A method of re-establishing the stability of a sigma-delta modulator having a plurality of integrator stages in cascade and a quantizer, achieving very short resetting times, a bit sequence corresponding to an instability state of the modulator is defined, the bit-stream output by the modulator is monitored to check whether it includes the instability sequence and, if the instability sequence is detected, the last integrator stage is reset and one or more preceding integrator stages are reset, progressively, until the instability sequence is no longer detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to sigma-delta modulators and, more particularly, to a method and to a circuit for detecting an instability condition of a sigma-delta modulator of an order greater than one and for re-establishing stable operating conditions of the modulator.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is known, sigma-delta modulation is a technique which can achieve a high-resolution analog-digital conversion. According to this technique, an analog signal is xe2x80x9cover-sampledxe2x80x9d, that is, it is sampled at a rate much greater than that which is necessary for a conventional analog-digital converter operating at the Nyquist frequency. A sigma-delta modulator integrates the analog signal and performs a conventional delta modulation on the integral of the signal. For this purpose, the modulator uses a low-resolution quantizer. The output signal of the quantizer is added, with its sign inverted, to the analog input signal, by a feedback loop containing a digital-analog converter.
In order to produce a digital signal corresponding to the analog input signal, the signal output by the modulator is subjected to the action of a so-called digital decimation filter which produces a digital output signal at a sampling frequency equal to twice the Nyquist frequency. By virtue of the over-sampling and of the digital decimation, this technique achieves greater resolution and less distortion than can be achieved by the Nyquist-frequency conversion technique. Moreover, since the error signal, that is, the difference between the input signal and the sampled signal, is integrated, the sigma-delta modulator acts as a low-pass filter for the signal and as a high-pass filter for the quantization noise. It therefore attenuates the noise in the signal band particularly effectively.
The noise attenuation is appreciable even with a first-order sigma-delta modulator, that is, a modulator comprising a single integrator upstream of the quantizer, but to achieve the high signal/noise ratios required of high-resolution analog-digital converters, it is necessary to use higher-order modulators, that is, modulators comprising several integrators in cascade.
However, if a higher-order modulator is used, stability problems arise. Stability is determined by the type of input signal, in particular, by signals which exceed the input range of the circuit, by initial conditions upon switching-on, and by the possible presence of fluctuations in the supply voltage.
As soon as a departure from ideal operative conditions takes place and, more precisely, when the gain of an element of the feedback loop falls below a certain limit, the modulator becomes unstable and tends to oscillate. The quantizer is an element of the feedback loop, the gain of which is subject to variations with variations in the operating conditions. Conditions are referred to as unstable when the voltages of the internal analog nodes reach values higher than the maximum design range. In order to re-establish conditions of stability, intervention from outside the circuit is required.
For low-pass sigma-delta modulators, various methods have been proposed and differ from one another in the way in which instability is detected and in the action undertaken to re-establish stability.
A first method provides for the connection of limiter elements in parallel with the capacitors of the integrators. The selection of the thresholds of the limiters is critical; in fact, if the thresholds are close to the limits of the dynamic range of the operational amplifiers of the integrators, the signal may also be limited during normal operation with high input-signal levels, causing distortion; if, on the other hand, the thresholds are too low, there is a low signal/noise ratio. This solution cannot therefore be used in applications in which linearity is essential and a high value of the signal/noise ratio is required.
A second method provides for detection of the oscillation which occurs in instability conditions and for resetting of the state variables of the modulator as soon as the oscillation is detected.
In order to detect instability, it has been proposed to measure the analog voltages of the internal nodes of the circuit in order to compare them with respective predetermined reference values. If the reference values are exceeded, the system is considered unstable. A method of detecting instability by monitoring the digital output signal has also been proposed; more particularly, it has been proposed to define a sequence of bits which corresponds to an instability state and to monitor the output bit-stream in order to recognize the appearance of such a sequence and consequently to indicate an instability state.
In both methods, as soon as instability is detected, the output voltages of all of the integrators are reset so that, if the cause of the instability has ceased, the operation of the modulator is returned to stable operating conditions. This latter operation may require a relatively long recovery time, which is longer the higher is the order of the modulator and the larger is its input dynamic range.
The embodiments of the present invention overcome the limitations of the prior art with a method and a circuit for re-establishing the stability of a sigma-delta modulator of an order greater than one, within very short times.
This aim is achieved by the implementation of the method and by the provision of a circuit that includes a sigma-delta modulator having a plurality of integrator stages in cascade and a quantizer, and a logic control unit connected to the output of the quantizer and to respective resetting inputs of their integrator stages, the logic unit including a circuit for storing a bit sequence corresponding to an instability state of the modulator, and a circuit for monitoring the output bit stream of the modulator. The circuit further includes a circuit for sending resetting signals to at least one of the integrator stages when the instability sequence is recognized in the output bit stream.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of re-establishing the stability of a sigma-delta modulator having a plurality of integrator stages in cascade along with a quantizer is provided. The method includes defining a bit sequence corresponding to an instability state of the modulator, monitoring the output bit-stream of the modulator to check whether it comprises the instability sequence, and, when the instability sequence is detected, resetting the last integrator stage and, progressively, resetting one or more preceding integrator stages until the instability sequence is no longer detected.

Method of re-establishing the stability of a sigma-delta modulator and a circuit for implementing the method


A method and apparatus for rolled fingerprint capture is described. The start of a fingerprint roll is detected. A plurality of fingerprint image frames are captured. A centroid window corresponding to each of the plurality of captured fingerprint image frames is determined. Pixels of each determined centroid window are knitted into a composite fingerprint image. The end of the fingerprint roll is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the field of rolled fingerprint capture, and more specifically, to capturing and combining multiple fingerprint images to generate an overall rolled fingerprint image.
2. Related Art
A rolled fingerprint scanner is a device used to capture rolled fingerprint images. The scanner captures the image of a user's fingerprint as the user rolls a finger across an image capturing surface. Multiple fingerprint images may be captured by the scanner as the finger is rolled. These images may be combined to form a composite rolled fingerprint image. A computer system may be used to create the composite rolled fingerprint image. Fingerprint images captured by a digital camera are generally comprised of pixels. Combining the pixels of fingerprint images into a composite fingerprint image is commonly referred to as pixel "knitting."
The captured composite rolled fingerprint image may be used to identify the user. Fingerprint biometrics are largely regarded as an accurate method of identification and verification. A biometric is a unique, measurable characteristic or trait of a human being for automatically recognizing or verifying identity. See, e.g., Roethenbaugh, G. Ed., Biometrics Explained (International Computer Security Association: Carlisle, Pa. 1998), pages 1–34, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Capturing rolled fingerprints using a fingerprint scanner coupled to a computer may be accomplished in a number of ways. Many current technologies implement a guide to assist the user. These guides primarily come in two varieties. The first type includes a guide located on the fingerprint scanner itself. This type may include guides such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) that move across the top and/or bottom of the scanner. The user is instructed to roll the finger at the same speed as the LEDs moving across the scanner. In doing so, the user inevitably goes too fast or too slow, resulting in poor quality images. The second type includes a guide located on a computer screen. Again, the user must match the speed of the guide, with the accompanying disadvantages. What is needed is a method and apparatus for capturing rolled fingerprint images without the requirement of a guide.
Current devices exist for collecting rolled fingerprint images. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,976 describes using the statistical variance between successive fingerprint image "slices" to knit together a composite fingerprint image. This patent also describes techniques for averaging successive slices into the composite image. These techniques have the disadvantage of less than desirable image contrast. What is needed is a method and apparatus for capturing rolled fingerprint images with improved contrast imaging.

Method and apparatus for rolled fingerprint capture


The present invention relates to a process for preparing coating compositions which comprises condensing a mixture containing (A) at least one silicone resin containing Si-bonded alkoxy groups and, if desired, silanol groups and/or at least one silane and/or siloxane which contains Si-bonded alkoxy groups and, if desired, silanol groups to form a silicone resin, (B) a basic condensation catalyst in an amount sufficient to render this mixture basic, (C) optionally water and (D) optionally an organic solvent.. The resultant coating compositions are preferably employed in the form of a solution, emulsion or dispersion.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,925 (P. A. Griffin, published on 31 March 1970 to Midland Silicones Ltd.) describes a process for preparing a cross-linkable organopolysiloxane resin using an organopolysiloxane resin which contains less than 0.25% by weight of silanol groups. This organopolysiloxane resin is mixed with an anhydrous, quaternary ammonium silanolate or phosphonium silanolate as condensation catalyst. Due to the low silanol content of the organopolysiloxane resin, this mixture does not have a tendency to gel and therefore has a long shelf life. Crosslinking of the organopolysiloxane resin is obtained by heating the mixture above 50.degree. C. on the substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,549 (J. R. McLoughlin et al., published on 30 May 1961 to General Electric Co.) describes coating compositions based on silicone resins. These resins are prepared, inter alia, by hydrolysis and condensation of phenyltrichlorosilane and dimethyldichlorosilane and are mixed with tetramethylammonium hydroxide as a condensation catalyst and with from two to five mols of acetic acid per mol of tetramethylammonium hydroxide to form a coating composition. The acetic acid serves as stabilizer for storage of the coating composition. The actual coating is formed by heating the coating composition on the substrate, during which the stabilizer softens and curing is facilitated.
Similar coating compositions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,548 (J. R. McLoughlin et al., published on 30 May 1961 to General Electric Co.). However, the alkaline condensation catalyst employed need not be completely neutralized by means of acid if an .alpha.-halogenated carboxylic acid, such as trichloroacetic acid, is added in amounts of at least 0.25 mol per mol of the alkaline condensation catalyst.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide coating compositions having a long shelf life. Another object of the present invention is to provide binders which physically dry or crosslink in a short period of time, even at room temperature, to form tack-free films. Still another object of the present invention is to provide coatings which may be applied and exposed to high temperatures. A further object of the present invention is to provide coating compositions which may be used to form baked finishes.


A system for conveying packages of synthetic fiber yarn in which an overhead traveling carriage including a carrier having downwardly projecting bobbin chucks is connected between a station where it receives packages of unfinished yarn from pallets, and a station where it transfers those packages to a package exchange robot in a twisting machine, and another overhead traveling carriage including a carrier having horizontally projecting peg shafts is connected between a station where it receives packages of processed yarns from a rotary peg in the twisting machine, and a station where it delivers those packages to a rotary stocker.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the automation of a twisting plant for producing synthetic fiber yarn, and more particularly, to a system for conveying packages of synthetic fiber yarn to convey them to and from a twisting machine.
2. Prior Art
Reference is first made to FIG. 10 illustrating the basic flow of synthetic fiber yarn in a twisting plant. A twisting machine 101 twists raw yarns or unfinished yarns to form packages of processed yarns. "Full" means full packages of unfinished yarns or processed yarns, and "empty" means take-up tubes. Packages of unfinished yarns are packed in boxes, and the boxes are conveyed on pallets from a raw yarn plant to an unpacking device 102 by which they are opened, and the packages are conveyed to a package exchange robot 104 by a package conveying apparatus 103. The packages are transferred from the package exchange robot 104 to the desired positions in the twisting machine 101. The take-up tubes left empty after processing are conveyed to a receptacle 105 for empty take-up tubes by the package exchange robot 104 and the package conveying apparatus 103. The packages of processed yarns leaving the twisting machine are doffed by an automatic doffer 106, and conveyed to a stocker 108 by a yarn conveying apparatus 107. They are inspected at 109 and packed at 110 for shipment. Although the twisting machine 101 is operated on a 24-hour-a-day basis, the inspection 109 and the packing 110 are usually performed on an 8-hour-a-day basis, and the stocker 108 is, therefore, provided as an accumulator therebetween. Take-up tubes are supplied from a take-up tube supplying apparatus 111 to the twisting machine 101 through the yarn conveying apparatus 107 and the automatic doffer 106.
The package conveying apparatus 103 and yarn conveying apparatus 107 which are employed have a critical bearing on the efficiency of such a flow in a limited space. It is usual to employ a tray conveyor, a pin truck, or an overhead conveyor. The arrangement of machines and apparatuses in a twisting plant in which an overhead conveyor is employed will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The overhead conveyor is shown at 120 in FIG. 11, and serves as both the unfinished yarn and processed yarn conveying apparatuses, and the machines and apparatuses are arranged along it. They are twisting machines 1A to 1N, creels 2, package exchange robots 4 associated with the creels 2, rotary pegs 5, automatic doffers 6 associated with the rotary pegs 5, a tray stocker 121, an inspection apparatus 7 provided along a tray conveyor, a packing apparatus 8, an apparatus 9 for collecting empty take-up tubes, an apparatus 10 for supplying take-up tubes, and an unpacking apparatus 11.
Description will be made with reference to FIG. 12 of a station A for delivering packages from the unpacking apparatus 11 to the overhead conveyor 120. Packages P of unfinished yarns are transferred from unpacked pallets 12 to a lift 123 by a transfer robot 122, and from the lift 123 to hangers 120a attached to the overhead conveyor 120. The hangers 120a which have received packages P are turned by 180.degree. by turning cams 120b.
Description will now be made with reference to FIG. 13 of a station B for transferring packages P from the overhead conveyor 120 to the package exchange robot 4. The package P is transferred from the hanger 120a to an arm 124a on a lift 124, and the arm 124a is lowered and turned by 90.degree. so as to face the robot 4. The robot 4 travels and receives the package P.
Description will now be made with reference to FIGS. 14(a, b)of a station C for delivering packages of processed yarns from the rotary peg 5 of a twisting machine to the overhead conveyor 120. Packages P of processed yarns are transferred one by one from the rotary peg 5 to an arm 125a on a lift 125, and the arm 125a is raised and turned by 90.degree. to deliver the packages P one by one to the hangers 120a.
Description will now be made with reference to FIG. 15 of a station D for delivering packages P of processed yarns from the overhead conveyor 120 to the tray stocker 121. The package P is transferred from each hanger 120a to a lift 126 and its arm 126a is lowered. A transfer robot 127 receives the package P from the arm 126a, and puts it in a tray 13 on the conveyor 121a leading to the tray stocker.
The system for conveying packages of synthetic fiber yarn by employing an overhead conveyor as hereinabove described is designed for conveying packages one by one to and from the twisting machines, and has, therefore, the drawback of having only a limited capacity and being suitable for use with only a limited number of twisting machines. Although a pin truck may be useful for conveying a large number of packages at a time, a sufficiently large floor space is required for an operatorless carriage to travel to move the pin truck, and moreover, the transfer of packages to and from the pin truck produces a great burden. A tray conveyor can diminish such burden, but requires a large floor space for installation.


The present invention provides a method of outputting page data representing a one-page image generated by an image-integrating applications program, upon condition that parts data generated by a link applications program are accurately reproduced and incorporated in the page data, as well as an output system for the same. A first applications program generates first parts-describing data, which describe an image of a first image part, from internal data representing the one-page image. When the first applications program detects the existence of a second image part in the internal data, an instruction is given to a second applications program to generate parts-describing data for describing an image of the second image part. The second applications program then generates second parts-describing data, which describe the image of the second image part, in response to the instruction. PDL data representing the one-page image are eventually generated, based on the first parts-describing data and the second parts-describing data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of outputting page data, which represents a one-page image, by an applications program (an image-integrating applications program) that integrates images of parts data generated by a plurality of applications programs mounted on the computer, and an apparatus for the same. More specifically the present invention pertains to a method of outputting page data representing a one-page image generated by an image-integrating applications program, upon condition that parts data generated by another applications program are accurately reproduced and incorporated in the page data, as well as to an apparatus for the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A multitasking operating system (OS) that can execute a plurality of tasks in parallel or in combination is generally applied to computers including personal computers and work stations. The multitasking OS generally has a function of linking data between a plurality of tasks; for example, OLE (trade mark by Microsoft Corporation) on Microsoft Windows (trade mark by Microsoft Corporation, hereinafter simply referred to as Windows) or OpenDoc (trade mark by Apple Computer Inc.) on Macintosh (trademark by Apple Computer Inc.). These functions enable parts data generated by a plurality of applications programs to be integrated and processed.
By way of example, typical applications programs for Windows include Microsoft Word (trade mark by Microsoft Corporation) for word processing and Microsoft Excel (trade mark by Microsoft Corporation) for spreadsheet. The data link function can link the graphics and charts data generated by the spreadsheet with the text data generated by the word processing program, thereby generating one-page data including text data and graphics and charts data. The applications program that can generate a one-page image including image parts embedded there in, which are generated by another applications program (the word processing program in the above example) is hereinafter referred to as the `image-integrating applications program`. The applications program that has generated the embedded image parts to be linked (the spreadsheet in the above example) is hereinafter referred to as the `link applications program`.
When page data generated by an image-integrating applications program are converted to a PDL (page description language) and a one-page image expressed by the page data is output by an output device, such as a printer, the image parts processed by the image-integrating applications program, which actually carries out the output, are accurately described in the PDL and output. Data of the link applications program are converted to a data format usable by the image-integrating applications program and output as the data of the image-integrating applications program. Image data, such as bit-map data, corresponding to the output resolution of the computer are generally supplied from the link applications program to the image-integrating applications program. This procedure causes the embedded or linked parts data (figures and characters) of the link applications program not to be fully expressed in their original resolution, thereby deteriorating the image quality.

Method of outputting page data in applications programs-integrating environment and an apparatus for the same


An image pickup apparatus detachably mounting a lens unit including a plurality of optical members includes an image pickup unit that accumulates charge in synchronization with a vertical synchronizing signal to generate an image signal, and a control unit that generates control information for each of the plurality of optical members of the mounted lens unit and communicates the control information with the lens unit in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal. The control unit is configured to perform a first communication in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal, and to perform a second communication, for controlling an optical member different to the optical before a next first communication that is performed in synchronization with a next vertical synchronizing signal. The first communication and the second communication are predetermined packet communications in which optical members to be controlled among the plurality of optical members are different from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens unit, and an image pickup apparatus capable of mounting the lens unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in methods of automatic focusing a camera, the most common method is of obtaining a TVAF evaluation value that represents the sharpness of an image from an image signal obtained by a photoelectrical conversion of an object. Focusing is performed by controlling a focus lens position so that the television auto-focus (TVAF) evaluation value peaks (hereinafter, TVAF method).
Generally, the TVAF evaluation value in the TVAF method is generated using a level of a high-frequency content of an image signal extracted by a band-pass filter. This is because, when a normal object is picked-up, the TVAF evaluation value increases as a focus lens comes close to an in-focus position. This is illustrated in FIG. 2, and the point where the level of the TVAF evaluation value peaks is the in-focus position for the object.
As a lens control of the TVAF method, there is an operation of detecting an in-focus direction based on a change of a TVAF evaluation value when a focus lens is minutely moved to back and forth between a close/infinity side as illustrated in FIG. 3 (hereinafter, reciprocating operation). Since the TVAF evaluation value is generated based on the image signal, it is necessary that the reciprocating operation is synchronized with a vertical synchronizing signal of an image pickup element.
Japanese patent Laid-Open No. H11-125860 describes that an interchangeable lens camera system in which a camera unit generates a TVAF evaluation value and transfers the TVAF evaluation value to a lens unit in communication, and in which the lens unit performs a TVAF control.
On the other hand, in case that the TVAF control is performed not in a lens unit as Japanese patent Laid-Open No. H11-125860 but in a camera unit, a driving instruction of the focus lens is generated based on the TVAF evaluation value in the camera unit, and the driving instruction is transmitted to the lens unit. In this case, when a single communication is performed in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal as Japanese patent Laid-Open No. H11-125860, it becomes like FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, in a single communication during one vertical synchronizing time period as before, information on a lens position is transmitted from the lens unit to the camera unit, and the driving instruction of the focus lens is transmitted from the camera unit to the lens unit. Accordingly, the camera unit performs an AF control based on focus lens position information obtained from the lens unit within the vertical synchronizing time period, and transmits the focus lens driving instruction in communication within the next vertical synchronizing time period. Therefore, it causes a problem because the focus lens driving instruction cannot be immediately transmitted based on the lens position information obtained from the lens unit thereby introducing a control cycle delay (responsiveness delay of AF). Further, in case of performing a control of a stop included in the lens unit on the basis of an instruction from the camera unit, the responsiveness of the auto-focus (AF) may deteriorate due to a load of an auto-exposure (AE) control for generating a stop control instruction.

Image pickup apparatus, lens unit, and methods of controlling the same


An operation-staggered dual switch is provided having a casing, first and second switching mechanisms installed in the casing, the switching mechanisms being operatively connected such that operation of the first switching mechanism may follow operation of the second switching mechanism after a predetermined delay, wherein the operation-staggered dual switch includes delay means comprising a connection rod having indentations formed on one side, a train of toothed wheels having a leading toothed wheel and a trailing toothed wheel, the leading toothed wheel of the train of toothed wheels being engaged with selected indentations of the connection rod, and a rotary damper connected to the trailing toothed wheel of the train of toothed wheels, the connection rod being responsive to initiation of operation of the first switching mechanism for moving in a given direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operation-staggered dual switch whose first and second switching mechanisms are so designed that their turning "on" or actuation may be staggered in time, thereby for instance, preventing the flow of rush current in an electric motor when starting.
2. Description of Related Art
In starting the electric motor a heavy rush current flows therein in the instant switch is turned on (see FIG. 12). The rush current causes sparks to appear between the confronting contacts of the switch when these contacts bound, and the switch is liable to be defective in its contacts.
To prevent the flowing of such rush current two switches are operatively connected so that their turning "on" may be staggered. When the first switch turns on, a resistor, coil or controlling unit is put in circuit with the electric motor to prevent the flowing of rush current therein, and then the second switch turns on to exclude the resistor, coil or controlling unit, allowing the electric motor to continue running.
One example of a staggered type of composite switch is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model 63-28817(B). When depression of the actuating knob starts against a counter spring, which sits on a seesaw-like movable contact of the second switch, the seesaw-like movable contact is caught and restricted in motion by a spring-biased retainer in the form of a fulcrum. When the actuating knob advances a predetermined distance beyond the early throw position in which the first switch turns on, the retainer is yieldingly depressed to release the seesaw-like movable contact, and then it rushes to the throw position under the counter action of the spring on the actuating knob.
Another example of a staggered type of composite switch is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model 63-34176(B). The second switch to be thrown later has a seesaw-like lever, and the seesaw-like lever has a contact fixed to one end and a damper fixed to the other end. The damper has the effect of retarding the operation of the second switch, which is thrown later than the first switch. The damper is of a dust-tight structure.
As for the former staggered type of composite switch: the spring-biased retainer applies unstable force to the seesaw-like movable contact for restricting it in motion, and the resilient force applied by the counter spring to overcome the restriction is dependent on the strength of force with which the actuating knob is depressed. As a consequence, the time at which the movable contact is released is indefinite, and sometimes the movable contact cannot be released when associated parts do not work well. After repeating the switching action many times, associated parts are liable to be worn or changed in friction, thus causing their stagger actuation times to vary after long-termed use.
As for the latter staggered type of composite switch: to change the damping characteristics of the damper it is necessary that annular membranes and inter-membrane spacers be changed, and then, silicone grease may leak and scatter from the damper cylinder. The seesaw-like contact lever turns at a speed dependent on the speed at which the actuating knob is moved, and therefore, the stagger actuation times vary with the speed at which the actuating knob is moved.


Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for receiving a transmit power control command for transmission power adjustment. One method includes monitoring a feedback channel. The feedback channel includes: feedback information corresponding to a data transmission from a remote unit to a network unit; and a transmit power control command including information for the remote unit to adjust a transmission power for subsequent data transmissions to the network unit.

The following abbreviations are herewith defined, at least some of which are referred to within the following description: Third Generation Partnership Project ("3GPP"), 5th Generation ("5G"), Positive-Acknowledgment ("ACK"), Access Point ("AP"), Autonomous Uplink ("AUL"), Binary Phase Shift Keying ("BPSK"), Buffer Status Report ("BSR"), Carrier Aggregation ("CA"), Clear Channel Assessment ("CCA"), Cyclic Delay Diversity ("CDD"), Code Division Multiple Access ("CDMA"), Control Element ("CE"), Closed-Loop ("CL"), Coordinated Multipoint ("CoMP"), Cyclic Prefix ("CP"), Cyclical Redundancy Check ("CRC"), Channel State Information ("CSP"), Common Search Space ("CSS"), Control Resource Set ("CORESET"), Discrete Fourier Transform Spread ("DFTS"), Downlink Control Information ("DCI"), Downlink ("DL"), Demodulation Reference Signal ("DMIRS"), Downlink Pilot Time Slot ("DwPTS"), Enhanced Clear Channel Assessment ("eCCA"), Enhanced Mobile Broadband ("eMBB"), Evolved Node B ("eNB"), Effective Isotropic Radiated Power ("EIRP"), European Telecommunications Standards Institute ("ETSI"), Frame Based Equipment ("FBE"), Frequency Division Duplex ("FDD"), Frequency Division Multiple Access ("FDMA"), Frequency Division Orthogonal Cover Code ("FD-OCC"), General Packet Radio Services ("GPRS"), Guard Period ("GP"), Global System for Mobile Communications ("GSM"), Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request ("HARQ"), International Mobile Telecommunications ("IMT"), Internet-of-Things ("IoT"), Layer 2 ("L2"), Licensed Assisted Access ("LAA"), Load Based Equipment ("LBE"), Listen-Before-Talk ("LBT"), Logical Channel ("LCH"), Logical Channel Prioritization ("LCP"), Long Term Evolution ("LTE"), Multiple Access ("MA"), Medium Access Control ("MAC"), Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services ("MBMS"), Modulation and Coding Scheme ("MCS"), Machine Type Communication ("MTC"), massive MTC ("mMTC"), Multiple Input Multiple Output ("MIMO"), Maximum Power Reduction ("MPR"), Multi User Shared Access ("MUSA"), Narrowband ("NB"), Negative-Acknowledgment ("NACK") or ("NAK"), Next Generation Node B ("gNB"), New Data Indicator ("NDP"), Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access ("NOMA"), New Radio ("NR"), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing ("OFDM"), Open-Loop ("OL"), Power Angular Spectrum ("PAS"), Power Control ("PC"), Primary Cell ("PCell"), Physical Broadcast Channel ("PBCH"), Physical Downlink Control Channel ("PDCCH"), Packet Data Convergence Protocol ("PDCP"), Physical Downlink Shared Channel ("PDSCH"), Pattern Division Multiple Access ("PDMA"), Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel ("PHICH"), Power Headroom ("PH"), Power Headroom Report ("PHR"), Physical Layer ("PHY"), Physical Random Access Channel ("PRACH"), Physical Resource Block ("PRB"), Physical Uplink Control Channel ("PUCCH"), Physical Uplink Shared Channel ("PUSCH"), Quasi Co-Located ("QCL"), Quality of Service ("QoS"), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying ("QPSK"), Radio Access Network ("RAN"), Radio Access Technology ("RAT"), Resource Block Assignment ("RBA"), Radio Resource Control ("RRC"), Random Access Procedure ("RACH"), Random Access Response ("RAR"), Radio Link Control ("RLC"), Radio Network Temporary Identifier ("RNTI"), Reference Signal ("RS"), Remaining Minimum System Information ("RMSI"), Resource Spread Multiple Access ("RSMA"), Reference Signal Received Power ("RSRP"), Round Trip Time ("RTT"), Redundancy Version ("RV"), Receive ("RX"), Sparse Code Multiple Access ("SCMA"), Scheduling Request ("SR"), Sounding Reference Signal ("SRS"), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access ("SC-FDMA"), Secondary Cell ("SCell"), Shared Channel ("SCH"), Sub-carrier Spacing ("SCS"), Service Data Unit ("SDU"), Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio ("SINR"), System Information Block ("SIB"), Synchronization Signal ("SS"), Scheduled Uplink ("SUL"), Transport Block ("TB"), Transport Block Size ("TBS"), Time-Division Duplex ("TDD"), Time Division Multiplex ("TDM"), Time Division Orthogonal Cover Code ("TD-OCC"), Transmission Power Control ("TPC"), Transmission Reception Point ("TRP"), Transmission Time Interval ("TTI"), Transmit ("TX"), Uplink Control Information ("UCI"), User Entity/Equipment (Mobile Terminal) ("UE"), Uplink ("UL"), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ("UMTS"), Uplink Pilot Time Slot ("UpPTS"), Ultra-reliability and Low-latency Communications ("URLLC"), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access ("WiMAX").
In certain wireless communications networks, a transmit power control command for transmission power adjustment may be used. In such networks, the transmit power control command may indicate to a remote unit how to adjust its transmission power.

Transmit power control command for transmission power adjustment


Apparatus and method for producing gypsum board, comprising apparatus for coating a cover sheet with a relatively high density gypsum slurry, apparatus for forming edge borders on the sheet with relatively high density gypsum slurry, and apparatus for forming a core on the coating and between the edge borders, the core comprising a relatively low density gypsum. The apparatus for coating the sheet comprises a relatively soft pressure roll and a relatively hard coating roll, the two rolls being normally pressed together to form a nip between them and a sheet to be coated passing through the nip. The pressure roll is below the sheet and the coating roll, and the axis of the pressure roll is offset from the axis of the coating roll in upstream direction of the movement of the sheet. The pressure roll has a surface area which contacts and moves in the same direction as the sheet, and the coating roll has a surface area which contacts and moves in the opposite direction of the sheet. A trough is formed between the upper side of the sheet and the coating roll, and a relatively high density gypsum is poured into the trough. The rotating coating roll picks up a quantity of the slurry from the trough and wipes it onto the sheet to form a high density gypsum coating.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gypsum board, and more specifically to apparatus and method for coating a cover sheet of gypsum board, and to the board produced thereby.
2. Description of Related Technology
Gypsum board is well known and widely used in the construction industry. A typical sheet of gypsum wallboard comprises a gypsum core, a back cover sheet on one side of the core and a face or front cover sheet on the other side of the core. The face cover sheet is folded around the long edges of the core and overlaps the side edges of the back cover sheet.
To reduce the weight of the core, it has been common practice to introduce small bubbles into the gypsum to produce a foamed gypsum core. This has been done, for example, by adding a foaming agent to the gypsum slurry. However, a core formed entirely of foamed gypsum has two disadvantages. First, the foamed gypsum core, when set or cured, is relatively fragile and tends to crack and crumble when a nail is driven through it during installation. Second, the foamed gypsum core does not always adhere to the cover sheets as well as desired.
To avoid the first problem mentioned above, it has been common practice to provide unfoamed gypsum along the long edges of the board. The unfoamed gypsum along the edges is denser and harder than the foamed gypsum, and the "hard edges" are stronger and less easily fractured. The second problem has been more difficult to resolve. Starch has been added to the gypsum slurry to produce better adherence with the cover sheets. Another solution has been to coat the cover sheets to produce better adhesion.
The White U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,146 describes a method of coating a cover sheet with a defoaming agent which acts to remove the foam bubbles from the gypsum at the core-sheet interface. The defoamed gypsum adheres well to the cover sheets.
The Brookby U.S. Pat. No. 1,511,500 describes a method of coating a cover sheet with a "normal" gypsum and water mixture, and then forming a core layer of gypsum having an expanded cellular body.
The R. Bruce U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,085,929 and 5,116,671 describe a method of producing a foamed gypsum slurry using a foaming agent which is added to the gypsum. According to these patents, the foaming agent produces a high density slurry at the interface with the cover sheets, and the high density slurry purportedly adheres well to the paper.
Other U.S. patents of possible interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,954,302, 3,516,882, and 3,607,486.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for coating cover sheets with a relatively high density gypsum slurry, and to an improved gypsum board produced thereby.

Methods of manufacturing gypsum board and board made therefrom


The invention relates to a hydraulically actuable releaser with an annular piston. The supporting ring co-operating with the annular piston and the groove sealing ring co-operating with the supporting ring have, at least in their radially outer region facing one another, an encircling supporting shoulder on the supporting ring and an encircling recess on the groove sealing ring. This measure prevents the groove sealing ring from being pressed into a possible gap between supporting ring and the external wall of the housing under pressure loading.

The invention relates to a hydraulically actuable releaser for a motor vehicle friction clutch.
A hydraulically actuable releaser for a motor vehicle friction clutch is known from DE-U-84 22 431. The releaser comprises an annular cylindrical slave cylinder of which the casing contains a pressure chamber which is limited radially inwardly by an internal wall and radially outwardly by an external wall extending at a radial distance from the internal wall. Between the internal wall and the external wall there extends an axially movable annular piston which carries a release bearing at its end axially remote from the pressure chamber and adjoins a groove sealing ring via a supporting ring at its end close to the pressure chamber. The groove sealing ring has, on its side axially remote from the annular piston in the region of its internal periphery and its external periphery, sealing lips which enclose an annular groove between themselves and, for sealing the pressure chamber, rest on the internal wall and the external wall.
With the known releaser, the supporting ring is to fill the space between internal wall and external wall without gaps so that the groove sealing ring consisting of elastic material cannot be urged into a gap under pressure loading.

Hydraulically actuable releaser for a motor vehicle friction clutch


A vertical three dimensional (3D) microstrip line structure for improved tunable characteristic impedance, methods of manufacturing the same and design structures are provided. More specifically, a method is provided that includes forming a first microstrip line structure within a back end of the line (BEOL) stack. The method further includes forming a second microstrip line structure separated from the BEOL stack by a predetermined horizontal distance.

Transmission lines are important elements in circuit applications. For example, transmission lines typically provide the on-chip interconnect between active and passive devices of circuits, and are also utilized as impedance matching elements. A microstrip line is a type of transmission line widely utilized in microwave integrated circuit applications. Specifically, a microstrip line is a type of electrical transmission line that can be fabricated using printed circuit board technology, and may be used to convey microwave-frequency signals. Microwave components such as antennas, couplers, filters, power dividers, etc. can be formed from microstrip lines, the entire device existing as the pattern of metallization on a substrate.
Generally, microstrip lines comprise a signal line over a ground plane, which may be a solid metal plane, with a dielectric layer or layers separating the signal line from the ground plane. The ground plane has the advantageous feature of isolating the signal line from the substrate. Therefore, any substrate-induced losses are reduced. However, the formation of the ground plane also incurs drawbacks. As the scaling of back end of the line (BEOL) processes continues to trend downward, the vertical distance between the signal line and the ground plane becomes significantly smaller. This requires the signal line to be increasingly narrower in order to achieve the desired characteristic impedance. Consequently, insertion losses in microstrip lines become increasingly more significant, and demand better impedance matching between microstrip lines and network devices. Furthermore, the ground plane becomes a barrier for tuning the characteristic impedance of microstrip lines. This is due to the limited vertical distance between the signal line and the ground plane (i.e., a smaller distance with little room for tuning).
Moreover, the on-chip interconnect is one of the most significant factors that limit chip performance. Therefore, in a high performance integrated circuit design, an accurate model of the on-chip transmission line is needed for proper design. For example, in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, the effect of low resistivity silicon substrate coupling to the microstrip lines increases the on-chip transmission line insertion loss. Therefore, the substrate coupling should be taken into consideration in the modeling of any microstrip line implemented in CMOS technology. However, conventionally there is no accurate tool available to model the substrate effect. Consequently, modeling errors due to the substrate effect may cause an inaccuracy of the characteristic impedance and attenuation of the on-chip transmission line. Additionally, for Millimeter Wave/Terahertz applications the conventional on-chip interconnects suffer from reflections due to impedance mismatch that impact the signal integrity.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described hereinabove.

On-chip vertical three dimensional microstrip line with characteristic impedance tuning technique and design structures

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An air cleaner is provided in an all terrain vehicle in order to improve the control performance for effecting optimal combustion in an engine by accurately measuring the temperature of air introduced into the engine. The air cleaner includes an air cleaner case disposed behind an engine, a throttle valve disposed between the engine and the air cleaner case, and connecting tube for connecting the air cleaner case and the throttle valve with each other. A temperature sensor is disposed in either a front or rear face of the air cleaner case. Optionally, the temperature sensor is disposed in the connecting tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air cleaner in an all terrain vehicle for running on rough roads such as a four-wheel buggy.
2. Description of Background Art
With the recent tendency to an electronic control in vehicles there has been developed a technique wherein the temperature of air introduced into an engine is measured and the amount of air to be introduced at a low or high temperature is adjusted to effect appropriate combustion (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-349242).
More particularly, there has been proposed a technique wherein temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of air introduced into an engine is attached to an air cleaner case adjacent to an upper portion of the engine to effect an electronic control.
However, in the case where the temperature measuring means and the engine are adjacent to each other, the temperature of the temperature measuring means itself may be increased by radiant heat from the engine, thus making it difficult to measure an accurate temperature of air introduced into the engine. Moreover, it is necessary that a mounting portion for mounting the temperature measuring means be formed in the air cleaner.


A verification supporting apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires a first verification-item list for a verification target, a functional specification of the verification target, and a sequential specification of the verification target; a keyword extracting unit that extracts a keyword about the verification target from the first verification-item list; a creating unit that creates a second verification-item list in which each of the verification items is formed with the functional description and the sequential description about an output action of the verification target; and a converting unit that converts the first verification-item list into a third verification-item list having a same format as the second verification-item list, based on the second verification-item list and the keyword.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for supporting verification in large-scale integration (LSI) design, and a computer product.
2. Description of the Related Art
In LSI design, improvement of work efficiency by shortening a design period has conventionally been demanded. However, in the LSI design, a verification process, which is rather time consuming, to verify whether an LSI properly operates is essential. Especially for an LSI that is required to be large-scale, to have high performance, to be high-speed, and to be low-power consuming, the verification process is important to maintain high quality.
In the verification process currently carried out, a verification item list in a free format is used. The verification item list is formed in a table, and verification items that are extracted from a specification of an LSI by a third party, such as an outsider, an outside segment, and an outside company, are listed up in the table. A format of the verification item list is not standardized, and is different among third parties.
Moreover, a technology for objectively evaluating necessity and sufficiency of the verification items in the verification item list has not been established. Therefore, there is no numerical ground that the verification items are necessary and sufficient. With such reason, currently, the verification process is carried out while a person that is engaged in the verification process (a designer of the LSI) or other members review whether all necessary verification items are picked up from the specification of the LSI.
On the other hand, an apparatus for supporting the verification process is proposed. In the apparatus, the verification list is automatically obtained by using a computer-readable electronic specification that is written in an object oriented unified modeling language (UML). Such a technology is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-185592. The apparatus includes a functional-structure-information input unit, a condition input unit, a verification-item-function creating unit, and a verification-item extracting unit. The functional-structure-information input unit inputs functional structure information that indicates functions of a verification target device to be verified whether the verification target device operates properly. The condition input unit inputs conditions relating to input/output sequences to be provided to the verification target device. The verification-item-function creating unit creates a verification item function that completely satisfies the conditions based on the functional structure information. The verification-item extracting unit extracts a combination of elements that form the functional structure information as a verification item, based on the verification item function.
In the above conventional verification process that includes a review process, a result of review for evaluating a quality of the verification items is dependent on experience and ability of the members involved in the review. In other words, in the conventional verification process, the verification items are extracted without reference.
Therefore, in some cases, necessary verification items are missed to be extracted, or unnecessary verification items are undesirably extracted. Thus, the result of the review varies, and verification coverage obtained as a result of the review decreases. In addition, this reduces a yield in actual manufacturing of the LSI.
Moreover, because the review requires 3 to 10 people or more to be involved as review members, schedule arrangement itself can be a trouble for a coordinator, taking time and labor. In addition, if the schedule arrangement does not proceed smoothly, a reviewing period becomes long. Thus, a total time required for the LSI design increases. Furthermore, the review usually requires about two hours to half a day. This not only makes the verification period long, but also causes a delay in other processes in the LSI design because of binding hours constraints for the members.
In the conventional technology disclosed in the patent literature, it is possible to automatically obtain an updated verification item list created based on an updated electronic specification, even if the electronic specification is updated for an additional function of the LSI. However, to identify new verification items added in the updated verification item list, it is necessary to manually compare the verification item list before update of the electronic specification and the updated item list. Therefore, the verification process requires a great deal of time and labor. This makes the design period long, and increases manufacturing cost.

Method and apparatus for supporting verification, and computer product


A door assembly is provided for which can alternate between a pivoting and a sliding configuration. The door assembly can include a door panel, a track, a first carriage assembly, a second carriage assembly, and a locking mechanism. The first and second carriage assembly can connect the door panel to the track. The first and second carriage assemblies can be slidably movable on the track, and the first carriage assembly can further include a pivot mechanism that pivotably couples the door to the track. The locking mechanism can configure the door between the sliding and pivoting configurations. For example, the locking mechanism can mechanically couple the door panel to the second carriage assembly in the sliding configuration and mechanically decouple the door from the second carriage assembly in the pivoting configuration.

Traditional two-panel patio doors typically offer either fixed-axis rotation (swinging) or lateral movement (sliding). Swinging patio doors can maximize space for ingress and egress but they do not allow for any variability in the size of an opening between the interior and the exterior. Additionally, swinging patio doors provide insufficient pressure resistance from wind, air, and water because of the seam between the two doors. Sliding patio doors can vary the size of an opening between the interior and the exterior. Sliding patio doors can also be configured to overlap with each other to make the doors less prone to air pressure fluctuations and water entry. However, sliding patio doors typically offer approximately half of the space for ingress and egress as swinging patio doors.
Some patio door systems attempt to accomplish both sliding and swinging functionality but rely on complex hinging mechanisms or complicated hardware, such as motorized systems. Other patio door systems attempt to provide flexibility with multiple panels allowing for various configurations; however, the designs can be confusing and cumbersome for users due to requiring multiple sliding and lifting motions to open and close the panels as desired.
Therefore, there is a need for a patio door system which provides both fixed-axis rotation and lateral movement. Such a door system should be intuitive for the user to operate, allow variability in the size of an opening between the interior and the exterior, and maximize an available opening space for ingress and egress.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Door system with sliding and hinging capability


A neck collar interfacing with a lower edge of a helmet of a wearer. The collar includes a pad and a shell. The pad is formed of a closed-cell foam material and forms a loop to be secured about the neck of the wearer. A plurality of shell components are secured to portions of the upper face of the pad. The shell is more rigid than the pad to spread the energy of impact with a lower edge of the helmet over a larger region of the pad. The shell and pad each include a chest portion having a split for opening the pad for putting the collar on and taking it off. The shell components are discontinuous at at least one lateral portion of the pad to allow flexibility of the pad for separation of the pad at the split.

Protective gear for participants in various activities such as motorsports has been standard for years. Motocross riders, for example, are accustomed to wearing head-to-toe protective gear, including a helmet, a neck collar, a chest or roost protector, spine protection, hip and tailbone pads, knee braces or at least pads, and protective boots. This gear has resulted in a significant reduction in injuries to the wearers. However, while a helmet is usually the most cited or recognizable item of protective gear and while it protects the head of the user, it can worsen injuries to the neck due to its mass and rigid shell, particularly the lower rim. The mass of the helmet can cause extra force to pull the head back, to the side, or forward. Nevertheless, the helmet has been found to be worthwhile protective piece.
If used in conjunction with a neck collar, the helmet's protective benefits are further improved. Many riders use foam neck collars to absorb impact of the helmet against the body and limit excessive movement of the head so help avoid neck injury. However, the foam does not disperse energy well over a large portion of the body, such that the point of contact with the rigid lower edge of the helmet extends through the foam in a localized portion of the foam injuring the body and potentially still allowing excessive neck strain.
Furthermore, the fit of the neck collar may not be optimal for all users. If the collar has a back brace, it may not fit a wide range of wearers, depending on the thickness of the upper body (chest, shoulders, and upper back) of the wearer. An incorrect fitting neck collar may not effectively prevent injury. Or the person may completely omit wearing a collar that is not comfortable.
The inventor of the present invention has found that absorption and dispersion of energy in a collar that is comfortable and doesn't point load the body during impact is important in providing a protective neck collar. The collar must also limit excessive movement of the helmeted head, while allowing necessary freedom of movement for the chosen activity. The neck collars currently available do not seem to provide this combination of benefits.


A random number generator includes a flip-flop in which an output state (0 or 1) becomes definite according to a phase difference between signals inputted to two input units, a delay unit for producing the phase difference in these two input signals, and a feedback circuit for controlling the phase difference so that an occurrence ratio of 0 or 1 of an output from the flip-flop by the input signals is constant within a specified repetition cycle.

It is indispensable to use a random number for high level scientific calculation, a game machine, encryption processing or the like, and in recent years, the demand for a high performance generator of a natural random number (true random number) with uniformity (a difference in occurrence ratio is not produced according to a random number) and without regularity of random number occurrence, before-and-after correlativity, periodicity and the like, or a probability generator has been escalating.
Then, as the above natural random number/probability generator, one using a random pulse obtained by use of, for example, extremely weak radiation, thermal noise of a resistor or a diode, fluctuation of a crystal oscillator, or the like is well known.
However, in the random number/probability generating circuit using the random pulse by the above natural phenomenon, since analog components, such as a generating source of the random pulse, an amplifier of a signal, waveform shaping, and an optimizing circuit of uniformity, are much included, the circuit scale becomes large and complicated, and accordingly, it is difficult to mount these as an integrated logic LSI, and it also becomes disadvantageous for application to a microminiature and thin high-tech equipment, such as an IC card, the demand of which is expected to be increased in future. Besides, since the formation as an LSI is difficult, the productivity is poor and the cost becomes high.
Especially, since one using the thermal noise is apt to be influenced by an external noise, power supply fluctuation, temperature or the like, there is a defect that it is lacking in operation stability. Besides, with respect to one using radiation, since there is a fear that the radiation influences the environment or the like even though it is extremely weak, the amount of usable radiation has a limit, and it has been difficult to cope with such a use that a lot of random numbers are generated in a short time.

Random number generator and probability generator


According to one embodiment, an information processing system includes a first electronic device, a second electronic device connectable with the first electronic device, and a security lock. The security lock is configured to attach to the second electronic device when the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected with each other, the security lock for preventing the second electronic device from being stolen, and in association with the security lock, a first lock for preventing separation of the first electronic device from the second electronic device.

Recently, mobile electronic devices called tablets have become widespread. Accordingly, a two-in-one computer, which can be used as both a tablet and a notebook computer, is gradually gaining popularity. When a two-in-one computer is used as a notebook computer, the user connects the tablet to a keyboard dock. In this manner, the tablet can be used as a display, and the keyboard dock can be used as a keyboard.
In connection with the spread of two-in-one computers, antitheft products for two-in-one computers have become popular. An example of such products is an antitheft tether (for example, a Kensington lock). By the antitheft tether, when the keyboard dock is locked in a state where the two-in-one computer can be used as a notebook computer (in other words, the tablet is connected with the keyboard dock), the tablet is also locked (in other words, the tablet cannot be separated from the keyboard dock).
However, when the antitheft tether is employed, the tablet is locked in association with the lock of the keyboard dock as described above. Thus, the use of the antitheft tether is disadvantageous in a case where the two-in-one computer is used as a tablet (in other words, only the tablet is carried). Specifically, to carry the tablet, the user must release the antitheft tether and separate the tablet from the keyboard dock. After that, the user must lock the keyboard dock again by using the antitheft tether. Thus, the use of the antitheft tether takes much trouble.
To solve the above problem, the realization of a new technique is required.

Information processing system, electronic device, and method with device theft prevention capabilities


The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for illuminating and capturing scenes. In one aspect, a video camera assembly includes: (1) one or more processors configured to operate the video camera assembly in a day mode and in a night mode; (2) an image sensor having a field of view of a scene and configured to capture video of a first portion of the scene while in the day mode of operation and in the night mode of operation, the first portion corresponding to the field of view of the image sensor; (3) one or more infrared (IR) illuminators configured to provide illumination during the night mode of operation while the image sensor captures video; and (4) an IR reflector component configured to: (i) substantially restrict the illumination onto the first portion of the scene, and (ii) illuminate the first portion in a substantially uniform manner across the field of view of the image sensor.

Video surveillance cameras are used extensively. Usage of video cameras in residential and commercial environments has increased substantially, in part due to lower prices and simplicity of deployment.
As consumer demands change and the complexity of home automation and related systems increases, various new challenges, such as heat and illumination management, arise in designing such camera products. For example, ineffective IR illumination technologies not only unnecessarily consume large amounts of power and generate large amounts of heat, but are also have undesirable visual appearances. For another example, the use of multiple wireless communication technologies in products having complicated thermal management demands the intelligent design of antenna structures. For yet another example, installing cable wiring outside of a camera stand not only has undesirable visual appearances but also often results in limitations to the degrees of freedom of motion.

Video camera assembly having an IR reflector


A static-electricity-blocking mounting unit, including: a mounting sheet metal in which a female screw portion is formed, the female screw portion being configured to threadably engage with a male screw configured to fix a member to be fixed to a housing; and an insulating member made of an insulating material and configured to support the mounting sheet metal, wherein the mounting sheet metal is fixed to the housing via the insulating member, and the member to be fixed is fixed to the housing by the male screw threadably engaging with the female screw portion of the mounting sheet metal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting unit to be used for mounting a cover member to a housing of an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to a static-electricity-blocking mounting unit configured to prevent static electricity from flowing through a circuit board or the like of an electronic apparatus via a metallic screw configured to fix a cover member to a housing of the electronic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electronic apparatus provided with a circuit board having electronic components mounted thereto, when static electricity flows through the circuit board, the circuit board may malfunction or may be damaged. Therefore, it is one of significant challenges to prevent the static electricity from flowing through the circuit board, and various measures have been proposed conventionally against the static electricity.
It is another one of the significant challenges in the electronic apparatus to take measures against, for example, static electricity flowing via a metallic screw to be used for fixing an exterior component, such as a cover member, to a rear surface of the electronic apparatus. In particular, from the perspective of product layout, a large number of electrical components may be arranged on the rear surface of the electronic apparatus, and therefore, when the cover member configured to cover the rear surface, on which the large number of electrical components are arranged, is fixed to a housing of the electronic apparatus, a fastening position of the metallic screw needs to be taken into consideration. This is because the static electricity may flow through the circuit board via the metallic screw when the cover member is fixed in the vicinity of the circuit board with the metallic screw.
To address this, for example, the metallic screw may be coated with an insulating material having a high hardness, which can avoid the situation in which the static electricity flows through the circuit board via the screw. However, when the screw is made of such a material, manufacturing cost for the screw increases, and hence such a measure is not appropriate.
Further, for example, the fastening position of the metallic screw may be provided at a position distant from the circuit board so that the static electricity does not flow through the circuit board but flows to a ground, which can avoid the malfunction of the circuit board due to the static electricity. However, as in the above-mentioned case where a large number of electrical components are arranged on the rear surface of the housing from the perspective of product layout, the cover member may need to be fixed also in the vicinity of the circuit board with the metallic screw. To address this, there is disclosed a mounting structure for a cover member, in which a screw fastening seat for enclosing the metallic screw is formed on the housing to insulate the metallic screw (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-43809).
However, in the mounting structure for a cover member described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-43809, the screw fastening seat is made of a resin material, and hence, when the metallic screw is fastened and unfastened repeatedly, fastening strength may decrease. To address this, for example, the seat may be made of an insulating material having a high hardness, but as described above, the manufacturing cost increases, and hence such a measure is not appropriate. Further, when the screw fastening seat is formed, there arises a problem in that change of the screw fastening position or other such flexible adaptation cannot be performed in a case of, for example, layout change of the electrical components.
Further, for example, an element for electrostatic measures may be added to the circuit board so that the circuit board does not cause malfunction even when the static electricity flows, which can avoid the malfunction of the circuit board. In this case, however, an electrostatic discharge immunity test needs to be conducted repeatedly every time the circuit is modified, with the result that efficiency decreases and cost increases.

Static-electricity-blocking mounting unit and electronic apparatus


In a method for longitudinal sealing of electrical conductors that include one or more conductor elements disposed inside an external sheath, and include cavities between the individual conductor elements and between the individual conductor elements and the external sheath, in which the one end, requiring sealing, of the conductor is immersed in a liquid sealing compound, and the other end of the conductor has negative pressure applied to it. A sealing apparatus suitable for carrying out said method encompasses a supply reservoir for the liquid sealing compound into which the one end, requiring sealing, of the conductor is immersed, and a negative-pressure source to which the other end of the conductor is connected.

An apparatus and a method of this kind have been discussed, for example, in DE 103 45 676 A1.
The penetration of water or other media into vehicle wiring harnesses can result in failure of the connected components and control units, and thus also in failure of the vehicle, since liquid media propagate, especially in stranded conductors, through the cavities. Given corresponding requirements defined by the installation location, plug connectors of sealed design are therefore used so as to obtain a sealed wiring harness. For electrical conductors that do not end in a plug connector, e.g. conductors equipped with ring cable lugs, heat-shrink tubes with hot melt adhesives are often applied from outside for sealing.
In the engine compartment specifically, or even for the installation of electrical components such as injection nozzles in the engine of a motor vehicle, media other than water, such as motor oil, also occur. A hot melt adhesive meeting the requirements resulting therefrom is not available, so that other, expensive solutions must be resorted to here, for example special ring cable lugs having a sealing insert or disconnect plug.
German patent document DE 103 45 676 A1 discusses the introducing of a liquid sealing compound into cavities of an electrical conductor by way of an injection needle. The risk exists, however, that the injection needle will wear or clog over time, and need to be replaced.

Apparatus and method for longitudinal sealing of electrical lines


A catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising (A) a solid catalyst component which is prepared by causing (a) a magnesium compound, (b) a tetravalent titanium halide compound, and (c) an electron donor compound to come in contact with each other, (B) an organoaluminum compound of the formula R1pAlQ3-p, and (C) an organosilicon compound of the formula SiR2R3(OR4)(OR5), and (D) an organosilicon compound of the formula R6xSi(OR7)4-x exhibits a higher hydrogen activity than conventional catalysts.

Conventionally, a number of methods for polymerizing or copolymerizing olefins in the presence of a catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising a solid catalyst component containing magnesium, titanium, an electron donor compound, and halogen as essential components, an organoaluminum compound, and an organosilicon compound have been proposed.
For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63310/1982) and Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63311/1982) propose a process for polymerizing olefins with three or more carbon atoms, in which a catalyst comprising a combination of a solid catalyst component containing a magnesium compound, titanium compound, and an electron donor, an organoaluminum compound, and an organosilicon compound having a Si—O—C bond is used. However, because this process is not necessarily satisfactory for producing highly stereoregular polymers in a high yield, further improvement of the process has been desired.
Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 3010/1988) proposes a catalyst for olefin polymerization and a process for polymerizing olefins in the presence of the catalyst. The catalyst for olefin polymerization comprises a solid catalyst component, prepared by heat-processing of a powdered product obtained by causing dialkoxymagnesium, aromatic dicarboxylic acid diester, aromatic hydrocarbon, and titanium halide to come in contact with each other, an organoaluminum compound, and an organosilicon compound.
Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 315406/1989) proposes another catalyst for olefin polymerization and a process for polymerizing olefins in the presence of this catalyst. The catalyst for olefin polymerization comprises a solid catalyst component prepared by causing a suspension containing diethoxymagnesium and alkylbenzene to come in contact with titanium tetrachloride, reacting the suspension with phthalic acid dichloride, and causing the resulting solid product to come in contact with titanium tetrachloride in the presence of alkylbenzene, an organoaluminum compound, and an organosilicon compound.
Patent Document 5 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 84404/1990) proposes a catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising a solid titanium catalyst component containing magnesium, titanium, and halogen as the essential components obtained by causing a magnesium compound and a titanium compound to come in contact with each other, an organoaluminum compound catalyst component, and an organosilicon compound catalyst component containing a cyclopentyl group, cyclopentenyl group, cyclopentadienyl group, or a derivative of these groups, as well as a process for polymerizing or copolymerizing olefins in the presence of this catalyst.
All of the above-described conventional technologies have attained excellent results in improving the catalyst activity to enable omission of an ash-removal step for removing catalyst residues such as chlorine and titanium from the formed polymers, improving the yield of stereoregular polymers, and improving the durability of the catalyst activity during the polymerization.
However, olefin polymers obtained by polymerizing olefins using a catalyst for olefin polymerization containing this type of highly active catalyst component, an organoaluminum compound, and an organosilicon compound have been found to possess a molecular weight distribution narrower than that of olefin polymers obtained by polymerizing olefins using a catalyst for olefin polymerization in which the conventional titanium trichloride catalyst component is combined with an organoaluminum compound and, optionally, an electron donor compound as the third component. The narrow molecular weight distribution leads to a low melting viscoelasticity of the polymer to be processed, which gives rise to an impaired outward appearance of the final products (polyolefins). The application of the olefin polymers must be limited to a certain degree.
Various ideas have been put into practice in an attempt to solve this problem. One example is using multi-stage polymerization to obtain polyolefin with a broad molecular weight distribution. However, the multi-stage polymerization involves undesirable features including a high cost such as repetition of a complicated polymerization process and reclaiming of a chelating agent used in the polymerization.
Patent Document 6 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7703/1991) proposes a process for polymerizing olefins in the presence of a catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising a solid titanium catalyst component containing magnesium, titanium, halogen, and an electron donor as essential components, an organoaluminum compound, and at least two electron donors (organosilicon compounds).
The applicants claim that the target polyolefin with a broad molecular weight distribution can be obtained without requiring a complicated multi-stage polymerization. However, the requirement of using two or more organosilicon compounds as electron donors during polymerization makes the process complicated.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems remaining in the prior art and to provide a catalyst for olefin polymerization and a process for polymerizing olefins, which can produce olefin polymers having a broad molecular weight distribution by a simple procedure while maintaining high stereoregularity.

Catalyst for olefin polymerization and process for polymerizing olefins


An active human-machine interface feedback system includes a user interface, a pitch angle sensor, a roll angle sensor, a spherical motor, and a control circuit. The user interface adapted to receive user input and is configured, upon receipt of the user input, to move, about one or both of a pitch axis and a roll axis, to a user interface position. The pitch angle sensor is configured to sense the pitch angle component of the user interface position. The roll angle sensor is configured to sense the roll angle component of the user interface position. The spherical motor is coupled to the user interface and is symmetrically disposed about the origin. The control circuit determines a polar angle (θ) of the user interface relative to the origin, determine an azimuthal angle (φ) of the user interface relative to the origin, and supply current to the first, second, and third coils.

Human-machine interfaces are used in myriad industries to translate human movements to machine movements. For example, some aircraft flight control systems include a human-machine interface in the form of a control stick, sometimes referred to as a side stick. The flight control system, in response to input forces supplied to the human-machine interface from the user (e.g., the pilot), controls the movements of various aircraft flight control surfaces.
No matter the specific end-use system, the human-machine interface preferably includes some type of active (or haptic) feedback mechanism back through the interface to the interface operator. In most instances, the feedback mechanism is relatively complicated, employing several actuation and sensing devices that, in some cases must also meet certain accuracy and redundancy standards in order to meet specified safety and reliability requirements. This can increase cost, weight, and overall space envelope.
For example, an aircraft side stick is typically configured to be moveable about two perpendicular axes—a pitch axis and a roll axis. Thus, an active aircraft side stick may include two pair of motors, one pair associated with the pitch axis, and another pair associated with the roll axis. The motors may be coupled to the side stick via a combination of cranks and/or gears, which can further increase the cost, space-envelope, and weight. Even if the motors are configured to directly drive the side stick, the motors must still be connected using some sort of universal joint to mechanically decouple each axis of motion, which still increases costs, weight, and system space envelope.
Hence, there is a need for an active human-machine interface that is moveable about at least two perpendicular axes and that is less costly, lower in weight, and exhibits a smaller space envelope, as compared to known human-machine interfaces. The present invention addresses at least this need.

Active human-machine user interface feedback system with spherical motor


A sinker assembly includes a fared sinker body of an elongate oval shape in which the longitudinal slots are formed in an orthogonal, crossing arrangement. The first of these slots extends to the lateral exterior of the body while the second one is fully within the body structure. A plastic retainer is then received into the second slot, and includes a longitudinal bead on its surface for compression against the slot edges formed at their crossing. The retainer may include a tab at one end and one end of the body may be cut away to accommodate this tab.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fishing line sinkers, and more particularly to improvements in sinkers for their selective attachment to a fishing line.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Sinkers have been used extensively to bring fishing lines of the sea bottom. Most frequently, sinkers in the prior art take the form of a lead weight which is tied or fixed to the line in proximity with the fish hook. In consequence, the sinker often engages the subsurface growth and bottom debris and is often lost with the fishing line.
To reduce the incidence of fouling and the loss of fishing line, generally smoothed sinkers have been devised which engage the line directly. Examples of such prior art sinkers are set out in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,808,728 to Ratte, Jr.; 2,570,293 to Vadmais; 3,096,599 to Baron; 4,691,468 to Fernbach; 3,043,044 to Metzler; and 2,772,509 to Vadmais. Additionally, means for selective engagement of floats to a fishing line are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,578,874 to Zaikoski; and 3,867,783 to Simpson. A further teaching of a fishing sinker is found in the lapsed Australia Application 236,996 to Powers.
Each of the foregoing, while suitable for the purposes intended, either secures by friction the sinker or float on the line or extends various structures which may be dislodged by underwater growth.
A sinker that is conveniently engaged for sliding translation along the fishing line is therefore extensively sought and it is one such sinker that is disclosed herein.


Hiding a service node in a network from a network topology is provided. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus for hiding a service node in a network from a network topology, the apparatus comprising: a network interface; a processor; and one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform: discovering a service node in a data network in accordance with a link-state protocol wherein the service node provides a network topology dependent service other than packet forwarding; establishing a link-state adjacency with the service node and one or more packet forwarding nodes in accordance with the link-state protocol; receiving a link-state advertisement; in response to identifying the link-state advertisement as an originating link-state advertisement sent from the service node, suppressing flooding of the received link-state advertisement to the one or more packet forwarding nodes.

The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs), network administrators, and network operators, among others, configure packet switching routers deployed in networks they manage to use an interior gateway protocol to exchange routing information between the routers. Many network equipment manufacturers and vendors sell routers capable of exchanging routing information with other routers in a network using an interior gateway protocol.
There are two main classes of interior gateway protocols: distance-vector routing protocols and link-state routing protocols. In typical implementations of a link-state routing protocol, each router in a network discovers neighboring routers in the network and establishes an adjacency relationship with each neighboring router. Such neighboring router(s) are often referred to as "adjacencies". The router periodically sends an advertisement message to each adjacency that may include an identification of each of the advertising router's network links, and for each identified link, the state of the link, the metric cost of the advertising router's interface to the link, and any neighboring routers connected to the link.
Typically, each router receiving an advertisement floods the advertisement to all of its own adjacencies (except to the router from which the advertisement was received). Each router stores information from each advertisement the router receives in a link-state database. Each router maintains its own copy of the link-state database in a computer memory of the router. Ideally, each router in the network receives the advertisements sent by every other router in the network and each link-state database in each router converges to same representation of the state of the network. Each router in the network uses information in its link-state database to construct a topology of the network representing the shortest (lowest cost) path to every other router in the network. Such topology is typically constructed using a shortest path first algorithm. A data representation of the constructed topology commonly referred to as a routing table is also stored in the router's memory. Each router uses its routing table to forward network data packets the router receives onto destinations in the network.
Because each router's link-state database stores information about every other router in the network, the computer memory size of each link-state database at each router increases as the number of routers in the network increases. The greater the size of the link-state database at a router, the more computer memory the router needs to store the link-state database and the more processing resources the router needs to calculate a topology of the network in a constant or near constant amount of time. Thus, adding a router to a network has an adverse impact on the computing resource requirements of the existing routers in the network.
Increasingly, network services provide a network topology dependent service other than packet forwarding. For example, there are standardization efforts underway to provide peer-to-peer (P2P) applications in a network with information about the network to perform better-than-random initial peer selection. As another example, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) may deploy a network topology dependent service in its networks to support other non-routing network applications such as Network Address Translation (NAT), Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), video monitoring, mobility, etc.
For such network topology dependent services to provide information about the network to other network applications, the services may require a topology view of the network. One approach to providing a topology view of the network to a network topology dependent service is to have the service participate in the link-state protocol used by the network. In this approach, the service establishes adjacencies with neighboring routers, collects link-state advertisements as part of normal link-state protocol operation and can obtain information about the state and topology of the network and use the obtained information for providing a network topology dependent service. However, because adding a network element that participates in the link-state protocol to a network increases the size of the link-state database at each router in the network, each network topology dependent service added to a network adds to the computing resource requirements of all routers in the network. Furthermore, the other routers in the network may include the service in their calculated packet forwarding paths, potentially overwhelming the service with network traffic to be forwarded.

Hiding a service node in a network from a network routing topology


The process of making a registration mark on an integrated-circuit substrate wherein photoimaging first is used to define an optically-recognizable mark on a predetermined position of the substrate, and the substrate then is covered with silicon dioxide. Photoresist then is applied over the substrate and selectively removed except over the mark. Etchant then is applied to remove all silicon dioxide except over the photoresist-covered mark. An epitaxial layer thereafter is grown over the substrate. The silicon dioxide over the mark prevents epitaxial growth in that region, so that the mark remains clear and optically visible for the rest of the IC processing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the processing of semiconductive substrates to form integrated circuit (IC) chips. More particularly, this invention relates to techniques for accurately aligning the substrates with the processing equipment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art processes use optically-recognizable registration marks formed on semiconductive wafer substrates to effect alignment of the substrates with the processing equipment, such as wafer steppers. Commonly, a so-called registration mask was used at the beginning of the process to form one or more marks on each wafer. Difficulty was frequently encountered, however, because the optical appearance of the mark became altered by the epitaxial layer subsequently grown as part of the IC processing. Such alteration (sometimes referred to as "epitaxial wash-out") obscured the mark, or distorted its apparent position. In any event, the result was increased number of IC chip rejects.

Method of making a registration mark on a semiconductor


An ultrasonic position sensing system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an ultrasonic sensor configured to monitor the position of a device. The system also includes ranging logic. The sensor is controlled by the logic to direct an ultrasonic pulse toward the device. The logic is configured to compute the transit time and the velocity of the ultrasonic pulse. Based on these parameters, the logic computes the path length between the sensor and the device, which corresponds to the location of the device relative to the location of the sensor. In further embodiments, the ultrasonic positioning system may include multiple sensors in communication with the ranging logic for monitoring multiple devices.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the presently described embodiments. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present embodiments. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In order to meet consumer and industrial demand for natural resources, companies often invest significant amounts of time and money in searching for and extracting oil, natural gas, and other subterranean resources from the earth. Particularly, once a desired subterranean resource is discovered, drilling and production systems are often employed to access and extract the resource. These systems may be located onshore or offshore depending on the location of a desired resource. Such systems generally include a wellhead assembly through which resources are extracted.
In the case of an offshore system, such a wellhead assembly may include one or more subsea components that control drilling and/or extraction operations. For instance, such components may include one or more production trees (often referred to as "Christmas trees"), control modules, a blowout preventer system, and various casings, valves, fluid conduits, and the like, that generally facilitate the extraction of resources from a well for transport to the surface. Some of these components may include sub-components or devices that are configured for linear movement. For example, a blowout preventer system may include multiple blowout preventers assembled in a stack-like arrangement. Each of these blowout preventers may include one or more pistons that are configured to move in a linear direction when actuated. For instance, in the case of a ram-type blowout preventer, opposing pistons may be translated horizontally toward each other (e.g., via hydraulic actuation) to drive a corresponding pair of opposing rams toward the center of a wellbore. Other examples of linearly actuated devices that may be present in subsea equipment include various types of pressure or flow control devices, such as valves, connectors, and so forth.
Position monitoring (also referred to as ranging) with respect to such linear moving components has been an ongoing challenge for the industry, particularly with respect to devices that are deployed in subsea environments. Without an adequate position monitoring system, it is difficult for operators to assess the position of a linearly actuated component or how far the component has translated in response to an actuation event. Moreover, due to the harsh environments in which subsea equipment is often operated, the ability to monitor the condition of the subsea equipment is also useful. Having a reliable position monitoring system in place may provide for improved condition monitoring of subsea equipment. For example, position monitoring may be useful for determining whether or not a particular component exhibits an expected behavior in response to an actuation control input. In the absence of reliable position information, condition monitoring metrics may rely more heavily on the relationship between time parameters and actuation parameters, which may be insufficient to accurately delineate normalized condition status.
Existing solutions for position monitoring have included the use of electromechanical position sensing devices in conjunction with linearly actuated components. One example of an electromechanical position sensing device is a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT). However, the use of electromechanical devices in position monitoring is not without drawbacks. For instance, electromechanical devices, such as LVDTs, may be subject to a common-mode failure, as they are subject to a level of mechanical degradation similar to the component being monitored. Further, the incorporation of electromechanical position sensing devices into existing subsea equipment may require that existing equipment be redesigned and modified to accommodate the electromechanical position sensing devices and associated components, which may be not only be costly and time consuming, but oftentimes impractical.

System and method for position monitoring using ultrasonic sensor