A computer system with high-speed memory devices includes one or more temperature sensors and/or environmental sensors that monitor environmental parameters that may affect the operation of the high-speed memory devices. The sensor values are provided to control logic in a memory controller that can intelligently modify the operation of the memory devices in response to changing environmental conditions. Thus, in response to deteriorating environmental conditions, the memory controller may increase the frequency of calibration cycles. The sensors may be provided on multiple channels, if the memory system is configured with multiple channels, or may be individually associated with memory devices. In addition, the memory controller also monitors the expected remaining life of the memory devices, and the number of errors occurring in the memory devices, and based on these parameters, may change the frequency of the calibration cycles.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to memory systems that include high speed memory devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to memory systems, such as Direct Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM), that require calibration cycles to insure proper operation. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a memory system that includes a temperature sensor associated with high speed memory devices, and a memory controller that modifies the frequency of calibration cycles based on the readings received from the temperature sensor.
2. Background of the Invention
Almost all computer systems include a processor and a system memory. The system memory functions as the working memory of the computer system, where data is stored that has been or will be used by the processor and other system components. The system memory typically includes banks of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuits. According to normal convention, a memory controller interfaces the processor to a memory bus that connects electrically to the DRAM circuits. While DRAM circuits have become increasingly faster, the speed of memory systems typically lags behind the speed of the processor. Because of the large quantity of data that is stored in the system memory, it may at times be a bottleneck that slows down the performance of the computer system. Because of this disparity in speed, in most computer systems the processor must wait for data to be stored (xe2x80x9cwrittenxe2x80x9d) and retrieved (xe2x80x9creadxe2x80x9d) from DRAM memory. The more wait states that a processor encounters, the slower the performance of the computer system.
The main memory provides storage for a large number of instructions and/or a large amount of data for use by the processor, providing faster access to the instructions and/or data than would otherwise be achieved if the processor were forced to retrieve data from a disk or drive. However, the access times of modem RAMs are significantly longer than the clock cycle period of modem processors. To minimize the latency of the system, various high-speed memory devices have been introduced to the market. An example of such a high-speed memory device is the Direct RDRAM device developed by Rambus. See xe2x80x9cRAMBUS Preliminary Information Direct RDRAM(trademark)xe2x80x9d, Document DL0060 Version 1.01; xe2x80x9cDirect Rambus(trademark) RIMM(trademark) Module Specification Version 1.0xe2x80x9d, Document SL-0006-100; xe2x80x9cRambus(copyright) RIMM(trademark) Module (with 128/144 Mb RDRAMs)xe2x80x9d Document DL00084, Version 1.1, which are incorporated by reference herein. As indicated in the Rambus specifications, the Direct RDRAM memory is capable of transferring 1.6 GB per second per DRAM device.
Each Direct RDRAM device typically includes 32 banks, with 512 rows per bank, although other size RDRAM devices may be available. Depending on the size of the RDRAM device, each row (or page) typically has either 1 kilobyte or 2 kilobytes of memory storage capability. The Direct RDRAM devices are arranged in channels, with each channel currently capable of supporting up to 16 Direct RDRAM devices. One or more Direct RDRAM devices may be packaged in Rambus In-line Memory Modules (RIMMs). Multiple channels may be provided in a computer system to expand the memory capabilities of the system.
While Direct RDRAM and similar memory devices are theoretically capable of operating at very high speeds, they exhibit certain severe operating constraints that can significantly degrade performance. To achieve the high operational speeds, the memory devices have very precise timing requirements, with very little margin or tolerance for deviation. Parameters for read transactions will be discussed briefly to illustrate some of the timing issues.
As shown in FIG. 1, the Direct RDRAM couples to a memory controller (which includes a Rambus ASIC Cell or xe2x80x9cRACxe2x80x9d) via two clock signal lines, three Row signal lines, five Column signal lines, and two data busses. The clock lines include a Clock-to-Master (CTM) line, and a Clock-from-Master (CFM) line that are used to synchronize signals to the memory controller and from the memory controller, respectively. The Row signal lines and Column signal lines form part of a control and address bus (RQ bus) that typically includes eight lines. The Row signal lines (ROW2 . . . ROW0) are used primarily to control row accesses in the memory, while the Column signal lines (COL4 . . . COL0) are used primarily to control column accesses. The data busses include a DQA (DQA8 . . . DQ0) and a DQB data bus (DQB8 . . . DQ0), that couple to sense amps on opposite sides of the memory banks.
The three Row lines identify which of the 512 possible rows is addressed by presenting nine row bits (R8 . . . R0) in three subsequent half clock cycles (29=512), as shown in FIG. 2. The device row (DR) bits (DR3 . . . DR0) identify which of the 16 possible memory devices is targeted, while the five Bank row (BR) bits (BR4 . . . BR0) identify which of the 32 banks is targeted in that device. Similarly, and as shown in FIG. 3, the five Column lines identify which of the 64 possible columns is being addressed by presenting 7 column bits (C6 . . . C0) in two subsequent half cycles. The device column (DC) bits (DC4 . . . DC0) identify which of the memory devices is targeted, while the five Bank column (BC) bits (BC4 . . . BC0) identify which of the 32 banks is targeted.
Referring to FIG. 4A, a read transaction is performed on a Direct RDRAM device by asserting an Activate command in a ROWA (row activate) packet on the Row signal lines. The Activate command identifies the device, bank and row address of the targeted memory location. A time period tRCD later, a Read command is issued in a Column operation (COLC) packet on the Column signal lines. The Read command identifies the device, bank, and column address of the targeted memory location. Thus, the Activate command and Read command in conjunction identify the specific memory location being accessed, with the Activate command identifying the row, and the Read command identifying the column.
A time period tCAC after the Read command, a read data dualoct (16 bytes) is returned by the targeted memory device. The time period tCAC includes one to five cycles of round-trip propagation delay on the channel. According to current Rambus specifications, the tCAC period may be programmed to a range of values that vary from 7 tCYCLE to 12 tCYCLE. The particular value selected for tCAC depends on the number of RDRAM devices on the channel and the RDRAM timing bin so that the round trip propagation delay is equalized for all memory devices. Thus, based on the programmed timing parameters, the memory controller expects that during read cycles, all memory devices will return read data within a specified number of clock cycles after the Read command is asserted. Failure to return data in accordance with these timing parameters will cause data corruption, and may result in failure of the memory system.
The above timing parameters for a read transaction is just one example of the critical nature of timing in a high speed memory device, where the delay of a few nanoseconds can result in data corruption. Unfortunately, high-speed memory devices such as Direct RDRAM have proven highly susceptible to temperature and other environmental conditions such as humidity. If such conditions change during operation, the round-trip propagation delay of the signals propagating between the memory controller and the memory devices will be affected. If the actual propagation delay varies from the programmed delay, the memory system may experience data corruption.
As shown in the example of FIG. 4B, a write transaction to an RDRAM memory device begins by activating a bank in a memory device with an Activate command in a ROW activate packet. A time period tRCD-tRTR later, a Write command issues in a Column operation packet, with the tRCD interval measured to the end of the Column operation packet, with the first retire command. The Activate command includes the device, bank, and row address (abbreviated in FIG. 4B as a0), while the Write command includes device, bank, and column address (abbreviated as a1). A time period tCWD after the Write command, the write data dualoct D(a1) issues. A time period tCC after the first Column operation packet, a second Column operation packet issues on the Column wires, containing a Write a2 command. The a2 address has the same device and bank address as the a1 address, but a different column address. A time tCWD after the second Write command, a second write data dualoct D(a2) issues. A time tRTR after each Write command, a Column operation packet issues causing the write buffer to automatically retire. At the same time, a column mask packet may issue.
Subsequently, a Precharge command issues in a Row operation packet on the Row pins. This causes the addressed bank to precharge, so that a different row in that bank, or an adjacent bank, may be activated. The address (a3) includes the same device and bank address as the a0, a1, and a2 addresses. The Precharge command must occur a time period tRAS or more after the original Activate command. In addition, the Precharge command must occur a time period tRTP or more after the last Column operation packet that causes an automatic retire. A subsequent Activate command (b0) to the same device and bank, but different row, must occur a time tRC or more after the first Activate command, and a time tRP or more after the Precharge command to ensure that the bank and the associated sense amps are precharged. Thus, because transaction b targets the same device and bank, but a different row, it must not start until the prior transaction a completes. Transactions to other banks or other devices may be issued during transaction a.
In an attempt to resolve operational problems with high speed memory devices such as RDRAM, the memory controller may be designed or programmed to perform certain calibration cycles on a periodic basis. Thus, for example, memory controllers used with Direct RDRAM memory device perform current and temperature calibrations on a periodic basis. For current calibrations, a current calibration cycle is performed to every DRDAM device once every tCCTRL interval to maintain the IOL current output within its proper range. As shown in the example of FIG. 5, four Column extended operation (COLX) packets are asserted by the memory controller with a Calibrate (CAL) command. These Calibrate commands cause the RDRAM to drive four calibration packets Q(a0) a time period tCAC after the CAL command on the DQA4 . . . 3 and DQB4 . . . 3 wires. In addition, the TSQ bit of the INIT register is driven on the DQA5 wire during the same interval as the calibration packets. The TSQ bit indicates when a temperature trip point has been exceeded, as measured by temperature sensing circuitry. The last COLX packet from the memory controller includes a SAM command, concatenated with the last CAL command, that causes the RDRAM to sample the last calibration packet and adjust its IOL current value.
The Calibrate command must be sent on an individual basis to each RDRAM device so that calibration packets from other devices do not interfere with the calibration. Consequently, a current control transaction must be transmitted every tCCTRL/N period, where N represents the number of RDRAMs resident on the channel. After each current calibration transaction, the device field Da of the address a0 in the Calibrate command is incremented.
Temperature calibration similarly is conducted on a periodic basis. As shown in FIG. 6, the temperature calibration sequence is broadcast once every tTEMP interval to all the RDRAMs on the channel. The TCEN and TCAL are row opcode field commands in a ROW operation packet. These commands cause the slew rate of the output drivers to adjust for temperature drift. During the quiet interval, tTCQUIET, the devices being calibrated cannot be read, but can receive write transactions.
Thus, while Direct RDRAM is designed to calibrate memory devices based on current and temperature calibrations, these calibrations are performed on a rigid schedule to meet certain minimum timing requirements. In addition, these calibration cycles require long periods of idle time, during which no read cycle is permitted to the memory devices being calibrated. This idle time can add significant latency to any queued read cycles. Currently, the idle time for a Direct RDRAM temperature calibration cycle (the period defined for tTCQUIET is a minimum of 350 ns for a 800 MHz memory device (which is 140 clock cycles).
It would be desirable if a system could be developed that would provide greater flexibility in modifying timing parameters of memory components based on environmental conditions. It would also be advantageous if the memory controller was capable of making intelligent decisions regarding memory operating conditions based on existing environmental conditions. Despite the apparent advantages such a system would offer, to date no such system is available.
The present invention solves the deficiencies of the prior art by implementing an intelligent memory controller that monitors the immediate environment of the memory devices. A temperature sensor or other environmental sensor may be provided in association with each memory device, with selected memory devices, or on a channel basis. According to the preferred embodiment, the memory controller preferably includes the capability of adapting the operation of the memory system in response to sensed environmental conditions by changing the frequency of the calibration cycles. In addition, other parameters affecting the operation of the memory devices may also be considered in scheduling calibration cycles, including any user defined parameters, the specified mean time between failure of memory devices, the error profile of the memory devices. Based on the temperature and other parameters, the memory controller adaptively modifies the calibration frequency to minimize usage of the memory bus, while ensuring that the memory devices are calibrated as often as necessary given the environmental and operational history of the memory devices.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the memory system includes a memory controller that receives signals from a variety of environmental sensors, including temperature sensors, humidity sensors, and the like. The memory controller uses these input signals from the environmental sensors to dynamically determine calibration frequencies, thus adapting quickly to any changes in the environment. If the environment is stable, calibration may not be necessary, and therefore may be deferred to improve memory performance. Conversely, if a change in the environment occurs, a calibration may be scheduled. The calibration periods also may be varied depending on the degree of change that is measured by the sensors. Similarly, if environmental conditions improve, the memory controller may speed up the system, place all memory devices on-line, and/or decrease the frequency of calibration cycles. Similarly, the memory controller is cognizant of the operational history of the memory device, and the expected life of the memory device. If the number of memory errors increase, or if the memory device is approaching the end of its expected life, the memory controller can schedule calibration cycles more frequently to minimize errors and possibly extend the life of the memory device, or identify if the memory device needs replacing.

Adaptive calibration technique for high speed memory devices

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.P.


A portable cellular phone having a search function to do a search for operational functions in which a focused search for a desired operational function by combining an icon search with a keyword search can be performed and the operational function for which the user wants to search can be easily and rapidly searched for through a simple operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable cellular phone having a function of searching for an operational function and a method of searching for an operational function in the portable cellular phone and more particularly to the portable cellular phone having the function of searching for the operational function of performing a focusing search for a desired operational function by combining an icon search with a keyword search and the method for searching for the operational function in the portable cellular phone.
The present application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-168350 filed on Jun. 12, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, various operational functions of a portable cellular phone increase as it develops and the increase in the operational functions makes it difficult to perform an easy and rapid search for a desired operational function. In a conventional portable cellular phone, for example, a general method for searching for a desired operational function selected from two or more operational functions is known in which a numerical key assigned to a 10-button keypad is input by pressing a function invoking key (so-called "function invoking key+numerical key"). However, this search method requires memorizing of a function setting number (for example, F42 or a like), which causes a burdensome operation. To enter a function setting number, repeated pressing of a 10-button keypad many times is required, which takes time and also causes a bothersome operation. Therefore, an advent of a portable cellular phone being capable of performing an easy and rapid search for a desired operational function by a simple operation and of a searching method is expected.
A data display method and its system are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 8-234956 (Third claim to eighth claim, FIGS. 1 to 14) in which data stored in database is searched for based on a key word to be displayed. In this data display method, an icon image and a related background image are stored in a manner in which each of them corresponds to a keyword and the icon image is displayed as an icon and, when data base is searched for with a desired keyword by operating this icon, the keyword is used to display data resulting from the search in which the background image is displayed as a background.
Moreover, a data filing device which is capable of improving operability for registration and searching operations regardless of whether an amount of data is large or small is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 6-332953 (Page 4-8, FIG. 18). The data filing device has a symbol registration searching section that employs a method by which an icon is used and a keyword registration searching section that employs a method by which a keyword is input directly from a keyboard and uses properly either of the above searching sections based on a result from detection, which is performed by the document detecting section, of the number of files already registered and, when the number of files is small, the symbol registration searching section is used and, when the number of files are large, the keyword registration searching section is used.
However, the data search methods disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. Hei 8-234956 and Hei 6-332953 have a problem. That is, when a focusing search is to be performed using a keyword preset in a manner that corresponds to each of two or more operational functions, if the above methods are used, an easy and rapid search for a desired operational function by a simple operation is difficult. In the data display method disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 8-234956, by operating a displayed icon, data stored in database is searched for by using a desired keyword and searched data resulting from the search is displayed using a background image as a background, however, no consideration is given to a focusing search to be done by using a keyword.
Moreover, in the data filing device disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 6-332953, a symbol registration searching section that employs a method by which an icon is used and a keyword registration searching section that employs a method by which a keyword is input directly from a keyboard are provided and any one of searching sections is selected to be driven according to the number of files already registered, however, since the search is performed by the selected searching section, it is impossible to switch the searching section in course of search operations. Therefore, there is no way but continue searching by using the searching section first selected.

Portable cellular phone having function of searching for operational function and method for searching for operational function in portable cellular phone


Milking clusters for a milking installation have four teat cups, each teat cup having a cup housing and a teat cup liner with a top region and a suction region. A connection for a milk tube is arranged at the cup bottom or at the end of the suction region of the teat cup liner. A mouth portion of a sterile air pressure line is arranged in the top region of the teat cup liner, through which pressure line sterile air is introduced at a volumetric flow rate greater than a fluid aspiration volumetric flow rate at the milk tube, such that a sterile air blanket is established in the top region of the teat cup liner. The milking clusters with the cup liner and sterile air blanket prevent milked milk from being contaminated by contaminants and microorganisms from the shed air, extending storage life for untreated raw milk.

A milking installation or milking machine is an installation or machine used on a farm for milking livestock, in particular cows, in order to obtain milk from an udder. Depending on the type of animal shed, there are stationarily installed milking installations with milking stalls or milking robots or transportable milking machines, for example transportable on two or four wheels, which are used for milking one or more animals.
A generic milking installation or milking machine comprises one, in particular a plurality of, milking clusters, which generally have two or four teat cups which accommodate the teats of the animal to be milked. Milk tubes leading to a milking cluster claw are connected to the teat cups and, from the claw, discharge the milk via a central milk tube to a milk collection tank.
Each teat cup comprises a cylindrical hollow body, usually of stainless steel or plastics, the upper end of which is open and the lower end of which has a connection point for a milk tube and optionally for a pulsator line. A teat cup liner, which folds back over the upper opening of the teat cup, is inserted in the interior of the teat cup and receives the teat to be milked. By means of the pulsator line, a reduced pressure can be generated in the space between teat cup and teat cup liner, such that vibration of the teat cup liner massages the teat and as a result milk release can be stimulated. Milk release is thus stimulated by a pulsating reduced pressure. Teat cup liners may conventionally consist of rubber or silicone.
A prior art teat cup liner is known for example from EP 477 950 A1 which can be accommodated in a teat cup and has a particularly robust connection and extended durability.
In the modern dairy industry there is a trend towards milk, which has hitherto been subjected to thermal or chemical treatment to kill microorganisms or has been treated with UV light for sterilisation purposes, being marketed in its natural state as untreated "organic" milk without any such post-treatment steps. Hygiene here plays a significant role in the length of the storage life of the raw milk product, since any ingress by microorganisms shortens storage life and may be detrimental to the quality of the final product.
In the present state of the art, shed air contaminated with microbes and microorganisms is drawn in when the teat cups are applied and when the milking clusters are removed and contaminates the sterile raw milk flowing from the udder. Conventional shed air contains dust particles of all sizes, yeasts and moulds and various viruses and bacteria which distinctly reduce the storage life of the raw milk.
Measures for reducing the contamination of raw milk by dust and organic foreign substances in the shed air are known from the prior art. DE 10 2004 019 728 A1, for instance, discloses a milking cluster which comprises an air inlet control in which an annular filter is provided, through which the air flowing through the annular filter can flow into the teat cup. However, when such a teat cup is removed, there is nothing to prevent shed air from entering the upper opening and thus pathogens and dust particles from remaining in the teat cup on insertion of the teats and contaminating the raw milk.
DE 101 60 161 A1 furthermore discloses a milking cluster and a milking method, in which cleaning agents and disinfectants can be supplied through an air connection line, wherein an air filter may be provided for purifying compressed cleaning air. However, in the case of this milking cluster and milking method too, there is nothing to prevent contaminated shed air from entering the milking cluster before the teat cup is placed on a teat and thus the raw milk from being contaminated.
EP 743 818 B1 describes a milking cluster in which an air intake line may be guided in the cup bottom or starting from the cup bottom upwards through a pulsation chamber, through which line air which has passed through a carbon filter can be guided into the teat cup in order to reduce ingress of contaminated shed air. A reduced pressure generally prevails in the teat cup which, in the upper region, can be reduced down to 5 kPa, such that leakage air flow of shed air can be reduced, but not entirely prevented. The flow volume of filtered air is lower than the volume of air drawn off by a milk suction vacuum, such that shed air can furthermore enter the teat cup. The air line guided through the pulsation chamber passes through the teat cup liner and may result in pressure sores on the udder or a teat of the animal to be milked. Furthermore, the internal diameter of the teat cup is reduced by the air line passed through the interior of the cup. In addition, teat cups must be designed for such an air feed line leading upwards from the cup bottom; retrofitting to a conventional milking cluster is not possible. It is therefore also possible in the milking cluster known from this document for a leakage air flow to flow in, and just a small quantity of bacteria or organic contaminants may result in all the raw milk in a milk collection tank being contaminated, so distinctly reducing its storage life. Furthermore, the interior of the teat cup is made smaller and milking comfort for an animal to be milked is reduced. Retrofitting to previously known teat cups is not possible.
Products, in particular cheese, are increasingly being made from untreated raw milk and there is furthermore great consumer interest in organic milk without artificial preservatives or treatment steps for extending storage life. Bringing about a natural improvement in storage life by preventing contamination of the milk means that farmers can change over to direct selling and thus achieve higher milk prices in order to be able to make greater economic returns over the long term. Complex and energy-intensive post-treatment steps can be omitted.
The object of the invention is to propose a milking installation, a milking cluster, an associated teat cup liner and a milking method which permits a great improvement in the storage life of raw milk without complex post-treatment steps and thus provides a high-quality, natural food product, wherein the above-stated disadvantages of the prior art are overcome.
Said object is achieved by a milking cluster, a milking installation, a teat cup liner and a milking method according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention constitute the subject matter of the subclaims.

Milking installation, milking equipment and teat cup liner, and associated operating method


Digital watermark detection apparatus including detection units which calculate detected values of watermark signals by use of keys for PCM data of channels of audio content, a plurality of units which add the detected values corresponding to each of the channels and each of the keys for each possible combination of the respective channels and the respective keys, and a unit which selects and outputs one adding result from the respective adding results by the plurality of detected value adding units. Moreover, it includes units which accumulate the detected values in accumulation cycles different from one another to restore messages embedded as digital watermarks from the accumulated detected values, and perform boundary detection of the audio contents to detect the audio contents in which the digital watermarks are embedded, and a detection result output unit which synthesizes and outputs respective processing results by the message restoration units.

Nowadays, as means for preventing secondary use of audio contents converted into digital data, such as illicit copy and modification thereof, a digital watermark technology for embedding specific information in the audio contents is widely utilized.
In the digital watermark technology, the same information (watermark information) is repeatedly embedded in a plurality of spots of a piece of audio content. Then, when detecting the watermark information, values detected from the respective spots embedding the watermark information are accumulated in a buffer, intensified together, and then subjected to processing such as error correction. Thereafter, a detection result is outputted.
As a general technique of the digital watermark technology for embedding watermark information in audio content, a technique is employed, in which a pseudo random number sequence is generated by use of data called a key, a frequency component in data of the audio contents is processed by use of this pseudo random number sequence to create a signal (watermark signal) containing desired watermark information, and the signal is added to the data of the original audio content. Then, when detecting the watermark information, a technique is employed, in which the frequency component of the data of the audio contents is processed by use of a pseudorandom number sequence generated by the same key, detected values as a result of the processing are accumulated in the buffer, then the watermark signal is extracted from the accumulated values, and an embedded message (watermark information) is decoded.
The following documents are considered:                [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H11 (1999)-341452        [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-320085
A length (time) of the accumulation of the detected values when detecting the watermark information is usually one type of fixed length. For example, a detection apparatus is designed such that 30 seconds are set as a cycle of the accumulation and the detection result of the watermark signal is outputted for every 30 seconds. Moreover, in a digital watermark technology for digital contents of a motion picture, a technique of varying the length of the accumulation of detected values when detecting watermark information is proposed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). In this technology, watermark signals are weakly embedded so as not to deteriorate quality of the motion picture, and at the time of detection of the watermark information, the detected values are accumulated in a buffer until the detected values reach intensity sufficient for detecting the watermark information.
Moreover, in audio contents, there is one composed of a plurality of channels, such as one recorded in stereo. When the digital watermark is embedded in such audio contents, in general, one pseudo random number sequence is generated by use of one key, audio data in the respective channels is processed by use of this one pseudo random number, and thus the embedding is performed. Specifically, the same watermark signals are embedded in the audio data in the respective channels. In this case, when detecting the digital watermark, a technique is employed, in which the watermark signals are detected from the audio data in the respective channels and are synthesized, and an embedded message (watermark information) is decoded. When the digital watermarks are embedded in the respective channels, detected values from the respective channels highly correlate with one another, and accordingly, a component of the message in the detected values is intensified, thus facilitating the message to be restored. Furthermore, in the case of using the digital watermark technology for the purpose of ensuring security, a technique is proposed, in which a plurality of digital watermarks are created by use of different keys depending on features of contents and a passage of time thereof and are embedded in signals to be processed in order to enhance maintainability (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).
Meanwhile, audio contents converted into digital data are in themselves delivered through a broadcast and a network, or distributed by being recorded in a variety of recording media. In addition, audio contents are provided by being processed in various ways such as used as a piece of BGM (background music) of other contents and a jingle for a program. Hence, there are also audio contents which are extremely short in terms of time (for example, approximately two seconds), ones which are deteriorated due to superposition of another sound thereon, and the like.
Considering the existence of audio contents which are short in terms of time, it is preferable that the embedding of a digital watermark in audio contents also be performed for a short time span of the audio contents. On the other hand, in order to detect a digital watermark from audio contents, which are subjected to the superposition of another sound thereon and then deteriorated by being used as a piece of BGM and the like, it is necessary that detected values from the audio contents for a somewhat long time (for example, approximately 30 seconds) be accumulated (specifically, samples of the detected values be increased) and the watermark signal be intensified and then extracted.
However, when an accumulation cycle of the detected values is prolonged, the digital watermark embedded in the short audio contents cannot be detected. For example, even when attempting to detect a digital watermark from audio contents of approximately two seconds in the accumulation cycle set at 30 seconds, detected values, which come from sounds other than the intended audio contents, are included in the accumulated detected values for approximately 28 (=30−2) seconds. Accordingly, the message (watermark information) embedded in the audio contents cannot be correctly detected.
The above-mentioned prior art, in which the accumulation cycle of the detected values varies, has an aspect to intensify and combine the weakly embedded watermark signals by accumulating the signals until the signals reach the intensity sufficient for detecting the watermark information. In the prior art, to set an appropriate accumulation cycle for detecting the watermark information individually from the short audio contents and the deteriorated audio contents is left out of consideration.
If audio contents are a stereo-recorded audio composition or the like, the same watermark signals are embedded in the audio data in the respective channels, as mentioned above. When the digital watermark is detected, the watermark signals are detected from the audio data in the respective channels and synthesized, and then the message is restored.
However, when such audio contents are used as a piece of BGM of a narration, a sound of the narration superimposed on the audio contents has a signal analogous to a monaural one in many cases, and the correlation between the audio data of the narration in the respective channels is high. Hence, when the detected values from the respective channels are synthesized together to intensify components of the highly correlated message, components of the narration sounds are also intensified. Accordingly, it is difficult to distinguish between the message components and the noise components (narration sounds) in the detected values, thereby making it difficult to restore the message.
In order to detect the watermark signals in such a case, it is necessary to set a threshold value (a degree of correlation) for identifying the components of the watermark signals among the detected values, to a large one. However, when this threshold value is set to a large one, a much higher correlation between the watermark signals in the respective channels will be required in order to detect the digital watermark, and robustness to the deterioration of the digital watermark will be reduced.
The above-mentioned prior art which creates the watermark signals by use of the different keys in response to the features of the contents and the passage of time and embeds the created watermark signals in the signals to be processed does not consider the deterioration when a sound analogous to a monaural one, such as a narration, is superimposed on the audio contents having a plurality of channels though the prior art embeds the different watermark signals in response to the features of the contents and the passage of time. Hence, when the digital watermarks are embedded in the audio data in the respective channels, the same watermark signals using one key are likewise embedded in the audio data in the respective channels. Accordingly, the above-described problem can not be solved.

Audio content digital watermark detection

International Business Machines Corporation


Techniques are provided for allowing a node (300) in an ad hoc network to deterministically decide whether to relay broadcast information to another node in the ad hoc network. The node (300) receives broadcast information and measures received signal strength (RSS) of the broadcast information. The node (300) may determine if the measured RSS is below a low threshold, and if so, can relay the broadcast information to neighbor nodes. Otherwise, the node (300) can also determine if the measured RSS is above a high threshold, and if not, wait for a waiting period before relaying the broadcast information to the neighbor nodes. The node (300) may dynamically adjust the low threshold by decreasing the low threshold as the number of neighbor nodes increases and may dynamically adjust the high threshold by increasing the high threshold as the number of neighbor nodes decreases.

Wireless networks have experienced increased development in the past decade. Two types of wireless networks are infra-structure based wireless networks, and ad hoc wireless networks.
An infra-structure based wireless network typically includes a communication network with fixed and wired gateways. Many infra-structure based wireless networks employ a mobile unit or host which communicates with a fixed base station that is coupled to a wired network. The mobile unit can move geographically while it is communicating over a wireless link to the base station. When the mobile unit moves out of range of one base station, it may connect or "handover" to a new base station and start communicating with the wired network through the new base station.
In comparison to infra-structure based wireless networks, such as cellular networks or satellite networks, ad hoc networks are self-forming networks which can operate in the absence of any fixed infrastructure, and in some cases the ad hoc network is formed only of mobile nodes. An ad hoc network typically includes a number of geographically-distributed, potentially mobile units, some times referred to as "nodes" which are wirelessly connected to each other by one or more links (e.g., radio frequency channels). The nodes can communicate with each other over a wireless media without the support of an infra-structure based or wired network. Ad hoc networks are also self-healing. Links or connections between these nodes can change dynamically in an arbitrary manner as existing nodes move within the ad hoc network, as new nodes join or enter the ad hoc network, or as existing nodes leave or exit the ad hoc network. Because the topology of an ad hoc network can change significantly techniques are needed which can allow the ad hoc network to dynamically adjust to these changes. Due to the lack of a central controller, many network-controlling functions can be distributed among the nodes such that the nodes can self-organize and reconfigure in response to topology changes.
One characteristic of the nodes is that their transmission range is usually relatively limited in comparison to cellular networks. Each node can typically communicate directly over a short range with nodes which are a single "hop" away. Such nodes are sometimes referred to as "neighbor nodes." When a node transmits packets to a destination node and the nodes are separated by more than one hop (e.g., the distance between two nodes exceeds the radio transmission range of the nodes, or a physical barrier is present between the nodes), the packets can be relayed via intermediate nodes ("hop-by-hop") until the packets reach the destination node. Each intermediate node acts as a router which can intelligently route the packets (e.g., data and control information) to another node until the packets eventually reach their final destination. To assist with relaying of packets, each node may maintain routes or routing information to other nodes in the network and can utilize routing techniques to adapt to changes in the interconnectivity between nodes. The nodes can maintain this routing information by performing periodic link and topology updates. Alternatively, nodes may discover routing information only when needed, instead of utilizing updates to maintain routes.
Broadcasting in an ad hoc network relies on nodes to repeat a broadcast until all nodes have received the broadcast message. To avoid excessive broadcast traffic, each node receiving a broadcast message determines if it should rebroadcast the message. For example, a message received more than once by a node should not be rebroadcast by the node. It is desirable to minimize the number of broadcast messages while also ensuring reliable broadcast (e.g., every node will receive each broadcast message). One approach to transmitting broadcast messages in an ad hoc network is known as "flooding."
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ad hoc communication network 100 operating in an infrastructured mode in which a wireless network is created between a plurality of nodes 120A-120O each having wireless repeater and routing capability, and in which three of the nodes 120G, 120L, and 120N are wired Access Points (APs) 130. The ad hoc communication network 100 can implement routing intelligence, which is typically distributed among nodes 120A-120O among APs 130, to help eliminate bottlenecks and improve overall network performance. If access to a wired network is desired, nodes 120A-120O can hop to an AP (typically to the AP that is closest, but to an alternate AP if their current AP is congested or fails). This wireless backhaul mesh can reduce system backhaul costs while increasing network coverage and reliability. It should be appreciated that while the ad hoc network 100 in FIG. 1 is shown as operating with wired APs, the ad hoc network 100 of FIG. 1 does not require any wired network to be present. Rather, the nodes 120A-120O can support peer-to-peer communication without the need for wired infrastructure or other networks.
In the ad hoc network 100, communications to or from nodes 120A-120O can "hop" through each other to reach other nodes 120A-120O in the network. The nodes 120A-120O comprise any wireless devices capable of receiving, transmitting and relaying packetized audio, video and/or data information to another node. Some of the components in an exemplary node, such as an appropriate processor, transmitter, receiver and antenna, are described below. Nodes in close proximity to the APs 130 can receive transmissions from other nodes utilizing the ad hoc air interface and relay these transmissions to infrastructure equipment via uplink communication signal utilizing a cellular, BLUETOOTH or WLAN air interface. Similarly, nodes in close proximity to the APs 130 can receive downlink communications over the cellular, BLUETOOTH or WLAN air interface and transmit uplink communications to another node via the ad hoc air interface. In FIG. 4, it is assumed that node A 120A will eventually transmit a broadcast packet or message using a relay approach, but that relay nodes have not yet been selected. The nodes 120A-120O can communicate information packets over wireless carrier frequencies, each of which includes one or more wireless communication channels depending on the multiple access scheme utilized in the network 100.
The access points 130 are typically coupled to a wired network (not shown) and can provide one or more sources of audio, video and/or data information. The access points 130 may be a cellular base station, a wireless local area network (WLAN) access points such as those complying with the IEEE 802.11 standard, or may also be a Bluetooth access point or the like. Although not shown in FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that the nodes 120A-120O, can also communicate information packets with a cellular-based network (not shown) over wireless carrier frequencies, each of which includes one or more wireless communication channels depending on the multiple access scheme utilized in the cellular-based network. Examples of multiple access schemes which can be used in the network can include any one or more of time division multiple access (TDMA), direct sequence or frequency hopping code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), opportunity driven multiple access (ODMA), a combination of any of the foregoing multiple access technologies, a multiple access technology in which portions of the frequency spectrum to be used are determined by local signal quality measurements and in which multiple portions of the frequency spectrum may be used simultaneously, or any other multiple access or multiplexing methodology or combination thereof.
FIG. 1 illustrates a "flooding" approach for broadcasting a broadcast packet from node A 120A to other nodes 120B-120O in the ad hoc network. Each node 102A-120O may advertise its presence by periodically broadcasting for an advertisement message. In response to the advertisement message, other nodes within range may acknowledge their presence by identifying themselves. In turn, each node may identify its neighbor nodes, and maintain a neighbor list of nodes in proximity to that node. As used herein, a "neighbor node" is a node which is one hop away from the node such that the nodes may communicate with each other. At the particular instant in time shown in FIG. 1, node D 120D, for example, has four neighbor nodes—node C 120C, node E 120E, node G 120G, and node H 120H. A particular node's neighbor list changes dynamically as the topology of the network changes.
According to this "flooding" approach, each node initially receiving the broadcast packet from node A 120A acts as a "repeater" node (indicated by the dashed-line circle) that transmits the broadcast packet to all of its neighbor nodes. This process continues until all nodes have received the broadcast packet. For example, when a node B 120B receives a packet, node B 120B determines whether the received packet is a broadcast packet. If the received packet is a unicast packet, then node B 120B transmits the packet to the neighboring node it is addressed to or intended for. If the received packet is a broadcast packet, then node B 120B transmits the received broadcast packet to each of its neighbor nodes. In this exemplary topology, node B 120B transmits the broadcast packet received from node A 120A to its neighbor nodes, Node C 120C and Node E 120E. At the same time, node C 120C transmits the broadcast packet received from node A 120A to its neighbor nodes Node B 120B, Node D 120D, and Node G 120G. To continue propagating the broadcast packet through the network 110, Node D 120D, Node E 120E and Node G 120G (e.g., the nodes receiving the broadcast packet from the repeater nodes Node B 120B, Node C 120C), then serve as a repeater node (indicated by the dashed-line circle) that transmits the broadcast packet to all of its neighbor nodes. For example, Node D 120D would transmit the broadcast packet to each of its four neighbor nodes—node C 120C, node E 120E, node G 120G, and node H 120H. Thus, broadcast packet transmission via flooding can potentially raise the reliability of transmission since a given node's probability of receiving the broadcast packet from at least node tends to be relatively high.
However, in many network topologies, the same node is likely to receive and/or transmit the same broadcast packet more than once. For example, after initially receiving the broadcast packet from node A 120A, node C 120C would receive it at least two more times from node B 120B and node D 120D and possibly also from node G 120G. Thus, using the flooding approach to broadcast packets can generate excessive amounts of system traffic which can unnecessarily consume bandwidth since the same data is redundantly received and/or transmitted. This approach can also increase the probability of channel congestion, overload and/or interference in the ad hoc network since each node transmits the broadcast packet to its neighbor nodes upon receipt. As a result, the likelihood of packet collisions increases since some nodes overlap but do not have mechanisms (e.g., centralized controller) for adjusting the timing in overlapping transmission areas. In addition, signaling messages greatly increase since every node rebroadcasts the broadcast packets. Moreover, flooding methods are not scalable.
A number of alternatives to the flooding method have been proposed for broadcasting in ad hoc networks. One approach is to elect a subset of relay nodes that form a backbone network for relaying broadcast messages. However, in high mobility ad hoc networks these techniques can be inefficient due to the high frequency at which links between nodes tend to break and the rapidity of other topology changes.
According to another approach, the probability of retransmission is modified based on local density of the network. According to yet another approach, receiving nodes utilize predetermined criterion to decide whether to retransmit the received information. According to still another approach, location is used to optimize broadcasts; each node transmits its location with the broadcast message and other nodes calculate their distance from the source or relay node in order to decide whether to rebroadcast.
Notwithstanding these advances, it would be desirable to provide broadcast protocols for use in ad hoc networks which exhibit improved broadcast efficiency. For example, it would be desirable to provide techniques which can make the transmission more orderly and thereby reduce the number of redundant broadcast packets a given node receives. It would also be desirable to provide techniques that can reduce the likelihood of broadcast packet collisions. It would also be desirable to provide techniques for dynamically relaying broadcast messages throughout an ad hoc network while minimizing the number of relay transmissions.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for broadcast in an ad hoc network with dynamic selection of relay nodes


A container comprising an outer bag, a liner and at least one connector. The liner is substantially configured for receipt within the outer bag. The at least one connector is affixed to the liner and capable of attachment to the outer bag. Each such connector comprises a substrate material, an outer bag attachment assembly and an adhesive. The substrate material includes a first region and a second region. The outer bag attachment assembly is associated with a first region. The adhesive is operably applied to the second region. The second region is affixed to one of the at least two side panels, and the first region is selectively positionable to overlie the liner without overlying a portion of the second region or another portion of the first region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to shipping and storage containers, and more specifically, to a large bulk, collapsible container comprising an outer bag and an inner liner, wherein the liner is associated with the outer bag with connectors. The invention is likewise directed to a method of manufacturing same.
2. Background Art
The use of containers having an outer bag and an inner liner has been known in the art. One such example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,472 issued to LaFleur et al. Another such example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,040 issued to LaFleur et al. The disclosure of each of the foregoing references is incorporated herein in its entirety.
Generally, the prior art discloses large bulk bags and liners receivable in the respective bags wherein the liners are attachable to the bags by connectors. Each such bag is made of a generally flexible woven fiber material and the liner is made of a film or sheet of flexible impervious material. When filled, the bag and liner are generally cubical. When empty the container can be collapsed and folded into a generally flat and compact configuration with the liner in the bag. The liner is generally connected to the bag at selected locations so that when its contents are being discharged, the liner can collapse on itself independently of and without being substantially restrained from collapsing by the bag. Such connections may be detachable from the bag such that the liner can be replaced as desired. In certain embodiments the connector between the bag and the liner comprises a woven or non-woven flexible fabric having an adhesive layer for attachment to the liner at strategic locations. A portion of the connector is free of adhesive and is attached at corresponding strategic locations on the bag.
While such containers have been quite successful, there have been drawbacks relative to their construction and manufacture. For example, in many instances, the connector between the bag and the liner often includes inherent weak regions which lead to failure. In addition, the construction of such connectors and the application of same to the liners has generally been a labor intensive process which increases manufacturing costs and manufacturing time. Indeed, the connector has been one constraint relative to automated liner production.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art. For example, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a connector which has an improved interface with the liner.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide for a connector which is adaptable to positioning and securement on the associated liner by way of automated assembly equipment, to, in turn, reduce the cost and production time of such a product.
These objects as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and drawings.

Large container having an outer bag and inner linear method of manufacturing same


A security device for detachably attaching a lanyard to a safety device. The device includes a main frame portion defining a U-shaped safety line channel for receiving a safety line, and a movable frame portion pivotally mounted to the main frame portion and carrying a cam portion for frictionally engaging the safety line. The cam portion is movable into engagement in response to a downward force from a lanyard attached to the movable frame portion. The cam portion is mounted on bushings aligned with apertures in the main frame portion and held in position by removable pin members. The pin members, in combination with the bushings provide a strong beam structure extending across the main frame portion to provide a rigid support structure for the cam portion for resisting deformation of the structure when a heavy load is applied. In addition, the pin members may be removed to allow the movable frame portion to pivot to an open position for allowing insertion and removal of the safety line to and from the security device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to security devices for use in combination with a safety line for preventing the fall of workers and, more particularly, to a security device formed of pivotally joined members held together by removable members which engage the device to provide a stable structure for supporting large loads.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Security devices are now commonly used by workers working in elevated positions, such as those employed on movable scaffolds. In order to prevent a worker from falling from a scaffold or work platform, a personal safety line is provided suspended from a position above the worker. The security device for attachment to the safety line is used in conjunction with a safety belt or harness fastened about the worker, and a lanyard is secured between the safety belt or harness and the security device. Typically, the lanyard is relatively short, and is provided with sufficient length to allow the worker some freedom of movement in the horizontal direction. In addition, the security device is generally freely movable up and down the safety line as the worker slowly moves up and down relative to the safety line. However, if the worker should suddenly fall, the lanyard will cause the security device to firmly grip the safety line and thereby prevent the worker from falling.
Security devices typically used include at least two separable parts whereby the security device may be opened to allow insertion and removal of the safety line. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,077,094, 4,560,029 and 5,156,240 all disclose security devices which may be opened to facilitate safety line insertion and removal. Unfortunately, as a result of providing devices having movable parts for securing the device about a safety line, the structural integrity of the device may suffer. For example, the hinged device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,029 may deform when it is used to stop the fall of a worker. Similarly, the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,094 may be subject to similar problems in that this device discloses a pivoted member held in place on a U-shaped housing by a pin passing through one end of the pivoted member and through the U-shaped housing, and held in position at an opposite end of the pivoted member by a single pivot pin passing through one side of the housing and the pivoted member. In this structure the applied forces are carried by the pivoted member and are transmitted from the pivoted member to the U-shaped frame through the connecting pin members. Such an indirect transfer of forces through a security device is generally undesirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,240 also discloses a security device wherein a U-shaped housing is adapted to cooperate with a movable member of the device. This device has proven to be difficult to use in that in order to open the device, a pin must be removed and the movable member pivoted and moved longitudinally parallel to the axis of the safety line. Such a device may be difficult for a worker to manipulate quickly in order to efficiently attach the device to a safety line.
Accordingly, there is a need for a security device which may be attached to a safety line quickly and easily. In addition, there is a need for such a security device wherein the frame structure for the device is structurally configured to resist large deformation forces applied by a load hanging from the device.

Security device for use with a safety line


A cutting insert for a multifunctional endmill is capable of using three corners. The cutting insert includes a top surface and a bottom surface having an outer shape of a substantially polygonal shape and four side surfaces extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, a first side surface has a positive flank angle, a second side surface has a positive flank angle, a third side surface has the positive flank angle, the first side surface includes a first and a second component surfaces connected with each other so that the first side surface protrudes outward from a peripheral surface of the cutting insert, and a connection portion between a first and a second component surface extends between the top surface and the bottom surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cutting insert and an indexable endmill. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cutting insert that can be replaceably attached to a multifunctional endmill capable of drilling and an indexable endmill to which the cutting insert is attached.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of prior-art multifunctional endmills capable of drilling have been designed. The multifunctional endmill generally includes two cutting inserts attached at a tip end of a cylindrical tool body, and is an endmill capable of performing a cutting work in both of an XY direction (lateral direction) and a Z direction (depth direction) with respect to a work material. The cutting insert attached to such a multifunctional endmill includes a peripheral cutting edge for performing cutting in the lateral direction and a face cutting edge (bottom cutting edge) for performing cutting in the depth direction.
As a cutting insert attached to the multifunctional endmill, for example, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H10-291115(1998) is known. The multifunctional endmill described in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H10-291115(1998) is of a two-cutting-edge type, which uses two cutting inserts (first cutting insert and second cutting insert). The first cutting insert and the second cutting insert are different from each other, and each of them includes the face cutting edge and the peripheral cutting edge. The cutting work is performed by the multifunctional endmill to which the two types of such cutting inserts are attached.
In addition, as a cutting insert attached to the multifunctional endmill, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H11-254207(1999) is known. The multifunctional endmill described in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H11-254207(1999) is of a two-cutting-edge type, which uses two cutting inserts (first cutting insert and second cutting insert). The first cutting insert and the second cutting insert are of the same type, and two of the face cutting edge and the peripheral cutting edge are paired, and two pairs of them are provided on a top surface of the cutting insert. In other words, two corners on a diagonal line can be used on the top surface of the cutting insert. On two cutting insert seat surfaces of the endmill, the cutting inserts of the same type are disposed so that different corners are used as the cutting edges involved in cutting.
As described above, according to the invention of the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H11-254207(1999), two cutting inserts of the same type to be attached to the endmill of a two-cutting-edge type can be used so that, when the cutting edge is abraded or damaged, the two cutting inserts can be exchanged to use another pair of cutting edges. As described above, since the cutting insert of the same type can be used in turn, manufacturing costs of the cutting inserts can be reduced, and further tool management can be facilitated.


An optoelectronic sensor is provided for measuring the distance from an object in a monitored zone that has a light transmitter for transmitting light signals into the monitored zone; a light receiver having at least one avalanche photodiode operated in Geiger mode for receiving the light signals reflected or remitted by the object; an individual time of flight measurement unit for determining an individual time of flight of a light signal from the sensor to the object; and an evaluation unit that is configured to generate a common measured value for the distance from a plurality of individual times of flight.

In a distance-measuring optoelectronic sensor, a distance from an object is determined beyond the pure object detection. Three-dimensional images or so-called depth maps are also detected with the aid of the distance information if the sensor is spatially resolving. A scanner scans the monitored zone by a light beam for this purpose, while a 3D camera also determines a piece of distance information for each of its pixels instead of or in addition to the brightness information. In this respect, the pixels can also respectively have a plurality of light sensitive elements that together contribute to a distance value.
A conventional method of distance measurement is the time of flight measurement. In this respect, a brief light pulse is transmitted and the time up to the reception of a remission or reflection of the light pulse is measured. It is, for example, known from DE 10 2007 013 714 A1 in order to gain higher robustness with respect to interference events and noise effects to transmit a plurality of individual light pulses sequentially, to collect the received signals thereupon generated in a histogram, and to subsequently evaluate them together, for instance via a search for a maximum in the histogram from which the received point in time is derived.
Such histogram evaluations require a large amount of memory since the total time of flight to be expected in the measurement range is divided into bins whose widths are at least close to the desired measurement resolution. If the distance measurement should be spatially resolving, as in a 3D camera, this memory requirement also scales with the number of pixels or the detection time very considerably increases to avoid the increased memory requirement by a sequential processing of the pixels. This is in particular an obstacle for the development of inexpensive integrated evaluation modules, for instance in the form of an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). The large number of memory cells in the explained counting process via histograms determines the area and also limits the speed.
The detection sensitivity of simple photodiodes is not sufficient in a number of application cases. In an avalanche photodiode (APD), the incident light triggers a controlled avalanche effect. The charge carriers generated by incident photons are thus multiplied and a photocurrent is produced that is proportional to the received light intensity, but that is in this respect substantially larger than with a simple PIN diode. In the so-called Geiger mode, the avalanche photodiode is biased above the avalanche voltage such that a single charge carrier released by a single photon can already trigger an avalanche that then recruits all the available charge carriers due to the high field strength. The avalanche photodiode thus, like the eponymous Geiger counter, counts individual events. Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes are also called SPADs (single photon avalanche diodes).
The high sensitivity of the SPADs also brings along disadvantages since a single interfering photon or an internal noise event already delivers the same signal as a pronounced wanted signal in a borderline case. In addition, the SPAD is subsequently not addressable for a specific dead time, with this dead time having the actual meaning over the short time scales that a SPAD is only available again on a measurement repeat. The conventional methods of time of flight measurement do not consider these special features of SPADs. They can admittedly therefore be transferred to SPAD light receivers, but improvement potential by SPADs remains unused in this respect.

Optoelectronic sensor and method of measuring the distance from an object


A method for checking the sealing of a package, which includes a base part and a cover. A vibratory component is enclosed in a cavity in a gas of defined viscosity. Upon penetration from outside of a gas of different viscosity, the viscosity in the cavity, and thus also the vibratory properties of the vibratory element, are influenced. The sealing of the package can thus be checked at any time. The vibratory element can also be used generally to measure viscosity.

Already known for checking the sealing of a package, in particular of a package for semiconductor components, is the "pressure cooker test," in which, in a first test phase, packaged semiconductor elements are acted upon by water at elevated pressure and temperature. In a second test phase, the semiconductor components are then investigated to determine whether they have been destroyed by the penetration of water.

Method for checking the sealing of a package and apparatus for measuring viscosity


There is provided a powder formulation for nasal delivery including a protein having a molecular weight of 10 kDa or greater and chitosan or a derivative thereof or a salt of chitosan or a salt of a derivative of chitosan. Preferably the protein is human growth hormone.

This invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations for the intranasal administration of proteins.
It is now possible to manufacture well-defined, highly purified proteins on a large scale. This has revolutionized many areas of medicine. However, these proteins, without exception, currently have to be administered by injection because they are inadequately absorbed by the body when administered by other routes.
It would be highly desirable to administer high molecular weight proteins by a non-injected route in order to improve patient acceptability, compliance and convenience.
The nasal route has been successfully used for the administration of a number of peptide drugs. Simple aqueous solution formulations for the nasal administration of peptides including desmopressin (molecular weight 1.1 kDa), salmon calcitonin (3.5 kDa) and LHRH analogues such as nafarelin (1.3 kDa) are on the market. It should be noted, however, that the bioavailability of peptides from these formulations is generally low. For example, the reported nasal bioavailability (relative to the injection route) in humans of nafarelin and salmon calcitonin is around 3% (Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 33rd edition, Pharmaceutical Press, London, pages 1291 and 750 (2002)).
Formulations for intranasal delivery containing selected peptide and low molecular weight protein drugs, such as insulin (molecular weight 5.8 kDa), leuprolide (1.3 kDa), goserelin (1.3 kDa), salmon calcitonin and parathyroid hormone (1-34) (4.2 kDa) have also been reported (International application publication No. WO 90/09780; Illum et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 11:1186-1189 (1994); Illum et al., STP Pharma Sciences, 10:89-94 (2000); Illum, Drug Discovery Today, 7:1184-1189 (2002); Illum, J. Control. Rel, 87:187-198 (2003); and European published patent application EP 943 326 A1).
The nasal route of delivery has not, however, proved successful for larger proteins with molecular weights in excess of 10 kDa (Rouan, Modern Pharmaceutics, 3rd Edition, Chapter 22, pp. 866-867, Banker and Rhodes (eds), Marcel Dekker, New York (1996)).
The listing or discussion of a prior-published document in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge.
There remains a need for alternative means for the delivery of proteins having a molecular weight of 10 kDa or greater.

Pharmaceutical formulations for intranasal administration of protein comprising a chitosan or a derivative thereof


A multi-module integrated circuit (IC) can be configured in different types of packages having different modules enabled or disabled. A module that can be disabled has driven circuitry that is known a priori to have a low-power input vector that places the driven circuitry into a low leakage power state. The module also has driving circuitry with one or more package-aware cells. The IC has a package-aware controller that generates control signals for the package-aware cells that ensure that the outputs from the package-aware cells are forced to particular values (i.e., either logical-0 or logical-1) that cause the low power input vector to be applied to the driven circuitry when the IC is assembled in a package in which the module is disabled. In this way, module leakage power is reduced for package types in which certain modules are disabled.

The present invention relates to integrated circuits and, more particularly, to integrated circuits that have disabled modules placed in a low leakage state.
It is known to design a multi-module integrated circuit (IC) for use in a variety of different types of IC packages (a.k.a. chips or packaged semiconductor devices), where certain package types might not use all of the available modules. In such package types, the unused modules are disabled. Even though the unused modules are disabled, they may still have significant levels of leakage power that, in some applications, such as in portable consumer electronic devices, may undesirably limit battery life between charging sessions.

Package-aware state-based leakage power reduction


An improved via arrangement for a bonding pad structure is disclosed comprising an array of vias surrounded by a line via. The line via provides a barrier to cracks in the dielectric layer encompassing the via array. Although cracks are able to spread relatively unhindered between the vias of the via array, they are blocked by the line via and thus can not spread to neighboring regions of the chip or wafer. The line via can be provided in a variety of shapes and dimensions, to suit a desired application. Additionally, due to its substantially uninterrupted length, the line via provides added strength to the bond pad.

Bonding pads are the interfaces between the integrated circuits contained in semiconductor chips and the chip package. A large number of bonding pads is required to transmit power, ground and input/output signals to the chip devices. It is thus important that the bonding pad yield be sufficiently high to ensure a high per chip yield.
A typical bonding pad structure consists of metal layers, emanating from the terminals of a chip device, separated by inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers that are often silicon oxide. Metal vias pass through the IMD layers to connect the metal layers. Wires are bonded to a bonding metal pattern and to the chip package forming electrical connections between the chip and the package. A passivation layer covers the surface, except over the bonding sites, to seal the chip from contaminants and to provide scratch protection.
One mode of failure of the bonding pad relates to the peeling of the wire from the metal pattern due to forces exerted especially during the bonding process. Another failure mode that has been observed relates to bonding pad peel back, where forces imparted during wire bonding may cause a delaminating of one or more of the underlying layers. Another failure mode involves cracking of the IMD material.
A conventional bond pad 1 for an integrated circuit (IC) wafer is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. A pair of bond pad metal layers 2A, B are connected by an array of conductive vias 10. The bond pad metal layers 2A, B are separated by a layer of dielectric material 12, within which the vias 10 are disposed. During manufacturing, such as IC probe testing and during package assembly wire-bonding processes, external forces are applied to the bond pad 1. These forces may cause cracks 14 to form in the dielectric material 12 between the vias 10. Because the propagation path for these cracks 14 is largely uninhibited, the cracks 14 often extend to the area 16 outside the bond pad. Such cracking can cause current leakage, interlayer shorts, corrosion and reduced reliability of the IC. Moreover, large cracks 14 may cause failure of the IC very early in the life stage of the product in which the IC is used.
Thus, there is a need for an improved arrangement for metal vias that will minimize the chances for cracks to occur in the IMD, and where such cracks do occur, to minimize and/or limit their propagation. Such an arrangement should also be inexpensive to manufacture.

Bond pad design to minimize dielectric cracking

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


An object of the present invention is to provide an auxin biosynthesis inhibitor superior to L-AOPP. The object can be attained by a compound represented by general formula (I): wherein, R1 to R5 and X are the same as defined in the specification or a salt or solvate thereof.

Auxin is a class of plant hormones and involved in various phases such as development, growth and environmental responses of plants. The substance most ubiquitously present as a natural auxin is indole acetic acid (IAA) and natural auxins such as indolebutyric acid (IBA) and 4-chloroindoleacetic acid are also known. In contrast, as synthetic auxins, p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxybutyric acid (MCPB) and the like are known.
IAA, a natural auxin, is instable. In addition, a plant has a decomposition pathway thereof within the body. Therefore, a synthetic auxin is generally used for agriculture. For example, p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid is used as a fruit set accelerator for tomatoes and eggplants. Furthermore, 2,4-D is used as a herbicide and an agent for culturing a plant tissue, and MCPB is a selective herbicide used in rice paddies.
Auxins are biologically synthesized through complicated pathways. To be more specific, the presence of two pathways through or not through L-tryptophan has been confirmed. The pathway through L-tryptophan is further branched in 4 or more pathways, which are separately catalyzed by different enzymes (FIG. 1). Up to present, as substances inhibiting biosynthesis of auxin, L-α-(2-aminoethoxyvinyl)glycine (AVG), L-aminooxyphenylpropionic acid (L-AOPP), aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) and 2-aminooxyisobutyric acid (AOIBA) are known (Patent Literature 1).

Public University Corporation Yokohama City University


A T.V. game system for displaying a desired picture on the screen of a raster scanning type T.V. set includes a motion picture pattern generator, a still picture pattern generator, a central processing unit for controlling the overall operation of the system under the control of the operator, and a picture processing unit for combining motion and still picture patterns to form a video signal to be supplied to the T.V. set, whereby the picture processing unit includes a motion picture attribute table memory which stores information relating to motion picture pattern for the next following frame during the horizontal blanking period and a temporary memory which stores information relating to motion picture pattern to be displayed in the next following line by accessing the motion picture attribute table memory during the scanning of current line.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to image processing technology for combining two or more picture patterns into a single picture frame for display on a picture tube such as a T.V. set, and particularly to an image processing system for displaying a picture frame by combining a motion picture pattern, which may be varied under the control of the operator, with a still picture pattern which defines the background of picture frame. More specifically, the present invention relates to a T.V. game system in which motion picture information and still picture information are controlled independently from each other and they are combined into a series of frames which are then displayed on the T.V. screen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1a shows a prior art T.V. game system which includes a picture processing unit (hereinafter, also referred to as "PPU") 1 which comprises a random access memory (hereinafter, also referred to as "RAM") and is connected to a video memory 2 and to a central processing unit (hereinafter, also referred to as "CPU") 3, which, in turn, is connected to a main memory 4. In the system of FIG. 1a, under the control of CPU 3, motion and still picture data are transferred from the main memory 4 to the video memory 2 to be stored therein temporarily, and then the PPU 1 receives appropriate data from the video memory 2 and to supply an output as a video signal to a T.V. set (no shown) for display under the control of the CPU 3. A memory map contained in the video memory 2 is shown in FIG. 1b, and, as shown, the memory map includes a motion picture character pattern generating area 2-1, a motion picture attribute table 2--2 which is rewritten for each frame to be displayed during the vertical blanking period, a still picture character pattern generating area 2-3, a still picture character pattern name table 2-4 and a still picture color table 2-5.
Describing the operation of the above-described system with reference to FIG. 2, during the horizontal blanking period in carrying out scanning along horizontal line sectors, the motion picture attribute table 2--2 is accessed under the control of the operator thereby retrieving the attributes of motion picture pattern to be displayed in the next scanning line. Then, on the basis of the thus retrieved attributes, desired motion picture character pattern data is outputted from the motion character pattern generating area 2-1 during the same horizontal blanking period thereby generating a motion picture pattern. On the other hand, as the line scanning of the display screen proceeds, a pattern name and a color code are read out from the addresses, which corresponds to a display position, of still picture character pattern name table 2-4 and the still picture color table 2-5, respectively. On the basis of the pattern name thus read out, a pattern data is outputted from the still picture character pattern generating area 2-3 so that a still picture pattern is generated in real time. If there occurs a collision between the still picture pattern data and the motion picture pattern data at the same position on the display screen, either one of them is allowed to be displayed in accordance with a predetermined priority.
In the above-described prior art system, since external address and data buses are used to call and obtain still picture character data during the line scanning period and also the number of pins usable for interconnections between components is limited, the retrieving of the motion picture attribute table and the calling of motion picture character pattern data on the basis of the result of such retrieval must all be carried out during the horizontal blanking period. For this reason, the number of motion picture characters which may be displayed during a single line scanning period is rather limited as is the kind of motion picture characters which may be displayed in a single frame. As a result, displayed pictures tend to be dull and they do not change as fast as pleasing to a viewer.

Video game external memory arrangement with reduced memory requirements


A cable detection apparatus includes; a plurality of conductors which transmit signal information, a detection control circuit operably connected to a first conductor of the plurality of conductors, wherein the detection control circuit outputs an output signal as a first detection signal when a predetermined signal level is detected from the first conductor and outputs a second detection signal when the predetermined signal level is not detected from the first conductor, and a multiplexer operably connected to the detection control circuit which receives one of the first and second detection signals and selects between a digital signal input and an analog signal input based on the output signal of the detection control circuit and outputs the selected signal input to a conductor of the plurality of conductors.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed invention relates generally to an electronic circuit allowing detection of a cable and that cable's type and a method of detecting a cable using the electronic circuit, and in particular, to an electronic circuit which allows detection of a video cable and the determination of whether the cable is an analog or digital video cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computers are becoming increasingly important in nearly every aspect of daily life. They may be found in the home, in the office, and in nearly every aspect of daily life. Most computers utilize a display apparatus with which to visually communicate information to a user. The display apparatus may be a liquid crystal display ("LCD") an organic light emitting diode ("OLED") display, a cathode ray tube ("CRT") display, or any of several other well known displays.
The display apparatus is connected to the computer, typically using a video cable having one end connected to a connector on the computer an opposite end connected to another connector located on the display apparatus.
Computers have reduced in size while retaining or adding new capabilities. This has put space constraints on components of the computer. Various components have shrunk to meet smaller size requirements associated with smaller, more complex computers, including the components used to communicate with the display apparatus. The components used to communicate with the display apparatus are known as video units. Because of the reduced size requirements, most video units include only a single connector with which to connect to a display apparatus via a video cable.
The connectors on the video unit and the display apparatus typically consist of a collection of terminals as female conductor connectors, and the ends of the video cable typically consist of a corresponding number of pins as male conductor connectors which may be inserted into the terminals, making a male/female connection on both the video unit and the display apparatus. The video unit sends various components of video signals through individual holes of the female conductor connector, along the video cable, to the display apparatus.
As the uses for computers have increased, so has the amount of information which they are able to communicate. It is not uncommon to have a single computer connected to multiple display apparatuses. These multiple displays may increase the total display area available for displaying information thereon. However, due to the abovementioned space constraints, the video units typically do not have the required space to support multiple connectors with which to connect with multiple display apparatus. Therefore, the single connector on the video unit must serve as the connection to multiple display apparatus. It typically does so through the use of a split, or Y, connector video cable. The end of the Y-connector having a single branch connects to the single connector on the video unit and each of the branches on the opposite side may connect to a display apparatus.
In addition to connecting to multiple displays, the computer may be able to communicate with the display apparatus using various forms of video signals. The computer may send digital video displays to the display apparatus and the computer may send analog signals to the display apparatus. The display apparatus may be capable of receiving both digital and analog signals; however, the connector video cable is incapable of transmitting both digital and analog signals. The connector video cable typically transmits only digital or only analog signals. As mentioned above due to space requirements, the video unit of the computer typically only has one connector with which to output either type of signal.
The video cable used with a digital signal is not able to transmit an analog signal, and a video cable used with an analog signal is not able to transmit a digital signal. A user wishing to connect the computer with an analog display would use an analog video cable to connect the computer's video unit to the display apparatus; and similarly, a user wishing to connect the computer with a digital display would use a digital video cable. In addition, the user would have to set a switch position or insert a jumper on the computer, or the video unit itself, to communicate to the video unit which type of cable is connected. This requires an extra setup step for the user and presents a situation where the user may accidentally set the switch/jumper improperly. There is a need to simplify the setup procedure associated with selecting the appropriate signal to send to the attached video cable.
Various techniques have been developed to automatically differentiate which cable type is connected to a system. One method includes using a capacitor/resistor network formed by the cable and passive components on the computer. In this method, a special signal, such as the PDIAG signal, which is already defined on the off-the-shelf cable, is routed through a hole in the system to a unique pin on the cable. The unique pin is connected on one cable in such a way as to differentiate it from another cable by grounding the PDIAG signal but without interfering with previously defined usages of this signal. On another cable, the signal is routed uninterrupted from one end of the cable to the other. This allows the type of cable to be detected based on the state of the PDIAG signal on the unique pin. One substantial drawback to this method is that it requires the use of a special pin on the connector and cable just to differentiate between the two cable types. Furthermore, off-the-shelf video cables do not provide a pin for such a special signal. The use of non-standard cables and connectors increases the costs associated with the manufacture of displays and computers. Additionally, computer video units equipped with the non-standard connector are not compatible with standard display apparatus and therefore are less attractive to users.
Similarly, another method is to include a special terminal in the video unit connector and on the display apparatus connector which corresponds to a unique pin on the video cable. The terminal on the video unit connector serves to detect and identify information about the cable to the video unit. The pin's only purpose is to determine whether an analog or digital connector is attached thereto. Again, this method must use non-standard connector pinouts, which increases costs and is less attractive to users.
Another method of automatically differentiating which cable type is connected to the video unit is to embed mechanical switches into the connector of the video unit. These switches, often called microswitches, are physically triggered by the insertion of the video cable into the video unit. This method requires the addition of switches to the video unit, which may increase its size beyond practical limitations. The switches are prone to deterioration with time since they work on a mechanical basis and contain several small, precision made parts. Because of those miniature precision parts, the switches also increase the cost of the video unit on which they are located.
Accordingly, a method and apparatus for simplifying the setup procedure associated with selecting the appropriate signal to send to the attached video cable without using microswitches or non-standard connectors is desired.


Various embodiments of methods and systems are provided for image reconstruction in photoacoustic tomography. In one embodiment, among others, a method includes obtaining photoacoustic time-domain data; reconstructing an image from the photoacoustic time-domain data using total-variation minimization based photoacoustic tomography reconstruction; and providing the reconstructed image for rendering on a display device. In another embodiment, a system includes a computing device and an image reconstruction program executable in the computing device. The image reconstruction program includes logic that obtains photoacoustic time-domain data; logic that reconstructs an image from the photoacoustic time-domain data using total-variation minimization based photoacoustic tomography reconstruction; and logic that provides the reconstructed image for rendering on a display device.

Biomedical photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is an imaging method for visualizing the internal structure of soft tissues with excellent spatial resolution and satisfactory imaging depth. Conventional PAT can image tissues with high spatial resolution; however a large number of measurements are needed for reconstruction of an image. Extending the required scanning time and number of sensors placed near or on the boundary of an object to pick up the signals. In addition, photoacoustic signals recorded over an aperture that does not enclose the object can result in a limited-view topographic reconstruction. In such cases, the existing reconstruction algorithms often give distorted images with severe artifacts.

Enhanced image reconstruction in photoacoustic tomography

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.


Various embodiments of a raptor protection unit for installation on a power pole crossbar are shown and described, each having a clamp system secure enough to hold a perch on the crossbar. Each embodiment includes two side-lock clamps, which each have a stationary C-shaped brace, for bracing against the top, a side, and the bottom of the crossbar, and an L-shaped side-lock, for exerting pressure on the opposing side of the crossbar. The two side-lock clamps may face the same direction or opposite directions. For embodiments with same-direction side-lock clamps, an optional bottom-lock clamp may be placed between the side-lock clamps, for exerting pressure on the bottom of the crossbar. The raptor protection unit includes a perch and/or a roost guard.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to perches and guards for birds of prey on electrical power lines. More specifically, it relates to a convenient, but secure, clamp for attaching such perches and guards to electrical power line poles.
2. Background Art
Presently, birds of prey, or raptors, are vulnerable to shock and electrocution from electrical power lines. When the big birds land on electrical power line poles, they prefer the space on the pole crossbar between two parallel power lines. When they take off, however, they jump off the crossbar between the two lines, and, with the first downstroke of their wings, often touch both lines, causing a short circuit and electrocuting themselves. This phenomenon has resulted in the death of many such birds, and the interruption of electrical service to many utility customers.
Pacer Industries of Twin Falls, Idaho, produces a raptor guard for installation on power line pole crossbars. Pacer's guard is depicted in FIG. 1. The clamp system for this guard has two stationary L-shaped members which are on the same side, opposite a pair of inverted F-shaped members. Each inverted F-shaped member has a stationary portion, which is connected to one of the stationary L-shaped members, and a movable portion, which extends under the bottom side of the power pole crossbar. A straight coiled spring extends through the spine of the inverted F-shaped member to connect the stationary portion and the movable portion.
The Pacer clamp works reasonably well for attaching raptor guards. A guard is a device devoid of horizontal outside edges, which is attached to the pole crossbars. The outside edges may be vertical or steeply angled downwardly or upwardly, as depicted in FIG. 1. These nonhorizontal edges discourage the big birds from landing on the space protected by the guard.
There is a need, however, to provide safe perches for the raptors, as well as guards. The strategy is to encourage the birds to land where they will be safe, and to discourage them from landing where they may be hurt. A raptor protection unit of my design and including a perch is depicted in FIG. 2. For perches, the crossbar clamp must withstand great forces exerted by the big birds during landings and takeoffs. The Pacer clamp described above, designed for guards which needn't withstand the weight of the birds, will not hold up well for perch service. In particular, a twisting, rocking or lifting action exerted on the Pacer clamp by the big birds will often knock it loose from the crossbar, creating a risk for the bird and the electrical service.
There is a need then, for a raptor perch clamp which may be conveniently, but securely, attached to a power line pole crossbar. Also, there is a need for a raptor perch clamp which can repeatedly withstand the great forces of the big birds landing on it and taking off from it.

Raptor protection unit for use on a power pole