One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for establishing temporary and permanent credentials for secure remote data access. The system includes a temporary smart card configured to provide a temporary credential for a first device, thereby providing the first device with temporary secure access to a remote data source when the temporary smart card is used with the first device. Additionally, the system includes an enrollment smart card configured to provide a permanent credential for a second device, thereby providing the second device with permanent secure access to the remote data source without presence of the enrollment smart card or the temporary smart card.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to techniques for securely accessing remote data sources. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and a method for establishing temporary and permanent credentials for secure online transactions.
2. Related Art
Providing a personalized shopping experience is becoming an increasingly important goal for retail businesses. Customers are beginning to value high-end services tailored to their individual needs, such as personalized shopping lists, recommendations, product customizations, and expedited checkout. Typically, a valued customer identifies herself in a retail store by
The proliferation of online shopping provides consumers with unprecedented convenience. However, providing an effortless personalized shopping experience over the Internet is not an easy task. A user of a retail website is often required to complete a time-consuming registration process. Furthermore, to receive personally tailored web pages, the user often needs to configure the web pages manually. The task of inputting registration information and configuring web pages can be difficult for a customer who is unfamiliar with navigating through the Internet. Such an online experience may even frustrate a customer who is familiar with the membership-based services in retail stores. As a result, a retailer may lose potential sales. Currently, there is no online shopping system which provides personalized services with the same level of ease as is available in a retail store.
For many Internet users, online shopping is not the only frustrating online experience. Many Internet applications require secure access to remote data sources, which typically involves a user having to perform configuration operations, such as setting up a username and a password, specifying protocol parameters, and configuring network addresses. For example, to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) tunnel, a user needs to provide an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a username, and a password. A user who is not comfortable with this configuration process may be reluctant to use these applications. Consequently, many users cannot readily take advantage of services that provide wireless network access and remote data storage and retrieval.
Hence, there is a need for a system that facilitates secure remote data access which requires minimal manual configuration.

System and method for establishing temporary and permanent credentials for secure online commerce


The present invention relates to a replaceable coating cartridge and a method of coating at least one surface of a photosensitive material using the replaceable coating cartridge. The method and apparatus can be used in a photographic processing device, and the apparatus can be built into an existing or new photographic processor or added on as an accessory. The method and apparatus are utilized to apply a viscous solution to at least one surface of processed photosensitive materials prior to drying in a manner that allows the solution to be uniformly applied to the at least one surface at a specific thickness. The viscous solution after drying functions as a protective coating which can protect the processed photosensitive material against scratches and moisture.

When photosensitive material is processed in a processing tank using current photographic processors, squeegees are typically used to remove as much of the processing surface liquid as possible to avoid contamination at the next processing tank. In some cases, no effort is made to remove the processing surface liquid.
It is not common to apply a protective coating on a photosensitive material in a bath. In cases where a protective coating is applied to a photosensitive material, the residue left by the protective coating substance within a tank and on the components of the tank is messy and difficult to clean. This adversely affects maintenance of the tank and increases operating costs.
Furthermore, these coating solutions tend to dry when exposed to air or when the apparatus which applies the coating is not running, such as during off-hours or a non-working cycle, which also adversely effects maintenance and cleaning.
Also, in those cases where a protective coating is applied, there is little attempt to control the specific laydown of the coating onto the surface of the photographic material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,173,480 describes the concept of applying a protective coating, however, in this document there is no concern about controlling the specific laydown amount of the coating material applied.
Currently, in order to apply a solution to the surface of a web in uniform layer amounts, it is necessary that it be done in manufacturing under very controlled conditions and temperature. In the past, this has been difficult to do in minilab or traditional lab photographic processing environment as an integral part of the process.
In order to apply a protective coating to an emulsion surface of a photosensitive material, control over the thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of the layer being applied is needed in order to provide for adequate protection against moisture and scratches. The control is needed for several reasons: 1) the protective coating must be applied in a manner that insures that the surface is uniformly coated so that the coating can provide adequate protection to the entire surface; 2) the thickness of the coating must be controlled because if the coating is too thick, it could cause cracking due a non-uniform drying; 3) a thick coating could dull the surface and the underlying image; and 4) the coating solutions can be of different viscosities. Conventional methods of immersing the photosensitive materials into a bath and squeegeeing off the excess liquid will not provide for a uniform protective coating and may produce too thin a coating which would provide inadequate protection.

Replaceable cartridge coating assembly method of coating a photosensitive material using the same


In one aspect of the present invention, a method determines the rotational position of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The method includes monitoring the rotation of the crankshaft and responsively producing a crankshaft pulsetrain. A clock signal is produced having a predetermined frequency. The clock signal and the crankshaft pulsetrain are received. Each pulse of the crankshaft pulsetrain is sampled, and responsively the period of each sampled pulse is determined. Signals representative of the determined pulse periods are produced. The method further includes receiving the determined pulse period signals, and responsively determining a value which is predictive of a period of the next pulse to be produced. A signal representative of the predictive value is produced, and the predictive value signal is received. An intermediate position signal based on the predictive value is produced. The intermediate position signal is representative of a predetermined angular rotation of the crankshaft.

Control of internal combustion engines has received substantial attention in the past several decades. Compression and spark ignition engine designs have attempted to achieve increased flexibility of engine operation. A plethora of designs have been directed to independent intake and exhaust valve actuation and electronic fuel injection. Many of these designs are directed to electronic and feedback control for engine timing. Systems using independent valve actuation and electronic fuel injection have been conceived to perform engine operational modes not attainable by cam-based engines.
The opening and closing of valves and injectors in "camless" engines may be typically controlled as a function of speed or angular position of the crankshaft. However, known crankshaft position detecting devices provide poor resolution. Resultantly, the timing information produced with these devices and methods fall short in accurately controlling the valves and fuel injectors.
The present invention is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Method for determining the rotational position of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine


A processing scheme and arrangement for enhanced olefin production involves recovering thermal energy from a reactor effluent stream resulting from the dehydrogenation of a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon. The process involves contacting the reactor effluent stream with a circulating fluid stream in a first contact cooling zone to produce a product stream and to form a heated circulating fluid stream. Thermal energy is recovered from the heated circulating fluid stream via indirect heat exchange with a first process stream in a first heat exchange zone to form a cooled circulating fluid stream. The cooled circulating fluid stream can be subsequently cooled and at least a first portion thereof returned to the first contact cooling zone.

Olefinic hydrocarbons such as, for example, propylene and butylene, are one of the major building blocks of a large number of petrochemical products. Such olefinic hydrocarbons are also useful in petroleum refineries for the production of motor fuel blending components. In view of the commercial desirability of such olefinic hydrocarbons, there is a continuing search for techniques to lower the cost of production and increase the relative yield of such olefins.
One process for producing olefins such as, for example, propylene, involves the catalytic dehydrogenation of a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon-containing feedstock such as, for example, a propane-containing feedstock. Such catalytic dehydrogenation processes generally involve mixing the dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon-containing feedstock with a hydrogen-rich gas stream and introducing the combined feedstock into a reactor section, typically including several reactor units connected in series, wherein at least a portion of the dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons in the combined feedstock are catalytically converted to produce a reactor effluent stream containing at least a corresponding olefin product. Generally, such dehydrogenation reactor effluent streams have a temperature in excess of about 150° C. (about 300° F.).
Such dehydrogenation reactor effluent streams are subsequently cooled and compressed to facilitate separation into individual product streams. Dehydrogenation reactor effluent streams can be cooled using various heat exchange methods such as, for example, indirect heat exchange with a cooling medium such as, for example, cooling water. One such indirect heat exchange method generally involves passing the hot dehydrogenation reactor effluent stream through a heat exchange unit such as, for example, a tube and sheet heat exchanger, to produce a cooled effluent stream having a temperature profile that is suitable for efficient compression.
However, such indirect heat exchange units can be susceptible to fouling by constituents of the dehydrogenation reactor effluent stream. For example, heavy hydrocarbon compounds (i.e., C7+ hydrocarbons) contained in the dehydrogenation reactor effluent stream can condense on surfaces of the heat exchange unit which can result in a reduction of the cooling capacity of the heat exchange unit. Generally, the temperature of a gas to be compressed determines, at least in part, the capacity of an associated compressor, i.e., the higher the temperature of the gas the less it can be compressed. Thus, reducing the cooling capacity of the heat exchange unit results in a reduced compression capacity in an associated compressor which can, in turn, result in increased down time for cleaning of the heat exchange units and decreased product output.
In view of the above, there is a need and a demand for processing schemes and/or arrangements effective to reduce fouling of heat exchange units used to cool dehydrogenation reactor effluent streams.
Additionally, gaseous materials which pass through such indirect heat exchange units can also experience a significant pressure drop from inlet to outlet resulting in a cooled product stream being at a pressure which is lower than may be desired and can require additional energy expenditures to compress the cooled product stream to a pressure suitable for further processing in subsequent separation units. Thus, there is a further need and a demand for processing schemes and/or arrangements that result in reduced pressure drop across the heat exchange unit.
Further, a pressure drop across the heat exchange unit can result in an increased pressure at an associated dehydrogenation section outlet which can cause reductions in the yield of olefins, such as propylene, produced by the dehydrogenation process. Accordingly, there is a still further need and a demand for processing schemes and/or arrangements effective to result in an increased relative yield of olefins, particularly, propylene.

Process for recovering thermal energy from a reactor effluent stream


Automatic driver modeling is used to integrate human-controlled vehicles into an autonomous vehicle network. A driver of a human-controlled vehicle is identified based on behavior patterns of the driver measured by one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. A model of the driver is generated based on the behavior patterns of the driver measured by the one or more sensors of the autonomous vehicle. Previously stored behavior patterns of the driver are then retrieved from a database to augment the model of the driver. The model of the driver is then transmitted from the autonomous vehicle to nearby vehicles with autonomous interfaces.

The present invention relates to autonomous vehicle networks, and more specifically, to the integration of human-controlled vehicles into an autonomous vehicle network through automatic driver modeling.
As vehicle transportation networks transform from roadways used by vehicles controlled almost entirely by human drivers into roadways for autonomous vehicles controlled wholly by onboard and remote servers, an interim period will occur when roads must be shared by both autonomous and human-controlled vehicles. Autonomous vehicles rely on a combination of inputs from onboard sensors, vehicle control computing resources, and communications between vehicles, and from remote servers engaged in, for example, scheduling of vehicle traffic and alerting autonomous vehicles of conditions that cannot be sensed or communicated locally.
Both interactions and communications between vehicles and with remote servers require standard autonomous interfaces between autonomous vehicles, their onboard sensors and control mechanisms, and the computing resources of other vehicles and remote servers. These interfaces may communicate details such as vehicle location, speed, and subsequent actions, which then allows other vehicles to plan their own actions and remote servers to schedule and control the actions of groups of vehicles effectively. Without these standard autonomous interfaces, communications between vehicles must be through onboard sensors and processed locally in the time available, much as a human relies on local biological sensors to control a vehicle.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automatic driver modeling for integration of human-controlled vehicles into an autonomous vehicle network

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A rotor blade includes a blade main body having a proximal end connected to the blade root, and a tip shroud connected to a tip end of the blade main body so as to constitute a part of an annular shroud, a tip end side of a leading edge of the blade main body is made continuous to an outside surface of the tip shroud via a curved portion curved toward a trailing edge, fillets are provided between the tip end of the blade main body and an inside surface of the tip shroud, and the curved portion is located closer to the leading edge than the fillets, whereby the turbine rotor blade and the turbo machine can realize weight reduction and suppress performance degradation.

For example, a power generation gas turbine that is a type of a turbo machine is configured to include a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor compresses air introduced from an air intake into high temperature and high pressure compressed air. The combustor supplies fuel to this compressed air to produce combustion, thereby obtaining high temperature and high pressure combustion gas (working fluid). This combustion gas drives the turbine and the turbine drives a power generator connected to this turbine.
In the turbine of the gas turbine of this type, a first stage rotor blade and a second stage rotor blade in front stages are short in a blade height direction (a radial direction of a rotary shaft) whereas a third stage rotor blade and a fourth stage rotor blade (a final stage rotor blade) in rear stages are long in the blade height direction (long rotor blades) in light of performance. The turbine rotor blades long in a blade length direction tend to vibrate. To prevent vibrations, tip shrouds are attached to tip ends of the long turbine rotor blades and the tip shrouds of the adjacent rotor blades contact each other, thereby forming an annular shroud. However, when the tip shroud is attached to the tip end of each rotor blade, then the tip end becomes heavier, a centrifugal force acting on the rotor blade at a time of rotation generates a tensile force in a rotor blade main body, and the rotor blade possibly deforms. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the weight of the tip shroud attached to the tip end of each turbine rotor blade.
As solutions to these problems, for example, there are known techniques disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 mentioned below. In a turbine rotor blade described in the Patent Literatures 1 and 2, ends of tip shrouds, that is, portions in which the tip shrouds contact each other are recessed in the direction of a rotary shaft so as to form an annular shroud, thereby realizing weight reduction.


A sealing device for sealing between a tube member and an axial member movably inserted into the tube member includes a dust seal held on an opening end part of the tube member and including an annular dust seal lip held in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the axial member, and a scraper arranged at an inner side of the dust seal and including an annular lip portion slidably pressed into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the axial member. The hardness of the lip portion is set to be higher than that of the dust seal lip.

A sealing device is used in a shock absorber for suppressing vibration of transportation equipment or a building, a suspension device containing this shock absorber or the like and seals working fluid stored in the shock absorber or the suspension device.
For example, a suspension device called a front fork for suspending a front wheel is installed in a saddled vehicle such as a motorcycle. The suspension device includes a suspension main body with an outer tube and an inner tube inserted in such a manner as to project from and retract into the outer tube, and the shock absorber is housed in this suspension main body.
A reservoir for temperature compensation and volume compensation is formed between the suspension main body and the shock absorber and stores working fluid and gas. A sealing device used in the suspension device prevents the leakage of the working fluid and the gas in the reservoir from the suspension main body to an outer side (atmosphere side).
JP04-32342A discloses a sealing device including an annular dust seal held on an opening end part of an outer tube and held in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of an inner tube, and an annular oil seal held on the opening end part of the outer tube, held in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube and arranged at an inner side (working-fluid side) of the dust seal.
This sealing device scrapes off foreign substances adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube by the dust seal and scrapes off the working fluid adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube by the oil seal. In this way, the sealing device can prevent the leakage of the working fluid and the gas in the suspension main body to the outer side (atmosphere side) due to scratches on sliding surfaces of the oil seal and the inner tube caused by foreign substances and maintain the interior of the suspension main body in a sealed state.

Sealing device and suspension device with the sealing device


The invention is directed to a system, utilizing a neural network, for estimating helicopter airspeed in the low airspeed flight range of below about 50 knots using only fixed system parameters as inputs to the neural network. The method includes the steps of: (a) defining input parameters derivable from variable state parameters generated during flight of the helicopter and measurable in a nonrotating reference frame associated with the helicopter; (b) determining the input parameters and a corresponding helicopter airspeed at a plurality of flight conditions representing a predetermined low airspeed flight domain of the helicopter; (c) establishing a learned relationship between the determined input parameters and the corresponding helicopter airspeed wherein the relationship is represented by at least one nonlinear equation; (d) storing the at least one nonlinear equation in a memory onboard the helicopter; (e) measuring real time values of the variable state parameters during low airspeed flight of the helicopter; (f) calculating real time values of the input parameters; (g) storing the real time values of the input parameters in the memory; (h) processing the real time values of the input parameters in accordance with the at least one nonlinear equation to determine real time airspeed; and (i) displaying the real time airspeed.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to virtual sensors and, more particularly, to a means and method utilizing a neural network for estimating helicopter airspeed at speeds below about 50 knots using only fixed system parameters (i.e., parameters measured or determined in a reference frame fixed relative to the helicopter fuselage) as inputs to the neural network.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Helicopters are designed for a wide variety of missions including anti-submarine warfare, vertical replenishment, and search and rescue missions. Although helicopters routinely operate at forward airspeeds above 100 knots, such missions require that a large portion of flight time be conducted in the low airspeed flight regime (i.e., airspeeds below about 50 knots). Because flight in the low airspeed regime requires increased power, accurate low airspeed data is needed to maintain control margins. Low airspeed data is needed by pilots flying instrument approaches in order to maintain critical control authority, particularly in connection with tail-rotor effectiveness. On attack helicopters, low airspeed information is critical to accurate weapons firing solutions. In addition, high vibratory loads can occur in some low airspeed maneuvers resulting in fatigue damage accumulation in flight critical components. Technology for monitoring the safe life remaining on such flight critical components has been developed through helicopter usage monitoring and flight regime recognition techniques, e.g., Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS). Normally, information from multiple sensors must be examined collectively to make diagnostic and prognostic decisions. However, the success of HUMS technology in the low airspeed regime is dependent on accurate low airspeed information. Without correct low airspeed information, usage monitoring algorithms cannot recognize the low airspeed maneuvers and, therefore, may not register critical fatigue accumulation data.
Due to inaccuracy associated with use of traditional pitot-static probes in a low airspeed environment, as well as with interference generated by the main rotor downwash, instrumentation for accurately measuring airspeed and sideslip angle in the low airspeed regime is generally lacking. Thus, although accurate low airspeed information is needed by pilots and monitoring algorithms, it is not available using traditional methods of measuring airspeed and sideslip angle.
Development of a measurement system that accurately estimates low airspeed and sideslip angle has long been a difficult challenge. Interest in low airspeed measurement began in the 1950s when preliminary concepts were developed and flight tested. These concepts involved mounting probes above the rotor hub as well as in the wake beneath the rotor. Since the 1950s, these concepts have been refined and a variety of low airspeed sensor designs have been flight tested. One such system employs two venturi tubes on opposite ends of a rotating arm installed above the rotor hub to measure true airspeed magnitude and direction, e.g., LORAS (Low Range Airspeed System) produced by the Pacer Company of the United States. The differential pressure between the two sensors is used to calculate the airspeed and sideslip angle. Such systems, however, require slip ring assemblies or some other means of transferring data from the rotating reference frame of the rotor to the fixed (i.e., nonrotating) reference frame of the fuselage. Another approach involves a sensor designed to be mounted under the rotor wherein the nature of the wake is used to determine helicopter airspeed, e.g., LASSIE (Low Air Speed Sensing and Indicating System) produced by the GEC Company of England. This system uses a pitot-static probe which can rotate about 360.degree. to provide airspeed and sideslip angle information. However, the flow environment under the rotor system is complex and empirical methods are used to linearize the output. Several other techniques, including those using ultrasonic transmission times and shed vortex characteristics, have been proposed for deducing low airspeed and sideslip angle information.
The search for an effective low airspeed sensor has long been a difficult challenge for the helicopter R&D sector. Few proposed solutions have made it into use. Most proposed low airspeed measurement systems are externally mounted and require transferring information from a reference frame rotating with the rotor to a reference frame fixed relative to the helicopter fuselage (i.e., a helicopter fixed system of coordinates XYZ originating in the helicopter fuselage). Due to the mechanical complexity, expense, and increased drag introduced by proposed low airspeed measurement systems, most helicopters are not equipped with low airspeed sensors. Moreover, in many cases, physical sensors cannot be affordably and reliably applied in an operational environment on military helicopters. Thus, the vast majority of commercial and military helicopters in use today do not have an airspeed system that can accurately measure airspeed below about 50 knots even though this is within the flight regime of the helicopter. Generally, investment in low airspeed measurement equipment is reserved for those aircraft with a critical low airspeed mission. Consequently, there is a need for a simple, low cost means and method for determining low airspeed and sideslip angle experienced by the helicopter.

Neural network based method for estimating helicopter low airspeed

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Provided is a scanning laser ophthalmoscope capable of accurately superposing multiple photographed images. The scanning laser ophthalmoscope comprises an image generating unit that generates first images based on the light reflected from first laser light and second images based on the light reflected from second laser light. An associating unit associates the first images and the second images based on the first laser light and the second laser light parallelly scanned by the scanning unit. A displacement calculating unit calculates displacements between images regarding multiple first images. The position matching unit matches the positions of multiple second images based on the processing results from the associating unit and the displacements. The superposing unit superposes the multiple second images that have undergone the position matching. The display unit displays an image obtained by superposing the multiple second images.

Conventionally, a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (hereinafter, may be referred to as "SLO") is known that two-dimensionally scans laser light with respect to a fundus and receives the reflected light therefrom, thereby obtaining a fundus image.
The SLO is capable of photographing using a variety of laser light. For example, blood vessels deep in the fundus, etc. may be photographed by photographing using infrared light as laser light. Alternatively, the state of blood vessels running over the fundus, etc. may be photographed by photographing using excitation light as laser light.
It should be noted that regarding fluorescent photographing, there are cases in which fluorescence based on agents such as fluorescein and indocyanine green is photographed as well as cases in which fluorescence based on particular objects present inside the fundus (autofluorescence) is photographed.


The semiconductor integrated circuit of this invention includes: a first converter for converting a plurality of input data signals into a composite serial data signal and outputting the composite serial data signal; a second converter for receiving the composite serial data signal via a data signal wiring and converting the composite serial data signal into a plurality of output data signals; and a clock signal supply section for supplying a clock signal for synchronizing an operation of the first converter and an operation of the second converter, wherein the clock signal is input into the first converter and the second converter via a clock signal wiring, the data signal wiring imparts a time delay to the composite serial data signal input into the second converter, and the clock signal wiring imparts a time delay to the clock signal input into the second converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and in particular to a semiconductor integrated circuit with less interconnect delay time so that high speed operation is realized when the integration level is increased.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fabrication of very large scale integrated circuits (VLSIs), multilayer wirings are required to be miniaturized along with the scaling of the circuits in response to the request for a higher integration level of the circuits. However, as the wirings are miniaturized, the interconnect delay increases. The increase of the interconnect delay makes it difficult to maintain the circuit performance according to the trend of the scaling.
The interconnect delay increases when the length of a wiring between the input and output thereof increases. FIG. 14 shows a conventional bus wiring arrangement (including n bus wirings in FIG. 14). Referring to FIG. 14, bus input signals VIN0(i) (i=1 to n) pass through respective bus wirings W0(i) and are output as bus output signals VOUT0(i). Drivers D0(i) drive the respective bus wirings W0(i).
FIG. 15 is a structural sectional view of the bus wirings W0(i) taken along line A--A of FIG. 14. Referring to FIG. 15, the wiring layer of the bus wirings W0(i) is formed over a wiring layer 151 having an interlayer insulating film 152 therebetween. The reference codes L0, S0, T0, and H0 denote the width of the bus wirings W0(i), the spacing between the bus wirings W0(i), the thickness of the bus wirings W0(i), and the thickness of the interlayer insulating film 152 between the bus wirings W0(i) and the wiring layer 151, respectively.
In order to miniaturize the wirings, all of the n bus wirings, for example, must be scaled down, i.e., narrowed. This increases the wiring resistance and thereby the interconnect delay to such a degree that the interconnect delay cannot be neglected.
Hereinbelow, the degree to which the miniaturization of the wirings actually increases the interconnect delay is roughly estimated. In the following estimation, assume that the scaling factor is K, i.e., the design rule is reduced to 1/K every generation.
As a semiconductor integrated circuit is miniaturized, the chip area of the LSI is reduced. In recent years, however, some elements with different functions which were used to be formed on separate LSI chips tend to be integrated onto one LSI. This is because, in an inter-chip signal transmission (where a signal is output outside a chip and received on another chip), signal delay is larger by one or two orders of magnitude than an inner-chip signal transmission. Accordingly, the chip area of one LSI tends to increase. In this estimation, therefore, it is assumed that the chip area is fixed, i.e., the wiring length is fixed.
When the width, the spacing, and the thickness of the wirings and the thickness of the interlayer film are scaled down to 1/K, the wiring capacitance is maintained, but the wiring resistance is increased by a factor K.sup.2, thereby increasing the so-called wiring RC delay by the factor K.sup.2. While the gate delay is reduced to 1/K with the scaling, the wiring RC delay is relatively increased at a rate of K.sup.3 times when the delay of the entire wirings scaled down to 1/K is used as the reference.
The following methods have been proposed to reduce the increased interconnect delay due to wiring miniaturization.
(1) The wiring material is changed from aluminum (Al) to copper (Cu) to reduce the wiring resistance, and the material of the interlayer film is changed from SiO.sub.2 to SiOF with a low dielectric constant to reduce the wiring capacitance. This method is described, for example, in IEEE, 1993, IEDM Technical Digest, pp. 261-264.
(2) A hierarchical wiring structure is adopted, where the width and the thickness are scaled down for the wirings which are shortened during the miniaturization, while they are increased for the wirings which are not shortened, but rather lengthened during the miniaturization. This method is described, for example, in IEEE, 1994, IEDM Technical Digest, pp. 273-276.
The above methods, however, are not sufficient for MOS type integrated circuits which are fabricated based on the design rule of deep submicrons for the following reasons.
As for method (1) of changing the wiring material and the material of the interlayer film, the reduction of the wiring resistance obtained by changing the wiring material from Al to Cu is only about 37%, and the reduction of the wiring capacitance obtained by using a material with a low dielectric constant is only about 25%. These reductions are too small to counteract the increased interconnect delay due to the scaling.
As for method (2) of adopting a hierarchical wiring structure, the size of the miniaturized wirings and the size of the non-miniaturized wirings become unbalanced, thereby increasing the area of the non-miniaturized wirings. As a result, high integration is not possible.

Semiconductor integrated circuit with parallel/serial/parallel conversion

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A cord seat assembly includes a seat, a spool rotatably supported by the seat, and a cord. The seat includes an end wall and a through-hole in a bottom thereof. The cord extends through the through-hole of the seat. The cord is wound around the spool and includes an end fixed to a first end of the spool. The end wall of the seat includes a lateral extension wall extending from a side of the end wall along a lateral side of the seat. The lateral extension wall is adjacent to the through-hole and includes a guiding face facing a second end of the spool. The cord that has passed through the through-hole abuts against and is guided by the guiding face onto the spool when the spool is turned in the retrieving direction of the cord, avoiding the cord from overlapping or getting stuck.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cord seat assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a cord seat assembly for moving an object upward or downward.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional cord seat assembly comprises a cord for moving an object such as a curtain, Venetian blind, etc upward or downward. The cord is wound around a spool and movable in a retrieving direction and a releasing direction.
FIG. 6 of the drawings illustrates a conventional cord seat assembly comprising a seat 1′, a substantially cylindrical spool 2′, and a cord 3′. The seat 1′ includes an axial hole 11′ in each of two ends thereof through which an axle 21′ of the spool 2′ rotatably extends. The seat 1′ further includes a through-hole 12′ in a bottom thereof through which the cord 3′ extends. Formed on an end of the spool 2′ is a coupling section 22′ to which an end of the cord 3′ is fixed. A conic guiding section 23′ is formed on the other end of the spool 2′ and tapers toward the coupling section 22′ of the spool 2′. When the spool 2′ is turned in a retrieving direction of the cord 3′, the cord 3′ is wound around the spool 2′ and moves toward the coupling section 22′ due to provision of the conic guiding section 23′, preventing the cord 3′ from overlapping and getting stuck.
However, the conic guiding section 23′ results in an increase in the overall size of the seat 1′, which limits installation of the cord seat assembly and adversely affects the appearance when the cord seat assembly is mounted outdoors.


Systems and methods are described for dynamically updating the floor plan of a retail store, and for associating retail transactions with particular mobile devices, based on detection and attribution of foot traffic within the store. A foot traffic attribution system detects mobile devices accessing a wireless network. The foot traffic attribution system uses information obtained from the mobile devices to determine foot traffic data, such as locations of mobile devices relative to item display areas, direction of travel of mobile devices, durations of time spent in various areas, and similar information. The foot traffic attribution system then attributes the foot traffic data to items on display and/or item display areas in the current floor plan, and determines an updated floor plan. The foot traffic attribution system may also access retail transaction data, and may use the foot traffic data to associate retail transactions with particular mobile devices.

Generally described, "brick and mortar" stores are physical environments in which items (e.g., goods and services) are displayed. The design and layout of such stores, and the placement of the items within the store, may influence buyer behavior. For example, the operator of a retail store may seek to place items that are expected to be popular in a location that draws foot traffic into the store from outside, or that draws shoppers already in the store to walk past and consider buying other available items.
The operator of a retail store may also implement a "store within a store," which may be referred to generally as a concession store. A concession store may offer items that are not otherwise available in the retail store. For example, the operator of a retail store may implement a concession store to evaluate whether certain items should be added to the retail store's inventory.


A method for packaging a semiconductor device (22) formed on a die (12) having opposing major surfaces includes pre-soldering the die (12) at wafer level using an electroplating process, wherein the die (12) has solder bumps disposed on each opposing major surface. The pre-soldered wafer (10) is then diced into pre-soldered dies. The die (12) is placed in a glass sleeve (45) and aligned with two bumpless lead assemblies (46, 48). The bumpless lead assemblies (46, 48) are solder bonded to the die (12) via a reflow process. The reflow process also partially melts the glass sleeve (45), thereby forming a hermetically sealed glass capsule (55) surrounding the semiconductor device (22).

The present invention relates, in general, to semiconductor devices and, more particularly to the packaging of semiconductor devices.
Generally, discrete semiconductor devices such as diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc. are packaged into epoxy-molded or ceramic packages. An initial step in a packaging process for a discrete device, e.g., a diode, is forming a solder ball-lead assembly by attaching two solder balls to two leads via a first reflow step. The two leads are placed adjacent the diode die so that the two solder balls are in contact with two bonding pads on the diode die. In a second reflow step, the two solder balls form solder bumps bonding the two leads to the diode die. The diode die is then enclosed in an epoxy molding material to form an epoxy-molded package with the two leads protruding therefrom.
The conventional packaging process requires at least two reflow steps which are time consuming and cost inefficient. Attaching solder balls to the leads and placing the leads adjacent to the die are labor intensive. The epoxy-molding process is also expensive. Further, in a molding process, approximately 50% of the epoxy resin is wasted as scrap. In addition, the inconsistency in size and shape of the solder bumps and misalignment of the leads to the die often degrade the yield, reliability, and performance of the device.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a simple and reliable method for packaging a semiconductor device. It is desirable for the method to be time, material, and cost efficient. It is also desirable for the method to be compatible with existing device fabrication processes.

Method for packaging a semiconductor device


Devices and methods are provided for expedited recovery from radio link failure or the like. In one embodiment, the method involves collecting at least one optional system information block (SIB) during connected mode, wherein the at least one optional SIB comprising neighbor information. In another embodiment, the method involves storing dedicated information provided by a base station through a dedicated channel. The method generally involves using the neighbor information and/or dedicated information for cell selection, in response to the radio link failure.

1. Field
The present application relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to methods and systems for expediting recovery from an out-of-service event.
2. Background
Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, data, and so on. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., bandwidth and transmit power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems.
Generally, a wireless multiple-access communication system can simultaneously support communication for multiple wireless terminals. Each terminal communicates with one or more base stations via transmissions on the forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from the base stations to the terminals, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from the terminals to the base stations. This communication link may be established via a single-in-single-out, multiple-in-single-out or a Multiple-In-Multiple-Out (MIMO) system.
Access Terminal (ATs), also referred to as cellular/mobile devices or handsets, or User Equipment (UE), are typically configured to connect to a base station in order to utilize available wireless services. ATs can include, for example, cellular phones, smart phones, laptops, handheld communication devices, handheld computing devices, satellite radios, navigational devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), or any other suitable device for communicating over a wireless communication system. Inevitably, situations arise when there is outage during radio link failure or the like. Typically, the AT responds to such an out-of-service event (e.g., radio link failure) by doing a blind full band search for available base stations, which may be time-consuming and inefficient. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method and system for expediting radio link recovery.

System and method for radio link recovery


A novel glycosylated form of albumin designated EGA and isolated from biological fluids is further characterized by its cell growth promoting activity. A process of isolation of human or bovine glycosylated albumin is described. The EGA fractions have been identified by serological histochemical and biological assays as well as lectin reactivity. The growth-promoting effect of EGA is directed to various transformed cell lines and primary cells of mammalian origin. Hepatoma cells have been found to produce EGA, in vitro. Novel compositions of EGA containing media are provided for cell, tissue or organ culture.

In general, albumins are widely found in living material and known as simple proteins defined as yielding only alpha-amino acids and their derivatives on complete hydrolysis. They are mainly characterized by solubility in water and dilute aqueous salt solutions.
As simple proteins, albumins are not conjugated. Conjugated proteins are defined as containing a protein molecule bound to an organic, nonprotein prosthetic group.
Among those albumins isolated into crystalline form, serum albumin has been determined to possess a molecular weight of 65,000 to 69,000 daltons. The pI values range from 4.7 to 4.9. The molecular weight of bovine albumin on the basis of its amino acid sequence has been estimated at about 67,300 daltons. (See also The Plasma Proteins, F. W. Putnam, ed., Vol. 1, 1975, Academic Press).
Serum albumin is the principal serum protein of mammalian organism. In humans, the normal blood plasma range is 3.5-5.0 g of albumin/100 ml (or per dl). Albumin is also found in the extravascular spaces, the lymph, and in other biological fluids including e.g. amniotic fluid, bile, gastric juice, sweat and tears. Albumin is a major component of edema fluid. In fact, plasma albumin has been determined to have two major functions, one is maintenance of osmotic pressure, the other is transport of noncovalently bound substances. Such substances comprise metals and other ions, bilirubin, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, hormones and drugs. More recently, albumin has also been characterized in diabetic condition as capable of nonenzymatically binding several glucose molecules.
Albumin is produced substantially in the liver. In fact, liver cells or hepatocytes principally produce albumin. In a 70 kg human, the liver synthesizes about 12-14 g albumin per day. Albumin has a half life of about 20 days in man. Albumin synthesis comprises the classical intracellular assembly of 575 amino acids. Its secretion is inhibited by ouabain. Albumin synthesis is stimulated in vivo by cortisone and thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine). Albumin synthesis in vitro appears dependent on osmotic pressure such that it is increased under hypotonic and decreased under hypertonic conditions.
Due to its small size, albumin leaks through blood vessel walls into extravascular space to be returned to the blood circulatory system by the lymphatic system. In patients with kidney disease, albumin is known to pass into urine, frequently leading to hypoalbuminia.
It has been commonly accepted that serum albumin (or plasma albumin) is alone among major plasma proteins in that it contains no carbohydrate (Eylar, J. Theor. Biol. 19, 89, 1965).
However, nonenzymatic glycosylation or glycation of albumin in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus has been observed as the consequence of the condensation reaction between relatively high concentrations of glucose and the free amino group at the N-terminus or epsilon-amino group of lysine residues exposed on the albumin molecule. The reaction proceeds by Schiff base formation between carbonyl groups of glucose and the free amino groups. However, the nonenzymatic formation of a ketoamino is slow and concentration dependent. Thus prolonged hyperglycemia may increase the glycation level of albumin, in addition to that of many other serum proteins Moreover, the hitherto described glycated albumins appeared to contain only one sugar residue per binding site.
More recently, Robert J. Peach et al. (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1097 (1991) 49-54) characterized a new mutant form of albumin (Albumin Casebrook) carrying a single N-linked oligosaccharide which binds to Concanavalin A. The albumin variant constitutes about 35% of total serum albumin.
Surprisingly, a minor glycosylated albumin fraction has now been discovered as generally present in mammalian blood. The isolated protein exhibits a growth promoting and modulating effect in serum-free cultures of various cell types. While the biological role of this new circulating factor is still unknown, it has potential utility in the diagnosis and treatment of the processes of cell or tissue growth, development, differentiation and healing.


The invention discloses the color photodetector with multi-primary is introduced to detect the incident light with specific wavelength regimes. Combining the surface plasma resonance effect with photodetector can be utilized to enhance the photo-responsivity of the demanded light wavelength and also can substitute the conventionally color filter and infrared cutter. In this invention, a novel integrated photo-detector that can be realized in commercial CMOS process for achieving low-cost consideration.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a photodetector apparatus, more particularly to a color photodetector apparatus with multi-primary pixels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Normally, when the photodetector (sensor) of digital camera and the pick up head of digital versatile disc (DVD) are conducting the photodetection, especially detecting red, green and blue (RGB) incident light, an extra optical color filter is coated on the photodetector, in order to achieve the effect of photodetection.
At present all photodetectors normally are made form the semiconductors. Especially there are two kinds of semiconductor collected as the photodetector. One is photoconductor, which uses the photo-conductivity property. The other is photodiode, which uses the diode structure property. The photodetector uses the sensor to absorb photo energy and transfer to the electronic signal, in order to measure the photo flux or photo power. Thus, for the photodetector, the existing silicon-based or other III-V compound semiconductor based photodiode or phototransistor can be applied.
FIG. 1 shows the conventional structure of photodetector. It consists of P-type (or N-type) semiconductor substrate 101, N+ polar area (or P+ polar area) 102, optical-electrical conversion area 103, oxide layer 104, metal layer 105 as detector terminal etc. When the incident light reaches to the surface of metal layer, it will be absorbed or reflected completely without penetrating.
As for the conventional structure of photodetector, due to the detecting wavelength of conventional pure silicon-based photodetector is about 300 nm˜1100 nm, so that the incident light can not penetrate through the finger shape metal connecting wire of photodetector, which causes the photodetection area under the finger shape metal connecting wire can not generate the current effectively. Therefore the filling factor, that is the ratio of effective detecting area and total area of photodetector, can not be raised effectively.
In order to detect red, green and blue light completely by the pick up head, three photodetectors should be collected as the conventional way. An optical color filter with respect a specific wavelength will be coated on each photodetector, respectively, in order to form a complete detecting pixel. According to the above-mentioned requirement, it is necessary to add red, green and blue color filters on a photodectors.
The conventional structure can not be achieved by the existing low-cost complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing process. Another related color filter with optical thin film process is required, which increases the total cost and decreases the throughput.
Due to the demand of digital camera is ardent in recent years (the photodetector is key component in camera), the integrated CMOS technology has to be developed to conduct mass production of filter film. The production cost shall be low and the production time shall be short. The visual light shall be able to be detected, and red, green and blue light shall be able to be distinguished. Thus the research and development of related filter film is urgent and required.
The retrieval shows Taiwan Patent No. I268290 relates to "Preparation Method of Silicon-based Film and its Photodetector". Though it is a preparation method of photodetector, it does not reveal the related structure of photodetector, and the surface plasma theory is not used for the design of color photodetector with multi-primary pixels.
The retrieval for the related patent database of United States Patent Office also shows U.S. Pat. No. 6,452,242 relates to "Multi color detector". Though it has the micro-structure of photodetector, the surface plasma theory is not used for the design of color photodetector with multi-primary pixels.

Color photodetector apparatus with multi-primary pixels


The invention provides a connector including a shield case having a body containing portion; first and second bodies, contained in the body containing portion and combined; first contacts, embedded in the first body and arranged in a row; and second contacts, embedded in the second body and arranged in a different row. The body containing portion includes a top plate, a bottom plate and a pair of side plates. At least one plate of the top plate, the bottom plate and the side plates is smaller in length than the other plates, and a back surface of the one plate functions as an abutting stop surface on which the first body abuts. A back surface of at least one of the other plates is provided with a lock piece, and the first and second bodies are sandwiched between the abutting stop surface and the lock piece.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a connector, used as a receptacle or a plug, and an electronic equipment provided with the connector.
2. Background Art
A conventional connector of this type has contacts arranged in two (upper and lower) rows and incorporated into its body by press fitting or insert molding, as disclosed in Patent Literature 1. The press fitting method is unfavorable in fabricating small connectors due to poor workability in incorporating the contacts and low accuracy in positioning the contacts. The insert molding method is more favorable in fabricating small connectors because of better workability in incorporating the contacts, higher accuracy in positioning the contacts, and reduced costs. Nevertheless, insert molding processing has problems in fabricating further downsized connectors, e.g., difficulty in reserving enough thickness of insulating resin (body) to embed the contacts. Particularly, for a small-sized connector having tail portions of contacts arranged in two rows at the same height (i.e., connector suitable for mounting by a surface mount technology (SMT) method), it is very difficult to insert-mold the contacts in two rows in a single body.
This problem may be solved in another conventional connector as disclosed in Patent Literature 2. Particularly, the body of the connector is divided into first and second bodies, and a first row of contacts are embedded in the first body and a second row of contacts are embedded in the second body by insert molding, and then, the first and second bodies are combined. By insert-molding each row of contacts in each of the two bodies, it is possible to reserve enough thickness of the body.
Citation List
Patent Literature 1: WO2003/028169 (also published as US2005118876A)
Patent Literature 2: JP 2004-537836 A (also published as WO03/028169)


A class D amplifier circuit for generating a pulse signal whose pulse width is modulated in response to an input signal, the class D amplifier circuit includes first to fifth switching elements, a first capacitance element and a control section. The control section controls transition between a conduction state and a non-conduction state of each of the first to fifth switching elements to control a current direction flowing into a load having a first end electrically connected to the output end and a second end set to the reference potential, so that the current flows from the first end of the load to the second end of the load at a first timing and the current flows from the second end of the load to the first end of the load at a second timing.

This invention relates to a class D amplifier circuit.
A class D amplifier circuit converts an input signal into a pulse width modulation signal of constant amplitude and amplifies power, for example, the class D amplifier circuit is used for power amplification of an audio signal. The class D amplifier circuit operates in binary and thus can drastically lessen the loss of a transistor. Further, the class D amplifier circuit has the advantage that it has higher efficiency than a linear amplifier regardless of whether the amplitude of an input signal is large or small.
The class D amplifier circuit includes, for example, an integration circuit for integrating input signals, a comparison circuit for making a comparison between an output signal of the integration circuit and a predetermined triangular wave signal, and a pulse width amplifier for outputting a pulse width modulation signal pulse-width-modulated based on the comparison circuit. The output signal of the pulse width amplifier is fed back into the input of the integration circuit. The output signal of the pulse width amplifier passes through a low-pass filter made up of a coil, a capacitor, and the like and becomes an analog signal for driving a load of a loudspeaker, etc.
As the class D amplifier circuits, for example, those as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Non-patent Document 1 are known.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2006-217106
[Non-patent Document 1] "Designing and Manufacturing of Class D/Digital amplifier" written and edited by Jun HONDA, CQ Publishing CO., ltd, 2004, p 51-
By the way, such a class D amplifier circuit as described above involves various problems to be solved or considered as described below:
For example, in a half bridge class D amplifier circuit as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it becomes necessary to install a capacitor of a comparatively large capacitance to prevent a DC current from flowing into a load (refer to [FIG. 1] or "AC coupling capacitor" in [Claim 1], etc., of Patent Document 1). Installing the capacitor could be a large hindrance to miniaturization of the whole device, etc. Therefore, preferably, installing the capacitor is circumvented; to realize circumventing of installing the capacitor, for example, a method of supplying positive and negative two power supply potentials to a half bridge circuit is available. However, a new disadvantage in that two power supplies must be provided occurs.
To use a full bridge class D amplifier circuit rather than the half bridge circuit, the problems described above can be suitably solved because a differential signal is given to the full bridge circuit. (For the configuration, refer to p 50, [FIGS. 3-7], etc., of Non-patent Document 1.) That is, a capacitor to prevent a DC current from flowing into a load is not required and positive and negative two power supplies need not be provided. In this case, however, there also occurs a problem in that the D amplifier circuit cannot be applied to a load requiring a ground criterion (for example, stereo headphone, stereo earphone, etc.,) if it is assumed that a unipolar power supply is used, for example.
Further, there is also a problem of a pumping phenomenon in the D amplifier circuit as described above. The pumping phenomenon mentioned here refers to a phenomenon in which the instability of power supply voltage is brought for some cause in a wide sense. More specifically, the instability of power supply voltage is brought because of a response delay of the coil forming a part of the low-pass filter mentioned above (further specifically, for example, a change delay (in the direction) of current relative to voltage change responsive to switching of two switching elements making up the half bridge from one to the other) or the like.


The present invention relates to a method for performing face recognition in a telecommunication system (1) comprising a central repository (10) in which Face Recognition profiles attached to subscribers signed up for face recognition have been stored. The method comprises steps like: Detecting proximity between a subscriber (5) of the subscribers signed up for face recognition and an entity (6,8) involved with Face Recognition, said subscriber (5) being located within a cell coverage area (7); Migrating a Face Recognition profile attached to said subscriber, from the central repository (10) to a Network node (8) controlling the cell coverage area (7); Generating in the Network node, an extended synthetic gallery for the migrated Face Recognition profile.

Face recognition comprises of methods enabling the identification of a person's face based on a digital photography. The problem of face recognition can be cast as a standard pattern classification or machine learning problem: Given a set of face images labeled with the person's identity (the gallery set) and an unlabeled set of face images from the same group of people (the probe set), the task is to identify each person in the probe images.
Face recognition can be summarized in the following steps:
1. Face detection—the face is located in the image.
2. A collection of descriptive measurements known as a feature vector is extracted from each image.
3. A classifier is trained to assign to each feature vector a label with a person's identity (classifiers are simply mathematical functions which, given a feature vector, return an index corresponding to a subject's identity).
The methods of getting feature vectors:                Geometric feature based methods        Appearance-based methods
In Geometric feature based methods properties and relations (e.g., distances and angles) between facial features such as eyes, mouth, nose, and chin have been used to perform recognition. It is claimed that methods for face recognition based on finding local image features and inferring identity by the geometric relations of these features are often ineffective. Appearance based methods—use of low-dimensional representations of images of objects or faces to perform recognition. (e.g. SLAM and Eigenfaces). Here the feature vector used for classification is a linear projection of the face image into a lower-dimensional linear subspace. However the appearance based methods suffer from an important drawback: recognition of a face under a particular lighting condition, pose, and expression can be performed reliably provided the face has been previously seen under similar circumstances.
If the gallery set was very large, appearance based classifier will perform well. But the gallery set is limited for practical reasons. To overcome this limitation, 3-D face recognition is used. 3-D recognition builds face recognition systems that use a handful of images acquired at enrollment time to estimate models of the 3-D shape of each face. 3-D models of the face shape can be estimated by a variety of methods, for example Photometric stereopsis can be used to create a 3D model (shape and reflectance) of the face from a few 2D images. The 3D face models generated using one of the above indicated methods are usually stored in Wavefront's OBJ file format. The OBJ file format is a simple data-format that represents 3D geometry alone—namely, the position of each vertex, the UV position of each texture coordinate vertex, normals, and the faces that make each polygon defined as a list of vertices, and texture vertices. An OBJ file is usually small in size. In [A. Georghiades, P. Belhumeur, D. Kriegman, From few to many: illumination cone models for face recognition under variable lighting and pose. IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. 23, 6 (June 2001), pages 643-660.] is presented a generative appearance-based method for recognizing human faces under variation in lighting and viewpoint. The method exploits the fact that the set of images of an object in fixed pose, but under all possible illumination conditions, is a convex cone in the space of images. It can be seen a Limited gallery set used by photometric stereopsis to create a synthetic extended gallery set with variable illumination and pose.
Several over-the-top (OTT) players are using face recognition:                Facebook's automatic tag suggestion feature uses face recognition to suggest people a user might want to tag in their photos.        Security: Face recognition could one day replace password logins on favourite apps—e.g. logging in to Twitter with the face. This is currently an academic effort e.g. in 2010 Manchester University researchers were working on creating consumer-focused face recognition technology for security applications.        An application called SocialCamera allows users to snap a picture with their Android phone, instantly recognize their Facebook friends in the frame, tag the photos and post them to the Web.
The invention that will be described in this application enables an operator scenario as well as a non-operator (OTT) scenario for Face Recognition service and hence is applicable for different business scenarios.
Analysts point to the fact that face recognition technology has emerged as the fastest growing technology among the biometric technologies accepted worldwide and will continue to follow the same trend in future by growing at a CAGR of around 31% during 2011-2013. Currently operator don't offer face recognition services, but they would like to enter this market at some point. To be able to do so, some challenges need to be overcome:                Large database requirement: For a large operator with many subscribers a large galley set is required to be maintained        Centralized repository bottleneck: Traditionally the galley set is stored in a central repository. Such a central repository presents problems:                    Search bottleneck: each face image will have to be matched across all the whole gallery set faces and then across all variations of illumination and pose this is extremely time consuming and negatively impacts end user application performance.            Synthetic face generation bottleneck: there is a computational cost for the synthetic generation.                        Transmission cost: Moving the raw face image data from the terminal to the central server and back increases the amount of data transported via the network.        System responsiveness and user QoE: Moving the raw face image data from the terminal to the central server and back introduces delays due to RTT. This leads to a perceived sluggishness of the system which negatively impacts user QoE.

Method for performing face recognition in a radio access network


A cable recovery machine, having at least one traction module configured to hold and draw at least one cable, in particular of a cable laying plant, and at least one cutting module located downstream of the traction module and able to receive the cable that is introduced into the cutting module in a direction of feed (X1); the cutting module having at least one cutting unit provided with at least one cutting blade and integral with a shaft made to rotate by corresponding drive means, so that by rotating the shaft, the cutting unit is made to rotate and cuts the cable when the latter enters the cutting module in the direction of feed (X1).

In laying plants of overhead lines, the current method to replace overhead conductors, that is, so-called "reconductoring", provides the following operations:                connecting the new conductor or a drawing wire to the existing conductor;        positioning the pulleys to lay the conductor on the supports that form the segment of the line on which the conductor is being replaced;        recovering the old conductor with a winch-brake, then storing the old conductor on empty reels previously prepared at the winch station;        simultaneously releasing the new conductor from the reel on which it is wound with the use of a brake (or a winch-brake) at the brake station, to allow the "braked" laying of the new conductor;        subsequently collecting and transporting the reels of old conductor to a recycling and disposal center, where it is broken down and divided according to the materials it is made of.
The high voltage overhead transmission lines can consist of single conductors (one per phase), but more typically they consist of multiple conductors for each phase, ranging from 2 to 6, but also with a tendency to increase up to 8 or 10 conductors.
The brake and winch stations are located at opposite ends of a section of the line on which the conductor is being replaced.
The winch station where the old conductor is recovered can consist of a winch-brake machine to recover the old conductor and of a number of reel-holding trestles at least equal to the number of conductors that make up each single phase of the line, or more generally to multiples of this number. The empty reels will then be installed on the trestles, and will collect the "old" conductor, which will then be disposed of in special recycling centers.
The brake station where the new conductor, or a drawing wire to be subsequently used to tension the new conductors, is unwound and tensioned, normally consists of a brake or winch-brake machine and a number of reel-holding trestles at least equal to the number of conductors that make up each single phase of the line, or more generally to multiples of this number.
The size of the winch and brake stations is proportional to this plurality of trestles on which the individual reels must be housed.
The winch-brakes to recover the existing conductor normally consist of a pair of winches for each conductor, the diameter of which is provided as 35 times the diameter of the conductor to be recovered.
Normally, the conductors that form the high voltage lines have multiple interruptions along their length, essentially due to the presence of so called mid span joints. Their function is to connect the two ends of the conductors during a reel change, that is, when a reel of new conductor ends, and the next reel begins.
Generally, the joints consist of straight aluminum and/or steel tubular cores with a variable length from 500 mm to 2000 mm.
The joints cannot pass over the winches, as they would break due to the bending caused by the winding on the circular surface, with the consequent catastrophic fall of the tensioned line.
For this reason, current reconductoring operations are subject to countless interruptions in the process; in essence, when a joint reaches the winch machine, the following steps must be followed:                stop the winch machine when the joint is close to the winches;        clamp the end of the conductor upstream of the joint with vices suitable to maintain the draw on the line;        release the draw of the other end of the conductor on the winch side;        cut and remove the joint in question;        replace the cut joint with a flexible joint, for example a braid-type joint;        resume the draw of the line with the winch machine;        remove the vice that held the end upstream of the line;        resume the reconductoring operations, until the braid-type joint exits the winch machine and appears on the reels that recover the old conductor;        stop the winch machine again;        clamp the end of the conductor on the winch side with vices suitable to maintain the draw on the line;        release the draw of the other end of the conductor on the reel side;        remove the braid-type joint and clamp the end of the conductor on the recovery reel;        resume the draw of the line with the winch machine;        remove the vice that held the end upstream of the line;        resume reconductoring operations.
This sequence of operations must be repeated whenever a new joint arrives in front of the winch machine.
Furthermore, the process is interrupted whenever the new conductor present at the brake station runs out, and therefore the empty reel needs to be replaced with a full one, or when the old conductor reel at the winch station is full, and therefore the full reel needs to be replaced with an empty one.
At the end of the operations, the old conductor present on the reels filled at the winch station must also be disposed of.
Recovery machines exist that allow to recover the conductor and dispose of it in order to replace the existing conductor.
These machines generally comprise at least one cable traction module and at least one cable cutting module, so that the replaced cable can be cut into several parts and suitably stored, instead of being re-wound onto a reel.
The cutting module can be formed for example by a system of translating cutters which is located downstream of the traction module and which often proves to be rather complex, cumbersome and inefficient for the cutting of any section or part of the cable, also understood as a section of the cable in which there is a joint connecting segments of a conductor, which needs to be cut.
It is therefore possible to improve on known recovery machines with regard to the efficiency, operating flexibility and speed with which the recovered cable has to be continuously cut, for the purpose for example of its subsequent disposal.
There is therefore the need to perfect a cable recovery machine that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.
One purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a cable recovery machine that is able to recover a cable, in particular of a cable laying plant, in an efficient and rapid manner and transfer it toward a cutting module in which the cable can be cut continuously and without interruptions.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a cable recovery machine that is able to cut a cable effectively and without interruptions whatever the composition of the cable, for example metal materials, and whatever the diameter of the cable to be recovered, and that is therefore able for example to effectively and continuously cut segments of conductor, connection joints, or other.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.


A resolver decoder circuit includes: a first filter circuit configured to calculate a first weighted sum of a first digital signal over a pre-determined period of time, where the first digital signal includes first digital samples of a first analog signal from a sine winding of a resolver; a second filter circuit configured to calculate a second weighted sum of a second digital signal over the pre-determined period of time, where the second digital signal includes second digital samples of a second analog signal from a cosine winding of the resolver, where the first and the second analog signals are configured to be induced by a sine signal applied to an input winding of the resolver; and a rectifier configured to generate a first output and a second output by adjusting a first sign of the first weighted sum and adjusting a second sign of the second weighted sum, respectively.

Traction motor control is important for electrical vehicle (EV) applications. Axis rotation angle measurement plays a key role in traction motor control. The rotation angle of the motor axis (also referred to as motor shaft) is usually measured by a resolver.
Resolvers, also known as motor resolvers, are electromagnetic transducers that can be used in a wide variety of position and velocity feedback applications, such as servo motor feedback applications. The resolver is a special type of rotary transformer that consists of a cylindrical rotor and stator. The rotor is attached to the motor shaft and rotates with the motor shaft. The resolver typically has a primary winding and two secondary windings. The primary winding may be a rotor winding on the rotor, and the secondary windings may be two stator windings on the stator. The two secondary windings are mechanically arranged such that their physical relation is shifted by a 90° angle.
The resolver is used for generating output signals that indicate the angular position of the motor shaft, with respect to a reference point, within a space of one complete revolution of the motor shaft or within a corresponding angular displacement space from 0° to 360°. To generate the output signals, a rotor excitation signal (e.g., a sine wave signal) is applied at the primary winding. The physical relation of the secondary windings gives rise to a mathematical/electrical relation, such that a first output signal at a first one of the secondary windings is a sine wave signal amplitude-modulated by sin(Ø), and a second output signal at a second one of the secondary windings is a sine wave signal amplitude-modulated by cos(Ø), where Ø is the angular position of the motor shaft (may also be referred to as the angle Ø of the motor shaft). The resolver output signals are then decoded by a resolver decoder to obtain an estimate of the angle Ø. There is a need in the art for resolver decoders that provide accurate estimate of the angle Ø with lower hardware cost and/or lower computing power requirements.

Digital resolver decoder with hardware filter and rectifier

STMicroelectronics (China) Investment Co.


This invention is directed to the fluorination (or derivatization with alternative chemical species) of fullerene carbon nanocages as an efficient way to (a) facilitate synthesis of endohedral complexes by a significant reduction or elimination of the barriers for the entry of guest-ions, -atoms or molecules, and (b) to preserve the chemical stability of final product.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers.
2. Related Art
Fullerenes are closed-cage molecules composed entirely of sp2-hybridized carbons, arranged in hexagons and pentagons. Fullerenes (e., C60) were first identified as closed spheroidal cages produced by condensation from vaporized carbon.
Fullerene tubes are produced in carbon deposits on the cathode in carbon arc methods of producing spheroidal fullerenes from vaporized carbon. Ebbesen et al. (Ebbesen I), "Large-Scale Synthesis Of Carbon Nanotubes," Nature, Vol. 358, p. 220 (Jul. 16, 1992) and Ebbesen et al., (Ebbesen II), "Carbon Nanotubes," Annual Review of Materials Science, Vol. 24, p. 235 (1994). Such tubes are referred to herein as carbon nanotubes. Many of the carbon nanotubes made by these processes were multi-wall nanotubes, i e., the carbon nanotubes resembled concentric cylinders. Carbon nanotubes having up to seven walls have been described in the prior art. Ebbesen II; Iijima et al., "Helical Microtubules Of Graphitic Carbon," Nature, Vol. 354, p. 56 (Nov. 7, 1991).
Production of Single-wall Nanotubes
Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have been made in a DC arc discharge apparatus of the type used in fullerene production by simultaneously evaporating carbon and a small percentage of VIII B transition metal from the anode of the arc discharge apparatus. See Iijima et al., "Single-Shell Carbon Nanotubes of 1 nm Diameter," Nature, Vol. 363, p. 603 (1993); Bethune et al., "Cobalt Catalyzed Growth of Carbon Nanotubes with Single Atomic Layer Walls," Nature, Vol. 63, p. 605 (1993); Ajayan et al., "Growth Morphologies During Cobalt Catalyzed Single-Shell Carbon Nanotube Synthesis," Chem. Phys. Lett., Vol. 215, p. 509 (1993); Zhou et al., "Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Growing Radially From YC2 Particles," Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 65, p. 1593 (1994); Seraphin et al., "Single-Walled Tubes and Encapsulation of Nanocrystals Into Carbon Clusters, "Electrochem. Soc., Vol. 142, p. 290 (1995); Saito et al., "Carbon Nanocapsules Encaging Metals and Carbides," J. Phys. Chem. Solids, Vol. 54, p. 1849 (1993); Saito et al., "Extrusion of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Via Formation of Small Particles Condensed Near an Evaporation Source," Chem. Phys. Lett., Vol. 236, p. 419 (1995). It is also known that the use of mixtures of such transition metals can significantly enhance the yield of single-wall carbon nanotubes in the arc discharge apparatus. See Lambert et al., "Improving Conditions Toward Isolating Single-Shell Carbon Nanotubes," Chem. Phys. Lett., Vol. 226, p. 364 (1994). While the arc discharge process can produce single-wall nanotubes, the yield of nanotubes is low and the tubes exhibit significant variations in structure and size between individual tubes in the mixture. Individual carbon nanotubes are difficult to separate from the other reaction products and purify.
An improved method of producing single-wall nanotubes is described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/687,665, entitled "Ropes of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes" incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This method uses, inter alia, laser vaporization of a graphite substrate doped with transition metal atoms, preferably nickel, cobalt, or a mixture thereof, to produce single-wall carbon nanotubes in yields of at least 50% of the condensed carbon. The single-wall nanotubes produced by this method tend to be formed in clusters, termed "ropes," of 10 to 1000 single-wall carbon nanotubes in parallel alignment, held together by van der Waals forces in a closely packed triangular lattice. Nanotubes produced by this method vary in structure, although one structure tends to predominate.
A method of producing carbon fibers from single-wall carbon nanotubes is described in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US98/04513, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The carbon fibers are produced using SWNT molecules in a substantially two-dimensional array made up of single-walled nanotubes aggregated (e.g., by van der Waals forces) in substantially parallel orientation to form a monolayer extending in directions substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the individual nanotubes. In this process the seed array tubes are opened at the top (free) end and a catalyst cluster is deposited at this free end. A gaseous carbon source is then provided to grow the nanotube assembly into a fiber. In various processes involving metal cluster catalysis, it is important to provide the proper number of metal atoms to give the optimum size cluster for single wall nanotube formation.
Definition of Terms
"Fullerene carbon nanocages" is a term which encompasses fullerenes, buckyballs, carbon nanotubes, nested fullerenes, bucky onions, single-wall carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, and carbon fibrils.
"Endohedrally-doped fullerene carbon nanocages" refers to fullerene carbon nanocages (see above) which have something inside of them. That endohedral species can be an atom, a cluster of atoms, or a small molecule.
"Derivatized fullerene carbon nanocage" refers to a fullerene carbon nanocage which has atoms or functional groups (i.e., hydroxyl, methyl, phenyl, nitro, amino, etc.) covalently attached to the exterior of the fullerene carbon nanocage.
"Fluorinated fullerene carbon nanocage" refers to a fullerene carbon nanocage which has fluorine atoms covalently attached to the exterior of the fullerene carbon nanocage. This is a subset of the derivatized fullerene carbon nanocage mentioned above.
"Endohedral doping agent" refers to the species that is inserted into the fullerene carbon nanocage (or fluorinated fullerene carbon nanocage, or derivatized fullerene carbon nanocage) to generate an endohedrally-doped fullerene carbon nanocage (or an endohedrally-doped fluorinated fullerene carbon nanocage, or an endohedrally-doped derivatized fullerene carbon nanocage).
Derivatization of Single-wall Nanotubes
Since the discovery of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in 1993 (Iijima, S. and Ichihashi, T., Nature 1993,363:603-605), researchers have been searching for ways to manipulate them chemically. While there have been many reports and review articles on the production and physical properties of carbon nanotubes, reports on chemical manipulation of nanotubes have been slow to emerge. There have been reports of functionalizing nanotube ends with carboxylic groups (Rao, et al., Chem. Commun., 1996,1525-1526; Wong, et al., Nature, 1998,394:52-55), and then further manipulation to tether them to gold particles via thiol linkages (Liu, et al., Science, 1998, 280:1253-1256). Haddon and co-workers (Chen, et al., Science, 1998, 282:95-98) have reported solvating SWNTs by adding octadecylamine groups on the ends of the tubes and then adding dichlorocarbenes to the nanotube side wall, albeit in relatively low quantities (˜2%). While theoretical results have suggested that finctionalization of the nanotube side-wall is possible (Cahill, et al., Tetrahedron,1996, 52 (14):5247-5256), experimental evidence confirming this theory has not been obtained.
Endohedrally-Doped Fullerene Carbon Nanocages
Endohedrally-doped fullerene carbon nanocages have captured the imagination of those in the bio-medical community. While the delivery of radioactive isotopes for biomedical applications (diagnostics and treatment) to specific targets inside living organisms is currently an important area of focus (radiopharmaceuticals), there exist many problems with regard to the chemical and radioactive instability of the compounds containing radioactive isotopes, and with the relatively high level of toxicity that these compounds possess.
Problems with the instability and toxicity of such radiopharmaceuticals can be overcome by encapsulation of the radioactive components into chemically and radioactively stable fullerene carbon nanocages, of which C60 is a prime example. Such nanocages can be covered by surfactants and specific targeting antibodies to make the structures soluble in water or other solvents and to achieve specific binding, e.g., to tumor cells. To protect these cage-containers from chemical destruction, to ensure their solubility and enhanced biocompatibility, and to facilitate the attachment of bio-specific ligands, a surfactant (e.g. Pluronics, a block ABA copolymer of poly(oxyethylene) and poly(oxypropylene)) can be used on the cage exterior.
Perhaps one of the most interesting fullerene carbon nanocage structures for such abovementioned endeavors are single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), due to their unique dimensions and low-level of surface reactivity. While they are difficult to separate due to their strong affinity towards each other, surfactants have been shown to aid in their dispersal [A. Rinzler et al. "Large-Scale Purification of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes: Process, Product, and Characterization," Applied Physics A, Vol. 67, p. 29 (1998)]. For biomedical targeting, the surfactant can be labeled with specific antibodies, such as tumor antibodies [K. Gonzalez et al. "Synthesis and In Vitro Characterization of a Tissue-Selective Fullerene: Vectoring C60(OH)16AMBP to Mineralized Bone," Bioorg. Med. Chem., p. 1991 (2002)].
At present, there is no efficient way to synthesize fullerene carbon nanocage endohedral complexes (carbon cage-like molecular structures containing ions, atoms, or molecules within their interior). The main disadvantage of all currently known methods (high-temperature synthesis, irradiation with ion beams, high-pressure treatment of the carbon cages with gases like H2, He, etc.) is a very low synthetic yield (generally no more than ˜0.1%). In addition, encapsulation by direct irradiation with ion beams often results in the destruction of the cages. This is due to the fact that the ions must possess considerable kinetic energy to overcome the high potential energy barriers associated with ion penetration through the cage walls. Transfer of this energy to the cage can also result in fundamental changes of the chemical properties of the structure leading to cage destruction.
Insertion of uncharged species via treatment with high temperatures and pressures likely involves the breaking and subsequent reformation of carbon-carbon bonds during the insertion process. After insertion, the cage is thought to close up much like a self-sealing automobile tire. This process has been described previously [M. Saunders et al. "Noble Gas Atoms Inside Fullerenes," Science, Vol. 271, p. 1693 (1996)] and produced somewhat higher yields (˜2%).
Direct high-temperature synthesis (arc synthesis using doped carbon rods) of such endohedral fullerene carbon nanocage complexes is extremely costly given that yields of the compound are very low (on the order of 1% or less) [Y. Chai et al. "Fullerenes with Metals Inside," Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 95, p. 7564 (1991)]. Furthermore, when endohedrally doping the fullerene carbon nanocages with a radioactive species (desired for bio-medical applications), one is faced with safety and environmental issues surrounding the production of radioactive pollution. Consequently, a more efficient method of endohedrally-doping fullerene carbon nanocages would be of great benefit.

High-yield method of endohedrally encapsulating species inside fluorinated fullerene nanocages


A vibration damping device having a stopper structure includes: a rubber elastic body of generally frustoconical configuration overall; a first mounting member formed independently of the rubber elastic body, and directly or indirectly superimposed on the rubber elastic body in an external load input direction; and a second mounting member including a cylindrical portion that is bonded to a large diameter side outer circumferential surface of the rubber elastic body. A first and second abutting portions of the first and second mounting members are situated to be opposed to each other in a rebound direction with a given distance interposed therebetween, and a stop rubber is disposed between the first and second abutting portions so that the first and second abutting portions come into abutting contact with each other in a cushion-wise fashion, via the stop rubber to thereby provide a stopper structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vibration damping devices installed between components to be connected together in vibration isolating fashion, more particularly to a vibration damping devices suitably usable as an engine mount, a body mount or other mounts for use in automobiles.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been widely used in a variety of fields vibration damping devices each having a rubber elastic body disposed between first and second mounting members fixable to components connected together in vibration isolating fashion. As one type of such vibration damping devices is known a vibration damping device including: a rubber elastic body of generally frustoconical configuration in its entirety; a first mounting member fixedly secured to a small-diameter side central portion of the rubber elastic body; and a second mounting member having a cylindrical portion that is secured to a large-diameter side outer circumferential surface of the rubber elastic body, thereby providing a construction wherein the first and second mounting members directly elastically connected to each other via the rubber elastic body (see JP-A-9-66721, for example).
The known vibration damping device is able to advantageously obtain a volume of the rubber elastic body, and to prevent excess strain induced in the rubber elastic body by restricting elastic deformation of the large-diameter outer circumferential surface of the rubber elastic body with the second mounting member attached thereon. In particular, the known vibration damping device is capable of advantageously exhibiting an enhanced anti-load performance as well as durability with respect to input load in a direction in which the small diameter end face and large diameter end face move toward each other. For the aforesaid advantages, the known vibration damping device has been examined to use as an engine mount or similar mounts adapted to bear initial or static load.
However, the conventional vibration damping device having the rubber elastic body of frustoconical shape inevitably suffers from tensile stress that is directly generated in the rubber elastic body when being subjected to input load in a rebound direction where the small and large diameter end faces move away from each other, i.e., in the opposite direction to the initial load input direction. As a result, the rubber elastic body is prone to suffer from cracks or other defects due to the input load in the rebound direction, leading to a likelihood of considerable deterioration in durability.

Vibration damping device having stopper structure


The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for efficiently measuring the lifetime of the fluorescence emitted from a fluorescent material in response to pulsed light. The measuring apparatus according to the present invention includes, at least, an excitation light source whose excitation power is regulated such that at least one fluorescence photon can be detected per light pulse on average. While repeatedly irradiating a sample containing the fluorescent material with excitation pulses of light from the excitation light source, a fluorescence detection time from irradiation to fluorescence detection and the number of detected fluorescence photons are measured for each excitation pulse of light. Then, on the basis of a data group composed of pairs of the measurement data of fluorescence photon detection time and fluorescence photon number, both of which are measured for each occurrence of excitation pulse of light, the lifetime and fluorescence decay curve of the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent material are determined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring fluorescence lifetime, which can efficiently determine the lifetime and fluorescence decay curve of the fluorescence generated from a fluorescent material irradiated with excitation light.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally known as a method of measuring the lifetime of a fluorescent material contained in a sample is "time-correlated single-photon counting." The conventional time-correlated single-photon counting is introduced, for example, by David J. S. Birch and Robert E. Imhof, in: Topics in Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Vol. 1: Techniques (J. R. Lakowicz, ed.), pp. 1-95, Plenum Press, New York (1991). In time-correlated single-photon counting, the sample is irradiated with a pulse of light having such a weak excitation power that the average number of photons in the fluorescence detected per pulse of the excitation pulse of light is significantly smaller than 1 (e.g., 0.01), and then the fluorescence photon detection time, extending from when the sample is irradiated with the excitation pulse of light until the first fluorescence photon is detected is measured. While the irradiation with an excitation pulse of light is repeated, the fluorescence photon detection time is measured for each occurrence of an excitation pulse light, thereby producing a histogram concerning the fluorescence photon detection time. Then, the fluorescence lifetime is determined according to the obtained histogram. Here, a photomultiplier is usually used for detecting fluorescence photons.

Method and apparatus for measuring fluorescence