A system bus controller (103) within a processor (101) includes programmable logic for different modes of chip enable signals on a per-address-space basis. This allows for a "glueless" interface (107) between the processor (101) and different types of external devices (111, 112, 113), such as memory devices. A chip select register value 604, 608, 612 is preprogrammed with respect to each external device coupled to the processor (101). This preprogrammed register value 604, 608, 612 is used by the system bus controller (103) to uniquely configure a read/write access signal to be sent to each of the external devices (111, 112, 113).

A processor (hereinafter also referred to as a CPU (central processing unit)) is typically implemented on an integrated circuit ("IC") and is coupled to various external resources (devices) by a system bus. Such external devices may include flash memory devices, read-only memory ("ROM") devices, random access memory ("RAM") devices, dynamic random access memory ("DRAM") devices, universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter ("UART") devices, application specific integrated circuits ("ASIC"), timer devices, other microprocessors, direct memory access ("DMA") channels, hard disks, tape drives, CD-ROMs, network communications adapters, user interfaces, and display devices. These various devices are the eyes, ears, mouth, arms, and legs to the processor's brain. In other words, a processor alone, with no means of external communication, is practically a worthless hunk of silicon.
The system bus, which couples all of these various external devices to the processor, is typically a plurality of transmission lines operating in parallel. It could be said that the equivalent of the bus in the human body is the central nervous system.
Since all or most of the transmission lines of the system bus are coupled to the processor and to all of the various external devices, an addressing scheme is needed so that only the intended destination of a set of data or instructions transmitted from the processor or from one of the external devices is received by that intended destination. The set of addresses for a particular system can be parsed into a plurality of address spaces. An address space is made up of one or more addresses. A particular address space may be dedicated to a particular external device. The address spaces are generally indicated by asserting a chip select signal to a specific device.
When the processor desires to read information located at a particular address space, or desires to write information to a particular address space, a bus protocol is initiated between the processor and the external device corresponding to the particular address space. This bus protocol typically includes an alert signal to the external device that a read or write access is about to occur, and a notification to the external device to indicate whether or not the access is a read or a write. This bus protocol is produced by a system bus controller located in the processor and is coupled between the core circuitry of the processor (hereinafter referred to also as the "core") and the system bus. The system bus controller acts as an interface between read and write requests received from the core and the system bus.
A problem occurs when data processing systems are configured using a processor and external devices produced by different manufacturers, since there is no general standard bus protocol uniformly implemented by all manufacturers. Thus, different external devices may require different bus protocol signals.
For example, different types of external memory devices (one type of external device) may require differing values of read/write access signals in order to interface correctly with the processor. Prior art processors are rigid in that they produce only one value for the read/write access signal. If this signal is asserted high by the processor for a write access to an external device, but the external device requires that this received signal be asserted low, then the processor and the external device will not be able to interface correctly. For example, the external device may operate as if the write access from the processor is a read access.
Prior art solutions to this problem have been the implementation of additional external logic circuitry implemented on the system bus between the processor and the external device. Since such external logic circuitry requires space (increases cost) on an IC or a printed circuit board ("PCB") and increases associated overhead costs, it is desirable not to include such external logic circuitry. The external logic circuitry typically introduces additional time delay into the system bus access, thereby lowering the overall system performance. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a technique for interfacing a processor to one or more external devices, regarding read/write access signals, without requiring additional external logic circuitry. In other words, what is needed in the art is a "glueless" interface between such a processor and one or more external devices.

Programmable read/write access signal and method therefor


A communication apparatus (a slave) that performs time synchronization with a master apparatus on the basis of a time synchronization message transmitted from the master apparatus (a master) at a fixed cycle. The communication apparatus (the slave) includes a CPU that stores, in a transmission request message for requesting transmission of the time synchronization message, a requesting transmission rate, and transmits the transmission request message to the communication apparatus (the master). The CPU calculates time synchronization accuracy, which is a difference between time of the master apparatus and time of its own apparatus, on the basis of the time synchronization message; determines on the basis of the time synchronization accuracy whether the requesting transmission rate is changed; and, transmits, if it is determined that the requesting transmission rate is changed, the transmission request message, in which the changed requesting transmission rate is stored, to the communication apparatus (the master).

The synchronization technology has been widely used by carrying out clock synchronization, time synchronization or both on all apparatuses included in a system or on only necessary portions of the apparatuses by using wired and wireless lines in all industrial fields irrespective of the accuracy of synchronization, along with the recent digitization of information, automation and association among a variety of apparatuses, and refinement.
For example, the technology is used for synchronization between portable base stations connected to a mobile backhaul entrance line (a transmission line) and for detecting a location of failure in an electrical distribution network. With this synchronization technology, a GPS (Global Positioning System) is used mainly as a reference clock source and a reference time source. A synchronization technique that uses the GPS is stable and useful irrespective of the synchronization system being provided on the land, in the sky, and on the ocean when a reception antenna is open to the sky. However, due to some factors including the setting position of the reception antenna (e.g., not being open to the sky), weather, and solar flare, the reception antenna is impeded from receiving the signal sent from the GPS satellite, so the synchronization accuracy needed for the system is not satisfied.
Consequently, in the telecom field, the authentication and security field, and the electrical distribution network field, as a synchronization technique via a communication line for replacing the synchronization technique that uses the GPS, ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector) G.8264 and the like are specified for clock synchronization; and NTP (Network Time Protocol) is specified in RFC (Request For Comments) in time synchronization (see Non Patent Literatures 1 and 2). Further, studies by standardization organizations (ITU-T, IEEE, etc.) on clock and time synchronization are proceeding with IEEE1588, IEEE C37.238-2011, ITU-T G.8265.1, and the like (see Non Patent Literatures 3 to 5).

Communication apparatus, communication system, and time synchronization method


A portable computer battery charger has a hollow housing which is supportable on a generally horizontal surface and has a power wiring board horizontally disposed within a bottom portion thereof beneath a depending pair of vertically tilted, open-topped wells formed in the top wall of the housing. The power wiring board is adapted to receive electrical charging energy from a source thereof, and has a plurality of resilient metal clip members electrically connected thereto and projecting upwardly through bottom end openings in the wells. To charge a pair of elongated portable computer batteries charging ends thereof are placed in the wells which support the batteries in a vertically tilted orientation in which major longitudinal portions of the batteries project upwardly beyond the top side of the housing. Electrical contact areas on the bottom ends of the batteries contact and deflect the clip members, and receive electrical charging energy therethrough, and the weights of the tilted batteries cause their lower end portions to be brought into forcible frictional contact with interior side surface portions of the wells to thereby positionally stabilize the charging batteries relative to the housing.

The present invention generally relates to computer apparatus, and more particularly relates to apparatus for charging portable computer batteries.
Portable computers, such as the increasingly popular notebook computer, are typically provided with elongated batteries removably disposed in a battery storage compartment within the computer. Under conventional practice, a portable computer battery is recharged by removing it from the battery storage compartment in its associated computer, placing the removed battery in a horizontal orientation entirely within the interior the outer housing of a battery charger through a front access opening therein, and then closing a front access door on the housing to engage the battery and force its charging contacts against corresponding contacts on a power wiring board vertically disposed within the back of the housing.
This conventional computer battery charging apparatus presents several problems, limitations and disadvantages. For example, because the battery being charged is completely enclosed within the charger, it is often necessary to provide auxiliary cooling to prevent charging heat from damaging the enclosed battery and/or the charging circuitry. Moreover, since the charger must be sized to completely receive one or more computer batteries, the charger tends to be rather heavy and bulky, thereby undesirably decreasing its portability. Additionally, in this conventional full enclosure type of computer battery charger access to the internal charging circuitry tends to be relatively difficult, and the structure of the charger is often relatively complex, thereby making it fairly expensive to manufacture.
It can be readily seen from the foregoing that it would be desirable to provide improved portable battery charging apparatus that eliminates, or at least substantially minimizes the above-mentioned problems, limitations and disadvantages commonly associated with battery chargers of the general type described above. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide such improved portable computer battery charging apparatus.

Portable computer battery charging apparatus


A steering wheel and deflection unit for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, is described, of the type in which a steering wheel is connected in an angularly rigid manner to a steering shaft and a control lever for a direction signalling device is supported radially in the vicinity of this steering wheel; the rest position of the control lever with respect to the steering wheel can be adjusted into a plurality of different angular positions.

The present invention relates to a steering wheel and deflection unit for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle.
Steering wheel and deflection units are currently known in the prior art in which a control lever of a direction signalling device is supported radially in the vicinity of the steering wheel which is in turn connected in an angularly rigid manner to a steering shaft.
The engagement of the steering deflection device is controlled by a displacement of the control lever from an intermediate "rest" position between two operating positions to one of these two operating positions; the disengagement of the steering deflection device takes place automatically with the rotation of the steering wheel and therefore of the steering shaft: a mechanism mounted in an angularly rigid manner with respect to the steering shaft returns the control lever to the rest position.
In the rest position, the position of the lever with respect to the steering wheel is, however, fixed and cannot be personalized by vehicle drivers so that it meets their needs and matches their style of driving and the position of their hands on the steering wheel.

Steering wheel and deflection unit for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle


A mobility securement system, and method for securing a wheelchair or other mobility device, and its passenger, within a public or private vehicle. In various embodiments, the system includes one or two attachment members, one or two vehicle anchor assemblies and, potentially, at least one fixed or moveable bumper, and may further include a barrier. A tensioning assembly is operably connected to at least one attachment member and vehicle anchor assembly. One or more moveable bumpers may articulate to apply a force against the mobility device, and one attachment member may be hidden behind a stored position of a moveable bumper.

Mobility securement systems have existed to accommodate wheelchair-bound and other disabled passengers on buses for many years. Such systems are designed to secure the mobility device and its passenger during travel, where the bus may encounter sharp turns, may have to brake or accelerate quickly or may be involved in an accident. These events are expected during every day travel, and expose the mobility device and its passenger to forces that are often dangerous, both to them and other passengers near them.
While able-bodied passengers have other options to secure the position of their bodies relative to the vehicle, such as grabbing a nearby seat, stanchion, strap or grabrail, wheelchair-bound passengers and others traveling in mobility devices do not always have such an option. Passengers travelling in mobility devices must depend upon a securement system that holds the mobility device, and, in turn, the occupant, in place relative to the vehicle.
Mobility securement systems are now required throughout the U.S. to accommodate disabled passengers under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. The Code of Federal Regulations contains specific provisions as to the specifications and standards for such mobility device securement systems. See 36 C.F.R. 1192. For example, mobility securement systems on vehicles having a gross weight of 30,000 pounds or more must be able to restrain a force in a forward direction of up to 2,000 pounds per securement leg or clamping mechanism. Vehicles having a gross vehicle weight of less than 30,000 pounds must be able to restrain a force in a forward direction of up to 2,500 pounds per securement leg or clamping mechanism. Furthermore, the securement system must limit the movement of an occupied wheelchair or mobility device to no more than two inches in any direction under normal operating conditions.
To meet these stringent requirements, suppliers of mobility securement systems have typically used a securement system having either three or four attachment points. In the case of four attachment points, one attachment point is secured to a point near each corner of the wheelchair or other mobility device (e.g. scooter, power mobility device, or other). The area where the disabled passenger and mobility aid are positioned is often referred to as the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) area.
Thus, when the vehicle is in operation and makes a turn, accelerates or brakes, or is involved in an accident, there are at least one or two attachments that are located to act as a countervailing force to the inertia of the mobility device and its occupant. For example, when a vehicle turns left and a mobility device occupant feels a force towards the right, he/she is kept in place by one or more attachments that are connected to the mobility device on the left side. Mobility device tip overs are a problem. A vehicle wall or flip up seat assembly serves to prevent tip over to the wall side but tip overs toward the aisle remain a problem.
Systems with only three attachment points work in a somewhat similar manner; the three attachment points are positioned in such a way that there is an attachment connected to the mobility device to apply a countervailing force against any direction the vehicle may pull the passenger and/or the mobility device. In addition, some mobility securement systems with three attachment points also include a bumper or a barrier to limit motion of the mobility device. The bumper or barrier may be fixed or moveable. Barriers are typically placed behind the mobility device, while bumpers are typically placed alongside it by the window-side of the vehicle. In either case, these bumpers and barriers act to provide another surface against which the mobility device may abut, to brace it against the forces experienced during movement of the vehicle. Tip over problems can exist with some three point attachment systems. More specifically, if the mobility device is not positioned flush with the bumper assembly, there may not be sufficient support to prevent a tip over toward the aisle side. Ideally, three point systems require the disabled passenger or an aide to correctly position the mobility device directly against or very close to the bumper assembly. If the mobility device is placed close to the bumper, the bumper may come in contact with the mobility aid and thus assist in tip over prevention. If the mobility aid does not contact the bumper and one of the three attachments is tensioned, the mobility device effectively becomes secured primarily through the two opposing (front wall side and rear aisle side) attachment belts. Three point systems thus require the operator to correctly position the disabled occupant and mobility aid within the ADA area. This takes additional time and is often not done, or not done properly.
In systems with attachment points, an operator (often the bus driver), must attend to the mobility device to ensure it is secured before travel by attaching each of the three or four attachment points to the mobility device. When the mobility device passenger wishes to get off the bus, the driver must again attend to the passenger to disconnect each of the three or four attachment points. Each of these actions takes precious time away from the driver, and from meeting the often difficult schedule of the bus route.
Furthermore, for each attachment point an operator must attach, the operator encroaches into the disabled passenger's personal space, often making the disabled passenger feel uncomfortable. This is particularly true with the wall side, rear attachment point that is least accessible to the operator.
While some mobility securement systems without any attachment points are known, they have often met with less effectiveness, less acceptance and, accordingly, less commercial success. Such systems have moveable bumpers or barriers on opposite sides from each other, which place a compressive force upon the wheelchair or mobility device. Often, such systems are expensive and intrusive, as part of the system must take up substantial space in or near the aisle of the vehicle.
Often, mobility securement systems, or portions thereof, are designed to be stored underneath a seat, or within a barrier of a vehicle when not in use, which allows the area to be used for seating by other passengers.
Finally, it is important to accommodate different types of mobility devices. In addition of various types and sizes of wheelchairs, there are also other mobility devices such as scooters, power mobility devices, etc, each of which may have 3, 4, 5 or more wheels. Many of these devices have different shapes and configurations. Mobility securement systems that are designed to have four attachment points, may not work to secure a three-wheeled mobility scooter that has one center tiller, rather than the two front wheels of a mobility device.
It would be desirable to provide a mobility securement system, which takes significantly less time and effort to secure a wheelchair or many different types of mobility devices and its passenger, which is (i) compliant with all relevant ADA regulations, (ii) flexible with regard to placement of the mobility device in the ADA area, (iii) capable of being quickly and easily stored, or converted for able-bodied passenger seating, when not in use, (iv) cost effective, and (v) which minimizes the amount of an operator's time, effort, and intrusion into the disabled passenger's personal space.
One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art through a securement system that accommodates the "imperfect" positioning of the mobility device while minimizing the time and effort for restraining and releasing that mobility device and its occupant.


A portable storage apparatus includes a wrapping unit, a buckling unit, a clawing unit and a holder. The wrapping unit is adapted for wrapping a user's arm. The buckling unit is attached to the wrapping unit. The holder is adapted for holding a portable electronic device. The clawing unit is attached to the holder. The clawing unit can be engaged with and disengaged from the buckling unit. Hence, the holder can be attached to and detached from the wrapping unit.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a storage apparatus and, more particularly, to a portable storage apparatus.
2. Related Prior Art
A portable electronic device such as a cell phone can be placed in a handbag. However, it is undesirable or inconvenient to bring a handbag sometimes.
A cell phone can be placed in a holder equipped with a clip, hook or loop for attachment to a belt for a pair of trousers. However, a user does not wear any belt in his or her sports clothing.
A cell phone can be placed in a bag equipped with a necklace to be hung on a user's neck. However, the bag inevitably dangles and makes the user uncomfortable. Sometimes, the necklace gets tangled with an external object and interferes with the user's action. The user might even get hurt because of such interference.
A cell phone can be placed in a bag equipped with two straps and hook-and-loop means for wrapping a user's arm. To use the cell phone, the user can keep the cell phone in the bag and take them from his or her arm. After using the cell phone, the user attaches the bag and the cell phone back to his or her arm via operating the hook-and-look means and the straps, and this is inconvenient. Alternatively, to use the cell phone, the user can keep the bag on his or her arm and take the cell phone from the bag, and this is inconvenient.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.


A solar cell formation method, and resulting structure, having a first film and a barrier film over a surface of a doped semiconductor, wherein the optical and/or electrical properties of the first film are transformed in-situ such that a resulting transformed film is better suited to the efficient functioning of the solar cell; wherein portions of the barrier film partially cover the first film and substantially prevent transformation of first film areas beneath the portions of the barrier film.

In typical solar cells, the solar radiation is assumed to preferentially illuminate one surface of the solar cell, usually referred to as the front side. The opposite surface of the solar cell may also be illuminated, although typically not preferentially, and such a solar cell design is referred to as a bifacial cell. This opposite side is usually referred to as the back side. To achieve a high energy conversion efficiency of incident photons into electric energy, an efficient absorption of photons within the silicon substrate is important. This may be achieved by a low (parasitic) optical absorption of photons within all layers except the substrate itself For the sake of simplicity the impact of the wafer's geometrical shape (a surface texture like pyramids is usually formed on crystalline wafer surfaces or other modifications of a flat surface are applied) is not specifically addressed herein, because it is understood that the surfaces may be textured in any shape beneficial for improved solar cell efficiency.
In order to obtain a high electrical conversion efficiency of a solar cell, many parameters require optimization. This present invention in one aspect is a solar cell structure and a method of preparing the same which has the benefits of minimized recombination underneath metal contacts and functional films with desirable optical and electrical properties.

Selective transformation in functional films, and solar cell applications thereof


An alignment device eases installation of computer assemblies, such as drives, into a corresponding chassis. The alignment device includes one or more planar areas located and oriented so as to be substantially alignable with one or more computer assemblies to be mounted to the chassis. The computer assembly has a user-visible surface which is moved until it is co-planar with a corresponding planar area of the alignment device. When positioned in this co-planar configuration, the computer assembly is correctly positioned relative to the chassis to be mounted thereto. The alignment device can be located on the computer chassis between mounting locations for two computer assemblies, such as a 5¼-inch drive and a 3½-inch drive and, in such application, can be provided with two planar areas at two different heights, one corresponding to the alignment position for one of the computer assemblies, the other corresponding to the alignment position for the other of the computer assemblies.

Information handling systems (referred to generally herein as "computers") exist in many forms, from pocket-sized devices, personal digital assistants, cellular phones, and the like, to personal computers, servers, rack-mounted systems, and mainframes. The manufacture and assembly of such computers generally involves the mounting of computer hardware, computer devices, modular components and the like (referred to generally as "computer assemblies") in the computer. Personal computers (including notebooks, desktops and laptops), servers, and the like generally include one or more computer assemblies, such as computer drives, for storing or accessing information. Computer drives include so-called hard drives, as well as 5¼-inch drives for CD-ROMS and digital versatile disks (DVD), 3½-inch drives for floppy discs, and the like. These computer assemblies are typically added to increase the functionality of the computer, as may be desired by a user.
The installation of computer assemblies, including the drives referred to above, may sometimes be time-consuming or suffer from various other drawbacks and disadvantages. For example, drives and other user-accessible computer assemblies generally need to be mounted relative to the computer chassis at a certain, predetermined position so that the user-visible part of the drive is in the right position relative to the rest of the computer. So, for example, if the computer has a bezel, face-plate, or other exterior surface accessed by the user to operate the computer, it is generally desirable for the drives or other user-accessible computer assemblies to be mounted to the computer chassis to be aligned or otherwise correctly positioned relative to such exterior surface of the computer.
The correct positioning of drives and other computer assemblies relative to the chassis to which they are mounted is also complicated when the assembler cannot see the mounting holes typically found in such drives to line them up with the corresponding locations on the chassis. Still further difficulties may arise in cases where small screws or other fasteners are required to be inserted in correspondingly small mounting holes on the drives, again such process being even more difficult with limited or no visibility to whether the mounting holes of the drive are correctly positioned relative to the computer chassis.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a device or method for easing the installation of a computer assembly, such as a drive, into a corresponding computer chassis.


A mechanism controls disposition of a candidate object in an object-oriented programming environment. The mechanism identifies cyclic information related to an object being considered for destruction and determines based on that information whether the candidate object is externally unreachable and can therefore be destroyed. The cyclic information may be stored for repeated use.

In an object-oriented programming environment, a user may create objects that interact with other objects in the environment. Each object in the environment can consume system resources. Examples of such system resources include memory, sockets, and file handles. When an object is no longer needed by the system, an object may be destroyed to free any system resources consumed by that object.

Object management using cyclic path information


Connectors are provided which afford a substantial material match between two dissimilar metals, such as between an electronics package and the connector as well as between connector components to form an electronics assembly. In this manner, the thermal expansion properties of the electronics assembly components to be interfaced are also substantially matched, thereby allowing maintenance of a hermetic feedthru formed therebetween for a sustained period of operation. Additionally, the substantially matched component materials permit the use of simple and cost effective interfacing procedures in assembly construction.

Practitioners in technological fields involving metal-to-metal interface employ terms of art relevant to the understanding of the present invention and the prior art over which it constitutes an improvement. For example, an explosive weld connotes the metallurgical bond created at the point of impact when one metal is driven against another by the force of an explosion. An explosive weld is distinguished, for example, from a friction weld, i.e., the metallurgical bond created between two metals when they are rubbed together under high pressure conditions. A dissimilar metal sheet is a sheet of metal consisting of two or more layers of dissimilar metal which have been joined together by, for example, explosive or friction welding. A transition bushing is a metal-to-metal interface bushing fabricated from a dissimilar metal sheet.
Similar metals may be interfaced with each other by standard procedures, such as laser welding, soldering or the like. Dissimilar metals, e.g., metals characterized by differing thermal expansion properties, melting point, weld incompatibility or the like, do not reliably interface using such standard procedures. For example, iron cannot be physically laser welded to aluminum, and solder joints between iron and aluminum have a definite thermal fatigue cycle life. As a result, iron-based metal connectors cannot be reliably soldered or laser welded to aluminum electronics packages for sustained periods of operation.
Interface between an aluminum electronics package and a standard iron-based metal connector may be accomplished through the use of a transition bushing fabricated from a dissimilar metal sheet consisting of an iron-based metal and an aluminum alloy. FIGS. 1a and 1b depict a standard iron-based metal connector 10 and a transition bushing 12, with the former including an integral, patterned arrangement of a plurality of pins, generally formed of iron-based metal, and the latter including an iron portion 14 and an aluminum portion 16. Transition bushing 12 surrounds the perimeter of standard connector 10, with iron portion 14 of transition bushing 12 affixed to a flange 18 of iron-based metal connector 10. After transition bushing 12-connector 10 attachment is accomplished, the combination is installed into an aluminum electronics package (not shown), with aluminum portion 16 of transition bushing 12 affixed to the aluminum electronics package to form an electronics assembly. In this manner, transition bushing 12 serves to provide a similar metal interface for both iron-based metal connector 10 and the aluminum electronics package.
Using transition bushings or like members for installing hermetic feedthrus in an electronics package has a number of drawbacks. Transition bushings require the electronics package-connector interface(s) of an electronics assembly to be large, thereby impacting the space necessary for the connector to be housed within the transition bushing and the bushing, in turn, to be housed within the electronics package. For many applications, this size requirement is unacceptable, because the specified height of an electronics assembly is less than the corresponding dimension of the transition bushing required to house the connector.
Also, transition bushings are designed for use with standard iron-based metal hermetic connectors. Such connectors are relatively heavy, and more disproportionately so when used in combination with a light weight metal electronics package, e.g., an aluminum electronics package. The use of transition bushings adds to the number of electronics assembly components, thereby requiring additional assembly procedures. Moreover, deployment of transition bushings increases the linear length of the hermetic seal and, consequently, decreases the electronics assembly yield. Such problems contribute to the actual and effective cost of the electronics assembly.
Moreover, many standard iron-based metal connectors and/or transition bushings employed therewith are formed, at least in part, using magnetic iron-based metals. Such fabrication materials produce connectors having magnetic properties, which are undesirable in some connector applications. Also, the use of iron connecting pins limits the amount of current that a connector is capable of handling.
FIGS. 1c and 1d depict prior art radio frequency (RF) connectors, with FIG. 1c constituting a "spark plug" type and FIG. 1d constituting a "field replaceable" type. FIG. 1c shows a RF connector 10' with a hollow, exteriorly threaded stainless steel shell 12' having a KOVAR.RTM. glass-to-metal feedthru 14' affixed thereto by brazing at elevated temperature. Shell 12' also houses a teflon insert 16' having a pin socket 18' disposed therein at each longitudinal end thereof. A connector pin 20', generally formed of iron-based metal, inserts into pin socket 18'. A teflon member 22' surrounds connector pin 20' in longitudinal juxtaposition to shell 12', and a double knife edge seal ring 24' is disposed in circumferential juxtaposition to shell 12'. Ring 24' is formed of an iron-based metal, such as KOVAR.RTM. or stainless steel, and is optionally coated with silver.
To affix RF connector 10' to an interiorly threaded electronics package 26', torque (approximately 25 in-lbs) is applied to connector 10'. This force causes seal ring 24' to slightly cut into both connector 10' and electronics package 26', thereby creating a seal. To insure that connector 10' does not back out of electronics package 26' during transport or use, an edge 28' of a connector 10'-electronics package 26' assembly is soldered about the circumference of connector 10'. For this purpose, gold plating is optionally used to improve the wetting properties of the solder.
This seal is not a reliable hermetic seal, however. The two dissimilar metals, i.e., the externally threaded iron-based metal and the internally threaded aluminum metal, are in intimate contact at ambient temperature. Since aluminum has a higher expansion rate than KOVAR.RTM. or stainless steel, temperatures lower than ambient cause package 26' to squeeze connector 10', while temperatures higher than ambient produce a separation between those components. Such phenomena result in fatigue of the solder joint during thermal cycle and cause less than intimate contact between seal ring 24' and electronics package 26' and between seal ring 24' and connector 10'. The external solder application at 28' to prevent connector 10' backout provides a mechanical lock between the components rather than a hermetic seal. The connector is not field replaceable because removal thereof compromises the hermeticity of the package and breaks the rigid connection to the end of the pin located inside the package. That is, connector 10' cannot be replaced in the field without a high risk of electronics package 26' circuitry compromise.
In addition, the electrical performance of RF connector 10' suffers as a result of temporal separation between the communication of the signal and the ground to electronics package 26'. The signal follows an essentially straight line path through connector 10' into electronics package 26'. In contrast, the ground path runs along the outer surface of teflon insert 16', the outer surface of the glass portion of feedthru 14', the outer surface of teflon member 22', through seal ring 24' into electronics package 26' and about the periphery of the interior of package 26' to the ground location therewithin. The ground lag caused by the disparity in signal/ground path lengths impacts signal gain and loss characteristics, thereby affecting the signal-to-noise ratio. This problem is exacerbated as higher frequency signals are employed.
A "field replaceable" RF connector 30', as shown in FIG. 1d, includes an exteriorly threaded, replaceable portion 32' formed of stainless steel. A KOVAR.RTM. glass-to-metal feedthru 34' is soldered into a cavity 36' in an aluminum electronics package 38' at one or more solder locations 40'. Replaceable portion 32' is torqued into an interiorly threaded aluminum portion 42'.
KOVAR.RTM. and aluminum exhibit an approximately 4:1 thermal expansion mismatch. As a result, seals using field replaceable connectors 30' are hermetic at ambient temperature only. The KOVAR.RTM.-aluminum solder seal fails during thermal cycle. Moreover, connector 30' does not meet military field replaceability standards (i.e., an iron-based metal part may be threaded into aluminum only once, because that operation impacts subsequent torque applications by displacing the aluminum in the threaded area).
As discussed with respect to prior art micro-D connector designs, the use of a magnetic material, such as KOVAR.RTM. or the like, in fabricating connectors imparts magnetic properties thereto. Such properties are not desirable in all connector applications.


A satellite broadcast receiver comprise a demodulator for demodulating received signals, a mode changer for changing the voice output mode, and a control that prevents a voice output mode changing operation in response to a voice output mode changing signal provided by the mode changer, when the demodulator detects that the video signal and aural signal of the received signal are scrambled. When the video signal and aural signal of the received signal are scrambled, an indication of the voice output mode is suppressed and a special indication of the prevention of the change of voice output mode is displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to circuitry adapted to be included in a satellite broadcast receiver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some satellite subscription television service systems scramble the video signals in a satellite broadcasting channel. The scrambled video signals cannot be displayed on the screen of the monitor unit of a satellite broadcast receiver if the scrambled video signals are fed directly to the monitor unit of the satellite broadcast receiver and, in general, aural (audio) signals are muted. The scrambled video signals received by the satellite broadcast receiver must be unscrambled by a scramble decoder to obtain unscrambled video signals, and then the unscrambled video signals (video signals and L-side aural signals and Reside aural signals) must be fed to the monitor unit. Thus, the satellite broadcast represented by scrambled video signals cannot be viewed and listened to by a satellite broadcast receiver not provided with any scramble decoder.
If a satellite broadcast is in a multivoice system, the viewer can optionally select the a main voice output mode, a subvoice output mode or a duplex voice output mode by operating a remote controller or a voice output mode selector key provided on the operating panel of the satellite broadcast receiver. For example, every time the voice output mode selector key is pressed, the main voice output mode, the subvoice output mode and the duplex voice output mode are selected sequentially and the selected voice output mode is displayed together with a channel number on the screen of the monitor unit as shown in FIG. 4.
The voice output mode of the received broadcast is identified by reading control bits (sixteen bits) subsequent to frame synchronizing signal bits in each frame of an aural signal as shown in FIG. 5. Usually, the first bit of the control bits is used for discriminating a transmission mode selected by a broadcast (an A mode or a B mode), the second and third bits identify the type of the aural signal (stereophonic aural signal, monophonic 2-channel aural signal (duplex voice system) or monophonic 1-channel aural signal) and the fourth and fifth bits identify the type of independent voice (stereophonic voice, monophonic 2-channel voice, monophonic 1-channel voice or a signal other than aural signals). The sixth bits and the following bits are used for extension.
Accordingly, the control unit of a BS tuner is able to identify the voice output mode of the received broadcast (an L+R mode, an L mode or an R mode for a stereophonic broadcast, or a main voice output mode, a subvoice output mode or a duplex voice output mode for a multivoice system) on the basis of the contents of voice identified by the control bit, and is able to execute switching control and display control.
A code representing a rule of compression and extension is written in range bits subsequent to the control bits in the aural signal construction shown in FIG. 5 and it is decided by reading the range bits if the received broadcast is scrambled.
Even if the video signal is scrambled so that the video signal cannot be displayed without unscrambling the scrambled video signal by a scramble decoder, the control bits, for instance, can be read out normally because only a voice data in the aural signal is scrambled. Accordingly, even if the scrambled broadcast has a plurality of voice output modes (a stereophonic broadcast or a multivoice broadcast), the broadcast can he neither viewed nor listened to because the satellite broadcast receiver is not provided with any scramble decoder and the voice output is muted, and the control unit controls the voice output mode on the basis of the data read from the control bits of the aural signal. That is, the voice output mode can optionally be selected by the viewer as stated above with reference to FIG. 4. However, the viewer is unable to discriminate the selected voice output mode.
For example, most satellite broadcast receivers have a last memory function for storing the last selected voice output mode, so that the subvoice output mode is selected in viewing a broadcast of a duplex voice output mode after the satellite broadcast receiver has been turned off after selecting the subvoice in the duplex voice output mode or when the channel is changed and a monaural broadcast is selected. If the voice output mode is changed without confirming the type of voice in receiving a scrambled broadcast by such a satellite broadcast receiver, it often occurs that a voice output mode not desired by the viewer is selected when a normal broadcast that is not scrambled is selected; consequently, the effect of the last memory function that enables the viewer to omit voice output mode selecting operation is nullified.


A process for producing spherical composite cured melamine resin particles excellent in water resistance, in which colloidal silica is localized near the surface thereof, comprising (a) a step of reacting a melamine compound with an aldehyde compound in an aqueous medium under a basic condition in the presence of a suspension of colloidal silica having an average particle size of 5 to 70 nm to produce an aqueous solution of a precondensate of water-soluble melamine resin; and (b) a step of adding an acid catalyst to the aqueous solution produced in the step (a) to separate out spherical composite cured melamine resin particles.

1. Field of the Art
The present invention relates to a process for producing spherical composite cured melamine resin particles in which colloidal silica is localized near the surface thereof. Further, the present invention relates to a process for producing the spherical composite cured melamine resin particles the surface of which is coated with inorganic compound particles. The spherical composite cured melamine resin particles of the present invention are particularly excellent in water resistance, and have good resistance to solvent attack, good heat resistance and a characteristic that the particles have a narrow particle size distribution. The particles are used suitably for several polishing agents, paints, ink, flatting agents, resin fillers, slipping improvement agents for resin films, column packings, anti-wearing agents, spacers for liquid crystal displays, light diffusion agents for light diffusion sheets, electrophoresis displays, hard coating agents for touch panels, toners, electrodes for solar cells, photocatalysts for decomposing water, optical materials, magnetic materials, electrically-conductive materials, flame retardants, paper-making materials, fiber-treating materials and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
As methods for producing spherical cured melamine resin particles, several methods have been proposed. JP-A-50-45852 discloses a method comprising introducing a precondensate obtained by reacting benzoguanamine, melamine and formaldehyde in a given pH region into a hydrophilic polymer protective colloid under stirring to obtain an emulsion, adding a curing catalyst, such as an acid thereto and carrying out a curing reaction. In addition, JP-A-62-68811 discloses a method comprising condensing a hydrophilic precondensate of melamine and/or benzoguanamine and formaldehyde, and curing in the presence of a suspension of an alkylbenzenesulfonic acid having a C10–C18alkyl group, in an aqueous solution containing an anionic or nonionic surfactant. These methods provide spherical cured melamine resin particles with a narrow particle size distribution. However, these methods have a problem that the water resistance of the resin particles is liable to be lowered because the resultant cured resin particles are contaminated by the water-soluble protective colloid and surfactants used as dispersants.
JP-A-52-16594 describes a method comprising adding fine particulate silica having a particle size of 0.05 μm or less and a curing catalyst to an emulsion of an uncured benzoguanamine resin colored with a dye, and curing the resulting mixture in a emulsified state. As the method uses a water-soluble protective colloid when the emulsion of benzoguanamine resin is synthesized, it has a problem that the water resistance of the resin particles is liable to be lowered as mentioned above. The fine particulate silica is used as a dispersion improvement agent in order to prevent agglomeration of cured benzoguanamine resin particles.
Also is proposed a method of producing spherical cured melamine resin particles with neither protective colloids nor surfactants. JP-A-50-151989 discloses a method of condensing a component to be condensed, which is selected from phenols, ureas and aromatic amines, with an aldehyde compound in an inert organic medium in the presence of a suspension of inorganic powders. The method uses an organic solvent as a reaction solvent, therefore it raises manufacturing cost, increases environmental burden and is not an economical method. JP-A-62-10126 describes a method of reacting melamine with an aldehyde compound in an aqueous medium in the presence of an emulsion of a basic catalyst and an essentially water-insoluble inorganic salt, such as calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride or strontium fluoride. As the cured resin particles obtained by the method are coated with essentially water-insoluble inorganic salts, they have good water-resistance. However, the publication merely discloses cured resin particles having a particle size of about 10 μm in Example 1, and it does not disclose that particles having a particle size of submicron order are obtained. Therefore, the method has a problem in ranges of the control of particle size. Thus, it is desired to develop a method in which the particle size can be controlled in a broad range in order to extend the scope of use to which cured resin particles are applied.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,006 discloses a method comprising mixing and reacting an aqueous solution of polysilicic acid with an aqueous solution of aminoresin to produce polysilicic acid-aminoresin copolymer particles being spherical, and having holes and particle size of 1 to 50 μm. On the other hand, spherical composite cured melamine resin particles obtained by the present invention described below are different with particles described in the above-mentioned US Patent, in that in the present invention, colloidal silica and a melamine resin are not copolymerized uniformly, divided into phases and the resin particles are complicated as mosaic polymers.
In addition, the polysilicic acid is a highly hydrolyzed active silica having a molecular weight of 100,000 or less and particle size of less than 50 Å(5 nm). Colloidal silica has a molecular weight more than the polysilicic acid and particle size of 50 Å or more (see, Ralph K. Iler; The Chemistry of Silica, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1979, p. 11). Consequently, the polysilicic acid disclosed in the above-mentioned US Patent is different from the colloidal silica in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,453 describes a method comprising mixing and reacting an aqueous solution of sodium silicate with an amino compound and formaldehyde to produce aminoresin-silica composite particles having primary particle size of 0.05 to 0.3 μm and cluster particle size of 1 to 10 μm. However, the method using the aqueous solution of sodium silicate does not produce composite particles stably in the test conducted by the present inventors (Comparative Example 3 of the present application).
As mentioned above, the conventional methods have problems that in case where a water-soluble surfactant is used when spherical cured melamine particles are synthesized, water resistance of the resulting resin particles is lowered, and that in case where an inorganic compound is used, it is difficult to control particle size of the resulting resin particles in broad ranges.

Process for producing spherical composite cured melamine resin particles


A display, such as for a touch-sensitive communication device, can include a transparent cover glass, pixels that emit light through the cover glass, and multiple antennas positioned along respective paths in an inactive area between the pixels. The antennas do not obstruct the light produced by the pixels, and can therefore be composed of opaque materials, such as metallic thin films, without affecting the optical properties of the display. In some examples, several antennas can have the same size and shape but different orientations, so that a radio can switch between or among the antennas to optimize reception. In some examples, the antennas can have different sizes and/or shapes, so that the antennas can send and/or receive radio signals in different frequency ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some examples, locating the antennas in the display can allow the device to include a metallic housing.

In a communication device of a relatively small size, such as a cellular telephone or smart phone, it can be difficult to find space for a radio antenna in an interior of the device. For devices with multiple radio elements, each requiring an antenna of a different size, it can be even more difficult to find space for the antennas in the interior of the device. For devices having a metallic housing, it can be still more difficult, because the metallic housing can shield its interior from the radio signals.

Communication device and display incorporating antennas between display pixels


A method of forming an opening in a first film is provided, wherein the opening has first and second opening portions and the first film is an insulating film. The first opening portion is formed in the first film and a second film is formed on an upper surface of the first film and to fill in the first opening portion. A masking film is formed on the second film. The first film and the second film are etched by a first etching process using the masking film as a mask to form the second opening portion. The first film and the second film are etched at substantially the same rate by the first etching process. The remaining portion of the second film in the first opening portion is etched by a second etching process. The second film is etched at a higher rate than the first film by the second etching process.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to methods for making a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to methods for a semiconductor device using a flowable oxide film.
2. Description of Related Art
Various processes for forming metal lines and contacts in semiconductor devices have been developed. In some cases, a metal film is deposited and then etched. In other cases, a so-called damascene process is utilized. A "damascene" process is a process in which a trench or an opening is formed in an insulating film and then filled in with a conductive material. The conductive material is then planarized. A "dual damascene" process involves the simultaneous fabrication of a conductive contact and a conductive wiring. Specifically, in a dual damascene process, a contact hole is formed in an insulating film such as a TEOS film and then a trench for the wiring is formed in the insulating film by widening an upper portion of the contact hole. A conductive material is then deposited on the insulating film and to fill in the contact hole and the trench. The deposited conductive material is then planarized by a planarization process such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) using the insulating film as a stopper. Such a dual damascene process reduces the number of process steps and eliminates an interface between the conductive contact and the conductive wiring.
Some steps of a conventional dual damascene process are shown in FIGS. 1(a)-1(d). With reference to FIG. 1(a), a contact hole 18 is formed in an insulating film 16 such as a TEOS film and exposes a portion of the upper surface of a conductive line 14 formed in an insulating layer 12. Next, as shown in FIG. 1(b), an antirefiective coating (ARC) film 20 is deposited and a resist 22 is formed on ARC film 20. As can be seen in FIG. 1(b), due to the topography of the upper surface of ARC film 20 caused by contact -hole 18, resist 22 has a variable thickness. Resist 22 is selectively exposed and developed to provide a patterned resist layer as shown in FIG. 1(c). A reactive ion etching (RIE) process is then used to etch ARC film 20 and TEOS layer 16 using the patterned resist as a mask. ARC film 20 and TEOS film 16 have different etching rates. If, during this RIE process, the ARC film 20 is etched at a faster rate than TEOS film 16, conductive line 14 may be damaged. On the other hand, if during this RIE process, ARC film 20 is etched at a slower rate than TEOS film 16, a structure like that shown in FIG. 1(d) has been found to remain after the RIE process. After the removal of the remaining resist 22 and ARC film 20, TEOS spikes 24 adjacent to the contact hole/trench boundary remain. An adhesion/barrier film of, for example, titanium nitride is then deposited on the surface of TEOS film 16 and on the sidewalls and bottom walls of the contact hole and trench. However, in the regions of TEOS spikes 24, the adhesion/barrier film is unevenly deposited and, in some areas, may not be deposited at all. Thus, in a subsequent step during which a conductive material such as tungsten is sputtered or deposited in the contact hole and trench, voids in the tungsten can occur in regions where the adhesion/barrier layer is not present. This can lead to discontinuities and increased resistance of the contacts and lines formed by the tungsten. In addition, with reference to FIG. 1(b), the varying thickness of resist 22 adversely impacts the lithography process and contributes to the difficulty in forming trenches having highly accurate dimensions. Similar problems occur if ARC film 20 is omitted and resist 22 is deposited on the upper surface of TEOS layer 16 and to fill in contact hole 18.

Method for making a semiconductor device using a flowable oxide film


A method for making a current collector of an electrochemical battery is disclosed. In the method, a current collecting metal substrate and a solid graphite source are provided. A graphite/graphene layer is formed on at least one surface of the current collecting metal substrate, by rubbing the at least one surface of the current collecting metal substrate with the solid graphite source. A method for making an electrode of an electrochemical battery is also disclosed.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to methods for making current collectors and methods for making electrodes of electrochemical batteries having the current collectors.
2. Description of Related Art
Current collector is an important part in an electrochemical battery. The current collector is used for supporting electrode active material and providing an electron transfer route between the electrode active material and an outside circuit. Therefore, a performance of the current collector affects a performance of the electrochemical battery.
Conventional current collectors usually are metal sheets, plates, or foils, such as copper foils and aluminum foils. However, the metal sheets are easily to be oxidized to form a passive film or corroded by an electrolyte solvent of the electrochemical battery to form an insulating layer on the surface thereof. The passive film or insulating layer greatly increases a contact resistance between the electrode active material and the metal foil, thereby decreasing a discharge capacity and capacity retention of the electrochemical battery. A layer of graphene is formed on the surface of the current collector to improve the performance of the current collector by dispersing graphene powder, in a solvent, to form a graphene solution first and then coating and drying the graphene solution on the surface of the metal foil. However, this method needs a high uniformity of the dispersing and a high uniformity of the coating related to complicated processes, which are difficult to be compatible with the present electrochemical battery manufacture industry.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a method for making a current collector and a method for making an electrode of an electrochemical battery having the current collector, which are efficiency to improve the discharge capacity and capacity retention, and simple and compatible with the present electrochemical battery manufacture industry.

Methods for making current collector and electrode of electrochemical battery


An imaging lens includes a first lens group and a second lens group, arranged in this order from an object side to an image plane side. The first lens group includes a first lens, a second lens having positive refractive power, and a third lens. The second lens group includes a fourth lens, a fifth lens, and a sixth lens. The third lens and the fourth lens are arranged in a specific configuration.

The present invention relates to an imaging lens for forming an image of an object on an imaging element such as a CCD sensor and a CMOS sensor. In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging lens suitable for mounting in a relatively small camera such as a camera to be built in a portable device including a cellular phone and a portable information terminal, a digital still camera, a security camera, a vehicle onboard camera, and a network camera.
In these years, in place of cellular phones that are intended mainly for making phone calls, so-called "smartphones", which are multi-functional cellular phones that can be used to execute various application software as well as making phone calls, have been more widely used. By executing application software on a smartphone, the smartphone can be used, for example, as a digital still camera, a car navigation system, or the like. In order to execute the functions, most models of the smartphones have cameras, similar to the cellular phones.
Generally speaking, product groups of the smartphones are often categorized according to specifications thereof for beginners to advanced users. Among them, an imaging lens to be mounted in a product designed for advanced users is required to have a high resolution lens configuration so as to be also applicable to a high pixel count imaging element.
As a method of attaining the high-resolution imaging lens, there is a method of increasing the number of lenses that compose the imaging lens. However, the increase of the number of lenses easily causes an increase in the size of the imaging lens. Therefore, the lens configuration having a large number of lenses is disadvantageous for mounting in a small-sized camera such as the above-described smartphones. For this reason, an imaging lens has been developed so as to restrain the number of lenses as small as possible. However, with rapid advancement in achieving higher pixel count of an imaging element in these days, an imaging lens has been developed so as to attain higher resolution rather than attaining a shorter total track length thereof. For example, although it has been common to mount a conventional camera unit containing an imaging lens and an imaging element inside of a smartphone, nowadays, there is an attempt to attach a camera unit, which is a separate unit from the smartphone, to a smartphone, so that it is possible to obtain an image that is equivalent to that obtained by a digital still camera.
In case of a lens configuration composed of six lenses, since the number of lenses that compose an imaging lens is large, it is somewhat disadvantageous for downsizing the imaging lens. However, since there is high flexibility in designing, it has potential of attaining satisfactory correction of aberrations and downsizing in a balanced manner. For example, as an imaging lens having a six-lens configuration as described above, an imaging lens described in Patent Reference has been known.    Patent Reference: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-195587
The imaging lens described in Patent Reference includes a first lens that is positive and has a convex surface directing to an object side, a second lens that is negative and has a concave surface directing to an image plane side, a third lens that is negative and has a concave surface directing to the object side, a fourth lens and a fifth lens that are positive and have convex surfaces to the image plane side, and a sixth lens that is negative and has a concave surface directing to the object side. According to the imaging lens of Patent Reference, by satisfying a conditional relation concerning a ratio between a focal length of the first lens and a focal length of the third lens and a ratio between a focal length of the second lens and a focal length of the whole lens system, it is possible to satisfactorily correct a distortion and a chromatic aberration.
The cellular phones and smartphones have higher functions and smaller sizes each year and imaging lenses are required to have even smaller sizes than before. In case of the imaging lens of Patent Reference, the distance from the object-side surface of the first lens to the image plane of an imaging element is long. Therefore, to satisfy the above-described demands, there is a limit by itself in satisfactorily correcting aberrations while downsizing the imaging lens.
Here, such a problem is not specific to the imaging lens to be mounted in the cellular phones and smartphones. Rather, it is a common problem even for an imaging lens to be mounted in a relatively small camera such as digital still cameras, portable information terminals, security cameras, vehicle onboard cameras, and network cameras.
In view of the above-described problems in conventional techniques, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging lens that can attain downsizing thereof and satisfactory aberration correction.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.


A multi-user MIMO receiver of a UE in question for detecting a pre-coded signal includes a unit configured to blindly estimate information concerning a pre-coding vector for a paired UE, which is operated on the same resource as the multi-user MIMO receiver, based on received data. Further, the multi-user MIMO receiver comprises an equalizer configured to equalize the pre-coded signal based on the estimated information concerning the pre-coding vector for the paired UE.

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmissions have recently been introduced in many modern wireless communication systems because they allow further increased data rates. For example, in the standardization committee 3GPP TS (3rd Generation Partnership Project Technical Standardization) a further development of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) is specified, named Long Term Evolution (LTE), which uses MIMO transmissions.
MIMO systems are characterized in that at each the transmitter side and the receiver side several antennas are provided for transmitting and/or receiving the signals. This allows the use of the spatial dimension for transmitting information, thus a higher spectral efficiency and higher data rates are possible without any increase in bandwidth.
Multi-user (MU) MIMO transmission systems allow the simultaneous transmission of different data streams to various users (receivers) on the same resource, i.e., for example, on the same frequency and/or at the same time. This may be achieved by a spatial multiplexing in the transmitter. In spatial multiplexing of signals for several users, the information symbols are pre-coded prior to their transmission, in order to multiplex the information in the spatial domain. The pre-coding used for a receiver will be signaled by the transmitter to the respective receiver so that the (receiver) is capable of detecting the signal pre-coded for it. While high requirements must be set regarding the transmitted different data streams being uncorrelated for a single-user (SU) MIMO transmission, in which several such pre-coded data streams are transmitted to a single user due to the proximity of the receiver antennas, the MU-MIMO transmission profits from the natural independence of the signals obtained at antennas of different receivers (and thus distanced from each other).
In spite of the spatial multiplexing of the different signals transmitted via the same resource, the interference by the other multiplexed signal or signals represents a considerable degree of disturbance for the signal to be detected by the receiver in question. By a suitable selection of the pre-coding vectors in the transmitter for the different receivers, the interference caused by the spatial multiplexing can be reduced, but it remains significant and leads to loss of performance in the receiver.
One option to suppress interferences caused for other users by the signals spatially multiplexed on the same resource comprises detecting these signals in the receiver and thus utilizing the deterministic nature of the interfering signals, i.e., considering them different from white noise. Such receivers are also called IA (Interference Aware) receivers. IA-receivers, such as, for example, IRC (Interference Rejection Combiners) and MMSE (Minimum Mean Square Error) receivers, are therefore particularly well suited for MU-MIMO transmission systems.
In the past, however, IRC and MMSE receivers required a perfect awareness of the interfering channel occurring at the receiver in question, via which the interfering signals are detected (i.e., the spatially multiplexed signal(s) for the other user(s) via the same resource or resources). This interfering channel comprises the MIMO channel for the receiver in question and the pre-coding vector or vectors for the mobile stations operated on the same resource. The MIMO channel of the receiver in question is continuously estimated thereby for the purpose of its own signal detection. The pre-coding vector or vector(s) for the other mobile stations are commonly not communicated by the base station (e.g., eNodeB) to the receiver in question (i.e., the receiver in the mobile station in question). Consequently, a mobile station is not or not entirely aware of the pre-coding vector or vectors for the other mobile stations operated on the same resource. This leads to the consequence that comprehensive information required for the use of IRC or MMSE receivers regarding the interfering channel is not provided at the receiver in question.

Receiver and method for detecting a pre-coded signal


The present invention provides a novel isolated and purified fungus Hirsutella minnesotensis. The present invention also provides a pesticidal composition of an effective amount of an isolated and purified fungal strain of Hirsutella rhossiliensis or Hirsutella minnesotensis that is capable of controlling nematode infestation and a carrier. Further, the present invention provides methods of controlling nematode infestation.

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is one of the most destructive plant-parasitic nematodes and has been found in most soybean-growing countries and regions in the world. The north central region of the United States is a major soybean-producing region and the nematode has been reported from all the states except North Dakota (Noel, 1992; Smolik, 1996). The nematode is a major yield-limiting factor of soybeans.
Management of the SCN has largely relied on rotation with non-host crops and planting resistant cultivars. In many cases, however, rotation and/or use of resistant cultivars are not efficient, or are impractical. Many factors including biotic and abiotic factors affect the efficacy of rotation and use of resistant cultivars. Results obtained in a recent crop rotation study indicated that 3 years of corn did not appear to be adequate to lower SCN density to a level where an SCN susceptible cultivar could be recommended in Minnesota. Further, increase of years of corn may result in corn yield penalty for the second and the following years for unknown reasons.
Use of resistant cultivars places a selection pressure on the nematode races. Continuous use of resistant cultivars with the same resistant source may result in race shift and eventually the resistance may be broken. Furthermore, the nematode can cause a significant yield loss even to resistant soybean cultivars. Therefore, it is important to reduce nematode density before planting a resistant cultivar.
Nematophagous fungi have been known for over 100 years and have been tested for biological control of plant parasitic nematodes for over 60 years (Linford, 1937; Zopf, 1888). Several fungi such as Arthrobotrys spp., Drechmeria coniospora (Drechsler) Gams & Jansson, Hirsutella rhossiliensis Minter & Brady, Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom.) Samson, and Verticillium chlamydosporium Goddard, have been extensively studied but no successful biological control agents have been developed from these fungi (Galper et al., 1995; Stirling, 1991).
Nematophagous fungi have been isolated from various nematodes and locations. The fungi vary considerably among species and isolates in characteristics such as virulence to certain nematodes, colonization ability in plant roots, and competitive ability in soil (Boume et al., 1996; Timper and Riggs, 1998). The variability among isolates of H. rhossiliensis, P. lilacinus, and V. chlamydosporium has been demonstrated (Carneiro and Gomes, 1993; Irving and Kerry, 1987; Tedford et al., 1994). Waller and Faedo (1993) tested 94 species of nematode-trapping fungi for their infection of the free-living stage of animal-parasitic nematode, Haemonchus contortus Rudolpli in the sheep fecal environment and found only a few species with efficient activity.
Hirsutella rhossiliensis was first described in 1980 (Minter and Brady, 1980) based on a specimen collected from Wales in 1953. Sturhan and Schneider (1980) reported isolating this fungus from the hop cyst nematode, Heterodera humuli Filipjev, and named it Hirsutella heteroderae (synonym of H. rhossiliensis). The fungus has a wide range of hosts including plant-parasitic nematodes, free-living nematodes, entomopathogenic nematodes and mites, although different isolates may have different host preferences. Hirsutella rhossiliensis can parasitize a high percentage of nematodes in some locations. This fungus is probably an obligate parasite in nature and is generally isolated from only one species of nematode in a field (Jaffee and Zehr, 1985; Jaffee et al., 1991; Liu and Chen, 2000a; Sturhan and Schneider, 1980; Timper and Brodie, 1993; Velvis and Kamp, 1995).
Hirsutella rhossiliensis is a hyphomycetes with simple erect phialides which are swollen at the base and taper towards the apex. When a host nematode comes into contact with conidia on the phialides, the conidia can attach to the nematode cuticle, and infect the host nematode within a few days. Following penetration, the fungus forms an infection bulb in the nematode cavity, from which assimilative hyphae are developed. After converting nematode body contents to mycelial mass, the fungus may emerge from the nematode cadaver, produce spores, and infect other nematodes. An average of 112 conidia may be formed from mycelium developed from a single juvenile of H. schachtii at 20° C. (Jaffee et al., 1990). KCl increased infection of nematodes by the fungus (Jaffee and Zehr, 1983). Conidia detached from the phialides may lose infectivity. Some conidia died shortly after sporulation and others may be viable and virulent for at least 200 days (Jaffee et al., 1990). Variability of morphology, pathogenicity, and genetics was observed among isolates (Tedford et al., 1994).
Parasitism of nematodes by H. rhossiliensis is dependent on nematode density. The percentage of nematodes parasitized by the fungus correlates positively with host nematode density (Jaffee et al., 1992). The number of conidia attached to cuticle of nematode by H. rhossiliensis correlates with the amount of conidia in the soil. Since the fungus is a poor soil competitor, local populations of the fungus may go extinct unless supplied with some minimum number of nematodes (the host threshold density). Thus, natural epidemics of this fungus among populations of nematodes develops slowly and only after long periods of high host densities (Jaffee and Zehr, 1985). Transmission of spores is greater in loamy sand than in coarse sand (Jaffee et al., 1990). In contrast to the theory that addition of organic matter may enhance activity of some nematophagous fungi, addition of organic matter to soil decreases parasitism of M. xenoplax by H. rhossiliensis (Jaffee et al., 1994).
Many endoparasitic nematophagous fungi produce adhesive spores, which adhere to passing vermiform nematodes, and subsequently infect, and kill the host. Drechmeria coniospora (Drechsler) Gams & Jansson (Drechsler, 1941), Hirsutella rhossiliensis Minter & Brady (Hirsutella heteroderae Sturhan & Schneider, Sturhan and Schneider 1980; Jaffee and Zehr, 1982), and Verticillium banaloides Drechsler (Drechsler, 1941) are well known species in this group. Only H. rhossiliensis, however, parasitizes high percentages of nematodes in natural soils. The fungus parasitized 80% of Mesocriconema xenoplax Raski in California peach orchard soils (Jaffee et al., 1988) and 90% of Heterodera schachtii Schmidt J2 in oil-radish fields in Germany (Müller, 1982). Hirsutella rhossiliensis was naturally present in about 25% of the sugarbeet fields in Germany, in 17 of 20 fields in a starch-potato-growing area in the northeastern Netherlands (Velvis and Kamp, 1995), and in 10 of 21 sugarbeet fields in California, and may contribute to the suppression of H. schachtii (Müller, 1984, 1986; Jaffee et al., 1991; Juhl, 1985). Jaffee and Muldoon (1989) also found that penetration of cabbage roots by H. schachtii was suppressed by 50-77% in loamy sand naturally infested with H. rhossiliensis. Hirsutella rhossiliensis has been isolated from Heterodera humuli Filipjev (Sturhan and Schneider, 1980), H. schachtii (Muller, 1984), Heterodera avenae Woll. (Stirling and Kerry, 1983), Heterodera glycines Ichinohe (Chen, 1997), Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood (Cayrol et al., 1986), M. xenoplax (Jaffee and Zehr, 1982), Rotylenchus robustus (de Man) Filipjev (Jaffee et al., 1991), Xiphinema diversicacaudatum (Micoletzky) Thome (Ciancio et al., 1986), Hoplolaimus galealus Filip. & Schúr. Stek., bacteria-feeding nematodes, soil mites, and soil (Tedford et al., 1994). It has also shown to infect Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn) Filipjev, Aphelenchoides fragariae (Ritz. Bos) Christie, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood (Cayrol and Frankowski, 1986; Cayrol et al., 1986), Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb) Filip. & Schúr. Stek (Timper and Brodie, 1993), Anguina sp. (Cayrol and Combettes, 1983), Anaplectus sp, Cephalobus (Sturhan and Schneider, 1980), and entomopathogenic species of Steinernema, Heterorhabditis (Timper et al., 1991) in laboratory and greenhouse studies.
The potential of the fungus as biological control agent has been controversial. Muller (1982) reported that the fungus might suppress cyst nematodes in some sugar beet fields in Germany. The fungus was considered to be partially responsible for suppression of M. xenoplax population in some orchards in the southern United States (Zehr, 1985). High numbers and percentages of M xenoplax parasitized by H. rhossiliensis were also found in some California peach orchards (Jaffee et al., 1989). In greenhouse studies, H. rhossiliensis suppressed G. pallida on potato (Velvis and Kamp, 1996), H. schachtii on cabbage (Jaffee and Muldoon, 1989), and Pratylenchus penetrans Cobb on potato (Timper and Brodie, 1994).
Results obtained by Tedford et al. (1993), however, indicated that long-term interactions between populations of H. rhossiliensis and cyst or root-knot nematodes will not result in biological control. In a field microplot test, H. rhossiliensis failed in suppression of H. schachtii (Jaffee et al., 1996). H. rhossiliensis has been formulated in alginate pellets and used in control of nematodes in laboratory or greenhouse studies (Lackey et al., 1993; Jaffee et al., 1996). No commercial formulation, however, has yet been developed.
Biological control represents one of the components in an integrated pest management program and has been shown promise in control of many other agricultural pests. Especially in view of bans on chemical nematicides, such as the ban on methyl bromide, there remains a continuing need for a means to safely and effectively control the spread of nematodes, specifically of Heterodera glycines. Further, there is a long-felt, unresolved need to produce a pesticidal composition that can be sprayed, or similarly applied, onto crops to control nematodes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Homogeneous crystals are grown from a multicomponent melt double crucible assembly with an injector which affords improved flow of melt from the outer to the inner crucible. Guide rods are provided external to the outer crucible and locate the inner crucible with reduced probability of sticking. Means are also provided for withdrawing the inner crucible after crystal growth is complete as is a method of removing trapped gas from the apparatus prior to crystal growth.

The growth of low defect single crystals has been the subject of considerable research in for example the semiconductor industry. Such crystals are an essential precursor in the fabrication of a vast variety of semiconductor devices.
The Czochralski seed-pulling technique for growing single crystals is well known (eg Z Physik. Chem. (Liebzig) 92, 219 (1918)). By this technique a seed crystal is brought into contact with molten material (melt) to facilitate further crystallisation. The crystal so produced is drawn from the melt as it grows.
However, for an incongruently solidifying melt of more than one component (where the liquidus and solidus temperatures are different) this method does not give rise to uniform composition throughout the crystal. This is because the composition of crystal which crystalises from a given melt is different in composition from that melt (see, for example, S Glasstone, "The Elements of Physical Chemistry" p384, published by Macmillan, 1956). Hence, for a closed system, the composition of the melt, and hence the growing crystal changes as crystallisation proceeds.
In order to produce crystals of uniform composition, the double crucible technique was developed (eg Journal of Applied Physics, 29, no. 8, (1958) pp1241-1244 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,112).
Typically, the apparatus of this technique comprises an outer crucible containing melt of the same composition as the crystal to be grown. An inner crucible floats on the melt in the outer crucible and a small channel through the bottom or side wall of the inner crucible allows melt to flow in from the outer crucible.
The crystal is drawn from the melt in the inner crucible (which is replenished from the outer crucible via the channel) and, under equilibrium conditions, has the same composition as the molten material in the outer crucible.
Typically, the respective melting points of the contents of each crucible are different and an essential feature of the double crucible technique (as applied to an incongruently solidifying melt) is that a temperature differential must be maintained between the outer and inner crucible: the temperature at which the crystal is drawn from the melt in the inner crucible is lower than that required to keep the melt in the outer crucible molten.
For a given melt composition, the temperature differential achieved depends, inter alia, on the dimensions of each crucible (including wall and base thickness), the thermal conductivity of the crucible material, and the power and configuration of the heat source used to achieve melting.
One consequence of the difference in melting points between the respective contents of the two crucibles and of the temperature differential maintained between the two crucibles, is that the melt tends to freeze as it passes through the channel to the inner crucible. The resulting blockage is one of the major problems encountered when using the floating crucible technique with incongruently solidifying melts.
The tendency for freezing to block the hole can be reduced by increasing its diameter but this increases the tendency for diffusion of the melt in the inner crucible back into the outer crucible (see for example G R Blackwell, Solid State Electronics 7 105 (1964)). When this occurs, the composition of melt in the outer crucible no longer remains constant and hence the composition of the crystal produced is no longer uniform.
Another feature of the floating crucible technique is that the inner crucible must be maintained concentric with the outer crucible if a symmetrical temperature distribution across the system is to be maintained. If the inner crucible drifts toward the walls of the outer crucible then undesirable localised freezing of the outer melt is likely.
In response to this problem, inner crucibles have been designed which incorporate spacers or fenders to ensure they remain substantially concentric with the outer crucible. However, this design gives rise to another problem, namely that of sticking of the inner crucible. As crystal growth proceeds, the level of melt in the outer crucible falls and the floating inner crucible falls with it. With the incorporation of fenders or spacers on the inner crucible there is an increased tendency for the inner crucible to stick giving rise to uneven crystal growth or, in extreme cases, halting the growth process altogether.
Another disadvantage of the double crucible technique is that, after crystal growth is complete, residual melt may cool and solidify in the double crucible assembly fusing the two crucibles together. This causes many crucibles to be broken or discarded. Ideally, the two crucibles would be separated before cooling and solidification takes place but crystal growth normally takes place at elevated temperatures and the double crucible assembly is typically maintained in an enclosed, inert atmosphere during growth in order to prevent the components of the melt being oxidised or otherwise degraded. Therefore manual separation of the two crucibles before cooling is difficult without exposing the residual melt to the outside atmosphere.
Another problem commonly encountered when using the double crucible technique is that after charging both crucibles with appropriate melt, gas is often trapped in the channel for allowing melt to pass into the inner crucible and surface tension at the melt-gas interface prevents flow of melt from the outer to the inner crucible.

The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland


A personal care composition may have an isosorbide diester having the formula:

Many personal care compositions are formulated for use as sunscreen or to provide a secondary benefit of UV protection. UV actives are used to provide such compositions with UV absorption capability. Many of the more robust UV actives providing an absorption benefit over a broader range of the UV spectra are solid materials. These solid UV actives require solubilization to provide an effective and consumer acceptable composition. For example, solid UV actives such as butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (i.e., avobenzone) and/or (2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-phenylmethanonebenzophenone-3 (i.e., benzophenone-3) or triazine compounds such as bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (i.e., bemotrizinol) require a solvent to keep these actives in solution or emulsion and to prevent crystallization.
Several solvents previously have been used to solubilize solid UV actives. Fatty esters of carboxylic acid such as C12-C15 alkyl bezonate are well known solvents for solid UV actives. Esters of adipic acid such as diisopropyl adipate are another suitable class of solvents for solid UV actives. Amide oils are widely used class of solvents for solid UV actives and include ethyl N-acetyl-N-butylaminoproprionate, or, more preferably, isopropyl lauroyl sarcosinate. However, there still exists a need for alternative solvents for solid UV actives. In particular, a need exists for solvents that can solubilize the UV active while also providing one or more additional skin or hair care benefits.

Personal care compositions with improved solubility of a solid UV active

Abstract: wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected from a straight or branched C1-30 chain, which may be saturated or unsaturated. The composition may further comprise a solid UV active soluble in the isosorbide diester and a dermatologically acceptable carrier. The personal care composition may be in the form of an emulsion having an aqueous phase comprising water and an oil phase. The oil phase may comprise the isosorbide diester and a solid UV active soluble in the isosorbide diester. In a particular embodiment, the solid UV soluble in the isosorbide diester UV active may be selected from 4-tert-butyl-4′-methoxy dibenzoylmethane, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, and combinations thereof. Methods of making the aforementioned personal care compositions are disclosed.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for transmitting channel state information. The method includes: receiving, by a first terminal device, downlink control information DCI transmitted by a network device; determining, by the first terminal device, according to the DCI, whether it is necessary to report CSI; and when the first terminal device determines that it is necessary to report the CSI, transmitting, by the first terminal device, the CSI of the first terminal device to the network device. The first terminal device may be triggered to report the CSI according to the DCI transmitted by the network device, and thus the terminal device may report its own CSI.

Incorporation of a terminal device in a long term evolution Long Term Evolution, "LTE" for short) system requires reporting channel state information (Channel State Information, "CIS" for short) to a network device, however, how to trigger the terminal device to report the CSI is an urgent problem to be solved.

Method and apparatus for transmitting channel state information

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


An interference cancellation technique is implemented in a receiver adapted for determining an estimation of interferences when receiving an OFDM signal made of packets. Each packet includes a first training field, a second training field, a first header field, a second header field and a data field. The receiver detects a first symbol value of the first header field, and a second symbol value of the second header field, the first and the second header fields having been modulated using different modulation schemes. The estimation of interferences is determined using the first and the second symbol values.

Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM), also referred to as "multicarrier modulation" (MCM) or "discrete multi-tone modulation" (DMTM), splits up and encodes high-speed incoming serial data, modulating it over a plurality of different carrier frequencies (called "subcarriers") within a communication channel to transmit the data from one user to another. The serial information is broken up into a plurality of sub-signals that are transmitted simultaneously over the subcarriers in parallel.
By spacing the subcarrier frequencies at intervals of the frequency of the symbols to transmit, the peak power of each modulated subcarrier lines up exactly with zero power components of the other modulated subcarriers, thereby providing orthogonality (independence and separability) of the individual subcarriers. This allows a good spectral efficiency (close to optimal) and minimal inter-channel interference (ICI), i.e. interferences between the subcarriers.
For these reasons, OFDM is used in many applications. Many digital transmission systems have adopted OFDM as the modulation technique such as digital broadcasting terrestrial TV (DVB-T), digital audio broadcasting (DAB), terrestrial integrated services digital broadcasting (ISDB-T), digital subscriber line (xDSL), WLAN systems, e.g. based on the IEEE 802.11a/g standards, cable TV systems, etc.
However, the advantage of the OFDM can be useful only when the orthogonality is maintained. In case the orthogonality is not sufficiently warranted by any means, the performances of the OFDM system may be degraded due to inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-carrier interference (ICI).
OFDM can also be used for OFDM Access system which is a multi-user version of the OFDM. Multiple access is achieved in OFDMA by assigning subset of subcarriers to individual users. This allows simultaneous low data rate transmission from several users.
OFDMA based cellular systems and OFDM WLAN networks suffer from interference, mainly inter-cell interference at the cell boundary, especially when all frequency channels are fully reused.
In other words, some means of mitigating the inter-cell interference (ICI) is required to support a full frequency-reuse operation. According to standards and literature, the inter-cell interference mitigation techniques include inter-cell interference coordination technique, inter-cell interference randomization and inter-cell interference cancellation technique which is better known as the interference rejection combining (IRC) technique, which takes advantage of the interference statistics (correlation property of co-channel interference) received at multiple antennas.
The inter-cell interference coordination technique or the inter-cell interference randomization technique can contribute in decreasing the inter-cell interference (ICI) but can never cancel it totally. Furthermore, it cannot decrease other kinds of interferences. Inter-cell interference cancellation is however the final desired solution.
Existing cancellation techniques are only applicable in a multi-receiving antennas OFDM receivers and they are very complex in terms of implementation especially if the interference cancellation must be accomplished at the moment (or before) of the starting of channel estimation. Knowing that interference is very harmful to channel estimation, from where the interest of canceling the interference before starting the channel estimation.
FIG. 1 shows a clarification of the meaning of interference in the situation of inter-cell interference. Other types of interferences may also occur.
Noise and interferences are added to the transmitted signal during its transmission over the air.
In the FIG. 1, M receivers are depicted, each having an antenna Rx1, . . . RxM. Hi[k] and Zi[k] represents respectively the channel gain and additive noise/interference for the kth subcarrier (k represents the discrete frequency domain) of the ith receiver.
For the transmitted signal X[k], the received signal by the ith receiver is expressed as:Yi[k]=Hi[k]X[k]+Zi[k]                K=[0, N−1], where N is the number of subcarriers.
In the case of WLAN 802.11a, N=64.
According to this equation, the received OFDM symbol subcarrier Yi[k] is impacted by the interference Zi[k]. In general, during the preamble, the received OFDM symbol Yi[k] is used by the channel estimation block of the receiver. If Yi[k] is corrupted only by noise (random signal with known distribution), the channel estimator can handle this situation because it is an estimator. However, if Yi[k] is corrupted by interference as well, the interference is not known to the estimator and thus estimation error will occur. When the channel estimation is faulty due to the interference, the channel equalization during data detection will be faulty as well.
FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d show an example of WLAN IEEE 802.11a with 16QAM modulation scheme.
The FIGS. 2a and 2c represent the situation before channel equalization. The FIGS. 2b and 2d represent the situation after channel equalization.
The FIGS. 2a and 2b represent a situation where only noise occurs.
The FIGS. 2c and 2d represent a situation where some interference occurs.
In the FIG. 2c, we can see the channel equalization is successful, whereas in the FIG. 2d, the channel equalization leads to an insufficient result. The interference in the received signal led to a number of false symbol decisions. Increasing the power of the multicarrier interference signal increases the spread of the constellation and leads to a further degradation in the symbol error probability.
FIG. 3 shows interference scenarios. Scenarios 1 and 4 are narrow-band scenarios. Scenario 3 is a wide-band scenario. Scenario 2 is in between.
The invention proposes a new method to cancel or dramatically reduce the interferences that the OFDM receiver receives during channel estimation. This method is very simple and efficient.

Interference cancellation technique for channel estimation in OFDM receivers


In a method for simulating the machining of workpieces on lathes utilizing a data processor, the unmachined contour of the workpiece to be machined, the finished contour of the workpiece and the contour of the tool are shown two-dimensionally on the screen. The path of movement of a defined tool reference point according to a machining program is shown. The part of the cutting edge of the tool intended to do the cutting is defined. The area traversed by this part of the cutting edge during each machining feed is outlined and made recognisable by a pattern in such a way that lines and patterns that already exist remain visible.

There are essentially two types of machining simulation known for machine tools. In one type the path of a theoretical tool tip is represented as a line on the screen of an NC control means; this type is therefore also called line graphics. In the second, the area of a shaded image of a workpiece that overlaps a simplified representation of a tool contour is deleted from the screen--this type is also called deletion graphics. Both types are described in EP-B 0 129 091. They serve to monitor the risk of collisions and also show up serious programming errors.
The representation of the results of machining for an erosion machine is described in EP-A 308 727. The control means calculates the part of the workpiece cut away for each machining command and stores the shape of the cutout. Addition of all the cutouts gives the finished workpiece. The workpiece and the cutouts are shown.
A modification of the line graphics results if the theoretical cutting tip rotates and simultaneously carries out a feed movement As can be seen in Zeitschrift fur Metallbearbeitung, 83, 1989, Vol. 11-12, pages 56-58 and in Werkstattstechnik 78 (1988), pages 97 to 99, this gives a two-dimensional impression which makes it possible to detect collisions and unfavourable tool shapes as well as unmachined regions. However, this simulation method is only suitable for milling operations, wherein the view of the workpiece must lie in the direction of the milling axis.

Method for simulating the machining of workpieces