A merchandise pusher tray is provided. The merchandise pusher tray includes a base structure. The base structure is configurable for bar or shelf mounting. The base structure includes a pair of load bearing members for supporting a floor of the base structure. The merchandise pusher tray also includes at least one divider mounted to and adjustable in a first direction relative to the base structure. The merchandise pusher tray includes an anti-sweeping security structure mounted to the base structure. The anti-sweeping security structure extends along a portion or the entirety of the merchandise channel and is adjustable in at least one of vertical and horizontal and is fixed rotationally over the merchandise channel. The merchandise pusher tray with the anti-sweeping structure includes a locking member pivotally attached to the reinforcement bar for securing the tray to the retail merchandise bar.

Self-facing retail merchandise displays are generally known in the art. Once such display is the pusher system. A conventional pusher system incorporates one or more pusher paddles or pusher bodies that ride along a respective elongated track. A spring is connected between the pusher body and a leading edge of the track. The spring acts to bias the pusher body forward along the track towards the leading edge thereof.
A user can retract the pusher body away from the leading edge of the track and position items of retail merchandise in a linear row on top of the track and between the leading edge of the track and the pusher body. The biasing force provided by the spring and exerted upon the pusher body serves to bias the linear row of retail merchandise forward to ultimately "front face" the merchandise.
That is, when a customer removes the leading most item of merchandise from the linear row of merchandise, the pusher body will be drawn forward by the spring to index the row of merchandise forward so that the next item of merchandise in the row is positioned proximate the leading edge of the track in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Such automatic front facing eliminates the necessity for retail store employees to manually face the merchandise, and thus ultimately reduces the cost of labor of the retailer.
The aforementioned pusher systems have been utilized in various retail display environments. One example is a retail shelf. Typically, a plurality of pusher bodies and their corresponding tracks are arranged in a side by side manner along the shelf. Each pusher body and its corresponding track are separated by dividers to maintain a plurality of generally straight rows of merchandise that run from the front to the back of the shelf. Such a familiar configuration can be found in many retail stores for selling hygiene items such as deodorant, as one example.
Unfortunately, there are certain retail environments that have provided great difficulty with regard to the incorporation of a pusher system. Such environments include the commercial refrigerated cabinet or freezer. These displays are typically utilized to carry and display frozen or refrigerated food items on shelving therein. Examples of such items include frozen pizzas, ice cream, etc. The harsh environment inside these displays can cause ice buildup which can lead to jamming or mechanical failure of a conventional pusher system if it were incorporated therein.
Further, typical commercial refrigerated cabinets or freezers tend have a significant shelf depth, as well as a significant number of shelves therein. As a result, loading a pusher system situated on this shelving in such a confined area presents significant difficulty and can be quite time consuming. Indeed, to load a pusher system, a user must push the pusher body away from its resting position with one hand, and load merchandise into the pusher system using their other hand. Such a two handed operation compounds in difficulty at greater cabinet depths.
Yet further, typical commercial refrigerated cabinets or freezers incorporate horizontal bars running along a back side thereof. These bars are utilized for shelf mounting and the like, and typically have a square cross sectional profile with a width ranging from less than an inch to over an inch, e.g. ½ inch to 1 inch width bars. As a result, such shelving extends from these bars in a generally cantilevered extension. This cantilevered extension can cause bending in the shelving when loaded with heavier items. Such bending is particularly problematic for a pusher system given its array of moving components.
Unfortunately, pusher systems whether in or out of the refrigerated cabinets or freezers produce unforeseen disadvantages, particularly with theft.
For honest customers, pushers help in that the products are biased forward and it is easy to see and purchase a single product, because the product is pushed all the way forward in a display. A consumer reaches to the front of the display, grabs one item and places the item in the basket.
However, for a thief, these pusher systems make it very easy to steal many products at one time. Thieves are known to reach over the display, grab two, three, four even more products at one time while the pusher system conveniently push more forward for the thief to steal. The method of rapidly stealing multiple products from a display, in a quick method is called sweeping.
To prevent sweeping, several devices have entered the market to alleviate the problem. One example of such a device incorporates cages that are placed around and over the entire product line. However, these devices are not without drawbacks.
For example current approaches encase the entire product line in a cage type structure, which is cumbersome to install, is not readily adaptable to varying product dimensions, presents a less than desirable product display to attract the consumer and finally, is costly to implement.
Cumbersome, cage like theft prevention systems leave the retailer with the unfortunate choice of preventing theft via burdensome devices that are costly and are labor intensive for their employees, or displaying product without these preventative measures, which allow for a more aesthetically pleasing product display, but that are prone to costly theft.
In view of the above, there is a need in the art for an improved anti-sweeping device that is aesthetically pleasing, requires minimum labor cost, minimum production cost, and most importantly, prevents theft.
The invention provides such a system. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.


The present invention relates to a multi-segmented illumination device having at least two segment bodies. Each segment body contains a housing, at least one light source located inside the housing, a power source to power the light source, and at least one power switch connected to each segment body. In addition, each segment body includes at least one attachment point to connect each segmented body to the adjacent segmented body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to illumination devices, and more particularly to illumination devices having detachable multiple light sources. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for illuminating a dark area by using the illumination device of the present invention.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since the days that man harnessed fire to warm him, cook food over, and more importantly, to light his cave or camp, illumination has been a constant challenge after the sun goes down.
As man progressed from caves to houses and buildings, and eventually to full illumination with the electric light bulb, illumination remains a problem to man, particularly when camping outside, or when he is inside a room having dark or uneven surfaces for light to reflect off.
The major problem with lighting outdoors, or in areas without reflective walls, is the light source is isolated. That is, the light only illuminates directly from the source.
To illuminate an area, the prior art discloses the use of large bonfires, campfires, oil lanterns, gas lanterns, florescent lamps, propane lanterns, and flashlights. All of these forms of light source have one thing in common, they are central sources of light that illuminate in all directions and require a central power source. Power sources include wood, oil, gas, propane, AC electric power, and battery. Light sources include flame, lighted mantels, florescent bulbs, incandescent bulbs and, lately, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
A disadvantage presented by the illumination devices of the prior art is that the light produced by these devices has a limited effective range. The small viewing angle created by the light source projects the light in a fashion such that when used in a flashlight or like device, the majority of the light does not hit the reflective surface of the flashlight's reflector. Thus, they poorly illuminate the desired area. As a consequence, the user is required to place multiple illumination devices around the room to properly illuminate the desired room. The use of multiple illumination devices is relatively expensive.
The present inventor thought of the necessity of having an illumination device that would illuminate the desired area by emitting light into a central area rather than a central light source emitting light outward.
United States Patent Application Publication Number US 2003/0035287 A1, entitled "Double Lamp Utility Light" to Kovacik et al, discloses a lamp having multiple light sources having a double lamp utility light formed into two halves. An electrical outlet was provided on the bottom of the handle. A pair of switches on the handle controlled respective pairs of twin bulbs. The central source of light only illuminates the area that it is immediately placed in. While each set of twin bulbs may be independently illuminated, they cannot be removed and placed independently, nor do they include their own power source.
In addition, the lamp is designed to only provide a light at a single location from multiple sources. Thus, the Kovacick et al. reference does not overcome the disadvantage presented by the prior art.
European Patent Number EP 0 639 874 A3, entitled "Multi-Array Twin Tube Lamps" to Hammer et al, discloses a compact multiple tube lamp with a specific base allowing multiple twin tube lamps to be assembled together in close proximity with each tube lamp having an independent voltage as a power source. The reference does not provide an assembly in which a light source is assembled into a portable multi-segmented light source for use in areas outdoors.
World Patent Number 96/37731 entitled "SearchLight" to Bergkvist et al., discloses a light having a directional light including at least three lamps. Each lamp having individual light sources which are mechanically fixed in relation to the adjacent lamp. The disadvantage to this particular illumination device is that while its light sources are independent light emitters, they can still not be disassembled independently from each other and placed where light is needed.
In summary, the illumination devices of the prior art do not provide an illumination device, which, while being portable, provide light source that is independently "split" away from each other and placed where light is needed.
None of the illumination devices of the prior art has a satisfactory solution for correctly illuminating outdoors areas or areas not having reflective walls.
These and other features addressed by the invention will become apparent from a review of the following discussion

Illumination device having detachable lighting units


An example method includes: receiving a test phrase; comparing feature vectors of the test phrase to contents of a first database to generate a first score; comparing the feature vectors of the test phrase to contents of a second database to generate a second score; comparing feature vectors of the contents of the second database to the contents of the first database to generate a third score; comparing the feature vectors of the contents of the second database to a model of the test phrase to generate a fourth score; determining a first difference score based on a difference between the first and second scores; determining a second difference score based on a difference between the third and fourth scores; and generating a difference confidence score based on a lesser of the first and second difference scores.

Technological innovations that enable humans to interact with electronic devices include a wide range of devices, such as wearables, appliances, and robots. One enabling technology is human-machine interaction via voice commands, and one form of human-machine voiced interaction is automatic speech recognition (ASR). An example of ASR is the ability of devices to recognize and respond to short voice commands. Those are known as "keyword spotting systems." The keyword spotting system aims to detect any given keyword in spoken utterances. With the growing popularity of voice control in electronic devices, high-performance, low-latency, and small-footprint keyword spotting applications with low computational cost are becoming increasingly relevant.

Multi-phrase difference confidence scoring


A process for the selective hydrodesulfurization of olefinic naphtha streams containing a substantial amount of organically-bound sulfur and olefins. The olefinic naphtha stream is selectively desulfurized in a first hydrodesulfurization stage. The effluent stream from this first stage is sent to a separation zone wherein a lower boiling naphtha stream and a higher boiling naphtha stream are produced. The lower boiling naphtha stream is sent through at least two more separation zones, each at a lower temperature than the preceding separation stage. The higher boiling naphtha stream, which contains most of the sulfur moieties, is passed to a second hydrodesulfurization stage wherein at least a fraction of the sulfur moieties are removed.

Environmentally-driven, regulatory pressure concerning motor gasoline sulfur levels will result in the widespread production of less than 50 wppm sulfur mogas by the year 2004, and levels below 10 wppm are being considered for later years. In general, this will require deep desulfurization of cat naphthas. That is, naphthas resulting from cracking operations, particularly those from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. Cat naphthas typically contain substantial amounts of both sulfur and olefins. Deep desulfurization of cat naphtha requires improved technology to reduce sulfur levels without the severe loss of octane that accompanies the undesirable hydrogenation of olefins.
Hydrodesulfurization is one of the fundamental hydrotreating processes of refining and petrochemical industries. The removal of organically-bound sulfur in the feed by conversion to hydrogen sulfide is typically achieved by reaction with hydrogen over non-noble metal sulfided supported and unsupported catalysts, especially those containing Co/Mo or Ni/Mo. This is usually achieved at fairly severe temperatures and pressures in order to meet product quality specifications, or to supply a desulfurized stream to a subsequent sulfur-sensitive process.
Olefinic naphthas, such as cracked naphthas and coker naphthas, typically contain more than about 20 wt. % olefins. Conventional fresh hydrodesulfurization catalysts have both hydrogenation and desulfurization activity. Hydrodesulfurization of cracked naphthas using conventional naphtha desulfurization catalysts under conventional startup procedures and under conventional conditions required for sulfur removal, typically leads to an undesirable loss of olefins through hydrogenation. Since olefins are high octane components, for some motor fuel use, it is desirable to retain the olefins rather than to hydrogenate them to saturated compounds that are typically lower in octane. This results in a lower grade fuel product that needs additional refining, such as isomerization, blending, etc., to produce higher octane fuels. Such additional refining, or course, adds significantly to production costs.
Selective hydrodesulfurization to remove organically-bound sulfur, while minimizing hydrogenation of olefins and octane reduction by various techniques, such as selective catalysts and/or process conditions, has been described in the art. For example, a process referred to as SCANfining has been developed by Exxon Mobil Corporation in which olefinic naphthas are selectively desulfurized with little loss in octane. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,985,136; 6,013,598; and 6,126,814; all of which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose various aspects of SCANfining. Although selective hydrodesulfurization processes have been developed to avoid significant olefin saturation and loss of octane, such processes have a tendency to liberate H2S that reacts with retained olefins to form mercaptan sulfur by reversion.
Many refiners are considering combinations of available sulfur removal technologies in order to optimize economic objectives. As refiners have sought to minimize capital investment to meet low sulfur mogas objectives, technology providers have devised various strategies that include distillation of the cracked naphtha into various fractions that are best suited to individual sulfur removal technologies. While economics of such strategies may appear favorable compared to a single processing technology, the complexity of overall refinery operations is increased and successful mogas production is dependent upon numerous critical sulfur removal operations. Economically competitive sulfur removal strategies that minimize olefin saturation and capital investment and operational complexity will be favored by refiners.
Consequently, there is a need in the art for technology that will reduce the cost of hydrotreating both cracked naphthas, such as cat cracked naphthas and coker naphthas. There is also a need for more economical hydrotreating processes that minimize both olefin saturation and mercaptan reversion.

Two-stage hydrodesulfurization of cracked naphtha streams with light naphtha bypass or removal

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


A holding arm for medical purposes, in particular for holding a mechatronic assistance system, includes a proximal end for attaching the holding arm to a base and a distal end for receiving the surgical mechatronic assistance system, an assistance interface at the distal end for coupling the holding arm to the assistance system to control the assistance system, an assistance operating device designed to detect an operator action by an operator which is directed at controlling the assistance system and if necessary to transmit a request signal representing the operator action to the assistance interface for the purpose of controlling the surgical mechatronic assistance system.

Holding arms of the kind initially specified have long been known from the prior art and are specifically used in surgery to relieve an operator of static holding work. Such a holding arm is used to hold a mechatronic assistance system and/or a surgical instrument, for example a manipulator, an endoscope, a surgical clamp or the like. The holding arms initially specified have proved their usefulness for holding endoscopes, in particular. In endoscopic surgery, an operator generally operates an instrument with both hands, while an assistant holds the endoscope in order to make the operating area visible on a screen. Holding the endoscope over a protracted period is very tiring. Holding arms are increasingly used for that reason.
Such a holding arm and such a method are described, for example, in the as yet unpublished patent application no. DE 10 2014 016 823.9. A holding arm having an operating device is described therein, the operating device being designed to bring the holding arm into a desired pose and also being designed to release the associated joint upon contact between an operator and one of the first and second arm segments.

Method and apparatus for controlling a surgical mechatronic assistance system by means of a holding arm for medical purposes


A method and system for producing cranial remodeling devices to correct for head deformities in infants is described. The system operates on three dimensional digital captured data of a head to provide cranial remodeling device information for a cranial remodeling device.

Cranial remodeling is utilized to correct for deformities in the head shapes of infants. Prior to the development of the Dynamic Orthotic CranioplastySM method of cranial remodeling by Cranial Technologies, Inc, the assignee of the present invention, the only viable approach for correction of cranial deformities was surgical correction of the shape of the cranium. Dynamic Orthotic CranioplastySM utilizes a treatment program in which a cranial remodeling band is custom produced for each infant to be treated. The band has an internal shape that produces the desired shape of the infant's cranium.
In the past, a cranial remodeling device or band was produced by first obtaining a full size and accurate model of the infants actual head shape. This first model or shape was then modified to produce a second or desired head shape. The second or desired head shape is used to form the cranial remodeling band for the infant. The first shape was originally produced as a cast of the infant's head. The second shape was similarly produced as a cast of the head and manually modified to form the desired shape.
Various arrangements have been considered in the past to automate the process of producing cranial remodeling devices. In some of the prior arrangements a scanner is utilized to obtain three dimensional data of an infant's head. Such arrangements have the disadvantage in that scanners cannot obtain instantaneous capture of data of the entirety of an infant's head. In addition, it has been proposed to utilize expert systems to operate on scanned data to produce an image of a modified head shape from which a cranial remodeling device may be fabricated. However, because each head shape is unique, even the use of an expert system may not present an optimized solution to developing modified shapes suitable for producing a cranial remodeling device.
Various systems are known for the capturing of images of objects including live objects. One category of such systems typically utilizes a scanning technology with lasers or other beam emitting sources. The difficulty with systems of this type is that to scan a three-dimensional object, the scan times limit use of the systems to stationary objects.
A second category of image captures systems utilizes triangulated cameras with or without projection of structured light patterns on the object. However, these systems typically are arranged to capture a three-dimensional image of only a portion of the object. Typically such systems also are used only with stationary objects.
It is highly desirable to provide an image capturing system that will capture three-dimensional images of objects that are not stationary, but which may move. It is also desirable that the three-dimensional image has high resolution and high accuracy. It is particularly desirable that the three-dimensional image captures the totality of the object.
It is particularly desirable to provide an image capturing system that will have the ability to capture an accurate three-dimensional image of an infant's head. Capturing of such an image has not been possible with prior image capturing systems for a variety of reasons, one of which being that infants are not stationary for the times that prior systems require to scan or capture the data necessary to produce a three-dimensional image. Another reason is that prior systems could only acquire a partial three-dimensional imager portion. The need for such a system is for producing cranial remodeling bands is great.
Prior to the present invention, the process by which a cranial remodeling band is fabricated required obtaining a negative or 'cast' impression of the child's head. The cast is obtained by first pulling a cotton stockinet over the child's head, and then casting the head with quick setting, low temperature plaster.
The casting technique takes approximately 7 to 10 minutes. After the initial casting, a plaster model or cast of the infant's head is made and is used for the fabrication of the cranial remodeling band.
It is highly desirable to simplify the process by utilizing digitization techniques to produce useful digital three-dimensional images of the entire head. We undertook an exhaustive search to identify and evaluate different digitization techniques. Numerous laser scanning, structured light, Moire, and triangulated CCD camera systems were evaluated and rejected as inadequate for one reason or another.
Prior digitization techniques and systems fail to recognize the particular unique challenges and requirements necessary for a system for the production of digital images of infant heads. The infant patients range in age from three to eighteen months of age. The younger infants are not able to follow verbal instructions and are not able to demonstrate head control while the older infants are difficult to control for more than a brief moment of time. A wide variety of head configurations, skin tone, and hair configurations also needed to be captured. A digitization system must acquire the image in a fraction of a second, i.e., substantially instantaneously, so that the child would not need to be restrained during image capture, and so that movement during image acquisition would not affect the data. The system data capture must be repeatable, accurate and safe for regular repeated use. In addition, to be used in a clinical setting the system must be robust, easy to use, and easy to calibrate and maintain without the need for hiring additional technical staff to run the equipment. Image acquisition, processing, and viewing of the data must be performed in substantially real time in order to ensure that no data was missing before allowing the patient to leave the office.
Numerous existing digitization techniques were evaluated. Laser scanning methods have the disadvantage of the long time, typically 14-20 seconds, that is required to scan an object. Because of the long time, an infant being scanned would have to be restrained in a specific orientation for the scan time. Recent advances in laser scanning have produced scan systems that can perform a scan in 1-2 seconds. However even this scan rate is too slow for an unrestrained infant. The use of lasers also raises concerns regarding their appropriateness and safety for use with an infant population. While many prior digitization systems use 'eye safe' lasers, the use of protective goggles is still frequently recommended.
Structured-light Moire and phase-shifted Moire systems used in certain 3D imaging systems are difficult to calibrate, are costly, and are relatively slow and therefore are not suitable for use in obtaining images of infants. In addition these systems are incapable of capturing the entirety of an object in one time instant.
Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are not particularly useful for the present application simply due to size, expense and concerns regarding radiation and the need to anesthetize the infant.
Prior systems that rely solely on triangulation of digital cameras proved to have insufficient accuracies, particularly as the object being imaged varied in shape and size from a calibration standard.
Structured light systems that combined triangulated digital cameras with a projected grid or line pattern can capture only one surface at a time because the grids projected by multiple projectors interfered with each other resulting in a loss of data. In addition, the images captured by this structured light systems need to be fit together like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, and required that markers be placed on the subject in order to facilitate this registration process.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automatic selection of cranial remodeling device configuration


A retail terminal includes a voice generating device. The retail terminal also includes a processing unit electrically coupled to the voice generating device. Moreover, the retail terminal further includes a memory device electrically coupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to (a) operate the voice generating device so as to generate a first voice instruction in a first voice type which instructs a user in regard to operation of the retail terminal, (b) determine if the user performs a first activity with the retail terminal which is indicative of the user responding to the first voice instruction and generate a proper-response control signal in response thereto, and (c) operate the voice generating device so as to generate a second voice instruction in a second voice type which instructs the user in regard to operation of the retail terminal if a predetermined amount of time lapses subsequent to generation of the first voice instruction, but prior to generation of the proper-response control signal. A method of operating a retail terminal is also disclosed.

In the retail industry, the largest expenditures are typically the cost of the goods sold followed closely by the cost of labor expended. With particular regard to the retail grocery or supermarket industry, the impetus to reduce labor costs has focused on reducing or eliminating the amount of time required to handle and/or process the items or goods to be purchased by a customer. To this end, there have been a number of self-service checkout terminal concepts developed which attempt to substantially eliminate the need for the retail clerk. In particular, a self-service checkout terminal is a system which is operated by a customer without the aid of the retail clerk. What is meant herein by the term "customer" is a person who enters the retailer's store, selects his or her items for purchase from the shopping area of the store, checks out his or items for purchase by use of a self-service checkout terminal (including tendering payment for his or her items for purchase), and then exits the store subsequent to completion of his or her transaction. Hence, as used herein, a customer is distinguished from a retail clerk or other employee of the retailer in that a customer enters the retailer's store for the sole purpose of purchasing items from the store.
Hence, it should be appreciated that in regard to operation of a self-service checkout terminal, the customer scans individual items for purchase across a scanner or weighs items with a product scale and thereafter places the items into a grocery bag, if desired. The customer then pays for his or her purchases either at the self-service checkout terminal if so equipped, or at a central payment area which is staffed by a store employee. Thus, a self-service checkout terminal permits a customer to select, itemize, and in some cases pay for his or her purchases without the assistance of the retailer's personnel.
In general, a customer may have little or no training in the operation of the self-service checkout terminal prior to his or her initial use thereof. Hence, it is generally desirable to provide the customer with a number of instructions which facilitate the customer's use of the self-service checkout terminal. For example, in the case of the operation of a product scanner, it is desirable to instruct the customer as to when the terminal is ready to have item information input through the scanner. Moreover, it is desirable to provide the customer with direction in regard to proper operation of the self-service checkout terminal if it is determined that the customer is operating the terminal improperly. For example, if it is determined that the customer placed an item into a grocery bag without having first scanned or otherwise entered the item, it is desirable to direct the customer to remove the item from the bag and to cease such improper use of the terminal.
However, heretofore utilized methods for providing instruction and/or direction are often difficult for the customer to understand thereby potentially rendering the customer reluctant to use the terminal. If this causes a store employee to constantly be required to assist, investigate, or otherwise intervene into the customer's transaction, the labor savings associated with operation of the self-service checkout terminal are not realized.
What is needed therefore is a retail checkout terminal which overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks. What is particularly needed is a self-service checkout terminal which provides instruction and direction to a customer in order to facilitate the customer's operation of the retail checkout terminal in a "user friendly" manner.

Apparatus and method for operating a self-service checkout terminal having a voice generating device associated therewith


An apparatus and a method for determining a short-term driving tendency of a driver may include a data detector configured to detect an acceleration of a vehicle, a vehicle speed, and an inter-vehicle distance, and a controller configured to calculate a relative speed with respect to a forward vehicle from the vehicle speed and the inter-vehicle distance, extract fuzzy result values for the vehicle speed and the inter-vehicle distance, respectively, by setting a membership function that corresponds to each of the acceleration of the vehicle and the relative speed with respect to the forward vehicle, and determine the short-term driving tendency of the driver using the fuzzy result values.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining a short-term driving tendency of a driver, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for determining a short-term driving tendency of a driver from acceleration of a vehicle and a relative speed of the vehicle of the driver with respect to a forward vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Satisfaction of customers regarding running performance of a vehicle depends on how a vehicle runs and coincides with a driving tendency of the driver. While tendencies of the customers vary, however, performance characteristic of the vehicle is set to one performance characteristic in the same vehicle model. Therefore, reaction of the vehicle may not coincide with the tendency of the customer.
Accordingly, customers frequently make a complaint about the running performance of the vehicle. That is, when the driving tendency of the customer is recognized, and shift is controlled so that the vehicle responds suitably to the driving tendency of the customers, the satisfaction of the customers regarding running performance may be maximized.
Accordingly, a method of learning the driving tendency of the customer over a short period of time and controlling the shift in accordance with the learned driving tendency has been developed. The method of controlling the shift in accordance with the learned driving tendency is performed under an assumption that the driving tendencies of the drivers are uniform. However, since the tendency of the driver is not always uniform, and may be changed in accordance with changes such as the mood of the driver, sudden changes in driving intention, a road condition, or the like, there is a great difference between the learned driving tendency and an actual tendency of a driver in certain environments. Accordingly, in a case in which shift is controlled in accordance with the learned driving tendency, the actual driving will of the driver may not be reflected on the shift and the driver may dissatisfy with the driving performance.
As main parameters for determining an acceleration intention of the driver, an accelerator pedal opening degree (APS) and a change rate of an accelerator pedal opening degree (ΔAPS) were mainly used in the related art. However, even though a situation of manipulating the accelerator pedal is an important reference for determining the driver's acceleration intention, there is a limitation to express the overall driving intention of the driver. That is, in order to recognize the driving tendency in a situation of driving the vehicle instead of a situation of accelerating the vehicle, a more reasonable determination reference is required rather than the APS.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Apparatus and method for determining short-term driving tendency of driver


A mirror in aid of a user of an ostomy appliance by holding it between the users' legs whether the user is lying down, sitting, or reclining, and utilizing a post between the users legs, a base for the post, under the legs, and an extension on the post holding a mirror, all parts being detachable and capable of being carried in a kit, pocket or handbag.

About 1,000,000 persons in the United States have to wear ostomy appliances which have to be changed every several days. This requires taking the appliance off the body, cleaning the area, and attach a new or clean appliance in its place. Many have to do this without help, and this mirror is to help the patient perform the task. Many persons have a physique that renders the operation rather tedious and time consuming and most would be greatly helped if they could view the area better. The inventor has been experiencing this problem.


A printed circuit board connector includes a cable attachment portion configured to be coupled with a cable and a printed circuit board attachment section configured to be coupled with a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board attachment section is configured to be coupled with the printed circuit board via a snap-fit connection.

Printed circuit board (PCB) connectors, for example, F-type connectors, BNC connectors, and the like, can be fixed to a printed circuit board for transmitting TV or CATV signals. Conventional connectors comprise an outer conductor and a center conductor that are soldered to the printed circuit board. The outer conductor typically comprises four corner arms that extend from a housing.
When welding the conventional connectors to the printed circuit board, the connector must be held in position by one hand of the person performing the soldering while the person solders with the other hand. As such, it is difficult to maintain the connector in a correct position with respect to the printed circuit board during soldering.
It is desirable to provide PCB connectors that can be assembled to a printed circuit board before soldering. For example, PCB connectors may include a gripping assembly configured to grip the printed circuit board.


A drilling tool extends in a longitudinal direction and has a drill point and first and second major cutting edges, which extend approximately radially outward. The drill point is arranged eccentrically relative to a central axis, which is the same as the axis of rotation. The second major cutting edge is arranged by a cutting-height difference higher than the first major cutting edge. The first major cutting edge has a shorter radial edge length than the second major cutting edge. A method of utilizing the tool is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a drilling tool which extends in the longitudinal direction and has a drill point and a first and a second main cutting edge which extend outward. The invention also relates to a method for drilling using such a drilling tool.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such a drilling tool can be seen, for example, from EP 0 991 489 B1. The drilling tool described therein is a twist drill for dry drilling. During dry drilling, the problem occurs that, on account of a lack of cooling, the drill expands in the cutting head region due to the generation of heat, a factor which leads to high loads occurring at the guide chamfers when the drill is withdrawn from the drill hole.
In order to avoid these high loads, an asymmetrical configuration of a chisel edge is provided in the twist drill according to EP 0 991 489 B1. On account of the asymmetrical configuration, the drill cuts a drill hole which has an enlarged hole diameter compared with the outside diameter of the twist drill. Despite the expansion in the region of the drill cutting edges which is caused by heat, the drill can therefore be taken out of the drill hole again without any problems.
For a specific field of application, namely the drilling of holes in printed circuit boards formed from synthetic resin, a special drill can be seen from DE 26 55 452 A. Said special drill also has an asymmetrical configuration of the drill head in the region of the cutting edges in order to enlarge the drill hole. This is optionally achieved by the cutting edges being designed with different lengths or by said cutting edges being arranged at different point angles. The particular problem which arises during the drilling of printed circuit boards, namely that drill dust is produced which can be pressed against the wall of the drill hole, is thereby taken into account. Due to the asymmetrical configuration, a drill hole larger than the outside diameter of the drill is produced, such that the drill is at a distance from the wall of the drill hole on one longitudinal side.
In contrast thereto, however, in the normal case highly symmetrical configurations are desired in drills, such that concentric running of the highest possible precision and high-precision drilling are achieved. Here, asymmetry may perhaps occur only as grinding errors. In contrast, the drills described above use the asymmetry specifically to avoid problems in special applications. With the asymmetrical configuration, however, asymmetrical loading and thus increased wear of the drilling tool also occur, as a result of which the service life is reduced. This applies in particular to drills such as carbide drills or drills having cutting inserts made of a special cutting material which are intended for machining high-strength materials, for example steels.
On account of the asymmetrical configuration, the drill is particularly pressed on one side against the wall of the drill hole during the drilling operation. A guide chamfer is normally provided circumferentially on the "land". The drill bears with this guide chamfer against the wall of the drill hole. In conventional drilling tools having a highly symmetrical configuration, the two guide chamfers in a double-edged drill bear diametrically opposite one another in each case against the wall of the drill hole and are uniformly loaded. Due to the asymmetrical configuration, one of the two guide chamfers is now loaded to an excessive degree, such that the wear thereof is markedly higher. In addition, the risk of parts of the guide chamfer chipping in the event of caking of chip parts on the wall of the drill hole is greater.
The object of the invention is to specify a drilling tool which has asymmetrical configurations and high wear resistance.


Embodiments of the invention are directed to metamorphic relationship based code testing using mutant generators. The system is configured for identifying and remediating defects in an original program based on constructing at least one mutated program by distorting the original program, and analyzing expression of mutants in test results. In particular, the system receives a request to perform defect analysis of an original program. In response, the system constructs a first mutated program by embedding one or more mutants in the original program code. Moreover, the system typically maps the one or more mutants to one or more metamorphic relationships of process functions of the original program. The system may then implement tests of the original program and the first mutated program by providing one or more predetermined test cases as input to both, to determine whether the original program comprises at least one defect.

Increasingly prevalent computers, mobile phones, smart devices, appliances, and other devices, require a variety of programs operating in tandem. However, these programs may comprise errors and defects, which if not identified and corrected in time may lead to malfunctioning of the program itself and/or other related programs and the devices that run them. However, in conventional systems, the testing of program code primarily relies on debugging code and/or data validation. First, this conventional testing process, however, is not compatible for testing programs having complex structures such as machine-learning programs or deep-learning programs which have multiple layers of neural networks that do not lend themselves to the conventional methods. Second, conventional methods are not configured for identifying root causes of inaccuracies, particularly in the case of machine-learning programs or deep-learning programs, thereby precluding any accurate/precise corrections of the program code to rectify the defects. Third, the conventional testing processes are heavily reliant on test cases for testing programs, and may not be able to identify defects when other use cases are provided to the program. Conventional testing methods are most likely to designate lack of model training data or test data as the cause for errors in machine-learning programs or deep-learning programs, even if the program code itself is erroneous (e.g., program code may comprise architectural configuration issues, interference state issues, or implementation issues, etc. that are causing the errors/inaccuracies in reality). Particularly in the case of machine-learning programs or deep-learning programs, an error/bug cannot be determined in conventional testing systems through a few instances of inaccuracies during testing using test cases, because machine-learning programs or deep-learning programs are inherently constantly evolving (e.g., their accuracies improve over-time). Moreover, this conventional process while not being reliably accurate is also time intensive and laborious. Therefore, a need exists for a novel system that overcomes the foregoing shortcomings of conventional system.
The previous discussion of the background to the invention is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

System for metamorphic relationship based code testing using mutant generators


A driver circuit is described for an ion measuring device associated with a cylinder of a diesel engine for the measurement of the conductivity of the combustion gas present in the cylinder, wherein a negative voltage can be applied by the driver circuit to a glow plug serving as a sensor and associated with the cylinder for a respective ion measurement. The negative voltage is generated by a capacitor which is correspondingly charged each time the glow plug is switched off via the magnetic energy stored in the internal inductance of the glow plug.

In order to measure the conductivity of the combustion gas present in a cylinder of a diesel engine, the glow plug of the cylinder can be used as a sensor and a respective ion measurement can take place via said glow plug. The glow plug of the respective cylinder can be connected in series with a measurement or reference resistor and can in particular be conductively connected to the interior wall of the cylinder. An electrical voltage is applied to the glow plug for the determination of the conductivity of the combustion gas. If the conductivity of the combustion gas should be determined on the basis of the positively charged particles contained in the combustion gas, a negative voltage can be applied to the glow plug, for example, during part of the compression stroke and during part of the power stroke of the piston of the relative cylinder. The conductivity of the combustion gas between the glow plug and the interior wall of the cylinder changes due to the positively charged particles arising during the combustion process, whereby the voltage changes which drops at the measurement or reference resistor and which is measured and output as a measured signal.
In all cases in which ion measurements are carried out using a voltage which is different from the voltages present in the control unit of the relevant vehicle, a second power supply is required. For different technical reasons, a negative voltage is applied to the glow plug in many cases to carry out a respective ion measurement. Negative potential is applied to the glow plug terminal and positive potential to the plug end at the ground side. The current flow between the plug tip and the cylinder head determines the shape and amplitude of the ion measurement signal during the combustion process.
Up to now, a second power supply always had to be integrated into the control device or into the glow plug controller in order to provide the negative voltage. For this purpose, for example, a DC-DC converter or a charge pump can be used. Such solutions are, however, relatively complex and expensive.

Driver circuit for an ion measurement device


A weight measuring device comprises a load detecting section for constantly detecting a load value (W) of a sample placed on a measuring pan; a moving average processing section for calculating a moving average (Wa) of the detected load value (W); a load changing rate calculating section for calculating a load changing rate per unit time (Wb) of the detected load value (W); a storage section for storing a first load change threshold (Wr1), a second load change threshold (Wr2) which is smaller than the first load change threshold (Wr1) and a load changing rate threshold per unit time (Wt); a determining section for determining whether a moving average processing should be executed; and a weight conversion processing section for calculating a weight of the sample from the load (W) or the moving average (Wa).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a weight measuring device, such as an electronic balance or an electronic scale, and more particularly to an electronic balance or an electronic scale capable of constantly measuring and displaying a weight value of a sample placed on a measuring pan, thereby allowing a user to add additional amounts of the sample little by little to the measuring pan until a desired weight value is displayed.
Incidentally, the electronic balance or electronic scale referred to herein includes a general weight measuring device for measuring a sample by detecting the weight or load of the sample as an electric signal. For example, it includes an electronic balance provided with an electromagnetic balancing mechanism, and an electronic scale using a load cell, tuning fork, electrostatic capacity and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a sample is placed on a measuring pan of an electronic balance or electronic scale (hereinafter representatively referred to as an electronic balance), the measuring pan oscillates. A measured value displayed on an indicator can be read after the oscillation of the measuring pan gradually attenuates and the measuring pan becomes stable.
In reading the displayed value of the electronic balance, if the measuring pan continues to oscillate under the influence of the surrounding environment and the like, the measured value displayed on the indicator changes, thus making it difficult to read the measured value. For this reason, in order to stabilize the displayed measured value and to facilitate the reading of the measured value, some electronic balances utilize a moving average processing for stabilizing the indication by averaging the current measured data just obtained and a prescribed number of past measured data obtained during a preceding predetermined period (refer to JP-A-11-311566).
When the moving average processing is adopted in order to stabilize the indication of the measured value, it is true that the stability of the indication is improved, while the follow-up capability and response to a load change are deteriorated. When an abrupt load change occurs with the measuring pan, and if the moving average processing is active, the moving average processing operates to suppress an actual load change as well as an oscillating component that is noise. This retards the response to the load change.
In order to avoid such an inconvenience, in executing the moving average processing, a threshold value of a load change range serving as a criterion is set in advance. Then the determination of switching release and start of the moving average processing is performed on the basis of comparison result between the load change actually occurred and the threshold value of the load change range which is set in advance. That is, when the load applied to the measuring pan is changed, during the period in which a load change range is larger than the preset threshold value generated, the moving average processing is released. Whereas when the load change range becomes smaller than this threshold, the moving average processing is started.
On the other hand, in the electronic balance using a "PID control system" in which displacement detection data of a balance beam is PID-operated for feedback control, a plurality of sets of P, I and D values are previously stored so that these setting parameters can be changed optionally at any time by software. Then the measuring environment in which the balance is placed and how the balance is being used are estimated from the time-series information of the displacement detection data of the balance beam. According to the estimated result, an optimum set of the PID values is selectively set from the sets of the PID values previously stored (refer to JP-A-10-19642).
For example, although the servomechanism for balancing the balance is active, when the time-series change of the data is a monotonous increase, this is a state that sample is gradually added to the measuring pan. Thus, it is estimated that weighing operation is now in progress.
Therefore, in this case, a combination of the PID values regarding the high-speed response more important than the stability is selected so that the PID control suitable for weighing operation is executed. Further, if the time-series change is not the monotonous increase, a standard deviation of the time-series data is calculated, and a combination of the PID values which has a larger I value of the PID values for a larger standard deviation and a larger I value and a smaller P value for a shorter oscillation period is selected to execute the PID control. Further, if the oscillation period is the longest, a combination of the PID values with the larger D value is selected to execute the PID control. As described above, according to the time-series information of the displacement detection data, an optimum combination of the PID values is selected.
As described above, in the electronic balance of the related art which adopts the moving average processing as disclosed in JP-A-11-311566, whether the moving average processing should be released or executed is determined by comparison between a preset fixed load change range threshold and an actual load change range. Therefore, in the weighing operation of measuring a very small quantity of load, the moving average processing is maintained as long as the change occurred by one additional load does not reach the fixed threshold. Thus the response to the change due to the very small quantity of additional load is retarded.
Usually, in the weighing operation, as the load approaches a target measured value, additional load is decreased each time. Therefore, if the threshold value is set at a relatively large value, the moving average processing becomes active in an earlier stage. As a result, addition of a very small quantity of load is repeated many times with a retarded response. This takes a long time for measurement, deteriorates the working efficiency, and also is likely to result in excessive measurement or insufficient measurement.
On the other hand, if the threshold value of the fixed load change range is set at a sufficiently small value, in the weighing operation, the load change does not exceed the threshold value until the additional load in each additional operation becomes relatively small. Thus, the load can be measured with good response, while just with a small oscillation, the moving average processing is easily released, thus making the indication unstable.
Further, like the electronic balance using the PID control system disclosed in JP-A-10-19642, high-speed response and stability of indication can be optimized to some degree according to the surrounding environment by the method of selecting the optimum PID values of the PID control according to a use environment.
In this method, however, sets of suitable PID values need to be prepared according to the use environment by actual measurement and the like. This operation requires knowledge about the PID values and labor and time.
Further, the electronic balance sometimes generates a creeping phenomenon that even after the oscillation becomes calm after the load change, a slow change continues for a while as shown in FIG. 3. The creeping phenomenon is sometimes attributable to, for example, deformation of a "Roverbal" mechanism used in a load detecting section, or deformation of a load cell itself or the attached member (bonding layer and the like) for fixing the load cell in an electronic balance using the load cell system.
In the electronic balance disclosed in JP-A-10-19642, when the servomechanism for balancing the balance is active, and if the time-series change of data is a monotonous increase, it is determined that the weighing operation is being executed without exception. Therefore, even if the monotonous increase of the time-series change of data is due to the creeping phenomenon, it is determined that the weighing operation is being executed, thus causing the inappropriate control.
Specifically, since the electronic balance is controlled without distinguishing the cause of data change, in the weighing operation requiring a high-speed response, the stabilization of the indication by moving average processing may be performed. Inversely, in the weighing operation requiring the stabilization, moving average processing may not be performed. Thus, the above electronic balance does not make an appropriate response depending on the situation and the usability is insufficient.


A method and system for monitoring the location of an oral care device (102) within the mouth of a user, includes: an oral care device (102) having a light source (104); an optical sensor (112) configured to receive light emitted by the light source and to receive light reflected from a user using the oral care device; a computing device (110) adapted to receive and process signals generated by the optical sensor, and programmed to: detect at least one facial feature of the user from the received light reflected from a user; estimate the location of the user's teeth according to the detected facial feature; determine a location of the light source according to the received emitted light; compare the location of the light source to the location of the teeth to estimate the position of the oral care device with respect to the teeth of the user.

Various forms of tracking the location of an oral care device within a user's mouth have been attempted. Tracking the location of the oral care device allows for effective feedback to a user with respect to the user's oral hygiene practices. For example, if the location of a brush head is tracked within the user's mouth, portions of teeth not yet cleaned may be identified so that the user can focus on those areas.
However, known attempts to track the location of a brush within the user's mouth have disadvantages. For example, video-based tracking devices are designed to track the handle of a brush in relation to the tracked face. The localization of the brush tip inside the mouth is then based on extrapolation, which can be a cause of inaccuracy. Moreover, occlusion by the device operating hand challenges the robustness of this method.
As another example, locally generated static magnetic fields have been used to determine position and orientation in relation to a user's head. The user needs to wear ear plugs that sense of the appliance position and orientation in relation to the ear plugs. Inserting earbuds for appliance tracking is acceptable for infrequent tasks, but is likely unaccepted every time you brush your teeth.
As a further example, accelerometers and/or gyroscopes can determine orientation of the toothbrush in relation to gravity field, and relative orientation on other axes. Accelerometers and gyroscopes, however, cannot provide exact information on where the user is brushing in the mouth, since the reference to the teeth is missing.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for tracking the location of an oral care device within the mouth of a user.

System and method for tracking an oral care device


By using a monolithic sheet of photodetector semiconductor and creating a series of isolated individual optical paths, the performance of a multiple channel coupler can be improved. Multiple photodetectors are fabricated on the substrate, yielding electro-optically matched devices. By using common connection of the photodetectors and common connection of the optical sources, the pin-per-channel count is minimized.

Existing optical couplers generally exhibit a variation in performance from device to device. For example, the current transfer ratio and speed of an optical device can vary significantly. This can pose a significant problem when one is coupling multiple channels and minimal device-to-device variation is needed to preserve relative channel signal levels.
Part of the problem can be minimized by using multiple channel couplers. However, since the individual optical devices within such couplers may be fabricated from different wafers or different portions of the same wafer, they are not necessarily matched devices. Further, such couplers may not use isolated optical paths for the devices to minimize cross-talk. Thus, even within one package, performance variations persist.
It would be helpful therefore to provide a coupler that can handle multiple signals with minimal channel-to-channel variation in signal transfer performance. Also, it is desirable to provide a coupler that has the maximum number of isolated channels using the least number of pins, to reduce assembly costs and to reduce the required printed circuit board space.

Monolithic, multiple-channel optical coupler


A vehicle passenger restraining apparatus is provided that basically includes a knee angle restraining structure, a shin restraining structure and a groin angle restraining structure. The knee angle restraining structure is configured to restrain a passenger during a frontal collision to attain a posture with a prescribed knee angle as measured between a passenger's thigh and a passenger's shin. The shin restraining structure is configured to restrain the passenger during a frontal collision. The groin angle restraining structure is configured to restrain the passenger during a frontal collision to attain the posture with a prescribed groin angle as measured between the passenger's thigh with respect to a longitudinal axis passing through a rotational center of a passenger's groin joint.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle passenger restraining apparatus and passenger restraining method contrived to restrain a passenger by restraining the lower limbs (legs) of the passenger during a frontal collision.
2. Background Information
One example of a passenger restraining apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-76418). In this publication, the passenger restraining apparatus accelerates restriction of a passenger's head during the frontal collision by increasing an absorption volume of the passenger's kinetic energy. This is accomplished by deploying a head airbag that expands between the passenger's head and the vehicle cabin and by deploying a leg air bag that expands between the passenger's legs and a vehicle body member.

Vehicle passenger restraining apparatus and method for the same


An embodiment includes a computer program product for providing a yield prediction. The computer program product has a non-transitory computer readable medium with a computer program embodied thereon. The computer program comprises computer program code for obtaining a representation of a circuit. The circuit comprises a common path and a critical path, and the critical path represents multiple parallel paths. The computer program further comprises computer program code for obtaining a first table representing the common path and a second table representing the multiple parallel paths and computer program code for performing a variable based simulation based on the representation of the circuit, the first table, and the second table. The computer program also comprises computer program code for determining a result indication of each of the multiple parallel paths based on the variable based simulation compared with a predetermined specification.

Generally, in integrated circuit design, a circuit layout is simulated before fabrication begins to determine a yield probability. The yield probability may then, for example, be used to determine whether a sufficient amount of chips may be predicted to have proper functionality to justify the costs of chips that are non-functional due to processing variations. As is known in the art, processing variations may result in non-ideal devices that may affect the functionality of the chip.
Many integrated circuits include parallel paths, and techniques to determine the yield probability of these integrated circuits may treat the circuits as one-dimensional during simulation. These techniques may have deficiencies. For example, one method may simulate the circuits by requiring long vectors and a long simulation time. In this method, each of N parallel paths may be simulated as N serial jobs of full circuitry. Thus, this method may require more random variables and a long simulation time. In another technique, the yield probability may be calculated using complex probability calculations. This method may not provide an intuitive yield probability for the integrated circuits, and thus, this method may not be easily understood.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to overcome these stated deficiencies.

Multidimensional monte-carlo simulation for yield prediction

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Embodiments of the invention provide an auto layer sorting feature for a computer aided drawing (CAD) application where drawing elements are sorted into different drawing layers based on the graphic style associated with each individual drawing element. Objects added to the drawing may be automatically associated with a layer such that all objects on the layer have the same graphic style. If the user changes the properties of a given graphics style associated with one of the auto-sort layers, the updated style may be applied to each objects on that layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer software. More specifically, the present invention relates to a graphics application configured to sort geometry objects within a computer aided design (CAD) drawing based on graphic styles.
2. Description of the Related Art
The term computer aided design (CAD) refers to a broad variety of computer-based tools used by architects, engineers, animators, video game designers, and other graphics and design professionals. CAD applications may be used to construct computer models or drawings representing virtually any imaginable construct. One type of CAD application is a graphics application that can be used to add colors to a line drawing to compose a visually-pleasing scene or image. Photo/video editing software tools provide similar features.
Additionally, graphics applications frequently provide users with the ability to apply graphic styles to elements of the drawing. A graphic style is a set of reusable appearance attributes. Graphic styles allow a user to quickly change the look and feel of an object. For example, a user can change an object's fill and stroke color, alter its transparency, and apply various effects in one step. An example of a graphic style includes a "polka dot" graphic style, such that applying the polka dot graphic style to an object fills the object with a polka dot pattern.
Another common feature of graphics applications is the ability to organize objects on layers. Layers may be stacked one on top of another so that objects in a lower layer appear to be beneath objects in a higher layer. Layers allow designers to mimic traditional drafting and printing techniques based on film and paper, such as cutting and pasting. Designers may edit a particular layer without affecting the other layers. Most commonly, designers manually place objects into a particular layer. In some graphics applications, one layer may be a "current layer" and new objects are placed onto the current layer by the graphics application without explicit command from the user.
In some graphics applications, a user may modify the objects in a layer by changing parameters associated with that layer. For example, if five objects are placed on Layer A, and the user applies a green color to Layer A, the green color is applied to all five objects in Layer A. Other parameters of layers may be modified, including stroke thickness, transparency, blur, and other graphic style parameters, to name but a few examples. Also, one prior art technique for updating the graphic style of multiple objects is to allow a user to change one object at a time, one after another. However, individually applying a desired color or graphical style to many objects rapidly becomes tedious for the user. Especially where many objects are to be updated with the same color or graphical style.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a technique for automatically sorting objects in a graphics drawing based on graphic styles.

Auto sorting of geometry based on graphic styles


A thermal management system is provided for semiconductor devices such as an LED array, wherein coolant directly cools the LED array. Preferably, the coolant may be selected, among other bases, based on its index of refraction relative to the index associated with the semiconductor device.

This invention relates to thermal management of semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to thermal management of semiconductor devices by direct cooling.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) consist of a PN junction formed by two dissimilarly doped semiconductors as shown in FIG. 1. In this junction, one of the semiconductors (p) is doped so the majority carriers are positive (holes), while the other semiconductor (n) is doped so the majority carriers are negative (electrons). By applying an external electric field across the junction, current can be made to flow, and when the holes from the p-type and electrons from the n-type meet at the junction they combine and release a photon of light.
The wavelength of the light depends on the bandgap energy of the materials used in the PN junction. By adjusting the materials used, as well as the doping, a wide range of wavelengths is possible, including wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Other electrical components can be made using PN or similar junctions using semiconductors. In all these devices the electrical current and voltage required for operation (whether an LED or not) represent power, and the amount of power in a DC circuit is:P=V×Iwhere P is the power, V is the voltage, and I is the current. In an LED, the conversion from electrical power to optical power is not 100% efficient. Therefore, power that is not released as photons may be absorbed as heat by the LED and the substrate material it is mounted on. The heat generated by the LED leads to a decrease in the output optical power and/or to damage of the device if the temperature is not maintained below a certain level.
While typically less important for operating individual LEDs, thermal management issues tend to be a significant, and often limiting, aspect of the design that goes into large high-power LED arrays. FIG. 2 illustrates the common features of a typical cooling design. LEDs 20, 22, 24 are typically mounted on a substrate 26 that may either act as the heat exchanger or may be mounted to a heat exchanger. Waste heat from LEDs 20, 22, 24 travels by heat conduction through substrate 26 and heat exchanger (if used) where it is picked up by a coolant and removed for release to the environment. The most common feature in typical designs is that heat is removed from the backside of the surface to which LEDs 20, 22, 24 are mounted, which in this example is backside 28 of substrate 26. However, this method of removing heat has disadvantages because it requires the heat to travel through bulk material and (in most cases) several interfaces. Such a system is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,240.
Furthermore, the interface between an LED and the surface to which it is mounted presents heat transfer difficulties. Due to imperfections in materials, the LED and the surface may seem to be in intimate contact while actually being generally separated by a microscopically thin interface. Generally, that interface typically contains one or more undesirable materials, such as, e.g., air. Because air is a very poor thermal conductor, the interface typically is intentionally filled with a selected, thermally conductive material, such as, e.g., epoxy or grease, thereby displacing the undesirable material(s) and improving thermal transport across this interface. Even so, compared with the thermal conductivity of the substrate (and, if used, a heat sink attached to the substrate), this interface may still exhibit relatively low thermal conductivity, leading to undesirably high thermal gradients during the transport of heat energy.
Regardless of the particular characteristics of the thermal path from the backside of the LED into and through the substrate, the heat effectively travels through a thermal circuit that generally has a substantial thermal resistance. Subject to that thermal resistance, the temperature of the LED rises. Moreover, the LED's temperature tends to reach a substantial value in overcoming the thermal resistance and achieving typical heat flow.
Another problem encountered in LED systems that effects thermal management is the efficiency of light transmission. For example, light that is produced within an LED must exit through the LED face. This face represents an optical interface where the index of refraction changes. That change causes reflection of light back toward the LED. Reflected light may be absorbed by the LED, causing it to operate less efficiently. Larger changes in the index of refraction across an interface result in a greater amount of reflection and lessen the amount of transmission. Since LEDs are commonly made of materials with a high index of refraction, the transmission loss at the interface can be significant.
The equation for normal reflection at an optical interface is:
  R  =            (                                    n            2                    -                      n            1                                                n            2                    +                      n            1                              )        2  where n1 and n2 are the indices of refraction across the interface, and R is the power reflection at normal incidence. For example, if light travels through air (index=1) and strikes a glass surface at normal incidence (n=1.5), then the amount of reflection will be 0.040, or 4%, and the amount of transmission will be 1-R (for lossless interfaces) or 96%.
The material used in the construction of LEDs typically has a very high index of refraction. For example, Cree, Inc. (Durham, N.C.) makes an LED that is constructed of silicon carbide, which has an index of refraction of about 2.8 at short wavelengths near the upper end of the ultraviolet as seen in FIG. 3. With such a high index of refraction, the reflection at an interface of SiC and air is 22.4%, resulting in a transmission of only 77.6%.
What is needed is a system to provide efficient thermal management of a semiconductor device. In another aspect, what is needed is a system that efficiently manages heat generated by an LED so as to increase the operational efficiency and/or lifetime of the LED. In another aspect, what is needed is a system that efficiently manages heat generated by an LED so as to-provide for enhanced transmission of light through the LED interface.


A light emitting device includes: a base portion comprising: an upward-facing surface, and a frame defining an inner lateral surface; a plurality of semiconductor laser elements arranged on the upward-facing surface and surrounded by the frame; a cover portion supported by the frame and disposed above the plurality of semiconductor laser elements; and a protrusion extending from a lower surface of the cover portion toward the upward-facing surface. Light emitted from each of the plurality of semiconductor laser elements is incident on a lateral surface of the protrusion, passes through the protrusion, is reflected at the boundary surface, and is transmitted through the cover portion.

The present disclosure relates to a light emitting device.
There is known a light emitting device including a semiconductor laser element. In one example, JP 2017-212390 A discloses a light emitting device including a semiconductor laser element that is disposed on a first surface and configured to emit a laser beam in a first direction along the first surface, and a prism having an incident surface on which the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser element is incident and a reflecting surface that reflects at least a part of the laser beam having been incident on the incident surface. In this light emitting device, where the base of natural logarithm is "e," the reflecting surface of the prism is oriented to totally reflect a laser beam having a light intensity equal to or greater than 1/e2 of a central light intensity of laser beams among the laser beams having entered the prism through the incident surface.


A diagnostic tool for performing electrical measurements to calibrate a plasma processing chamber probe is provided. The diagnostic tool includes an RF generator. The diagnostic tool also includes a first impedance circuit. The first impedance circuit is a voltage-load network, configured to deliver RF voltage outputs from the RF generator for voltage measurements when RF power from the RF generator is delivered to the first impedance circuit. The diagnostic tool further includes a second impedance circuit. The second impedance circuit is a current-load network, configured to deliver RF current outputs from the RF generator for current measurements when the RF power from the RF generator is delivered to the second impedance circuit. The diagnostic tool further includes a coaxial switch network arrangement configured to provide switchable RF delivery paths to deliver the RF power from the RF generator to one of the first impedance circuit and the second impedance circuit.

Advances in plasma processing have facilitated growth in the semiconductor industry. During plasma processing, diagnostic tools may be employed to ensure high yield of devices being processed. Radio frequency (RF) electrical measurements may be utilized as a diagnostic tool for monitor and/or control of plasma electrical properties to maintain tight control of process parameters during plasma processing.
During plasma processing, RF electrical measurements, e.g. voltage (V) and/or current (I), may be collected by a probe, e.g., TCP Kiyo V™ or TCP Kiyo 45 VI™ probe available from Lam Research Corp. of Fremont, Calif., for plasma diagnostic. The plasma diagnostic data from the probe may allow for determination of plasma potential, floating potential, electron density, and/or electron energy distribution function. However, accurate values for the plasma parameters may be difficult to determine because of the complexities involved in calibration and/or control of high RF voltage and/or current probe(s).
In order to calibrate a probe to measure high RF voltage and/or current, a high RF voltage and/or current test system with a high RF power generator is needed. A typical commercially available high power RF generator may deliver up to 500 volts at an accuracy of about 10 percent in a 50 Ohms system. However, the RF voltages being measured during plasma processing may exceed 6,000 volts peak with a minimum accuracy requirement of about 1.5 percent traceable back to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard. Thus, commercially available high power RF generators may not have the high RF power or the accuracy requirements for data collection employed by a probe for plasma diagnostic.
Referring to FIG. 1, a simplified schematic of a prior art RF delivery path 100 for the voltage test arrangement is shown. The RF power is supplied by a single air cooled 300 Watt generator 102, i.e. maximum output at 50 Ohms impedance, operating at about 13.56 MHz. The RF power output from generator 102 is routed by coaxial cables to a coaxial switch network 122.
As shown in FIG. 1, coaxial switch network 122 may be configured with a first switch (SW1) 104 and a second switch (SW2) 106. A 20 decibel (db) coaxial attenuator 110 is placed in the RF delivery path to enhance low power functionality by controlling SW1 104 and SW2 106. Attenuator 110 is employed to reduce power output from high RF power generator 102 to provide stability in the lower voltage test range.
For example, in the lower voltage range of about 200 to about 1,000 volts peak, SW1 104 and SW2 106 may be switched to select attenuator 110. For the higher voltage range of about 2,000 to beyond 6,000 volts peak, SW1 104 and SW2 106 may be switched to the high RF delivery path 108. In either case whether the attenuator is switched in or switched out, the power is routed to a V-load network 112.
In the example of FIG. 1, a position indicator 118 is coupled to SW1 104 and SW2 106. Position indicator 118 serves to monitor whether attenuator 110 has been selected to prevent hot switching. As the term is employed herein, hot switching refers to switching when there is output power coming out from the generator. Hot switching is not desirable during high RF power operations.
The signals coming from position indicator 118 are routed through control printed circuit board (PCB) 114. The signal conditions are read back over a data acquisition (DAQ) inputs/outputs (IO) 120 into a computer 116. Then the software algorithm in computer 116 interprets the signal conditions to determine whether to proceed or halt the test depending on whether the switches are selected correctly.
In general, commercially available high power RF generator 102 operates at about 50 Ohms with 300 watts of power. When operating a 50 Ohms system, enormous amounts of power, is needed to attain the desired high RF voltages, e.g. 10 kilowatts for 1000 volts peak to 360 kilowatts for 6,000 volts peak. In order for standard off-the-shelf RF generators to work, the RF generator may be integrated into a high impedance circuit to generate the higher voltages necessary for calibration of the probes. V-load network 112 is an example of a high impedance circuit that is tuned to deliver the required voltage range.
FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic of a prior art voltage load network arrangement 200. In the example of FIG. 2, RF power is supplied by a 50 Ohms RF generator 202. The RF power signal is passed through a high impedance matched V-load network circuit 212 to generate high voltages necessary for plasma applications.
V-load network circuit 212 is configured with a first variable capacitor (C1) 204, a second variable capacitor (C2) 206, a third variable capacitor (C3) 208, and an inductor 210. The V-load network 212 is tuned to resonate at about 13.56 MHz. In this resonant system, the impedance needs to be matched between generator 202 and an output 216. Otherwise, generator 202 may run in an unstable condition and possibly shut down. With the input impedance from RF generator 202 of 50 Ohms, output 216 from V-load network circuit 212 is tuned to match the impedance of a probe 218 and a V-ref 214. The V-ref output signal 214 is sent to an RF voltmeter (RFVM) 215. Hence, in a matched network, the high impedance allows very high voltages to be sustained at output node 216. However, in order to calibrate probe 218, the high voltage output needs to have better accuracy than the capability of off-the-shelf measurements. For example, plasma applications require the measurement accuracy to be within about 1.5 percent over the range of high RF voltages being measured.
Referring to FIG. 3, a simplified schematic of a prior art RF voltage control arrangement 300 is shown. In the example of FIG. 3, a software algorithm in a computer 316 may send a command to a data acquisition board (DAQ) 320 to output an analog signal to drive a software-defined set point 324 to a high power RF generator 302. Hence, set point 324 may instruct generator 302 how much power to output.
The power signal output from generator 302 is routed through a switched network 322 to a V-load network 312. From V-load network 312, the signal, V-ref output 314, is measured. The V-ref-output signal 314 is sent to an RF voltmeter (RFVM) 315. The signal from RFVM 315 is sent as data to a general-purpose interface bus (GPIB) 318 and is read by computer 316.
In aforementioned closed-loop RF voltage control arrangement, data from GPIB 318 is compared with software-defined set point 324. For example, if a voltage at the V-load network 312 of 200 volts peak is desired, a software-defined set point 324 of 200 volts peak may be set. In a closed-loop control, for example, the voltage value from the data coming back over GPIB 318 may be compared to generate the control signal, DAQ 320, going back to RF generator 302. The process may be iterated through a control loop algorithm to achieve a V-ref output within the desired accuracy, e.g., 1.5 percent, of software-defined set point 324.
Unfortunately, the aforementioned prior arts suffer from a few deficiencies. In the case of commercially available RF generator, the voltages are in the ranges of up to about 500 volts peak. The 500 volts peak range is not high enough for the plasma applications. In addition, the voltage measurement accuracy of about 10 percent from commercially available RF generators may be inadequate. In the case where commercially available RF generator has been integrated into a V-load network, the voltage range and accuracy are within acceptable limits for plasma application. However, the high RF voltage test system does not have RF current measurement capabilities. Therefore, only voltage probe may be calibrated by the prior art high RF voltage test system.

Method and apparatus for a voltage/current probe test arrangements


A double-reflector microwave antenna of the Gregorian optics family and capable of providing an elliptical beam with a major axis that may be oriented in any desired direction of space by rotation of the sub-reflector about an axis. By adding an additional degree of freedom, that is, an independent translation of the sub-reflector and/or the main reflector along respective axes, a considerable degree of reconfigurability of the shape of the beam may be realized. In particular, the axes of the beam may be widened to vary the ratio between the axes of the elliptical beam for any orientation of the major axis or to obtain a circular beam. The inventive antenna is particularly suitable for use as on board satellites with frequency re-use in an operational environment with one or more simultaneously active beams.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the technical field of microwave antennas and may be used, for example, with reconfigurable antennas for use on artificial satellites or space stations or in ground radar systems. In particular, the invention is directed to a double-reflector microwave antenna belonging to the family of Gregorian antennas which, through the rotation of its sub-reflector and/or the axial movement of the sub-reflector or a main reflector, achieves the rotation of an elliptical beam without substantially any variation to the beam width and polarization and/or reconfigurability of the beam into a circular, expanded ellipse (also referred to herein as "zoom effect") or intermediate ellipse between the original beam and the circular variation of the beam shape. Moreover, by using another sub-reflector profile, the circular beam may be widened (zoom) into another circular beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
Moderate reconfigurability requirements of future antenna systems include the following functions:
(a) re-pointing of the beam; PA1 (b) turning the elliptical beam without rotation of polarization; PA1 (c) zooming of a circular or elliptical beam, that is, broadening of the beam coverage with substantially no variation of the ratio between the ellipse axes and the area x gain product; and PA1 (d) converting a circular beam into an elliptical beam, and vice versa, with substantially no variation of the area x gain product. PA1 (I) minimal increase in the dimensions and mass of the antenna; PA1 (II) substantially no movement of large masses; PA1 (III) substantially no movement of the illuminators, which is undesirable in the presence of relatively high power levels; PA1 (IV) substantially no movement of parts internal to the illuminators, which may potentially generate deleterious intermodulation products; PA1 (V) maximum reliability and simplicity and a minimum number of actuators; and PA1 (VI) minimum sensitivity to alignment errors and thermal excursions.
Of these four functions, only function (a) is generally available for Ku band communication satellite antennas. Functions (b), (c) and (d) are highly desirable and, together with function (a) (and combinations thereof), in principle set only by the capacity of the type of antenna considered to not degrade the quality of service as a consequence of the greater flexibility so assured. The partial implementation of functions (b), (c) and (d), however, should also satisfy the following criteria and result in only:
Thus, it is desirable to develop an antenna configuration capable of achieving the reconfigurability functions by acting upon system optics and, as far as practicable, avoid substantially all movement of the illumination system or of large masses.
Antennas capable of electrical performance adequate for present requirements for satellite communications are classified as double reflector Gregorian optics. These optics provide relatively high coverage efficiency, relatively low side lobes and, when particular geometric relations are met, relatively high polarization purity with a size and mass suitable for installation on board satellites, as for example Intelsat VIII satellites.
The general geometry of the Gregorian optics family is shown in FIG. 4. The Gregorian optics include a main reflector 3, a sub-reflector 2 and a suitable feed 1. The Gregorian optics comprise the same elements found in the present invention; however, the elements of the present invention are distinguishable in their movement and surface profiles. Typically, the design of classical Gregorian antennas begins from the canonical surfaces. In FIG. 4, sub-reflector 2 is ellipsoidal having two foci 21, 22 and main reflector 3 is parabolic having a focus 8 which coincides with the first focus 21 of the sub-reflector. These surfaces provide extremely low cross-polarization levels when the geometric requirement for maximum purity shown in FIG. 4 is met. This condition is met when eccentricity e of the ellipsoid of sub-reflector 2 satisfies the geometric relation of angles .beta..sub.f and .beta..sub.s shown in FIG. 4. In this figure, .beta..sub.f is the angle between the symmetry axis 9 of the illuminator 1, whose phase center 7 coincides with a second focus 22 of the ellipsoidal sub-reflector 2, and propagation axis Z. Angle .beta..sub.s is the angle between symmetry axis 9 and a rotation axis of symmetry 10 of the sub-reflector surface which intersects through both foci 21, 22 of the ellipsoid. Sub-reflector 2 of FIG. 4 is an ellipsoid obtained by revolution about axis 10, while the optics of the present invention have a sub-reflector surface which cannot be obtained by revolution about the axis crossing points 7 and 8.
The optical system shown in FIG. 4 may be used to generate a circular beam. In addition, the standard optics of FIG. 4 are commonly used to generate an elliptical beam by shaping the sub-reflector surface 2 and/or the main reflector 3 numerically and accepting the electrical degradations in terms of polarization purity which derive from this upset system. These degradations are generally acceptable since the deviations introduced onto the surfaces are relatively small. This optical system clearly cannot, however, provide a rotation of the elliptical beam by turning the sub-reflector.
Presently, there exist no known solutions exist which allow the reconfiguration of the beam in terms of rotation and/or reconfiguration and/or widening (zoom) of the contour of the beam on such types of antennas using a single feed. The only function available today on such antennas is beam repainting, a function that is normally performed through a system of biaxial actuators within a cone of approximately .+-.11.degree. which represents the useful field of view of the Earth from a geostationary orbiting satellite.
Another class and type of antennas, dual-gridded reflector type optical systems, are commonly used to obtain shaped antenna beams when a reconfigurable contour and relatively high polarization purity is required. This type of system includes two feed arrays located in the focal plane of the optical system, a rear reflector and a front reflector. As shown in FIGS. 27a through 27c, the front reflector is implemented by application of linear metal strips onto the dielectric surface of the front shell and the back reflector may be either solid or gridded with strips arranged orthogonal to those of the front reflector. In particular, FIGS. 27a, 27b and 27c show front, top and side elevational views, respectively, of the dual-gridded reflector type optical system. As shown in these figures, a group of feeds 1 provides polarization of the electrical field along the X axis and a corresponding group of illuminators 1' provides polarization along the Y axis. The optical system also includes a gridded front reflector 3 that is sensitive to X polarization and a rear reflector 3', which may be either solid or gridded, that is sensitive to Y polarization.
The characteristics of this optical system are such that each reflector operates in single polarization mode and benefits by the space filtering effect of the other reflector on the cross-polarization components that would otherwise be radiated over the service coverage. The radiating elements are typically excited by a beam forming network which includes microwave components capable of changing the excitation of the radiating elements placed in the focal plane through power dividers and/or phase shifters. This technique is based on reconfigurable feed arrays that belong to another class of antenna families. The present invention, however, is directed to reconfigurable single feed antennas that are extremely simple, lightweight and capable of exploiting the optics degree of freedom to improve electrical performance relative to multifeed antennas having the same main reflector aperture, a functionality not provided by the prior art.

Reconfigurable, zoomable, turnable, elliptical-beam antenna