An image pickup element includes: a photoelectric conversion section; a wavelength selection section formed closer to an incident side of light than said photoelectric conversion section, for transmitting light in a predetermined wavelength range; a first area having a predetermined refractive index and being formed closer to the incident side of light than said wavelength selection section; and a second area having a predetermined refractive index and being formed closer to the incident side of light than said first area wherein the refractive index of said first area is higher than the refractive index of said second area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup element for picking up an object image.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 1 shows a structure of a general image pickup element 61 for forming a color image, which has been used up to now. Reference numeral 501 denotes a silicon wafer; 502, a microlens; 503, a photoelectric conversion section having a function for converting a received photon into an electric charge; 504 (504r and 504g), color filters for separating wavelengths of a light; and 510, a Poly wiring layer serving as a gate for controlling an electric charge of the photoelectric conversion section. Reference numerals 511 to 513 denote wiring layers made of a metal such as aluminum. Among them, reference numeral 511 denotes an AL1 wiring layer serving as a connection between respective layers and an output line; 512, an AL2 wiring layer serving as a well power supply line and a control line; and 513, an AL3 wiring layer serving as a light shield and a power supply line. FIG. 2 is a view of the image pickup element 61 viewed from above.
Each pixel constituting the image pickup element 61 is provided with a primary color filter of R (red), G (green), or B (blue). In addition, as a color filter, there is a complementary color filter which uses three colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) as well. An image pickup technology is widely used in which: pixels are arranged in a mosaic shape; and then, luminance information and color information corresponding to the number of pixels are created by signal processing. As a color filter array of the image pickup element 61 used here, a structure called a Bayer array is often adopted. In FIG. 2, reference symbol 61nmg denotes a first green pixel; 61nmb, a blue pixel; 61nmr, a red pixel; and 61nmg2, a second green pixel. m indicates an array number of a pixel in a horizontal direction and n indicates an array number of a pixel in a vertical direction. These are regularly arranged as shown in FIG. 2 to constitute one image pickup element. In such a pixel array, the number of green pixels is twice as many as that of blue or red pixels. Although it is basically possible to create a color image if there are the same number of pixels for each of three colors, an image quality can be improved by increasing the number of green pixels having a rather high visibility.
However, the above-mentioned conventional example has problems as described below. In general, image pickup for obtaining satisfactory image characteristics consists of a first process for forming an object image with an optical apparatus, a second process for adjusting a high frequency component of a spatial frequency characteristic of the object image to suppress the component, a third process for photoelectrically converting the object image whose spatial frequency characteristic has been adjusted, and a fourth process for correcting a response according to a spatial frequency with respect to an obtained electric signal. In this case, since sampling of an optical image is performed with the image pickup element having a limited number of pixels, in order to obtain a high quality image output, it is necessary to reduce components of a Nyquist frequency or more peculiar to the image pickup element in the spatial frequency characteristic of the optical image in accordance with the sampling theorem. Here, the Nyquist frequency is a frequency that is a half of a sampling frequency depending upon a pixel pitch. Therefore, the optimized series of processes is for obtaining a high quality image, in which aliasing distortion is less conspicuous, that is, moiré is less conspicuous, by adjusting an optical image to be sampled such that it becomes an optical image-having a characteristic according to the Nyquist frequency peculiar to the image pickup element.
A modulation transfer function (MTF), which is a spatial frequency transmission characteristic of an image, is an evaluation amount with which a characteristic concerning a sharpness of a digital still camera, a video camera, or the like can be represented well. Specific factors affecting this MTF are an imaging optical system serving as an optical apparatus, an optical lowpass filter for band limitation of an object image, an opening shape of a photoelectric conversion area of an image pickup element, digital aperture correction, and the like. An overall MTF representing a final image characteristic is given as a product of MFTs of the respective factors. That is, it is sufficient to find MTFs of the above-mentioned first to fourth processes and calculate a product of the MTFs.
However, since digital filter processing as the fourth process is applied to an image output which has already been sampled by the image pickup element, it is unnecessary to take into account high frequencies exceeding the Nyquist frequency.
Therefore, the structure for reducing components of the Nyquist frequency or more peculiar to the image pickup element in the spatial frequency characteristic of the optical image means that components of the Nyquist frequency or more are small in the product of MTFs of the first, second, and third processes excluding the fourth process. Here, in the case in which image pickup is performed on the premise that a still image is viewed as in a digital still camera, it is necessary to take into account the fact that an image with a higher resolution is easily obtained when a response in a frequency slightly below the Nyquist frequency is higher even if high frequencies exceeding the Nyquist frequency are not eliminated but remain more or less.
In the formation of an object image with the imaging optical system, which is the first process, in general, an optical aberration is easier to be corrected in a center of a screen than in a peripheral part of the screen. In the center of the image in order to obtain a satisfactory image in the peripheral part of the screen, it is necessary to obtain an extremely satisfactory characteristic close to a diffraction limit MTF, which depends upon an F number of an imaging lens. In recent years, since miniaturization of pixels of an image pickup element has been advanced, this necessity is increasing. Therefore, it is better to consider the MTF for the imaging optical system assuming that it is an ideal aplanatic lens.
In addition, in an image pickup element in which light receiving openings with a width d are laid without a gap, since the width of the light receiving openings coincides with a pixel pitch, a response value of the third process at the Nyquist frequency u=d/2 is rather high. Therefore, it is a general practice to trap the vicinity of the Nyquist frequency in the second process in order to decrease a total MTF in the vicinity of the Nyquist frequency.
In the second process, an optical lowpass filter is usually used. A material having a birefringent characteristic such as a rock crystal is utilized for the optical lowpass filter. In addition, a phase-type diffraction grating as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-066141 may be utilized.
When a birefringent plate is placed in an optical path of an optical apparatus and is arranged to be slanted such that its optical axis is in parallel with a horizontal direction of an imaging surface, an object image according to ordinary light and an object image according to extraordinary light are formed deviating from each other in the horizontal direction by a predetermined amount. Trapping a specific spatial frequency with the birefringent plate means that a bright part and a dark part of a stripe of the spatial frequency are shifted so as to be overlapped with each other. An MTF according to the optical lowpass filter is represented by expression (1).R2(u)=|cos(π·u·ω)  (1)
Here, R2(u) represents a response, u represents a spatial frequency of an optical image, and ω represents an object image separation width.
If a thickness of the birefringent plate is selected appropriately, it is possible to eliminate the response in the Nyquist frequency of the image pickup element. In the case in which the diffraction grating is utilized, the same effect can be obtained through diffraction by separating the optical image into a plurality of images having a predetermined positional relationship and superimposing the images.
However, it is necessary to grow a rock crystal or a crystal of lithium niobate or the like and then grind it to be thin in order to manufacture the birefringent plate, which presents a problem in that the birefringent plate is extremely expensive. In addition, even if the diffraction grating is utilized, since a highly precise microstructure is required of the diffraction grating, it is still expensive.
Next, as to an efficiency of utilization of light, for example, in a CCD image pickup element in which pixels with a primary color filter, which is considered to have a high color reproducibility, are arranged in a mosaic shape, one each of optical filters of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) are arranged between a microlens 2 and a photoelectric conversion area 3.
In this case, in a pixel with the red optical filter, only red light are photoelectrically converted and blue light and green light are absorbed by the optical filter to be heat. In a pixel with the green optical filter, the blue light and the red light are not photoelectrically converted and become heat in the same manner. In a pixel with the blue optical filter, the green light and the red light are not photoelectrically converted and become heat in the same manner. That is, only light, which have been transmitted through a predetermined optical filter, in an incident light beam are photoelectrically converted and outputted as an electric signal in each pixel of the conventional color image pickup element. Thus, light which could not be transmitted through the optical filter are disposed as heat or the like.
FIG. 3 shows a spectral transmittance characteristic of R, G, and B color filters in an image pickup element. Since a transmittance of an infrared light is high, an infrared light cut filter for blocking a wavelength of 650 nm or more is actually further laid over these color filters between the image pickup element and an image pickup lens. As it is seen from this, only approximately one third of visible light are used effectively in one pixel.
Considering an efficiency of utilization for each color of R, G, and B more in detail, for example, an area ratio of R, G, and B pixels of a color image pickup element of the Bayer array shown in FIG. 13 is ¼: 2/4:¼ in case that an area of one unit constituting a regular array is assumed to be one. Thus, a utilization ratio of green light in case that a total amount of light is assumed to be one is ⅓× 2/4=⅙ as a product of a term of wavelength selectivity and a term of an area ratio, and that of red light and blue light is ⅓×¼= 1/12. In total, a utilization ratio of the light is ⅙+ 1/12+ 1/12=⅓. Therefore, the efficiency of utilization is still ⅓. On the contrary, when a total amount of light is assumed to be one, ⅔× 2/4=⅓ of the green light and ⅔×¼=⅙ of the red light and the blue light are not effectively utilized.
The above description is made referring to the image pickup element using the color filters of primary colors. In an image pickup element using complimentary color filters, approximately ⅓ of visible light are not photoelectrically converted and effectively utilized. In this way, no matter whether the color filters of primary colors or the color filters of complimentary colors are used, an efficiency of utilization of light is low in a conventional single plate image pickup element because an image pickup surface is divided by the color filters.
In addition, a structure for efficiently taking in light incident on an image pickup element is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-224398 (FIG. 4). FIG. 5 shows a result of tracing incident light in the structure described in this patent application. Reference numeral 16 denotes a cap layer consisting of resin, which is formed of a material having a refractive index of approximately 1.6. Reference numeral 17 denotes a low refractive index layer, which is formed of resin having a refractive index lower than that of the cap layer 16 or formed in hollow (in which the air or an inert gas such as nitrogen is filled). Consequently, since an interface between the cap layer 16 and the low refractive index layer 17 becomes a surface on which light tends to be totally reflected, it is intended to take in oblique-incident light.
However, the above-mentioned conventional example has problems as described below. When a shape of an incidence section, which is the interface between the cap layer 16 formed of a high refractive index material and the low refractive index layer 17 and is on the object side, is an R shape as in FIG. 4, even if a part of oblique-incident light are reflected on the R surface, the light form an angle exceeding a total reflection condition on a surface on the opposite side and directly passes through the R surface to the low refractive index layer 17 as show in the result of tracing light of FIG. 5. The light having passed through the R surface may enter an adjacent pixel, which may also become a problem.

Image pickup apparatus for reflecting light at an area between successive refractive areas


According to the present invention, since a management region for managing record positions of impressive or feature portions (as digests) of programs recorded on a record medium is provided, an outline of the programs on the record medium can be obtained. In addition, since the priority of programs designated as digests is also managed with the management region, a portion representative of a program representative of an album can be reproduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a record medium such as a digital audio compact disc with a subcode in association with main digital data such as audio data and visual data, a reproducing apparatus thereof, and a reproducing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a CD (compact disc) reproducing apparatus that reproduces audio information from a CD, various types of data are displayed corresponding to information reproduced from the disc so as to improve the operability of the apparatus. As an example of the data, a program number (so-called track number) and time information assigned thereto are displayed. Such information is recorded to a sub-code of channel Q (that will be described later).
As shown in FIG. 1, a CD 101 has a hole 102 at the center thereof. A read-in region 103, a program region 104, and a read-out region 105 are successively formed around the hole 102. The read-in region 103 is a program management region in which TOC (Table of Contents) data is recorded. In the program region 104, program data is recorded. The read-out region 105 is a program end region. Audio data is recorded in the program region 104 of the audio CD. Time information and so forth of the audio data are managed in the read-in region 103. When audio data has been completely read from the program region 104 and a pickup of the apparatus has reached the read-out region 105, the CD reproducing apparatus completes the reproducing operation of the CD.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the CD reproducing apparatus. The CD reproducing apparatus reads audio data from the CD 101 with a pickup 112. A digital signal processing circuit 116 processes the audio signal and outputs reproduced data to a digital signal output terminal 125 or analog signal output terminal L and R.
The pickup 112 has an optical device (such as an objective lens), a semiconductor laser, a four-divided detector (that receives rays reflected by the CD 101), and so forth. When an output signal of the four-divided detector is calculated, an RF signal, a focus error signal, and a tracking error signal are formed. The RF signal is supplied to an analog waveform shaping circuit 114. The focus error signal is supplied to a focus servo circuit 120. The tracking error signal is supplied to a tracking and thread servo circuit 121.
The analog waveform shaping circuit 114 shapes the waveform of the RF signal received from the pickup 112 and supplies the resultant signal to a synchronous detecting circuit 115 and a clock signal generating circuit 117. The clock generating circuit 117 generates a reproduced clock signal that corresponds to the RF signal received from the analog waveform shaping circuit 114 and that synchronizes with the RF signal. The clock signal generating circuit 117 supplies the reproduced clock signal to the synchronous detecting circuit 115, the digital signal processing circuit 116, and a rotation servo circuit 122. The synchronous detecting circuit 115 detects a frame synchronous pattern from the RF signal corresponding to the reproduced clock signal received from the clock signal generating circuit 117. The synchronous detecting circuit 115 supplies the detected signal of the frame synchronous pattern to the digital signal processing circuit 116.
The digital signal processing circuit 116 performs a reproducing process for the RF signal received through the synchronous detecting circuit 115. In reality, the digital signal processing circuit 116 performs an EFM demodulating (Eight-Fourteen Demodulating) process, an error-correction-code decoding process, an error interpolating process, and so forth. To perform these processes, the digital signal processing circuit 116 uses the reproduced clock signal received from the clock signal generating circuit 117 and a reference clock signal received from a crystal oscillator 119. A digital audio signal of left and right channels is supplied from the digital signal processing circuit 116 to the digital output terminal 125. In addition, the digital audio signal is supplied to a D/A converter 123. The D/A converter 123 converts a digital signal into an analog signal. An audio amplifier 124 amplifies the analog audio signal received from the D/A converter 123 and outputs the amplified analog signal to the analog signal output terminals R and L.
The digital signal processing circuit 116 is connected to a sub-code detecting circuit 118. The sub-code detecting circuit 118 detects data of channels P and Q of a sub-code from the digital signal received from the digital signal processing circuit 116. A microprocessor 126 detects time information from the detected data of channels P and Q and controls the tracking and thread servo circuit 121 corresponding to the detected timing information.
A focus drive signal is supplied from the focus servo circuit 120 to the pickup 112. The focus servo circuit 120 performs a focus servo operation for the pickup 112 so that the focus position of the objective lens of the pickup 112 accords with the signal side of the CD 101. The rotation servo circuit 122 generates a rotation drive control signal corresponding to the reproduced clock signal received from the clock signal generating circuit 117 and the reference clock signal received from the crystal oscillator 119. The rotation servo circuit 122 supplies the rotation drive control signal to a spindle motor 113 so as to control the rotating operation of the spindle motor 113.
The tracking and thread servo circuit 121 generates a tracking control and drive signal corresponding to the tracking error signal received from the pickup 112 and supplies the tracking control and drive signal to the pickup 112 so as to control the tracking operation of the pickup 112. In addition, the tracking and thread servo circuit 121 generates a control signal for driving a moving unit that moves the pickup 112 in the radial direction of the CD 101. The microprocessor 126 generates a track position control signal corresponding to for example data of channels P and Q and supplies the signal to the tracking and thread servo circuit 121 so as to move the pickup 112. The tracking and thread servo circuit 121 controls the track position of the pickup 112 corresponding to for example an access command.
Next, a sub-code and data of channels P and Q will be described. A signal recorded on the CD is sampled at a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz of which one sample or one word is composed of 16 bits. Each sample or word composed of 16 bits is divided into high order eight bits and low order eight bits as symbols. The error-correction-code encoding process and the interleaving process are performed for each symbol. Every 24 symbols of audio data are grouped as one frame. One frame is equivalent to six samples of each of left and right channels.
In the EFM modulating process, eight bits of each symbol are converted into 14 bits. FIG. 3 shows a data structure of one frame that has been EFM modulated. One frame 135 is composed of a synchronous pattern data region 131 of 24 channel bits, a sub-code region 132 of 14 channel bits, a program data region 133 of 12 symbols including program data D1 to D12, a parity data region 134 of 4 symbols including parity data P1 to P4, and other program regions 133 and 134. Each region or data portion is connected with three channel bits as connection bits. Thus, one frame 135 has a total of 588 channel bits.
FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of which individual regions and data portion of 98 frames are vertically and successively disposed. The interval of 98 frames shown in FIG. 4 is equivalent to a block of which a sub-code is completed. Thus, a block of 98 frames is referred to as a sub-code frame. The sub-code frame is composed of a frame synchronous pattern portion 136, a sub-code portion 137, and a data and parity portion 138. One sub-code frame is equivalent to 1/75 second of the reproducing time of a CD.
Sub-code data including data of channels P and Q supplied from the sub-code detecting circuit 118 shown in FIG. 2 is data recorded in the sub-code portion 137 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows a detailed data structure of the sub-code frame in the sub-code portion 137. First two frames F01 and F02 are synchronous patterns S0 and S1 of the sub-code frame. As with the frame synchronous patterns, the synchronous patterns S0 and S1 are out-of-rule patterns of the EFM modulating process. The sub-code detecting circuit 118 shown in FIG. 2 detects the synchronous patterns S0 and S1 as a delimiter of a sub-code frame. In addition, eight bits of one symbol compose data of channels P to W of the sub-code. For example, data of channel P is composed of parts of S0 and S1 and P01 to P96.
The data of channel P of the sub-code has information that represents whether or not a program is present. The data of channel Q has absolute time information of the CD, time information of each program, and information of each program number (also referred to as track number), each program part number (also referred to as index number), and so forth. Thus, with the information of channel Q, a reproducing operation including, for example a program start position detecting operation can be controlled. In addition, with the information of channel Q displayed, the user can visually know what program number the current program has on the CD, the running time of the program, the absolute time, and so forth. In addition, data of six channels R to W of the sub-code is used for still pictures and texts of programs. A reproducing apparatus using data of channels R to W is referred to as a CD-graphics. The apparatus has been disclosed in for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,186.
To improve the operability of the CD reproducing apparatus, a function for browsing the contents of the CD is known. As an example of such a function, the top portion (for example, 15 seconds) of each program is successively reproduced. In commercially available CD players, such a function is called intro-scanning function or music-scanning function. With such a function, the user can quickly know the contents of programs recorded on the CD. Such a CD player has been disclosed as Japanese Utility Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 58-109886 (laid-open on Jul. 26, 1983).
The intro-scanning mode is accomplished using TOC data of the CD. As the TOC data, the start address of each program, the end address thereof, the first program number, the last program number, and so forth are recorded in the program management region (the read-in region 103) of the CD shown in FIG. 1. When the CD is loaded, the TOC data is read by the reproducing apparatus. The TOC data is stored in the memory of the apparatus. The pickup is moved to the start address of a program designated corresponding to the TOC data and the reproducing operation is performed for a predetermined time period (for example, 15 seconds). By repeating the pickup moving operation and the reproducing operation, the intro-scanning function is accomplished. However, this function is used for reproducing only the start portion of each program. Thus, the user cannot know the contents or features of each program.

Record medium with managed digest portions of programs, reproducing apparatus thereof, and reproducing method thereof


According to the image processing apparatus, method and program of the present invention, images to be used can be automatically selected from inputted images for the number of images designated by a user. Moreover, a user can easily manually add an image to be used so that the number of images to be used is equal to or less than the number previously designated by the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and an image processing program, and more specifically to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and an image processing program suitable for selecting a desired image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image capturing apparatuses (electronic camera, etc.) which electronically capture an image have been widely used. For such electronic cameras, models that have good portability and can image a great deal of images have been developed. With such electronic cameras, a user can easily image an image. If images are easily captured in such a way, a device which records images such as a personal computer (PC) of a user stores a great deal of images. Accordingly, such an image capturing apparatus has a problem in that a user has a hard time in selecting images to save or print.
A technique which automatically sorts images has been proposed for solving the abovementioned problem. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-256244 discloses an image data sorting device which sorts image data by evaluating relationship between respective pieces of image data for characteristic quantity extracted from a plurality pieces of image data and clustering events represented by the characteristic quantity of each piece of the image data based on the evaluation result. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-199028 discloses an electronic album device which sorts a plurality pieces of image data into groups for respective categories and manages the plurality pieces of image data by converting imaged images into electrically represented image data and recording the image data.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing program


A method for using a smaller diameter infusion sleeve that reduces the potential for heat buildup and also provides adequate irrigation flow.

This invention relates generally to the field of cataract surgery and more particularly to manipulation tools and irrigation sleeves used in phacoemulsification surgery.
The human eye in its simplest terms functions to provide vision by transmitting light through a clear outer portion called the cornea, and focusing the image by way of the lens onto the retina. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors including the size and shape of the eye, and the transparency of the cornea and lens.
When age or disease causes the lens to become less transparent, vision deteriorates because of the diminished light that can be transmitted to the retina. This deficiency in the lens of the eye is medically known as a cataract. An accepted treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the lens and replacement of the lens function by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
In the United States, the majority of cataractous lenses are removed by a surgical technique called phacoemulsification. A typical surgical handpiece suitable for phacoemulsification procedures consists of an ultrasonically driven handpiece, an attached cutting tip, and irrigating sleeve and an electronic control console. The handpiece assembly is attached to the control console by an electric cable and flexible tubings. Through the electric cable, the console varies the power level transmitted by the handpiece to the attached cutting tip and the flexible tubings supply irrigation fluid to and draw aspiration fluid from the eye through the handpiece assembly.
The operative part of the handpiece is a centrally located, hollow resonating bar or horn directly attached to a set of piezoelectric crystals. The crystals supply the required ultrasonic vibration needed to drive both the horn and the attached cutting tip during phacoemulsification and are controlled by the console. The crystal/horn assembly is suspended within the hollow body or shell of the handpiece by flexible mountings. The handpiece body terminates in a reduced diameter portion or nosecone at the body's distal end. The nosecone is externally threaded to accept the irrigation sleeve. Likewise, the horn bore is internally threaded at its distal end to receive the external threads of the cutting tip. The irrigation sleeve also has an internally threaded bore that is screwed onto the external threads of the nosecone. The cutting tip is adjusted so that the tip projects only a predetermined amount past the open end of the irrigating sleeve.
Recently, a modified phacoemulsification technique called "bimanual" phacoemulsification has been adopted by many surgeons. With the bimanual technique, the irrigation sleeve is removed from around the ultrasonically drive tip. This allows for the small tip to be inserted into the eye through a smaller incision. Irrigation fluid is supplied by a second irrigating tip. The second tip may include a manipulation tool. Additional information concerning traditional phacoemulsification and bimanual phacoemulsification is included in U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2003/0069594 A1. And in particular, Paragraphs [0036] through [0037] and FIGS. 6-8, which are incorporated herein by reference. As described in this reference, the second instrument does not use an outer silicone infusion sleeve. Rather the shaft of the manipulation tool is either hollow with irrigation ports, or solid with a separate hollow irrigating conduit containing irrigation ports. Without the outer silicone sleeve, sealing of the wound is minimal. This allows excessive irrigating fluid to escape out of the eye through the wound. Excessive wound leakage can cause shallowing of the anterior chamber, excessive turbulence and premature removal of the protective viscoelastic material. Excessive wound leakage can also cause over-hydration of the wound tissue, possibly resulting in edema.
Recently, it has been suggested that traditional one-handed phacoemulsification can be conducted through a relatively small incision by reducing the diameter of the phacoemulsification tip/sleeve. A second irrigation/aspiration tip, with or without an attached manipulation tool, may also be used to provide addition irrigation and aspiration. Such an arrangement minimizes wound leakage, thereby helping to avoid over-hydration of the wound, low intraocular pressure, excessive turbulence and premature removal of the viscoelastic material. The annular gap between the phaco tip and sleeve is used as an irrigation fluid pathway. Irrigation ports are provided on the sides of the sleeve to direct irrigating fluid out of and away from the aspiration port. Reducing the diameter of the infusion sleeve also reduces the amount of irrigation fluid that can enter the eye. Also, smaller diameter infusion sleeves are more likely to be compressed by the wound against the ultrasonically vibrating tip, thereby increasing the amount of heat.
Therefore, a need continues to exist for a method of using a smaller diameter irrigation sleeve that reduces the likelihood of excessive heat buildup and provides adequate irrigation during cataract surgery.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A stability and comfort system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The stability and comfort system includes a bootie and a sock liner. The sock liner may include a heel counter that is contoured to fit a heel. The sole of the article may include an outrigger portion. The outrigger portion can be separated from a central portion of the sole to allow the outrigger portion to move substantially independently of the central portion of the sole.

The present invention relates to an article of footwear, and in particular to a stability system for footwear.
Articles with comfort and stability systems have been proposed. Hall et al. (U.S. patent application publication number 2004/0244221) teaches a hybrid footwear liner. Hall teaches an article including a sock liner that may be inserted into a snowboard boot.
Geer et al. (U.S. patent application publication number 2006/0213081) teaches a footwear structure and method of forming the same. Greer teaches a shoe construction that includes a heel counter in one embodiment. Geer also teaches that the counter may also be incorporated on the exterior surface of an upper or portion thereof, e.g. as an external counter, a removable liner or bootie, or between a lining and an outer upper portion. The counter may also extend to the ball of the foot and may be angled to facilitate shock absorption during heel strike.
Vattes et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,438) teaches a removable or reversible lining for footwear. Vattes teaches a shoe with a footbed and a liner.
Hudson et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,943) teaches an article of footwear having medial and lateral sides with differing characteristics. Hudson teaches an outsole that extends laterally from the midsole by about 1-2 mm. This extension forms outward extensions with overhangs that act as outriggers to prevent roll over and enhance the wearer's ability to balance on the lateral edge. Hudson also teaches flex grooves that are perpendicular to the lateral edge.
Edington et al. (U.S. patent application publication number 2007/0227038) teaches interior and upper members for articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices. Edington teaches a sole that includes a perimeter element. The perimeter element helps hold the midsole member, upper member, heel counter, and other structures in place. Edington teaches that the perimeter further includes a raised lateral edge portion to help support, abut, prevent movement of, and/or contain the lateral side of the user's foot. Edington teaches an area that can include a support member (such as a plastic or metal plate). Edington also teaches a plurality of recesses extending in a direction from the lateral to medial side.

Stability and comfort system for an article of footwear


A guide with a measuring device has a guide base with a longitudinal axis, a runner guided on the guide base in a direction of the longitudinal axis, a measuring device which measures a position of the runner in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the guide base or a condition of the guide base and having a measuring head arranged on the runner and connectable with an evaluating circuit for sensing the measuring guide, and an adapter plate arranged between the measuring head and the runner.

The present invention relates to a guide with a measuring device, as well as to a method of producing such a guide.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a guide with a measuring device, which includes a guide base with a longitudinal axis, a runner guided on the guide base in direction of the longitudinal axis, a position measuring device which measures the position of the runner in direction of the longitudinal axis of the guide base, and a measurement standard arranged on the guide base.
Such a linear guide with the measuring device is disclosed for example in the brochure RD 82 350/11.98 "STAR-ball and Roller Rail Guides with Integrated Measuring System" of the Company Rexroth Star GmbH (FIG. 2). The known linear guide with the integrated measuring system 10 is composed of a guiding rail 12 with a longitudinal axis A, on which a runner is supported longitudinally movable over not shown roller bearings.
The measuring system 20 is formed by a separate sensing element (measuring head) 22 and a measuring standard 24 integrated in the guiding rail. The measuring head mounted directly on the runner contains the sensing system and electronic system for the signal conditioning. The measuring standard, a steel partition with a high precision structure, is arranged in a groove of the guiding rail and protected by a stainless, tightly welded high-grade steel band.
The known linear guide with integrated measuring system has the disadvantage that due to the direct application of the measuring head on the runner, angular deviations due to tolerances can occur, which negatively influence the measuring results. Moreover, in the known system a high expenses for the adjustment of the sensor arranged in the measuring head take place.
In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention deals with a guide with a measuring device which includes a guide base with a longitudinal axis, a runner guided on the guide base in direction of the longitudinal axis, and a measuring device which measures the condition of the guide base with a measuring head arranged on the runner and connected with an evaluating device.

Guide with measuring device, and method with producing such a guide


Low calorie food products that contain highly crystalline bulking agents that impart improved texture and mouthfeel to the food products are described. The food products contain 1,4-anhydroglucitol or 1,4-anhydrogalactitol and a food ingredient. A method of preparing 1,4-anhydro-DL-galactitol comprising heating galactitol in a water-immiscible, high-boiling, reaction-inert medium in the presence of a mineral acid is also described.

The field of art to which this invention is directed is food products, and in particular low calorie food products, low calorie bulking agents, and also methods of preparing low calorie bulking agents.
Many substances are used in the manufacture of foods intended for persons who must restrict their intake of carbohydrates or calories or both. Generally, ingredients which are to be included in these foods must be of low calorific value. Furthermore, the dietetic foods produced with these ingredients must closely resemble calorie-containing foods in texture, taste and physical appearance. In addition, these ingredients must not, of course, present any problems of toxicity to the consumer of the food. Many materials which have been proposed for use in dietetic foods do not satisfy all of these requirements simultaneously.
Where a synthetic sweetener such as saccharin or cyclamate is used in a dietetic food to replace the sugar present in the natural food, the other physical properties, aside from sweetness, which were imparted to the natural food by the sugar must be imparted to the synthetic dietetic food by additional ingredients other than the synthetic sweetener. Some of the additional ingredients suggested for this use are nutritive themselves, and therefore add undesirable calorific value to the food to replace the calorific value contained in the sugar which was removed. Some of these ingredients may also alter the texture or eating qualities of the food so that it becomes unappealing or unwholesome. Finally, these additional ingredients may impart an unnatural color to the food, and, consequently, render it less palatable.
One low calorie food ingredient that has met with acceptance is polydextrose. Polydextrose is a low-calorie food ingredient typically used as a bulking agent to replace higher caloric food ingredients (e.g., sugars, fats) in food compositions. In general, polydextrose is a randomly bonded condensation polymer of dextrose and polycarboxylic acids (e.g., citric acid). There are a variety of polydextroses and these different polydextrose modifications can have different properties as food additives.
Polyols such as sorbitol (D-glucitol) and mannitol have widespread commercial application and are commonly used food ingredients. As a group the acyclic polyols are crystalline bodies covering a wide range in melting point and in taste ranging from faintly sweet to very sweet. The polyols commonly used in foods range in caloric availability from essentially fully caloric (sorbitol) to ca. 50% caloric (mannitol, lactitol). By removal of the elements of water from polyols it is possible to generate a number of cyclic anhydrides, or anhydropolyols.
Dulcitan, which consists mainly of 1,4-anhydrogalactitol is known to be non-metabolizable (Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry 1, 175 (1945)). At least two other anhydrohexitols (1,4-anhydromannitol and 1,5-anhydro-D-sorbitol) are also said to be nonmetabolizable.
Although such food additives as polydextrose make a significant advance in the field of food products there is a continual search for alternative low-calorie food bulking agents that impart the desired characteristics to food compositions, particularly the combination of low caloric utilization and crystallinity.

Use of 1,4-anhydroglucitol/galactitol in low calorie food products, and a method of preparing 1,4-anhydro-dl-galactitol


An ultrasonic diagnostic system for reducing black holes and highlighting of turbulent mosaic patterns without degradation in spatial resolution in an ultrasonic color Doppler method. The system includes a unit configured to extract image data in a specified range with reference to a specified pixel of the image data to generate kernel data, a pixel-value arranging unit configured to modulate the values of the pixels in the kernel data, a pixel-value selecting unit configured to select a pixel value of a modulated pixel value in a specified array rank, a characteristic determination unit configured to determine the characteristic of the image from the pixel value of the first image data, and a second image-data generating unit configured to generate second image data based on the value of a specified pixel in the first image data, and the selected pixel value in the specified array rank, or the demodulated pixel value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic system for imaging according to an ultrasonic Doppler signal obtained from a subject and a method of processing ultrasonic image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ultrasonic diagnostic systems radiate ultrasonic pulses generated from piezoelectric vibrators incorporated in an ultrasonic probe into a subject, receive reflected ultrasonic waves generated by the difference in acoustic impedance of the tissue of the subject with the piezoelectric vibrators, and display it on a monitor. The diagnostic technique is widely used for diagnosing the functions and shapes of the various organs of living bodies, because it allows easy observation of a real-time two-dimensional image by a simple operation of bringing the ultrasonic probe into contact with the surface of the body.
The ultrasonic diagnostic technique of acquiring living-body information from the tissues of living bodies or reflected waves from blood cells has made a remarkable progress owing to two great technological developments, an ultrasonic pulse reflection method and an ultrasonic Doppler method; a B-mode image and a color Doppler image obtained by using the above techniques are absolutely essential in the present ultrasonic diagnostic imaging.
The color Doppler method is a method whereby a specified cross section of a living body is scanned with ultrasonic pulses, wherein when a moving reflector such as blood (blood cells) is irradiated with the ultrasonic waves, a Doppler frequency shift generated in correspondence with the velocity of the reflector (blood flow rate) is imaged. The color Doppler method was at first used to image the high blood flow in a cardinal cavity, but today it has been applicable to imaging of extremely low blood flow such as the blood flow of the tissues of abdominal organs.
In order to enhance the diagnostic ability of the color Doppler method, it is necessary to have, firstly, high measuring accuracy (particularly, low-flow-rate detectability), secondly, time resolution (real-time characteristic), and thirdly, spatial resolution.
When ultrasonic pulses are radiated to a moving reflector to measure the velocity of the reflector from the Doppler frequency shift of reflected waves, it is necessary to repeat transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves to/from the reflector multiple times (L times) at a rate interval Tr, thereby measuring the moving speed of the reflector from a series of acquired reflected waves. In this case, the detectability (measuring range lower limit of a flow rate) Vmin of a low-speed reflector depends on the frequency resolution Δfd of frequency analysis for a series of reflected waves acquired by the n times of ultrasonic transmission and reception. The frequency resolution Δfd is expressed as equation (1)Δfd=fr/L  (1)where fr (fr=1/Tr) is an ultrasonic transmission reception repetition frequency (rate frequency).
In other words, in order to increase the low-flow-rate detectability, the first requirement in the color Doppler method, it is necessary to delay the rate frequency fr or increase the ultrasonic transmission and reception repetition times L in a predetermined direction.
The real-time characteristic, the second requirement, is determined depending on the number of display images (frame frequency) Fn per unit time. The frame frequency Fn is expressed as equation (2)Fn=fr/L/M=Δfd/M  (2)where M is the total number of scanning lines (raster) necessary to construct one piece of color Doppler image data. In order to improve the real-time characteristic, the transmission and reception number L or the total number M of scanning lines must be set small.
In order to enhance the spatial resolution, the third requirement, it is necessary to increase the total number M of scanning lines. Since the frame frequency Fn, the detectability Vmin, and the spatial resolution are mutually contradictory and so it is difficult to satisfy them at the same time. Accordingly, for measuring blood flow in a circulatory region, the frame frequency has been regarded as important and, for measuring blood flow in an abdominal region and peripheral regions, low-flow-rate detectability has been regarded as important, in both of which the spatial resolution has been disregarded.
For the decline in spatial resolution, temporal or spatial filtering is performed by using a low-pass filter or a median filter (median extraction filter) to smooth the boundary of blood vessels or blood-flow distribution or to reduce image defect (so-called a black hole pattern) due to the interference of ultrasonic waves etc. However, the application of the conventional filtering method makes it difficult to display the boundary of a blood flow pattern with the smoothing of the boundary and the decrease of the black hole pattern, resulting in a decrease in diagnostic ability.
To overcome the above problems, for example, JP-A-2000-262520 proposes a median filter that has the function of determining whether the value of a specified pixel (target pixel) on color Doppler image data is a singular value such as black hole. In this method, the difference between the value of a specified pixel (target pixel) of Doppler image data and the value of its peripheral pixel (reference pixel) is calculated, wherein when the difference is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the value of the reference pixel is replaced with the value of the target pixel, then the median value is extracted from the values of the reference pixel and the target pixel, and the median value is substituted by the value of the target pixel.
Although the above method allows a black hole pattern to be decreased without reducing spatial resolution, it is difficult to display a mosaic pattern caused by a turbulent flow or a backward flow generated in a narrow part of a blood vessel (hereinafter, referred to as a turbulent mosaic pattern).
Blood flows at a high rate in a narrow part of a blood vessel to generate a turbulent flow, so that a blood flow moving close to the ultrasonic probe and a blood flow moving away from the probe are mixed. Moreover, at the high blood flow rate, the Doppler frequency exceeds a Nyquist frequency determined by a sampling frequency to generate a turning back phenomenon.
Although the turbulent mosaic pattern generated by those phenomena is very important information for an ultrasonic diagnosis of a narrow part, the foregoing method determines the pixels in the turbulent mosaic pattern to be singular points, so that the clearness or brightness of the image is decreased, thus making it difficult to observe.
Furthermore, when the reference pixel and the target pixel are composed of plus pixel values and minus pixel values of approximately the same number as the plus pixel values, the median value approaches zero, and so the turbulent mosaic pattern cannot be displayed.

Image data processing method and apparatus for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and image processing apparatus


A method and device for de-interleaving and rate de-matching of a demodulated signal by batch processing at a receiving side, which receives a radio signal subjected to interleaving and rate matching at the transmitting side for error correction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an error-correcting communication method and a communication device using the communication method.
2. Background Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a part of the configuration of a conventional base station of the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a receiving antenna, 2 a radio unit, 3 a digital signal processing unit, 4 a network, 5 a demodulating unit in the digital signal processing unit 3, and 6 an error correcting unit in the digital signal processing unit 3.
Next, the operation of the prior art example will be described below.
The receiving antenna 1 receives a radio signal from a mobile communication terminal (not shown), and supplies it to the radio unit 2. The radio unit 2 correlates the radio signal with an independent spreading code in each communication channel (i.e., de-spreads the radio signal) to extract a primary modulated signal, which is applied to the digital signal processing unit 3. The demodulating unit 5 of the digital signal processing unit 3 demodulated the primary modulated signal, and provides the demodulated signal to the error correcting unit 6. The error correcting unit 6 corrects an error caused in the transmission line.
To make the error correction, the transmitting side sends out information after imparting redundancy to the information under certain rules and subjecting it to various kinds of coding. For example, according to the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) specifications, in an up-link from the mobile communication terminal to the base station, voice data of main information and control data for control use are each added with CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) data for each frame, and they are subjected to turbo coding and convolution coding. This is followed by first interleaving that makes a frame by frame data replacement. And, rate matching such as repeat process and puncture process is performed for frame adjustment that ensures the bit rate over the entire length of the up-link. Moreover, second interleaving is performed to make an intra-frame bit replacement.
Accordingly, the receiving side is required to perform in the error correcting unit 6 in FIG. 1 error correction process that is inverse to the process performed at the transmitting side. FIG. 2 depicts a part of the error correction process that is conducted in the error correcting unit 6. That is, the demodulated signal provided from the demodulating unit 6 is subjected to second de-interleaving (step ST1), which is followed by rate de-matching (step ST2), then first de-interleaving (step ST3), and turbo decoding and convolution decoding (step ST4), then it is output.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a part of the conventional error correcting unit. Reference numeral 11 denotes a second de-interleaving circuit, and 12 a rate de-matching circuit. In the second de-interleaving circuit 11, reference numeral 13 denotes an input DP (Dual Port) RAM, 14 an address counter circuit for second de-interleave use, and 15 an output DPRAM. In the rate de-matching circuit 12, reference numeral 16 denotes an input DP RAM, 17 a rate de-matching operation circuit, and 18 an output DPRAM. Further, though it is not shown in the drawing, there is connected to the output side of the rate de-matching circuit 12 a first de-interleaving circuit that has about the same configuration as that of the second de-interleaving circuit 11 and comprises an input DPRAM, an output DPRAM and an address counter circuit for first de-interleave use.
Next, the operation of conventional error correcting unit will be described below.
Demodulated signal data of a several frames, for instance, two frames, is written in the input DPRAM 13, from which the data is read out in the form in which it is rearranged or de-interleaved according to address data provided from the address counter circuit 14, and thus the read-out data is written in the output DPRAM 15. The de-interleaved data read out from the output DPRAM 15 is written in the input DPRAM 16.
Next, the data read out from the input DPRAM 16 is fed to the rate de-matching circuit 17, wherein it is subjected to rate de-matching. That is, the data is subjected to process inverse to the repeat or puncture process. And the data is written in the output DPRAM 18. Further, the data read out therefrom is subjected to first de-interleaving in the first de-interleaving circuit which is not shown in the drawing.
With the conventional communication scheme that performs the de-interleaving and rate de-matching and the communication device using the communication scheme, however, much time is required for writing and reading of data from and to DPRAM in the de-interleaving and rate de-matching, this gives rise to a problem of extended processing time throughout the communication system. Moreover, the use of a large number of memories in the device inevitably raises a cost of the device and constitutes an obstacle to its miniaturization.
The present invention is intended to solve the above mentioned problems, and it has an object to provide a communication method that permits reduction of the processing time of the communication system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that permits reduction of an amount of memories used, to cut down the cost of the device and to do its miniaturization.

Error-correcting communication method and communication apparatus with de-interleaving and rate de-matching


The present invention relates to a gun (1) with a barrel (4) which proximally delimits a firing chamber (6), and a slide (8) translatable between a forward configuration in which it closes the firing chamber (6), and a rearward configuration in which it is distanced from the barrel (4) to open said chamber (6). The orientation of the firing chamber (6) in the forward configuration and in the rearward configuration is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (X). The gun (1) further comprises a locking device (10), which in the forward configuration acts so as to join the barrel (4) and the slide (8) and in the rearward configuration releases the slide (8) to enable its backward movement. The locking device (10) comprises at least one locking projection (12, 14) which, when the slide (8) and the barrel (4) are reciprocally released, guides the slide (8) in translation.

Various types of guns are known in the art; among these, one specific category consists of the so-called "short recoil" guns.
Briefly, during the initial stages of firing, the bolt and the barrel recoil simultaneously for a stroke of several millimeters, thereby keeping the firing chamber locked. Subsequently, a proximal portion of the barrel is made to deviate by various expedients from the common stroke with the bolt to enable the latter to open the chamber and reload it with a new cartridge. Among the known locking systems one could mention, merely by way of example, the Browning, Glock or Sig-Sauer geometric type locks.
However, the known locks have the drawback that after an elevated number of firing cycles, the geometric coupling precision of the barrel, slide and components used to deviate the barrel, tends to rapidly decrease.
Moreover, from document DE19645681A1 a gun fitted with a transversal bar is known of which in a first functioning configuration of the firearm locks the barrel to the slide, and which in a second configuration releases the slide so as to allow its further rearward movement in relation to the barrel and to the gun frame.
However such earlier system also presents a variety of drawbacks. In particular, the oblique abutments acting between the transversal bar and the gun frame to block and to release the slide do not constitute a reliable technical solution, especially in quick fire, in that the transition of such bar between the described configurations is sudden and violent, subjecting said component to repeated stress. Moreover, the transversal bar remains totally inactive during the independent slide excursion, because it is released from the barrel in such a way as to completely insert itself in a special housing performed in the frame.
Besides, in the aforesaid earlier gun, the longitudinal translation of the slide is guided in an extremely imprecise manner; in fact, such movement is conducted by means of narrow contact areas of the slide on the barrel and on the frame, so that gliding of the slide does not remain accurately repeatable for a high number of cycles.
Lastly, in earlier documents DE29704123U1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,229A, GB673028A and U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,217A firearms with a tipping barrel are shown, which therefore envisage an inclination or lowering of the respective firing chambers during the various firing steps, and which are evidently lacking supplementary guide systems of the barrel in relation to the gun frame.


A garment includes a brassiere with a back part, in which back cloths are formed thin without concaves and convexs, and only head parts of male and female engaging devices appear on outer surfaces of the back cloths, thereby providing a stylish appearance, which is plane and neat, and providing a comfortable feeling without a feeling of discomfort when worn. The garment includes a back part of a brassiere or the like which can be freely put on and off by using the male and female engaging devices (12) and (16) provided to the back cloths (4) welded to an area from underarm parts toward a back of a wearer. The male and female engaging devices (12) and (16) are integrally attached onto inner surface portions of the back cloths (4). The head parts (12a) and (16a) of the male and female engaging devices (12) and (16) are exposed to an outside through slits (13).

A brassiere, which is a typical garment with the back cloth, is generally composed of left and right cup cloths, an under cup cloth to be sewn to a lower end portion of the cup cloths, left and right back cloths to be fitted and fixed to an area from the underarm part through the back part, and straps.
The brassiere composed of the above-mentioned parts can be put on and off by engaging and disengaging hooks with eyes. The hooks and the eyes are sewn onto tape fabric materials which are relatively thick and which are provided separately from the backcloths. That is, to an end portion of one back cloth, the tape fabric material provided with eyes which are arranged in a plurality of lines at constant intervals is sewn, and a hook tape fabric material provided with hooks to be engaged with the eyes is sewn to an end portion of the other back cloth. The hooks and the eyes are engaged and disengaged to enable the brassiere to be put on and off.
A tape provided with the eyes is provided with covering cloths for hiding an attachment base of the eyes, the eyes being arranged in three rows, which are an upper row, a middle row, and a lower row in order to allow an adjustment according to a size of a bust of a wearer when the brassiere is to be worn. The covering cloth for the upper row is sewn onto a surface of a base cloth tape, the covering cloth for the middle row is sewn onto the covering cloth for the upper row, and the covering cloth for the lower row is sewn onto the covering cloth for the middle row. By changing a position of the eyes with which the hooks are engaged or disengaged, a fastening level can be adjusted, and an eye tape that increases in thickness toward the lower row is commonly known (see, for example, JP 2002-28009 A).
The above-mentioned eye tape is made thick by overlapping a plurality of covering cloths, thereby requiring a preparation for facilitating sewing such as a creasing process prior to a sewing operation, which takes time and effort, and only a skilled person can perform the sewing operation. Further, a sewing thread used in sewing by a sewing machine appears on front and back surfaces of the tape, resulting in that contact of the sewing thread with skin provides an uncomfortable feeling, or that contact of a concave and a convex generated on a surface of the sewing thread causes skin disorders and an itch in some cases. Moreover, in a case of wearing a thin outerwear, there is a problem in that a bulge of the thick part appears on an outer surface of the wear, thereby deteriorating an appearance.
As means for eliminating such a defect, there is known a hook/eye tape of a type in which hooks/eyes are attached to a relatively thin tape fabric materials and the thin tape fabric materials are joined to the back cloth by thermal welding using a thermal adhesive film without being sewn thereto. The sewing thread does not appear on the outer surface of the hook/eye tape by sewing, so the hook/eye tape provides an excellent appearance and does not provide a feeling of stiffness with the thick material or uncomfortable feeling of wearing. Accordingly, the hook/eye tape has a good reputation (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3104261).

Clothes with back part such as brassiere


A method includes receiving link quality information associated with multiple wireless connections in a wireless network. The method also includes identifying at least one asymmetric communication path in the wireless network using the link quality information. The link quality information could include a statistical value for each of the wireless connections. Identifying the at least one asymmetric communication path could include identifying a first and a second of the statistical values associated with a first and a second of the wireless connections, respectively, and determining whether a difference between the first and second statistical values exceeds a threshold. The method could further include applying a heuristic to indicate that the first and second wireless connections do not form an asymmetric communication path even if the difference between the first and second statistical values exceeds the threshold.

Wireless networks are frequently used in industrial process control systems. For example, a process control system often includes sensors that provide measurements over a wireless network and actuators that receive control signals over the wireless network. A process controller can use the measurements from the sensors to generate the control signals for the actuators.
When two nodes in a wireless network are operating at the same power level and have antennas with equal gains, the link qualities in both directions between the nodes are ideally the same. An asymmetric link in a wireless network occurs when a wireless node's uplink and downlink communication qualities are different. An asymmetric link can be formed in various ways, such as due to nodes transmitting at different power levels or environmental factors (like different multi-path reflections). The reliability of a wireless network, such as a mesh network, can degrade severely in the presence of asymmetric links.

Apparatus and method for maintaining reliability of wireless network having asymmetric or other low quality wireless links


Disclosed herein is an aluminum oxide film remover for removing an oxide film on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy, which comprises silver ions and/or copper ions, a solubilizing agent for silver ions and/or copper ions, and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide compound, and has a pH value of 10 to 13.5. A method for surface treatment of aluminum or aluminum alloy is also disclosed, which comprises immersing a workpiece having aluminum or aluminum alloy at least on the surface thereof in the aluminum oxide film remover, and depositing the silver and/or copper contained in the remover on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy while removing the aluminum oxide film.

There have previously been employed several methods for forming UBM or bumps on the silicon wafer. They include one which comprises performing a zinc substitution treatment to form a zinc film on an aluminum thin film electrode patterned on a wafer and performing electroless nickel plating thereon to form bumps; one which comprises performing a palladium treatment in place of the zinc substitution treatment and performing electroless nickel plating, thereby forming bumps; and one which comprises substituting a surface of an aluminum thin film electrodes directly with nickel and performing self-catalyzed electroless nickel plating to form bumps.
Any of these methods involves pretreatment before formation of UBM or bumps. This pretreatment generally comprises a degreasing treatment of the aluminum thin film electrodes and a treatment for removing an aluminum oxide film or metal impurities on the aluminum thin film electrodes. In this case, if an extremely thin film of aluminum oxide formed by immersion in nitric acid or the like is present, a subsequent plating step can be preformed directly without problem. However, if a strong aluminum oxide film remains on the surface after shaving or annealing, or if a specific crystal orientation plane exists on the aluminum surface, a plating film formed in subsequent steps will be poor in adhesion, or will be perforated. At worst, a plating film will not be formed on the surface. Such a strong aluminum oxide film is desired to be completely removed beforehand. Regarding the specific crystal orientation plane of the aluminum surface, the aluminum surface should be uniformly prepared.
In order to address the foregoing problem, there has been proposed a method for preparing the ground for plating by dry process without dissolving an aluminum oxide film (see Patent Document 1: JP-A 11-87392). However, this method still has room for improvement in terms of a complicated process, disadvantages in promptness and production costs. Moreover, the method has a problem that the electrical insulation of the remaining oxide film leads to an increased thermal resistance, resulting in deterioration of electrical characteristics.
It has been common practice to remove the strong aluminum oxide film by dipping in a strong alkaline or acid solution which dissolves not only an aluminum oxide film but also an aluminum or aluminum alloy base. This practice is applicable only if the base is sufficiently thick but is inapplicable if the aluminum or aluminum alloy is as thin as 0.5 or 1.0 m, in which case the etching margin is limited.
There have been proposed other methods, such as one which employs an organic solvent (see Patent Document 2: JP-A 2002-151537) and one which employs a mixture of several acids (see Patent Document 3: JP-A 5-65657, and Patent Document 4: JP-A 2002-514683).
These methods, however, involve difficulties in establishing adequate treatment conditions since the base material is inevitably etched excessively and where the base material is a thin film, the thin film may be disappeared or dissolved. Moreover, a conventional grinding or mechanical polishing cannot be adopted for the thin film, unlike the case of die casting. Hence, the oxide film formed by heat treatment in the fabricating process remains on the surface of the aluminum thin film, which worsens the problem.
In order to solve the foregoing problem, there has been proposed a remover which contains a salt or oxide of a metal capable of substituting aluminum, a solubilizing agent for the metal ions, an alkali and preferably a surfactant, with a pH value of 10 to 13.5 (see Patent Document 5: JP-A 2008-169446). This remover, when applied to an aluminum oxide film that has formed on aluminum or aluminum alloy, can rapidly remove the aluminum oxide film at a low temperature with minimum corrosion to the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy.
That is to say, the reason of the severe corrosion of the base of aluminum or aluminum alloy when the conventional acid-based treating solution is applied to remove an aluminum oxide film is that there has been no effective method to deal with the difference between reactivity of aluminum oxide film with acid and reactivity of aluminum ground or aluminum alloy ground with acid.
JP-A 2008-169446 (Patent Document 5) discloses that an aluminum oxide film can be effectively removed by an alkaline remover comprising a salt or oxide of a metal capable of substituting aluminum and a solubilizing agent for the metal ions, as the result of investigation to dissolve and remove the aluminum oxide film while avoiding the high reactivity of a aluminum ground or aluminum alloy ground with acid.
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the method in which the conventional alkaline remover removes an aluminum oxide film on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy. FIGS. 2(1) to 2(6) represent each step of removing an aluminum oxide film on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy, respectively. Incidentally, the reference numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4 in FIG. 2 denote aluminum or aluminum alloy having the (111) plane, aluminum or aluminum alloy having the (100) plane, an aluminum oxide film, and a metal derived from the additive metal capable of substituting aluminum, respectively.
The procedure starts with immersing aluminum or aluminum alloy having the aluminum oxide film 3 formed thereon in the conventional alkaline remover (containing zinc as the additive metal), as shown in FIG. 2(1), so that the aluminum oxide film 3 is removed, as shown in FIG. 2(2). As the result, the aluminum or aluminum alloy exposes itself. The aluminum or aluminum alloy 1 having the (111) plane, however, is subjected to a rapid substitutional deposition of the metal 4 on its surface, which is derived from the additive metal contained in the alkaline remover, as shown in FIG. 2(3).
The metal derived from the additive metal does not deposit substitutionally on the aluminum oxide film 3 because aluminum in the aluminum oxide film 3 has already ionized. Moreover, the aluminum or aluminum alloy 1 having the (111) plane is exempt from corrosion because it is protected by the deposited metal 4 formed on the exposed area. As this reaction proceeds, the deposited metal 4, which is derived from the additive metal capable of substituting aluminum, continues to deposit on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy 1 having the (111) plane which has exposed itself as the aluminum oxide film 3 is dissolved, as shown in FIG. 2(4). Eventually, the aluminum oxide film 3, which has existed on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy 1, is completely dissolved and removed. At the same time, the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy is entirely covered with the deposited metal 4 which is derived from the additive metal capable of substituting aluminum, as shown in FIG. 2(5). The deposited metal 4 can be removed by acid cleaning, as shown in FIG. 2(6).
In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, the alkaline remover disclosed in JP-A 2008-169446 (Patent Document 5) does not corrode the aluminum ground or the aluminum alloy ground because it causes the deposited metal to cover immediately the aluminum base or the aluminum alloy base having the (111) plane which has been exposed by etching. Moreover, it continues to effectively remove the aluminum oxide film because its action to dissolve the aluminum oxide film is not impeded by the increasing concentration of aluminum hydroxide associated with dissolution of the aluminum base or the aluminum alloy base.
The alkaline remover offers another advantage of capability of accomplishing a treatment in a shorter time at a lower temperature than acid removers because it contains a large number of hydroxide ions (OH−) which can readily dissolve an aluminum oxide film.
Unfortunately, when the conventional alkaline remover is applied to the aluminum or aluminum alloy 2 having the (100) plane, substitution by the additive metal does not readily take place on its surface. In other words, only the dissolution of aluminum proceeds and substitution by the additive metal (zinc) shown in FIGS. 2(3) and 2(4) does not take place. Thus, the surface becomes smooth as shown in FIGS. 2(5) and 2(6). As the result, there is a problem that zinc substitution does not take place on the (100) plane in the subsequent process.
In the long run, the conventional alkaline remover brings about etching alone without substitution of aluminum by the additive metal on the specific crystal orientation plane (or the (100) plane). The result is that zinc substitution of aluminum does not take place on that crystal orientation plane in the subsequent processing, i.e., a lack of zinc substitution develops. The lack of zinc substitution causes the subsequent nickel plating to give defective nickel film, which is poor in adhesion and which is partly perforated. Such a defective nickel film is detrimental to electrical conductivity and appearance.
Listed below are prior art documents concerning the present invention.

Aluminum oxide film remover and method for surface treatment of aluminum or aluminum alloy


A separator includes a monolayer-type polyolefin-based micro-porous film having a porosity of 40 to 60%, an average pore diameter of 60 nm or less, and an air permeability of 350 s/100 mL or less; and a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the micro-porous film and made of a mixture of a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer. An electrochemical device having the above separator has excellent thermal stability and allows a high power while minimizing the occurrence of leak current.

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in energy storage technology. Batteries have been widely used as energy sources in the fields of cellular phones, camcorders, notebook computers, PCs and electric cars, resulting in intensive research and development into them. In this regard, electrochemical devices are one of the subjects of great interest. Particularly, development of rechargeable secondary batteries has been the focus of attention. Recently, in the development of such batteries, designs of new electrodes and batteries to improve capacity density and specific energy are mainly studied.
Among currently used secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries developed in early 1990's have a higher drive voltage and a much higher energy density than those of conventional batteries using a liquid electrolyte such as Ni-MH batteries, Ni—Cd batteries, and H2SO4—Pb batteries. For these reasons, the lithium secondary batteries have been advantageously used. In particular, since middle- or large-sized battery modules used for hybrid vehicles are desirably designed as small and light as possible, it is urgently demanded to design lithium secondary batteries with high power.
In addition, it is very important to ensure the safety of such electrochemical devices, particularly in consideration of influences or the like of the middle- or large-sized batteries to the human. The most important consideration is that the electrochemical device should not cause any damage to a user due to malfunction. In this aspect, when the electrochemical device is overheated to cause a run-away or the separator is damaged due to an external impact, the possibility of explosion is increased.
A polyolefin-based micro-porous film commonly used as a separator of an electrochemical device is extremely thermally shrunken at a temperature of 100° C. or above due to its material characteristics and the characteristics of its manufacturing process including elongation, which may cause a short between a cathode and an anode. Meanwhile, in order to prevent the insulation properties of the separator from being deteriorated due to leak current, porosity and pore size, and resultant air permeability are controlled to low levels, and thus ion conductivity is not so high, which becomes a factor of hindering realization of high-power batteries.
Thus, there is needed to develop a technique capable of increasing ion conductivity while improving thermal stability of a separator using a polyolefin-based micro-porous film and minimizing the generation of leak current.
Meanwhile, Korean laid-open patent publication Nos. 10-2006-0072065 and 10-2007-0000231 disclose a separator having a porous coating layer, which is made of a mixture of a binder polymer and filler particles such as inorganic particles and formed on at least one surface of a porous substrate having a plurality of pores such as a polyolefin-based micro-porous film. However, these documents just disclose the techniques relating to the improvement of thermal stability of a separator in accordance with the formation of a porous coating layer, but they do not teach the design of a porous substrate and correlations between the porous substrate and the porous coating layer, which may realize a high-power battery.

Separator having porous coating layer, and electrochemical device containing the same


The present invention refers to a received signal detector for detecting and demodulating a digital modulated signal wherein a signal detection in a short time can be implemented independently of the signal frame length. The wide-band filter is a filter having a pass frequency band set to the frequency range of received signals to be demodulated. The A/D convertor, first power detector and first averaging circuit measure the average power of a signal having passed through the wide-band filter. The threshold setting circuit sets a threshold from the averaged power. The narrow-band filter filters an output signal of the frequency convertor in a narrower frequency band than the pass frequency band of the wide-band filter. The comparator circuit compares the threshold and the average power of a signal taken out from the second averaging circuit and passing through the narrow-band filter and judges whether the received signal is taken out from the wide-band filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signal detector, and, more particularly, to a signal detector for detecting and demodulating a digital modulated signal received in the satellite communication for transmitting a digital modulated signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the satellite communication for information transmission via an artificial satellite, an carrier frequency offset caused by a Doppler shift, drift of a local oscillator on a transmitter and the satellite and a residual frequency error of an automatic frequency control (AFC). Especially, at a satellite station for downsizing and cost-saving, there are cases of using a low-stability oscillator and accordingly the influence of the carrier frequency offset becomes greater. For this reason, various signal detectors equipped with measures to achieve an early phase synchronization even in the presence of such frequency offset have so far been known on a receiver.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one example of conventional signal detector. As shown in FIG. 1, out of a signal received via a satellite communication path, the frequency component of a predetermined signal range is filtered through a Nyquist filter 61 and supplied to a multiplier 62 to be multiplied by a signal from a voltage control oscillator (VCO) 66 here. After phase error detection by a phase detector 63, an output signal from the multiplier 62 is supplied through a loop filter 64 to an adder 65 to be added to a signal from the frequency sweep control circuit 69 mentioned later 69, then applied to VCO 66 as control voltage to variably control the output oscillation frequency thereof.
A phase lock loop comprising the above the multiplier 62, the phase detector 63, the loop filter 64, the adder 65 and the VCO 66 constitutes a phase lock loop (PLL), while decoded data are taken out from the multiplier 62.
Generally, in a coherent detection scheme such as the PLL, it is arranged that the VCO 66 to output a reference carrier is first swept until the carrier is captured and a rapid carrier phase acquisition can be possible even in the presence of carrier frequency offset. In this carrier phase acquisition process, the bandwidth of the phase lock loop is made wider so that the frequency pull-in range of the PLL is widened and the phase acquisition time shortens. Once the carrier is acquired, the bandwidth of a loop is made narrower so that following and holding the phase lock becomes more favorable against a noise. In other words, to satisfy mutually contrary requirements in the carrier acquisition process and after the acquisition, switching the loop bandwidth is required. Thus, means for controlling the sweep of the reference carrier and the switchover of the PLL need to be provided. As regards this prior art, there is a description, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,973.
Furthermore, in the mobile satellite communications directed to mobile terminals or mobile stations such as cars, ships and airplanes, the environment on transmission path differs from that of a satellite communication between fixed stations and countermeasures be required in which the environment is taken into consideration. For example, for attenuation of received signals (shadowing) caused by a building, trees, poles-or other obstacles on the transmission path, immediately detect a shadowing state, stop an unnecessary processing or control during shadowing and hold a state of being shown in a phase synchronized state so that the phase lock is again established rapidly after a signal is recovered. At that time, means for detecting a shadowing and preparing for the shadowing and means for starting a rapid re-acquisition processing after the recovery of a signal are required.
And, according to a conventional device shown in FIG. 1, after detecting a unique word out of the decoded data. taken from the multiplier 66 with aide of a unique word (UW) detection circuit 67, supplying the detected signal to the frame synchronization circuit 68 and judging whether the frame synchronization is established or not, the frequency sweep control circuit 69 is controlled on the basis of the judged results and a frequency sweep operation, loop band switching and control during shadowing are performed in accordance with a control signal issued from the frequency sweep control circuit 69 to the adder 65.
When estimating the carrier frequency offset by means of Fourier transformation and acquiring the carrier, by sampling data after the detection of an input signal and processing the sampled data, to acquire the carrier efficiently and with high reliability is made possible. For this reason, detecting an input signal becomes an important key.
Thus, received signal detectors has thus far been known for detecting the input signals of a predetermined frequency from input signals of various frequencies by using a wide-band filter and a narrow-band filter (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 101826/1990). FIG. 2 is a block diagram of such a conventional received signal detector.
In this conventional received signal detector, received signals having passed through a wide-band filter 71 having a wide pass frequency band are supplied to each of the narrow-band filters 72 and 73. The narrow-band filter 72 has a narrow-band frequency characteristic allowing signals of a desired band around a predetermined frequency f1 to pass. On the other hand, the narrow-band filter 73 has a narrow-band frequency characteristic allowing signals of a band around a predetermined frequency f2 adjacent to said predetermined frequency f1 to pass.
Thus, from the narrow-band filter 72, signals of a desired signal band around the frequency f1, noise included, are taken out and power is detected by a power detector 74, then averaged by the averaging circuit 76 and supplied to the comparator circuit 79. On the other hand, from the narrow-band filter 73, almost noise components of a band around the frequency f2 are taken out and power is detected by a power detector 75, then averaged by the averaging circuit 77 and supplied to the threshold setting circuit 78.
The threshold setting circuit 78 sets a threshold serving as the reference for the detection of signals in dependence on an input level. The comparator circuit 79 compares the signal level in a desired signal band from the averaging circuit 76 and the threshold from the threshold setting circuit 78 and outputs a detection signal showing that a signal in the desired signal band has been received if the signal level in the desired signal band is higher than the threshold.
Above described conventional apparatus has some problems as follows.
The apparatus requires an implicated external circuit for avoiding false UW detections in case of the frame synchronization.
And, as with the mobile satellite communications, to diffuse a burst error caused by shadowing, the transmitter interleaves data including UW in a long frame unit (the frame length for interleave depends on a shadowing time, a received power variation period or the like) before transmission. In order to cope with this, the receiver detects an interleaved UW in the frame and achieves the synchronization. Accordingly, if the frame length need to be made longer, the conventional apparatus has a problem that it takes so much time for lengthening the frame length to achieve the frame synchronization.
In addition, the above conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 2 has a problem that the need not only of a power measuring system for signals themselves but also of another power measuring system for setting the standard of signal detection brings about an increase in hardware scale and an increase in signal processing.

Received signal detector for digital demodulator


Systems and methods are described for supporting routing intelligence for evaluating routing paths based on performance measurements. The routing intelligence may include processes executed in a self-contained device. This device may control one or more edge routers, based on performance data from end users. In other embodiments, the routing intelligence device may be used solely to monitor one or more edge routers, producing reports but not effecting any changes to routing. Routing decisions may be injected to the edge routers via BGP updates. The devices may be stationed at the premises of a multihomed organization, such as an enterprise, ISP, government organization, university, or other organization supporting a sub-network coupled to an internetwork. In other embodiments, the routing intelligence comprises processes executed on a router.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of networking. In particular, the invention relates to prioritizing and queuing updated routing information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Internetworks such as the Internet currently comprise Autonomous Systems, which exchange routing information via exterior gateway protocols. Amongst the most important of these protocols is the Border Gateway Protocol, or BGP. BGPv4 constructs a directed graph of the Autonomous Systems, based on the information exchanged between BGP routers. Each Autonomous System in identified by a unique 16 bit AS number, and, by use of the directed graphs, BGP ensures loop-free routing amongst the Autonomous Systems; BGP also enables the exchange of additional routing information between Autonomous Systems. BGP is further described in several RFCs, which are compiled in The Big Book of Border Gateway Protocol RFCs, by Pete Loshin, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The Border Gateway Protocol provides network administrators some measure of control over outbound traffic control from their respective organizations. For instance, the protocol includes a LOCAL_PREF attribute, which allows BGP speakers to inform other BGP speakers within the Autonomous System of the speaker's preference for an advertised route. The local preference attribute includes a degree of preference for the advertised route, which enables comparison against other routes for the same destination. As the LOCAL_PREF attribute is shared with other routers within an Autonomous System via IBGP, it determines outbound routes used by routers within the Autonomous System.
A WEIGHT parameter may also be used to indicate route preferences; higher preferences are assigned to routes with higher values of WEIGHT. The WEIGHT parameter is a proprietary addition to the BGPv4 supported by Cisco Systems, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. In typical implementations, the WEIGHT parameter is given higher precedence than other BGP attributes.
The performance knobs described above are, however, rather simple, as they do not offer system administrators with sufficiently sophisticated means for enabling routers to discriminate amongst routes. There is a need for technology that enables greater control over outbound routing policy. In particular, there is a need to allow performance data about routes to be exchanged between routers. Additionally, system administrators should be able to fine tune routing policy based upon sophisticated, up-to-date measurements of route performance and pricing analysis of various routes.

Method and apparatus for performance and cost optimization in an internetwork