A load sensor includes a load-input unit, an hourglass-shaped coil spring having one end coupled to the load input unit, a load-applying unit disposed at the other end of the hourglass-shaped coil spring, and a load detector for receiving the load from the load-applying unit and detecting the load. The load sensor does not give a user an uncomfortable pedal feeling, similarly to a hydraulic brake.

A conventional load sensor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 09-254778 will be described below.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the conventional load sensor. The conventional load sensor mounted in a car body 23 includes a first spring seat 18, a second spring seat 19, a conical spring 15, a cylindrical spring 16, a piezoelectric element 17, a pedal 21, and a brake arm 22. The conical spring 15 is located between the second spring seat 19 and the first spring seat 18 attached to the brake arm 22. When a driver starts to step on the pedal 21, a load is applied to the piezoelectric element 17 via the conical spring 15, and the piezoelectric element 17 converts the load to an electric signal corresponding to the load by its piezoelectric effect and detects the load. FIG. 9 shows a load characteristic of the sensor. In FIG. 9, the horizontal axis represents a stroke of the pedal, and the vertical axis represents the load. When the stroke is in a range L, the load and a reaction by the conical spring 15 are balanced. When the stroke exceeds the range L, the first spring seat 18 contacts the cylindrical spring 16, and then, the load and the sum of respective reactions by the conical spring 15 and the cylindrical spring 16 are balanced. The load characteristic of the load sensor has a fold point P, as shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 7 is a load characteristic diagram of a hydraulic brake. The horizontal axis represents a stroke of a pedal, and the vertical axis represents a load. In the hydraulic brake, as shown in FIG. 7, the load rapidly increases when the stroke of the pedal exceeds a predetermined value.
The fold point P is not found in the load characteristic diagram of the hydraulic brake in FIG. 7. A rapid change of the load at the fold point P of the conventional load sensor provides an uncomfortable pedal feeling, while the hydraulic brake does not provide an uncomfortable pedal feeling.

Load sensor having hourglass-shaped coil spring

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A technique for exporting results from a reporting system report in a format type including a datamart, PDF file, flat file, Excel™ file, HTML file, and XML file or in another relational database management system (RDBMS) format. In one embodiment, the technique is realized through a method and a system for automatically exporting results from a business intelligence, OLAP, or other reporting system. One embodiment of the present invention involves a method of enabling a user to designate a report desired for execution as an export-report. When the report is processed, the report is exported into a datamart or other format and made available for access by the user through one or more different types of user devices. The user may then further manipulate or export the results from the datamart to a file type as desired.

Data warehouses, relational databases, and datamarts are becoming important elements of many information delivery systems because they provide a central location where a reconciled version of data extracted from a wide variety of operational systems may be stored. As used herein, a data warehouse should be understood to be an informational database that stores shareable data from one or more operational databases of record, such as one or more transaction-based database systems. A data warehouse typically allows users to tap into a business's vast store of operational data to track and respond to business trends that facilitate forecasting and planning efforts. A datamart may be considered to be a type of data warehouse that focuses on a particular business segment.
Decision support systems have been developed to efficiently retrieve selected information from data warehouses. One type of decision support system is known as an on-line analytical processing system ("OLAP"). In general, OLAP systems analyze the data from a number of different perspectives and support complex analyses against large input data sets. OLAP systems generate output upon execution of a report that includes a template to indicate the way to present the output and a filter to specify the conditions of data on which the report is to be processed.
Reports from OLAP, business intelligence or other reporting systems, may be extremely large and difficult to navigate. Additionally, common systems enable access of a report through a computer interface with limited options for presentation.
Also, reports from OLAP business intelligence or other reporting systems are useful in the way data has been processed to identify interesting trends and anomalies not apparent in raw data. However, integration of these report results with other data processing systems is not available in common systems.

System and method for exporting report results from a reporting system


A method for controlling a motor vehicle equipped with wheels, brakes, a recovery device for recovering energy generated in braking, and a torque transmission chain from the wheels to the recovery device, includes acquiring a braking instruction, measuring a measured value of a dynamic characteristic of the recovery device, calculating a first intermediate setpoint with a preventive filter which filters the braking instruction so as to attenuate an amplitude of the braking instruction around a resonance frequency of the torque transmission chain, calculating a second intermediate setpoint to damp oscillations of the torque transmission chain, controlling the recovery device according to an electric motor control setpoint calculated as a function of the first and second intermediate setpoints, and controlling the brakes according to a braking setpoint calculated as a function of the braking instruction.

In the motor vehicles of the abovementioned type, the recovery means is provided to complement the brakes. It thus makes it possible not only to slow down the vehicle, but also to store a portion of the energy generated by the braking of the vehicle, in order to be able to reuse it subsequently.
This recovery means thus makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle and the wear of the brake pads.
In braking on this type of vehicle, torque oscillation phenomena are generally observed which are transmitted to the wheels, which generates jerks affecting the comfort of the passengers of the vehicle and the wear of the elements involved in the vehicle traction and braking.
These oscillations originate from the torque transmission chain which, because each of its members exhibits a non-zero rigidity and damping, is deformed (by torsion, bending, traction, compression) with an amplitude and a frequency which vary as a function of the transmitted torque and of the ageing of the various components.
There is then known from the document FR 1100216, not yet disclosed on the date of filing of the present application, a control method of the abovementioned type, which makes it possible to control the recovery means in such a way that the oscillations of the torque transmission chain are correctly damped and the quantity of energy in each braking operation is significant.
While this solution proves to be partly satisfactory, incipient oscillations of the torque transmission chain are, however, observed at the start of each braking operation, during a short time period, which continues to affect the comfort of the passengers of the vehicle.

Method for controlling at least one means for recuperating the energy generated under braking of a motor vehicle


In various embodiments, semiconductor structures and methods to manufacture these structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a capacitor embedded in a dielectric material below the surface of a semiconductor substrate is disclosed. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

For some applications, such as digital, analog, RF or mixed signal circuits, passive components such as capacitors may be integrated with active devices on a single semiconductor die. Integration of such passive components leads to reduced fabrication costs, smaller physical size and increased reliability. In the case of capacitors, applications may include bypass capacitors to minimize power supply noise or other disturbances on a power supply, circuit capacitors for example in filter applications and charge storage capacitors for memory chips or imaging chips.
To date semiconductor manufacturers have had difficulty integrating capacitors on a semiconductor die, particularly with large capacitance values and/or for operation at high frequency. Large capacitance values require large areas, which consume space on the semiconductor die leading to greatly increased cost. To reduce die area consumed by large value capacitors, semiconductor manufacturers have developed trench capacitors in which the vertical dimension is utilized to increase capacitor area while minimizing surface area on the die.
Current trench capacitors utilize trenches etched into the conductive semiconductor substrate in which capacitors are formed. The conductive substrate results in parasitic coupling between the capacitor and the conductive substrate or other conductive elements, leading to a reduction in the frequency of operation of the circuit.
Further, capacitors and other passive components may be physically and electrically isolated from each other and from other conductive components including conductive components of active devices. When such conductive components come within close proximity to each other or other conductive components, interaction may occur between them resulting in reduced frequency of operation and/or compromised circuit performance, for example by cross-talk, where a signal from one conductive component is coupled into the signal from another conductive component.
For simplicity of illustration and ease of understanding, elements in the various figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, unless explicitly so stated. Further, if considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding and/or analogous elements. In some instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present disclosure. The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the disclosure of this document and uses of the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, there is no intention that the appended claims be limited by the title, technical field, background, or abstract.

Semiconductor structure and method of manufacture


A method for examining uncertainty and risk associated with the development of a hydrocarbon resource by rapidly generating and analyzing variations of reservoir models realized from scenarios. The method and system may include instantiating realizations for objects based on the selected parameter ranges; and combining instantiated realizations of the objects into a reservoir model.

This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the disclosed methodologies and techniques. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.
Typically, a geologic model is formed that includes various static properties. From the geologic model, a reservoir model is created to model dynamic properties. For example, the reservoir model is formed from geological horizons and faults. The reservoir model includes a framework that establishes the geometrical foundation for the three-dimensional grid and provides some of the boundaries for facies and petrophysical models that describe rock properties and contained fluids. The resulting reservoir model forms the basis for volumetric computations, reservoir simulations, facilities planning computations and well planning computations. While seismic and well data provide information regarding the reservoir model, considerable uncertainty may remain regarding the reservoir model.
The effect of uncertainty is often examined through various means. For example, the uncertainty may be examined by perturbing uncertain aspects or features of the reservoir model, recomputing the quantity of interest, and examining sensitivity of the quantity of interest with regard to the uncertain aspects. The problem with framework uncertainty related to the geometric foundation of the three-dimensional grid is that the steps between framework generation, definition of the grid, and computation of the quantity of interest are computationally and labor intensive, often requiring user input.
Some conventional methods only perturb the depth of different model objects, such as faults and horizons. The depth perturbation may be spatially variable, for example allowing the flanks of an anticline to be pushed down or pulled up, while leaving the crest unperturbed. The resulting flexing of faults, horizons and other model objects occurs in the vertical direction, however, and the modeling grid is flexed simultaneously. That is, the geometry of the grid changes, but not its structure.
Providing vertical and lateral movement of the model objects typically requires grid regeneration. Some conventional methods attempt to correct the existing grid. Other conventional methods move the model objects vertically and laterally and then adjust the intersections. The adjustment has two aspects, however, the removal of the original intersections and the implementation of the new intersections. For example, when a fault is shifted, a portion of a bisected horizon moves from the foot-wall side to the hanging-wall side or vice versa. The moving horizon piece has a previous displacement that should be undone. Typically, the undoing of previous displacements appears to be performed by deletion of horizons near faults and extrapolation towards the shifted fault. See, e.g., Røe et al., 'Flexible Simulation Of Faults', SPE 134912, 2010; Cherpeau et al., 'Stochastic Simulations of Fault Networks in 3D Structural Modeling', Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 342, 687-694, 2010; Suzuki et al., 'Dynamic Data Integration For Structural Modeling: Model Screening Approach Using Distance-Based Model Parameterization', Computational Geosciences, 12, 105-119, 2008; Holden et al., 'Stochastic Structural Modeling', 35(8), 899-913, 2003; and Thore et al., 'Structural Uncertainties: Determination, Management And Applications', Geophysics, 67(3), 840-852, 2002.
As a result, an enhancement to exploration and reservoir delineation techniques is needed to identify and recover hydrocarbons in light of imprecise data. The present techniques provide a streamlined method for generation of a perturbed framework and thus a perturbed reservoir model. Further, the enhancements may provide a method for systematic removal of the effects of faults and folds to provide numerous realizations of the reservoir model in an efficient manner. The enhancements may provide a method to explore fault connectivity or check for geologic plausibility and technical validity which removes problematic model perturbation.

Method and system for analyzing the uncertainty of subsurface model


An embodiment of pulse width modulated (PWM) signal generator includes a module or modules to calculate an amount of change in a period length and duty ratio of an output signal during a transition period between a first signal waveform and a second signal waveform using a first period parameter, a second period parameter, and a parameter indicating a predetermined number of steps in the transition period. The period parameter and duty parameter of the output signal during the steps of the transition period are based on the calculated amounts of change.

Recently, a PWM signal has been broadly used in the dimming of backlights for liquid crystal panels or the controlling of the rotation speed of DC motors. For example, in the dimming of backlights for liquid crystal panels, the brightness is adjusted by controlling on time and off time of LED elements. Specifically, as the on time (lighting time) is lengthened, the backlights can be brightened, and as the off time is lengthened, the backlights can be dimmed.
The adjustment of lighting time and off time is controlled by changing the frequency or duty ratio (hereinafter, simply described as the duty) of the PWM signal. For example, the lighting time of the LED elements is lengthened by increasing the duty of the PWM signal, brightening the backlights. On the other hand, the lighting time of the LED elements is shortened (the off time is lengthened) by decreasing the duty of the PWM signal, dimming the backlights.
In case the dimming of the backlights or when the rotation speed of a DC motor is controlled, the on/off state is preferably slowly (smoothly) changed over time. For this purpose, a state value is changed stepwise until the frequency or duty of the PWM signal reaches a target value.
When the frequency or duty of the PWM signal is changed stepwise, appropriate values of the period and the duty are required to be set by a CPU for each step change. However, because the update frequency of the period or duty is high, the load of the CPU is large.


For allowing a very flexible scheduling of data flows within an OpenFlow (OF) switch a method for operating an OpenFlow switch within a network includes using the OpenFlow switch to direct arriving data flows out of different ports of the OpenFlow switch. The method is characterized in that a scheduling mechanism for performing at least one scheduling task is assigned to the OpenFlow switch, wherein a metric will be used to assign weights to the arriving data flows and wherein the data flows will then be scheduled based on the assigned weights and based on a scheduling policy. Further, a corresponding OpenFlow switch and a corresponding network are described, preferably for carrying out the above mentioned method.

The popularity of the OpenFlow protocol, see "The OpenFlow Switch Consortium", http://www.openflowswitch.org/, and of the switches that implement it is growing considerably. OpenFlow provides a mechanism for classifying flows and sending them out a switch's various ports. In greater detail, the switch contains a table made up of OpenFlow entries (OF entries), each of these consisting of a filter used to match flows and an action used to decide what to do with a flow that matches the filter and associated flow counters (bytes, packets, etc.).
Regarding current state of the art, the document "Automated and Scalable QoS Control for Network Convergence", in proceedings of the 2010 internet network management conference on Research on enterprise networking, San Jose, Calif., USA, is providing QoS (Quality of Service) in OpenFlow switches by assuming the existence of per-flow rate-limiters and dynamic priority assignment in hardware.
The work in "DevoFlow: Cost-Effective Flow Management for High Performance Enterprise Networks", in proceedings of the ninth ACM Workshop on Hot Topics in Networks (HotNets-IX), looks at using a centralized controller in order to provide QoS across a set of OpenFlow switches. The work does not focus nor mention how individual switches would implement QoS policies.
In "Adaptive QoS Mechanism for OpenFlow-based NetFPGA Network", Yu-Yuan Tseng, Master's Thesis, the author presents a system built on a NetFPGA board and OpenFlow that implements weighted fair queuing (WFQ). However, the system does not use OpenFlow mechanisms, e.g., install/delete entries, nor does it provide a flap damping mechanism.
The current OpenFlow specification—"OpenFlow Switch Specification, Version 1.0.0 (Wire Protocol 0x01)", http://www.openflowswitch.org/documents/openflow-spec-v1.0.0.pdf—mentions a very crude QoS mechanism whereby packets belonging to flows are sent to queues attached to ports, and operators are then able to set a minimum bandwidth on each queue. Future versions of OpenFlow might support more refined QoS mechanisms such as a minimum or maximum rate, or a strict level of precedence, see "Flow Service Classification", OpenFlow Wiki, http://www.openflowswitch.org/wk/index.php/Flow-Service_Classification.
Even so, these are not as flexible as a general flow scheduling mechanism nor will future OpenFlow specifications indicate how to implement such mechanisms. In "Hedera: Dynamic Flow Scheduling for Data Center Networks", in proceedings of NSDI 2010, the authors present a flow scheduling algorithm. However, this work has very different goals from those of this invention: the paper uses heuristics to maximize the bandwidth used in a data center network, whereas the present invention focuses on a single OpenFlow switch.
Finally, the work in "BGP Route Flap Damping", IETF RFC 2439, http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2439.txt, describes route flap damping mechanisms in the context of BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) routes.
It is an object of the present invention to improve and further develop a method for operating an OpenFlow switch within a network, an OpenFlow switch and an according network for allowing a very flexible scheduling of data flows within an OpenFlow switch.

Method for operating an openflow switch within a network, an openflow switch and a network


Identifying correlations between events recorded in a computer system log, the recorded events are generated by a plurality of processes executing on the computer. A system log is partitioned into a plurality of segments, each segment associated with a characteristic found in an event, each segment including one or more events having a same characteristic value. A plurality of attributes of the events in a segment are selected. The attributes selected do not describe an action of the event. One or more distinct n-grams are generated, each distinct n-gram including the selected attributes from successive events within the segment. A distinct n-gram is distinct from all other generated n-grams. A correlation is identified for each first selected attribute of each successive event of an n-gram with all other second selected attributes from each successive event of the n-gram, and the correlations are recorded for each first selected attribute.

The present invention relates to the capture of correlations for use in behavioral models and more particularly to the capture of correlations between activity and non-activity attributes using n-grams.
In data processing security, anomaly detection is a technique of comparing new activity in a computer system with known "normal" activity patterns in the computer system. Typically, normal activity is learned from past operation of the computer system. Various prior art techniques differ in the model of "normal" behavior they use.
N-grams are useful in implementing approximate matching of current activity and past activity of the computer system. Further information about n-grams can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-gram. In the past, it has been shown that n-gram models can be used to implement anomaly detection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Capturing correlations between activity and non-activity attributes using N-grams

International Business Machines Corporation


A holding material for gas treatment device, gas treatment device, and methods for those achieve proper control of a frictional resistance between the holding material and a casing. A method of treating a gas with a gas treatment device including a treatment structure, a casing made of a metal for housing the treatment structure and a holding material made of inorganic fibers placed between the treatment structure and the casing, the method including: placing an organic polymer between the holding material and the casing so that the organic polymer is brought into contact with an outer surface of the holding material and an inner surface of the casing during treatment of the gas; and treating the gas under a condition that a temperature of the casing is equal to or higher than a softening temperature of the organic polymer and lower than a decomposition temperature of the organic polymer.

A vehicle such as an automobile is provided with a gas treatment device such as a catalyst converter for removing a harmful substance such as carbon monoxide, a hydrocarbon, or a nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas of a gasoline engine, or a diesel particulate filter (DPF) for removing a particle in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. Available as the catalyst converter is, for example, a catalyst converter provided with a tubular catalyst carrier, a tubular casing made of a metal for housing the catalyst carrier, and a mat-shaped holding material made of inorganic fibers placed between the catalyst carrier and the casing. One of the functions required for the holding material is to prevent the detachment of the catalyst carrier from the casing.
In view of the foregoing, in Patent Literature 1 for example, it has heretofore been proposed that inorganic particles are adhered and fixed to the outer surfaces of ceramic fibers constituting the holding material to form an irregular structure, thereby increasing the frictional resistance of each of the ceramic fibers.

Holding material for gas treatment device, gas treatment device, and method relating to same


A control stator comprising a plurality of stationary vanes, ribs, or cavities is provided in a centrifugal pump having a shrouded impeller. The function of the control stator is to slow the swirl of fluid in the cavity between the casing and the impeller front shroud and thereby provide a very cost effective solution to the problem of excess axial thrust. The control stator is a simple, inexpensive non-rotating part that can be affixed in an existing space in the pump casing between the casing wall and the front shroud of the impeller.

This invention relates to centrifugal pumps of the kind having a shrouded impeller and a single entry eye, wherein the impeller is rotatable within a casing having an interior which is subjected to the pressure generated by the pump. In such centrifugal pumps, the impeller is subjected to an axial thrust because the effective axially-projected front area of the intake eye is unbalanced with respect to the fluid pressure upon it. Specifically, the mean intake pressure (or "suction"), acts on the upstream or front side of the impeller only. The fluid pressure within the casing acts on the axially projected area of the shroud to result in an axial thrust on the front of the impeller, while in the opposite direction, the fluid pressure acts on the back of the impeller over the whole of its projected area.
Axial thrust depends on the pressure distribution in the space between the impeller shrouds and the casing interior walls. The pressure distribution is in turn dependent on the clearances between the shroud and the casing walls. It is standard pump design practice to reduce the clearances between the back shroud and the adjacent casing wall and to increase the clearances between the front shroud and the adjacent casing wall in order to minimize axial thrust. To further protect the pump motor from the effects of axial thrust, it is also known to provide a suitable thrust bearing on the motor shaft. However, for those pumps in which more axial thrust is developed than can be safely carried away by a thrust bearing, or do not utilize standard type bearings (i.e., magnetic or journal bearings), additional modifications are required to reduce the thrust on the bearing.
In Centrifugal and Axial Flow Pumps, 2nd Edition, A. J. Stepanoff addresses two conventional methods of controlling axial thrust. In the first disclosed method, a balancing chamber behind the impeller is provided with a closely fitted set of wearing rings and suction pressure is admitted to this chamber either by drilling holes through the impeller back shroud into the eye or by providing a special channel connecting the balancing chamber to the suction nozzle. This technique, however, results in a doubling of pump leakage loss, and the magnitude of leakage loss increases steadily as the rings wear.
In the second disclosed method, radial ribs are used on the back shroud of the impeller to reduce the pressure in the space between the impeller and the pump casing. With these ribs closely fitted to the casing walls, the liquid rotates at approximately full impeller angular velocity, thereby reducing the pressure on the impeller back shroud. Although it is less expensive and more efficient than the first, the second method requires additional power to rotate the impeller.
Neither of the two conventional methods disclosed by Stepanoff are appropriate for pumps whose housing design parameters make it undesirable to include enough room to add backvanes or a large wear ring to the impeller. Further, because these techniques require specific clearances or additional space provisions in the casing, they can only be implemented at the design phase of the pump.
The present invention addresses the above noted axial thrust problem without the casing space requirements of the prior art solutions by employing a control stator having stationary vanes between the casing wall and the impeller front shroud. Because the vanes are non-rotating, balance and noise are not affected. The stator device provides a very cost effective solution to an excess axial thrust problem.

Method and apparatus for reducing axial thrust in centrifugal pumps

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A back pack arranged for use by fishermen, to include a first housing for containment of fishing paraphernalia and clothing storage cooperative with a removable fish storage bag for ease of cleaning and manipulation thereof. A bait box having a removable fluid impermeable liner is mounted to a front wall of the housing, with fishing gear pockets mounted to at least one of the side walls of the housing. A rigid framework having a U-shaped base is mounted at an intersection of the floor and side wall and front wall structure of the housing to include parallel frame legs extending at a junction of the rear wall and side walls of the housing terminating in fishing pole mounting tubes. Each of the fishing pole mounting tubes includes a matrix of resilient projections projecting radially into the tubes for securement of a fishing pole during a fishing procedure.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to back pack structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved fisherman's back pack arranged to support various components and render assistance in a fishing procedure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Back packs of various types have been utilized throughout the prior art and exemplified by such U.S. patent as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,793,534; 4,871,101; 4,896,804; and 4,938,400.
The instant invention addresses deficiencies of the prior art by presenting a fisherman's back pack structure specifically directed to the containment of various components and assistance in a fishing procedure and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A nonvolatile memory device includes; a memory cell area including a cell structure and a common source plate. The memory cell area is mounted on a peripheral circuit area including a buried area covered by the memory cell area and an exposed area uncovered by the memory cell area. A first peripheral circuit (PC) via extending from the exposed area, and a common source (CS) via extending from the common source plate, wherein the first PC via and the CS via are connected by a CS wire disposed outside the cell structure and providing a bias voltage to the common source plate.

Embodiments of the inventive concept relate to semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly, to nonvolatile memory devices providing improved reliability.
Common types of nonvolatile memory include; read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, phase-change random access memory (PRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), and ferroelectric RAM (FRAM).
As semiconductor manufacturing technologies have developed, continuous efforts have been made to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) memory devices. Compared with two-dimensional memory devices, 3D memory devices provide many more memory cells per unit of lateral chip area. However 3D nonvolatile memory devices are more difficult to design and fabricate and often suffer from unique challenges in suppressing noise.


A method for deriving three-dimensional measurement information and/or creating three-dimensional models and maps, from single images of at least one three-dimensional object is provided. In another aspect of the method, the method includes the further step of creating three-dimensional models or maps based on the projection and/or shadow measurements. A series of algorithms are also provided for processing the method of the invention. A computer system and related computer program for deriving three-dimensional measurement information and/or creating three-dimensional models and maps, from single images of at least one three-dimensional object is provided based on the disclosed method is also provided.

A conventional method of measuring 3 D objects is called stereo-vision that obtains paired stereo images taken of the same objects. When the imagery geometry model (IGM) of each image is given, the 3D coordinate information of the objects can be determined. A photogrammetric method surveys the objects by selecting conjugate points, and thereby measure any dimension using the IGMs based on these points. The 3D models and maps are then generated by using the stereo-vision approaches.
The acquisition of stereo images especially from airborne or satellite sensors is more expensive and needs a longer delivery time compared with acquiring single images. Also the majority of the archived images in the databases maintained by imagery vendors are single images. Therefore, the use of single images has advantages for applications such as emergency mapping, defense, intelligence, telecommunication and engineering etc.
There is no known system that has been developed to perform 3D measurement, modeling and mapping from the single images. The present invention has resulted in an operational method, computer program and system that can effectively obtain 3D measurements and create 3D object models and maps. The system is comprised of unique utilities and novel algorithms that are designed to make use of object projection, shadow, object geometry, and the IGM.
The IGM describes the geometric relationship between the object space and the image space, or vice visa. The two broadly used IGMs include the physical sensor model and the generalized sensor model. The rational function model (RFM) is a kind of generalized sensor model.
The following relevant prior art has been identified:    Jiang, W., Tao, C. V., Hu, Y., Xu, Z., 2003. 3-D measurement from single and stereo high-resolution satellite imagery based on the RFM, ASPRS Annual Conference, 5-9 May, Anchorage, Ak., 7 p. (This reference describes several experimental results obtained using RFM based methods from the satellite imagery)    OpenGIS Consortium, 1999. The OpenGIS Abstract Specification—Topic 7. The Earth Imagery Case. (This reference provides an overview of IGMs used in the mapping, remote sensing and geospatial industry).    Tao, C. V., Hu, Y., 2001. A comprehensive study of the rational function model for photogrammetric processing, Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, 67(12): 1347-1357. (This reference provides a detailed mathematical formulation of the RFM sensor model and its experimental study on its accuracy).

System, computer program and method for 3D object measurement, modeling and mapping from single imagery


An organic electroluminescent display (EL) device which can prevent damage to layers due to a deposition mask in forming a light emitter layer or cathode using a deposition mask, and can prevent the short-circuit between a first electrode formed on a transparent substrate and a second electrode corresponding to the first electrode and can prevent deterioration of layer characteristics, and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic EL device includes a substrate made of a transparent material, a first electrode unit having a plurality of electrodes formed on the substrate in a predetermined pattern, a second electrode unit having a plurality of electrodes arranged in a direction crossing the first electrode unit, an electroluminescent layer disposed between the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit and configured to cover at least the first electrode unit and to emit light at the intersection of the first and second electrode units, inter-insulators positioned under the electroluminescent layer so as to cover at least spaces of each of the respective electrodes of the first electrode unit, and configured to define the first electrode unit as a plurality of light emitting areas and to prevent the short-circuit between the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit, and insulating walls positioned on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the inter-insulators.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent (EL) device, and more particularly, to an organic EL device having improved structures of electrode patterns and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, much attention has been paid to EL devices because they have advantageous features suitable for next generation devices, such as a wide viewing angle, a high contrast ratio and a high response speed. EL devices are classified into inorganic EL devices and organic EL devices according to materials to form emitter layers.
In particular, studies of organic EL devices have been briskly carried out because of their advantages, including good characteristics in terms of brightness and response speed, color displaying and so on.
An EL device is basically configured such that an anode is formed on a transparent insulating substrate, e.g., a glass substrate, in a predetermined pattern, a light emitter layer consisting of organic or inorganic layers is formed on the anode, and a cathode having a predetermined pattern is then stacked thereon so as to be orthogonal with the anode.
The organic or inorganic layers have a layered structure of a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer and an electron transport layer sequentially stacked. As described above, the light emitting layer is made of either an organic or inorganic material.
Usable materials of the organic layer include copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), N,N′-di(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N′-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB) and tris-8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq3).
In the above-described EL device, when a drive voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode, holes from the anode migrate to the light emitting layer via the hole transport layer and electrons from the cathode migrate to the light emitting layer via the electron transport layer. The holes and the electrons are recombined in the light emitting layer to generate excitons. As the excitons are deactivated to a ground state, fluorescent molecules of the light emitting layer emit light, thereby forming an image.
As described above, EL devices are classified into organic EL devices and inorganic EL devices according to materials for light emitting layers. An explanation will now be given by referring to an organic EL device.
In an organic EL device, an anode formed on the top surface of a substrate in a predetermined pattern is a transparent electrode, e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO), which is ordinarily formed by photolithography. Organic layers are formed on the anode by vacuum deposition and a cathode is then patterned thereon.
In the organic EL device having the above-described configuration, a high precision degree is required in patterning the light emitting layer of the organic layers and patterning a cathode corresponding to an anode, and a variety of techniques have been proposed.
One of typical methods of forming a cathode having a predetermined pattern is photolithography. If the cathode is formed by photolithography, there is, however, a problem in that, when the cathode is selectively etched using a photoresist, the photoresist is stripped off or development is carried out, moisture may soak into an interface between organic layers and the cathode, resulting in degradation in electroluminescent performance due to deteriorated characteristics of the organic layer, a low luminous efficiency, and a shortened life due to stripping of the cathode.
For overcoming those problems arising due to moisture ingress, a new method using vacuum deposition in which an evaporation mask is employed has been utilized to form organic layers or cathodes. However, it is quite difficult to form fine patterns on a large substrate using an evaporation mask. Currently, studies of vacuum deposition to form finer patterns are being briskly carried out.
Recently known methods to solve the above-described problems include vacuum deposition using a cathode separator as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,055, which is illustrated in FIG. 1. This will now be described in detail.
First, an anode 2 is patterned on a transparent substrate 1, and cathode separators 5 whose top portions are wider than the bottom portions are formed thereon so as to be arranged perpendicular to the anode 2. Organic layers 3 are formed between each of the cathode separators 5 and cathodes 4 are blanket-deposited thereon, thereby attaining the same effect as patterning the cathodes 4 on portions where the cathode separators 5 are not formed.
In the above-described configuration, in order to provide a cathode patterning effect by the cathode separators 5, the top portions of the cathode separators 5 must be wider than the bottom portions thereof. Also, the organic layers 3 are formed on the anode 2 and the cathodes 4 are formed to be narrower than the organic layers 3, thereby preventing the short-circuit between the anode 2 and the cathodes 4 due to the organic layers 3. According to this method using the shade of a separator, however, highly accurate patterning and high-speed deposition cannot be achieved under the conditions of variable deposition rates and a large amount of material deposited. Also, since portions where the cathodes 4 are not formed corresponding to the shade exist in the organic layers 3, these portions are susceptible to ingress of moisture, resulting in deterioration of the organic layers 3. The deterioration of the organic layers 3 may cause the short-circuit of the anode 2 and the cathodes 4.
Another method of using cathode separators recently having been used in depositing cathodes utilizes a deposition mask such that slits of the deposition mask are arranged between the cathode separators 5 illustrated in FIG. 1 for cathode deposition. In this case, however, there is a problem in that the cathode separators collapse due to vibration of the deposition mask, resulting in the short-circuit. Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2000-60589 discloses a technology to overcome this problem, that is, auxiliary barriers higher than the cathode separators are provided between the cathode separators.
In another method of forming cathodes, patterned cathodes are directly formed using a deposition mask. This method also has many problems, that is, the thin slit-shaped deposition mask may experience a sag of its central portion in a larger substrate, causing damage to organic layers or cathodes, thereby adversely affecting the yield. The sag also makes it impossible to form cathodes having finer patterns.
A known technique to solve the sag problem of a deposition mask includes disposing a magnetic medium at the opposite side of the deposition mask and closely contacting the deposition mask with an organic layer. However, close contact of the deposition mask may cause the organic layer to be damaged, resulting in the short-circuit between an anode and a cathode.
In order to prevent the damage of an organic layer due to a deposition mask, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. hei 10-241859 discloses an organic electroluminescent device having partition walls 6 with a predetermined height formed between the respective lines of an anode 2′, as illustrated in FIG. 2A. That is, the partition walls 6 with a predetermined height are formed between lines of the anode 2′ with a predetermined pattern on a transparent substrate 1′, and an organic layer 3′ and a cathode 4′ are then formed on the substrate 1′ having the partition walls 6. In forming the cathode 4′ using a deposition mask, a shielding portion of the deposition mask cannot directly damage the organic layer 3′ constituting pixels by the partition walls 6, thereby preventing the short-circuit between the anode and the cathode due to damage to the organic layer 3′.
However, according to this method, a gap (G) between the anode 2′ and each of the partition walls 6 makes the organic layer 3′ formed at the edge of the anode 2′ thinner, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. As a result, the cathode 4′ may contact the anode 2′ at a lateral portion 7 of the anode 2′, causing the short-circuit between the cathode 4′ and the anode 2′.


An occupant communication system (OCS) and control method giving rear row occupant experience and full control to allow unimpeded access to a vehicle's features typically provided to the front row occupants. The OCS having a rear zone master controller controlling a plurality of selected vehicle subsystems within the occupant communication system and a front zone controller in electrical communication with the rear zone master controller that is controlled by the rear zone master controller. A communications module communicates with the rear zone master controller and the front zone controller wherein the rear zone master controller, the front zone controller, and the communications module are in operative communication with one another and with a vehicle communications network via the communications module to control the plurality of selected vehicle subsystems such that the rear zone master controller enables, disables, or limits control of the front zone controller via the communications module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicle settings and functions and, more particularly, enabling rear seat occupant control for certain vehicle settings.
2. Description of Related Art
Modern vehicles include innovative touch screen controls or customizable cluster screens enabling a vehicle operator to personalize their driving experience; including entertainment, climate controls, seat positions and other features. In addition, the vehicle may also include multiple touch screens and displays, including entertainment systems, located in the rear of the vehicle. These systems often pair with a phone enabling hands-free operation, offer and opportunity for access to the Internet, and provide a mechanism to provide entertainment to the occupant during transit.
The touchscreen controls are typically located adjacent the vehicle operator and are controlled by the vehicle operator. For example, the vehicle temperature, radio station selection, and other vehicle features are typically controlled by the vehicle operator or a front seat passenger having access to the touchscreen.
Accordingly, a person seated in the rear row of the vehicle loses the opportunity to have full control of vehicle features including such things as infotainment features, connectivity, social media, radio tuning, navigation, climate control, seat control, and other vehicle comforts. Further, there's a lack of privacy for rear seat or rear zone passengers using vehicle features or functions.

Occupant communication system and control method


A fluid-handling cassette comprising a plurality of diaphragm valves and pumps is configured to have its actuation ports located along a thin or narrow edge of the cassette. Actuation channels within the cassette lead from the actuation ports to actuation chambers of the valves and pumps in a space between plates that comprise the cassette. The individual plates have a nominal thickness that is sufficient to provide a rigid ceiling for the actuation channels, but sufficiently thin to minimize the overall thickness of the cassette. The cassette can be plugged into or unplugged from an actuation receptacle or a manifold by its narrow edge. A plurality of such cassettes can be stacked together or spaced apart from each other to form a cassette assembly, providing for a convenient way to install and remove the cassette assembly from its actuation receptacle. The arrangement allows for an improved way of connecting a complex cassette assembly to its associated pressure distribution manifold without the use of a plurality of flexible connecting tubes between the two.

Liquid-handling cassettes comprising diaphragm pumps and/or valves can be actuated fluidically (either hydraulically or pneumatically). In some examples, a cassette is designed to be fluidically connected to a pneumatic actuation manifold having electromechanical valves that selectively distribute positively or negatively pressurized gas or air to the cassette. A programmable electronic controller can be used to control the electromechanical valves to selectively deliver positive or negative pneumatic pressure to various pumps or valves of the cassette in a pre-determined manner.
Some fluid-handling cassettes can be substantially planar in shape, having a broad side flanked by a thin or narrow side having a relatively smaller thickness that the overall broad side dimensions of the cassettes. Liquid inlet and outlet ports can be incorporated into the edge or thin side of the cassette. But in many of these devices, actuation ports for the cassette have been located on the face or broad side of the cassette directly over the actuation chambers of the pumps or valves being controlled. This generally provides the shortest route for an actuation channel in the cassette from an external cassette actuation port to the actuation chamber and diaphragm of a pump or valve in the cassette. Furthermore, in many cases the pumping or valve stations or regions of the cassette—comprising either the actuation chamber on one side or the liquid carrying chamber on the opposing side—may be defined by spheroid or hemi-spheroid chamber walls that extend above the plane of the cassette face, which makes the overall cassette thicker than desirable in some applications. In other cases, a pump module may comprise a set of blocks sandwiched or laminated together, with the pneumatic actuation channels or fluid channels embedded within one or more of the blocks. This arrangement may also result in an overall device thickness greater than desirable for certain applications. Some applications may require a plurality of fluid handling cassettes to be mounted next to each other in tight spaces. In these cases, it may be desirable to position a number of cassettes adjacent to one another, to stack them against each other, or at least to place their broad sides face-to-face in close proximity. Reducing or minimizing the thickness of the individual cassettes constituting these assemblies may be particularly desirable.
It may be advantageous to arrange for a pump cassette to plug directly into its associated pressure distribution manifold (for example, a manifold that selectively delivers pneumatic pressure to the pump cassette under control of an electronic controller). In previously disclosed embodiments of a hemodialysis system using pneumatically actuated self-contained pump cassettes, the pump cassettes were connected to a corresponding pneumatic manifold via flexible tubes, which has led to significant challenges during assembly and in their operation. If a pump cassette can be located close to its associated manifold, a direct plug-in connection between the two would have substantial advantages. Under these circumstances, it would be particularly advantageous to have a compact manifold that allows for a direct interface to a pump cassette, arranged in such a manner as to allow the cassette or cassette assembly to be plugged into and unplugged from the actuation ports of the manifold with minimal effort.
In the design and operation of a pneumatic distribution manifold, the ability to use binary pressure control valves rather than continuously variable orifice valves would also provide significant advantages in both cost and reliability. But in this case, the control of pressure delivery to individual cassette pumps or valves by binary pressure control valves poses additional challenges that must be overcome. A sufficiently robust electronic controller can be programmed to use control algorithms to control the frequency and duration of binary valve actuation to achieve precise control of associated pneumatically actuated pumps or valves.

Liquid pumping cassettes and associated pressure distribution manifold and related methods


A valved manifold module is disclosed, constructed and arranged to be readily connected in a chain with similar modules to form a manifold assembly. The modular manifolds allows for expansion or modification of the manifold assembly to control a group of pneumatically or hydraulically driven pumps, valves or combinations thereof in a liquid flow control apparatus. The valved manifold module can be configured to accept a group of four substantially identical valve assemblies, and can be controlled by a local controller mounted to the manifold module, thus forming an independently programmable valved manifold module. The resulting modular system is expandable to allow for coordinated operations of a liquid flow control system, using substantially independent controller functions originating at the manifold assembly level.

Controlling the flow of a liquid may be accomplished by using a manifold connected to a pressurized fluid source—pneumatic or hydraulic—that distributes the pressurized fluid to a fluid-actuated liquid pumping or liquid flow control apparatus. Liquid flow valves or pumps (e.g., in medical devices) may be fluidically actuated in a selective manner—either hydraulically or pneumatically—through the use of controller-managed electromagnetic valves in a manifold assembly coupled to one or more fluid sources under positive or negative pressure. The manifold valves selectively direct positive or negative fluidic pressure to the liquid flow control apparatus.
A manifold assembly is typically custom-designed and assembled for the specific liquid flow control apparatus to which it is connected, and re-purposing the manifold for other applications (e.g. other pumping devices, or modified devices) is generally not feasible. ces.
Power consumption, heat generation and valve reliability can be a significant problem in valved manifolds, particularly in systems requiring the manifold valves to frequently change states. The manifold valves may require a constant source of current to maintain a particular position or state. In contrast, a bistable valve—stable in either of its positions or states—may only require energy input to change its state. However, integrating bistable valve assemblies into a pressure distribution manifold system may be overly complex and expensive.
Among some of the inventive improvements described herein: A modular manifold assembly is described that can be readily modified by the addition or subtraction of individual manifold modules in a concatenated manner, and may allow for rapid and convenient re-purposing of the manifold system. Manifold modules forming the building blocks for a manifold assembly are described that have standardized dimensions, inputs, outputs, and valve assemblies. Adding a standardized on-board controller to each module may additionally permit the manifold system to locally perform readily programmable and highly specialized functions in various pump/valve devices. A controller connected to a valved manifold is described that can be used to measure the amount of pressure delivered to or present in the liquid flow control apparatus, can control the rate of pressure delivery—either positive or negative, and can allow for the venting of fluidic pressure in the liquid flow control apparatus. Manifold modules are also described that can accommodate specialized bistable valve sets so that each valved manifold module (with or without an on-board controller) can operate without undue power consumption or heat generation, and allow for individual valve assemblies to be easily replaceable.


An electronic device may be provided with a display. Standard and high dynamic range content may be produced by content generators operating on control circuitry. Standard dynamic range content and high dynamic range content may be simultaneously displayed. Tone mapping parameters may be produced by a tone mapping engine for use in displaying the standard and high dynamic range content. The tone mapping parameters may be selected based on factors such as ambient light level, user brightness setting, content statistics, display characteristics, point of gaze information, power consumption information, and per-window information. Tone mapping parameters may be selected to accommodate simultaneous display of standard and high dynamic range content. Tone mapping parameters may be temporarily modified in response to a user's point of gaze switching between standard dynamic range content and high dynamic range content.

This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to electronic devices with displays.
Electronic devices often include displays. If care is not taken, displays may be damaged by displaying bright content for prolonged periods of time, displays may be operated with brightness levels that consume excessive power, user preferences may not be taken into account when adjusting display brightness, and displayed content may exhibit visible artifacts. Addressing these concerns while displaying content with a pleasing appearance is challenging.

Electronic devices with dynamic control of standard dynamic range and high dynamic range content


A device comprising an energy selecting slit assembly is provided. The slit assembly comprising a slit assembly chassis, opposing slit mechanisms, and an actuator assembly. One of the terminal ends of the actuator arm comprises a relatively fixed terminus, while the other terminal end of the arm comprises a relatively mobile terminus coupled to the rotational slit mechanism via a mechanical coupling configured to translate movement of the mobile terminus into rotational of the rotational slit mechanism. In one embodiment of the present invention, the slit assembly chassis defines a plurality of fixturing datums configured to establish alignment of respective aperture-defining edges of the opposing slit mechanisms along orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes defined by the chassis. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

The present invention relates to energy selective sample analysis systems and, more particularly, to an energy selecting slit assembly for use in such systems.
Energy filtered sample analysis systems commonly employ a source of charged particles and an imaging system to analyze the structure and/or composition of a sample under examination. The primary components of such systems include the charged particle source, suitable charged particle optics for directing a beam of particles towards and away from the sample under analysis, and a charged particle imaging system configured to provide an intelligible representation of the sample under analysis.
For example, and not by way of limitation, electron microscopes are capable of imaging individual atoms in a thin sample. However, the images produced by the microscope alone contain no direct information concerning the chemical composition of the sample, and the image quality degrades significantly if the sample is more than a few atomic planes thick. The chemical information can be provided by selectively imaging only with electrons that have experienced energy losses characteristic of particular atomic species while traversing the sample. Thus, electrons that have experienced non-representative energy losses are filtered out allowing further optics to create monochromatic images. These images can be combined to give maps of chemical or elemental distributions. They can also be used for a number of other analytical techniques. For example, and not by way of limitation, the images can be used to improve spatial resolution on thick samples and to remove inelastic signals prior to quantitative analysis.
A common method of energy filtering utilizes an energy-selected electron imaging filter in a transmission electron microscope. For example, and not by way of limitation, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,851,670, 5,097,126, 5,640,012, 5,798,524, and 6,184,524, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, each relate to an energy filtered sample analysis system of this nature. The present invention is directed towards providing improvements in energy-selected electron imaging filters and other similarly configured charged particle filters.

Energy selecting slit and energy selective sample analysis systems utilizing the same


A method for filling multiple colors of liquid color cosmetic materials, comprises the steps of: separating a sponge, into a plurality of sponge pieces by dividing the sponge; forming a coating film on the outer lateral side, or on the outer lateral side and on the lower surface of each of a plurality of the sponge pieces; impregnating different liquid color cosmetic materials into each of the sponge pieces having a coating film formed thereon; and fitting the angles of each of the sponge pieces, and coupling the sponge pieces. Liquid cosmetic materials having different colors are not mixed in one container without comprising a separate partition film, and a boundary line is clearly distinguished.

Currently, cosmetics charged with liquid cosmetics having multi-colors from among portable cosmetics are made such that cosmetics of several colors are inserted in one container for convenient carriage and storage, and a user may select one out of the cosmetics of multi-colors or mix two or more colors to create a new color.
However, the conventional cosmetics charged with liquid cosmetics having multi-colors are charged with liquid and then coagulated, and liquidity of such cosmetic causes that border lines among different colors are not clear and division among them after coagulation is not clear, making appearance of cosmetics bad. The higher liquidity of cosmetics results in the worse appearance of cosmetics.
In particular, in case of liquid cosmetics having low viscosity such as liquid eyeliner, realizing a product having multi-colors is difficult. For example, this entails a problem that, when filling red liquid cosmetic having viscosity of 5,000 cps with blue liquid cosmetic in one cosmetic container, they are mixed to be violet color.
In an attempt to solve the above problem, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1490682 discloses that liquid cosmetics having different colors are injected to two or more sponges and they are inserted to a cosmetic container so that liquid cosmetics having different colors are not mixed and border lines therebetween is clear.
However, the aforementioned invention entails a problem that liquid cosmetics are still mixed at border lines and a bottom part of sponges where liquid cosmetics having different colors are injected.

Method for filling multiple colors of liquid color cosmetic materials, and multiple-color liquid color cosmetic manufactured by using same


The present invention relates to the field of transgenic and non-transgenic plants with novel phenotypes. Provided are SlPP2C1 proteins and nucleic acid sequences encoding these, which are useful in conferring novel phenotypes to plants, especially drought tolerance.

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is important for the regulation of abiotic stress responses (such as drought, salinity, cold shock, wounding, pathogen attack) and seed development and dormancy. Screens for mutants with altered abiotic stress responses or seed dormancy have been used frequently and resulted in the identification of genes important for ABA biosynthesis and ABA signal transduction. Via such a screen the Arabidopsis ABA-insensitive mutants abi1-1 and abi2-1 have been identified (Koornneef et al. 1984, Physiol Plantarum 61: 377-383).
Cloning and characterization of the AtABI1 gene revealed that it encodes for a serine/threonine protein phosphatase type 2C (PP2C, Leung et al. 1994, Science 264: 1448-1452; Meyer et al. 1994, Science 264: 1452-1455). AtABI2 also encodes for a protein phosphatase type 2C. abi1-1 and abi2-1 mutants carry mutations in the AtABI1 and AtABI2 genes, which result in identical Gly-to-Asp substitutions at equivalent positions (Leung et al. 1997, Plant Cell 9: 759-771). Both mutants were shown to have reduced phosphatase activity (Bertauche et al. 1996, Eur J Biochem 241: 193-200; Leung et al. 1997, supra), which would suggest that AtABI1 and AtABI2 are positive regulators of ABA sensitivity. However, constitutive over-expression of AtABI1 inhibited ABA action in maize protoplast, and reduction-of-function mutants of AtABI1 and AtABI2 were shown to have hypersensitive responses to ABA (Scheen 1998, PNAS 95:975-980; Gosti et al. 1999, Plant Cell 11: 1897-1909; Merlot et al. 2001, Plant J 25:295-303). Altogether, it was therefore concluded that AtABI1 and AtABI2 are negative regulators of the ABA response. The exact mechanism by which the mutations in abi1-1 and abi2-1 induce ABA insensitivity is still unknown, although it might be related to the preferential nuclear localization of the mutated proteins (Moes et al. 2008, Plant J 54: 806-819). AtABI1 and AtABI2 are important for seed dormancy but also for seedling growth and regulation of stomatal aperture, suggesting that these proteins act before major branch points that control tissue-specific ABA signaling cascades (Leung et al. 1997, supra).
Seventy-six PP2Cs have been identified in Arabidopsis, of which one subgroup subgroup PP2C-A), consisting of nine genes, has been associated with ABA signal transduction (Schweighofer et al. 2004, Trends in Plant Science Vol 9: 236-243). Several of the Arabidopsis genes belonging to this group were also found to encode for negative regulators of the ABA response. For example AtP2C-HA (Rodriguez et al. 1998, Plant Mol Biol 38: 879-883)(also named AtHAB1, Saez et al. 2004, Plant J 37: 354-369) is a repressor of the ABA signalling pathway that regulates numerous ABA responses such as stomatal closure, seed germination and inhibition of vegetative growth. Also HAB2 seems to have a similar regulatory role. AtPP2CA (Kuhn et al. 2006, Plant Physiol 140:127-139) has also been described as being a negative regulator of ABA, with the mutant showing ABA hypersensitivity. Interestingly, the gene disruption mutant showed an ABA hypersensitive stomatal closure response, while transpiration (water loss) of the mutant was no different than in wild type plants. Also Yoshida et al. (2006, Plant Physiology 140: 115-126) studied a missense loss-of-function mutation in AtPP2CA, which had 1/100th protein phosphatase activity of the wild type, and whereby the mutant Arabidopsis plants showed ABA hypersensitivity during seed germination, but mutant plants did not show any change in drought tolerance compared to wild type (page 124, LH Column, last paragraph).
ABI1 and ABI2 are repressors of ABA signalling pathways that regulate many ABA responses, such as stomatal closure, osmotic water permeability of plasma membranes, drought-induced resistance and rhizogenesis, response to glucose, high light stress, seed germination and inhibition of vegetative growth. AHG1 (At5g51760) is a negative regulator of ABA during seed germination (Nishimura et al. 2007, Plant J 50: 935-949) and AHG3 (At3g11410) is a negative regulator of ABA during seed germination and cold acclimation. Three other, At5g9220, At2g29380 and At1g07430, may after all not be involved in ABA signalling as null mutations did not reveal any change in sensitivity to ABA (Yoshida et al, 2006: Plant Physiology 140:115-126).
ABA biosynthesis and signalling is, thus, extremely complex, and although various genes have been identified in Arabidopsis which appear to be involved (group PP2C-A), their role in ABA dependent responses, such as abiotic stress, seed dormancy and seedling growth is to a large extent unclear. In addition, protein sequences show little conservation and amino acid sequences share little sequence identity. The genes are grouped together phylogenetically, based on protein domains (or motifs) such as the catalytic domain (protein serine/threonine phosphatase like domain) which is typically located at the C-terminal of the proteins. The N-terminal varies considerably and may play a role in substrate binding or provide specific attachment sites to signalling complexes. In addition to the in vivo function being unclear, also little is known about the subcellular localization, substrates and specificity of the enzymes or how these monomeric enzymes are regulated in vivo.
WO2007/088234 describes that combined inactivation of ABI1 and HAB1 strengthens the response to ABA leads to Arabidopsis plants which are resistant to salinity and hydric stress. Tomato orthologs of ABI1 (SGN-U231558) and HAB1 (SGN-U217609) are presented in FIGS. 6 and 7. See also Saez et al. 2006, Plant Physiol 141:1389-1399.
Although abi1 hab1 double mutants lead to drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana, there remains a need for providing genes which are suitable for generating drought tolerance in crop plants, especially in field crops (e.g. rice, maize, soybean, wheat, barley, rye, sorghum, Brassica, etc.) and vegetable crops (e.g. tomato, cucumber, onion, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, watermelon, melon, lettuce, leek, spinach, radish, potato, artichoke, corn salad, pumpkin, squash, bean, peas, pepper, etc.). Especially in vegetable crops water shortage can be a big problem, as roots of many crops are shallow and as products are often sold fresh and water shortage can lead to reduced vegetable quality and reduced yield. Fruit and seed vegetables, such as tomatoes, are sensitive to water shortage during flowering and during fruit- and seed development. Fruit-set can be seriously reduced by water shortage during fruit development. Common practice to deal with potential water stress situations is to irrigate crops and/or to plant cultivars or varieties with drought tolerance, in as far as these are available. Also mulches and row covers may be used.
Despite breeding efforts, tomato plants remain sensitive to drought and no commercial cultivar with drought tolerance is available.
The present invention provides new genes, referred to as SlPP2C1, suitable for generating drought tolerant crop plants, especially tomato plants and other vegetable plants. The present invention also provides methods of generating drought tolerant plants. Also provided are the drought tolerant plants, seeds and plant parts (harvested fruit, etc.) themselves.


An isolation assembly for use with coiled tubing is described. The isolation assembly has a check valve for providing selective fluid communication through from the coiled tubing, through the isolation assembly, and into a downhole tool, such a straddle packer. The isolation assembly includes a shuttle moveable within a housing, and plurality of ports to selectively provide fluid communication from within the isolation assembly below the check valve, through the ports, and into the annulus, thus allowing selective surface-controlled equalization of downhole equipment. Also described is a bottom hole assembly including the isolation assembly. An improved method of fracing a formation includes providing a check valve, thus improving the life of the coiled tubing and the safety of the operation, and reducing the time to perform a given downhole operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to downhole tools for use in wellbores. More particularly, this invention relates to an isolation assembly for use with coiled tubing operations, such as the pressure testing, matrix stimulation, or fracturing ("fracing") a well with a downhole tool, among other things.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the drilling and production of oil and gas wells, it is frequently necessary to isolate one subterranean region from another to prevent the passage of fluids between those regions. Once isolated, these regions or zones may be fraced or injected with a formation compatible fluid as required to stimulate production of hydrocarbons from the zones. Many stimulation techniques for given types of wells are better suited to using coiled tubing, as opposed to conventional jointed pipe intervention. Generally, it is known to attach a selective isolation device, such as a straddle packer, to coiled tubing and run the packing device downhole until the desired zone is reached. Once positioned, prior art fracing fluids or stimulation fluids may be forced into the zone.
In many downhole coiled tubing operations, it is known to use a check valve. Prior art check valves include the dual flapper back pressure valve product family H13204 from Baker Oil Tool, for example. Other types of check valves currently used include a ball and dart type check valve known to those of skill in the art. Generally, these check valves operate to provide a safety or control measure to prevent wellbore pressure from entering the coiled tubing work string. This feature is especially important when utilizing coiled tubing, as an unexpected surface failure of the coiled tubing may result in a surface release of wellbore fluids. The check valves are normally run directly below the coiled tubing connector.
However, in most operations, the check valve will not allow pressure below the check valve to be bled off at surface through the coiled tubing. Thus, for some operations performed with coiled tubing, it is not possible to utilize a check valve. For instance, fracturing operations using coiled tubing generally require that check valves are not run. This results in a potential flow path for the fluid in the coiled tubing and the formation (i.e. an uncontrolled release up the coiled tubing string) should the coiled tubing fail on surface. The resulting situation has a high potential of injury to personnel and other damage that may result in compromising well control. Thus, it is desirable to provide a check valve when fracturing or otherwise treating with coiled tubing to confine the potential release to just the coiled tubing volume above the check valve, such that the considerable volume of fluid in the formation would remain isolated.
Other operations (e.g. reverse circulating) cannot be performed efficiently utilizing a check valve with coiled tubing. For instance, and by way of example only, a traditional pressure test for a straddle packer cannot be performed when a check valve is used with coiled tubing. Generally, before beginning a fracturing or stimulation operation, a straddle packer is set in unperforated casing to ensure the integrity of the seal of the cups of the straddle packer. As shown in FIG. 1, straddle packers 10 are known to be comprised of two packing cups 11 and 12 mounted on a mandrel having a port 15. To test the integrity of the straddle packer 10, the straddle packer 10 is run into a non-perforated section of the wellbore casing 10, generally below the perforated zones.
To energize the straddle packer 10, pressurized fluid is pumped from surface through the coiled tubing 1, into the mandrel of the straddle packer, and out flow port 15 between cups 11 and 12. If the cups 11 and 12 function properly, the packer 10 will be set in the casing.
Once the integrity is ensured, the pressure in the coiled tubing is bled off, and the pressure between the cups 11 and 12 forces the fluid back into the coiled tubing to concomitantly reduce the pressure within the cups 11 and 12, as the straddle packer 10 is in direct communication with the coiled tubing. The straddle packer is then de-energized and free to move uphole to the perforated zone 5 to be fraced.
If a check valve were located between the straddle packer 10 and the coiled tubing string 1, then the pressure within the straddle packer 10 would create a pressure differential across the check valve such that the check valve would remain closed. Thus, no direct communication path would exist for the fluid to exit the straddle packer 10 and the straddle packer 10 would become fixed in the casing.
As stated above, fracing operations and other stimulation operations cannot be performed utilizing a check valve while a cup-type selective isolation device is used. Thus, when fracing or otherwise stimulating the well, it may be desirable to completely bleed down the pressure within the coiled tubing prior to attempting to move the tool below for various reasons, such as to improve the fatigue life of the coiled tubing and to improve the safety of the operation. However, in most applications, this 100% bleed down at surface is not commercially feasible, as the formation has been energized by the stimulation operation, and fluid communication is provided from the formation to surface. Thus, a complete bleed down at surface would require excessive time to complete, depending on the state of the formation.
In some applications, after each treatment, the coiled tubing may be bled down to allow the downhole tool to be re-positioned over another zone or pulled to surface. This may allow hazardous formation gas and fluids to enter the tubing, if no check valve is utilized. However, due to time constraints, in some operations the pressure in the coiled tubing is not bled down to be equalized with that in the annulus or completely bled down to atmospheric pressure (zero internal pressure in the coiled tubing). For instance, applied pressure within the coiled tubing may remain between 600 and 1000 p.s.i. while moving the packer. This may increase the wear on the cups 11 and 12 of the straddle packer 10. Further, it has been found that winding the coiled tubing on the spool at surface while the coiled tubing experiences these internal pressures may significantly accelerate the fatigue experienced by the coiled tubing and decreases the operational life of the coiled tubing, as shown on Table 1 described hereinafter. Thus, it would be desirable that the coiled tubing be allowed to be more completely bled down at surface prior to repositioning the downhole tool. In this way, pressure within the coiled tubing will not excessively fatigue the coiled tubing string as the string is wound around the spool at surface.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an assembly for a downhole tool that would allow a check valve to be utilized in various downhole applications, such as when setting and using a straddle packer in fracing or other operations. Such an assembly would improve the operational life of the coiled tubing string, as well as increase the speed of performance of the given function, as operators at surface would not have to wait until the entire coiled tubing and formation are bled down from the straddle packer to surface. Finally, such a check valve would significantly increase the safety associated with performing these downhole operations.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the issues set forth above.


A parallel resonant converter including a control circuit and at least two resonant conversion circuits connected in parallel between an input bus and an output bus is provided by the invention. The control circuit is configured to provide a switching frequency signal to the at least two resonant conversion circuits. Moreover, the control circuit is further configured to control the voltage of the output bus to linearly vary along with the switching frequency signal in a rated range by using a linear current-balancing curve (gain-frequency), and thus achieving the purpose of current-balancing for the at least two resonant conversion circuits. The invention is capable of controlling the output voltage of the parallel resonant converter, so as to reduce the ripple on the output voltage of the power supply system.

Technical Field
The invention relates to a resonant converter, and particularly relates to a multiphase parallel resonant converter and a control method thereof.
Related Art
LLC series resonant converter (LLC-SRC) not only has a simple structure, but also has a plurality of unique advantages, for example, a primary side switches may implement zero voltage switching (ZVS) within a full load range, and a secondary side rectifier switches may implement zero current switching (ZCS), and a wide range input voltage variation can be followed by controlling a narrow frequency variation. However, since a secondary side of the resonant converter does not have a filter inductor, ripple of an output current is quite large, which influences a service life of an output filter capacitor, and such disadvantage is more obvious in application of a large current output. In order to satisfy a ripple index of the output voltage and the output current, a multiphase LLC-SRC interleaving parallel method/technique can be adopted to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage. The interleaving parallel method refers to that frequencies of control signals of switch tubes in circuit units operated in parallel are the same, though phase angles thereof are interleaving. After the resonant converters are connected in parallel, besides that a new power supply module composed of multi-channel interleaving parallel units is constructed, a redundant parallel power supply system is also constructed.
However, when resonant parameters of the parallel resonant converters are different, direct current (DC) gain curves of various phases thereof are inevitably different, and equivalence of output gains of a two-phase resonant converter and current-balancing thereof at arbitrarily same switch frequency cannot be guaranteed. Moreover, when a load current of the parallel resonant converter is changed, the gain of the two-phase resonant converter is also varied, and such gain variation leads to output voltage variation of the two-phase resonant converter, such that accuracy of an output voltage of the power supply system deviates from/is inconsistent with requirement of electric equipment. Therefore, a control method adapted to the parallel resonant converter has to be developed, and by which current-balancing of the parallel resonant converter is achieved, and the output voltage thereof satisfies the requirement of the electric equipment.

Parallel resonant converter capable of controlling output voltage and control method thereof


A single crystal of silicon is manufactured in accordance with the Czochralski method. A magnetic field is applied to a quartz crucible filled with silicon melt. Subsequently, a single crystal of silicon is pulled in a state in which no magnetic field is applied to the crucible, so as to obtain a single crystal of silicon. Therefore, the inner surface of a quartz crucible becomes very unlikely to deteriorate, and when the inner surface deteriorates, the deteriorated inner surface is restored. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture a single crystal of silicon having a large diameter without generating a dislocation in the crystal. Moreover, even when a single crystal of silicon having a large diameter is manufactured, a larger number of single crystals of silicon can be manufactured from a single quartz crucible, and the pulling apparatus can be operated over a longer period of time using a single quartz crucible, thereby making it possible to manufacture a longer single crystal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a single crystal of silicon through use of the Czochralski method (CZ method) in which a single crystal of silicon is manufactured using a quartz crucible after a magnetic field is applied to the crucible so as to restore the inner surface of the crucible or to prevent the inner surface of the crucible from deteriorating.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a single crystal of silicon is pulled from silicon melt within a quartz crucible in accordance with the CZ method, the inner surface of the crucible is exposed to the silicon melt, which has a high temperature. As a result, the condition of the inner surface of the crucible changes and deteriorates; i.e., so-called cristobalite, a substance that hardly melts into the silicon melt, separates from the inner surface of the crucible. When such a refractory substance separates from the inner surface of the crucible and adheres to the surface of a single crystal of silicon being pulled, a dislocation is generated in the single crystal.
Especially, in manufacture of a single crystal of silicon having a diameter equal to or greater than 8 inches needed so as to cope with the recent increases in the degree of integration and the degree of accuracy of semiconductor devices, the inner surface of a quartz crucible deteriorates easily, and therefore the problem of dislocation generation is apt to occur. That is, in order to manufacture a single crystal of silicon having a diameter equal to or greater than 8 inches, a quartz crucible having a large diameter equal to or greater than 600 mm must be used. In order to melt a large amount of silicon material within such a large-diameter quartz crucible and to maintain the thus-obtained silicon melt, a high-power graphite heater must be used as a heating element. As a result, the quartz crucible itself is heated to a higher temperature. The higher the temperature to which the quartz crucible is heated, the higher the possibility of occurrence of deterioration of the inner surface, that is in contact with high-temperature silicon melt. Further, in order to pull a single crystal of silicon from a quartz crucible, the temperature of the silicon melt at a position where the crystal is growing (i.e., at the central portion) must be maintained at a temperature that allows the silicon melt to solidify. Therefore, when the quartz crucible has a large diameter as described above, the graphite heater for the crucible must have a large power rating, because the center portion is separated from the graphite heater more than is that in a quartz crucible having a smaller diameter. Consequently, the quartz crucible having a larger diameter is heated to a higher temperature, so its inner surface exposed to silicon melt deteriorates more easily.
The above-mentioned deterioration of the inner surface of a quartz crucible also occurs in the multi-pulling method (see Semiconductor Silicon Crystal Technology, Fumio Shimura, pp. 178-179, 1989) wherein a silicon material is recharged so as to manufacture a plurality of single crystals of silicon from the same crucible; as well as in the Continuous Czochralski (CCZ) method in which a single crystal of silicon is manufactured while a silicon material is being supplied to a crucible. In these methods, the operation hours of the quartz crucible becomes longer, so that the inner surface of the quartz crucible deteriorates, resulting in generation of dislocations in single crystal of silicon. Therefore, in the multi-pulling method, production of a single crystal of silicon becomes impossible to continue, and in the CCZ method, production of a single crystal of silicon must be stopped halfway.
Accordingly, there has been demanded a method of manufacturing a single crystal of silicon that can reduce the possibility of causing deterioration of the inner surface of a quartz crucible or can restore the deteriorated inner surface of the crucible, thereby making it possible to manufacture a single crystal of silicon having a large diameter while preventing generation of dislocation. Further, in relation to the multi-pulling method, it has been demanded to manufacture a larger number of single crystals of silicon from a single quartz crucible, and in relation to the CCZ method, it has been demanded to operate over a longer period of time using a single quartz crucible, thereby making it possible to manufacture a longer single crystal.

Method of manufacturing single crystal of silicon


An effective system for verifying safety of an artificial intelligence system includes a feature quantity information accepting unit which accepts feature quantity information that includes values of plural feature quantities, that are assumed as those used in an artificial intelligence system, in each of plural first test data used for a test for verifying safety of the artificial intelligence system; and a judgment unit which judges a first combination, that is a combination that is not included in the plural first test data, in combinations of values that plural feature quantities may take, or a second combination, with it plural correct analysis results that should be derived by the artificial intelligence are associated, in the combinations of the values that the plural feature quantities may take.

In recent years, effectiveness of black-box-type artificial intelligence such as a deep neural network (DNN) or the like, with respect to which it is not possible to know the internal logical structure, has been improved, and a demand with respect to the use of the above artificial intelligence in a variety of fields is becoming higher. When using an artificial intelligence system, there may be a case wherein safety with respect to it becomes an issue. An important matter for ensuring safety of an artificial intelligence system is that appropriateness of an internal logical structure, that is obtained as a result of learning, can be judged, even if a stochastically high ground truth rate could be achieved thereby. In this regard, a similar problem also exists in relation to white-box-type artificial intelligence.

Safety verification system for artificial intelligence system, safety verification method, and safety verification program


A method is disclosed for directing an antenna mounted in a restricted radome on an aircraft. The method can include the operation of determining whether the antenna is directed in a keyhole. A further operation can involve controlling the antenna using an elevation gimbal and an azimuth gimbal when it is determined the antenna is directed outside the keyhole. Another operation can include directing the antenna using an elevation, azimuth, and cross elevation gimbal when it is determined the antenna is pointing in the keyhole.

Some aircraft have the capability to communicate with satellites in various earth orbits, such as geosynchronous (GEO), low earth orbit (LEO), and polar orbit. Transmission of high data rates between aircraft and the satellites at a low power level requires a highly directive antenna with a large aperture area. Such a directive antenna strives to maintain accurate positioning to point the antenna in the direction of the satellite. The satellite is in constant motion in orbit around the earth. As the aircraft moves, it is subject to changes in latitude, longitude, and altitude. The aircraft's attitude, measured in roll, pitch and yaw, can also change relative to the satellite. A gimbaled antenna pedestal can be used to compensate for the movement of the satellite and changes in velocity, position, and attitude of the aircraft and allow the antenna mounted on the aircraft to maintain its focus on a satellite.
Most aircraft are composed of metal skins, such as aluminum. The metal skins can create a Faraday cage inside the aircraft which can substantially decrease any electromagnetic signals. To overcome this, the antenna and pedestal are usually mounted on the exterior of the aircraft.
The environment outside an aircraft, however, is not hospitable to most large area antennae. Antenna apertures typically require a specific large area shape to capture a desired electromagnetic signal. As a result, the required antenna shape is usually not very aerodynamic. The relatively high velocity air flow while an aircraft is in flight can also interfere with the movement of an antenna that is required to maintain the focus of the antenna on the satellite. Also, temperatures can often vary over one hundred degrees Celsius as an aircraft ascends and descends. The rapid change in temperature can cause problems with electrical systems associated with the antenna and pedestal.
Enclosures can be used to overcome the environmental problems associated with placing antennae on the outside of an aircraft. Antenna enclosures, called radomes, are constructed out of materials which are substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation. Radomes should be as small as possible to minimize aerodynamic drag. A flattened radome can further minimize drag. However, accurate pointing and control are desired to be maintained as the aircraft rolls, pitches, and yaws in normal flight. It is desirable to control the movement of an antenna in a radome mounted on an aircraft to allow the antenna to be positioned to transmit and receive maximum power signals from a satellite to enable a communications link with minimal disruptions.

System and method for pointing and control of an antenna


A molding device (1) includes a temperature control section (4) and a temperature control sequence determining section (3) that corrects a temperature control sequence for instructing the temperature control section (4) to operate, the temperature control sequence determining section (3) including predicting means (31) for predicting a temporal shift of a thermosetting material (H) and correcting means (32) for correcting a temperature control sequence on the basis of the temporal shift. This arrangement prevents thermal runaway during a process of molding a thermosetting material.

A thermosetting material such as thermosetting resin starts a curing reaction on heating, the curing reaction having a velocity that increases with a rise in temperature of the thermosetting material. Further, since this curing reaction is normally an exothermic reaction, the thermosetting material generates heat (self heat generation) as the curing reaction progresses.
When a thermosetting material is thermally cured to be molded, the temperature of the thermosetting material is increased as it is heated by external means and also as a result of self heat generation. This temperature increases further accelerates the curing reaction, with the result of such excessive heating causing thermal runaway, that is, causing the curing reaction to progress drastically.
FIG. 40 is a graph for illustrating thermal runaway caused by excessive heating in a thermosetting material. As illustrated in FIG. 40, excessive heating causes the velocity of a curing reaction in a thermosetting material to increase drastically, which in turn causes thermal runaway in the thermosetting material. Thermal runaway may problematically result in a molded article having unevenness in physical property, deformation, residual stress, and/or decrease in strength.
In relation to such a problem, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of (i) predicting, on the basis of (a) a formula for calculating the velocity of a curing reaction occurring in a thermosetting material, (b) an equation of heat balance in an autoclave, (c) a measured value of the atmosphere temperature in the autoclave, and (d) a measured value of the temperature of the thermosetting material, a temperature change to occur in the thermosetting material after the current time instant and thus (ii) controlling the atmosphere temperature.

Temperature control sequence determination device, molding device, recording medium, and temperature control sequence determination method