A system and method of altering frames being processed by a network processing unit. The system includes a set of defined alterations, with some of the alterations being fixed alterations which are advantageously handled by hardware to accomplish the fixed alterations rapidly and without executing a stored program and other alterations which include a variable portion, with these variable alterations being accomplished through the use of stored programs allowing the variables to be used to effect variable alterations to a frame. The present system accommodates a change in the duration of life of a frame or information unit and addition or deletion of bits and also allows for a new cyclic redundancy checking to be accomplished for a revised information unit. Advantageously, the frame alteration system is on the same substrate as the processors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is an improved system and method for making a frame alteration in a network processing environment. More particularly, the present invention employs fixed hardware alterations as well as flexible software alterations in the environment of a processing system coupled to a network to alter frames at the speed of transmission (media speed).
2. Background Art
Networks are carrying more and more communications, especially with the increase in importance of the Internet and intranets. Some of this information is in the form of digital data, other is in the form of voice information which has been converted into information packets. Whether the information is data or voice, however, it is formed into packets or frames of an appropriate size, then addressed to the destination and sent over a network which includes a plurality of switches or routers to get from the source to the destination. As the amount of information flowing over networks increases, so does the need for equipment to efficiently handle such information as ever increasing speeds and with greater efficiency.
Such frames typically includes the information (voice or data) along with appropriate routing and protocol information, encapsulated into one or more headers to provide the necessary information to direct the frame to the correct receiving location (the destination address) in the proper format and allow it to be received and decoded at the receiving location. Along the way, it may be necessary for the frame may change formats and encapsulated headers may be added to or deleted from the frame through the use of frame alterations.
Various systems are known for processing frames in a network environment. Some of the known systems merely transmit the frames as received to a processor which then adapts the frames to the protocol for the receiving apparatus. Some involve using hardware to remove or change parts of the frame and others involve software or programming to make changes to the frame. While changes to a frame through the use of hardware generally can occur more quickly because they involve only a few gates and minimal delays, such hardware alterations to a frame generally lack flexibility to make a variable change. On the other hand, using a programmed set of instructions to make changes to a frame allows an alteration to be made in a variable manner but usually at a significantly slower speed, since changes using a programmed set of instructions may involve executing of many instructions with conditions and branches, which consume many cycles of the clock and occur in an amount of time which varies according to the number of instructions which are actually executed. Accordingly, software alterations typically operate slowly (not at the speed that the transmission of frames requires), a slowness that would otherwise slow down the entire system.
In a network environment, a variety of frames are passing through a router or switch, with varying origins, destinations and formats. As the speed at which such switches and routers operate increases, it is desirable that the router or switch operate at real time and yet have the capability of providing an alteration to frames which is variable (allowing for change in requirements) while operating quickly.
These systems have limitations and disadvantages that programming a switch or router to remove or alter the frame would require a large amount of programing, requiring either a very high speed processor or a delayed time to respond.
Accordingly, the prior art systems have undesirable disadvantages and limitations in their speed and flexibility—they are either slow and flexible requiring a variable amount of time or fast and inflexible—when a system is needed for making frame alterations that is both fast and flexible.

Method and system for making a frame alteration in a network processing system

International Business Machines Corporation


A probe holder includes a base and a holding part foldably provided to the base. The probe holder allows easy movement and maintenance of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including the probe holder and to prevent the probe holder from being damaged by a wall or other objects and vice versa during movement of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a probe holder and, more particularly, to a probe holder for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus refers to a non-invasive apparatus that irradiates an ultrasound signal from a surface of a patient body towards a target internal organ beneath the body surface and obtains an image of a monolayer or blood flow in soft tissue from information in the reflected ultrasound signal (ultrasound echo-signal). The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has been widely used for diagnosis of the heart, the abdomen, the urinary organs, and in obstetrics and gynecology due to various merits thereof such as small size, low price, real-time image display, and high stability through elimination of radiation exposure, as compared with other image diagnostic systems, such as X-ray diagnostic systems, computerized tomography scanners (CT scanners), magnetic resonance imagers (MRIs), nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatuses, and the like.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a cart-shaped main body for receiving main components thereof, a probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals, a control panel having various switches and keys for inputting commands for manipulation of the apparatus, and a display unit for displaying an image of an ultrasonic diagnosis result.
When using the apparatus for ultrasound diagnosis of a target, an operator moves the probe with one hand while keeping the probe in contact with a surface of the target, and manipulates the control panel with the other hand. Then, the result of the ultrasound diagnosis is provided as an image through the display unit.
The ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus may further include a probe holder. A user hangs the probe on the probe holder when the probe is not in use, and removes the probe from the probe holder when using the probe. The probe holder generally protrudes from the main body or from an outer surface of the control panel.
In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the probe holder protrudes from the apparatus to occupy a space thereon even when the probe is not received in the holder, thereby causing restrictions in movement and maintenance of the apparatus. Furthermore, the probe holder can collide with a wall or be caught by other objects during movement of the diagnostic apparatus, so that the probe holder can be damaged or can damage the wall or other things. Therefore, there is a need for an improved probe holder.


In a valve for a hydraulic power steering, comprising a first valve element and a second valve element which from a central position can be rotatably displaced relative to each other to a limited extent in the one or other direction in order to generate a steering assistance, it is provided that one of the valve elements can be rotatably displaced from a neutral position into the one or other direction relative to an associated shaft and that a coupling mechanism is provided which limits the displacement in rotation of the valve element relative to the shaft and urges the valve element into the neutral position.

Hydraulic power steerings usually employ hydraulic rotary slide valves, in which one valve element is connected with an input shaft of the valve and a second valve element is connected with an output shaft of the valve. The input shaft is connected with the steering wheel, and the output shaft is connected with a pinion which is part of a steering gear. The input shaft and the output shaft are usually coupled with each other by a torsion bar, so that they can be rotatably displaced relative to each other when the moment of resistance of the torsion bar is overcome. At the same time, the torsion bar specifies a central position of the valve, in which the valve provides no power assistance. When the input shaft and the output shaft and thus the two valve elements are rotatably displaced relative to each other, there is obtained a hydraulic flow in the one or other direction, which can be converted into a power assistance force.
At present, many efforts are made to develop the known power steerings to the effect that a power assistance force determined by a control unit can be superimposed on the power assistance force specified by the user. In this way, the steering characteristic of the power steering can be influenced in many ways, so that for instance the torque felt at the steering wheel can be influenced, the valve characteristic can be modified, the return to the central position can be influenced, a damping can be generated, an automatic actuation of the steering gear can be achieved, a mismatch of the central position can be compensated, a force resulting from the wheels, for instance due to a unilateral pressure drop in the tire or a braking operation with different friction values on the one and on the other side of the vehicle, can be counteracted, or non-uniform wheel loads can be attenuated. The steering characteristic of a rotary slide valve can be influenced in that one of the valve elements, usually the valve sleeve connected with the output shaft and hence with the pinion, is not firmly mounted at the output shaft, but can be rotatably displaced relative to the same. The displacement in rotation of the valve sleeve relative to the output shaft can be caused by an electric motor or by coils which adjust the valve sleeve by electromagnetic forces.
However, such active rotation of the valve sleeve raises two problems. The first problem consists in that the position of the valve sleeve must be controlled with a very high angular accuracy. Since the output shaft can usually rotate by four revolutions between the two steering stops, the drive means for the valve sleeve must be able to displace the same in rotation over an angular range of 3 to 4 steering wheel revolutions with an accuracy in the order of 0.02°. This requires a very expensive angle sensor, which can operate with the required accuracy. The second problem relates to the failure safety. In the case of a failure of the drive means, the angular position of the valve sleeve can no longer be predicted, so that the power steering can no longer operate properly. In the worst case, the driver looses control over the vehicle.


A camera mount for firearms is provided, comprising a base plate; an intermediate plate operatively attached to the base plate; a dampening material, operatively attached between the base plate and the intermediate plate, for dampening recoil forces transmitted to the intermediate plate; and a mounting plate removably attached to the intermediate plate, the mounting plate including a camera attachment device for allowing attachment of a camera to the mounting plate; and an adjustment mechanism, operatively connected between the intermediate plate and the mounting plate, for allowing the camera to be aligned with respect to the firearm. The camera mount further includes a firearm mounting device, operatively attached to the base plate, for mounting the camera mount to the firearm. In one embodiment, the firearm mounting device includes at least one scope mounting bracket shaped and dimensioned to allow attachment of the camera mount to a scope on the firearm. In an alternate embodiment, the firearm mounting device includes a forestock mounting bracket shaped and dimensioned to allow attachment of the camera mount to the forestock on the firearm.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for mounting cameras and video recording equipment, and more particularly to such devices which may be attached to firearms, such as rifles and shotguns.
II. Description of Prior Art
In the sport of hunting, there is often a desire to record the hunt on film, such as through the use of a conventional camera or a video recording device. While many persons bring cameras or video recorders with them on the hunt, they must switch between using the camera and taking shots with the gun. Under these circumstances, it is impossible to record the actual shooting of the animal, unless another person is present to use the camera while the hunter makes the shot. In many instances, however, the hunting environment is not suited to accommodating more than one person. For example, many hunters prefer to hunt alone, if for no other reason than a single person makes less noise than two. Also, when hunters use tree stands, there is seldom any more space for more than one person.
In an effort to provide a solution to the problems discussed above, there have been a number of devices which attempt to combine cameras with firearms. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,095 to Buckley discloses a camera mounting device which enables the attachment of a camera to the scope of a rifle. A cable and shutter trigger are provided near the rifle trigger in order to coordinate camera activation and the shooting of the rifle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,621 to Black discloses a gun mounted video camera comprising a video camera incorporated into a gun-like structure, wherein the pulling of the trigger activates the video camera. Its primary use is to enable spectators at shooting competitions to see the shooters perspective during and after making a shot. U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,262 issued to Pena discloses a camera mount for rifle scopes which includes an optical train connected to the rifle scope for interfacing with the camera. A cable is also provided so that the firing of the rifle simultaneously opens the shutter of the camera for taking the picture.
Although each of the foregoing devices has its advantages, none of those inventions incorporates: (1) an adjustable means for aligning the line of sight of the camera with the firing line of the firearm, and (2) a dampening system incorporated into the mount to protect the sensitive electronic and optical components of the camera. While it is possible for the present invention to work with single lens reflex cameras and other single frame photographic equipment, it is primarily intended for use with video recording devices, such as conventional camcorders. For this reason, there is less of a need for coordinating activation of the camera with the firing of the firearm. Therefore, the present invention benefits from being simpler than other devices, because it includes only those features which are most important in successfully capturing the moments immediately before, during and after a shot is fired.


Radio equipment (10) is configured for tap separated channel estimation in a wireless communication system. The radio equipment (10) obtains a channel estimate (16) of a radio channel over which a reference signal (12) is received, and separates the channel estimate (16) into channel estimate components (20) that correspond to respective channel taps (22). The radio equipment (10) then compensates the channel estimate components (20) for Doppler shifts respectively associated with the channel taps (22) to which the channel estimate components (20) correspond. The radio equipment (10) processes the compensated channel estimate components (32) separately. Such processing comprises filtering, interpolating, and/or extrapolating. The radio equipment (10) then de-compensates the processed channel estimate components (34) for the respective Doppler shifts, and forms a combined channel estimate (42) of the radio channel by combining the de-compensated channel estimate components (38).

A fading multipath channel can be modelled as a number of multipath radio rays taking different paths between a transmitter and a receiver, e.g. through scattering against buildings or other objects. The different rays could also come from different transmission points transmitting the same signal, e.g., in the case of a single frequency network (SFN) transmission from multiple remote radio heads (RRHs). The different rays interfere with each other, enhancing or cancelling each other, creating a fading pattern in time. The radio channel can thus be considered constant only over time periods smaller than the coherence time of the channel.
In radio communication over a fading multipath channel, a reference signal known to the receiver is typically used by the receiver to estimate the channel. To save overhead, the reference symbols of the reference signal are typically not present in every symbol in time. Instead, the receiver interpolates and/or extrapolates channel estimates in time. In order to suppress noise, the receiver may also filter (e.g., average) the channel estimates over time.
But such channel estimate interpolation, extrapolation, and/or filtering introduces channel estimation errors when performed over time intervals over which the channel is varying, i.e. over time periods larger than the coherence time of the channel. This proves particularly problematic in high mobility scenarios where the transmitter and/or receiver move at high speeds, e.g., due to the transmitter and/or receiver being on a high-speed train. Indeed, the high mobility shortens the channel coherence time and exacerbates errors attributable to channel estimate filtering, interpolation, and extrapolation.
High mobility can to some extent be accommodated for by configuring reference signal patterns with higher reference symbol time density. This does, however, come at the cost of increased reference signal overhead. Also, for very high speeds, performance is severely impacted even for reference signal patterns with very high reference symbol time density.

Channel estimation in a wireless communication system


An early alert and location intelligence geographic information system (GIS) includes a plurality of Internet of Thing (IoT) devices and a GIS system. The GIS system tracks locations and movements of the IoT devices and is activated when an IoT device signals detection of a threat or an urgent medical need. Based on locations and escalating state changes of the IoT devices, alerts are provided to the IoT devices, and the threat location, a danger zone and a buffer zone are calculated and displayed on a mobile software application. Based on device proximity to the threat location, the GIS system communicates escape directions and shelter guidance to the mobile software applications of those affected. Smart alert escalations are provided as needed to security, law enforcement and medical personnel.

Violent acts and urgent medical needs are common within workplaces, schools, government buildings, hospitals, places of worship, in urban areas and in other public event spaces. A response time of two to five minutes to such events is typically the best that can be achieved. During those first two to five minutes, there is often a rapid and exponential escalation from threat to terrible harm.
An urgent medical need can arise in the office or in the classroom next door without anyone knowing, with precious time to save lives being lost. Other people nearby that could help are not alerted and once they are aware of the medical need the location is not easily shared.
A violent attack can be very dynamic, as the threat is often moving and affecting multiple people. More harm occurs because the location of the attacker is not known, and the incidents are terrifying for those affected. It is difficult for first responders to end the incident without knowing the location of the attacker. Worse yet, though immediate medical assistance is needed for incidents that occur as the attack progresses, medical responders are unable to provide that assistance since they do not know the incident locations.
Staff, students, congregations and others in public spaces are typically trained to exit a threat area as quickly as possible. However, a safe escape route may not be readily apparent. Moreover, pursuing an escape route could inadvertently put one within sight of the attacker. On the other hand, staying in place or hiding may trap people within an area and render them defenseless. With every movement of the attacker, the options for those affected change.

Early alert and location intelligence geographic information system


A mechanism for laying a strip on a receiving surface rotating about a first axis. The mechanism includes a laying head moving along a second axis oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the surface and along a third axis oriented parallel to a radial direction passing through the point of contact between the receiving surface and a strip applicator of the laying head. The laying head is rotatable about a front axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the second and third axes and passing through the contact point. the laying includes a device for estimating the value of the of the angle α formed by a tangent to the transverse profile of the surface and the second axis. The movements of the laying head are determined by the value of the angle α in such a way as to displace the laying head in a direction parallel to the tangent following the transverse profile of the receiving surface.

The present invention relates to a process for laying a strip continuously on a profile which is generally toroidal in shape.
These days, continuous strip laying is widespread in the tyre industry and various processes have been described for depositing rubber strips or cord plies in the radial or circumferential direction.
More particularly, the field of the invention relates to laying a strip continuously in the circumferential direction on the toroidal surface of a tyre casing, where the width of the strip is very much less than the width of the receiving surface and where, moreover, the thickness of the strip is very much less than its width.
The processes suitable for performing these functions have been known for a long time and are described, by way of example, in patent nos. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,251,722, 4,240,863 and 4,775,733 or, in a more recent version of the prior art, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,415.
These apparatuses are generally composed of:                a frame allowing support and rotation of the surface to be covered,        a module supplying a strip of calibrated size; this strip may equally well come from a reel on which it has been wound beforehand or, more generally, directly from a calender or an extruder incorporated in the installation,        a head for applying the strip to the receiving surface, cooperating with the above-described module and having the function of depositing the strip tangentially on said rotating receiving surface,        an automatic control device for the relative displacements of the application head relative to the receiving surface to be covered.
The arrangement of these various modules varies from one solution to another, depending on whether the application head is moved around the laying surface or whether the laying surface is displaced relative to a stationary application head. The automatic control device in turn varies from entirely mechanical solutions to solutions making extensive use of electronics and computing to control positioning motors controlling the respective movements of the application head or of the frame supporting the tyre or alternatively rotational drive of the tyre.
However, all these solutions are characterised in that the automatic control devices make extensive use of templates, in the case of mechanical or electromechanical solutions, or of calculation algorithms founded on precise, preestablished knowledge of the shape and position of the transverse profile of the receiving surface. For each full rotation of the laying surface, the transverse pitch of the movement of the application head relative to the receiving surface is predetermined as a function of the width of the strip and the position of the application head relative to a given sector of the transverse profile of the receiving surface. These solutions are generally very suitable when the receiving surface has a known, controlled geometry, which is generally the case when a rigid shape or core is used, and also when it is necessary to deposit a quantity of rubber or cord in accordance with a particular transverse profile. The latter application is achieved by appropriately adapting the transverse pitch of the movement of the application head relative to the receiving surface so as to superpose and juxtapose the strips relative to one another in controlled and variable manner.
However, there are situations in which these devices may be considered too cumbersome to use or unsuitable.
A situation of this type arises with regard to the process of retreading tyre casings, during which it is necessary to deposit a thin layer of rubber known as bonding rubber on the outer surface of a tyre during retreading so as to reinforce the interface between the carcass and the tread. Situated at the heart of the tyre, these rubbers have the special features of being very reactive and of exhibiting very short curing times in order to minimise heat transfer when effecting vulcanisation of the carcass, in a press or autoclave, once it has been covered with its tread. This is the case in particular when rubbers known as self-curing rubbers and precured treads are used.
Under these conditions, there is no longer any question of using bonding rubbers in the form of precalendered rubber strips of the width of the receiving surface and laid as required on the latter, prior to laying of the tread, because the properties of the bonding rubber change too quickly, thus creating pressures in the organisation of the manufacturing process due to the need to limit storage and waiting times.
An elegant solution consists in depositing a bonding rubber strip coming directly from an extruder or a suitable calender in successive windings of contiguous turns, and in directly thereafter depositing the strip on the receiving surface.
In order to make use of this process entirely satisfactory, it is also advisable to remove one last obstacle consisting in the fact that tyres in the course of retreading have receiving surfaces whose transverse profiles may exhibit shapes which vary considerably from one size to another, but also within one and the same size. If it were wished to use one of the processes such as described in the prior art, it would be necessary to develop as many control formulae or algorithms for the movements of the application head as there were particular sizes and shapes of the strip receiving surface, which could entail not inconsiderable costs.
The invention such as described below has as its object the removal of the latter difficulty and proposes an apparatus allowing deposition of a strip on a rotating surface having any shape without its being necessary beforehand to determine a formula for controlling the movements of the application head.

Process for laying a strip continuously on a toroidal surface


The present application relates to a covering apparatus for covering an outdoor area comprising a screen (1) that can be operated between a retracted and an extended configuration, the screen having a leading portion (2) and a trailing portion (4), the trailing portion (4) being connected to a first support (5, 6), the apparatus further comprising a plurality of longitudinal flexible elements (11, 12) extending from the first support (5, 6) to respective second supports (9, 10), and the leading portion (2) of the screen (1) being supported by the longitudinal flexible elements (11, 12) as the screen (1) is operated from the retracted to the extended configuration, wherein the leading portion (2) of the screen (1) is moveably mounted to the longitudinal flexible elements (11, 12) such that the leading portion (2) moves with respect to the longitudinal flexible elements (11, 12) during operation between retracted and extended positions, and wherein at least one clamping system is provided on the leading portion (2) of the screen (1) for releasably clamping the leading portion (2) to at least one of the longitudinal flexible elements (11, 12).

There is a general need to provide covering over open areas to provide protection from the rain and/or shade from the sun, so that people can enjoy the open air without being inconvenienced by the weather. It is commonplace to use retractable covers, for example, to cover small seating areas outside restaurants, private gardens and patios. However, covering larger areas of these examples and others such as children's play areas or campgrounds, outdoor swimming pools, amphitheaters and stadiums, with a retractable cover requires an entirely different system to those in existence. It is particularly desirable that such a covering system can be easily and quickly erected and dismantled to suit the particular weather conditions, thus causing minimum disruption to the users. It is also desirable for a single covering system to be able to cover a large area, so that it is not necessary to use a number of smaller systems in combination (which may not only be less visually attractive but also less effective and more inconvenient to assemble).
Another situation that requires the use of large covered areas is agriculture. Some plantations, fields or vineyards are covered by nets, plastic sheeting etc. to provide protection and preferential cultivation conditions for the crops.
A number of covering systems are known in the art. Some systems are free-standing and others require attachment to a building or a vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,068 discloses a sunshade having a column that can be anchored to the ground. A number of arms spaced around the column support a sunshade membrane in the open position, and can be folded down adjacent the column to remove the shade as desired. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,806 also discloses a free-standing sunshade. However, a disadvantage with umbrella-like sunshades is that these systems need a strong and thus often bulky and unattractive base, that usually has to feature at or near the centre of the covered area. Furthermore, these shades tend to be relatively small and thus many may be required to cover a large area.
Another type of covering system utilises a rolled cover that may be extended over the desired area.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,465 is an example of such an awning system for a vehicle. It comprises an awning rolled on a tube, arms extending from the side of the vehicle to support each side of the awning, a bracket connected between a side arm and the base of the vehicle to support the side arm, and a post resting on the ground to support a side arm. The awning can be unrolled and the various support members put in place, and then retracted and dismantled as necessary.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,246 also describes a retractable awning, that may be attached to a vehicle or building. The awning is unrolled from a roller tube. One end is fixed to a structure (vehicle or building) and the far end connected to the roller tube is supported by brackets extending at an angle between the roller tube and a lower point on the structure. A number of further retractable supports are provided underneath the awning to support the awning and are attached at one end to the structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,612 discloses a particular kind of articulated arm for supporting an awning, that can be extended and folded as the awning is extended and retracted.
Such systems that use a variety of arms, brackets and posts to support a cover have a number of disadvantages. Firstly, they can be bulky and heavy so that they can only be of a limited size and cover a relatively small area. This also means that they can be difficult and time consuming to erect and remove, which is obviously undesirable as a change in weather condition needs to be accommodated quickly. The supporting arms and brackets can be unattractive, but are required in known systems to support the cover and prevent it sagging, being particularly important with large covers.
Another system is known from French publication FR 2 559 527. The disclosed mechanism is designed for rolling up, unrolling and stretching an awning canopy over a horizontal or slightly sloping plane. The mechanism combines the rolling up, unrolling, traction and tension of a multi-purpose awning canopy. The rotation of a rolling-up tube unrolls the canopy and simultaneously rolls up (but in the opposite direction) a set of cables which, guided by two lateral pulleys and two return pulleys, pull a loading bar in which one or more traction springs are incorporated. These springs deliver a constant and progressive tension to the cables and to the canopy which is thus always stretched. At the end of the tube, a set of "ring pulleys" having a variable diameter, compensate for the various thicknesses of the rolled-up tube.
It can be seen that this system does not use large and heavy arms and brackets to support the cover, instead holding it taut and horizontal using two cables and providing tension with a spring. The cables must be thin enough to wrap round the small diameter of the ring pulleys. This system is not suitable for the heavy load of a large cover, not least because it relies on holding the cover in tension by the thin cables. Tension in the cover is also limited by the extent the spring can be stretched. Furthermore, the apparatus is limited by the tensile strength of the cover. Thus this system is clearly suitable only for small and light-weight covers with adequate tensile strength and is far from ideal for supporting large covers that require strong support and means to prevent sagging.
WO 2004/011760 describes a rolling blind in which two fabrics are wound conjointly on a keyway tube which travels along guide rails or wires, winding or unwinding both fabrics at once. The system provides tension in the fabrics by means of springs. This is one reason why it is not suitable for larger applications.


An earth electrode pattern is formed on one surface of a plate consisting of a dielectric material. Earth terminal patterns are extended from the earth electrode pattern to the side faces of the plate. Two coil electrode patterns are formed on both sides of the earth electrode pattern with plates between the earth electrode pattern and two coil electrode patterns. Take-out terminal patterns and earth terminal patterns are drawn out from the coil electrode patterns toward end portions of the plate. The take-out terminal pattern and the earth terminal pattern of one coil electrode pattern are disposed at a distance having a predetermined impedance. A connecting window for magnetically connecting two coil electrode patterns is formed in the earth electrode pattern. The earth terminal patterns of the earth electrode pattern and the earth terminal patterns of the coil electrode patterns are connected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dielectric-laminate type band-pass filter for use in a portable radio or the like having an operating frequency in the range of several hundred MHz to several GHz.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional resonators are divided roughly into resonators using a strip line and resonators using a coil pattern. When producing a band-pass filter by using such resonators, plural resonators are coupled magnetically.
Examples of resonators using the strip line are a resonator of 1/2 wavelength whose line is open at both ends as shown in FIG. 18, and a resonator of 1/4 wavelength whose line is open at one end and shortcircuited at the other end as shown in FIG. 19.
An example of a resonator using the coil pattern, as shown in FIG. 20, is one in which a spiral-shaped coil pattern 201 and an earth pattern 203 are formed on both sides of a dielectric layer 202 which is clamped therebetween.
In the band-pass filter using the above-mentioned conventional resonators, however, such problems as shown hereinafter were encountered respectively.
[1] band-pass filter using the strip line
(a) A resonator having a resonance frequency of 2 to 3 GHz becomes substantially large. In particular, in the band-pass filter having a construction in which plural resonators are connected, it becomes considerably large. This is due to the following reasons.
The lengths L.sub.10, L.sub.11 of the strip line are determined as shown in Equation 1 (resonator of 1/2 wavelength) and Equation 2 (resonator of 1/4 wavelength). ##EQU1##
Where, .lambda.; wavelength, .epsilon.; dielectric constant of dielectric-laminate sheet.
At present, a dielectric constant of dielectric-laminate sheet which can be co-fired with silver or copper and has a good temperature characteristic can not be made so large, only about .epsilon..apprxeq.10. Thus, in the above Equations 1 and 2, when the resonance frequency is 3 GHz, and supposing .epsilon.=10, L.sub.10 =15.8 mm and L.sub.11 =7.9 mm, which are very long, thus resulting in a large resonator (band-pass filter) as stated above.
(b) in the band-pass filter, it is desirable to adjust the input/output impedances depending on the apparatus into which it is incorporated (to adjust and thereby match the impedances of the band-pass filter and the apparatus). However, in case of the strip-line type, since the input/output impedances have peculiar values for every strip line, it is impossible to adjust and match, even by changing the input/output connection position of the strip line.
[2] band-pass filter using the coil-pattern
Since the coil pattern has a spiral shape, magnetic fluxes influence one another between the adjoining patterns, thus interfering with electric current flow. Therefore, a substantial resistance increases and the Q of the filter becomes lower.
For example, in FIG. 20, since the electric current flows in the same direction (in a direction D in FIG. 20) in a pattern piece 201a and a pattern piece 201b, magnetic fields cancel each other to cause the magnetic flux to become coarse, and consequently electric current flow is disturbed and the substantial resistance increases.
The increase in resistance causes that an insertion loss of the band-pass filter becomes larger as a result of the reduction in Q.


A method for monitoring and controlling a plasma etch method for forming a patterned layer. There is first provided a substrate having a blanket layer formed thereover, the blanket layer having a patterned photoresist layer formed thereupon. There is then etched through a plasma etch method while employing the patterned photoresist layer as a patterned photoresist etch mask layer the blanket layer to form a patterned layer. The plasma etch method is monitored through an optical emission spectroscopy (OES) method which monitors a minimum of a first plasma etchant component which relates to a chemical etching of the blanket layer and a second plasma etchant component which relates to a physical sputter etching of the blanket layer and the patterned photoresist layer. While etching through the plasma etch method there is adjusted at least one of a first control parameter which controls the first plasma etchant component concentration and a second control parameter which controls the second plasma etchant component concentration to provide through the plasma etch method from the blanket layer a patterned layer with a pre-determined blanket layer to patterned photoresist layer plasma etch selectivity. There is also disclosed an apparatus through which the method may be practiced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods for forming patterned layers when fabricating integrated circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to plasma etch methods for forming patterned layers when fabricating integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuits are formed from semiconductor substrates within and upon whose surfaces are formed resistors, transistors, diodes and other electrical circuit elements. The electrical circuit elements are connected internally and externally to the semiconductor substrate upon which they are formed through patterned conductor layers which are separated by dielectric layers.
As integrated circuit technology has advanced and integrated circuit device dimensions have decreased, it has become increasingly important within advanced integrated circuits to form patterned layers, such as but not limited to patterned dielectric layers, patterned semiconductor layers and patterned conductor layers, with controlled cross-sectional profiles. As patterned layers become particularly narrow in linewidth and/or pitch, generally less than about 0.25 microns in linewidth and/or pitch, it becomes more difficult with conventional reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods to form such patterned layers with controlled cross-sectional profiles.
To assist in forming within advanced integrated circuits patterned layers simultaneously possessing: (1) particularly narrow linewidth and/or pitch; and (2) controlled cross-sectional profiles, there has recently been introduced into integrated circuit fabrication the use of high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods. High density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods are typically characterized by plasma densities of greater than about 1E11-1E13 active plasma species per cubic centimeter of plasma. While high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods have demonstrated utility within advanced integrated circuit fabrication by assisting in providing patterned layers of particularly narrow linewidth and/or pitch with improved cross-sectional profiles, the use of high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods is not entirely without problems. In particular, it has been observed that when high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods are employed in etching within advanced integrated circuits layers such as dielectric layers formed of silicon oxide, there is observed a comparatively low etch rate for the dielectric layers and a comparatively high etch selectivity of the high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch method for a photoresist etch mask layer employed in defining the portions of the dielectric layers to be etched. Comparatively low etch rates within high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods for layers such as dielectric layers are undesirable since they provide high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods which are particularly time consuming. Similarly, comparatively high etch selectivity ratios of high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods for photoresist etch mask layers with respect to blanket layers desired to be patterned are undesirable since they may ultimately compromise the improved cross-sectional profile of patterned layers formed employing high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch plasma etch methods.
Such a compromise of cross-sectional profile of patterned layers is illustrated by the cross-sectional schematic diagrams of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Shown in FIG. 1 is a substrate 10 having formed thereover a blanket layer 12 which is desired to be patterned into a series of patterned layers employing a series of patterned photoresist layers 14a, 14b and 14c formed upon the blanket layer 12. Shown in FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating the results of further processing of the substrate 10 whose schematic cross-sectional diagram is illustrated in FIG. 1. Shown in FIG. 2 is the results of etching through a high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma 16 the blanket layer 12 to form the patterned layers 12a, 12b and 12c. When employing the high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma 16 it is common for the patterned photoresist layers 14a, 14b and 14c to be substantially etched in forming the etched patterned photoresist layers 14a', 14b' and 14c', as illustrated in FIG. 2, thus also eroding the upper edges of the patterned layers 12a, 12b and 12c.
It is thus desirable in the art of advanced integrated circuit fabrication to employ high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods which provide superior cross-sectional profile control when forming patterned layers within advanced integrated circuits, while simultaneously providing: (1) enhanced etch rates for those patterned layers; and (2) reduced etch selectivities of photoresist etch mask layers with respect to those patterned layers, that the present invention is generally directed.
Methods through which reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch methods may be monitored and/or controlled are known in the art of integrated circuit fabrication. For example, Chen et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,745 discloses an optical emission spectroscopy (OES) endpoint detection method within which is determined an inflection point at which optical emission intensity of a reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma within a plasma reactor chamber changes when etching a series of integrated circuit layers upon a series of substrates within the plasma reactor chamber. There is then continued the reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch reaction for a time period determined by characteristics of the reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma and the series of integrated circuit layers desired to be etched by the plasma. In addition, Savage, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,217 discloses an apparatus and method for automatically identifying chemical species within a plasma reactor chamber. The method employs a comparison of the optical emission spectrum (OES) of a plasma within the reactor chamber with a library of predefined optical emission spectra (OES) of various chemical species.
Further, Koshimizu, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,590 discloses a method for monitoring and controlling the endpoint when plasma etching silicon oxide layers upon semiconductor substrates. The method employs monitoring the optical emission spectrum (OES) of an active fluorocarbon species employed in etching a silicon oxide layer. Yet further, Birang, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,412 discloses a method and apparatus employing optical emission spectroscopy (OES) for determining endpoints of integrated circuit processes, preferably integrated circuit plasma processes, within integrated circuit process chambers. Through the method there is recorded emitted light intensity as a function of time and determined whether the emitted light intensity has a positive slope, a negative slope or a zero slope. Still yet further, Gifford et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,460 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,322 disclose a method and apparatus employing optical emission spectroscopy (OES) for monitoring and controlling a plasma based integrated circuit fabrication process. The method employs a computer to identify various gaseous species in the plasma and subsequently control in a closed loop fashion the plasma through control of appropriate plasma parameters.
Yet still further, Frye et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,883 discloses an active neural network method and apparatus for controlling wafer attributes in plasma etch processes. The method and apparatus are largely similar with the preceding prior art, with the exception of the addition of an active neural network component. Finally, Hamerich et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,642 discloses a plasma deposition method for forming within integrated circuits conductor layers having high specific electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity of the conductor layers is optimized employing an optical emission spectroscopy (OES) method to monitor the energy density of a plasma employed in forming the conductor layers.
Desirable in the art are additional methods through which reactive ion etch (RIE) plasmas employed in forming within integrated circuits patterned layers from blanket layers may be monitored and controlled such that the patterned layers may be formed with desired properties, such as, but not limited to: (1) blanket layer etch rate; and (2) patterned photoresist layer to blanket layer plasma etch selectivity. Particularly desirable are optical emission spectroscopy (OES) methods through which high density plasma (HDP) reactive ion etch (RIE) plasmas employed in forming within integrated circuits patterned layers from blanket layers may be monitored and controlled such that the patterned layers may be formed with desired properties, such as, but not limited to: (1) blanket layer etch rate; and (2) patterned photoresist layer to blanket layer plasma etch selectivity. It is towards these goals that the present invention is specifically directed.

Optical emisson spectroscopy (OES) method for monitoring and controlling plasma etch process when forming patterned layers

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


The invention provides a display device which is capable of adjusting the image refresh rate to an optimal value regardless of the type of image data, and thus has low power consumption. The display device includes a liquid crystal panel for displaying images, a liquid crystal controller for refreshing images displayed in the liquid crystal panel according to an image data signal, and a CPU for inputting the image data signal to the liquid crystal controller. In the display device, the CPU has a discrimination section for discriminating whether the image data is a moving image or a still image based on an input interval of the image data from the CPU to the liquid crystal controller, and the liquid crystal controller has an image refresh demand signal generation circuit for changing the image refresh rate of the liquid crystal panel based on the result of discrimination by the CPU.

In recent years, a liquid crystal display element is used in various fields as a display element for displaying images. The liquid crystal display element is mainly used for portable electronic devices, and for this type of devices, the major demand is to further reduce power consumption.
Meanwhile, portable electronic devices, especially a mobile phone, are now more often used for transmitting data having large volume of information such as moving image data at high speed, with the development of communication technology. The image refresh frequency (refresh rate; the number of refreshes of a displayed image in unit time) tends to increase in the liquid crystal display element which is used for a mobile phone so as to process such a large volume of information. This tendency is especially remarkable in the case of displaying a moving image. On the other hand, in the case of displaying a still image, it is not necessary to refresh images at a frequency as high as that when displaying a moving image. This is because a display element (a capacitive display element), which is made up of capacitive pixels such as a liquid crystal display element, is capable of holding a displayed state (display image) for a certain period of time once the image is refreshed by externally receiving image data of a pixel unit so that it is not required to refresh images. Note that, the time period of holding the displayed state differs depending on the characteristic of the capacitive display element.
Here, as an example of a conventional display device, the following will explain a display device having a liquid crystal panel 103 as a display element, with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 7.
As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional display device includes a liquid crystal controller 102, and the liquid crystal panel 103 as a display element. The liquid crystal controller 102 includes a display memory 104, a signal synchronization circuit 105, a display timing generation circuit 106, and a data bus 107.
An image data signal S101 which is outputted from an external device such as a CPU is stored in the display memory 104 in the liquid crystal controller 102 via the data bus 107 of the liquid controller 102. The image data signal S101 which is stored in the display memory 104 is read out therefrom as an image data signal S103, and then is sent to the signal synchronization circuit 105.
Meanwhile, a clock signal CK101 is externally inputted to the display timing generation circuit 106 of the liquid crystal controller 102. The display timing generation circuit 106, according to the clock signal CK101, generates a display signal S105 for driving the liquid crystal panel 103, and a synchronization clock signal CK102 for synchronizing the image data signal S103 with the display signal S105. The display timing generation circuit 106 respectively outputs the display signal S105 to the liquid crystal panel 103, and the synchronization clock signal CK102 to the signal synchronization circuit 105. The signal synchronization circuit 105 buffers the image data signal S103 read out from the display memory 104, and outputs the image data signal S103 to the liquid crystal panel 103 as an image signal S104, according to the synchronization clock signal CK102 outputted from the display timing generation circuit 106.
In the foregoing conventional display device, the refresh rate of the liquid crystal panel 103 corresponds to the rate of reading out image data from the display memory 104 and sending the image data to the liquid crystal panel 103 as the image data signal S103, namely, it is the value indicating how many times image signals of one frame (a screen) are sent out from the display memory 104 to the liquid crystal panel 103 in unit time.
Further, in the foregoing conventional display device, the image refresh frequency (refresh intervals) of the liquid crystal panel 103 can be adjusted by varying the frequency of the clock signal CK101 so as to vary the frequency of the display signal S105 which is outputted from the display timing generation circuit 106 of the liquid crystal controller 102 to the liquid crystal panel 103, and the frequency of the image signal S104 which is outputted from the signal synchronization circuit 105 to the liquid crystal panel 103.
However, in the foregoing conventional display device, the image refresh frequency of the liquid crystal panel 103 is constant regardless of whether the image data signal S101 is carrying a moving image or a still image, thereby causing the following problems.
Referring to "normal image refresh intervals" shown in FIG. 8, the image refresh frequency of the liquid crystal panel 103 is commonly set to a relatively high frequency, for example, 60 Hz, which is equal to a frame frequency of a video signal in the NTSC mode, to be suitable for displaying a moving image. In this case, even when a still image is displayed, the image is refreshed in the refresh frequency as high as that when displaying a moving image.
On the other hand, in the liquid crystal panel 103, the displayed images are not required to be refreshed at a high frequency when displaying a still image compared to the case of displaying a moving image. This is because, as already explained, the capacitive display element such as the liquid crystal panel 103 can hold a displayed state (displayed image) for a certain period of time once the image is refreshed, and, when displaying a still image, it is not necessary to refresh the image while the displayed image is held. Therefore, in the foregoing conventional liquid crystal display device, the image refresh frequency for displaying a still image is higher than required.
Thus refreshing images at a frequency higher than required when displaying a still image causes unnecessary power consumption, since the power consumption of the liquid crystal panel 103 increases as the image refresh frequency increases. Namely, in general, when displaying images in the liquid crystal panel 103, power consumption P, which is the power consumed for displaying images in the liquid crystal panel 103, is denoted by the following equation:P=C×F×V2 where C represents a capacitance of the liquid crystal panel 103, F represents a polarity reversing frequency of scanning voltage which is applied to the liquid crystal panel 103, and V represents a voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel 103. The polarity of the scanning voltage is reversed for a specified number of times (the number depends on the mode of driving) in one frame period. Accordingly, the polarity reversing frequency of scanning voltage varies depending on the image refresh frequency for the displayed image. Consequently, the power consumption of the liquid crystal panel 103 increases as the image refresh frequency for the displayed image increases, in other words, as the number of refreshes of the displayed image increases.
As a result, when the image refresh frequency of the liquid crystal panel 103 is set to a frequency corresponding to the frame frequency of a moving image, the liquid crystal panel 103 consumes unnecessary power when displaying a still image, and the power consumption of the display device increases. This poses a problem especially for a battery-powered display device such as a display device used for a mobile phone whose power consumption is expressly required to be reduced.
Further, in order to reduce the power consumption, the number of image refreshes, i.e., the image refresh frequency may be reduced by extending a period of the clock signal CK101. However, referring to "a conventional technique for lowering power consumption" shown in FIG. 8, if the image refresh interval is matched with the frame period of a moving image, a still image is also refreshed at a frequency higher than required. Thus, it is not possible to reduce the power consumption for displaying a still image. Further, the image refresh interval may be reduced to be shorter than the frame period of a moving image; however, it may impair smoothness of the movement of the moving image.
Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-221923 (published on Aug. 11, 2000), a liquid crystal display device capable of changing the image refresh frequency (refresh rate) based on time information (time reference) which is included in externally inputted image data, is disclosed. Further, a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing the image refresh frequency (extending the refresh interval) in the case where image data does not include a textual image, is also disclosed in this publication.
However, the former invention of the foregoing publication is based on time information included in image data having a particular data structure called MPEG-4 format, and it is not applicable to image data which does not have the time information. This time information is included in compressed image data for indicating a timing to display a frame in MPEG-4 format which performs data compression by thinning out some frame. Thus, the time information is only included in image data of MPEG-4 format and not included in common image data. Accordingly, the former invention of the foregoing publication have a drawback that it is applicable only to the compressed image data of MPEG-4 format, and not applicable to other kinds of image data.
Note that, image data commonly assumed is color signals of R, G and B which are expressed by digital signals, and each pixel has values for R, G and B. For example, in the case of image data of 16 bits, R, G and B are respectively expressed by 5 bits, 6 bits and 5 bits.
Further, in the latter invention of the foregoing publication, in the case where the image data is moving image data which does not include a textual image, or still image data including a textual image, there arises the following problems. Firstly, in this invention, when the moving image data which does not include a textual image is inputted, the image refresh frequency becomes lower than the intended frame frequency (a frame frequency for the inputted moving image data), and smoothness of the movement of the moving image is impaired. Secondly, when the still image data including a textual image is inputted, the image refresh frequency becomes higher than required, thereby causing unnecessary power consumption.


In an arrangement which including a motor-driven system for the separation of non-magnetisable metals, vibrations and resonances which generally are present in such arrangement, are eliminated. This is accomplished by utilizing a drum mounted on and rotating about a stator, within which a magnetic rotor fitted with permanent magnets is eccentrically arranged and mounted on said stator. The stator is provided with a balance weight for mass balance.

The invention relates to a device with a system driven by a motor for separating non-magnetizable metals, in particular non-ferrous metals, and ferrous fractions that are present, from a solid mixture, with a drum that is supported on a stator and rotates around the stator, with a rotating magnet rotor fitted with permanent magnets eccentrically arranged in the rotating drum and supported in the stator. The invention also relates to a method for operating the device.

Device for the separation of non-magnetizable metals and ferrous components from a solid mixture and method for operating such device


In order to correct a corrugation caused when a sheet widthwise edge portion elongates more than the vicinity of the center in a sheet feeding direction, a sheet processing apparatus includes: a fixing portion that fixes a toner image onto a sheet by heating, a plurality of pairs of rollers provided along a sheet feeding direction with an interval in the downstream of the fixing portion in the feeding direction to nip and convey a sheet; and a tensioning device that applies a tensile strength of the sheet feeding direction to a sheet in a center area of a width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming system having the sheet processing apparatus, such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.
Description of the Related Art
In the related art, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system develops a latent image formed on a photosensitive drum as an image bearing member to visualize it. This visualized image (toner image) is transferred onto a sheet using an electrostatic force. Then, the toner image on the sheet is fixed by applying heat and pressure so that an image is recorded and formed on the sheet.
As a fixing device for such an image forming apparatus, a heat roller fixing method is employed, in which a heat source such as a heater is internally provided, and a fixing nip portion is formed with a fixing roller maintained at a predetermined temperature and an elastic pressure roller making pressed contact with the fixing roller, so that a toner image is fixed onto a sheet in the fixing nip portion.
In recent years, in an image forming apparatus (particularly, a full-color image forming apparatus) including such a type of the fixing device, there is known a fixing device capable of increasing a heating time and increasing a fixing speed in order to improve a chromogenic property or image quality of a toner image. For example, as discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-150679, there is known a so-called belt nip type fixing device in which an endless fixing belt stretching around a plurality of rollers makes pressed contact with a heating roller.
In addition, in recent years, there is a demand for a high process speed in order to obtain a high-speed output image forming apparatus. For this purpose, it is necessary to provide a wider nip in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction. In addition, a belt fixing method has been proposed and commercially produced, in which a wider nip width is obtained by substituting one or both of the fixing roller and the pressure roller with an endless belt.

Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system


An interactive, computer-implemented system for providing a comparison of at least two real estate properties is provided. The system includes a database that stores a plurality of data relating to real estate properties. The data includes at least one of address data, ownership data, size data, geographic location data and monetary value data. An interface system enables a system user to input a request for a comparison of at least a portion of the data for at least two of the real estate properties. The request includes information sufficient to identify the real estate properties to be compared. A processor uses the information to obtain a comparison of the data relating to the real estate properties. A delivery system provides to the system user a comparison of the data relating to the real estate properties.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to a system for providing real estate information, and more particularly, to a novel system for providing real estate information, available in a very short period of time, to any computer having access to a computer communication network.
2. General Background
The real estate industry lacks ready access to current market information required to make important decisions, such as whether to acquire, dispose of develop, lend on, or invest in, a particular property. Current market data generally is provided through five principal sources: commercial real estate brokerage firms with research capabilities; public and private data gatherers engaged in compiling secondary source statistics; regional and national market research firms that provide generalized market overviews and expensive custom studies; specialized reporting services that provide specific information, such as sales activity, permit activity and the like; and appraisers.
The information provided by these sources suffers from a variety of flaws. Often, the information is too generalized, comparing irrelevant or unnecessary market factors or property features. Further, the data is generally updated only on a periodic basis, greatly reducing accuracy of measurement of current market conditions. Also, the data delivered can be subjective, reflecting agendas or viewpoints of the data supplier.
Further, data suppliers may treat the market for data as a single, homogeneous entity, rather than focusing on user segments. User segments are divisions of the commercial real estate industry that share common needs characteristics. User segments may be defined by a variety of industry needs based on, for example, loan underwriting, appraisals, management, brokerage and acquisitions. By ignoring market segment distinctions, data suppliers may fail to provide reliable and accurate information regarding a user's specific needs relating to a property or properties.
Highly specific, reliable data is principally available only through high-cost, time-consuming custom studies. Institutional investors, developers, equity sources, lenders and securities underwriters often must rely on such expensive, custom studies to obtain reliable information.
Accordingly, a need exists for a real estate market information source that provides accurate, current real estate market information that is readily accessible.

Method and system for providing real estate information


A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device. The method includes the steps of providing at least a first substrate and a second substrate on a single production process line, passing the first and second substrates through a sealing material coating portion of the single production process line in serial order such that a sealing material is coated on the second substrate with the first substrate being passed through the sealing material coating portion without forming a sealing material thereon, passing the first and the second substrates through a liquid crystal dispensing portion of the single production process line in serial order such that liquid crystal is dispensed onto a pixel region of one of the first and second substrates with the other one of the first and second substrates being passed through the liquid crystal dispensing portion without dispensing liquid crystal thereon, and assembling the first substrate with the second substrate to form a liquid crystal panel of at least one liquid crystal display device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device by using a liquid crystal dropping method.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
With rapid development of an information-oriented society, a need for an information display device having characteristics such as good image quality, light weight, small thickness, and low power consumption has correspondingly been increased. To meet this need, there has been much research directed toward various flat panel display device technologies, such as liquid crystal display device (LCD) technology, plasma display panel (PDP) technology, electro luminescent display (ELD) technology, vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) technology. Some of these display device technologies have already been applied in various applications as the information display device.
Of above various flat panel display devices, the LCD is currently the most widely used due to its ability to meet the above need. In fact, in portable devices such as notebook PC computers, LCD technology has replaced cathode ray tube (CRT) technology. Moreover, even in desktop type displays such as PC monitors and TV monitors, LCD technology has been developed and employed.
A liquid crystal cell includes two opposing substrates and a liquid crystal material filled between the substrates. Liquid crystal is a phase of material having intermediate properties between the liquid and the solid such as fluidity of liquids but long-range order of solids. The liquid crystal material, in an intermediate state between the liquid and the solid, has an optical anisotropy due to its long-range orientational order as well as mechanical fluidity. An LCD is manufactured through a number of processes such as an array process, a color filter process, a liquid crystal cell process, and a module process.
An array process is a process repeating a deposition, a photolithography, and an etching to form a thin film transistor (TFT) array on a first substrate (TFT substrate). A color filter process is a process for forming an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film for a common electrode, after red, green, and blue color filters (CF) of dyes or pigments are formed on a second substrate (CF substrate) having a black matrix formed thereon.
A liquid crystal cell process is a process of assembling the TFT substrate and the CF substrate prepared by the array process and the color filter process, respectively. Generally, an empty liquid crystal cell is formed with a fixed and thin gap between the first substrate and the second substrate. Then, the liquid crystal is filled through an opening around the gap to form a liquid crystal panel. A module process is a process for assembling a driving circuit part for processing input and output signals, connecting the liquid crystal panel to a signal processor, and assembling some frames, thereby completing the liquid crystal module.
The step of filling liquid crystal into the liquid crystal cell in the liquid crystal cell process step can be explained as follows.
In the liquid crystal filling step, a liquid crystal material is contained in a container disposed in a chamber. The chamber is maintained in a vacuum state for removing moisture and air dissolved in the liquid crystal material or contained inside the container. While maintaining the vacuum state of the chamber, a liquid crystal filling hole in the empty liquid crystal cell is dipped in the container, and brought into contact with the liquid crystal material. Then, the chamber is vented from a higher vacuum state to a lower vacuum state, and eventually to the atmospheric pressure state. Accordingly, the liquid crystal material is filled into the empty liquid crystal cell through the liquid crystal filling hole by a pressure difference between a pressure in the liquid crystal cell and a pressure in the chamber.
However, the above described liquid crystal filling method has poor productivity because the method needs long time for the liquid crystal filling. That is, before the liquid crystal material is filled into the liquid crystal cell, the large assembled panel must be cut into unit panels, a portion of the unit panel must be dipped into the container, and the liquid crystal filling hole must be brought into contact with the liquid crystal material while the chamber is kept at a vacuum state. Moreover, a large sized LCD is likely to have some defects coming from imperfect filling of the liquid crystal material into the cell.
With regard to this, a liquid crystal dropping method has been developed in which a fixed amount of the liquid crystal is dropped onto an inner surface of the TFT substrate in a corresponding area on the TFT substrate inside a main sealing area formed around the CF substrate (or, alternatively, TFT substrate). Then, the TFT substrate and the CF substrate are assembled into a large liquid crystal panel in a vacuum chamber. The liquid crystal cell process using the liquid crystal dropping method can be explained as follows.
Referring to FIG. 1, an orientation step (1S) in which an orientation material is coated on the TFT substrate and the CF substrate, and mechanical rubbing is carried out on the both substrates for having molecules of the liquid crystal material oriented, carried out. Then, the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate are cleaned (2S).
The TFT substrate includes a plurality of gate lines running in one direction at fixed intervals, and a plurality of data lines running in a direction perpendicular to the gate lines at fixed intervals. A plurality of thin film transistors and pixel electrodes are formed in a matrix pixel region defined by the gate lines and the data lines. The CF substrate includes a black matrix layer, a color filter, and a common electrode. Hence, the black matrix layer shields a light leakage of parts except the pixel region.
Then, the cleaned CF substrate is loaded onto a stage of a seal dispenser, and a sealing material is coated on a periphery of the panel (3S). The sealing material may be a photo-sensitive resin, or thermo-curing resin. Meanwhile, no filling hole or sealing structure for filling the cell with liquid crystal is required.
At the same time, the cleaned TFT substrate is loaded onto a stage of a silver (Ag) dispenser, and a silver paste material is dotted (i.e., dispensed) into a common voltage supply line of the TFT substrate (5S). Then, the TFT substrate is transferred to an LC dispenser, and liquid crystal material is dropped (i.e., dispensed) onto an active array region of each unit panel areas (6S). The liquid crystal dropping process is carried out as follows.
After a liquid crystal material is filled into an LC syringe before the LC syringe is assembled and set in the production line, moisture and air dissolved in the liquid crystal material is removed under a vacuum state (7S). Then, the liquid crystal syringe is assembled and set (8S), and mounted on the liquid crystal dispenser (9S). When the TFT substrate is loaded onto a stage of the liquid crystal dispenser, the liquid crystal material is dropped therefrom using the liquid crystal syringe (6S) by dotting a fixed amount of the liquid crystal material onto the TFT substrate at a predetermined pitch inside a coating area of the sealing material (i.e., the pixel region).
After the TFT substrate and the CF substrate are loaded into a vacuum assembling chamber, the TFT substrate and the CF substrate are assembled such that the dropped liquid crystal is uniformly spread over unit panel areas (10S). Then, the sealing material is cured (10S). The assembled TFT substrate and color filter substrate, that is, a large panel, is cut into individual unit panels (11S). Each unit panel is ground and inspected (12S), thereby completing the LCD unit panel.
However, the above method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display having the liquid crystal dropping method applied thereto has the following problems. In the above the liquid crystal cell process, after the orientation steps and the cleaning step, the formation step of silver dots, and the dispensing step of the liquid crystal material on the TFT substrate process, and the sealing material coating step on the CF substrate are carried out using two separate and parallel production lines until the vacuum assembling and curing step (10S). That is, two production lines are used so that the TFT substrate and the CF substrate respectively pass through the orientation step (1S), the cleaning step (2S), the sealing material coating step (3S), the silver dotting step (5S), and the liquid crystal dropping step (6S) in parallel production lines. The use of two production lines results in poor spatial efficiency, higher costs caused by two sets of expensive equipment, and efficiency losses due to different processing times between the two production lines (i.e., line unbalance). Moreover, an inoperative state of one production line caused by failure of the other line reduces productivity substantially.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing liquid crystal display device using serial production processes


A power supply circuit that includes a voltage conversion circuit (CONV) for outputting an output voltage to an output voltage terminal, the output voltage being stepped up or stepped down from an input voltage (VIN) presented to an input voltage terminal, an output capacitor (COUT) coupled to the output voltage terminal, and a charge extraction circuit for extracting the charge of the output capacitor (COUT). Quick response to overshoot of VOUT generated by a sudden reduction in load current (ILOAD) is afforded, and overshoot is minimized.

In accordance with a trend toward higher Large Scale Integration ("LSI") densities, the input voltages of LSIs are being lowered more and more. Therefore, the number of applications for generating low output voltages has increased for power supply circuits for outputting voltages to be input to LSIs. A conventional switching-type, step-down type power supply circuit is shown in FIG. 1. When a switching device SW1 is on, the inclination of a change in the current of an inductor L1 is represented by
                              [                      Expression                                                                          1                    ]                                                                                ⅆ                          I              L                                            ⅆ            t                          =                                                            V                IN                            -                              V                OUT                                      L                    .                                    (        1        )            In a case wherein an input voltage VIN to a power supply circuit is high while an output voltage VOUT is low, an inductor current IL rises sharply. For example, there may be a case wherein the input voltage VIN is 5 V, 12 V, 48 V, etc., and the output voltage VOUT is 1 V or lower. On the other hand, when the switching device SW1 is off, and a switching device SW2 is on, the inclination of the change in the current of the inductor L1 is represented by
                              [                      Expression                                                                          2                    ]                                                                                ⅆ                              I                L                                                    ⅆ              t                                =                      -                                          V                OUT                            L                                      ,                            (        2        )            and since the output voltage VOUT is low, the inductor current IL is reduced with a gentle inclination.
Assume a case of the occurrence of sudden reduction of a load current ILOAD that flows through a load, to which the output voltage VOUT of a step-down type power supply circuit using the above described inductor is applied. For example, when the inductor current IL is not reduced at the time that the load current ILOAD is dropped from 1 A to 100 mA, an extra charge is supplied to an output capacitor COUT, and causes overshoot, which is a rise in the output voltage VOUT that exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Even when the switching device SW1 is turned off, the inductor current IL is only gently reduced, as explained above in association with expression (2). Therefore, a capacitor having a large capacitance must be employed, so that the rise in the output voltage VOUT due to the inflow of the inductor current IL occurs only within a predetermined range. Here, the most sudden reduction in the load current ILOAD is a case wherein the load current ILOAD is reduced almost at the same time as when a circuit, such as an LSI, connected as a load, is turned off, and the least sudden reduction is a case wherein the load current ILOAD is reduced at least faster than the inductor current IL in expression (2). In this case, an extra charge is supplied to the output capacitor COUT, and overshoot may occur.
Further, when a series regulator, such as an LDO, is employed as a power supply circuit, the output voltage VOUT is increased in a case wherein the load current ILOAD is suddenly reduced, and a period wherein the output voltage VOUT is being increased is determined based only on the frequency range of the power supply circuit. However, when a power supply circuit is a switching regulator employing an inductor, upon the occurrence of a sudden reduction in the load current ILOAD, a surplus current occurs in the inductor and an extra charge is supplied to the output capacitor COUT, so that a period in which the output voltage VOUT is being increased is extended until an extra charge has been consumed by the load, which especially becomes a problem.
A power supply circuit that can quickly respond to a reduction in a load current is disclosed in patent literature 1, and is shown in FIG. 2. A power supply circuit 1 includes a control circuit 10a and a converter 20a, which includes an output transistor Q1, which is an N-channel MOS transistor, a diode D1, a choke coil L1 and a smoothing capacitor C1. When the output transistor Q1 is turned on or off based on a signal SG1 output by the control circuit 10a, an input voltage VIN is stepped down, and a stepped-down voltage is output as an output voltage Vo to a load connected to an output terminal To. The output voltage Vo is adjusted to reflect a target value that is predetermined by changing a ratio of the ON time to the OFF time of the output transistor Q1.
The output terminal To is connected to an input terminal T1 of the control circuit 10a. The input terminal T1 is grounded via resistors R1 and R2. A junction point between the resistors R1 and R2 is connected to the inverting input terminal of a comparator 11, and with this arrangement, the output voltage Vo is divided by the resistors R1 and R2, and a divided voltage V1 is input as a feedback signal to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 11. The feedback signal is compared with a voltage reference Vr by the comparator 11, and based on the comparison results, the output transistor Q1 is turned on or off. According to this technique, in order to suppress low-frequency oscillation, which tends to occur in a case wherein the ON time or OFF time of a switching device is extremely extended, a voltage obtained by adding a slope signal to a reference voltage Vref is employed as the voltage reference Vr, which is used for comparison with the feedback signal. As a result, a period required after the load is suddenly changed until the output voltage Vo converges on the target value, based on the reference voltage Vref, can be reduced, and accordingly, the occurrence of overshoot can be suppressed. At this time, the reference voltage Vref is set, so that when the output voltage Vo reaches a standard value, the reference voltage Vref matches the divided voltage V1 obtained through the resistors R1 and R2.
A generally well known method for controlling a switching-type power supply circuit is a method for comparing the output voltage with a predetermined voltage, and for turning on a switching device in a case wherein the output voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage, and in addition, there are various specific control forms, including the prior art described in patent literature 1.

Charge extraction circuit for voltage converter


The present disclosure provides novel sweetener compositions comprising a compound having a structure according to Formula I:

The present disclosure is generally directed to compounds useful for modulating sweetness profile of a sweetener.
The food and beverage industry has become interested in high potency sweeteners such as steviol glycosides in the pursuit of alternative sweeteners. However, replacing nutritive sweeteners with known potent non-nutritive sweeteners is difficult due to off-tastes associated with these sweeteners, for example slow on-set, bitter, licorice, or lingering aftertastes. Thus, there remains a need to develop sweetener compositions that better mimic the taste profile as sugar.

Glucosyringic acid analogs as sweetness profile modifiers

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are described herein. Also provided are methods of modulating sweetness profile of a product by adding a compound of Formula I to the product, such as a beverage product or a food product. For example, the compound described herein can be added to increase the overall sweetness of a nutritive sweetener sweetened beverages; decrease the sweetness time-of-onset for high potency sweeteners such as rebaudioside A; decreasing bitter, metallic and licorice off-notes of high potency sweeteners; and improve the sweet quality of sweetened products.


A method to assess network vulnerabilities of devices may include accessing, by a relay device, a network that includes a firewall to separate the network from external networks such that the relay device is coupled to the network from behind the firewall attached to the network. The method may further include establishing a communication channel over a secondary network between the relay device and a monitor system. The method may further include detecting one or more devices behind the firewall attached to the network by the relay device. The method may also include after establishing the communication channel and detecting the one or more devices and while the relay device is coupled to the network from behind the firewall attached to the network, performing, by the monitor system, one or more network vulnerability assessments on the one or more devices via network communications that pass through the relay device.

A network vulnerability assessment (VA) may include a process of identifying, and possibly prioritizing, vulnerabilities of an environment. Network vulnerability assessments may be performed on various types of devices, systems, and/or networks, such as one or more computers and/or servers of an information technology (IT) system.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.


A plurality of drive circuits each drive a corresponding one of a plurality of power semiconductor elements connected in parallel. Each of the drive circuits includes a control command unit, a current detector, a differentiator, and an integrator. The current detector detects a gate current that flows into a gate terminal of a corresponding one of the power semiconductor elements after the control command unit outputs a turn-on command. The differentiator performs time differentiation of the gate current detected by the current detector. The integrator performs time integration of the gate current detected by the current detector. Based on a differential value and an integral value in each of the drive circuits, the determination unit determines whether an overcurrent state occurs or not in any of the plurality of power semiconductor elements.

In a power converter formed using a power semiconductor element such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a plurality of power semiconductor elements are connected in parallel to achieve a large capacity for the purpose of ensuring a desired electric power capacity. A current flows through the plurality of power semiconductor elements so as to be shared equally among the power semiconductor elements, thereby allowing handling of a high current.
In the above-mentioned configuration, however, when a current concentrates on any of the power semiconductor elements to thereby cause an overcurrent state, such a power semiconductor element in an overcurrent state may be thermally broken. Accordingly, the drive device that drives a plurality of power semiconductor elements connected in parallel requires a function of detecting an overcurrent state in any of the power semiconductor elements for protecting the power semiconductor elements from thermal breakage.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2017-70051 (PTL 1) discloses a configuration of a drive device that drives a plurality of IGBTs connected in parallel. The drive device includes a current detector for detecting an emitter current (a main current) in each of the IGBTs and determines whether an overcurrent occurs or not based on a detection value by this current detector.

Drive device for power semiconductor element


The disclosed computer-implemented method for detecting discrepancies in automobile-network data may include (1) receiving data that indicates at least one attribute of an automobile and that was conveyed via an automobile-network message that was purportedly broadcast over an automobile network of the automobile, (2) receiving additional data that indicates the same attribute of the automobile and that was not conveyed via any automobile-network message that was broadcast over the automobile network, (3) detecting a discrepancy between the data and the additional data, and (4) performing a security action in response to detecting the discrepancy between the data and the additional data. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Most modern automobiles operate via the correct functioning of various discrete electronic control units (ECUs), sensors, and/or actuators that communicate over one or more in-vehicle automobile networks (e.g., Controller Area Networks (CANs) and FlexRay Networks). Various attributes (such as, e.g., speed, acceleration, deceleration, turning angle, pedal position, etc.) of an automobile may be reported by the automobile's ECUs, sensors, and/or actuators via automobile-network messages broadcast over the automobile's networks.
It is becoming increasingly common for certain entities (e.g., auto-insurance providers) to monitor how automobiles are being driven by collecting automobile-network messages via logging devices (e.g., dongles) that are intended to be plugged directly into the automobiles' networks. Unfortunately, monitoring how automobiles are being driven in this way may present unwanted limitations. For example, a dishonest driver may be able to cover up periods of unsafe or aggressive driving by causing a logging device to log fake or falsified automobile-network messages during the periods of unsafe or aggressive driving. In one example, a driver may collect automobile-network messages during a period of safe driving, and playback these automobile-network messages to a logging device during periods of unsafe or aggressive driving. In another example, a driver may use a pass-through device that sits between an automobile network and a logging device and that modifies automobile-network messages to appear as a result of safe driving before they reach and are logged by the logging device. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for detecting discrepancies in automobile-network data.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for detecting discrepancies in automobile-network data


A method and apparatus for producing a heterogeneous food in a continuous aseptic thermal process is disclosed herein. The invention involves the combining of two streams of aseptically processed components of a final heterogeneous food product such as potato soup, yogurt or the like. One of the streams is a homogeneous component of the final product and the other stream is a heterogeneous component. The invention involves asceptically processing both streams, then using the homogeneous component or carrier fluid, to partially cool the heterogeneous food product. The invention allows for the holding of the heterogeneous component for a predetermined residence time at a predetermined temperature as set by FDA regulations. The final product may be packaged on an aseptic packaging machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aseptic food processes. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing an aseptic heterogeneous food.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, shelf-stable soup has been packaged in a metal (tin) can due to thermal processing requirements. The soup is filled into the can and the can is sealed. The sealed can is placed on a rack with other cans, and the rack is rotated while being subjected to a predetermined temperature for sterilizing the product. Heterogeneous foods have been limited to such packaging technique because until recently this was the only process approved by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for shelf-stable heterogeneous foods.
A continuous thermal process for sterilizing heterogeneous foods has recently been approved by the FDA. The process was previously used for homogeneous foods such as shelf-stable milk sold by PARMALAT.RTM. and packaged in TETRA BRIK.RTM. containers. The process maintains the heterogeneous food in a holding tube at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time thereby effectively sterilizing the heterogeneous food.
The heterogeneous food generally consists of a viscous carrier and suspended particles. The carrier is heated by contact with the walls of the thermal process equipment, and this heat is then transferred to the suspended particles by conduction and convective heat transfer. Often, the carrier receives a thermal treatment in excess of what is necessary to sterilize it and is overcooked due to its prolonged exposure to the high temperature. The particles may also be overcooked due to the time that is required to cool the heterogeneous food using heat exchangers to a packaging temperature once the heterogeneous food has been maintained for the predetermined time period at the predetermined temperature in the holding tube.
The FDA approval for this process requires that the heterogeneous food be maintained for the predetermined time period at the predetermined temperature in the holding tube. Thus, any attempt to cool the heterogeneous food must be able to include that holding tube time period while maintaining the aseptic nature of the processing system. This problem has not previously been addressed by the packaging industry because of the lack of FDA approval for a continuous processing system until recently.

Method for producing an aseptic heterogeneous food