An apparatus and method for removing a false contour are provided. The apparatus includes a false contour region detector which detects a false contour region formed in a flat region of similar pixel values; an edge and detail region detector which detects an edge region and a detail region of the input image; a detector which detects the flat region by removing the edge region and the detail region of the false contour region; and a smoothing part which smoothes the flat region with the false contour by shuffling the similar pixel values of the flat region with pixels of the detected false contour region. The method includes detecting a false contour region; detecting an edge region and a detail region; detecting a flat region with the false contour; and smoothing the flat region with the false contour by shuffling the similar pixel values.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to removing false contours, and more particularly, to removing false contours by smoothing a flat region with a false contour using shuffling of pixel values.
2. Description of the Related Art
As display devices increase in size in the digital television (DTV) era, artifacts become a huge problem. That is, when images are displayed on a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor and small television, artifacts are not a problem. However, a large TV screen causes artifact problems. An image input with digital data is processed with contrast enhancement (CE) and detail enhancement (DE) so that an image with more definition can be obtained; however, the side effect of artifacts is generated.
Artifacts are unnatural elements in an image. False contour represents one of the artifacts. False contour is an artifact of the form of contour shown in flat region of an image such as the sky, the surface of the water, or the skin of a human being. All of the pixels of the flat region do not have the same value. Instead, the pixels of the flat region gradually change in brightness value. A differentiation in brightness value in the flat region is perceived by the human eye as a contour line. The contour line in the flat region is called a false contour or false edge as distinct from an edge of a signal element of an image.
There are a variety of causes for generating a false contour. However, when the quantization level generally indicating brightness value is not enough, false contour is generated. The quantization level deciding brightness value depends on a bit depth expressing digitalized brightness value. A false contour is not shown in the existing bit depth but shown in large display device. A false contour is also generated when an image is processed with CE and DE, compressed and restored in accordance with Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) and Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards. To remove a false contour, the existing methods such as blue noise mask, dithering, and Daly and Feng has been used.
FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C are views showing the existing apparatuses for removing false contour. FIG. 1A is a view describing the existing method of Daly and Feng which removes false contour. The Daly and Feng method models the environment where false contour is generated and performs low pass filtering for the region of false contour that a human eye can recognize well so that false contour is removed. Here, bit depth of input image is P, and bit depth of input image passed through a low pass filter (LPF) 11 is R.
Referring to FIG. 1A, an input image with bit depth of P is input to LPF 11 according to the existing method. The LPF 11 adds peripheral pixels to pixels of input image so that the image smoothes. A bit depth of the input image passed through the LPF 11 increases by the added peripheral pixels. Accordingly, R which is a bit depth of the input image passed through the LPF 11 is more than P which is a bit depth of the input image.
A quantization part 12 re-quantizes a pixel value of the input image which is passed through the LPF 11 and added in bit depth.
A first adding part 13 outputs a difference value between an output value of the LPF 11 and an output value of the quantization part 12.
A second adding part 14 outputs a difference value between an output value of the first adding part 13 and a pixel value of the original image. That is, the second adding part 14 adds a difference between the re-quantized pixel value and the original pixel value to the original image. Therefore, a brightness value of the input image gradually changes so that false contour disappears.
However, the conventional method of removing false contour of Daly and Feng is applied to all of the pixels of the input image. Accordingly, as the entire input image passes through the LPF 11, an edge or texture corresponding to the signal element is blurred so that a degraded output image is obtained.
In addition, the Daly and Feng method can only be applied in a case where a bit depth of input image is less than a bit depth of output image, and where the original image before generating false contour by quantization is known. In addition, when a difference value between a value passed through the LPF 11 and re-quantized value is not enough to remove false contour, false contour can not be removed effectively.
FIG. 1B is a view describing a method for removing false contour generated in quantization process by lowering a bit depth for a certain digital image.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a double bit change detector 21 detects a change of pixel value corresponding to double of halftone information of the quantized digital image and a flat region detector 22 detects a change of peripheral pixels where double bits are detected. A random number generator 23 generates a certain value.
A signal corrector 24 receives a result of the double bit change detector 21, the flat region detector 22 and random number generator 23, and when a double bit change is detected and a peripheral pixel is flat region, the region where double bit change is detected is determined with false contour region. In addition, the signal corrector 24 removes the false contour by adding or subtracting random noise generated in the random number generator 23 to/from the pixel value of false contour.
However, this method can only be applied to a method for removing a false contour generated during a quantization process lowering bit depth so that the environment where quantization artifacts are generated needs to be exactly modeled. Additionally, this method is used for image quality degradation protection generated by a process for data compression by lowering bit depth of digital image so that the applicable field is limited.
FIG. 1C is a view describing a method for removing false contour generated by gamma correction in a plasma display panel (PDP) display. This method selectively performs dithering upon correcting gamma in a PDP display or expressing moving picture in a subfield method so that a false contour shown on flat region and around moving object is prevented.
Referring to FIG. 1C, a gamma and gain adjuster 31 corrects gamma of the input image and an error diffusion and dithering processor 32 dithers using a quantization error caused by correcting gamma. A false contour region detector 33 forecasts a false contour region to be occurred by a sub-field method and a selective dithering processor 34 selectively dithers the false contour region.
However, this method removes only a false contour which has occurred by gamma correction on the plasma display panel (PDP) display and is limitedly applied to remove false contour.
Therefore, the above conventional methods of removing false contour can be applied only when the reason why false contour is occurred is known. It is difficult to find the exact false contour, and the false contour can not be effectively removed.

Apparatus for removing false contour and method thereof


The present invention provides solid support media for use in oligomer synthesis, methods of producing the media, and methods of using the media. In some embodiments, the processes of the invention comprise (a) providing an organic phase comprising an olefin monomer, a cross-linker, a functionalizing reagent and an initiator; and (b) contacting the organic phase with an aqueous phase under conditions of time and temperature effective to form the polymeric bead.

Solid state synthesis is applicable to the preparation of a wide variety of polymeric compounds such as nucleobase-containing polymers (for example oligonucleotides and their analogs), amino acid containing polymers (for example proteins, peptides, and their analogs). Solid state synthesis also is applicable to the preparation of compounds by combinatorial methods.
Oligonucleotides have been used in various biological and biochemical applications. They have been used as primers and probes for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as antisense agents used in target validation, drug discovery and development, as ribozymes, as aptamers, and as general stimulators of the immune system. As the popularity of oligonucleotides has increased, the need for producing greater sized batches, and greater numbers of small-sized batches, has increased at pace. Additionally, there has been an increasing emphasis on reducing the costs of oligonucleotide synthesis, and on improving the purity and increasing the yield of oligonucleotide products.
A number of innovations have been introduced to the art of oligonucleotide synthesis. Amongst these innovations has been the development of excellent orthogonal protecting groups, activators, reagents, and synthetic conditions. The oligonucleotides themselves have been subject to a variety of modifications and improvements. Amongst these are chemistries that improve the affinity of an oligonucleotide for a specific target, that improve the stability of an oligonucleotide in vivo, that enhance the pharmacokinetic (PK) and toxicological (Tox) properties of an oligonucleotide, etc. These novel chemistries generally involve a chemical modification to one or more of the constituent parts of the oligonucleotide.
The term "oligonucleotide" thus embraces a class of compounds that include naturally-occurring, as well as modified, oligonucleotides. Both naturally-occurring and modified oligonucleotides have proven useful in a variety of settings, and both may be made by similar processes, with appropriate modifications made to account for the specific modifications adopted. A naturally occurring oligonucleotide, i.e. a short strand of DNA or RNA may be envisioned as being a member of the following generic formulas, denominated oligo-RNA and oligo-DNA, respectively, below:
wherein m is an integer of from 1 to about 100, and Bx is one of the naturally occurring nucleobases.
Physiologic pH, an oligonucleotide occurs as the anion, as the phosphate easily dissociates at neutral pH, and an oligonucleotide will generally occur in solid phase, whether amorphous or crystalline, as a salt. Thus, unless otherwise modified, the term "oligonucleotide" encompasses each of the anionic, salt and free acid forms above.
In essence, a naturally occurring oligonucleotide may be thought of as being an oligomer of m monomeric subunits represented by the following nucleotides:
wherein each Bx is a nucleobase, wherein the last residue is a nucleoside (i.e. a nucleotide without the 3′-phosphate group).
As mentioned above, various chemistry modifications have been made to oligonucleotides, in order to improve their affinity, stability, PK, Tox, and other properties. In general, the term oligonucleotide, as now used in the art, encompasses inter alia compounds of the formula:
wherein m is an integer from 1 to about 100, each G1 is O or S, each G2 is OH or SH, each G3 is O, S, CH2, or NH, each G5 is a divalent moiety such as O, S, CH2, CFH, CF2, —CH═CH—, etc., each R2′ is H, OH, O-rg, wherein rg is a removable protecting group, a 2′-substituent, or together with R4′ forms a bridge, each R3′ is H, a substituent, or together with R4′ forms a bridge, each R4′ is H, a substituent, together with R2′ forms a bridge, together with R3′ forms a bridge, or together with R5′ forms a bridge, each q is 0 or 1, each R5′ is H, a substituent, or together with R4′ forms a bridge, each G6 is O, S, CH2 or NH, and each G7 is H, PO3H2, or a conjugate group, and each Bx is a nucleobase, as described herein (i.e. naturally occurring or modified).
The standard synthetic methods for oligonucleotides include the solid phase methods first described by Caruthers et al. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,666, incorporated herein by reference, especially columns 3-58, wherein starting materials and general methods of making oligonucleotides, and especially phosphorothioate oligonucleotides, are disclosed, which parts are specifically incorporated herein by reference.) These methods were later improved upon by Köster et al. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. RE 34,069, which is incorporated herein by reference, especially columns, wherein are disclosed, which parts are specifically incorporated herein by reference.) These methods have further been improved upon by various inventors, as discussed in more detail below. Methods of synthesizing RNA are disclosed in, inter alia, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,111,086, 6,008,400, and 5,889,136, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Especially relevant are columns 7-20 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,400, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The general process for manufacture of an oligonucleotide by the Köster et al. method may be described as follows:
First, a synthesis support is prepared by covalently linking a suitable nucleoside to a solid support medium (SS) through a linker. Such a synthesis support is as follows:
wherein SS is the solid support medium, LL is a linking group that links the nucleoside to the support via G3. The linking group is generally a di-functional group, which covalently binds the ultimate 3′-nucleoside (and thus the nascent oligonucleotide) to the solid support medium during synthesis, but which is cleaved under conditions orthogonal to the conditions under which the 5′-protecting group, and if applicable any 2′-protecting group, are removed. T′ is a removable protecting group, and the remaining variables have already been defined, and are described in more detail herein. Suitable synthesis supports may be acquired from Amersham Biosciences under the brand name Primer Support 200™. The solid support medium having the synthesis support attached thereto may then be swelled in a suitable solvent, e.g. acetonitrile, and introduced into a column of a suitable solid phase synthesis instrument, such as one of the synthesizers available form Amersham Biosciences, such as an ÄKTAoligopilot™, or OligoProcess™ brand DNA/RNA synthesizer.
In the foregoing method, synthesis is carried out from 3′- to 5′-end of the oligomer. In each cycle, the following steps are carried out: (1) removal of T′, (2) coupling, (3) oxidation, (4) capping. Each of the steps (1)-(4) may be, and generally is, followed by one or more wash steps, whereby a clean solvent is introduced to the column to wash soluble materials from the column, push reagents and/or activators through the column, or both. The steps (1)-(4) are depicted below:

In general, T′ is selected to be removable under conditions orthogonal to those used to cleave the oligonucleotide from the solid support medium at the end of synthesis, as well as those used to remove other protecting groups used during synthesis. An art-recognized protecting group for oligonucleotide synthesis is DMT (4,4′-dimethoxytrityl). The DMT group is especially useful as it is removable under weakly acid conditions. Thus, an acceptable removal reagent is 3% DCA in a suitable solvent, such as acetonitrile. The wash solvent, if used, may conveniently be acetonitrile.
The support typically is a controlled pore glass or a polymeric bead support. Some polymeric supports are disclosed in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,895; U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,353; U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,667 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,486, each of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
After removal of protecting group T′, the next step of the synthetic cycle is the coupling of the next nucleoside synthon. This is accomplished by reacting the deprotected support bound nucleoside with a nucleoside phosphoramidite, in the presence of an activator, as shown below:

The amidite has the structure:
wherein pg is a phosphorus protecting group, such as a cyanoethyl group, and NRN1RN2 is an amine leaving group, such as diisopropyl amino. See, Köster et al., supra, for information on manufacturing of the amidite. Typically used activators include for example tetrazole, dicyano imidazole, or pyridinium salts. Other suitable amidites, and methods of manufacturing amidites, are set forth in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,438; U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,265; U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,450; U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,106; U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,982; U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,621; U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,600; U.S. Pat. No. 6,160,152; U.S. Pat. No. 6,335,439; U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,725; U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,519, each of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference, especially as they relate to manufacture of amidites. Suitable activators are set forth in the Caruther et al. patent and in the Köster et al. patent. Especially suitable activators are set forth in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,092 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,216, each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The next step of the synthesis cycle is oxidation, which indicates that the P(III) species is oxidized to a P(V) oxidation state with a suitable oxidant:
wherein G1 is O or S.
The oxidant is an oxidizing agent suitable for introducing G1. In the case where G1 is oxygen, a suitable oxidant is set forth in the Caruthers et al. patent, above. In cases where G2 is sulfur, the oxidant may also be referred to as a thiation agent or a sulfur-transfer reagent. Suitable thiation agents include the so-called Beaucage reagent, 3H-1,2-benzothiol, phenylacetyl disulfide (also referred to as PADS; see, for example the patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,114,519 and 6,242,591, each of which is incorporated herein by reference) and thiouram disulfides (e.g. N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylthiouram disulfide, disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,387). The wash may be a suitable solvent, such as acetonitrile.
The oxidation step is followed by a capping step, which although not illustrated herein, is an important step for synthesis, as it causes free 5′-OH groups, which did not undergo coupling in step 1, to be blocked from being coupled in subsequent synthetic cycles. Suitable capping reagents are set forth in Caruthers et al., Köster et al., and other patents described herein. Suitable capping reagents include a combination of acetic anhydride and N-methylimidazole.
Synthetic cycle steps (1)-(4) are repeated (if so desired) n−1 times to produce a support-bound oligonucleotide:
wherein each of the variables is as herein defined.
In general, the protecting group pg may be removed by a method as described by Caruthers et al. or Köster et al., supra. Where pg is a cyanoethyl group, the methodology of Köster et al., e.g. reaction with a basic solution, is generally suitable for removal of the phosphorus protecting group. In some cases it is desirable to avoid formation of adducts such as the N1-cyanoethyl thymidine group. In these cases, it is desirable to include in the reagent a tertiary amine, such as triethylamine (TEA) as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,465,628, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. In general, where the nucleobases are protected, they are deprotected under basic conditions. The deprotected oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support to give the following 5′-protected oligonucleotide:
which may then be purified by reverse phase liquid chromatography, deprotected at the 5′-end in acetic acid, desalted, lyophilized or otherwise dried, and stored in an inert atmosphere until needed. Optionally, the G3H group may be derivatized with a conjugate group. The resulting oligonucleotide may be visualized as having the formula:

While synthesis on a solid phase support medium is known, there is a need for a solid support medium that has improved properties, especially with respect to loading (expressed in mmol of first nucleoside bound to the solid support medium per gram of solid support medium, or simply mmol/g), consistent swelling properties during the various synthesis cycles, and quality of full length oligomer produced during synthesis. Additionally, the support should be facile to manufacture. This invention is directed to these, as well as other, important ends.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A milling tool holder apparatus includes a tool holder having a male structure received in a female opening of a shank, and a camming plug received in a transverse plug-receiving opening in the shank and the tool holder. Turning the camming plug in one direction moves the male structure axially to a locked position. Turning the camming plug in the opposite direction moves the male structure axially to a release position.

Milling tool holders commonly employ a tool-holding component having a frustoconical male end, and a shank having a female opening for receiving the male end.
Various ways are known in the art for tightly joining the shank to the tool holder.
My prior patent applications disclose novel ways for joining the tool holder and the shank together to prevent the tool from shattering from tool movement such as when used with a hydraulic tool system. My earlier inventions prevent tool deflection and avoid a poorly finished workpiece.
The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved tool holder combination comprising an elongated tool holder having means at one end for supporting a milling tool, a frustoconical tapered midsection and a slotted cylindrical end.
The shank has a frustoconical female opening for receiving the tapered midsection of the tool holder, and an inner cylindrical cavity for receiving the cylindrical end of the tool holder.
In my prior applications I employ an axially movable draw screw in the bore of the shank to engage the tool holder. Turning the draw screw draws the tapered end of the tool holder into the female opening of the shank.
The present invention is illustrated in several embodiments of my invention. Two embodiments use a camming plug for connecting the male and female components together. In one embodiment the shank receives the male end of the tool holder in a position in which a transverse opening in the shank is aligned with a transverse camming opening in the tool holder. The camming plug is inserted in the transverse openings in both the shank and the tool holder. The camming plug has a cylindrical camming structure received in the camming opening of the tool holder in such a manner that when the camming plug is rotated in one direction, it cams the tool holder toward a wedged locked position in the shank. Rotating the camming plug in the opposite direction removes the tool holder from its locked position. This embodiment requires the user to remove the camming plug from both the tool holder and the shank to separate the two components.
In a second embodiment of the invention, I employ a connecting structure inside the female opening of the shank. The connecting structure is axially movable in the shank, and has a camming opening aligned with the camming plug-receiving opening of the shank. The connecting structure also has a latching structure that is connected to the tool holder by rotating the tool holder with respect to the connecting structure.
A camming plug is inserted in both the camming opening in the shank, and the camming opening of the connecting structure. The camming plug has a camming midsection that when turned in one direction axially biases the connecting structure and the tool holder toward a locked position in the shank. The camming plug is rotated in the opposite direction to axially move the tool holder to a release position to quickly separate the tool holder from the shank. The shank can be separated from the tool holder without removing the camming plug.
Other variations of the concept are also disclosed.
Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, upon reference to the following detailed description.


A method for resource allocation in a data center is disclosed which employs modeling techniques that enable resource allocation in large-scale data centers. A method for resource allocation according to the present techniques includes providing a model for resource allocation which is adapted to a resource topology of a data center and an architecture of an application to be deployed in the data center. A set of resources in the data center are allocated to the application using the model in response to a set of resource requirements of the application and a set of attributes of the resources in the data center such that communication delay among the resources allocated to the application is minimized. Techniques are disclosed for decomposing the model into a set of more tractable programming models which may be solved using available mathematical programming solvers.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of optimal resource allocation to applications. More particularly, this invention relates to resource allocation to application in data centers.
2. Art Background
A data center may be defined as a facility having a set of resources for supporting multiple applications. For example, a data center for supporting Internet applications typically includes a set of servers and network resources onto which a variety of Internet applications may be deployed.
The deployment of an application in a data center usually includes a process of resource allocation. Resource allocation typically involves identifying which of the resources of the data center are to be used by an application.
An application to be deployed in a data center is usually characterized by a set of application requirements. The application requirements usually include a desired arrangement of resources each having desired capabilities. For example, the application requirements of an Internet application may specify a desired arrangement of servers having desired performance characteristics and storage capacities and communication paths among the servers having desired bandwidth capacities.
A data center on the other hand is usually characterized by a given set of resources having given capabilities. For example, a data center for Internet applications usually has a given arrangement of servers each of which has given performance characteristics and storage capacities. In addition, the network elements in a data center usually have given communication bandwidth capacities.
As a consequence, the deployment of an application in a data center usually involves identifying which of the resources of the data center are to be allocated for use by the application so as to satisfy the application requirements given the capabilities of the data center. For example, the deployment of an Internet application in an Internet data center usually involves identifying which of the servers of the Internet data center are to be allocated to the Internet application so as to satisfy the performance requirements and communication bandwidth requirements of the Internet application.
Prior methods for resource allocation in a data center are usually based on manual techniques in which an individual such as a system administrator identifies the servers that are to be allocated to an application. Unfortunately, such manual methods are usually ineffective for deploying applications in large data centers. For example, an Internet data center may be extremely large having tens of thousands of servers for supporting extremely large numbers of Internet applications. Under such circumstances, it may be impossible for an individual to process the complexities and sheer volume of information involved in resource allocation.

Resource allocation in data centers using models

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An approach and system for readying the device for use over a communication network is described. The system processes label information associated with a device unregistered for use by a user over a communication network of a service provider to determine a pairing identifier assigned by the service provider to a transmitter associated with the device. The system also determines a pairing connection is established between the device and the transmitter based on the pairing identifier. The system also determines the transmission of location information associated with the device, the transmitter, or a combination thereof over the pairing connection, over a high speed communication channel established with the service provider, or a combination thereof. The system further initiates a registration procedure of the device with the communication network based on the location information, registration information associated with the device, the transmitter, the user, or a combination thereof, or a combination thereof.

Service providers are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by providing compelling network services and advancing the underlying technologies. One area of interest has been enhancing the out-of-box experience of mobile device users, and particularly, the ability of users to ready a device for use over a communication network. For example, a device must be registered and properly provisioned with the communication network in order for the user to enjoy any network features of the device. Typically, the device and network configuration process involves the user to call/message or visit the provider of the communication network to receive assistance or to have various device configuration steps performed. Alternatively, the device may be readied by way of over-the-air (OTA) techniques in conjunction with reading of the subscriber identity module (SIM) card of the device.
Unfortunately, these approaches are not always convenient for the user to perform nor are they always secure. For example, there is currently no convenient way to ensure a user requesting out-of-box device and network configuration is the actual owner of the device. Similarly, there is no convenient way for the network service provider to ensure the device being configured is the correct device to activate in association with the subscribed user. Furthermore, these methods require manual interaction with the network in order to complete the activation, which is not feasible for certain devices.

Method and system for configuring a device for use over a communication network


A fingerprint-sensing array on a substrate includes the substrate, scan lines, data lines, readout lines, sub-pixels, and multiple fingerprint recognition units. Areas between adjacent scan lines and adjacent data lines define one sub-pixel with pixel electrode and a first transistor. Of the first transistor, drain electrode connects to the pixel electrode, source electrode connects to one data line and gate electrode connects to one scan line. Thus some of the sub-pixels contain fingerprint recognition units, these being a photodiode electrically connected to one readout line. The readout line passes signals generated by the photodiode to achieve fingerprint recognition function. A display panel using the array on the substrate and a display device using the display panel are also provided.

Fingerprint recognition technology has characteristics of universality, uniqueness, security, collectability, and acceptability. Fingerprint recognition technology is an authentication technology which compares multiple global features and local detail features of fingerprints between different images according to different fingerprints with different characteristics, to determine identity.
Currently, the area for fingerprint recognition on a smart phone is limited, the recognition area is narrow, which may be inconvenient.
Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

Array substrate as extended fingerprint sensor, touch-display panel, and touch-display device using same


An article carrier of the basket type adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprises a base, opposed side and end walls, and a medial partition structure. The bottles are received on both the sides of the medial partition structure. A securing flap is hinged to the medial partition structure and is secured to one end wall to create a joint between said medial partition structure and that end wall. The medial partition structure includes first and second medial panels hinged together along a first fold line. The first fold line is disposed inwardly of the carrier from the one end wall relative to a second fold line by which the securing flap is hinged to one of the first and second medial panels.

This invention relates to an article carrier of the basket type formed from paperboard which carrier is adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, for example bottles, and to a blank for forming the carrier.
Normally a basket carrier for bottles includes a central (medial) partition structure which incorporates a handle structure by which the carrier can be lifted and carried and the bottles are arranged in rows on either side of the central partition structure. More often than not, the bottles are separated from one another by transverse partition panels extending from each side of the medial partition structure to the adjacent side wall of the carrier. Hence in this type of arrangement the bottles are accommodated in individual cells of the carrier although such cells are not always essential.

Basket carrier for bottles and blank therefor


In a sprocket buffer, in order to reduce a noise and a shake/vibration of the chain gearing mechanism, an elastic band is provided to be adhered in a bottom of the sprockets; a cylindric pin which is to be inserted into the coupling hole in the bottom of the sprockets is formed in a lower part of the elastic band, and a pressure portion having the same diameter as that of the coupling hole is formed integrally with the cylindrical pin at a lower portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pin, thereby improving a durability against a cut off of the pin head portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a buffer attached to a bottom of a sprocket to decrease a noise and a shake/vibration occurring in a chain driving system, and more particularly, relates to a sprocket buffer for a chain gearing mechanism wherein a pin portion to be inserted to a coupling hole of a sprocket is improved so as not to be cut off, the sprocket buffer being an elastic band type that is positioned to adhere closely along a surface of a sprocket bottom.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional chain gearing mechanism comprises a driving sprocket 1a, a driven sprocket 1b and a chain 2 to connect the sprockets, wherein the driving sprocket 1a rotates the driven sprocket 1b by transferring power through the chain 2. The conventional chain gearing mechanism has a merit that significant power can be transferred by maintaining a constant speed ratio, whereas it has a problem that a noise and a shake/vibration are terrible. Since metal to metal surfaces are facing each other, such a structure continuously produces noise, shake and vibration. Specifically, in a case when chains and sprockets are worn according to increased use, the noise is more loudly produced because of unfit engagement.
In order to solve and improve the problem of the conventional chain gearing mechanism, there has been provided a pin type buffer 4 which is inserted in a coupling hole 3a formed on the tooth bottom surface of a sprocket, as shown in FIG. 2. When the pin type buffer 4 is inserted in the coupling hole 3a, a head 21 of the buffer is kept upwardly projected by about 2-3 mm from a bottom 3 of the sprocket. Further, when the sprockets 1a, 1b are connected to a chain roller 6, the pin type buffer 4 performs the role of buffering such that the chain roller 6 and sprockets 1a, 1b do not directly collide with the pin head 21 being pressed by the chain roller 6. However, the conventional chain gearing mechanism may result in an inaccurate engagement caused by a non-straight or a misalignment of the sprockets 1a, 1b and the chain 2 due to an outer and inner circumstances, to an error occurrence in a pitch, and/or to other error occurrences due to a wearing-out of the chain 2 and sprockets 1a, 1b. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in a chain driving, if the chain roller 6 changes a phase status to a portion B rather than a portion A located at a front center of the bottom 3 of the sprockets 1a, 1b, the pin type buffer 4 is biased to the portion B, thereby causing louder noise, shake, and vibration.
Accordingly, the conventional chain gearing mechanism has a problem of noise and shake/vibration caused during the process that the sprockets 1a, 1b are engaged with the chain 2 due to a fact that all the materials are metal, and furthermore, such problem still exists in the case where the pin type buffer 4 is provided to reduce the noise, shake and vibration.
When the pin type buffer 4 is junctioned to the bottom 3 of the sprockets 1a, 1b, even if the chain roller 6 starts to be junctioned at the portion A, which is an accurate engagement position, it collides against the bottom 3 around the portion B after first making contact with the pin type buffer 4, thereby generating a noise and a shake/vibration of the collision. Furthermore, the occurrences of a non-straight or a misalignment of the sprocket 1a, 1b and the chain 2 due to general outer and inner circumstances, to errors by the pitch, and/or to an old chain 2 and old sprockets 1a, 1b, will result in an inaccurate engagement of the chain roller 6 with the bottom 3 of the sprockets 1a, 1b. In this event, as a collision starts not from the buffer 4 where the chain roller 6 is connected to the bottom 3 of the sprockets 1a, 1b but from the bottom 3 of other portions, there is no effect of reducing the noise and the shake/vibration caused by the collision. Rather, in a case where a large compressive force is received from the chain roller 6, the pin type buffer 4 is compressed to be inserted into the coupling hole 3a and therefore, makes contact with the chain roller 6 and the bottom 3 of the sprockets 1a, 1b, thereby generating the noise and the shake/vibration of the collision.
To solve the above-indicated problems, as illustrated in FIG. 4, there has been provided a band-type buffer 5 to buffer an impact throughout a whole bottom 3, comprising an elastic band 10 to cover the whole bottom 3 of the sprockets 1a, 1b; a cylindrical pin 20 for being fixedly inserted into a coupling hole 3a formed in the bottom 3, which is coupled with a lower part of the elastic band 10; and a reinforcement rim 30 formed in one body on an outer peripheral surface of the pin 20 in the lower end of a pin head 21 to support the portion where the elastic band 10 and the pin 20 are coupled, the pin head 21 being upwardly projected as long as a determined length.
However, the band-type buffer 5, wherein the reinforcement rim 30 corresponding to a neck portion of the pin is adhesively inserted into the coupling hole 3a, has a defect that a life of the buffer is short because the elastic band 10 and the pin 20 are cut off by a repeated application of shear force toward the neck portion of the pin if the chain roller 6 is biased in any one direction upon a chain driving.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems by providing a sprocket buffer for a chain gearing mechanism that extends the buffer's life by preventing any cut-offs which may occur by a shear force applied to the neck portion of the pin when making contact with the chain roller.

Sprocket buffer for chain driving system


A method of setting up a network camera to communicate with a network includes connecting a cable to both the network camera and a computing device, the computing device being in communication with the network. The method also includes transmitting network configuration data from the computing device to the network camera via the cable, and adjusting network settings of the network camera according to the received network configuration data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of configuring a network camera to work with a local area network, and more particularly to a method of configuring the network camera by transmitting network configuration data from a computing device to the network camera via a cable connected between the computing device and the network camera.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Network cameras are becoming more and more popular due to advantages like utilizing existing internet protocol (IP) infrastructure, being highly scalable in the number of network cameras that can be used, enjoying flexible camera placement, and supporting remote viewing from anywhere and anytime via standard web browsers, mobile devices, etc.
There are currently many network cameras on the market, and many of them are similar in how they operate. Aside from hardware differences among the network cameras on the market, one of the biggest differences is the user experience. For the typical user, properly setting up and connecting a network camera to an existing network such as a local area network is a serious burden for the user, and a large learning curve is often needed to complete setup.
Currently, the normal setup steps include: the user accessing the network camera via a wired or wireless connection, and connecting to a router or access point; configuring a proper static or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) IP address for the network camera; setting up the proper communication mode, time, date, video, and audio configurations; and programming the service set identifier (SSID) and security key for a wireless network that the network camera will be connected to. Furthermore, depending on the specifics of the setup software for the network camera, additional setup data may be needed such as the network camera's name, necessary Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) information, sub-net mask data, gateway data, main Domain Name System (DNS) server data, backup DNS server data, etc.
Generally, all network camera manufacturers try to make this configuration process easier, and there are several solutions commonly employed. First of all, some manufacturers write software applications to provide a full configuration table for users to fill in. This configuration table is used to configure the network camera. Second, some manufacturers generate a barcode from the network configuration, and have the network camera scan and interpret the barcode for configuring the network camera. Third, some manufacturers may require the user to connect the network camera to a personal computer for configuring the network camera. Fourth, some manufacturers may involve ad-hoc wireless connections for configuring wireless settings.
Despite the variety of different methods employed for helping users to configure network cameras, the process still suffers from overly complicated procedures that are difficult for users to deal with when setting up a network camera.

Method of easily configuring a network camera

ArcSoft (Hangzhou) Multimedia Technology Co., Ltd.


An impact driver screw driving device with depth adjustment has a floating sleeve that surrounds a screw driving mechanism. A floating sleeve spring provides a constant bias between a top of the floating sleeve and a top of the screw driving mechanism. A depth adjustment sleeve is threadedly connected to a lower end of the floating sleeve. The floating sleeve and the depth adjustment sleeve are free to rotate independently of the screw driving device so concussive force of the impact driver does not change a driven screw depth adjustment set by manually rotating the depth adjustment sleeve while gripping the floating sleeve.

Existing devices for driving screws using an impact driver are known, as characterized by Applicant's co-pending published United States Patent application number US/2018/0126523A1, published on May 10, 2018 entitled Screw Driving Device for Use With An Impact Driver. That device works extremely well for consistently driving screws to a predetermined depth determined by a length of a replaceable nose cone on the device.
However, it is well known that a device with adjustable screw depth control is desirable. It is also understood that the concussive force generated by impact drivers transmits to prior art depth adjusting mechanisms, causing those mechanisms to change depth settings as a screw is driven into a workpiece, which is most undesirable.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a screw driving device for an impact driver with a screw depth adjustment mechanism that will not change a depth setting to which it has been adjusted while screws are driven by the impact driver.

Impact driver screw driving device with depth adjustment


A refrigerator capable of saving time and labor for mounting a handle to a door is disclosed. The refrigerator has a main body including a storage compartment opened toward the front, a door mounted to the main body to open and close the storage compartment, a handle provided on the front of the door in the form of a long shaft extended lengthwise in a vertical direction of the door in order to open and close the door, and fastening units arranged between the handle and the door lengthwise in the vertical direction of the door to enable mounting of the handle to the door through a simple operation of pushing the handle toward the door and engaging the fastening units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to an assembling structure between a door which opens and closes a storage compartment of a refrigerator and a handle extended in shaft form in a length direction of the door and mounted on a front of the door, where the assembling structure provides simple and convenient attachment of the handle to the door.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, refrigerators are used to preserve contents stored in a storage compartment in a cold or frozen state, by refrigerating the storage compartment formed inside a main body thereof using cool air generated by an evaporator of a refrigeration cycle.
The storage compartment is provided in the main body, as opened toward the front, and the main body has a door at the front thereof to open and close the storage compartment.
The door is hinged upon the main body and opens and closes the storage compartment by pivoting. A handle is formed on the front of the door for a user to conveniently open and close the door.
Generally, the storage compartment is partitioned into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment. Accordingly, a door for the refrigerating compartment and a door for the freezing compartment are separately provided for independent opening and closing between the compartments. Recently, the trend is toward a side-by-side refrigerator in which the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment are divided left and right, and the refrigerating compartment door and the freezing compartment door are mounted to the both front sides of the main body in a length direction of the main body.
In some of the above-type refrigerators, the handle for opening and closing the door has a long shaft form extended lengthwise in a vertical direction of the door such that even a child of small stature or a person who is sitting is able to easily hold and operate the door.
More specifically, since the handle is extended lengthwise in a vertical direction corresponding to the length of the door, the handle is mounted by at least two fastening units for a stable connection, keeping a predetermined distance from the door along the length direction.
In general, the fastening units each comprise a first fastening member fixed to the door, a second fastening member fixed to the handle, and a third fastening member fixing the first and second fastening members to each other. The first and second fastening members may be fixed directly to the door and the handle, or through a dedicated screw. The third fastening member usually has the screw form.
In the conventional mounting structure for the refrigerator handle, however, the first and second fastening members are fixed to each other by the third fastening member after being respectively fixed to the door and the handle. Therefore, processes for fastening the third fastening unit are increased according to the number of the fastening units. Furthermore, some operators have to hold the handle and the door while the others are fastening the third fastening member until the plurality of fastening units are all fastened. That is, several operators are required to fasten the handle to the door by the conventional fastening process.


An injection control device controls a drive of a solenoid in a high pressure pump for pressurizing fuel to an internal combustion engine. The injection control device includes a transistor on an upstream side of a power supply path from a direct current power supply line to the solenoid and a transistor provided on a downstream side of the power supply path. The injection control device further includes a diode at a position between an upstream terminal of the solenoid and ground, a transistor arranged in parallel with the diode, and a drive controller. The drive controller drives the solenoid to an open position by switching ON the transistors on the upstream and downstream sides of the power supply path.

Injection control devices may be used to control the operation of solenoids for providing pressurized fuel to internal combustion engines in vehicles. The switching elements used to realize such solenoid operations may cause both a forward current to flow through the solenoid and a return current to flow from the solenoid. The return current may cause a heat loss to occur in the injection control device. As such, injection control devices are subject to improvement.


Provided is a method for processing system calls from a GPU to a CPU. The method includes a GPU storing a plurality of tasks in a memory, with each task representing a function to be performed on the CPU. The method also includes generating a CPU interrupt, and processing of the stored plurality of tasks by the CPU.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to computing systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to processing system calls from a graphics processing unit (GPU) to a central processing unit (CPU).
2. Background Art
The desire to use a GPU for general computation has become much more pronounced recently due to the GPU's exemplary performance per unit power and/or cost. The computational capabilities for GPUs, generally, have grown at a rate exceeding that of the corresponding CPU platforms. This growth, coupled with the explosion of the mobile computing market and its necessary supporting server/enterprise systems, has been used to provide a specified quality of desired user experience. Consequently, the combined use of CPUs and GPUs for executing workloads with data parallel content is becoming a volume technology.
However, GPUs have traditionally operated in a constrained programming environment, available only for the acceleration of graphics. These constraints arose from the fact that GPUs did not have as rich a programming ecosystem as CPUs. Their use, therefore, has been mostly limited to two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) graphics and a few leading edge multimedia applications, which are already accustomed to dealing with graphics and video application programming interfaces (APIs).
With the advent of multi-vendor supported OpenCL™ and DirectCompute®, standard APIs and supporting tools, the limitations of the GPUs in traditional applications has been extended beyond traditional graphics. Although OpenCL and DirectCompute are a promising start, there are many hurdles remaining to creating an environment and ecosystem that allows the combination of CPU and GPU to be used as fluidly as the CPU for most programming tasks.
Existing computing systems often include multiple processing devices. For example, some computing systems include both a CPU and a GPU on separate chips (e.g., the CPU might be located on a motherboard and the GPU might be located on a graphics card) or in a single chip package. Both of these arrangements, however, still include significant challenges associated with (i) separate memory systems, (ii) efficient scheduling, (iii) providing quality of service (QoS) guarantees between processes, (iv) programming model, and (v) compiling to multiple target instruction set architectures (ISAs)—all while minimizing power consumption.
For example, the discrete chip arrangement forces system and software architects to utilize chip to chip interfaces for each processor to access memory. While these external interfaces (e.g., chip to chip) negatively affect memory latency and power consumption for cooperating heterogeneous processors, the separate memory systems (i.e., separate address spaces) and driver managed shared memory create overhead that becomes unacceptable for fine grain offload.
In computing systems that include a CPU and a GPU, some commands cannot be executed on the GPU efficiently, and require the CPU's attention. In a conventional system, a GPU program is split into separate phases by the CPU with CPU communication occurring during phase transitions. The GPU executes identified programs during a phase. For example, the GPU executes a set of instructions in a first phase that were identified by the CPU to be executed by the GPU during the first phase. When the execution of the first phase is completed by the GPU, the CPU executes any commands required by the CPU during the phase transition, prior to the start of the next phase. After the CPU communication is completed, the GPU starts executing the commands for second phase and so on.
However, there are various problems associated with such a phased approach. The splitting of a GPU program into various phases is non-trivial and may not always be possible. There is also significant overhead associated with starting a phase which results in slowing down this approach. Further, work items that did not call the CPU still have to be launched since each phase needs to use the same work group layout, which results in additional processing to track status of the work items.

Syscall mechanism for processor to processor calls


There are provided a multisystem network, and a device and method for access to a data storage unit in order to allow processors in a plurality of devices to access the data storage unit. The data storage unit has a data storage area divided in a first area for a first device and a second area for a second device. The first and second devices are connected to the data storage unit via a connection circuit. A first processor in the first device can access directly the data storage unit. The connection circuit has provided therein an emulation register corresponding to a register which stores a command or control data used for the first processor in the first device to access the data storage unit. A second processor in the second device accesses the data storage unit via the emulation register and with intervention of the first processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a user interface technique in a multisystem network in which a data storage unit such as a hard disk drive can be accessed in common by a plurality of devices, and to a device for access to the data storage unit. The present invention also relates to a method for access to a data storage unit, suitably applicable in the multisystem network.
This application claims the priority of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-339211 filed on Sep. 30, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
2. Description of the Related Art
Having various advantages such as a large storage capacity, random access, capability of reproducing data having just been recorded a predetermined time before the reproduction, etc., the hard disk drive has recently come to be used as a data storage means in more and more recorder/players for TV broadcast programs (cf. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-094916).
The Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) is applied as an interface standard to the file management in the hard disk drive.
Note here that a multisystem network has been proposed which is a combination of a TV broadcast program recorder/player and a video game machine. If a hard disk drive can be shared by the video game machine and recorder/player, the multisystem network can be simplified in construction and thus produced with less costs.
For building up a multisystem network in which a hard disk drive as a data storage unit is accessed by both a processor in the video game machine and processor in the recorder/player, it is necessary to provide a multisystem-network hardware construction capable of arbitration in such access between the processors.
Since the large number of existent video game machines are desirably reusable in such a multisystem network, so it is essential that the video game machine hardware should be designed to have a construction as similar to the conventional one as possible and the file system for the video game machine should be reusable as it is or with a modification as small as possible.

Multisystem network, and device and method for access to data storage


Radiation-emitting semiconductor diodes are used inter alia in information processing systems as diode lasers or LEDs. Such a radiation-emitting semiconductor diode including an active layer situated between two cladding layers, which layers each include a mixed crystal of III-V semiconductor materials, atoms of different elements, often having a certain degree of ordering, being present on at least one sublattice. An example is an InGaP/InAlGaP diode laser which emits at 670 nm and is highly suitable for various applications. There is a particular demand for diodes which have a high maximum operating temperature at a given wavelength. According to the invention, the composition of the semiconductor material of the active layer is so chosen that this layer has a compression strain, while the atoms of the different elements have a less orderly distribution at least in the semiconductor material of the active layer. This strongly reduces the starting current, while the emission wavelength remains substantially unchanged. In a preferred embodiment, the distribution in the semiconductor materials of the cladding layers is also less orderly, which improves the confinement and thus the temperature dependence characteristics of the starting current. The maximum operating temperature of diode lasers according to the invention is considerably increased owing to a low starting current and a low temperature dependence of this starting current.

The invention relates to a radiation-emitting semiconductor diode comprising a semiconductor body with a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type on which are present at least in that order a first cladding layer of the first conductivity type, an active layer, and a second cladding layer of a second conductivity type, the active layer and the cladding layers each comprising a mixed crystal of III-V semiconductor materials, while atoms of different elements are present on at least one sublattice.
Such radiation-emitting diodes, in particular when they are constructed as lasers and when the emission wavelength is in the visible part of the spectrum, are suitable radiation sources for various applications: laser printers, optical disc systems such as Compact Disc (Video) and Digital Optical Recorders, and bar code readers. There are also numerous applications for diodes constructed as LEDs.
Such a radiation-emitting diode and such a method of manufacturing it are known from the article "AlGaInP Double Heterostructure Visible-Light Laser Diodes with a GaInP Active Layer Grown by Metalorganic Vapour Phase Epitaxy" by K. Kobayashi et al., published in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, vol. QE-23, no. Jun. 6, 1987, p. 704. This describes a radiation-emitting semiconductor diode in which an active layer is present between two cladding layers on a substrate of n-GaAs. The active layer and the cladding layers each comprise a mixed crystal of III-V semiconductor materials, here a mixed crystal of InP, AlP and GaP for the cladding layers and of InP and GaP for the active layer, while on at least one sublattice, here the f.c.c. lattice of the III atoms, atoms of different elements are present, here In and Ga atoms for the active layer and In, Ga and Al atoms for the cladding layers. In the radiation-emitting diode, which is constructed as a laser here, there is a strip-shaped region which acts as a resonance cavity and within which electromagnetic radiation can be generated in the active InGaP layer in the case of current passage in the forward direction by the pn junction present. The known diode lasers are manufactured at a growing temperature of 700.degree. C. or lower and comprise a buffer layer of GaAs. The emission wavelength is approximately 670 nm (664 to 690 nm). This means that the photoluminescence wavelength is approximately 660 nm, which corresponds to a bandgap of approximately 1.88 eV. Such a wavelength of approximately 670 nm is particularly suitable for several of the applications mentioned above.
A disadvantage of the known semiconductor diode is that its maximum operating temperature is comparatively low. This temperature depends inter alia on the value of the starting current and on the temperature dependence of the starting current. Both should be as low as possible. Typical values for the starting current density of the known diode laser are 3 to 4 kA/cm.sup.2 and a typical value for T.sub.0 (a high T.sub.0 value implies a small temperature dependence) is 90 to 125K. The maximum operating temperature, and thus the usefulness of the known diode, especially the possibility of emitting large powers, is limited by these values.


Safety rail assemblies comprise horizontal beveled rails having a beveled face, a width, a height, a bottom, a back, and a bevel angle. The safety rail assemblies are configured to selectively attach to horizontal rails and pickets of one or more fence segments. The bottom of the safety rail assemblies attaches to a top of the horizontal rails. The back of the horizontal beveled rails attaches to the pickets. The bottom is a horizontal plane. The back is a vertical plane. The beveled face comprises the bevel angle and represents a face of the horizontal beveled rails being non-horizontal and non-vertical between the back and the bottom.

Prior art known to the Applicant includes 5421557, 1548133, 4270736, 201520768405, 201520633522, DE19904036888, 86165341D, 201320121443, CN 201520073525, 201320017833, CN 200820104522, CN 201520768397, CN 98207230, CN 201020227937, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,930,986, 6,824,123B2, 6,029,954A, US20050082518A1.
None of the known inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant disclosure as claimed.


Embodiments disclosed herein provide sleep mode solutions for retaining state information while reducing power in a logic block.

Many electronic devices such as portable devices including laptop computers, handheld devices and cellular phones have so-called sleep modes to save power when the device is on but not being used. Such devices typically have integrated circuit (IC) chips with logical blocks that have combinational logic and memory elements such as flip-flops, configured in varieties of ways, to perform various computing functions. When the sleep mode is entered, it is desirable to remove or reduce power from the logical blocks but at the same time, save the states (or values) in the memory elements so that operation can quickly be resumed when the device is re-activated.
Some solutions have involved powering down the memory elements to less than operational voltage levels but with sufficient power to retain the states in the memory elements during the sleep mode. However, for this approach to achieve meaningful power savings (leakage reduction), in many cases, special reduced-leakage transistors (e.g., with thick gates, long channels, etc.) have been required. Unfortunately, such transistors require special processes that can be costly and may not even result in desired leakage reduction.
Other schemes have employed the use of a separate, lower leakage memory element associated with each memory element for whose state is to be retained during a sleep mode. Data is transferred to the separate element just prior to entry of the sleep mode, where power to the rest of the logic and memory elements is substantially (if not completely) shut down. This provides for desired power reduction but requires additional circuit elements and sleep mode control signal routing, among other things.
Accordingly, a new state retentive, sleep mode solution is desired.


A method and apparatus are provided for constructing a multi-band antenna (10). The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of combination-type dipole assemblies (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, FIG. 7) each defined by a box-type dipole array (36) disposed coaxially within a circular-type dipole array (134), disposing the plurality of combination-type dipole assemblies along a substantially straight line (34) over a ground plane (140) and disposing a plurality of crossed-type dipole antenna arrays along the substantially straight line in alternating order with the plurality of combination-type dipole assemblies.

Cellular systems are generally known. Typically, a geographic area of a cellular system is divided into a number of overlapping areas (cells) that may be serviced from nearby base stations. The base stations may be provided with a number of directional antenna that preferentially transceive signals with mobile cellular devices within each assigned cell.
Cellular systems are typically provided with a limited radio spectrum for servicing mobile cellular devices. Often a frequency reuse plan is implemented to minimize interference and maximize the efficiency of channel reuse.
An important factor in channel reuse is the presence of a base station antenna that radiates and receives in predictable patterns. Often base station antennas divide the area around the base station into 60 degree sectors extending outwards from the base station.
While existing systems work well, the increasing use of cellular devices have exacerbated the need for channel reuse in even smaller geographic areas. Further, the release of additional spectrum (e.g., for PCS, UTMS, UMTS, etc.) has resulted in the need for cellular antenna capable of operation over a greater range of frequencies. Because of the importance of cellular devices, a need exists for an antenna with increased spectral range of use and reduced size.

Multiband dual polarized adjustable beamtilt base station antenna


The present invention provides a method for producing ionic liquids without the use of a volatile solvent and/or water. In some embodiments, methods of the invention allow a continuous process for producing ionic liquids.

Typical ionic liquids are non-volatile and non-flammable. In addition, they have wide electrochemical stability window and high ionic conductivity. These properties make ionic liquids (e.g., salts with melting points below 100° C.) useful for a wide variety of applications, including as electrolytes in batteries, capacitors and solar cells. For electrochemical applications, very high purity ionic liquids are required.
Conventional methods for manufacturing ionic liquids use batch processes and utilize organic solvents that must eventually be removed in order to use ionic liquids as electrolytes. Typical methods for producing ionic liquids involve a quaternization step to produce the required cation, followed by a metathesis step to substitute the required anion. In many cases, the salt produced by the quaternization step is solid at room temperature, which complicates handling and makes it difficult to utilize a continuous process.
Because a continuous process would greatly increase the efficiency of producing ionic liquids, there is an intense interest in developing a continuous ionic liquid producing process. Moreover, if one can eliminate the use of a solvent in ionic liquid producing process, it would further enhance ionic liquid producing process and greatly reduce the overall time and cost by eliminating a need to separate and/or dispose the solvent.


Device for injecting a plastic material into a mould cavity. In the device, the plastic is moved into the mould cavity by a plunger. The first part of the press stroke is used to transport the material and has to be carried out at relatively low pressure and over a relatively long transport path. The second part of the press stroke is used to fill the mould completely and takes place at relatively high pressure and virtually no stroke. According to the invention, the two movements are effected by different mechanisms which are specifically adapted to carry out these movements. In this arrangement, it becomes possible also to provide a safety coupling to prevent the device being overloaded while working at relatively low pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for introducing a plastic material into a mould, after the mould cavity has been closed, by means of a press plunger which is fitted on a carriage, which carriage is fitted displaceable relative to the mould in order to allow the press plunger, using a first drive, to carry out a first movement with a large stroke at controlled speed and at relatively low pressure, the press plunger being designed to be displaceable with respect to the carriage in order to allow the press plunger, using a second drive, to carry out a second movement with a smaller stroke at a relatively high pressure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,317 which discloses a press plunger which makes use of hydraulic jacks.
The state of the art comprises various kinds of hydraulic and mechanical presses which can cover a long transport path as well as provide a relatively high pressure at the end of the stroke.
However, a number of disadvantages are associated with the use of such systems. Hydraulic systems are always liable to slight leaks, as a result of which it is hardly possible, or only possible with great effort, to fulfil the requirements of a so-called clean room. In the case of mechanical systems, it has hitherto been common practice to use springs. The final pressure is applied to the plastic in a static state since the plastic fluid which has been introduced into the mould cavities is barely compressible. By fitting springs and compressing these to some degree, it is possible in the case of mechanical systems to determine the final pressure. In addition, there are variations in the vertical position of the plungers as a result of tolerances in the amount of plastic introduced.
The disadvantage associated with the use of springs is that, because of friction, compression of the springs always takes place joltingly. As a result thereof, the flow of plastic during the stage of filling the mould is also liable to jolts. Therefore there is a risk that the connection between the chip and the substrate (the gold wires) is damaged. When the mould cavities are being filled, the primary concern is the speed control of the flow, the pressure being of less importance. Moreover, because of the various positions of the springs, the process conditions under which the products are manufactured are never identical and therefore reproducibility is very difficult to achieve. As a consequence of the use of springs in mechanical systems, when moulding is carried the static state, i.e. when the pressure is increased at the end of the stroke, the occurrence of pressure waves in the plastic cannot be prevented, which, on the one hand, is disadvantageous for the end product and, on the other hand, subjects the system to unnecessary forces. In addition, reproducibility cannot be guaranteed. Moreover, it is important with all systems to control the final pressure in order to ensure optimum hardening of the plastic without overloading the device.
The object of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above.

Device for introducing a plastic material into a mould cavity


A personal direction finding apparatus for sensing electromagnetic, infrared or ultrasound radiation from a source (S) to determine the direction of the source or generate a virtual sound environment. The apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a radiation sensing device (1) worn on the user's head (2) for generating a signal having a variable characteristic depending on the direction (R) of the source (S) relative to the sensing device (1), i.e. the position of the user's head, a receiver (4) optionally provided as a demodulator, a direction signal processing circuit (5) outputting a control signal (x) indicating the angular deviation (a) between the direction of the source (S) and the current position of the sensing device (1), i.e. the user's viewing axis, and two earphones (3d, 3g) placed over the user's ears and connected to the output of the processing circuit (5).

Direction-finding makes it possible to determine the direction of a source of radiation. Conventional applications are manual direction-finding and automatic direction-finding.
Automatic direction-finding is largely used on fixed installations or on mobile ones (aeroplanes, boat, vehicle). The indication of direction is available in the form of a bearing (angle between the wearer and the apparent direction) or an indication of deviation of right/left type.
Manual direction-finding is often used for seeking the source of emission with the aid of an antenna or a sensor oriented by hand. This type of direction-finder rests on the search for minimum or maximum reception without delivering the information of relative position of the direction of the source with respect to the scanning sensor or antenna.
The two types of direction-finding require the reading of an instrument often associated with listening in on a receiver or loud-speaker to allow the source to be identified. Manual direction-finding does not allow a free-hand search of the source of radiation.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,832, a personal direction-finding apparatus for detecting an ultrasound radiation and locating the direction of the source emitting this radiation, is already known. This apparatus comprises a local oscillator for converting the inaudible frequencies of the ultrasound signal into frequencies included in the range of audible sounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,515 discloses an apparatus for indicating normal attitude to give an indication of a normal attitude to an individual jointly with a means for producing a signal representing the attitude in real time of the indiviual in space and a means for placing, in three-dimensional space, the normal indication relative to the individual in response to the signal in real time representing the attitude in real time, so as to give the individual a normal indication relative to the attitude in real time of the individual in space.


Vortex generators are arranged on the edges of aircraft wing control surfaces to generate smaller vortices that weaken the main vortex that would otherwise be generated at these areas, and thereby reduce the aerodynamic generation of noise. Each vortex generator includes plural elongated elements in the form of rigid rods or flexible bristles protruding laterally outwardly from the respective edge of the control surface. The vortex generators are preferably arranged on the inboard and outboard edges of high lift flaps and slats.

This application is based on and claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 of German Patent Application 100 20 177.6, filed on Apr. 25, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an arrangement for reducing the noise generated by the aerodynamic flow of air over the lifting wings of aircraft, and particularly along the control surfaces such as high lift flaps or slats of such wings.
2. Background Information
A significant portion of the total noise generated by an aircraft in flight is caused by the flow of air along the external contours of the aircraft. A large part of this aerodynamically generated noise is contributed by the flow of air over or along control surfaces of the aircraft. The aerodynamically generated noise is especially significant and causes a disturbing influence in the surrounding environment, particularly in the landing approach of an aircraft, because in the landing configuration, the extended high lift flaps generate additional noise, and this noise is generated and radiated into the environment at a relatively low flight altitude. For this reason, noise level regulations are becoming ever stricter, especially in the vicinity of major airports.
Attempts have been made in the prior art to reduce the aerodynamic generation of noise by aircraft in flight. For example, it is conventionally known to arrange flow stabilizers in the form of winglets on the wing tips or the like, in order to stabilize the air flow, with a hope of reducing the noise in addition to other effects. However, in actual practice, the noise reducing effect of such winglets is rather minimal.
In view of the above it is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement that can effectively reduce the noise generated from the extended control surfaces of an aircraft in flight. The inventive arrangement shall be simple in structure and installation, so that it can be installed in new aircraft and easily retrofitted on existing aircraft. The inventive structure shall be economical in cost, and light in weight, so that it does not cause disadvantages in the manufacturing and operation of the aircraft. Furthermore, the inventive arrangement shall not significantly detract from the proper aerodynamic characteristics of the control surfaces. The invention further aims to avoid or overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, and to achieve additional advantages as apparent from the present specification.
The above objects have been achieved according to the invention in an arrangement for reducing noise generated on the lifting wings of an aircraft, and particularly on control surfaces such as high lift flaps, slats, spoilers, ailerons, rudders, and the like. According to the invention, the arrangement includes at least one vortex generator arranged on the outboard and/or inboard ends of the respective control surface. Particularly, the vortex generator may be arranged on a profile side surface or along an upper side edge or a lower side edge of such a profile side surface, or directly on an end line edge at the outboard or inboard ends of the respective control surface. Thereby the vortex generator extends over at least a portion of the profile depth or chord length of the respective control surface at the inboard or outboard end thereof. As further features of the invention, additional vortex generators may be arranged on the trailing edge of a flap, or on the trailing edge of the lifting wing itself. The vortex generator preferably comprises elongated elements that protrude outwardly away from the respective outboard or inboard edge of the control surface, and that may form a rigid comb-like structure, or a flexible brush-like structure.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vortex generators are arranged on the inner and/or outer profile end surfaces of a control surface and particularly of a flap. These vortex generators influence the overall vortex system generated by an aircraft during flight. This vortex system at issue particularly includes a so-called main vortex, which is a relatively large vortex that is generated from and along the gap or discontinuity between the main wing and the control surface or surfaces. This main vortex involves a relatively undisturbed, large-volume vortex flow of air, which radiates a significant amount of noise into the far field of the surrounding environment.
In the inventive arrangement, the relatively small vortex generators arranged along the edges of the control surface purposely generate a greater number of relatively small individual vortices, which break-up and take energy away from the main vortex and thereby reduce the strength of the main vortex without significantly reducing the aerodynamic effect of the control surfaces and particularly the lift effect of the high lift flaps. The noise generated and radiated by the interaction of the various smaller vortex systems with the main surfaces and the surfaces or edges of the flap is significantly less than the noise generated by the undisturbed larger volume vortex system that would otherwise arise without the inventive vortex generators.
A substantial advantage of the invention is that relatively inexpensive and simple measures, with a relatively low construction and installation effort, achieve a significant noise reduction. In this context it is further advantageous, that the vortex generators according to the invention are easily adaptable with little effort, based on various factors such as the wing geometry, selected flight conditions, and the like, so that an efficient noise reduction can be achieved in a very simple and economical manner for various applications. A further advantage of the invention is that the subject vortex generators are rather light in weight, and in general hardly have any negative influence on the overall capacity or operation of the aircraft.

Noise reducing vortex generators on aircraft wing control surfaces


An optical fiber fusion splicer includes: a windshield cover that is formed so as to be openable and closable and that includes one or more cover members that cover a heat fusion portion in a closed state; a pair of fiber mounting portions that are provided on left and right sides of the heat fusion portion; a pair of fiber mounting detectors that are provided in the fiber mounting portions and that detect that an optical fiber has been mounted. Also, when both the fiber mounting detectors detect that the optical fibers have been mounted in a state where the cover member is open, an operation to close the cover member is performed, the fusion splice is performed, connection portion inspection is performed, and an operation to open the windshield cover is performed after the connection portion inspection is completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber fusion splicer and in particular, to an optical fiber fusion splicer having an openable and closable windshield cover that covers a heat fusion portion for fusion-splicing optical fibers by heating.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an optical fiber fusion splicer, an apparatus (single-core machine) which fusion-splices a pair of optical fibers facing each other in the longitudinal direction by performing discharging and heating between a pair of electrode rods, or an apparatus (multi-core machine) which fusion-splices a plurality of optical fibers (tape fibers) in a bundle by performing discharging and heating between a pair of electrode rods, is provided.
In addition, as a conventional optical fiber fusion splicer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a fusion splicer), an apparatus with the following function and configuration is widely available (Japanese Patent No. 4382694).
(1) An optical fiber is illuminated from two directions using two light sources, and two-axis imaging (two-axis observation) of the optical fiber from the two directions is performed using two lenses and two cameras (for example, Japanese Patent No. 4382694).
(2) A pair of V grooves are provided on both sides of a heat fusion portion disposed between a pair of electrode rods.
The pair of V grooves are formed so that the fusion-spliced tips of optical fibers can be positioned between the pair of electrode rods.
The pair of V grooves are provided along the apparatus body top surface, on which a pair of electrode rods are disposed, and also the pair of V grooves are provided both side of the heat fusion portion in left and right direction perpendicular to a front and rear direction in which the pair of electrode rods are spaced apart.
As the optical fiber, a coated optical fiber, such as an optical fiber core or an optical fiber stand, is used in many cases.
An optical fiber glass portion obtained by removing the coat of the tip of the optical fiber (coated optical fiber) is disposed on the V groove, and is held between the V groove and a fiber clamp member that presses the optical fiber glass portion against the V groove from above.
Corresponding to two optical fibers disposed in the left and right direction, two sets of V grooves and fiber clamp members are provided (for example, Japanese Patent No. 4382694).
(3) In order to hold coated portions of left and right optical fibers, movable coating clamps are provided in the left and right direction of the apparatus body, or a fiber holder is disposed on each side in the left and right direction so as to move in the left and right direction of the apparatus body (for example, Japanese Patent No. 3761192 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-167151).
(4) Discharge that occurs between the electrode rods is sensitive to wind, and a fluctuation in discharge also occurs due to receiving a slight wind.
Therefore, as a fusion splicer, a configuration is adopted in which an openable and closable windshield cover that covers an electrode rod, a V groove, a fiber clamp member, or a coating clamp is provided (for example, Japanese Patent No. 4382694, Japanese Patent No. 3761192, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-167151, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-167151).
The windshield cover is configured to have a sealed structure, in which the wind does not reach a discharge portion between the pair of electrode rods, by covering the electrode rod and the like.
The operation of mounting an optical fiber in the general fusion splicer of the conventional art is as follows.
(a) Coating clamp system: close the lid, and hold a single-core optical fiber by pinching it with a coating clamp.
A large coating clamp can hold single-core optical fibers having various coat diameters.
In addition, since the coating clamp is fixed to the apparatus (fusion splicer), there is no risk of losing the coating clamp.
(b) Fiber holder system: place a fiber holder separate from the fusion splicer on the fusion splicer.
The fiber holder holds an optical fiber by pinching it between a base plate and a cover plate that is pivotally attached to the base plate so as to be openable and closable.
In addition, the fiber holder is placed in the fusion splicer in a state of holding the optical fiber.
The fiber holder allows the optical fiber to be easily mounted in each process of coat removal, cutting, and fusion.
In the fiber holder system, however, it is necessary to prepare various kinds of fiber holders corresponding to the coat diameter or the number of core wires.
A windshield cover of a conventional fusion splicer is generally formed by one or more cover members that can be manually opened and closed.
Therefore, when performing the work of fusion-splicing the optical fibers using a conventional fusion splicer, the windshield cover is manually opened and closed.
That is, in the work of fusion-splicing the optical fibers using a conventional fusion splicer, the optical fibers are first mounted in a state where the windshield cover is open.
In the case of a fusion splicer based on the coating clamp system, each optical fiber is pinched by the coating clamp.
In the case of a fusion splicer based on the fiber holder system, a fiber holder that pinches each optical fiber is mounted in the fusion splicer.
After the mounting of the optical fibers to the fusion splicer is completed, the windshield cover is closed and then a connection start switch of the fusion splicer is turned on.
Then, the optical fibers are moved forward to predetermined positions, and the left and right optical fibers are connected by discharge between electrode rods. As a result, the optical fibers are fusion-spliced.
After the discharge between the electrode rods is performed for a predetermined time, the discharge is automatically stopped, then a connection portion is inspected.
After the completion of fusion splice, the windshield cover is opened, and the optical fibers are taken out.
In the conventional fusion splicer described above, it is necessary to manually close the windshield cover securely after mounting the optical fibers to be fusion-spliced.
In addition, in a conventional fusion splicer, when mounting the optical fibers to be fusion-spliced or taking out the optical fibers after the completion of fusion splice in a state where the windshield cover is open, a risk of the optical fiber being broken due to being hooked to the windshield cover is increased. Accordingly, it was necessary to be cautious when handling the optical fiber.
In addition, the work of fusion-splicing hundreds of optical fibers can be performed in a day.
For this reason, a fusion splicer with a reduction in working time of fusion splice of optical fibers and an improvement in workability has been sought.
In view of the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fusion splicer capable of shortening the working time of fusion splice of optical fibers and an improving workability.


A temperature compensated apparatus for filtering light is comprised of a holographically recorded grating defined in a photosensitive layer for providing optical filtration for light incident on the grating with a predetermined angle of incidence, and an angulation means responsive to temperature for tilting the grating relative to the angle of incidence of the light as a function of temperature of the grating so that changes in the filtration by the grating compensate for changes in temperature of the grating to maintain effective filtration of the light approximately constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an athermal design which maintains the characteristics of the wavelength division multplexed filters (center wavelength, bandwidth, etc.) as invariant as possible with respect to temperature fluctuations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Holographic filters can be employed for wavelength division multplexed applications. Temperature dependence is a critical concern for telecommunication. In thin film filter technology, by a wise choice of materials, thermal drift can be compensated for by deposing alternate layers of materials with opposite thermal expansion coefficients to fabricate athermal thin film filters. However, such flexibility isn't available in bulk holographic filters. A feasible system solution will be proposed to compensate for the effects of temperature changes.

Apparatus and method of using a thermal design for wavelength division multiplexed holographic filters


Methods and systems for multi-level RF pulse monitoring and RF pulsing parameter optimization at a manufacturing system are provided. A radio frequency (RF) signal is pulsed within a processing chamber in accordance with a set of RF pulsing parameters. Sensor data is received from one or more sensors that indicates a multi-level RF pulse waveform detected within the processing chamber based on the RF signal pulsing. One or more peaks are identified in the detected multi-level RF pulse waveform. Each identified peak corresponds to at least one RF signal pulse of the RF signal pulsing within the processing chamber. A determination is made, based on the identified one or more peaks, whether the detected multi-level RF pulse waveform corresponds to the target multi-level RF pulse waveform. An indication of whether the detected multi-level RF pulse waveform corresponds to the target multi-level RF pulse waveform is provided to a client device.

A substrate process (e.g., an etch process, a deposition process, etc.) can be performed for a substrate at a processing chamber of a manufacturing system. Each substrate process performed at the processing chamber can be performed according to a particular process recipe. In some instances, one or more operations of a process recipe can include pulsing one or more radio frequency (RF) signals within processing chamber (e.g., via a RF generator within or coupled to the processing chamber). For example, a user of the manufacturing system (e.g., an operator, a technician, etc.) can provide one or more RF pulsing parameters (e.g., pulsing duty cycle parameter, a pulsing bias shift parameter, etc.) via a client device connected to the manufacturing system and one or more RF generators at the manufacturing system can pulse the RF signal(s) within the processing chamber according to the one or more provided RF pulsing parameter. It can be difficult for a user of the manufacturing system to tune RF pulsing parameters to cause a target multi-level RF pulse waveform to be generated in the processing chamber, in accordance with a substrate process recipe.

Multi-level RF pulse monitoring and RF pulsing parameter optimization at a manufacturing system


A controller for managing communication of a burner system. The controller may comprise a communication module to manage the exchange of messages between devices of the burner system. The controller may also incorporate a processing module to compose the messages that are exchanged between the devices, identify issues regarding the messages, determine that devices may not be operating properly, and lock-out the devices in response. The controller may also incorporate a timing module having a set of timing requirements and being configured to lock-out devices in response to violation of a timing requirement.

The disclosure relates generally to burner systems, and more particularly to managing communication between devices of a burner system to provide safety control over the burner system. Fuel burner systems typically operate under varying conditions such as variable fuel and air supply pressures and temperatures, back pressure from the burner, humidity, fuel quality, and so forth. Moreover, fuel burner systems rely on the coordination of several functioning devices/components for safe operation of the overall burner system. Modbus is a widespread royalty-free and open protocol used for serial communication among electronic devices of fuel burner systems. The protocol specification is managed by the Modbus Organization. The specification defines structure of telegrams for data transfer between devices. However, this specification, as it is defined, does not meet the standards for safety-relevant data transfer. As such, there is a current interest for safety-relevant communication that needs to address immunity against threats caused by the malfunctioning of the devices of fuel burner systems.


A welding program is created for performing spot welding by a program creation device. The program creation device includes a display unit configured to display an image, and an image generation unit configured to generate image data of a product model before being subjected to spot welding in accordance with shape data on a product and display the product model on the display unit, a display control unit configured to make a workpiece having a selected surface in the product model to be semitransparent, a welding portion setting unit configured to set welding portions to be allotted for the selected surface in the product model, and a program creation unit configured to create the welding program including related data for a welding robot with regard to the set welding portions.

A welding program is preliminarily created for controlling a welding robot to perform linear welding or spot welding on a plurality of workpieces so as to manufacture products through the linear welding or the spot welding.
For example, image data of a product model is generated according to figure data of a product, and the image data is then displayed on a display unit such as a display (on screen) in a program creation device. Subsequently, welding portions to be allotted for the product model are set. A welding program is then created including operation-related data for a welding robot with regard to the set welding portions. The created welding program is sent to a NC device for controlling the welding robot.
Patent Literature 1 to Patent Literature 3 are prior art documents related to the present invention.

Program creation device, welding system, and program creation method