There is disclosed a resolution conversion apparatus for converting an original digital image into a digital image having a different number of pixels in accordance with an instructed conversion magnification factor. In the apparatus, a determination circuit determines the number of pixels to be interpolated in each block of the original image and positions where they are interpolated in accordance with the conversion magnification factor. The block includes a predetermined number of pixels of the original image. A converted image generation circuit generates pixel data for the interpolation pixels at the positions where they are interpolated in accordance with a predetermined interpolation equation whose coefficients are determined with the positions and data values of the pixels in the block, and combines the pixel data for the digital original image and the generated pixel data to output a converted digital image. The interpolation equation includes spline functions and Bezier functions.

This invention is related to a resolution conversion system for converting digital graphical information of still pictures and moving pictures including characters, line drawings, natural pictures and the like into another graphical information having a different number of pixels so as to display converted pictures on a display device. More specifically, the invention is related to a resolution conversion system and the method thereof which allows input image information of a particular number of pixels to be displayed on the display device or a screen in a window environment having a different resolution when displaying the multimedia moving pictures.
In the conversion of digital images, when the number of pixels of an original image is reduced, another image of a reduced scale from the original image can be obtained on the same display device. Accordingly, it is useful when displaying a reduced image in a window or the like to reduce the number of the pixels of the original image. In addition, it is possible to display images on a screen of a display device capable of lower resolution than that of the original image.
In order to reduce the number of pixels of the original image, the simplest way is to thin some pixels out. Alternatively, there is another way to reduce the number of the pixels of the original image by simply calculating the mean of luminance values of 3xc3x973=9 pixels (e.g. if each pixel has 8 bits of luminance information, the luminance value falls within a 256 level gray scale) and by assigning it to a luminance of one pixel.
Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-124189, there is disclosed a method for reducing the number of the pixels of the original image by taking averages of the image data of the original image in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. In this method, lines are drawn using a line drawing algorithm known as a conventional art, and the horizontal line of the original image is shown as a set of a plural dots (y dots) of a horizontal component. The length of each horizontal line may be considered to be indicative of the number of input pixel data sets corresponding to one pixel data set after scaling-down to be stored in VRAM. Although the lengths of the horizontal lines may be different from each other or they may be identical to each other, the horizontal scaling-down is accomplished by taking the average of the pixel data for n dots. The vertical scaling-down can also be similarly accomplished.
On the contrary, if the number of pixels of the original image is increased, an enlarged image of the original image can be obtained on the same display device. Accordingly, it is useful for displaying an enlarged image in a window or the like to increase the number of the pixels of the original image. In addition, it is possible to display images on a screen of a display device capable of higher resolution than that of the original image.
In order to increase the number of the pixels of the original image, the simplest way is to surround a pixel in the original image, in horizontal and vertical directions, with pixels of the same gray scale level.
Alternatively, instead of simply placing the pixels having the same gray scale level, there is another way of increasing the number of pixels of the original image by calculating interpolation pixels whose gray scale level is positioned on a line extending between adjacent pixels of the original image between which the pixels are interpolated so as to use the calculated interpolation pixels.
Furthermore, a method for arbitrarily converting the resolution of the original image is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, 2001 designates original image data, 2002 designates a process for multiplying the original data by L1 in a vertical direction and by M1 in a horizontal direction, and 2003 designates the image data subjected to the L1xc3x97M1 multiplication processing. Reference numeral 2004 designates a process for multiplying the enlarged image data by 1/L2 in the vertical direction and by 1/M2 in the horizontal direction, and 2005 designates the image data subjected to the (1/L2)xc3x97(1/M2) multiplication processing, wherein L1, L2, M1 and M2 are positive integers. In the multiplication processes of L1xc3x97M1 and (1/L2)xc3x97(1/M2), if L1 greater than L2 and M1 greater than M2, then the image is enlarged, whereas if L1 less than L2 and M1 less than M2, then the image is reduced. In this way, the size of the image are arbitrarily modified in accordance with the combination of the enlarging and reducing processes.
If the same pixels as one pixel of the original image are placed in the horizontal and vertical directions so as to increase the number of pixels in accordance with the above mentioned method, the obtained image may include very noticeable aliasing, and therefore the quality of the obtained image may be degraded.
Instead of simply placing the same pixels, if the number of pixels are increased using the interpolation pixels whose gray scale levels are positioned on the line which links gray scale levels of the adjacent pixels of the original image, a very noticeable aliasing mosaic image is prevented from occurring. However, since high frequency components in a portion of the original image where a boundary between light and shade is clearly recognized may be reduced so as to smooth that portion, the obtained image becomes faded or blurred.
Furthermore, according to the method for arbitrarily converting the size of the image using the combination of the enlarging and reducing processes, since the reducing processing is executed after the completion of the enlarging processing, the processing is time consuming. In addition, according to this method, since the image is enlarged prior to the reducing processing, it is necessary to provide a memory for storing data of the enlarged image, which makes the hardware large.
The first object of the present invention is to prevent an image having noticeable mosaic aliasing so as to realize a high quality image, in resolution conversion increasing the number of pixels of an original image.
In addition, the second object of the present invention is to store a high frequency component of a contour portion of an original image where a boundary between light and shade is clearly recognized, so as to realize a high quality image, in resolution conversion increasing the number of pixels of the original image.
Furthermore, the third object of the present invention is to realize a high speed resolution conversion processing which can be used for a digital moving picture processing, in a resolution conversion increasing the number of pixels of an original image.
In addition, the fourth object of the present invention is to realize arbitrary resolution conversion processing in a minimum size of hardware, in resolution conversion increasing the number of pixels of an original image.
The above and the other objects of the present invention are accomplished by a resolution conversion apparatus for converting an original digital image into a digital image having a different number of pixels in accordance with an instructed conversion magnification factor comprising a determination circuit for determining, for each block including a predetermined number of pixels of the original digital image, the number of interpolation pixels and positions where the interpolation pixels are interpolated in the block of the original digital image, and a converted image generation circuit for generating pixel data for the interpolation pixels to be interpolated in each of the blocks in accordance with the number of interpolation pixels and the positions, so as to obtain a converted digital image based upon pixel data for the pixels in the original digital image and of the generated pixels to be interpolated, wherein the converted image generation circuit is arranged such that when a difference between two pixel values in the original digital image adjacent to each other at each of the positions where a pixel will be interpolated is equal to, or less than, a predetermined threshold, the values of the pixels to be interpolated are generated on the basis of the pixel values of the two pixels in the original image and a predetermined first interpolation equation, while when the difference is greater than the threshold, the values of the pixels to be interpolated are generated on the basis of the pixel data values of the two pixels in the original image and a predetermined second equation.
According to the present invention, in an area in an image including more high frequency components, where light and shade of the image is clearly visible, attention is paid to the fact that an absolute value d of a difference between values (for example, gray scale levels) of two pixel data sets is greater than a predetermined value. In a case where the absolute value d being the difference between image data of two pixels is less than the predetermined value, as in a case of an area in an image including more low frequency components, where light and shade of the image is not particularly discernible, a set of values for interpolation pixels are generated, which are positioned on the first interpolation equation (for example, a linear equation passing through values of pixel data for two pixels) which does not maintain, that is, which eliminates, the high frequency components of the image.
On the other hand, in an area in an image including more high frequency components, where light and shade of the image is clearly visible, when an absolute value d of the difference between two pixel values is greater than a predetermined value, a set of values for interpolation pixels are generated, which are positioned on the second interpolation equation (for example, a curve equation of a spline function passing through values of pixel data for two pixels) which maintains the high frequency components of the image, by comparing with the first interpolation equation.
According to this process, generation of an image having noticeable mosaic aliasing is prevented so that a high quality image can be realized. In addition, even in a case of converting a natural image whose contours are blurred, a high quality image can be realized, and in a case of converting letters or line drawings whose contours are clearly visible, a high quality image which has a clear boundary of light and shade can be obtained.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the converted image generation circuit includes a difference calculation circuit for obtaining a difference between values of two pixels, a pixel data calculation circuit for calculating pixel data values for pixels to be interpolated based on the first and second equations, and a selection circuit for selecting the pixel values calculated by the pixel data calculation circuit based on the first equation when the difference obtained by the difference calculation means is equal to, or less than, a predetermined threshold, and for selecting the pixel values calculated by the pixel data calculation circuit based on the second equation when the difference is greater than the threshold.
In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the converted image generation circuit includes a difference calculation circuit for obtaining a difference between values of two pixels, a selection circuit for generating a first selection signal indicating that the pixel values are to be generated based on the first equation when the difference obtained by the difference calculation circuit is equal to, or less than, a predetermined threshold, and for generating a second selection signal indicating that the pixel values are to be generated based on the second equation when the difference obtained by the difference calculation means is greater than the threshold, and a pixel data calculation circuit for calculating pixel values for pixels to be interpolated based on one of the first and second equations in accordance with one of the first and second selection signals.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the determination circuit determines the conversion magnification factor as conversion magnification factors of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and the generation circuit includes a horizontal generation circuit for generating the pixel values of pixels to be interpolated in the horizontal direction and a vertical generation circuit for generating the pixel values of pixels to be interpolated in the vertical direction.
According to this aspect of the invention, since it is possible to execute resolution conversions in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, it allows the hardware necessary for resolution conversion processing to be reduced in size.
In another aspect of the present invention, the resolution conversion apparatus for converting an original digital image into a digital image having a different number of pixels in accordance with an instructed conversion magnification factor comprises a determination circuit for determining, for each block including a predetermined number of pixels of the original digital image, the number of interpolation pixels and positions where the interpolation pixels are interpolated in the block of the original digital image; and a generation circuit for generating, for the block of the original digital image, pixel values for the interpolation pixels to be interpolated in the block in accordance with the number of interpolation pixels and the positions where the pixels are interpolated, which have been determined by the determination circuit, so as to obtain the converted digital image, using pixel data values of the pixels in the original digital image and of the generated pixels to be interpolated as a basis.
Furthermore, in another further aspect of the present invention, an image information processing system comprises an image input circuit for receiving image data, a storage circuit for storing pixel data values inputted from the image input circuit, a magnification factor receiving circuit for receiving a conversion magnification factor used for converting the number of pixels constituting the pixel data values into another different number of pixels, an image processing circuit for reading out the image data stored in the storage circuit, and for converting the read out image data in accordance with the conversion magnification factor provided by the magnification factor receiving circuit, and an output circuit for outputting image data values converted by the image processing circuit, wherein the image processing circuit includes a determination circuit for determining, for each block including a predetermined number of pixels of the original digital image, the number of interpolation pixels and positions where the interpolation pixels are interpolated in the block of the original digital image; and a converted image generation circuit for generating pixel data values for the interpolation pixels to be interpolated in each of the block in accordance with the number of interpolation pixels and the positions where the pixels are interpolated so as to obtain the converted digital image, using pixel data values of the pixels in the original digital image and of the generated pixels to be interpolated as a basis, wherein the converted image generation circuit is arranged such that when a difference between values of two pixels of the original digital image adjacent to each other at each of the position where the pixels are interpolated is equal to, or less than, a predetermined threshold, the pixel data values of the pixels to be interpolated are generated using the values of the two pixels in the original image and a predetermined first interpolation equation as a basis, while when the difference is greater than the threshold, the pixel data values of the pixels to be interpolated are generated using the values of the two pixels in the original image and a second interpolation equation which is different from the first interpolation equation as a basis.
Furthermore, the objects of the present invention are accomplished by a resolution conversion apparatus for converting an original digital image into a digital image having a different number of pixels in accordance with an instructed conversion magnification factor comprising a determination circuit for determining, for each block including a predetermined number of pixels of the original image, positions where interpolation pixels are to be interpolated, in the block of the original digital image, in accordance with the conversion magnification factor, and a converted image generation circuit for generating pixel data value for the interpolation pixels to be interpolated in the determined positions in the block in accordance with a predetermined interpolation equation whose coefficient is determined with respect to positions of each pixel included in the block and values of the pixels for every block of the original digital image so as to obtain the converted digital image based upon pixel data values of the pixels in the original digital image and of the generated pixels to be interpolated.
According to the present invention, the determination circuit determines positions, in the block, of interpolation pixels to be interpolated in the block of the original digital image, for every block having a predetermined number of pixels of the original digital image. In this case, it is possible, for example, to store positions determined corresponding to respective conversion magnification factors in tables, and determine positions according to the conversion magnification factor by making reference to the tables. In addition, a pixel block unit may be a block of 8xc3x978 pixels.
Furthermore, the converted image generation circuit generates pixel data for the interpolation pixels to be interpolated in the positions in the block, which were determined by the determination circuit, in accordance with a predetermined interpolation equation whose coefficient is determined with respect to positions of each pixel included in the block and values of the pixel data sets for every block of the original digital image so as to obtain the converted digital image in accordance with values of the pixels in the original digital image and of the generated pixels to be interpolated. The interpolation equation may be a spline function or a Bezier function. According to this, values of the interpolation pixels can be optimized.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the determination circuit determines at least one of the interpolation positions to be provided between a block where interpolation pixels are to be interpolated and a block adjacent thereto, and the generation circuit determines a coefficient of the interpolation equation based on positions and values of pixels adjacent to the block where the interpolation pixels are to be interpolated, so as to generate values of the pixels to be interpolated.
According to the aspect, it is possible to provide interpolation positions between a block where the pixels are interpolated and a block adjacent thereto and to determine a coefficient of an interpolation equation by further using positions and values of pixels in the adjacent block, in addition to positions and values of pixels in the block where the pixels are to be interpolated. Accordingly, the interpolation pixels can be generated at a portion where one block is adjacent to another, that is, outside of the blocks, so that it is possible to prevent the values of pixels from being discontinuous even at a position where blocks are adjacent to each other.


Disclosed is a distortion rectification method, comprising: taking a wide-angle photograph using a camera of a terminal; determining distortion regions and non-distortion regions in the wide-angle photograph; obtaining a target distortion region selected by a user; dividing the target distortion region into M grid regions of a first pre-set size, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to one; and respectively performing distortion rectification on the M grid regions of the first pre-set size. Also disclosed is a terminal.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to the field of electronic equipment, and particularly to a distortion rectification method and a terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following the quick development of information technology, the functions of an integrated terminal can carry out more and more functions, such as photo shooting, web browsing, gaming, shopping, etc. However, the terminal is not omnipotent. In the present technology, the terminal can carry out the photo shooting; however, during the photo shooting, the shooting range is subjected to a certain limitation.
Generally, people think to use a wide-angle camera lens to take the picture. The photo taken by the wide-angle camera lens generates a distortion at a region beyond a certain angular range. Such distortion is generated due to the nature of the characteristic of the wide-angle camera lens itself. How to rectify the distortion of any of the distorted regions selected by the user has not been resolved.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Distortion rectification method and terminal

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A fluorescent light fixture is provided which can be easily assembled from kit form and in essence provides a reversible mounting system such that the main housing can be alternatively mounted flush against a flat wall or ceiling surface or reversed so that a pair of orthogonally related housing walls fit flush into a corner defined between two walls or a wall and a ceiling. The flat wall mode of deployment can also be adapted to be spaced from a ceiling by the addition of a pair of conventional chain mounts used for fluorescent fixtures.

With the soaring costs of energy has come a high level of interest in the maximized efficiency of the use of energy. When it comes to providing light, it is a well-known fact that fluorescent fixtures utilize electrical energy a great deal more efficiently than do incandescent fixtures.
However, one drawback of the fluorescent fixture typically is the relative difficulty of installation because the fixtures involve a long housing, ordinarily 4' in length or greater, and is in general much more complicated than a simple incandescent light fixture, which is very elementary to mount.
In the wake of the energy problem has come a nationally marketed fluorescent fixture which is circular with a self-contained ballast transformer which screws into a conventional incandescent light socket. These are somewhat expensive however, and are somewhat limited in their lumen output due to weight and tube length considerations.
There is therefore a need for a simple fluorescent which is easily installed by non-technical people and which can be mounted alternatively at the election of the user in any of the ordinary modes of deployment of fluorescent lights, which are flush against the ceiling, flush against a wall, flush into a corner defined by two walls or a wall and a celling, or suspended from the ceiling.


Two ear cups are coupled by a flexible member. Each ear cup includes a speaker mounted on an internal portion thereof and is configured to form an air pressure seal around an ear of a user when the apparatus is placed on the user. The flexible member couples the two ear cups and ijs configured such that, when the apparatus is placed on the user, each ear cup completely covers an associated ear of the user and forms an air pressure seal around the associated ear. A microphone is electrically coupled to the speaker in each ear cup for transmitting ambient sound to the user when the apparatus is placed on the user. An indicator light may be provided which is configured to turn on when the microphone is active. The microphone and/or the indicator light may be mounted on the flexible member or on one of the ear cups.

The change in altitude of an airplane, particularly during descent towards landing, causes ear pain in many air travelers. While this pain is not considered dangerous, it is extremely uncomfortable and particularly unsettling for babies and young children. If the air traveler suffers from a respiratory ailment such as a cold or severe allergy, the pain may be severe and/or persist for several days after a flight, if the pressure in the ears fails to equalize upon landing.
The small space in the middle ear behind the eardrum, connected to the back of the nose via a small channel (the Eustachian tube), is normally filled with air. Under normal circumstances, the air on either side of the eardrum is at the same pressure, but as a plane descends the cabin air pressure outside the ear rises relatively fast, while the air pressure in the middle ear does not. The difference in air pressures pushes the eardrum inwards resulting in discomfort and possibly pain. To counter this problem several tricks can be used to raise the air pressure in the middle ear to equal that of the plane's cabin, such as yawning, chewing gum, or using the Valsalva technique: with mouth closed, gently pinch nostrils closed and then push air into nasal passages as if blowing nose. Another approach is to shield the ears from the increase in air pressure, thus avoiding the differences in pressure until normal breathing has given the passenger a chance to bring up the middle ear air pressure naturally.
You may have witnessed flight attendants suggest to passengers the use of plastic cups to cover their ears to diminish the discomfort. What the plastic cups are accomplishing is simply keeping the rising air pressure from pushing against the passenger's eardrum. But this is not easy to accomplish when young children are involved, as they do not sit still because of the discomfort. Furthermore, when adults are concerned, covering their ears may interfere with their ability to hear instructions from the pilot or passenger cabin crew, which would put them at risk in case of an emergency. As a matter of fact, airline and other regulations may prohibit the use of earphones during takeoff and landing to ensure all announcement can be clearly heard by the passengers.
It is an object of the present invention to show an apparatus to cover a person's ears in a way that isolates it from external air pressure, while at the same time allowing the person to hear the sounds in their surroundings. Moreover, the apparatus features a highly visible signal showing its status as properly transmitting sounds.

Apparatus to mitigate ear pressure on airline flights while preserving awareness of the cabin surroundings


A method of making a golf club head and golf club heads produced by the method which involves filling a ceramic mold in the shape of a golf club head with metal powders, the mold optionally containing inserts made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal powders, castings, wrought metal, and green compacts of metal powders and combinations thereof optionally sintering the material in the mold, compressing the material in the mold and the material contained therein by a process of hot isostatic pressure or a pseudo-isostatic pressure utilizing granular material around the mold to form near 100 percent of the theoretical density of the contents of the mold and thereafter removing the material from the mold.

Applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 07/604,297, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,810 discloses and claims a method of making a golf club head which involves filling a mold with materials selected from the group consisting of metal powders, castings, wrought metal and green compact metal powders and combinations thereof so as to achieve the desired property in particular areas of the club head, compressing the material in a mold to form a green compact material, removing the green compact material from the mold and then heating the green compact material to an elevated temperature to form a sintered product. Thereafter the sintered product may be further heated under pressure to improve its density.

Method of making a golf club head using a ceramic mold and the article produced thereby


A photoresponsive device (10) includes a body comprised of semiconductor material comprised of elements selected from Group IIB-VIA; and at least one electrically conductive contact pad (20) formed over a surface of the semiconductor material. The at least one electrically conductive contact pad is comprised of metal nitride, such as MoN, and serves as a diffusion barrier between an Indium bump (22a, 22b) and the underlying semiconductor material. A passivation layer (18), such as a layer of wider bandgap CdTe, can be formed to overlie the surface of said semiconductor material. A p-n junction is contained within a mesa structure (10a) that comprises a portion of an n-type base layer (14) and a p-type cap layer (16). A first contact pad is disposed over the cap layer and a second contact pad is disposed over the base layer. The device further includes a first layer (24a) comprised of Au that is disposed between a bottom surface of the first contact pad and the cap layer; a second layer (24b) comprised of Cr that is disposed between a bottom surface of the second contact pad and the base layer; and a third layer (26) comprised of nickel that is disposed upon a top surface of the first and second contact pads. A first In bump (22a) is disposed upon the third layer over the first contact pad and a second indium bump (22b) disposed upon the third layer over the second contact pad. The metal nitride is applied, preferably, by a reactive sputtering technique.

One conventional technique for coupling an array of photoresponsive detectors to a readout integrated circuit employs indium (In) contacts or bumps between individual detectors and their associated readout circuits. The resulting hybrid photodetector/readout circuit is subsequently installed within a suitable imaging system. One conventional type of array is constructed of Group II-VI (e.g., HgCdTe) photovoltaic, infrared (IR) radiation responsive p-n diodes. In this case the hybrid photodetector/readout circuit may be installed within an evacuated container or dewar for maintaining the array at cryogenic temperatures during operation.
However, several undesirable effects have been observed when In, from the In bump which forms the electrical and mechanical bond between a HgCdTe detector and its readout circuit, comes in contact with the active HgCdTe material. First, the In has been observed to create defects in the HgCdTe. These defects cause excess leakage current to flow through the diode if the defect dislocations penetrate the p-n junction, or if they are located in the low doped, n-type side of the diode (and within a diffusion length of the p-n junction). Second, the defects provide a path through which In and Au, if Au is also used in the metal contact system, can diffuse to the p-n junction. The diffused metals can result in a short circuit across the p-n junction. Third, if In comes into contact with Au it forms a brittle intermetallic alloy which can cause the contact metal to separate from the underlying HgCdTe.
It is noted that all of these effects are accelerated when the detector is raised to elevated temperatures, as is typically the case during the vacuum bake of the dewar which houses the detector and/or during storage.
It is known to employ a layer of Ni between the In bump and the HgCdTe or a layer of Au metallization on the HgCdTe. However, the Ni interlayer has been found to not be acceptable in reliably preventing the diffusion of In into either the HgCdTe or the Au contact metallization.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,912 (Pollard et al.) teaches the use of a molybdenum (Mo) layer that is overcoated with an Au/Ge layer to form connecting leads to a HgCdTe epitaxial detector array that is formed on a CdTe substrate. In this application the Mo leads are said to have excellent matches to the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of HgCdTe and CdTe.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,296,384 and 5,401,986 (C. A. Cockrum et al.) teach a photoresponsive device that includes semiconductor material, such as a cap region, that is comprised of elements selected from Group IIB-VIA. A low diffusion characteristic, non-reactive refractory contact pad is formed upon a surface of the cap region. A preferred material for the contact pad is disclosed to be molybdenum. A wide bandgap semiconductor passivation or overglass layer overlies the surface of the cap region and also partially overlies the contact pad. A dielectric layer overlies the passivation layer, and an indium bump is formed upon the contact pad.
Reference may also be had "Diffusion Phenomena in Thin Films and Microelectronic Materials", Ed. by D. Gupta and P. S. Ho, Noyes Publications (1988), pgs. 432-498 for a discussion of diffusion barriers in semiconductor contact metallization. TiN is described as a well-known single phase compound diffusion barrier, and MoSi.sub.2, in combination with Al, is referred to at page 461 also for this purpose. At page 477 it is said that the silicides can be used as primary contacting layer, and not as a diffusion barrier. An example of a PtSi contacting layer with a TiN diffusion barrier is given at page 478. Table 4 lists the use of rf sputtered MoN.sub.x as a diffusion barrier in combination with a Si substrate, a Mo contacting layer, and a /Mo/Au metal overlayer.

Contact metal diffusion barrier for semiconductor devices


The object of the invention is to reduce the number of colors provided on electrical cables wired in a vehicle. The unitary wire harness containing the greatest number of electrical cables is taken as the critical harness. The critical number of different color markings is then determined from the following formula:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wire harness such as, for example, for vehicle or automotive applications, that includes several unitary wire harnesses each containing a plurality of electrical cables. In particular, the invention relates to colored electrical cables.
2. Description of Background Information
A typical automobile is usually wired with hundreds of electrical cables. These electrical cables are assembled into several unitary wire harnesses, each unitary wire harness being assigned to a specific car section.
As shown in FIG. 1A, such unitary wire harnesses include, for instance, an engine compartment harness W/H-1, an engine harness W/H-2 wired above the engine, a cowl harness W/H-3 wired in the dash panel (cowl panel), an instrument panel harness W/H-4, a floor harness W/H-5 wired from the front side to the rear side along the car floor, a door harness W/H-6 wired in the doors on both sides, and a roof harness (not shown in the figure) wired along the car roof.
Among them, a large-scale wire harness, such as an engine harness, an engine compartment harness, a cowl harness and an instrument panel harness, contains at least thirty to fifty, and typically one hundred to three hundred electrical cables.
In a unitary wire harness such as shown in FIG. 1B, a number of electrical cables W are bundled and taped, so as to form a trunk section and branch sections. Each end portion of the electrical cables is terminated with a connector K. Further, certain determined positions of the trunk and branch sections are mounted with fitting members such as clips to be hooked to a car body, protectors for safeguarding the harness, or corrugated tubes.
As shown in FIG. 2, an end portion of each electrical cable W is fitted with an electrical terminal T, and the latter is inserted into a corresponding terminal enclosure a, b or c, etc., formed in a connector K. During this operation, workers are susceptible of making connection errors. To avoid such mistakes, the electrical cables are differentiated by colors.
As shown in FIG. 3, a first electrical cable 5 is composed of a core wire aggregate 1 and an insulator coating 2. The latter has a plain (or solid) base color 3a (i.e. dominant or background color) in suitable colors, such as, red, blue, yellow, green, black or the like. A second electrical cable 6 has a plain base color 3a same as for the first electrical cable 5, and is further provided with, for example, two stripes 3b. The plain base colors 3a and colors of the stripes are thereby differentiated, so that workers can differentiate those electrical cables. The base color 3a may be provided in the entire insulator coating 2, or only on its external surface. By contrast, the stripes 3b are colored only on the external surface of the insulator coating.
The first and second electrical cables W may be respectively provided or spotted with identification codes 3c in suitable colors such as silver, red or black, etc., at given intervals along their length. The shape of the identification codes 3c is a function of properties such as, for example, the material and thickness of the insulator coating, the diameter of the core wire aggregate, the size of the electrical cable, etc. However, these designation identification codes 3c are not included in the different cable color markings in the sense of the invention, beside the plain base colors 3a and the striped cable colors 3b.
As can be understood from above, many types of cable color may be used in an automobile. Further, a work bench for mounting unitary wire harnesses is usually provided with an arrangement table such as shown e.g. in FIG. 5A. The color of an electrical cable W is made to correspond to a particular terminal enclosure among a plurality of terminal receiving means of connector K, to which the cables are to be inserted, so that erroneous connections can be avoided. In other words, the cable color sets are differentiated as a function of the destination of the electrical cables W (e.g. electrical cables W destined for a circuit). A circuit can thus be connected by inserting a given colored cable into the corresponding terminal enclosure. When the correspondence is erroneous, a desired circuit cannot be constructed.
One difficulty of harness arrangement resides in the fact that connectors in a vehicle or an automobile are initially joined to existing electric parts, for example, electronic control units and junction boxes, and the connections of unitary wire harnesses must be adapted to these situations. Further, a unitary wire harness may be connected between several connectors by crossing with other partially-connected wire harnesses, so that the electrical cables of one harness intertwine with those of other harnesses, and it is often difficult to attribute these cables to their terminal receiving elements in a consistent manner.
The electrical cables W to be engaged into terminal receiving means, in the form of enclosures or receptacles a, b and c etc. of a connector K, are identified by the corresponding cable colors. As the number of terminal receiving elements multiplies, the types of color to be used must also be multiplied so as to avoid misconnections.
Recent years have witnessed the multiplication of the number of terminal receiving elements formed in each connector K. Nowadays, its number sometimes reaches forty. Accordingly, many types of cable color are now being used. For instance, thirteen base colors are combined with different stripe colors, yielding, for example, forty six kinds of cable color.
However, when the cable colors are multiplied, the electrical cables produced become much more expensive. In addition, when the cables"" size is small, the width of the stripe colors and that of the base colors become undistinguishable. As a result, it becomes difficult not only to identify the base colors, but also to distinguish the stripe colors from the base colors. This makes the workers"" task particularly burdensome.
The present invention thus has for object to reduce the types of cable color required without risk of connection errors, to reduce the manufacturing costs of cables, and to alleviate fatigue on workers due to color differentiation efforts. To this end, there is provided a method for determining a critical number of colors for the electrical cables constituting a wire harness such as, for example, a vehicle or an automotive wire harness. The wire harness includes a plurality of unitary wire harnesses to be engaged with a given number of connectors. Each of the unitary wire harnesses contains a plurality of electrical cables which respectively have a different color marking and include an electrical terminal attached to at least one end thereof, and each of the connectors includes a plurality of terminal receiving elements respectively configured to receive a corresponding electrical terminal, so that each of the unitary wire harnesses can be engaged with a given number of connectors. The above method further comprises:
selecting a critical unitary wire harness among the plurality of unitary wire harnesses;
determining the critical number of different color markings to be contained in the critical unitary wire harness on the basis of the empirical formula:
R=A/B+C/Bxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
xe2x80x83in which R is the critical number of different color markings; A is the total number of electrical cables contained in the critical unitary wire harness; B is the total number of connectors to be engaged with the critical unitary wire harness; and C is the total number of terminal receiving elements contained in all of the connectors to be engaged with the critical unitary wire harness; and
setting the total number of different cable color markings necessary for each of the plurality of unitary wire harnesses to be equal to or less than the critical number of different color markings.
Selecting a critical unitary wire harness may include choosing a unitary wire harness containing either the greatest number of electrical cables or the greatest number of connectors.
Determining the critical number of different color markings may include multiplying member R by a number equal to at least about 1.5, when C/B is less than about 9.
Preferably, the above number equal to at least about 1.5 is a number between about 1.5 and about 2.0, inclusive.
Further, determining the critical number of different color markings may include rounding up R to the nearest higher integer value, when said member R is a decimal number.
Typically, the above different color markings may include a plain base color and/or a striped base color.
Preferably, the different color markings are composed solely of plain base colors.
Preferably yet, the different color markings include thirteen types of color at the maximum.
Typically, all of the different color markings used for a specific connector are different from one another, or the terminal receiving elements in a specific connector are arranged such that either the same different color markings are not placed in adjacent positions, or are placed in different sub-classes which are defined for the terminal receiving elements.
Further, selecting a critical unitary wire harness may include choosing a unitary wire harness containing at least thirty electrical cables.
Alternatively, the different color markings may further be provided or spotted with identification codes along the length of the electrical cables at given intervals.
The invention also relates to a system for determining a critical number of colors for the electrical cables constituting a wire harness such as, for example, for automotive applications, the wire harness including a plurality of unitary wire harnesses to be engaged with a given number of connectors, each of the unitary wire harnesses containing a plurality of electrical cables which respectively have a different color marking and include an electrical terminal attached to at least one end thereof, and each of the connectors includes a plurality of terminal receiving elements respectively configured to receive a corresponding electrical terminal, so that each of the unitary wire harnesses can be engaged with a given number of connectors. The above system includes:
a selector that selects a critical unitary wire harness among said plurality of unitary wire harnesses;
an element that determines the critical number of different color markings to be contained in said critical unitary wire harness on the basis of the empirical formula:
R=A/B+C/Bxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
xe2x80x83in which R is the critical number of different color markings; A is the total number of electrical cables contained in said critical unitary wire harness; B is the total number of connectors to be engaged with said critical unitary wire harness; and C is the total number of terminal receiving elements contained in all of the connectors to be engaged with said critical unitary wire harness; and
a device that sets the total number of different cable color markings necessary for each of said plurality of unitary wire harnesses to be equal to or less than said critical number of different color markings.
In the above system, the selector that selects a critical unitary wire harness includes a device that chooses a unitary wire harness containing either the greatest number of electrical cables or the greatest number of connectors.
Further, the element that determines the critical number of different color markings comprises a device that multiplies member R by a number equal to at least about 1.5, when C/B is less than about 9.
Typically, the different color markings include a plain base color and/or a striped base color.
Suitably, the different color markings include thirteen types of color at the maximum.
The invention further may include a wire harness for vehicle or automotive applications, including a plurality of unitary wire harnesses to be engaged with a given number of connectors, each of the unitary wire harnesses containing a plurality of electrical cables which respectively have a different color marking and include an electrical terminal attached to at least one end thereof, the unitary wire harnesses being configured to be engaged with the connectors including a plurality of terminal receiving elements for receiving a corresponding electrical terminal. The above wire harness includes:
a critical unitary wire harness selected among the plurality of unitary wire harnesses;
a critical number of different color markings to be contained in the critical unitary wire harness, determined on the basis of the empirical formula:
R=A/B+C/Bxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
xe2x80x83in which R is the critical number of different color markings; A is the total number of electrical cables contained in the critical unitary wire harness; B is the total number of connectors to be engaged with the critical unitary wire harness; and C is the total number of terminal receiving elements contained in all of the connectors to be engaged with the critical unitary wire harness; and
a necessary total number of different cable color markings determined for each of the plurality of unitary wire harnesses, which are equal to or less than the critical number of different color markings.
The above critical unitary wire harness may include a unitary wire harness containing either the greatest number of electrical cables or the greatest number of connectors.
Preferably, the critical number of different color markings includes member R multiplied by a number at least equal to about 1.5, when C/B is less than about 9.
Preferably yet, the different color markings include a plain base color and/or a striped base color and include a maximum of thirteen types of color.
The required number of different color markings for the invention are related to the number of electrical cables, the number of connectors, and the number of terminal receiving elements contained in a connector. These numbers are therefore taken into consideration in the above formula. The critical number of different color markings is defined for a particular unitary wire harness, so that the electrical cables, to be engaged into the terminal receiving elements of one connector, do not have a same cable color markings. The number of cable color markings for the other unitary wire harnesses is then limited to be equal to or less than the above critical number.
The first member A/B of the above empirical formula gives the mean value of electrical cables per connector. When this mean value increases, the critical number of different color markings also tends to increase.
The second member C/B of the above empirical formula gives the mean value of terminal receiving elements per connector. When this mean value increases, the critical different color markings also tends to increase.
When connectors having a small number of terminal receiving means, rather than those having a large number thereof, are preferably used, both mean values decrease. Conversely, when connectors having a large number of terminal receiving elements are preferably used, the number of different color markings is required to be greater than the mean values. In order to solve such problems, the critical number R is multiplied by a correction factor for security or safety of at least about 1.5, preferably a number chosen between about 1.5 and about 2.0, inclusive. This correction factor is obtained empirically, a value of less than about 1.5 or over about 2.0 being found not to be entirely satisfactory.
In other words, when the mean number of terminal receiving elements per connector is at least about 9, the critical number of different color markings R is not multiplied by a number of at least about 1.5, and, when the mean cavity number per connector is less than about 9, the critical number R is multiplied by a number equal to at least about 1.5.
In some unitary wire harnesses, there are employed many large-scale connectors (with a great number of terminal receiving elements), which can thus engage with a large number of electrical cables. In such a case, once the critical number of different color markings for the unitary wire harness containing the largest number of electrical cables is determined, this critical number is also sufficient to distinguish the different color markings for the other unitary wire harnesses. Accordingly, all the different color markings used in an entire system such as, for example, a vehicle or an automobile can thus be kept below the critical number of different color markings.
Instead of the greatest number of electrical cables as mentioned above, the greatest number of terminal receiving elements may be used for determining the critical unitary wire harness for the above calculation. Likewise, when the connector to be engaged with a unitary wire harness includes a mean number of terminal receiving elements of at least nine, the number of different color markings for all the unitary wire harnesses may be equal to or less than the critical number R.
Normally, the unitary wire harness containing the greatest number of electrical cables is engaged with the largest-scale connector (having the greatest number of terminal receiving elements). Sometimes, however, a unitary wire harness not containing the greatest number of electrical cables may be engaged with the largest-scale connector. However, as mentioned above, electrical cables are differentiated by many colors in order to avoid connection errors to a large-scale connector. Accordingly, in the above case, the critical number of different color markings of formula (I) is calculated on the basis of the unitary wire harness to which the largest-scale connector is engaged.
Further, by reducing the types of different cable color markings, all the electrical cables wired in the entire system such as, for example, a vehicle or an automobile may be provided or painted in a base color without having to add stripes.
In this manner, the stripe-painting process can be obviated, and the cable manufacturing costs are drastically reduced.
In particular, in the small-sized electrical cables, the cable colors can be identified more easily when they are not striped. The use of xe2x80x9cstripelessxe2x80x9d cable colors thus alleviate the burden on workers.
However, the plain base colors and the base colors striped in another color may be used jointly, and their total cable colors may be brought to a number equal to or less than the critical number of different color markings.
The unitary wire harnesses containing the number of different color markings equal to or less than the value obtained by formula (I) may include a total of at least thirty, at least fifty or at least one hundred electrical cables, the last being the most common.
In particular, the engine harness, the engine compartment harness or the instrument panel harness contains a great number of electrical cables. The number of their different color markings is at most the critical number obtained from the above formula.
The roof harness or the door harness contains a smaller number of electrical cables, and consequently a smaller number of different cable color markings than that obtained from the formula above.
Also in such cases, the unitary wire harness containing the greatest number of electrical cables may be taken as critical harness, and the critical number of different color markings may be calculated. As already mentioned, this critical number of different cable color markings may also be applied to unitary wire harnesses having a smaller cable number. Likewise, the number of different color markings used in the entire vehicle can be calculated from formula (I).
In most commercial automobiles, the critical number of different color markings thus calculated amounts to a value ranging from 12 to 14, especially to 13.
Accordingly, according to the present invention, the number of different color markings used for the entirety of the vehicle""s electrical cables is determined to be 12 to 14 types at the most, preferably 13 types. The above number of different color markings for electrical cables may be composed of plain base colors only, or may be a mixture of plain base colors and striped base colors.
However, as the critical number of different color markings is reduced e.g. to 13, the complete set of cable colors may be constituted by the plain base colors only. In other words, all the electrical cables wired in an automobile are provided painted with thirteen types of plain base colors.
In another embodiment, the electrical cables in plain base colors or striped base colors may further be spotted with markings formed at given intervals along the length of the cable. In such a case, the cable colors with markings are not counted as different color markings within the meaning of the invention.

Color arrangement of electrical cables for vehicles

Abstract: wherein A is the number of electrical cables contained in the critical unitary wire harnesses, B is the number of connectors to be engaged with the critical unitary wire harness, and C is the number of terminal receiving elements contained in all of the connectors. The critical number of different cable color markings thus obtained allows the reduction of the number of different cable color markings, and the electrical cables of the same cable color marking can be differentiated when they are connected to a connector.


Systems and methods are provided for authenticating an input on a touch screen. A method comprises obtaining one or more pressure metrics for an input by a user on a touch screen that is being proffered as that of a known user. Each pressure metric corresponds to a pressure applied to the touch screen by the user at a respective impression location of the input. The method further comprises authenticating the user as the known user based at least in part on the one or more pressure metrics.

Many electronic devices use touch screens (or touch panels) to present information to a user and also receive input from the user. For example, a touch screen is capable of intuitively and naturally capturing a user's signature. Conventional touch sensing technologies sense the position of touches on a screen. While some touch sensing technologies are able to determine a magnitude of pressure (or force) applied to the touch screen, the pressure is determined based on the area of contact (or the rate of change thereof) on the surface of the touch screen. In this regard, the prior art approximates or extrapolates an estimate of the pressure applied, but does not measure the actual force applied. Furthermore, some capacitive touch screens are responsive to mere proximity to the surface of the touch screen, that is, they may respond or react when in fact no contact or impression has been made on the surface of the touch screen. As a result, prior art systems are not able to accurately measure and resolve the pressure (or force) that is applied against the touch screen to individual locations on the touch screen. Thus, conventional authentication methods for a signature impressed on a touch screen compare the two-dimensional spatial characteristics (e.g., size, shape, orientation, etc.) of the input signature to the spatial characteristics of a stored signature. However, a skilled forger can replicate the spatial characteristics of a user's signature, and thereby compromising the integrity of the authentication.

Systems and methods for pressure-based authentication of an input on a touch screen


A loudspeaker system is described that includes passive radiators in opposite side panels adjacent to and on either side of a front panel speaker driver. A first front partition within the enclosure is attached to the enclosure at a first attachment point between the speaker driver and the first passive radiator and extends into the enclosure at an angle from the front panel. A second front partition within the enclosure is attached to the enclosure at a second attachment point between the speaker driver and the second passive radiator and also extends into the enclosure at an angle from the front panel.

Dynamic loudspeaker systems typically use a main panel to carry a speaker driver or acoustic transducer and an enclosure behind the driver. The main panel may be on the front, a side, or the bottom. The driver has a diaphragm driven by a voice coil and magnet, sometimes called a motor, to move the ambient air outside the enclosure, creating sound waves. Air is moved both in front of and behind the diaphragm. The air in front of the diaphragm generates sound waves into a room or another listening environment. The air behind the diaphragm is in the enclosure.
Different enclosure designs handle the sound waves that come off the back of the diaphragm. While some systems do not use an enclosure, an enclosure can extend the bass response or improve the efficiency of the loudspeaker system. A sealed acoustic suspension enclosure uses the air in the enclosure to generate spring resistance against the diaphragm of the acoustic transducer. A bass reflex or tuned port enclosure allows the sound waves in the enclosure to escape through a carefully designed port with a delay. A passive radiator is used in a sealed enclosure as an alternative to a port. It is similar to an electrodynamic acoustic transducer but has no active voice coil. The sound waves in the enclosure drive the back side of the passive radiator diaphragm. The front side of the passive radiator creates sound waves into the listening environment.
The various known enclosure designs provide different advantages and disadvantages. The perceived quality of a particular design is difficult to predict. Music reproduction is complex and cannot be fully and accurately modeled. The sounds from different voices and musical instruments reinforce and interfere with one another in a complex way that changes as the sounds change through a musical passage. Each person's perception of the quality and accuracy of the same reproduced sounds can also differ. There are also variations in how sound is recorded, stored, derived from storage, and amplified into the voice coil. Different dynamic drivers also differ. As a result, different designs are preferred for reproducing different sounds by different people and many different types of enclosure designs continue to sell. Reproduction inaccuracies added by an enclosure or by diaphragm mounting may be perceived as adding warmth or impact or as compensating for another weakness in the complete system from source material to sound.

Loudspeaker system with passive radiators


A track jump controlling apparatus controls a track jump operation of an optical pickup, which is adapted to emit a light beam onto a recording medium of disc shape, receive a reflected or transmitted light from the optical disc and generate a tracking error signal. The track jump controlling apparatus is provided with: a tracking servo-controlling device, coupled to the optical pickup, for performing a tracking servo-control on the basis of the tracking error signal; a driving device for driving the optical pickup to move the light beam in a radial direction of the recording medium according to jump data including a kick pulse to accelerate the light beam and a brake pulse to decelerate the light beam; an eccentricity detecting device for detecting an amount of eccentricity of the recording medium, and outputting an eccentricity signal which indicates the amount of eccentricity; and a jump data generating device, coupled to the eccentricity detecting device and the driving device, for changing at least one of a pulse width and a crest value of the brake pulse on the basis of the eccentricity signal, and generating the jump data to the driving device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related with a track jump controlling apparatus, which controls a track jump operation to move an optical pickup in the radial direction of a recording medium of disk shape.
2. Description of the Related Arts
An information reproducing apparatus for a recording medium of disk shape (hereinbelow, it is called as an optical disc), such as a LVD (Laser Vision Disk) and a CD (Compact Disk), is constituted as follows. Namely, the apparatus emits a laser light from a light source equipped in an optical pickup, to the optical disc, and obtains a RF (Radio Frequency) signal, a focus error signal, and a tracking error signal from the reflected light. By a control based on these obtained signals, special reproducing operations such as a still-picture reproduction, a slow reproduction, a double speed reproduction, etc. can be performed.
A track jump control is one of the indispensable techniques to perform the above-mentioned special reproducing operations. This track jump control is a control to move a beam spot, which is emitted from the optical pickup, to a desirable recording track (it is simply called as a "track" hereinbelow,) from a track where the present beam spot exists. More concretely, the track lump control is carried out by use of a kick pulse and a brake pulse, which have pulse widths, which correspond to the number of tracks to be jumped over, and predetermined crest values. These pulse widths and crest values are determined by the pitch between tracks of the optical disc, and the sensitivity of an actuator which drives the optical pickup. In case of 1 track jump, the pulse widths and crest values are set to draw an ideal velocity curve, in which the actuator can move the optical pickup in a minimum period of time to its adjacent track in a stable state. Here, the stable state means a state in which the velocity of the optical pickup i.e. the velocity of the beam spot, at the central line of the track of the jump destination becomes zero or becomes a value able to be adequately absorbed by a tracking servo-control as an external disturbance.
Nextly, the track jump control by an information recording and reproducing apparatus, will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. In this case, it is assumed that an information recording and reproducing apparatus has a tracking servo-loop to make the optical beam, for reading the record signal, track or follow a certain track on the optical disc, which is rotationally driven at a high speed, and that, in an initial state, the tracking servo-loop is in its closed state.
In order to simplify the explanation, it is also assumed that the actuator is a type without a spring system and ideally responds to an applied pulse.
For example, when a 1 track jump command is given, the micro computer for control, outputs a track jump command to change the tracking servo-loop to its open state. As shown in a time chart (a) of FIG. 1, the kick pulse KICK is applied to the actuator for driving the pickup. The kick pulse KICK has a polarity, which corresponds to the direction of the jump, a pulse width (=Tk) and a crest value (=current amount: IK) required for 1 track jump. As a result, the actuator starts the movement. Namely, if the kick pulse KICK is applied, the beam spot is moved in such a manner as to accelerate with a constant acceleration as shown in a time chart (b) of FIG. 1. When the tracking error signal obtained from the output signal of the pickup, arrives at the zero-crossing position as shown in a time chart (c) of FIG. 1, the brake pulse BRAKE is applied. The brake pulse BRAKE has a pulse width (=TB) and a crest value (=current amount: IB) required to apply the brake to the actuator, as shown in the time chart (a) of FIG. 1. Thereby, the beam spot decelerates with a constant deceleration as shown in the time chart (b) of FIG. 1. As shown in a chart (d) of FIG. 1, the tracking servo-loop is changed into its closed state at the center of the track i.e. at the time t2 (=the time when the time interval TB has elapsed from the time t1) when the velocity of the beam spot becomes zero. Then, the servo-control operation is performed, and the track jump is completed.
The above explanation has been made as for the case where the actual center of the optical disc and the rotation center of the spindle motor which rotationally drives the optical disc, are coincident to each other,namely, as for the ideal case where the eccentricity of the optical disc does not exists. However, an eccentricity certainly exists in an actual optical disc. For this reason, if the direction of the movement of the actuator, and the direction of the eccentricity are coincident to each other, the relative velocity between the movement of the beam spot, and the optical disc becomes lower. On the other hand, if these directions are opposite to each other, the relative velocity becomes higher. Therefore, only by simply applying to the actuator the kick pulse and brake pulse having the fixed pulse width and the fixed crest value defined beforehand on the supposition of the above mentioned ideal case, the kick operation is not always changed to the brake operation precisely at the central-axis between the tracks (i.e. the center of the grooves shown in the chart (d) of FIG. 1). That is to say, such a situation may happen that the tracks are crossed over excessively by jump, or a desired track is not crossed by jump, so that the jump to an intermediate track is performed, and in an extreme case, the jump to an opposite direction is performed.
Therefore, the information recording and reproducing apparatus may be constituted to detect the central axis between the tracks by use of the tracking error signal, which can be obtained in connection with the movement of the beam spot (refer to the time chart (c) of FIG. 1 ), to apply the kick pulse KICK to the actuator until the apparatus detects the zero-crossing point of the tracking error signal, and to apply the brake pulse BRAKE after the zero-crossing point is detected.
However, when the direction of the movement (fluctuation) of the track by the eccentricity of the optical disc, and the direction of the movement of the beam spot, are coincident to each other, in such an information recording and reproducing apparatus, the acceleration of the beam spot on the optical disc is cancelled at the time of acceleration as shown by a single chain line in a time chart (b) of FIG. 2. Thereby, as compared with the case where no eccentricity exists (as shown by a solid line in the time chart (b) of FIG. 2), the acceleration becomes less. On the contrary, the acceleration is added at the time of deceleration, so that , as compared with the case where no eccentricity exists, the acceleration becomes greater.
Similarly, when the direction of movement (fluctuation) of the track by the eccentricity of the optical disc, and the direction of the movement of the beam spot, are opposite to each other, the acceleration of the beam spot on the optical disc is added at the time of acceleration as shown by a dashed line in the time chart (b) of FIG. 2. Thereby, as compared with the case where no eccentricity exists, the acceleration becomes greater. On the contrary, the acceleration is cancelled at the time of deceleration, so that, as compared with the case where no eccentricity exists, the acceleration becomes less.
Apart from that, the kick pulse KICK is constituted such that the pulse width thereof is changed by the relative velocity, between the actuator and the optical disc, which changes due to the eccentricity. Therefore, if the brake pulse BRAKE, which has a fixed pulse width TB and a fixed crest value IB, is always applied at the center between the tracks (for example, the center of the grooves: the zero-crossing point of the tracking error) as shown in the charts (a) and (c) of FIG. 1 in case that the direction of the movement of the track by the eccentricity of the optical disc, and the direction of the movement of the beam spot, i.e. the actuator, are coincident to each other, as shown by the single chain line in the chart (b) of FIG. 2, the velocity is reduced too much. As the result, the velocity VJa to the opposite direction is remained at the jump destination. On the other hand, in case that these directions of the movement are opposite to each other, (as shown by the dashed line in the chart (b) of FIG. 2), the velocity cannot be adequately reduced so that the velocity VJc is remained at the jump destination. These residual velocities become external disturbances, from the viewpoint of the tracking servo-control, resulting in problems that the residual velocity cannot be fully absorbed by the tracking servo-control depending on the magnitude of the residual velocity, and that retracting to the target track after the jump operation, becomes unstable.


An optical space communication apparatus for propagating a beam of light through free space to thereby effect communication includes a transmitting device for transmitting a first optical signal converted into a beam of light, a expanse angle varying device for varying the angle of expanse of the beam of light into which the first optical signal has been converted, a level varying device for varying the output level of the first optical signal, a control device for controlling the expanse angle varying device and the level varying device, and a receiving device for receiving a second optical signal converted into a beam of light.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical space communication apparatus for converting an optical signal modulated by a transmission signal into a beam of light and propagating the beam of light through the atmosphere to thereby effect communication between remote points.
2. Related Background Art
Generally, in communications utilizing optical signals, high-speed transmission of a large volume of information is possible and particularly, optical space communication using free space as a transmission path has an advantage that it abounds in portability as compared with wire communication as by optical fiber and its communication paths can be simply set up. In communication apparatuses according to the prior art, in order to improve the reliability of optical space communications, the correction, i.e., auto tracking, of the angle of a beam of light in the direction of emergence thereof is effected so that optical signals may not come off the apparatus.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows the construction of an example of the prior art which is an optical space communication apparatus having the tracking function. On an optical path behind a lens 1 for transmission/reception, there are disposed a lens 2 and a movable mirror 3, and two actuators 4 and 5 for changing the angle of the movable mirror 3 are mounted on the movable mirror 3. These actuators 4 and 5 are adapted to be driven by the output of a tracking control circuit 6. On an optical path downwardly extending from the movable mirror 3, there are disposed a polarizing beam splitter 7 transmitting therethrough a polarized plane component parallel to the plane of the drawing sheet and reflecting a polarized plane component perpendicular to the plane of the drawing sheet by a cemented surface 7a, a lens 8, and a light emitting element 9 comprising a semiconductor laser or the like, and the outputs of an amplifier 10 and a transmission signal input end 11 are successively connected to the light emitting element 9.
On the other hand, on the optical path in the direction of reflection of the polarizing beam splitter 7, there are disposed a beam dividing mirror 12, a lens 13 and a light receiving element 14 having four light receiving elements 14a-14d as shown in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings. The output of the light receiving element 14 is connected to the tracking control circuit 6. On the optical path in the direction of reflection of the beam dividing mirror 12, there are disposed a lens 15 and a light receiving element 17 comprising an avalanche photodiode, a PIN photodiode or the like, and the outputs of an amplifier 18 and a reception signal output end 19 are successively connected to the light receiving element 17. There is also provided a collimation scope 20 made substantially parallel to the optical axis of the lens 1 and for an operator to visually confirm a partner apparatus.
During transmission, when a transmission signal is inputted from the transmission signal input end 11, it is amplified by the amplifier 10, and thereafter is outputted to the light emitting element 9. The light emitting element 9 intensity-modulates oscillated light in accordance with the input signal and converts it into an optical signal. The oscillated light from the light emitting element 9 passes through the lens 8 to the polarizing beam splitter 7, but this light is polarized in parallelism to the plane of the drawing sheet and therefore is intactly transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 7, and is reflected leftwardly by the movable mirror 3, and is converted into a beam of light via the lenses 2 and 1, and emerges toward the partner apparatus.
During reception, the beam of light from the partner apparatus enters the lens 1 from left, is downwardly reflected by the movable mirror 3 and passes to the polarizing beam splitter 7. Since this beam of light is polarized in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing sheet, it is rightwardly reflected by the cemented surface 7a of the polarizing beam splitter 7, and is divided into two directions by the beam dividing mirror 12. The beam of light reflected by the beam dividing mirror 12 is received by the light receiving element 17 and is converted into an electrical signal thereby, whereafter the electrical signal is amplified to a suitable level by the amplifier 18 and is outputted from the reception signal output end 19.
On the other hand, the beam of light transmitted through the beam dividing mirror 12 is condensed by the lens 13, and is received as a spot image S comprising a small circle as shown in FIG. 2 by the light receiving element 14. In the light receiving element 14, the outputs of the four light receiving elements 14a-14d are compared with one another to thereby find the position of the spot image S, which is outputted as a position signal to the tracking control circuit 6. On the basis of this position signal, the tracking control circuit 6 calculates the angle the beam of light from the partner apparatus forms with respect to the optical path of the host apparatus, and makes a driving signal for the actuators 4 and 5. The actuators 4 and 5 adjust the angle of the movable mirror 3 so that the spot image S may be received by the center of the light receiving element 14. Along therewith, the position of the light emitting element 9 is also adjusted and thus, the optical paths of the emergent beam of light and the incident beam of light coincide with each other, that is, the beam of light is accurately transmitted toward the partner apparatus. When during communication, the apparatus is inclined and the optical path of the received light deviates and the position of the spot image S on the light receiving element 14 deviates from the center, the movable mirror 3 is immediately moved and the optical path for the incidence of the beam of light is sequentially modified so that the spot image S may be received by the center of the light receiving element 14, thereby preventing the incident beam of light from deviating from the apparatus.
The above-described tracking function will not operate unless the beam of light from the partner apparatus arrives at a receivable level and the spot image S is received by a portion of the light receiving element 14. Accordingly, in the initial adjustment during the installation of the apparatus, the operator fixes the movable mirror 3 at an initial position near the midpoint, and manually effects the adjustment of the angle of a base 100 to thereby effect the adjustment of the direction of the entire apparatus while observing the partner apparatus by means of the collimation scope 20.
In the optical space communication apparatus, during communication, the beam of light is used in the state of a parallel beam of light. For example, when the beam diameter at the receiving point is set to the order of 2 m, the angle of expanse of the beam of light on the transmitting side is set to the order of 0.2.degree. for a transmission distance of 500 m, and is set to a small angle of expanse of the order of 0.06.degree. for a transmission distance of 2,000 m. Accordingly, when the adjustment of the direction of the entire apparatus is effected in the state of the same narrow angle of expanse of the beam of light as that during communication, a manual adjusting mechanism by the base 100 of high accuracy becomes necessary and the operation of adjusting the direction becomes cumbersome, and this leads to a high cost.
Also, whether the light receiving element 14 is receiving the spot image S can be confirmed by monitoring the light reception signal of the light receiving element 14, but whether the beam of light from the host apparatus is being received by the light receiving element of the partner apparatus cannot be confirmed from the host apparatus side. To ensure the beam of light to be received by the partner apparatus while observing the partner apparatus by means of the collimation scope 20 in this state, it is necessary that a value including the error of the angle of emergence of the beam of light and the visual confirmation error of the collimation scope 20 be suppressed to a small level. Therefore, not only requirements for the accuracy of the angle of the collimation scope 20 relative to the transmitting optical system during manufacture and the reproducibility of the midpoint position of the movable mirror 3 become severe, but also tolerance for the deviation of the collimation angle of the collimation scope 20 by a vibration, a shock, a variation with time or the like is quite limited even after manufacture, and this leads to difficulties in manufacture and high cost.


Agonist antibodies are disclosed which bind to the extracellular domain of the flk2/flt3 receptor and thereby activate the intracellular kinase domain thereof. The labeled antibodies are useful as diagnostics for detecting the presence of the flk2/flt3 receptor in primitive hematopoietic cells for example. The antibodies are able to cause primitive hematopoietic cells to proliferate and/or differentiate and thereby enhance repopulation of mature blood cell lineages in a mammal which has undergone chemo- or radiation therapy or bone marrow transplantation. The antibodies are further useful for treating mammals which have suffered a decrease in blood cells as a consequence of disease or a hemorrhage, for example.

A. HEMATOPOIESIS
The process of blood cell formation whereby red and white blood cells are replaced through the division of cells located in the bone marrow is called hematopoiesis. For a review of hematopoiesis see Dexter and Spooncer (Ann. Rev. Cell Biol., 3:423-441 [1987]).
There are many different types of blood cells which belong to distinct cell lineages. Along each lineage, there are cells at different stages of maturation. Mature blood cells are specialized for different functions. For example, erythrocytes are involved in O.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 transport; T and B lymphocytes are involved in cell and antibody mediated immune responses, respectively; platelets are required for blood clotting; and the granulocytes and macrophages act as general scavengers and accessory cells. Granulocytes can be further divided into basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils and mast cells.
Each of the various blood cell types arises from pluripotent or totipotent stem cells which are able to undergo self-renewal or give rise to progenitor cells or Colony Forming Units (CFU) that yield a more limited array of cell types. As stem cells progressively lose their ability to self-renew, they become increasingly lineage restricted. It has been shown that stem cells can develop into multipotent cells (called "CFC-Mix" by Dexter and Spooncer, supra). Some of the CFC-Mix cells can undergo renewal whereas others lead to lineage-restricted progenitors which eventually develop into mature myeloid cells (e.g., neutrophils, megakaryocytes, macrophages, basophils and erythroid cells). Similarly, pluripotent stem cells are able to give rise to PreB and PreT lymphoid cell lineages which differentiate into mature B and T lymphocytes, respectively. Progenitors are defined by their progeny, e.g., granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming progenitor cells (GM-CFU) differentiate into neutrophils or macrophages; primitive erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) differentiate into erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-E) which give rise to mature erythrocytes. Similarly, the Meg-CFU, Eos-CFU and Bas-CFU progenitors are able to differentiate into megakaryocytes, eosinophils and basophils, respectively.
The number of pluripotent stem cells in the bone marrow is extremely low and has been estimated to be in the order of about one per 10,000 to one per 100,000 cells (Boggs et al., J. Clin. Inv., 70:242 [1982] and Harrison et al., PNAS, 85; 822 [1988]). Accordingly, characterization of stem cells has been difficult. Therefore, various protocols for enriching pluripotent stem cells have been developed. See, for example, Matthews et al., Cell, 65:1143-1152 [1991]; WO 94/02157; Orlic et al., Blood, 82(3):762-770 [1993]; and Visser et al., Stem Cells, 11(2):49-55 [1993].
Various lineage-specific factors have been demonstrated to control cell growth, differentiation and the functioning of hematopoietic cells. These factors or cytokines include the interleukins (e.g., IL-3), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), erythropoietin (Epo), lymphotoxin, steel factor (SLF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and gamma-interferon. These growth factors have a broad spectrum of activity, from generalized to lineage-specific roles in hematopoiesis, or a combination of both. For example, IL-3 appears to act on multipotent stem cells as well as progenitors restricted to the granulocyte/macrophage, eosinophil, megakaryocyte, erythroid or mast cell lineages. On the other hand, Epo generally acts on fairly mature erythroid progenitor cells.
B. TYROSINE KINASES
Many cytokines involved in hematopoietic development stimulate receptor protein tyrosine kinases (pTKs). For example, the c-kit pTK and its cognate ligand (KL) have been shown to play a role in hematopoiesis. Tyrosine kinases catalyze protein phosphorylation using tyrosine as a substrate for phosphorylation. Members of the tyrosine kinase family can be recognized by the presence of several conserved amino acid regions in the tyrosine kinase catalytic domain (Hanks et al., Science, 241:42-52 [1988]). Receptor protein tyrosine kinases share a similar architecture, with an intracellular catalytic portion, a hydrophobic transmembrane domain and an extracellular ligand-binding domain. The extracellular domains (ECDs), which are responsible for ligand binding and transmission of biological signals, have been shown to be composed of a number of distinct structural motifs. The intracellular domain comprises a catalytic protein tyrosine kinase. The binding of ligand to the extracellular portion is believed to promote dimerization of the pTK resulting in transphosphorylation and activation of the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain (see Schlessinger et al., Neuron, 9:383-391 [1992]).
C. FLK2/FLT3 RECEPTOR
A murine gene encoding a pTK which is expressed in cell populations enriched for stem cells and primitive uncommitted progenitors has been identified and is called "fetal liver kinase-2" or "flk-2" by Matthews et al. in Cell, 65:1143-52 [1991]. Rosnet et al. independently identified partial cDNA sequences for the same gene, which they call "flt3", from murine and human tissues (Genomics, 9:380-385 [1991]). The full length flt3 sequence has been published by Rosnet et al. in Oncogene, 6:1641-1650 [1991]. The sequence for human flk2 is disclosed in WO 93/10136. Kuczynski et al. refer to a gene called "STK-1" which is said to be the human homologue of murine flk2/flt3 (Blood, 82(10):PA486 [1993]).
Matthews et al. isolated the flk2 cDNA from stem cell-enriched hematopoietic tissue. In order to enrich for stem cells, murine fetal liver cells were fractionated using the AA4.1 monoclonal antibody and a cocktail of antibodies raised against specific differentiation antigens, collectively called "Lin". Flk-2 was found to be expressed in AA4.sup.+, AA4.sup.+ Lin.sup.lo and AA4.sup.+ Lin.sup.br cells, but not in AA4.sup.- cells. The AA4.sup.+ Lin.sup.lo population contained all of the long-term pluripotent stem cells. The AA4.sup.+ Lin.sup.br population was depleted of pluripotent stem cells but contained multipotent progenitors. The AA4.sup.- population was devoid of primitive clonogenic cells but contained less primitive progenitors such as the CFU-E. Expression of flk2 in AA4.sup.+ Sca.sup.+ and AA4.sup.+ Sca.sup.+ Lin.sup.lo populations, which are considered to be highly enriched stem cell populations, was further demonstrated. Additional expression of flk2 in the day 14 thymus (at which stage the thymocyte population is highly enriched in primitive precursors) was studied. Flk2 mRNA was expressed in the most immature T lymphocyte population (CD4.sup.- 8.sup.- Thy-1.sup.lo /IL-2R.sup.-). Overall, the results of the experiments described in Matthews et al. indicate that flk2 is expressed in the most primitive stem/progenitor hematopoietic cells.
Poly(A).sup.+ RNA expression in fetal and adult tissues was also investigated by Matthews et al. Expression of flk2 mRNA in the fetal brain and liver as well as adult brain and bone marrow tissues was observed. Rosnet et al. similarly observed that the flt3 gene is expressed in placenta and in various adult tissues including gonads and the brain as well as hematopoietic cells (Oncoqene, 6:1641-1650 [1991]). The flt3 transcript identified by Rosnet et al. was 3.7 kb long, except in the testis, where two shorter transcripts were identified.
Small et al. (USA PNAS, 91:459-463 [1994]) have shown that antisense oligonucleotides directed against the human homologue of the flk2/flt3 gene inhibit colony formation in long term bone marrow cultures, which results further indicate that flk2/flt3 may transduce growth signals in hematopoietic stem cells.
WO 94/01576 refers to a soluble form of the flk2/flt3 receptor, designated flk-2ws, encoded by a 1.9 kb DNA fragment.
Dosil et al. prepared a chimeric receptor which consisted of the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the human fms pTK and the transmembrane and tyrosine kinase domains of murine flk2/flt3. It was shown that the chimeric receptor conferred transformed properties to NIH 3T3 cells and sustained long-term proliferation of the Ba/F3 cell line (a murine IL-3-dependent hematopoietic cell line which generates B lymphocytes in vivo) in the absence of IL-3 (Mol. Cell. Biol., 13(10):6572-6585 [1993]). It was shown that flk2/flt3 interacts with the p85 subunit of PI 3'-kinase and induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC.gamma., GAP and Shc proteins. PI 3'-kinase, PLC.gamma., GAP and Shc proteins are intracellular substrate proteins which are known to associate with pTKs.
The flk2/flt3 receptor is structurally related to subclass III pTKs such as .alpha. and .beta. platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGF-R), colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1, also known as macrophage colony stimulating factor, M-CSF) receptor (c-fms) and Steel factor (also known as mast cell growth factor, stem cell factor or kit ligand) receptor (c-kit). These receptors form a subfamily of pTKs which have five immunoglobulin-like segments in their ECDs and the intracellular catalytic domains thereof are interrupted by a specific hydrophilic "interkinase" sequence of variable length. The genes of this pTK subclass appear to have major growth and/or differentiation functions in various cells, particularly in the hematopoietic system and in placental development (see Rosnet et al. in Genomics, supra). Signaling through the c-fms receptor regulates the survival, growth and differentiation of monocytes. Steel factor (SLF) which interacts with c-kit stimulates the proliferation of cells in both myeloid and lymphoid lineages and is a potent synergistic factor in combination with other cytokines (Lyman et al., Oncogene, 8:815-822 [1993]).
The flk2/flt3 pTK is mentioned by various other authors. See, for example, Orlic et al., supra; Birg et al., Blood, 80(10):2584-2593 [1992]; and Visser et al., supra.
Lyman et al. refer to the molecular cloning of the transmembrane ligand for flk2/flt3 which is shown to activate the flk2/flt3 receptor (Cell, 75:1157-1167 [1993]). The protein was found to be similar in size and structure to the cytokines, M-CSF and SLF. The flk2/flt3 ligand was shown to increase thymidine incorporation in early hematopoietic cell precursors.
In their earlier publication, Lyman et al. refer to the production of rabbit polyclonal antibodies against the interkinase domain or C-terminus of flk2/flt3 which immunoprecipitated a major band of 143 kDa and a more diffuse band of 158 kDa. A C-terminal peptide of the flt3 sequence containing the final 22 amino acids thereof was used to generate the antisera. See Lyman et al., Oncogene, 8:815-822 [1993]. Maroc et al. also refer to the production of polyclonal antibodies against the C-terminal kinase domain of flk2/flt3 for use in studying the biochemical features of this protein (see Oncogene, 8:909-918 [1993]). Polyclonal rabbit immune serum was directed against a fusion of the interkinase domain of flk2/flt3 with TrpE. However, agonist antibodies which are able to activate the flk2/flt3 receptor have heretofore not been disclosed.
D. THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS
Chemo- and radiation therapies cause dramatic reductions in blood cell populations in cancer patients. At least 500,000 cancer patients undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the U.S. and Europe each year and another 200,000 in Japan. Bone marrow transplantation therapy of value in aplastic anemia, primary immunodeficiency and acute leukemia (following total body irradiation) is becoming more widely practiced by the medical community. At least 15,000 Americans have bone marrow transplants each year. Other diseases can cause a reduction in entire or selected blood cell lineages. Examples of these conditions include anemia (including macrocytic and aplastic anemia); thrombocytopenia; hypoplasia; immune (autoimmune) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP); and HIV induced ITP.
A pharmaceutical product which is able to enhance reconstitution of blood cell populations in these patients would clearly be of therapeutic benefit.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide agohist antibodies against the flk2/flt3 receptor. The labeled antibodies can be used to detect the flk2/flt3 receptor in biological samples.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for enhancing the proliferation or differentiation of primitive hematopoietic cells, thus enhancing repopulation of mature blood cell lineages. This is desirable where a mammal has suffered a decrease in hematopoietic or mature blood cells as a consequence of disease, radiation or chemotherapy. This method is also useful for generating mature blood cell lineages from hematopoietic cells ex vivo.
These and other objects will be apparent to the ordinary artisan upon consideration of the specification as a whole.

Agonist antibodies against the flk2/flt3 receptor and uses thereof


A device for perforating cigarette wrapping material by means of at least one-laser beam, whereby the wrapping material, in the form of a strip, is fed past a focusing head which is supplied with a pulsed laser beam by a laser source and focuses it on to the strip by moving the focused beam in a plane slanting in relation to the traveling direction of the strip; a shutter element, made of material impervious to the laser beam, being used for intercepting and restricting the focused beam to a sector of given shape and size, and so preventing the beam from impinging on given portions of the strip.

The present invention relates to a device for perforating cigarette wrapping material by means of at least one laser beam.
In the cigarette industry, ventilated cigarettes are produced, normally consisting of a filter-tip cigarette, the cover band of the filter of which presents ventilation holes formed by means of a laser beam perforating device, for enabling the smoker to inhale, together with the smoke produced by combustion of the tobacco, a certain amount of air for reducing both the temperature and the amount of harmful substances contained in the smoke.
The formation, by means of laser beams, of ventilation holes for enabling the circulation of cooling air inside the cigarette is also useful in the case of plain cigarettes, i.e. without filters, in which case, the holes must be formed through a portion of the paper wrapping close to the mouth-held portion of the cigarette. Using a laser beam perforating device, however, plain cigarettes, unlike filter-tip types, do not permit formation of the ventilation holes on the finished cigarette, in which case, perforation of the paper wrapping would result in carbonization of the underlying tobacco.
The same also applies to filter-tip cigarettes featuring additional ventilation holes upstream from the filter, i.e. formed through a portion of the paper wrapping.
In the cigarette industry, the above problem is overcome, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,812, by forming the ventilation holes, using the laser method, in the paper wrapping prior to forming the cigarettes.
Such a method, however, involves several drawbacks as regards distribution of the holes in the paper wrapping, which, prior to forming the cigarettes, is normally in the form a continuous paper strip for producing a continuous cigarette rod. The formation of ventilation holes too close to the lateral edges of the paper strip, in fact, may result at later stages in transverse tearing of the strip.

Device for perforating cigarette wrapping material by means of at least one laser beam


A device may attach to a mobile service provider (MSP) network and establish a first communication path from the device to a packet data network (PDN) gateway in the MSP network. The device may also start a session over the first communication path and detect a wireless network which is available for establishing a second communication path that extends from the device to the PDN gateway over the wireless network. While the first communication path is intact, the device may: attach the device to the MSP network over the wireless network, wherein attaching the device over the wireless network includes establishing a second communication path from the device to the PDN gateway over the wireless network; evaluate conditions for the first communication path and the second communication path; and select one of the first and second communication paths as an active communication path based on the evaluated conditions.

A network service provider may offer a variety of communication services, such as an Internet service, email services, telephone service, texting service, Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, content delivery service, etc.
In recent years, with the advent of smart phones, service providers have been witnessing increasing use of such services over wireless networks. In contrast to wireline networks, however, wireless communication sessions are more easily disrupted due to noise, occluded signals, interference, etc.

Mobile device anchoring and connectivity across multiple mobile network technologies