A fuel pump noise-reduction apparatus in a Liquefied Petroleum Injection (LPI) vehicle comprises a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) switch. A plurality of shut off valves are configured for activation upon stoppage of battery power via the LPG switch. A fuel pump in a fuel tank is configured for activation upon stoppage of battery power via the LPG switch. The shut off valves close and the fuel pump stops simultaneously when the LPG switch is deactivated, contributing to a reduction in noise and engine output consumption due to unnecessary operation of the fuel pump when the engine stops.

Generally, vehicles that use LPG for fuel are configured to inject gaseous LPG into the engine, in which LPG is provided by the fuel tank and is turned into gas by passing through the vaporizer and mixer. However, the LPG engine has drawbacks in terms of the engine output function, fuel economy, vehicle start at a low temperature, exhaust gas and the like. Therefore, LPI engine vehicles have been developed and used recently.
LPI engine vehicles are configured to compressively transfer LPG fuel to an injector through the fuel line by using a fuel pump installed in the fuel tank. Next, the injector injects fuel into the engine in a liquid state to improve engine output, fuel economy, vehicle start function at low temperatures, and exhaust gas emission levels.
In LPI engine vehicles, the fuel tank and regulator are each equipped with a shut-off valve, also called an isolating valve. If the LPG switch is turned off while the engine is running, the Interface Box (IFB) closes the isolating valves and stops the fuel flow from the injector.
Thus, in conventional LPI engine vehicles, when the LPG switch is turned off, the shut-off valves in the fuel tank and regulator are closed to stop the fuel supply. However, there is a drawback in that when the engine stops, the fuel pump continues to operate for a prescribed period of time by employing another power source, thereby causing an increase in noise and output consumption due to the unnecessary operation of the fuel pump.

Fuel pump noise-reduction apparatus in liquefied petroleum injection vehicle


A speech recognition system processes speech outputs from a user to select a list element from a list of list elements. The user speaks the speech output as a whole word and an initial character sequence of the desired list element. The whole word and individual character sequence components are processed separately. A sublist is generated in response to the individual character sequence. A list element is selected in response to the whole word and sublist.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to speech recognition systems. More particularly, this invention relates to speech recognition systems for a user to select a list element from a list or group of list elements.
2. Related Art
Many electronic applications have design processes or sequences that are speech-guided or speech-controlled by a user. The electronic applications include destination guidance (navigation) systems for vehicles, telephone and/or address systems, and the like. Vehicles include automobiles, trucks, boats, airplanes, and the like.
In these processes or sequences, a user provides speech output to a speech recognition unit. The speech output often corresponds to a list element from a list or group of list elements. The speech recognition unit processes the speech output. The speech recognition unit selects a list element in response to the processed speech output.
Speech recognition units typically process a limited number of speech outputs. Many speech recognition units can process only a few thousand words (speech outputs) or list elements. When there are large numbers of list elements, the speech recognition unit may not function or may not function properly without additional conditioning or processing of the speech output. Many applications have an extensive number of list elements, especially when the list comprises most or all of the available list elements. Such applications include destination guidance (navigation) systems and telephone systems. Navigation and telephone systems typically include numerous city and street names. Telephone systems typically include numerous personal names. These applications may have lists with list elements numbering in the tens to hundreds of thousands. In addition, many speech recognition units may not differentiate between similar sounding list elements, especially when there are numerous list elements that sound alike.


According to certain embodiments, an electronic device comprises a housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface oriented in a direction opposite to the front surface, a touchscreen display exposed through at least a portion of the front surface, a fingerprint sensor arranged between the touchscreen display and the rear surface underlapping a region of the touchscreen display when viewed from above the front surface, at least one processor operatively connected to the touchscreen display and the fingerprint sensor, and a memory operatively connected to the at least one processor, wherein the memory stores instructions for causing the at least one processor, when executed, to perform operations comprising displaying a user interface comprising an object on the touchscreen display, receiving a gesture input for dragging the object toward the region, the gesture input inputted through the touchscreen display, identifying whether a finger providing the gesture input is a predetermined finger registered for authentication through the fingerprint sensor, and activating the fingerprint sensor based at least in part on the identification.

Recently, electronic devices, especially smartphones, are storing more and more of our personal information and data. It has become important to verify the identity of a user before providing access, to avoid unauthorized and potentially nefarious use of such personal information and data.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Method for recognizing fingerprint, and electronic device and storage medium therefor


A magnetic logic cell includes a magnetic element having a pinned layer, a free layer, and a spacer layer. The pinned and free layers have pinned and free layer magnetizations. The spacer layer resides between the pinned and free layers. In one aspect, the magnetic logic cell includes a first configuration line that is electrically connected to the magnetic element and carries a first current and a second configuration line electrically that is insulated from the magnetic element and the first configuration line and carries a second current. The first or second current alone cannot switch the free layer magnetization. The first and second currents together can switch the free layer magnetization. When the first current is driven through the magnetic element and the second current is provided, the combination sets the pinned layer magnetization direction. In one aspect, the pinned layer magnetization is set by heating the AFM layer to approximately at or above the blocking temperature. In order to configure the logic cell, an initial direction for the free layer magnetization is also set.

Currently, magnetic elements are of interest for a variety of applications. In general, such conventional magnetic elements are magnetic tunneling junctions. FIG. 1 depicts such a conventional magnetic element 10. The conventional magnetic element 10 includes a conventional antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer 12, a conventional pinned layer 14, a conventional tunneling barrier layer 16, and a conventional free layer 18. Other layers (not shown), seed, and/or capping layers may also be used. The conventional pinned layer 14 and the conventional free layer 18 are ferromagnetic. Thus, the conventional free layer 18 is depicted as having a changeable magnetization 19. The nonmagnetic tunneling barrier layer 16 is typically an insulator. The magnetization 15 of the pinned layer 14 is pinned in a particular direction by the AFM layer 12. The magnetization 19 of the free layer 18 is free to rotate, typically in response to an external magnetic field.
Depending upon the orientations of the magnetization 19 and 15 of the conventional free layer 18 and the conventional pinned layer 14, respectively, the resistance of the conventional magnetic element 10, respectively, changes. When the magnetization 19 of the conventional free layer 18 is parallel to the magnetization 15 of the conventional pinned layer 14, the resistance of the conventional magnetic element 10 is low. When the magnetization 19 of the conventional free layer 18 is antiparallel to the magnetization 15 of the conventional pinned layer 14, the resistance of the conventional magnetic element 10 is high. To sense the resistance of the conventional magnetic element 10, current is driven through the conventional magnetic element 10. Current could be driven in a CPP (current perpendicular to the plane) configuration, perpendicular to the layers of conventional magnetic element 10 up or down, in the z-direction as seen in FIG. 1. Based upon the output, it can be determined whether the resistance of the conventional magnetic element 10 is high or low. When the magnetic element is used for logic application, typically a high resistance state (free layer magnetization 19 antiparallel to the pinned layer magnetization 15) corresponds to a logical zero, "0". A low resistance state (free layer magnetization 19 parallel to the pinned layer magnetization 15) corresponds to a logical one, "1".
One application that is of interest is the use of the conventional magnetic element 10 in reconfigurable structures that perform multiple logic operations such as AND, OR, NAND, and NOR functions. Logic functions are traditionally performed using conventional transistor based logic. Conventional transistor based logic circuits are designed to perform one logic operation per design. Thus, the transistor based logic cells cannot be reconfigured to perform alternate operations. It would, therefore, be desirable to perform such logic operations using reconfigurable technology, such as magnetic technology.
Although conventional magnetic elements, such as the conventional magnetic element 10, can be used in reconfigurable logic design, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that current designs have serious drawbacks. For example, most conventional reconfigurable logic designs using the conventional magnetic element 10 require multiple conventional magnetic elements 10 per cell. See, for example, R. Richter, H. Boeve, L. Bar, J. Bangert, U. K. Klostermann, J. Wecker and G. Reiss, "Field programmable spin-logic based on magnetic tunneling elements" in Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, vol. 240 (2002) pp 127–129 or W. Black and B. Das, "Programmable logic using giant-magnetoresistance and spin-dependant tunneling devices" in Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 87 (2000) pp 6674–6679. Alternatively, other conventional reconfigurable logic designs that utilize conventional magnetic elements 10 involve complex interconnection architectures. See, for example, S. Nakamura and S. Haneda, "Magnetic logic element and magnetic logic element array", U.S. Patent Publ. # 2003/0227807 or A. Ney, C. Pampuch, R. Koch and K. H. Ploog, "Programmable computing with a single magnetoresistive element" in Letter to Nature, vol. 425 (2003) pp 485–487. Multiple conventional magnetic elements 10 per cell and complex interconnection architectures are a barrier to using magnetic elements in higher density, relatively easily fabricated reconfigurable logic circuits.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method and system for providing reconfigurable logic that utilizes magnetic elements while maintaining a simpler structure. The present invention addresses such a need.

Re-configurable logic elements using heat assisted magnetic tunneling elements


A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (CMOSFET) is provided. The CMOSFET includes a substrate of a first conductivity type, a first epitaxial layer, a well, a second epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type, a first sinker, a second sinker, a first buried layer and a second buried layer. The first and the second epitaxial layer are sequentially disposed on the substrate. The first sinker and the first buried layer separate a first region from the second epitaxial layer. The second sinker and the second buried layer separate a second region from the second epitaxial layer. The well is disposed in the first region. A first transistor is disposed in the well. A second transistor is disposed in the second region. A deep trench isolation is disposed between the first and the second region and extends from the substrate to the upper surface of the second epitaxial layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor device capable of preventing latch-up.
2. Description of Related Art
The design of a semiconductor device must continuously improve with the increasing level of integration and the increasingly complicated requirements. For example, the design of high-voltage devices must be strong enough to withstand high voltage operation while not affecting the operation of other devices. In the following, the problems and limitation of a conventional high voltage device is described with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional high voltage device. The high voltage device is a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (CMOSFET) comprising two lateral double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (LDMOSFET).
As shown in FIG. 1, the high voltage device includes a P-type substrate (P-sub) 100, gates 102 and 104, gate dielectric layers 106 and 108, a P-well 112p, a P-tub 114p, doped regions 116p, 118p and 120p, N-tubs 112n and 124n, doped regions 126n, 128n and 130n, an isolation 134, a dielectric layer 136, interconnects 138 and a dielectric layer 140. The P-type substrate 100 can be divided into a HVNMOSFET region and a HVPMOSFET region comprising a high voltage N-type MOSFET (NMOSFET) and a high voltage P-type MOSFET (PMOSFET), respectively. The doped regions 126n, 128n and the gate 102 are the source, the drain and the gate of the high voltage NMOSFET, and the doped regions 120p, 118p and the gate 104 are the source, the drain and the gate of the high voltage PMOSFET. The doped regions 116p, 118p and 120p have p+ conductivity type and the doped regions 126n, 128n and 130n have n+ conductivity type.
However, the high voltage device in FIG. 1 may have the following drawbacks:
1. The high voltage device may have latch-up problem. More specifically, the doped region 120p, the N-tub 124n and the P-type substrate 100 may form the emitter, the base and the collector of a parasitic bipolar transistor, and the doped region 126n, the P-type substrate 100 and the N-tub 124n may form the emitter, the base and the collector of another parasitic bipolar transistor. When the current/gain product of the two bipolar transistors is greater than 1, the high voltage device cannot operate normally.
2. The foregoing high voltage PMOS and the high voltage NMOS are disposed on the P-type substrate 100. Since the input voltage applied to the doped region 120p is directly applied to the P-type substrate 100, the input voltage is subjected to considerable limitations so that the operating range of the high voltage device is reduced.
3. In general, other semiconductor devices are also disposed on the P-type substrate 100. However, none of the sides of the high voltage device have provided sufficient isolation. Therefore, mutual interference between the high voltage device and these semiconductor devices may occur.
Since the operation of the CMOSFET may affect the operations of other semiconductor devices disposed above the substrate, the design must be improved.

Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor


A driving device of a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel which is provided with a group of segment electrodes and a group of common electrodes disposed to intersect with the group of segment electrodes and a liquid crystal sandwitched therebetween. The driving device includes a controller which controls a changing period for changing an output level of a segment driving signal which drives the group of segment electrodes in a single scanning period, within a voltage level which is the same polarity with respect to a common driving output which drives the group of common electrodes. The driving device corrects a driving voltage error generated by a change in display data and alternating signal by controlling the changing period. As a result, the driving device improves the display quality of the liquid crystal panel.

The present invention relates to a driving device and driving method of a liquid crystal display device for improving display quality of a liquid crystal display device of a simple matrix type.
In a conventional liquid crystal display device of a simple matrix type, as shown in FIG. 10, a segment side driving circuit (segment driver) 72 and a common side driving circuit (common driver) 73 are connected to a liquid crystal panel 71. To the segment side driving circuit 72 and the common side driving circuit 73 are connected a power source circuit 74 and a controller 75. The power source circuit 74 supplies power to the segment side driving circuit 72 and the common side driving circuit 73. The controller 75 sends various control signals to the segment side driving circuit 72 and the common side driving circuit 73.
The controller 75 gives the segment side driving circuit 72 display data, a data latch clock for taking in the display data, a horizontal synchronizing signal, and an alternating signal for driving the liquid crystal panel 71 in AC. The controller 75 gives the common side driving circuit 73 a horizontal synchronizing signal, an alternating signal, and a vertical synchronizing signal for recognizing a start of a screen.
The power source circuit 74 supplies voltages of VBH and VBL to the segment side driving circuit 72, and voltages of VH, VC, and VL to the common side driving circuit 73. The liquid crystal panel 71 constitutes a simple matrix arrangement by segment electrodes X1, X2, X3, . . . , and Xm and common electrodes Y1, Y2, Y3, . . . , and Yn, and a liquid crystal cell 76 constitutes a pixel at the intersection of the segment electrodes and the common electrodes.
FIG. 11 shows an internal structure of the conventional segment side driving circuit 72. The segment side driving circuit 72 includes a shift register 77, a data latch 78, a line latch 79, a level shifter 80, and a liquid crystal driving output circuit 81. In the case where the segment side driving circuit 72 has, for example, 240 outputs, the display data of 240 lines are serially inputted to the shift register 77 in synchronization with the data latch clock. The display data then are converted into parallel data in the shift register 77, and are latched in the data latch 78 and accumulated therein.
When data of the number of column electrodes of the liquid crystal panel 71 are accumulated, the horizontal synchronizing signal (LP) is inputted, and the display data accumulated are latched by the line latch 79. The display data then are converted by the level shifter 80 from a logic voltage level to a liquid crystal driving voltage level to be inputted to the liquid crystal driving output circuit 81. The liquid crystal driving output circuit 81 outputs a driving output voltage to the segment electrodes X1, . . . , and X240 of the liquid crystal panel 71 in accordance with the display data inputted from the level shifter 80 and in accordance with the alternating signal (FR).
FIG. 12 shows operations of the prior art. For convenience, the explanation will be given through the case where the number of common electrodes Y (scanning electrodes) is, for example, seven, that is, the case where the alternating signal is switched per seven scanning periods.
A common output voltage VY applied to the common electrodes Y as scanning electrodes receives the vertical synchronizing signal and outputs, in accordance with the horizontal synchronizing signal and the alternating signal from a head line, either VH level or VL level when the electrodes are selected, and outputs VC level when the electrodes are not selected (non-select period). A segment output voltage VX applied to the segment electrodes X as data electrodes is selected as one of VBH and VBL levels in accordance with the display data and the alternating signal, and the whole output of a single scanning electrode is applied in parallel to the segment electrodes X.
In the liquid crystal panel 71, a potential difference between the segment electrodes X and the common electrodes Y is applied to each pixel, and display or non-display is decided in accordance with an effective value of the potential difference in a single frame period, which is the time required to display one screen. In the prior art, the display color or gradation on the liquid crystal panel 71 is slightly different depending on display data or display pattern even by comparison within the same ON display or OFF display.
The following describes one example of luminous non-uniformity generated by display data.
{circle around (1)} As shown in FIG. 13, in the case of a whole screen ON display, the segment output voltage from each segment side driving circuit 72 is maintained at a constant voltage level unless the alternating signal is changed.
The effective voltage VeffA of voltage VA applied to the liquid crystal cell 76 as a pixel of the liquid crystal panel 71 is represented by a difference between a potential of a segment output waveform and a potential of a common output waveform.
{circle around (2)} As shown in FIG. 14, in the case of a stripe display in which display data repeats ON and OFF per scanning line, the segment output voltage from each segment side driving circuit 72 is outputted with alternating and repeating VBH and VBL levels per fall of the horizontal synchronizing signal even when the alternating signal is not changed.
The effective voltage VeffB of voltage VB applied to the liquid crystal cell 76 as a pixel of the liquid crystal panel 71 is represented by a difference between a potential of a segment output waveform and a potential of a common output waveform.
The difference between {circle around (1)} and {circle around (2)} is that the number of changes of the output level of the segment output waveform per unit time is different. When the output level changes, the output waveform is blunted by such factors as the capacitance of the liquid crystal cell 76, the electrode resistance of the electrodes of the liquid crystal panel 71, and the output resistance of the driving circuits 72 and 73, and therefore when the number of changes of the output level is large, the effective voltage is reduced by blunted waveform.
Thus, even when there are the same numbers of ON display pixels and OFF display pixels, the effective voltage VeffB, in which the number of changes of the output level of the segment output waveform is made larger, satisfies the relationship of VeffB  less than VeffA relative to the effective voltage VeffA. As a result, by this reduction in effective voltage, luminous non-uniformity called shadowing is generated on the display screen.
The following describes an example of luminous non-uniformity generated when the alternating signal is switched.
{circle around (3)} As shown in FIG. 15, in the case of a whole screen ON display in which the alternating signal is switched at least once in a single frame period, the segment output voltage from the segment side driving circuit 72 is outputted with alternating and repeating VBH and VBL levels in accordance with the alternating signal. When the alternating signal is switched, all the segment output voltages are switched at once from (a) VBH to VBL or from (b) VBL to VBH. Here, distortion due to a voltage shift is generated on the common electrodes Y, which are scanning electrodes facing the segment electrodes X with the liquid crystal therebetween, in accordance with the ratio of the change [(a) and (b)] in the segment electrodes X.
The effective voltage VeffC of voltage VC applied to the liquid crystal cell 76 which is a pixel of the liquid crystal panel 71 is represented by a difference between a potential of the segment output waveform and a potential of the common output waveform.
{circle around (4)} As shown in FIG. 16, in the case of a partially OFF block display, as with the case {circle around (3)}, the segment output voltages change all at once, and thus there is generated distortion due to a voltage shift on the common electrodes Y, which are scanning electrodes facing the segment electrodes X with the liquid crystal therebetween, in accordance with the ratio of the change [(a) and (b)] of the segment electrodes X.
The effective voltage VeffD of voltage VD applied to the liquid crystal cell 76 which is a pixel of the liquid crystal panel 71 is represented by a difference between a potential of the segment output waveform and a potential of a common output waveform.
The difference between {circle around (3)} and {circle around (4)} is that the directions of distortion generated on the common output waveform with respect to the output level of the segment output waveform are different.
In case {circle around (3)}, the changes in the segment output waveform are all directed in the same direction of the changes of the alternating signal, and for this reason the direction of the segment output waveform and the direction of the distortion generated on the common output waveform are the same, whereas in case {circle around (4)}, the changes in the segment output waveform are directed in the reverse direction of the changes of the alternating signal in the pixels on the segment electrodes X displaying a longitudinal OFF block display, and for this reason the direction of the segment output waveform and the direction of the distortion generated on the common output waveform are different, and the effective voltage of the distorted portion is increased as a result.
Therefore, the effective voltages applied to the liquid crystal cell 76 become different by the ratio of ON-OFF of display data when the alternating signal is changed and by the segment output voltage level. Namely, in case {circle around (3)} and case {circle around (4)}, VeffC less than VeffD, and as a result luminous non-uniformity called shadowing is generated.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 265402/1993 (Tokukaihei 5-265402) (published date: Oct. 15, 1993) discloses a technique for reducing luminous non-uniformity of display which is dependent on display pattern, in a liquid crystal display device of a simple matrix type which drives a liquid crystal panel in the described manner.
This technique is a driving method of a liquid crystal display device of a simple matrix type for driving a liquid crystal panel, for example, as shown in FIG. 17. Namely, a correction period is provided per line scanning period with respect to all outputs from a column driving circuit which corresponds to the segment side driving circuit 72. In the correction period, an intermediate voltage level of the ON display voltage level and OFF voltage display level is outputted as a correction voltage, instead of the display voltage outputted from the column driving circuit.
FIG. 17, FIG. 18, and FIG. 19 show common output voltage VY and segment output voltage VX applied to the liquid crystal panel in the technique disclosed in the above publication, in the case of a stripe display, whole screen ON display, and whole screen OFF display, respectively.
In the technique as disclosed in the above publication, the output waveforms of the segment side driving circuit 72 are all changed to an intermediate voltage level of an ON display voltage level and OFF display voltage level per single scanning period regardless of the display pattern. Thus, the number of output changes of the segment side driving circuit 72 becomes the same, thus reducing the display pattern dependent variation in effective value of the applied voltage. As a result, the above technique makes it possible to reduce luminous non-uniformity which is based on blunted waveform in accordance with the changes.
However, in the technique as disclosed in the above publication, an intermediate level is outputted in a correction period, and for this reason, compared with the effective voltage value applied to the liquid crystal cell 76 in a common driving method, the effective voltage value is reduced.
Thus, in the above technique, the contrast is lowered and the display quality suffers by the reduction in effective voltage value. Namely, as shown in FIG. 17, due to the fact that a portion 77 of the effective voltage at which an intermediate voltage level is applied to the segment electrodes X is lost, the effective value Veff of the voltage (VXxe2x88x92VY) applied to the liquid crystal cell is lowered, thus the problem that the display quality is susceptible to deterioration such as lowered contrast.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 116056/1998 (Tokukaihei 10-116056) (published date: May 6, 1998), which is the invention of the inventors of the present application, proposes another technique for overcoming the above problem. FIG. 20 shows a common output voltage and segment output voltage applied to the liquid crystal cell of this publication.
In this technique, as the driving method of a liquid crystal display device of a simple matrix type, a display data signal and a display data signal of a preceding scanning period are independently compared per each pixel column, and when the display data signals are the same, a correction period whose period is fixed is provided in a single scanning period.
In this technique, in a correction period, an intermediate voltage level of an ON display voltage level and OFF display voltage level is outputted as a correction voltage, instead of a display voltage outputted from the segment side driving circuit 72.
Namely, when the display voltage level outputted from the segment side driving circuit 72 does not change for not less than two consecutive scanning periods, a voltage loss corresponding to blunted waveform generated when the display voltage level is changed to the ON display voltage level and OFF display voltage level in a correction period is corrected so as to reduce the display pattern dependent variation in the effective value of the applied voltage.
As a result, the above technique minimizes a voltage loss of the effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal cell 76, and solves luminous non-uniformity dependent on display pattern while minimizing lowering of contrast.
Another technique for solving the problem of variation in effective value of an applied voltage due to distortion of the common electrodes generated by a change in segment output waveform, which is another factor of shadowing, is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 12030/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-12030) (published date: Jan. 21, 1994). In this technique, the waveform distortion of the common electrodes Y is detected, and by applying a reverse voltage of the distortion to the common electrodes Y, the variation in the effective value of the applied voltage due to waveform distortion of the common electrodes Y is reduced.
However, in the technique disclosed in the above publication, because the potential of the waveform distortion of the common electrodes Y is small, the mechanism for accurately detecting the waveform distortion becomes complex, and there arises the problem of increased cost due to the complicated mechanism.
The problems such as above are solved by the described technologies, yet the following problems remain to be solved. Namely, the technique disclosed in the above Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 116056/1998 (Tokukaihei 10-116056) does not solve the problem of luminous non-uniformity due to distortion of the common electrodes Y, which is caused by a change in segment output waveform, which is another factor of shadowing. This problem cannot be solved unless this technique is combined with the technique disclosed in the above Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 12030/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-12030). Thus, there remains the conventional problem that it is difficult to prevent deterioration of display quality and to simplify the mechanism at the same time.
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof which can improve display quality of a liquid crystal panel and simplify a system of the liquid crystal display device by eliminating a loss in effective voltage applied to a liquid crystal cell so as to solve luminous non-uniformity which depends on display pattern, and by correcting by a segment side driving circuit distortion of common electrodes generated by a change in segment output waveform.
In order to achieve the above object, a driving device of a liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a group of signal electrodes which are driven by a driving signal which corresponds to display data; a group of scanning electrodes which are disposed so as to intersect with the group of signal electrodes; a liquid crystal sandwitched between the group of signal electrodes and the group of scanning electrodes; an alternate control section for alternately and inversely driving the liquid crystal by an alternating signal; and a period control section for setting a changing period for changing an output level of the driving signal at least once in a single scanning period, and for controlling the changing period based on a change in the driving signal and a change in the alternating signal.
With this arrangement, a driving voltage error which is generated by a distortion generated on the group of scanning electrodes by a change in the driving signal of the group of signal electrodes can be corrected on the side of the driving signal of the group of signal electrodes by the control section, which controls the changing period for changing the output level, namely by adjusting the duration of the changing period.
Also, with the above arrangement, a driving voltage error which is generated by blunted waveform, etc., of the driving signal of the group of signal electrodes can also be corrected by comparing the driving signal with respect to the liquid crystal to be driven and the driving signal of the preceding scanning period based on whether they are at ON display level or OFF display level. Namely, when the driving signals compared are different, a voltage loss due to the driving voltage error by the blunted waveform is corrected on the side of the group of signal electrodes by controlling, that is, by adjusting by the control section the changing period for changing the output level.
In this manner, with the above arrangement, (a) the driving voltage error to be a loss of the effective voltage, due to blunted waveform of the driving signal of the group of signal electrodes, and (b) the driving voltage error generated by the distortion generated on the group of scanning electrodes by a change in waveform of the driving signal of the group of signal electrodes can be corrected by controlling the changing period for changing the output level, which is set in the driving signal, in a single scanning period based on a change in the driving signal and a change in the alternating signal, for example, by adjusting the duration of the changing period.
As a result, with the described arrangement, (a) the output waveform of a driving signal which is not to be corrected and (b) the output waveform of a driving signal which is to be corrected can be separately adjusted based on a change in the driving signal and a change in the alternating signal, thus making it possible to further reduce the difference on a display between the output waveform (a) and the output waveform (b). Thus, with the above arrangement, luminous non-uniformity on the display of the liquid crystal display device can be suppressed compared with the case where the period for changing the output level is fixed.
Further, with the above arrangement, the driving voltage error is corrected by predicting the generation of the driving voltage error based on a change in the driving signal and a change in the alternating signal. Thus, the conventional mechanism for detecting and correcting the driving voltage error can be omitted, thus simplifying the mechanism for correction.
As a result, with the above arrangement, by the provision of the control section which controls the changing period for changing the output level of the driving signal in a single scanning period based on a change in the driving signal and a change in the alternating signal, luminous non-uniformity on the display can be suppressed and the mechanism can be simplified.
In order to achieve the above object, another driving device of a liquid crystal display device of the present invention further includes a power source circuit for supplying (a) VC which is a non-select output level supplied to the group of scanning electrodes during a non-select period, and (b) VBH1, VBH2, VBL2, and VBL1, which are output levels of the driving signal, supplied to the group of signal electrodes, satisfying a relationship of VBH1 greater than VBH2 greater than VC greater than VBL2 greater than VBL1.
With this arrangement, the power source circuit supplies, as the output level of the driving signal, output levels of two values which are different from each other above and below VC, which is a non-select output level of the group of scanning electrodes.
Thus, driving of the liquid crystal in AC can be carried out by alternately outputting the output levels of two values between which is VC, and the changing period can be set by switching to the other output level on the side of the same polarity with respect to VC. This is realized by selecting the output level based on the alternate control section and the period control section.
It is also possible to set the output levels of two values on the side of the same polarity with respect to VC while placing between these two output levels a value corresponding to the output level of the conventional signal electrode group. Therefore, a decrease in effective voltage can be prevented even when the changing period is set.
As a result, with this arrangement, the changing period can be set by a circuit having a relatively simple structure, and it is possible to prevent lowering of contrast caused by a decrease in effective voltage, and deterioration of image quality even when the changing period is provided.
In order to achieve the above object, a driving method of a liquid crystal display device of the present invention for driving a liquid crystal sandwitched between a group of signal electrodes and a group of scanning electrodes which are disposed to intersect with the group of signal electrodes, by a driving potential difference between the group of signal electrodes and the group of scanning electrodes facing each other, includes the steps of: (1) providing in a driving signal of the group of signal electrodes a changing period for changing an output level of the driving signal at least once in a single scanning period; (2) controlling the changing period based on a change in the driving signal and a change in an alternating signal; and (3) correcting, by the control of the changing period, a driving voltage error generated by distortion which is generated on the group of scanning electrodes by the driving signal of the group of signal electrodes.
With this method, the driving voltage error which is generated by the distortion generated on the group of scanning electrodes by the driving signal of the group of signal electrodes are corrected by controlling the changing period for changing the output level of the driving signal of the group of signal electrodes in a single scanning period. Thus, compared with the conventional case where the changing period is fixed, luminous non-uniformity generated by the driving voltage error can be further reduced.
Further, with the above method, the driving voltage error is corrected by predicting the generation of the driving voltage error based on a change in the driving signal and a change in the alternating signal, and for this reason the conventional mechanism for detecting and correcting the driving voltage error can be omitted, thus simplifying the mechanism for correction.
As a result, with the above method, by controlling the changing period for changing the output level of the driving signal in a single scanning period based on a change in the driving signal and a change in the alternating signal, there are obtained effects of preventing luminous non-uniformity and simplifying the mechanism.
In order to achieve the above object, another driving method of a liquid crystal display device for driving a liquid crystal sandwitched between a group of signal electrodes which are driven by a driving signal in accordance with display data and a group of scanning electrodes which are disposed to intersect with the group of signal electrodes, includes the steps of: (1) comparing display data and display data of a preceding scanning period in a signal electrode group side driving circuit which drives the group of signal electrodes; and (2) correcting, when there is a difference between the display data compared in the step (1), a driving voltage error generated by blunted waveform of the driving signal, by controlling a changing period for changing an output level of the driving signal in a single scanning period.
The driving voltage error generated by blunted waveform of the driving signal is generated when there is a difference between display data and display data of a preceding scanning period. With the above method, the display data and the display data of the preceding scanning period are compared and when there is a difference between the two, the driving voltage error is corrected by controlling the changing period for changing the output level of the driving signal in a single scanning period. Thus, luminous non-uniformity generated by the driving voltage error can be further reduced compared with the conventional case where the changing period is fixed.
Further, with the above method, the driving voltage error is corrected by predicting the generation of the driving voltage error by comparing the display data and the display data of a preceding scanning period, thus omitting the conventional mechanism for detecting and correcting the driving voltage error and simplifying the mechanism for correction.
As a result, with the above method, by controlling the changing period for changing the output level of the driving signal in a single scanning period based on a change in the driving signal and a change in the alternating signal, there are obtained effects of preventing luminous non-uniformity on the display and simplifying the mechanism.
In order to achieve the above object, another driving method of a liquid crystal display device of the present invention for alternately and inversely driving by an alternating signal a liquid crystal sandwitched between a group of signal electrodes which are driven by driving signal in accordance with display data and a group of scanning electrodes which are disposed to intersect with the group of signal electrodes, includes the steps of: (1) comparing, when the alternating signal is inverted, display data and display data of a preceding scanning period in a signal electrode group side driving circuit which drives the group of signal electrodes; and (2) correcting, when the display data compared in the step (1) are the same, a driving voltage error generated by blunted waveform of the driving signal, by controlling a changing period for changing an output level of the driving signal in a single scanning period. The driving voltage error generated by blunted waveform of the driving signal is generated when the alternating signal is inverted and the display data and the display data of the preceding scanning period are the same. Thus, with the above method, the driving voltage error generated by such a blunted waveform of the driving signal is corrected in the signal electrode group side driving circuit by comparing the display data and the display data of the preceding scanning period, and when the display data compared are the same, by controlling the changing period for changing the output level of the driving signal in a single scanning period. Therefore, luminous non-uniformity generated by the driving voltage error can be further reduced compared with the conventional case where the changing period is fixed.
Further, with the above method, when the alternating signal is inverted, the driving voltage error can be corrected by predicting the generation of the driving voltage error by comparing the display data and the display data of the preceding scanning period, thus omitting the conventional mechanism of detecting and correcting the driving voltage error and simplifying the mechanism for correction.
As a result, with the above method, by controlling the changing period for changing the output level of the driving signal in a single scanning period based on a change in the driving signal and a change in the alternating signal, there are obtained the effects of preventing luminous non-uniformity on the display and simplifying the mechanism.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Driving device and driving method of liquid crystal display device


An in-net printing system includes a portable terminal, a printer system and a network server system. The portable terminal, the printer system and the network server are connected to a network. In the in-net printing system, the portable terminal obtains a read data from the network server system and outputs a print request to the printer system in order to print the read data. The printer system outputs a transfer request to the network server system in response to the print request. The network server system outputs the read data to the printer system, based on the transfer request. The printer system prints the read data, when receiving the read data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an in-net printing system and a method of an in-net printing. More particularly, the present invention relates to an in-net printing system for outputting data on a network to a printer, and a method of a charging type in-net printing.
2. Description of the Related Art
A technique is well known for printing data on a network onto an indicated network printer. It is the technique in which the network printer shared by a plurality of computers receives a printing job from one of the computers and then prints it. The Internet is known as the network. The data on the Internet is outputted and printed by the printer in accordance with an instruction from the computer.
Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 10-207657) discloses a technique of a network correspondence printer, a network correspondence printing system and a network printing system. The network printing system according to this technique includes a host computer and a printer. The host computer indicates the particular data of a data resource accumulated in a server on the network. The printer is connected to the data resource of the particular data indicated by the host computer, and it receives and prints the data resource. The feature thereof lies in the configuration including a print controller, a particular data register, a network controller, a data judging unit, a network retrieving unit, a conversion requesting unit and a data returning unit.
Here, the printer instructs a printing operation by controlling a print engine on the basis of an input data. The particular data register registers the particular data of the data resource indicated by the host computer. The network controller is connected through a network connecting unit to the registered data resource, and it receives the data resource. The data judging unit judges whether or not the received data resource is composed of a data that can be printed by the print controller. If the data judging unit judges that it is not the printable data, the network retrieving unit retrieves a conversion program for converting the received data resource into the printable data, through the network connecting unit. The conversion requesting unit transfers the received data resource to a converter having the retrieved conversion program, and the converter converts the received data resource into the printable data. The data returning unit returns the printable data converted by the converter, to the print controller.
In this system, without receiving all the instructions from the computer, the printer actively prints the data on the Internet. In such known printing system, the printer retrieves the print conversion program, participates in the printing operation positively and actively, and needs a high computer function.
Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 10-49607) discloses a technique of an ordering/receiving management system. The ordering/receiving management system according to this technique has an ordering terminal unit and a receiving terminal unit. The ordering terminal unit contains a touch type input unit, a display, a memory and a transmitter. Here, the touch type input unit inputs the data such as a name of an article, a number, a unit, an order source and the like. The display displays at least a part of the input data. The memory stores the data. The transmitter transmits the data through a public line to the receiving terminal unit. The transmitter further has an AND circuit for allowing the transmission of the input data only if the name of the article, the number and the unit are inputted.
The enlargement of a usage range in a portable terminal has been advanced. As an example of the enlargement of the usage range, it is requested that a portable terminal instructs a printer to output the data read on a network by using the portable terminal to a printer and print it. The portable terminal does not have a mechanical function that is physically large such as a printing function. Thus, the portable terminal instructs the printer to execute the printing operation. When the portable terminal is assembled onto a network to then establish a system for instructing the printer to print the data on the network, it is required to provide a further conventional service to a user.
It is required to improve the service of the system for instructing the printer to print the data on the network from the portable terminal having no physically large device. Moreover, it is required to provide the service without any burden on the printer. In such service, the improvement of the service is desired from the viewpoint of an charging system.

In-net printing system and method of in-net printing


An interface module includes a housing having a plurality of jack openings configured to receive shielded modular jacks therein. The housing has a mounting wall extending along one side of the jack openings. A bond bar is coupled to the mounting wall, wherein the bond bar has a jack interface configured to engage respective ones of the shielded modular jacks and a panel interface configured to engage a mating surface of a panel. The bond bar is configured to create an electrical connection between respective ones of the shielded modular jacks and the mating surface of the panel.

This invention relates generally to connector modules that interface network components and, more particularly, to an interface module for shielded connectors.
Electronic components are typically connected to an electronic network using patch panels that allow connections between components in the network. In some applications, an interface module may be retained in the patch panel, or any number of other network structures that interconnect two or more separate network components. The interface module provides for easier mounting of a plurality of modular jacks into a single opening in the patch panel or other network structure. In a typical application, the interface module is mounted to the patch panel and the modular jacks are then loaded into the interface module.
Existing interface modules allow a plurality of unshielded jacks to be loaded therein. However, to meet the current performance requirements, new jack designs may be shielded, for example, using a metal housing that may increase the size of the jack. Effective shielding requires that all components be shielded and all shields be sufficiently bonded. However, in addition to not accommodating the increased jack sizes, current interface modules do not enable shielded jacks to be bonded and/or grounded to the patch panel.

Panel interface module which provides electrical connectivity between panel and shielded jacks


An inband signaling modem communicates digital data over a voice channel of a wireless telecommunications network. An input receives digital data. An encoder converts the digital data into audio tones that synthesize frequency characteristics of human speech. The digital data is also encoded to prevent voice encoding circuitry in the telecommunications network from corrupting the synthesized audio tones representing the digital data. An output then outputs the synthesized audio tones to a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network.

This invention is related to wireless telecommunications and more specifically to a system that transmits digital data over the audio channel of a digital wireless network xe2x80x9cin-band.xe2x80x9d
A cellular telephone allows a user to talk to another user without being tethered to a xe2x80x9cland line.xe2x80x9d The cell phone includes circuitry that samples the audio signals from the user""s voice. These voice signals are converted into a digital form using an A-D converter. The digitized voice signals are encoded by a voice coder (vocoder) and then modulated onto a carrier frequency that transmits the voice signals over a cell network. The voice signals are sent over the wireless cellular network either to another phone in the wireless cell network or to another phone in a land-line phone network.
Different coders/decoders (codecs), modulators, vocoders, Automatic Gain Controllers (AGC), Analog to Digital converters (A/D), noise reduction circuits, and Digital to Analog converters (D/A) are used in the cellular and landline phone networks. These telephone components can implement different coding schemes for encoding and decoding the voice signals.
These telecommunication components are designed to efficiently transmit voice signals over wireless and landline voice communication channels. For example, a digital vocoder uses predictive coding techniques to represent the voice signals. These predictive coders filter out noise (non-voice signals) while compressing and estimating the frequency components of the voice signals before being transmitted over the voice channel.
A problem arises when voice communication equipment, such as the vocoder, are used for transmitting digital data. The vocoders may interpret signals representing digital data as a non-voice signal. The vocoder might completely filter out or corrupt those digital data signals. Therefore, digital data can not be reliably transmitted over the same digital audio channel used for transmitting voice signals.
It is sometimes necessary for a user to transmit both audio signals and digital data to another location at the same time. For example, when a cellular telephone user calls xe2x80x9c911xe2x80x9d for emergency assistance, the user may need to send digital location data to a call center while at the same time verbally explaining the emergency conditions to a human operator. It would be desirable to transmit this digital data through a cell phone without having to use a separate analog wireless modem.
Accordingly, a need exists for transmitting digital data over a voice channel of a digital wireless communications network.
An inband signaling modem communicates digital data over a voice channel in a digital wireless telecommunications network. An input receives digital data. An encoder converts the digital data into audio tones that synthesize frequency characteristics of human speech. The digital data is also encoded to prevent voice encoding circuitry in the telecommunications network from corrupting the synthesized audio tones representing the digital data. An output then outputs the synthesized audio tones to a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Multichannel in-band signaling for data communications over digital wireless telecommunications networks


A method for electron-beam patterning includes forming a conductive material layer on a substrate; forming a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer on the conductive material layer; forming a resist layer on the BARC layer; and directing an electron beam (e-beam) to the sensitive resist layer for an electron beam patterning process. The BARC layer is designed such that a top electrical potential of the resist layer is substantially zero during the e-beam patterning process.

Semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) technology is continually progressing to circuit layouts having smaller feature sizes as well as increased density. As a result of this continuous progression, photolithography equipment has continually become more expensive and more complex. An electron-beam (or "e-beam") technique is used to pattern a substrate.
E-beam patterning relates to a process for creating changes in a medium using e-beams. Specifically, some e-beam processes use e-beams to write design patterns onto a resist layer. E-beam patterning provides a way to create features on a substrate where the features are smaller than a resolution limit for light.
However, one issue with e-beam writing is that the resists used for e-beam writing lithography are insulating polymers. Consequently, charges trapped in the resist generate change of the surface potential which deflects incoming electrons and lead to pattern placement error. Currently, the surface potential removal effort is focused mainly on the trapped charge, through conducting layer coating. Treatments on resist such as conducting layer coating or resist thickness adjustment, which essentially disturb the imaging layer, would induce imaging quality degradation and imply more effort on imaging quality optimization.
Therefore, what is needed is a method to address the above issue with improved e-beam patterning performance.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A reluctance machine including a plurality of phase windings where each phase winding comprises a plurality of fractional-pitched coils. The reluctance machine may be coupled to a drive that can energize one, two or more of the phase windings to provide output torque that is derived from: (i) the self-inductances of the phase windings; (ii) a combination of the self inductances of the phase windings and the mutual inductances between the phase windings; or (iii) the mutual inductances between the phase windings.

In general, a reluctance machine is an electric machine in which torque is produced by the tendency of a movable part to move into a position where the inductance of an energized phase winding is maximized. In one type of reluctance machine the energization of the phase windings occurs at a controlled frequency. These machines are generally referred to as synchronous reluctance machines. In another type of reluctance machine, circuitry is provided for detecting the position of the movable part (generally referred to as a "rotor") and energizing the phase windings as a function of the rotor's position. These types of machines are generally known as switched reluctance machines. The present invention is applicable to both synchronous and switched reluctance machines.
The general theory of the design and operation of reluctance machines in general, and switched reluctance machines in particular, is known in the art and is discussed, for example, in Stephenson and Blake, "The Characteristics, Design and Applications of Switched Reluctance Motors and Drives", Presented at the PCIM '93 Conference and Exhibition at Nuremberg, Germany, Jun. 21-24, 1993.
Most reluctance machines include a stationary member, called a "stator", that comprises a plurality of stacked laminations that include a number of projections (or "stator teeth") that define a plurality of discrete stator poles. Wire coils, typically copper, are placed within the gaps between the stator teeth to form one or more phase windings. The most common winding arrangement used to construct reluctance machines is the "single tooth" winding arrangement in which each stator tooth is surrounded by a single coil of wire. The various coils may then be linked together in series or parallel fashion to form one or more phase windings.
FIG. 1 provides a simple illustration of a traditional "single-tooth" reluctance machine comprising a six-pole stator 10 and a four-pole rotor 12. The laminations that comprise the stator have six inwardly projecting stator teeth 13-18 that define six stator poles. Each stator tooth 13-18 is surrounded by an individual coil of wire a.sub.1, a.sub.2, b.sub.1, b.sub.2, c.sub.1 and c.sub.2 and the coils surrounding stator teeth are electrically connected to form three phase windings A, B and C. The placement of the coils is reflected by the dots and crosses of FIG. 1 in which the crosses represent wire portions where positive electric current flows into the page and the dots represent wire portions where positive electric current flows out of the page. In typical operation of a single-tooth reluctance machine, each phase winding is energized for an interval corresponding to one-third of one complete rotor rotation such that each phase winding contributes to positive torque production one-third of the time.
Single-tooth reluctance machines, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 1, are somewhat limited in that the mechanism for torque production in such machines is exclusively a function of the self inductance of each energized phase winding. Because of the single-tooth nature of the windings, there is no mutual coupling between the machine phases and, thus, there is no significant torque production resulting from changes in the mutual inductances between the phase windings. As such, the maximum torque output and efficiency of reluctance machines with single-tooth windings is limited because the useful interval of such a winding is limited to those periods when the self inductance for that winding is increasing.
Despite the potential limitations of single-tooth winding configurations, the conventional wisdom of those working in the area of reluctance machines is that single-tooth windings are desirable because mutual inductance between the phase windings is, as a general matter, undesirable. The entrenched bias is expressed in publications concerning reluctance machines, including A. Hughes et al, "Effect of Operating Mode on Torque-Speed Characteristics of a VR Motor presented at the July 1976 International Conference on Stepping Motors and Systems" at Leeds University, Leeds, England, which contends that mutual inductance between phases diminishes the available torque production of three-phase reluctance machines with standard unipolar excitations.
In contrast with the single-tooth machines discussed above--where there is no significant mutual inductance and all torque is produced as a function of self inductance--reluctance machine designs have been proposed where there is no self inductance and torque production is exclusively a function of changes in the mutual inductance between the phase windings. Such reluctance machines use fully-pitched winding arrangements. In general, a fully-pitched winding is a winding including winding coils that span M stator poles, where M is an integer equal to the number of phase windings. One such design was proposed by B. C. Mecrow in his paper entitled, "New Winding Configuration for Doubly Salient Reluctance Machines," published at the October 1992 IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting held in Houston, Tex.
FIG. 2 illustrates a reluctance machine using a fully-pitched winding of the type disclosed in the referenced Mecrow paper. In general, the machine includes a six-pole stator 20 and a four pole rotor 22 that are substantially identical in construction to the rotor 10 and stator 12 of the single-tooth machine of FIG. 1. The primary difference between the single-tooth machine of FIG. 1 and the fully-pitched machine of FIG. 2 is the placement and arrangement of the windings. In the fully-pitched machine of FIG. 3, there are only three winding coils a, b and c, and each coil is positioned within the stator such that the ends of the coils in the inter-pole gaps are offset from one another by 180 mechanical degrees for the illustrated six stator pole/four rotor pole design. Because of the fully-pitched nature of the windings of the machine of FIG. 2, virtually all of the torque production occurs as a result of changes in the mutual inductances between the two windings. As explained in the Mecrow paper, in such a machine, each phase winding is energized over a period covering two thirds of a complete rotor revolution such that each phase winding contributes, through changes in the mutual inductances between the two windings, to positive torque production for a period corresponding to two-thirds of each rotor rotation.
According to the referenced Mecrow paper, this fully-pitched, mutual-inductance only machine results in better utilization of the electromechanical circuit formed by the machine. Variants on Mecrow's fully-pitched reluctance machine are all discussed in P. G. Barrass, B. C. Mecrow & A. C. Clothier, "The Unipolar Operation of a Fully Pitched Winding Switched Reluctance Drives"; B. C. Mecrow, "Fully pitched-winding switched-reluctance and stepping-motor arrangements," IEE Proceedings-B, Vol. 40, No. 1 (January 1993); P. G. Barrass, B. C. Mecrow, & A. C. Clothier, "Bi-polar Operation of Fully-Pitched Winding Switched Reluctance Drives," International Conference on Machines and Drives (September 1995); and U.K. Patent GB 2,262,843 B, "Doubly salient reluctance machines."
The fully-pitched nature of the windings in a fully-pitched reluctance machine various phase windings to have a fairly high self inductance when compared to the inductance of the phase windings in a single-tooth reluctance machine. This relatively high self inductance limits the rate of change of the current in the phase windings and thus restricts the speed at which the phase current can increase from zero to the peak value--and thus to the peak torque producing value. Accordingly, the fully-pitched nature of the windings in fully-pitched machine results in a "high self-inductance penalty" in that the drive used to power the motor must be sufficiently large to drive the currents to their desired value in an acceptable amount of time or the performance of the machine must be compromised because of the limitations placed on the phase current waveforms by the relatively high self inductance.
A further drawback of fully-pitched machines is that the amount of end-turn copper that is required to construct the fully-pitched coils used to form the phase windings. Such large and long end-turns result in increased manufacturing costs that can be directly tied to the amount of copper in the windings. Moreover, the relatively large amount of copper that is necessary to construct such fully-pitched windings results in increased resistance or copper losses during the normal operation of the machine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reluctance machine that overcomes the referenced and other limitations of single-tooth and fully-pitched reluctance machines.

Reluctance machine with fractional pitch winding and drive therefore


Methods, systems and apparatus for identifying modified images based on visual dissimilarity to a first image. In an aspect, a method includes determining, for each of a first image and a second image, a respective set of local image feature descriptions; determining one or more unmatched regions of the images that include unmatched image features and that correspond to one or more same respective regions in both the first image and the second image; determining, for each of the one or more unmatched regions of the images, a modification measure based on the image data corresponding to the unmatched region in the first image and the image data corresponding to the unmatched region in the second image; and determining that the second image is a modification of the first image when one of the modification measures meets a modification measure threshold.

This specification relates to detecting modified images.
The Internet provides access to a wide variety of resources such as video or audio files, web pages for particular subjects, book articles, or news articles. There are many resources available, and to help users find resources that may be of interest to them, many companies have developed search systems that identify resources in response to a query. For textual searches, search queries usually are terms and phrases. For image searches, such as search of still images and videos, the search queries can be images, or terms and phrases, or a combination of images, terms and phrases. A search system ranks the resources in response to the query and provides search results that link to the identified resources. The search results are typically ordered for viewing according to the rank.


A tubular housing is arranged for mounting to a forward bumper of an associated automobile for the storage of a jack structure therewithin for ease of transport and removal of the jack structure relative to the housing. A lock pin is directed through the housing and through the associated jack for the securement of the jack relative to the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to jack storage structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved jack caddy apparatus wherein the same is arranged for mounting to a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art has heretofore employed various organizations to permit storage relative to a trunk bumper. Such apparatus is indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,082 for mounting various signs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,295 to Robinson sets forth a trunk bumper for mounting a cable winch structure.
The instant invention is addressed to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a housing assembly for the storage of jack structure for ease of access to the bumper structure during periods of non-use.


A core sample test apparatus applies pressure to the core sample and measures responsive longitudinal deformation with two sensors and lateral deformation with two orthogonal pairs of diametrically disposed sensors. The apparatus holds the core sample under test in a sleeve to which no or insignificant end torsional forces are applied during installation due to rotationally blocked washers used adjacent the ends of the sleeve. Concurrent acoustic testing can also be applied.

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for testing core samples extracted from an oil or gas well. In particular, the invention relates to a method of determining elastic properties of a core sample and an apparatus useful in performing the method, which apparatus is for detecting changes in longitudinal and lateral dimensions and/or acoustic properties of the core sample.
A commonly utilized technique for stimulating the production of hydrocarbons from a subterranean rock formation penetrated by a well bore is to create and extend fractures in the formation. Generally, the fractures are created by applying hydraulic pressure on the formation from the well bore. That is, a fracturing fluid is pumped through the well bore and into the formation at a rate and pressure such that the resultant hydraulic force exerted on the formation causes one or more fractures to be created. The fractures are extended by continued pumping; and the fractures can be propped open or flow channels can be etched in the faces of the fractures with acid, or both can be done, to provide openings in the formation through which hydrocarbons readily flow to the well bore. Fracturing is also utilized in carrying out enhanced production procedures in subterranean formations (e.g., water flooding from an injection well to a production well) as well as in other applications.
In designing fracturing treatments to be carried out in subterranean rock formations, it is often necessary and always desirable to know the direction in which fractures will extend in the formation. Such knowledge enables more efficient reservoir management. For example, knowing such directional information allows one to better place production wells for maximizing production from the reservoir of hydrocarbons in the subterranean formation and to better place waterflood injection wells for increasing waterflood sweep efficiency by avoiding an injection well arrangement that would cause premature breakthrough of the injected fluid into the producing well.
Information that can be used to help predict the size of the fracture includes Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, which describe elastic properties of rock. These can be determined by testing rock core samples that have been extracted from an oil or gas well in a known manner.
Young's modulus can be defined as the ratio of normal stress to the resulting strain in the direction of the applied stress. Stress can be applied to a core sample with a longitudinal or axial compressive force from a known type of press. The resulting longitudinal or axial strain is the yield or deflection measurable as the change in the longitudinal or axial dimension of the core sample.
Poisson's ratio can be defined as the ratio of lateral or radial strain to the longitudinal or axial strain for normal stress within the elastic limit. This is measurable using the aforementioned detected dimensional change in conjunction with a lateral or radial dimensional change detected in response to the applied stress.
Prior proposals to obtain the foregoing information include the method and apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,723 to Meadows et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. A modification of this apparatus has been built and used. This modified apparatus is shown in FIGS. 1-3 of the present specification. Features of the modified apparatus beyond what is described in the 5,325,723 patent include: two diametrically opposed sensors 500 (FIG. 2) for measuring longitudinal deflection, which sensors are connected to brackets attached to end caps of the apparatus; two sensors 502 (FIG. 3) in a uniform spatial pattern in a single plane around the circumference of the core sample 504 to measure lateral deflection; a pressure sealed container 506 for the moving components of each lateral displacement sensor, which container is capable of withstanding design pressure of the entire test apparatus thus eliminating friction on the measurement rods of the lateral displacement sensors; attachment of the lateral deflection sensors by the pressure sealed containers directly to the support body 508 of the housing containing the core sample; physical dimensions defined to accommodate testing softer formation materials; loading spacers 510 adjacent the end caps to allow application of hydraulic pressure to the end of the sample to obtain true hydrostatic stress load application on all surfaces when used with simpler loading frames; a port in one of the loading spacers to allow fluid flow through the sample for measurement of physical flow properties (permeability) as the stress applied to the sample is changed, thereby allowing a determination of the effect of stress loading on the sample; the length of annular washers 512 adjacent ends of the core sample sealing sleeve being made sufficient to allow the use of O-rings on the washers and end caps, and on any spacers adjacent the end caps, to seal the flow path through the core sample; and spring pressure applied at the back end of the radial measurement rod of each lateral deflection sensor 502, which spring pressure is applied completely within the pressurized environment to ensure that the pad surface is in contact, with the outside of the sealing membrane, thereby eliminating the problem of isolation between the core sample and the pressurizing fluid which can be caused by a leaking perforation required to place inserts through the flexible membrane as described in the 5,325,723 patent.
Despite the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,723 and the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3 of the present specification, there is still the need for an improved core sample test method and apparatus. Specifically, there is the need for greater understanding of directional variation of mechanical properties in underground formations. To achieve this, there is the need for the capability to monitor lateral deformation in two orthogonal directions. This will enable observation of directional anisotropy in the core sample specimen. In the absence of directional anisotropy, this will enable an improved accuracy to be obtained in the magnitude of lateral deformation through averaging the diametrical changes. There is also the need for ensuring that no torsion forces are induced upon the sample from the sealing sleeve so that proper sealing and measurements can be obtained. There is further need in the industry for greater understanding of the relationship between dynamically derived mechanical properties for underground formations and laboratory measured static mechanical property measurements. Incorporation of acoustic travel time measurement using an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver will allow correlation of travel time with stress magnitude in the laboratory test cell. This will allow the development of correlations between static and dynamic mechanical property data.


A display apparatus includes: a display device; a touch detection device; and a driver unit driving the display device so as to sequentially display M horizontal lines in each of plural unit drive periods forming one frame period and driving the touch detection device in N touch detection periods provided in each unit drive period, in which N is lower than M.

The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus having a touch detection function, a drive circuit, a driving method and an electronic apparatus having such display apparatus.
In recent years, a display apparatus attracts attention, in which a touch detection device which is a so-called touch panel is mounted on a display panel such as a liquid crystal display device or the touch panel and the display panel are integrated and various button images and the like are displayed on the display panel to thereby enable information input instead of normal mechanical buttons. As an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse or a keypad is not necessary in such display apparatus having the touch panel, the display apparatus tends to be widely used not only in a computer but also in portable information terminals such as a cellular phone.
There are some touch-panel systems such as an optical type and a resistive type, and a capacitance-type touch panel having a relatively simple structure as well as capable of realizing low-power consumption is requested. For example, there is proposed, in JP-2009-244958 (Patent Document 1), a display apparatus with a so-called in-cell type touch detection function in which a common electrode for display originally arranged in a display panel is also used as one of a pair of electrodes for a touch sensor, and the other electrode (touch detection electrode) is arranged so as to intersect with the common electrode. There are also proposed some so-called on-cell type display apparatuses with the touch detection function in which a touch panel is formed on a display surface of the display panel.

Display apparatus, drive circuit, driving method and electronic apparatus with touch detection periods, sequential display and AC signal modifications


A storage cassette including a plurality of generally vertical compartments for storing sample tube racks and/or SBS formatted plates is constructed to be flexible along its substantially vertical axis thereby facilitating reliable robotic placement and retrieval of the cassette from nesting tubes located within a horizontal freezer compartment. Insulated walls and solid shelves minimize heat transfer from storage racks or plates placed in the storage cassette when the cassette is removed from an ultra-low temperature or cryogenic freezer. The outer walls of the cassette includes mechanical indexing locations to ensure appropriate positioning when robotically removing storage racks or plates from the cassette.

Many biological and chemical samples are stored at or below freezing temperatures. Generally speaking, a regular freezer operates from −5° C. to −20° C., an ultra-low temperature freezer operates from about −50° C. to −130° C. (preferably about −80° C.) and a cryogenic freezer operates from about −140° C. to −196° C. (the boiling point of liquid nitrogen). Most biological samples stored in ultra-low temperature or cryogenic systems are contained in sealed plastic laboratory tubes held in tube storage racks in arrays of, for example, 48, 96 or 384 tubes. In the art, it is known to robotically store tube storage racks on shelves or in removable storage cassettes within ultra-low temperature or cryogenic freezer compartments. Known storage cassettes typically have vertically aligned metal shelves with metal sidewalls. The top of the cassette usually has a handle for manual or robotic lifting of the cassette. A typical height of the prior art storage cassettes is about 3 feet in order to enable manual handling of the cassettes. Front and rear walls are typically open to allow access to the storage tube racks. Some cassettes have open shelves and some have closed shelves.
The present invention as mentioned is directed to storage cassettes for holding sample storage tube racks or plates within horizontal freezer compartments and for robotically transporting sample storage tube racks and plates into and from the freezer compartments. The primary objectives of the invention are to provide sample safety and thermal integrity while moving the storage cassettes from and into the freezer compartments. In order to accommodate a large number of samples, storage cassettes made in accordance with the invention can typically be about six feet long with, for example, twenty (20) or more shelves for holding tube storage racks and/or plates, although the cassettes can be made shorter (e.g. 3 feet) or even taller if less or more storage capacity per cassette is desired. One of the problems that must addressed when robotically transporting storage cassettes is that frost formation and thermal expansion and contraction can lead to difficulties when placing storage cassettes into storage racks in ultra-low temperature or cryogenic freezers. To address this problem, the invention provides a storage cassette that can reliably be inserted and removed from freezer compartments despite dimensional differences caused by thermal contraction and expansion, robotic misalignment, relatively minor frost formation or other difficulties that can be encountered. Reliability of insertion and removal is important because the time to remedy a jam can result in sample temperature rise which in turn can compromise sample integrity. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes not only features to facilitate reliable insertion and removal of storage cassettes from freezer compartments, but also features to reduce temperature rise in samples when the cassette is pulled from the freezer compartment.

Sample storage cassette for ultra-low or cryogenic temperatures


The image forming apparatus comprises a photosensitive drum which is replaceable, an intermediate transfer belt unit which is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum to operate and which is replaceable, and a separation motor configured to move the intermediate transfer belt unit in a direction toward the photosensitive drum and in a direction away from the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus causes the separation motor to separate the intermediate transfer belt unit and the photosensitive drum from each other in a case where at least one of the photosensitive drum and the intermediate transfer belt unit reaches the replacement timing when the image forming apparatus shifts to a low-power state in which power consumption of the image forming apparatus is suppressed compared with that of the image forming apparatus in a normal operation.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copy machine, a multifunction peripheral, etc. In particular, the present disclosure relates to technology to replace a component which is replaceable in the image forming apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
Some image forming apparatuses comprise a photosensitive drum on which toner images are formed, and comprise an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from the photosensitive drum. In a case where the toner images are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt from the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller is brought into pressure contact with the photosensitive drum through the intermediate transfer belt. It is often the case that the photosensitive drum or a unit including the photosensitive drum and the intermediate transfer belt or a unit including the intermediate transfer belt of the image forming apparatus of this kind are components which are individually and independently replaceable. In the following, the intermediate transfer belt or the unit including the intermediate transfer belt is referred to as "intermediate transfer belt unit".
Some image forming apparatuses are capable of setting "color priority mode" and "monochrome priority mode" to reduce standby time at the time of image formation. When it is expected that color image formation is mainly used, "color priority mode" is set. In the color priority mode, the image forming apparatus brings all the photosensitive drums into contact with the intermediate transfer belt in a standby state. When it is expected that monochrome image formation is mainly used, "monochrome priority mode" is set. In the monochrome priority mode, the image forming apparatus brings only the black photosensitive drum into contact with the intermediate transfer belt in the standby state. A user can switch setting between the color priority mode and the monochrome priority mode.
In a case where replacement of the photosensitive drum or the intermediate transfer belt unit is carried out with the photosensitive drum brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt, friction is caused therebetween. Due to this, deterioration is caused at parts where the photosensitive drum contacts with the intermediate transfer belt. Thereby, when replacement of the photosensitive drum or the intermediate transfer belt unit is carried out, the two of them need to be separated. The United States Patent Application Publication No. US2014/0169804 discloses a technology that at the time of replacing the photosensitive drum or the intermediate transfer belt, all the photosensitive drums are separated from the intermediate transfer belt in a standby mode.
In a case where the photosensitive drum is manually separated from the intermediate transfer belt, a mechanism for the manual separation is required. This increases the number of parts and the manufacturing cost. Further, in a case where the photosensitive drum is automatically separated from the intermediate transfer belt at the time of replacement, the photosensitive drum will be brought into contact with and separated from the intermediate transfer belt. Such operations will be performed every time the image formation is started and ended, which will be continued till the user carries out the replacement. Due to this, the image forming processing is time-consuming process. Also, due to unnecessary contact of the photosensitive drum with the intermediate transfer belt and unnecessary separation of the photosensitive drum from the intermediate transfer belt, noise is caused. Further, in a case where the photosensitive drum other than the black photosensitive drum reaches replacement timing in the monochrome priority mode, all the photosensitive drums are uniformly separated from the intermediate transfer belt. Thereby when performing next print job, unnecessary contacting operation occurs.
An image forming apparatus which can reduce any unnecessary mechanism or operation while allowing replacement of components which are replaceable, such as the photosensitive drum, the intermediate transfer belt, etc., is thus required.

Image forming apparatus, control method of contacting/separating state of component


An apparatus for the processing of folded printed sheets is provided with at least one work station located next to a conveying path, with the work station preferably being a feeder for separating and opening the printed sheets. A plurality of support means is arranged sequentially on conveying means configured as a continuous loop, with the printed sheets in the region of the fold slidingly supportable on a respective support edge of the respective support means. The support means are spaced apart and sequentially guided past the work station and are inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the conveying means at least in the region of a work station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing folded printed sheets including at least one work station arranged at a conveying path. One of the at least one work station is a feeder station for separating and opening the printed sheets. Conveying means are configured in a continuous loop and a plurality of support means are arranged sequentially along the conveying means. The plurality of support means are supplied by the feeder for printed sheets. Each of the printed sheets includes a fold region which is slidingly supported at a respective support edge on the support means. The support means are spaced apart and are sequentially guided past the work station.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional apparatus of this type is known from EP-A-0 551 055, also owned by the assignee of the present application. The apparatus provides for collecting and subsequently stitching of printed matter. Before being stitched, the printed matter is spread apart and transferred to a conveying device having receiving rungs extending transversely to the transport direction.
Another gather-stitcher is shown in EP-A-0 681 923. Here, the supporting edges of the support means extend parallel to the transport direction.
The process for removing folded paper sheets from a stack and placing those sheets onto a transport device is well known, see, for example, the 1961 reference CH-A-408 065.
Devices of this type with support means extending transversely to the transport direction, however, did not succeed in practical applications. The reason for this lack of success is, that the feeding of the paper stock is quite complicated. On the other hand, devices with support means which extend parallel to the transport direction, have proven successful in practical applications. However, with those devices, limitations exist with respect to further increasing the transport speed and thereby the efficiency.

Apparatus for processing folded printed sheets


A network node for an EGPRS system, equipped with a plurality of transmit antennas and arranged to transmit at least a first and a second data stream as MIMO streams, with the first data stream being transmitted from a first antenna and the second data stream being transmitted from a second transmit antenna. The network node is arranged to transmit the data streams as bursts comprising a training sequence and payload. The network node is arranged to swap parts of the data streams between the transmit antennas, i.e. to transmit all or parts of one or more bursts belonging to the first data stream from the second transmit antenna and to transmit corresponding all or parts of one or more bursts belonging to the second data stream from the first transmit antenna.

The technology known as MIMO, Multiple Input, Multiple Input, is advantageous in wireless communications systems since MIMO offers the possibility of increased spectrum efficiency and increased peak rates as compared to non-MIMO technologies.
Implementations of MIMO in EGPRS/EGPRS2 will have to take into account the structure of the EGPRS/EGPRS2 packet data channels, which use burst transmissions, and where one radio block comprises four bursts. In so called BTTI mode (Basic Transmission Time Interval), the bursts are transmitted in four consecutive TDMS frames, i.e. over a total of 20 ms, while in so called RTTI mode (Reduced TTI), the four bursts are transmitted in two consecutive TDMA frames, i.e. over a total of 10 ms. A burst in EGPRS/EGPRS2 comprises a training sequence, as well as payload. The payload comprises a header, as well as the so called q-bits, which partially signal to the receiver which so called MCS, Modulation and Coding Scheme that has been used.
The use of the word "partially" is used here with reference to the information given by the q-bits regarding which MCS that has been used can be exemplified by the following: If, for example, in an EGPRS system, the q-bits are 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0, this sequence of q-bits signals to the receiver that either MCS5 or MCS6 has been used. This means that even with the aid of the q-bits, the receiver still needs to determine the exact MCS that has been used, although the q-bits have aided in narrowing the number of alternatives. As mentioned, the payload comprises a header, and there are different types of headers. In our example, by knowing that either MSC5 or MCS6 is used, the receiver knows the header type (which is common to MCS5 and MCS6), so the receiver can now decode the header and determine the exact MCS.
The use of MIMO has been proposed in EGPRS and EGPRS2. In a straightforward implementation of MIMO in EGRS and EGPRS2, each of two (or more) data streams, also sometimes referred to as "layers", is transmitted from its own antenna. In such an implementation, although advantageous in many aspects, the signal strengths of the data streams will vary over time, and the rates of (successful) detection will vary accordingly.
In conclusion, MIMO implementations of EGPRS/EGPRS2 need to be designed to maximize the link performance, while maintaining, as much as possible, backwards compatibility with the GSM interface.