A vibration eliminator or suppressor for an actuating element of a set of components or aggregate, such as the clutch arrangement of a motor vehicle. A transitional element between a wire cable or a linkage and a lever of the aggregate is constructed as a cage, wherein the lever is floatingly or swimmingly supported within the cage through a prestressed two-component rubber spring, with the lever being fixedly connected with the rubber spring, and a weight being fastened to the cage. Through the intermediary of this structure there is achieved a complete isolation of any vibrations between the clutch shift and the clutch drive train due to the rubber spring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration eliminator or suppressor for an actuating element of a set of components or aggregate, such as the clutch arrangement of a motor vehicle.
Vibration eliminators serve for the suppressing or elimination of disturbing vibrations which are generated by aggregates or operative components. The elimination of the vibration is carried out through a weight in cooperation with a rubber element, in conformance with a spring-mass system.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
From the disclosure of German Laid-Open Patent Appln. No. 29 30 674, in a disengaging or unclutching arrangement for the clutch of a motor vehicle it has already become known that the play can be eliminated between the arms of a shift lever and a slide sleeve of an axially displaceable clutch disengaging or uncoupling bearing through the intermediary of a separate damping element. For this purpose, the damping element can be constituted as an elastically yieldable profiled spring which consists of metal or a plastic material. Such a profiled spring does not serve for the elimination or suppression of vibrations, but rather for the attenuation of otherwise audible clutch noises and intense vibrations which are encountered at the clutch pedal. These two effects represent a considerable loss in driving comfort for a driver.


A mobile computing device includes a housing, a light source, a power circuit, and a processing circuit. The housing is configured to be carried by a user while in use. The power circuit is coupled to the light source. The processing circuit is configured to provide control signals to the power circuit to illuminate the light source. The processing circuit is configured to count the illuminations of the light source, to store usage data based on the counted illuminations, and to adjust the control signals based on the usage data.

Light sources may be used on mobile computing device of many types. Light sources may be used for camera flash, flashlights, backlighting flat-screen displays and many other functions. The intensity of light sources may change with usage, whether usage over a lifetime of the light source, usage in the short-term, or other usage.

Light illumination compensation for mobile computing devices

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A vehicle illuminator is provided which acts as a conventional marker light, and additionally illuminates advertisements on the surface of a vehicle. To allow both functions to be performed by a single illuminator, at least one bulb, a reflector, and a transparent insert are combined with one or more conventional marker lights. Light from at least one additional bulb is reflected through a clear portion of a housing by the reflector, the reflector being positioned such that the reflected light illuminates a selected surface. Thus, the light, in addition to acting as a conventional marker light, illuminates advertisements on vehicle and trailer surfaces, making these advertisements more visible, especially during periods of low visibility.

Many vehicles, such as trucks, trailers, and buses, are adorned with advertisements. These advertisements are readily visible under ideal circumstances, but are difficult to see at night and during other periods of low visibility. While conventional marker lights render vehicles more visible, they are not designed to illuminate vehicle surfaces, such as the front, sides, and back of trucks, trailers, and buses, and therefore do not effectively illuminate advertisements placed on such vehicle surfaces.
Prior art marker lights on the sides and backs of trucks, trailers, and buses are often recessed to ensure that these lights do not cause the trucks, trailers, and buses to exceed maximum width and length limits. Being recessed, these prior art marker lights cannot illuminate adjacent surfaces. Other prior art marker lights are not recessed, but are not designed to effectively illuminate vehicle surfaces. Therefore, prior art marker lights are not appropriate or suitable for illuminating advertisements on the front, sides, and back of vehicles.
Accordingly, there is a need for a light capable of lighting the front, sides and back of a vehicle, such as a truck, trailer, or bus, while at the same time adding minimal width and length to the vehicle.

Vehicle marker light and advertisement illuminator


The concrete insert may be positioned in concrete structures for attachment rods or other structural fasteners. A shaft may have a head to form a projecting edge at a first end and a hole at a second end. There may be slots formed in an external surface of the shaft oriented parallel to the shaft longitudinal axis. The external surface may have multiple retaining flats positioned intermediate the slots and approximately parallel to the slots. The retaining flats may not extend to the second end. A plate groove may be circumferentially formed in the external surface intermediate the first end and the second end. A plate may have an aperture that may be the form of a lateral cross section of the shaft, and may have projections to engage the slots or the flats. A spring may be placed on the shaft between the head and the plate.

This invention relates to devices for receiving threaded rods for attachment to overhead concrete structures, such as, ceilings, beams, bridge bottom surfaces or other overhead forms. The new threaded insert may be positioned in a metal deck or form prior to the pouring of concrete. The metal insert anchored in the cement may then have a threaded rod threadably attached at one end and the threaded rod at a free end may be used to support decorative ceilings, utility structures, ducts, conduit, air conditioners and other overhead elements.
Various concrete inserts or anchors may have been used to retain support rods in ceilings that are the poured concrete floor above, or in other overhead structures. These devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,697, issued Jun. 5, 2001, and this patent is hereby incorporated by reference. The threaded anchor disclosed in the referenced patent may have had marginal structural characteristics to withstand impact or horizontal forces that may have been imparted to the device at structural building sites. Construction personal and work operations may skew or cause misalignment of the anchor device prior to the pouring of concrete. The plastic sleeve and retaining fingers may become damaged such that the spring may force the shaft out of the plate to make the anchor useless.

Concrete insert for poured concrete floors


The present invention aims to provide a heterocyclic compound having an IP6K inhibitory action and expected to be useful as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for—diseases such as cardiac failure, diabetes and the like. A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the SPECIFICATION, or a salt thereof has an IP6K inhibitory action and is expected to be useful as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for diseases such as cardiac failure, diabetes and the like.

IP6K is a molecule involved in many intracellular signaling by generating inositol pyrophosphate (non-patent documents 1, 2). Inositol pyrophosphate is a low molecule with high energy and the production thereof is known to be mediated by two kinds of enzymes. The two kinds are IP6K having 5 kinase activity (non-patent documents 3-5) and diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate kinase having 1 kinase activity (PPIP5K (non-patent documents 6-8)).
The 5 kinase activity of IP6K produces 5-PP-InsP4 from myo-inositol (1,3,4,5,6)-pentakisphosphate (InsP5), 5-PP-InsP5 from InsP6 (5-InsP7 (non-patent document 9), hereinafter to be indicated as IP7), and 1,5-PP22-InsP4 (InsP8) from 1-PP-InsP5. Among these, 127 is the most studied inositol pyrophosphate produced by IP6K and controls many biological reactions by directly binding to the target protein or through the mechanism of pyrophosphorylation (transfer of β-phosphoric acid of pyrophosphoric acid moiety of 127 to phosphorylated serine residue of target protein) (non-patent document 10). IP7 produced by 5PPIP5K is 1-InsP7, almost all parts of 127 in mammals are considered to be 5-isomer 5-InsP7 (non-patent documents 3, 11).
Mammals have three IP6K subtypes of IP6K1, IP6K2, and IP6K3 (non-patent document 1), and recent studies using knockout mice have suggested the physiological role of each molecule and possibility as the target of drug discovery. The knockout mouse of IP6K1 has increased Akt signal in the liver, fat and muscle, and improvement of glucose tolerance, promotion of insulin sensitivity and increase in muscle amount have been confirmed under high-fat diet loading conditions (non-patent document 12). On the other hand, IP7 produced by IP6K2 has been reported to function as a major mediating molecule in cancer cell migration and tumor metastasis, and it has been confirmed that cellular infiltration and metastasis are suppressed by deficiency of IP6K2 in cancer cells (non-patent document 13). In addition, IP6K2 has been confirmed to have an action to promote cell death by producing IP7, and relation to neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the like has been pointed out (non-patent document 14). IP6K3 is a molecule highly expressed in muscles. It has been confirmed that the gene expression thereof is induced by fasting and diabetic condition, the knockout mouse shows low blood glucose concentration and low blood insulin concentration, shows promoted glucose tolerance and promoted insulin sensitivity, and has a long life (non-patent document 15).


When inserting several types of digital watermark information into the digital information, the visual time stamp detection circuit extracts the time stamps corresponding to the visual data in the visual data stream and the digital watermark insertion circuit specifies the types of the digital watermark information to be inserted corresponding to the extracted time stamps and inserts the digital watermark information of the applicable types into the visual data so that such information is synthesized with the audio data by the mixer circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital watermarking device, a digital watermark insertion method and a digital watermark detection method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital information can be easily reproduced, and is often copied illegally. Various digital watermarking technologies to insert digital watermark information into the digital information have been proposed so that the copyright holder can claim his/her copyright to the person who copied the information illegally. Devices and methods for digital watermark insertion into the digital information include, for example, the devices and the methods described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (Kokai) No. 2000-59610 and No. 2000-59730.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an configuration example of the device described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (Kokai) No. 2000-59610. In this device, an image input section 540 fetches the image data as the original image. A square division section 550 divides the original image into squares. An information input section 560 inputs the predetermined information to be embedded in the image data and an encoding section 520 embeds such information as the digital watermark information in the image data. Here, the encoding section 520 embeds the digital watermark information to every square (every block) divided. A control section 500 makes various controls. According to the device shown in FIG. 5, the digital watermark information is embedded to every piece of divided squares after division of the image data into squares, and the digital watermark information can be detected even when a part of the image data is cut off.
FIG. 6 shows an image stream to record the digital watermark information by the digital watermark information recording method as described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (Kokai) No. 2000-59730. According to this recording method, the reference information to detect the digital watermark information is recorded in every frame containing the time information in the image stream. Here, the reference information is recorded so that it is contained in the encoded information obtained by encoding of the image. The position to record the reference information is uniquely specified by the time information. By this method, the reference information recording position varies frame by frame and the digital watermark information can be taken out by detecting the reference signal even when a part of the image information is masked.
Digital watermark information to be inserted into the image data includes, for example, the information about the owner of the image data and the information about whether or not to permit reproduction of the image data. When many types of digital watermark information are inserted to the image data, it will be difficult for a third party without authority for data utilization to analyze the digital watermark information. Therefore, to prevent analysis by a third party, it is preferable to insert as many types of information as possible for the digital watermark information.
Some types of inserted digital watermark information may deteriorate the image data. By inserting several types of digital watermark information, deterioration extent of the image data by a certain type of digital watermark information can be reduced. From this viewpoint, too, it is preferable to insert several types of information as the digital watermark information.
It is also preferable that the number of types of the digital watermark information to be inserted is highly flexible. Note that, however, the scale of the device for insertion and detection of the digital watermark is preferably small.
According to the device as described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-59610, an image is divided into sections and digital watermark information is assigned to each section so that increased types of digital watermark information are inserted. However, because the digital watermark is embedded into the divided images, sufficient amount of digital watermark information cannot be embedded when the original image is not large enough over a certain size. In addition, when a divided section is lacking, the digital watermark information embedded to that section may not be obtained properly. The digital watermark information recording method as described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-59730 enables the digital watermark information to be taken out even when a part of the image information is masked, but it does not disclose a method to increase the types of digital watermark information to be recorded.

Digital watermarking device, digital watermark insertion method and digital watermark detection method


An MPU 1 decomposes video-audio information which is externally inputted and stored into a second temporary storage area 32 for each parameter included in a sequence layer and the like, and further into video information and audio information, and stores the information into a third temporary storage area 33. Next, the MPU 1 extracts a predetermined quality deterioration parameter from the parameters stored in the third temporary storage area 33 and stores a prescribed value in the storage area in which that quality deteriaration parameter was stored. The MPU 1 then composes the video-audio information stored in the third temporary storage area 33 again and stores the composed video-audio information (quality deteriorated) into a fourth temporary storage area 34. Next, the MPU 1 outputs the video-audio information (quality deteriorated) stored in the fourth temporary storage area 34 to a first recording device 4 and causes the first recording device 4 to write the video-audio information (quality deteriorated) on a copy target recording medium 4. Thus the size of the display screen of the video-audio information (quality deteriorated) differs from that of the video-audio information externally inputted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information recording devices and information output devices, and more particularly to an information recording device which records digital information inputted in the on-line, off-line or broadcasting form on a copy target recording medium with its quality deteriorated, and an information output device for externally outputting the information with its quality deteriorated.
2. Description of the Background Art
In a conventional information recording device, when video information, audio information or video-audio information digitally recorded on a copy source recording medium is copied on a copy target recording medium, the video-audio information of the copy has completely the same quality as the original video-audio information. Referring to the figure, the procedure for making a copy in the conventional information recording device will now be described.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of the conventional information recording device. In FIG. 6, the information recording device 60 includes an original recording medium 61, an information reading portion 63, an information writing portion 64 and a copy target recording medium 65.
The original recording medium 61 has video-audio information (original) 62 which is digital information recorded thereon. The video-audio information 62 has the recording system including auxiliary information such as header information, error correction information, etc. in addition to video information and/or audio information, as MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) 2 stream format, for example.
The information reading portion 63 reads the video-audio information (original) 62 from the original recording medium 61 in order according to its recording system. The video-audio information (original) 62, which is digital information, presents a train of "0's" and "1's". The information writing portion 64 records the video-audio information (original) 62 onto the copy target recording medium 65 in the order read out by the information reading portion 63. At this time, if the digital information read is "0", for example, it is of course recorded on the copy target recording medium 65 as "0". The information reading portion 63 and the information writing portion 64 proceed with the processing as above to produce video-audio information (copy) 66 having the same quality as the video-audio information (original) 62 on the copy target recording medium 65.
The use of the information recording device 60, however, allows anybody to easily make a copy of the video-audio information, or the like, regardless of intention of its copyright holder. Furthermore, the produced copy has the same quality as the original video-audio information. This may lead to an illegal sale of the copy on the market, producing -the problem that the copyright can not be effectively protected.
The technique for protecting the copyright above includes SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) provided in a deck for DAT (Digital Audio Tape) etc. and "ANTI-COPY SYSTEM" disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4644422.
As is well known, the SCMS mentioned above is a system for preventing a copy based on the digital information recorded on an original recording medium from being taken over like an endless chain. More specifically, when copy permitted/unpermitted information, which is indicative of whether copying is permitted or not permitted, indicates that copying is unpermitted, it prohibits copying the digital information. Thus unpermitted copying is prevented. However, the present invention is intended to protect copyrighted works by deteriorating the quality of digital information, so its basic point of view is different.
The above-mentioned "ANTI-COPY SYSTEM" superimposes deterioration signal having a frequency over the man's audible range on audio information which is the analogue form. The audio information with the deterioration signal superimposed is recorded on an original recording medium. When making a copy of such audio information, it is recorded onto a copy target recording medium with high-frequency signal from a bias oscillator further superimposed thereon. Accordingly, when the audio information recorded on the copy target recording medium is reproduced, the deterioration signal and the high-frequency signal interact with each other to generate higher harmonic which is unendurable to hear. Thus the ANTI-COPY SYSTEM prevents copying onto a copy target recording medium.
According to the aforementioned ANTI-COPY SYSTEM, however, it is possible to reproduce the audio information recorded on the copy target recording medium, but it can not be utilized. That is to say, it prevents personal usage which is not subject to the force of the copyright. Accordingly, it differs from the present invention which is intended to protect the copyright while permitting copying, and its problem solving means also differs.

Information recording device and information output device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An electrical center for a vehicle is disclosed. The electrical center may be positioned generally proximate to a continuously variable transmission. The electrical center may be covered with a cover. The cover may include a holder to hold a vehicle replacement component and/or a tool for use with a vehicle replacement component.

It is known to include in vehicles electrical components to provide a signal to an ignition member of an engine to ignite a combustible mixture in the engine or to control the operation of one or more accessories. Further, it is known to provide storage for various components including replacement components.

Combination mounting feature and cover for electrical components


A display control apparatus has a display panel, which is placed in its inactive state through a user's operation when not being used, on the one hand, and is placed in is active state when being used, on the other hand. After completing the display of video, the display panel is received automatically, thus ensuring protection of the display panel. It also prevents a beginning part of video from being hidden for a user. All video can be displayed on the display panel that stands up in its prescribed active state. In the display control apparatus, a rotary motor driver and a slider motor driver are used for placing the display panel received in a receiver. An encoder detects whether or not the display panel is placed in its prescribed active state. When the active state of the display panel is detected, an output controller outputs a video signal to the display panel for display.

The present invention relates to a display control apparatus, display control method, and an information recording medium. Particularly, the present invention relates to a display control apparatus and display control method, which control the display of video on a display panel that is placed in its inactive state when not displaying video, on the one hand, and is placed in its active state when displaying video, and to an information recording medium in which a program for the display control is recorded.
Recently, a variety of audio devices mounted on vehicles have been commercially available, and the need of displaying video on vehicles has also increased. Such video includes images of television broadcasting, information recorded in an optical disc (for instance, images like map information recorded in a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) or DVD-ROM used as part of a navigation system), and movie information recorded in a recording medium such as a read-only DVD.
In order to meet such need, various kinds of on-vehicle video display apparatus have been developed. Of these, there is provided a video display apparatus in which a display panel (a video displaying unit) is retracted in a dash board when not displaying video, and is placed in a certain video-visible position from the dashboard only when displaying video. This allows the limited space of a vehicle to be used effectively and prevents the display panel from deforming due to solar heat or others, thus protecting the display panel from being deteriorated in performance. Generally, this type of video display apparatus is called an "in-dash monitor".
The in-dash monitor has, for example, such a construction that its display panel starts to move from its in inactive state, i.e., its received or retracted state to its active state, i.e., its extended state in response to the turn on of the vehicle ignition switch. Normally, it needs about 3 to 5 seconds to move the display panel from the inactive state to the active state.
By contrast, when the display panel currently placed in its active state is moved to its retracted state, the movement of the display panel is started in response to the turn off of the vehicle ignition switch.
However, in the conventional in-dash monitor, displaying video on the display panel is started simultaneously with the start to its active state. Thus, during a period of time of about 3 to 5 seconds in the beginning of displaying the video, the video will be displayed in the state that a user is unable to look it clearly. This leads to a problem that a certain period from the beginning of the video is always blind for a user.
As for retracting the conventional display panel from its active state, the display panel is moved to its retracted state responsively to the turn off of the ignition key. Consequently, even when the display of video recorded in an optical disc came to an end, the display panel is kept extended, unless the ignition key is turned off. This causes another problem that the above-mentioned performance protection to the display panel is not fully attained.

Display control apparatus, display control method and information recording medium


A sleep promoting and comforting device for infants having a cavity partially filled with a freely flowable material. The cavity is placed on the torso of an infant lying in any position. A plurality of appendages extend from the cavity of the device. Both the cavity and appendages have the capacity to contain enough freely flowable material to provide adequate pressure to an infant's torso. The appendages are of sufficient length to extend partially around the arms of an infant, and they may contain flexible rod-like structures that allow them to remain bent around the upper arms and waist of a sleeping infant. An attaching means enables the comforting device to remain secured on the infant's torso so as not to slip and pose a threat of suffocation. This device comforts infants lying on flat surfaces by providing continual gentle pressure to the torso and subtle restraint to the arms.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to devices used to restrain infants, specifically to such devices that comfort sleeping infants by providing continual gentle pressure to the torso and subtle restraint to the arms.
2. Description of Prior Art
Infants have a reflex often referred to as the "Moro" or "startle" reflex that begins at birth and can continue until 6 months of age. This reflex is characterized by a sudden extension of the infant's arms and stiffening of the body--the infant appears to be falling. Infants are unlikely to startle when cradled and restrained in parents' arms; startling occurs more frequently when the infant is placed on a firm surface (e.g., a bed, the floor, or a couch). Because infants must spend long stretches of time sleeping on such surfaces, infant startling can disturb sleep. In addition, physicians currently recommend that babies be put to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; this position tends to give infants an even weaker sense of security, thus creating conditions conducive for infant startling.
Traditionally, parents have "swaddled" infants to provide them with a sense of security by wrapping them tightly in a blanket. This method, while effective in providing comfort, can be much too restraining (especially in warm climates); older infants as well as many newborns are averse to being swaddled.
The prior art that I have uncovered has followed two different veins: a) electronic comforting devices and b) pillows that provide support to infants. The first type of comforting device--those that are electronic--is reflected in two patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,065, issued in 1974 to Gatts, reveals an "infant environmental transition system." This system may be comforting to infants; however, it is highly complex and involves electronics, thus rendering the system expensive to manufacture and cumbersome for parents to operate. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,869, issued in 1990 to Cohen, is called a "sleep promoting and/or pacification apparatus." This invention also is electronic and thus adds expense for the consumer. This invention does not provide any type of restraint for the infant.
The second type of comforting device is referred to as a support pillow in most of the related patents. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,272,780 (Clute, 1993), 5,581,832 (Bridley, 1996), and 5,499,418 (Tan, 1996) all disclose some device that provides infant support and comfort. However, all of these inventions involve a device that infants must lay on top of--not inventions that lay on top of the infant. Although these devices may comfort sleeping infants, the caregiver must be prepared to use such a device before placing an infant down to sleep. In other words, if the device weren't in a handy location, the caregiver would be forced to either retrieve the device and delay putting the infant down or forgo use of the device altogether. Also, these infant support devices are all designed specifically to accommodate side-sleeping infants. An infant sleeping on her back would not be comforted by this device. However, pediatricians currently recommend putting babies to sleep on their backs--side-sleeping is no longer acceptable because of the risk for suffocation if the newborn were to roll over on to the stomach.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,780 also does not specifically restrain the arms. The patent states that the infant's arms can "extend out one open end of the channel." Subtle restraint to the arms may provide an increased sense of security. None of the previously mentioned patents address the problem of infant waking caused by the startle reflex.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,358 issued to Glass in 1985 discloses a "bean bag body support." This support is comprised of a bean-bag--like structure and a fastener means for reducing the size of the bean bag. The purpose of this support is to provide comfort to dental patients while lying in a dental chair. The bag is not intended or suited for comforting a sleeping infant. It lacks any type of attaching means for securing the bag to other objects.

Sleep promoting and comforting device for infants


An interface for modems is described which provides rapid identification of a caller and limited access based on a variety of parameters obtained from caller identification information encoded by the telephone company. A line reversal detector is incorporated to signal when the caller identification information is available for reception. A two stage detection system is used to eliminate false signaling of line reversals and discriminate line reversals from ringing and other noise signals.

Modem computer systems rely on data modems and standard telephone services for remote transfer of digital information. Modems are used in several applications, such as bulletin board services (BBSs), computers, and computer networks. Modems are also used for automated banking and credit card transactions.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art modem installation 150 wherein a modem 110 is collocated with a computer system 100 and connected to a telephone service 130 via telephone cable 120. Modem 110 may be located internally or externally to computer system 100. Connection 140 is through the backplane of computer system 100 if modem 110 is internally connected and connection 140 is a cable if modem 110 is externally connected. Computer system 100 may be a personal computer, a network of computers, mainframe, or other specialized computing hardware.
Telephone services offer encrypted caller identification information ("caller ID" information) to users for identification of the calling party. This information includes the caller's name, telephone number, and address. However, the signaling protocol used to transmit the caller ID information varies from country to country. In the United States, the caller identification information is transmitted after the first ring in an incoming telephone call. In the United Kingdom, the caller identification information is transmitted before the first ring and the transmission of the data is signaled by a line reversal of the tip and ring telephone lines. This is accomplished by swapping the signals on the tip and ring lines. Therefore, caller ID interfaces designed to detect caller ID information after a first ring will not function on services which use the line reversal as a signaling method.
There is a need in the art for a caller ID interface having line reversal detection. The caller ID interface should be designed to distinguish line reversals over other transient noise and ringing signals. Furthermore, the caller ID interface must not confuse other signaling tones with the line reversal.

Caller identification interface using line reversal detection


A method of handling processor to processor interrupt requests in a multiprocessing computer bus environment is described. This method allows a multiple-tiered, increasing priority, interrupt request scheme. This method also allows processor to processor directed interrupt requests, processor to one processor of a group of processors interrupt requests, and processor to all processors of a group of processors interrupt requests.

Using multiple computers to simultaneously run multiple tasks, particularly where the tasks are related or need to interact, requires some communication facility between the multiple computers and tasks. For instance, if one processor wants another processor to handle some task for the first processor (e.g., start an input/output process), or if one processor wants to restart another processor, the first processor can store the communication request in a shared memory and the other processor can then retrieve it. Conversely, the first processor can directly request that the task or action be handled by the other processor. These communications are usually accomplished via a "bus" or signal pathway between the multiple computers.
In a multiprocessing environment, interrupts are one mechanism for interprocessor communication. Other mechanisms include semaphores, queues, tables, or other memory based structures. For instance, memory based operations require processes to regularly poll memory to check for outstanding communications. This polling results in additional bus traffic for many of the memory references. Further, polling uses a system resource to execute the polling thus making the resource unavailable to do real work while the polling is in progress.
Interrupt requests are usually sent directly from one processor or agent to a second processor or agent. If the second processor is busy when the interrupt request is received, either the second processor gets interrupted or the first processor must wait and re-issue the interrupt request at a later time. The problem is, if the second processor is interrupted then the task it was busy running must be halted. Alternatively, if the second processor is too busy to be interrupted (it may be running a particularly high priority task, for instance) then the first processor's requested interrupt won't be handled yet.
Furthermore, regardless of whether or not the second processor was interrupted, there may be a third processor which is either sitting idle, or running a less important task, and which could have handled the interrupt request from the first processor. However, with directed interrupts, the third processor is unable to respond to the interrupt request directed to the second processor. And if the second processor did get interrupted, this may still be inefficient if the third processor was running a task less important than the task which was running on the second processor but which task is now halted.
A further problem arises if it is particularly important to the first processor to have a particular interrupt handled. In order for the first processor to be assured that the particular interrupt will be handled by the processor the interrupt is directed to, the particular interrupt would have to be made a very high priority. In this way, regardless of what the processor the interrupt is directed to is currently running, the processor gets interrupted. Unfortunately, the task the interrupted processor was running may have had a fairly high priority itself. And that task is now halted. Again, if there was another processor available (either because it was sitting idle, or because it was running a lower priority task), then originally sending the interrupt request at a high priority to ensure that it interrupts the processor it is directed to may not be the most efficient method.

Interrupt distribution scheme for a computer bus


A single-crystal, monolithic, tandem, photovoltaic solar cell is described which includes (a) an InP substrate having upper and lower surfaces, (b) a first photoactive subcell on the upper surface of the InP substrate, (c) a second photoactive subcell on the first subcell; and (d) an optically transparent prismatic cover layer over the second subcell. The first photoactive subcell is GaInAsP of defined composition. The second subcell is InP. The two subcells are lattice matched.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to photovoltaic solar cells and, more particularly, to multijunction tandem photovoltaic solar cells. Specifically, the present invention relates to improved monolithic tandem photovoltaic solar cells which are efficient, radiation resistant, and useful in space applications in addition to terrestrial applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Photovoltaic cells, commonly known as solar cells, essentially comprise semiconductors that have the capability of converting electromagnetic energy (such as light or solar radiation) directly to electricity. Such semiconductors are usually characterized by solid crystalline structures that have energy band gaps between their valence electron bands and their conduction electron bands. When light is absorbed by the material, electrons that occupy low-energy states become excited to cross the band gap to higher energy states. For example, when electrons in the valence band of a semiconductor absorb sufficient energy from photons of the solar radiation, they can jump the band gap to the higher energy conduction band.
Electrons which are excited to higher energy states leave behind them unoccupied low-energy positions or holes. Such holes can shift from atom to atom in the crystal lattice and thereby act as charge carriers, as do free electrons in the conduction band, and contribute to the crystal's conductivity. Most of the photons absorbed in the semiconductor give rise to such electron-hole pairs which generate the photocurrent and, in turn, the photovoltage exhibited by the solar cell.
As is known, the semiconductor is doped with a dissimilar material to produce a space charge layer which separates the holes and electrons for use as charge carriers. Once separated, these collected hole and electron charge carriers produce a space charge that results in a voltage across the junction, which is the photovoltage. If these hole and charge carriers are allowed to flow through an external load, they constitute a photocurrent.
It is known that photon energies in excess of the threshold energy gap or band gap between the valence and conduction bands are usually dissipated as heat; thus they are wasted and do no useful work. More specifically, there is a fixed quantum of potential energy difference across the band gap in the semiconductor. For an electron in the lower energy valence band to be excited to jump the band gap to the higher energy conduction band, it has to absorb a sufficient quantum of energy, usually from an absorbed photon, with a value at least equal to the potential energy difference across the band gap.
The semiconductor is transparent to radiation, with photon energies less than the band gap. On the other hand, if the electron absorbs more than the threshold quantum of energy, e.g., from a higher energy photon, it can jump the band gap. The excess of such absorbed energy over the threshold quantum required for the electron to jump the band gap results in an electron that is higher in energy than most of the other electrons in the conduction band. The excess energy is eventually lost in the form of heat. The net result is that the effective photovoltage of a single band gap semiconductor is limited by the band gap.
Thus, in a single semiconductor solar cell, to capture as many photons as possible from the spectrum of solar radiation, the semiconductor must have a small band gap so that even photons having lower energies can excite electrons to jump the band gap. This, of course, involves attendant limitations. First, use of a small band gap material results in a low photovoltage for the device and, naturally, lower power output occurs. Second, the photons from higher energy radiation produce excess energy, which is lost as heat.
On the other hand, if the semiconductor is designed with a larger band gap to increase the photovoltage and reduce energy loss caused by thermalization of hot carriers, then the photons with lower energies will not be absorbed. Consequently, in designing conventional single-junction solar cells, it is necessary to balance these considerations and try to design a semiconductor with an optimum band gap, realizing that in the balance there has to be a significant loss of energy from both large and small energy photons.
Much work has been done in recent years to solve this problem by fabricating tandem or multijunction (cascade) solar cell structures in which a top cell has a larger band gap and absorbs the higher energy photons, while the lower energy photons pass through the top cell into lower or bottom cells that have smaller band gaps to absorb lower energy radiation.
The band gaps are ordered from highest to lowest, top to bottom, to achieve an optical cascading effect. In principle, an arbitrary number of subcells can be stacked in such a manner; however, the practical limit is usually considered to be two or three. Multijunction solar cells are capable of achieving higher conversion efficiencies because each subcell converts solar energy to electrical energy over a small photon wavelength band over which it converts energy efficiently.
Various electrical connectivity options between subcells are possible, including (1) series connected, (2) voltage matched, and (3) independently connected. In the series connected type of tandem solar cells, there is current matching of the two subcells. The advantage of the independently connected type is that it avoids the problems of having to electrically connect the two subcells. This type also allows more possibilities in designing the solar cell. However, it is more complex with respect to fabrication of the solar cell, and it is also more complex in terms of delivering the power from each separate cell to a single electrical load. This is a systems problem.
Such tandem cells can be fabricated in two different manners. The first manner involves separately manufacturing each solar cell (with different band gaps) and then stacking the cells mechanically in optical series by any of a number of known methods. The disadvantage of this method is due to the complexity in forming such a stacked arrangement. The advantage is the flexibility of being able to stack different materials on top of each other.
The second manner of fabricating a tandem solar cell involves forming a monolithic crystalline stack of materials with the desired band gaps. The advantage of this method is the simplicity in processing. The disadvantage is that there are a limited number of materials combinations which can be epitaxially grown in device-quality form.
It has been generally accepted by persons skilled in the art that the desired configuration for monolithic multijunction tandem devices is best achieved by lattice matching the top cell material to the bottom cell material. Mismatches in the lattice constants create defects or dislocations in the crystal lattice where recombination centers can occur to cause the loss of photogenerated minority carriers, thus significantly degrading the photovoltaic quality of the device. More specifically, such effects will decrease the open-circuit voltage (V.sub.oc), short circuit current (J.sub.sc), and fill factor (FF), which represents the relationship or balance between current and voltage for effective power output. Thus, the lattice-matched monolithic approach provides an elegant manner for the construction of a high-quality tandem cell.
One common problem with conventional semiconductors is their lack of radiation resistance, as would be required to ensure degradation-free operation in space. This problem is especially troublesome when considering space photovoltaics, where conventional silicon (Si) solar cells degrade with time. Thus, alternate semiconductor materials have been investigated to overcome these problems.
Indium phosphide (InP) is an attractive III-V semiconductor for a variety of electronic device applications involving heterostructures because of the large number of lattice-matched III-V ternary and quaternary materials available, for example, GaAsSb, GaInAs, AlAsSb, GaInAsP, and AlInAs. In addition to being lattice matched, these compounds offer a wide range of band gaps which aid in the design of complex device structures. InP is also considered a prime candidate for space photovoltaic applications because of its superior radiation hardness and demonstrated high efficiencies.
Thus, the possibility of constructing radiation-hard InP-based tandem solar cells for space application appears feasible. However, none has been disclosed in the art to date.
Other techniques for making a tandem solar cell are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,920 describes a two-cell construction in which different semiconductor materials are grown on opposite surfaces of a transparent insulating substrate. In other words, the two semiconductors are not in physical contact with each other. Consequently, there is no need to lattice match the two semiconductors; however, the problems associated with forming high-quality semiconductor layers on the intermediate substrate are undoubtedly substantial. A metal layer covering the bottom surface of the lower semiconductor reflects light through the structure. The metal layer wraps around the edge to connect the two cells in electrical series.
There has not heretofore been provided a monolithic tandem photovoltaic solar cell having the advantages and desirable combination of features which are exhibited by the devices of the present invention.

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A vehicle navigation system for indication of the current vehicle position provides improved guidance to the driver when he is exiting from a freeway onto a freeway connector road segment (a freeway bifurcation), with the destination being a street (non-freeway road segment) linked to the freeway connector. In this case there is a possibility that the displayed sign text data at the first decision point upon exiting from the freeway does not correspond closely enough to the actual freeway signs, which tend to emphasize the connecting freeways rather than the street. This would tend to confuse the driver. Therefore, before the vehicle passes through the first decision point upon exiting the freeway, the sign text data for the freeway connector segment of the segment prior to the last freeway connector segment connecting to the destination street is displayed at the first guidance point, and not just the destination street. After the vehicle passes the first decision point on the freeway connector, if the sign text data for the last freeway connector segment on that set of freeway connectors is included in the sign text data for the freeway connector segment of one segment before the last road segment, the last sign text data is displayed; if not, the sign text data for the freeway connector segment of one segment before the last is displayed. Hence, the system reliably displays data indicating the freeway bifurcation onto which the driver wants to turn.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to vehicle navigation and more particularly to display of data to a user indicating road sign information for route guidance. This disclosure relates to that of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/689,944, filed Aug. 16, 1996, entitled "Sign Text Display Method and Apparatus for Vehicle Navigation System", incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
2. Description of Related Art
Vehicle navigation systems are well known; see e.g. Yamada et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,336; Link et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,937; and Ichikawa, U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,485. Such navigation systems typically include two major functions. One function is route guidance which determines the optimum route to be followed from a starting point to a destination, typically along a network of roads. The other function is displaying to the user of the system (typically the driver of the vehicle) both the current location and the route to be followed. This display is usually in the form of a map displayed on a small display screen installed in the vehicle. Such systems are well known.
As is well known, typically in such systems a database is provided of the road network. This database lists all of the roads for instance in one state or in some other fairly large geographical area. This representation of the road network is sometimes referred to as a digitized map database. It includes for each road the road name, and divides each road into one or more road segments, where a road segment extends from one road node to another. A road node is typically either an intersection with another road or an intersection of a road with some arbitrary boundary, e.g. a state boundary and has an associated latitude and longitude.
In addition to providing the actual road information for use by the system, a typical digitized map database also includes road sign information. That is, when the database is compiled, i.e. by a survey of the roads, the surveyor also enters into the database the textual contents of at least some of the actual road signs encountered along each road segment. This road sign information is used in the prior art for route guidance, especially on roads such as freeways or equivalents (multi-lane limited access roads). When the system provides route guidance such as from a freeway exiting onto a surface street, road sign information from the database, referred to in the art as "sign text" is displayed on the display screen to the user. This sign text allows the driver to recognize the actual road sign information at a bifurcation in the road, i.e. a node, and more easily decide which road to follow. Thus this display of sign text enhances the route guidance function.
Hence the sign text data is usually an edited version of the actual text of the road sign and is often not the identical words nor arranged identically. Typically the sign text data is edited to make it meaningful for use in the database. This editing is a part of the compilation of the database. It is to be understood that typically the database is produced and sold separately (e.g as a CD ROM) from the actual navigation system since such a navigation system must be useful anywhere.
In some cases the route guidance instructions are provided not only by a visual display but also by announcement, i.e. by sound synthesis. The present invention is applicable both to systems using a display and systems having adequate sound synthesis capability. Hence the term "display" is used here to refer not only to a visual display, but also to an audible announcement by the system.
This invention relates to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/689,944, filed Aug. 16, 1996, inventor Roderick Poonsaengsathit and entitled "Sign Text Display Method and Apparatus for Vehicle Navigation System". That disclosure is similarly directed to guidance of a driver on road segments where the road segments connect to a freeway.
As shown in present FIG. 1, the driver intends to follow a guided route from a freeway A to a street A via freeway connector road segments 1, 2, 3. There are several decision points on these freeway connectors (freeway exit ramps), and route sign data for each decision point is associated with the corresponding freeway connector road segment. Assuming that the actual road sign at the first decision point DPT1 is Fwy B and Fwy C, the freeway connector road segment 1 between the first decision point DPT1 and the second decision point DPT2 has Fwy B/Fwy C as the associated sign text data. Usually, a sign text data includes branch segment data for the subsequent decision point. (Note that the display images shown associated with each guidance point in FIG. 1 are discussed later, and do not form a part of this explanation of the problem.)
FIG. 1 shows these actual route signs: Fwy B and Fwy C at decision point DPT1, Fwy B, Fwy C and A street at decision point DPT2, and Fwy B and A street at decision point DPT3. The following associated sign text data are stored in the road map data base: Fwy B/Fwy C for freeway connector road segment 1, Fwy B/A street for freeway connector road segment 2, A street for freeway connector road segment 3, and Fwy B for freeway connector road segment 4. (Note that the sign text data may not be identical to the actual road signs; this is conventional.)
In the conventional system, the sign text data Fwy B/Fwy C for freeway connector road segment 1 is displayed by the system at the first guidance point GPT1, which is located at a certain distance before DPT1; the sign text data Fwy B/A street for freeway connector road segment 2 is displayed at guidance point GPT2 after passing DPT1 and before DPT2; the sign text data A street for freeway connector road segment 3 is displayed at guidance point GPT 3 after passing DPT2 and before reaching DPT3. The guidance points do not necessarily correspond to the location of the actual corresponding road signs, but instead are located at some distance before the associated decision point to allow the driver sufficient time to read the sign text data from the display and respond, in terms of turning in the correct direction at the subsequent decision point.

Sign text display for vehicle navigation system


An aircraft weather radar system is disclosed. The system comprises a radar antenna, aircraft sensors, and a database. The system also comprises a processing device receiving information from the radar antenna and from the aircraft sensors and able to retrieve information from the database. Further, the system comprises a cockpit display coupled to the processing device. The processing device is programmed to determine storm system hazards and to display the storm system hazards on the display using an iconal representation or textual representation.

Conventionally, pilots use weather radar to detect and then avoid hazardous weather. Conventional radar systems may produce the desired results only in a limited environment. Typically, airborne threshold systems are traceable to ground-based weather radar thresholds for wet precipitation generated from convective weather. As such, conventional aircraft radar systems are used to detect the amount of water in an air mass. Analysis of hazardous conditions due to the precipitation or other weather conditions is typically not done.
Conventionally, radar thresholds map radar return strength to a display with color representing rain rate or alternatively a weather threat assessment level. Conventionally, the threat level has been previously described as primarily a function of radar reflectivity and a weaker function of temperature, altitude, and latitude. Because of the ability of aircraft to circumnavigate storm system hazard, if recognized, it would therefore be desirable to provide an airborne radar system which has the ability to more accurately detect and report the existence and/or characteristics of storm system hazards. It may be possible for a pilot operating radar manually to be able to judge storm system hazards as each pilot becomes familiar with the environment and the weather radar equipment. However, knowledge by the pilot must be acquired, and further, an increase in pilot workload is also necessitated. Therefore, there is a need for an automated system of detecting, analyzing and communicating storm system hazards.
It would be desirable to provide a system and/or method that provides one or more of these or other advantageous features. Other features and advantages will be made apparent from the present specification. The teachings disclosed extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the aforementioned needs.

Weather radar hazard detection system and method


An organic electroluminescent element which is highly precise and minute, uniform in light emission, free from cross talk, resistant to external pressure, and further excellent in sealing properties and a equipped, between a lower electrode 3 and a counter eletrode 4 each on a substrate 2, with an intervening organic layer 5 comprising a light-emitting layer, comprises an inter-insulator film 6 having a coefficient of water absorption of at most 0.1% in a non-light-emitting element portion; step portions 9 in the inter-insulator layer 6 which define the boundary between a light-emitting element portion and a non-light-emitting element portion and which comprise rising parts almost perpendicular to the surface of the lower electrode 3; and a sealing plate or a sealing lid 7 which is placed over the inter-insulator layer 6 and which is attached to the substrate 2 via an adhesive layer 8.

The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent element. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with an organic electroluminescent element (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated to xe2x80x9corganic EL elementxe2x80x9d) which, when used for a display and the like, is highly precise and minute, uniformly emits light, and can withstand external pressure.
Organic electroluminescent elements have heretofore been developed for use as a display. The organic electroluminescent element to be used as a display is required to have high precision and minuteness in patterning, uniformity in a light-emitting surface and precision in the edge of a light-emitting surface. The organic electroluminescent element is also required to solve such problems by a minute short-circuit occurring at an edge of an electrode, thereby causing cross talk in a display. There is known an element in which a sealing plate is clad to a substrate for the purpose of sealing an organic EL element. The sealing plate has the tendency to be thinner as a display is required to be thinner that is, minimized in the thickness.
However, a thin sealing plate results in a the problem that the sealing plate is brought into contact with an element by impact or external pressure with the result that the plate is destroyed.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.250583/1991 (Hei-3) discloses an organic EL element which is equipped with an interlaminar insulating film, and thus has favorable pattern precision as well as high uniformity in a light-emitting surface. However, since a masking vapor deposition method is applied to the production of a counter electrode, it has been still difficult to produce a highly precise and minute display having a line pitch of 300 xcexcm or less.
In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.101884/1993 (Hei-5) discloses an organic EL element which is equipped with an inter-insulator layer, and the outside surface of which is covered with a moisture-resistant film. Nevertheless the organic EL element thus disclosed has still a problem that because of the insufficient sealing power of the moisture-resistant film, a cathode is attacked by moisture or oxygen after being allowed to stand for several thousands hours, thus bringing about a dark spot, that is, defective light emission.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 275172/1993 (Hei-5) discloses a highly precise and minute display having a line pitch of about 100 xcexcm, by equipping an organic EL element with an inter-insulator layer in the form a wall, and also forming a cathode by means of oblique vapor deposition. However, the display disclosed above has still the problem a minute short circuit is caused by reason of the deviation of the alloy composition in the edges (the end away from the inter-insulator layer) of the electrode that is formed through vapor deposition in an oblique direction to the substrate.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages inherent to the conventional techniques, and at the same time, to provide an organic electroluminescent element which is highly precise and minute, capable of uniformly emitting light, free from cross talk, capable of withstanding external pressure, and also excellent in sealing properties. It has been found that an organic electroluminescent element which is equipped with a vertically rising inter-insulator layer and With a sealing plate above the aforesaid film, is a highly precise and minute display which is free from cross talk, low in production cost, and can be miniaturized and made thinner.
The first aspect of the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent element 1 that is equipped, between a lower electrode 3 and a counter eletrode 4 each on a substrate 2, with an intervening organic layer 5 comprising a light-emitting layer, which element 1 comprises an inter-insulator layer 6 having a coefficient of water absorption of at most 0.1% in a non-light-emitting element portion; step portions 9 in said inter-insulator layer 6 which define the boundary between a light-emitting element portion and a non-light-emitting element portion and which contain rising parts almost perpendicular to the surface of said lower electrode 3; and a sealing plate or a sealing lid 7 which is placed over said inter-insulator layer 6 and which is attached to said substrate 2 via an adhesive layer 8. (Refer to FIG. 1.) The second aspect of the present invention provides a process for producing an organic electroluminescent element 1, comprising at least one step of forming a lower electrode 3 on a substrate 2; a step of forming a patterned inter-insulator layer 6 on said lower electrode 3; a step of forming an organic layer 5 on said lower electrode 3; and at least one step of forming a counter electrode 4 in the form of film, so that step portions 9 in said inter-insulator layer 6 define the boundary between a light-emitting element portion and a non-light-emitting element portion and also contain rising parts almost perpendicular to the surface of said lower electrode 3, said counter electrode 4 is cut off by said step portions 9 at the rising parts so as to be subjected to patterning processing, and said counter electrode 4 is in close contact with said inter-insulator layer 6 at said step portions 9 adjacent to said substrate 2.
The third aspect of the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent element 1 that is equipped, between a lower electrode 3 and a counter eletrode 4 each on a substrate 2, with an intervening organic layer 5 comprising a light-emitting layer, which element 1 comprises an inter-insulator layer 6 having a coefficient of water absorption of at most 0.1% in a non-light-emitting element portion; step portions 9 in said inter-insulator layer 6 which contain portions rising in the form of an inverse taper almost perpendicularly to the surface of the lower electrode 3 and divide said counter electrode 4 into a plurality of individuals; and a sealing plate or a sealing lid 7 which is placed over said inter-insulator layer 6 and which is attached to said substrate 2 via an adhesive layer 8.
The fourth aspect of the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent element 1 that is equipped, between a lower electrode 3 and a counter eletrode 4 each on a substrate 2, with an intervening organic layer 5 comprising a light-emitting layer, which element 1 comprises a first inter-insulator layer having a trapezoidal cross section 15 on said lower electrode 3 as a non-light-emitting element portion; a second inter-insulator layer 14 above said trapezoidal cross section(on the opposite side of said lower electrode 3); step portions 9 in said second inter-insulator layer 14 which contain rising parts almost perpendicular to the surface of the lower electrode 3 and divide said counter electrode 4 into a plurality of individuals; and a sealing plate or a sealing lid 7 which is placed over said second inter-insulator layer 14 and which is attached to said substrate 2 via an adhesive layer 8. (Refer to FIG. 2.)
The fifth aspect of the present invention provides a process for producing an organic electroluminescent element 1, comprising at least one step of forming a lower electrode 3 on a substrate 2; a step of forming a patterned inter-insulator layer on said lower electrode 3; a step of forming an organic layer over said lower electrode 3; and at least one step of forming a counter electrode 4 in the form of film so that a first inter-insulator layer 15 has a trapezoidal cross section, a second inter-insulator layer 14 is mounted above said trapezoidal cross section(on the opposite side of said lower electrode 3) step portions 9 in said second inter-insulator layer 14 contain rising parts almost perpendicular to the surface of said lower electrode 3, and said counter electrode 4 is subjected to patterning processing at said rising portions.

Organic electroluminescent element and method for manufacturing same


A sealant gel for a telecommunication enclosure, wherein the gel is formulated from three different polyols. The first polyol is a polybutadiene-based polyol that has a low glass transition temperature. The second polyol is a polyether polyol. The third polyol is butene diol, which is a short molecule that quickly builds up a hard backbone structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sealant gels, and in particular relates to a sealant gel for an enclosure used in a telecommunication system.
2. Technical Background
Telecommunication systems typically have a number of locations where copper wires and/or optical fibers are terminated and/or that are connected (e.g., spliced) to other wires and/or optical fibers. These terminations and connections are preferably made within enclosures that have a sealed interior to prevent degradation of the connections or of the unspliced terminal ends of the fibers and/or wires from the surrounding environment.
For example, when fiber optic cables are spliced, the ends of the cables are often held within an enclosure called a "terminal seal" (or just "terminal" for short) to protect the ends of the cables and any connective equipment. Such terminals must cover and protect the cable ends from potential environmental damage caused by temperature variations, pressure variations, moisture, insects, dust, dirt, etc. The terminal necessarily includes one or more openings through which copper cables and/or fiber optic cables enter the terminal's interior region. Any openings so provided must be reliably sealed around the cables at the point of entry but still allow for manipulation of the cable by service personnel when necessary. At the same time, the terminals must be robust enough to securely hold the cables in place. The terminals may also need to withstand and maintain internal and external pressure differences due to environmental conditions, for example, temperature and pressure fluctuations or water immersion.
Some sealed enclosures rely on tape to close off any gaps leading to the enclosure interior formed between the particular cable and the opening through which it passes. Other sealed enclosures rely on a sealant gel to seal off any such gaps and to provide additional protection against the aforementioned environmental conditions.
For sealed enclosures deployed outdoors, any sealant gels used therein must be able to maintain their mechanical properties over the full range of outdoor environmental conditions. For example, a sealant gel must satisfy a number of environmental testing requirements including a heat-aging test wherein the gel is subject to a temperature of 90° C. for thirty days or 120° C. for a week. While it is relatively easy to formulate a soft polyurethane gel that has good viscoelastic properties at ambient (room) temperature, it is extremely difficult to form a soft polyurethane gel that can withstand 120° C. heat-aging for a week. The sealant gel must also perform well at subzero temperatures.
Some sealant gels are based on polyether-polyol. However, most polyether-polyol-based sealant gels degrade when exposed to high temperatures for an extended period. The degradation is a result of cross-linked network breakage, which causes the gel to melt and pool. Other sealant gels are formed from polyester based urethanes. However, such gels become brittle at subzero temperatures.
What is needed is as sealant gel for a telecommunication enclosure such as a terminal, wherein the gel maintains its key mechanical properties through environmental conditions, for example, over the full range between the high and low-temperature extremes the particular enclosures could experience when deployed in the field.

Sealant gel for a telecommunication enclosure


Provided is a bit rate control methods includes determining an input bit count for a rate quantization model according to a target bit rate setting; and providing a quantization parameter value determined through the rate quantization model to an encoder unit based on the input bit count. The rate quantization model is updated according to a prediction bit count information predicted from a BIN count information of a current or delay frame encoded in an encoder unit and the delay bit count information of the delay frame obtained from an offline context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding CABAC module.

Digital video technologies can be integrally applied into wide range of digital video devices including digital televisions, digital direct broadcast systems, wireless broadcast systems, personal digital assistants PDAs, laptop or desktop computers, digital cameras, digital recording devices, video gaming devices, video game consoles. Digital video devices implement video compression technologies such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4, or ITU-T H.264/MPEG-4, Part 10, advanced video coding AVC, and HEVC to more efficiently transmit and receive the digital video information. The video compression techniques perform spatial prediction and temporal prediction to remove or reduce the redundancy inherent in the video sequence.
By implementing the compression technique, the multimedia data compressed efficiently by the encoder is transmitted to a destination via a network in the form of a bitstream, and then reconstructed and reproduced by the decoder.
However, for smoothly reproducing, it is necessary to encode simultaneously considering of the network bandwidth, the amount of buffer used to store the compressed bitstream, the amount of input bits, and the amount of output bits. Data exceeding the allowable range of the transmission bandwidth may cause congestion in the network and may be impossible to decode the image.
To solve this problem, the image must be compressed at a bit rate that can be smoothly transmitted at the network channel bandwidth in the encoding process, and rate control techniques are required to ensure maximum image quality at a corresponding bit rate, and various algorithms have been developed for this purpose.
Generally, when the target bit rate is set, it is determined a QP that is predicted to generate a target bit count by modeling the relationship between bit count (or bit amount) and the QP as a function, generated a bit string corresponding to an actual bit count according to perform encoding using the QP predicted through such modeling, and the QP and the bit rate can be adjusted in a manner that of updating the previously modeled relational function according to the QP and actual generated bit string for the immediately preceding encoded block.
Further, in such a rate control, since the target bit count corresponding to the target bit rate is adjusted by Leaky bucket model so that the level of the picture buffer such as CPB (Coded Picture Buffer) is increased or decreased such that it is not overflowed or underflowed compared to the buffer storage amount, then the maximum image quality can be achieved considering the buffer level and the target bit rate by adjusting between the appropriate bit rate and the QP.
On the other hand, context-based adaptive binary arithmetic coding CABAC is one type of entropy coding technology currently supported in several coding standards such as ITU-T H.264/MPEG4, AVC and HEVC standards. The CABAC can perform a process involving several stages including a binarization, the choice of a context model, and binary arithmetic coding. In the binarization, any non-binary symbols are mapped to a binary sequence (also called a BIN string). In the context modeling, the model probability distribution is assigned to an element (e.g., a symbol) to be coded. Thereafter, in a subsequent binary arithmetic coding stage, the assigned probability distribution is used to perform coding to generate a sequence of bits forming a coded expression of an element that is coded according to the assigned model probability distribution. That is, the CABAC process can compress the elements that define the video stream without loss by knowing the probability of the element in the given context.
However, in implementing the CABAC process on a hardware encoder, the execution speed tends to be proportional to the encoding bit rate. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1A, when the CABAC module is operated by a pipeline with other hardware blocks, there is a problem that a pipeline stall is occurred when a block having a large bit rate is generated due to execution delay by the CABAC even through that other hardware, except CABAC, guarantees a constant execution speed regardless of the bit rate.
FIG. 1B is proposed for the purpose of eliminating the speed difference between different hardware in order to solve this problem, it is illustrated a structure that the CABAC is operated independently off-line with other pipelined hardware. This is called an offline CABAC module. The offline CABAC modules can eliminate pipeline stalls due to speed differences between different hardware by operating at least the delay longer than the frame, thereby guaranteeing a constant encoding speed according to the encoding rate.
However, as such the offline CABAC is currently associated with the above-described rate control technology, there is a problem that the accurate rate control can not be performed in real time, since the CABAC encoded bit count used in the relational update is a bit count of the frame with at least one frame delay.
Particularly, when the characteristic of the input YUV value is greatly changed as in a scene change, there is a problem that the rate control performance deteriorates such as overflow of the buffer model due to failure to reflect the changed characteristics.

Bit prediction based bit rate control method and apparatus for video coding process supporting offline CABAC


Text and display may be generated automatically for an online service platform. Dynamic data is received from a provider offering items, the data comprising information about the items. Content is generated and keywords are assigned to the content. Content may include dynamic text and images. The generated content and keywords are configured into the online service via an application programming interface. The text and display may comprise text and display advertisements. The online service platform may comprise online advertise service platform such as search engine platform that also presents advertisements or information associated with entered search keywords.

The wide spread of the Internet and its use provide opportunities to present a variety of information to a variety of audiences. Internet advertising, for example, has evolved with a number of models for promoting or marketing products and services on the Internet, for example, based on different criteria that automatically may select different target audiences. Search engines, for instance, provide online advertising capabilities, in which information may be configured for displaying advertisements to appear on web pages in various forms.

Automatic generation of text and display for presentation on online computers


An electron emission device includes first and second substrates opposing one another with a gap therebetween. Cathode electrodes are formed on the first substrate. An insulation layer is formed covering the cathode electrodes and having apertures. Gate electrodes are formed on the insulation layer and have apertures at locations corresponding to the locations of the apertures of the insulation layer so as to expose the cathode electrodes. Electron emission regions are formed in the apertures on the cathode electrodes. An anode electrode is formed on the second substrate. An outer surface of the electron emission regions is formed with a shape similar to a shape of equipotential lines formed when there is no electron emission region in the apertures, and predetermined drive voltages are applied to the electrodes.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electron emission device and, more particularly, to a structure of an electron emission region of the electron emission device.
2. Related Art
The different types of electron emission devices that use cold cathodes as electron emission regions include the field emitter array (FEA) type, the surface conduction electron emitter (SCE) type, and the metal/insulation layer/metal (MIM) type. In the case of the FEA type, materials that emit electrons with the application of an electric field are used as the electron emission region. The emitted electrons strike a phosphor layer to generate light. The overall quality of the FEA type is heavily dependent on the characteristics of the electron emission regions.
In the FEA type initially developed, molybdenum (Mo) was used as the material for the electron emission regions, and a conical configuration ending in a sharp point and having a size in the range of micrometers was employed. An example of such a conventional technology is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,471, which discloses a display device including field emission cathodes.
However, a serious drawback of the conventional electron emission region configuration is that it is necessary to use semiconductor processes to produce conical electron emission regions. This makes manufacturing difficult and reduces productivity. In addition, it is difficult to obtain uniform quality throughout the device as the substrate size is enlarged, making the conventional electron emission region structure unsuitable for application to devices with large sizes.
Therefore, those involved with FEA type manufacture and research are developing ways to form electron emission regions using a thick-layer process, such as screen printing, and are also using a carbon-based material capable of realizing favorable electron emission, even at low voltage driving conditions of approximately 10˜50V. Examples of such carbon-based materials include graphite, diamond, diamond-like carbon, and carbon nanotubes. Also, nanometer-sized materials which may be used as electron emission regions include nano-tube, nano-wire and nano-fiber. Among these, nano-tubes, and especially carbon nano-tubes, appear to be very promising for use as electron emission regions because of their extremely minute tips (i.e., a radius of curvature of approximately 100 Å), and because carbon nanotubes are able to emit electrons in low electric field conditions of about 1˜10V/μm.
Examples of conventional cold cathode FEAs utilizing carbon nano-tubes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,062,931 and 6,097,138.
In the case wherein an FEA type employs what is referred to as a triode structure, including cathode electrodes an anode electrode, and gate electrodes, a top-gate structure may be used. In the top-gate structure, the cathode electrodes are first formed on a substrate, the electron emission regions are formed on the cathode electrodes, and the gate electrodes are then mounted on the electron emission regions.

Electron emission device having curved surface electron emission region


According to one embodiment, there is to provide a servo write method of writing a multi-spiral servo pattern to a disk medium, the method including a process of writing a spiral index pattern to the disk medium, the spiral index pattern being a spiral pattern including the same region as that of a servo burst signal included in the spiral servo pattern and a region that allows the spiral index pattern to be distinguished from the spiral servo pattern, the spiral index pattern being used as a reference for a write start.

1. Field
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a disk drive, and in particular, to a servo write technique for spiral servo patterns.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in disk drives typified by hard disk drives, servo patterns (servo data) used for head positioning control are recorded on a disk medium that is a data recording medium. The disk drive uses the servo patterns read by the head to controllably place the head at a target position (target track) on the disk medium.
The servo patterns recorded on the disk medium have a plurality of servo sectors normally arranged circumferentially at a fixed interval so as to constitute concentric servo tracks. The disk drive positions the head on the basis of the servo patterns and uses the head to record user data on the disk medium to construct concentric data tracks.
The servo patterns are recorded on the disk medium by a servo write Block included in a disk drive manufacturing process. A proposal has been made of a method of recording a plurality of spiral servo patterns (hereinafter referred to as spiral servo patterns) constituting base patterns (seed patterns) on the disk medium during the servo write Block (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,679).
In the servo write Block in accordance with the proposed method, a plurality of spiral servo patterns (multi-spiral servo patterns) are recorded, by, for example, a dedicated servo track writer (STW), on the disk medium not incorporated yet in a disk drive to be shipped as a product. Alternatively, a head in the drive itself records the spiral servo patterns.
The disk medium is subsequently incorporated into the disk drive, which performs a servo self-write method to write concentric servo patterns (hereinafter referred to as specified servo patterns for convenience) used for the product to the disk medium. The specified servo patterns constitute the concentric servo tracks.
When the spiral servo patterns are written to the disk medium, a clock track is written to the disk medium to determine a timing at which an operation of writing the spiral servo patterns is started. The clock track is a concentric track pattern written to the boundary of a data storage region which is located on the innermost periphery of the disk medium, by pressing a head of the servo track writer against an inner peripheral stopper.
The head is separated into a read head made of a GMR element and a write head, both of which are mounted on a slider. This results in a deviation called an offset between a position where the read head reads data from the disk medium and a position where the write head writes data to the disk medium.
When an operation of writing the spiral servo patterns to the disk medium is started, the read head reads the clock track to generate a write timing for the spiral servo patterns. In this case, the offset makes it difficult to allow the read head to read the clock track from the position where the write head has written the clock track.
Thus, before the operation of writing the spiral servo patterns to the disk medium, a process needs to be executed which searches the disk medium for a position where the read head can read all of the clock track. The searching process needs to be executed every time one multi-spiral servo pattern is written to the disk medium. Therefore, the searching process requires a relatively long time, reducing the efficiency of the process of writing the spiral servo patterns to the disk medium.

Method and apparatus for writing spiral servo pattern in a disk drive


In an electric vehicle, an automatic transmission is provided between a differential unit and drive wheels. The differential unit includes a motor-generator and a power split device, and the motor-generator is cooled by lubricant of the automatic transmission. A battery charger is operable to charge a power storage device using a power supply outside the vehicle. When the temperature of the lubricant is lower than a predetermined temperature upon execution of charging of the power storage device using the charger, and the automatic transmission is in a neutral state, or a power cutting-off state, the controller rotates the motor-generator of the differential unit so as to perform warming control for raising the temperature of the lubricant.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric vehicle and a method of controlling the vehicle. In particular, the invention is concerned with an electric vehicle in which a power storage device that stores electric power for running the vehicle can be charged with electric power from a power supply located outside the vehicle, and a method of controlling this type of vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-89474 (JP 2009-89474 A) discloses an electric automobile having an on-board battery that can be charged with electric power from an external power supply located outside of the vehicle. In this type of electric automobile, a timer setting device is provided which enables the user to set the charging start time and ending time at which charging of the on-board battery using the external power supply to be started and ended. The timer setting device makes it possible to easily check or confirm the schedule of charging of the on-board battery and preliminary air-conditioning (air-conditioning in the vehicle compartment before boarding) (see JP 2009-89474 A). The related art is also described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-89625 A (JP 2011-89625 A) and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-110196 (JP 2010-110196 A).
In an electric vehicle, such as an electric automobile or a hybrid vehicle, on which an electric motor is installed as a driving source, if the temperature of lubricant for a transmission, gears, etc., provided in a power transmission path between the electric motor and drive wheels is reduced, the viscosity of the lubricant increases, resulting in increase of the rotational resistance. As a result, the power transmission efficiency at which power is transmitted to the drive wheels is reduced, and the distance the electric vehicle is able to travel is shortened.

Electric vehicle and method of controlling same, for preheating of lubricant


A power-saving power supply apparatus with battery module converts an inputted AC power into an outputted DC power and includes: a Triac switch electrically connected to the inputted AC power; a Triac driver electrically connected to the Triac switch; a power microprocessor electrically connected to the Triac driver; and a battery module electrically connected to the power microprocessor. When the apparatus is idle or in low workload, the power microprocessor sends a switch signal to the Triac driver to turn off the Triac switch and thus shut off the inputted AC power. Thus, the apparatus is standby with relatively low consumption of electricity. At this time, the battery module provides power to the power microprocessor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power-saving power supply apparatus, and in particular to a power-saving power supply apparatus with battery module.
2. Description of Prior Art
Since the resources in earth are decreasing gradually, nations all over the world attempt to develop alternative energy resources or renewable energy resources to solve the possible problem that the lack of resources may cause economical crisis or affect the industries seriously. In addition to develop new energy sources, saving power is also important to do. Thus, developing new energy sources and saving power can be implemented at the same time without coming into conflict, whereby the power sources in earth can be used for a longer period of time. Thus, many people start to pay attention to the solutions of saving power in various sites. For example, people intend to save water, electricity and gasoline in their daily life, offices or business sites. In order to promote the power-saving effect, the Government has issued some policies to reward the execution of saving power in a house, office or business site. For example, in order to encourage the user to consume power more frugally, the Power Company signs a contract with the user in which a contract capacity is prescribed as the basis of counting the power bill. If the power consumed by the user exceeds the contract capacity, the user has to pay the power bill with different multiples, whereby the unnecessary consumption of electricity can be reduced. Therefore, we have to save power at anytime and anyplace.
It is necessary to use a power supply to maintain the operation of an electric appliance. Thus, a power supply apparatus is used to supply power to the electric appliance. The input end, usually a plug, of the power supply device is connected to a power socket so as to receive 110V-220V AC power. The output end of the power supply apparatus is to output a power suitable for the operation of the electric appliance. When the electric appliance is not used, however, the plug of the power supply apparatus usually remains connected to the power socket. People often forget to remove the plug from the power socket for two reasons. Removing the plug from the power socket repeatedly is inconvenient for the user. On the other hand, the repeated removal and connection of the plug may cause the plug and power socket to suffer damage. However, when the plug of the power supply apparatus is connected to the power socket, a small amount of power is still consumed even the electric appliance is not in operation. Such a small consumption of electricity may result from the elements within the power supply apparatus (such as rectifier, filter, transistors, coils or the like) and will generate heat inevitably. After the accumulation for a long period of time, such a small consumption of electricity may become significant.
According to prior art, the existing solution is to provide a switch element such as a relay in the input end of AC power, thereby rendering a mechanism for shutting off AC power. However, providing an additional switch element in the input end of AC power has drawbacks including the increase in cost, the reduction in conversion efficiency, and the deterioration of heat dissipation.
Therefore, it is an important issue to provide a power supply apparatus, which can detect whether it is idle or under a low workload and, if necessary, automatically shut off the AC power at the input end, thereby reducing the cost without deteriorating the conversion efficiency and the heat-dissipating effect. Even the electric appliance is not in use while the plug of the power supply apparatus remains connected to the power socket, the user needs not to worry about the waste of electricity.

Power-saving power supply apparatus with battery module


A semiconductor memory device includes a transistor having a gate, a source and a drain and a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure. The transistor and the MIS structure are disposed on a common substrate. The MIS structure includes a dielectric layer disposed on a semiconductor region, and an electrode electrically disposed on the dielectric layer and coupled to the drain of the transistor. The electrode includes a bulk portion and a high-resistance portion, both disposed on the dielectric layer. The high-resistance portion has a resistance value in a range from 1.0×10−4 Ωcm to 1.0×104 Ωcm or a sheet resistance in a range from 1.0×102Ω/□ to 1.0×1010Ω/□.

A dynamic access memory (DRAM) is one of the important semiconductor devices in the semiconductor industry. As the dimensions of the DRAM cell decreases, metal resistivity of a memory cell capacitor increases, and leakage also drastically increases. Increased storage capacity of DRAM cell capacitors is continually required large while the dimensions of the cell area shrink. The scaling down problem of the metal and the oxide is becoming a serious obstacle to higher device density.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A method for detecting noise of a touch panel and performing signal control is provided, where the method may determine how many cycles of frame data are influenced by noise, may determine whether the frame data is influenced by noise by determining whether a number of cycles influenced by noise is greater than a first threshold value or not, and may determine whether a number of continuous frame data determined to be influenced by noise is greater than a second threshold value to generate a determination result. Finally, the method may determine whether to adjust a frequency of the transmitting signals according to the determination result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch panel, and more particularly, to a method for accurately detecting touch panel noise and performing signal control.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Current production requirements of a capacitive touch panel have strict tests for accuracy and jitter. Designers are encouraged to raise a signal to noise ratio (SNR) to satisfy these requirements, where the SNR can be improved by increasing the signals or by decreasing the noise. In a touch controller of the capacitive touch panel, the main noise comes from elements outside the panel such as the liquid crystal module (LCM), power source and light source. How to accurately detect and lower the noise becomes very important.

Method for detecting touch panel noise and performing signal control and associated controller