A frequency converter includes: a signal synthesizer element for inputting first and second input signals to synthesize these signals and for outputting a synthesized signal, from which noises even times as large as the frequency of the second input signal are removed; an amplitude limitation amplifier element, composed of a differential amplifier circuit, for amplifying the synthesized signal outputted from the signal synthesizer element to output an amplified signal having a constant amplitude; and a filter for inputting the amplified signal outputted from the amplitude limitation amplifier element, to remove an unnecessary signal component to produce an output a baseband signal including only a desired signal component. In addition, a radio receiver using the frequency converter of such a construction is designed to input the output of a local oscillator to a variable attenuator or a variable gain amplifier, to input the output of the variable attenuator or the variable gain amplifier as the first input signal to the frequency converter so as to perform the gain control. Thus, not only is self-mixing, a common problem in direct conversion receivers, prevented, but also, because a smaller local oscillation driving signal is required, power consumption is significantly reduced.

The present invention relates to a frequency converter for use in a radio communication, and a radio receiver using same. More specifically, the invention relates to a frequency converter which can be driven by a small local oscillation signal, and a radio receiver which can prevent the self-mixing in a direct-conversion receiver and so forth by means of the frequency converter.
An example of conventional frequency converters is illustrated in FIG. 1. A signal inputted from a radio-frequency (RF) terminal 1 is inputted to a base of a first transistor Trl via a high-frequency input circuit (not shown). Local oscillation signals inputted from first and second local oscillation (Lo, *Lo) terminals 2 and 3 are also inputted to bases of second and third transistors Tr2 and Tr3 forming a differential pair 4, respectively. Furthermore, the signal *Lo is a inverted signal of the signal Lo. As described in "Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits" written by P. R.Gray and R. G.Meyer, the differential pair 4 of transistors is operative to distribute the collector current of the first transistor Tr1 to the second and third transistors Tr2 and Tr3 on the basis of the potential difference between the bases of the transistors Tr2 and Tr3. The collector current is converted into a voltage output by means of a load circuit 5 to be outputted as an output Vout. The load circuit 5 comprises fourth and fifth transistors Tr4 and Tr5.
The frequency converter using the differential pair of transistors causes the switching of the first and second transistors Tr2 and Tr3 forming the differential pair by applying great voltage amplitudes to both of the base terminals thereof in order to decrease the fluctuation of conversion gain. In this case, the output can be expressed by the following formula (1). EQU Vout(t)=K.times.F(t).times.{Irt(t)+Iee} (1)
wherein Irf is a high-frequency signal current outputted from the collector of the transistor Tr1, Iee is a bias current flowing through the collector of the transistor Tr1, F(t) is a function which is alternately 1 and -1 at the same frequency as that of the local oscillation signal, and K is a constant determined by the load circuit.
F(t) contains frequency components integer times as large as the frequency of the local oscillation signal. A desired signal is the product of a fundamental-wave component sin(2.pi.ft) and Irf wherein f is a local oscillation frequency.
Assuming that "Ifr=A(t) sin(2.pi.frft)", there can be expressed by the following formula (2). EQU K/2A(t)[cos{2.pi.(frf-f)t}-cos{2.pi.(frf+f)t}] (2)
Using a low-pass filter, the signal having a carrier frequency of frf can be converted into a signal having a carrier frequency of frf-f by taking out a signal component of "A(t) cos{2.pi.(frf-f)t)" in the aforementioned formula.
As described in "Low-Power Radio-Frequency IC's for Portable Communication" written by Asad Abide (Processings of the IEEE, vol. 83, No. 4, April 1995), in a case where such a frequency converter circuit is used for a direct-conversion receiver, the local oscillation signal leaks out of a high-frequency signal input terminal to be reflected due to the impedance mismatch of a low-noise amplifier circuit, an antenna and so forth, to be superposed on the high-frequency input signal Irf to be inputted to the frequency converter. This signal is mixed with the original local oscillation signal to be a DC offset. In addition, if the reflection amount fluctuates in accordance with the environmental fluctuation of the antenna, the signal may be a low-frequency noise due to the fluctuation of the offset.
In the direct-conversion receiver, since a received signal is converted into an approximately direct-current baseband signal, it is impossible to separate a DC offset and/or a low-frequency noise from a desired signal by means of a filter, so that the deterioration of communication quality is caused. This problem is called self-mixing of a local oscillation signal. As means for solving this problem, Ito and Kawakami has proposed the use of an even higher-harmonic using an anti-parallel diode pair, in "Even Order Mixing Products of Even Harmonic Mixer for Direct Converter (1995 General Conference of Institute of Electronics Information and Communication Engineers, Lecture Number C-87).
The voltage-current characteristic of a diode can be expressed by "I=Is{exp(.alpha.V)-1}" wherein Is and .alpha. are constants determined by the type of element. When the Taylor expansion of "exp(x)" in the aforementioned formula is performed, the following formula is derived. ##EQU1## wherein X contains terms of even and odd degrees. In this case, the anti-parallel diode pair comprises a pair of diodes of the same characteristic which are connected to each other in the opposite directions so that the terms of even degrees cancel out. Therefore, the anti-parallel diode pair has an odd functional characteristic as a whole. If the frequency of a local oscillation signal is set to be half of the frequency of a high-frequency signal, a tertiary distortion component, wherein the secondary distortions of the high-frequency signal and the local oscillation signal are mixed with each other, is outputted as a desired baseband signal. On the other hand, although the local oscillation signals reflected in the antenna, the low-noise amplifier circuit and so forth are mixed with the original local oscillation signal, the self-mixing of the local oscillation signal is decreased since only the secondary distortion components (square components) are converted into approximately direct currents.
However, in a case where the anti-parallel diode pair is used, it is required to input a great local oscillation signal in order to decrease the conversion loss. For example, as explained by Takahashi and Kuwatsuru in "An FSK Direct conversion Receiver Improving odd order of intermodulation" (1993 Fall Conference of Institute of Electronics Information and Communication Engineers, Lecture Number B-329), although a frequency converter circuit of a differential amplifier circuit type is operated by inputting a local oscillation signal of 90 dB .mu.V and 90 mvp-p, it is required to input a local oscillation signal of at least 0 dBm and about 630 mvp-p in a case where an anti-parallel diode pair is used, as described in the measured results by Ito et. al.
This describes that an even higher-harmonic mixer based on an anti-parallel diode pair utilizes a conducting state and a non-conducting state of a diode. That is, the frequency conversion is realized by the transitions of the following three states:
(1) a state wherein one of diodes is in a conducting state, PA1 (2) a state wherein both of diodes are in a non-conducting state, and PA1 (3) a state wherein the other diode is in a conducting state. PA1 (1) a state wherein an input signal exceeds a positive limitation amplitude, PA1 (2) a state wherein the input signal is between a negative limitation amplitude and the positive limitation amplitude, and PA1 (3) a state wherein the input signal exceeds the negative limitation amplitude.
Thus, it is expected that if a great signal amplitude is outputted as a local oscillation signal, a receiver produces a great, undesired radiation, so that it is apprehended that the great, undesired radiation obstructs other radio communications. In addition, although it is desired to decrease the consumed power in order to drive a portable telephone and/or a portable radio terminal using cells, it is required to increase the consumed current of a local oscillator or a local oscillation signal amplifier circuit in order to obtain a signal of greater than 0.6 V at a high frequency.

Frequency converter and radio receiver using same


An endless belt for use as an intermediate transfer belt or a transfer-sheet transfer belt in an electrophotographic apparatus using electrophotographic technologies such as a full-color LBP (Laser Beam Printer) or a full-color PPC (Plane Paper Copier). At least a base layer of the belt comprises a modified polyamide imide resin formed by copolymerizing: (A) an aromatic isocyanate compound; (B) an aromatic polycarboxylic acid anhydride; and (C) a polymer having carboxylic acids at both terminals thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endless belt for an electrophotographic apparatus, and more particularly, to an endless belt for use as an intermediate transfer belt or a transfer-sheet transport belt in an electrophotographic apparatus using electrophotographic technologies such as a full-color LBP (Laser Beam Printer) or a full-color PPC (Plane Paper Copier).
2. Description of the Art
Generally, endless belts (seamless belts) are variously used as an image transfer belt, a transfer-sheet transport belt, a photoreceptor base or the like in an electrophotographic apparatus using electrophotographic technologies such as a full-color LBP or a full-color PPC.
As such endless belts, for example, an endless belt of a cylindrical film is used, which is formed by using a blend of fluororesin, such as PVDF (vinylidene fluoride), and an electrically conductive carbon black blended therein by means of a dipping method or the like.
The above-mentioned fluororesin belt is excellent in electrical characteristics, however, is deteriorated in belt properties such as elasticity modulus and is increased in cost.
Alternatively, use of a semi-electrically conductive tubular polyamide imide, formed by containing carbon black into a polyamide imide resin, for a transfer belt for an image forming apparatus is proposed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-261768).
However, since the polyamide imide resin described in the above-mentioned Publication is composed of a rigid molecular structure, the polyamide imide resin has high rigidity and small elongation at break. For this reason, a transfer belt for an image forming apparatus formed by such a polyamide imide resin has poor flexibility and thus has inferior durability.

Endless belt for electrophotographic apparatus


Provided herein are compounds of the formula (I): as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the substituents are as those disclosed in the specification. These compounds, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, promote mitochondrial biogenesis and are useful for the treatment of, for example, acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.

Currently, there is no approved therapeutic to treat acute kidney injury and the treatments for chronic kidney disease are inadequate. Kidney disease displays comorbidity with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and is often linked to mitochondrial dysfunction1-6. For example, mitochondrial proteins and signaling mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) molecules are decreased within 24 h in a mouse model of acute kidney injury and do not recover over six days7. MB is the creation of new mitochondria and requires the tight coordination and production of nuclear encoded and mitochondrial encoded mitochondrial proteins and results in increased ATP generating capacity. While a number of MB signaling pathways have been reported, the number of chemicals reported to produce MB is limited.
The serotonin receptor family (5-HT receptors) consists of six GPCRs (5-HT1-2,4-7) and one ligand-gated ion channel (5-HT3). Serotonin receptors are typically thought to be located primarily in the central nervous system, but they are also found in platelets, cardiomyocytes, and renal cells12-14. It was previously reported that the 5-HT2 receptor pan agonist DOI (1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane hydrochloride) is a potent inducer of MB in renal proximal tubular cells and accelerated the recovery of mitochondrial function following oxidant injury12. More recently, it was determined that two 5-HT1F receptor agonists, LY334370 (4-fluoro-N-[3-(1-methyl-4-piperidinyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]benzamide, CAS-182563-08-2) and LY344864 (N-[(3R)-3-(dimethylamino)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-6-yl]-4-fluorobenzamide, CAS-186544-26-3; 1-100 nM) increased maximal mitochondrial respiration, increased mitochondrial proteins [e.g., ATP synthase β, cytochrome c oxidase 1 (Cox1), and NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 1β subcomplex subunit 8 (NDUFB8)] in RPTC8. Small interfering RNA knockdown of the 5-HT1F receptor blocked agonist-induced MB8. Furthermore, LY344864 increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator 1-α, Cox1, and NDUFB8 transcript levels and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in murine renal cortex, heart, and liver8. Finally, LY344864 accelerated recovery of renal function, as indicated by decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) and increased mtDNA copy number following ischemia/reperfusion-induced AKI8. In summary, these studies revealed that the 5-HT1F receptor is linked to MB, 5-HT1F receptor agonism promotes MB in vitro and in vivo, and 5-HT1F receptor agonism promotes recovery from AKI injury.
A need exists in the art, therefore, for new 5-HT1F receptor agonists that induce MB and are useful for the treatment of AKI.

5HT1F receptor agonists and mitochondrial biogenesis

MUSC FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

The United States Government as Represented by the DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


An energy regeneration device of a suspension system for a vehicle, includes a suspension link that connects a wheel carrier to a vehicle body, a bush unit that is disposed between a vehicle body connection portion of the suspension link and the vehicle body and outputs hinge motion of the suspension link through an output gear, a one-way power transmission mechanism that is connected with the output gear of the bush unit, receives the hinge motion transmitted from the output gear through an input gear, and outputs only one-way rotational power, and a generator that is disposed at a side of the vehicle body and generates electricity while being rotated by the transmitted one-way rotational power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an energy regeneration device of a suspension system for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to an energy regeneration device of a suspension system for a vehicle which is mounted at a vehicle body connection portion of a suspension link and regenerates rotational kinetic energy generated from wheels into electric energy.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, the suspension system of a vehicle is a device that is disposed between the vehicle body and the wheels and connecting the two rigid bodies, using one or a plurality of links. The suspension system mechanically controls the relative motion between the vehicle body and the wheels by carrying vertical motion load with a chassis spring and a shock absorber and controlling high rigidity and flexibility in the other directions.
The suspension system provides improved riding comfort to passengers by effectively blocking irregular input from roads which is generated during vehicle travel and provides convenience for driving by controlling shaking of a vehicle which is generated by uneven roads. Further, when a vehicle travels on an uneven road, vehicle safety must be maintained when turning and braking by maintaining the vertical load on the surfaces of tires which are in contact with the ground at an appropriate level.
Various kinds of suspension systems have been developed and are used for vehicles to satisfy those conditions, and according to an example of the configuration of a common suspension system, as shown in FIG. 1, a wheel carrier 4 supports a wheel 2 to cause the wheel 2 to rotate is provided. The upper portion of the wheel carrier 4 is connected to a vehicle body 10 (e.g., vehicle subframe) by a front upper arm 6 and a rear upper arm 8 disposed in the transverse direction of the vehicle and the lower portion is connected to the vehicle body 10 by a lower arm 12 and an assist arm 14 which are disposed in the transverse direction of the vehicle and a trailing arm 16 disposed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
Further, the upper portion of the wheel carrier 4 is connected with the vehicle body by a shock absorber 18 and a spring 20, an elastic member, is disposed between the lower arm 12 and the vehicle body, to attenuate the shock applied from a road surface and reduce free vibration to improve riding comfort. Additionally, the end of a stabilizer bar 22 that is fixed to the vehicle body is connected with the lower arm 12 by a connection link 24, to prevent the vehicle body from rolling.
According to the configuration, the suspension system of the related art can attenuate the shock from a road surface, reduce free vibration, and prevent the vehicle body from rolling; however, the kinetic energy, which is generated by the suspension links 6, 8, 12, 14, and 16 which continuously repeat bumping and rebounding based on the traveling conditions of the vehicle, is not recovered.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Energy regeneration device of suspension system for vehicle regenerating rotational kinetic energy generated from wheels into electric energy


In one aspect, one or more computing devices may capture a panoramic image. Panoramic images may refer to images having a field of view which is greater than that of the human eye, e.g., 180 degrees or greater. Some panoramic images may provide a 360-degree view of a location. In response to capturing the panoramic image, the one or more computing devices may provide for display a request for a non-panoramic, for example, a zoomed-in image. A zoomed-in image may be captured. An area of the panoramic image that corresponds to the zoomed-in image is determined by the one or more computing devices. The zoomed-in image is associated with the area by the one or more computing devices. In this regard, the panoramic image and the zoomed-in image may be taken close in time such that the images have the same or similar lighting conditions, scenes, etc.

Various systems provide users with images of different locations. Some systems provide users with panoramic images or panoramic images having a generally wider field of view. For example, panoramic images may include an image or collection of images having a field of view which is greater than that of the human eye, e.g., 180 degrees or greater. Some panoramic images may provide a 360-degree view of a location.
Some systems may provide users with the ability to "zoom" into a particular part of a panoramic image. These systems may use highlighting, thumbnails, or icons to indicate where zoomed in images are available. These indicators may give users the opportunity to view a panoramic image including a particular feature and subsequently view another image of that particular feature at a greater zoom level.
In order to provide these zoomed in images, the panoramic image must be compared to other images to identify useful zoomed in images. As an example, images from various sources may be compared, based on features, pixels, locations, etc., in order to identify features.

Zoom images with panoramic image capture


The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for selective control of charging a power source (122). The method can include the steps of charging (212) the power source of an electronic device (136) in which the electronic device also includes a global positioning system unit (118) and conducting (216) a session for the global positioning system unit. The method can also include the step of—in response to the session—selectively throttling (218) the flow of current to the power source of the electronic device to reduce the effect of thermal variation on the operation of the global positioning system unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to charging techniques for electronic devices and more particularly, to selectively controlling a power source for electronic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of portable devices, particularly mobile communications units, has exploded recently. Manufacturers are constantly adding features to these devices to make them more desirable to consumers. In addition, government agencies may order manufacturers to implement certain features in their devices. As an example, in part because of consumer demand and in part because of a government mandate, cellular telephone manufacturers have built Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers in their products. A GPS receiver can enable a cellular telephone to determine its physical location, which can be displayed to a user of the device or forwarded to some other entity, like an emergency operator.
GPS receivers typically include a reference oscillator circuit for purposes of synchronization. In particular, when a GPS receiver attempts to determine its location, the GPS receiver will establish communications with the appropriate satellites, relying on the reference oscillator circuit to do so. There is a possibility that the frequency of the reference oscillator circuit will drift, which may prolong the time that it takes for the GPS receiver to determine its location from the satellites. As an example, if the temperature of the reference oscillator circuit varies, the frequency of the reference oscillator circuit will vary, too. To help solve the problem of frequency drift, temperature-compensated oscillators (TCXO) have been developed, which can adjust the reference frequency in view of a temperature variation.
There are several ways in which the reference oscillator circuit may be subjected to heat. For example, almost all cellular telephones include charging circuits, which can be used to replenish rechargeable batteries. As the cellular telephone is charged, heat can be introduced into the device, which may cause frequency drift in the reference oscillator circuit of the GPS receiver. This variation in temperature even affects the performance of TCXOs.

Method and system for selective control of charging a power source


The invention herein is directed to a dual-chamber combustion laser assembly having lighter weight (per unit flow area), a more compact, flexible configuration for packaging in spacecraft, aircraft, or ground mobile vehicles, higher mass efficiency from lower heat loss and proven power extraction efficiency of linear lasers, superior output beam quality by incremental compensation of gain medium optical path disturbances and by reduction in time-dependent variations in structural and gain medium characteristics, lower cost and shorter fabrication time for modular dual flow laser and linear optics, more efficient pressure recovery with side-wall isolation nozzles and compact diffuser configurations, and increased small signal gains for more efficient extraction of overtone power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally involves chemical lasers. More particularly, the present invention involves an improved chemical laser configuration for space and ground applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional linear lasers provide a single chemical laser gain region from a combustion chamber as shown in FIG. 1. With this configuration, mass efficiency is limited by heat loss to the large surface area i.e., three sides of the combustion chamber. The high weight of the conventional laser is driven by the structural requirement to contain combustion gases at high pressure and high temperature. Finally, the medium quality of the conventional laser is degraded with increasing device length and power due to systematic optical path disturbances in gain medium that cannot be compensated.
The use of a chemical reaction to produce a continuous wave chemically pumped lasing action is well known. The basic concept of such a chemical laser is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,215, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. As therein described, the continuous wave chemical laser includes a plenum in which gases are heated by combustion or other means to produce a primary reactant gas containing dissociated atoms of a reactant element such as fluorine mixed with diluting gases, such as helium or nitrogen. The resulting reaction between the hydrogen (or deuterium) and fluorine produces vibrationally excited HF or DF molecules. These molecules are unstable at the low temperature and pressure condition in the cavity and return to a lower vibrational state by releasing photons. Mirrors spaced in the cavity along an axis transverse to the flow field amplify the lasing action from the released photons within the optical cavity formed by the mirrors. The lasing action is of the continuous wave type, which is pumped by the high-energy vibrationally excited molecules formed in the optical cavity. The lasing action depends on producing vibrationally excited states in the HF or DF molecules. This in turn requires that the molecules be formed under conditions of low temperature and pressure. As the pressure and temperature increase, the number of vibrationally excited molecules decreases and more energy goes into translational movement of the molecules, defeating the lasing action.
Cylindrical lasers as illustrated in FIG. 2 provide compact packaging of the gain generator, but require large volumes for handling the radial outflow of laser exhaust gas. End domes are required to contain the combustion products with atomic fluorine in the chamber. The domes are large surface area, heavy structural members that reduce mass efficiency from heat loss effects. Gain medium optical path disturbances increase with cylinder length and cannot be compensated, thereby limiting length and power scaling. Cylindrical combustion devices and optics for power extraction require stringent tolerances during fabrication and alignment, resulting in very high costs for a fragile beam generator. Conventional linear and cylindrical lasers experience large temperature gradients in the structure resulting in time-varying medium quality and laser performance. The radial flow of laser gas lowers the mass flux at the entrance to the diffuser, resulting in lower pressure recovery than linear flow devices.
A low-pressure hydrogen fluoride (HF) laser is a chemical laser, which combines heated atomic fluorine (produced in a combustion chamber similar to the one in a rocket engine) with hydrogen gas to produce excited hydrogen fluoride molecules. The light beam that results radiates on multiple lines between 2.7 μm and 2.9 μm. These wavelengths transmit poorly through the atmosphere. Conventional HF lasers utilize primary nozzles, referred to as hypersonic low temperature or HYLTE nozzles, the surfaces of which are smooth, curved planes that result in nearly parallel flow of gases at the exit of the nozzle. Helium and hydrogen cavity fuel are injected at oblique angles from the nozzle sidewalls. Mixing, reaction and laser gain are produced internal to the primary nozzles and in the downstream optical cavity region. A large base region is formed between adjacent primary nozzles. In a process referred to as helium base purge, helium or other gas must be introduced into these base regions to prevent recirculation of laser gas with ground-state HF that would reduce laser gain and mass efficiency. Conventional HYLTE nozzle configurations wherein hydrogen is injected with wall-jets produces gain internal to the primary nozzle and the large base region between the adjacent primary nozzles is subsonic helium flow that produces no gain. Further, there are flow regions at the laser cavity exit with unmixed atomic fluorine, hydrogen rich regions, and a large subsonic base flow region. These attributes of the conventional HYLTE nozzle result in inefficiencies within the HF laser and a significant loss of power.
There is a need in the art for a laser and nozzle configuration that reduces the inefficiencies currently found in the conventional configurations.

Dual-flow common combustor chemical laser

Science Applications International Corporation


A traction pad for maneuvering on a roof includes a base layer, traction layer, at least two traction cross members, and two end members. A bottom side of the base layer contacts the roof and the traction layer is attached to a top side of the base layer. The at least two traction cross members are attached to a top side of the traction layer along a length thereof. The two end members are attached to a top side of the traction layer, adjacent the ends of the at least two traction cross members. A pair of lifting handles are preferably attached to a top side of the two end members. The top side of the traction layer is preferably painted with a paint having sand dissolved therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to traction pads and more specifically to a traction pad for maneuvering on a roof which allows a roofer to have a non-slip pad for accomplishing roof related repairs.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A problem frequently encountered while doing roof related repairs (such as chimney repair, painting, installing siding, installing antennas, or installing satellite dishes) on a sloped roof is remaining in the same position while doing the repairs without slipping down the roof. Currently, there appears to be no device on the market which may be placed under the roofer so that they may maintain their position relative to the sloped roof. The consequences of a roofer slipping off a sloped roof may be spinal paralysis and even death.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a traction pad for maneuvering on a roof which provides a traction surface for a user to perform repairs on a sloped roof surface.
The present invention provides a traction surface for roof related repairs of a sloped roof. According to the present invention, a traction pad for maneuvering on a roof includes a base layer, traction layer, at least two traction cross members, and two end members. The base and traction layers are preferably rectangular in shape. A bottom side of the base layer contacts the roof and the traction layer is attached to a top side of the base layer. The at least two traction cross members are attached to a top side of the traction layer along a length thereof. The two end members are attached to a top side of the traction layer, adjacent the ends of the at least two traction cross members. Preferably, a pair of lifting handles are attached to a top side of the two end members. The top side of the traction layer is preferably painted with a paint having sand dissolved therein.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a traction pad for maneuvering on a roof which provides a non-slip surface for a roofer to perform roof related repairs.
Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a traction pad for maneuvering on a roof which may be used on asphalt shingle roofs as well as ceramic title roofs.
These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.


Throughput is preserved in a distributed system while maintaining concurrency by pushing a commit wait period to client commit paths and to future readers. As opposed to servers performing commit waits, the servers assign timestamps, which are used to ensure that causality is preserved. When a server executes a transaction that writes data to a distributed database, the server acquires a user-level lock, and assigns the transaction a timestamp equal to a current time plus an interval corresponding to bounds of uncertainty of clocks in the distributed system. After assigning the timestamp, the server releases the user-level lock. Any client devices, before performing a read of the written data, must wait until the assigned timestamp is in the past.

In database systems, the term concurrency control refers to the algorithm used to ensure that the database behaves consistently, even in the presence of concurrency. Multiversion concurrency-control algorithms store multiple versions of a given piece of data (one per write), so as to enable greater concurrency. Systems that provide a global notion of absolute time can be integrated with multiversion concurrency control in a distributed database. The resulting distributed database is semantically equivalent to a single-machine database, in that consistent reads can be done across the entire database. The consistent reads are ensured using local synchronization between reads and writes at each object in the database, along with a commit wait, where a write needs to be delayed in time to ensure proper semantics. This local synchronization requires expensive global synchronization within the database.
The problem with existing solutions is that the existing algorithms perform commit wait while holding user-level locks at servers. That is, while writing an object in the database, the server performs commit wait while holding the lock that the database uses to protect access to the object being written. This means that throughput of writes to any object is limited to at most (1/commit wait time).

High-throughput algorithm for multiversion concurrency control with globally synchronized time


The present invention describes a technique for determining the topology of a network where each node of the network may issue a topology information request cell. Each switch that receives a topology information request cell compares it with a stored cells in an internal look-up table to determine if it has previously received a same cell via a shorter route. If the cell has been previously received via a shorter route, the present cell is discarded, if not, the look-up table is updated. Non-discarded cells are retransmitted on all output ports except the output port corresponding to the input port on which the cell was received. The switch also responds to the topology information request cell by transmitting a topology acknowledgement cell back to the node which initiated the topology information request. In such a manner, every switch in the network can determine the topology of the entire network.

The advent of the multimedia PC has been one of the key developments in the computer industry in the 1990s. Originally the term multimedia PC was loosely defined to refer to a personal computer with a CD-ROM and audio capabilities. Recently, however, new applications such as video conferencing, video-on-demand, interactive TV, and virtual reality have been proposed. Rather than the mere integration of text, audio and video, the nature of these applications requires the transfer of high volumes of data between multiple users. As a result, it is now widely recognized that for multimedia to reach its full potential it must become a network based technology rather than a limited local resource.
Unfortunately, the real-time nature of multimedia video and audio streams renders existing local area networks ("LANs") unsuitable for these applications. Conventional LAN designs, most of which are based upon shared media architectures such as Ethernet and Token Ring, have no capability to guarantee the bandwidth and quality of service necessary to accommodate multimedia services. As such, these networks cannot efficiently handle high-speed, real-time video and audio data without introducing significant distortions such as delay, echo and lip synchronization problems.
Recently, as the need for an alternative networking technology to accommodate multimedia in the LAN setting has become apparent, researchers have explored the technologies proposed for the Broadband Integrated Digital Services Network ("B-ISDN"). As high bandwidth requirements and bursty data transmission are commonplace in this wide area network, solutions used in B-ISDN may be applicable to the multimedia LAN environment.
Specifically, the B-ISDN standards, promulgated by the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee ("CCITT"), now reorganized as the Telecommunications Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunication Union ("ITU-T"), define a packet multiplexing and switching technique, referred to as Asynchronous Transfer Mode ("ATM"). This technique is well known in the art and is described in various references. E.g., Martin de Prycker, Asynchronous Transfer Mode: Solution for Broadband ISDN (2nd Ed., Ellis Horwood Ltd, West Sussex, England, 1993).
In ATM, information is carried in packets of fixed size, specified for B-ISDN as 53 bytes (octets), called cells. Cells are statistically multiplexed into a single transmission facility which may carry hundreds of thousands of ATM cells per second originating from a multiplicity of sources and travelling to a multiplicity of destinations.
ATM is a connection-oriented technology. Rather than broadcasting cells onto a shared wire or fiber for all network members to receive, a specific routing path through the network, called a virtual circuit, is set up between two end nodes before any data is transmitted. Cells identified with a particular virtual circuit are only delivered to nodes on that virtual circuit and are guaranteed to arrive in the transmitted order at the destination of the virtual circuit. ATM also defines virtual paths, bundles of virtual circuits traveling together through at least a portion of the network, the use of which can simplify network management.
The internal nodes of an ATM network comprise switching devices capable of handling the high-speed ATM cell streams. These devices perform the functions required to implement a virtual circuit by receiving ATM cells from an input port, analyzing the information in the header of the incoming cells in real-time, and routing them to the appropriate destination port.
To achieve the most efficient network performance, virtual circuits selected at connection set-up time typically should form the shortest path from source to destination through the internal nodes of the network. Of course, to accurately select this path, the topology or layout of the network must be known.
A popular prior art technique for determination of network topology utilizes a process of flooding the network with topology information cells. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,170, entitled "Method and Apparatus Providing for Bootstrapping of Switches in an ATM Network or the Like" issued to Sawant et al., on Feb. 14, 1995. In systems employing this technique, each switch transmits link state information cells upon each of its outputs. In turn, every switch which receives an input link state information cell retransmits the cell upon its own output links. In such a manner, topology information from all other internal nodes of the network is collected at each internal node. The entire network configuration can be determined at each internal node by analyzing this collected information.
It is readily apparent, however, that physical loops within the ATM network will create undesirable infinite looping of topology information cells within the network. In FIG. 1, for example, which illustrates a simple ATM network, if switch 120-1 issues a topology information cell, the cell would be sent to switches 120-2 and 120-3. Switches 120-2 and 120-3 would then forward the cell upon their outputs, thus sending topology information cells to switches 120-3 and 120-4, and 120-2 and 120-4, respectively. Upon receipt of these new cells, each of these switches 120-2, 120-3 and 120-4 will again forward the cell upon their respective outputs. In this manner, infinite looping of topology information cells occurs.
Of course, infinite looping may be eliminated by requiring that no physical loops exist within the ATM network. Such a solution is practical in a wide area network where the actual end-node devices connected to the network are unknown. However, physical loops are often highly desirable in ATM LANs. Efficiencies may be achieved by connecting devices requiring repeated, high-performance inter-communications within a small physical loop in the network. For example, many multi-media applications require repetitive communication between specific devices. Performance can be enhanced by confining this communication to a short path between such devices, while still providing access to other devices on the network.
Systems have been disclosed which eliminate the possibility of infinite looping of topology information cells despite the presence of physical loops within the network. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,558 entitled "Topology Independent Broadcast of Cells in an ATM Network or the Like" issued to Opher et al., on Sep. 6, 1994. In these systems, the topology information cells maintain a record of the number of internal nodes they have visited. After this number reaches a certain predetermined limit, the cell is assumed to be looping and is discarded. However, for any sizable network, the predetermined limit must be sufficiently large to avoid discarding non-looping cells. As a result, although cells will not loop infinitely, they may be permitted to loop for a considerable time. These looping cells will still increase network traffic and degrade overall network performance.
Therefore, a need persists for a method for determining the topology of an ATM network which can reliably operate in a network containing physical loops, but yet avoids the undesirable looping of topology information cells.

Method for determining the topology of an ATM network having decreased looping of topology information cells


A combination driver/summing circuit for rail-to-rail operation of a differential amplifier includes a differential amplifier input stage that amplifies an input signal and a current control circuit that regulates the operating currents through the active elements of the differential amplifier input stage. A summing circuit divided into first and second segments and supplied with current from a single common floating current source combines internal currents supplied by the differential amplifier input stage. A class A-B driver/output stage is coupled to the summing circuit to derive at least one output signal representative of the input signal and which is operative over nearly the full rail-to-rail supply voltage range.

The present invention relates generally to the field of differential amplifiers and operational amplifiers and more particularly to an amplifier of this kind fabricated in integrated circuit technology and having a rail-to-rail common mode range at the amplifier input and output.
There are times when an operational amplifier is required which can linearly amplify an input signal over nearly the full supply voltage range, especially in the case of a supply voltage as low as 1.5 volts. Operational amplifiers to be used with low supply voltages should utilize as much as possible of the available supply voltage range in order to obtain the best signal-to-noise ratio. This requirement is especially severe in the case of low power applications or when the supply voltage is low as in battery powered systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,673 issued Nov. 26, 1985 in the name of J.H. Huijsing et al and an article by J.H. Huijsing et al in the IEEE JSSC, vol. SC-20, No. 6, 12/85, entitled "Low Voltage Operational Amplifier with Rail-to-Rail Input and Output Ranges", describe circuits which generally work well to amplify an input signal while using a large part of the supply voltage range. The Huijsing et al article describes an operational amplifier having rail-to-rail input, a so-called folded cascode stage and a rail-to-rail class A-B output stage. The input stage with a rail-to-rail common-mode input voltage range provides a constant transconductance over the full common-mode range. However, this operational amplifier also requires an intermediate stage to increase the gain and a completely separate class A-B quiescent bias network. Another disadvantage of the Huijsing et al operational amplifier is that it requires a fairly large number of integrated circuit components.
In the Huijsing et al patent and article the rail-to-rail common-mode voltage swing at the amplifier input is obtained by using two differential amplifier input stages in parallel and operating same such that the common mode (CM) voltage of one stage can reach the positive supply voltage rail and that of the other the negative supply voltage rail. Three common-mode input voltage ranges are present in these circuits. In a first range, which extends from the negative supply voltage to an intermediate range, only one differential amplifier input stage is operative. In a second range extending from the positive supply voltage to the intermediate range, the other differential amplifier input stage is operative. In the intermediate range, both differential amplifier stages are in operation.
The Huijsing et al patent describes an improved differential amplifier with a rail-to-rail input capability which attempts to correct the problem of a variation in the amplifier transconductance as the input common-mode voltage varies across the supply voltage range. The patent describes a current steering control circuit that regulates the operating currents for the two differential amplifiers such that the overall amplifier transconductance is controlled to be substantially constant as the common-mode voltage of the amplifier input signal varies across the supply voltage range. A summing circuit selectively combines internal currents supplied by the two differential amplifiers so as to derive at least one output signal representative of the input signal.
Another prior art operational amplifier is described in an article by D.M. Monticelli entitled "A Quad CMOS Single-Supply Op Amp with Rail-to-Rail Output Swing, in the IEEE JSSC, Vol. SC-21, No. 6, December 1986. This article describes a Quad CMOS amplifier which includes a class A-B output stage with quiescent current biasing. This op-amp circuit does not have a rail-to-rail input and does not use a folded cascode arrangement. It also requires two independent matched internal current sources for class AB quiescent current biasing so that any mismatch therebetween will result in a contribution to the input offset voltage. Furthermore, the Monticelli circuit does not eliminate the dependence of the quiescent bias current in the output transistors of the class A-B output stage on the voltage supply.
Further background information can be obtained from a review of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,893,091 (Jan. 9, 1990); 4,958,933 (Sep. 18, 1990) and 4,797,631 (Jan. 10, 1989) U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,631 describes a rail-to-rail input stage and folded cascode stage. The circuit does not include a class A-B output stage or floating current source. Although this patent shows an input stage and a folded cascode stage, it does not include the current steering transistor of the Huijsing et al patent in the differential input stage and which transfers current from one current source transistor to the other as the input signal traverses the input common mode range. Thus, it does not maintain a constant current gain in the input stage, as is accomplished in the op-amp described in Huijsing et al patent discussed above.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,133 also describes a rail-to-rail input stage and a folded cascode stage, but again does not include a class A-B output stage, floating current source or current steering transistors in the input stage. A disadvantage of this circuit is that it does not maintain the bias currents constant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,091 describes an amplifier with a class A-B output stage. However, this patent uses an intermediate gain stage between the input and output and wherein the output is a common collector driver. The requirement of an intermediate amplifier stage is a major disadvantage of this patent.

Combination driver-summing circuit for rail-to-rail differential amplifier


A pointer instrument having a connecting sleeve (3) which holds an essentially transparent pointer (4), and an illuminating means (10) that radiates directly into a f lag (12) of the pointer (4) the connecting sleeve (3) having conductors (17), 18) and contact surfaces (15, 16) of conductive plastic. At its end facing away from the pointer (4), the connecting sleeve (3) has connecting contacts (13, 14) for making contact with a power supply of a circuit board (6).

The invention relates to a pointer instrument having a pointer shaft that deflects an essentially transparent pointer, having an illuminating means that radiates directly into a flag of the pointer, having a carrier which is fastened to the pointer shaft, holds the pointer and has contact surfaces for making contact with the illuminating means, having a connecting sleeve that has connecting contacts for a connection to a power supply, and having conductors to connect the connecting contacts and the contact surfaces.
Such a pointer instrument, in which the illuminating means, together with the pointer, is fastened to the carrier and radiates directly into the pointer flag, is known. In this case, the carrier has an electrically conductive inner body that is connected to one pole of the illuminating means, and an electrically conductive outer body that is connected to the other pole of the illuminating means, the inner body and outer body being separated from each other by insulation. The connecting sleeve has an inner body, which is connected to the pointer shaft, and an outer body, these being separated from each other by an insulation layer and each having connecting contacts. The power is supplied to the connecting contacts of the connecting sleeve through two spiral spring strips, which are constructed in the manner of a sandwich with the interposition of an insulating layer. The inner body and the outer body of the connecting sleeve are each connected to one of the spring strips. The electrical connection between the carrier and the connecting sleeve is achieved via the pointer shaft and via a compression spring arranged between the outer bodies of the carrier and of the connecting sleeve.
The disadvantage with such a pointer instrument is that the connecting sleeve and the carrier consist of very many components, which are complicated to produce and to assemble. Furthermore, there is an unnecessarily large number of contact points between the power supply and the illuminating means, and these impair the functional reliability of the pointer instrument. Since the compression spring forces the carrier and the connecting sleeve away from each other, these must be connected particularly firmly to the pointer shaft, in order to ensure the permanent supply of electric power to the illuminating means.
The invention is based on the problem of configuring a pointer instrument of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that it is simply constructed and has a particularly high functional reliability.
According to the invention, this problem is solved by the connecting sleeve forming the carrier at its end facing the pointer, by the conductors running continuously from the connecting contacts to the contact surfaces, and by the connecting sleeve being produced from a nonconductive plastic and the conductors, the contact surfaces and the connecting contacts being produced from conductive plastic.
This configuration means that the novel pointer instrument is particularly simply constructed. Power supply to the illuminating means is thus no longer carried out, as in the case of the known pointer instrument, via the pointer shaft, which is generally produced from metal, or via the compression spring, but rather via the conductors which run continuously from the connecting contacts to the contact surfaces. By this means, the number of contact points is kept as small as possible, which increases the functional reliability of the novel pointer instrument. The use of electrically conductive plastic likewise contributes to the functional reliability of the pointer instrument, since electrically conductive plastic is not permanently covered by an electrically insulating oxide layer, as is the case with metal, for example. A further advantage of the connecting sleeve is that it has a particularly low weight, so that it is scarcely able to hamper the movement of the pointer as a result of its mass moment of inertia. The connecting sleeve can be produced, for example, completely by plastic injection molding, so that subsequent assembly is dispensed with. By this means, the connecting sleeve is configured particularly cost-effectively.
The novel pointer instrument can be assembled very simply if the connecting contacts are designed as plug-in contacts. In this way, the connecting sleeve is simply plugged onto the pointer shaft for the purpose of assembly.
The connecting sleeve is configured in a particularly space-saving manner and at the same time has a good mechanical connection to the pointer if, according to an advantageous development of the invention, it is of mushroom-like configuration and holds the pointer with its cap region.
The illuminating means could be, for example, an incandescent filament. However, the illuminating means has a particularly low energy consumption and is able to illuminate the pointer well if it is an LED chip. Furthermore, such an LED chip has a particularly long service life, as compared with other illuminating means, so that exchange of the illuminating means during the service life of the pointer instrument only has to be carried out infrequently, if at all.
The pointer flag is particularly well illuminated, without the outlay in terms of assembly for the pointer instrument being increased, if, according to an advantageous development of the invention, reflectors of electrically conductive plastic are arranged at that end of the connecting sleeve which faces the pointer, and if at least two reflectors are designed as contact surfaces for making contact with the illuminating means.
The illuminating means can be exchanged easily if, according to another advantageous development of the invention, the connecting sleeve has, at its end facing the pointer, a mount which is upright, of C-shaped cross section, open at the top and in the direction of the pointer flag and has contact surfaces arranged in it, and if the illuminating means is arranged on a circuit board which is designed to be pushed into the mount. By this means, the connecting sleeve may be produced as a standard component for different pointer instruments which are intended to have pointers that have different brightnesses or various colors.
In order to set the brightness, in particular of light-emitting diodes, the latter are often preceded by balancing resistors. These balancing resistors are configured particularly simply if a planar balancing resistor is applied to the surface of the connecting sleeve. Such a planar balancing resistor may be removed, for example using a laser beam, until the desired resistance value and hence the desired brightness of the illuminating means has been reached.
It is often the case that the pointer of the novel pointer instrument pivots only over a range of 120xc2x0 to 270xc2x0. In this case, the electrical connection between the connecting sleeve and the power supply is particularly simply configured, according to another advantageous development of the invention, if the connecting sleeve has sinuous wires of conductive plastic that are injection molded on. By virtue of the sinuous shape, the wires can be bent and stretched easily, by which means the movement of the pointer shaft is not impeded.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, contact is made between the connecting sleeve and the power supply in a particularly space-saving manner if a bifilar helical spring with a low spring force is soldered onto the connecting contacts of the connecting sleeve.
In the case of pointers that pivot over a particularly large range, contact may be made with the connecting sleeve, as in the known pointer instrument, using spiral springs, which would then have to be soldered or plugged onto the connecting sleeve. These spiral springs either could have a particularly low spring force or could be arranged in pairs and in opposite directions. However, contact is made between the connecting sleeve and the power supply particularly simply in design terms if the pointer instrument has a flexible, spiral sheet with conductor tracks printed on it, and the conductor tracks are soldered or clamped to the power supply and to the connecting contacts of the connecting sleeve. Such a sheet can be produced particularly cost-effectively, and has a barely perceptible spring force.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, contact is made between the connecting sleeve and the power supply particularly simply if a strip of a heat-seal sheet with conductor tracks printed on it is arranged between the connecting sleeve and the power supply, the heat-seal sheet being swept in a U shape between the power supply and the connecting sleeve when the pointer is in a basic position. By the heat-seal sheet being heated and pressed simultaneously onto the connecting contacts of the connecting sleeve and of the power supply, this sheet is fastened and, at the same time, contact is made with it.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the connecting sleeve is quick to assemble and disassemble if the connecting sleeve has slip rings running around its circumference at different heights, against which prestressed contact springs rest, these springs being connected to the power supply of the pointer instrument. Since in this case the number of slip rings is limited only by the dimensions of the connecting sleeve, it is possible here to insert a plurality of illuminating means very easily and to activate them differently. For example, a plurality of illuminating means of different colors can be inserted, and the pointer can, in different states, be illuminated in different colors.
The connecting sleeve has no mechanical connection to the power supply of the pointer instrument if the connecting sleeve has a first coil, which is located opposite a second coil of the pointer instrument, the second coil being designed to set up a magnetic field and to generate an electric current in the first coil. This configuration is particularly advantageous in the case of pointers which are intended to have the lowest possible inherent damping. Furthermore, in this case the risk of contamination of slip rings or of breakage of springs and sheets is ruled out.


A semiconductor memory device simultaneously selects an object cell and a counter cell which connect with a common bit line, simultaneously activates sub-word lines of the object cell and the counter cell after predetermined levels are written in the object cell and the counter cell, simultaneously read data of the object cell and the counter cell from the common bit line, and hence, determines whether the object cell is normal or defective, based on a voltage level of the common bit line. Thereby, the defective cell in the semiconductor memory device can be reliably detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a method of a defective cell test that can examine a precise detection test for the defective cell.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-280754, filed Oct. 29, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
In a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), the number of memory cells is too large to produce all memory cells completely. Therefore, there is a case in which a few memory cells have a poor storage capacitance due to production problems. For such memory cells having a defect, it is important to reliably detect the defect in a test process. If the defect can be detected, the defective cell can be exchanged for a cell with no defects. Even though the test process is performed after the exchanging process, a release of the rejected product can be prevented if a defect is detected.
An operation of the memory cell having a poor storage capacitance is described hereinafter for the case in which a word line is actually activated and data is output to a sense amplifier. FIG. 12 shows a timing chart in the case that a memory cell portion obtains an initial voltage of 0 V.
As shown in FIG. 12, when the word line is activated from 0 V (GND level) to a word voltage VPP, memory cell data is leaked to a bit line. In this case, since the defective cell has few cell capacitances and the quantity of electric charge is small, the bit line voltage of the defective cell is reduced slightly.
On the other hand, since a normal cell has a sufficiently large capacitance and the quantity of electric charge thereof is large, a bit line voltage of the normal cell is highly reduced compared to the defective cell. As a result, a differential voltage of the bit line voltage from a voltage of bit line reference (VBLR) is quite small for the defective cell, while the differential voltage is large enough for the normal cell.
As described above, it is revealed that the differential voltage of the bit line is different for the normal cell and the defective cell. If the differential voltage is large, operation of the sense amplifier becomes stable. However, if the differential voltage is small, the operation of the sense amplifier becomes unstable. In some cases, the sense amplifier may fail to operate, and read data which has inverted logic.
However, since the bit line voltage of the defective cell is passably lower than the VBLR as shown in FIG. 12, the sense amplifier may operate as desired. This means that the defective cell cannot be detected in the actual test process.
Since the defective cell may induce an incorrect operation of the sense amplifier, the defective cell should be reliably detected during the test process. For this reason, the test under an accelerated condition that easily induces a failure is generally examined. There are many types of the test mode that provides the accelerated condition during the DRAM test. In order to reliably induce an incorrect operation of the sense amplifier when the differential voltage is small, there is a method that changes the VBLR level.
When the VBLR level is changed, the differential voltage which is received by the sense amplifier during the read out operation is changed. For such a case, the differential voltage is described hereinafter. Based on charge conservation law, the following equation (1) is derived as;Cs×Vs+Cb×VBLR=(Cs+Cb)×Vb  (1).
Therefore, the differential voltage ΔV is obtained as;
                                                                        Δ                                                                                V                            =                                                                VBLR                  -                  Vb                                                                                                                =                                                                        VBLR                    -                                                                  (                                                                              Cs                            ×                            Vs                                                    +                                                      Cb                            ×                            VBLR                                                                          )                                            /                                              (                                                  Cs                          +                          Cb                                                )                                                                                                                          ,                                                          (        2        )            where Cs is the cell capacitance, Cb is the bit line capacitance, Vs is the cell voltage, VBLR is the bit line stand-by voltage, and Vb is the bit line voltage after activating the word line.
In the case of reading out L-data, the cell voltage Vs can be set to 0 V, hence, the differential voltage ΔVL is obtained as;ΔVL=VBLR×Cs/(Cs+Cb)  (3).
In the case of reading out H-data, the cell voltage Vs is set to Va, hence, the differential voltage ΔVH is obtained as;ΔVH=(Va−VBLR)×Cs/(Cs+Cb)  (4).
From Eq. (3), for the case of reading out L-data, the differential voltage ΔVL becomes low through the VBLR being set low, so that the accelerated condition can be realized. On the other hand, for the case of reading out H-data, from Eq. (4), the differential voltage ΔVH becomes low through the VBLR being set high, so that the accelerated condition can be realized.
A semiconductor memory device that enables simultaneous read-out through a bit line shared by a plurality of cells is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2732762. A semiconductor memory device that includes a circuit generating a reference voltage is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 2005-339590. A semiconductor memory device that simultaneously activates a plurality of word lines is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 2006-260735. However, the prior art fails to disclose a semiconductor memory device that examines the defective cell test under the accelerated condition by changing the voltage of bit line reference.
According to the conventional failure detection test in the semiconductor memory device, there has explained the method, in the case of reading out the cell by the acceleration, that provides the accelerated condition in which the differential voltage is smaller during the sense amplifier operation than that of an usual operation by changing the VBLR, so as to examine the failure detection test.
Even if the accelerated condition is applied, although the differential voltage decreases, the differential voltage does not invert to the reference voltage. The invert means that the bit line voltage is higher or lower than the reference voltage when the L-data or the H-data is read out. Accordingly, since the sense amplifier correctly operates, the defective cell may not be detected. Particularly, since the cell capacitance Cs of the defective cell is small, it is revealed from Eqs. (3) and (4), in this case, that the effect of the accelerated condition by changing the VBLR on the differential voltage is small.

Semiconductor memory device and method of defective cell test by adjusting a bitline reference/precharge level


A hybrid vehicle includes an engine having at least one cylinder and an electric machine that drives the engine during a start-up period. A control module monitors a rotational speed of the engine and regulates torque generated by the electric machine based on the rotational speed during the start-up period and a maximum discharge power available to power the electric machine.

Hybrid vehicles are driven by multiple powerplants including, but not limited to an internal combustion engine and an electric machine. The electric machine functions as a motor/generator. In a generator mode, the electric machine is driven by the engine to generate electrical energy used to power electrical loads or charge batteries. In a motor mode, the electric machine supplements the engine, providing drive torque to drive the vehicle drivetrain.
When the hybrid vehicle is at rest and no drive torque is required, the engine is deactivated. Vehicle launch is initiated by the operator in one of several manners including, but not limited to, depressing an accelerator pedal and releasing pressure from a brake pedal. Prior to activating the engine, the electric machine spins up or drives the engine to a desired idle speed. As the engine spins up to idle speed, compression torque induces speed sag. This causes resonance within the powertrain, which can be sensed by the operator.

Engine spin-up control with natural torque smoothing


An information processing system includes a first processor that accesses a first memory, a second processor that accesses a second memory, and a data transfer unit for executing data transfer between the first memory and the second memory. The first processor executes functions of translating an instruction out of instructions included in the program except a memory access instruction into an instruction for the second processor and translating the memory access instruction into an instruction sequence containing a call instruction of the program to transfer the access data on the first memory to the second memory via a data transfer unit.

In conventional information processing systems, there is proposed to employ an asymmetric multiprocessor configuration, in which equipping the system with both a general-purpose processor suitable for processing various application programs and a specialized processor suitable for the particular application programs, such as programs dealing with multimedia data.
In the asymmetric multiprocessor configuration, instructions suitable for respective application programs are provided to the general-purpose processor and the specialized processor to make a processing performance and an implementation efficient. For this reason, normally, sets of executable instructions for each of the processors are designed to be different. In case both the general-purpose processor and the specialized processor having different instruction sets execute the program having the same function, the program corresponding to the instruction set for the general-purpose processor and the program corresponding to the instruction set for the specialized processor are needed.
However, when such a configuration is employed, in which programs are prepared for every processors different with one another in instruction sets, there occurs a problem that a storage area of the memory used to store the programs will be increased.
Therefore, a technology for a binary translator that translates a program designed based on an instruction set for the general-purpose processor into a program having an instruction set for the specialized processor. An example of such technology is disclosed in an international patent application published under the publication number: WO00/45257.
As described above, in the document WO00/45257, the technology to translate the program designed based on the instruction set for the general-purpose processor into the program having the instruction set for the specialized processor is disclosed.
However, for example, when changing the processor that executes the program dynamically from the general-purpose processor to the specialized processor in accordance with current processing loads of respective processors, the specialized processor that succeeds to the execution of the program must access the data used in executing the program, which is stored in a main memory or a local memory that are provided for the general-purpose processor that executed the program before the succession.
On the other hand, some specialized processors are configured such that it cannot access an external memory such as the local memory of other processor. In such case, even though the program designed based on the instruction set for the general-purpose processor is translated into the program corresponding to the instruction set for the specialized processor, the specialized processor cannot access the data used in executing the program. As a result, such a problem existed that the translated program cannot be correctly executed by the specialized processor.

Accessing data in inaccessible memory while emulating memory access instruction by executing translated instructions including call to transfer data to accessible memory


In some embodiments, a construction project administration system and method are disclosed that queries an administrator as to ownership, construction specifications, bidding parameters etc. for a proposed construction project using active first, second and third level questions and accepts and stores replies to the active questions. The stored replies can be compared to predetermined answers, and questions that become irrelevant based on the answers can be deactivated and taken off a list of questions to be asked. After a sufficient amount of questions are answered, the system can auto-configure a process for online construction management. For example a website can be set up that can be used by all parties to the project to automate communications, the exchange of data, status updates etc. including the submission of bids, acceptance of bids, and the award of contracts and many more paperless construction management features.

Construction projects account for a relatively large percentage of the United States economy. Construction projects can be dissected into discrete phases, such as a planning phase, a tendering phase (i.e. request for bids phase), a letting and/or job awarding phase, a bid wind down phase, a financing phase, a procurement phase, construction management phase, a deliverable approval phase, an awarding of occupancy phase, and a punch out phase and a closing phase. Administration of each phase is no small task and typically required an army of skilled personal.
More specifically, the planning phase can include engaging a relator, and finding a suitable piece of land, locating an acceptable architect, finding an engineering firm 110 to create the drawing package and finding a liaison to obtain plan approval from the appropriate governmental entities. It can be appreciated that, for even a medium sized construction project there are many entities to be coordinated and many decisions to be made in each stage and sloppy administration and miscommunications can be very costly for management of a construction project from "cradle to grave.
It can be appreciated that, just the task of efficiently tender a request for bids on many construction projects requires many issues to be addressed where a failure in this phase can be extremely costly the owner. Thus, inefficient construction management is often very costly because there are many important issues in each phase, which if not properly addressed or if not addressed in a timely manner, can double or triple the cost of each stage. For example, in the biding stage if issues such as what qualifications will be required of general contractors, auditors, architects, engineer and sub-contractors are not well defined, if how the tendered documents will be accessed by a prospective bidders, what a prospective bidder will be required to provide, what the bonding requirements will be, how addendums will be administrated, when, where and how the bid will be let, how the permitting will be administrated, how the contractors will be paid, how the project will be financed and hundreds of other large and small issues are not appropriately addresses the cost of the finished project can become grossly over budget.
In view of the complexity of administrating a construction project, most would agree that a flexible tool that would allow for the efficient administration and management of the bidding process alone could and would save an owner a significant amount of money. It can also be appreciated that there is no "one size fits all" process that will provide efficient and effective management and administration for each and all phase of a construction process because each owner, each project and each phase will have specific needs, circumstances and requirements.
For example, if the owner of a construction project is a private entity, as opposed to a government or quasi-government agency, many additional considerations need to be managed and administered, for example meeting minority quotas, the openness of the project data, building code requirements to be met etc. Non-compliance with the legal requirements for a construction project and monitoring thereof, can prove expensive and even disastrous if not documented and attended to. It can further be appreciated how different a process for administrating a private construction project is than the process for administrating a construction project for a state run agency. Regardless of the entity (i.e. private or government) administrating and managing building and improvements to, infrastructure complex, inefficient and expensive and if administration and management lacks and proper procedures or if the proper procedures are not followed, serious costs and liability can result.
As eluded to above, in a common scenario when an entity, such as owner wants to build improvements, or desires construction services the owner will hire a realtor to find land and an architect to develop a concept that meets the entity's needs. In turn, the architect may hire an engineering firm to do the engineering and then the architect will distribute or publish a request for bids or provide a package of tender documents (Specifications, Drawings and Addenda) to prospective bidders, often general contractors. However, to comply with the law, to be fair to bidders and in order to select "the best" bidder, and save money in all phases, many processes and regulations have to be defined and followed by all involved parties. In many scenarios, the government has strict guidelines for various aspects of the overall project and it is very important that all of these guidelines are complied with. If the bidding, awarding and building process is not properly monitored and administrated and not in compliance, expensive lawsuits between one or more parties often results.
Currently, state of the art competitive bid processes utilized in the construction industry require general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers alike to generate and hand deliver hard copies or paper documents to the architect, prior to the time of bid letting. The general contractor typically receives and assembles quotations/offers/bids from numerous subcontractors, bonding agencies, and suppliers, and then reviews these documents, compiles a bid, reviews the bid for completeness and accuracy and then appoints an employee to drive to a specified bid letting location often hundreds of mile away from the general contractors office to timely submit a completed bid for a project. This process costs every general contractor who bids thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars for each project bid. Then, if a general contractor's has an error, is incomplete or is not timely filed, the bid will not be accepted or approved by the bid administrator eliminating any chance that the general contractor might recouping the time and expense invested in the bid. Thus, a bid package with a simple error or defect can result in a general contractor loosing ten thousand dollars with no hope of recovery of such an expense.
As part of this process a general contractor must painstakingly acquire all bids from all required subcontractors, material suppliers etc., a sufficient time in advance of the bid deadline such that the general contractor can review and compile all of these sub-bids and put all of the pieces of the finished bid together, print the entire bid out on paper, then get the bid timely delivered in person to the architect who after determining if the bid meets the minimum requirements will open the bid.
Thus, in a typical bid letting process, the general contractor will hand deliver a paper bid at a location indicated in the instructions to bidders prior to a specified day and time. After the deadline for bid submission has passed, the administrator will not accept any bids. When an architect is the bid administrator an architect will typically open the bids one by one, insuring that the bid meets the critical requirements. For public construction projects, after opening a bid, the architect will proceed to read aloud each bid received and opened. Typically, the bid courier or delivery person stays for the letting and records what the bit letting data on a bid tabulation sheet. The representative would then drive many miles back to the office to disclose the results to the principals of the construction company.
It can be appreciated that the current manual bidding system requires a general contractor to send a competent person, often for a full work day, to deliver the bid often driving several hundred miles to deliver the bid and return with results. Accordingly, the bid delivery process alone often costs a general contractor from five hundred to over a thousand dollars on bid day due to wages, travel expenses and loss of production. It would be beneficial to have a paperless construction project administration and management system that could set up, monitor, manage and administrate a construction process saving time, money, resources, and the environment.

Arrangements for administrating and managing a construction project


A method for processing signals received by a plurality of receiving antennas in a radar system, for example for road safety, which emits sequences of chirp-modulated signals, wherein the received signals are mixed with local replicas of the transmitted signals so as to generate, for each receiving antenna, a sequence of detection signals. The detection signals are subjected to Fourier-transform processing and beam-forming processing for generating values of range, azimuth, and speed for at least one obstacle or “target” detected by the radar system. The method includes an acquisition process for yielding approximate values of range and azimuth of the obstacle, and a tracking process for yielding accurate range, azimuth and speed values of the obstacle itself.

1. Technical Field
The description relates to the processing of radar signals.
Various embodiments may refer to the processing of radar signals in the context of road-safety systems.
Various embodiments may refer to radar systems for new-generation motor vehicles.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A growing number of currently produced vehicles are equipped with radar sensors that may be used, for example, as parking sensors (for warning of the closeness of obstacles and possibly for enabling automatic execution of the parking maneuver) and/or with anti-collision function (for example, to warn the driver that he is approaching too closely another motor vehicle in front of him with the consequent increase in the risk of bumping into said vehicle in the event of sharp braking on the part of said vehicle).
For new-generation vehicles, the extension of the radar functions may be envisaged according to the modalities represented schematically in FIG. 1, namely, in conditions in which a radar system R mounted on board a vehicle V is able to detect, in addition to the presence and to the distance or range of possible obstacles, also further parameters such as, for example, the angular position (azimuth), the speed, and other kinematic parameters of the obstacle (more commonly referred to, in the technical literature on radar systems, as "target").
Said functions may prove particularly useful in a context such as the one represented schematically in FIG. 1, hence in a situation where the radar R can perform the function of locating, for example, other moving vehicles or pedestrians crossing over a zebra crossing, said vehicles and/or pedestrians constituting, in fact, the "targets" of the action of detection performed by the radar and certainly not the targets for the vehicle V on which the radar R is installed.
Various considerations, for example of reliability of operation, lead to suggesting the use, for a function such as the one described, of LFMCW (Linear Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave) radar systems.
A radar of this nature is suited to the implementation of beam-forming/beam-steering functions, with consequent possibility of controlling the conformation of the beam being received and also of controlling steering thereof, i.e., the receiving direction, with the consequent possibility of improving the action of detection of the angular position of the obstacle or target.
As represented schematically in FIG. 2, a radar system of this nature may basically include a radio-frequency section 10 coming under (at least) one transmitting antenna Tx and at least one receiving antenna (usually a plurality of receiving antennas) Rx. Co-operating with the radio-frequency section 10 is a base-band device 12 that is able to perform functions such as acquisition, beam forming/steering, tracking, etc. The aim of this is to yield at output (for example, for visual and/or acoustic presentation on a display provided on the vehicle V equipped with the radar system R) data representing output information OI regarding the range, angular position (azimuth), speed, possibly acceleration, etc., of the targets.
As represented schematically in FIG. 3, the signal TS transmitted by an LFMCW radar is a sequence of chirps centred around a given frequency. For example, for applications in the automotive sector, said frequency may be chosen at a value of 77 GHz. Each chirp may be a frequency-modulated sinusoidal wave with a frequency f varying according to a ramp as a function of time, with a modulation depth BW that may range from some megahertz to some hundreds of megahertz.
The echo signal RS received reflected by the target is substantially a copy (attenuated in amplitude) of the transmitted signal TS delayed in time by an interval Tau corresponding to the round-trip time with respect to the target. The received signal RS may be mixed, according to a general heterodyne receiver scheme, with a (local) replica of the transmitted signal, so as to generate an intermediate-frequency signal IF. After amplification and treatments of various nature (band limiting, filtering) the intermediate-frequency signal IF may be subjected to processing (for example, after analog-to-digital conversion) within the base-band device 12 that generates the information OI on the target.
The diagram of FIG. 4, where Tchirp indicates the duration of each chirp of the signal, represents the main parameters that distinguish the transmitted signal TS and the received signal RS in a LFMCW radar system.
To a fair approximation, the delay Tau and the distance (range) of the target are linked according to the relationTau=2R/c
where c is the speed of light.
The delay Tau is in turn linked to the frequency IF of the intermediate-frequency signal deriving from mixing according to the relationIF=(BW/Tchirp)·Tau
From the measurement of the frequency IF it is thus possible to arrive at the range.
The information content of the received signal RS is, however, richer, in so far as the received signal RS brings with it information not only on the range R of the target P but also on its movement parameters (for example, speed, acceleration, etc.). Furthermore, if—as is schematically illustrated in FIG. 5—a number of receiving antennas RX is used (which are to be considered co-located with respect to one another, namely located in one and the same position with distances of separation much shorter than the range R where the target is located), operating with modalities basically amounting to beam-forming/beam-steering techniques, it is possible to obtain also information on the angular position (azimuth) of the target P.
For example, as illustrated in Barrick, D. E., "FM/CW radar signals and digital processing," NOAA Tech. Report ERL 283-WPL 26, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Boulder, Colo. 1973, the range and speed information may be extracted using a two-dimensional Fourier transform (for example, 2D FFT), applied to an input matrix composed using the echoes of a number of successive and contiguous chirp signals. The presence of a peak in the output matrix of the 2D FFT processing reveals the presence of a target, and from the corresponding indices it is possible to infer an indication of the values of range and of speed. The aforesaid input matrix may include, in each row, the values regarding a single ramp of the chirp signal, while the subsequent rows refer to the subsequent ramps of the chirp signal. Each column of the matrix represents, instead, a given "sample" in the chirp waveform, as received in successive ramps of the chirp signal.
Furthermore, when there is available a set of received signals RS obtained via a number of receiving antennas RX it is possible to combine the signal coming from different antennas and calculate, by applying a beam-forming algorithm that may be implemented completely in the numeric field, the direction of arrival (DOA) of the echo signal, which enables detection of the angular position (azimuth) of the target with respect to the transmitter.
In the possible mode of use exemplified in FIG. 1, a number of targets, such as for example the pedestrians P1, P2, P3, and P4 crossing over on a zebra crossing can be detected by the radar of a vehicle V that is arriving as located at different ranges and in different angular positions (azimuths), with yet further possible differences also as regards other movement parameters, such as for example the speed of pedestrians crossing over a zebra crossing.
The diagram of FIG. 6 illustrates a possible architecture of implementation of a scheme, as represented in general in FIG. 2, regarding a radar system of the type considered herein, i.e., a radar system R that emits sequences of chirp-modulated signals TS in which the signals RS received via a plurality of receiving antennas RX are mixed with local replicas of the or chirp-modulated transmission signals TS to produce, for each receiving antenna RX, a sequence of detection signals, it being possible to subject the detection signals thus obtained to Fourier-transform processing and beam-forming processing so as to generate values of range R, azimuth θ, and speed for at least one target P1-P4 of the radar system R.
In the diagram of FIG. 6 provided by way of example, it is assumed that the transmitting antenna TX (for simplicity of description reference will be made to a single transmitting antenna, even though it is possible to use an antenna array also in transmission, as illustrated in FIG. 5) is supplied by a generator 100 of the chirp transmission signal TS comprised in the radio-frequency stage 10, while the signal in reception R is assumed as coming from a plurality of k receiving antennas RS, each of which transfers to the radio-frequency stage 10 a respective signal in reception. Once mixed in a corresponding mixer 102 with a replica of the signal in transmission TS, each signal in reception produces a respective intermediate-frequency signal component IF. According to various known solutions, the various intermediate-frequency signals can be subjected to operations of filtering for de-noising, automatic gain control, etc. (implemented, for instance, in modules designated as a whole by 104) and to a subsequent analog-to-digital conversion (modules 106) with a view to transfer thereof to the base-band stage 12 dedicated to processing of the detection signals thus obtained.
According to various solutions, the treatment operations in question may be executed in the radio-frequency stage 10 operating on a number k of channels in parallel as many as are the receiving antennas RX and hence the components of the intermediate-frequency signal IF.
A similar structure on a number of channels organized in parallel (even only in a virtual way, i.e., without an effective separation) can be kept in the base-band stage 12 by providing buffer memories 120 from which the data may be transferred to two-dimensional Fourier-transform (2D FFT) processing modules 122.
From here the "FFT transformed" signals may pass on to a further stage 124, which is entrusted with execution of the beam-forming/beam-steering processing as a function of values of angles of azimuth determined by acting on an input 124a. A module 126 set at the output of the module 124 may perform the function of detecting the peaks of the signals deriving from the 2D FFT treatment after beam-forming/beam-steering processing.
The criteria of execution of the processing functions recalled previously are to be deemed in themselves known in the art (also from the bibliographical reference cited previously) and hence such as not to require a detailed description herein.
In this regard, it will be appreciated that, except for what will otherwise be described in what follows, what has been illustrated previously with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 applies also to the exemplary embodiments.

Method and devices for processing radar signals


A pressure sensor comprises a pair of pressure compartments with deflective end walls and an elongated displaceable member with two extremities respectively anchored to the deflective end walls of the two pressure compartments, and a capacitor with first series of capacitor plates affixed to the elongated displaceable member and a second series of capacitor plates disposed in an alternating arrangement with the first series of the capacitor plates and affixed to a stationary member, wherein the pressure difference between the two pressure compartments displaces the elongated displaceable member in axial directions thereof and changes the capacitance value between the first and second series of capacitor plates and, consequently, the numerical value of the differential pressure is determined as a function of the measured value of the capacitance.

With few exceptions, the existing pressure sensors operating on the principles of capacitance change as a function of the pressure under measurement employ a single or pair of capacitors including a single tensioned diaphragm experiencing a small deflection under pressure loading. As the deflection of the diaphragm is limited to a small value, the turn-down ratio (ratio of the maximum to minimum values of the measurable pressure) and resolution of the existing pressure sensors are less than satisfactory. For example, a differential pressure sensor measuring the dynamic pressure of the fluid flow varying in a range of 100 to 1 must have a 10,000 to 1 range in the differential pressure measurement. A differential pressure sensor with a such a high value of turn-down ratio is not commonly available at the present time.


An image processing apparatus functions to convert a first image derived as color-pixel data into a second image generated by a lesser number of corresponding data through a pixel-skipping process. The first image data is segmented into pixel blocks each consisting of a plurality of the color-pixel data relative to the number of second-image pixels to be generated. Each pixel block corresponds to one pixel composing the second image, and serves as an objective block from which the data to produce the corresponding second-image pixel is determined. If this determination cannot be made, the relevant color-pixel data is determined by comparative reference to color data of both the objective pixel block and that of adjacent pixel blocks. Original dot and fine-line features of the first image are thus maintained in the pixel-skipped second image.

The present invention relates to image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus which generates, through a pixel-skipping process, a pixel-reduced image from an original image.
In photolithographic printing, a pre-press proof is prepared by scanning a layout sheet to obtain its image information in data form. The so obtained is digitalized, whereby image correction, improvement, color adding, etc. processes may be carried out, during which the obtained image is displayed on a screen.
In order to facilitate image-processing, the on-screen image is "pixel-skipped" such that the display image is composed of a number of pixels less than that corresponding to the original, making the density of the obtained image suitable for the display, as well as for printing apparatus.
Conventionally, an image processing apparatus simply skips display image-generating pixels according to a pixel skipping ratio. However, this results in one side effect wherein dot and fine-line features of an image may disappear when the image undergoes the pixel-skipping process.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 151877/1989 and Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 152868/1989 disclose a technology which can solve the above problem of disappearing fine line features. Image processing apparatus as disclosed in the documents determine during a pixel-skipping process whether or not each pixel potentially to be skipped is isolated in color; in case an examined (objective) pixel is isolated, an adjacent pixel which is not isolated is skipped instead.
According to the foregoing technology, however, if the adjacent as well as the objective pixel is isolated, the adjacent pixel is nonetheless skipped. Consequently, dot and fine-line characteristics of the original image are degraded in the obtained image. In cases in which the skipping ratio is high, i.e., when a large number of pixels are skipped, the problem can become severe, because the number of pixels that are skipped may be larger than that of the remaining pixels forming the obtained image.

Pixel-skipping apparatus in an image processor