A first selective reduction catalyst including a silver-based catalyst is provided in an exhaust pipe of an engine. An ozone generation device generates ozone by using oxygen in the atmosphere, and a hydrocarbon-based liquid supply device supplies a hydrocarbon-based liquid. A part of NO in the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust pipe is oxidized to NO2 with the ozone generated by the ozone generation device, and said NO2 is supplied to the first selective reduction catalyst. Also, a part of the hydrocarbon-based liquid supplied by the hydrocarbon-based liquid supply device is partially oxidized, with ozone generated by the ozone generation device, to an active reducing agent including an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon such as aldehyde, and this active reducing agent is supplied to the first selective reduction catalyst.

Conventionally, there is disclosed an exhaust purifier of an internal combustion engine in which at least a part of a harmful component in an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is concentrated by a concentration device, at least a part of the harmful component concentrated by the concentration device is converted into a highly reactive gas by a conversion device, and the harmful component, at least a part of which has been converted into the highly reactive gas by the conversion device, is purified by an exhaust gas purification catalyst (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). In this exhaust purifier of the internal combustion engine, the conversion device is a device that adds an oxidizing agent to the harmful component, which is concentrated by the concentration device, to oxidize at least a part of the harmful component and to convert it into a highly reactive gas. Also, the oxidizing agent is ozone, and this ozone is generated by electrolyzing water by a water electrolysis device. Here, in the water electrolysis device, hydrogen (H2) is formed along with ozone at a time of electrolysis of water. Specifically, water is decomposed on an anode side partitioned by a cation exchange membrane to generate ozone, and a hydrogen gas is generated on a cathode side from a hydrogen ion which has passed through the cation exchange membrane. Furthermore, an adsorbent is housed in the concentration device, and an ozone adding valve is provided as the conversion device in an exhaust pipe on an exhaust gas upstream side of the concentration device.
In the thus configured exhaust purifier of the internal combustion engine, the concentration device concentrates the at least part of the harmful component in the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. Specifically, a hydrocarbon and NOx in the exhaust gas are temporarily adsorbed onto the adsorbent housed in the concentration device, to thereby concentrate the hydrocarbon and NOx. Ozone (O3) as the oxidizing agent is injected from the ozone adding valve toward the adsorbent of the concentration device. Thereby, ozone is added to the harmful component adsorbed onto the adsorbent. At this time, at least a part of the hydrocarbon and NOx adsorbed onto the adsorbent are oxidized and converted into a highly reactive gas due to high oxidation activity of ozone. For example, among hydrocarbons, when an olefinic hydrocarbon is converted into an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon such as an aldehyde, the reactivity becomes high, and nitrogen monoxide (NO) of NOx is oxidized and converted into nitrogen dioxide (NO2), whereby the reactivity becomes high. The harmful component, the at least part of which has been converted into the highly reactive gas by the addition of ozone, is supplied to the exhaust purification catalyst on the downstream side. Then, in the case where the exhaust purification catalyst is a selective reduction catalyst, in this selective reduction catalyst, the partially oxidized hydrocarbon and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are caused to react with each other and finally purified into carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen.
Meanwhile, there is disclosed an exhaust gas purifier of an internal combustion engine, which is configured so that a catalyst for purifying a harmful component in an exhaust gas is disposed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine; that an active oxygen supply device supplies active oxygen into the exhaust passage on an exhaust gas upstream side of this catalyst; that an unburned fuel component supply means increases the concentration of the unburned fuel component in the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust passage on the exhaust gas upstream side of the catalyst to be higher than usual; and that in the case where an increase in temperature of the catalyst is required, not only a catalyst temperature-increasing means supplies active oxygen into the exhaust passage on the exhaust gas upstream side of the catalyst by the active oxygen supply device, but also the unburned fuel component supply means increases the concentration of the unburned fuel component in the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust passage on the exhaust gas upstream side of the catalyst (see, for example, Patent Literature 2). In this exhaust gas purifier of the internal combustion engine, the catalyst contains Ag as a catalyst component. Also, the active oxygen supply device is configured so as to supply ozone as the active oxygen.
In the thus configured exhaust gas purifier of the internal combustion engine, in the case where an increase of the temperature of the catalyst is required, a catalyst temperature-increasing control for adding active oxygen and an unburned fuel component to the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust passage on the exhaust gas upstream side of the catalyst can be executed. Since the active oxygen has a strong oxidation power, the added active oxygen and unburned fuel component can efficiently react with each other even from a low temperature. For that reason, the temperature of the catalyst can be rapidly increased utilizing a reaction heat thereof. Also, since the catalyst contains Ag, when the active oxygen and the unburned fuel component are added by means of the catalyst temperature-increasing control, CO is generated due to a reaction therebetween. Ag expresses activity for efficiently oxidizing CO from a low temperature in the copresence of the active oxygen. For that reason, CO generated due to the reaction between the active oxygen and the unburned fuel component, which are added during the catalyst temperature-increasing control, can be oxidized and purified while Ag acts as a catalyst.


Provided is a method of managing mobility of a user equipment. The method includes: establishing by a first base station a communication with the user equipment; transmitting by the first base station a Coordinated Multiple Point (CoMP) addition request to a second base station; establishing by the first and second base stations a CoMP communication with the user equipment according to the CoMP addition request; transmitting by the first base station an anchor cell change request to the second base station; and operating the second base station as an anchor cell of the CoMP communication according to the anchor cell switch request.

The present invention disclosed herein relates to wireless communication, and more particularly, to a method of managing mobility using coordinated multiple point communication.
A wireless mobile network provides seamless wireless communication services to portable wireless communication terminals. The wireless mobile network includes a plurality of base stations (BSs).
Each BS manages one cell. A BS performs wireless communication with wireless communication terminals in a responsible cell. When a wireless communication terminal moves from one source cell to another cell (i.e., a target cell), the BS of the target cell establishes communication with the wireless communication terminal, and the BS of the source cell terminates communication with the wireless communication terminal. This operation is called Handover (HO). By the HO, a wireless mobile network provides seamless wireless communication services to a wireless communication terminal.
As a commercialized wireless mobile network, there are Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, and World interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and Long Term Evolution.

Method of managing mobility using coordinated multiple point communication

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The present invention provides a projection apparatus, comprising: a light source; at least one spatial light modulator for modulating illumination light from the light source by a plurality of pixel elements by using different modulation states; a light source control unit performing a modulation control of the light source; and a spatial light modulator control unit generating, from an input image signal, a control signal for driving the spatial light modulator, wherein: the light source control unit has a function of receiving data corresponding to the control signal generated by the spatial light modulator control unit, controlling a parameter of an emission pulse of the illumination light emitted from the light source, and thereby adjusting an emission intensity of the illumination light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology that can be advantageously applied to a projection apparatus or the like having a spatial light modulator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Even though there are significant advances made in recent years on the technologies of implementing electromechanical micro-mirror devices as spatial light modulator, there are still limitations and difficulties when employed to provide high quality images display. Specifically, when the display images are digitally controlled, the image qualities are adversely affected due to the fact that the image is not displayed with sufficient number of gray scales.
Electromechanical micro-mirror devices have drawn considerable interest because of their application as spatial light modulators (SLMs). A spatial light modulator requires an array of a relatively large number of micro-mirror devices. In general, the number of devices required ranges from 60,000 to several million for each SLM. Referring to FIG. 1A for a digital video system 1 disclosed in a relevant U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,420 that includes a display screen 2. A light source 10 is used to generate light energy for ultimate illumination of display screen 2. Light 9 generated is further concentrated and directed toward lens 12 by mirror 11. Lens 12, 13 and 14 form a beam columnator to operative to columnate light 9 into a column of light 8. A spatial light modulator 15 is controlled by a computer through data transmitted over data cable 18 to selectively redirect a portion of the light from path 7 toward lens 5 to display on screen 2. The SLM 15 has a surface 16 that includes an array of switchable reflective elements, e.g., micro-mirror devices 32, such as elements 17, 27, 37, and 47 as reflective elements attached to a hinge 30 that shown in FIG. 1B. When element 17 is in one position, a portion of the light from path 7 is redirected along path 6 to lens 5 where it is enlarged or spread along path 4 to impinge the display screen 2 so as to form an illuminated pixel 3. When element 17 is in another position, light is not redirected toward display screen 2 and hence pixel 3 would be dark.
The on-and-off states of micro-mirror control scheme as that implemented in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,420 and by most of the conventional display system imposes a limitation on the quality of the display. Specifically, then applying conventional configuration of control circuit has a limitation that the gray scale of conventional system (PWM between ON and OFF states) is limited by the LSB (least significant bit, or the least pulse width). Due to the On-Off states implemented in the conventional systems, there is no way to provide shorter pulse width than LSB. The least brightness, which determines gray scale, is the light reflected during the least pulse width. The limited gray scales lead to degradations of image display.
Specifically, in FIG. 1C an exemplary circuit diagram of a prior art control circuit for a micro-mirror according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,407. The control circuit includes memory cell 32. Various transistors are referred to as "M*" where * designates a transistor number and each transistor is an insulated gate field effect transistor. Transistors M5, and M7 are p-channel transistors; transistors, M6, M8, and M9 are n-channel transistors. The capacitances, C1 and C2, represent the capacitive loads presented to memory cell 32. Memory cell 32 includes an access switch transistor M9 and a latch 32a, which is the basis of the static random access switch memory (SRAM) design. All access transistors M9 in a row receive a DATA signal from a different bit-line 31a. The particular memory cell 32 to be written is accessed by turning on the appropriate row select transistor M9, using the ROW signal functioning as a wordline. Latch 32a is formed from two cross-coupled inverters, M5/M6 and M7/M8, which permit two stable states. State 1 is Node A high and Node B low and state 2 is Node A low and Node B high.
The dual states switching as illustrated by the control circuit controls the micro-mirrors to position either at an ON of an OFF angular orientation as that shown in FIG. 1A. The brightness, i.e., the gray scales of display for a digitally control image system is determined by the length of time the micro-mirror stays at an ON position. The length of time a micro-mirror is controlled at an ON position is in turned controlled by a multiple bit word. For simplicity of illustration, FIG. 1D shows the "binary time intervals" when control by a four-bit word. As that shown in FIG. 1D, the time durations have relative values of 1, 2, 4, 8 that in turn define the relative brightness for each of the four bits where 1 is for the least significant bit and 8 is for the most significant bit. According to the control mechanism as shown, the minimum controllable differences between gray scales for showing different brightness is a brightness represented by a "least significant bit" that maintaining the micro-mirror at an ON position.
In a simple example, and assuming n bits of gray scales, the frame time is divided into 2n−1 equal time slices. For a 16.7 milliseconds frame period and n-bit intensity values, the time slice is 16.7/(2n−1) milliseconds
Having established these times, for each pixel of each frame, pixel intensities are quantized, such that black is 0 time slices, the intensity level represented by the LSB is 1 time slice, and maximum brightness is 2n−1 time slices. Each pixel's quantized intensity determines its on-time during a frame period. Thus, during a frame period, each pixel with a quantized value of more than 0 is on for the number of time slices that correspond to its intensity. The viewer's eye integrates the pixel brightness so that the image appears the same as if it were generated with analog levels of light.
For addressing deformable mirror devices, PWM calls for the data to be formatted into "bit-planes", each bit-plane corresponding to a bit weight of the intensity value. Thus, if each pixel's intensity is represented by an n-bit value, each frame of data has n bit-planes. Each bit-plane has a 0 or 1 value for each display element. In the PWM example described in the preceding paragraphs, during a frame, each bit-plane is separately loaded and the display elements are addressed according to their associated bit-plane values. For example, the bit-plane representing the LSBs of each pixel is displayed for 1 time slice.
Projection apparatuses such as described above generally use a light source such as a high-pressure mercury lamp, a xenon lamp, or the like. However, these types of light sources are poor in performing high-speed switching between ON and OFF. Accordingly, a light source is usually controlled to be always in an ON state during the use of the projection apparatus, which causes a large mount of heat and waste of light and electric power.
Also, there is an increasing demand that projection apparatuses should display (project) images at a higher level of gray scale (gradation). Accordingly, a spatial light modulator has to be controlled to permit a projection apparatus to project images at a higher level of gray scale. However, if the improvement of the gray scale performance is to be achieved only through the control of the spatial light modulator, the improvement would be only to a limited level.    Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,420    Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,407

Projection display system with varying light source


The present invention discloses an embedded white light LED package structure based on a solid-state fluorescence material. In the present invention, the high power blue light chip is directly embedded into and bonded with a groove of the solid-state fluorescence material, and blue light emitted by the chip and yellow and green light obtained by conversion and emitted by the solid-state fluorescence material are blended by using the principle of lenses, to obtain white light. The embedded white light LED package structure based on a solid-state fluorescence material has a simple process, low cost, and high fluorescence efficiency; and blue light does not leak. Heat dissipation can be directly performed by using the solid-state fluorescence material, and heat dissipation performance is desirable. Energy conservation and environmental protection is achieved, and a service life of an LED lighting device is greatly improved.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of LED lighting technologies, and in particular, to an embedded white light LED package structure based on a solid-state fluorescence material and a manufacturing method thereof.
Related Art
LED is a solid-state semiconductor device, and can directly convert electrical energy into light energy. Compared with a traditional incandescent lamp and fluorescent lamp, white light LED has advantages such as low power consumption, high lighting efficiency, a long service life, and energy conservation and environmental protection; therefore, white light LED is not only widely used in the daily lighting field, but also enters the display device field. Currently, technologies for acquiring white light LED may be classified into two types, namely: (1) blending three types of LED chips emitting red, green, and blue rays of light; (2) exciting a proper fluorescence material by using a single-color (blue light or ultraviolet light) LED chip. Currently, white light LED mainly obtains white light by combining a blue light LED chip and fluorescent powder that can be effectively excited by blue light and emits yellow light, and then blending the complementary yellow light and blue light by using the principle of lenses. However, traditional fluorescent powder is characterized by low excitation efficiency and optical conversion efficiency, poor uniformity, and the like. In particular, in the high power lighting field, because epoxy resin or silica gel blended with fluorescent powder easily ages at a high temperature, which reduces a transmittance, and finally seriously affects light extraction efficiency of a white light device.
In addition, a package stand needs to be used in an existing LED package structure, and the blue light easily leaks. Moreover, a process is complex, cost is high, and heat dissipation performance is poor.

Embedded white light LED package structure based on solid-state fluorescence material and manufacturing method thereof

SHANGHAI FUDI LIGHTING ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.


The configurations of a discharge lamp system and a controlling method thereof are provided in the present invention. The proposed discharge lamp system includes a discharge lamp, a converter circuit coupled to the discharge lamp and having a switching switch, a ballast controller generating a first driving signal and controlling the switching switch accordingly, and a voltage sensing apparatus receiving the first driving signal and generating a sensed voltage accordingly, wherein the discharge lamp is switched among a plurality of operating modes according to the sensed voltage.

The high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps have been widely used in many applications because of their high efficiency, good color rendering and long life span. However, the HID lamp is a complex load, the lamp parameters (voltage, current, power etc.) frequently change during its operation time. FIG. 1 shows a typical control strategy for the discharge lamps in the prior art. After ignition, the discharge lamp is usually operated at a constant current mode during a run-up stage and the discharge lamp power increases gradually with the increasing of discharge lamp voltage (Vlamp). When the discharge lamp voltage is higher than a first predetermined value V1 the discharge lamp power enters a stable working status—a constant power stage so as to attain better discharge lamp performance. The discharge lamp is judged to be at the end of its life when its voltage is higher than a second predetermined value V2, and it is switched off when its voltage is higher than a specified value. Therefore, a special power supply named ballast is then needed for these discharge lamps. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the ballast circuit for a HID lamp with power factor correction (PFC) circuit as the first stage in the prior art. And the second stage—the DC/AC inverter, inverts the output of the PFC circuit to a voltage required by the HID lamp. The controller adopts proper control method so as to realize the typical control strategy shown in FIG. 1. Besides, in FIG. 2, the ballast circuit further includes an AC power source, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter and a rectifier, wherein the EMI filter receives the AC power source and the rectifier connected between the EMI filter and the PFC circuit.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a ballast circuit in the prior art, in which only the DC/AC inverter of the second stage, the controller and the discharge lamp are shown. And the DC/AC inverter is a half-bridge circuit acting as a double down-converter. The double down-converter includes a first MOSFET S1, a second MOSFET S2, a first and a second body diodes D1 and D2, an inductor L2 connected to the discharge lamp in series, a capacitor C2 connected to the discharge lamp in parallel and two electrolytic bridge capacitors CH1 and CH2 connected in series. The double down-converter is operated in the critical continuous mode with the controller, e.g., L6562. In each half commutation period (commutation frequency is in the order of 100 Hz), one MOSFET (S1 or S2) operates in higher frequency, e.g., 100 kHz, in combination with the diode (D2 or D1) of the other MOSFET as a Buck converter. The resistive divider of R1 and R2 is used to sense the value of discharge lamp voltage. C3 acts as a noise filter. Equation (1) shows the relationship between the sensed discharge lamp voltage VC and the real discharge lamp voltage Vlamp.VC=(VDC/2±Vlamp)*R2/(R1+R2)  (1),
VDC is the output voltage of the PFC circuit, and Vlamp is the discharge lamp voltage.
Based on the sensed discharge lamp voltage VC, the micro controller unit (MCU) then outputs a control signal to a first controller—the DCMB (discontinuous conduction mode boundary) controller to adjust the duty ratio of the driving signal of the MOSFET S1 and S2 so as to achieve the power regulating and the detection of end of the life according to the typical lamp control strategy.
One major drawback of the prior art is that the resistive voltage divider suffers from high voltage stress. And the usage of the resistive voltage divider increases the cost and reduces the power density of the ballast converter. As can be seen, before the lamp ignition, the maximum voltage across resistors R1 and R2 equals to the voltage Vlamp plus half of the voltage VDC of the output of the PFC circuit. Assuming that VDC=450V, then Vlamp=225V (generally before ignition Vlamp=VDC/2), therefore, the resistive voltage divider have to endure a voltage rating of at least 450V.
From the above analysis, a new scheme is then needed to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art for sensing the discharge lamp voltage.
Keeping the drawbacks of the prior arts in mind, and employing experiments and research full-heartily and persistently, the applicant finally conceived a voltage sensing apparatus for the power regulation and the over-voltage protection of a discharge lamp system and a controlling method thereof.

Voltage sensing apparatus for power regulation and over-voltage protection of discharge lamp and method thereof


An image processing apparatus which makes it possible to realize easy accessing of registered information of any function and provide a user interface having high operability. The image processing apparatus stores setting information configured via an operating section and access information for use in accessing the setting information in association with each other. Further, the image processing apparatus stores the setting information and button information in association with each other. The button information is displayed on a touch panel in a user selectable form. When an item of the button information displayed on the touch panel is selected by a user, a portal application detects the access information associated with the selected button information item. The setting information is acquired based on the detected access information. The image processing apparatus performs image processing based on the acquired setting information.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus which enables a user to easily configure settings for the apparatus and a method of controlling the image processing apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
Recent image processing apparatuses have been becoming more and more sophisticated and more multifunctional, and therefore there is a user need for quick accessing of functions that are frequently used and for easy configuration of settings. For this reason, there has conventionally been proposed a technique in which function-assigned keys (short-cut keys) that are assigned desired functions and configuration processes, respectively, are displayed on a display section, and when a user selects one of the keys, an associated function or setting is reflected (see e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-132100).
In the above-mentioned conventional technique using short-cut keys (hereinafter referred to as "the short-cut function"), the data format of the functions and the settings is required to conform to a format that enables the functions and the settings to be stored in association with the short-cut keys, since an image processing apparatus stores functions and settings in association with respective short-cut keys.
On the other hand, the number of functions operable from an image processing apparatus can be increased by installing an application equipped with the desired functions. However, unless the data format of the functions in the application is adapted to the short-cut function, the functions and settings in the application cannot be associated with the respective short-cut keys, and hence it is impossible to use the short-cut function. To solve this problem, there has been proposed a method in which application-specific scripts are generated and each of the scripts is parsed by the short-cut function to thereby execute data of functions in the application.
However, in the conventional method, it is required to provide parsers associated with the respective scripts, and it takes time to parse a script.

Image processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium


Disclosed is a portable device for collecting and processing continuous monitoring data. The device has a data interface configured to receive a stream of continuous monitoring data from a body-worn sensor, the continuous monitoring data being indicative of an analyte in a bodily fluid. A control is connectable to the data interface. The control controls a first mode of operation during which configuration parameters are established in response to receiving a start signal indicating a sensor session start of the body-worn sensor. The control also controls a second mode of operation during which the continuous monitoring data is collected and processed and also controls the switching from the first mode to the second mode. The control blocks further starting of the first mode for a remaining sensor session time after the switching to the second mode of operation. Also disclosed are a related medical system, method and computer program product.

The present disclosure relates to a portable device and a method for collecting and processing continuous monitoring data indicative of an analyte in a bodily fluid, a medical system and a computer program product
U.S. Pat. No. 8,849,458 B2 discloses a portable collection device for a structured collection procedure via spot monitoring. A schedule of collection events provides a request to the user for measurement of a biomarker value under defined conditions. A view flag having a viewable value and a non-viewable value is associated with each of the collection events. Non-viewable values are only visible to an authorized user such as a clinician. The authorization is realized via password, encryption or authorization code sent from a computer or a server.
U.S. Publication No. 2014/0200426 A1 describes an in vivo analyte monitoring system including a Professional Options screen where the user can access restricted features that should only be accessed by trained health care professionals (HCP). Therefore, a password or code only given to the HCP's may be required to access the settings. Features that may be restricted are the activation and setting of an insulin calculation feature, a masked mode operation of the device, the resetting of the system and/or settings on the device, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,579,853 B2 discloses infusion devices as well as in vitro or in vivo analyte monitoring devices that are supervisor-controllable or user-restrictive. Configurations of a medical devices are settable and/or lockable by a supervisor (e.g., a HCP—Health Care Professional, parent or guardian, caregiver, or the like), e.g., remotely or by direct action (e.g., using a user interface of the device, or the like). For example, certain configurations of a medical device may be settable and/or lockable by a first person (e.g., a HCP) having a first access level (e.g., full access such as full Read/Write permission) and certain configurations that may be settable and/or lockable by a second person (e.g., a caregiver) having a second access level (e.g., limited Read/Write permission). A user may also be completely restricted from modifying the configurations set by the HCP and/or caregiver.
U.S. Publication No. 2014/0148659 A1 describes systems related to in vivo analyte monitoring that are configurable to switch between a plurality of different modes or configurations. An on-body electronics unit switches between at least two different settings or uses, and the given setting can be determined by the on-body unit and communicated to an analyte monitoring device. One type of use provides for the analyte monitoring device to be configured to operate in a masked mode, and a second type of use provides for the analyte monitoring device to be configured to operate in an un-masked mode.

Portable device, method and system for collecting and processing continuous monitoring data indicative of an analyte in a bodily fluid


A safety device for a power tool having an electric motor and a trigger to activate the motor via a primary trigger-activated switch, includes an auxiliary switch in circuit with the motor, an activator movable between a first position in which the auxiliary switch is opened by the activator and the activator prevents depression of the trigger, and a second position in which the auxiliary switch is closed by the activator and the activator allows depression of the trigger.

More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention provides a safety switch for a power tool that physically prevents depression of the tool's trigger and simultaneously provides a secondary electrical switch in series with a primary electrical trigger switch.
Known power tools such as hand-held drills, saws and sanders for example have a trigger that is activated by the user to close an electrical circuit to the tool's motor relay. Some tools include a motor-reversing switch and some comprise a mechanical safety catch to prevent inadvertent depression of the trigger. If such a mechanical safety catch were to fail or wear out, the trigger might still be depressed inadvertently to close an electrical circuit and unwittingly activate the tool's motor.


A combination housing of a notebook computer having a display housing and a main frame housing. The main frame housing including a top metal cover, a first middle plastic frame, and a bottom metal cover three of which are combined to form a sandwich structure. Meanwhile, the main frame housing including a front metal cover, a second middle plastic frame, and a rear metal cover three of which are combined to form a sandwich structure. Besides, an engagement of engaging parts of the metal covers in corresponding arched cavities of the middle plastic frames is utilized to permit a rapid fastening. In this way, the main housing portion of the notebook computer can be made of aluminum ally or aluminum magnesium alloy.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a combination housing of a notebook computer, and more particularly, to a combination housing of a notebook computer having a display housing and a main frame housing each of which includes two metal covers that are attached to a middle plastic frame, thereby forming a sandwich structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the advancement of production technology and the rationalization of price, the notebook computer has gradually replaced the desktop computer and becomes essential merchandise in the computer market. Previously, the notebook computer met working requirements of few professionals, and now it has been made widely available to all kinds of people. Therefore, in addition to having complete functions, the notebook computer also has to own shock resistance and can be protected from the electromagnetic interference. Even, it has to fulfill the recycling requirement by recovering of old notebooks for catering to the need of the market.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional notebook computer 60 includes a display 40 and a main frame 50. The bottom rim of the display 40 is pivotally coupled to the rear side of the main frame 50. The display 40 includes a display panel 42, a rear housing 41 for accepting the display panel 42, and a front housing 43 for holding the display panel 42 in place. The display panel 42 includes LCD or other self-illuminating elements and contains a corresponding positioning bar 421 and positioning pieces 422 at two sides thereof. The positioning rods 421 each have a hinge 423 at the bottom thereof for a pivotal connection to a connection bar (not shown). In this way, the display 40 and the main frame 50 can be pivotally joined together. So, the display 40 can be swiveled on the main frame 50 in an open or a closed position.
The main frame 50 consists of a top housing 51 and a bottom housing 52 both of which are joined together to form a main frame housing 50A. The top housing 51 and the bottom housing 52 define a receiving space for holding a keyboard 53, a mother board and other electronic devices (e.g. hard disk drive, optical devices, etc.) that are not shown in the figures. So, the top housing 51 and the bottom housing 52 have to be provided with corresponding grooves 511, 521 and partition ribs 522.
The housing structure of the above-mentioned notebook computer 60 primarily consists of the rear housing 41, the front housing 43, the top housing 51, and the bottom housing 52. Other small elements are not described hereinafter. These four portions are mainly formed by an injection molding process of plastic and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or PC (Polycarbonate)+ABS material, and then fastened with screws or engaging elements. However, these plastic housings have to undergo a special surface treatment with printing or coating process. This results in recovery difficulties later. Moreover, the whole plastic injection molding machine is expensive. Meanwhile, the plastic strength is not so high as metal strength so that the thickness of the plastic housings has to be maintained above 0.8-1.2 mm for ensuring a sufficient material strength. Otherwise, the computer housing is easily damaged. So, the cost thereof is not low as well. In addition, the use of the plastic housing can't prevent the notebook computer from electromagnetic interference. This is a big imperfection, too.
Currently, the conventional plastic housing still leaves much to be desired. The aluminum magnesium alloy is applied to the notebook computer due to its light weight, high mechanical strength, and excellent texture. Unlike the plastic goods that can be formed by injection molding process with high efficiency, the aluminum magnesium alloy goods are made only by die casting that requires a molding tool cost triple as high as the injection molding tool cost. Moreover, the yield rate is too low as well so that the production cost is considerably increased. Accordingly, this is only applicable to the products with the requirement of the top quality. So, the production is commonly done by stamping process. However, the stamping elements still have many restrictions. For example, the depth can't be too large; otherwise, the stamping process will be completed with difficulties. The connection between metal stamping elements often produces assembly problems due to precision control difficulties. Thus, the stamping element made of aluminum ally or aluminum magnesium alloy can only be applied to the rear housing 41, rather than to the front housing 43, the top housing 51 and the bottom housing 52 due to the aforementioned factors.

Combination housing of a notebook computer


In a preferred form the invention there is a lateral support forming part of a seat of a wheelchair, comprising a bracket (1), a hinge body (2), a forward plate (3) having padding and a lever (17). The lever (17) is arranged so it can be turned by hand to move a bolt (18) into a pin (5) whereby the hinge body is prevented from swinging about the pin. The lever (17) is also arranged so it can be subsequently turned by hand to cause a cam face (21) of the lever to ride along a complimentary engaging surface (22) of the hinge body. This forces the bolt (18) from the pin (5) thereby freeing the hinge body (2) to swing about the pin (5) and, as a consequence, to swing the plate (3) to facilitate access to the seat.

It is known for wheelchairs to have lateral pads for supporting the sides of the torso of a human user. It is convenient for the pads to be swung out of the way to enable the user easy access to the chair, and then swung back closer to the body and locked in place. It is an object of a preferred form of the invention to go at least some way towards achieving this. However it should be understood that the invention has more general applicability and that any objects or advantages of the preferred embodiment should not be seen as a limitation on the claims. The object of the invention per se is simply to provide the public with a useful choice.
The term comprising, if and when used in this document in relation to a combination of features, should be interpreted to mean that the combination may be supplemented by additional features, but does not have to be.


A vehicle seat longitudinal adjuster includes a lower rail (5) and an upper rail (3) which is guided therein such that it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction, and at least one bearing element (30) which is arranged between the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5) and is in contact with the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5). At least one additional supporting element (20) is provided which is in contact with the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5) and has a rotatable supporting roller (22). The supporting roller (22) can be rotated about a rotational axis (A) which runs in the vertical direction. The at least one supporting element (20) includes a supporting spring (26) which loads the supporting roller (22) in the vertical direction. A vehicle seat (1) with the longitudinal adjuster is also provided.

A generic longitudinal adjuster and a generic vehicle seat are disclosed in DE 10 2011 011 766 A1. The longitudinal adjuster comprises two rail pairs with in each case two seat rails which are displaceable relative to one another, namely an upper rail and a lower rail which mutually encompass one another. The upper rail is able to be displaced relative to the lower rail within a comfort adjustment region and moreover into an easy entry position.
Bearing elements are provided between the upper rail and the lower rail, said bearing elements preferably comprising ball cages consisting of plastics material and metal balls rotatably mounted therein. The ball cages in this case are arranged in the intermediate spaces between the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein the balls are in contact with the upper rail and with the lower rail. During a displacement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail, the balls roll thereon.
The spacing of the first ball relative to the last ball of the ball cage defines the support length between the upper rail and the lower rail. The first ball and the last ball are generally arranged in the vicinity of the ends of the ball cage. Thus, the length of the ball cage approximately corresponds to the support length between the upper rail and the lower rail. The greater the support length, the greater the rigidity of the longitudinal adjuster.
With a displacement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail by a predetermined adjustment path, the ball cages move precisely by half of this adjustment path. The maximum possible length of the ball cages is thus defined by the length of the upper rail and the lower rail and by the maximum adjustment path. As a result, the support length and the rigidity of the longitudinal adjuster are also limited.
A high degree of rigidity of the longitudinal adjuster also causes a high natural frequency of the vehicle seat. Here, the highest possible natural frequency of the vehicle seat is desirable, so that low frequency excitations through the chassis of the vehicle which are transmitted to the vehicle seat do not lead to a build-up and thus to troublesome noises or vibrations. The noises may occur primarily with an empty vehicle seat, i.e. not occupied by an occupant.
A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat is disclosed in DE 20 2006 016 652 U1 and which, on the one hand, comprises rotatable balls arranged between the upper rail and the lower rail and, on the other hand, cylindrical rollers mounted on the lower rail.
A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat is disclosed in EP 0 067 123 A1 and which also comprises rotatable balls arranged between the upper rail and the lower rail and additionally cylindrical guide rollers which are rotatable about an axis extending in the transverse direction.
A roller guide for a vehicle seat is disclosed in DE 10 2004 038 507 A1. The roller guide comprises a guide roller which is rotatably mounted about an axis extending in the transverse direction, said guide roller rolling on a guide rail.

Longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat, and vehicle seat

JOHNSON CONTROLS COMPONENTS GMBH & CO. KG


A conveyor pan 10 for face conveyors in underground coal mining systems has outward race 1 and return race 2, between which a conveyor bottom 9 is formed, with toggle sockets 21, with guide means for a mining machine which can be moved along the wall, in particular a drum cutter-loader, and with a static loading ramp connected on the wall side to the conveyor pan, and extending from the floor to the level of the outward race, by means of which muck can be loaded into the outward race as the face conveyor is advanced. The loading ramp includes an angled guide plate 50, the lower section 51 of which is steeper relative to the conveyor bottom 9 or the floor 11 than the upper section 52.

The invention relates to a conveyor pan for face conveyors in underground winning or mining systems, in particular coal mining systems, with outward race and return race for guiding a scraper chain, between which a conveyor bottom is formed, with securing means attached to the ends of the conveyor pans on the goaf side and the wall side for a connecting component linking adjacent conveyor pans traction-proof together, preferably with guide means for a mining machine which may be moved along the wall and with a static loading ramp connected to the conveyor pan on the wall side and extending from the floor to the level of the outward race, by means of which muck may be loaded into the outward race as the face conveyor is advanced.
Conveyor pans for face conveyors are known in various embodiments. In underground workings in which the mining machine travels along the wall, as for example in workings using a plow, the muck can be loaded into the outward race of the face conveyor by means of special devices or guide plates on the mining machine. Conveyor pans with static loading ramps are used in particular in mining systems which operate using traveling mining machines, moving along between the conveyor and the wall, which have stationary mining machines, for example attached to the powered support assembly (DE 197 36 662), or which are designed as guides for drum cutter-loaders. In this type of workings with drum cutter-loaders the guide means on the wall side, for example a sliding rail or track for the drum cutter-loader, may simultaneously also form the lower section of the face conveyor loading ramp (DE 197 20 536).
Within face support systems, the conveyor pans connected together to form a face conveyor are advanced by means of the booms or pushers abutting the powered shield support frames. During advancing, the conveyor pans of the face conveyor tend to climb, in other words to rise up off the floor, and this disadvantageous climbing has to be countered with suitable control measures for adjusting the cutting horizon. Climbing of the face conveyor is particularly disadvantageous when, as in the case of drum cutter-loaders, the mining machine is guided along the face conveyor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Trough pan for a face conveyor with a loading ramp


A charging control method includes: monitoring a real-time temperature of the battery during charging a battery with a first real-time charging current; reducing the first real-time charging current to a second real-time charging current at a specified current reduction rate, when the real-time temperature of the battery is greater than a first temperature threshold, the second real-time charging current being a real-time charging current corresponding to that the real-time temperature of the battery is less than the first temperature threshold; and charging the battery according to the second real-time charging current. As such, the temperature rise problem during high-current high-power fast charging can be alleviated, and excessive fluctuations due to instantaneous current adjustment can be prevented from affecting the charging rate thereby improving user experience.

With the advent of 5G era, the era of "Internet of Everything" is about to begin. Mobile terminals such as smart phones etc. are used more and more frequently as windows of "Internet of Everything," various high-power usage scenarios require mobile terminals to have sufficient power, large capacity is essential. Therefore, high-current high-power fast charging will definitely become a future trend.

Charging control method, device and storage medium

BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.


A trimming circuit is configured to carry out a trimming operation on a device portion of an integrated circuit device. The trimming circuit includes: shunt fuses wherein each shunt fuse is coupled in parallel to a trimming resistance, further resistances wherein each further resistance is coupled in parallel to a respective shunt fuse. The circuit is configured to allow the flow of the trimming current when the respective shunt fuse is burnt during the trimming operation.

Following the technology evolution, the target of the current electronic products is the low voltage for low power and the restricted error tolerance for greater component accuracy. For example, the circuits used to generate the reference quantity (a voltage or a current) must have a very low tolerance to ensure the reference quantity to have a precise and stable value.
The problem of obtaining a very low tolerance is generally solved by providing trimming elements in the integrated device to connect to the circuit in order to correct an inaccuracy thereof. During the trimming process, the characteristic parameter of the circuit element is measured and compared with a nominal value thereof. The trimming elements are activated or deactivated according to the result of this comparison so as to obtain the required tolerance.
Moreover the market constraints imply to supply these components at lower price and smaller package but with a constant pin out.
So there is a need to improve the circuit architecture and the trimming techniques to increase the accuracy and the stability of these components over time and temperature. Today, conventional trimming is performed before packaging, on the wafer (EWS: Electrical Wafer Sort). In fact, the EWS test is performed on the wafer prior to severing the individual integrated circuit die destined to final packaging operations. This needs an additional step in the production cycle together with internal extra pads associated to the trimming elements.
Trimming may even need to be carried out at the packaged circuit device final testing stage. Indeed, the isolation resin injected into the mold exerts a pressure on the semiconductor chip that may cause mechanical stress/strain on the crystalline semiconductor capable of altering electrical parameters. For this reason, it may be necessary to carry out a trimming operation when the packaged circuit device is tested.
An example of a device requiring a trimming at the very late stage of the manufacturing process, that is after completion of the packaging of the integrated circuit device incorporating the device itself, is a band-gap regulator for producing a constant voltage reference insensitive to the working temperature.
The trimming elements may consist of the use of metal fuses. The circuit element is formed by several elemental components connected to each another, for example, in series. A trimming element in series with a metal fuse is connected in parallel with each elemental component. The terminals of each metal fuse are accessible from outside the integrated circuit by means of a couple of firing pads. If a current of high value is supplied to the firing pads, the metal fuse is blown; the corresponding trimming element is thus deactivated (since it is disconnected from the elemental component).
The trimming element may consist in the use of Zener diodes in the place of the metal fuses. If a current of high value is supplied to the firing pads, the Zener diode is blown and it is brought to a breakdown condition wherein it behaves as a short-circuit; the corresponding trimming element is thus activated (since it is connected to the elemental component).
In these solutions the firing pads take up a considerable amount of space on a semiconductor chip wherein the integrated circuit is formed. This leads to the need to limit the number of firing pads and hence trimming elements, correspondingly limiting the degree the accuracy which can be obtained.
The use of these solutions in an integrated circuit encapsulated in a package requires too great a number of external pins (connected to the firing pads) and metal connection tracks which are very wide in order to be able to withstand the current necessary to blow the metal fuses and the Zener diodes. The trimming process may not correct variations in the characteristic parameter of the circuit element caused by mechanical and thermal stresses undergone by the integrated circuit during encapsulation operation.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide a trimming circuit for an integrated device having a reduced number of components and requiring no dedicated pin or only a dedicated pin.

Trimming circuit for an integrated circuit and related integrated device


It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable terminal which reduces an antenna standing-wave ratio and absorbs reflected waves without inserting an isolator so that a stable operation can be obtained efficiently with a compact, low-price body.. To achieve the above object, there is provided a portable terminal having antenna sharing means for sharing an antenna between transmission and reception, a power amplifier for high-power transmission and a low noise amplifier for reception, which comprises: suppression means for suppressing an antenna standing-wave ratio within a given range; a circulator for use as the antenna sharing means; and a protective circuit connected to an input end of the low noise amplifier for reception, wherein when a signal is transmitted from the power amplifier, a reflected wave output from the power amplifier and reflected by the antenna is suppressed by the suppression means to a given value or less, and losses of reflected wave are increased by extending a path of the reflected wave from the antenna to the power amplifier through the circulator carrying the reflected wave to the protective circuit and returning it from the protective circuit to the power amplifier, whereby the amount of the reflected wave to be sent back to the power amplifier is reduced. Therefore, such an isolator as used in the conventional does not need to be provided at the output end of the power amplifier for protecting the power amplifier, and as a result, the portable terminal can realize high efficiency with a low distortion characteristic.

The present invention relates to a portable terminal for mobile communication and particularly to a high-power portable terminal having means for reducing an antenna standing-wave ratio to protect an output amplifier from a reflected wave caused by an antenna.
Conventionally, many portable terminals for mobile communication that employs a communication satellite or the like use a high-frequency, high-power time division duplex system (TDD system).
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an exemplary structure of such a conventional portable terminal. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional portable terminal has an antenna 1, a transmitter/receiver switch (Tx/Rx switch) 2, a part of microphone 11, a power amplifier 12, an isolator 13, a low-pass filter 14, a part of earphone 21, a low noise amplifier 22 and a band-pass filter 23. A controller, not shown, is also provided for various controls of the portable terminal such as dialing control.
In transmission, a speech signal input from a microphone (not shown) of the part of microphone 11 is converted and modulated into an electric signal. The output signal is amplified by the power amplifier 12, passed through the isolator 13 and filtered by the low-pass filter 14 so that excess high-frequency components will be eliminated from the output signal. Then the output signal is passed through the Tx/Rx switch 2 and transmitted from the antenna 1.
In reception, signals received by the antenna 1 are passed through the Tx/Rx switch 2. Then only a given frequency band of signals is selected by the band-pass filter 23, amplified by the low noise amplifier 22, demodulated in the part of earphone 21 and converted to a voice at an earphone (not shown).
When using high frequencies, a portion of the output signal from the power amplifier 12 is reflected by the antenna 1 and interference of the reflected wave may form a standing wave. The standing-wave ratio (maximum standing wave/minimum standing wave) at the antenna 1 is standardized to be within a fixed range. However, when the antenna 1 has been damaged or electromagnetic conditions have changed, an unusually large reflected wave may be sent back from the antenna 1 to the output end of the power amplifier 12 to cause an error or a failure in the power amplifier 12.
The isolator 13 is an element acting to pass signals only in the forward direction, which is inserted for absorbing reflected waves from the antenna 1 and protecting the power amplifier 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the use of the Tx/Rx switch 2 for changing over between transmission and reception permits the reflected waves to be directly sent to the output end of the power amplifier 12 when an abnormal condition such as failure of the antenna 1 has occurred. In such a case, the danger of error in the power amplifier 12 becomes large and therefore the isolator 13 is required for avoiding this error.
As shown in FIG. 2, another conventional portable terminal uses a circulator 3 instead of the Tx/Rx switch 2, which carries the reflected waves from the antenna 1 to the receiving side. In this technique, when transmission power is small (when the output of the power amplifier 12 is small), neither a protective circuit for the low noise amplifier 22 nor the isolator 13 is required. However, when the transmission power is large, a protective circuit 24 needs to be provided for protecting the low noise amplifier 22. Since the protective circuit 24 sends back the reflected waves from the antenna 1 through the circulator 3 to the transmitting circuit, the isolator 13 also needs to be connected to the output end of the power amplifier 12 for protecting the power amplifier 12.
The following drawbacks are present in the above conventional portable terminals.
(1) The isolator 13 is expensive and the use of the isolator 13 increases the total cost.
(2) The parts are too large to use in a compact portable terminal.
(3) Since the isolator 13 increases losses on the transmitting side from the antenna 1 to the power amplifier 12, the power amplifier 12 must be a high power type and this also increases the total cost. Further, such a high-power amplifier deteriorates distortion characteristics of the output signal.
(4) Increased power consumption of the power amplifier 12 reduces battery working time and hence duration of a call.
(5) Although a large-sized battery is required to secure the duration of a call, such a battery is too large to use in the portable terminal.

Portable terminal having a shared antenna with reduced standing wave ratio


A capacitive level sensor for sensing level of a in a vessel includes a sensor coupled to the vessel having a shield and an inner sensing rod. An oscillator provides an RF signal to the shield and the sensing rod. Comparison circuitry couples to the sensing rod provides a wet/dry output in response to capacitance between the inner sensing rod and the vessel, the capacitance related to the level of the liquid in the vessel.

The present invention relates to level sensors of the type used in the process control industry. More specifically, the present invention relates to capacitive level sensors which provide an output to, and receive power from, same two wire process control loop (can be relay output as well).
Process control loops are frequently used in industrial processes to control the process. One type of sensor that can be coupled to such a loop is a level sensor, and specifically a capacitive based liquid level sensor. Such sensors detect a wet or a dry condition by measuring the capacitance between a test probe (or sensor rod) and electrical ground. When the test probe is covered with liquid, an RF signal is more easily conducted to electrical ground. This is detected and an output is provided indicating a wet condition.
However, over the life of the sensor, it is known that coatings, and in particular conductive coatings, can build up on the sensing rod and lead to inaccurate readings. One known solution is to provide a shield which partially surrounds the sensing rod and is driven to the same electrical potential as the sensing rod. This creates an electrically neutral zone between the shield and the sensing rod to thereby reduce the effect of a conductive coating on the sensor. Various capacitive liquid level sensors are shown in Geiger, U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,741 issued Sep. 7, 1982, Kuhlman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,015 issued May 7, 1985 and Marsh et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,335 issued Sep. 17, 1991.


An engine start using an electric motor during a vehicle travel is performed by increasing an output torque of the electric motor in a slip state where a second frictional engagement element 3 connecting the electric motor 1 and a driving wheel slips. A controller determines a requested acceleration amount from a depression amount of an accelerator pedal. When the requested acceleration amount is significant, a different torque increment characteristic is applied, compared to a case where the requested acceleration amount is not significant. Thus, the internal combustion engine starts in a high response depending on the requested acceleration amount input by the driver, thereby improving a vehicle acceleration response.

In a hybrid electric vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which only the electric motor is used as motive power and a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode in which both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are used as motive power are selectively applied.
In order to switch from the EV mode to the HEV mode, cranking of the internal combustion engine is performed using an output torque of the electric motor to start the internal combustion engine. The electric motor and the internal combustion engine are connected via a first frictional engagement element.
JP 2007-126082 A published by Japan Patent Office, proposes a method of starting the internal combustion engine during a vehicle traveling at a low vehicle speed by increasing a rotation speed of the electric motor while a second frictional engagement element interposed between the electric motor and the drive wheel slips. The internal combustion engine and the electric motor are connected to each other via a first frictional engagement element. Herein, each of the frictional engagement elements is constituted by a clutch.

Engine start control device and engine start control method for hybrid electric vehicle


A self-service system and method which uses shared components. The self-service checkout system includes a checkout platform including a plurality of checkout stations arranged together and associated with a plurality of checkout lanes, and checkout components including unshared components at each of the checkout stations and shared components available for use by customers at any of the checkout stations, and a computer for receiving indications of starts of overlapping transactions at two or more of the plurality of checkout stations, for establishing transaction records for the transactions, for determining that one of the checkout components must be used at a point in one of the transactions, for interrupting the one transaction, for determining that the one checkout component is a shared component, for determining that the one checkout component is in use by another of the transactions, and for resuming the one transaction after the one checkout component is no longer being used by the other transaction.

Self-service systems contain a necessary set of peripherals, like printers, cash acceptors, and cash dispensers. Some of these peripherals are costly. Some of these peripherals have a large size. In order to be competitive, some manufacturers must limit features and functions.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a self-service system and method which offers full functionality at a lower cost and in a smaller package.

Self-service system and method including shared components


It is an object of this invention to easily search many photographed images for a desired image. In order to achieve this object, an image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of photographed images and image information having attributes attached to the plurality of images includes a similarity determination device which determines similarities between a query image and the plurality of images, an attribute comparing device which compares an attribute of the query image and attributes of the plurality of images, and a weighting device which weights a similarity determination result obtained by the similarity determination device on the basis of the comparison result obtained by the attribute comparing device.

Recently, devices designed to handle images as digital data, e.g., digital cameras and digital video recorders, have become popular.
A pan head camera is also used, which is designed to control moving images from a remote place or automatically control them, as represented by WebView.
Along with these tendencies, some of the conventionally used cameras which record dates, hours, shutter speeds, and exposure information, and can be controlled are designed to attach, to images, not only information such as a pan angle, tilt angle, and field angle as attributes, but also various control information and supplementary information (e.g., temperature and weather) for images as attributes.
In addition, surveillance systems using such cameras are used, and photographed images are stored and used.
In general, however, an enormous number of images are photographed by a surveillance system, and a search is made on the basis of the date/hour of photography. However, a found image is not always the one requested by a user.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2000-235637 and 2000-235638, in some cases, image searches are made on the basis of similarities themselves among image data.
By using similarities between images, for example, images similar to a query image can be found or a scene change in a TV program can be detected by obtaining a change point.
However, images obtained by searches using similarities between image data do not always coincide with images wanted by users.
This is because, it is difficult to obtain a similarity in consideration of all conditions at the time of photography by using only an algorithm for obtaining a similarity itself between images.
In addition, when image data are accumulated for surveillance, the number of search targets becomes huge, and it is important to narrow down to necessary target images.
Furthermore, in photography by a moving camera, different images are sensed depending on control. Even if, therefore, different objects are photographed, similar images may be photographed when the objects are similar in color or shape.

Image processing method and apparatus, program, and storage medium


A communication link is established between wireless communication devices when an audio tone emitted by a first device is detected by a second device.

The present invention relates to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for establishing a wireless communication network.
Since the success of the Ethernet project in the 1970's, the advantages of digital computing networks have become increasingly apparent. While wired networks have demonstrated the computing advantages of networks, the mobility limitations imposed by the infrastructure of wired networks has motivated the development of wireless local area networks (LANs). Unfettered by conventional wired network connections, wireless network users can move about almost without restriction and access the network from almost anywhere within range of the wireless transceiver. A wireless network may also be more economical than a wired network because of the high cost and difficultly of wiring or rewiring existing structures to connect network nodes when expanding or altering the network. Further, wireless networks offer flexibility that cannot be matched by their wired network counterparts. For example, wireless communication facilitates the creation and termination of transient or ad hoc networks permitting a plurality of mobile data processing devices to establish communication for a purpose and then terminate the communication links at the conclusion of the task. For instance, a group of employees meeting to discuss future product designs or plans can use portable data processing devices to create a wireless network for sharing data and then disband the network when the meeting ends. Similarly, a mobile telephone might be used to establish a temporary wireless network with a vending machine to facilitate electronic payment for a purchase.
Generally, a wireless network may have an infrastructure configuration or an ad hoc configuration. In an ad hoc network, data processing units are brought together "on the fly" so there is no fixed points or structure to the network and, typically, every node is able to communicate with every other node. Algorithms, such as the spokesperson election algorithm, have been designed to elect one of the data processing devices as the base station or "master" controlling operation of the network with remaining devices or nodes being designated as "slaves." Another ad hoc network architecture uses a broadcasting and flooding method to establish a structure for the nodes. On the other hand, the wireless network may have an infrastructure with fixed network access points with which the wireless slave nodes communicate. These network access points may be connected to land lines to bridge the wireless nodes to nodes of other networks, such as the Internet, to broaden the wireless network's scope and capability.
While wireless communication has numerous advantages, the transient nature of wireless networks and the fact that the bounds of the network are limited only by the strength of the radio signal used for communication presents unique problems, particularly when used for a localized network. There is no wiring to define membership in the wireless network and no physical method of preventing a device within radio range from joining the network. For example, when two devices conforming to the Bluetooth wireless communication standard come within radio range of each other, an electronic conversation is automatically initiated to determine whether there is data to be shared and whether one of the devices needs to control the other. Once the conversation has taken place, the communicating devices can automatically form a network known as a personal area network or piconet and initiate data transfer. Bluetooth devices transmit a one milliwatt signal that limits the range to approximately ten meters, reducing the chances of interference between the Bluetooth device and other electronic devices such as portable telephones or television.
However, even with low power, the radio frequency signals used for network communications can penetrate the walls of a structure. While this may make the signal useful for controlling devices located in different rooms or even different buildings, the ability of radio frequency signals to penetrate the walls of a structure also makes it difficult to limit geographic extent of and access to a wireless network and control interference from other nearby wireless communication devices. Wireless networking, more than any other network technology, requires an access control mechanism.
What is desired, therefore, is a system that facilitates the establishment of reliable, localized wireless communication networks having controlled access.


Sialic acid binding proteins, sialic acid-binding peptides and sialic acid containing oligo-saccharides are active ingredients of a novel bacterial enterotoxin neutralizer and interfere with the binding of enterotoxins, including cholera toxin, to receptors so as to exert an effect of neutralizing the toxicity, thus being utilized as an effective neutralizer and are safe and available cheaply and abundantly from by-products produced during the processing of cow's milk which renders the enterotoxin neutralizer economically advantageous for commercial use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a neutralizer which is effective for neutralization of bacterial enterotoxins produced by bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae, pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella.
2. Description of the Related Art
Food poisoning due to Vibrio cholerae causes severe diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain. Consequently, patients infected with Vibrio cholerae are suffered from extreme dehydration due to the diarrhea and, in the worst case, die due to the dehydration. It is well known that the severe diarrhea observed in the case of food poisoning due to Vibrio cholerae is caused by an enterotoxin called cholera toxin which Vibrio cholerae produces extracellularly. The cholera toxin is a protein with a molecular weight of 84,000 consisting of one A-subunit and five B-subunits. It is said that, among them, B-subunits bind to receptors located on a mucous cell of the small intestine, while the A component invades into the cell and increases the amount of cyclic-AMP within the cell, causing change in membrane permeability, which induces exudation of intracellular fluid and salts outside the cell and thus causes diarrhea. This kind of toxins are isolated also from pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella, and are believed to be largely responsible for causing food poisoning.
The receptors which are present on the mucous cells of the small intestine has been confirmed to be liposaccharides; gangliosides such as G.sub.M1 are identified as receptors for the cholera toxin. The utilization of this G.sub.M1 as a cholera toxin neutralizer has already been attempted. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 500138/1981 disclosed a technique in which gangliosides such as G.sub.M1 possessing a potent ability of neutralizing the cholera toxin were immobilized on latex or the like and used as neutralizing agents. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 72819/1980 disclosed a technique in which fat globule membranes in cow's milk were treated by heat and used as a toxin neutralizer without extracting gangliosides, G.sub.3, G.sub.M2 and G.sub.3, containing in the fat globular membranes.
However, at the present time G.sub.M1 is known to be available only in a minute amount, for example, in the bovine brain. Therefore, it was difficult to supply such G.sub.M1 at a low cost in a large amount. Furthermore, the methods of using milk fat globular membranes in cow's milk or the like have disadvantages such that concentrations of the resulting gangliosides, which are effective components in the milk globular membranes are not consistent, and their compositions are not stable.


A transmitter in a visible light communication system is provided, in which a plurality of light sources emit light in different colors, a data converter converts data to predetermined chromaticity coordinates, a data transmitter emits light having a chromaticity corresponding to the chromaticity coordinates by controlling light intensity of each of the light sources, and a pre-light emitter emits light having chromaticities corresponding to all chromaticity coordinates by controlling the light intensity of each of the light sources, before the light intensity control of the data transmitter.

Recently, optical communication technology using visible light has attracted attention. Especially along with the rapid proliferation of lightings using lighting emitting devices such as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), extensive research has been conducted to realize a very convenient communication environment (a visible light communication system) utilizing indoor and outdoor lighting devices. Considering influence on human bodies and medical equipment, LED is the most promising candidate as a lighting device for optical communication. However, the transmission rate of data for optical communication depends on the response speed of a light emitting device or a driving circuit. Thus Laser Diode (LD) or Super Luminescent Diode (SLD) that has a higher response speed than the LED is a promising candidate, when high data rates are needed.
In addition, techniques for using Red, Green, Blue (RGB) LEDs and stably transmitting a large amount of data in a signal emitted by an LED have been proposed. These techniques include a multi-chromaticity transmission scheme. When RGB LEDs are used, the intensity of light emitted from each LED can be appropriately controlled, to thereby control the chromaticity of light observed by a receiver. According to the multi-chromaticity transmission scheme, a plurality of symbol points are set at chromaticity coordinates on a color system and data having a plurality of bits is mapped to a symbol point, for transmission. When the data is mapped to the symbol point, the intensity of light emitted from each LED is controlled to light having the chromaticity corresponding to the symbol point, as received at the receiver.
The intensity of light emitted from each LED can be controlled by controlling the magnitude of current pulses applied to the LED. The problem herein is non-linearity inherent to the light emission characteristics of the LED. In most cases, the light intensity of an LED increases non-linearly as the magnitude of current pulses increases (see FIG. 4). If light emission is controlled, ignoring the non-linearity of the LED, the chromaticity of light observed by the receiver does not match a symbol point at chromaticity coordinates. To prevent this disparity, the disparity needs to be compensated for by controlling a complex current, taking into account the non-linearity of the LED or predicting the disparity from the symbol point.
No method for compensating for the disparity of chromaticity has been specified in a visible light communication system. However, methods for compensating for non-linear distortion attributed to the non-linear characteristics of a transmission circuit in a wireless communication system are disclosed, for example, in Japan Laid-Open Patent No. 2001-203609 and Japan Laid-Open Patent No. 2001-295766. Japan Laid-Open Patent No. 2001-203609 discloses the configuration of a wireless communication system in which a receiver estimates an amplitude distortion resulting from applying a linear modulated signal to a non-linear circuit and compensates for the amplitude distortion of a received signal based on the estimation result. Japan Laid-Open Patent No. 2001-295766 discloses a structure that calculates an initial non-linear distortion coefficient (a deviation from a symbol point) by a training operation and compensates for the non-linear distortion of a received signal using the initial non-linear distortion compensation coefficient.

System and method for visible light communication


A connection system adapted to be used with cylindrical containers includes a sleeve which is adapted to frictionally engage either end of a cylindrical container. A recess extends orthogonally inward from the surface of the sleeve and is adapted to receive a projection.

The discarding of all kinds of waste and the associated effects on the environment is of increasing concern. As one part of the solution to the waste problem, a multiplicity of methods and apparatus for recycling various types of waste have been proposed. The recycling of soft drink bottles and cans may be divided into two distinct approaches. First, the material forming the can or bottle, i.e., the aluminum or plastic material, may be reformulated, such as by melting, and used to form other useful devices. Second, the used cans or bottles may be used to form other useful structures. The present invention is directed to the latter type of method and apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,175 to Kirkpatrick, et al. discloses an apparatus using a plurality of plastic soft drink bottles to form an alternative useful structure from the soft drink bottles. A cushion is provided which is adapted to receive a plurality of soft drink bottles in a serial manner to form alternative useful structures such as a raft, surfing device, storage and moving mat, or the like. The soft drink bottles are not actually interconnected within the mattress but are instead used to provide rigidity and/or flotation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,896 to Snider discloses a device for creating useful, entertaining and imaginative structures from beverage containers such as aluminum cans. An annular ring having a plurality of interfitting projections is provided and allows the pop cans to be connected in a serial, parallel or criss-cross manner. Such an apparatus does not include an annular web having a recess formed therein or a projection interfitting with a recess in the web allowing interconnection of the cans. Moreover, such a device does not allow the end of a can to be connected orthogonally to the exterior surface of the device.
What is needed in the art is a system which allows cans or bottles to be connected at a multiplicity of desired positional relationships therebetween, such as serial, parallel, criss-cross or orthogonal interconnection, and thereby forms a decorative or imaginary structure providing an alternative use for the cans or bottles.


A scanner, which reads machine readable information on an item and determines its location on the item, also includes one or more video cameras for determining dimensions of features on the item. A computer uses the machine readable information to find a record within a data structure. The record includes dimensions of one or more visible features of an item corresponding to the machine readable information and identified according to their location relative to the machine readable information. These dimensions of features are then compared to the dimensions of features of the item being scanned to determine whether the machine readable information read by the scanner matches the item being scanned.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to reading and processing machine readable information on an item, and, more particularly, to a process for verifying the identity of the article by determining that machine readable information, such as a barcode pattern, read on an item matches the item.
2. Summary of the Background Art
The patent literature includes a number of descriptions of methods for a self-check-out process using a physical feature of an article being purchased to verify the identity of the article after machine readable information on the article has been scanned. Such a method is used to guard against attempts at deception, such as placing a barcode label from a less expensive item on the article being purchased or scanning one item before sending another item to be placed in a shopping bag.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,018 describes such a system including a code reader for generating an output signal indicating a distinct code identifying an article, a conveyer for receiving and transporting the article, an entrance sentry for defining an inlet to a secured zone extending along a portion of the conveyor and for generating an output signal indicating the entry of the article into the secured zone and further indicating a measurable characteristic of the article, and a controller for moving the conveyor to accept or reject the article. The sentry may include a number of light beams forming a light curtain extending upward from the conveyor and across the conveyer at the inlet to the secure area, and a number of photocells receiving the individual light beams, with the number of beams broken by the movement of the article through the inlet indicating its height over the conveyor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,223 describes another such system in which image obtaining means, such as a video camera looking downward on the article is placed near the light curtain. The article may be rejected based on physical features of the article included in the article image obtained by the image obtaining means. Alternatively, the height of the article may be measured by projecting a slit pattern of light at the top of the article, and by measuring the displacement, from the axis of the video camera lens, of the line at which the light strikes the top of the object. Along with the measurement of the height of the article, the position and shape of the article can be detected based on the two-dimensional image of the slit light as the article passes under the video camera. In another method, the height of the article is measured by evaluating the reflection of an ultrasonic wave directed downward toward the object.
What is needed is a reliable method for determining the orientation of the article when its height or other physical characteristic is measured. An article may differ greatly in its three dimensions, so that a measurement of a single dimension is not sufficient for identifying the article. Additionally, what is needed is a means for determining a dimension of an article as it is scanned, when the relationship between the machine readable information and the dimension is known.
The stationary barcode scanners typically used today for checking out articles being purchased are typically omnidirectional optical scanners in which a laser beam is deflected by a multifaceted spinning mirror and by a number of stationary mirrors disposed at various angles to form a number of scan lines projected through a window into a space adjacent the scanner. Within this space, the scan lines are laterally displaced from one another and are additionally disposed to extend at several different angles, in an arrangement making the placement and orientation of the barcode being scanned non-critical, so that many different types of articles can be scanned quickly and easily. Descriptions of such omnidirectional optical scanners found, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,947,816, 4,713,532, 5,216,232, 5,557,093, 5,637,852, and 6,098,885.
What is needed is a method for determining which of the various scan lines from the omnidirectional scanner is successfully used to read machine readable information and for subsequently determining a range of possible locations for the barcode and for other visible features on the article being scanned as it is scanned.
A number of other patents describe apparatus and methods for reading machine readable informations from the output of a video camera. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,343 describes a bar code reader including an optical system for storing in memory a two-dimensional image containing a bar code symbol. The location of the bar code image is detected by computing the accumulated sum of the products of the derivatives of respective first and second scan lines as a location score for the image under consideration. The higher the location score, the higher the probability that the area under consideration contains a bar code image. Also, a method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the fine orientation of a located bar code image by the crosscorrelation of interpolated scan line data. The bar code image is filtered by shifting interpolated scan line data in accordance with the detected peak of the cross-correlation and combining the shifted scan line data.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,343 describes an omnidirectional bar code reader using a virtual scan of raster scan digital image memory to create the equivalent scanning pattern of a mechanical laser scanner. A two dimensional image of bar code symbol at any random orientation is captured in a memory. In one embodiment, the image memory is scanned to create a virtual scan equivalent to the scan pattern of a laser scanner. In another embodiment, the image memory is divided into plurality of memory segments, and simultaneous virtual scan is provided in each of the respective memory segments. In yet another embodiment, the memory is divided into a plurality of overlapping memory segments and simultaneous virtual scan is provided in each of the respective overlapping memory segments. The overlap between the memory segments is made large enough so that a bar code symbol of the expected size will be entirely included in one or the other of the overlapping memory segments. Thus, the boundary problem between memory segments is resolved and it is not necessary to concatenate partial scans between adjacent memory segments. The segmented scan may be achieved using an interleaved memory storage arrangement.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,354 describes a barcode image processing system which processes video signals including video data representing images of barcode labels to be decoded and verified. A video signal containing video data representative of successive images of a plurality of barcode labels is processed to extract the video data and the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the video signal. A digitalization circuit is provided which digitalizes the video signal over a varied threshold voltage. The range or deviation of the threshold voltage which yields decodable video data is used as a measure of a quality of a barcode label. A gate trigger signal is generated which is synchronized to the vertical synchronization signal and which controls when a barcode decoder decodes video data for a horizontal line taken from a barcode image. A masking circuit is provided to mask out portions of a video field except for a portion sufficient to contain one barcode label, which is useful in the situation where barcode labels are printed very close together.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,833 describes a system including omnidirectional barcode locator that processes, in realtime, a digital video signal defining a pixelized image of a conveyor carrying parcels through the field of view of a CCD camera. The omnidirectional barcode locator divides the video image into a plurality of cells and produces two output signals, a cell barcode indication signal and a cell barcode orientation signal, for each cell. A host computer responds to a "true" cell barcode indication signal for a cell by storing the portion of the video image corresponding to the cell in a mass storage memory. 7be host computer also stores a representation of the cell barcode orientation signal for each cell in which the cell barcode indication signal is "true." The omnidirectional barcode locator thus allows the host computer to store only those cells of the video image that contain barcode data. The barcode data may then be provided to a barcode reader for further processing.
Other patents describe the use of images from multiple video cameras to determine the location of features of an object in three-dimensional space. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,872 describes a system for recognizing a three-dimensional object includes a plurality of image pickup apparatus, e.g. television cameras, by which images of the object are picked up from at least three directions. Feature points are extracted from each of at least three images obtained. Two sets of feature points on epipolar lines are formed, with the lines being formed on at least two of the images by a feature point on another image. A set of feature points is selected to satisfy a restricting condition determined by the relationship of the image pickingup direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,814 describes three-dimensional information processing apparatus for obtaining three-dimensional information from an object having a three-dimensional shape, and performing predetermined information processing, comprises: a camera for sensing images of the object from a plurality of coordinate positions using an image sensing system having one or a plurality of optical systems. A plurality of depth information are extracted from image sensing related information sensed by the camera at the plurality of coordinate positions, and the plurality of extracted depth information are converted and unified into depth information expressed by a unified coordinate system.
What is needed is a way to read a barcode to identify an item from a video image of the item, and to then use the video image, with one or more additional video images, to determine the positions of additional features of the item, with the location of the barcode on the video images being further used to determine whether the locations of additional features match a permissible range of such locations for the item identified by the barcode.

Apparatus and method for determining whether machine readable information on an item matches the item

International Business Machines Corporation


The apparatus and process of the present invention provides for the automated, singulated dispensing of articles, particularly solid oral medication in predetermined quantities. The apparatus of the invention is a canister which houses a screw having a channel of a certain width and depth that corresponds to the dimensions of a particular pill type. The screw is removably mounted to a cradle and the screw and cradle combination is positioned within the canister so that it is generally parallel to the base of the canister. By virtue of being removably mounted, screws having channels of various dimensions, corresponding to a particular pill to be dispensed, can be substituted into the cradle within canister. A removable shelf is mounted to at least one interior side of the cradle and is positioned near the proximal end of the screw and cradle combination.

Pharmacy automation systems that utilize a dispensing canister must be constantly recalibrated to accept solid oral medications of different shapes and sizes. Medications change size on a regular basis due to the competitive nature of the pharmaceutical industry. Each time a wholesaler or generic manufacturer releases a product at a lower cost, the pharmacy must decide if the lowered medication cost warrants the cost of recalibrating the canister. This decision impacts the consumer who depends on his or her pharmacy to provide medications at competitive prices. The present invention addresses the need to have a dispensing mechanism that can be easily modified to accept medications of various sizes.
Pill dispensers presently available in the marketplace commonly operate by a feed mechanism in the vertical direction. Such dispensers rely on gravity to assist with the processing and escapement-style singulation of pills. Gravity-fed systems have several drawbacks. In the event of the escapement-style mechanism failing, pills are free to escape from the dispenser. If the dispenser is removed and replaced onto its dispensing base, the feed mechanism may be jarred, resulting in an unintentional pill being ejected from the canister. Further to this point, no mechanism exists to prevent dispenser tampering by an individual whose goal is to abscond with medication. In contrast to conventional pill dispensers, the feed mechanism of the present invention operates generally in the horizontal direction.
Prior art devices that dispense articles, specifically medication, are plagued by numerous problems, including failing to singulate, i.e., deliver only one object at a time, and crushing of the object, which adulterates the dispensed product. The present invention provides for effective and continual singulation. Furthermore, the present invention, through its design and method of dispensing, prevents the crushing of articles and the detrimental effects that follow after an article, such as oral medication, is crushed. Among other things, the present invention overcomes inconsistent feeding of pills, inadvertent dispensing of pills, dust, upgrading challenges, communication problems and security issues.

Dispensing canister for delivery of solid medications