A system and method for using a relief object image generator for cursor control, computer access control, and operational parameter control is disclosed. The system includes a relief object image generator, a sensor array, an image processor, and a memory. The relief object image generator generates images of relief objects, such as fingerprints, brought in proximity of the exposed surface of the image generator. The image processor receives the image from the sensor array, processes the image, and compares the resulting descriptive information to stored information corresponding to authorized users. If a match is found, the user is granted access to the computer. The image processor may also process the image to determine image movement or the image""s presence or absence. Detected movement is used to generate directional signals while the presence and abserice of the image is used to generate highlight and select signals. These signals conform to those generated by known mouse devices so the system of the present invention can replace a position variable device in the keyboard of a laptop or other portable computer without sacrificing functionality for the system. Other uses of the system disclosed herein include control of operational parameters for a device such as brightness and contrast for a monitor and the transmission of relief object images to remote sites for authentication of a user.

This invention relates to relief object image generators, and more particularly, to use of relief object image generators with computer systems.
Systems for generating images of relief objects are known. Relief objects are objects having a surface with features typically formed by areas and sections lying both within and outside a single two-dimensional geometric plane. A common relief object imaged by known technology is the surface of the human finger which contains ridges and valleys forming a fingerprint. These known systems include a platen to which a relief object is pressed to expose the ridges (areas of the fingerprint which contact the platen) and valleys (areas of the fingerprint which do not contact the platen) of the relief object to imaging equipment. The platen is illuminated by a light source. In many relief object imaging systems, the light from the light source is passed through a collimator before it illuminates the platen. The light is typically coupled through a right-angle prism to the platen at or near an angle corresponding to Total Internal Reflection (TIR). The frustration of TIR and the resulting absorption of light occurs at the ridges of the relief object where the relief object actually makes contact with the platen, thereby creating dark areas corresponding to these ridges. TIR remains undisturbed at the valleys of the relief object where no physical contact with the relief object occurs so illuminated patterns corresponding to the valleys are generated. Thus, light from the light source is modulated by the structural features of the relief object pressed against the platen and this modulated light is transmitted through the platen to an optical system. The optical system is usually comprised of lenses and other optical treating components. The optically treated, modulated light then impinges on a sensor array which converts the optical energy into electrical energy. The intensity at each element of the sensor array is typically converted to a digital value and the values for the array elements may then be processed by a computer for classification or verification of the relief object.
These known relief object imaging systems have a number of disadvantages. For one, each requires a light generating source which must be located at a distance from the platen so that a substantial portion of the platen surface is illuminated by the light source. Additionally, the optically treating elements are typically placed at a distance and angle from the platen to receive the reflected light from the platen. To optimize the benefits of the optical element processing, the optical treating elements must be located at distances from the platen where light rays converge or other known optical physical phenomena occur. Thus, the geometry of known relief object imaging systems impose size constraints which limit the applications for known relief object imaging systems.
Another disadvantage of known imaging systems are distortions of the reflected image. For example, the platen and sensor array in a typical relief object imaging system are tilted to maintain good focus while also maintaining platen illumination near the TIR angle. This tilting causes a type of distortion known as a keystone distortion, which is an apparent shortening of one side of the image due to an asymmetrical magnification factor imposed by this tilt angle. The resulting optical aberration causes the relief object image generator to create a trapezoidal image from a square object. Frequently, this distortion is reduced by interposing optical elements between the sensor array and the platen. However, the interposing of additional optical treating elements exacerbates the geometric constraints for the system and further impacts the applications in which the system may be used.
Known relief object image generating systems are also sensitive to ambient light entering the platen from the surface on which the relief object is placed. Additionally, the presence of an excessive amount of moisture or oil on the relief object alters the modulation of the light by the relief object and may further degrade the image of the relief object in such systems. Likewise, an exaggerated absence of moisture and other fluids in a relief object, such as a fingerprint, may also alter the light modulation produced by the relief object and degrade the image of the relief object. Also, systems which are engineered to address image degradation caused by excessive moisture may not adequately correct degradation caused by excessively dry relief objects and vice versa.
Other known relief object image generators which are not based on light emission principles replicate fingerprint images using direct capacitive coupling between the finger and an electrical sensor. These devices typically suffer from sensitivity to electrostatic discharge environments and can typically be severely damaged through abrasion. The greatest disadvantage with these devices is the cost of these relief object image generators which render the wide scale integration of these devices into computer systems economically impractical.
Computer security is an increasingly important concern as computers become smaller and personal computer inter-connectivity proliferates. The mobility and enhanced capabilities of computers provide computational resources at sophisticated levels as well as at previously unknown locations and situations. These advancements make unauthorized computer access more likely because effective physical control is more difficult to exercise over small portable computers than stationary computers and open networks like the Internet make logical access to computers easier. One way to frustrate the purpose of computer thieves is to deny them, or the persons to whom they sell the computers, the ability to use the computer. Most computer access control systems use a password or other secret tokens that an authorized user enters to activate a computer system. However, most computer thieves can disable password protection or similar security access features so the computer may be used by someone other than an authorized person. While there are known systems for limiting access to valuable resources by identifying authorized persons with fingerprint imaging systems, known relief object image generators do not possess physical geometrical dimensions which render them compatible with laptop computers and the like for reasons discussed above.
Associated with the increasing need to enhance computer access security is the need to accomplish much of the typical computer/user interface functionality in a more compact, cost effective and ergonomically efficient manner. That is, as the footprint of portable computers decreases, the area available for the keyboard, function keys and cursor control devices also decreases. Thus, a need is arising for a cursor controller that requires less area of a keyboard than known touchpads or that can be integrated with other functional components of a user""s keyboard.
What is needed is a relief object imaging system for performing security and access control functions that may be incorporated in different types of computer systems used in a variety of applications.
What is needed is a device that integrates the control of function keys with the function of a cursor control device.
The above identified limitations and disadvantages of previously known computer access control devices are overcome by a system made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. A computer access control system made in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a relief object generator which is comprised of a single electrode electroluminescent device coupled to an alternating current source to generate an image corresponding to a relief object placed against the relief object image generator, a sensor array for receiving the generated image and converting the image to electrical signals, a memory for storing image data corresponding to a relief object associated with an authorized user, and an image processor for generating image data corresponding to the electrical signals received from the sensor array and for comparing the stored image data to the generated image data, the image processor generating an access granted signal in response to the stored image corresponding to the generated image data. Preferably, the image data generated by the processor of the access control device is descriptive information that corresponds to the generated image and the image data stored in the memory is descriptive information that corresponds to the relief object image associated with the user.
A computer control device made in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a relief object image generator coupled to a computer for user access, the relief object image generator for generating images of a relief object brought in proximity to the relief object image generator, a sensor array for receiving the generated images and converting the images to electrical signals corresponding to the received images, and an image processor for converting the electrical signals received from the sensor array to computer control signals. A computer control device made in accordance with the principles of the present invention may control a computer function by processing relief object image changes to generate function select or activation signals. For example, the image processor may generate a select signal in response to the image processor detecting the presence and absence of a relief object image generated by the relief object image generator. As another example, the image processor may control a xe2x80x9cclickxe2x80x9d operation by generating a xe2x80x9cclickxe2x80x9d function control signal in response to the image processor detecting a presence, absence, and renewed presence of a relief object image generated by the relief object image generator. To control operational parameters for a computer system, the image processor of the computer control device of the present invention, may generate an operational parameter control signal in response to movement of a relief object image generated by the relief object image generator. By adding memory to the computer control device and storing information corresponding to authorized individuals, the computer control device may also be used as a computer access control device as described above.
The relief object image generator used in the computer access control device of the present invention has a reduced geometry and the ability to incorporate other functions required for computer operation by using a single electrode electroluminescent device and an electrical current source. The electroluminescent device may be an inorganic or organic electroluminescent device. With an electroluminescent device, the electrical current source has one lead coupled to the single electrode of the electroluminescent device and a second lead coupled to a relief object in proximity to the electroluminescent device. This electroluminescent device provides current to the relief object and the current is strongly coupled from the relief object to the single electrode electroluminescent device by ridges of the relief object while the current is weakly coupled to the electroluminescent device by the valleys of the relief object. Those areas of the electroluminescent device which are strongly coupled to the current from the relief object generate light which is more intense than the areas of the electroluminescent device which are weakly coupled to the current from the relief object. The light generated by the electroluminescent device in correspondence with the valleys and ridges of the relief object forms an optical image of the relief object. The electrodes in known electroluminescent devices are typically planar and are used to provide a light field that corresponds to the aligned areas of the electrodes. By fabricating the electroluminescent device with a single electrode and coupling the current source to a relief object held against the single electrode electroluminescent device, the amount of current coupled to different areas of the electroluminescent device varies in correspondence with the valleys and ridges of the relief object and generates an image of the relief object.
An organic single electrode electroluminescent device creates an image of a relief object as described above. However, as these devices typically require lower voltage but higher current than that required for inorganic electroluminescent devices, they may include a pressure-variable impedance layer and a flexible conductive layer. In this implementation, the second lead of the current source is connected to the flexible conductive layer overlaying the impedance layer such that the pressure generated by the ridges of the relief object pressing against the flexible conductive layer form current paths in the impedance layer and, correspondingly, an image of those ridges. Preferably, direct current (DC) sources are used with organic electroluminescent devices and alternating current (AC) sources are used with inorganic electroluminescent devices.
The optical image generated by the system of the present invention may be processed by optical elements and provided to a sensor array. Typically, the optical elements include reduction lenses which reduce the size of the image and, correspondingly, the size of the sensor array used to convert the image to electrical signals. Sensor arrays used in these embodiments of the present invention may be integrated circuits or the like. Using reduction lenses to reduce the size of the image, and correspondingly, the integrated circuit sensor, saves cost as the integrated circuit is made of silicon which has a cost directly proportional to the physical surface area of the integrated circuit. In another embodiment of the present invention, a one-to-one sensor array is located proximate to the single electrode electroluminescent device. The one-to-one sensor array has a length and width which is approximately the same as the electroluminescent device. The one-to-one sensor array may be made of a semiconductor material on an insulating substrate, such as amorphous silicon on glass. Because the sensor array is proximate to the electroluminescent device, the thickness of the computer access control device of the present invention is substantially smaller than previously known systems that require an optical element to focus light reflected from a platen onto a sensor array. Additionally, the sensor array and electroluminescent device are substantially orthogonal to the path of the light generated by the electroluminescent device. As a result, distortion caused by angular placement of the platen and sensor array in previously known systems is essentially eliminated. The ability of the single electrode electroluminescent device to generate light allows the computer access control device of the present invention to operate without an external light source. This further contributes to the reduced size and complexity of the access control device of the present invention.
In a system of the present invention which uses an inorganic single electrode electroluminescent device, the electroluminescent device includes a transparent electrode layer, a dielectric layer, a light emitting layer which is interposed between a first surface of the transparent electrode layer and a first surface of the dielectric layer, and an alternating current source which has a first lead coupled to the transparent electrode layer and a second lead that is proximate to a second surface of the dielectric layer. While the dielectric layer may be translucent, it, preferably, is substantially opaque to attenuate the amount of light transmitted through the second surface of the dielectric layer that is not generated by the relief object such as ambient light. When a relief object is placed in contact with the second surface of the dielectric layer and is coupled to the second lead of the alternating current source, current is strongly coupled from the ridges of the relief object through the dielectric layer and light emitting layer to the transparent electrode while current is weakly coupled from the valleys of the relief object to the transparent electrode. The light emitting particles in the strongly coupled current path generate light more intensely than those particles in the weakly coupled current path. While the term xe2x80x9ctransparentxe2x80x9d is used to describe the electrode layer of the electroluminescent devices used in the systems made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the reader should understand that as long as sufficient light is passed by the electrode so a relief object image or descriptive information about a relief object image can be generated, the electrode is adequately xe2x80x9ctransparent.xe2x80x9d Thus, the term xe2x80x9ctransparentxe2x80x9d refers to both transparent and translucent materials as those terms are typically understood.
A relief object relief generator used in a computer control device made in accordance with the principles of the present invention does not require an external light source or a collimator as no light is required for platen illumination. Instead, a relief object causes the single electrode electroluminescent device to generate a self-luminous optical image of the relief object when the relief object is coupled to the current source and brought in contact with the single electrode electroluminescent device. Because the light is generated by the structure and not illuminated by a light source, the sensor may be placed directly opposite the transparent electrode of the electroluminescent device. No intervening optical elements are required for treating the light to reduce distortion caused by the angles at which the light source, platen and sensor array are located in previously known systems. As a result, the relief object imaging system is much more compact and may be used in computer systems more easily, economically and efficiently than previously known imaging systems. For example, one embodiment of the present invention may be located on a keyboard of a laptop computer to generate an image of a fingerprint which may be processed to generate descriptive information that is distinctive for the fingerprint. The information may be the image itself or a set of algorithmically derived templates which map repeatable fingerprint characteristics that are unique to the individual to which the fingerprint belongs. The descriptive information is compared to stored fingerprint descriptive information to provide access to the computer or converted to digital information and transmitted to another computer for access to another computer system to verify a financial transaction over a network. Thus, the computer access control device of the present invention may be used to generate descriptive data about a relief object at a remote site or to generate an access granted signal based on a local comparison of the descriptive data with stored data. Either the descriptive data or the access granted signal may be transmitted to another computer coupled to an open network. The second computer may use the transmitted descriptive data to verify that the user associated with the relief object at the remote site is authorized to access the second computer. Consequently, security for logical access to computers coupled to an open network is enhanced.
Another inorganic single electrode electroluminescent device that may be used with systems made in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a transparent electrode layer, a light emitting layer having an exposed outer surface, and an alternating current source which has a first lead coupled to the transparent electrode layer and a second lead that is proximate to the exposed surface of the light emitting layer. When a relief object is placed in contact with the exposed surface of the light emitting layer and is coupled to the second lead of the alternating current source, current is strongly coupled from the ridges of the relief object through the light emitting layer to the transparent electrode while current is weakly coupled from the valleys of the relief object to the transparent electrode. The light emitting particles in the strongly coupled current path generate light more intensely than those particles in the weakly coupled current path. The capacitive effect provided by the dielectric layer in the embodiment discussed above is provided by the capacitance of the relief object especially when the relief object is a person""s finger.
The light emitting layer of the inorganic type of electroluminescent device may include phosphor particles which may be a coating applied and adhered to the first surface of the transparent electrode layer using a binding agent. Alternatively, the light emitting particles may be dispersed throughout a dielectric layer of an inorganic electroluminescent device. In this type of inorganic electroluminescent device, the light emitting particles may also be phosphor particles and the phosphor particles may be encapsulated within a protective dielectric layer to prevent moisture from degrading the phosphor. Preferably, the transparent electrode layer of an inorganic electroluminescent device is comprised of indium tin oxide (ITO) or a zinc oxide:aluminum (ZnO:Al) composite; the phosphor is preferably zinc sulfide:copper (ZnS:Cu) or it may be zinc sulfide:manganese (ZnS:Mn); and the dielectric layer may be barium titanate (BaTiO3). The light emitting layer of this type of inorganic electroluminescent device may also include reflective or refractive particles which cause the light generated by the phosphor to become more directional and, therefore, more concentrated in the direction of the sensor. Empirical measurements indicate that both the frequency and the waveform of the alternating current source may be adjusted to control the contrast between the light generated by the ridges and valleys of the relief object. By adjusting the voltage amplitude of the alternating current source, the average light intensity generated by the phosphors may be varied. Thus, the systems of the present invention using this type of inorganic electroluminescent device provide contrast and intensity control of the light image generated by the relief object image generator.
Another electroluminescent device that may be used with the systems of the present invention includes a pressure-variable impedance layer that covers the dielectric layer, a flexible electrode that covers the variable impedance layer and the second lead from the alternating current source is coupled to the flexible electrode. The variable impedance layer is comprised of conductive and/or capacitive particles dispersed through a non-conducting compressible polymer. Where the ridges of a relief object contact the flexible electrode and generate localized pressure, a conductive path through the impedance layer is formed by bringing conductive/capacitive particles into proximity with one another. Those areas of the flexible electrode proximate and aligned with the valleys of the relief object do not generate significant localized pressure which compresses the conductive/capacitive particles. Thus, the particles remain separated and less current is passed through those portions of the layer. Accordingly, the localized pressure caused by pressing the ridges of the relief object against the flexible electrode provide more current from the alternating current source to the transparent electrode through the dielectric and light emitting layers. Again, the magnitude of the current passing though the light emitting particles determines the intensity of the light for the optical image of the valleys and ridges of the relief object.
Systems using the electroluminescent devices with a pressure-variable impedance layer do not couple current from the alternating current source to the relief object. Instead, the relief object forms conductive/capacitive paths in the variable impedance layer for the current supplied from the flexible electrode. Thus, these systems insulate the relief object from the alternating current. This is especially advantageous for systems incorporating relief object imaging systems that are used in countries having regulations regarding the amount of current to which a person can be exposed. Because pressure from the structure of the relief object generates the conductive/capacitive paths through the variable impedance layer, excessive moisture or dryness does not degrade image contrast as happens in systems where the platen of a relief object image generator must be illuminated.
Systems made in accordance with the principles of the present invention may include an organic electroluminescent device. The structure of the organic electroluminescent device may be comprised of a thin, sublimed molecular film such as tris (8-quinolinolato) aluminum (III), commonly denoted as Alq or a light-emitting polymer with specialized structures which provide positive and negative charge carriers having high mobility. Light-emitting polymers include poly (p-phenylene vinylene) or PPV, soluble polythiophene derivatives, and polyanilene which may be applied to the specialized structure by known coating techniques such as spin or doctor-blade coating.
Because organic electroluminescent devices operate at low voltages, the relatively high self-resistance of common relief objects do not effectively modulate the luminescence generated by the electroluminescent device. If the relief object to be imaged is not capable of withstanding a relatively large voltage drop at currents of at least a few milliamperes, an insulating layer is preferably provided between the relief object and the organic electroluminescent device. Preferably, the insulating layer is a pressure-variable impedance layer such as the one discussed above. The pressure-variable impedance layer selectively provides an electrical impedance which varies in correspondence with the ridges and valleys of the relief object contacting the impedance layer. As a result, the higher level currents may be presented through the lower impedance paths to the organic electroluminescent device to generate holes and electrons which recombine to produce localized photons. More preferably, the organic electroluminescent device is coated with a pixelated low work function metal such as calcium or aluminum to effect efficient electron charge injection. Inventive systems which utilize an organic electroluminescent device provide a relief object image generator which may be powered from a DC current source.
A relief object image generator of the type described above possesses physical geometrical dimensions, relatively lower costs, and environmental robustness which make it compatible with portable computers such as laptop computers, desk-top personal computers, associated peripherals and the like. The relief object image generators discussed above are also compatible with other applications where personal identification numbers (PIN) and passwords are currently used and where volumetric constraints have prevented the practical integration of previously known relief object image generators. Examples of these applications include cellular telephones, keyless entry devices for all applications requiring physical security (including buildings, rooms, automobiles, etc.). Another application where the relief object generators discussed above may be used is a point-of-sale device that verifies a user""s identity using information available from a fixed or portable memory. In this application, fixed memory applies to the memory physically resident with the relief object image generator. Portable memory is any information storage media or device which is not physically resident with the relief object image generator but is typically controlled by the user. This includes, but is not limited to, printed data in the form of symbology, optical laser cards, smart chip cards, passive and active RF cards and magnetic stripe cards.
In a portable computer, a single electrode electroluminescent device is mounted, preferably near the keyboard, so a user may place a finger on the surface of the electroluminescent device. The current source and automatic gain control (AGC) are in electrical connection with the electroluminescent device while the image sensor is located behind and in the optical path of the electroluminescent device. The image generated by the electroluminescent device is converted by the sensor array to electrical signals and then processed by the computer""s processor or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to generate descriptive information that is unique to that fingerprint. The processor or ASIC determines whether the resulting set of fingerprint descriptive information corresponds to one of the sets stored within the computer for authorized users. If the descriptive information corresponds to one of those stored in the computer, the computer is activated. Otherwise, access to the computer is denied. Preferably, the relief object image generator is normally in a xe2x80x9csleepxe2x80x9d mode when the computer is off. By touching the relief object image generator, power is applied to the computer and the authorization process commences. If authorization is verified, the computer is automatically initialized with a predetermined set of programs and connections. Likewise, the relief object generator may be used to obtain an image of a person""s finger so it can be processed and the resulting fingerprint descriptive information transmitted to a remote site and used to authenticate a person from a remote system. For example, an image of a person""s fingerprint may be obtained, processed and transmitted to a banking system for access to a person""s financial account or to view real-time images of one""s child at a daycare center that can be accessed over an open network such as the Internet. In both the remote authentication and local authentication applications, the security afforded by the use of the relief object image generators discussed above may be further enhanced by the employment of an encryption technique for the transmission of the descriptive information and/or the command signifying a successful match. This would help to prevent the intentional or unintentional subversion or corruption of that data.
While the relief object image generator discussed above may be mounted at any suitable location on a computer, preferably, it is mounted in a location convenient for user access. In most portable and desk-top computers, a cursor control device such as a mouse, joystick, direction keys or other variable position/direction indicating device, is placed in such a location. By sizing the relief object image generator so it approximates or is less than that of known cursor control devices, the relief object image generator may be more readily incorporated into computers of current design through the physical replacement of these cursor control devices. Of course, if the relief object image generator physically replaces the cursor control device and all previous functionality is to be retained, the relief object image generator must be capable of accomplishing all functions associated with the replaced cursor control device.
In the cursor control device of the present invention, an image generated by the single electrode electroluminescent device of a relief object image generator is detected by light sensing elements of a sensor array and provided to an image processor. In response to movement of an object or finger imaged by the relief object image generator, a number of the light sensing elements may transition from a light detecting state to a no light detected state or vice versa. The resulting change in the generated image is processed to determine a direction of movement of the relief object and to generate a corresponding directional control signal that causes the display screen pointer to move in a corresponding direction. For example, if a finger is rolled to the user""s right, the left side of the image is no longer detected and the right side of the image increases. This causes the image processor to generate a right directional control signal that is used to move a displayed cursor to the right. In a similar manner, the cursor may be moved in other directions.
The xe2x80x9cclickxe2x80x9d of known mouse devices for highlighting a displayed object may be implemented in the preferred embodiment of the present cursor control device by detecting the absence of a previously detected image and then timing the interval of image absence before the image reappears. If the image reappears before the interval exceeds a predetermined maximum interval length, a xe2x80x9cclickxe2x80x9d operation is implemented. In a similar manner, a xe2x80x9cdouble clickxe2x80x9d operation may also be implemented. Also in a similar manner, both the xe2x80x9cclickxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdouble clickxe2x80x9d operations, as well as other special actions, may be initiated using other combinations of changes to the relief object images and may also be implemented to accomplish the xe2x80x9cclick and dragxe2x80x9d functions of known cursor control devices.
Likewise, a computer control device of the present invention may use a relief object image generator having a pressure-variable impedance layer to generate control signals that implement the xe2x80x9cclick,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cdouble-clickxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdragxe2x80x9d functions, as well as other special functions or actions. In these implementations of a computer control device, a gradual increase in pressure caused by the relief object on the flexible conductive layer generates a corresponding increase in the current flowing through the flexible layer that intensifies the image. By sensing this changing intensity and determining when it crosses a predetermined threshold, the processor may detect an image change and generate a control signal to activate a special function such as a xe2x80x9cclick,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cdouble-click,xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cdragxe2x80x9d function. Functions activated by multiple signals, such as a xe2x80x9cdouble-click,xe2x80x9d may be implemented by detecting repetitive crossings of the image intensity across a single threshold or a series of crossings across multiple thresholds.
The computer control device of the present invention may also be used for operational parameter control. In a manner similar to that discussed above for the cursor control device, the processor may detect changes in the relief object image so a user may select or activate a computer peripheral or subsystem. In a similar manner, the processor may detect other changes to the relief object image as commands to select and adjust specific control parameters for the selected computer peripheral or subsystem. For example, a computer operational control device of the present invention may be mounted in the housing of a computer monitor. An image processor and memory of the control device processes images of a finger or other object produced by the relief object image generator. By employing the xe2x80x9cclickxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdouble-clickxe2x80x9d implementations described above, the user may select a control parameter for the monitor, such as contrast or brightness. For example, rolling a finger on the relief object image generator may produce a changing image that may be processed by the image processor to generate a control signal that selects monitor brightness, for example. Continuing the example, rolling one""s finger to the right may result in the image processor generating a control signal that increases the monitor brightness while processing a finger image rolling to the left may result in a control signal that decreases the monitor brightness.
These and other advantages and benefits of the present invention may be ascertained from the detailed description of the invention presented below and the drawings discussed therein.

Method and system for computer access and cursor control using a relief object image generator


An apparatus for storing and forming baseball and softball gloves according to the principles of the present invention which include a base with a permanently affixed pedestal rising from the center of the base; a sphere, corresponding to the size of a baseball or softball, removably integral with the top of the pedestal; and a means for securing the baseball or softball glove to said sphere.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the easy storage of a baseball or softball glove. Also, the invention provides an easy means for one to shape and form a glove, as well as a means for decoratively displaying a glove.
2. Description of the Related Art including Information Disclosed under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 and 1.98.
Not Applicable.

Apparatus for molding and storing baseball and softball gloves


A zoom lens includes a first, a second, a third and a fourth lens groups that are arranged along an optical axis and from an object side to an image side in sequence. The refractive powers of the four lens groups are positive, negative, positive and positive, respectively. The first and the third lens groups are fixed at a fixed position. The second lens group is movable along the optical axis in accordance with the change of magnification. The fourth lens group is movable along the optical axis in accordance with keeping an image plane fixed at an image sensor. The present invention has at least four pieces of lens that are made of plastic material in order to decrease camera lens weight and move easily the lens groups. In addition, the present invention has small variation of aperture value, moderate zoom ratio and compact size at the same time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens, in particular, to a zoom lens applied to an image-capturing device such as DV (digital video), DSC (digital still camera) etc.
2. Description of Related Art
Referring to US Patent Publication No. US 2005/0099700A1, it discloses a compact zoom lens. The refractive powers of the four lens groups are positive, negative, positive and positive, respectively. When the zoom lens is zoomed from wide-configuration to tele-configuration, the positions of the first lens group and the third lens group are fixed and the second lens group is moved to image side. The size of the zoom lens is compact, but the zoom ratio (3×) is low.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,318, it discloses a lens image system that includes a first lens group, a second lens group and a third lens group. The first and the second lens groups are movable, and the third lens group can be moved a little (almost fixed). The first lens group is composed of four pieces of lens', the second lens group is also composed of four pieces of lens, and the third lens group includes a color filer and an image lens. However, the number of the lens is too many (11 pieces of lens), so that the size is large and the cost is high.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,316, it discloses four lens groups, and the refractive powers of the four lens groups are positive, negative, positive and positive, respectively. The four lens groups are composed of ten pieces of lens, the third lens group is fixed, two aspherical surfaces are provided. However, the second and/or fourth lens groups are movable, so that the variation of the focal length is insufficient. Hence, when pixel and brightness are increased, the whole size of the zoom lens is increased and the image multiple and resolution are limited. In addition, the zoom lens needs many numbers of lenses, so that the cost is increased.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 6,714,355, it provides 3× zoom ratio and 2.8 Fno, and it discloses four lens groups, and the refractive powers of the four lens groups are positive, negative, positive and positive, respectively. The four lens groups are composed of ten pieces of lens, the third lens group is movable, and one aspherical surface is provided. However, the zoom ratio is insufficient, the aperture value is too high and the number of lens is too many, so that the zoom lens cannot be compacted.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 7,379,249, it provides five lens groups composed of ten pieces of lens that are made of glass, so that the cost is increased. In addition, it provides 2.78˜4.02 Fno, so that the variation of aperture value is large. The aperture ratio of wide-configuration to tele-configuration is (4.02/2.78)2=2.09, so that the aperture value at tele-configuration (*4.02) is smaller than the aperture value at wide-configuration (*2.78). In other words, bigger FNO variation range 2.78˜4.02 in design, so the input light different is bigger also, the ratio is 2.09 times.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 7,453,647, it provides four lens groups composed of nine pieces of lens that are made of glass, three of the lens groups are movable and the total length of the zoom lens is 78.5 mm, so that the cost is increased. In addition, it provides 2.53˜4.74 Fno, so that the variation of aperture value is large. The aperture ratio of wide-configuration to tele-configuration is (4.74/2.53)2=3.48, so that the aperture value at tele-configuration (*4.74) is smaller than the aperture value at wide-configuration (*2.53). In other words, bigger FNO variation range 2.53˜4.74 in design, so the input light different is bigger also, the ratio is 3.48 times.


An amplitude shift keyed (ASK) receiver includes a signal receiving part receiving an amplitude shift keyed signal, a signal detecting part coupled to the signal receiving part and detecting a signal having a carrier frequency and a noise, a pulse detecting part coupled to the signal receiving part and checking the signal from the signal receiving part for compensating errors in the signal detecting part, and a signal determining part coupled to the signal detecting part and the pulse detecting part, the signal determining part determining and restoring a signal to be restored according to output signals from the signal detecting part and the pulse detecting part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ASK(Amplitude Shift Keyed) receiver, and more particularly, to an ASK receiver using a digital circuit.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
An ASK technique is a modulation technique used in communication technology. For digital signals such as `0` and `1`, one signal is carried with a frequency and the other is carried without a frequency as shown in FIG. 1. A conventional ASK receiver will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional ASK receiver includes a pre-amplifying part 1 for amplifying an amplitude shift keyed and received signal, a band pass filter 2 for passing a signal only within a predetermined band of the signals from the pre-amplifying part 1, a detector 3 for obtaining an original low frequency signal from an output of the band pass filter 2, a delaying part 4 for delaying a signal from the detector 3 for a predetermined period of time, a signal stretcher 5 for stretching a signal from the detector 3 using a capacitor, a dynamic threshold generator 6 for generating a threshold value for determining whether the received signal exceeds a noise level, and a microprocessor 7.
The operation of the conventional ASK receiver having the aforementioned system will now be explained. Referring to FIG. 2, in order to obtain a signal only within a predetermined band, an amplitude shift keyed and received signal is amplified through the pre-amplifying part 1 and filtered by the band pass filter 2. The filtered signal is received at the detector 3. The detector 3 generates a high bit level pulse if a carrier signal is present and produces a low bit level pulse if no carrier signal is detected. Then, the output signal from the above detector 3 is inputted to the delaying part 4, the signal stretcher 5, and the dynamic threshold generator 6, respectively. The delaying part 4 delays the signal generated from the detector 3 for a predetermined period of time, and the signal stretcher 5 stretches the signal using a capacitor. The dynamic threshold generator 6 produces a threshold value for determining whether a received signal exceeds a noise level. Those signals from the detector 3 delayed for a predetermined period of time by the delaying part 4 that are greater than the threshold value generated from the threshold generator 6 and at the same time have a section greater than the signal stretched in the signal stretcher 5 are produced as a high bit digital signal. The signals in the remaining sections are produced as low bit digital signals. Finally, the outputted values are transmitted to the microprocessor 7 and converted to binary digit signals.
However, the conventional ASK receiver has the following problems. First, the conventional ASK receiver uses an analog signal system which has low reliability and high power consumption. Second, realization of a highly integrated device with other digital circuits is difficult, and a separate analog power source generates high noise level.


An antenna system for communicating electromagnetic and optical signals using a common aperture is provided. The system includes at least one optical phased array terminal integrated with an optically transparent electromagnetic antenna such that the optically transparent electromagnetic antenna and the optical phased array terminal share a common aperture. The optically transparent electromagnetic antenna includes a substrate fabricated of a substantially electrically non-conductive material that is substantially optically transparent to optical signals having a wavelength within a specific portion of the optical spectrum. An antenna element layer, including an array of electromagnetic antenna elements electrically connected by transmission lines and a plurality of phase shifters electrically connected to the electromagnetic antenna elements is disposed onto the substrate. The antenna elements and the transmission lines are fabricated of a conductive material that is deposited such that they are substantially optically transparent to optical signals having a wavelength within the specific portion of the optical spectrum.

Broadband communication access, on which our society and economy is growing increasingly dependent, is becoming more readily available to users on board mobile platforms such as aircraft, buses, ships, trains and automobiles. Typically, mobile platform communications systems that provide such access utilize electromagnetic communication signals, also generally referred to in the art as radio frequency (RF) signals, to communicate with a remote, typically ground based, system. To increase available bandwidth, some known mobile platform communication systems have implemented optical, i.e. laser, communication systems in addition to the electromagnetic systems.
Generally, known communication systems for mobile platforms that provide both optical/laser and electromagnetic modes of communication require separate optical and electromagnetic apertures. Thus, such systems generally include at least one optical terminal and at least one separate electromagnetic antenna mounted on the mobile platform. However, separate optical and electromagnetic apertures/antennas add additional equipment costs, add significant weight and occupy valuable space which may not be available on a given mobile platform.
Commonly, combined communication systems utilize satellite dishes, phased arrays and telescopes to provide for the communication of both optical and electromagnetic signals. For example, at least one known system includes a small planar electronically scanned electromagnetic phased array antenna and at least one separate optical phased array (OPA) terminal. However, the phased array antenna and the OPA must be implemented separately and care must be taken to implement both systems such that each performs to expectation at the expense of increased physical space consumption. Additionally, when separate optical and electromagnetic systems, specifically the optical terminals and electromagnetic antennas, are mounted on the mobile platform in close proximity, alignment and calibration become difficult to optimize. Therefore, set-up of such systems can be very time consuming and performance often inhibited.
Therefore, it would be desirable to add additional communications bandwidth by adding optical communications to a mobile platform communications system while minimizing the footprint of the exterior communications equipment, e.g. antenna and related electronics, on the mobile platform.

Combined optical and electromagnetic communication system and method


Methods and apparatus for forming two orthogonally polarized beams of light from an unpolarized beam of light using one of at least two different image modes, the forming includes a color filtering process that is based on the image mode being used, and projecting the two orthogonally polarized beams to form an image on a viewing surface. Methods and apparatus for separating an unpolarized light beam into four beams as a function of wavelength and polarization; selectively modulating the four beams respectively using four light valves; and combining the four modulated beams to generate two orthogonally polarized light beams.

Microdisplay projectors are used in two-dimensional (2D) projection display systems such as rear-projection televisions, portable business projectors, fixed installation or conference room projectors, and large venue digital cinema projectors. Microdisplays are also used in three-dimensional (3D) projection display systems such as the VR-3100 Stereoscopic Projector available from VRex, Inc.
Microdisplay projectors fall into two general categories, front projectors and rear projectors. Front projectors illuminate a screen that reflects light into the viewer's eyes. Rear projectors illuminate a transparent screen to display an image that is viewed from the side of the screen that is opposite the projector.
A key element of a microdisplay projector is a light engine, which is a compact optical system that typically includes a white light lamp, one or more microdisplays, various optical elements, and a projection lens.
3D image projectors use two light engines, one light engine to project one state of polarization and the other to project an orthogonal state of projection. The two light engines are aligned to achieve a specific image convergence on an image-viewing screen.


A hydraulic control system for a working machine according to the present invention comprises a hydraulic pump for supplying working oil to a hydraulic actuator through a control valve, a relief mechanism disposed on the discharge side of the pump, the relief mechanism assuming an open state when a pump discharge pressure which varies according to the pump flow rate exceeds a predetermined pressure and assuming a closed state when the pump discharge pressure becomes the predetermined one or lower, an ordinary control means for controlling the pump flow rate in accordance with working information, and a pressure feedback control means for controlling the pump flow rate in accordance with the pump discharge pressure. In this system, out of controls performed by both control means, control wherein the flow rate by one control becomes smaller than that of the other is selected, thereby opening/closing control of the relief mechanism is performed. According to this, it is possible to decrease the relief loss and improve the energy efficiency while making the most of the ordinary control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic control system for a working machine such as a hydraulic excavator.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to a conventional hydraulic system in a working machine, when a large load is imposed on a hydraulic actuator with a consequent increase in internal pressure of the hydraulic system, working oil is released to a tank through a relief valve to prevent an excessive increase of pressure and thereby prevent a damage to hydraulic devices.
In this case, a large proportion of working oil fed from a hydraulic pump during operation of the relief valve is released directly to a tank through the relief valve without being fed to the hydraulic actuator, so that a large proportion of pump power is consumed as a loss of the relief valve, thus giving a rise to the problem that the energy efficiency is deteriorated.
For example, FIGS. 13A to 13D are explanatory diagrams showing a pressure-flow rate response relation observed when positive control alone is performed. As shown in FIG. 13A, when pilot pressure PI fed from a remote control valve to a control valve is fed stepwise up to FULL by operating an operating lever, a pump flow rate Qp also becomes a maximum flow rate stepwise as in FIG. 13C. However, for example in the case where a hydraulic actuator is a swing motor, the speed of the swing motor does not increase rapidly under the influence of inertia of a swing body. Consequently, an incoming flow rate into a supply-side pipe in the swing motor becomes larger than an outgoing flow rate from the discharge side pipe in the same motor, resulting in that, as shown in FIG. 13B, the internal pressure of the supply pipe, i.e., pump pressure Pp, rises up to relief pressure Pr and, as shown in FIG. 13D, a surplus flow rate of working oil is discharged as relief flow rate Qr from a relief valve.
In Japanese Patent Laid Open No. Hei 8-219104 (Patent Document 1), the positive control is performed so that the higher a pump discharge pressure, the smaller the pump discharge quantity. In Japanese Patent Laid Open No. Hei 10-246204 (Patent Document 2), under a negative control, a throttle is installed on the downstream side of a relief valve, and when the pressure on an upstream side of the throttle increases with an increase of the relief quantity, the pump flow rate is decreased to lower the relief flow rate. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 2002-038536 (Patent Document 3), under the negative control, temperatures of working oil on both upstream and downstream sides of the relief valve are detected and when the difference between the temperatures has become large, the pump flow rate is decreased to decrease the relief flow rate.
However, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 it is impossible to control the pump discharge quantity so as to decrease by an amount matching the relief flow rate. Therefore, if the decrease quantity of the pump discharge quantity is smaller than the amount matching the relief flow rate, the pump discharge pressure exceeds the relief pressure, causing operation of the relief valve, with consequent creation of a large relief flow rate posing the problem that the energy efficiency is deteriorated. If the decrease quantity of the pump discharge pressure is larger than the amount matching the relief flow rate, the relief valve fails to operate and there also arises the problem that the accelerating ability is impaired due to an excessive lowering of the pump discharge pressure.
According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, there occurs a pressure loss due to the throttle provided on the downstream side of the relief valve and hence it is impossible to improve the energy efficiency. According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, heat capacity of the relief valve causes a very large time lag between the creation of relief flow rate and the rise in temperature of the relief valve, so that an excessive time delay occurs from the time when relief flow is created to cut-off of pump flow rate, and thus the relief loss is not fully diminished. Even after the arrival of relief flow rate at zero, the pump flow is cut off for the detection of remaining heat and it becomes impossible to obtain a required driving force.
In case of using only a pressure feedback control instead of positive and negative controls, the control is made for example in such a manner that meter-in opening of a control valve becomes small when the lever operation amount is made small. In this case, in the pressure feedback control, the pump flow rate is not controlled in accordance with the lever operation amount and therefore the pump discharge pressure is always controlled integrally by a high pressure close to the relief pressure. As a result, a differential pressure in a meter-in circuit becomes very high, producing an extremely heavy meter-in loss, whereby the operability is deteriorated. For this reason, the adoption of only the pressure feedback control instead of the ordinary control such as the positive control has not been actually applied.

Hydraulic control system for working machine

Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


A fuel nozzle (10) for a gas turbine includes an annular nozzle body (12) having a forward end with interior and exterior surfaces; a gas tip (14) having a forward fuel discharge end and a rearward mounting end, the rearward mounting end at least partially receivable in the forward end of the nozzle body (12); a resilient seal (38) inserted between the nozzle body (12) and the gas tip (14); a seal ring (26) mounted on the rearward mounting end of the gas tip (14), adapted to axially compress the resilient seal (38) when the seal ring (26) is engaged with the nozzle body (12); and a locking sleeve (48) on the exterior surface of the nozzle body (12) for locking the seal ring ( 26 ) to the gas tip ( 14 ).

Gas fuels with a high concentration of hydrogen (greater than 5% by volume) require special provisions to prevent the possibility of an explosion. One such provision is to weld the fuel nozzle gas tip to the fuel nozzle body to avoid any leakage of gas through the threaded interface. While providing a leak-tight joint, the welded tips make it difficult to perform any nozzle maintenance in the field. Removing the tips necessitates sending the fuel nozzle assemblies to an off-site service shop where the nozzle tips are machined off. This becomes an expensive and time-consuming proposition for the customer.
This invention provides a simple yet effective sealing arrangement for fuel nozzles used in high-hydrogen fuel applications.
In the exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, the fuel nozzle gas tip is provided with a threaded seal ring which, after the gas tip has been threaded into engagement with the fuel nozzle body, is movable axially rearwardly to axially and radially compress a resilient metallic O-ring between the gas tip and the nozzle body. In order to prevent the seal ring on the tip from moving axially forwardly (via rotation) during use, an annular locking sleeve is provided for locking the seal ring in place. The locking sleeve comprises a cylindrical sleeve provided with a plurality of axially extending tabs at its forwardmost end, in circumferentially spaced relationship. These tabs are adapted to protrude forwardly through axial slots spaced in a similar manner about the circumference of the seal ring, when the seal ring is moved rearwardly into engagement with the nozzle body. The nozzle body itself is also provided with a plurality of circular recesses spaced circumferentially about its forward end. After the seal ring is fully engaged with the nozzle body, with the resilient metallic seal compressed therebetween, the forwardmost tabs of the locking sleeve, having been received within the circumferentially spaced axial slots the seal ring, are bent radially inwardly, and the rearward portion of the locking sleeve is staked to the circumferentially spaced recesses on the nozzle body. As a result, the locking ring is prevented from moving rotationally or axially relative to the gas tip. Furthermore, the gas tip is also prevented from rotation.
In its broadest aspects, therefore, the invention relates to a fuel nozzle for a gas turbine comprising an annular nozzle body having a forward end with interior and exterior surfaces; a gas tip having a forward fuel discharge end and a rearward mounting end, the rearward mounting end at least partially receivable in the forward end of the nozzle body; a resilient seal inserted between the nozzle body and the gas tip; a seal ring mounted on the rearward mounting end of the gas tip, adapted to axially compress the resilient seal when the seal ring is engaged with the nozzle body; and means on the exterior surface of the nozzle body for locking the seal ring to the gas tip.
The presently disclosed invention thus provides good sealing for high-hydrogen fuel gas tips while offering a design that is field maintainable. Furthermore, by using an adjustable seal ring, reliable sealing performance is achieved, regardless of variable stack-up between the gas tip and the body from assembly to assembly.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.


A ballistic and blast protective composite panel includes a first composite layer and a second composite layer.

Various embodiments of a protective armor panel are described herein. In particular, the embodiments described herein relate to an improved multifunctional composite panel for blast and ballistic protection.
Protective armor typically is designed for several applications types: personal protection such as helmets and vests, vehicle protection such as for high mobility multi-wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs), and rigid structures such as buildings. Important design objectives for personal protection include, for example, protection against ballistic projectiles, low weight, and good flexure. Vehicles and rigid structures often require superior ballistic and blast protection and low cost per unit area.
Blast protection typically requires the material to have the structural integrity to withstand the high loads of blast pressure. Ballistic protection typically requires the material to stop the progress of bomb fragments ranging in size from less than one millimeter to 10 mm or more and traveling at velocities in excess of 2000 meters per second for smaller fragments.
Accordingly, personal protective armor is often made of low weight, high tech materials having a high cost per unit area. High unit area cost may be acceptable to the user because people present low surface area relative to vehicles and buildings. The materials used in personal protective armor products do not need high load bearing capabilities because either the body supports the material, such as in a vest, or the unsupported area is very small, such as in a helmet.
As a result of the blast, ballistic, and low unit area cost requirements for vehicles and structures, the materials used in blast protection are typically heavier materials, including for example, metals and ceramics. Such materials may not always be low cost. Such materials may further be of usually high weight per unit area.

Composite panels for blast and ballistic protection

University of Maine System Board of Trustees


A semiconductor device which performs a predetermined operation includes a timing-stabilization circuit which performs a timing adjustment with respect to an internal clock signal, and a current-consumption circuit which consumes a predetermined amount of a current so as to emulate conditions of such current consumption as would be observed during the predetermined operation of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device further includes a start-up-period control circuit which makes the timing-stabilization circuit and the current-consumption circuit operate at a beginning of power supply so as to perform the timing adjustment under the conditions, and stops operations of the timing-stabilization circuit and the current-consumption circuit after completion of the timing adjustment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor devices, and particularly relates to a semiconductor device equipped with a timing-stabilization circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices such as SDRAMs (synchronous dynamic random access memories), which operate in synchronism with a synchronization signal, need a mechanism for stabilizing a data-access time and a data-hold time relative to the synchronization signal in order to achieve a faster operation speed. To meet this demand, a timing-stabilization circuit such as a DLL (delay-locked loop) circuit is provided in the semiconductor devices for the purpose of stabilizing the internal-clock signals used for data input/output.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit which adjusts a data-output timing based on a DLL circuit.
The circuit of FIG. 1 includes an input circuit 501, a variable-delay circuit 502, an output circuit 503, a phase comparator 504, a delay-control circuit 505, a dummy-variable-delay circuit 506, a dummy-output circuit 507, and a dummy-input circuit 508.
A clock signal CLK input to the input circuit 501 is compared with a reference voltage level, and is output from the input circuit 501 as a clock signal i-clk. The clock signal i-clk is then delayed by the variable-delay circuit 502 by an appropriate delay amount, and is supplied to the output circuit 503. The output circuit 503 uses the supplied internal-clock signal as a synchronization signal for latching data DATA which is to be output from the device. The latched data DATA is then supplied from the output circuit 503 to an exterior of the semiconductor device as data DQ.
The signal path from an input node of the clock signal CLK to the output circuit 503 inevitably introduces a delay which is inherent to the circuit, so that the data DQ output to the exterior of the device has a timing displacement relative to the clock signal CLK. In order to ensure that the data DQ output from the output circuit 503 is adjusted to have a predetermined timing relation with the externally provided clock signal CLK, a DLL circuit mainly comprised of the phase comparator 504, the delay-control circuit 505, and the dummy-variable-delay circuit 506 is employed.
The clock signal i-clk is supplied to the dummy-variable-delay circuit 506. The dummy-variable-delay circuit 506 is controlled to delay the clock signal i-clk by the same delay amount as that applied by the variable-delay circuit 502. The delayed-clock signal output from the dummy-variable-delay circuit 506 is then supplied to the dummy-output circuit 507, which emulates the output circuit 503. The clock signal output from the dummy-output circuit 507 is supplied as a dummy-clock signal d-i-clk to the phase comparator 504 via the dummy-input circuit 508, which has the same delay characteristics as the input circuit 501.
The phase comparator 504 makes a comparison of the clock signal i-clk with the dummy-clock signal d-i-clk in terms of their phases. To ensure that both clock signals have the same phase, the phase comparator 504 controls the delay amount of the dummy-variable-delay circuit 506 via the delay-control circuit 505. In this manner, the clock signal output from the dummy-output circuit 507 is adjusted so as to have a predetermined timing relation with the input clock signal CLK.
A total delay of the variable-delay circuit 502 and the output circuit 503 is equal to a total delay of the dummy-variable-delay circuit 506 and the dummy-output circuit 507. Because of this, when the clock signal output from the dummy-output circuit 507 has the predetermined timing relation with the input clock signal CLK, the data DQ output from the output circuit 503 to the exterior of the device ends up having the same predetermined timing relation with the input clock signal CLK.
In this configuration, even when the characteristics of the input circuit 501, the variable-delay circuit 502, and the output circuit 503 are changed due to variations in a power voltage and/or temperature, the characteristics of the dummy-input circuit 508, the dummy-variable-delay circuit 506, and the dummy-output circuit 507 also change in the same manner. Because of this, the data DQ output from the output circuit 503 to the exterior of the device always keeps the same timing relation with the input clock signal CLK regardless of a power-voltage variation and/or a temperature variation.
The DLL circuit shown in FIG. 1 operates at each clock cycle or every sampled cycle selected at predetermined intervals so as to effect clock-stabilization control. The DLL circuit, however, tends to exhibit unstable operations because of excessive sensitivity to noise. When the DLL circuit operates at all times, therefore, there is a high likelihood that the semiconductor device ends up showing an unstable operation. Further, incessant operations of the DLL circuit give rise to a problem that the semiconductor device consumes an excessive power.
Accordingly, there is a need for a semiconductor device equipped with a DLL circuit which can maintain stable operations while achieving a reduction in power consumption.

Semiconductor device with stable operation and reduced power consumption


A binarization device for payment or accounting documents including sensitive data located in respective data window provides a primary binarized document file of the document; a memory stores identification files including identifying images and location information associated to given types of documents; the data window can be identified and localized as comparison with the identification files of the memory; the contribution of the background is subtracted from the window file, the window file is binarized and filtered for spurious pixels obtaining a binarized window file; the binarized document file and the binarized window file are merged to provide the binarized window file in the data window; the evidence of the significant pixel is obtained by sequential analysis on groups of pixels, applying morphological expansion operators on each group of pixels and following erosion of said group of pixels.

The payment or account documents include, for example, bank checks, payment bills, traveler's checks or traveler's checks and money orders, as documents for the transfer of money via Western Union or Money Gram. These documents comprise forms with basic information, primary information and other information printed with magnetic ink (MICR) and obtained by stringent printing specifications. The documents are available for financial institutions and other issuing institutions and are finalized for the payment by addition of sensitive data in data windows provided to this end.
The printing of the sensitive data can be performed by printers on counters for the public which are different from the ones which have generated the basic information and the primary information of the forms. A hand compilation of the document by the end user is also permitted. Therefore the quality of inking of the sensitive data can be poor and the sensitive data could be confused with the background of the document.
When the payment document is forwarded to a bank counter, it is scanned and gives rise to forming an image file in which the image is constituted by a matrix of dots with respective values of color/intensity (pixels). Then, the obtained information is transmitted to a reference bank or other financial institution to complete the process of final payment (compensation control) and storage of the respective data.
To reduce the processing time and limit the information to be transmitted and stored, the scanning can be performed in a gray scale with medium-good resolution, for example of about 200 or 300 dpi. Afterwards, the information is binarized for the processing with automatic machines and recognizing of the sensitive data by means of OCR devices and CAR/LAR decoders. This process is adequate for the basic information and the primary information of the documents but the binarization can lead to the loss of sensitive data, in the case of poor quality of the print.
During controls and checking of the document, the image of the binarized document is suitably displayed, allowing the operator to process the document in manual mode if he or she detects defects or absence of sensitive data in the displayed image. This results in slowing the process of transmission and storage of the document, with increasing of costs.
On the other hand, if the images were captured at high resolution and/or color, the binarization can improve but the required time of the process will result too long with image files of large size and transmission times longer, even in the case of perfectly recognizable documents with less accurate scans. This possibility is also impractical for the equipment currently used and which follow de facto standards which do not provide for the possibility of high resolution scans.
The known data binarization devices can be found inadequate; in particular, for example, when the sensitive data have been printed by dot matrix printers, widely used to obtain multicopy documents in transactions by public counters. The print can be fleeting, especially when the printers have been used ink ribbons next to exhaustion, rendering ineffective the known binarization devices.

Device and method of binarization for payment or accounting documents


The magnetic recording medium provided is produced by forming a substrate having a nanoparticle layer comprising an array of nanoparticles, and an organic compound between said array of nanoparticles; irradiating the nanoparticle layer with an infrared beam to magnetize the nanoparticles; applying a magnetic field to the nanoparticle layer to orient easy axis of magnetization of the magnetic nanoparticles in a substantially uniform direction; and irradiating the nanoparticle layer with an ultraviolet beam to bind said organic compound to thereby produce a magnetic recording medium wherein easy axis of magnetization of the nanoparticles has been oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a direction at a particular angle with the substrate. The resulting magnetic recording medium experiences no deterioration of the underlying layer or the soft magnetic layer, and exhibits good magnetic properties.

With the recent increase in the capacity of the magnetic recording system, attempts have been made to increase recording density of the magnetic recording medium. In order to increase the density of the recording bit on the magnetic recording medium, decrease in the noise of the medium is necessary, and for this, use of smaller magnetization reversal units on the magnetic recording layer is required. Reduction in the size of the magnetic crystal grains constituting the magnetic recording layer has been found effective for such increase in the recording density. However, use of excessively minute magnetic crystal grains is known to invite thermal demagnetization wherein magnetization on the magnetic recording layer becomes thermally unstable. Use of magnetic crystal grains having a uniform size distribution is important to reduce the thermal demagnetization. In other words, size reduction of the magnetic crystal grains simultaneously with the reduction in the grain size dispersion or standard deviation is required in the medium adapted for use in high density recording.
Conventional magnetic recording mediums have been produced by sputtering a seed layer, an underlying layer, a magnetic layer functioning as a recording layer, a protective layer, and the like in this order on a circular glass or aluminum substrate. In the magnetic layer formed by sputtering, size dispersion of the magnetic crystal grains constituting the magnetic layer is large. The size dispersion and the average grain size, however, can be reduced in the case of sputtering by controlling the conditions of the film deposition. Still, the control of the grain size dispersion is difficult, and it is said that the grain size dispersion is limited to the level of about 20%.
An attempt to overcome the need for reducing the size and size dispersion degree of the magnetic crystal grains is disclosed in Patent Document 1, (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-48340, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,532) and a document relevant to this Patent Document 1, is Non-Patent Document 1, Science, vol. 287, pages 1989 to 1992 (issue of Mar. 17, 2000).
In Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1, the magnetic nanoparticles constituting the recording layer are produced not by the conventional sputtering but by a chemical synthesis. In Non-Patent Document 1, FePt alloy (uniaxial anisotropy constant, Ku: 7×106 J/m3) which is a hopeful candidate for the near future high recording density is synthesized in an organic solvent by reacting an iron pentacarbonyl compound (Fe(CO)5) and an acetylacetone platinum compound (Pt(acac)2). According to the Patent Document 1 and the Non-Patent Document 1, magnetic nanoparticles having an arbitrary diameter in the range of at least 3 nm and up to 10 nm with the size dispersion standard deviation of 5 to 10% could be selectively produced by using the chemical synthesis as described above.
The magnetic nanoparticle produced by the chemical sysnthesis as described in the Patent Document 1 and the Non-Patent Document 1 comprises a magnetic metal as indicated 1 in FIG. 1, which comprises either a single magnetic metal element or an alloy containing at least one magnetic metal element. Such magnetic nanoparticle is coated with an organic compound as indicated by 2. This coating of the organic compound improves adhesion both between the magnetic nanoparticles and the substrate surface and between the adjacent magnetic nanoparticles, and there is disclosed that such organic compound coating facilitates the stable production of the ordered array of the magnetic nanoparticles in the formation of the monolayer or multilayer film. FIG. 2 shows a monolayer film of magnetic nanoparticles. In FIG. 2(a), the layer of magnetic nanoparticle layer 5 is formed on the underlying layer or the soft magnetic layer 4 formed on the substrate 3, and the magnetic nanoparticle 1 is covered with the coating 2.
In addition to the role as described above, the coating of the organic compound is believed to play an important role of improving the storage stability of the colloid solution of the magnetic nanoparticles. The presence of the organic compound coating between the magnetic nanoparticles in the resulting film is also believed to reduce the magnetic interaction between the adjacent magnetic nanoparticles. This phenomenon may be similar to the phenomenon found in the medium having the layer of CoCrPt, CoCrTa, or the like formed by sputtering wherein Cr segregated layer is formed at the boundary of the magnetic crystal grains.
Typical organic compounds used for the coating in the Patent Document 1 are organic materials containing a long chain organic compound represented by the formula: R—X wherein R is desirably a member selected from straight and branched hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon chains containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and X is desirably a member selected from carboxylic acids, phosphonic acids, phosphinic acids, sulfonic acids, sulfinic acids, and thiols, among which oleic acid being mentioned as the most desirable for use as the coating.
Non-Patent Document 1 describes that, when the recording layer comprising magnetic nanoparticles formed was subjected to a high temperature heat treatment at about 560° C., the coating of the organic compound such as oleic acid did not evaporate, but became carbonized as indicated by 6 in FIG. 2(b) and remained around the magnetic nanoparticles. Such carbonized organic substance remaining between the magnetic nanoparticles is believed to contribute for the reduction of the magnetic interaction between the magnetic particles. Non-Patent Document 1 also describes that crystallographic structure of the FePt magnetic nanoparticles changes by the heat treatment from the fcc structure at the time of its chemical sysnthesis into the ordered structure L10. In the case of FePt, magnetism is not found in the fcc structure, and ferromagnetism is developed when it takes the ordered structure. It is to be noted that the magnetic field was not applied in the heat treatment after the film formation. Accordingly, the easy axis of magnetization of the magnetic nanoparticles is believed to be randomly oriented.
In the technology described in Non-Patent Document 1, the nanoparticle layer formed is subjected to a high temperature treatment at about 500° C. to 600° C. to thereby convert the nanoparticle crystal structure from fcc structure to L10 ordered structure to thereby magnetize the nanoparticles to the degree sufficient for use as a recording medium. As a result of such high temperature heat treatment, the nanoparticle layer experiences disturbance in the array of the nanoparticles as well as agglomeration of the nanoparticles, and when such nanoparticle layer is used in a magnetic recording layer, the layer suffers from an insufficient flatness. The high temperature heat treatment also results in the undesirable deterioration of the underlying layer, the soft magnetic layer, and the like between the nanoparticle layer and the substrate. In spite of the high magnetization degree of the nanoparticle layer after the high temperature heat treatment, it is difficult to use such nanoparticle layer in a magnetic recording medium wherein the substrate is actually rotated for the reading and writing of the information by the read head.
On the other hand, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the easy axis of magnetization of the magnetic nanoparticles constituting the recording layer is randomly oriented, and orientation of the easy axis of magnetization in a particular direction such as in-plane direction of the medium or thickness direction of the medium is difficult. As a consequence of such difficulty, the resulting magnetic recording layer suffers from inferior magnetic properties compared to the conventional in-plane recording or perpendicular recording medium.

Method for producing nanoparticle layer having uniform easy axis of magnetization, magnetic recording medium having such layer, its production method, and its production apparatus


A method for recommending an action to a user of a user device includes receiving first user action data corresponding to a first user action and receiving second user action data corresponding to a second user action. The method also includes generating, based on the first user action data and the second user action data and using a feedforward artificial neural network, a recommendation for a next user action. The method also includes causing the recommendation for the next user action to be communicated to the user device.

The present disclosure relates to cognitive computing and, more particularly, to recommending a next action for a user of an application or device.
Modern enterprise middleware dashboards organize complex systems of information. Training and learning curves required for individual users to become effective with such tools can be costly and time consuming. While some users may readily master the setups and other operations of complex applications, at one time or another even a rocket scientist might benefit from a recommendation of what to do next.

Cooperative neural network for recommending next user action

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The present invention relates to the use as perfuming ingredient of 1-oxaspiro[2.11]tetradecane, as well as to the perfuming compositions or perfumed articles containing said compound.

1-Oxaspiro[2.11]tetradecane is a known chemical, which has been described in several prior art documents as chemical intermediate in various chemical transformations, for example see Nagel et al. in Synlett, 2002, 280.
However, to the best of our knowledge, none of the prior art documents report or suggest any organoleptic properties, or use in the field of perfumery, of said compound.

Spiroepoxy-macrocycle as perfuming ingredient


In order to enhance the efficiency of charging in a friction charger, it is proposed to precharge the particles before the first collision with the walls by making use of the photoeffect. This is performed, preferably, through irradiating the particles using UV radiation from a UV excimer radiator.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for charging particles by charging the particles in a friction charger and subsequent separation.
The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the method.
2. Discussion of Background
In the electrostatic separation of particles, for example coal particles, finely ground particles are charged in a friction charger (TRIBOcharger) by collisions with solid bodies, for example walls. Friction chargers of this type are described, for example, in the brochure "ESB Electrostatik-Automatik-Pulverbeschichtungs-Systeme" (ESB Electrostatic Automatic Powder-coating Systems), page 13, from the firm ESB, Meersburg (FRG), undated. This charging depends strongly on the dielectric characteristics of the particles. A good insulator will be differently charged in this case than a poor insulator, so that the good insulator material can be separated from the poor insulating material in an electric field. Depending on the combination of the materials to be separated it is even possible for chargings of different polarity to occur. Further charges are brought onto the particles by a plurality of collisions; however, the number is no longer as large as in the case of earlier collisions, because saturation is finally achieved. The aim of the efficient friction chargers is to achieve this "maximal" charge density by as few collisions as possible.


A receiver for receiving and processing digital satellite radio signals includes multiple antenna modules for receiving digital satellite radio signals, multiple processing circuits for converting digital satellite radio signals to low-IF or 0-IF signals, diversity circuitry for selecting from among multiple low-IF or 0-IF signals, and additional processing circuitry for extracting audio and/or data from the selected signals. The system also includes automatic and manual switches for selecting from among multiple antennas, and for reducing power consumption of antenna and processing circuitry.

Satellite digital audio radio services (SDARS) have become increasingly popular, offering digital radio services covering large geographic areas, such as North America. These services receive uplinked programming, which, in turn, is rebroadcast directly to digital radios that subscribe to the service. Each subscriber to the service generally possesses a digital radio having a receiver and antenna for receiving the digital broadcast. Although many digital radios have been designed for use in vehicles, other digital radios are increasingly being designed for use in the home or office environment, and for personal portable or wearable usage, including in outdoor environments.
In SDARS systems, the digital satellite receivers are generally programmed to receive and decode digital satellite signals, which typically include many channels of digital audio. These signals are received directly from satellites, or from terrestrial repeaters that retransmit the digital satellite signals in order to provide improved coverage and availability. In addition to broadcasting encoded digital quality audio signals, the satellite service may also transmit data that may be used for various other applications. The broadcast signals may include advertising, information about warranty issues, information about the broadcast audio programs, and news, sports, and entertainment programming. Thus, the digital broadcasts may be employed for any of a number of satellite audio radio, satellite television, satellite Internet, and various other consumer services.
In order for a subscriber to receive digital satellite content via a digital radio, the receiver section of the digital radio typically must be able to receive the digital satellite signal from a satellite or terrestrial repeater. In most geographic areas, a clear uninterrupted view of the sky, or proximity to a terrestrial repeater, is generally required in order to properly receive the digital satellite signal. This can be problematic in situations in which a user wishes to use a portable digital satellite receiver while located inside a structure, such as a building or vehicle, or when the user is unable to locate the receiver such that the receiver can receive a digital satellite signal from a satellite or terrestrial repeater.
To provide improved access to digital satellite signals from satellites and/or terrestrial repeaters, some portable digital satellite receivers can be configured to employ multiple antennas. In some implementations, the receiver has an internal antenna, and is configured to allow an additional external antenna to be attached via an antenna jack. Typically, attaching an external antenna to an external antenna jack serves to disable the internal antenna, such that the tuner circuitry in the receiver only receives a signal from the external antenna when an external antenna is attached. If the external antenna is removed, the internal antenna is enabled, and the tuner circuitry in the receiver only receives a signal from the internal antenna. In other implementations, the digital satellite receiver may have two internal antennas built into the receiver. A user switch may then be employed to allow the user to select which of the two internal antennas will be the source of the signal supplied to the tuner circuitry. Although additional antennas (internal and/or external) can provide enhanced reception, these antennas still typically require a relatively clear, uninterrupted reception path between the antenna and the satellite or terrestrial repeater, and therefore do not completely solve the problem of poor reception in structures or vehicles.
One possible solution to this problem is the Delphi XM® Signal Repeater, commercially available from Delphi, which receives satellite signals in a satellite-band from an antenna in or on a structure, such as a house, converts the satellite-band signals to a frequency in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band, and wirelessly retransmits the converted digital satellite signals in the ISM-band to a repeater antenna module connected to an external antenna jack of a digital satellite receiver located in the structure. The repeater antenna module converts the ISM-band satellite signals back to satellite-band satellite signals, and provides the satellite-band satellite signals to the digital satellite receiver via the receiver antenna input. At this point, the digital satellite receiver processes the satellite-band satellite signals as it would any standard satellite-band satellite signal received directly from a satellite or terrestrial repeater. By using this system, a user can effectively extend the reach of an antenna located in or on a structure to other digital receivers in the structure.
FIG. 1 generally illustrates a conventional portable digital satellite receiver 10 employing multiple antennas and configured to switch among the multiple antennas. Portable digital satellite receiver 10 includes an internal digital satellite antenna 11 configured to receive a digital satellite signal in a digital satellite frequency band, such as 2.3 GHz. Antenna 11 provides an amplified digital satellite radio signal to an antenna switch 26. Portable receiver 10 is also shown having a connector 23 coupled to antenna switch 26. Connector 23 is configured to receive a connector from an external antenna and to provide an electrical connection between an external antenna and antenna switch 26.
One example of an antenna that can be removably coupled to connector 23 to provide an antenna signal to portable receiver 10 is an external SDARS antenna 13 configured to receive a digital satellite radio signal at approximately 2.3 GHz, and to provide an amplified version of that signal as an output. External SDARS antenna 13 operates in a manner similar to internal SDARS antenna 11. External repeater antenna 39 is another example of an antenna that can be removably coupled to connector 23. External repeater antenna 39 receives a signal in an Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band, converts the received signal in the ISM-band to a digital satellite signal in a digital satellite frequency band at approximately 2.3 GHz, and provides it as an output. As shown, either external SDARS antenna 13, or external repeater antenna 39, or no external antenna may be removably coupled to connector 23.
Antenna switch 26 provides an input signal to tuner 29 of receiver circuitry 28. The signal provided to tuner 29 by antenna switch 26 is determined based on whether or not an external antenna 13 or 39 is removably coupled to connector 23. If no external antenna is removably coupled to connector 23, antenna switch 26 provides the digital satellite signal received by internal SDARS antenna 11 to tuner 29. If an external antenna is coupled to connector 23, antenna switch 26 disables internal SDARS antenna 11, and provides a digital satellite radio signal provided by the external antenna coupled to tuner 29. Tuner 29 down-converts the received 2.3 GHz signal received from the antenna selected by antenna switch 26 to a baseband signal, also known as a ZIF, or zero-IF (zero intermediate frequency) signal. The ZIF or baseband signal output by tuner 30 is an analog signal containing I (in-phase) and Q (quadrature) signal information. The receive chipset 31 receives the analog ZIF or baseband signal from tuner 29, digitizes the analog signal and extracts audio and/or other data. The extracted audio and/or other data is then further processed by receiver 28 resulting in audio and/or data output.
Because tuner 29 is only configured to process a signal from one antenna selected by antenna switch 26 at any given time, a loss of data generally may occur when antenna switch 26 switches from an internal antenna 11 to an external antenna 13 or 39, or vice versa. A loss of signal can also occur if, for example, the external repeater antenna 39 is coupled to connector 23, and the user moves to a location without ISM repeater coverage. In addition, for portable receiver 10 to switch between an internal antenna 11 and an external antenna 13 or 39, a user is generally required to physically couple or uncouple an external antenna 13 or 39 to connector 23.
While the provision of multiple antennas, be they digital satellite antennas or repeater antennas, can provide enhanced performance for digital satellite receivers, physically attaching or removing external antennas, and user switching among multiple antennas using switches in conventional approaches, can be inconvenient. In addition, whether the switching is between internal antennas or between an internal antenna and an external antenna, the process of switching between antennas can cause the signal to the receiver tuner circuitry to be interrupted. This interruption, caused by delays due to switching, can lead to an interruption in the audio or data output by the receiver, and a sub-optimal user experience.
What is needed is a digital satellite receiver system that can conveniently switch among multiple antennas while minimizing signal processing delays associated with switching, reducing consequent degradation in audio and/or data output from the receiver.

Digital satellite receiver and method for switching among multiple receiver antennas using diversity circuitry