A liquid crystal display device includes an inspection control unit configured to alternately perform a first inspection operation in which an inspection signal is input from a first column data line connected to one pixel of the two pixels in each of the pairs into the one pixel and is read out to a second column data line connected to another pixel through the other pixel of the two pixels in each of the pairs and a second inspection operation in which an inspection signal is input from the second column data line into the other pixel and is read out to the first column data line through the one pixel, on all of the plurality of pixels in a unit of pixels in each row when the pixels being inspected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and a pixel inspection method therefor, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device and a pixel inspection method therefor that perform gray scale display using the combination of a plurality of subframes according to gray scale levels expressed by a plurality of bits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, a subframe driving method is known as one of halftone display methods in liquid crystal display devices. In a subframe driving method which is one type of time base modulation methods, a predetermined period (one frame that is a unit for display of one image in the case of moving pictures, for example) is split into a plurality of subframes, and pixels are driven in a combination of subframes according to a gray scale to be displayed. The gray scale to be displayed is determined according to the ratio of a pixel drive period occupied in a predetermined period, and this ratio is specified by the combination of subframes.
In liquid crystal display devices according to this subframe driving method, one is known in which pixels are individually configured of a master latch, a slave latch, a liquid crystal display element, and first to third switching transistors, three transistors in total (see Japanese Patent Application National Publication (Laid-Open) No. 2001-523847, for example). In this pixel, one bit of a first data is applied to one input terminal of two input terminals of the master latch through the first switching transistor, a second data in the complementary relation with the first data is applied to the other input terminal through the second switching transistor, and when the pixel is selected by a row select signal applied through a row scanning line, the first data is written as the first and second switching transistors are turned to the ON-state. For example, when the first data has the logical value "1" and the second data has the logical value "0", the pixel performs display.
After the data is written to all the pixels through the similar operations described above, the data written to the master latch are simultaneously read to the slave latch as the third switching transistors of all the pixels are turned to the ON-state in the subframe period, and the data latched to the slave latch are applied from the slave latch to the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal display element. The operations above are then repeated for the individual subframes, and desired gray scale display is performed with the combinations of all the subframes in a frame period.
Namely, in the liquid crystal display device according to the subframe driving method, all of the subframes in a frame period are preallocated to the same predetermined period or a different predetermined period. In the pixels, display is performed on all the subframes in the maximum gray scale display, display is not performed on all the subframes in the minimum gray scale display, and subframes for display are selected according to the gray scale for display in the case of the other gray scales. In the previously existing liquid crystal display device, inputted data is digital data expressing a gray scale, and the method is also a digital driving method in a two-stage latch configuration.
However, in the previously existing liquid crystal display device, since the two latches in the pixels are configured of static random access memories (SRAM), the number of transistors is increased and it is difficult to downsize the pixels.
Moreover, in the pixel above, generally, a silicon backplane including shift registers, for example, is prepared in large-scale semiconductor integrated circuit (LSI) processes. However, in probe inspection after a wafer is prepared, there is a problem that pixel inspection is not performed normally. This is because there is a possibility that the SRAM is rewritten due to electric charges accumulated on a column data line. Because when the pixel inspection is performed, data written to the SRAM is read out from the column data line after the data is input to the column data line and the input data is written to the SRAM.
In the description of Japanese Patent Application National Publication (Laid-Open) No. 2001-523847, a two-switch SRAM including two complementary bit lines is described. In contrast to this, here, the case of a one-switch SRAM configured of a single bit line and a single switch is considered.
For example, in the case of a full high definition (FHD) liquid crystal display device, the number of pixels lengthwise on the screen is 1,080 pixels, and the capacitance of the individual column data lines is about 1 pF. For example, an SRAM is configured of a switching transistor connected to a column data line at zero volt at low level and two inverters in which an input terminal of one inverter is connected to an output terminal of the other inverter. In these two inverters, suppose that the voltage of the input terminal of the one inverter connected to the switching transistor is at high level at a voltage of 3.3 V. In this case, when the switching transistor is turned on, the column data lines are charged at about 1 pF of electric charge capacitance described above from a P-channel MOS field effect transistor (in the following, referred to as a P-MOS transistor) configuring the other inverter whose output terminal is connected to the switching transistor.
At this time, since the driving force of the transistor configuring the other inverter is smaller than the driving force of the transistor configuring the one inverter, charging time is prolonged to cause incomplete charging, the voltage of the input terminal of the one inverter is below the turnover voltage, and the voltage (namely, data that has to be written to the SRAM) of the input terminal of the one inverter is rewritten. Thus, data on the SRAM is not enabled to be output to the column data line, and pixels are not accurately inspected.
The present invention is made on the viewpoints above, and it is an object to provide a liquid crystal display device and a pixel inspection method therefor that can downsize a pixel as compared with a pixel using two SRAMs in the pixel and can accurately inspect pixels.

Description liquid crystal display device and pixel inspection method therefor


A device for dewatering suspensions such as sludge or similar dewaterable goods contains several rollers and filtering webs that follow a sinuous path around the rollers. The width of at least one pressure gap, as well as the force which is applied on the goods to be filtered in this pressure gap, may be adjusted by sliding or swivelling so that the ratio between linear pressure and surface pressure can be adapted to the properties of the goods to be dewatered. By influencing this ratio it is possible from a standard model to cover a wide range of applications by simple and economic means, so that the cost-effectiveness ratio is improved.

The invention relates to a device for dewatering suspensions, such as sludge or similar materials which can be dewatered, having a plurality of rollers and two filter bands which are guided around the rollers in an S-shape and enclose the material to be dewatered between them.
It relates in particular to presses with a multitude of pressure rollers, wherein successive drying of the suspension by means of the S-shaped wrapping of the rollers by the filter bands is achieved with an increase in rollers.
Such presses are employed in multitudinous designs, they are all essentially differentiated by the relative association of the successive rollers, their diameter and type of construction and the way of guiding the bands around the rollers, in particular the size of the wrap angle of the filter bands around the individual rollers.
The suspension to be dewatered varies, depending on the area of use, and it is possible to dewater various sludges, such as communal sludge, which in turn show a more or less high degree of previous water removal. The pressing of fruits or parts of fruits is also performed with such filter presses.
In the course of this it has been shown that a certain type of press, i.e. a press with a defined roller configuration and filter band guidance, will as a rule achieve an optimal operational result, i.e. generally a maximum degree of drying with specific suspensions or with specific suspension compositions. Thus, the multitude of structural variants of such presses which are available in the marketplace as a rule also are used to achieve optimum pressing results for specific or specifically set suspensions, whose degree of pre-drying, macro-molecular structure, possibly with the addition of additives, lies within a defined range.
However, the planning and construction of specific press configurations is increasingly elaborate, and such presses are relatively expensive because of the "specialist properties" described.


The white space resource acquisition method provided according to the embodiments of the present invention includes: receiving, by a white space resource request device, a white space resource request message sent by a white space device; and sending, by the white space resource request device, a white space resource response message to the white space device, where the white space resource response message includes white space resource information that is requested from a white space database and that is corresponding to first white space requirement information of the white space device. According to the white space resource acquisition method provided in the embodiments of the present invention, a white space resource request device requests, based on the PAWS protocol, white space resource information from a white space database, and interaction between a white space device and the white space resource request device may be established by using an existing protocol.

Main content of studies on white space technologies is to provide a mechanism in which a secondary user uses, at a specified time and place, a spectrum resource not used by a primary user, and the secondary user cannot cause interference to the primary user in a spectrum using process.
In the prior art, a white space is applied mainly in a manner of querying a white space database (database). Specifically, the white space database performs centralized management on a white space resource and records information such as time when the white space resource can be used by a secondary user and a geographic location of the white space resource. When the secondary user needs to use a white space resource, the secondary user can initiate a procedure for requesting a white space resource, and reports, to the database, white space resource selection information such as a geographic location or required bandwidth, and the database allocates a white space resource according to the white space resource selection information reported by the secondary user and white space resource information stored in the database. In the prior art, user equipments using a white space may be grouped as master white space devices (master WSD) and slave WSDs (slave WSD) according to capabilities to access the database. A master WSD must support the PAWS protocol, so as to directly acquire an available white space resource from the database by using a PAWS protocol packet; however, a slave WSD cannot perform direct communication with the database, and needs to acquire an available white space resource from the database by using the master WSD.
In the foregoing prior art, all master WSDs or all network nodes supporting functions of a master WSD must support the PAWS protocol to acquire a white space resource from the database; therefore, flexibility of network deployment is relatively poor.

White space resource acquisition method, white space resource Request device, and system


A printer assembly includes an idler pulley, a printhead carrier belt, an idler-pulley spring, and a ratchet stop. The printhead carrier belt is operatively connected to the idler pulley and extends in an inboard direction from the idler pulley. The idler-pulley spring biases the idler pulley in an outboard direction to maintain belt tension as the belt lengthens during wear. The ratchet stop is located inboard of the idler pulley and operatively engages the idler pulley against movement of the idler pulley in the inboard direction, wherein such inboard movement would cause printing errors.

The present invention relates generally to printers, and more particularly to a printer assembly which provides tension for the idler pulley.
Printers include those printers having a printhead which is moved by a carrier belt across a page during the printing process. The carrier belt is positioned around and between two pulleys, wherein one of the pulleys is a drive pulley and the other of the pulleys is an idler pulley. Typically, the carrier belt has teeth which engage matching teeth on the pulleys. During the life of the printer, the carrier belt will increase in length through wear and lead to printing problems. One solution has been to provide a spring-biased mechanism to maintain tension on the idler pulley as the length of the carrier belt increases.
In one known printer, a leaf spring pulls the idler pulley away from the motor pulley to maintain tension on the carrier belt despite the belt increasing in length through wear. At the same time, a toothed wedge, biased by a second spring, acts as a hard stop preventing the idler pulley from moving inboard toward the motor pulley which can cause the motor pulley to skip teeth on the carrier belt (or slip if the carrier belt has no teeth) leading to printing errors. The leaf spring, the toothed wedge, and the second spring are located outboard of the idler pulley. This outboard arrangement adds to the dimensions of a printer assembly which includes the motor and idler pulleys and the spring-biased mechanism which maintains tension on the idler pulley.
In another known printer, an inboard-extending spring rotates an inboard toothless cam which pushes a guide pulley away from a drive pulley to maintain tension on the cable despite the cable increasing in length through wear. The spring-biased cam does not provide a hard stop for the guide pulley from moving toward the drive pulley. Inboard movement of the guide pulley toward the drive pulley can cause the drive pulley to skip teeth on the cable (or slip if the cable has no teeth) which can lead to printing errors.
What is needed is a compact printer assembly which provides tension for the idler pulley supporting the printhead carrier belt and which provides a hard stop preventing the idler pulley from moving in an inboard direction.
A broad expression of diverse embodiments of the invention is for a printer assembly including an idler pulley, a printhead carrier belt, an idler-pulley spring, and a ratchet stop. The printhead carrier belt is operatively connected to the idler pulley and extends in an inboard direction from the idler pulley. The idler-pulley spring biases the idler pulley in an outboard direction substantially opposite to the inboard direction. The ratchet stop is positioned inboard of the idler pulley and operatively engages the idler pulley against movement of the idler pulley in the inboard direction.
A first embodiment of the invention is for a printer assembly including an idler pulley, a printhead carrier belt, an idler-pulley spring, a printer housing, an idler-pulley frame, and a ratchet stop. The printhead carrier belt is operatively connected to the idler pulley and extends in an inboard direction from the idler pulley. The idler-pulley spring biases the idler pulley in an outboard direction substantially opposite to the inboard direction. The idler-pulley frame rotatably supports the idler pulley and is movably attached to the printer housing for inboard and outboard movement with respect to the printer housing. The ratchet stop is positioned inboard of the idler pulley. The ratchet stop includes substantially-inboard-facing ratchet teeth and a ratchet pawl. The ratchet teeth are attached to the idler-pulley frame. The ratchet pawl is pivotally attached to the printer housing and is operatively engaged with one of the ratchet teeth.
A second embodiment of the invention is for a printer assembly including an idler pulley, a printhead carrier belt, an idler-pulley spring, a printer housing, an idler-pulley frame, and a ratchet stop. The printhead carrier belt is operatively connected to the idler pulley and extends in an inboard direction from the idler pulley. The idler-pulley spring biases the idler pulley in an outboard direction substantially opposite to the inboard direction. The idler-pulley frame rotatably supports the idler pulley and is movably attached to the printer housing for inboard and outboard movement with respect to the printer housing. The ratchet stop is positioned inboard of the idler pulley. The ratchet stop includes a ratchet cam and a ratchet spring. The ratchet cam is rotatably attached to the printer housing and operatively engages the idler-pulley frame. The ratchet spring is attached to the ratchet cam and to the printer housing and is aligned substantially perpendicular to the inboard direction.
Several benefits and advantages are derived from the invention. Applicant""s idler-pulley spring maintains tension on the idler pulley despite lengthening of the carrier belt from wear. Applicant""s ratchet stop provides a hard stop preventing inboard movement of the idler pulley which can lead to printing errors. Applicant""s ratchet stop (and preferably idler-pulley spring) is located inboard of the idler pulley to minimize the dimensions of the printer assembly.

Printer assembly providing tension for idler pulley


A weatherproof flexible enclosure with 360 degree visability constructed to completely surround the roof and sides of most gasoline or electric powered golf carts for protection during inclement weather. The surround, top and rear panels are sewn together on top and front of the surround with an elastic sewn and stretched across the rear for flexibility in fitting both large and small golf carts. A top and rear sheet covering the golf club area is attached by the hook and loop system at two select intervals on each side to the rear of the front surround sheet on both sides, securing passengers, golf cart, clubs and bag from inclement weather. When removed from the cart, the enclosure may be folded and stored in a standard size golf bag.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to a transparent enclosure with a 360 degree visability of most standard size electric or gasoline powered golf carts to shield one of more passengers of a golf cart vehicle from inclement weather, including cold, wind and/or rain.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There are other golf cart enclosures designed to shield golf cart passengers and club area from inclement weather. They are comprised of transparent, flexible panels or sheets with a various amount of openings that affix to the roof of the golf cart. The panels are secured with zippers or fastners and sometimes are even permanent fixtures to a particular golf cart. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,533, Churchill, et, al, discloses a golf cart enclosure which is comprised of a slidable rain curtain along a channel mechanism which is permanently attached to the roof of the golf cart. U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,694, discloses the golf cart enclosure must be permenently mounted to a specific golf cart by snaps or fastners. Mills, et, al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,536, is most like this invention, but has a zipper opening, has two transparent windows for frontal vision only, and the enclosure must be stored in a separate specific pouch.


A method and apparatus for making reliable miniature semiconductor packages having a reduced height and footprint is provided. The package includes a semiconductor chip having an active surface and a non-active surface and one or more contacts positioned adjacent the semiconductor chip. Electrical connections are formed between the contacts and the semiconductor chip. An adhesive tape provided adjacent the non-active surface of the semiconductor chip and the one or more contacts positioned adjacent the semiconductor chip. An adhesive material provided between the non-active surface of the chip and the adhesive tape.

Consumers of many electronic devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, and other mobile communication and/or computation devices, desire smaller devices with more and more functionality. As a result, semiconductor engineers are challenged with not only with cramming more chips into an enclosure, but also making the packages of individual chips smaller and smaller. One type of relatively small chip package, known in the industry as Leadless Leadframe Package (LLP), has been developed.
A leadless leadframe typically includes a plurality of die attach pads (PADs) arranged on the leadframe. A plurality of contacts are positioned around each PAD. The PADs and the contacts are held together by tie-bars. An adhesive tape is placed on the bottom of the leadframe, under the PADs and contacts. During the packaging process, a semiconductor chip is placed on each PAD using an adhesive or solder. Wire bonds are then formed between the chip and the contacts surrounding each chip. After wire bonding, the entire leadframe including the individual chips and wire bonds are encapsulated in a molding compound. The adhesive tape on the bottom of the leadframe is next removed, exposing the bottom surface of the PADs and the surrounding contacts. The leadframe is finally cut along the tie-bars, singulating the individual chip packages. The package is typically mounted by aligning the contacts of the package and soldering the bottom surface of the PAD to matching contacts on a printed circuit board. For more information on LLPs, see National Semiconductor's Application Note 1187 entitled "Leadless Leadframe Package (LLP)", incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
In spite of the fact that LLP packages do not have leads, the packages are still too large for many applications. As a consequence, packaging engineers are striving to make the packages thinner and to have a smaller footprint. One known approach to making the package smaller is to eliminate the PAD for each package. By doing so, the height of the package can be reduced. With this type of package, the chip is mounted onto the adhesive tape, wire bonded, and then encapsulated. The problem with this type of package is that the chip will often move relative to its surrounding contacts during encapsulation. This movement may cause the wire bonds to fail, resulting in low packaging yields. This type of package is therefore less than ideal.
An apparatus and method of making reliable miniature semiconductor packages having a reduced height and footprint is therefore needed.

Apparatus and method for miniature semiconductor packages


Embodiments of the invention include a semiconductor structure including a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. A metal n-contact is connected to the n-type region. A metal p-contact is in direct contact with the p-type region. An interconnect is electrically connected to one of the n-contact and the p-contact. The interconnect is disposed adjacent to the semiconductor structure.

Semiconductor light-emitting devices including light emitting diodes (LEDs), resonant cavity light emitting diodes (RCLEDs), vertical cavity laser diodes (VCSELs), and edge emitting lasers are among the most efficient light sources currently available. Materials systems currently of interest in the manufacture of high-brightness light emitting devices capable of operation across the visible spectrum include Group III-V semiconductors, particularly binary, ternary, and quaternary alloys of gallium, aluminum, indium, and nitrogen, also referred to as III-nitride materials. Typically, III-nitride light emitting devices are fabricated by epitaxially growing a stack of semiconductor layers of different compositions and dopant concentrations on a sapphire, silicon carbide, III-nitride, or other suitable substrate by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), or other epitaxial techniques. The stack often includes one or more n-type layers doped with, for example, Si, formed over the substrate, one or more light emitting layers in an active region formed over the n-type layer or layers, and one or more p-type layers doped with, for example, Mg, formed over the active region. Electrical contacts are formed on the n- and p-type regions.
FIG. 1 illustrates a device described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,348,212. FIG. 1 illustrates a flip chip light emitting device attached to a mount. The flip chip device includes a substrate 73 attached to semiconductor device layers 74, which layers include at least one light emitting or active layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. N-type contact 71 and p-type contact 72 are electrically connected to the n- and p-type regions of semiconductor structure 74. Semiconductor structure 74 is connected to mount 70 via contacts 71 and 72. A metal-to-metal interconnect to connect semiconductor structure 74 to mount 70 is formed by first forming thin metal layers 76b and 77b on mount 70 and thin metal layers 76a and 77a on contacts 71 and 72, then lithographically patterning the thin metal layers into the desired arrangement, resulting in thin metal regions in the desired shape. After patterning thin metal regions 76a, 77a, 76b, and 77b, thick ductile metal layers 78 and 79 are plated on either mount 70 or contacts 71 and 72, thus on either regions 76a and 77a or regions 76b and 77b. Metal layers 78 and 79 are selected to be ductile, have high thermal and electrical conductivity, and be reasonably resistant to oxidation. The semiconductor device is then positioned on mount 70 and the device and the mount are joined by any process that results in interdiffusion between thin metal layers 76a, 77a, 76b, and 77b and thick metal layers 78 and 79. Examples of suitable processes include thermosonic bonding and thermal compression bonding, where the device and mount are heated, for example to a temperature between 150 and 600° C., often 300 to 600° C., and pressed together, for example at a pressure between 10 and 200 N/mm2 of interconnect area.

Side interconnect for light emitting device


A locking mechanism for jewelry, purses and other accessories is provided. The locking mechanism comprises first and second magnetically attracted surfaces and a collar. The second magnetically attracted surface is adapted for magnetic coupling to the first magnetically attracted surface. The collar is hingeably coupled to either the first or second magnetically attracted surfaces and is operable between an open position and a closed position. When the first and second magnetically attracted surface are magnetically coupled one to the other, and the collar is in the closed position, at least a portion of the collar surrounds a perimeter of the first and second magnetically attracted surfaces.

Jewelry is considered desirable but is often expensive. People wish to have multiple pieces of jewelry to wear with different outfits and for different occasions. Typically, jewelry cannot be recast or modified. Importantly, the decorative portion of jewelry cannot be easily altered or substituted. For example, a beaded necklace with a diamond pendant may be beautiful, but not be very versatile. A need exists for a jewelry assembly that contains a removable portion to permit the interchange of various jewelry sub-components.
In order for a removable portion to be practical, it must be easy to attach and detach. It is known to use a mechanical clasp to secure a piece of jewelry on a person. It is also known to use magnets to clasp opposing ends of a jewelry chain together. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,398 to Hoffman discloses using magnets displaced in channels on opposed ends of a single piece of jewelry. In Hoffman, the magnets help clasp a single piece of jewelry together. However, nothing in Hoffman discloses a removable jewelry portion or attaching a removable jewelry portion to a receiving jewelry portion with magnets. A need exists for a jewelry assembly that contains an easily attachable removable portion. A need also exists for a jewelry assembly that uses magnets to attach a removable portion.
The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not previously provided. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Locking mechanism for magnetic connector assembly used with an ornamental accessory


A video encoding apparatus includes an intra prediction error collector; a transform base generator; an intra predictor; and a transform encoder, the intra prediction error collector collecting prediction errors of blocks having an equal intra prediction mode from macroblocks in a regular unit, which are encoded prior to a current macroblock, the transform base generator generating transform bases for respective intra prediction modes based on the prediction errors collected by the intra prediction error collector. Accordingly, the intra prediction encoding performance can be significantly improved with adding no addition information by adaptively generating a transform base according to an image characteristic change and transform-encoding an intra prediction error. As a result, the compression efficiency of a video compression apparatus or the picture quality of a reconstructed image can be greatly improved.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute the prior art.
As information and communication technologies including an internet are developed, the use of video communication is increased as well as voice communication. Conventional communication based on text is not sufficient to satisfy various demands of consumers. Accordingly, multimedia services capable of accommodating diverse types of information such as texts, videos, music, etc. are increasingly provided. Multimedia data requires a storage medium having a large capacity due to its large amount or size, and requires a wide bandwidth for a transmission. Therefore, it is necessary to use a compression coding technique to transmit the multimedia data including text, video, and audio data.
A basic principle of compressing a data includes a process of removing a factor of the data redundancy. The data can be compressed by removing the spatial redundancy corresponding to the repetition of the same color or object in an image, the temporal redundancy corresponding to the repetition of the same note in an audio or a case where there is little change of an adjacent frame in a dynamic image, or the psychological vision redundancy considering a fact that human's visual and perceptive abilities are insensitive to a high frequency.
As a video compressing method, H.264/AVC recently draws more interests for its improved compression efficiency over MPEG-4 (Moving Picture Experts Group-4).
Being a digital video codec standard with a very high data compression rate, H.264 is also referred to as MPEG-4 part 10 or AVC (Advanced Video Coding). This standard is a result from constructing a Joint Video Team and performing the standardization together by VCEG (Video Coding Experts Group) of ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector) and MPEG of ISO/IEC (International Standardization Organization/International Electrotechnical Commission).
Various methods are proposed to improve the compression efficiency in a compression encoding, and include methods using a temporal prediction and a spatial prediction as representative methods.
The temporal prediction corresponds to a scheme of performing a prediction with reference to a reference block 122 of another frame 120 temporally adjacent in predicting a current block 112 of a current frame 110, as shown in FIG. 1. That is, in inter-predicting the current block 112 of the current frame 110, the temporally adjacent reference frame 120 is searched for, and the reference block 122, which is the most similar to the current block within the reference frame 120, is searched for. Here, the reference block 122 is a block, which can predict the current block 112 best, and a block, which has the smallest SAD (Sum of Absolute Difference) from the current block 112, can be the reference block 122. The reference block 122 becomes a predicted block of the current block 112, and a residual block is generated by subtracting the reference block 122 from the current block 112. The generated residual block is encoded and inserted in a bitstream. In this event, a relative difference between a position of the current block in the current frame 110 and a position of the reference block 122 in the reference frame 120 corresponds to a motion vector 130, and the motion vector 130 is encoded like the residual block. The temporal prediction is also referred to as an inter prediction or an inter frame prediction.
The spatial prediction corresponds to a prediction of obtaining a predicted pixel value of a target block by using a reconstructed pixel value of a reference block adjacent to the target block in one frame, and is also referred to as a directional intra prediction (hereinafter, simply referred to as an "intra prediction") or an inter frame prediction. H.264 defines an encoding/decoding using the intra prediction.
The intra prediction corresponds to a scheme of predicting values of a current subblock by copying one subblock in a determined direction based on adjacent pixels located in an upper direction and a left direction with respect to the subblock and encoding only a differential. According to the intra prediction scheme based on the H.264 standard, a predicted block for a current block is generated based on another block having a prior coding order. Further, a coding is a value generated by subtracting the predicted block from the current block. A video encoder based on the H.264 standard selects a prediction mode having the smallest difference between the current block and the predicted block for each block from prediction modes.
The intra prediction based on the H.264 standard defines nine prediction modes shown in FIG. 2 in consideration of the prediction directivity and positions of adjacent pixels used for generating predicted pixel values of a 4×4 luma block and an 8×8 luma block. The nine prediction modes are divided into a vertical prediction mode (prediction mode 0), a horizontal prediction mode (prediction mode 1), a DC prediction mode (prediction mode 2), a diagonal_down_left prediction mode (prediction mode 3), a diagonal_down_right prediction mode (prediction mode 4), a vertical_right prediction mode (prediction mode 5), a horizontal_down prediction mode (prediction mode 6), a vertical_left prediction mode (prediction mode 7), and a horizontal_up prediction mode (prediction mode 8) according to their prediction directions. Here, the DC prediction mode uses an average value of eight adjacent pixels.
Further, four intra prediction modes are used for an intra prediction processing for a 16×16 luma block, wherein the four intra prediction modes are the vertical prediction mode (prediction mode 0), the horizontal prediction mode (prediction mode 1), the DC prediction mode (prediction mode 2), and the diagonal_down_left prediction mode (prediction mode 3). In addition, the same four intra prediction modes are used for an intra prediction processing for an 8×8 chroma block.
FIG. 3 illustrates a labeling example for the nine intra prediction modes shown in FIG. 2. In this event, a predicted block (an area including a to p) for the current block is generated using samples (A to M) decoded in advance. When E, F, G, and H cannot be decoded in advance, E, F, G, and H can be virtually generated by copying D in their positions.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for illustrating the nine prediction modes shown in FIG. 2 by using FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, a predicted block in a case of the prediction mode 0 predicts pixel values in the same vertical line as the same pixel value. That is, in pixels of the predicted block, pixel values are predicted from pixels, which are most adjacent to a reference block located in an upper side of the predicted block. Reconstructed pixel values of an adjacent pixel A are set to predicted pixel values of a pixel a, a pixel e, a pixel i, and a pixel m in a first column of the predicted block. Further, in the same way, pixel values of a pixel b, a pixel f, a pixel j, and a pixel n in a second column are predicted from reconstructed pixel values of an adjacent pixel B, pixel values of a pixel c, a pixel g, a pixel k, and a pixel o in a third column are predicted from reconstructed pixel values of an adjacent pixel C, and pixel values of a pixel d, a pixel h, a pixel l, and a pixel p in a fourth column are predicted from reconstructed pixel values of an adjacent pixel D. As a result, a predicted block in which predicted pixel values of each column correspond to pixel values of the pixel A, pixel B, pixel C, and pixel D is generated as shown in FIG. 5A.
Further, a predicted block in a case of the prediction mode 1 predicts pixel values in the same horizontal line as the same pixel value. That is, in pixels of the predicted block, pixel values are predicted from pixels, which are most adjacent to a reference block located in a left side of the predicted block. Reconstructed pixel values of an adjacent pixel l are set to predicted pixel values of a pixel a, a pixel b, a pixel c, and a pixel d in a first row of the predicted block. Further, in the same way, pixel values of a pixel e, a pixel f, a pixel g, and a pixel h in a second row are predicted from reconstructed pixel values of an adjacent pixel J, pixel values of a pixel i, a pixel j, a pixel k, and a pixel l in a third row are predicted from reconstructed pixel values of an adjacent pixel K, and pixel values of a pixel m, a pixel n, a pixel o, and a pixel p in a fourth row are predicted from reconstructed pixel values of an adjacent pixel L. As a result, a predicted block in which predicted pixel values of each column correspond to pixel values of the pixel l, pixel J, pixel K, and pixel L is generated as shown in FIG. 5B.
Furthermore, pixels of a predicted block in a case of the prediction mode 2 are equally replaced with an average of pixel values of upper pixels A, B, C, and D, and left pixels I, J, K, and L.
Meanwhile, pixels of a predicted block in a case of the prediction mode 3 are interpolated in a lower-left direction at an angle of 45° between a lower-left side and an upper-right side of the predicted block, and pixels of a predicted block in a case of the prediction mode 4 are extrapolated in a lower-right direction at an angle of 45° between a lower-left side and an upper-right side of the predicted block. Further, pixels of a predicted block in a case of the prediction mode 5 are extrapolated in a lower-right direction at an angle of about 26.6° (width/height=½) with respect to a vertical line. In addition, pixels of a predicted block in a case of the prediction mode 6 are extrapolated in a lower-right direction at an angle of about 26.6° with respect to a horizontal line, pixels of a predicted block in a case of the prediction mode 7 are extrapolated in a lower-left direction at an angle of about 26.6° with respect to a vertical line, and pixels of a predicted block in a case of the prediction mode 8 are interpolated in an upper direction at an angle of about 26.6° with respect to a horizontal line.
The pixels of the predicted block can be generated from a weighted average of the pixels A to M of the reference block decoded in advance in the prediction mode 3 to 8. For example, in a case of the prediction mode 4, the pixel d located in an upper right side of the predicted block can be estimated as shown in Equation (1). Here, a round( ) function is a function of rounding off to the nearest whole number.d=round(B/4+C/2+D/4)  Equation 1
Meanwhile, in a 16×16 prediction model for luma components, there are 4 modes including the prediction mode 0, prediction mode 1, prediction mode 2, and prediction mode 3 as described above.
In a case of the prediction mode 0, pixels of the predicted block are interpolated from upper pixels, and, in a case of the prediction mode 1, the pixels of the predicted block are interpolated from left pixels. Further, in a case of the prediction mode 2, the pixels of the predicted block are calculated as an average of the upper pixels and the left pixels. Lastly, in a case of the prediction mode 3, a linear "plane" function suitable for the upper pixels and the left pixels is used. The prediction mode 3 is more suitable for an area in which the luminance is smoothly changed.
As described above, in the H.264 standard, pixel values of the predicted block are generated in directions corresponding to respective modes based on adjacent pixels of the predicted block to be currently encoded in the respective prediction modes except for the DC mode.
Meanwhile, a prediction error between a predicted value predicted by each prediction mode and a current pixel value is transform-encoded using an integer transform scheme based on a DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform). An integer transform in the 4×4 unit is applied when a 4×4 intra prediction mode and a 16×16 intra prediction mode are used according to a block size, and an inter transform in the 8×8 unit is applied when an 8×8 intra prediction mode is used.
The Video Coding Expert Group of the ITU-T has further developed the H.264 standard recently, so that the predictive encoding performance is further improved. Specifically, the predictive encoding performance is improved by increasing the number of intra prediction modes through further diversifying the directivity of a pixel value used in the intra prediction and introducing a scheme of adding weights of two intra prediction modes in "Improvement of Bidirectional Intra Prediction", ITU-T SG16/Q.6 Doc. VCEG-AG08, October 2007 by Shiodera Taichiro, Akiyuki Tanizawa, Takeshi Chujoh, and Tomoo Yamakage. However, this scheme has a disadvantage of greatly increasing an amount of operations for finding an optimal mode according to the increase of the number of intra prediction modes, which should be considered, up to 4 times and thus increasing an amount of additional information for encoding the increased prediction modes.
Unlike a conventional research for improving the intra mode encoding through performing an exact intra encoding, a transform scheme of using different KLT (Karhunen-Loeve Transform) based directivity bases is proposed based on the idea that there still remains the spatial redundancy in a prediction error after the intra prediction and such a spatial redundancy has a high correlation with an intra prediction direction in "Improved Intra Coding", ITU-T SG16/Q.6 Doc. VCEG-AG11, October 2007 by Yan Ye and Marta Karczewicz. The transform scheme has significantly improved the intra mode encoding performance by performing an adaptive prediction error encoding according to the intra prediction mode without any addition information by using KLT transform bases trained through several experiment images. However, the transform scheme has a disadvantage that a generated transform base cannot have the optimal energy concentration efficiency for various video sequences having different characteristics or other partial local images having different characteristics within one sequence.

Image-encoding apparatus and method, transform-encoding apparatus and method, apparatus and method for generating a transform base, and image-decoding apparatus and method used in same


Various examples are provided for wireless power charging for versatile receiver positions. In one example, a three dimensional array of transmitter coils is positioned around a charging area. A control circuit causes the array of transmitter coils to generate a magnetic field that charges a device with any position and orientation in the charging area.

In order to achieve fast charging at high efficiency, wireless chargers for mobile devices require high coupling from transmitter to receiver coils. Because of this, these wireless chargers typically operate using close alignment of transmitter to receiver. This limits the design possibilities of wireless chargers to mostly planar structures such as charging pads. However, planar or specific alignment structures are not always optimal, and can cause user inconvenience. For example, it can be difficult or inconvenient to naturally place wearable devices on a planar charging pad. In some popular structures such as charging pads, the positioning can be limited to a specific x-y-z translation and a minimum tilt. These conventional configurations ignore the rise in the popularity and number of wearable devices, and other innovative products with different shapes, sizes and power level requirements. In addition, more and more customers seek the convenience of charging multiple devices simultaneously without paying special attention to their placement in the charging structure. Therefore, the design of wireless charging systems that maintain the power transfer efficiency while improving the user experience has become an important topic of research.

Wireless power transmitter for versatile receiver alignment

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


Methods and systems that facilitate the downloading of media items to a first network device from a second network device are disclosed. A plurality of media items are identified Media item metadata associated with the plurality of media items is obtained from the second network device and stored on the first network device. Media item content data associate with a first subset of the plurality of media items is obtained from the second network device and stored on the first network device. In this manner, only media item metadata associate with a second subset of the plurality of media items is stored on the first network device.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the access of media items and, more particularly, to the remote access of media data associated with media items.
Description of the Related Art
Many users purchase media items such as songs or movies online and store them on a network device such as a personal computer. However, users often own and use multiple devices. For instance, many users own portable electronic devices that they use to play media items, which may be referred to as "media players."
A media player can store media items, such as audio tracks, that can be played or displayed on the media player. One example of a portable media player is the iPod® media player, which is available from Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Often, a media player acquires its media items from a host computer that enables a users to manage media their items. In managing media items, a user can create playlists for audio tracks. These playlists can be created at the host computer. Media items identified within the play lists can then be copied to the media player. More particularly, media items are typically downloaded from a host computer when the media player is physically connected to the host computer by way of cable (e.g., a USB cable).
Unfortunately, downloading media items from a host computer to a media player can be a time-consuming process. As a result, many users find themselves without the media items they would like on their portable devices.
In view of the above, it would be desirable if the desired media items could be accessed via an electronic device such as a portable electronic device without requiring the user to download all of the media items onto the electronic device when the media player is physically connected to the host computer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The locked phase active power current control circuit is composed of a DC source, an electronic switch, a driving transformer, a phase detecting unit, a current intercepting unit and a square wave controller. A DC signal provided by the DC source is converted into a square wave signal by the electronic switch for the driving transformer to operate a load. The electronic switch outputs the square wave signal to the phase detecting unit whereat a phase signal of the square wave is detected and the detected signal is transmitted to the current intercepting unit whereat the detected signal is compared with the current intercepted at the electronic switch, the driving transformer, or the load, and the comparison result is fed back to the square wave controller so as to set the operation frequency of the electronic switch. The essential principle of the present invention is based on the fact that the square wave is in phase with the first harmonic wave.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a locked phase active power current control circuit, and more particularly to a control circuit which is effective in maintaining the brightness of the light used as LCD background lighting source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIGS. 1A through 1C are flow charts illustrating conventional load current feedback control schemes. A DC signal provided by a DC source 11 is converted into a square wave signal by an electronic switch 12 for a driving transformer 13 to operate a load 4, and a current detecting unit 14 is employed to detect the current signal from the electronic switch 12 (FIG. 1A), the driving transformer 13 (FIG. 1B) or the load 4 (FIG. 1C) so as to feed the signal back to a square wave controller 15 in order to set the operating frequency of the electronic switch 12.
Indeed, it is effective using the aforesaid control means to attain the aim of the feedback control, but there remain the following problems:
1. The load current composed of IR, IL and IC will vary simultaneously with variation of the load, causing difficulties for control and affecting the effectiveness of the feedback.
2. If the above control means is applied to control the LCD background lighting, the brightness of the background light will be uneven.
Due to these defects in the prior art, an improvement is urgently required.
The inventor of the present invention has plunged into this matter for years in order to alleviate these defects and has finally succeeded in coming up with the present invention.

Locked phase active power current control circuit


A protection apparatus aids a user of the apparatus in defending against an attacker and signals that the user is being attacked. The protection apparatus attaches a spray retardant and an alerting device to the user of the apparatus and includes a trigger mechanism that activates both the spray retardant and the alerting device substantially simultaneously. The trigger mechanism is capable of being activated by a single digit of a hand of the user.

The invention relates generally to protection devices, and, more particularly, to protection devices which can be carried by the user of the device.
Presently, many products exist which can be used by a potential victim as protection devices to defend against an assault from an attacker. For example, high pitched sirens or alarms are available which can be carried in a purse and which may be turned on by the victim to alert others that the victim is being attacked. The activation of the high pitched siren is also used to deter a potential attacker. Additionally, cans small enough to fit in a purse and filled with a spray such as Mace or tear gas (called spray retardants) are readily available and can be used by the victim in defending against the attacker.


The fuel cell system is equipped with a fuel cell for generating power by chemically reacting a fuel gas supplied to an anode and an oxygen containing gas supplied to a cathode; an anode off-gas discharge mechanism for discharging an anode off-gas from the anode; a combustion heater for combusting a combustion gas; a dilution mechanism for diluting the anode off-gas by the oxygen containing gas; a first path for introducing the anode off-gas into the combustion heater; a first flow rate adjustment mechanism for adjusting an introduction amount of the anode off-gas into the first path; a second path for introducing the anode off-gas into the dilution mechanism; a second flow rate adjustment mechanism for adjusting an introduction amount of the anode off-gas into the second path; and a control mechanism for controlling actuations of the first flow rate adjustment mechanism and the second flow rate adjustment mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell system for warming up a fuel cell by combusting an anode off-gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
These years a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is noticed from a viewpoint of suppressing a discharge amount of carbon dioxide causing global warming and the like. The FCEV mounts a fuel cell (FC) for generating power by electrochemically reacting hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2), supplies electric power generated by the fuel cell to a traction motor, and produces driving force.
In this connection, the fuel cell brings out its performance at a certain temperature. For example, in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell the temperature is about 80 degrees Celsius, and if the temperature is lower, a power generation performance (electromotive force) is lowered. Therefore, when activating an FECV in winter or a cold district, it is necessary to warm up the fuel cell (that is, to heat up or warm the fuel cell to a predetermined temperature).
Conventionally, in warming up the fuel cell are taken following methods: For example, there is a method of additionally providing the fuel cell with an electric heater, making the electric heater generate heat by a battery mounted on the FCEV, and warming up the fuel cell by the heat (for example, see a paragraph 0038 and FIG. 3 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Hei. 7-94202 (hereinafter referred to as patent document 1)). In addition, there is another method of additionally providing the fuel cell with a combustion heater (catalyst combustor and the like), supplying hydrogen, methanol, gasoline, and the like mounted as fuel by the FCEV to the combustion heater, combusting them, and warming up the fuel cell by combustion heat thereof (for example, see a paragraph 0034 and FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-118593 (hereinafter referred to as patent document 2)).
On the other hand, in a fuel cell equipped with a fuel cell circulation path for recirculating a fuel gas out of fuel cells, because water produced at a cathode moves to an anode through a membrane together with power generation, a flow passage of the anode is occluded by water, and similarly a nitrogen gas and the like move from the cathode to the anode through the membrane, it cannot be avoided that impurities are accumulated in the fuel cell circulation path. Therefore, in order to stably generate power by this kind of a fuel cell, there is a fuel cell that discharges the fuel gas of the fuel cell circulation path as an anode off-gas from a discharge side path (that is, performs purging and sweeping), depending on a state within the fuel cell, mixes and dilutes the fuel gas with a cathode off-gas, then combusts it by a catalyst combustor, and discharges it in an atmosphere (for example, see paragraphs 0063 to 0065 and FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-289237 (hereinafter referred to as patent document 3)). In addition, there is also a fuel cell that combusts reaction-remaining hydrogen discharged from the anode of the fuel cell and a hydrogen gas from a hydrogen tank together with air by a catalyst combustor and performs a warm-up by supplying a combustion heat thereof to the fuel cell through a coolant circulation path (for example, see paragraphs 0022 to 0024 and FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-243009 (hereinafter referred to as patent document 4)).
However, in an apparatus of the patent document 1 it is not preferable to consume electric power of a vehicle-mounted battery for an electric heater for a warm-up, and moreover, there is a case that sufficient electric power is not supplied from the vehicle-mounted battery in a low temperature when electromotive force becomes lower. In addition, when using a commercial power source, there is a problem that a warm-up cannot be performed at a place such as a road where there is no commercial power source. In an apparatus of the patent document 2, because a hydrogen combustor and the like consume hydrogen (raw fuel) used for power generation, there is a problem that a fuel consumption of the fuel cell results in being exacerbated.
On the other hand, in an apparatus of the patent document 3, although a hydrogen concentration of an anode off-gas can be reduced to a safe level by a dilution and a combustion and the anode off-gas can be discharged, there is a problem that an energy efficiency lowers because a thermal energy produced by the combustion of a catalyst combustor is discharged in an atmosphere and a warm-up of the fuel cell has to be performed by a heating mechanism such as an electric heater. In addition, in an apparatus of the patent document 4, when an introduction hydrogen amount into a catalyst combustor is limited, a needed amount of reaction-remaining hydrogen results in not being discharged, an operation state of the fuel cell system becomes unstable, and there is a possibility that a lowering of a power output and the like occur. In addition, an excess of humidifying water and a moisture reversely diffusing into the anode from the cathode mix with the reaction-remaining hydrogen, these moistures are introduced in a liquid state, and thereby there is also a possibility that a combustion in a catalyst combustor results in becoming unstable.
Consequently, a fuel cell system is strongly requested that performs a speedy warm-up by an anode off-gas without obstructing a stable operation of the fuel cell system.


A measurement device includes a sensing portion and a measuring portion. The sensing portion contains at least a fluorescent material whose emitting of fluorescent light ceases due to an action of a radioactive beam. The measuring portion measures a radiation quantity of the radioactive beam, with which the sensing portion is irradiated, based on an amount of decrease in the intensity of the fluorescent light emitted by the fluorescent material contained in the sensing portion when the radioactive beam acts on at least a portion of the fluorescent material. The fluorescent light is emitted due to irradiation of the fluorescent material by an excitation source.

The present disclosure relates to a measurement device and a measurement probe for measuring an amount of radiation.
A measurement device that uses a scintillator is known as a device that is able to measure an amount of radiation. The measurement device discloses a fiber-type radiation detection device. The fiber-type radiation detection device has a structure in which a fluorescent optical fiber has been inserted into a central portion of an acrylic resin member with high optical transparency. A radiation sensing layer containing a scintillator is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the acrylic resin member. In a case where radiation is incident to the radiation sensing layer, the scintillator absorbs the radiation, causing it to emit a fluorescent light (called a first fluorescent light). The first fluorescent light passes through the acrylic resin member and is absorbed by the fluorescent optical fiber. The fluorescent optical fiber then emits a fluorescent light (called a second fluorescent light) having a different wavelength from that of the first fluorescent light. As the second fluorescent light advances through the core of the fluorescent optical fiber, it is converted into an electrical signal by a photoelectric converter and is measured. The amount of the radiation is thus specified.

Measurement device and measurement probe


A scaffold for locating workmen and materials inside a railroad car includes a pair of ladders hanging from the roof of the cars through apertures therein, and a plurality of planks disposed across the gap between the ladders and supported at their ends by the ladders.

This invention relates to the field of support systems used to position workmen and material adjacent work sites, more particularly to scaffolding systems used to position workmen and material during painting, cleaning and inspection of work surfaces, and more particularly still to scaffolding systems disposed within covered hopper railroad cars to allow workmen to paint, clean, cover and/or inspect the inner surfaces of the car.
Covered hopper cars are used in railroad operations to haul bulk cargos of goods which must be isolated from the elements. A substantial variety of goods are transported in these railroad cars, including agricultural products such as grains and sugar, and raw manufacturing materials, such as plastic pellets.
A typical covered hopper car is comprised of a hopper body subdivided into subcompartments, and a roof overlying the entire body. The body rides on a pair of trucks which are coupled to other cars in the train. Access into the interior of the covered hopper car is made through a plurality of manholes on the roof of the car, and through a series of valves, or gates at the bottom of the car. The car is loaded by opening the manholes, and pouring in the grain, plastic pellets, or other material. Once the compartment is filled, the manhole is closed. When the hopper car arrives at its destination, the valves, or gates at the bottom of the car are opened and the material is allowed to spill out of the gates under the car. To protect the car, and the cargo, the interior surface of the car is painted, or coated with a protective material.
One problem with covered hopper cars is the limited interchangability of the cars from hauling one type of cargo to another. For example, a car used in plastic pellet service cannot easily be converted to grain service, and vice versa. Changing the type of service requires cleaning, and sometimes repainting or recoating, the inside of the car. The remaining materials from the prior shipment could contaminate the different cargo, resulting in a loss. Additionally, many cargos are abrasive or reactive, and therefore abrade, erode or corrode the paint or protective coating on the interior surface of the hopper car. Likewise, as a result of normal wear and tear on the inner surfaces of the car, repainting is necessary at some time in the life of the car. As a result of these problems, the interior surfaces of the cars must be periodically washed, painted or recoated.
Cleaning, painting and resurfacing of the interior of the covered hopper car is a difficult proposition. The roof over the car limits the accessibility for workmen and material, so that any equipment and all workmen must fit through the upper manholes or bottom valves of the car. Typically, when the interior of the car is to be thoroughly cleaned or repainted, boards are dropped through the man holes or pushed up through the bottom valve and then placed across the individual compartments of the hopper. The boards are then supported on the side walls of the compartment while the cleaning or painting is accomplished. Scaffolding may be used within the hopper to support the boards. When scaffolding is used, the bases of the scaffold poles ride on the inner surface of the car. This is unacceptable, because the board ends create dirty spots or paintless voids on the side walls of the hopper.
Cleaning, painting, coating or inspecting railroad cars is a time-consuming process. However, every hour or day the car is out of service costs the car owner, or the carrier, money in the form of lost profits, rents or tariffs. It should be appreciated that if it takes a day, for example, to perform yearly car maintenance, and the car owner owns 365 cars, he needs an extra car to ensure that he has 365 in service every day while one is being serviced. As car service is not performed every day, and many car owners or railroads have thousands of cars, the time a car is offline and in service can seriously effect the capital investment required by the car owner to maintain the required fleet size.
When a hopper car is taken out of service, it is inspected, its running gear and undercarriage inspected, repaired and the inside is inspected and cleaned or painted. Once a decision is made to repaint the car, it is sandblasted and washed, primed and then painted. This process is accomplished on an "assembly line" basis, where cars are shunted down a track to sequential work stations. To sandblast the car, scaffolding is put in the car, and then the blasting is performed. However, the scaffolding is typically removed between each step of the repainting process because the scaffolding will shift and scratch or mar the inside surface of the car. This requires frequent assembly and disassembly of the scaffolding.


The pillow with breasts is a pillow contoured to simulate human, female breasts and utilized to provide comfort for the user by minimizing the absence of a mother or loved one. The pillow may be positioned under the neck, head, behind the shoulders, or may be placed in any position that provides comfort to the user. A pocket is formed in the pillow for housing a nursing bottle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to furnishings. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a pillow structurally configured to simulate a portion of the human, female anatomy.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many instances when the human psyche requires a familiar environment to feel comfortable and secure. This is true of adults and especially true of infants. The familiar hollows of a parent's lap or the contours of a mother's breast promote a sense of well-being that induces an aura of comfort. Unfortunately, parents cannot always be available to provide the nesting lap or breasts when the infant is fretful and in need of a familiar environment. At such times, a familiar pillow might suffice as a suitable substitute.
There is a need for a pillow that simulates the female chest. Thus, a pillow with breasts solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


This invention relates to a method to select, in an input image, pixels that can be watermarked by replacing their colour by a metameric colour. It comprises the following steps:                correct the input image by applying a predetermined gamma law,        convert the input image into a ‘metameric’ image in which the colours of the input image pixels are replaced by metameric colours,        simulate the capture of the input image and of the metameric image by a camcorder in order to generate respectively a captured input image and a captured metameric image,        determine, in a colour space and for each pixel of the input image, the distance between the colour of said pixel in the captured input image and in the captured metameric image, and        select the pixels of the input image for which the distance is greater than a threshold.

Patent application WO 2004/040899 discloses techniques to modify, in an imperceptible manner for the human eye, the spectrum of the images displayed by a video projector in order to deter the copy of images using a camcorder. The modification of the spectrum is obtained by using a fourth primary colour component. This fourth primary is used to create spectra having different spectral compositions but inducing the same light and colorimetric perception by the human eye. Such spectra exist for each colour since the human eye only uses three types of receivers (or cones) to create the colorimetric sensation associated with a light. Spectra producing identical effects on the three types of receivers appear identical to the eye without necessarily being identical. Such spectra are called metameric. We also speak of metameric colours or metameric mixtures. Camcorders generally having RGB light receivers noticeably different from those of the human eye, metameric spectra for the human eye are not necessarily metameric for the camcorder and appear as different with respect to chrominance or luminance on the copy filmed by the camcorder. This effect is then used to insert watermarking or anti-copy marks in the projected images to degrade the quality of the copies made by the camcorder and possibly know the origin of the copy. The watermarking is for example a message indicating that the film is an illicit copy or a code identifying the film which has been copied or the cinema that has projected the film. This patent application also gives a method to calculate the proportions of each of the primary components to make it possible to obtain different mixtures having the same colorimetric coordinates in a visual colour space as a given light that can be obtained by three primaries.
Patent application US 2006/0152524 discloses also metameric techniques that are adapted to deter the copy of images using a camcorder. According to paragraph 35 of this document, pixels or groups of pixels (i.e. image portions) that can be watermarked are randomly selected or selected among the image portions having high spatial detail, without consideration about the efficiency of the metameric jamming itself for a camcorder.
Problems inherent in the use of metameric spectra nonetheless exist. All the spectators do not necessarily have the same colour perception. Hence, a watermarking which should normally be invisible for all the spectators can be visible for some of them. Moreover, if the fourth primary is produced by an additional projector, there may be a geometrical alignment problem for the four primaries. Therefore, the impact of these problems should be reduced so that the watermarking insertion does not disturb the spectators present in the cinema. Moreover, it is advisable to enhance the efficiency of the metameric jamming itself for a camcorder.

Method for selecting image pixels to watermark and watermarking method using this selection

Abstract: The invention also concerns a watermarking method based on metamerism.


Described herein are chimeric peptides comprising a soluble trimeric coiled-coil and all or a portion of the N-peptide region of HIV gp41. These molecules are stable, trimeric coiled-coils that inhibit HIV entry into cells, such as human cells. Such peptides can be further assessed to demonstrate their ability to serve as potent anti-HIV therapeutic molecules and thus, as therapeutic molecules or drugs.

HIV is the virus that is responsible for the worldwide AIDS epidemic. The initial stages of HIV infection involve the fusion of viral membrane with the target cell membrane, a process that injects the viral contents into the cellular cytoplasm. On the viral side, the molecular complex responsible for the fusion activity contains the surface protein gp 120 and the transmembrane protein gp41. It is the current hypothesis that gp120 interacts with the proteins CD4 and coreceptor on the target cell, resulting in a conformational change that causes gp41 to insert its amino terminus (fusion peptide region) into the target cell membrane. This structural rearrangement promotes the fusion of virus and cellular membranes through a poorly understood mechanism.

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research


The invention relates to cyclic nonapeptide amides and to methods for their preparation and to their use for the production of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially bacterial infectious diseases.

The invention relates to cyclic nonapeptide amides and methods for their preparation as well as to their use for the production of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially bacterial infectious diseases.
The bacterial cell wall is synthesized by a number of enzymes (cell wall biosynthesis) and is essential for the survival and reproduction of microorganisms. The structure of this macromolecule, as well as the proteins involved in its synthesis, are highly conserved within the bacteria. Owing to its essential nature and uniformity, cell wall biosynthesis is an ideal point of attack for new antibiotics (D. W. Green, The bacterial cell wall as a source of antibacterial targets, Expert Opin. Ther. Targets (2002) 6:1-19).
Vancomycin and penicillins are inhibitors of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and represent successful examples of the antibiotic potency of this principle of action. They have been employed for several decades clinically for the treatment of bacterial infections, in particular with Gram-positive pathogens. Owing to the growing occurrence of resistant microorganisms, for example methicillin-resistant Staphylococci, penicillin-resistant pneumococci and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (F. Baquero, Gram-positive resistance: challenge for the development of new antibiotics, J. Antimicrob. Chemother. (1997) (39), Suppl A:1-6; A. P. Johnson, D. M. Livermore, G. S. Tillotson, Antimicrobial susceptibility of Gram-positive bacteria: what's current, what's anticipated?, J. Hosp. Infect. (2001) (49), Suppl A:3-11), and also recently, for the first time, vancomycin-resistant Staphylococci (B. Goldrick, First reported case of VRSA in the United States, Am. J. Nurs. (2002) 102:17), these substances are increasingly losing their therapeutic efficacy.
The present invention describes a novel class of cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors without cross-resistances to known classes of antibiotics.
The natural product lysobactin and some derivatives are described as having antibacterial activity in U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,018. The isolation and antibacterial activity of lysobactin is also described in EP-A-196 042 and JP 01132600. WO04/099239 describes derivatives of lysobactin having antibacterial activity.
The antibacterial activity of lysobactin and katanosin A is furthermore described in O'Sullivan, J. et al., J. Antibiot. (1988) 41: 1740-1744, Bonner, D. P. et al., J. Antibiot. (1988) 41:1745-1751, Shoji, J. et al., J. Antibiot. (1988) 41:713-718 and Tymiak, A. A. et al., J. Org. Chem. (1989) 54:1149-1157.
The stability of an active compound is an important parameter for its suitability as a medicament. Among other factors, the stability plays a role in the storage and the administration of medicaments. Many natural products exhibit a stability insufficient for medicaments.
The antibacterially active depsipeptide lysobactin hydrolyzes in an aqueous neutral to basic medium (pH>7) within days. This forms the antibacterially inactive "open-lysobactin" which has been opened at the lactone. Active analogs of lysobactin with a higher ring stability are therefore desirable.


A wasted water draining valve for a drinking water fountain includes a valve body having a bottom having a first side formed with a wasted water inlet channel and a second side formed with a wasted water outlet channel connected to the inlet channel. Thus, the wasted water inlet channel of the valve body is inclined relative to the wasted water outlet channel, so that the wasted water inlet channel of the valve body is directly connected to the wasted water outlet channel without having to provide a U-shaped tube to connect the wasted water inlet channel and the wasted water outlet channel of the valve body, thereby decreasing costs of fabrication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wasted water draining valve, and more particularly to a wasted water draining valve for a drinking water fountain.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional wasted water draining valve for a drinking water fountain in accordance with the prior art shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 comprises a valve body 10, a U-shaped tube 40, a threaded plug 50, a wasted water inlet tube 20, and a wasted water outlet tube 30. The valve body 10 has an inside formed with an inlet channel 12 having a lower end formed with an inlet hole 14 and an outlet channel 13 parallel with the inlet channel 12 and having a lower end formed with an outlet hole 15. The valve body 10 has a top formed with a threaded receiving recess 11 communicating with the inlet channel 12 and the outlet channel 13. The outlet channel 13 of the valve body 10 has a side formed with an air vent 16. The U-shaped tube 40 is mounted in the receiving recess 11 of the valve body 10 and has a first end secured to the inlet channel 12 of the valve body 10 and a second end secured to the outlet channel 13 of the valve body 10. The threaded plug 50 is screwed into the receiving recess 11 of the valve body 10. The wasted water inlet tube 20 has an upper end connected to the inlet hole 14 of the inlet channel 12 of the valve body 10 and a lower end connected to a first pipe (not shown) which is connected to a reverse osmosis device (not shown). The wasted water outlet tube 30 has an upper end connected to the outlet hole 15 of the outlet channel 13 of the valve body 10 and a lower end connected to a second pipe (not shown) which is connected to a drainage (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 5, the wasted water in turn passes through the wasted water inlet tube 20, the inlet channel 12 of the valve body 10, the U-shaped tube 40, the outlet channel 13 of the valve body 10 and the wasted water outlet tube 30 and finally flows outward from the wasted water outlet tube 30. Thus, the wasted water filtered by the reverse osmosis device enters the wasted water inlet tube 20, then flows upward into the wasted water draining valve of the drinking water fountain and is finally drained outward from the wasted water outlet tube 30, thereby preventing the wasted water from flowing back into the reverse osmosis device.
However, the conventional wasted water draining valve has a complicated construction, thereby increasing costs of fabrication. In addition, the air vent 16 is directly located at a side of the outlet channel 13 of the valve body 10, so that the wasted water easily sputters outward from the air vent 16 during drainage.

Wasted water draining valve for a drinking water fountain


In a gas fuel engine, a first air-fuel mixture having a local excess air factor λ not less than 2 is combusted (a first combustion). When a target torque is not sufficiently obtained by the first combustion, a fuel is directly injected into a combustion chamber to form a second air-fuel mixture having a local excess air factor λ less than 1.1, so that a second combustion is performed. The combustion of the air-fuel mixture is switched from the first combustion to the second combustion in one combustion stroke.

The local excess air factor and the average excess air factor are further explained with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B.
When air in a combustion chamber (a total air in a cylinder) is defined as "A", air forming an air-fuel mixture is defined as "B", and fuel forming the air-fuel mixture is defined as "C", then the local excess air factor is represented by "(B/C)/λ", whereas the average excess air factor is represented by "(A/C)/λ", wherein A includes B.
It is important for the gas fuel engine operating with hydrogen to reduce production of NOx.
Prior arts for reducing NOx are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. H5-118253, No. H6-241077, and No. 2004-76686, as well as Japanese Examined Publication No. H4-37264B.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H5-118253 discloses a technology that an operating area of an engine is restricted to such an area, in which the local excess air factor λ is not less than 2, since this prior art makes use of a fact that almost no NOx is produced in the area of the local excess air factor λ not less than 2.
However, if the operating area of the engine is restricted to the above area, an output power from the engine would be insufficient. Therefore, when the engine of this kind is used for a hybrid car, an electric motor is used for supplement a necessary driving power which would not be obtained by the output of the engine alone. And the engine of this kind may not be applied for a motor vehicle, by itself, due to lack of the output power.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H6-241077 discloses a technology that a mixture of fuel and air is formed by a pre-mixture forming or a direct fuel injection, wherein the pre-mixture forming and the direct fuel injection is switched from one to the other depending on the average excess air factor λ, namely depending on whether the average excess air factor λ is higher or lower than a predetermined local excess air factor λ0 (1<λ0<2, see FIG. 2), so that production of NOx is reduced.
However, the operating area at or around the excess air factor λ0 is the operating area, in which a larger amount of NOx is produced. Accordingly, the production of NOx can not be sufficiently reduced either by the pre-mixture forming or the direct fuel injection.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-76686 discloses a technology that the average excess air factor λ is temporally controlled to be lower than 1 (λ<1) when an accumulated amount of NOx in a NOx catalyst exceeds a predetermined value, so that the accumulated NOx is deoxidized and exhausted from the engine.
However, in the case that NOx is accumulated quickly in the catalyst and the control of the excess air factor λ below 1 shall be often carried out (at a shorter interval), a fuel consumption ratio is decreased, because additional fuel which would not contribute in generating engine output is used.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. H4-37264 discloses a technology that a combustible mixture (the mixture is surely ignited) is formed at or around a spark discharge portion (a spark gap for spark discharge) by dividing the fuel injection into multiple number of injections.
Even when the mixture can be surely ignited, the production of NOx can not be always reduced, because a rich air-fuel mixture (the local excess air factor λ is smaller than 2) may locally but widely exist in the entire space of the combustion chamber.

Gas fuel engine and control method for the same


A device including a substrate, an upper capacitor, and a lower capacitor is described. The upper capacitor is mounted on the substrate and includes an upper body and a pillar that extends from the upper body towards the substrate. The lower capacitor includes a lower body that is disposed both lateral to the pillar and at least in part between the upper body and the substrate. Each of the upper capacitor and the lower capacitor is a respective discrete circuit component. Such capacitor stacking configurations facilitate the placement of larger numbers of capacitors in close proximity to microprocessor cores in integrated circuit modules without the need to increase module size.

The present invention relates to the electrical, electronic, and computer arts, and, more particularly, to stacked capacitors for use in integrated circuit modules and the like.
Capacitors are frequently paired with microprocessor cores in integrated circuit (IC) modules (i.e., IC packages) to provide decoupling and diminish the effects of high frequency noise. It is not uncommon, for example, to find modules with microprocessor cores that are virtually surrounded by arrays of discrete capacitors. It is advantageous to place capacitors as close to a microprocessor core as possible. Close placement reduces the amount of line inductance and series resistance between the capacitors and the core
Two types of surface-mount capacitors often used in modern IC modules are ceramic capacitors, frequently in the form of ceramic capacitor arrays, and silicon deep trench (Si DT) capacitors.
Ceramic capacitor arrays utilize parallel metal plates embedded in a dielectric ceramic material. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a conventional ceramic capacitor array 100, while FIG. 2 shows a side view of the ceramic capacitor array 100 attached to a substrate 105 of a module. The ceramic capacitor array 100 includes a ceramic body 110 housing the parallel metal plates, in combination with eight terminals 115 (sometimes called terminations). Attachment of the ceramic capacitor array 100 to the substrate 105 is via solder joints 120 (i.e., solder fillets) that act to connect the terminals 115 to bonding pads 125 on the substrate's surface.
Si DT capacitors utilize silicon substrates that house an array of deep trench capacitors patterned into the body of the capacitor. FIG. 3 shows a bottom perspective view of a conventional Si DT capacitor 300, while FIG. 4 shows a side view of the Si DT capacitor 300 attached to a substrate 305 of a module. The Si DT capacitor 300 relies on a flip chip technology (i.e., controlled collapse chip connection or C4) for its interconnection with the substrate 305. More specifically, the Si DT capacitor includes solder bumps 310 attached to an array of chip pads 315 on a body 320 of the Si DT capacitor 300. The solder bumps 310, in turn, are attached to an array of corresponding bonding pads 325 on the substrate 305.
Nevertheless, while ceramic capacitor arrays and Si DT capacitors are in widespread usage in modern IC modules, three limitations tend to restrict the extent to which these discrete circuit components can effectively be implemented in an IC module: 1) the limited areal capacitance of these capacitors, particularly Si DT capacitors; 2) limited module size; and 3) limitations on how close a given capacitor can be placed to a processor die due to the wiring emanating from that die (i.e., wire escape limitations). There is, as a result, a need for new approaches for implementing capacitors in IC modules that can address these limitations.

Stacked capacitors for use in integrated circuit modules and the like

International Business Machines Corporation


An assembly for holding a camera comprising a first section including two flat portions, a sleeve portion from which the flat portions extend so as to enable movement of the sleeve portion, a first and a second pair of tubes extending perpendicularly from an end of each flat portion, a platform slidable supported by the first pair of tubes, a double clamp slidable supported by the second pair of tubes, a second section including a substantially flat upright, a first pair of tubes extending perpendicularly from a lower end of the upright, a double clamp separating the ends of the first pair of tubes, a second pair of tubes extending perpendicularly from the double clamp, the first section being connected with the second section so as to enable relative rotation between the sections.

The invention concerns an improved support assembly which sustains the rolling, rotating, ascending and descending control of cameras.
There are assemblies on the market to sustain rolling, rotating, ascending and descending remotely controllable supports for cameras, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,833.
These camera-supporting assemblies are usually in the form of an L or an inverted U-shaped arrangement for cameras of large volume and weight.
These types of assembly are joined to the mounting head, which is in oscillating and rolling form in order to allow the camera to change its lens position as necessary to take the desired views of an object.
The mounting heads holding the pivoting platform that supports the larger, heavier cameras require a support of great size and strength. However, since these mounting heads are constructed with non-extendable, permanent structures, whether of the L-shape or the U-shape, they need to be replaced by similar but larger ones in order to house larger and heavier cameras.
This constitutes a great expense and the mounting heads need much time and effort to be replaced. On the other hand, the mounting heads of the prior art, though they are indeed larger and stronger than those previously available and serve as a substitute for them, have the disadvantage that they are also constructed in standard dimensions which are not always in keeping with those of the larger and heavier cameras to be supported.
This gives rise to a series of problems for the user of these mounting heads.
On the other hand, the position, angle of movement and rotation about itself of the articulated platform of the mounting head holding the camera to be placed thereon are regulated in accord with the camera it holds in an articulated manner, in an equilibrated form to avoid sudden movements causing blurred views of the object captured by the lens of the camera.
One must also bear in mind that cameras attached in a pivoting manner to the articulated platforms of the mounting head are in equilibrium, and logically this equilibrium need not be present when the articulated support is replaced by a larger one, whether it be of the L-shape or the U-shape.
This does not occur with the new mounting head since the platform is already of medium size, serving equally for small, average or large cameras; moreover, the existing mounting head, whether L or inverted U-shaped, is advantageous in that all the points of articulated attachment as well as those of counterweight and disconnection of electric supply are held in the same position, and there is no need to change the mounting head, but rather an expansion of the one already installed.
The counterweight position must be as close as possible to that of the camera already installed and that the position must be altered in order to maintain the camera's maximum ability to effect the movements known as "panning" (panoramic) and "tilting" (vertical or swiveling), which correspond to the inclining or tilting motions of the camera located on the oscillating platform of the mounting head.
It is very important, in order to avoid picture distortions which impede normal observation of the image being captured, that the axis of rotation should be nearest the nodal point or the axis of the camera lenses so as to avoid the pictures captured by the camera from being thrown out of focus.
Good camera equilibrium on the articulated platform is most important in order to avoid sudden brusque motions from alternating with smooth ones in the movements of the camera support due to a non-equilibrium, in order to enable the smooth movements of pan and tilt and the simultaneous movement of the juncture of the two and passing as closely as possible by the nodal point of the optical axis of the camera in order that it can rotate about itself through 360.degree. when the optical axis passes through the nodal point of the camera.
It should be noted that when the mounting head's axis of rotation passes through an axis which is not across both points of orientation and position of the camera, then the scenes on which the camera is focusing appear disproportionate and blurred.
Those assemblies holding the articulated platforms whose center contains the camera's pivoting unit, the platforms on these assemblies have a large central orifice in which the lens of the camera is inserted. Therefore, in these cases the camera is located next to and is connected to one of the two surfaces of the platform and the edge of the orifice and on the opposite facade to the surface of its own platform.
It is clear that the equilibrium of the camera in these cases is not centered in a position of support at the center of the platform's surface, but in its central portion it lacks the formative material of the base, since in its place it has a large orifice.
As a result, this attachment is carried out with the weight of the camera suspended in air.
When a dead weight is suspended in air, it is necessary to bring additional force to bear to compensate for the non-equilibrium of the weight thrown off center. In this case it is the existence of a large central orifice in the center of the articulated platform which prevents the placement of the camera, with all its weight, over the center of the platform.
It is clear that with the existence of a large central orifice the placement mentioned above cannot be effected, nor can the base of the articulated platform be supported in that central portion.
This additional effort impedes the equilibrium of the central running lead of the platform in which the camera is connected in a pivoting way, since with the change in the platform's position with respect to the mounting head due to this movement from center, sudden accelerations arise in changes of position which change the smooth and continuous motion of the picture in the lens of the camera and cause the lack of constant clarity in the picture seen through the camera lens.

Moderna, 53-08902 Hospitalet De Llobregat


An internal check valve for use in a linear hydraulic motor in the form of a piston-cylinder unit including a cylinder body (38) reciprocally slidable on a piston component (40). The piston component (40) includes a tubular piston rod (52) and a piston head (60) defining first and second working chambers (136, 140) within the cylinder body (38). The tubular piston rod (52) includes a center tube (102) located within the piston rod (52). The center tube (102) provides a fluid passageway (134) through its center which communicates with a first working chamber (136). An annular second passageway (142) is formed by and radially between the piston rod (52) and the center tube (102). A spring biased check valve (116) is positioned within the piston rod (52, 54) and is operatively connected with one of the passageways (134, 126, 130). The check valve (116) has a valve member displaceable from a valve seat (120) by hydraulic pressure to overcome the spring bias (122, 124) and allow flow in one direction. The center tube (102) is axially displaceable relative to the piston rod (52). Displacement is effected by end of stroke movement of the cylinder body (38) and displacement of the center tube (102) causes displacement of the valve member (116) to mechanically open the check valve.

It is well known that linear hydraulic motors can be sequentially or otherwise controlled by check valves which are displaced by end of stroke movement. Typically, such check valves are mounted externally and are actuated by a dog or actuation member extending from either the piston, the cylinder, or some member which is moved as a result of movement of either the piston or cylinder. Externally-located check valves of this type are exposed to hazards and adverse environmental conditions. External connections between such check valves are also subject to damage and multiply the opportunity for leakage and failure.


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