An apparatus for controlling an operation of a compressor includes a controller for generating a control signal for selecting an operation mode of a compressor according to an operation load of the compressor; a first switching unit connected to a motor consisting of a main coil and a sub-coil and selecting the main coil or both the main coil and the sub-coil according to the control signal; first and second capacitors electrically connected with the first switching unit; and a second switching unit connected to the first capacitor and selectively connecting the first capacitor in parallel to the second capacitor according to the control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compressor and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
In general, without a crank shaft for converting a rotational motion to a linear motion, a reciprocating compressor has a little friction loss, and thus, it has higher compression efficiency than general compressors.
When the reciprocating compressor is used for a refrigerator or an air-conditioner, a compression ratio of the reciprocating compressor can be varied to control cooling capacity by varying a stroke voltage applied to the reciprocating compressor.
The conventional reciprocating compressor will now be described with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor in accordance with a conventional art.
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus for controlling an operation of the reciprocating compressor includes: a voltage detector 14 for detecting a voltage applied to a reciprocating compressor 13 as a stroke of the reciprocating compressor 13 is varied; a current detector 12 for detecting a current applied to the reciprocating compressor 13 as the stroke is varied; a microcomputer 15 for calculating a stroke based on the voltage value detected by the voltage detector 14 and the current value detected by the current detector 12, comparing the calculated stroke with a stroke reference value, and generating a switching control signal according to the comparison result; and a power supply unit 11 for supplying a stroke voltage to the reciprocating compressor 13 by controlling ON/OFF of AC power supplied to the reciprocating compressor 13 with an internal triac Tr1 according to the switching control signal generated by the microcomputer 15. Herein, the reciprocating compressor 13 varies the stroke upon receiving the stroke voltage provided to an internal motor (not shown) according to the stroke reference value previously set by a user, and reciprocally moves an internal piston (not shown).
The apparatus for controlling an operation of the reciprocating compressor in accordance with the conventional art operates as follows.
First, when a voltage is supplied to the internal motor according to the stroke reference value as set by the user, the reciprocating compressor 13 varies the stroke and reciprocally moves the piston. Herein, the stroke means a distance along which the piston of the reciprocating compressor 13 is reciprocally moved.
The turn-on duration of the triac (Tr1) of the power supply unit 11 is lengthened by the switching control signal outputted from the microcomputer 15, and accordingly, the AC power is supplied to the reciprocating compressor 13 to drive the reciprocating compressor 13. At this time, the voltage detector 14 and the current detector 12 detect the voltage and the current applied to the reciprocating compressor 13, respectively, and output the detected voltage and current values to the microcomputer 15.
The microcomputer 15 calculates the stroke of the reciprocating compressor 13 based on the voltage and current values respectively detected by the voltage detector 14 and the current detector 12, compares the calculated stroke value with the stroke reference value, and generates a switching control signal according to the comparison result. For example, if the calculated stroke value is smaller than the stroke reference value, the microcomputer 15 outputs a switching control signal for lengthening the turn-on duration of the triac (Tr1) to the power supply unit 11 to increase the stroke voltage supplied to the reciprocating compressor 13.
If, however, the calculated stroke value is greater than the stroke reference value, the microcomputer 15 outputs a switching control signal for shortening the turn-on duration of the triac Tr1 to the power supply unit 11 to reduce the stroke voltage supplied to the reciprocating compressor 13.
The single capacitor 16 connected in series to the internal motor of the reciprocating compressor 13 countervails an inductance of a coil wound in the internal motor.
Meanwhile, in the conventional apparatus for controlling an operation of the reciprocating compressor, when the voltage is applied to the motor of the compressor 13 through the triac Tr1 in order to control the stroke of the compressor, a noise is generated. In order to cancel the noise, a relay 17 and a motor 18 consisting of a main coil 19 and a sub-coil 20 as shown in FIG. 2 are required.
For example, the relay selects only the main coil 19 or both the main coil 19 and the sub-coil 20 according to a change in the voltage inputted to the compressor and a change in an operation load of the compressor, to thereby vary capacity of the motor 18. For example, if an inputted voltage is increased or an operation load of the compressor is greater than a pre-set reference load (namely, in case of an overload), the microcomputer 15 controls the relay 17 to select only the main coil 19 to reduce a back electromotive force constant of the motor 18.
Meanwhile, if the voltage inputted to the compressor is reduced or the operation load of the compressor is smaller than the pre-set reference load (namely, underload), the microcomputer 15 controls the relay 17 to select both the main coil 19 and the sub-coil 20 to increase the back electromotive force constant of the motor 18. Herein, the operation mode of the compressor is changed to a power mode or a safe mode according to the change in the voltage inputted to the compressor and the change in the operation load of the compressor. The power mode refers to a method in which the motor is operated through only the main coil while the safe mode refers to a mode in which the motor is operated through both the main coil and the sub-coil.
The number (N) of times of winding of the coil wound at the motor 18 of the reciprocating compressor is proportional to the back electromotive force constant of the motor, so when a certain voltage is applied to the compressor, the stroke of the compressor and the number of times of winding of the coil are in inverse proportion as expressed in equation (1) shown below:
                    Stroke        ≅                  Voltage          MotorConstant                ∝                  Voltage          N                                    (        1        )
Accordingly, the motor can be controlled by varying its capacity by controlling the relay 17 according to the change in power applied to the compressor and the change in the operation load of the compressor.
However, as for the apparatus for controlling the operation of the reciprocating compressor in accordance with the conventional art, when the compressor is in the power mode or in the safe mode, power is applied to the motor 18 of the compressor through only one capacitor connected to the motor 18, causing a problem that the operation of the compressor is unstable. For example, when the operation mode of the compressor is changed from the safe mode to the power mode or from the safe mode to the power mode, the number of times of winding of the coil of the motor is changed and thus the inductance of the motor coil is changed. But since the compressor is operated through only one capacitor, the compressor is operated unstably.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,943 issued on Nov. 11, 2003 also discloses a reciprocating compressor.

Apparatus and method for controlling operation of compressor


In a wireless communications system wherein control-less subframes share a common carrier with subframes that include control signaling, a method performed by a base station may include receiving a first indication from a network entity to maintain a designated set of subframes on a common carrier devoid of designated downlink control signals. The method may further include providing a second indication in a wireless transmission to a mobile entity, the second indication enabling identification of subframes in the designated set (i.e., the control-less subframes) by the mobile entity. In turn, identification of control-less subframes by the mobile entity prior to decoding the subframes may enable a more efficient control of blind decoding operations at the mobile entity and reduce blind decoding operations required for the mobile entity to decode downlink control information.

Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, or other services. These wireless networks may be multiple-access networks capable of supporting multiple users by sharing the available network resources. Examples of such multiple-access networks include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) networks, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) networks, Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, and Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks.
A wireless communication network may include a number of base stations that can support communication for a number of mobile entities, sometimes referred to as user equipments (UEs). A UE may communicate with a base station via the downlink and uplink. The downlink (or forward link) refers to the communication link from the base station to the UE, and the uplink (or reverse link) refers to the communication link from the UE to the base station.
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) represents a major advance in cellular technology as an evolution of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The LTE physical layer (PHY) provides a highly efficient way to convey both data and control information between base stations, such as an evolved Node Bs (eNBs), and mobile entities, such as UEs. In prior applications, a method for facilitating high bandwidth communication for multimedia has been single frequency network (SFN) operation. SFNs utilize radio transmitters, such as, for example, eNBs, to communicate with subscriber UEs. In unicast operation, each eNB is controlled so as to transmit signals carrying information directed to one or more particular subscriber UEs. The specificity of unicast signaling enables person-to-person services such as, for example, voice calling, text messaging, or video calling. In broadcast operation, several eNBs in a broadcast area broadcast signals in a synchronized fashion, carrying information that can be received and accessed by any subscriber UE, or in the case of multicast broadcast by a specific group of UEs, in the broadcast area. The generality of broadcast operation enables greater efficiency in transmitting information of general public interest, for example, event-related multimedia broadcasts.
As demand and consumption of wireless services has increased, wireless communications systems have evolved to include multiple-carrier implementations. In this context, a carrier may be a radio band centered on a particular frequency, used to wirelessly transmit data. In multiple-carrier implementations, base stations and mobile entities communicate with one another using more than one carrier. Multiple-carrier implementations may be used in various contexts, for example in carrier aggregation and heterogeneous networks ("HetNet").

Downlink control with control-less subframes


An electrical connector having a leadframe housing, a first electrical contact fixed in the leadframe housing, a second electrical contact fixed adjacent to the first electrical contact in the leadframe housing, and a third electrical contact fixed adjacent to the second electrical contact in the leadframe housing is disclosed. Each of the first and second electrical contacts may be selectively designated, while fixed in the lead frame housing, as either a ground contact or a signal contact such that, in a first designation, the first and second contacts form a differential signal pair, and, in a second designation, the second contact is a single-ended signal conductor. The third electrical contact may be a ground contact having a terminal end that extends beyond terminal ends of the first and second contacts.

Electrical connectors provide signal connections between electronic devices using signal contacts. Often, the signal contacts are so closely spaced that undesirable interference, or "cross talk," occurs between adjacent signal contacts. As used herein, the term "adjacent" refers to contacts (or rows or columns) that are next to one another. Cross talk occurs when one signal contact induces electrical interference in an adjacent signal contact due to intermingling electrical fields, thereby compromising signal integrity. With electronic device miniaturization and high speed, high signal integrity electronic communications becoming more prevalent, the reduction of cross talk becomes a significant factor in connector design.
One commonly used technique for reducing cross talk is to position separate electrical shields, in the form of metallic plates, for example, between adjacent signal contacts. The shields act to block cross talk between the signal contacts by blocking the intermingling of the contacts' electric fields. FIGS. 1A and 1B depict exemplary contact arrangements for electrical connectors that use shields to block cross talk.
FIG. 1A depicts an arrangement in which signal contacts S and ground contacts G are arranged such that differential signal pairs S+, S− are positioned along columns 101-106. As shown, shields 112 can be positioned between contact columns 101-106. A column 101-106 can include any combination of signal contacts S+, S− and ground contacts G. The ground contacts G serve to block cross talk between differential signal pairs in the same column. The shields 112 serve to block cross talk between differential signal pairs in adjacent columns.
FIG. 1B depicts an arrangement in which signal contacts S and ground contacts G are arranged such that differential signal pairs S+, S− are positioned along rows 111-116. As shown, shields 122 can be positioned between rows 111-116. A row 111-116 can include any combination of signal contacts S+, S− and ground contacts G. The ground contacts G serve to block cross talk between differential signal pairs in the same row. The shields 122 serve to block cross talk between differential signal pairs in adjacent rows.
Because of the demand for smaller, lower weight communications equipment, it is desirable that connectors be made smaller and lower in weight, while providing the same performance characteristics. Shields take up valuable space within the connector that could otherwise be used to provide additional signal contacts, and thus limit contact density (and, therefore, connector size). Additionally, manufacturing and inserting such shields substantially increase the overall costs associated with manufacturing such connectors. In some applications, shields are known to make up 40% or more of the cost of the connector. Another known disadvantage of shields is that they lower impedance. Thus, to make the impedance high enough in a high contact density connector, the contacts would need to be so small that they would not be robust enough for many applications.
The dielectrics that are typically used to insulate the contacts and retain them in position within the connector also add undesirable cost and weight.
Therefore, a need exists for a lightweight, high-speed electrical connector (i.e., one that operates above 1 Gb/s and typically in the range of about 10 Gb/s) that reduces the occurrence of cross talk without the need for separate shields, and provides for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors.

Shieldless, high-speed electrical connectors


A method and system is provided for distributed wireless access. The system includes an access concentrator and a plurality of antenna modules. The antenna modules are spread across a campus and are coupled to the access concentrator via network wiring. Each antenna module includes an antenna to receive and transmit signals. When incoming signals are received at the antenna, the signals are converted from a radio frequency to a lower frequency. The converted signals are then digitized. The digital signals are then processed by digital signal processing resources at the access concentrator. Then, the processed signals are forwarded out of the corresponding ports to a LAN switch.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of telephone electronics, and more specifically to a distributed wireless access system.
2. Background Information and Description of Related Art
802.11 is a family of specifications for wireless local area networks (WLANs) developed by a working group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 802.11 systems provide LAN access for electronic devices without the need for wiring. However, 802.11 systems require the installation of costly and complex access points throughout a campus, which requires careful site surveys, network planning, deployment, and management. Security needs to be maintained throughout the whole system, including at each of the access points distributed across the campus, sometimes in an open environment. Therefore, managing an 802.11 system can be difficult and costly.

Method and system for distributed wireless access


Disclosed is a wireless headset apparatus using a local area communication, comprising an attachment recess formed at a designated position of a communication equipment, and a wireless headset detachably attached to the attachment recess.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless headset apparatus, and more particularly to a wireless headset apparatus detachably attached to a communication equipment using a local area communication module.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as communication equipment such as a portable terminal, a computer, and electric appliances such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), or acoustic equipment such as portable radios, CD players and DVD players have been miniaturized, wireless headsets in wireless connection with the communication equipment at a close range have become widely used. Such a wireless headset, which is connected to the communication equipment at a close range via a wireless network, employs a BlueTooth (BT) system as a local area wireless communication standard so as to achieve bi-directional real-time communication without a complex wire connection.
For this purpose, a separate local area communication module, for example a chip type module, has come into wide use. As shown in FIG. 1, a local area communication module 51 is installed within the communication equipment, i.e., a portable terminal 50. Further, another local area communication module 14 is installed within a wireless headset 10. Therefore, a communication signal is bi-directionally transmitted and received between the portable terminal 50 and the wireless headset 10 using the two local area communication modules 51 and 14, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, in the case where the local area communication module 41 is an external type, an interface module 40 for local area communication is additionally required and connected to the portable terminal 50. In FIG. 1, the wireless headset 10 comprises a microphone 11, a speaker 12, a communication on/off switch 13, and the local area communication module 14 installed within a main body of the wireless headset 10. A rod 20 provided with the microphone 11 at its lower end is installed at an lower surface of the main body of the wireless headset 10. The wireless headset 10 further comprises a hook 30 worn behind a user's ear. Further, in order to operate the wireless headset 10, a general battery or a rechargeable battery 15 is installed in the wireless headset 10. In case of the rechargeable battery 15, a charger (not shown) for charging the rechargeable battery 15 is additionally provided.
Since the conventional wireless headset of FIG. 1 uses the internal local area communication module which is separated from the communication equipment, the wireless headset moves independently of the communication equipment, and it has been found that wireless headsets are reluctantly used by the communication equipment users. Further, the conventional wireless headset shown in FIG. 2 uses the external local area communication module embodied in the separate interface module for local area communication so as to be connected to the communication equipment, and thus the requirement for the extra piece of equipment causes inconvenience to users. Moreover, since the communication equipment having the internal local area communication module requires the rechargeable battery installed within the wireless headset and the charger for charging the rechargeable battery, the rechargeable battery of the wireless headset must be charged by the charger whenever the wireless headset is used.
Due to the increased use of portable terminals, drivers increasingly communicate with a counterpart using the terminals while the car they are driving is in motion. The drivers' use of the portable terminal obstructs their driving and then prevents the drivers from concentrating their attention on driving, thereby frequently causing traffic accidents. In order to prevent such accidents, a hands-free device separately installed in their cars is required so that the drivers may safely use the portable terminal. In particular, while driving and using the wireless headset, it is difficult for the driver to know the state of an incoming call. It is also difficult for the user to know whether the battery of the wireless headset needs to be recharged, particularly when the user is wearing the headset and participating in a telephone call.

Wireless headset having a local area communication module and being detachable from a communication device


A device for purifying exhaust gas includes an HC adsorbent and an exhaust gas purifying catalyst disposed in an exhaust gas passage in this order from the upstream side. The exhaust gas purifying catalyst is provided with an O.sub.2 storage capability, i.e., the exhaust gas purifying catalyst is capable of absorbing oxygen in the exhaust gas when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is lean, and is capable of releasing the absorbed oxygen when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas becomes rich. When the engine starts, the HC adsorbent adsorbs HC in the exhaust gas. When the temperature of the exhaust gas becomes high, the HC adsorbent releases the adsorbed HC. The device also includes an engine control unit which operates the engine at a lean air-fuel ratio during a predetermined period before the releasing of the HC from the HC adsorbent occurs. Therefore, oxygen is absorbed and stored in the exhaust gas purifying catalyst before the releasing of HC occurs. When the releasing of HC from the HC adsorbent occurs, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust gas purifying catalyst becomes rich due to the HC released from the HC adsorbent. This causes the exhaust gas purifying catalyst to release the absorbed oxygen, and the HC in the exhaust gas is purified by the exhaust gas purifying catalyst using the released oxygen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a device for purifying an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and a device which are capable of efficiently purifying hydrocarbon in the exhaust gas released from the engine during a starting up period.
2. Description of the Related Art
An exhaust gas purification device utilizing a three-way reducing and oxidizing catalyst (hereinafter referred to as a "three-way catalyst") is commonly used for purifying HC, CO and NO.sub.x from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. However, a three-way catalyst is capable of purifying HC, CO and NO.sub.x only when the temperature of the catalyst becomes higher than a activating temperature (for example, about 300.degree. C.). Therefore, when the temperature of the three-way catalyst is low, such as in the starting up period of the engine, HC and CO in the exhaust gas pass through the three-way catalyst without being purified. Further, since the amount of fuel supplied to the engine is increased during the starting operation in order to facilitate the engine start, a relatively large amount of HC (unburned hydrocarbons) is contained in the exhaust gas in the period immediately after the engine has started compared to that during a normal operation. Also, since the amount of the fuel supplied to the engine during a starting operation is increased as the temperature of the engine is lower, a large amount of HC is released during a cold starting of the engine. This large amount of HC is released to atmosphere without being purified by the three-way catalyst since the three-way catalyst does not reach the activating temperature during cold starting of the engine. Therefore, it is necessary to purify HC in the exhaust gas during a starting operation of the engine in order to reduce air pollution due to engine exhaust gases.
To solve this problem, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 5-79319 discloses an exhaust gas purifying device which utilizes an HC adsorbent for adsorbing and temporarily storing hydrocarbons released from the engine during starting operation. The device in the '319 publication disposes an HC adsorbent in the exhaust gas passage of the engine. The HC adsorbent adsorbs hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas when the temperature of the adsorbent is lower than a releasing temperature determined by the material of the adsorbent. Further, the HC adsorbent releases the adsorbed hydrocarbons when the temperature becomes higher than the releasing temperature. The device in the '319 publication further includes an electrically heated catalytic converter disposed in the exhaust gas passage downstream of the HC adsorbent. The electrically heated catalytic converter (hereinafter referred to as "an EHC") is a catalytic converter provided with an electric heater which is capable of heating the catalyst in a short time. By energizing the heater at the start of the engine, the catalyst is heated to the activating temperature rapidly. According to the device in the '319 publication, a relatively large amount of the hydrocarbons contained in the low temperature exhaust gas during the starting up period of the engine is adsorbed and temporarily stored in the HC adsorbent. Therefore, during the starting up period of the engine, i.e., when the temperature of the catalyst is lower than the activating temperature, hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas do not pass through the catalytic converter, and hydrocarbons are not released into the atmosphere. When the catalyst in the converter reaches the activating temperature, the catalytic converter starts to oxidize the hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas. Therefore, even if the HC adsorbent is saturated with the adsorbed hydrocarbons after the EHC reaches the activating temperature, hydrocarbons which are not adsorbed by the HC adsorbent and flow into the EHC are purified by the EHC.
However, when the temperature of the HC adsorbent reaches the releasing temperature due to a temperature rise after the engine has started, the hydrocarbons adsorbed and stored in the HC adsorbent are released in a short time, and the concentration of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas flowing into the EHC largely increases. In this case, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the EHC becomes very low due to the hydrocarbons released from the HC adsorbent. In this condition, the EHC cannot oxidize hydrocarbons due to a shortage of oxygen in the exhaust gas. Therefore, the device in the '319 publication disposes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the HC adsorbent bed, and supplies secondary air to the exhaust gas passage between the HC adsorbent and the EHC when the temperature of the HC adsorbent becomes higher than the releasing temperature. Further, the device adjusts the amount of secondary air by a feedback control based on an oxygen concentration sensor disposed in the exhaust gas passage at the inlet of the EHC in order to supply an exact amount of secondary air required for purifying (oxidizing) hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas to the EHC.
Namely, in the device disclosed in the '319 publication, relatively large amounts of hydrocarbons released from the engine during the starting up period are stored in the HC adsorbent, and when the hydrocarbons stored in the HC adsorbent are released due to a temperature rise of the exhaust gas, secondary air is supplied to EHC in order to purify the released hydrocarbons on the EHC.
However, in the device in the '319 publication, a temperature sensor for detecting the HC adsorbent bed temperature is required to determine the timing at which the releasing of hydrocarbons occurs. Further, an oxygen concentration sensor and a feedback control system of secondary air are required to supply a proper amount of air to the EHC because, if an excess amount of air is supplied to the EHC, the fuel consumption of the engine will increase due to the power consumption of an air source such as an air pump in the secondary air system and, if the amount of air is not sufficient, hydrocarbons are not sufficiently purified on the EHC. Therefore, the device in the '319 publication is complicated and the manufacturing cost is relatively high.
Further, since the oxygen concentration in air is only about 20%, a relatively large amount of secondary air must be supplied to the EHC in order to purify all the hydrocarbons released from the HC adsorbent. Therefore, in the device in the '319 publication, the EHC, even after it reaches the activating temperature, may be cooled by a large amount of secondary air to a temperature below the activating temperature and may loose its activity. This lowers the ability of the EHC to purify hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas.

Method and a device for purifying exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine


Embodiments of an image forming apparatus, developer supplying apparatus and methods thereof may control a developer conveying speed in accordance with image print conditions, environmental status and/or developer amount to substantially maintain a stable amount or supply amount of developer. The developer may include bi-component developer having toner and carrier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an apparatus and a method to supply developer, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method to evenly supply developer, which can control an operation speed or rotation speed of a conveying member that conveys the developer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional electrophotographic developer process visualizes an electrostatic latent image and transfers the visualized image onto a printing medium. Such developer process generally uses a uni-component developer, which uses toner only, or bi-component developer, which uses carrier and toner in certain proportions.
It is important for a bi-component developer type of image forming apparatus to accurately control proportions of toner and carrier, that is, to control toner density at a stable proportion, in order to obtain a high-quality image. This can be done by setting a reference toner density that is based on the toner density detected by a sensing member from a predetermined area during a replacement of a developer.
However, toner density may vary because of surrounding conditions such as temperature or humidity, which can change toner fluidity. For example, toner flows relatively faster in low temperature, thus increasing flow rate of developer. Toner flows relatively slower in high temperature, thus decreasing a reference and flow rate. Even under the same temperature, the toner fluidity varies according to the degree of humidity. Therefore, toner fluidity is slower in high temperature and high humidity, than in high temperature and low humidity. Because a reference is decreased under high temperature and high humidity, image quality degrades. Because toner fluidity changes according to the surrounding factors such as temperature or humidity, toner density cannot be maintained as it is initially set, and this can decrease image quality.

Apparatus and method to supply developer


A composite panel and method of manufacture includes a support structure and a tape skin wound about the support structure. A mandrel assembly with extractable longitudinal mandrels facilitates winding of the tape skin onto the support structure. The composite panel is suitable for use in an aircraft floor system.

The present invention relates to composite structures, and more particularly to composite panels and methods for making such panels.
Current aircraft floor systems incorporate thin metallic or composite prepreg skin materials adhesively bonded to either a metallic or non-metallic honeycomb core. Current metallic aircraft floor systems require minimal tooling and have high tolerances, but may not achieve the weight benefits of composite floor systems.
Current aircraft composite floor system floor panels utilize a honeycomb core material with pre-cured fiberglass or prepreg composite skins bonded thereto in a large heated press or autoclave. Local hard points and edge closeouts are typically accomplished with an epoxy potting compound. The floor panels may require relatively complicated and labor intensive process steps including: pre-curing of the inboard and outboard skins; cutting, machining, and forming of the honeycomb core; local densification of the honeycomb core at attachment hard points and edge closeouts; preparation of the skins and core assembly for bonding; assembly of the pre-cured skins, lay-up of film adhesive layers for bonding; curing of the assembled skins, adhesive, and core; secondary machining, densification, and splicing operations of the honeycomb core material; and multiple processing cycles in an autoclave, oven or press, to complete fabrication of an individual panel.
Although composite floor systems are generally lighter in weight than metallic floor systems, composite floor systems may be more expensive and labor intensive to manufacture.
Moreover, usage of honeycomb core structures in rotary-wing aircraft floor systems may suffer inherent moisture absorption due to the open cell structure. Such moisture absorption may result in increased weight and a resultant performance degradation over a prolonged service period.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide panels suitable for use in an aircraft floor system that are lighter in weight and manufactured in fewer steps relative to current panels, yet meet or exceed design requirements therefor.

Method of forming panels using an in-situ tape placement process and panels formed therefrom


Embodiments of the present application provide a method and apparatus for transmitting downlink control information (DCI), for solving the technical problem that neither the existing protocol nor the communication system has a method for encoding sounding reference signal resource indication (SRI) and pre-coding matrix indication (TPMI) or rank indication (TRI) information. The method comprises: a network device determines the number of candidate values of preset indication information borne by a preset indication field in the downlink control information (DCI), the preset indication information comprising one of or a combination of two of the sounding reference signal resource indication (SRI) and pre-coding matrix indication (TPMI) or rank indication (TRI) information; the network device determines the length of the preset indication field according to the number of candidate values of the preset indication information, and encodes the preset indication information according to the length to generate the DCI; and the network device sends the DCI to the UE.

In view of an important effect of the Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology in increasing a peak rate and system spectrum utilization, the Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) and other wireless access technical standards are all established based on the MIMO and the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technologies. The performance gain of the MIMO technology comes from the spatial degree of freedom obtained by a multi-antenna system, so one most important evolution direction of the MIMO technology in the standardization development process is the dimension expansion.
In the LTE Rel-8, at most 4 layer of MIMO transmission can be supported. The Rel-9 puts emphasis on enhancing the Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology, and at most 4 downlink data layers can be supported in the MU-MIMO transmission of the Transmission Mode (TM)-8. The Rel-10 introduces the support of 8 antenna ports, to further increase the spatial resolution of the channel state information and further extend the transfer capability of the Single-User MIMO (SU-MIMO) to at most 8 data layers. The Rel-13 and Rel-14 introduce the Full-Dimension MIMO (FD-MIMO) technology supporting 32 ports, to implement the full-dimension and vertical beam-forming.
In order to further improve the MIMO technology, the large-scale antenna technology is introduced into the mobile communication system. For a base station, the fully digital large-scale antenna can have up to 128/256/512 antenna oscillators and up to 128/256/512 transceivers, where each antenna oscillator is connected to one transceiver. A terminal measures channel state information and feeds back by sending pilot signals of up to 128/256/512 antenna ports. The array of antennas with up to 32/64 antenna oscillators may also be configured for the terminal. The huge beam-forming gain is obtained through the beam-formings at the base station and terminal sides, to compensate for the signal attenuation caused by the path loss. Particularly for the high frequency communication, e.g., at a frequency point of 30 GHz, the path loss causes the extremely limited coverage range of the wireless signal. With the large-scale antenna technology, the coverage range of the wireless signal can be extended to the usable range.
In the communication system (such as wireless access, New Radio, 5G or the like), there is a need to consider the Tx beam-forming of the terminal when the terminal performs the uplink transmission in order to obtain the beam-forming gains of the base station and the terminal. In the management process of the uplink beam, the base station can configure many SRS resources for the UE. The terminal sends the Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) by using one or more Tx beams in each SRS resource. After receiving these SRS signals, the base station determines the optimum SRS resource (which corresponds to the Transmit SRS (SRI)) and its corresponding Transmission Precoding Matrix Indicator (TPMI) and Transmission Rank Indicator (TRI) according to channel states corresponding to these SRS signals, and sends them to the terminal for the uplink data transmission of the terminal.
There is no method for encoding SRI and TPMI/TRI information in the existing protocols and communication systems.

Method and apparatus for transmitting downlink control information (DCI)

CHINA ACADEMY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY


An antenna structure for a wireless communication device including a substrate having a first surface that supports an electronic component and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The antenna structure includes a first surface pattern formed on the first surface of the substrate. A second surface pattern is formed on the second surface of the substrate. The second surface pattern is at least partially separated from the first surface pattern in a direction perpendicular to a thicknesswise direction of the substrate.

The present invention relates to an antenna structure for a wireless communication device.
Nowadays, many vehicles are equipped with a hands-free system to improve vehicle operation convenience. For example, a hands-free system locks and unlocks vehicle doors, enables the engine to be started, and actually starts the engine. Such type of a hands-free system includes a low frequency (LF) transmitter and a radio frequency (RF) receiver, which are arranged in a vehicle. The hands-free system communicates with a portable device, which is carried by a user (driver) and functions as a key. The LF transmitter intermittently transmits a request signal in a low frequency band. In response to the request signal, the portable device returns an ID code signal in a radio frequency band. The ID code signal includes an identification (ID) code that is unique to the portable device, or key. The RF receiver receives the ID code signal. Then, the ID code of the portable device is compared with an ID code of the vehicle. When the ID codes match, the portable device is verified as being authentic. In such a case, the vehicle doors can be locked or unlocked, the starting of the engine is enabled, and the engine may actually be started.
Such type of a portable device incorporates a receiving antenna, which receives the request signal transmitted from the vehicle, and a transmitting antenna, which transmits to the vehicle the ID code signal that is unique to the key, in order to perform wireless communication. One example of an antenna used in a portable device is a pattern antenna. The pattern antenna is formed by printing the pattern of an antenna onto a substrate that supports wireless communication components of the portable device (refer to, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-113365). The use of a pattern antenna, which is printed on a substrate, eliminates the need for separate antenna components that are independent from the substrate. Thus, the portable device may be formed with fewer components.
The human body may block radio waves when the portable device is performing wireless communication. The portable device is often carried by a user in a clothing pocket. In such a state, the portable device would be in substantial contact with the human body. Thus, the human body may interfere with the portable device and lower the intensity of transmitted radio waves. Thus, even if the pattern antenna of the portable device attempts to transmit a signal to the vehicle, the transmitted radio wave may not reach the vehicle in a normal manner due to the lowered intensity of the transmitted radio waves. In such a case, the portable device would not be able to communicate radio waves with the vehicle in a normal manner. Thus, the portable device would not function normally and the user would not be able to perform the desired vehicle operation even though the user is carrying the portable device. Such a situation would be annoying to the user. The same problem may occur when the user performs a vehicle operation while gripping the portable device such that the pattern antenna is blocked by the user's hand.

Antenna structure for wireless communication device

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho


A method of forming a laminated beam includes assembling a plurality of individual wood laminations in a juxtaposed relationship, and joining the assembled laminations together to form a laminated beam. The assembled laminations define a tension zone of individual wood laminations, a core zone of individual wood laminations, and an compression zone of individual wood laminations. The average thickness of the laminations in the tension zone is less than the average thickness of the laminations in the core zone, and the average thickness of the laminations in the compression zone is less than the average thickness of the laminations in the core zone.

Laminated timber beams are used in a variety of structural and architectural applications, including residential, commercial, and industrial construction applications. The use of glued-laminated timbers (glulam), which are typically comprised of finger-jointed and face-bonded dimension lumber laminations, provides a multitude of advantages over conventional solid wood timbers for such applications. One such advantage is the ability to produce thicker, wider, and longer structural members, since the dimensions of the original lumber source do not limit the size and shape of the glulam laminations. Another such advantage of glulam beams is that by creating a beam of layered solid sawn or composite wood products, individual strength reducing defects are randomized throughout the beam volume, resulting in an increase in the overall strength of the glulam beam.
Wood laminations are typically graded visually based upon knot dimensions, grain angle deviations or other defects. Wood laminations are also graded mechanically to determine the modulus of elasticity as a measure of bending strength and stiffness. The traditional cross-sectional configuration of a glulam beam is comprised of a uniform series of laminations of equal thickness. It is known that the overall structural strength of the beam can be improved by placing higher-grade wood laminations in the compression and tension regions of the beam where the tensile and compressive stresses on the beam are highest. This traditional glulam composition meets or exceeds the strength of the solid timber counterparts, with the added advantage of being an efficient and conservation-conscious use of the wood resource.
In recent years, there has been increasing pressure on the lumber industry based upon the scarcity of the high-grade wood resource. This has made it more difficult and more costly to acquire the high-grade tension laminations needed to maintain competitive strength and stiffness design properties of traditional glulam beams. A recent solution to this problem has been the use of fiber-reinforced polymer panels at the extreme compression layer and the tension layer of the beam. More recently, another approach has been to use laminated veneer lumber (LVL) rather than solid-sawn lumber at the extreme compression and tension layers of the beam. The LVL laminate is a fabricated lamination of wood veneer layers, and functions as a replacement for the high-grade laminations. Such products have served as equivalents from a performance standpoint and address the scarcity of high-grade wood materials. However, these alternative beam designs to the conventional glulam beams are expensive to manufacture and raise consumption issues of alternate scarce resources, such as petroleum. Thus, it would be advantageous to develop a laminated beam that significantly improves glued-laminated timber beam performance, or reduces manufacturing cost, without relying on a large percentage of higher-grade wood laminations or fabricated wood lamination alternatives. Preferably, such a laminated beam would achieve substantially the same or superior performance results achieved by conventional glulam beams.

Method of making laminated wood beams with varying lamination thickness throughout the thickness of the beam

University of Maine System Board of Trustees


An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) includes a first panel having a first resolution; a second panel having a second resolution, the second resolution lower than the first resolution; and a compensation pattern on an array substrate of the second panel for maintaining a cell gap. According to the present invention, though a color filter layer of the second panel having the lower resolution has a lower thickness, a uniform cell gap can be maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD), and more particularly, to an LCD that can maintain a uniform cell gap, and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, researches on flat panel displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), electro luminescence devices (ELDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs) and the like are in active progress. Among such flat panel displays, LCDs have such advantages as low voltage operation, low power consumption, lightweight and slim profile, full color realization. Therefore, the LCDs are widely used for a display for watches and calculators, computer monitors, monitors with a television receiving function, television sets, and hand-held terminals.
Such an LCD includes an array substrate having pixel electrodes formed thereon, a color filter substrate having a color filter layer and a common electrode formed thereon, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array substrate and the color filter substrate. An electric field is generated between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, as a voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes and the common electrode. Liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned by the generated electric field to adjust light transmittance. By the adjustment of the light transmittance, light is converted into visible rays while passing through the color filter layer such that a desired image is displayed.
FIGS. 1A through 1C are sectional views illustrating a method for fabricating a color filter substrate according to a related art.
As shown in FIG. 1A, an opaque metal film such as chromium (Cr) having a low reflectivity is deposited on a transparent glass substrate 10 and is then patterned to form a black matrix layer 1. Alternatively, the black matrix layer 1 may be formed by coating a photosensitive black resin on the transparent glass substrate 10 and then exposing and etching the photosensitive black resin.
After the black matrix layer 1 is formed, a color filter layer including red, green and blue color filters 3, 5 and 7 is formed on the substrate 10 including the black matrix layer 1, as shown in FIG. 1B. The color filter layer is generally formed by a pigment dispersion method. In the pigment dispersion method, a photosensitive resist mixed with a prepared pigment is spin-coated, and the coated photosensitive resist is repeatedly exposed and developed to form the red color filter 3, the green color filter 5 and the blue color filter 7. For example, after a red photosensitive resist is spin-coated on the glass substrate 10, the coated red photosensitive resist is exposed and developed to form the red color filter 3. Next, a green photosensitive resist is spin-coated on the glass substrate 10, and the coated red photosensitive resist is exposed and developed to form the green color filter 5. Thereafter, a blue photosensitive resist is spin-coated on the glass substrate 10, and the coated red photosensitive resist is exposed and developed to form the blue color filter 7. By repeating the above steps, the color filter layer including the red color filter 3, the green color filter 5 and the blue color filter 7 is formed on the entire surface of the glass substrate 10.
After the color filter layer including the red color filter 3, the green color filter 5 and the blue color filter 7 is formed, a transparent resin having an insulating property is coated on the glass substrate 10 including the black matrix layer 1 and the color filter layer to form an overcoat layer 9, thereby planarizing the black matrix layer 1 and the color filter layer, as shown in FIG. 1C. After that, although not shown in FIG. 1C, a common electrode for applying a common voltage is formed on the overcoat layer 9.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a color filter substrate for a multi-model on glass (MMG) model.
The MMG model includes a plurality of panels having different resolutions on a single glass substrate. As one example of the MMG model, a VGA panel and an XGA panel are provided on a glass substrate, as shown in FIG. 2. A black matrix layer structure and a thickness of a color filter layer in the XGA panel are different from those in the VGA panel. Also, because the VGA panel has a pixel size larger than the XGA panel, the resolution of the VGA panel is lower than that of the XGA panel. Thus, because the MMG model LCD is provided with two panels having different resolutions together on a single glass substrate, it has an advantage of maximizing use efficiency of the glass substrate.
In the MMG model LCD, the color filter layer is, however, formed by a spin-coating method. Accordingly, an interval between the lattices of the black matrix layer of the XGA panel becomes different from that of the VGA panel. The difference in the intervals of the lattices between the XGA panel and the VGA panel raises a problem in that the thicknesses of the color filters formed between the lattices of the black matrix layer are different.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a non-uniform cell gap between a XGA panel and a VGA panel in a MMG model LCD.
As shown in FIG. 3, the MMG model LCD is provided with panels having different resolutions. For this purpose, a color resist is coated on each of the panels by a spin coating method. When the color resist is spin-coated, the color resist spreads on a black matrix layer. As aforementioned, the intervals between the lattices of the black matrix layers formed on the panels having different resolutions are different. The different intervals cause the coated color resist to spread at a different spreading rate, so that the thicknesses of the color filters formed varies depending on the location. In other words, the thicknesses of the color filters of the XGA panel is greater than that of the color filters of the VGA panel. This indicates that the thickness of the color filter substrate of the XGA panel is greater than that of the color filter substrate of the VGA panel. Because of the difference in the thicknesses of the color filters of each of the panels having a different resolution, the cell gaps of the VGA panel and the XGA panel in the MMG model LCD is not uniform, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
To solve the above problem, it is suggested to disperse ball spacers when the array substrate and the color filter substrate are attached to each other or to arrange column spacers at a non-transmission region of the array substrate. However, these methods do not solve the above problem satisfactorily. The non-uniform cell gap causes a difference in optical path, so that picture quality deteriorates.

Liquid crystal display and fabrication method thereof


A resist composition including a base component which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid and an acid generator which generates acid upon exposure, the base component containing a polymeric compound containing a structural unit represented by general formula (a0-1) and the acid generator containing a compound represented by general formula (b1). In the formulae, R represents H, an alkyl group of C1 to 5 or a halogenated alkyl group of C1 to 5; Ya1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; La1 and La2 represents —SO2— or —C(═O)—; Ra1 represents a cyclic group which may have a substituent and the like; n1 and n2 represents 0 or 1; R11 represents a cyclic group of C5 to 30 which may have a substituent; V11 represents a single bond or an alkylene group of C1 to 6; L11 represents an ester bond; Y11 represents an alkylene group of C1 to 5 which may have a fluorine atom; m represents an integer of 1 or more; and Mm+ represents an organic cation having a valency of m.

In lithography techniques, for example, a resist film composed of a resist material is formed on a substrate, and the resist film is subjected to selective exposure of radial rays such as light or electron beam through a mask having a predetermined pattern, followed by development, thereby forming a resist pattern having a predetermined shape on the resist film.
A resist material in which the exposed portions become soluble in a developing solution is called a positive-type, and a resist material in which the exposed portions become insoluble in a developing solution is called a negative-type.
In recent years, in the production of semiconductor elements and liquid crystal display elements, advances in lithography techniques have led to rapid progress in the field of pattern miniaturization.
Typically, these miniaturization techniques involve shortening the wavelength (increasing the energy) of the exposure light source. Conventionally, ultraviolet radiation typified by g-line and i-line radiation has been used, but nowadays KrF excimer lasers and ArF excimer lasers are starting to be introduced in mass production of the semiconductor elements. Furthermore, research is also being conducted into lithography techniques that use an exposure light source having a wavelength shorter (energy higher) than these excimer lasers, such as electron beam, extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV), and X ray.
Resist materials for use with these types of exposure light sources require lithography properties such as a high resolution capable of reproducing patterns of minute dimensions, and a high level of sensitivity to these types of exposure light sources.
As a resist material that satisfies these conditions, a chemically amplified resist composition is used, which includes a base material component that exhibits a changed solubility in a developing solution under the action of acid and an acid generator component that generates acid upon exposure. For example, in the case where the developing solution is an alkali developing solution (alkali developing process), a chemically amplified positive resist which contains, as a base component (base resin), a resin which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid, and an acid generator is typically used. If the resist film formed using the resist composition is selectively exposed during formation of a resist pattern, then within the exposed portions, acid is generated from the acid generator component, and the action of this acid causes an increase in the polarity of the base resin, making the exposed portions soluble in the alkali developing solution. Thus, by conducting alkali developing, the unexposed portions remain to form a positive resist pattern. On the other hand, in the case where such a resist composition is applied to a solvent developing process using a developing solution containing an organic solvent (organic developing solution), the polarity of the base resin at exposed portions is increased, whereas the solubility at exposed portions in an organic developing solution is relatively decreased. As a result, the unexposed portions of the resist film are dissolved and removed by the organic developing solution, and a negative resist pattern in which the exposed portions are remaining is formed. Such a solvent developing process for forming a negative-tone resist composition is sometimes referred to as "negative-tone developing process" (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Currently, resins that contain structural units derived from (meth)acrylate esters within the main chain (acrylic resins) are now widely used as base resins for resist compositions that use ArF excimer laser lithography, as they exhibit excellent transparency in the vicinity of 193 nm (for example, see Patent Document 2).
Patent Documents 3 and 4 discloses a resist composition containing a polymeric compound which contains a structural unit having a divalent imide group or a divalent amide group on the side chain thereof. Patent Document 5 discloses a resist composition containing a polymeric compound which contains a structural unit having a divalent sulfonylamide group on the side chain thereof.

Resist composition and method of forming resist pattern


Disclosed herein are various embodiments of methods and systems for providing a graphical skeletonization representation of fractures and faults in a subsurface of the earth. According to some embodiments, as fracturing fluid is pumped into a target geologic formation through a well bore, and as the formation fractures or faults in response to the fracturing fluid being pumped under high pressure therein, seismic wavefronts are generated at points of fracture related to movement of a fluid pressure wave induced by fracturing or other fluids moving through the formation, or the extraction of fluids such as gas and/or oil from the formation, which are detected by surface and/or downhole sensors. Data corresponding to signals generated by the surface and/or downhole sensors are recorded and subsequently analyzed to determine in near real-time the locations of the fractures or faults using skeletonization data processing techniques and methods.

For the first 100 years and more of oil exploration and production, wells were drilled almost exclusively in geologic formations that permitted production of oil and gas flowing under the natural pressures associated with the formations. Such production required that two physical properties of the geologic formation fall within certain boundaries. The porosity of the formation had to be sufficient to allow a substantial reserve of hydrocarbons to occupy the interstices of the formation, and the permeability of the formation had to be sufficiently high that the hydrocarbons could move from a region of high pressure to a region of lower pressure, such as when hydrocarbons are extracted from a formation. Typical geologic formations having such properties include sandstones.
In recent years, it has become apparent that large reserves of hydrocarbons are to be found in shale formations. Shale formations are typically not highly permeable, and therefore present formidable obstacles to production. The most common technique in use today that permits economic production of hydrocarbons, and especially natural gas from shale formations, is hydraulic fracturing (often referred to as "fracking"). This technique can be also be applied to older wells drilled through non-shale formations to increase the proportion of hydrocarbons that can be extracted from them, thus prolonging well life.
Fracking involves pumping fluid under very high pressure into hydrocarbon-bearing rock formations to force open cracks and fissures and allow the hydrocarbons residing therein to flow more freely. Usually the fluids injected into such formations contain chemicals to improve flow, and also contain "proppants" (an industry term for substances such as sand). When the fracturing fluid is removed, and the hydrocarbons are allowed to flow, the sand grains prop open the fractures and prevent their collapse, which might otherwise quickly stop or reduce the flow of hydrocarbons.
Drilling technology has evolved to allow wells to be drilled along virtually any direction or azimuth, and is no longer constrained to the drilling of vertical wells only. Deviated wells are thus often drilled along specific geologic formations to increase production potential. The extent of a hydrocarbon-producing formation in a vertical well may be measured in feet, or perhaps tens or hundreds of feet in highly productive areas. The maximum area of the formation in contact with the vertical well bore is quickly computed as the circumference of the well multiplied by the height of the producing formation. In practice, the producing area is much less than this figure. By drilling horizontally or non-vertically through a formation, the extent of the formation in contact with the wellbore can be much greater than is possible with vertically-drilled wells. Injecting deviated wells with hydraulic fracturing fluid can result in the propagation of fractures outwardly from the wellbore, and thereby increase significantly the total volume of the subsurface from which the hydrocarbons can be extracted.
The progress of a fracturing operation must be monitored carefully. Well fracturing is expensive, and the fracturing process is frequently halted once its benefits become marginal. The high pressures associated with fracturing result in fractures that tend to follow existing faults and fractures, and can result in an uneven or unpredictable fracture zone. Fracturing fluid may also begin following an existing fault or fracture zone and then propagate beyond the intended fracture zone. Care must also be taken not to interfere with existing production wells in the area. For these and other reasons, it is important that the fracturing operator be permitted to follow accurately the progress of the fluid front in the subsurface while the fluid is being injected into the well.
Conventional surface seismic reflection surveys generally do not work well for monitoring the movement or positions of fluid fronts in the subsurface. The physical dimensions of fractures are often shorter than can be detected using conventional surface seismic reflection techniques. In addition, within a given formation there may be no or low contrasts in seismic velocity, and as a result surface seismic reflection techniques cannot be used effectively to image fractures within the formation. Fractures also tend to scatter seismic energy, further obscuring their detection by conventional surface seismic reflection means.
An alternative approach to the problem of imaging factures or fluid fronts within formations known as "microseismicity" has its origins in earthquake seismology and in technology developed to monitor nuclear tests. Instead of using "active" surface seismic energy sources, "passive seismic" techniques are used to detect seismic energy generated in the subsurface of the earth. Seismic energy emitted by fracturing a geologic formation, which is caused by the injection of high pressure fracturing fluid into the formation, is sensed and recorded. The objective then becomes determining the point of origin of the emitted seismic energy, which defines the location of the fracture.
One method of locating fractures and faults in geologic formations is known as Seismic Emission Tomography (SET). Examples of SET techniques and processes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,361 to Geiser entitled "Method for 4D permeability analysis of geologic fluid reservoirs" (hereafter "the '361 patent") and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,353 to Geiser entitled "Method and apparatus for imaging permeability pathways of geologic fluid reservoirs using seismic emission tomography" (hereafter "the '353 patent"), the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their respective entireties.
The SET process entails recording microseismic data using an array of sensors, which are typically located on the surface of the earth. Data are recorded over a given time period, with the duration of recording and the sampling interval being controlled by the objectives of the seismic data acquisition process, the characteristics of the events that generate the detected or sensed seismic energy, the distances involved, the characteristics of the subsurface, and other factors. The data recorded at each sensor location are then filtered and processed using SET processing techniques and software, which convert the data into a series of gridded subsurface volumes corresponding to multiple time samples. The values of the points in the grid represent given attributes of the data, which values vary over time as the energy emitted at each point in the subsurface varies.
What is required for effective monitoring of a fracturing operation is the ability to generate a near-real-time display of a predetermined attribute or characteristic of microseismic data, or a set of predetermined attributes or characteristics of microseismic data, that is capable of indicating the points of origin of microseismic energy in the subsurface, and the growth of a fracture network over time.

Fracture imaging methods employing skeletonization of seismic emission tomography data


A method for planning surgery on a body portion is provided in the steps of gathering image data, storing the image data, reading the image data into a computer, generating a three-dimensional computer model of the body portion from the image data, identifying anatomical features relevant to the surgery, and defining at least one desired correction to anatomical structures to be accomplished by the surgery. Also, a method for performing surgery on a body portion is provided in the steps of loading surgical plan data into a computer, registering a three-dimensional computer model of the body portion stored in the surgical plan data to the body portion, providing at least one surgical tool, positioning the surgical tool relative to the body portion and performing the surgery. Further, a jig assembly is provided in the form of a femoral docking jig, a femoral contouring jig, and a tibial jig.

This invention relates generally to computer-assisted surgical systems, and in particular to a computer-assisted knee replacement system used to achieve accurate limb alignment with minimal surgical invasiveness.
One application for computer-assisted surgical systems is in the field of knee arthroplasty. Knee arthroplasty is a surgical procedure in which the articular surfaces of the femur and tibia (and the patella, in the case of tricompartmental knee arthroplasty) are cut away and replaced by metal and/or plastic prosthetic components. The goals of knee arthroplasty are to resurface the bones in the knee joint and to reposition the joint center on the mechanical axis of the leg. Knee arthroplasty is performed to relieve pain and stiffness in patients suffering from joint damage caused by osteo-, rheumatoid, or post-traumatic arthritis. In 1993, approximately 189,000 knee arthroplasties were performed in the United States, and this number is expected to increase over the next decade as the U.S. population ages.
More than 95% of knee arthroplasties performed in the U.S. are tricompartmental. Tricompartmental knee arthroplasty ("TKA") involves the replacement of all the articular surfaces of the knee joint, and is performed when arthritis is present in two or more of the three compartments of the knee: medial (toward the body's central axis), lateral (away from the body's central axis), and patello-femoral (frontal).
The remaining knee arthroplasties are unicompartmental knee arthroplasties ("UKA"). UKAs involve the replacement of the articular surfaces of only one knee compartment, usually the medial. UKAs are indicated when arthritis is present in only one compartment and when the patellar surface appears healthy.
UKAs have several advantages over TKAs. These include the preservation of more patient anatomy, increased knee stability, less complicated revision surgery, and the potential for installation through a smaller incision, as compared with a TKA. A TKA requires the resection of the entire tibial plateau, both condyles of the femur, and the posterior side of the patella, because all compartments of the knee are replaced. As a result, in TKAs, the anterior cruciate ligament, which is attached to the front of the tibial plateau, usually is removed, severely reducing the stability of the knee after the operation. In contrast, during UKAs, only one compartment is replaced, and thus only one side of the tibial plateau is removed. As a result, the anterior cruciate ligament may be preserved, allowing for increased knee stability. In addition, if a revision surgery is required, more natural bone stock is present on which to place the revision components. Finally, since the resections and components used in UKAs are smaller, minimally-invasive surgical procedures may be applied.
In the late 1970s, there were reports of high failure rates for UKAs due to problems such as improper alignment. One study, for example, reported that 10% of UKA patients needed revision surgery because one or both of the other knee compartments degenerated due to the presence of polyethylene particles that flaked off the prosthetic components. Overcorrection of the varus/valgus deformity, which is the angle between the mechanical axis of the femur and the mechanical axis of the tibia in the anterior/posterior ("A/P") plane, was one suspected cause of the excessive component wear.
In contrast, many recent studies have indicated high success rates for UKAs. These studies report that the incidence of failure for UKAs is comparable to or less than that for TKAs. The higher success rates for UKAs are likely due to the use of thicker tibial components than used in earlier UKAs, the use of component materials that are less susceptible to wear than earlier materials, and better alignment of the components by the surgeon so as to not overcorrect varus/valgus deformity.
Despite those recent studies, in many cases where UKAs are indicated, orthopaedic surgeons in the U.S. still perform TKAs. This conservative attitude towards UKAs is believed to be the result of several factors, such as the use of poor instrumentation to install the implants, concern over arthritis spreading to other compartments, and the early mixed reviews of UKA outcomes in the literature. Because of this conservative attitude, the benefits of UKAs are not realized by many patients.
Although UKA success rates are higher than they were 20 years ago, there are still important problems in UKA and TKA performance. For example, alignment of the femoral and tibial prosthetic components with respect to the bones and to each other currently involves the use of purely mechanical instrumentation systems. Typical femoral instrumentation consists of an intramedullary rod (a metal rod that is aligned with the femoral shaft via insertion into the medullary canal of the femur) and several slotted cutting jigs for guiding a saw blade used to resect the bone. The surgeon aligns the jigs first by drilling a hole through the center of the distal end of the femur into the medullary canal, which runs the length of the femoral shaft, and then inserts the intramedullary rod into the canal. Thereafter, the surgeon removes the rod from the femur, and slides a cutting guide onto the rod. The surgeon next reintroduces the rod into the medullary canal, and positions the cutting guide against the distal end of the femur. To account for the fact that the rod is oriented along the femoral shaft, which does not correspond to the mechanical axis of the femur, the cutting guide is usually offset by a predetermined and fixed distance from the rod in the A/P plane. The offset is provided to allow a distal cut to be made that is perpendicular to the mechanical axis of the femur, thus correcting any varus/valgus deformity. The depth of the distal cut is usually adjustable in discrete intervals: some systems have cutting blocks with slots at multiple depths, while others have cutting blocks with pin holes at multiple depths allowing the entire block to be moved up or down on a set of parallel pins. The remaining cuts vary depending on the geometry of the implant being installed. The depth and orientation of all these cuts, however, are determined by the cuts already made and/or by visual means.
Tibial instrumentation consists of an extramedullary rod (a metal rod that the surgeon aligns with the tibial shaft via external anatomical landmarks) and a slotted cutting guide. The mechanical axis of the tibia is assumed to run along the tibial shaft. The surgeon places the cutting jig at the top of the rod, with the cutting surface perpendicular to the rod. The depth of the cut is adjusted by moving the jig along the rod. The surgeon clamps the bottom of the rod around the ankle, just proximal to the malleoli (which form the distal portion of the tibia and fibula).
The instrumentation systems just described suffer from certain problems. Femoral varus/valgus alignment, for example, is determined by a discrete and predefined offset from the femoral shaft, which may not result in the desired angular correction. The amount of bone resected is adjustable, but only through slots positioned at discrete intervals of about two millimeters. Other parameters, such as rotation around the axis of the limb, must be determined visually. The tibial jig is aligned almost entirely by the surgeon's visual judgment.
Discretely adjustable alignment systems can introduce inaccuracies when an optimal resection falls between or outside of the range of predefined alternatives. The surgeon in such circumstances must decide which of the available alternatives is closest to the optimal resection. Moreover, the accuracy of visual alignment is primarily the product of the surgeon's experience in performing TKAs and UKAs. The accuracy needed in alignment of the prosthetic components with respect to the bones is still being debated, but it has been shown that misalignment of the components can cause excessive component wear. As a result, revision surgery often is necessary.
Moreover, because current UKA instrumentation systems are, for the most part, modified TKA instrumentation systems, some of the possible benefits unique to UKAs have not been realized. For example, because UKA components are less than half the size of TKA components, they can be implanted using a smaller surgical incision. However, many of the instrumentation sets for UKAs still require full exposure of the knee, and the use of an intramedullary rod, which can be a source of complications. Thus, the benefits of limited exposure, such as shorter operating room ("OR") time, decreased healing time, and less morbidity, have not been realized with current UKA techniques.
New technologies, in addition, reveal that existing procedures may be improved. Recent advances in medical imaging technology, such as computed tomography ("CT") and magnetic resonance ("MR") imaging, have made it possible to display and manipulate realistic computer-generated images of anatomical structures. These advances have had immediate practical applications to surgery simulation, i.e., computer-modeled surgical procedures used to plan, teach, or aid surgery. Many of the early simulations are related to planning and evaluating neurosurgery. More recently, three-dimensional reconstructions from CT data have been used to plan total hip reconstructions, osteotomies (a removal of a piece of bone to correct a deformity), and allograft procedures (tissue graft), and to design custom prostheses. Such surgical planning systems can be used to develop three-dimensional models, which help surgeons properly size and "pose" surgical tools and prosthetic components in the body. (As used herein, "pose" refers to the position and the orientation of a structure, and may be used as a noun or as a verb.) Most systems, however, have no way of transferring this information into the operating room. The computer assists in the planning, but not in the implementation, of the procedure. For the computer to assist in the implementation of the surgical plan, the models used in the surgical planning procedure must be "registered" to the patient intraoperatively. Registration is the process of defining a geometric transform between the physical world and a computer model. In this way, the computer can direct the placement of the tools and prosthetic components relative to the patient.
Some computer-assisted surgery systems combine surgical planning software with a registration method to implement surgical plans. These systems have been applied to the planning and implementation of orthopaedic procedures. For example, the "Robodoc" hip replacement system from Integrated Surgical Systems (Sacramento, Calif.) uses a computer-based surgical plan with a robotic manipulator to perform intraoperative registration and some of the bone resections needed for hip replacement. The Robodoc system has been tested in the operating room and has produced accurate bone resections, but the system has several important limitations. It is expensive, for example, and must be operated by a specially-trained technician. It also adds substantially to OR time, increasing the cost of using the system. Another problem is that the Robodoc system uses a pin-based registration method. The pins, called "fiducials," are inserted into the patient's bones prior to imaging. Registration is achieved by aligning the fiducials in the image data with the fiducials on the patient. Pin-based registration requires an additional surgical procedure to insert the pins, causing additional pain to the patient, and lengthening the patient's rehabilitation time.
The present invention is intended to overcome the disadvantages associated with current knee arthroplasty procedures, surgical planning systems, and computer-assisted surgery systems. The present invention determines optimal alignment of resections preoperatively, and uses computer modeling techniques to help the surgeon achieve that alignment. Moreover, smaller jigs are used in the present invention, and therefore, smaller incisions are made in the patient's leg. The present invention also plans the surgical procedure preoperatively, and assists in implementing the plan. Further, the present invention is less expensive than many prior art systems, and makes it possible to use pinless registration methods. Thus, the present invention represents a significant solution to many problems experienced in the field.


The present application is about a new construction disposition applied to sample collector for the purposes of feces parasitological exams, more precisely to one new construction form which is manufactured with a reduced number of parts, helping with its low cost, since it is a product discharged after its utilization; collector which includes a container which receives the attachment of a cover which contemplates a central conic sector from whose top a cylindrical duct is developed which can be closed by an over-cover or cap; it is predicted a concave filtering element, formed by polyester net or mesh in the order of 220 to 280μ, preferably 266μ, which represents the same radius of internal bending of the conic portion of the cover, affixed to it by means of fitting or another equivalent mean.

In a general sense, the feces parasitological exams, performed in clinic analysis laboratories are based in a procedure which includes since the material collection to its filtering in order to obtain a sample to be forwarded to the analysis equipment.
Currently, it is known that the sample is obtained from conic filtering elements, conformed by one high density polyethylene net whose weft presents the order of 500μ. Even if being a mesh with dimensionally acceptable weft, it is not considered ideal yet for the sample obtainment, and it fails as regards reliability on the analysis process.
This occurs because the polyethylene mesh presents a variation as regards the correct weft spacing, imperfection which occurs during the mesh injecting process, resulting in whole areas without perforation, affecting the element filtering performance.
Another factor of high importance concerns the bio-safety concept related to the clinic analysis field, once the material treated is highly infectious, and may carry risks to the professional handling it.

Constructive disposition applied to sample collector for the purposes of feces parasitological exam


An apparatus and method encodes into block units an image in which halftone images and character and/or line images are mixed, and makes a substitution value, substituting for pixels in which pixels of a character and/or line image exist, a value whereby the occurrence of quantization errors of direct current components after frequency conversion is substantially zero, thereby minimizing block distortion of images when decoding. Therefore, a blocking unit inputs images in 8×8 pixel blocks. An acquisition unit acquires pixel data of character and/or line images as acquisition color information and acquires identification information identifying character and/or line image pixel positions. A substitution unit substitutes pixel data acquired as character and/or line images in image data of input blocks with a substitution value determined based on pixel data having halftone attributes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology that compression-encodes image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
JPEG encoding may be mentioned as a known conventional method for encoding an image. JPEG encoding encodes blocks of 8×8 pixels in image data in units. It is assumed that all the processing described hereunder is executed taking this size block as a unit.
First, a discrete cosine transformation (DCT) is performed for input blocks to obtain 8×8 discrete cosine transform coefficients. Next, the discrete cosine transform coefficients are subjected to quantization using a quantization table. In this case, the value of an element of the quantization table is called a "quantization step width." A quantization step width increases in size for discrete cosine transform coefficients of high frequency components. Quantization is performed by dividing the discrete cosine transform coefficients by the respectively corresponding quantization step width and rounding off fractional portions to the nearest integer. Consequently, the values after quantization become small with respect to high frequency components, and the occurrence frequency of zero increases. Next, separate encoding is performed for one direct current (DC) component and 63 alternating current (AC) components after quantization.
With respect to the DC component, Huffman coding is performed after executing differential predictive coding since the inter-block correlation is strong. Differential predictive coding is a method that encodes a difference with the immediately preceding value. Huffman coding is an encoding technique that assigns a short code to values with a high occurrence frequency and assigns a long code to values with a low occurrence frequency to ultimately shorten the overall code length.
For the AC components, Huffman coding is performed after performing run-length encoding. Run-length encoding is an encoding method in which the encoding rate increases proportionally to the continuation of one specific value. By performing zigzag scanning for the values after quantization, the encoding efficiency is improved by making a succession of 0 values of high frequency components.
As will be understood from the fact that JPEG encoding is employed in devices such as digital cameras, JPEG encoding is a favorable compression method for natural images. On the other hand, for images including characters or image lines, there is a problem that mosquito noise, caused by loss of high frequency components of an image, or block distortion caused by loss of high frequency components or a quantization error for a DC component, is likely to occur. For this reason, as a method for compressing image data with the resolution of a character or line image or the like maintained as it is, the image is divided into blocks as discrete cosine transform units. Thereafter, resolution information such as a character or line image of a previously designated color or density value is acquired in block units, and halftone information obtained by performing substitution processing at an appropriate value for the acquired region is encoded by discrete cosine transformation or the like. On the other hand, a method that encodes color information in block units by predictive coding or the like has been proposed.
In this case, an image is assumed to be a synthesized image of a natural image having relatively few high frequency components and a character or line image as binary-like information which locally has the same density value. In order to protect character or line image information from signal distortion generated upon compression/expansion of the image using discrete cosine transform encoding, the character and/or line image binary information is acquired in advance, and lossless encoding that is free from deterioration is performed for the binary information.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-326669 describes a method in which, for substitution processing to an acquisition region, substitution processing is performed that refers to a region other than the acquisition region within a block. More specifically, the average of a region other than the acquisition region is calculated by an average calculation unit, and substitution processing is performed with respect to the acquisition region using the obtained average. Alternatively, a method has been disclosed in which input pixels are delayed by one cycle, and substitution is performed with respect to the pixels of an acquisition region with the delayed pixels. With this kind of method, a spectrum after discrete cosine transformation is concentrated in a low frequency region and an effect is obtained that suppresses image quality deterioration after compression/expansion.
However, in the above described conventional image processing methods, the problem remains that when quantization step widths used when performing quantization after discrete cosine transformation are coarse, the possibility of a quantization error occurring is high, and that quantization error is one factor that causes block distortion in the image.
Further, when encoding a direct-current component value among the coefficients after discrete cosine transformation, encoding of the differential between the direct-current component value of the block of interest and the direct-current component value of the preceding block is performed. Because the direct current components of two blocks in a halftone image that does not include a character and/or line image are substantially the same value, that differential will be a small value, and the encoding efficiency is high.
However, if we focus on two neighboring blocks in a region that includes a character and/or line image on a halftone image, we find that in this case it is, instead, rare for the number of pixels of the character and/or line image included in the respective blocks to be the same, and inevitably the possibility that the difference between the direct current components of the two blocks will be zero is low. That is, the encoded data length of the direct current component is not minimized, and ample room for improvement remains.

Image encoding apparatus and control method thereof