Disclosed is an apparatus and method for retransmitting data in a mobile communication system. A MAC-h (Medium Access Control-high speed) layer transmits, to an RLC (Radio Link Control) layer, received data and information on whether a retransmission process on errored data is being performed, thereby to prevent the RLC layer from performing duplicated retransmission on the errored data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile communication system, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for retransmitting packet data in a mobile communication system employing an HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, HSDPA refers to a technique for transmitting data including a high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH)-related control channels in a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) communication system. In order to support the HSDPA, there have been proposed AMC (Adaptive Modulation and Coding) technique, HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Request) technique, and FCS (Fast Cell Select) technique. A structure of the UMTS communication system and the AMC, HARQ and FCS techniques will be described in detail herein below with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a general CDMA communication system. Referring to FIG. 1, a UMTS communication system includes a core network (CN) 100, a plurality of radio network subsystems (RNSs) 110 and 120, and a user equipment (UE) 130. The RNSs 110 and 120 each include a radio network controller (RNC) and a plurality of Node Bs, also known as "cells". For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the RNS 110 is comprised of an RNC 111 and Node Bs 113 and 115. Further, the RNC is classified into a serving RNC (SRNC), a drift RNC (DRNC) and a controlling RNC (CRNC) according to its role. An RNC managing information on a UE and managing data communication with the core network is called an SRNC of the UE, and when data targeting the UE is transmitted to and received from an SRNC through another RNC, this RNC is called a DRNC of the UE. Further, an RNC controlling operation of Node Bs is called a CRNC of the Node Bs. In FIG. 1, if information on the UE 130 is managed by the RNC 111, the RNC 111 becomes an SRNC of the UE 130, and in this condition, if data targeting the UE 130 is transmitted and received through an RNC 121, the RNC 121 becomes a DRNC of the UE 130. Further, the RNC 111 controlling the Node B 113 becomes a CRNC of the Node B 113.
Now, a description of the AMC, HARQ, and FCS techniques will be made with reference to FIG. 1.
First, the AMC is a data transmission technique for adaptively determining a modulation mode and a coding mode of different data channels according to a channel condition between a specific Node B, e.g., Node B 123, and the UE 130, thereby to increase the overall utilization efficiency of a cell. Therefore, the AMC have a plurality of modulation modes and a plurality of coding modes, and modulates and codes data channels by combining the modulation modes and the coding modes. Generally, each of combinations of the modulation modes and the coding modes are called "MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme)", and there are a plurality of MCSs with level #1 to level #n according to the number of combinations of the modulation modes and the coding modes. In other words, the AMC technique adaptively determines a level of the MCS according to a channel condition between the Node B 123 and the UE 130 currently wirelessly connected to the Node B 123, thereby increasing the overall utilization efficiency.
Second, the FCS technique rapidly selects a cell having a good channel condition among a plurality of cells, when a UE receiving an HSDPA service enters a cell-overlapped region. To be specific, if the UE 130 receiving the HSDPA service enters a cell-overlapped region, or a soft handover region, between the Node B 123 and the Node B 125, then the UE 130 establishes radio links to the cells in the soft handover region. Here, a set of the cells, to which the radio links are established by the UE 130, is called an "active set". The FCS technique receives HSDPA packets from only the cell maintaining the best channel condition with the UE 130 among the cells included in the active set, thereby to reduce the overall interference. Generally, a cell transmitting the HSDPA packets for its best channel condition with the UE 130 among the cells in the active set is called a "best cell". The UE 130 periodically checks the channel conditions with the cells belonging to the active set. Upon detecting a cell having a channel condition better than that of the current best cell, the UE 130 transmits a best cell indicator to the cells in the active set in order to replace the current best cell with a new best cell. The best cell indicator includes an identifier indicating a cell that is selected as the new best cell. Upon receiving the best cell indicator, the cells belonging to the active set analyze the cell identifier included in the received best cell indicator to determine whether the received best cell indicator is destined for them. The selected best cell transmits HSDPA packets to the UE 130 using a high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH).
Third, the HARQ, or n-channel SAW HARQ (n-channel Stop And Wait Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Request) technique, will be described. For the HARQ, there have been proposed the following two plans to increase efficiency of the ARQ (Automatic Retransmission Request) technique. First, the HARQ performs data retransmission request and response between the UE and the Node B. Second, the HARQ temporarily stores errored data and then combines it with a retransmission portion of the corresponding data before transmission.
Next, an RLC (Radio Link Control) ARQ technique and the HARQ technique will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a protocol stack of a mobile communication system using an HSDPA technique. Referring to FIG. 2, the UE 130 and the Node B 123 each have a new layer, called a MAC-h (Medium Access Control-high speed) layer 201 and 205, in order to support the AMC, HARQ and FCS. That is, the MAC-h 205 of the Node B 123 performs UE scheduling, MCS allocation, and HARQ processing. As illustrated in FIG. 2, there exists an RLC ARQ function between RLC 203 of the UE 130 and RLC 207 of the SRNC 121, and there exists an HARQ function between the MAC-h 205 of the Node B 123 and MAC-h 201 of the UE 130.
Specifically, since the RLC ARQ performed between the RLC 203 of the UE 130 and the RLC 207 of the SRNC 121 occurs between the SRNC 121 and the UE 130, it takes a long time to make a retransmission request and respond to the retransmission request. However, in the HARQ, retransmission request and response is directly performed between the UE 130 and the Node B 123, so it takes a short time to make a retransmission request and respond to the retransmission request. In addition, the RLC ARQ immediately discards the errored data, whereas the HARQ temporarily stores the errored data and then combines it with a retransmission portion of the corresponding data before decoding, thereby to reduce error occurrence possibility. Here, the combining technique includes a chase combining (CC) technique and an incremental redundancy (IR) technique.
The CC technique transmits the same data at both initial transmission and retransmission, whereas the IR technique transmits different data at initial transmission and retransmission. The CC and IR techniques will be described with reference to a case where an R=1/6 turbo code is used as a mother code and a coding rate is 3/4. First, in the CC technique, if the mother code has generated N bits, a transmission side transmits N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits at initial transmission by puncturing some of the N bits, and upon receipt of NACK in response to the initial transmission, retransmits the N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits that were transmitted at the initial transmission. A reception side then stores the data received at the initial transmission, receives again the same data at the retransmission, and symbol-combines the stored data with the received data before decoding. Second, in the IR technique, the transmission side transmits N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits at initial transmission by puncturing some of the N bits generated by the mother code. The reception side receives the bits transmitted at the initial transmission, decodes the received bits, and performs CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) checking on the decoded bits, and upon detecting a CRC error, transmits a NACK signal to the transmission side. Upon receiving the NACK signal, the transmission side retransmits to the reception side N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits excepting the N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits transmitted at the initial transmission among the N bits, or N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits including only some of the N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits transmitted at the initial transmission. The reception side then decodes the N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits received at the initial transmission and the N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits received at the retransmission, performs CRC checking on the decoded bits, and upon detecting a CRC error, transmits again a NACK signal to the transmission side. Upon receipt of the NACK signal, the transmission side repeats transmitting new N*(1/6)*(4/3) bits to the reception side so that the reception side may receive N bits. Therefore, the reception side can receive as many bits as a coding rate of the mother code and decode the received bits, thus making it possible to obtain an overall coding gain. In this way, the IR uses different bit streams at the initial transmission and the retransmission, and this is called "version". That is, initial transmission is called "version 0", first retransmission "version 1", and second retransmission "version 2".
In the HSDPA, the HARQ function is added to the MAC-h, so that the RLC and the MAC-h can independently perform an error control function. The RLC performs error control on the assumption that a post-RLC stage sequentially transmits RLC PDUs (Protocol Data Unit).
However, if the MAC-h performs the HARQ, the RLC PDUs may not be sequentially transmitted from the MAC to the RLC. In this case, the retransmission is performed inefficiently. For example, it will be assumed that during transmission of PDUs with RLC sequence numbers of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the Node B to the UE, data errors have occurred in the PDUs with sequence numbers of 3 and 4 on the radio link. Since the PDUs with sequence numbers of 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 are received without errors, the MAC of the UE, a reception side, transmits the received error-free PDUs with sequence numbers of 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 to the RLC. However, the PDUs with sequence numbers of 3 and 4, i.e., the errored PDUs, undergo an HARQ process in the MAC-h 201 of the UE and the MAC-h 205 of the Node B, and if no error is detected in the HARQ process, they are transmitted to the RLC of the UE. Here, a detailed operation of the RLC ARQ will be made. The RLC has a transparent mode (TM), an acknowledged mode (AM) and an unacknowledged mode (UM) as its operation mode. However, the HS-DSCH operates only in the AM and the UM, so the description will be restricted herein to the AM and the UM. When the RLC operates in the UM, the RLC segments a service data unit (SDU) provided from an upper layer in a proper size, or assembles the PDUs received from a lower layer into an SDU. Further, the RLC enciphers the SDU provided from the upper layer, or deciphers the PDUs provided from the lower layer. If the RLC operation mode is UM, a header of the RLC PDU includes a sequence number (SN), a length indicator (LI) and an extension bit (E). The SN indicates sequence numbers sequentially assigned to the RLC PDUs generated by segmenting the SDU provided form the upper layer in a predetermined size. The SN is used when generating SDU by reassembling the RLC PDUs having the SNs. Of course, if the size of the SDU is smaller than the predetermined size, i.e., the size of the RLC PDU, then several SDUs are concatenated to generate one RLC PDU. The LI serves as a pointer pointing a position of the SDU in the RLC PDU. If the size of the SDU is larger than the predetermined size, several RLC PDUs are concatenated to generate one SDU. Here, the LI may exist in first and last RLC PDUs. The LI existing in the first RLC PDU indicates a start position of the SDU, and the LI existing in the last RLC PDU indicates a last position of the SDU. The E indicates whether the next value is a header or data. In general, if the RLC operates in the UM, a transmission operation is performed as follows.
The transmission operation for the RLC operating in the UM is divided into a case where the SDU is provided form the upper layer and another case where the RLC PDUs are provided from the lower layer. First, reference will be made to the case where the SDU is provided from the upper layer. Upon receiving SDU from the upper layer, the RLC segments or concatenates the received SDU into PDUs with a predetermined size in an initial call setup process. The RLC inserts headers including the SNs into the segmented or concatenated PDUs, and the data generated in this manner is RLC PDU.
Next, the RLC, to which the RLC PDUs are provided from the lower layer, reassembles the provided RLC PDUs into SDUs using information included in the headers of the RLC PDUs. For example, if 10 RLC PDUs with SN=1 to SN=10 are transmitted, LI of the RLC PDU with SN=1 indicates that a payload of the corresponding RLC PDU is a start point of a new SDU, and if the last bit of the payload of the RLC DU with SN=10 indicates the last bit of the SDU, the 10 RLC PDUs are concatenated into one SDU. In the prior art, if the SNs of the received RLC PDUs are not sequential, i.e., if there are errored RLC PDUs, all of the RLC PDUs belonging to the SDUs related to the errored RLC PDUs are discarded. For example, if an error has occurred in the RLC PDU with SU=7, all of the remaining RLC PDUs with SN=1 to SN=10 that were normally received are discarded. Therefore, when the MAC-h performs the HARQ process, the RLC PDUs may not sequentially arrive at the RLC, so that the RLC reception operation causes unnecessary discarding operation, leading to a reduction in communication efficiency.
Next, a description will be made of another case where the RLC operation mode is AM. When the RLC operates in the AM, the RLC PDU structure is comprised of DIC (Data or Control), SN, LI, P (Polling), HE (Header Extension), E (Extension), DATA, and STATUS PDU. Here, D/C, comprised of one bit, indicates whether the corresponding RLC PDU is a control RLC PDU or a data RLC PDU. SN indicates sequence numbers of the RLC PDUs as in the case where the RLC operates in the UM. LI serves as a pointer for start points of the SDUs when several SDUs exist in the corresponding RLC PDU, as in the case where the RLC operates in the UM. P, comprised of one bit, indicates whether or not a reception side of the corresponding RLC PDU should report its RLC state. HE indicates whether the next bits are data, or LI and E. E indicates whether the next bits are data bits or LI and E bits. DATA represents RLC PDU data obtained by segmenting or concatenating SDUs. STATUS PDU is control information to be notified to the reception side by the transmission side. Typically, the control information is retransmission information or information on the data to be possibly transmitted later. The operation for the case where the RLC operates in the AM is more complex than the operation for the case where the RLC operates in the UM, so the description will be made with reference to FIG. 4.
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an RLC structure for the case where the RLC operates in the AM in a general CDMA communication system. Referring to FIG. 4, a segmentation/concatenation part 401 segments or concatenates SDUs provided from the upper layer in a predetermined PDU size. A ciphering part 402 enciphers the PDUs, and an RLC header adder 403 adds the header information D/C, SN, LI and HE to the output of the ciphering part 402. Here, when the RLC operates in the UM, SN has 7 bits. However, when the RLC operates in the AM, the SN has 12 bits. A retransmission buffer & manager 404 stores RLC PDUs, ACK (acknowledgement) signals for which have not yet received, in its retransmission buffer, and retransmits or discards the corresponding RLC PDUs according to a retransmission request for the STATUS PDU added to the received RLC PDU or the contents of the received STATUS PDU. A multiplexer (MUX) 405 multiplexes the outputs of the RLC header adder 403 and the retransmission buffer & manager 404 into one stream, and provides its output to a transmission buffer 406. An RLC header setting part 407 inserts STATUS PDU to be transmitted to the reception side or sets the P bit before transmission, under the control of an RLC controller 413.
In addition, a demultiplexing/routing part 408 determines whether RLC PDU received from the lower layer is STATUS PDU or data PDU. If the received RLC PDU is STATUS PDU, the demultiplexing/routing part 408 provides the received RLC PDU to the RLC controller 413. However, if the received RLC PDU is data PDU, the demultiplexing/routing part 408 provides the received RLC PDU to a reception buffer & retransmission manager 409. The reception buffer & retransmission manager 409 stores the received RLC PDUs until one SDU is assembled in its reception buffer. The reception buffer & retransmission manager 409 manages the retransmission buffer of the retransmission buffer & manager 404 using information on the STATUS PDU. That is, the reception buffer & retransmission manager 409 transmits information on the PDUs to be retransmitted and the PDUs to be discarded to the retransmission buffer & manager 404, the information being represented by SN in the STATUS PDU, thereby controlling retransmission and discard of the corresponding PDUs. An RLC header extractor 410 removes headers of the received RLC PDUs and transmits header information to the retransmission buffer of the retransmission buffer & manager 404. A deciphering part 411 deciphers PDUs received for the RLC header extractor 410. A reassembler 412 reassembles the deciphered PDUs received from the deciphering part 411 into one SDU, and transmits the reassembled SDU to the upper layer. The ARQ of the RLC operating in the AM will be described herein below in more detail.
It is assumed herein that an SDU is transmitted from the upper layer to an RNC A at time t0. The SDU is applied to the segmentation/concatenation part 401, and the segmentation/concatenation part 401 segments the received SDU into 20 PDUs, and provides the 20 segmented PDUs to the ciphering part 402. The ciphering part 402 enciphers the 20 segmented PDUs provided from the segmentation/concatenation part 401, and provides the 20 enciphered PDUs to the RLC header adder 403. The RLC header adder 403 assigns SNs of integers n to n+19 to the 20 enciphered PDUs output from the ciphering part 402, and provides its outputs to the multiplexer 405. At this point, if it is assumed that there is no input from the retransmission buffer & manager 404, the multiplexer 405 sequentially outputs the 20 PDUs provided from the RLC header adder 403 to the RLC header setting part 407 through the transmission buffer 406. The RLC header setting part 407 sets the P bit. That is, it is assumed that the PDUs are transmitted to the MAC layer after sending a STATUS PDU transmission request to a UE B, an arbitrary transmission side.
Meanwhile, if the RLC PDUs are transmitted to the UE B at time t1, the demultiplexing/routing part 408 demultiplexes the received RLC PDUs and provides its outputs to the reception buffer & retransmission manager 409. The reception buffer & retransmission manager 409 analyzes the SNs of the RLC PDUs provided from the demultiplexing/routing part 408, to determine whether an error has occurred in a specific RLC PDU. As a result of the analysis, if the SNs are not sequential, the reception buffer & retransmission manager 409 notifies an SN of a non-received RLC PDU to the RLC header setting part 407, and inserts this information into STATUS PDU of the RLC PDU to be transmitted. Upon receiving the STATUS PDU-inserted RLC PDU, the RNC A outputs the STATUS PDU-inserted RLC PDU to the RLC header extractor 410 through the demultiplexing/routing part 408 and the reception buffer & retransmission manager 409. Upon receiving the STATUS PDU-inserted RLC PDU, the RLC header extractor 410 transmits this information to the retransmission buffer 404 to perform retransmission. If the UE B successfully receives the retransmitted RLC PDUs, all of the RLC PDUs for constituting one SDU are stored in the reception buffer of the reception buffer & retransmission manager 409, and the stored RLC PDUs are output to the RLC header extractor 410. Here, since it is assumed that STATUS PDU is not added to the RLC PDU during transmission, the RLC header extractor 410 performs only an operation of removing the headers from the RLC PDUs, and the reassembled data is transmitted to the upper layer through the deciphering part 411 and the reassembler 412.
As described above, when the RLC operates in the AM, retransmission management of the transmission side is performed based on the retransmission information included in the STATUS PDU transmitted by the transmission side. STATUS PDU transmission of the reception side may be performed either periodically or when a specific condition is satisfied. Here, the "specific condition" refers to a case where the P bit of the received RLC PDU has 1 bit, or a case where SNs of the received RLC PDUs are not sequential. As stated before, the reception side temporarily stores the received RLC PDUs in its reception buffer, and then transmits the stored RLC PDUs to the upper layer if it can reassemble them into one SDU. If there is a non-received RLC PDU, the reception side stores the received RLC PDUs in its reception buffer, and waits until the non-received RLC PDU arrives.
To sum up, not only the communication system using the HSDPA technique performs retransmission on the retransmission information included in the STATUS PDU transmitted by the reception side, but also the MAC-h performs retransmission through a Uu interface (an interface between the UE and Node B), so there is possibility that the retransmission process will be duplicated (or overlapped). That is, if the RLC does not recognize the data currently undergoing the retransmission process in the MAC-h as a non-received RLC PDU, then unnecessary STATUS PDU is transmitted.
As described above, when the RLC operates in the AM, the RLC presumes that the lower layer sequentially transmits RLC PDUs. Therefore, upon receiving RLC PDUs with SN=1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 from the MAC, the RLC recognizes that the RLC PDUs with SN=3 and 4 are not received yet. In this case, the RLC sends a retransmission request to the RLC of the transmission side though the MAC-h performs retransmission. As a result, the RLC PDUs with SN=3 and 4 are subject to duplicated retransmission: one retransmission through the RLC ARQ and another retransmission through the HARQ.

Data retransmission apparatus and method in a mobile communication system


A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device in a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) and method of making the same are provided to achieve a high tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), good data retention, and a high level of thermal stability. The MTJ device includes a first free ferromagnetic layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) coupling layer, and a second free ferromagnetic layer, where the first and second free ferromagnetic layers have opposite magnetic moments.

MRAM (Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory) is a non-volatile memory that may utilize MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) devices, where the state of an MTJ device depends on the magnetic (electron-spin) orientation of its ferromagnetic layers. A STT-MTJ (Spin Torque Transfer MTJ) changes the spin orientation by using a switching current. To achieve high-density MRAM with good thermal stability and low switching current, attempts have been made to develop MTJ devices with a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). In a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (p-MTJ) having a free ferromagnetic layer, the orientation of the magnetic field in the free ferromagnetic layer is perpendicular to the interface between the barrier and ferromagnetic layers. It is desirable for a p-MTJ device to have a high tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), a high PMA, and good data retention.

Synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) coupled free layer for perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (P-MTJ)


A restraint system is provided for a mobile machine (1), in particular an industrial truck, with a driver's seat (2) and a safety belt (3). The restraint system has a variable-length mechanical connection (6) between a front part (4) of the roof that covers the driver's seat or the driver's cab and the safety belt (3). The variable-length mechanical connection (6) makes it easier for the operator to attach the safety belt (3). The operator will also attach the safety belt (3) because otherwise it will be difficult or impossible to use the control elements (5). The variable-length mechanical connection (6) simultaneously prevents bypassing of a device to detect whether the safety belt (3) is closed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a restraint system for a mobile machine, such as an industrial truck, with a driver's seat and a safety belt.
2. Technical Considerations
One of the most dangerous and most common types of accidents involving the operation of an industrial truck occurs when the operator is seated and the truck tips over, in which case the unprotected operator can fall out of the driver's cab and can be pinned beneath the industrial truck. A variety of restraint systems are currently used to prevent the driver from falling out of the truck. The most common of these systems have belts, in particular lap belts. However, the driver often finds it too much trouble to keep fastening and unfastening the belt, especially when he has to frequently climb into and out of the truck. Therefore, belt contact switches are commonly used to force the driver to fasten the belt since it is possible to operate the industrial truck only when the belt clip has been inserted into the belt buckle. However, this safety mechanism can be bypassed by looping the safety belt behind the backrest of the driver's seat and closing it, in which case the driver can operate the industrial truck unsafely in spite of the fact that the belt contact switch has been actuated.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a restraint system for a mobile machine, such as an industrial truck, with a driver's seat and a safety belt that permits the driver to enter and exit the cab easily and comfortably and simultaneously ensures that the belt is used correctly by a driver.


A diesel oxidation catalyst comprising a honeycomb substrate washcoated with a mixture of clay, a refractory oxide and a zeolite is disclosed. The washcoated substrate is subsequently deposited with a precious metal catalyst and a sulfur oxidation suppressant. In a preferred embodiment, the clay is acid-leached bentonite, the refractory oxide is zirconia or titania, the zeolite is beta-zeolite or Y-zeolite or ZSM-5 or mordenite, the precious metal catalyst is preferably platinum, and the sulfur oxidation suppressant is vanadium or vanadium oxide or a combination thereof

The present invention discloses a diesel oxidation catalyst comprising a honeycomb substrate washcoated with a mixture of clay, a refractory oxide and a zeolite, upon which is further deposited a precious metal catalyst and a sulfur oxidation suppressant. In a preferred embodiment, the clay is bentonite, the refractory oxide is zirconia or titania, the zeolite is beta-zeolite or Y-zeolite or ZSM-5 or mordenite, the precious metal catalyst is preferably platinum, and the sulfur oxidation suppressant is vanadium or vanadium oxide or a combination thereof
Internal combustion engines function by burning fuels (hydrocarbons) at high temperatures. In theory, the products of the combustion process are CO2 and water. But, it is not uncommon that the combustion process is incomplete resulting in the formation of undesirable byproducts are formed such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and soot. Other reactions occurring in internal combustion engines include the oxidation of nitrogen molecules to produce nitrogen oxides and the oxidation of sulfur to form SO2 and small percentage of SO3. Further, when the temperature decreases, the SO3 can react with H2O to form sulfuric acid. Other inorganic materials are formed as ash. The products of these reactions result in undesirable gaseous, liquid and solid emissions from internal combustion engine: gaseous emissions—carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide; liquid phase emissions—unburned fuel, lubricants, sulfuric acid; and, solid phase emissions—carbon (soot). The combination of liquid phase hydrocarbons, solid phase soot and sulfuric acid results in the formation of small size droplets often called total particulate matter. These emissions create pollution and are potential health risks.
Efforts have been made to develop exhaust gas cleaning catalysts for a number of years. U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,671 (issued to Saito et al., on Jun. 7, 1988) teaches an exhaust gas catalyst composition composed of a refractory three-dimensional structure with a catalytically active substance thereof The catalyst is designed to burn fine carbonaceous particles in an exhaust gas from an automobile engine, particularly a diesel engine, at lower temperatures. The refractory three-dimensional structure taught is a ceramic foam, an open-flow ceramic honeycomb, a wall-flow honeycomb monolithic body, a metal honeycomb or a metal foam. To obtain the desired exhaust gas cleaning, the refractory three-dimensional structure includes numerous irregularly arranged protrusions composed of refractory inorganic powder having a particle diameter of 5 to 300 micrometers or a mixture of it with refractory inorganic fibers and the catalytically active substance supported on the protrusions. The refractory inorganic powder taught is a powder of at least one material selected from the group consisting of active alumina, silica, titania, zirconia, silica-alumina, alumina-zirconia, alumina-titania, silica-titania, silica-zirconia, titania-zirconia and zeolite. In a claimed embodiment, the catalytically active substance is at least one of the group of platinum, palladium, and rhodium, and at least one element from the group of vanadium, iron, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, phosphorus, lead, zinc, tin, copper, chromium, manganese, cerium, lanthanum, silver, barium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, potassium, sodium, cesium and rubidium.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,975 (issued to Horiuchi et al., on May 13, 1997) teaches a method for purifying exhaust gases from a diesel engine by passing the exhaust gases through a honeycomb catalyst of specified geometry. The honeycomb catalyst comprises a flow-through metal or ceramic honeycomb carrier having 250 through cells per square inch parallel to the direction of flow of the exhaust gases and at least one catalytically active component deposited thereon selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, vanadium, molybdenum, copper, silver, gold, rare earth elements and partially substituted perovskite composite oxides having an oxygen vacancy, and optionally, at least one refractory inorganic oxide selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titania, zirconia, and zeolite.
However, neither the '671 patent nor the '975 patent teach or suggest that an acid-leached bentonite can be used in the catalyst. Acid-leaching of the bentonite results in a clay that has greater than about a 90 wt % silica content, allowing for greater dispersion of the precious metals within the catalyst and, hence, better performance of the catalyst as compared to catalysts of the prior art.

Catalyst for purifying diesel engine exhaust emissions


A plasma processing method in which performing a plasma etching on metal layers formed on a substrate is conducted to form a pattern having the metal layers in a stacked structure, and then a deposit containing a metal that forms the metal layers and being deposited on a sidewall portion of the pattern is removed, the method includes: forming a protective layer by forming an oxide or chloride of the metal on sidewall portions of the metal layers; removing the deposit by applying a plasma of a gas containing fluorine atoms; and reducing the oxide or chloride of the metal by applying a plasma containing hydrogen after forming the protective layer and removing the deposit.

In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, plasma processing such as etching processing has been conventionally performed on a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer using a plasma and, for instance, formation of a stacked pattern structure having layers containing a metal such as titanium (Ti) and tungsten (W) has been conducted with the use of plasma etching. Note that as a technology to perform etching on tungsten (W), there has been known one that uses a gas obtained by mixing a gas containing fluorine atoms, a gas containing chlorine atoms, and an oxygen gas, or the like, for example (refer to Reference 1, for instance).
When the pattern structure containing the metal such as titanium (Ti) and tungsten (W) is formed by using the plasma etching as described above, a deposit (deposited substance) containing the metal sometimes remains on a sidewall of the pattern. If formation of CVD film is carried out in a post-process in a state where the deposit containing the metal still remains, the deposit containing the metal sometimes becomes a cause (nucleus) of abnormal growth. For this reason, there is a need to remove the deposit containing the metal.
As a method of removing a deposit containing a metal generated at a time of performing etching on a metal film, a method using wet cleaning has been known. Further, there has been known a method of removing a deposit containing a metal using heating processing or gas processing using a fluorine-containing gas (refer to Reference 2, for instance).
Reference 1: JP-A 10-178014 (KOKAI)
Reference 2: JP-A 2000-082693 (KOKAI)
Among the above-described methods of removing the deposit containing the metal generated at the time of performing etching on the metal film, the method using the wet cleaning has a problem that a pattern collapse may occur.
Meanwhile, the method with the use of the heating processing or the gas processing using the fluorine-containing gas has a problem that a deposit capable of being removed is limited, and thus the removal cannot be conducted depending on deposits. Further, there is a problem that if a deposit which cannot be removed by the method with the use of the heating processing or the gas processing using the fluorine-containing gas is tried to be removed using a plasma, a metal layer included in a pattern structure is etched (side-etched), resulting in that the pattern becomes thin.

Plasma processing method and manufacturing method of semiconductor device


A device is described for removing a mushroom-shape stopper from a wine bottle. It includes: (a) a support frame having a bottom ring member adapted to engage the neck of a wine bottle, a top cap member with a threaded hole extending therethrough and at least two circumferentially spaced longitudinal rods extending between the top cap and bottom ring, (b) a threaded shaft having an upper end and a lower end mounted in the top cap threaded hole, this shaft having a handle mounted on the upper end thereof, and (c) a stopper gripping and pulling member comprising a bridge member connected to the lower end of the threaded shaft such that the threaded shaft is free to rotate relative to the bridge member while being fixed against relative axial movement, guideways in the bridge member for receiving the support frame longitudinal rods thereby preventing rotation of the bridge member, a pair of opposed stopper gripping arms extending downwardly from the bridge member, these gripping arms having at the lower ends thereof inwardly extending gripper dogs adapted to slide downwardly over a mushroom-style stopper and grip the stopper for pulling and these gripper arms being further adapted to swing outwardly from the bridge member to release a pulled stopper.

This invention relates to a device for removing a stopper from a bottle, and more particularly, for removing a mushroom-shaped stopper from a wine bottle.
It is now commonplace to use a form of plastic stopper for wine bottles, particularly sparkling wine or champagne bottles. These plastic stoppers have the advantage of being very inexpensive, but they do present problems that are avoided with traditional bottle corks. Thus, when removing traditional corks, a cork screw is turned into the cork for pulling and this not only provides a pulling means but also a means for controlling the cork from flying when released from the bottle. It is not possible to use a cork screw with a plastic stopper and, therefore, these stoppers are formed with a bulbous head as a means for grasping the stopper for pulling. Because this is not a very efficient means for pulling, it is commonplace to form the stopper with a relatively loose fit in the bottle and provide a wire cage over the bulbous head to hold the stopper from accidentally releasing due to pressure in the bottle. This pressure may be as high as 40 psi. Also, when the plastic stopper is released it frequently becomes a dangerous projectile with the release of gas pressure in the bottle and has caused serious eye injuries. Because the plastic stopper is a dangerous projectile, some wine makers for safety reasons actually use much more expensive mushroom-shaped stoppers formed from cork. A cork stopper inflicts much less damage as a projectile than does a plastic stopper.
There is still a need for a very simple and inexpensive device which is very easy to use and which is capable of removing a plastic bottle stopper without allowing the stopper to become a projectile. To be commercially viable, the device must also be very easy to use, while being formed from a bare minimum of plastic parts.
Numerous devices have heretofore been proposed for removing stoppers from bottles. A particularly significant design is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,214 which issued Jul. 12, 1988. The device of this patent goes a long way to meeting the above criteria in terms of safety but it remains a relatively complicated device including a slidable collar to permit engagement with the mouth of the bottle.
An example of the use of a wire cage to prevent accidental release of a stopper is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,033. Because a stopper will sometimes pop out by itself when the wire cage is removed, it is important that the stopper pulling device be designed such that the wire cage can be loosened after the pulling device has been placed on the bottle.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a stopper pulling device particularly for wine bottles which will not only be convenient and safe to use, but also be simple and very inexpensive to manufacture thereby making it readily accessible to all wine consumers.


The present invention is a method of using the BK enhancer in tandem with a eukaryotic promoter to promote transcription of DNA that encodes a useful substance. The method of the present invention requires the presence of the E1A gene product for maximum expression of the useful substance. The present invention also comprises a number of useful expression vectors that comprise the BK enhancer in tandem with the adenovirus 2 late promoter positioned to drive expression of a variety of proteins, such as protein C, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, and tissue plasminogen activator. The present invention further comprises a method for increasing the activity of the BK enhancer involving placement of the BK enhancer immediately upstream of the eukaryotic promoter used in tandem with the BK enhancer to drive expression of a useful substance. Furthermore, the present invention also comprises a method for coamplification of genes in primate cells. Additionally, the invention further comprises the recombinant human protein C molecule produced in 293 cells which comprises novel glycosylation patterns.

The present invention concerns a method of using the BK enhancer in the presence of an immediate-early gene product of a large DNA virus to increase transcription of a recombinant gene in eukaryotic host cells. The BK enhancer is a defined segment of DNA that consists of three repeated sequences (the prototype BK enhancer is depicted in Example 17, below). However, a wide variety of BK enhancer variants, not all consisting of three repeated sequences, are known in the art and suitable for use in the invention.
The BK enhancer sequence exemplified herein is obtained from BK virus, a human papovavirus that was first isolated from the urine of an immunosuppressed patient. BK virus is suspected of causing an unapparent childhood infection and is ubiquitous in the human population. Although BK virus grows optimally in human cells, the virus undergoes an abortive cycle in non-primate cells, transforms rodent cells in vitro, and induces tumors in hamsters. BK virus is very similar to SV40, but the enhancer sequences of the two papovaviruses, SV40 and BK, differ substantially in nucleotide sequence. The complete nucleotide sequence of BK virus (.about.5.2 kb) has been disclosed by Seif et al., 1979, Cell 18:963, and Yang and Wu, 1979, Science 206:456. Prototype BK virus is available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, Md. 20852-1776, under the accession number ATCC VR-837. A restriction site and function map of prototype BK virus is presented in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Enhancer elements are cis-acting and increase the level of transcription of an adjacent gene from its promoter in a fashion that is relatively independent of the position and orientation of the enhancer element. In fact, Khoury and Gruss, 1983, Cell 33:313, state that "the remarkable ability of enhancer sequences to function upstream from, within, or downstream from eukaryotic genes distinguishes them from classical promoter elements . . . " and suggest that certain experimental results indicate that "enhancers can act over considerable distances (perhaps >10 kb)."
The present invention teaches that unexpected increases in transcription result upon positioning the BK enhancer immediately upstream of (on the 5' side of) the "CAAT" region of a eukaryotic promoter that is used in tandem with the BK enhancer to transcribe a DNA sequence encoding a useful substance. The CAAT region or "immediate upstream region" or "-80 homology sequence" is a cis-acting upstream element that is a conserved region of nucleotides observed in promoters whose sequences for transcriptional activity have been dissected. The CAAT region is found in many, but not all, promoters. In other promoters, equivalent cis-acting upstream elements are found, including SP1 binding sites, the octa sequence, nuclear factor 1 binding sites, the AP1 and AP2 homologies, glucocorticoid response elements, and heat shock response elements. The CAAT region equivalent in the adenovirus major late promoter is the upstream transcription factor (UTF) binding site (approximate nucleotides -50 to -65 upstream of the CAP site). The CAAT sequence mediates the efficiency of transcription and, with few exceptions, cannot be deleted without decreasing promoter strength.
Enhancer elements have been identified in a number of viruses, including polyoma virus, papilloma virus, adenovirus, retrovirus, hepatitis virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus, papovaviruses, such as simian virus 40 (SV40) and BK, and in many non-viral genes, such as within mouse immunoglobulin gene introns. Enhancer elements may also be present in a wide variety of other organisms. Host cells often react differently to different enhancer elements. This cellular specificity indicates that host gene products interact with the enhancer element during gene expression.
Enhancer elements can also interact with viral gene products present in the host cell. Velcich and Ziff, 1983, Cell 40:705; Borrelli et al., 1984, Nature 312:608; and Hen et al., 1985, Science 230:1391, disclose that the adenovirus-2 early region 1A (E1A) gene products repress activation of transcription induced by the SV40, polyoma virus, mouse immunoglobulin gene and adenovirus-2 E1A enhancers. Eukaryotic expression vectors that utilized enhancers to increase transcription of recombinant genes consequently were not expected to work better than vectors without enhancers in E1A-containing host cells. In striking contrast to the prior art methods of using enhancers, the present method for using the BK virus enhancer element involves using the E1A gene product or a similar immediate-early gene product of a large DNA virus to maximize gene expression. Thus, the present invention teaches that the ability of the BK enhancer to promote transcription of DNA is increased in the presence of the E1A gene product of any adenovirus.
The E1A gene product (actually, the E1A gene produces two products, which are collectively referred to herein as "the E1A gene product") is an immediate-early gene product of adenovirus, a large DNA virus. The present invention encompasses the use of any immediate-early gene product of a large DNA virus that functions similarly to the E1A gene product to increase the activity of the BK enhancer. The herpes simplex virus ICP4 protein, described by DeLuca et al., 1985, Mol. Cell. Biol. 5: 1997-2008, the pseudorabies virus IE protein, described by Feldman et al., 1982 P.N.A.S. 79:4952-4956, and the E1B protein of adenovirus are all immediate-early gene products of large DNA viruses that have functions similar to the E1A protein. Therefore, the method of the present invention includes the use of the ICP4, IE, or E1B proteins, either in the presence or absence of E1A protein, to increase the activity of the BK enhancer.

Method of using eukaryotic expression vectors comprising the BK virus enhancer


A portable electronic device with an inverted-type hinge has a cover connected to a stationary bracket, a side shell connected to a tilting assembly, a cover connected to an inverting assembly and a sliding assembly being eccentric to a tilting shaft. With cooperation between the inverting assembly and the tilting assembly, the cover may be inverted to reveal a display that leans against the base. Therefore, the user easily touches the display without pivoting the cover. Furthermore, the sliding assembly lifts the cover while the cover is opened relative to the base to prevent the cover from impacting the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inverted-type hinge, especially to an inverted-type hinge mounted between a cover and a base of a portable electronic device to provide pivoting and tilting.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
With the variation of the life style, portable electronic devices such as notebook computers and cell phones are indispensable to modern people. Further due to continual progress of technology, touch panels have become standard units for portable electronic device. Especially for some conditions such as playing games and showing data, users only need the touch panel as both an input interface and an output interface. However, a conventional hinge provides a cover of a portable electronic device to tilt at a certain angle. When the user touches the touch panel on the tilted cover, the cover is easily pivoted because of stress from the user. Therefore, the conventional hinge is not convenient for user to use the touch panel on the cover.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an inverted-type hinge to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Inverted-type hinge and a portable electronic device


A smart igniter bus system has a repeater connected by a bus to a controller, and one or more smart igniters connected by the bus to the repeater so that the repeater is between the smart igniters and the controller. The repeater receives data transmitted on the bus by the controller and processes the signal sent by the controller with onboard logic. Utilizing the onboard logic, the repeaters are preprogrammed to rebroadcast control signals sent by the controller or to only rebroadcast selected signals, or to generate and transmit new command signals.

The present invention relates to smart igniter detonators in general and to systems for communicating with smart igniter detonators in particular.
A critical factor in the safe use of explosives and pyrotechnic devices is to make the explosive material or gas generating material relatively insensitive to environmental factors which might initiate an explosion or deflagration. This is normally accomplished by a combination of packaging and choice of reactive materials. The insensitivity of the reactive materials making up the gas generator or the explosive should ideally be extended to the initiation charge as well as the primary charge. This has resulted in the development of initiators in which a nonexplosive material is caused to explode by electrical means. The result is an explosive or gas generator charge that is relatively insensitive to shock, temperature, and even electromagnetic interference.
Classically a so-called hot-wire detonator initiates an explosive charge or gas generator by heating a wire in contact with the initiation charge. Such initiation requires an initiation charge that is relatively sensitive and requires the transmission of a substantial amount of current to the detonator.
Smart igniters are a class of devices which combine a nonthermal igniter, typically a semiconductor bridge igniter with a microprocessor, together with the necessary electrical components for accumulating and discharging an electrical charge to activate the igniter. The microprocessor allows the smart igniter to interface with a databus for transmitting status data, and for receiving a digitally encoded initiation/detonation signal, as explained more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,756, which is incorporated herein by reference. The advantages of the smart igniter are that: the status of each igniter may be continually monitored, multiple igniters may be electrically connected in parallel by a single pair of wires making up a data bus, and ignition is under computer control by sending a signal to the unique address that allows each smart igniter to be individually controlled.
Using smart igniters places individual igniters on what amounts to a data bus or network which is inevitably subject to the limitations of all data transmission, which is that of the signal transmitted over electrical lines becoming degraded. Where the electrical characteristics of wire transmission lengths exceed hundreds of feet or yards, the result is large values of electrical capacitance and inductance. It is well known that using transmission wire cables with large values of capacitance and inductance creates problems with analog and digital communications including data latency, signal amplitude and power loss, and loss of waveform data pulse shape and timing accuracy and integrity. To gain full advantage of the benefits available through the use of smart igniters, a system of data bus repeaters is needed for use where the transmission of data between smart igniters is degraded by the length of the transmission lines.
The smart igniter bus system of this invention comprises a controller, a repeater connected by a bus to the controller, and one or more smart igniters connected by the bus to the repeater so that the repeater is between the smart igniters and the controller. The repeater receives data transmitted on the bus by the controller and processes the signal sent by the controller, with onboard logic. Utilizing the onboard logic the repeaters may be preprogrammed to, or may be instructed by the controller, to rebroadcast control signals sent by the controller, to only rebroadcast selected signals, or to generate and transmit new command signals. The repeaters also transmit power downstream of the repeater, for use by subsequent repeaters and the smart igniters.
The repeater thus provides the functionality of receiving and correcting a signal degraded by transmission line properties, the ability to command a greater number of smart igniters by reusing bus addresses, and blocking transmission of signals which are unneeded by the smart igniters which follow the repeater. The repeater also provides functionality between the smart igniters and the controller by receiving signals transmitted from the start igniters and again performing one or more of the functions of: correcting a signal degraded by transmission line properties, adding additional addressing information to a transmitted signal, and preventing retransmission of information unnecessary to be received by the controller.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a smart igniter system which can function with long data bus transmission lines.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide a smart igniter system which can reduce traffic on some bus segments without reducing functionality.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a smart igniter system which can increase the number of smart igniters which can be addressed on a single bus.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


The system is provided to calibrate the ECU of the vehicle. The system comprises a remote computer, a central server, a local computer and setup comprising at least a dynamo meter, and at least one actuator. The dynamo meter and the actuator are interfaced and operated with the local computer. The central server is connected to the local computer by a second networking means, and a remote computer is connected to the central server by a first networking means. The remote computer, uploads instructions to the central server, executes the instructions through the local computer to operate the dynamo meter and the actuator, and calibrates the ECU of the vehicle. The instructions are downloaded to the local computer by the second networking means.

A delivery of a software/instructions for calibration of a vehicle (such as a series software, a development software) is presently done through E-Mail or through separate server for each customer. When a new software is introduced, the customer has to be trained on the changes and calibration process for the same. Each customer performs calibration in different methods. An expert calibration engineer has to go to customer location often, to do part or complete calibration of different functionalities of the vehicle.
The calibration of Engine Management System (EMS) or Engine Control Unit (ECU) takes place in the dynamometer. The dynamometer is either an engine dynamometer or a chassis dynamometer. The ECU comprises complex functionalities. There are a lot of MAPS and curves available in the ECU. The MAPs/Curves must be calibrated with accurate values to get the desired performance out of the engine. Presently most of the calibration activities in the chassis dynamometer is done manually. It requires a lot of test iterations which results in increased development time and cost. It requires a lot of effort for verification of calibration and preparation of the report. Most of the process have to be repeated if any improvement is required.
The vehicle operating points has to be changed frequently as the calibration goes on. When the drive cycle measurements are done, a human driver drives the vehicle on the dynamometer. To match the required vehicle driven point, the driver controls the throttle, clutch, gear and break manually. The accuracy of test result depends on the human error. Throttle position, gear, clutch, break, dynamometer rotary speed and dyno blower speed are to be controlled. Manually controlling these parameters requires a lot of attention and time. Most of the time the accuracy and reproducibility are less.
Hence, there is a need for a system which provides a common platform for calibration services, enabling exchange of automated calibration instructions and results of calibration. Further, there is a need for the system to automate the calibration of the ECU of the vehicle.

System and method to calibrate an engine control unit (ECU) of a vehicle

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Private Limited


A train control system includes an on-board device 3 mounted on a train 2; a vehicle radio set 4; wayside radio sets 5 that are disposed on a ground; and ground devices 6 disposed in every control sections defined on the track. In each control section, the ground device 6 is connected to the wayside radio sets 5 in the control section. When one ground device 6 fails to transmit information to and receive information from another ground device 6, the one ground device 6 determines that said another ground device 6 has been failed, and then, the one ground device 6 calculates a possible travel distance to a control section of the failed ground device 6 to prevent the train 2 from entering the control section of the failed ground device 6, and then, the one ground device 6 transmits the possible travel distance to the on-board device 3.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a train control system, and more specifically, relates to a train control system that can determine that a ground device has failed, to reliably prevent a train from entering a control section of the failed ground device.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, in a train control system using a so-called radio distance measurement system, a vehicle radio set is mounted on a train, and a wireless network is formed between the vehicle radio set and a plurality of wayside radio sets, which is spatially separated and disposed along a wayside of a track on which the train travels, and then, a wireless propagation delay (time) between an on-board antenna of the vehicle radio set and a wayside antenna of the wayside radio set is measured, to detect a train location, so that the train control is performed based on the detected train location.
Furthermore, as such a train control system using the radio distance measurement system, conventionally, for example, a technique including: a wireless train location detecting unit that detects a train location on a predetermined track based on a propagation time of a radio wave between a vehicle radio set mounted on a train travelling on the predetermined track and a ground radio set disposed at a predetermined location on the ground; a travel distance calculating unit that calculates a travel distance of the train on the predetermined track based on an output signal of a tachometer generator connected to an axle of the train; a temporary reference location setting unit that sets the detected train location detected by the wireless train location detecting unit as a predetermined temporary reference location; and a train location detection calculating unit that detects a train location on the predetermined track based on the travel distance calculated by the travel distance calculating unit based on the temporary reference location set by the temporary reference location setting unit, has been disclosed (see, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2007-331629, for example).
However, in the conventional technique, although there is no problem while each ground device is normally operated, there might have been a problem when a ground device fails, that is, the ground device may fail to transmit information to and receive information from a wayside radio set controlled by the failed ground device. When the ground device has thus failed, there might be a problem in that the transmission of information to and reception of information from the train may fail, so that a location of the train cannot be detected, and thus, travel control of the train cannot be performed, that is, it is extremely dangerous. In addition, there might be another problem in that once the ground device has failed, a complicated restoring work may be required.


The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the selective beta 1 (B1)-receptor blocker nebivolol and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a liquid vehicle comprising a semifluorinated alkane. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is useful for topical administration, for example ophthalmic topical administration and for use in the treatment of glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, ocular hypertension and/or a symptom associated therewith.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the selective beta 1 (β1)-receptor blocker nebivolol and a liquid vehicle comprising a semifluorinated alkane. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is useful for topical administration, especially ophthalmic topical administration.
Pharmaceutical compositions in liquid form represent one of the preferred types of drug formulations. Certain routes of topical administration, such as ophthalmic administration, typically require the liquid form in order to provide for an efficient delivery of the active ingredient and a patient-friendly mode of use.
The simplest type of liquid formulation is a solution, such as an aqueous solution of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. In certain cases, however, the development of a more complex formulation such as a suspension may be considered. For example, if a drug substance is very poorly soluble in aqueous or other biocompatible solvent systems, or if it is hydrolytically labile, a simple solution may not be feasible or represent the best choice.
Nebivolol belongs to a class of compounds named beta-blockers—a class of medications that are used to manage abnormal heart rhythms and to protect the heart from a second heart attack after a first heart attack (secondary prevention). They are also widely used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Beta-blockers are also used in the treatment of glaucoma. Beta-blockers act by blocking beta-receptors at the level of the ciliary body and by reducing the aqueous humour production, thereby reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP). Two types of topical beta-blockers are available for use in the treatment of glaucoma: Non-selective beta-blockers, which block both beta 1 (β1)- and beta 2 (β2)-adrenoceptors; and cardio-selective beta blockers, which block only beta 1-receptors. Of the beta-blockers commercially available, timolol, levobunolol, metipranolol and carteolol are nonselective; betaxolol is a cardio-selective beta-blocker. The most serious side effects of beta-blockers are the exacerbation of chronic obstructive airways disease with nonselective agents and the precipitation of bronchospasm in some patients.
Nebivolol is a beta 1 (β1)-receptor blocker with nitric oxide-potentiating vasodilatory effect used in treatment of hypertension and also for left ventricular failure. It is highly cardio-selective under certain circumstances. It is therapeutically used in form of a racemic mixture of its hydrochloride salt and displays negative inotropic as well as direct vasodilating activity.
Increased intraocular pressure is a frequent disorder of the eye which is often associated with optic nerve damage, in which case the disease is glaucoma. In the absence of optic nerve damage, the condition is referred to as ocular hypertension.
Normal intraocular pressure is usually defined as being in the range from 10 to 21 mmHg. The pressure results predominantly from balance between the production rate and the drainage rate of the aqueous humour in the eye. In addition, it is influenced by the corneal thickness and rigidity. The intraocular pressure typically fluctuates around about 15 to 16 mmHg with amplitudes of up to 6 mmHg. For example, it usually decreases in the night due to a decreased production of aqueous humour. It also responds to various physiological factors such as exercise, heart rate, respiration, fluid intake, as well as certain types of systemic or topical drugs.
The aqueous humour is produced by the ciliary bodies of the eye, from where it flows into the posterior chamber. The composition of the aqueous humour is very similar to that of blood plasma but differs from the latter by a lower protein content. Its main constituents are water (99%), electrolytes (inorganic ions to maintain the physiological pH), low amounts of albumin and β-globulins, ascorbate, glucose, lactate, and amino acids.
From the posterior chamber, the aqueous humour is distributed via the pupil of the iris into the anterior chamber of the eye. From here, it flows through the so-called trabecular meshwork, which is a spongy tissue area lined by trabeculocytes whose main function is to drain the humour into a set of tubes called Schlemm's canal, from where the humour enters the blood circulation. The humour flow from the trabecular meshwork into the Schlemm's canal occurs via two different routes: either directly via the aqueous vein to the episcleral vein, or indirectly via collector channels to the episcleral vein by intrascleral plexus. This trabecular outflow pathway accounts for the major fraction of drained aqueous humour. In addition, there exists a second major drainage pathway which is the uveoscleral outflow, which is relatively independent of the intraocular pressure and normally accounts for only 5 to 10% of the aqueous humour drainage in healthy humans.
WO2008/136034 A2 describes the use of nebivolol or a salt or an ester thereof for the production of a medicament for lowering ocular hypertension. Nebivolol is formulated as an emulsion comprising, among others, soybean oil, egg yolk phospholipids and glycerol; as an oil solution comprising soybean oil; and as an ophthalmic ointment comprising liquid paraffine and vaseline. In animal studies the animals are treated with 100 μl 1% nebivolol in emulsion per eye.
D. Szummy et al. describe in Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol (2014) 252:917-923 experiments in which the effect of nebivolol on intraocular pressure is studied. Therein, solutions of nebivolol are administered orally or topically into a conjunctival sac of a rabbits' eyes. The nebivolol solutions are administered in concentrations of 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% in a volume of 1 drop (50 μl). No indication is given, however, regarding the exact composition of the solution, especially not with regard to the solvent used.
WO2016/108130 A1 describes in the experimental section dispersions of nebivolol hydrochloride in paraffin and the preparation of gels comprising nebivolol hydrochloride for the treatment of diabetic wounds.
As an alternative to aqueous preparations, oily eye drops may be formulated if the respective drug substance is poorly water-soluble or prone to hydrolytic degradation. However, one of the major disadvantages of all oil-based formulations for ophthalmic administration is that they inherently have a negative impact on vision. Whether used as oily solutions or oil-in-water emulsions, they exhibit a refractive index which differs substantially from that of physiological tear fluid, which leads to visual disturbances and blurring.
Moreover, oil-based formulations do not readily mix with tear fluid to form a homogenous liquid phase. Oily solutions are altogether immiscible with the aqueous tear fluid, and the exact fate of an emulsion mixed with tear fluid in a physiological setting is not completely predictable. Further, oily carrier such as medium chain triglycerides (MCT) are known to cause a strong burning sensation upon instillation to the eye.
Furthermore, oil-in-water emulsions are like aqueous solutions prone to microbial contamination during use. If they were to be presented in multi-dose containers which are in principle more cost-efficient and convenient for patients than single-use vials, they would have to be preserved in order to ensure their microbiological quality. At the same time, preservatives which can be used in ophthalmic formulations are potentially damaging to the eye, in particular to the ocular surface, and should be avoided whenever possible.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel pharmaceutical formulation comprising nebivolol and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which can be useful as a medicament, particularly for topical applications. It is a further object of the present invention to find a treatment of increased intraocular pressure, e.g. in association with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, which overcomes at least one of the limitations or disadvantages associated with prior art formulations.
A further object of the present invention is to provide liquid formulations of nebivolol and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which shows advantageous long-term stability.
A further object of the present invention is to provide liquid formulations of nebivolol and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which is effective in decreasing intraocular pressure at reduced target dosage.
Further objects of the invention will become clear on the basis of the following description, examples, and patent claims.

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising nebivolol


A user interface for operating the air conditioner of a vehicle is disclosed. The user interface includes a display apparatus configured to receive a user input for the air conditioner, and a controller configured to output activation indication and deactivation indication in multiple areas of the vehicle in response to the user input and a time point, and control the display apparatus to change the activation indication and deactivation indication.

A vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner to keep the air environment comfortable according to various changes in the surroundings. The air conditioner may include a cooling device that maintains a low temperature and a heating device that maintains a high temperature.
In the air conditioner where a synchronization (SYNC) control of a driver's seat and a passenger's seat is performed, a wind is coming in a direction of the passenger's seat, but there is a problem that a user interface does not indicate that the wind is coming out, so that a user may misunderstand that the wind is not being discharged.
In addition, even if the user interface indicates whether or not blowing air is operated in the direction of the passenger's seat, there is a disadvantage that the user may be mistaken for a malfunction because the user interface cannot receive a user input.
The information included in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the present disclosure and may not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

User interface for operating air conditioner of vehicle and method of controlling the same


A wavelength converter for generating a wavelength tunable laser optical source in itself is disclosed. The wavelength converter includes a first semiconductor optical amplifier for generating an optical noise, generating and outputting a first optical source by amplifying the generated optical noise if an external current is applied, first and second distributed Bragg reflectors for reflecting only a component of a specified wavelength range among components of the optical noise and applying the reflected component to the first semiconductor optical amplifier, and a second semiconductor optical amplifier for receiving an optical source divided from the optical source reflected by and outputted from the first distributed Bragg reflector and an input data optical source, generating and outputting a second optical source by changing a phase of the divided optical source according to a digital signal from the input data optical source. The first and second optical sources outputted from the first and second semiconductor optical amplifiers are added together, and a signal of which the wavelength is converted through either a constructive interference or a destructive interference of the added first and second optical sources is outputted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wavelength converter capable of generating a wavelength tunable laser optical source in itself without any separate wavelength tunable laser and using the generated optical source as a probe optical source of the wavelength converter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, with a rapid increase of the amount of information at home and abroad, the capacity of a transmission system has become massive. Particularly, a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system that can efficiently use wide bandwidths provided by optical fiber using optical wavelengths of various channels becomes a matter of great concern. The core element in a communication network of a transmission system using such a WDM system is an optical wavelength converter in addition to an optical amplifier.
The optical wavelength converter is a device for converting the wavelength of a transmitted signal irrespective of a transmission speed or a transmission type, and plays the following role. First, it reduces blocking due to a wavelength contention in a WDM communication network, and makes it possible to usefully reuse the wavelength. Second, it increases the flexibility and capacity of a network with respect to fixed wavelengths. Third, it makes it possible to distribute and manage the network and enables protection switching to be performed more easily.
Schemes for implementing the optical wavelength converter that plays the above-described role using a semiconductor optical amplifier (hereinafter referred to as an "SOA") have mainly been researched. First is an XGM (Cross Gain Modulation) system that uses an XGM characteristic in the SOA and that is implemented most simply. Second is an XPM (Cross Phase Modulation) system that uses an XPM characteristic in the SOA.
Since the XPM system has a relatively simple structure and has a superior wavelength conversion performance with respect to a high-speed data, it is used in diverse fields.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type SOA-XPM wavelength converter. Referring to FIG. 1, the operation of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type SOA-XPM wavelength converter will now be explained. First, if a pump optical signal having a wavelength of λS is inputted to SOA1, the carrier density in an SOA1 active layer is decreased due to a stimulated emission. Accordingly, the index of refraction of the active layer is changed, and thus if the probe signal having a wavelength of λC passes through the SOA1, a phase change occurs. Accordingly, if an output pulse signal outputted from the SOA1 and a CW (Continuous Wave) signal outputted from SOA2 are added together at a Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type output terminal and the two signals are in an out-of-phase condition, a destructive interference occurs between the signals and no signal is outputted, while if the two signals are in an in-phase condition, a constructive interference occurs between the signals and a signal is outputted. At this time, information of the pump optical signal having a wavelength of λS is transferred to the probe signal having a wavelength of λC to cause a wavelength conversion to occur.
In the Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type SOA-XPM wavelength converter as described above, the CW probe optical signal having a wavelength of λC of which the wavelength conversion should be performed is used as an input of the wavelength converter together with the pump optical signal having a wavelength of λS which carries digital data information. Generally, the probe optical signal is provided using a separate optical source outside the wavelength converter, and this causes the whole size of the wavelength converter to increase. Also, in consideration of the case in which diverse wavelengths are subject to wavelength conversion, a continuously or discretely wavelength-tunable optical source is required. Additionally, diverse researches for integrating the probe optical source and the wavelength converter in consideration of the above-described problem have been made.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a wavelength converter into which a DFB (Distributed Feed-Back) laser is integrated. Referring to FIG. 2, the wavelength converter into which the DFB laser is integrated is provided by integrating the DFB laser onto the same semiconductor substrate as the probe optical source of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type SOA-XPM wavelength converter as illustrated in FIG. 1. However, the maximum wavelength tunable range of the DFB laser is generally limited to about 2 nm. In order to improve this, a treatise on a case that a wavelength tunable laser is integrated into a wavelength converter as a probe optical source that is operable in a wide wavelength range has recently been published.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an SOA-XPM wavelength converter into which a wavelength tunable laser is integrated. Referring to FIG. 3, the tunable laser 40 includes an optical gain medium 10 for providing an optical gain, a phase shift medium 20 for adjusting an optical phase and first and second distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) 30a and 30b operating as optical mirrors or reflectors. The first distributed Bragg reflector 30a is located in the front of the optical gain medium 10, and the second distributed Bragg reflector 30b is located in the rear of the optical gain medium 10.
By applying current to the first and second distributed Bragg reflectors 30a and 30b and the phase shift medium 20, the laser 40 is controlled to oscillate at a desired wavelength. The first and second distributed Bragg reflectors 30a and 30b perform a coarse tuning so that the tunable laser 40 oscillates at a desired wavelength. In addition, the phase shift medium 20 performs a fine tuning. By applying current from an outside source to the optical gain medium 10, the strength of the output optical source of the tunable laser 40 is controlled. The tunable laser 40 is operable even in the wavelength range of 30 nm or more ([IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 15, no. 8, 2003], [IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 16, no. 10, 2004]).
However, since the wavelength converter into which the tunable laser is integrated as illustrated in FIG. 3 is obtained by integrating the tunable laser together with the wavelength converter, it is difficult to miniaturize the wavelength converter and its power consumption becomes great.

Wavelength converter for generating wavelength tunable laser optical source in itself


The invention provides antimicrobial compositions having reduced inhalation risks by combining ammonium compounds and polymers in combination with optional acid components, surfactants and/or additional functional ingredients. The antimicrobial compositions which have a reduced risk of inhalation. Methods of making and employing the compositions are disclosed.

Antimicrobial agents are chemical compositions that are used to prevent microbiological contamination and deterioration of products, materials, mediums (such as water process streams) and systems. Antimicrobial agents and compositions are used, for example, as disinfectants or sanitizers in association with hard surface cleaning, food preparation, animal feed, cooling water, hospitality services, hospital and medical uses, pulp and paper manufacturing, cleaning textiles, and water processing. Of the diverse categories of antimicrobial agents and compositions, quaternary ammonium compounds represent one of the largest of the classes of agents in use. At low concentrations, quaternary ammonium type antimicrobial agents are bacteriostatic, fungistatic, algistatic, sporostatic, and tuberculostatic. At medium concentrations they are bactericidal, fungicidal, algicidal, and viricidal against lipophilic viruses. However, at high concentrations, generally greater than about 2 to 3 wt. %, they demonstrate acute toxicity. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, contact with quaternary ammonium compounds cause contact dermatitis and nasal irritation. Further, certain quaternary ammonium compounds are respiratory sensitizers and are associated with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Personal protection and proper ventilation are required in handling and use of quaternary ammonium compounds in order to limit the inhalation amount. Per the United States Environmental Protection Agency Health Effects Test Guidelines, OPPTS 870.1300 for Acute Inhalation Toxicity, during the development of a generating system for such compositions, particle size analysis should be performed to establish the stability of aerosol concentrations. The mass median aerodynamic diameter particle size should be between 1-4 micrometers. The particle size of hydgroscopic materials should be small enough when dry to assure that the size of the swollen particle will still be within the 1-4 micrometer range.
Further, spray devices create a spray pattern of the composition that contacts the target hard surface. The majority of the composition comes to reside on the target surface, while a small portion of the sprayable composition may become an airborne aerosol or mist consisting of small particles (e.g. an airborne mist or finely divided aerosol) of the cleaning composition that can remain suspended or dispersed in the atmosphere surrounding the dispersal site for a period of time, such as between about 5 seconds to about 10 minutes. Such airborne mist or finely divided aerosol generated during the spraying process can present a substantial problem
Such aqueous compositions having a strong base cleaning component in the form of a finely divided aerosol or mist can cause respiratory distress in a user. To alleviate the respiratory distress, some sprayable aqueous compositions have been formulated with reduced quantities of the alkaline cleaning components. Strong caustic has been replaced by reduced alkalinity bases such as bicarbonate or by solvent materials. However, the reduction in concentration or substitution of these materials can often reduce the cleaning activity and effectiveness of the material when used. This necessitates the use of organic surfactants or glycol, alkyl ether or dimethyl sulfoxide solvent materials to enhance the detergent properties of the reduced alkaline materials. Despite improvements seen in sprayable aqueous compositions there remains a need for improved compositions having reduced misting and therefore reduced inhalation, while providing efficacious cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting.
Development and improvements to polymers for various uses include those disclosed in EP 202,780 disclosing particulate cross-linked copolymers of acrylamide with at least 5 mole percent dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate; U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,725 disclosing the addition of a cross-linking agent both at the beginning, and during the polymerization process under conditions such that its availability for reaction is substantially constant throughout the process; EP 374,458 disclosing water-soluble branched high molecular weight cationic polymers; EP 363,024 disclosing chain transfer agent at the conclusion of polymerization of a DADMAC/acrylamide copolymer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,775 disclosing use of substantially linear cationic polymers such as acrylamide/dimethylaminoethyl acrylate methyl chloride quaternary salt copolymers; U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,381 disclosing branched cationic polyacrylamide powder such as an acrylamide/dimethylaminoethyl acrylate quaternary salt copolymer; and WO2002002662 disclosing water-soluble cationic, anionic, and nonionic polymers, synthesized using water-in-oil emulsion, dispersion, or gel polymerization and having a fast rate of solubilization, higher reduced specific viscosities.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to reduce inhalation risk of such compositions at high, medium, and low concentrations. Reduced inhalation risk can also be measured indirectly by reduced aerosol mass collection from high volume air sampling. Reduced levels of mass correlate directly to reduced inhalation. This reduction is distinct from a reduction in misting, which is determined from the droplet size of an applied solution, with an increased droplet size indicating reduced misting and atomization. Indeed, an advantage of the liquid compositions of the present invention is that the inhalation risk by the user of said compositions is significantly reduced or diminished. Thus, the compositions herein avoid potential health issues like nose and/or throat irritation and/or coughing or even lung damage, which may otherwise occur from inhalation of quaternary ammonium compounds. A further advantage of the present invention is that also eye irritation and/or damage is prevented when using the cleaning compositions according to the present invention.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the claimed invention to develop an enhanced antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound-based composition.
It is a further object of the invention is a reduced inhalation product suitable for formulation using polymers in neutral, acidic, and/or or alkaline formulations, including oxidizing formulations.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an effective antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound-based composition that when in contact with biological matter have a reduced risk of inhalation and exposure.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a synergistic composition of a quaternary ammonium compounds and additional functional ingredients to provide such improvements on acute toxicity levels.
It is an object of the invention to provide an activated composition, having reduced acute toxicity and inhalation risk, having application of use including, for example, hard surface sanitizers, facility sanitizers, water treatment, disinfectant and/or sanitizing surfaces, including high level disinfectants for medical instruments, antimicrobial lubricants, laundry cleaning and sanitizing, antimicrobials having enhanced mildness and reduced irritancy, enhanced combination products, third sink applications, and the like where antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compounds are used.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Reduced inhalation hazard sanitizers and disinfectants via high molecular weight polymers


A communication system includes a destination that receives voice samples and a voice parameter generated by a source. The destination uses the voice samples and voice parameter to reconstruct voice information in response to a packet loss. The destination may reconstruct voice information from multiple sources.

Traditional circuit-switched communication networks have provided a variety of voice services to end users for many years. A recent trend delivers these voice services using networks that communicate voice information in packets. Packet networks communicate voice information between two or more endpoints in a communication session using a variety of routers, hubs, switches, or other packet-based equipment.
Sometimes these packet networks become congested or certain components fail, resulting in a loss of packets delivered to the destination. If the lost packets include voice samples, the user at the destination may detect a degradation in audio quality. Some attempts have been made to conceal packet loss at destination devices participating in a voice session, but these existing approaches require extensive processing performed at the destination.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for reconstructing voice information


A crystal oscillator in which a temperature characteristic of an oscillation frequency is improved to omit a measurement operation of the temperature characteristic of the oscillator, and manufacturing is facilitated to reduce a manufacturing time. In the crystal oscillator, a power voltage is applied to a collector of a transistor via series connection of an inductor for resonance and a resistance, a crystal unit is disposed in a loop which returns to an emitter of the transistor from a point between the inductor L4 and the resistance, and further, in the loop, a first parallel circuit in which a stationary capacitor having a negative temperature coefficient and a stationary capacitor having a zero temperature coefficient are connected in parallel with each other is inserted between an oscillation output taking point and the collector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a crystal oscillator having a base ground type oscillation circuit for use at a high frequency of a VHF band or the like. More particularly, it relates to a crystal oscillator in which a temperature characteristic of an oscillation frequency is improved to facilitate manufacturing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, Colpitts crystal oscillation circuit is used in a temperature control type crystal oscillator.
This crystal oscillator has an operating temperature in a range of −20 to 70° C., and a temperature of an oven is set around 85° C. in order to assure 70° C.
Moreover, as an inflection point temperature of an SC cut crystal unit, a range of 80 to 90° C. is used.
Furthermore, when the operating temperature is in a range of −20 to 85° C., the temperature of the oven is set around 100° C. in order to assure 85° C.
In addition, as an inflection point temperature of an IT cut crystal unit, a range of 95 to 105° C. is used.
The crystal oscillation circuit mounted on a substrate generally has a negative temperature coefficient, and a temperature characteristic of the crystal unit is synthesized to obtain the temperature characteristic of the crystal oscillator.
The temperature of the oven is set to the inflection point temperature of the temperature characteristic of the crystal oscillator, whereby a frequency change due to a temperature fluctuation can be minimized. The set temperature at this time is slightly lower than the inflection point temperature of a single crystal unit, because the crystal oscillation circuit has the negative temperature coefficient.
Moreover, the temperature characteristic of the crystal oscillator including the crystal oscillation circuit needs to be measured before setting the temperature of the oven, and much time has been required in manufacturing the crystal oscillator.
It is to be noted that the concerned prior art is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-023568 (Patent Document 1).
In Patent Document 1, it is disclosed that in a base ground type oscillation circuit, a stationary capacitor and a thermistor having the negative temperature coefficient are connected in parallel with each other and inserted in a feedback loop of oscillation.
Moreover, a constitution and an operation of the base ground type oscillation circuit are described in A Wiley-Interscience Publication RF/Microwave Circuit Design for Wireless Applications authored by Ulrich L. Rohde, David P. Newkirk, p 756 to p 762.
However, the base ground type crystal oscillation circuit has a temperature coefficient larger than that of Colpitts crystal oscillation circuit, and the inflection point temperature comes close to the operating temperature range in the method of measuring the temperature characteristic of the oscillator to set the temperature of the oven as in the crystal oscillator using the Colpitts crystal oscillation circuit. There has been a problem that the method cannot cope with the circuit.


A color processing system includes a color interpolation unit coupled to receive color and white (W) signals and accordingly generate interpolated white signals and difference signals; a color correction unit configured to correct the difference signals, thereby resulting in corrected color signals; and a sensitivity control unit configured to generate adjusted color signals according to the corrected color signals, the interpolated white signals, and surrounding illumination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to color processing, and more particularly to a color processing system and apparatus adaptable to illumination.
2. Description of Related Art
An image sensor, such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, is a device that converts an optical image into electronic signals. The image sensor has been widely used in a variety of applications such as cell phones and cameras. The image sensor, in general, can convert visual light but also infrared light, which however causes discoloring phenomenon. As a result, an infrared band-stop filter is usually applied before the image sensor to block the infrared light.
Sensitivity is an important parameter that characterizes efficiency of the image sensor. The sensitivity of the CMOS image sensor, for example, is commonly limited to area of photo sensors that compose the image sensor. As the density of the image sensor increases, sensitivity thus decreases.
In a low-light condition, the unwanted infrared light mentioned above may become desirable, for example, in a surveillance system, to increase visibility. U.S. Pat. No. 7,239,344, entitled "Camera and device for switching optical filters," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a scheme in which two optical filters are switched by a motor according to illumination. In day light, a normal IR-cut filter is used to block the infrared light to avoid discoloring; in a night mode, another optical filter is applied to pass the infrared light. This scheme, however, consumes substantial power and reduces lifetime of an imaging device such as a camera.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,821 entitled "Visible and infrared dual mode imaging system," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a dual-band filter that passes visible light band and an infrared light band centered at 950 nm. However, an infrared light source is required, in a night mode, to emit infrared light that may be captured by the infrared light band of the dual-band filter. In day light, there is still infrared light passed by the infrared light band, which causes discoloring.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,864,233 entitled "Image photographing device and method," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a color filter array (CFA) that contains, among others, a filter passing visible plus infrared light band and another filter passing visual light band. Infrared band may then be calculated by the difference between the sensed signals of the two filters mentioned above, and may then be used to avoid the discoloring. In this scheme, more processing is required to filter out infrared signals, and sampling rate is substantially reduced.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,619,143 entitled "Image sensor including color and infrared pixels," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a scheme that uses a notch type IR-cut filter that blocks a transition band between the visible light band and the infrared band. This scheme, however, suffers low sensitivity in low-light condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,508,633 entitled "Image device with color and brightness signal processing," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a scheme that uses complementary color (e.g., W−R) of image pipelines as a color filter array (CFA). As color filter spectral response depends on material used, the response therefore may not be easily acquired or optimized. Moreover, in this scheme, white pixel value is directly used as a brightness signal, therefore causing color reproduction error, especially in color saturation.
For the foregoing reasons, a need has thus arisen to propose a novel color processing system for overcoming disadvantages of the conventional color processing systems.