There is provided an optical module for coupling with a fiber optic cable through an optical connector, including a module body connectable with a plug of the optical connector by a dedicated guide pin, with a side surface of the module body being opposed to a mating surface of the connector plug at which an end face of the fiber optic cable is exposed, and an optical element mounted to the module body and having an optical axis brought into alignment with an optical axis of the fiber optic cable upon fitting of the guide pin into the module body and the connector plug.

The present invention relates to optical modules having photoelectric conversion functions to conduct optical communications. The present invention also relates to substrates for such optical modules as well as an optical coupling structure.
In response to the recent development of information and communication technologies (including the Internet) and the recent dramatic performance improvement of information processing equipment, there has been a growing need to transmit and receive a large capacity of data e.g. graphical data or video data. In order to carry out large-capacity data communications without restraint via an information network system, it is desirable that the information network system has a data transmission speed of several Gbps or higher. Optical communication technologies are expected to be especially useful to achieve such a high-speed data communication environment. There has also been a growing need to speed up short-distance signal communications between wiring boards of information processing equipment and between LSI chips of a wiring board. For these reasons, the shift from conventional data transmission using metal cables and/or metal wiring to optical transmission is desired.
In the optical transmission, optical elements (such as light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements) are generally used for conversion from optical signals to electrical signals and from electrical signals to optical signals. Further, optical waveguides (such as optical fibers) are used as data transmission media in the optical transmission. Various proposals have been made on the photoelectric conversion module, also called "optical module", in which an optical element is supported on a module substrate and the optical coupling structure between an optical element and a fiber optic cable.
For instance, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-207694 proposes an optical coupling structure between an optical element and a multifiber optic cable on a wiring board. The proposed optical coupling structure includes a flat cable connector fixed at an end of the fiber optic cable, a flat package (as a connector receptacle) in which the optical element and LSI chips are incorporated, a clamp spring and guide pins. The cable connector is stacked on a surface of the package, and then, the connector and the package are fastened with the clamp spring and the guide pins in such a manner as to allow mating and unmating of these connection parts along a vertical direction of the wiring board. Upon mating of the package with the cable connector, the optical element is optically coupled to the fiber optic cable.
There is also proposed an optical connection part 903 of the type shown in FIG. 26, which is specifically designed to mate with a so-called MT (Mechanically Transferable) connector so as to provide an optical coupling between an optical element 902 and a multifiber optic cable 905, on "The Fifth Forum on Electronic SI Research, Feb. 26, 2004, Abstract, Page 86 (bottom section)". The proposed optical connection part 903 is characterized as having a right-angle optical path conversion waveguide. The optical element 902 is face-up mounted on a wiring board 901 via bump contacts, and the MT connector has a plug 906 fixed to an end of the fiber optic cable 905. The optical connection part 903 is attached at a lower face thereof to an optical face of the optical element using an adhesive 904. The optical connection part 903 and the connector plug 906 are arranged with an end face of the optical connection part 903 abutting on an end face of the connector plug 906. Then, the optical connection part 903 and the connector plug 906 are fastened together with a clamp spring 907 in such a manner as to allow mating and unmating of these connection parts 903 and 906 along a lateral direction of the wiring board 901.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-170965 proposes an optical module mounted on a printed circuit board and having an optical element supported on a silicon substrate. The silicon substrate has two opposite main surfaces: one main surface supporting thereon the optical element and the other main surface having positioning projections and depressions engaged with positioning projections and depressions of the printed circuit board so as to allow optical axis alignment of the optical element with an optical waveguide (such as an fiber optic cable).
Japanese Laid-Open patent Publication No. 2004-31743 proposes, although not directly related to an optical module, an electronic device in which an electronic component is mounted on a ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate has two laminated ceramic substrate members joined together in such a manner that the direction of lamination of ceramic insulating layers in one substrate member is perpendicular to the direction of lamination of ceramic insulating layers in the other substrate member. The ceramic substrate also has a shield member interposed between two laminated substrate members so that the substrate members are electrically independent of each other. This substrate configuration is advantageous to achieve a low profile of the electronic device. It should be noted that the arrangement of an optical element on such a laminated ceramic substrate is neither disclosed nor suggested by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-31743.

Optical module, optical module substrate and optical coupling structure


A system and method of discovering dependencies between relational database column pairs and application of discoveries to query optimization is provided. For each candidate column pair remaining after simultaneously generating column pairs, pruning pairs not satisfying specified heuristic constraints, and eliminating pairs with trivial instances of correlation, a random sample of data values is collected. A candidate column pair is tested for the existence of a soft functional dependency (FD), and if a dependency is not found, statistically tested for correlation using a robust chi-squared statistic. Column pairs for which either a soft FD or a statistical correlation exists are prioritized for recommendation to a query optimizer, based on any of: strength of dependency, degree of correlation, or adjustment factor; statistics for recommended columns pairs are tracked to improve selectivity estimates. Additionally, a dependency graph representing correlations and dependencies as edges and column pairs as nodes is provided.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of relational database query optimization. More specifically, the present invention is related to correlation detection and dependency discovery between columns in a relational database.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Dependencies between columns in relational databases can be exploited to optimize queries, but can also result in inaccurate estimates produced by query optimizers. Because query optimizers usually assume that columns are statistically independent, unaccounted for dependencies can lead to selectivity underestimation of conjunctive predicates by several orders of magnitude. Often-times a query optimizer in a relational database chooses a sub-optimal plan because of the inaccurate assumption of independence between two or more columns. Such an assumption is often made by query optimizers known in the art because it simplifies estimation; for example, the selectivity of conjunctive predicates based on two columns can be estimated by simply multiplying the individual selectivity of a column with the other.
Addressing these issues of relaxing statistical independence assumptions in selectivity estimations are query-driven and data-driven approaches. Query-driven approaches focus on information contained in a query workload, whereas data-driven methods analyze data values to discover correlations, or general statistical dependencies, between relational database columns. By stating the existence of a soft functional dependency (FD) between columns C1 and C2, a generalization of the classical notion of a hard FD in which a value in C1 completely determines a corresponding value in C2 is implied. A soft FD, denoted by C1C2, indicates that a value of C1 determines a corresponding value in C2 not with certainty, but with high probability. An example of a hard FD is given by "Country" and "Continent"; the former completely determines the latter. On the other hand, a soft FD between the make and model of a car is shown in the following example; given that "Model=323", "Make=Mazda" with high probability and "Make=BMW" with small probability. Two types of trivial cases are also identified; a soft key having a small number of distinct values in a given column and a trivial column having either only null values or only a single distinct value in a given column. The values in any row of a trivial column are trivially determined by values in any other column, which leads to spurious correlations.
In non-patent literature "Exploiting Statistics on Query Expressions for Optimization", Bruno and Chaudhuri disclose the use query workload (i.e. a list of relevant queries) together with optimizer estimates of query execution times for determining a beneficial set of Statistics of Intermediate Tables (SITS) to retain. SITS are statistics on query expressions that can be used to avoid large selectivity estimation errors due to independence assumptions.
Alternatively, a query feedback system (QFS) uses feedback from query execution to increase optimizer accuracy. In "LEO-DB2™'s learning optimizer" by Markl et al., DB2™ learning optimizer (LEO) is presented as a typical example of a QFS. LEO compares the actual selectivities of query results with a query optimizer's estimated selectivities. In this way, LEO can detect errors caused by faulty independence assumptions and create adjustment factors which can be applied in the future to improve the optimizer's selectivity estimates.
The self-adaptive histogram set (SASH) algorithm, disclosed in "A self-adaptive histogram set for dynamically changing workloads" by Lim et al., discloses another query-driven approach by creating clusters of disjoint columns in a relational database. Clustered columns are treated as being correlated whereas columns in different clusters are considered independent. In other words, SASH approximates the full joint distribution of the columns by maintaining detailed histograms on certain low-dimensional marginals in accordance with a high-level statistical interaction model. Joint frequencies are then computed as a product of marginals. Maintaining detailed histograms together with a high-level statistical interaction model can be very expensive, which limits the applicability of the SASH algorithm in commercial systems. As with other query feedback systems such as LEO, less optimal query plans can be chosen if the system has not yet received enough feedback, either during the initial startup period or after a sudden change in query workload. During one of these slow learning phases, a query optimizer is likely to avoid query plans with accurate feedback-based cost estimates in favor of other plans that appear to be less expensive, due to cost estimates based on limited quantities of actual data and faulty independence assumptions.
Most data-driven methods use discovered correlations to construct and maintain a synopsis (lossy compressed representation) of the joint distribution of numerical attributes. Getoor, et al., for example, use probabilistic relational models extending Bayesian network models to the relational setting for selectivity estimation in "Selectivity estimation using probabilistic models". Deshpande, et al. provide a technique in "Independence is Good: Dependency-based histogram synopses for high-dimensional data" which, similarly to SASH, combines a Markov network model with a set of low-dimensional histograms. However, synopses are constructed based on a full scan of the base data rather from query feedback. Both of the foregoing techniques search through the space of possible models and evaluate them according to a scoring function. As with SASH, the high cost of these methods severely limits their practical applicability.
The method of Cheng et al. provided in "Learning belief networks from data: An Information theory based approach" typifies a slightly different approach to constructing a synopsis (specifically, a Bayesian network model) from the base data. Instead of searching through a space of possible models, the method assesses the dependency between pairs of columns by using conditional independence tests based on a "mutual information" measure. The method requires that all attributes be discrete and that there be no missing data values. The method is also not scalable as it requires processing of the entire dataset.
Mining association rules and semantic integrity constraints are approaches limited in that dependencies involve relationships between a few specific values of a pair of attributes, rather than an overall relationship between attributes themselves. For example, an association might assert that ten percent of married people between ages fifty and sixty have at least two cars. This rule concerns specific values of marital status, age, and number of cars attributes.
To account for statistical interdependence between columns of in a relational database, the "bump-hunting" system (B-HUNT) disclosed by Haas et al. in "BHUNT: Automatic discovery of fuzzy algebraic constraints in relational data" searches for column pairs that might have interesting and useful correlations by systematically enumerating candidate pairs and simultaneously pruning candidates that do not appear promising by using a flexible set of heuristics. B-HUNT also analyzes a sample of rows in order to ensure scalability to larger relational databases. B-HUNT uses bump hunting techniques to discover soft algebraic relationships between columns having numerical attributes. General correlations between categorical values are not considered.
The non-patent literature by Brin, Motwani, and Silverstein, "Beyond Market Baskets: Generalizing Association Rules to Correlations" discloses the determination of "correlation rules" in a market-basket context. Brin et al. propose the use of chi-square tests to check for independence; the use of chi-square tests for testing independence is well-known in the art. Brin et al. do not disclose a setting that is for general numeric data and several types of general statistical dependencies, not a specialized type of dependency based on "market-basket" input transaction records. Brin et al. does not address sequential testing for different kinds of dependencies, arranging data in buckets such that the chi-square contingency table has an appropriate, data-dependent number of rows and columns, using data sampling to make algorithm scalable, systematically choosing likely pairs for analysis by combining exhaustive enumeration with heuristic pruning, and ranking the detected correlated column pairs, so that highest ranked pairs are first recommended to the query optimizer
U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,986 requires a workload to determine what set of statistics to create, and relies on information in the system catalog to determine what column groups to generate statistics on, as opposed to a sample. The patent is limited in that it does not provide for a determination of relationships between tables, and is not enabled to discover general correlations through a chi-square test, nor does it rank discovered correlations. Function dependence detection in the disclosed invention is based on information from a systems catalog, not on information based on a sample.
Prior art is limited in that there is no premise for determining correlations between general categorical attributes, nor is there a robust method for determining numerical correlations. Additionally, prior approaches are limited in their provision of correlation and dependency information to a query optimizer, a priori. By contrast, the present invention provides for prioritization of a priori column pair and statistic recommendations to a query optimizer with respect to any of: a degree of correlation, strength of dependency, or adjustment factor.
Whatever the precise merits, features, and advantages of the above cited references, none of them achieves or fulfills the purposes of the present invention.

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a system for providing redundancy on a communications switch platform having a data plane for processing data. The data plane includes an active fabric having an ingress and an egress and establishing a first datapath, a redundant fabric having an ingress and an egress and establishing a second datapath, and a fabric switch for aligning the egress of one of said fabrics to a system output. A separate and independent control plane is provided for monitoring the processing of data. The control plane includes: (i) a plurality of monitors operatively connected to monitor the status of the active and redundant fabrics in the data plane for a fault; and (ii) a fabric activity switch circuit adapted to determine whether the fault occurred in the active fabric in the data plane, and if so, to generate a fabric activity switch signal directed to said fabric switch in the data plane.

Many communication switch and router systems architectures provide redundant communications capabilities. Redundancy in a router system can be provided on two levels A first level provides redundancy within a single shelf for a communications switch. Therein, two or more modules provide redundant communications capabilities for another communication module on the same shelf. A second type of redundancy provides fabric redundancy beyond the switch matrix (SMX) cards and includes fabric interface cards (FICs) installed on input/output (I/O) shelves, high-speed inter-shelf links (HISLs), cables connecting I/O shelves and switch access cards (SACs) installed in switching shelves.
Prior art designs exhibit some inherent limitations. For example, in certain prior art designs, the redundant fabrics may be interconnected and may co-depend on each other to effect an activity switch between the fabrics. This co-dependency between the redundant fabrics may be problematic, depending on the type of fault that is initiating the activity switch between the fabrics. Furthermore, in prior art designs, the time it takes to execute an activity switch between redundant fabrics may be in the order of several seconds or more, which may not comply with industry standards for certain switching applications.
For routing switch platforms used for telecommunications applications, for example, the current Bellcore standard GR-1110-CORE mandates that an activity switch must be completed within 60 ms upon detection of a first fault in any switching fabric. Many prior art designs do not meet this Bellcore standard for an activity switch upon a first fault.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system for providing fabric redundancy and executing a fabric activity switch which overcomes the limitations in the prior art, and which meets or exceeds industry standards such as Bellcore standard GR-1110-CORE.

System for providing fabric activity switch control in a communications system


A method for identifying the primary cell under Site Selective Diversity Transmit comprises the steps of: (1) An ID is assigned by the system to each cell; (2) The ID indicating the primary cell is transmitted periodically by UE to the connected cells via the up link FBI fields; (3) The ID indicating the primary cell transmitted by the mobile station is received by the base station, if the signals received by the base station satisfy with one of the following conditions, then the said base station will consider itself as a primary cell; the identification conditions are: A. The ID code word indicating the primary cell received by the base station is matched with the ID code word of itself; B. The quality of the up link signals received does not satisfy with a quality threshold Qth, at the same time, there is a certain matching degree between the received ID code word indicating the primary cell and the ID code word of the cell itself; and C. The bits of dropping of the ID code word caused by using the up link compression mode excess a limitation. The signals transmitted form some of the non-primary cells having extremely bad quality to UE can be prevented, thereby the system interference is reduced, and the system stability and the system capacity are increased.

SSDT (Site Selective Diversity Transmit) is one of the important technologies used in the advanced mobile communication systems, and a correct identification of the primary cell is an important step affecting the performance of SSDT technology.
Site Selective Diversity Transmit (SSDT) is a macro diversity method under the soft handoff. The operation procedure is as follows: a cell is selected by UE (user equipment) as a primary cell from an active set, and the other cells are non-primary cells. The main object is to perform down link transmit from the primary cell, and thereby, to suppress the interference produced by the multi-transmit in the soft handoff mode. The second object is to obtain fast site selection when the network does not take part in, thereby, to ensure the advantages of the soft handoff. In order to select a primary cell, a temporary identifier (ID) is assigned to each of the cells, and the ID of the primary cell is transmitted periodically by UE to the connected cells via the up link FBI (feedback indication) fields, and the cells selected by UE as non-primary cells will stop to transmit. The activation of SSDT, the end of SSDT, and the assignment of the IDs are performed via the high layer signaling.
An ideal cell identification situation supporting SSDT technology is indicated in FIG. 1. Wherein, the cell where base station 1 is located in is a real primary cell selected by UE. Base station 3 and base station 4 are non-primary cells located in the active set of UE. In FIG. 1, base station 1 is identified by itself as a primary cell, therefore, the down link user data are transmitted to UE; and the other base stations are identified correctly by themselves as non-primary cells, therefore, although the up link signals transmitted by UE are received, however, the down link user data are not transmitted to UE.
The condition for deciding a cell by itself whether it is a primary cell or a non-primary cell is stipulated in Rel′99 V3.7.0 of 3GPP Specification TS25.214, the stipulation is as follows:
The ID code word of the primary cell is transmitted periodically by UE via a part of the up link FBI (S field of FBI) assigned to SSDT. If the following conditions are satisfied with simultaneously, then a non-primary cell will be considered by itself:
A′. The received ID code word of the primary cell and the ID code word of itself are not matched;
B′. The quality of the received up link signals satisfies with a quality threshold Qth, the said threshold is a parameter defined by the network.
C′. The number of the bits of the ID code word drop caused by using the up link compression mode does not excess an upper limit, the said upper limit is (int) NID/3, wherein, NID is the length of the ID code word.
Otherwise, the cell itself will be considered as a primary cell by the cell.
It is indicated particularly that the conditions A, B, and C stated in the other portions in the patent are conditions for identifying directly the primary cell, and in order to distinguish from the condition for identifying the non-primary cell introduced in Background Art, the symbols A′, B′, and C′ are used herein to indicate the conditions for identifying non-primary cell.
It can be seen, under SSDT mode, the condition for a cell to decide itself being a non-primary cell is critical, and the condition to decide itself being a primary cell is relatively not critical, and the object for doing so is to avoid as much as possible the situation that none of the cells considers itself as a primary cell from occurring. Under SSDT mode of the soft handoff, once there is no primary cell, it will cause directly that no cell transmits the service data to UE, causing the data being lost and the quality of the transmission information being degraded.
It is necessary to explain particularly, wherein, the object of the condition B′ is to make that only the cell, which identifies reliably the ID code word of the said cell being not matched with the received ID coed word, considers itself as a non-primary cell. If that the quality of the up link signals is not good enough to ensure the reliability of the result of the match algorithm is discovered by the cells, then the cells will consider themselves as the primary cell under such situation regardless the match result.
It is considered by the prior primary cell identification technology that if the cell conforms with the above three conditions A′, B′, and C′ simultaneously, then the cell will identify itself as a non-primary cell. Wherein, the function of condition B′ is to ensure the reliability of a cell deciding itself as a non-primary cell. However, this will cause the following improper situation to occur: If the quality of the up link signals received by a cell does not satisfy with the threshold Qth, that is, when the up link signals are under a bad situation, the said cell will certainly decide itself as a primary cell. In practical, if the difference of the propagation distance between the respective cells and UE is considered as an important affecting factor of the quality difference of the up links and down links between UE and the respective cells in the active set, then the possibility of the said cell being selected by UE as a primary cell will be relatively small.
The above situation corresponds to that under SSDT mode, except the real primary cells in the active set, some cells with rather bad quality are also identified as the primary cells, while some cells in the active set with better signal quality are decided as the non-primary cells. This causes some bad results, because the cells with the quality that is bad to a certain extent (below Qth) will transmit DPDCH (dedicated physical data channel) to UE, and the said signal will interfere significantly the other users. While the DPDCH signal of the said cell provides rather small function to UE, and it is difficult to indicate the benefit of SSDT. On the other hand, under such situation, UE may combine DPDCH signals of the real primary cells and the cells with bad quality, (note: the bad cells may make no contribution to the combination). Corresponding to the situation that UE may combine a plurality of cells in active set under the condition without SSDT, the receiving performance under SSDT will be worse. Therefore, under the above situation, not only does not present the benefit of reducing the interference under SSDT, but also it is even worse than not introducing SSDT.
This situation of the prior primary cell identification technology is explained in FIG. 2. The base station 1 is identified correctly as a primary cell because of not conforming with the condition A′; the base station 2 conforms simultaneously with three conditions A′, B′, and C′ for identifying the non-primary cells, therefore, it identifies correctly itself as the non-primary cell; and the base station 3 and base station 4 do not conform with the condition B, that is, the quality of the up link signals is worse than the threshold Qth, therefore, they decide themselves as the primary cells, and transmits to UE the down link service data. It can be seen, with respect to the base station 3 and base station 4, the signals with better quality may be provided by the base station 2, however, not transmitted; the signals transmitted by the base station 3 and base station 4 produces the additional down link interference.

Primary cell identification method under site selective diversity transmit


Methods and systems for patching an instance of a composite executing in a runtime environment are provided. A method can include at a computer system comprising a processor and a memory executing, by an application server, one or more instances of a composite, and enabling a patch to be applied to the one or more instances of the composite without stopping execution of the one or more instances in the application server, wherein the patch comprises one or more changes to be made to the composite.

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is used to facilitate the interaction between software components on computers connected over a network, such as a cloud-based network. Functions from enterprise applications are separated into interoperable, standards-based services, which can then be combined with other services and reused to meet particular business needs. Thus, using SOA, functionality provided by applications (from potentially multiple vendors) can be integrated as one or more services, and orchestrated into new composite applications or composites. Composites can contain both new services created specifically for the application and also a business function from existing systems and applications, reused as part of the composition.
SOA enables business objectives while building an enterprise quality system. SOA includes a collection of standards and practices including service component architecture (SCA). SCA is a set of specifications which describe a model for building applications and systems using an SOA. SCA provides a model for the composition of services and for the creation of service components, including the reuse of an existing application function within SCA compositions. SCA extends and complements approaches to implementing services, and SCA builds on open standards, such as Web services. By using SCA, a business function is provided as a series of services that are assembled together to create solutions that serve a particular business need.
SOA can be implemented in an SOA middleware container (e.g. SOA Suite). A container is, for example, a program, such as a Java program which is capable of running other programs. A container can be, for example, a run-time engine. The SOA container can store applications, such as fusion and non-fusion applications. Fusion applications are targeted applications for different industries (e.g., financial, accounting, customer service, supply chain, etc.). Fusion applications are pre-built applications which can be customized for businesses.
The services can be orchestrated using orchestration capabilities like Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) or business process management (BPM). BPEL is an XML-based language that allows Web services in a service-oriented architecture (SOA) to interconnect and share data. BPM is a field in operations management that manages processes in order to improve business performance outcomes. A company's performance can be improved by managing and optimizing a company's business processes. Composites can be developed to support an organization's business processes.
A composite can be running in, for example, a SOA container, when a user determines that changes to the composite need to be made. For example, a user may need to fix a bug, such as an error, flaw, or failure in the composite application, which will affect the composite that is running. However, in order to change the composite, a new version of the composite is created. Further, in order to deploy the new version of the composite, all instances of the composite have to be stopped. Since the instances may be stopped mid-operation, this can affect the results of the composite or the results may be inaccurate.
Alternatively, instead of stopping the composite, the one or more instances of the composite can continue to run until they have completed their process and the changes can be deployed the next time the service, to which the composite is directed, is called. Therefore, the changes would not become effective until the next time a service is called. However, a lot of data can be affected if a composite is not updated or fixed immediately. Also, a composite can run for a long time and it can be days, weeks or years before an instance of a composite has completed running. Any delays can affect a user's business and it can be a lengthy amount of time before changes can be made.
Therefore, a method of patching a running composite is desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In order to make it possible to simply order extra prints, an image viewing/ordering ID and an image viewing/ordering password and an order determining ID and an order determining password are issued (created) when input of image data is accepted. Each of members belonging to a group transmits to a server 6 the image viewing/ordering ID and password to a server 6 using a portable telephone set 20A. Image data related to the image viewing/ordering ID is transmitted to the portable telephone set 20A from the server 6. While seeing images displayed on a display screen of the portable telephone set 20A, each of the members belonging to the group selects the image whose extra prints are ordered, and transmits the number of ordered prints of the image to the server 6. When the order determining ID and password are transmitted to the server 6 using the portable telephone set 20A, the order given by the member is made definite, thereby making a desired number of extra prints of the image desired by the members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a print ordering system and a control method therefor, and a server computer and a communication terminal used for the print ordering system and a control method therefor.
2. Description of the Background Art
In a DPE (Develop, Print & Enlarge) agent, an undeveloped film is deposited from a customer, and is developed (the DPE agent may, in some cases, request another shop to develop the film). The film is developed, and images recorded on the developed film are printed (simultaneous printing). The developed film and its prints are later returned to the customer.
Some customer may, in some cases, take the developed film to the DPE agent again in order to request to make extra prints (extra printing). The customer informs a clerk employed in the DPE agent which of the images (frames) recorded on the developed film should be printed extra and how many extra prints of the image should be made. It is necessary to previously put together images whose extra prints are desired to be made and the respective numbers of extra prints of the images. In any case, the customer must visit the DEP agent at least twice when the extra prints are made.

Print ordering system and control method therefor, and server computer and communication terminal used for print ordering system and control method therefor


A centrifuge includes a rotor with one or more drive jet openings for rotating the rotor to separate particulate matter from a fluid. A filter element is disposed inside the rotor, and the filter element includes depth filter medium for removing from the fluid sticky contaminants having the same general density as the fluid, such as sludge or varnish compounds. The rotor has a split flow configuration in which a portion of the fluid is routed to the filter element and the rest of the fluid bypasses the filter element to maintain fluid pressure of the fluid discharged from the drive jet openings. In one form, the depth filter medium is impregnated with a chemical that changes a property of the fluid, like acidity. In another form, the depth filter material is contained in a capsule for easy disposal.

The present invention generally relates to centrifuges, and more specifically, but not exclusively, concerns a centrifuge system that is able remove soot and other fine particles as well as harmful organic compounds from a fluid.
Diesel engines are designed with relatively sophisticated air and fuel filters (cleaners) in an effort to keep dirt and debris out of the engine. Even with these air and fuel cleaners, dirt and debris, including engine-generated wear debris, will find a way into the lubricating oil of the engine. The result is wear on critical engine components and if this condition is left unsolved or not remedied, engine failure. For this reason, many engines are designed with full flow oil filters that continually clean the oil as it circulates between the lubricant sump and engine parts.
There are a number of design constraints and considerations for such full flow filters, and typically these constraints mean that such filters can only remove those dirt particles that are in the range of 10 microns or larger. While removal of particles of this size may prevent a catastrophic failure, harmful wear will still be caused by smaller particles of dirt that get into and remain in the oil. In order to try and address the concern over small particles, designers have gone to bypass filtering systems which filter a predetermined percentage of the total oil flow. The combination of a full flow filter in conjunction with a bypass filter reduces engine wear to an acceptable level, but not to the desired level. Since bypass filters may be able to trap particles less then approximately 10 microns, the combination of a full flow filter and bypass filter offers a substantial improvement over the use of only a full flow filter.
Centrifuges, both self-driven and externally driven types, are routinely used for bypass filtering because of their ability to remove small particles from fluids like oil. On the other hand, it was discovered that centrifuges are not able to remove "sticky" or neutral density contaminant, like fuel-oil oligomer compounds (e.g., sludge/varnish compounds), because the density of these types of contaminants is nearly equal to that of oil. These sticky contaminants are usually formed when oil and fuel are mixed together in high temperature environments, such as in engines. If not removed, the sticky contaminant can harm engine performance by coating surfaces throughout the engine and causing premature plugging of the full-flow filters. Further, the acidic nature of some of these organic compounds results in premature corrosion of engine components. For instance, the main bearings in engines are typically lead coated, and the lead on the bearings is highly susceptible to corrosion when exposed to acids. In some applications, depending on engine type, operating condition, fuel type and the like, depth-medium bypass filters are able remove these neutral density contaminants, but depth-medium bypass filter are typically unable to remove fine particulates.
Thus, there is a need for improvement in this area of technology.


A preferred embodiment of a hand-held radio frequency identification reader includes a first casing suitable for being grasped by a user, a second casing, and a transceiver housed within one of the first and second casings. The reader also includes an antenna housed within the second casing and communicatively coupled to the transceiver for communicatively coupling the reader to a radio frequency identification tag. The second casing is movably coupled to the first casing so that the second casing can be aligned with the radio frequency identification tag to substantially maximize a read distance of the reader while the first casing is held in a substantially fixed position in relation to the radio frequency identification tag.

RFID systems are currently used in a variety of applications such as inventory control, theft prevention, access control, etc. RFID systems typically comprise a reader (also referred to as a tag reader or an interrogator) and a tag (also referred to as a transponder).
An RFID tag for use in an inductively coupled RFID system can comprise an integrated circuit (IC) that includes modulation circuitry and non-volatile memory. The tag also comprises an antenna, often referred to as an antenna/coil. RFID tags can be of the active or passive type. Active tags are powered by a battery within the tag. Passive tags derive power to operate by rectifying the alternating magnetic field generated by the reader.
The reader generates a carrier signal in the form of a radio frequency (RF) sine wave. Inductively-coupled RFID systems typically operate with a carrier-signal frequency of approximately 125 kHz or approximately 13.5 MHz. Carrier signals of these frequencies typically are generated by sending an alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency across a coil-shaped antenna, commonly referred to as a coupler or an antenna/coupler, located in the reader.
The tag becomes inductively coupled to the reader when the tag enters the magnetic field associated with the carrier signal. A transistor in the tag shunts the antenna of the tag when the tag enters the magnetic field and, in the case of a passive tag, when the tag derives sufficient energy from the magnetic field to operate. The shunting of the antenna modulates the carrier wave by damping the amplitude thereof.
The reader continually monitors the carrier wave for modulation. The dampening of the amplitude of the carrier wave is interpreted by the reader as an indication that a tag is present in the magnetic field generated by reader.
The tag can be configured to transmit data to the reader by modulating the carrier wave in a particular manner. For example, the tag can be configured to repeatedly shunt the antenna of the tag so as to encode data in the resulting modulation of the carrier wave. The modulation of the carrier wave can be sensed by the reader, and the data encoded in the carrier wave can be decoded using algorithms in the process of the reader. This technique is commonly referred to as backscatter modulation.
Other types of RFID systems can use propagation coupling as the communication means between the reader and the tag. These types of systems typically operate with a higher carrier-wave frequency, e.g., 2.45 GHz, than inductively-coupled systems. The reader in a propagation-coupled system typically sends an RF signal by way of a dipole antenna. The tag, upon receiving the signal, uses an internal transmitter to send a return signal to the reader at a frequency different than that of the carrier frequency.
The maximum distance across which the reader and the tag can effectively communicate is commonly referred to as the read range of the reader. The strength of the carrier signal is believed to decrease exponentially as the distance between the reader and the tag increases linearly. The read range for an inductively coupled reader and tag is believed to be roughly equivalent to the diameter of the antenna of the reader.
The read range is also related to the relative orientation of the antennas of the reader and the tag. It is believed that the maximum read range can be achieved at a given operating condition when the antennas are substantially parallel. Positioning the antennas in this manner causes the magnetic field generated by the reader to be oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the tag antenna, maximizing the inductive coupling between the reader and the tag. (Read range also can be affected by other factors, such as noise, the quality factor of the reader's antenna and tuning circuit, the modulation and demodulation algorithms, the operating frequency of the reader and tag, etc.)
Readers can be of the hand-held variety. Hand-held readers are relatively small, so that the reader can readily be grasped and carried by the user. The antenna of a hand-held reader usually is incorporated into a common casing with the remainder of the reader's components. This imposes size constraints on the antenna. The read range of hand-held readers therefore is relatively small. The relatively small read range usually requires the user of a hand-held reader to orient the reader so that the antenna is substantially parallel to the tag being interrogated. (Hand-held readers also can be equipped one or more ports for communicatively coupling the reader to an external antenna.)
Hand-held readers often are used in applications where the user moves from item to item to interrogate RFID tags attached thereto. For example, a hand-held reader may be used to interrogate tags attached to palletized stacks of shipping crates or containers located a warehouse, shipping area, transporting vehicle, etc. To achieve maximum read range, the user must align the reader so that the antenna of the reader is substantially parallel to the antenna in the tag being interrogated. This process is repeated as the user approaches each pallet having a tag to be interrogated.
The need to repeatedly position the entire reader at a particular orientation when reading the tags can reduce the efficiency and speed with which the user can progress from tag to tag. Moreover, the location of the tags on the pallets may require the user to hold the reader at an orientation that places the user's hand, arm, etc. in an uncomfortable or unnatural position. This requirement potentially can lead to short-term effects such as muscle fatigue and strain and, over the long term, permanent injuries such as nerve or soft-tissue damage.

Radio frequency identification device with movable antenna


A nonvolatile semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The nonvolatile semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body formed on a substrate to be elongated in one direction and having a cross section perpendicular to a main surface of the substrate and elongated direction, the cross section having a predetermined curvature, a channel region partially formed along the circumference of the semiconductor body, a tunneling insulating layer disposed on the channel region, a floating gate disposed on the tunneling insulating layer and electrically insulated from the channel region, an intergate insulating layer disposed on the floating gate, a control gate disposed on the intergate insulating layer and electrically insulated from the floating gate, and source and drain regions which are aligned with both sides of the control gate and formed within the semiconductor body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a nonvolatile semiconductor device for preventing electric field accumulation and having improved electrical properties, and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Scaling (shrinking) is a continuing process in the manufacture and design of nonvolatile semiconductor devices, wherein device feature sizes continue to decrease to increase switching speed, to achieve high performance, and to reduce power consumption while maintaining a high drive capacity.
One scaling technology that has been proposed for increasing the density of a semiconductor device is a multi-gate transistor having a fin-shaped silicon body formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer and a gate formed on the surface of the fin-shaped silicon body (e.g., Fu-Liang Yang et al., "35 nm CMOS FinFETs", Symposium on VLSI Technology Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 104-105, 2002; and B. S. Doyle et al., "High Performance Fully-Depleted Tri-gate CMOS Transistors", IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 24, No. 4, April, 2003, pp. 263-365).
When a nonvolatile semiconductor device is made of a multi-gate transistor, a three-dimensional channel is used in the scaling technology. Further, the sub-threshold characteristic and the current control capacity can be improved without increasing the gate length by employing a complete depletion SOI structure. In addition, a short channel effect (SCE), in which the electric potential of the channel region is affected by the drain voltage, can be suppressed. In particular, a tri-gate structure using channels formed on three planes of a semiconductor body is beneficial in terms of a large design error allowance with respect to the width and height of the semiconductor body.
However, the electric field is not uniform in all three planes of the semiconductor body in the tri-gate structure, but it is concentrated at the corners of the semiconductor body. The semiconductor body has a rectangular cross section produced by dry etching a semiconductor layer. The electric field is concentrated at the corners of this rectangular cross section and the threshold voltage at the corners is low. Accordingly, the channel forms faster at the corners than other portions so that the switching characteristic is degraded there. Further, when an oxide layer, a polysilicon layer, a nitride layer, and others are formed on the semiconductor body, the respective layers are formed on {100} and {110} crystal planes at different formation speeds, resulting in serious non-uniformity of the characteristics of the nonvolatile semiconductor device.
Meanwhile, when the semiconductor body having channels formed on a plurality of planes is fabricated by dry etching, it is highly probable that charge carriers are created within an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor body by damage due to plasma generated during the dry etching. Further, surface roughness of the semiconductor body may deteriorate, resulting in a reduction in carrier mobility.

Nonvolatile semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

The present invention relates to side airbag devices and more particularly the present invention relates to an inflatable cushion and method of manufacture.
Some vehicles are supplied with side airbag devices or side airbag curtains. Generally the device is located along a side of the vehicle and deploys an inflatable curtain in accordance with a predetermined activation occurrence. The side impact airbags or inflatable cushions are often mounted in close proximity to the vehicle's roof rail, doorframe or center pillars, or in some instances within the side door. Accordingly, the space or housing for the un-inflated airbag is compact and extends or traverses along the window area or frame, as the airbag cannot be installed in the areas comprising the window. Moreover, it is also desirable to have the inflatable cushion disposed behind a decorative trim portion of the vehicle's interior. Thus, the presence of the side airbag device is not observable to occupants when it is in its un-deployed state.
When the airbag or inflatable cushion is mounted to the vehicle the top edge portion is fixed and a lower edge portion, which defines the bottom periphery of the airbag, deploys out of the storage location positioned in close proximity to the roof rail. Furthermore, and referring in particular to larger or longer vehicles (e.g., sports utility vehicles, vans, mini-vans, station wagons, etc.) a single side airbag or inflatable cushion that extends from the A pillar to the D pillar, or further, of the vehicle has to have an extended length to cover the side areas of the vehicle. Accordingly, these extended inflatable cushions require additional inflator output in order to inflate and maintain the inflation of the cushion for a pre-determined period of time.
In addition, and due to the location of deployment of these cushions (e.g., vehicle side, A-D pillars) it is desirable to provide these cushions with an extended period of inflation. Moreover, and depending on the vehicle type other areas of the cushion that traverse across the interior of the vehicle may not require inflation. However, these areas still comprise a portion of the inflatable cushion.
The required extended period of inflation may comprise up to and exceed five seconds. These extended periods of inflation allow the inflatable cushion to provide a retentive barrier across the opening of the windows of the vehicle. In order to provide inflation cushions which retain their inflation gases for extended periods of time the cushion is in one configuration provided with sealed seams in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,309, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Alternatively, sealed cushions are provided by disposing sealing material such as silicone between the edges of two sheets of fabric members comprising the inflatable cushion. In addition, these types of cushions (e.g., less permeable cushions or cushions that retain inflation gases for extended periods of time) are expensive to manufacture. Accordingly and as side impact inflation cushions become larger in order to cover extended lengths and areas their associated costs increase.
Alternatively, a plurality of cushions may be provided each having a separate inflator and installation location, which will result in additional costs. Moreover, usage of multiple cushions with additional inflators will result the requirement of additional space behind the interior trim as well as associated manufacturing costs for multiple installation locations.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a cost-efficient side airbag module wherein a plurality of separate inflatable cushions are provided without the associated costs. In addition, it is also desirable to provide an inflatable cushion for a side airbag module wherein the same is configured to provide a portion of a retentive barrier.

Side airbag cushion and method of manufacture


A system and method for noise reduction applied to a speech recognition front-end. An output of a front-end is optimized by giving, as a weight to the output for each band, a confidence index representing the remarkableness of the harmonic structure of observation speech. In a first method, when clean speech is estimated by executing MMSE estimation on a model that gives a probability distribution of noise-removed speech generated from observation speech, the posterior probability of the MMSE estimation is weighted using the confidence index as a weight. In a second method, linear interpolation is executed, for each band, between an observed value of observation speech and an estimated value of clean speech, with the confidence index serving as a weight. The first method and the second method can be combined.

In speech recognition technology, removal of effects of background noise is a matter of concern that is important in improving the accuracy of utterance recognition. Filtering techniques of the related art (such as a spectral subtraction method and Wiener filtering) have a measure of success when background noise is relatively small, but fail to achieve desired results over large background noise since targeted speech is drowned out by the noise.
To this end, attention has been paid in recent years to approaches that use a probability model of clean speech (utterance speech on which no noise whatsoever is superimposed). These model-based noise reduction methods have been reported to show high performance even over loud background noise. In this regard, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-298844 discloses a speech recognition system adopting model-based noise reduction.

Local peak weighted-minimum mean square error (LPW-MMSE) estimation for robust speech


Mining of a set of enterprise source documents within an enterprise intranet is performed, by a plurality of knowledge mining toolkits, to determine a plurality of entity names. A plurality of entity records are generated within a knowledge graph for mined entity names from the entity names based on an entity schema and ones of the set of enterprise source documents associated with the mined entity names. Pattern recognition is applied to an active document using an enterprise named entity recognition (ENER) system to identify potential entity names within the document that match a respective one of a plurality of entity records in the knowledge graph. One or more matching entity names are annotated within the document with information from the knowledge graph for the respective ones of the plurality of entity records. The annotated information is displayed with the active document.

A knowledge graph or knowledge base comprises facts about entities and relations between the entities. Vast amounts of information and accumulated knowledge are needed in order to develop useful knowledge graphs for a given platform of information. A developing and maintaining a proprietary knowledge graph for an enterprise faces particular challenges in that the information to be stored in the knowledge graph may be particular to and confidential to the enterprise.
The disclosure made herein is presented with respect to these and other technical challenges.

Annotations for enterprise knowledge graphs using multiple toolkits


Generation of byproducts is inhibited in a buffer space even in a single-wafer-type apparatus using the buffer space. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes (a) loading a substrate into a process chamber; (b) supplying a first-element-containing gas via a buffer chamber of a shower head to the substrate placed in the process chamber; (c) supplying a second-element-containing gas to the substrate via the buffer chamber; and (d) performing an exhaust process between (b) and (c), wherein (d) includes: exhausting an atmosphere of the buffer chamber; and exhausting an atmosphere of the process chamber after exhausting the atmosphere of the buffer chamber.

In recent years, semiconductor devices, such as flash memories, are showing a tendency to become highly integrated. Thus, a pattern size is being markedly being downscaled. When patterns are formed, a predetermined processing process, such as an oxidation process, a nitridation process, etc., may be performed on a substrate as one process of a manufacturing process.
As a method of forming the patterns, a groove is formed between circuits, and a liner film or a line is formed within the groove. With recent miniaturization, the groove is formed to obtain a high aspect ratio.
To form the liner film, it is necessary to form a film having good step coverage, which has no variation in film thickness even in an upper side surface, a middle side surface, a lower side surface and a lower portion of the groove. Due to the film having the good step coverage, a semiconductor device may have uniform characteristics between grooves, and a variation in the characteristics of the semiconductor device may be inhibited.
A process of processing the groove having a high aspect ratio by heating a gas or using a plasma-state gas has been attempted. However, it is difficult to form a film having good step coverage.
As methods of forming the film, there are a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method in which films are formed by causing a reaction of at least two types of process gases with one another.
Since it is necessary to make uniform the characteristics of the semiconductor device, gases need to be uniformly supplied to an in-plane surface of a substrate during formation of a thin film. Thus, a single-wafer-type apparatus capable of uniformly supplying gases to a processed surface of a substrate has been developed. In the single-wafer-type apparatus, for example, a shower head including a buffer chamber is installed on the substrate to supply gases more uniformly.
To form a film using a single-wafer-type apparatus, at least two types of gases are used. The film is formed by allowing at least two types of gases to react with one another above a substrate or on the surface of the substrate. However, since the gases are supplied via the buffer chamber, byproducts may be generated in the buffer chamber due to a reaction between the gases in the buffer chamber. The generated byproducts may adversely affect characteristics of the substrate.

Substrate processing apparatus, method of manufacturing semiconductor device and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium


Certain embodiments relate to systems and methods for monitoring and improving the efficiency by which systems maintain building environments. A building management system may analyze values observed by sensors and other devices and determine whether the observed values fall within a range. If the observed values do not fall within the range and the building's control system has not taken appropriate action to ensure that the observed values do fall within the range, the building may generate a floor plan specifying where the failure occurred. A building ranking system may rank a plurality of buildings based upon their relative efficiency. The building ranking system may determine each building's efficiency based on a set of parameters related to the building's energy usage that are normalized for weather, occupancy, and other external parameters.

There exists an increasing need for more efficient monitoring of building environments for the purposes of improving the efficiency by which systems maintain atmospheric conditions. Certain of the disclosed embodiments relate generally to analyzing and decomposing building sensor information into a more manageable form to subsequently determine behavioral properties of a real or synthetic building. Particularly, the embodiments provide certain additional features and improvements to systems such as those found in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/371,432, filed on Aug. 6, 2010, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT" and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/198,387 filed on Aug. 4, 2011, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING BUILDING OPERATIONS SENSOR DATA" and in PCT Application No. PCT/US2011/46620 filed on Aug. 4, 2011 entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING BUILDING OPERATIONS SENSOR DATA." The disclosures of all three of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entities for all purposes.


A disc molding apparatus capable of satisfactorily accomplishing release of a molded disc without any trouble to eliminate deformation of the disc during the release and improve quality, reliability and productivity of the disc. In the disc molding apparatus, an air inlet port is provided in proximity to an outer stamper holder of an outer ring for supplying air toward a central region of a disc molded in a cavity of a mold body from a periphery of the disc and a communication passage communicating with the air inlet passage is provided at the outer ring, so that air may be more uniformly blown against the disc during release of the disc from a stamper.

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to a disc molding apparatus, and more particularly an apparatus for molding a disc-like information medium such as an optical disc, a photomagnetic disc or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, a disc-like information medium such as an optical disc, a photo-magnetic disc or the like (hereinafter referred to as "disc") which functions as an information recording carrier is generally formed by injection molding using a molding apparatus for a disc. In such a conventional disc molding apparatus used for this purpose, ejection of a molded disc product for release of the disc from a stamper is conducted in such a manner as shown in FIG. 1. More particularly, it is carried out by blowing air against a molded disc 100 through an air blowout slit 102 defined between a stamper holder 104 arranged at a movable mold 106 and a sleeve 108.
In general, a shape of grooves or pits formed on a transfer surface of a disc by transfer-molding is classified into two groups. One of them is a spiral group wherein a continuous groove of uniform unevenness is spirally formed from an outer periphery of the disc to its inner periphery. The other is a group wherein pits are partially discontinuously arranged as used in a sample servo system in which only some pits different in length are formed. This is typically seen in a compact disc or the like.
Formation of a substrate for a disc by injection molding using a stamper having a format capable of providing the disc with such a transfer surface as described above causes traces like slippage of pits or grooves to occur adjacent to positions at which the pits or grooves are to be originally formed. More specifically, in the conventional disc molding apparatus, the air blowout slit 102 is positioned at a central region of the molded disc, so that it is required to carry out peeling of the disc from a stamper 110 at the central portion of the disc 100. This causes failure in the proper release of the disc from the stamper and adversely affects the transfer surface of the disc during the release., resulting in birefringence non-uniformity, deformation of grooves or pits formed on the transfer surface of the disc, deformation of the disc itself, distortion of the disc and the like to deteriorate quality, reliability and productivity of the disc.
Also, when a molded disc is formed of a polycarbonate resin material, it is required to take out the molded disc product at a temperature as high as about 120.degree. C., resulting in further deformation of the molded disc. Further, an area ratio between projections and depressions between grooves or pits formed on a transfer surface of the disc is significantly large, so that a degree of adhesion between the resin and the stamper at the projections is highly different from that at the depressions to lead to deformation of the substrate, resulting in the molded substrate separated once from the stamper being contacted with the stamper again during the release as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, deformation of the molded disc is further promoted to deteriorate quality, accuracy and reliability of the molded disc to a degree sufficient to cause a laser to fail to follow tracks on the molded disc.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to develop a disc molding apparatus which is capable of forming a disc with high accuracy and without any deformation and improving productivity in the molding of the disc.


When an engine unit of a printing apparatus issues a calibration request, a controller unit of the printing apparatus stores correction data in a storage unit. Upon printing, a data controller checks if the correction data is stored in the storage unit. If the correction data is stored, the data controller forms a correction table on the basis of the correction data. The data controller corrects print data in accordance with the correction table, and generates binary image data. The data controller then sends the binary image data to the printing apparatus to make the apparatus print.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing control method and apparatus in a printing system and, more particularly, to a printing system which is constituted by a host computer and printing apparatus connected via two-way communications, and in which the host computer corrects data in accordance with a calibration request coming from the printing apparatus, and a printing control method and apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
The output images of a printing apparatus change depending on changes in environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and the like. If the printing apparatus is of an electrophotographic type, visible images formed change or deteriorate due to deterioration or the like of expendables such as a drum, toner cartridge, and the like. The conventional printing apparatus executes calibration for correcting such changes or deteriorations of images. In the calibration, a controller unit generates correction data in response to a calibration request from an engine unit, and corrects image data.
However, such calibration done in a printer can execute only limited kinds of corrections. For example, when the densities of the respective colors are to be corrected, a binary printer corrects data in the process of generating binary image data to be output. More specifically, in order to match the density data of an original image to be output with those recorded by the current printer in correspondence with the original density data, the controller unit generates binary image data to be input to the engine unit on the basis of the original image in consideration of the density differences.
For this reason, when the host computer binarizes data and transmits binary image data to the printing apparatus, the controller cannot detect the density differences between the original image and output image, and calibration in the printer cannot sufficiently correct data.

Printing system, printing control method and apparatus printing data in accordance with updated condition information


There is provided a two-speed drive unit for a motor drive, the motor drive having a housing and a main rotatable member. The two-speed drive unit comprises a two-speed drive housing secured to the motor drive housing and a secondary motor secured to the two-speed drive housing. The motor shaft of the secondary motor extends into the two-speed drive housing. An oil-shear brake, exterior to the secondary motor, is operably attached to the driveshaft of the secondary motor to effect braking. The two-speed drive unit further comprises a gear train operably associated with both the secondary motor shaft and a clutch, the clutch being disposed between the gear train and the rotatable member of the main motor drive for engagement and disengagement of the gear train with the rotatable member of the main motor drive. The clutch is normally engaged by a plurality of coil springs and disengaged by the action of an AC voltage coil. Control means are provided which are capable of determining and storing predetermined positions of the motor drive at which engagement or disengagement of the clutch and brake of the two-speed drive is desired. These positions are constantly monitored and adjusted to maintain the speed and accuracy of the two-speed drive.

The present invention relates generally to two-speed drives using computer technology for adaptive control of the unit. More particularly, the present invention relates to a main motor, a clutch and gear set between the main motor and a secondary motor, the secondary motor having a brake.
The present invention has application on a wide variety of machinery requiring either high-speed, precision indexing or feed drives requiring high speed approach to a work piece and then adjustable slow speed to perform an operation on the work piece with a precision stop. Typical applications for the present invention operating in the precision index mode include index tables, transfer bars, positioning drives, index type conveyors, rotary sheet feeders and linear sheet feeders. A typical application for the present invention operating in the high speed approach with a slow speed work cycle is the feed drive for the machining heads used in automated transfer machining lines.
Various two-speed drive units have been developed for the above applications but all require the use of multiple limit switches to control the various sequences of the cycle. These units have two major drawbacks. The first drawback is that the productivity and accuracy of the driven machine depends upon the skill of the setup man and/or operator in the setting of the limit switches. The second drawback is the positioning accuracy of the various elements of the complete system. In essence, limit switches determine when a certain function will start. The resulting position at which the function is completed is thus variable due to small changes such as frictional load on the driven machine and the effects of ambient, machine and drive temperatures. With the present invention, the position where a function is to be completed is given to the computer and the computer determines on a cycle-to-cycle basis when each function of a multi-function cycle is to start.
Prior art two speed drive systems have been used in indexing applications only when absolutely necessary in order to achieve better positioning accuracy than is possible with a single speed system. The reason for this is the loss of productivity when using a two speed drive system due to the system operating at the slower speed for a portion of its cycle. Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to increase the productivity of the driven machine using a two speed drive system to nearly the same productivity as with a single speed system by minimizing the time the system operates at the slower speed. Another object of the present invention is to increase the final positioning accuracy.
Two speed drives are also commonly used for the feed drive of machining heads in automated lines. Another object of the present invention is to more accurately position the machining head at high speed to a position just before the work piece is contacted thus increasing productivity. In order to achieve depth control of the tools machining the work piece, it is often necessary to build stops into the machine. The necessity to do this causes additional problems due to the sudden stopping of the machine and the machine's inertia. Another object of the present invention is to increase the accuracy of depth control of the tools so the stops are no longer necessary thus eliminating the sudden stopping of the machine.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a two speed drive that can also be used as a single speed drive unit without mechanical modifications. Another object of the present invention is to use the same mechanical control equipment in a wide variety of applications without user programming. This is achieved by inserting a different preprogrammed EPROM into the control board.
Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the use of compressed air that is used on many other prior art two speed drives. Experience shows that 4014 60 percent of all maintenance problems are caused by dirty or improper air supplies.
Further objects of the present invention are to provide an improved two speed drive system that is simple and compact in design, economical to produce and extremely rugged and maintenance free during operation.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the analysis of the following written specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Electrical actuated multi-speed drive apparatus


A control method of a digital photographing apparatus includes displaying an image that is being input through a photographing unit on a touch screen, recognizing touch inputs with respect to two points on the touch screen, detecting a focusing area by using coordinate values of the two touched points, and performing auto focusing based on the focusing area, and when a photographing command is input, capturing an image on which the auto focusing is performed. Therefore, a user may view an image while performing auto-focusing commands without covering a focusing area that the user wants to photograph.

1. Field
The present general inventive concept relates to a digital photographing apparatus and a control method of the same. More particularly, the present general inventive concept relates to a digital photographing apparatus that performs auto-focusing through at least one touch input on a touch screen, and a control method of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional digital photographing apparatus, such as a camera, a camcorder, etc., uses physical input members, such as key pads, or shutter buttons, to adjust its settings or to perform a photographing operation. Particularly, when photographing an image, a user performs auto-focusing by pressing a shutter halfway (i.e., a half-shutter input), and then photographing an image to which the auto-focusing is applied by pressing the shutter all the way down (i.e., a full-shutter input).
However, when a shutter is used to capture an image, a camera may wobble while the shutter is being pressed, so the user photographs shaky images.
In order to overcome the above-described problems while maintaining lighter and slimmer digital photographing apparatuses having larger display screens, a touch screen has been used as an input member of the digital photographing apparatus instead of the key pad or shutter button. In other words, the user can adjust the settings of the digital photographing apparatus or perform an image photographing operation through at least one touch input on the touch screen.
Particularly, when the touch input on the touch screen is used to take an image, the user touches a desired focusing area to perform auto-focusing and captures an auto-focused image by a photographing command.
However, when the focusing area is touched by the user to perform the auto-focusing and image capture, the focusing area is covered by the user's hand touching the touch screen, thereby preventing the user from being able to view the entire focusing area.

Digital photographing apparatus for setting focus area via touch inputs and control method of the same


An air heater is used to supply sterile air to an aseptic system for packaging food products. The air heater has an electrical heating element disposed within a tube, and the rate of air flow through the tube is adjustable. The air heater eliminates sources of contamination which are present in prior art air heaters.

For years, packaging of food products for ambient temperature storage and distribution has been primarily conducted in glass or metal containers. The costs associated with these containers, their closures, and their labels have increased and are projected to continue to rise. Utilization of thermoplastic materials would conserve more energy on a packaging and distribution systems basis. Additionally, the costs would not be as great. Therefore, it would be extremely desirable to provide more food products packaged in thermoplastic material.
Additionally, in the processing of foods there have generally been two approaches to the packaging of food products in a container. The first method utilizes retorting, whereby a food product is placed in a container, the container is sealed and then the product and container are subjected to heat, such that the product is sterilized. In the second method, a container is subjected to a sterilizing process prior to its receiving sterilized food product. Conventional processes for sterilizing containers in which food stuff are subsequently packaged include UV irradiation, treatment with a mixture of steam and air, and an aseptic technique in which the interior wall of the container is sprayed with hydrogen peroxide and subsequently dried.
It can be appreciated that because of the heat sensitivity of most thermoplastics, conventional retort sterilization techniques can damage or destroy most thermoplastic packages of the type capable of containing food product under ambient conditions for prolonged periods. On the other hand, the application of aseptic packaging would permit increased usage of thermoplastic packaging materials, since application of aseptic techniques would leave the package unaltered and undamaged. Additionally, a food product subjected to aseptic packaging incurs minimal alteration due to processing, thereby theoretically yielding a higher quality-end product.
Experience has shown hydrogen peroxide to be a particularly reliable sterilizing agent for killing micro-organisms in food product containers. The germicidal action of peroxide depends upon the formation of the hydrogen peroxide free radical in the formation of free oxygen. The free oxygen being formed during thermal decomposition of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 exhibits a particularly strong sterilizing affect at the moment of formation. The efficiency of the wet aseptic process is attributable to the hydrogen peroxide being able to penetrate the cell walls of microorganisms.
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical irritant. It is therefore necessary to obtain residual levels of less than 0.5 ppm (parts per million) before contact with the food product. The removal of the peroxide introduced into the food product container is typically achieved by evaporation, and thus an aseptic process requires the heating of the food product container after the introduction therein of the peroxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,667 discloses a method and an apparatus for aseptic packaging. The general components of the system taught in that particular patent are typical of the components in many aseptic packaging systems. In operation, a food product container arrives at a sterilization station. Hydrogen peroxide or another suitable disinfectant is applied to the inner surface of the container. Oftentimes, the application involves atomization of a liquid so that a mist is applied. After application of the disinfectant, the container is transported along a conveyor, during which transport the food product container is subjected to additional sprayings of hot air.
The amount of disinfectant, the temperature of the initial disinfectant spray, the temperature of the air and the volume of the air all affect the killing of any micro-organisms which may be present inside of the container. Since the residual peroxide concentration must be greatly reduced prior to introduction into the food product container of actual food product, the temperature and the air flow rate are critical. Typically a plurality of air heaters are utilized in drying the food product containers.
An example of an aseptic packaging machine or filler is the type manufactured by FMC Corporation, and known as Metal Box, a former division of CMB Engineering Group, PLC. These aseptic packaging systems utilize an air heater fabricated with bare heater element wire wound around ceramic insulator blocks. The heater element wire comprises nickel and chrome. The heater element is contained within an air supply tube.
This type of air heater has several drawbacks. First, over time, the nickel chromium wire tends to oxidize. The oxide, due to the passage thereover of air, tends to flake and create the possibility of contamination of the ultimately packaged food product. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the oxide has been linked to being a carcinogen. Another disadvantage is the fact that the passage of air over the ceramic insulator blocks in the presence of the intense heat generated by the bare heater element wire causes the degradation of the ceramic material. Actual usage of the prior art air heater has resulted in the actual loss of ceramic material, which most likely ended up being introduced into the area in the aseptic packaging system where the hot air is introduced into the food product containers. This presents the possibility of particulate contamination of the packaging prior to filling.
One other drawback associated with the prior art air heater is the fact that while the temperature of the air upon impact with the food product containers may need to be in the range of 71.degree.-82.degree. C. (160-180.degree. F.), this requires the heater element wire to have a surface temperature of well in excess of 538.degree. C. (1000.degree. F.). In some sterilization operations, it became necessary to increase the temperature of the heater element wire beyond the recommended temperature.
Finally, the prior art air heater elements also do not provide an easy and effective means for adjusting the air flow through the air heater. While some air heaters would permit adjustment of air flow, it typically became necessary to remove the heater from the system in order to accomplish the adjustment. This creates problems with the maintenance of a sterile environment within the aseptic packaging system.
It is thus apparent that the need exists for an improved air heater which permits the adjustment of air flow and eliminates the possibility of both particulate and chromium oxide contamination. It is also apparent that the need exists for an air heater which can be used in association with an aseptic packaging system to permit adjustments to the rate of air flow to maintain the sterile environment of the sterilization system.


A relay for a defibrillator, including a support base on which a coil and a contacting unit having a contact assembly are mounted. The contacting unit can be actuated by an armature and at least one additional mechanical connecting link as a result of the electrical excitation of the coil. The contact assembly has contacts supported on contact carriers. The contacts can be connected to each other by activating the coil. In order to optimize the contacting, at least one connecting link can be designed as a rotating lever coupled to the armature, which rotating lever is pivotably coupled to a contact carrier, and another contact carrier is pivotably coupled to an additional rotating lever or directly to the armature, wherein both contact carriers having the contacts to be contacted are moved towards each other during contacting.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a relay for a defibrillator, having a support base on which are mounted a coil and a contacting unit with a contacting mechanism. The contacting unit, through excitation of the coil, can be actuated via an armature and at least one other mechanical intermediate element and has contacts that are supported on contact supports, which are separate, such as are not electrically connected to each other in the open state, and can be brought into contact with or moved away from each other through activation of the coil.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A relay of this kind is used, among other things, in defibrillators in order to deliver an electrical pulse from a high-voltage unit via electrodes to the body of a patient, as described in German Patent Reference DE 102 54 482 B4. For successful defibrillation, an exact synchronization of the impulse to detected signals of coronary activity is of critical importance. Delays on the order of magnitude of 10 to 15 ms, for example, which occur as the contacts are traveling through the movement paths and which are also due to the bouncing of the contacts, can have a very negative impact on the defibrillation effect. For example, an increased defibrillation energy can be required if the optimum timing is not achieved. In addition, relays often have significant quality differences and variations in the switching precision due to manufacturing tolerances.
Another electromagnetic relay is disclosed in German Patent Reference DE 28 27 650 C2. This relay has a first and second fixed contact that are stationary relative to the electromagnet and that are mounted on a contact support that is affixed in an insulating socket. In addition, a third fixed contact can be provided, which is affixed in the socket in a corresponding fashion. Furthermore, two U-shaped contact supports are provided, which have a first and second leg and, respectively, a third and fourth leg, with ends having contacts that can be brought into electrically conductive contact with the fixed contacts by a control mechanism or with a different switching, can be moved apart from each other in order to break the electrical connection. With two movable control mechanisms, the two legs of the same U-shaped, spring-elastic contact support with the contacts situated at their ends can be moved toward each other to achieve a disconnection from the associated fixed contacts or, with a movement of the two control mechanisms in the opposite direction due to their spring-elasticity, are moved apart from each other in order to produce a contact with the associated fixed contacts. Here, also, the movement paths of the contacts situated on the same contact support are relatively large, which can result in significant disadvantages in contact making.


An exemplary embodiment provides a carrier aggregation apparatus including: a level assignment manager configured to perform management by classifying a license band allocated to a cognitive radio cell into a primary radio resource (PRR) level, and by classifying a shareable band obtained through a cognitive radio database or spectrum sensing into an auxiliary radio resource (ARR) level; a determiner configured to determine a quality of service (QoS) level of a communication service provided to the cognitive radio cell; and a service provider configured to allocate a frequency resource of the PRR level when the QoS level requires a first communication service, and to allocate a frequency resource of the ARR level when the QoS level requires a second communication service lower than the first communication service.

Currently, various types of wireless communication technologies, which are necessarily used in our daily lives, are in rapid development.
In particular, services using wireless communication such as radio frequency identification (RFID)/ubiquitous sensor network (USN), wireless broadband Internet (WiBro), and the like in addition to mobile communication, wireless local area network (WLAN), digital broadcasting, and satellite communication, are significantly increasing. Due to diversification of wireless communication service, which has had a sudden increase in development, and an increase in use thereof, a demand for limited frequency resources is increasing and a value thereof is also gradually increasing. To efficiently utilize such important electric wave resources, advanced countries are actively conducting an activity for developing a technology of efficiently utilizing the electric wave resources and establishing an electric wave policy based thereon.
In this regard, proposed is a cognitive radio (CR) capable of sensing an idle frequency, which is allocated but is not actually used, and efficiently sharing and thereby using the sensed idle frequency.
The cognitive radio indicates a technology that automatically finds an unused frequency based on a region and time, and enables targeted communication while protecting a permitted neighboring radio station. By finding an idle spectrum that is widely dispersed over various widths and of which occupancy time continuously varies, and by determining a frequency bandwidth, output, a modulation scheme, and the like suitable for an environment of the found idle spectrum, and thereby enabling the found idle spectrum to be reutilized, it is possible to increase efficiency of frequency that is a limited resource. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has been implementing a technology standardization using a cognitive radio (CR) of television (TV) frequency band since 2004.

Carrier aggregation apparatus for efficiently utilizing frequency resource of license band and shareable bands, and operation method thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


In a radio paging system, first and second radio units perform radio communication via a relay station. This system includes a radio selective paging receiver for receiving a radio wave from the relay station and generating a ringing tone to call a callee at the second radio unit when the first radio unit calls the second radio unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio paging system using a radio selective paging receiver and, more particularly, to a radio selective paging receiver designed to directly receive a radio wave from a relay station in an MCA system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a mobile communication means, an MCA (multi-channel access) system is widely used. This system is designed to realize radio communication between a fixed station and mobile station or between a given mobile station and another mobile station via an MCA relay station. For example, the system allows communication between an office as a fixed station and a vehicle as a mobile station or between vehicles.
Assume that a callee in a vehicle having a mobile station moves to a desired place, and he/she leaves the vehicle to do some work. In this case, since the radio communication unit of the mobile station is fixed on the vehicle or relatively large, the callee seldom leaves the vehicle carrying the radio communication unit. For this reason, a caller cannot reach the callee while the callee stays at a predetermined distance or more from the vehicle.
If the callee carries a radio selective paging receiver which can be called through a general telephone line, the caller can reach the callee even if the callee leaves the vehicle. In this case, however, the caller must pay a telephone line charge to call the radio selective paging receiver.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-49724 filed by the present applicant discloses a radio paging system using a radio selective paging receiver for receiving a radio wave from the radio communication unit of a mobile station. In this system, a callee carries a radio selective paging receiver when he/she leaves a vehicle so that the callee can be called through the radio selective paging receiver designed to receive a radio wave from the radio communication unit of the mobile station when another calls the mobile station.
In the radio paging system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-49724, however, when the mobile station receives a radio wave from another station via the MCA relay station, the radio communication unit of the mobile station outputs a radio wave for calling the radio selective paging receiver. According to the radio law, however, the radio wave that can be output from the mobile station to call the radio selective paging receiver is limited, and it is difficult to ensure a radio output large enough to call the radio selective paging receiver carried by the callee. In some case, the radio selective paging receiver cannot receive the radio wave from the radio communication unit of the mobile station.

Radio paging system using radio selective paging receiver