An apparatus and method are presented comprising a stone retrieval device insertable through a proximal end of a working channel of an endoscope to retrieve a stone at a distal end of an endoscope shaft, and a lithotripsy shaft with a distal tip including one or more guide features to accommodate passage there through of the stone retrieval device and insertable through the proximal end of the working channel of the endoscope, wherein the stone retrieval device extends from the distal end of the endoscope shaft through the lithotripsy shaft.

Medical endoscopes were first developed in the early 1800s and have been used to inspect inside the body. A typical endoscope consists of a distal end comprising an optical or electronic imaging system and a proximal end with controls for manipulating the tools and devices for viewing the image, with a solid or tubular elongate shaft connecting the ends. Some endoscopes allow a physician to pass tools or treatments down a hollow channel, for example, to resect tissue or retrieve objects.
Over the past several decades, several advances have been made in the field of endoscopy, and in particular relating to the breaking up of physiologic calculi in the bile ducts, urinary tract, kidneys, and gall bladder. Physiological calculi in these regions may block ducts and cause a patient a substantial amount of pain and therefore must be broken down and/or removed. Different techniques have been developed to break up stones, including ultrasonic lithotripsy, pneumatic lithotripsy, electro-hydraulic lithotripsy (EHL), and dissolution of calculi using green light, YAG, or holmium lasers.
A number of rigid solid or tubular shaft-based lithotripsy devices that use ultrasonic or pneumatic energy to break the stone into smaller pieces for easier removal from the patient's urologic system have been developed. For example, the Olympus LUS-2, the Gyms ACMI Cyberwand, and the Swiss Lithoclast are such devices. Ultrasonic or acoustic frequency energy is transmitted down a stiff metal shaft and delivered by contact to a kidney stone. Ultrasonic lithotripters require tuned shafts and the effectiveness of these lithotripters depend on their ability to maintain resonance down the length of the shaft (i.e. ultrasonic energy does not travel well around bends or turns). Probe bending can dissipate enough heat to seriously damage adjacent tissue, in addition to the loss of energy transfer at the tip of the probe.
For procedures performed with a tubular shaft device, suction of liquid and debris during the lithotripsy procedure is possible via the center of the tubular shaft. Some devices incorporate and deliver a lower frequency energy component to the kidney stone either through the same shaft or via a second shaft; this second shaft is usually coaxial to the ultrasonic energy shaft (i.e. the Cyberwand). This secondary, lower frequency shows evidence of improving the stone breaking efficiency over a solely ultrasonic energy approach.
The use of such a lithotripsy device requires that the stone being broken is pressed up against some surface, usually an inner wall of the kidney, in order that the vibrational energy can be sufficiently delivered to the stone surface to break it up. Some devices now on the market offer a combination of a lithotripsy shaft and a stone basket (i.e. the Swiss Lithobasket) where the lithotripsy shaft is incorporated into the center of the lithotripsy basket shaft and emerges into the center of the lithotripsy basket. The Swiss Lithobasket allows for the ability to apply the Swiss Lithoclast pneumatically driven shaft to a kidney stone contained in the associated basket, however this device is limited in that no suction is possible through the lithotripsy shaft.
Laser lithotripsy involves the use of laser fibers to effectively break up stones in virtually any area of the urinary system. When used with flexible ureteroscopes, laser fibers can bend around corners and access kidney stones in the lower pole of the kidney. A problem with this approach is that laser fibers have been known to break inside the working channel and damage flexible ureteroscopes. Some techniques have been developed for laser lithotripsy using semi-rigid ureteroscopes to make stones accessible by a straighter path, However, laser lithotripsy in general has a much more expensive start-up cost vs. ultrasonic lithotripsy due to the relative capital equipment costs.
The size, stiffness and length of the straight shafts in much of the existing ultrasonic lithotripter technology only allow for the use of such lithotripters with large shafts in percutaneous procedures, i.e. direct access to stones in the kidney through a small incision in the patient's back and on into the kidney itself. Percutaneous access to physiological calculi with laser lithotripsy provides one solution to prevent breaking and damage of flexible endoscopes during laser or ultrasonic lithotripsy. However, this approach requires more intensive anesthesia and can have longer recovery times for the patient.
Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy (EHL) provides a similar ease of access via a flexible endoscope as laser lithotripsy with generally lower cost, but with also generally lower stone fragmentation efficiency as well as some concerns about local shockwave effects on nearby tissue.
A predominant majority of current lithotripsy shafts are distally terminated smoothly and perpendicular to the shaft axis. This smooth, flat surface, while providing more protection to soft tissue because of the inherent smoothness, can make it extremely easy for the activated shaft to slip off a stone, or for a stone to slide out from beneath the vibrating smooth tip and thus prolong the stone breaking procedure as the physician "chases" the stone around.
Despite the approaches discussed above, there is still a need for an endoscope device that provides a lithotripsy shaft with guide features which can facilitate the passage there through of a stone retrieval device for the capture, retrieval, and disintegration of physiologic calculi. Providing a lithotripsy shaft with guide features would encourage stone fragmentation, being provided with sharp points or edges to more easily stay engaged with a stone and discouraging movement away from the activated tip. A wedged design may more easily force separation of a stone into disparate pieces that can be individually removed or pass on their own.


Systems, methods, and devices for communicating a compressed beacon are described herein. In some aspects, a method of communicating in a wireless network includes transmitting, at an access point, a full beacon at a first multiple of a beacon interval. The method further includes transmitting a compressed beacon at each beacon interval that is not the first multiple of the beacon interval. Another method of communicating in a wireless network includes receiving, at a wireless device, a full beacon at a first multiple of a beacon interval. The method further includes receiving a compressed beacon at a beacon interval that is not the first multiple of the beacon interval.

1. Field
The present application relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to systems, methods, and devices for compressing wireless beacons.
2. Background
In many telecommunication systems, communications networks are used to exchange messages among several interacting spatially-separated devices. Networks may be classified according to geographic scope, which could be, for example, a metropolitan area, a local area, or a personal area. Such networks would be designated respectively as a wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), local area network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), or personal area network (PAN). Networks also differ according to the switching/routing technique used to interconnect the various network nodes and devices (e.g., circuit switching vs. packet switching), the type of physical media employed for transmission (e.g., wired vs. wireless), and the set of communication protocols used (e.g., Internet protocol suite, SONET (Synchronous Optical Networking), Ethernet, etc.).
Wireless networks are often preferred when the network elements are mobile and thus have dynamic connectivity needs, or if the network architecture is formed in an ad hoc, rather than fixed, topology. Wireless networks employ intangible physical media in an unguided propagation mode using electromagnetic waves in the radio, microwave, infra-red, optical, etc. frequency bands. Wireless networks advantageously facilitate user mobility and rapid field deployment when compared to fixed wired networks.
The devices in a wireless network may transmit/receive information between each other. The information may include packets, which in some aspects may be referred to as data units or data frames. The packets may include overhead information (e.g., header information, packet properties, etc.) that helps in routing the packet through the network, identifying the data in the packet, processing the packet, etc., as well as data, for example user data, multimedia content, etc. as might be carried in a payload of the packet.
Access points may also broadcast a beacon signal to other nodes to help the nodes synchronize timing or to provide other information or functionality. Beacons may therefore convey a large amount of data, only some of which may be used by a given node. Accordingly, transmission of data in such beacons may be inefficient due to the fact that much of the bandwidth for transmitting beacons may be used to transmit data that will not be used. Thus, improved systems, methods, and devices for communicating packets are desired.

Systems and methods for low-overhead wireless beacon timing


A self-adjusting irrigation controller takes a pre-irrigation soil moisture reading prior to irrigation, chooses an amount of water to be dispensed corresponding to that reading from a table, and dispenses that amount of water. A predetermined length of time after the end of irrigation, the controller takes a post-irrigation soil moisture reading and compares the value of that reading to a predetermined target value. If the post-irrigation value differs substantially from the target value, the water amount corresponding to the pre-irrigation value in the table is adjusted to reduce that difference on the next scheduled irrigation cycle having that same pre-irrigation soil moisture reading. The target value is determined by watering the soil to field capacity, then computing the target value as a function of the reading of the sensor at field capacity. The controller thus converges toward an ideal runtime and follows changes in the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the soil moisture is indicated by sensor voltages, and the amount of water dispensed is governed by the runtime of the irrigation system.

Conventional irrigation controllers water a set of irrigation zones in accordance with a time schedule programmed by an operator. Such programming is typically guesswork and cannot adapt the controller to changing weather or soil conditions without an impractical amount of reprogramming.
It has previously been proposed to associate a moisture sensor with a valve watering a given zone, and to allow scheduled watering only until the soil of the zone reaches a pre-selected moisture content, or conversely to disallow the initiation of a standard irrigation cycle if the soil of that zone, or a representative zone, is above a pre-selected moisture content. This does prevent over-watering on cool or rainy days, but it does not continually adjust the irrigation system to maintain an ideal level of soil moisture.
It has also been proposed to vary the runtime of a controller in response to daily measured or predicted climatological parameters, but in such a system the runtime is expectation-driven rather than being driven by actual soil moisture conditions.

Method and apparatus for optimizing soil moisture


A sensor device includes a sensor that transmits radio waves of a predetermined frequency and receives reflected waves of the transmitted radio waves. The sensor device detects presence of a moving body based on a difference between a frequency of the transmitted radio waves and a frequency of the reflected waves to activate a light source in accordance with the detection. A processor generates a sensor signal indicating the detection of the sensor. A determination unit determines whether or not the sensor signal has an intensity that is greater than a predetermined threshold. A controller controls activation of the light source when determined that the intensity of the signal is greater than the threshold. The controller restricts activation of the light source when determined that the intensity of the sensor signal is greater than the threshold until a first specified time elapses from the determination.

The present invention relates to a sensor device including a sensor that transmits radio waves at a predetermined frequency and receives reflected waves of the radio waves, detects a moving body based on a difference of the frequency of the radio waves and the frequency of the reflected waves to activate a light source.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-124187 describes an example of a lighting device that uses a sensor to detect the presence of a human body in a detection area and activates or deactivates a light source in accordance with the detection. One such sensor is an active type sensor that transmits detection waves, such as electromagnetic waves, and receives the detection waves reflected by an object to detect the presence of a moving body in a detection area.
When two lighting devices are arranged opposing each other, the sensor of one lighting device transmits radio waves having an oscillation frequency that differs greatly from that of the radio waves transmitted from the sensor of the other lighting device. This reduces the interference of the radio waves from the sensors.
In an active type sensor, light sources proximal to the sensor may interfere with the radio waves. In such a case, even though a moving body is not present in the detection area, the active type sensor may determine that a moving body is present in the detection area, and thereby, erroneously activate a light source. In particular, when two lighting devices are in an opposing arrangement, sensors of the two lighting devices may be activated at the same time. In such a case, a difference in the oscillation frequency of the radio waves transmitted from the sensor of one lighting device and the oscillation frequency of the radio waves transmitted from the sensor of the other lighting device may be detected as a Doppler frequency shift.

Sensor device for reducing erroneous activation of a light source

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A recording head is structured so that its elements are not easily destructed by the fusion of wiring due to electrostatic discharge, and a recording apparatus uses such recording head. A part of GND wiring on a wiring board is exposed. A base plate and the GND wiring on the wiring board is electrically connected by caulking a caulking pin arranged for such exposed portion. The resistance of the connected path is made lower than that of wires and others on a heater board. Also, even in a case where the base plate and the GND wiring on the wiring board are not directly in contact, the exposed portion of the GND wiring on the wiring board and the base plate are arranged to be extremely close to each other, hence making it possible to form such a low-resistance path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording head and a recording apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to an ink jet head and a recording apparatus using the ink jet head. In this respect, recording includes the application of ink or the like (print) for all the ink carriers capable of receiving the application of ink, such as cloth, thread, paper, and sheet materials. The recording apparatus includes all information apparatuses of the various kinds or printers serving as its output equipment. The present invention is applicable to the use of such ink carriers and apparatuses.
2. Related Background Art
As an ink jet method to discharge ink, there has been known the so-called bubble jet method in which ink is rapidly heated when driving heat generating resistive elements arranged on a heater board formed of Si substrate so that ink is discharged from the discharge ports of the recording head.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the principal part of a recording head using such a conventional bubble jet method. In FIG. 5, a reference numeral 1 designates a plurality of heat generating elements (not shown) and a heater board (elemental substrate) on which the functional elements are electrically connected to the heat generating elements to drive them selectively; and 2, a wiring board for transmitting to the heater board the signals received from an apparatus having the head mounted on it. This wiring board 2 is electrically connected to the heater board 1 through a wire bonding portion 3. This board is also provided with a card edge connector 2A. The card edge connector 2A is a coupler to connect the apparatus main body (not shown in FIG. 5) and the wiring board 2 electrically.
The heater board 1 and the wiring board 2 are fixed to a base plate 4 by the application of bonding agent. The base plate 4 functions as a positioning board for the heater board dually with respect to the apparatus main body. In general, this plate is formed by Al (aluminum) or other metallic material. On the heater board, plural grooves are formed corresponding to the heat generating elements. This grooved ceiling plate 6 is connected to the heater board to provide liquid paths and a liquid chamber. A reference numeral 5 designates an ink container, which is fixed to the base plate 4, and also, conductively connected to the liquid paths and liquid chamber.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view schematically showing the structure of the recording head whose heat generating elements and functional elements are prepared on the same substrate, located near the heater board 1. In FIG. 6, the heater board 1 is formed by an Si substrate layer 1A and an element formation layer 1B. Also, a reference numeral 6 designates the grooved ceiling plate to form the ink paths and liquid chamber; 7, ink; and 8, a recording material to receive the application of ink. Recording is made by the ink droplets 7A to be discharged by the application of heat generated by a heater (not shown). A recording head of the kind, in which its heat generating elements and functional elements are formed on the same substrate, occupies the leading position among the heads available in recent years because it is possible for this kind of head to decrease the number of electrically connected wires between the recording apparatus main body and the recording head even when the number of nozzles (liquid paths) is increased. Here, each of the functional elements is produced by the usual semiconductor fabrication processes. Generally, the substrate layer 1A of the heater board discharges to the apparatus side through the aforesaid wiring board. Therefore, this layer is usable as GND potential.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view which schematically shows one example of the ink jet recording apparatus on which the aforesaid recording head can be installed. In FIG. 7, a reference numeral 13 designates a carriage to hold the recording head 12, which is connected to a part of a driving belt 15 that transmits the driving force of a driving motor 14. The carriage is slidably mounted on two guide shafts 16A and 16B arranged in parallel to each other so as to enable the recording head 12 to reciprocates over the entire width of the recording sheet. Here, when the recording head 12 is installed on the carriage 13, it is electrically connected to the recording apparatus main body through a flexible cable 11.
Now, the recording head shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is provided with the electrical wiring (circuit) as described above. Therefore, if such recording head is of an exchangeable type, a problem is encountered: electrostatic destruction (ESD) may occur in exchanging heads.
As a countermeasure in this respect, it is conceivable that the recording head is covered with an insulating resin or the like as much as possible. As shown in FIG. 5, however, there is need for the base plate 4 of the recording head to be exposed in order to serve as the electrical connector 2A and the positioning board as well with respect to the apparatus main body. This requirement makes it impossible to cover the head with resin entirely. Now, supposing that this recording head is installed on the recording head shown in FIG. 7, for example, the electrical connector is in a condition that the user is not allowed to touch the connector and couple it to the main body of the recording apparatus, but the base plate 4 is still in a state of being exposed. If the user who is electrostatically charged intends to change the recording heads in this state, the probability is still high that static electricity is transferred to the base plate 4, and then, to the heater board in spite of the insulating layer (bonding agent), thus discharging to the GND (earth) of the apparatus main body through the wire bonding portion 3 and the wiring board 2.
Particularly, in a case of a recording head having the heater board 1 whose substrate layer 1A is connected to the GND through the wiring board as shown in FIG. 6, the probability is higher that the discharge is made by way of paths described above. If the discharge is made through these paths, there is a fear that the wires on the heater board are fused or the elements that are fabricated by the application of semiconductor processes are destructed. As a countermeasure, it is conceivable that the wires on the heater board 1 are made thick so as not to be fused even when an excessive current runs or some other means may be taken to enhance the durability of the heater board 1, but the provision of such measures immediately results in making the heater board 1 larger and invites the problem of increased costs.
As another method, it is conceivable that a metallic member is arranged to surround the recording head 7 shown in FIG. 12 so that discharge is made to the metallic member instead of the base plate 4. This arrangement also results in the increase of part numbers, and immediately invites the problem of increased costs.

Recording head and recording apparatus using such recording head


A method for determining thermal capture cross-sections of formations surrounding an earth borehole, including the following steps: providing a logging device that is moveable through the borehole; transmitting, from the logging device, bursts of neutrons into the formations; detecting, at the logging device, resultant gamma ray counts, and deriving a measurement spectrum from the gamma ray counts; deriving a forward model comprising a combination of model exponential components having respective model decay times and model amplitudes; deriving an error function that depends on comparison between the forward model and the measurement spectrum; and determining, by regularized inversion, optimized exponential components of the model that substantially minimize the error function; the optimized exponential components being indicative of the thermal capture cross-sections of the formations.

Thermal capture cross-section logging, or thermal neutron die-away logging, has been in use for decades to monitor the saturation history of a reservoir in cased holes. Macroscopic thermal capture cross-section, or Σ, is sensitive to the presence of strong thermal absorbers. Chlorine is one such absorber, and chlorine is commonly present in formation water, while not present in any hydrocarbons. Thus, Σ-logging can often be used to obtain water saturation. It is performed by irradiating the formation with pulsed neutron beams and by monitoring the returning gamma radiation, which results from the capture of thermal neutrons by highly-absorbing isotopes present in the formation, as a function of time between pulses.
Σ-logging had been performed using several generations of pulsed neutron logging tools, beginning with several generations of TDT's (Thermal Decay Tools), GST's (Gamma Spectroscopy Tools), and RST's (Reservoir Saturation Tools). Reference can be made, for example, to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,721,853 and 5,699,246. More recently some open-hole tools have incorporated Σ-logging capability, such as APS (Accelerator Porosity Sonde) and, for logging while drilling, "Ecoscope" (mark of Schlumberger). Ecoscope is described, for example, in Scott, Weller, el-Haliwani, Tribe, Webb, Stoller, and Galvin, "LWD Tool Saves Time And Money," E & P July, 2006, and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,378. Experience with Σ in open hole has shown that the measurement can be used effectively to measure RXO and/or clay content, as clays are also rich in various thermal absorbers.
Accurate Σ-logging presents a number of technical and physics problems, which inspired various changes in the acquisition hardware over the years. The main goal is to measure the decay time-constant of γ radiation attenuation in the formation, by measuring the activity at various time intervals. The basic physics dictate that this decay be exponential in time. Because of strong contributions from the borehole fluids, casing, and the tool itself, the observed decay is far from a single exponential, and various schemes of acquisition have been developed to extract the needed information.
The early TDT tools, such as the dual-detector TDT-K, and its single detector predecessors, used three time gates (see W. B. Nelligan and S. Antkiew, Accurate Thermal-Neutron Decay Time Measurements Using Far Detector of the Dual-Spacing TDT—A Laboratory Study, SPE 6156, February 1979), where the latest gate was used to estimate and subtract activation background, and the ratio of the two earlier gates was used to estimate the decay rate. Large departure corrections needed to be applied to eliminate the borehole contamination and to correct for diffusion (that is, neutrons which diffuse out of the detection range or between different detection regions). A later version (see e.g. J. E. Hall et al, A New Thermal Neutron Decay Logging System—TDT-M, JPT, January 1982) TDT-M used a larger number of time windows (16) to decrease the sensitivity to the above effects, but with only limited success. The TDT-P which was an upgrade of the TDT-M, incorporated the dual-burst scheme, with the idea that the first, very short burst was dominated by the borehole, while the subsequent, longer burst was more affected by the formation (see e.g. D. K. Steinman, et al, Dual-Burst Thermal Decay Time Logging Principles, SPE 15437, SPE Formation Evaluation Journal, June 1988). The data were fitted to a two-exponential response model.
The results for the TDT-P were excellent where the fits were possible and of good quality, but in a number of situations (e.g. large fresh or oil-filled borehole) the fits were unstable and results not always useable.
A more recent generation of reservoir monitoring tools, the RST's incorporated a dual-burst scheme with a large number (126) of time-windows (see C. Stoller et al, Field Tests of a Slim Carbon/Oxygen Tool for Reservoir Saturation Monitoring, SPE 25375, February 1993). Instead of the dual exponential fitting, an empirical approach was used, relating moments of the time-based decay data related to a large laboratory (EECF) data base. This approach has been successful, as long as the logging situation is within the span of the EECF data base.
Application of Σ-logging in open hole presents some special problems. In a cased hole, the presence of casing, which is strongly absorbing (iron has a large thermal capture cross-section), and commonly used saline completion fluid, causes the borehole signal to decay much faster than the formation, so at later times the formation signal can be cleanly observed. By contrast, in open hole, especially in fresh muds, separation of the borehole and formation signals can be much more difficult.
The most recent entry in obtaining Open Hole Σ measurement, first referenced above, is the Ecoscope while-drilling tool, which measures Σ in addition to the more conventional evaluation measurement such as bulk density, neutron porosity and formation resistivity. Because of the inherent problem with separation the borehole and formation signals in open hole, the Ecoscope incorporates a complex pulsing scheme, using short neutron bursts to try to look at the borehole signals, and grouping sets of these with looking at later time to see the formation signal.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,321 discloses a method for determining the fractional amounts of, and the thermal neutron capture cross-sections of, individual components which are included in the decay spectrum measured by a pulsed neutron well logging instrument. The method includes generating a data kernel which is made up of "representors" of decay components of the wellbore and of the earth formations in the vicinity of the instrument. The decay spectrum measured by the instrument is inverted in an attempt to determine parameters by which the representors are scaled so that, in combination, the scaled representors most closely match the measured decay spectrum. The parameters represent the fractional amounts of each exponential decay component which makes up the measured exponential decay spectrum. Gamma rays detected by the logging instrument are segregated into about 100 discrete short interval time windows called gates, with each gate corresponding to a different time interval after the end of each of a number of neutron bursts.
In the technique of the '321 patent, the time value for a gamma ray counting rate associated with each gate is stated to be preferably assigned to the midpoint of the time span for each gate (called the "center time" for each gate). Also in the technique of the '321 patent, each representor has a single value of exponential decay rate τ, and it is indicated that the number of values of τ used to generate the data kernel is preferably not greater than the number of gates in the measured data.
In some circumstances, the type of approach suggested in the referenced '321 patent may provide useful output. However, the type of approach suggested in the '321 patent has certain limitations and drawbacks. One example is the suggestion that the number of representors of exponential decay rate in the data kernel should not be greater than the number of gates in the measured data. Another example is the assignment of a single time, i.e. the midpoint, for each time window. These and other aspects of the approach of the '321 patent would limit the usefulness of the '321 technique, especially if one attempted to use the '321 technique in a complex pulsing/acquisition scheme.
It is among the objects of the present invention to provide improved techniques for accurate determination of thermal capture cross sections of formations surrounding an earth borehole.

Well logging method for determining formation characteristics using pulsed neutron capture measurements


A SIP ancillary data server provides host to auxiliary data for an emergency SIP session (call) uniquely referred to in a transported SIP header. In a manner similar to how location is represented in an emergency call, a SIP header is extended. The extended SIP Header contains one of two possible types of content elements: either (a) a content pointer element to a SIP Message body part (a “cid:”, or content identifier); or (b) an <information_URI> (a.k.a, “info_URI” in this document).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to communications networks. More particularly, it relates to telecommunications networks including Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network communications, and most particularly to SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) emergency service messaging via IP telecommunications for voice, video, and text.
2. Background of the Related Art
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a basic protocol for initiating interactive communication sessions (e.g., voice, video, chat, interactive games, virtual reality, etc.) between users. In given SIP-based applications, location of a particular wireless device is desired or required.
Currently, location and other caller-related data for the majority of calls (VoIP, cellular, or landline) is delivered or determined through multiple mechanisms. For instance, location and other data for the majority of calls is determined via the use of a unique query key (such as the telephone number or uniform resource identifier (URI)) to perform a database lookup. In these architectures, the unique query key (e.g., telephone number or URI) is used as a lookup element to query provisioned, staged or static information (e.g., from a suitable database) outside of the actual call signaling for location information. An exemplary technique and apparatus to inject a location object into a routing SIP message is disclosed in co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/902,845, filed Sep. 26, 2007, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
FIG. 3 shows a conventional exemplary Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) based routing architecture for a given Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message.
In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, a Session Internet Protocol (SIP) message includes a unique query key, or location key (e.g., telephone number or URI) to be used to determine an action based on the initiator's location (i.e., position). As shown in FIG. 3, the SIP message including the unique query (e.g., location) key is passed to a positioning center 502.
Using the received location key, the positioning center 502 passes a query to an appropriate database 504, e.g., a database associating static location with various location key information. The static location database 504 determines the desired location information relating to the input location key, and returns the static location to the requesting positioning center 502.
Then, having obtained appropriate location information, the positioning center 502 passes a request to another database, e.g., a routing database 506. to obtain routing information associated with the received location information. The routing database 506 outputs appropriate routing information to the requesting positioning center 502. At that point, the positioning center 502 passes on the SIP message together with new routing information obtained from the routing database 506.
Standards development groups have created a mechanism for providing location associated to an endpoint or anchor point within a SIP session ("call"). Moreover, discussions have taken place promoting the idea of providing a limited set of URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers) with the SIP messaging.
But a mechanism has not been heretofore provided to provide associated "ancillary" data with the call. The present inventors realize that such a mechanism is desired to support emergency calling as a primary application, and could be extended into commercial uses.
Disadvantages of the prior technology includes, e.g., providing a limited set of URIs, is not sufficient to cover all known or eventual types of data that are or will be required. Moreover, by providing URIs only, there is no provision for including (embedding) ancillary data within the SIP body part. Furthermore, body part(s) as a separate package can be easily encrypted while the headers remain in plain text. (Providing one or more URIs as the only option cannot ensure that the data associated with it will be delivered in an encrypted or digitally signed manner, whereas a mechanism for embedding the data within the SIP message itself allows for its encryption and/or digital signature as required.)

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ancillary data support in session initiation protocol (SIP) messaging


To provide cosmetic pigments that are human-body friendly with good skin adhesion and that provide good feeling, their production method, and cosmetics containing such cosmetic pigments which provide fresh and enriched feeling accordingly.

Conventionally, pigments whose surfaces are coated with various types of compounds have been used as pigments to be contained in makeup products such as foundations, eyeshadow and blushers or basic skin care such as sunscreen products, emulsions and creams with a view to improve waterproofness and avoid coming off of makeup or to improve feeling of the pigments and so forth.
Here, coating pigment surfaces with a silicone compound or a fluorine compound has been known as a means of improving the waterproofness (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). Cosmetic pigments whose surfaces are coated with the silicone compound or fluorine compound excel in avoiding coming off of makeup and contribute to long-lasting makeup because waterproofness is imparted to them. However, there are some problems that they give a dried out and less moist feeling owing to the compounds, and skin adhesion becomes poor because they have less affinity to a biological body.
Meanwhile, coating pigment surfaces with collagen has been known as a means of improving feeling of the pigments (see Patent Document 3). However, since the collagen is an animal protein, there is a limit in the use of it, which is a problem.
Recently, due to the increasing popularity of natural products among consumers, cosmetics using compounds derived from natural products are greatly desired, and development of cosmetics which are human-body friendly having good skin adhesion and which provide good feeling are strongly desired.
Surfactants (biosurfactants) such as glucolipids are said to have great biodegradability and low toxicity and they are environmentally-friendly. Therefore, applying them to a food industry, cosmetic industry, drug industry, chemical industry, environmental field etc. has been considered. However, existing biosurfactants have poor hydrophobicity, so that they are not suitable for cosmetic pigments. Meanwhile, although mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL) has been known, for use in skin care, as having curative properties against skin roughness because it can easily form a lamellar structure, there has been no report that it is used as cosmetic pigments.

Cosmetic pigments, their production method, and cosmetics containing the cosmetic pigments

Abstract: Pigment surfaces are coated with mannosylerythritol lipid, which is glucolipids, consisting of mannose, sugar alcohol and a fatty acid as shown in the general expression (1) below:

Abstract: (Note: In the general expression, R1 and R2 denote aliphatic acyl group with carbon numbers 6 through 20, which can be either same or different. R3 and R4 denote hydrogen or acetyl group, which can be either same or different. n denotes an integer in the range of 2 to 4.)


An anti-friction bearing with a speed measuring device includes a transmitter for directing high frequency waves toward a side of the bearing and the transmitter being spaced from the bearing. A coding disk at the side of the bearing is arranged on the relatively rotatable ring. The coding disk has parts around the bearing at which the disk reflects the waves and other parts not reflecting or permitting passage of the waves. The waves are alternately reflected off the coding disk and not reflected off the disk to a receiver arranged outside the bearing. The resulting pulses may be fed to a signal processor. Variations include the coding disk having various constructional design features permitting or blocking the reflection of waves. Alternatively, a circuit at the stationary part of the bearing seal between the bearing rings is alternately impinged upon or protected from being impinged upon by waves due to the coding disk on the relatively movable part of the ring. Arrangements of a plurality of transmitters and/or receivers help detect the direction of rotation.

The present invention relates to an anti-friction bearing with a speed measuring device which employs an external high frequency wave transmitter and a receiver or other circuit which receives the signal from the transmitter. Means between the transmitter and the receiver and at the movable bearing ring alternately permit the waves to reach the receiver or block waves and the pulses are measured.
There is a need to provide many anti-friction bearings with means for detecting their speed of rotation. It is known to equip motor vehicle wheel bearings with speed detection, for instance, to derive the speed from signals obtained and to use it to control an anti-lock system. As it is desired to detect even low speeds of rotation, the sensor must be positioned at a very small distance from the pulse generator wheel or from a coding disk.
An anti-friction bearing having a pulse generating disk integrated in the seal of the bearing between the rings of the bearing is disclosed in DE 37 35 070 A1. However, the sensor must be spaced with a small air gap from the sealing disk, since the strength of the signal decreases as the square of the distance away.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,951 discloses an anti-friction bearing in which the electric signals are to be transmitted without contact. In this case, a sensor is arranged on the rotating bearing ring and transmits the electric signals to a receiver by capacitive or inductive changes in field or in the form of radio waves. The transmitter must be supplied with energy from a battery or a mini-generator. However, this is cumbersome, susceptible to faults and expensive.

Anti-friction bearing with speed measuring devices having an active microcircuit and a frequency generator


A proxy server creates an index of keywords, receives an encrypted record, decrypts the received encrypted record as decrypted data and, when a keyword in the index is encountered in the decrypted data, associates in the index an encrypted record location identifier with the encountered keyword. The proxy server receives a search query and uses the keyword index to retrieve encrypted records from the server. The encrypted records are decrypted and sent as search results in response to the search query.

The proliferation of sensitive corporate data outside of corporate-controlled infrastructures is becoming more widespread as IT departments allow employees to use personal computing devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, etc., to access the corporate-controlled infrastructures. IT departments have little control over employee-owned devices. Data loss can occur when an employee or former employee distributes or misplaces corporate data to third parties. Of the two sources, the loss of data in devices that are owned by former employees is more of a concern.
Current solutions for providing such security are broadly called "Mobile Device Management" solutions. Such solutions require the corporation to install a software agent on each personal computing device. In the event the device is lost or the employee leaves the corporation, the software agent can be remotely activated to delete all data owned by the corporation on the device. At the same time, the agent does not delete personal data such as photos, etc., that belong to the user rather than the corporation. The installation and management of software agents on each computing device, whether privately owned by the employee or owned by the corporation, is a difficult and expensive process as there are a large number of different devices running different software systems.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, issues identified with respect to one or more approaches should not assume to have been recognized in any prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise indicated.


An SCR firing circuit is provided which includes a plurality of opto-couplers, diodes, a capacitor and an SCR, utilized to control the AC power applied to a load, such as a vibratory feeder. In various embodiments of the invention, one or more opto-couplers act as solid state switches and also isolate a control signal from the AC line voltage. The capacitor is charged from an AC power source through the diode during a half cycle of the AC line voltage, and remains charged until the SCR is triggered. In response to a control signal rendering the opto-couplers conductive, the capacitor is discharged through the opto-couplers to fire the SCR and provide AC power to the load. A back-to-back SCR firing circuit is also provided which fires a first SCR when a line voltage is positive and which fires a second SCR when the line voltage is negative, which may be utilized to adjust the frequency of the application of power to the load independently of the frequency of the AC power supply.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to firing circuits and more particularly to an SCR firing circuit that is useful in industrial control applications.
2. Description of Related Art
Firing circuits employing silicon controlled rectifiers or SCR's are used for powering equipment or other loads such as variable frequency or electromagnetic feeders. Typically, a microcontroller is employed for sending an appropriate signal to an SCR for powering the load. SCR's are turned on to their conducting state by applying a trigger pulse to their gate connection at some time during a half cycle of the power source line frequency. When triggered, the SCR continues to conduct until the current passing through it drops below its holding current value. By delaying the point in time of the trigger pulse, relative to the applied half cycle of power during which the device is triggered, the average power applied to a connected load may be changed for control purposes.
Various schemes have been devised and used to trigger SCR's but, other than directly connecting the gate to the anode, in which case the SCR becomes just a diode, there is always some delay from the zero cross point of the applied voltage wave form to the point where the SCR turns on, depending on the circuitry employed, such that it is not possible to obtain the maximum power available from the source. It may be difficult to fire the SCR close enough to the zero cross of the voltage waveform because of the time required to have sufficient power available to fire the SCR. It is therefore desirable to have an SCR firing circuit which fires closer to the zero cross point of the voltage waveform.
It is also desirable to electrically isolate the logic circuitry for control from the output power of the device, particularly if very high voltages are involved. Opto-couplers are used to isolate a low control voltage from a high power voltage. However, use of a single opto-coupler may not be strong enough to isolate higher power voltages. Other prior art devices have used a double stacked opto-coupler arrangement. However, such a double stacked arrangement may be limited to isolating the low control voltage from a supply of approximately 240 Volts. It is therefore desirable to provide an arrangement of opto-couplers that may isolate a low control voltage from rather high power voltages such as 380 to 600 Volts at 50 or 60 Hz. It is further desirable to provide a microcontrolled gate circuit capable of firing a wide variety of voltages.
Because of feed material characteristics on vibratory feeders or conveyors, it is often desirable to operate such equipment at low frequencies with higher strokes. When such equipment is powered by an electromagnet, it is cost effective and convenient to synthesize the low operating frequency from the 60 Hz or 50 Hz power source, by skipping an appropriate number of half cycles of the line frequency. For example, from a 60 Hz power line, frequencies that are even sub multiples of 120 pulses per second (7200 VPM) can be obtained. Dividing by 2 gives 60 Hz, dividing by 3 gives 40 Hz, by 4 gives 30 Hz, and so on. Since the actual power "on time" at any given frequency is limited to that of a half cycle at 60 Hz, it is desirable to capture as much of the available wave form as possible to maximize the output power. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the amount of time delay from the zero voltage cross of the conducting wave form to the time the SCR turns on.
Moreover, feeders such as these may operate at power line voltages of up to 600 Volts AC. While SCR's are available with reverse voltage ratings of 1200 Volts or better, because of the requirement for controlling highly inductive, high voltage loads, generally pulse transformers are used for firing SCR's. However, pulse transformers may result in an undesirably long delay for the firing of the SCR and thus not enough output power may be obtained. In addition to the cost of pulse transformers, it may be more difficult to interface the control logic to the pulse transformer, and thus a more costly a solution. It is therefore desirable to have a firing circuit which has minimal delay in firing an SCR and which is also cost effective.

SCR firing circuit for high voltage control applications


A mobile terminal includes a first fixed-interval timer that counts a first interval; a second fixed-interval timer that counts a second interval longer than the first interval; a motion acceleration detection unit that obtains a first period of acceleration data from an acceleration sensor at the first interval and detects motion acceleration based on the first period of acceleration data; a walking state detection unit that, when the motion acceleration is detected based on the first period of acceleration data, obtains a second period of acceleration data, which is longer than the first period, from the acceleration sensor and detects a walking state or a non-walking state based on the second period of acceleration data; and a continuous walking determining unit that determines that continuous walking is detected when the walking state is detected a predetermined number of times or more within the second interval.

Recent cell phones include many functions such as a global positioning system (GPS) function in addition to a standard call function. There exists a cell phone that includes a GPS function and a function to automatically and regularly measure its position using the GPS function and report positional information to, for example, a service provider (this function is hereafter referred to as "auto GPS function"). Here, the GPS function generally consumes a large amount of power. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the power consumption of a cell phone including the auto GPS function.
A related-art mobile terminal includes a position obtaining unit for obtaining positional information indicating its current location using the global positioning system, a movement sensor for detecting movement of the mobile terminal, a storing unit for storing a history of the positional information, and a recording unit that causes the position obtaining unit to newly obtain positional information only when movement is detected by the movement sensor and adds the newly obtained positional information in the storing unit (see, for example, patent document 1). With this configuration, the related-art mobile terminal reduces unnecessary consumption of battery power.

Mobile terminal and continuous movement detection method


A suspension system for a vehicle includes a right front wheel, a left front wheel, a right rear wheel and a left rear wheel. A suspension system for the vehicle includes a first cylinder supporting the vehicle at the right front wheel in fluid communication with a second cylinder supporting the vehicle at the left front wheel, wherein the first and second cylinders form a virtual articulated front axle. The suspension system also includes a third cylinder supporting the vehicle at the right rear wheel and a fourth cylinder supporting the vehicle at the left rear wheel. The suspension system includes two spool valves in fluid communication with the first and second cylinders and intermediate the first and second cylinders. When one of the rear wheels is unweighted, an associate one of the spool valves closes and fluid flow between the first and second cylinders is blocked to create a virtual locked axle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle and suspension system with an automatically locking front floating axle that locks when it detects that one of the rear wheels is unweighted and is directed to a control system for such a suspension.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wheeled vehicles that operate on a slope and especially those that work on side slopes may require adjustable suspensions that reposition the vehicle frame with respect to the ground to maintain a level orientation. Such systems provide height adjustment while increasing stability and maintaining the vehicle at a substantially level operating orientation. Many types of agricultural vehicles such as over the row harvesters with a relatively high center of gravity require such adjustable suspension systems.
Systems are known that utilize hydraulic cylinders to maintain the vehicle at a level orientation for improved positioning relative to plants being treated or harvested. Typical prior art systems may have front and rear hydraulic cylinders that are interconnected to form a master/slave system. Systems are known that use interconnected front wheels or rear wheels to simulate a floating axle. Such systems shift fluid back and forth to extend and simultaneously retract opposed hydraulic cylinders at the front or rear to level the vehicle. Although such hydraulic suspension systems generally provide for a ride with improved leveling, such systems may suffer from lack of responsiveness or overcorrection in certain situations. Therefore, such vehicles may are subject to tipping over, especially when working on a hillside or when a hole is encountered by one of the wheels.
A system is needed that provides for large coverage to maintain stability when the center of gravity of the vehicle is over the supported area formed by the support points of the vehicle. Under various operating conditions with a floating axle, the suspension system has support points that change. An improved hydraulic suspension system would provide stable correction with a stability area that overlaps as it shifts and is not vulnerable to tipping over. Such a suspension system should also have the advantages of a floating axle to maintain a level operating orientation. Such a system should also be simple and reliable. The present invention addresses these as well as other problems associated with hydraulic suspension systems for vehicles operating on slopes.

Suspension system with a floating axle lock


A semiconductor package structure comprises a chip, a plurality of pad extension traces, a plurality of via holes, a lid and a plurality of metal traces, wherein the chip has an optical component and a plurality of pads disposed on its active surface; pad extension traces are electrically connected to the pads; the via holes penetrate the chip and are electrically connected to the pad extension traces and exposed out of side surfaces of the semiconductor package structure; the lid is adhered onto the active surface of the chip; and the plurality of metal traces is disposed on the back surface of the chip, electrically connected to the plurality of via holes, and used to define a plurality of solder pads thereon. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the semiconductor package structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a semiconductor package structure and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a wafer level semiconductor package structure and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The semiconductor package mainly serves four functions, i.e. signal distribution, power distribution, heat dissipation and element protection. In general, a semiconductor chip is packaged into an enclosure, and then disposed on a printed circuit board, together with other components, such as capacitors, resistors, inductors, filters, switches, and optical and RF components.
The complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology for making optical components is similar to that for making semiconductor chips. CMOS is typically formed from silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) and generally includes N-type metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistors with negative charged carriers and P-type metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistors with positive charged carriers. Such NMOS and PMOS may generate currents after sensing light, and the currents may be then recorded and read as image.
Further, as the demands for lighter and more complex electronic devices gradually increase, the operating speed and the complexity of IC chips have become higher and higher. Accordingly, higher packaging efficiency is required. In the prior art, various semiconductor packages and manufacturing methods have been provided for improving the packaging efficiency and reliability. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,235 entitled "Methods And Apparatus For Producing Integrated Circuit Devices" issued to Badehi on May 21, 2000, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,707 entitled "Methods Of Producing Integrated Circuit Devices" issued to Badehi on Sep. 12, 2000 disclose methods for manufacturing the semiconductor package structures. However, these semiconductor package structures and the manufacturing methods in the prior art still have many limitations and drawbacks, and therefore can not entirely meet the requirements for the semiconductor package structures.
Accordingly, there is a need for providing a wafer level semiconductor package to further meet the requirement on the semiconductor package structure.

Semiconductor package structure and method for manufacturing the same

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


Brightness of input data ranging from 0 to 20% (brightness close to black) is converted to gradation Y0 (black) and brightness ranging from 80 to 100% (brightness close to white) is converted to gradation Y7 (white). Ranges of brightness from 20 to 35%, 35 to 45%, 45 to 50%, 50 to 55%, 55 to 65%, and 65 to 80% are converted to gradations Y1 to Y6, respectively. While brightness of the input data is converted to eight gradations which an LCD can display, intervals of brightness assigned to each of gradations are so specified that they are narrower around medium brightness (around 50%) than around the minimum (0%) or maximum (100%) brightness, i.e., the conversion is performed in a nonlinear manner.

The present invention relates to a display controlling apparatus suitable for use in a reproducing apparatus for reproducing a CD-ROM for example in the XA format.
A video signal is intrinsically an analog signal and has substantially infinite number of gradations (stepless gradation). Therefore, when a circuit for processing a video signal is formed of an analog circuit, the image can be displayed substantially in stepless gradation and the image obtained is relatively easy to see. However, with information processing apparatuses such as personal computers, it is, often the case that the circuit for processing the video signal is formed of a digital circuit. In such case, the image is displayed with a predetermined number (finite number) of gradations.
In dividing brightness of a video signal into a predetermined number (finite number) of gradations, it has conventionally been practiced to divide it in a linear manner. Namely, the brightness has been divided into even ranges of gradation. As a result, there has been a problem that pixels concentrate in narrow ranges of gradation and, hence, the image becomes difficult to see.
The present invention was made in view of the above situation and it is an object of the present invention to achieve gradation conversion such that an image which is easier to see is obtained.
The display controlling apparatus according to the present invention comprises a D-RAM 97 as data storage means for storing video data corresponding to an image to be displayed, an interface LSI 95 as gradation conversion means for converting brightness of video data into a predetermined number of gradations in a nonlinear manner, and an LCD/CRT controller 94 as output means for outputting video data converted by the interface LSI 95 so as to have a predetermined number of gradations.
In the display controlling apparatus with the above described arrangement, video data stored in the D-RAM 97 is converted in a nonlinear manner into data with a predetermined number of gradations. Accordingly, pixels are scatteredly distributed over wider ranges of gradations and, hence, an image which is easier to see can be obtained.
Further, according to the method for gradation conversion with the above described arrangement, color data is converted into luminance data and the luminance data is converted in a nonlinear manner into data with a predetermined number of gradations. Accordingly, a color image can be simply converted to a monochromatic image which is easier to see.

Apparatus for controlling display and method for gradation conversion


A trim assembly for a trim of a body element of a vehicle includes a pivotably mounted first trim element that is displaceable into a first functional position and into a second functional position and an adjustment device for adjusting the first trim element from the first functional position into the second functional position and/or from the second functional position into the first functional position. The adjustment device is configured to secure the first trim element in a blocking position in at least one of the first functional position and the second functional position, against displacement out of the blocking position. A stop element is disposed such that, in the blocking position, the adjustment device rests via the stop element on a stop or rests on the stop element.

The invention relates to a trim assembly for a trim for a body element of a vehicle.
DE 10 2009 031 534 A1 discloses a generic trim assembly comprising a trim element, one trim element being pivotably mounted on at least one further trim element. A trim assembly of this kind is used in particular for making ever-increasing requirements for the ergonomics and comfort of vehicles, in particular in view of the ease of getting in and out of the vehicles, consistent with corrosion protection requirements for the body, in particular on doors thereof. In this case, it has been found in particular that door bottom edges of vehicle bodies are protected from rock chips and dirt by a side member trim, the side member trim protruding beyond the door bottom edge, in the vehicle width direction, or ending flush with the door. However, this side member trim is in the way of the legs of a user of the vehicle when getting in and out of the vehicle, which may be problematic in particular for older people or for people having restricted mobility. This problem is aggravated when the vehicle door cannot be opened very wide, in the case of a vehicle that is parked in a garage. It is therefore possible for the trim element of the trim assembly to be moved from an extended protection position, in which it protects the vehicle door or another body element from rock chips, other damage, dirt, and in particular corrosion in that it ends flus with or overlaps the element, into a folded-in comfort position, in which space is freed for the legs of a user of the vehicle when getting into or out of the vehicle.
In this case, a disadvantage of the known trim assembly is that no retention means is provided for the pivotable trim element in the different functional positions thereof, with the result that the trim element cannot enter the positions in a defined manner or be securely retained in these positions. For example, forces acting on the trim element may pivot the element out of the extended protection position thereof and into the folded-in comfort position, without this actually being desired.
The object of the invention is that of providing a trim assembly which does not have the mentioned disadvantages.
The trim assembly used for the trim of a body element, in particular a side rocker, of a vehicle comprises a pivotably mounted first trim element that can be displaced into a first functional position and into a second functional position. The first trim element is preferably dimensionally stable. In connection with this invention, the term "dimensionally stable" is understood to mean that the trim element has an inherent stiffness owing to the material and/or the structure, which inherent stiffness is sufficiently great that the element retains the original shape thereof, in particular when being pivoted, provided at least that no external forces, except, of course, for the forces required for displacing the trim element, act on the first trim element. The dimensionally stable trim element thus behaves entirely differently from a trim element produced from a flexible material web, as is known from the prior art. Owing to the pivotable mounting of the trim element and the dimensionally stable properties thereof, it is clear that the trim element is designed or functions in a manner similar or analogous to a flap or flap element.
The trim assembly according to the invention furthermore comprises an adjustment device which is designed to adjust the first trim element from the first functional position into the second functional position and/or from the second functional position into the first functional position. In particular, the adjustment device is preferably designed to adjust the first trim element from the first functional position into the second functional position and back. In this case, the adjustment device is designed to lock, i.e., to secure/fix, the first trim element, in at least one functional position which is selected from the first functional position and the second functional position, and which is also referred to as the blocking position, against displacement out of the blocking position. This makes it possible for the at least one blocking position to be approached in a defined manner and to be retained, it being possible to prevent accidental pivoting of the first trim element out of the blocking position and in particular in the direction of the other functional position of the two functional positions. This increases the functional reliability of the trim assembly and thus at the same time increases the comfort for a user, and/or corrosion protection for a body comprising the trim assembly, it being possible for at least one body part, for example a door, to be reliably protected by the first trim element, in particular during travel of the vehicle, from rock chips, dirt and thus ultimately also corrosion. Undesired pivoting of the first trim element by means of forces arising during travel, for example owing to airflow, can be reliably prevented. The trim assembly furthermore comprises at least one stop element which is arranged such that, in the at least one blocking position, the adjustment device rests by means of the at least one stop element on a stop or on the at least one stop element. This makes it possible to very reliably exclude the possibility of forces acting on the trim element, caused for example by people treading on the trim element when getting into or out of the vehicle, pivoting the element out of the extended protection position thereof and into the folded-in comfort position, without this actually being desired. Specifying a defined end position of the trim element by means of a stop or a stop assembly advantageously ensures a reproducible gap and joint dimension between the trim element and adjacent components.
The first functional position is preferably a protection position in which the first trim element is arranged in an extended position, such that the element can protrude, in the vehicle transverse direction, beyond a body part, for example a door, or can end flush with the body part. As a result, in the extended protection position the trim element that is arranged below the door in the vehicle height direction can reliably protect the door from rock chips, dirt, and ultimately corrosion. The second functional position is preferably a folded-in comfort position in which the first trim element is pivoted inwards so as to free up space for legs of a user of the vehicle when getting into and out of the vehicle. It is possible that the first trim element can be actively pivoted, by a user of the vehicle, from the first functional position thereof into the second functional position thereof, and preferably back again, for example by means of direct mechanical action on the first trim element, by actuating a button or switch, by selecting a menu item in an electronic operating menu, or in another suitable manner. It is also possible, however, for the first trim element to be able to be automatically displaced from the first functional position thereof into the second functional position thereof, and preferably back again, for example when a desire of a user to get into and/or out of the vehicle is identified. This may be identified for example, in the case of getting into the vehicle, upon gripping behind a door handle, upon opening the door, upon approaching the door, or in another suitable manner. In the case of getting out of the vehicle this may be identified for example upon disconnection of a drive unit of the vehicle, upon gripping behind an inside door handle, upon opening the door, or in another suitable manner. It is possible in particular for the adjustment device to be actuated, in order to displace the first trim element, when a steering wheel is also actuated for displacement into a position for getting out of the vehicle, for example for displacement upwards in the vehicle height direction.
The fact that the first trim element is locked in the blocking position by the adjustment device means in particular that the element is secured against displacement out of the blocking position and in particular into the other of the at least two functional positions in each case. In particular, it is possible for the first trim element to be bolted in the blocking position by the adjustment device. In any case, in the blocking position the first trim element cannot be released unintentionally, i.e., in particular without active actuation of the adjustment device or displacement by the adjustment device, owing to the locking by the adjustment device. The first trim element is preferably displaceable out of the blocking position and into the other functional position in each case only by overcoming a force counteracting the displacement.
Preferably, in the blocking position, the adjustment device applies a force to the first trim element which pushes the first trim element into the blocking position.
It is particularly preferable for the adjustment device to be designed to lock, i.e., fix in position, the first trim element, in both functional positions, i.e., the first functional position and the second functional position. Accordingly, in this case both functional positions are blocking positions.
The adjustment device preferably comprises an actuator or motor which is operatively connected to the first trim element for the purpose of pivoting the element. The actuator or motor is preferably assigned a transmission, via which the actuator or motor is operatively connected to the first trim element. The transmission is preferably a self-locking transmission. The self-locking property of the transmission results, in addition or as an alternative to the operating principle of the adjustment device that will be described in the following, in locking of the first trim element in the blocking position, since the self-locking effectively and efficiently counteracts displacement of the element.
According to a development of the invention, the adjustment device is arranged in an over dead center position in the at least one blocking position. Alternatively, or in addition, it is possible for the first trim element, in combination with the adjustment device, to be arranged in an over dead center position in the at least one blocking position. An over dead center position for the adjustment device, and/or for the first trim element in combination therewith, is thus a simple and easily achievable, as well as effective, way of locking the first trim element in the blocking position. Since pivoting out of the blocking position and into the other functional position, in each case, requires a dead center arranged between the functional positions to be overcome, the adjustment device has to actively act against a force counteracting the displacement into the over dead center position in order to pivot the first trim element out of the blocking position. Vice versa, the over dead center position ensures that a force that is not introduced by the adjustment device, but rather acts on the first trim element from the outside, and that tries to force the trim element counter to the blocking position and into the other functional position in each case, cannot lead to corresponding pivoting, since this force—as is always the case in an over dead center position—acts in a direction oriented away from the dead center and specifically not in the direction of the dead center, a force of this kind preferably being supported, in the over dead center position, by a stop.
According to a development of the invention, in the at least one blocking position the adjustment device rests on a stop, via the at least one stop element, or rests on the at least one stop element itself, the adjustment device being forced against the stop or the stop element by means of a force acting on the first trim element in the direction counter to the blocking position. A force of this kind, which acts on the first trim element and attempts to force the element out of the blocking position and into the other functional position in each case, is then supported by the stop element and optionally the stop, the adjustment device being unable to be forced in the displacement direction specified by the corresponding force, since the device rests on the stop element and/or rests via the stop element on the stop. The stop element is preferably provided in combination with an over dead center position in the blocking position, in particular displacement of the adjustment device away from the stop being required in order to overcome the dead center.
The adjustment device preferably itself comprises the at least one stop element. It is particularly preferable for the two functional positions of the first trim element to be designed as blocking positions, one stop element preferably being provided that provides a blocking stop for both functional positions. It is possible for the stop element to itself strike a further stop in one of the two functional positions, preferably a first part of the adjustment device cooperating in a blocking manner with the stop element in the other of the two functional positions, in particular striking the stop element, the stop element being arranged on another, second part of the adjustment device.
The adjustment device particularly preferably comprises an eccentric that is driven by the actuator or motor, preferably by means of the self-locking transmission, on which eccentric a first end of a steering lever is pivotably hinged in an off-center position, i.e., eccentrically, a second end of the steering lever, which end is opposite in the longitudinal direction of the steering lever, being pivotably hinged to the first trim element. In this case, the second end of the steering lever preferably engages on an underside projection of the first trim element. An articulation point of the steering lever on the first trim element is preferably offset relative to a pivot axis about which the first trim element is pivotable. In this way, the first trim element can be pivoted by the steering lever when the eccentric is rotated by the actuator or motor.
The over dead center position in the at least one blocking position preferably results from the articulation point of the steering lever on the first trim element, an articulation point of the steering lever on the eccentric, and a center point of the eccentric which extends through the axis of rotation of the eccentric, being arranged so as to not be colinear relative to one another in the blocking position, instead the articulation point of the steering lever on the eccentric, viewed from the other functional position, being displaced further beyond the colinear dead center position, in the blocking position, such that the articulation point has to be displaced through the dead center position in order to achieve displacement into the other functional position. However, this can be achieved only by active pivoting of the eccentric by the actuator or motor, counter to a force counteracting the displacement into the dead center position, while forces acting on the first trim element, from the outside, are introduced into the eccentric by the steering lever such that the eccentric is forced in the direction of rotation oriented counter to the other functional position, the forces preferably being supported by the stop element which prevents further rotation of the eccentric beyond the blocking position.
The stop element is preferably arranged on the eccentric, in particular fastened thereto or formed integrally therewith, the stop element preferably striking the first trim element in one of the two functional positions, the trim element being forced even further into the corresponding functional position thereby. In the other of the two functional positions, the stop element preferably cooperates with the steering lever, such that the steering lever strikes the stop element, as a result of which further rotation of the eccentric is also prevented.
According to a development of the invention, the first trim element is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis that is arranged on an upper end of the first trim element and extends in the longitudinal direction of the trim assembly.
In this case, the terms "upper" and "lower" always relate to directions which refer to an intended installation position of the trim assembly on a vehicle body. In this case, "upper" means in particular "viewed in the direction of the vehicle roof", "lower" meaning in particular "viewed in the direction of a footprint on which the vehicle is positioned". The longitudinal direction of the trim assembly is preferably simultaneously a longitudinal direction of the body or of the vehicle. The pivotable displaceability of the first trim element can be achieved for example by means of a pivot pin, but a film hinge or other suitable manners of pivotable mounting of the first trim element are also conceivable.
According to a development of the invention, the trim assembly comprises a second trim element which is stationary relative to the first trim assembly, and preferably relative to a vehicle body on which the trim assembly is arranged, the first trim element being pivotably mounted on the second trim element. The first trim element is particularly preferably arranged adjacently to the second trim element, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the trim assembly; in particular the first trim element and the second trim element are adjacent to one another, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the trim assembly. It is preferable for the first trim element, in the first functional position thereof, i.e., in the extended protection position, to end flush with the second trim element. It is particularly preferable for the first trim element and the second trim element to be designed identically, in particular having the same cross-sectional contour. As a result, the first trim element and the second trim element can align so as to be flush with one another in the first functional position, which is advantageous for visual reasons and for design reasons, a particularly efficient protection effect of the trim assembly also resulting in the first functional position.
According to a development of the invention, the first trim element extends along the longitudinal extension of the trim assembly only in regions. The trim assembly, in particular by way of the first trim element, comprises a movable part, and at least by way of the second trim element, or optionally by way of further trim elements, a stationary part, the movable part of the trim assembly extending over only part of the longitudinal extension of the overall trim assembly, and in particular over only part of a body element to which the trim is to be applied. In this case, the spatial-geometric design of the first trim element can in particular be matched to a region in which installation space for increased comfort of a user of the vehicle is requited in the comfort position. In particular, the first trim element may be provided only in the region of a vehicle and/or only in a region in which more installation space is required for legs of a user when getting into and out of the vehicle. The trim assembly can thus be designed in a simple and cost-effective manner because increased complexity, in the form if the movable first trim element, is provided only where it is actually needed.
According to a development of the invention, the trim assembly comprises at least one third trim element which is stationary relative to the first trim assembly, and preferably relative to a vehicle body. A first stop is arranged on the at least one third trim element, which stop the first trim element strikes in the first functional position thereof. In addition, or alternatively, a second stop is arranged on the third trim element, which stop the first trim element strikes in the second functional position thereof. Defined stops for the first trim element in at least one functional position, preferably in both functional positions, can thus be provided on the third trim element, which stops additionally contribute to supporting the first trim element in the functional positions, and to defining the functional positions. The second trim element and the third trim element may be formed integrally and/or of the same material.
According to a development of the invention, the adjustment device is arranged in a region of the trim assembly which, when the trim assembly is mounted as intended on a body element to which the trim is to be applied, does not overlap the body element to which the trim is to be applied. If, for example, the body element to which the trim is to be applied is a side member, the adjustment device is preferably arranged in the region of a column of the body, for example in the region of the A-column or of the B-column, which are also referred to as the central columns. This is advantageous because it is precisely in regions of this kind that there is sufficient installation space available for accommodating the adjustment device.
According to a development of the invention, the first trim element has a C-shaped cross-sectional contour. The second trim element preferably also has a C-shaped cross-sectional contour. As already mentioned, the first and the second trim element preferably have the same cross-sectional contour. In this case, an open side of the C faces an interior of the trim assembly. The closed side of the C thus faces an outer face of the trim assembly, such that it can provide effective protection, in particular from rock chips and dirt.
The at least one third trim element is preferably L-shaped, in particular in the shape of a lying L, a first, preferably longer, limb of the L forming a lower face of the trim assembly, and a second, preferably shorter, limb of the L closing the trim assembly in the direction of a vehicle interior, in particular in the direction of a vehicle central longitudinal axis. The first stop for the first trim element, which stop the element strikes in the first functional position, is preferably arranged on the first limb of the L. The second stop for the first trim element, which stop the element strikes in the second functional position, is preferably arranged on the second limb of the L.
The pivot axis, about which the first trim element is pivotable, is preferably arranged in the region of an upper curve of the C-shaped cross-sectional contour of the first trim element.
Finally, according to a development of the invention, the trim assembly is designed as a side member trim for a motor vehicle, in particular for a passenger car. In this embodiment, the above-described advantages of the trim assembly are realized particularly. In particular, a vehicle door can be protected from rock chips, dirt, and thus ultimately also corrosion, in the first, extended functional position of the first trim element, which position is the protection position, it being possible, in the second, folded-in functional position, which is a comfort position, for additional space to be freed up for legs of a user of the vehicle, in order to increase the comfort when getting into and out of the vehicle. This pivotably mounted first trim part thus extends at least over a partial length region of the side member/side rocker in the region of the body-side door opening.
The invention also relates to a motor vehicle.
The invention will be explained in greater detail in the following, with reference to the drawings.

Cladding arrangement for cladding a body element of a vehicle


An image input/output apparatus reduces unnecessary fault management processing load and prevents a normal image input/output processing efficiency from decreasing in the way that an administrator selects an intrinsic fault that should be emphasized among individually-occurring detectable faults. To accomplish this, when a history representing a state of control is stored as log information in a first storage, a fault is detected, and an occurrence frequency of the detected fault is stored in a second storage in a way that associates the fault occurrence frequency with the fault. One or more thresholds of the fault occurrence frequency are enabled to be set, and it is judged whether the fault occurrence frequency is equal to or larger than the threshold. Based on a result of the judgment, a log management unit controls storage setting of the log information associated with the fault into the first storage.

A control unit for controlling executing operations of respective units (or modules) of a device configuring a multi-function device serving as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile and incorporating functions thereof, has hitherto adopted a mechanism for outputting logs representing device internal states that include sensor values of the respective units in order to perform a test at a development and debugging, to conduct maintenance of a product on the market and to analyze a fault.
On the occasion of the product development, logs are invariably outputted to a host PC (Personal Computer) or the like connected to the device, and the development can be advanced while checking internal operations by analyzing these logs.
Then, for on-the-market machines, generally the logs are obtained only for periodic inspection by a serviceman and for taking urgent measures against a fault when such occurs. Therefore, what the periodic inspection can check is only a temporary state when in the inspection, and it is impossible to detect a latent fault that might not occur during the inspection.
Further, there is a possibility that when taking an urgent measure against a fault, the device internal state might already have changed, and the truly desired information, namely a picture of the machine state just when the fault occurs, cannot be acquired.
Moreover, the device internal state is merely left as a log while no consideration is given to a user's operation, and hence it is difficult to reenact an error and the fault when evaluating at the stage of the development and when taking the measure against the fault with respect to the on-the-market machine.
Such being the case, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-283683 discloses a technology of enhancing the ability to reenact an error and a fault and facilitating the maintenance of the product and the fault analysis as well by recording the user's operation as a log in addition to the device internal state on a memory. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-283683 discloses also a technology of diagnosing the fault from these logs by the device itself.
According to the prior art described above, it is considered that the reenacting ability (i.e., the device's ability to reenact the error and the fault) and the reliability of self-diagnosis by the device are enhanced by taking as many detailed logs as possible.
As the number of logs gets larger, however, there is a higher possibility that the log recording process itself may restrict performance of execution of the normal control, that is, of the device's normal functions.
Further, it follows that logs unrelated to checking a target error and fault will increase in number, and therefore, conversely, it is difficult to select only the related logs from among these unrelated logs. In addition, the unrelated logs cause a futile expenditure of log storage area, and a period of real operation time of the device during which a history thereof can be recorded as a log, is reduced.
In these points, namely, a fundamental problem is that the recording target log is uniquely determined before the operation, but at that time it is not known which type of fault is going to occur during the operation or what the fault occurrence frequency is.

Image input/output device, information processing method, and storage medium


A driving apparatus for driving a plurality of display devices of a panel is provided. The driving apparatus comprises a controllable current source and a plurality of current storage and duplicating apparatuses. Wherein, each of the current storage and duplicating apparatuses is coupled to the controllable current source and one of the display devices corresponding thereto to receive a first current from the controllable current source, and to output a second current which is equal, or proportional to the first current to drive the display apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving apparatus and a driving method of a display device, and more particularly, to a driving apparatus with a current storage and duplicating apparatus and a driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) comprises an organic thin film between its transparent anode and metal cathode. With these film layers, electrons and holes combine in the organic thin film to release energy which converts into visible light. In addition, different organic materials can generate different color lights. By using different organic materials, a full-color display can be manufactured. Generally, advantages of an OLED display include: self-illumination, slim structure, high brightness, high fluorescence efficiency, high contrast, low response time (e.g., in a few microseconds), wide view angle, low power consumption, wide temperature range, and panel flexibility.
Generally, the organic light-emitting diode may be driven by using current for illumination. The amount of currents will determine brightness and color of the OLED. Accordingly, each light-emitting diode needs a driving circuit for controlling the current. The traditional method of controlling the current can be achieved by using switches to control the number of the functioning transistors in a current mirror. For example, a current-type digital-to-analog converter (DAC) uses this method.
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a prior art OLED display. Referring to FIG. 1, the prior art OLED display 100 comprises a panel 102 and a driving circuit 104. The panel 102 comprises a plurality of matrix-arranged OLEDs 112. The driving circuit 104 comprises a plurality of controllable current sources 114, wherein, each controllable current source 114 is coupled to a corresponding OLED 112. The controllable current source 114 outputs a current to drive the OLED 112 coupled thereto for illumination. The amount of the current determines the brightness and color of the OLED. Accordingly, each OLED 112 requires a controllable current source 114 in the traditional technology.
As described, since each OLED requires a controllable current source, the prior art driving circuit 104 needs a huge area and is costly. In addition, the error of the manufacturing process of the controllable current source also causes high current errors output from it. It is thus desired to develop a method and an apparatus which can reduce the area and cost of the driving circuit, eliminate the current error resulting from the manufacturing process error of the controllable current source, and increase the display efficiency and uniformity of the OLED.


An HDD controller executes high-speed burst data transfer, at which the HDD controller has a master mode for the HDD controller to work as a bus master of a PCI bus, and a slave mode for the HDD controller to work as a slave unit to the PCI bus. When a PCI device connected to a memory for data exchange is slower than the HDD controller in slave access, the HDD controller operates in the slave mode in data control while the PCI device A becomes the bus master. On the other hand, when the PCI device is a PCI device B which is faster than or as fast as the HDD controller in slave access, the HDD controller operates in the master mode in data control.

PCI buses have been in common use to serve as system buses that give connection between devices in personnel computers (PC), various types of electronic equipment, or the like. Such system buses are employed in order to build a system architecture that does not depend on a higher data transfer rate or a high-performance processor.
A PCI bus carries out every data transfer in a principle of block transfer, which is realized in a process of burst transfer. This allows the PCI bus to yield a maximum data transfer rate of 133 megabyte per second (MBps) (when the bus has a data transfer capacity of 32 bits). The PCI bus is specified to support both memories and I/O address spaces for burst transfer.
When a system includes a processor or a bus master that creates data bursts in an I/O address space, I/O data bursts created by the processor or bus master enable even faster data transfer between I/O devices and between system memories and the I/O devices, which leads to improved system performance.
As a conventional technique to offer faster data transfer, such a computer system is suggested (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 3579149) that is devised in a try to increase the speed of a process of access to a known I/O-mapped I/O device, the process being executed by a CPU or a bus master other than the CPU via a PCI bus.
The computer system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3579149 includes a means for designating I/O devices, which are assigned to a given I/O address on a PCI bus, as a memory space and generating a memory cycle in response to a request for I/O access to the I/O devices, and a means for turning the memory cycle into a series of I/O cycles for access to the I/O devices.
The system described in Japanese Patent No. 3579149 allows a CPU to function as a bus master and provide access to the I/O devices, but is incapable of showing sufficient bus performance in access to a high-speed I/O device because of the memory cycle generated in response to the I/O access request. Specifically, according to the system described in Japanese Patent No. 3579149, data access to the I/O devices and to memories are switched via a bridge circuit, and the CPU does not have to interfere at least with data transfer in memory access but has to interfere with every data transfer involving burst transfer. This makes it impossible for the system to carry out data transfer to the high-speed I/O device under sufficient bus performance.
The technique according to the system described in Japanese Patent No. 3579149 is characterized by the CPU working as a bus master to provide access to a specific I/O device, which may be an HDD. The HDD is controlled by an HDD controller, which works as a bus master to control data transfer involving access to the HDD. In this data transfer process, bus performance becomes insufficient when a targeted PCI device other than the HDD controller in the data transfer is a device performing slowly in slave access (target access).
For example, such a case can be assumed that the HDD controller is connected to a PCI device A other than the HDD, the device A being slow in target access, via a bus. When the PCI device A is a data transfer target and the HDD controller makes access to the PCI device A slow in target access, a process to be carried out is the one as shown in the left-half of a timing chart (e.g. transfer of 8 bursts of data) exhibited in FIG. 3. The chart demonstrates that the PCI device A, slow to process target access, causes the HDD controller to wait by sending out a TRDY signal from a PCI hF (Interface) on the PCI device A. In this case, therefore, an efficient transfer process is not executed.
The above case applies not only to the technique according to the Japanese Patent No. 3579149, but also to techniques in popular use. In many cases, due to features in system designing the system can include specific combination of circuits, another PCI device connected to an HDD controller that can be a device slow in slave access, or an HDD controller may be connected to an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip having a PCI device slow in slave access.
One reason for slow data transfer in a slave access process is that, for a certain type of PCI device, a PCI device carries out such a process that it stops a PCI bus immediately after receiving data from the PCI device to write the data into a local memory, and asks for data on the PCI bus again after finishing writing. Meanwhile, the PCI bus works on faster data transfer through a burst transfer process of sending out an address first and data in succession. Upon receiving data, the PCI bus brings together, for example, 32 bursts of data for burst transfer to increase process speed, for example, in writing the data into a page memory. In speeding up data transfer, an improvement in repeated stoppage of and data request to the PCI bus may be one approach to take, but, in principle, PCI bus controllers are not designed for high-speed performance, which makes such improvement difficult to achieve.

HDD controller and system equipped with the same