from the longitudinal centerline of the plug so that rotation of the plug translates the axis of rotation of the spindle relative to the shell so that the axis of rotation of the crankset can be selectively moved fore or aft. Since the chain drive (or other flexible drive) is interconnected between the crankset and a wheel assembly (typically, the rear wheel assembly), this fore or aft movement of the bottom bracket adjusts the tension associated with operation of the flexible drive member or chain. Unfortunately, such systems are not without their drawbacks.
Commonly, such systems include a pair of wedging portion that cooperate with one another to selectively fix the position of the bottom bracket assembly relative to the bottom bracket shell via manipulation of one or more fasteners that translate the wedge portions into one another and thereby compress against the interior contour of the bottom bracket shell. When loose, such assemblies provide no control as to the orientation of the bottom bracket assembly relative to the bottom bracket shell aside from user interaction with crankarms or pedals of the crank assembly. Thus, although such eccentric bottom bracket assemblies allow manipulation of the tension of the flexible drive member, such assemblies do so in a manner that is less than precise and is susceptible to less than desired tensioning of the flexible drive member as a function of the hand, arm, and holding strength of the user or technician performing the adjustment. Accordingly, there is a need for a bicycle flexible drive member adjustment mechanism that can precise adjust the tension of the flexible drive member and does so in a manner that is less susceptible to individualization associated with the skill and strength of the person performing the adjustment.


A system and method which receives from an application a request to open a file for reading or writing, prompts the user for the file, and then provides a handle or alternate handle to the requesting application, but does not provide the name and path of the file and may not provide the actual handle to the file.

When a user instructs an application program where to store a file, or from where a file can be retrieved, the user exposes himself or herself to a security risk, in that the location of the file can be used by the application, or another application in communication with the application, to later access the file. What is needed is a system and method that can allow an application to store or retrieve a file without allowing the application to know where the file is actually stored.

System and method for allowing applications to securely access files


In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a graphical user interface which arranges first, second and third windows on three of the four sides of an imaginary rectangular parallelepiped, arranges on each of the windows selection portions selectable to input commands, displays the first window nearly at the center of the display and displays at least portions of the second and third windows at the right and left, respectively, when the first window is selected. The graphical interface also displays the second window nearly at the center and displays at least portion of the first and third windows on the left and right, respectively, when the second window is selected. The graphical user interface further displays the third window nearly at the center and displays the first and second windows on the right and left, respectively, when the third window is selected. Because the user feels as if he were standing inside the imaginary rectangular parallelepiped and more easily understands the displayed menus, the user can quickly and certainly input commands through the three-dimensional GUI.

This invention relates to a graphical user interface and more particularly, relates to a graphical user interface wherein a desired command can be quickly and certainly input.
Recently, as a computer has higher capability, there has become popular a graphical user interface (GUI) which displays graphical images (so-called icons) corresponding to functions and/or programs to be executed. The GUI enables a user to point a desired icon by using a pointing device such as a mouse, so that a desired program is selected and executed. Therefore, the user need not memorize commands to execute a program and even a beginner user has become able to operate a computer easily.
Among the most generally used GUI currently, there is known a multi-window system for providing plural independent display areas (windows) in a two-dimensional display. For example, WINDOWS (trademark) by Microsoft Corp. is an example of such a system. In this multi-window system, a window called a folder is provided for each category and each icon is displayed in a folder of the corresponding category. However, positions where these windows (folders) are displayed are not necessarily specified. Therefore, a window is sometimes hidden behind other windows. When the user cannot recognize the hidden window, he cannot quickly select a desired window.

User interface for displaying windows on a rectangular parallelepiped


Wireless terminals, e.g., mobile nodes, receive, identify, and measure broadcast signals from a plurality of cells. They determine relative transmission power relationships corresponding to the received measured signals and determine at least two channel gain ratios. A geographic area is determined corresponding to the obtained at least two channel gain ratios and information indicating the geographic region in which such gain ratios may be detected. Each cell's base station transmits broadcast signals, e.g., beacon signals, pilot signals, and/or assignment signals for one more carriers. Some base stations use multiple carriers at different power levels. Some adjacent cells use different power levels for the same carrier. This carrier diversity approach tends to reduce overall interference in the system, yet provides mobiles with a variety of different strength signals which may be monitored and which vary as a function of distance from the source transmitter.

It is desirable to be able to locate wireless communication devices for a variety of reasons, e.g., emergencies, navigation functions, law enforcement tracking, delivery tracking. It is also beneficial for a wireless system network service provider to be able to locate and track customer activity. Such collected and correlated information would be useful in identifying problem locations of poor reception within the system and in making decisions regarding the deployment of additional components and capabilities for the system. One approach of tracking a wireless terminal (WT) is to embed a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver within the WT. This requires additional specialized circuitry and a specialized antenna, adding cost, increasing weight and size, and consuming the limited battery power resources during operation. In addition, GPS reception, may be unavailable in many locations, e.g., where a line of signal cannot be obtained from the GPS antenna to a set of satellites, e.g., 3 or more satellites, to obtain a solution.
In view of the abovementioned limitations, there is a need for improved methods and apparatus to provide wireless terminal location. Apparatus and methods that provide for a WT to be able to receive, identify, and measure strong signals from a plurality of BS transmitters, e.g., from adjacent cells would be beneficial. Apparatus and methods that are less sensitive to wireless terminal position location in terms of the ability to achieve a position fix would also be beneficial. Apparatus and methods that can take advantage of base station broadcast signaling used for other functions, e.g., synchronization, assignments, attachment decisions, etc., to determine device location would be beneficial since the overhead of transmitting signals specifically to facilitate position determination could be avoided.

Wireless terminal location using apparatus and methods employing carrier diversity


A new cultivar of Phygelius named ‘YAPCOR’ that is characterized by a compact well-branched habit, burgundy stems and deep coral-pink pendulous flowers. In combination these traits set ‘YAPCOR’ apart from all other existing varieties of Phygelius known to the inventor.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phygelius, that is grown for its ornamental pendulous red flowers and burgundy stems. The new cultivar is known botanically as Phygelius aequalis×rectus and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name 'YAPCOR'.
The inventor has been interested for some fifteen years in the genus Phygelius, and has collected many named and unnamed plants of the three species of Phygelius, namely Phygelius aequalis, Phygelius capensis, and the inter-specific Phygelius×rectus (P. aequalis×capensis). The inventor has recognized that the genus would be more widely produced and sold commercially if its growth habit would be shorter and more sturdy with natural self-branching. The species of Phygelius and most of the available cultivars, exhibit a vigorous upright growth, such that, although the flowers are much admired, the habit of the plant itself is unappealing to some gardeners. Although it is possible to induce branching and shorter internodes by the application of plant growth regulators during the production cycle, the effect of such applications wears off as the season proceeds and the plants fail to remain upright without staking or support from adjacent plants.
'YAPCOR' was bred by the inventor in a cultivated area of Cheshire, England. 'YAPCOR' is one of three varieties selected for release from the same breeding program. The companion varieties 'YAPOR' (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/053,242) and 'YAPYEL' (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/053,534) are the subject of contemporaneous applications. The plant habits of 'YAPCOR', 'YAPOR' and 'YAPYEL' are similarly compact, and their flower colors are respectively dark coral pink, orange and yellow. 'YAPCOR' arose as follows:
In 1990, the inventor purchased a single plant of Phygelius labeled simply as Phygelius aequalis, that is, without a cultivar designation. This plant carried the characteristic pale yellow flowers of the species Phygelius aequalis but the inventor was attracted by its uncharacteristic compact habit. The inventor allowed the plant to run to seed, then harvested a quantity of seed which was sown and grown out as a seedling population. The inventor selected a single unnamed plant as a useful parent for a future breeding program aimed at producing a series of complementary flower colors on plants with natural compactness and good branching. The unnamed selection grows to a height of 40 cm in the season whereas plants of the genus typically achieve heights of or exceeding 70 cm in one growing season. The unnamed selection, which has never been made available to the public and is unpatented, has been maintained and renewed by vegetative propagation at the inventor's nursery in Somerford, Cheshire, England.
In 1998, the inventor commenced his program to derive a series of compact cultivars of Phygelius. The inventor selected a single plant of Phygelius×rectus 'African Queen' (unpatented) for hand cross-pollination with the unnamed selection above. The inventor used flowers from both plants as both pollen donors and pollen receptors and seed was collected from both plants for sowing and seedling grow-out in 1999. From plants selected in 1999 and vegetatively propagated and grown to flowering in 2000, the inventor selected 'YAPCOR' as presenting the best combination of improved plant habit and distinct and clear flower color and overall compatibility with the contemporaneously selected varieties 'YAPOR' and 'YAPYEL' whose breeding had followed the same procedure, namely the use of a promising parent as alternate parent with the unnamed selection as described in the relative applications 'YAPOR' and 'YAPYEL').
The distinguishing characteristics of 'YAPCOR' are flower color and plant habit. Whereas the one parent, the unnamed selection, exhibits pale yellow flowers without any color variation in the tube, the flowers of 'YAPCOR' are dark coral pink with yellow coloration of the inside of the corolla tube. Whereas the alternate parent, Phygelius×rectus 'African Queen' is approximately 70 cm in overall height with sparse basal branching and salmon-red flowers, 'YAPCOR' is approximately 40 cm in height, exhibits multiple branching and dark coral-pink flowers. The closest varieties in overall habit known to the inventor are the inventor's varieties 'YAPOR' and 'YAPYEL' which differ in flower coloration.
'YAPCOR' was first asexually propagated by the inventor in Cheshire, England in 1999 using softwood cuttings. Since that time, under careful observation, the distinguishing characteristics have been determined stable and uniform and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


An apparatus and method for manufacturing a handling pole including a pole section, a pole adapter connected to one end of the pole section, and a spade member connected to the other end of the pole section. The pole adapter may include an upper sleeve and the spade member may include a lower sleeve.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a tool for handling high torque in a nuclear reactor pressure vessel.
2. Description of Related Art
Repairs and inspections performed within a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) such as a boiling water reactor (BWR) are generally performed with ropes and poles for manual manipulation of tools and/or delivery of dedicated automated tools. The RPV is generally a cylindrical shaped vessel and is closed at both ends (e.g., a bottom head and a removable top head). During a reactor shut down, the top head of the RPV is removed so as to inspect or repair a selected component within. Other components in the RPV located between a top guide and a core plate or below the core plate may also be removed. To perform the inspections and/or repairs, an operator stands on a bridge positioned over the RPV and lowers the tool using ropes and poles, which may extend about eighty (80) feet below. The ability to perform such inspections and/or repairs depends on the dexterity of the operator.
Due to the difficulty in accessing certain locations within the RPV, performing the repairs and/or inspections at such locations can be time consuming and burdensome. It is desirable to limit the time required to perform the repairs and/or inspections in a RPV, due to the enormous daily cost of the reactor being shut down (up to almost a million dollars a day in lost revenue). Reducing the amount of time required to perform such inspections and/or repairs also would facilitate reducing radiation exposure to operators, technicians and maintenance personnel, for example.
An approach to repairing and/or inspecting equipments in the RPV has been to use handling poles to attach tools for repairing and servicing. The handling poles are light-weight and thus easy to maneuver within the RPV. Further, handling poles may be designed specifically to handle high-torque. The handling poles may be generally constructed in 10-foot sections and assembled to work in depths of over 80 feet.
However, conventional handling poles typically fail at connection joints at approximately 50 ft lbs of torque. Hence, a way to produce higher torque has been to use heavier poles in excess of 130 lbs to deliver the torque. But heavier poles require the use of a overhead crane to assemble the poles and lift the assembled pole to its location. In addition, it may be desirable to keep the weight of the poles as low as possible in order to allow extended use by an operator. Thus, heavier poles are less desirable than the smaller, lighter handling poles.
Another approach to generate the high-torque for handling poles has been to use a torque multiplier. However, a torque multiplier is generally larger in size than the smaller handling pole and requires additional readings and calibrations.


A computer-implemented method generates a set-point temperature for an evaporative cooler supplying cooled water to a chiller. Under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, an achievable temperature for water supplied to the chiller by the evaporative cooler is generated based at least in part on an outside wet bulb temperature. A set-point temperature for the water supplied to the chiller by the evaporative cooler is then generated. The set-point temperature is the greater of the achievable temperature and a minimum temperature for water that can be used by the chiller without causing damage to the chiller.

The combination of a chiller and an evaporative cooler is often used to remove heat from a building, equipment, etc. In general, a chiller provides cooled water for cooling a building, equipment, etc., and an evaporative cooler provides water to the chiller for cooling heated return water. A first recirculation loop carries chilled water from the chiller to the building, equipment, etc., where the chilled water is used to extract the heat. After extracting the heat, the water is then recirculated back to the chiller. Heat is then removed from the recirculated water by the evaporative cooler. To this end, a second recirculation loop delivers cool water from the evaporative cooler to the chiller. The chiller transfers the heat from the recirculated water to the cool water from the evaporative cooler. The second recirculation loop then returns the now heated, evaporative cooler loop water to the evaporative cooler. The evaporative cooler removes the heat from the evaporative cooler loop water, thereby generating a continual supply of the cool water that is supplied to the chiller.
In addition to transferring heat by increasing the temperature of outside air, the evaporative cooler also increases the relative humidity of the air thereby transferring heat via the heat of vaporization. Therefore, the amount of heat that can be transferred by the evaporative cooler is dependent on both the temperature and the humidity of the outside air. Accordingly, for some outside conditions where the evaporative cooler cannot run as efficiently due to humidity, when the evaporative cooler is controlled to supply cool water to the chiller at a set temperature, the evaporative cooler will be driven at maximum capacity and the water that the evaporative cooler supplies to the chiller will exceed the set temperature.

Optimum condenser water temperature for water cooled chiller


Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to make resistivity measurements in a borehole using tool having an array of electrodes operable to provide focused currents and measure corresponding voltages to determine resistivity. Tools can be configured with a main electrode having a number of spaced apart electrodes within the main electrode such that the spaced apart electrodes are arranged azimuthally with respect to an axis of the tool. Generation of current from the spaced apart electrodes and control of current from additional electrodes on each side of the main electrode can provide for focused measurements. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

In drilling wells for oil and gas exploration, understanding the structure and properties of the associated geological formation provides information to aid such exploration. Measurements in a borehole are typically performed to attain this understanding. However, the environment in which the drilling tools operate is at significant distances below the surface and measurements to manage operation of such equipment are made at these locations.
Logging is the process of making measurements via sensors located downhole, which can provide valuable information regarding the formation characteristics. For example, induction logging utilizes electromagnetic signals that can be used to make deep measurements, which are substantially unaffected by the borehole and the effects of the zone invaded by the drilling. Since induction tools may not offer the most reliable measurements in a high resistivity formation, such as a formation having a resistivity greater than hundreds ohm-m, an array laterolog tool may offer more accurate measurements in the high resistivity cases. An array laterolog tool is a current based tool in which a current is generated from the tool and resistivity is determined from measured voltages based on Ohm's law. The array laterolog tool typically includes a central current electrode with additional current electrodes above and below the central current electrode, where the additional current electrodes are used to achieve focusing. Typically, the additional current electrodes can be arranged to force flow perpendicular to the axis of the logging device in a lateral direction. A resistivity log can be made with the tool in an uncased borehole filled with an electrically conductive material. Further, the usefulness of such measurements may be related to the precision or quality of the information derived from such measurements.
Widely used electrical well logging tools have azimuthal symmetrical structures, which may not offer the most accurate formation resistivity in deviated wells, especially in horizontal wells since boundaries and dipping angle can affect responses. Such tools also may not offer the most accurate measurement of the anisotropy of formation resistivity. To more accurately measure formation resistivity in anisotropic formation and deviated wells, tri-axial induction well logging tools have been developed during the past decade. Since induction tools may not offer reliable measurement in high resistivity formation, such as formation resistivity being greater than a hundred ohm-m, array laterolog tool may offer more accurate measurements in the high resistivity cases.
A conventional array laterolog can include a central electrode emitting current, with multiple guard electrodes above and below it such that current is sent between different guard electrodes to achieve greater or less focusing. The larger depth of investigation is provided with greater focusing. Hardware focusing may be further improved by focusing using data manipulation, in which the signals from the measurements are superimposed mathematically to ensure proper focusing in a wide range of conditions.
Some conventional array laterolog tools are operable to generate an average resistivity in deviated wells and horizontal wells. Typically, measurements from these commercial tools are applied to a two-dimensional model used in an inversion scheme to generate formation properties. These conventional tools may be referred to as two-dimensional (2D) tools. The measurements from these tools typically do reflect the formation resistivity when the tool is located in thin layers or is nearby a boundary in thick layers of wells. As a result, it is difficult for log analysts to compute accurate formation resistivity, dip angle in deviated wells, and distance to boundary in horizontal wells using the 2D tools.


Generally discussed herein are systems, devices, and methods for data management in a reverse content data network (rCDN). A component of the rCDN may include a memory to hold content received from a first sensor device of a plurality of sensor devices of the rCDN and first attributes that describe properties of the content. The component may include processing circuitry to receive second content from a second sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices, the second content including a plurality of second attributes that describe properties of the second content, and forward, in response to a determination, based on the first and second attributes, that there is insufficient space to store the second content on the memory, the second content to a node of the rCDN that is fewer hops away from a backend cloud than the component.

A network architecture may include node communication based on Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. This type of architecture is sometimes referred to as a host-oriented network (HON). A HON includes respective conversations between respective source and destination devices, one wishing to access to a resource and one providing access to the resource. IP packets thus identify a source and destination for each packet. A lot of internet traffic is conversations between sources and destination devices using Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
This HON may not be a best match for some communications. A lot of internet communications regard access to content. An information centric network (ICN) architecture may provide more reliable and/or efficient communication between devices as compared to a HON. An ICN allows content to be routed by name at a network layer, as opposed to being routed by IP address as allowed by the HON.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed herein are multicomponent borehole radar tools and methods. At least some tool embodiments employ at least two antennas that receive reflections of electromagnetic pulses transmitted from the tool. A processor processes the receive signals to identify reflection signals and to determine a direction and/or distance to the sources of the reflection signals. Possible sources include formation boundaries, fluid boundaries, cased wells, and other features that cause contrasts in electromagnetic properties. In addition to reflection signals, the measured responses may include direct signal measurements that are useful for determining formation resistivity and permittivity. Each of the antennas may transmit and receive, and they may be collocated to reduce tool size and reduce processing complexity. Disclosed logging tool examples employ both electric and magnetic dipole antennas.

In the field of petroleum well drilling and logging, electromagnetic logging tools are frequently used to provide an indication of the electrical resistivity of rock formations surrounding an earth borehole. Such information regarding resistivity is useful in ascertaining the presence or absence of hydrocarbons. A typical electromagnetic logging tool includes a transmitter antenna and a pair of receiver antennas located at different distances from the transmitter antenna along the axis of the tool. The transmitter antenna is used to create electromagnetic fields in the surrounding formation. In turn, the electromagnetic fields in the formation induce an electrical voltage in each receiver antenna. Due to geometric spreading and absorption by the surrounding earth formation, the induced voltages in the two receiving antennas have different phases and amplitudes. Experiments have shown that the phase difference (Φ) and amplitude ratio (attenuation, A) of the induced voltages in the receiver antennas are indicative of the resistivity of the formation.
The frequency-domain based operation of these tools imposes certain limitations when such tools are adapted for use in geosteering, where long detection ranges and accurate images are desired. To a limited extent, these features can be provided with wide antenna spacings, multiple measurement frequencies, and complex inversion algorithms.
There have been proposed a number of tools with time-domain based operations, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,699, "Radar drill guidance system" by Fowler; U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,198, "Pulsed electromagnetic dipmeter method and apparatus employing coils with finite spacing" by Gianzero; U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,140, "Borehole radar antenna and algorithm, method and apparatus for subsurface surveys" by Van Oers; U.S. Pat. No. 6,778,127, "Drillstring radar" by Stolarczyk; U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,016, "Systems and methods useful for detecting presence and/or location of materials" by Larsen; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,046,009, "Method for measuring transient electromagnetic components to perform deep geosteering while drilling" by Itskovich. It does not appear that any of these proposed tools have proven commercially feasible. The authors believe that this outcome is at least partly the result of costly electronics which prove too fragile for the extreme conditions found in the drilling environment, and partly due to the use of antenna configurations that complicate the inversion and interpretation process.
By way of example, specific system and method embodiments are shown in the drawings and are described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the disclosure, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Multicomponent borehole radar systems and methods


A variable potential generating circuit includes a resistive potential divider circuit and first and second operational amplifiers. The resistive potential divider circuit includes a switching element and a current-scaling type digital/analog converter circuit connected in series between a power supply node and a ground node. The resistive potential divider circuit has a first node at which a divided potential obtained by resistive division of a variable potential to be output from a variable potential output node appears and a second node to which a virtual potential is applied. The first operational amplifier compares the divided potential of the first node with a reference potential to effect the feedback control for setting the variable output potential equal to the reference potential. The second operational amplifier compares the virtual potential of the second node with the reference potential to effect the feedback control for setting the virtual potential equal to the reference potential.

This invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a semiconductor memory, and more particularly to a variable potential generating circuit for selectively generating a plurality of different potentials by use of a current-scaling type digital/analog (D/A) converter circuit and can be applied to a multistage voltage generating circuit for data writing and data erasing in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, for example.
A variable potential generating circuit is used to generate a plurality of different potentials in a semiconductor integrated circuit device and supply the generated potential to an internal circuit. When a D/A converter circuit is used in part of the variable potential generating circuit, a resistive potential dividing type D/A converter as shown in FIG. 1 or a current-scaling type D/A converter as shown in FIG. 2 is conventionally used, for example.
The resistive potential dividing type D/A converter shown in FIG. 1 includes dividing resistors R.sub.0 to R.sub.16, switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.16, operational amplifier 11, P-channel MOS (PMOS) transistor 12 and decoder circuit 13. The inverting input terminal (-) of the operational amplifier 11 is applied with a reference potential V.sub.R. The source of the PMOS transistor 12 is connected to a Vcc node to which a power supply potential Vcc is applied, and the gate thereof is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier 11. The operational amplifier 11 and PMOS transistor 12 are used for feedback control. The dividing resistors R.sub.0 to R.sub.16 are serially connected between the drain of the PMOS transistor 12 and a Vss node to which a ground potential Vss is applied. The switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.16 are connected between the voltage dividing nodes of the dividing resistors R.sub.0 to R.sub.16 and the non-inverting input terminal (+) of the operational amplifier 11. The decoder circuit 13 is provided for each of the switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.16 to decode digital signals A.sub.0 to A.sub.3 and control the switching states of the switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.16 according to the decoded outputs. In FIG. 1, the digital signals A.sub.0, A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3 are "0101", the switching element S.sub.11 is selected and set in the ON state, and the switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.10 and S.sub.12 to S.sub.16 are non-selected and set in the OFF state. A variable output potential Vout corresponding to the switching states of the switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.16 is obtained from the variable potential output node connected to a connection node of the drain of the PMOS transistor 12 and the resistor R.sub.0.
In the resistive voltage dividing type D/A converter circuit, the relation of Vout=(R.sub.T /R)V.sub.R can be obtained if the number of steps of the output voltage Vout is relatively small when the total resistance of the dividing resistors R.sub.0 to R.sub.16 is set to R.sub.T and the resistance between the voltage dividing node selected by the switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.16 and the ground potential node Vss is R.
However, the number of voltage dividing resistors increases as the number of output steps increases, the number of decoder circuits 13 for controlling the switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.16 for selection of the voltage dividing node increases and the pattern occupying area is increased. For example, if 32 output voltages are required, it is necessary to prepare 33 voltage dividing resistors and 32 5-input decoder circuits for decoding 5-bit digital data. Generally, when the number of steps of the output voltage is 2.sup.N, it is necessary to form 2.sup.N resistive dividing nodes and 2.sup.N N-input decoder circuits for processing an N-bit digital input.
Therefore, if the value of N becomes larger, the numbers of decoder circuits and resistor elements rapidly increase and the pattern occupying area is increased, thereby making it difficult to design the circuit. In addition, since the degree of freedom of pattern change is low, it is difficult to cope with a variation in the resistance caused in the manufacturing process and it is difficult to change the design for adjustment of the resistance.
In order to solve the above problem, some decoding systems for directly decoding a digital input by use of a combination of resistors without using the decoder circuits are proposed. For example, a current-scaling type D/A converter circuit, voltage-scaling type D/A converter circuit, weighted resistor type D/A converter circuit are proposed. Among them, the current-scaling type D/A converter circuit is most frequently used.
FIG. 2 shows a known current-scaling type D/A converter circuit (refer to "Introduction to Illustrated D/A Converter by Toshikazu Yoneyama, Ohmsha, 1993", for example). Generally, the current-scaling type D/A converter circuit includes a resistor network having two types of resistors (resistances R and 2R) connected in a ladder form, n switching elements whose switching states are controlled by n-bit digital data and an operational amplifier. That is, nine resistors R each having a resistance R are serially connected, one end of the series-connected resistors R is applied with a reference potential V.sub.R, and the other end thereof is connected to a Vss node to which a ground potential Vss (0V) is applied. One-side ends of the resistors R are respectively connected to one-side ends of 8 resistors 2R each having a resistance 2R to form an R-2R type ladder resistor circuit network. The other ends of the 8 resistors having the resistance 2R are connected to switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.8, one switching terminal of each of the switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.8 is connected to the inverting input terminal (-) of the operational amplifier 11 and the other switching terminal thereof is connected to the Vss node. A feedback resistor Rf with a resistance R is connected between the inverting input terminal (-) of the operational amplifier 11 and a variable potential output node and the non-inverting input terminal (+) thereof is connected to the Vss node. The operational amplifier 11 functions to hold the voltage of the inverting input terminal (-) (common connection node B) at 0V.
In the ladder resistor circuit network, attention is paid to a connection node a.sub.8 in the resistor string (series-connected resistors R between the reference potential node V.sub.R and the Vss node). The resultant resistance when viewing the ground potential Vss side from the connection node a.sub.8 becomes R+R=2R, and the resistance when viewing the resistor 2R side (switching element side) from the connection node a.sub.8 and the resultant resistance when viewing the ground potential Vss side become 2R and are equal to each other.
Therefore, if a current flowing from the reference potential V.sub.R side into the connection node a.sub.8 is set to I.sub.7, a current I.sub.8 ' flowing from the connection node a.sub.8 towards the resistors 2R and a current I.sub.8 flowing into the ground potential Vss side are equal to each other and the following equation is obtained. EQU I.sub.8 '=I.sub.8 =I.sub.7 /2
Next, attention is paid to a connection node a.sub.7 which is directly adjacent to the connection node a.sub.8 of the resistor string on the reference potential V.sub.R side and the resultant resistance when viewing the ground potential Vss side from the connection node a.sub.7 becomes 2R as shown by the following equation. ##EQU1##
Therefore, since the resultant resistance when viewing the ground potential Vss side from the connection node a.sub.7 and the resistance when viewing the resistor 2R become 2R and are equal to each other, a current I.sub.6 flowing from the reference potential V.sub.R side is equally divided into a current I.sub.7 ' flowing towards the resistor 2R side and a current I.sub.7 flowing towards the ground potential Vss side and the following equation is obtained. EQU I.sub.7 '=I.sub.7 =I.sub.6 /2
As described above, if attention is sequentially paid to the connection nodes of the resistor string in an order towards the reference potential V.sub.R side, the resultant resistance when viewing the ground potential Vss side from each connection node can be expressed by the continued fraction indicated by the following equation and becomes equal to the resistance when viewing the resistor 2R. ##EQU2##
Therefore, in each connection node, a current flowing from the reference potential V.sub.R side is equally divided into a current flowing towards the resistor 2R side and a current flowing into the ground potential Vss side.
That is, if a current flowing from the reference potential V.sub.R into the resistance circuit network is set to I.sub.0, currents flowing from the respective connection nodes sequentially set in an order from the reference potential V.sub.R side to the ground potential Vss side in the resistor string into corresponding switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.8 are sequentially weighted with I.sub.0 /2, I.sub.0 /4, I.sub.0 /8, . . . , I.sub.0 /2.sup.N.
Then, currents flowing into the common connection node B of the switching elements S.sub.1 to S.sub.8 are added in the operational amplifier 11 and converted into a voltage and thus a D/A conversion output (variable output potential) Vout can be obtained.
Further, the current I.sub.0 flowing from the reference potential V.sub.R into the resistance circuit network is expressed by the following equation . EQU I.sub.0 =-V.sub.R /R
Therefore, the D/A converter output voltage Vout can be obtained as follows and expressed by the product of the reference potential V.sub.R and the digital input. ##EQU3##
As described above, in the current-scaling type D/A converter circuit shown in FIG. 2, the switching element group connected to the resistance circuit network is directly controlled by the digital input and since a large number of digital decoder circuits as is required in the circuit shown in FIG. 1 are not necessary, the pattern occupying area can be reduced. Further, since the number of types of the unit resistances used in the resistance circuit network is small (two types having resistances of R and 2R), the circuit design can be easily made. Particularly, this is an effective system when the number n of bits of the digital input becomes larger.
However, if the current-scaling type D/A converter circuit of FIG. 2 is directly used in the power supply potential generating circuit, a problem occurs by the following two reasons.
(1) Since an output voltage Vout obtained after D/A conversion is a negative potential and a negative power supply potential is necessary, it is impossible to generate a positive variable potential which is normally used.
(2) The number of unit resistors R and 2R of the resistor circuit network increases (in the above example, the digital input is 8 bits, and nine resistors with the resistance R and eight resistors with the resistance 2R are used) as the number n of bits of the digital input increases, and it becomes necessary to use resistors with a high resistance in order to reduce the power consumption in the case of a circuit operated in the standby mode. As a result, since the pattern occupying area of the resistors R and 2R becomes extremely larger in comparison with the resistive voltage dividing system which is simple in construction, the pattern occupying area of the whole D/A converter circuit cannot be reduced even if the decoder circuits can be made unnecessary.

Variable potential generating circuit using current-scaling adding type D/A converter circuit


A hub-bearing assembly for the wheel of a motor vehicle includes a rotatable hub (18) having a radial flange (17) with bores (16) formed therethrough. Wheel fastening studs (10) each have a stem (12) inserted non-forcedly through a respective bore (16). The studs (10) are fixed to the flange (17) by an adhesive or cementing material.

For a better understanding of problems and technical solutions currently known in connection with the locking of a stud on a hub, a conventional locking arrangement is briefly described, reference being made to FIG. 1 in the appended drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, in order to fix the rim and the brake rotor to a radial flange 17 of the hub 18 of a wheel, most of the known solutions provide that the wheel (not shown), a flange of the brake rotor (not shown) and the radial flange 17 of the hub are axially flanked so as to align bores formed in these members. Usually, four or five bolts with studs 10 are employed, inserting the studs from the axially inner side (or inboard side) 22 of the hub flange. Each stud has a head 11 and a stem 12 with a threaded end portion 13 and a length 14 having an axial knurling near the head. The studs 10 are forcefully driven with radial interference into circular axial bores 16 formed in the flange 17 of the hub. After this forced insertion, first the brake member and then the wheel (not shown) are inserted from the outside on the end portions of the stud stems. Finally, outer nuts (not shown) are screwed and tightened with a predetermined torque. The knurlings 14 serve to rotationally lock the studs relative to the hub flange both when the aforesaid tightening torque is applied and when the nut is unscrewed for removing the wheel and/or the brake rotor.
Such locking effect can nevertheless fail due to the same forced driving step itself. In order that the knurling may engrave the material of the flange, the studs are previously hardened and tempered. However, the crests of a knurling are particularly difficult to harden in that, being sharp parts, they tend to decarburize. Therefore, in being forcefully driven as said, the crests of the knurling are abraded and the anti-rotation coupling loses its efficiency. This problem, besides being uncontrollable, appears when in attempting to tighten the nuts, the studs rotate, rendering this operation difficult. In addition, for the anti-rotation coupling to be efficient, the steel of which the hub is made must be considerably less hard than the material of which the studs are made.
A further problem concerning the driving lies in that, owing to the considerable radial interference required to prevent the studs from rotating relative to the hub, lumps of material 20 removed from the bores 16 are inevitably formed on the axially outer face 19 of the hub flange. Volcano-shaped formations of this kind are undesired as they constitute protrusions on the outer face 19. Instead, this face should ideally provide a completely flat surface against which the brake member abuts. Furthermore, the high axial driving forces cause further deformation in form of radial undulations on the axially outer face of the hub flange.
Owing to all of these factors, the outer face 19 does no longer provide a flat resting surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation. As a result, anomalous vibration (the so-called "juddering") occurs in operation.
As motor vehicle manufactures require to reduce to a minimum the so-called axial runout of the surface of the hub that serves as an axial rest for the brake rotor, after driving the studs it is necessary to subject the resting surface 19 to a finishing step on the lathe so as to eliminate or at least reduce the undesired effects of the forced driving. This finishing step is expensive, involves a long working time and is also made difficult owing to the presence of the studs driven through the hub flange. In order to obviate at least some of these problems, it has been proposed to form a recessed annulus embracing the zones where the bores 16 open onto the resting surface 19, so as to reduce or eliminate the adverse effect of the lumps 20. However, the undulations remain, and therefore a finishing step on the lathe is practically essential if axial runout is to be reduced to values being less than 30 μm.

Locking of studs for mounting a wheel to a hub using cementing material


Various lighting devices are provided which may be used to advantageously illuminate areas of interest in a secure, convenient manner. In one example, a lighting device includes a headlamp. The headlamp includes a base, a body, and a light source. The base includes two support members and an aperture in each of the support members. The body is secured to the base through the apertures and is adapted to rotate relative to the base. The light source is in the body and positioned substantially between the two support members. The light source is adapted to rotate with the body relative to the base to adjust an angle of light emitted by the light source. As another example, related methods are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to lighting devices and more particularly to headlamp lighting devices.
2. Related Art
Headlamps and other types of lighting devices are often employed by hikers, climbers, search/rescue teams, and other users to conveniently illuminate areas of interest. Because headlamps typically do not require users to continually grasp the devices, users' hands remain free to perform other tasks. Unfortunately, many existing headlamps suffer from limitations which compromise their usefulness and reliability.
For example, certain conventional headlamps provide a light source that extends outward in a cantilevered fashion from a base member positioned on or near a user's forehead. In such implementations, the light source is supported by a single mounting point on the base member which is prone to failure. In this regard, gravity-induced torque on the cantilevered light source (e.g., in a downward direction) can stress the mounting point. Over time, this stress can cause the light source to sag under its own weight. As a result, the light source may not remain pointed in a direction desired by a user, or the mounting point may fail and cause the light source to become detached from the mounting point.
As another example, certain conventional headlamps are implemented with a single power source, such as one or more batteries of a particular battery type which must be routinely replenished by the user. Unfortunately, particular types of replacement batteries may not be readily available, especially in remote locations where headlamps are often used. In these situations, if particular replacement batteries of the desired type are not available, then it may be impossible for users to continue operating such headlamps after existing batteries expire. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved lighting device that overcomes one or more of the deficiencies discussed above.


Disclosed and claimed herein is a composition of matter having a general structure chosen from (I), (II), (III) or (IV);

As is well known, the manufacturing process of various kinds of electronic or semiconductor devices such as ICs, LSIs and the like involves fine patterning of a resist layer on the surface of a substrate material such as a semiconductor silicon wafer. This fine patterning process has traditionally been conducted by the photolithographic method in which the substrate surface is uniformly coated with a positive or negative tone photosensitive composition to form a thin layer and selectively irradiating with actinic rays (such as ultraviolet (UV), deep UV, vacuum UV, extreme UV, x-rays, electron beams and ion beams) via a transmission or reflecting mask followed by a development treatment to selectively dissolve away the coated photosensitive layer in the areas exposed or unexposed, respectively, to the actinic rays leaving a patterned resist layer on the substrate surface. The patterned resist layer, thus obtained, may be utilized as a mask in the subsequent treatment on the substrate surface such as etching. The fabrication of structure with dimensions of the order of nanometers is an area of considerable interest since it enables the realization of electronic and optical devices which exploit novel phenomena such as quantum confinement effects and also allows greater component packing density. As a result, the resist pattern is required to have an ever increasing fineness which can be accomplished by using actinic rays having a shorter wavelength than the conventional ultraviolet light. Accordingly, it is now the case that, in place of the conventional ultraviolet light, electron beams (e-beams), excimer laser beams, EUV, BEUV and X-rays are used as the short wavelength actinic rays. Needless to say the minimum size obtainable is, in part, determined by the performance of the resist material and, in part, the wavelength of the actinic rays. Various materials have been proposed as suitable resist materials. For example, in the case of negative tone resists based on polymer crosslinking, there is an inherent resolution limit of about 10 nm, which is the approximate radius of a single polymer molecule.
It is also known to apply a technique called "chemical amplification" to resist materials. A chemically amplified resist material is generally a multi-component formulation in which there is a matrix material, frequently a main polymeric component, such as a polyhydroxystyrene (PHOST) resin protected by acid labile groups and a photo acid generator (PAG), as well as one or more additional components which impart desired properties to the resist. The matrix material contributes toward properties such as etching resistance and mechanical stability. By definition, the chemical amplification occurs through a catalytic process involving the PAG, which results in a single irradiation event causing the transformation of multiple resist molecules. The acid produced by the PAG reacts catalytically with the polymer to cause it to lose a functional group or, alternatively, cause a crosslinking event. The speed of the reaction can be driven, for example, by heating the resist film. In this way the sensitivity of the material to actinic radiation is greatly increased, as small numbers of irradiation events give rise to a large number of solubility changing events. As noted above, chemically amplified resists may be either positive or negative working.
Certain chemically amplified resists do not use large polymers. In cases where nanometer-scale patterning is desired, low molecular weight polymers or even small molecules may be used as the resist matrix material. These are sometimes referred to as "molecular glass" resists (MGRs), taken in this instance to include molecules such as oligomers, polyaromatic hydrocarbon derivatives, discotic liquids crystals, fullerenes, macrocycles, small amorphous, and other low molecular weight resists. Although MGRs may offer many potential advantages over polymeric chemically amplified resists, there are still some things about this class of materials that could potentially pose challenges. Removal and subsequent volatilization of protecting groups in positive tone molecular resists may cause a loss of up to approximately 50% of the mass of the resist, potentially leading to a loss of pattern quality. The small sizes of molecular resist compounds, and often correspondingly low glass transition temperatures, can also restore material integrity but may compromise pattern quality.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved molecular glass resists. It is to the provision and characterization of such molecular glass resists that the various embodiments of the present written description are directed.

Composition of matter and molecular resist made therefrom

Abstract: wherein X and Y are the same or different, wherein at least one of X and Y comprises an acid labile group, wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated group having from 1-4 carbon atoms, R2 is chosen from hydrogen or a saturated or unsaturated group having from 1-4 carbon atoms, R3 is a saturated or unsaturated group having from 1-4 carbon atoms, and R4 is a saturated or unsaturated group having from 1-4 carbon atoms.


Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor binding has been characterized using a unique binding assay utilizing iodinated GHRH probes. Photoaffinity GHRH probes have been constructed which allow for photolabeling and characterization of the receptor. In addition, high affinity biotinylated GHRH analogs have been constructed. Solubilization of GHRH-R/GHRH complexes and extraction of specifically bound GHRH using a mild detergent solution, followed by affinity chromotography, leads to a substantially purified GHRH-R isolate. Electrophoretic treatment of the GHRH-R isolate produces GHRH-R of sufficient purity to conduct sequencing of the receptor.

Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) is secreted by the hypothalamus, and stimulates the release of growth hormone (GH) from the anterior pituitary. GHRH is a member of a family of homologous peptides that includes glucagon, secretin, VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide), PHI (peptide histidine isoleucine), PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide), GIP (gastric inhibitory peptide), and helodermin. GHRH has been the subject of considerable study, but little is known about the GHRH receptor, GHRH-R, to which GHRH binds in the anterior pituitary to induce the release of GH.
Large scale production of the cloned GHRH receptor would enable the screening of large numbers of GHRH analogs, and would facilitate the development of improved agonists and antagonists in the clinical therapy of growth disorders. More specifically, the screening of large numbers of analogs and xenobiotics for GHRH activity could lead to the development of improved agonists for use in clinical therapy of growth hormone deficient children, and in clinical therapy of adults to improve nutrition and to alter body composition (muscle vs. fat). Such screening, possibly assisted by computer modeling based on receptor structure, could also lead to orally active non-peptide GHRH agonists that would be especially useful in medical and veterinary practice, for example, to develop higher yield milk production and higher yield, leaner livestock.
Commerical exploitation of drugs which interact with the GHRH-R will require a source of a purified form of GHRH-R and suitable binding assays.
The isolation and cloning of the GHRH receptor and its in vitro expression will also lead to: (1) In situ hybridization studies mapping the distribution of GHRH receptors throughout the body and to examination of their potential physiological role outside the pituitary; this might reveal potential roles for GHRH in the brain, gonad, pancreas, placenta, and gut, where the peptide is thought to be concentrated. (2) Studies of receptor structure involving mutated or chimeric receptors to explore structure/function relations and second messenger interactions in the quest for specifically tailored agonist/antagonist molecules. (3) An understanding of the GHRH-R's evolutionary relation to other G-protein-linked receptors, especially those in the glucagon/secretin/VIP family. (4) Cloning of other members of this sub-family that are expected to have sequence similarity.
There are several alternate routes towards obtaining functional receptor clones, such as: A. Purification of the receptor protein to obtain a partial protein sequence; this partial protein sequence could then be used to screen appropriate DNA for the corresponding nucleotide sequence. B. screening DNA for sequences similar to known receptors thought to be related to the GHRH receptor. C. Screening for DNA that, when expressed as protein, yields GHRH receptor, which would be detected by GHRH binding, biological activity, or by a GHRH receptor antibody. Note that any conceivable cloning method requires binding assays as well as functional assays with GHRH and related peptides in order to identify the GHRH receptor and to characterize expressed clones.
There is thus a need for GHRH binding assays and compositions for use therein which will help characterize and isolate the GHRH receptor. In particular, there is a need for methods which can characterize the pituitary GHRH receptor in terms of size, glycosylation, solubility and stability of the receptor (GHRH-R)--ligand (GHRH or GHRH analog) complex, so that methods can be developed to purify the receptor protein and identify receptor clones. There is also a need for purified or partially purified GHRH-R and methods for obtaining same. By partially purified GHRH-R, it is meant that a GHRH-R isolate is formed having GHRH-R isolated from most of the organic matrix of the anterior pituitary cells. The GHRH-R isolate has a purity sufficient to allow for determining the GHRH-R sequence, with it being understood that this may require further purification to remove any remaining compounds which would interfere with sequencing, such as G-proteins. Nevertheless, the GHRH-R isolate of the present invention, produced using the extraction and isolation method of the present invention contains GHRH-R, preferably at a concentration greater than that at which GHRH-R is naturally present in the anterior pituitary, and the GHRH-R isolate can be further purified, if necessary, using SDS-PAGE to remove any compounds which would interfere with sequencing of the GHRH-R. Thus, the present invention also includes the production of GHRH-R of sufficient purity to conduct sequencing, or for use in bioassays of GHRH-R binding activity.
Historically the GHRH-R has been difficult to work with since GHRH has very high non-specific binding (making it difficult to determine whether or not GHRH or GHRH analogs are binding specifically to GHRH-R), and GHRH-R has extremely low abundance. The nonspecific binding of GHRH analogs to glass and plasticware has been a major problem in previous work limiting the accuracy and reproducibility of receptor binding studies. Because of the "sticky" nature of the negatively charged GHRH peptide, the use of a simple filtration type binding assay has been impossible. Nonspecific counts are so high as to preclude detection of specific binding. In addition, the commonly used blocking agent polyethylenimine, which is used for blocking nonspecific binding of proteins on glass fiber filters is positively charged, and will bind GHRH analogs (negatively charged) nonspecifically. Further, a soluble receptor preparation with high binding affinity, which would vastly enhance efforts to purify the GHRH-R, has not been available.
Prior studies have characterized the GHRH receptor with respect to it's affinity for probes, such as GHRH and related peptides, and linkage to G-protein. Attempts have also been made to use non-specific chemical cross-linkers to label the GHRH receptor. See, for example, Zysk, et al., "Cross-Linking of a Growth Hormone Releasing Factor-Binding Protein in Anterior Pituitary Cells," J. Biol. Chem., 261:1678 (1986), and Velicelebi, et al., "Covalent Cross-Linking of Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor to Pituitary Receptors," Endocrinology, 118:1278 (1986). The results of these two studies suggest, respectively, the presence of a 26 KDa and a 70 KDa GHRH-receptor in the anterior pituitary. The discrepancy between the molecular weight found in these two studies emphasizes the difficulties involved in isolating and characterizing the GHRH-R, and the need for improved methods and compositions useful for isolating and characterizing the GHRH-R.
GHRH binding to the rat anterior pituitary is believed to be influenced by GTP, which causes the GHRH-receptor to reduce its affinity for GHRH (GTP is said to uncouple the G protein GHRH-receptor complex). The high affinity state of GHRH-R bound to GHRH is believed to be stabilized by interactions with a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein to form a hormone-receptor-G-protein ternary complex. GTP is hypothesized to destabilize the G-protein-receptor interactions, resulting in dissociation of the GHRH/GHRH-R-G-protein complex and reversion of the independent receptor to a low affinity state, while the liberated G-protein goes on to activate its respective second messenger system. See Struthers, et al., "Nucleotide Regulation of Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor Binding to Rat Pituitary Receptors," Endocrinology, 124:24-29 (1989).
It has been discovered that, in ovine and bovine anterior pituitary tissues, GHRH and its analogs are displaced by 500 to 1,000 fold lower concentrations of GHRHa than VIP or PACAP. This finding is complementary to binding properties noted in the human pancreas (a source of secretin and VIP receptors) where the ability to stimulate adenylate cyclase in the presence of GTP shows an order of potency of secretin>helodermin>PHI.gtoreq.VIP>GHRH(1-27)NH.sub.2. Similarly, using .sup.125 I-secretin, Kds obtained were secretin 0.8 nM, helodermin 200 nM, PHI 250 nM. VIP and GHRH(1-29)-NH.sub.2 induce only 20% inhibition at 10 .mu.M.
At supraphysiologic doses, GHRH is known to act at VIP receptors, and conversely VIP is a weak GHRH agonist.
Other articles which provide background information on isolation and characterization of hormone receptors include: Christophe, et al., "The VIP/PHI/secretin-helodermin/helospectin/GRH Family: Structure-Function Relationship Of The Natural Peptides, Their Precursors And Synthetic Analogs As Tested in vitro On Receptors And Adenylate Cyclase In A Panel Of Tissue Membranes," in Peptide Hormones As Prohormones: Processing, Biological Activity, Pharmacology, Ed. Jean Martinez, Pub. Ellis Horwood Lim. 1989, Chichester, England. Baburthe, et al., "Molecular Analysis of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Receptors: A Comparison With Receptors for VIP Related Peptides," Ann NY Acad. Sci., 527:296-313 (1988). Frohm, et al., "Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone," Endocr Rev., 7:223-253 (1986). Seifert, et al., "Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor Binding Sites In Rat Anterior Pituitary Membrane Homogenates: Modulation By Glucocorticoids," Endocrinolgy, 117:424-426 (1985). Bilezikjian, et al., "Desensitization To Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor (GRF) Is Associated With Down-Reguolation of GRF-Binding Sites," Endocrinology, 118:2045-2052 (1986). Ishihara, et al., "Functional Expression and Tissue Distribution of a Novel Receptor for Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide," Neuron, 8:811-819 (1992). Ishihara, et al., "Molecular Cloning and Expression of a cDNA Encoding the Secretin Receptor," EMBO J, 10:1635-1641 (1991). Lin, et al., "Expression Cloning of an Adenylate Cyclase-Coupled Calcitonin Receptor," Science, 254:1022-1024 (1991). Juppner, et al., "A G Protein-Linked Receptor For Parathyroid Hormone and Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide," Science, 254:1024-1026 (1991). Frohman, et al., "Tissue Distribution and Molecular Heterogeneity of Human Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor in the Transgenic mouse," Endocrinology, 127:2149-2156 (1990). Paul et al., "Characterization of Receptors for Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Solubilized From the Lung," J. Biol. Chem., 262:158-162 (1987). Guijarro et al., "Solubilization of Active and Stable Receptors for Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide from Rat Liver," Regulatory Peptides, 25:37-50 (1989). Cronin et al., "Biological Activity of a Growth Hormone Releasing Factor Secreted By a Human Tumor," Am. J. Physiol., 244 (Endocrinol Metab) E346-E353 (1983). Leong et al., "Enumeration of Lactotropes and Somatotropes in Cultured Male and Female Pituitary Cells: Evidence in Favor of a Mammosomatotrope Subpopulation," Endocrinology, 116:1371-1378 (1985). Munson, et al., "Ligand: a Versatile Computerized Approach For Characterization of Ligand-Binding Systems," Anal. Biochem., 107:220-239 (1980). Wessel, et al., "A Method for the Quantitative Recovery of Protein in Dilute Solution in the Presence of Detergents and Lipids," Anal. Biochem., 138:141-143 (1984). Bagnato et al., "Gonadotropin-Induced Expression of Receptors for Growth Hormone Releasing Factor in Cultured Granulosa Cells*," Endocrinology, 128, 2889-2894 (1991) (compositions studied by Bagnato et al show GHRH binding properties which are different from binding properties of pituitary tissues). All articles and other documents mentioned herein are incorporated by reference as if reproduced in full below.
While the foregoing studies have been helpful in developing a preliminary understanding of the behavior of the GHRH-R, there remains a need for a sensitive and reproducible assay for the GHRH-R, which will enable the further characterization of the GHRH-R leading to the purification and cloning of the GHRH-R. Such an assay must overcome the problems of nonspecific binding of GHRH and GHRH analogs, and the low abundundance of the GHRH-receptor. Iodination and purification of GHRH analogs with resultant high specific activity allows for the improvement of specific binding to crude anterior pituitary membranes.
Therefore it is a primary object of the present invention to develop a sensitive and reproducible assay for GHRH binding.
It is a further object of the present invention to develop reagents to specifically and unambiguously label the GHRH-receptor.
It is yet another object of the present invention to develop a GHRH-receptor purification scheme and to obtain a GHRH-R isolate of sufficient purity, or capable of being readily purified to a purity, which will allow for at least partial sequencing of GHRH-R.
Thus, it is a further object of the present invention to produce purified GHRH-R.

Isolation and characterization of the growth hormone releasing hormone receptor

The University of Virginia Patent Foundation


A dielectric film capacitor includes a lower electrode having an opening and formed of a material including platinum, a dielectric film provided over the lower electrode and including an oxide having an ABOx crystal structure, and an upper electrode provided over the dielectric film. The planar area of the lower electrode is 50% or more of the area of a formation region of the dielectric film. A dielectric film capacitor includes a lower electrode formed of a material including platinum and having a thickness of 10 to 100 nm, a dielectric film provided over the lower electrode and including an oxide having an ABOx crystal structure, and an upper electrode provided over the dielectric film.

The present invention relates to a dielectric film capacitor and a method of manufacturing the same.
An increase in speed and capacity and a reduction in size will be more and more demanded for devices (e.g. mobile communication terminals represented by portable telephones) in the information technology field. Accordingly, high-performance devices have been widely and extensively researched and developed in order to satisfy such demands. A dielectric material having an ABOx (perovskite) crystal structure represented by barium titanate, barium strontium titanate, or lead zirconate titanate has been widely used in the electronic device field as the material for a capacitor, memory, and the like.
In order to further reduce the size and increase the performance of such electronic devices, it is indispensable to reduce the thickness of each element. This requires establishment of manufacturing technology for a dielectric film capacitor exhibiting high performance and high quality.
A dielectric film capacitor generally has a structure in which a substrate, insulating layer, lower electrode, dielectric film, and upper electrode are stacked in that order. The dielectric film may be formed by sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), a sol-gel method, metalorganic decomposition (MOD), or the like. In particular, a liquid phase method has attracted attention which reduces production cost, facilitates composition control, easily provides a desired shape, and does not require an expensive manufacturing device.
When forming the dielectric film using a vapor phase method, the dielectric characteristics of the dielectric film must be generally improved by subjecting the resulting dielectric film to heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere. When forming the dielectric film using a liquid phase method, a coating obtained by applying a sol-gel solution in which an organic compound as the raw material for the dielectric film is dissolved in an organic solvent or a solution in which dielectric material particles are dispersed must be generally subjected to heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere. Therefore, a noble metal which is rarely oxidized is used as the material for the lower electrode. Specifically, a material containing platinum (Pt) is widely used as the material for the lower electrode.
When forming a dielectric film capacitor on a silicon wafer, a lower electrode (e.g. Pt film) is formed on a silicon-based insulating layer (e.g. silicon oxide layer) formed on the silicon wafer, for example. However, since the adhesion between the silicon-based insulating layer and the lower electrode (Pt film) is poor, the lower electrode is easily separated from the silicon-based insulating layer. The separation of the lower electrode makes it difficult to manufacture a dielectric film capacitor using a method such as patterning or dicing/cutting. In order to solve this problem, a method has been proposed in which an adhesive layer is formed between the silicon-based insulating layer and the lower electrode in an attempt to improve the adhesion between the silicon-based insulating layer and the lower electrode.
For example, JP-A-8-78636 attempts to improve the adhesion between a silicon oxide layer and a noble metal electrode film by forming a titanium (Ti) film (adhesive layer) between the silicon oxide layer and the noble metal electrode film. On the other hand, the substrate may be warped due to oxidation of the Ti film, or an oxide resulting from oxidation of the Ti film may be diffused at the interface between the noble metal electrode film and the dielectric film.
JP-A-2004-349394 attempts to improve the adhesion between a silicon oxide layer and a platinum electrode film by forming a gold (Au) film (adhesive layer) between the silicon oxide layer and the platinum electrode film, for example. However, it is disadvantageous to form a multilayer noble metal thin film from the viewpoint of device manufacturing cost. Moreover, this method does not necessarily provide improved adhesion due to insufficient adhesion between the Au film and the silicon oxide layer.
JP-A-2005-85812 and JP-A-2005-101531 attempt to improve the adhesion between a silicon oxide layer and a platinum electrode film by forming an adhesive layer using the same material as the dielectric film between the silicon oxide layer and the platinum electrode film to reduce the stress applied to the film, for example. According to this method, since the adhesive layer and the dielectric layer are formed of the same material, the characteristics of the dielectric film capacitor do not deteriorate even if the adhesive layer is diffused at the interface between the lower electrode and the dielectric film. However, since it is necessary to select a dielectric material which can function as the adhesive layer, the material composition which may be used for the dielectric film is limited, whereby the characteristics of the dielectric film capacitor may be impaired.

Dielectric film capacitor and method of manufacturing the same


The rotation speed of an electric motor (9) is controlled by a controller (6) which receives its setpoint from a characteristic function (23). The characteristic function (23) calculates a setpoint for the controller (6) on the basis of an originally analog variable A (2) that is converted to digital by an A/D converter AD (10), with the aid of support values of a xe2x80x9cMEM+DATAxe2x80x9d characteristic that are stored in a memory (4); those values not predefined by the support values are calculated by interpolation.

The invention concerns an electric motor and in particular an electric motor having a characteristic function.
Examples of electronically commutated motors are described, for example, in the following documents of the Applicant:
DE 44 41 372 A1 [(internal: D183)]=U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,045 JESKE
EP 0 658 973 B1 [(internal: EP184)]=U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,235 JESKE
DE 296 06 939.6-U [(internal: D190i)]=EP 0 739 084 A2
DE 195 15 944 A1 [(internal: D192)]
EP 0 741 449 A1 [(internal: EP193)]=U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,117
EP 0 744 807 B1 [(internal: EP194)]=U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,523
DE 195 18 991 A1 [(internal: D195)] DIETERLE et al. (publ. Jan. 23, 1997)
DE 196 47 983 A1 [(internal: D199i)]=U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,887
EP 0 780 962 A2 [(internal: EP200)]
It would not be possible to reproduce the extensive content of these documents in the present application even in summarized form, and reference is therefore made to their complete contents.
In DE 44 41 372 A1 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,045, the rotation speed behavior of an electric motor is represented by a characteristic n=f(T), a setpoint speed n being associated with each temperature T. In the case of a fan, for example, the rotation speed can thus be increased as the temperature rises. The rotation speed/temperature behavior is determined, in this context, by analog components. The accuracy achievable here is not great, however, due to manufacturing tolerances in the components, and it is possible only with great effort to switch over to a different behavior.
It is therefore an object of the invention to make available a new electric motor and a method for operating such an electric motor.
According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by an electric motor having a rotation speed controlled by a changeable physical variable, in particular a temperature; having a characteristic field, stored in the form of individual digital values, for the allocation of values of said physical variable to corresponding rotation speed values of the electric motor; and having a microcontroller or microprocessor which has access to the stored individual digital values. An electric motor of this kind is very versatile, since because of the stored characteristic field its rotation speed behavior as a function of the changeable physical variable can easily be modified. It has proven particularly advantageous in this context to store the individual digital values at least partially in vector form, since this makes them substantially easier to process.
The invention additionally concerns a method for controlling a physical variable, in particular a rotation speed, having the following steps:
a) in order to ascertain the system deviation, a difference is determined between a desired value for the physical variable (in digital form), and an actual value for the physical variable (also in digital form);
b) the sign and absolute value of that difference are ascertained;
c) an analog memory element is charged or discharged, depending on the sign;
d) the duration of the charging or discharging operation is in each case substantially proportional to the magnitude of the ascertained absolute value of the difference;
e) a value dependent on the charge of the analog memory element is used to influence the pulse duty factor of an actuating member that in turn influences, with its output signal, the physical variable that is to be controlled.
The result is to create a highly advantageous combination of digital accuracy in ascertaining the system deviation, and subsequent processing of that system deviation in order to influence the physical variable.
A further way of achieving the stated object is provided by a method for temperature-dependent control of the rotation speed of an electric motor having the following steps:
a) value clusters of characteristic definition points are stored in a memory, said value clusters containing at least one value characterizing a specific temperature, and one rotation speed datum associated with that temperature;
b) a present value characterizing the temperature that controls the motor rotation speed is sensed at time intervals;
c) that sensed value is compared to the stored values that characterize the temperature and are contained in the stored value clusters;
d) a stored value adjacent to the present value is ascertained;
e) by way of an interpolation proceeding from that adjacent value, a rotation speed datum for the sensed present value is ascertained;
f) a value derived from that interpolated rotation speed datum is conveyed to the electric motor.
It is thereby possible, by storing a small number of value clusters, to define the rotation speed behavior of a motor as a function of temperature.
The invention furthermore concerns a method for A/D conversion in an arrangement having a voltage divider containing a temperature-dependent resistor, one tapping point of that voltage divider defining the potential at the one input of a comparator, and the potential at the other input of the comparator being determined by a capacitor that can be charged via a constantcurrent source, having the following steps:
a) first the capacitor is discharged;
b) then a measurement is made of the time required for the capacitor, as it is charged by the constant-current source, to reach the potential of the other input;
c) that time is used as an indication of the temperature of the temperature-dependent resistor.
A method of this kind can easily be implemented using a microcontroller which controls or regulates functions of an electric motor. That microcontroller can effect discharge of the capacitor in step a), and can provide time measurement as defined in step c), the overall result being a very simple method.
Another way of achieving the stated object is provided by an electric motor having discrete values, stored in a memory, which (in the form of support values) define a temperature/rotation speed characteristic, the discrete values being modifiable via a data connection to an input device arranged outside the electric motor. This makes possible simple adaptation of such a motor to different customer requirements.
A further way of achieving the stated object concerns a method for operating an electronically commutated motor having associated with it a microprocessor or microcontroller and a program associated therewith, that program serving to control a plurality of motor functions of different priorities, having the following steps:
a) a plurality of requestable routines necessary for operation of the motor are provided;
b) when a requestable routine is needed, a corresponding request signal for it is set;
c) a higher-level program function is used to check which requested routine has the highest priority, and that highest-priority routine is executed first;
d) following execution of that highest-priority routine, the request signal associated with that routine is reset.
A method of this kind makes very good use of the available computing capacity of a microprocessor or microcontroller, and makes it possible to repeat specific time-critical interrogations or the like at intervals which do not exceed a predefined duration. These can be, for example, interrogations of a data bus by means of which data or instructions can be conveyed to the motor. This method is preferably continuously repeated, in the manner of a loop, while the motor is operating, the loop sequences being different depending on the type of routine requested. It is particularly advantageous in this context if a requestable routine to be executed in the program can in turn generate, during its execution, a request signal for another requestable routine to be executed. This allows close concatenation of routines, between each of which time-critical program steps can be executed.
A further way of achieving the stated object concerns a motor having a microprocessor or microcontroller and a bus, in which the microprocessor or microcontroller controls both the bus and the motor. A motor of this kind is very inexpensive due to the reduction in electronic components, and the elimination of further electronic components moreover makes possible a compact design for the motor. Because the entire control system of the motor is displaced into the microprocessor or microcontroller, it is possible to make changes to the motor merely by changing the software.
Further details and advantageous developments of the invention are evident from the exemplary embodiments which are described below and depicted in the drawingsxe2x80x94and which are to be understood in no way as a limitation of the invention.


A base member for an orthodontic implant device. The base member makes it possible to easily and reliably attach a correction implement. The base member is secured by a plurality of screws that are embedded in a bone inside an oral cavity. Each of the plurality of screws has a screw part that is embedded in the bone and a polygonal-columnar head part that is exposed inside the oral cavity. The base member has at least three engagement holes that are provided so as to be capable of engaging the polygonal-columnar head parts and such that the centers thereof are not on the same straight line.

In orthodontics, teeth alignment is adjusted by applying a three-dimensional correction force such as a forward/backward and leftward/rightward force, inclination, and rotation to a tooth to be moved. In order to apply a correction force to teeth, brackets are secured to teeth, a wire or the like is attached between a bracket of a reference tooth and a bracket of the tooth to be moved, and the wire is gradually fastened. The correction force is applied in a desired direction by adjusting routing of the wire, how the wire is fastened, and the like.
According to an orthodontic implant device, a screw or an anchor is embedded in a bone in an oral cavity, and a correction force is applied to a desired tooth using the screw or the like as a securing end. A plate, a wire, or the like is secured to the embedded screw or the like, and a correction force is applied to the tooth via the plate, the wire, or the like (see Patent Literatures 1 to 6, for example). Also, a configuration is disclosed in which a securing part is secured as an orthodontic support element to a jawbone and an exposed part is exposed inside an oral cavity (see Patent Literatures 7 and 8, for example).

Base member for orthodontic implant device


An end face polishing apparatus has a support member mounted on the main body for undergoing revolving and rotational movement during a polishing operation, a tubular member mounted on the support member for rotation and revolving movement therewith, a lapping member mounted on the support member for rotation and revolving movement therewith, and a polishing fixture for supporting at least one workpiece having an end face for pressure contact with the lapping member to polish the end face of the workpiece during rotation and revolving movement of the lapping member. The polishing fixture has radially outwardly projecting guide members for contacting the tubular member to limit the amount of polishing of the end face of the workpiece in a pressing direction during rotation and revolving movement of the lapping member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an end face polishing apparatus for polishing an end face of a rod-shaped member such as a fiber for optical communication.
2. Description of the Background Art
Fibers for optical communication are adhesively secured in the central hole of a ferrule, a main member of a connector, and then the ferrule end face and the end face of fibers are polished together and thus finished into a smooth, mirror surface. If the polished end faces of the ferrule and the fibers are not vertical to the central axis of the ferrule or if there is a flaw on the polished faces, the precision in positioning such ferrules as they are connected facing each other in an optical connector is lowered, and the loss increases. Therefore, the face of the ferrule including the optical fibers must be polished with high precision.
A conventional apparatus for polishing the end faces of optical fibers is disclosed for example by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 26456/1991. The disclosed end face polishing apparatus includes an eccentric adapter that rotates on a circle concentric with a rotating disc, and a planetary gear that transmits the rotation of a revolving motor to the eccentric adapter. These elements are coupled in a lapping machine, so that the lapping machine is allowed to rotate and revolve, while the end faces of a plurality of ferrules held by a polishing fixture are pressed against a lapping member secured to the lapping machine for lapping.
As described above, in the conventional optical fiber end face polishing apparatus, the plurality of ferrules held by the polishing fixture are pressed by a spring or the like against the lapping member secured to the lapping machine that rotates and revolves. However, the ferrules are polished based on time, and the polishing length for the ferrules cannot be controlled. When the ferrules mounted on the polishing fixture have the same length, there would be no problems. However their lengths are not equal because of the precision of ferrules or adhesive used to secure optical fibers coming out from the tip ends of ferrules and cured. When therefore such ferrules having different lengths are slid into contact with the lapping machine, the polishing fixture could be inclined relative to the lapping machine, and the lapping angle, the radius of curvature and the eccentricity could be deviated. The ferrules after the polishing could have different lengths.


Provided are an audio reconstruction method and device for providing improved sound quality by reconstructing a decoding parameter or an audio signal obtained from a bitstream, by using machine learning. The audio reconstruction method includes obtaining a plurality of decoding parameters of a current frame by decoding a bitstream, determining characteristics of a second parameter included in the plurality of decoding parameters and associated with a first parameter, based on the first parameter included in the plurality of decoding parameters, obtaining a reconstructed second parameter by applying a machine learning model to at least one of the plurality of decoding parameters, the second parameter, and the characteristics of the second parameter, and decoding an audio signal, based on the reconstructed second parameter.

Audio codec technology capable of transmitting, reproducing, and storing high-quality audio contents has been developed, and current ultra-high sound quality technology enables transmission, reproduction, and storing of audio having a 24-bit/192 kHz resolution. The 24-bit/192 kHz resolution means that original audio is sampled at 192 kHz and a sampled signal may be represented in 2{circumflex over ( )}24 states by using 24 bits.
However, high-bandwidth data transmission may be required to transmit high-quality audio contents. In addition, high-quality audio contents have high service prices and require high-quality audio codecs and thus may cause royalty problems. Furthermore, because high-quality audio services have recently begun to be provided, audio recorded with high quality may not be present. Therefore, the necessity of a technology for reconstructing low-quality audio to high quality is increasing. To reconstruct low-quality audio to high quality, artificial intelligence (AI) may be used.
AI systems are computer systems capable of implementing human-level intelligence, and refer to systems in which a machine autonomously learns, determines, and becomes smarter unlike existing rule-based smart systems. A recognition rate may be increased and user preferences may be understood more accurately in proportion to iterations of the AI systems, and thus the existing rule-based smart systems are being gradually replaced by the AI systems based on deep learning.
AI technology includes machine learning (or deep learning) and element technologies using machine learning. The machine learning refers to an algorithm technology for autonomously classifying/learning features of input data, and the element technologies refer to technologies for mimicking functions of human brains, e.g., recognition and determination, by using the machine learning algorithm such as deep learning and includes fields of technologies such as linguistic understanding, visual understanding, inference/prediction, knowledge representation, and operation control.
Examples of various fields to which the AI technology is applicable are as described below. Linguistic understanding refers to a technology for recognizing and applying/processing languages/characters of humans and includes natural language processing, machine translation, dialog systems, queries and responses, voice recognition/synthesis, etc. Visual understanding refers to a technology for recognizing and processing an object like human vision and includes object recognition, object tracking, image search, human recognition, scene understanding, space understanding, image enhancement, etc. Inference/prediction refers to a technology for determining information and logically performing inference and prediction and includes knowledge/probability-based inference, optimization prediction, preference-based planning, recommendation, etc. Knowledge representation refers to a technology for automatically processing human experience information to knowledge data and includes knowledge construction (data generation/classification), knowledge management (data utilization), etc. Operation control refers to a technology for controlling autonomous driving of vehicles and motion of robots and includes motion control (e.g., navigation, collision avoidance, and driving control), manipulation control (e.g., action control), etc.
According to the disclosure, reconstructed decoding parameters are obtained by performing machine learning by using original audio and various decoding parameters of an audio codec. According to the disclosure, higher-quality audio may be reconstructed using the reconstructed decoding parameters.

Audio reconstruction method and device which use machine learning