There is provided an image processing device including a depth generation unit configured to generate, based on an image of a current frame and an image of a preceding frame of the current frame, a depth image indicating a position of a subject in a depth direction in the image of the preceding frame as a depth image of the current frame.

The present disclosure relates to an image processing device and an image processing method, and more particularly, to an image processing device and an image processing method capable of rapidly generating a depth image using a depth image of a preceding frame.
Technologies for detecting motions of arms, hands, fingers, or the like of human beings through image recognition using depth images indicating the positions of subjects in depth directions in images generated using images of a plurality of viewpoints with high precision and using the motions as user interfaces of various applications have been suggested.
In such technologies, since a depth image with high precision is necessary, a position in a depth direction is desirably detected in units of sub-pixels smaller than units of pixels. As a method of detecting a position in a depth direction in the units of sub-pixels, for example, there is a method of increasing the resolution of an image of a plurality of viewpoints in a pseudo manner through linear interpolation or the like and detecting a position in a depth direction using the image of the plurality of viewpoints after the increase in the resolution.
There is also a method of interpolating positions in a depth direction in units of sub-pixels based on a function indicating a position detected in the units of pixels in the depth direction. There is also a method of detecting a position in a depth direction in the units of sub-pixels by a phase restriction correlation method (for example, see JP 2013-19801A).
However, when a position in a depth direction is detected in the units of sub-pixels, a calculation amount increases more than when the position in the depth direction is detected in the units of pixels. Accordingly, when detection of a position in a depth direction in the units of sub-pixels is performed on an entire screen, a detection time may increase and a depth image may not be generated at a high frame rate. Thus, in the above-described technology, it is difficult to use motions of arms, hands, fingers, or the like of human beings sufficiently as user interfaces.
On the other hand, methods of easily generating a depth image by setting the position of a subject in a depth direction in a region with a large motion vector as a front position and setting the position of the subject in the depth direction in a region with a small motion vector as a rear position using a motion vector have been suggested (for example, JP 2000-261828A and JP 2012-109788A).

Image processing device and image processing method


Outdoor radio equipment includes a radio transmitting and receiving part for performing a modulation and demodulation process, and a common part for controlling an action of the radio transmitting and receiving part. The radio transmitting and receiving part is provided at the common part so as to be exposed to open air.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to outdoor radio equipment, and more particularly, to an radio equipment in under an outdoor situation wherein electronic equipment such as communications equipment is provided.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, electronic radio equipment has been required to have a great capacity, in order to realize communications by which high-volume can be transmitted and received at high speed. Because of this, consumption of electric power by such electronic equipment has been increasing and the amount of heat generated per unit volume has been increasing.
Furthermore, such electronic equipment is frequently provided under outdoor situations such as on the roof of a building. Therefore, it is required for such radio equipment to have the ability to endure in an outdoor environment through such features as waterproofing and having good outdoor workability.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of related art outdoor radio equipment 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the related art outdoor radio equipment 1 has a substantially box-type configuration. The outdoor radio equipment 1 includes a housing 19. A transmitting and receiving board part 2, a control modulation and demodulation board part 3, a branching filter 4, and the like are provided inside of the housing 19.
The housing 19 provides a waterproofing to the above-mentioned electronic equipment provided inside thereof. Furthermore, a sunshade cover 5 is provided at an upper part of the housing 19 so as to shield the housing from sunlight.
A door part 6 is provided at a front surface of the housing 19 and a back surface part 8 is provided at a back surface of the housing 19. The door part 6 is opened for maintenance, providing, for exchange and the like of the above mentioned electronic equipment provided inside of the housing 19.
A great number of radiation heat fins 7 stand in a line at the back surface part 8. The electronic equipment such as the transmitting and receiving board part 2 provided inside the housing part 19 transmits information having a great volume so that electric power consumed and the amount of heat generated are huge.
Because of this, the electronic equipment components such as the transmitting and receiving board part 2 provided for touching the back surface part 8 having the radiation heat fins 7, so as to transfer heat to the radiation heat fins 7. Under the above structure, heat from the electronic equipment such as the transmitting and receiving board part 2 is dissipated.
However, there are problems in a case where the electronic equipment generating a great amount of heat such as the transmitting and receiving board part 2 is provided inside of the above mentioned housing 19 and the housing 19 is provided in an the outdoor environment.
That is, if it is not possible to effectively dissipate the heat generated by the electronic equipment such as the transmitting and receiving board part 2 to the outside of the housing 19 and to cool down the electronic equipment such as the transmitting and receiving board part 2 effectively, the temperature of the electronic equipment provided inside the housing 19 increases. As a result of this, the electronic equipment may malfunction and perform an incorrect action.
As described above, since dissipation of heat with regard to the transmitting and receiving board part 2 and others, which are provided inside the housing 19 and are parts generating high heat, is carried out by only the radiation heat fins 7 provided at the back surface 8, there is a limit to the quantity of heat dissipated. Hence, the related art outdoor radio equipment 1 does not have a sufficient cooling effect of dissipating heat with regard to electronic equipment provided inside thereof.
In addition, if precipitation falls on the housing 19 and moisture adheres to the electronic equipment such as the transmitting and receiving board part 2 provided in the housing 19, the functioning of the electronic equipment is degraded and performing an incorrect action may result.
Although waterproofing the electronic equipment such as the transmitting and receiving board part 2 is attempted by providing the housing 19 and the door part 6 in the related art outdoor radio equipment 1, the waterproofing is not accomplished perfectly. Hence, it is necessary to further improve the waterproofing of the electronic equipment.
In addition, as described above, it is necessary to open and close the door part 6 whenever maintenance, providing for exchange and the like, of the above-mentioned electronic equipment provided inside of the housing 19 is performed.
Therefore, the related art outdoor radio equipment 1 has a problem in terms of workability. Because of this, outdoor radio equipment with improved workability is needed.


To provide an acoustic signal processing apparatus which can reduce the amount of calculation in matrix arithmetic. An acoustic signal processing apparatus converts down-mixed acoustic signals of NI channels to acoustic signals of NO channels, where NO>NI. The acoustic signal processing apparatus includes: a first matrix arithmetic unit for performing arithmetic on a matrix with K rows and NI columns, where NO>K≧NI, for the down-mixed acoustic signals of the NI channels, and outputting K signals obtained after the matrix arithmetic; K decorrelation units for generating signals incoherent, in terms of time characteristics, with the signals obtained after the matrix arithmetic, while maintaining frequency characteristics of the signals obtained after the matrix arithmetic; and a second matrix arithmetic unit for performing arithmetic on a matrix with NO rows and (NI+K) columns for the down-mixed acoustic signals of the NI channels and for the K incoherent signals, and outputting the acoustic signals of the NO channels.

In recent years, a technology called Spatial Codec has been developed. This technology is designed to compress and encode multichannel realism on the basis of an extremely small amount of information. For example, the AAC method, which is a multichannel codec already widely used as an audio method for digital television, requires a bit rate such as 512 kbps or 384 kbps for 5.1 channels. On the other hand, the Spatial Codec aims to compress and encode multichannel signals at an extremely low bit rate such as 128 kbps, 64 kbps, or even 48 kbps. International standardization activities to achieve this aim are ongoing by the MPEG audio standardization conference, and so-called Reference Model Zero (also referred to as "RM0" hereafter) which is a basic processing method for the spatial audio codec is disclosed (see Non-patent document 1).
Here, an explanation is given as to a basic principle of the Spatial Codec.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of the Spatial Codec in the case of two channels of L and R as an example.
In an encoding process, a spatial audio encoder obtains a down-mixed signal S (S=(L+R)/2), a level difference c, and a phase difference θ through complex calculations based on acoustic signals from the two channels of L and R, as shown in FIG. 1(a). The down-mixed signal S is further encoded, together with the level difference c and the phase difference θ, by an encoding apparatus manufactured under the standard such as the MPEG AAC standard.
In a decoding process, a decorrelated signal D, which is orthogonal to the down-mixed signal S and carries reverberations, is generated as shown in FIG. 1(b).
Then, as shown in FIG. 1(c), the down-mixed signal S and the decorrelated signal D are mixed so that acoustic signals of the two channels of L and R that satisfy the relationship of a parallelogram shown in FIG. 1(a) are generated on the basis of the decoded level difference c and the decoded phase difference θ.
The explanation has been given here for the case where two channels are down mixed to one channel and one channel is multiplied to two channels. By repeating this principle a plural number of times, 5.1 channels can be down mixed to two channels, and the two channels can be multiplied to the 5.1 channels, for example.
Next, an explanation is given as to a signal flow in the case of RM0.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of an acoustic signal processing apparatus 900 which converts two-channel signals to five-channel signals, the conversion being an example of a basic signal flow in the case of RM0.
Here, note that inputs of the two channels are down-mixed from original five-channel signals and that outputs of the five channels are restored to the original five-channel signals. Also note that the two-channel signals refer to signals usually outputted respectively from front left and right speakers and that the five-channel signals refer to signals usually outputted respectively from front left and right speakers, rear left and right speakers, and a front center speaker.
As shown in FIG. 2, the acoustic signal processing apparatus 900 includes a pre-mixing matrix M1 (901), decorrelators (also described as "De correlators" or "Decorrelators") 902 and 903, and a post-mixing matrix M2 (904).
The pre-mixing matrix M1 (901) converts the inputs of an input 1 and an input 2 to five-channel signals through a process whereby matrix arithmetic related to gain control is performed on the inputs. Out of the five-channel signals, signals of two channels are respectively converted to incoherent signals through processes performed by the decorrelators 902 and 903. The post-mixing matrix M2 (904) generates the outputs of the five-channel signals through a process whereby matrix arithmetic related to phase control is performed on signals of five channels in total, including the signals of the two channels converted by the decorrelators 902 and 903 and the unconverted signals of the remaining three channels.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a more detailed functional structure of the acoustic signal processing apparatus 900. It should be noted here that although FIG. 2 shows the signals flow from left to right, FIG. 3 shows the signals flow from right to left. Since the insides of the pre-mixing matrix M1 (901) and the post-mixing matrix M2 (904) are defined by the matrix arithmetic, the diagram of FIG. 3 is illustrated to show that the signals flow from right to left only in order for mathematical expressions of matrix arithmetic expressions to agree with the flow of the signals. Thus, the diagram is essentially the same as that of FIG. 2.
In addition to the pre-mixing matrix M1 (901), the decorrelators 902 and 903, and the post-mixing matrix M2 (904) described above, the acoustic signal processing apparatus 900 further includes two determinant generation units 905 and 907, and two interpolation units 906 and 908.
As shown in FIG. 3, the signal processing for the pre-mixing matrix M1 (901) is realized by a determinant of a five-row*two-column matrix. In general, a determinant shown below as Equation (1) is defined as an example of the pre-mixing matrix M1 (901).
                    [                  Equation                                                              1                ]                                                                                R              1                              l                ,                m                                      =                                          γ                                  l                  ,                  m                                                                                1                  3                                                                  [                                                                                α                                                          l                              ,                              m                                                                                +                          2                                                                                β                                                          l                              ,                              m                                                                                -                          1                                                                                1                                                                                α                                                          l                              ,                              m                                                                                -                          1                                                                                β                                                          l                              ,                              m                                                                                +                          2                                                                                1                                                                                (                                                          1                              -                                                              α                                                                  l                                  ,                                  m                                                                                )                                                                                2                                                                                (                                                          1                              -                                                              β                                                                  l                                  ,                                  m                                                                                )                                                                                2                                                                                -                                                      2                                                                                α                                                          l                              ,                              m                                                                                +                          2                                                                                β                                                          l                              ,                              m                                                                                -                          1                                                                                1                                                                                α                                                          l                              ,                              m                                                                                -                          1                                                                                β                                                          l                              ,                              m                                                                                +                          2                                                                                1                                                                              ]                                                              ,                                    (        1        )
In Equation (1), α and β are values obtained from acoustic spatial coefficients called CPC (Channel Prediction Coefficients), and γ is a value obtained from an acoustic spatial coefficient called an ICC (Inter Channel Correlation).
Additionally, a superscript I indicates that the data comes from an Ith parameter set (an aggregate of compressed and encoded parameters). Also, a superscript m indicates that the data comes from an mth frequency band. Details of their respective meanings are omitted here since they are not related to the scope of the present invention.
Equation (1) is a determinant of a five-row*three-column matrix, in which the third column has a meaning only when so-called Residual Coding described in Non-patent document 1 is performed. In most cases, Residual Coding is not performed usually in view of restriction on the bit rate and reduction in the decoding arithmetic load. In such a case, Equation (1) can be considered as Equation (2) below.
                    [                  Equation                                                              2                ]                                                                                R            1                          l              ,              m                                =                                    γ                              l                ,                m                                                                                1                3                                                          [                                                                                α                                                      l                            ,                            m                                                                          +                        2                                                                                β                                                      l                            ,                            m                                                                          -                        1                                                                                α                                                      l                            ,                            m                                                                          -                        1                                                                                β                                                      l                            ,                            m                                                                          +                        2                                                                                (                                                      1                            -                                                          α                                                              l                                ,                                m                                                                                )                                                                                2                                                                                (                                                      1                            -                                                          β                                                              l                                ,                                m                                                                                )                                                                                2                                                                                α                                                      l                            ,                            m                                                                          +                        2                                                                                β                                                      l                            ,                            m                                                                          -                        1                                                                                α                                                      l                            ,                            m                                                                          -                        1                                                                                β                                                      l                            ,                            m                                                                          +                        2                                                                                ]                                                                        (        2        )
To be more specific, Equation (2) corresponds to the determinant shown on the right-hand part of FIG. 3. It is obvious that, when Residual Coding is performed, the determinant shown on the right-hand part of FIG. 3 is to be a determinant of a five-row*three-column matrix according to Equation (1) and a Residual Signal is added as an input signal so that there would be three channels.
Out of the five-channel signals generated as described so far, signals of two channels are respectively converted to incoherent signals through processes performed by the decorrelators 902 and 903. The signals of the five channels in total, including the signals of the two channels converted in this way and the unconverted signals of the remaining three channels, are converted through the process of the post-mixing matrix M2 (904), so that the five-channel signals are generated as outputs. This signal processing is realized by a five-row*five-column matrix arithmetic expression.
For the sake of simplification, a five-row*five-column matrix arithmetic expression is given as one example here. Note that this is intended for the case of five channels including front two channels, rear two channels, and a center channel. Thus, when an LFE channel is added, the matrix of this determinant would have six rows and five columns. Moreover, when a decorrelator is used for a so-called Ttt Element described in Non-patent document 1, the matrix of this determinant would have six rows and six columns since one channel is added to the input side of the present matrix arithmetic.
Here, elements (coefficients) of each determinant in the matrix arithmetic are generated on the basis of parameters encoded from the channel level differences, the inter-channel correlations (phase differences), and the channel prediction coefficients among the original five-channel signals.
First, information of the encoded channel level differences, inter-channel correlations (phase differences), and channel prediction coefficients is decoded, so as to obtain the channel level differences, the inter-channel phase differences, and the prediction coefficients which are required when the determinant generation units 905 and 907 divide the two-channel signals into the five-channel signals.
These encoded signals are updated for each frame, which is a predetermined time interval. For this reason, the interpolation units 906 and 908 perform smoothing on the values of the level difference and the phase difference in order to smooth out variations between a current frame and a preceding frame. In this way, each element of the matrix arithmetic expressions of the pre-mixing matrix M1 (901) and the post-mixing matrix M2 (904) is determined. The process of determining each element of the matrix arithmetic expressions is not particularly related to the scope of the present invention and, therefore, the detailed explanation is omitted here.
Moreover, Non-patent document 1 describes that the processing performed by the decorrelators 902 and 903 is to generate a signal incoherent with the input signal in terms of temporal characteristics while maintaining frequency characteristics of the input signal, and also describes that lattice all-pass filters are used as a method.    Non-patent document 1: J. Herre, et al, "The Reference Model Architecture for MPEG Spatial Audio Coding", 118th AES Convention, Barcelona, May 28-31, 2005, Audio Engineering Society Convention Paper 6447.

Acoustic signal processing apparatus and acoustic signal processing method


An electrically heated toolbox for heating hand tools that have been stored or used in a cold environment. The toolbox is a multiple drawer container which has installed therein heating sheets integrally connected to an outside electrical power source, alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). The heating sheets warm the hand tools by radiated heat or direct heat when the heating sheets are connected to the outside power source. A desired temperature may be obtained by using the rheostat temperature setting device. The toolbox may be connected to a standard AC plug connection, a DC vehicle battery or, if desired, a cigarette lighter outlet of a vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices for heating tools. More particularly, this invention relates to heated containers for tools. Even more particularly, this invention relates to electrically heated containers for hand tools.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A heated tool container or box for warming tools used by an individual engaged in outdoor construction or equipment service work is quite useful. This is especially true in climates where the weather is cold for at least a portion of the year. Toolboxes for hand tools are commonly stored in unheated structures or on unheated service vehicles. Often, construction and service work require using unheated tools without the protections of gloves. Under these circumstances, a heated hand tool would greatly increase the ability of an individual to perform the required service.
Heated containers for warming an unheated item or preserving the warmth of heated items have been long known, such as heated food containers or the like.
These heated containers are provided with electrical heating devices that assist in retaining the heat for previously heated food. Typically, as may be seen from U.S. Pat. No. 2,543,524 and 5,816,646, an electric heating device is placed within the container. The heating device is connected to a source of electricity while in use. Similarly, heated lunch boxes are detailed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,602,691 and 3,808,401.
Each of the above references uses conventional heating wires or coils to provide heat within the containers. However, to accommodate heating wires or coils, a relatively bulky heating device is required.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,371,975 there is disclosed a device for cooling an electrical powered hand tool. The device is a container equipped with an electrically powered cooling fan. However, the device is not capable of handling more than one tool at a time without becoming too large and cumbersome to be freely handled. Also, the device does not address the issue of heating a tool or heating a large number of tools.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an electrically heated toolbox which heats a large number of hand tools commonly stored or used by construction and outside service personnel in unheated environments. Also, it would be desirable to provide an electrically heated toolbox which can be powered by a common vehicle battery or by a standard electrical outlet.
The electrically heated toolbox of the instant invention is designed to address the above areas of concern.


An image processing device for forming an image on a medium includes an image data acquiring part and an expanding part. The image data acquiring part is configured to acquire an image data used for forming the image. The expanding part is configured to expand, based on a correspondence relationship for expansion, the acquired image data into a plurality of printing data.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image processing device, an image processing system, and an image processing method.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, there has been proposed a technique in which, when a picture is printed in advance onto a molding film, printing is applied in a denser manner to a portion that is stretched than to a portion that is not stretched during molding (e.g., see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 63-104816). In this technique, when printing is performed using printing ink and a picture is formed on a molding film, in an instance in which the printing method is a screen printing method, a portion to be made denser is printed repeatedly; and in an instance in which the printing method is a gravure printing method, a required portion is etched to a deeper extent during plate making, whereby the portion that is stretched is made denser than the portion that is not stretched, and a decrease in picture density during molding is minimized.

Image processing device and method expanding aquired image data into printing data corresponding to a multi-layer image with color values less than or equal to a maximum ink amount


A catheter may include an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen; a push member mechanically coupled to the proximal end of the elongate body; and a slidable push grip disposed about an outer perimeter of the push member. The slidable push grip is controllably engageable with the push member. When the slidable push grip is in an engaged state with the push member, the slidable push grip transmits an axial force to the push member to enable the push member to transmit the axial force to the elongate body. When the slidable push grip is in a disengaged state with the push member, the slidable push grip is movable axially in at least one direction along a length of the push member while transmitting substantially no axial force to the push member.

Medical catheters may be advanced into vasculature of a patient to provide a lumen through which a medical device or therapeutic agent may be introduced to a treatment site. Medical catheters may be advanced to the treatment site by a clinician applying an axial force to a portion of the catheter that is outside a body of the patient.


A multistage process for the preparation of methacrylic acid and esters thereof via the hydrolysis of ACH, cracking the hydrolysis products, and converting the cracked products to the desired acid or ester, wherein the average temperature in the first hydrolysis reactor is from 55 C to 70 C.

The invention relates to high yield production processes for methacrylic acid ("MAA") and methacrylate esters, such as methyl methacrylate ("MMA").
A number of commercial processes are used to prepare MMA. In one such process, MMA is prepared from acetone cyanohydrin ("ACH"). The process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,816 ("816"). In this process, ACH is (1) hydrolyzed by sulfuric acid to produce alpha-hydroxyisobutyramide ("HIBAM") and its sulfate ester, alpha-sulfatoisobutyramide ("SIBAM"); (2) the HIBAM and SIBAM are thermally converted, or cracked, to 2-methacrylamide ("MAM") and a small amount of methacrylic acid ("MAA"); which are then (3) esterified with methanol to produce MMA. Residual HIBAM is esterified to methyl alpha-hydroxyisobutyrate ("MOB"). In step (2) of the reaction, the conversion of SIBAM to MAM occurs more readily than the conversion of HIBAM to MAM. In order to facilitate the thermal conversion of HIBAM to MAM, both heat and increased residence time must be provided. A decrease in thermal conversion to desired products results in a decreased overall yield for the process. The process of preparing MAA can be the same as that used to prepare MMA, except that instead of esterifying MAM and MAA with methanol, water is added to the MAM and MAA mixture to convert the MAM to MAA.
One means of employing this chemistry is disclosed in US 20030208093. In that process, one to five hydrolysis reactors are employed to feed an integrated follow-on system that completes the cracking and subsequent steps of the process.
In the ACH hydrolysis process, reaction yield can be lost to the thermal decomposition of ACH to acetone and HCN. In this strongly acidic environment, these immediate decomposition products are also consumed. For example, acetone reacts with sulfuric acid to form acetone mono- and disulfonic acids (AMSA and ADSA) and water. HCN hydrolyzes to formamide, which in turn decomposes to equivalents of CO and NH3 (forming ammonium bisulfate with sulfuric acid).
The ACH hydrolysis process is strongly exothermic; heats of mixing and reaction drive up temperatures, resulting in additional ACH decomposition. Managing this problem requires efficient mixing at the point of ACH introduction to quickly dissipate heat, and cooling to minimize the reaction temperature. The latter, however, is constrained by increasing viscosity and the solidification, or "salting," of the reaction mixture at low temperatures. The term "salting" is commonly used as it infers the acid-base interactions that take place between sulfuric acid and the amide species present. As a result, ACH hydrolysis processes are typically operated just above the salting temperature for practical management of viscosity and to avoid salting.
While this approach of minimizing hydrolysis temperatures within practical limits is straightforward, it does not provide a complete rationale for improving the overall ACH to MAM process yield, especially for multi-reactor hydrolysis systems. Successful improvements ideally would 1) achieve hydrolysis reactor compositions capable of lower respective operating temperatures and 2) give improved reaction product overall yield through the thermal cracking step. Rationalized paths to these objectives require a thorough understanding of the process/composition/property interrelationships. Unfortunately, these are highly multivariate and, in terms of definitive predictive ability, remain poorly understood.
Ensuring net gains in an MMA process from hydrolysis improvements requires hydrolysis compositions that convert in a net positive overall yield through the thermal cracking step. This latter step, again, converts HIBAM to the desired process intermediate MAM. Due to common HIBAM levels, this step cannot be foregone, yet its conditions are severe and contribute to the bulk of yield losses in the MMA process. Therefore, hydrolysis improvements must strike a balance between value gained from HIBAM versus the other three hydrolysis yield components SIBAM, MAM, and MAA. Hypothetically speaking, an improvement that selectively increases HIBAM hydrolysis yield could result in a reduced overall yield post-thermal cracking.
The MMA and MAA markets are extremely cost sensitive. A slight improvement in process yield can result in a significant market advantage. There is a need for an improved yield commercial process of preparing MMA and/or MAA.

Process for producing MMA and/or MAA from acetone cyanohydrin and sulfuric acid


A method for obtaining a gas sample from a sealed glass ampule containing a liquid and a gas, wherein the steps are immersing the sealed glass ampule in water beneath a collection chamber which is also immersed in water, breaking the glass ampule to permit the gas in the ampule to bubble upwardly into the collection chamber, inserting a hollow needle connected to a syringe into the collection chamber to obtain a sample of the bubbled gas, and injecting the obtained sample into a gas analyzer machine.

This invention relates to a process for obtaining gas samples from a sealed glass ampule of the type commonly used in the medical field.
Glass ampules are commonly used in the medical field for preserving medicines of various types in a sealed environment for storage prior to use. At the time of use the ampules are broken at a scored groove in the neck of the glass, and a needle is inserted into the opening so that the medicine may be withdrawn with a syringe. At the time the ampule is prepared for manufacture the ampule has an open glass neck into which a measured amount of a desired liquid medicine may be inserted, and then the open neck of the ampule is heated to the melting point of the glass to cause the neck to form a glass seal, and to therefore enclose the medicine in the sealed glass ampule container. The filling process never completely fills the ampule, always leaving a small volume of gas in the container with the sealed liquid. For this reason, the filling process is completed in an inert gas atmosphere in order to ensure that the medicine will not become contaminated during storage from exposure to oxygen or other contaminating gases; the inert gas most frequently used is nitrogen.
There is a need to provide a quality inspection procedure for the manufacturing process described above, to sample the gas entrapped in the sealed ampule in order to verify that the gas does not contain any substantial quantity of oxygen, in order to confirm that the medicine in the ampule will have an adequate shelf life before use. Unfortunately, because the ampules comprise a sealed glass container, the quality inspection procedure requires that the ampule be broken in order to gain access to the gas contained in the interior, thereby creating a destructive testing process. This means that quality testing can only be done on a sampling basis, wherein random or statistically accurate samples of ampules are withdrawn from the assembly line process for testing. Further, even if a destructive process is used, it is extremely difficult to withdraw a gas sample from the ampule without contaminating the sample.


A coordinate detector includes a pair of light sensor units disposed on a side of a display part having a display surface to be touched by a target to be detected, optical reflective members respectively disposed on remaining three sides of the display part, and a sensor position adjusting unit configured to adjust a rolling direction of the light sensor unit with respect to the optical reflective members. When the target touches the display surface, coordinates of the target are detected based on light reflected off the optical reflective members that is received by the light sensor units.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosures herein generally relate to a coordinate detector and an electronic information board system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, electronic information boards, so-called electronic whiteboards or interactive white boards (IWB), have progressively been developed. This type of the electronic information board may, for example, generally include an image display device having a large screen composed of a flat panel such as a liquid crystal panel or a plasma panel (e.g., a screen having a dimension range in a diagonal direction of 40 to 60 inch), a touch panel (a coordinate detector) configured to detect coordinates of a position touched on a display surface of the image display device, and a control device configured to display various types of images (images including characters, numbers, and graphics) written on the display surface of the image display device based on coordinate data output from the coordinate detector.
Further, the electronic information board may be connected to a personal computer (PC). Such electronic information board connected to the PC may be able to enlarge an image displayed on the PC to display the enlarged image on the electronic board, which may be used for the presentation in a conference.
In addition, an electronic information board system includes a function to superpose hand-written graphics written by a pen-shaped input device on the image of the display surface by allowing the pen-shaped input device (a detection target) to touch the touch panel, or a function to incorporate an image of the PC to superpose hand-written graphics written by the pen-shaped input device on the image incorporated from the PC.
Further, an example of the coordinate detector disposed in the electronic information board system may be configured to include a pair of light sensor units disposed at opposite end corners of one side of a frame enclosing four sides of a display part, and three optical reflective members disposed on respective side walls perpendicular to the display surface of the remaining three sides of the frame. In the coordinate detector, light (infrared radiation) emitted from the pair of the light sensor units is applied to two optical reflective members facing each other at a predetermined angle out of the three optical reflective members disposed on the remaining three sides of the frame. Respective attached positions and attached angles of the two light sensor units are determined such that the pair of the two light sensor units receives light reflected off each of the two optical reflective members. In this configuration, when the pen-shaped input device touches the display surface, light passing through the touched position is blocked off and not received by the light sensor units. At this moment, the coordinate positions are computed by the triangulation method based on the optical angles.

Coordinate detector and electronic information board system


An electrical hair remover device particularly a rotary shaver includes an air impeller driven by the motor for discharging air through openings in the shaver head such as to produce an air cushion reducing friction between the head and the surface over which it is moved.

The present invention relates to an electrical hair remover device, and also to a method of removing hair. The invention is particularly useful in electrical shavers and is therefore described below with respect to that application.
In order to obtain a fairly close shave with an electrical shaver, it is necessary to firmly press the shaver head against the surface being shaved while moving the shaver over that surface. However, many users of electrical shavers have found that this irritates their skin, particularly if the skin is somewhat moist. Many men who have tried electrical shavers have therefore discontinued using them and returned to wet shaving using a conventional blade.

Electrical hair remover device and method


A microcontroller down-loadable memory organization supporting "shadow" personality, optimized for connecting a computer system to an ISDN network to facilitate transmitting and receiving of data, the microcontroller including a processor and a memory structure having ROM memory space for storing program code therein and further including a dual port RAM for connection between the computer and the processor, the dual port RAM having RAM memory space for storing program code therein and shared RAM for storing data capable of being simultaneously accessible by the processor and the computer, wherein the program ROM and the program RAM are selectively used by the computer to store program code by the computer using a ROM/RAM* select signal, and wherein the starting address in the shared RAM wherein data is stored is selectably offset from the starting address of the code RAM and the code ROM.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for facilitating communication over the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and more particularly to an improved single chip microcontroller device for use in a transceiver system adapted to communicate data from a host computer through an Integrated Services Digital Network to a destination computer. A semiconductor microcontroller located within the transceiver and coupled between the host computer and an ISDN interface includes software code, a processor and memory architecture integrated within the controller for selectably using a "shadow" personality in the memory architecture to support the software code while allowing simultaneous accessing of the memory by the computer and the processor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past decade, due to many technological breakthroughs, computers have gained phenomenal popularity among users ranging across a wide spectrum of industries and personal users. This popularity has contributed to technological advancements in the efficient linking together of computers, including those located in remote areas, so that information such as digital data and voice can be transferred between computers. Furthermore, the advent of digital telephone has changed both the engineering and economic aspects of data communications. Specifically, many hardware requirements are now met with reliable and low cost digital integrated circuits (ICs). The ability to link computers through a communication medium coupled with the usage of digital telephones has lead to various communications network interconnections wherein data terminal equipment (DTE) can communicate through an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). A detailed description of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,930 entitled "Byte Aligned Communications System For Transferring Data From One Memory To Another Memory Over An ISDN," issued to Edwin E. Klingman (hereinafter referred to as the "'930 Patent").
In FIG. 1 of the drawing, a simplified block diagram of a prior art communications system 10 is shown employing an ISDN network 12 for communicating data or voice between transceivers 14 and 16 (or between the transceivers 14 or 16 and another ISDN compatible system 17) wherein each transceiver includes a computer 18, 20 and an interface circuit 22, 24, respectively. Data and/or voice signals may be exchanged between the transceivers and/or other systems through the ISDN network 12. As further disclosed in the '930 Patent, a single transceiver can be used to communicate with any ISDN-compatible system. Within each transceiver, the included computer is capable of generating and receiving data. In the receiving mode, the interface circuits 22, 24 receive ISDN frames, having data incorporated therein, from the ISDN network 12 through communication channels 30 and 32, respectively, extract the data and transfer the extracted data to the corresponding computer 18, 20. In transmitting data, each computer 18, 20 sends data bytes through a bus 26, 28 to the corresponding interface circuit 22, 24 which in turn sends the data to the ISDN.
FIG. 2 illustrates a more detailed block diagram of the interface circuits 22 and 24 (as described in the '930 Patent) as may be employed in the system of FIG. 1. As depicted, interface circuit 22 is coupled to a computer 18 through a bus line 26 and is further coupled to an ISDN network 12 through a communication channel 30.
The ISDN network 12 includes three channels, namely the channel 34 and the B2 channel 36 (collectively referred to as the B-channels 30) and the D channel 38. B-channels 30 generally carry data bytes in 48-bit ISDN frames (for further discussion of ISDN frames, refer to the '930 Patent) and the D-channel generally carries information in 4-bit frames. As suggested at 42, the computer 18 includes driver code implementing ISDN protocol for coupling the computer 18 with the interface circuit 22.
Within the prior art interface circuit various ICs are included and are described in greater detail in the '930 Patent. Briefly, the interface circuit 22 includes a microcontroller 44, which is an IC, such as the Cy123 ISDN controller manufactured by Cybernetics Microsystems of San Gregorio, Calif., for communicating with ISDN 12 through an integrated subscriber access controller (ISAC) IC 52 such as the Siemens 2085. Initial communication occurs over the D-channel 38 of the ISDN 12 to setup and terminate connections established between transceivers through the B-channels 30. The micro-controller 44 also communicates with a host processor (not shown) such as an Intel Pentium processor, included within the computer 18, in a Microsoft Windows environment. Communication with the host processor is managed through a dual-port RAM 46 (which may comprise one or more ICs residing external to the micro-controller 44) with bi-directional interrupt facilities 48 included therein. The Cy123 chip is based on the Intel 8051 controller architecture which is well known to those skilled in the art. This controller has a Harvard architecture, which separates code and data memory spaces. Within micro-controller 44 is code ROM 50 for storing program firmware (or code) which when executed by the micro-controller, allows transfer of data between the computer 18 and ISDN 12.
While the use of discrete general-purpose components such as micro-controllers like the Cy123, dual port RAMs and subscriber access controllers, allows implementation of ISDN terminal adapters as described in the 1930 Patent, the use of these general-purpose components imposes both cost constraints and functional constraints upon the design of the communications system. This is in large part due to the fixed architecture and inflexible nature of these general-purpose components. For example, code ROM 50 in FIG. 2 stores program code that is not readily alterable and if there are any problems with the code residing therein, (these problems being commonly referred to as "bugs") , the micro-controller device may need to be entirely replaced. Furthermore, since data generally resides in shared RAM 46, accesses of such data by the micro-controller 44 entail additional time due to the shared RAM 46 being resident external to the micro-controller and embodied in a separate IC. Moreover, when program code is stored in ROM, such as in the illustrated system, system functionality can not be redefined. That is, additional features added to the ISDN network may not be readily supported by the existing program code stored in the ROM.
Furthermore, the architecture of prior art interface circuits of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 typically employ a 3-chip solution at a minimum with at least two ICs (46 and 52) including RAM memory space necessary for the storage of data, and a micro-controller which itself includes ROM memory space for storing its program code. The cost of manufacturing electronic products is in large part driven by (1) the number of components resident within the electronic product and (2) the "real-estate" each component occupies. These two criterion determine the size of the product, for example, the more components employed in an electronic device, the higher the cost of manufacturing such product. Therefore, the use of multiple ICs, as well as the fact that each IC occupies substantial real estate on the card or board on which it resides (this area of real estate is oftentimes referred to as the "footprint"), increase the expense of manufacturing. On the other hand, the use of less components on a card allows for smaller designs and lower costs.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved microcontroller that enables the design of a more cost-effective interface for connecting a host computer system to ISDN network systems while at the same time providing a means with the flexibility to accommodate feature changes relating in either the ISDN network or in various host computers. There is also a further need for an improved microcontroller which permits modifications to its internal program code to correct problems associated therewith.

Single chip microcontroller having down-loadable memory organization supporting "shadow" personality, optimized for bi-directional data transfers over a communication channel


A method and a system for the selection and programming of an energized ophthalmic lens are disclosed. More specifically, the energized ophthalmic lens which can include a variable state arcuate shaped liquid meniscus lens capable of changing vision correction properties upon the receipt of an activation signal. According to some aspects of the disclosure, the system and method comprise vision simulation software configured to use patient's eye related data and product design options to select the ophthalmic lens and an operational protocol for the change of optical properties.

Traditionally, ophthalmic devices, such as a hydrogel lens, an intraocular lens or a punctal plug, include corrective, cosmetic or therapeutic qualities. A contact lens, for example, may provide vision correcting functionality, cosmetic enhancement, and/or therapeutic effects. Each function is provided by a physical characteristic of the contact lens. For example, a refractive quality may provide a vision corrective function, a pigment may provide a cosmetic enhancement, and an active agent may provide a therapeutic functionality.
Liquid meniscus lenses have been known in various industries. Known liquid meniscus lenses have been engineered in cylindrical shapes with a perimeter surface formed by points at a fixed distance from an axis which is a straight line. Known liquid meniscus lenses have been limited to designs with a first interior surface generally parallel to second interior surface generally parallel to second interior and each perpendicular to a cylindrical axis. Known examples of the use of liquid meniscus lenses include devices such as electronic cameras and mobile phone devices.
More recently, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/095,786, titled "Arcuate Liquid Meniscus Lens", assigned to the same inventive entity of the present disclosure, teaches an arcuate liquid meniscus lens suitable for a contact lens. In addition, as microelectronics continue to be developed, size, shape and control limitations can allow for active energized components to be incorporated in ophthalmic lenses in useful manners. As previously mentioned, currently available contact lenses are capable of providing vision correction through a physical characteristic of the contact lens. However, many individuals require the use of bi-focal or tri-focal lenses in order to provide the vision correction needed for vision at different distances. With the use of microelectronics and variable liquid meniscus lenses having geometries that can be suitable to be placed on the surface of an eye, new programming and design methods and systems that can be useful to provide variable vision correction are desired.
Therefore, there is a need for ophthalmic lenses and systems that can incorporate electronic and active vision correction components that can be configured to provide multi-focal vision correction.

System and method of programming an energized opthalmic lens


A buck-boost charge pump includes a flying capacitor and a switch network. The switch network couples an input terminal to a first terminal of the flying capacitor using a first double switch and the second terminal of the flying capacitor to a power supply voltage terminal using a second switch in a charging phase of a boost mode, the input terminal to the second terminal of the flying capacitor using a third switch and the first terminal of the flying capacitor to an output terminal using the fourth switch in both a discharging phase of the boost mode and a charging phase of a buck mode, and the power supply voltage terminal to the first terminal of the flying capacitor using a first switch and the second terminal of the flying capacitor to the output terminal using a second double switch in a discharging phase of the buck mode.

DC-to-DC converters are power converters that convert one direct current (DC) voltage into another DC voltage. If the converter converts an input voltage from a lower voltage to a higher output voltage, it is known as a boost converter. A boost charge pump converter uses switches and a capacitor to alternatively connect a first terminal of the capacitor to an input voltage and the second terminal to ground in a charging phase, and the first terminal of the capacitor to the output terminal and the second terminal of the capacitor to the input terminal in a discharging phase. If the converter converts a higher voltage to a lower output voltage, it is known as a buck converter. A buck charge pump converter alternatively connects the first terminal of the capacitor to the input and the second terminal of the capacitor to the output voltage during a charging phase, and the first terminal of the capacitor to output voltage and the second terminal of the capacitor to the ground in a discharging phase to reduce the input voltage. If the charge pump converter converts a variable input voltage that may be either higher or lower than the desired output voltage during operation, it is known as a buck-boost charge pump converter because it is capable of alternatively operating in the buck mode or in the boost mode depending on the value of the input voltage.
Buck-boost charge pump converters are attractive for many applications because of their low cost and ability to operate with batteries whose input voltages vary over a wide range as they progress from fully charged to discharged states. Typical buck-boost charge pump converters use five switches, two of which are double switches having transistors whose back-to-back body diodes prevent reverse conduction from the output of the converter to the input. The main source of efficiency loss in charge pump converters arises from large currents flowing through the transistors that create ohmic losses due to the non-zero on resistances of the transistors used for the switches. These losses are referred to as IR losses. In order to improve the conversion efficiency of buck boost converters, it would be desirable to reduce IR losses.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. Unless otherwise noted, the word "coupled" and its associated verb forms include both direct connection and indirect electrical connection by means known in the art, and unless otherwise noted any description of direct connection implies alternate embodiments using suitable forms of indirect electrical connection as well.

Efficient buck-boost charge pump and method therefor

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC


An induction furnace includes a crucible having a plurality of cooled metallic segments (6A, 6B) electrically insulated from each other and an electromagnetic induction coil (5) arranged around the crucible, wherein the electromagnetic induction coil is energized with low frequency electric current. Each of the metallic segments forming the crucible wall is made of a relatively thin sheet, and a cooling pipe is provided on each segment. The cooling pipes (22) are welded or brazed to an outer surface of each corresponding segment. A refrigerant flows through each pipe in order to evacuate heat from the corresponding segment. The furnace further includes a magnetic core (8) disposed above and near the top surface of the charge placed in the crucible. This magnetic core provides local narrowing of the magnetic field lines, causing centripetal motion of the melted part of charge located at or near the top surface of the charge. A second electromagnetic coil arranged at an exhaust port in the crucible controls flow of melted charge through the exhaust port.

Induction furnaces having a crucible for receiving metallic material to be melted, hereinafter called a "charge", are well known. Such a crucible is generally called a "cold crucible" because it is not substantially heated by the induction device, and it is permanently cooled by a cooling device. In such furnaces, it is also well known to cause levitation of the charge by using electromagnetic confinement phenomenon, resulting in a separation of the charge to be melted from the inner crucible walls.
It is common practice to make the crucible from a plurality of metal segments, electrically isolated from each other to reduce electromagnetic losses in the segments. Collectively, the segments form the metallic wall of the crucible.
It is also well known to form such a crucible in a generally cylindrical shape. The bottom part of this shape is hemispheric or conical and includes a central hole for the release of the melted charge.
A major preoccupation in the design and operation of such furnaces is avoidance of excessive heating of the crucible wall. The division of the crucible wall into a plurality of segments, electrically insulated from each other results in a reduction of the induction effects on the wall and limits heating of the wall. However, it is not possible to completely suppress such heating. Furthermore, the charge melting in the crucible transmits a certain amount of heat to the crucible wall. Therefore, it is necessary to substantially cool the segments forming the crucible wall. Generally, this cooling is carried out by forming the segments of the crucible wall of a metal, such as copper, which conducts heat, and by providing holes in the segments. These holes accommodate pipes extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the crucible, and containing a cooling fluid such as water.
Generally, the segments forming the crucible are relatively thick because they have to be large enough to contain the diameter of the cooling pipes provided inside the segments. As the segments necessarily have a thickness greater than the penetration depth of the magnetic field generated by the induction system, it has not been possible to substantially avoid magnetic induction effects in these segments. Thus, in order to limit induction effects, the lateral dimensions of the crucible, i.e., its diameter, have been very limited. The width of the segments could not be made less than a determined value because they must include at least one longitudinal hole for a cooling pipe. Thus, design flexibility has been seriously curtailed.
For these reasons, known furnaces must use magnetic induction means operated at intermediate frequencies, i.e. greater than about 400 Hz. Such furnaces have other drawbacks such as high manufacturing costs, which increase with the number of segments used. Moreover, input and output pipes for the refrigerant must be provided for each segment. It is also necessary to provide the fluid connection of these pipes, as well as the electrical insulation separating the segments from each other. Such a crucible is therefore difficult to produce and its cost is relatively high.
Another drawback is that magnetic induction coils operating at intermediate frequency allow only relatively low currents. Therefore, the voltage across these coil terminals is relatively high, greater than 80 volts, for example. It is therefore necessary to take precautions with such systems to avoid risk of electrocution and to limit electric arcing.
Yet an additional drawback is that in order to supply an intermediate frequency electric current to such a magnetic induction system, it is necessary to provide an intermediate frequency electric supply transformer. Such a supply system is relatively expensive, particularly if it delivers high levels of electric energy. It has not been possible heretofore to build an induction furnace having a cooled wall, with a capacity to contain a volume of charge greater than about 5000 cm.sup.3. Generally, the inner diameter of such a crucible is never greater than 150 mm.
In such prior art furnaces, a problem arises concerning the mixing of metal melted in the crucible. This mixing is often not satisfactory and this has heretofore limited furnace capacity.


A new cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘Innsuntama’ that is characterized by orange red flowers, good cold temperature tolerance, and an upright compact habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant botanically known as Nemesia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Innsuntama'.
The new Nemesia is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Nemesia cultivars with unique colors and a compact habit.
'Innsuntama' is a hybrid that originated from a crossing in the Summer of 2004 of the female or seed parent a proprietary Nemesia identified as White Dream Typ I (not patented) and the male or pollen parent a proprietary Nemesia strumosa identified as Rot I (not patented). The resulting seeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar 'Innsuntama' was selected by the inventor in the Spring of 2005 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in Gensingen, Germany.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar 'Innsuntama' first occurred by terminal cuttings in July of 2005 in Gensingen, Germany. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


A printing system is provided having a carrier, a printhead module carried by the carrier and a controller. The printhead module has at least one row of ink ejection nozzles. Each of the nozzles is configured to eject ink in response to fire signals from the controller. The controller is configured to determine erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead module relative to the carrier, determine a correction factor based on a thickness of media being printed that at least partially compensates for ink dot displacement by at least one of the nozzles, and using the correction factor, alter the output of the fire signals to the nozzles so as to alter the ejection of ink dots to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement.

Printer controllers face difficulties when they have to send print data to two or more printhead modules in a printhead, each of the modules having one or more rows of print nozzles for outputting ink. In one embodiment favored by the applicant, data for each row is shifted into a shift register associated with that row.
The applicant has discovered that some manufacturing advantages arise when printhead modules of different lengths are used within a product range. For example, a particular width of printhead for a pagewidth printer can be achieved with various different combinations of printhead module. So, a 10 inch printhead can be formed from two 5 inch printhead modules, a 6 and a 4 inch module, or a 7 and a 3 inch module.
One difficulty that arises is supplying data to one or more printheads or printhead modules at a sufficient rate and in the correct order.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Printer system having controller with correction for nozzle displacement


A seat belt retractor for a safety belt including a seat belt spindle for winding up and unwinding the safety belt and a tensioning drive. The seat belt spindle includes a gas generator, a drive wheel and a supply pipe which connects the gas generator and the drive wheel. A plurality of thrust members are present in the supply pipe which, after triggering the gas generator, are accelerated and indirectly or directly drive the drive wheel for winding up the safety belt. An inertia coupling is arranged between the drive wheel and the seat belt spindle. The inertia coupling comprises coupling elements which, during an acceleration of the drive wheel, pivot outward and are directly or indirectly coupled to the seat belt spindle.

The application relates to a seat belt retractor for a safety belt comprising a seat belt spindle for winding up and unwinding the safety belt and comprising a tensioning drive.
Such a seat belt retractor comprising a tensioning drive is known from the European patent application EP 1 283 137 (incorporated by reference herein). The tensioning drive comprises a gas generator, a drive wheel and a connecting device which connects the gas generator and the drive wheel. The connecting device comprises a supply pipe and a plurality of thrust members located in the supply pipe, which are accelerated after triggering the gas generator and drive the drive wheel for winding up the safety belt.
The embodiments of a seat belt retractor disclosed herein provide improved tensioning behavior of the retractor.


We disclose an optical receiver having a configurable clock-recovery module, an operative configuration of which is selectable based on a bandwidth of the optical input signal. In an example embodiment, the clock-recovery module adopts a first configuration for non-Nyquist optical input signals, and adopts a different second configuration for Nyquist and faster-than-Nyquist optical input signals. The configurability of the clock-recovery module may advantageously prevent the clock-recovery algorithm from breaking down, e.g., due to variability of the bandwidth of the optical input signal caused by the variability of the routes that optical signals may take in the corresponding optical-transport network before arriving at the optical receiver.

Field
The present disclosure relates to optical communication equipment and, more specifically but not exclusively, to symbol timing and clock recovery for variable-bandwidth optical signals.
Description of the Related Art
This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.
Clock recovery is performed at an optical receiver to maintain synchronization between the digital signal processing performed at the receiver and the internal clock of the received signal. The Gardner method of clock recovery is widely used in optical receivers due to its simplicity and independence of the carrier phase. In a representative implementation, the Gardner method relies on the presence of a clock tone in the timing-error signal generated to determine the sign and magnitude of the clock adjustment that is needed to maintain the synchronization. A clock tone is typically located at a frequency that is offset by 1/T from the carrier frequency, where T is the symbol period. The timing-error signal corresponding to an optical communications signal may have two such clock tones, one on each side of the carrier. However, for optical signals having a bandwidth that is close to or narrower than 1/T, the clock tones in the timing-error signal tend to be greatly attenuated, which disadvantageously degrades the performance of the Gardner method.

Symbol timing and clock recovery for variable-bandwidth optical signals


A sensing coil assembly and method for attaching a sensing coil to a support structure are provided for a fiber optic gyroscope. The method comprises affixing a preformed adhesive to a mating surface of a mounting structure, and coupling an inner surface of the sensing coil to the mating surface of the mounting structure via the preformed adhesive. The mating surface is substantially cylindrical or conical. The sensing coil assembly comprises a hub having a mating surface, an optical fiber coil having an inner surface encircling at least a portion of the mating surface, and a preformed adhesive pattern affixing the mating surface to the inner surface. The mating surface of the hub is substantially cylindrical or conical.

Gyroscopes have been used to measure rotation rates or changes in angular velocity about an axis. A basic conventional fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) includes a light source, a beam generating device (e.g., a beam-splitter), and a coil of optical fiber coupled to the beam generating device that encircles an area. The beam generating device transmits light beams originating from the light source into the coil of optical fiber, and these light beams propagate in a clockwise (CW) direction and a counter-clockwise (CCW) direction along the core of the optical fiber. The two counter-propagating (e.g., CW and CCW) beams experience different pathlengths while propagating around a rotating path, and the difference between the two pathlengths produces a phase difference between the two counter-propagating beams that is proportional to the rotational rate.
Many FOGs utilize a glass-based optical fiber to conduct light along a core of the fiber over long distances with low loss and distortion. This optical fiber has a glass/silica core surrounded by a polymer jacket, or buffer, and may be wound into a cylindrical structure, such as a coil, and affixed to a coil-supporting structure, such as a cylindrical hub, to form a sensing coil. The hub and fiber optic coil are both substantially cylindrical structures oriented about a center axis, and the hub has a relatively smaller radius than the radius of the fiber optic coil. An adhesive coating between the outer surface of the hub and inner surface of the fiber optic coil may be used to affix the fiber optic coil to the hub.
Because the optical fiber is a composite structure, the glass/silica core and the polymer buffer may each respond differently to a variety of environmental factors and thereby adversely affect the pathlength difference between the two counter-propagating waves. Some of these environmental factors include temperature and mechanical strain that may create a bias between the phases of the two counter-propagating waves such that the output of the sensing coil yields a phase difference between the two counter-propagating waves that is indistinguishable from a rotation-induced phase difference. During operation, a FOG may be placed in an environment having a fluctuating ambient temperature. Temperature variations affect the sensing coil in two ways: first, the sensing coil undergoes mechanical strain as a result of a differential thermal expansion; and second, the optical transmission properties of the optical fiber change with the temperature. A Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) mismatch between the glass/silica core and the polymer buffer may result in a transverse expansion of the fiber optic coil that is significantly larger than the lengthwise expansion of the fiber optic coil. Because of the non-isotropic structure of the fiber optic coil, the radial expansion of the fiber optic coil, constrained by the glass/silica core of the optical fiber, is significantly smaller than the axial expansion of the fiber optic coil that is dominated by the large CTE of the polymer buffer. Further, the outer diameter of the fiber optic coil generally expands radially away from the center axis of the fiber optic coil while the inner diameter of the fiber optic coil generally expands radially toward the center axis of the fiber optic coil.
In addition to the expansion of the fiber optic coil, the hub may also expand in response to temperature fluctuations. For example, a hub made from an isotropic material may expand relatively uniformly in both the axial direction and in the radial direction with respect to the center axis. As a result, when a FOG is exposed, to a temperature change such that the fiber optic coil and hub both expand, the hub radially expands faster than the fiber optic coil expands, as a whole, and imparts stress on the fiber optic coil. Additionally, the radial expansion of the hub against the opposite expansion direction of the inner diameter of the fiber optic coil may produce significant mechanical interference between these components resulting in an outward radial pressure exerted at the fiber optic coil interface that induces stresses in the coil structure.
Employing a compliant adhesive, that distorts to accommodate the outward radial expansion of the hub as well as the inward radial expansion of the inner diameter of the fiber optic coil, may minimize such stresses on the fiber optic coil. When the adhesive is softer than the hub material, the stress induced in the fiber optic coil is generally less than the stress induced by the expanding hub alone. The hydrostatic pressure associated with the axial compression of the adhesive material is relieved through its expansion in lateral directions to the extent allowed by hyper-elastic properties of the adhesive material and by the available free area around the adhesive.
One method of applying the compliant adhesive is to inject a liquid adhesive, such as a Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV) adhesive, through small orifices in the mounting structure (e.g., a coil hub). Typically, the RTV adhesive is a two-part adhesive that is first mixed and then manually injected through the orifices of the bottom surface of the mounting structure via controlled nozzles. Following a curing period, the two-part adhesive is prepared again and then manually injected through the orifices of the top surface of the mounting structure via the controlled nozzles. The sensing coil mounting process is complete after another curing period. The combination of the curing periods for the RTV adhesive and the manual effort to inject the RTV adhesive generally consumes a significant amount of process time.
In addition to the significant process time, the manufacture of conventional coil hubs is generally labor intensive. Small variations in fiber buffer diameter may accumulate and result in a significant variation in coil height from one fiber optic coil to another fiber optic coil. In general, fiber optic coils are measured after fabrication of the coils, and the coil hubs supporting such fiber optic coils are custom sized to the coils. Typically, the coil hubs are pre-machined and subsequently re-machined after measuring the fiber optic coils. This custom machining of the coil hub complicates the manufacturing process of the FOG. Additionally, when mounting the inner cylindrical surface of the fiber optic coil to the outer cylindrical surface of the coil hub, the clearance between these surfaces may further complicate the mounting process. For example, an RTV adhesive applied to the outer cylindrical surface of the hub may be smeared during the mounting process when the hub and the sensing coil have an insufficient clearance therebetween.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a less complex method for attaching a cylindrical inner surface of a sensing coil to a cylindrical outer surface of a support structure in a fiber optic gyroscope while minimizing the coil stress from environmental factors. In addition, it is desirable to provide a sensing coil assembly for a fiber optic gyroscope having minimal construction steps while decreasing the coil stress from environmental factors. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Sensing coil assembly and method for attaching a sensing coil in a fiber optic gyroscope


In a synthetic quartz glass ingot which is produced by vapor phase hydrolyzing or oxidatively decomposing a silica-forming starting compound in an oxyhydrogen flame such that silica growth in a direction occurs at a silica particle deposition and melting face, striae visible when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the silica growth direction are distributed periodically over the silica growth direction. The ingot can be used in the production of optical-grade high-homogeneity synthetic quartz glass elements for excimer laser applications, particularly ArF excimer laser applications, in the production of laser damage-resistant optical elements used with light sources such as excimer lasers, and in the production of UV optical fiber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to synthetic quartz glass ingots and synthetic quartz glasses from which can be made optical blanks of high optical homogeneity and low variation in light transmittance for optical elements, such as lenses, prisms, mirrors and windows, used with excimer lasers, and particularly ArF excimer lasers. The invention also relates to methods for producing such synthetic quartz glass ingots and synthetic quartz glasses.
2. Prior Art
The drive toward higher levels of integration in VLSI circuits has led to a need for submicron-scale exposure technology in the photolithographic systems used to form integrated circuit patterns on wafers. Light sources of increasingly shorter wavelength are being employed in exposure systems to carry out patterning to smaller linewidths. The i-line (wavelength, 365 nm), once the light source of choice in lithography steppers, has been largely supplanted by the KrF excimer laser (248 nm), and today ArF excimer lasers (193 nm) are starting to see industrial use. Lenses used in such steppers are required to have an outstanding ability to transmit ultraviolet light, good resistance to damage from UV light irradiation, and high homogeneity.
To avoid the presence of metallic impurities, which cause UV light absorption, transparent synthetic quartz glass for making such lenses and other optical elements is generally produced by feeding a high-purity silicone compound such as silicon tetrachloride in vapor form directly to an oxyhydrogen flame, flame hydrolyzing the vapor to form fine particles of silica, and depositing, melting and vitrifying the particles directly on a rotating heat-resistant substrate made of a material such as quartz glass.
Transparent synthetic quartz glass produced in this way has a good transmittance to short-wavelength radiation down to a wavelength of about 190 nm, and is used as a light-transmitting material for UV laser light, specifically i-line radiation, excimer laser light such as that from KrF (248 nm), XeCl (308 nm), XeBr (282 nm), XeF (351 and 353 nm) and ArF (193 nm) lasers, and the fourth harmonic (250 nm) of YAG lasers.
The new light absorption in the UV region that emerges when synthetic quartz glass is irradiated with UV light of intense energy such as an excimer laser is believed to be due to paramagnetic defects which arise from photoreactions caused by inherent defects within the synthetic quartz glass. Numerous instances of light absorption from paramagnetic defects have been identified in ESR and other spectra. Examples of such defects include E′ centers (Si.) and non-bridging oxygen radicals (Si—O.).
Thus, paramagnetic defects generally have optical absorption bands. When quartz glass is irradiated with UV light, absorption bands of concern in the UV wavelength region due to paramagnetic defects in the quartz glass include bands at 215 nm and, though not yet precisely identified, 260 nm, both due to E′ centers (Si.). In some cases, these absorption bands are relatively broad and absorption is strong. For example, when quartz glass is used as an ArF excimer laser or KrF excimer laser light-transmitting material, such absorption can be a major problem.
The inherent defects in synthetic quartz glass that give rise to paramagnetic defects include non-SiO2 structures such as Si—OH and Si—Cl, oxygen deficient structures such as Si—Si, and oxygen surplus structures such as Si—O—O—Si.
One way to suppress paramagnetic defects is taught in JP-A 6-199532, which discloses a method wherein a chlorine-free alkoxysilane such as tetramethoxysilane is used as the silica-forming compound to prevent Si—Cl structures, a type of paramagnetic defect-inducing structural defect, from being included within the glass.
The presence of at least a given concentration of hydrogen molecules in quartz glass is known to discourage the formation of E′ centers (Si.), one type of oxygen defect, thus enhancing the laser durability of the glass.
ArF excimer laser light causes a level of damage in quartz glass which is several times greater than that by KrF excimer laser light. Hence, quartz glass for ArF excimer laser applications must have a hydrogen molecule concentration several times higher than that of quartz glass for KrF excimer laser applications.
A method of controlling the hydrogen molecule concentration in synthetic quartz glass is described in the prior art (JP-A 6-305736). The current practice is to adjust the concentration of hydrogen molecules in glass in accordance with the intended ArF laser energy use conditions.
Extensive research has thus been devoted to improving the laser durability of quartz glass as the light sources used in photolithography have become of increasingly shorter wavelength and more intense (as illustrated by the shift from i-line irradiation to excimer laser light).
Such shifts to shorter wavelength lithography are also changing expectations with regard to optical elements used in exposure tools (e.g., lenses, windows, prisms). One distinct trend recently has been toward a higher numerical aperture in the projection lens materials used in exposure tools. The steady rise in the aperture of the lens material has been accompanied by a need for lens materials of greater (more precise) homogeneity. In addition to the homogeneity of the index of refraction, a very important problem concerning ArF excimer lasers has been that of reducing birefringence. Quartz glass in particular, when exposed to light having a wavelength shorter than 200 nm, has been found to experience a loss in the constancy of its photoelastic coefficient, with sudden, large changes in value. At a wavelength of 193 nm, the photoelastic coefficient rises to a value about 1.5 times greater than that at a wavelength of 633 nm. The influence of birefringence on the resolution is thus even larger now than before. Accordingly, as with the need to achieve greater refractive index homogeneity, it has become essential also to reduce birefringence to the lowest possible level.
Hydroxyl group concentration, chlorine concentration and fictive temperature are well-known parameters in quartz glass that determine the homogeneity of the refractive index distribution. By suitably combining the distribution profiles of these parameters within the glass, it has been possible to reduce the refractive index distribution Δn to a value on the order of 1×10−6. However, in methods that increase the refractive index homogeneity by combining the distribution profiles of these parameters in such a way as to cancel out their respective influences on the refractive index, particularly with the use of chlorine-free synthetic quartz glass having a hydroxyl group concentration of more than 1,000 ppm to confer ArF excimer laser resistance, the following observations have been made:    (1) Synthetic quartz glass ingots which are chlorine-free and have a high hydroxyl group concentration tend to have a higher viscosity at elevated temperatures, making the glass ingot more difficult to homogenize.    (2) A high degree of homogeneity is required in the large-aperture products that have emerged from recent efforts to achieve higher levels of circuit integration by increasing numerical aperture.    (3) Because little has been done in the past to minimize birefringence, a certain degree of birefringence is unavoidable.Hence, although synthetic quartz glasses obtained in this way can be used to make optical components for KrF excimer lasers, they do not meet the much stiffer requirements for refractive index distribution Δn and birefringence associated with ArF excimer laser-related applications.

Synthetic quartz glass ingot, synthetic quartz glass, and methods of manufacture thereof


A climbing device for a removable attachment to a column member, such as a tree, includes a body having a pair of spaced contact surfaces. The body also includes a pair of spaced and elongated retention apertures that are configured to receive a flexible retention member, such as a strap, therethrough. The retention member initially retains the climbing device to the column member, such that the contact surfaces are urged against the column member. In addition, the retention members are spaced apart such that their top portions are spaced further apart than their bottom portions. Thus, as the climbing body is forced downward along the column member, the distance between the spaced retention apertures increases, causing the circumferential distance traversed by the retention member to increase, thus drawing the retention member taut.

Various individuals such as hunters, researchers, photographers, and arborists often need to ascend column members, such as trees or poles for example. To achieve this, such individuals are required to carry all of their climbing equipment with them to the climbing site on foot, sometimes for considerable distances. Unfortunately, current climbing devices are heavy and/or awkward to carry, and in many circumstances are cumbersome to use.
In addition, an increasing number of States have passed regulations prohibiting the use of any climbing device that damages trees on public hunting land. However, many climbing devices impart damage to trees when they are used and as such, are prohibited from use on such public land. In addition, homeowners who employ the services of arborists would also benefit from a climbing device that does not damage the trees they need to maintain.
Furthermore, individuals such as hunters, photographers, and naturalists are required to maintain a quiet or stealth presence as they enter the field to prevent startling or otherwise alerting wildlife of their presence. However, many currently available climbing devices generally make noise as they are used and attached to trees or other column member, due to their complex mechanical construction and material used.
Therefore, there is a need for a climbing device that is strong, lightweight, and portable. In addition, there is a need for a climbing device that does not impart damage or trauma to a tree or other column member when attached thereto. Furthermore, there is a need for a climbing device that is quiet and allows a user to maintain a stealth presence when transported and when in use as it is attached to a tree or other column member.


A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, in which a native oxide film on a silicon substrate is removed before ion implantation is performed, and a process that the surface of the silicon substrate is liable to be oxidized, such as a resist removing process, is not to be performed after the ion implantation, is provided. At a source/drain extension region forming process after a gate electrode is formed, a pMOS region is covered with a resist, and As or P is implanted to an nMOS region by low energy implantation. After removing the resist from the pMOS region, a cover insulation film with about 20 nm thickness is disposed on the whole surface of a silicon substrate. The cover insulation film only at the pMOS region is removed by etching back, and a thin film side wall is formed on the gate electrode of the pMOS region. By removing the resist at the nMOS region, a hard mask is formed at the nMOS region, this hard mask works as a mask at the nMOS region when pMOS extension is performed.

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, in particular, a shallow extension diffusion layer forming method of a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor).
Conventionally, in a shallow extension diffusion layer forming process of a CMOS, when about 0.5 keV is applied to implant boron ions, its projecting range of impurities (boron ions) is about 2 to 3 nm. And, in case that a native oxide film (1 to 1.5 nm) forming at the time of cleaning exists on a silicon substrate, a large number of boron ions are implanted to this native oxide film. Consequently, the number of impurities implanting to the silicon substrate becomes small.
And also it is recognized that the influence of transient enhanced diffusion appears caused by the existence of the native oxide film on the silicon substrate at the time of RTA (rapid thermal annealing). Therefore, in order to make the junction part shallow, it is desirable that the surface of the silicon substrate is exposed at the time of annealing without the native oxide film. The transient enhanced diffusion can be restrained by removing the native oxide film by applying an HF (hydrogen fluoride) treatment right before the RTA. However, at this time, the impurities implanted in the native oxide film of the silicon substrate are also removed. FIG. 1 is a graph showing characteristics at the time of removing the native oxide film in a process between the ion implantation and the RTA. As shown in FIG. 1, the large amount of dopant loss occurs, when the HF treatment is applied before the RTA. Therefore, it is necessary that the native oxide film must be removed before the time of the ion implantation.
And when the surface of the silicon substrate is oxidized at a process, such as a resist removing process, between the ion implantation process and the RTA process, the dopant loss also occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to omit processes in which the surface of the silicon substrate is liable to be oxidized, such as the resist removing process, after the ion implantation process.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, in which a native oxide film is removed before the time of ion implantation, and also processes in which the surface of the silicon substrate is liable to be oxidized, such as a resist removing process, can be omitted after the ion implantation.
According to the present invention for achieving the object mentioned above, in a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, at a shallow extension diffusion layer forming process for manufacturing a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor), when ion implantation is performed to a pMOS region, a hard mask to prevent a dopant from the ion implantation to an nMOS region is used, and the hard mask is also used as a mask to restrain out diffusion of a dopant of the nMOS region.
According to the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device at a shallow extension diffusion layer forming process for manufacturing a CMOS. At this manufacturing method, an HF treatment process for removing a native oxide film on a silicon substrate is performed before an ion implantation process for extension to a pMOS region is performed, and the ion implantation process is performed by using a hard mask made of at least an oxide film on an nMOS region, and before the ion implantation process is performed, a thin film side wall is formed on only a gate electrode of the pMOS region, and before an impurities activation RTA treatment to the pMOS region, a cap film being a hard mask to prevent out diffusion of impurities of the nMOS region is formed at the nMOS region, and the surface of the silicon substrate is exposed without a native oxide film at the pMOS region, in order to restrain transient enhanced diffusion.
According to the present invention, at the shallow extension diffusion layer forming process at the CMOS, in order to omit processes that cause a dopant loss and transient enhanced diffusion between an ion implantation process to a pMOS region and an RTA process, a hard mask is used at the time of the ion implantation. And the hard mask is also used as a mask to restrain the out diffusion of the dopant of the nMOS. Therefore, a dopant loss between the ion implantation to the pMOS region and the RTA process is restrained and also the transient enhanced diffusion can be restrained. With this, the native oxide film can be removed before the time of the ion implantation, and a process that the surface of the silicon substrate is liable to be oxidize, such as a resist removing process, can be omitted after the ion implantation.

Use of a hard mask in the manufacture of a semiconductor device