A beamforming radio frequency (RF) circuit includes a plurality of antennas, a plurality of amplifiers and an adjust module. The plurality of antennas is operably coupled to interrelate a plurality of beamformed signal components with a beamformed signal. The plurality of amplifiers is operably coupled to interrelate the plurality of beamformed signal components with a plurality of adjusted signal components. The adjust module is operably coupled to interrelate coordinates of a signal with the plurality of adjusted signal components.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to wireless communication systems and more particularly to beamforming.
2. Description of Related Art
Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire lined communications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices. Such communication systems range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-home wireless networks to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. Each type of communication system is constructed, and hence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards. For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variations thereof.
Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptop computer, home entertainment equipment, RFID reader, RFID tag, et cetera communicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communication devices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-point communications), the participating wireless communication devices tune their receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g., one of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wireless communication system) and communicate over that channel(s). For indirect wireless communications, each wireless communication device communicates directly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or an associated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wireless network) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connection between the wireless communication devices, the associated base stations and/or associated access points communicate with each other directly, via a system controller, via the public switch telephone network, via the Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.
For each wireless communication device to participate in wireless communications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiver and transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g., a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communication networks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the receiver is coupled to the antenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediate frequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage. The low noise amplifier receives inbound RF signals via the antenna and amplifies then. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix the amplified RF signals with one or more local oscillations to convert the amplified RF signal into baseband signals or intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signals or the IF signals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to produce filtered signals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from the filtered signals in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard.
As is also known, the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier. The data modulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordance with a particular wireless communication standard. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or more local oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier amplifies the RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.
In many systems, the transmitter will include one antenna for transmitting the RF signals, which are received by a single antenna, or multiple antennas, of a receiver. When the receiver includes two or more antennas, the receiver will select one of them to receive the incoming RF signals. In this instance, the wireless communication between the transmitter and receiver is a single-output-single-input (SISO) communication, even if the receiver includes multiple antennas that are used as diversity antennas (i.e., selecting one of them to receive the incoming RF signals). For SISO wireless communications, a transceiver includes one transmitter and one receiver. Currently, most wireless local area networks (WLAN) that are IEEE 802.11, 802.11a, 802,11b, or 802.11 g compliant or RFID standard compliant employ SISO wireless communications.
Other types of wireless communications include single-input-multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input-single-output (MISO), and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO). In a SIMO wireless communication, a single transmitter processes data into radio frequency signals that are transmitted to a receiver. The receiver includes two or more antennas and two or more receiver paths. Each of the antennas receives the RF signals and provides them to a corresponding receiver path (e.g., LNA, down conversion module, filters, and ADCs). Each of the receiver paths processes the received RF signals to produce digital signals, which are combined and then processed to recapture the transmitted data.
For a multiple-input-single-output (MISO) wireless communication, the transmitter includes two or more transmission paths (e.g., digital to analog converter, filters, up-conversion module, and a power amplifier) that each converts a corresponding portion of baseband signals into RF signals, which are transmitted via corresponding antennas to a receiver. The receiver includes a single receiver path that receives the multiple RF signals from the transmitter. In this instance, the receiver uses beamforming to combine the multiple RF signals into one signal for processing.
For a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication, the transmitter and receiver each include multiple paths. In such a communication, the transmitter parallel processes data using a spatial and time encoding function to produce two or more streams of data. The transmitter includes multiple transmission paths to convert each stream of data into multiple RF signals. The receiver receives the multiple RF signals via multiple receiver paths that recapture the streams of data utilizing a spatial and time decoding function. The recaptured streams of data are combined and subsequently processed to recover the original data.
To further improve wireless communications, transceivers may incorporate beamforming. In general, beamforming is a processing technique to create a focused antenna beam by shifting a signal in time or in phase to provide gain of the signal in a desired direction and to attenuate the signal in other directions. Prior art papers (1) Digital beamforming basics (antennas) by Steyskal, Hans, Journal of Electronic Defense, Jul. 1, 1996; (2) Utilizing Digital Downconverters for Efficient Digital Beamforming, by Clint Schreiner, Red River Engineering, no publication date; and (3) Interpolation Based Transmit Beamforming for MIMO-OFMD with Partial Feedback, by Jihoon Choi and Robert W. Heath, University of Texas, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Wireless Networking and Communications Group, Sep. 13, 2003 discuss beamforming concepts.
In a known beamforming transmitter embodiment, the beamforming transmitter includes the data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency (IF) stages, the power amplifier, and a plurality of phase modules. The data modulation stage, the one or more IF stages and the power amplifier operate as discussed above to produce an amplified outbound RF signal. The plurality of phase modules adjust the phase of the amplified outbound RF signal in accordance with a beamforming matrix to produce a plurality of signals that are subsequently transmitted by a set of antennas.
While such a beamforming transmitter provides a functioning transmitter, it requires multiple high frequency, and thus accurate, phase modules and since the phase modules are adjusting the same signal, the resulting magnitude of the phase adjusted signals is the same. Note that gain adjust modules may be added in series with the phase modules, but further adds to the complexity and component count of the beamforming transmitter.
Therefore, a need exists for a beamforming RF circuit that substantially overcomes one or more of the above mentioned limitations.

Beamforming RF circuit and applications thereof


A ceramic component element is provided. The ceramic component element includes: an insulating ceramic base with pores formed on its surface and previously fired; and a functional ceramic sheet bonded to the insulating ceramic base and having electrical characteristics. The functional ceramic sheet is physically bonded to the insulating ceramic base by forming pressing a green sheet for the functional ceramic sheet on the insulating ceramic base at constant temperature and pressure so that parts of the green sheet are forced to put into the pores and anchored, and the functional ceramic sheet is chemically bonded to the insulating ceramic base by firing the anchored green sheet in such a manner that functional oxides of the green sheet penetrate the insulating ceramic base by solid diffusion to form a diffusion bonding layer.

Such conventional functional ceramic elements (e.g., chip thermistors manufactured by Murata company, Japan, and chip varistors manufactured by TDK) are manufactured through a traditional chip stacking process. In the chip stacking process, green sheets formed of a metal oxide and a binder material and internal electrodes providing electrical connection for the green sheets are sequentially stacked and printed. This operation is repeatedly performed, and then pressing and firing operations are performed on the stacked structure to increase the mechanical strength of the stacked structure and obtain required electrical characteristics.
Functional ceramic components manufactured by this chip stacking process include internal electrodes and a functional ceramic sheet formed of the green sheet converted by firing. The functional ceramic sheet includes an active layer electrically activated by the internal electrodes and cover layers formed on top and bottom surfaces of the active layer for protecting the active layer and increasing the mechanical strength of the functional ceramic sheet.

Ceramic component element and ceramic component and method for the same


A porous substrate for epitaxial growth includes an underlying layer made of III-nitride semiconductor which is grown on a sapphire substrate, a void-formation preventive layer which is grown on the underlying layer, a porous III-nitride semiconductor layer and a porous metallic layer on the porous III-nitride semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a porous substrate for epitaxial growth, a method for manufacturing the same, and a method for manufacturing III-nitride semiconductor substrate, and particularly to a porous substrate for epitaxial growth by which III-nitride semiconductor substrate having a low defect density can be epitaxially grown in good reproducibility, a method for manufacturing the same, and a method for manufacturing III-nitride semiconductor substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
GaN compound semiconductors such as gallium nitride (GaN), indium gallium nitride (InGaN), and gallium aluminum nitride (GaAlN) are significantly watched as materials for optical device such as blue light emitting diode (LED), and laser diode (LD). In addition, since GaN compound semiconductors are excellent in heat resistance and environmental resistance, a development for applying the GaN compound semiconductors having such remarkable characteristic features to elements for electronic device is started.
Bulk crystal growth of GaN compound semiconductors is difficult. In this connection, a GaN free-standing substrate which can be served for practical use is in the midway of development. At present, sapphire is widely used for a substrate for GaN growth. A method for epitaxially growing GaN on a monocrystalline sapphire substrate by means of metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) technique or the like is commonly used.
However, since a sapphire substrate has a different lattice constant from that of GaN, a monocrystalline film cannot be grown, when the GaN is directly grown on the sapphire substrate. For this reason, there is proposed a method wherein an AlN or GaN buffer layer is once grown on a sapphire substrate at a low temperature to moderate distortion in lattice by means of the low-temperature growth buffer layer, and then GaN is grown thereon (for example, Japanese patent application laid-open No. 1988-188983). When such a low-temperature growth nitride is used as a buffer layer, monocrystalline epitaxial growth of GaN is possible. In even this method, however, a discrepancy in lattices of the substrate and the crystal is a problem. The resulting GaN has a dislocation density of 109 to 1010 cm−2. This defect is an obstacle in manufacturing GaN LDs.
Growth techniques such as ELO [Appln. Phys. Lett. 71 (18), (1997), pp 2638 to 2640], FIERO [Jpn. J. Appln. Phys. Vol. 38 (1999), pp L184 to L186], and pendeo-epitaxy [MRS Internet J. Nitride Semicond. Res. 4S1, G3. 38 (1999)] are reported as a method for reducing defect density resulted from a difference in lattice constants of sapphire and GaN. These growth techniques are such that a mask which is patterned with SiO2 or the like is grown on GaN grown on a sapphire or the like substrate, GaN crystal is selectively grown further through window openings of the mask to cover the mask with the GaN by means of lateral growth, whereby propagation of dislocation from underlying crystal is prevented. Because of a development of such growth techniques, it becomes possible to reduce remarkably a dislocation density in GaN to an order of around 107 cm−2. An example of the techniques is disclosed in Japanese patent application laid-open No. 1998-312971
Although GaN crystal having a low dislocation density can be obtained in accordance with these ELO techniques, the GaN crystal is grown on a heterogeneous substrate such as sapphire. Accordingly, a method for removing such heterogeneous substrate is required separately to obtain a free-standing substrate.
As a simple method for removing a heterogeneous substrate, the present applicant has proposed an exfoliation method by void formation wherein a Ti thin film is grown on a sapphire substrate on the surface of which a thin GaN layer is grown, the resulting sapphire substrate is heat-treated in a mixed gas stream of, for example, hydrogen and ammonia to obtain a porous substrate containing voids, a thick GaN film is grown on the porous substrate, and after the growth, the thick GaN film is easily exfoliated from the substrate by means of behavior of voids in the growth interface (Japanese patent application No. 2001-090148).
In the above-described exfoliation method by void formation, a flat GaN layer having thin thickness of around 300 to 500 nm is desirable. When a thick GaN layer is used, voids to be formed in the layer become very deep, so that another thick GaN film to be grown thereon is difficult to obtain a mirror surface and to achieve exfoliation.
On the other hand, it is not so easy to grow a thin and flat GaN layer on a sapphire substrate in good reproducibility. Even a slight change in a condition of a growth furnace, by which though growth in a comparatively thick film is scarcely affected adversely, influences remarkably a state of crystal in a thin film, resulting in difficulty to make the surface of the film flat. Accordingly, there is such a problem that a growth condition must be checked each time. Even if there is a flat appearance, unevenness in crystallinity is significant, so that a heat-treating condition to form voids is not constant, resulting in necessity for checking the heat-treating condition each time.

Porous substrate for epitaxial growth, method for manufacturing same, and method for manufacturing III-nitride semiconductor substrate


A flush toilet includes a toilet main body made of ceramics including a skirt and a rear storage configured to store at least a part of a control unit. The skirt includes a rear wall and a side wall provided in a back surface and a side surface of the toilet main body, respectively. The rear wall includes an opening provided between a peripheral edge of each opening and the side wall of the skirt. The opening penetrates in a front-rear direction to communicate between an inner region of the rear storage or an outer region below the inner region and an outer region behind the toilet main body. The skirt further includes a cross beam that joinably or coupleably supports the peripheral edge of the opening and the side wall of the skirt to each other so as to reinforce strength of the toilet main body.

Conventionally, as a flush toilet which is flushed with flush water to discharge waste, there is known, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-204261), Patent Document 2 (Chinese Utility Model No. 211735633) and Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-89282), a so-called "full skirt" or "total Hakama" flush toilet in which a skirt formed on an outer side than a side surface of each of a bowl of a toilet main body made of ceramic and a water discharge trap is formed all around the toilet main body, and formed seamlessly in terms of designability of the toilet main body.
In a conventional "full skirt" or "total Hakama" flush toilet described in each of Patent Documents 1 to 3, a storage section that is available for storing a control unit including a function of controlling discharging and stopping of flush water to a bowl of a toilet main body is provided in a region more rearward than the bowl of the toilet main body, and four sides of this storage section are surrounded with ceramics. Also, in the above conventional "full skirt" flush toilet, an opening is provided penetrating a rear wall of a skirt provided behind the storage section of the control unit in the toilet main body. Through this opening in the rear wall of the skirt, the control unit in the storage section of the toilet main body can be accessed from outside a rear side of the toilet main body.
On the other hand, one of aims that have been requested to be achieved in recent years with design diversification of the flush toilet and improvement in design such as appearance of the flush toilet is to acquire a large storage region that stores a control unit in a region more rearward than a bowl of a toilet main body, while reducing (slimming) an external dimension of the whole toilet main body. Particularly, in the so-called "full skirt" or "total Hakama" flush toilet, in terms of designability and functionality, many sloped or curved surfaces are adopted for an outer surface shape or the like of the skirt, and hence one of requested aims is to ensure a storage region of the control unit while ensuring designability of the toilet main body. However, in this "full skirt" or "total Hakama" flush toilet, as a size of the opening itself is designed to be large to improve accessibility from outside through the opening in the rear wall of the skirt to the control unit in the storage section, deformation such as distortion might occur in the opening itself, or deformation such as distortion might occur in a peripheral portion of the opening in the skirt. Consequently, there is a problem that the whole toilet main body lacks strength. Therefore, another requested aim is to suppress lack of strength in the toilet main body, while acquiring a moderate size of the opening in the rear wall of the skirt of the toilet main body. Also, there is a problem that as a thickness of the skirt in which the opening is formed increases to make up for the lack of strength in the opening in the rear wall of the skirt of the toilet main body or the peripheral portion of the opening, the storage region of the control unit that is adjacent to the opening is reduced, or there is a problem that the thick skirt is hard to be held when moving the toilet main body during transport or conveyance or during construction. Therefore, still another requested aim is to set a moderate thickness of the skirt or the like of the toilet main body, while acquiring the storage region of the control unit in the toilet main body as large as possible.
Accordingly, the present invention is aimed at solving problems of the conventional arts described above and is aimed at providing a flush toilet which can suppress lack of strength in an opening in a rear wall of a skirt of a toilet main body made of ceramics and a peripheral portion of the opening, and which can acquire a large storage region of a control unit in the toilet main body.


A response system and method of retrieving user responses from a plurality of users includes providing a plurality of base units and a plurality of response units, each of the response units adapted to receive a user input selection and to communicate that user input selection with at least one base unit utilizing wireless communication. Personality data is provided for the response units. The personality data facilitates communication with a particular base unit. The personality data of a particular one of the response units is changed in order to change which of the base units that response unit communicates. This allows a response unit to become grouped with a particular base unit at a particular time and become grouped with another base unit at another particular time. The personality data may be obtained from a database.

The present invention is directed to response systems for retrieving responses entered by users with a keypad, known as a response unit. The invention is particularly useful with wireless response systems, such as systems utilizing radio frequency communication, infrared communication, and the like.
Wireless response systems are typically used in a single room or adjacent rooms in which response units, or keypads, are handed out to individual users and the serial numbers of the response units logged to the individual user, if that information is desired. The response units each include personality data that allows the response units to communicate with the base unit or a plurality of coordinated base units. The personality data may include a timeslot in which the response unit is set to transmit response data following receipt of a base packet transmission. Alternatively, it may include a communication address assigned to the response unit. In such a system, the response units and base unit(s) are set to communicate on a common frequency or channel, or, in the case of spread spectrum communication, according to a common frequency hopping sequence. It is possible to adjust the frequency channel or hopping sequence utilizing actuation of a unique combination of keys on the response units and base unit or utilizing application software running on a computer connected with the base unit.
While such unit may be suitable even for extremely large groups of up to thousands of users, there are additional requirements in a university setting or in a large corporate setting. In particular, in such a setting, it may be desired to provide a response unit, or keypad, to each participant, such as a student or employee. The student or employee may retain that response unit for an extended period of time and utilize it in different settings within the university or corporation. However, difficulties arise in allowing the response unit to be used with multiple different base units as the student or employee moves from room-to-room during different times of the day and different days of the week.

Response system and method with dynamic personality assignment


A device for preventing and treating myopia includes a base, a spectacles frame (1), a holder (3) and a lens (2). The holder (3) is mounted on the base; a visual target (4) is placed on the base. The spectacles frame (1) is connected to the holder (3) by adjustable connecting parts (31,32,33,34,35), so the distance between the spectacles frame (1) and the visual target (4) which is placed on the base is adjustable.

Nowadays, ⅓ of the people in the world are suffering from myopia, and the situation is more and more serious. There are not ideal or effective devices for correcting myopia yet. In the past, Shen Zhen Weikang Technology Company produced the "Phoenix Eye 2000", which used red, blue and green vision frequency light to activate the retina and increase eyesight, but the effect is not satisfactory and slow. CN2081103U disclosed a normally worn lens for correcting nearsightedness, the upside of the lens is for correcting farsightedness while the downside is for correcting nearsightedness. However, it's difficult to focus on the object and make the reversed change to correct myopia or control the development, and the multi focus is bad for the youth's eyeball growth. In 1922, Sheard invented "far fogging" by wearing the convex in front of the eyes, which has some effects for correcting the myopia but can not reach a satisfied and stable result, so it couldn't be used widely. From 1980 to 1985, several primary school students had the experiment of wearing 1.5 D convex to read and write to correct myopia, which is the "near fogging" method. Actually this method can slow the myopia development a bit, but cannot correct it effectively. Some other therapeutic methods with convex have the same problem and cannot be spread for use.

Device for preventing and treating myopia


An exemplary embodiment of the present specification relates to an apparatus for controlling a hydraulic pump for an excavator with respect to a change of an operation mode, the apparatus including: an operating unit configured to generate an operation signal according to an operation of an operator, and including a joystick or a pedal; an oil flow supplying unit configured to supply oil to actuators, in order to drive a plurality of actuators corresponding to the operation signal, and including a plurality of pumps and a plurality of logic valves; and a control unit configured to control the oil flow supplying unit by using a priority algorithm for each operation considering a use frequency and a load of the actuator with respect to a change of a predetermined operation mode according to the operation signal.

An excavator, which is a construction machine performing an excavating operation for digging in the ground at a civil engineering site, a building site, and a construction site, a loading operation of transporting earth and sand, a crushing operation for braking a structure, a tillage operation for organizing the ground, and the like, is formed of a front attachment including a travelling body serving to move equipment, an upper turning body mounted on the travelling body and rotated 360°, a boom and an arm rotatably connected with the upper turning body, and options, such as a bucket and a breaker, attached to an end of the arm, and the excavator needs to be able to exert large force when performing the operations, so that oil pressure is mainly used.
The excavator using oil pressure includes an engine providing power, a pump supplying oil to a cylinder connected to each actuator, and a value determining oil supplied to each cylinder.
When the cylinder is desired to be operated at a speed corresponding to an operation of a joystick by a user, only a predetermined oil needs to pass through the cylinder by generating a difference in pressure between a pump and a cylinder generated by a valve spool, and the oil is inevitably lost due to a difference in pressure between front and rear ends of the valve. The loss of the oil at the valve is the biggest reason for losing the entire oil pressure of the excavator, so that the loss of the oil pressure may be decreased by excluding a use of the valve spool, directly controlling oil of the pump, and supplying the oil to the cylinder.
That is, when the pump is directly controlled, the valve spool is not used, and thus oil of the pump at the same pressure cannot be appropriately distributed to each cylinder, so that one pump needs to be connected to one cylinder. However, the number of pumps may be limited due to a limit of an internal space of a vehicle. When the number of pumps is limited as described above, a logic valve for assigning a pump to each cylinder according to an operation of a joystick case by case may be used.

Apparatus and method for controlling oil hydraulic pump for excavator


An air guiding element for improved flow over a gap between a tractive vehicle and a trailer vehicle is described, wherein the air guiding element can be mounted on the tractive vehicle or the trailer vehicle and has a flexible and airtight air cushion which is connected to a filling channel. The problem of providing a largely low-maintenance and operationally safe air guiding element, which can be installed independently of the compressed air supply of the tractive vehicle, for improved flow over the gap between a tractive vehicle and a trailer vehicle is addressed. The problem is solved by an air guiding element in which the filling channel has an air entry opening oriented in the direction of travel (F) on the side of the filling channel facing away from the air cushion, the air entry opening being arranged in such a way that the air cushion is filled exclusively by a dynamic pressure of the relative wind.

During driving operation, the tractive vehicle and the trailer vehicle are constantly joined together mechanically by a coupling device. By a tractive vehicle and a trailer vehicle is meant a tractor-trailer combination, which usually consists of an articulated tractor as the tractive vehicle and an articulated trailer as the trailer vehicle. The two vehicles in this case are detachably coupled together by a coupling mechanism comprising a fifth wheel and a king pin. But the invention can also be implemented on an articulated vehicle consisting of a motor vehicle as the tractive vehicle and a trailer as the trailer vehicle. Such vehicles are usually joined together by means of a coupling mechanism comprising a bolt coupling and a tow bar secured therein. Furthermore, it is also possible in the case of multiple trailer vehicles for the tractive vehicle to comprise a front articulated trailer or plain trailer arranged closer to the tractive vehicle and for the trailer vehicle to comprise a rear articulated trailer or plain trailer further away from the articulated tractor or motor vehicle.
Between the tractive vehicle and the trailer vehicle in the coupled state there is a gap, which produces considerable turbulence of the passing air during travel and thus causes a relatively high fuel consumption. However, a minimum gap width is needed, since a relative movement between tractive vehicle and trailer vehicle occurs especially when negotiating curves and without it there is the danger of the front edge of the trailer vehicle on the inside of the curve colliding with the tractive vehicle in the case of a sharp curve. Also during abrupt braking parts of the trailer vehicle can strike against the tractive vehicle on account of shifting of the payload.
In the past, therefore, efforts were already made to cover the gap between tractive vehicle and trailer vehicle, for example with air guiding elements. For example, from U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,146 there is known an air guiding apron engaging with the rear wall of the driver's cabin, comprising several telescoping segments in the lengthwise axis of the vehicle. Before driving away, the segments are pulled out and the width of the air guiding apron is adjusted to the width of the actual gap so that the gap is largely covered. The segment of the air guiding apron adjoining a trailer should be made of rubber or another elastic material and allow for the impact of parts of the trailer when driving along larger curve radii. For narrow curve radii or a changing of trailers, the air guiding apron can be pushed back manually or by means of servo cylinders in the direction of the driver's cabin. The major drawback to this known air guiding apron is its adjustment before driving away and the resulting unavoidable impact of the trailer against the air guiding apron. This always causes damage to the air guiding apron or the trailer.
A generic prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,752. The bridging of the gap between tractive vehicle and trailer vehicle in this case is realized by means of an inflatable air bag, which is arranged on the front end of the trailer vehicle and after the coupling on of the tractive vehicle it is detachably secured to the rear wall of the driver's cabin. The otherwise closed air bag is inflated via a compressed air line of the tractive vehicle and thereby stabilized. The compressed air supply of the air bag should come in particular via the compressor of the vehicle brake system. It has proven to be a drawback that the tractive vehicle needs to be outfitted with a substantial compressor power in order to fill the volume of the air bag, several cubic meters in size, in addition to the braking system. This problem is further aggravated when the air bag loses tightness due to damage and therefore the compressor is no longer able to fill the pressure accumulator of the brake system. In some cases, this may lead to loss of the brake system, so that the articulated vehicle is disabled from driving.


An ultraviolet sanitizer for non-contact sanitizing of handheld devices includes a device receptacle moveable adjacent a UV light source within a housing. The receptacle and a housing closure are moveable in response to detection of receipt of a handheld device in the receptacle.

Personal handheld devices such as smart phones and more communal handheld devices such as AV remotes can become vectors for spread of diseases as the surfaces become contaminated in handling. AV remotes in hotels and cruise ships present particular risks for spreading of diseases via surface contact. Accordingly, improvements are sought in sanitation of handheld devices, particularly in shared or communal handheld device applications.

Sanitizing remote controls and handheld devices


A backboard and hoop device is assembled from a backboard section and a hoop section, using first and second curved tangs at the proximal end of the hoop section, and first and second hooked tangs at the proximal end of the hoop section. The backboard section includes spaced first and second apertures sized to permit rotation of the curved tangs therein, and third and fourth apertures sized to permit engagement of the hooked tangs when aligned by rotation of the curved tangs, permitting assembly of the backboard section. The device further incorporates a mounting post clamp comprising two pairs of first and second jaws, one of each pair of jaws being mountable in a vertical or horizontal orientation to the backboard member, and the other of each pair of jaws engaged to a vertical or horizontal mounting post.

Basketball and related hoop games are often played in offices, on boats, trampolines and homes. While a number of portable or movable basketball hoop systems are known on the market, there remains a need for a system that can be used to provide a variety of fun hoop games, is light weight, easily assembled, and is of minimal size when not being used.


An audio device for a vehicle includes a loudspeaker system having a plurality of loudspeakers, which are arranged spatially such that they enable a three-dimensional listening experience in a vehicle interior. The audio device also includes a control unit which is coupled to the loudspeaker system and which is configured to control at least one loudspeaker of the loudspeaker system in order to reproduce a position-specific warning signal which is linked to a specific position. For reproducing the position-specific warning signal, the control unit controls only the loudspeaker or those loudspeakers of the loudspeaker system which is/are closest to the specific position.

The invention relates to an audio device for a vehicle and to a method for operating an audio device for a vehicle.
It is known from the related art that modern vehicles comprise more and more vehicle functions as well as driver assistance functions having ever-increasing scopes. These vehicle functions and driver assistance functions encompass highly diverse signal, advisory, and warning tones, which bring attention to certain situations or prompt the driver to take certain actions. These tones are usually played back via the audio system of the vehicle. Due to the high number of different tones and different functions, it can happen that the driver does not know exactly which situation he/she is being notified about or which action he/she is being prompted to take. It is not uncommon for the driver to then check, in that he/she additionally consults the displayed visual signals, such as a display in a display screen.
As a result, the driver is distracted from his/her actual driving task, however, whereby a safety risk arises.
The problem addressed by the invention is that of providing an audio device for a vehicle and a method for operating an audio device for a vehicle, which at least partially overcome the disadvantages from the related art.
The problem is solved by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims. It is pointed out that additional features of a patent claim, which is dependent on an independent patent claim, can form an invention, which is separate and independent of the combination of all features of the independent claim, without the features of the independent patent claim or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent patent claim, which can be made the subject matter of an independent claim, a divisional application, or a subsequent application. This applies in a similar way for technical teachings described in the description, which can form an invention independent of the features of the independent patent claims.
A first aspect of the invention relates to an audio device for a vehicle, wherein the audio device comprises a loudspeaker system. The loudspeaker system comprises multiple loudspeakers, which are spatially arranged in such a way that they provide for a three-dimensional listening experience in a vehicle interior. Moreover, the audio device comprises a control unit, which is coupled to the loudspeaker system and is designed for activating at least one loudspeaker of the loudspeaker system, in order to play back a position-specific warning signal, which is linked to a specific position. In order to play back the position-specific warning signal, the control unit activates only the loudspeaker or those loudspeakers of the loudspeaker system that is/are closest to the specific position.
A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating an audio device for a vehicle, which is equipped with a loudspeaker system comprising multiple loudspeakers spatially arranged in such a way that they provide for a three-dimensional listening experience in a vehicle interior. The method comprises the activation of at least one of the multiple loudspeakers of the loudspeaker system, in order to play back a position-specific warning signal, which is linked to a certain position. Only the loudspeaker or those loudspeakers of the multiple loudspeakers is/are activated that is/are closest to the certain position.
A vehicle within the scope of the present document is understood to be any type of vehicle, with the aid of which persons and/or goods can be moved. Possible examples thereof are: motor vehicle, truck, ground vehicles, busses, driver's cabs, cable cars, elevator cabs, rail vehicles, watercraft (for example, ships, boats, submarines, diving bells, hovercraft, hydrofoils), aircraft (planes, helicopters, ground effect vehicles, airships, balloons).
Preferably, the vehicle is a motor vehicle. A motor vehicle in this sense is a land vehicle, which is moved with the aid of machine power without being bound to rails. A motor vehicle in this sense comprises a car, a motorcycle, and a tractor.
The coupling, for example, the coupling between the loudspeaker system and the control unit, is understood to mean a communication link within the scope of the present document. The communication link can be wireless (for example, Bluetooth, WLAN, mobile radio communication) or hard-wired (for example, with the aid of a USB interface, data cable, etc.).
The audio device comprises a loudspeaker system including multiple loudspeakers. The loudspeakers are spatially arranged in such a way that they provide for a three-dimensional listening experience in a vehicle interior.
The vehicle interior within the scope of the present document comprises the occupant compartment of a vehicle, i.e., the space, in which the vehicle occupants are located, the interior trim, seats, seat benches, dashboard, any other instruments, operating elements, and the trunk of a vehicle.
A vehicle occupant within the scope of the present document is a living being, preferably a person, which is located in a vehicle. It makes no difference where the vehicle occupant is located or what type of activity the vehicle occupant performs.
The term three-dimensional listening experience means a listening experience in the horizontal and vertical directions. For this purpose, audio signals are distributed to the individual loudspeakers in such a way that different soundscapes can be generated. One possible soundscape can induce in a listener, for example, the sensation of being surrounded by the tones (for example, music, speech, sound effects). Similarly, the soundscape can be configured in such a way that the listener can associate it with a certain object or a certain direction. This can be achieved, for example, by utilizing audio methods that deliver object-based audio data to loudspeakers.
Due to the three-dimensional listening experience, audio signals can be precisely played back depending on a certain direction or a certain position. As a result, the intuitive perception of audio signals from a certain direction or from a certain position is increased. This means, a vehicle occupant in a vehicle interior can have a three-dimensional listening experience due to the certain arrangement of the loudspeakers and can distinguish whether the audio signals fill a space around him/her or come from a certain direction or from a certain position.
In order to play back a position-specific warning signal, the control unit activates at least one loudspeaker of the loudspeaker system. In other words, the control unit triggers at least one loudspeaker of the loudspeaker system to play back a position-specific warning signal. For example, the control unit delivers object-based audio data to the appropriate loudspeaker of the loudspeaker system.
As described above, the control unit is communicatively linked to the loudspeaker system. The term position-specific warning signal means that the warning signal is linked to a certain position. In other words, only one certain loudspeaker or only certain loudspeakers of the loudspeaker system is/are activated, so that a vehicle occupant perceives the warning signal to be coming from a certain position. This means, this warning signal is not played back by all loudspeakers of the loudspeaker system, but rather that individual loudspeakers are selected and activated in a targeted manner for the playback of the position-specific warning signal. As a result, a listener is given the impression that the warning signal is coupled to a specific position. The listener can therefore intuitively associate the warning signal with the specific position.
The term warning signal is understood, in the present document, to be an audible signal, which indicates a potential or acute danger or an action that is impending or is to be carried out.
Preferably, the warning signal relates to one or multiple certain vehicle function(s) and/or an operating condition of one or multiple vehicle function(s) and/or one or multiple vehicle part(s) and/or a condition of one or multiple vehicle part(s).
Examples of vehicle functions are: tire pressure measurement, seat occupancy, vehicle occupant seat belt usage, obstacle detection, blind spot obstacle detection, lateral collision detection, front collision detection, rear collision detection, object detection, surroundings detection, etc.
Examples of vehicle parts are: flap, window, tailgate, hatchback, engine hood, trunk lid, cargo space door, sliding roof, folding roof, fuel filler door, door, convertible top, vehicle seat belt, tire, vehicle seat, etc.
A control unit within the scope of the present document is understood to be a centralized or decentralized system, which is provided for receiving, processing, outputting and, if necessary, storing information, for example, in the form of signals and/or data. The control unit can be a device in the vehicle, for example, the on-board computer, the navigation device, the infotainment system, etc. Alternatively, the control unit or individual parts of the control unit can be an external device and/or a mobile terminal. A control unit within the scope of the present document comprises, in particular, at least one central processing unit (CPU, microcontroller, etc.) and, if necessary, a memory unit. Moreover, the control unit can comprise encoders and/or decoders, which process received information for the processing by the central processing unit and/or prepare information, which is to be output, for the output (i.e., for the transmission), in particular via a data transmission system (for example, a BUS system).
In order to play back the position-specific warning signal, only the loudspeaker or those loudspeakers is/are activated that is/are closest to the certain position. In other words, only the loudspeakers are activated that are closest to the location from which a vehicle occupant is to perceive the warning signal.
Due to the audio device for a vehicle described herein, the vehicle occupants are enabled to intuitively perceive warning signals, classify them and, if necessary, take appropriate measures. As a result, for example, the driver of the vehicle is not unnecessarily distracted from his/her task of driving the vehicle.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the position-specific warning signal is linked to a certain position in the vehicle interior. The warning signal therefore relates to a certain position in the vehicle interior. In other words, the warning signal gives a vehicle occupant the impression that it originates from a certain position in the vehicle interior. For this purpose, the particular loudspeaker or the particular loudspeakers, which is/are closest to the certain position in the vehicle interior, is/are activated, in order to play back the warning signal. If the "open door" warning signal is to sound, for example, from the right rear vehicle door, the loudspeaker or the loudspeakers next to the rear right vehicle door is/are activated.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the position-specific warning signal is generated in that the sound settings of audio signals emitted via the loudspeaker system are changed at the loudspeaker or the loudspeakers of the loudspeaker system that is/are closest to the certain position. In other words, the warning signal is generated, in that the sound settings of emitted audio signals are changed only at a certain loudspeaker or at certain loudspeakers (namely the loudspeaker or the loudspeakers that is/are closest to the certain position). The sound settings can comprise parameters for sound control, for example, parameters of an equalizer. The sound settings can comprise, for example, the treble, the bass, and/or the volume. The term "emitted audio signals" is understood to be continuously played back audio signals, such as music, messages, audio books, telephone conversations, video conference, etc. The audio signals are therefore played back via the loudspeaker system, for example, the radio is on and, at some point, the sound settings are changed at a certain loudspeaker or at certain loudspeakers. Due to the perception of the changed sound settings, a vehicle occupant can intuitively associate this change with a warning signal.
For example, a music playback that is underway can be adapted in order to play back a position-specific warning signal, in such a way that the sound of the music playback changes only in one certain spatial direction, in particular with respect to the driver. Such a change could be implemented, for example, with the aid of dynamic frequency adaptations of the playback with respect to a direction.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the sound settings comprise settings for bass and treble of the audio signals; the sound settings can be changed with the aid of raising or lowering the bass and/or raising or lowering the treble. A vehicle occupant therefore perceives the position-specific warning signal in that he/she perceives a change of the sound of the audio signals at a certain loudspeaker and/or at certain loudspeakers during the playback of audio signals. For example, a raising of the bass at a rear right loudspeaker can be perceived as a position-specific warning signal from this rear right loudspeaker. If the treble of the music playback is considerably audibly raised only at a certain loudspeaker at the front right (i.e., at the passenger seat) during the playback of music via all loudspeakers, a vehicle occupant perceives this change at the front right and can associate it with a position-specific warning signal.
In addition to a warning signal generated via changed sound settings, a further warning signal, for example, a loud signal tone, can be played back via one or multiple loudspeaker(s). As a result, the perception of the warning signal is further intensified.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the control unit is further designed for receiving object data regarding an object detected in the surroundings of the vehicle and, depending on the received object data, varying the content of the position-specific warning signal.
Examples of an object in the surroundings of the vehicle are: pedestrian, child, adult, wheelchair user, cyclist, parking automobile, plant container, animal, and cat, etc.
The term object data means data that describe the object. Examples of such object data are: size, length, width, depth, consistency, speed, acceleration, weight, etc.
The term surroundings means the area surrounding the vehicle. The surrounding area relates to a radius of 3 m to 6 m, preferably 2 m to 5 m, around the vehicle, when the vehicle center is assumed to be a starting point.
The object data regarding an object detected in the surroundings of the vehicle can be ascertained with the aid of a detection device arranged in the vehicle and/or at the vehicle and/or external to the vehicle. For this purpose, the detection device can comprise a sensor system. The sensor system comprises at least one of the following devices: ultrasonic sensor, radar sensor (for example, close-range radar sensor, long-range radar sensor), LIDAR sensor, thermal camera system, video system, and/or image sensor (for example, camera). The data (i.e., the object data in the present case) of the sensor system can originate from one of the aforementioned devices or from a combination of several of the aforementioned devices (sensor data fusion).
In order to receive the object data, the detection device is coupled to the control unit.
The content of the position-specific warning signal is varied depending on the received object data. The term "content of the position-specific warning signal" means the melody, the sequence of tones, the tones, and/or the length of the warning signal. Depending on the content of the position-specific warning signal, a certain object or a certain object class can be inferred.
The position-specific warning signal can comprise, for example, the ringing of a bicycle bell, in order to warn that a cyclist is approaching the vehicle. Moreover, the position-specific warning signal can comprise a sound of children laughing, in order to indicate that a child is located in the surroundings of the vehicle. The position-specific warning signal can comprise, for example, the sound of a train, in order to draw attention to the fact that a railroad crossing is being approached. One further example of the content of a position-specific warning signal is a certain noise, for example, a beep or a whistle, which draws attention to an open door or an open tailgate. The type of warning tone (i.e., the content of the warning signal) enables a certain vehicle function or a certain vehicle part to be inferred. As a result, a vehicle occupant is capable of intuitively inferring the vehicle function and/or the vehicle part for which the warning signal is intended.
The content of the position-specific warning signal therefore indicates what the warning is about. Due to the fact that the warning signal is played back in a position-specific manner, a piece of information regarding the position or the direction from which the warning originates is additionally transmitted. A vehicle occupant therefore intuitively receives information regarding a warning.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the control unit is designed for playing back a course of a position-specific warning signal, wherein the control unit activates at least two loudspeakers of the loudspeaker system, one after the other, in order to play back the course of the position-specific warning signal. In other words, the position-specific warning signal is initially played back on a loudspeaker; thereafter, in order to play back this position-specific warning signal, the loudspeaker is switched, in order to play back a course of the position-specific warning signal. The playback of the course of the position-specific warning signal is therefore essentially not played back simultaneously on two or more loudspeakers, but rather one after the other on two or more loudspeakers. During the switch of the loudspeakers, a brief, simultaneous playback of the warning signal on two or more loudspeakers may take place. In other words, the playback on the one loudspeaker can transition into the playback on another loudspeaker ("crossfade").
One example of a course of a position-specific warning signal is the initial playback of a bicycle bell on a right rear loudspeaker, wherein the playback of the bicycle bell is continued on a front right loudspeaker. As a result, a cyclist riding past the vehicle is simulated and a vehicle occupant can be warned.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the control unit is further designed for receiving object data regarding an object detected in the surroundings of the vehicle and, depending on the received object data, changing the sound settings of audio signals emitted via the loudspeaker system at the loudspeaker or the loudspeakers of the loudspeaker system that is/are closest to the detected object. Thereafter, the control unit can vary the content of the position-specific warning signal generated in this way. One example of the described application is the approach by a cyclist into the surroundings of the vehicle. In order not to initially unnecessarily irritate the driver, a position-specific warning signal is first generated at the loudspeaker that is closest to the cyclist, in that the treble of the audio playback at this loudspeaker is lowered. If the driver does not respond to this warning signal, a bicycle bell can be emitted as a warning signal via the loudspeaker that is closest to the cyclist at this point in time.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the audio device comprises a selection unit, which is designed for providing a certain selection of contents of a warning signal for the assignment of a certain content to a certain vehicle function and/or a certain vehicle part. In other words, with the aid of the selection unit, a certain content of a warning signal, for example, a fanfare melody, can be assigned to a certain vehicle part, for example, a vehicle door. If, for example, the warning signal for an open vehicle door is played back, a fanfare melody sounds. This fanfare melody sounds only on the loudspeaker or on the loudspeakers that is/are closest to the particular open vehicle door.
According to one further embodiment, the certain selection of contents of a warning signal provided by the selection unit is freely configurable. For example, the warning signal for an open vehicle door can be configured as a beep and the warning signal for a dog detected in the surroundings of the vehicle can be configured as dog barking.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the multiple loudspeakers comprise vehicle seat loudspeakers. At least one vehicle seat loudspeaker is assigned to each vehicle seat. The position-specific warning signal is a seat belt reminder signal. In order to play back the seat belt reminder signal, the control unit activates only the vehicle seat loudspeaker or those vehicle seat loudspeakers that is/are assigned to the vehicle seat for which the seat belt reminder signal is intended.
At least one vehicle seat loudspeaker is assigned to each vehicle seat. The term "assignment" includes an arrangement of one or multiple vehicle seat loudspeaker(s) in the proximity of the particular vehicle seat. For example, the vehicle seat loudspeaker or the vehicle seat loudspeakers can be mounted in or at the particular vehicle seat. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle seat loudspeaker or the vehicle seat loudspeakers can be arranged in a roof lining area over the particular vehicle seat. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle seat loudspeaker or the vehicle seat loudspeakers can be arranged in a floor area under the particular vehicle seat. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle seat loudspeaker or the vehicle seat loudspeakers can be arranged in a side lining next to the particular vehicle seat. Due to the arrangement of the vehicle seat loudspeakers in the proximity of the particular vehicle seat, the seat belt reminder signal can be perceived by a vehicle occupant as a warning signal, which originates from the particular vehicle seat.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the multiple loudspeakers comprise tire loudspeakers. At least one tire loudspeaker is assigned to each tire. The position-specific warning signal is a low tire pressure signal or a flat tire signal. In order to play back the low tire pressure signal or the flat tire signal, the control unit activates only the tire loudspeaker or those tire loudspeakers that is/are assigned to the tire for which the low tire pressure signal or the flat tire signal is intended. Due to the arrangement of the tire loudspeakers in the proximity of the particular tire, the low tire pressure signal or a flat tire signal can be instinctively perceived by a vehicle occupant as a warning signal, which originates from the particular defective tire.
At least one tire loudspeaker is assigned to each tire. The term "assignment" includes an arrangement of one or multiple tire loudspeaker(s) in the proximity of the particular tire. For example, a tire loudspeaker or multiple tire loudspeakers, which is/are assigned to the front right tire (i.e., the tire on the passenger side), can be arranged in the dashboard on the passenger side and/or in or at the side lining on the passenger side and/or in the roof lining area on the passenger side and/or in the floor area on the passenger side and/or in or at the passenger vehicle seat.
According to embodiments that can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the multiple loudspeakers comprise flap loudspeakers. At least one flap loudspeaker is assigned to each flap. The position-specific warning signal is a flap signal, which signals the state of an open flap. In order to play back the flap signal, the control unit activates only the flap loudspeaker or those flap loudspeakers that is/are assigned to the flap for which the flap signal is intended.
Examples of a flap within the scope of the present document are: tailgate, hatchback, engine hood, trunk lid, cargo space door, sliding roof, folding roof, fuel filler door, door, window, convertible top, etc.
Preferably, the flap is a door. A front door is arranged in the front part of a vehicle, i.e., on the driver side or the passenger side. A rear door is arranged in the rear part of a vehicle, i.e., in the rear compartment.
The flap signal signals the state of an open flap. Examples of a state of an open flap include: open door, open fuel filler door, open hatchback, open sliding roof, open window, etc.
At least one flap loudspeaker is assigned to each flap. The term "assignment" includes an arrangement of one or multiple flap loudspeaker(s) in the proximity of the particular flap. For example, a flap loudspeaker assigned to the driver door is arranged in the dashboard on the driver side and/or in or at the side lining on the driver side and/or in or at the driver seat. A flap loudspeaker assigned to the hatchback can be arranged, for example, in or at the roof lining that spans the trunk.
According to one further embodiment, a vehicle comprising one or a combination of the above-described embodiments of the audio device is provided.
The preceding comments regarding an audio device for a vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention also apply, in a corresponding way, for the method for operating an audio device for a vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention and vice versa; advantageous exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention correspond to the described advantageous exemplary embodiments of the audio device according to the invention. At this point, non-explicitly described, advantageous exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention correspond to the described advantageous exemplary embodiments of the audio device according to the invention.
Further advantages, features, and details of the present invention result from the description of preferred embodiments, below, and with reference to the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned in the following in the description of the figures and/or shown individually in the figures, are usable not only in the particular combination indicated, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.
The invention is described in the following with reference to exemplary embodiments with the aid of the attached drawings.

Audio device for a vehicle and method for operating an audio device for a vehicle

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A method and apparatus for processing an image sequence described herein that provides a symmetric displaced frame difference equation. Next, an input image sequence can be received that includes a pair of image frames individually including multidimensional image data corresponding to a plurality of pixel locations at different times. Finally, using at least one processor, the symmetric displaced frame difference equation can be solved using an iteration equation and the image data of the pair of image frames to determine a displacement field describing displacement vectors at half of the total displacement vector.

Computer vision and remote sensing applications often utilize motion determination from an image sequence for video coding or other purposes. The determination of a displacement or motion field under brightness or tracer conservation constraints from an image sequence has thus far been considered an under-constrained problem. In general, the determination of the instant velocities from an image sequence or a physical displacement field from a featureless image sequence is ill-posed. Conventional motion estimation involves finding a velocity or displacement field using successive image frames, and existing motion estimation models and algorithms assume that the image intensity recorded from different physical sensors obey a conservation constraint for tracer, heat, or optical flow in space and time.
The inverse problem of the determination of the motion field under brightness (or tracer) conservation constraint from an image sequence has been considered as an under-constrained problem because two unknown velocity components must be derived from a single conservation equation at each of these pixel points, which is sometimes referred to as the aperture problem. The aperture problem indicates that the physical observation may not be consistent with the physical motion if there are not enough texture structures on moving objects. The physical determination of a displacement vector in a featureless image sequence is ill-posed, but this texture dependent problem is different from the under-constrained problem. In the past, the under-constrained problem has been addressed by using different models or frameworks with additional constraints and assumptions. For instance, Pel-Recursive techniques have been proposed, and differential techniques have been proposed using regularization, uniform velocity in a block (template), gradient conservation, and velocity field modeling with bilinear or B-spline type constraints. In addition, Bayesian methods have been proposed in which the motion field is modeled as a Markovian random field. However, these conventional techniques suffer from computational inefficiencies and inaccuracies which can lead to errors in video coding and other computer vision and remote sensing applications. Accordingly, a need remains for improved methods and apparatus for processing image sequence data to determine displacement by motion compensation.

Velocity estimation from imagery using symmetric displaced frame difference equation

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A clamp-on acoustic flow meter for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid in a pipe uses a transducer stack mounted in a housing that includes a rigid polymeric foam body in which the stack is embedded. This transducer configuration is used in combination with a clamping mechanism operable to supply a clamping force directed substantially entirely along a radius of the pipe for clamping the exposed portion of a transducer stack end piece to the pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to acoustic transducer apparatus and methods for measuring a rate of flow of a fluid through a pipe. More specifically, the invention relates to arrangements in which ultrasonic transducers, mounted in housings, are clamped to an external surface of the pipe.
2. Background Information
Transit time flow meters used to measure the rate of flow of fluids through a pipe commonly employ clamp-on transducers attached against an external surface of the pipe. One of the problems associated with clamp-on transducers is that the transducer housing may move or even become unclamped from the pipe at some time during its installed life. Pipe vibration and operation at extreme temperatures both increase the risk of a mounting failure.
This risk is further increased when the transducer is not mounted either on the top or bottom of a horizontal pipe because of gravitational forces tending to make the transducer fall off the pipe. Sometimes these angled mounting arrangements are selected because of physical access considerations. In other installations a transducer is mounted at some angle away from the top of the pipe to avoid the ultrasonic beam having to contend with air or gas bubbles.
Regardless of the clamping method used to hold a transducer against a pipe, the risk of mounting failure increases with increasing weight of the transducer and its housing. Thus, there is a need for transducer housings having a minimum realizable density.
Current art clamp-on transducers commonly employ liquid or gel acoustic coupling promoters, such as silicone greases. Because these coupling promoters tend to evaporate, wick away or otherwise degrade or leave the area over a period of time, the transducer mounting may require frequent maintenance. Thus there is a need for improvement in materials selected for coupling a transducer to a pipe.

Clamping arrangements for a transducer assembly having a piezoelectric element within a foam body


A bar code reader system is adapted to read a micro-bar code and includes a light emitting body for irradiating a light beam onto a bar code surface on which the micro-bar code to be read is provided. A focusing lens focuses a reflected light from the bar code surface. An image pick-up device receives the focused reflected light and forms an image of the micro-bar code to be read. A cylindrical lens body is arranged to pass therethrough both the light beam from the light emitting body and the reflected light beam reflected from the bar code surface. The cylindrical lens body is oriented with an axis thereof substantially consistent with a bar code reading direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bar code reader system for reading information from a micro-bar code which is reduced in size in comparison with known and currently available bar codes. More specifically, the invention relates to a bar code reader which can assure reading of information from the micro-bar code.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, a bar code is designed to encode information, e.g. various characters, such as letters, figures, signs, by combination of a plurality of solid bars arranged in mutually parallel relationship to one another and blank intervals between the bars (which will be hereafter referred to as white bars). The following four types of bar codes are typically put into use.
(1) JAN (Japanese Article Number) Code
This coding system has been used for identification of consumer goods produced in Japan. The JAN coding system is compatible with UPC (Universal Product Code) used in the United States and EAN (European Article Number) used in Europe and Asia. In the JAN coding system, 13 digits of standard code and 8 digits of compressed code are available. The standard JAN code includes two digits of a country code, five digits of a product maker code, five digits of a product item code and one check digit. The compressed code has essentially the same code format to the standard code but has four digits of the product maker code and one digit of the, product item code. In the JAN coding system, only figures or numbers of 0.about.9 can be expressed by the combination of the solid bars and white bars. This coding system is convenient for a reading operation since it is not sensitive to scanning directions of a bar code reader.
(2) ITF (Interleaved Two of Five) Code
ITF coding system is a standard coding system adapted to physical distribution, which is established by adding a physical distribution identification code of 1 or 3 (including one leading digit which is normally 0) to the foregoing JAN code. Therefore, this ITF code may express only figures or numbers of 0.about.9. This coding system is successfully employed in the field of transportation. In addition, this coding system is employed as data for timed recording of a video tape recorder (VTR). The ITF coding system features high recording density and enables a stable information reading precision level even when the bar code is printed on a printing medium having a poor printing condition.
(3) CODE 39
In this coding system, one character is expressed by nine bars (four white bars between five solid bars). Among the nine bars, three bars, are thick solid or white bars having greater width. An asterisk (*) is employed as a start and stop code. This coding system makes it possible to express figures or numbers of 0.about.9, alphabetic letters of A.about.Z, various signs (e.g., +, -, blank space, /, $, %, .multidot.). This coding system has been employed as standard in industrial fields for factory automation. AIAG for U. S. automobile manufacturing and HIBC for U. S. hospitals and pharmaceutical industries are well known examples of this type of coding system.
(4) NW-7 (CODABAR)
In this coding system, one character is expressed by seven bars (three white bars between four solid bars). Among the seven bars, two or three bars are thicker bars. One of A, B, C and D is used as a start and stop code. This coding system is capable to express figures or numbers of 0.about.9 and various signs (e.g., +, -, blank space, /, $, %, .multidot.).
Bar code readers for reading information recorded on the bar codes, include CCD type bar code readers which read information employing charge-coupled devices (CCDs) and laser scanners which are adapted to scan the bar code ,with laser beams. For hand-held type bar code readers, the CCD type readers are frequently used due to reduction of size and weight and being less expensive.
Discussion will be given for one example of the conventional CCD type bar code reader with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.
FIG. 10 shows the conventional bar code reader system 20 in operation. FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement of components of an optical system employed in the conventional bar code reader of FIG. 10, as viewed from the front. FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of the optical system of FIG. 11 as viewed from the side. As can be seen from FIGS. 11 and 12, the bar code reader system comprises a CCD sensor 1, a focusing lens 2 and a pair of light emitting elements (which are aligned in the transverse direction relative to the plane of FIG. 12). The bar code reader 20 shown in FIG. 10 is designed to be gripped by a hand and to place the tip end onto a bar code 5a in an attitude perpendicular to a plane on which the bar code 5a is printed. By this, an image of the bar code 5a irradiated by the light beam from the light emitting elements is received by the CCD sensor 1 through the focusing lens 2 as reflected light. The image of the bar code 5a formed on the CCD sensor 1 is converted into electrical signals. Then the information contained in the bar code is decoded by a decoder (not shown).
The shown bar code reader 20 is particularly adapted to read information from a compressed size of bar code (hereafter referred to as "micro-bar code") which has a bar width of approximately 100 .mu.m of the thinnest solid bar, and the length of the bars is in a range of approximately 1.about.10 mm. In order to facilitate aligning of the beam axis 7 of the CCD sensor 1 in the bar code reader system 20 to the bar code 5a, a cut out 10 is formed at the tip end of the system 20.
However, when the micro-bar code is read by the bar code reader system 20 constructed as set forth above, the following problems are to be encountered. FIG. 13)a) is a diagrammatic illustration showing part of the bar code on an enlarged scale. Very high attention is paid to printing the bas codes. However, there are inherently caused defects in the solid bar, spots in the white bars and blurring or distortion of the solid, bars. When such defective bar code is scanned along three lines (1), (2) and (3) shown in FIG. 13(a) FIG 13(b)is timing chart showing the result of such scan through the lines (1), (2) and (3), in which an output signal becomes HIGH level when a solid bar is detected and LOW level when a white bar is detected. As is apparent from FIG. 13(b), the results are differentiated and contain a reading error .alpha. due to a defect of void V in the solid bar, the reading error .beta. due to blurring and a reading error .gamma. due to spot S in the white bar.
In addition, due to the presence of the cut out 10 at the tip end of the bar code reader system 20 in order to facilitate positioning thereof relative to the bar code 5a, external light may penetrate through the cut out 10 to cause variation of the intensity of the light received at the CCD sensor 1. Therefore, adjustment of the exposure period of the CCD sensor 1 is required. This extends the period required for decoding the information recorded on the bar code 5a and thus lowers efficiency the information reading operation.
Furthermore, it is possible for dust and dirt to penetrate through the cut out 10 to adhere to optical parts such as the light receiving surface of the CCD sensor 1 to make the information reading operation impossible.


An imprint lithographic method for making a polymeric structure comprising the steps of:                (a) providing a mold having a shape forming a mold pattern;        (b) providing a substrate having a higher surface energy relative to said mold;        (c) providing a polymer film on said mold, said polymer film having a selected thickness, wherein the selected thickness of the polymer film on the mold pattern is capable of forming at least one frangible region in the polymer film having a thickness that is less than the remainder of the polymer film;        (d) pressing the mold and the substrate relatively toward each other to form said frangible region; and        (e) releasing at least one of said mold and said substrate from the other, wherein after said releasing, said frangible region remains substantially attached to said mold while the remainder of said polymer film forms the polymeric structure attached to said substrate.

Conventional photolithography is believed to be limited to about 150 nm in pattern dimensions. While X-ray and ion beam lithography have been demonstrated as viable alternative techniques for creating pattern dimensions below this limit, they are expensive. E-beam lithography has also been proven as a viable technique. However, it is time consuming and, like X-ray and ion beam lithography, expensive. In contrast to such lithographic techniques, imprinting offers an attractive alternative to the fabrication of two-dimensional (2-D) nanometer-scale features, as a result of simpler, faster, and cheaper processing, making this technique a potential replacement for photolithography in mass production.
The above-mentioned lithographic techniques are further limited to fabrication of 2-D and supported features. Imprinting, however, can lend itself to the fabrication of three-dimensional (3-D) features, wherein 3-D features comprise structural variation with depth. Three-dimensional patterning techniques are likely to be important enabling technologies for a number of applications. In microelectronics, for example, the third dimension could possibly allow the speed and memory of microprocessors to go beyond the limitations currently imposed by 2-D features. In optoelectronic industries, 3-D photonic band gap structures are garnering considerable attention because 3-D structures serve to minimize loss of light [Kiriakidis et al., "Fabrication of 2-D and 3-D Photonic Band-Gap Crystal in the GHz and THz Region," Mater. Phys. Mech., 1:20-26, 2000]. In drug/chemical delivery systems, sensing systems and catalysis, the feasibility of fabricating 3-D structures will provide breakthroughs in the efficiency of controlled delivery, sensing, and selectivity in chemical reactions. For example, a sphere with a meshed surface can be envisioned as a chambered pill that contains multiple drugs or a multifunctional catalysis support.
While 2-D fabrication techniques are mature technology down to the sub-micrometer scale, very little has been reported regarding 3-D sub-micrometer fabrication techniques. Currently, of the limited amount of literature available on sub-micrometer 3-D fabrication techniques, most reports are seen to be mere extensions of various photolithography techniques. For instance, Whitesides et al. have shown that a porous microsphere can be obtained via a self-assembly approach [Huck et al., "Three-Dimensional Mesoscale Self-Assembly," J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129:8267-8268, 1998], and Yamamoto et al. have demonstrated the fabrication of micrometer scale grooved structures using deep X-ray lithography [Tabata et al., "3D Fabrication by Moving Mask Deep X-ray Lithography with Multiple Stages," The Fifteenth IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, 180-183, 2002]. Whitesides et al. have also reported on a "membrane folding" method used to create 3-D structures [Brittain et al., "Microorigami: Fabrication of Small Three-Dimensional Metallic Structures," J. Phys. Chem. B, 105:347-350, 2001]. While most of these techniques have demonstrated the feasibility of creating 3-D sub-micrometer or nanometer scale features, they are not easily implemented for mass production.
Both conventional nano-imprinting [Sun et al., "Multilayer resist methods for nanoimprint lithography on nonflat surfaces," J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B, 16(6):3922-3925, 1998] and reversal imprinting [Huang et al., "Reversal imprinting by transferring polymer from mold to substrate," J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B, 20(6):2872-2876, 2002] techniques are attractive alternatives to the above-mentioned techniques in the fabrication of 3-D nano-features, although currently both techniques create 3-D structures through multiple imprinting on patterned substrates or on substrates with topology.
In a known nanoimprint lithography (NIL) process, a thin layer of imprint resist (thermal plastic polymer) is spun coated onto a sample substrate. A mold having predefined topological patterns is brought into contact with the sample and pressed into the polymer coating under certain pressure and at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer to allow the pattern on the mold to be pressed into the melt polymer film. After being cooled down, the mold is separated from the sample and the pattern resist is left on the substrate. A pattern transfer process, such as reactive ion etching (RIE) is used to transfer the pattern in the resist to the underneath substrate by removal of residue from the substrate.
One known RIE utilizes a gas-plasma to remove the pattern resist from the substrate. A significant disadvantage with this technique is that unless an inorganic mask layer is used to shield the final structures from exposure, the plasma will attack all polymer surfaces, not just the residue layer. This makes adequate preservation of the final structures a difficult task. For example, if the residue layer is too thick, it is necessary to implement a lengthy plasma etch time in order to remove the residue layer. In cases where an inorganic mask layer cannot be used, the dry etching can damage or destroy the final polymer structures. At the very least it would be expected that isotropic etching causes the sidewalls of the final structures to be sloped or tapered rather than vertical.
Additionally, it is known that gas-plasma exposure to most polymeric materials results in chemically modified surfaces, in particular, reactive oxygen plasma often oxidizes the polymer surface. This can be highly undesirable in cases where preservation of the chemical functionality of the polymer structure is important.
Furthermore, depending on the length of the exposure, the physical etching component of an oxygen-plasma RIE etch will roughen the top surface of the final imprinted structures. For most applications, this effect is undesirable. It should be noted that wet-etching has been shown to remove the residue layer, thus avoiding the roughening effect of dry etching, but it is also not selective for the residue layer, which is a pre-requisite for this process.
There is a need to provide an imprint lithographic method of making a polymeric structure, particularly three dimensional micro-sized and nano-sized polymeric structures, that overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages described above.

Imprint lithographic method for making a polymeric structure

Agency for Science, Technology and Research