A method of producing a nonwoven material by hydroentangling a fiber mixture containing spunlaid filaments, natural fibers and synthetic staple fibers, wherein a fibrous web of natural fibers and at least 10% by fiber weight of manmade staple fibers is wetlaid by means of an inclined wire formation, the wetlaid fibrous web is hydroentangled in a first hydroentangling station and spunlaid filaments are laid on top of said hydroentangled wetlaid fibrous web to form a combined web. The combined web is hydroentangled in a second hydroentangling station.

Absorbing nonwoven materials are often used for wiping spills and leakages of all kinds in industrial, service, office and home locations. There are great demands on the properties of nonwoven materials made for wiping purposes. An ideal wiper should be strong, absorbent, abrasion resistant and exhibit low linting. It should further be soft and have a textile touch. Hydroentangled nonwoven materials are often used as wipes because of their absorbent and textile-like properties.
Hydroentangling or spunlacing is a technique introduced during the 1970'ies, see e.g., CA patent no. 841 938. The method involves forming a fiber web which is either drylaid or wetlaid, after which the fibers are entangled by means of very fine water jets under high pressure. Several rows of water jets are directed against the fiber web which is supported by a movable fabric. The entangled fiber web is then dried. The fibers that are used in the material can be synthetic or regenerated staple fibers, e.g., polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, rayon or the like, pulp fibers or mixtures of pulp fibers and staple fibers. Spunlace materials can be produced in high quality to a reasonable cost and have a high absorption capacity. They can, e.g., be used as wiping material for household or industrial use, as disposable materials in medical care and for hygiene purposes etc.
Through e.g., EP-B-0 333 211 and EP-B-0 333 228 it is known to hydroentangle a fiber mixture in which one of the fiber components consists of continuous filaments in the form of meltblown fibers. The base material, i e the fibrous material which is exerted to hydroentangling, either consists of at least two combined preformed fibrous layers where at least one of the layers is composed of meltblown fibers, or of a "coform material" where an essentially homogeneous mixture of meltblown fibers and other fibers is airlaid on a forming fabric.
Through EP-A-0 308 320 it is known to bring together a pre-bonded web of continuous filaments with a separately pre-bonded wetlaid fibrous web containing pulp fibers and staple fibers and hydroentangle together the separately formed fibrous webs to a laminate. In such a material the fibers of the different fibrous webs will not be integrated with each other since the fibers already prior to the hydroentangling are bonded to each other and only have a very limited mobility. The material will show a marked two-sidedness.
WO 99/22059 discloses a method of producing a nonwoven material by hydroentangling a mixture of continuous filaments, natural fibers and/or synthetic staple fibers. A fibrous web of natural fibers and/or synthetic staple fibers is foam-formed and hydroentangled and integrated with the continuous filaments, for example meltblown fibers.
WO 2005/042819 discloses a method of producing a nonwoven material by forming a web of continuous filaments on a forming fabric and applying a wet-formed fiber dispersion containing synthetic staple fibers having a length between 3 and 7 mm, and natural fibers on top of said continuous filaments. The fibrous web is subsequently hydroentangled to form a nonwoven material.
When making a high quality nonwoven material it is essential that a good fiber formation is achieved and maintained throughout the manufacturing process for both the continuous filaments and the wet laid layers. This gives a material with good visual impression and material properties. Wetlaying an aqueous fiber dispersion by means of inclined wire formation, as e.g. disclosed in EP 0 972 873, EP 1 929 080 and EP 0 411 752, uses a low consistency of the fiber dispersion and provides a good fiber formation. With inclined wire formation it is possible to handle both pulp fibers and short cut staple fibers mixed together. However, since the headbox is placed on an inclined wire a sealing is arranged between the headbox and the wire to prevent the fiber dispersion from running in the wrong direction. The seal makes it impossible for a prefabricated web, such as an unbonded filament web, to pass through the headbox.
In addition, wetlaying an aqueous fiber dispersion on top of a web of unbonded filaments will destroy the formation of the unbonded filaments, since the water will move around the filaments. Foam-forming of the fiber dispersion as disclosed in WO 99/22059 may solve this problem. The foam may however cause problems downstream in the process by making filtration of the hydroentangling water more complicated.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of producing a hydroentangled nonwoven material


This invention relates to certain 1,3,34-(trisubstituted)cyciohexane monomers and related compound which are useful in treating allergic and inflammatory diseases and for inhibiting the production of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF).

Bronchial asthma is a complex, multifactorial disease characterized by reversible narrowing of the airway and hyperreactivity of the respiratory tract to external stimuli.
Identification of novel therapeutic agents for asthma is made difficult by the fact that multiple mediators are responsible for the development of the disease. Thus, it seems unlikely that eliminating the effects of a single mediator will have a substantial effect on all three components of chronic asthma. An alternative to the "mediator approach" is to regulate the activity of the cells responsible for the pathophysiology of the disease.
One such way is by elevating levels of cAMP (adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate). Cyclic AMP has been shown to be a second messenger mediating the biologic responses to a wide range of hormones, neurotransmitters and drugs; Krebs Endocrinology Proceedings of the 4th International Congress Excerpta Medica, 17-29, 1973!. When the appropriate agonist binds to specific cell surface receptors, adenylate cyclase is activated, which converts Mg.sup.+2 -ATP to cAMP at an accelerated rate.
Cyclic AMP modulates the activity of most, if not all, of the cells that contribute to the pathophysiology of extrinsic (allergic) asthma. As such, an elevation of cAMP would produce beneficial effects including: 1) airway smooth muscle relaxation, 2) inhibition of mast cell mediator release, 3) suppression of neutrophil degranulation, 4) inhibition of basophil degranulation, and 5) inhibition of monocyte and macrophage activation. Hence, compounds that activate adenylate cyclase or inhibit phosphodiesterase should be effective in suppressing the inappropriate activation of airway smooth muscle and a wide variety of inflammatory cells. The principal cellular mechanism for the inactivation of cAMP is hydrolysis of the 3'-phosphodiester bond by one or more of a family of isozymes referred to as cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs).
It has now been shown that a distinct cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isozyme, PDE IV, is responsible for cAMP breakdown in airway smooth muscle and inflammatory cells. Torphy, "Phosphodiesterase Isozymes: Potential Targets for Novel Anti-asthmatic Agents" in New Drugs for Asthma, Barnes, ed. IBC Technical Services Ltd., 1989!. Research indicates that inhibition of this enzyme not only produces airway smooth muscle relaxation, but also suppresses degranulation of mast cells, basophils and neutrophils along with inhibiting the activation of monocytes and neutrophils. Moreover, the beneficial effects of PDE IV inhibitors are markedly potentiated when adenylate cyclase activity of target cells is elevated by appropriate hormones or autocoids, as would be the case in vivo. Thus PDE IV inhibitors would be effective in the asthmatic lung, where levels of prostaglandin E.sub.2 and prostacyclin (activators of adenylate cyclase) are elevated. Such compounds would offer a unique approach toward the pharmacotherapy of bronchial asthma and possess significant therapeutic advantages over agents currently on the market.
The compounds of this invention also inhibit the production of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), a serum glycoprotein. Excessive or unregulated TNF production has been implicated in mediating or exacerbating a number of diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and other arthritic conditions; sepsis, septic shock, endotoxic shock, gram negative sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, adult respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral malaria, chronic pulmonary inflammatory disease, silicosis, pulmonary sarcoidosis, bone resorption diseases, reperfusion injury, graft vs. host reaction, allograft rejections, fever and myalgias due to infection, such as influenza, cachexia secondary to infection or malignancy, cachexia secondary to human acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), AIDS, ARC (AIDS related complex), keloid formation, scar tissue formation, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or pyresis, in addition to a number of autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diabetes and systemic lupus erythematosis.
AIDS results from the infection of T lymphocytes with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). At least three types or strains of HIV have been identified, i.e., HIV-1, HIV-2 and HIV-3. As a consequence of HIV infection, T-cell-mediated immunity is impaired and infected individuals manifest severe opportunistic infections and/or unusual neoplasms. HIV entry into the T lymphocyte requires T lymphocyte activation. Viruses such as HIV-1 or HIV-2 infect T lymphocytes after T cell activation and such virus protein expression and/or replication is mediated or maintained by such T cell activation. Once an activated T lymphocyte is infected with HIV, the T lymphocyte must continue to be maintained in an activated state to permit HIV gene expression and/or HIV replication.
Cytokines, specifically TNF, are implicated in activated T-cell-mediated HIV protein expression and/or virus replication by playing a role in maintaining T lymphocyte activation. Therefore, interference with cytokine activity such as by inhibition of cytokine production, notably TNF, in an HIV-infected individual aids in limiting the maintenance of T cell activation, thereby reducing the progression of HIV infectivity to previously uninfected cells which results in a slowing or elimination of the progression of immune dysfunction caused by HIV infection. Monocytes, macrophages, and related cells, such as kupffer and glial cells, have also been implicated in maintenance of the HIV infection. These cells, like T cells, are targets for viral replication and the level of viral replication is dependent upon the activation state of the cells. See Rosenberg et al., The Imnmunopathogenesis of HIV Infection, Advances in Immunology, Vol. 57, 1989!. Monokines, such as TNF, have been shown to activate HIV replication in monocytes and/or macrophages See Poli et al., Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci., 87:782-784, 1990!, therefore, inhibition of monokine production or activity aids in limiting HIV progression as stated above for T cells.
TNF has also been implicated in various roles with other viral infections, such as the cytomegalovirus (CMV), influenza virus, adenovirus, and the herpes virus for similar reasons as those noted.
TNF is also associated with yeast and fungal infections. Specifically Candida albicans has been shown to induce TNF production in vitro in human moflocytes and natural killer cells. See Riipi et al., Infection and Immunity, 58(9):2750-54, 1990; and Jafari et al., Journal of Infectious Diseases, 164:389-95, 1991. See also Wasan et al., Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 35,(10):2046-48, 1991; and Luke et al., Journal of Infectious Diseases, 162:211-214,1990!.
The ability to control the adverse effects of TNF is furthered by the use of the compounds which inhibit TNF in mammals who are in need of such use. There remains a need for compounds which are useful in treating TNF-mediated disease states which are exacerbated or caused by the excessive and/or unregulated production of TNF.
In a first aspect, this invention relates to compounds of Formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is selected from --(CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.n C(O)O(CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.m R.sub.6, --(CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.n C(O)NR.sub.4 (CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.m R.sub.6, --(CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.n O(CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.m R.sub.6, or --(CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.r R.sub.6
wherein the alkyl moieties is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more fluorines; PA1 R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are independently selected from hydrogen or C.sub.1-2 alky; PA1 R.sub.6 is hydrogen, methyl, hydroxyl, aryl, halo substituted aryl, aryloxyC.sub.1-3 alkyl, halo substituted aryloxyC.sub.1-3 alkyl, indanyl, indenyl, C.sub.7-11 polycycloalkyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, furanyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrothienyl, thienyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, thiopyranyl, C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, or a C.sub.4-6 cycloalkyl containing one or two unsaturated bonds, wherein the cycloalkyl or heterocyclic moiety is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 3 methyl groups, one ethyl group, or an hydroxyl group; PA1 provided that: PA1 X is YR.sub.2, halogen, fluorine, NR.sub.4 R.sub.5, or formyl amine; PA1 Y is O or S(O)m'; PA1 m' is 0, 1, or 2; PA1 X.sub.2 is O or NR.sub.8 ; PA1 X.sub.3 is hydrogen or X; PA1 R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.3 and --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 optionally substituted by 1 or more fluorines; PA1 R.sub.3 is COOR.sub.14, C(O)NR.sub.4 R.sub.14 or R.sub.7 ; PA1 s is 0 to 4; PA1 W is alkyl of 2 to 6 carbons, alkenyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms or alkynyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms; PA1 Z is CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 OR.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 OR.sub.15, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 SR.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 SR.sub.15, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 S(O).sub.m' R.sub.7, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 S(O).sub.2 NR.sub.10 R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 S(O).sub.2 R.sub.7, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(Y')R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(O)OR.sub.7, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(Y')NR.sub.10 R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(NCN)NR.sub.10 R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(CR.sub.4 NO.sub.2)NR.sub.10 R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(NCN)SR.sub.9, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(CR.sub.4 NO.sub.2)SR.sub.9, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(CR.sub.4 NO.sub.2)SR.sub.9, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 C(O)OR.sub.14,CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 C(Y')NR.sub.10 R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 C(NR.sub.10)NR.sub.10 R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 CN, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (tetrazolyI), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (imidazolyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (imidazolidinyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (pyrazolyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (thiazolyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (thiazolidinyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (oxazolyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (oxazolidinyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (triazolyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (isoxazoIyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (oxadiazoly), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (thiadiazolyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (morpholinyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (piperidinyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (piperazinyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 (pyrrolyl), CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 C(NOR.sub.8)R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 C(NOR .sub.14)R.sub.8, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(NR.sub.10)SR.sub.9, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(NR.sub.10)NR.sub.10 R.sub.14, CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(O)C(O)NR.sub.10 R.sub.14, or CR.sub.8 R.sub.8 NR.sub.10 C(O)C(O)OR.sub.4 ; X.sub.5 is H, R.sub.9, OR.sub.8, CN, C(O)R.sub.8, C(O)OR.sub.8, C(O)NR.sub.8 R.sub.8, or NR.sub.8 R.sub.8 ; PA1 X.sub.4 is H, R.sub.9, OR.sub.8, CN, C(O)R.sub.8, C(O)OR.sub.8, C(O)NR.sub.8 R.sub.8, or NR.sub.8 R.sub.8 ; PA1 Y' is O or S; PA1 R.sub.7 is --(CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.q R.sub.12 or C.sub.1-6 alkyl wherein the R.sub.12 or C.sub.1-6 alkyl group is unsubstituted or substituted one or more times by methyl or ethyl unsubstituted or substituted by 1-3 fluorines, --F, --Br, --Cl, --NO.sub.2, --NR.sub.10 R.sub.11, --C(O)R.sub.8, --CO.sub.2 R.sub.8, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.q R.sub.8, --CN, --C(O)NR.sub.10 R.sub.11, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.q C(O)NR.sub.10 R.sub.11, --O(CH.sub.2)qC(O)R.sub.9, --NR.sub.10 C(O)NR.sub.10 R.sub.11, --NR.sub.10 C(O)R.sub.11, --NR.sub.10 C(O)OR.sub.9, --NR.sub.10 C(O)R.sub.13, --C(NR.sub.10)NR.sub.10 R.sub.11, --C(NCN)NR.sub.10 R.sub.11, --C(NCN)SR.sub.9, --NR.sub.10 C(NCN)SR.sub.9, --NR.sub.10 C(NCN)NR.sub.10 R.sub.11, --NR.sub.10 S(O).sub.2 R.sub.9, --S(O).sub.m' R.sub.9, --NR.sub.10 C(O)C(O)NR.sub.10 R.sub.11, --NR.sub.10 C(O)C(O)R.sub.10, or R.sub.13 ; PA1 q is 0, 1, or 2; PA1 R.sub.12 is R.sub.13, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, or an unsubstituted or substituted aryl or heteroaryl group selected from the group consisting of (2-, 3- or 4-pyridyl), pyrimidyl, pyrazolyl, (1- or 2-imidazolyl), pyrrolyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, furanyl, (2- or 3-thienyl), quinolinyl, naphthyl, and phenyl; PA1 R.sub.12 is selected from R.sub.13, C.sub.3-7 cycloalkyl, (2-, 3- or 4-pyridyl), pyrimidyl, pyrazolyl, (1- or 2-imidazolyl), pyrrolyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, furanyl, (2- or 3-thienyl), quinolinyl, naphthyl, or phenyl; PA1 R.sub.8 is hydrogen or R.sub.9 ; PA1 R.sub.9 is C.sub.1-4 alkyl optionally substituted by one to three fluorines; PA1 R.sub.10 is OR.sub.8 or R.sub.11 ; PA1 R.sub.11 is hydrogen, or C.sub.1-4 alkyl optionally substituted by one to three fluorines; or when R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 are as NR.sub.10 R.sub.11 they may together with the nitrogen form a 5 to 7 membered ring comprised of carbon or carbon and at least one additional heteroatom selected from O, N, or S; PA1 R.sub.13 is a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group selected from the group consistinguof oxazolidinyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, imidazolidinyl, thiazolidinyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, and thiadiazolyl, and where R.sub.13 is substituted on R.sub.12 or R.sub.13 the rings are connected through a carbon atom and each second R.sub.13 ring may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or two C.sub.1-2 alkyl groups unsubstituted or substituted on the methyl with 1 to 3 fluoro atoms; PA1 R.sub.14 is hydrogen or R.sub.7 ; or when R.sub.8 and R.sub.14 are as NR.sub.8 R.sub.14 they may together with the nitrogen form a 5 to 7 membered ring comprised of carbon or carbon and one or more additional heteroatoms selected from O, N, or S; PA1 R.sub.15 is C(O)R.sub.14, C(O)NR.sub.4 R.sub.14, S(O).sub.2 R.sub.7, or S(O).sub.2 NR.sub.4 R.sub.14 ; PA1 provided that: PA1 a) a decrease of excessive in vivo IL-1 or TNF levels, respectively, in a human to normal levels or below normal levels by inhibition of the in vivo release of IL-1 by all cells, including but not limited to monocytes or macrophages; PA1 b) a down regulation, at the translational or transcriptional level, of excessive in vivo IL-1 or TNF levels, respectively, in a human to normal levels or below normal levels; or PA1 c) a down regulation, by inhibition of the direct synthesis of IL-1 or TNF levels as a postranslational event. PA1 cis-3-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-pyridylethynyl)-1-(hydroxyme thyl)cyclohexane!, and PA1 cis-3-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-pyridylethynyl)-1-(aminometh yl)cyclohexane!.
m is 0 to 2; PA2 n is 0 to 4; PA2 r is 0 to 6; PA2 a) when R.sub.6 is hydroxyl, then m is 2; or PA2 b) when R.sub.6 is hydroxyl, then r is 2 to 6; or PA2 c) when R.sub.6 is 2-tetrahydropyranyl, 2-tetrahydrothiopyranyl, 2-tetrahydrofuranyl, or 2-tetrahydrothienyl, then m is 1 or 2; or PA2 d) when R.sub.6 is 2-tetrahydropyranyl, 2-tetrahydrothiopyranyl, 2-tetrahydrofuranyl, or 2-tetrahydrothienyl, then r is I to 6; PA2 e) when n is 1 and m is 0, then R.sub.6 is other than H in --(CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.n O(CR.sub.4 R.sub.5).sub.m R.sub.6 ; PA2 (f) R.sub.7 is not C.sub.1-4 alkyl optionally substituted by one to three fluorines; or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
This invention also relates to the pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
The invention also relates to a method of mediation or inhibition of the enzymatic activity (or catalytic activity) of PDE IV in mammals, including humans, which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of Formula (I) as shown below.
The invention further provides a method for the treatment of allergic and inflammatory disease which comprises administering to a mammal, including humans, in need thereof, an effective amount of a compound of Formula (I).
The invention also provides a method for the treatment of asthma which comprises administering to a mammal, including humans, in need thereof, an effective amount of a compound of Formula (I).
This invention also relates to a method of inhibiting TNF production in a mammal, including humans, which method comprises administering to a mammal in need of such treatment, an effective TNF inhibiting amount of a compound of Formula (I). This method may be used for the prophylactic treatment or prevention of certain TNF mediated disease states amenable thereto.
This invention also relates to a method of treating a human afflicted with a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which comprises administering to such human an effective TNF inhibiting amount of a compound of Formula (I).
Compounds of Formula (I) are also useful in the treatment of additional viral infections, where such viruses are sensitive to upregulation by TNF or will elicit TNF production in vivo.
In addition, compounds of Formula (I) are also useful in treating yeast and fungal infections, where such yeast and fungi are sensitive to upregulation by TNF or will elicit TNF production in vivo.

1,3,3-(Trisubstituted)cyclohexanemonomers and related compounds


A method of using a drone that is equipped with a camera and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to survey an environment to reconstruct a 3D map is described. A key frame location is first identified. A first image of the environment is captured by the camera from the key frame location. The drone is then moved away from the key frame location to another location. A second image of the environment is captured from the other location. The drone then returns to the key frame location. The drone may perform additional rounds of scans and returns to the key frame location between each round. By constantly requiring the drone to return to the key frame location, the precise location of the drone may be determined by the acceleration data of the IMU because the location information may be recalibrated each time at the key frame location.

This disclosure relates generally to reconstructing a map of an environment. Specifically, embodiments described herein relate to using cameras to capture objects in different poses to reconstruct models of the objects.
A survey of an environment to capture different objects in an environment can be performed through a drone equipped with a scanning device. To reconstruct a map such as a three-dimensional (3D) map, data describing distances and scales among the objects in the environment is often required. While professional scanning devices such as those that use light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology may provide a precise scan of an environment, the use of those devices are often expensive. As such, the scalability of using those devices to conduct extensive scans of wide areas is often limited by the associated costs. A regular camera may also be used to capture images of an environment. However, without a LIDAR device, it is often challenging to use images captured by regular cameras to perform 3D reconstruction of an environment because those camera images lack information of precise depths of the objects captured.

Reconstruction of a scene from a moving camera


A digital current regulator for controlling the operation of an inductance device such as an AC motor. A plurality of independently controllable insulated gate bipolar transistors are selectively enabled to vary the instantaneous phase and magnitude of current applied to an AC motor. To minimize induced back EMFs during current switching operations, a number of safeguards are utilized. Switching between adjacent states only is provided to minimize the magnitude of instantaneous current changes. A "ready blocking" function limits the maximum switching frequency to avoid significantly derating the switching device capabilities, while a "time out" feature assures system operation above at least a minimum switching frequency to further minimize the magnitude of instantaneous current changes. A time hysteresis function is provided to avoid switching device response to false feedback control signals.

This invention relates generally to current regulators and, more particularly, to current regulators for regulating current in linear or rotating alternating current machines.
Various types of electric motors, such as direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) motors, are in existence. Although each type of motor has some unique characteristic that renders it suitable for a particular task, each type also has its drawbacks and no one type of motor is suitable for all applications.
DC motors are very useful and versatile because, with such motors, it is very easy to independently control motor speed and torque. However, DC motors require the use of a commutator and its associated brushes. These mechanical elements increase motor cost and complexity, reduce overall ruggedness and reliability and require frequent maintenance.
AC motors, on the other hand, are simpler and more economical in construction, and are more rugged and reliable in operation, than DC motors. However, AC motors are more sluggish in operation than their DC counterparts. Furthermore, it is difficult to control motor speed and torque independently in AC motors. These drawbacks sometime outweigh the advantages of AC motors in certain applications.
In an effort to obtain the operational advantages of DC motors together with the mechanical and economic advantages of AC motors, various controllers for AC motors have been developed. Typically, these controllers have current regulators that vary the instantaneous current to the AC motor in response to a command so as to achieve a desired characteristic in motor operation. In one type of current regulator, a plurality of electronic power switches are coupled to a source of electrical current. A control circuit selectively enables various ones of the electronic switches to change the instantaneous phase and magnitude of the current applied to the AC motor. By properly controlling the phase and magnitude of the motor current, it is possible to control such operational characteristics as torque and motor speed somewhat independently. In this manner, it is possible to mimic DC motor operation using an AC motor. However, because of the large input inductance presented by an AC motor, any abrupt or large magnitude changes in motor current can result in large induced countervoltages or "back EMFs." Unless carefully limited, such back EMFs can destroy the electronic switching devices.
To minimize the magnitude of undesirable back EMFs, some current regulators employ "soft switching" wherein the states of the switching devices are only changed when the instantaneous motor current is near zero. Although this avoids the production of large induced back EMFs, soft switching greatly reduces the maximum effective switching frequency and drastically limits the range of motor response characteristics that can be achieved with "soft switching" systems. "Hard switching" on the other hand, which permits the switching devices to change state even when motor current is non-zero, provides a greater range of achievable motor response characteristics. However, because hard switching can result in abrupt current changes and consequently large induced back EMFs, hard switching is difficult to implement in actual practice.
Typically, current regulators are "load specific" in that they are tailored to (and only work with) motors having specific electrical input specifications. Such regulators are difficult and time consuming to adapt for use with any motor other than the one for which they are designed.
A need exists, therefore, for a switching current regulator that can provide the versatility and responsiveness of a "hard switching" system with the reliability and durability of a "soft switching" system. Such a current regulator working in conjunction with a controller will better enable an AC motor to match the operational characteristics of a DC motor and thereby enhance the versatility of otherwise rugged and reliable AC motors. By making a current regulator "load independent" (i.e., operational with a variety of motors having varying electrical input specifications) system versatility can be further enhanced.
In view of the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved current regulator for induction devices such as AC motors.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved current regulator that provides a wide range of attainable, motor operational response characteristics
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved current regulator that is substantially load independent.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved current regulator that permits enhanced and substantially independent control of such AC motor operational characteristics as torque and speed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved current regulator that permits hard switching to further increase system versatility and effectiveness.


A data store is provided for storing, relating and for allowing use of data associated with a computer-generated document. Data for structuring information associated with a document, such as document metadata, is maintained in the data store where relationships between different pieces of data are maintained in a location distinct from the surface level view of a document. The data store exposes interfaces to the various pieces of data in the data store for allowing different applications to access and operate on one or more of the data pieces. The pieces of data may be structured according to a markup language such as the Extensible Markup Language (XML), and XML schemas may be associated with each piece of data for allowing the data store to validate the structure applied to the data based on an XML schema associated with a given piece of data.

With the advent of the computer age, computer and software users have grown accustomed to user-friendly software applications that help then write, calculate, organize, prepare presentations, send and receive electronic mail, make music, and the like. For example, modern electronic word processing applications allow users to prepare a variety of useful documents. Modern spreadsheet applications allow users to enter, manipulate, and organize data. Modern electronic slide presentation applications allow users to create a variety of slide presentations containing text, pictures, data or other useful objects.
According to prior methods and systems, documents created by such applications (e.g. word processing documents, spreadsheets, slide presentation documents) have limited facility for storing/transporting the contents of arbitrary metadata required by the context of the documents. For example, a solution built on top of a word processing document may require the storage of workflow data that describes various states of the document, for example, previous workflow approval states (dates, times, names), current approval states, future workflow states before completion, name and office address of document author, document changes, and the like. According to such prior methods and systems, the options for storing this information were primarily limited to the use of document variables or existing custom object linking and embedding (OLE) document properties that have several limitations. For example, such prior methods can only store name/value pairs (no hierarchical data). Such methods are limited to 255 characters maximum. Such methods are built to contain only text. All properties for such methods are stored in a single store, for example, an OLE properties store, which means the properties have a possibility of conflicting. Further, such stored properties have no data validation because they are plain text. The result of these limitations is that it is difficult for users of such applications and related documents to store arbitrary data with documents, which is a common need of many users.
Another problem with prior methods and systems is that structured markup language data, for example Extensible Markup Language (XML) data may not be concurrently edited by multiple clients (for example, multiple add-ins each independently running in the context of a word processing document.) However, in the context of many documents, there is a higher likelihood that the scenarios involving this metadata will require concurrent editing by one or more sources.
Accordingly, there is a need for a data store for storing and relating data associated with a computer-generated document and for allowing use and manipulation of such data by one or more software applications. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

Data store for software application documents


A portable rescue device and a method for locating, by means of a first rescue device set in a search mode, a second rescue device set in a distress mode. In the method, a distress signal carrying a device identification is received from said second rescue device. A first bearing and a second bearing to the second rescue device are obtained. The first and second bearings are taken from a first and a second position, respectively. A distance between these positions is determined. A current distance and a current bearing to the second rescue device are determined on basis of the first and second bearings and the distance. The current bearing and the current distance are communicated to a user of the first rescue device.

When persons, such as skiers, hikers, mountaineers, hunters, snowmobilers, military personnel, etc., are moving around in nature there is risk, in particular during winter and spring, of accidents. In particular avalanches pose a life-threat to these persons. Portable rescue devices are often used by these persons, in order to increase the chances for them to be found when an accident has occurred that stops them from moving on. Often, and in particular in case of an avalanche, the victims cannot be seen or heard or are very difficult to see or hear. Then the portable rescue device may save lives by providing an electronic location system, which is useful independently of visible sight.
One prior art device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,021 to Hereford et al. That prior art device is arranged for transmitting and receiving a signal from another rescue device. It uses two antennas mounted perpendicular to each other and a virtual third antenna for receiving a distress signal and for being able to determine, by means of a processor, an approximate direction and an approximate distance to the sending device. The direction is presented by means of five LEDs, one of which is illuminated to give a rough indication of the direction to the victim relative to the direction that the device is pointing at. The distance calculations are based on received signal strength. The rescue operation is often time critical. For every minute gained a life may be saved. The prior art solution provides rather wide margins of error both as regards the angle of direction towards the victim and as regards the distance to the victim.

Portable rescue device and a method for locating such a device

Abstract: The portable rescue device is used for performing the method and for that purpose it includes a first communication unit for distress signal transmission and reception; a compass; a processor; a user interface; and a mode switch for switching between a search mode and a distress signal mode. The first communication device has an antenna structure that provides directional capability.


A signal generator comprises a number of independent signal sources each of which can be controlled to generate predetermined frequencies and modulation. The outputs of these signal sources can be made available separately at output ports or can be combined within the signal generator to provide a combined output signal. The output signals are sensed at the output ports, and are calibrated against a stored correction tabulation to ensure that they have the correct signal level at the output ports. Such a signal generator is useful for the measurement and testing of complex electrical and electronic products.

This invention relates to signal generators, and is particularly applicable to signal generators which are intended to perform measurements and tests. Such instruments are required to produce an output signal having precisely specified characteristics, such as carrier frequency, modulation depth or power level. It is particularly important to achieve and maintain specified levels of precision when testing RF components or systems.
Increasingly the devices under test require the use of more than one signal generator in order to carry out a test which simulates typical operating conditions. At present, this kind of requirement is met by the use of a number of independent signal generators, the output signals of which are adjusted so as to have the desired relationship with each other. Not only can this be time consuming, it can also be difficult to achieve the required degree of accuracy, and to maintain that accuracy over a period of time.
For example, two or three tone intermodulation measurements on amplifiers need to be carried out where an amplifier, such as those used in cable television systems, is required to amplify two or more signals. All amplifiers introduce some distortion to the signals and when two or more signals are being used the non linearities cause the generation of spurious signals at other frequencies. These signals can be highly undesirable since they can cause interference to users at other frequencies. If, for instance, an amplifier is passing signals at 600 MHz and 610 MHz, then the spurious signals are generated primarily at frequencies of 590 MHz and 620 MHz and users of these frequencies would experience interference.
FIG. 1 shows how an amplifier can be tested using RF signal generators. Two (or more) signal generator outputs are combined together to produce RF signals with equal levels. The signals are then passed through the amplifier and the output spectrum is monitored by a suitable signal analyzer to measure the spurious signals relative to the wanted signals.
Another example of where two or more signal generators are required, is in the testing of an RF mixer, which is a device which can be used to change the frequency of a signal. If an input signal of, for instance 600 MHz is applied to the RF port of the mixer and a local oscillator of, for instance 610 MHz is applied to the LO port, it will produce signals at the sum (1210 MHz) and the difference (10 MHz) frequencies. The output can then be filtered to remove unwanted signals. In this example, if only the difference frequency is required, the signal could be put through a low pass filter to remove any oscillator breakthrough signals and the sum component.
Frequency converters on communication system are often required to work with input signals which have more than one principal component. In this example, the mixer could be required to convert two signals, 610 MHz and 611 MHz, to a frequency of 10 MHz and 11 MHz respectively. As with testing amplifiers, however, the mixer is not perfectly linear and this non linearity will result in the generation of intermodulation signals at 9 MHz and 12 MHz on the IF output.
FIG. 2 shows how signal generators can be used to test a mixer to check its intermodulation performance. One signal generator is used to provide the local oscillator signal to drive the mixer. The second and third signal generator outputs are combined in a suitable summing network and the combined output signal is applied to the RF port of the mixer. The output of the mixer is then measured using a suitable signal analyzer to measure the intermodulation products generated in the mixer.
Receivers in communications systems have to be able to receive weak transmitted signals when other stronger transmitters being received. An example of this is that receivers operating in the avionics bands above 108 MHz must be able to work when much more powerful signals from FM broadcast transmitters that are close by. The ability of a receiver to reject these signals and still receive the wanted signal is a measure of the selectivity (or blocking ratio) of the receiver. The measurement is usually quoted as the relative signal level of the unwanted signal compared to the wanted signal when the receiver is meeting a specified performance criteria (e.g. signal to noise ratio or bit error rate).
The selectivity can be measured as shown in FIG. 3. Two signal generator outputs are combined in a suitable summing network and the output is applied to the input of the receiver. The signal level of the first signal generator is set at a low RF level with a modulated carrier so that the receiver is operating with, for instance, an 18 dB signal to noise ratio. The interfering signal is then set to a frequency at which it is necessary to check the selectivity and the level is increased until the receiver performance degrades to, for instance, 12 dB. The difference in levels between the two signals at the receiver input is the selectivity of the receiver.
There are many other applications for signal generators which require the use of more than one signal generator to undertake a test. However, the use of separate signal generators, external cables and combining networks combined with the voltage standing wave ratio or VSWR or of the components and the signal generators can generate significant errors in the measurement which the user has to allow for. In addition, different applications require that the signal generators are physically connected together in different ways in order to undertake the test. The different test applications also require that the signal generator parameters need to interact with each in different ways according to the test being carried. In the case of intermodulation, for instance, the two signals need to always have the same RF level and frequency difference, while selectivity measurements require the frequency separation and the level of the interferer relative to the in-channel signal to be variable. This can require that parameters on both signal generators need adjusting and the interaction is dependent on the test application.

Signal generator for testing radio frequency components


A method and system for determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit includes sensing a change in an alternating current in the circuit and developing a corresponding input signal, analyzing the input signal to determine the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies, and producing a corresponding output signal, and processing the input signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in the circuit. The processing includes determining a type of load connected to the electrical circuit, based at least in part upon the input signal and the output signal, and monitoring high frequency noise in a 20 KHz band for each ⅛ cycle of the alternating current.

The electrical systems in residential, commercial and industrial applications usually include a panelboard for receiving electrical power from a utility source. The power is then routed through protection devices to designated branch circuits supplying one or more loads. These overcurrent devices are typically circuit interrupters such as circuit breakers and fuses which are designed to interrupt the electrical current if the limits of the conductors supplying the loads are surpassed.
Circuit breakers are a preferred type of circuit interrupter because a resetting mechanism allows their reuse. Typically, circuit breakers interrupt an electric circuit due to a disconnect or trip condition such as a current overload or ground fault. The current overload condition results when a current exceeds the continuous rating of the breaker for a time interval determined by the trip current. A ground fault trip condition is created by an imbalance of currents flowing between a line conductor and a neutral conductor which could be caused by a leakage current or an arcing fault to ground.
Arcing faults are commonly defined as current through ionized gas between two ends of a broken conductor or at a faulty contact or connector ("series" arcs), or, between two conductors supplying a load, or between a conductor and ground ("parallel" arcs). However, arcing faults may not cause a conventional circuit breaker to trip. Arcing fault current levels may be reduced by branch or load impedance to a level below the trip curve settings of the circuit breaker. In addition, an arcing fault which does not contact a grounded conductor or person will not trip a ground fault protector.
There are many conditions that may cause an arcing fault. For example, corroded, worn or aged wiring, connectors, contacts or insulation, loose connections, wiring damaged by nails or staples through the insulation, and electrical stress caused by repeated overloading, lightning strikes, etc. These faults may damage the conductor insulation and/or cause the conductor to reach an unacceptable temperature.
The present invention concerns detection of low current series arcs that occur within the normal operating range of household appliances and/or low current series arc fault detection that is within the handle rating of the protection device (e.g., a household circuit breaker).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,973 (commonly assigned) based largely on slope changes in the load current and does not look at specific sub harmonic, broadband noise content and/or utilize load recognition. In contrast, this invention uses sub harmonic content, broadband noise and load recognition to set thresholds and select arc signatures.
In our above-referenced application (pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/107,621, filed Mar. 27, 2002) frequency was monitored at half cycle intervals for broadband noise, primarily in 33 KHz and 58 KHz bands. We have discovered that certain load types, such as a light dimmer load, have certain high frequency characteristics which can be used to develop algorithms to detect, for example, approximately what phase angle the light dimmer is set at and to use the appropriate arcing algorithms to detect arcing for that particular dimmer setting. We have found that the high frequency component of a typical light dimmer wave form will occur primarily on the rising edge of the current wave form. During arcing, noise is not localized to the rising edge of the current waveform, however. Therefore, this characteristic can be used to better distinguish arcing from normal operating noise. Also, in some load types, during arcing conditions, noise is present only where the current is non-zero; however, during arcing , currents are zero around the voltage zero crossings. High frequency noise is therefore essentially zero at these areas of the wave form. We have found that this generally holds true for any arcing in any type of load.
Furthermore, in the present invention, we have discovered that monitoring high frequency noise in a 20 KHz band at ⅛ line cycle intervals may be used to obtain improved load recognition using arc detection methods and apparatus described in the above-referenced parent applications.
The invention may be applied to residential, commercial, industrial applications for circuit protection against series arc faults.

Load recognition and series arc detection using bandpass filter signatures


A mechanism for providing application-layer information persistence and exchange is provided. For an exemplary embodiment, an information space is constructed to span a group of one or more server systems. The information space is based on the tuple-space paradigm first introduced for the Linda coordination model. A coordination entity manages storage of tuples within the information space. Applications access tuples by consulting a local cache of known tuple locations. If the location of a tuple is known, access is directed to the known location. If the location is unknown, the coordination is queried to determine the correct tuple location. If a tuple has moved, the previously storing server generates a re-route exception. This causes the accessing application to query the coordination entity, retry the access, and update the local cache.

The present invention is generally related to computer networking. More specifically, the present invention includes a mechanism that provides application-layer information persistence and exchange. This mechanism is scalable, generically applicable, transparently-distributed and based on the tuple-space model.
Most modern computer systems are designed to use a layered approach to interprocess communication and networking. The layered approach subdivides the tasks associated with interprocess communication and networking into levels of abstraction. This has been found to be an effective method for reducing the complexity and increasing the reliability of programs and systems that use interprocess communication.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has promulgated a commonly used standard that embodies a layered approach of this type. This standard, know as the ISO Network Reference Model, is based on seven different levels of abstraction. The seven layers are known as the application, presentation, session, transport, network, data link and physical layers.
The communications protocols used in the lower levels of the ISO Network Reference Model (i.e., the transport, network, data link and physical layers) are relatively well defined. As a result, these protocols tend to be used, for almost all applications that perform interprocess communication.
Unfortunately, this type of homogeneity does not really exist at higher levels of the ISO Network Reference Model. Entities at these levels (i.e., the application, presentation and session layers) tend to interact with their peers using special-purpose protocols. Not surprisingly, this type of one off use does little to further the overall effectiveness of the ISO Network Reference Model. Instead, there is a tendency towards increased complexity and lost opportunities for software reuse.
The ISO Network Reference Model is, unfortunately, not the only networking environment that exhibits this lack of homogeneity. In fact, these symptoms are generally present (to a greater or lesser extent) in all layered interprocess communication and networking systems.
For these and other reasons, a need exits for more generic methods that provide interprocess communication at higher levels of layered interprocess communication and networking systems. Methods of this type would preferable provide uniform interprocess communication protocols at the application level of the ISO Network Reference Model. These methods would also preferably be scalable to work in networks of all sizes without significant performance degradation.
The present invention includes a method and apparatus for providing application-layer information persistence and exchange. For an exemplary embodiment, an information space is constructed to span a group of one or more server systems. The information space is based on the tuple-space paradigm first introduced for the Linda coordination model. A coordination entity manages storage of tuples within the information space. The coordination entity determines where in the information space tuples are stored. The coordination entity makes this determination both at initial tuple storage and as tuples are moved to achieve load balancing and other goals.
Applications access stored tuples by requesting the tuple from their local servers. If the local server knows where the tuple is stored, the local server forwards the request directly to the storing server. In the alternative, (i.e., where the local server does not know where a tuple is stored), the local server queries the coordination entity for the tuple""s location. The local server then uses the query result to request the tuple from the storing server. In this case the local server also records the location of the tuple for future reference. This allows the local server to directly request the tuple on subsequent accesses.
In some cases, a tuple will have moved after a local server has noted its previous location. If that local server requests the moved tuple, the previously storing server will receive the request. In this case, the previously storing server generates a re-route exception. The re-route exception causes the local server to query the coordination entity to determine the tuple""s new location. This new location is then noted by the local server for future requests.
The use of tuples and tuple matching allows applications to use a common, flexible, lightweight format for information persistence and interchange. The applications may be local or remote and of heterogeneous types.
Advantages of the invention will be set forth, in part, in the description that follows and, in part, will be understood by those skilled in the art from the description herein. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims and equivalents.

Tuple-based information space for data exchange between applications


The present disclosure concerns embodiments of an improved wheel assembly for a drive track unit of an all-terrain vehicle that inhibits the accumulation of snow, ice and/or other matter between the track and the wheel assembly. In one implementation, an improved guide wheel assembly for a track unit has a rotatable hub and at least two axially spaced apart guide wheels mounted to the hub that engage the inner surface of an endless track. A flexible and/or deformable sleeve covering the outer surface of the hub is capable of deforming under external pressure applied to the sleeve through contact with snow and/or ice as the vehicle traverses the ground. The deformation of the sleeve is effective to inhibit snow and/or ice from adhering to the sleeve outer surface. Hence, disengagement of the track from the guide wheels caused by accumulated ice and/or snow can be avoided.

Endless track-driven vehicles are commonly used off-road in difficult terrain and under difficult terrain conditions, such as in mud, snow, sand, and tundra. For example, tracked vehicles are used in snow country for grooming ski slopes and snow mobile trails, for transporting skiers to back-country slopes, for ski resort maintenance work, and for snow and mountain rescue. They are also used in various types of terrain for utility company maintenance work, and for oil exploration and oil pipeline maintenance in arctic tundra.
Tracked vehicles are generally of two types. Many are two-tracked in which a pair of endless drive track units, one on each of the opposite sides of the vehicle, support and drive the vehicle. Others are four-tracked, in which four separately driven and independently suspended drive track units, two in front and two in the rear, support and drive the vehicle.
Four-tracked vehicles have certain advantages over two-tracked vehicles under extreme conditions such as on steep slopes and in very rough terrain because of the flexible independent suspensions of the track drive units and the constant power available to all of the track drive units, even while turning. Unlike a two-tracked vehicle which relies on the differential speed of the two tracks for turning, a four-tracked vehicle steers much like a wheeled vehicle. Its endless drive track units can be physically turned for steering.
In many tracked vehicles, such as the four tracked vehicles shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,166, the lower, ground-engaging run of the track has been supported by a plurality of single-element guide wheels disposed substantially inline longitudinally of the track and generally engaging only a centralized region of the track. Although this system, with a single line or row of guide wheels, functioned adequately, it was found that substantial deflection of the track on opposite sides of the guide wheels was occurring. This deflection was caused generally by the high-point loading of the track by the guide wheels at the center of the lateral dimensions of the track. This could lead to premature failure of elements in the track due to high cyclical stresses. This same high-point loading of the track and its consequential deflection could also lead to premature failure of the track and reduce its effective traction. The high-point loading of the track can also be transmitted through the track to the underlying terrain. In the case of sensitive terrain such as tundra, such loading could cause excessive damage to the terrain, especially with an endless track that includes traction bars or cleats on its outer surface for enhancing the vehicle's traction.
The drive track unit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,426, addressed the foregoing problems by providing guide wheel assemblies along the lower track run, with each assembly including multiple guide wheels mounted on a common guide wheel hub. This increased the guide wheel surface contact area across the width of the track, thereby reducing point loading of the track and consequential track deflection and wear, as well as terrain damage. Although this was a substantial improvement over the prior art, a problem with such guide wheel assemblies is that snow and/or ice can adhere to the outer surface of the hub between the guide wheels. Once a snow/ice layer is formed over the hub, additional snow and/or ice can quickly accumulate between the wheels, which can cause the track to "derail" or disengage from the guide wheels.

Wheel assembly for a tracked vehicle and anti-accumulation sleeve therefor


A plurality of images, in a layout based on a display protocol, is displayed with high efficiency. Display protocol sequences PS1, PS2 and PS3, in which multiple display protocols are lined up in a predetermined order, are remembered in a memory means of a workstation. The workstation is connected to an image server storing a plurality of image data, and by selecting a desired display protocol sequence and specifying to the image server to transmit image data, the layout is switched based on the display protocol sequence, and the images are laid out, etc. and displayed on a monitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display method, apparatus and storage medium, and more particularly to an image display method wherein a plurality of images are displayed on a CRT, LCD, etc. monitor according to a predetermined display layout, apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium on which a program that causes a computer to execute the steps of the image processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are in use in the medical field today apparatus (modalities) for forming X-ray and other diagnostic images used in a variety of diagnosis, including CR (computed Radiography) apparatus, CT (Computerized Tomography) apparatus, MRI (Medical Resonance Imagery) apparatus, etc. The image data produced in each modality is displayed on a CRT terminal (hereinafter referred to simply as a CRT), or output by a laser printer, etc. to film, etc. for use by a reader at a medical treatment site in ascertaining the presence or absence of a disease, tissue damage, etc.
In order to make images obtained by such modalities easy to use in diagnosis, it is necessary to display the images on a display means. At any rate, because a plurality of images are obtained in a single examination employing CT apparatus, MRI apparatus, etc., to provide for easy examination of such images it is necessary to line them up. In addition, when employing in diagnosis images obtained by CT apparatus, there are cases for which images acquired in the past are compared to images acquired in the present in a comparative diagnosis, and to facilitate easy performance of such comparison diagnosis it is necessary to line the images up and display them.
To this end, a display protocol is employed for defining the display format in which a plurality of images is to be displayed, and based on this display protocol; the plurality of images is displayed on the display means. The display protocol defines the layout of a plurality of images, the display conditions (for example, in what order images are to be displayed, etc.), the image processing conditions (hereinafter referred to as the layout, etc.); based on the examination, the series, the examining doctor or group of doctors, the place where the images are to be employed, the purpose for which the images are to be used, etc. For example, a given display protocol might be defined so that a screen is divided into four regions in which are displayed: in the upper left region, a front view X-ray image of the chest taken during the current examination; in the lower left region, a front view X-ray image of the chest taken in the past; in the upper right region, a side view X-ray image of the chest taken during the current examination; and in the upper right region, a side view X-ray image of the chest taken in the past. In addition, another display protocol might be defined so that a screen is divided into 9 regions in which a plurality of Tomography images obtained by a CT apparatus are lined up and displayed.
Further, although a display protocol is not employed, a method has been provide wherein each series (by type of examination) of images obtained in an examination employing MRI apparatus is lined up and displayed, and at the same time one series of images is switched, another series of images is also switched (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,416). According to this method, the examiner of images encounters no impediments in viewing of the images, and multiple series of images can be assigned to correspond to each other and displayed.
As examinations become more complex and the number of images increases, if only one display protocol is defined, it becomes difficult to display the images so that diagnosis can be performed without difficulty. Because of this, a plurality of display protocols is prepared, and the examiner switches the protocols in order, so that the plurality of images is displayed in the desired display layout. However, in this method of switching protocols a great burden is placed on the examiner in that he or she must memorize the type of layout defined by each display protocol. In addition, because it is necessary to specify the display protocol each time the layout is switched, the efficiency of displaying the images is extraordinarily low.

Image display method, apparatus and storage medium


Portable data carrier configurations with non-volatile semiconductor memories serve as rapid-access storage media for data processing systems. It is possible for a multiplicity of such data carrier configurations to be operated on a bus system. The data carrier configurations preferably contain a microprocessor which, for example, automatically creates an index file of files stored in the data carrier configuration and also searches for certain terms and actively or passively reports a search result on request from a PC or a microprocessor provided in a receiving adapter for the data carrier configurations.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a portable data carrier configuration having an electrically programmable, non-volatile semiconductor memory, to which access can be made through contact areas on surfaces of the data carrier configuration. The invention also relates to a data processing system having at least one portable data carrier configuration.
In modern data processing systems, data are stored on digital storage media. In such cases, short-term storage takes place on hard disks or floppy disks and long-term storage takes place on floppy disks, magnetic tapes or magneto-optical disks. In those cases, filing of the storage media takes place in a conventional way in an archive. The disadvantage of such conventional storage is that the older, filed data are not on-line and consequently are not directly accessible. In addition, with that type of archiving it is necessary to keep a directory which gives information about on which of the filed copies the data being sought are stored. That copy must then be removed from the archive and be loaded into a suitable player. Complex and consequently very expensive archiving systems are constructed like a jukebox and accomplish the removal and loading automatically. However, even in those systems, a long time elapses before the data are available.
Published European Patent Application 0 552 078 A1 discloses a plug-in card for a microcomputer, which forms a reading device for chip cards with planar contacts. The plug-in card can be connected to a PCMCIA terminal of the microcomputer and has additional contacts at its upper side, which serve for electrically bonding the contacts of the chip card by the latter being placed onto the plug-in card. The chip card may be a credit card, for example.

Portable data carrier configuration to be operated on a data bus and data processing system having at least one portable data carrier configuration


The invention relates to a device for controlling a valve (1) between an opened position and a closed position, that includes a valve actuation organ (8), an elastic system (17, 20) for oscillating the actuation organ between two end positions, at least one electromagnet (14, 15) associated with a control unit (23) for attracting the actuation organ towards its end positions, wherein the control unit supplies power to the electromagnet for attracting the actuation organ into a first end position when the required energy amount is at most equal to a threshold and for allowing the actuation organ to move back to the other end position when this amount is higher than the threshold. The invention also relates to a control method.

A valve control device is designed to move said valve between an open position and a closed position in order, depending on whether the valve is an inlet valve or an exhaust valve, either to admit fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine or to exhaust the burnt gases resulting from the combustion of the fuel.
A control device such as this generally comprises a valve actuating member that can move between two extreme positions corresponding to the valve open and valve closed positions, and an elastic system designed to cause the actuating member to oscillate between the two extreme positions. This elastic system generally comprises two antagonistic springs, namely a first spring acting on the actuating member in order to return it toward the extreme position corresponding to the open position and a second spring acting on the valve in order to return it to the closed position and therefore also to return the actuating member toward the extreme position corresponding to the closed position. The elastic system is in equilibrium when the actuating member is in a substantially central position between its extreme positions. The control device further comprises electromagnets associated with a control unit in order to attract the actuating member toward one or other of its extreme positions. The control unit is programmed to drive the electromagnets by employing a method of slaving the electromagnet supply current to an actuating member position.
The principle of operation of this control device is to use the elastic system to move the actuating member toward its extreme positions and to use each electromagnet to complete the movement of the actuating member toward one of its extreme positions and keep it in this extreme position.
Disturbances, such as a back pressure, excessive friction, electrical noise, etc. may impair the operation of the control device to such an extent that the actuating member escapes the attractive force exerted by one of the electromagnets attracting it toward the corresponding extreme position and tends to set off again toward its other extreme position. The control unit then powers the electromagnet in such a way as to increase the force of attraction and force the actuating member to return to the initially intended extreme position.
The power consumption of the electromagnets is then particularly high and the actuating member cannot be recovered which means that there is a risk that the valve will be uncontrollable for long enough to appreciably impair the correct operation of the engine.

Device and method for controlling a valve with consumable energy monitoring


A finishing train for continuously cast strip material and a method of operating the finiching train, wherein an edging stand is arranged in front of the finishing train for preventing strip material cracks occurring during the reduction of the strip thickness at the strip edges, wherein position control circuits are arranged in front of the adjusting device of the edging stand. The arrangement includes a superimposed pressure control circuit (edging degree monitoring circuit) which responds to the adjusting force of the edging stand and the position thereof, and a load limiting control unit which responds to adjusting forces of the grooved rolls of the edging stand exceeding permissible values and/or to loads of the drive motors of the grooved rolls exceeding permissible values, for increasing the predetermined gap width and/or reducing the desired pressure of the adjusting device of the edging stand.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a finishing train for continuously cast strip material with an edging stand arranged in front of the finishing train for preventing strip material cracks occurring during the reduction of the strip thickness at the strip edges, wherein position control circuits are arranged in front of the adjusting device of the edging stand.
The present invention further relates to a method of operating the edging stand and the finishing train.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been found useful to initially roll non-cast billets in roughing stands in a reversing operation and then to convey the billets to the finishing train. It has been found substantially less cumbersome to continuously cast thin strips in molds of continuous casting plants and to convey the strips to a finishing train after appropriate cooling and solidification of the strip. It has been found to be economical to roll the initial strip while it is still hot and, thus, easily deformable already in the first stand of the finishing train with a high reduction.
Since extreme grain coarsening occurs in the material structure of the continuously cast initial strip because it remains at high temperatures for a long period of time, there is always the danger of the occurrence of cracks in the edge areas of the strip when high pass reductions of the coarse-granular material occurs in the first stand of the finishing train; these cracks make it impossible to utilize the full width of the strip and make it necessary to trim the finished strip which requires an additional operation and is cost-intensive because of the production of scrap.
Therefore, it has already been proposed to edge the strip material in the edge areas thereof prior to entering the finishing train. The material deformation caused by edging converts the originally coarse-granular structure into a crushed structure with a recrystallization occurring only at this point in time, wherein the finely granular structure of the recrystallization excludes cracks in the edge areas of the strip material even when high thickness reductions are carried out.

Position-controlled edging stand arranged in front of a finishing train for continuously cast strip material


According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory element region and a capacitance element region. The capacitance region including: a second stacked body, each of a plurality of second electrode layers and each of a plurality of second insulating layers being stacked alternately; a plurality of conductive layers; and a second insulating film provided between each of the plurality of conductive layers and each of the plurality of second electrode layers. In the capacitance element region, a first capacitor is made of one of the plurality of second insulating layers and a pair of the second electrode layers sandwiching the one of the plurality of second insulating layers, and a second capacitor is made of the second insulating film, and one of the plurality of second electrode layers and one of the plurality of conductive layers sandwiching the second insulating film.

A three-dimensional nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is formed as follows. A plurality of electrode layers as control gates are stacked into a stacked body. A memory hole is formed in the stacked body. A memory film is formed on the sidewall of this memory hole. Furthermore, a channel body layer is formed inside the memory film. This kind of nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory string including the channel body layer.
This kind of nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, like other semiconductor devices, requires a capacitance element as a power supply or protective element and the like. In the context of the miniaturization of nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices, increase in the design flexibility of the capacitance element is desired.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, capacitance element, and method for manufacturing nonvolatile semiconductor memory device


In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a cell arrangement area is provided on a semiconductor substrate to allow a plurality of basis cells to be arranged. A basic power supply line is provided in an upper layer than the cell arrangement area to supply a power. A switch cell is configured to control the power supply from the basic power supply line to an inside of the cell arrangement area. An always operating cell is arranged in the cell arrangement area adjacently to the switch cell, and is configured to receive the power from the switch cell even when the switch cell stops the power supply to the cell arrangement area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly, to a technique for suppressing a leakage current in a semiconductor integrated circuit. Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-277591 also relates to the semiconductor integrated circuit. The disclosure of this application is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
A problem of increase in leakage current becomes important with advancement of a technique for miniaturization of a semiconductor device. The leakage current flowing unnecessarily occupies a larger portion of a total of power consumption of the semiconductor device. In order to suppress the increasing of this power consumption, various techniques are proposed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2004-186666A).
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a semiconductor device 100 described in JP-P2004-186666A. The semiconductor device 100 is related to an MT-CMOS (Multi Threshold CMOS). Referring to FIG. 1, in the semiconductor device 100, an N-channel transistor Q1 with a high threshold voltage is arranged between a higher side power supply line Vdd and a pseudo higher side power supply line Vddv. A power source terminal of a load circuit 101 is connected to the pseudo higher side power supply line Vddv and includes N-channel transistors (Q4 and Q5) with a low threshold voltage and P-channel transistors (Q2 and Q3) with a low threshold voltage.
In this way, by controlling a signal PCNT supplied to a gate of the N-channel transistor Q1 with a high threshold voltage, a leakage current of the load circuit 101 is reduced. In this technique, the load circuit 101 is provided in a specific area (for example, a functional block), and a power source for the load circuit 101 is supplied. As described above, the technique is known, in which a switch is arranged between the specific area and the power supply line to control the supply of the power when s supply of the power and blockage of the supply of the power to a certain specific area are switched.
In case of mixed existence of an area for which power supply can be blocked off (hereinafter, to be referred to as a blockade-possible area) and an area for which power is constantly supplied (hereinafter, to be referred to as an always-operating area), it is preferable that respective areas are laid out independently. However, since presently widespread semiconductor integrated circuit usually have complexities in configuration and operation, a layout of independent allocation of the blockade-possible area and the always-operating area is very difficult. For example, there is often a case that the constant operation area must be allocated in the blockade-possible area. In this case, the power supply line for the constant operation area is required to be achieved via an upper layer of the blockade-possible area. As a result, since the configuration of the semiconductor integrated circuit is complicated due to a multi-layer structure, so that manufacturing costs and working steps thereof will be increased.

Semiconductor integrated circuit with leakage current suppressed


An antenna tuning circuit of a tuner with a band switching device, which can eliminate an image disturbance and a disturbance due to a UHF band frequency at reception of a high band and further eliminate a disturbance at a frequency higher than the image frequency at reception of a low band. At the reception of a high band, a coil 32 is provided to be connected between an input terminal 2 and a first high-band coil 9, and a first trap circuit 34 including a first capacitor 14 and the coil 32 is established between the input terminal 2 and an output terminal 4, and further a second trap circuit 35 including a second capacitor 15 and a second high-band coil 11 is formed therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna tuning circuit of a tuner with a band switching device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior antenna tuning circuit will be described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8. FIG. 4 shows a prior antenna tuning circuit of a VHF tuner, FIG. 5 illustrates an equivalent circuit at the reception of a high band, and FIG. 6 illustrates an equivalent circuit at the reception of a low band. Further, FIGS. 7 and 8 are illustrations of transmission characteristics of the antenna tuning circuit at the reception of a high band and at the reception of a low band.
First, in FIG. 4, an input terminal 2 of an antenna tuning circuit 1 is connected through a serial matching coil 3 to a preceding circuit (not shown), for example, an antenna filter (attenuating an intermediate frequency band). This matching coil 3 matches the antenna tuning circuit 1 with the antenna filter or the like being the preceding circuit at the reception of a high band. An output terminal 4 of the antenna tuning circuit 1 is connected through a coupling capacitor 5 to a high-frequency amplifier (not shown). A first low-band coil 6 is connected between the input terminal 2 and the ground, while both end portions of a first high-band coil 9 for reception of a high band are connected through first and second switch diodes 7, 8 to both ends of the first low-band coil 6. That is, the one end of the first high-band coil 6 is grounded by a second switch diode 8 while the other end thereof is connected to the input terminal 2 by the first switch diode 7.
Furthermore, between the input terminal 2 and the other end portion of the first high-band coil 9, in addition to the first switch diode 7, a second low-band coil 10 for reception of a low band is connected in parallel. The other end of the first high-band coil 9 is connected through a second high-band coil 11 to a varactor diode 12 which in turn, is grounded. In addition, another varactor diode 13 is connected to the node between the second high-band coil 11 and the varactor diode 12, and the other end of this varactor diode 13 serves as an output terminal 4 of the antenna tuning circuit 1. Accordingly, the second high-band coil 11 takes a condition put between the other end of the first high-band coil 9 and the output terminal 4. Furthermore, a first capacitor 14 is coupled between the input terminal 2 and the output terminal 4, while a second capacitor 15 is coupled between the other end of the first high-band coil 9 and the output terminal 4.
Incidentally, a capacitor 16 connected in series to the second low-band coil 10, a capacitor 17 put between the first switch diode 7 and the second high-band coil 11 and a capacitor 18 making the first low-band coil 6 grounded are for blocking direct currents. In the antenna tuning circuit 1 thus arranged, in accordance with band switching voltages to be applied to band switching terminals HB, LB, the first and second switch diodes 7, 8 respectively take the conducting or non-conducting condition for the high band reception or low band reception, and a tuning voltage from a tuning voltage terminal TU is applied to the varactor diodes 12, 13, thus being tuned to a give frequency in each band.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of an equivalent circuit of the antenna tuning circuit 1 when the first and second switch diodes 7, 8 in FIG. 4 come into the conducting conditions to allow the high band reception. At the high band reception, the first and second switch diodes 7, 8 assume the conducting conditions, and hence the first low-band coil 6 and the first high-band coil 9 is coupled in parallel to each other, and are shown as a coil 19 connected between the input terminal 2 and the ground in FIG. 5. Further, similarly, the first switch diode 7 gets into the conducting state, and both ends of the second low-band coil 10 are short-circuited, so that the second high-band coil 11 is directly connected to the input terminal 2 as shown in FIG. 5. Moreover, since the first switch diode 7 takes the conducting state, the first and second capacitor 14, 15 in FIG. 4 are coupled in parallel to each other, and are thus shown as one capacitor 20 in FIG. 5. The tuning frequency of the antenna tuning circuit 1 in FIG. 5 mainly depends upon the first high-band coil 19 and second high-band coil 11 coupled in series to each other and the varactor diode 12 connected in parallel to these coils 19, 11.
A capacitor 20 between the input terminal 2 and the output terminal 4 in FIG. 5 is connected in parallel to the second high-band coil 11 and varactor diode 13 connected in series to each other, thereby organizing a parallel resonance circuit whose resonance frequency is set to a substantially intermediate frequency (for example, 650 MHz) of the UHF band, with the result that a signal is attenuated at this frequency. That is, the capacitor 20, the second high-band coil 11 and the varactor diode 13 constitute a trap circuit 21 which attenuates the UHF band at the high band reception, thus preventing the penetration of a UHF band signal at the high band reception. In FIG. 7, a transmission characteristic of the antenna tuning circuit 1 occurring at the high band reception is indicated with a curve A. This curve A arises when the tuning circuit 1 is tuned to 343.25 MHz of a high band, and a reference mark A1 on the curve A represents the tuning frequency of 343.25 MHz and a reference mark A2 denotes the trap frequency of 650 MHz.
On the other hand, at the low band reception, the first and second switch diodes 7, 8 in FIG. 4 come into the non-conducting conditions, and therefore the second low-band coil 10 and the second high-band coil 11 are coupled in series to each other. In this case, the second high-band coil 11 is sufficiently smaller than the second low-band coil 10 and its reactance is ignorable in the case of the low band, and hence the second capacitor 15 in FIG. 4 can be regarded to be coupled in parallel to the varactor diode 13, with the result that the equivalent circuit of FIG. 4 becomes as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, a variable capacitor 22 is due to the parallel connection of the second capacitor 15 and the varactor diode 13. Further, the first capacitor 14 is connected in parallel to the second low-band coil 10 and variable capacitor 22 connected in series to each other, and its parallel resonance frequency is set to a vicinity of an image frequency to the low band frequency. In FIG. 8, a curve B shows a transmission characteristic taken when the antenna tuning circuit 1 in FIG. 4 is tuned to 126.25 MHz of the low band, wherein reference mark B1 represents the tuning frequency of 126.25 MHz while B2 represents the trap frequency of 240 MHz set to a vicinity of the image frequency (European specification).
At the high band reception, for example, when receiving 343.25 MHz, the image frequency becomes 421.05 MHz, while as obvious from FIG. 7 the transmission level (A3 on the curve A) at this frequency in the above-described prior antenna tuning circuit 1 only attenuates by approximately 17 dB (X1 in FIG. 7) with respect to the tuning frequency A1. For this reason, it is disturbed from the image frequency at the high band reception. One possible solution to this problem is to lower the prior trap frequency (A2 on the curve A in FIG. 7) set to the UHF band. However, in this case, the attenuation of the UHF band does not occur and, hence, the disturbance from the UHF band frequency takes place, which makes difficult the resolution of the problems.
In addition, in the FIG. 6 equivalent circuit at the low band reception, the trap circuit 23 shows capacitative at its both ends, that is, between the input terminal 2 and the output terminal 4 in the tuning circuit, at frequencies higher than the trap frequency, and hence, has a serial resonance frequency with the matching coil 3. This frequency appears in a lower band of the UHF band, i.e., 400 MHz, so that a peak point (B3 on the curve B in FIG. 8) arises as the so-called bounce. As indicated by Y1 in FIG. 8, this peak point B3 only attenuates by 3 dB with respect to the low band tuning frequency B1, so that the low band is disturbed from this frequency.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that corrects bit errors in temporary results within a central processing unit (CPU). During operation, the system receives a temporary result during execution of an in-flight instruction. Next, the system generates a parity bit for the temporary result, and stores the temporary result and the parity bit in a temporary register within the CPU. Before the temporary result is committed to the architectural state of the CPU, the system checks the temporary result and the parity bit to detect a bit error. If a bit error is detected, the system performs a micro-trap operation to re-execute the instruction that generated the temporary result, thereby regenerating the temporary result. Otherwise, if a bit error is not detected, the system commits the temporary result to the architectural state of the CPU.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to providing fault-tolerance within computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providing fault-tolerance for temporary results within a central processing unit (CPU) before the temporary results are committed to the architectural state of the CPU.
2. Related Art
Rapid advances in semiconductor technology presently make it possible to incorporate larger amounts of circuitry into a microprocessor chip. Unfortunately, memory elements within this circuitry are susceptible to random bit errors. Hence, as more circuitry is incorporated into a microprocessor chip, random bit errors are more likely to occur.
In order to remedy this problem, some microprocessor systems use error-correcting codes to protect data stored in cache memories within a microprocessor chip. Although cache memory accounts for a considerable portion of the memory within a microprocessor chip, many other memory elements remain unprotected.
Some of the remaining unprotected memory elements are located within an annex (also called a result buffer or working register file) in the microprocessor system. In some processors, an annex can include hundreds of registers, which makes it likely that a random bit error will eventually occur within the annex. An annex stores temporary results of computational operations that are waiting to be committed to the architectural state of the central processing unit (CPU). For example, the annex may store the result of an addition operation before the result is ready to be written to a destination register in the CPU. When the result is ultimately written to the destination register, which is located in a register file defined by the instruction set architecture, it becomes "architecturally visible."
Note that there are many problems in using error-correcting codes to protect temporary results within an annex. The process of generating the error-correcting code, and the subsequent process of detecting an error, can take a significant amount of time. This makes it impractical to use error-correcting codes to protect temporary results, because the temporary results only exist for a short period of time. Moreover, error-correcting codes require additional circuitry, which can increase the size and complexity of a CPU.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus for fixing random bit errors that occur in temporary results without the above-described problems of using error-correcting codes.

Method and apparatus for providing fault-tolerance for temporary results within a CPU


A surveillance device includes a front cover, at least two guide rods, a lens module, a mounting plate, a first balance spring, a circuit board, and a number of second balance springs. The guide rods are mounted in the front cover. The lens module is received the first through hole. The mounting plate is slidably mounted to the guide rods. The mounting plate defines a through hole. The first balance spring is positioned between the front cover and the mounting plate. The circuit board is mounted to the mounting plate and opposite to the first balance spring. The image sensor is mounted on the circuit board and faces the through and the lens module. The second balance springs are positioned between the mounting plate and the circuit board. The first balance spring and the second balance springs keep the image sensor being aligned with the lens module.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to surveillance devices, and particularly to a surveillance device capable of focusing.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical surveillance device includes a lens module, an image sensor, and a focusing assembly. The focusing assembly usually includes a mounting plate, a spring, and a driving device. The image sensor is mounted on the mounting plate and aligned with the lens module. The spring is connected between the mounting plate and the driving device and opposite to the lens module. When focusing, the driving device pulls or pushes the mounting plate such the image sensor move away from or toward the lens module to achieve focus. However, the mounting plate sometimes tilts relative to the lens module, resulting in the image sensor tilting relative to the lens module and influencing image quality.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a surveillance device, which can overcome the limitations described.

ShenZhen Treasure City Technology Co., LTD.


A Neuro device is a representation of a nerve cell constituting human brains, eyes and the like, that is, a neuron by an electronic circuit. A circuit of the Neuro device according to the present invention comprises n (n : natural number) input terminals 4, n variable resistors 8 (the resistance values of the n variable resistors 8 are respectively set to R1, R2,..., Rn) respectively connected to the input terminals 4, and an arithmetic circuit 100 to which signals from the variable resistors 8 are together applied, and an output terminal 5 to which a signal from the arithmetic circuit 100 is outputted. The variable resistor 8 is so constructed that a chalcogenide semiconductor is interposed between a pair of electrodes. The chalcogenide semiconductor can be reversibly transferred to a high resistive amorphous state and a low resistive crystallized state by applying a predetermined write voltage. In the present invention, a predetermined proportion of the chalcogenide semiconductor interposed between the pair of electrodes is brought into a crystallized state, while the remaining proportion thereof is brought into an amorphous state, thereby to construct a variable resistor having a desirable resistance value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a Neuro device, and more particularly, to an improvement of a variable resistor playing a weighting role in a Neuro device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A Neuro device is a representation of a nerve cell constituting human brains, eyes and the like, that is, a neuron by an electronic circuit.
FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically showing the construction of a neuron. Referring to FIG. 18, a neuron comprises a plurality of synapses and dendrites 1, one nerve cell 2, and one axon. The synapse and dendrite 1 corresponds to an input-output interface and an input line in an electronic circuit. The nerve cell 2 corresponds to an operational amplifier in the electronic circuit. The axon 3 corresponds to an output line in the electronic circuit. This neuron acts as follows. Signals V1, V2 and V3 are respectively applied to the three synapses and dendrites 1. Consequently, in the synapses and dendrites 1, weights W1, W2 and W3 are respectively added to the signals V1, V2 and V3. Accordingly, the signals entering the nerve cell 2 are weighted, to be V1.W1, V2.W2 and V3.W3. The weighted three signals are added in the nerve cell 2, to be .alpha.=V1.W1, V2.W2 and V3.W3. If .alpha. exceeds a predetermined value, a signal V4 having a value inherent to this neuron is outputted to the succeeding nerve cell.
The Neuro device is a representation of this neuron by the electronic circuit. In the electronic circuit, the synapse, the nerve cell, and the axon and the dendrite constituting the neuron are generally formed of a resistor, an arithmetic circuit, and wires, respectively.
FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 show examples of circuits of conventional Neuro devices.
The circuit shown in FIG. 19 comprises n (n : a natural number) input terminals 4, resistors R1, R2, ..., Rn respectively connected to the input terminals 4, an arithmetic circuit 100 to which signals from the resistors R1, R2, ..., Rn are together applied, and an output terminal 5 to which a signal from the arithmetic circuit 100 is outputted. When input voltages V1, V2, ..., Vn are respectively applied to the input terminals 4, currents flowing into the arithmetic circuit 100 through the resistors R1, R2, ..., Rn are respectively V1/R1, V2/R2, ..., Vn/Rn. That is, the input signals are respectively weighted by the resistors R1, R2, ..., Rn. In the arithmetic circuit 100, the input currents are added. If the total of the input currents is not less than a predetermined reference current, an output voltage Vx is outputted to the output terminal 5. This voltage Vx is applied to the succeeding Neuro device which is not shown.
In the circuit shown in FIG. 19, the resistance value of each of the resistors R1 to Rn is a fixed value, so that the weighting cannot be changed. Consequently, a pattern for weighting the input signal is fixed. Therefore, it is proposed that resistors R1, R2, ..., Rn connected to the respective input terminals 4 are made variable, as in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 20.
FIG. 21 shows an example of a circuit of a Neuro device in which resistors for weighting input signals are variable resistors. Referring to FIG. 21, reference numerals 6 denote weighting portions. The weighting portions 6 respectively output voltages corresponding to predetermined weights W1, W2, ..., Wn. Each of the voltages is applied to a gate of a MOSFET (Field Effect Transistor of Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) 7. The ON-state resistance value of the MOSFET 7 varies depending on the voltage applied to the gate thereof. Accordingly, a variable resistor for varying the ON-state resistance value of the MOSFET 7 by changing the voltage outputted from the weighting portion 6 is constructed. In the variable resistor of such construction, the weighting portion 6 has been conventionally constituted by a cell, a capacitor or a floating gate in a static RAM (see NIKKEI MICRODEVICES, December, 1990, pp. 42 to 51).
In the conventional circuit arrangement as shown in FIG. 21, however, it is difficult to obtain a reliable Neuro device. The reason for this is that the ON-state resistance value of the MOSFET 7 greatly varies depending on the very small change in the voltage applied to the gate thereof.
Furthermore, the conventional technique in which the weighting portion 6 is constituted by the cell or the capacitor in the static RAM has the disadvantages in that the area of the variable resistor is large, and data cannot be held in a state where a power supply voltage is off because the cell and the capacitor are volatile. On the other hand, the conventional technique in which the weighting portion 6 is constituted by the floating gate has the disadvantage in that it is difficult to implant a desirable amount of charge into the floating gate.

Variable resistor and neuro device using the variable resistor for weighting