An apparatus and method are provided for inputting a character in a mobile communication terminal which displays character items representing types of characters on a screen of the mobile communication terminal in order for a user to select a type of character to be input in a character input mode. The apparatus and method comprise mapping each of the character items to each of predetermined keys included in a keypad and displaying mapped items, when the mobile communication terminal enters the character input mode; and setting predetermined characters to be display characters for displaying on the screen when a predetermined key signal is input while a preset key signal is input, the predetermined characters being included in a character item corresponding to the predetermined key signal, the predetermined key signal corresponding to one of the displayed character items.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for inputting characters in a mobile communication terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for enabling the user to easily select character items (which are displayed so that the user may select a type of character to be input by the user) and to efficiently input characters in a character input mode of the mobile communication terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a mobile communication terminal includes a cellular phone, a personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Personal Communication Services Phone (PCS), an International Mobile Telecommunication-2000 (IMT-2000) terminal, a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) terminal, and so on, which refer to apparatuses capable of providing a communication function (such as communication or data exchange) while in motion.
Such mobile communication apparatuses are now commonly used by all types of people (of all ages and walks of life) throughout the world, and are recognized by people as an indispensable tool which must always be carried on their person. In consideration of portability, designs of such mobile communication apparatuses have tended not only toward compactness, slimness and lightness, but also toward multimedia availability, having a wider variety of functions.
In particular, future mobile communication apparatuses are expected to incorporate greater multi-functionality and multi-purpose utilization, as well as greater compactness and lightness, and also will be modified to be suitable for various multimedia environments or Internet environments.
Meanwhile, while the mobile communication terminal is used to perform a communication function such as a voice call, the mobile communication terminal also provides various supplementary functions, such as a short message transmission/reception function, a memory function for storing and searching for phone numbers, automatic calling/answering functions, a current time and day-of-the-week display function, an automatic power-off function, an emergency dial function, a locking function, an alarm function, a local-number confirmation function, a melody input function, and a calculator function for performing the four mathematical operations, in addition to the voice communication function.
In general, a mobile communication terminal providing a short message transmission/reception function enters a message input mode by key input of the user (generally by entry through a menu key). In particular, the mobile communication terminal displays the types of characters (such as character items representing Korean characters, English upper case characters, English lower case characters and special characters) so that the user may select the type of character to be input in the message input mode.
Therefore, in a case in which the user wants to input Korean characters, when the user moves a cursor to be located at a Korean character item by using the menu key and selects a key, the corresponding Korean character is displayed.
FIGS. 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating the conventional character input method in a mobile communication terminal.
FIG. 1A shows a screen showing Korean characters of '' which have been input by a user. In inputting the Korean characters, the user inputs a menu key in the message input mode of the mobile communication terminal, selects 'K' from among items of 'K', 'A', 'a' and 'S' which are located at a lower portion of the screen in the mobile communication terminal, and then inputs the characters of '' Herein, the 'K' item represents the Korean characters, the 'A' item represents the English capital characters, the 'a' item represents the English lower case characters and the 'S' item represents special characters.
In order to input special characters of '♥ ♥ ♥' on the screen shown in FIG. 1A, when the user of the mobile communication terminal presses the menu key three times to select the item of 'S' and then selects the special character of '♥' three times from among special characters contained in the 'S' item, characters of ' ♥ ♥ ♥' are displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 1B.
Then, in order to input the English lower case characters of 'love' on the screen shown in FIG. 1B, when the user presses the menu key three times to select the item of 'a' and then selects keys corresponding to the 'love', characters of ' ♥ ♥ ♥ love' are displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 1C.
As described above, according to the conventional character input method, when the user selects an item representing the type of characters to be input by the user, the cursor for selection moves only to the right direction from among the items.
As a result, as described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C, when the user wants to input special characters after inputting the Korean characters, the user must press the menu key three times so as to select the item of 'S' representing the special characters. Also, if the user wants to input the English lower case character while inputting the special character, the user must press the menu key three times so as to select the item of 'a' representing the English lower case characters. Therefore, the conventional character input method has problems in that it is cumbersome to move among the items and to repeat key strokes, and thus user-friendliness is degraded.

Apparatus and method for inputting characters in a mobile communication terminal


A method of designing a circuit layout includes calculating a typical value representing performance characteristics for the circuit layout based on a graphic database system (GDS) file. The method further includes calculating an adjustment value based on the GDS file and at least one of a CAP corner vector or a RES corner vector, wherein the CAP corner vector is based on an eigenvector of a parasitic capacitance of the circuit layout, and the RES corner vector is based on an eigenvector of a parasitic resistance of the circuit layout. The method further includes calculating a corner value based on the typical value and the adjustment value. The method further includes modifying the GDS file if performance characteristics of the corner value fail to satisfy performance requirements of the circuit layout.

Designing circuit layouts includes accounting for parasitic capacitance and parasitic resistance of elements within an interconnect structure. Parasitic capacitance results from conductive features of the interconnect structure unintentionally functioning as a capacitor. Parasitic resistance results from unintentional resistance to current flow at interfaces of various elements. Parasitic capacitance and parasitic resistance impact a performance of the circuit including speed of the circuit, power consumption of the circuit and other operating parameters. Unavoidable production variation causes size and spacing of elements within the interconnect structure to vary from an intended design. These variations in turn change the parasitic capacitance and parasitic resistance of the circuit layout. Average and extreme values of these variations are called process corners and are used in designing the circuit layout.
In some approaches, a techfile is generated for a combination of each process corner of the parasitic capacitance and the parasitic resistance. For example, a typical, i.e., average, parasitic capacitance corner combined with a best, i.e., lowest, parasitic resistance corner; or a worst, i.e., highest, parasitic capacitance combined with a worst parasitic resistance corner; etc. During designing of the circuit layout, a user includes information from this group of techfiles to determine whether the circuit layout will perform a function for which the circuit is designed.

Method of designing circuit layout and system for implementing the same

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


A silicon die having an orifice layer with plural openings formed therein defines a drop ejection device for use in a handheld inhaler. An underlying control layer defines fluid chambers, each carrying a heat transducer. A control system energizes selected heat transducers to heat fluid in the chambers, vaporizing the fluid, which is ejected through the orifices in small droplets.

Medications are often delivered to patients in the form of inhaled aerosols—gaseous suspensions of very fine liquid or solid particles in which medications are entrained. So-called pulmonary delivery of medication is in many instances a very efficient manner of delivering biological and chemical substances to the patient's bloodstream. Pulmonary delivery is especially efficient when the medication is delivered with a digitally controlled device such as a "metered dose inhaler" ("MDI") or other type of inhaler that incorporates ejector heads that are suitable for creating aerosols having very small droplet size. Such inhalers are often used to deliver asthma medications directly into a patient's lungs where the medications have a rapid anti-inflammatory effect. MDIs may also be used for systemic delivery of medication where the aerosolized droplets of medication are delivered deep into the lung tissue where the medication is rapidly absorbed into the patient's blood stream.
The most effective pulmonary drug delivery is accomplished when the medication is delivered in very small, aerosolized droplet directly to the alveoli—the tiny air sacs in the innermost lung tissue known as the alveolar epithelium—because the medication is transferred into the patient's bloodstream very rapidly. Delivery of medication to the alveoli is most efficiently accomplished when the medication is delivered in very small drops entrained in an aerosol. Thermal-type drop generators may be used to generate aerosolized medications having small drop sizes. However, there is an ongoing need for a droplet generator that can reliably produce very small-volume droplets with a generally uniform size distribution for entrainment in aerosols.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A relatively easy manufacturing method of a semiconductor device enabling a contact hole 25 to be formed reliably by self alignment without exposing a gate 11, wherein a plug 20 is adopted to protect an etching stopper film 16 from an etching gas when a preliminary opening 24 is formed by etching an insulating film 22 having an electrical insulating etching stopper film 16 embedded therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, such as an IC chip, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including a forming process of a so-called contact hole formed to pass through an insulating film and open above the semiconductor substrate.
2. Prior Art
The forming process of contact holes is one of the processes involved in the manufacture of integrated circuits, including IC chips. The contact hole is formed as an empty area which passes through an insulating film covering a semiconductor substrate, for example, and opens above the semiconductor substrate, and in this empty area an electrode path can be provided.
The contact hole described above can be formed by an etching technique using a photolithographically delineated resist pattern as the mask. Meanwhile, to meet a growing demand for higher density devices, there is a newly proposed SAC method for forming a contact hole by a self-aligned technique.
According to this method of forming a self-aligned contact hole, for example, which is open above the semiconductor substrate between a pair of gates, are formed in the insulating film covering the pair of gates formed on the semiconductor substrate separated apart from each other.
By this method of forming a self-aligned contact hole, an etching stopper film having electrical insulating properties is formed to cover the pair of gates on the semiconductor substrate and the exposed surfaces of the semiconductor substrate. Then, an insulating film is deposited to have the pair of gates and the etching stopper film covering the gates embedded in it.
Subsequently, by an etching technique using a lithographically-formed resist pattern as the mask, a preliminary opening is formed to have partially exposed an etching stopper film which covers an area between a pair of gates where a contact hole is to be formed. That portion of the etching stopper film which is exposed on the semiconductor substrate is removed by a self-aligned method, that is, directly by dry etching with a plasma gas without using a mask.
By this self aligned method, the preliminary opening can be formed appropriately in the insulating film without causing a substantial damage to the etching stopper film by performing etching with an etching gas which shows a higher etch rate of the insulating film covering the etching stopper film than the etch rate of the etching stopper film, in other words, by performing etching with such an etching gas as shows a large selectivity ratio of the insulating film to the etching stopper film in the forming process of the preliminary opening.
Therefore, by subsequent dry etching of the etching stopper film without a mask, a minute opening can be formed without the need to consider design allowances for mask positioning, so that this method can conform to geometrical design rules so tight as a unit spacing of 0.25 micron.
However, with an etching gas used to partially expose the etching stopper film by forming the preliminary opening in the insulating film, the insulating film/etching stopper film selectivity is no more than 20 or so. Therefore, during etching to form the preliminary opening, the etching stopper film, too, is liable to be damaged by the etching gas.
For this reason, when the predetermined preliminary opening is formed, the gates should be covered with the etching stopper film which serves as electrical protection means, and if the etching step is not finished before the etching stopper film suffers a substantial damage, there is a possibility that the gates under the etching stopper film are exposed.
This exposure of the gates leads to a short circuit between the electrode to be formed in the contact hole and the exposed gate. To prevent a short circuit, the etching work to form the preliminary opening needs to be terminated without fail before the etching stopper film suffers a considerable damage. Consequently, in the conventional semiconductor device manufacturing method including the contact hole forming step using a self-aligned technique has been difficult because meticulous care is indispensable for management of the etching process.
With the progressive microminiaturization of the patterns due to the increasing device integration, while the aspect ratio, that is, the ratio of the depth to the bore diameter of the contact hole becomes larger, the etch rate of the insulating film in the contact hole portion slows down by the microloading effect, so that the insulating film/etching stopper film selectivity of the etching gas further decreases. The result is that the etching stopper film is more liable to be damaged during the formation of the preliminary opening.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a process of forming a contact hole


A hydraulically assisted steering system provides a controller which activates a hydraulic pump when a manual throttle selector handle is in either forward or reverse gear selector positions, but deactivates the pump when the handle is in a neutral gear selector position. A controller can also interrogate an ignition key to make sure that it is in an ON position and also respond to the activation of a manual switch which can be used to override the deactivation step of the pump.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a hydraulically assisted steering system for a marine vessel and, more particularly, to a method for utilizing a hydraulic pump and associated electric motor in an efficient way which can have the effect of allowing smaller capacity alternators than would otherwise have to be used in conjunction with the hydraulically assisted steering system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of hydraulic steering systems are known to those skilled in the art for use in conjunction with marine vessels and, more particularly, in conjunction with pleasure craft.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,438, which issued to Hundertmark on Apr. 6, 2004, describes a tiller operated power assist marine steering system. The tiller is preferably coupled to the outboard motor or other steering element of a watercraft such that movement of the tiller in a first manner imposes manually generated steering forces on the steering element and that operation of the tiller in a second manner imposes power assist steering forces on the steering element.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/702,560, which was filed on Nov. 7, 2003 by Watanabe et al., describes a power steering device for a boat with an outboard motor. To provide a power steering device which helps to realize easy drive with small steering force without taking waterproofness into consideration, a gear device is provided for driving a link mechanism for turning and steering an outboard motor main body at the rear of the boat body through a cable by a steering wheel. A steering torque input to the gear device by the steering wheel is detected by a torque sensor to assist drive the gear device in the steering direction by an electric motor, a helical pinion, and a helical wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,553, which issued to Hundertmark on Jul. 29, 2003, describes a power assist marine steering system. The system includes a hydraulically actuated steering cylinder assembly and a helm. The helm has a high pressure port being coupled to a fluid pressure source, a return port coupled to the reservoir, and a metering port coupled to a second chamber of the steering cylinder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,341, which issued to Yoshimura on Aug. 23, 1994, describes a power assisting mechanism for a marine propulsion unit. The steering and gear shift system comprises a single source of hydraulic power, a steering device, a gear shift member, steering and gear shift control mechanism connected to their respective members and first and second assist devices connected to the gear shift and steering control mechanism for power assist. A single substantially constant output hydraulic pump supplies an essentially constant level of fluid power for the first and second power assist devices to assist the operator in controlling the steering and gear shift controls.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,029, which issued to Entringer et al. on Dec. 27, 1994, discloses a control valve for a pressurized fluid operated system, such as a marine power steering system, and includes a housing having an inlet and at least one outlet with one or more work ports located therebetween. Pressurized fluid is supplied to the inlet, and a spool member is mounted within the housing for controlling the supply of pressurized fluid to a work performing system, such as the extendable and retractable rod of a hydraulic cylinder assembly. The spool member includes structure for blocking the one or more work ports when the spool member is in its neutral position when it is desired not to operate the system. This prevents the cylinder from being exposed to reservoir fluid when the spool member is in its neutral position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,555, which issued to Merten on Jun. 27, 1995, describes a power steering system. The system is interposed between the steering helm and the propulsion unit and mounted remote from the propulsion unit, and further is hydraulically actuated in response to operative movement at the steering helm. A gear drive means, actuated in response to steering actuation at the helm, is operably connected to power steering assist means, comprising a hydraulic cylinder piston assembly and hydraulic fluid source.
The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.
When a hydraulically assisted steering system is added, as an after-market component, to an existing marine propulsion system, the provision of hydraulic power for the system can require a level of electrical power that is greater than the magnitude of electrical power which can be easily generated by the existing alternator of the marine propulsion system. In other words, an existing alternator provided for an outboard motor may not have the capacity needed to generate the additional electric power necessary to operate a hydraulic pump and motor that provides hydraulic pressure for the hydraulically assisted steering system which is added, as a retrofit improvement, to the marine propulsion system.
Known types of retrofit hydraulically assisted steering systems typically operate in one of two common ways. In some systems, the hydraulic pump is constantly driven by an electric motor to generate hydraulic pressure continually, with excess hydraulic fluid being recirculated to a hydraulic fluid reservoir. Other systems utilize a pressure accumulator that is pressurized by the motor driven pump whenever the pressure within the accumulator falls below a preselected magnitude. As the pressure is used by the hydraulic steering system, the pressure in the accumulator decreases. When the pressure in the accumulator is reduced to a preselected minimum magnitude, a switch causes the motor driven pump to be activated to increase the pressure within the accumulator.
It would be beneficial if a retrofit hydraulically assisted steering system could be provided which does not require an accumulator and does not continually operate a motor driven pump which requires excessive electric power which is beyond the normal capacity of the alternator provided in the outboard motor.

Method for controlling a hydraulically assisted steering system of a marine vessel


An enteral composition which contains a protein source, a lipid source, a carbohydrate source, and a fibre blend. The fibre blend contains inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides and has 45 to 55% by weight of the blend of soluble fibre and 45 to 55% by weight of the blend of insoluble fibre. The fibre blend may also contain pea inner fibres and pea outer envelope fibres.

This Application is the National Phase Application of PCT/EP99/10076 filed Dec. 15, 1999.
This invention relates to a fibre blend for enteral compositions. The invention also relates to enteral compositions which contain the fibre blend.
It is now well accepted that dietary fibres should form part of daily food intake. For example, Pilch S. M. (1987; MD Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biol., 223, 84, 2059) recommends that the quantity of dietary fibres in daily food intake of healthy people should be of the order of 27 to 40 g.
Dietary fibres can be classified in according to their properties, their chemical and physical structures, their digestibility during the gastrointestinal transit, or to their physiological properties during the gastrointestinal transit.
Chemically, dietary fibres are considered to comprise polysaccharides or lignin. These compounds are not hydrolysed by endogenous secretions during the gastrointestinal transit (T. Schweizer et al.; 1991; Experimentia, 44, p 182-186). The constituent polysaccharides of the dietary fibres may be plant membrane polysaccharides, in particular cellulose, hemicellulose or pectin, or other intracellular polysaccharides which are not hydrolysed by the digestive enzymes, such as resistant starch, galactomannans or inulin (Quemener et al., 1994, Lebensm. Wiss. u. Technol., 27, p 125-132).
Ordinarily, dietary fibres are classified into two categories depending on their biological and physicochemical properties. These categories are insoluble fibres and soluble fibres.
Insoluble fibres, such as cellulose, maize fibres or insoluble soy fibres, have essentially a mechanical role in the gastrointestinal tract. They are generally only very slightly fermented by the intestinal flora and contribute to reducing the duration of the intestinal transit (Scheppach et al., 1990, JPEN, 14, p 202-209).
Soluble fibres, such as pectin, inulin or resistant starch, are a very good fermentation substrate for the intestinal flora. The result of this fermentation is a release of fatty acids, in particular short-chain fatty acids in the colon. This has the effect of reducing the pH value in the colon. The result is a reduction in the growth and development of pathogenic bacteria in the colon.
In general, most humans in industrialised societies do not consume enough dietary fibre. However, in a clinical setting, the problem becomes acute. For example, the administration of an enteral composition free of dietary fibres often causes intestinal disorders such as diarrhea or constipation in patients (Palacio et al., 1990; Nutrition in clinical practice, 5, p 99-106,). Therefore it has been proposed to include dietary fibres in enteral compositions for clinical nutrition. For example, European patent application 0591267 describes a fibre system for enteral compositions comprising, by weight, 5-50% of gum arabic, 5-25% of sodium carboxymethylcellulose and 45-80% of oat envelope fibres. Further, European patent application 0756828 describes an enteral compositions which contains dietary fibres for maintaining good intestine function. This composition, which is in liquid form or in dried form, contains, per 2000 kcal, 15-50% of soluble dietary fibres, 15-45% of insoluble dietary fibres and 8-70% of oligosaccharides or of resistant starch.
However, most known enteral compositions do not contain a balance of soluble and insoluble dietary fibres. Further, those compositions which contain higher proportions of soluble fibres are often too viscous for tube feeding. Problems with stability also arise.
Accordingly this invention provides a fibre blend for an enteral composition, the fibre blend comprising pea inner fibres, pea outer envelope fibres, inulin, and fructo-oligosaccharides.
The fibre blend provides the enteral composition with good mechanical properties and good nutritional and biological properties. The mechanical properties include decreasing in the duration of gastrointestinal transit. The nutritional and biological properties include the release of short-chain fatty acids for maintaining bacterial balance in intestinal mucosa and to avoiding the growth and development of pathogenic bacteria. The fibre blend may act on the entire gastrointestinal system, at the level of the stomach, the small intestine and the colon. Further, a balance between soluble and insoluble fibres may be obtained without the enteral composition becoming too viscous.
The fibre blend may contain about 20 to about 50% by weight of pea inner fibres, about 20 to about 50% by weight of pea outer envelope fibres, about 5% to about 30% by weight of inulin, and about 10% to about 40% by weight of fructo-oligosaccharides.
The invention also provides an enteral composition which contains the fibre blend defined above. The enteral composition may also contain a protein source, a carbohydrate source, and a lipid source.
Preferably, the protein source provides about 10% to about 20% of energy, the lipid source provides about 30% to about 50% of energy, and the carbohydrate source provides about 35% to about 55% of energy.
In another aspect, this invention provides an enteral composition which comprises a protein source, a lipid source, a carbohydrate source, and a fibre blend comprising inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides and having 45 to 55% by weight of the blend of soluble fibre and 45 to 55% by weight of the blend of insoluble fibre.
In further aspect, this invention provides an enteral composition which comprises a protein source, a lipid source, a carbohydrate source, and a fibre blend comprising about 20% to about 40% by weight of inulin and about 60% to about 80% by weight of fructo-oligosaccharides.
The enteral composition may be in liquid form or in the form of a soluble powder which is reconstituteable in an aqueous liquid to provide a liquid nutritional composition. The enteral composition may also be in other enterally administrable forms such as desserts, cereals, snack bars, and the like.
Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example only.
In this specification, the term xe2x80x9csoluble fibrexe2x80x9d means those dietary fibres which are characterised as soluble using the method of Prosky et al; 1988; J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem, 70, 5, 1017. This is the official method of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The term xe2x80x9cinsoluble fibrexe2x80x9d means those dietary fibres which are characterised as in soluble using the method of Prosky et al.
The invention provides a fibre blend which contains inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides. This blend has optimum bifidogenic effect and production of short chain fatty acids in the colon. The fibre blend may have roughly equivalent amounts of soluble fibre and insoluble fibre. The fibre blend may also contain pea inner fibres and pea outer envelope fibres.
Within the context of this specification the term xe2x80x9cpea inner fibresxe2x80x9d is taken to mean fibres from inside the pea outer envelope or testa. They comprise cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin; for example about 15% by weight of cellulose, about 45% by weight of hemicellulose and about 40% by weight of pectin. With this fibre distribution, about 66% by weight of the fibres are insoluble fibres. Therefore pea inner fibres contribute mechanically to gastrointestinal transit by reducing the transit time. Further, components of pea inner fibre are fermented by intestinal flora to release short-chain fatty acids. This release causes a reduction in pH in the colon and, as a result, a decrease in the growth and development of the pathogenic bacteria in the colon. Suitable pea inner fibres are commercially available.
The release of fatty acids is of great importance for patients being treated with antibiotics because, during antibiotic treatment, the integrity and function of the intestinal flora is compromised. A diet high in soluble fibres reduces these effects. Moreover, the release of short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, causes the absorption of water coupled with absorption of sodium ions in the colon. This has the effect of diarrhea. Also, butyrate is a high-energy substrate for the colonocytes.
Within the context of this specification the term xe2x80x9cpea outer envelope fibresxe2x80x9d is taken to mean fibres from the pea outer envelope or testa. They comprise cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin; for example about 68% by weight of cellulose, about 25% by weight of hemicellulose and about 7% by weight of lignin. With this fibre distribution, about 10% by weight of the fibres are insoluble fibres and about 90% by weight are insoluble fibres. Therefore pea a touter envelope fibres contribute mechanically to gastrointestinal transit by reducing the transit time and have a positive effect on the capacity to retain water in the intestine. Suitable pea outer envelope fibres are commercially available.
Inulin is a soluble fibre which is present in numerous plants, such as asparagus, artichokes, onions, wheat or chicory, for example. Inulin is not digested in the small intestine; instead it is fermented in the colon. The main effects of inulin fibres on the digestive system are a decrease in the duration of the intestinal transit, a decrease in the level of glycemia, a decrease in the lipid content in the blood, a decrease in the pH in the colon, decrease constipation and a bifidogenic effect. Thus, inulin can be fermented by bifidobacteria, which has the consequence of increasing the concentration of these bacteria at the level of the intestinal flora and of decreasing the concentration of enterobacteria, in particular Clostridiae, at the level of the intestinal flora.
The inulin may be provided in the form of a natural extract which is suitable for human consumption. Extracts from chicory are particularly suitable.
The extract preferably contains at least 80% by weight of inulin; more preferably at least 90% by weight of inulin. The inulin preferably has a degree of polymerisation of at least about 8; for example about 10 to about 25. Suitable inulin extracts may be obtained from Orafti SA of Tirlemont 3300, Belgium under the trade mark xe2x80x9cRaftilinexe2x80x9d. For example, the inulin may be provided in the form of Raftiline(copyright) DST which is a fine white powder which contains about 90 to about 94% by weight of inulin, up to about 4% by weight of glucose and fructose, and about 4 to 9% by weight of sucrose. The average degree of polymerisation of the inulin is about 10 to about 12.
The fructo-oligosaccharides are soluble fibres which are in the form of fructose oligomers containing 1-kestose(GF2), nystose(GF3), and 1F-fructofuranosyl nystose(GF4), in which fructosyl units(F) are bound at the xcex2-2,1 position of sucrose(GF) respectively. Generally amounts of sucrose, and glucose may also be present. The fructo-oligosaccharides may be obtained by hydrolysing inulin, by enzymatic methods, or by using micro-organisms. The fructo-oligosaccharides may be obtained commercially, for example from Orafti SA of Tirlemont 3300, Belgium under the trade mark xe2x80x9cRaftilosexe2x80x9d, or from Meiji Seika Co. of Japan. For example, the inulin may be provided in the form of Raftilose(copyright)P95.
The inulin and the fructo-oligosaccharides are reported to promote the growth of bifidobacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract and, in certain circumstances prevent or decrease the growth of pathogens such as Clostridiae. Further, promoting the growth of bifidobacteria is reported to have various other beneficial effects. Moreover, inulin and the fructo-oligosaccharides may reduce blood glucose levels.
The blend has the particular advantage of providing optimum bifidogenic effect and production of short chain fatty acids in the colon. It is found that fructo-oligosaccharides have a greater bifidogenic effect than inulin but that inulin has delayed fermentation such that it is preferentially fermented in the colon. By selecting a mixture of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides, both the bifidogenic effect and production of short chain fatty acids in the colon may be maximised.
The fibre blend may also contain other oligosaccharides if desired. Suitable examples are galacto-oligosaccarides, xylo-oligosaccharides or oligo derivatives of starch.
The amounts of the components of the fibre blend are preferably selected such that the fibre blend comprises about 45 to about 55% by weight of soluble fibres and about 45% to about 55% by weight of insoluble fibres. This proportion makes it possible to best exploit the advantages of each of these two fibre types. Preferably the weight ratio of soluble fibres to insoluble fibres is about 1:1.
Further, the amounts of the components of the fibre blend are preferably selected such that the fibre blend comprises about 20% to about 40% by weight of inulin and about 60% to about 80% by weight of fructo-oligosaccharides. For example, the fibre blend may comprise about 30% by weight of inulin and about 70% by weight of fructo-oligosaccharides.
Preferably the fibre blend comprises about 20 to about 50% by weight of pea inner fibres, about 20 to about 50% by weight of pea outer envelope fibres, about 5% to about 30% by weight of inulin, and about 10% to about 40% by weight of fructo-oligosaccharides. For example, the fibre blend may comprise about 30 to about 40% by weight of pea inner fibres, about 30 to about 40% by weight of pea outer envelope fibres, about 5% to about 15 by weight of inulin, and about 20% to about 30% by weight of fructo-oligosaccharides.
The fibre blend may be included in an enteral composition. The enteral composition may comprise about 1% to about 5% by weight of the fibre blend; for example about 1% to about 2% by weight.
Preferably, the enteral composition includes a protein source, a carbohydrate source and a lipid source.
The protein source is preferably a high quality protein source; for example milk protein, whey protein, casein protein, or soy protein, or mixtures of these proteins. The protein source may be in the form of intact protein or may be hydrolysed. Other protein sources such as rice, pea and oat protein, or mixtures thereof, may also be used. Further, if desired, the protein source may include free amino acids.
The protein source preferably provides about 10% to about 25% of the energy of the composition. For example, the protein source may provide about 12% to about 18% of the energy of the composition; preferably about 15% of the energy of the composition.
Preferably, the carbohydrate source may be any suitable carbohydrate or carbohydrate mixtures. For example, the carbohydrate source may be maltodextrin, modified starch, amylose starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, or fructose, or mixtures thereof. Maltodextrin is preferred if low osmolarity is required.
The carbohydrate source provides about 35% to about 60% of the energy of the composition; preferably about 45% to about 55% of the energy. For example, the carbohydrate source may provide about 50% of the energy of the composition.
The lipid source preferably contains monounsaturated fatty acids;
polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids), and/or saturated fatty acids. Preferably the polyunsaturated fatty acids provide up to about 30% of the weight of the lipid source. For example the polyunsaturated fatty acids may provide about 15% to about 25% of the weight of the lipid source. The lipid profile of the enteral composition is preferably designed to have a polyunsaturated fatty acid omega-6 (n-6) to omega-3 (n-3) ratio of about 4:1 to about 10:1. Saturated fatty acids preferably provide about 30% to about 70% of the weight of the lipid source; for example about 50% to about 65% by weight. The majority of the saturated fatty acids are preferably in the form of medium chain triglycerides. For example, medium chain triglycerides may make up about 20% to about 70% by weight of the lipid source.
Suitable sources of lipids are olive oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil, hazelnut oil, safflower oil, and the like. Fractionated coconut oils are a suitable source of medium chain triglycerides. A mixture of corn oil, rapeseed oil, medium chain triglycerides and soy oil may be used.
The lipid source may provide about 25% to about 45% of the energy of the composition; preferably about 30% to about 45%. For example, the lipid source may provide about 35% of the energy of the composition.
For clinical applications, the enteral composition preferably includes a complete vitamin and mineral profile. For example, sufficient vitamins and minerals may be provided to supply about 25% to about 250% of the recommended daily allowance of the vitamins and minerals per 1000 calories of the nutritional composition.
For clinical applications, the enteral composition conveniently has an osmolarity of about 200 mOsm/l to about 400 mOsm/l; for example about 250 mOsm/l to about 350 mOsm/l.
For clinical applications, the energy density of the enteral composition is preferably about 700 kcal/l to about 1500 kcal/l; for example about 1000 kcal/l.
For clinical applications, the enteral composition is preferably in the form of a ready-to-use formulation. In this form, the composition may be fed to a patient via a nasogastric tube, jejunum tube or by having the patient drink it. As such, the enteral composition may be in a variety of forms; for example as a fruit juice-type beverage, a milk shake-type beverage and the like. However, the enteral composition may also be in soluble powder form to be reconstituted prior to use.
Various flavours, sweeteners and other additives may be present. Artificial sweeteners such as acetosulfame and L-aspartyl based sweeteners may be used; for example aspartame.
The enteral composition may be produced as is conventional; for example, by blending together the protein source, the carbohydrate source, and the lipid source. If used, the emulsifiers may be included in the blend. The vitamins and minerals may be added at this point but are usually added later to avoid thermal degradation. Any lipophilic vitamins, emulsifiers and the like may be dissolved into the lipid source prior to blending. Water, preferably water which has been subjected to reverse osmosis, may then be mixed in to form a liquid mixture. The temperature of the water is conveniently about 50xc2x0 C. to about 80xc2x0 C. to aid dispersal of the ingredients. Commercially available liquefiers may be used to form the liquid mixture.
The liquid mixture may then be thermally treated to reduce bacterial loads. For example, the liquid mixture may be rapidly heated to a temperature in the range of about 80xc2x0 C. to about 110xc2x0 C. for about 5 seconds to about 5 minutes. This may be carried out by steam injection or by heat exchanger; for example a plate heat exchanger.
The liquid mixture may then be cooled to about 60xc2x0 C. to about 85xc2x0 C.; for example by flash cooling. The liquid mixture is then homogenised; for example in two stages at about 7 MPa to about 40 MPa in the first stage and about 2 MPa to about 14 MPa in the second stage. The homogenised mixture may then be further cooled to add any heat sensitive components; such as vitamins and minerals. The pH and solids content of the homogenised mixture is conveniently standardised at this point.
For a product in liquid form, the homogenised mixture is preferably aseptically filled into suitable containers. Aseptic filling of the containers may be carried out by pre-heating the homogenised mixture (for example to about 75 to 85xc2x0 C.) and then injecting steam into the homogenised mixture to raise the temperature to about 140 to 160xc2x0 C.; for example at about 150xc2x0 C. The homogenised mixture may then be cooled, for example by flash cooling, to a temperature of about 75 to 85xc2x0 C. The homogenised mixture may then be further homogenised, cooled to about room temperature and filled into containers. Suitable apparatus for carrying out aseptic filling of this nature is commercially available.
For a product in powder form, the homogenised mixture is dried to powder; for example by spray drying. Conventional procedures may be used.
When in a liquid form suitable for use in clinical nutrition, the enteral composition may be easily administered by tube feeding, either by gravity, or using a pump. In this form, the enteral composition may have a viscosity of less than about 12 cp at room temperature.
The enteral composition may be used as a nutritional support for human and animal patients; particularly patients requiring long term nutritional support. Further, the enteral composition is suitable for patients with normal digestive function.
It will be appreciated that the enteral composition may be in forms other than those suitable for clinical nutrition. For example, the enteral composition may be in the form of desserts, cereals, yoghurts, snack bars, and the like. If fed to pets, the enteral composition may be in the form of dried kibbles, meat emulsions, and formulated emulsion products.


A system and method for accessing a wireless network from a handset connected to a public wiring network are described. A request to establish a communication is received from a user interface. A connection path is determined for the communication based on an identification parameter of the communication. Finally, the communication is transmitted along the connection path.

A vast majority of the telephone systems installed in private residences and offices are configured to include one connection to a public wiring network, such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN), which services all handsets existent in the residence or in the office. This method of distributing a telephone signal allows each handset to access the public telephone network in order to establish a telephone communication. Each handset may access the public telephone network to establish a local communication, within a predetermined local area code, or a long distance communication, outside of the predetermined local area code.
Generally, the connection to the public wiring network requires a service agreement with two telephone service providers, one providing access to local communications only, and the other providing access to long distance communications only. Alternatively, one service provider may provide access to both local and long distance communications.
Recently, a method has been developed to bypass either service provider by dialing a number of predetermined access digits, thereby connecting to a remote service provider. However, in any of the above-mentioned situations, communications are transmitted along the lines of the public wiring network. As a result, customers are restricted to certain local and long distance pricing set by companies providing service within the public wiring network.

System and method for accessing a wireless network from a handset connected to a public wiring network


A bending method for producing a coil using a thick wall pipe, comprising a simultaneous hot bending and pressing of the pipe by which it is possible to obtain a coil without welded 180° elbows since the return sections are integral part of the pipe.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to water cooled panels for electric arc furnaces and more particularly to a water cooled panel having a tubular design comprised by a coil formed by a thick wall pipe in which the 90° & 180° elbows are integral to the tube, and to its forming method.
B. Description of the Related Invention
Temperatures higher than 2300° F. are generated inside the electric arc furnaces, therefore, in order to avoid structural damages, water cooled panels are used in order to maintain the temperature of the structure below the failing point.
Typically, an electric arc furnace has several cooling systems. Normally, those systems comprise a cooling liquid recirculation circuit passing through all the elements of the furnace exposed to high temperatures. The water circulating inside the circuits, passes through the elements that need to be cooled such as Shell & Roof panels, gas exhaust Ducts, etc., in order to remove heat from those elements and subsequently transfer that heat to the environment using a cooling tower or an equivalent device.
The cooling circuit is typically comprised by several feeding pumps, return pumps, filters, one or more cooling towers as well as supervision and control instruments. The key elements of the furnace normally have instruments to monitor the flow, pressure and temperature of the water.
For most water cooled equipment, a flow interruption or an inadequate volume of water circulating through the cooling system may cause a serious thermal overload and sometimes a catastrophic failure.
Current electric arc furnaces have a variable quantity of water cooled panels mounted on a support frame, which allows for quick individual replacement of each panel. By cooling the furnace structure, thermal expansion and thermal stress are avoided which may cause gaps between panels. Water cooled panels allow the furnace to withstand high temperatures without suffering any structural damage. In old design electric arc furnaces, such high temperatures may have caused a higher erosion rate of the refractory walls and damages to the furnace shell.
Furthermore, cooling coils are used in the gas exhaust Ducts in order to cool said Ducts and avoid a structural damage and to cool down the gases to an adequate temperature for the filters to which the gases are conducted.
Typically the water cooled panels have a tubular design and comprise a hydraulic circuit requiring more than one pipe. In order to conduct the water from one pipe to the next one in the circuit, 90° & 180° elbows are used. This kind of hydraulic circuit is normally called "coil".
The use of said 180° elbows allows for a gap between the pipes that ranges from 0 to approximately a distance equivalent to the diameter of the pipe. Said 180° elbows are formed (cast, forged) independently of the pipes and are welded to the end of each pipe.
The process of welding an elbow to the ends of the pipes is costly, time consuming and creates a potential failure point.
Furthermore, the internal welded seams may cause additional pressure losses when the coil is in operation, reducing the eficiency of the entire cooling system.
Based on the above referred problems, the applicant developed a novel pipe bending method, comprising a simultaneous hot bending and pressing of the pipe by which it makes possible to obtain a coil without welded 180° elbows since they are integrally formed with the pipe.
By using the above referred novel process it is possible to bend a thick wall pipe to obtain a 180° elbow, with a gap between straight pipe sections which can go down to zero inches.
The method of the present invention may be applied to pipes made of carbon steel, copper (and its alloys), stainless steel, low alloy steel, aluminum, etc. in order to produce tubular cooling coils for electric arc furnaces elements such as shell & roof panels, tunnels, slag doors, sump panels, deltas, rings, ducts, drop out boxes, post-combustions chambers, etc.
The water pressure losses obtained with the novel method are equal or lower than the pressure losses obtained with the coils having welded elbows, thus optimizing the amount of electric energy used by the pumps which circulate the water through the cooling system.


An engine diagnostic tool for simulating turbocharger operation within an engine of a motor vehicle, while the engine is not running, includes a turbocharger with an air inlet, an inner surface and an outer surface. The diagnostic tool includes a plug adapted to sealingly engage the inlet of the turbo. The plug includes an aperture for supplying pressurized air to the inlet. The diagnostic tool also includes a clamp adapted to selectively restrict movement of the plug relative to the inlet. The clamp is adapted to be removably coupled to the inlet.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method to perform vehicle engine diagnostic tests. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an arrangement to simulate turbocharger operation without running the vehicle engine.
2. Discussion
Vehicles having engines equipped with turbochargers have presented a challenge to service technicians and other repair personnel attempting to diagnose the cause of a customer complaint. The diagnosis is challenging due to the method in which the turbocharger functions. As is commonly known, a turbocharger is an air pump used to increase the volume of air entering into the combustion chamber of the engine. The increased air volume thereby increases the power output of the engine. The turbocharger is driven by a turbine located in the exhaust gas path. Accordingly, as engine speed increases, exhaust gas volume increases to turn the turbine at an increased rate. Subsequently, intake air pressure, or boost, also increases. Using this mechanism, the turbocharger supplies a charge of air to the engine at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Therefore, to properly diagnose turbocharger operation, air pressures greater than atmospheric must be generated. Unfortunately, the higher pressures have typically been generated by running the engine at a relatively high speed while attempting to diagnose the problem.
Performing engine diagnostics while the engine is operating at a very high speed it is undesirable for a variety of reasons. When an engine is operating near maximum RPM, its power output is also near its maximum. If the energy is inadvertently released, the likelihood of damage to engine components and service personnel working nearby is high. Additionally, the difficulty of diagnosing a leak within the intake air system greatly increases because of the noise generated from the engine operating at a high speed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for engine diagnostics by generating the boost pressure created by a turbocharger without requiring the engine to be running.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable, cost effective tool for variably pressurizing the charge air cooling system of an engine equipped with a turbocharger.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for quickly and accurately determining the cause of a customer complaint associated with the turbocharger system.
The present invention pertains to an engine diagnostic tool for simulating turbocharger operation within an engine of a motor vehicle while the engine is not running. The turbocharger includes an air inlet having an inner surface and an outer surface. The diagnostic tool includes a plug adapted to sealingly engage the inlet of the turbo. The plug includes an aperture for supplying pressurized air to the inlet. The diagnostic tool also includes a clamp adapted to selectively restrict movement of the plug relative to the inlet. The clamp is adapted to be removably coupled to the inlet.

Method and apparatus for vehicle engine diagnostics


A vehicle seat is equipped with a base frame, a seatback and a seat cushion. A lower end side of a seatback frame is joined to the base frame via a recliner shaft. A cushion joining portion is provided at a front end side of the lower end side of the seatback frame relative to the recliner shaft. The cushion joining portion turns to a seat lower side and seat rearward side about the recliner shaft when the seatback is tilted forward. A rear end side of a seat cushion frame is joined to the cushion joining portion to be turnable about a joining shaft. A front portion side of the seat cushion frame is supported at the base frame to be movable to follow the turning of the cushion joining portion when the seatback is tilted forward.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat at which a seatback may be tilted forward.
2. Related Art
In an automobile seat device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 11-334421, a seating portion (seat cushion) of a rear seat is joined to a floor panel via a parallel link mechanism. This parallel link mechanism supports the seat cushion at a floor panel to enable swinging of the seat cushion between a forward position and a rearward position. A seat rear resting portion (seatback) is joined to a rear end portion of the seat cushion via a recliner mechanism, and the seatback may tilt onto the seat cushion (tilt forward). Thus, space in a luggage compartment may be increased.
However, an automobile seat device with the structure described above has a constitution in which the seat cushion does not displace to the lower side relative to the forward position or rearward position thereof. Consequently, in the state in which the seatback is tilted onto the seat cushion, a height at which the seatback is disposed may not be low enough. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the matter of increasing space above the seatback.


An anti-reflection structure; includes: a plurality of convex parts arranged at pitches each of which is shorter than a wave length of a visible light ray, each of the convex parts being formed into one of a substantially truncated cone and a substantially truncated pyramid, each including: i) a base face formed into one of a base circle and a base polygon inscribed in the base circle, a) the base circle and b) the base circle circumscribing about the base polygon each having a base diameter Db meeting the following expression: 100 nm<Db<380 nm, ii) an upper face formed into one of an upper circle and an upper polygon inscribed in the upper circle, a) the upper circle and b) the upper circle circumscribing about the upper polygon each having an upper diameter Du meeting the following expression: 5 nm<Du<50 nm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an anti-reflection fine structure which is excellent in light anti-reflectivity and scratch proof. Moreover, the present invention relates to an anti-reflection mold body having the above anti-reflection fine structure, where the anti-reflection mold body as a non-reflecting panel is preferably used for such applications as i) various meters of vehicles (including automobile), ships, aircrafts and the like, ii) display devices, and the like. Furthermore, the present invention relates a method of producing the anti-reflection mold body. Still furthermore, the present invention relates to an automobile part having the above anti-reflection fine structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
An outside light or an inside illumination and the like inputted as an image into a screen of various display devices such as liquid crystal display, CRT display and the like, for more practical examples, into a screen of home-use television, as the case may be, remarkably decreases visibility of the image.
Moreover, in a driver seat of an automobile, a display part receiving various meters such as speedometer, fuel meter and the like has a front face in which a meter front cover is installed. The vehicle's outer scenery inputted as an image into the display part through a front window (windshield) or a side window, as the case may be, makes various displays less visible. In this case, a meter hood is designed on the display part, thus preventing the outside light incidence into the meter display.
A known structure for preventing reflection of the above light includes a multi-layer anti-reflection film including a plurality of thin films having different refractive indexes. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-267815, however, discloses an anti-reflection structure using a fine structure for further decreasing the reflection ratio than the above multi-layer anti-reflection film.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-267815 discloses an anti-reflection structure where a myriad of fine irregularities (convexes and concaves) made of transparent raw material are formed on a surface of a transparent molded article. Forming pitches each less than or equal to a light wave length varies light refractive indexes in thickness direction.

Anti-reflection fine structure, anti-reflection mold body, method of producing the anti-reflection mold body, and automobile part


A method of image processing for transforming an input image with a first resolution into an output image with a second resolution is provided. The input image is defined with a plurality of input pixels, and the output image is defined with a plurality of output pixels. The method includes the steps of interpolating pixel values of the plurality of input pixels based on a contrast coefficient, gathering a first group and a second group of input pixels from the plurality of input pixels, corresponding to an output pixel, based on a scale between the first and second resolutions, wherein a displayed area distributed by the first group of input pixels interlaces a displayed area distributed by the output pixel but a displayed area distributed by the second group of input pixels is separated away from the displayed area of the output pixel, generating a plurality of control coefficients, and determining a value of the output pixel based on the plurality of control coefficients, the first group of input pixels and the second group of input pixels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing method and device, and more particularly, to a method and device to flexibly scaling up and scaling down an image.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a digital image processing system, scaling or resizing an image is an important function. A conventional flat display provides various resolutions such as 640 pixels by 480 pixels, 800 pixels by 600 pixels, 1024 pixels by 768 pixels, 1280 pixels by 1024 pixels, while the amount of pixels is adjustable. Different scaling methods cause different clarity and contrast of image output. In traditional duplication and removal method, duplicating a pixel based on required scale produces an addition of pixels with identical intensity. However, by using such method, a saw edge of an image is shown as the image is enlarged by non-integrate times (e.g. 1.33 times) or a much higher enlargement, while a distortion of the image occurs as the image is shrunk. By contrast, another method using linear interpolation by which an addition of pixels is produced depending on location and intensity of adjacent pixels has a better image quality without an obvious saw edge of the scaled image. Such prior art methods are disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. 452757 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,704,463, hereby incorporated by reference.

Mixing 2-D gradient-difference and interpolation/decimation method and device for scaling a digital image


An access point of a wireless network broadcasts directory information including a schedule on a first broadcast channel about media programs being broadcast on other channels by the access point. The broadcast on the first channel provides for sleep-mode clients to receive the broadcast. A client receives the schedule, and in order to receive a particular media program at a scheduled time switches to a particular one of the other channels and to wakeup state to receive a particular program.

The present invention is related to wireless networks, and in particular to a method and system for broadcasting media via a wireless local area network (WLAN) using a hierarchical channel structure.
Wireless local area networks (WLANs) such as wireless networks conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard are being rapidly deployed, e.g., to provide users with access to corporate IT networks, and to provide access to the Internet. For example, WLANs are being deployed in office environments, hot spots such as airports, camping sites, cafes, etc., and also in municipalities in the form of outdoor mesh networks.
WLANs provide for unicast communication, and also provide for extending the MAC-level broadcast/multicast mechanism out to radio interfaces. Broadcast/multicast adaptation to WLAN works well for data. However, present day IEEE 802.11 multicast/broadcast is not well suited to dealing with time-sensitive applications such as audio and/or video (in general multimedia).
With the present day IEEE 802.11 standard, transmissions of broadcast/multicast data is required to line up with DTIM beacons so that power saving can be implemented. To allow more bandwidth for client communications, there can be multiple beacon intervals between two consecutive DTIM beacons. Such scheduling does not favor time-sensitive traffic such as voice and video.
In addition, with the present day IEEE 802.11 standard, the channel structure is flat. For purposes of broadcasting media data, it would be advantageous to broadcast a directory or other information about what media is being broadcast, as well as the actual media that the directory informs on. The existing IEEE 802.11 broadcast/multicast mechanism has no provision for such a hierarchy of information. The one plain, flat structure with absence of a directory makes it hard for users to select media to receive. It also would be advantageous to provide a mechanism for charging for programming. Having a hierarchy of information would provide for viewers to see what is being charged for what programming.
Thus there is a need in the art for a mechanism suitable for broadcasting media such as audio and/or video over wireless networks, e.g., WLANs.

Multiple broadcast channels for wireless networks


A display panel includes a plurality of unit light emission areas (light emission elements) arranged in a matrix. Each unit light emission area is defined by a first discharge cell and a second discharge cell. The second discharge cell has a light-absorbing layer. When the display panel is driven to express an image having a plurality of gradation levels, address discharge is selectively caused in the second discharge cells in accordance with an input image signal. Light leaks to the first discharge cell from the second discharge cell upon the address discharge. This light is used to express the gradation of low luminance. Since luminance difference between gradation levels of a low luminance image is reduced, it is possible to display a high quality, low luminance image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of driving a display panel including light-emitting elements arranged in a matrix.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a plasma display panel (referred to as "PDP") in which a number of discharge cells are arranged in a matrix has drawn attention as a two-dimensional image display panel. The PDP is directly driven by a digital image signal and the number of gradation levels (the number of luminance levels, gradation sequence) expressable by the PDP is decided by the number of bits of each pixel data included in the digital image signal.
A subfield method is known as a gradation sequence display method for the PDP. The subfield method divides a display period of one field into a plurality of subfields, and drives each discharge cell for each subfield. Each subfield includes an address period for setting each pixel in a lighting mode or a light extinguishing mode in accordance with the image data (pixel data) and an illumination maintaining (sustaining) period for only lighting a pixel in the lighting mode for a period determined by weighting of the subfield concerned. In other words, whether or not a discharge cell should be illuminated within each subfield (address period) is decided for each subfield, and only the discharge cell in the lighting mode is illuminated for a period (i.e., an illumination sustaining period) allocated to this subfield. Accordingly, one field may include one or more subfields in an illumination state and one or more subfields in a light extinguishment (extinction) state. Therefore, an intermediate (gray) luminance is created or perceived for that one field in accordance with a sum of the illumination periods of all the subfields in that one field.
One conventional method of driving a PDP is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid-Open Publication) No. 2001-154630. FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a light emission driving format for the PDP taught by this Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2001-154630. One field of an image signal is divided into twelve subfields SF1 to SF12, and driving of the PDP is executed for each subfield. Basically, each subfield includes an address stage Wc and an illumination (light emission) sustaining stage Ic. The address stage Wc sets each discharge cell of the PDP in either a lighting mode (i.e., an operable mode) or a light extinguishing mode (i.e., a nonoperable mode) on the basis of the input image data. The illumination sustaining stage Ic illuminates only a discharge cell in the lighting mode for a period (number of times) in accordance with weighting of the subfield concerned. It should be noted that an all-reset stage Rc is executed to initialize all the discharge cells of the PDP to the lighting mode in only the first subfield SF1 at the front end of the field, and an elimination (light extinction) stage E is executed in only the last subfield SF12 at the rear end of the field.
FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings shows the relationship among pixel drive data GD obtained by applying a conversion process (will be described) to the pixel data, gradation levels (gradation sequence) corresponding to the pixel drive data GD, and a light emission driving pattern of the discharge cells in accordance with the pixel drive data GD. A similar diagram can be found in the above mentioned Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2001-154630.
By sampling an image signal, for example, pixel data of 8 bits can be obtained. The pixel data then undergoes a multi-gradation (grayscale) process, so that multi-gradation image data (pixel data) PDS is generated, of which the bit number is reduced to 4 bits, while maintaining the present number of gradation levels. The multi-gradation image data PDS is converted into the pixel driving data GD including first to twelfth bits in accordance with the conversion table shown in FIG. 2. The first to twelfth bits correspond to the subfields SF1 to SF12, respectively.
FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrates application timing of various driving pulses to row electrodes and column electrodes of the PDP in accordance with the light emission driving format shown in FIG. 2. A similar diagram can be found in the above mentioned Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2001-154630. FIG. 3 shows the driving of the PDP by a selective light-extinction method (one reset-one selective light extinction address method).
First, in the all-reset stage RC of the subfield SF1, a reset pulse RPX having a negative polarity is applied to row electrodes X1 to Xn. In parallel with application of such a reset pulse RPX, a reset pulse RPY having a positive polarity is applied to row electrodes Y1 to Yn. As a result of application of the reset pulses RPx and RPY, all discharge cells of the PDP are reset-discharged, so that a wall electric charge of a certain amount is equally formed within each of the discharge cells. All the discharge cells are therefore initialized into the lighting mode (illumination mode).
Next, at the address stage Wc of each subfield, a pixel data pulse DP having a voltage corresponding to a logic level of a pixel driving data bit DB (DB1 to DB12) is generated. The pixel driving data bits DB1 to DB12 correspond to the first to twelfth bits of the pixel driving data GD. For example, at the address stage WC of the subfield SF1, the pixel driving data bit DB1 is first converted to a pixel data pulse having a voltage corresponding to a logic level of the pixel driving data bit DB1. Then, a pixel datapulse group DP11 having m pixel data pulses for the first display line is prepared, a pixel data pulse group DP12 having m pixel data pulses for the second display line is prepared, . . . and a pixel data pulse group DP1n having m pixel data pulses for the nth display line is prepared. These pixel data pulse groups DP11 to DP1n are sequentially applied to the column electrodes D1 to Dm.
In the address stage Wc, a scan pulse SP with a negative polarity is sequentially applied to the row electrodes Y1 to Yn at the same timing as the application timing of the pixel data pulse groups DP. As a result, discharge (selected light-extinction discharge) occurs only in those discharge cells which are located at crossings of row electrodes to which the scan pulse SP is applied and column electrodes to which the high voltage pixel data pulse is applied, and the wall electric charge remaining in these discharge cells is eliminated.
According to such selected light-extinction discharge, the selected discharge cells shift from the light emitting mode to the light extinguishing mode. On the other hand, other discharge cells, in which the selected light-extinction discharge does not occur, maintain the initial condition (i.e., the light emitting mode) because the discharge cells are initialized to the light emitting mode at the all-reset stage Rc.
At the illumination sustaining stage Ic of each subfield, as shown in FIG. 3, light emission sustaining pulses IPX and IPY with a positive polarity are alternately applied to the row electrodes X1 to Xn and row electrodes Y1 to Yn. At the illumination sustaining stage Ic, the sustaining pulses IP are applied such that the numbers of the sustaining pulses IP applied to the subfields SF1 to SF12 have a predetermined ratio. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 1, the ratio of the application numbers of the light emission maintaining pulses IP for the subfields are as follows;                SF1:SF2:SF3:SF4:SF5:SF6:SF7:SF8:SF9:SF10:SF11:S12=1:2:4:7:11:14:20:25:33:40:48:50.
The discharge cells in which the wall electric charge remains, namely, the discharge cells set to the lighting mode at the address stage Wc only perform the illumination-sustaining-discharge upon application of the illumination-sustaining pulses IPX and IPY. Accordingly, each of the discharge cells set to the lighting mode maintains the light emitting condition (light emission sustaining discharge) for a period corresponding to the numbers of the discharging, which is allocated to the subfield concerned.
A light extinction (elimination) stage E is executed only in the subfield SF12 at the rear end of the field. At the light extinction stage E, a light extinction (elimination) pulse AP with a positive polarity is generated and applied to the column electrodes D1 to Dm. In parallel with the application of the light extinction pulse AP, another light extinction pulse EP with a negative polarity is generated and applied to each of the row electrodes Y1 to Yn. The simultaneous application of the light extinction pulses AP and EP triggers the light extinction discharge within all the discharge cells in the PDP, so that the wall electric charges remaining in the discharge cells are all eliminated. As a result of such electric-charge-elimination discharge, all the discharge cells in the PDP are set to the light extinction mode.
In the above described driving method, the selected discharge for light extinguishment in the following manner takes place at a particular subfield; only discharge cells in the light emitting state in the immediately preceding subfield are selected for light extinguishing discharge in the address stage. Thus, if the N (e.g., twelve) subfields are sequentially lit from the front (first) subfield, N+1 (thirteen)-gradation-level display is created. By summing up the numbers of the light emission sustaining discharges in the subfields, the grayscale image having luminance in accordance with the input image signal is created.
Since a characteristic of a human vision has a logarithmic property, human eyes are sensitive to variations in the gradation sequence in a dark image. In the above described PDP driving method, the luminance difference between the first gradation level, which represents the lowest luminance 0, and the second gradation level, which represents the second lowest luminance, is given (determined) by the luminance of the light obtained from the light emission sustaining discharge. Since it is difficult to decrease the luminance of the discharge to a desired level, it is not possible to create intermediate luminance which faithfully represents the input image signal when a relatively dark image (low luminance image) is displayed.


An exemplary video recording method of recording an output video sequence for an image capture module includes at least the following steps: deriving a first video sequence from an input video sequence generated by the image capture module, wherein the first video sequence is composed of a plurality of video frames; calculating an image quality metric value for each of the video frames of the first video sequence; referring to the image quality metric value to select or drop each of the video frames of the first video sequence, and accordingly obtaining a second video sequence composed of selected video frames; and generating the recorded output video sequence according to the second video sequence.

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to video recording, and more particularly, to a video recording method of recording an output video sequence for an image capture module and related video recording apparatus thereof.
Camera modules have become popular elements used in a variety of applications. For example, a smartphone is typically equipped with a camera module, thus allowing a user to easily and conveniently take pictures by using the smartphone. However, due to inherent characteristics of the smartphone, the smartphone is prone to generate blurred images. For example, the camera aperture and/or sensor size of the smartphone is typically small, which leads to a small amount of light arriving at each pixel in camera sensor. As a result, the image quality may suffer from the small camera aperture and/or sensor size.
Besides, due to lightweight and portability of the smartphone, the smartphone tends to be affected by hand shake. Specifically, the shake of the smartphone will last for a period of time. Hence, any picture taken during this period of time would be affected by the hand shake. An image deblurring algorithm may be performed upon the blurred images. However, the computational complexity of the image deblurring algorithm is very high, resulting in considerable power consumption. Besides, artifact will be introduced if the image deblurring algorithm is not perfect.
Moreover, a camera module with an optical image stabilizer (OIS) is expensive. Hence, the conventional smartphone is generally equipped with a digital image stabilizer (i.e., an electronic image stabilizer (EIS)). The digital image stabilizer can counteract the motion of images, but fails to prevent image blurring.
In addition to the camera shake, the movement of a target object within a scene to be captured may cause the captured image to have blurry image contents. For example, considering a case where the user wants to use the smartphone to take a picture of a child, the captured image may have a blurry image content of the child if the child is still when the user is going to touch the shutter/capture button and then suddenly moves when the user actually touches the shutter/capture button.
As a result, when the camera module is affected by hand shake and/or there are moving objects within the scene to be captured, the video recording result would include video frames with bad quality.
Furthermore, it is possible that a target frame rate of an output video sequence is different from a frame rate of an input video sequence. For one example, an input video sequence may be adjusted by dropping video frames with bad quality, which leads to an output video sequence with a lower frame rate. For another example, the camera module may have the image capture capability higher or lower than the image capture capability needed for generating an output video sequence with a desired frame rate. For yet another example, as the camera aperture and/or sensor size of the smartphone is typically small, an extended exposure time may be used for brightness enhancement. As a result, an input video sequence with a lower frame rate is generated correspondingly.
Thus, there is a need for an innovative video recording design which is capable of generating an output video sequence which has a desired frame rate and is composed of video frames with good quality.

Video recording method of recording output video sequence for image capture module and related video recording apparatus thereof


An embodiment of the invention is directed to a pulse measuring system that measures a characteristic of an input pulse under test, particularly the pulse shape of a single-shot, nano-second duration, high shape-contrast optical or electrical pulse. An exemplary system includes a multi-stage, passive pulse replicator, wherein each successive stage introduces a fixed time delay to the input pulse under test, a repetitively-gated electronic sampling apparatus that acquires the pulse train including an entire waveform of each replica pulse, a processor that temporally aligns the replicated pulses, and an averager that temporally averages the replicated pulses to generate the pulse shape of the pulse under test. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for measuring an optical or an electrical pulse shape. The method includes the steps of passively replicating the pulse under test with a known time delay, temporally stacking the pulses, and temporally averaging the stacked pulses. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for increasing the dynamic range of a pulse measurement by a repetitively-gated electronic sampling device having a rated dynamic range capability, beyond the rated dynamic range of the sampling device; e.g., enhancing the dynamic range of an oscilloscope. The embodied technique can improve the SNR from about 300:1 to 1000:1. A dynamic range enhancement of four to seven bits may be achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention are most generally related to the field of signal pulse measurement. More particularly, embodiments of the invention are directed to optical and electrical pulse measurement apparatus and methods.
2. Background Discussion
Nanosecond-length pulses are used in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, e.g., LIDAR, remote sensing, and laser-based inertial confinement fusion (ICF). It is particularly advantageous to be able to accurately measure the pulse shape of high contrast laser pulses used in ICF. Shape contrast refers to the complex temporal shape of an optical pulse. For example, a pulse might rise rapidly to a low, relatively-flat, plateau-region followed by a slow ramp to the peak of the pulse (a Gaussian would not be considered a complex shape). The shape contrast is the ratio of the peak of the pulse to the minimum feature amplitude that must be controlled. Thus the contrast may be considered as the ratio of the peak to the plateau. Alternatively, if the pulse has a sharp spike on the leading edge, followed by a valley and then a ramp up to the peak, the contrast would be considered the peak to valley ratio.
It is known that streak cameras or photodiodes in conjunction with oscilloscopes, for example, can be used for the measurement of nanosecond-length pulses, however, these apparatus and associated measurement techniques have recognized shortcomings. For example, the relatively slow update rate of single-shot, high-dynamic-range streak cameras limits their usefulness in applications that require real-time monitoring. Exemplary ICF applications include real-time pulse shape adjustment and diagnosis of intermittent problems.
The usefulness of oscilloscopes for the measurement of nanosecond-length pulses with picosecond-scale features has been limited by device performance constraints related to, for example, insufficient vertical resolution and/or effective number of bits. These constraints further limit the dynamic range capability for sufficiently measuring high-contrast pulse shapes with the oscilloscope measuring apparatus.
A conventional method for reducing noise on periodic signals involves averaging temporally sequential events. The technique has the advantage of reducing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by a factor of N1/2, where N represents the number of sequential events. However, the averaging process tends to wash out the non-repetitive, single-shot events, which becomes particularly important in the attempted diagnosis of intermittent failures. Moreover, acquisition speed in sequential averaging is reduced by a factor of N.
One reported approach to capture single-shot events involves actively replicating the pulse. The gain in an active fiber loop was used to maintain signal amplitude throughout the pulse train, but at the expense of amplifier noise added to the signal at every pass. Furthermore, the amplitudes of the resultant pulse train followed an exponential decay curve, limiting operation at high repetition rates.
Another reported approach to measure single-shot, ultra-fast optical waveforms involves compressing a large bandwidth laser signal and employing a fast optical gate to sample time-varying slices of different temporal portions of a replicated pulse train. This technique is inefficient in that it throws away a significant portion of signal photons in the measurement process.
The inventors have recognized the advantages and benefits associated with improved and new apparatus and methods for pulse measurement that address the shortcomings of currently available measurement apparatus and techniques as discussed herein and as further recognized by those skilled in the art. Moreover, the inventors recognize the advantages of being able to measure both optical and electrical pulses of nano-second duration and, further, the ability to measure pulse signal contrast having a dynamic range that exceeds the rated dynamic range of the particular measuring device.


An image of an article to be inspected is divided into image portions, and a search engine makes a comparison with the image portion and a library of reference images. The reference images have predetermined labels that indicate whether each indicates a defect or no defect. The one of the reference images that most closely matches the image portion is determined, and the label associated with the reference image is taken as indicating whether the image portion corresponds to a location with a defect or no defect. Locations indicated as being defective are considered candidate defects and may subsequently be inspected in more detail.

Electrical circuit inspection systems are well known, and include, for example, INSPIRE-9060™ and SK-75™ automated optical inspection systems available from Orbotech Ltd. of Yavne, Israel. These electrical circuit inspection systems employ multiple inspection channels.
After acquiring a gray level image, or a color image, of an electrical circuit to be inspected, in a first inspection channel an enhanced resolution binary image of the electrical circuit is generated from the acquired image and subsequently is analyzed to locate possible defects in the electrical circuit.
In parallel, in a second inspection channel, the gray level image is directly analyzed, typically to detect relatively small defects such as pinholes, copper splashes and fine short circuits. Analysis of the gray level image typically is performed with reference to various gray level characteristics of an image portion. The characteristics include a change in gray level values, such as a rise and/or a fall in gray level values, along various axes in the image portion. Very often the defects which are to be detected by gray level analysis are not readily visible to the naked eye, simply by human inspection of the gray level image. One reason for this difficulty is that the change in gray level values may appear insignificant to the naked eye, and the possible number of permutations of changes in gray level values, to be representative of defects or non-defects, can be relatively large.


A center webbed baseball glove which utilizes the natural fold of the human hand and folds into two equal halves increasing the utilizable surface area is provided. The center webbed glove is constructed from a pocket and back piece which are attached together to form a central pocket, a set of outer finger slots and a set of inner finger slots. The glove is worn by placing the pinky and ring fingers into the left outer finger slot, the middle and index fingers into the left inner finger slot, and the thumb into either the outer or inner right finger slots. The glove can be worn on the right hand by placing the thumb in the left inner or outer finger slots and placing the remaining fingers in the left finger slots of the glove.

The present invention relates to baseball or softball gloves. In particular, the present invention relates to a center webbed baseball glove which enhances a player's ability to catch a baseball by utilizing the natural fold of the player's hand and by increasing the exploitable surface area of the glove.
Whether a beginner or a professional, catching a baseball or softball is an essential skill which must be learned. Learning to catch a ball is especially difficult for younger players because they have limited coordination and strength. This problem is further complicated by existing baseball glove designs. There are few, if any baseball gloves which are designed to aid younger players. For example, most children and adults have relatively weak thumb strength. Existing glove designs, however, are configured so that a player must bring his or her thumb across the palm of the hand in order to close the glove. An added consequence of this is that only one third of the glove closes onto itself thus providing a small percentage of the total surface area of the glove for catching a ball. Thus, existing gloves rely purely on thumb strength and provide small surface area for catching a ball. A younger player would be better served if he or she could use the full gripping motion which would close the ring, pinky, middle and index fingers across the palm and could rely on the entire surface area of the glove for catching a ball.
One solution for lessening the strength required for a player to catch a baseball or softball is to simply shrink the size of the glove to better fit the player's hand. A smaller glove requires less effort to close and is more manageable, however, the smaller surface area requires greater hand to eye coordination because the player must be more precise when aligning the ball with the web and pocket of the glove.
Another solution is suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,352 Ziedele! which discloses an enlarged glove with a symmetrical design. Ziedele fails, however, to realize any benefit from the symmetrical design because the glove utilizes a center finger slot surrounded by dual webbing. This finger positioning within Ziedele requires bringing the thumb across the wrist relying purely upon thumb strength to close the glove. Moreover, this finger positioning causes Ziedele to fold unevenly, thus under utilizing the surface area of the glove.
Therefore, it is desired that a baseball glove be provided which utilizes the natural fold of the human hand and increases the surface area of the glove which is used to catch a baseball.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a baseball glove which allows a player to catch a ball by squeezing the pinky, ring, middle and index fingers across the palm of the hand.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a baseball glove which features a center web and central pocket.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a baseball glove which is symmetrical and folds in half across a vertical centerline.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a baseball glove which prevents a ball from directly impacting with the palm of the hand.
Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a baseball glove which can be worn by a left or right handed player.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Provided is a method for producing an imide ether compound in high yield. The method is characterized in that a nitrile compound, an alcohol, and a hydrogen halide are continuously introduced into a flow reaction device comprising a mixer and a flow reactor, to be subjected to a reaction. Because a reaction proceeds in a ratio of 1:1 by a flow reactor, selectivity is improved and generation of by-products is decreased, and thus an imide ether compound can be efficiently produced.

An imide ether compound is a useful compound as a raw material of ortho-ester compound or the like, which is widely used in medical drug, agricultural chemical and industrial fields. By subjecting an alphatic nitrile or an aromatic nitrile, alcohol and hydrogen chloride, as raw materials, to a reaction, an imide ether hydrochloride, which is solid at normal temperature, can be formed.
Several methods for producing an imide ether compound are also known, for example, a method for generating an acetimide ether hydrochloride is disclosed (JP-B-61-28663), wherein the first step is carried out to react an alcohol in an amount of 0.3 to 0.6 mole and hydrogen chloride in an amount of 1.0 to 1.5 moles, relative to 1 mole of acetonitrile, and then by the addition of 0.4 to 0.8 mole of the alcohol into the resultant reaction liquid, the second step is carried out to continue an acetimide etherification reaction in the co-presence of a dispersing medium. Because an objective substance is deposited as crystal with progress of the acetimide etherification, and thickening of slurry-like reaction liquid makes it difficult to introduce theoretical amount of hydrogen chloride gas, the first step is carried out while suppressing deposition of the crystal by using 0.3 to 0.6 mole of the alcohol in advance, and then acetimide etherification reaction is completed by the further addition of the alcohol to the resultant reaction liquid in carrying out the second step. It should be noted that the dispersing medium is added to secure fluidity in the second step.
In addition, a method for generating an alkyl imide ether hydrochloride by the addition of a nitrile compound into an alcohol solution dissolved with hydrogen chloride is also disclosed (JP-A-2000-191618). The present invention was developed in view of a problem that the method for blowing hydrochloric gas into an alcohol solution of an aliphatic nitrile generates simultaneously the heat of dissolution of hydrogen chloride into a solvent and the heat of reaction, and heat generation amount is too much, and thus makes control of reaction temperature difficult. Namely, by dissolving hydrogen chloride into the alcohol in advance, heat of dissolution of hydrogen chloride during the reaction is suppressed, thereby reaction temperature is controlled and workability is improved.
In the meantime, in the production step of a compound, various reaction apparatuses are used. For example, in a method for producing an alkaline metal salt of glycine in which glycinonitrile and alkaline metal hydroxide are subjected to a reaction in the presence of water solvent, the reaction is carried out using a stirring tank flow reactor pressurized so that partial pressure of ammonia becomes at least equal to or higher than 0.2 MPa, and the reaction of the resultant reaction solution is completed in a liquid-sealing type tubular flow reactor (JP-A-2003-192650). By introduction ammonia into the stirring tank flow reactor while increasing a pressure so that partial pressure of ammonia becomes at least equal to or higher than 0.2 MPa, the reaction can be completed in a liquid sealing state, without vaporization of by-produced ammonia gas, and coloring of the reaction solution can be suppressed by setting arbitrarily ammonia concentration in a system.
In addition, a method for producing a concoction containing skin cosmetic ingredients, by the procedure step for inducing the concoction or the like, containing skin cosmetic ingredients, by an apparatus having a microstructure unit such as a micro-mixer or the like, is known (JP-A-2003-321325). It is an object of this invention to attain homogenization by using a micro-mixer or the like, in view of a problem that degree of homogenization affects quality or the like of final products in an emulsion concoction, and non-uniformity of emulsion particles has conventionally not fulfilled sufficient effect.
In addition, a method for producing a Friedel-Crafts type monoalkylation reaction substance in high selectivity, by subjecting an aromatic compound and an alkylating agent to a reaction in a micro-reactor, is also known (JP-A-2004-99443). In this reaction, mixing of 2 miscible liquids in micro-mixer results in rough spreading of relatively large fluid assembly throughout the reactor, turbulent diffusion by vortex, mixing in a gradually finer range, and then rapid progressing of a reaction in micro-space, by which high selectivity is provided.
It should be noted that "a micro-reactor" is a general name of a very small reactor having a micro fluid passage of several to several hundreds μm, having such features as:
(1) high heating and cooling rate
(2) laminar flow
(3) large surface area per unit volume
(4) rapid progress of a reaction due to short diffusion length of a substance

Method for producing imide ether compound