An imaging apparatus includes a pair radiation sensitive detector heads disposed on opposite sides of the patient. The detectors and patient are moved relative to each other in an axial direction while the relative angular orientation of the detectors and the patient is held constant. Positron annihilation events occurring within the anatomy of a patient are detected and used to reconstruct an image. According to one reconstruction technique, a focal plane method is used. The intersections of the lines of coincidence and a plurality of image planes is determined, and a series of images indicative of the intersections is generated.

The present invention relates to the art of nuclear medicine, and particularly to the art of positron coincidence detection (PCD).
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a branch of nuclear medicine in which a positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical such as .sup.18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is introduced into the body of a patient. Each emitted positron reacts with an electron in what is known as an annihilation event, thereby generating a coincident pair of 511 keV gamma rays which travel in opposite directions along what is known as a line of coincidence. The coincident pair is detected and used to create a clinically useful image.
Traditionally, PET scanners have used detector elements arranged in circles or rings about the imaging region, with a plane of the rings perpendicular to the axis of the imaging region. Each ring corresponds to an axial slice of the patient. Data from each ring of a plurality of slices is reconstructed using a two or three dimensional reconstruction algorithms to create images of the patient.
The demand for PET has been steadily increasing. The positron emitting pharmaceutical FDG may be the most important nuclear imaging agent to date because of its ability to tag malignant tumors. It is highly desirable to screen patients from head to toe or toe to head for suspected tumors using FDG prior to performing more localized PET or other imaging techniques. However, the potential of PET imaging as a general screening tool cannot be fully realized because conventional PET imaging systems have a small axial field of view (generally less than 150 mm) and are very expensive (ranging from $1.2 to $2.9 million).
The development of large field of view multiple head gamma detector systems capable of performing positron coincidence imaging offers a more cost effective alternative to conventional PET imaging systems. This invention addresses the practical implementation of whole body PET imaging using large field of view gamma detector systems.


In an example of an embodiment of the invention, a system for recording data generated by a client server and transmitted to a storage system is provided. The system comprises a storage system and a processor located remotely from the storage system and linked to the storage system via a network. The processor determines that a selected data processing operation is to be performed with respect to data stored in the storage system, and determines that a record of at least some of the data stored in the storage system is required prior to performing the selected data processing operation. The processor also generates a command comprising a request to generate a record of the at least some of the stored data, and transmits the command to the storage system to generate the record, via the network in accordance with Internet Protocol (IP). Examples of other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Generating a snapshot of data is a method commonly used to preserve and protect data stored in a storage system. A snapshot is a record of data stored in a storage system at a selected moment in time. A snapshot may be used, for example, to recover an earlier version of the data in the event a current version becomes corrupted, or may be copied to another storage device to provide a backup copy of the data.
In many storage systems, performing a snapshot is a relatively simple operation. However, if a cache is used in the storage system, performing the snapshot often becomes more challenging. Typically, a cache functions as a buffer, i.e., data sent by the client server to disk is recorded first in the cache, and subsequently is flushed to the disk. A cache is typically constructed of a type of memory that can be accessed more rapidly than the primary storage devices in the system. Accordingly, a storage system can increase its efficiency by temporarily storing in the cache selected items of data that are likely to be requested by a client. Many storage systems, operating on the principle that data recently sent to disk have a high probability of being accessed again, uniformly transmit data to a cache before sending it to disk. As used herein, the term "disk" has the same meaning as "storage device;" accordingly, "stored on disk" means stored on a storage device, "sent to disk" means sent to a storage device, etc. "Client" and "client server" are used herein interchangeably.
In many storage systems, a cache processes data sequentially to preserve data integrity. Changes made by a client server to a data file, for example, are recorded in the cache in the order they were performed and flushed to disk in the same order. Where a cache receives data from multiple clients, the cache typically processes data from a given client sequentially; however, the cache may assign a higher priority to data received from one client over data received from other clients. In such a case, the cache may not adhere to a strict first-in-first-out mode of operation.
To preserve data integrity, a snapshot must capture and preserve all data sent to disk by the client server up to the precise moment the snapshot is requested. However, where a cache is used, some data sent to disk by a client before the snapshot request may remain in the cache, not yet having been flushed to disk, at the moment the snapshot request is made. In such case, performing a snapshot of data stored on disk at the moment the request is made would produce an inaccurate record because it would not capture the data remaining in the cache at that moment. To produce an accurate snapshot, it is necessary to incorporate the data from the cache into the snapshot.
One solution to this problem requires first directing the client server to suspend transmission of data to the storage system. All data in the cache is then flushed to disk, and finally the snapshot is performed. This method may be adequate if very little data is present in the cache at the moment the snapshot is requested. Otherwise, this method is often undesirable because the client server is required to wait for the data flush to finish before it can resume normal operations. This can represent a substantial inconvenience to the client server and compromise the efficiency of the data storage provider.
It is often useful to generate a snapshot of data before performing a data processing task that poses a risk of corrupting data in a storage system. For example, in many systems simply maintaining a backup copy of a primary disk can occasionally pose substantial risks. If, for example, the system employs asynchronous mirroring, i.e., a cache is used to temporarily store data written to the primary disk before writing to the mirroring disk, an interruption in the communication between the cache and the mirroring disk can cause data to be lost and the backup copy to become corrupted. Generally, in such case it is necessary to synchronize the mirroring disk with the primary disk, i.e., simply copy data sector-by-sector from the primary disk to the mirroring disk. However, if the primary disk becomes corrupted before the copying procedure is completed, then there may be no uncorrupted version of the primary disk left. Moreover, in such case, the data on the mirroring disk is often corrupted by an incomplete copy procedure. It is therefore often preferable to generate a snapshot of the mirroring disk immediately before attempting to synchronize the mirroring disk with the main disk.
Many existing storage systems fail to determine a suitable moment for taking a snapshot. This is partly due to the fact that, in many networks, a client server (such as a data server) manages the data processing and storage functions, and storage systems merely process requests received from the client server. Therefore, the client server, rather than the storage system, determines an appropriate time for a snapshot. However, in prior art systems, the client server does not have the capability to direct the storage system to perform a snapshot at a selected moment. Instead, many storage systems are configured simply to perform snapshots at predetermined intervals, e.g., every 30 minutes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method to protect data stored in a storage system


When a narrowing down to one of the candidates for an operation mode is completed, a printing operation is performed in accordance with the printing system for the narrowed-down operation mode. If the narrowing-down to one operation mode is not completed, a counter value determining a storage capacity of a reception buffer of a RAM is increased so that a quantity stored in the reception buffer is increased accordingly. Thereafter, the narrowing-down of the candidates for the operation mode to one is performed again. Thus, a controller for a printing apparatus is provided which is capable of automatically determining an operation mode even when it is impossible to determine the operation mode from an initially provided quantity of printing information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controller for a printing apparatus able to simulate the operation modes of a plurality of different printing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
When a printing apparatus performs a printing operation in accordance with printing operation information input from a host computer or the like, it faithfully prints alphanumeric characters and the like in compliance with control codes (such as double size, line feed, and form feed) contained in the printing information. Further, in order to achieve a greater variety of printing styles, many of the latest printing apparatus have peculiar and characteristic operation modes. Such characteristic operation modes may include a high-speed mode to perform printing at a high speed and a designation mode designating a dot space and bit image. These modes are also specified by the control codes, particularly escape (ESC sequence) control codes included in the printing information.
Frequently, the control codes, such as the escape control codes, are defined differently depending on the model and manufacturer of the particular printing apparatus and, therefore, a particular printing apparatus cannot perform a normal printing operation unless the printing information is in conformity with its particular operation mode. Therefore, to correctly perform a printing operation, it becomes necessary to change the operation mode of the printing apparatus to correspond to the printing information.
In view of the necessity described above, such a printing apparatus has recently been developed which includes emulations of the operation modes of a plurality of different printing apparatus, which are stored in advance. Prior to the printing operation, the stored operation mode of one of the emulated printing apparatus is selected by an operator and printing information input into the printing apparatus is printed in accordance with the selected operation mode.
With such a printing apparatus, however, the operator is required to understand all of the differing operation modes stored in the printing apparatus and select one of the stored operation modes, thus causing concomitant disadvantages where the operation of the printing apparatus becomes complicated and an unskilled operator is liable to make a mistake in operating the printing apparatus.
Accordingly, the printing apparatus as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,159 to Sasaki et al, assigned to the same assignee as the present application and hereby incorporated by reference, emulates the operation modes of a plurality of printing apparatuses and, in selecting a particular operation mode, analyzes the control codes contained in a fixed quantity of printing information first input to the printing apparatus in order to automatically determine which one of the plurality of operation modes of the printing apparatus is prescribed in the printing information. There are such merits in this printing apparatus that its operation is not complicated, mishandling of it is unlikely, and even a beginner can use it easily.
Even in such a printing apparatus as described in Sasaki et al, which is provided with an automatic operation mode determination means, there is a difficulty that the operation mode cannot be determined from the fixed quantity of printing information initially input into the automatic operation mode determination means, in such a case as given below. Namely, in printing information which could correspond to one of a plurality of different operation modes, there are control codes common to various ones of the different operation modes. Hence, it sometimes occurs that only the common control codes are present in the fixed quantity of printing information input at first and the particular control codes which identify a particular operation mode are not present within the fixed quantity of printing information. Since in such a case the operation mode cannot be identified, the prior art apparatus has the disadvantage that it does not have a sufficient capability for determining the operation mode.


A projector/camera system includes a projector, configured to project a sequenced image to a projection location, and a camera, located at the projection location and oriented to take an image of a region including the projector. The camera is configured to capture a sequenced image that is synchronized and out of phase with the sequenced image of the projector, thereby to minimize light interference from the projector.

In a collaborative meeting or teaching situation, it is sometimes useful to image the audience using a camera located at the position of the projection screen at which the audience is looking. For example, during a teleconference, where an audience sees an image of a person addressing the audience from a remote location, with a return video image of the audience provided to the speaker, it is desirable that the cameras that view the speaker and the audience be located as near to the respective screens as possible, to provide a realistic appearance. Otherwise, the image provided to the audience is of a speaker not looking directly at the audience, and the image provided to the speaker is of a group of people all looking away.
Placing a video camera at the location of a projection screen presents certain challenges, however. If the screen is illuminated by a front-projector, then light from the projector can interfere with the camera. That is, the field of view of the camera can encompass the light from the projector, allowing light from the projector to interfere with the image taken by the camera. At best this can produce a distracting light spot in the image taken by the camera, and at worst the light spot can substantially wash out the camera image. Although repositioning the projector or re-aiming the camera can in some cases allow one to remove the projector from the camera's field of view while still keeping the camera at the projection position, in many cases this is not possible. Additionally, a camera physically positioned in front of a front projection screen and within the projection region of the projector will cast a shadow on the screen, thus interfering with the projected image.
Some prior approaches to this situation have attempted to physically block or mask light from the projector onto the camera. However, there may be some situations where this cannot be done effectively, due to the geometry of the projector/camera setup and the room or other environment. Additionally, this approach still casts a shadow on the screen, thereby eliminating part of the image, and still requires careful alignment to place the camera in the blanked out region. In cases where the camera is placed behind a transparent or semi-transparent front projection screen, scatter from the screen can still cause image artifacts even with shadowing or masking of the camera position.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A floating impeller lure having a buoyant body with integral reaction blades formed therein. In a first embodiment, a countertorque arm is provided for preventing torque from the rapidly rotating buoyant body means being passed through to an attached fishing line. A second preferred embodiment uses the combination of a hook with a weighted shank and a lure dressing to prevent torque from passing to the attached fishing line. An in-line upright hook-trailer dressing is attached to the countertorque arm by means of a swivel in the first embodiment. In one embodiment of the hook-trailer dressing, the hook-trailer dressing itself floats on the surface and helps counteract rotation thereby, in conjunction with the swivel and the bend of the hook and the hook shank acting as a keel, keeping the hook point in the upright position. In another preferred embodiment of the hook-trailer dressing, a more effective swivel is utilized removing the requirement that the hook-trailer dressing resist any rotation whatsoever and it and the hook-shank-bend acting as a keel are enough to keep the hook point in the upright position.

This invention relates to a novel floating impeller lure that is easy to cast, will not twist fishing line, and retrieves the hook is the hook up position.
The recreational or sports fisherman has available a wide variety of artificial fish lures that can be employed to attract and catch fish. One common family or lures (or baits) is known as "buzzbaits." A buzzbait, or any "buzzing" impeller or blade type lure, is intended to imitate the thrashing of bait or forage fish on the water's surface as they are chased by predator fish. A buzzbait generally has a metal reaction impeller(s) rotating around a wire shaft with an attached trailing dressed hook. In practice, the buzzbait is retrieved along the surface of the water by the rapid cranking of the reel by the fisherman while keeping the rod tip in an overhead position. The rapid retrieval speed in not only necessary to keep the lure on the surface of the water, but also to cause the high rotational impeller speed that results in thrashing of the surface of the water. This phenomenon is called "buzzing" by most fishermen familiar with the techniques.
All metal buzzbaits with large impellers are very heavy and require lengthy rods and large fast-retrieve reels for casting and retrieving. As is known with prior art buzzbaits, casting with this heavy tackle is a very tiring process because the reel cranking must begin just before the lure hits the water so it will not sink below the water surface. Any malfunction in the process, such as reel backlash, can cause considerable problems because the buzzbait sinks and snags itself on brush, weeds, etc.
Alternative floating top water baits with small impellers abound and are in wide use by fishermen. By nature, however, floating top water baits with small impellers are not effective buzzbaits, even though they are effective top water lures. The reason for this is that only small impellers may be used because only slight amounts of countertorque weighting can be practically built into the small floating top water belt. Also, the hooks are generally attached to the floating body and, consequently, are not readily made snag proof.
In general, the basic problem is that all rotating impellers, due to bearing surface friction, generate torque that causes the lure to tend to rotate axially. Buzzbaits with a large impeller and a large single hook have a tendency to rotate axially, which is usually countered by the lure and hook laying on their side or in some other undesirable position. The rotation of the hook into an undesirable position means that the hook is not riding in an upright position, the position where the point is upstanding and the proper position for a fish to bite it.
The inventor has searched the prior art from as early as 1870, including the following U.S. patents by number: U.S. Pat. No. 104,930 to Chapman; U.S. Pat. No. 574,992 to Hinckley; U.S. Pat. No. 1,943,283 to Beil; U.S. Pat. No. 2,554,049 to Mace; U.S. Pat. No. 2,569,057 to Hinerman; U.S. Pat. No. 2,612,717 to Kuehnel; U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,713 to Johnson; U.S. Pat. No. 2,952,936 to White; and, U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,080 to Morrissette. A drawback to the devices disclosed in these patents is that none of them are capable of preventing line twist; none of them insure that the hook is retrieved in the hook point up position; and none of them combine a buzzbait feature, with a floating lure, with these other desirable advantages. As a result, there is a need in the art for providing a floating impeller lure which is aerodynamically designed to provide minimum air resistance when casting, which buzzes when retrieved and yet does not contribute appreciatively to line twist and which retrieves an attached in-line single hook with the hook in the upstanding position. It, therefore, is an object of the invention to provide a floating impeller lure that functions as a buzzbait, does not appreciatively attribute to line twist, and which insures that the hook will be retrieved with the point in the upright position.

Floating impeller lure apparatus and method


A transferring device for transferring filled tea bags from a single track tea packaging machine to a two-track processing machine has a pivoting device with a pivot arm and a tea bag receptacle for receiving a vertically positioned tea bag. The pivoting device has a pivot drive for alternatingly pivoting the receptacle to the left and to the right about 90.degree. into a first and a second end position. A first swiveling device is provided for swiveling a tea bag, contained in the receptacle in the first end position, into a horizontal position. A second swiveling device is provided for swiveling a tea bag, contained in the receptacle in the second end position, into a horizontal position. A first tea bag pusher for moving the tea bag from the first swiveling device onto a first track of a two-track transport device for transporting the tea bag to a processing machine is provided. A second tea bag pusher is provided for moving the tea bag from the second swiveling device onto a second track of the two-track transporting device for transporting the tea bag to a processing machine.

The invention relates to a device for transferring filled tea bags, especially double chamber tea bags, from a fast single track tea bag packaging machine onto a double track processing machine for producing especially a hot-sealed envelope for the tea bag.
In a known tea bag packaging machine tea metered by a tea metering device comprising a metering wheel is placed in equal portions with a transmission wheel onto a filter paper strip that is continuously transported by a transporting machine. A hose is formed from the filter paper strip and individual filled double chamber tea bags are manufactured therefrom. The tea bag packaging machine is operated at extremely high speeds with an output of up to 400 tea bags per minute. Conventionally, the filled tea bags are individually gripped with a forceps-like gripping device from the prior art tea packaging machine and are then placed into a stacking chute for formation of packaging groups from where the groups are then guided to respective boxes in order to be packed therein. It is disadvantageous that highest requirements with respect to the flavoring of the tea packaged in this manner cannot be fulfilled because an absolutely tight flavoring seal is not possible with these packagings. External conditions such as air temperature and moisture in the air can affect the tea through the cardboard box and the filter paper in the form of a fleece material, and the quality of the tea during the course of time is thus degraded. Therefore, there is a great desire to seal the tea bag against the effect of air, light, and moisture and to package it so as to be flavor-sealed. For this purpose, it is known to introduce the individual tea bag into an aluminum composite foil envelope that is comprised of a rectangular material strip folded in half whereby the three originally open sides are hot-sealed after insertion of the tea bag so as to be tightly sealed. The double chamber tea bag in this envelope is positioned with its bottom on the folded edge. The folded edge, however, according to German Gebrauchsmuster 295 142 249.9, can also extend parallel to the longitudinal side of the tea bag whereby the folded aluminum composite envelope blank is to be sealed along two short sides and one longitudinal side.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for performing the method of transferring filled tea bags, especially double chamber tea bags, from a fast single track tea bag packaging machine onto a double track processing machine for producing especially the aforementioned envelope enclosure.

Device for transferring filled tea bags from a single track tea bag packaging machine to a processing machine


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for multi-camera image correction. The method for multi-camera image correction includes: acquiring information of independent images that are captured by each camera and have no overlap area or have an overlap area smaller than a threshold; acquiring, according to information of each independent image, an image correction parameter that corresponds to each camera and allows adjacent independent images to be corrected into a contiguous image; and performing, according to the image correction parameter, correction processing on video data of a camera that corresponds to the image correction parameter. In the embodiments of the present invention, maintenance manpower is saved, adjustment efficiency is improved, and remote maintenance may be performed in the case of no overlap area or of a small overlap area. In addition, images are corrected in a data processing manner, which efficiently ensures precision of image correction.

In a remote conference system such as a Telepresence system, multiple cameras are needed to present pictures of conference sites from various angles, so that conference participants can feel at the same conference site, thereby ensuring consistency of feeing in different conference sites.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a layout of a conference room system in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the system may use three flat-panel displays 1, 2, and 3. The three displays are used to present high-definition pictures with the size approximating to true-to-life dimensions. The three displays are placed in a folded surface manner, where display 2 in the middle is close to displays 1 and 3. Images on the three displays form complete presence of a scene of the conference room. At the position of display 2 in the middle, three high-definition cameras 4, 5, and 6 are arranged. The three cameras are arranged in a convergence manner. An adjustment to positions of the three cameras may allow a shooting range of each of the cameras to just cover one area of a conference table. For example, camera 4 corresponds to the area of seats 14 and 15, camera 5 corresponds to the area of seats 16 and 17, and camera 6 corresponds to the area of seats 18 and 19. Therefore, three images shot by three cameras are spliced to a panoramic picture of the scene of the conference room. As may be seen from the above, images that may be spliced seamlessly can be obtained only at a place where shooting angles of each two cameras intersect. An area before an intersecting point is a missed area that cannot be shot by the cameras, whereas an area after the intersecting point is an overlap area. Geometric correction and color correction needs to be performed on images shot by the three cameras to allow the images shot by the three cameras to be consistent in geometric position, color, and brightness. In the case of a large overlap area, geometric correction and color correction may be performed on images by placing a template in the overlap area or detecting geometric characteristics of an existing feature in the overlap area in the prior art. In the case of no overlap area or of a small overlap area, geometric correction and color correction may be performed on images only by manually adjusting mechanical positions of cameras and brightness/color parameters of the cameras in the prior art. For the latter case, maintenance personnel need be onsite for adjustment. Therefore, the adjustment efficiency is low and it is difficult to ensure precision of the geometric correction and that of the color correction.

Method and device for multi-camera image correction


A handle assembly having a one piece molded handle that is mounted to an extension tube and that has an integrated switch for use with a floor supported appliance is provided. The handle includes a loop-shaped grip portion, an elongated portion in which an extension tube is mounted, and a switch mounting port for mounting the switch in the handle. The handle includes a minimum number of parts and does not require fasteners for mounting it to the extension tube. A method for making the handle is also provided.

The present invention relates to a handle assembly, and particularly to an assembly having a one piece handle with an integrated appliance control switch and that is mounted to an extension tube containing electrical control wires for controlling a hand held, floor supported appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner.
A handle having a two piece clamshell construction for use with a vacuum cleaner is known. A handle having a clamshell construction facilitates the insertion of an appliance control switch into the handle and the mounting of the handle to an extension tube. However, such a two-piece handle is undesirable because one or more fasteners are usually required to hold the handle together, adding additional expense and manufacturing steps, and because fasteners may loosen during operation of the appliance.
A one piece handle is preferable to a two piece handle because a one piece handle does not require fasteners to hold it together. A simple one piece handle is an elastomeric handle that is fitted to the end of a tubular extension. Such a handle is often found on an inexpensive upright or stick type vacuum cleaner, and resembles those found on bicycle handle bars. The handle is usually mounted onto the tubular extensions by press fitting, heat shrinking, and/or with the use of adhesives. This simple handle, however, does not incorporate an electrical switch and provides a less than optimal ergonomic interface with an operator.
One piece handles with ergonomic features are known, but those handles do not provide integrated electrical switches and require fasteners for mounting the handles to their respective extension tubes. For example, the handle found on a vacuum cleaner sold under the trademark Combivac.TM. by Clarke.RTM., owned by McGraw-Edison Company, of Rolling Meadows, Ill., is a one piece molded handle manufactured using foam molding technology. The handle of the Combivac.TM. vacuum cleaner is attached to the tubular extension with a fastener and has an electrical switch located near the top of the vacuum cleaner body, not in the handle. A similar handle is shown in Wareham et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,169 in which a handgrip is fixed to a handle by a fastener using a counter sunk bolt and nut.
It is undesirable to use fasteners to mount a handle to an extension tube for a variety of reasons. First, fasteners add expense to the fabrication of a handle because the fasteners themselves cost money and because additional labor is required for their assembly. Second, fasteners, such as set screws, normally make physical contact with the extension tube. Such contact may wear away or chip the paint or metal plating that protects the extension tube from oxidation. Third, fasteners may become loose over time, decreasing the dependability and strength of the handle. And fourth, fasteners that protrude inside an extension tube may cause an electrical hazard because the fasteners could damage the electrical wires inside the tube.
Even if a one piece molded handle having an integrated switch were known, that handle would be undesirable because that handle would likely be fabricated from a solid plastic form and require subsequent labor intensive methods. For example, a solid handle with a passage for receiving an extension tube and a port for mounting an integrated switch would be molded as a solid object and then bored to form the passage and switch port. The fabrication of a bored handle, however, would be expensive because the boring process would require substantial time and labor and would waste handle material. Moreover, if the handle is molded into the form of a loop, the loop itself would likely be solid, unnecessarily consuming additional plastic that adds undesirable weight to the handle.
The nitrogen gas-assist molding technique has been used to manufacture a handle that is lightweight, but has not been used to mold a handle that is mounted to an extension tube and that has an integrated switch for use with a floor supported appliance. Nitrogen gas assist molding techniques normally include the steps of (1) injecting a molten plastic into a cavity through a fluid injection port followed by the step of (2) injecting gas into the cavity to uniformly pack, or force, the molten resin against the cavity surface. This molding process provides high dimensional stability and superior strength, and reduces the weight of the product. Conventional nitrogen gas-assist molding techniques, however, do not describe a technique for making a handle assembly having a one piece molded handle that is mounted to an extension tube and that has an integrated switch for use with a floor-supported appliance.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a handle assembly having a lightweight one piece handle that has an integrated electrical control switch and that is mounted on an extension tube for use with floor supported appliances.
It would also be desirable to provide a handle that is mountable to an extension tube without fasteners.
It would further be desirable to provide such a handle that, when mounted to a plated extension tube, does not damage the plating.
It would even further be desirable to provide such a handle that has an ergonomic grip which is not constrained by wires, switches, or clamshell design and fasteners.
It would be even more desirable to provide such a handle that is durable, easy to assemble, and includes a minimum number of parts.
It is yet further desirable to provide methods for making such a handle and handle assembly.

Handle assembly for floor supported appliances


In a process for reacting N,N'-dialkylethylenediamine with urea in an aprotic polar solvent to prepare 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone, a process comprising progressing the reaction while continuously adding N,N'-dialkylethylnediamine and urea into the aprotic polar solvent. The process is a high-yield manufacturing process in industry capable of efficiently producing very high purity 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone which contains less than 0.1% by weight of by-product 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinimine derived from the raw materials.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone and a preparation process of the same. More specifically, the invention relates to high-purity 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone which can be obtained by reacting N,N'-dialkylethylenediamine with urea and has a very low content of a by-product, and a process for preparing the same.
1,3-Dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone is an aprotic solvent having high polarity, is very stable to acid and alkali compared with a conventional aprotic polar solvent, and has high dissolving power for various inorganic and organic compounds.
Thus, 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone is a very useful compound as a solvent for preparing medicines, agricultural chemicals, dyestuffs and pigments, an agent for cleaning electronic parts and molds, and a solvent for polymerizing high polymer compounds.
2. Related Art of the Invention
1,3-Dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone has been conventionally prepared by a known process which reacts N,N'-dialkylethylenediamine with urea. The process was simple and excellent, but had a disadvantage of low yield. Later developments have improved the disadvantage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,453 has disclosed a process for preparing 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone in the yield of 80% or more by heating N,N'-dialkylethylenediamine and urea at temperature of 180.degree. C. or more, preferably by previously completing the forming reaction of 1,1'-dimethyl-1,1'-dimethylenebisurea intermediate at 140.degree. C. and successively reacting at temperature of 180.degree. C. or more. However, according to the process, the product contains a by-product 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinimine in an amount of 0.5 to a few percents for 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone. The by-product has a boiling point which is close to the boiling point of 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, and thus requires a column having a very high theoretical plate number in order to separate by distillation or a process for carrying out alternative treatment. Thus, the process of the U.S. Patent has problems in view of by-product removal.
When 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone containing the by-product as above is used as a solvent, the by-product inhibits the desired reaction. For example, in the case of using as a solvent for preparing aramid, the by-product inhibits polymerization of the polymer.
Thus, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone has disadvantages in practical application.
However, the direct preparation process of 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone from N,N'-dialkylethylenediamine and urea has merits of 1 low material cost and 2 no requirement for separating formed water as compared with conventionally known processes and is thus excellent as a process for manufacturing 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone in an industrial scale. Consequently, the direct preparation process of 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone in the absence of by-product formation has been strongly desired.

High purity 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone and preparation process of same


A method for preparing an alignment layer surface provides a surface on the alignment layer. The surface is bombarded with ions, and reactive gas is introduced to the ion beam to saturate dangling bonds on the surface. Another method for preparing an alignment layer surface provides a surface on the alignment layer. The surface is bombarded with ions and quenched with a reactive component to saturate dangling bonds on the surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid crystal displays, and more particularly to methods for forming a stable alignment layer created by ion beam irradiation of a carbon film.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal (LC) material employed in liquid crystal displays typically rely on alignment layers to establish a stable pretilt angle and other parameters such as anchoring energy for the liquid crystal material. Typically, the alignment of the liquid crystals for flat panel liquid crystal displays (LCD) is accomplished by placing a thin film of LC material on a mechanically rubbed polyimide film coated on a suitable substrate. Limitations imposed by the mechanical rubbing method (e.g., creating multiple domains for improving the viewing angle) in conjunction with the difficulty of optimizing polymer materials (e.g., polymers that avoid image sticking) make it highly desirable to use alternative materials and a non-contact LC alignment method.
There are a number of different methods/materials which have been shown to create LC alignment besides rubbing, for example, a stretched polymer, a Langmuir Blodgett film, a grating structure produced by microlithography, oblique angle deposition of silicon oxide, and polarized ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of a polymer film.
Non-contact methods to replace rubbing are described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,826, which describes a particularly attractive and versatile LC alignment process based on ion beam irradiation of a polyimide surface. The method places the LCs on a polyimide surface which has been bombarded with low energy (about 100 eV) Ar+ ions. This process has many characteristics which make it suitable for the manufacture of LC displays. This method has been extended to include diamond-like carbon (DLC), amorphous hydrogenated silicon, SiC, SiO2, glass, Si3N4, Al203, CeO2, SnO2, and ZnTiO2 films as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,946. Another method for creating an LC alignment layer in a single deposition process has been described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,114.
Ion-beam treatment on DLC films (IB/DLC) for the alignment of liquid crystals has many advantages over conventional rubbed polyimide alignment, such as, non-contact processing, alignment uniformity, etc. Usually, DLC films of about 50 angstroms thick are deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and followed by Ar ion beam irradiation. It is believed that the Ar ion beam destroys the amorphous-carbon rings which have a large collision cross section to the ion beam. The amorphous-carbon rings which have a small or zero collision cross section to the ion beam are preserved. The average direction of the remaining carbon rings align the liquid crystal and generate a pretilt angle. The pretilt angle of IB/DLC alignment is not stable. The pretilt angle tends to decrease when the IB/DLC substrates are in contact with moisture or other components in air. The pretilt angle decreases as a function of storage time in vacuum-sealed LC cells with IB/DLC alignment. In addition, the pretilt angle is not stable under ultra-violet (UV) or violet irradiation. After ion-beam treatment, the surface of the DLC films are very active due to the ion-beam induced free radicals on the DLC surface. These free radicals tend to react with many chemical species in contact with them. This reaction may change the surface chemistry of the DLC film or change the orientation the carbon rings. As a result, the pretilt angle will degrade.
Therefore, a need exists for a non-contact alignment layer with a stable pretilt angle for use with liquid crystal displays.

Stability of ion beam generated alignment layers by surface modification

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies and provides a multi-antenna transmission method and apparatus, which can reduce interference and improve system throughput. In the solutions provided in embodiments of the present invention, a reference signal RS configuration set sent by an eNB is received, CSI corresponding to each RS configuration in the RS configuration set is acquired based on the RS configuration set, the CSI set is sent to the eNB, then a signal sent by the eNB according to the CSI set is received, and data processing is performed. The solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention apply to multi-antenna signal transmission.

At present, in a distributed antenna system that is separated geographically, low-power RRHs (Remote Radio Head, remote radio head) are all distributed in coverage of a macro cell, where each RRH connects to an eNB (Evolved Node B, evolved base station) through a fiber, and a macro base station directly connects to the eNB. The RRHs or the macro base station sends data to a UE (User Equipment, user equipment) through respective TPs (Transmission Point, transmission point/transmission point), and in an existing CoMP (Coordinated Multi-Point operation, coordinated multi-point transmission) system, the data can be sent to the UE through multiple TPs.
Here, the two TPs jointly sending data to a UE is used as an example for description: The eNB notifies the UE of two CSI RS (Channel State Information Reference Signal, channel state information reference signal) configurations, where the CSI RS configurations correspond to the two TPs. For example, the two CSI RS configurations, namely, CSI RS Config.0 and CSI RS Config.1, correspond to the macro base station and RRH1, respectively; then, the UE measures CSI (Channel State Information, channel state information) according to the two received CSI RS configurations and feeds back the measured CSI to the eNB, where the CSI includes an RI (Rank Indicator, rank indicator) and/or a PMI (Precoding Matrix Indicator, precoding matrix indicator) and/or a CQI (Channel Quality Indicator, channel quality indicator) and phase adjustment information between two CSI RSs, and the phase adjustment information carries a phase adjustment factor ejθ. For example, a PMI corresponding to CSI RS Config.0 and that corresponding to CSI RS Config.1 are PMI0 and PMI1, respectively, it is assumed that PMI0 and PMI1 indicate precoding matrices V0 and V1, respectively, and in this case, after phase adjustment, an obtained precoding matrix is V=[V0, ejθV1]T; after receiving the CSI fed back by the UE, the eNB may perform data transmission based on the received CSI, for example, data after precoding is VS, where S is a vector formed by a modulation symbol to be sent; the UE receives a signal y sent by the eNB and detects transmitted data according to y, where y=HVS+n, H=[H0 H1], H0 and H1 are channel matrices from the UE to the two TPs, and n is received noise and interference; and in this way, transmitted data S can be obtained according to y.
However, the UE receives signals transmitted by geographically separated TPs and then received power from TPs is different. The precoding matrix obtained according to the prior art does not apply to a channel matrix with power imbalance and therefore interference cannot be effectively canceled or suppressed, thereby resulting in degradation in system throughput.

Multi-antenna transmission method and apparatus


A test system includes a semiconductor die and an integrated optical/electrical probe card. Electrical, optical, and optoelectronic devices reside in the semiconductor die. Electrical pads in the semiconductor die connect to the electrical and optoelectronic devices. Grating couplers in the semiconductor die connect to the optical device and optoelectronic devices. The electrical pads and grating couplers are interspersed in substantially a single line in the semiconductor die. The integrated optical/electrical probe card interfaces with the electrical pads by electrical needles, and concurrently interfaces with the grating couplers by optical fibers.

Optical semiconductor devices have optical inputs/outputs that utilize interfaces different from electrical inputs/outputs of electrical devices. In one approach, a photonic waveguide of an optical semiconductor device can interface by end-fire coupling with an optical fiber situated on the side of a semiconductor die. This approach requires a singulated die, and thus, is not available when testing optical/optoelectronic devices at wafer-level.
In another approach, an optical fiber situated over the top of the semiconductor die can interface with a photonic waveguide of an optical semiconductor device by constructive diffraction using a grating coupler. Since the optical fiber is situated over the semiconductor die, this approach is suitable for wafer-level testing. An optical probe card containing multiple optical fibers can be used to interface with and test optical devices on the semiconductor die.
Difficulties arise when testing optoelectronic semiconductor devices having both optical and electrical inputs/outputs, and when testing optical semiconductor devices and electrical semiconductor devices on the same die. In one approach, an optical probe card can interface with optical input/outputs and an electrical probe card can interface with electrical inputs/outputs. However, using multiple probe cards increases the complexity of a test system. Aligning both the electrical probe card and the optical probe card typically requires an additional alignment step and additional alignment equipment. The electrical probe card and the optical probe card must avoid crossing and crashing into each other. Further, requiring the semiconductor die to concurrently interface with both the electrical probe card and the optical probe card complicates design of the semiconductor die and the arrangement of its input/output pads and causes layout and routing complexity, and results in functionality problems such as electrical or optical losses.
Thus, there is need in the art for a system for wafer-level testing of semiconductor dies having electrical, optical, and optoelectronic devices that overcomes the problems associated with the use and alignment of different probe cards, and that reduces significant constraints on the design and functionality of semiconductor dies.

Integrated optical/electrical probe card for testing optical, electrical, and optoelectronic devices in a semiconductor die


The present invention relates to watch pointers in which it is possible to set variable-size diamonds or other stones, the pointers including at least a recess in which it is possible to engage one or more stones, and also including fixing elements for fixing the set stones.

The present invention relates to a improved pointers for watches, in which it is possible to set small diamonds or other types of stones either of precious or not precious nature.
In the watch field there are already known several watches made of precious materials and with very sophisticated patterns.
The watch pointers, however, are generally made of a metal material and, frequently, they are coated by paints which, on the other hand, do not allow to easily see the pointers.

Watch pointers with means for setting therein variable-size diamonds or other stones

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FSC 368
FSC 63
FSC 29
FSC D10
FSC D11

87056 Santo Stefano Di Rigliano (Cosenza)


Air filtration assemblies configured to provide instant detection of particles and/or improve particle filtration are disclosed. The assemblies may include an air inlet duct in fluid communication with a compressor of a gas turbine system. The air inlet duct may include an inlet for receiving intake air including intake air particles, and an outlet positioned opposite the inlet. The assembly may also include a plurality of vane filters at the inlet, an array of fabric filters positioned in the air inlet duct, downstream of the vane filters, and a silencer assembly positioned in the air inlet duct, downstream of the fabric filters. Additionally, the assembly may include an electrostatic component positioned in the air inlet duct, downstream of the fabric filters. The electrostatic component may be configured to charge the intake air particles that pass through the vane filters and the fabric filters.

The disclosure relates generally to air filtration assemblies for gas turbine systems, and more particularly, to air infiltration assemblies configured to provide instant detection of particles and/or improve particle filtration.
Gas turbines are used throughout the world in many diverse applications and environments. This diversity creates a number of challenges to the air filtration system, necessitating a different solution for each type of environmental contaminant(s), gas turbine platform technology, and/or fuel quality. For example, gas turbines which operate in deserts or high dust concentration areas, and/or high efficiency gas turbines operating at high operational temperatures, must include a filtration system that prevents undesirable debris or particles (e.g., sand, dust) from entering the gas turbine. When conventional filtration systems fail, and sand and other undesirable particles enter the gas turbine, the components of the gas turbine may become damaged and/or inoperable. Additionally, undesirably particles flowing through components of the gas turbine may reduce the operational efficiency of the gas turbine itself.
To prevent debris and/or particles from entering the gas turbine, the filtration systems typically include multiple stages of filtration components that filter various sizes of debris and/or particles prior to the working fluid (e.g., filtered air) entering the compressor of the gas turbine. However, these components included in conventional filtration systems can become damaged by the same debris and may no longer filter out the debris and particles as desired. Additionally, or alternatively, the components included in conventional filtration systems may not operate as desired (e.g., filter out debris) due to improper installation, extended operation-life or use, and/or other degradation factors. In conventional systems, there is typically no warning or indication system that such filtration components are damaged and/or inoperable. As such, it is only when components of the gas turbine become damaged/altered, and/or when operational efficiency of the gas turbine degrades that an operator of the gas turbine may determine that components of the filtration system need repair and/or replacement. Additionally, in order to repair the damaged filtration components of the filtration system, the filtration system, or even entire gas turbine, must be shut down for maintenance on the damaged filtration components and/or the damaged components of the gas turbine—which can result in a loss of power and/or revenue generation.

Air filtration assemblies for gas turbine systems and methods for filtering intake air in gas turbine systems


An optical regeneration system for regenerating a degenerated signal light, comprising a regeneration device having at least one of a soliton converter, a pulse roller, a Kerr-shutter and a soliton purifier. The solilton converter uses an anomalous-dispersion fiber (ADF) having a fiber length up to three times the soliton frequency, and the pulse roller is provided with a pulse roller fiber having high non-linear characteristics. The Kerr-shutter comprises an optical LO (local oscillation) generator for generating an optical LO on an OPLL (optical phase locked loop), a phase comparator for detecting the phase difference between an externally-input signal light and an optical LO, and a control unit for regulating the repeated frequency of an optical LO based on the phase difference. The soliton purifier has a soliton fiber disposed between two optical fibers.

There is continuously increasing a transmission capacity of the communication systems, and the capacity has been significantly increasing due to a progress of an optical fiber used in a communication system. For example, the communication systems are categorized into a point-to-point trunk line network system, a metro network system and an access network system, the optical communication system has already been deployed in the trunk line network system, in addition, even in the metro network system and the access network system, an electrical communication system is going to be replaced with the optical communication system. Namely, the whole communication system is progressing to adopt the optical communication system.
Recently, the information capacity transmitted via one optical fiber has been dramatically increased by use of a wavelength division multiplexing system. In this system, when using a low loss band width at 0.4 bit/Hz spectrum transfer efficiency, the transmission capacity per one optical fiber becomes approximately 3.2 Tbit/s. Concretely, this capacity can be realized by 320 channels based on the 10 Gbit/s transmission speed per channel (wavelength) which is available today.
It is inevitable for an optical signal to deteriorate in its waveform, timing and intensity when it travels a long distance. As such, the optical signal which has traveled a certain distance is inevitably required to be regenerated. Therefore, a regenerating system is normally provided in the optical communication systems so that the degenerated signal light is recovered. This regenerating system typically comprises: a receiver unit which receives a degenerated signal light and converts it into an electrical signal; a regenerator unit which performs a necessary function such as amplifying, noise reduction, waveform reshaping, and clock signal regeneration for the electrical signal; and a transmitter unit which reconverts the regenerated electrical signal to the optical signal then sends out to the optical carrier.
Concretely, in the optical signal regenerating system which is inserted in the middle point of the optical fiber wherein a plurality of light signals in 320 channels travel, 320 units of receivers, regenerators and transmitters are equipped in order to accommodate the number of channels.
There has been a difficulty in downsizing and a disadvantage of large power consumption in the optical signal regenerating system which includes so many units.
Furthermore, when the optical signal regenerating system is used in a metro network system and an access network system, it is necessary to install 320 channel optical signal regenerating systems at many relay points, and consequently the whole optical communication system becomes bigger and the cost and the power consumption increase.
As one of the solutions for the problems, there is an approach of reducing the number of channels in the wavelength division multiplexing system and increasing its transmission speed of each channel. This is because, the transmission speed is inversely proportional to the number of channels in the wavelength division multiplexing system when maintaining the same transmission capacity.
However, the regenerator used in the optical signal regenerating system is made of an electric device to process the electric signals so it has a physical upper limitation in the response speed. For example, a maximum signal transmission speed processed in an electric device is 40 Gbits/s today. Further, at this speed, still 80 channels are needed. Furthermore, when an electronic device is driven at higher speed, the higher electric power is needed. Therefore, the regenerating system using an electric device has a limitation in the transmission speed of each channel and it is difficult to realize a downsizing and reduce the power consumption in the real application.
As another possible solution for the problems with an optical signal regenerating system using an electronic device, there is a method of using whole optical signal regenerator which processes on the optical light itself without converting it to an electric signal. The equipment of the whole optical signal regenerator typically comprises a high speed electrical modulator and a regenerator utilizing a nonlinear optical effect of the substance.
However, this whole optical signal regenerator uses an electric modulator, so that there is an upper limitation in the processing speed similarly to the optical signal regeneration system which performs a photo-electro conversion. Further, when regenerating an optical signal of 40 Gbits/s or faster transmission speed, the transmission speed of the optical signal is reduced by a time division process, and after regenerating the signal, a time division multiplexing is required and hence it becomes a large system.
Because the whole optical signal regenerator uses a nonlinear optical response (nonlinear optical effect) for regenerating an optical signal, the following problems are caused.
Namely, in a large capacity optical communication system, when the light of a wavelength division multiplexed signal which includes a plural signal lights with a different wave length transmits through the optical transmitting path, the polarizing condition of each optical signal becomes slightly different among each wavelength after transmitted. If the regenerating process is performed at once by a whole optical signal regenerator using a nonlinear optical effect, the intensity of the nonlinear optical effect varies depending on the polarization condition of the incident light, and consequently the wavelength division multiplexed light after regenerated may include components of the light that is not well regenerated or sometimes no components regenerated at all.
In the above, the problems are pointed out focusing the polarization condition of the incident transmitting light in the optical regenerator. In the below, the today's problems will be discussed focusing on the optical regeneration system. The optical regeneration means re-amplification of a light intensity, re-shaping of a waveform, and re-timing of an optical signal which is degenerated during a transmission (hereinafter, abbreviated to O3R). The optical regeneration system which has those functions can transmit a signal light to the infinite distance (long distance) of the optical fiber.
Regarding the infinite distance (long distance) transmission described above, it is reported by Leuthold et al. (Leuthold et al., Electron. Lett,. 38, p 890, 2002). This paper describes about 40 Gb/s, 1,000,000 km transmission using an O3R regenerator.
In this paper, Leuthold et al used an electronic circuit technique for the optical clock extraction required for re-timing (a technique of generating a clock pulse train synchronizing with the transmitting optical signal) and for the switching function. As such, this system cannot satisfy the transmission speed which is limited by the electrical circuit technique. For example, it is not applicable to 160 Gbits/s system which exceeds the limit of the speed of the electronic circuit.
Note that regarding the 160 Gbits/s system, it is reported about the optical regenerator adopting an optical switch. (Schubert et al., Electron. Lett,. 38, p 903, 2002). However, it is anticipated not to work as an O3R device because the clock extractor is not provided.
Summarizing the above, the O3R has not been yet realized which fundamentally utilizes an effective whole light technique. However, there are many reports about a method of re-shaping of the waveform and re-timing of the clock which are one of components in the O3R. It will be demonstrated below but limited to the technique of an optical fiber which fundamentally relates to the present invention.
At first, the whole optical waveform re-shaping method will be described. This can be generally categorized into two methods. First one is a method utilizing a solution which is a combination effect made by a nonlinear optical characteristic and an anomalous dispersion of an optical fiber (Hasegawa and Tappert, Appl. Phys. Lett., 23, P 142, 1973). The waveform re-shaping device based on this technique is called as a solution converter. Second one is a method based on the self phase modulation effect of a light pulse utilizing a nonlinear characteristic of an optical fiber (Mamyshev, ECOC' 98, p. 475, 1998). This is called as a Mamyshev filter originated from a name of a proponent. A method utilizing a supercontinuum light is positioned as a follow-up model.
As an experiment using the former system (solution converter), the transmission of 4×40 Gb/s signal for 10,000 km is reported (Dany et al., Opt. Lett., 25, p. 793, 2000). The latter system (Mamyshev filter) is used in the 1,000,000 km transmission line in the Leuthold's system (Leuthold et al., Electron. Lett,. 38, p 890, 2002) as described above. All of them are reported from a view point of systems but has not described clearly about the performance of the device itself (only a few report such as Dany et al., ECOC' 01, We. P. 45, 2001). Especially, in the solution converter, because a noise amplification by a solution effect becomes a problem (Kubota et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am B, 16, p 2223, 1999), the designing from view point of a device performance is important as well. Namely, identifying the device performance clearly and establishing an optimum design rule of the device itself will be a future subject to be solved.
Next, a method of re-timing method will be described. The main stream of this technique is a complex method of an optical clock extraction and an optical switching. FIG. 38 shows this configuration. It includes an optical clock extraction part and an optical switching part. The former (an optical clock extraction part) is to synchronize the phase of the input signal (an optical signal or an electrical signal which corresponds to a carrier signal) and the local optical light (an optical pulse train which functions as a standard clock, called an optical local oscillator (abbreviated to optical LO). Namely, an optical clock extraction is realized by synchronization between the input optical light and the local optical light. Therefore, the optical LO is required to have a variable characteristic of the repetitive frequency.
The latter (an optical switching part) is an optical switch such as a four wave mixing (FWM) device or a nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM), utilizing a nonlinear effect of an optical fiber which can realize a multiplication function in the optical region. The details of the optical clock extraction and optical switch technique will be described below.
In FIG. 38, the area enclosed by a dotted line is an optical clock extraction part which comprises an optical phase comparator, an optical LO generator and a controller circuit. The optical phase comparator senses the phase difference between the external optical signal and the optical LO, and controls the optical LO oscillating frequency (which corresponds to the repetitive frequency of the pulse train) to minimize the error.
Consequently, a synchronization between the external optical signal and the optical LO is realized to produce a precise time position pulse train (hereinafter, called a clock pulse train) which is synchronized with the external optical signal. By utilizing a nonlinear optical effect instead of an electronic circuit technique, a phase controller which is capable of working at speed of exceeding 160 GHz can be realized. The method of a synchronization using a phase comparator in an optical region as described above is called an optical phase locked loop (OPLL). Actually, there has been proposed a clock extractor which is carried out by a synchronization between a beat light and an external optical signal from two LDs using a NOLM (Bigo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,893 B1).
Remarkable point is a timing jitter (time fluctuation of a clock pulse) of the output optical clock train of the OPLL. A timing jitter means a shift of the clock pulse in the time scale. Since the jitter can be a cause of deteriorating the performance in the communication systems, its suppression is important. The timing jitter of the clock pulse train has a correlation with the OPLL operation speed and when the OPLL operation is getting faster, the jitter is reducing. Namely, increasing an operation speed of OPLL is effective for jitter reduction.
However, when a NOLM as described in above technique (Bigo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,893 B1) is used, the OPLL loop length becomes a longer size, and hence the band width of the OPLL operation is limited. As a result, it restricts a reduction of jitter. To solve this, shortening a fiber length of the optical nonlinear device used for the phase controller will become a key factor. By shortening the fiber length, the OPLL operation band width can be free from the restriction, Namely, it can realize a fast speed OPLL operation and generate a high quality clock pulse train with less jitter.
There is required an optical switch technology for the re-timing along with the clock extraction technique described above. A method of using an FWM which is a typical example of an optical switch utilizing an optical fiber nonlinear effect will be described below. When two chromatic lights with different wavelengths enter an optical fiber, newly colored optical lights different from the original color are generated if either of the incident optical lights has a sufficient power for the nonlinear effect. This is an FWM phenomenon.
When the clock pulse train and the optical signal enter into the optical fiber, the FWM light includes an imposed information of the input optical signal and its pulse timing is determined by the clock pulse train. Consequently, the optical signal pulse train with low jitter in which the information is imposed can be obtained. This is a principle of re-timing based on FWM. However, not only dispersion effect but also nonlinear effect give an influence to the optical pulse traveling in the optical fiber.
By this effect or the combined effect of those effects, the pulse waveform changes during the pulse traveling. As a result, the waveform distortion of FWM light is generated. It is effective to optimize a fiber dispersion value or the input power in order to suppress this, but the real value or the control method have not been disclosed.
The minimum components required for the optical regeneration system are described above. In addition, a method to improve the performance of the optical regeneration system is also important. Two components relating to the present invention are summarized below. Namely, (1) a device to convert an optical pulse waveform to a wave shape suitable to the optical switch and (2) a device to isolate a component of the optical pulse from a component of optical noise.
Firstly, the rectangular pulse waveform method which is effective to suppress the increased noise intensity in the optical switch will be described concerning (1) a device to convert an optical pulse waveform to a wave shape suitable to the optical switch. Typically in the optical switch, as a result of an interaction between the nonlinear optical characteristic and the dispersion, the time jitter of the input of a transmitting optical signal pulse is converted to the intensity jitter in the output signal after regenerated. FIG. 39A is an explanatory view.
Here, an optical switch for a pulse train including a jitter and a clock pulse train will be discussed.
The output pulse power from the optical switch correlates with a time overlapping between a transmitting pulse and a clock pulse. As a result, a change in the overlapping region between both pulses caused by a jitter is converted to an output pulse power of the optical switch. In order to suppress the amount converted from the phase jitter to the light intensity jitter, a rectangular clock pulse waveform conversion on the transmitting optical signal pulse or the extracted clock pulse is effective (FIG. 39B).
This rectangular method is categorized into a method utilizing a chromatic dispersion or a polarization mode dispersion, and a method utilizing a complex effect of nonlinear effect and a normal dispersion. The former example is a method using a fiber Bragg grating or a polarization maintaining fiber (Lee et al., OFC2001, PD30-1, 2001 and Schubert et al., Electron. Lett,. 38, p 903, 2002), and the latter example is a method using a normal dispersion fiber (the principle reported, Nakatsuka et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 47, p. 910, 1981).
In the former method based on the linear function, a steepness of the rising edge and falling trail of the rectangular waveform before transforming is determined by the input pulse width. Namely, in order to obtain a steep slope of the rectangular pulse, the very narrow optical pulse is needed accordingly. Compared with that, the latter case has an advantage of ability to transform to a steep slope rectangular wave, however, the higher power of an input optical light and a longer fiber length are the mandatory required to obtain nonlinear effect and dispersion effect.
Secondly, a device to isolate a component of optical pulse from a component of optical noise (2) will be described. In the below, the noise reduction component is summarized. The optical pulse has a noise imposed thereon. The major component of the noise is an amplified spontaneous emission light (ASE) generated when amplifying an optical light. In general, a noise has a wider optical spectrum than an optical signal, and hence the noise components which are out of the optical signal bandwidth can be eliminated by the optical filter to some extent.
However, the noise components within the bandwidth of the optical signal remain. To eliminate those noise components, there is a proposed method utilizing an optical solution characteristic, besides a method using a waveform reshaping described above. Here, attention is directed to the latter case which relates to the present invention.
There is reported about phenomena (solution self frequency shift: SSFS) that the solution shifts towards a longer wavelength side by a stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in the optical solution transmission (Mitschke and Mollenauer, Opt. Lett., 11, p. 659, 1986). This phenomenon also happens when the ASE noise is added to the solution. It is proposed a method of noise reduction utilizing this characteristic which isolates the solution from ASE noise components to filter the same in the frequency domain by using this phenomenon (Namiki et al., Provisional Publication No. 2001-109024). The configuration of the noise reduction unit is shown in FIG. 40A.
It comprises an anomalous dispersion fiber (ADF) and an optical filter. An optical solution including noise components shown in FIG. 40B upper part is inputted to the ADF. During the transmission, SSFS of the optical solution component is carried out by the SRS. Further, the remarkable point is that the solution components shift towards longer wavelength side by the SRS but the noise components stay without shifting towards the longer wavelength side. Consequently, the noise components within a bandwidth of the optical signal can be eliminated by a method of extracting the solution components by the output optical filter after shifted. (FIG. 40B lower part).
Furthermore, this phenomenon has a function of shifting the wavelength as well, and therefore it is possible to adjust the wavelength of the optical signal to the desired wavelength by SSFS control. However, SSFS is a phenomenon which typically occurs in the femto second region, so that further improvements for the pico second solution transmission is necessary in the SSFS and its efficiency.
As described above, today's status and problems about the optical regeneration systems are detailed. The present invention is aiming to solve these problems and provide simple O3R systems.
The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above described problems and to provide a wavelength division multiplex optical regeneration system and a wavelength division multiplexing optical regeneration method which is capable of realizing a large transmission capacity, a small footprint and a power saving.

Wavelength division multiplex optical regeneration system and wavelength division multiplex optical regeneration method


Exemplary embodiments are directed to a power controller. A method may include comparing a summation voltage comprising a sum of an amplified error voltage and a reference voltage with an estimated voltage to generate a comparator output signal. The method may also include generating a gate drive signal from the comparator output signal and filtering a signal coupled to a power stage to generate the estimated voltage.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to power supplies, and more specifically, to systems, device, and methods related to controllers of a switch-mode power supply.
2. Background
With regard to switch-mode power supply controllers, fast recovery from load transients, minimizing output filter size, and simple implementation are of key importance. These issues are especially important in low-power, high-volume systems supplying mobile devices, consumer electronics, and numerous other applications consuming power from a fraction of watt to several hundreds of watts. Conventional hysteretic implementations suffer from large current stress, as well as stability related problems caused by overly large energy inertia. Furthermore, although time-optimal controllers result in improved responses, the hardware required for the implementation of such systems is overly expensive for the targeted cost-sensitive systems. As a consequence, pulse-width modulated (PWM) controllers implementing linear control laws are predominantly used, even though they exhibit significantly slower dynamic response and, consequently, require significantly large filtering components.
A need exists for enhanced methods, systems, and devices related to control of a power supply.

Methods and devices for power supply control


A Plasma Display Panel (PDP) includes: an upper substrate; a lower substrate facing the upper substrate; and a plurality of blocks. Each block includes: a barrier rib of a dielectric material adapted to define discharge cells; upper discharge electrodes including upper discharge portions arranged in the barrier rib and upper connection portions connected to the upper discharge portions and protruding out of the barrier rib; and lower discharge electrodes including lower discharge portions arranged in the barrier rib and separated from the upper discharge portions and lower connection portions connected to the lower discharge portions and protruding out of the barrier rib. Phosphor layers arranged in the discharge cells. The plurality of blocks are connected to each other by connecting the upper connection portions and the lower connection portions thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Plasma Display Panel (PDP). More particularly, the present invention relates to a PDP which displays images using a gas discharge phenomenon.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display apparatus using a PDP has large screen and a high image quality. It is ultra-thin, light weight, and has a wide viewing angle. In addition, the display apparatus is easily manufactured and a very large display apparatus is possible.
PDPs can be classified into Direct Current (DC) PDPs, Alternating Current (AC) PDPs, and hybrid PDPs according to their driving method. In addition, the PDPs can be classified into opposing discharge display panels and surface discharge display panels according to their discharge structure. AC PDPs having a three-electrode surface discharge structure are now generally used.
An AC PDP having a three-electrode surface discharge structure includes an upper substrate and a lower substrate. Common electrodes and scan electrodes forming discharge gaps with the common electrodes are formed on a lower surface of the upper substrate, and the common and scan electrodes are embedded in an upper dielectric layer. A protective layer is formed on a lower surface of the upper dielectric layer.
In addition, address electrodes are formed on an upper surface of the lower substrate to cross the common and scan electrodes, and the address electrodes are embedded in a lower dielectric layer. Barrier ribs are formed on an upper surface of the lower dielectric layer and are separated from each other to define discharge spaces. A phosphor layer is formed in each discharge space, and a discharge gas fills the discharge spaces.
In the PDP having the above structure, ultraviolet rays are emitted by plasma generated by discharges in the discharge spaces. The ultraviolet rays excite the phosphor layer, and the excited phosphor layer emits visible light to display images.
However, since the electrodes, the upper dielectric layer, and the protective layer are sequentially formed from the lower surface of the upper substrate, about 40% of the visible light emitted from the phosphor layer is absorbed by the above elements, and thus, there is a limit to improving the light emission efficiency. Moreover, since charged particles of the discharge gas are ion-sputtered onto the phosphor layer, a permanent residual image is generated and the life-span of the panel is reduced.


A distributed cable modem termination system of the present invention includes a downstream transmitter hub, an upstream receiver hub, and a head end that communicatively couples to the downstream transmitter hub and to the upstream receiver hub via a packet data network. The head end and the downstream transmitter hub are operable to synchronize a clock of the downstream transmitter hub with a clock of the head end. Further, the upstream receiver hub and the downstream transmitter hub are operable to synchronize a clock of the upstream receiver hub with the clock of the downstream transmitter hub. Clock synchronization between the upstream receiver hub and the downstream transmitter hub are performed using ranging operations supported by at least one cable modem communicatively coupled to both the upstream receiver hub and the downstream transmitter hub via cable modem network plant.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to communication systems and, more particularly, it relates to cable modem communication systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional cable modem communication systems include Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTSs), serviced Cable Modems (CMs), and a cable modem network plant, i.e., hybrid fiber-coaxial media that communicatively couples these devices. The CMTS services data communications for the CMs via downstream transmissions from the CMTS to the CMs and upstream transmissions from the CMs to the CMTS. The Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) typically governs the transmission and receipt of signals of the cable modem communication system. In its various forms, DOCSIS supports Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operations. Ranging and registering operations are performed to manage the timing of communications between the CMTS and the CMs.
The structure of CM communications systems continues to evolve. One evolution of the structure of cable modem communication systems includes distributing the CMTS across differing devices that intercouple via a packet data network. Operation of the CM communication system requires synchronization of the distributed CMTS components. Because the packet data network introduces significant jitter, it would likely be impractical to use the packet data network to meet the accuracy required for synchronization of CMTS components without adding excessive latency. Thus, a need exists for synchronizing the distributed CMTS components while meeting all system requirements.

Synchronization of distributed cable modem network components


A computer readable medium includes executable instructions to audit data migration. The executable instructions include instructions to define a data migration path from a source to a target. Audit points are specified within the data migration path. Audit statistics to be generated at the audit points are identified. The audit statistics including data corresponding to individual data values transmitted over the data migration path. Audit rules to be applied against the audit statistics are established.

The process of migrating data from a source (e.g., a database) to a target (e.g., another database, a data mart or a data warehouse) is sometimes referred to as Extract, Transform and Load, or the acronym ETL. Existing ETL techniques focus on comparing data at a source with data transported to a target to confirm correspondence between the source and target. In other words, after the data has been transported a static comparison is made between the source data and the target data. A typical static comparison involves comparing database row counts at a source and target. Static information of this type is useful, but it would be desirable to provide more sophisticated auditing functions. In particular, it would be desirable to provide information on the actual values of the data instead of simply characterizing the organization of the data. More particularly, it would be desirable to provide information on the values of transported data while the data is transported.
Current ETL systems provide rudimentary forms of data characterization, such as checksum comparisons. These tools fail to provide robust information on the actual content of the transported data. Another shortcoming with these basic forms of data characterization is that they are not customizable.
It would be desirable to improve upon existing techniques that statically audit the results of data movement or that provide limited information on the nature of the content of the transported data. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a technique for auditing the content of dynamic data movement and produce information on that data movement in the form of metadata. Ideally, the metadata could be used for data validation and for the application of customized rules. Any such system should facilitate end-user customization.

Apparatus and method for dynamically auditing data migration to produce metadata


A vehicle includes a road debris blocking system that provides a barrier to road debris at a surveying sensor. The vehicle includes a vehicle body and a processor. A road debris blocking device moves between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration relative to the vehicle body. An actuator moves the road debris blocking device between the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration. A wheel angle sensor provides a signal to the processor indicative of a wheel angle. A memory module is communicatively coupled to the processor that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to receive the signal from the wheel angle sensor and instruct the actuator to move the road debris blocking device from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration based on the signal.

Current vehicles include a number of sensors distributed over their body exteriors in locations that allow them to obtain data. For autonomous vehicles, sensors may be used to obtain data in 360 degrees around the vehicle. Under driving conditions, mud, snow and water may be thrown from tires of the vehicle onto the sensors thereby potentially inhibiting the ability of the sensors to collect data that may be used for decision making by the vehicle.
Accordingly, a need exists for road debris blocking systems that actively deploy road debris blocking devices based on predetermined conditions and actively stow the road debris blocking devices when the predetermined conditions are not present.

Active road debris blocking devices and road debris blocking systems for vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A memory element comprises a resistance element having a first resistance value in a first state and a second resistance value in a second state, it being possible to convert the resistance element from the first state into the second state and from the second state into the first state and the first resistance value and the second resistance value being different, a current generating device, coupled to a first terminal of the resistance element, the current generating device being designed to generate a current with a first amplitude through the resistance element when a predetermined potential is present at a second terminal of the resistance element, in order to convert the resistance element into the first state for setting the first resistance value, or to generate a current with a second amplitude through the resistance element when the predetermined potential is present at the second terminal of the resistance element, in order to convert the resistance element into the second state for setting the second resistance value, the first resistance value representing a first memory state and the second resistance value representing a second memory state.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to non-volatile storage using resistance elements, in particular, using phase change memory elements (PCM).
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory cells may be used in all applications which use data storage. Typical semiconductor circuits comprise data memory cells which are either formed between logic elements, such as, e.g., latch registers, or which are formed as block memories, such as SRAM (static random access memory), for example. A block memory typically comprises an array of memory cells, only a few cells being subjected to a write operation or a read-out operation simultaneously. Therefore, the columns of a block memory array may have common area-consuming elements, such as, e.g., sense amplifiers, which support the storage or read-out operation. On the other hand, in the case of distributed data memory cells, which are, e.g., part of a logic circuit, these cells may permanently supply the stored information if the cell is continuously read.
There are a multiplicity of implementations of volatile memory cells, in the case of which the stored information is lost when the supply power is turned off, and of non-volatile memory cells. FIGS. 9a to 9c illustrate some memory cells known from the prior art, FIG. 9a showing a 6T-SRAM cell, FIG. 9b showing a flash cell, and FIG. 9c showing a latch cell.
What may be disadvantageous about the SRAM cells and the latch cells may be that they are volatile and have a considerable area usage. Flash technology may use a second, high supply voltage (12 V-18 V), the generation of which may use voltage pumps which take up area and cause, e.g., crosstalk. Flash technology is furthermore distinguished by an only limited scaling potential and permits only a limited number of write cycles.
Modern memory technologies typically comprise large memory modules based on resistance elements, such as, e.g., ferroelectric random access memories (RAMs), magnetoresistive RAMs, or phase change RAMs. However, these architectures are usually aimed at the array-based block memories mentioned above, only a few cells being read simultaneously.
A promising technology for memory circuits is the phase change memory (PCM) technology already mentioned, the characteristic of which comes close to the characteristic of preprogrammable resistance elements R1 and R2. The fundamental principle of PCM elements is based on a thermally engendered reversible phase change between an amorphous phase and a crystalline (e.g. polycrystalline) phase of a chalcogenide glass.
The amorphous state produces a high resistance, whereas the polycrystalline state produces a low resistance. The phase change is engendered by heat which arises on account of a current flow through the resistance element. The duration and the intensity of the current determine whether the element subsequently has a high or a low resistance value. Phase change technology is currently the subject of intensive research with regard to its use in particular in block memories. Typical values for phase change elements are a reset current (on to off) of 200 μA over 10 ns and a subsequent resistance value Roff in the region of 1 MΩ, and a set current (off to on) of approximately 50 μA with a duration of 50 ns, which results in a subsequent resistance value Ron in the region of 10 kΩ.
Non-volatile memory cells which use programmable resistance elements are known from the prior art. US 2004/0125643 A1 discloses a non-volatile memory cell illustrated in FIG. 10. The circuit comprises a write/read controller (20), two programmable resistance elements (R1 and R2) and also a switch (SW2). The resistance elements are programmed on the basis of PCM technology. During the write operation, as a result of a choice of the suitable polarities of the control signals WRC1, WRC2 and WRC3, a current is constrained through the resistance elements R1 and/or R2, as a result of which they are programmed. During the read-out operation, as a result of an application of a low WRC2 (WRC2=low) and a high WRC3 (WRC3=high), a transmission gate (20) is converted into a non-conducting state, so that a voltage level is established at the node F, in a manner dependent on the states of the resistance elements and the nodes D and E, which voltage level controls the switch SW2.
What may be disadvantageous about the above concept may be inflexibility in the write operation. PCM elements are typically programmed into the high-resistance state using a current having a high amplitude for a short time duration and into the low-resistance state using a lower current for a longer time duration. For this purpose, different voltages have to be generated across R1 and R2, so that the amplitudes of the currents through the resistance elements are generated by a difference between the voltages across the resistance elements. Consequently, the amplitudes of the currents depend on one another, so that it is not possible for them to be set precisely and individually. Furthermore, different voltages have to be generated across the resistance elements, which is associated with a high outlay. High losses (leakage) furthermore arise because the PCM elements attain a resistance value in the region of 1 MΩ in the high-resistance state. If a voltage of approximately 1 V were applied between the nodes D and E, then a cross current of approximately 1 μA would flow. Such a current loss (leakage current) may be unacceptable for some applications. A further possible disadvantage of the above concept may be that there is a risk of a destructive read-out during the read-out of the memory cells. A current which flows through R1 and R2 for the purpose of reading out the stored information might erase the stored information in the case of an imprecise setting.
US 2004/0141363 A1 discloses a non-volatile flip-flop. The basic circuit is illustrated in FIG. 11a. This involves a conventional SRAM cell that has been extended by a pass transistor (9, 10) and by a resistance element (11, 12), which connects a metallization (plate line, PL) to each of the inverters (5, 6). The bit lines (BL1, BL2) are connected to the cross-coupled inverters via transistors (7, 8). A timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 11b shows an example of a write operation in which the two resistance elements are initially reset by means of a suitable pulse sequence of the signals "CL" and "PL". Afterwards, one of the two resistance elements is set into a state having a low resistance by means of a short pulse on the common control signal line (CL). Which of the two elements is converted (set) into the low-resistance state depends on the state of the nodes 5 and 6. As illustrated in FIG. 11b, the reset operation or the set operation may differ either in terms of a pulse length or in terms of the applied voltage.
FIG. 11d illustrates a timing diagram in the case of a read operation, a pulse being applied to the "CL" line, while a potential of the "PL" line is increased in ramped fashion in the direction of the full supply voltage. The nodes 5 and 6 are charged at different speeds depending on the resistance of the PCM elements. During the ramped increase in the potential of the "PL" line, the supply voltage for the inverters is switched on, so that the inverters output the output signals in accordance with the precharged nodes 5 and 6.
What may be disadvantageous about the above cell is that the read-out may be susceptible to errors. What may furthermore be disadvantageous is that a destructive read out of the PCM elements involving the erasure of the stored information during read-out may, in some cases, only be prevented by means of a precise voltage ramp on the "PL" line. This may increase the production costs because components having smaller tolerances may have to be provided for this purpose. Moreover, on account of the precise control which may be used in order to avoid the read-out errors, the control outlay may be increased, which may entail an increase in complexity. Furthermore, the n MOS pass transistors may not be able to transmit the full voltage swing, whereby an error-free execution of the write operation may be prevented in the case of the PCM elements. The write operation may furthermore be inflexible because either the pulse length is changed for the set/reset operation (more precise specifications made of the PCM technology) or a second supply voltage may be used, which may be associated with additional costs.
A further possible disadvantage of the known cell may be that after the supply voltage has been switched off, the sequence of the precisely highly ramped "PL" signal synchronized with a distinct ramp of the total supply voltage, and a pulse of the "CL" signal may use a high outlay in order to ensure a robust reestablishment of the correct values, and in order to prevent a destructive read-out.
The prior art, e.g. US 2004/0141363 A1, discloses writing mechanisms in which a high or a low resistance state is stored (that is to say, written) in the programmable PCM element either by changing a duration of a width of a programming current pulse, as illustrated in FIG. 12a, or by applying a higher voltage, as illustrated in FIG. 4b. What may be disadvantageous in this case is that exclusively changing the current pulse width may make requirements of PCM technology which are currently not met by most PCM process technologies. The provision of different voltage levels may not be expedient either. In many applications, there may be no second suitable voltage supply on the chip. Generation and distribution of a second voltage by means of a charge pump are associated with an additional area consumption and thus with additional costs. Furthermore, deriving a voltage having a low voltage value from a voltage having a higher voltage value causes not only a control outlay (overhead) but also problems on account of a reduced signal swing.

Memory element, memory read-out element and memory cell