A system and method are disclosed for reading a multilevel signal from an optical disc. The method includes reading a raw analog data signal from a disc using an optical detector and adjusting the amplitude of the raw analog data signal. A timing signal is recovered from the amplitude adjusted analog data signal and correction is made for amplitude modulation of the raw analog data signal by processing the raw analog data signal and the timing signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for reading multilevel signals from an optical disc and writing multilevel signals to an optical disc. The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for processing signals that are eventually written to and read from an optical disc. These signals produce marks on the optical disc that may vary in both reflectivity and length. The system disclosed provides a method of encoding and decoding the data, correcting for errors, synchronizing the data, controlling the DC content, establishing and recovering a clock signal, establishing and recovering the envelope of the signal, and compensating for signal distortion.
2. Relationship to the Art
In order to increase the capacity and speed of optical data storage systems, multilevel optical recording systems have been developed. It should be noted that in this specification, the term multilevel is used to indicate greater than 2 levels. In a traditional optical recording system, reflectivity of the recording media is modulated between two states. The density of data recorded on an optical recording medium may be increased by modulating the reflectivity of the optical recording medium into more than two states.
One type of optical recording medium that appears to be particularly suitable for multilevel signal modulation is phase change optical material. When a phase change material is heated by a writing laser, the reflectivity of the phase change material may be changed. The change in reflectivity may be controlled by adjusting the amount of heating of the material and the rate at which the material cools. This process is described further in "Laser-induced crystallization phenomena in GeTe-based alloys. I. Characterization on nucleation and growth" (J. Appl. Phys. 78 (8), 15 Oct. 1995. p. 4906) by J. H. Coombs, et. al. (hereinafter "Coombs").
After a phase change optical disc has been written, the intensity of a beam of light reflected from the disc is measured so that the multilevel data written to the disc may be recovered. U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,615 entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUCING MULTILEVEL INFORMATION issued to Kobayashi (hereinafter "Kobayashi") discloses a system for recovering multilevel data from such an optical disc. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the system disclosed in Kobayashi for recovering such data. Analog data read from a detector is input from a mark length detecting circuit 101 and a reflectivity detecting circuit 102. The outputs of these circuits are sent to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 103. The A/D converter 103 includes an n-value circuit which determines the value that the signal corresponds to by comparing the signal to predetermined reference voltages. Subsequently, the n-value signal is converted into a binary signal by binary circuit 405.
While this system discloses the concept of reading a multilevel signal and converting it into a digital signal in a basic sense, no method is disclosed of handling various imperfections in optically read multilevel signals that in fact tend to occur. For example, it is not clear how a clock is recovered for the purpose of precisely detecting mark lengths and no method is disclosed for handling problems that tend to occur in real systems such as amplitude modulation and DC offset of the optically detected signal and noise.
In a conventional two level optical data storage system, information is stored in the lengths of the marks and the spaces between them. So long as the edge of a mark can be detected with enough precision to distinguish between marks that differ in length by a minimum allowed amount, the system can operate reliably. This edge transition between one reflectivity state and another can be detected by setting a threshold value and determining the time when the signal crosses the threshold. Slow amplitude variations that might interfere with this edge detection are removed by AC coupling the photodetector signal before the threshold detection circuit. Mark and space lengths are measured by counting how many clock periods are between the edge transitions. The reader clock periods are synchronized to the mark/space edges, thus ensuring that there are an integral number of clock periods in each mark/space.
In contrast, in a multilevel recording system, it is the amplitude of the signal that carries information. The reader must interpret the data signal to determine the amplitude of the signal at certain times. Therefore, the reader clock must be synchronized to the data stream to ensure that the reader is interpreting the signal at the proper time. Because of the blurring effect of the optics in a reader, the transitions between the different levels do not create sharp edges. It is therefore difficult to synchronize the reader clock to the data stream. A method of precisely aligning a read data stream is needed. Further, a multilevel system is more sensitive to fluctuations in the overall envelope of the data signal. AC coupling alone is not adequate to enable a sufficiently precise determination of the different amplitude signals. Another problem encountered in a multilevel optical disc system is DC compensation.
In order for a multilevel optical read system to reliably record and recover data, a method of handling these sources of error in reading an optical signal is needed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for reading and writing a multilevel signal from an optical disc oscillators


Tunnel field effect devices and methods of fabricating tunnel field effect devices are described. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a first drain region of a first conductivity type disposed in a first region of a substrate, a first source region of a second conductivity type disposed in the substrate, the second conductivity type being opposite the first conductivity type, a first channel region electrically coupled between the first source region and the first drain region, the first source region underlying a least a portion of the first channel region, and a first gate stack overlying the first channel region.

For almost four decades, the progress of microelectronics, as defined by Moore's Law, has been based on the constant optimization of cost-efficient materials, processes and technologies. For sub-100 nm technologies, conventional scaling has become challenging.
Scaling without a loss of performance requires scaling down source/drain regions and gate oxide thickness to maintain sufficient gate control. However, in practice, the pace of scaling both gate oxide and source/drain junctions has reduced. Gate oxide scaling has slowed down due to increased gate leakage, while source/drain junction scaling has been hampered due to increased resistance due to inability to increase dopant solubility. As a practical matter, this manifests as an increase in short channel effects such as drain induced barrier lowering. The loss of gate control and the increase in DIBL result in increased leakage currents in sub-100 nm MOS transistors.
The sub-threshold leakage can be suppressed with increased channel doping, but only with a significant penalty in on-current because of the substantial decrease in mobility due to the high doping levels required to isolate the source from the drain regions. Local strain silicon technologies were introduced to offset the performance loss. In such technologies, the channel or specifically, the inversion region, was strained so as to boost the mobility of the device during operation. This helped to offset the loss arising from the loss in mobility due to, for example, increased Coloumb scattering at high doping levels, which was needed to maintain leakage currents. Nevertheless, strain technologies do not scale with further shrinking geometries and importantly, electron mobilities saturate with strain.
A direct means to increase gate control without increasing gate tunneling leakage currents is to increase the gate dielectric permittivity. Thus, high-k dielectrics have also been introduced to improve gate control. However, even these may not be sufficient to ensure gate control beyond sub-30 nm technologies.
A direct consequence of the poor gate control is the high sub-threshold slope of these extremely scaled devices. A typical transistor requires at least a 10,000× difference between the off-current when the transistor is not activated and the on-current. Devices with high sub-threshold slope require much higher change in gate voltage to produce a required (˜10,000) change in current through the transistor. Low power devices have more stringent requirements between the on- and off-current ratios. For example, a ratio of 107 is desirable for low power devices with low leakage currents. Devices with sub-threshold slopes cannot satisfy these requirements for low power devices. For these devices, simply increasing the threshold voltage to improve (decrease) the off-current will result in very poor on-currents degrading the drive performance of the transistor. Hence, what are needed are devices with low sub-threshold slope that provide good on-current performance.


Convertible eyewear permits ready conversion between various optical modes. A removable shield is removable secured by magnetic force to a frame by the interaction of at least one magnetic rivet recessed within the frame and at least one magnetic rivet that protrudes from the shield. The mating magnetic rivets may have contacting surfaces of oval shape with the rivet recessed within an oval-shaped channel to prevent misalignment of frame and shield with a single point of magnetic contact. A prescription lens insert and a goggle adapter, each having a protruding magnetic rivet, are compatible for magnetic fixation to the frame of the eyewear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to eyewear. More particularly, this invention pertains to eyewear that is capable of ready conversion between a number of optical modes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Eyewear serves various functions. In addition to eyesight correction, eyewear (including, but not limited to glasses, sunglasses and goggles) often is employed to protect the eyes from dust and contaminants, wind and uv radiation. Often, it is called upon to perform a number of such functions. As conditions change (e.g. sundown, completion of skiing or other athletic activity) different types of eyewear are often required.
The relative fragility and bulkiness of eyeglasses, goggles and the like complicate the storage of multiple types for switching therebetween. This has led to the development of kits for making changes "in the field". An example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,263 of Olney for "Sunglasses With Removable Sealing Member" teaches a system for converting "regular" eyeglasses to goggles. The system taught by that invention includes an adapter having a pair of apertures aligned with the lenses of the glasses. A foam gasket overlies the rear of the adapter to provide a seal between the orbital structure of the user and glasses while an air flow passageway is provided that includes a port in the center of the bridge of the frame of the eyeglasses that intersects a horizontal channel at the front surface of the adapter. The adapter is fixed in alignment with the frame of the eyeglasses by means of an array of locking means that include attachment tags at the opposed ends of the adapter and locator pins for press-fitting to corresponding recesses within the inner surface of the frame.
While providing a means for converting regular eyeglasses to goggles, the device of the Olney patent is not particularly user-friendly. The critical process of attaching and detaching the adapter to the frame is complicated by the numerous structures that must be properly engaged. Secure and exact engagement are necessary to obtain the required alignment of optical elements and their retention of precise alignment even during such device stressing activities as, for example, skiing. The numerous pins and tabs requiring precise engagement with elements of the frame demand procedures, such as the removal of gloves in cold weather, that are not consistent with sporting and other strenuous activities. Additionally, the Olney device requires flexure of the eyeglass frame upon attachment and detachment of the adapter. Such repetitive stressing of the frame is deleterious and may cause the lenses of the eyeglasses to pop out over time.


A starting system is provided for delivering pressurized fuel to an engine to start the engine without a starter. The starting system includes an accumulator for storing pressurized fuel during engine operation and engine shut-down. During engine start-up, the accumulator delivers the stored pressurized fuel to the engine to start the engine. The accumulator is in fluid communication with a low pressure fuel reservoir and the engine. The accumulator includes an accumulator housing defining an accumulator cavity and including an accumulator piston and spring assembly, which is moveable longitudinally within the accumulator cavity. An electronic control module (ECM) is in electronic control with the starting system and the engine. The ECM is operable to activate the accumulator, forcing pressurized fuel stored within the accumulator into a high-pressure fuel line for injection into the engine, to generate at least one starting combustion event to start the engine without a starter.

Internal combustion engines traditionally require a starting system including a starter to start the engine. As is known, when a user activates an ignition circuit, for example by turning a key or pressing an ignition button, the starter is activated. Upon activation, the function of the starter is two fold. First, the starter turns a fuel pump to provide fuel to the engine. Second, the starter cranks the engine creating suction that draws a fuel/air mixture into a cylinder of the engine for combustion.
Traditional Spark Ignited Direct Injection (SIDI) engines have a fuel feed system including a high pressure fuel pump that feeds fuel to the injectors for injection directly into the combustion chamber of the cylinder to be combusted.
During SIDI engine operation, the high pressure fuel pump is driven by the engine during engine operation. However, during engine startup, the starter is required initially to turn the high pressure fuel pump to provide the fuel necessary to start the engine.
As such, it is desirable to provide a starting system for an internal combustion engine that does not require a starter.

Internal combustion engine starting system and method


A vent for a liquid dispenser includes a vent flange comprising a flange body. The vent body includes a vent wall on which the membrane is applied. The vent wall extends parallel to the geometric axis of the device so as to have a sufficiently large area available for applying the transpiratory membrane and at the same time to limit the space occupied radially by the flange.

It is known that a dispensing device, for example of the trigger type, comprising a container for a liquid to be dispensed and a dispenser head, requires a vent system which enables the internal ventilation of the container.
In fact, some liquids release vapors so that in the absence of a vent system they tend to build up inside the container, even provoking bulging of the same.
Some known types of dispensing devices contain a mechanical vent active only in specific functioning phases of the device, such as during the dispensing phase.
A dispensing device produced as described above is shown, for example, in document WO97/38796. Another device produced as described above is shown in document EP-A1-1199105, in the name of the same Applicant.
The need has therefore arisen to produce dispensing devices equipped with means of ventilation that are always active, that is able to perform their ventilation function whatever the functioning configuration of the device.
Examples of such dispensing devices are shown in documents EP-A1-0729901 and EP-A1-0891228.
However, such solutions cannot be used in dispensing devices of the type comprising a container and a dispensing head.

Vent means and vent flange for a device dispensing at least one liquid and method for applying a membrane to a vent flange


The invention is directed to a magnetic head driving circuit and a magnetic disk device which achieve a low flying-height with thermal protrusion and thus a reliable write operation on the magnetic disk. The write circuit 3 receives the write data signal Sw inputted therein, and generates and outputs the write voltages Wx, Wy based upon the inputted signal. The write voltages Wx, Wy are composed of a preamble portion T1, a sink mark T2 and a user data portion T3 in each sector for magnetic recording. In the write voltage, the frequency f2 of the signal in the preamble portion T1 is higher than half the frequency f1 of the signal in the user data portion T3.

A flying thin-film magnetic head is ordinarily provided with a write element (an induction-type electromagnetic conversion element) and a read element at the air flowing-out end of the slider. The induction-type electromagnetic conversion element is covered with a protective film. The protective film, which is made of an inorganic insulating material such as alumina, forms the most outside layer at the air flowing-out end.
The induction-type electromagnetic conversion element comprises first and second magnetic films, a gap film, a coil film, an insulating film and the like. In the first and second magnetic films, the end portions at the air bearing surface (hereinafter, referred to as ABS) of the slider face each other over a gap film, so as to form a write pole portion.
And the second magnetic film extends to the rear of the ABS as keeping a space between the first and second magnetic films, and is coupled with the first magnetic film at the rear joint portion.
The coil film is wound in a spiral shape around the rear joint portion, passing through a space (inner gap) between the first and second magnetic films. Both ends of the coil film are led to the outside via terminal conductors (bump). The insulating film fills up the inner gap between the first and second magnetic films. The coil film is buried inside this insulating film. And the second magnetic film is formed on the surface of the insulating film.
In the thin-film magnetic head described above, a write current is supplied to the coil film of the induction-type electromagnetic conversion element to write information on the magnetic disk.
In supplying the write current to the coil film of the induction-type electromagnetic conversion element, the coil film generates heat due to Joule effect. Since the coil film is buried inside the insulating film of an organic insulating material or the like and the whole including the insulating film is covered with the protective film of alumina or the like, the coil film has a poor dispersion of the heat generated therein. Consequently, the heat generated in the coil film is confined inside, which causes thermal expansion of the coil film and the insulating film.
In addition to this heat generation of coil, there is a problem of heat generation due to the eddy-current loss in the core. The heat generation due to the eddy current loss causes the thermal expansion of the magnetic film, and the heat generation increases as the frequency of the current becomes higher. Consequently, a measure to counter this problem is a very important problem at the present time when a write current tends to be made higher and higher in frequency to cope with the speedup of transfer rate.
The protective film is pushed out and swollen out to the outside due to the thermal expansion force of these coil film, insulating film and magnetic film. And the swelling-out of the protective film reaches the ABS also and the ABS results in being swollen out in an area in which the induction-type electromagnetic conversion element exists. And due to the above-described heat generation, the first and second magnetic films expand thermally and their pole portions pressed by a weaker force at the ABS side are swollen out. The amount of swelling-out of them sometimes reaches a height of 10 nm.
In a magnetic disk device with this kind of thin-film magnetic head, the flying-height between the magnetic disk surface and the ABS of the thin-film magnetic head has been gradually reduced to be 40 nm, 30 nm, 20 nm or 10 nm in order to meet the demand for high-density recording. Thus, a protrusion in the ABS as described above is liable to bring a head crash, damage of a magnetic disk, destruction of magnetic recording data and the like, and comes into a very serious problem from the viewpoint of reliability of a magnetic disk device.
Another problem attendant to the heat generation is a failure generated at a part to be the forefront in recording. That is to say, as known publicly, the write current supplied to the thin-film magnetic head is composed of a preamble portion, a sink mark portion and a user data portion in each sector of magnetic recording. These are serial data arranged in time series.
In the forefront part immediately after the start of write operation, however, it is not ensured to secure a sufficient thermal protrusion and satisfactory write characteristic beginning in the forefront of the user data portion. Thus, errors are liable to happen.
In order to solve the above-described problems, various means have been proposed up to now. These means are classified into a type of suppressing thermal protrusion and a type of positively utilizing thermal protrusion as admitting it. A type of suppressing a thermal protrusion includes the following approaches:    (1) an approach of reducing the amount of generated heat by reducing the resistance value of a coil;    (2) an approach of improving the effect of heat radiation by reducing the thickness of an alumina film and the like existing under a write element;    (3) an approach of reducing an eddy-current loss by making a core small; and the like.
However, any of these approaches cannot provide a sufficient effect due to restrictions caused by the structure of a magnetic head.
As a type of positively utilizing thermal protrusion, as seen in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,113, there has been known a technique of producing thermal protrusion before a write operation by burying a heater member in a protective film. However, this structure cannot avoid a problem of needing to have a heater member buried in particular.
JP 4-366,408A has disclosed a technique of providing a depression in advance in the medium facing surface of an inorganic insulating protective film. This depression is formed in which the medium facing surface of the protective film is made swollen out in advance in consideration of the amount of protrusion caused by thermal expansion of the insulating film and a flattening process is performed on the medium facing surface.
This prior art is based on an idea in that the protrusion caused by the thermal expansion is admitted, not suppressed and the portion to protrude is simply made retreated in advance to prevent the protrusion of ABS due to thermal expansion. Consequently, the prior art does not provide a means of completely solving the protrusion due to thermal expansion.
As described above, since it is difficult to completely suppress the protrusion caused by thermal expansion, the prior art has taken a technique in that the protrusion caused by thermal expansion is admitted and the flying-height is increased to a height value enough for the prevention of head crash. This impedes high-density recording.

Magnetic head driving circuit and magnetic disk device


A tunable interference filter comprising a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a first reflection film formed on the first substrate, a second reflection film formed on the second substrate, the second reflection film facing the first reflection film by interposing a gap, and a gap adjustable-part that adjusts the gap, wherein the second substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface, wherein the second substrate includes a first groove on the first surface, and wherein the second substrate includes a second groove on the second surface, the second groove facing the first groove.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a tunable interference filter that selects and outputs light having a desired target wavelength from incident light, an optical module including the tunable interference filter, a photometric analyzer including the optical module, and a manufacturing method of the tunable interference filter.
2. Related Art
In related art, a light filter (tunable interference filter) in which reflection films are oppositely provided on surfaces opposed to each other of a pair of substrates is known (for example, see Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2010-139552)). In the tunable interference filter, lights are reflected between the pair of reflection films, only the light having a specific wavelength is transmitted, lights having other wavelengths are cancelled out by interferences, and thereby, the light having the specific wavelength is transmitted from incident lights.
In the tunable interference filter in Patent Document 1, the first substrate and the second substrate are oppositely provided. Further, on the surface of the first substrate that does not face the second substrate, an annular groove part is formed, and, by the formation of the groove part, a cylindrical movable part is formed in a substrate center part and a diaphragm formed coaxially with the movable part in an annular shape is formed. Further, a pair of electrodes are oppositely provided between the pair of substrates, and mirrors are oppositely provided on the surface of the movable part facing the second substrate and the second substrate. Here, by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, the diaphragm is curved due to electrostatic attractive force, the movable part with the mirror formed thereon moves in the substrate thickness direction, and thus, the gap between the pair of mirrors may be adjusted. Thereby, the tunable interference filter can transmit only light having a specific wavelength in response to the gap.
In the above described tunable interference filter of Patent Document 1, the diaphragm is required to be curved, and it is necessary to form the thickness dimension of the bottom surface of the groove part, i.e., the thickness dimension of the diaphragm by etching the groove part to a desired depth.
For example, in the case where the groove part is etched to the desired depth by isotropic etching, the inner side surface of the groove part is largely etched (side etching is larger), the opening edge of the groove part becomes wider, and the region of a bonded part for bonding the substrates and the region of the movable part respectively become narrower. Accordingly, in order to secure the region of the bonded part and the region of the movable part, it is necessary to use larger substrates in advance, and upsizing of the substrates is problematic.
Further, in the above described tunable interference filter of Patent Document 1, the groove part is formed only on one surface of the first substrate, and thus, the longer etching time for etching to the desired depth is problematic.

Tunable interference filter, optical module, photometric analyzer, and manufacturing method of tunable interference filter


A host computer HA1 or the like is provided with a target program 3 that receives the provision of logical volumes 212, a volume interface program 12A that provides an interface for the logical volumes 212 to the target program 3, and a volume filter program 12B that selects one logical volume from the copying source volume 212A and copying destination volume 212B, and provides the selected logical volume to the target program 3 via the volume interface program 12A.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for providing a memory device for computer programs such as application software and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, storage control systems that can provide a plurality of logical volumes to higher devices as one large unit have been known in the past, as is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-327803 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-236560.
For example, a data copying technique is known in which a first logical volume that is prepared on a first physical disk and a second logical volume that is prepared on a second physical disk are combined into a pair, with one of these logical volumes being used as the copying source volume and the other logical volume being used as the copying destination volume, and data in the copying source volume is copied into the copying destination volume. In this data copying technique, for example, the system is arranged so that only the copying source volume is recognized by the operating system (OS) of the higher device, and copying destination volume that is the other member of the pair is not recognized by this OS. The reason for this is that there is there is a possibility that the OS cannot operate normally if both the copying source volume and copying destination volume are simultaneously recognized by the OS. For example, if the both the copying source volume and copying destination volume are recognized as the "C drive" by the OS, there is a possibility that the OS will not be able to operate normally.
However, in data copying techniques, it is conceivable that there may be cases in which it is desirable to cause the OS (and/or the application software that is present above this OS) to recognize not only the copying source volume, but also the copying destination volume.


An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) defining at least a passageway (11) and a mating face (101), at least a contact terminal (2) received in the passageway (11) and having a contact arm (24) extending beyond the mating face (101). The contact terminal (2) includes a base portion (23) with a cutout (233) providing a yielding space to receive a portion (241) of the contact arm (24) when it is depressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a battery connector having a contact terminal with a cutout located at a base portion to receive a depressed spring arm.
2. Description of the Related Art
CN Pat. No. 2531587 issued to Huang on Jan. 15, 2003, discloses a battery connector for a mobile phone. The connector includes an insulative housing and a pair of contact terminals retained in the housing. The insulative housing has two cutouts for receiving the contact terminals therein. Each of the contact terminals defines a retaining portion retained in the housing, an S-shaped spring base portion upwardly extending into the slot from one end of the retaining portion and a soldering portion extending outwards from another end of the retaining portion. The spring base portion includes a protruding contacting arm disposed outside of the cutout for electrically connecting with a complementary object, e.g. a battery.
When the complementary object presses on the spring base portion downwards, the spring base portion will draw back into the cutout and engage with a stopping side-wall formed by the insulative housing for positioning thereof. However, when the spring base portion is shrunk to a lowest height, the contacting arm will mechanically interfere with the other part of the contact terminal and then lose of elasticity. Furthermore, the spring base portion could be lack of spring space, because the height size of the connector is limited for adapting to miniaturization of the connector. So, the electrical connection between the battery connector and complementary object is directly influenced by the elasticity of the contact terminals.
Therefore, an improved electrical connector is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related arts.

Electrical connector having contact terminal with cutout receiving deprressed contact arm


A pattern finding device of embodiments includes a pattern generator, a pattern storage, a pattern selector, a pattern deleter. The pattern generator generates a group of patterns from data including a plurality of items. The pattern storage stores the group of patterns generated by the pattern generator. The pattern selector selects at least one pattern to be deleted from the group of patterns with reference to an evaluated value indicating a change of an item distribution condition in the group of patterns when at least one pattern which is selected as a candidate is excluded from the group of patterns stored in the pattern storage. The pattern deleter deletes the at least one pattern that is selected by the pattern selector from the pattern storage.

In the related art, there are pattern finding devices which find an arrangement of characteristic items as a pattern from a sequence data set constituted by an arrangement of discrete items with reference to an index or the like based on a frequency of the pattern. However, the pattern finding devices find a lot of patterns, which include a lot of similar patterns in some cases.


An image forming apparatus including at least one image bearing member configured to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, and a transferring member arranged close to or in contact with the at least one image bearing member and configured to rotate in substantially synchronism with the at least one image bearing member to transfer the toner image born on the at least one image bearing member onto a recording medium. The apparatus further includes at least one first motor rotating the at least one image bearing member, a second motor rotating the transferring member, and a control mechanism configured to control a rotation number of at least one of the at least one first motor and the second motor during at least one of rise and fall time periods with a command clock signal and a feedback signal in accordance with a predetermined velocity curve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming method and apparatus, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively eliminating color displacement by controlling a clock control motor controlled by a command clock signal and a feedback signal, in accordance with a velocity curve.
2. Discussion of the Background
Background image forming apparatuses are commonly known as electrophotographic copying machines, printing machines, facsimile machines, and multi-functional apparatuses having at least two functions of copying, printing and facsimile functions. Some of the background apparatuses use an intermediate transfer method, and some use a direct transfer method.
The background image forming apparatus using the intermediate transfer method is referred to as an "intermediate transfer image forming apparatus", and transfers an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor onto an intermediate transfer member before transferring the electrostatic latent image onto a recording medium.
The background image forming apparatus using the direct transfer method is referred to as a "direct transfer image forming apparatus", and directly transfers the electrostatic latent image onto the recording medium which is conveyed by a recording medium bearing member.
In both background image forming apparatuses, the photoconductor is driven by a photoconductor motor to rotate, and the intermediate transfer member and the recording medium bearing member are driven by a drive motor to rotate.
The photoconductor and the intermediate transfer member rotate while they are held in contact to each other, a surface linear velocity of the photoconductor is required to have the same rate as that of the intermediate transfer member. In a case where the photoconductor rotates at a different rate from the intermediate transfer member, a surface of the photoconductor rubs a surface of the intermediate transfer member, hastening their surface wear.
To prevent the wearing of the surfaces, the intermediate transfer image forming apparatus has employed a stepping motor as the photoconductor motor and the drive motor for controlling the number of input pulses of the stepping motor to synchronize the surface linear velocities of the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer member. Also, the direct transfer image forming apparatus has employed the stopping motor for synchronizing the surface linear velocities of the photoconductor and the recording medium bearing member.
The stepping motor, however, generally consumes a large amount of electric power and produces a loud noise. Therefore, a clock control motor such as a direct current (DC) brushless motor is used as an alternative to the stepping motor. The DC brushless motor is controlled by a command clock signal and a feedback signal, and can reduce the power consumption and the loud noise.
The DC brushless motor, however, may vary its rotation speed particularly when it is started and stopped. In a case where the DC brushless motor is used as the photoconductor motor and the drive motor, the surface linear velocity of the photoconductor may be greatly different from that of the intermediate transfer member or that of the recording medium bearing member, which results in significant wear that shortens its life. Consequently, the DC brushless motor has been thought to be unsuitable for the background image forming apparatus.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the command clock signal of the DC brushless motor. The rotation of the DC brushless motor is controlled by the command clock signal having a predetermined number of clock pulses, as shown in FIG. 1, and the feedback signal output from the DC brushless motor.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the surface linear velocities of the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer member when the DC brushless motors are started. The DC brushless motor works as the photoconductor motor which rotates the photoconductor and the drive motor which rotates the intermediate transfer member. The solid line represents the surface linear velocity of the photoconductor, and the alternate long and short dash line represents the surface linear velocity of the intermediate transfer member. The photoconductor motor and the drive motor are controlled by a command clock signal same as the command clock signal shown in FIG. 1. However, when DC brushless motor is started, a significant difference between the surface linear velocity of the photoconductor and the surface linear velocity of the intermediate transfer member may be caused due to a property of the DC brushless motor, loads applied to the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer member, and the difference of the inertias of the photoconductor, as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 shows a graph of the command clock signal when the DC brushless motor is stopped, and FIG. 4 shows a graph of the surface linear velocity of the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer member when the DC brushless motor is stopped.
When a motor stop signal is issued to stop inputting the command clock signal to the photoconductor motor and the drive motor as shown in FIG. 3, the surface linear velocities of the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer member driven by the DC brushless motor start to decrease down to a level, as shown in FIG. 4, at which the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer member stop as shown in FIG. 4. At this time, a significant difference between the surface linear velocity of the photoconductor and the surface linear velocity of the intermediate transfer member may also be caused due to a property of the DC brushless motor, loads applied to the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer member, and the difference of the inertias of the photoconductor, as indicated by the solid line and the alternate long and short dash line shown in FIG. 4.
As described above, the significant difference between the surface linear velocity of the photoconductor and the surface linear velocity of the intermediate transfer member may cause damages such as scratches on the surfaces thereof and defects such as streaks on an image, resulting in a deterioration of the image. The defects may be observed when the DC brushless motor is used as the drive motor for the recording medium bearing member. Due to the drawbacks as described above, the stepping motor has preferably been used, without solving the problems of high power consumption and loud noise.

Method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively eliminating color displacements


The method of producing mincemeat in accordance with the invention by comminution of meat of slaughtered animals is characterized in that immediately after each other pieces of meat from freshly slaughtered and dismembered animals are comminuted, prior to the onset of rigor mortis, in a suitable device such as a bowl cutter and are shock chilled by the addition of a refrigerant until a meat temperature of between -1.6.degree. C. and -10.degree. C., more particularly -8.degree. C., is reached, and further comminution is performed until the desired granule size is reached. Preferably the granulated meat is immediately deep frozen. The product is then placed in portions in packages, the air therein being replaced by a gas if desired, before the packages are sealed. The mincemeat is as a result completely fresh, almost completely free of bacteria and maintains its natural coloration for long periods of time.

The present invention relates to a method for the production of mincemeat by the comminution of meat of muscles of a slaughtered animal. According to estimates about 25% of all meat is sold as mincemeat.
The production of mincemeat is subject to various statutory basic conditions in different countries. Thus in Germany there is a provision in the Mincemeat Regulations (Hackfleischverordnung) that beef mincemeat may only contain a maximum of 20% fat and one portion may only come from the front quarter of a single animal, only certain parts of the meat being allowed. Mincemeat from refrigerated meat is presently only manufactured after the end of rigor mortis in the meat, which has matured by the degrading of energy-rich phosphates and after refrigerating, ripening, storage and shipping will be in a hygienically deteriorated condition. Fresh mincemeat may only be sold on the day it is produced and frozen mincemeat may not be sold later than three months after its production.
However in practice meat undergoes a substantial reduction in quality even prior to further processing to produce mincemeat. If mincemeat is produced by the butcher, the slaughtered animal will firstly have hung a few days in the cold store prior to being shipped and dismembered and in the butcher's store it will be handled a number of times on putting it in and taking it out of the cold store. Every morning a portion of the meat will be ground, the mincing machine accepting lumps of meat of the order of 4 to 5 cm in diameter. It is clear that the meat will be grasped in the hand many times over and will become microbiologically contaminated to a greater and greater extent in the course of time so that its condition will deteriorate.
In the case of mincemeat production in the retail food trade the meat is usually shipped in quarters from the slaughterhouse and dismembered and comminuted prior to sale, or such dismembering with and without packaging occurs on the slaughtering premises or as an additional stage in the trade in special purpose cutting up and packaging units, which pass on the meat to the retailer in a dismembered condition. At the retailer the packages are opened or the unpacked meat is cut into lumps in accordance with the size of the grinding machine and put in it. In the packaged and more particularly in the vacuum packaged condition the meat looses much juice, in which, despite cold storage, many bacteria accumulate. It is here again that microbiological contamination constitutes a substantial problem.
For the production of freeze-dried meat, which is suitable for the manufacture of certain types of boiling sausage there has been a proposal, see the German patent publication 3,107,576 A, to process meat still at slaughtering temperature even prior to the onset of rigor mortis, which is retarded by further salting the all-lean meat. Such salting however is responsible for a seepage of protein and to a lubricating effect, which renders the product unsuitable for mincemeat production.
In conjunction with the production of mincemeat there has been a further proposal, see Patent Abstracts of Japan 58-101641 (A), to comminute meat in a refrigerated condition at -2.degree. C. to -10.degree. C. and then to extrude it as a product which is in practice mostly sold as an animal feedstuff. The problems in conjunction with improving quality of mincemeat may not be dealt with by these technologies.


A method, system and computer program product for user interface action recommendations. According to the method, a target segment in a target document is determined. Correlation degree between the target segment and at least one source segment in at least one source document is determined. At least one recommended source segment is provided from the at least one source segment based on the correlation degree for a user interface action, such as copying for pasting the target segment.

The present disclosure generally relates to document processing, and more specifically, to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing recommendations for user interface actions.
Copy and paste are widely used actions that offer an inter-process communication technique for transferring data through a computer's user interface. The copy command creates a duplicate in which selected data is kept in temporary storage (e.g., the clipboard). The data from the clipboard is later inserted wherever a paste command is issued. This allows easy data transfer between applications.

Recommendations for user interface actions

International Business Machines Corporation


A method, system and computer program product for determining a map position of an ego-vehicle are disclosed. The method includes acquiring map data comprising a road geometry, initializing at least one dynamic landmark by measuring a position and velocity, relative to the ego-vehicle, of a surrounding vehicle, and determining a first map position of the surrounding vehicle based on this measurement and the geographical position of the ego-vehicle. Further, the method includes predicting a second map position of the surrounding vehicle, and measuring a location, relative to the ego-vehicle, of the surrounding vehicle when it is estimated to be at the second map position, whereby the geographical position of the ego-vehicle can be computed and updated.

During these last few years, the development of autonomous vehicles has exploded and many different solutions are being explored. Today, development is ongoing in both autonomous driving (AD) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), i.e. semiautonomous driving, within a number of different technical areas within these fields. One such area is how to position the vehicle with accuracy and consistency since this is an important safety aspect when the vehicle is moving within traffic.
An important requirement on autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles is that they have the ability to accurately estimate the road geometry ahead, and there are two generally different ways to do this: either using forward-looking sensors that directly perceive the road geometry, or using a map that contains the road geometry (often referred to as an HD-map) together with a module that estimates the vehicle's position in the map.
Conventionally, satellite based positioning systems (Global Navigation Satellite Systems, GNSS), like for instance Global Positioning System (GPS), Globalnaya Navigazionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS), Galileo, Beidou, have been used for positioning purposes. However, these and other regional systems are often not accurate enough to rely on solely for determining a position of a moving vehicle in autonomous road vehicle applications. Moreover, GNSS based solutions have even less accuracy in determining height information.
Other solutions involve a combination of GNSS data together with vehicle IMU (inertial measurement unit) signals which often can suffer from large scale and bias errors resulting in positioning errors of several meters. Additionally, these methods and systems do not work in scenarios of poor or no satellite connections such as in tunnels or close to tall buildings.
Alternatively, there are systems and methods which utilize a number of different sensors to increase the reliability of map position such as cameras, LIDAR, RADAR, and other sensors for determining vehicle travelling parameters such as speed, angular rate and so on. However, even when the position and the instantaneous direction of the vehicle is known, the forward travel of the vehicle can still be difficult to predict or estimate, in for instance an area with overlapping roads or when different road segments are located close to each other.
To this end, solutions which employ a landmark based positioning approach are suggested. Here, external sensors are used to detect stationary objects (referred to as landmarks) that also are available in the map. The vehicle's position is then estimated by sequentially comparing the sensor data with where these landmarks are according to the map. Examples of landmarks that both typically are available in an HD-map, and detectable by most automotive grade sensors are for example lane markings, road edges, traffic signs, traffic lights, barriers, etc.
However, a problem with landmark based positioning is that sometimes there is not a sufficient amount of landmarks available to determine the vehicle's position with adequate accuracy. This is common in situations where there are no landmarks in the map (e.g. while traveling on rural roads), or if they are not detected by the sensors. In reference to the latter, the landmarks may for example not be detected because of dense traffic, unexpected obstructions (such as landmarks being covered by snow, ice or dirt), or because the landmarks have been moved or damaged.
There is therefore a need for improvements in the art, and in particular there is a need for a system and method which can more accurately and/or robustly determine the position of a vehicle in the map than currently known systems and methods.


Disclosed is a digital filter with a combined architecture of a 4-tap real valued filter and a-tap complex valued filter, whereby the filter size is reduced and no output delay is occurred due to the filter operations. According to the present invention, the digital filter is operated either in real valued filter mode or complex valued filter mode according to a mode selection signal, a filter output is obtained within one clock according to an operation selection signal, and an operator performs operations twice within one symbol clock (i.e., a time period) unlike a related art filter in which an operator performs the operation only once for each symbol clock. Therefore, the present invention filter is capable of resolving the filter size problem by substantially reducing the number of multipliers and adders.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital filter with a combined architecture of a 4-tap real valued filter and a-tap complex valued filter, whereby the filter size is reduced and no output delay is occurred due to the filter operations.
2. Background of the Related Art
A digital filter based on the LMS (Least Mean Square) adaptive algorithm is a filter capable of upgrading or adapting coefficients on an ongoing basis. The LMS adaptive digital filter is usually used for an equalizer or a noise eliminator housed in a digital broadcasting receiver, in order to compensate the distortions generated by a channel or a system itself.
Adaptive filters are largely categorized into two groups: one with real valued signals and real coefficients, and the other with complex valued input signal and complex valued coefficients. Filters with real coefficients and real valued inputs are useful for VSB ground wave digital broadcasts composed of real valued data only. Meanwhile, filters with complex valued input signals and complex valued coefficients are useful for a QAM-based system such as a digital cable broadcasting composed of both real valued and imaginary valued data. To combine the above two systems into one chip, two kinds of filters should be used.
However, when two systems combined in one chip are selectively operated, only one of the filters is used and the other filter does nothing being useless. In the case of a multi-tap filter the filter is usually built in a dual structure, which resultantly enlarges the size of the entire filter, making it more difficult to implement, and system resources are wasted. A filter architecture based on the system computing one tap per symbol clock cannot be also realized if the filter size is large.
Therefore, it will be advantageous to develop a dual system filter combined in one chip where two filters are not operated simultaneously but selectively according to a user's choice, for example, depending on the nature of a system the filter is applied to, the filter functions as a real valued filter with real coefficients or a complex valued filter with complex valued coefficients. Moreover, the entire filter size can be reduced by designing the filter in such a manner that an operator thereof performs computations twice, instead of once as in the related art, per symbol clock.


A cleaning method and a cleaning device which require an extremely short time for processing and also insure and extremely high cleaning effect. Foreign materials deposited on a substrate are removed with a cleaning liquid prepared by mixing a basic and water-soluble fluoride and an oxidizing agent in pure water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaning method and a cleaning device, and more specifically to a cleaning method and a cleaning device which can remove foreign materials deposited on a substrate after removal of photoresist by plasma processing.
2. Background Technology
Conventionally, when separating resist in production of semiconductors or liquid-crystal display units, generally sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide are mixed with each other in the state of respective raw liquids under a high temperature in a range from 100 to 150.degree. C. Or, in a case where the solution above has strong acidity and can not be used because of the bad effects over the substrate or other portions, an organic solvent with high concentration is used under a high temperature to remove the foreign materials as described above. Also in semiconductor production in recent years, a degree of integration to be realized has been becoming increasingly higher and higher, so that ion injection or reactive ion etching is required using photoresist as a mask, but in this type of processing a large quantity of ions is irradiated onto a surface of photoresist, and the photoresist material itself is bridged and cured, so that it is difficult to remove the foreign materials as described above only by means of wet cleaning in which a mixed solution of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide or a high concentration organic solvent is used, and for this reason, after the cured photoresist section is burnt and removed by employing the plasma processing with oxygen plasma, and then remaining photoresist is removed with a chemical agent.
In the plasma processing, however, there are such defects as that foreign materials such as metal or fine particles included in photoresist remain after processing on the substrate, that, in ion injection, a large quantity (10.sup.15 /cm.sup.2 or more) of such elements as phosphor or boron is irradiated, the photoresist material itself is bridged and cured, and can not completely be removed after the processing, and photoresist remains as a foreign material on the substrate, or that, in reactive etching by using a fluorocarbon (CF)-based material, a CF-based deposited material layer is formed on the photoresist and the CF-based deposited material remains as a foreign material after the plasma processing, and there is the problem that the foreign materials as described above can not completely be removed by using sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide, or an organic solvent.
Further, in the method of a mixed solution of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide, the processing is executed using a high density solution under a high temperature, so that use of the cleaning liquid or transfer of silicon wafer is rather poor in its operability, and further hydrogen peroxide in the cleaning liquid is decomposed because of the high density and high temperature employed in the processing, so that management of the solution is very complicated, and in addition, a large quantity of vapor of chemicals or water is generated, and a large volume of clean air is required and a scrubber is required to remove vapor of chemicals from the exhaust air, which results in high power cost as well as in high device cost, and moreover high cost is disadvantageously required to process wasted liquid of the sulfuric acid.
Also the method of using an organic solvent is carried out under a high temperature and the operability is very poor, and further management of the processing liquids is difficult and it is substantially impossible to recover or recycle the processing liquids.


A semiconductor substrate cleaning method includes a first cleaning step of cleaning the surface of a semiconductor substrate with the use of a first brush and a second cleaning step of cleaning the surface of the semiconductor substrate with the use of a second brush after the first cleaning step. The second cleaning step is performed under a condition that suppresses recontamination of the surface of the semiconductor substrate in comparison with the first cleaning step.

As a method for removing particles adhering to the surface of a semiconductor substrate, brush cleaning may be employed. In the brush cleaning, particles are removed by a combination of lift-off action, electrical repulsion and the like of a cleaning solution and physical action by friction of a brush.
In the conventional brush cleaning of a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor substrate is driven and rotated while a brush is moved along the surface of the substrate with a cleaning solution supplied onto the surface of the substrate. Particularly, in recent years, a brush cleaning mechanism is incorporated in a CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) system in some cases so as to be used for removing abrasive grain in a polishing solution and polishing dust and the like generated by polishing.
As a typical surface treating machine that performs the brush cleaning, there are known in general a semiconductor substrate cleaning machine using a cup-shaped (disk-shaped) blush shown in FIG. 27 and a semiconductor substrate cleaning machine using a cylindrical (roll) blush shown in FIG. 28.
In the semiconductor substrate cleaning machine using the cup-shaped blush shown in FIG. 27, a semiconductor substrate 11 is held by a vacuum chuck or an edge chuck (not shown) and is rotated, and a brush 12 removes particles 17 from the semiconductor substrate 11. The brush 12 is mounted at a cup-shaped (disk-shaped) jig 13, and an arm 15 connected to the jig 13 sweeps the surface of the semiconductor substrate 11. During sweeping, a cleaning solution 14 is supplied onto the surface of the semiconductor substrate 11 from a nozzle 16 for surface treatment in combination with brushing by the brush 12 and action of the cleaning solution 14. The brush 12 is made of nylon, PVA (polyvinylalcohol), or the like usually.
On the other hand, in the cleaning machine using the cylindrical brush shown in FIG. 28, a brush 22 performs treatment for removing particles 26 from the surface of a semiconductor substrate 21 held and rotated similarly to that in the cleaning machine using the cup-shaped brush in FIG. 27. The blush 22 is provided radially around the outer periphery of a cylindrical brush support member 23 so as press the surface of the semiconductor substrate 21 while being rotated by rotation of the blush support member 23. During rotation, a cleaning solution 24 is supplied onto the surface of the semiconductor substrate 21 from the nozzle 25, thereby performing the surface treatment. The brush 12 is made of nylon, PVA (polyvinylalcohol), or the like usually, similarly.
In both the cleaning machine using the cup-shaped brush and the cleaning machine using the cylindrical brush, a cleaning step as depicted in FIG. 29 is performed. The brush is positioned apart from the semiconductor substrate in a standby state before cleaning. Cleaning is performed for a predetermined time period in such a manner that the rotated brush is pressed against the rotated semiconductor substrate at a given high pressing pressure (for example, about 50 g/cm2 as pressure of the brush in contact with the surface of the semiconductor substrate is applied to the semiconductor substrate) while the cleaning solution is supplied. Thereafter, when the cleaning is terminated, the blush is moved away from the semiconductor substrate to be in the standby state. In general, cleaning solution supply is stopped concurrently with separation of the brush from the semiconductor substrate.
Japanese Patent No. 3140520(2) is listed as a patent document in this art.

Semiconductor substrate cleaning method and semiconductor substrate cleaning machine


An improved fiber optic panel having a desired illumination pattern is assembled from at least two partial panels, each comprising a plurality of fully terminated parallel fibers. Two or more such partial arrays are combined to fabricate a optical fiber substrate having an arbitrary illumination pattern. The non-illuminated fiber lengths extending from the individual fiber terminations are removed before the two partial arrays are assembled, thus further enhancing the efficiency of the device. In a preferred embodiment the fibers of each partial array have a center-to-center spacing slightly greater than twice the fiber diameters, and the fibers of the two partial arrays are intermeshed to form a closely packed parallel array of fibers in which a fully terminated shorter fiber is located between two longer fibers.

Fiber optic backlighting panels are commonly used in flat panel liquid crystal displays and other selectively transmissive optical display devices, to display a high contrast image that is visible even under poor ambient light.
Typically, such prior backlighting devices utilize a single layer of optical fibers, each having a core surrounded by cladding, which are placed in intimate proximity to each other above an optically reflecting surface. Light is beamed into the optical fibers from a light source, such as a lamp. The light beamed in is propagated in the core of the optical conductor by means of partial internal refraction, and exits at one or more discontinuities in the fiber, providing local illumination in the region of the discontinuity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,596 to Mouissie discloses a manufacturing method for such a device whereby an outer sheath of the optical fiber is removed locally at various locations along the length of each fiber and a portion of the light beamed through the optical fibers exits therefrom at those points. This emerging light reflects off the reflective backing and illuminates a diffusing front layer. In accordance with the patent's teachings, the fibers preferably have a center-to-center spacing equal to at least twice the fiber diameter, in order to provide a relatively unobstructed path from the reflective backing to the surface being illuminated.
Backlighting panels have been commercially produced in which individual fibers in a closely packed parallel array provide a illumination pattern of regularly spaced points of illumination. In one known backlighting panel, the fibers are not completely terminated but are only provided with a hole or slot that has a lateral extent less than or equal to the fiber diameter and which is typically offset to some extent relative to the fiber axis as a result of production tolerances. Furthermore, in order to guarantee that the majority of fibers providing light to a downstream region will be free from any upstream discontinuities, the lateral spacing of the terminations is typically about 150% of the center-to-center spacing of the fibers As a result, many of the terminations are not complete and a significant portion of the light beamed into the fiber (perhaps 30%) does not exit at a designated termination point Moreover, even if a fiber is provided with a hole which extends across the entire fiber diameter, a significant portion (perhaps 20%) of the light exiting the hole from the upstream portion of fiber will travel in a forward direction across the hole until it reenters the downstream portion of the fiber on the other side of the termination. Accordingly, a backlighting panel manufactured in accordance with such a prior art process will provide a somewhat uniform distribution of light, but is relatively inefficient. In another commercially available backlighting panel, individual fibers in a closely packed parallel array are each provided with a single termination at which the light may exit, using a programmed laser to cut across the entire array in a series of oblique angles forming a zig-zag pattern. Such a technique makes more efficient use of the light, but the illumination is less uniform with relatively large dark areas between two adjacent diverging cuts. This lack of uniformity can be alleviated by means of a diffuser between the backlighting panel and the device being illuminated, but at the cost of additional bulk and expense.
A need thus exists for an improved fiber optic backlighting panel and a method for making such fiber optic panels, whereby a predetermined pattern of background illumination may be produced by a compact and efficient device that is easy to manufacture.

Fiber optic panel providing an arbitrary pattern of illumination and method of making same


An electrical connector housing system provides a water-tight o-ring seal between a receptacle housing and a plug housing without compressing the o-ring in the mating direction. The housing system includes at least two latch sliders that can be engaged to trap latch tabs within latch slots. The latch sliders are substantially unaffected by the o-ring compression, and are compatible with housing systems of almost any size and/or shape. Embodiments include a connector region surrounded by a curved wall having an o-ring groove in its outer surface, and the plug housing includes a shell which overlaps the curved wall and compresses the o-ring perpendicular to the mating direction. The housings can include integral electrical contacts and/or can accept one or more insertable contacts. The latch sliders. The latch mechanism can include a detent mechanism, and can require a tool for disengagement.

Single and multiple contact electrical connector systems are widely used for many household and industrial applications. Typically, such connector systems include a plug and a compatible receptacle, each of which includes or can accept installation of one or more electrical contacts that are connected to each other when the plug is mated with the receptacle. Plug and receptacle housings are provided so as to isolate the electrical contacts, position them in alignment with each other, and maintain the contacts in secure connection with each other when the connectors are mated. The contacts may be integral with the housings, or they may be installable into the housings, so that a given housing system can accept a plurality of types and arrangements of contacts. Often, a latch mechanism is included with the housings so as to avoid inadvertent separation of the plug from the receptacle.
Electrical connectors are subject to various standards and requirements, depending on their intended usages. In particular, if a connector is to be used in a location where it will be exposed to the weather, then it typically must include a sealing mechanism that will prevent water and other debris from reaching the electrical contacts. One approach to sealing a connector housing system against water penetration is to include a gasket or o-ring that is compressed between the plug housing and the receptacle housing when the plug and receptacle are mated. However, this approach requires that a sealing force be applied to the gasket or o-ring which is of sufficient magnitude to provide a water-tight seal. The required sealing force is approximately proportional to the circumference of the gasket or o-ring to be compressed, which corresponds roughly to the size of the connector housing system, so that large connector housing systems employing this approach typically require latch mechanisms that can apply a significant amount of compressive force to the housings, the required force being well beyond what would be required just to securely hold the plug and receptacle together.
Latch mechanisms such as clamps and nuts tightened onto bolts are well known in the art. However, they are typically cumbersome, and require significant time and effort to engage and release. Some latch mechanisms include a threaded collar or a twist-lock collar, but these latch mechanisms are mainly suitable for connector housings which are substantially circular in cross section.
Still other latch mechanisms include a spring-like clipping mechanism, but these latch mechanisms are suitable mainly for small, lightweight connector housings.
What is needed, therefore, is an electrical power connector housing system that can provide a water-tight seal without application of compressive force, the connector housing system including a latch mechanism which is suitable for both small and large housings and which does not require the connector housing to be substantially circular in cross section, thereby enabling implementation of the connector housing over a large range of sizes and shapes.

Water-tight electrical connector with laterally compressed O-ring


An optical fiber distribution apparatus is provided having a base panel and first and second mounting panels spaced apart mounted to the base panel. A sub-panel assembly is movably mounted between the first and second mounting panels, and may be tilted from a first position to a second position by simultaneously translating and rotating the sub-panel assembly. In one embodiment, the sub-panel assembly may be tilted from the first position to the second position by rotating the sub-panel assembly in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telecommunications fiber optic interconnection apparatus, and more particularly to an optical fiber distribution apparatus having a movable sub-panel.
2. Technical Background
Optical fiber and fiber optic cables are increasingly being used for transmitting voice, data and video communications. In a typical installation, a provider cable will extend to an interconnection or distribution apparatus at a customer facility. The optical fiber distribution apparatus includes a housing that may be mounted to or in wall, a ceiling or a floor. The provider optical cable contains a bundle of individual optical fibers, each fiber transmitting optical signals. The provider cable passes through a provider port in the housing and the individual fibers, having connectors on the ends of the fibers, mount to adapters on a distribution sub-panel. The distribution sub-panel has a plurality of apertures, one for each connector pair/adapter. A customer optical cable leads from various work stations to the housing through a customer port and optically connects the customer optical fibers with the provider optical fibers at the distribution sub-panel.
Because the housing may be mounted in a number of difficult-to-reach locations or orientations, fiber optic components routed and mounted within the housing may be difficult for the installer to access.


In the non-invasive measuring system, a wireless communication device or other sensing device, gathers Doppler information from signals transmitted by the wireless communication or sensing device and reflected off of a target subject. The gathered information is transferred, preferably, over the existing communication network infra-structure to a presentation device. By placing a body sensor on the target subject, the return of the signal reflected from the subject is enhanced and/or additional information is modulated onto the return signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for the non-invasive measurement of health signs or prescribed characteristics of a subject.
2. Description of Related Art
Remote monitoring of prescribed characteristics of a subject, such as temperature, breathing and heart activity, can be useful for many applications where the knowledge of a subject's current medical condition or interactive responses is needed, but direct in-person interaction with, for example, a physician or monitoring system is not possible. This is particularly useful for outpatients with conditions that require vigilant observation. Monitoring such patients remotely can significantly reduce the cost and difficulty associated with frequent hospital visits.
Currently available outpatient monitoring systems involve the use of bulky and costly instruments that the patient or an assistant must apply and monitor in order to retrieve medical data. Thus, this procedure can only be performed at a fixed location (such as a doctor's office or the patient's home), when convenient. Some other types of smaller, more portable monitoring devices have been implemented for tracking and monitoring prescribed characteristics in various applications such as wildlife studies. These applications typically involve the attachment of an active electronic circuit to the subject, that can download recorded data, or transmit data to a remote receiver in realtime. Miniaturization and life span of these circuits is usually limited by the need for an internal battery, and telemetry of data usually requires that a transponder be administered to the device, or that the device radiate energy.
Accordingly, a demand exists for a more flexible monitoring system, which would allow the monitoring of subjects without undue restrictions on those subjects.

Method and system for non-invasive measurement of prescribed characteristics of a subject


A method for enhancing, by at least 10 fold, the antibacterial activity of an antisense oligonucleotide composed of morpholino subunits linked by phosphorus-containing intersubunit linkages. The method includes one or both of: conjugating an arginine-rich carrier to a 3′ or 5′ end of the oligonucleotide and modifying the oligonucleotide to contain 20%-50% intersubunit linkages that are positively charged at physiological pH. Also disclosed is an antisense oligonucleotide having enhanced antibacterial activity by virtue of one or both modifications.

Currently, there are several types of antibiotic compounds in use against bacterial pathogens, and these compounds act through a variety of anti-bacterial mechanisms. For example, beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin and cephalosporin, act to inhibit the final step in peptidoglycan synthesis. Glycopeptide antibiotics, including vancomycin and teichoplanin, inhibit both transglycosylation and transpeptidation of muramyl-pentapeptide, again interfering with peptidoglycan synthesis. Other well-known antibiotics include the quinolones, which inhibit bacterial DNA replication, inhibitors of bacterial RNA polymerase, such as rifampin, and inhibitors of enzymes in the pathway for production of tetrahydrofolate, including the sulfonamides.
Some classes of antibiotics act at the level of protein synthesis. Notable among these are the aminoglycosides, such as kanamycin and gentamycin. This class of compounds targets the bacterial 30S ribosome subunit, preventing the association with the 50S subunit to form functional ribosomes. Tetracyclines, another important class of antibiotics, also target the 30S ribosome subunit, acting by preventing alignment of aminoacylated tRNA's with the corresponding mRNA codon. Macrolides and lincosamides, another class of antibiotics, inhibit bacterial synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosome subunit, and inhibiting peptide elongation or preventing ribosome translocation.
Despite impressive successes in controlling or eliminating bacterial infections by antibiotics, the widespread use of antibiotics both in human medicine and as a feed supplement in poultry and livestock production has led to drug resistance in many pathogenic bacteria. Antibiotic resistance mechanisms can take a variety of forms. One of the major mechanisms of resistance to beta lactams, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria, is the enzyme beta-lactamase, which renders the antibiotic inactive. Likewise, resistance to aminoglycosides often involves an enzyme capable of inactivating the antibiotic, in this case by adding a phosphoryl, adenyl, or acetyl group. Active efflux of antibiotics is another way that many bacteria develop resistance. Genes encoding efflux proteins, such as the tetA, tetG, tetL, and tetK genes for tetracycline efflux, have been identified. A bacterial target may develop resistance by altering the target of the drug. For example, the so-called penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) in many beta-lactam resistant bacteria are altered to inhibit the critical antibiotic binding to the target protein. Resistance to tetracycline may involve, in addition to enhanced efflux, the appearance of cytoplasmic proteins capable of competing with ribosomes for binding to the antibiotic. For those antibiotics that act by inhibiting a bacterial enzyme, such as for sulfonamides, point mutations in the target enzyme may confer resistance.
The appearance of antibiotic resistance in many pathogenic bacteria—in many cases involving multi-drug resistance—has raised the specter of a pre-antibiotic era in which many bacterial pathogens are simply untreatable by medical intervention. There are two main factors that could contribute to this scenario. The first is the rapid spread of resistance and multi-resistance genes across bacterial strains, species, and genera by conjugative elements, the most important of which are self-transmissible plasmids. The second factor is a lack of current research efforts to find new types of antibiotics, due in part to the perceived investment in time and money needed to find new antibiotic agents and bring them through clinical trials, a process that may require a 20-year research effort in some cases.
In addressing the second of these factors, some drug-discovery approaches that may accelerate the search for new antibiotics have been proposed. For example, efforts to screen for and identify new antibiotic compounds by high-throughput screening have been reported, but to date no important lead compounds have been discovered by this route.
Several approaches that involve antisense agents designed to block the expression of bacterial resistance genes or to target cellular RNA targets, such as the rRNA in the 30S ribosomal subunit (see, for example, co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,153, which is incorporated by reference herein), or by targeting the mRNA of bacterial proteins that are critical in bacterial replication, such as acyl carrier protein (acpP), gyrase A subunit (gyrA), or the cell division protein ftsZ (see co-owned U.S. patent applications 20070021362 and 20070049542, both of which are incorporated by reference herein). Although these approaches have been shown to be successful in blocking bacterial replication, they have been limited in commercial applications by the concentrations of antisense compounds required for efficacy in treating bacterial infections in a mammalian host.
There is thus a continuing need for new antibiotics that (i) are not subject to the principal types of antibiotic resistance currently hampering antibiotic treatment of bacteria, (ii) can be developed rapidly and with some reasonable degree of predictability as to target-bacteria specificity, (iii) are effective at low doses, and (iv) show relatively few side effects.

Antibacterial antisense oligonucleotide and method


A plate is consecutively mounted on the outer peripheral surface of a recording drum under pressure from a squeegee roller, with its leading edge clamped by leading edge clamps. Guide members for causing the squeegee roller to climb up thereon are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum such that the squeegee roller is prevented from interfering with the leading edge clamps during plate mounting. Without the need to stop the rotation of the recording drum during plate mounting, a time period required for plate mounting can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for mounting a sheet-like recording material on the outer peripheral surface of a drum to record images on the recording material.
2. Description of the Background Art
Imaging apparatuses have been used for recording images on various types of recording materials with irradiation of laser light. In a drum-type imaging apparatus, a recording material is mounted on a recording drum rotatable in a main scanning direction, and a recording head having a laser diode and the like moves in a subscanning direction parallel to a rotary shaft of the recording drum to record images on the recording material.
In such drum-type imaging apparatus, the leading and trailing edges of the recording material are clamped by clamps under pressure, so that the recording material is mounted around the drum.
Further, in such apparatus, the recording material is mounted on the drum and demounted from the drum under pressure from a squeegee roller.
In such conventional apparatus, a recording drum is rotated with the leading edge of a recording material clamped by clamps such that the recording material is consecutively mounted on the recording drum. At this time, a problem arises in that the clamps clamping the leading edge of the recording material interfere with a squeegee roller. To prevent this problem, the recording drum is temporarily stopped rotating at the mounting of the recording material on the drum, following which the squeegee roller is retracted to such a position that it does not interfere with the clamps, and thereafter, rotation of the recording drum is started again. However, another problem arises in that such operation increases the time period required for mounting the recording material. A similar problem also arises when the recording material is demounted from the recording drum.

Imaging apparatus and imaging method to increase efficiency of mounting/demounting of a recording material to/from a recording drum


A transmit-receive (T/R) switch for coupling a TDD transceiver to an antenna. The T/R switch comprises 1) a first circulator having a first port for receiving a transmit signal from the transceiver during transmit mode, a second port for sending the transmit signal to the antenna during transmit mode and receiving a received signal from the antenna during receive mode, and a third port for sending the received signal towards the transceiver during receive mode. The T/R switch further comprises 2) a second circulator having a first port for receiving the received signal from the third port of the first circulator during receive mode and a second port for sending the received signal towards the transceiver during receive mode, and 3) a termination load coupled to a third port of the second circulator. The circulators divert RF energy reflected from the antenna during transmit mode into the termination load.

A base station in a time-division duplexing (TDD) wireless network uses a high-speed transmit-receive (T/R) switch to alternately couple the antenna to the transmit path during transmit periods and to the receive path during receive periods. Conventional base stations generally use pin-diode switch modules as transmit-receive switches. Circulators have been used in the past for time duplexing of radar signals, but are generally not used in base stations.
FIG. 1A illustrates selected portions of conventional base station 100A according to one embodiment of the prior art. Base station 100A comprises time-division duplexing (TDD) transceiver (X-CVR) 110, pin-diode switch module 115, and antenna 150. TDD transceiver 110 comprises a transmit path and a receive path. The transmit path of TDD transceiver 110 comprises transmit (XMIT) circuitry 111, power amplifier (PA) 112, low-noise amplifier (LNA) 121, and receive (RCV) circuitry 122.
Pin-diode switch module 115 comprises capacitor 125, inductor 130, capacitor 135, pin-diode 140, capacitor 145, quarter-wave (λ/4) transmission line 155, pin diode 160, and capacitor 165. A T/R switch control signal from a base transceiver subsystem (BTS) controller (not shown) is coupled to a filtered bias line (i.e., capacitor 135 and inductor 130) that turns pin-diode 140 on during transmission and off during reception. During transmit periods, quarter-wave transmission line 155 and pin-diode 160 present a high impedance (or open circuit) to the transmit signal from power amplifier 112. During receive periods, quarter-wave transmission line 155 and the off-state (open) pin-diode 160 in parallel with the LNA input impedance (e.g., 50 ohms) present a 50 ohm impedance to the receive signal from antenna 150.
Unfortunately, however, pin-diode 140 in the transmitter path is the cause of high transmitter insertion loss (e.g., 0.75 dB to 1.5 dB) and high levels of harmonics and third-order inter-modulation products. The harmonics and inter-modulation products are caused by the non-linear characteristics of pin-diode 140.
FIG. 1B illustrates selected portions of a conventional radar system according to an alternate embodiment of the prior art. Radar system 100B comprises transmitter 180, receiver 185, circulator 190 and antenna 195. Circulator 190 has three ports, namely Port 1, Port 2 and Port 3. Signals entering one of the ports follow the circling arrow and exit at the next port.
Thus, in the ideal case, transmit signals from transmitter 180 enter Port 1 and are emitted at Port 2 to antenna 195, and no portion of the transmit signal is emitted at Port 3 to receiver 185. Also, in the ideal case, receive signals from antenna 195 enter Port 2 and are emitted at Port 3 to receiver 185, and no portion of the receive signal is emitted at Port 1 to transmitter 180.
However, a circulator by itself cannot protect the receiver input in the case of high antenna voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). A high VSWR antenna condition reflects part or all of the transmit signal-power directly into receiver 185, which can damage the low-noise amplifier. A secondary problem is that, even though there is no transmit signal during receive mode, the output of transmitter 180 has substantial noise present due mostly to high transmitter gain. This noise can reflect off antenna 195, enter receiver 185, and desensitize receiver 185 due to decreased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Thus, the circulator configuration in FIG. 1B is not a good solution for high power transmitters, unless it is certain that antenna VSWR is low prior to transmitting.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved base stations for use in time-division duplexing (TDD) wireless networks. In particular, there is a need for an improved transmit-receive switch for use in a base transceiver subsystem of a TDD wireless network.

Apparatus for transmit and receive switching in a time-division duplexing wireless network


An applicator for applying liquid and gel stains, lacquers, shellac, or other sealers to wood by hand. In various embodiments, the applicator comprises various layers including an outer applicator layer, an inner reservoir layer, and, in some embodiments, a semi-permeable middle layer. The middle layer may act as a barrier of variable permeability and/or provide varying levels of rigidity to the pad. In all cases the various layers are fastened to one another throughout the planar intersection so that the applicator sheet can be cut to provide applicators of diverse sizes without compromising the integrity of the construction.

Applicators for applying liquid and gel stains, lacquers, shellac, or the like (herein referred to as "stains") to wood or other materials typically include rags, foam brushes, traditional bristle brushes, and terrycloth applicator pads. Each of these products have significant shortcomings in design. Rags are not good for inside corners and no matter how carefully they are folded, application pressure is uneven resulting in streaks, especially with the thickness of gel stains. They also tend to snag and often leave lint. Finally, due to the wadding, folding and saturation of stain, rags can become a fire hazard if not properly disposed. Foam brushes are inexpensive, disposable, present less fire hazard, provide even pressure and have a chisel end for corners but they easily snag and quickly rip and/or fall off the handle. Traditional brushes are expensive, hard to clean, and soak too much product up into the reservoir. This is fine for paint but difficult for expensive, thick, oil-based products like gel stains. And, all but the most expensive brushes tend to leave bristles and/or brush marks. The stain pads on the market at the time of this writing are too thick to get into corners, are made of terrycloth which easily snags and leaves lint in the finish. They are too big to get into the small cans of stain and since they are constructed of terry cloth sewn around foam, you cannot cut them to a desired size.


A method for symbol tracking in AM in-band on-channel radio receivers comprises the steps of: receiving a stream of time domain samples; assembling a set of the time domain samples equal to a symbol time plus a half symbol delay in response to a symbol timing adjustment value for each symbol period; interpolating the time domain samples; partitioning the interpolated time domain samples into a first group of samples representing half-off symbols and a second group of samples representing on-time symbols; processing the first and second groups of samples to produce the symbol timing adjustment value; and outputting the second group of samples representing on-time symbols at a symbol rate. An apparatus that performs the method is also included.

An in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital broadcasting system simultaneously broadcasts analog and digital signals in a standard AM broadcasting channel. One AM IBOC system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,022. The broadcast signal includes an amplitude modulated radio frequency signal having a first frequency spectrum. The amplitude modulated radio frequency signal includes a first carrier modulated by an analog program signal. The signal also includes a plurality of digitally modulated subcarriers within a bandwidth that encompasses the first frequency spectrum. Each of the digitally modulated subcarriers is modulated by a digital signal. A first group of the digitally modulated subcarriers lies within the first frequency spectrum and is modulated in quadrature with the first carrier signal. Second and third groups of the digitally modulated subcarriers lie outside of the first frequency spectrum and are modulated both in-phase and in quadrature with the first carrier signal. The subcarriers are divided into primary, secondary and tertiary partitions. Some of the subcarriers are complementary subcarriers.
The digital information is transmitted in successive symbols. Symbols transmitted in the IBOC system must be tracked in the receiver modem to align the demodulation of the symbols with the incoming stream of signal samples. This invention provides a symbol tracking algorithm for use in an HD Radio™ digital modem.

Symbol tracking for AM in-band on-channel radio receivers


A method and apparatus for providing a single digital simulation of a circuit with analog and digital components. A netlist characterizing a circuit with analog and digital components is utilized. The netlist defines each component in the circuit and its interconnections. The netlist is conveyed to a digital simulator which includes an expanded cell library. The cell library defines analog components in a digital manner. The digitally defined analog components process analog signals which are simulated as arrays of binary values, termed vector voltages. The vector voltages may be combined, mathematically or logically, with other vector voltages to produce binary signals suitable as inputs to digital circuit elements. Regardless of the complexity of the circuit, and despite the fact that both analog and digital components are present, a single integrated digital simulation of the entire circuit is rapidly executed by utilizing digital models of the analog components.

Electronic devices commonly include analog and digital elements. As a result, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is used to provide an interface between the two types of signals. Typical analog-to-digital converters include resistor ladders, capacitor arrays, sampled-data comparators, and analog multiplexers, as well as a variety of digital circuits. The digital and analog circuit elements may interact in many different ways. For instance, the digital circuitry may strobe comparators and drive analog multiplexers for routing of analog voltage levels. The analog elements often generate signals interfacing to the digital circuitry. Partitioning the analog and digital domains is difficult because of the existence of feedback signals between the two domains. Analog-to-digital converter architectures continue to grow in complexity as multiple steps and trimming algorithms are employed to obtain higher resolutions. Prior to physical implementation, these and other complex circuit designs are typically tested through a computerized simulation. Simulating a circuit with analog and digital components generally requires separate simulations of the analog and digital blocks.
There are a number of problems with this approach. Primarily, this approach does not detect errors at the interface between the two domains. This interface region of the circuit is susceptible to a number of problems. For instance, resistor tap-points may be off center, decoder or encoder values may be incorrect, capacitor ratios may be mismatched, or the availability of memory addresses may be mismatched with an address strobe. These problems, and others, are often encountered, but they are not detectable by using separate conventional digital and analog simulations.
In addition to the problem of detecting errors at the domain interface, prior art circuit simulation techniques are unsatisfactory to the extent that they rely upon analog simulations. Analog simulations are commonly run on simulators such as SPICE. These simulators are relatively slow. In contrast, digital simulators such as Verilog or Hilo are relatively fast.
Another difficulty associated with running separate simulations for the analog and digital components of a circuit is that the separate simulations do not account for feedback signals which may exist between the two blocks.
Mixed signal simulation design tools presently exist. However, these tools are complex and have not resulted in practical design verification tools.

Digital circuit simulation of analog/digital circuits