The present invention includes a light communication method and system wherein messages are transmitted via color code flashes. The light communication includes code colors that may be framed with calibration elements.

In the 1920's, a series of experiments were conducted on human sight that led to the specification of what is called the CIE xyz color space. This color space contains all perceivable colors (or gamut) that the human eye can detect. Most computer monitors, televisions and other similar devices use and RGB (red/green/blue) color space model, which is a subset of the CIE xyz color space due to the fact that these devices cannot recreate every possible human perceptible color. By combining different values of three primary colors (red, green, and blue), any color within the RGB color space gamut can be created. Not to be overlooked, white is the combination of all three primary colors and black is the absence of any color.
Most electronic displays in use today represent color with 8 bits of precision; that is, the intensity of each color channel (red, green, or blue) can be represented as an 8-bit number (0-255 decimal, or 0x00-0xFF hex). A modern electronic display is capable of producing on the order of 16.7 million distinct colors using this method.
In order to transmit data through a display device, the sequential presentation of colors representing encoded data must be presented as a "video" color stream, or alternatively, presented via dedicated software to mimic a "video" color stream—at a frame rate that can be reproduced reliably on a given display device. The refresh rate of a given display device will dictate the highest achievable video frame rate, with 60 Hz being a common baseline on desktop computer displays. 15-30 frames per second (or more) video can be reliably displayed on such devices, meaning that raw data transfer rates on the order of a few tens to a few hundred bits per second could be achieved assuming a data encoding density of 3 to 8 bits per distinct color. By increasing either or both data encoding density and number of frames displayed per second, the data transfer rate can be increased accordingly.
Many different electronic sensors are capable of detecting colors, and most work off of the same principle—a photo-sensitive device behind one or more color filters. For example, an imaging sensor that you would find in a digital camera consists of thousands (or millions) of pixels, with each individual pixel being behind a red, green, or blue color filter. By counting the number of photons hitting the sensor over a given period of time (integration), a relative digital count of each red, green and blue pixel can be ascertained—the combination of which would yield a digital representation of the sensed color.
Other than common multi-pixel imaging sensors, there also exists a class of device which is basically a dedicated "single-pixel" color sensor; that is, a sensor that is only able to detect a single color at a time. These sensors typically use an array of photo-sensitive elements, each with a corresponding red, green, or blue (and sometimes also clear) color filter—the output of such sensors is a digital count representing the overall illumination of each color channel. An example of such a sensor is the TCS3414 digital color sensor manufactured by Austria Micro Systems (AMS). Similar sensors are also manufactured by Hamamatsu and Avago Technologies as well as others. They are generally available in very small packages (approximately 2 mm.times.2 mm square) and at very low price points (a few dollars each). These sensors are used in industry for a number of purposes including monitor backlight color temperature monitoring/correction, industrial process control, instrumentation (colorimeters), consumer toys, etc.
Most electronic sensors described above do not respond equally to a given primary (red, green or blue) color. The exhibited unequal channel response, together with potential inconsistent repeatability and overall sensitivity characteristics can create challenges if such single pixel sensors were to be used to sense and decode a stream of encoded "video" color stream data. Additionally, inconsistencies between display devices (display technology, spectral response, brightness, contrast, gamma response, etc.) further complicate matters. What is needed is a novel method considering such challenges inherent in the color sensor and the transmitting display that will allow the sensor to operate at relatively high frequencies of 15-30 frames per second (or more) to decode a single-color "video" color stream, and effectively to become a single-pixel "video camera".
In recent years, much of the research and development in the communications industry has been concentrated in the area of digital signal transmission. As is well known in the art, digital signal transmission typically involves transmission of data with a carrier frequency. The carrier frequency is modulated by data so that a frequency bandwidth is occupied by the transmitted signal. The growing demand for access to data and communication services has placed a significant strain on the available bandwidth in traditional channels. Moreover, there is an ever increasing demand for increased data communication rates for the purpose of decreasing the data transmission time. An increase of the rate of the data typically results in an increased bandwidth requirement, placing a further strain upon the available bandwidth for transmission of signals. In the case of this invention, there is no true "carrier" to modulate on top of—the changing sequence of colors themselves (the color stream) becomes an embedded "clock".
In an effort to increase the data rates without sacrificing the available bandwidth, a number of increasingly sophisticated coded modulation schemes have been developed. For example, quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), traditionally implemented over RF or audio channels, employs both amplitude and phase modulation in order to encode more data within a given frequency bandwidth. Another modulation technique involves multiple phase shift keying (MPSK) to increase data capacity within a given bandwidth. These high level modulation schemes are very sensitive to channel impairments. That is, the information encoded by means of such techniques is often lost during transmission due to noise, Rayleigh fading and other factors which are introduced over the communication medium.
In order to compensate for the increased sensitivity of these high level modulation schemes, various forward error correction coding techniques have been employed. One such error coding technique is trellis coded modulation (or TCM). Trellis coded modulation is desirable since it combines both coding and modulation operations to provide effective error control without sacrificing power and bandwidth efficiency. Furthermore, it has been shown that trellis coded modulation schemes perform significantly better than their un-coded equivalents with the same power and bandwidth efficiency. Trellis codes have been developed for many of the high-level, high-rate modulation schemes, including well-known 8-PSK modulation and Square 16 QAM modulation in addition to others.

System and method for communication over color encoded light patterns


A film is made of an insulating matrix resin and an electroconductive material, in which the electroconductive material is dispersed in the insulating matrix resin in such a manner that a surface resistivity of A [Ω] of the film and a volume resistivity of B [Ω·cm] of the film in the direction of a thickness thereof normal to the surface of the film satisfy a relationship of: A>B, and when the film has a thickness of T [cm], the electroconductive material is dispersed in the insulating matrix resin in such a manner that the surface resistivity of A [Ω] of the film and the volume resistivity of B [Ω·cm] of the film satisfy a relationship of: A[Ω]×T[cm]>B[Ω·cm]. This film can be prepared by a centrifugal molding method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film adopted for use in an intermediate image transfer member, which may be used in the form of an endless belt, to which a toner image can be transferred, and which is capable of reducing the formation of image transfer dust and the deposition of toner on the background of images in an image formation process.
The present invention also relates to an endless-belt-shaped film made of the above-mentioned film for use in the intermediate image transfer member.
2. Discussion of Background
Conventionally, there is known an image formation apparatus in which a latent electrostatic image is formed on a latent image bearing member such as a photoconductor drum, the latent electrostatic image is developed with toner to a visible toner image, the visible toner image is then electrostatically transferred to an endless-belt-shaped intermediate image transfer belt, and the toner image is further transferred from the intermediate image transfer belt to a recording material such as a transfer sheet.
In this kind of image formation apparatus, an electroconductive intermediate image transfer belt is widely used as the above-mentioned intermediate image transfer belt.
However, it is difficult to set the surface resistivity or the electroconductive intermediate image transfer belt at an appropriate value. For example, in Japanese Patent 2560727, it is described that proper images can be formed when the surface resistivity of the electroconductive image transfer image transfer belt is in a range of 107 to 1015 [Ω/□]. However, there is a case where the deposition of toner on the background of images occurs and image transfer dust is formed, with a toner being transferred away from its right image transfer position even when the surface resistivity of the electroconductive image transfer belt is set in the above-mentioned range. It is also known that such image transfer dust occurs frequently when an intermediate image transfer belt with lower surface resistivity is used. Such image transfer dust is considered to be caused by the electric lines of force, formed between the intermediate image transfer belt and the latent electrostatic image bearing member, being disturbed in the direction of the surface of the intermediate image transfer belt. Furthermore, it is known that the deposition of toner on the background of images occurs frequently when an intermediate image transfer belt with higher surface resistivity is used. Thus, there is a dilemma in which when the surface resistivity of the intermediate image transfer belt is increased in order to reduce the formation of the image transfer dust, the deposition of toner on the background of images is increased, while when the surface resistivity of the intermediate image transfer belt is decreased in order to reduce the deposition of toner on the background of images, the occurrence of the image transfer dust is promoted.
In order to get out from such a dilemma, it will be necessary to set the surface resistivity of the intermediate image transfer belt at a high surface resistivity and also to provide a charge quenching unit for quenching electric charges of the intermediate image transfer belt. However, the provision of such a charge quenching unit not only makes the image formation apparatus costly, but also makes the mechanism of the image formation apparatus complex. Therefore, the provision of the quenching apparatus is not a preferable step from the above point of view. Furthermore, a corona charger, which is one of the simplest quenching apparatus, is considered to be usable for the above-mentioned purpose. However, the corona charge has a shortcoming that it generates ozone and causes an air pollution problem.

Film for use in intermediate image transfer member and method of producing endless-belt-shaped film


The present invention concerns analog signal repeater system solutions of the general kind. It concerns in particular stability with analog signal repeater systems.

During the last 20 years, analogue, high frequency repeaters in data communication systems have been neglected in favour of digital concepts. Analogue gain may be realised with analogue or digital signal processing methods and are characterised firstly by their full or part transparency. They offer an amplified, analogue representation of the input signal to give a near sustained bandwidth and very low latency even at very large system bandwidths. Digital repeaters are not transparent and are commonly based on just one type of modulation as well as one type of communication protocol, which again is likely to be of proprietary character. The resulting conversion that takes place within them causes high supply current draws and they tend to be of large physical dimensions. In addition each repeater contributes to a substantial reduction of the overall bandwidth of the system and always introduces problematic latencies that either excludes or complicates certain modern, time critical telecommunication services. There are physical limitations as well to which extent technologies within digital repeaters can be developed for large bandwidths. With known semiconductor types there are physical limits to how much it is possible to reduce current consumption at high processing speeds being limited, amongst other factors, by the lower limit of transistor bias and clock frequencies. Such concepts are likewise not inexpensive in production as for instance due to their obligation to utilise the newest and most expensive technology available. Such technologies are therefore likely to be quickly replaced by new generations leading to hi write-off costs. As a consequence, it is too expensive and impracticable to use a sufficient number of such repeaters for, as an example sustaining signal levels on cables or for wireless coverage in an area where line of sight obstructions are significant. There exists therefore a great need of novel solutions that will give repeaters that may be utilised in great numbers and have low productions costs, which have small dimensions and consume low currents. An analogue repeater system may as well be made compatible with any existing, none proprietary communication system and might be prepared for most future ones. Analogue repeaters do not have the disadvantages associated with mentioned digital repeaters. It has been claimed that analogue repeaters as opposed to digital repeaters accumulate noise. These are conclusions with substantial flaws in addition to the fact that digital repeater systems will accumulate noise that gradually reduces symbol bandwidth in addition to the band width reduction being caused by the latency associated with each repeater. It is known from analogue repeaters of old times used in telephone systems that they were able to convey the signals across the globe. With regenerative, super regenerative and super heterodyne analogue repeaters one may obtain regeneration of the signal which among other things is owing to averaging of noise similar to what happens when amplifiers are connected in parallel. The accumulated, systematic noise may be reduced with various measures. A significant number of analogue repeaters may be utilised without substantial degeneration of the signal if the repeater design measures are taken. The advantage of analogue repeaters is their significantly lower power consumption as compared to digital repeaters. This is particularly important when repeaters are battery powered or will have to live off currents flowing in conductors that the repeaters are coupled loosely to, for example by inductive means.
In repeater or transponder systems as given in patent documents NO20001057, NO20010132, NO20020112, PCT/NO01/00079, PCT/NO03/00004 it is shown how analogue repeaters and systems using analogue repeaters may be realised within none optimal cases for both wireless and wire bound concepts or a hybrid of those. Characteristic of such sub optimal cases as when conventional solutions are not applicable, is when sufficient attenuation between input signal and output signal easily does not lend itself to be made larger than the signal gain of the repeater. Consequently it is also characteristic of such cases that there are points along the signal medium where analogue gain is required but where it is impractical to insert the mentioned attenuation. Examples of this are cable connections that cannot be broken up as in power grid networks. One example of wireless applications is when only one antenna can be used or when large distance in the form of a number of wavelengths between antennas cannot be realised. Additional examples of none optimal cases are when isolation between input and output signal is reduced from reflections from various causes. This may be the case for wire bound and wireless systems. In wire bound systems certain control of this may usually be exercised in wireless systems varying reflection parameters are often a larger problem. A one port gain block that is a repeater is stabile only as long as sufficient attenuation is present between the gain block or repeater and the reflection occurring in the system or repeater cascade. There exists therefore a need for novel, simple solutions making it more practicable to meet such challenges. In some cases conventional concepts have applied circulators to attain attenuation of reflections and to obtain directional sensitivity. However, in large scale context this is too expensive and additionally it is often impracticable. Even other types of directional sensitivity may be impracticable to implement. The consequences of insufficient attenuation between input and output signal in signal repetition using frequency transposing is duplex interference.
The consequences under the mentioned, none optimal conditions as a result of reflections or lack of attenuation may be that stability requirements cannot be sustained for signal repetition within the same channel.
When frequency transposing is applied to analogue repeater systems it is often important that a minimum of channels are used for duplex purposes in order to acquire the largest possible efficient symbol bandwidth using the available frequency spectrum in addition to securing channels for two-way communication or multiple channel systems for increasing the available system bandwidth. In this context it is also necessary to be able to allocate neighbouring channels as close to each other as possible. Super regenerative frequency mixers allow very small spacing between input and output channel in a repeater as shown in the publications NO20001057, NO20010132, NO20020112, PCT/NO01/00079, PCT/NO03/00004. There exists a need for novel applications that can economise the use of available, useful channels in such systems. This is particularly important for modern broadband applications. It is also particularly important in wireless applications where frequency band density is heavy. Even more important may this be in cable based systems, especially cables with poor high frequency characteristics where often just marginal frequency regions are available for the symbol bandwidth required now and in the future.
When gain is larger than 1 within the same frequency region for a repeater the stability criteria are important for utilisation of the gain. Reflections and echo from other repeaters play an important role to achieve stability. Phase is affected by the complex impedance that the gain block (amplifier) looks at and by the attenuation between ports of a multiple port gain block Analogue gain has to a large extent been abandoned in modern networks due to the difficult task of combining stability and satisfactory gains. It is especially difficult to make solutions that are both repeatable and possibly producible in large quantities or large systems. Directional attenuation in some form is often the only and the best measure taken against echo and reflections. In some applications attenuation of interference of 10 to 20 dB is satisfactory, but in other applications that require good linearity as with QAM and OFDM attenuation of 30-50 dB is necessary. For some modulation types problems with frequency beating can occur even with relatively large attenuation. Previously published solutions are not able to satisfy attenuation requirements and these solutions are either not practically applicable or have only limited applications as for example in none linear systems, for example frequency modulation for rather limited bandwidths. Therefore it exists a large need for novel, practical solutions that can give repeatable stability combined with required gain and signal to noise ratio. There is a need for such solutions both for signal repetition with frequency transposing and with same channel amplification.


A method for generating antibodies preferable to either a normal protein and a mutated form of the normal protein, respectively, where a mutation associated with the mutated form includes either a single point mutation or a small number of point mutations where the method includes creating first and second antigenic peptides of a predetermined length corresponding respectively to common regions of the normal target protein and the mutated form, where the common regions are identical to one another except for the point mutation of the mutated form, obtaining first and second antibodies by multiplying the first and second antigenic peptides via hybridoma methods, and identifying the respective affinities of the first and second antibodies for the normal target protein and the mutated form. Also included are methods of using the first and second antibodies to detect and quantify respective amounts of a normal target protein and a mutated form of the target protein. Also included are immunological sensors the include the first and second antibodies for determining the presence and quantity of normal target proteins and mutant forms of the normal target proteins.

Detection and diagnosis of disease is usually a necessary prerequisite to treatment and/or curing of the disease. With many inherited diseases, definitive diagnosis must often occur at a molecular level, and typically includes DNA analysis, which can be impractical and expensive owing to the complex and time-consuming procedure inherent to DNA testing. This is especially true of diseases caused by single point mutations, where the historical difficulty in obtaining purified monoclonal antibodies leaves DNA testing as the only viable method of diagnosing disease. While this is true for most diseases caused by single point mutations, one exemplary disease is a clotting disorder associated with a single point mutation of the gene encoding Factor V, known as Factor V Leiden.
To maintain a normal physiological system, it is crucial for blood to travel in an unobstructed manner through the vascular system. When injury occurs to the body, hemostasis assists in clot formation to prevent the loss of blood, while conversely, an anti-coagulant system ensures that the clot is localized at the site of damage, i.e., on the vessel wall, rather than inside blood vessels. Naturally, disturbances in the hemostatic system result in diminished ability to dissolve clots in blood vessels, which can cause traumatic thromboembolitic results. Thromboembolism may cause a variety of dangerous conditions within the body, such as deep vein thrombosis, lung embolism, stroke, and heart attack as normal blood flow from the heart to the body organs is blocked.
The most well-recognized inherited thrombophilic conditions include a resistance to the anti-coagulant Activated Protein C, as well as deficiencies of anti-coagulants, such as Protein C, Protein S, and Antithrombin III deficiencies. For example, Factor V is a blood coagulant that is inhibited by Activated Protein C, which, in turn, prevents blood coagulation. The single point mutation to Factor V, i.e., Factor V Leiden (FVL), causes a resistance to Activated Protein C, thereby preventing the inhibition of blood clotting.
FVL is the most common hereditary blood coagulation disorder in the United States. It is present in 5-8% of the Caucasian population and 1.2% of the African American population. FVL increases the risk of venous thrombosis approximately 3-8 fold for heterozygous and 30-140 folds for homozygous individuals.
Annually, as many as 600,000 hospitalizations and approximately 50,000 deaths are caused by pulmonary embolism alone. It has been estimated that death from pulmonary embolism results within 30 minutes on onset. Despite the widespread belief that FVL is responsible for a significant number of these hospitalizations and fatalities, clinicians do not routinely screen for FVL. This failure to screen may result, in part, from the lack of widely accepted detection methods.
Presently, most accurate FVL detection methods require DNA analysis, which are impractical for routine screening, as they are very expensive and time-consuming, and they do not provide a level for FVL in plasma. Consequently, FVL is usually screened with a clotting assay that is not sufficiently specific for FVL. Further, it can be difficult for a clotting assay to distinguish between FVL and other types of blood clotting disorders, such as deficiencies in Protein C or Antithrombin III. In fact, because FVL results in a resistance to Activated Protein C, FVL and Protein C deficiency may be indistinguishable with current assay protocols.
In view of the large population of affected individuals, early screening of FVL could make affected individuals aware of their high risk for thromboembolic complications and encourage them to take preventive actions. This may help to avoid the enormous after-care expenses incurred by victims—including physical debilitation and also emotional stress.

Sensors and methods for detecting diseases caused by a single point mutation

University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.


A thermal accelerometer device that allows up to three axes of acceleration sensing. The thermal accelerometer includes a substantially planar substrate, a cavity formed in the substrate, a heater element, and at least first and second temperature sensing elements. The heater element is suspended over the cavity, and the first and second temperature sensing elements are disposed along the X or Y axis in the substrate plane on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the heater element. The thermal accelerometer employs differential temperatures detected by the temperature sensing elements to provide indications of acceleration in the X or Y directions. Further, the thermal accelerometer employs a common mode temperature detected by the temperature sensing elements to provide an indication of acceleration along a Z axis perpendicular to the X and Y axes.

The present application relates generally to micro-machined convective accelerometers, and more specifically to thermal accelerometers capable of detecting acceleration along multiple axes.
Thermal accelerometers are known that have the capability of detecting acceleration along multiple axes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,509 (the '509 patent) discloses a thermal accelerometer device configured to detect acceleration in 2-axes. As disclosed in the '509 patent, the 2-axes thermal accelerometer comprises a substrate having a cavity etched therein, and a structure including a small heater plate and four temperature sensors suspended over the cavity. The heater plate is positioned at the center of the suspended structure, which is in a plane defined by X and Y axes. Further, two of the four temperature sensors are placed along the X axis on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the heater plate, while the other two temperature sensors are similarly placed along the Y axis on opposite sides of and at equal distances from the heater plate. In a typical mode of operation, electrical current is passed through the heater plate, which heats the surrounding air to generate a symmetrical temperature gradient in both the X and Y axes. Because the respective pairs of temperature sensors disposed on the X and Y axes are equidistant from the heater plate, the differential temperature between each pair of temperature sensors is initially zero. However, if an accelerating force is applied to the device in a direction parallel to the X-Y plane, then the temperature distribution of the air shifts. Specifically, when acceleration is applied in the X direction, a differential temperature is detected by the temperature sensors disposed on the X axis. Similarly, when acceleration is applied in the Y direction, a differential temperature is detected by the temperature sensors disposed on the Y axis. A bridge circuit and a differential amplifier are employed to generate signals representing the detected differential temperatures, which are proportional to the acceleration applied along the respective axes. According to the '509 patent, the 2-axes thermal accelerometer can be fabricated using known CMOS or bipolar processes, thereby allowing the accelerometer to be integrated with signal conditioning circuitry with relatively low cost.
One drawback of the 2-axes thermal accelerometer described in the '509 patent is that it cannot be easily configured to satisfy applications requiring acceleration sensing in three axes. For example, to sense acceleration in three dimensions, the '509 patent indicates that at least two thermal accelerometers may be oriented at right angles to each other, resulting in a 3-dimensional accelerometer device structure. Such 3-dimensional device structures are typically implemented using a motherboard and at least one daughter board. However, implementing a 3-axes thermal accelerometer with multiple printed circuit boards can significantly increase the cost and complexity of the device and reduce reliability, thereby making the thermal accelerometer unsuitable for use in many consumer electronics and automotive applications.
It would therefore be desirable to have a low cost thermal accelerometer that can be configured to provide up to three axes of acceleration sensing. Such a thermal accelerometer would provide high reliability, while avoiding the drawbacks of conventional thermal accelerometer devices.


Multiple cameras are operatively connected over a shared link to a video server on a video network. The cameras are operated to capture a plurality of video streams. Each video stream has intra-frames and predictive frames that are sequentially generated timewise apart. A number of the video streams that transmit over the shared link on the network is identified. A number of intra-frames that are generated substantially simultaneously in the identified video streams is also identified. The identified intra-frames in the video streams are offset in time to minimize video artifacts from being present in the video streams being transmitted over the shared link.

Many municipalities, businesses, and other institutions are implementing extensive, large scale, video surveillance networks having multiple video cameras arranged outdoors and/or indoors at various venues for security purposes, as well as for remote monitoring in public and private areas that may need monitoring such as traffic intersections, toll booths, airports, public events, banks, casinos, military installations, convenience stores, and the like. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems may operate continuously, or only as required, to monitor a particular venue, and typically run dedicated coaxial cable to each camera. The advent of internet protocol (IP)-based, stand-alone, digital video cameras has removed the need to run coaxial cables. Instead, the video cameras generate video streams, which are typically digitized, compressed, and multiplexed onto a common physical medium or shared backhaul, e.g., a fiber ring, a point-to-point wireless link, an Ethernet network, and the like. For example, ten to thirty or more IP cameras may share a single, fixed bandwidth-limited, backhaul.
Multiplexing is, in part, made possible through the use of digital video compression technology. Modern video codecs, e.g., MPEG4-PART2, H.264, H.EVC, and the like, encode and decode video streams at incredible compression ratios through the use of predictive encoding. In a motion sequence, a video stream comprises a plurality of pictures or frames of different types and generated at a frame rate, e.g., thirty frames per second. One type of frame is an intra-frame or I-frame (also known as a key frame), which is a single frame of digital content that stores all the data needed to display the image of that frame, and is a stand-alone or independent frame that does not rely on data from any other frame to display the image of that frame. A predictive frame or P-frame (also known as a delta frame) is another type of frame, and is a single frame that contains only the data that has changed from a preceding frame. A P-frame sequentially follows, and depends on, an I-frame to fill in most of the data to display the image of that P-frame. Another type of predictive frame is a bidirectional frame or B-frame (also known as a delta frame), and is a single frame that contains data that has changed from a preceding frame, and/or contains data that is changed from the data in the next frame. A B-frame thus depends on the frames preceding and following it to fill in the data to display the image of the B-frame.
Predictive frames, e.g., P- and B-frames, typically use temporal compensation to move around texture-coded pixels from previous and/or future frames. While this digital process radically reduces the amount of bandwidth required to transmit a video stream, as compared to an analog process, it also makes predictive frames susceptible to errors. An error in a single predictive frame can propagate forward in time as future frames apply motion compensation. This, in turn, causes erroneous data to eventually corrupt the integrity of the video stream over time.
To combat such errors, the aforementioned intra-frames are regularly inserted, as fully texture-coded frames, into the video stream to clean up any residual errors. A typical intra-frame insertion rate is one intra-frame every one or two seconds. An intra-frame is relatively large, e.g., an order of magnitude larger, with respect to each predictive frame. When an encoder in, or associated with, the video camera is programmed to provide a constant bit rate, e.g., about 6 megabits per second (mb/s), then the bit rate will instantaneously spike much higher, e.g., to about 30 mb/s, than the programmed bit rate when an intra-frame is generated, and then lower, e.g., to about 5 mb/s, when predictive frames are generated.
In a typical video surveillance network deployment, the video streams from multiple cameras are backhauled to a central location for control by a network video recorder (NVR), also known as a video server. The NVR is operative for recording and for viewing the video streams at a control station typically manned by human operators. When that backhaul comprises a point-to-point wireless link, the aforementioned bit rate spikes can become particularly problematic, because such a wireless link typically operates at a fixed, constant data rate. As such, large intra-frames can take appreciably longer to transmit over the wireless link than smaller predictive frames. This induces jitter into the video stream, which is an issue for real-time video delivery. Jitter, as used herein, is defined as the variation in arrival times of packets comprising video frames in a video stream. Also, a large intra-frame can cause a buffer in a modem of the wireless link to overflow, thereby inducing packet loss. The NVR receiving the video stream typically buffers some nominal (short) time period for the packets comprising a frame to arrive. In some instances, if all of the packets comprising a given frame do not arrive within that nominal time period, then the NVR treats the data as missing, and the resulting decoded data exhibits errors. If the NVR instead waits for all of the packets comprising the frame to arrive, then the resulting video stream will appear "jerky" to a viewer, as the time difference between the frames is inconsistent.
This effect is exacerbated as multiple cameras are multiplexed over the same shared wireless link. Furthermore, it becomes really problematic if those cameras are all generating intra-frames at approximately the same instant in time. It is a common occurrence for the NVR to control and configure all of the cameras to operate in a near simultaneous/parallel fashion, which, in turn, sets up nearly synchronized intra-frames. At network startup configuring each camera resets a clock in each camera. Even if the cameras start off with unsynchronized intra-frames, cameras that are programmed for the same intra-frame period, i.e., the time interval between successive intra-frames in a video stream, e.g., typically about 1 second, may eventually, through clock drift, align and overlap the intra-frames, at least for a certain amount of time.
Thus, it is known to configure video surveillance network architecture such that the intra-frames in video streams from multiple cameras are generated in unison, or nearly so. However, the shared wireless link cannot readily accommodate the massive instantaneous bit rate. For example, if the average bit rate of each camera is configured for 6 mb/s, then ten such cameras can theoretically comfortably share a fixed 100 mb/s link, or even more so, a 200 mb/s wireless link. However, if intra-frames having an instantaneous bit rate of about 30 mb/s overlap, then 10×30 mb/s=300 mb/s, and this will significantly overload the 200 mb/s wireless link. This will delay (jitter) or drop (buffer overflow) frames, thereby causing unacceptable video artifacts in the video streams. This problem not only applies to wireless links, but also to Ethernet switches and routers having low data switching and/or throughput rates.
To prevent such intra-frames from being substantially simultaneously generated, it is known to operate the cameras at different times. However, when thousands of cameras are involved (some cameras sharing a common backhaul, and some cameras not sharing a common backhaul), the video network would require a complex control system, and, even so, it is difficult to determine which of the thousands of cameras are sharing a common backhaul and are simultaneously generating intra-frames. A known way to determine which of the cameras are sharing a common backhaul is to refer to a detailed network map or "blueprint." If the blueprint exists, then the cameras which share a common backhaul can be statically identified, but, even so, the blueprint cannot identify which cameras are indeed simultaneously generating intra-frames. Nor can the blueprint identify intra-frames that overlap due to clock drift. Often however, a blueprint does not exist. This is common for cameras which are setup to cover ad-hoc events, e.g., a civic festival downtown, or for networks that grew organically without architectural oversight. In such cases, it is not sufficient to simply run an internet control management protocol (ICMP) "traceroute" to uncover common network elements. In any event, the "traceroute" identifies only layer 4 routing elements, and does not identify shared Ethernet switches and point-to-point links.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to reliably identify which of the video streams of the cameras are sharing a wireless link in a video surveillance network, as well as which of the video streams are simultaneously generating intra-frames, especially when no network blueprint exists, and to time-offset such intra-frames to minimize or prevent unacceptable video artifacts from being present in the video streams transmitted over such shared links, while using cost-effective, off-the-shelf cameras, without sacrificing video quality.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and locations of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Apparatus for and method of identifying video streams transmitted over a shared network link, and for identifying and time-offsetting intra-frames generated substantially simultaneously in such streams


One method by a network operations center node controls collection of information from electronic devices. A request message is received from a sensor, which requests collection of information from electronic devices within range of the sensor. One of a plurality of radio access networks is selected based on it likely being communicatively connected to electronic devices within range of the sensor. An inquiry message is sent to the radio access network for broadcast to the electronic devices, requesting information from the electronic devices. An authentication message is received from a responsive electronic device. An information collection disclosure response that identifies who is requesting collection of the information from the electronic device and/or how information collected from the electronic device will be used, is sent to the electronic device. Related methods by sensors and electronic devices, and related sensors, network operations center nodes, and electronic devices are disclosed.

It has become commonplace for sensors located in public spaces that continuously collect information. For example, some businesses monitor the use of electronic devices by customers and have the ability to read information from sensors embedded in the electronic devices for use in targeted marketing. Such information collection is predicted to increase in the future with the further proliferation of numbers, types, and capabilities of user electronic devices forming a Networked Society. Users are typically unaware that information is being collected about them by devices placed in public spaces (e.g., Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, microphones, etc.) or from their own electronic devices (e.g., location, application use, communications history, etc.). Furthermore, there is a lack of disclosure to users of who is collecting such information and how it will be used.
There is growing concern by users that their privacy is being improperly infringed upon by such information collection. Such concern can unfortunately degrade peoples' trust and other relations with private/public entities who may or may not be directly involved in collection of user information, such as cellular network operators, retail establishments, local/national governments, etc.
The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Disclosing and controlling collection of information from electronic devices


A telephone communications system Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) platform provides a voice activated call dialing functionality through speaker independent phoneme speech recognition having a minimum volume of storage without requiring user template training. Speaker independent phoneme recognition identifies phoneme strings of caller spoken utterances which are then compared to phoneme string representations that previously have been stored in respective caller processing records (CPRs) for those subscribers listed in the ISCP database, or stored in an equivalent peripheral database with which the ISCP can communicate. Each stored phoneme string representation is associated in the CPR with a destination telephone number that may then be extracted to route a call.

The relatively recent development of new and expanded telecommunication services has provided subscribers increased flexibility in the selection and use of the various features that have become available. These services are amenable to being tailored to specific requirements of the subscriber.
So-called "flash hook services," such as Call Waiting, Tone Block, 3-Way Calling, Call Transfer and Consultation Hold, are implemented using appropriate switch hook depression by the user. Other services, such as Return Call, Answer Call, Repeat Call, Priority Call, Call Trace, Per Call Blocking, Intercom Extra, Home Intercom, Speed Calling and Call Block, require various combinations of keyed DTMF inputs by the subscriber. Such inputs, for example, may be codes including special keys such as the * key in combination with a preset number sequence or dialing a dialed system telephone followed by further keyed input for purposes of identification or choice of options.
Flash hook services, while offering a wide range of communication customization, are particularly complex. Traditionally, depression of the switch hook disconnects a call. However, momentary switch hook depression with the newer flash hook services effects different results, such as connecting new callers. Without prompts and feedback from the system, inexperienced users tend to lose their ability to track their location while adding, transferring or dropping a caller in a multiple call, flash hook operation. Confidence is low in the ability to complete the service and the user often expects to lose the connection to the other party.
In addition to such disadvantages, the user of flash hook operations must be cognizant of the correct DTMF key combinations for each of the various services, the appropriate sequences for inputting key combinations in various complex services, and the appropriate responses from the communications network that either signal the next step in the process or verify completion of the process. A burden is placed on the subscriber to remember the appropriate activation and deactivation codes for the various subscribed services. Flash hook operations can be not only complex but time consuming.
These drawbacks extend to preprogrammable functions included in a subscriber's telephone equipment as well as those provided by the telecommunications system. For example, speed dial features that the user may set up when first obtained may be abandoned later when instructions are not at hand due to the complexity of the entry process. As a result, speed dial keys may not be fully populated or may include obsolete entries.
More recently, Common Channel Signaling has been utilized advantageously by the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) of the public switched telephone system to predefine services according to the subscriber's requirements and to implement such services for applicable calls. A description of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) implementation may be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,571 to Kay et al. Each central office of a network of interconnected central offices is connected to a number of local telephone lines constituting a specified group. Call routing is carried out in accord with data stored in the AIN database and with customer specified parameters, such as calling/called party number, time-of-day, day of the week, authorization codes, etc. After the central office switching system detects an off-hook, it determines whether or not the call originates from a subscribing line. If not, the system receives dialed digits and executes normal call processing routines. If the call is from a subscriber line, the originating office receives dialed digits, suspends the call and sends a query message to the Integrated Service Control Point (ISCP) through the Signaling Transfer Points (STP's). This query message, in Transaction Capabilities Applications Protocol (TCAP) format, identifies the calling station and the digits dialed as well as other pertinent information. Based on the identity of calling party's address, the ISCP retrieves from its database a table of trunk group routing information. The ISCP formulates a response message, again in TCAP format, including the routing information, and transmits the response message back to the originating central office via the STP(s). The system then executes normal call processing routines for completing the call using the received routing information provided by the ISCP.
The use of AIN reduces the number of DTMF entries that a subscriber must input as much of the information needed for providing the service has been stored in the AIN database. For those services that require a significant amount of caller input, interactive voice menus are used to prompt callers in a user friendly manner. Nevertheless, inherent drawbacks exist in situations in which the caller must provide DTMF input. The subscriber often finds it difficult to remember the proper DTMF representations of the required input, such as a multiplicity of telephone numbers and codes, and may be inconvenienced by the time and steps necessary to follow a menu driven procedure in order to complete the desired service.
The use of speech recognition is an attractive approach to alleviate such annoyances. As the development of commercially available speech recognition systems has progressed, voice responsive features have been provided in telephone services. Prior examples of telephone devices that are responsive to caller voice input to dial a call to a corresponding destination are U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,302, issued to Kaneuchi et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,211, issued to Marui et al. The Marui et al. device is a mobile telephone apparatus that makes an outgoing call in response to the caller speaking a number that corresponds to the destination telephone number. The telephone number is read out from stored telephone numbers and is then dialed. When a number has been identified, it is synthesized and displayed so that the user can determine if it is the correct number. In the Kaneuchi et al. device, standard patterns are associated with registered telephone numbers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,095, issued to Borcherding, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,685, issued to Kero, disclose voice activated dialing systems in which remote databases are referenced. In the Borcherding arrangement, a local database contains speaker independent voice recognition templates for various command functions and a remote database in which speaker dependent templates are stored. The latter templates represent phrases associated with destination telephone numbers. If a dial command is spoken by a caller, a local database containing speaker independent speech recognition templates is accessed. The templates of this local database are compared to a dial command so that dialing instructions can be recognized and executed. The caller is identified and speaker dependent templates for the identified caller are downloaded from the remote database. The speaker dependent templates are then accessed. A spoken destination identifier is compared with the speaker dependent templates and when a match is found, the destination telephone number is dialed.
In the Kero arrangement, a voice activated telephone directory and call placement system accessible over a telecommunications network allows a caller to store a personalized telephone directory and to retrieve selected directory listings therefrom by speaking a series of voice entries. A plurality of subdirectories are formed to complete the listings. A call-spoken entry received over the network is compared with a previously stored voice template of the caller speaking the name of a subdirectory that is included as part of the caller's personalized telephone directory. If a match with a subdirectory name template is made, a subsequent caller-spoken entry received over the network is compared to a voice template of listings in the subdirectory. The system retrieves the destination telephone number associated with the directory listing if a match is found and the call may then be completed. Each subdirectory may include subordinate levels of subsidiary directories, each having a plurality of listings.
Speech responsive dialing systems such as those of the prior art exemplified above have inherent limitations. The large storage required for templates of either speaker dependent recognition or speaker independent recognition vocabularies is a restrictive factor as the number of users and the vocabulary size increase.
Development of speaker independent templates involves, for each vocabulary word, the input from many diverse speakers in order to provide reliably accurate recognition. Such templates occupy a large volume of storage. As recognition must accommodate speakers of different accents, inflections, and pronunciation, the size of the word vocabulary must be limited to avoid confusion among similar words. A small number of words may be recognized with confidence, while a large number would give an unacceptably erratic response. In addition, provision must be made in the system to distinguish between use by different callers of the same word, for example "mom," for different destinations.
Speaker dependent recognition requires developing templates for each user. While these templates individually would occupy less storage volume than speaker independent templates for corresponding words, templates must be trained and stored for each word to be used by each user. Users in the same household who would use the same vocabulary word for the same destination number nevertheless would be required to go through a template training process. Moreover, in order to access the appropriate templates, provision must be made in the system for identifying the particular user.


An apparatus for removing static electricity of a fuel cell stack manufacturing device, includes a cartridge in which a plurality of Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) are received, an air nozzle portion disposed in an upper portion of the cartridge and including an air flow channel for air movement, a plurality of nozzle holes defined along an inner side of the air nozzle portion, which faces the MEAs disposed in the cartridge, to communicate with the air flow channel, and an air inlet portion configured to be supplied with ionized air from the outside to deliver the ionized air to the air flow channel of the air nozzle portion.

Generally, when a fuel cell stack is manufactured, several tens of sheets of Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) are stacked and transferred and thus, when a material is supplied, several sheets of MEAs are stacked and transferred. In this case, both sides of an MEA are formed of different catalysts and thus due to surface contact between MEAs, property change may occur. Therefore, an interleaf may be inserted between MEAs for protection during manufacturing processes of a multi-layer MEA product.
The interleaf is usually an intermediate paper made of Polyethylene (PE) and produces static electricity with a sub gasket portion of an MEA, such that in MEA transfer, two or three sheets of materials are transferred at a time, causing some problem in performing a subsequent process. Therefore, in the worst scenario, material damage may occur.
That is, to manufacture a finished multi-layer MEA product, the interleaf may be removed and then only an MEA may be transferred and used. Due to static electricity between the MEA and the interleaf, if the MEA and the interleaf are transferred at the same time, it would cause a problem in a manufacturing process for the finished product.
In other words, when an MEA, which is a main component, is transferred in fuel cell stack manufacturing, due to static electricity between the interleaf inserted between every two MEAs stacked in multiple layers and MEAs, a subsequent process is degraded, increasing a malfunction rate and a defect rate of devices.
To solve the problems, conventionally, in addition to a finished multi-layer MEA product manufacturing device, a static electricity removing apparatus for electric-charging material is installed in a predetermined position to blow ionized air to MEAs stacked in an MEA cartridge (a means for supplying MEAs to the manufacturing device), thus removing static electricity between the MEAs and the interleaf to reduce a malfunction rate and a defect rate of the finished multi-layer MEA assemble device.
The MEA cartridge merely stacks and receives several tens of sheets of MEAs and sequentially supplies them.
The conventional static electricity removing apparatus is configured separately from the manufacturing device, such that a distance from the static electricity removing apparatus to the MEA is relatively large and thus the ionized air arrives at the MEA after moving a predetermined distance from the static electricity removing apparatus As a result, it would be difficult to obtain a static electricity removing effect at a desired level.

Apparatus for removing static electricity of fuel cell stack manufacturing device


The three-phase synchronous rectifier for battery charger on board vehicle comprises: three rectification units provided with respective inputs connected to respective phases of a permanent magnet generator and with respective outputs connected to a battery of a vehicle; wherein the rectification units are configured to receive at input respective phase currents of the generator and to supply at output rectified currents; and wherein each of the rectification units comprises a current sensor connected to a respective phase of the generator and a respective output circuit connected to the battery and operatively connected to said current sensor; the current sensor being configured to receive at input a respective phase current and the output circuit being configured to be piloted by means of the current sensor to generate the rectified currents; wherein the current sensor comprises at least one toroidal element made of a magnetic material crossed by a lead which conveys the phase current and at least one Hall effect sensor connected to the toroidal element and to the output circuit.

It is well known that the increase in the demand for electricity on board vehicles has led to the development of electric generators capable of generating a current of more than 120 A with a voltage of 14V.
In the case of particular motor applications such as e.g. ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles) or snowmobiles, conventional automotive-type generators cannot be used due to space constraints. For such applications, rare-earth permanent magnet generators with high power and good efficiency, together with reduced overall dimensions are preferred.
It is also known that, when current levels exceed 40 A, the normal three-phase regulators of the shunt type or series with controlled rectifier bridge consisting of diodes and SCRs have a power dissipation that is difficult to manage in aluminum finned enclosures with reduced overall dimensions.
In this regard, with particular reference to document EP 1 601 078 B 1, the use is known of shunt regulators with the power part consisting of three Power MOS transistors and three Schottky diodes, able to reduce the dissipated power to about 30% of the value referred to the diode and SCR solution.
Furthermore, the documents U.S. Pat. No. 8,159,179 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,159,180 B2 describe the implementation of algorithms for controlling the angle of conduction of Power MOS transistors, used to optimize generator performance in relation to the rotation speed of the endothermic motor and electrical loads.
These known solutions are however subject to improvement, aimed in particular at the creation of a Power MOS three-phase synchronous rectifier with the function of regulating the voltage for charging a battery of a vehicle which is particularly simple and economical and which, at the same time, can be combined with three-phase generators with permanent magnets for high currents, including over 120 A, for vehicles with electrical systems powered by 12V.
In particular, in recent years, improvements in the technology of Power MOS transistors have made possible the development of components which, voltage being equal, have values of conduction resistance (RDS(on)) that are considerably reduced (≤1 mΩ with a voltage Vds≥40V).
Such devices are particularly suitable for the realization of three-phase shunt regulators to be combined with permanent magnet generators which, in addition to the current and voltage values mentioned above, have electrical frequencies even higher than 1.5 kHz.
Moreover, in the panorama of the electronic components dedicated to synchronous rectification, integrated circuits exist which are able to detect the voltage drop between the Drain terminal and the Source terminal of the Power MOS transistor and to synchronize the Gate drive based on the measured value of the aforementioned voltage drop.
However, in the case of Power MOS transistor with RDS(on) lower than 1 mΩ, it becomes particularly difficult to measure the aforementioned voltage drop to detect the zero-crossing of the current flowing in the transistor, as this would mean detecting voltage values of around only a few mV.
In addition to this, in the case of multipole permanent magnet generators with high currents combined with endothermic motors with speeds that can exceed 12,000 RPM, the response times of the current synchronization system in the Power MOS transistors with the driving of the Power MOS themselves are of particular importance.

Three-phase synchronous rectifier for a battery charger on board a vehicle


The present invention is based on the discovery that certain 3-(substituted methyl)-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptan-7-one derivatives of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are useful as antitumor agents against sensitive and resistant tumor cells. ##STR1## Wherein X is NH or O, and R is defined in the specification.

Since the invention of G0069A (JP 61-212587) and Tu 1718 (DE 3727651), we paid attention to develop .beta.-lactam class of compounds as antitumor agents. However, there were a lot of difficulties to obtain these compounds in large scales. For example, only 20 mg of G0069A was isolated from 10 L fermentation broth even after under well controlled fermentation techniques and suitable experimental conditions. On the other hand, another .beta.-lactam compound having the same stereochemistry at C.sub.5, (3R,5S)-3-hydroxymethyl-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptan-7-one (clavam 1, G0069B) was isolated by Brown and Evans (J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm. 1979, 282) from the culture of Streptomyces clavuligerus, which is reported to exhibit antifungal activity. We have synthesized clavam 1 and have done extensive biological evaluation. We found that clavam 1 exhibit excellent antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo but is chemically unstable. ##STR2##
The chemical unstability may be due to the intermolecular interaction of --OH to the .beta.-lactam ring which results in the decomposition of product.
As a part of the program directed toward the development of .beta.-lactam class of compounds as novel antitumor agents, it is necessary to get compounds which are relatively easy to synthesize, chemically stable and have strong antitumor activity.

3-(substituted methyl)-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptan-7-one derivatives useful as antitumor agents


A combiner storage device is equipped with: a holder for holding a combiner; a first connection section that can rotate about a first fixed shaft, said first fixed shaft being positioned at one end of the first connection section, and the other end of the first connection section being connected to the holder; and a second connection section that can rotate about a second fixed shaft, said second fixed shaft being positioned at one end of the second connection section, and the other end of the second connection section being connected to the holder. The combiner can be moved from a projected state to a stored state by means of a four-link mechanism.

There is a known head-up display (HUD), which is installed in a dashboard of a vehicle, for example, and is configured to notify a user or a driver of vehicle information such as a vehicle speed so as to be displayed as superimposed on a front landscape. Patent Literature 1 discloses a HUD device, which comprises a display unit (a light source 8) for generating information to be displayed, a combiner (a plate 1) for reflecting a display light emitted from the display unit toward a user, an electric motor (an element with a motor 13) for raising or storing the combiner, a lead screw connected to the electric motor, a slider that slides in a longitudinal direction along with rotation of the lead screw, and a holder that is connected to the slider and holds the combiner, wherein the combiner can be stored in a housing by power of the electric motor.

Combiner storage device, head-up display device


A method and corresponding apparatus for fast FFT processing of paging information includes receiving an analog signal that is converted to a first digital signal and digitally filtered through a first filter having a first bandwidth (BWA) to obtain a second digital signal. The second digital signal is stored in a buffer. The first digital signal is further digitally filtered through a second filter having a second bandwidth (BWB) to obtain a third digital signal. An FFTM processing of the third digital signal is initiated and simultaneously, an FFTN processing of the second digital signal is initiated. The FFTM processed third digital signal is then decoded and, based on the decoding of the FFTM processed third digital signal, a determination is made of whether to complete the FFTN processing of the second digital signal from the buffer.

Evolving mobile cellular standards such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) will likely require modulation techniques such as OFDM in order to deliver higher data rates. OFDM is a method for multiplexing signals which divides the available bandwidth into a series of frequencies known as carriers. OFDM is somewhat immune to inter-symbol interference (ISI) because its symbol duration is longer than the symbol duration in single-carrier modulation techniques such as CDMA and TDMA. To further reduce ISI, guard periods are appended to the OFDM symbol. The guard periods may be comprised of a cyclic prefix of the OFDM symbol. Introducing cyclic prefix in OFDM makes OFDM robust against delay spread and facilitates comparatively higher data rates.
In order to ensure a smooth migration from existing cellular systems to high capacity, high data rate systems using existing radio spectrum, new systems must be able to operate on a flexible bandwidth (BW). Super third generation (S3G) has been proposed as a new flexible cellular system. S3G is intended as an evolution of the 3G WCDMA standard supporting only packet data services. S3G will likely use OFDM and operate on BWs spanning from 1.25 MHz to 20 MHz. Data rates of up to 100 Mb/s will be possible in the high bandwidth S3G service. In order to achieve such high data rates, the latency or round-trip time (RTT) must be below 10 milliseconds (ms). RTT is the time taken for a packet of data to travel across the network with an acknowledgement sent back to the transmitter. Hence, it is expected that transmission time intervals (TTIs), which are the length of a coded block, will be about 0.5 ms.
S3G's flexibility, short RTT and high data rates will present additional complexity to mobile terminal design. For example, packet paging detection must occur quickly in order to have a power efficient mobile terminal implementation that is adapted to quickly switch between the on state and sleep state. In other words, user equipment (UE) must be designed to have a low duty cycle even in a 0.5 ms TTI case. The duty cycle is the relative amount of time the radio is turned on. A low duty cycle means that the radio is turned on for a short duration of time compared to the time when it is turned off.
FIG. 1 shows a proposed S3G TTI of 0.5 ms. The time duration of each TTI is always the same but the number of OFDM symbols can vary from 6-8 depending of the size of the cyclic prefix. In cells where a large cyclic prefix is needed, there are fewer OFDM-symbols compared to cells with a small delay spread. As seen in FIG. 1, the OFDM symbols include paging information 101, other control information 102 such as broadcast and synchronization information, and data 103. The paging information 101 is incorporated in the first OFDM symbol. Since paging information 101 typically consists of 10-100 bits and each OFDM symbol consists of 4800 bits, based on a 20 MHz BW, with 1200 carriers and 16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), only a very small fraction of the first symbol consists of paging information. In order to have some frequency diversity, the paging information is spread out, for example over 1 MHz. This is still a much smaller BW compared to the total BW, for example, up to 20 MHz.
In a conventional method of paging detection, paging information is first sent to the UE and then the non-paging data is sent. In order to save as much power at the terminal or UE as possible, the radio and baseband processor in the UE should be turned off if it is not needed. What is desired is a method and apparatus for detecting paging information more efficiently in a wide BW, high data rate S3G implementation. Such a method and apparatus would send paging information and non-paging data at the same time. Such a method and apparatus would reduce the duty cycle and thereby reduce UE power consumption.

Method and apparatus for fast FFT processing of paging information


A time period which is expended since a request for the authentication of the validity of a public key certificate till the authentication of the validity, is shortened. A certificate validity authentication center VC periodically searches for and verifies paths which extend from a bridge certification authority CAbridge to individual terminal admitting certification authorities CA, and it registers the paths whose verifications have held good, in a path database in association with the respective terminal admitting certification authorities CA. Besides, in a case where the request for the authentication of the validity of a certificate has been made by an end entity EE, whether or not a path associated with the terminal admitting certification authority CA which admits the end entity, and a path associated with the terminal admitting certification authority CA which has issued the certificate being a subject for the request are registered in the path database is checked, and the subject certificate is judged valid only when both the paths are registered.

The present invention relates to techniques in a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), well suited for authenticating the validity of a public key certificate which serves to verify a signature for an electronic procedure received by a certain terminal and which has been issued by a certification authority different from one trusted by the pertinent terminal.
In various organizations and parties on private and public bases, PKIs (Public Key Infrastructures) have been introduced and made ready for use in order to electronicize manifold procedures which were taken with sheets of paper in the past.
FIG. 12 shows the relationship among a plurality of certification authorities which exist in a prior-art PKI.
As shown in the figure, the certification authorities each issuing and managing public key certificates form a group having a tree structure whose apex is the root certification authority CA1. The group is called "security domain". The root certification authority CA1 issues public key certificates to the certification authorities CA21-CA2n which are located directly downstream of itself. Besides, each of the certification authorities CA21-CA2n issues public key certificates to the certification authorities CA31-CA3n1 which are located directly downstream of itself. In this manner, each certification authority located directly upstream in the tree issues public key certificates to the certification authorities located directly downstream of itself. Further, each of the certification authorities located at the downmost stream in the tree (hereinbelow, called "terminal admitting certification authorities") CAS1-CASnm issues public key certificates to user terminals taking electronic procedures (hereinbelow, called "end entities") EE1-EEx.
The legality of a secret key (signature key) which each of the end entities EE1-EEx uses for the signature of an electronic document is certified by the public key certificate issued by that one of the terminal admitting certification authorities CAS1-CASnm which admits the pertinent end entity itself. In turn, the legality of a secret key which each of the terminal admitting certification authorities CAS1-CASnm uses for the signature of the issued public key certificate is certified by the public key certificate issued by that one of the certification authorities CA(S-1)1-CA(S-1)n(m−1) which admits the pertinent terminal admitting certification authority itself. Accordingly, the secret key which is used for the signature by each of the end entities EE1-EEx is finally certified by the public key certificate issued by the root certification authority CA1. The certification authority which finally certifies the legalities of the keys respectively used for the signatures by the end entities EE1-EEx, in other words, which is trusted by the end entities EE1-EEx, and which is located at the upmost stream in the tree, is called "trust anchor".
Referring to FIG. 12, the end entity EE1 affixes a signature to an electronic document, such as a written application, to be transmitted to the end entity EEx, by using the secret key of the end entity EE1 itself. Besides, the end entity EE1 attaches to the signed electronic document a public key certificate which pairs with the above secret key and which has been issued by the terminal admitting certification authority CAS1 for admitting this end entity EE1, and it transmits the document and the certificate to the end entity EEx.
The end entity EEx can verify the signature of the electronic document received from the end entity EE1, by employing the public key certificate attached to this electronic document. Since, however, the public key certificate is not one issued by the terminal admitting certification authority CASnm for admitting the end entity EEx, this end entity EEx cannot immediately trust the pertinent public key certificate. In this case, the end entity EEx must authenticate that the validity of the pertinent public key certificate is certified by the root certification authority CA1 which is the trust anchor of end entity EEx itself. A validity authentication process for the public key certificate is executed by the following steps:
(1) Search for Path from Trust Anchor to Certification Authority which is Issue Origin of Public Key Certificate
With a trust anchor (here, the root certification authority CA1) set as a start certification authority, the processing of inspecting the issue destinations of public key certificates issued by the start certification authority and further inspecting if any downstream certification authorities are included among the inspected issue destinations, the issue destinations of public key certificates issued by the downstream certification authorities is continued until a certification authority being the issue origin of a pertinent public key certificate (here, the terminal admitting certification authority CAS1 for admitting the end entity EE1) is included among the further inspected issue destinations. Thus, a path from the trust anchor to the certification authority being the issue origin of the pertinent public key certificate is searched for.
(2) Verification of Detected Path
There are obtained public key certificates issued from the individual certification authorities located on the path detected by the step (1), to the certification authorities located directly downstream of the respective certification authorities on the path. Besides, the processing of verifying the signature of the pertinent public key certificate to be authenticated on its validity (here, the public key certificate issued to the end entity EE1 by the terminal admitting certification authority CAS1), in the light of the public key certificate issued by the certification authority (here, the certification authority CA(S-1)1) located directly upstream of the certification authority (here, the terminal admitting certification authority CAS1) having issued the pertinent public key certificate, and subsequently verifying if the verification holds good, the signature of the public key certificate issued by the certification authority located directly upstream, in the light of the public key certificate issued by the certification authority located directly upstream still further, is continued until the upstream certification authority reaches the trust anchor. In a case where such signature verification has held good up to the trust anchor in due course, the validity of the public key certificate to be authenticated on its validity shall have been authenticated.
The end entity EEx can authenticate the legality of the electronic document received from the end entity EE1, in such a way that the signature of the electronic document is verified using the public key certificate attached to the electronic document, and that the validity of the public key certificate used for verifying the signature of the electronic document is authenticated in accordance with the steps (1) and (2) stated above.
Incidentally, it is premised in the foregoing that the process for authenticating the validity of the public key certificate is executed in the end entity. However, the certificate validity authentication process is heavy in load, and a high processing capability is required of the end entity for the execution of the process. It has therefore been proposed by the IETF that a server for authenticating the validity of a certificate as is connected to the end entity through a network is disposed so as to authenticate the validity of the public key certificate instead of the end entity.

Certificate validity authentication method and apparatus


Provided are a FinFET and a method of manufacturing the same. A FinFET may include at least one active fin, at least one gate insulating layer pattern, a first electrode pattern, a second electrode pattern and at least one pair of source/drain expansion regions. The at least one active fin may be formed on a substrate. The at least one gate insulating layer pattern may be formed on the at least one active fin. The first electrode pattern may be formed on the at least one gate insulating layer pattern. Further, the first electrode pattern may be intersected with the at least one active fin. The second electrode pattern may be formed on the first electrode pattern. Further, the second electrode pattern may have a width greater than that of the first electrode pattern. The at least one pair of source/drain expansion regions may be formed on a surface of the at least one active fin on both sides of the first electrode pattern. Thus, the FinFET may have improved capacity and reduced GIDL current.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a field effect transistor, and a method of manufacturing the same. Other example embodiments relate to a fin field effect transistor (FinFET), and a method of manufacturing the FinFET.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to provide semiconductor devices with a more rapid operational speed and increased integration degree, a channel length of a MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET) has been gradually reduced. However, in a planar MOSFET, an electrical field may affect the planar MOSFET by a drain voltage because the channel length may become shorter. Further, this may cause a short channel effect where a channel drive capacity may be deteriorated due to a gate electrode. To control a threshold voltage of the planar MOSFET, increasing an impurity concentration of a channel may be required. However, this may cause relatively low mobility of carriers and a relatively low current drive force. Therefore, in the planar MOSFET, suppressing the short channel effect may be difficult because the planar MOSFET may have a more rapid operational speed and an increased integration degree.
A type of transistors, which have a structure capable of reducing the short channel effect, may include a fin field effect transistor (FinFET). The FinFET may include an active region having a three-dimensional fin shape. The fin may be surrounded by a gate electrode. Thus, a three-dimensional channel may be formed along a surface of the fin. Because the channel is formed on an upper surface and sidewalls of the fin, the FinFET may have a larger effect channel width in a relatively small horizontal area. Thus, a semiconductor device having the FinFET may have a relatively small size and a more rapid operational speed. Further, the short channel effect may be reduced owing to a reduced capacitance of the drain region. In order to improve operational characteristics of the FinFET, uniformly forming source/drain regions on a surface of the three-dimensional fin may be necessary. However, because a body width of the fin is gradually narrowed and the fin has the three-dimensional shape, the surface of the fin may not be readily doped with impurities.
Further, the FinFET may have a gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) current higher than that of the planar MOSFET. This may be caused by the three-dimensional shape of the fin that may provide a relatively large overlapped area between the gate electrode and the drain region. To decrease the GIDL current, minimizing or reducing the overlapped area between the source/drain regions and the gate electrode may be required. However, a process for forming the source/drain regions may include doping impurities, and activating the impurities by a thermal treatment. The thermal treatment may cause a horizontal and vertical diffusion of the impurities. The diffusion of the impurities may cause a continuous increase of the overlapped area between the source/drain regions and the gate electrode. As a result, the GIDL current may not be sufficiently reduced.
In a conventional method of reducing the GIDL current, after forming the gate electrode, an offset spacer may be formed on a sidewall of the gate electrode to reduce the overlapped area between the source/drain regions and the gate electrode. However, the offset spacer may be formed on a sidewall of the fin to be doped with the impurities as well as the sidewall of the gate electrode. Thus, the impurities in the sidewall of the fin, where the offset spacer is formed, may be different from those in the upper surface of the fin where the offset spacer may not be formed. Further, a higher energy to dope the sidewall of the fin with the impurities through the offset spacer may be required which causes damages to the surface of the fin.

Fin field effect transistor and method of manufacturing the same


An apparatus and method for processing a record of seismic traces. The method includes receiving the record of seismic traces in a time-offset domain, transforming the record of seismic traces to a tau-p domain, applying a zero offset inverse Q algorithm to the record of seismic traces in the tau-p domain, and transforming the record of seismic traces back to the time-offset domain.

1. Field of the Invention
One or more embodiments of the present invention generally relate to seismic data processing, and more particularly to correcting seismic data from dissipative effects.
2. Description of the Related Art
In seismic exploration, seismic data are obtained by first creating an artificial disturbance along the earth by use of dynamite or the like. The resulting acoustic waves travel downwardly in the earth and are reflected upward from subsurface reflecting interfaces. The reflected waves are received at detectors or geophones located along the ground and recorded in reproducible form. Ideally, the signals recorded at the detectors would be exactly representative of the reflection characteristics of the earth without the presence of any undesirable components, such as noise or distortion.
Unfortunately, the signals recorded at the detectors often contain many undesirable components which obscure the reflectivity function of the earth and prevent the finding of an area of the earth where oil and gas deposits may be present. Several phenomena exist in causing distortion to the recorded signals. One such phenomenon is absorption, which causes the actual loss of seismic energy by converting it to other forms of energy. This type of loss of seismic energy is generally known as intrinsic attenuation. A second phenomenon is intrabed multiple interference. Intrabed multiple interference redistributes seismic energy between downward and upward directions. This type of loss of seismic energy is generally known as apparent attenuation. Apparent attenuation causes progressive loss of the higher frequencies (broadening of the seismic wavelet) and increasing phase distortion with increasing traveltime for the received seismic wavelet.
The combination of intrinsic and apparent attenuation is generally known as the earth filter. As a result of earth filtering, the seismic wavelet is time varying. The existence of a time varying seismic wavelet violates a basic assumption of deconvolution theory and impairs the ability to use deconvolution to determine the earth filter characteristics as part of a method of seismic interpretation.
One conventional approach to compensate for earth filter attenuation is disclosed in Q-Adaptive Deconvolution, by D. Hale, Stanford Exploration Project, Report 30, 1982. Hale discloses two iterative procedures for implementing inverse Q-filtering. The procedures disclosed by Hale make several assumptions which cause Hale to arrive at an approximate dispersion relationship. Use of the approximate dispersion relationship, however, degrades the value of the Q compensation obtained by Hale.
Further, application of zero offset inverse Q algorithm to prestack data (or data having non zero offsets) in the t−x domain often leads to insufficient compensation, because events having similar traveltimes may have experienced substantially different levels of attenuation along their raypaths. This phenomenon may be particularly true in deep water and at high offsets. In those situations, the reflection from the water bottom, which has experienced no attenuation, may coincide in arrival time with much deeper reflections that may have experienced significant attenuation. As such, a single Q filter may not be sufficient to accurately compensate for the reflections.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a new method for correcting input seismic data from dissipative effects.

Method for processing a record of seismic traces


A vehicle headlamp may be formed from a light source; a divergent lens; and a reflector facing in a forward direction to the lens. The reflector has one or more first regions, and one or more second regions. The first region is a section of an ellipsoid of revolution with one focal point coincident with the light source, and one focal point located at the first focal point of the lens. The second regions have a surface with an elliptical vertical cross section having a first focal point coincident with the light source and a second focal point coincident with the first focal point of the lens. The second surface additionally has a horizontal axial cross section having a first focal point coincident with the light source and a second focal point axially offset from the first focal point of the lens. The horizontal axial cross section may be elliptical, parabolic or hyperbolic. Light from the first regions is convenient to form the beam hot spot. Meanwhile, light from the second regions is convenient to form the beam spread. In total the system provides a headlamp with a short axial dimension and a small frontal opening while meeting headlamp beam standards.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electric lamps, and in particular vehicle headlamps. Still more particular, the invention relates to headlamps having compound optical elements.
2. Description of the Background Art
Headlamps are designed to accomplish several goals at once. They must illuminate both near and far regions in front of a driver, without detrimentally effecting the vision of other drivers. This is accomplished at a minimum by forming a beam pattern that complies with automotive lighting requirements. At the same time, styling, aerodynamics, size, weight and cost are factors that must also be dealt with. Beam patterns are then constructed with variety of considerations at once. The beam pattern includes a region of high intensity called a hot spot that is normally built by effectively overlaying numerous reflected images from the light source. Reflectors with relatively long focal lengths, have small source images that can be grouped in an angularly narrow region to form the hot spot. At the same time, a headlamp high beam for example, must spread some light right, left, above and below the hot spot to broaden the driver's view. Reflectors with short focal lengths, have large source images that can be spread over a broad area. The conflict between short and long focal lengths is apparent. Further, headlamps should efficiently use the available light, so the source may be designed for longevity, or energy efficiency. Lamp efficiency is achieved by intercepting and reflecting a greater portion of the light from around the light source. Capturing more of the light by reflecting it from more of the surrounding spherical area, means the light is necessarily captured at a greater variety of angles. It also means relatively less spherical area is available to direct the light through to the field to be illuminated. All these factors complicate the design.
In a typical prior art sealed beam headlamp with a parabolic reflector and refractive cover lens, the light source is disposed near the focus of the reflector, so rays emitted from the light source are reflected forward, parallel to the axis of the paraboloid. The parallel beams are then refracted by the prisms and lenses of the cover lens to form a predetermined beam pattern. The design relies on a relatively large focal length to form the necessary hot spot in the beam, while beam spread is achieved by the lens optics. For efficiency, a relatively large reflector area is used to gain the necessary solid angle. The design is not particularly adaptable to fit with styling variations in the surrounding vehicle body. The reduction of the overall height for styling, and inclination of the lens surface for aerodynamics cause a significant reduction in the overall headlamp efficiency. The reduced height can, to a degree, be offset by increased width, but only with diminishing returns. Usually the total frontal area is increased in this trade off, and the large frontal area is of itself a styling and aerodynamic detriment. It is then not practical to make an efficient, parabolic reflector type headlamp with a small frontal area.
Currently, there is a trend to move the beam forming optics from the cover lens to the reflector. The headlamp then has a reflector with a complex surface, such as a compound-curvature or multifaceted surface, and a clear cover lens. Since, the clear cover lens has little or no optical effect on the beam pattern, it can be configured to carry all the styling and aerodynamic constraints. The problems with focal length tradeoffs and the degree of enclosure are approximately the same in both the parabolic reflector/refractive lens, and the complex/clear lens type headlamps. The later then still require a relatively large frontal area.
To increase efficient use of the light from the filament and at the same time allow for a small frontal area, one method is to use a projector type lamp. FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a projector type headlamp. These headlamps use an elliptical reflector to intercept a large portion of the light from around the light source. The large amount of collected light is then directed to a converging lens that collimates and spreads the available light. The light source is placed to coincide with one focal point of the elliptical reflector to thereby project light through a narrow region approximately at a second focal point. A mask is usually placed in the vicinity of the second focal point to block light and thereby helps define some of the beam pattern edges (cut off). The mask removes available light from being usefully projected. The light is then passed through a small reflector opening to concentrate the flux on the converging lens. The image of the filament produced by the elliptical reflector is then located at the second focal point, coinciding with the first focal point of the positive converging lens (between the reflector and lens). The rays from the filament image are then refracted by the converging lens to form the beam pattern. An optically clear cover lens may be placed in front of the converging lens for styling and aerodynamics.
A typical projector headlamp design requires a relatively long axial dimension to span the distance between the two focal points and include the reflector behind the one focal point and the lens in front of the other. The headlamp then extends deep under the hood and competes for valuable internal space. There is then a need for a headlamp forming a beam pattern including hot spot, and spread regions wherein the headlamp has a relatively small frontal area, and a relatively short axial extension.


A new, novel device for holding a container while applying torque specifically to the closure in the direction of opening. This device is readily adaptable for use with an electric motor or ratchet to provide hands free operation. The device may be made small enough to serve as a counter-top appliance for home use. In addition, the device is self sizing to serve a wide array of container closures.

1. Field Of The Invention
The apparatus of the present invention relates to container openers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a self sizing strap wrench apparatus to be utilized for securing a circular object, such as a container jar, in a fixed position while screwing or unscrewing a lid or top threadably engaged thereupon.
2. General Background
In the present state of the art, the problem is often encountered in the opening of containers with screw-type lids, such as jars or the like; particularly, people who do not have the strength to break the seal, such as the elderly, women and children. It is found there is a need for a simple and reliable means to conduct such a chore for any individual so as to eliminate this problem.
There are certain devices now on the market such as the vee notch and cam-lock under cabinet, which attempt to solve the problem, but suffer from certain shortcomings; for example, such as being hazardous. These types are hazardous because, they require the user to hold the container in position while turning the container. If the container is glass the camaable principle of these devices creates point loading often resulting in breakage, leading to sever lacerations to the user or contaminating the contents with broken glass.
There have been certain patents granted in the art which address these concern, the most pertinent that were found being as follows:
U.S. Pat. Nos. 710,606; 2,718,800; and 2,937,548 seems to indicate that container opening devices of the strap wrench type have proven to be the most successful method for conforming to different size containers and lids. Various methods are employed to secure such devices once a grip has been affected. In the patent to Pagett, the cam-lock principle is used wherein a fixed and a movable abutment is used in conjunction with a camable leaver attached to a fixed base plate to affect the gripping of a jar. A friction buckle arrangement is implemented along with a second handle for removing the lid.
The patents to Olson and McKim improved on the Pagett design by eliminating the fixed base and lower camable lever. These two principles make the assumption that the user could easily apply adequate force by turning the container, while the lid is being securely held in a fixed position. Both Olson and McKim as well as Pagett require the user to bring the container to the apparatus. Olson and McKim further requires that the container be held in one hand while adjusting the strap loop around the container lid. This is a tricky maneuver even for the most agile person when the container is wet, large or of unusual shape.
A patent to Morrison, U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,801 anticipated the foregoing problem, however, he failed to incorporate the teachings of Pagett, Olson, or McKim. The Morrison apparatus utilizes a friction pad both top and bottom for griping the container and the lid. Removal of the container lid depends entirely on the friction pad's ability to grip circular objects. The size limitation of any given apparatus and its lack of ability to provide a positive grip on wet, irregular shaped or smooth containers and their lids prevent the device from performing the feats of the present invention.