A system and method implement very high data rate baseband DACs suitable for wireless applications related to new standards (e.g. Ultra-Wide Band) using CMOS processes allowing an integrated solution with the deep-submicron CMOS digital baseband. A single CMOS block working at full speed is discarded in favor of several blocks, each working at a fraction of the original data rate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to digital to analog conversion, and more particularly to a system and method for reducing the high data rate of baseband DACs (Digital to Analog Converter) for transmitter applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical wireless transmitters use a relatively narrow baseband fbw signal sampled at fs rate (for GSM fbw=100 kHz and fs is around 2.16 MHz; for WCDMA fbw=3.84 MHz and fs=15.36 MHz) up-converted at a much larger offset frequency flo (for GSM flo=1.8502-1.9098 GHz; for WCDMA flo=1.92-1.98 GHz). The front-end consists of a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), followed by filtering and up-conversion. The relatively low bandwidth of the baseband signal makes the DAC easily implemented by conventional CMOS structures (mostly current-steering). The output of the DAC is then filtered to remove the image and up-converted in one step (direct conversion) or two steps (super heterodyne) by mixing operations. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one exemplary direct conversion transmitter 100 that is known in the art. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one exemplary super heterodyne transmitter 200 that is known in the art.
Some new standards require a much wider baseband signal (for UWB fs=1 GHz) making the implementation of the DAC a difficult task in a pure CMOS process. The power required for analog circuits using CMOS processes, for example, increases exponentially with their required speed.
In view of the foregoing, it is highly desirable and advantageous to provide a scheme for implementing very high data rate baseband DACs suitable for wireless applications related to new standards (e.g. Ultra-Wide Band) using CMOS processes allowing an integrated solution with the deep-submicron CMOS digital baseband.

Digital-to-analog converter data rate reduction by interleaving and recombination through mixer switching


A level of system self-organization in a wireless communication system is provided using a combined design, planning and verification process to determine system organization parameters. The process determines the parameters based on a measured path loss-related characteristic, such as path loss or bit error rate, between base stations and a plurality of regions in a coverage area. For each region, the characteristic is measured to each base station irrespective of the proximity between the region and the base stations. The measured characteristics enable the prediction of signal strength received at the regions of signals transmitted by the base stations independent of the region location. Accordingly, the characteristics can be measured without information correlating the absolute geographic locations of the regions. The resulting unique characterization of the path loss-related information can be used to determine a variety of system organization parameters, such as the number and transmission power of base stations, neighbor lists, sets of base stations that can reuse channels and the identity of base stations, if any, that can be omitted from the system.

Conventional radio telephone systems such as cellular systems use cell-sites having co-located transmitters and receivers to cover small geographical regions referred to as cells. Several cell-sites disposed within a particular geographic area are coupled to a master controller called a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO). The MTSO controls the cell-sites and provides an interface connection to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
Each conventional cell-site uses pre-assigned channel sets to communicate with mobile units in a service area covered by the cell-site. Each channel set typically includes a pair of carrier frequencies with each carrier frequency being used for respective up-link or down-link communications with a mobile unit. Neighboring cell-sites use different channel sets to avoid interference on the same channel between adjacent service areas.
Conventional cellular systems provide mobility to a subscriber through a procedure referred to as hand-off. According to this procedure, cell-sites which are geographically adjacent are considered to be neighbor cell-sites. A neighbor cell-site is the cell-site to which a call can be transferred to as a mobile unit traverses a current cellsite boundary. The transferring of a call from one cell-site to another is referred to as a hand-off. The parameters which specify the cell-sites that can receive a hand-off from a particular cell-site are included in a table called a neighbor list for that particular cell-site.
The channel sets and neighbor lists assigned to particular cell-sites as well as other system organization parameters, such as the number and transmission power of cell-sites, are typically determined using propagation models prior to installation of a system. After installation with the parameter settings determined by the modeling process, the system coverage area is verified by field testing. During a typical field test, a mobile test unit is moved throughout the service area while the base stations transmit respective test frequencies. As the test unit is moved from one sampling location to the next, the signal strength of the test frequencies and the corresponding geographic location is collected and processed to verify that the system can provide service to the intended coverage area. In some conventional systems, uplink signal strength is also measured from the sampling locations to verify the service area coverage.
If a change in a parameter setting is indicated, then the modeling, implementation and subsequent field testing are performed with the new parameter setting. As a result, conventional installations require a labor intensive, time consuming and costly iterative process of modeling, implementation and verification. Typically, conventional systems do not automatically determine organization parameters. Such automatic determination of parameters is known as "self-organization" in the art.
Other radio telephone systems such as personal communication networks (PCN) and/or indoor cellular systems similarly use localized base stations having smaller service areas than cell-sites. However, the installation of such systems is substantially similar to that previously described for the cellular system and typically requires the labor intensive, time consuming and costly iterative process of modeling, implementation and verification.
To increase the simultaneous communication capacity of a system, channel reuse is employed where two sufficiently distant base stations simultaneously use the same channel. In such systems, estimates of co-channel interference are often used during the modeling stage to insure acceptable quality of the communication link. However, these estimates are typically conservative which limits the communication capacity.
More recently, a limited form of self-organization called dynamic channel allocation has provided greater spectral efficiency and capacity. This technique typically detects interference levels on a set of channels immediately prior to establishing communication with a mobile unit and then establishes such communication using channels in the set with the lowest interference level.
Nevertheless, a need exists for a radio telephone system having enhanced spectral efficiency that uses substantially automated planning, organization and verification during installation that does not require extensive modeling or testing.

Method and apparatus for wireless communication system organization


A rotational stabilizing locking apparatus for a surgical retractor is disclosed. The, rotational stabilizing locking apparatus may be a locking cap that includes a central body having a surgical aperture extending from a first side of the central body to a second opposed side of the central body. The central body may include an attachment arm extending away from the surgical aperture. Also, a first interfacing prong may extend from the first side of the central body. The first interfacing prong may include a first light source guide element along an extent of the first interfacing prong. Additionally, the locking cap may be applied to an inner arcuate blade nested inside an outer arcuate blade having a coupling aperture. The inner arcuate blade may include a prong slot for receiving the first interfacing prong. Also, a coupling tab of the inner arcuate blade may be disposed within the coupling aperture.

The present disclosure relates to rotational stabilizing locking mechanisms for orthopedic instrumentation, including a surgical retractor. Devices that incorporate rotational displacement in their function often require locking or stabilization once a desired position is achieved. Although rotational mechanisms vary greatly in design, most function by spherical or cylindrical motion. In medical device applications, many technologies utilize tubular or spherical geometries to either mimic natural anatomy, provide stability, or prepare pathways in a surgical field.
Endoscopic tubular retractors are instruments utilized by surgeons to dilate tissue, such as muscle, and prepare surgical pathways for minimizing the invasive nature of surgery. Traditionally, surgical instruments are designed to withstand muscular tension and facilitate visualization. Additionally, more than one dilator may be used, with gradually increasing diameters, to slowly spread the tissue and prepare an operative space. Current deep-cavity surgical technologies, including retractors, are limited in their visualization capabilities.

Rotational stabilizing locking mechanism


A gain compensator compensates for the gain variation of a varactor-tuned voltage tuned oscillator (VCO) in a phase lock loop (PLL). The VCO includes a parallel LC circuit having multiple fixed capacitors that can be switched-in or switched-out of the LC circuit according to a capacitor control signal to perform band-select tuning of the VCO. The gain compensator compensates for the variable VCO gain by generating a charge pump reference current that is based on the same capacitor control signal that controls the fixed capacitors in the LC circuit. The gain compensator generates the charge pump reference current by replicating a reference scale current using unit current sources. The number of times the reference scale current is replicated is based on the fixed capacitance that is switched-in to the LC circuit and therefore the frequency band of the PLL. The reference scale current is generated based on a PLL control that specifics certain PLL characteristics such as reference frequency, loop bandwidth, and loop damping. Therefore, the reference pump current can be efficiently optimized for changing PLL operating conditions, in addition to compensating for variable VCO gain.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to gain control in a phase lock loop, and more specifically to phase lock loop gain control using scaled unit current sources.
2. Background Art
Radio frequency (RF) transmitters and receivers perform frequency translation by mixing an input signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal. Preferably, the LO signal should have a frequency spectrum that is as close to a pure tone as possible in order to maximize system performance during the signal mixing operation. The deviation of the LO signal from a pure tone is quantified as phase noise or phase jitter, and is generally referred to as spectral purity. In other words, a LO signal with good spectral purity has low phase noise.
Phase-locked loops (PLLs) are often used in frequency synthesizers to generate the LO signal. A PLL frequency synthesizer produces an output signal, typically a sinewave or square wave, that is a frequency multiple of an input reference signal. The PLL output signal is also in phase synchronization with the input reference signal. PLLs are feedback loops, and therefore are susceptible to instability. Therefore, loop stability is a key performance parameter for PLLs, in addition to spectral purity of the output signal.
A resonant-tuned voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is typically utilized in a PLL to generate the PLL output signal. A resonant tuned VCO includes an active device and a resonant LC circuit, where the impedance of the resonant LC circuit becomes a short or an open at a resonant frequency. When the resonant circuit is connected in parallel with the active device, a positive feedback path is created in the active device at the resonant frequency of the LC circuit. The positive feedback path causes the active device to oscillate at the resonant frequency of the LC circuit.
The resonant tuned LC circuit typically includes multiple fixed capacitors that can be switched in or out of the LC circuit, a varactor diode, and at least one inductor. The resonant frequency of the LC circuit (and therefore the oscillation frequency of the VCO) is tuned via a coarse tuning mechanism and a fine tuning mechanism. Coarse frequency tuning (or band-selection) is performed by switching one or more of the fixed capacitors in the LC circuit. Whereas, fine frequency tuning is performed by changing the voltage across the varactor diode, which produces a capacitance that varies depending on the applied tuning voltage. Both tuning mechanisms operate by changing the capacitance, and therefore the resonant frequency of the LC circuit. The varactor tuning range is slightly larger than one fixed capacitor, and therefore provides some overlap between the fixed capacitors.
VCO gain is defined as the VCO frequency shift per unit change in the varactor tuning voltage. A problem with varactor-tuned VCOs is that the VCO gain verses fixed capacitance is variable. In other words, the VCO frequency shift verses tuning voltage is dependent on the fixed capacitance that is switched-in to the LC circuit. The variable VCO gain creates difficulties when designing a PLL because the entire PLL loop gain, bandwidth, and damping response varies with respect to the oscillator frequency. This in turn makes it difficult to optimize the output phase noise and reduces overall spectral purity. Therefore, it is desirable to compensate for the variable VCO gain, in order to maintain the overall PLL gain at a desired optimum value.
In addition to the VCO gain, it is desirable to adjust or tune other PLL characteristics, such as loop bandwidth, reference frequency, and damping factor, without having to tune or replace PLL components.

Apparatus and method for phase lock loop gain control using unit current sources


The disclosure is directed to a laser amplifier system utilizing a pair of scanning mirrors driven in tandem by piezo actuators. A control provided to direct a low power laser beam while the beam is trapped and circulates between the pair of scanning mirrors. Each bounce of the laser beam between the mirrors discretely increases the power of the beam and changes the angle of exit of the beam from the amplifier providing for precise angular beam exit control in two dimensions.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,432,771, Hardy et al., issued Mar. 11, 1969 discloses an apparatus for changing the direction of a light beam in an optical cavity. The cavity consists of a focussing objective, located between two reflectors, such as curved mirrors. The relative position of one center of curvature with the other center of curvature can be controlled by positioning of one of the mirrors. Points on the reflectors are located at the object and the image positions for the objective. When the active medium is suitably excited, the orientation of the lasing mode, and hence the position of the spots of light, is determined by the effective angular positioning of the reflectors.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,875, Pole, issued Nov. 25, 1969 disclosed a laser cavity which was set up between a pair of plane mirrors. At least one active laser element is located between the mirrors. A pair of lens systems are positioned between the mirrors so that they have a common focal plane between them. A Kerr cell, polarizers, and a compensator suppress light oscillation along certain reflector paths within the cavity, thereby setting up preferred modes of oscillation along other paths. Laser emission occurs along the preferred paths.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,695, James E. Swain, issued Aug. 3, 1971 disclosed an apparatus for amplifying laser light by multiple passes through a lasing material in a single laser cavity. A single amplifier stage achieved what has been accomplished by several stages. This is accomplished by a switching mechanic which directs a laser beam into and out of the cavity at selected time intervals, thereby enabling amplification of low intensity laser pulses to energy level near the damage limits of the optical components of the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,928, John L. Emmett, issued Mar. 4, 1980 disclosed a high energy laser system using a regenerative amplifier, which relaxes all constraints on laser components to her than the intrinsic damage level of matter, so as to enable use of available laser system components. This can be accomplished by use of segmented components, spatial filter.
"A survey of laser beam deflection techniques," by Fowler and Schlafer, Proceedings of IEEE, vol 54, no. 10, pages 1437 and 1444, 1966.
The control of laser beam positioning has become a key element in many field of applications such as image processing, graphic display, materials processing, and surgical applications involving precision tissue removal.
Many techniques have been developed for the controlling of the laser beam direction. For the purpose of this invention, this discussion will be limited to the speed, accuracy, and the scan angle range of different devices used in a random access mode.
Galvanometer mirror scanners have a large scan angle range. However, the mechanical response due to the balance of PG,4 the coil and the applied magnetic field is limited to a few hundred Hertz. The settling time and the oscillation about the equilibrium point further limits the accuracy attainable with such devices.
Mirrors positionable with piezo actuators are capable of accurate hunt free movement response of up to tens of kilo-hertz, depending on the design of the mounts. The typical scan angle is in the order of few milli-radiant. Methods to enhance the scan angle has been proposes by J. Schlafer and V. J. Fowler, "A Precision, High Speed, Optical Beam Scanner," Proceedings, International Electron Devices Meeting, 1965. In their report, multiple piezo-mirrors were used to intercept the laser beam, such that the scan angle of the each scanner is contributing to the total of the effect, which is the sum of all scan angles. This device requires many individual scanner units, which multiplies in economic cost with the number of units, and the mirror size also limits the number of units to be used before the beam will miss the last mirror.
Furthermore, both of the above methods are applicable in one dimensional scanning only. For two dimensional scans, an additional unit, which is either an identical or a mix with another device must be provided for the scanning in the other dimension, doubling the cost, and space requirement.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,875, R. V. Pole, has disclosed a scanning laser device, in which the spatial orientation of the laser beam in the resonant cavity is controlled by passing through a combination of a retardation plate and a Kerr cell inside the laser cavity. At a specific angle as determined by the Kerr cell, loss is minimum for the laser beam, and therefore the laser beam will oscillate in that preferred direction. While this method allow a scanning of large angles, the scan speed is limited by the laser build-up time, for which the laser beam intensity will be re-established at each new beam direction. Another drawback of this arrangement is the variation in the laser intensity, during the laser build-up.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,432,771, W. A. Hardy, disclosed another scanning laser, in which the optical cavity consists of a focusing objective, and spherical reflectors or equivalent optics which consists of a lens and a plane mirror. The scan angle is magnified most effectively in an optical arrangement that the two end reflectors forms a nearly concentric cavity with the focusing lens at the center of focus. The drawback is the cavity is tolerant of diverging beam to build up inside the cavity as illustrated in the FIG. 1 of the patent, hence that laser output has high content of multiple transverse mode. With an increase of the radius of curvature of the scan mirror and keeping its location fixed, the multi-mode content can be reduced, but the scan range will approach that of the actual scan angle with a possible small magnification factor. As suggested by its preferred embodiment with an electro-optical beam deflector, the scan angle will be only a few milli-radiant if a near diffraction-limited laser beam is to be produced.
There has not been a successful apparatus and method to overcome the above deficiencies of the prior art until the emergence of the present invention.


The present invention relates to dispersants such as superplasticizers for hydratable cementitious compositions, and more particularly to methods for achieving variable degrees of longer slump life in concrete and mortar without loss of stability. This is achieved by using two admixture systems. The first admixture composition has multi-components for achieving initial-slump-enhancement, later-slump-retention, and limiting initial slump. The second admixture composition has the later-slump-enhancing component. Alternatively, conventional water reducers or superplasticizers can be employed initially, followed by the later-slump-enhancing admixture composition.

It is common practice to add cement dispersants such as plasticizers and superplasticizers to concrete and mortars to render such more fluid and/or to increase strength by reducing the amount of mix water required to obtain a desired fluidity. It is well-established, however, that when the dosage rate of a dispersing agent is progressively increased, an increase in the initial workability or yield stress (or "slump") of the cementitious mixture is usually obtained. Furthermore, based on the particular type of dispersant employed, the workability retention of the mixture is extended for some period of time.
The workability of the concrete or mortar mixture is referred to by using the term "slump," which is a property that can be quantitatively measured by the extent to which fresh concrete or mortar flows when demolded or removed from an inverted cone on a flat surface.
Normally, increasing the dosage of certain dispersing agents or superplasticizer to an excessive amount to achieve longer slump life causes the initial workability to increase such that the mixture is no longer stable. This loss of stability is manifested in terms of severe segregation of sand and/or stone aggregate constituents from the wet cement paste in the concrete or mortar. Furthermore, such excessive dosages of the dispersing agent can cause undesirable extended setting times of the treated cementitious mixtures.
Thus, an objective of the present invention is to provide methods and compositions which allow a concrete producer to extend the slump life of the concrete by varying the dosage of the dispersant formulation in the concrete mixture, whereby the initial workability of the mixture, once a certain desired slump range has been achieved, changes to a significantly far less degree versus the accompanying slump retention, thus avoiding the problem of segregation of the concrete components.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide the ability to add variable amounts of a dispersing agent or superplasticizer that is operative to increase workability or slump retention of the concrete mixture at later times (e.g., for the period of 30 minutes to three hours after cement and aggregate(s) are mixed together to form the hydratable concrete or cementitious mixtures).

Slump retention in cementitious compositions


A tunable acoustic absorption system according to the present invention includes an airframe batting area; a primary soundproofing blanket area; an interior trim panel area; and a hard trim area, which are layered over an aircraft outer skin. Specifically tailoring or “tuning” materials within each area to the particular aircraft acoustic signature achieves significant increases in acoustic absorption achieved over conventional generic sound treatments.

The present invention relates to a noise reduction treatment for an aircraft cabin, and more particularly to an acoustic absorption system which is specifically tailored to particular aircraft types.
Noise develops in an aircraft cabin from several sources. The most common sources are internally or externally mounted moving components, such as a transmission, engine or rotor system. Another source of cabin noise is air flows over various aircraft fuselage components. These components generate vibrations in the aircraft that propagate through the airframe and radiate into the cabin.
Noise may be a particular problem in rotary wing aircraft cabins since the rotor and transmission systems produce a significant amount of vibration directly into the airframe structure. One main noise problem in helicopter cabins is mid to high frequency gear whine noise from the main transmission. This results in cabin noise vibrations typically from about 350 Hz through 4,000 Hz. In contrast noise vibrations from the main and tail rotor sources are in the 20 Hz to 125 Hz range and are attenuated by up to 40+dB by the response of the human ear.
Aircraft cabin interiors are generally designed to maintain aircraft interior noise below a certain level predetermined by competitive pressures in the marketplace. For example, executive transport rotary wing aircraft typically provide a design average noise level limit with the environmental control system (fans, vent air and cooling/heating system) turned off of approximately 75 dB SIL4. The SIL4 (Speech Interference Level 4) noise measurement metric is the arithmetic average of the sound pressure levels in the 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz octave bands. It rates steady noise according to interference with conversation between two people.
Various acoustic absorption systems have been provided to reduce noise levels within the cabin to below desired SIL4 values. Each of these systems, however, is typically manufactured independent of an aircraft type. Although quite effective in generally, particular aircraft types produce particular noise signatures which may not be amenable to a single generic acoustic absorption system.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a lightweight, acoustic absorption system which may be specifically tailored to particular aircraft types.

Tunable acoustic absorption system for an aircraft cabin


A method for estimating power dissipated by processor core processing a workload includes analyzing a reference test case to generate a reference workload characteristic, analyzing an actual workload to generate an actual workload characteristic, performing a power analysis for the reference test case to establish a reference power dissipation value and estimating an actual workload power dissipation value responsive to the actual and reference workload characteristics and the reference power dissipation value.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to estimating power consumption in processor cores, and more particularly, to estimating power consumption when processing different workloads.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
There are a number of ways of estimating power consumption in processor cores executing different workloads. Existing solutions range from carrying out power analysis at the architecture level, which is less accurate, to detailed analysis at the gate/circuit level, which is more accurate, but complex and time consuming.
Architecture level power analysis tools use simulators that can run various workloads relatively quickly. Nevertheless, these tools rely on estimates for power in different parts of the processor core (either based on guesses, approximations, or from detailed analysis of gate/circuit level implementation) to put together an overall power estimate. For many processor cores, however, the various parts that make up the core cannot be easily broken down into independent units for which detailed power characterization can be obtained.
Gate/circuit level analysis requires detailed gate level or circuit level simulations, using a power analysis tool for each workload of interest. Examples of such power simulators are PowerTheater® from Sequence Design, Inc. that can do power analysis at the gate level, or PowerMill® (now known as NanoSim®) from Synopsys, Inc. and PowerSpice® that can do power analysis at the circuit level. These existing solutions are time consuming. They need to be rerun for every new workload. More seriously, they are not feasible for use with long-running workloads, either because the analysis takes very long to finish or because the tools fail during such long simulations due to the complexity of the analysis. Thus, such tools are useful only for relatively small code sequences, generally no more than several hundred instructions, which may be just a small part of the entire workload. These limitations make such power analysis tools unattractive for making quick power estimations for various workloads.
Therefore, there is the need for a methodology that will allow power comparisons to be done quickly for different workloads. This methodology also needs to be applicable to processor cores that cannot be broken into units for individual power analysis, for use with existing architecture level power analysis methodologies.

Architectural level throughput based power modeling methodology and apparatus for pervasively clock-gated processor cores

International Business Machines Corporation


A testing method utilizing at least one signal between ICs includes: coupling at least one testing device to a plurality of ICs that are capable of being tested by the testing device, the ICs including at least a first IC and a second IC; coupling the second IC to the first IC to utilize at least one output signal of the first IC to be at least one input signal of the second IC; and testing the second IC by utilizing the testing device and the output signal of the first IC.

The present invention relates to integrated circuit (IC) testing, and more particularly, to a testing method utilizing at least one signal between ICs (integrated circuits), and ICs and testing systems thereof.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an IC 20 to be tested by an Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) 10 according to the related art, where the IC 20 is utilized for controlling operations of an electronic device (not shown), such as an optical disc drive. To ensure that the function of IC 20 is correct, it is necessary to perform IC testing of the IC 20, especially in a mass production phase.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a testing circuit 12 (the shaded portion shown in FIG. 1), usually containing a socket, is utilized for coupling the IC 20 to the ATE 10. When performing IC testing of the IC 20, the ATE 10 sends test signals in the specific input pins of IC 20. According to the received signals from the specific output pins of IC 20, the ATE determines whether the function of IC 20 is correct or not. The conventional testing system based on the ATE 10 is usually expensive that causes the high testing cost of IC 20.
Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates a testing system for performing a system level test (SLT) of the IC 20 shown in FIG. 1. The SLT is also known as the on-board test, which means the IC 20 is tested in a test environment that is the same as the actual work environment of the IC 20, such as the optical disc drive mentioned above. As shown in FIG. 2, the testing system comprises a circuit board 30, typically the same as that utilized in the optical disc drive. The circuit board 30 comprises a testing circuit 32 usually containing the socket mentioned above, for coupling the IC 20. The circuit board 30 further comprises a DRAM 34, a FLASH memory 36, and an intermediate circuit 38 for coupling a loader 40 including at least a spindle motor 42 and an optical pickup (OPU) 44. A disc 60 such as a Compact Disc (CD) or a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), together with a Personal Computer (PC) 80 (which is sometimes replaced by an external controlling circuit) are typically provided to simulate the environment of an end user of the optical disc drive.
During the SLT, the first step is to load the IC 20 in the testing circuit 32. In the second step, the power of the testing system shown in FIG. 2 is turned on, and the initialization of the testing system starts to run. In the coming steps, various functionalities can be tested according to predetermined order. For example, one step is that the PC 80 requests mechanical movements of the loader 40. In another step, the communication between the IC 20 and some of the other components on the circuit board 30 can be verified. Besides, accessing data to/from the disc 60 through the OPU 44 can be further performed. The disadvantage of SLT is large test cost due to the long test time, and the long time is caused by the response time of electronic components, mechanical movements such as those of a disc tray (not shown) driven by the motor 42 and those of the OPU 44, . . . etc., where the mechanical movements especially take considerable time.

Testing method utilizing at least one signal between integrated circuits, and integrated circuit and testing system thereof


The present invention aims to develop a technique for efficiently preparing deinked pulp from prints made with UV-curable inks. According to the processes for preparing deinked pulp of the present invention, high quality deinked pulp can be obtained by performing the steps of: disintegrating printed waste paper containing UV prints in water to give a waste paper slurry; and applying a mechanical process to the waste paper slurry using a rotary disintegrator.

Recently, the use of waste paper has been expanding in view of resource conservation or environmental issues. On the other hand, the quality and variety of prints have increased so that hard-to-recycle printed waste papers such as prints made by UV printing and prints coated with resin films are frequently mixed in printed materials collected as waste paper.
If these prints are used as raw materials to prepare deinked pulp (DIP), some problems may occur such as impaired runnability of the production process or degraded quality of the resulting recycled paper (NPL 1). Approaches for preparing pulp from waste paper stocks containing such hard-to-recycle printed materials involve applying a high mechanical load to the waste paper stocks or using a lot of chemicals, which cause another problem such as degradation of fibers or cost increase.
Attempts have been made to sort out and eliminate these hard-to-recycle printed materials as prohibitive materials from waste paper stocks. However, it is difficult to visually discriminate prints finished with UV-curable clear coatings, for example, because they are made to be visually similar to prints finished with conventional water-based clear coatings. Thus, a technique for identifying printed materials has been proposed in JPA 1998-149473 (PTL 1), which relates to a method for identifying banknotes and the like using a Fourier transform near-infrared analyzer (FT-NIR). Further, JPA 2005-345208 (PTL 2) proposes a method for sorting out printed materials that are hard to recycle as waste paper stocks based on the solubility of the printed surface of the printed materials in solvents.
An alternative approach has also been proposed to deink waste paper stocks efficiently by using a specially designed deinking agent. For example, JPA 2007-119955 (PTL 3) describes deinking them efficiently by adding a polyethylene glycol-based nonionic surfactant having a cloud point of 0 to 25° C. to a pulper. Further, JPA 2005-520057 (PTL 4) proposes to effectively remove inks from pulp fibers by using a set of deinking agents having different cloud points.
The use of an anionic surfactant as a deinking agent has also been proposed. For example, JPA 2007-314894 (PTL 5) and JPA 2009-221636 (PTL 6) propose to use a combination of a nonionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant for deinking.


An image display device includes a flexible display unit bendable by an external force between a first state and a second state having different radii of curvature from each other, a pressing member disposed to face the flexible display unit and configured to apply the external force to the flexible display unit in a bending manner, and a drive part configured to pull both ends of the pressing member such that the pressing member is bent.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This specification relates to an image display device having a flexible display unit.
2. Background of the Disclosure
In general, an image display device (apparatus) includes a device of recording and/or reproducing images and/or a device of recording and/or reproducing audio. Examples of the image display device may include a TV set, a monitor, a projector, a tablet, a smart phone and the like.
As it becomes multifunctional, the image display device can be allowed to capture still images or moving images, play music or video files, play games, receive broadcasts and the like, so as to be implemented as an integrated multimedia player.
Many efforts are undergoing to support and enhance various functions such as multimedia player in view of hardware or software improvements. A structural change and improvement for simplifying an assembly structure of the image display device may be included in the attempts (efforts) corresponding to the hardware improvement.
As one example of the structural change and improvement, various studies and proposals for an image display device having a flexible display device which is transformable in shape are undergoing. To implement it, it may be desirable to smoothly bend (curve) the flexible display unit and smoothly restore it to a flat state.


The present invention allows data objects to be tagged with secondary resources that specify rendering attributes, such as color profiles. A method, data structure and apparatus provides object level management using tagged secondary resources. Rendering control (color space selection, in this case) of the primary datastream (AFP, in this case) is provided to heterogeneous objects (PostScript Level 1 color images, in this case). The present invention provides a method for the primary datastream to include the source calibration parameters, i.e., the rendering control, without modifying the heterogeneous object. For example, if the threshold matrix for the halftoning is tagged as a resource to the image object, the rendering process can use this specific matrix when the image is halftoned and presented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to printing systems, and more particularly to a method, data structure and apparatus for providing object level rendering control using tagged secondary resources.
2. Description of Related Art
Documents use images, graphics and selected fonts to present their message more clearly. A printer file defines how application program output is mapped to each page and then printed. Rendering is the process a printer uses to translate the commands of a printer file to create an image. While the printer commands describe what the final page should look like, many do not describe how each object should be rendered. This extra rendering control consists of such calibration parameters as color correction points and halftone cell data.
Some printer command languages provide rendering controls that apply to all subsequent drawing commands. No existing printer command language provides rendering control for each object on a page. Many languages have no rendering control whatsoever. However, the need for rendering control continues to increase.
For example, as the use of color input, display and output devices increase, so does the need for color management to ensure document colors appear the same in all devices. This is due to several factors. For example, differing device types operate in different color spaces. A color space is a model for representing color in terms of intensity values; a color space specifies how color information is represented. A color space defines a one-, two-, three-, or four-dimensional space whose dimensions, or components, represent intensity values. A color component is also referred to as a color channel. For example, RGB space is a three-dimensional color space whose components are the red, green, and blue intensities that make up a given color. For example, color monitors display colors as combinations of red, green and blue, and are said to work in the RGB color space, Printers, however, generally print images as combinations of cyan, magenta, yellow and black, and are said to work in the CMYK color space.
Different color devices have different color capabilities. Every color device, such as a scanner, printer or monitor, has a range of colors that it can produce, which is often referred to as a gamut.
In addition, devices of the same type that are manufactured by different manufacturers may produce different colors for the same object. Also, the gamut that an ink jet color printer can print may be quite different from a printer based on a different technology such as a color laser printer.
Some color spaces can express color in a device-independent way. Whereas RGB colors vary with display and scanner characteristics, and CMYK colors vary with printer, ink, and paper characteristics, device-independent colors are meant to be true representations of colors as perceived by the human eye. These color representations, called device-independent color spaces, result from work carried out in 1931 by the Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE) and for that reason are also called CIE-based color spaces.
The most common method of identifying color within a color space is a three-dimensional geometry. The three color attributes, hue, saturation, and brightness, are measured, assigned numeric values, and plotted within the color space. RGB colors vary with display characteristics, and CMYK colors vary with printer, ink, and paper characteristics. Conversion from an RGB color space to a CMYK color space involves a number of variables. The type of printer or printing press, the paper stock, and the inks used all influence the balance between cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In addition, different devices have different gamuts, or ranges of colors that they can produce. Because the colors produced by RGB and CMYK specifications vary from device to device, they're called device-dependent color spaces. Device-dependent color spaces enable the specification of color values that are directly related to their representation on a particular device.
Device-independent color spaces, or interchange color spaces, are used to convert color data from the native color space of one device to the native color space of another device. The CIE created a set of color spaces that specify color in terms of human perception. It then developed algorithms to derive three imaginary primary constituents of color—X, Y, and Z—that can be combined at different levels to produce all the color the human eye can perceive. The resulting color model, CIE X, Y, Z and other CIE color models form the basis for all color management systems. Colors can be specified in the CIE-based color spaces in a way that is independent of the characteristics of any particular display or reproduction device. The goal of color management is for a given CIE-based color specification to produce consistent results on different devices, up to the limitations of each device.
CIELuv is a CIE-based color space used in additive color systems, including color lights and emissive phosphor displays. CIELab is a CIE-based color space that is often used as a device-independent color space in printing applications.
Color matching typically means converting colors between differing gamuts. Most current color management systems match colors pursuant to a rendering intent. Objects are anything that can be drawn, and include text, graphics, and raster images. Usually, a document containing objects is printed using a rendering intent for the whole document. Some printers have been equipped with a console control to control the rendering for each job. Yet, a control console will not allow a page containing different types of objects to have each of the objects rendered individually.
Print systems include presentation architectures, which are provided for representing documents in a data format that is independent of the methods utilized to capture or create those documents. One example of an exemplary presentation system, which will be described herein, is the AFP™ (Advanced Function Presentation) system developed by International Business Machines Corporation. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not meant to be limited to the AFP™ system, but rather the AFP™ system is presented herein as merely one example of a presentation system applicable to the principles of the present invention.
According to the AFP™ system, documents may contain combinations of text, image, graphics, and/or bar code objects in device and resolution independent formats. Documents may also contain and/or reference fonts, overlays, and other resource objects, which are required at presentation time to present the data properly. Additionally, documents may also contain resource objects, such as a document index and tagging elements supporting the search and navigation of document data for a variety of application purposes. In general, a presentation architecture for presenting documents in printed format employs a presentation datastream. To increase flexibility, this stream can be further divided into a device-independent application datastream and a device-dependent printer datastream.
A datastream is a continuous ordered stream of data elements and objects that conform to a given formal definition. Application programs can generate datastreams destined for a presentation device, archive library, or another application program. The Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ developed by International Business Machines Corporation of Armonk, N.Y. defines a datastream, which may be utilized by applications to describe documents and object envelopes for document interchange and document exchange with other applications and application services. Interchange is the predictable interpretation of shared information in an environment where the characteristics of each process need not be known to all other processes. Exchange is the predictable interpretation of shared information by a family of system processes in an environment where the characteristics of each process must be known to all other processes.
A mixed object document is a collection of data objects that comprise the document's content and the resources and formatting specifications that dictate the processing functions to be performed on that content. The term "Mixed" in the Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ refers to both the mixture of data objects and the mixture of document constructs that comprise the document's components. A Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ document can contain a mixture of presentation objects types, which each have a unique processing requirement. The Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ is designed to integrate the different data object types into documents that can be interchanged as a single datastream and provides the datastream structures needed to carry the data objects. The MO:DCA™ datastream also provides syntactic and semantic rules governing the use of objects to ensure different applications process objects in a consistent manner.
In its most complex form a Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ document contains data and resource objects along with data structures which define the document's layout and composition features. This form is called a Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ presentation document. Within such a datastream the Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ components are defined with a syntax that consists of self-describing structures called structured fields. Structured fields are the main Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ structures and are utilized to encode Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ commands. A structured field starts with an introducer that uniquely identifies the command, provides a total length for the command, and specifies additional control information such as whether padding bytes are present. The introducer is then followed by data bytes. Data may be encoded within the structured field utilizing fixed parameters, repeating groups, key words, and triplets. Fixed parameters have a meaning only in the context of the structure that includes them. Repeating groups are utilized to specify grouping of parameters that can appear multiple times. Key words are self-identifying parameters that consist of a one byte unique key word identifier followed by a one byte keyword value. Triplets are self-identifying parameters that contain a length field, a unique triplet identifier, and data bytes. Key words and triplets have the same semantics wherever they are utilized. Together these structures define a syntax for Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ datastreams which provide for orderly parsing and flexible extendibility.
The document is the highest level within the Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ datastream document component hierarchy. Documents may be constructed of pages, and the pages, which are at the intermediate level, may be made up of data objects. Data objects are at the lowest level and can be bar code objects, graphics objects, image objects and presentation text.
Multiple documents may be collected into a print file. A print file may optionally contain, at its beginning, an "inline" resource group that contains resource objects required for print. Alternatively, the resource objects may be stored in a resource library that is accessible to the print server, or they may be resident in the printer.
A Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ document in its presentation form is a document which has been formatted and is intended for presentation, usually on a printer or a display device. A datastream containing a presentation document should produce the same document content in the same format on different printers or display devices, dependent on the capabilities of each of the printers or display devices. A presentation document can reference resources that are to be included as part of the document to be presented, which are not present within the document as transmitted within the MO:DCA™ datastream.
Pages within the Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ are the level within the document component hierarchy which is utilized to print or display a document's content. Each page has associated environment information that specifies page size and that identifies resources required by the page. This information is carried in a MO:DCA™ structure called an Active Environment Group (AEG). Data objects contained within each page envelope in the datastream are presented when the page is presented. Each data object has associated environment information that directs the placement and orientation of the data on the page, and that identifies resources required by the object. This information is carried in a MO:DCA™ structure called an Object Environment Group (OEG). Note that a Resource Environment Group (REG) may be included for identifying resources prior to printing. The REG is specified at the beginning of a document or job, or on any page boundary in a document or job, and identifies complex resources that are required by the pages that follow.
Delimiters that identify the object type, such as graphics, image or text, bound objects in the datastream. In general, data objects consist of data to be presented and the directives required to present it. The content of each type of data object is defined by an object architecture that specifies presentation functions, which may be utilized within its coordinate space. All data objects function as equals within the Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ datastream environment. Data objects are carried as separate entities in the Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ datastream.
Resource objects are named objects or named collection of objects that can be referenced from within the document. In general, referenced resources can reside in an inline resource group that precedes the document in the MO:DCA™ datastream or in an external resource library and can be referenced multiple times. Resource objects may need to be utilized in numerous places within a document or within several documents.
An object container within the Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ is an envelope for object data that is not necessarily defined by an International Business Machines Corporation presentation architecture and that might not define all required presentation parameters. The container consists of a mandatory Begin/End structured field pair, an optional Object Environment Group (OEG) and mandatory Object Container Data (OCD) structured fields. If an object is to be carried in Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA)™ resource groups and interchanged, it must, at a minimum, be enveloped by a Begin/End pair. The Object Classification triplet on the Begin structured field must specify the registered object identifier (OID) for the object data format, and the data must be partitioned into OCD structured fields.
A printer datastream within a presentation architecture is a device-dependent continuous ordered stream of data elements and objects conforming to a given format, which are destined for a presentation device. The Intelligent Printer Datastream (IPDS)™ architecture developed by International Business Machines Corporation and disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,278, which is incorporated herein by reference, defines the datastream utilized by print server programs and device drivers to manage all-points-addressable page printing on a full spectrum of devices from low-end workstation and local area network-attached printers to high-speed, high-volume page printers for production jobs, Print On Demand environments, shared printing, and mailroom applications. The same object content architectures carried in a MO:DCA™ datastream are carried in an IPDS™ datastream to be interpreted and presented by microcode executing in printer hardware. The IPDS™ architecture defines bi-directional command protocols for query, resource management, and error recovery. The IPDS™ architecture also provides interfaces for document finishing operations provided by pre-processing and post-processing devices attached to IPDS™ printers.
The IPDS™ architecture incorporates several important features. As noted above, since the IPDS™ architecture supports the same objects as those carried by the MO:DCA™ datastream, the IPDS™ architecture enables the output of multiple diverse applications to be merged at print time so that an integrated mixed-data page, including text, images, graphics, and bar code objects, results. The IPDS™ architecture transfers all data and commands through self-identifying structured fields that describe the presentation of the page and provide for dynamic management of resources, such as overlays, page segments and fonts as well as the comprehensive handling of exception conditions. Furthermore, the IPDS™ architecture provides an extensive acknowledgement protocol at the datastream level, which enables page synchronization of the host (e.g., print server) and printer processes, the exchange of query-reply information, and the return to the host of detailed exception information.
Sophisticated datastreams allow the inclusion of heterogeneous objects on a page. These objects contain data to be rendered, but the data are not described using the primary datastream of the job. They are instead described using a different standard datastream, an earlier version of the primary datastream, or a device-dependent datastream. For example, an AFP print job may contain a TIFF image object, a PostScript (P/S) Level 2 print job may contain a PostScript Level 1 EPS graphic, a PDF print file may contain a device-dependent RGB image tuned for a particular display, and so on. While it is possible to render these heterogeneous objects using their own datastreams, it is sometimes desirable to allow the primary datastream to affect the rendering of these objects, generally because the primary datastream specifies more rendering control than the objects' datastreams do.
For example, color images in PostScript Level 1 are specified only in device-dependent CMYK, and users identify which of the standard CMYK color spaces the renderer should use (such as SWOP or Euroscale) outside the PostScript Level 1 datastream, through machine settings. Thus, PostScript Level 1 renderers must assume that all CMYK images are from the same color space (all SWOP, for example, or all Euroscale), but not a mixture.
Moreover, AFP can include PostScript Level 1 color images as heterogeneous objects on an AFP page. Such objects are passed to a P/S renderer for processing. The P/S renderer can apply a different color space to each image and so could support a mixture of SWOP and Euroscale images on the page. However, the object content sent to the P/S renderer is pure PostScript Level 1 and cannot identify which color space should be applied.
Another illustration involves images that are tuned to a particular device, such as device RGB data within a PDF file. The color quality of that RGB image is only exact when the PDF file is displayed on the device it was tuned for (typically the author's monitor). When printed, the RGB representation will be converted to printer's colorants assuming some RGB calibration, which probably will not match the author's monitor, and so the printed image will have its colors shifted from the original, perhaps significantly. A sophisticated PDF renderer might be able to adjust its RGB calibration to more closely match the original, but RGB data has no way to communicate the source calibration parameters. Yet another instance of the problem involves images that are tuned to a particular halftoning algorithm.
In the example that follows, the data object is a P/S level 1 EPS object that is carried in an AFP (MO:DCA-P) datastream and that is tagged with a CMYK profile. Presentation data objects, such as P/S level 1 objects and raster image objects, that specify color using the CMYK color space, are inherently device-dependent. That is, when the CMYK is rendered on a marking engine, the resultant color is dependent on a number of printer-specific parameters such as print technology and toner/ink. On the other hand, specifying colors using CMYK is convenient since, in general, no color transformations are required to render these colors on a printer, therefore these objects tend to print fast. Before device-independent color spaces (such as CIELab) and color management systems came into use in the early 1990s most data intended for printing specified color using the CMYK color space. This is particularly true with PostScript Level 1 files.
To achieve somewhat consistent rendering of CMYK colors, a number of CMYK color standards were developed. These standards basically defined hypothetical offset presses that rendered a given CMYK value with a pre-defined color. The pre-defined colors and their associated CMYK values were then published using a large set of color swatches. Two examples of such press standards are CMYK SWOP and CMYK Euroscale.
There exists much presentation data, particularly PostScript Level 1 data, that is 'tuned' to one of these defacto standards. In the AFP presentation environment such data can be mixed with other AFP data on a page and needs to be rendered appropriately. This can be a problem since, for a given page, there may be CMYK data that is tuned to SWOP, CMYK data that is tuned to Euroscale, and CMYK data that is just tuned for the particular printer. That is, the particular CMYK flavor is an object level attribute that can be different for each object on a page.
As mentioned above, a control console has been used to select the rendering on some printers. For example, the Infoprint Color 100 PostScript printer uses an operator-controlled console switch. The clear drawback to this solution is that it assigns a specific CMYK attribute to the whole print job, not to individual objects on a page in the job. While rendering control has been described primarily using examples of color management and AFP datastreams, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not meant to be limited to only this rendering control or only this primary datastream.
It can be seen then that there is a need for a method, data structure and apparatus for providing object level management using tagged secondary resources.
It can also be seen then that there is a need for a method, data structure and apparatus that can apply the AFP color space capability (allowing a mixture of color spaces on a page) to objects (that can't distinguish different CMYK color spaces) without modifying the object content.

Method, data structure and apparatus for providing object level rendering control using tagged secondary resources


A high electron mobility transistor is disclosed, which takes advantage of the increased mobility due to a two dimensional electron gas occurring in GaN/Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x N heterojunctions. These structures are deposited on basal plane sapphire using low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The electron mobility of the heterojunction is approximately 620 cm.sup.2 per volt second at room temperature as compared to 56 cm.sup.2 per volt second for bulk GaN of the same thickness deposited under identical conditions. The mobility of the bulk sample peaked at 62 cm.sup.2 per volt second at 180.degree. K. and decreased to 19 cm.sup.2 per volt second at 77.degree. K. The mobility for the heterostructure, however, increased to a value of 1,600 cm.sup.2 per volt second at 77.degree. K. and saturated at 4.degree. K.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device having improved electron mobility, and in particular, to a transistor constructed of GaN/Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x N heterostructures that is capable of operating at temperatures greater than 100.degree. C.
II. Description of Related Technology
Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x N is a 3-5 semiconductor system with a direct bandgap ranging from 360 nanometers at x=0 to 200 nanometers at x=1. As reported by M. Gershenzon, D. E. Wang and L. Ta, in the proceedings of the 1981 International Opto Electronic's Workshop, National Chang Kung University, Tinan Tai Wan, Page 55 (December 1981), the Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x N material has potential uses in ultraviolet light emitting diodes and detectors, short wave length lasers and transit time limited microwave power amplifiers.
Highly uniform epitaxial films of the materials have been grown by reactive molecular beam epitaxy (as reported by S. Yoshida, S. Gonda, and S. Misawa, and the Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 53, Page 6,844, 1982), as well as by vapor phase epitaxy (as reported by M. Ilegems, and H. C. Montgomery, Journal of Physical Chemistry Solids, Vol. 34, Page 885, 1973) and by atmospheric and low pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition (See M. A. Khan, R. A. Skogman, R. G. Schulze, and M. Gershenzon, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 42, Page 430, 1983 and H. Amano, T. Asahi, and I. Akasaki, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 29, Page L205, 1990).
However, these materials are generally unsuited for semiconductor device applications, because the materials produced are highly degenerate N-type (N.sub.d =10.sup.18 to 10.sup.20 per cubic centimeter) and the carrier mobilities are relatively low, typically less than 100 cm.sup.2 per volt second. Researchers generally concluded that the undesirably high carrier densities were caused by nitrogen vacancies formed during the material growth process.
High electron mobility to transistor have been produced in the past from a GaAs/Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As material as reported by S. Hiyamizu, T. Mimura, T. Fuji and K. Nanbu, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 37, Page 805, 1980. Although this material exhibits superior electron mobilities, it suffers from instability at high temperatures.

Method of making a high electron mobility transistor


Disclosed is a brushless motor (1A) which is an axial gap type brushless motor (1A) wherein stators (3A, 4A) comprising a coil (41) and a rotor (2) comprising a permanent magnet (23) are arranged with a gap therebetween in the axial direction. The coil (41) is a band-like wire which is spirally wound such that the width direction of the band-like wire generally coincides with the direction of the magnetic flux that is generated by the permanent magnet (23) of the rotor (2). Consequently, the axial gap type brushless motor (1A) having the above-described structure can be further reduced in eddy current loss in comparison to conventional brushless motors.

Compared to a radial gap type brushless motor, the stator of which is provided on the outer peripheral side, the axial gap type brushless motor is a motor with which larger torque can be obtained with a smaller diameter. Thus, the axial gap type brushless motor is desired for application in automobiles and the like.
Such an axial gap type brushless motor is disclosed, for example, in Patent Literature 1. A DC brushless motor disclosed in Patent Literature 1 uses a band-like material for wires of stator coils. The coils are each formed of a wire which is spirally wound such that the width direction of the wire is parallel to the axial direction. The plurality of coils are stacked one on top of the other in the axial direction and connected in parallel to a power source.
In such an axial gap type brushless motor, although it is desired that losses such as an eddy current loss and a hysteresis loss be reduced, the losses are not sufficiently reduced with the above-described related-art DC brushless motor.


The present invention is configured to provide optimization of printed output transmitted by a facsimile machine. By generating and comparing a baseline quality score with a companion quality score, optimization decisions can enhance the quality of facsimile transmissions. Optimization is also enhanced by recognizing the type of facsimile machine used and the optimal configuration settings for the facsimile. The settings for multiple facsimile machines are stored in a database, along with optimal settings for each facsimile machine. To further enhance the results of a facsimile transmission, a database of printers may also be consulted. By utilizing the best possible output from a printer, combined with the optimal settings for a fax machine, the optimal results for can be obtained. Additionally, the use of bar-coded identification for facsimile transmission provides a method of automating the optimization, thereby increasing efficiency by reporting the results of the optimization.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of data communication and more particularly to the use of optimization methodologies to enhance the results of facsimile transmission.
2. Background Art
In today's fast-paced business environment, a major portions of many workers' responsibilities include the receipt and processing of information. Data, in the form of letters memos, reports, charts, graphs, etc., arrives in many forms in many different locations. Much of this information is presently transmitted, received, and processed using electronic data transmission technologies. For example, email, instant messaging, digital voice communication, etc. are becoming increasingly popular methods of transmitting information.
While significant quantities of data and information are readily available in a digital format, paper remains a viable method for communicating information in the modern world. Despite the rapid growth of email and instant messaging as communication tools, facsimile transmission remains a very popular solution for rapid transmission of data from one place to another. Facsimile machines remain a staple of most business offices and many workers still rely on facsimile transmission, even when other communication methodologies are available.
Facsimile transmissions enjoy many advantages over other forms of information transmission. For example, no expensive computer system is required for sending or receiving a facsimile transmission. Given that facsimile machines use standard phone lines for communicating, the installation and support of a facsimile machine is a fairly simple task that can be completed very quickly. Additionally, most office workers are very familiar with the operation of a facsimile machine and need little training or supervision to accomplish the task.
A standard facsimile transmission is accomplished by placing a document into a facsimile machine and, using the facsimile machine, scanning the image to create an electronic data file. The electronic data file is then transmitted over standard phone lines to the receiving facsimile machine where the data file is interpreted and printed out onto paper by the receiving facsimile machine. The process is fairly straightforward and can be accomplished quickly and efficiently by many readily available facsimile machines.
Given the widespread proliferation and acceptance of the facsimile machine, it is not surprising to learn that facsimile transmission is still one of the most widely used methods of data transmission found in the world today. However, even though facsimile transmission remains very popular, there are several factors that must be addressed when adopting facsimile transmission for certain applications. For example, most facsimile machines have a wide variety of settings that allow for the configuration of the machine for different purposes. Settings such as "fine," "superfine," etc. can affect the quality of the
As shown by the discussion herein, without additional improvements in the systems and methods utilized in locating and processing information for users, search results provided by standard search engines will continue to be sub-optimal, at least for certain classes of users and certain types of searches.

Apparatus and method for optimized facsimile transmission


A link member consists of a set of frame bodies assembled in an X shape when seen from the side so as to be swingable each other. A base member is provided to support the link member. At least one of the link member and the base member is an elastic member which is interposed between a key top member and the opposed switch members. A springback force is obtained by the elastic member to restore the key top member and the link member to their original positions. Thus, the number of resin components is reduced. A push button switch reasonable in cost and low or short in size is provided.

The present invention relates to a push button switch having a springback force which is preferably used as an input key for electronic devices, such as wordprocessors, personal computers or the like. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing the push button switches.
A conventional push button switch will be explained with reference to FIGS. 17 to 20. FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a conventional push button switch. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the same. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an assembled condition of a link member used in the push button switch. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing an operating condition of the push button switch.
In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a metallic base plate. Reference numeral 2 denotes a switch member comprising two films printed with a conductive paste. One film is put on the other film to constitute opposed switch contacts. Reference numeral 3 denotes a dome portion that is resiliently deformable. A protrusion 3A, used for pushing the opposed switch contacts of the switch member 2, is provided on a reverse surface of the dome portion 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a resin casing having a central portion with a guide hole 4A for the dome portion 3 and both end portions with a pair of engaging recesses 4B.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a key top member having a cylindrical stem 5A at a central portion on a lower surface thereof and a pair of engaging portions 5B at respective end portions on the lower surface. The cylindrical stem 5A is slidably coupled with the guide hole 4A of the casing 4.
Reference numerals 6 and 7 denote a set of frame bodies being rectangular resin members as shown in FIG. 19. Each frame body has both ends with cylindrical fulcrum portions 6A and 6B1 (6B2), or 7A and 7B1 (7B2). Parallel arms 6C1 and 6C2 or 7C1 and 7C2 are connected at one end by the fulcrum portions 6A and 7A. Cylindrical axes 6D1 and 6D2 are provided at central portions of respective arms 6C1 and 6C2 of the frame body 6. Elongated holes 7D1 and 7D2 are opened at central portions of respective arms 7C1 and 7C2 of the other frame body 7. The cylindrical axes 6D1 and 6D2 of the frame body 6 are rotatably and slidably coupled with the elongated holes 7D1 and 7D2 of the frame body 7, respectively. The frame bodies 6 and 7, as a set, are assembled in an X shape when seen from a side. Thus, the frame bodies 6 and 7, when connected in a crossover fashion, cooperatively constitute a link member 8.
The fulcrum portions 6A and 7A provided at the lower ends of the link member 8 are held rotatably and slidably between the engaging recesses 4B provided at the both ends of the casing 4 and the switch member 2.
On the other hand, the upper fulcrum portions 6B1, 6B2 and 7B1, 7B2 are held rotatably and slidably in a pair of corresponding engaging portions 5B provided at the both ends of the key top member 5.
Next, operation of the above-described push button switch will be explained. When the key top member 5 is depressed downward by a finger placed on the upper surface of the key top member 5, the link member 8 held by the engaging portions 5B rotates about the cylindrical fulcrum portions 6B1, 6B2 and 7B1, 7B2. The lower fulcrum portions 6A and 7A, held rotatably and slidably between the casing 4 and the switch member 2, rotate and slide along the engaging recesses 4B in response to the downward movement of the key top member 5.
The movements of respective frame bodies 6 and 7 constituting the link member 8 are linked with each other by the engagement between the circular axes 6D1 and 6D2 provided at the central portions of the arms 6C1 and 6C2 and the elongated holes 7D1 and 7D2 opened at the central portions of the arms 7C1 and 7C2. When the key top member 5 is pushed, the key top member 5 is depressed downward substantially keeping a horizontal position. The dome portion 3 is collapsed or flattened by the key top member 5. The protrusion 3A pushes the switch member 2 so as to generate a predetermined turn-on signal.
Thereafter, the key top member 5 is released from a depressing force applied thereon. Upon releasing the depressing force, the dome portion 3 restores to its original shape by its springback force. Both the link member 8 and the key top member 5, pushed upward by the dome portion 3, return to their original positions shown in FIG. 18.
According to the above-described push button switch, the X-shaped link member 8 is interposed between the key top member 5 and the casing 4. The up-and-down movement of the key top member 5 is performed via the intervening link member 8. This provides ease in operation. However, the resin casing 4 has the guide hole 4A for holding the dome portion 3 in position and the engaging recess 4B for holding the link member 8. Thus, an overall height of the resin casing 4 becomes too high to realize a thin casing.
Furthermore, using many resin parts is not preferable in that the material cost is increased.

Push button switch and manufacturing method of the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A device for protecting an electrical system against surge voltages, comprising one or more protection components (10), means (20) for disconnecting the protection component (10) and means (30) for visually indicating the state of the component (10), operationally connected to the disconnection means (20) and comprising at least one control part (40) and at least one means (50) for indicating the state of the protection component (10), combined with the control part (40), whereby the relative arrangement of the control part (40) and the disconnection means (20) is such that, when the disconnection means are opened (20), the disconnection means release the control part (40), thereby allowing the control part to move.

Devices for protecting electrical installations are commonly used in particular for protecting electrical or electronic apparatus against surges that can be generated by lightning discharges, for example.
In general, such devices comprise an active portion formed by one or more protection components, such as a varistor or a spark gap.
Varistors are components commonly used for protecting electrical installations or equipment against transient voltage surges.
When a surge occurs within the installation, the varistor is subjected to a current shock that has the effect of degrading it and causing it to heat up, making thermal disconnection thereof necessary.
The degradation of a varistor is difficult or impossible to predict, insofar as it depends not only on the number of current shocks the varistor has suffered over its lifetime, but also on their amplitude.
Consequently, it is difficult to predict, a priori, the lifetime and the degree of aging of a varistor, and users often discover a posteriori that the varistor has been destroyed, such that the installation runs the risk of operating without any protection during some length of latency time.
In order to enable a defective varistor to be identified quickly and thus reduce the above-mentioned latency time, it is known to fit each varistor with indicator means suitable for informing a third party that the varistor is out of operation.
The varistors that are generally encountered are thus associated with disconnector means adapted to disconnect a varistor once it is in a degraded state and before it heats up excessively, which disconnector means are functionally connected to means for indicating the state of the varistor, that are generally actuated themselves by the disconnector means, and that serve to inform a third party whether the varistor is in operation or is disconnected.
The indicator means can thus be in the form of a slider associated with an indicator and suitable for moving in translation under drive from the disconnector means so that its position indicates the state of the varistor, with this being done by putting the indicator, e.g., a colored screen, in register with a viewing window formed in the housing of the protection device.
In known protection devices, the slider and the indicator are either secured to the disconnector means, in particular a disconnector blade, or else they are independent therefrom, while being controlled and actuated thereby.
In any event, moving the disconnector means towards their open position causes the slider to move in a manner that is controlled or guided by the disconnector means or by independent guide means.
Unfortunately, it can happen that the slider or the indicator is impeded in its movement, in particular when the slider and/or the indicator are poorly dimensioned or if the guide means are defective, thus leading to the slider being poorly guided.
In this situation, the slider and/or the indicator can impede or even prevent disconnection of the varistor. The varistor then remains connected and the indicator means do not indicate any abnormality in spite of the varistor being badly degraded, and in danger of causing a fire on being overheated.
In addition, configurations in which the slider and/or the indicator are actuated and moved under control by the disconnector means generally require the component parts to be accurately dimensioned, firstly so as to avoid slack arising between the parts, and secondly to avoid any risk of the disconnector and/or indicator system jamming.
In addition, in order to avoid the slider and/or the indicator slowing down disconnection, disconnector blades are generally designed in such a manner as to present a strong spring effect suitable for overcoming any braking effect exerted by the slider and/or the indicator.
Nevertheless, such a measure presents the drawback of weakening the soldered connection between the disconnector blade and the corresponding electrode of the varistor.
In general, the mechanical complexity of known devices requires the operations of manufacturing the parts to be very well controlled, thereby significantly increasing the cost of manufacturing such devices.
The above remarks naturally apply to devices that use other protection components, in particular spark gaps, in which it can be necessary in certain applications to make use of thermal disconnections.
It can thus be seen that there is a need to make a voltage surge protection device that, while being simple and inexpensive in design, is nevertheless capable, in the most reliable and effective manner possible, of disconnecting the protection component in the installation to be protected, and of simultaneously indicating to a third party that the protection component in question is out of operation.

Surge voltage protection device with improved disconnection and visual indication means


A printer including a first liquid discharger, a second liquid discharger, a curing unit, and a controller is provided. The first and second liquid dischargers discharge active-energy-ray-curable colored and transparent liquids, respectively. The curing unit emits an active energy ray. The controller causes the first liquid discharger to scan multiple times and discharge the colored liquid on a medium, causes the curing unit to cure the colored liquid on the medium after each scan of the first liquid discharger to print a colored image with the colored liquid on the medium, causes the second liquid discharger to discharge the transparent liquid on the colored image, causes the curing unit to cure the transparent liquid on the colored image to form a transparent layer on the colored image, and controls a thickness of the transparent layer in accordance with the number of scan of the first liquid discharger.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a printer, a printing method, and a non-transitory recording medium.
Description of the Related Art
Printers which print an image with an active energy ray curable liquid (e.g., ultraviolet (UV) curable ink) are known. Some of these printers form a coat layer on a printed color image with a transparent liquid for the purpose of giving gloss to the image, improving the properties (e.g., light resistance) of a recording medium, or protecting the image.

Printer, printing method, and non-transitory recording medium


A two-piece, connectable article comprises a first piece and a second piece which fit together in a connected position. One of the first and second pieces has a plurality of integral, extending members having free ends that each define a latch member. The other of the first and second pieces has a facing wall that defines a plurality of apertures positioned to receive the free ends of the extending members in the connected position. The apertures are sized to cause flexing of the latch members as the latch members are placed through the apertures to assume the connected position. The extending members and facing wall are proportioned to permit the latch members to spring back to an original position in the connected position, to effectively prevent separation of the first and second pieces until at least some of the extending members are broken away.

Large containers of typically one-quart to fifteen gallons are in widespread usage for holding a wide variety of products such as paint, solvents, liquids, and dry products such as chemicals, plastic precursors, and the like. Many or most of these containers are of the wide-mouthed type, where the mouth of the container is almost as wide as the maximum diameter of the container, with the lid fitting in some form of snap-fit manner on the lip of the container.
A wide variety of designs has been proposed for containers of this type. As one method of testing such designs for efficacy and practicality, they are subject to drop tests. The container is filled with liquid, closed with a lid across its wide mouth, and dropped in inverted position from a height ranging from 24 inches to 4 feet, to see if the lid will pop off under such stress. Such testing obviously eliminates a large number of the many proposed designs for wide-mouthed, large containers.
Particularly, large, square containers have had difficulty in passing drop testing. Also, square containers have difficulties of sealing, since O-rings at the mouths of such containers which form a seal between the container and lid are more likely to form leaks at the corners than is the case with cylindrical containers.
Accordingly, there is a need for large, molded plastic, wide-mouthed containers which both pass stringent drop testing and which are of reduced costs when compared with the current commercial, rectangular containers. Also, there is a need for large, rectangular containers which have good sealing with or without an O-ring, which sometimes performs in a deficient manner in rectangular containers by permitting leakage at the corners.
By this invention, such a container and lid is provided, having greatly improved resistance to lid pop-off. The container and lid can be preferably of rectangular cross-section, although the invention may be used with cylindrical containers, or containers of other shapes, if and as desired, with or without O-rings for sealing. Also, the invention can be used between any desired, connectable articles and not just wide-mouthed containers with sealable lids: for example, one, two or multiple piece housings or casings for various items such as television sets or other appliances, machinery, instrumentation, or the like. The two-piece, connectable article of this invention may actually comprise multiple pieces if desired, with various pieces using the invention described herein, but for simplicity, they are all described as a "two-piece connectable article" since they have two pieces that connect in accordance with this invention.
Such articles can be snapped together with ease; can exhibit a sealing function together if desired; and are not effectively separable without the destruction of certain parts of the system, to provide a tamper-proof indication that the closed system has been opened. Also, the respective pieces of the connectable article of this invention can be easily molded if desired, although the pieces could have resilient metal components if desired, formed by a non-molding process. All things being equal, the molding of the respective pieces can be inexpensive relative to competing systems.
Also, the containers and other connectable articles of this invention can have a clear, tamper-evident feature, showing when they have been initially opened.


A system and method for collecting urine from a source, neutralizing the urine in the container with a neutralizing composition to remove or alter odor-generating compounds in the urine that might be perceived as threatening to prey, and then disposing of the neutralized urine in a convenient location proximate to the hunting area without repelling or alarming potential prey that might encounter the neutralized liquid. The neutralizing composition comprises a compound including a weak acidic or oxidizing component and a weak alkaline or base component, the combination reacting with and neutralizing odor-generating compounds and leaving the resulting neutralized urine with a relatively neutral pH value. The system and method further include adding compounds to impart a scent or odor to the neutralized urine, including a cover scent, such as pine essence, or an attractant scent, such as doe estrous, or a repellant scent.

The present invention relates generally to urine scent covering and, more particularly, to a conversion system for urine to mask odors perceived as predatory by intended prey and, optionally, to add an attractant or cover smell to the converted urine.
It is widely understood that animals such as dogs, bears, deer and others have a much better developed sense of smell than that of humans. Bears, for example, are believed to have a sense of smell over 2,000 times better than humans due to the number of olfactory sensors. A bear's sense of smell is believed to be 7 times better than that of a bloodhound. A dog's sense of smell is believed to be 100 times better than that of a human with a bloodhound being 300 times better. It is believed that a deer's sense of smell is 500-1,000 times more accurate than the human sense of smell.
Human urine, like that of other mammals, has a distinct smell that is easily detected by animals such as deer, bears, coyotes and other animals with a keen sense of smell. Most animal species prefer to avoid interactions with humans, so the smell of human urine tends to repel most animals. For many years, man has been using artificial and natural scents to mask, attract and repel animals when attempting to harvest them by hunting. For instance, deer hunters have used bottled fox urine placed around their hunting stand to cover or mask their own scent. Likewise, hunters have also used harvested animal urine such as urine harvested from does in captivity when they are in estrus in order to attract nearby male deer (bucks). Bucks seeking to mate with does in estrus will often be attracted to doe urine placed by a hunter near his/her hunting location.
One of the challenges when hunting or doing other outdoor activities is what a hunter or other person does to contain the scent of his/her urine while conducting the activities. If a hunter is in his/her stand, he or she does not want to leave the stand in order to urinate. One solution to this has been to carry a portable receptacle into which the hunter urinates for later disposal. The problem with this is that the hunter must then carry the receptacle containing the urine out of the woods for later disposal. The receptacle can leak and thereby cause a mess while defeating the purpose of urinating in the container.
Another activity with similar challenges is that of a soldier seeking to remain undetected in the woods. For instance, a soldier that is attempting to sneak into a particular location without being detected in order to gain intelligence information, or a sniper sneaking into a shooting location would not want to be detected by a dog smelling his/her urine. These operations can take days to conduct, thereby eliminating the option of not urinating.
There are also times when urine can be used as a deterrent to repel other animals. For instance, it may be desired to repel deer from a particular area (gardens, etc.) using a coyote urine scent. In this instance, it would be useful to convert human urine to a deterrent for coyotes since deer often become used to the smell of humans in urban environments and the like.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a central nervous system breakdown that affects white-tail deer populations. It is spread from animal to animal though direct contact or though contact with saliva, urine, feces, blood, and body parts of infected deer. Several states in which CWD is a significant concern have banned the use of deer urine in scents and attractants as a means to control or limit the spread of the disease. As incidence of CWD increase, many states have banned the use of natural deer urine as an attractant. Producers of deer attractants based on collected deer urine could utilize non-CWD carrying alternative supplies of animal urine if a process is identified for eliminating predatory or other undesirable scents from the alternative urine that might repel deer or interfere with synthetic attractants that might be added to the alternative urine.
It would be advantageous to provide a system for treating urine, whether human or another animal, to neutralize chemical constituents contained in the urine so that deer or other prey are not alarmed or repelled by the odor of the neutralized urine. Additional advantages would be realized if the neutralized urine could be further treated to enhance the scent using an attractant or cover scent that would not alarm potential prey encountering the neutralized and treated urine. A portable system would benefit hunters who could neutralize and treat their own urine and subsequently discharge it into a hunting area without repelling their prey, eliminating the need to transport their waste outside of the hunting area. Providing an attractant that could be added to neutralized urine offers additional utility by transforming what was a waste product into an animal attractant. Still further advantages would be realized by a process that allows substitution of urine from other non-CWD susceptible animal species for deer urine in deer attractant formulations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Urine neutralization and conversion system and method