A battery comprises at least four cells each comprising a bath in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a width direction dimension greater than a thickness direction dimension, and a power generation element, the power generation element being contained in the bath, the thickness direction sides of the cells facing each other, and the width direction sides of the cells being arranged side by side. A coolant for cooling the cells is allowed to flow along the width direction sides of the cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery and, more particularly, to a battery in which a plurality of cells are linked so as to obtain a required power capacity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Large-capacity batteries comprising a plurality of linked cells, such as nickel-cadmium cells, nickel-hydrogen cells, or hydrogen cells, are used in various electric appliances, electric vehicles, and the like. In such a large-capacity battery, typically, a plurality of cells in the shape of a thin rectangular parallelepiped are arranged close to each other and bound together. In each cell, a plurality of positive electrode plates and a plurality of negative electrode plates are alternately laminated via separators containing electrolytic solution. For such a cell, when the ambient temperature is high or a large amount of current is discharged, heat is not sufficiently dissipated from the electrode plates contained in each cell, causing the temperature of the cell to be increased, potentially leading to a reduction in the life of the battery. In order to avoid such a problem, configurations described below have been proposed for cooling a large-capacity battery comprising a plurality of linked cells.
Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-164186 discloses a battery. In the battery, a plurality of cells (each cell being in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a width direction dimension greater than a thickness direction dimension) are connected in series so that the sides along the width direction (width direction side) of the cells are located on the same plane. On the width direction side of each cell, a plurality of ribs are provided in a vertical direction. A coolant channel, through which a coolant is forced to flow, is provided between each rib in the vertical direction of the cell. Thereby, each cell is cooled.
Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 6-215804 discloses a monoblock battery. The battery is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. A side plate is provided along each of the wall surfaces in the width direction of the battery. A coolant channel (fluid circulation space) is provided between the wall surface and the side plate, and a coolant is supplied to the coolant channel.
Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-251950 discloses another battery. In the battery, a plurality of cells are linked and arranged so that the width direction sides of the cells face each other. A coolant channel is provided between each cell. Another coolant channel is provided on the sides in the thickness direction of the cells for allowing the coolant channels to communicate with each other. A coolant is allowed to flow through the coolant channel.
However, the configuration disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-164186 described above requires an additional structure for distributing the coolant to the coolant channels of the cells. For this reason, the configuration of the entire battery is complicated and therefore the number of assembling steps is increased, causing an increase in cost.
In the configuration of Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 6-215804 described above, only the sides of the battery comprising a plurality of linked cells are cooled. Therefore, when a great load is applied to the battery and therefore the amount of heat generated is great, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient cooling effect. Therefore, in order to obtain a sufficient cooling effect, the battery requires an additional structure for distributing the coolant to the coolant channels of the cells. As in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-164186, the configuration of the entire battery is complicated and therefore the number of assembling steps is increased, causing an increase in cost.
In the configuration of Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-251950 described above, the coolant is allowed to flow mainly in the thickness direction side of each cell, and the amount of the coolant flowing through the coolant channel provided between each cell is small. In each cell, a plurality of electrode plates are alternately laminated, and the electrode plates are arranged along the width direction side of the cell. In addition, space is provided between the thickness direction side and the electrode plate so as to facilitate production of the battery. In order to obtain higher cooling efficiency, it is necessary to allow the coolant to flow along the width direction side. However, in this configuration, the coolant is allowed to flow mainly along the thickness direction side and therefore a sufficient level of cooling efficiency cannot be obtained.
As described in this publication, a plurality of cells are arranged so that the width direction sides face each other, and are integrally bound. The cells provided on the ends of the battery receive a smaller level of pressure. In such cells, therefore, electrolytic solution is likely to be dried up, so that the life of the cells is significantly smaller than that of the other cells. This situation will be specifically described below.
FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conventional battery. FIG. 41 is a diagram for explaining expansion of the cell in the conventional battery. Referring to FIG. 40, the conventional battery 400 comprises 6 cells 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, and 406, each of which is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped in which the width direction dimension is greater than the thickness and height direction dimensions. The cells are arranged so that the width direction sides thereof face each other, and are integrally bound. In each cell, a plurality of electrode plates (positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates) are laminated, and arranged along the width direction sides of the cells. In the battery 400 having the above-described configuration, when discharging cycles are repeated in each cell 401 to 406, each electrode plate expands. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 41, the cells 401 to 406 expand in a direction away from the cells 403 and 404 provided at the center, toward the outside. In this case, for the cells 401 to 406, the further out the location of the cell, the smaller the binding force applied to the cell, therefore, the greater the expansion of the cell.
When the cells 401 to 406 expand in this manner, the outer cells expand to a greater extent. Therefore, the further out the cell, the smaller the pressure acting on the electrode plate. If the pressure acting on the electrode plate becomes small, the distance between adjacent electrode plates becomes great, causing the electrolytic solution to splash so that the electrolytic solution is likely to be dried up.
FIG. 42 is a graph showing the life characteristics of cells in a conventional battery. As described above, the further out the cell, the smaller the pressure applied to the cell. Therefore, the pressure acting on the cells 401 and 406 located on the ends of the battery are small as compared to that acting on the other cells 402 to 405, whereby the electrolytic solution is likely to be dried up. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 42, the life of the cells 401 and 406 on the ends of the battery is significantly smaller than the life of the other cells 402 to 405, causing variations in the life of the cells in the battery.
In order to suppress the expansion of the cells 401 to 406, a configuration has been proposed, in which as shown in FIG. 43, expansion suppressing plates 411 and 412 are provided on the respective ends of the battery. The expansion suppressing plates 411 and 412 integrally bind all of the cells 401 to 406. Despite this configuration, the expansion of the cells 401 and 406 provided on the ends of the battery cannot be sufficiently suppressed.
FIG. 44 is a graph showing a temperature distribution of the cells when the battery shown in FIG. 40 is employed in an EV (electric vehicle). When the battery of FIG. 40 is applied to an EV in which a large amount of current may be input or output, variations in temperature between each cell 401 to 406 are large as shown in FIG. 44. Points 401B to 406B indicate the temperatures of the cells 401 to 406, respectively. The temperatures of the cells 403 and 404 provided at the middle of the battery are high. The closer the location of the cell to the opposite ends of the battery, the lower the temperature of the cell. Thus, the variations in temperature between the cells 401 to 406 are large, and the temperatures of the cells provided in the middle are higher. In this case, corrosion of the grid-like electrode plate and degradation of active substances provided in the electrode plate are accelerated, causing an early reduction in the output voltage of the cell, so that the life of the battery is reduced.
In each of the above-described conventional batteries, a liquid coolant, such as water, is used as a coolant for cooling the linked cells at predetermined positions. Power generation elements composed of positive electrode plates, negative electrode plates and separators are completely shielded from the coolant channels in order to prevent the liquid coolant from penetrating into the power generation elements.
For example, in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 6-215804 described above, a plastic material case comprising a bath having an open top, which contains power generation elements, such as electrode plates, and a lid attached to a top portion of the bath, seals the power generation elements so that the power generation elements are shielded from the coolant channel.
In Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-251950 described above, a plurality of cells are integrally linked in series to construct a sealed secondary battery. A lid member is attached to a top portion of the sealed secondary battery, whereby power generation elements in the cells are sealed, and shielded from a cooling channel.
However, in these publications, the lid is attached to the bath containing the cells, although positioning means for attaching the lid to an appropriate position is not provided. Therefore, it is not easy to appropriately position the lid with respect to the bath. If the lid is not correctly positioned with respect to the bath, the cells are not effectively cooled by the coolant. Also, when the battery is used in a situation where wobble or the like may occur, the lid is displaced from the bath, whereby the coolant is likely to penetrate into the power generation element.
The portion of the battery, which generates heat, is not limited to the electrode plate. In particular, when a terminal portion, which is externally connected, excessively generates heat, a portion around the terminal of the bath containing the cells may be melted. However, in the above-described publications, the electrode plate is mainly cooled by the coolant, but the battery is not provided with an arrangement for preventing the heat generation of the terminal portion.
Next, a problem with the internal structure of conventional batteries having a configuration in which positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are laminated via separators will be described below.
FIG. 45 is a perspective view showing an exemplary internal structure of a conventional battery 1.
A battery 501 has a case body 502 which is in the shape of a hollow rectangular parallelepiped and has an open top. The internal space of the case body 502 is divided by a partition 503 into three in a longitudinal direction and two in a width direction, i.e., 6 cells 502a to 502f. The cells 502a to 502f each have a cross section in the shape of a rectangle extending in the longitudinal direction of the case body 2.
The cells 502a to 502f each contain a unit power generation element having a plurality of positive electrode plates (e.g., PbO2 plate), each of which has a similar planar shape, and a plurality of negative electrode plates (e.g., Pb plate), each of which also has a similar planar shape. In the unit power generation element, positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are alternately laminated via separators made of porous, extremely fine glass fibers holding dilute sulfuric acid, or the like.
At one end of the case body 502, the first cell 502a and the sixth cell 502f are disposed side by side in the width direction of the case body 502. The first cell 502a, the second cell 502b and the third cell 502a are disposed side by side in a longitudinal direction of the case body 502. The third cell 502a and the fourth cell 502d are disposed side by side in the width direction of the case body 502. The fifth cell 502e is disposed between the fourth cell 502d and the sixth cell 502f. The positive electrode plates and the negative electrode plates of the unit power generation element of each cell 502a to 502f each extend in the longitudinal direction of the case body 502.
All of the positive electrode plates of each unit power generation element of the second cell 502b to the fifth cell 502e (i.e., excluding the first cell 502a and the sixth cell 502f) are connected to a first strap 504 provided on one side of the positive electrode plate. All of the negative electrode plates of each unit power generation element are connected to a second strap 504 provided on a side of the negative electrode plate opposite to the first strap 504 provided on the side of the positive electrode plate. The first strap 504 is conductive to all of the positive electrode plates, while the second strap 504 is conductive to all of the negative electrode plates.
All of the positive electrode plates of the unit power generation element contained in the first cell 502a are connected to the strap 504, while all of the negative electrode plates are connected to a terminal member 505. All of the negative electrode plates of the unit power generation element contained in the sixth cell 502f are connected to the strap 504, while all of the positive electrode plates are connected to the terminal member 505.
The strap 504 connected to the negative electrode plate of the unit power generation element contained in the first cell 502a, is interconnected to the strap 504 which is connected to the positive electrode plates of unit power generation element contained in the second cell 502b, via a through hole provided in the partition 503. As shown in FIG. 45, the strap 504 connected to the negative electrode plates of the unit power generation element in the second cell 502b, is interconnected to the strap 504 connected to the positive electrode plates of the unit power generation element in the third cell 502c, via a through hole provided in the partition 503. The strap 504 connected to the negative electrode plates of the unit power generation element in the third cell 502c, is interconnected to the strap 504 connected to the positive electrode plates of the unit power generation element in the fourth cell 502d, next to the third cell 502c in the width direction of the case body 502, via a through hole provided in the partition 503.
The strap 504 connected to the negative electrode plates of the unit power generation element in the fourth cell 502d, is interconnected to the strap 504 connected to the positive electrode plates of the unit power generation element in the fifth cell 502e, via a through hole provided in the partition 503. The strap 504 connected to the negative electrode plates of the unit power generation element in the fifth cell 502e, is interconnected to the strap 504 of the positive electrode plates of the unit power generation element in the sixth cell 502f, via a through hole provided in the partition 503. Thus, the unit power generation elements contained in the cells 502a to 502f are connected in series. The terminal member 505 connected to the unit power generation element in the first cell 502a is a positive terminal, while the terminal member 505 connected to the unit power generation element in the sixth cell 502f is a negative terminal.
FIG. 45 is a front view of an electrode plate 510 constituting the positive electrode plate or the negative electrode plate contained in the cells 502a to 502f of the conventional battery 501. The electrode plate 510 has a rectangular electrode plate body 513 and a rectangular collector 511 which is provided at a side of the electrode plate body 513, and projects from the electrode plate body 513 upward. The collector 511 is provided at the side edge of the electrode plate body 513, leaving an appropriate spacing with respect to an end of the side of the electrode plate body 513, and also leaving an appropriate spacing with respect to the center of the side of the electrode plate body 513.
The thus-constructed electrode plate 510 is used in a manner as shown in FIG. 46A. Specifically, a pair of the electrode plates 510 are attached together via a separator, where the collectors 511 are positioned on the opposite sides, i.e., one of the electrode plates 510 is turned from side to side (by 180°) and is then attached to the other electrode plate 510 to obtain a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate.
In the unit power generation elements contained in the second cell 502b to the fifth cell 502e, as shown in FIG. 46B, one strap 504 is connected by welding to the collectors 511 of all of the electrode plates 510 constituting the positive electrode plates, while the other strap 504 is connected to the collectors 511 of all of the electrode plates 510 constituting the negative electrode plates.
As shown in FIG. 47, the strap 504 has an electrode plate connector 504a, which is in the shape of a plate and is attached by welding to a top edge of the collector 511 provided in the electrode plate 510, and an inter-cell connector 504b which is bent extending upward from a side of the electrode plate connector 504a. The electrode plate connector 504a is attached by welding to the collector 511 of the electrode plate 510 constituting a positive electrode plate or a negative electrode plate, where the inter-cell connector 504b is disposed along the partition 503 provided between the adjacent cells.
The collector 511 provided in the electrode plate 510 is made of the same material as that of the electrode plate 510 (e.g., lead (Pb) or lead oxide (PbO2)). Therefore, the collector 511 has a considerably large weight. It is preferable to reduce the width direction length of the collector 511 in order to reduce the weight of the collector 511.
However, the strap 504 provided on the top portion of the collector 511 has to have a width direction length greater than the width direction length of the collector 511. If the width direction length of the collector 511 is excessively smaller than the width direction length of the strap 504, damage, such as rupture, may occur around the collector 511 due to wobble or the like. Therefore, an appropriate ratio of the width direction length of the strap 504, to the width direction length of the collector 511, is important in order to avoid damage, such as rupture, and to reduce the weight of the battery.
When the width direction length of the strap 504 provided on the top end of the collector 511 is excessively small as compared to the width direction length of the electrode plate 510, the resistance of the strap 504 is high and a voltage drop is large in the case of discharging a large amount of current. Therefore, an appropriate ratio of the width direction length of the strap 504 to the width direction length of the electrode plate 510 is important in order to prevent a voltage drop.

Battery with proportional collectors, straps, and plates

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method for separating the long outer bast fibers from the short woody inner core fibers of herbaceous fiber producing plants which includes the steps of requiring that such plants harvested at a certain cut length are processed through a first and second stage core separator, each of which includes a rotating spiked cylinder and a set of angled moving conveyors for coarse separation of the bast and core fibers; then processed through a first and second incline core separator each of which include a series of rotating spiked cylinders provided at an inclined angle; then introduced into a single saw separator; then passed through a jet air separator having an adjustable blade therein; and finally, run through a four cylinder fiber cleaner. Each of these steps provides further and more complete separation of the woody core fibers from the longer bast fibers so that by the time the bast fibers exit the four cylinder cleaner they are over ninety-eight percent (98%) free of the woody core fibers. The core fibers which exit the various separators of the process are all channeled into a hammermill for grinding, and then transported into a large tilted rotating screened core fiber sizing drum.

The present invention relates to fiber separation methods and apparatus, and more particularly to a new process for mechanically separating the longer outer bast fibers from the shorter woody innercore fibers of annual herbaceous fiber producing plants.
The long outer bast fibers of annual herbaceous fiber producing plants such as Kenaf and Crotalaria are desirable for a number of uses, including, among other things: use as a packing material; use as a material for the manufacturing of carpet pads and other non-woven pads; use as a product from which high grade paper can be manufactured; use as an absorbing medium for liquids such as water and oil; use in producing rope and cordage products; use in bio-degradable netting products for preventing soil erosion; jute bags; and burlap.
Cleanly separating these useful longer outer bast fibers from the short woody innercore fibers of such plants is necessary in order for such fibers to be used in paper, packing, non-woven pads and cordage materials. The clean outer bast fibers are softer and hemp-like; whereas, the innercore fibers are harder, more rough and woody. Thus, the cleaner the bast fibers, the more readily they may be employed as packing materials, pads, paper products and the like. Once separated, the short woody innercore materials may also be used for such things as a bedding medium for animals, potting mix, or oil absorption materials.
Current methods of processing Kenaf, Crotalaria and other related herbaceous fiber producing plants employ the use of a hollow revolving screened cylinder inside an enclosure for separation. This method leaves an unacceptably high percentage (sometimes as much as 20%) of the short woody innercore fibers in the processed product. Unless the final product is approximately 98% clean of the innercore fibers, it cannot be used in making packing materials, pads, paper products, cordage and the other applications described above. Reintroducing the processed product into the revolving screened cylinder time after time may ultimately achieve a separation of perhaps 90%. However, this is still far below the standard necessary for use in the above products, and the continual re-introduction process is costly and time consuming.


An etching method and apparatus for etching a silicon oxide film selectively with respect to a silicon nitride film formed on a substrate are provided. A processing gas containing a plasma excitation gas and a CHF-based gas is introduced into a processing chamber such that a flow rate ratio of the CHF-based gas to the plasma excitation gas is 1/15 or higher. By generating a plasma in the processing chamber, the silicon oxide film is etched selectively with respect to the silicon nitride film formed on the substrate in the processing chamber.

Semiconductor integrated circuits have been developed to have high performance and high integration in response to miniaturization of devices. In recent years, miniaturization is being advanced in the device design rules, but optical lithography that is a main technique of miniaturization is approaching the practical limit.
In order to obtain highly miniaturized patterns, it is necessary to reduce a pitch of a pattern, which is the sum of the width of the pattern and the interval between adjacent patterns. It is relatively easy to narrow the width of the pattern by exposure. However, it is relatively difficult to form fine patterns at a short pitch. In the optical lithography, it is a challenge to shorten the pitch when the fine patterns are formed.
As a technique for forming fine patterns at a short pitch, a technique called double patterning has been developed (see, e.g., Patent Document 1). Double patterning is a technique for forming two patterns in one pitch to double the pattern as the name implies.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-193098
In the double patterning technology, a step of etching a silicon oxide film formed on a silicon nitride film is required. In this case, it is requested to suppress a recess from being formed in the silicon nitride film by increasing the selectivity of the silicon oxide film with respect to the silicon nitride film.
However, the binding energy of Si—O is 111 eV, and is higher than the binding energy of Si—N which is 105 eV. Thus, in a state in which both the silicon oxide film and the silicon nitride film are present, it is physically difficult to increase the selectivity of the silicon oxide film with respect to the silicon nitride film. This is because the silicon nitride film is also etched when the silicon oxide film is etched by increasing the ion energy of the plasma. Therefore, not only a physical approach such as increasing the ion energy of the plasma, but also a chemical approach using a difference in reactivity between the surfaces of the silicon oxide film and the silicon nitride film is necessary.


A digital camera module includes an image capture device, a lens unit, a housing for receiving the lens unit and positioning the lens unit with respect to the image capture device, and a focus mechanism disposed on the outside of the housing and operative to move the lens unit along an axis when the lens unit is rotated about the axis. In one embodiment, the focus mechanism includes a ramp formed on the housing and a complementary ramp formed on the lens unit. In another embodiment, the focus mechanism includes a thread set formed on the outside of the housing for engaging a complementary thread set on a sleeve of the lens unit. In still another embodiment, the focus mechanism includes an inclined groove and a groove follower. The external adjustment mechanism prevents the image capture device from being contaminated by particulates generated during focusing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to digital camera modules. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a system for focusing a digital camera module that prevents debris and particulate matter produced by the focusing process from contaminating the sensor array of an image capture device.
2. Description of the Background Art
Digital camera modules are currently being incorporated into a variety of electronic devices. Such camera hosting devices include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, personal data assistants (PDAs), and computers. The demand for digital camera modules continues to grow as the ability to incorporate the camera modules into host devices expands. Therefore, one design goal of digital camera modules is to make them as small as possible so that they will fit into an electronic device without substantially increasing the overall size of the device. Furthermore, it is also desirable to manufacture such digital camera modules as efficiently and robustly as possible. Means for achieving these design goals must, of course, preserve the quality of the image captured by the camera modules.
FIG. 1 illustrates the basic components of a prior art digital camera module 100. Digital camera module 100 includes a lens unit 102 with a lens 103 contained therein, a housing 104, a substrate 106, and an image capture device 108. Substrate 106 is typically a printed circuit board (PCB) including electrical circuitry and contacts (not shown) of camera module 100. Image capture device 108 is mounted on and electrically coupled to PCB 106, and housing 104 is mounted on substrate 106 over image capture device 108. Lens unit 102 adjustably mounts to housing 104, by engaging a thread set 110 on lens unit 102 with a complementary thread set 112 in housing 104, so that an image can be focused onto image capture device 108 by lens unit 102.
Focal adjustment of lens unit 102 is facilitated by thread sets 110 and 112. During a factory focus operation, for example, focusing equipment rotates lens unit 102 with respect to housing 104, which adjusts the distance between lens 103 and image capture devices 108. When the lens unit 102 is properly focused, lens unit 102 is fixed in position with respect to housing 104 with an adhesive, a thermal weld, or the like.
Although camera modules that are focused via thread sets provide for relatively accurate focal adjustments, they suffer from several disadvantages. For example, threads are relatively difficult and expensive to manufacture on small optical components. In addition, small fine threads make screwing the lens unit into the housing a delicate operation. Furthermore, sliding friction between threads 110 of lens unit 102 and threads 112 of housing 104 creates particulate debris, which contaminate image capture device 108 or other imaging components of camera module 100 (e.g., infra-red filters, protective covers, other lenses, etc.). Such particulate debris noticeably degrades the quality of the captured images. Because digital camera modules are not easily disassembled and cleaned, particulate matter inside the module is particularly undesirable. It should also be noted that although threaded components are used here as an example, other types of focusing components located inside housing 104 can similarly produce particulate debris that reduces the quality of the captured images.
In efforts to minimize the costly process of manufacturing threaded camera modules, alternate focus features have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,839 issued to Dou et al. discloses a camera module including a plurality of ramps formed directly on a stationary lens located inside the camera module. A rotatable lens carrier (having a separate lens) includes a plurality of legs that engage the ramped surfaces of the stationary lens. Rotating the lens carrier causes the legs of the lens carrier to move up or down the ramped surfaces of the lens, thereby moving the second lens closer to or further from the stationary lens, depending on the direction of rotation. Although U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,839 may help reduce manufacturing cost, the focusing means are still located inside the camera module. Because the legs of the lens carrier slide over the ramped surfaces of the stationary lens, particulate debris can still be produced and collect on the imaging components of the camera module.
What is needed, therefore, is a camera module that can be manufactured inexpensively. What is also needed is a camera module that is easy to assemble. What is also needed is a camera module that minimizes contamination of the optical components during assembly and focusing.

External adjustment mechanism for a camera lens and electronic imager


A plurality of types of arrangement pattern candidates are generated. Each arrangement pattern candidate is an arrangement pattern candidate of a plurality of indices in a physical space used to calculate the position and orientation of the viewpoint. The arrangement pattern candidate enables observation of a predetermined number or more of indices from a position in an area where mixed reality can be experienced in the physical space. Information representing the arrangement pattern of a plurality of indices in the physical space is generated by using the generated types of arrangement pattern candidates.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for presenting Mixed Reality (MR).
Description of the Related Art
Recently, studies of MR aiming at seamless combination of a physical space and virtual space have been made actively. An image display device which presents mixed reality is, for example, a device which displays an image obtained by superimposing and rendering, on an image of a physical space that is sensed by an image sensing device such as a video camera, an image in a virtual space (for example, a virtual object or character information rendered by computer graphics) that is generated in accordance with the position and orientation of the image sensing device. As such a device, for example, a Head Mounted Display (HMD) is usable, e.g., see Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-320872, Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-189458, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-172596. The image display device is also implemented by an optical see-through method of displaying, on an optical see-through display mounted on the head of a user, an image in a virtual space that is generated in accordance with the position and orientation of the viewpoint of the user. There is disclosed a method using markers for calculating the position and orientation of an image sensing device from an image in a physical space that is acquired from the image sensing device (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-320872, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-172596).
When building a system which obtains the position and orientation of the viewpoint by using an image in the physical space including markers and enables a user to experience MR by using the obtained position and orientation of the viewpoint, a user having little knowledge of MR does not know an arrangement pattern of markers that stabilizes calculation of the position and orientation of the viewpoint.

Information processing apparatus and information processing method


An image processing apparatus includes a watermark adding section for adding a watermark for copy control to an image, where the watermark includes a dot pattern which becomes visible when copy, and a pattern adding section for adding a predetermined pattern to an appropriate position of an image, wherein the watermark adding section includes a watermark generating section for generating a watermark for copy control, where the watermark includes a dot pattern which becomes invisible when copy, a determining section for determining whether or not the pattern adding section adds the predetermined pattern to the image, when the generated watermark is added to the image, and a region setting section for setting a region where the predetermined pattern is to be appeared at a different portion where the dot pattern is added, when the determining section determines that the predetermined pattern is to be added to the image.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates to an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, an image processing method, and a recording medium in which a watermark for copy control and a predetermined pattern that is used for restricting a copy of an image are allowed to be added to image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art, for the purpose of easily checking document originality whether a document is not forged by copying, a watermarking for copy control technique is known (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-88763). In the watermarking for copy control technique, for example, printing is performed in a state that a dot pattern (a watermark for copy control) designed such that a text or a pattern embedded in advance in a document becomes visible when the document is copied is added to the image data serving as a printing target. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration that a watermark is added when image data is printed. Further, a function of copy with the watermarking for copy control is also known in which image data obtained by reading a document through an image reading apparatus is printed in a state that the watermark is added.
Further, as a technique different from the watermarking for copy control technique, for example, a technique is known that a copy of a document is inhibited by using a copy inhibition pattern (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-135091). In this technique, for example, at the time of printing, image data is printed in a state that a specific pattern defined in advance as the copy inhibition pattern is added. Then, at the time of copying a document generated in this way, the presence or absence of the specific pattern is detected in the read-out image data. Then, when the specific pattern is detected, copy processing is stopped.
Such a technique employing the copy inhibition pattern is effective in a multi-function peripheral provided with the function of detecting the copy inhibition pattern and then inhibiting the copy of the document. Nevertheless, a problem arises that the copy of the document is not inhibited in a multi-function peripheral not provided with such a function.
On the other hand, in the watermarking for copy control technique, the image reading apparatus need not be provided with a special detection function. Thus, the watermarking for copy control technique is effective in an arbitrary multi-function peripheral. Nevertheless, in the watermarking for copy control technique, forced inhibition of the copy of a document achieved in the technique employing the copy inhibition pattern is difficult to be achieved. That is, its effect is merely a warning.
As such, the watermarking for copy control technique and the technique employing the copy inhibition pattern have different features and disadvantages from each other, and are complementary to each other. Thus, an approach for complementing their disadvantages is that the watermarking for copy control technique and the technique employing the copy inhibition pattern are employed simultaneously.
Nevertheless, the watermark is composed of a dot pattern. Thus, when the copy inhibition pattern is composed of a dot pattern similarly to the watermark, the two patterns interfere with each other. This causes a problem that the accuracy is seriously degraded in detecting the copy inhibition pattern from image data read from a document at the time of copy of the document. In particular, in a case that the watermark and the copy inhibition pattern are processed individually by separate modules and that change of the relative positions of the two patterns is not allowed, this problem becomes more serious.
For the purpose of resolving such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-244699 discloses a method that the watermark is deleted partly. Nevertheless, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-244699, the contrast increases between the part where the watermark is still present and the part where the watermark has been deleted. This causes a problem that the foreground image (the original image before the watermark is added) becomes difficult to be seen. Here, the watermark is embedded in the background of a document so as to be used for inhibiting copying. Thus, the degradation in the visibility of the image in the foreground caused by the watermark is a large problem.
Further, the watermark has a type that an illegal copy warning text contained in the watermark becomes visible when copied and a type that the illegal copy warning text becomes invisible. In the illegal copy warning text of visible type, the background region of the watermark is composed of small dots. In the illegal copy warning text of invisible type, the background region of the watermark is composed of large dots. The large dots easily interfere with the copy inhibition pattern. Further, in the illegal copy warning text of invisible type, the region of large dots becomes large. Thus, special consideration is necessary when the watermark including the illegal copy warning text of invisible type is used.

Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium


An adjustable lumbar support mechanism includes a flexible support member, a cushioning yoke, and a cable assembly. The flexible support member has oppositely disposed first and second longitudinal ends. The cushioning yoke has a first end attached to the flexible support member proximate to the first longitudinal end of the flexible support member. The cushioning yoke extends to its second end which is disposed between the first end of the cushioning yoke and the second end of the flexible support member. The yoke has a plurality of undulations disposed between the yokes first end and second end. The cable assembly has a sleeve and a cable slidably disposed therein. The sleeve has a first end attached to one of the second end of the cushioning yoke and the second end of the flexible support member. A first end of the cable is attached to the other of the second end of the cushioning yoke and the second end of the flexible support member.

Lumbar supports employing cables as a means of adjusting the lumbar support commonly attach the cable directly to the flexible support member. This places a high level of stress on the flexible support member at the location of the cable attachment, particularly when the lumbar support is subjected to an impact load.
It is desired to provide a lumbar support employing a cable operated adjustment mechanism in which the connection of the cable to the flexible support induces a relatively low magnitude of stress in the flexible support member.


A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device includes the steps of: preparing a semiconductor substrate including a silicon carbide substrate and first to third semiconductor layers; forming a trench in a cell region of the semiconductor substrate; forming a fourth semiconductor layer in the trench; forming an oxide film in the trench such that a part of the fourth semiconductor layer on a sidewall of the trench is thermally oxidized; forming a gate electrode on the oxide film in the trench; forming a first electrode electrically connecting to the third semiconductor layer; and forming a first electrode electrically connecting to the silicon carbide substrate.

SiC is excellent as a semiconductor material in physical properties and electric properties in comparison with silicon of the main current at present. Concretely, a forbidden band width is three times and an insulation breakdown electric field is 7 times and the coefficient of thermal conductivity is three times larger than those of silicon, respectively. Therefore, SiC is expected as a semiconductor material for realizing a high power and super low loss element of the next generation.
For example, there is a structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,185 as a vertical type power MOSFET of a trench type using this SiC. FIG. 44 shows the sectional construction of this power MOSFET.
As shown in FIG. 44, in the power MOSFET, an N− type drift layer 102 is formed on the surface of an N+ type SiC substrate 101. An N type area 103 and a P+ type base area 104 are sequentially formed on the N− type drift layer 102. An N+ type source area 105 is formed in a surface layer portion of the P+ type base area 104. Further, a trench 106 is formed so as to extend through the N+ type source area 105, the P+ type base area 104 and the N type area 103 and to reach the N− type drift layer 102. A gate electrode 108 is formed within this trench 106 through a gate oxide film 107. A P+ type layer 109 is formed on the bottom face of the trench 106.
In the vertical type power MOSFET as a trench type MOSFET, impurities are generally doped into the gate oxide film 107. An interface level density at the interface of the gate oxide film 107 and SiC, or a fixing electric charge density within the gate oxide film 107 can be reduced by such doping of the impurities. Thus, performance, reliability, etc. of the power MOSFET can be improved.
Here, for example, N (i.e., nitrogen) is used as the impurities doped to the gate oxide film 107 as mentioned above.
Concretely, as shown in Das et al. "High Mobility 4H-SiC Inversion Mode MOSFETs Using Thermally Grown, NO Annealed SiO2", IEEE Device Research Conference, Denver in Colorado, Jun. 19 to 21, 2000 and Chung et al., "Effect of nitric oxide annealing on the interface trap densities near the band edges in the 4H polytype of silicon carbide" Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 76, No. 13, pp. 1713-1715, March, 2000, nitrogen is taken into the gate oxide film 107 by anneal processing using NO (i.e., nitrogen oxide gas). As shown in Xu et al., "Improved Performance and Reliability of N20-Grown Oxy-nitride on 6H-SiC" IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 298-300, June, 2000, nitrogen is taken into the gate oxide film 107 by performing gate oxidation for taking N2O (i.e., nitrous oxide gas) into an atmosphere and anneal processing using N2 (i.e., nitrogen gas).
However, in the anneal processing using the NO gas, it is not preferable when an influence on a human body influenced by the NO gas is considered. Further, when the gate oxidation using the N2O gas is performed, heat treatment of a high temperature of about 1300° C. must be taken for a long time of 360 minutes to take the nitrogen atom into the gate oxide film 107. Therefore, a problem exists in that no power MOSFET can be efficiently manufactured.

Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same


According to the invention, a process for authorizing an online purchase between a customer and a vendor site is disclosed. In one step, transaction information is received from the vendor site. A new web browser window is automatically opened for the customer. A transaction amount is presented in a new browser window. The customer is capable of assenting to the transaction amount through interaction with the new web browser window. Authorization is received from the customer of a debit for the transaction amount to cover the online purchase. The vendor site is notified of the authorization.

The present invention relates to an electronic purchase method. Particularly, the present invention is directed to making an online purchase.
The development of the Internet has created vast new markets and marketplaces. A consumer with an Internet connection may search for, and likely find, a wide variety of goods and services. While e-commerce flourishes, though, consumers are becoming more and more wary of the apparent free flow of sensitive personal, financial and other information that takes place over the Internet, especially incident to electronic purchasing. This concern is exacerbated by the limited amount of payment options available for electronic purchasing.
During the checkout process at web sites, the merchant will sometimes use a credit card processing system provided by a third party. The customer could be handed off to the third party site for finishing the checkout process or remain at the merchant site while information on the transaction is passed to the third party site. The third party secures the payment from the credit card account and passes the proceeds to the merchant. Where the customer is handed off, that customer may not return to the merchant site after checkout. If information is gathered by the merchant site and passed to the third party site, that information is available and possibly stored by the merchant site.


A method and apparatus for scanning exclusively locked files uses a kernel mode driver to scan the operating system's table of applications and identify a handle that owns an exclusive lock for an exclusively locked file. In one embodiment, the kernel mode driver then copies the handle and passes the handle over to a handle list of the anti-virus application requesting access to the exclusively locked file and provides the anti-virus application with the access handle reference number. Armed with the access handle reference number for the copied handle, the anti-virus application can then open the exclusively locked file and scan the exclusively locked file as it would any other file.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer system security. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method of detecting malicious code in a computing device.
2. Description of Related Art
Anti-virus applications typically protect a computing device from viruses, also referred to herein as malevolent applications, malicious code, or virus code, by examining the computing device's memory and file system for signs of virus infestation. This examination process is called scanning.
In order to fully scan a given computing devices memory and file system, all files associated with a suspect, or unknown, application, also referred to herein as simply an application, must be accessed by the anti-virus application scanner to check for any malicious code, i.e., virus code. Knowing this, the creators, also called Authors, of virus code are constantly seeking ways to prevent an anti-virus application from accessing, and scanning, virus files.
One current method used by virus Authors to prevent an anti-virus application from accessing, and scanning, virus files is the use of exclusively locked files. Exclusively locked files have been known since 2002. Most recently, Authors of spy ware, a form of malicious code, have begun using exclusively locked files to lock their executable virus files from scanning and thereby prevent detection, and removal, of these files by anti-virus applications.
Using exclusively locked files to prevent an anti-virus application from accessing, and scanning, and therefore detecting and removing, virus code is an effective method. This is because, currently, once a file has been exclusively locked, it is "owned" by the locking application, i.e., the application the file is marked for exclusive use by, and any other program, application or process, such as an anti-virus application, can not open the exclusively locked file for reading or scanning. Consequently, the anti-virus application can potentially fail to detect the virus code and fail to identify the file, and the parent application, as malevolent, i.e., the anti-virus application scan can return a "false negative" result in the presence of exclusively locked virus files.
It would be advantageous to provide an anti-virus application the capability to access, and scan, exclusively locked files so that exclusively locked virus files can be detected, and removed from a computing device.

Method and apparatus for scanning exclusively locked files


In one embodiment, a load connected to power sourcing equipment (PSE) compatible with a Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard is characterized to determine whether the load corresponds to a valid powered device (PD). A switching signal having a first frequency is generated on the isolated side and used to generate an electrical current through the isolated-side primary coil of a power transformer in the PSE. A first voltage measurement, corresponding to a first line-side voltage across the transformer's secondary coil, is generated on the isolated side, e.g., using an isolated-side auxiliary transformer coil. The load is characterized based on the first voltage measurement and the first frequency. To compensate for voltage offset, a second voltage measurement can be generated corresponding to a second frequency of the switching signal, where the load is then characterized based on the first and second voltage measurements and frequencies.

1. Field of the Invention
The current invention relates to communication networks capable of transmitting electrical power along with data, and more particularly, to systems and methods for the transmission of electrical power in Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Power-over-Ethernet system is an Ethernet network capable of transmitting both data and electrical power over twisted wire pair cables, such as category 5 cables. Ethernet communication is currently defined by the IEEE 802.3 standard, and PoE is currently defined by the IEEE 802.3af standard, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Using PoE allows for the convenient delivery of electrical power to Ethernet client devices, such as Internet telephones or cameras, which may otherwise require more cumbersome powering arrangements in order to operate. PoE allows for the delivery of electrical power using the same cables that transmit Ethernet data.

Isolated resistive signature detection for powered devices


The invention provides a method of improving the electrical conductivity of a resin article and a method of coating the article, with high productivity and. without using an inorganic conductive substance-containing primer. The technology comprises coating the substrate with a coating composition essentially consisting of a film-forming component, a nitrogen-containing compound of general formula (1), and a solvent and subjecting the coated surface to corona discharge treatment. The resultant film with improved electrical conductivity is then electrostatically coated. EQU R.sup.1 --Y (1). wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl or alkenyl group of 5-21 carbon atoms; Y represents ##STR1## R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be the same or different and each represents an alkyl group of 1-4 carbon atoms; m represents 2-3; R.sup.4 represents --H or --CH.sub.3 ; A represents ##STR2## where n represents 1-5.

The present invention relates to a method of improving the electrical conductivity of a molding article of resin, a method of coating a molding article of resin, and a coating composition.
The conventional method of coating a molding article of resin, for example, comprises coating an electrically conductive primer containing an inorganic conductive substance, e.g. conductive carbon black, graphite, or the like, on the surface of a polypropylene article to impart electrical conductivity to said surface and then carrying out electrostatic coating as described in JP-A-06165966.
However, as pointed out in JP-A-06165966, an inorganic conductive substance such as carbon black or graphite must be added in a substantial amount in order that it may be evenly and thoroughly distributed in the surface of the polypropylene article. Therefore, the technology has drawbacks in terms of the dispersion stability of the electrically conductive substance and the cost of production.
Recently disclosed is a method which comprises kneading a nitrogen-containing compound into the molding resin, molding the resultant composition, and subjecting the surface of the molding to low pressure plasma treatment (JP-A-07173308).
However, because the plasma treatment must be a batch operation for low pressure, the method is not adaptable to continuous production and is poor in commercial productivity.

Method of improving the electrical conductivity of a molding article of resin, method of coating a molding article of resin, and coating composition


A method of shifting an automated transmission in a vehicle comprises tracking vehicle parameters and determining a current gear selection. An upshift threshold can be determined for the current gear selection. Future gradient conditions are determined in a lookahead distance and are processed to determine a first percentage of future conditions that are above a selected gradient threshold. The first percentage of future conditions is compared to a selected first percentage limit to determine that the first percentage of future conditions is within the first percentage limit. The upshift threshold for the current gear selection is adjusted to change the vehicle parameter at which the vehicle transmission shifts from the current gear selection to the adjacent gear. The automated transmission is computer-controlled to shift to the adjacent gear according to the adjusted upshift threshold. A downshift threshold can also be adjusted.

A driver with manual control of a transmission can anticipate the need for gear shifts or the ability to hold a gear because of knowledge of the upcoming road gradient or traffic situation. But, automated transmissions use information of the current situation, not the future state, when making shift decisions.
To increase fuel economy, it is generally advantageous to cruise at as low of an engine speed as possible, to reduce friction torque and operate at an efficient engine operating point. This generally puts the cruise speed very close to the peak engine torque, and thus close to a normal shifting point. If a vehicle is operating close to this point on a route that has some elevation changes, this may cause very frequent shifting between top gear and a gear down. This may cause a driver annoyance, and even hurt fuel economy due to the fuel penalty of a torque interrupted shift.

Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, LLC


A system including a plurality of micro-processing units each operating under its own control program and being capable of performing at least one of a plurality of tasks for manipulating electronic data, and an electronic bulletin board for posting the one or more tasks required to manipulate the electronic data, the posted tasks being readable by the micro-processing units, where at least one of the micro-processing units (capable of performing at least one of the posted tasks) executes that task on the electronic data in response to reading the electronic bulletin board and determining that the posted task should be executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multi-tasking micro-processing systems and, more particularly, to multi-tasking systems employing networked stand alone and independently operating micro-processing units each of which perform one or more tasks for manipulating electronic data.
2. Related Art
The processing of large amounts of electronic data is becoming more and more common among business concerns. Efficient manipulation of the electronic data is critical because, even with ultra fast computers, the magnitude of electronic data to be manipulated places limits on throughput.
With reference to FIG. 1, a prior art multi-tasking computing system 1' employs a central managing unit 10' which receives or monitors incoming electronic data. The system 1' also includes a plurality of processing units 12' coupled to the central managing unit 10'. A memory 14' may also be employed to store data as needed.
The multi-tasking system 1' of FIG. 1 is sometimes called a Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) system and is used, for example, in the IBM SP2, NCR, and Cray systems. An MPP system 1' controls the processing units 12' at the basic operating system level. Thus, the central managing unit 10' controls which processing unit 12' performs which jobs in manipulating the electronic data. In this way, the throughput of the entire system is improved because each processing unit 12' performs only a part of the overall work required.
Unfortunately, the multi-tasking system 1' of the prior art has several disadvantages. For example, the central manager unit 10' imposes overhead burdens on the system in terms of time, cost and complexity while performing no value added work on the electronic data. Further, the processing units 12' of an MPP system 1' typically perform relatively small units of work as compared to the total work required.
Another disadvantage of the prior art system is that the hardware must be custom designed and usually requires special network switching technology. Consequently, scalability of the system may become problematic because the central managing unit 10' may require custom hardware and/or software configuration changes when other processing units 12' are added to the system 1'.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a multi-tasking computing system which utilizes a standard network over which a plurality of processing units communicate, which system is readily scalable.

Method and apparatus for concurrent data processing


The present invention relates to a retrofocus type of objective lens system for endoscopes which has a wide field angle, a short total length and a short outer diameter, comprises a limited number of lenses and is well corrected for various aberrations. This objective lens for endscopes comprises a first lens component L.sub.1 having a negative refractive power, a second lens component L.sub.2 having a positive refractive power, an aperture stop S positioned just in the rear of the second lens component L.sub.2 and a third lens component that is a cemented lens obtained by cementing together a positive lens and a negative lens.

The present invention relates generally to an objective lens system for endoscopes and more particularly to an objective lens system for endoscopes which has a wide field angle, is made compact because of having a short total length and a short outer diameter, and is limited in the number of lenses used.
Among objectives lenses for endoscopes known so far in the art, there is a retrofocus type of lens such as that shown in FIG. 1 (see Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. Sho. 63-281112 for example). This retrofocus type of objective lens comprises negative and positive lens components on the object and image sides, respectively, between which a stop S is located. This objective lens enables the negative lens component located in front of the stop S to deflect a principal ray P so strongly that a wide field angle can be achieved, and further allows the positive lens component in the rear of the stop S to make the principal ray P incident on the image plane parallel with the optical axis, causing the light flux to strike vertically on an image guide G.
In recent years, however, video scopes using various solid-state image sensors instead of image guides have often been used as well. When a video scope is used, however, a picture on the monitor screen lacks precision in terms of the colors reconstructed, because the built-in solid-state image sensor is sensitive to infrared light other than visual light. For this reason, it is required to use a filter for cutting off infrared light (an infrared cutoff filter). Also, when laser light lying in the near to far infrared range is used with a video scope for medical purposes, a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD is saturated with this laser light, giving rise to a smear or blooming, which otherwise makes it difficult to view the internal part to be examined. It is thus required to locate within the optical system a filter for cutting off light having a wavelength corresponding to that of the laser light used (e.g., an YAG cutoff filter).
Referring here to an optical system of such a type as set forth in Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. Hei. 1-217410 (see FIG. 2), however, the insertion of such filters between the first and second lens components and the second and third lens components renders it impossible for them to show their own properties, because the angle of inclination of off-axial marginal rays with respect to the optical axis is very large. In the case of an absorption type of filter, on the one hand, a large angle of incidence of the rays is responsible for a color variation on the screen, because there is a difference in the optical paths due to a difference in the image height. In the case of an interference type of infrared cutoff filter, on the other hand, an increase in the angle of incidence of the rays induces a sharp change in the spectral transmittance characteristic and a rapid increase in the infrared transmittance, making it impossible to cut off rays lying in the infrared range sufficiently.
Referring again to the optical system of the type as disclosed in Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. Sho. 63-281112, the space between the 3rd lens component and the image plane is narrow; that is, some difficulty is encountered in the insertion of a filter in it. Enlarging the space between the 3rd lens component and the image plane to allow for the insertion of a filter is unsuited for an endoscopic objective lens, because the outer diameter of the 3rd lens component becomes too large.
In such a conventional objective lens for endoscopes as shown in FIGS. 1 or 2, the chromatic aberration of magnification is compensated for only by the cemented lens of the rear unit; that is, the chromatic aberration of magnification caused by the negative lens of the front unit cannot be well made up for. In order to lower the ray height in the 1st lens component for the purpose of achieving a wide field angle and reducing the outer diameter of the 1st lens component, it is also required to increase the negative power of the 1st lens component. With the conventional lens system shown in FIGS. 1 or 2, however, the asymmetry of a large coma caused by increasing the power of the 1st lens component cannot be compensated for by the 2nd, . . . lens components. In addition, when the lens refractive index of the 1st lens component are increased with a view to increasing the negative power of the 1st lens component, the dispersion of that lens becomes too high to make up for a large chromatic aberration taking place through the 1st lens component by the 2nd, . . . lens components. For this reason, when it is intended to impart a wide field angle to the conventional retrofocus type of objective lens for endoscopes, it is subject to a problem that the outer diameter of the first lens component becomes large.


Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. A wireless power transmitter includes a transmit antenna and a controller. The transmit antenna inductively transfers power to a plurality of receiver devices. The controller is operably coupled to the transmit antenna and causes a first one of the plurality of receiver devices to be enabled to receive the power from the transmit antenna and causes at least a portion of the remaining receiver devices to be disabled from receiving the power while the first receiver device is enabled.

Field
The described technology generally relates to wireless charging, and more specifically to devices, systems, and methods related to allocating power to receiver devices that may be located in wireless power systems.
Background
Typically, each battery powered device such as a wireless electronic device requires its own charger and power source, which is usually an alternating current (AC) power outlet. Such a wired configuration becomes unwieldy when many devices need charging.
Approaches are being developed that use over-the-air or wireless power transmission between a transmitter and a receiver coupled to the electronic device to be charged. Such approaches generally fall into two categories. One is based on the coupling of plane wave radiation (also called far-field radiation) between a transmit antenna and a receive antenna on the device to be charged. The receive antenna collects the radiated power and rectifies it for charging the battery. Antennas are generally of resonant length in order to improve the coupling efficiency. This approach suffers from the fact that the power coupling falls off quickly with distance between the antennas, so charging over reasonable distances (e.g., less than 1 to 2 meters) becomes difficult. Additionally, since the transmitting system radiates plane waves, unintentional radiation can interfere with other systems if not properly controlled through filtering.
Other approaches to wireless energy transmission techniques are based on inductive coupling between a transmit antenna embedded, for example, in a "charging" mat or surface and a receive antenna (plus a rectifying circuit) embedded in the electronic device to be charged. This approach has the disadvantage that the spacing between transmit and receive antennas must be very close (e.g., within thousandths of meters). Though this approach does have the capability to simultaneously charge multiple devices in the same area, this area is typically very small and requires the user to accurately locate the devices to a specific area.
For many wireless charging systems, the power transmitted from the source is fixed to a single level, thus the power level generally cannot be adjusted to accommodate devices with different maximum peak power levels. This limits the type of devices that can be charged. Another problem is that fixed radiated power levels cannot be adjusted as a function of the device's current battery level. This wastes power since as the battery charges it needs less and less power to complete the charge. Radiated power from the transmitter that is not absorbed by the device can increase Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) levels. A fixed transmitter power dictates that SAR requirements must be met for the worst case which occurs when the device being charged has poor coupling to the transmitter. Hence, a device with good coupling is limited to the power levels dictated by devices with poor coupling, which can lead to increased charge time for that device. When charging multiple devices, a fixed transmit power implies the same power level must be applied to all devices, no matter what charge level is optimum for each device. As mentioned earlier, this can result in wasted radiated power.
With wireless power transmission there is a need for apparatuses and methods for transmitting and relaying wireless power at varying power levels and multiplexed times to increase power transmission efficiency.

Adaptive power control for wireless charging of devices


To solve the problems caused by accumulation of heat generated from an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit device of the invention includes a substrate over one surface of which an integrated circuit is formed. The other surface of the substrate (a surface over which the integrated circuit is not formed) includes a depressed portion and has a larger surface area than the one surface. The depressed portion formed on the other surface of the substrate is filled with a heat sink material, or a film containing a heat sink material is formed at least over the surface of the depressed portion. Such integrated circuit devices may be provided in a multilayer structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the development of an integrated circuit device transmitting and receiving data in a non-contact manner (also called an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag, an ID tag, an IC tag, an IC chip, an RF (Radio Frequency) tag, a wireless tag, an electronic tag, or a wireless chip) has been actively advanced. The integrated circuit device has been developed for the purpose of various applications as well as transmission and reception of data in a non-contact manner. In such an integrated circuit device, reduction in film thickness, miniaturization, and the like are required.
The thickness of a substrate is reduced by, for example, grinding or polishing the substrate, etching the substrate utilizing chemical reaction, or the like (for example, see Patent Document 1). Further, in order to integrate semiconductor elements, integrated circuit devices manufactured in this manner are provided in a multilayer structure (provided to be stacked).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-87844

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd


The method, computer program product and computer system may include computing device which may determine a destination route. The computing device may receive current travel data associated with a primary user on the destination route and determine past travel data associated with a primary user on the destination route. The computing device may calculate, in response to determining that past travel data associated with a primary user on the destination route exists, a reliability degree of the current travel data associated with a primary user on the destination route based on the past travel data associated with a primary user on the destination route. The computing device may transmit a signal to a user device, the signal providing an instruction to display features according to an abstraction level of points of interest on the destination route based on the reliability degree.

The present invention relates generally to a method, system, and computer program for secure data navigation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method, system, and computer program for preventing the theft of map data.
Navigation systems have become a near ubiquitous technology used on a variety of devices such as smartphones, cars, and as stand-alone devices. Many navigation systems rely on or utilize the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS devices allow users to orient themselves and to plan out travel routes. GPS is a satellite-based radio navigation system that provides geolocation and time information to a GPS receiver anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to GPS satellites. GPS does not require a user to transmit any data, and it operates independently of any telephonic or internet reception, though these technologies can enhance the usefulness of the GPS positioning information. The GPS provides critical positioning capabilities to military, civil, and commercial users around the world. In addition to GPS, there are other navigation systems with similar capabilities such as the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, the European Union's Galileo positioning system, India's NAVIC, and Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a light-sensitive compound, a polymer formed by using the compound, and a production method of the compound and polymer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a unit compound that exhibits light-sensitivity with respect to three different wavelengths, a polymer having light-sensitive, which is polymerized by using the unit compound as a monomer, and a production method of the compound and polymer. The light-sensitive compound and the polymer according to the present invention may be usefully applied to an optical film.

Recently, display devices have been rapidly developed and among them, liquid crystal display devices may be representative display devices currently used.
A liquid crystal display device (LCD) is a display device that expresses pixels by using the principle of selectively penetrating light depending on the changes in polarization according to the arrangement of liquid crystal disposed between polarizing plates. However, when the display device is composed of only the liquid crystal and polarizing plates, there are problems in that brightness or contrast significantly deteriorates, light leakage occurs, and the like when a screen is observed not at the front surface thereof that is vertical to the screen but at different angles that deviate from the vertical.
In order to solve these problems, an optical compensation film such as a retardation film or a viewing angle compensation film is included in the polarizing plate along with a polarizer, or the retardation film, the viewing angle compensation film and the like are separately adhered to a display panel and then used. When an optical film such as a retardation film, a viewing angle compensation film and the like is inserted between a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display element as described above, the color change of a liquid crystal display device (LCD) may be reduced and the viewing angle may be widened, thereby improving luminance.
The optical film in order to be used for the above-described use is mainly divided into a stretched film prepared by stretching a polymer film to give optical anisotropy and a liquid crystal film prepared by coating a polymeric liquid crystal compound on a plastic film substrate, drying the polymeric liquid crystal compound, and irradiating UV light thereon to cure the polymeric liquid crystal compound. The stretched film and liquid crystal film used as optical films have optical anisotropy, and particularly, the liquid crystal film may have various types of optical properties, which are difficult to be implemented by the stretched film.
That is, liquid crystal may be divided into a disc-type liquid crystal and a rod-type liquid crystal, depending on the shape of the liquid crystal molecules, and among them, the rod-type liquid crystal has various alignment forms such as planar, homeotropic, tilted, splay, cholesteric shapes and the like, and thus optical properties resulting from the various forms are also diverse and unique. Accordingly, various alignment characteristics of liquid crystal may be applied as they are by directly coating a polymeric liquid crystal compound on, for example, an acetyl cellulose substrate used as an optical film to use the acetyl cellulose substrate coated with the polymeric liquid crystal compound as an optical film, thereby obtaining an effect that is not implemented with only a protective film and a stretched film of a polarizer in polarizing plate, and serving as a role of an optical compensation film.
The above-described liquid crystal film (optical anisotropic film) is generally prepared by a method of coating an alignment film composition for forming a liquid crystal alignment film on a plastic substrate, drying and curing the composition to form an alignment film, rubbing the alignment film to give an alignment property, and then coating a polymeric liquid crystal compound thereon, drying and curing the polymeric liquid crystal compound to fix the compound. However, in the case of a method of forming an alignment film by the rubbing type as described above, there are difficulties in the preparation process due to drawbacks in the process. That is, in the alignment technology by the rubbing type in the related art, which is a kind of contact type, there are impurities and surface defects, and a washing process for removing impurities and surface defects is needed, thereby causing a problem in that the process is complicated and costs a lot.
In order to solve the problem, a technology in which an alignment property is intended to be given to an alignment film by using light has been developed as an attempt of a non-contact type. That is, in order to complement drawbacks of the rubbing process, a light alignment film that gives alignment characteristics to the alignment film in the non-contact type by using light have been currently developed to achieve process simplification, cost reduction and the like. For this purpose, there is need for a light controlling functional material that may control the changes in optical, chemical and physical characteristics caused by generating a structural change corresponding to light energy with various specific wavelengths.

Light-sensitive compound, polymer polymerized with light-sensitive compound and preparation method thereof

INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY


A sports practicing aid and its method of use which includes graphic indicia in the form of a diagrammatic depiction of a typical golfing hole to be used at a driving range or other practice area which is employed by its user for recording thereon the user's shot pattern established during the course of making various actual practice shots. The aid further includes directions for its use and a system for shot statistical tabulation configured to allow the user to summarize the user's performance in terms of shot quality, in such a manner as to allow the golfer to identify and correct errors in his golf game (swing, grip, etc.). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, practice materials are provided in consisting of a multitude of golf hole diagrams and attendant statistical tabulations. Basic golfing tips may also be included. While the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates the present system in the form of a booklet, an alternative embodiment of the present invention contemplates the utilization of a computer or personal data assistant (PDA) having a screen, which computer of PDA is programmed with a diagrammatical layout of a practice area, upon which the user may record the user's shot pattern during practice sessions. The alternative embodiment of the present invention further contemplates a menu function wherein the user may consult an instructional database regarding golfing technique, historical data on past performance, transmittal functions, and programming functions including statistical manipulation of the shot data entered therein by the user for feedback, comparision, and historical use.

The game of golf is a very popular and demanding sport. Since it is a sport that can be played individually, and can be especially practiced individually, it is popular among participants of all ages in many places throughout the world. The sport attracts many people because at first blush, it appears to be a relatively easy sport. However, upon closer inspection and actual participation, it does not take long to realize that it is a difficult sport to master, and needless to say, practice is essential in order to become even an accomplished golfer.
Without practice, the sport can become extremely frustrating and aggravating. For that reason, considerable books and practice aids have been introduced in the sport to aid golfers in perfecting their game. However, no product is known to exist that allows the golfer to record a series of practice shots with any given club and in any given practice area in order to identify any errors in the golfer's game.
Practice or study aids that require the participant to think about and evaluate some or the more important parameters that must be coordinated on each type of shot have been found to be especially useful, particularly for the less experienced golfer, because it is difficult when first learning the game, or only sparingly playing the game, to remember all of the more basic parameters that must be coordinated for any given shot. For example, a player's stance, grip, ball position, and alignment, among other things, must be coordinated for each different type of shot.
Among the advantages and features of the present invention is that it allows a golfer to record his shot pattern for a particular series of shots whereby with any club and at any practice area he can concentrate on one phase of the game at a time, that is, making a particular shot, and concurrently record the results which he can then subsequently evaluate and analysis. That is, he need not attempt to perform all of these functions at once.
Among other advantages and features of the present invention is that it provides a means for rapid evaluation of the problems with the golfer's swing, stance, grip, etc. Moreover, the present aid allows Coaches or professional instructors to home in on a problem immediately. This allows an instructor/coach to be more effective in improving the students game more rapidly. Additionally, the present invention is adaptable to any practice area regarding distances, dimensions, conditions, and hazards as well as being adaptable to any golfing club.
The present golfing aid also allows an instructor or coach to examine the practice periods of students and their progress between practice sessions by having a written record that is a more accurate reflection of a particular student's game because it has occurred over a number of practice sessions. It can also be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the present aid is adaptable to every club and that the pad can be altered to fit a particular layout or hole design.

Statistical analysis and feedback system for sports employing a projectile


An apparatus includes a storage medium and a controller. The storage medium generally stores user data in logical pages. The controller may be configured to encrypt and decrypt user data during write and read operations, respectively. The user data is generally in a plurality of data bands. Each data band is encrypted and decrypted using a unique media encryption key. When a boundary between a pair of data bands is within a logical page, the controller may be configured to create two logical page instances, a first logical page instance storing data from a first data band of the pair of data bands and a second logical page instance storing data from a second data band of the pair of data bands. The first and second logical page instances are encrypted and decrypted using the unique media encryption key of the first and second data bands, respectively.

Solid state drives/disks (SSDs) typically read/write a storage media using several kilobytes chunks (e.g., 4 KB or 8 KB), or logical pages (L-Pages), in order to optimize flash media access. The typical sector size associated with magnetic drives (i.e., 512 bytes) is too small. For Self Encrypting SSDs the L-Pages are encrypted as a whole using a single Media Encryption Key (MEK). The MEK is normally determined as a function of logical block address (LBA). An entire LBA space is subdivided into one or more LBA ranges (referred to as "data bands" or simply "bands"). A unique MEK is used for encrypting data in each data band. Since the data in each data band is encrypted with a unique MEK, having a data band boundary that is not aligned on an L-Page boundary will necessitate that parts of the single L-Page be encrypted with different MEKs, contrary to the generally accepted scheme where the entire L-Page is encrypted as a single unit.
It would be desirable to have a method and/or apparatus to manage aligned and unaligned data bands in a self encrypting solid state drive that overcomes the problem described above.

Method of managing aligned and unaligned data bands in a self encrypting solid state drive


A fuel cell generates electric power when the solid oxide type fuel cell element is arranged in a flame or in a position close to the flame, and the durability of the fuel cell is high. A fuel cell 10 for generating electricity when the solid oxide type fuel cell, in which a cathode layer is formed on one face of a solid electrolyte layer and an anode layer is formed on the other face of the solid electrolyte layer, is arranged in a flame or in a position close to the flame, wherein the solid electrolyte layer is made of porous material, the porosity of which is not less than 10%, so that cracks are not caused in the solid electrolyte layer by a sudden temperature change in the solid oxide type fuel cell when the solid oxide type fuel cell is arranged in the flame or in a position close to the flame or when the solid oxide type fuel cell is separated from the flame or the position close to the flame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fuel cell structure used when a solid oxide type fuel cell element is arranged in a flame or in a portion close to the flame.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is proposed a fuel cell in which a solid oxide type fuel cell element is arranged in a flame or in a portion close to the flame and the temperature of the solid oxide type fuel cell element is maintained at its operation temperature by the heat of the flame so as to generate electricity. For example, this solid oxide type fuel cell is disclosed in the official gazette of JP-A-6-196176 (item [0019], FIG. 5).
The official gazette of JP-A-6-196176 discloses a solid oxide type fuel cell including: a tube body made of zirconia solid electrolyte; a fuel electrode arranged outside the tube body; and an air electrode arranged inside the tube body, wherein the solid oxide type fuel cell is arranged so that the fuel electrode is exposed to a reducing flame portion of the flame. This fuel cell generates electricity in such a manner that radicals and others existing in the reducing flame are utilized as fuel and air is supplied into the tube by means of convection or diffusion.
In this type fuel cell, the flame is directly used. Therefore, the electro-motive time can be reduced. Further, the structure of the fuel cell is so simple that the size and weight can be reduced, by which the manufacturing cost can be advantageously lowered. Furthermore, it is possible to utilize a combustion device, an incinerator and the like as an electric power supply device. Therefore, the utility value of this type fuel cell is high.
However, since the solid oxide type fuel cell element is directly heated by a flame, cracks tend to be caused by a sudden temperature change. The solid oxide type fuel cell element, in which cracks are caused, breaks up afterward. Therefore, it becomes impossible to generate electricity.


Embodiments herein include an optical system that passively aligns an optical component (e.g., a fiber array connector, lens array, lens body, etc.) with a semiconductor substrate using trenches that mate with optical fiber stubs. In one embodiment, the trenches are etched into the semiconductor substrate which provides support to optical devices (e.g., lasers, lens arrays, photodetectors, etc.) that transmit optical signals to, or receive optical signals from, the optical component. An underside of the optical component is etched to include at least two grooves (e.g., V-grooves) for receiving optical fiber stubs. In one embodiment, the optical fiber stubs are a portion of optical fiber that includes the core and cladding but not the insulative jacket. Once the fiber stubs are attached to the grooves, the fiber stubs are disposed into the trenches in the semiconductor substrate thereby passively aligning the optical component to the optical device on the substrate.

Alignment of optical components to waveguides such as optical fibers with high coupling efficiency continues to be a challenge in the photonics industry. To align the optical components actively, dedicated equipment is required which uses a sub-micron resolution multi-stage axis system with integrated cameras to align the components. Not only is this equipment expensive, active alignment slows down the fabrication process and limits throughput.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments without specific recitation.

Passive alignment of optical components using optical fiber stubs


In one embodiment, an RF impedance matching network for a plasma chamber is disclosed. The matching network includes at least one electronically variable capacitor (EVC), each EVC comprising discrete capacitors each having a corresponding switching circuit. Each switching circuit is configured to switch in and out its corresponding discrete capacitor to alter a total capacitance of the EVC. Each switching circuit include a first diode operably coupled to the discrete capacitor, a capacitor coupled in series with the first diode, and a second diode operably coupled to the discrete capacitor. The second diode parallel to the first diode and the capacitor coupled in series.

Variable capacitors are used in many applications, such as matching networks and variable filters. They allow for the precise tuning of frequency and/or impedance in applications needing a dynamic system response, such as in plasma processes. The ability to dynamically change impedance and frequency response provides more flexibility for the applications variable capacitors are used in, and can compensate for variations from unit-to-unit. Some examples of variable capacitors are vacuum variable capacitors (VVCs) and electronically variable capacitors (EVCs).
In electronic circuits, matching networks are used to match the source impedance to the load impedance and vice versa. That is, the source, being of some impedance with a resistive part and a reactive part, will be terminated into the complex conjugate impedance, and the load impedance will be driven by the complex conjugate of its impedance. The complex conjugate is used to eliminate the reactive part of the impedance, leaving only the resistive part, and the resistive part is made equal. This is done so that maximum power transfer can be achieved at the load.
In plasma applications, the load impedance can vary depending on several factors, such as time, power level, pressure, gas flow, chemistry of the gasses, and whether the plasma has been struck. Accordingly, the matching network must be able to automatically vary itself to ensure that the maximum power transfer is achieved. This helps with repeatability in both the depositing and etching.
EVCs use switches to add or remove the discrete capacitors, such as an MLCC (multi-layer ceramic capacitor), that form the EVC. The capacitor-switch circuit is placed in parallel with other capacitor-switch circuits. The parallel circuits allow the discrete capacitors to be simply added or subtracted in the circuit, depending on how many switches are opened or closed. In the case where all the switches are open, the EVC will be at its lowest capacitance value. In the case where they are all closed, the EVC will be at its highest capacitance value.
While EVCs are increasingly used in matching networks, there is need for faster and more reliable switching of the discrete capacitors of the EVCs.


The present disclosure is directed to a golf ball and a method for manufacturing a golf ball including a bladder core. In at least one embodiment, the bladder core includes an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer layer combined with multiple layers of thermoplastic polyurethane or other material to prevent leakage. In addition, it is contemplated that the bladder core may include a one-way valve for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the bladder core to produce different performance characteristics.

The present disclosure relates generally to a multi-layer golf ball having a bladder core.
Golf is a sport that enjoys wide popularity around the world and is played by golfers of all ages, from young to old. To aid and improve their performance, golfers continually search for and adopt the best and newest equipment, including golf clubs, golf balls, apparel and training devices. To that end, there are many equipment choices available, including a number of different golf balls brands and types, each designed to exhibit certain characteristics in play.
Golf balls constructions have generally included a core made from a resilient material and a cover made from a more durable material, such as synthetic resin. The core is typically made from rubber or a similar material and typically has a wound or solid construction. Intermediate layers made from a variety of materials may be provided between the core and cover to vary the perceived feel when the ball is hit, or to exhibit certain performance characteristics in play. Typically, golfers use balls with constructions that achieve their desired feel and performance.
The present disclosure is directed to a golf ball and a method for manufacturing a golf ball including a bladder core.