A solventless silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition is provided. The composition includes (A) a polyorganosiloxane with a polymerization degree of 300 to 2,000 and having at least two alkenyl group-containing organic groups, (B) a polyorganohydrosiloxane having at least three silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms, (C) a polydiorganosiloxane having alkenyl groups at both terminals, (D) a polydiorganosiloxane having SiH groups at both terminals, (E) a polyorganosiloxane composed of R23SiO1/2 units and SiO2 units (R2 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group), and (F) a platinum-based catalyst. The composition enables the prevention of problems caused by residual or volatilized organic substances, such as the absorption of ultraviolet radiation or the like, and also enables ready removal of the composition without deforming or damaging the adherend.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solventless silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes and pressure-sensitive adhesive labels that use a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive contain a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that exhibits excellent levels of heat resistance, cold resistance, weather resistance, electrical insulation and chemical resistance, and they are consequently used under severe conditions where organic pressure-sensitive adhesives such as acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives or rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesives would suffer deformation or degradation. Furthermore, because they also exhibit favorable adhesion to all manner of adherends, they are also used for bonding polyolefin resins, silicone resins, fluororesins and moisture-containing surfaces, which are difficult to bond using organic pressure-sensitive adhesives such as acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives or rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesives.
For example, during the production, processing or assembly of electronic or electrical componentry, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes containing a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive are used. When heat treatments are conducted during these productions steps, the electronic or electrical component or a member thereof often needs to be protected, masked or temporarily secured, either across the entire surface or at a portion of the surface of the component or member. A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape used for these types of applications, or a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape used in the production, securing or bonding of an electronic or electrical component that is exposed to high temperatures preferably employs a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive that exhibits favorable heat resistance even after heating at temperatures exceeding 250° C. However, modern production and processing steps for electronic or electrical componentry not only often include multiple stages in which heating, cooling, washing and irradiation and the like are conducted repeatedly, but are also requiring increasing levels of precision and complexity. Moreover, in order to prevent dust, processing is often conducted within an enclosed space such as a clean room or a clean booth.
If a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or pressure-sensitive adhesive label that uses a conventional silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive is bonded to, or used for masking, an adherend, and is subsequently subjected to a heat history at a high temperature of 100 to 250° C., then minute quantities of residual aromatic hydrocarbons within the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer such as toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene and benzene tend to volatilize. These aromatic hydrocarbons are contained within the silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. If a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape that uses a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive is used within the type of enclosed space described above for the production of an electronic or electrical component, volatile materials such as the above aromatic hydrocarbons are generated, and if ultraviolet irradiation is conducted in a subsequent step, then the ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the aromatic hydrocarbons, which can cause a deterioration in the efficiency of the irradiation step.
Moreover, recent electronic components continue to become smaller, more detailed and thinner. If protective masking is conducted using pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes that contain widely used pressure-sensitive adhesives, then when the masking tape is peeled away (removed) following completion of a specified treatment, the adhesive strength may sometimes be overly powerful, meaning fine structures on the electronic component that functions as the adherend, or even the electronic component itself, may undergo deformation or damage. Furthermore, when such electronic components are masked, the tape is sometimes bonded over a large surface area. When a masking tape that has been bonded over a large area is peeled away, if the adhesive strength is too powerful, then the peeling operation may be difficult, and the adherend may undergo deformation or damage. Furthermore, even in cases other than those using a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, such as when a pressure-sensitive adhesive-treated film is bonded to an adherend, if the adhesive strength of the pressure-sensitive adhesive film is overly powerful, then removal may be difficult, and the adherend may undergo deformation or damage. Examples of the adherend include all manner of electronic components, flat panel displays, window glass and wall surfaces, and examples of pressure-sensitive adhesive-treated films include dirt prevention films, scratch prevention films, anti-reflective films, light-shielding films, glass shatter-resistant films, and masking films for decoration or advertising.
Furthermore, in applications such as pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes and pressure-sensitive adhesive labels that are used for construction or interior decorating purposes, the surface of the adherend may either include a silicone resin or fluororesin, or be treated with a silicone resin or fluororesin, in order to provide the surface with favorable water repellency, oil repellency and/or dirt prevention properties. Because acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives do not exhibit favorable adhesion to these types of surfaces, silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives are often used. In the case of pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes and pressure-sensitive adhesive labels used in living environments, such as pressure-sensitive adhesive papers for bonding wallpaper, pressure-sensitive adhesive papers for bonding decorative sheets for furniture and the like, waterproof and airtight pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes for interior bonding applications, repair tapes, tapes for securing ornaments, pressure-sensitive adhesive films for shatter-resistant glass, light-shielding pressure-sensitive adhesive films and tapes for securing items inside vehicles, if residual aromatic hydrocarbon solvents are present, and these volatilize and accumulate within the interior airspace, then even if the quantities are extremely small, they can cause chemical substance allergies, sick house syndrome, and chemical substance hypersensitivity.
Furthermore, in applications where bonding is conducted directly to the skin, such as medicinal patches, sticking plasters, surgical tapes, and tapes for sports taping, the existence of residual aromatic hydrocarbon solvents can cause skin irritation.
In order to address these types of problems, a solventless silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition has been proposed that comprises an organopolysiloxane having lower alkenyl groups at both terminals of a straight-chain molecular chain, a polyorganosiloxane comprising R3SiO0.5 units and SiO2 units, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having at least two SiH groups within each molecule, and a platinum-based catalyst (see patent reference 1). However, this composition is prone to increases in the viscosity, can suffer from poor coating properties upon application to substrates, and exhibits a lower level of adhesive strength if the viscosity of the composition is reduced.
Furthermore, pressure-sensitive silicone adhesive compositions with a high solid fraction, in which the main components include a copolymer comprising R3SiO1/2 units and SiO4/2 units, an alkenyl group-terminated polydiorganosiloxane, and a hydride-terminated organohydrogenpolysiloxane are also known (see patent references 2 to 5). However, these compositions are also prone to increases in viscosity, can suffer from poor coating properties upon application to substrates, and exhibit a lower level of adhesive strength if the viscosity of the composition is reduced.
[Patent Reference 1] U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,882
[Patent Reference 2] EP 0506370 A2
[Patent Reference 3] EP 0506371 A2
[Patent Reference 4] EP 0506372 A2
[Patent Reference 5] EP 0581539 A2

Solventless silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition


A calibration device for a switchable antenna array, distinguished by the following improvements provides at least two inputs of two or more available inputs of the beam forming network fed simultaneously and/or jointly and/or in the same phase. The antenna elements have been trimmed in advance in order to produce intermediate lobes or further different azimuth beam directions, such that the individual lobes which are produced when at least two inputs are connected can be added with the correct phase.

A known type of antenna array normally has two or more primary antenna elements arranged alongside one another and one above the other, resulting in a two-dimensional array arrangement. These antenna arrays, which are also known by the expression "smart antennas" are used, for example, in the military field for tracking targets (radar). However, recently, these antennas are also being increasingly used for mobile radio, in particular in the 800 MHz to 1000 MHz, and 1700 MHz to 2200 MHz frequency bands.
The development of new primary antenna element systems has also made it possible to construct dual-polarized antenna arrays, in particular with a polarization alignment of +45° or −45° to the horizontal or vertical.
Irrespective of whether they are fundamentally composed of antenna elements with dual polarization or with only single polarization, antenna arrays such as these may be used for determining the direction of the incoming signal. At the same time, however, the transmission direction can also be varied by appropriate trimming of the phase angle of the transmission signals which are fed into the individual columns, that is to say selective beam forming is carried out.
This alignment of the antenna in different horizontal directions is carried out, for example, by means of a beam forming network. A beam forming network such as this may, for example, be formed from a so-called Butler matrix which, for example, has four inputs and four outputs. The network produces a different, but fixed phase relationship between the antenna elements in the individual dipole rows, depending on which input is connected. An antenna design such as this with a Butler matrix has been disclosed, by way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,243.
The antenna array which is known from the US patent cited above has, for example, four columns which run in the vertical direction and lie alongside one another in the horizontal direction, and in each of which four antenna elements or antenna element devices are accommodated one above the other. The four inputs for the antenna elements (which in some cases are also referred to as column inputs in the following text) which are arranged in each column are connected to the four outputs of an upstream Butler matrix. By way of example, the Butler matrix has four inputs. This upstream beam forming network in the form of a Butler matrix produces a different but fixed phase relationship between the antenna elements in the four columns in the normal manner depending on which input is connected, that is to say depending on which of the four inputs the connecting cable is connected to. Four different alignments of the main beam direction, and hence of the main lobe, are thus defined. Thus, in other words, the main beam direction can be set to different angular positions in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, of course, and in principle, the antenna array can also be provided with a down tilt device, in addition to this, to vary the depression angle of the main beam direction, and hence of the main lobe.
However, in principle, there are two major problems with antenna arrays such as these using beam forming networks connected in an appropriate manner upstream, for example in the form of a Butler matrix. On the one hand, the main beam direction can generally be adjusted in the azimuth direction only in predetermined steps, which are governed by the different connections corresponding to the number of inputs. By way of example, in the case of a Butler matrix with four inputs and four outputs, only four different azimuth angles can be set on the antenna array in this way.
Furthermore, a specific problem occurs when a Butler matrix is connected upstream for direction forming, since calibration is very complex in this case. This is because the Butler matrix results in the phase angle not being standard. Furthermore, two or more primary antenna elements of the antenna receive a portion of the signal, irrespective of which input of the Butler matrix is connected.
The exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology herein provides a calibration apparatus for a switchable antenna array, in particular for an antenna array with an upstream beam forming network, for example in the form of a Butler matrix, such that the improved calibration will allow the antenna array to be adjusted in the azimuth direction without any problems, with an even greater number of different angles for the beam direction. The exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology herein also provides an appropriate operating method for operating a corresponding antenna array.
It is surprising that it has now become possible, according to an exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, to use a beam forming network which is already known per se, for example in the form of a Butler matrix, to adjust the azimuth direction of the antenna array for further angular alignments in addition independently of the predetermined, for example, four, different inputs (via which the antenna can be set to four different transmission angles in the azimuth direction). According to a non-limiting implementation, this is possible in that at least one input of the beam forming network, for example in the form of the Butler matrix, but preferably at least two inputs of this network, is or are fed with an appropriately trimmed and calibrated phase angle, so that it is possible according to produce intermediate lobes, by way of example. It is thus possible to set the transmission directions of the antenna array to additional intermediate angles as well as the predetermined main angles.
In an exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, this is possible by phase trimming in advance for the antenna elements which are fed via the Butler matrix, in order that the individual lobes add in the correct phase when, for example, two inputs are connected.
This is preferably achieved in that it is possible to shift the phases upstream of the inputs of the beam forming network, for example in the form of the Butler matrix, at least with respect to the antenna elements which are arranged in some of the columns of the antenna array, such that the antenna elements which are fed are driven appropriately while at the same time connecting two or more inputs in order to achieve the desired swiveling of the lobe.
In the case of a 4×4 antenna array with four columns and in each case four antenna elements or antenna element groups, the phase angles of all the antenna elements are preferably shifted appropriately at the same time.
The calibration of the phase angle can preferably be carried out by means of phase control elements which are connected upstream of the corresponding inputs of the Butler matrix. Alternatively, this can also be carried out by using upstream additional lines to the Butler matrix, which must be chosen to have a suitable length to produce the desired phase trimming.
It has also been found to be advantageous to place appropriate probes on the antenna array itself, via which appropriate calibration signals can be received, in order to carry out the phase trimming by means of a calibration network.
Finally, still further improvement can also be achieved by the combination network containing lossy components. This is because these components contribute to reducing resonances.
Although the phase angle of the transmission from the input of the individual columns or of the antenna inputs is preferably of the same magnitude, the phase angle (or the group delay time) will, however, in practice differ to a greater or lesser extent from the ideal phase angle, due to tolerances. The ideal phase angle is that at which the phase for all the paths is identical, to be precise with respect to the beam forming as well. The discrepancies, which are to a greater or lesser extent dependent on the tolerance, are produced additively as an offset, or else as a function of frequency as a result of different frequency responses. The exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation herein proposes here that the discrepancies be measured over all the transmission paths, preferably on the path from the input to the antenna array or beam forming network to the probe output or input to probe outputs, and preferably over the entire operating frequency range (for example during production of the antenna). If coupling devices are used, the transmission paths are preferably measured over the path from the input to the antenna array or beam forming network to the coupling output or coupling outputs. This determined data can then be stored in a data record. This data, which is stored in suitable form, for example in a data record, can then be made available to a transmitting device or to the base station in order then to be taken into account for producing the phase angle of the individual signals electronically. It has been found to be particularly advantageous, for example, to associate this data, or the data record which has been mentioned, with the corresponding data for a serial number of the antenna.

Calibration apparatus for a switchable antenna array, and an associated operating method


A head gimbal assembly includes a suspension including a suspension flexure. The suspension flexure includes a step plate mechanically formed in the suspension flexure. A micro-actuator is mounted to the step plate of the suspension flexure. The step plate is constructed and arranged to support the micro-actuator such that a substantially constant gap is maintained between a top support of the micro-actuator and the suspension flexure in use.

One known type of information storage device is a disk drive device that uses magnetic media to store data and a movable read/write head that is positioned over the media to selectively read from or write to the disk.
Consumers are constantly desiring greater storage capacity for such disk drive devices, as well as faster and more accurate reading and writing operations. Thus, disk drive manufacturers have continued to develop higher capacity disk drives by, for example, increasing the density of the information tracks on the disks by using a narrower track width and/or a narrower track pitch. However, each increase in track density requires that the disk drive device have a corresponding increase in the positional control of the read/write head in order to enable quick and accurate reading and writing operations using the higher density disks. As track density increases, it becomes more and more difficult using known technology to quickly and accurately position the read/write head over the desired information tracks on the storage media. Thus, disk drive manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to improve the positional control of the read/write head in order to take advantage of the continual increases in track density.
One approach that has been effectively used by disk drive manufacturers to improve the positional control of read/write heads for higher density disks is to employ a secondary actuator, known as a micro-actuator, that works in conjunction with a primary actuator to enable quick and accurate positional control for the read/write head. Disk drives that incorporate a micro-actuator are known as dual-stage actuator systems.
Various dual-stage actuator systems have been developed in the past for the purpose of increasing the access speed and fine tuning the position of the read/write head over the desired tracks on high density storage media. Such dual-stage actuator systems typically include a primary voice-coil motor (VCM) actuator and a secondary micro-actuator, such as a PZT element micro-actuator. The VCM actuator is controlled by a servo control system that rotates the actuator arm that supports the read/write head to position the read/write head over the desired information track on the storage media. The PZT element micro-actuator is used in conjunction with the VCM actuator for the purpose of increasing the positioning access speed and fine tuning the exact position of the read/write head over the desired track. Thus, the VCM actuator makes larger adjustments to the position of the read/write head, while the PZT element micro-actuator makes smaller adjustments that fine tune the position of the read/write head relative to the storage media. In conjunction, the VCM actuator and the PZT element micro-actuator enable information to be efficiently and accurately written to and read from high density storage media.
One known type of micro-actuator incorporates PZT elements for causing fine positional adjustments of the read/write head. Such PZT micro-actuators include associated electronics that are operable to excite the PZT elements on the micro-actuator to selectively cause expansion or contraction thereof. The PZT micro-actuator is configured such that expansion or contraction of the PZT elements causes movement of the micro-actuator which, in turn, causes movement of the read/write head. This movement is used to make faster and finer adjustments to the position of the read/write head, as compared to a disk drive unit that uses only a VCM actuator. Exemplary PZT micro-actuators are disclosed in, for example, JP 2002-133803, entitled "Micro-actuator and HGA" and JP 2002-074871, entitled "Head Gimbal Assembly Equipped with Actuator for Fine Position, Disk Drive Equipped with Head Gimbals Assembly, and Manufacture Method for Head Gimbal Assembly." Other exemplary PZT micro-actuators are also disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,671,131 and 6,700,749.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional disk drive unit and show a magnetic disk 101 mounted on a spindle motor 102 for spinning the disk 101. A voice coil motor arm 104 carries a head gimbal assembly (HGA) 100 that includes a micro-actuator 105 with a slider 103 incorporating a read/write head. A voice-coil motor (VCM) is provided for controlling the motion of the motor arm 104 and, in turn, controlling the slider 103 to move from track to track across the surface of the disk 101, thereby enabling the read/write head to read data from or write data to the disk 101.
FIG. 3 illustrates the head gimbal assembly (HGA) 100 of the conventional disk drive device of FIGS. 1 and 2 incorporating a dual-stage actuator. However, because of the inherent tolerances of the VCM and the head suspension assembly, the slider 103 cannot achieve quick and fine position control which adversely impacts the ability of the read/write head to accurately read data from and write data to the disk. As a result, a PZT micro-actuator 105, as described above, is provided in order to improve the positional control of the slider and the read/write head. More particularly, the PZT micro-actuator 105 corrects the displacement of the slider 103 on a much smaller scale, as compared to the VCM, in order to compensate for the resonance tolerance of the VCM and/or head suspension assembly. The micro-actuator 105 enables, for example, the use of a smaller recording track pitch, and can increase the "tracks-per-inch" (TPI) value by 50% for the disk drive unit, as well as provide an advantageous reduction in the head seeking and settling time. Thus, the PZT micro-actuator 105 enables the disk drive device to have a significant increase in the surface recording density of the information storage disks used therein.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the HGA 100 includes a suspension 106 having a suspension tongue 108 to load the PZT micro-actuator 105 and the slider 103. Suspension traces 110 are provided on opposite sides of the suspension tongue 108.
Referring to FIG. 5, a conventional PZT micro-actuator 105 includes a metal frame 130 which has a top support 132, a bottom support 134, and two side arms 136, 138 that interconnect the two supports 132 and 134. The side arms 136, 138 each have a PZT element 140, 142 mounted on an outer surface for actuation. The slider 103 is supported on the top support 132.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the PZT micro-actuator 105 is physically coupled to the suspension tongue 108 by the bottom support 134 of the frame 130. The bottom support 134 may be mounted on the suspension tongue 108 by epoxy 158. Multiple connection balls, e.g., three electrical connection balls 150 (gold ball bonding or solder ball bonding, GBB or SBB), are provided to couple the PZT micro-actuator 105 to the suspension traces 110 located at the side of each PZT element 140, 142. In addition, there are multiple connection balls, e.g., four electrical connection balls 152 (GBB or SBB), for coupling the slider 103 to the suspension traces 110 for electrical connection of the read/write transducers. When power is supplied through the suspension traces 110, the PZT elements 140, 142 expand or contract to cause the two side arms 136, 138 to bend in a common lateral direction. The bending causes a shear deformation of the frame 130, e.g., the rectangular shape of the frame becomes approximately a parallelogram, which causes movement of the top support 132. This causes movement or lateral translation of the slider 103 connected thereto, thereby making the slider 103 move on the track of the disk in order to fine tune the position of the read/write head. In this manner, controlled displacement of slider 103 can be achieved for fine positional tuning.
Referring to FIG. 6, the load beam 160 of the suspension 106 has a dimple 162 formed thereon that engages the suspension tongue 108. A parallel gap 170 is provided between the suspension tongue 108 and the top support 132 of the micro-actuator frame 130 to allow the PZT micro-actuator 105 and slider 103 to move smoothly and freely in use. The gap 170 is important for micro-actuator operation and HGA performance.
Maintaining the parallel gap 170 is difficult when the micro-actuator 105 is assembled to the suspension 106. Since epoxy 158 is a soft material, the epoxy 158 may cause the micro-actuator 105 to tilt, e.g., gap 170 between the tongue 108 and micro-actuator 105 becomes smaller. The frame tilt will affect HGA performance, such as the pitch angle, roll angle, or interference between the micro-actuator and the suspension tongue. In addition, the frame tilt will affect HGA manufacturing costs.
Thus, there is a need for an improved system that does not suffer from the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Method and system of using a step plate mechanically formed in a disk drive suspension flexure to mount a micro-actuator to the flexure


Computer-aided method and apparatus for defining surfaces of a three-dimensional object on the basis of a three-dimensional wire-frame model, wherein a plurality of pairs of edges selected from edges which constitute the three-dimensional wire-frame model are sequentially pointed, each pointed pair consisting of two edges lying on the same plane, and a group of candidate edges is determined, the group consisting of the currently pointed pair of edges and at least one edge lying on the same plane as the edges of the currently pointed pair, so that those candidate edges of the determined group which cooperate to define a closed loop are determined as a set of closed-loop defining edges, and a surface of the three-dimensional object is defined on the basis of the set of closed-loop defining edges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for efficiently defining surfaces of a three-dimensional object from a three-dimensional wire-frame model as in a three-dimensional modeling system using a computer, such as computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A CAD or CAM system as disclosed in JP-A-62-251965 is adapted to newly design or re-design parts or products having a certain shape, by using wire-frame models which are relatively simple in data construction. In such a CAD or CAM system, the wire-frame models are automatically processed into desired solid models. While such wire-frame models enable a human being to imagine three-dimensional objects, each wire-frame model is nothing but a group of edges (segments), namely, consists of a list of coordinate values of vertices (apices) in a three-dimensional coordinate system, and a list of the edges or segments each connecting the adjacent vertices. Therefore, suitable processing of the wire-frame models is required to erase hidden lines, to obtain volumes or weights of the objects, or to convert them into solid models. The processing includes definition of a plurality of surfaces or faces which collectively define each three-dimensional object.
For defining the surfaces of an object from a three-dimensional wire-frame model, each of the edges is checked to determine whether this edge cooperates with any other edges connected thereto to define a closed loop. Each closed loop is defined or determined as a surface of the three-dimensional object corresponding to the wire-frame models.
To effect the above determination as to whether the closed loops are defined, multiple edges connected to each edge in question are sequentially pointed for the determination. Accordingly, the computer of the system requires a considerably long processing time for defining the surfaces from the wire-frame models. This is a drawback of the conventional system.

Method and apparatus for defining surfaces of three-dimensional object from three-dimensional wire-frame model


An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a body portion, the body portion having an acoustic output opening to output sound from a driver positioned therein into an ear of a user. An acoustic tuning member is positioned within the body portion. The acoustic tuning member defines a back volume chamber of the driver and includes an acoustic output port for outputting sound from the back volume chamber of the driver to improve an acoustic performance of the earphone.

Whether listening to an MP3 player while traveling, or to a high-fidelity stereo system at home, consumers are increasingly choosing intra-canal and intra-concha earphones for their listening pleasure. Both types of electro-acoustic transducer devices have a relatively low profile housing that contains a receiver or driver (an earpiece speaker). The low profile housing provides convenience for the wearer, while also providing very good sound quality.
Intra-canal earphones are typically designed to fit within and form a seal with the user's ear canal. Intra-canal earphones therefore have an acoustic output tube portion that extends from the housing. The open end of the output tube portion can be inserted into the wearer's ear canal. The tube portion typically forms, or is fitted with, a flexible and resilient tip or cap made of a rubber or silicone material. The tip may be custom molded for the discerning audiophile, or it may be a high volume manufactured piece. When the tip portion is inserted into the user's ear, the tip compresses against the ear canal wall and creates a sealed (essentially airtight) cavity inside the canal. Although the sealed cavity allows for maximum sound output power into the ear canal, it can amplify external vibrations, thus diminishing overall sound quality.
Intra-concha earphones, on the other hand, typically fit in the outer ear and rest just above the inner ear canal. Intra-concha earphones do not typically seal within the ear canal and therefore do not suffer from the same issues as intra-canal earphones. Sound quality, however, may not be optimal to the user because sound can leak from the earphone and not reach the ear canal. In addition, due to the differences in ear shapes and sizes, different amounts of sound may leak thus resulting in inconsistent acoustic performance between users.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Earphone having an acoustic tuning mechanism


A fluid distributor includes one or more fluid transport main pipe. The fluid transport main pipe is configured to assume a closed shape when its centerlines and/or centerline extensions are joined end-to-end. Each of the fluid transport main pipe has at least one fluid inlet and is connected with a plurality of fluid transport branch pipes. Each of the fluid transport branch pipes has a plurality of open pores disposed along the length of the fluid transport branch pipe and a connection portion. The connection portion is configured to connect the fluid transport branch pipe to the housing after the fluid transport branch pipe passes through the housing of the vessel into the inner cavity.

Acrylonitrile is an important chemical raw material of petrochemical industry, and the demand of acrylonitrile in the international market is increasing day by day, so that acrylonitrile production enterprises hope to further expand the capacity. The use of an increased reactor size allows the capacity to be increased without increasing the number of reactor equipment, and relatively, reduces the cost of equipment manufacture, and is therefore considered as a primary means of increasing capacity. It is known that during the production of acrylonitrile, the propylene ammonia fluid distributor is exposed to high temperatures for a long time, and the propylene ammonia mixed gas (hereinafter sometimes referred to as mixed gas) in the fluid distributor is continuously heated by the bed layer during the flow of the head pipe/main pipe/branch pipe (hereinafter sometimes referred to as conduit) of the fluid distributor. As the length of travel of the mixture in the conduit increases, the temperature of the mixture also rises. When the temperature of the mixed gas is higher than the temperature at which ammonia decomposes into active nitrogen atoms (hereinafter, this temperature is sometimes referred to as "nitriding temperature"), a part of ammonia decomposes into active nitrogen atoms and bonds with metal atoms in the conduit due to the continuous presence of free ammonia in the mixed gas to form brittle metal nitride, which is easily embrittled under operating conditions, and can cause the fracture of the fluid distributor, resulting in uneven distribution of ammonia and reduced reactivity, and in severe cases, the reactor is forced to stop for changing the distributor.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,690A uses a nitrided resistant alloy to make the distributor, but has proven to be unable to solve the problem of nitriding embrittlement during use by acrylonitrile manufacturing companies, due to certain problems and cost reasons specific to ammonia oxidation. CN1089596A proposes to add a layer of heat insulation on the outer surface of each conduit, so that the temperature of the ammonia-containing mixed gas in the conduit is lower than the nitriding reaction temperature.

Fluid distributor, reaction device and application thereof

Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology SINOPEC


There is provided a facility management support apparatus which manages visitors in a facility area, the apparatus includes: a place information storage unit for storing the degree of crowdedness in each of the places in the facility area; a receiving unit for receiving, from a terminal, information which enables identification of the location of the terminal; an extraction unit for extracting one of the places to which one of the visitors should move on the basis of the degree of crowdedness and the location of the terminal; and a transmission unit for transmitting, to the terminal, information which enables identification of the place to which the visitor should move.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for providing attractions including a game in a facility area such as a theme park.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, a multiplicity of facilities such as theme parks and amusement parks are established to offer services with various amusement machines and installations, services in restaurants, shops, etc., and attractions such as shows and parades.
Conventionally, in such facilities, amusement machines, installations, shops, attractions, etc., which provide services are independently managed. Therefore, there is a possibility of each place in a facility area being crowded or uncrowded depending on the popularity of an amusement machine, an installation, a shop, an attraction, or the like. For this reason, in some cases, it is difficult to perform service operations with efficiency by effectively using places, installations, shops, etc., in a facility area.
The method of restricting access or admission to an installation or an attraction to mitigate the degree of crowdedness in each place in such a situation has been practiced. Such a measure may displease visitors, reduce visitor's interest in installations and attractions, and cause a reduction in revisit rate to the facility area.

Facility management support apparatus, method, and medium for supporting management of visitors in facility area


A drilling guide assembly for drilling a bore into a pipe includes a first plate and a second plate. Each of a first panel and a second panel has a perimeter edge with a bottom edge and a top edge. The panels are attached to the first and second plates such that the first and second plates are spaced from each other and the panels are aligned. The bottom edges each have a slot therein. A drill bit guide has a lower section and an upper section. The lower section is positioned between the panels and the upper section is positioned on the top edges. An aperture through the drill bit guide and is alignable with a pipe positioned in the slots. A clamp member is attached to the upper section and selectively positions the drill bit guide on the first panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to drilling guide devices and more particularly pertains to a new drilling guide device for drilling a bore in a pipe so that the bore is aligned with an axis of the pipe.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of drilling guide devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,839 describes a device to be attached to drills for indicating the angle at which the drill is aligned with respect to the surface being drilled. Another type of drilling guide device is U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,058 which is adapted for supporting a drill so that the drill is stationary at a selected angle with respect to a surface to be drilled. Yet another such device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,708 that supports a drill at a selected angle with respect to a base in which may be positioned an item to be drilled.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that allows a person to drill or bore a hole into a pipe at a selected angle. Additionally, a device is needed that allows a person to drill a hole into a pipe that is curved so that the hole to be drilled is positioned as needed.


A well tool for removing metal debris from a well bore has a magnet element, an anti-torque anchor, a debris removal unit, a debris container and a first connecting end for a rotatable well string. The magnet element has a cylinder-shaped housing. The removal unit has a helix-shaped longitudinal guide element arranged on the housing. The anchor is connected to the housing or the guide element such that actuation of the anchor during use will prevent rotation of the housing or the guide element, respectively, relative the well-bore. The container has an opening at the end of the housing. The housing and the guide element are rotatable relative each other, and configured such that metal debris accumulating on the housing during use is guided by the guide element towards the opening of the container when the anchor is actuated and the first connecting end is rotated.

In connection with certain well bore operations such as drilling, milling etc. it is required to perform clean-up operations to remove metal debris, i.e. metal chips, shavings remaining in the well. Such debris may otherwise interfere with the proper function of the Blow-Out Preventer (BOP), or other valves present in the well. Metal debris must also be removed before a depleted well is finally plugged to avoid metal debris in the cement plug.
Presently, metal debris is commonly removed by running a downhole magnet into the well. Metal debris is attracted to the magnet. When the magnet has attracted a certain amount of metal debris its magnetic field is weakened and is no longer able to attract further debris. To continue the clean-up operation, the magnet must be returned topside to manually remove the metal debris. After debris removal, the magnet may again be run into the well.
After certain well operations, it is necessary to clean the well of metal debris. The requirement may for instance be that less than 0.5 kg of metal debris should remain in the well after clean-up. To fulfil such requirements, a prior art downhole magnet must commonly be run into the well, and returned topside, multiple times. Such operations are time consuming and, consequently, very costly.
WO 2014/133393 A1 discloses a well tool for removal of magnetic debris in a BOP and marine riser.
Well tools using helical impellers for removing debris from a well bore are disclosed in for instance US 2008/023033 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,058 B1 and CN 104033127 A.
WO 2016/155852 A1 discloses a well tool for removing metal debris from a well bore. The tool is described using a dedicated motor or rotary nozzle assembly for providing rotation between a cylinder-shaped magnetic element and a helical scrape.
The goal of the present invention is to provide a tool for removal of metal debris, which would alleviate or avoid at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art methods and tools.


The invention's first embodiment uses shape memory alloy (SMA) fibers that are blended into a concrete composite material as straight fibers and are made to deform themselves and anchor and interlock themselves after dispersement in the composite material resulting in a more evenly distributed and interlocked fiber reinforcement of the cementitious material. A self-shaping fiber can be imparted to the concrete material by making the fibers out of SMA such as nickel-titanium alloy known as nitinol where the cementitious composite material mixture is briefly heated above the "transition" temperature prior to hardening that causes the fibers to change shape. Nitinol fibers are used alone in place of conventional steel fibers. A second embodiment uses conventional coiled metal steel fiber combined with a SMA clip for retaining the coiled metal fiber during the blending of this clipped fiber into a cementitious material with required heating yielding a shape change of the coiled metal fibers ultimately resulting in improved reinforcement characteristics.

Non-straight reinforcement fibers in a mortar or concrete based matrix, i.e. bent or deformed fibers, perform satisfactorily because they are not readily pulled out of the hardened matrix. If the fibers interlock with one another and have a curved or bent shape, they are even less prone to be pulled out as the strain in the concrete increases. U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,918 by Banthia et al. entitled "Metal Fiber with Optimized Geometry for Reinforcing Cement-Based Materials" teaches of a metal fiber for reinforcing cement-based materials which comprises an elongated, substantially straight central portion with sinusoid shaped end portions that have a particular engineered designed shape. Other examples of such fibers are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,471 by Over et al. entitled "Reinforcement Fiber for Reinforcing Concrete" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,059 by Rossi entitled "Discontinuous Fiber Made of Drawn Steel Wire, and a Fiber Composite Containing said Fiber." One of the problems involved with the addition of fibers to a concrete composite material includes the difficulty of mixing fiber, especially shaped metal fibers into cementitious material. Fibers that are designed to interlock will tend to tangle or lock together during mixing and form clusters of fibers which are referred to as fiber "balls" such that the fibers never become evenly dispersed throughout the concrete composite material. This phenomenon results in non-uniform fiber composite matrix spaces with no reinforcement fibers yielding a composite lacking in mechanical strength.
This problem is solved by the invention's use of shape memory alloy (SMA) materials that allows the fibers to form complex shapes to assure that it cannot be readily removed from a hardened concrete composite material.


An embodiment fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device and method of forming the same. An embodiment method of forming a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes forming fins from a semiconductor substrate, forming a field oxide between the fins, forming a sacrificial gate over a channel region of the fins projecting from the field oxide, and implanting ions through the sacrificial gate to provide the channel region of the fins with a uniform doping profile.

Semiconductor devices are used in a large number of electronic devices, such as computers, cell phones, and others. Semiconductor devices comprise integrated circuits that are formed on semiconductor wafers by depositing many types of thin films of material over the semiconductor wafers, and patterning the thin films of material to form the integrated circuits. Integrated circuits include field-effect transistors (FETs) such as metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors.
One of the goals of the semiconductor industry is to continue shrinking the size and increasing the speed of individual FETs. To achieve these goals, fin FETs (FinFETs) or multiple gate transistors are used in sub 32 nm transistor nodes. FinFETs not only improve areal density, but also improve gate control of the channel.
Unfortunately, the doping profile in the channel of the FinFETs may vary widely due to the method of fabrication. For example, the doping profile may vary considerably when impurities are implanted directly into the fins using a vertical or tilted implantation angle. The non-uniform doping profile in the channel of the FinFETs may cause undesirable variability in device parameters including, for example, the threshold voltage.
Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generally refer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures are drawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the embodiments and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FinFET having uniform doping profile and method of forming the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


In order to safely and conveniently assemble and service new design spring brake actuators having power springs located in the middle of the actuator, the actuator's rear chamber cover must be able to withstand high localized forces from tools such as power spring compression rods. A reinforcement and method for its installation is provided, in which a plurality of reinforcement plates is stacked on the rear chamber cover about a tool-insertion aperture, and the outermost plate is crimped about the aperture, thereby securing the plates to the rear chamber cover in a cost- and time-efficient manner. Preferably, the lip of the rear chamber cover aperture is stamped when the cover is formed such that the lip protrudes axially outward to help assure that the lip is captured between the crimped reinforcing plate on one side and the remaining reinforcing plates on the other side.

The present invention relates to an attachment for securing reinforcing plates, and a method for attaching such plates, in particular attachment to a spring-type vehicle brake actuator.
So-called "spring brake" actuators are employed to provide service, parking and emergency brake functions on vehicles such as commercial trucks, tractors and trailers equipped with lever-operated drum or disc brakes. Spring-type brake actuators are typically pneumatically operated, and are supplied with operating air from a compressed air source on the vehicle. These actuators also typically are arranged in a "fail-safe" manner, i.e., where the actuator defaults to a brake application state upon loss of operating air pressure. Such actuators may be employed on different types of brakes; FIG. 1 shows a conventional application of a pneumatic spring brake actuator 100 mounted at a mounting flange 103 via stud 101 and nut 102 to a disk brake caliper 200. Caliper 200 straddles brake disk 201 (shown in partial view) in the usual manner.
An example prior art spring brake actuator is shown in cross-section view in FIG. 1. Actuator housing 1 includes a rear cylinder 2 in which a rear piston 3 is displaceably arranged. The terms "front" and "rear" as used herein describe the directions facing toward and facing away, respectively, a vehicle brake to which the actuator is mounted. The inner wall of the rear cylinder and a chamber-side of the rear piston define a rear ventilation chamber 4. The other side of the rear piston bears on a brake actuator spring 5. This spring is also known in the art as a "power spring" or a "parking brake spring," and these terms may be used interchangeably. For consistency herein, the terms "brake actuator spring" or "actuator spring" will be used.
The rear ventilation chamber is isolated from the spring side of piston 3 by an annular seal 6. An intermediate flange 8 (also known as a "wall") separates rear cylinder 2 from a front cylinder 9. The intermediate flange 8 traversed by a seal 10 through which passes a sliding rod 11, formed as an extension of rear piston 3. The sliding rod 11 can be displaced in the intermediate flange 8 by the rear piston. A front ventilation chamber 7 within front cylinder 9 is delimited by the cylinder inner wall and a front piston 13 and annular diaphragm 14. The rear piston 3 and the front piston 13 are in non-coupled contact with one another by means of the sliding rod 11, such that the front piston 13 can be displaced in a brake application direction by the rear piston 3. An actuating rod 15 for actuating a brake lever of a vehicle brake is provided on the front side of the front piston 13.
When no pneumatic pressure is present in the FIG. 1 actuator unit, the brake actuation spring 5 applies a high spring force to rear piston 3, which in turn applies this force via sliding rod 11 to front piston 13 to cause the actuator rod 15 to apply the vehicle brake. In this state, the vehicle brake functions as a parking brake, preventing vehicle movement. When release of the parking brake is desired, the rear ventilation chamber 4 is filled with compressed air via port 19. As the force generated by the increasing air pressure on the front side of rear piston 3 exceeds the force generated by brake application spring 5, the rear piston 3 and sliding rod 11 move toward the rear of the rear cylinder 2, compressing spring 5. At the same time, as sliding rod 11 moves towards the rear, the force previously applied to front piston 13 is relieved, and a return spring 18 biases the front piston 13 toward the rear of front cylinder 9, thereby withdrawing actuating rod 15 away from and releasing the vehicle brake.
The foregoing type of spring brake actuator is complicated, difficult to produce and service, and suffer from a number of inherent problems. For example, in order to generate the very high brake application force needed to ensure full brake application in parking or emergency situations, the brake actuator spring must be powerful. As a result, brake actuator springs are large, heavy and store potentially dangerous amounts of energy when compressed. This requires that the spring brake housing to be heavily built, with relatively thick housing walls and high strength materials, to provide reliable containment of the spring and to provide an adequate foundation to absorb the reaction force of the spring as it presses against the rear end of the housing. This need is particularly acute in the case of prior art actuators, where the housing is continuously subjected to very high loads imposed by the actuator spring, and the housing must be designed to reliably withstand these loads during years of continuous exposure to harsh operating conditions. Ultimately, the need for such heavy housing construction undesirably increases the weight, size and cost of the actuator components. Another problem with prior art spring-type brake actuators is the potential for injury or property damage if the brake actuator spring is not properly handled during both actuator manufacture and servicing. The typical spring brake actuator is constructed with a rear portion being detachable from the front portion of the actuator. However, because this rear portion is often the sole component retaining the brake actuator spring, great care must be taken to ensure the spring remains captured or "caged" if the rear portion is to be removed, lest the spring or the rear portion of the actuator be accelerated in an uncontrolled manner away from the housing as it is being disassembled for service. Similar concerns exist during manufacture, where the springs must be carefully controlled during actuator assembly to prevent their inadvertent escape.
In view of the problems with these type of prior art spring-type brake actuators, an improved actuator has been developed which is safer, lighter, simpler, more reliable, less costly and/or safer to assemble and service. This spring brake actuator, the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/012,313 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its totality), eliminates the need for heavy housing structures and extra brake actuator spring capture features by substantially rearranging the primary components of a spring brake actuator. As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment the brake actuator spring 300 is relocated to the front portion 301 of the actuator housing, occupying a region 302 between the front service brake actuator 303 and the rear parking brake release actuator 304. When the spring brake actuator is inactive (i.e., no pressure exists in either the front or rear chambers), the brake actuator spring applies the vehicle brake by pressing on the service brake actuator 303 via an intermediate spring plate 305, and the service brake actuator in turn presses the brake actuator rod 306 forward in a brake application direction. The parking brake release actuator 304 remains in the rear chamber 307 of the actuator housing, but instead of pressing directly on the service brake actuator (as in the previous prior art example), its attached shaft 308 is now solidly affixed to the rear side of the intermediate spring plate 305. Thus, when air pressure is applied to the rear chamber, rather than compressing the brake actuator spring into the rear end of the actuator housing, as in the prior art, the present invention's parking brake release actuator draws the intermediate spring plate toward the intermediate body portion of the actuator 309 (hereinafter, the "housing intermediate flange"), compressing the brake actuator spring against the front side (or "floor") of the intermediate flange to remove the spring's force from the actuator rod. For servicing and other purposes, the parking brake may also be manually released, as shaft 308 is provided with a threaded bolt 310 extending through aperture 311 and threaded member 312. The threaded bolt 310 may be engaged with member 312 to withdraw the service brake actuator toward the housing intermediate flange 309 to positively compress and hold spring 300 therein. This new spring brake actuator arrangement preserves the "fail-safe" nature of prior art spring-type brake actuators (i.e., loss of pressure in the rear chamber results in the brake actuator spring re-applying the brake), while also positively capturing the spring between the spring plate and the intermediate flange. Among the many advantages resulting from the rearrangement of the previously known actuator components in this new spring brake actuator design is a significant decrease in the structural requirements on the housing (in particular, the rear portion of the housing), and the inherent self-capture of the powerful brake actuator spring, which makes actuator manufacture and servicing inherently safer.
A disadvantage of prior spring brake actuators is top portion of the rear chamber typically does not possess a great deal of inherent strength against being pulled inward (i.e., toward the service brake actuator) due to the relatively thin section of the rear chamber cover near its center. This can becomes a particular problem when the rear chamber cover is used to provide a base for drawing the service brake actuator outward in order to compress the power spring, either because the cover is too thin to form a sufficient number of threads for a threaded rod to engage without thread shearing, or in the case of a withdrawal rod which rests against an outside surface of the rear chamber, the chamber end is too thin to prevent chamber collapse as the power spring is compressed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rear chamber reinforcement and a unique method of attaching the reinforcement which does not rely on welding, gluing, bolted connections or other conventional attachment approaches to secure the reinforcements.
It is a further objective of the present to provide a reinforcement and a method of attaching the reinforcement which can be executed quickly, easily, reliably and at low cost.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a reinforcement and a method of attaching the reinforcement which provides an enhanced environmental seal seating surface in a simple and cost-effective manner.
These and other objectives are met by a unique combination of reinforcement plates and a reinforcing plate crimping method, in which reinforcing plates with progressively smaller internal apertures are stacked about a center aperture of a rear chamber cover, and the innermost plate is deformed about is inner radius (for example, by crimping) laterally outward into the interior of the rear chamber. This deformation simultaneously draws the reinforcing plates into firm contact with the outside surface of the rear chamber cover, while also capturing the rear chamber cover therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, as the innermost reinforcing plate is crimped into place, a concentric ridge is formed in the portion of the rear chamber cover around the reinforced hole, thereby forming a dust-cover-retaining lip surface during the single reinforcement crimping operation.
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.

Brake actuator reinforcement and method of attaching same


Consistent with the present disclosure, a block of software code or “software code block” that is executed while particular tests are carried out is assigned a software code block identifier, which is associated with test identifiers, which, in turn, identify the tests that were performed. The software code block identifiers and corresponding test identifiers are then stored in a database. When a portion of the software code block is later modified, either by a change to one or more lines of the code or by deleting or adding code, the corresponding software code block identifier is determined or selected, and then used to access the corresponding test identifiers from the database. The test identifiers are then used to generate a report, for example, that lists each test to be performed in order to determine whether the modified software code block operates properly. The above processes of assigning and storing software code block identifiers and test identifiers may be automated, thereby increasing the likelihood that a complete set of correct tests are performed on the modified software code block. As a result, reliability of the software is improved.

After changes have been made to software source code, to improve the source code or fix a defect therein, the software source code is typically then tested to determine whether the code operates properly. Such tests may include executing the software source code or blocks thereof based on various input and determining or observing the resulting outputs generated by the tested source code. Since the same block of software source code may be executed in connection with multiple tasks, multiple tests are performed which simulate those tasks or verify adequate operation of the code for each task. Typically, no test should be omitted.
Those who write a given block of software source code are often not familiar with other software code blocks that interact with the given block of code. Thus, those writing software code may not know the interdepencies between various blocks and code, and, accordingly, may not know what blocks of code are affected by each test. Moreover, those administering a given software test may not know which codes are interact with each other when the test is carried out. As a result, neither those who write code nor those who test it may be able to determine a complete set of tests such that all software code blocks are tested after a given block of code is modified.
The identification of a given software source code change and the testing of software code are typically manual processes, and, therefore, may be prone to errors. For example, a particular test may be omitted or the wrong test may be performed. As a result, some defects or errors resulting from the software source code change may remain undetected, and the software source code may be unreliable with respect to certain tasks for which no corresponding test was performed.

Accurate identification of software tests based on changes to computer software code


An image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, the photoelectric conversion elements being disposed in a two-dimensional matrix, the photoelectric conversion elements converting received light into electric charge and accumulating the electric charge; a reset processing unit for performing a reset process, the reset process being a process of removing electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion elements of the photoelectric conversion unit in a first sub-frame period among the first to N-th sub-frame periods, the N being a natural number of two or more, the first to N-th sub-frame periods being obtained by dividing each frame period of a frame rate corresponding to a normal exposure time into an N number of periods in the first to N-th order; and a pixel signal readout unit for reading out a pixel signal in a non-destructive manner, the pixel signal being an electric signal corresponding to an amount of electrical charge accumulated in each of the photoelectric conversion elements in each of the first to N-th sub-frame periods.

1. Technical Field
Several aspects of the present invention relate to an image sensor that is allowed to expose photoelectric conversion elements to light on a line-by-line basis. In particular, the invention relates to an image sensor and an image taking apparatus that are allowed to take an image at a frame rate corresponding to a normal exposure time and simultaneously take an image at a frame rate higher than the normal frame rate, and a state inspection system including the image taking apparatus.
2. Related Art
Due to problems such as increases in labor cost or from a humanitarian viewpoint of reductions in long-time simple work, a camera has been used in a manufacturing process or an inspection process. For example, by performing inspection using a camera or sorting out assembly parts using a camera, the shape of the subject is instantly measured and recognized. Simultaneously, the color or the like of the subject is also measured. For example, the shapes and colors of agricultural products, processed products thereof or the like are simultaneously inspected and these products are sorted based on the inspection result. Among inspection apparatuses using such a camera are agricultural product visual inspection apparatuses disclosed in JP-A-2005-62008 and JP-A-09-318547. These apparatuses measure both the shapes and colors of agricultural products using a charge coupled camera (CCD) camera and perform determination processes based on the measured shapes and colors. It is desired that these inspection apparatuses speed up for higher efficiency and the costs be reduced.
A CCD camera is typically used as an industrial camera for use in inspection apparatuses as described above. On the other hand, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) cameras are also in widespread use mainly for entertainment and photography purposes. While CMOS cameras have become cheaper than CCD cameras and the image quality thereof has been improved, CCD cameras are still in the mainstream. This is partly because CCD cameras have a "global electronic shutter" function.
A CMOS sensor (CMOS image sensing element) typically performs exposure and reads out signals using a rolling shutter method in terms of the structure thereof. In the rolling shutter method, signals are read out from the lines (pixel lines) of the light reception area of the image sensor at different timings. Therefore, when an image of a moving subject is taken, the taken image is distorted. This phenomenon is remarkable when the subject is moving fast.
FIG. 6B is a drawing showing the timing of exposure of each line and the timing of readout of a pixel signal from each line in the related-art rolling shutter method. In FIG. 6A, the vertical axis represents the numbers of the lines included in the image sensor and the horizontal axis represents the time. For the sake of clarity, assume that there are eight lines, L1 to L8. In the rolling shutter method, while L1, L2, L3, . . . , L8 are sequentially scanned, readout and reset are performed on the scanned lines at timings indicated by arrows (↑) in FIG. 6B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, time lags occur among the exposure/readout timings of the lines. For example, a time lag corresponding to approximately one frame occurs between L1 and L8. When an image of a moving subject is taken, this time lag distorts the image. The distortion changes the shape of the subject in the image. This is a shortcoming in terms of shape recognition. A CCD camera also causes an image blur phenomenon when a subject moves. Accordingly, the shape recognition accuracy of the CCD camera also reduces depending on the moving speed or the like of the subject.
In order to take an image of a moving subject and recognize the shape of the subject while preventing occurrence of image distortion or image blurs, the frame rate must be increased. Unlike a CCD sensor, a CMOS sensor is allowed to increase the frame rate because a circuit can be mounted on the image sensor, the wiring is a high degree of freedom, and the like. For example, an image sensor having a high frame rate such as 180 fps has been developed for industrial application. In addition, there is a report that an image taken at a frame rate of 180 fps contains little waveform distortion. However, if the frame rate is increased, there occurs a problem that the exposure time is reduced, the output level of pixel signals is reduced, and thus the image quality (S/N) is reduced.
Hereafter, the amount of exposure will be described. A production facility or an inspection apparatus including an industrial camera adjusts the exposure amount by controlling both the exposure of the camera and the lighting environment, so as to improve the recognition accuracy. Specifically, the facility or apparatus optimally controls the aperture, the amount of illumination light, or the like so that an image of high quality is obtained at the frame rate of the camera (the rate corresponding to the normal exposure time is 30 fps), in other words, a sufficient signal level is outputted from an dark part of the subject and so that a bright part thereof is not saturated with signals (if there is a saturated part, the shape of the part will not be recognized). Therefore, such an industrial camera is significantly different from a camera for a photography purpose, which is expected to be used under various environments.
As a method for obtaining high image quality using a high frame rate (a frame rate N times higher than the normal frame rate), there are a method of making the illuminance of the lighting system N times higher and a method of making the pixel area of the image sensor N times larger for example. The former method is problematic in that it increases the running cost, that it is not environmentally friendly, and the like, while the latter method has a problem that it increases the cost of the camera.
Among methods for removing image distortion caused by a CMOS sensor is a method of providing a global shutter mechanism on an image sensor like in a CCD sensor. However, this method complicates the pixel structure, thereby disadvantageously reducing the pixel performance and increasing the cost of the image sensor.
Alternatively, there is a method of using two cameras and selectively using one of the two cameras as a high-speed camera for detecting the movement or shape of a subject and the other as a normal camera for detecting the color or texture of the subject, to obtain both high quality and high speed. However, this method has problems of high cost and high power consumption.

Image sensor, image taking apparatus, and state inspection system


A surge suppression device comprising a voltage sensitive element, heat sensitive materials, terminals, a blocking element and a non-conductive barrier is disclosed. One of the terminals comprises an arm portion, a contact portion and an extension portion extended from the contact portion. The blocking element has a part engaging with the extension portion and another part contacting with the barrier and separating the barrier from the arm portion of the terminal. The device has higher structural stability and sensitivity and is only failed in the event that the voltage sensitive element is failed due to aging or grid fault.

A surge suppression device is an electronic device used for prevent various electronic equipments, instruments, and communication circuits from damage from surge current or over-voltage caused by sudden interference external to electrical circuits.
A surge suppression device typically comprises one or more metal-oxide varistors (MOVs) connected in parallel between a service power line and a ground or neutral line, or between a neutral line and a ground line, for absorbing and dissipating the energy related to the over-voltage. MOVs are non-linear, electronic devices that are frequently subjected to various external stresses during operation, such as temperature stresses or transient voltage surge stresses.
When subject to over-voltage, i.e., voltage higher than its rating value, MOV degrades, causing increase of leakage current and in most cases overheating, and possibly thermal breakdown short circuit. The heating of MOV elevates the temperature of the surge suppression device containing the MOV. When the temperature reaches the ignition temperature of combustible materials surrounding the MOV, such as epoxy coatings or plastic housing, it may cause fire.
In order to reduce the risk of catching fire due to surge suppression devices, a thermal protector for MOV was proposed. The thermal protector of this kind is able to separate a failed MOV from a power supply circuit under certain circumstances, therefore to some extent preventing the surge suppression devices from catching fire. However, the disadvantages reside in that, if the MOV is already suffered from breakdown short circuit before the open of the connection point of the thermal protector, an electric arc will be generated between the gap as formed after the disconnection of the thermal protector. The arc current, in this situation, equals to the short-circuit current of the power supply system. An ordinary thermal protector is possibly not able to distinguish such an arc. In another aspect, even though the MOV is not suffered from breakdown short circuit before the open of the connection point of the thermal protector, an electric arc is still possibly generated due to existence of relatively high voltage and/or relatively small gap distance between the electrode of the thermal protector contacting the MOV and the electrode on the MOV surface. Therefore, the fault current originating from the power supply system may be maintained and the risk that the surge suppression device may catch fire still exists.
Therefore, some surge suppression devices are incorporated with an arc extinguishing mechanism, which overcome the disadvantage that conventional surge suppression devices having a thermal protector can only block small fault current. For example, U.S. Reissue Pat. No. RE42,319E to MERSEN France SB SAS disclosed a circuit protection device which is shown in FIG. 1 of the present invention, wherein the device comprises an arc shield 188 movable along slotted rails 138. One end of the arch shield 188 is normally contact with a compression spring 139 and the other end is contact with the arm portion 152c of the contact element 152. The arm portion 152c prevents the arc shield 188 from moving upward. When the solder material 182 starts to melt due to the overheat of the MOV 112, the arm portion 152c will separate with the MOV 112, whereby the arc shield 188 is released and moved along the rail 138 and finally stops at a position between the MOV 112 and the arm portion 152, so as to shield any electrical arc that may be generated.
However, the device of RE42,319E suffers from a disadvantage that the arc shield 188 applies a force, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement direction thereof, to the arm portion 152c due to the existence of the spring 139, such that the arm portion 152 is stressed to separate from the solder material 182 and the MOV 112. This will cause the soldering strength of the thermal switch to decrease over time and the contact element is prone to separate from the MOV in nature or when subject to electromagnetic force generated due to electrical surge, causing failure of the device. If the thermal switch is disconnected while occurrence of electrical surge, a high voltage may generated and applied to the parallel equipments to be protected, causing risk of damage of the latter.

Surge suppression device with high structural stability


The present invention provides a high quality liquid crystal display pixel circuit, and a plurality of sub pixels arranged in array, and each sub pixel is divided into a main area (Main) and a sub area (Sub), and one data signal line, a voltage dividing unit (10) and a routing are provided in accordance with sub pixels of each column; a Nth data line (D(N)) is electrically coupled to the main areas (Main) of the sub pixels of Nth column and provides a main data signal voltage to the same, and the corresponding Nth routing (L(N)) is led out from the voltage dividing unit (10), and is electrically coupled to the sub areas (Sub) of the sub pixels of the next column, N+1 column and provides a sub data signal voltage acquired by performing voltage dividing to the main data signal voltage with the voltage dividing unit (10) to the same; polarities of the main data signal voltage provided by the Nth data signal line (D(N)) and the main data signal voltage provided by the next N+1th data signal line (D(N+1)) are opposite. The pixel circuit can diminish the color shift to reduce the flicker of the liquid crystal display panel and promote the display quality.

The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) possesses advantages of thin body, power saving and no radiation to be widely used in many application scope. Such as LCD TV, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), digital camera, notebook, laptop, and dominates the flat panel display field.
Most of the liquid crystal displays on the present market are back light type liquid crystal displays, which comprise a shell, a liquid crystal display panel located in the shell and a backlight module located in the shell. The liquid crystal display panel is a major component of the liquid crystal display. However, the liquid crystal display panel itself does not emit light and needs the back light module to provide light source for normally showing images.
Generally, the liquid crystal display panel comprises a Color Filter (CF), a Thin Film Transistor Array Substrate (TFT Array Substrate) and a Liquid Crystal Layer positioned between the two substrates. Meanwhile, pixel electrodes, common electrodes are provided respectively at relative inner sides of the two substrates. The light of back light module is reflected to generate images by applying voltages to control the liquid crystal molecules to be changed directions.
The liquid crystal displays have kinds of display types, including Twisted Nematic (TN) type, Electrically Controlled Birefringence (ECB) type, Vertical Alignment (VA) type and et cetera. The VA type is a common display type with benefits of high contrast, wide view angle and rubbing alignment free. However, because the VA type utilizes vertical twist liquid crystals and the birefraction difference of the liquid crystal molecules is larger, the issue of the color shift under large view angle is more serious.
Reducing the color shift is the requirement for the development of the VA type liquid crystal displays. At present, the mainstream method of solving the color shift of the VA type liquid crystal displays is multi domain, such as a pixel design of 8 domain display. The twisted angles of the liquid crystal molecules of the 4 domains in the main area (main) and the 4 domains in the sub area (sub) in the same sub pixel are different to improve the color shift. The color shift improvement skill mainly comprises capacitor coupling (CC) technology, charge sharing (CS) technology, common electrode voltage (Vcom) modulation technology, 2D1G/2G1D technology. However, lots of color shift improvement technologies makes the liquid crystal twist polarities of the main area and the sub area in one sub pixel are the same, and cannot achieve that the main area and sub area in one sub pixel shows opposite polarities in one frame of an image, which results in that the flicker of the liquid crystal display panel is more obvious to reduce the display quality. Although 2D1G color shift improvement technology can solve the issue of panel flicker, it requires to double the amount of the data signal lines, and the amount of the Chip on Films (COF) is also required to be doubled, too. The panel cost will increase.
FIG. 1 shows an overall structure diagram of a pixel circuit for improving the color shift issue of a VA type liquid crystal display, and FIG. 2 is a specific circuit diagram in accordance with FIG. 1. With combination of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a plurality of sub pixels arranged in array, and each sub pixel is divided into a main area Main and a sub area Sub; one scan line is provided in accordance with to sub pixels of each row, and one data signal line, a voltage dividing unit 100 and a wiring are provided in accordance with sub pixels of each column. M, N are set to be positive integers, and a Mth scan line G(M) is electrically coupled to the main area Main and the sub area Sub of the sub pixels of Mth row at the same time and provides a scan signal to the same; a Nth data line D(N) is electrically coupled to the main area Main of the sub pixels of Nth column and provides a main data signal voltage to the same, and the Nth data line D(N) is electrically coupled to the common electrode Com via the voltage dividing unit 100, and the corresponding Nth routing L(N) is led out from the voltage dividing unit 100, and is electrically coupled to the sub areas Sub of the sub pixels of the N column and provides a sub data signal voltage which is different from the main data signal voltage to the same.
Specifically, the voltage dividing unit 100 comprises a first capacitor C1 and a second capacitor C2 coupled in series, and one end of the first capacitor C1 is electrically coupled to the data signal line, and the other end is electrically coupled to one end of the second capacitor C2, and the other end of the second capacitor C2 is electrically coupled to a common electrode line Com. The Nth routing L(N) is led out between the first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2, and with voltage dividing function of the first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2, the sub data signal voltage is closer to the common electrode voltage than the main data signal voltage, i.e. the voltage difference of the sub data signal voltage and the common electrode voltage is definitely smaller than the voltage difference of the main data signal voltage and the common electrode voltage. With applying different voltages to the main area Main and the sub area Sub in one pixel, the objective of improving the color shift can be achieved.
The aforesaid pixel circuit according to prior art can solve the color shift issue of VA type liquid crystal display but the polarities of the main data signal voltage and the sub data signal voltage provided by the Nth data line D(N) corresponding to the sub pixels of Nth column and the corresponding Nth routing L(N) are the same. Therefore, in the image of the same frame, the polarities of the voltages applied to the main area Main and the sub area Sub in one pixel are the same, which remains to make that the flicker of the liquid crystal display panel is more obvious to reduce the display quality.

High quality liquid crystal display pixel circuit

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


The invention features methods and devices useful for stimulating brain tissue in a subject via electrodes within cranial bone. These methods and devices may be utilized for the detection, prevention, and/or treatment of neurological disorders via electric stimulation. Additionally, the methods and devices disclosed herein may be useful for the treatment, inhibition, and/or arrestment of the growth of tumors.

Electrical stimulation of neural or nervous tissue, e.g., brain tissue, is a well-established procedure for the treatment of various neurological disorders. Electrical stimulation has been successfully applied to treat diseases, such as epilepsy, migraine, stroke, and many other neurological illnesses or conditions. Currently available electrical stimulation techniques, such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Responsive Neuro Stimulation (RNS), require implantation of the devices into the brain and are very invasive to the patient. In contrast, transcranial stimulation devices, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), are non-invasive treatment methods, but are limited to hospital use as inpatient devices. For instance, TMS devices must be stationary in hospitals and are not mobile or implantable because of the large current source required to induce an effective electrical field in the brain when the coil is located outside the head.
tDCS is a non-invasive electrical stimulation technique which involves the steady application of direct current on the surface of the scalp via electrodes. The therapeutic effect of tDCS is thought to result from local modulations of electrical potential outside of neural cells, which depolarizes or hyperpolarizes the neural resting membrane potential, and thus, alters action potential formation. The underlying physiological basis for tDCS is likely due to the long-term changes in the excitability of neural cells, i.e., neuroplasticity, after the stimulation ends. The duration of neural changes is dependent on both the length and intensity of electrical stimulation. Previous studies have shown that anodal (e.g., positively charged) tDCS stimulation depolarizes resting membrane potential, resulting in an increase in neuronal excitability and more spontaneous cell firing. In contrast, cathodal (e.g., negatively charged) tDCS stimulation hyperpolarizes resting membrane potential, resulting in a concomitant decrease in neuronal excitability and spontaneous cell firing.
Studies have revealed that anodal tDCS of the prefrontal cortex enhances the implicit learning capability and improves working memory in treated patients. Cathodal tDCS has also been shown to be effective for the treatment of refractory epilepsy. Furthermore, tDCS stimulation of the prefrontal dorso-lateral cortex was shown to significantly reduce the symptoms of depression in treated subjects. Thus, tDCS is considered a safe, non-invasive treatment for a variety of neurological disorders, which has relatively few side effects and is more effective than treatment with TMS due to the longer duration of change in cortex excitability. Notably, treatment with tDCS is rarely implemented outside of the hospital setting due to the lack of accessible and safe devices for therapeutic purposes.
Electrical stimulation from locations outside the cranium is difficult due to the relatively low electrical conductivity of the cranial bone, resulting in greater power requirements for extracranial devices than electrodes implanted within the cranium. Therefore, extracranial devices require higher current to achieve the appropriate current density within the targeted brain tissue area. Currently, there is a lack of electrostimulation devices available that are both effective and accessible to patients with reduced space, power, and current requirements than extracranial devices.

Methods and devices for the electrical stimulation of brain tissue via electrodes within cranial bone


The present invention is an electric switch for switching individual phases of multi-phase AC electric power. The switch has at least one pair of fixed terminals with each terminal of the pair having an ear extending upward in a vertical plane. The switch also has a conducting device with contacts that extend downward in the vertical plane corresponding to the fixed terminals. Moving contacts are mounted to an axially translatable contact carrier and engage contemporaneously in the vertical plane with the contacts from the conducting device and the fixed terminals when the contact carrier slides into an "on" position. Electrical power is then able to flow from the line-side fixed terminal, through the conducting device, to the load-side terminal. The contact carrier is translated axially by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism employs over-center shifting and lost-motion switching technology to prevent the switch from being in a partially "on" position. An auxiliary switch can be mounted to the switch and switched "on" and "off" contemporaneously with the electric switch.

Universal fuse switches, like the one depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,431, are well known. These switches provide a means for contemporaneously opening and closing a set of circuits. They are also known to actuate auxiliary switches.
The requirements of industrialized switches have resulted in complex switching mechanisms and associated assembly techniques. Industrial switches are used in harsh environments where they are subjected to vigorous shock and vibration. They must be extremely reliable, structurally sound, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Moreover, it is desirable for the switches to provide a clear external indication of the state of the switch.


A device can receive fuel information associated with a vehicle and location information associated with the vehicle. The device can determine a home location associated with a user of a client device and a destination location associated with the user. The device can determine an estimated fuel usage, of the vehicle, associated with a route between the home location and the destination location. The device can determine an estimated quantity of trips between the home location and the destination location. The device can generate refueling information, associated with the vehicle, wherein the refueling information includes information identifying at least one of: the estimated quantity of trips between the home location and the destination location, a recommended date and time to refuel the vehicle, or a recommended refueling location. The device can transmit the refueling information to the client device.

Vehicles can generate a variety of indicators that provide various types of fuel information associated with the vehicle. For example, the vehicle can include a fuel gauge indicator that indicates an amount of fuel in a fuel tank of the vehicle, a range indicator that indicates an estimated number of miles the vehicle can travel before having to refuel, and/or the like.

Predicting refueling information for a client device


A method for coordinating traffic signals on a roadway network, preferably of the Multiple Loop System type. The method is also suitable for superimposing on existing grid-like systems of avenues and crossing streets. Two phase traffic-signals, red and green, of equal duration are employed at the roadway intersections. The duration of each phase of the signal cycle is determined as the estimated time for a vehicle to travel from one crossing avenue to the next adjacent crossing avenue. Where the method of signalization is employed on an MLS system, the phase duration is the "estimated time" of a vehicle to travel, first along an endless loop segment, starting at a first intersecting roadway so as to cross the next interconnecting roadways, (ta) times two, and, then, along an interconnecting roadway, from a first endless loop segment to the adjacent endless loop segment (tb). A band width is determinable from the calculation of the duration of the phases and corresponds to the integral number of roadway intersections crossed by a vehicle, travelling only on an endless loop segment, for the duration of a single phase of the two phase signal cycle. Adjacent band widths of a single endless loop segment are in the reciprocal phase from one another. Parallel band widths, on adjacent endless loop segments, are also in the reciprocal phases from one another and, interfacing band ends are also in a reciprocal phasing sequence relation to one another, so as to produce a checkerboard pattern of alternating red and green phases of the traffic signals.

This invention relates to vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow and traffic light controls. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system for increasing the flow of vehicular traffic on city streets and avenues while minimizing idling time and intermodal conflicts. Intermodal conflicts, as used herein, refers to slowing of vehicle traffic flow due to the potential for an accident or injury, involving either two or more vehicular streams of traffic, or, a vehicle and a pedestrian stream of traffic at street intersections. Intermodal conflicts are, of course, life threatening and in addition, they increase travel time while disrupting smooth traffic flow. The present invention is particularly suitable for being superimposed on existing grid-like systems of crossing roads or streets and avenues, as, for example, those that currently exist on the island of Manhattan, within New York City. A grid-like system as used herein, refers to a road network having primarily parallel roads (preferably with wide pavement, like avenues) with intersecting cross streets or roads, as in the case of Manhattan, cross-streets (less wide pavement) at right angles to the avenues.
The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling the traffic signals (red and green lights) on the avenues and streets in such a manner that idling time is minimized while vehicular traffic flow is maximized, all with reduced intermodal conflicts. The present invention is intended for and preferably used along with my Road Traffic Network, referred to herein as the Multiple Loop System, described in and illustrated by my already issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,288 issued May. 22, 1990. The teachings of my Road Traffic Network or Multiple Loop System (hereinafter the "MLS") are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, my other already issued patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,705 issued Mar. 3, 1992, relating to a method and system for controlling vehicular and pedestrian traffic at intersections of the MLS is also incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,705 describes a vehicular and pedestrian traffic pattern flow system. In brief summary, that patent relates to a method for controlling the vehicular traffic light signals at intersections of avenues and cross streets, along with "Walk No Walk" traffic signals for pedestrians at the cross walks, so that the MLS system operates to its maximum efficiency, all while preserving safety and reducing intermodal conflicts.
The present invention relates to a method and system for simultaneously controlling traffic signals at a plurality of intersections on a grid network. The duration of the timed phases of the vehicular traffic light signals is set according to a formula based on safe yet anticipated travel speeds. The invention also relates to a system for coordinating the traffic signals for adjacent avenues and intersecting cross streets of the MLS system. Preferably, the present invention is coordinated with both the MLS System and the method of controlling vehicles and pedestrians (the '705 patent) so that travel and idling time for vehicles is minimized while maximizing traffic flow. This is of course environmentally desirable and, in addition, will reduce vehicle operators' frustration as a consequence of traffic congestion and allow more vehicles to travel on the same road network in less time, without gridlock. It should reduce traffic problems and the attendant negatives associated therewith. The present invention accomplishes these goals while preserving safety and reducing intermodal conflict.

Coordinated traffic signal system for roads


Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for variable video degradation counter-measures. A system configured according to this disclosure transmits a video communication over a network, detects the video quality degradation of the video communication, selects an appropriate counter-measure based at least in part on the particular type of degradation encountered, and implements the appropriate counter-measure. If multiple transmission paths are available in the system, either completely or partially disjoint, the paths can be evaluated based on ability to deliver video traffic. Throughout the transmission the system continues measuring and monitoring the video quality in real-time. The system can also accurately respond to the type and degree of the degradation by matching the type and degree of degradation to a table containing corresponding counter-measures.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to adjusting video quality and more specifically to adjusting how video is transmitted based on the degree of detected video degradation using network packet measurements.
2. Introduction
Streaming high amounts of data, and particularly video data, continues to become a prevalent occurrence as society relies more and more upon data networks for communication and business. Because of growing use and reliance upon video transmissions, any tolerances which once existed to degraded video connections are quickly disappearing. Designers of video transmission technologies generally respond to network degradation by decreasing the bit-rate an amount corresponding to the amount of network degradation detected. Video transmissions can be particularly sensitive to network problems such as lost packets, late packets, and out of order arrival of packets.
Unfortunately this response fails to quantify the impact of network degradation on video quality. This failure in turn generally leads to a single response for every type of degradation detected, regardless of how effectively that response will rectify or address that particular form of degradation. For example, video utilizing inter-frame (I-frame) compression eliminates redundancy in a sequence of frames by ignoring the still parts and focusing on the differences between the frames. If packet loss degradation occurs both in video utilizing I-frame compression and video not utilizing I-frame compression, the same level of packet loss may impair video quality at widely varying levels. Decreasing the bitrate could be appropriate for restoring video quality in the non-I-frame compressed video, but ineffective for the I-frame compressed video. Further, various codecs are impacted differently by the same type of network degradation.

System and method for variable video degradation counter-measures