An alignment tool for fitting a helmet to a wearer""s hear and aligning helmet mounted visual display systems to the wearer""s eyes in a reproducible manner. The alignment tool includes latch points that are connected to corresponding connection points on the helmet. These connection points are also the connection points for the helmet mounted visual display systems. The alignment tool allows for accurate measurement, alignment and fitting of the helmet to the wearers head based on the special relationship between the connection points and the wearer""s eye. Once the helmet is fitted using the alignment tool, the helmet mounted visual display systems are connected to the helmet connection points and the wearer""s eyes are substantially aligned for use with the visual display system.

The invention relates to helmet mounted visual display systems, and more particularly, to an alignment tool and method for fitting a helmet to a user for accurate alignment with the helmet mounted visual display systems.
Various forms of military helmets are known according to the prior art. These helmets are constructed to protect the wearer""s head against injury while providing communication and life support. In addition modern combat requires military personnel to utilize certain helmet-mounted electronic systems, for example night vision systems and helmet mounted displays.
A problem arises when military personnel need to train with different electronic systems, for example, outer helmet mounted displays for several types of aircraft. These displays have exacting requirements for positioning relative to the wearer""s eyes. It has been determined that custom fitted inner helmets are necessary to meet such requirements. However, the outer helmets are too costly to custom fit every crewmember which will maintain or fly the aircraft.
Ideally, a custom fit inner helmet is provided to each individual. For example, an Inner Helmet Assembly pursuant to U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,073.
In order to properly position the inner helmet during custom fitting, a positioning fixture, as disclosed herein, may be utilized. The positioning fixture utilizes the latch assembly of the invention to attach to the inner helmet in the same manner as the ultimate outer helmet. The positioning fixture custom aligns the latch points on the inner helmet for each individual. The custom fittings are then secured to maintain the alignment in a reproducible manner. Accordingly, every custom fitted inner helmet provides a standard platform.
The outer helmets are then equipped with a uniform capture configuration to attach onto this standard platform via the latch assembly of the invention.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a uniform capture assembly disposed on an outer device to latch onto a standard platform of an inner helmet.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mounting surface on the outer device that assumes a predetermined orientation with respect to the inner helmet platform.
It is a further object of the invention to define a path for the outer device to follow during installation onto the inner helmet.
It is a further object of the invention to provide latch clearances that facilitate engagement and disengagement of the latch components.
It is another object of the invention to provide locking means for releasably securing an outer helmet onto the inner helmet.
These and other related objects are achieved according to an embodiment of the invention by providing a pair of strikers on flat temple panels of an inner helmet. An outer device or helmet includes a pair of inwardly-facing mounting surfaces that face the temple panels in the installed position. Ideally, the temple panels and mounting surfaces are all substantially parallel to each other. An arcuate channel assembly or track is disposed on each mounting surface for capturing a striker. The arc of the channel assembly corresponds to the curve generated by pivoting the outer device from front-to-back over a crown portion of the inner helmet into an installed position. For locking, quarter-turn fasteners located on the outer helmet may extend through holes in the lower, rear portion of the inner helmet to engage an interiorly-secured retention bar.
The channel assembly includes a base portion disposed adjacent the mounting surface, a central spacer portion and an upper portion. The tip end of the striker slidingly contacts the base portion during mounting of the outer helmet. The central spacer portion comprises a pair of arms spaced from the striker head by a distance D. The upper portion comprises a pair of rails spaced from the striker neck by a distance d that is less than D. The rails guide the neck portion along the length of the channel assembly and keep the head out of contact with the central spacer portion. The head and neck portions of the striker have a generally T-shaped cross-sectional profile. A concavity on the head or neck portion slidingly contacts facing regions of the upper portion.
The interchangeable latch system according to the invention is fitted for an outer helmet mounted display as follows. The inner helmet is placed onto the user and the internal fittings, straps, pads and/or cushions are adjusted to an approximate fit. The fitting fixture is installed onto the strikers. The fitting fixture includes fixed alignment guides that are used to view the user""s eyes along an eye line EL that is tangent to both of the front eyeball surfaces. Once aligned the connection line CL of the strikers is parallel to and separated from the eye line EL by a known and preset first vector V1 that is the same for all users.
An outer helmet display has a desired viewing distance VD from the users eyes. The outer helmet possesses a latch line LL that will be coincident with the inner helmet connection line CL. The distance between the outer helmet latch line LL and the display is defined by a second vector V2. The viewing distance VD is equal to V2 minus V1. Once V1 is established, the second vector V2 can be adjusted to obtain any desired viewing distance VD.
The inner helmet connection line CL is located in the quadrant above and rearwardly of the viewer""s eyeballs. In the vertical direction, CL is generally between the viewer""s eyes and the top of the head. The connection points comprise left and right connection points which are disposed in corresponding left and right vertical planes which are outwardly spaced from the viewer""s head. The latch points comprise left and right latch points which pivot within corresponding left and right vertical planes which are outwardly spaced from the viewer""s head. The viewing distance VD may extend along a horizontal line of sight wherein EL is perpendicular to VD. Where the first and second vectors V1 and V2 are in a common plane with the line of sight, V1 and V2 are perpendicular to EL.

Alignment tool and method for mounting visual systems to helmets


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for leak testing the ventilation system of an environmental enclosure using a gas that is naturally present in ambient air, such as nitrogen, oxygen, argon, or carbon dioxide, as a tracer gas. In one embodiment, a gas filter capable of filtering all of the tracer gas from the air flowing through the filter is installed in the ventilation system. Testing is performed by operating the ventilation system to cause outside air to flow through the filter and into the enclosure so as to establish positive pressurization inside the enclosure. A gas monitor placed inside the enclosure is used to detect for the presence of leaks in the ventilation system by monitoring the concentration of the tracer gas inside the enclosure.

Vehicles used in polluted atmospheres, such as those used in mining or agricultural work, are equipped with air filtration equipment for protecting the operators of such equipment from airborne contaminants. Such vehicles typically have an enclosed operator cab and a ventilation system having an air inflow conduit for feeding a motor-driven fan or blower. The fan induces air to flow through a dust filter and in some installations, an activated-charcoal filter for adsorbing harmful vapors/gases, after which the filtered air is conveyed into the operator cab.
Enclosed operator cabs can provide very high levels of protection from airborne contaminants so long as clean, filtered air is introduced into the cab with positive air pressurization of the cab interior. However, leaks in the ventilation system can allow airborne contaminants to enter the operator cab. Typically, the areas within a ventilation system that have a tendency to cause leaks include the sealing area around the filter, the joints between separate portions of ductwork, and the openings in the ductwork provided for the electrical wiring of the fans. If major leaks occur, the effectiveness of the cab filtration system can be severely diminished, thereby compromising the safety of the operator. Thus, the ventilation system should be periodically leak tested to ensure the cab enclosure provides sufficient protection for the operator.
One method for leak testing the ventilation system of a cab enclosure is specified in ASAE (American Society of Agricultural Engineers) Standard S525. In this method, the vehicle being tested is driven over a non-paved surface to increase the levels of aerosol and dust in the atmosphere surrounding the vehicle. As the vehicle is driven, one optical particle counter is used to measure ambient aerosol and dust concentrations outside the operator cab of the vehicle and another optical particle counter is used to measure aerosol and dust concentrations inside the operator cab. For a cab to be considered acceptable, the ratio of the concentrations outside the cab to the concentrations inside the cab must be greater than 50. Heitbrink et al., "Review of Ambient Aerosol Test Procedures in ASAE Standard S525," Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 4(4): 255-266 (1998).
The foregoing method suffers from the drawback that the concentration of ambient aerosols varies with location and time of year. Thus, the test can be impractical in certain locations or during certain times of the year when the ambient aerosol concentration is not large enough to overcome any extraneous aerosol generation in the cab. Id.
In another method for leak testing the ventilation system of an operator cab, the cab is placed inside a laboratory test chamber and exposed to an atmosphere containing a constant level of ethyl acetate. During the test, the ventilation system of the cab is operated to cause the surrounding atmosphere to flow through a filter capable of filtering ethyl acetate and into the interior of the cab. A gas monitor placed inside the cab is used to detect for the presence of leaks in the ventilation system by monitoring the concentration of ethyl acetate inside the cab. Although more reliable than the method for testing cabs in the field set forth by ASAE Standard S525, laboratory testing is much more inconvenient than such field-testing since the cab to be tested must be driven or otherwise transported to a testing facility.
Accordingly, there exists a need for new and improved systems for leak testing ventilation systems of enclosed operator cabs.

Method for leak testing an environmental enclosure

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


An electronic device that has a lower portion that unfolds to reveal an extendable keyboard. When the keyboard is folded closed, a number pad is visible and the device looks similar to a traditional portable or cellular telephone. The device can be used as a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone or as the handset of a traditional wire line telephone. The fold-out keyboard of the electronic device can be used for easy entry of text data while a communication channel is active. The device includes two way messaging and Internet browsing capabilities.

The present invention relates generally to the field of telephones and more specifically to a telephone with an extendable keyboard.
A cellular telephone is designed to give the user maximum freedom of movement while using a telephone. A cellular telephone uses radio signals to communicate between the "cell phone" and a base station, via an antenna. The served area is divided into cells something like a honeycomb, and an antenna is placed within each cell and connected by telephone lines to one exchange devoted to cellular-telephone calls. This exchange connects cellular telephones to one another and transfers the call to a regular exchange, public switched telephone network, if the call is between a cellular telephone and a non-cellular telephone. The special cellular exchange, through computer control, selects the antenna closest to the telephone when service is requested. As the telephone roams, the exchange automatically determines when to change the serving cell based on the power of the radio signal received simultaneously at adjacent sites. This change occurs without interrupting conversation. Practical power considerations limit the distance between the telephone and the nearest cellular antenna, and since cellular phones use radio signals, it is possible for unauthorized people to access communications carried out over cellular phones. One of the reasons why digital cell phones have gained in popularity, besides being able to access the Internet, is because their radio signals are harder to intercept and decode.
Analog transmission, in which speech or data is converted directly into a varying electrical current, is suitable for local calls. But once the call involves any significant distance, the necessary amplification of the analog signal can add so much noise that the received signal becomes unintelligible. For long-distance calls, the signal is digitized, or converted to a series of pulses that encodes the information. When an analog electrical signal is digitized, samples of the signal's strength are taken at regular intervals, usually about 8000 samples per second. Each sample is converted into a binary form, a number made up of a series of 1s and 0s. This number is easily and swiftly passed through the switching system. Digital transmission systems are much less subject to interfering noise than are analog systems. The digitized signal can then be passed through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) at a point close to the receiving party, and converted to a form that the ear cannot distinguish from the original signal. There are several ways a digital or analog signal may be transmitted, including coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave and longwave radio signals sent along the ground or bounced off satellites in orbit around the earth. A coaxial wire, like the wire between a videocassette recorder (VCR) and a television set, is an efficient transmission system. A coaxial wire has a conducting tube surrounding another conductor. A coaxial cable contains several coaxial wires in a common outer covering. The important benefit of a coaxial cable over a cable composed of simple wires is that the coaxial cable is more efficient at carrying very high frequency currents. This is important because in providing transmission over long distances, many telephone conversations are combined using frequency-modulation (FM) techniques similar to the combining of many channels in the television system. The combined signal containing hundreds of individual telephone conversations is sent over one pair of wires in a coaxial cable, so the signal has to be very clear.
Fiber optic cable offer another telephone-transmission method that uses bundles of optical fibers, long strands of specially made glass encased in a protective coating. Optical fibers transmit energy in the form of light pulses. The technology is similar to that of the coaxial cable, except that the optical fibers can handle tens of thousands of conversations simultaneously. Another approach to long-distance transmission is the use of radio. Before coaxial cables were invented, very powerful longwave (low frequency) radio stations were used for intercontinental calls. Microwave radio uses very high frequency radio waves and has the ability to handle a large number of simultaneous conversations over the same microwave link. Because cable does not have to be installed between microwave towers, this system is usually cheaper than coaxial cable. On land, the coaxial-cable systems are often supplemented with microwave-radio systems. The technology of microwave radio is carried one step further by the use of communications satellites. Most communications satellites are in geosynchronous orbit—that is, they orbit the earth once a day over the equator, so the satellite is always above the same place on the earth's surface. That way, only a single satellite is needed for continuous service between two points on the surface, provided both points can be seen from the satellite. A combination of microwave, coaxial-cable, optical-fiber, and satellite paths now link the major cities of the world. The capacity of each type of system depends on its age and the territory covered, but capacities generally fall into the following ranges: Frequency modulation over a simple pair of wires like the earliest telephone lines yields tens of circuits (a circuit can transmit one telephone conversation) per pair; coaxial cable yields hundreds of circuits per pair of conductors, and thousands per cable; microwave and satellite transmissions yield thousands of circuits per link; and optical fiber has the potential for tens of thousands of circuits per fiber.
Computer-controlled exchange switches make it possible to offer a variety of extra services to both the residential and the business customer. Some services to which users may subscribe at extra cost are call waiting, in which a second incoming call, instead of receiving a busy signal, hears normal ringing while the subscriber hears a beep superimposed on the conversation in progress; and three-way calling, in which a second outgoing call may be placed while one is already in progress so that three subscribers can then talk to each other. Other services available to users are: caller ID, in which the calling party's number is displayed to the receiver on special equipment before the call is answered; and repeat dialing, in which a called number, if busy, will be automatically redialed for a certain amount of time. Of course users have the ability to block their name and phone from being displayed on a caller ID display. Another popular service is voice mail. While traditional answering machines cannot take a message if a caller is already on the line, voice mail creates a second virtual line. While a caller is talking to one party, a second incoming call is greeted with a message asking the second party to leave a message. The user will then be notified of the waiting message.
Unified messaging and the arrival of mobile Internet services means Short Message Service (SMS), a mobile messaging service, will soon become the primary alert mechanism for users to check and pick up their e-mail, fax or voice messages. Enhanced Message Service (EMS), Instant Messaging (ICQ), and Multimedia Message Service (MMS) message protocols can be expected to grow in popularity in the future. The rapidly growing availability of WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) has enabled handsets to enhance the customer experience of reading and sending more messages. The arrival of the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) family's next phase of evolution in the form of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) will ensure faster speeds and boost the variety of mobile services available significantly. Mobile banking, M-Commerce, and customer service applications are also bolstering SMS traffic. The arrival of more advanced data services will yet again increase demand. During the First (1 G) and Second (2 G) Generations of mobile communications different regions of the world pursued different mobile phone standards. Europe pursued NMT and TACS for analog and GSM for digital. North America pursued AMPS for analog and a mix of TDMA, CDMA and GSM for digital. The Third Generation (3 G), based on CDMA technology, will bring these incompatible standards together and allow convergence toward a common standard for mobile multimedia.
It is an object of the present invention to enrich the user's experience of the mobile Internet by facilitating efficient text entry. As mobile phones and computers converge towards unified handheld communication and computing devices, text messaging is becoming one of many ways in which text entry on handheld devices will be employed. Text entry is an integral part of the way users interact with computers in general and the Internet in particular. Simple text entry is required to query search engines, to find contacts in a phone list, to send email or instant messages and to enter commands. The inadequacy of currently used methods for entering text is the major obstacle inhibiting the growth of a wireless web and other applications, such as, Microsoft's Pocket Word and Pocket Excel. A numeric keypad such as that found in most cellular devices is poor device for entering strings of text data. For example, to enter certain letters a user must strike a key three times. A QWERTY-style keyboard on a mobile device is needed to provide an easy to use and familiar text entry solution. Such a device will help the mobile Internet achieve its full commercial potential for communication of all forms including voice, text and multi-media.
Currently researchers are studying keyboard design, and the following reference papers are examples. MacKenzie, S. I., Soukoreff, R. W., "Text entry for mobile computing: Models and Methods, Theory and Practice", (in press) Human-Computer Interaction. Source: http://www.yorku.ca/mack/hci3.html. MacKenzie, S. I., Soukoreff, R, W., "A model of two-thumb text entry", Proceedings of Graphics Interface 2002, pp 117-124. Toronto: Canadian Information Processing Society. Source http://www.yorku.ca/mack/gi2002.html.
Current devices for entering text on a mobile electronic device do not facilitate the use of the keys by the user. In many cases the keys are configured in less than optimum ways, with regard to position, location or key shape. It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems.
An important feature of the present hand held electrical device is that data input through an extendable keyboard works in conjunction with launching and using wireless applications such as SMS, E-mail and web surfing, as well as an enter-then-act device user interaction paradigm. An enter-then-act device is disclosed in U.S. patent application titled "Enter-Then-Act Input Handling" Ser. No. 10/165,598, filed Jun. 7, 2002, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Current mobile devices can provide a user with at least three separate user interfaces: a first user interface for voice use, a second user interface for handset dialing and a third user interface for wireless text or email messaging, software and wireless data applications. Prior solutions have attempted to address the various user interface needs for convergent mobile devices supporting voice, data and text operation. The prior art solutions are typically awkward to use, often requiring new and unintuitive methods of operation, particularly when supporting both voice and text entry operation.
One solution provides a QWERTY-style keyboard with numeric keys. Number entry is supported via a row of buttons. Unfortunately, this user interface is nonintuitive for users accustomed to standard phone functionality.
Another solution presents to the user two completely distinct interfaces: a 12-key dial-pad and a QWERTY-style keyboard. This solution also provides two separate displays. A 12-key dial-pad and a first display is provided for traditional handset use, and a QWERTY-style keyboard is provided with a second display for operation with the QWERTY-style keyboard. Unfortunately, the inclusion of a second display results in a relatively large device. Additionally, switching between use modes is awkward.
It is another object of this invention to provide a relatively intuitive user interface both for text entry mode and for voice calling mode in a compact mobile communications device. Another object is to provide for a simplified transition between use modes.


A broadband microfabricated ultrasonic transducer which includes a plurality of resonant membranes of different sizes and/or shapes supported above a conductive substrate.

An ultrasonic transducer is an electronic device used to emit and receive sound waves at frequencies beyond the human detection limit. Ultrasonic transducers are used in medical imaging, non-destructive evaluation, and robotic sensing among other uses. The most common form of ultrasonic transducers are piezoelectric transducers. Piezoelectric transducers are not efficient in the conversion between electric and acoustic energy in air. The operating frequencies of piezoelectric transducers in air are quite low. Magneto-strictive and capacitive transducers have also been used. These transducers operate in the low MHz range and are narrow band devices.
In co-pending application Ser. No. 08/327,210, filed Oct. 21, 1994, there is a described a narrow band microfabricated ultrasonic transducer. The transducer consists of circular silicon nitride membranes suspended above a heavily doped silicon substrate. FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate the microfabricated multi-element transducer described in said co-pending application. The transducers include a plurality of identical individual membranes 11 suspended above a silicon substrate 12 by silicon dioxide 13.
Microfabricated ultrasonic transducers efficiently excite and detect airborne ultrasonic waves in that they use thin resilient resonant membranes with very little inertia. The momentum carried by approximately half of a wavelength of air molecules is thus able to set the membrane in motion and visa versa. Electrostatic actuation and detection enable the realization and control of such resonant membranes. When distances are small, electrostatic attractions can exert very large forces on the actuators of interest. Because the membranes forming the multi-element microfabricated ultrasonic transducer described in the copending application are all of essentially the same size, the transducer is inherently a narrow band device as shown by the curve A in FIG. 7.
One of the most important figures of merit of an ultrasonic transducer is the range of frequencies over which it can operate. This range is referred to as the transducer's bandwidth. From Fourier theory, it can be shown that bandwidth is inversely proportional to the time resolution of a device. That is, the broader a transducer's bandwidth, the narrower a time interval it can measure over. For example, a bell is a narrow band device. When it is struck by an object (an event lasting only a very short time) it rings for a relatively long time. Consequently, it is very difficult for a listener, just by hearing the sound of the bell, to determine exactly when the bell was struck. A broader band device, such as a stick, does not ring much and thus allows for finer time discrepancy.
The vast majority of ultrasonic applications consist of mapping the time delay of echoes to spatial coordinates. In short, the precision and resolution of the time measurement capabilities of an ultrasonic system are directly related to the spatial precision and resolution of the system. It is thus clear that for ultrasonic systems ranging from simple position detectors, to gas flow meters, to complex medical imaging equipment, the availability of ultra-broadband devices would constitute a major advance. A secondary advantage to broadband transducers is that even in narrow band applications such as ultrasonic resonance experiments, the same transducers can be used over the frequencies of interest. Currently, a separate transducer is needed to measure at each different frequency of interest.

Broadband microfabriated ultrasonic transducer and method of fabrication

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


The invention provides a data processor comprising a receiving device for receiving data from a network, a memory for storing the data received by the receiving device, an output device for outputting the data stored in the memory, and a translator for translating an original text written in a first language into a translated text written in a desired second language. Text data in the received data written in the first language is translated into the second language by the translator upon receipt of the data from the receiving device, the text data translated into he second language is stored in the memory, and the text data translated into the second language by the translator is output by the output device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processor for translating data and more particularly a data processor for automatically translating data received from networks.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, for translating a string of characters or for using a dictionary function to look for the meaning of a word when one uses an application, it is necessary to follow the procedure described below.
First, an application is started up for inputting a set of character strings and then the set of character strings is input. Thereafter, character strings in the set to be translated are selected and stored in a file. Next, a translation application or a dictionary application is activated to start a desired processing, i.e., translation of the character strings or consultation of the dictionary. Then, the obtained result is displayed.
In the above-described conventional procedure, all the steps except the last output of the obtained result must be operated by a user, including the indication of what part of the input character strings to translate.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Hei 2(1990)-195479 discloses a technique for translating original text data read by an optical reading device and printing the translation result. In this technique, however, the reading operation serves as an instruction key for the start of translation.
Further, since original data must conventionally be stored in a file before translation, it is impossible to start translation of a document having character strings and drawings together before all data for the document is collected (in the case of the optical reading device, all data is read. This is because such a document cannot be stored in a file before all data becomes ready.

Data processor for selectively translating only newly received text data


A fluorometer for measuring fluorescence of a sample includes an excitation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation along a first beam path to induce fluorescence in the sample. An excitation filter transmits electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source toward the sample. An excitation filter holder supports the excitation filter and defines an aperture for passage of electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source. The aperture is positioned asymmetrically relative to the first beam path such that the aperture allows an asymmetrical portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the first beam path to pass toward the sample and the excitation filter holder blocks passage of a corresponding asymmetrical portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the first beam path. The blocked passage of the corresponding asymmetrical portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the first beam path reduces the amount of electromagnetic radiation oriented directly from the emitter module to the detector module.

Cleaning operations in public facilities such as restaurants, hotels, food and beverage plants, hospital, etc. typically uses a cleaning product having sanitizing, disinfecting and/or antimicrobial properties. Certain chemical compounds may be added to cleaning products to improve their chemical stability and/or shelf-life. For instance, dipicolinic acid can be added to certain cleaning products to improve their resistance to heat, thereby reducing the rate of degradation of the cleaning products when exposed to heat and extending the use of such cleaning products in regions with warm climates.
The concentration of dipicolinic acid may be measured in a number of situations. By measuring the concentration of dipicolinic acid, the concentration of microbial spores may be determined to comply with any regulatory standard. In another example, it may be necessary to maintain a certain concentration of dipicolinic acid to improve the stability of cleaning products. As dipicolinic acid exhibits fluorescence when excited by electromagnetic radiation of certain wavelengths, the concentration of dipicolinic acid in a solution can be measured by measuring the fluorescence of the solution. The intensity of fluorescence emitted by the solution may depend on the concentration of dipicolinic acid in the solution. For instance, the intensity of fluorescence emitted by the solution may be directly proportion to the concentration of dipicolinic acid. By measuring the intensity of the fluorescence emitted by dipicolinic acid, the concentration of dipicolinic acid can therefore be determined.
Fluorometers for measuring fluorescence of a sample are relatively well known. An exemplary fluorometer for measuring fluorescence is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,269,193 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,352,207 both assigned to Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, Minn., the disclosure of each of which is here by incorporated by reference in its entirety. Fluorometers generally have of a source of electromagnetic radiation that can excite a sample (e.g., dipicolinic acid solution of an unknown concentration), and a detector adapted to measure the intensity of fluorescence emitted by the electromagnetic radiation.
In many situations the concentration of a substance of interest (e.g., dipicolinic acid) in a solution (e.g., cleaning solution) may be very low. For instance, regulatory requirements may necessitate that only a minimum level of the substance of interest is present in a target area. In such cases, the intensity of fluorescence emitted by such substances of interest can be proportional to the concentration. Low concentrations (e.g., on the order of a few hundred parts per billion) may result in decrease in intensity of emitted fluorescence. For instance, the fluorescence may decrease directly proportional to the decrease in concentration (or by diluting the substance of interest). Typical fluorometers known in the art may not be able to measure such low levels of fluorescence with high accuracy and sensitivity.


An activation system for actuators of a vehicle seat device, including a first control device; a gas pressure accumulator having a gas pressure accumulator valve situated on it; a pressure distribution device functionally connected to the gas pressure accumulator; and a connecting device situated between the first control device and the pressure distribution device, the actuators being activatable as a function of an accident characteristic which is ascertainable with the aid of the first control device and which is transmittable to the pressure distribution device.

Today, various seat actuators are known in the field of automotive safety technology for protecting vehicle occupants, some of which are electrically activated, and some of which are pyrotechnically activated. The actuators are generally integrated into the vehicle seats, a triggering or activation of the actuators being carried out by an airbag control unit which is situated outside the vehicle seats. The airbags are generally triggered with the aid of gas generators, an electrical ignition line being connected to the airbag and electrical ignition energy being used to ignite the gas generator or the gas cartridge of the airbag. The gas generator contains a precisely measured quantity of propellant which is pressed into pellet form and housed in an enclosed combustion chamber.
Conventional protection systems for the safety belt have a separate activation mechanism which, like the airbags, is activated by the airbag control unit.
Pressure distribution systems having solenoid valves are known in electronically controlled vehicle braking systems.
In certain systems, it is believed to be disadvantageous that the gas generated when burning the propellant chemicals of the gas generators is very hot, making it necessary for the airbags to have an additional protective coating in order to protect the airbags from burning damage. In addition, every airbag requires its own electrical ignition line, via which it is activated with the aid of the above-described electrical ignition energy.

Activation system for actuators of a vehicle seat device


Taking a stroke within a period from when an operation of a brake operating member is started to when a predetermined stroke operation is performed as an ineffective stroke in which the master cylinder pressure is not generated, a control means controls an amount of differential pressure formed by a differential control valve such that a hydraulic braking force that corresponds to a stroke of the brake operating member is generated during the ineffective stroke, and even after the stroke of the brake operating member exceeds the ineffective stroke, increases the wheel cylinder pressure by performing raising of the amount of differential pressure formed by the differential pressure control valve by a predetermined raising amount with respect to the amount of differential pressure during the ineffective stroke.

In related art, a brake mechanism is known which combines the M/C pressure generated by depressing a brake pedal and the brake pressure applied by brake fluid pressure increasing means for sucking out brake fluid from the M/C and pressurizing the brake fluid, and which supplies the combined pressures to the W/C, thereby performing pressurization such that the W/C pressure is higher than the M/C pressure (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example). This brake mechanism performs control such that, during an ineffective stroke from the beginning of the depression of the brake pedal to the closure of a port of a master reservoir provided in the M/C, the amount of pressurization is increased in accordance with a stroke amount, and after the port is closed, the W/C pressure is increased in accordance with an increase in the M/C pressure and the braking force is increased while the amount of pressurization is maintained.


Various embodiments of means and methods for reducing the pick-up of electromagnetic interference (“EMI”) by coil transducers are described and shown that are configured to provide high voltage isolation and high voltage breakdown performance characteristics in small packages. In some embodiments, the lengths, heights, and horizontal distances between wires electrically connecting transmitter circuits and receiver circuits to coil transducers are minimized and optimized respecting one another.

High voltage isolation communication devices known in the prior art include optical devices, magnetic devices and capacitive devices. Prior art optical devices typically achieve high voltage isolation by employing LEDs and corresponding photodiodes to transmit and receive light signals, usually require high power levels, and suffer from operational and design constraints when multiple communication channels are required.
Prior art magnetic devices typically achieve high voltage isolation by employing opposing inductively-coupled coils, usually require high power levels (especially when high data rates are required), typically require the use of at least three separate integrated circuits or chips, and often are susceptible to electromagnetic interference ("EMI").
Prior art capacitive devices achieve voltage isolation by employing multiple pairs of transmitting and receiving electrodes, where for example a first pair of electrodes is employed to transmit and receive data, and a second pair of electrodes is employed to refresh or maintain the transmitted signals. Such capacitive devices typically exhibit poor high voltage hold-off or breakdown characteristics
The design of small high speed galvanic isolators or coil transducers presents several formidable technical challenges, such as how to handle EMI, large-magnitude fast transients, and other forms of electrical noise while maintaining high voltage breakdown characteristics, and acceptable data or power transfer rates.
In some electrical circuits, logic signals are transmitted between two locations that must be kept electrically isolated from each other. For example, high voltages in medical test equipment must be kept separated from patients, and factory operators must be kept safe when operating high-voltage and/or high-current machinery. An isolator can be employed to separate a control circuit from a high-voltage and/or high-current circuit, where the control circuit is actuated by an operator, thereby protecting the operator. In addition, the control circuit itself must be isolated adequately from the high voltages and/or currents of the high-voltage and/or high-current circuit. In some types of isolators, however, signal transmission can be disrupted in environments containing considerable amounts of EMI. To provide reliable signal transmission, an isolator should be designed to reject or reduce EMI. What is needed are means and methods to minimize the susceptibility of small high speed galvanic isolators to EMI.

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


By detecting the specific frequency component included in an alarm sound by a frequency analysis and a period analysis, even under a noisy and echo environment, a reliable, almost-no-false-detecting and small-sized abnormality detection device, which can detect the alarm sound, can be realized and then an integrated security system can be realized.

Anti-theft self-alarming tags, which have been widely known in the store security field, include micro-processor like micro-computer, abnormality state detection circuit and buzzer alarm circuit etc inside the tag. In an emergency, tag emits the alarm sound which makes people feel uncomfortable, and makes people know the occurrence of abnormality state.
Abnormality state which emits the alarm sound, defines such a state as the said self-alarming tag is removed from the merchandise and/or as the self-alarming tag receives the signal from transmission antenna of EAS (Electro-Article Surveillance) antenna which is installed at the store entrance.
As its alarm sound, the intermittent type alarm sound whose alarm sound frequency is several kHz and alarm sound repetition cycle is few cycle/second, or the swept frequency type alarm sound whose alarm sound frequency is swept during some definite swept frequency period between upper limit frequency and lower limit frequency, is used.
Both alarm sounds have the same characteristics that some specific frequency component appears at the definite time interval.
When tag emits the alarm sound at the store with background music or with noise sound or at the wide floor space store and with few store staff, sometimes its alarm sound is erroneously detected or it was difficult for store staff to identify the alarm position and/or the shoplifter.
In addition, when tag which emit its alarm sound, is destroyed and/or is put into the water pod, its alarm sound will disappear in a short time or it is also very difficult to detect this alarm.
Furthermore when centralized security is needed, in which store security information is controlled at the store security room, alarm information which specifies the alarm sound occurrence position should be input to the security server PC and alarm sound detection equipment which specify the alarm sound occurrence position and communicate those information to the security server PC should be needed.
In the related art, in order to detect alarm sound, electro-magnetic signal from the tag, which is emitted when tag emits the alarm sound, was detected. This electro-magnetic signal may be derived as its leakage flux from inductor used in the alarm sound driving circuit.
As the detecting method of this electro-magnetic signal, receiving antenna is generally used, which is incorporated into the EAS (Electro-Article Surveillance) antenna and this type antenna is mentioned as the related art.
But this type of antenna was rather big as 1 m H*40 cm W and its price also rather expensive. So it was difficult to place the receiving antennas at several places in the store and increase the security level.
And EAS (Electro-Article Surveillance) antenna has its weak points in which signal detecting sensitivity becomes lower in the following cases.
In some cases, EAS antenna may receive the power line noise from antenna-nearby electronic lamp or electric motor, or in some cases, EAS antenna may receive the effect of comparably big transmission signal to make the tag alarm.
In some cases, if this type of big antenna would be installed in the high end brand store entrance, the antenna existence, itself, might damage the esthetic entrance image, and so EAS antenna would be buried under the floor. And in this under-the-floor antenna case, the antenna would receive more nearby electro-magnetic noise from under-the-floor power line and its performance would become more instable and poor.
Usually, security equipment like anti-theft tag emits the alarm sound, and so the sound detection method which receives the sound through microphone and detects the alarm sound, may realize the small size detection equipment.
But by the store background music, customer's voice, outside noise and furthermore by the echo sound from such wall and/or ceiling as the construction object, the alarm sound may be affected and its alarm sound becomes fairly different from the original alarm sound and then reliable detection of the alarm sound seemed to be difficult and so far, sound detection method of the alarm was not used in the security field.
This invention can detect the alarm sound of anti-theft tag as sound and provide the reliable detection method of the alarm sound and furthermore can realize the small-size high-performance abnormality detection device which emits various security information for store security control and then integrated security system can be realized by the abnormal state detection unit of this invention.


A picture reproducing apparatus transmits coded picture data and an algorithm for reproducing (decoding) the coded picture data and reconfigures a decoding processor in accordance with the received algorithm. The apparatus includes a unit for receiving the picture reproducing algorithm described in a logical description language, performing picture reproduction in accordance with the received algorithm, and reconfiguring a picture decoder in accordance with the received algorithm, a unit for adding a test routine to the algorithm in order to perform an operation test of the received algorithm in a program download manner, and a picture encoder for selecting an optimum coding system for each input frame and transmitting a coding system descriptor code.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a picture reproducing apparatus capable of receiving coded picture or video data from a network and decoding and reproducing the picture. More specifically, the present invention relates to an encoding/decoding apparatus which includes an encoder for transmitting coded data and a tool constituting an algorithm for decoding the data and a decoder for reconfiguring the received tool as an algorithm and decoding the received coded data in a program download manner. The present invention also relates to a picture encoder for constructing a software download system by transmitting a coding system each time a communication line is connected when transmitting coded picture data to another terminal through the communication line.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Recently, a picture communication service is realized as a new communication service with the spread of ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). Examples are video phones and video conference systems. Also, with the development of mobile transmission networks represented by PHS and FPLMTS, demands on the delicacy, diversity, and portability of services provided are rapidly increasing.
Generally, in systems such as video phones or video conference systems in which picture information is transmitted, the amount of picture information is enormous. Therefore, when the speed and the cost of lines used in transmission are taken into consideration, it is necessary to decrease the amount of picture information to be transmitted by compressing (coding) the picture information before transmitting it.
As coding systems for compressing picture information, JPEG (Joint Photographic coding Experts Group) as a still picture coding system, H. 261 as a moving picture coding system, and MPEG1 and MPEG2 (Moving Picture coding Expert Group) as storage type moving picture coding systems are already internationally standardized. In addition, MPEG4 as a coding system at a very low bit rate of 64 kbps or less is being standardized.
MPEG4 can flexibly cope with various applications and provide an optimum encoding system for each application. Therefore, unlike the existing JPEG, H. 261, MPEG1, and MPEG2 encoding systems in which encoding is performed in accordance with an algorithm, MPEG4 must be an encoding system in which large numbers of tools (transformers, quantizers, inverse transformers, and inverse quantizers or dequantizers) of an encoder are provided and encoding is performed by properly combining these tools.
FIG. 1A is a view showing the format of a data sequence or stream of coded data obtained by encoding (compressing) picture data in accordance with H. 261. Each coded data such as motion vector information, a DCT coefficient, or a quantization step shown in FIG. 1A is picture information encoded (compressed) on the basis of a fixed encoding algorithm in an encoder. A decoder includes a fixed decoding algorithm with respect to this encoding algorithm and decodes each received coded data.
FIG. 1B is a view showing the format of a data sequence of coded data obtained when an algorithm such as MPEG4 encodes (compresses) picture data by using a flexible encoding system. The coded data sequence shown in FIG. 1B consists of coded (compressed) picture information such as motion vector information 2, a transform coefficient 4, motion vector information 6, a transform coefficient 8, and a quantization step 10, and tool information such as a motion compensation tool 1, an inverse transform tool 3, a motion compensation tool 5, an inverse transform tool 7, and a quantization tool 9 for decoding the respective corresponding picture information. Each tool information such as the motion compensation tool 1 can be selected from a plurality of different pieces of tool information, and any arbitrary combination of these pieces of tool information can be selected. Accordingly, the encoder transmits the picture information and the tool information used in the encoding to the decoder, and the decoder decodes the received coded picture information by using the tool information transmitted from the encoder.
Methods of realizing these encoding/decoding processes include a method using dedicated hardware and software and a method which executes appropriate software by using a general-purpose arithmetic unit and a compiler.
The method which realizes the encoding process by using dedicated hardware and software will be described below. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an encoder which generates the coded data shown in FIG. 1A in accordance with H. 261. Referring to FIG. 2, this encoder includes an encoding controller 11 for controlling encoding, a transformer 12 for calculating DCTs, a quantizer 13 for quantizing the coefficient transformed by the transformer 12, an inverse quantizer 14 for inversely quantizing the coefficient quantized by the quantizer 13, an inverse transformer 15 for calculating inverse DCTs, a memory 16, and a loop filter 17. The memory 16 has a motion compensation variable delaying function used in motion compensation inter-frame prediction. The filter 17 is a loop filter which can be turned on or off for each macroblock.
In realizing an encoding algorithm for generating the coded data shown in FIG. 1A by using dedicated hardware and software, the functions of tools constituting this algorithm are achieved by dedicated hardware and software, i.e., the encoding controller 11, the transformer 12,. the quantizer 13, the inverse quantizer 14, the inverse transformer 15, the memory 16 having the motion compensation delaying function, and the loop filter 17. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a decoder for decoding coded data encoded in accordance with H. 261. This decoder shares the components of the encoder shown in FIG. 2. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 denote the same parts in FIG. 3. That is, the decoder shown in FIG. 3 includes the inverse quantizer 14, the inverse transformer 15, the memory 16 having the motion compensation variable delaying function, and the loop filter 17.
The coded data encoded by the encoder shown in FIG. 2 is inversely quantized by the inverse quantizer 14 and decoded by calculating inverse DCTs by the inverse transformer 15. The memory 16 and the loop filter 17 are used in decoding motion compensated predictive coded data.
To process several different algorithms by using the system which performs encoding by using a fixed algorithm such as H. 261, dedicated hardware and software must be provided for each algorithm. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of an encoder which encodes moving pictures in accordance with H. 261 and encodes still pictures in accordance with JPEG. As an example, when one terminal encodes moving pictures and still pictures in accordance with H. 261 and JPEG, respectively, the configuration of the encoder is as shown in FIG. 4. That is, the encoder includes both an H. 261 encoder 20 and a JPEG encoder 21. In FIG. 4, the H. 261 encoder 20 and the JPEG encoder 21 receive moving picture data and still picture data, respectively, and output respective coded data as compressed data.
To realize an algorithm for generating the coded data shown in FIG. 1B by using dedicated hardware and software, an encoder for realizing this algorithm is achieved by replacing the configuration of a circuit block 18 of the encoder shown in FIG. 2 with a configuration shown in FIG. 5. That is, this encoder includes a plurality of different tools in each of the transformer 12, the quantizer 13, the inverse quantizer 14, and the inverse transformer 15 and performs encoding by selecting necessary tools from these tools (transformer tools A to X, quantizer tools A to X, inverse quantizer tools A to X, and inverse transformer tools A to X in FIG. 5).
A decoder for decoding the coded data shown in FIG. 1B is accomplished by replacing a circuit block 19 constituting the decoder shown in FIG. 3 with a circuit block 22 shown in FIG. 5. That is, this decoder has a plurality of different tools in each of the inverse quantizer 14 and the inverse transformer 15 and performs decoding by selecting necessary tools from these tools (inverse quantizer tools A to X and inverse transformer tools A to X in FIG. 5).
In this decoding process, the tool information shown in FIG. 1B, i.e., the motion compensation tool 1, the inverse transform tool 3, the motion compensation tool 5, the inverse transform tool 7, and the quantization tool 9, are transmitted to a controller 23. The picture information following these tool information, i.e., the motion vector information 2, the transform coefficient 4, the motion vector information 6, and the transform coefficient 8, are transmitted to the respective corresponding tools for processing these picture information. The controller 23 selects tools to be used (from the inverse quantizers A to X and the inverse transformers A to X in FIG. 5) on the basis of the tool information. Each picture data is decoded by using the tools selected by the controller 23.
The method of realizing decoding by executing appropriate software by using a general-purpose arithmetic unit and a compiler will be described below. Decoding of coded data with the structure shown in FIG. 1B will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of a decoder having a general-purpose arithmetic processor 24 and a compiler 25. The tool information shown in FIG. 1B, i.e., the motion compensation tool 1, the inverse transform tool 3, the motion compensation tool 5, the transform tool 7, and the quantization tool 9, are supplied to the compiler 25 which in turn generates a processing program for controlling the operation of the general-purpose arithmetic processor 24. The picture information following these pieces of tool information, i.e., the motion vector information 2, the transform coefficient 4, the motion vector information 6, the transform coefficient 8, and the quantization step 10, are supplied to the general-purpose arithmetic processor 24. In accordance with the processing program generated by the compiler 25, the general-purpose arithmetic processor 24 processes the coded picture information following the tool information, decodes the coded data, and generates decoded data.
Each tool information transmitted from the encoder contains not only information indicating the type of tool but also a tool main body which describes the procedure of the tool. Consequently, even if the decoder is not equipped with necessary tools, the received coded data can be decoded.
If, however, there is a transmission error in transmitting a tool main body, the received tool main body itself does not normally operate in some instances when coded data is decoded by using this transmitted tool main body. Generally, the error rate rises in data transmission using mobile transmission networks. If an error occurs in data, such as information of a tool main body, which describes the procedure itself, not only the data processing of the system is not normally executed but a fatal operation failure sometimes occurs in the whole system.
A general method by which this is prevented is to check whether received data has an error by adding a parity to transmission data. That is, a parity is added in units of certain transmission blocks, and an arithmetic operation is performed for this parity and a data main body. On the basis of the result of the arithmetic operation, whether the received data has an error is determined on the receiver side. If the receiver side determines that there is no error, the receiver side returns data indicating a reception success. If the receiver side determines that there is an error, the receiver side returns data indicating a reception failure. When receiving the data indicating a reception success, the transmitter side transmits the next block. When receiving the data indicating a reception failure, the transmitter side again transmits the current block. This procedure is repeated in units of transmission blocks.
FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining an operation algorithm for error determination in conventional decoders. This algorithm is used to perform error determination when a data sequence having the structure shown in FIG. 1B is received.
When coded data is received, whether a tool 1 contained in this coded data has an error is checked (step S1). If it is determined that the tool 1 has an error (No in step S1), a request to retransmit the tool 1 is output to the transmission side (step S2), and the flow waits for retransmitted data. If there is no error in the tool 1 (Yes in step S1), whether a tool 2 has an error is checked (step S3). If it is determined that the tool 2 has an error (No in step S3), a request to retransmit the tool 2 is output to the transmission side (step S4), and the flow waits for retransmitted data. If there is no error in the tool 2 (Yes in step S3), the received coded data is decoded by using these tools 1 and 2 (step S5), and the flow waits until the next coded data is input.
When the next coded data is received, whether a tool 3 contained in this coded data has an error is checked (step S6). If it is determined that the tool 3 has an error (No in step S6), a request to retransmit the tool 3 is output to the transmission side (step S7), and the flow waits for retransmitted data. If there is no error in the tool 3 (Yes in step S6), whether a tool 4 has an error is checked (step S8). If it is determined that the tool 4 has an error (No in step S8), a request to retransmit the tool 4 is output to the transmission side (step S9), and the flow waits for retransmitted data. If there is no error in the tool 4 (Yes in step S8), whether a tool 5 has an error is checked (step S10). If it is determined that the tool 5 has an error (No in step S10), a request to retransmit the tool 5 is output to the transmission side (step S11), and the flow waits for retransmitted data. If there is no error in the tool 5 (Yes in step S10), the received coded data is decoded by using these tools 3, 4 and 5 (step S12), and the flow waits until the next coded data is input.
In the error determination algorithm described above, if even one tool in which an error is detected exists, no decoding processing is executed by using other normal tools. That is, no decoding is performed until no more error is detected in all tools. Also, if an error is detected in a certain transmission block in the tool 1 contained in the received coded data (No in step S1), the retransmission procedure of the tool 1 (step S2) is completed, and error determination is again executed for the retransmitted tool (step S1). Unless it is determined that the tool 1 is normally received, the encoder does not transmit the next transmission block (tool 2).
As a consequence, if the number of retransmission procedures increases, the operating efficiency on the reception side significantly decreases. This also decreases the use efficiency of the communication transmission path. Furthermore, even when a tool is normally transmitted, whether the tool normally operates on the receiver side can be checked by neither the transmitting terminal nor the receiving terminal.
Conventionally, moving pictures are reproduced on general-purpose computers such as personal computers as well as the encoding/decoding apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Since a plurality of picture data can be reproduced on a single computer by using a plurality of picture reproducing software, this computer can be regarded as a general-purpose picture reproducing apparatus.
Conventional dedicated picture reproducing apparatuses including the above prior art have a high picture reproducibility. However, to reproduce picture data to be reproduced by different picture reproducing algorithms, it is necessary to prepare different picture reproducing apparatuses corresponding to these picture data.
A general-purpose picture reproducing apparatus is configured such that software of a specific picture reproducing algorithm is executed on general-purpose hardware. Therefore, a plurality of picture reproducing algorithms can be executed on single hardware by preparing software for each of different picture reproducing algorithms. The disadvantage of these general-purpose picture reproducing apparatuses is a lower picture reproducibility than that of dedicated picture reproducing apparatuses.
As described earlier, the picture coding system at a very low bit rate is being actively, internationally standardized as MPEG4 (Moving Picture Experts Group 4). Also, many new coding systems have been developed for picture coding techniques such as a DCT system and a Wavelet transform system. It is considered that the number of coding systems will continue to increase in the future.
The purpose of this MPEG4 is to give a coding system which is versatile and expandable independent of machines. As a consequence, a software download type system is constructed. Accordingly, an MSDL (MPEG4 Syntax Description Language) is constructed which generally describes a picture data encoding/decoding method, a method of transmission of the encoding/decoding method, security in transmission, and a transmission error countermeasure.
FIG. 8 shows the components of the MSDL. A coding system descriptor code which is the description of a picture data encoding/decoding method is constituted by a plurality of profiles. One profile has a plurality of algorithms, and one algorithm has a plurality of tools. Thus the coding system descriptor code has a tree structure, and these tools, configuration methods of the tools, and intertool interfaces are described by the MSDL. Also, in the existing coding system descriptor codes, a new coding system descriptor code can be constituted by the MSDL by exchanging or adding tools.
The MPEG 4 defines Configuration Phase, Learning Phase, and Transmission Phase during communication, and the contents of processing are determined for each phase. In Configuration Phase, to start call setting or establish a communication path, whether an encoder and a decoder can perform appropriate communication is checked. For this purpose, parameters describing, e.g., capability, conditions, and environment are exchanged. Also, after these parameters are exchanged, an environment for communication is determined or whether the control is to proceed on to next Learning Phase is checked. In Learning Phase, to allow the decoder to correctly analyze coded data transmitted from the encoder, transmission of an analysis method itself or construction of the analysis method is designated. In Transmission Phase, coded data is transmitted by the format specified in these two phases.
FIG. 9 shows a conventional picture encoding apparatus of the MPEG4 system. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 31 denotes a communication state controller; 32, a picture encoder; and 33, a coding system descriptor code transmitter. The communication state controller 31 controls the state of communication and, in accordance with the communication state, selects transmission of picture coded data or transmission of a coding system descriptor code. The picture encoder 32 encodes an input picture and forms picture coded data. The coding system descriptor code transmitter 33 transmits tools constituting the coding system used in the picture encoder 32 in order for the terminal on the other end to recognize the coding system. In Learning Phase described above, contacts a and c of a switch are closed and the coding system descriptor code used in the apparatus is transmitted to the partner terminal. When the control proceeds on to Transmission Phase, contacts b and c of the switch are closed and the picture coded data formed by the picture encoder 32 is transmitted.
With this configuration, a software download type system can be constructed. Consequently, any new developed coding system can be processed.
Presently, various coding systems have been developed in addition to the systems described above, and it is difficult to discriminate between them, i.e., it is difficult to choose one of these coding systems. These coding systems have their respective features, and different types of pictures have different appropriate coding systems. Also, cameras for inputting pictures may be switched, or panned or tilted, or the object itself may be changed during communication. In these cases the properties of an input picture largely change. Consequently, it is necessary to switch coding systems during communication in order to transmit clearer pictures in a narrow band. However, in the conventional picture communication systems the coding systems cannot be switched during communication.


A rights management module controls access to a data set by processing requests for flexibly defined types of access to the data set and determines if the requested access may be granted. The requester's right for the requested type of access is verified by a verification module that may be part of the rights management core or verified through expansion rights verification modules. Extension verification modules may be contained within the data set itself or obtained from a separate store. Extension verification modules are authenticated by the rights management core.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to the field of managing rights to access secure digital data modules, and more particularly relates to an extensible method and system to enable specification of different types of digital property rights to secure digital data modules.
2. Description of Related Art
The developments in electronic communications and digital processing of data that comprise multi-media presentations have greatly increased the distribution of multi-media presentations in digital form. Digital audio, including commercial music recordings, have been distributed on Compact Disks (CDs), for some time, but the inability to practically store or communicate these relatively large data sets has precluded widespread copying and distribution of digitized media. Advances in economical storage, high-speed communications and playback of a large amount of digital data has led to digitizing of video productions, including motion pictures, and distributing data sets that contain these types of productions on Digital Video Disks (DVDs) as well as via electronic communications. Technology advances have also allowed the practical copying of these digital multi-media data sets onto writable media or the communications of these data sets among numerous people. The ability to reproduce original copies of digitized multimedia presentations, coupled with the recent ability to conveniently store and/or communicate the data, has lead to an increase in the copying, pirating and unauthorized sharing of digitized multi-media presentations. This unauthorized copying and distribution of digitized multi-media presentations has resulted in large losses to the owners of the copyrights in those presentations.
Various techniques have been used to try to prevent unauthorized copying of multi-media presentations. The data set that comprises the multi-media presentation, the media data set, is encrypted using the various techniques known in the art. Encryption of the media data set has limited effectiveness since the equipment that "plays back" or presents the multi-media presentation to a user must decrypt the media data set to allow playback, thereby requiring dissemination of the encryption technique to all product manufacturers. The commercial grade encryption techniques are also subject to development of decryption algorithms. The encryption technique used for video DVDs, for example, has been compromised by public release of a decryption algorithm used in DVD players. The publicly owned base of existing DVD players precludes changing the encryption algorithms used for that media once an encryption technique is compromised. Encryption protection by itself in existing player systems is also limited to authorizing access to the media data set and is not able to provide flexible limitations on the types of usage rights that may be granted to the media data set. Different types of usage rights that an owner of a media data set is interested in controlling include the right to modifying the data, immediate access to the entire media data set instead of progressive access over the course of the multi-media presentation, or access to permit deletion of parts of the media data set. Encryption of other types of data, such as a database or financial document, similarly fails to provide the ability to control the type of accesses or usages that may be authorized for the data.
Alternative protection techniques have been developed which support controlling different types of usage rights for a media data set. These systems, referred to as Digital Rights Management (DRM) Systems, are able to restrict access to data sets by limiting authorization to one or more types of usages of a data set in response to specified usage conditions. Access control in these systems is controlled through specified Digital Property Rights (DPRs). An example of a DPR is a right to only read a particular media data set for a specified number of times. Such a DPR may be used to provide a free or low cost demonstration of the multi-media data set. Existing systems support a variety of conditions on usage of the media data set and those conditions may be specified on a remote license server, but the available types of usages that may be authorized are fixed by the implementation and may not be flexibly varied by the owners of the copyright on a media data set.
Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as are discussed above, and particularly for a DRM system which provides flexibility to digital multi-media copyright holders in defining the type of usage rights that may be granted to their media and the usage conditions which must be satisfied prior to granting those types of rights.

System and method for dynamically extending a DRM system using authenticated external DPR modules

International Business Machines Corporation


A random number generating device includes a semiconductor device including a source region, a drain region, a channel region provided between the source region and the drain region, and an insulating portion provided on the channel region, the insulating portion including a trap insulating film having traps based on dangling bonds and expressed by Six(SiO2)y(Si3N4)1-yMz (M is an element other than Si, O, and N, x≧0, 1≧y≧0, z≧0, the case where x=0 and y=1 and z=0 is excluded), conductivity of the channel region varying randomly depending on the amount of charge caught in the traps, and a random number generating unit connected to the semiconductor device and generating random numbers based on a random variation in the conductivity of the channel region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a random number generating device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Random numbers are used to generate keys for encrypting techniques intended for information security. In recent years, in particular, small and fast random number generating devices have been demanded. Pseudo-random numbers are often used to meet this demand.
However, more advanced security techniques have been required for personal information protection or the like. This requires more unpredictable intrinsic random numbers to be generated so as to keep security. Random noise utilizing a physical phenomenon is effective for generating intrinsic random numbers. A known technique for generating random noise on the basis of the physical phenomenon utilizes a fluctuation in diode current. However, amplification of very low white noise requires a large amplifying circuit, making it difficult to obtain a small random number generating device.
A small, fast, and good random number generating device using Si nano-crystal MOSFETs has been proposed (see JP-A 2005-167165 (KOKAI)). In the Si nano-crystal MOSFET, only a very thin tunnel insulating film is interposed between a channel and conductive nano-particles. Thus, thermal fluctuation causes random electron charging and discharging. This randomly varies a current flowing through the channel, resulting in random noise. Converting the random noise into digital random numbers enables the generation of random numbers.
Normal security systems require random numbers to be generated at a rate of at least 1 Mbits/sec. However, the Si nano-crystal MOSFET produces only a low random noise and thus cannot sufficiently generate good random numbers. Further, achieving a random number generation rate of at least 1 Mbits/sec requires a miniaturizing technique which is both technically and economically difficult to implement.
Thus, small, fast, and good random number generating devices have been required in order to further improve information security. However, it has been difficult to provide small high-performance random number generating devices that can sufficiently generate good random numbers.


The invention relates to an installation and a process for the generation of electrical energy with a unit for the discharge of H.sub.2 -rich gas (H.sub.2 -unit A), with a fuel cell system, whose anode chamber (8a) has a H.sub.2 -feed line (2) from the H.sub.2 -unit (A), and with a gas turbine (19) and a combustion chamber (17), and with a compressed air generation unit (10) connected for drive purposes to the gas turbine (19), and is essentially characterized by the fact that the H.sub.2 -feed line is the only fluid connecting line between the H.sub.2 -unit (A) on the one hand and the fuel cell system (B) and the compressed air generation unit (C) on the other hand. Thus the compressed gas containing O.sub.2 is used exclusively for the feed into the cathode chamber of the fuel cell, and if necessary, is partly used directly for the generation of the combustion gas for the compression drive.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an installation and a process for the generation of electrical energy, whereby fuel cells perform the conversion of energy chemically bonded in a fuel into electrical energy.
2. Background Information
Fuel cells have been part of the prior art for many years. There are a number of different types, which are operated at different pressures, temperatures and with different electrolytes. Examples include alkaline fuel cells (AFC=Aklaline Fuel Cell), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC=Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC=Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC=Solid Oxide Fuel Cell), or solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells (SPFC=Solid Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell). A fuel cell always has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, between which an electric current flows through an electrolyte. The anode chamber generally contains hydrogen gas or another gas rich in H.sub.2 as the fuel, and the cathode chamber contains a gas containing O.sub.2 (in particular air) as the oxidizing agent.
An oxidation process then takes place in the fuel cell at a temperature level which is relatively low compared to thermal combustion, for which reason we also speak of the "cold combustion" of the fuel. The efficiency of the fuel cell can generally be increased by increasing the operating pressure. Since its mechanical structure is very sensitive, precautions must be taken so that the pressure of the H.sub.2 -rich anode gas and the pressure of the cathode gas containing O.sub.2 are approximately equal to avoid mechanical damage. There must also be a control system to cool the fuel cell, so that the operating temperature always remains at the required level, independent of current fluctuations. An additional important point which has an effect on the operational safety of a fuel cell system is the maintenance of a sufficient degree of purity of the anode gas. For example, several types of fuel cells are sensitive to CO (e.g. PAFC), while others, such as MCFC or SOFC, are not.
To increase the overall efficiency of the electric current generation by means of fuel cells, and to achieve competitiveness with conventional processes for the generation of electric energy, the generation of the H.sub.2 -rich gas has heretofore been directly connected to the current generation, since in this manner the energy and fluid flows which occur in the fuel cell process can be utilized in the context of the conversion of a hydrocarbon into an H.sub.2 -rich gas. That would result in a close integration of the two subsystems, as will be explained below in greater detail on the basis of the schematic diagram in FIG. 1.
The fuel cell system designated B can consist of a single fuel cell, but also of several fuel cells connected together. (In the remainder of this description, the term "fuel cell" is also understood to include the possibility of several fuel cells.) This fuel cell B has two input gas currents, namely one H.sub.2 -rich anode gas current 2 and a cathode gas current 3 containing 02, which consists, for example, of compressed air. The compressed air, for example, can be supplied by an electrically operated compressor. The fluid currents 2 and 3 are held at the same pressure level by corresponding control devices, to prevent mechanical damage to the fuel cell. Exhaust gases are formed as a result of the chemical/physical processes taking place in the fuel cell. Since the H.sub.2 content of the H.sub.2 -rich gas 2 cannot be completely consumed, the anode exhaust gas current 4 discharged from the anode chamber still contains a residual amount of H.sub.2. Depending on the method of operation and the type of fuel cell, the remaining concentration is in the range of approximately 5-30% of the initial amount. The actual value is a function of the gas composition and the fuel consumption in the cell. The cathode exhaust gas current 6 being discharged from the cathode chamber also still contains a portion of the original O.sub.2 content of the cathode gas current 3 (frequently approximately one-half). Since during the "cold combustion" of the hydrogen in the fuel cell, a corresponding amount of water is formed, the water can be separated, e.g. by condensation of the cathode exhaust gas (in many fuel cells of the anode exhaust gas, too), in the form of high-purity water. In FIG. 1, the water current recovered is designated 5. Finally, a (fluid current 7 exits the fuel cell B, which is intended to symbolize the removal of heat, i.e. it represents the cooling system of the fuel cell B. Such a cooling system can be configured as an open or as a closed cooling system, in which the heat to be discharged is transferred to another medium. Systems of the prior art generally employ open cooling systems, also using them to generate steam. The cooling water to be used must be very carefully purified (better than standard demineralized boiler water).
Not only is that very expensive, but it frequently does not even achieve the desirable long-term operation of the cooling system, on account of the residual concentration of minerals always left in the water. By means of the fluid currents 4 to 7, the fuel cell system B is integrated into the generation of the H.sub.2 -rich anode gas, which takes place in the H.sub.2 -unit A. The H.sub.2 -unit A works mostly as a steam reformer installation. The raw material introduced into the reformer installation is a current of gaseous hydrocarbons 1 which is saturated with steam. At least some of the water 5 recovered from the waste gas of the fuel cell A can be used for that purpose. The heat which is given off during the cooling of the fuel cell B can be used to convert the water into the steam phase, and to superheat the steam. The H.sub.2 content (and the other combustible components such as CO and hydrocarbons) in the anode exhaust gas current 4 and the O.sub.2 content of the cathode exhaust gas current 6 are frequently used for combustion, to at least partly supply the heat requirement of an indirectly heated reformer in the H.sub.2 unit A, since the steam reforming process is strongly endothermal. Since the operating pressure of the fuel cell B is normally relatively high (approximately 2-10 bar), the steam reforming and frequently also the combustion for the indirect heating of the reformer are performed at correspondingly high pressures. On account of the refractory materials required, the costs for the fabrication of the steam reforming system are particularly high, and there are also increased safety problems.
The diagram in FIG. 1 is very rough and does not show any details. For example, it does not show that the product gas generated in the H.sub.2 -unit A, before it is introduced into the fuel cell B, is cooled and has generally been subjected to a prior CO/H.sub.2 shift treatment. The heat which is thereby given off is also used to heat the input fluid currents of the steam reforming process.
FIG. 1 shows the high degree of interconnection between the H.sub.2 unit A and the fuel cell system B. It shows that operating fluctuations of the one unit have direct effects on the other unit. While the electrochemical process in the fuel cell B can be influenced very quickly (practically instantly), the subsystem for the generation of an H.sub.2 -rich gas (H.sub.2 unit A) reacts to corresponding interventions very slowly (on the order of several minutes). For this reason, the startup phase and adjustments to different loads on the electricity discharge side present major problems, from the point of view of control and regulation. In spite of a great deal of effort and expense, the prior art has not been able to solve these problems, or to achieve satisfactory values for the duration of normal operation. On the 80 or so systems which have been constructed worldwide, the duration of problem-free operation is only several thousand hours, or even significantly less than that. Only very small systems have been able to operate for up to 20,000 hours. But the market requires a minimum operating time of 100,000 h and more.
The generic GB-A-21 82 195 discloses a process for electricity generation by means of fuel cells, in which, in comparison to the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1, the subsystems for the generation of the H.sub.2 -rich gas and the fuel cell are no longer so closely interwoven with one another, whereby the combustion exhaust gas generated is not used to heat an indirectly fired steam reformer unit, but is discharged to a gas turbine. This gas turbine drives a compressor which supplies the compressed air for the operation of the fuel cell, and if necessary, also for the performance of the catalytic combustion.
An additional important task for the pneumatic compressor is the supply of the steam reformer unit with combustion compressed air. In this process, a special reformer is used which contains a primary reformer stage and a secondary reformer stage. Between the two stages, a partial combustion takes place for heating in the product gas already produced, the oxygen for which must be supplied by the compressed air compressor.
With fuel cell systems of the prior art employing indirectly heated steam reformer units, the combustion for the indirect heating also frequently takes place under elevated pressure, so that the combustion air must be supplied in the form of compressed air.
An additional characteristic of the process disclosed in GB-A-21 82 195 is that the compressed air required for the combustion in the steam reformer--in a variant of the process and following saturation with steam--is preheated by the hot flue gases generated by the catalytic combustion of the exhaust gases of the fuel cell. The recovery of water from the cooled flue gases from the catalytic combustion for use as the raw material for the steam reforming is described only as a possible variant of the process. In summary, therefore, we find that between the system for the generation of a H.sub.2 -rich gas and the fuel cell system, in this process there are three additional fluid currents, namely the H.sub.2 feed current to the fuel cell, the compressed air current to the steam reformer and the heat current.(if the latter is also included as a "fluid current" in the broader sense). Thus, as before, there is a strong interdependence between the subsystems indicated above, so that the existing problems of control and regulation have still not been solved. The construction of the steam reformer remains complex and expensive since, like the entire system, it must be designed for the operating pressure of the fuel cell.

Process and installation for generating electrical energy

Kinetics Technology International Group B.V.


A stepping motor control circuit includes: a rotation detection unit that detects a induced signal exceeding a predetermined reference threshold voltage which is generated by a stepping motor in a detection section divided into at least three sections, and detects a rotation state on the basis of a pattern indicating whether the induced signal exceeding a reference threshold voltage is detected in each of the sections; and a control unit that selects a main drive pulse depending on the rotation state detected by the rotation detection unit from a plurality of main drive pulses which are different from each other in energy, and drives the stepping motor. When the induced signal exceeding a reference threshold voltage is not detected in an initial section, the rotation detection unit detects the induced signal by shifting an end position of at least one section other than the initial section to a rear side by a predetermined amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stepping motor control circuit that controls the driving of a stepping motor, a movement including the stepping motor control circuit, and an analog electronic timepiece including the movement.
2. Background Art
Hitherto, in analog electronic timepieces, a drive system has been developed in which, when a plurality of main drive pulses P1 are prepared and a stepping motor is driven by any of the main drive pulses P1, pulses are controlled so that a change (rank-down) to the main drive pulse P1 having small energy is performed in a case where energy of the main drive pulse P1 has a drive margin, and a change (rank-up) to the main drive pulse P1 having large energy is performed in a case where energy of the main drive pulse P1 has no drive margin, thereby allowing the stepping motor to be stably rotationally driven and allowing electric power saving to be achieved.
Drive systems are developed in which at the time of detecting whether the energy of the main drive pulse P1 has a margin, a detection section for detecting the rotation of a stepping motor is divided into a plurality of sections by a predetermined reference time, the degree of the drive margin of the main drive pulse P1 is determined on the basis of a section in which an induced signal VRs exceeding a predetermined reference threshold voltage generated by the free vibration of the stepping motor is detected, and driving is performed by a change to the main drive pulse P1 depending on the degree of the drive margin (see, for example, International Publication No. WO 2005/119377 and JP-A-2010-166798).
In the drive systems disclosed in International Publication No. WO 2005/119377 and JP-A-2010-166798, since the reference time for setting the section is constantly fixed, rank-up (excess rank-up) is performed when the detection time of the induced signal VRs becomes late in spite of the drive margin being present. For example, in a case where the moment of hands mounted to an analog electronic timepiece by a customer is larger than specified, or the like, the timing of the generation of an induced voltage occurring due to free vibration is delayed, and thus the induced signal VRs indicating that rank-up is required is generated. Excess rank-up may occur in spite of rank-up being unnecessary or rank-down being necessary. Due to the occurrence of excess rank-up, current consumption increases, and thus battery life deteriorates when a battery is used. Thereby, there occurs a problem in that battery life considerably fluctuates or deteriorates because of the moment of hands to be mounted.

Stepping motor control circuit, movement and analog electronic timepiece