An automotive vehicle console has a hinged lid covering a storage compartment formed within a hollow housing, a pair of cup holders disposed forwardly of and rearwardly of the storage compartment, and a sunglass holder cavity at a forward portion of the console. Each cup holder is of integral, one-piece construction and is rotatably mounted within the hollow interior of the housing. The cup holder is rotatable between a closed position in which a door attached to the cup holder is generally continuous with the outer surface of the housing and an open position in which a side-by-side pair of rigid, continuously fully-opened cup receptacles are positioned for use. Each cup receptacle comprises a stepped opening of circular configuration in which a slot in a circumferential portion of the upper edge thereof accommodates the handle of a cup placed therein. The stepped opening includes an upper portion of given diameter and a lower connecting portion of diameter smaller than the given diameter, to accommodate a variety of cups of different sizes. Momentary pushing of the cup holder door releases a catch assembly within the housing, allowing a spring coupled between the door and a fixed reference point to rotate the cup holder into the open position. A hinged storage tray mounted at the top of the storage compartment and sharing a common hinge with the lid has a side edge thereof opposite the hinge which is coupled to a releasable latch assembly at a side edge of the hinged lid, allowing the tray to remain at the top of the storage compartment with the interior thereof exposed, as the hinged lid is raised, or raising the tray up with the hinged lid to expose the interior of the storage compartment below the tray. The storage tray is specially configured to store commonly used objects such as a phone, a tissue box, a note pad and a pen or pencil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automotive vehicle consoles, and more particularly to consoles having cup holders, storage compartments and other convenience features.
2. History of the Prior Art
It is well known to provide automotive vehicles with a console. Consoles are typically located at the front of the vehicle and divide the front seating area between the driver's side and the passenger's side. Such consoles are usually provided with one or more storage compartments therein for storage of miscellaneous items such as tapes, compact discs, a cellular telephone, and the like. A hinged lid may control access to the compartment, or the compartment may be open.
Many automotive vehicle consoles are provided with a cup holder designed to securely hold one or more cups so that they do not have to be continuously held by the driver or passenger. Cup holders may be of the permanently exposed type, or they may be the disappearing type which is opened for use by the operator when desired. The disappearing type is preferred because they enhance the appearance of the console when not in use. Disappearing type cup holders have various mechanisms for allowing them to move between closed and open positions. Often they are provided with a door which is generally continuous with the outer surface of the console housing when the cup holder is in the closed position. An operator selectively opens the door so that the cup holder mechanism is moved into the open position in preparation for use.
Conventional cup holders employ a variety of different motion mechanisms, including those which undergo sliding motion and those which pivot or rotate. Unfortunately, most such cup holders must rely upon a complicated motion mechanism for opening the cup receiving receptacles as the cup holder moves into the open position. This adds considerably to the expense of the cup holder mechanism, and further comprises a source of trouble as the automotive vehicle begins to age.
Most automotive vehicle consoles have one or more storage compartments therein, as previously noted. Typically, there is one large storage compartment at the center of the console, access to which is controlled by a hinged lid at the top thereof. The hinged lid may be padded so as to serve as an armrest, or it may be configured to hold objects placed thereon. While such storage compartments tend to be large enough to hold a variety of different objects, their inability to provide much organization often makes it difficult for the driver or passenger to find a particular object stored therein. A mixture of objects such as tapes, compact discs, pencils and other such objects makes it difficult to retrieve a particular object when desired.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an automotive vehicle console having a disappearing cup holder of relatively simple configuration which eliminates the need for complicated mechanisms to open the cup-receiving receptacles as the cup holder is moved into the open position. Preferably, the cup holder should include rigid, continuously fully opened cup receptacles. It would also be desirable to provide cup receptacles configured to receive and support a variety of cups of different sizes, and particularly to have the facility to accommodate the handle of certain cups such as coffee cups. Often, with cups that have handles, the handle gets in the way, making it difficult to place the cup securely within the cup holder. It would also be desirable to provide an automotive vehicle console in which the storage compartment thereof is arranged so as to be capable of storing a variety of different objects in organized fashion. Such arrangement would desirably conserve on space by providing for object storage at different levels within the console, while at the same time making access to the different levels of storage relatively easy.

Vehicle console having rotatably mounted cup holder and hinged storage tray


The invention is directed to a lid (2) for closing a processing container (1). Provided in the processing container (1) is a spigot (4) for receiving a rotary processing tool (5) for comminuting food materials. The processing tool (5) has at its free end close to the lid (2) a first coupling member (18) adapted to be coupled to a second coupling member (17) of a driven shaft (10) when the lid (2) is placed on the processing container (1) for closing. The driven shaft (10) extends outwardly through a bore (9) in the lid (2) and has at its outer free end a third coupling member (27). The third coupling member (27) is adapted to be coupled to a fourth coupling member (33) of a drive shaft (31) of an electrically powered drive mechanism, in particular a hand-held mixer or immersion blender. An annular space (23) is formed between the outer diameter of the section (21) of the driven shaft (10) extending through the bore (9) and the bore (9).

This invention relates to a lid for closing a processing container having a base in which a spigot is provided for receiving a rotary processing tool for comminuting food materials, the processing tool having in its area close to the lid a first coupling member adapted to be coupled to a second coupling member of a driven shaft when the lid is placed on the processing container for closing, the driven shaft extending outwardly through a bore in the lid and having at its outer free end a third coupling member adapted to be coupled to a fourth coupling member of a drive shaft of an electrically powered drive mechanism, in particular a hand-held mixer or immersion blender.
A lid of this type is known in the art from the comminuting device disclosed in DE-A-41 28 456. This lid includes equally a driven shaft having at its end close to the processing container a second coupling member which is in meshing engagement with a first coupling member provided on the processing tool when the lid is closed. The driven shaft is carried and located centrally in the lid by means of a bearing element.
When a lid of this type is cleaned by hand or in a dish washer, food residues may enter the plain bearing between the driven shaft and the bearing element where they can be hardly removed, which involves the risk of premature wear of the bearing arrangement and, by reason of the attendant increased bearing friction, requires the drive mechanism to deliver increased power resulting in increased noise in operation. Moreover, in operation old food residues may travel from the bearing arrangement to the processing container unless elaborate sealing elements or very close-tolerance fits are utilized for the bearing.


There are provided a DC-DC converter and an organic light emitting display device using the same. A DC-DC converter includes a converting module and a sensing unit. The converting module includes a switching module and a control module. The switching module has a plurality of switches, and each of the plurality of switches converts an input voltage into a first voltage and outputs the first voltage while being turned on/off in response to a corresponding pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The control module controls a switching operation of the switching module by generating the PWM signal. The sensing unit senses driving current supplied to a load to which the first voltage is provided.

Field
An aspect of the present invention relates to a DC-DC converter and an organic light emitting display device using the same, and more particularly, to a DC-DC converter and an organic light emitting display device using the same which has optimal efficiency by adaptively operating according to a load condition.
Description of the Related Art
Among flat panel display devices, an organic light emitting display device displays images using organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) that emit light through recombination of electrons and holes. The OLED includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a light emitting layer positioned between the anode and cathode electrodes. If current flows through the OLED in the direction from the anode electrode to the cathode electrode, the OLED emits light, thereby expressing a color. In the organic light emitting display device, emission luminance is determined according to the amount of current flowing through the OLED of each pixel. Therefore, a high-luminance image requires more driving current than a low-luminance image. That is, the driving current required to drive pixels of the organic light emitting display device is changed depending on a displayed image. Accordingly, in order to reduce power consumption, a DC-DC converter for driving the pixels of the organic light emitting display device should be designed to have high efficiency throughout the entire range of the driving current. However, the switching frequency of a related art DC-DC converter is fixed to a frequency at which DC-DC conversion can be normally performed under the maximum load condition, and therefore, the efficiency is degraded as the load decreases.

DC-DC converter and organic light emitting display device using the same

Samsung-ro, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-Do


A device generally having a memory manager and a direct memory access unit. The memory manager may be configured to (i) map a first picture from a video signal among a plurality of picture segments and (ii) generate a list associating each of the picture segments to a plurality of physical pages in a memory. The direct memory access unit may be configured to store the first picture among the physical pages according to the list and the mapping.

Compression of digital video data is used for many applications including, but not limited to, transmission over bandwidth-constrained channels, such as direct broadcast satellite and storage on optical media. In order to achieve very efficient compression, complex, computationally intensive processes are used for encoding (compressing) and decoding (decompressing) video. For example, though MPEG-2 (Moving Pictures Expert Group, International Organization for Standards, Geneva, Switzerland) is known as a very efficient method for compressing video, a new, more efficient standard, H.264 ("Advanced Video Coding", International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector, Geneva, Switzerland), is being developed.
The H.264 standard allows for bitstreams that (i) use a large number of reference frames to reconstruct a single picture and (ii) use reordering schemes that transmit many "future frames" with later display times then a current picture before the current picture is transmitted. By contrast, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 allow for at most two reference frames for reconstructing a picture and only a single future frame.
Referring to FIG. 1, a diagram illustrating a conventional bitstream 10 that uses many reference frames is shown. In the illustration, a group of pictures (frames) having six pictures is represented by one I-frame 12 followed by five P-frames 14a-14e. The arrows show how reference frames are used for prediction. Each P-frame 14a-14e after the I-frame 12 uses all of the previous frames in the group of pictures as references, so that the last frame 14e has five reference frames 12 and 14a-14d.
Referring to FIG. 2, a diagram illustrating a bit stream 16 that uses many "future frames" is shown. The bit stream 16 is shown in display order, with arrows showing how reference frames are used for prediction. Like the groups of pictures often used for MPEG-1 or MPEG-2, (i) each P-frame is predicted from one I-frame or one P-frame and (ii) each B-frame is predicted from two frames, each an I-frame or a P-frame. However, the H.264 standard allows the I-frame to be a frame displayed in the middle of the group of pictures. The frames displayed before the I-frame are predicted in the opposite direction as usual; the P-frames before the I-frame use backward only, instead of forward only, prediction. Thus, the I-frame needs to be transmitted first but is displayed tenth. Depending on the order of B-frame transmission (i.e., if the B-frames displayed before the I-frame are transmitted in display order, backwards display order, or something else), the decoder will need to buffer 5-10 frames to decode and display the bitstream.
The flexible approach permitted by the H.264 standard for creating bitstreams results in the decoder buffering a large amount of image data. To limit the amount of memory that a decoder reasonably uses for decoding, the H.264 places two constraints on the bitstreams (i) a bitstream cannot be constructed so that the total number of bytes of decompressed pictures buffered at the decoder exceeds a limit B and (ii) a bitstream cannot be constructed so that the total number of decompressed frames buffered at the decoder exceeds a limit F. For example, for a level 4 (high definition) stream, at any time, the decoder will never hold more than sixteen frames or any number of frames that use more than 12,288×1024 bytes in total.
The H.264 standard allows for a resolution of compressed pictures in a single bitstream to change. Thus, the maximum number of frames buffered over time will vary with the resolution of the frames. When low-resolution frames are used, many frames are commonly buffered. When high-resolution frames are used, few frames are commonly buffered.
If memory is accessed through register read-write instructions using virtual linear memory, the total amount of memory that a decoder will allocate for decoded pictures is roughly the nominal limit given by the H.264 standard (i.e., 12,288 kilobytes (KBytes) for level 4). In practice an actual decoder uses slightly more memory when not operating exactly according to the principles of the H.264 reference decoder. For example, an extra delay between decoding and display introduced for scaling and other display processing consumes additional memory.
A conventional video decoder allocates physically contiguous buffers for the maximum number of frames used for decoding times the maximum size of each frame. The buffers are used for storing frames as the frames are decoded and freed when the frames are no longer needed (i.e., the frames that have been displayed and will no longer be used as references for other frames). The conventional approach will use much more memory than a nominal amount of memory if the number of frames to be buffered depends on the resolution of the frames.

Device with virtual tilized image memory


Disclosed are a method for transmitting a virtual reality image, a method for reproducing a virtual reality image, and a program using the same. A method for transmitting a virtual reality image includes an operation (S120) of creating an initial image frame by a server, an operation (S140) of determining image direction data corresponding to the initial image frame, an operation (S160) of creating a final image frame by coupling the image direction data to the initial image frame as meta information; and an operation (S180) of transmitting the final image frame to a client through wireless communication.

Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to a method for transmitting a virtual reality image, a method for reproducing a virtual reality image, and a program using the same, and more particularly, relate to a method or a program for transmitting virtual reality contents that require a high specification in real time through wireless communication to reproduce the virtual reality contents.
A virtual reality is a virtual space created by a computer, and is a space that gives a reality through a 3-dimensional virtual effect. The technology for realizing a virtual reality is a technology of processing an input of the user in real time so that the user may feel as if he or she was in a reality world, and is a next-generation technology that passes over multimedia.
The virtual reality environment provides the user with a realistic feeling of immersion not only to simulate an actually present object but also to allow the user to experience an object or a situation that is not actually present. The virtual reality environment may be applied to various fields. For example, the virtual reality environment has been used in very various fields, such as medical fields and culture content fields, including engineering fields, such as design of vehicles or simulation experiments.
The term virtual reality (VR) is used together with the terms, such as virtual environment, virtual presence, artificial world, virtual world, and cyberspace, and generally is a technology of allowing the user to feel an artificial experience by providing the user of a 3-dimensional virtual world that is similar to a real world created by a computer and providing an input means, through which the user may freely manipulate the virtual world in real time and a sensory feedback means that provides an actual sensor in response to the manipulation of the user.

Method for transmitting virtual reality image created based on image direction data, and computer readable medium storing program using the same


An actuator includes a hollow cylinder which has a first portion and a second portion. The inner diameter of the first portion is larger than that of the second portion. A piston is inserted in the cylinder. The actuator has a gas generator which supplies a gas into the cylinder to move the piston toward the first portion. The seal member keeps airtightness between the piston and the cylinder when the piston stays in the second portion and flows the gas when the piston stays in the first portion. A hollow stopper is arranged in the first portion and stops the piston. The stopper has a vent groove which is provided on the inner surface and connects the interior of the cylinder to the open end. A piston rod is jointed to the piston and housed in the cylinder. The piston rod moves along the axis with the piston.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuator applied to, e.g., the hood apparatus of a car.
2. Description of the Related Art
If a pedestrian were hit on the front of a running car, the lower half of his/her body may be stricken by the bumper at the nose of the car. In this case, he/she is thrown on the hood of the car and hit, e.g., the head against it.
Under these circumstances, some cars have hood apparatuses. A hood apparatus is designed to operate an actuator to push the hood upward when a sensor arranged at the nose of the car detects a pressure with a predetermined value or more. When the hood is pushed up, a gap is formed between the hood and the devices in the engine room. Even when a pedestrian jumps up and hits against the hood, the collision energy is absorbed by hood deformation.
A hood apparatus is known, which is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-29369. The actuator in this hood apparatus can cause the piston pin (piston rod) to project from the cylinder and drop again in the cylinder.
This actuator comprises a piston stop member which stops the raised piston pin to prevent it from leaving the cylinder unit, a lock piece which locks the piston pin stopped by the function of the piston stop member to prevent it from dropping, a compression spring which elastically pushes the lock piece to the cylinder unit, and an unlock means which returns the lock piece to a predetermined position to cancel the lock function of the lock piece. In this actuator, when the unlock means cancels the lock function of the lock piece, the piston pin drops. The unlock means is controlled by the control unit in the hood apparatus.
Another hood apparatus is known, which is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-115680. The actuator in this hood apparatus has an exhaust hole with a very small hole diameter at the butt portion between the actuator and the piston portion of the push rod (piston rod) of the cylinder unit in the normal state. The exhaust hole is closed by a sealing plug. A bracket is attached to the projecting portion of the connecting portion of the push rod from the cylinder unit. The bracket and sealing plug are connected by a wire. When the piston rod moves up, the sealing plug is pulled through the wire and removed from the exhaust hole. A high-pressure gas in the cylinder unit is pushed out from the exhaust hole so that the push rod drops at a predetermined speed.
However, the technique disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-29369 has no arrangement which discharges the high-pressure gas from the cylinder unit. For this reason, even when the lock function of the lock piece is canceled by the unlock means, the piston pin may be pushed by the high-pressure gas and not satisfactorily drop in the cylinder unit.
On the other hand, in the technique disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-115680, the high-pressure gas in the cylinder unit is discharged outside by forming the exhaust hole in the cylinder unit. In forming the exhaust hole in the cylinder unit, a burr may remain in the cylinder unit. The burr is not preferable because it increases the sliding resistance of the piston in the cylinder unit. In addition, the sealing plug that closes the exhaust hole may be removed from the exhaust hole due to the high-pressure gas before the push rod reaches the full-stroke position. If the sealing plug is removed from the exhaust hole before the push rod reaches the full-stroke position, the push rod may not satisfactorily project from the piston portion.


A holder for sanitary napkins may have a front panel and a rear panel connected via left and right side panels, and a top flap joined to the rear panel and attachable to an outside surface of the front panel, when the holder is in a closed position. One or two compartments are provided on an inner surface of the front panel, with additional compartments optionally on an inner surface of the rear panel. Each compartment may have a folding cover flap, and with each compartment adapted to hold a sanitary napkin. A center folder may be provided with additional compartments.

The field of the invention is holders for feminine hygiene articles such as sanitary napkins and tampons.
Sanitary napkins and tampons are often carried loose in a hand bag, backpack or purse so that they will be available when needed. Although these products are generally provided within a package or wrapper, they may still get damaged or dirty over time, especially with repeated contact with keys, cosmetic cases, mobile phones, and other hard objects. These products may also be jumbled about in a hand bag and become difficult to find quickly when needed. Many users of sanitary napkins and tampons prefer to keep these products out of sight. When carried around loose in a hand bag, these products may be seen when the hand bag is opened in public, for example to get another object out of the bag. Hand bags are also increasingly subject to inspection at airports, government buildings, sports arenas, etc., revealing their contents to security officers and bystanders. Accordingly, there is a need for a holder for sanitary napkins and tampons that allows these products to be conveniently and discreetly carried and retrieved.


A new Verbena plant named ‘VEAZ0017’ particularly distinguished by the brilliant red-purple colored flowers with a small white-eye, deep green deeply lobed foliage, good branching with somewhat compact plant habit.

The present invention comprises a new Verbena, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'VEAZ0017'.
'VEAZ0017' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has brilliant red-purple colored flowers with a small white eye, deep green deeply lobed foliage, good branching with somewhat compact plant habit.
'VEAZ0017' originated from a hybridization made in August 2007 in a greenhouse environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was the proprietary plant designated 'Puwydena', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,535, with reddish flowers, a plant habit with fewer branches and higher seed set rate than that of 'VEAZ0017'.
The male parent of 'VEAZ0017' was a proprietary plant designated 'Flagdena', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,438, with pink bicolored flowers, much more vigorous habit and a higher seed set rate than that of 'VEAZ0017'. The seed was sown in February 2008 in a greenhouse environment in Enkuizen, The Netherlands.
'VEAZ0017' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in August 2008 in a greenhouse environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The first act of asexual reproduction of 'VEAZ0017' was accomplished when vegetative stem cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in August 2008 in a greenhouse environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.


A liquid crystal display device is provided to reduce the edge-blurred influence of the liquid crystal response in accord with temperature dependency, comprising a temperature detector in an inverter circuit detecting the temperature of a liquid crystal display panel and outputting a temperature signal of the liquid crystal; a phase synchronous signal generator outputting the on/off timing signal of each fluorescent lamp in each luminescent region according to the vertical synchronizing signal of a display control device and the temperature signal from the temperature detector; a lamp drive controller in the inverter circuit determining to turn on/off the fluorescent lamp of each luminescent region in the backlight of the liquid crystal display panel with the timing signal. The turn-on signal of each fluorescent lamp is generated and subsequently delayed by the inverter circuit according to the liquid crystal response in accord with the temperature dependency in each luminescent region.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device and driving method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display devices, with the characteristics of higher pixel resolution, higher display quality, lighter weights, thinner sizes, lower operation voltage, as well as low power consumption, are used in a wide variety of commercial applications, including cell-phones and digital cameras for small screen display panels, and large screen televisions exceeding 40 inches.
The liquid crystal display devices have the common feature of consisting of two (a pair of) substrates with one transparent glass substrate at least, sandwiching a liquid crystal material therebetween. The transmittance/interception of light is relative to the direction of the liquid crystal with a voltage applying thereto. The light transmitting/blocking state of a specific pixel is corresponding to a selective voltage applied across the transparent conductive layer (between the pixel electrode formed on the thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate module and the opposite electrode formed on the other substrate module) on the two substrate-models of the liquid crystal display panels.
Research and development focusing on liquid crystal display devices having lighter weights, thinner sizes, lower operation voltage, low power consumption, and display quality improvement have been undertaken to displace cathode-ray tube (CRT) as the most commonly used display device. Recent developments have led to the development of liquid crystal material and the improvement of a driving method thereof, which can meet high quality display requirements.
The cathode-ray tube uses an impulse-type light illumination by scanning of an electron gun, while the liquid crystal display device uses a hold-type light illumination with a plurality of linear lamps, such as fluorescent lamps, behind the liquid crystal display panel, resulting in sub par display performance for moving images as compared to the cathode-ray tube.
Because human eyes have integration time, blur phenomenon occurs when eyes focus on light emitted from a specific position of an object in the image projected onto the retina of the eye during a frame period. The contour of a moving object trailing an afterimage may be perceived in accordance with the mismatch phenomenon of the movement due to the motion blur effect.
Thus, displaying for a hold-type liquid crystal display device results in motion blur with respect to the aforementioned contour blur or called contour aliasing. Additionally, the animation quality deteriorates due to the ghost phenomenon caused by the interpolated position between the image of the preceding and succeeding frames. Such that the phenomenon of motion blurs and ghosts are generally referred to as edge-blurs.
Recently, research has led to reducing edge-blur and improving the display quality of animation for liquid crystal display devices as Jpn. Pat. Appln. Kokai Publication No. 11-202286.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams, with FIG. 1 illustrating a liquid crystal display device for improving the display quality of animation by dividing a plurality of luminescent regions along the display of the vertical scan and FIG. 2 illustrating an illumination unit in FIG. 1 disclosed in patent reference 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal display panel 100, a driving unit 200, a backlight unit 300, an inverter circuit 400, and a display control device 500. The driving unit 200 drives each pixel arranged in a matrix on the liquid crystal display panel 100. The backlight unit 300 in the back of the liquid crystal display panel 100 is divided into a plurality of luminescent regions, for instance, four regions in FIG. 1, 310, 320, 330, and 340, and installing fluorescent lamps 311, 321, 331, and 341, respectively. The inverter circuit 400 individually turns on/off the plurality of fluorescent lamps 311, 321, 331, and 341. The display control device 500 controls the driving unit 200 and the inverter circuit 400.
The backlight module is used as the backlight unit 300 of the liquid crystal display panel 100. The plurality of luminescent regions 310, 320, 330 and 340 are divided into a plurality of strip regions for the direction of vertical scanning. The fluorescent lamps 311, 321, 331, and 341 in each luminescent region individually illuminate the region where the liquid crystal display panel corresponds to the luminescent regions. In addition, a lamp reflector 350 disposed inside the backlight unit 300 for reflecting the light from a fluorescent lamp to the liquid crystal display panel 100, and an optical sheet 360 is disposed on the backlight unit 300 for uniform the light
The image-writing signal of the liquid crystal display panel 100 is inputted through the driving unit 200 from the display control device 500. In addition, lighting the fluorescent lamp disposed in each luminescent region inside the backlight unit 300 is controlled by the luminescence control signal inputted by the display control device 500 through the inverter circuit 400.
As shown in FIG. 2, the illumination unit comprises a backlight unit 300, an inverter circuit 400, a divide counter 510, and a shift register 520. The divide counter 510 and the shift register 520 are disposed in the display control device 500 shown in FIG. 1, wherein the divide counter 510 divides the scanning shift clock, and then outputs the signal of dividing frequency to the inverter circuit 400 with the shift register 520 synchronizing with the scanning timing signal.
Inverters 401, 402, 403 and 404, each respectively driving the corresponding fluorescent lamps 311, 321, 331 and 341 in each of the luminescent regions 310, 320, 330 and 340, are disposed in the inverter circuit 400. In addition, the signal of dividing frequency according to the shift register 520 is inputted to inverters 401, 402, 403 and 404 sequentially, and then, the fluorescent lamps 311, 321, 331 and 341 and sequentially turned on by the timing of delaying only for a predetermined time from the vertical signal (image-writing signal) inputted from the liquid crystal display panel.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart explanatory of the liquid crystal response for the image-writing signal, the timing of lighting the fluorescent lamps, and the visible image perceived by the liquid crystal display observers for the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 2. The first timing chart in FIG. 3 illustrates the frame signal, the second chart is the image-writing signal which inputted to the pixel of the nth vertical line of the liquid crystal display panel, the third chart is the liquid crystal response time regarding the image-writing signal inputted to the pixel of the nth vertical line, the fourth chart is the on/off signal of the fluorescent lamps in the luminescent regions corresponding to the pixels of the nth vertical line, and the fifth chart is the visible image perceived from the concerning pixels by the observer.
When the voltage applied to the liquid crystal changes, the direction of the liquid crystal and the brightness of the pixels are correspondingly modified. At this time, the timing of the liquid crystal response is the delay of the timing of the change in the applied voltage for a predetermined time. Therefore, the change of the brightness is perceived by the observer in the process that the liquid crystal is changed from the state of a black display to the state of a white display when the fluorescent lamp is turned on according to the same timing as the input timing of the image-writing signal of the white display signal. On the contrary, the observer distinguishes the difference of the brightness when the liquid crystal is changed from the state of a white display to the state of a black display and the fluorescent lamp is turned off according to the same timing as the input timing of the image-writing signal of the black display signal. Additionally, the change of the brightness corresponding to the liquid crystal response is regarded as a result of edge-blur of the animation.
The change process of the liquid crystal response may not be perceived by the observer if it is assumed that the way of turning on and turning off of the fluorescent lamp is periodically after a predetermined time passed from rewriting the image signal for each frame period as shown in the fourth timing chart of FIG. 3. Thereafter, the edge-blur in the animation displayed may be suppressed and the lifelike quality of the animation may be provided.
In addition, the technology for improving the characteristics of the animation by utilizing an impulse-type manner for the image display of the hold-type liquid crystal display is also provided, for example, the method of interpolating black data between frames, the blocking method of blinking the backlight during a frame period, or, the scanning backlight method of sequentially blinking the backlight by way of area light during the period of the vertical scanning in one frame.
However, it is necessary for the inverters of the related art shown in FIG. 2 to be disposed in each luminescent region for constructing circuits individually, generating the timing signals in the plurality of luminescent regions, respectively.
Moreover, it is difficult for the related art to improve upon animation quality without concerning the liquid crystal response in accord with temperature dependency, even though the liquid crystal response changes with different liquid crystal temperature.


A button comprises a button body (10, 10a, 10b) and a prong (20, 20a, 20b) adapted to be arranged on the side of cloth (30) opposite to the side thereof on which the button body mentioned above is set in place to nip the cloth therebetween and to fixedly secure the button body to the cloth. The button body mentioned above contains an outer shell member (13), which comprises a button back (15, 15a, 15b) and a cap (14, 14a, 14b), and an insert (11, 11a, 11b) accommodated in the outer shell member. In order to make a whitish button which could be heretofore obtained only by plating, at least the button back mentioned above is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Preferably, the button back mentioned above is made of an aluminum alloy containing 3-6% by weight of magnesium, and the cross-sectional thickness of the above-mentioned button back is in the range of 0.25-0.6 mm. Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned cap and the insert should also be made of an aluminum alloy.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a button made of metal, and particularly to a button of which at least a button back is manufactured from aluminum or an aluminum alloy in order to manufacture the button at low cost and simply.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A button of the type in which a fastener called a prong having projected leg members pierces cloth to which a body of the button is attached from the back of the cloth and these leg members are fixedly secured to the button body to attach the button to the cloth is known from old times, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,463,236 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,378,108. In the case of a metal button, generally such type of button is adopted.
The conventional metal buttons include, for example, a button 1 which comprises a button body 10 containing an insert (accommodated member) 11 surrounded by an outer shell member 13 consisting of a cap 14 and a button back 15 and a fastener 20 called a prong (tack) to be arranged so as to nip the cloth 30 between the button body and the fastener and having two leg members 21, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, wherein the button is attached to the cloth by making the prong 20 to pierce the cloth 30 so as to make a hole in the bottom of the button back 15 and simultaneously to be bent (curled) by the aid of a curved surface of a recess 12 of the insert 11 so that it is fixedly secured to the button body 10 (hereinafter referred to as a metal button (A)); and a button 1a which comprises a button body 10a containing an insert 11a made of resin of which upper and side surfaces are surrounded by an outer shell member consisting of a cap 14a and a button back 15a and a prong (tack) 20a having a single leg member 21a of the arrowhead shape, which is to be arranged so as to nip the cloth between the button body and the prong, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the button is attached to the cloth 30 by making the prong 20a to pierce the cloth 30 and press-fitting the arrowhead-like leg member 21a into a hole 12a of the insert 11a made of resin so that it is fixedly secured to the button body by the aid of the anchor effect of its leading end (hereinafter referred to as a metal button (B)).
In both the metal button (A) and the metal button (B), the above-mentioned caps 14 and 14a which have been used are either one of the followings:
(1) the cap manufactured by cold pressing a linear material of a copper-zinc alloy to a predetermined shape and subjecting it to various plating treatments from the viewpoint of its design,
(2) the cap manufactured by cold pressing a linear material of an aluminum alloy to a predetermined shape and subjecting it to an alumite treatment (an anodic oxidation treatment) from the viewpoint of its design, and
(3) the cap manufactured by cold pressing a linear material of stainless steel to a predetermined shape.
The inserts 11 and 11a are the parts to be built into the inside of the button body for the purpose of absorbing the shock at the time of attachment of the button, guiding the leading end parts of the prong leg members at the time of bending (curling) thereof, and preventing the prong leg members from being left out. In the case of the metal button (A), either of (1) the insert manufactured by cold casting iron or low-carbon steel into a predetermined shape or (2) the insert manufactured by molding a zinc alloy into a predetermined shape by die casting has been used. On the other hand, in the case of the metal button (B), the insert manufactured by injection molding a resin into a predetermined shape has been used.
Furthermore, in both the metal button (A) and the metal button (B), the button backs 15 and 15a which have been used are either of (1) the button back manufactured by cold pressing a plate material of a copper-zinc alloy to a predetermined shape and subjecting it to a silver white plating treatment from the viewpoint of its design or (2) the button back manufactured by cold pressing a linear material of stainless steel of which alloy color tone is silver white to a predetermined shape.
Generally a metal button is attached to such cloth as jeans and trucker jackets or denim jackets. Most of the button backs have the color tone of silver white so as to make a high-grade impression etc. on people. In order to secure the required fixing strength so that the above-mentioned button back may certainly not come off the cloth after completion of attachment thereof to the cloth by the aid of the prong, either of (1) a copper-zinc alloy subjected to silver white plating or (2) stainless steel having the alloy color tone of white is used. However, since the above material (1) has the alloy color tone of yellow, the high-grade impression is inferior to the whitish materials. Accordingly, the above material should be subjected to a silver white plating treatment to produce the high-grade impression. However, the plating treatment increases the working steps and will exert a harmful influence on a human body depending on the kind of plating. Moreover, there is a possibility of polluting environment due to a waste water treatment, for example, accompanying the plating treatment (environment load is large). On the other hand, as for the above material (2), since the alloy color tone of stainless steel material is silver white, there is no need to purposely perform the plating treatment of silver white. However, since its workability of cold pressing is inferior to a copper-zinc alloy, the life of a pressing mold is short, which requires frequent exchange of the metal molds, and the load exerting on environment is large.


The present invention relates to a citizen's dosimeter. More specifically, the invention relates to a small, portable, personal dosimetry device designed to be used in the wake of a event involving a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD), Improvised Nuclear Device (IND), or other event resulting in the contamination of large area with radioactive material or where on site personal dosimetry is required. The card sized dosimeter generally comprises: a lower card layer, the lower card body having an inner and outer side; a upper card layer, the layer card having an inner and outer side; an optically stimulated luminescent material (OSLM), wherein the OSLM is sandwiched between the inner side of the lower card layer and the inner side of the upper card layer during dosimeter radiation recording, a shutter means for exposing at least one side of the OSLM for dosimeter readout; and an energy compensation filter attached to the outer sides of the lower and upper card layers.

In the wake of terror attacks on September 11th, the threat of terrorists using a Radiation Dispersal Device (RDD), commonly referred to as a "dirty bomb" or an improvised nuclear device (IND) is a frightening possibility. In fact, several government agencies have concluded that terrorist groups like Al'Qa'ida are actively seeking to acquire radionuclear devices for use against U.S. citizens and interests, both here in the United States and abroad.
If this threat is realized, federal, state and local authorities must be prepared. An important aspect of any emergency management plan following such an event involves the safety and monitoring of: first responders, health-care workers, and citizens that are exposed to radiation resulting from the radiological or nuclear device.
While radiation exposure of first responders and health-care workers may at least partially be monitored using traditional radiation detecting devices, monitoring exposure of potentially tens of thousands of citizens presents a more difficult problem.
After removable contamination has been eliminated, there may be a need for personal external dosimetry monitoring for individual members of the public as well as large numbers of workers. Site restoration could be a lengthy project, and to minimize disruption to society it may be necessary to allow inhabitants to have access to certain areas of the city before cleanup is complete. For example, allowing citizens to pass through transit centers, thoroughfares, or certain areas of buildings could permit government operations, commerce, uniting of families, routine medical treatments, etc. As an individual moves through a contaminated city, the locations visited and time spent at them would vary, and a personal dosimeter would allow tracking of the accumulated dose. Such dose measurements could reduce reliance on models and estimates and avoid unnecessary area denial time. Unlike cleanup at decommissioned facilities where the public could be excluded with little cost to society, in an urban environment, time is of the essence and the cost of exclusion may be greater than the benefit avoiding exposure to a relatively low radiation dose. After cleanup, personal dosimetry could boost public confidence that their external dose is below acceptable maximums and that the final cleanup was effective. A need exists for a personal radiation detection device (i.e. dosimeter) that is small and easily carried, provides field-readable exposure data, is cost effective and is capable of providing dosimetry of record over a wide dose range. A dosimeter in the familiar format of a credit card or identification card that can be readout at stations similar to transit or bank card readers would meet these needs.
The Citizen's Dosimeter fills a technology gap among other currently available dosimeter options. For example, the SIRAD 'casualty dosimeters' are designed to be carried to identify medically significant exposures for triage. Alarming, interdiction electronic radiation monitors are expensive ($100+) and not widely accepted for dose of record in the United States. The approximately 85,000 personal radiation dosimeters stockpiled by states for emergency use and those currently used for monitoring radiation worker dose of record are not readable in the field. In contrast, the Citizen's Dosimeter would be used in the aftermath of an event, sensitive to the entire range of radiation levels spanning public and worker dose limits as well as casualty levels, field readable while providing dose of record, and inexpensive at about $20 a piece. See Klemic, G., Bailey, P., Miller, K., Monetti, M. External radiation dosimetry in the aftermath of radiological terrorist event, Rad. Prot. Dosim, in press;
Several radiation measurement technologies currently exist including TLD dosimeters, OSL dosimeters, electronic dosimeters, and quartz or carbon fiber electrets.
Thermoluminescent Dosimeter (TLD) badges are personal monitoring devices using a special material (i.e. lithium flouride) that retains deposited energy from radiation. TLD badges are read using heat which causes the TLD material to emit light which is then detected by a TLD reader (calibrated to provide a proportional electric current). One disadvantage of TLD badges is that once read, the signal of the device is erased or zeroed out. Furthermore, it takes between approximately 20-30 seconds to obtain the reading. In dosimetry programs which use TLDs for dosimetry of record, the dosimeters are returned to a processing laboratory for readout. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) badges use an optically stimulated luminescent material (OSLM) (i.e. aluminum oxide) to retain radiation energy. Tiny crystal traps within the OSL material trap and store energy from radiation exposure. The amount of exposure is determined by shining a light of one color (i.e. green) on the crystal traps and measuring the amount of light of another color (i.e. blue) emitted. Alternatively, pulsed light stimulation can be used to differentiate between the stimulation and emission light [there is a patent for this, held by Stephen McKeever, See, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,892,234 and 5,962,857, issued to McKeever et al. Unlike TLD, OSL systems provide readouts in only a few seconds and provides multiple readouts since only a very small fraction of the exposure signal is depleted when readout. In current dosimetry programs, for dosimetry of record, based on OSL and TLD dosimeters, the dosimeters are returned to a processing laboratory for readout.
One of the problems with state of the art OSL systems is that the filters used within the dosimeters are too thick for use in a thin, credit card sized dosimeter. For more information on OSL materials and systems, see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,590 issued to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,434 issued to Akselrod; U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,108 issued to Schwietzer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,685 issued to Yoder et al.; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/768,094 filed by Akselrod et al.; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. See also, Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimetry, Lars Botter-Jensen et al., Elesevier, 2003; Klemic, G., Bailey, P., Miller, K., Monetti, M. External radiation dosimetry in the aftermath of radiological terrorist event, Rad. Prot. Dosim, in press; Akslerod, M. S., Kortov, V. S., and Gorelova, E. A., Preparation and properties of Al2O3:C. Radiat. Prot Dosim 47, 159-164 (1993); and Akselrod, M. S., Lucas, A. C., Polf, J. C., McKeever, S. W. S. Optically stimulated luminescence of Al2O3:C. Radiation Measurements, 29, (3-4), 391-399 (1998), all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Electronic dosimeters are battery powered, have a digital readout, and audio or vibrating alarming capabilities. These instruments record cumulative dose and have the added advantage of giving real-time dose rate information to the wearer. For routine occupational radiation settings in the U.S. electronic dosimeters are mostly, but not strictly, used for access control and not for dose of record. A number of cities and states issue electronic dosimeters to HAZMAT teams as part of their emergency response plans. There are presently tens of thousands of electronic dosimeters deployed for homeland security purposes, however, electronic dosimeters are impractical for mass use as personal (citizen's) dosimeter due to their high cost.
Quartz or carbon fiber electrets are cylindrical electroscopes where the dose is read by holding it up to the light and viewing the location of the fiber on a scale through an eyepiece at one end. A manually powered charger is needed to zero the dosimeter. The quartz fiber electret is an important element of many state emergency plans. For example, some plans call for emergency responders to be issued a quartz fiber electret along with a card for recording the reading every 30 minutes, as well as a cumulative dosimetry badge or wallet card. While they are specified for use in nuclear power plant emergencies, the NRC does not require them to be NVLAP accredited, only that they be calibrated periodically.
A need exists for a personal radiation detection device (i.e. dosimeter) that: is small and portable (i.e. card-card size), provides real time exposure data, and is cost effective and is capable of providing dosimetry of record.

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


A transmitter configured to measure a process variable of an industrial process, includes a pressure sensor configured to couple to a pressure of a fluid. An acoustic detector receives an acoustic signal from the fluid. Measurement circuitry coupled to the pressure sensor and the acoustic detector provides an output related to pressure of the fluid.

The present invention relates to transmitters of the type used to sense process variables in industrial processes. In particular, the present invention relates to pressure transmitters which are configured to measure a pressure of such a process.
Transmitters are used in process monitoring and control systems to measure various process variables of industrial processes. One type of transmitter measures pressure of a process fluid in the process. The pressure can be used directly, or used to determine other process variables such as flow rate. One technique used to measure flow is based upon a differential pressure created in the process fluid. There is a known relationship between the differential pressure and flow rate. However, the relationship is not dependent only upon the differential pressure. Additional process variables may be measured to more accurately determine flow rate including absolute or line pressure along with temperature. One technique used to measure line pressure is to have a separate line pressure sensor. Another technique is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/140,681, commonly assigned with the present application.
In addition to having an alternative means for measuring line pressure as discussed above, there are other situations in which it is desirable to measure line pressure. These include a secondary line pressure measurement for use in diagnostics of a primary sensor, for a direct line pressure measurement sensor, or for use in determining other process variables.

Pressure transmitter with acoustic pressure sensor


A power supply is disclosed that is configured for installation in a motor vehicle. The power supply comprises an energy source and a system for accurately measuring the internal resistance of the energy source during the operation of the power supply, without a distortion that would normally result from discharge of the energy storage device.

Resistance measuring devices are known in principle. They are used to measure the internal resistance of energy storage, such as the vehicle battery in a vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle. A functional check of such energy storage in a motor vehicle is customarily checked by the internal resistance of the energy storage. Checking the internal resistance of the energy storage may cause a malfunction, particularly due to damaged cables or the like, to determine if the internal resistance of the respective energy storage falls below the permissible limits, on or off. Especially in a start/stop system in motorized vehicles and in the required personal electrical system stabilization, the measurement of the internal resistance of energy storage is particularly important. Leaving the internal resistance of an energy storage below a prescribed limit may cause a shutdown of the start/stop system. The energy storage devices to be tested may be fixed or may also be replaceable energy storage. The necessary internal resistance measurement is for voltage sources, such as super-capacitors CAP or conventional automotive batteries.
Particularly for the latest generation of batteries and supercapacitors, the internal resistance measurement is problematic because these energy storage devices are designed for very high power density and are set for the lowest possible internal resistance. With an energy storage device which has a very low internal resistance, however, a large current flow is necessary to produce an appreciable voltage drop. To generate a voltage drop of 0.5 volts (V) to a voltage source with an internal resistance of 1 mega-ohm (MΩ), for example, a flow of current of 500 amperes (A) is required. The low-impedance design of energy storage devices accordingly compels the resistance measurement in the MΩ range requiring costly and high-precision measuring instruments.
A further problem is that the measurement of the internal resistance of the energy storage device during the operation of a connected energy consuming device needs to be accurate. A particularly steep current ramp is needed to enable a reliable internal resistance measurement. In order that the discharge of the energy storage device is not measured, the current pulse must be turned on as "hard" and also be turned off "soft" to avoid voltage spikes (load dump) by a sudden current break.

Resistance measurement for battery cells


An infrared detecting circuit is provided with a current-to-voltage converting circuit including a capacitor connected with an inverting input terminal and an output terminal of an operational amplifier and a resistance circuit element connected in parallel with the capacitor, an inverting amplifying circuit connected with an output side of the current-to-voltage converting circuit, a band-pass filter circuit connected with an output side of the voltage amplifying circuit, and an output circuit connected with an output side of the band-pass filter circuit. The infrared detecting circuit and an infrared detector including this circuit can be miniaturized.

An infrared detector of the prior art is, as shown in FIG. 15, provided with a pyroelectric element 100 for detecting infrared rays radiated from a human body, a current-to-voltage converting circuit 200 for converting a detection current signal of the pyroelectric element 100 into a voltage signal, a coupling capacitor C30 connected with the current-to-voltage converting circuit 200, a voltage amplifying circuit 300 connected with an output of the coupling capacitor C30, a low-pass filter 400 connected with the voltage amplifying circuit 300, a high-pass filter 500 connected with the low-pass filter 400, an amplifying circuit 600 connected with the high-pass filter 500, and an output circuit 700 connected with the amplifying circuit 600.
The current-to-voltage converting circuit 200 includes a FET (Field Effect Transistor) having a gate connected with the pyroelectric element 100, a resistor Rg connected in parallel with the opposite ends of the pyroelectric element 100, and a resistor Rs provided between a source of the FET and a ground. The low-pass filter 400 and the high-pass filter 500 each include a switched capacitor.
The infrared detector thus constructed operates as follows. A detection current signal outputted from the pyroelectric element 100 is converted into a voltage signal by the resistor Rg and applied to the gate of the FET, whereby a drain current flows from the source of the FET to a drain thereof. A source voltage is generated between the FET and the resistor Rs by the flow of the drain current. After direct-current (dc) components of the source voltage is cut by the coupling capacitor C30, and the source voltage is amplified at an amplification factor (1+R20/R10) by the voltage amplifying circuit 300, and is consequently handled as a voltage signal in a specified frequency band whose high-frequency components and low-frequency components have been cut by the low-pass filter 400 and the high-pass filter 500. This voltage signal is amplified at a set gain by the amplifying circuit 600, and is outputted as a detection signal from the output circuit 700 after being compared with a specified level therein.
However, the above coupling capacitor C30 needs to have a large capacity in order to pass frequency components around 1 Hz expressing the motion of the human body, etc. Thus, a large-size capacitor has to be used as such. The large-size capacitor is obliged to be separately externally provided since it is difficult to integrate. Such an externally provided coupling capacitor C30 has been standing as a large hindrance to miniaturization or integration of the infrared detector.

Infrared detecting circuit and an infrared detector


A computer system warranty upgrade method and apparatus are provided. The computer system is programmed to detect a change in its configuration such as when new components are installed. When such a configuration change is detected, the computer system sends a warranty upgrade request including configuration information to a remote warranty server computer. The warranty server prepares a warranty price quote specific to the particular configuration of the requesting computer. When the quoted price is paid, the warranty server digitally signs and transmits a warranty authorization to the requesting computer. The warranty authorization includes warranty type, duration, the specific configuration warranted and an identification number unique to the requesting computer. These data are authenticated and validated by a secure processor in the requesting computer. After validation, the verified data is stored in secure storage by the secure processor.

The disclosures herein relate generally to computer systems and more particularly to upgrading the warranties associated with such systems.
Computer systems are typically sold with a base warranty that provides for repair or replacement of the system if a component of the system fails during an initial warranty period. A particular model computer system may be sold in many different configurations. For example, the processor will be available in several different clock frequencies; memory is available in many different increments; the size of disk storage will vary; and different video and audio controllers may be employed. In other words, different machines will have different field replaceable units (FRU's) or modules in their configurations. The warranty typically attaches to the system in the condition it leaves the factory, systems integrator or reseller. If a user makes changes to the configuration after sale, it is possible that the initial warranty will be void or will not cover the new configuration.
However, customers do in fact frequently make changes to the system configuration after sale. For example, a larger hard disk drive or a higher performance video card may be added. This presents a problem when the user approaches the seller asking for an upgraded warranty covering the new configuration. A question immediately arises as to what the price of the upgraded warranty should be. One typical approach is a "one size fits all" upgraded warranty price. In that case, a single warranty price is quoted that is the same for all configurations of a particular model computer system even though the configurations vary. Here the warranty price is based on the average of expected warranty costs spread across the many different configurations of a particular model. Unfortunately, if you guess wrong in determining the upgraded warranty price, substantial revenue can be lost.
Another problem associated with warranties is fraud. It is difficult to track exactly which FRU's or modules a customer has in a machine. In the past a number uniquely associated with a particular machine, for example an Express Service Code number or Service Tag number, was stored together with some configuration information by the seller. An unscrupulous user may make changes to the computer system configuration and then call the computer seller and attempt to obtain service on components not originally in the system. When the customer has paid for a warranty upgrade covering components not originally in the system as sold, it is a challenging problem to know which particular components, modules or FRU's are in the upgraded system.
Still another problem associated with warranty upgrades is that some users do not know that a warranty upgrade is needed when a configuration change is made. Also, unless a user keeps scrupulous notes, the user may not recall all configuration changes made prior to calling for warranty service on the current configuration.
What is needed is a method of more accurately determining warranty cost when a warranty upgrade is requested. A method of reminding users of the need for a warranty upgrade is also desired. Moreover it is desirable that such methodology minimize the likelihood of fraud.

Computer system warranty upgrade method with configuration change detection feature


A method and apparatus for isolating a completing and isolating a zone within a subterranean wellbore is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention is a zonal isolation assembly for completing a first zone in a subterranean wellbore. The zonal isolation assembly comprises an inner housing and a sliding sleeve capable of moving between an open and closed position is disposed within the inner housing. A passageway provides fluid communication between the inside and outside of the inner housing and an isolation tubing element is at least partially disposed within the inner housing and capable of moving between an upper position and a lower position. When the sliding sleeve is in its closed position and the isolation tubing element is in its lower position, fluid communication from the first zone through the isolation assembly is restricted.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to tools used to complete subterranean wells. More particularly the present invention describes a means of completing two zones within a single wellbore with the capability of isolating one of the zones.
2. Description of Related Art
Hydrocarbon fluids such as oil and natural gas are obtained from a subterranean geologic formation, referred to as a reservoir, by drilling a well that penetrates the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Once a wellbore has been drilled, the well must be completed before hydrocarbons can be produced from the well. A completion involves the design, selection, and installation of equipment and materials in or around the wellbore for conveying, pumping, or controlling the production or injection of fluids. After the well has been completed, production of oil and gas can begin.
Sand or silt flowing into the wellbore from unconsolidated formations can lead to an accumulation of fill within the wellbore, reduced production rates and damage to subsurface production equipment. Migrating sand has the possibility of packing off around the subsurface production equipment, or may enter the production tubing and become carried into the production equipment. Due to its highly abrasive nature, sand contained within production streams can result in the erosion of tubing, flowlines, valves and processing equipment. The problems caused by sand production can significantly increase operational and maintenance expenses and can lead to a total loss of the well. One means of controlling sand production is the placement of relatively large sand (i.e., xe2x80x9cgravelxe2x80x9d) around the exterior of a slotted, perforated, or other type liner or screen. The gravel serves as a filter to help assure that formation fines and sand do not migrate with the produced fluids into the wellbore.
In a typical gravel pack completion, a screen is placed in the wellbore and positioned within the unconsolidated formation that is to be completed for production. The screen is typically connected to a tool that includes a production packer and a cross-over, and the tool is in turn connected to a work or production tubing string. The gravel is mixed and pumped in a slurry down the tubing and through the cross-over, thereby flowing into the annulus between the screen and the wellbore. The liquid forming the slurry leaks off into the formation and/or through the screen, which is sized to prevent the gravel in the slurry from flowing through. The liquid that passes through the screen flows up the tubing and then the cross-over directs it into the annulus area above the packer where it can be circulated out of the well. As a result of this operation, the gravel is deposited in the annulus area around the screen where it forms a gravel pack. The screen prevents the gravel pack from entering into the production tubing. It is important to size the gravel for proper containment of the formation sand, and the screen must be designed in a manner to prevent the flow of the gravel through the screen.
In wellbores that penetrate more than one productive zone it is often desired to complete and produce more than one zone. In some cases more than one zone can be completed and produced together. This is often referred to as commingled production. In other cases, often due to differing reservoir characteristics such as formation pressures, two zones will be completed, but will be separated and produced through separate production strings. This is often referred to as a dual completion.
A common problem encountered when completing a well as a dual completion is a temporary commingling of the separate zones and the loss of substantial amounts of completion fluids into one or both of the formations, resulting in possible formation damage and requiring multiple trips into the wellbore to perform remedial treatments. The multiple trips and the remedial actions needed to reduce or remove formation damage can significantly increase the time and expense of dual well completions.
At times it is desirable to complete a zone and then isolate the zone until production is initiated or resumed at a later date. An example of this is when work is to be performed on the lower zone in a dual completion well; it may be beneficial to isolate the upper zone while the work is performed on the lower zone, both to increase safety during the well work and to reduce the chances of formation damage to the upper zone due to fluid loss. Zonal isolation systems are used to isolate and selectively produce oil or gas from separate zones in a single well. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,579,844; 5,609,204 and 5,988,285 describe systems for the zonal isolation of wells. Often these systems involve multiple trips into the well and significant time and expense to perform. Any reduction in the number of trips required to complete a well or isolate a zone during subsequent operations can result in significant cost savings.
There is a need for improved tool assemblies and methods that enable the completing of a wellbore as a dual completion while reducing the chances of fluid loss into completed zones and enabling subsequent remedial work.
One embodiment of the present invention is a zonal isolation assembly for completing a first zone in a subterranean wellbore. The zonal isolation assembly comprises an inner housing and a sliding sleeve capable of moving between an open and closed position. The sliding sleeve is disposed within the inner housing. A passageway provides fluid communication between the inside and outside of the inner housing and an isolation tubing element is at least partially disposed within the inner housing and capable of moving between an upper position and a lower position. When the sliding sleeve is in its closed position and the isolation tubing element is in its lower position, fluid communication from the first zone through the isolation assembly is restricted.
The isolation tubing element can be releasably attached to the inner housing. The isolation tubing element can comprise a sealing element adapted to seat within a receptacle attached to a lower packer when the isolation tubing element is in its lower position. The receptacle can be releasably attached to the lower packer.
The assembly can further comprise an upper packer and an outer housing connected to the upper packer and to the lower packer. The outer housing can be connected to the inner housing and comprise a wall having a passageway therethrough, the outer housing and the passageway are located above the inner housing and below the upper packer. A sliding sleeve can be disposed within the outer housing capable of moving between an open and closed position and located above the inner housing. The outer housing can further comprise a sand screen located below the inner housing. The inner housing, isolation tubing element and receptacle can each be releasable disposed within the outer housing.
When the isolation tubing element is in its upper position, the isolation tubing element is capable of providing fluid communication between the area within the inner housing and the sand screen. When the isolation tubing element is in its lower position, the isolation tubing element is capable of providing fluid communication between the area within the inner housing and the area below the lower packer. When the isolation tubing element is in its lower position and the sliding sleeve disposed within the inner housing is in its closed position, fluid communication through the sand screen is restricted. When the isolation tubing element is in its lower position and the sliding sleeve disposed within the inner housing is in its closed position, the isolation tubing element is capable of providing fluid communication between the area within the outer housing located above the inner housing and the area below the lower packer.
When the sliding sleeve disposed within the outer housing is in its open position, fluid communication is capable through the passageway in the outer housing, and when the sliding sleeve is in its closed position, fluid communication through the passageway in the outer housing is restricted. When the sliding sleeve disposed within the outer housing is in its open position, fluid communication of a gravel laden slurry is permitted through the passageway in the outer housing. When the isolation tubing element is in its lower position, the sliding sleeve disposed within the inner housing is in its closed position, and the sliding sleeve disposed within the outer housing is in its closed position, the first zone of the wellbore is isolated from the wellbore located below the lower packer. When the isolation tubing element is in its lower position, the sliding sleeve disposed within the inner housing is in its closed position, and the sliding sleeve disposed within the outer housing is in its closed position, the first zone of the wellbore is isolated from the wellbore located above the upper packer.
The assembly can further comprise a gravel pack adapter releasably seated within the upper packer, the gravel pack adapter comprising a work string and a cross-over assembly, the work string being in fluid communication with the area within the outer housing above the inner housing, and the cross-over assembly being in fluid communication with the isolation tubing element. When the isolation tubing element is in its upper position, and the sliding sleeve disposed within the outer housing is in its open position, the gravel pack adapter work string is capable of communicating a gravel laden slurry through the passageway in the outer housing to the annulus area between the wellbore and the sand screen, and the cross-over assembly is capable of communicating slurry returns between the sand screen and the annulus area between the work string and the wellbore above the upper packer. The gravel pack adapter can be capable of shifting the sliding sleeve in the outer housing from an open position to a closed position upon the removal of the gravel pack adapter from the upper packer.
The assembly can further comprise a dual flow adapter releasably seated within the upper packer, the dual flow adapter comprising a first flow tubing and a second flow tubing. When the dual flow adapter is seated within the upper packer the first flow tubing is in fluid communication with the area within the outer housing above the inner housing and the second flow tubing is in fluid communication with the isolation tubing element. The dual flow adapter can be capable of shifting the sliding sleeve in the outer housing from an open position to a closed position when the dual flow adapter is inserted into the upper packer. When the isolation tubing element is in its lower position, the sliding sleeve disposed within the inner housing is in its open position, and the sliding sleeve disposed within the outer housing is in its closed position, the first zone of the wellbore is in fluid communication with the first flow tubing and the wellbore located below the lower packer is in fluid communication with the second flow tubing. The second flow tubing can be capable of shifting the sliding sleeve within the inner housing from an open position to a closed position when the second flow tubing is removed from the wellbore. The second flow tubing can be capable of shifting the sliding sleeve within the inner housing from a closed position to an open position when the dual flow adapter is placed within the upper packer.
Another embodiment of the invention is an assembly for completing a wellbore comprising an outer housing and an inner housing disposed within and attached to the outer housing. A first sliding sleeve is disposed within the outer housing capable of moving between an open and closed position and a second sliding sleeve is disposed within the inner housing capable of moving between an open and closed position. An isolation tubing is at least partially disposed within the inner housing and capable of moving between an upper and lower position. A sand screen is disposed within the outer housing and located below the inner housing. When the first sliding sleeve is in its open position, a path for fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the outer housing is created and is capable of passing a gravel pack slurry. When the isolation tubing is in its upper position, gravel pack fluid returns are capable of passing through the sand screen, through the isolation tubing and to the surface.
When the isolation tubing is in its lower position and the first and second sliding sleeves are in their closed positions, the sand screen is isolated from the wellbore above the gravel pack assembly. When the isolation tubing is in its lower position and the first and second sliding sleeves are in their closed positions, the sand screen is isolated from the wellbore below the gravel pack assembly.
Yet another embodiment is a method for completing a dual well comprising completing a lower zone below a lower packer. An upper zone completion assembly is provided comprising an upper packer, an outer housing comprising a gravel pack port, a sand screen and a seating element. An inner housing comprises a production port and an isolation tubing capable of moving between an upper position and a lower position and capable of seating within a receptacle attached to the lower packer. The upper zone completion assembly is seated within the lower packer, the isolation tubing being in its upper position. The upper packer is set and the upper zone is gravel packed by flowing a gravel slurry through the gravel pack port and taking fluid returns up through the isolation tubing. The upper zone is isolated from the rest of the well by closing the gravel pack port and the production port and by lowering and seating the isolation tubing within the lower packer receptacle. Fluid communication between the lower zone and the surface can be provided through the isolation tubing.
The method can further comprise inserting a dual flow adapter connected to a first tubing string and a second tubing string into the well and seating the dual flow adapter into the upper packer. Fluid communication can be provided between the first tubing string and the lower zone through the isolation tubing and fluid communication can be provided between the second tubing string and the upper zone through the production port within the inner housing.
Still another embodiment if the present invention is a method for isolating the upper zone in a dual completion wellbore. The method provides an upper zone completion assembly comprising an inner housing, having a production port and a sliding sleeve. The sliding sleeve is capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the sliding sleeve is in its closed position, fluid communication through the production port is restricted. The upper zone is isolated by mechanically shifting the sliding sleeve from the open position to the closed position, thereby restricting fluid communication through the production port. When the upper zone is isolated, fluid communication between the wellbore below the upper zone completion assembly and the wellbore above the upper zone completion assembly is possible through the upper zone completion assembly. The method can further comprise reestablishing upper zone production capability by mechanically shifting the sliding sleeve from the closed position to the open position, thereby enabling fluid communication through the production port.
One particular embodiment of the invention is a subterranean wellbore completion and production method for an upper zone in a dual well. The method involves providing a completion assembly comprising an inner and outer housing, a first sliding sleeve and a sand screen disposed within the outer housing. A second sliding sleeve is disposed within the inner housing along with an isolation tubing capable of moving between an upper position and a lower position that is at least partially disposed within the inner housing. The completion assembly is positioned within the wellbore with the isolation tubing in its upper position. The well is gravel packed by flowing a gravel laden slurry through the first sliding sleeve and taking fluid returns up through the isolation tubing. The isolation tubing is then lowered to its lower position. The upper zone is isolated by having both the first sliding sleeve and the second sliding sleeve in their closed positions. The method can also comprise producing the upper zone through the sand screen and through the second sliding sleeve. The lower zone can be produced through the isolation tubing. The two zones can be produced separately by producing the upper zone through the sand screen and the second sliding sleeve, and a lower zone through the isolation tubing. The outer housing can be attached to and located below an upper packer and above a lower packer. When the isolation tubing is in its lower position it seats within a receptacle attached to the lower packer.
The method can further comprise providing a dual flow adapter connected to a first and second tubing strings. The dual flow adapter is inserted into the upper packer, wherein the second tubing string is seated within the inner housing. The upper zone can be produced through the sand screen, the second sliding sleeve, and the first tubing string. The lower zone can be produced through the lower packer, the isolation tubing, and the second tubing string.

Apparatus and method for zonal isolation


A picture marking method includes dividing a display layer into a window layer to which a display window belongs, a view layer to which a picture belongs, and a mark layer to which a mark belongs. The window layer, the view layer and the mark layer are overlapped with each other. The method includes adjusting a size of the picture according to a size of the display window, and customizing a first mode of the picture in response to a user operation. The method includes customizing an attribute value of the mark and a second mode of the mark in response to the user operation, and deploying the mark. The second mode includes a response mode synchronous with the first mode. The method includes capturing the user operation.

In many application scenarios, it is needed to mark on pictures, and relative locations of the marks should be maintained correct while moving or dragging the pictures. For example, contents are marked on some medical pictures, or buildings are marked in sand table maps during district planning, etc.
According to some existing methods for dragging the View control, marks are directly placed on pictures. In the process of sliding or zooming the pictures, it is impossible to guarantee that the relative location of the marks is constant, and it is impossible to implement an interaction between users and marks or mark areas in the pictures, for example, to touch and click to link other contents, etc. In addition, it is impossible to support custom or customized scenarios.
In addition, there are some similar functional implementations on some map controls. However, firstly, maps are geographical coordinate systems instead of pictures, and the processing and use of the geographical coordinate systems are not in the same scenario as the pictures. Secondly, some existing map Software Development Kits (SDKs) are encrypted and encapsulated and have fixed standards no matter whether they are in data form or presentation form, thus developers cannot make customized modification on this basis.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a more flexible and efficient picture marking method and apparatus, a computer device, and a computer readable storage medium.
It is to be noted that the above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Picture marking method and apparatus, computer device, and computer readable storage medium


Mountain bicycle suspension having a shock absorber whose function can be selectively disabled by blocking normal compression and extension response to optimize suspension characteristics for different riding conditions, e.g. rigid suspension for efficient use of energy during hard acceleration and hill climbing, and soft suspension for control on downhill runs and cruising under smooth terrain conditions.

Bicycles are human powered two-wheeled vehicles having a frame mounted on the wheels, a drive sprocket and chain, pedals and crank for driving the drive sprocket, handlebars, and a seat mounted on a seat post. In recent years there has been a substantial upsurge in the vigorous recreational use of bicycles, and a new type of bicycle frequently termed a mountain bike has been developed for use in climbing and descending rough and steep terrain. In addition to sturdier construction, mountain bicycles often have complicated gearing affording numerous drive ratios, and improved brakes, wheels and wheel suspensions.
Rear wheel suspensions have been improved by the addition of such suspension components as shock-absorber controlled swing arms in place of the rigid bars which are typically found on bicycles.

Interruptible shock absorber suspension for bicycles


According to the present invention, the component selection information sent out from the signal transmitter to the electronic tag attached to the component is collated in the electronic tag with the component identification information recorded in the electronic tag, so that the notifying device notifies the collation result, as a result of which the selected component can be easily recognized by the notification. Additionally, according to the present invention, a write signal is sent out from the signal transmitter to the electronic tag. When the electronic tag receives the write signal, the component identification information is written in the electronic tag. Therefore, it is possible to write the component identification information in the electronic tag in a state in which the electronic tag is attached to the component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic tag and a system and method for selecting component, and more particularly to a component selection technique for selecting a desired component from a mixture of various components by using an electronic tag.
2. Related Art
In recent years, an article management system in which electronic tags are used for article management of articles and components, etc. has been widespread. In the system, an electronic tag, in which management information of an article to be controlled is recorded, is attached to (incorporated in) the article. When the electronic tag receives an electromagnetic wave outputted from a reader which is an information reader for reading information provided for the electronic tag, the electronic tag is excited by the electromagnetic wave so as to output an electromagnetic wave including the recorded management information.
When the leader receives the electromagnetic wave outputted from the electronic tag, the electromagnetic wave is converted into the management information in the leader, so as to enable a display device, such as a display which is provided for the leader, to display the management information. Since the electromagnetic wave sent out from the reader is capable of exciting a plurality of electronic tags, while the reader is capable of receiving a plurality of electromagnetic waves (management information) sent out from the electronic tags almost simultaneously, it is possible to obtain a plurality of pieces of management information in a short period of time.
For example, an accounting system has been realized, wherein an electronic tag in which information, such as a price and a consumption limit date is recorded, is attached to an article of merchandise in a supermarket, and wherein when the plurality of articles collected in a shopping basket etc. pass in front of a reader, the reader reads prices of all the articles in the basket for calculating the total amount. In addition, in the case where an article of food of which consumption period expired is included in the basket, the reader is also capable of detecting the article, so as to notify the information by displaying the information on a display device or the like.
At present, the electronic tag is made minute so as to be manufactured by a printing process used for a production process of surface mount devices (SMDs), and a wiring process of a printed circuit board and ICs, so that the electronic tag can be manufactured to be small and thin, and can also be incorporated in the SMDs and ICs.
In a system and method for managing articles, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-49900, and in which an electronic tag is utilized, the electronic tag with specific management information recorded therein is configured to be attached to an article, so that a reader/writer terminal can read out the specific information so as to display it on a display device.

Electronic tag, system and method for selecting component


An instantly welded antenna of which a helical coil is positioned on an end face of a metallic seat member thereof; the metallic seat member and the helical coil are put into a matched inner blind hole of a plastic insulating sleeve. A heated surface provided on the metallic seat member can be heated instantly. The peripheral surface of the metallic seat member and the inside surface of the matched inner blind hole of the insulating sleeve is used as a heat conductive welding surface to weld the metallic seat member and the insulating sleeve, and the helical coil is positioned therein. Thus, the core diameter, the pitch and the overall length of the helix coil can be maintained, not only the inferiority of products is lowered, but also the processing efficiency of the products is increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an instantly welded antenna; and especially to such an antenna for a mobile phone, which antenna is suitable to be welded at the end thereof having a metallic seat member with superior heat conductivity to generate high temperature to partially melt an insulating plastic sleeve so as to instantly form a structure with a strong engaging force.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A helix coil formed by winding a metallic wire is the main element for transmitting and receiving frequency on an antenna. The structure of the helix antenna affects the function of the whole antenna in every aspect. The helix antenna as disclosed in British Patent No.2, 206,243 of which the diameter of wire of the coil, the material of the coil such as one made from copper plated steel, the core diameter, the pitch and the overall length of the helix coil etc. all affect its proper and set function.
Moreover, sometimes a mobile phone used nowadays have more than one frequency, such as two frequencies of 900 KHz and 1800 KHz, so it surely can be made to have a dual-frequency antenna by various methods and with various structures. The dual-frequency helical antenna of the British Patent No.2, 260,243 as mentioned above was made from a long helical coil and a linear conductor extended into the long helix coil. Among the modern designs of coils, even a single coil with sections of different density can form a dual-frequency antenna. No matter what kind of design of structure is adopted for the coil antenna for transmitting and receiving frequencies, to maintain the predetermined diameter, the pitch of the helix and the overall length of the coil antenna after production becomes quite important.
But among the processing methods for the presently available coil antennas, the most usually used method is to mount one end of the coil on the surface of the metallic seat member, then put it immediately into a mold to proceed to shaping by enveloping. The conventional method is not only inconvenient in processing, but also slow in production speed. The metallic seat member and the coil are put together in the mold to proceed to ejection enveloping of the insulating sleeve. The structure of the coil is hollow and spiral; this can easily affect the predetermined diameter of the coil, the pitch and the overall length of the helix coil. Rate of inferiority of the products thus becomes rather high under examination. This not only wastes working hours and material, but also increases the total cost of production indirectly.
The object of the present invention is to provide an instantly welded antenna of which a metallic seat member of the coil is made of better heat-conductive material such as copper family material, and an insulating sleeve is mainly made of the plastic family material. After assembling and positioning of the metallic seat member, the coil and the insulating sleeve as mentioned above, one end of the metallic seat member is heated up instantly; The heated surface can conduct heat to a welding surface formed at the peripheral surface of the metallic seat member and the relative inside surface of the insulating sleeve to generate a strong engaging and welding effect. Thus the production process will become more convenient and rapid; besides, the predetermined diameter of the coil, the pitch and the overall length of the helix coil can be maintained more effectively to lower the inferiority of the products.
The closer the distance between the heated surface and the welding surface as mentioned above is, the more suitable the shortening time of welding will be.
In principle, the above mentioned heated surface must be positioned slightly above the connecting position of the metallic seat member and the insulating sleeve to prevent deforming or damaging of the plastic insulating sleeve.
The above mentioned insulating sleeve can be made of engineering plastic of a mixture of plastic and rubber family material or of other family material, whereof, the ratio of the plastic family is most preferably more than 40%.
The heat-up temperature of the abovementioned metallic seat member and plastic insulating sleeve had better be 200xc2x0 C.-250xc2x0 C., and it is most preferred to give the metallic seat member pressurizing with a set stroke.
In a preferred embodiment, the metallic seat member provides a shoulder portion thereof as the heated surface, and the peripheral surface thereof used as a welding and connecting surface extends with a predetermined length thereof into a relatively inside stepped-hole portion of the insulating sleeve. Then the heated surface is heated up instantly and welding is engaged in under the pressurizing with a set stroke.
The present invention will be apparent in its novelty and other features after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings.

Instantly welded antenna and its method of welding