In a searcher of a CDMA receiver comprising an array antenna, a voltage profile generation portion performs correlation computations of received signals for each antenna element and generates received signal voltage profiles; a phase difference estimation portion uses sample data from each voltage profile at the same time to perform correlation calculations among antenna elements and estimates the phase difference among antenna elements at the above time, and similarly estimates the phase differences among antenna elements at each time. An in-phase synthesis portion uses the phase difference estimate at a prescribed time to coordinate the phases of voltage profiles for each antenna element at the above time and performs synthesis, and similarly coordinates the phases of each antenna element voltage profile at other times and performs synthesis; and, a path detection portion detects the path timing of multiple paths based on the synthesized profile obtained by the in-phase synthesis portion.

Digital cellular wireless communication systems employing the DS/CDMA (Direct Sequence Code Division Multiple Access) method are being developed as next-generation mobile communication systems enabling wireless multimedia communication. An array antenna for wireless base stations is effective for increasing the subscriber capacity of a mobile communication system adopting DS/CDMA and for reducing the transmission power of mobile stations.
This invention relates to a CDMA receiver comprising an array antenna, and a searcher for the above CDMA receiver. In particular, this invention relates to a searcher which synthesizes a phase-adjusted voltage profile, obtained by performing correlation computation of signals received by each antenna element of the array antenna, and which detects the path timing for multiple paths using this synthesized voltage profile, and also relates to the CDMA receiver of a wireless base station using this searcher.
In a mobile communication system using DS/CDMA, (1) the RAKE reception method, (2) the array antenna method, and (3) transmission power control, are well-known as component technologies to increase subscriber capacity and reduce the transmitting power of mobile stations. The RAKE reception method attempts to improve characteristics by utilizing signals arriving via each path among multiple paths. Mobile communication is characterized in that radio waves output from a transmitter follow a number of propagation paths (multiple paths, or multipath), with different path lengths, to arrive at a receiver. In the RAKE reception method, signals propagating over different paths are identified, reliability weightings are assigned, and synthesis performed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In the array antenna method, gain is improved by narrowing the directionality pattern, and the SNR is improved by reducing interfering signals. In transmission power control, the transmitting power of the transmitter is controlled such that the received signal SNR is held constant.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of the configuration of the receiver of a DS/CDMA wireless base station employing an array antenna and RAKE reception method. In the FIG. 1 is an array antenna for reception, having N antenna elements 11 to 1N (in the figure, four). 21 to 2N are reception circuits (RV) which amplify the RF signal which is the antenna output, and then perform frequency conversion to a baseband signal (RF→IF conversion), execute quadrature detection (QPSK demodulation) for the baseband signal, and performs A/D conversion to output the demodulated signal in digital form. Through quadrature detection, an in-phase component I and a quadrature component Q are obtained. 3 is a searcher, 41 to 4M are finger portions provided corresponding to each of the multiple paths, 5 is a RAKE synthesis portion which synthesizes the output of each of the finger portions, and 6 is a discrimination portion which discriminates between "1" and "0" among the received data, based on output from the RAKE synthesis portion. The array antenna 1 and reception circuit 2 are provided in common for all channels, and the searcher 3, finger portions 4, RAKE synthesis portion 5, and discrimination portion 6 are provided for each channel.
FIG. 7 explains the frame format for uplink signals from a mobile station to the base station. One frame is 10 msec, and comprises 15 slots, S0 to S14. The data portion is mapped onto the I channel in QPSK modulation, and the part other than the data portion is mapped onto the Q channel in QPSK modulation. Each of the slots in the I channel over which the data portion is transmitted comprises n bits, where n varies according to the symbol rate. Each of the slots of the Q channel transmitting control data comprises 10 bits (10 symbols), and the symbol rate is constant at 15 ksps; the pilot PILOT, transmission power control data TPC, transport format combination indicator TFCI, and feedback information FBI are transmitted. PILOT is used in synchronous detection on the receiving side and in SIR measurements; TPC is used in transmitting power control; TFCI transmits the data symbol rate and the number of bits per frame; and FBI controls the transmission diversity at the base station. This I channel data and Q channel data is subjected to QPSK modulation and is transmitted on the transmitting side, and on the receiving side is QPSK demodulated and restored.
As shown in FIG. 8, in mobile communications the reception level in the receiver of signals sent from the transmitter varies depending on the multipath, and the time of arrival at the receiver also differs. The searcher 3 measures the profile of power received by the antenna (change with time in the power level, called the delay profile), and referring to this delay profile, detects multiple paths among the multipath signals MP1 to MPM higher than a threshold value, identifies the times of occurrence T1 to TM of each of these multiple paths or the delay times from a reference time, and inputs, to the finger portions 41 to 4M corresponding to each path, timing information for the start of despreading and delay time information.
In the searcher 3, the matched filter 3a uses the spreading code for the channel to extract and output the pilot signal component (one symbol's worth) for the channel from the signal received by the prescribed antenna element 1N. That is, when a direct sequence signal which has been affected by multipath is input, the matched filter 3a outputs a pulse train having a plurality of peaks corresponding to arrival times and signal strengths (FIG. 8). The pilot signal is affected by noise on the communication path, and so the averaging circuit 3b adds the voltages of the correlated output for each symbol over a prescribed pilot signal segment (one-slot segment) in order to reduce the effect of this noise, in an attempt to improve the SNR of the received signal in path timing detection. The power calculation portion, not shown, converts the output signal of the averaging circuit 3b into power, and the delay profile RAM 3c stores the delay profile converted into this power and the path detection portion 3d detects each path among the multiple paths and the delay times T1 to TM, referring to the delay profile stored in RAM, and inputs the timing information for the start of despreading and delay time information to the finger portions 41 to 4M corresponding to each path.
The finger portions 41 to 4M corresponding to each of the multiple paths are of the same configuration, and have delay time adjustment portions 4a1 to 4aN, despreading circuits 4b1 to 4bN, a beam former 4c, weighting coefficient computation portion 4d, synchronous detection circuit 4e, and error computation portion 4f.
The delay time adjustment portions 4a1 to 4aN adjust the delay time of signals received from each antenna element corresponding to a path (in actuality, I channel signals and Q channel signals) based on delay time information, to coordinate the timing of signals for different paths. The despreading circuits 4b1 to 4bN multiply the spreading code assigned to the channel by the output signals of the delay time adjustment portions 4a1 to 4aN, based on despreading start timing information, to perform despreading. The beam former 4c having N multipliers 4c1 . . . 4cN (in FIG. 6) and an adder 4ca forms antenna directionality by adding a weighting to the output signals of each of the despreading circuits. That is, if the despreading circuit output for the kth symbol of the nth antenna element is υn(k) and the weighting coefficient is ωn(k), then the beam former 4c outputs the weighting synthesis signal y(k) expressed by the equation
                              y                                (            k            )                          =                              ∑                          n              =              1                        N                                                                        ω                n                                                          (                k                )                                                                                υ                n                                                          (                k                )                                                                        (        1        )
The weighting coefficient computation portion 4d computes the weightings w1(k) to wN(k) in the beam former 4c from the LMS (Least Mean Square) adaptive algorithm, which is well known. Channel estimation is performed by the synchronous detection circuit 4e based on phase differences between the pilot signal contained in the received signal and the known pilot signal, and the complex conjugate ξ* of the channel estimate ξ is multiplied by the weighting synthesis signal (bean farmer output) to perform phase rotation processing (synchronous detection). The RAKE synthesis portion 5 synthesizes the synchronous detection output of each of the finger portions, and the data discrimination portion 6 performs data discrimination based on the RAKE synthesis output. This data discrimination result is fed back in order to determine weighting coefficients using the LMS adaptive algorithm.
The error computation portion 4f performs operations on the weighting synthesis signal y(k) and its error e(k) with the data discrimination results (pilot signal d(k)), and inputs the result to the weighting coefficient computation portion 4d. In the data discrimination result, the phase rotates in the synchronous detection circuit 4e by the amount of multiplication by the complex conjugate of the channel estimate ξ. In the error computation portion 4f, then, the multiplier 4f1 multiplies the discrimination result by the channel estimate ξ to return the phase to its original value, and in the error computation portion 4f2 the error e(k) between the discrimination result with phase returned (pilot signal) and the weighting synthesis signal is computed, and the result input to the weighting coefficient computation portion 4d.
The weighting coefficient computation portion 4d computes the weightings w1(k) to wN(k) from the LMS adaptive algorithm. That is, if the weighting coefficient for the (k+1)th symbol of the nth antenna element is wn(k+1), and the weight coefficient of the kth symbol is wn(k), then wn(k+1) can be computed from:wn(k+1)=wn(k)+μ e★(k)υn(k)  (2)e(k)=ξ·d(k)−y(k)  (3)
Here μ is the step coefficient, e(k) is the error signal given by eq. (3), ★ indicates a complex conjugate, ξ is the channel estimate, and d(k) is the pilot signal used as the reference signal.
As described above, by adding a weighting to the signals received from each antenna element using the beam former, antenna directionality can be formed, so that gain can be increased and interference signals can be reduced. And by adopting the RAKE reception method, each of the signals arriving via multiple paths can be utilized, so that the SNR can be improved.
FIG. 9 explains uplink circuit closed-loop transmission power control. In the mobile station 11, the spreading modulation portion 11a uses a spreading code according to the prescribed channel specified by the base station to perform spreading modulation of transmission data, and the power amplifier 11b performs quadrature modulation after spreading modulation, frequency conversion and other processing, amplifies the input signal, and transmits the signal to the base station 12 from the antenna. At the base station 12, the despreading portions 12a of the finger portion corresponding to each path performs despreading processing for delayed signals arriving via the allocated path, and the RAKE demodulation portion 12b synthesizes the signals output from each finger, and discriminates between "1" and "0" among the received data based on the synthesized signals.
The SIR measurement portion 12c measures the power ratio (SIR, Signal Interference Ratio) of the received signal to the interference signal, including thermal noise. The comparison portion 12d compares the target SIR and the measured SIR, and if the measured SIR is larger than the target SIR, creates a command to lower the transmission power by 1 dB using a TPC (Transmission Power Control) bit, whereas if the measured SIR is small, creates a command to raise by 1 dB the transmission power using the TPC bit. The target SIR is the SIR value necessary to obtain a BER of, for example, 10−3 (corresponding to the occurrence of an error once every thousand times), and is input to the comparison portion 12d from the target SIR setting portion 12e. The spreading modulation portion 12f performs spreading modulation of the transmission data and TPC bit. After spreading modulation, the base station 12 performs D/A conversion, quadrature modulation, frequency conversion, power amplification and other processing, and transmits to the mobile station 11 from the antenna. The despreading portion 11c of the mobile station 11 performs despreading processing of the signal received from the base station 12, the RAKE demodulation portion lid demodulates the received data and TPC bit, and the transmission power of the power amplifier 11b is controlled according to the command indicated by the TPC bit.
In the receiver of a DS/CDMA wireless base station employing an array antenna, it is possible to raise the gain and reduce interference signals; but if transmission power is controlled, the reception SNR per element of the antenna 1 drops compared with a receiver not employing an array antenna. If the reception SNR per element of the antenna 1 falls, the effect of noise is increased in the searcher 3, and there is the problem that path searches cannot be performed accurately. In order to maximize the effect of the RAKE reception method, it is essential that path searches be performed accurately; the above problem complicates the introduction of an array antenna to a DS/CDMA mobile communication system.

CDMA receiver, and searcher in a CDMA receiver


The present invention relates to a small interference RNA (siRNA) for specifically inhibiting the expression of ribosomal protein in cells, and more particularly, to an siRNA that specifically inhibits the expression of endogenous rpS3 protein in cells without influencing tagged overexpressed protein. The siRNAs of the present invention are excellent in terms of economy and efficiency compared to conventional commercially available products.

Proteins are involved in all physiological processes, from cell signaling to tissue remodeling to organ function. Thus, protein synthesis in cells is a very important process, and ribosomes perform this function. Ribosomes are cell organelles that connect amino acids to form proteins, and are large subunits composed of ribosomal proteins and ribosomal RNA.
rpS3 (ribosomal protein S3), a component of ribosomes, is located on the outer surface of the 40S subunit and is cross-linked to the initiation factor eIF2 and eIF3. As rpS3 has a nuclear localization of signal in the N-terminal region, it is believed that the translation functions of rpS3 operate in the cytosol, and the repair function operates in the nucleus. In addition to their role in ribosomal functions, many ribosomal proteins have secondary functions in replication, transcription, RNA processing, DNA repair, and malignant transformation.
The rpS3 gene is located on human chromosome 11q13.3-q13.5. Particularly, it was reported that the rpS3 gene is overexpressed in colorectal cancer patients. Thus, rpS3 gene products are overexpressed in colorectal cancer, and are highly likely to be associated with other cancers. In addition, studies on the region 11q13.3-q13.5 indicate that the structural abnormality and amplification of the gene often occur, and the gene is overexpressed upon the development of human cancers such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type I, breast carcinoma or B cell neoplasia (Pogue-Geile et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 11: 3842-3849, 1991).
As used herein, the term "siRNA (small interference RNA)" refers to a short double-strand RNA composed of about ten nucleotides to several tens of nucleotides, which induce RNAi (RNA interference). RNA interference ("RNAi") is a method of post-transcriptional inhibition of gene expression that is conserved throughout many eukaryotic organisms, and it refers to a phenomenon in which a double-stranded RNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence homologous to the mRNA of the target gene and an antisense RNA having a sequence complementary thereto is introduced into cells or the like so that it can selectively induce the degradation of the mRNA of the target gene or can inhibit the expression of the target gene. RNAi is induced by a short (i.e., less than 30 nucleotides) double-stranded RNA ("dsRNA") molecule present in cells (Fire A. et al., Nature, 391: 806-811, 1998). Because RNAi can selectively inhibit the expression of the target gene as described above, it is attracting considerable attention as a simple gene knock-down method that acts as a substitute for a conventional gene destruction method based on inefficient homologous recombination. When siRNA is introduced into cells, the expression of the mRNA of the target gene having a nucleotide sequence complementary to that of the siRNA will be inhibited.]
The siRNA and the targeted mRNA bind to an RNA-induced silencing complex ("RISC"), which cleaves the targeted mRNA. The siRNA is apparently recycled much like a multiple-turnover enzyme, with 1 siRNA molecule capable of inducing cleavage of approximately 1000 mRNA molecules. Thus, siRNA-mediated RNAi degradation of an mRNA is more effective than currently available technologies for inhibiting expression of a target gene.
However, unlike the initial expectation that RNAi technology can be applied to the RNA of all genes to selectively inhibit the expression of the RNA, it has recently been found that the RNAi technology is not applied, because some genes are unknown in high-throughput RNAi screening procedures (Krueger et al., Oligonucleotides, 17:237-250, 2007). In addition, in past several years, algorithms for predicting siRNA sequences by statistical analysis based on databases have been developed. However, it is known that, because computational algorithms are not perfect, all siRNAs determined by an in silico method using the algorithm do not effectively inhibit the target mRNA in cells and in vivo, and the most efficient siRNA can be determined only by experimental verification (Derek et al., Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng., 8:377-402, 2006).
As described above, theoretically predicted siRNAs must not effectively inhibit the ability of mRNA, and highly efficient siRNA nucleotide sequences should be found to achieve therapeutic purposes. For this reason, it is very important to find a specific hyperactive target having high inhibitory effects on the target mRNA. In addition, it is required to identify the optimum sequence having an excellent expression inhibitory effect by preparing siRNAs based on a number of target sites selected per mRNA of a single gene and directly examining the effects of the siRNAs directly, at least at the cellular level.
Accordingly, the present inventors have made extensive efforts to develop an siRNA for inhibiting the expression of ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3), and as a result, have constructed an rpS3 siRNA that bind to the specific target site of rpS3, and have found that the constructed siRNA has an excellent effect of inhibiting the expression of endogenous rpS3 protein, compared to commercially available products, thereby completing the present invention.

Small interference RNA for inhibiting intracellular expression of ribosomal protein S3

KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION


A display device includes: a light source; an illumination optical system; a diffraction pattern generation unit; a spatial modulation element that generates diffracted light; and a shielding unit that selectively enters a first state where a first and second partial areas are a transmitting and shielding areas, respectively, and a second state where the first and second partial areas are the shielding and transmitting areas, respectively. The spatial modulation element displays the fictive image on a first and second display areas corresponding to the first and second partial areas when the shielding unit is in the first and second states, respectively. The diffraction pattern generation unit generates a first and second portion diffraction patterns from an image in an area corresponding to the first and second display areas out of the original image when the shielding unit is in the first and second states, respectively.

A head-mounted display (hereafter "HMD") is a device that displays information to a user in a state of being mounted on the head of the user. In terms of mounting on the head, generally it is preferable that the HMD is compact and light, but in terms of display performance, it is preferable that the screen is large and image quality is high. In conventional HMDs, there is a method of optically magnifying an image displayed on a compact liquid crystal panel or the like using a convex lens, a free-form surface prism or the like, so that an expanded fictive image is displayed to the user (e.g. see Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H8-240773). This method of magnifying images with a prism is called an "optical magnification method" in this specification.
In a display device using a computer generated hologram (hereafter "CGH"), a diffraction pattern, which is calculated by a computer using an image to be displayed as input data, is displayed on a phase modulation type liquid crystal panel as a CGH, and laser light is irradiated onto the liquid crystal panel and is diffracted, whereby the wavefront of the display light from the fictive image position is reproduced, and the fictive image is displayed to the user (e.g. see Japanese Translation of PCT Application No. 2008-541145). According to the display device with a CGH, it is possible to omit a prism and the like which have been required in the conventional HMD with an optical magnification method for magnifying images. Hence, it becomes possible to realize a more compact and lighter HMD by reducing the size of the optical system.
A method of displaying an image using CGH is briefly described hereinafter. In the display device of CGH method, a diffraction pattern is computed from an image to be displayed. In general, in computing a diffraction pattern, a method is used such as generating a diffraction pattern from an image to be displayed to the user (hereafter "original image") using a generation method based on a point filling method or a Fourier transform.
FIG. 34 is a diagram showing examples of an original image and a diffraction pattern computed from the original image. In FIG. 34, the original image 401 is an example of an original image, and the diffraction pattern 402 is an example of a diffraction pattern generated from the original image 401. This diffraction pattern 402 is displayed on a phase modulation type liquid crystal panel or the like as a CGH, and a diffraction light is generated by illuminating the liquid crystal panel with laser light. Consequently, the user can visually recognize the original image 401, based on which the diffraction pattern 402 is generated, as a diffraction light from the diffraction pattern 402 on the liquid crystal panel.
Next, an example of a computation method to generate a diffraction pattern using the point filling method will be described. In the case of the point filling method, an original image (object) is regarded as a set of point light sources, and a diffraction pattern is computed from a phase when the light from each point light source overlaps at each point on the liquid crystal panel.
FIG. 35 is a diagram depicting an example of a positional relationship between an original image 501 and a liquid crystal panel 502 that displays a diffraction pattern on generating the diffraction pattern. In order to generate the diffraction pattern to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel 502 using the point filling method, each point (each pixel) on the original image 501 is regarded as a point light source, as described above. If a point i on the original image 501 has an amplitude ai and a phase φi, a complex amplitude of the light generated from this point i, observed at a point u on the liquid crystal panel 502, is given by the following Expression (1).
                                          u            i                                          (                          ξ              ,              η                        )                          =                                            a              i                                      r              i                                          exp                                {                          -                              j                                                  (                                                            kr                      i                                        +                                          ϕ                      i                                                        )                                                      }                                              (        1        )
Further, ri in Expression (1) denotes a distance between the point i and the point u, and ri is computed by the following Expression (2), where the origin is the center of the liquid crystal panel 502, the coordinates of the point i are (xi, yi, zi), and the coordinates of the point u are (ξ, η, 0).ri=√{square root over ((ξ−xi)2+(η−yi)2+zi2)}{square root over ((ξ−xi)2+(η−yi)2+zi2)}  (2)
Further, k in Expression (1) denotes a wave number, and is given by k=2π/λ, where λ denotes a wavelength of the light from the point i. The complex amplitude of the light from the point i is determined at the point u by the computation using Expression (1). Hence, the same computation is performed at each point on the original image 501, and the results are added, whereby the value of the complex amplitude at the point u on the liquid crystal panel 502 can be determined. It is to be noted that the phase value of the point i is given by adding random phase values to the original image 501. Expression (3) is an expression to indicate a complex amplitude at the point u.
                              u                                (                          ξ              ,              η                        )                          =                              ∑                          i              =              1                        N                                                                                u              i                                                  (                              ξ                ,                η                            )                                                          (        3        )
In the point filling method, a diffraction pattern is generated by performing computation of Expression (3) for each point on the liquid crystal panel 502. In this example, a phase variation, by a reference light, or the like is not illustrated to simplify description. As described above, by computing a diffraction pattern using the point filling method, it becomes possible to reproduce a wavefront of a display light from an arbitrary object. Therefore, a position of a reconstructed image (fictive image) can be controlled, even without such an optical component as a prism, as in the case of the conventional optical magnification method.
One of the problems of the CGH method is the computing volume of a diffraction pattern. In the case of the point filling method, the computing volume dramatically increases depending on the number of pixels of the original image and the number of pixels of a liquid crystal panel to display a diffraction pattern. Therefore, a proposed technique is computing a diffraction pattern using an approximation for a distance between a point on an object and a point on a liquid crystal panel, and performing inverse Fourier transform on data generated by assigning a random phase value to each pixel of the original image data (e.g. Japanese Patent Publication No. 4795249). In a case where the number of pixels of original image data is N×N and the number of pixels of a diffraction pattern is N×N, an order of the computation of the point filling method is the fourth power of N, but with a technique to use inverse Fourier transform, an order of the computation is reduced to a square of (N×log N).
However, in a case where a diffraction pattern is computed by inverse Fourier transform and the like, in order to reduce computation volume, it becomes difficult to freely set a position of a reconstructed image (distance from the liquid crystal panel) by CGH, since approximation is used for computing the distance between the object (original image) and the liquid crystal panel. As a rule, in a case where a diffraction pattern is computed by inverse Fourier transform and a liquid crystal panel for displaying a diffraction pattern as a CGH is illuminated with parallel light, a reconstructed image by CGH is reconstructed based on the assumption that this image is located at infinity from the liquid crystal panel. A method that can be used for solving this problem is performing further computation for correcting the computation result based on inverse Fourier transform.
FIG. 36 shows an example of a diffraction pattern correction. A diffraction pattern 601 is a basic diffraction pattern generated by performing inverse Fourier transform on an original image. In a case where this basic diffraction pattern 601 is displayed on a liquid crystal panel, the reconstructed image is reconstructed in a position at infinity. A correction pattern 602 is a correction pattern for correcting the position of the reconstructed image of the basic diffraction pattern 601. In the case of FIG. 36, the correction pattern 602 is generated by computing a phase in the case when the wavefront of the spherical wave from the point light source, which is virtually disposed in a position to display the reconstructed image, enters the liquid crystal panel.
A composite diffraction pattern 603 is a diffraction pattern generated by superposing the basic diffraction pattern 601 and the correction pattern 602. In a case where the composite diffraction pattern 603 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel, the position of the reconstructed image becomes the position of the point light source that was used for generating the correction pattern 602. The computation cost to superpose the correction pattern 602 on the basic diffraction pattern 601 is sufficiently low, compared with the case of the point filling method or the like. Therefore, using this technique makes it possible to control the position of the reconstructed image while computing the diffraction pattern at high-speed.
Another problem of a CGH type display device is quantization noise. Generally, in a case where a diffraction pattern is computed using the point filling method or inverse Fourier transform after adding a random phase value to each pixel of an original image, each pixel of the diffraction pattern is represented by a complex number having a phase in the range from 0 to 2π. However, in a case where the liquid crystal panel can express only specific phase values, data of each pixel of the diffraction pattern must be quantized to a CGH that can be displayed on the liquid crystal panel.
For example, in a case of using a liquid crystal panel constituted by ferroelectric liquid crystals, phase values that can be expressed by this liquid crystal panel are limited to 0 or π. Therefore, in displaying a diffraction pattern as CGH on the liquid crystal panel, a value of each pixel must be binarized to 0 or π. In a case where this kind of quantization is performed, the information volume of the original diffraction pattern is diminished. As a result, a noise called "quantization noise" is generated in the reconstructed image based on CGH.
A method used for handling this problem is suppressing the noise generation by applying an error diffusion technique when the diffraction pattern computed from the original image is quantized to the phase values that can be displayed on the liquid crystal panel (e.g. Estimation of optimal error diffusion for computer-generated holograms, Ken-ichi Tanaka, Teruo Shimomura Kyushu Institute of Technology (Japan) Proc. SPIE 3491, 1998 International Conference on Applications of Photonic Technology III: Closing the Gap between Theory, Development, and Applications, 1017 (Dec. 4, 1998); doi: 10.1117/12.328674). Here, error diffusion is a technique to disperse error generated during quantization (difference between a pixel value before quantization and a pixel value after quantization) into peripheral pixels. The amount of errors to be dispersed to the peripheral pixels differs depending on the error diffusion technique, but a technique to perform weighting as shown in FIG. 37, for example, has been proposed (Floyd-Steinberg method).
FIG. 37 shows an example of the error diffusion coefficients used for error diffusion. FIG. 37 shows a 3×3 matrix of which center is a quantization pixel, where the quantization is performed. According to FIG. 37, 7/16 of the error is added to the pixel located to the right of the quantization pixel, and 5/16 of the error is added to the pixel located below the quantization pixel. By propagating the error to peripheral pixels like this, the generated noise can be concentrated to a high frequency area.
FIG. 38 shows an example of a diffraction pattern of which error diffusion was performed and an example of a diffraction pattern of which error diffusion was not performed, during quantization. In FIG. 38, a diffraction pattern 801 is an example of a diffraction pattern after quantization when error diffusion was not performed, and a diffraction pattern 802 is an example of a diffraction pattern after quantization when error diffusion was performed. By performing error diffusion, the quantization noise can be concentrated to a high frequency area of CGH. In the reconstructed image, the high frequency area of CGH corresponds to the edge portions of the display screen. Therefore, the quantity of the quantization noise on the entire display screen does not change depending on whether error diffusion is performed, but the generation of the quantization noise at the center portion of the display screen can be suppressed by error diffusion.
In this way, in a CGH type display device, methods for improving image quality by optimizing the position of a reconstructed image (fictive image) and suppressing the quantization noise, while keeping computation volume low, are now under research.

Computer generated hologram type display device

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A video-based monitoring system may dynamically adjust the resolution or frame rate of video cameras in a materials handling facility in response to changing conditions or events. The resolution or frame rate may be increased when an agent authorized to handle high-value items (e.g., expensive items or those at high risk of being stolen) enters the field of view of a given camera in the facility. The system (or a video camera thereof) may detect the presence of the authorized agent by detecting that his clothing or equipment includes a color or pattern designating such authorization using analytics applied to a video stream captured by the camera. Other pre-defined conditions or events indicating that higher-resolution video monitoring is warranted may trigger an increase in the resolution or frame rate of a camera. The resolution or frame rate may be decreased when these conditions or events no longer apply.

Retailers, wholesalers, and other product distributors (which may collectively be referred to as distributors) typically maintain an inventory of various items that may be ordered by clients or customers. Similarly, manufacturers may maintain an inventory of parts and/or materials for use in manufacturing processes. This inventory may be maintained and processed at a materials handling facility which may include, but is not limited to, one or more of: warehouses, distribution centers, cross-docking facilities, order fulfillment facilities, packaging facilities, shipping facilities, or other facilities or combinations of facilities for performing one or more functions of material (inventory) handling.
When a customer places an order, one or several inventory items specified in the order are retrieved or "picked" from inventory and prepared for delivery to the customer. Traditionally, like items are stored together within inventory to facilitate inventory tracking and management. For example, items having a common Universal Product Code (UPC), Stock-Keeping Unit (SKU) code, International Standard Book Number (ISBN), or other designation (including proprietary designations) may be stored together within inventory. In some facilities, expensive items (e.g., jewelry) may be stored in vaults or in designated high-security inventory areas with restricted access.
In an inventory environment that includes a large number of many different items, it may be highly inefficient for a single employee to physically locate and pick every item for a given order. For example, different items specified in a given order may be stored at mutually remote locations within the inventory facility, which would require a single picking agent to traverse a long path through the facility. In some cases, in order to make better use of inventory stocking space, it may be desirable to stock different items together in a single storage location or stocking area.
While embodiments are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.

Selective high-resolution video monitoring in a materials handling facility


A renewable energy system for converting wind power into electrical energy or other form of energy. The renewable energy system generally includes a first intake and a second intake, a shroud fluidly connected to the intakes by a first delivery tube and a second delivery tube respectively, and a turbine rotatably positioned within the shroud. The first delivery tube and the second delivery tube are fluidly connected to opposite sides of the shroud to provide the input of the pressurized air from the intakes into opposing portions of the turbine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to renewable energy resources and more specifically it relates to a renewable energy system for converting wind power into an energy source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Wind powered systems have been in use for years. Conventional wind powered systems utilize turbine blades that rotate along a plane that is substantially tangential to the direction of the wind to generate electrical power and the like. While conventional wind powered systems are generally useful in larger applications (e.g. wind farms), they are not typically cost effective for usage in smaller applications such as for a personal residence.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved renewable energy system for converting wind power into an energy source.

Shrouded wind turbine with dual coaxial airflow passageways


The present embodiments provide methods, processes and systems for use in determining navigation. Some embodiments provide methods that receive a communication at a mobile navigation system from an external device, determine whether the communication comprises navigation information, extract the navigation information when the communication comprises navigation information, identify a navigation location based on the navigation information, retrieve a current location, and generate navigation instructions between the current location and the navigation location.

Navigation systems have been incorporated into vehicles. These navigation systems provide users with navigation directions between a starting point and a destination. Often these navigation directions are provided as graphically depicted maps and/or audio instructions. Based on the navigation instructions, vehicle operators can often times more easily reach the desired destination.
Typically, these navigation systems store map information locally. This map information is then utilized in providing the graphical and/or audio navigation directions. In requesting navigation instructions, the user typically manually enters a desired destination. Based on a current location and the desired destination, the navigation system accesses the map information to retrieve the navigation instructions.

Method, apparatus and system for use in navigation


A valve body with a diverted flow passage extending between the inlet and the outlet is provided with a closure element that is mounted between the inlet and outlet and movable between first and second lift points for regulating fluid flow through the passage. A baffle disposed in the flow passage intermediate the first and second lift points alters one or more flow characteristics of the fluid to improve the efficiency of fluid flow through the valve. In a right angle body valve, the baffle takes the form of a plate with an aperture positioned concentrically with the inlet passage and the valve closure element. A top plane surface of the baffle plate is positioned below the centerline of the outlet and is perpendicular to the centerline of the inlet. The baffle separates turbulent areas of flow in the passage so that the pressure and flow of fluid exiting the valve are more uniformly distributed over the entire outlet. In modified forms of the invention, the baffle shape, position and aperture are matched with the flow constraining structure to produce optimum flow through the structure. The invention may be employed in any structure where intersecting flow paths meet such that the direction of fluid flow is changed between the structure's inlet and outlet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid flow constraining devices that are used to direct or control the flow of liquids and gases. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of fluid flow through a valve or other fluid flow constraining structure of the type in which the fluid flow direction is changed between the inlet and the outlet of the structure. In a specific application, the present invention is directed to right angle body valves flowing vapors or liquids in what is known as a subsonic flow condition.
2. Setting of the Invention
A right-angle body valve flowing vapors in a "subsonic" flow condition exhibits pressure at the plane of its discharge nozzle that is greater than approximately 50% of the pressure at the plane of its inlet nozzle. At discharge nozzle pressures below 50% of the inlet nozzle pressure, the discharge nozzle is operating in a "sonic" or "choked flow" condition in which the flow through the discharge nozzle is only affected by the inlet nozzle pressure and the physical design of the inlet nozzle.
The flow of liquids through a discharge nozzle is affected by the pressure at its discharge nozzle at all operating pressures. As a result, subsonic flow exits at all operating pressures of a right-angle body valve flowing liquids.
The evaluation of the efficiency of flow through a valve requires the evaluation of the valve's dimensions and component movements. The parameters evaluated in a right-angle body valve include the "lift," "lift ratio," "discharge coefficient" or "Kd" and "pressure ratio." These parameters may be best described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating a conventional right angle body valve 10.
The valve 10 is employed to convey pressurized fluid in a containment area indicated at 11 to a lower pressure outlet area indicated at 12. A circular valve seat plate or disc 13 positioned against a circular inlet nozzle seat top edge 14 prevents flow between the areas 11 and 12. The seat plate 13 is moved into and out of engagement with the nozzle edge 14 by vertical movement of a valve stem 15 connected to a conventional regulator control system indicated generally at 16. Only a portion of the regulator control system 16 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Operation of the valve 10 is conventional with the pressure in the regulator control system 16 employed to regulate the opening and closing of the valve 10 by appropriately raising or lowering the valve plate 13. Fluid entering the open valve 10 flows through an inlet nozzle 17 and exits the valve through an outlet nozzle 18. The body of the valve and the components connected to the valve inlet and outlet form a constraining structure that alters the flow of the contained fluid between an inlet area 19 and the outlet area 12. In the case of a right-angle body valve such as the valve 10, the direction of flow is changed by approximately 90.degree..
With reference to FIG. 2, the "lift" of the valve 10 is the separating distance between the bottom face 13a of the valve plate and the nozzle seat top edge 14. The "lift ratio" for the valve 10 is the ratio of the lift to the diameter of the nozzle 17. The "discharge coefficient" or "Kd" is the ratio between the actual measured flow through the valve 10 verses the maximum theoretical flow of an ideal inlet nozzle with a bore area equal to that of the valve's inlet nozzle 17. The Kd may be measured at more than one lift ratio value. "Pressure ratio" is the ratio of the pressure at the valve's discharge point to the pressure at the valve's nozzle inlet.
It will be understood by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 that the valve 10 and the associated pressure area 11 form a flow constraining structure that alters the direction of flow of fluid in the structure from an inlet 19 to the outlet 12.
Historically, conventional forward flow, right-angle closed body style valves operating in the subsonic flow region and at high pressure ratios have required high lifts to overcome low Kds and attain the maximum flow rates desired. For reference, typically, right angle valves flowing vapors in the sonic flow condition (pressure ratio below 0.50) will attain valve Kds in the range of 0.97 at lift ratios ranging from 25% to 45%. The same valve flowing vapors in the subsonic range will require lifts exceeding 65% to attain the same Kd value when operating at pressure ratios near the 0.50 transition point. The lift requirement increases to even higher required lifts in an environment of lower attainable Kd values as the flowing pressure ratios approach the 1.00 value.
Low subsonic Kds have been attributed to two primary factors. The first factor is an identified flow pattern that creates a flow restriction in the radial flow region between the face of the valve seat and the circumference of the valve nozzle. This restriction is created from the turning of the discharge flow that occurs when the flow stream from a nozzle strikes a generally flat surface that is perpendicular to the centerline of the nozzle and is located just beyond the discharge face of the nozzle. The second factor specifically related to right angle valves is the difficulty of obtaining a smooth aerodynamic gas flow and pressure reduction in the valve body cavity between the valve inlet nozzle and the discharge outlet.
In open discharge valve designs utilized, for example, for various low pressure relief valves for tanks, there is no surrounding valve body or conduit to constrain the exiting flow. The primary restriction on valve flow rate for this type valve is the radial nozzle flow constriction. As a result, for this style of valve, it is possible to attain essentially the maximum theoretical flow rate of the valve nozzle independent of all other factors except atmospheric back pressure by simply increasing the valve lift. Because of the open construction of these valves, any additional cost related to the solution of the problem of restricted flow is limited to that of the valve operator costs.
A high lift combined with a large valve body cavity in closed body valves can increase valve flow efficiency for many valve applications. Such a solution, however, requires a more costly operator and increased valve body dimensions with corresponding penalties in the valve body weight and cost.
The efficiency of the fluid flow through a closed body valve may be improved by shaping a downstream cavity in the valve in a way to minimize restrictions to the inlet flow. One such design is employed in the Anderson, Greenwood Series 9000 pilot operated safety relief valve. This valve includes a cavity downstream of the valve closure mechanism that has been dimensioned and contoured to minimize resistance to flow into the downstream section of the valve. As compared with a valve lacking such features, the efficiency of fluid transfer through the valve is substantially improved.

Method and apparatus for increasing valve flow efficiency


An animal collar system including an animal collar, a housing mounted to the animal collar and an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit is enclosed in the housing and a built-in-test circuit is electrically connected to the electrical circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an animal collar system, and, more particularly to an animal collar system including a receiver for the modification of animal behavior.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stimulation devices are used for the modification of behavior of an animal. The stimulation device is often associated with a collar worn by the animal and is provided to improve the behavior of the animal. Some stimulation devices include twin electrodes that are positioned against the skin of an animal, which delivers an electrical stimulus to modify the behavior of the animal. The stimulus can also be in the form of a vibration, an audible tone or noise, or other sensory stimulation to gain the attention of the animal. The actual functioning of the collar system can be determined by activating the collar while on the animal, which may have an unintended consequence by applying a stimulus at an inappropriate time. Another way of testing the animal collar is to disassemble the animal collar and connect it to test equipment. This approach is normally not feasible due to the time required to disassemble the collar, which is often hermetically sealed to prevent the entrance of moisture. Further, the testing of the animal collar utilizing test equipment would be at a considerable expense for the equipment and require a level of expertise that may not be available to a dog owner.
What is needed in the art is a animal collar which can be easily and cost effectively tested for functionality.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An insulating layer is formed on a plurality of electrodes formed on a plastic film substrate, the insulating layer having a plurality of electrode connecting holes formed therein. Electrodes of the plurality of electrodes are selectively connected to an external circuit via respective ones of the plurality of connecting holes. Conductive color filter layers are formed on the thus-connected electrodes by an electrochemical method. A value obtained as a result of subtracting a width of each one of the plurality of electrode connecting holes from a width of a respective one of the plurality of electrodes is large so that a position of the electrode connecting hole is maintained to correspond to a position of the electrode even when the plastic film substrate expands or contracts maximally.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color liquid-crystal display device, and, in particular, to a liquid-crystal display device which is superior as a portable device and uses a plastic-film substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid-crystal display devices have been used in various fields. As an information display device, a liquid-crystal display device is a match for a CRT. In particular, in a portable apparatus, it is demanded that a size of the apparatus be small, a weight of the apparatus be light, and power consumption of the apparatus be low. Therefore, a liquid-crystal display device is used in such a portable apparatus in many cases. In almost all cases, a liquid-crystal display device uses a glass as a substrate. However, in a portable apparatus such as a portable telephone, an electronic pocket book or the like, a liquid-crystal display device using a plastic film as a substrate is used. A plastic film has a thickness on the order of 0.1 through 0.3 mm, and the weight thereof is light. Therefore, a plastic film is suitable for being used in a portable apparatus. However, performing fine patterning on a plastic-film substrate is difficult. Further, the dimensions of a plastic-film substrate change due to environmental changes in temperature, humidity and so forth. Therefore, it is difficult to put a color filter using a plastic-film substrate into practice. As a result, in almost all cases, a plastic-film substrate is used in a monochrome display device. A color displaying method which does not use a color filter using a plastic-film substrate has been proposed. However, in this method, the number of colors which can be displayed is limited, and displayed colors are not clear. Further, in this method, it is necessary to strictly control a distance (cell gap) between two substrates. Because control of the distance between two substrates is difficult in a plastic-film liquid-crystal display device, this method has yet to be put into practice.
As methods for manufacturing a color filter for a liquid crystal, various methods such as a dye dissolution method, a pigment dispersed method, an electro-deposition method, a micelle-disruption method, a printing method and so forth have been proposed. (With regard to the micelle-disruption method, see `Formation of Organic Thin Films by Electrolysis of Surfactants with the Ferrocenyl Moiety`, Tetsuo Saji, Katsuyosi Hoshino, Yoshiyuki Ishii, and Masayuki Goto, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113, 450-456.) In each of the dye dissolution method, pigment dispersed method, printing method and so forth, in forming patterns of red (R), green (G), blue (B) and black (BK), it is necessary to accurately positioning each pattern with respect to the other patterns. For example, first, a black pattern is formed, and, then, red, green and blue patterns are accurately positioned with respect to the black pattern and are thus formed. Further, positioning between the color filter patterns and liquid-crystal driving electrodes is also necessary. An accuracy in positioning depends on material, size, and manufacturing apparatus for a substrate to be used. When a glass substrate is used, it is possible to perform positioning on the order of microns. In comparison to the glass substrate, a plastic substrate changes in dimensions greatly. Not only due to thermal hysteresis but also due to temperature and humidity changes, a plastic substrate changes in dimensions by .+-.0.1%. Therefore, it is very difficult to perform accurate positioning of color filter patterns. In order to put forming of color filter patterns on a plastic-film substrate into practice, a manufacturing process, which does not need accurate positioning of color filter patterns, or, in which the number of steps which needs accurate positioning is reduced to the utmost, is demanded.
In each of the electro-deposition method and micelle-disruption method of the above-mentioned methods for manufacturing color filters, color filter layers are formed on transparent conductive film patterns electrochemically. Therefore, deviation in positions of the respective colors, R, G, B, with respect to each other does not occur.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 6-34809 discloses using electrodes for driving liquid crystal also as electrodes by which color filter layers are formed, as a result of making the color filter layers of conductive material or mixing conductive material in the color filter layers.
When the color filter layers are conductive, when a plurality of colors (for example, three colors, R, G, B) of color filter layers are formed, it is necessary to selectively connect the electrodes to an external circuit for each color. Generally speaking, the pitch of the electrodes is equal to or less than 100 .mu.m. It is difficult to directly probe each electrode so as to connect the electrode to an external circuit. Therefore, in the art disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-102302, as shown in FIG. 1, electrode connecting holes 2 are formed in a photosensitive resin 3 so that electrodes 1 for the respective colors R, G, B on a substrate 4 can be selectively connected to an external circuit. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the electrodes 1 are selectively connected to the external circuit 7 through conductive silver paste 6. Then, a color filter forming area 5 is immersed in electrolytic liquid, and a voltage is applied to the electrodes selectively connected to the external circuit 7. As a result, color filter layers 8 are formed on the electrodes 1, respectively. However, when attempting to form conductive color filter layers on a plastic film in this method, problems such as shifting of the electrode connecting holes 2 from the electrodes 1, poor electrical connection between the electrodes 1 and the silver paste 6, and so forth, due to change in dimensions of the substrate 4, occurred. As a result, good conductive color filter layers could not be formed.
Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Nos. 2-175897 and 3-4202 disclose methods in which electrode connecting holes 2 are not used, and, electrodes after being colored are cut by etching. However, in either method, manufacturing steps are complicated, and it is difficult to apply the method to a plastic film substrate.

Plastic color filter manufacturing method and color filter manufactured in the manufacturing method


Output driver circuits and related methods. In one example, the output driver circuit includes a translator for converting the single ended data input signal into a pair of signals; a set of output transistors selectively controlled by the pair of signals; a cascode current source for providing a substantially constant current to the set of output transistors when the output transistors are active; and a dump path in parallel with the set of output transistors. A circuit portion for pre-charging the pair of signals to a pre-charged voltage between VCC and ground may also be provided.

Output driver circuits are used to transmit signals out of an integrated circuit device. Differential output drivers are typically used to transmit serial data at high speeds with low voltage signal swings. For example, the data bus of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) uses differential signals to communicate data between USB devices. Per the USB 2.0 specification, high speed output drivers that desire to write data to the USB bus must provide 18 milliamps of current on the properly terminated data bus lines D+ and D−.
In such an arrangement, one issue relates to power management of the output driver of an integrated circuit adapted to communicate over the USB bus. A first conventional solution uses a P-type field effect transistor (PFET) switch in series with a current source to enable and disable an output. However, when the output-enable switch turns on, coupling through the large gate-drain capacitance of the current source disrupts the current source bias voltage. An alternate approach comprises a "dump" PFET in parallel with the output-enabled PFET. When the output is disabled, the current source is shorted to ground, wasting power. A disadvantage of the first conventional solution is that it always burns the current source power, even when not transmitting.
In another solution, shown in FIG. 1, a device comprises a plurality of blocks each dumping current. The current dumping occurs only briefly before and after a transmit operation. In this approach, when the dump path is enabled before a transmit operation, coupling through the large current source gate-drain capacitance significantly disrupts the PBIAS node. A correction amplifier senses the bias change, and sinks/sources current in response. A disadvantage of this approach is that it requires the design of the bias correction amplifier which consumes static current constantly.
As recognized by the present inventors, what is needed is an improved output driver that consumes a reduced amount of current, which would be useful various application including battery powered applications such as mobile computing or for bus-powered USB applications.
It is against this background that embodiments of the present invention have been developed.

Circuit and method for rapid power up of a differential output driver


A method of forming a nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon layer on a substrate in a processing chamber is provided. The method generally includes depositing a predetermined thickness of a sacrificial dielectric layer over a substrate, forming patterned features on the substrate by removing portions of the sacrificial dielectric layer to expose an upper surface of the substrate, depositing conformally a predetermined thickness of a nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon layer on the patterned features and the exposed upper surface of the substrate, selectively removing the nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon layer from an upper surface of the patterned features and the upper surface of the substrate using an anisotropic etching process to provide the patterned features filled within sidewall spacers formed from the nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon layer, and removing the patterned features from the substrate.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the fabrication of integrated circuits and particularly to a method for protecting sidewalls of hard mask spacers during an etching process.
Description of the Related Art
Reducing the size of integrated circuits (ICs) results in improved performance, increased capacity and/or reduced cost. Each size reduction requires more sophisticated techniques to form the ICs. Photolithography is commonly used to pattern ICs on a substrate. An exemplary feature of an IC is a line of a material which may be a metal, semiconductor or insulator. Linewidth is the width of the line and the spacing is the distance between adjacent lines. Pitch is defined as the distance between a same point on two neighboring lines. The pitch is equal to the sum of the linewidth and the spacing. Due to factors such as optics and light or radiation wavelength, however, photolithography techniques have a minimum pitch below which a particular photolithographic technique may not reliably form features. Thus, the minimum pitch of a photolithographic technique can limit feature size reduction.
Self-aligned double patterning (SADP) is one method for extending the capabilities of photolithographic techniques beyond the minimum pitch. Such a method is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1F. With reference to FIG. 1A, patterned core features 102 are formed from sacrificial structural material above a dielectric layer 114 on a substrate 100 using standard photo-lithography and etching techniques. The patterned features are often referred to as placeholders or cores and have linewidths and/or spacings near the optical resolution of a photolithography system using a high-resolution photomask. As shown in FIG. 1B, a conformal layer 106 of hard mask material such as silicon oxide is subsequently deposited over core features 102. Hard mask spacers 108 are then formed on the sides of core features 102 by preferentially etching the hard mask material from the horizontal surfaces with an anisotropic plasma etch to open the hard mask material deposited on top of the patterned core features 102 as well as remove the hard mask material deposited at the bottom between the two sidewalls, as shown in FIG. 1C. The patterned core features 102 may then be removed, leaving behind hard mask spacers 108 (FIG. 1D). At this point hard mask spacers 108 may be used as an etch mask for transferring the pattern to the dielectric layer 114 to form dielectric ribs 116, as shown in FIG. 1E. The hard mask spacers 108 are subsequently removed (FIG. 1F). Therefore, the density of the dielectric ribs 116 is twice that of the photo-lithographically patterned core features 102, and the pitch of the dielectric ribs 116 is half the pitch of the patterned core features 102.
Currently, hard mask spacers 108 are formed by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) using an etchable material such as silicon oxides. These oxides are typically deposited at very low temperature (e.g., less than 200° C.). As a result, the material quality is poor, with low density and poor mechanical strength and degraded chemical resistance to subsequent etching chemistries. During the etching of the hard mask material, the spacer sidewalls, e.g., sidewalls 107 (FIG. 1D) are exposed to the plasma. Due to the poor material quality of typical ALD hard mask spacers, the sidewalls are damaged and thus causing higher line edge roughness. This issue becomes serious with shrinking feature size.
Therefore, there is a need for a method of protecting the sidewalls of the hard mask spacers such that the patterning integrity is greatly improved.

Conformal amorphous carbon for spacer and spacer protection applications


A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor region; a second semiconductor region; a third semiconductor region; a fourth semiconductor region; an insulation film, which is arranged on an inner wall of a recess that extends from an upper surface of the fourth semiconductor region and reaches the second semiconductor region with penetrating the fourth semiconductor region and the third semiconductor region; a control electrode, which is arranged on the insulation film on a side surface of the recess and faces the third semiconductor region; a first main electrode, which is electrically connected to the first semiconductor region, and a second main electrode, which is electrically connected to the fourth semiconductor region, wherein a ratio of a width of the recess to a width of the third semiconductor region contacting the second main electrode is 1 or larger.

Since an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) has a high input impedance and a low on-voltage, it is used in a motor driving circuit and the like. However, the IGBT has a tradeoff relation between a withstanding voltage and an on-voltage.
As a result, a variety of methods has been suggested so as to lower the on-voltage while keeping the withstanding voltage high. For example, a structure has been suggested in which an n-type layer (hereinafter, referred to as a 'carrier accumulation layer'), which has an impurity concentration higher than a drift region and holes are accumulated therein, is formed between a base region and the drift region. According to the structure, the holes are suppressed from reaching an emitter electrode from a collector region, so that the on-voltage can be lowered (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-353456A).


A roof locking apparatus for a vehicle (70) is provided in a vehicle body and operable to hold a middle portion with respect to a vehicle width direction of a front edge of the roof (2) within a storage space (7).

Conventionally, a roof locking apparatus for a vehicle provided in a vehicle body and holding a front edge of a movable roof in fully closed state has been known (refer to Patent Document 1). The roof locking apparatus for a vehicle includes a pair of roof locking mechanisms, each of which is installed on right and left ends of a front pillar. The pair of roof locking mechanisms is respectively operable to hold the right and left ends of the front edge when the movable roof is in fully closed state. Thus, it is possible to prevent the movable roof from wobbling in fully closed state.    Patent Document: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-241242


A method and device for detecting a peak which is substantially the same as the actual peak are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a filter, a shift register, a controller and a digital interpolator. The filter is configured to receive a plurality of signal samples and the shift register, which is coupled with the filter, has multiple registers. The shift register is configured to receive the plurality of signal samples and to shift the plurality of signal samples through the registers. The controller is coupled with the shifter register and is configured to detect a zero-crossing event in the signal samples. The digital interpolator is coupled with the controller and configured to perform a binary search to identify a peak substantially the same as the actual peak.

With increasing popularity of high resolution digital processing devices such as High Definition Television ("HDTV") and high quality imaging processing devices, a fast and accurate mass storage device has been increasingly in demand. Magnetic storage media such as magnetic tape has continued to be an efficient medium for data storage for the high resolution digital processing devices such as computers and HDTV. To enhance data storage and retrieval performance in a tape recording, it is critical to position the transverse head at a right location over the magnetic tape. In digital tape recorders, voltage peaks arising from pre-recorded, slanted magnetic stripes on tape are typically used to determine transverse head position based on peak-to-peak time intervals.
To enhance the head position with respect to the tape, a conventional approach is to use multiple stripes that can be detected by a magnetic head. FIG. 1 shows a conventional technique that includes two stripes 101 and 102. Stripe 101 is configured to slant at a positive angle with respect to the tape 100 and stripe 102 is slanted at a negative angle with respect to the tape 100. Stripes 101 and 102 are separated by a distance down the tape 100. When the head position 103 is near the top of the stripes 101-102, the servo signals or pulses 105 caused by the stripes 101-102 will occur wherein the distance (or time) between the pulses or peaks is t1. When the head position 104 is near the bottom of the stripe pair, the pulses or servo signals 106 will occur wherein the distance (or time) between the pulses is t2. It should be noted that t2 is greater than t1 wherein the difference in distance or time indicates the location of the head position. For example, if the detection of stripes 101-102 is around t1, it indicates the head is at the head position 103, while if the detection of stripes 101-102 is around t2, it indicates the head is at the head position 104.
Given the knowledge of the tape speed, the instantaneous transverse location of the head may be determined by measuring the time interval between the servo stripe pulses detected by the head. The head can then be adjusted to position as desired by measuring a succession of stripe pairs continuously. To make the measurements, the servo signals or pulses 105 or 106 are delivered to a detection logic that reports the time of occurrence of each peak. A problem associated with this conventional approach is that the servo signals or pulses derived from the stripes are difficult to detect. Another problem associated with this approach is that the conventional detection scheme is susceptive to timing error due to noise on the servo signals. Yet another problem is that when a sampled-data system is employed, the accuracy of peak time location is limited by the sampling rate, since the peak of interest may fall between samples at an unknown time.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to improve the noise immunity and the detection of the servo signals.

Method and apparatus for interpolating peak detection of servo stripe pulses


An arrangement for tightly connecting a metal pipe to a receiving sleeve includes a plug-in sleeve of metal fastened on the metal pipe, wherein the plug-in sleeve has radial projections engaging in two diametrically oppositely located grooves of the receiving sleeve, wherein the grooves terminate at the end face of the receiving sleeve. A U-shaped clamp is inserted in tangential slots of the receiving sleeve and the plug-in sleeve for coupling the sleeves to each other detachably but rigidly against pulling and pushing forces. The plug-in sleeve has a cylindrical fixing portion, a cylindrical coupling portion with greater inner and outer diameter than the fixing portion, and a conically-shaped transition portion integrally connecting the transition portion and the coupling portion. The radial projections are substantially axially oriented tongues cut out of the coupling portion and extending at an angle relative to the coupling portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an arrangement for the tight connection of a metal pipe to a receiving sleeve.
2. Description of the Preferred Embodiments
In many areas of technology, it is necessary to effect a fast, detachable and tight connection of a metal pipe, especially a metal pipe of small nominal dimensions, to a receiving sleeve which forms a component part of a stationary or movable unit, e.g., a housing, or which is fastened by its end to a line, in particular to a hose.
Previously, a one-piece plastic sleeve was used to connect a metal pipe of this type with a receiving sleeve, this plastic sleeve being tightly locked with the receiving sleeve. For this purpose, the plastic sleeve is glued to the metal pipe. In this arrangement of the end of the metal pipe, the use of different materials (metal, plastic) as well as the fact that the plastic sleeve is glued to the metal pipe is disadvantageous. This brings about substantial problems with respect to disposal and recycling. Furthermore, the gluing requires special drying times and curing times, especially when the connection is to be made in the area of high operating temperatures, e.g., between 100.degree. C. and 150.degree. C. This is the case, for instance, in the cooling system of a motor vehicle. Furthermore the majority of glues available for fixing plastic sleeves to metal pipes are toxic and accordingly pose considerable environmental problems. Moreover, the number of glues which can be used is limited by the fact that only a few glues withstand large temperature change stresses over a satisfactory period of time otherwise, premature aging will occur. However, premature aging will result in leaks, particularly in the cooling system of a motor vehicle engine. As a result, the connections between metal pipes and receiving sleeves will have to be changed repeatedly in the course of regular servicing during the normal lifetime of a motor vehicle.

Arrangement for connecting a metal pipe to a receiving sleeve


A rod bending system includes a handle that holds a template rod and an implant rod in close proximity and in a fixed orientation with respect to one another. The system further includes one or more of the following: (a) a rod bender for bending the implant rod, the rod bender including a central pivot that is dimensioned and contoured to fit between the two rods; (b) a guide that slideably attaches to the template rod and clips onto the implant rod, the guide sliding along regions of the rods that correspond and stopping at regions that diverge; and (c) a stand that includes a holder which retains the handle at a desired orientation and a pedestal that elevates the handle above a supporting surface.

To promote bone growth that will strengthen and straighten a spine that is curved as a result of, for example, scoliosis, surgeons may implant a shaped rod next to the spine. The rod must be shaped appropriately for each patient, based on the severity and direction of the curvature of the spine. For accuracy, the surgeon shapes the rod after exposing the spine.
As the surgeon views the exposed spine, he or she may bend the implant rod to the desired shape free-hand, using a conventional rod bender. Alternatively, the surgeon may first bend a pliable template rod by hand to the desired shape, and thereafter use a conventional rod bender to bend the implant rod to correspond to the shape of the template rod. An example of the conventional rod bender is the three-point rod bender discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,046.
The invention relates to the rod-bending method that includes the use of the template rod. Conventional template rods are marked with a line that signifies the orientation of the rod. Typically, the line faces up as the surgeon begins bending the template rod to fit the patient. Using conventional tools, the implantable rod, which is made of stainless steel or titanium and not easily bent, is placed in a rod holder. The surgeon makes bends in the implant rod that correspond to the bends in the template rod, using the line in the template rod as a visual guide to the required direction and degree of bending.
Generally, the surgeon works with a trained assistant who holds the implant rod at desired orientations while the surgeon positions the rod bender along the rod to make the appropriate bends. The assistant must position the implant rod at the appropriate orientation and then hold the rod securely, avoiding moving the rod laterally and/or rotating the rod while the rod is being bent. As the surgeon bends the implant rod, he or she visually compares the rod with the template rod, to determine if the two rods correspond in shape. The visual comparison must be made in three dimensions, to ensure that the implant rod conforms to all of the bends and displacements of the template rod.
The conventional rod-bending procedure is time consuming, and there is much room for error. For example, an assistant may incorrectly position the implant rod or allow the implant rod to move laterally or rotate while it is being bent, and the implant rod is thus bent incorrectly. The rod must then be re-bent, to correct its shape. Re-bending the rod may cause unnecessary scarring of the implant rod or it may weaken the rod, which leaves the rod prone to stress fractures. If the rod cannot be re-bent to the appropriate shape, a new rod must be started. The re-bending of the old rod or the starting a new rod takes time, and thus, prolongs the surgical procedure. Alternatively, the surgeon may incorrectly determine, through the visual comparison, that the two rods correspond. The result may then be an implant rod that does not conform to the template rod over its entire length, that is, a rod that may not be optimally shaped for the patient.


A method for detecting abnormal behavior of users is disclosed. Processors identify from a log of user activity, a first number of actions performed by a user over a first time period that match a pattern of user activity for a task associated with one or more roles of the users. Processors also identify from the log of user activity, a second number of actions performed by the user over a second time period that match the pattern of user activity. Processors calculate an amount of deviation between the first number of actions and the second number of actions. The deviation identifies a difference between amounts of time spent in the one or more roles. Processors then determine whether the amount of deviation between the first number of actions and the second number of actions exceeds a threshold for abnormal behavior.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates generally to an improved data processing system, and, in particular, to processing information related to user behavior. Still more particularly the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for detecting abnormal behavior of users.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today there are many types of attacks on computing resources. Computer users carrying out such attacks may include visitors, customers, workers, and other types of computer users. Additionally, malware and other types of computer programs may carry out attacks on the computing resources. For example, malware may take control of a user's credentials to execute an attack on computing resources that the user has access to. In the context of detecting these attacks, there is interest in identifying when behavior of a user is indicative of an attack.
Current approaches to identify attacks match monitored behavior with suspicious patterns of behavior. These current approaches match the monitored behavior to fixed rules and statistics that are known to identify attacks. For example, identifying a number of failed login attempts before success as indicative of a password-guessing attack. Because the current approaches are restricted to identifying known patterns of attacks, they will not detect attacks which do not fit the known patterns.
Current statistical methods also exist for detecting suspicious behavior based on detecting deviations from a standard for frequency of user actions. For example, a statistical method for detecting suspicious behavior might include generating alerts based on identifying a computer user who downloads more than 5× the standard frequency of document downloads from an online repository as a possible attack. The number of alerts raised by such statistical methods may be large. Further, some number of these alerts may be for legitimate uses. A legitimate use identified in an alert is a false positive. When too many false positives are received, the alerts that are legitimate may be ignored or missed.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method, apparatus, and computer program product that takes into account at least some of the issues discussed above.

Detecting anomalous user behavior using generative models of user actions


Processes for manufacturing touch sensors with one or more guard traces to reduce the effect of moisture damage are provided. One example process can include forming one or more guard traces between an edge of the touch sensor and the metal traces that route the drive and sense lines to bond pads. The one or more guard traces can be uncoupled from the drive lines and sense lines to protect the inner metal traces from moisture damage. In some examples, ends of the one or more guard traces can be coupled to ground by copper. In other examples, ends of the one or more guard traces can be coupled to ground by indium tin oxide or the one or more guard traces can be coupled to ground by a strip of indium tin oxide. In yet other examples, the guard trace can be floating (e.g., not coupled to ground).

Many types of input devices are presently available for performing operations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, joysticks, touch sensor panels, touch screens, and the like. Touch sensitive devices, such as touch screens, in particular, are becoming increasingly popular because of their ease and versatility of operation. A touch sensitive device can include a touch sensor panel, which can be a clear panel with a touch-sensitive surface, and a display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, that can be positioned partially or fully behind the panel so that the touch-sensitive surface can cover at least a portion of the viewable area of the display device. The touch sensitive device can allow a user to perform various functions by touching the touch sensor panel using a finger, stylus, or other object at a location often dictated by a user interface (UI) being displayed by the display device. In general, the touch sensitive device can recognize a touch event and the position of the touch event on the touch sensor panel, and the computing system can then interpret the touch event in accordance with the display appearing at the time of the touch event, and thereafter can perform one or more actions based on the touch event.
Many processes have been developed to manufacture these touch sensors. For example, conventional roll-to-roll processes involve patterning electronic devices onto rolls of thin, flexible plastic or metal foil. These devices can then be removed from the roll using lithography or a physical cutting process. These roll-to-roll processes can reduce the amount of time and money required to manufacture touch sensors. However, conventional processes are susceptible to moisture damage. For example, moisture can propagate into the touch sensor and corrode metal traces along the edge of the device. Thus, improved touch sensor manufacturing processes are desired.


A highly available server system based on cloud computing comprises a central control management server, a cloud host server, a storage server and at least one application server; the central control management server is connected with at least one application server, and configured to respectively monitor at least one application server, if detecting that there exists an application server in the fault state among the at least one applications server, then the central control management server sends a first instruction message; the cloud host server is connected with the central control management server, and configured to receive the first instruction message, and call the target virtual machine image file from the storage server according to instructions of the first instruction message, and run the target virtual machine image file; the storage server is configured to store the corresponding virtual machine image file of at least one application server.

At present, in order to ensure high availability of a server system, duplicate hot-standby technology is mainly adopted. The duplicate hot-standby technology is a highly fault-tolerant application scheme combining software and hardware.
In a server system with high availability achieved using duplicate hot-standby technology, an operating system and management software are installed in a master server and a standby server, respectively, and a communication signal is transmitted to each other between the master server and the standby server according to a specific time interval so as to inform the receiving server of the current running status of the sending server. If the master server breaks down, or the standby server cannot receive the communication signal from the master server, the management software will determine that the master server is in the fault state, and stop the master server, then transfer system resources to the standby server, which will continue working in place of the master server. Thus continuous running of the server system is guaranteed, and high availability is achieved.
However, in the server system with high availability achieved using duplicate hot-standby technology, each master server needs a corresponding standby server, when the master server is running normally; the corresponding standby server is in an idle state. This will cause a waste of standby system resources and, therefore, cause low utilization efficiency of the resources in the server system.

Highly available server system based on cloud computing

JIANGXI ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS BRANCH OF STATE GRID


Design structure embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing a design. The design structure includes active circuitry on a substrate, a bond pad carried by the substrate, and a shielding structure disposed between the substrate and the bond pad. The shielding structure includes a plurality of electrically characterized devices configured to reduce noise transmission from the active circuitry to the bond pad.

Bond pads are used to connect packaged integrated circuits on a semiconductor chip with external circuitry on a printed circuit board or lead frame. The connections with the external circuitry supply power and communicate signals to the active circuitry of an integrated circuit. For integrated circuits that operate high frequencies, such as integrated circuits constructed for radiofrequency (RF) applications, a ground plane is required to reduce the coupling of noise from the active circuitry on the chip to the bond pad. A typical ground plane comprises a layer of doped polysilicon or metal strips arranged between the bond pad and the active circuitry and is wired at a direct current circuit node/potential different from the bond pad itself.
Active circuitry is typically not positioned within the chip area beneath the bond pad and ground plane. Consequently, the use of ground planes for bond pads may waste large areas of the chip that could otherwise be utilized for active circuitry. Fabrication techniques have been developed that allow bond pads to be disposed within the perimeter of the active circuit area so that the bond pad overlies active circuitry. However, a circuit designer is forced to model the bond pad to reflect multiple different variations and permutations for active and passive devices in the chip area beneath the bond pad.
High-frequency and, in particular, radiofrequency integrated circuits include a large number of switches capable of rapidly changing state. The high switching rates may induce transient current surges in the ground and supply lines, which cause variations in the supply voltage. To minimize these variations and maintain proper circuit operation, decoupling capacitors are used to filter the noise that may be present in the ground and supply lines. Decoupling capacitors are connected between the supply voltage and ground in parallel with the supplied integrated circuit. The parallel capacitance decouples the supply voltage from disturbances induced by high speed switching, which allows the supply voltage to remain at the intended level.
To optimize their effectiveness, circuit designers generally attempt to place decoupling capacitors as close as practical to the load represented by the active circuitry on the chip. Consequently, the most effective solution for noise filtering is to fabricate decoupling capacitors directly on the chip itself. Unfortunately, on-chip decoupling capacitors may utilize as much as thirty percent of the active circuit area on the chip, which significantly reduces the profit margin for monolithic integrated circuits.
Consequently, design structures are needed that incorporate a shielding structure of electrically characterized devices for shielding the bond pad from noise generated by active circuitry underlying the bond pad.

Design structure incorporating semiconductor device structures that shield a bond pad from electrical noise

International Business Machines Corporation


Techniques for creating interactive walkthroughs or visualizations of real-world environments. Such environments for which interactive walkthroughs may be created may comprise large interior spaces (e.g., buildings), wherein a space may comprise multiple rooms. The interactive walkthroughs may be photorealistic and rendered from arbitrary viewpoints at interactive rates. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for generating a visualization representative of an environment comprises the following steps. A dense set of image data is captured from the environment. The captured image data is compressed for storage. A portion of the compressed image data may then be decompressed so as to render a visualization representative of the environment from a selected novel viewpoint. Another portion of the image data may be prefetched and decompressed such that captured image data surrounding the selected novel viewpoint is available to be rendered. The visualization of the environment may then be rendered from the selected novel viewpoint.

Computer simulation of real-world environments is one of the major challenges of computer graphics. The ultimate goal is to capture a digital representation of a real-world environment, which later can provide observers with a realistic visual experience of interactively moving or "walking" through the environment. Thus, so-called "interactive walkthroughs" are types of computer graphics applications, where an observer moves within a virtual environment.
Applications for this technology include, but are not limited to, remote education, virtual heritage, specialist training, electronic commerce, and entertainment. For instance, students can "visit" famous historical sites they are studying in school (e.g., museums, temples, battlefields, and distant cities), archeologists can capture excavation sites as they evolve over time, soldiers and fire fighters can train in simulated environments, real estate agents can show potential buyers the interiors of homes for sale via the Internet, and people around the world can enjoy virtual travel and multi-player three-dimensional (3D) games.
The major research challenge in such applications is to develop effective techniques for capturing, representing, and rendering large environments with photorealistic imagery from arbitrary viewpoints at interactive rates.
Current computer graphics techniques fall short of meeting these challenges. Although geometry-based walkthrough systems have been demonstrated for large-scale environments, the images they produce are far from photorealistic. Alternatively, image-based rendering (IBR) systems produce photorealistic images by resampling photographs, but usually work only for small and/or diffusely illuminated environments as seen from a limited range of viewpoints. Similarly, most computer vision algorithms that extract three-dimensional models from images have difficulties with scenes containing complex occlusions and specular surfaces.
Thus, there exists a need for techniques that overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing photorealistic walkthroughs of large spaces rendered from arbitrary viewpoints at interactive rates.

Method and system for creating interactive walkthroughs of real-world environment from set of densely captured images