A laser system for generating at least one pulse and/or pulse sequence(s) of pulses having at least one specified property, such as pulse energy, duration, peak intensity, pulse form and/or timing includes an amplifying cavity. The amplification process is monitored in the amplifying cavity to obtain data about at least one property of the pulse sequence and/or the single pulse(s). The system also compares the obtained data with reference data and it controls at least one switching means for inputting, outputting and/or retaining the pulse(s) in the amplifying cavity such that at least one property of the pulse sequences and/or the pulses at an output of the laser system has substantially a specified value.

Optical technologies (photonics) are increasingly being used in particular in the fields of laser material processing, for example in nanotechnologies or for the precise manipulation of biological material. Of particular interest and importance is the interaction of laser light and material with very short laser pulses (10−12s to 10−15s) which is based on fundamentally new physical processes and can be advantageously used for high precision material processing.
Conventional ultrashortpulse laser systems are constructed and optimized to generate pulse sequences having a constant pulse repetition rate (i.e. a constant timing, or a constant temporal distance between two subsequent pulses) and having constant pulse energies. In particular when constructing pulse lasers, up to now these systems are being optimized for a fixed pulse repetition rate—i.e. the pulse sequence is generated asynchronously from the targeted application and with a constant pulse to pulse distance. The synchronization of the single pulse(s) of the continuously generated pulse sequence (also called pulse train) for example with an external process or with a target application in such systems is usually realized with the help of additional optical elements (optical switch) which can uncouple (separate) or select single pulse or a number of pulses from the already generated pulse sequence. This method is expensive and not efficient, since a large part of the generated laser energy is not used.
Apart from synchronizing the laser pulse emission with external events (i.e. the timing of the single pulses in the pulse sequence), another important parameter is the pulse energy. In conventional laser systems, pulses with desired energy can be generated by introducing variable losses in the generated usable beam. This is realized for example by inducing changes in the polarization in conjunction with an optical element with polarization-dependent transmission. However, with the available technical means this is only possible with relatively high temporal inertia. For example, consider a mechanical setup that can change the polarization of a laser beam to a desired orientation in 0.1 s and a pulse repetition rate of 10 kHz (pulses 100 microseconds apart). Up to now the energy of the pulses in a pulse sequence can therefore only be controlled over more than 1000 pulses, whereas for many applications it is desirable and necessary to change the energy on a pulse-to-pulse basis.
An attempt to control the properties of the pulses within the laser cavity in order to achieve stable pulse-to-pulse characteristics (usually a pulse sequence with constant repetition rate and small variation of the single pulse energies) is made for example with a Q-switched (Q-switching: cavity loss modulation) laser.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,790 describes a system and a method for reducing pulse-to-pulse energy and peak power variation in various types of pulsed lasers, in particular Q-switched lasers. The laser system described therein comprises a laser cavity having a lasing medium pumped by a pumping device for delivering pumping energy to the medium. The system includes further a detection device and a circuitry for determining the pulse magnitudes of laser pulses, such as the peak pulse amplitudes, the pulse energies, the pulse widths or other pulse metrics. The system comprises further a feedback mechanism which is in communication with the pumping device and which ensures pulse-to-pulse stability by increasing the pump energy when the pulse magnitude of the i-th pulse exceeds a mean pulse magnitude and decreasing it when it is less than the mean pulse magnitude. Alternatively, the feedback mechanism is in communication with the switching device which controls the variable loss factor of the Q-switch to achieve pulse-to-pulse peak and energy stability.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,604 discloses a pulsed laser system which includes a laser pump, a laser rod, a reflector interposed between the laser pump and the laser rod, through which energy from the laser pump enters the laser rod, an output reflector through which energy is emitted from the laser rod, a switch interposed between the laser rod and the output reflector and a control device. When closed, the switch causes energy to be stored in the laser rod and, when opened, allows energy to be emitted from the laser rod during an emission period. The control device allows a primary pulse emitted from the laser rod during the emission period to impinge on a workpiece and subsequently blocks or eliminates the workpiece secondary laser emission occurring during the emission period after emission of the primary pulse. The pulsed laser system is operated over a range of repetition rates, so as to cause laser energy to be emitted during a plurality of emission periods at each repetition rate. At least a portion of the laser energy emitted during the emission periods is directed toward the target structure. The switch is closed for a fixed, predetermined period of time prior to each emission period regardless of repetition rate of the primary laser pulse within the range of repetition range in order to store energy in the laser rod. The pump is operated continuously at constant power.
With pulse lasers in the nanosecond range that are based on the principle of Q-switch (control of the losses in the cavity) the pulse duration and the pulse energy cannot be adjusted independently from each other by the variation of the amplification time. That is to say, with increasing pulse energy the pulse duration is also increased considerably. Furthermore, these systems are directed at the generation of nanosecond pulses, rather than at the generation of ultrashort pulses in the pico- to femtosecond range.
In view of the above problems the object of the present invention is to realize an improved laser system in particular for the generation of short and ultrashort pulses which is capable of generating arbitrary, programmable and in particular dynamically synchronizeable pulse sequences.

Laser system and method for generation of a pulse sequence with controllable parameters and computer program product

20/10 Perfect Vision Optische Geraete GmbH


The present invention relates to a nanocomposite blend composition having superior barrier properties, and more particularly to a nanocomposite blend composition comprising a polyolefin resin; one or more nanocomposites having barrier properties, selected from an ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/intercalated clay nanocomposite, a polyamide/intercalated clay nanocomposite, an ionomer/intercalated clay nanocomposite, and a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/intercalated clay nanocomposite; and a compatibilizer. This nanocomposite blend composition has superior mechanical strength and superior barrier properties to oxygen, organic solvent, and moisture. Also, it has superior chemical barrier properties and is applicable to single/multi-layer blow molding and film processing.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nanocomposite blend composition having superior barrier properties, and more particularly to a nanocomposite blend composition having superior mechanical strength and superior barrier properties to oxygen, organic solvent, and moisture, and which is applicable to single/multi-layer blow molding and film processing.
(b) Description of the Related Art
General-purpose resins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, are used in many fields due to their superior moldability, mechanical properties, and moisture barrier properties. While these resins have good gas barrier properties as well, they are limited in use for packaging or containers for agrochemicals and foods, which require superior oxygen barrier properties. Therefore, packaging or containers (bottles) for such materials are manufactured in multi-layers by co-extrusion, lamination, coating, etc.
Multi-layer plastic products made of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer and polyamide are transparent and have good gas barrier properties. However, because ethylene-vinyl alcohol and polyamide are more expensive than general-purpose resins, their contents in the products are restricted, and it is required to make the ethylene-vinyl alcohol and polyamide as thin as possible.
To reduce production costs of plastic containers, a method of compounding ethylene-vinyl alcohol and polyamide with inexpensive polyolefin has been proposed. However, because ethylene-vinyl alcohol and polyamide are not very compatible with polyolefin, the blending is not easy. If ethylene-vinyl alcohol and polyamide are blended insufficiently, mechanical properties of produced films or sheets become poor.
In this regard, a method of using a compatibilizer to increase compatibility of ethylene-vinyl alcohol and polyamide to polyolefin has been proposed. Because the compatibilizer increases compatibility of ethylene-vinyl alcohol and polyamide to polyolefin, selection of a good compatibilizer is an important technical issue in improving mechanical strength and chemical barrier properties of products.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,864, U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,990, EP No. 15,556, and EP No. 210,725 disclose a method of using a compatibilizer prepared by grafting polyethylene and maleic anhydride. While this compatibilizer increases oxygen barrier properties and mechanical strength, moisture barrier properties are poor due to the hydrophilic properties of ethylene-vinyl alcohol polyamide and ionomers. Therefore, hydrophobic resin processing at the outermost layer is difficult, and there is no suitable processing condition for obtaining effective barrier property morphology.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,739,007, 4,618,528, 4,874,728, 4,889,885, 4,810,734, and 5,385,776, a nanocomposite is an exfoliated or intercalated platelet, tactoidal structure, or dispersion mixture thereof of nanometer dimensions, comprising intercalated clay dispersed in a matrix polymer, such as an oligomer, a polymer, or a blend thereof.
In general, nanocomposite manufacturing technology is divided into two methods.
The first method is the manufacturing method of said polyamide nanocomposite. In this method, monomers are inserted within intercalated organic clay, and the clay platelets are dispersed through inter-layer polymerization. This method is restricted in that it is applicable only when cationic polymerization is possible.
The other method is the melt compounding method which inserts melt polymer chains within intercalated clay and exfoliates it through mechanical compounding. Examples of such method are disclosed in Preparation of polystyrene nanocomposite (R. A. Vaia, et. al, Chem. Mater., 5, 1694(1993)), Preparation of polypropylene nanocomposite (M. Kawasumi, et. al, Macromolecules, 30, 6333(1997)), and Preparation of nylon 6 nanocomposite (U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,776), etc.
Therefore, research on nanocomposite blend compositions having superior mechanical strength and chemical barrier properties and that are capable of realizing effective barrier property morphology is needed.

Nanocomposite blend composition having super barrier property


A method for detecting and estimating an angle of rotation on itself, about a mounting axis, of a wheel unit with an acceleration sensor, the wheel unit being associated with a tire mounted on a rim, forming a wheel, the sensor detecting a gravitational force during the rotation of the wheel, forming a sinusoid. The wheel unit is mounted on the wheel with the acceleration sensor directly or indirectly inclined with respect to a plane tangential to the rim. The angle of rotation on itself of said wheel unit and therefore of the acceleration sensor at a given instant is estimated by comparing at least one parameter of the sinusoids that are obtained for the wheel unit in an initial mounting position on the wheel and in its position at this given instant, respectively.

With the tire being mounted on a rim, forming, with the rim, a vehicle wheel that is able to rotate about a rolling axis, the wheel unit is mounted in the wheel, incorporating an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor detects a gravitational force when the wheel rotates, forming a sinusoid.
In FIG. 1, the dashed curve shows a sinusoid S0 whose period makes it possible to compute the rotational speed of the wheel associated with the acceleration sensor, this rotational speed of the wheel being a function of the diameter of the wheel and of the period of the sinusoid. The sinusoid S0 varies between a maximum positive amplitude +Gr and a maximum negative amplitude −Gr.
At point A, the acceleration sensor detects a gravitational force at +Gr, this being the point of maximum amplitude of the sinusoid S0. At point C, the gravitational force detected is at 0, the acceleration sensor being perpendicular to this force. Point E corresponds to the maximum negative amplitude of the sinusoid −Gr, the sensor detecting a negative gravitational force. Point G corresponds to a gravitational force at 0, the sensor being perpendicular to this force, and therefore to a passage of the sinusoid S0 via its x-axis. The period of the sinusoid S0 will be the image of the rotational speed dependent on the diameter of the wheel.
It is known that the measurements of operating parameters of a wheel of a motor vehicle are performed by sensors mounted in electronic modules, called electronic units for measuring operating parameters of a wheel tire or wheel units. These sensors may be a pressure sensor in a tire for a wheel and/or a radial acceleration sensor making it possible to determine the rotational speed of the wheel. Hereinafter, the term "wheel unit" will be used to denote such an element.
As is known, wheel units generally include a microprocessor, a memory, a radiofrequency transmitter, a power supply battery and at least one radial acceleration sensor able to measure the radial accelerations of the wheel, this radial acceleration sensor being mounted on a support forming a printed circuit board. The radial acceleration measurements are sent via radiofrequency by a radio wave transmission device, often associated with the acceleration sensor, to a central system for monitoring the operating parameters of each wheel and in particular its rotational speed, called a wheel central control unit. This radio wave transmission device has antennas that are oriented precisely toward the wheel central control unit so as to optimize the transmissions.
It is possible to synchronize, with the sinusoid, shown in FIG. 1, the transmission of a radio frame by the wheel unit to the wheel central control unit via transmission dials.
To transmit information to the wheel central control unit, the wheel unit transmits periodic radio frames. The quality of reception of the radio frames is linked directly to the position of the wheel unit, a change in position of the wheel unit being able to vary the orientation of the radiofrequency antennas and therefore worsen the radio link between the wheel unit and a central radiofrequency reception unit.
During the lifetime of the wheel unit, the wheel unit may rotate on itself in an unwanted manner about an axis, which is its mounting axis, for example, in some nonlimiting configuration forms, an axis radial to the wheel, by a small angle of rotation. This rotation of the wheel unit will be called rotation of the wheel unit on itself in the following text. The effect of the rotation of the wheel unit on itself worsens radiofrequency performance.
The use of radial acceleration sensors, as are integrated into a wheel unit, does not allow the detection of the incorrect position of this wheel unit for radiofrequency transmissions.
Independently of this, in some mounting configurations of the wheel unit, the wheel unit is mounted on the rim such that its acceleration sensor extends tangential and parallel to the rolling axis of the wheel. In other mounting configurations, the wheel unit is mounted on the rim such that its sensor is positioned perpendicular to the plane of the rim of the wheel, or the wheel unit may also be mounted on the sidewall of the tire or of the rim.
This means that each mounting configuration requires a specific arrangement of the radial acceleration sensor, in particular with respect to its support. Specifically, in the first mode of integration, the radial acceleration sensor is mounted parallel to its support, whereas, in the second mode of integration, the radial acceleration sensor is mounted perpendicular to the support. This means having to design two different types of wheel unit for the mounting configurations.

Method for detecting and estimating an angle of rotation on itself of a wheel unit with an integrated radial acceleration sensor


A chopper-stabilized circuit (1) includes pre-chopping circuitry (26) for chopping an input signal (Vin) at a first frequency to generate a first signal. Input chopping circuitry (9) chops the first signal at a second frequency substantially greater than the first frequency to produce a second signal. The first frequency is a sub-harmonic of the second frequency. Post-chopping circuitry (30) chops the second chopped signal at the first frequency to produce a third signal that is applied to an input of a signal conditioning circuit (2). The output chopping circuitry (10) chops an output of the signal conditioning circuit at the second frequency to generate a fourth signal. The fourth signal is filtered.

The present invention relates generally to chopper-stabilized operational amplifiers. The invention also relates to chopper-stabilized operational amplifiers which include notch filters to reduce output ripple voltage due to the chopping signals. The invention relates more particularly to improvements which substantially reduce input bias current without necessarily decreasing chopping clock voltage level levels, without causing increased chopping-clock-induced ripple voltages, and/or without the need to increase notch filter capacitor size.
Chopper-stabilized operational amplifiers used as stand alone operational amplifiers provide excellent offset voltage and offset voltage drift performance without the need for trimming of components to reduce offset and drift. This means that in addition to good DC performance, chopper-stabilized operational amplifiers also have advantages of reduced integrated circuit die size and lower product cost. However, a major drawback of the known prior art chopper stabilization circuitry is the associated increased input bias current. (The term "input bias current" (not to be confused with the term "quiescent supply current") refers only to the current required to flow into the signal path of the input terminals 7A and 7B, and it relates to matters such as generated noise and DC errors that react with the input source impedance. The input bias current is directly proportional to chopping clock frequency and also is dependent on the chopping clock voltage level and chopping switch types and sizes. Input bias current also is very dependent on integrated circuit layout and parasitics.)
The input bias current of a chopper-stabilized CMOS operational amplifier is significantly larger than that of a standard CMOS operational amplifier because of charge injection and clock feed-through induced from the input chopping switches.
It should be understood that the above mentioned charge injection occurs at the input chopping switches of a chopper-stabilized amplifier and results in a DC current component i.e., a DC offset, of the chopper-stabilized amplifier. An input chopping stage is coupled to two input terminals to which a differential input signal is applied, and that results in an injected charge flowing into or out of each of the two input terminals, respectively, at a rate proportional to the chopping frequency. Any mismatches in the chopping switches and/or associated parasitic elements cause a difference between the amount of injected charge that flows into and out of the two input terminals, respectively. If that difference in the injected charge is integrated over time, e.g., over any chopping period, a net amount of injected charge flows into or out of the two input terminals over any chopping cycle, and by definition, is a DC current or DC offset. Thus, relatively small spikes of current may be flowing into and out of each of the positive and negative input terminals, respectively of the chopper-stabilized amplifier. For example, if a positive current spike and the corresponding negative current spike are not precisely matched, there is a recurring "net current spike" that is integrated over time. That results in the above mentioned input bias current, which is a DC current. In this example, if a net current of 100 picoamperes flows into the positive input of the chopper-stabilized amplifier due to the above mentioned mismatches, there will be 100 picoamperes flowing out of the negative input (because of conservation of charge principles).
While the lowest possible chopping clock voltage level and smallest possible chopping switch size should always be used to minimize charge injection and clock feed-through, there is not much design flexibility for adjusting these two variables in order to meet certain design specifications, such as noise, speed, and signal level. Also, even though good integrated circuit layout practice should always be used to minimize parasitics, there is always random variation that contributes significantly to a distribution of the input bias current. Lowering the chopping frequency reduces input bias current, but leads to the need for larger filter capacitors to maintain a similar level of chopping ripple (i.e., chopping-clock-induced ripple or "ripple noise") at the amplifier output.
It is highly desirable that integrated circuit operational amplifiers have low offset voltage, low noise, low offset drift, and good signal stability. Chopper stabilization and auto-zeroing are two common techniques that have been widely used to reduce amplifier offset voltage and drift. (For example, conventional chopper stabilization would typically reduce a 5 millivolt offset voltage to roughly 5 microvolts.) Modern chopper-stabilized operational amplifiers and auto-zero operational amplifiers have significantly reduced, or even essentially eliminated, the amount switching noise compared to previous designs. However, the improved design techniques used in modern chopper-stabilized operational amplifiers and auto-zero operational amplifiers result in trade-offs between input referred noise and quiescent supply current (Iq). The inherent trade-offs between basic chopper-stabilized amplifiers and auto-zero amplifiers are well known. While auto-zeroing methods provide low ripple noise at the amplifier output, its in-band noise is high due to aliasing or noise folding. On the other hand, chopper stabilization techniques present lower in-band noise due to absence of noise folding, but output ripple noise is relatively higher. Basic chopper-stabilized amplifiers maintain the broadband noise characteristics of their input stages but "shift" or modulate the input offset voltages up in frequency to the chopping frequency. This creates large ripple voltages at the amplifier outputs. Although basic auto-zero amplifiers do not shift their input offset to their auto-zero frequency like chopper-stabilized amplifiers, auto-zero amplifiers suffer from aliasing or folding back of their broadband noise spectrums during their zeroing cycles. This increases the overall input referred noise of auto-zero amplifiers.
It can be shown that for an ideal input stage, the square of the input referred noise is inversely proportional to the quiescent supply current Iq of the amplifier, which causes the basic auto-zero amplifiers to have significantly increased quiescent supply current Iq in order to achieve the desired noise levels, including the aliasing or noise folding. This makes it very desirable to use chopper-stabilized amplifiers in micropower applications and to find a way of solving the basic problem of ripple noise at the chopping frequency.
The closest prior art to the present invention is believed to include commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,292,095 entitled "Notch Filter for Ripple Reduction in Chopper Stabilized Amplifiers" issued Nov. 6, 2007 to the present inventors, and incorporated herein by reference. Also see the related article by the present inventors entitled "A Micropower Chopper-Stabilized Operational Amplifier Using a SC Notch Filter with Synchronous Integration inside the Continuous-Time Signal Path", IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 41, No. 12, December 2006. The closest prior art also is believed to include U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,626 entitled "Circuit Comprising Means for Reducing the DC-Offset and the Noise Produced by an Amplifier" issued Jul. 17, 2001 to Bakker et al.
Prior Art FIG. 1 herein is the same as FIG. 3A of the above mentioned '095 patent. In Prior Art FIG. 1, chopper stabilized amplifier 1C receives an input signal Vin and includes a first operational transconductance (i.e., with a voltage input and a current output) amplifier 2 having an input chopper 9 and an output chopper 10 for chopping an output signal produced by the first operational transconductance amplifier. A switched capacitor notch filter 15 filters the chopped output signal by operating synchronously with the chopping frequency of the output chopper stage to filter ripple voltages that otherwise would be produced by the output chopper stage. A second operational transconductance amplifier 3 amplifies the notch filter output. The input signal Vin is fed forward, summed with the output of the second operational transconductance amplifier 3, and applied to the input of a third operational transconductance amplifier or operational amplifier 4. Ripple noise and offset are substantially reduced.
Unfortunately, the chopper-stabilized amplifier in Prior Art FIG. 1 generates residual error on its inputs 7A and 7B due to charge injection from the chopping signal, and this results in an increase in input bias current. That is, averaging of the mismatches of chopper switch charge injection due to minute (e.g., roughly 10−13 farad) parasitic capacitances generates a DC bias current component that flows into one side of the chopping switches and out of the other side. Although decreasing the chopping clock frequency reduces the input bias current, it also results in increased ripple voltage or requires an unacceptable increase in the size of the notch filter capacitors. (Note that this would also be true for a continuous-time filter; that is, decreasing the chopping clock frequency would result in increased ripple voltage or would require an unacceptable increase in capacitances in the continuous-time filter.)
Prior Art FIG. 2 herein discloses an amplifier AMP as shown in FIG. 2 of the above mentioned '626 patent. Amplifier AMP in Prior Art FIG. 2 includes a pair of chopping switch circuits or "choppers" CHPi and CHPo for reducing the DC offset and the noise produced by amplifier AMP. To obtain optimal noise reduction, choppers CHPi and CHPo operate at a high frequency. As a result, the DC offset cancellation is not optimal because charge injection of the switches in choppers CHPi and CHPo produces a DC offset. To overcome this problem, amplifier AMP is provided with additional offset cancellation circuitry formed, for example, by another pair of choppers CHPfi, and CHPfo. Choppers CHPfi and CHPfo operate synchronously with choppers CHPfi and CHPfo but at a relatively low frequency. The combination of choppers CHPi and CHPo and additional choppers CHPfi and CHPfo ensures optimal DC offset cancellation. However, this technique, referred to as "nested chopping", increases parasitics on the output affecting input offset voltage performance. Nevertheless, this results in better trade-offs between the ripple voltage sent to the next stage if chopping frequency is increased on choppers CHPi and CHPo and the lower residual offset voltage due to charge injection in the chopping switches that occurs if the chopping frequency is decreased on CHPfi and CHPfo.
There is an unmet need for a chopper-stabilized amplifier which has extremely low output ripple noise and which also has low input bias current.

Low input bias current chopping switch circuit and method


The main application of the invention lies in making cartridges, filters and complete filter systems for regeneration purposes, in particular for regenerating swimming pool water, and for that purpose it comprises at least a system for physically treating water by means of an inert granular material enclosed in at least one envelope through which said water can flow, passing through said material; according to the invention, the material is of cellular structure, having relative density of less than 1, and is constituted by pozzolan having a grain size that is less than or equal to 25 mm.

At present there exist various types of filter system, generally made up of successive beds of filter elements, such as described, for example, in French patent application FR 2 502 508 filed on Mar. 30, 1981 for "A filter structure, a method of making such structures, and an ultrafiltration device", essentially comprising a porous support of sintered material having relatively large grains, carrying a thinner filter layer of a material that is also sintered but using relatively small grains, . . . . Mention may also be made of European patent application EP 0 634 952 filed under German priority of Apr. 6, 1992 and entitled "A filter element with a permeable and porous undeformable body made of plastics material" . . . .
Naturally, mention can also be made of other filter devices such as those in swimming pool water regeneration circuits which make use essentially of sand: the sand is placed in reservoirs through which the water is caused to flow, but with the drawbacks firstly that sand has high relative density, and secondly that it becomes compacted, thus requiring the water flow direction to be reversed rather frequently since otherwise the porosity of the sand decreases, increasing headloss through the circuit while greatly decreasing its effectiveness.
Also, to make filter cartridges such as those mentioned and described in the above patent applications, special materials are used which are quite expensive to manufacture and implement, but without that giving rise to satisfactory retention efficiency regardless of the elements in suspension in the fluid passing through them, except by decreasing the porosity of said filter. Unfortunately, that also increases the headloss in fluid circulation circuits, thus requiring installations that are large.
The problem posed is thus to be able to make filter systems for physically treating a fluid while using a material which is very cheap to implement, which is inert relative to the fluid it is to filter, and which is capable of retaining a maximum quantity of elements that are in suspension therein, while having porosity through which the fluid passes that is not so small as to increase headlosses excessively, and which is easy to implement, e.g. by being incorporated in any already-existing circuit, or by being used on a site where the filter system must be capable of being buried or located in a closed shelter.

Filter system and a cartridge containing a cellular granular material


An integrated optical circuit for fiber-optics gyroscopes comprising two pairs of waveguide conduits each having a pair of input/output ports on each of end surfaces of a substrate opposed to each other and a pair of directional couplers each disposed between the two waveguide conduits forming each of the pairs of waveguide conduits. The pair of the directional couplers are connected to each other through a waveguide conduit in which a polarizer is disposed in its course, the other waveguide conduits connected to the directional couplers have metal coatings in their courses and non-reflective coatings on an end surface of the substrate. This integrated optical circuit is capable of preventing electromagnetic beams from being radiated into the substrate and suppressing re-entry of radiated electromagnetic beams into the waveguide conduits.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated optical circuit for processing signals which is preferably used for a fiber-optics gyroscope which detects a rotating angular velocity, utilizing Sagnac shift by which an electromagnetic beam travelling in an optical fiber is affected.
b) Description of the Prior Art
In a field of the interference type fiber-optics gyroscopes, it has been proposed to integrate elements having functions of modulators, Y-junctions and polarizers by utilizing waveguide conduits formed on a single crystalline substrate and effects of such integration have already been confirmed in practice. The crystalline substrate is made of dielectric materials which are typically represented by LiNbO.sub.3 or compound semiconductors which are typically exemplified by InP or GaAs. FIG. 1 shows a typical example of an integrated optical circuit which is composed of basic elements having the functions of modulators and Y-junctions disposed on a substrate made of LiNbO.sub.3 on which waveguide conduits are formed. A substrate which has the integrated optical circuit of this type is generally referred to as a gyroscopes chip.
In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 represents a crystalline substrate made of LiNbO.sub.3 on which input/output waveguide conduits 2, 3, Y-junctions 4, 5, a conduit type polarizer 6, waveguide conduits 7, 8, and phase modulators 9, 10 are disposed. The modulators 9 and 10 are driven by applying voltages to modulating electrodes 9a and 10a respectively, and have output terminals which are connected to input/output ports 7a and 8a respectively. The reference symbol L represents a laser source for inputting an electromagnetic beam into the waveguide conduit 2 through an optical fiber F, the reference symbol C designates an optical fiber coil which has two ends connected to the input/output ports 7a and 8a respectively, and the reference symbol D denotes a photodetector which is connected to the waveguide conduit 3 through another optical fiber F. The laser source L and the photodetector D may be connected directly to the input/output conduits 2 and 3 without using the optical fiber F.
Now, description will be made of functions of the fiber-optics gyroscope which is composed as described above. An electromagnetic beam which is emitted from the laser source L and led into the waveguide conduit 2 is split by the Y-junction 4 so that half a power of the electromagnetic beam reaches the polarizer 6, whereas the rest half of the power of the electromagnetic beam is radiated into the substrate 1. The function described above is obtained as a general property of the Y-junction which is formed in the single mode waveguide conduit. After the electromagnetic beam passes through the polarizer 6, the electromagnetic beam is split by the Y-junction 5 into two beams which have halves respectively of the original power of the electromagnetic beam, an are led into the waveguide conduits 7 and 8 respectively for travelling toward the modulators 9 and 10 respectively. The electromagnetic beam which is led into the waveguide conduit 7 is subjected to frequency shift in the modulator 9 under a photoelectric effect of the crystal which is produced by driving the modulator 9 with a sawtooth voltage applied to the modulating electrode 9a, further subjected to Sagnac shift in the optical fiber coil C and then reaches the modulator 10. A sine wave voltage is applied to the modulating electrode 10a. On the other hand, the electromagnetic beam which is directed from the Y-junction 5 into the waveguide conduit 8 is subjected to phase modulation in the modulator 10, Sagnac shift in the optical fiber coil C and the frequency shift in the modulator 9.
Since the electromagnetic beams travelling through the optical fiber coil C in directions reverse to each other are subjected to Sagnac shift having signs reverse to each other, an interference light produced in the Y-junction 5 has an intensity which is varied dependently on a rotating angular velocity of the optical fiber coil C. (Refer to S. Ezekiel and H. J. Arditty, "Fiber-Optic Rotation Sensors" reprinted by permission of the publisher from `Fiber-Optic Rotation Sensors and Related Technologies`, Springer and Verlag, pp 2-26, 1982.) Accordingly, it is possible to obtain only signals which have an intensity varying in proportion to a degree of Sagnac shift by detecting, with the photodetector D, components of the interference light having the same frequency as that set for the modulator 10. Further, it is possible to measure a rotating angular velocity of the optical fiber coil C from a value of this frequency by adjusting a frequency of the sawtooth voltage applied to the modulator 9 so as to zero the variation of the intensity.
In the conventional example described above, half the power of the electromagnetic beam which is led from the waveguide conduit 2 becomes, on principle, a radiation beam at the Y-junction 4 and is radiated into the substrate 1 at small angles relative to the surface of the substrate 1 due to the general property of the single mode Y-junction. Fractions of this radiation beam are reflected by a rear surface and end surfaces of the substrate 1 as well as impurities, etc. contained in the substrate 1, and returned again into the waveguide conduits.
On the other hand, the power of the electromagnetic beam can be divided at the Y-junction 5 without producing the radiation light. However, the radiation light is produced even at the Y-junction 5 dependently on a phase difference between the electromagnetic beams which travel through the waveguide conduits 7 and 8 toward the Y-junction after passing through the optical fiber coil C. Speaking concretely, all of the powers of the electromagnetic beams travelling through the Y-junction 5 reach the polarizer 6 when the phase difference between the electromagnetic beams travelling through the waveguide conduits 7 and 8 is 2 m.pi. (m: an integer), whereas all the powers of the electromagnetic beams are radiated into the substrate 1 when the phase difference is (2 m+1).
When such a radiation light having a phase hysteresis which is different from that of the electromagnetic beams travelling through the waveguide conduits is allowed to re-enter the conduits in an fiber-optics gyroscope utilizing the interference phenomenon, noise is produced in an interference system, thereby producing an undesirable result to remarkably degrade measuring accuracy of the fiber-optics gyroscope. (Refer to H. J. Arditty et al., `Test Results of an Integrated Fiber-Optics Gyroscope Brass Board`, First International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensor, 26-28 Apr. 1983.)

Integrated optical circuit for fiber-optics gyroscopes


A communication device includes a memory to store data and a processor to receive data, to convert the received data and a same data of the received data among the stored data into a predetermined format, and to transmit data resulting from the data conversion.

With widespread use of the Internet and computers, the amounts of traffic of data systems increase in communication networks. Examples of the traffic of data systems include IP (internet protocol) packets and LAN (local area network) packets of Ethernet and so on.
Transfer of traffic for data systems for VPN (virtual private network) services and so on has brought about increases in the transfer speed and in the transfer data.
The reliability of communication devices for use in the VPN services has improved with a redundant function. The redundant function is to duplicate processing. During failure or maintenance of a working side, the communication device having the redundant function is capable of switching its operation to a protection side. Thus, the redundant function improves the reliability of the communication device.
For example, LAN links and TDM (time division multiplexing) links are available to transmit traffic. The TDM links employ, for example, SONET (synchronous optical network), SDH (synchronous digital hierarchy), PDH (plesiochronous digital hierarchy), and so on. OTN (Optical transport network) is a new TDM technology.
The LAN links are capable of directly transferring packets. The TDM links, however, use a mapper function to convey packets.
The mapper function provides a function for mapping packets onto TDM frames at an entrance of a TDM network. The mapper function further provides a function for retrieving packets from the TDM frame at an exit at the opposite end of the TDM network.
Examples of devices having a redundant function and a mapper function as described above will be described below.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-74629 discloses a packet synchronization switching method for a gateway device. This gateway device has an audio processing blade redundantly configured between an IP network and an SDH network. The gateway device further has a function for receiving a VoIP packet from the IP network, performing audio processing on the packet, and outputting an I-TDM packet to the SDH network. Such a gateway device receives reference timing and time information, performs audio processing in accordance with the reference timing, and performs system switching between audio processing blades in accordance with the time information.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-178060 discloses a technology in which any of gateway devices that receive packets supplies a TDM signal to a TDM network. Each gateway device receives a duplicated same packet and writes the packet to a buffer in accordance with a common write pointer for the packet. In addition, each gateway device sequentially reads written packets from the buffer and generates a TDM signal.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-134074 discloses a technology in which a SONET/SDH transmission device selectively switches between transmission paths. The SONET/SDH transmission device has redundant transmission lines constituted by two transmission lines. The SONET/SDH transmission device transmits a packet representing transmission-line switching control information to another transmission device through the transmission line(s). In accordance with a state of packet reception from the other transmission device, the SONET/SDH transmission device switches the transmission paths for transmitting a transmission signal.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-67040 discloses an interface converting device for converting a synchronization transfer signal into a packet signal. The interface converting device has a pair of a working port and a protection port adjacent to a packet network. The interface converting device further has duplicated pairs of path transmission lines. The interface converting device includes switching information in added information to be added to a TDM signal after multiplexing. The interface converting device then adds a packet-network destination header to a signal to which the added information is added.

Communication device and communication method


A method for improving image transfer in liquid electrostatic printing includes applying at least one layer of toner to a surface, transferring the at least one layer of toner from the surface to an intermediate transfer member, and after transferring the at least one layer of toner to the intermediate transfer member and prior to transferring the at least one layer of toner from the intermediate transfer member to a final substrate, selectively applying a wetting substance to the surface and transferring the wetting substance from the surface to the at least one layer of toner transferred to the intermediate transfer member.

The formation and development of latent images on the surface of photoconductive materials using liquid toner, the LEP process, is well known. The basic process involves placing a uniform electrostatic charge on a photo imaging plate ("PIP") and exposing the PIP to a light and shadow image or to a scanning laser to dissipate the charge on the areas of the PIP exposed to the light and developing to form a latent electrostatic image. The resultant latent image is developed by subjecting the latent image to a liquid toner comprising a carrier liquid and colored toner particles. These toner particles are generally comprised of a pigmented polymer. Generally, the development is carried out, at least partially, in the presence of an electric field, such that the toner particles are attracted either to the charged or discharged areas, depending on the charge of the particles and the direction and magnitude of the field.
This image may then be transferred to a substrate such as paper or plastic film, often via an intermediate transfer member ("ITM") which is typically covered with a replaceable blanket. The transferred image may then be permanently affixed to the substrate by the application of pressure, heat, solvent, overcoating treatment or other affixing processes. In general, in the commercial process used by HP-Indigo, the ITM is heated to a temperature that causes the toner particles and residual carrier liquid to form a film in the printed areas which is transferred to the final substrate by heat and pressure. Fixing to the final substrate takes as part of the transfer process.
There are two basic methods for printing in color using an LEP process. The first method is a 4-shot process. In the 4-shot process, each printed color separation is transferred separately from the ITM to the substrate, until the full color image is achieved. Once the full color image has been deposited onto the substrate, the substrate is passed out of the printer. The second method is called a 1-shot process. In the 1-shot process, the printed colors are transferred one at a time to the ITM. When all the colors have been transferred to the ITM they are transferred together from the ITM to the substrate at the same time, instead of one at a time, like in the 4-shot process. In some applications more than 4 colors are used to form the final image. Color toners that are widely used in the industry include the HP ElectroInk® products which contain colored polymer toner particles and a carrier liquid including a volatile portion, such as Isopar®L. In principle, there is no limit to the number of colors that can be used in either process.
Conventionally, electrophoresis is used to develop an image on a PIP. In a typical electrophoretic printer or copier, a PIP charged to a high voltage is exposed to light in certain regions, producing a latent image in which the voltage is reduced to a lower voltage depending on the exposure at each position. A toner, such as a liquid toner, with toner particles dispersed in a carrier liquid, is placed between the surface of the PIP and a development electrode, electrified to a voltage that is intermediate between the maximum and minimum voltage on the selectively exposed photosensitive layer. The development electrode thus produces an electric field normal to the surface of the PIP which is directed toward the PIP or away from it, depending on the potential at each position which in turn depends on how much light each position was exposed to.
Toner particles in the liquid toner migrate toward or away from the PIP, depending on the direction of the electric field at each position, and as a result, toner particles are selectively deposited on the surface of the PIP, converting the latent image into a developed toner image. For positions that were exposed to an intermediate amount of light, the density of toner particles may depend on the exposure at that position.
Japanese patent publication 50-152741, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an electrophoretic printer in which liquid toner emerges from an opening in the middle of an electrode, and flows in along a gap between the electrode and a rotating PIP. The toner flows in both direction from the opening, i.e., in the same direction as the rotating cylinder, and in the opposite direction.
Alternatively to the electrophoresis method, a binary image developing technique is used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,396 to Landa et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,694, to Lior et al, and PCT application PCT/IL2005/000217 to Kella, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe a development method called binary image development. In binary image development, instead of introducing a freely flowing liquid toner with charged particles against the surface of the PIP, a viscous concentrated layer of charged liquid toner particles coating a developer cylinder of a binary image developer ("BID") is placed against the surface of the PIP. The developer cylinder is at a voltage intermediate between the maximum and minimum voltage of the PIP. The two cylinders rotate, and different portions of the toner layer progressively come into contact with the PIP at a nip between the two cylinders. Depending on the direction of the electric field between the developer cylinder and the PIP at each point as it passes the nip, portions of the toner layer either are transferred from the developer cylinder to the PIP, or remain on the developer cylinder. This produces a developed toner image on the surface of the PIP, an image that, at each point, is either toned by the toner or left untoned.
Alternatively, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,694, less than the full thickness of the toner layer is transferred from the developer cylinder to the PIP, at those points where toner is transferred at all. This method may make the resulting developed image on the PIP less sensitive to possible non-uniformity of the toner layer on the developer cylinder.
To produce the layer of concentrated toner on the developer cylinder in the first place, liquid toner is run in a narrow gap between the rotating developer cylinder and an electrode, which produces an electric field which causes toner particles to adhere to the developer cylinder. As each portion of the surface of the development cylinder rotates beyond the end of the electrode, a squeegee removes excess liquid from that portion of the surface, leaving a uniform layer of concentrated toner coating the development cylinder. After each portion of the surface of the developer cylinder passes the nip and transfers part of the layer to the photosensitive member, a cleaning roller or scraper removes the remaining parts of the toner layer from that portion of the surface of the developer cylinder, providing a clean surface so that a uniform layer of toner can be coated on the developer cylinder for the next image as each portion of its surface passes the electrode again.
Japanese patent application number 09086192 (publication number 10282795), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes such an image development system in which a liquid toner flows into the gap between the electrode and the developer cylinder through an opening in the middle of the electrode. The electrode is adjacent to one side of the developer cylinder, whose surface is moving upward on that side. Some of the liquid toner is carried upward with the surface of the developer cylinder, while some of the liquid toner flows downward along the surface of the developer cylinder, moving in a direction opposite to the direction of motion of the surface. In both the upward and downward moving liquid toner, some toner particles migrate to the surface of the developer cylinder under the influence of the electric field produced by the electrode, and adhere to the developer cylinder.
A similar image development system is described as prior art in PCT publication WO 01/92962, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, but with the electrode below the developer cylinder instead of to its side. Most of the liquid toner coming out of the opening in the middle of the electrode flows along the gap in the direction of motion of the developer cylinder, but some of it flows along the gap in the opposite direction.

Method and apparatus for improving image transfer in liquid electrostatic printing

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


This application provides for a method of increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serum level in a human subject comprising periodically administering to the subject an amount of laquinimod or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof effective to increase BDNF serum level in the human subject. The method can further comprise periodically administering to the subject an amount of a second BDNF-increasing agent. This application also provides for a method for treating a human subject suffering from a BDNF-related disease comprising periodically administering laquinimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount effective to treat the human subject. This application additionally provides for use of laquinimod in the manufacture of a medicament for increasing BDNF serum level in a human subject. This application further provides for a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of laquinimod effective for use in increasing BDNF serum level in a human subject. This application also provides for a pharmaceutical preparation comprising an amount of laquinimod and an amount of a second BDNF-increasing agent effective for use in increasing BDNF serum level in a human subject.

Neurotrophic factors have a profound influence on developmental events such as naturally occurring cell death, differentiation and process outgrowth (Snider, 1989). The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic factor which belongs to the neurotrophin family of growth factors. BDNF acts on certain neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), helping to support the survival of existing neurons and encourage the growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses (Acheson, 1995; Huang, 2001). Increasing BDNF has been associated with the treatment of a number of disorders including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), depressive disorders, retinitis pigmentosa, erectile dysfunction, memory disorders, Rett syndrome; Alzheimer's Disease, bipolar disorder and acute mania.
Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive degenerative disease of the brain that impairs motor control, speech, and other functions. One of the most striking features of Parkinson's disease is that it primarily affects a restricted neuronal population in the brain. Although other neurons are also affected, the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta are the most vulnerable to the disease process (Chesselet, 2003). BDNF has potent effects on survival and morphology of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, increasing their survival, and thus its loss could contribute to death of these cells in Parkinson's disease (PD) (Hyman, 1991; Howell, 2000).
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms and by a progressive degeneration of neurons in basal ganglia in brain cortex. Patients suffering from HD have significantly lower BDNF levels in serum compared to healthy controls (Ciammola, 2007).
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic and debilitating neurodegenerative disease which involves degeneration of cortical, bulbar and medullar motor neurons. Riluzole (2-amino-6-[trifluoromethoxy]benzothiazole) is an antagonist of glutamatergic neurotransmission that prolongs survival in ALS (Riviere, 1998). Riluzole has also been shown to significantly increase BDNF levels in the rat brain, thereby promoting precursor proliferation (Katoh-Semba, 2002).
Depression is another indication in which BDNF has been shown to have an effect. In a meta-analysis which encompasses many studies, depressed patients were shown to have lower BDNF levels than healthy control subjects, and anti-depressant therapy has been shown to increase BDNF levels in depressed patients after treatment (Sen, 2008).
Retinitis pigmentosa is a disease associated with retinal photoreceptor cell loss. It has been shown that BDNF culturing of retina explants from rd mice, who suffer from a mutation in the same gene that has been found mutated in human autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa, showed an increase in number of photoreceptor nuclei in the outer nuclear layer (Caffe Romeo, 2001). This suggests that increasing BDNF levels in humans suffering from retinitis pigmentosa may slow the progression of the disease.
Erectile dysfunction is another disease which has been shown to be associated with BDNF. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,485,311, example 3, it was shown that treatment of rats in the bilateral cavernous nerve freezing model using intracavernous injection of AAV-BDNF improves maximum intracavernous pressure in response to bilateral cavernous nerve electrostimulation.
BDNF has also been associated with learning and memory. In a transgenic mouse model of BNF knockout mice, impairment of BDNF production has been shown to cause impairments in learning and memory in the adult stage and especially during early development (Monteggia, 2007). In a rat model, it was shown that endogenous BDNF in the hippocampus is involved in memory formation. Whereas infusion of function-blocking anti-BDNF antibody was shown to impair short term and long term memory in a model of fear-motivated learning, infusion of recombinant human BDNF facilitated long-term memory retention (Alonsa, 2005). Increasing BDNF levels in human patients in need of learning or memory improvement may also improve short and long term memory.
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder and the leading cause of severe mental retardation in females, affecting 1:10,000-15,000 births worldwide (Amaral, 2007). The disease is associated with mutations in the gene MeCP2. One of the targets of MeCP2 is the BDNF gene. This suggests that deregulation of BDNF expression in Rett Syndrome may be the cause of structural anomalies observed in patients, especially the reduced dendritic branching and loss of dendritic spines (Amaral, 2007). This suggests that increasing BDNF levels in Rett syndrome may be a viable therapy in treating the disease.
In bipolar disorder patients suffering from acute mania, levels of BDNF were shown to vary depending upon whether the patient was treated or untreated. Before treatment with known mania treatments, BDNF levels were found to be lower than in healthy controls, but upon treatment, the difference between BDNF levels in serum of treated patients and controls was no longer significant (Tramontina, 2009). It may be possible to treat acute mania by increasing BDNF levels in patients in need thereof.
Several agents have been identified to increase BDNF levels including riluzole and antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac®) (Katoh-Semba, 2002; Molteni, 2006).

Treatment of BDNF-related disorders using laquinimod


A satellite broadcast reception converter, having a simple structure, capable of reducing an output return loss even if a circuit board is relatively smaller than a chassis is provided. A satellite broadcast reception converter comprises a chassis in which a primary reflector into which radio wave signals received by an external parabola antenna are guided and an output terminal to be connected to an external tuner are placed at a predetermined distance from each other so that signals fed from the primary reflector are amplified and converted into intermediate-frequency output signals so as to be fed out through the output terminal, wherein the satellite broadcast reception converter further comprises a circuit board of which another end portion thereof is connected to the primary reflector and an auxiliary board of which another end portion thereof is connected to the output terminal by way of a lead wire, and wherein the circuit board and the auxiliary board are connected together at one end portions thereof and laid in a contiguous sequence in the chassis in such a manner that the circuit board is laid closer to the primary reflector and the auxiliary board is laid closer to the output terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a satellite broadcast reception converter that constitutes the basis of a satellite broadcast reception system together with an antenna and a tuner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a satellite broadcast reception converter having an internal structure by which an output return loss is reduced.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The satellite broadcast reception converter (hereinafter referred to as an LNB) is fed with faint radio wave signals in a high-frequency band received by an external parabola antenna from a satellite, amplifies the signals thus fed in, converts the signals into output signals (hereinafter referred to as IF signals) in an intermediate frequency band (a range between approximately 950 MHz and 1700 MHz has been a band commonly used in recent years) for easy handling, and feeds out the output signals to an external tuner.
A conventional LNB having the above-mentioned functions is generally formed with a chassis or a case 1 as an external structure as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Arranged at one end and another end of the LNB respectively so as to protrude outward therefrom are a primary reflector 2 into which a radio wave received by an unillustrated parabola antenna is guided and an F-type connector as an output terminal 3 to be connected to an unillustrated tuner with a coaxial cable or the like. Furthermore, a circuit board 4 is provided, inside the case 1, within a region between a rear side of the primary reflector 2 and an area adjacent to the output terminal 3. One end portion 4a of the circuit board 4 is connected to the output terminal 3 by way of an F-type line or a lead wire 5 and another end portion 4b is connected to the primary reflector 2. As can be seen, inside the case 4, sizes of the case 1 and the circuit board 4 are substantially identical in plan view.
With advancement in integration technologies that enable miniaturizations of circuit components and circuit patterns arranged on such a circuit board as the circuit board 4, and in an attempt to reduce the cost in materials by effectively utilizing these technologies, recent trends show that a circuit board such as the circuit board 4 has been reduced in size. In this case, for example as shown in FIG. 9, a circuit board 14 is arranged within the case 1 in such a way that another end portion 14b thereof can be connected to the rear side of the primary reflector 2. Consequently, one end portion 14a of the circuit board 14 is located remotely from the output terminal 3, and said one end portion 14a is connected to the output terminal by way of an extended lead wire 15.
Here, by comparing FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, it is understood that the size of the case 1 remains unchanged and that the primary reflector 2 and the output terminal 3 are so positioned as to keep a predetermined distance from each other. In this arrangement, it is possible to share the same LNB among different products by fixing the position of the LNB relative to the parabola antenna. The LNB, in general, is fixed relative to the antenna with a fixing tool by making the output terminal 3 as a fixing base. Because of this reason, if the distance between the primary reflector 2 and the output terminal 3 differs from product to product, a focal point of the primary reflector 2 changes accordingly.
Here, such an LNB as the one shown in FIG. 9 has a longer lead wire 15 that induces unnecessary inductance components therearound which prevent a proper impedance matching from being taken. As a result, the output return loss of the IF signals, an indicator of the basic performance of the LNB, is worsened.
Conventional technologies for improving the problem like this include one that provides an earth portion integrally formed within the case 1 or a ground component in the case 1 so that the earth portion or the ground component is placed in close proximity to the lead wire 15 (for example, the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-252709, page 2 to page 4 and FIG. 1 to FIG. 3). According to this improved technology, capacitive components that are induced between the lead wire 15 and the earth portion or the ground component prevent unnecessary inductance components from being induced. Consequently, it is possible to take a proper impedance matching and, thereby, at least improve the output return loss of the IF signals.
However, according to the aforementioned conventional improved technology, it is necessary to secure an infinitesimal distance between the lead wire 15 and the earth portion or the ground component. To achieve this, it is imperative to devise a practical method at a designing stage such as covering the lead wire 15 with an insulating tube or at a manufacturing stage such as improving dimensional accuracy. Moreover, this technology has a drawback of making inside the case 1 complicated.


An image signal output from a CCD is input to an edge emphasis adjusting unit. A scene determining unit determines a scene of an image to be processed on the basis of an operation of selecting a shooting mode or the like. A tone characteristic control unit performs a control of selecting a tone characteristic used in a tone converting unit for edge emphasis on the basis of the scene determination result. A plurality of tone characteristics for edge emphasis are prepared, and have different luminance ranges in which a γ value changes. After the tone converting process for edge emphasis, an edge emphasizing process is performed by an edge emphasizing unit, and the tone conversion according to the monitor characteristic is performed in a tone converting unit for correction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for performing tone conversion and edge emphasis.
2. Description of the Background Art
A tone converting process and an edge emphasizing process are performed on an image captured by a digital camera and an image input to a computer by using predetermined hardware or software.
The tone converting process is a process of correcting the tone of an image in accordance with characteristics of a monitor, and the conversion characteristic is expressed by a γ (gamma) value. A general tone converting process is a converting process in which a γ value as the conversion characteristic is a constant value in a range from a shadow portion via a neutral portion to a highlight portion, and an output signal y to an input signal x is expressed as y=xγ.
The edge emphasizing process is performed by, for example, detecting and extracting a signal of a high frequency component from G (green) data of an image to be processed, and adding the extracted signal of the high frequency component to image signals of R, G, and B.
In an image processing apparatus such as a digital camera or the like, generally, first, the tone converting process is performed on input image data and, after that, the edge emphasizing process is carried out on the tone-converted image data.
As described above, the image processing apparatus such as a digital camera can output image data subjected to the tone converting process and the edge emphasizing process. In the above processing method, however, similar edge emphasis is performed in the range from the shadow portion to the highlight portion of an input image. Therefore, it cannot be said that an optimum edge emphasizing process is performed according to the input image.
For example, if an image captured by a digital camera is an image captured by macro shooting, it is preferable to enhance the edge emphasis as a whole. If the image is an image of night view, a dark portion is large, so that it is necessary to remove noise in a low luminance portion.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2000-115539, density determination is made, and the degree of emphasizing an edge is changed according to density. However, since the density determination is made, there is a problem such that processing time is long.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 11-32236, luminance determination is not performed but a backlight scene is determined. In the case of a backlight scene, the degree of edge emphasis is suppressed. However, since the degree of edge emphasis is unconditionally adjusted irrespective of the luminance, there is a problem such that sharpness of a whole image deteriorates.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program product


A roping belt comprises a lining structure, and an equipment-carrying device achieved by means of a continuous cord fixed by seams along the lining structure forming a succession of attachment loops. The ends of the cord are securedly attached to the belt by first end seams able to withstand higher forces than those of the second intermediate seams forming the attachment loops.

The invention relates to a roping belt comprising a lining structure, an equipment-carrying device, and attachment means arranged at the front of the belt. The equipment-carrying device is formed by a plurality of loops for hooking-on all sorts of equipment, in particular karabiners, descenders, jammers, pitons and such like. The belt is generally integrated in a harness used for rock-climbing, mountaineering, or working at a height.

Roping belt equipped with an improved equipment-carrying device


A portable device and an information management method are provided whereby personal information can be safely shared between two systems. Each entry of telephone directory information includes callee identification information identifying a callee to be called by mobile phone function and is readable from and updatable by an information processor. Use restriction information shows availability of each telephone directory information entry and includes read permission information indicating whether each telephone directory information entry can be read out or not. When a request to read out an entry of the telephone directory information is received from another information processor, a use restriction processor looks up the use restriction information corresponding to the requested entry of the telephone directory information and, if readout of the requested entry is permitted, permits the requested entry of the telephone directory information to be read out and provided to the information processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable devices with information processing functions including a mobile phone function, and information management methods for such portable devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable device equipped with two, first and second information processors, and an information management method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, mobile phones enabling wireless voice communication have come into wide use. In addition to the voice communication function, many mobile phones have the capability to send and receive electronic mail. Such mobile phones are often configured to store therein personal information such as names, telephone numbers and mail addresses of persons who can be callers/callees or senders/recipients of electronic mail so that when making a call or sending electronic mail, the user can retrieve and use the information stored beforehand. Further, mobile phones of this type are very often adapted to collectively manage personal information that has no direct connection with telephone call or electronic mail, such as addresses of callers/callees or mail senders/recipients.
On the other hand, there has been a demand for information handling schemes that allow an external device such as a PC (personal computer) to make use of the information stored in the mobile phone. For example, a system has been known in which a computer and a mobile phone are connected to each other by a communication cable to permit the mail data sent/received by the mobile phone to be viewed from and edited by the computer. With this system, the user can create electronic mail while viewing, on the computer, the telephone directory information stored in the mobile phone (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-254119). A technique has also been known whereby, when a PC is connected with a portable information terminal, the information stored in the portable information terminal is collated with that stored in the PC to synchronize the stored information (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-163735).
Meanwhile, the recent development of smaller-sized and higher-performance hardware devices has made it possible to configure multiple systems with different uses within a single, small-sized portable information terminal. Generally, on a single system, one or more operating systems (OSs) are executed with respect to one set of hardware resources including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). In the small-sized information terminal, on the other hand, multiple sets of hardware resources for implementing respective different functions are mounted as independent systems, and individual OSs are run on the respective systems. In order to reduce the size of the information terminal, the monitor and the input device are shared by two systems, for example. The user of the information terminal can access the function of either of the two systems by switching the screen displayed on the monitor.
As such information terminals equipped with multiple systems, terminals have been under study wherein the mobile phone function is implemented by one system while the general-purpose information processing function equivalent to the one provided by a PC, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) or the like is implemented by another system. This type of system also should desirably be configured such that the general-purpose information processing function can make use of the personal information held by the mobile phone function.
Generally, however, systems adapted to provide the general-purpose information processing function is associated with the problem that unintended leak of information may possibly be caused, for example, by malicious software. Thus, where the system is configured so as to be able to use the personal information held by the mobile phone, it is essential that leakage of the personal information should be prevented.

Portable device and information management method


The inventive production method of a compound semiconductor light-emitting device (LED)s wafer comprises a step of forming a protective film on the top and/or bottom surface of a compound semiconductor LEDs wafer, where the devices being regularly and periodically arranged with separation zones being disposed; a step of forming separation grooves by means of laser processing in the separation zones of the surface on which the protective film is formed, while a gas is blown onto a laser-irradiated portion; and a step of removing at least a portion of the protective film, which steps are performed in the above sequence.

Pn-junction light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are well known as a type of compound semiconductor light-emitting devices. Examples of such known LEDs include a GaP LED having a substrate, and a gallium phosphide (GaP) light-emitting layer obtained through epitaxial growth of an electrically conductive GaP single crystal atop the substrate; an LED which emits red light or orange-yellow to green light, the LED having a light-emitting layer formed of an aluminum gallium arsenide mixed crystal (AlxGayAs: 0≦X, Y≦1, and X+Y=1), or formed of an aluminum gallium indium phosphide mixed crystal (AlxGayInzP: 0≦X, Y, Z≦1, and X+Y+Z=1); and a LED which emits short-wavelength light (e.g., near-ultraviolet light, blue light, or green light), the LED having a light-emitting layer formed of a Group III nitride semiconductor such as gallium indium nitride (GaαInβN: 0≦α, β≦1, and α+β=1).
For example, the aforementioned AlXGaYInZP LED includes a substrate formed of an electrically conductive p-type or n-type gallium arsenide (GaAs) single crystal, on which an electrically conductive n-type or p-type light-emitting layer is formed. The blue LED includes a substrate formed of a single crystal (e.g., an electrically insulating sapphire (α-Al2O3) single crystal). The short-wavelength LED includes a substrate formed of cubic (3C) or hexagonal (4H or 6H) silicon carbide (SiC).
In general, a dicer or a scriber is employed for preparing individual compound semiconductor light-emitting device chips from a compound semiconductor light-emitting device wafer including such a substrate and numerous compound semiconductor light-emitting devices, the devices being regularly and periodically arranged with separation zones being disposed therebetween. A "dicer" is an apparatus for cutting such a wafer into chips through the following procedure: the wafer is subjected to full-cutting by means of rotation of a disk blade having a diamond tip; or grooves having a width larger than that of the blade tip are formed on the wafer (half-cutting), and then the resultant wafer is subjected to cutting by means of external force. Meanwhile, a "scriber" is an apparatus for cutting such a wafer into chips through the following procedure: very thin lines are scribed on the wafer in, for example, a grid form by use of a needle whose tip is formed of diamond, and then the resultant wafer is subjected to cutting by means of external force. A crystal having a zincblende structure, such as GaP or GaAs, exhibits cleavability along a "110" plane. Therefore, by virtue of such a characteristic feature, a semiconductor wafer formed of, for example, GaAs, GaAlAs, or GaP can be relatively easily separated into chips having a desired shape.
However, a nitride semiconductor, which is stacked on a sapphire substrate or a similar substrate, has a heteroepitaxial structure, and has a large lattice constant mismatch with respect to the sapphire substrate. A sapphire substrate has a hexagonal system, and thus exhibits no cleavability. Sapphire and a nitride semiconductor have a Mohs hardness of about 9; i.e., they are very hard substances. Therefore, a wafer including a sapphire substrate and a nitride semiconductor is difficult to cut into chips by use of a scriber. When such a wafer is subjected to full-cutting by use of a dicer, cracking or chipping tends to occur on the cut surfaces; i.e., the wafer cannot be cut into chips successfully. In some cases, a semiconductor layer formed on the sapphire substrate is exfoliated therefrom.
In order to solve such problems, scribing techniques employing laser irradiation have been proposed. As has been reported, when separation grooves are formed on a compound semiconductor wafer by means of laser irradiation, a light-emitting device is produced at high yield and mass-productivity (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3449201, Japanese Patent No. 3230572 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 11-177139). These techniques produce a light-emitting device having a very good shape. However, in practice, debris attributed to laser processing are deposited on the surface of the thus-produced light-emitting device, resulting in lowered efficiency of extraction of light from the device to the outside. When laser processing is performed on semiconductor layers of a compound semiconductor wafer, debris are deposited on the side surfaces of the semiconductor layers or deposited so as to cover surfaces on which a negative electrode and a positive electrode are to be formed, and therefore, electrical characteristics (e.g., the reverse breakdown voltage) of the resultant light-emitting device are deteriorated.
Therefore, a report has been made to the effect that when a protective film is formed on a laser processing surface and contamination deposited onto the protective film is washed away after the formation of a laser groove to solve the problems described above, Group III nitride type compound semiconductor devices can be acquired with high yield (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2004-31526). According to this method, electric characteristics such as reverse breakdown voltage can be improved and the drop of the yield resulting from defect of appearance and characteristics can be improved, it is true, but the problem remains unsolved in that molten matters adhere to the side surface of a separation groove when the separation groove is formed by laser processing and the light emission output of the device drops.

Production method of compound semiconductor light-emitting device wafer


Apparatus for projecting a slug of liquid through the air. The invention provides means to accelerate liquid molecules to substantially equal velocity, and then to release them with minimal turbulence.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally but not exclusively to toy projectile launchers, and in particular to a mechanism which will hurl substantially intact "slugs" of fluid through the air.
2. Description of the Prior Art
From the dawn of time, humans have sought to create devices to launch solid projectiles. These devices were originally used for survival in hunting, attack, and defense. They may by now be a part of the human psyche. As such, projectile launchers are an eternally popular child's toy.
In one prior art variant of such toys, a gun-like launcher supports one or more projectiles, which are launched either through a spring-loaded launching mechanism or an air pressure driven launching device. The projectiles have enjoyed equally varied shapes and have included ping-pong balls, foam resilience balls, lightweight missiles and foam bodied arrows or missiles. Exemplary of such prior art solid projectile launchers are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,081 (1990) issued to Moormann and U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,815 (1987) issued to Moormann.
Many prior art water launchers also exist. The toy industry is highly competitive, and hundreds of different water launchers have been developed over the years in an attempt to profit from the toy's inherent popularity. However, in the prior art, the water launched has never appeared to be a solid, compact projectile. Instead, the shape of the water launched has fallen into one of three basic categories. The first category is a continuous stream of water interrupted periodically, such as that produced by the basic Squirt Gun. The second category launches an elongated, broken, or irregular mass of water, similar to the pattern produced by throwing water from a cup or bucket. Lastly, there are devices which launch a plurality of droplets. No toy device has, as yet, launched a slug of water which is so substantially free of accompanying droplets that it resembles a stone flying through the air.
One example of the "continuous stream" launcher is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,437 (1991) of D'Andrade, et al. In this device, air pressure is built up and stored by a pumping action, and then selectively used to pressurize stored water. When the trigger is activated, the movement of the pressurized water through the narrow nozzle produces a stream of propelled water. This stream continues while the trigger is engaged, and ceases when the trigger is disengaged or when the driving pressure of the water equals atmospheric pressure. A second example of the "continuous stream" launcher is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,646 (1995) of Tarng. This device automatically interrupts the water stream at a substantially high frequency, without requiring recycling of the trigger.
An example of the "irregular mass of water" launcher is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,987 (1994) of D'Andrade. This invention provides a triggered mechanism for controlled flow with a bursting release of water. The shape of this burst is elongated, irregular and consists of multiple sub-packets of water.
An example of the "multiplicity of droplets" launcher is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,244 (1997) of Liu, et al. This patent states that "The present invention provides the popular advantages of traditional water guns, but projects a water charge that may be in the form of a burst or shower of water that is more likely to land on the intended target without the need for precision in aiming."
While the foregoing described prior art devices have provided some measure of enjoyment and amusement for the user, they have disadvantages, and there remains a continuing need in the art for ever more interesting and improved launchers. Some disadvantages of the prior art for solid projectile launchers are:                (a) Solid projectiles are easily lost, thus rendering the launcher useless or limited in play value.        (b) Solid projectiles must be retrieved, thus interrupting play.        (c) Solid projectiles can cause pain or injury upon impact.        (d) Solid projectiles add additional manufacturing cost to the toy.
On the other hand, prior art water launchers cannot launch water as a discrete, compact, visibly recognizable "slug". In play, this presents the following disadvantages:                (a) A child has difficulty pretending he or she is launching a solid object such as a stone or bullet.        (b) The launched water provides no sensation of being struck by an object, and no satisfying "thud" upon impact.        (c) Because it does not resemble a discrete projectile, the water launched by prior water launchers is not well suited to traditional target games.


In the event of an emergency, a base station in a radio communication system sends an SIB10 signal and an SIB11 signal to a plurality of mobile stations, and further sends the SIB10 signal and the SIB11 signal containing mobile-station high priority assignment information to predetermined one among the mobile stations. Upon receiving those signals, the predetermined mobile station executes sending and receiving of radio signals to and from the base station, and concurrently functions as a mobile base station that executes sending and receiving of radio signals between the predetermined mobile station and the other mobile stations located in the surroundings of the predetermined mobile station.

A radio communication system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-100640 is known so far. The disclosed radio communication system includes an information issuing server, a network, an information distribution server, an exchange station, a base station, and mobile stations. In the disclosed radio communication system, if an emergency alert is issued in the event of an emergency such as an earthquake or a tsunami, the emergency alert is sent from the information issuing server to the information distribution server via the network. Then, the emergency alert is sent from the information distribution server, via the exchange station and the base station, to all the mobile stations in a region where the emergency has occurred. Thus, users of the mobile stations in the region where the emergency has occurred can receive the emergency alert.

Radio communication system with mobile station functioning as mobile base station under emergency condition


A device for rotatably supporting a hub of a bicycle wheel on a shaft comprises at least one annular element with an outer conical surface which is pressed between the outer surface of shaft and the inner conical surface of the inner ring of a rolling bearing.

The present invention relates to devices for rotatably supporting a hub of a bicycle wheel, of the type comprising a shaft arranged through the cavity of the hub, a pair of rolling bearings interposed between the outer surface of the shaft and the surface of the hub cavity, each bearing having an inner ring and an outer ring respectively secured to the shaft and the hub, and means for locking the bearings in the assembled condition.

Device for rotatably supporting a hub of a bicycle wheel