A weldless grating comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending primary load-bearing members, a plurality of secondary load-bearing members, a plurality of tertiary load-bearing members, a first rod member extending through the lower part of the tertiary load-bearing members and through the primary load-bearing members for locking purposes, and a second rod member extending through the upper part of the tertiary load bearing members, the upper portion of the tertiary load bearing members and the second rod member designed to be encapsulated in a layer of concrete to anchor a wear layer of concrete to the weldless grating.

This invention relates to grids or gratings useful for bridge decks, walkways, drain gratings and the like and more particularly, this invention relates to concrete overlaid grids or gratings that are constructed and held together without welding.
In making prior gratings for bridge decks, whether the deck is open or filled with concrete, a certain amount of welding is performed to hold or bind the individual components together. That is, if the grid is used for open grating or open bridge deck, the main load-bearing members, secondary load-bearing members and tertiary load-bearing members are welded together, usually by puddle welding, to hold the members together and give the deck or grating strength. Even if the grid or deck is to be encased in concrete, still some welding is required to hold the assembly in a rigid configuration until the concrete hardens. If only minimal welding is performed, then the deck or grid work when encased in concrete has a decreased level of strength. Thus, for peak bridge strength, the various components of the grating or bridge deck must be fastened together to perform as a unit. When a concrete wear layer is provided on top of the grid, it is very important that the wear layer is securely fastened to the grid to provide for high strength.
Various deck or grating systems have been proposed in the art, and the members comprising the grating deck are welded together. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,260,023 discloses a bridge floor and surfacing component. The bridge floor comprises parallel bearer bars and cross bars. The cross bars are pressure welded into the tops of the bearer bars.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,486 discloses a method of assembling a steel grid and concrete deck wherein the primary load bearing bars are formed with openings to receive slotted secondary load bearing bars that are passed through the primary load bearing bars. However, the patent discloses that tack welds are used to temporarily hold the grating in its desired configuration. A concrete component encases at least the top surface of the grating base member and secures the elements of the grating base member together.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,128,753 discloses a steel floor construction having a series of parallel main bars in spaced relationship. Each of the main bars is provided with a plurality of rectangular-shaped openings. The openings are designed to permit the insertion thereon and the positioning of two cross bars. A third set of bar is placed in slots in the cross bars. After the members are assembled, the entire construction may be welded together to maintain the different parts in position.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,190,214 discloses a grating wherein a desired number of parallel spaced apart main bearer bars with intermediate bearer bars of less depth are placed between the main bearer bars. The main bearer bars and intermediate bearer bars are connected at their tops by cross bars secured thereto by electric pressure welding. Carrier bars which pass through slots in the main bearer bars are welded to the intermediate bearer bars. Also, carrier bars are welded to the main bearer bars.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,645,985 discloses an open floor grating having a plurality of longitudinal primary members, a plurality of transverse secondary members welded to and extending between the primary members. A plurality of tertiary members are welded to the secondary members. A rod is inserted through holes in the webs of the primary members and welded thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,834,267 discloses a grating comprised of a plurality of spaced parallel main longitudinal bars and a plurality of spaced parallel lacing bars and tertiary longitudinal bars intermediate the main bars. Bottom bars are inserted through holes in the webbing of the main bars. The intersection between the lacing bars and the tertiary bars are welded and the bottom bar is welded to the webbing of the main bar.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,025 discloses a self-interlocking grille consisting of a plurality of metallic or plastic strips or flats or bars with certain types of notches and holes disposed along the length of the strip or flats or bars in a regular interval, which are used together with a plurality of rods in assembling a variety of interlocking grills.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,021 discloses an exodermic deck conversion method for converting a conventional grid deck to an exodermic deck. Tertiary load bearing bars are placed on top of the grating parallel to and between the primary load bearing bars. A plurality of shear connectors, such as vertical studs, are welded or attached to the surface of the grating. It will be seen from the above that in gratings and bridge decks, usually some form of welding or cement is used to hold the assembly together.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,486 discloses a weldless pavement module and a method for making a weldless pavement module. Each of the primary load bearing bars is formed with openings for receiving slotted secondary load bearing bars which are passed through the primary load bearing bars in a substantially horizontal position and which are rotated into a vertical position. The size and shape of the openings and the slots permit the combination of primary load bearing bars and secondary load bearing bars to be skewed to form a nonrectangular parallelogram configuration. Simple tack welds are used to temporarily hold the grating in its desired configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,243 discloses a deck for structural floors including bridge floors, road beds, pedestrian walkways, or the like, comprises a composite structure of a grid component and a top component. The grid component is preferably made of steel and includes a plurality of main bearing bars and a plurality of distribution bars oriented perpendicular to the main bearing bars. The top component is preferably made from reinforced concrete. The upper portions of either the main bearing bars or the distribution bars are embedded in the reinforced concrete component permitting horizontal shear transfer and creating a composite deck structure which maximizes the use of tensile strength of steel and the compressive strength of concrete.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,128 discloses a prefabricated metal deck form to provide bridge deck construction and/or bridge deck replacement. The construction is simplified to both shorten construction time and to save on construction costs. The deck form, including a concrete slab is sufficient to sustain both dead loads and heavy, live loads on a bridge.
However, welding gratings or deck structures have the problem that toxic fumes are released into the atmosphere causing health hazards to the welders and pollution of the environment. Welding of structures such as bridge decks results in curling or deforming of the deck as the welds cool. Thus, the design of the deck is complicated in that the curling or deforming must be accommodated in the design. Further, welding has the disadvantage that it is time consuming and often is the rate-determining step at which decks can be built. Welding also requires that the gratings or deck assemblies be maintained in jigs prior to starting the welding process. This is an additional, undesirable step in the process of making a bridge deck. Further, welds on bridge decks have the problem of cracking either with use or as the temperature cycles between winter and summer. It is desirable to rustproof gratings by galvanizing. However, because galvanizing is destroyed by welding, the welded grating or deck is often galvanized as a unit. However, this also results in temperature cyclization and warping of the bridge deck with the result that welds often break, detrimentally affecting the integrity of the deck.
Thus, it will be seen that there is a great need for an improved bridge deck or grating which will eliminate these problems and will provide for an improved deck or grating structure. The present invention provides such a structure.


A double-shot molded button includes a main portion including an operation surface and at least one inserted portion embedded in the main portion. The inserted portion includes an exposed surface exposed from the operation surface to configure a symbol for denoting an operation function and being pressed. An orthographic projection image of the inserted portion on the exposed surface is enclosed within the exposed surface. A method for making the double-shot molded button is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to buttons, and particularly, to a double-shot molded button, and a method for making the double-shot molded button.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In order to control electronic devices such as media players and mobile phones, control buttons bearing graphic symbols such as letters, numbers and other symbols are widely used. The specific graphic symbols define corresponding functions of the control buttons. The buttons are typically made by a double-shot molding technology. A melted opaque material is first injected into a mold to form a base part containing a symbol. A melted translucent material is then injected to surround the symbol.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 together, a typical double-shot molded button 10 is illustrated. The button 10 includes a main portion 101, an inserted portion 102, and a base portion 103 supporting the inserted portion 102. The main portion 101 includes an operation surface 104 and a bottom surface 105 opposite to the operation surface 104. The inserted portion 102 and the base portion 103 are integrally formed and embedded in the main portion 101. The inserted portion 102 protrudes from the base portion 103 to the operation surface 104 of the main portion 101. The inserted portion 102 has several distal ends 102a opposite to the base portion 103 exposed to align with the operation surface 104 such that specific symbols are constructed to define a specific function. A user can thus operate a certain button 10 selected according to the specific symbol to carry out a desired operation.
However, to accommodate thinner electronic devices, the button 10 is designed thinner, a projection image of the base portion 103 is visible on the operation surface 104 of the main portion 101. In addition, if the main portion 101 is made of translucent materials, the projection image can be also seen on the operation surface 104 of the main portion 101. Therefore, boundaries that the operation surface 104 surrounds the distal ends 102a of the inserted portion 102 would be blurred by the projection image of the base portion 103.
What is needed, therefore, is a double-shot molded button that overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages. A method for making the double-shot molded button is also desired.

Double-shot molded button and method for making the same

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


Peptide aldehydes or ketone derivatives are particularly efficient for stabilizing subtilisin-type proteases in aqueous compositions such as liquid detergents, including peptide compounds with OH-substituted phenylalanine aldehyde as the C-terminal residue.

Subtilisin-type proteases are well known in liquid aqueous detergents, particularly for use on laundry washing. A generally encountered problem in such liquid detergents is the degradation by the subtilisin of other enzymes in the composition and of the subtilisin itself. Consequently, the stability of the subtilisin and other enzymes in the liquid detergent composition is reduced, resulting in a liquid detergent with a reduced wash performance.
The prior art has dealt extensively with improving the storage stability of enzymes in liquid detergents, for example by adding various subtilisin inhibitors or stabilizers. Boric acid and boronic acids are known to reversibly inhibit proteolytic enzymes.
The use of peptide aldehydes for stabilizing certain proteases in liquid detergents is disclosed in WO 94/04651, WO 98/13458, WO 98/13459, WO 98/13460 and WO 98/13462. More specifically, WO94/04651 discloses the use of the peptide aldehydes Phe-Gly-Ala-PheH and Phe-Gly-Ala-LeuH for stabilizing subtilisin-type proteases. WO94/04651 also discloses Leu-Leu-TyrH as a suitable peptide aldehyde for stabilizing chymotrypsin-type proteases. Furthermore, WO94/04651 proposes methyl carbamate or methyl urea as an N-terminal protecting group of the peptide aldehydes. WO98/13460 discloses the use of peptide protease inhibitors, either peptide aldehydes or trifluromethyl ketones, where the peptide chain contains 2-5 amino acids and the aldehyde/trifluromethyl ketone is derived from the amino acids alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylglycine, phenylalanine or homophenylalanine and where the N-terminal protection group is preferably a sulphonamide or amidophoshate.
WO2007/141736, WO2007/145963 and WO2007/145964 disclose the use of a reversible peptide protease inhibitor to stabilize liquid detergent compositions. US2003/157088 describes compositions containing enzymes stabilized with inhibitors.
WO 96/41638 and WO 2005/105826 disclose peptide aldehydes and ketones.


‘FL03-228’ is a new and distinct southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) variety distinguished by a very low chilling requirement, tolerance to fungal leaf diseases that cause defoliation, and fruit that are large, firm, and sweet, with a small, dry picking scar.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) named 'FL03-228'. 'FL03-228' is a blueberry clone distinguished by its low chilling requirement, vigorous, upright-spreading bush, and sweet, firm berries that ripen in a concentrated period from late-March through April when grown under evergreen conditions. Several hundred plants of 'FL03-228' have been propagated by softwood stem cuttings in Gainesville, Fla. USA and near Lalla Mimouna, Morocco, and the resulting plants have all been phenotypically indistinguishable from the original plant. Contrast is made to 'Jewel' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,807), an important variety worldwide southern highbush blueberry production. The claimed plant is important because it is has larger and firmer fruit than 'Jewel' during a similar harvest period, and it is more resistant to fungal leaf diseases than 'Jewel'.
'FL03-228' originated as a seedling from a cross between the proprietary parent 'FL00-30' (unpatented) as the female (seed) parent and 'Farthing' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,341) as the male (pollen) parent. This cross was made as part of a breeding program in a greenhouse at Gainesville, Fla. USA, in February 2000. The seedling was planted in a high-density field nursery in May 2001, and the first fruit were evaluated in April 2002. After the second year of fruiting in the field, in the spring of 2003, 'FL03-228' was asexually propagated by softwood stem cuttings in Citra, Fla., and an experimental 15-plant test plot was established as part of a variety test at Windsor, Fla. USA, in January 2004. 'FL03-228' was not repropagated for further testing in Florida, but based on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of this plot, 'FL03-228' was repropagated by softwood stem cuttings and experimental test plots ranging from 50 to several hundred plants were established near Lalla Mimouna, Morocco. These plots have been observed during flowering and ripening each year, and no mutations or off-type plants have been observed.
'FL03-228' differs from the proprietary parent 'FL00-30' (unpatented) in that 'FL03-228' has a greater tendency toward evergreeness and earlier maturing fruit. 'FL03-228' differs from the parent 'Farthing' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,341) in that 'FL03-228' has a greater tendency toward evergreeness, is earlier maturing, and has better blue color. 'FL03-228' differs from the commercial variety 'Jewel' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,807), an important variety planted worldwide for early production, in that 'FL03-228' has high yields of large, firm fruit during an earlier, concentrated harvest period. 'FL03-228' also is less susceptible to fungal leaf diseases that cause defoliation than 'Jewel'.


In compressing an image in units of blocks, the image is compressed in accordance with the size of a redundant portion of the image to increase the compression factor of the image data. An image compression apparatus for encoding an image in units of blocks includes a size discrimination unit for discriminating a block image size suitable for encoding and compressing a predetermined image area, a generation unit for dividing the image area to generate a plurality of block images having different sizes on the basis of the discrimination result of the size discrimination unit, and a compression unit for compressing each block image data representing a block image and generated from the generation unit, on the basis of the size of the block image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for encoding image data.
2. Related Background Art
In conventional compression encoding of multi-value data, a block consisting of a plurality of pixels is extracted or formed from image data, and compression encoding is performed in units of blocks. In the JPEG, MPEG, and H.261 schemes as the international standard schemes for image encoding, a block having a predetermined block size of 8 (horizontal).times.8 (vertical) pixels is used.
This block data is processed by DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) to obtain a transform coefficient. This transform coefficient is quantized, and the quantized data is encoded to obtain a variable-length compressed code, e.g., a Huffman code.
This image compression encoding can provide an enhanced compression effect because most of the multi-value natural images have very large redundant portions. The redundant portions include a flat portion obtained when a plurality of adjacent pixel values have close values, and a monotonous gradient portion obtained when most of small areas in an image have monotonous luminance gradients. The average information volume obtained upon DCT operations is decreased because the 0th and 1st DCT bases match the form of a redundant portion, thereby exhibiting a compression effect.
If the formed block is flat or has a monotonous gradient, the compression factor can be increased. Otherwise, the word length increases upon DCT transform, thereby decreasing the compression factor.
As described above, compression coding is conventionally performed in units of blocks each having a size of 8.times.8 pixels. For this reason, when a block subjected to compression encoding has a large number of redundant portions, the compression factor can be increased. However, when the number of redundant portions is small, the compression factor is decreased. This problem is not limited to encoding using DCT, but also applies to other block encoding schemes such as encoding using a difference value.


An image processing apparatus that enables to prolong lives of device parts of which lives are limited by preventing unnecessary returns from the power saving mode, and reduce unnecessary power consumption. A first living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus to input a trigger. A second living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus for other purposes. A switching unit switches a mode from a first electric power mode to a second electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit does not detect the living body, and maintains the first electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit detects the living body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus (an image forming apparatus), and particularly relates to the image processing apparatus that is characterized in a human body (living body) detection technique for switching an electric power mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional image processing apparatus supports a power saving mode in which electric power supplied to almost all units inside the apparatus is cut in order to achieve power saving. Since a return to a normal mode from the power saving mode needs to turn on a power, time is taken, which may impair a user's convenience.
In order to solve the problem, some conventional image processing apparatuses that support the power saving mode are provided with a human body detection unit and return to the normal mode from the power saving mode when detecting a human body (for example, see Japanese laid-open patent publication (Kokai) No. H11-202690 (JP H11-202690A)). This has an effect to shorten an apparent starting time for a user.
In the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, since the image processing apparatus returns to the normal mode whenever the user approaches the image processing apparatus, the apparatus uselessly returns to the normal mode even when it is unnecessary.
For example, it is necessary to return to the normal mode when the user operates an operation unit. However, it is unnecessary to return the image processing apparatus from the power saving mode when coming to pick up ejected paper to a paper ejection unit, when supplementing paper to a paper feeding unit, and when supplying toner. Unnecessary start-up of the image processing apparatus uselessly consumes lives of devices of which the numbers of times of start-up are limited.
For example, the devices of which lives are limited include a HDD, a relay that turns on/off electric power in an electric power source unit, a fuse used in the electric power source unit, etc. Moreover, unnecessary electric power is consumed until the once-started image processing apparatus shifts to the power saving mode again.


The present invention relates to communication systems and methods and more particularly to a system and method for optimizing the bandwidth of a point to multipoint wireless system by synchronizing transmit and receive modes of various hubs and sectors. The inventive method and system provides an optimal guard time between transmit and receive modes. Moreover, the inventive system and method utilizes a control channel located in a guard space associated with a data channel to provide synchronization telemetry to facilitate dynamically variable transmit and receive modes.

The present invention relates to communication systems and methods and more particularly to a system and method for optimizing the bandwidth of a point to multipoint wireless system by synchronizing transmit and receive modes.
Wireless radio links have increasingly become important to provide data communication links for a variety of applications. For example, Internet Service Providers have begun to utilize wireless radio links within urban settings to avoid the installation expense of traditional wired connections or optical fiber. It may be advantageous to utilize wireless radio link systems to provide service to a plurality of users in a point to multipoint architecture. Point to multipoint systems typically consist of a plurality of hub units servicing a plurality of sub units (sometimes referred to as remote units, nodes, or subscriber units). The subs are typically associated with individual nodes on the system. For example, an individual sub unit may be connected to LAN to allow PC's on the LAN to bridge to other networks via the point to multipoint system. Each sub unit communicates via a wireless channel with a particular hub unit. In a point to multipoint system, the hub unit may control communication between a portion of the plurality of sub units associated with a particular coverage area. The hub units schedule transmit and receive bursts to and from sub units. The hub units may distribute data packets received from a particular sub unit to another sub unit within the same coverage area via such frames, to a traditional wired network backbone, or to another hub unit.
A point to multipoint system, such as disclosed in the above referenced and commonly assigned patent application entitled "FREQUENCY REUSE FOR TDD," contains a plurality of adjacently located hub units providing an aggregate coverage area. Additionally, these hubs may have their individual coverage areas divided into particular sectors—such as 30 or 90 degree sectors. Additionally, the hubs may utilize frequency division or other techniques to provide a plurality of communication channels.
Channel reuse techniques have developed to allow reuse of channels within a network without introducing unacceptable levels of interference. The purpose of these channel reuse techniques is maximize channel availability while avoiding co-channel interference between neighboring hubs. Clearly, these channel reuse techniques are valuable tools to increasing the bandwidth of point to multipoint systems. However, according to the present invention it has been realized that point to multipoint systems contain architectural characteristics that may be exploited to allow optimization of channel availability greater than that available with traditional channel reuse techniques while avoiding co-channel interference.
For example, data traffic over a point to multipoint system may be bursty, rather than at a fixed or continuous data rate. Specifically, an Internet browser application executed on a sub unit would typically require significant down link bandwidth while downloading HTML code from a website, but would require little or no bandwidth while a user reads the display associated with the HTML code. Additionally, the bandwidth requirements of many applications such as browsers may be asymmetric. Specifically, Internet browsers often download a large amount of data, but upload proportionally very little. Accordingly, point to multipoint systems may implement dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) techniques to maximize the data throughput associated with asymmetric, bursty traffic.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method to maximize the bandwidth of point to multipoint systems in accordance with the unique characteristics of point to multipoint systems as between particular portions of the network.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a system and method for synchronized dynamic allocation of bandwidth.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a system and method for synchronization of receive and transmit modes of sectors or other portions of an associated group of hub units to maximize the bandwidth of point to multipoint systems.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a system and method for sector to sector telemetry in point to multipoint systems.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an efficient communication channel for use with the invention systems and methods that allows synchronization of neighboring hubs while permitting rapid dynamic allocation of bandwidth in individual hubs.
It is still an additional object of the present invention to provide a pattern of frequency re-use in a wireless communication system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a repeatable pattern of frequency re-use in a wireless communication system comprised of sixteen cells in a four-by-four grid using two polarizations per communication frequency.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a repeatable pattern of frequency re-use in a wireless communication system comprised of sixteen cells grouped in four sub-clusters of four cells in which facing sectors in the pattern are synchronized.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of reducing co-channel and/or adjacent channel interference by a pattern of frequency re-use.
These and other objects, features and technical advantages are achieved by a system and method which operate in a point to multipoint system comprising a plurality of hubs and a plurality of subs distributed within coverage areas associated with the hubs. The point to multipoint system preferably divides its communication bandwidth into channels utilizing spectrum division techniques, such as frequency division, time division, or orthogonal code division. Also, the hubs communicate to the subs within their coverage areas via sector antennae. By utilizing spectrum division and sector antennas, preferred embodiments of the point to multipoint system coordinate channel allocation via a channel reuse plan. Additionally, preferred embodiments divide individual channels into transmit and receive modes via a Time Duplex Division (TDD) scheme via the same channel. In this TDD scheme, a hub transmits information to subs in the transmit mode and receives information from subs in the receive mode. Moreover, the hubs of the point to multipoint system preferably may dynamically allocate bandwidth between the transmit and receive modes to achieve asymmetric communication modes. Also, the preferred embodiment subs utilizing the present invention comprise directional antenna.
Co-channel interference such as in adjacent sectors of neighboring hubs is a significant concern. Specifically, hub to hub exposure is problematic, since hub antennas are typically directed toward other hubs of the network in order to provide composite coverage of a service area. For example, preferred embodiment hubs may utilize sector antennas covering between 30 to 90 degrees in azimuth, which are oriented to face similar sector antennas at neighboring hubs. Sub unit exposure is not as a significant issue for the preferred embodiments point to multipoint systems, because sub units of these point to multipoint systems utilize highly directional antenna. Accordingly, the subs units may not be exposed to significant co-channel interference from other sub units or other hub units.
Channel reuse plans may be utilized to mitigate hub to hub co-channel interference. For example, by carefully assigning channels for use by the hubs of a network, reuse performance of approximately 1 may be achieved. Moreover, through advanced channel planning techniques, such as shown and described in the above referenced patent application, entitled "FREQUENCY REUSE FOR TDD", and as described below, higher channel reuse performance may be achieved.
Nonetheless, a method or system optimization that would permit greater channel reuse would allow greater bandwidth for the system as a whole. The present invention achieves this goal in one embodiment by synchronizing transmit and receive modes of hubs. One embodiment of the present invention synchronizes dynamic bandwidth allocation of facing sectors of a cluster of geographically adjacent hubs, while allowing other sectors of these hubs to independently allocate bandwidth through frequency reuse and facing sector synchronization. The hubs are adjacent in the sense that the hubs are the nearest neighbor hubs in a particular direction. In this embodiment, guard time between transmit and receive modes is minimized by preferably selecting a guard time to accommodate the synchronization distance of just over two hub coverage radii. For example, where a maximum reuse is 6R, a reuse schedule of 9, with 30 degree sectors, 4.5 km cells, the guard time is approximately 100 μs or approximately 5% of the embodiment's channel capacity to accommodate propagation from a maximum distance in the reuse cluster. However, as the present invention synchronizes facing sectors of adjacent hubs, the synchronization distance is greatly reduced. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the guard time only occupies 0.5% of the channel capacity. Moreover, the computation requirements of the system are significantly reduced in this preferred embodiment, as a much smaller portion of the network is synchronized with respect to any particular synchronization determination. Also, the facing sector synchronization simplifies the implementation of synchronization telemetry.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a pattern of frequency re-use is described where a repeatable pattern of cells is employed to allow for re-use of a number of frequency assignments where there are two polarization modes available per frequency. Such a pattern of frequency re-use is especially useful when the number of frequency assignments, or communication channels, available for operation of a communication system is limited. In order to provide sufficient coverage for a particular operating area, a pattern of cells that re-use the available frequencies must be provided in order to avoid dead spots or to avoid interference between adjacent channels on the frequency spectrum used in the same area, known in the art as "adjacent channel interference" or interference between two cells using the same frequency with the same polarization in adjacent areas, known in the art as "co-channel interference".
Idealizing the shape of the cells in the pattern as circular and further idealizing each cell as having a similar radius, the shape of a repeatable pattern of such cells can be viewed as an overlay on a flat surface. Obviously, such idealizations such as a flat surface and substantially identical cells spaced at uniform distances rarely occur in the real world. However, it is to be understood that the present inventive system and method is not limited to such idealizations but rather is applicable to real world situations where the overall frequency re-use pattern can be used while taking into account minor variations to allow for obstructions, terrain features, dissimilar cell sizes, irregular spacing of cells, etc. While the disclosure of the invention below will discuss an idealized repeatable pattern composed of idealized cells, etc., such idealizations should not be construed as limitations of the invention.
For cells of substantially the same size and circular in shape, one arrangement of those cells in a multi-cell pattern may be seen as a square grid where the edge of two cells that are adjacent in the same rank or the same file are tangent at one point. In such an arrangement, cells that are diagonally adjacent are not tangent. In another multi-cell arrangement, a cell in the pattern is tangent to each of six adjacent cells. Such a pattern would appear as a honeycomb shape if the cells are idealized to be hexagonal in shape.
The inventors have determined empirically that for cells with 90° sectors, a minimum of eight frequency assignments and two polarizations are required for efficient frequency re-use for broadband wireless access systems. This is a reasonable requirement of frequency/polarization assignments for 90° sectorized cells in a time division duplex ("TDD") system considering the size of a typical license allocation of frequencies on a worldwide basis. For example, in Europe, the anticipated license allocation is 2×112 MHz or 224 MHz for the 28 GHz band and approximately 500 MHz for the 42 GHz band. Most of the North American broadband wireless access operators have allocations in excess of 200 MHz. An emerging popular channel size is 28 MHz in Europe and 25 MHz in North America. These channel sizes coupled with the anticipated license allocation of frequencies allows for eight or more available frequency channels.
While 90° sectors have some disadvantages over smaller sector sizes, such as 60°, 45°, and 30° sectors, 90° sector size is the baseline for planning for almost all broadband wireless access operators and standards groups. For example, RF performance is somewhat compromised for wide sectors relative to narrow sectors. Cell diameter is reduced thereby requiring a greater number of hubs/cells to cover a given area. Wider sectors also give rise to a greater possibility of co-channel and adjacent channel interference.
Despite the operational drawbacks of 90° sectors, there are significant economical advantages to 90° sector plans. One advantage is the lower cost of outdoor gear. With 90° sectors, fewer sectors and hence fewer radios, antennas, and associated equipment, both primary and redundant, are required when compared with smaller-sized sectors. Additionally, a significant cost to operators are roof rights. Landlords tend to charge for the right to place equipment of the roof of their building based on the number of antennas so 90° sectors translates into lower cost for roof rights. Also, wider sectors provide greater RF coverage which is an important benefit in the early deployment of a system.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

System and method for inband signaling for sector synchronization in a wireless communication system


A face mask system includes: a mask configured to be worn on a face of a user; and a cord extending continuously between a first end of the cord attached to the mask at a first attachment location and a second end of the cord attached to the mask at a second attachment location, wherein the cord forms a first ear loop configured to be worn around a first ear of the user, a second ear loop configured to be worn around a second ear of the user, and a neck loop configured to be worn on a neck of the user. The cord provides a pulley system that permits individual adjustment of a respective tightness of each of the first ear loop and the second ear loop.

Face masks are a type of personal protective equipment that are designed to reduce or eliminate airborne pollutants and/or pathogens from entering an airway of a user wearing the face mask. Face masks have become ubiquitous in the year 2020, with many jurisdictions and private enterprises requiring that individuals wear some type of face covering.


A conductor with improved magnetic field per current ratio is disclosed. The conductor includes a magnetic liner lining a second surface and sides thereof. The magnetic liner is preferably a super-paramagnet with high susceptibility or a ferromagnet with a microstructure where the size of the non-exchanged coupled micro domains is so small that their energy content is close to or small compared to kT that such films have super-paramagnetic properties and essentially behave like a paramagnet with high susceptibility.

Ferromagnetic elements are used, for example, to form non-volatile memory cells. A magnetic element typically includes bottom and top magnetic layers separated by a non-magnetic layer. The non-magnetic layer, for example, comprises an insulating material to form a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) type element. First and second conductors are magnetically coupled to the top and bottom magnetic layers to form a magnetic memory cell. One conductor is referred to as the bitline and the other is referred to as the wordline. The bitline and wordline are orthogonal to each other. A plurality of magnetic elements are interconnected by wordlines and bitlines to form an array.
The magnetic layers of an element are formed with magnetic vectors along an easy axis. The magnetic vector of one layer is fixed in a first direction along the easy axis (e.g., reference or fixed layer) and the magnetic vector of the other layer can be switched between first and second opposite directions along the easy axis (e.g., storage layer). As such, the magnetic vectors in the layers can be oriented parallel or antiparallel to each other. The top magnetic layer with switchable magnetic vector is referred to as the storage or free layer. The free layer might consist of two or more sub-layers that are coupled magnetically.
The direction of the vector in the storage layer can be switched by the application of a magnetic field generated by passing a current through one or both conductors. Depending on the magnetic field generated, the magnetic vector in the second layer either switches direction or remains the same. The magnetic element would have a first or second resistance value based on whether the magnetic vectors are oriented parallel or anti-parallel, representing a first or a second logic state being stored. For example, the magnetic element will have a high resistance value when the vectors of the layer are antiparallel to represent a logic 1 or a low resistance when the vectors are parallel to represent a logic 0. The states stored in the element can be read by passing a sense current through the element and sensing the difference between the resistances.
The magnitude of the magnetic field used to switch the magnetic vector is proportional to the magnitude of the current through the conductor. To reduce power consumption, it is desirable to increase the field per current ratio of the conductor. One conventional technique of increasing the field per current ratio is to provide a magnetic liner for conductors. Magnetic liners for conductors are described in, for example, Naji et al., "A low power 1 Mbit MRAM based on ITIMTJ bit cell integrated with Copper Interconnects," VLSI Conf. (2002)", and M. Durlam, P. Naji et al., "A low power 1 Mbit MRAM based on ITIMTJ bit cell integrated with Copper Interconnects," VLSI conference (2002).
U-shaped field keepers or ferromagnetic liners are known to increase the current induced magnetic switching field applied to magnetic elements sitting on top of a metal line containing such a ferromagnetic liner. Power consumption and chip size may thus be reduced as less current is needed to generate a given switching field; switches can thus be made smaller. Since for small magnetic elements (˜100 nm) it is expected that the switching fields will go up the switches will consume a significant amount of the chip area.
Ferromagnetic liners are typically made by wrapping a U-shaped (or up-side down U-shaped for the line above the TJ) ferromagnetic material around the metal line. The magnetization of the ferromagnetic liner material is along the long axis of the metal line, thus creating poles on both ends. It has been shown that at such poles the fringing field is of the order of 50 to 300 Gauss. The magnetic cells should thus be some distance from the line ends in order not to shift the switching point of the cells. A safe distance of about several micrometers can be calculated such a distance results in significant limitations of the chip layout since the arrays in memory chips should be packed as densely as possible.
Depending on current direction, ferromagnetic liners may also show a hysteresis effect. The fields for switching of the ferromagnetic liner magnetization direction are normally much higher than the fields for magnetic elements. There can be domain effects in a ferromagnetic liner, however, which allow a partially local switching of the ferromagnetic liner when a current is passed through the line. This partial switching broadens the switching field distribution for the magnetic elements and therefore significantly reduces the write margin.
The fringing fields and hystereses effects associated with a ferromagnetic liner thus limit the use of the ferromagnetic liner in a memory chip having tight element spacing and thousands of elements in a sub-array.

International Business Machines Corporation

Infineon Technologies North America Corporation


A method for increasing workable power output and run time duration of a battery backup system is disclosed. A plurality of battery groups is provided. A microprocessor electrically connects the power output of a first battery group and a second battery group to a UPS. The microprocessor monitors the output voltage of the first and second battery groups. When the monitored output voltage of the first and second battery group falls below a predetermined level, the microprocessor electrically disconnects from the UPS the first battery group and electrically connects to the UPS the power output of another of the plurality of battery groups. The first battery group is configured to be re-connectable to the UPS after a time period equal to or greater than necessary to permit the output voltage of the first battery group to recover to about its nominal voltage rating.

Operating data centers is expensive with respect to floor space, cooling, energy demand needs, etc. Battery systems and battery storage cabinets employed in data centers are also expensive, are heavy, and have maintenance needs proportional to their physical size, energy storage, and production.
Data centers employ battery-powered backup systems known as un-interruptable power supplies (UPS). These systems may be integrated into a main electrical power source and automatically become operational when a power outage or power instability occurs. The UPS may supply the necessary power to keep the data center running until a standby generator starts or may permit an orderly shutdown of servers. It is not uncommon for a data center that experiences a complete power outage (i.e., a crash) and loses of all of its servers (without an orderly shutdown) to incur substantial monetary losses before re-starting.
UPS's that employ battery systems are supplied in large enclosed steel cabinets (and sometimes exposed racks). When fully populated with batteries, these cabinets can weigh four to five thousand pounds or more. Conventional cabinets may be the size of an old fashion pay telephone booth (e.g., about 7 and ½ feet high) and typically reside in the data center rooms. Typically these cabinets operate at about 480 volts DC and provide up to about 150 amp-hours (ah) of energy. For example, if a UPS is configured to consume full energy in 15 minute, the effective consumption rate is about 600 ah. When operated at four times rated consumption, these batteries are highly stressed in terms of a rapid rate of chemical reaction and production of heat.
FIG. 1 depicts an electrical block diagram of a conventional UPS system employing 3 battery backup sources. Some data centers use very large batteries (e.g., 300 to 650 lbs each) that are wired in series in battery groups 4a-4n known as strings and the resulting strings are additionally wired in parallel and coupled to a UPS bus bar 6 as indicated in FIG. 1 to provide for long run times (as current may flow out of the battery groups 4a-4n during discharge and into the groups 4a-4n during re-charge by the UPS as indicated by the arrows 8). The conventionally wired system 2 may be so large as to fill multiple rooms at considerable cost.
Conventional UPS systems employ a rated system voltage of 360 vdc to 480 vdc with some systems having rated voltages between these two values. Rated output voltages are derived from multiples of a fundamental unit cell voltage of 2 volts, 4 volts, 6 volts, 8 volts, 12 volts or 16 volts (e.g., 40, 12 volt batteries wired in series to produce 480 vdc). Since most data centers need large amounts of power, several strings may be wired in parallel to provide a constant 480 voltage at significantly higher current. For example, a small to medium size data center may have six battery cabinets at 480 vdc with 150 ah of capacity configured to be drawn down at the time rate of 15 minutes. Each cabinet may have 600 amps of deliverable power (over 15 minutes) times six, or 3600 amps of power times 480 vdc for a total output of 1.7 megawatts (mw) of power. Certain conventional large data centers may have battery backup power supplies of as much as 25 megawatts.
Unfortunately, each megawatt-hour of battery power may cost up to 125 thousand dollars or more and weigh as much as 30 thousand pounds, take up considerable space, and use significant power to recharge. As a rule, the bigger the data center system and/or the bigger the battery back up system, the more cost and energy demand expense and footprint size. Often these systems may be placed in a very expensive building that may be located in very expensive areas (e.g., Manhattan).
Another shortcoming relates to battery chemistry. Puekert's law expresses a measure of battery chemistry inefficiency at full power demand with respect to a battery's electrolyte-cell plate junction. At this junction, chemicals may be consumed at such a high rate that they cannot be replenished rapidly enough. As a result, energy output degrades and battery power (voltage) drops off quickly. A conventional fully charged battery cell has an output voltage per cell of 2.35 vdc. These cells may be arranged in series (e.g., 6 cells) to provide about times 14.1 volts for a 12 volt rated battery.
A fully charged 2.35 volt cell in a 12 volt battery (six cells) will safely provide current until the individual cell drops to 1.65 vdc or down to a total of 9.9 volts output per fully-configured battery, at which the battery is considered to be dead or out of power. In such circumstances, a battery cabinet or the end of each battery string is provided with a circuit breaker with a low voltage trip solenoid. When the string voltage drops under a certain value, the circuit breaker disconnects the batteries from the load and the power is cut off. A fully charged 480 volt (DC) rated battery cabinet/string having an operating initial voltage of 564 vdc is considered dead and will trip a low-voltage circuit breaker at about 396 vdc. Low-voltage circuit breaking is provided for a number of reasons: (1) the batteries do not have sufficient power and thus the UPS cannot produce sufficient power to run a data center; (2) a battery may be permanently damaged if its voltage drop is too low and may never be fully rechargeable; (3) thermal runaway may result; and (4) cell polarity reversal can occur with serious consequences.
Thermal runaway occurs when battery chemistry reacts at such a rapid pace that the battery heats to its melting point (with often dangerous out-gassing). At this point, even with the energy load disconnected, the battery is sufficiently damaged and the reaction will continue, causing more heat, up to and including the battery's self-ignition point where fire or a violent explosion may occur. As a result, there are some significant obstacles to power supply design.
Returning to Peukert's Law (i.e., Peukert's Equation; see below), several chemistry related problems may result when attempting to discharge a battery at a higher discharge rate than specified. In fact, by slightly discharging a battery above or near its rated discharge rate (e.g., a 150 ah battery may be rated to be discharged for about one hour for up to 15 minutes), chemical reactions may occur at a rate that passes a limit and the batteries' total capacity may be degraded by a factor of 1.3 to 1.4. This chemical limitation is related to "interface charge," and from Peukert's Law, when a battery is charged or discharged, this action initially affects only the reacting chemicals which are at the interface (direct contact) between the electrodes and the electrolyte. With time, these chemicals at the interface, which may be called an interface charge, spread by diffusion throughout the volume of active material.
Peukert's Equation is a convenient way of characterizing cell behavior and of quantifying capacity offset in mathematical terms. Peukert's Equation is an empirical formula which approximates how the available capacity of a battery changes according to its rate of discharge. According to Peukert's Equation: C=InT, where "C" is the theoretical capacity of the battery expressed in amp-hours, "I" is the current, "T" is time, and "n" is the Peukert Number, a constant for the given battery. The equation shows that at higher currents, there is less available energy in a battery. The Peukert Number is directly related to the internal resistance of a battery. Higher currents translate to more losses and less available capacity.
The Peukert Number indicates how well a battery performs under continuous heavy currents. A value close to one indicates that the battery performs well; the higher the number, the more capacity is lost when the battery is discharged at high currents. The Peukert number of a battery is determined empirically. For Lead acid batteries, the number is typically between 1.3 and 1.4.

Data center battery enhancement method and system


An artificial airway device to facilitate lung ventilation in an unconscious patient comprises a rigid airway tube (10), which is curved to follow the airway of the patient, opening into the interior space or lumen of a mask portion (12) whose periphery (14) is adapted to seal around the inlet (36) to the larynx (38), and a rigid handle (9) mounted at the outer end of the airway tube (10) and curved away from the mouth of the airway tube (10).

British Patent Publications Nos. 2 111 394 A and 2 229 367 A describe artificial airway devices capable of facilitating lung ventilation in an unconscious patient, referred to hereinafter as "laryngeal masks". The insertion of a laryngeal mask needs to be undertaken by persons practised in the use of the mask and is not so effective in emergency situations where untrained personnel may be called to a patient. Furthermore, these devices suffer from the limitation that they do not offer the same degree of protection against aspiration of regurgitated gastric contents into the lungs as does an endotracheal tube. The latter device has long been established as the most reliable means of preventing such aspiration in the unconscious patient and consists of a tube with an inflatable cuff, inflation of which forms a seal against the wall of the trachea. The laryngeal mask by contrast forms a seal around the perimeter of the larynx by means of an inflatable elliptical cuff. The seal so formed depends on pressure against muscular structures which may by their contraction or relaxation Hence, the degree of protection against aspiration already afforded by the laryngeal mask would be enhanced by allowing intubation with an endotracheal tube, with the laryngeal mask in place. Attempts have been made to intubate through the airway tube of a conventional laryngeal mask and this has been found to be effective. However, only a small diameter endotracheal tube can be passed through the mask. Moreover, as the airway tube is flexible, the operation is awkward and not entirely suited to emergency procedures.

The Studio, St. Andrews, Abney Court Drive


A display apparatus includes; a substrate, a transistor formed on the substrate, a pixel electrode connected to the transistor, a wall surrounding the pixel electrode, the wall including a main wall and a sub wall, the main wall having a first height and the sub wall having a second height less than the first height of the main wall, an organic layer formed on the pixel electrode, a common electrode formed on the organic layer, and an encapsulation substrate coupled to the substrate.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a display apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof using an encapsulation substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as one of flat panel displays, an organic light emitting diode ("OLED") has become popular since OLED's have the advantages of requiring a low driving voltage, being relatively light weight and slim, having a wide viewing angle, having a high pixel response speed and other positive attributes.
The OLED display includes a light emitting layer which is made of an organic material, and which is formed on an insulation substrate. The light emitting layer is supplied with an electron and a hole to generate light. The light emitting layer is apt to be damaged by oxygen and moisture because the light emitting layer is formed of an organic material.
To protect the light emitting layer from oxygen and moisture, the OLED uses an encapsulation substrate formed of a glass or a metal. However, the encapsulation substrate is apt to be deformed since it is relatively thin to reduce the weight thereof. Therefore the deformation thereof becomes larger as the OLED display part increases in size.
As such, the deformed encapsulation substrate pushes against a display element, and accordingly, the display element deteriorates.

Display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof


A bearing device for use with of a motor, includes a worm-like thread, which is threaded to a rotor shaft, and which engages a worm wheel. The rotor shaft is supported by a pair of radial bearings. When the rotor shaft is not caused to bend, a third radial bearing is spaced away from the outer peripheral surface of the rotor shaft. When the rotor shaft is caused to bend under the counter force generated by the worm wheel, the rotor shaft is supported by the third radial bearing along the bend direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to bearing device for supporting a motor shaft. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a bearing device for use with a motor shaft having a worm gear on its rotor shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional motor shaft includes a worm-like thread that meshes in a worm wheel, so that rotational motion can be transferred between shafts that are disposed perpendicularly to each other. The output rotational speed is significantly reduced, and is a function of the gear ratio of the thread with respect to the worm wheel. This configuration is used in many applications where speed reduction is required, such as in power window motors, motors for reclining seats and wiper motors.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, a rotor shaft 80 of the motor includes a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is supported by a radial bearing 84 for preventing the rotor shaft 80, from shifting in the radial direction.
The rotational motion of the rotor shaft 80 is transferred to the worm wheel by the thread 86 of the worm gear. The counter force generated by the worm wheel affects the rotor shaft 80. The rotor shaft 80, whose ends are supported by the radial bearings 82 and 84, is caused to bend in the direction opposite to the worm wheel side, under the effect of the counter force. Therefore, the magnitude of the gear engagement between the thread 86 and the worm wheel becomes smaller. The rotational stress caused by the bend in the shaft 86, reduces its strength. The size of the rotor shaft 80 and the radius of the gear teeth would normally be increased in order to reduce its rotational stress. Consequently, the reduction in the size and weight of the motor is difficult to achieve.
The Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 60-103743 discloses an improved bearing device for a motor shaft, which addresses the foregoing drawbacks. In this bearing device, the rotor shaft 80 is supported by three radial bearings. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a first and second radial bearings 82 and 84 are provided at the distal and proximal ends of the rotor shaft 80, respectively. A third radial bearing 90 is also disposed at the central section of the rotor shaft 80, between the thread 86 and a rotor 88. When the rotor shaft 80 is supported at three points, the magnitude of the bend of the rotor shaft 80 is compensated by the third radial bearing 90. Therefore, the size and weight reduction in the motor can be achieved.
However, when the rotor shaft 80 is supported by three points, the axial centers of the three radial bearings 82, 84 and 90 should be aligned. An offset in the alignment of the three radial bearings 82, 84 and 90 or a dimensional error generated in the various assembled parts of the motor, generates friction that will impede the smooth rotation of the rotor shaft 80, such that the rotational speed of the rotor shaft is undesirably affected. Generally, if the rotational speed fluctuates, the current induced in a coil also fluctuates. Therefore, the electric drive circuit is undesirably affected by this current fluctuation, and it becomes difficult to maintain the motor performance. Furthermore, the offset in the alignment of the three radial bearings 82, 84 and 90 generates undesirable vibration, such that the rotation of the rotor shaft 80 becomes unstable.
Even if the rotor shaft 80 were supported at three points, the flexible bent of the rotor shaft 80 is not completely eliminated. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the distal end of the rotor shaft 80 contacts the inner peripheral surfaces of the associated radial bearings and generates noise. Noise is also similarly generated even when the rotor shaft 80 is supported at two points.
If the rotor shaft were bent at the vicinity of the thread, the motor would not smoothly start, since the radial bearing 82 does not support the rotor shaft 80 evenly.

Bearing device for supporting a motor shaft


A CPU module has a processor, cache memory, cache controller, and system interface attached to a processor bus. The system interface is attached to a system bus shared by memory, I/O, and other CPU modules. The cache controller requests control of the processor bus from the processor, and grants control to the system interface. The system interface uses the processor bus to store fill data obtained from memory into the cache in response to a read miss. The system interface also monitors system bus traffic and forwards the addresses of cache blocks to be invalidated to the cache controller over an invalidate bus. The cache controller requests control of the processor bus during a read miss to perform invalidates and writebacks. The processor grants control to the cache controller before the read miss completes, enabling the cache controller to proceed, and then re-issues the read. A protocol between the cache controller and the system interface ensures that cache fills, invalidates, and writebacks are done in the correct order to maintain data coherency. As part of this protocol, the cache controller decides when the system interface may proceed with a fill, and grants the processor bus to the system interface accordingly.

Modern computer systems are often designed to operate with multiple processors communicating with a shared memory. The processors and the memory communicate through a system bus. Also, input and output modules are usually connected to the system bus.
The design of a processor module, hereinafter referred to as a CPU module, often includes a cache memory. The cache memory provides fast local memory data to the processor chip. Typically, the CPU module incorporates a module-level processor bus. The components of the CPU module often include the CPU processor chip, a system interface which connects directly to the system bus, and the cache memory; and these components communicate using the processor bus.
The protocol in the module level processor bus is determined, in many cases, by the design of the processor chip. An often utilized protocol for the processor chip is that the processor chip serves as a bus master, and other components on the processor bus serve as slaves. A frequently used protocol is that the processor chip responds to a single "bus request" line and provides a grant signal on a single "bus grant" line. Receipt of the bus grant signal by another component connected to the processor bus permits the other component to gain control of the bus and perform transactions. When only a processor chip and a system interface chip compete for control of the bus, this simple control system is adequate, as the system interface chip may control the cache.
In previous designs, using the less complex cache write-through protocol, there is no requirement that the cache control chip obtain control of the processor bus. The cache control chip need only respond to signals on the processor bus, and control is managed by the system interface, as disclosed by Sullivan, et al, "The VAX 6000 Model 400 Scalar Processor Module", in Digital Technical Journal Vol. 2, No. 2, Spring 1990, Pages 27-35; and Durdan, et al, "An Overview of the VAX 6000 Model 400 Chip Set", Digital Technical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, Pages 36-51, Spring 1990. The processor chip and the system interface can function with a simple master-slave protocol with the processor chip responding to a single "bus request" line and granting access to the bus on a single "bus grant" line.
However, in a more complex control system having a cache write-back protocol, the simple master slave control of the processor bus may prove inadequate because a more complex control protocol is required. For example, the more complex control protocol of a cache write-back system may require a cache control chip to be added to the CPU module, and then there are at least three chips competing for access to the processor bus: the processor chip; the system interface; and the cache control chip. For three separate chips competing for access to the processor bus, the single master slave protocol is inadequate. And the single master slave protocol is particularly inadequate in the situation where the processor does not have any simple provision for acquiring the information necessary to decide whether the cache control chip or the system interface should gain access to the processor bus; and further where the processor has no simple way of granting control of the processor bus to a selected one of, the cache control chip or the system interface.

Method and apparatus for controlling a processor bus used by multiple processor components during writeback cache transactions


A suspended scaffolding system (100) including a connector system (32,33) adapted to engage a track (31) which in use is in contact with the surface of a structure (30), an arm (34, 39) connects the suspended scaffolding system to the connector system, so in use the suspended scaffolding system is suspended below the structure. In a first embodiment, the connector system has connectors that permit relative movement with respect to the track in two orthogonal planes. In a second embodiment a moveable counterweight (37) is provided on the suspended scaffolding system, adapted to be displaced from a first position to a second position to change the center of gravity of the suspended scaffolding system. In a third embodiment, a track connector system is provided comprising at least three fasteners each of which is in contact with the track and adapted to be temporarily removed from the track to permit the suspended scaffolding system to negotiate obstacles.

Many different structures span across a distance of for example, ten or more meters, including bridges and viaducts. These structures require temporary access from beneath during construction, inspection and maintenance routines, however access can be difficult. One method of access is to build a temporary scaffold from the ground up but this is unfeasible in many circumstances. Another method is to build a walkway or gantry whilst the structure is being built, however this increases costs at that stage, requires foresight and also may require security to prevent unauthorised access of the gantry.
It has therefore been recognised for a long time that a temporary structure, that is cheap and easy to deploy; is adaptable to a variety of different locations and situations; and which is safe and easy to use is wanted for construction, inspection and maintenance.


The catheter comprises a catheter tube formed of two superposed tubular layers of materials which differ from one another. A tubular mediator layer is arranged between the layers to provide an adhesive anchorage for the layers.

This invention relates to an interventional catheter comprising a catheter tube having two superposed layers of materials secured together and with mechanical properties differing from one another, a guidewire lumen in the catheter tube for the sliding fit of a guidewire, and a balloon with a distal end sealingly surrounding the catheter tube whereby the catheter tube has an inner layer forming the guidewire lumen and an outer layer forming an outer surface of the catheter tube.
Over the wire catheters have been widely used for interventions such as percutaneous transluminal cardiovascular angioplasty. A problem with these catheters is that the guidewire may clog into the guidewire lumen of the catheter, whereby the guidewire may follow the balloon upon withdrawal thereof after the inflation procedure thereby making it necessary to re-insert the guidewire into the treated area of the blood vessel for repositioning a balloon therein in case a second inflation is needed. A further problem is that the catheter has to achieve an acceptable compromise between the requirements of some stiffness to assure good pushability and some flexibility to assure kink resistance. In addition, the catheter has to permit safe attachment of the balloon to the catheter tube.
Monorail® technology, which provides for an entry of the guidewire distal of the balloon and an exit for the guidewire distal of the proximal end of the catheter tube, substantially reduces the risk of the guidewire clogging in the guidewire lumen because the length of frictional engagement between the guidewire and the guidewire lumen is strongly reduced. That is also of great help in the handling of balloon catheters for balloon exchange purposes. Though limited, the friction and clogging problem is, however, still existent.
Two layer catheter shafts have been developed. For example, the document WO 92/11893 describes an intra-aortic balloon apparatus comprising a hollow catheter in which is located an elongated member forming a central lumen extending out of the catheter at the distal end thereof. An aortic pumping balloon is positioned over the elongated member; the distal end of the balloon is bonded to a tip affixed to the distal end of the elongated member, and its proximal end is bonded to the distal end of the catheter. In order to achieve a balance of flexibility and remains and to avoid kinking, the elongated member is formed of an inner layer comprised of a soft elastomeric material to impart flexibility to the tubing and the outer layer is comprised of a hard plastic material to impart structural support to the elongated member. This balloon apparatus cannot be loaded with a guidewire and moved into tortuous vessels with the guidewire loaded inside the elongated member as the friction between guidewire and elongated member increases distinctively when the elongated member is shaped into curves. There would be therefore the risk that a spiral wound guidewire could be captured in the soft elastomeric plastic material of the inner layer of the elongated member. Although the outer layer of the elongated member that is coextruded onto the inner layer is formed of nylon, a material which is expected to be directly weldable to a wide variety of materials, this balloon apparatus cannot be introduced into narrow vessels or narrow stenoses, nor can it be passed through narrow punctures to enter the blood vessels. This is because of the relatively large profile of the folded balloon, due to the distal fixture of the balloon to the elongated member. The balloon is bonded to an intermediate tip element which in turn is bonded to the elongated member.
The document EP 0 650 740 A1 shows a catheter comprising a catheter tube having two superposed layers of materials secured in relation to one another and with mechanical properties differing from one another, a longitudinal lumen in the catheter tube for the sliding fit of a guidewire, and a balloon with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end sealingly surrounding the catheter tube, whereby the catheter tube has an inner layer forming the longitudinal lumen and an outer layer forming the outer surface of the catheter tube. In this catheter, the inner layer is formed of a material with lower friction coefficient than the material forming the outer layer, whereby there is no more risk of having the guidewire clogging in the guidewire lumen of the catheter tube.
In terms of two layers catheter shafts, it has been observed that in practical use the adhesion of the two layers of material was not absolutely satisfactory. Although the coextrusion technology currently used for making such catheter shafts seems to involve close molecular interpenetration of the materials forming the superposed layers of the shaft, it has been possible to observe separation of the two layers, for example at the place of insertion of the shaft over the guidewire. Furthermore, tear test effected on such structures has shown that the two layers can separate under extreme conditions of stress on the shaft.
It is an object of this invention to propose an interventional balloon catheter avoiding the aforesaid drawbacks. A further object of the invention is an interventional catheter structure which is versatile and which provides a fully controllable and easy to manufacture assembly. Still a further object of the invention is an interventional low profile balloon catheter that can be safely operated on a guidewire and moved into tortuous vessels and other extreme conditions. Various multilayer catheters are known in the art. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,627,844; 4,636,346; 5,403,292; 5,499,973; and 5,538,510.
All documents cited herein, including the foregoing, are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Embodiments provide a method for processing a digital picture, wherein the digital picture comprises a plurality of pixels. The method comprises dividing the digital picture into a plurality of blocks, each block comprising a plurality of pixels. The method further comprises determining a type of block for each block. The method further comprises associating each block with a filtering mode of a plurality of different filtering modes according to the type determined for the block. The method further comprises filtering each block using the associated filtering mode associated with the block.

Noise may be added to a digital picture or a video sequence of digital pictures from various sources in different processing stages. For example, noise may be introduced during the acquisition process because of imperfections of capturing devices and poor lightning conditions. Noise can cause not only visual degradation of video sequences of digital pictures but also the reduction of coding efficiency in encoding process of the video sequences of digital pictures. The noise reduction process can be highly computational in some methods, and integrating a complex noise reduction method into a software based real-time video encoder may not be practical. There is also a need to reduce noise without generating any visual artifacts.
Various noise filtering techniques have been developed. Such noise filtering techniques include non-motion compensated type filtering and motion compensated type filtering.
Non-motion compensated technique does not require computationally extensive motion compensation process, and it usually assumes some kind of stationary, spatial or temporal information, or both, in sequences, or include motion information by adapting weighting of filtering coefficients. Non-motion compensated noise reduction methods generally do not make use of the advantage of temporal filtering.
On the other hand, the motion compensated algorithms exploit temporal correlation between video frames (digital pictures) in filtering, where temporal filtering is performed on motion compensated pixels. However, simply applying motion compensation to whole frames (digital pictures) may cause artifacts in parts of the video scene, especially stationary scene, due to inconsistencies in motion information obtained.
To counter this problem of motion compensated algorithms, adaptive motion compensated filtering is performed by detecting the difference between same position blocks of frames (digital pictures) of the video scene. Segmentation of object and background on a digital picture is applied before motion compensation is applied to object, and temporal filtering is applied to the background thereafter.
However, the motion compensated techniques generally need computationally expensive motion information finding process prior to filtering. Further, temporal filtering for homogeneous region cannot reduce noise effectively. Another problem in existing noise reduction methods is the lost of details for edge and textural region of the picture.

Methods, devices, and computer readable mediums for processing a digital picture

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


In a device for sequencing a point-of-sale activity, identifiable tokens are used to orderly queue participation. The device announces a token identifier for a next participant, and the participant deposits a token into a token input. A token reader reads the identifier from the deposited token, and a comparator compares it to a previously announced identifier. If the identifiers match, the comparator directs the point-of-sale activity to start. Additionally, a method for queuing a point-of sale activity that includes the steps of dispensing a token having an identifier, placing that identifier in a First-in-First-out buffer, advancing the buffer each time a new participant is needed, announcing that identifier, accepting a token, reading the identifier from that token, matching that identifier to the one announced, and activating the point-of-sale activity.

The United States, along with many countries in the world, relies on a first-come first-served basis for organizing people's behavior in society. First-come, first-served simply means that an earlier requester for a service or product will receive that service or product before any subsequent requestor. This concept is alternatively called queuing, with queuing being the process of 1) aligning requests first to last and then 2) servicing a request in the order received. First-come, first-served works well in organizing society's behavior except when someone either ignores or intentionally violates these informal rules. Nowhere is the first-come, first-served rule more likely to break down as it is in a point-of-sale activity.
A point-of-sale activity is a consumer activity where an individual desires to purchase a particular good or service. Some examples are: waiting at a service counter at the local hardware store, waiting to pay at a bank or department store customer service center, or waiting to purchase gasoline. Point-of-sale also includes using unattended machines such as those in laundromats, car washes, and other facilities using vending machines. Point-of-sale machines also include gaming devices such as pool tables, pinball machines and video poker machines.
For attended point-of-sale activities, retailers often resorted to the "take-a-number" system. In such a system, for example, a person approaches a centralized repository of numbers, retrieves the next available number, and waits until that number is called or displayed. Consumers who approached the counter earlier have lower numbers and therefore are called for service prior to this person's number. Consumers approaching later have a higher number, so they will be called after this person is called. Such systems work well but require an attendant or clerk to monitor and assure the system is properly implemented and enforced.
Vending machines present a more difficult problem for the first-come, first-served rule. Since there is generally no attendant or clerk, individual consumers must rely on the honesty and integrity of the others desiring the same service or product. Unfortunately, others often misinterpret, misunderstand or accidently misapply the first-come, first-served rule, resulting in heightened tensions and dissatisfied consumers.
A particular type of point-of-sale vending system is a gaming system such as pool tables. These systems are often present in recreational environments such as lounges, sports bars, nightclubs and other recreational centers. Such environments are often loud and confusing, thus contributing to the failure of people to successfully apply the first-come, first-served rule. For example, the game of pool is often started by inserting quarters into a money slot, activating the drop of balls that begins a game. Only one game may be played at a time with no method of queuing built into the pool gaming system. Therefore, in an environment where several people wish to play pool, those desiring to participate will place their quarters on the rail of the pool table or write their name on a chalkboard and await their turn. After the current game ends, someone will (hopefully) announce that the game is over. The persons having quarters nearest the money slot or who are next on the chalkboard will insert their quarters and begin the next game. Unfortunately, in this often confused and active environment participants forget whose quarters are next or may intentionally try to advance their order. Such behavior results in heightened tensions and sometimes even violence.
It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-use device and method for sequencing point-of-sale activities, including vending machine activities such as pool.

Device and method for sequencing paricipation in a point-of-sale activity


A miniature pluggable video module having a length less than one inch, and a width less than three quarters of an inch, and a plurality of pin connectors attached to the back of the housing. The pluggable video module can be mounted horizontally or vertically. Inputs and outputs of the module can be adapted to include various types of optical or electrical connectors. The inputs and outputs of the module can be modified into various combinations of optical or electrical configurations, and the combinations of inputs and outputs also can be modified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pluggable converter module subassemblies, and more particularly, to pluggable electrical and optical converter modules configured to interface with video systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional optoelectronic transceiver modules are utilized to interconnect circuit cards of communication links and other electronic modules or other subassemblies. Optoelectronic transceiver modules are designed to receive electrical data signals and retransmit these signals as optical signals, and vice versa. Various international and industry standards define the type of connectors used to interface computers to external communication devices, such as modems, network interfaces, and other transceivers. It is desirable to make transceiver modules pluggable so the modules can be easily exchanged. It is also desirable to miniaturize transceiver modules in order to reduce real estate usage on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and increase the port density associated with the network connection (switch boxes, cabling patch panels, wiring closets, computer I/Os, etc.).
Numerous standards are known that define form factors for miniaturized electronic devices, such as the Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) standard that specifies an enclosure 9.8 millimeters in height, 13.5 millimeters in width, and a minimum of 20 electrical input/output connections. The specific standards for SFP transceivers are set forth in the "Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Transceiver Multisource Agreement (MSA)," dated Sep. 14, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Due to current designs and specifications, conventional optoelectronic transceiver modules are not compatible with video circuitry or connectors. For example, video subassemblies typically require different connectors, such as ST or BNC connectors. Moreover, video subassemblies commonly utilize unidirectional signals, and thus do not always require a bidirectional signal interface as provided by transceiver modules. Furthermore, a conventional transceiver module can only be installed into a host device specifically designed to receive that specific transceiver module.
Additionally, a video signal typically includes pathological problems, which a conventional transceiver module would be unable to accommodate. Most transmitters in optical modules have an automatic power control (APC) circuit that keeps the optical power output at a set level. These circuits assume incoming data will have a constant average duty cycle of about 50% over a period of time. Such a time period is usually in the range of 1 millisecond (ms). Since the pathological condition may last for about 50 milliseconds, the laser driver of the optical transmitter would be adjusted too high or too low, depending upon the duty cycle of the signal. A detailed explanation of "Pathological Conditions in Serial Digital Video Systems" can be found in the publication having said title by SMPTE Engineering Guideline, Number EG 34-1999, by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers approved and published Jan. 15, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Some progress has been made in developing pluggable modules for video systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,307,847 ("the '847 patent"), entitled "Pluggable Video Module," having a common inventor with the present application, and hereby incorporated by reference, teaches a pluggable video module having an SFP housing configuration. While the pluggable video module of the '847 patent above enables an SFP module to accommodate some video signals, the '847 patent does not disclose a new, unexpectedly smaller form factor.
Additionally, video computer systems commonly utilize removable circuit cards or printed circuit boards (PCBs) having blind mating card edge connectors that connect to receptacles mounted on a backplane of the video computer system. These removable circuit cards or PCBs can be removed or replaced to upgrade or repair existing circuitry. Conventional pluggable video modules attached to a removable PCB connected to a backplane must be manually unlatched or disconnected to remove the PCB from the backplane. Furthermore, video cables that have been connected to conventional pluggable video modules also must be manually disconnected before circuit cards or PCBs can be disconnected from a backplane.
Accordingly, there is an unmet need for a smaller, pluggable video module that requires less real estate for mounting, and moreover, enables a user to freely remove or replace an installed PCB from a backplane without having to manually unlatch attached pluggable video modules, and also without having to manually disconnect optical or electrical cables attached to the pluggable video modules before removing the PCB from the backplane.
Moreover, there is a need for a smaller pluggable solution that consumes less electrical power than conventional designs, present solution, so the use of VCSELs, in particular, single mode VCSELS, offers reduced power consumption over traditional lasers used for pluggable video modules like SFPs.
Additionally, there is a need for a pluggable video module that automatically connects to the backplane and associated optical and copper wire circuitry during installation of a PCB to a backplane.


In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a novel system and method for MMSE channel estimation are provided that take synchronization errors, either intentional or unintentional, into account during the channel estimation process. The proposed channel estimation in accordance with the present invention improves the noise averaging capability and takes advantage of channel correlation fully by removing the effect of synchronization errors during the estimation process.

Wireless communication systems have evolved substantially over the last two decades. The explosive growth of the wireless communication market is expected to continue in the future, as the demand for all types of wireless services is increasing. Due to their ability to provide high data rates for multimedia applications, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is gaining a strong interest for wide-area, local area, and personal area networks. In OFDM, carrier frequencies are chosen in such a way that there is no influence of other carriers in the detection of the information in the carrier of interest when the orthogonality of the carrier is maintained. Maintaining this orthogonality requires some special care for the frequency and symbol timing synchronizations. Cyclic extension of the symbols is usually used to relax the requirements for symbol synchronization.
In wireless OFDM systems, channel estimation is an integral part of the coherent receiver design as the performance of the receiver is greatly affected by the quality of the channel estimation. Extensive studies on the topic can be found in the literature. In OFDM systems, channel estimation is frequently employed in the frequency domain after taking the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) of the time synchronized digital samples. There are numerous approaches for estimating the Channel Frequency Response (CFR) over the OFDM subcarriers. The direct Least-Squares (LS) estimation assumes the channel over each subcarrier to be independent. However, in practice, the CFR is often oversampled over these subcarriers, and the estimated coefficients are correlated. On the other hand, the noise in these subcarriers can be independent. By exploiting the correlation of CFR over OFDM subcarriers, the noise can be reduced significantly, and hense the channel estimation accuracy can be improved. Assuming that the channel frequency correlation and noise variance are known, Minimum Mean-Square Error (MMSE) filtering of the LS estimates has been shown to provide optimal performance under Additive White Gaussian (AWGN).
Many of the channel estimation approaches proposed in the literature assume perfect symbol timing. However, in practice, the symbol timing used in OFDM systems is not perfect. As such, the symbol timing is often intentionally shifted towards the Cyclic Prefix (CP) so that any possible error in symbol timing that might create the loss of orthogonality can be avoided. Even though this intentional bias in synchronization avoids the loss of orthogonality of the carriers and intercarrier-interference, it results in the effective CFR to be less correlated due to the additional carrier-dependent phase shift. Synchronization errors in the receiver cause a linear phase rotation at the output of the DFT block. The correlation between the channel coefficients at different subcarriers is weakened due to this phase rotation. As a result, the performance of MMSE channel estimation degrades significantly since the noise averaging effect will be reduced.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is an improved system and method for performing Minimum Mean-Square Error (MMSE) channel estimation in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) channel under synchronization errors.

System and method for improved channel estimation for wireless OFDM systems


The pipe coupling in accordance with the present invention broadly includes an elongated female member having structure defining a bore spanning the length thereof, a first hollow elongated male member having an end portion non-rotatably affixed within a portion of the bore, a second elongated male member slidably engagable within the remaining portion of the bore, a lock pin slidably engagable through aligned apertures in the female and second male members, and a pliable gasket for placement between the first and second male members. The second male member also includes structure defining a passage spanning its length and presenting an inlet and an outlet wherein the passage diverges into two passages on the inlet side of the aperture and converges back into one passage on the outlet side of the aperture. Preferably, the matable ends of the first and second male members are concave and convex, respectively, which cooperate to compress the gasket to provide a fluid-tight seal between the male members when the second male member is locked into the female member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved drill pipe coupling of simple yet highly effective construction which has numerous advantages including ease of attachment/detachment of hollow pipe sections, watertightness, and secure attachment of hollow multiple pipe sections regardless of direction of pipe rotation. More particularly, it is concerned with a pipe coupling having a male/female connection which prevents rotation of hollow separate pipe sections with respect to each other, with means for preventing the connection from being pulled apart, and means for water tight sealing of the coupling and pipe section for water flowing within the pipe sections and the coupling at high pressure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When drilling or boring through earth it is often necessary to couple multiple lengths of pipe together in order to drill the required length as by using a drilling or augering accessory of the type disclosed in Van Gundy U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,033. Often pressurized water is introduced at one end of such a pipe string and is exited at the tip of an auger at the other end. This pressurized water irrigates the flighted auger and actually helps breakup the earth to be excavated which helps prevent the need to back the auger out and redrill. It is possible for the water pressure in this type of drilling to reach or exceed pressures of 3000 psi. As can easily be understood, any water leakage at the pipe couplings will result in loss of pressure at the auger tip which in turn reduces the effectiveness of the drilling operation.
The longitudinal and rotational coupling of drill pipe is well known. It is known to use various pins and interlocking configurations to prevent the separation of coupled pipe sections. For example, Davis British Patent No. 1,030,984, discloses an elongated box having a longitudinal bore which is irregular in cross sectional shape and a communicating end portion of which is circular in cross section and a mating elongated tubular pin, the external size and cross sectional configuration of which is complemental to the size and cross sectional configuration of the bore in the box. The pin thus slidably but nonrotatably fits into both the above mentioned bore portions of the box. There is an annular external keeper groove encircling the pin intermediate its ends, an aperture extending transversely through the wall of the box at a location to align with the groove when the pin and box are mated, and a removable keeper insertable into the aligned aperture and groove to lock the pin and box against longitudinal separation. A conventional O-ring sealing member seals against the wall of the circular cross section bore portion of the box when the pin and box are mated.
There is no discussion in the Davis patent of any flow through the coupled drill pipe. Though the hollow construction might be presumed to allow such flow, there is no indication that such a coupling would provide a water tight seal at the pressures contemplated by the present invention.
A sucker rod coupling is disclosed by Sutton et al U.S. Pat. No. 1,658,264. The coupling disclosed in this patent has structure providing for a pin to couple two parts, each connected to corresponding rods. There is no disclosure for accommodating water flow therein as in the present invention.
A pipe and hose coupling is disclosed by Chapin U.S. Pat. No. 221,153. The patent discloses a U-shaped locking-key that enters recesses of mated male and female portions and is retained by side caps of the female portion. Again, there is no indication that a water tight seal is provided at the required pressures.
A number of coupling arrangements have been proposed in the past for drill pipe strings. In general however, these coupling schemes have not met the need for providing a reliable, yet water tight coupling of pipe sections at the required pressures.