There is provided mechanisms for beam training, the method being performed by a terminal device. A method comprises receiving, using a fixed beam b0 and from a network node, a first occurrence of a set of beam reference signals r1, r2, . . . , rk, . . . , rN. The method comprises determining a respective compensation factor c1, c2, . . . , ck, . . . , cN for at least one of the received beam reference signals r1, r2, . . . , rk, . . . , rN. The method comprises receiving, using a set of directional beams b1, b2, . . . , bk, . . . , bN and from the network node, a second occurrence of the set of beam reference signals r1, r2, . . . , rk, . . . , rN such that beam reference signal rk is received in directional beam bk, for k=1, . . . , N. The method comprises evaluating which directional beam in the set of directional beams b1, b2, . . . , bk, . . . , bN to use for subsequent communication with the network node based on strongest received beam reference signal in the second occurrence of the set of beam reference signals r1, r2, . . . , rk, . . . , rN as compensated for using the compensation factors ck, for k=1, . . . , N, wherein signal strength for directional beam bk is compensated for using compensation factor ck, for k=1, . . . , N.

In communications networks, there may be a challenge to obtain good performance and capacity for a given communications protocol, its parameters and the physical environment in which the communications network is deployed.
For example, for future generations of mobile communications networks, frequency bands at many different carrier frequencies could be needed. For example, low such frequency bands could be needed to achieve sufficient network coverage for wireless devices and higher frequency bands (e.g. at millimeter wavelengths (mmW), i.e. near and above 30 GHz) could be needed to reach required network capacity. In general terms, at high frequencies the propagation properties of the radio channel are more challenging and beamforming both at the network node of the network and at the wireless devices might be required to reach a sufficient link budget.
Narrow beam transmission and reception schemes might be needed at such high frequencies to compensate the expected high propagation loss. For a given communication link, a respective beam can be applied at both the network-end (as represented by a network node or its transmission and reception point, TRP) and at the terminal-end (as represented by a terminal device), which typically is referred to as a beam pair link (BPL). One task of the beam management procedure is to discover and maintain beam pair links. A BPL (i.e. both the beam used by the network node and the beam used by the terminal device) is expected to be discovered and monitored by the network using measurements on downlink reference signals, such as channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) or synchronization signal block (SSB) signals, used for beam management.
The CSI-RS for beam management can be transmitted periodically, semi-persistently or aperiodically (event triggered) and they can be either shared between multiple terminal devices or be device-specific. The SSB are transmitted periodically and are shared for all terminal devices. In order for the terminal device to find a suitable network node beam, the network node transmits the reference signal in different transmission (TX) beams on which the terminal device performs measurements, such as reference signal received power (RSRP), and reports back the M best TX beams (where M can be configured by the network). Furthermore, the transmission of the reference signal on a given TX beam can be repeated to allow the terminal device to evaluate a suitable reception (RX) beam.
Reference signals that are shared between all terminal devices served by the TRP might be used to determine a first coarse direction for the terminal devices. It could be suitable for such a periodic TX beam sweep at the TRP to use SSB as the reference signal. One reason for this is that SSB are anyway transmitted periodically (for initial access/synchronization purposes) and SSBs are also expected to be beamformed at higher frequencies to overcome the higher propagation losses noted above.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates time/frequency resources for transmitting one the SSB (where PRB is short for Physical resource Block). Each SSB consist of four orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, in FIG. 1 denoted OFDM symb 1, OFDM symb 2, OFDM symb 3, and OFDM symb 4. Time/frequency resources for a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) are located in the first OFDM symbol and are used for finding a coarse time/frequency synchronization. Time/frequency resources for a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) are located in the second, third and fourth OFDM symbol and contain necessary system information bits. Time/frequency resources for a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) are located in the second OFDM symbol and are used for establishing a finer time/frequency synchronization.
In order for the terminal device to obtain initial access to the TRP the TRP transmits an SSB and broadcasted system information. During initial access the terminal device can measure received power for respective SSB (in case the TRP uses multiple beamformed SSB) and in this way determine a preferred TRP TX SSB beam. The terminal device responds by transmitting a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) sequence to the TRP. When the terminal device signals the PRACH to the TRP the PRACH sequence will be determined based on the best received SSB. In this way the TRP implicitly finds out which TX beam on which the SSB was transmitted that was best for that terminal device. The terminal device then expects the TRP to continue to transmit control and/or data signals in that preferred TRP TX beam until other instructions are given.
Some terminal devices operating at such higher frequencies will use analog beamforming. During initial access, before the terminal device has any spatial information about where the TRP is located, it is expected that the terminal device will use a wide beam to achieve as omni-directional coverage as possible. After the initial access, it might be preferred that the terminal device finds a narrower RX beam in order to increase the path gain. One way to achieve this is to let the TRP initiate a RX beam sweep procedure at the terminal device based on CSI-RS, which basically means that the TRP transmits a burst of CSI-RS in a fixed TX beam such that the terminal device is enabled sweep through different RX beams, measure the received power in each RX beam and select the beam with highest received power. One Issue with this approach is that extra overhead signaling is needed, hence resulting in extra time/frequency resources being required to be dedicated for beam training purposes.
Hence, there is still a need for improved beam training requiring less overhead signaling.

Beam training performed by a terminal device


A power controller is in use of a power converter whose output voltage can be regulated at a first nominal output voltage or a second nominal output voltage less than the first nominal output voltage. An ON-time controller controls an ON time of a driving signal provided to a power switch according to a compensation signal. A frequency controller controls, based on the compensation signal and a feedback signal, a switching frequency of the driving signal. If the compensation signal has an input waveform and when the output voltage is regulated at the first or second nominal output voltage, the frequency controller provides first or second settling time to stabilize the switching frequency, respectively. The second settling time is longer than the first settling time.

The present disclosure relates generally to switching mode power supplies (SMPSs), more particularly to SMPSs and related control methods capable of providing different control feedback loops for different nominal output voltages.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is one of the communication interfaces most broadly used in daily life nowadays. Beside its reliable, rapid data transmission, USB also plays as an interface delivering limited power to the peripherals connected to it. Most mobile phones are charged using USB chargers, for example.
To make USB more suitable for powering various electric apparatuses and reducing the number of power cables needed, USB Implementers Forum Inc., a non-profit corporation founded by the group of companies that developed the USB specification, has announced USB Power Delivery (PD) to enable the maximum functionality of USB by providing more flexible power delivery along with data over a single cable. USB PD offers increased power levels from existing standards up to 100 W, so it is possible to enable new higher power use cases such as USB powered hard disk drivers and printers.
USB PD requires a USB charger having its output voltage variable in a range from 5V to 20V, and this range could be expanded as broad as being from 3V to 20V in the future. So far, the nominal output voltages of a USB charger complying USB PD are 5V, 12V and 20V, meaning the USB charger should regulate its output voltage at 5V, 12V or 20V. A USB charger complying with USB PD for example might regulate its output voltage at 20V, and switch to regulate its output voltage at 5V upon a demand received from a connected, charged apparatus.
The feedback loop for regulating an output voltage at 5V may be inappropriate for the feedback loop regulating the output voltage at 20V, however. To optimize the output regulation of a USB charger, it is expected to have the feedback loop configurable or changeable when the nominal output voltage of the USB charger is switched.

Power controllers and power converters with configurable feedback loop for different nominal output voltages


The present invention relates to a lithium recovery device and recovery method. The lithium recovery device of the present invention includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a power supply device. In the lithium recovery device of the present invention, since lithium is attached to an adsorbent of the first electrode by applying a current to the first and second electrodes in a state in which the first and second electrodes are immersed in a lithium-containing fluid, the first electrode including a carrier made of a stainless steel material in a form of an iron mesh or perforated sheet and having a surface coated with the adsorbent containing a manganese oxide, and the second electrode facing the first electrode, it is possible to increase a size of the device and have excellent energy efficiency and economic feasibility.

It is expected that an exhaustion problem of valuable metal mineral resources, which has recently been an issue, will hinder development of human civilization in the near future.
An amount of lithium mined from the earth in consideration of economical feasibility of a lithium mineral resource is only about 4.1 million tons in the world, and a lithium resource is a rare resource expected to be depleted within the next decade.
The lithium resource as described above is concentrated in some nations, and it is actually impossible to apply a method of mining lithium from ore and salt lake in Korea, or the like, in which a lithium reserves is significantly small.
However, even though among resources dissolved in sea water, lithium is present at a trace amount of 0.17 mg/l, since a total amount of dissolved lithium is 230 billion tons, it is known that a large amount of lithium is present in sea water.
Therefore, a mineral recovery technology capable of selectively extracting a specific valuable metal ion melted (dissolved) in sea water may sufficiently serve as a growth engine of the national economy by reducing the dependency on overseas resources and enabling a stable supply of resources, and is a significantly important technology for continuous national economical development for the future.
In most of the related arts associated with the technology of recovering a valuable metal from sea water, the development focused on ion exchange and adsorption technologies of an inorganic or organic material for selectively removing a specific metal ion has been conducted.
Particularly, in general, lithium is recovered by a technology of performing acid treatment after embedding inorganic compound particles such as a manganese oxide as a lithium ion molecular sieve in a polymer such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or putting the inorganic compound particles in a storage made of a polymer membrane to selectively exchange ions.
The technologies according to the related art have an advantage in that a recovery rate of the lithium ion from sea water is high.
However, since it takes a significantly long time to adsorb the specific ion, economical feasibility and efficiency are low, and since a toxic material such as an acid should be used in a post-treatment process for recovering the ion such as an ion separation process, there are problems such as corrosion of a system, environmental contamination, and the like.
In order to solve these problems, the present inventors filed Korean Patent No. 10-1136816.
In this technology, an electrode module on which metal ions such as a lithium ion, and the like, are adsorbed is provided, and a solution in which metal ions are present is moved to the electrode module by a pump, such that the lithium ions are attached to the electrode module to which a negative polarity is applied.
In addition, at the time of separating the attached lithium ions, the lithium ions are separated from the electrode module by changing a polarity of the electrode, such that lithium contained in a solution such as sea water, or the like, may be recovered.
However, in the related art as described above, there is a limitation in implementing a large size, and energy efficiency and economical feasibility are beyond expectations.

Lithium recovery device and recovery method

KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES


A safety alarm system for motor vehicle drivers is disclosed. The system is removable from a steering wheel and includes a control box system with power supply, switch, alarm and timer. The driver monitors the timer via a visual display. The timer repeatedly counts down until a time-out event occurs causing an alarm to activate. Removable and manually operated sensors are provided on the rim of a steering wheel that monitor tactile pressure or feedback from a driver. Upon receipt of driver feedback, the sensors send a reset signal to the timer and the timer renews its countdown. The safety alarm device is adaptable for installation on a steering wheel by a steering wheel cover configured for adaptation to a particular vehicle.

The present invention relates to safety systems for drivers of vehicles and, more particularly, to a safety alarm system to alert drowsy drivers of a vehicle and assist vehicle drivers in remaining awake and alert by means of visual display and manually operated feedback system.
The problem of detecting sleepiness or drowsing in a driver of a motor vehicle has been prevalent since the development of automotive transportation. According to various studies, a need exists for a mechanical device to alert drivers who are drowsy to prevent them from falling asleep at the wheel. Such a mechanical alert device would be sufficient in many cases to prevent the worst case scenario of a driver falling into a complete state of sleep.
Various alarm devices have been designed and suggested to awaken a sleeping driver in order to prevent the large number of accidents that may be attributed to the drowsiness of a vehicle driver. However, such devices have not met with a high measure of success in the marketplace. This lack of success may be attributed to factors such as complexity and expense of the device installation or inconvenience to the vehicle driver.
A device is needed that is inexpensive, easy to install and retro-fittable to any vehicle. Further a device is needed that is attractive, convenient and easy to use. The device should also be optional by providing a switch that can be used by the driver to deactivate the device. Of course the switch should be capable of disablement when desirable. For instance the device should be capable of use by drivers convicted of driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUI) as a measure to guard against intoxication and lack of driver alertness. Such a device could be included a probationary measure as punishment and a deterrent to further DUI.
In this respect, the safety alert system of the present invention is designed to prevent falling asleep at the steering wheel of a motor vehicle and alert a driver of his or her drowsy condition. Also, the device is convenient but requires greater alertness of the driver by requiring active input from the driver. As well as a means for the driver to monitor his or her status. The present invention departs substantially from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus that increases safety in operating automobiles.

Safety Alarm steering wheel sensor and timer device for drivers


Replaceable shaving assemblies are disclosed that include a razor cartridge having a blade geometry that is designed to provide a close, comfortable shave. Shaving systems including such shaving assemblies are also disclosed, as are methods of using such shaving systems and methods of manufacturing these cartridges.

Shaving systems often consist of a handle and a cartridge in which one or more blades are mounted in a plastic housing. In some cases, the blades are held in place in the housing by a pair of metallic clips, mounted at opposite ends of the length of the blades.
Most modern razor cartridges include one to five razor blades disposed between a guard and a cap. The cutting edge of each razor blade is positioned adjacent a plane that tangentially intersects the contact surfaces of the guard and the cap. This plane, referred to as the "contact plane," represents the theoretical position of the surface being shaved. The position of a razor blade's cutting edge relative to the contact plane is described in terms of the "exposure" of the cutting edge. A cutting edge with "positive exposure" is one that extends through the contact plane and into the area normally occupied by the object being shaved. A cutting edge with "negative exposure" is one that is positioned below the plane and therefore does not intersect the contact plane. A cutting edge with "neutral exposure" is one that is contiguous with the contact plane. Generally, positioning the cutting edge of a blade at a positive exposure has been found to improve closeness, but potentially also increases the chance of skin irritation. On the other hand, neutral or negative blade exposure tends to reduce the likelihood of irritation, but also tends to decrease the closeness of the shave.
The overall blade geometry of the cartridge, including blade exposure and other factors such as blade span, affects the comfort and closeness of the shave obtained with the razor, as well as the likelihood of nicks and cuts during shaving. As will be discussed further below, comfort and closeness is also impacted by "skin management," i.e., the way in which the skin bulge contacted by the blade edges is affected by other elements of the razor, including the guard that is provided at the leading edge of most razor cartridges.


The present invention provides a fluorine-containing cyclic compound represented by general formula (1):

Fluorine-containing compounds have been continuously used or developed in wide application fields centering on the field of advanced materials from characteristics of fluorine such as water repellency, oil repellency, low water absorption, heat resistance, weather resistance, corrosion resistance, transparency, photosensitivity, low refractive index properties and low dielectric property. In particular, when the characteristics of transparency behavior in each wavelength are utilized, they are used in the coating field. Active researches and developments have been made in the fields of anti-reflection films to which low refractive index properties and transparency of visible light are applied, optical devices to which transparency in a long wavelength band (an optical communication wavelength band) is applied, resist compositions to which transparency in an ultraviolet region (particularly, a vacuum ultraviolet region) is applied, and the like. Recent researches of resist materials have shifted from 248-nm KrF to resists for 193-nm ArF excimer lasers or F2 lasers of the vacuum ultraviolet region represented by 157 nm, and resist materials containing polymer compounds into which acid labile groups are incorporated have been generally designed, the solubility in an alkaline aqueous solution of the acid labile groups being changed by the action of acids.
As the acid labile groups, there are in heavy usage at present a methoxymethyl group, a tert-butyl group and a tert-butyloxycarbonyl group. The resist materials containing those acid labile groups have disadvantages of being large in the outgas amount after exposure, further, not being excellent in resistance to a dry etching gas and transparency in each wavelength, having a low glass transition point, and the like. Specifically, as acidic groups for 157 nm, there have been developed trifluoromethylmethacrylic acid, a hexafluorocarbinol group and a fluorine-containing acidic group such as a fluorine-containing cyclic alcohol. When acid labile groups for protecting those acidic groups are a methoxymethyl group, a tert-butyl group and a tert-butyloxycarbonyl group, there arise the disadvantages of decreasing in etching resistance, decreasing in glass transition point (Tg) and forming an outgas in large amounts, because no ring structure is contained in the acid labile groups. Further, no fluorine atom is contained, so that it has also been impossible to improve transparency. Recently, it has been reported that the use of cyclic hydrocarbon group-containing acid labile groups can improve dry etching resistance (for example, see non-patent document 1). However, adhesion and transparency decrease to the content of the acid labile groups, because of their hydrophobic cyclohexane structure. Consequently, there has been desired the creation of acid labile groups which improve dry etching resistance, enhance transparency in each wavelength used and adhesion to a substrate, and realize a high glass transition point.
Non-Patent Document: S. Kodama, et al., Proceedings of SPIE—The International Society for Optical Engineering (2002), 4690, 76–83

Cyclic fluorine compounds, polymerizable fluoromonomers, fluoropolymers, and resist materials containing the fluoropolymers and method for pattern formation

Abstract: wherein R1 represents a halogen atom, and R2 and R3 each represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group. The above-mentioned hydrocarbon group is a straight-chain, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 25 carbon atoms or an aromatic hydrocarbon group, and may contain a halogen atom, an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom or a sulfur atom. Further, a fluorine-containing polymerizable monomer derived from the above-mentioned fluorine-containing cyclic compound, a fluorine-containing polymer compound obtained by polymerization or copolymerization using the above-mentioned compound or monomer, further a resist material and a pattern forming process using the above-mentioned polymer compound are also disclosed. According to the invention, there is provided the polymer compound suitable for a resist material having high transparency in a wide wavelength region from an ultraviolet region to a near-infrared light region, high adhesion to a substrate, film forming properties, high etching resistance and a high glass transition point at once, particularly for a photoresist material in a vacuum ultraviolet wavelength region. Further, the pattern forming process using the polymer compound is suitable for the formation of a high-resolution pattern form.


Subsurface material property measurements, such as soil or chemical properties, are obtained in situ by a direct push method that includes rotating a ring bit at the end of a casing to drill through subsurface materials, lowering a measurement probe through the advanced casing, extending the lowered measurement probe through the ring bit, and advancing the extended probe through the soil at a controlled rate while gathering material property data from sensors attached to the probe. The probe may be withdrawn for drilling, and then replaced for further data gathering.

Sometimes the properties of subsurface materials, such as soil, liquids, gasses or chemicals, are determined by bringing samples of the material to the surface for inspection and measurement. Sometimes it is preferred to obtain such information in situ, that is, underground where the material is found. Information can be gathered from sensors, for example, as the sensors are pushed through the soil, to obtain a log or chart of information as a function of depth or position.
Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT) is one known method of obtaining logs of subsurface material properties. In general terms, CPT features a cone-tipped probe pushed in a non-rotary sense through the soil, typically in a vertical direction. Sensors in the probe measure such properties as bearing load and soil friction, from which various other properties of the soil can be inferred. Other sensors are also included in the probe, such as for measuring subsurface pore fluid pressure. Various other sensors have also been developed for deployment by CPT methods. In environmentally sensitive sites, direct push techniques like CPT are preferred because the relatively small holes they leave in soil can be filled with grout as the probes are withdrawn, and do not generate the volume of tailings produced by drill-sampling methods.
The probe depths obtainable by direct push methods like CPT are limited, primarily due to limits on the amount of push force that can be applied. While depths of 100 meters or more have been obtained in some geologies, depths of only about 50 meters are more common, as soil friction on the outer surface of the probe and push rods eventually exceeds the amount of downward force that can be safely applied at the surface. In other cases, an immovable obstruction, such as bedrock, is encountered. Either event is called "refusal" and represents the extent of the depth obtainable for that push.


An apparatus for warming a bottle of refrigerant so as to elevate the pressure within the bottle and increase the rate of refrigerant flow through an open discharge valve. The apparatus includes a housing having a cradle positioned therein for receiving the bottle and spacing same from the walls of the housing to ensure proper air circulation through the interior space. A lid removably covers an opening in the housing and has a central aperture for the passage of the valve stem of the bottle. The lid also has an air intake vent and an air exhaust vent adjacent the central aperture. An air flow passageway connects the air intake vent with the air exhaust vent for circulating air to and from the interior space of the housing. An electrical resistance heater and an electric blower are positioned within the passageway. The blower impels air through the passageway from the air intake vent to the air exhaust vent and past the heater. A thermostat, positioned in the housing, deenergizes the heater when the air within the interior space reaches a predetermined temperature.

In the refrigeration cycle, a refrigerant is mechanically compressed, cooled and then expanded. Compression raises the temperature of the refrigerant above that of its surroundings so that it can give up its heat in a heat exchanger to a heat sink such as air. In expanding, the temperature of the refrigerant is lowered and it absorbs heat from its surroundings which may comprise all or part of a building to provide refrigeration. After the refrigerant absorbs heat, the cycle is repeated.
Mechanical refrigeration systems are, unfortunately, not leakproof and require the periodic addition of refrigerant. This refrigerant must be one which will easily expand and vaporize at low pressure to a gas and return to a liquid at ordinary temperatures by compression. Some common refrigerants are ammonia, carbon dioxide and a group known by the trade name Freon. These refrigerants are typically supplied to a refrigeration system through a supply hose extending from a pressurized storage bottle.
As refrigerant passes through the supply hose from the storage bottle, the pressure of the refrigeration system increases thereby reducing the rate of refrigerant flow from the bottle. On a cool day, when the pressure of the bottle contents is lowered by environmental conditions, the refrigerant flow rate is reduced even further. Regardless of the conditions, much time can be lost waiting for a refrigeration system to be recharged. A need, therefore, exists for a device which will safely increase the rate of refrigerant flow from a storage bottle during refrigeration system recharging operations.


An ES tracker for tracking an emitter target, including ships and airborne targets, includes a sensor for receiving a signal emitted by the target; a sensor processor for processing the signal and outputting a measurement; and an information processor for processing the measurement. The information processor includes an IMM bearing filter having a mixing section for receiving the measurement and producing a mixed output signal; a first order Kalman filter for receiving the mixed output signal for stationary target tracking; a second order Kalman filter for receiving the mixed output signal and tracking bearing and bearing rate; and a third order Kalman filter for receiving the mixed output signal and tracking bearing, bearing rate, and bearing acceleration. The tracker may also include a second-order elevation filter for modeling and tracking elevation and elevation rate, and a first-order ESM parameters filter for adaptively estimating plant noise, modeling and tracking frequency, pulsewidth, and PRI of the emitter target.

Electronic Support Measures (ESM) are essential in tactical military operations. For example, airborne defense employing high speed tactical fighters requires fast and accurate target data, including bearing, range and heading, in an environment that typically includes multiple targets and clutter. Although present ESM data systems can provide fairly accurate input, the intermittent nature of the data causes significant track switching problems for closely spaced tracks. FIG. 1 illustrates this in the Area Defense context.
FIG. 2 shows a representative prior art airborne tracking system (tracker 10). A selected spatial region is continually scanned by system sensors that via a sensor processor convert the emitter signals to emitter measurements that are input to an information processor. The information processor is programmed to convert the data to kinematic equations, that is, into a form that quantifies a target emitter's position, velocity, and acceleration. An exemplary kinematic equation for predicting incoming measurements emitted by a target in a known state is:xk+1=Akxk+wk;wk  Eq. Awhere xk is a vector containing quantities of interest such as a target's position, velocity, and acceleration. Kinematic behavior in Eq. A is described by the transition matrix, Ak, and the plant noise term, wk, which represents the kinematic uncertainty in the model. Incoming measurements emitted by a target can be predicted according to:zk=Ckxk+vk;vk  Eq. Bwhere zk are measurements and vk (sensor uncertainty index) captures the sensor uncertainty. Any typical tracking system employs these two equations. State measurements are generated for targets by iteratively filtering the target state and predicting the position of the next measurement, and comparing the estimated measurements with the actual measurements at the next scan. A deficiency with this approach is that the trajectory model is assumed known and constant. For example, when tracking radar reports, a second order trajectory model is typically used. However, if the target exhibits characteristics which are not consistent with the assumed second order model, either the target prediction will exhibit additional noise or the track will exhibit significant bias.
The simple Kalman filter is a typical such system, which assumes that the plant order associated with the trajectory is well known and constant. Although this assumption is valid for a 2 state trajectories with a consistently high data rate, i.e., everything looks approximately like a straight line if the data rate is high enough, the assumption is not valid for the Area Defense problem, illustrated in FIG. 1, due to it's intermittent nature.
Tracking involves receiving emitter signals from an airborne target and processing the signals in order to estimate the target's speed and position. A received signal includes noise that interferes with the processing and interpretation of the primary emitter signal and thereby corrupts the data. The problem is exacerbated when there are multiple emitters or targets, targets engaging in evasive maneuvers, or false or misleading detections.
Another approach described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,156, issued Nov. 24, 1998, Hong et al., is a target tracking system using multiresolution and multirate techniques. Data obtained from a target scanning region is reduced spatially and temporally to reduce the amount of data for processing. A deficiency with this approach is that it addresses this problem by assigning multiple data rates to filters associated with an Interactive Multiple Model (IMM) system to compensate for the possible lags due to the use of low order models in the IMM Kalman filter bank. This is commonly used approximation which attempts to linearize a nonlinear trajectory model.
It is therefore desirable to provide a tracking system with the added capability of identifying an emitter target and accurately providing its bearing, elevation, and ESM data. Such a tracking system provides not only the basis for prediction, but also the ESM control algorithm since ESM trajectory (or equivalently interferometer phase angle) and ESM parameters may be fed back to the front-end ESM system to provided adaptive gating in the target parameter space as well as aid the deinterleaving process.

Electronic support measures (ESM) tracking system and method

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


Disclosed is a utility pipe tape to act as a termite barrier and a support for a waterproof membrane to prevent gaps from forming between pipe and slab that lets ground termites in through the slab.

Termites are enormously destructive to homes and other structures worldwide. In the developed countries, many dwellings and other building are erected on concrete slabs, which provides some protection against termite damage. However, termites can and do penetrate small openings in the slab to reach and extensively damage overlying structures.
One of the avenues of termite ingress through slabs are small annular openings which form between the slab and the conduits, typically for water and sewer, which penetrate the slab. It may be impossible to prevent these from occurring. A technique which would prevent termites from taking advantage of these access points would be very desirable.

Utility pipe tape fitted in pre-construction to prevent the gaps next to utility pipes that let termites in


A distance measuring apparatus installed on a car for measuring the distance of the car from the one in front. The distance measuring apparatus comprises a laser generator for emitting a laser beam, a photosensor for receipt of the laser beam reflected from the car in front, means for calculating the distance between the cars when the photosensor receives the reflected laser beam, and a control unit for controlling an adjustable range of the emitted laser beam according to the calculated distance.

This invention relates to a distance measuring apparatus installed on a vehicle for measuring the distance between the vehicle and the one in front.
For example, Japanese Patent Kokai No. 60-49278 discloses a distance measuring apparatus which employs a laser generating element for emitting a laser radiation beam having a constant intensity and a constant range available to measure the distance between the vehicle and the one in front. If the laser beam is set to radiate at a small angle so as to have a long available range, however, a vehicle running at a short distance ahead of the vehicle will deviate from the available range of the laser radiation beam. If the laser radiation beam is set to diverge at a large angle so as to have a short available range, a vehicle running at a great distance ahead of the vehicle will be out of the available range of the laser radiation beam.
Japanese Utility Model Kokai No. 60-76281 discloses a distance measuring apparatus adapted to swing the optical axis of the laser radiation beam emitted from a laser generating element so as to widen the available range of the laser radiation beam. However, it is very difficult to control the optical axis of the laser radiation beam in an appropriate manner since the distance measuring apparatus is subject to great vibrations. It may be considered to widen the available range of the laser radiation beam by providing a plurality of laser generating elements. However, this results in a complex and expensive distance measuring apparatus.


A imaging device includes an image pickup region composed of a plurality of light-receiving portions (2) and vertical transfer registers (3) including a plurality of transfer electrodes containing a transfer electrode (8) serving as a read electrode as well and other transfer electrode (7), the vertical transfer registers (3) being arrayed at every column of light-receiving portions (2). Each transfer electrode (8) serving as the read electrode as well disposed within the vertical transfer register (3) is formed such that it may be separated from the transfer electrode (8) serving as read electrode as well and other transfer electrode (7) which are adjoining each other in the horizontal direction. In this imaging device including a plurality of light-receiving portions (2) regularly arrayed, it is possible to prevent color mixture from occurring between the light-receiving portions (pixels) (2) which are adjoining each other in the vertical direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to imaging devices, and particularly to a imaging device having a transfer electrode pattern.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various kinds of CCD (charge-coupled device) imaging devices are proposed so far, in which a charge transfer portion is formed on a semiconductor substrate, transfer electrodes are disposed on the upper layer of the charge transfer portion through an insulating layer, signal electric charges being transferred by the charge transfer portion with application of drive pulses to the transfer electrodes. As the arrangement pattern of the transfer electrodes on the CCD imaging device, there are known an arrangement pattern having a multilayer structure in which the transfer electrodes are located such that the adjacent transfer electrodes are partly overlapping with each other and an arrangement pattern having a single layer structure in which the transfer electrodes are located such that the adjacent transfer electrodes are not overlapping with each other.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, for example, is a plan view showing a main portion of an image pickup region of a CCD imaging device including transfer electrodes with single layer structures and an electrode pattern thereof. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of the CCD imaging device shown in FIG. 1. The illustrated examples show transfer electrodes for use with a vertical transfer register by which signal electric charges, received at light-receiving portions of the CCD imaging device, are transferred in the vertical direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, a light-receiving portion and a charge transfer portion (not shown) are provided within a silicon substrate 101, and transfer electrodes 107 and 108 made of a suitable material such as polycrystalline silicon are provided on the upper layer of the silicon substrate 110 through an insulating film 111 made of a suitable material such as silicon oxide. The transfer electrode 108 may serve as a read electrode to which a read voltage to read signal electric charges from the light-receiving portion to the charge transfer portion, that is, a gate electrode of a read gate portion as well.
As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer electrodes 107 and 108 are formed with patterns so as to avoid light-receiving portions 102 of the CCD imaging device. The transfer electrode portions 107 and 108 are located close to each other in the portion in which they are located along charge transfer portions 103. Also, the transfer electrodes 107 and 108 are located between the vertically-adjacent light-receiving portions (pixels) 102 and 102 so as to connect the adjoining vertical transfer registers 103 and 103.
On the other hand, as a method of transferring signal electric charges read out to the vertical transfer registers in the CCD imaging device, there is known a technology for forming a shunt wiring structure by which a shunt wiring made of a suitable thin sheet material having a small sheet resistance, such as aluminum (Al) and tungsten (W), is joined to the transfer electrode.
Cited Patent Reference 1: Official Gazette of Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2002-158925
Cited Patent Reference 2: Official Gazette of Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2003-7997
In the CCD imaging device shown in FIG. 1, when signal electric charges generated by light incident on the light-receiving portion 102 are read out to the vertical transfer register 103, a read voltage (a high-level pulse of three-value pulses) V1 is applied to the transfer electrode 108 that serves as the read electrode as well. Then, with application of this read voltage V1, the signal electric charges are read out from the light-receiving portion 102 to the vertical transfer register 103.
However, as mentioned above, since the transfer electrode 108, which serves as the read electrode as well, is extended between the light-receiving portions (pixels) 102 adjoining in the vertical direction, the read voltage V1 is also applied to this extended portion of the transfer electrode 108. Although a channel stop layer for separating the pixels is formed between the light-receiving portions (pixels) 102 and 102 which are adjoining each other in the vertical direction, a potential barrier of the channel stop layer formed beneath the transfer electrode 108 is broken (modulated) with application of this read voltage V1 so that signal electric charges are also transferred from the light-receiving portions 102 and 102 to the vertical direction. As a result, a problem arises, in which color mixture occurs in the vertical direction between the light-receiving portions 102 and 102 which are adjoining each other in the vertical direction. Specifically, a phenomenon occurs, in which a part of signal electric charges, which should be read out to the vertical transfer register 103, is leaked to other light-receiving portions (pixels) 102 and 102 which are adjoining each other in the vertical direction. In particular, when a gap between the light-receiving portions (pixels) 102 and 102 which are adjoining each other in the vertical direction is reduced or a width of the channel stop region is reduced in order to microminiaturize the pixel in size, a problem of color mixture tends to occur more easily.
In order to prevent the above-mentioned color mixture, the potential barrier at the channel stop layer can be strengthened by increasing an impurity concentration of the channel stop layer formed between the pixels adjoining in the vertical direction or by increasing the depth of the channel stop layer with implantation of ions in a multiple stage fashion. However, there arises another problem, in which the region of the light-receiving portion 102 is reduced when impurities are diffused in the lateral direction of the channel stop layer by an annealing process for activating the ion-implanted channel stop layer and in which the number of manufacturing processes is increased with addition of the ion implantation process.


Systems and methods are provided for at least partially automating content generation of blog entries chronicling an entity's interaction with a multiuser environment. The same may combine automatic data generation with user-generated and/or user-edited or created narrative. The systems and methods may be employed for automatically generating and publishing descriptions, such as posting blog articles. In one implementation, a system automatically posts blog articles with automatic screenshots and automatically-generated descriptive copy of events that occur within a video game, such as in a massive multiplayer online role-playing game.

1. Field of the Invention
Players of video games, including multiplayer games and other multiuser systems, have historically desired to publicize their accomplishments and exploits, at least to friends and other interested parties. For example, arcade games have traditionally incorporated a "TOP SCORE" list whereby high-scoring users could enter their initials into the list if their score was one of the top scores achieved.
Later systems that provided user information include those that provide statistics about characters in multiplayer games. One such system is incorporated into the website www.EQ2players.com, which provides statistics about player characters in the massive multiplayer online role-playing game ("MMORPG") Everquest II®. These systems provide, automatically, a certain amount of player character data, such as level and equipment information.
2. Summary of the Presently Claimed Invention
Systems and methods are provided here for at least partially automating content generation of web page entries chronicling an entity's interaction with a multiuser environment. The same may be performed in a balanced way, combining automatic data generation with user-generated and/or user-edited or created narrative.
For example, systems and methods are provided for automatically generating and publishing descriptions, such as posting blog articles. In one implementation, a system automatically posts blog articles with automatic screenshots and automatically-generated descriptive copy of events that occur within a video game, such as in an MMORPG.
Features provided in implementations can include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following items: tracking online events and activity to recognize when to generate descriptions; automatic generation of a description of an online event, including text and optional images, sounds, and/or video; accepting user editing of a generated description; allowing user text input; and automatic publishing of a generated description in one or more venues.
In one implementation, descriptions of events are generated automatically, at least in part. The system and method may create a blog for players or users of online games, with entries added automatically based on their in-game accomplishments and events, as well as those of their friends. Any notable events that were triggered during a play session may have screenshots of the scene taken automatically, and may be further informed by metadata about the area, events, NPCs, PCs, and so on. The events may thus be used to create an entry in the user's blog at, e.g., the end of the user's play session. At that point, the user can either leave the entry as the system made it, or edit it to their own tastes. Thus a blog-format journal of their adventures in-game is created, populated with one or more of data, text, screenshots and video from in-game about the event.
The player's blog page may also include the latest entries from the player's friends' blogs. In addition, the user can add completely original articles or other material to the blog (i.e., items not created by the auto-blog system).
In another implementation, the system generates and publishes the descriptions completely automatically. In this case, the descriptions and any accompanying media are not editable by the user. The automated descriptions may be used for a blog or other publishing mechanism to inform players of events in the game world. For example, an in-game newspaper could be generated in this way. Alternatively, the automatically-created entries are editable by system administrators or the game provider, but not by the end users, e.g., players.
In a further implementation, the system generates a consolidated page for a single user. The consolidated page includes content generated for multiple characters and/or games that the user is playing. Such a page would collect the blog articles from all of a user's characters in one place.
In another implementation, the system may support users utilizing XML to embed these character blogs in other web pages they might have, just as in their real life blog, i.e., a non-game blog.
In one aspect, the invention is direct towards a system for automatically generating at least partial entries in a blog or web page corresponding to events pertaining to an entity in a multiuser environment, including: a first module for implementing and operating a multiuser environment, the first module including at least a user interface, a database, and a software engine for conducting user interactions; a second module for monitoring events pertaining to an entity in the multiuser environment; a third module for selecting at least one of the events monitored by the second module based on a predetermined criteria; and a fourth module for generating an entry for a web page corresponding to the selected event.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The entity in a multiuser environment may be a player character in a multiplayer game. The fourth module may generate an entry for a blog. The predetermined criteria may include one or more of the following: whether the player character has reached a predetermined geographic boundary within the multiplayer game; whether the player character has interacted with a predetermined non-player character or item; whether the player character has achieved a predetermined level within the multiplayer game; and whether the player character has accumulated at least a predetermined number of points within a predetermined time within the multiplayer game. The fourth module may generate an entry including a media item selected from the group consisting of: a screenshot corresponding to the event; an audio file corresponding to the event; a video corresponding to the event; and a predetermined text corresponding to the event. The fourth module may further provide an edit screen such that a user may edit the entry. The system may further include a fifth module, where the fifth module transmits the entry to a blog, a web page, a social networking site, and/or a file-sharing site.
In another aspect, the invention is direct towards a method for automatically generating at least partial entries in a web page corresponding to events pertaining to an entity in a multiuser environment, including: monitoring events pertaining to an entity in a multiuser environment; selecting at least one of the monitored events based on a predetermined criteria; and generating an entry in a web page corresponding to the selected event. The multiuser environment may be a multiplayer game.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The entry may include a screenshot, and the generating may further include grouping or composing at least a subset of pertinent non-player characters and player characters associated with the event into a single image.
In a further aspect, the invention is direct towards a computer-readable medium, containing instructions for causing a computer to implement the method above.
In yet another aspect, the invention is direct towards a method of building an online description of activity in an environment, including: receiving data indicating an event has occurred in an environment; matching the event to a trigger, where the trigger indicates a trigger event and a response; generating descriptive data according to the response of the trigger, where the descriptive data includes at least one of text, image data, and video data; and when a network is available, publishing the descriptive data to an online resource.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The method may further include providing an edit screen after the generating such that users may edit the generated descriptive data. The method may further include transmitting a notification of the publishing to one or more users.
Advantages of the invention may include one or more of the following. Users need not manually enter information about their characters into blogs or other web pages. Highly interesting information may be delivered about characters due to a combination of automatic text or images and editable text or images. Users can control what information about their characters is automatically posted. Other advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, given the teachings and disclosures here.

System and method of automatic entry creation for blogs, web pages or file-sharing sites based on game events


An information processing apparatus in which continuous data of a plurality of series in which the contents of the data of each series are related to each other with respect to time is pipeline processed by a data processing system. The apparatus comprises a plurality of sync generation circuits which correspond to the plurality of series and each of which generate sync signals to instruct timings for the data transfer and data process of each series, and a sync control circuit for controlling generation situations of the sync signals from the plurality of sync generation circuits in accordance with a degree of progress of the data process of each series in the data processing system so that the data of each series can be processed in the data processing system without losing the time-dependent relation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for pipeline processing continuous data of a plurality of series.
2. Related Background Art
Included in conventional computer systems, are a general system using one processor, a multiprocessor system which commonly uses a memory, an operation pipeline system, and an image processing multiprocessor system of the area division type, among others.
In recent years, there has been an increasing need for real time processing of the critical information, such as continuous digital data of a moving image, or the like, by general computer systems. Processes which are executed to those digital data are data processes in a real time such that they will be meaningless unless the processes are finished within a predetermined time.
In the conventional system as mentioned above, however, in a computer system using a single CPU, a calculating function is lacking and it is impossible to execute such data processes within real time.
A system like a multiprocessor system which can execute processes at a high speed by using a plurality of processors has been proposed. In the conventional system represented by a multiprocessor system of the shared memory type, however, competition in the memory system occurs in the input/output and display operations of data and in the processes of the processor, so that such a competition obstructs the realization of the high-speed processes.
In a system like an operation pipeline machine which executes pipeline processes on a unit basis of data of fine dots, in the case where an amount of data to be processed together is large as in a moving image, the processes cannot be performed at a high speed because of its construction. A system where image data is divided into a plurality of regions and a plurality of processors are allocated to those regions and image processes are executed at a high speed has also been proposed. Most of such systems, however, have a construction such that the memory system is divided into a number of small regions, and intend to realize a high speed of the processes after the data to be processed was once loaded into the memory. It takes time to write and read out the image data. Moving image data or the like cannot be continuously processed.
In general, the moving image data is accompanied with audio data. Since the audio data is also realtime data, it must be output simultaneously with the corresponding moving image data. For example, in the computer using a single CPU, when significance is paid to the synchronization and simultaneousness of the moving image data and the audio data, processes such that the audio data is processed by paying an importance thereto and the moving image data is thinned out into the picture planes of the number of [1/(a few number)] and into the pixels of the number of [1/(a few number)] of those of the original moving image data and the image is displayed are merely executed as a better method. Further, even in the audio data process, a situation such that the process is influenced by other processes of a heavy load and the output is interrupted can occur.


The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device having no wrinkles and distortion between a hard coat layer and a base material film, and no peeling of the hard coat layer. This method stacks a sealing layer having an ultraviolet curable adhesive; a front plate composed of a glass or an acrylic resin; an adhesive layer; and a base material film, which has a resin layer containing an adhesion improving agent, and a hard coat layer on the film surface. The resin layer contains 0.005-0.5 parts of the per 100 parts of a binder resin. The adhesive improving agent has an absorption maximum peak at a wavelength of 260-400 nm at the time of curing the sealing layer by applying ultraviolet rays from the hard coat layer side.

In recent years, in order to further improve the contrast of liquid crystal display devices, it has been considered introducing a front plate made of glass or acrylic resin on the viewing side of a conventional liquid crystal panel. Providing the front plate can reduce diffused reflection due to irregularities on a surface of a conventional polarizing plate protective film, and this ensures high-contrast and sharp expression of color. Further, it is also advantageous that the color does not change when the surface of a liquid crystal display device is pressed by a finger.
When such a front plate is pasted on a liquid crystal panel with a void therebetween, the void lowers the contrast because external light is multiply reflected on its interface. It is thus preferable to provide a sealing layer which fills the void for bringing the front plate and the liquid crystal panel into close contact. Among various methods of curing such a sealing layer such as thermal curing and sticking, the most suitable method is ultraviolet curing using ultraviolet curable resin as the sealing layer.
For example, for bringing a liquid crystal panel and a front plate into close contact via a photocurable resin, patent literature 1 discloses a technique of avoiding deterioration of display quality without damaging a liquid crystal panel by irradiating the photocurable resin only with light at a wavelength of 340 nm or more and blocking light at a wavelength less than 340 nm, which has a negative influence on liquid crystal molecules, adhesives and the like.
On the other hand, glass or acrylic front plates are not used alone, but are generally provided with a resin film or the like having a hard coat layer for preventing scratch or reflection. Thus, taking productivity into consideration, a preferable method is providing a sealing layer containing an ultraviolet curing sticking agent, a front plate composed of glass or an acrylic resin, an adhesive layer, and a resin film having a hard coat layer in this order on the surface on the viewing side of a liquid crystal panel which has polarizing plates on both faces of the liquid crystal cell, followed by irradiation with ultraviolet ray from the hard coat layer side so as to cure the sealing layer.
There are various kinds of such resin films, and polycarbonate films (PC film), polyethylene terephthalate films (PET films), cellulose acylate films and the like are in practical use. However, polycarbonate films (PC films) and polyethylene terephthalate films (PET film) which are conventionally used for front plates have large phase differences, and thus these films may cause moire when used on the surface of the front plates resulted in unfavorable display quality.
In contrast, triacetylcellulose films (TAC films) having hard coat layer, which have conventionally been used for polarizing plates and liquid crystal display devices, are advantageous as a hard coat film to be pasted on a front plate, because TAC films do not cause moire by their low phase difference and thus have high transparency and good processability. However, when the sealing layer is cured by ultraviolet irradiation from the hard coat layer side, an ultraviolet absorber contained in the TAC film absorbs the ultraviolet ray for curing the sealing layer. The amount of the ultraviolet ray is thus decreased before reaching the sealing layer, and the sealing layer cannot be cured sufficiently. Therefore, decrease in contrast is caused by delamination or distortion between the liquid crystal panel and front plate.
If the amount of the ultraviolet ray is increased so that the sealing layer can receive a sufficient amount of light for curing, the TAC film with a hard coat layer is subjected to heat and the ultraviolet ray itself. It causes wrinkles or distortion between the hard coat layer and the base film and delamination of the hard coat layer, which have been another problem.

Method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device provided with front plate, and liquid crystal display device provided with front plate


A digital data network uses network nodes incorporating infrared transceivers. Each node includes a plurality of infrared transceivers having transmitter and receiver optics designed to facilitate line-of-sight infrared optical communications in a residential or business neighborhood. New nodes are installed with at least one selected transceiver having line-of-sight access to at least one existing transceiver. Automated tracking and acquisition processes are used to align transceivers to enable data communication and to acquire newly installed nodes into the network.

In many areas of the world the World Wide Web (WWW), or Internet, has become a significant medium for the exchange of information including everything from casual electronic mail (e-mail) to legal and business documents to entertainment media. Much of the material exchanged over the Internet comprises very large electronic files, for example large documents, music, video and even full-length motion pictures are available for exchange and distribution over the Internet.
While commercial services often choose fast but expensive high-speed Internet connections for business purposes, typical consumer connections comprise relatively slow telephone modems. For example, a typical commercial T1 connection will yield in the range of 1,544 kilobits per second (Kbps) or 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps) data communications rate at a monthly cost in the range of $1,000 to $2,000. In contrast, a typical consumer telephone modem connection will provide a 56 Kbps data communications rate at a cost of in the range of $10–$30 month.
As commercial services provide richer content for consumer use, data file sizes increase. For example, a typical audio music file may be in the range of 3–5 Megabytes and take up to 10 minutes for a consumer to download over a telephone modem. A typical audio/video file, for example a full-length movie, may run in the thousands of mega bytes size range and take a significant part of a day for a consumer to download over a modem. Streaming audio or video may require the download of large quantities of data over an extended period of time.
It is obvious that the ability of commercial services to provide rich, large media files is rapidly outstripping the typical consumer's ability to receive those files.
Recently, several affordable, high-speed alternatives have become available to the traditional consumer telephone modem. Cable modems use the cable television infrastructure to provide Internet connections having a speed of about 1,100 Kbps, about 20× times the speed of a telephone modem. DSL modems use conventional telephone lines to provide Interconnect connections, and have an average speed of about 700 Kbps, or over 12× times the speed of a telephone modem. Both cable and DSL modems are priced at approximately twice the cost of telephone modem services, with slightly higher equipment costs than for standard modems.
The higher speed cable and DSL connections are geographically limited, however, by the underlying infrastructure. Many areas of the United States and worldwide include regions not serviced by cable television or where the cable television networks have not and will not be upgraded to support high-speed data modems. Similarly, DSL service is not available in many geographic areas. Numerous reasons exist for the limited availability of cable and DSL services, including high cost of infrastructure upgrade, technological limitations, physical geographical limitations and, in some areas, low demand. As with many types of commercial services, the incremental costs of extending infrastructure are becoming increasingly higher, sometimes by multiples or even exponentially, as attempts are made to expand those infrastructures to every last consumer.
There thus exists a real demand for high-speed Internet connections in areas that cable and/or DSL service providers may never serve. This demand will increase as more content is provided and more business is executed over the Internet.
Some providers have attempted to expand service coverage while avoiding the high costs associated with expanding network infrastructure. This is typically accomplished using a wireless network, for example extending from an access point in the wired infrastructure. Wireless networks may be installed without the need for the wired infrastructure.
One type of wireless network uses wireless radio frequency (RF) components that transmit data in the radio frequency spectrum. These networks, however, have the disadvantages of being expensive and relatively slow. In one embodiment of multi-channel multipoint distribution system (MMDS), for example, broadcasts occur at speeds up to 25 Mbps but require very expensive spread-spectrum infrastructure equipment, costing on average $16 million. MMDS customer equipment is also very expensive, with the cost of deployment for a single customer running in the range of $1,000.
Wi-Fi, or 802.11b is a much lower speed technology; achieving throughputs of up to 5.5 Mbps full duplex. Wi-Fi bandwidth decreases significantly with distance between components, and is particularly dependent on obstructions such as roofs or walls, as well as interference from other networks or even microwave ovens.
Another type of wireless network uses light, in the form of, for example, lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit high-speed data in a process called free space optic systems, or FSO systems. While FSO systems are a cost-effective high-speed communications medium, they require very highly aligned line-of-sight paths. More specifically, existing free space optic systems have very narrow beam divergence parameters requiring precision alignment. For this reason, laser and FSO components tend to be expensive and require high levels of maintenance and service.
There thus exists demand for high-speed, affordable Internet connections in geographies and neighborhoods into which more traditional, wired high-speed network infrastructure cannot be cost-effectively extended. This demand will grow significantly as the Internet is increasingly used to deliver content, facilitate business transactions and support other matters amenable to electronic data transfer.

Methods and systems for aligning and maintaining alignment of point-to-point transceivers in a network

Abstract: Other automated tracking programs operate on an as-needed or scheduled basis to maintain good alignment and communications between adjoining node transceivers.

Abstract: Network nodes include weather-proof housings and are of a size and shape to be easily mounted on existing structures so as not to disrupt the visual appeal of a neighborhood.


A first layer is established on a second layer and an induction coil is disposed within induction proximity to the second layer. The induction coil is electrically energized thereby heating the second layer to a target temperature. A die having a die cavity is translated from a first location spaced substantially beyond an induction heating distance from the induction coil to a clamping location adjacent the second layer such that the induction coil surrounds a predetermined location on an external surface of the die. The die is heated by induction between the induction coil and the die while the die is translated toward the clamping location until the die reaches a predetermined die temperature. The induction coil is de-energized after the die has reached the predetermined die temperature. The first layer and the second layer are clamped between a binder and the die.

Materials may be secured together using many different methods including, for example, pre-heated hot clinching and friction stir spot welding. Pre-heated hot clinching techniques often result in the thermal expansion of the materials. For example, in one form of pre-heated hot clinching, after the punch and/or the die are continuously heated by resistance heaters, the sheets are placed in the die where they draw heat from the pre-heated tools. When the sheets reach a desired temperature, the punch advances to form the clinch joint in the die. Friction stir spot welding often results in brittle phase formation when joining different materials (e.g., aluminum and magnesium). Other clinching techniques may require the precise alignment of the clinching tool with particular features of the materials to be clinched and/or may result in the splitting or cracking of the clinch button.

Clinching method and tool for performing the same


A safety valve lock out system and method. In a described embodiment, a method of locking out a safety valve in a subterranean well includes the steps of: flowing a hardenable fluid into the safety valve; and preventing a closure device of the safety valve from closing with the hardenable fluid.

The present invention relates generally to operations performed and equipment utilized in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a safety valve lock out system and method.
It is sometimes desirable to lock out a safety valve, that is, to render the safety valve inoperative by preventing it from closing. Typically, a safety valve is locked out permanently due to a malfunction. For example, a control line used to operate the safety valve may develop a leak or be severed, a flapper or other closure device of the safety valve may fail to close properly or seal adequately, etc. A safety valve may be locked out temporarily, for example, to permit unobstructed workover operations through the safety valve.
Prior methods of locking out safety valves have required complex mechanisms to open and secure the closure device. Some of these require an opening prong or flow tube of the safety valve to be displaced and locked in position.
It would, therefore, be beneficial to provide a way of locking out a safety valve which is relatively straightforward in design and execution, and which is not unnecessarily complicated, expensive or inconvenient to use.


A wireless operating system, which is used with a mobile telephone, for wirelessly operating an operated target, includes: an adapter including transmitting means for allowing operation information required for an operation of the operated target to be transmitted by short distance radio; a short distance wireless unit having receiving means for receiving the operation information and operating means for operating the operated target in accordance with the received operation information; and an operated target control unit. The adapter further includes: communication means capable of performing direct communication with the mobile telephone by being carried with the mobile telephone; and operation information generating means for generating operation information in accordance with portable communication terminal information acquired from the mobile telephone. Under the circumstances where a user carries the mobile telephone, it is possible to provide a wireless operating system in which various operated targets and the mobile telephone are wirelessly operated.

In recent years, a penetration rate of mobile telephones (portable communication terminals) has been increasing explosively, and a large number of people have owned mobile telephones. Under the circumstances where the mobile telephones are common among many people, allowing for various operations other than calling operation by means of mobile telephones makes the mobile telephones more useful.
Now, the mobile telephones have gone beyond merely communication devices, and they have become multifunction devices capable of performing various operations. It is conceived to operate other devices by making the most use of such processing capabilities. For example, there are the following conceivable operations: locking a door by means of a mobile telephone; utilizing a mobile telephone instead of showing a ticket; paying fees by means of a mobile telephone; and monitoring a state of something by means of a mobile telephone.
However, a conventional mobile telephone is connected to an external device via a mobile communication network so as to operate other device, so that a use fee (communication cost) of the mobile communication network is charged to operate other device. For example, an ordinary task such as unlocking a door by means of a mobile telephone takes a communication cost. Further, at such a place that access to the mobile communication network is impossible and at such a place that the use of a mobile telephone is banned, the operation using a mobile telephone is not available.
A conceivable method for solving such a problem is to incorporate a short distance wireless communications capability into a mobile telephone and operate other device by means of this communications capability. This can solve the problem of a communication cost charged for the ordinary task as described above. For example, consider that the operation of purchasing a canned drink from a vending machine is performed by means of a mobile telephone. The operating via the mobile communication network requires paying for a communication fee of the mobile telephone as well as a charge for the canned drink. On the other hand, the operation using the short distance wireless communication capability does not require paying such a communication fee.
However, there is the problem that those who can perform an operation by means of a mobile telephone including the short distance wireless communications capability are limited to users who purchase such a mobile telephone, and users who use ordinary mobile telephones cannot perform such an operation.
At the start of the service providing the operation of a device by means of a mobile telephone, this problem invites a situation where the great majority of people cannot use the service. Also, a service provider cannot expand a business of the service using a short distance wireless communications capability until many of the mobile telephone users purchase mobile telephones including the short distance wireless communications capability. Conceivably, additional investments for stimulation of the user's interest in renewing mobile telephones could be required for the improvement of such a situation.
Further, at the start of the service providing the operation of a device by means of a mobile telephone, in many cases, the short distance wireless communications capability is not included in operated targets, which could result in the limitation of an available operated target.


An X-ray diagnosis apparatus including an X-ray detector which has a plurality of detection elements. On the X-ray detector, there is a first area and a second area. A readout unit reads out an electric charge from a detection element on the first area before reading out the electric charge from a detection element on the second area. A display unit displays an X-ray image data which is created by the electric charge read out from the detection element on the second area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray diagnosis apparatus which has a plurality of detection elements arranged in 2-dimensions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Medical diagnosis imaging technology using X-rays, an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray computer tomography (CT), or similar technologies have rapidly improved with the advancement of computer technologies. An X-ray film and an Image Intensifier (I.I.) are conventionally used in X-ray diagnosis equipment. When using an I.I., X-rays irradiated through a patient are changed to an optical signal by the I.I., and the optical signal is changed to an electrical signal by a TV camera. The electrical signal is then A/D converted and displayed on a TV monitor as an X-ray image. The I.I. makes it possible to image the patient in real time, which cannot be realized by a method using the X-ray film. Further, since the image is obtained as a digital signal in the I.I. method, various types of image processing can be used to further analyze the image.
In some devices, the traditional I.I. has been replaced with an X-ray flat panel detector (hereinafter flat panel detector). A flat panel detector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,898, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Typically, a flat panel detector has 2-dimensional X-ray detection elements. In comparison with the I.I., the flat panel detector is characterized by improved image quality and stability. In a flat panel detector, an electric charge corresponding to an amount of the X-ray irradiation (hereinafter called as a signal charge) accumulates in the 2-dimensional detection elements. The signal charges accumulated in the detection elements are sequentially output via a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) which has a switching function. The output signal is converted to a signal voltage by a charge/voltage converter which is then converted to a digital signal by an A/D converter. The digital signal is stored in an image memory as an X-ray image, and the X-ray image is displayed on the TV monitor. The digital signal of the X-ray image can be used for various processing to the image or subtraction processing between the images.
In conventional flat panel detectors, spurious electric charges caused by stray capacitances between a gate and a source (hereinafter called as a stray charge) accumulate after the TFT changes from ON state to OFF state. Moreover, it is known that an impedance does not become a large value immediately after the impedance between the source and a drain of the TFT changes OFF. Consequently, the stray charge can leak out to the output wire through a gap between the source and the drain, and can thus be inadvertently added to the signal charge output via the TFT. Because the signal charges accumulated in each the detection elements are read according to a similar principle as a TV scan, an amount of the added stray charges (hereinafter called as a total stray charge) increases according to the line number corresponding to the line where the signal charge is read out. That is, the total stray charge is different in each line and is added to the signal charge which is used for making the X-ray image. These accumulating stray charges cause a phenomenon called as shading), whereby each line is corrupted with different brightnesses, making the image quality low.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method of producing a connecting tube that interconnects the shaft and the handle of a racket includes the steps of performing two foamed preforms which cooperatively form a foamed layer; placing the two foamed preforms around an internal impregnated fiber wall of the connecting tube; wrapping predetermined layers of impregnated fibers around the two preforms to form an external impregnated fiber wall; and heating the internal and external impregnated fiber walls and the preforms in a mold to allow the internal and external impregnated fiber walls and the preforms to connect integrally.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates a method for producing a connecting tube that interconnects the shaft and the handle of a racket, more particularly to a method for producing a connecting tube that interconnects the shaft and the handle of the racket, which method can reduce the defective ratio of the connecting tube.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rackets, such as badminton rackets, tennis rackets, etc., have connecting tubes which interconnect the shafts and the handles of the rackets. The connecting tubes are manufactured in the following manner. FIGS. 1(A) to 1(F) are schematic views illustrating a conventional method of producing the connecting tube which interconnects the shaft and the handle of the racket. Impregnated fiber laminates are rolled into a tubular internal wall (1), as shown in FIG. 1(A). A foamable material (2), which has not expanded, is provided around the tubular internal wall (1) at a predetermined position, as shown in FIG. 1(B). A predetermined number of impregnated fiber laminates (3) are then wrapped around the foamable material (2) in order to form an external wall, as shown in FIG. 1(C). The wrapped tubular internal wall (1) is disposed in a mold (4) with a mold cavity (4a), as shown in FIG. 1(D). The mold (4) is heated in order to allow the foamable material (2) to expand into a rigid foam (2a) and depress the impregnated fiber laminates (3) to fill the mold cavity (4a) in order to form an external wall, as shown in FIG. 1(E). A connecting tube 5 is thus obtained, as shown in FIG. 1(F).
However, since it is difficult to control the expanding ratio of the unexpanded foamable material (2) and the amount of the unexpanded foamable material (2) around the tubular internal wall (1), the foamable material (2) will depress the tubular internal wall (1) inwardly during the heating process, thereby causing the tubular internal wall (1) to deform irregularly and causing the thickness (S) of the tubular internal wall (1) and the external wall to be uneven, as best illustrated in FIGS. I(F), 2(A) and 2(B). This will reduce the strength of the racket and increase the defective ratio of the racket.

Method for producing a connecting tube interconnecting the shaft and the handle of a racket

Li-Lin Tsun, Tan-Tzu Hsiang, Taichung Hsien


The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device that can improve imaging quality by reducing variation in the voltage of a charge retention unit, a method of driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus. A first photoelectric conversion unit generates and accumulates signal charge by receiving light that has entered a pixel, and photoelectrically converting the light. A first charge retention unit retains the generated signal charge. A first output transistor outputs the signal charge in the first charge retention unit as a pixel signal, when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor. A first voltage control transistor controls the voltage of the output end of the first output transistor. The present technology can be applied to pixels in solid-state imaging devices, for example.

A structure having a photoelectric conversion unit disposed outside a semiconductor substrate has been recently suggested as a technique for discontinuously changing the characteristics of an image sensor. For example, Patent Documents 1 through 3 each disclose a structure in which a photoelectric conversion unit is disposed in an upper portion of a semiconductor substrate, and photoelectrically converted signals are accumulated in the semiconductor substrate. In such a structure, photoelectric conversion characteristics that are conventionally determined by a semiconductor substrate material can be greatly changed. Such a structure might bring out a possibility that the sensor technology can be applied to the fields that are not easily realized with image sensors using conventional silicon (Si), such as use of far-infrared rays.
Also, in a pixel array in which red, blue, and green color filters that are widely used in today's image sensors are arranged in a two-dimensional manner, light of a certain wavelength is absorbed on a pixel-by-pixel basis, so that color separation is conducted. In a red pixel, for example, light of the wavelength of blue and green is absorbed by the color filter and is lost.
To counter this problem, Patent Document 1 suggests a stacked solid-state imaging device in which photoelectric conversion regions for photoelectrically converting red, blue, and green light are stacked in the same pixel space, for example. With this structure, decreases in sensitivity due to light absorption by color filters can be reduced. Furthermore, this structure does not need any interpolating, and therefore, an effect to avoid generation of false colors can be expected.
In a structure having a photoelectric conversion unit disposed outside a semiconductor substrate, a contact portion that electrically connects the photoelectric conversion unit and the semiconductor substrate is necessary. On the semiconductor substrate side, the contact portion is connected to an n-type diffusion layer surrounded by a p-type semiconductor, for example. This n-type diffusion layer functions as a charge retention unit that retains photoelectrically converted charge, but a buried PN junction cannot be formed due to the contact portion. As a result, leakage current is generated. For example, in a case where an n-type diffusion layer surrounded by a p-type semiconductor is used, a reverse bias leakage current of a PN junction is generated.

Solid-state imaging device, method of driving the same, and electronic apparatus

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation


A probe for a magnetic remanence measurement method, in particular for detecting foreign material deposits and inclusions in hollow spaces, the hollow spaces being formed in a non-ferromagnetic material and the foreign material deposits and inclusions being made of a ferromagnetic material, wherein the probe includes at least one magnetic field sensor, at least one first and one second magnet, the magnets being configured before the at least one magnetic field sensor in a direction of introduction into the hollow space, and being situated relative to one another in such a way that their pole axes run non-parallel to one another.

The present invention relates to a probe for a magnetic remanence measurement method, in particular for detecting deposits of foreign material and inclusions in hollow spaces, the hollow spaces being formed in a non-ferromagnetic material, and the foreign material deposits and inclusions being made of a ferromagnetic material, and the probe having at least one magnetic field sensor. The present invention further relates to a method for detecting foreign material deposits and inclusions in hollow spaces, the hollow spaces being formed in a non-ferromagnetic material, and the foreign material deposits and inclusions being made of a ferromagnetic material.
In a large number of technical applications, significant problems are caused by ferromagnetic inclusions situated in a non-ferromagnetic surrounding environment. Thus, for example, the smallest foreign material deposits or inclusions in components of aircraft engines can cause significant damage to these engines. Corresponding foreign material deposits and inclusions can be, for example, cutting material residue resulting from breakage or chipping of cutting edges of drilling tools. Such inclusions result in defects in the area of the surface of the corresponding components, but these defects are not easily recognizable. These foreign material deposits and inclusions become particularly relevant in the case of drilled holes, because these have an increased level of tension and are also very difficult to access. In order to detect foreign material deposits and inclusions in hollow spaces, in particular in bores in turbines and compressor materials of aircraft engines, destruction-free test methods based on ferromagnetism have been described. These methods are applicable because the materials spalled by the drilling tool are ferromagnetic hard metal, whereas turbine and compressor materials are not ferromagnetic. In particular, the magnetic remanence method, and also the eddy current method, have been described and used for the detection of small ferromagnetic particles in a non-ferromagnetic environment. However, these two methods have various disadvantages when used for the detection, location, and characterization of ferromagnetic inclusions in hollow spaces. Thus, up to now it has been possible to carry out the magnetic remanence method for the detection of foreign material deposits and inclusions only from the surface of the component. On the other hand, hollow space tests using the eddy current method have the disadvantage that it is possible to distinguish ferromagnetic inclusions from geometric anomalies only to a limited extent.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a probe of the general type described for a magnetic remanence measurement method that enables reliable detection and location of ferromagnetic foreign material deposits and inclusions in hollow spaces.
In addition, the object of the present invention is to provide a method of the general type described for the detection of foreign material deposits and inclusions in hollow spaces that ensures a reliable detection and location of ferromagnetic foreign material deposits and inclusions.

Probe for a magnetic remanence measurement method, and method for detecting deposits of foreign material and inclusions in hollow spaces


The present invention discloses a light emitting diode structure and a method for fabricating the same. In the present invention, a substrate is placed in a solution to form a chemical reaction layer on carved regions; the carved region is selectively etched to form a plurality of concave zones and form a plurality of convex zones; a semiconductor layer structure is epitaxially grown on the element regions and carved regions of the substrate; the semiconductor layer structure on the element regions is fabricated into a LED element with a photolithographic process.

Improving LED (Light Emitting Diode) light efficiency is a top priority for realizing a solid-state illuminator. There are two approaches to improve LED light efficiency: one is to increase LED internal quantum efficiency, and the other is to increase LED external quantum efficiency (LED light extraction efficiency).
There is a great difference between the refractive indexes of a semiconductor and a packaging material; therefore, a LED usually has a small total reflection critical angle. The light generated by LED reaching an interface by an angle greater than the total reflection critical angle will be totally reflected back to the interior of the LED chip. Then, the probability that light leaves a semiconductor from an interface decreases, and photons can only be totally reflected inside a chip until they are completely absorbed and converted into heat. Thus, LED has an insufficient light efficiency.
Changing the geometry of LED is an effective measure to improve LED light efficiency. A U.S. Pat. No. 7,075,115 disclosed a semiconductor light emitting element, which has a concave and convex structure formed on the border of the LED element. Compared with the planar surface of another LED element, the concave and convex structure can scatter or diffract the horizontally-propagating light and thus can greatly promote external quantum efficiency.
In the abovementioned conventional technology, the fabrication process of the concave and convex structure includes: forming a passivation layer on the surface of the semiconductor layer of the LED; patterning the geometry of the concave and convex structure on the passivation layer with a photolithographic process; and etching the semiconductor layer of the LED to form the concave and convex structure with a dry- or wet-etching method. However, such a process is more complicated and cost-inefficient, which will impair the commercialization of LED.

Method for fabricating light emitting diode structure having irregular serrations


A variable camshaft drive system for an internal combustion engine includes a primary camshaft phaser interposed between the engine crankshaft and a first camshaft. A secondary camshaft phaser determines the phase relationship between the first camshaft and a second camshaft driven by the first camshaft and which is located on the same bank of cylinders as the first camshaft. The operation of each phaser is controlled by an electronic controller which samples one or more engine operating parameters.

It is well known that spark ignition internal combustion engines will exhibit improved power and torque output, as well as reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emissions if such engines are equipped with variable valve timing operated with an optimized strategy.
With dual overhead camshaft engines, a first camshaft on each bank is usually operated either by single flexible, inextensible drive member such as a chain or belt or, alternatively, by gears from the crankshaft. With such a system, it is commonly known to shift the phase relationship between the crankshaft and both camshafts simultaneously by means of a belt-timing control system such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,456 to Suga, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The '456 patent discloses a type of so-called "dual-equal" system in which the intake and exhaust camshafts are phase shifted with respect to the crankshaft of the engine by the same amount. Although the dual-equal system will achieve certain benefits, it is generally incapable of changing the phase relationship between the camshafts of an individual cylinder bank. As will be explained below, it is desirable to have the capability to change the phase relationship between the dual camshafts on a cylinder bank.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,331 to Oyaizu discloses a system for changing the phase relationship between the intake and exhaust valves on a single cylinder bank of an engine. However, this system is incapable of changing the gross camshaft timing with respect to the crankshaft. More specifically, with the system of the '331 patent, the relationship between the exhaust camshafts and the crankshaft does not change. U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,813 to Trzmiel et al. discloses another system for altering the overlap between dual camshafts, with the system being responsive only to engine oil pressure. This system suffers from the deficiency that its dependency upon engine oil pressure renders it unable to control the camshaft phase relationship independently of engine speed. Although the concept of independently controlling the phase relationship between the crankshaft and both camshafts of a dual overhead camshaft setup is known, such a system would be very expensive and complex.
A system according to the present invention offers the advantage that the gross timing between both camshafts and the crankshaft can be controllably changed but, more importantly, the phase relationship between the two camshafts on a given bank of cylinders may also be controlled. This offers the important benefit of being able to change the valve overlap occurring between the opening of the intake valve and the closing of the exhaust valve. During operation at idle and very light loads, it is desirable to have little overlap between the opening of the intake valve and the closing of the exhaust valve. A small overlap is desired to minimize the fraction of the incoming intake charge which comprises exhaust gas remaining from the previous cycle because an excessive exhaust gas fraction will cause combustion instability at idle and, therefore, higher exhaust gas hydrocarbon emissions. On the other hand, at part loads, it is desirable to use exhaust gas recirculation ("EGR"); for this reason, external EGR valves and hardware have been installed on engines. Of course, such hardware is expensive and requires extra maintenance to keep the EGR system in order. Accordingly, if the valve overlap could be increased such that the number of degrees between the opening of the intake valve and the closing of the exhaust valve is increased, internal EGR could be increased, thereby obviating the need for an external EGR valve and its associated plumbing. A system according to the present invention uses variable valve overlap so as to provide variable internal EGR while also allowing a form of dual-equal phaseshifting.

Variable camshaft drive system for internal combustion engine