A leash training device includes a leash cord (3) and a stimulus collar (4,6) coupled to an end of the leash cord. The stimulus collar includes a strap (4) adapted to fit around the neck of an animal to be trained or controlled, and an electrical stimulus unit (6) supported by the strap. The electrical stimulus unit (6) includes a stimulus circuit (16). A transformer (17) coupled between the stimulus circuit (16) and a pair of electrodes (5) for contacting skin of the animal. A measurement device (101) is coupled to the leash cord to measure tension in the leash cord and produce a control signal (106) when the tension exceeds a predetermined threshold. The stimulus circuit (16) produces a drive signal in response to the control signal and applies the drive signal to a primary winding of the transformer (17). The measurement device (101) includes a first connector (103) connected to the second end of the leash cord (3) and to a first end of a spring (34) having a second end coupled in a fixed relationship to a second connector (102) so that the spring (34) resists movement of the second connector (102) relative to the first connector (103).

The invention relates to a device for use in conjunction with an animal leash to train the animal to refrain from straining against the leash.
By way of background, humane use of electroshock stimulus apparatus mounted on dog collars, primarily for remote controlled training of dogs by means of remote transmitters, has become widely accepted by humane societies in the United States. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,794,402 and 4,802,482 illustrate the state of the art for remote controlled electrical stimulus training collars. U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,795 discloses a "bark control" electrical stimulus collar which is not actuated by RF signals received from a remote transmitter, but instead is activated by the sound of a dog's own barking; this product is used to automatically train a dog to avoid nuisance barking.
A problem which has not yet been effectively addressed by use of electrical stimulus in the field of dog training is disruptive pulling against a leash, especially by a large, rambunctious dog. For example, a large rambunctious dog being "walked" by a small person might cause the person to stumble or even suddenly pull the person into traffic. U.S. Pat. No. 2,023,950 discloses a leash and collar for a dog including electrodes which are connected by an automotive spark coil; a push button on a battery pack connected to the primary winding of the spark coil is actuated to produce "a slight electric shock" to catch the dog's attention. The purpose is to teach the dog to associate a particular command or sound with a slight shock and to teach the dog that if it gives proper attention to the command or sound it will receive no shock. German patent document DE 003300486 discloses a dog leash and collar including a piezoelectric ignition element activated by leash tension. U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,002 discloses a device coupled between a leash and a collar so that tensioning of the leash actuates a trigger which then actuates an electrically powered sound generator to discourage the animal from excessive tensioning of the leash. A device marketed as the WONDER WHISTLE by KII Enterprises of Camillus, N.Y. and another device advertised as the HAPPY WALKER both produce sounds which are emitted when a dog strains excessively against a leash.
None of these prior art leash devices produce electrical stimulation of the type described in the assignee's above-mentioned patents to effectively train dogs (or other animals) to consistently avoid undesired behaviors.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,482, issued Feb. 7, 1989 by Gonda et al. entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF ANIMAL TRAINING STIMULUS", U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,795, issued Aug. 14, 1990 by Gregory J. Farkas entitled "BARKING CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD", U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,428, issued Oct. 8, 1991 by Gregory J. Farkas entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE CONDITIONED CUE CONTROL OF ANIMAL TRAINING STIMULUS", and U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,402 issued Dec. 27, 1988 by Gonda et al. entitled "ANTENNA FOR ANIMAL TRAINING RECEIVER UNIT MOUNTED BENEATH COLLAR" all are incorporated herein by reference.
There is an unmet need for an inexpensive, effective training apparatus that enables a person to easily and safely walk and automatically control and train an animal, especially a large, rambunctious dog, to avoid disruptive pulling on the leash.
It also would be desirable for professional dog trainers to have an electronic stimulus device which provides stimulation similar to that of the previously mentioned commonly assigned patents but adapted for training wherein the trainer is very close to and in physical contact with the dog, for example, when training the dog to "heel", roll over, etc. whereby a remote transmitter is not needed to provide commands to the stimulus unit.

Leash-tension-controlled stimulus-producing dog collar and method


A pulsating vibration air generation apparatus capable of sharply and quickly controlling air flow in turning on and off operation, thereby generating a pulsating vibration air with sharp and hardly attenuated peak and valley, and capable of operation without occurrence of so much mechanical vibration. The pulsating vibration air generation apparatus is comprised of a main body having a tubular hollow space R2 with which two air communication ports are associated, and a rotary body situated for rotation in the tubular hollow space R2 and which has a peripheral side surface S4c so as to slide on the inner surface S2c forming the tubular hollow space R2.

The inventors of the present invention have engaged for a long time in the research and development of a pulsating vibration air and a pulsating vibration air generation apparatus for generating a pulsating vibration air and have developed several kinds of pulsating vibration air.
Here "pulsating vibration air" means a pulsating air flow of which the amount of air flow (air pressure) is vibrated in a fixed cycle and at a fixed amplitude, and includes a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure and a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure.
"Positive pressure" used in this specification means that the pressure inside the apparatus is higher than the pressure outside of the apparatus (for example, atmospheric pressure), and "negative pressure" means that the pressure inside the apparatus is lower than the pressure outside of the apparatus (for example, atmospheric pressure).
FIG. 13 is an explanatory view diagrammatically showing a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure. FIG. 13a shows a pulsating vibration air in which the peak amplitude is at the atmospheric pressure and the bottom amplitude is at negative pressure, and FIG. 13b shows a pulsating vibration air in which both of the peak amplitude and the bottom amplitude are at positive pressure.
When such a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure is used as a pneumatic transport air for pneumatically transporting a powder material for example, the accumulation or blow hole phenomena of the powder are not caused within a transport pipe and, thereby being preferably used as a pneumatic transport air for the pneumatic transportation of powder material. In addition, if it is used as an air for fluidizing the powder material supplied in a granulation tank of a fluid-bed granulation apparatus, blow hole phenomenon is hardly caused for the powder material put in a catch basin of the granulation tank, thereby being suitably used for a fluidizing air of the powder material put in the catch basin of the granulation tank of the fluid-bed granulation apparatus. Further, if it is used as a powder removing air of a powder removing apparatus, the powder adhering on the surface of tablets or other products is completely removed by the strong and weak exhaling action of the pulsating vibration air, thereby being preferably used as a powder removing air of the powder removing apparatus.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory view diagrammatically showing a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure, FIG. 14a shows a pulsating vibration air in which the bottom amplitude is at negative pressure and the peak amplitude is at the atmospheric pressure, and FIG. 14b shows a pulsating vibration air in which both of the peak amplitude and the bottom amplitude are at negative pressure.
If such a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure is used as a powder removing air of a powder removing apparatus, the powder adhering on the surface of tablets or other products is completely removed by the strong and weak inhaling function of the pulsating vibration air, thereby being preferably used as a powder removing air of the powder removing apparatus.
A typical embodiment of the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus which generates the pulsating vibration air shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 and has been already proposed by the inventors of the present invention is exemplified below.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing one embodiment of the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus that has been already proposed by the inventors of the present invention.
The pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 101 comprises a cylindrical case 102 and a valve 104, the valve 104 being rotatably provided at a rotary shaft 103 so as to divide the inside of the case 102 into two spaces R1 and R2, the rotary shaft 103 being provided so as to accord with a center axis of the case 102.
Two air communication ports h102a and h102b are provided in the case 102.
In this embodiment, the two air communication ports h102a and h102b are arranged on the case 102 right-angled by making the center of the case 102 into the peak.
Pipes T1 and T2 are connected to each one of the two air communication ports h102a and h102b respectively.
Air source (not shown) is connected to the pipe T1.
The member shown with the reference numeral 105 in FIG. 15 indicates a flow rate control means provided if necessary.
Rotary drive means such as an electric motor (not shown) is connected to the rotary shaft of the valve 104 to rotate the valve 104 at a fixed rotational speed by controlling the rotary drive means (not shown).
Next, the operation of the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 101 is explained.
At first operation in, the case that a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure is generated in the pipe T2 is explained.
For generating a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure inside the pipe T2, an exhaling air source (not shown) is connected as the air source (not shown) to the pipe T1. As the exhaling air source (not shown), used are a gas tank in which gas such as air or nitrogen gas is bottled under pressure, a blower, and so on. If a blower is used as the air source (not shown), the discharge port of the blower is connected to the pipe T1.
Then, a compressed gas is supplied to the pipe T1 from the air source (not shown).
The valve 104 is rotated at a fixed rotation speed by rotating the rotary drive means (not shown) at a fixed rotation speed.
When the valve 104 is at the position shown with solid lines, the air communication ports h102a and h102b are communicated, so that the compressed gas supplied to the pipe T1 from the air source (not shown) is discharged from the air communication port h102b into the pipe T2 through the case 102.
On the other hand, when the valve 104 is at the position shown with imaginary lines (two-dot dashed line), the communication port h102a and h102b are not communicated, so that the compressed gas supplied to the pipe T1 from the air source (not shown) is not discharged into the pipe T2.
As the result of repeating these operations while driving the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 101, a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure is generated in the pipe T2.
Next, the operation in the case that a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure is generated in the pipe T2 is explained.
For generating a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure inside the pipe T2, an inhaling air source (not shown) is connected as an air source (not shown) to the pipe T1. As the inhaling air source (not shown), used are a vacuum pump, a blower and so on. If a blower is used as the air source (not shown), the inhaling port of the blower is connected to the pipe T1.
Then, an inhaled gas directing from the case 202 to the air source (not shown) is generated in the pipe T1 by driving the air source (not shown).
The valve 104 is rotated at a fixed rotation speed by rotating the rotary drive means (not shown) at a fixed rotation speed.
When the valve 104 is at the position shown with solid lines, the air communication ports h102a and h102b are communicated, so that an inhaled gas flow (negative pressure) into the case 102 is generated in the pipe T2.
On the other hand, when the valve 104 is at the position shown with imaginary lines (two-dot dashed line), the communication ports h102a and h102b are not communicated, so that an inhaled gas flow (negative pressure) into the case 102 is not generated in the pipe T2.
As the result of repeating these operations while driving the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 101, a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure is generated in the pipe T2.
FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view explaining other embodiment of the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus that has been already proposed by the inventors of the present invention.
The pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 201 is comprised of a cylindrical case 202 and a drum-like rotary body 204 rotatably embraced in the case 202 in such a manner that the center shaft of the rotary body 204 coincides with the center axis of the case 202.
Two air communication ports h202a and h202b are provided at the side surface S202c of the case 202 in such a manner that they are positioned obliquely interposing the center axis so as to keep a fixed distance along the center axis of the case 202.
Bearing 205 to one tip of the rotary shaft 203a of the rotary body 204 rotatably emplaced in the case 202 is provided at the center of one end surface S202a of a pair of end surfaces S202a and S202a of the case 202. At the center of the other end surface S202b, a shaft hole (not shown) for inserting the other tip of rotary shaft 203b of the rotary body 204 is provided.
The drum-like rotary body 204 has the rotary shaft 203a and 203b.
The outer diameter of the drum-like rotary body 204 is equal to or a little smaller than the inner diameter of the case 202, so that the peripheral side surface S204c of the rotary body 204 slides on the inner surface of the case 202 when the rotary body 204 is rotated in the case 202.
Opening hole h204 is provided in the side surface of the rotary body 204.
The opening hole h204 is designed to fit where the air communication port h202a of the case 202 is provided when the tip of the rotary shaft 203a of the rotary body 204 is fitted in the bearing 205 of the case 202.
One end surface S204a of a pair of end surfaces S204a and S204b of the rotary body 204 is provided with the rotary shaft 203a projecting out of the end surface S204a.
Air communication holes h204b, h204b, h204b, and h204b are provided in the other end surface S204b of the rotary body 204.
The rotary axis 203b is provided so as to penetrate the other end S204b and project out of it.
In the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 201, the rotary body 204 is rotatably embraced in the case 202 such that the rotary shaft 203a of the rotary body 204 is attached to the bearing 205 of the case 202. Then, the other end surface S204b is attached in such a manner that the rotary shaft 203b of the rotary body 204 is inserted in the shaft hole (not shown) formed in the other end surface S204b, so that the rotary body 204 is embraced in the case 202.
Pipes T1 and T2 are provided in the two air communication port h202a and h202b respectively.
Air source (not shown) is connected to the pipe T1.
Rotary drive means such as an electric motor (not shown) is connected to the rotary shaft 203b of the rotary body 204 so as to rotate the rotary body 204 at a fixed rotation speed by controlling the drive of rotary drive means (not shown).
Next, the operation of the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 201 is explained.
At first, the operation in the case that a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure is generated in the pipe T2 is explained.
For generating a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure inside the pipe T2, an exhaling air source (not shown) is connected as an air source (not shown) to the pipe T1. As the exhaling air source (not shown), used are a gas tank in which gas such as air or nitrogen gas is bottled under pressure, a blower and so on. If a blower is used as the air source (not shown), the discharge port of the blower is connected to the pipe T1.
Then, a compressed gas is supplied to the pipe T1 from the air source (not shown).
The valve 204 is rotated at a fixed rotation speed by rotating the rotary drive means (not shown) at a fixed rotation speed.
When the opening hole h204a formed on the side surface of the rotary body 204 comes to the position of the air communication port h202a provided in the case 202, the air communication port h202a and h202b are communicated, so that the compressed gas supplied to the pipe T1 is discharged into the pipe T2 from the air communication port h102b of the case 202 through the air communication holes h204b, h204b, h204b and h204b of the other end surface S202b provided in the rotary body 204 and the inside of the drum-like rotary body 204.
On the other hand, the side surface of the rotary body (the area of the rotary body 204 other than where the opening hole h204a is provided) comes to the position of the air communication port of the rotary body 204 (the area of the rotary body 204 other than where the opening hole h204a is provided), so that the compressed gas supplied to the pipe T1 from the air source (not shown) is not discharged into the pipe T2.
As the result of repeating these operations while the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 201 is driven, a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure is generated in the pipe T2.
Next, the operation in the case that a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure is generated in the pipe T2 is explained.
For generating a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure inside the pipe T2, an inhaling air source (not shown) is connected as an air source (not shown) to the pipe T1. As the inhaling air source (not shown), used are a vacuum pump, a blower and so on. If a blower is used as the air source (not shown), the inhaling port of the blower is connected to the pipe T1.
Then, an inhaled gas directing from the case 202 to the air source (not shown) is generated in the pipe T1 by driving the air source (not shown).
The rotary body 104 is rotated at a fixed rotation speed by rotating the rotary drive means (not shown) at a fixed rotation speed.
When the opening 204a formed on the side surface of the rotary body 204 comes to the position of the air communication port h202a provided in the case 202, the air communication holes port and h202b are communicated through the air communication holes h204b, h204b, h204b and h204b of the other end surface S204b provided in the rotary body 204 and the inside of the drum-like body 204, thereby generating an inhaled gas flow (negative pressure) into the case 202 in the pipe T2.
On the other hand, the side surface of the rotary body (the area of the rotary body 204 other than where the opening hole h204a is provided) comes to the position of the air communication port h202a, the air communication port h202a is closed by the side surface of the rotary body 204 (the area of the rotary body 204 other than where the opening hole h204a is provided), so that the air communication port h202a and h202b are not communicated. As the result, an inhaled gas flow (negative pressure) into the case 202 is not generated inside the pipe T2.
As the result of repeating these operations while driving the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 201, a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure is generated inside the pipe T2.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing other embodiment of the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus that has been already proposed by the inventors of the present invention.
The pulsating vibration generation apparatus 301 is provided with a tubular hollow space 302 having air communication port 302a and 302b, a valve seat 303 provided in the tubular hollow space 302, a valve 304 for opening and closing the valve seat 303, and a rotary cam 305 to move the valve 304 for opening and closing the valve seat 303.
Pipe T1 is connected to the air communication port 302a and a pipe T2 is connected to the air communication hole 302a.
Air source 311 is connected to the pipe T1.
The member shown with the reference numeral 312 in FIG. 17 is a flow rate control means provided if necessary.
The member shown with the reference numeral 302c in FIG. 17 is a pressure control port provided in the tubular hollow space 302 if necessary, and a pressure control valve 306 is provided in the tubular hollow space 302 for communicating with and blocking off the atmosphere.
The valve 304 has an axis body 304a and a roller 304b is rotatably provided at the lower end of the axis body 304a.
Axis containing hole h301 for containing the axis body 304a of the valve 304 airtightly and movably up and down is formed in a main body 301a of the pulsating vibration generation means 301.
The rotary cam 305 is comprised of an inner rotary cam 305a and an outer rotary cam 305b.
On each one of the inner rotary cam 305a and the outer rotary cam 305b, a fixed concavo-convex pattern is formed so as to keep a distance as wide as the diameter of the rotary roller 304b.
The rotary roller 304b is rotatably inserted between the inner rotary cam 305a and the outer rotary cam 305b of the rotary cam 305.
The member indicated with the reference numeral "ax" in FIG. 17 is a rotary axis of a rotary drive means such as a motor (not shown), and the rotary cam 305 is exchangeably attached to the rotating axis "ax".
Next, the operation of the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 301 is explained.
At first, the operation in the case that a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure is generated in the pipe T2 is explained.
For generating a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure inside the pipe T2, an exhaling air source (not shown) is connected as an air source 311 to the pipe T1. As the exhaling air source (not shown), used are a gas tank in which gas such as air or nitrogen gas is bottled under pressure, a blower and so on. If a blower is used as the air source 311, the discharge port of the blower is connected to the pipe T1.
Then, an compressed gas is supplied to the pipe T1 from the air source 311.
The rotary cam 305 is rotated at a fixed rotation speed by rotating the rotary drive means (not shown) at a fixed rotation speed.
The rotary roller 304b is rotated between the inner rotary cam 305a and the outer rotary cam 305b of the rotary cam 305 which is driven to be rotated at a fixed rotation speed and moved up and down with high reproducibility, thereby opening and closing the valve seat 303 with the valve 304 in accordance with the concavo-convex pattern formed on the rotary cam 305.
As the result of repeating these operations while driving the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 301, a pulsating vibration air of positive pressure is generated inside the pipe T2.
When the pressure control port 302c and the pressure control valve 306 are provided in the tubular hollow space 302, the pressure of pulsating vibration air of positive pressure supplied to the pipe T2 is regulated by appropriately controlling the pressure control valve 306 provided in the pressure control port 302c.
Then, the operation in the case that a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure is generated in the pipe T2 is explained.
For generating a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure inside the pipe T2, an inhaled air source (not shown) is connected as an air source 311 to the pipe T1. As the inhaled air source (not shown), used are a vacuum pump, a blower and so on. If a blower is used as the air source 311, the inhaling port of the blower is connected to the pipe T1.
Then, an inhaled gas directing from the case 202 to the air source 311 is generated inside the pipe T1 by driving the air source 311.
The rotary cam 305 is rotated at a fixed rotation speed by rotating the rotary drive means (not shown) at a fixed rotation speed.
The rotary roller 304b is rotated between the inner rotary cam 305a and the outer rotary cam 305b of the rotary cam 305 which is driven to be rotated at a fixed rotation speed and moved up and down with high reproducibility, thereby opening and closing the valve seat 303 with the valve 304 in accordance with the concavo-convex pattern formed on the rotary cam 305.
As the result of repeating these operations while the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 301 is driven, a pulsating vibration air of negative pressure is generated in the pipe T2.
The above-mentioned pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 101, 201 and 301 do not have a problem of heating of an induction coil, which has been observed for a solenoid type electromagnetic valve. Therefore, comparing with the solenoid type electromagnetic valve, those apparatus have a merit in that a pulsating vibration air can be generated stably for a long time.
The pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 101 with the rotary type valve 104 and the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 201 with the drum-type rotary body 204 have an advantage in that a mechanical vibration is hardly caused while generating a pulsating vibration air.
Further, the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus with a rotary cam 305 has a characteristic that because the valve seat 303 is opened and closed by moving the valve 304 up and down, a pulsating vibration air sharply and quickly turning on and off is generated inside the pipe T2, thereby generating a pulsating vibration air of which peak or valley is hardly attenuated.
However, as far as the inventors of the present invention know, there hasn't been developed a pulsating vibration air generation apparatus which is capable of generating inside a pipe a pulsating vibration air sharply and quickly controlled in turning on and off, and the peak and valley of which is hardly attenuated; and which does not cause any remarkable mechanical vibration as the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 101 with the rotary type valve 104 and as the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus 201 with the drum-type rotary body 204.
Particularly in the case that the pipe for pneumatically transporting a powder is too long or the pipe connecting the granulation tank of a fluid-bed granulation apparatus or a powder removing apparatus with a pulsating vibration air generation apparatus is too long, it is required to be capable of sharply and quickly controlling air flow in turning on and off operation, and generating a pulsating vibration air with sharp and hardly attenuated peak and valley.
When a mechanical vibration is generated in the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus while a pulsating vibration air is generated by means of the pulsating vibration air generation apparatus, the mechanical vibration caused in the apparatus spreads over a pneumatic transportation apparatus, a fluid-bed granulation apparatus, a powder removing apparatus and so on via a pipe, thereby generating a phenomenon such that the entire apparatus similar to a pneumatic transportation apparatus, a fluid-bed granulation apparatus, a powder removing apparatus and so on is vibrated.

Pulsating vibration air generation apparatus


To measure USJ profile abruptness, a PMR-type optical metrology tool is to perform a series of two or more measurements, each with different pump/probe beam separations. Quadrature (Q) and in-phase (I) measurements are obtained for each measurement and used to derive a line in I-Q space. An abruptness measurement is derived by comparing the line slope to a similar line slope obtained for a sample having a known USJ profile. USJ profile depth is measured by obtaining quadrature (Q) values for one or more measurements. Each Q value is translated to a corresponding depth measurement using a table or similar lookup device.

As semiconductor geometries continue to shrink, manufacturers have increasingly turned to optical techniques to perform non-destructive inspection and analysis of semiconductor wafers. Optical techniques typically apply an incident beam (often referred to as a probe beam) to a sample and then detect and analyze the reflected energy. This type of inspection and analysis is known as optical metrology and is performed using a range of different optical techniques.
One widely used type of optical metrology is known as photo modulated reflectance or PMR. As shown in FIG. 1A, a typical PMR-type system includes a pump laser and a probe laser. The pump laser intensity is varied to create an intensity-modulated pump beam. The pump beam is projected against the surface of a sample and absorbed causing localized excitation of the sample. As the pump laser is modulated, the localized excitation (and subsequent relaxation) creates a train of thermal and plasma waves within the sample. These waves reflect and scatter off various features and interact with various regions within the sample in a way that alters the flow of heat and/or plasma from the pump beam spot.
The presence of the thermal and plasma waves has a direct effect on the surface reflectivity of the sample. Features and regions below the sample surface that alter the passage of the thermal and plasma waves will therefore alter the optical reflective patterns at the surface of the sample. By monitoring the changes in reflectivity of the sample at the surface, information about characteristics below the surface can be obtained.
To monitor the surface changes, a probe laser is used to direct a probe beam at a portion of the sample that is excited by the pump laser. The sample reflects the probe beam and a photodetector records the intensity of the reflected probe beam. The output signal from the photodetector is filtered to isolate the changes that are synchronous with the pump beam modulation. For most implementations, this is performed using a heterodyne or lock-in detector (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,074 and in particular FIG. 2 there for a discussion of such a lock-in amplifier/detector). Devices of this type typically generate separate "in-phase" (I) and "quadrature" (Q) outputs. These outputs are then used to calculate amplitude and phase of the modulated signal using the following equations:Amplitude=√{square root over (I2+Q2)}  (1)Phase=arctan(Q/I)  (2)
The amplitude and phase values are used to deduce physical characteristics of the sample. In most cases, this is done by measuring amplitude values (amplitude is used more commonly than phase) for one or more specially prepared calibration samples, each of which has known physical characteristics. The empirically derived values are used to associate known physical characteristics with corresponding amplitude values. Amplitude values obtained for test samples can then be analyzed by comparison to the amplitude values obtained for the calibration samples.
Characterization of samples using I and Q outputs is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/387,259, filed Mar. 12, 2003, assigned to the same assignee and incorporated here by reference. In this case, experimentally obtained in-phase and quadrature signals are plotted in I-Q coordinates, analyzed, and compared to calibration data.
The PMR-type system shown in FIG. 1A includes a beam scanner for shifting the X-Y position of the pump beam on the sample surface. This allows the pump beam to be accurately located to coincide with the portion of the sample illuminated by the probe beam. As shown in FIG. 1B, the beam scanner can also be used to separate the pump and probe v beams on the sample surface. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,074 (incorporated here by reference), this mechanism can be used to scan the separation between pump and probe beams. Amplitude and phase (or I and Q) are measured and analyzed as a function of pump-probe beam separation.
As part of the manufacturing process, ions (or dopants) are added to the near-surface region of semiconductors using a process known as implantation. The implanted region (with its relatively high dopant concentration) overlays a non-implanted region where dopant concentrations are relatively low. The transition between the implanted region and the non-implanted region is commonly referred to as a junction. For advanced semiconductor manufacturing, it is generally desirable for the implanted region to be shallow, typically 500 Å or less. Devices of this type are generally referred to as having ultra-shallow junctions or USJ.
The quality of USJ wafers (and the processes used to create USJ wafers) is typically assessed using two parameters: junction depth and junction abruptness. Junction depth (Xj) is the depth at which the junction between the implanted and non-implanted regions is located. Abruptness (measured in nm/dec) characterizes how quickly the junction transitions between high level and low level dopant concentrations. To illustrate, FIG. 2, shows several USJ profiles obtained by using the Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) technique having different junction depths and abruptness (the lower the abruptness value in nm/decade the more abrupt is the profile).
In practice, shallow junction depth is typically accomplished by implantation at high dopant dose and low energy. Abruptness is typically achieved using a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. In practice, the required junction depth is often relatively easy to achieve. However, keeping the USJ profile abrupt and close to the surface after anneal is a big challenge. As a result, techniques to measure junction depth and abruptness are critical for the manufacture of USJ semiconductors.
Incompleteness of anneal is another parameter that is crucial to USJ characterization. Incompleteness appears when non-uniformities in structural damage caused by ion implantation along with malfunctioning of the RTA process and other types of annealing processes result in residual structural damage areas on the surface of a semiconductor wafer after anneal. This incomplete anneal should also be monitored to increase manufacturing yield and to ensure high performance characteristics of a semiconductor device.
A number of techniques have been developed to characterize the effectiveness of USJ processes. Destructive and contact techniques include secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and spreading resistance depth profiling (SRP). These methods are capable of providing detailed USJ profile information, but at the expense of a turnaround time that is usually measured in days or even weeks or at the expense of damaging the surface with contacts. Alternately, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/799,481 (published as U.S. 2002/0167326) describes a non-destructive method for measuring profile abruptness. According to this method, several amplitude measurements are taken at different powers of the pump laser in a photothermal system similar to that described above. The resulting power dependencies are than fitted to a function (power series) and the second (quadratic) coefficient of that function is correlated to profile abruptness. FIG. 3 shows the resulting calibration dependence relating quadratic coefficient and USJ profile abruptness measured independently using another destructive technique. This method has several disadvantages. First, increasing pump power (up to 100 mW) could result in altering of semiconductor device properties. Secondly, interpretation of experimental results in this method is compromised by strong signal non-linearity arising as a result of excitation with high pump power densities. Finally, this method is time-consuming because of the fitting involved and is not sensitive enough to ensure its reliable performance.

Characterization of ultra shallow junctions in semiconductor wafers


To permit high lamp currents to be applied to lamp electrodes (5, 6) of a discharge vessel (2) from which two elongated necks (3, 4) extend via current supply leads (23, 35), the discharge vessel is first made as a generally rotation-symmetrical element, to which tubular cylindrical neck tubes (17) are sealed. A cylindrical plug element (26, 40) is placed in the neck tube adjacent the discharge vessel. A subassembly is then made of a core element, which can be constructed as a single or a composite structure of quartz glass, for example by telescopically fitting quartz glass tubes over a central core, and melt-sealing the tubes and core together. Molybdenum disks (7, 8; 22) are placed against the end faces of the core element, and a plurality, for example four, molybdenum connecting foils (11-16, 27) are secured to the circumferences of the disks, to axially connect them together. The subassembly is then introduced into the neck tube through the plug element, a further quartz glass tube is placed over the current supply lead (23) and formed with a bulbous enlargement, which is sealed to the interior of the neck portion. The basic lamp structure is now complete. neck portion, with the core element and foil-connected disks therein is then flushed. After flushing, the disks, foils, and core element are all melt-sealed together within the neck tube and the bulbous portion of the quartz tube, together with the remaining portion of the neck tube, is severed.

The high-pressure discharge lamps to which the present invention relates, and which are , for instance, shown in the referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,814, Dobrusskin et al., assigned to the assignee of the present application, are particularly suitable for illumination of theater stages, television and motion picture film studios and the like. The light flux should be high and, further, have a color temperature which is similar to daylight, with a very good color rendition index. Such high-pressure discharge lamps have a discharge vessel, retaining a fill which includes metal halides. Prior art lamps of this type provide a light flux of over one million lumens; in a typical lamp, and with an operating current of 65 A and an arc power of 12 kW, a light flux of 1.1. mega lumens can be obtained. The electrodes within the discharge vessel are rod or pin-like and retained in the discharge vessel by being melt-sealed therein, with a molybdenum sealing foil providing a current supply connection for the electrodes.
The requirements for still higher light output and higher power lamps have led to investigations of loading of the current supply connection. To obtain still higher light flux, standard melt seals permit operating currents of at the most 100 A. Higher operating currents lead to excessive heating of the melt, and the molybdenum sealing foils tend to corrode, and separate from the seal. The metal halide fill in the lamp also causes devitrification of the discharge vessel, so that the average lifetime of the lamp is short and becomes economically unsatisfactory.
Other high-pressure discharge lamps of this type having a fill of mercury and a rare gas or of extra-high pressure rare gas are used specifically in the manufacture of electronic components.

Double-ended high-pressure discharge lamp

Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH


The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of objectively testing the low contrast performance of an imaging system. Images of a uniform phantom and images of a low contrast detectability phantom are reconstructed. Thereafter, a group of pixels from an image of the uniform phantom are removed and replaced with a group of pixels from an image of the LCD phantom. A user or test observer is then prompted to identify which quadrant of the first phantom image contains a group of pixels from the LCD phantom. An accuracy of a user response is then determined and conveyed to the user. The present invention is applicable with a number of imaging modalities including computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, PET, ultrasound, and the like.

The present invention relates generally to diagnostic imaging and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for testing the low contrast performance of a diagnostic imaging system.
The x-ray dose required by a CT imaging system to produce an image is becoming an increasingly important consideration to customers and regulatory agencies. The dose efficiency of a system is commonly tested using low contrast detectability (LCD) tests. Generally, images of phantoms are used to visually test the LCD performance of an imaging system. Phantoms can simulate anatomical regions of a subject such as the heart or lungs of a subject. Other phantoms may provide a simple set of low contrast hole patterns in a uniform background. A number of phantoms are available across diagnostic modalities.
Manufacturers generally specify low contrast detectability as the smallest size hole of a given contrast that can be visualized in a given phantom at or below a specified dose. Frequently when a new system is installed, tests are performed to demonstrate system performance. Additionally, periodic quality assurance tests are often performed to assure continued proper performance. These visual LCD specifications are often difficult to objectively measure because each observer must make a claim that a hole is present or not even though holes are always present in the phantom. As a result, there is often a large variability between observers. To improve objectivity, a number of methods have been proposed including what is commonly referred to as a Four Alternative Forced Choice (FAFC) test method. With this method, twelve scans are executed of a phantom having a low contrast object randomly placed in one of four quadrants of the phantom for each scan. A skilled observer then evaluates each image and determines which quadrant has the low contrast object. Generally, to pass the test it is necessary that the object be identified in at least nine of the twelve trials. The FAFC method is considered an objective test since the claims of the observer can be objectively scored as correct or incorrect. However, the low contrast object must be repositioned for each of the twelve scans to a random quadrant location unknown to the observer. Phantoms with a large variety of low contrast test objects that can be randomly positioned for an FAFC test can be expensive and are therefore not readily available. Furthermore, the FAFC method requires a minimum of two people, one who selects the random positions and another to perform the tasks of the observer who dose not know the true location of the low contrast object. The requirement for two thereby increases the expense of performing such tests.
Therefore, it would be desirable to design an apparatus and method of objective low contrast object detection that can be implemented with a single user/observer that is also cost effective.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for detecting low contrast object in a diagnostic image


There is provided an improvement in a display rack for storage batteries and the like providing gravity flow of batteries to the front of the rack for retail customer selection and pick-up. An inwardly opening generally C-shaped front beam is secured to the front of the frame defining an array of equally spaced notches and projections, and an inwardly opening generally C-shaped rear beam is secured to the rear of the frame and also defines an array of equally spaced notches and projections which are laterally aligned with the notches and projections of the front beam. Shelf assemblies extend between the front and rear beams, readily adjustable laterally to accommodate various widths of batteries. Each self assembly is formed of a U-shaped member carrying a plurality of freely rotatable rollers. The front end of the U-shaped member fits into the notches of the front beam and the web of the U-shaped member is notched at its rear to permit positioning and support of the member into the notches of the rear beam.

In prior practice, automotive storage batteries have been heavy, dirty, and frequently have had acid spills which have made the batteries difficult for a retail customer to handle. Accordingly it has been the practice in retail battery outlets, such as large department and automotive stores to display only sample batteries for the customer to view and to select from; and after the customer made his selection, the sales person or service attendant would bring the desired battery from stock stored in a back room.
More recently, with the addition commercially of handles to the automotive batteries, and improvements in the size, weight and closure of the batteries against acid spills, there has been a movement by retail battery outlets to store and display their stock of storage batteries on the sales floor so that a customer can select his desired battery, and then pick the battery up, usually placing it in his shopping cart, and taking it to the "front" checkout for payment. Commonly such batteries are displayed on counters or shelves in the store. The batteries are quite heavy, and most conveniently the customer picks up the front or closest battery from the counter or shelf. It therefore becomes difficult or awkard for the next succeeding customers to reach deep onto the counter or shelf and pick up a battery.
Moreover, it is desirable for the retail outlet to rotate their inventory. If the front or accessible portion of the counter or shelf is empty, it is customary for the stock personnel to simply place new inventory on the front of the counter or shelf.
Conveyors and tracks are known where heavy articles such as storage batteries will flow by gravity to the front of the track. It is known to provide battery storage or display racks with conveyor or tracks so that the storage battery will always present itself at the front of the rack, and the customer needs only to reach to the front of the rack to select and pick up a battery. Moreover, inventory can conveniently be rotated by the stock person by placing the new stock of batteries onto the rear or back end of the rack and the batteries will flow by gravity to the front for customer selection and pick up.
It is known to provide spaced roller tracks on the rack to support the bottoms of the batteries. However, batteries come in a variety of widths, so that the track spacing must be adjusted for the particular size of battery placed on the rack. Heretofore, adjusting the track spacing and securing the track has been difficult, and has presented problems to the stock persons.
Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved storage or display rack for storage batteries and the like.
It is another object of this invention to provide a storage or display rack for storage batteries and the like wherein the batteries flow by gravity to the front of the rack for customer selection and pick up.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved means of adjusting the spacing between the tracks of a battery storage or display rack to accommodate various widths of batteries.


When an initialization switch of the TV lens is turned on, an iris is opened and a zoom lens group is moved to a telephoto end automatically. An AF function moves a focus lens group to focus the TV lens according to a focus evaluation value obtained from a video signal. Then, the zoom lens group is moved to a wide end, and the AF function moves a master lens group to focus the TV lens according to the focus evaluation value. The focusing with the focus lens group while the zoom lens group is placed at the telephoto end and the focusing with the master lens group while the zoom lens group is placed at the wide end are repeated alternately several times. Thus, the flange back length of the TV lens can be adjusted automatically.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a TV lens, and more particularly to a TV lens that simplifies the adjustment of a flange back length by utilizing the auto-focusing function.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
When a TV lens is attached to a TV camera, it is necessary to adjust a flange back length, which is the distance between an attachment plane (a flange plane) of the lens and a focal plane of the lens, so that the focal plane of the lens can match with an imaging surface of an imaging device (e.g., a CCD) in the camera.
To adjust the flange back length, a) an iris of the lens is opened, b) a zoom lens is set at a telephoto end and a focus lens is moved so that the TV lens can be focused, and c) the zoom lens is set at a wide end and an adjusting control, which is provided close to a lens mount, is turned to move a master lens so that the TV lens can be focused. Then, the above-mentioned steps b) to c) are repeated several times.
Adjusting the flange back length in the above-mentioned manner prevents the shift of the focal plane of the TV lens between cases where the zoom lens is placed at a telephoto side and the zoom lens is placed at a wide side.
The conventional TV lens, however, has a disadvantage because a cameraman has to adjust the flange back length manually, and thus, the adjustment is complicated.
The present invention has been developed in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object the provision of a TV lens that enables the automatic adjustment of the flange back length, thereby relieving the work load of the cameraman.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directed to a TV lens attached to a TV camera, the TV lens comprising: a focus lens group; a zoom lens group; a master lens group; a focus lens drive means for moving the focus lens group with a first motor; a zoom lens drive means for moving the zoom lens group with a second motor; a master lens drive means for moving the master lens group with a third motor; a first focusing means for focusing the TV lens by controlling the focus lens drive means according to a focus evaluation value representing a sharpness of an image, the image being projected on an imaging plane of the TV camera by the TV lens, the focus evaluation value being produced from a video signal converted from the image; a second focusing means for focusing the TV lens by controlling the master lens drive means according to the focus evaluation value; and a control means for adjusting a flange back length of the TV lens by controlling the zoom lens drive means and the first and the second focusing means such that focusing of the TV lens by the first focusing means while the zoom lens group is placed at a telephoto side and focusing of the TV lens by the second focusing means while the zoom lens group is placed at a wide side are repeated alternately at least once.
According to the present invention, when the TV lens is initialized, the zoom lens drive means places the zoom lens group at the telephoto side, and the first focusing means moves the focus lens group to focus the TV lens according to the focus evaluation value, thereafter the zoom lens drive means places the zoom lens group at the wide side, and the second focusing means moves the master lens group to focus the TV lens according to the focus evaluation value.
The procedure may be as follows: the zoom lens drive means places the zoom lens group at the wide side first, and the second focusing means moves the master lens group to focus the TV lens according to the focus evaluation value, thereafter the zoom lens drive means places the zoom lens group at the telephoto side, and the first focusing means moves the focus lens group to focus the TV lens according to the focus evaluation value.
As stated above, the focusing with the focus lens group while the zoom lens group is placed at the telephoto side and the focusing with the master lens group while the zoom lens group is placed at the wide side are repeated alternately several times, so that the focal plane of the TV lens can match with the imaging surface of the imaging device in the TV camera. Thus, the flange back length of the TV lens can be adjusted automatically, and the cameraman is saved from a great deal of trouble.
A manipulatable commanding means may be provided that commands the control means to start to adjust the flange back length of the TV lens. When the cameraman operates the commanding means, the initialization (the automatic adjustments of the flange back length) of the TV lens is started.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the TV lens further comprises: a memory means for memorizing respective positions of the focus lens group and the zoom lens group when the commanding means commands the control means to start to adjust the flange back length of the TV lens; and a second control means for controlling the focus lens drive means and the zoom lens drive means such that the focus lens group and the zoom lens group are returned to their respective memorized positions after the flange back length of the TV lens is adjusted.
Consequently, after the flange back length is adjusted in accordance with the command from the commanding means, the focus lens group and the zoom lens group can automatically be returned to their respective positions before the initialization, so that the shooting can be performed continuously.
Furthermore, while the flange back length is adjusted, a display means indicates that the flange back length is currently adjusted. This enables the cameraman to easily know whether the initialization is in operation.

TV lens with function of automatically adjusting flange back length


A sealing member for use in a gas preheater is adapted to seal a gap between an outer peripheral portion of a rotor and a housing in the gas preheater or a gap between a side face of the rotor and a radial sealing member. At least a part of said sealing member is made of an inorganic glass and/or a wear resistive ceramic having a coefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 70.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree. C. A sealing member for use in a gas preheater may comprise a heat resistive ceramic, and a corrosion resistive steel, wherein the ceramic is substantially surrounded with the corrosion resistive steel, excluding a sliding surface of the ceramic.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sealing members for use in a gas preheater.
(2) Related Art Statement
Gas preheaters are used for recovering heat from exhaust gases with combustion air through heat exchange in thermal power generating boilers, ship boilers, and chemical apparatuses such as oil refiners, evaporating kilns, and reforming furnaces, and for improving heat efficiency. FIG. 23 shows a perspective outline view of a principal portion of an air preheater.
A rotor 5 is rotatably placed in a rotor housing 30, and two radial sealing plates 31 are provided for each side face of the rotor 5. The rotor housing 30 is supported by pedestals (not shown). The rotor 5 is rotated by a driving unit (not shown) in a direction of arrow H.
Hot exhaust gases are passed through an upper side of the rotor 5 as shown by an arrow D, and air is passed through a lower side of the rotor in a counter flow direction as shown by an arrow F. The exhaust gas layer is isolated from the air layer by the radial sealing plates 31. Heating elements, which are fitted into the rotor 5, absorb heat from the hot exhaust gases. When cold air is passed through the heating elements during rotation of the rotor 5, cold air is heated, and resulting hot air is then led to a boiler or the like (not shown) as shown by an arrow G. On the other hand, since heat is removed from the hot exhaust gas, cold exhaust gas is discharged outside as shown by an arrow E.
In such an air preheater, gaps are present between the outer periphery of the rotor 5 and the rotor housing 30 and between the side faces of the rotor 5 and the radial sealing plates 31, respectively. The exhaust gases and air leak through these gaps to lower heat efficiency. Therefore, it is important to enhance the sealing effect by making the gaps as small as possible.
The gap between the outer periphery of the rotor and the housing is structurally sealed by making this gap as small as possible.
The temperature of the exhaust gas is 300.degree.-400.degree. C., and that of air is in a range from room temperature to around 100.degree. C. The rotor in which the heating element is housed is deformed corresponding to changes in the above temperatures range. In the structural sealing, the gap becomes greater due to expansion or permanent strain owing to such temperature changes. Consequently, the sealing effect is deteriorated.
The gap between the side face of the rotor and the radial sealing plate is structurally sealed by making the gap between twelve or twenty four diaphragms attached to the side face of the rotor and the radial sealing plates made of a metal as small as possible.
However, such a technique has a limitation upon the sealing effect. When the structural material is corroded with an exhaust gas component, the gap becomes greater to lower the sealing effect.
On the other hand, when the gap between the sealing members is eliminated and the members are slid under pressure, it can be expected that the sealing effect is improved.
Besides the above-mentioned problems in the structural sealing, since a fuel used in a boiler is coal, heavy oil or the like in the case of the rotating type air preheater for the combustion in the boiler used in the thermal power station, corrosive gas components such as oxides of sulfur, oxides of nitrogen and the like are contained in exhaust gases. Thus, since the exhaust gas is condensed at lower temperature portions in the air preheater, there is the problem in that parts of the air preheater are likely to be corroded. Further, there is another problem in that dust in the hot exhaust gas attach to the parts of the heat elements of the air preheater, and deteriorate heat exchange efficiency of the air preheater. Thus, in order to remove such attached matters, the air preheater is timely washed with water. In addition, the boiler in the thermal power station is continuously operated for a long time period, and is stepped down for only a very short time. Therefore, the above attached matters are removed by washing the air preheater with water in a hot state at about 200.degree. C. without the air preheater being fully cooled. Consequently, there is another problem in that the parts of the air preheater undergo severe thermal shocks.
Furthermore, the rotary type air preheater to be used for the combustion of the boiler used in the thermal power station is a large scale apparatus in which the diameter of the rotor is as much as 1-20 m. Accordingly, the size of a single part to be used in the air preheater is great. For example, a sealing member having a size of 200.times.100.times.50 mm is used. Therefore, the thermal shock conditions against the sealing member are extremely severe in the case that the preheater is washed with water in the above hot state.
A slidable member to be used in the rotary type air preheater for combustion of boilers in the thermal power plant needs excellent wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and thermal shock resistance. Although SS steel or corrosion resistance steel is used as the conventional sealing member, wear resistance and corrosion resistance are still insufficient, so that troublesome maintenance is necessary. Particularly, such materials are not satisfactory as sliding members.

Sealing members for use in gas preheater


A compiler section 15 converts a source program into an object program. A load module-executing section 12 outputs information on the portion placed in the wait state due to exclusive control during parallel processing of a source program 11, to an execution information-storing file section 13. A source program-reprogramming section 16 reprograms the source program, based on the information from the execution information-storing file section 13, by interchanging the portion under exclusive control with another interchangeable portion to prevent occurrence of the wait time due to the exclusive control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modifier for programs containing parallel processes which modifies programs containing parallel processes for more efficient execution thereof by a multiprocessor, and more particularly to a modifier for programs containing parallel processes so that the wait time due to exclusive control, which is encountered when the parallel processes access a process-shared resource, is minimized. The invention also relates to a modifying method and a memory medium for storing modified programs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bauer, Practical Parallel Programming, Academic Press, Inc., 1992 describes a technique for multiprocessing systems, in which a critical block is defined when a parallel process accesses a process-shared resource, to thereby prohibit accessing by the other processes to the resource during parallel execution of a plurality of processes.
This technique of the prior art, which inevitably prevents the other processes from accessing the resource until the process-shared-resource accessing process releases the critical block, has the problem of delaying initiation of the execution times of programs containing the other processes.

Modifier for a program executing parallel processes that reduces wait time for access to a shared resource


A method and system for pervasive computing are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises a server communicating with a first device in a cloud computing environment, wherein the first device can detect surrounding devices, and an application program executable by the server, wherein the application program is controlled by the first device and the output of the application program is directed by the server to one of the devices detected by the first device.

Users are increasingly surrounded by multiple computers and electronic devices. Users typically have multiple computers at home, multiple computers at work, multiple displays, a variety of cell phones, portable computers, music players, TVs, game consoles, photo cameras, and reading devices.
Recently developed methods for controlling devices include multitouch phones or surfaces, voice commands, motion sensing controllers (for example, the Wii Remote), body tracking systems (for example, Project Natal), gaze tracking, and game console-like controllers.
Existing user interfaces assume the user of a single computer or a mobile device at a time. The GUI paradigm is still often desktop. Desktop GUI and traditional single-machine operating systems do not work well in the new world of multiple devices and new UI capabilities beyond mouse and keyboard.
Computing devices are loaded with many software applications, most of which are unused. Applications are tied to a particular hardware machine, are not mobile, and are difficult and costly to maintain and upgrade.
Users who have multiple devices can not combine capabilities of one device (e.g. a multi-touch capability of an iPhone) to use with another device (e.g. big screen plasma TV).
Although computers and devices are connected within hundreds of thousands of private local networks or as part of the Internet, the devices are largely unaware of each other. Transferring and synchronizing data between them (i.e. photos) is often a long and painful task.
Existing web applications aim to solve some of these problems. Web applications can be written to provide functions similar to traditional software application but eliminate the need to install them and slow down the physical computer. Web applications can also be built to enable access to data stored on servers from all of the users' devices thus eliminating the need for data synchronization.
However, web applications and browser-based model have some limitations which include:                User experience built with html/javascript is basic and limited        Flash/Silverlight do not have multi-threading model and do not allow to build full-featured applications        Communication/collaboration software cannot be built effectively using web application model or RIA model.
Multi-machine computing environments have recently been developed to address enterprise needs for software deployment, provisioning and management and/or to operate data centers (VMWare vSphere, Citrix Cloud Center, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, Microsoft Windows Azure, and others). However, none of these computing environments assume consumer/multi-device scenarios, nor do they provide a user interface (the environments are used to run virtual machines with web applications or desktop operating systems).

System and method for pervasive computing


Provided is an image forming apparatus jointly using both a heat fixing method and a wet fixing method wherein bleeding and aggregation of a toner, curl and creases of a recording medium, and the like do not occur when a fixing fluid is applied to a toner image. Power consumption is significantly lower than that of a past heat fixing method. A high-quality image is stably formed. The image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming section, an intermediate transfer section, a secondary transfer section, a fixing fluid applying section, a fixing section having a driving roller in which a heating section is built, and a conveying section. There is provided a fixing fluid amount controlling section which controls a fixing fluid amount applied to a toner image on a recording medium by the fixing fluid applying section so as to increase as the recording medium approaches the fixing section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a photocopier, a printer, and a facsimile in an electrophotographic recording system, a photoreceptor drum having a photosensitive layer on a surface thereof is used, an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing a charged surface of the photoreceptor drum to signal light according to signal information to form an electrostatic latent image, a toner image is formed by supplying a toner and developing the electrostatic latent image, the toner image is transferred onto a recording medium, and then the toner image is fixed to the recording medium, whereby an image is formed on the recording medium. In the electrophotographic recording system, a toner used for forming the image on the recording medium is generally a granular substance obtained by dispersing a colorant, a release agent, a charge control agent, and the like in binder resins and finely granulating the resultant product. A heat fixing method, a wet fixing method, and the like are used for fixing the toner to the recording medium. Among these methods, since the heat fixing method is simple in configuration of an apparatus and easily and reliably fixes the toner image to the recording medium, the heat fixing method is mostly used in recent.
According to heat fixing method, for example, there is used a fixing section including a fixing roller heated at a temperature at which the toner is molten and a pressing roller provided so as to press the fixing roller and to be joined thereto. The recording medium on which a toner image is transferred (hereinafter referred to as "toner image transferred recording medium") passes through a pressure-contact portion (fixing nip portion) between the fixing roller and the pressing roller and thus the toner image is fixed to the recording medium. The heat fixing method is mainstream in the recent image forming apparatus. However, since the binder resin of the toner should be heated at a high temperature of 100° C. or more capable of being softened or molten, power consumption is large and it may be necessary to be improved in a point of view of energy-saving. In addition, when the fixing roller does not rise to a predetermined temperature, the fixation is not preformed. Accordingly, a time arriving at a predetermined temperature, that is, a warm-up time, is required.
Further, in order to fix a multicolored toner image to the recording medium, more time is required than a single colored toner image. Since the inside of the image forming apparatus is at a high temperature and thus heat resistance of a constituent provided in the inside of the image forming apparatus and heat insulating property should increase, the material cost increases. In addition, a higher output heating section is required than a heating section in the past in accompaniment with a high speed of the image forming speed in recent. However, when the output of the heating section becomes higher, the image forming apparatus becomes larger. This is not preferable in term of the present situation where the image forming apparatus becomes smaller.
Meanwhile, in the wet fixing method, a fixing fluid including water and liquid which is soluble and dispersible in water and which softens and swells the toner are used so as to fix the toner image to the recording medium. According to the wet fixing method, the toner constituting the toner image is softened or swelled by applying the fixing fluid to the toner image and the toner image is fixed to the recording medium by transferring the toner image formed of the softened or swelled toner to the recording medium under pressure. Since power consumption in the wet fixing method is very lower than that in the heat fixing method, the wet fixing method is a useful method in term of energy-saving. Also, in term of fixing time of the multicolored toner image, since a great amount of heat is not required, the time can be shortened more than the heat fixing method. Accordingly, by using the wet fixing method with the heat fixing method, it has been proposed the image forming speed becomes higher without decrease in consumption and increase in size of the image forming apparatus.
For example, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a toner image forming section, a transfer section, a fixing section, a conveying section, and a fixing fluid applying section. Herein, the toner image forming section forms the toner image according to image information.
The transfer section transfers the toner image formed by the toner image forming section to the recording medium. The fixing section fixes the toner image to the recording medium by heating and pressing the toner image transferred recording medium. The conveying section conveys the toner image transferred recording medium to the fixing section. The fixing fluid applying section applies the fixing fluid to the unfixed toner image while the toner image is fixed after the transfer, thereby softening and/or swelling the toner constituting the toner image (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 2004-284306). In an image forming apparatus of JP-A2004-284306, a fixing fluid section applies a fixing fluid to a toner image before fixation and softens and swells the toner image. Accordingly, heating temperature at the time of fixing is decreased, power consumption is decreased, and thus an image forming speed may become higher.
In the image forming apparatus suggested in JP-A 2004-284306, the fixing process is hardly performed with the toner image transferred to the recording medium and the fixing fluid is applied in non-contact to the toner image which is in a state without adhesive power to the recording medium using an electrostatic ink jet recording head or the like. In this configuration, bleeding of the toner, aggregation of the toner, and unevenness of a toner image caused thereby when droplets of the fixing fluid are fixed to the toner image. Accordingly, image reproducibility and image quality may decrease. For this reason, in the image forming apparatus of JP-A 2004-284306, it is proposed that the toner image transferred to the recording medium is once heated, the toner constituting the toner image is molten and fixed to the recording medium to some extent, and then the fixing fluid is applied. In this case, since the toner should be molten and fixed to the recording medium under non-pressure, the toner should be heated at a very high temperature for melting and fixing the toner. The heating temperature is influenced by conditions such as transfer speed. However, for example, when the transfer speed is 200 mm/sec in line, a temperature in the range of 140 to 160° C. is needed. Accordingly, in the image forming apparatus of JP-A2004-284306, it is difficult to extremely reduce power consumption. In addition, when the fixing fluid is applied to the toner image on the recording medium, the recording medium absorbs the fixing fluid, whereby curl and creases may occur.

Image forming apparatus with fixing fluid applying section


A motor control method is provided in which a cycle between at least one of leading edges and trailing edges of a pulse signal is measured. The pulse signal is outputted from a pulse signal generator which generates a pulse signal every time a driven target is driven for a specified distance by a motor. A driving velocity of the driven target is calculated from the measured edge cycle. A manipulated variable of the motor is calculated such that the calculated driving velocity corresponds to a specified target velocity, and the motor is driven and controlled based on the manipulated variable. The driving velocity is replaced with a specified set velocity that is lower than the target velocity, when no output of edges from the pulse signal generator continues for and over a specified replacement determination time while the motor is driven and controlled.

This invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a motor, in which a driving velocity of a driven target driven by the motor is calculated based on an edge cycle of a pulse signal, so that the motor is driven and controlled at a target velocity which corresponds to the driving velocity.
Heretofore, an image forming apparatus such as an ink jet printer is provided with a carriage mounting a recording head thereon. The carriage is disposed capable of being moved to and fro along a guide shaft, and driven (moved) by a motor.
In this type of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to move the recording head (and the carriage) at a constant velocity at the time of forming an image on a recording sheet. Therefore, the motor, driving the carriage, is accelerated per one scan of the carriage so that the moving velocity of the carriage goes up to a constant target velocity at a recording start position where recording operation by the recording head is started. When the carriage reaches the recording start position, the carriage is moved at the constant target velocity until a recording termination position where the recoding operation by the recording head is ended. When the carriage reaches the recording termination position, the carriage is decelerated to be stopped at a target stop position.
Also, this type of the image forming apparatus is known to include a reflective optical sensor in the carriage at a position facing the recording sheet. While the carriage is moved at an extremely low velocity, the change in level is detected of light receiving signals from the reflective optical sensor, so that the positions of both ends of the recording paper are optically detected which are arranged to face the recording head.
In the case of controlling a motor as above, every time the carriage as a driven target is moved for a specified distance (or every time a rotation shaft of the motor is rotated by a specified angle), an encoder operates and generates pulse signals. The motor is feedback controlled so that the moving velocity of the carriage (i.e., the driving velocity of the driven target), calculated discretely based on the pulse signals outputted from the encoder, corresponds to a specified target velocity.
However, in the case of feedback controlling the motor as such, when the motor is driven at a low velocity, e.g., at the time of detecting the positions of both ends of the recording paper, rotation of the motor is temporarily stopped due to fluctuation, etc., of the load applied to the motor. Sometimes the motor is never recovered from the stopped state.
In other words, in the feedback control of the motor as above, the driving velocity of the driven target is updated per edge timing of the pulse signal outputted from the encoder. Therefore, if a manipulated variable of the motor is set to be calculated per predetermined constant cycle, the actual velocity of the driven target is sometimes updated or sometimes not updated by the pulse edge, at the time of calculating the manipulated variable.
On the other hand, when the driven target is driven at a low velocity, the driving velocity of the driven target is substantially reduced. The friction caused in the driving system is changed from dynamic to static so that the load applied to the motor is increased. Also in this case, the motor itself cannot obtain stability from a hack electromotive force if a certain level of rotation velocity is not produced. Thus, the motor is susceptible to the effect of the load. In addition, the load applied to the motor is fluctuated by uncertain factors such as conditions of grease applied and minute foreign bodies (e.g., dust) stuck to a sliding portion of the driven target.
Therefore, the driven target is sometimes stopped temporarily when driven at a low velocity. As shown in FIG. 20A, if the velocity (detection velocity) of the driven target, which is updated per edge timing of the encoder, is higher than the target velocity, a manipulated variable is calculated, which decelerates the velocity of the motor, at the calculation timing (controlled calculation timing) of the manipulated variable. As a result, the motor is completely stopped and this eventually leads to a mechanical error of the driving system.
FIG. 20A is a time chart showing a relationship among the actual velocity of the driven target, the detection velocity obtained based on the encoder edge cycle, and the target velocity, when a motor control device is constituted such that the calculation timing (controlled calculation timing) of a manipulated variable occurs per constant cycle. Even when the controlled calculation timing is set to correspond with the encoder edge timing, the same problem occurs.
In this case, as the driven target is stopped, the calculation of the manipulated variable is also stopped. Thus, similar to the case in which the controlled calculation timing is set at a constant cycle, the stopped state of the driven target continues until a mechanical error of the driving system is found.
The problem like the above also occurs at the time of accelerating the motor.
For example, the carriage as the driven target is assumed to be accelerated from the stopped state to a target velocity. As shown in FIG. 20B, immediately after the driven target is started to be driven, so-called open loop control (O/P) is performed in which the manipulated variable of the motor is sequentially set in synchronization with the encoder edge timing so that the driven target is accelerated along a velocity locus predetermined in accordance with the characteristics of the driving system. Then, after the driven target is accelerated to some extent, the motor control is switched to the aforementioned feedback control (F/B).
However, the manipulated variable set at the time of open loop control (O/P) is in accordance with the idealistic characteristics of the driving system of the driven target. Therefore, when the manipulated variable is used to actually control the motor, the driving velocity of the driven target becomes sometimes high and sometimes low, due to variation, etc. of the characteristics of the driving system.
As shown in FIG. 20B, when the driving velocity of the driven target becomes higher than the expected velocity locus, the control is switched from the open loop control (O/P) to the feedback control (F/B). The manipulated variable of the motor is calculated to decelerate the driven target, resulting in that the motor (and the driven target) may be stopped.
Once the driven target is stopped as such, no pulse edge is inputted from the encoder. Similar to the case at the time of driving the motor at a low velocity, the stopped state continues and a mechanical error of the driving system is eventually found.
It would be desirable that the drive of the motor can be resumed, even if the motor is temporarily stopped at the low velocity driving and at the accelerated driving of the motor, which is feedback controlled based on the pulse outputted from the encoder.


An air bag assembly is mounted in a vehicle instrument panel recess located below an opening in the instrument panel upper surface which has a removable cover door normally closing the opening. The air bag assembly comprises an inflator, an air bag, and a container for housing the air bag and inflator and having a deployment opening. A deflection shield closes the container opening and comprises a deflector panel, a front flap overlying the front of the container, and a pair of side flaps which overlie the container sides. The side flaps include two spaced arcuate slots which receive shoulder bolts mounted on the container sides. Upon actuation of the inflator, the air bag inflates and forces the deflector shield upward to force open the cover door. The inflating air bag moves the shield upward to a position spaced above the instrument panel. The deflector panel and the side and front flaps form a deployment chute which directs deployment of the inflating air bag rearwardly of the instrument panel. The deflection shield also serves as a protective closure for the air bag container to protect the air bag during handling prior to vehicle installation.

This invention relates generally to vehicle air bag installations and, more particularly, to a device for controlling deployment of an air bag.
Inflatable occupant restraint systems for passengers of vehicles conventionally comprise an air bag assembly having an inflatable air bag, an inflator and a container for housing the inflator and the air bag. The air bag is folded atop the inflator beneath the open top of the container. This assembly is mounted in a recess in the instrument panel for deployment of the air bag through a deployment opening in the instrument panel. This opening is closed by a cover door.
The instrument panel opening can be located in the front face of the instrument panel or in the upper surface of the panel. Positioning of this opening in the front face of the instrument panel complicates location of the glove box. Consequently, it is more convenient to locate this opening in the upper surface of the instrument panel.
In some vehicles the air bag cover door comprises a foam pad and skin which are an integral portion of the panel. A supporting substrate is cut out to define the door shape. Upon deployment, the inflating air bag forces a door-shaped cutter to rip through the panel foam and skin to release the inflating air bag.
In other vehicles the skin includes a tear seam line of weakened panel material along the substrate cutout on three sides to define the door. This tear seam is fractured by the inflating air bag so that the door swings open about its fourth side, which functions as a hinge, to enable the air bag to properly deploy.
In yet other vehicles this cover door is a separate rectangular panel that is flush mounted in a rectangular opening in the surrounding panel area so that it can be opened and completely removed by the deploying air bag upon inflation. This type of door is usually attached to the instrument panel at its forward edge by a hinge or by a tethering device to cause the door to swing open about this attachment out of the path of the deploying air bag.
It is essential that this type of door be releasably installed in the panel opening so that it completely separates and moves out of the way of the deploying air bag. However, the door must remain attached to the instrument panel upon opening so that it does not become a hazard to occupant safety.
Upon actuation of the inflator, the air bag begins inflating and exerts an increasing force on the cover door, bursting it open with considerable force. The bag then unfolds and inflates in a manner partially determined by how the bag was originally folded, by the location of the instrument panel deployment opening, and by the location of the cover door when open.
With the opening located in the upper surface of the instrument panel, the inflating air bag must deploy initially upwardly and must then deploy rearwardly. Many different methods of folding the air bag have been devised to tailor air bag deployment to a particular vehicle environment. Also, devices have been developed which locate the cover door in a desired position when opened. One of these includes front and side tethers which locate the cover door in a position spaced above the instrument panel and spaced from the windshield. These tethers and the door create a chute which directs deployment of the inflating air bag from the initial vertical movement to rearward movement. These tethers must be quite strong to resist the force exerted continuously by the inflating air bag.
The inflator is first mounted in the container and the air bag is attached and hand folded into the container to form the air bag assembly. Since the air bag assembly is normally transported and handled several times prior to installation in a vehicle, a protective cover is then attached over the container opening to cover the air bag. Since the air bag must deploy through this cover, it must be sufficiently flimsy to be easily burst open by the inflating air bag.
It would be desirable to provide an air bag assembly which provides a deployment chute to direct air bag deployment rearward that does not require that the cover door have side tethers.
It would also be desirable to provide an air bag assembly which does not require the cover door and its tethers to bear the continual force exerted by the deploying air bag.
It would be further desirable to provide an air bag assembly which includes a rigid air bag cover to protect the air bag during pre-installation handling.


An ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes a power transistor connected to a primary coil of an ignition coil, a current sensing resistor connected in series with the power transistor, a constant current circuit and an abnormal oscillation control circuit that connects the gate resistor with the feedback circuit when the constant current circuit controls the primary current to be constant. The constant current circuit has a gate resistor connected in series to the control gate of the power transistor and a feedback circuit connected between the gate resistor and the current sensing resistor and controls current supplied to a control gate of the power transistor so as to control the primary current to be constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ignition device for an internal combustion engine to be mounted on various kinds of vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
JP-A-8-135547 or its counterpart U.S. patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,308A, discloses an ignition device for an internal combustion engine that has a constant primary current control circuit. The disclosed ignition device has a network composed of a plurality of resistors to detect a potential. The potential is compared with a reference level for a feed-back control to provide a suitable gate voltage to be applied to the gate of a primary current control transistor. Although the disclosed ignition device is effective to prevent abnormal oscillation of the constant primary current control circuit, it may not provide an accurate fail signal when it fails because the fail signal is formed from the gate voltage, which may sometimes fluctuate when a power source voltage fluctuate or become to low to detect.

Ignition device for internal combustion engine


A method for down-regulating CD2AP expression in a subject comprises administering a CD2AP down-regulation composition to the subject, wherein the CD2AP down regulation composition is workable by way of siRNA/shRNA, CRISPR/Cas9, Talen or ZFNs; thereby the CD2AP expression in liver tissues of the subject is down-regulated.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a member of Flavivirus, is a positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus with a 9.6 kb genome (1). HCV infects approximately 180 million people worldwide causing serious chronic liver diseases (2). The normal target of HCV is hepatocyte. Upon entering a host cell, HCV uncoats its genome RNA, and translates a poly-protein precursor that is then cleaved by host and viral proteases to generate three structural proteins and seven non-structural proteins that are important in viral RNA replication, assembly and release (3).
Chronic HCV infection usually results in hepatosteatosis characterized by large vacuoles of neutral lipid, which is also the component of lipid droplets (LDs), the hub for virus assembly (4, 5). LDs are ubiquitous and unique cellular organelles, with a single phosphor-lipid layer. LDs participate in many biological processes such as energy storage, lipid metabolism, immunity as well as signal transduction. In HCV infected cell, the surface of LDs is coated with core protein and NS5A, with NS5A on the outer surface (5-7), and attachment of both core protein and NS5A on LDs is essential for the assembly and release of infectious HCV particles (6, 8, 9).
NS5A can be divided into three domains, Domain1, Domain2 and Domain3. Domain1 and Domain2 are required for RNA replication, and Domain3 contributes to viral assembly and release. In addition, NS5A Domain1 is thought to be responsible for targeting to LDs, and D3 responsible for binding core protein (10, 11).
Transportation of the HCV replication complexes (RCs) containing NS5A to LDs depends on the interactions between NS5A/core and cytoskeletal filaments. The movement of RCs is inhibited by treatment with inhibitors of microtubules and actin filaments (12). Long-range motility of NS5A-positive structures to LDs was significantly reduced when microtubule motor protein dynein was silenced (13, 14). However, a direct interaction between dynein and NS5A was not shown. Therefore the nature of the host proteins interacting with NS5A for the transfer process remains not completely understood.
The liver constitutes a key organ in systemic metabolism, contributing substantially to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)(15). Among the molecules contributing to insulin resistance, IRS-1, a scaffold protein, plays an important role in the insulin cascade. Many in vitro and in vivo studies suggested that lowering of IRS cellular levels may be a mechanism of insulin resistance (15-22). A major target for the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, IRS1 stability is mainly regulated at protein level through proteasome dependent degradation. Studies suggest that proteasome-mediated degradation of IRS-1 might be involved in the down-regulation of signaling by insulin and IGF-1 and contribute to insulin resistance (23-27). Ubiquitination of IRS-1 was shown to be a prerequisite for insulin-induced IRS-1 proteasome degradation and the N-terminal region of IRS-1 including the PH and PTB domains was identified as essential for targeting IRS-1 to the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway (28).
Insulin resistance often results in hepatic fibrosis and steatosis, especially under HCV infection condition (29). Insulin drives macronutrient storage and tissue growth by inducing trans-autophosphorylation of its receptor, which is a dimeric transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). This results in phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) 1 and 2 and activation of a widely ramifying signaling network including, but not limited to, the phosphatidylinositol-2-kinase/AKT/mTOR and RAS/MEK/ERK pathways.
IRS-1 is a signaling adapter protein that in humans is encoded by the IRS-1 gene. It is a 131 kDa protein with amino acid sequence of 1242 residues. It contains a single pleckstrin homology (PH) domain at the N-terminus and a PTB domain, 40 residues downstream of this, followed by a poorly conserved C-terminus tail. IRS-1 plays a key role in transmitting signals from the insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptors to intracellular pathways PI3K/Akt and Erk MAP kinase pathways. Tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 by insulin receptor (IR) introduces multiple binding sites for proteins bearing SH2 homology domain, such as PI3K, Grb-2/Sos complex and SHP2.

CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) and its interactive proteins

WUHAN INSTITUTE OF VIROLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a determined position in real-time of an underwater object using a plurality of sensors operating at various sampling rates and for using the determined position in real-time in order to perform inspection tasks inter alia.

As part of a water dam security program, an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) has been under development for the past few years. Such remotely operated vehicle may be used in various inspection tasks taking place in underwater environments. The vehicle is preferably used for the inspection of dam surfaces, of rock concrete interface, of underwater equipment related to turbine production and in order to locate and size major defects.
Someone skilled in the art appreciates that over the years, deterioration of the dam concrete and other immerged elements needs to be repaired. Inspection is therefore performed in order to prepare rehabilitation work. Obstruction of water intake is also inspected prior to cleaning process.
As the remotely operated vehicle inspects the dam, cracks or defects on the surface are identified using for instance an on-board camera, precisely located and the remotely operated vehicle is reproduced in a virtual environment. The virtual environment consists of a complete scaled graphical model of the dam (as disclosed for instance in Côté, J., Lavallée, J. "Augmented Reality Graphic, Interface for Upstream Dam Inspection", SPIE, Telemanipulator and Telepresence Technologies II, Philadelphia, October 1995) and the graphical and dynamical model of the submarine. Later on, maintenance crews will return to the identified defects to follow their evolution in time or to perform restoration work. In order to perform such tasks efficiently, the remotely operated vehicle must be equipped with a precise navigation system, giving its exact position relative to the dam in real-time. State of the art navigation systems do not provide real-time navigation for underwater vehicles because the sampling rate for measuring position and the precision of the system are usually not high enough.
In an environment where visibility in water is very low or when the structure of the dam is very complex, a navigation system providing real time positioning is necessary to locate the remotely operated vehicle.
There is therefore a need for a method and apparatus that will overcome the above-identified drawbacks.

Method and apparatus for determining the position of an underwater object in real-time


A voltage controlled delay loop and method are disclosed for clock and data recovery applications. The voltage controlled delay loop generates clock signals having similar frequency and different phases. The voltage controlled delay loop comprises a plurality of delay elements; and an input that selectively injects a reference clock into any one of the plurality of delay elements. The plurality of delay elements are connected in series, such as in a loop. In one exemplary implementation, each delay element has an associated multiplexer that selects one of the reference clock and a signal from a previous delay element.

In many applications, including digital communications, clock and data recovery (CDR) must be performed before data can be decoded. Generally, in a digital clock recovery system, a reference clock signal of a given frequency is generated together with a number of different clock signals having the same frequency but with different phases. In one typical implementation, the different clock signals are generated by applying the reference clock signal to a delay network. Thereafter, one or more of the clock signals are compared to the phase of an incoming data stream and one or more of the clock signals are selected for data recovery.
A number of existing digital CDR circuits use voltage controlled delay loops (VCDL) to generate a number of clocks having the same frequency and different phase for data sampling (i.e., oversampling). For example, published International Patent Application No. WO 97/14214, discloses a compensated delay locked loop timing vernier. The disclosed timing vernier produces a set of timing signals of similar frequency and evenly distributed phase. An input reference clock signal is passed through a succession of delay stages. A separate timing signal is produced at the output of each delay stage. The reference clock signal and the timing signal output of the last delay stage are compared by an analog phase lock controller. The analog phase lock controller controls the delay of all stages so that the timing signal output of the last stage is phase locked to the reference clock. Based on the results of the oversampled data, the internal clock is delayed so that it provides data sampling adjusted to the center of the "eye." The phase of the VCDL is adjusted to keep up with phase deviations of the incoming data.
While such voltage controlled delay loops effectively generate the sampling clocks and control the delay stages to maintain alignment of the reference clock signal and the last timing signal, they suffer from a number of limitations, which if overcome, could further improve the utility of such voltage controlled delay loops. For example, the analog implementation of the phase lock controller is complex and generally cannot be easily ported from one technology to another. In addition, digital-to-analog conversion is required to convert the digital phase adjustment control into analog signal control. A need therefore exists for voltage controlled delay loops with digital phase control.

Voltage controlled delay loop and method with injection point control