A multilayer circuit board having a high level of reliability in terms of electric connection against temperature changes caused by the actual operation of electronic equipment, a manufacturing process, a substrate for multilayer circuitry, and an electronic apparatus. The multilayer circuit board comprises a laminate of at least one insulating layer and at least one wiring layer, wherein the wiring layer is formed by a composite member comprising a first metal layer and a second metal layer formed on one or both sides of the first metal layer, the first metal layer having a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than the second metal layer, the second metal layer having a higher electric conductivity than the first metal layer, wherein the insulating layer has a blind via-hole with a bottom provided by a surface of the second metal layer, the circuit board further comprising a layer-to-layer interconnection portion on the surface of the insulating layer and in the blind via-hole, wherein the layer-to-layer interconnection portion in the blind via-hole is formed in such a manner as to be in contact with the surface of the second metal layer.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a novel low thermal-expansion multilayer circuit board suitable for the mounting of semiconductor devices, a method of manufacturing the same, a substrate for multilayer circuits, and an electronic apparatus.
2. Background Art
In recent years, semiconductor chips are often mounted directly on circuit boards by the so-called bear chip mounting technique, whereby mounting takes place directly without the use of leaded package. However, because the coefficient of thermal expansion of semiconductor devices differs from that of circuit boards, cracks or peeling can occur in the solder-connected portions linking semiconductor devices and circuit boards. This occurs due to temperature changes that result when the electronic equipment on which a circuit board is mounted is activated, leading to faulty electrical connections. In order to bring the coefficient of thermal expansion of the circuit board closer to that of the semiconductor devices, a metal-core substrate has been adopted in which a plate of an alloy with a small coefficient of thermal expansion is laid.
Iron-nickel alloys with a nickel content of about 36–42 mass % are often used for the alloy plate. This is because their coefficient of thermal expansion is about 1–5×10−6/° C., which is on the same order as the coefficient of thermal expansion of silicon in the semiconductor devices, which is about 3×10−6/° C. While the iron-nickel alloy forming the core is electrically insulated from the circuit in a typical metal-core substrate, it is sometimes used as a power supply or ground circuit. However, the iron-nickel alloys are not suitable for use in circuits because their electric conductivity is low.
JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 6-85414 discloses the use of a composite member comprising an iron-nickel alloy coated by copper on either side in a printed circuit board. The publication, however, does not describe layer-to-layer interconnection.
JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 11-354684 discloses the formation of a composite member in which an iron-nickel alloy coated with copper on one side is stacked via a polyimide-resin insulating layer. While the publication also describes through-hole via-holes, the layer-to-layer interconnection is carried out by soldering.
JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) Nos. 5-251868, 9-162550, 11-261236, and 2001-342574 each disclose multilayer circuit boards having blind via-holes communicated to the wiring layer, where a circuit pattern is formed in the non-through holes.
None of the publications, however, disclose the formation of layer-to-layer interconnections in a low expansion multilayer wiring board comprising an iron-nickel alloy composite member formed with copper plating. Further, the publication in which a circuit pattern is formed in blind via-holes does not disclose a low expansion wiring board. While JP Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 2001-342574 discloses the example of an iron-nickel alloy in the core substrate, it does not describe the wiring of the iron-nickel alloy and its layer-to-layer interconnection.
JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 11-354684 does not disclose the formation of outer-layer wiring on the insulator surface by plating.

Multilayer circuit board, process of manufacturing same, board for multilayer circuitry, and electronic apparatus


This invention discloses a method for making a silicon field emission device which ensures in the higher electron emission effect at the same voltage required for field emission by shrinking the diameter of a gate aperture to make the field emission structure sharp. The shrinkage effect of the gate aperture of about 42-45% may be achieved in accordance with this invention.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a silicon field emission device. More particularly, it relates to a method for making an improved silicon field emission device to emit electrons at a little lower voltage by reducing the diameter of a gate aperture between a gate electrode and a silicon emitter to make the field emission structure sharp.
This field emission device may be utilized as an electron source in various display elements, light sources, amplifying devices, high speed switching devices, or sensors.
(2) Description of the Related Art
As a display monitor that can be substituted for a conventional cathode ray tube of a television, flat panel displays for wall television sets such as liquid crystal displays, plasma display panel, field emission device have received living study. The field emission device may have very high luminous efficiency and luminance by making unit pixed, i.e. the emitters per pixel high-integrated to 10.sup.4 -10.sup.5 tips/MM.sup.2, and is thought as a very suitable display for the embodiment of wall television sets.
Besides, even though silicon has a low electric conductivity and melting point, the applicability is gradually increased by the variety of the microfabrication technology that can facilitate fabrication of sharp emitter tips by means of silicon.
A representative embodiment of a structure of this silicon field emission device is depicted in FIG. 6. The reference numeral 60 designates a silicon substrate doped with impurities of high density to have a high conductivity. In a gate aperture 68 formed within insulating layers 62, 64 made on this substrate 60, an emitter 65 is formed to be united with the silicon substrate, serving as an electron emission part. And, a gate electrode 66 formed of molybdenum to enclose the emitter 65, with each space being of a predetermined width, is deposited on the insulating layer 64.
FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of a conventional display using the electron emission device.
Referring to FIG. 8, there are formed a silicon substrate doped with impurities of high density and united with conic field emission emitters 65 in accordance with the direction of rows 81 and an insulating layer 64. In addition, a plurality of gate electrodes 66 is formed on the insulating layer 64 in accordance with the direction of columns 83. Gate apertures 68 are formed at a position corresponding to the gate electrodes 66 and the conic field emission emitters 65. On an upper substrate 90, a transparent conductive layer 92 and a fluorescent layer 94 are respectively deposited to be fixed to the upper substrate in a beta configuration. The lower substrate 60 and the upper substrate 90 form side members and an external part of a vacuum tube (not illustrated).
The operation of the display mentioned above is as follows.
Positive potential is applied to the transparent conductive layer 92. Responsive to a display signal, a predetermined potential difference is given between the silicon emitters 65 in the rows and the gate electrodes 66 in the columns. An appropriate electric field is produced between them such that electrons are emitted from the conic emitters 65. The electrons are emitted through the gate apertures 68 and collide with the fluorescent layer 94, and this fluorescent layer 94 radiates.
For example, by biasing the gate electrodes 66 within the range of several 10 V to several 100 V to the substrate 60, an electric field is produced between the conic tips of the emitters 65 having a microscopic diameter and the gate electrodes 66, and the electron emission of about several hundreds mA is achieved from the tips of the emitters 65.
In the field emission device for displaying a picture according to a display signal by the above operation, the gate aperture 68 is preferably small in diameter to improve the electron emission characteristics, i.e. to obtain the low voltage-driving condition.
When it comes to a real fabrication procedure, however, the insulating layer 64 and the gate electrodes 66 are deposited slantingly because of the limit to the deposition angle (under 90 degrees), and the gate aperture is apt to be enlarged in diameter. This occasions the increase of the gate voltage and difficulty in the low voltage-driving.
FIG. 7 depicts an enlarged sectional view of the step for depositing a gate prior to lift-off of an oxide mask and an oxide film underneath the oxide mask after the step for depositing the gate insulating layer 64 and the gate electrodes 66, in order to describe in detail the above problems. Since the gate electrode 66 and the insulating layer 64 are deposited slantingly according to a deposition angle .alpha., the oxide mask 63 is extended, and its profile is formed to be fan shaped under 10 degrees. Accordingly, this causes a side effect that the diameter of the gate aperture actually formed is more enlarged than the one in a design drawing.

Method for making a silicon field emission device


The heat exchanger comprises at least one first sheet tubes and at least one second sheet of tubes, the sheets being suspended in a case. The two sheets are juxtaposed in a vertical plane, the first sheet of tubes connecting a first inlet fluid manifold disposed at the bottom and on one side of a case to an outlet manifold disposed in a central top portion of the case, and the second sheet of tubes connecting a second inlet fluid manifold disposed at the bottom and on one side of the case to the outlet manifold. Each sheet comprises first tubes which extend horizontally in the bottom portion of the case, second tubes which are connected to the first tubes and which extend vertically between the bottom portion of the case and the middle portion of the case, and bent third tubes which are connected to the second tubes and which extend between the middle portion of the case and the top portion of the case. This configuration makes it possible to obtain a large heat exchange area with a compact heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is designed to be installed in an external dense bed equipping a circulating fluidized bed hearth.

Such a heat exchanger conventionally comprises an inlet fluid manifold and an outlet fluid manifold, the manifolds being interconnected by at least one group of tubes extending in zigzag manner in a vertical plane between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. The zigzags define hairpins having adjacent branches which slope relative to one another (at an angle approximately in the range 8.degree. to 15.degree.) while leaving empty space between them. The slope is necessary to enable bubbles of fluid vapor to flow naturally in the tubes.
High-power installations require relatively large heat exchange areas. Obtaining such areas involves providing a greater number of heat exchangers or providing a heat exchanger that is large in size and whose design is dictated by the cross flow of the solids.


A process for separating dioxygen from a gaseous mixture containing dioxygen, which entails:. a) absorbing dioxygen by one or more transition metal complexes at a low oxidation state of the formula (A): EQU (L.sub.n (M.sup.+p).sub.m (X.sup.-z).sub.x.sup.mp-xz (A) PA0 the absorption causing formation of a peroxo dihapto deoxygenated product complex of the formula (B): EQU (L.sub.n '(M.sup.p+2 O.sub.2).sub.m' (X.sup.-z).sub.x).sup.m'p-x'z(B) PA0 b) desorbing oxygen from the complex by electrochemically oxidizing the peroxo dihapto product complex obtained by reaction of the complex of the formula (A) wiht O.sub.2 : and PA0 c) recovering the absorbed oxygen.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the use of transition metal complexes for the separation of dioxygen from a gas mixture containing dioxygen. Numerous transition metal complexes of the C.sub.y M type where the transition metal M is bound to y molecules of organic complexing species C, are capable of binding the molecular oxygen.
2. Description of the Background
The resulting dioxygen complexes are either of the superoxo type: C.sub.y M--O--O, or .mu.-peroxo: C.sub.y M--O--O--MC.sub.y, peroxo dihapto: ##STR1## hydroperoxo: C.sub.y M--O--OH, oxo: C.sub.y M=0, or 82 oxo: C.sub.y M--O--MC.sub.y. Among these structures, only the first three correspond to a bonding of the O.sub.2 molecule to the metal without cleavage of the molecule and, thus, are considered as candidates for the separation of the molecular oxygen from a gas mixture. The most commonly used complexes are complexes of cobalt with a Schiff base, an aminoacids, a porphyrin, a polyalkylamine or a polyalkylaminoacid, or complexes of iron with a cryptand or a porphyrin. Other complexes are also used which are complexes of transition metals such as manganese or copper, coordinated respectively with one or with several phosphines or with a protein.
The binding of dioxygen to these complexes leads to species of the superoxo or .mu.-peroxo type, and is reversible; the desorption step being effected by increasing of the temperature and decreasing the gas partial pressure. However, in order to increase the dioxygen separation efficiency by using such complexes, it is necessary to run the process in a continuous manner with complexes that present a very high affinity for the dioxygen. This is unfortunately realize when the metal-oxygen bond is strong and requires a high energy level for breakage in the desorption step. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,994 of MAXDEM Inc. suggests a way to overcome this problem which is the use of a solution of a cobalt complex capable of dioxygen binding when contacted with a gas mixture and the use of an electrochemical device for the desorption of dioxygen. The metal complex used in this process binds the dioxygen in a suspension arrangement C.sub.y Co--O--O or a .mu.-peroxo C.sub.y Co--O--O--CoC.sub.y arrangement when the cobalt is originally at a +II oxidation state. With an appropriate ligand, it is possible to electrochemically oxidize the complex without changing the organic ligand and, thus, generate gaseous dioxygen at the anode of an electrochemical cell.
This oxidation reaction leads to the formation of a Co(III) complex which is inactive towards O.sub.2 and which is reduced in the cathode compartment of the same cell to generate a Co(II) species capable of O.sub.2 binding. An example of such a cycle is shown on Scheme I where the dioxygen is bound in a superoxo manner: ##STR2##
The cobalt complexes of the superoxo type, usually soluble in organic media, or of the .mu.-peroxo type, usually soluble in aqueous media, which is known for their capacity to bind, carry and unload the molecular oxygen according to the electrochemical cycle shown in Scheme I, present rather limited lifetime. The understanding of the reaction pathway and the analysis of the complex molecule degradation in the presence of dioxygen under electrochemical treatment, are rather difficult, especially in aqueous media where numerous equilibria have to be considered.
Among these equilibria, a person skilled in the art will mention the ones between protonated and unprotonated ligands (pH dependant), between the ligand and the metal (ligand basicity dependant), between species that require different coordinate environment (tetra coordinated complex.revreaction.pentacoordinated complex.revreaction.hexacoordinated complex), the spin equilibria such as low spin Co.sup.II .revreaction.high spin Co.sup.II (ligand field dependant), the dioxygen complexation equilibrium and the dimerisation of the oxygenated complex. If the chemical reactions and/or the electrochemical reactions are not or they are badly controlled, the organic ligand as well as the metal ion may be altered, leading to an irreversible degradation of the complex.

Process using transition metal complexes for the separation of dioxygen from a gas mixture by electrodecomplexation

L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour L'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude


A liquid-vapor contact column is packed with at least one layer formed of a plurality of structured packing sheets orientated to provide liquid-vapor contact in the axial direction of the column and arranged so that, viewed in the axial direction of the column, packing sheets in the body of the layer are in one or more sections in which at least one band surrounds a central core, said band being formed of segments in which the packing sheets in each segment extend rectilinearly in a different direction to those in the adjacent segments in the same band. The packing sheets in the body of the or each layer can be arranged in a plurality of abutting sections or in a single section.

It is well known that the use of structured packing in distillation columns has many advantages where low pressure drop is important. However, packed column performance is very dependent on creating and maintaining a balance between the downward flow of liquid and upward flow of vapor locally in the packing. The distribution of the liquid and vapor within the packing is influenced by the initial presentation of these fluids to the packing, and the particular characteristics of the packing.
The structured packing typically consists of sheets of corrugated metal, which are bound together in sections, forming a series of criss-crossing open channels. The sections abut each other to form a layer filling the column cross-section. Typically, several layers of sectioned structured packing are stacked on top of one another to an appropriate height to create a packed column. Each layer has a single direction to which the packing sheets and the channels formed by them are parallel. The liquid and vapor spread more easily in the direction of the channels within a given layer and, by following the channels, the fluids from different parts of the column can mix and congregate within the packing. Typically, each layer is angularly orientated by, for example 90.degree., relative to adjacent layers to promote mixing.
In both stationary and moving columns, difficulties arise in maintaining uniform liquid and vapor distribution within structured packing, due to the migration of the fluids across the column cross-section following the channels in the packing. The migration tends to create local imbalances of the liquid and vapor flows, leading to poor distillation performance. One manifestation of this phenomenon is the well-known relationship between mass transfer efficiency and structured packed column diameter: small columns tend to have higher mass transfer rates than larger columns. In theory, the rapid mixing of the entire column contents across the cross-section occurs more readily in a small column, thus mitigating the effects of the local flow imbalances. Non-stationary column installations, such as off-shore applications, pose special problems in maintaining uniform liquid distribution. The periodic tilting of the column tends to force the liquid toward the walls of the column, creating severe flow imbalances between the liquid and vapor in the packing.
An alternative to structured packing is spiral-wound packing, which is composed of a continuous sheet of corrugated packing which is wound on a mandrel, starting from the inside of a column and winding to the outside of the column. A continuous, spiral path for liquid and/or vapor is created between the corrugated sheets as they wind from the inside to the outside of the column. Spiral-wound packed columns have similar difficulties in maintaining flow uniformity, but, because transverse mixing may not occur as readily, may not enjoy the small-column performance enhancement observed in structured packed systems. Furthermore, spiral-wound packed columns have a spiral pathway to the wall of the column which may lead to accumulation of liquid there, especially in a shipboard application. However, a spiral-wound packing may have advantages over a structured packing for some applications because of reduced migration of the liquid and vapor radially in the column.
The prior art attempts to maintain the local balance between liquid and vapor flows within the structured packing by partitioning a layer of packing in a large column into smaller sections. Partitioning forces the liquid flowing within a partitioned section to stay within that section, thus maintaining the balance between liquid and vapor flows.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,318 (McKeigue and Krishnamurthy) teaches variations of packing partitioning by the use of physical partitions or by the use of varying packing orientation as a means of partitioning. These variations are depicted in FIG. 1. The physical partition P shown in FIG. 1a is a perforated plate, with perforations large enough that some vapor can pass through, but too small for a significant amount of liquid to flow through. The second variation, shown in FIG. 1b, requires that each section of packing abuts an adjacent section of packing perpendicularly, so that the channels in the packing sheets in Section A, for example, are bordered by a single packing sheet, Sheet C, of abutting Section B. The channels of Sheet C run in a perpendicular plane to those in Section A. Although not pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,318, when liquid runs down the channels from several sheets in Section A toward Section B, the liquid will tend to accumulate on a single sheet, Sheet C. The accumulation of liquid from several sheets onto one sheet results in local channelling, and thereby degrades the mass transfer performance of the column.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of packing sheets which permits of uniform liquid-vapor contact in a packed column during sway or tilt such as that encountered by a shipboard cryogenic air separation distillation column.

Packed liquid-vapor contact column having at least one band of packing sheets surrounding a central core of packing sheets


Methods of assessing feasibility of a project include receiving a datum from a customer; designing an application specific system based on the datum; analyzing the datum; evaluating a set of input parameters to determine an applicability of the application specific system to a customer process; and providing feedback for the customer process with the application specific system.

In an era of rapid technology innovation and higher cost of money, investments in capital equipment are less attractive. Continuous product advances accelerate obsolescence of purchased equipment. Resources are wasted in installation and training as new equipment and products replace obsolete equipment, and cash outlays become more frequent to stay on top of the technology curve. Over time, cost of immobilized capital and service contract expenses can result in multifold increases of the original price paid for capital equipment. Moreover, there is substantial risk that once capital is committed to purchase new equipment, the purchased equipment may not meet expectations.
Optical spectroscopy, for instance, relies on relatively sophisticated equipment for measuring chemicals in many applications. Specifically, due to its relatively non-invasive, non-destructive qualities, optical spectroscopy is employed by a variety of industries such as pharmaceutical, chemical, oil & gas, and food & beverage industries. Modern production controls in these industries require real-time measurement of compound concentrations throughout manufacturing processes to ensure final product quality. However, conventional optical spectrometers can be inherently slow and require significant computer support and costly chemometric resources to provide reliable, actionable results. In many cases, complicated sampling of production material is necessary to perform lab analysis. The overall measurement process is time consuming and resource intensive.
Some industries have attempted to move optical spectroscopy out of the laboratory and to their production lines. However, the challenges of applying laboratory grade instruments to an industrial processing line are not trivial. In many cases, spectrometers are bulky and delicate, and designed for lab environments, not for production floors. Moreover, a conventional spectrometer can be difficult to couple directly to the industrial process line.
Due to the drawbacks of the conventional spectrometer and related equipment, material sampling is a technique of choice in many industries. In the conventional material sampling technique shown in FIG. 1, gases or liquids of interest are conveyed through elaborate sampling techniques and devices to the spectrometer, which typically is housed in a separate, protected area. As shown, optical probes and fiber optic bundles are used in some instances to convey light from a process line to the spectroscopic instruments. However, an inability to directly couple the spectrometer to the process lines affects precise and timely process control and increases equipment cost. Sampling further limits process control and product assurance, and increases equipment and maintenance costs. Additionally, the use of probes affects measurement in spectral areas where optical fiber transmission is limited.
Even in industries in which the foregoing, cumbersome procedure can be employed with a modicum of success, technological advances eventually render presently employed spectrometers and related equipment obsolete, and cash outlays inevitably are required to update the technology.
Moreover, today's industrial processes are highly tailored to specific needs of each company that develops those processes. Therefore, cookie-cutter production equipment cannot meet the highly differentiated challenges each company faces in its manufacturing processes. Additionally, for companies which internally develop the application of optical spectroscopy to their production process control, such projects can become major challenges thereby tying up highly qualified resources. Also, for companies that rely on third-party vendors, there is a major risk of loss of proprietary information, formulation and materials when shared with outside parties.
An urgent need exists for a method of tailoring a process control system to meet specific needs in industry process lines, which will also avoid unnecessary capital equipment expenditures and related equipment obsolescence and depreciation.

Methods of assessing and designing an application specific measurement system


Methods and systems for use in locating and prioritizing cargo are provided. The system includes a communications unit configured to receive location information and content information for each of a plurality of pieces of cargo from a cargo location and classification sensor (CLCS). The system also includes a cargo pickup planner module configured to determine a priority listing of pieces of cargo based on mission information, the location information, and the content information. The system also includes a cargo approach planner module configured to transmit a set of waypoints for specified pieces of cargo selected from the priority listing to a control system (FCS) configured to maneuver a vehicle to a position above a specified piece of cargo. The system further includes a cargo pickup overlay generator module configured to generate an overlay for a pilotage system (PS) display to assist a user in maneuvering the vehicle above each piece of cargo for pickup.

The implementations described herein relate generally to systems and methods for tracking cargo, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for locating and prioritizing cargo.
Each day, numerous amounts of cargo is picked-up, transported, and/or delivered to different destinations. Delivery of such cargo may be time-sensitive and may need to reach a recipient much more quickly than other cargo. In a military context, a supply aircraft may drop multiple pieces of cargo within a predefined area. A helicopter picks up the cargo and delivers it to specified ground locations. Cargo management systems exist that mark a general location of each piece of cargo. At least some known cargo management systems use human eyesight and/or standard night vision systems to assist pilots in finding cargo that was dropped into areas of foliage and/or other environmental obscurants. Such known systems are inefficient in locating cargo, resulting in increased danger to the pilot and crew. Additionally, known cargo management systems do not provide a method for the crew to identify the contents of each piece of cargo from the helicopter. Accordingly, it may be difficult to locate and identify time-sensitive cargo for delivery.
Moreover, at least some known helicopters use sling-load attachments for picking up and transporting cargo. Numerous safety issues exist with the use of sling-load attachments, including, proximity of the helicopter to the load itself and wires and/or branches that may be located between the current helicopter location to a point above the load where the cargo can be safely hooked. To couple the helicopter to the load, at least some known attachment systems include a crew member sticking his/her head through an opening in the floor of the helicopter and calling out verbal commands to the pilot for lowering the helicopter above the load. Such method is prone to communication error between the crew member and the pilot, and introduces the crew member to safety risks.

Systems and methods for locating and prioritizing cargo


A machine learning model for predicting a size fit satisfaction for a variable size component is trained using at least sizing profiles of a plurality of items and feedbacks of subjects regarding sizing of the plurality of items. The machine learning model is used to determine a value for the variable size component that corresponds to an optimal predicted size fit satisfaction. The determined value of the variable size component is provided for use in creating a new item with a sizing variation based on the determined value.

Traditional garment design relies on a single human fit model to generate garment measurements. A garment is cut and measured to the specific fit model to create a base design for manufacturing. Smaller or larger sizes of the garment style are created by scaling variable size components of the base design such as the shoulder width for tops and the inseam for pants. Often the scaling is performed by a standard amount to create standard sizes. The use of standard scaling and the reliance on a single or even a handful of fit models to create different garment sizes results in poor fitting garments for many people. Individuals seeking the best fit often take an alternative approach and have a garment made bespoke to the individual's measurements. A bespoke garment is time consuming and expensive to make and the variable size components are customized to fit the individual it is created for. For a more universal approach, it is desirable to automatically scale variable size components to create a newly sized garment to fit the optimal number of individuals.

Using artificial intelligence to determine a value for a variable size component


Methods and systems for storing recovery related information on a computer memory are described. One exemplary method comprises accessing a user input relating to a user selection of applications to be restored upon executing a recovery of the memory and storing on a recovery partition of the memory a recovery image corresponding to a user image on a user partition of the memory. The user image comprises the user selection of applications. Upon executing a recovery, the recovery image is copied to the user partition such that the user image is configured to correspond to the recovery image. The recovery image is derived from a set of applications that includes at least one un-installed application.

The personal computer (PC) and similar modern computer systems use memory related devices, such as a hard disk and other drives (hereinafter "drives") for storing and accessing data and program code. During their function, computer programs sometimes encounter operational problems, which can cause the program(s) to stop properly operating. Some such problems (e.g., "crashes") cause the computer itself to require restarting, resetting and/or other recovery functions that typically affect one or more of its drives.
Recovery applications are stored on a recovery partition of a drive, which is typically hidden. Alternatively, recovery applications can run from recovery media, typically available from a support source, pre-provided or made from another source. Either way, the recovery application enables two recovery pathways. Normal recovery is non-destructive of user data. Full recovery, by contrast, is destructive to user data, because it typically re-formats the user partition, sometimes known as the 'c' drive, of a PC.
Some conventional recovery solutions function by unzipping files related to the operating system (OS), applications, drivers and tools that are stored on the recovery partition. These unzipped file contents are then copied to the user partition. Corresponding files on the user partition are over-written with this unzipped content. Thus, a recovery image is effectively copied from the recovery partition to form a user image thereof on the user partition.
Typically, the recovery image restores the user image to correspond with the original software configuration of the PC. Thus, the OS is restored on the user partition, along with all of the applications, drivers and tools. Upon running a conventional recovery, the user partition is effectively restored to the same configuration with which it was supplied new to a first user. Users however may not keep the original configuration with which their PC was supplied.
Users may, for instance, un-install applications they do not regularly use. The users thus free up drive space. Finite drive space can be valuable—even at a premium for some users' computer. Other programs such as so-called trial-ware, which are typically low value to many if not most users but provided bundled with more useful applications by PC distributors for promotional reasons, may also be un-installed by users early in their use of a PC. Trial-ware removal, besides freeing up valuable drive space, may relieve the user of more irritating aspects of some trial-ware, such as pestering obnoxious pop-up prompts to purchase extended use for the unwanted but bundled software.
Yet when a user runs conventional recovery on a PC, all of the original programs, including previously user un-installed applications and trial-ware, are restored to the user partition. This re-occupies drive space that the user has previously freed up. Further, if users desire, after running a recovery, to reconfigure the user partition to the configuration they prefer, they must repeat the un-install action for each and every application they do not want stored thereon. This can be inefficient, time- and labor-consuming, expensive and/or vexing.
Moreover, conventional recovery solutions effectively store application and other code in duplicate, with bits written to the user partition effectively mirrored on the recovery partition. In a sense, conventional recovery solutions can thus seem inherently inefficient in relation to drive space economy. Such inefficiency is effectively multiplied where the recovery partition stores bits for unwanted and user-removed applications.

Method and system for storing recovery related information on a computer memory

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Disclosed are a system and a method for managing quality of service (QoS) of a mobile terminal. A wireless quality management unit is able to read QoS parameters and data from a wireless communication protocol unit and reports the same to a man machine interface (MMI) unit or upper layer unit so as to provide QoS services subsequently. The invention enables a user or upper layer software to effectively, efficiently, and flexibly utilize wireless interface communication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the technical field of Quality of Service (QoS) management in wireless communication and, more particularly, to a system and a method for managing QoS of a mobile terminal.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, the software of a mobile terminal cannot report QoS or related measurement data of wireless interface communication software. Furthermore, the mobile terminal is unable to manage or monitor QoS of the wireless interface communication software. Instead, QoS used by the wireless interface communication software must be sent to the network and then sent back to the mobile terminal, so that an upper layer (e.g., application layer) can obtain the actual QoS. In view of the above, the upper layer cannot know wireless communication resource in real time, resulting in an inefficiency due to retransmission, a low data transfer rate, or the like. Moreover, the user cannot change settings of the wireless interface communication software even there is a need. In other words, the setting of the wireless interface communication software is unchangeable, resulting in a lack of flexibility.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a novel system and method for managing QoS of a mobile terminal in order to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

System and method for managing quality of service of mobile terminal


In an embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a die including a fluid feed slot that extends from a back side to a front side of the die, a firing chamber formed on the front side to receive fluid from the feed slot, a fluid distribution manifold adhered to the back side to provide fluid to the feed slot, and a corrosion-resistant layer coating the back side of the die so as not to extend into the feed slot.

Fluid ejection devices, such as printheads in inkjet printers, provide drop-on-demand ejection of fluid drops. Inkjet printers produce images by ejecting ink drops through a plurality of nozzles onto a print medium, such as a sheet of paper. The nozzles are typically arranged in one or more arrays, such that properly sequenced ejection of ink drops from the nozzles causes characters or other images to be printed on the print medium as the printhead and the print medium move relative to each other. In a specific example, a thermal inkjet printhead ejects drops from a nozzle by passing electrical current through a heating element to generate heat and vaporize a small portion of the fluid within an ink ejection chamber. In another example, a piezoelectric inkjet printhead uses a piezoelectric material actuator to generate pressure pulses in an ink ejection chamber that force ink drops out of a nozzle.
Prior to the ejection of ink drops from a nozzle, ink may travel from an ink reservoir to the ink ejection chamber through an ink feed slot that connects the chamber to the ink reservoir. Often, the ink feed slot is formed in a silicon substrate that is bonded to a body of the ink reservoir.

Fluid ejection assembly with controlled adhesive bond

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system of decoding spatially multiplexed signals. In some demonstrative embodiments the method may include, for example, determining one or more hypothetical values of a transmitted signal of a set of transmitted signals based on one or more respective sets of hypothetical values assigned to a subset of the set of transmitted signals. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A wireless communication system may include a first station able to communicate with a second station over a communication channel. In a spatial multiplexing communication system the first station may include a transmitter to transmit parallel streams representing a message via a plurality of transmit antennas (NTX>1). The second station may include a receiver to receive a plurality of symbols corresponding to the transmitted streams via a plurality of receive antennas (NRX≧NTX).
The receiver may include an equalizer to decode the received symbols, which may be a mixture of the transmitted symbols, into metrics (LLRs). The receiver may also include a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) decoder, e.g., a turbo decoder or a viterbi decoder, to determine an estimation of the message based on the metrics.
The equalizer may determine the metrics based on a Maximum Likelihood Decoding (MLD) algorithm, which may include scanning all constellation points of all the NTx, transmit antennas. Accordingly, the MLD algorithm may have a complexity of MNTx, wherein M denotes a constellation size implemented by the transmitter. For example, if NTX=2, and M=64, then the MLD algorithm may have a complexity of 4096.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn accurately or to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity or several physical components included in one functional block or element. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the drawings to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Moreover, some of the blocks depicted in the drawings may be combined into a single function.

System, method and device of decoding spatially multiplexed signals


A method and a related system for allocating target locations to optimize trajectories between several objects and the target locations may be provided. The method comprises capturing location data of the target locations as well as location and movement data of the objects, building a graph using the target locations as well as the location and movement data and integrating constraints into the graph. Furthermore, the method comprises determining for each of the several objects a desired target location using a first optimization system, thereby determining endpoints of a trajectory between each of the objects and its respective desired target location and selecting for each of the several objects an optimal path as the trajectory between the object and the desired target location, using a second optimization system, and taking into account movements of other objects along their trajectories.

The invention relates generally to a method for path optimization, and more specifically, to a method for allocating target locations to optimize trajectories between several objects and the target locations. The invention relates further to a related target location allocation system for optimizing trajectories between several objects and the target locations, and a computer program product.
Optimizing facility locations based on movement and flow of objects like people, goods, etc. is a computationally complex problem. It may be compared to the travelling salesman problem, which is also a complex problem. However, the solution to the optimizing facility locations problem has wide-ranking applications from enhancing supply chains to responding to emergency situations. This may also have an added value in pandemic or other critical situations in which people need to find a shelter or a medical help station.

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus for forming a parison is described. The apparatus has a mandrel housing. The housing has an axially aligned hollow mandrel channel therein and a side channel substantially transverse to the mandrel channel. A mandrel is also provided. The mandrel has an axially oriented notch in an exterior surface. The notch is in fluid communication with two fluid channels that extend continuously downwardly around the mandrel to meet one another on an opposite side of the mandrel from the notch. When the mandrel is installed within the mandrel channel, a first radial gap and a second radial gap, both between the mandrel and the mandrel housing, are formed.

Current or standard practice for making a composite stream is that each material is given its own separate channel for polymer flow all the way through to a point just before the exit of material from the head. One departure of the device disclosed herein from the prior art is that the composite stream is fully formed before the material even enters the head. The designed channels described below then ensure that the fully formed composite stream is then distributed around the head to form the parison.


In a combustion control device for an internal combustion engine provided with a plurality of fuel injection modes having different target air-fuel ratios, threshold values for detecting deterioration of combustion in the internal combustion engine are determined separately for each fuel injection mode depending on features of variation of combustion in the internal combustion engine in each fuel injection mode. Quantity of variation of combustion in the internal combustion engine is, for example, detected in the form of revolution angular acceleration or revolution angular acceleration deviation of the engine. The detected quantity of revolution fluctuation is compared with a threshold value in the currently chosen fuel injection mode. Thus, deterioration of combustion is surely judged according to each fuel injection mode. In particular, threshold values in a compression stroke injection mode are determined to be larger than threshold values in an intake stroke injection mode. A threshold value in the compression stroke injection mode is so determined as to substantively correspond to a complete misfire state of the engine, and threshold values in the intake stroke injection mode consist of a first threshold value substantively corresponding to a complete misfire state of the engine and a second threshold value substantively corresponding to an unstable combustion state of the engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combustion control device for an internal combustion engine provided with a plurality of fuel injection modes to be driven selectively changing the fuel injection mode, the combustion control device being so provided as to surely judge deterioration of a state of combustion in the internal combustion engine according to a fuel injection mode currently chosen from those fuel injection modes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A lean-burn engine, which is one of the internal combustion engines, is driven at an air-fuel ratio leaner than the theoretical mixture ratio, thereby to improve rate of fuel consumption. A direct injection type gasoline engine is an engine which injects fuel directly into its combustion chamber, thereby to improve fuel consumption and reduce harmful exhaust gas components.
The direct injection type gasoline engine injects fuel, for example, from a fuel injection valve directly into a cavity provided at the top of a piston, thereby to produce an air-fuel mixture having an air-fuel ratio close to the theoretical mixture ratio around an ignition plug in accordance with ignition timing. Thus, in the case of the direct injection type gasoline engine, ignition is ensured even when an air-fuel mixture having an overall lean air-fuel ratio is supplied. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce discharge of CO and HC. Further, it is possible to largely improve fuel consumption at the time of idling and light-load driving. Furthermore, it is possible to improve acceleration and deceleration response, since, unlike a manifold fuel injection type engine, the direct injection type gasoline engine is free from a lag in fuel feeding due to an intake pipe, when injection quantity is increased or decreased.
The direct injection type gasoline engine has, however, such a problem that when a large quantity of fuel is injected, for example, at the time of heavy-load driving, an air-fuel ratio becomes over-rich in the vicinity of the ignition plug, which causes misfires. In order to solve the problem, for example, Japanese Patent Preliminary Publication No. Hei 7-102976 discloses a technique of driving an internal combustion engine in a compression stroke injection mode in which fuel is injected mainly in a compression stroke, or in an intake stroke injection mode in which fuel is injected mainly in an intake stroke.
The compression stroke injection mode is a mode in which fuel is injected into a cavity (for example, in the form of a basin portion or a recessed portion) provided at the top of a piston during the compression stroke, thereby to produce an air-fuel mixture having a air-fuel ratio (ratio by weight of air to fuel) close to the theoretical mixture ratio locally around the ignition plug and in the cavity. It is desirable as an fuel injection mode for light-load driving. The intake stroke injection mode is a mode in which fuel is injected outside the aforementioned cavity during the intake stroke, thereby to produce a homogeneous air-fuel mixture having a lean air-fuel ratio throughout the combustion chamber. It is desirable as an fuel injection mode for heavy-load driving.
In each of those fuel injection modes, fuel injection timing is determined as follows: First, injection-valve opening time is determined based on fuel pressure and fuel injection quantity. Then, injection end timing is so determined that fuel injection may end during the intake stroke or the compression stroke. Then, injection start timing is determined based on the aforementioned injection end timing and the injection-valve opening time. Particularly in the compression stroke injection mode, the injection end timing and the injection start timing are so determined, considering also a time required for fuel atomization, that fuel in the cavity may be completely atomized at the time of ignition, in order to prevent incomplete combustion.
When the aforementioned fuel injection modes are adopted with a view to improving fuel consumption, it is desirable that driving regions in which the internal combustion engine is driven at a lean air-fuel ratio in the aforementioned fuel injection modes are determined to be as large as possible. Such driving regions are determined depending on load and engine speed of the internal combustion engine. However, when the driving regions in which the internal engine is driven in the aforementioned compression stroke injection mode or in the intake stroke injection mode are determined to be large, deterioration of a state of combustion may be produced.
For example, when fuel injection quantity during the compression stroke increases with an increase in load on the internal combustion engine, an air-fuel ratio may become over-rich, which causes misfires. Inversely, when an air-fuel ratio becomes too lean during the intake stroke, incomplete combustion (insufficient combustion) may be produced. When deterioration of combustion such as misfires, incomplete combustion (insufficient combustion) or the like is produced, it is necessary to detect such a state quickly and rectify conditions of combustion. Conditions of combustion are rectified, for example, by retarding the ignition timing (in the case where the air-fuel ratio has become over-rich), or by enriching the air-fuel ratio (in the case where the air-fuel ratio has become lean during the intake stroke).
In the case of conventional internal combustion engines, cycle-by-cycle variation of combustion is judged from angular acceleration or angular acceleration deviation of the engine based on the same criterion, regardless of the fuel injection mode. Therefore, a critical lean level of an air-fuel ratio in each of the aforementioned fuel injection modes can not be surely judged. Deterioration of combustion such as misfires, incomplete combustion (insufficient combustion) or the like varies according as the fuel injection mode is the compression stroke injection mode, the intake stroke injection mode or a normal injection mode in which the internal combustion engine is driven at the theoretical mixture ratio. Nevertheless, in the case of conventional internal combustion engines, quantity of variation of combustion is judged based on the same criterion, so that deterioration of combustion, which varies depending on the fuel injection mode, can not be surely judged.

Combustion control device for internal combustion engine

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


A start-up apparatus for a power supply is presented. A charging path from an input voltage to a holding capacitor is cut off after the power converter starts up. The start-up apparatus includes a transistor having a drain supplied with the input voltage, and a source connected to the holding capacitor and an input of a start-up control unit. An output of the start-up control unit controls a switch and the transistor. The holding capacitor starts to be charged as the transistor is turned on. Once a voltage across the holding capacitor exceeds a start-up voltage, an internal control circuit is powered via the switch. Meanwhile, the transistor is turned off and the charging path is cut off. Furthermore, the start-up apparatus provides a hysteresis threshold voltage range for controlling the power converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a start-up apparatus for a power converter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a start-up apparatus having a hysteresis threshold voltage range to control the power converter.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a power converter comprising a switching controller U1. The switching controller U1 is utilized to control the power converter for regulating a stable output. However, a supply voltage is needed for powering an internal control circuit. Further referring to FIG. 1, as an input voltage VIN is applied to the power converter, the input voltage VIN will charge up a holding capacitor CST via a start-up resistor RST. The switching controller U1 will then start to switch a transistor T1 via a power switch Q1. After the power supply is started up, an auxiliary winding NA of the transformer T1 further powers the switching controller U1 via a diode DA.
The start-up resistor RST works only for starting up the power converter. After the power converter is started up, the start-up resistor RST only consumes unnecessary power and becomes redundant. A power consumption PR of the start-up resistor RST can be expressed by equation (1).
                              P          R                =                                            (                                                V                  IN                                -                                  V                  DD                                            )                        2                                R            ST                                              (        1        )
Power-related organizations in the world have set up a series of specification for green-mode power saving. Therefore, it is more desirable for power converter designers to make the start-up resistor RST open circuit or to provide a solution without the start-up resistor for saving power, especially under no conditions.


A method utilizing a disk medium for implementing a second pause during the course of a previously paused program, comprising the steps of: interrupting recording to and playing back from a first pattern of interleaved segments used to implement the first pause and jumping to a different portion of the track; alternately recording the program to and playing the program back from a second pattern of interleaved segments at the different portion of the track; moving only sequentially from segment to segment within each of the first or second patterns during the alternating recording and playing back as long as recorded segments can be played back in order within each of the first or second patterns of segments; and, jumping between the first and second patterns of segments only when the oldest unplayed recorded segment is in the other one of the first or second patterns.

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus providing advanced operating features for audio and/or video programs recorded on disk media, for example recordable digital video disks.
Various devices have been developed to enable consumers to record video and audio programs for later presentation. Such devices include tape recorders, video cassette recorders, recordable compact disks, and most recently, recordable digital video disks (DVD). A DVD that can be recorded on only once, and thereafter is essentially a DVD read only memory, is referred to by the acronym DVD-R. The acronym DVD-R is also used generally to refer to the write-once, or record-once, technology. Several formats are available for DVD's to be recorded on, erased and re-recorded, that is overwritten or rewritten. These are referred to by the acronyms DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and DVD+RW. As of this time no uniform industry standard has been adopted. The acronyms DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and DVD+RW are also used generally to refer to the respective rewritable technology. Reference herein to rewritable DVD technology, devices and methods is generally intended to encompass all of the standards which are now being used, as well as those which may be developed in the future.
In many cases, the program presentations are recorded in the viewer and/or listener's absence, for presentation at a later, more convenient time. This is referred to as time shifting the program. At other times, a program is being viewed and/or listened to without being recorded, and with out any interest in a recording, but the viewer's and/or listener's attention is interrupted, for example by a telephone call or an unexpected visitor. If the viewer and/or listener is watching a television program, for example, and has a cassette tape in a VCR, or can retrieve and load such a cassette tape quickly, the program can be recorded. However, the viewer and/or listener cannot view and/or listen to the program in its entirety, and in a proper time sequence, until after the recording has been completed. The time to completion of the recording can be short or long, depending on the length of the program.
A desirable feature in a DVD device would enable a viewer and/or listener to initiate resumption of the program presentation as soon as the interruption or pause has ended, without sacrificing the program content during the interruption or pause.
Although rewritable DVD technology is generally available, operation is limited to such basic functions as play, record, fast forward reverse and stop. Pause is available, but only as a counterpart to pause operation in a VCR, for example interrupting the play back of a prerecorded program or interrupting the recording of a viewed program to eliminate commercials from the recording. Unlike computer hard drives, recordable DVD devices have a very significant additional function, which is playing back prerecorded DVD's. Thus, there is an economic incentive to develop rewritable DVD technology, including methods and devices, that can be used instead of a computer hard drive. It is a challenge to provide such devices with improved, advantageous features without compromising the goal of decreasing costs and increasing sales. Such novel DVD features should include the ability to simultaneously view and record on a disk medium in a seamless fashion, without the high operating speed of a computer hard drive. A recordable DVD device with a single head for reading and writing cannot read and write simultaneously. Accordingly, the terms seamless and simultaneous are used herein to denote that recording and playing back program material in accordance with the inventive arrangements has the appearance of being simultaneous to the viewer and/or listener, even though the functionality is actually alternating or multiplexed.
A basic rewritable DVD device, having for example a 1× (one times) read and a 1× (one times) write capability, typically has maximum data rates for recording or playing back of only approximately 11 megabits/second.
A system for implementing a single pause in such a basic rewritable DVD device is described in copending, co-owned U.S. application Ser. No. 09/433,434, filed Mar. 31, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,115. Multiple pauses are even more problematic. Multiple pauses can result in a very large number of frequent jumps. Frequent jumps are a problem for several reasons, including reduced duty cycles for writing and reading, increased mechanical noise and reduced operational lifetimes.
During a jump, it is impossible to either write to the disk medium or read from the disk medium. Consequently there is mush less time available for writing and reading, and accordingly, the duty cycle for writing and reading can be significantly reduced. As a result, the writing and reading rates must be significantly increased, perhaps even greater than the capacity of the player/recorder. In a 1× machine as described above, the maximum data rates available are approximately 5 megabits/second for playing back (reading) and 5 megabits/second for recording. Such rates are only half the minimum rate of a machine of minimal capability, and accordingly, apparently simultaneous playing back and recording with such a machine would seem to be impossible, particularly for multiple pauses.
Frequent jumps generate a lot of audible noise, such as is often heard in computer hard drives. Such noise can be particularly annoying, for example while viewing an HDTV movie with surround sound.
Frequent jumps also prematurely wear out the pickup assembly.
Managing multiple pauses is also much more difficult than managing single pauses. It should be appreciated that a user command to initiate a second pause can occur not only during the midst of the program, but will occur during the course of a continuous simultaneous record/playback sequence resulting from the first pause. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide novel features that can enable second and further pauses to be implemented, and further, to enable such features within the constraints of the maximum available data rates.

Multiple pause recording on a rewritable disk medium


A trough system for the delivery of a gob of molten glass from a gob distributor to a parison mould cavity in a glassware forming machine comprises a trough assembly comprising an upwardly facing inclined trough which is arranged to receive a gob from a scoop of the gob distributor and a downwardly facing deflector which deflects a gob which has travelled down the trough into a vertical path to fall into the parison mould cavity. The deflector and the trough are mounted on a hanger which is supported in a frame member of the machine by a universal joint adjustable about three perpendicular axes. Consequently adjustment of the position of the deflector may be made without causing misalignment of the deflector and the trough.

The present invention relates to improvements in means for delivering gobs of glass to the moulds of glassware forming machines.
In the well known I.S. type of glassware forming machines, a number [generally from 8 to 16] of individual sections of the same construction are mounted side by side, and are arranged to operate out of phase with each other so that a substantially continuous flow of formed glassware is produced. Each section normally contains parison forming moulds and blow moulds, and may be constructed to receive 1,2,3 or 4 gobs of molten glass at a time into the corresponding number of parison moulds, in which the gobs are formed into parisons, which parisons are then transferred to the blow moulds and formed into the desired shape.
The gobs are supplied to the parison moulds through a trough system to which gobs are provided by a gob distributor. The trough system comprises a trough assembly associated with each section, and the gob distributor is arranged to provide the required number of gobs to each trough assembly in turn through a number of scoops which are moved into alignment with upper end portions of the trough assembly.
Each trough assembly comprises, associated with each mould cavity of the section, an upwardly facing inclined trough, which carries a gob from the scoop into a position above and to one side of the parison mould, and a downwardly facing deflector which deflects a gob travelling down the trough into a vertical path to fall into the cavity of the parison mould.
It can be seen that, for each gob, a pathway is provided by the scoop, the upwardly facing trough and the downwardly facing deflector. It is essential, to ensure that a gob arrives at the parison mould in its desired condition, that this pathway is smooth and does not comprise any changes of direction in a vertical plane. Consequently it is necessary to ensure that the three components are accurately aligned, in particular that, viewed in plan, there is no `dog leg` formed.
The alignment and orientation of the scoop is determined by the gob distributor.
The trough has an upper end portion which comprises two downwardly facing slotted lugs, which are fitted over a supporting rod which extends arcuately across the machine, and is located transversely on the rod by a locating block fixed to the rod and lying between the slotted lugs. A small amount of play length wise of the rod may occur, and the trough is free to move angularly about the rod in a vertical plane.
A lower end portion of the trough is supported by a complex bracket which is supported by a hanger from a beam extending transversely across the machine.
The deflector comprises an upper end portion which is supported by the aforementioned bracket, and a lower end portion which has a transverse lug with a vertical bore in it. This bore fits over a locating pin which is adjustable about x and y axes to enable adjustment of the position of the lower end portion of the deflector in relation to the associated mould cavity.
When it is necessary, in the operation of the machine, to adjust the position of the deflector, for example if there is a change of gob size, the position of the locating pin is adjusted to move the lower end portion of the deflector into the desired position. During operation of the machine it is in general not feasible to adjust the bracket which supports the upper end portion of the deflector and the lower end portion of the trough and consequently such adjustment of the deflector may cause the deflector and the trough to become misaligned into a `dog leg`, which can cause irregularities in the shape of the gob delivered to the mould and in its delivery time.
It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved means for mounting a trough and a deflector in a trough assembly which is more easily adjusted than previously possible.


Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media for replacing a video background in real-time. The video comprises a plurality of image frames. In a particular embodiment, a method provides generating a range image from a subject image frame of the plurality of image frames. The range image indicates pixel distances from a plenoptic camera that captured the plurality of image frames. The method further provides identifying background pixels that represent a background portion of the subject image frame based on the range image and replacing the background pixels with replacement background pixels in the subject image frame.

Communication and computing systems allow users to exchange video communication from almost anywhere that a wired or wireless network connection is available. User devices including personal workstations, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and the like, all have the ability to exchange video communications. For example, users can make personal video calls from their cellphones or an enterprise's contact center can distribute agents throughout the world. In the latter example, contact center agents may even be able to work from home rather than a contact center facility and still participate in video communications with callers.
Unlike audio or text communications, video communications capture both the user and, in the background, portions of the location in which the user is located. In some cases, that location may not be appropriate for the video communication or otherwise is less preferred than another background. For example, a user may need to make a business related video call while on a beach vacation. It would likely not be appropriate for the beach to be in the background while the user is participating in that video call. In an alternative example, a contact center that allows its agents to work from home may still want a consistent background behind all agents regardless of their location. However, current techniques for background replacement require a relatively large amount of processing resources to identify backgrounds, sometimes requiring solid color backgrounds (e.g. blue/green screen used in chroma keying), or require hardware in addition to the camera capturing video, such as an infrared blaster and sensor.

Background replacement from video images captured by a plenoptic camera


First, a reaction gas is supplied to a fuel cell stack including a laminate of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells and power generation is performed so that a temperature of the fuel cell stack reaches 65° C. or higher (heating power generation step). Next, the reaction gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack and the power generation is performed under a condition in which relative humidity is 100% or more (cleaning power generation step). Cooling water of room temperature may be supplied to the fuel cell stack from the outside before the cleaning power generation step is performed after the heating power generation step is completed, or after the cleaning power generation step is completed (quenching step).

A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly (MEGA) in which an electrode (catalyst layer) containing a catalyst and a gas diffusion layer are bonded to both sides of an electrolyte membrane. Current collectors (separators) having gas channels are further disposed on both sides of the MEGA. The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell normally has a structure (fuel cell stack) in which multiple unit cells each having the MEGA and the current collectors are stacked on each other.
It has been known that the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell immediately after production cannot obtain designed performance due to factors other than manufacturing defects such as an insufficient water content of an electrolyte membrane and an electrolyte in the catalyst layer as well as adsorption of a poisonous substance to the catalyst surface. For that reason, before a shipping inspection is performed on the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell immediately after production, running-in operation (also called "aging", "conditioning", "activation", and the like) is carried out. However, the running-in operation takes a long time, which is a bottleneck in raising a production speed of the fuel cells.
Under the circumstances, in order to solve the above problem, various proposals have been made up to now.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a method of starting a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell including:
(a) connecting a fuel cell to an external circuit in which DC power supply and an electronic load are connected to each other in series;
(b) circulating warm water to increase a temperature of a measurement cell to 80° C.;
(c) gradually increasing a current density of a current flowing in an external circuit to 1.5 A/cm2 while maintaining the temperature of the measurement cell at 80° C.; and
(d) performing conditioning for four hours while maintaining the current density at 1.5 A/cm2.
The literature discloses that when the conditioning is performed at a current density (for example, 1.5 A/cm2) higher than the current density during the normal operation (for example, 0.1 to 1.0 A/cm2 when the fuel cell is used as a power source for a traveling vehicle), since an ion exchange resin in a catalyst layer goes into a water containing state in a short time, a high output voltage is obtained at the time of the power generation.
Further, Patent Literature 2 discloses a method of activating a fuel cell stack for alternately repeating:
(a) a high humidification open circuit voltage operation stage of operating the fuel cell stack in an open circuit voltage (OCV) state to introduce droplets for activation into an interior of the stack; and
(b) a vacuum wetting stage of consuming a residual gas inside of the stack by causing a current to flow in the stack in a state of blocking hydrogen and air, and thereby evacuating the interior of the stack to wet a surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane.
The literature discloses that the above method makes it possible:
(a) to eliminate a high current density operation zone which is indispensable for the conventional activation;
(b) to activate the stack in a short time without consuming hydrogen; and
(c) to activate the stack by repeating the high humidification open circuit voltage operation stage for three minutes and the vacuum wetting stage for three minutes, each nine times.
In addition, Patent Literature 3 discloses a method of aging a fuel cell including:
(a) a step of supplying a fuel and an oxidizer to an anode and a cathode, respectively, and starting power generation of the fuel cell; and
(b) a step of periodically varying a current density in a range of 0.3 mA/cm2 to 0.2 mA/cm2 (a cell voltage ranging from 0.75 V to 0.9 V).
The literature discloses that:
(a) the degree of reduction in the cell voltage in a steady operation state is −5.3 mV/h when the aging process of applying a constant load (current density: 0.2 mA/cm2) for eight hours is performed whereas the degree of reduction in the cell voltage in the steady operation state is −0.7 mV/h to −1.3 mV/h when the aging process of applying a load of a square wave for 15 minutes (15 cycles with one cycle as 1 minute) is performed; and(b) in the case where the aging is carried out by applying a periodic load, it is preferable to carry out the aging under a condition in which no flooding occurs.
In addition, Patent Literature 4 discloses a method of reversing a flow direction of a coolant in a case where the fuel cell stack is started (low temperature start) from a state in which an ambient temperature is lower than 0° C., although the method is not a running-in method for the fuel cell.
The literature discloses that:
(a) when the flow direction of the coolant is reversed at the low temperature start, a temperature distribution of a hot spot (a region higher in temperature than the other regions in the fuel cell stack) is flattened by the reversal of the coolant, and the heat dissipates around the hot spot; and(b) as a result, the breakage of a membrane caused by excessively heating the hot spot can be suppressed.
Furthermore, Patent Literature 5 discloses a cooling system for a fuel cell including a channel switching unit that reverses a circulation direction of cooling water to be supplied to a fuel cell, although the system is not a running-in method for the fuel cell.
The literature discloses that cooling performance of the cooling water can be improved by reversing the circulation direction of the cooling water when a temperature of the cooling water for the fuel cell rises.
The aging time can be somewhat shortened with the use of the methods disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 to 3. However, an exact cause requiring a long time for aging is not necessarily clarified. For that reason, although various aging methods have been proposed, the effects obtained by the conventional methods are not sufficient.
In addition, when the fuel cell is used for a long period of time, the performance of the fuel cell is deteriorated eventually. However, there is no conventional example that has proposed a running-in method that can be applied not only to the aging of the fuel cell immediately after production but also to the refreshment of the fuel cell deteriorated over time, and moreover can refresh the fuel cell in a short period of time.

Method of running-in operation of fuel cell


A method of transmitting channel management information by an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network and configured to communicate via a primary subchannel and a secondary subchannel is provided. The method includes: transmitting a frame including a quiet channel element, the quiet channel element including a quiet mode field indicating whether a communication to the AP is allowed via part or all of the primary subchannel during a quiet interval, the quiet interval being an interval during which no transmission occurs in the secondary channel; and performing communications using the part or all of the primary subchannel, if the quiet mode field is set to a value that indicates the communication to the AP is allowed to communicate via the part or all of the primary subchannel during the quiet interval.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication and, more particularly, to a dynamic frequency selection method in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system and an apparatus for supporting the same.
2. Related Art
With the recent development of information communication technology, a variety of wireless communication techniques are being developed. From among them, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a technique for wirelessly accessing the Internet at homes or companies or in specific service providing areas by using portable terminals, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, and a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), based on wireless frequency technology.
A lot of standardization tasks are being performed since Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) 802 (i.e., the standardization organization of WLAN technology) was established on February, 1980. WLAN technology initially supported a speed of 1 to 2 Mbps through frequency hopping, band spreading, and infrared communication by using a frequency of 2.4 GHz according to IEEE 802.11, but recently may support a maximum speed of 54 Mbps by using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). In addition, in IEEE 802.11, standardizations for various techniques, such as the improvement of Quality of Service (QoS), Access Point (AP) protocol compatibility, security enhancement, radio resource measurement, wireless access vehicular environments, fast roaming, a mesh network, interworking with an external network, and wireless network management, are being put to practical use or developed.
In IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11b supports a maximum communication speed of 11 Mbps while using a frequency of a 2.4 GHz band. IEEE 802.11a commercialized after IEEE 802.11b has further reduced an influence on interference as compared with the frequency of a very confused 2.4 GHz band by using a frequency of a 5 GHz band not the 2.4 GHz band and has improved the communication speed up to a maximum of 54 Mbps using OFDM technology. However, IEEE 802.11a is disadvantageous in that it has a shorter communication distance than IEEE 802.11b. Furthermore, IEEE 802.11g has been in the spotlight considerably because it implements a maximum communication speed of 54 Mbps using the frequency of a 2.4 GHz band and satisfies backward compatibility like IEEE 802.11b. IEEE 802.11a has the advantage over IEEE 802.11a in the communication distance.
Furthermore, in order to overcome a limit to the communication speed that was considered as being weakness in the WLAN, IEEE 802.11n has recently been established as a technical standard. An object of IEEE 802.11n is to increase the speed and reliability of a network and to extend the coverage of a wireless network. More particularly, in order to support a High Throughput (HT) having a maximum data processing speed of 540 Mbps or higher, minimize an error in transmission, and optimize the data speed, IEEE 802.11n is based on Multiple Inputs and Multiple Outputs (MIMO) technology using multiple antennas on both sides of a transmitter and a receiver. Furthermore, this standard may use not only a coding scheme for transmitting several redundant copies in order to increase data reliability, but also Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) in order to increase the speed.
As the WLAN is actively propagated and applications employing the WLAN are diversified, there is a recent need for a new WLAN system for supporting a throughput higher than the data processing speed supported by IEEE 802.11n. A Very High Throughput (VHT) WLAN system is one of IEEE 802.11 WLAN systems which are recently proposed in order to support a data processing speed of 1 Gbps or higher
In IEEE 802.11 TGac that performs the standardization of the VHT WLAN system, active research is being carried out on a scheme using 8×8 MIMO and a channel bandwidth of 80 MHz or higher in order to provide the throughput of 1 Gbps or higher.
If the channel bandwidth of 80 MHz or higher is used, however, interference with other users using the channel bandwidth of 80 MHz or higher may become serious. In order to overcome this problem, a user using the channel bandwidth of 80 MHz or higher must be first protected, or the use of the channel bandwidth may be limited depending on conditions of a relevant frequency band according to regulations that must be observed when using the relevant frequency band.
In order for the relevant frequency band to be used in this environment, there is a need for a procedure of checking the relevant frequency band in order to protect a user having priority for the relevant frequency band or to satisfy administrative/policy regulations. A Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) method of adaptively adjusting the bandwidth of a channel or switching a channel may be used depending on the result of the check. In a method of checking the state of a channel (i.e., a precondition for the DFS procedure), an efficient method of minimizing the consumption of radio resources that may occur when a channel having a wide bandwidth is a target needs to be taken into consideration.

Method and apparatus for dynamic frequency selection in wireless local area network system


A method for producing polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid or a salt thereof includes an oxidation reaction process of oxidizing polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether with oxygen by supplying an oxygen-containing gas to a suspension or a solution that has a depth of 200 mm or more and includes polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether. In the oxidation reaction process, a supply rate of the oxygen-containing gas is reduced in a period in which the conversion is greater than or equal to 50% and less than 70%.

Polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid and salts thereof are compounds produced by substituting polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether with a carboxyl group at the terminal end of the ether, exhibit high degrees of foaming and emulsification, and are known as surfactants used in cosmetics, emulsifiers, solubilizers, dispersants, gelling agents, and detergent bases, for example. Properties of polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid and salts thereof can be modified by changing pH. Polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid and salts thereof have excellent stability against hard water, and aqueous solutions thereof are stable to various polyvalent metal ions such as aluminium ions, are gentle to the skin, and have small inhibitory effects on enzymes. Polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid and salts thereof are thus expected to have various applications.
There have been various known methods for producing polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid or a salt thereof. One of such methods is a method in which polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether is oxidized with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst in which a noble metal is supported (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Documents 2 and 3 describe methods for producing salts of polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid by supplying oxygen to a suspension containing polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, a noble metal catalyst, and an alkaline material to cause catalytic oxidation of polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether. In these methods, an oxygen supply starts after the amount of dissolved oxygen in the suspension has been set at 0-1 ppm, and then the amount of dissolved oxygen in the suspension is kept in the range more than 0 ppm and less than or equal to 1 ppm.
Patent Document 4 shows a method for producing a salt of polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid by using a continuous stirred tank reactor.

Method for producing polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid or salt thereof


In one embodiment, the operating range of an over-current detection circuit is extended to higher input voltage levels by providing a reference-voltage generation circuit for the detection circuit with voltage protection circuitry that applies an additional voltage drop to shield other vulnerable transistor devices from the higher input voltages. In addition, bypass circuitry is provided that is inactive at the highest input voltage levels, but actively bypasses at least some of the voltage protection circuitry at relatively low input voltage levels to apply a voltage drop that is sufficient to ensure proper operation of the vulnerable transistor devices at the low voltage levels. In one implementation, the vulnerable transistor devices are NFET devices in a programmable current mirror of the reference-voltage generation circuit. In addition, a stiffened voltage divider helps to ensure sufficient voltage drop at the low voltage levels. The protection and bypass circuitry also enable hot-socketing operations.

One problem addressed by this disclosure is to provide detection circuitry that (i) senses high-voltage power-supply-referenced signals over a wide range of power-supply voltages, specifically voltages above the detection circuit's VDD-based voltage domain including voltages above which known circuit techniques are effective and (ii) also has hot-plug (hot-swap) compatibility. Operation over a wide range of power-supply voltages means that proper operation at many different supply voltages is supported. For example, in certain embodiments, the detection circuit should operate for a supply voltage of 12V (+/−10%) and any other system supply voltage down to 5V (+/−10%) or less. In order to monitor voltages during power supply ramp up, the detection circuit should operate at the lowest voltage achievable. Other techniques that are not part of this disclosure can be used for voltages below which the embodiments of this disclosure are operable.
Techniques for establishing accurate reference voltages, regardless of the exact application, are well known to those skilled in the art of integrated circuit design. The accuracy of the reference voltage should be maintained over all operating conditions, including the VDD supply voltage of the detection circuit.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a prior-art over-current detection circuit 100 which senses current flow (I2) from a supply voltage VIN through a power PFET (p-type field-effect transistor) switch 150 to drive load circuitry (not shown) at the load side of the switch at voltage VOUT. Supply voltage VIN and the load circuitry at node VOUT are often at voltages significantly higher than the supply voltage VDD for the detection circuit. Resistor Rtrip (internal to the detection circuit) and resistor Rsense (external to the detection circuit) are both connected to input voltage VIN, such that the sensed voltage Vsense at the output of resistor Rsense can be compared to the trip-point (reference) voltage Vtrip at the output of resistor Rtrip to sense which voltage amplitude is greater as referenced to input voltage VIN. For relatively low, positive voltages at node VIN, the trip-point voltage Vtrip is less than the sensed voltage Vsense, and the output 137 of comparator 136 is low. For relatively high, positive VIN voltages, the trip-point voltage Vtrip is greater than the sensed voltage Vsense, and the comparator output 137 is high to indicate an over-current condition sensed at the two comparator inputs. In the implementation of FIG. 1, when an over-current condition is sensed, comparator 136 sets a latch 140, which turns off the power PFET 150 to protect the load circuitry at node VOUT.
As shown in FIG. 1, the comparator trip-point voltage Vtrip is generated by a reference-voltage generation circuit 110. In particular, amplifier 112 forces the voltage across resistor R0, sensed at the amplifier's negative input, to be equal to fixed reference voltage Vref from bandgap circuit 111, causing current I1 to flow through resistor R0, NFET (n-type FET) device NFET1, and resistor Rtrip, such that Vref=I1*R0. The resultant voltage across resistor Rtrip is Vref*(Rtrip/R0). Note that reference-voltage generation circuit 110 is referenced to the input voltage VIN, while bandgap circuit 111 is referenced to the detection circuit's ground VSS.
Reference-voltage generation circuit 110 causes the trip-voltage Vtrip to track changes in the input voltage VIN such that the voltage drop across resistor Rtrip is constant, independent of VIN, as long as device NFET1 operates within an allowable voltage range set by device parameters and the integrated circuit technology limits. As the drain-to-source voltage of device NFET1 approaches technology limits, generation of hot-electron currents from drain to substrate begins to occur. The hot-electron current is an additional current flow through resistor Rtrip, resulting in an undesired increase in the voltage drop across resistor Rtrip resulting in a measurement error at comparator 136. This limits the range of input voltage VIN over which detection circuit 100 performs within specification. As input voltage VIN increases, hot-electron currents eventually increase to the point of device failure.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a prior-art programmable reference-voltage generation circuit 210 that can be used in detection circuit 100 of FIG. 1 in place of reference-voltage generation circuit 110. Reference-voltage generation circuit 210 extends the allowable VIN voltage range of detection circuit 100 and also provides reference-voltage programmability. Note that, in reference-voltage generation circuit 210, bandgap circuit 211, amplifier 212, device NFET1, and resistors R0 and Rtrip are analogous to the corresponding, similarly labeled elements of reference-voltage generation circuit 110 of FIG. 1.
Reference-voltage generation circuit 210 provides programmability of the voltage across resistor Rtrip. In the implementation of FIG. 2, programmable current capability is provided by the combination of programmable cascode PFET current mirror 213 and programmable cascode NFET current mirror 214.
Programmable cascode PFET current mirror 213 has a master leg (formed from PFET mirror device PM1 and PFET cascode device PC1), a permanent slave leg (formed from PFET mirror device PM3, PFET cascode device PC3, and PFET switch device PS3), and a programmable slave leg (formed from PFET mirror device PM2, PFET cascode device PC2, and PFET switch device PS2). Since the gate of switch device PS3 is tied to ground node VSS, switch device PS3 is always on, and the permanent slave leg always draws current (that is, whenever supply node VDD is powered). On the other hand, the gate of switch device PS2 is tied to control signal enb2xp. For the particular (exemplary) implementation of FIG. 2 in which all of the mirror legs have the same current strength, when control signal enb2xp is high, switch device PS2 is off, the programmable slave leg does not draw current, and PFET current mirror 213 generates an output current equal to I1. When control signal enb2xp is low, switch device PS2 is on, the programmable slave leg does draw current, and PFET current mirror 213 generates an output current equal to 2*I1.
Similarly, programmable cascode NFET current mirror 214 has a master leg (formed from NFET mirror device NM1 and NFET cascode device NC1), a permanent slave leg (formed from NFET mirror device NM2, NFET cascode device NC2, and NFET switch device NS2), and three (i.e., first, second, and third) programmable slave legs (each formed from NFET mirror device NMi, NFET cascode device NC1, and NFET switch device NSi, where i=3,4,5). Note that any currents through the four slave legs of NFET current mirror 214 are summed at node Vtrip such that the resulting, cumulative current flows through resistor Rtrip. Since the gate of switch device NS2 is tied to supply node VDD, switch device NS2 is always on and the permanent slave leg always draws current (that is, whenever supply node VDD is powered). On the other hand, the gates of switch devices NS3, NS4, and NS5 are respectively tied to control signals en0, en1, and en2. For the particular implementation of FIG. 2 in which all of the mirror legs have the same current strength, except for the third slave leg whose current strength is double, control signals en0, en1, and en2 can be programmed to selectively turn on and off different programmable slave legs to achieve, in combination with the programmability of PFET current mirror 213, any current through resistor Rtrip from I1 to 10*I1 in increments of I1, such that the minimum voltage across Rtrip is Vref*(Rtrip/R0), and the maximum voltage is 10*Vref*(Rtrip/R0).
Note that, in the architecture of reference-voltage generation circuit 110 of FIG. 1, the current flowing through resistor R0 and device NFET1 also flows through resistor Rtrip. In the architecture of reference-voltage generation circuit 210 of FIG. 2, however, the current flowing through resistor R0 and device NFET1 is mirrored by PFET current mirror 213, and the resulting mirrored current is itself mirrored by NFET current mirror 214, which generates the current that flows through resistor Rtrip.
Configured between the four slave legs of NFET current mirror 214 and resistor Rtrip is a set 215 of four corresponding high-voltage NFET cascode devices NB2-NB5 whose gates are driven by a high-voltage cascode bias signal 216 generated by a PFET divide-by-2 voltage divider 217 formed by two matched, long-gate PFET devices PD1 and PD2. As such, the voltage applied to the gates of cascode devices NB2-NB5 is always one half of the input voltage VIN. As a result, for positive-threshold transistors, the source voltages of cascode devices NB2-NB5 will always be less than one half of voltage VIN, thus limiting the drain voltages of the NFET switch devices NS2-NS5, as well as the drain voltages of the rest of the devices in NFET current mirror 214, also to be less than one half of voltage VIN.
The maximum drain-source voltage across the high-voltage cascode devices NB2-NB5, added to the allowable voltage across the programmable NFET mirror structure, increases the maximum input voltage VIN for which the reference voltage Vtrip generated by reference-voltage generation circuit 210 is stable. As such, using reference-voltage generation circuit 210 instead of reference-voltage generation circuit 110 in detection circuit 100 of FIG. 1 extends the operating range of the detection circuit to higher levels of input voltage VIN. Nevertheless, it is desirable to extend that detection circuit operating range even beyond that which can be achieved using reference-voltage generation circuit 210.

Stable supply-side reference over extended voltage range with hot-plugging compatibility