Methods and apparatuses are provided for changing the relative size of an image in a display that includes one or more edges that define a display area in which at least a portion of the image is displayed. The methods and apparatus provide for a zoom point, which corresponds to a point in the displayed image that is to be zoomed in the displayed image, to be selected. The relative size of the selected zoom point may then be changed while the selected zoom point is translated along a substantially straight zoom line that passes through the selected zoom point and extends between a central point in the display area and an edge point on the display area that is closest to the selected zoom point.

Various charts are available for pilot use when maneuvering an aircraft from the en route environment down to an airport runway. These charts include, among other things, altitude and heading data that the pilot uses to maneuver and land the aircraft. A separate chart may be provided for each runway at each airport. In many instances, these charts are implemented as paper, or "hard copies," that the pilot can strap to the aircraft yoke, for use during aircraft landing. These charts can be heavy and voluminous, and may additionally be subject to periodic updates, which can result in time-consuming labor to ensure pilots have the most recent charts. Thus, many of these charts have been converted into electronic chart files and stored in a chart database. The charts may then be retrieved from the database and displayed on one or more display screens in an aircraft cockpit.
Presently, most aircraft that use an electronic chart database are equipped with a separate, dedicated chart display system that includes appropriate viewer software. Unfortunately, the screen resolution of such chart displays is, in most instances, not as good as what is provided from the paper charts. Thus, when a chart is displayed it may need to be magnified or "zoomed in on," to improve the readability of the electronic charts on the chart display. To facilitate this functionality, the chart display system in many aircraft includes appropriate software and one or more user input devices such as, for example, a cursor control device (CCD) and a zoom knob, that allows a pilot to zoom in (and back out) on selected portions of a displayed chart.
With the zoom methods presently implemented in most aircraft chart display systems, the object of interest to be zoomed in on is first moved to the center of the display screen, and is then zoomed in on. In one embodiment, once the pilot identifies the object of interest to zoom in on, the pilot then positions the cursor on or near one of the edges of the display screen. When the cursor is placed on the display screen edge, a graphical scroll interface is displayed and, once the CCD receives an appropriate user input (e.g., a button is "clicked"), the chart may be scrolled in various directions. Once the scroll interface is displayed, the object of interest is then moved to the center of the display screen using the CCD or other user interface. Thereafter, the zoom knob is turned until the desired magnification level is achieved.
In another zoom method embodiment, the pilot first places the cursor over the object of interest, and supplies an appropriate user input to the CCD. Upon receipt of the user input, a menu is displayed that includes various selectable options. One of the selectable options is a "Center Chart" option, which, upon selection using the CCD, moves the entire chart so that the object of interest is positioned at the center of the display area. Thereafter, the zoom knob is turned until the desired magnification level is achieved.
Although the chart image displays and the above-described zoom methods are generally safe and reliable, and result in the zoom object being centered in the display area, each suffers certain drawbacks. For example, each of the above-described methods can result in relatively large amounts of display space (up to 75%) being unused during the zoom process. These methods frequently involve multiple steps to get the desired image displayed, which can be time consuming. A significant amount of processing time and resources can also be used in implementing these methods. Moreover, the methods can result in orientation difficulties when zoomed in.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a chart display system and method for displaying and zooming charts that does not result in unused display space during zooming, and/or does not involve multiple steps, and/or does not use significant amounts of processing time and/or resources, and/or does not result in orientation difficulties. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

System and method for changing the relative size of a displayed image


In general, the invention is directed to integration of passive radio frequency (RF) structures with at least one integrated circuit in a single integrated circuit (IC) package. An IC package in accordance with the invention may include, for example, a radio IC, a digital IC, a passive radio frequency balun as well as additional passive RF structures or ICs. Additionally, passive electronic components may further be incorporated in the IC package. For example, the IC package may include a resistor, capacitor, inductor or the like. The components of the IC package may be distributed throughout layers of a multi-layer IC package, such as a multi-layer ceramic package. The different ICs and the passive RF structures may be electrically coupled via conductive traces, which may be varied in thickness and length in order to match input and output impedances of the different ICs and passive RF structures.

A circuit package carries a semiconductor device and provides necessary input/output (I/O) interconnections between the semiconductor device and other circuit components. A typical integrated circuit package is designed to provide structure to support and protect the device, and to distribute circuit-generated heat. Furthermore, the integrated circuit package provides connections for signal lines leading into and out of the device, connections that present varying potentials for power and ground, and a wiring structure for I/O signal interconnections within a system.

Circuit package integrating passive radio frequency structure


A securing device for a drawer slide includes a base, a pressing element and a first elastic element. The pressing element is slidably connected to the base. The pressing member has a releasing block. The first elastic element is disposed in the pressing element. When the pressing element is pressed, the releasing block is partially inserted into the base. When the pressing force against the releasing block is released, the pressing element restores its original state. The base is provided with a fixing plate for mounting the base to a drawer. A holding element is provided in a drawer slide to facilitate engagement of the base. By pressing the pressing element, the engagement of the holding element is released.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a securing device for a drawer slide, and more particularly to a securing device to quick assemble and disassemble a slide and a drawer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional installation of an undermount drawer slide uses screws as fasteners for securing purpose. A quick assembly and disassembly device was derived later on.
These designs have been disclosed by many patent publications, such as, Taiwanese Patent Publication No. I249389 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,261,737; 5,439,283; 5,580,139; 5,632,541; 6,454,371; 6,913,334; 6,945,618; 2004/0095047; 2004/0227440 and 2005/0231083, etc., with regards to the quick assembly and disassembly devices, some of which have further disclosed a micro adjustment of moving up and down position of the slide.
Most of them are formed integrally in plastic material, and comprise handles and tenons. The resilient character of the material facilitates the tenon to be held in the slide, while the handle is adapted to release the locking status.
Such designs have a larger size, and the material will loose its resilient character after a period of time and loose its holding capability.


A gas convenience outlet is provided for connecting an outdoor grill or other outdoor gas fired appliance to a home gas supply or other fixed position source of fuel gas, such as natural gas or liquid petroleum gas. The outlet includes a case having an open interior and an openable cover with a manifold mounted in the interior. The manifold has an inlet operatively connected with the supply of fuel gas and has one or more outlets. A primary manual shutoff valve located in the interior of the case is operatively connected with the manifold outlet. The outlet includes an outlet connector extending outside the case. The connector has a standardized fitting that releasably couples in gas tight engagement with one or more gas fired appliances by means of standardized appliance connectors, without the need for adaptors and without a loss of performance due to restriction of the gas supply.

The invention relates to supplying fuel to gas fueled appliances, which commonly burn natural gas (NG) or propane gas (LP), for example. More specifically, the invention relates to a gas convenience outlet for connecting a grill and other portable gas appliances to a home gas supply or other substantially stationary supply of fuel gas.
One having ordinary skill in the art, the average homeowner, and others know that valves and couplings for portable propane gas canisters and tanks are regulated and standardized. This regulation is observable in the commonly known backyard gas grill, which typically is fueled with propane gas from a refillable, twenty pound tank that is now provided with what is commonly known as a Type-1 or QCC-1 valve.
While this common fuel source of a refillable tank provides portability to the appliances with which it is connected, the appliances are typically parked at a designated location in a user's back yard or on a user's patio. Thus, the beneficial aspect of the fuel source being portable is not important when the appliance is used as a stationary device, and not as a portable device. Further, typical fuel tanks are limited in capacity. Thus, a user may prefer to have at least two tanks, so a full, backup tank is available in case a tank empties while in use. Even with a back up tank, reliance upon a compact tank-based fuel supply requires some level of user discipline to refill emptied tanks Emptying a tank in use and finding that the back up tank is also empty is not an unusual occurrence.
A stationary, bulk supply of fuel gas for household use, such as a 500 gallon tank of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, which includes propane) typically is pressurized to about 50 to 200 pounds per square inch (psi) and includes a pressure regulator that reduces that pressure to about 10 psi. Bulk gas tanks are generally located outside of a house. At the house, another regulator reduces the gas pressure to about ½ psi before the gas is routed to the furnace or other indoor appliance. Prior gas outlet fixtures that used home heating gas for outdoor gas appliances, such as outdoor gas grills, were designed to operate on low pressure gas and therefore had to tap into the line inside the house, where the pressure has already been reduced to ½ psi. The gas line would then have to be routed outside of the house through an opening in the side or foundation of the house, and the gas line would then terminate in a special outlet fitting that is not compatible with the traditional fitting of a gas grill. A traditional gas grill also includes a pressure regulator that is designed to reduce the pressure from a twenty pound portable gas tank to ½ psi. Thus, the gas grill operator desiring to utilize an LPG supply with a prior gas outlet product, using LPG already at ½ psi, would first have to remove the pressure-reducing regulator from the gas grill. The pressure in the house gas line, to which the gas outlet box is connected, had already been reduced to ½ psi. A second inline pressure regulator would unnecessarily restrict the flow of gas, producing inconsistent results and undesirable performance, especially for high performance gas grills that require higher volume of gas. In addition, the gas grill operator had to change the conventional gas grill fitting to make it compatible with the gas outlet box. Prior options available to consumers were therefore inconvenient, inefficient, and cumbersome.
Thus, a need for a convenient connection of a gas fueled appliance with a stationary supply of fuel gas may be readily understood.


A method and apparatus for handling misdirected responses in a multi-media messaging environment is described. The system includes a third party originator that sends data to a recipient bypassing an MMSC for message notification and retrieval. The present system handles the responses sent by the recipient to the MMSC, to prevent error messages and possible delivery failures.

Multi-media messaging is becoming part of the wireless experience. Until recently, users could send SMS (short messaging system) messages to each other. These SMS messages were text-only. Recently, multi-media messaging has become available. The multi-media messages include images, audio, video, and other similar content. However, while text looks the same on all systems, the user's system significantly affects how a multi-media message is displayed. For example, a user with a small black and white display on his or her telephone should not receive a large format (640×480) color multi-media message. Similarly, a user with the most up-to-date rich color TFT screen would not be happy with a 40×80 black and white image.
In order to solve this problem a multi-media service center (MMSC) is used. The MMSC receives messages from a message generator and sends the formatted message on to a user's handset. However, the MMSC has a limited feature set.

Method and apparatus to permit interjected messaging in a multimedia messaging system


The invention relates to a battery system (10), comprising a battery module (11), which comprises a first high-voltage connection (12a), a second high-voltage connection (12b) and a multiplicity of battery cell modules (11a, . . . , 11n) which are connected in series between the first and second high-voltage connections, and a switching matrix (13). The switching matrix comprises a large number of switching rails (14), which are each connected to one of the nodes between in each case two of the battery cell modules which are connected in series, a multiplicity of first switching devices (15a), which are designed to connect in each case one of the switching rails (14) to a first low-voltage connection (13a) of the switching matrix (13), and a multiplicity of second switching devices (15b), which are designed to connect in each case one of the switching rails (14) to a second low-voltage connection (13b) of the switching matrix. In this case, a first total voltage (HV) of all of the battery cell modules (11a, . . . , 11n) which are connected in series is present between the first high-voltage connection (12a) and the second high-voltage connection (12b), and a second total voltage (LV) of some of the battery cell modules (11a, . . . , 11n) which are connected in series is present between the first low-voltage connection (13a) and the second low-voltage connection (13b), depending on the switching state of the first switching devices (15a) and the second switching devices (15b).

The invention relates to a battery system and a method for providing an intermediate voltage, in particular in traction batteries for electric vehicles.
Electric energy sources, in particular mobile electrical energy sources, for example traction batteries for electrically operated vehicles, frequently comprise rechargeable energy stores, for example lithium-ion batteries, which energy stores provide an output voltage of more than 12 volts. Control devices are used to control and monitor the energy store, which control devices typically require a supply voltage, for example exactly 12 volts, which is lower than the high voltage that is provided by the energy store. This low voltage or also vehicle voltage can be provided by a second battery, for example a lead acid battery or generated by means of a DC current conversion from the high voltage of the energy store.
Energy stores for electric vehicles frequently comprise a series connection of where necessary parallel connected individual cells that comprise a low intrinsic voltage. A total voltage can be generated from the low intrinsic voltages by way of the series connection of the individual cells, which total voltage can be used in a range that spans several hundred volts for providing the high voltage, for example the traction voltage.
Owing to the fact that individual cells of an energy store comprise production related variations of the performance parameters, the individual battery cells are subject to greatly different loadings and/or comprise different charge conditions after a particular period of operation of the energy store despite having the same starting charge condition. Owing to the fact that battery cells with the weakest charge condition significantly influence the performance of an energy store that is constructed in a series connection, methods are used that can ensure a so called "cell balancing", in other words a balancing of the charge conditions of the individual battery cells. In particular, in the case of lithium-ion batteries, the performance, serviceable life and efficiency of the entire energy store can be improved using these methods. It is possible using active methods to move a capacitive or inductive charge from battery cells that have a higher charged condition to battery cells having weaker charge conditions using active methods. Passive methods partially discharge selective individual battery cells, in dependence upon their relative charge condition.
A method for cell condition balancing in a battery system having series-connected battery cells is disclosed in the publication WO 2007/128876 A1, in which weaker battery cells are selectively supplied with energy from cell-specific charge devices in order to equalize the charge condition of all the battery cells.

Battery system and method for providing an intermediate voltage


A spectral measurement device comprising an entrance aperture for receiving an electromagnetic energy and a mask located at the entrance aperture in the form of a two-dimensional encodement pattern. An optical element conditions the electromagnetic energy received from the mask for presentation to the spectral dispersion element and the and a spectral dispersion element disperses the electromagnetic energy in one or more dimensions. Additionally, the optical element conditions the dispersed electromagnetic energy onto an array of detector elements.

Imagers employ either a two-dimensional (2D) multichannel detector array or a single element detector. Imagers using a 2D detector array measure the intensity distribution of all spatial resolution elements simultaneously during the entire period of data acquisition. Imagers using a single detector require that the individual spatial resolution elements be measured consecutively via a raster scan so that each one is observed for a small fraction of the period of data acquisition. Prior art imagers using a plurality of detectors at the image plane can exhibit serious signal-to-noise ratio problems. Prior art imagers using a single element detector can exhibit more serious signal-to-noise ratio problems. Signal-to-noise ratio problems limit the utility of imagers applied to chemical imaging applications where subtle differences between a sample's constituents become important.
Spectrometers are commonly used to analyze the chemical composition of samples by determining the absorption or attenuation of certain wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation by the sample or samples. Because it is typically necessary to analyze the absorption characteristics of more than one wavelength of radiation to identify a compound, and because each wavelength must be separately detected to distinguish the wavelengths, prior art spectrometers utilize a plurality of detectors, have a moving grating, or use a set of filter elements. However, the use of a plurality of detectors or the use of a macro moving grating has signal-to-noise limitations. The signal-to-noise ratio largely dictates the ability of the spectrometer to analyze with accuracy all of the constituents of a sample, especially when some of the constituents of the sample account for an extremely small proportion of the sample. There is, therefore, a need for imagers and spectrometers with improved signal-to-noise ratios.
Prior art variable band pass filter spectrometers, variable band reject filter spectrometers, variable multiple band pass filter spectrometers or variable multiple band reject filter spectrometers typically employ a multitude of filters that require macro moving parts or other physical manipulation in order to switch between individual filter elements or sets of filter elements for each measurement. Each filter element employed can be very expensive, difficult to manufacture and all are permanently set at the time of manufacture in the wavelengths (bands) of radiation that they pass or reject. Physical human handling of the filter elements can damage them and it is time consuming to change filter elements. There is, therefore, a need for variable band pass filter spectrometers, variable band reject filter spectrometers, variable multiple band pass filter spectrometers or variable multiple band reject filter spectrometers without a requirement for discrete (individual) filter elements that have permanently set band pass or band reject properties. There is also a need for variable band pass filter spectrometers, variable band reject filter spectrometers, variable multiple band pass filter spectrometers or variable multiple band reject filter spectrometers to be able to change the filters corresponding to the bands of radiation that are passed or rejected rapidly, without macro moving parts and without human interaction.
In several practical applications it is required that an object be irradiated with radiation having particularly shaped spectrum. In the simplest case when only a few spectrum lines (or bands) are necessary, one can use a combination of corresponding sources, each centered near a required spectrum band. Clearly, however, this approach does not work in a more general case, and therefore it is desirable to have a controllable radiation source capable of providing arbitrary spectrum shapes and intensities. Several types of prior art devices are known that are capable of providing controllable radiation. Earlier prior art devices primarily relied upon various "masking" techniques, such as electronically alterable masks interposed in the optical pathway between a light source and a detector. More recent prior art devices use a combination of two or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as radiation sources. In such cases, an array of LEDs or light-emitting lasers is configured for activation using a particular encoding pattern, and can be used as a controllable light source. A disadvantage of these systems is that they rely on an array of different LED elements (or lasers), each operating in a different, relatively narrow spectrum band. In addition, there are technological problems associated with having an array of discrete radiation elements with different characteristics. Accordingly, there is a need for a controllable radiation source, where virtually arbitrary spectrum shape and characteristics can be designed, and where disadvantages associated with the prior art are obviated. Further, it is desirable not only to shape the spectrum of the radiation source, but also encode its components differently, which feature can be used to readily perform several signal processing functions useful in a number of practical applications. The phrase "a spectrum shape" in this disclosure refers not to a mathematical abstraction but rather to configurable spectrum shapes having range(s) and resolution necessarily limited by practical considerations.
In addition to the signal-to-noise issues discussed above, one can consider the tradeoff between signal-to-noise and, for example, one or more of the following resources: system cost, time to measure a scene, and inter-pixel calibration. Thus, in certain prior art systems, a single sensor system may cost less to produce, but will take longer to fully measure an object under study. In prior art multi-sensor systems, one often encounters a problem in which the different sensor elements have different response characteristics, and it is necessary to add components to the system to calibrate for this. It is desirable to have a system with which one gains the. lower-cost, better signal-to-noise, and automatic inter-pixel calibration advantages of a single-sensor system while not suffering all of the time loss usually associated with using single sensors.
In a conventional monochromater, white light or broadband optical energy emerging from an entrance slit is collimated onto a diffraction grating, angularly dispersed according to wavelength and then focused onto an exit slit. In this way, relatively monochromatic light or optical energy confined to some narrow band defined by the geometry and physical properties of optical elements and their arrangement emerges from the exit slit. By moving or translation of one or more of the slits left and right or rotating the grating while leaving the slits stationary, the wavelength of the monochromatic output light scans through the wavelength range of the device. The resulting output sequence interacts with the matter, and the results of each are measured. Alternatively, the light interacts with the matter prior to passing through the spectrometer and the resulting output sequence is then measured. In either case, the resulting sequence of measurements gives a spectral signature of the matter. However, such devices are deficient in that the two slits required to help define the bandpass located both at the object and image plane of the optical system work to severely limit the amount of light that passes through the system, and therefore limit the amount of light that is measured. For this reason, it is difficult or impossible to rapidly obtain good signal to noise ratios with monochromaters where high resolution is desired or in situations where there is a limit to the amount of light energy available.
Conventional linear array spectrometers can be viewed as an improvement over the monochromaters. In a conventional linear array spectrometer, the output slit located at the image plane or focal plane of the optical system is replaced by a linear array of detectors situated such that there is a detector at each exit slit position to receive the light. For such spectrometers, light interacts with the matter prior to passing into the monochromater, and the linear array of detectors simultaneously measures the resulting sequence of spectral data. The intensity of the set of bands of wavelength that impinge upon the linear array of detectors during the integration time of the measurement provides the spectral signature of the matter. Linear array spectrometers have an advantage over monochromaters in that the linear detector array collects all of the data simultaneously such that fluctuations in the source energy are not interpreted as features of the spectral signature of the matter. Additionally, unlike the monochrometers, the linear array spectrometers have no moving parts and can make instantaneous measurements. Further, during the time it takes to collect a spectrum using a scanning type monochrometer, the linear array spectrometers can collect multiple spectra. Conversely, the linear array spectrometer can collect an entire spectrum in the time it takes the scanning monochrometer to collect one spectral resolution element. However, the entrance slit still limits the amount light entering the system to each detector element in the linear detector array.
Conventional Hadamard spectrometers can be viewed as an improvement over both the scanning monochromaters and linear array spectrometers. In conventional Hadamard spectrometers, one or both of the slits of a monochromater are replaced by a coded array of slits (or mask). Thus, the exit light is no longer monochromatic in nature, but is an encoded mixture of wavelengths of light where the encodement is determined by the optical masks that can be located at the object or image planes of the optical system. The conventional Hadamard spectrometer operates by changing or moving one or both of the mask(s) through a pre-determined sequence of changes or moves. In this way, a full encodement library of exit light is produced. The light entering or exiting the optical system interacts with the sample or matter, and the results of each of the encodements are measured. The measurements of the light resulting from the interaction with the sample or matter and sequence of encoding combinations dictated by mask positions or encodements, is then mathematically inverted, so that one reconstructs the spectral signature of the sample or matter. Since the Hadamard spectrometer has many more slits than the monchrometer, more light is available at the exit aperture. However, the conventional Hadamard spectrometers have changing or moving parts to move or translate the encoded aperture through the requisite combinations of encodements to be measured. Such motion or change due to physical limitation of the conventional Hadamard spectrometer is generally subject to some variation, error and/or distortion over time, and is especially susceptible to errors in the presence of noise, heat, and other environmental or mechanical disturbances.
As noted herein, conventional spectral measurement systems, such as the scanning monochromaters suffer from these attributes noted herein. The linear array spectrometers and scanning monochromaters suffer from a lack of light throughput. Conventional spectral measurement systems, such as the monochromaters, Hadamard spectrometers and Fourier transform spectrometers suffer from a complexity and instability due to the presence of moving or changing parts. Since the latter spectral measurement systems make a series of measurements over time, rather than instantaneously, each suffers from errors when it is looking at light sources or sample/matter that is changing during the time of measure or scan. A further disadvantage of the scanning monochrometers, linear array spectrometers and Fourier transform spectrometer systems is that a contiguous regular interval of wavelength spectral data are collected. In many spectrometric applications, such contiguous spectral data generally contains no relevant or useful information with respect to the spectral signature of the sample or matter. Hence, it is desirable to collect non-contiguous variable band pass spectral resolution element data that comprise only those spectral bands that are deemed of significance to the spectrometric measure or analysis of the desired sample or matter.
Accordingly, there is a need for a spectral measurement system that offers the advantages of both the linear array spectrometers and Hadamard or Fourier spectrometers. Additionally, there is a need for a spectral measurement system capable of collecting only the non-contiguous and non-uniform band pass spectral data necessary for the desired analysis. The spectral measurement system of the present invention comprises multi-detector and no moving parts and provides instantaneous measurements.
In prior-art dispersive systems, as one moves to high resolution spectrometric measures one must decrease the slit width when preserving spectral bandwidth (spectral range) or increase the angular dispersion of the diffraction element and this results in a decrease of spectral range. Both the decrease in slit width and increase in angular dispersion decrease the photon flux through the spectrometer for any given measure of individual spectral resolution elements. This decrease in photonic flux limits sensitivity, analytical capability and the ability of the detector to measure subtle differences in spectral energy at each data resolution element or related spectral resolution element. Hadamard transform measurements allow for multiplexing in which a multitude of slits are opened simultaneously for each measurement. Fourier transform measurements allow for multiplexing in which there is no slit in the system, and each wavelength is measured with a Fourier weight that varies over time. The advantage of these multiplexing techniques is that photonic flux improves over single slit methods as the demand for resolution or data resolution elements increase for a given spectral bandwidth of operation. The drawback to increasing the spectral resolution requirement that can apply to these conventional methods, even Hadamard and Fourier Transform multiplexed measurements, is that the scan times may need to be increased so that the integration times for each of the data resolution elements in the scan is sufficient to collect enough signal to rise above the noise floor of the system and to achieve the desired measure of the requisite signal-to-noise. The conventional multiplexing methods require measuring a series of encodements over time T which dictates a maximum detector integration time of T/N where N is the number of resolution elements. This requires an increase in scan time and can be problematic if the source energy or sample changes over the time T of the scan. The spectral measurement system of the present invention based on multiplexing spectrometry proceeds upon the desirability of eliminating such problem as each detector views the source or sample fluctuations simultaneously.
In the spectral measurement system of the present invention, the scan is not intermodulated by these changes and the intermodulations do not show up as noise in the spectral data. This has been the impetus for fast scan type Fourier Transform (FT) spectrometer systems. Despite the speed increase in scan times, these fast scan systems are inadequate for many measures such as looking at spark or combustion products during the life of a burn cycle. The spectral measurement system of the present invention based on static spectrometer is capable of looking at rapidly changing sources, samples and environments while taking advantage of the high throughput afforded by multiplexed measurements.
Many point spectrometers whether multiplexed or not utilize single detectors. Historically this has in large part been due to the lack of availability, reliability, or affordability of appropriate detector arrays. Most applications that did not overtly require linear or two-dimensional arrays were hastily assigned to single detector solutions. However, detector arrays, when properly employed, can enable advantages such as faster collection rates, oversampling, and better signal to noise. One of the first to realize this was S. Mende in "Hadamard spectroscopy with a two-dimensional detecting array", S. B. Mende; E. S. Claflin; R. L. Rairden; G. R. Swenson, Applied Optics 32 (34): 7095–7105 (Dec. 1, 1993), in which he made the clever observation that for diffuse sources one could illuminate a two-dimensional coded aperture spectrograph and to obtain accurate and high resolution measurements. Each row of the mask consisted of a Hadamard sequence parallel to the direction of dispersion. The dispersed output from that row was recorded across the corresponding row of a two-dimensional focal plane array. Using that data, he proposed a scheme to invert the data and reconstruct the spectrum of the uniform light illuminating that row. Different Hadamard sequences of varying lengths were put on each row providing redundant information for averaging, or, if the source were uniformly illuminating across rows but spatially coherent across columns, 1-D spectral imaging could be obtained. In either case, the measurement required no mechanical scanning and only one frame of acquisition. His invention was limited by the numerical conditioning of the mathematical inverse required to reconstruct the spectra from the data collected. He also neglected to consider the possibilities of a linear array in similar configurations.
The present invention differs from Mende's in several ways. Each row of the coded aperture contains Hadamard basis vector generated by the same Hadamard sequence. In one embodiment, this would mean that each row would contain a cyclic shift of a particular Hadamard sequence. Dispersion is still parallel to the rows, but the detector no longer needs to measure across the corresponding row to compute the spectra of the impinging light but rather across the columns. This removes the mathematical issues of Mende's approach and also no longer requires a two-dimensional array which can still difficult to afford or obtain for many wavelength ranges. Furthermore with a linear array perpendicular to the rows, acquisition can be even faster. A two-dimensional array can still be employed in the current invention, yielding redundant information to improve SNR for example by averaging.
It should be pointed out that in the subsequent U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,639, Mende discloses various coded aperture approaches to spectral imaging, and does consider one configuration in which each row is a generated by shifts of the same sequence, as in some embodiments of the present invention. However, he only discloses this in the context of spectral imaging and with the added requirement that the mask (or scene) be scanned. Again, the present invention is for diffuse input only and does not resolve spatial information, i.e., image. It requires no scanning and yields an instantaneous measurement that Mende's scanning method does not. Furthermore, other embodiments of the present invention are not designed to recover the full spectrum but rather "filters" or weighted combinations of wavelengths derived from simple or sophisticated mathematical and chemometric models. These measurements rapidly yield quantities of interest at reduced data rates. None of Mende's disclosures have any provision for this; the full spectrum is always being measured.
While there are more and more intelligent spectral devices being developed that are capable of measuring quantities of interest as opposed to a full raw spectrum which is analyzed post acquisition, most either involve some kind of clever active illumination or scanning filters and or a mechanically moving part—in the best case a MEMS device.

Devices and method for spectral measurements


An adaptive equalizer (100) has a signal converter (200) for performing a fast Fourier transform and/or an inverse fast Fourier transform. The signal converter (200) has: a first wide-bit memory (201) capable of reading/writing a plurality of sample signals; a first register group (202) comprising a plurality of registers capable of accessing the first wide-bit memory (201); a butterfly computation unit group (204) comprising a plurality of butterfly computation units; and a first connection switching unit (203) for switching the state of connection between the plurality of registers and the plurality of butterfly computation units.

In a wireless propagation channel, a multi-path wave is generated other than a main wave due to a reflective object and other objects. Accordingly, it is necessary for a receiving apparatus of a radio signal to eliminate the effect of the multi-path wave. The ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) standard which is a standard for digital television broadcast in North America, South Korea, and other countries adopts single-carrier modulation. It is for this reason that receiving apparatuses in the ATSC standard is designed to use adaptive equalizers, unlike other broadcast standards such as OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) adopting multi-carrier modulation.
Generally, in single-carrier modulation, adaptive equalization is performed in a time domain. However, in the adaptive equalization in the time domain, convolution operation is necessary for filtering and updating coefficients, and the circuit size increases as the tap count increases.
In response to the problem, there is a technique for performing the adaptive equalization on a time-domain signal in a frequency domain, instead of the time domain (for example, see PTL1, PTL2, and NPL1). According to the techniques disclosed in PTL1, PTL2, and NPL1 (hereafter referred to as "related art"), adaptive equalization is performed after converting a time-domain signal into a frequency-domain signal by the Fast Fourier Transform. Furthermore, according to the conventional technology, a signal in a frequency domain alter the adaptive equalization is converted into a time-domain signal by the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform. In a reception apparatus using a single-carrier modulation signal according to the related art is capable of improving reception capacity while suppressing the increase in the circuit size.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


The invention is in the area of distributed system and database security. The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for increasing the level of trust between a master and a replica database by allowing the master database to perform an “unpredictable” audit of the replica database whenever deemed appropriate by the master database. The master database may for example define and generate an audit application and send it to at least one replica database using push synchronization and force the replica database to perform the audit application. The master database may also prepare expected results of the audit of the replica database and store them for later verification. After auditing the replica database may synchronize the results of the audit back to the master database for verification. The information flow between the master and replica databases is advantageously encrypted in a secure manner.

The following notions are used in this application:
"Data management system" is an entity, which comprises one or more databases and/or data management systems, whereby the system is responsible for reading the data structures contained in the databases and/or data management systems and for changing these data structures.
"Data element" is an information structure, which can comprise other data elements or such data elements, which can be construed as atomary data elements. For instance, in a relational database data elements are represented by tables comprising rows. The rows comprise columns, which are typically atomary data elements.
"Database" is an information structure, which comprises one or more data elements, and the use of which is controlled by the data management system. The invention is applicable both in relational databases and in databases of other forms, such as in object oriented databases.
"Database Server" is a software process that manages the data of a database and through which applications can access and modify the data of the database.
"Database operation" is an event, during which data elements are read from the database, during which data elements of the database are modified, during which data elements are removed from the database, or during which data elements are added to the database.
"Database Catalogue" is a logical database within a database instance. A physical database can manage data of multiple database catalogues. Each database catalogue can act as a master or replica database node in a database synchronization environment.
"Database Schema" is the structure of a logical database, described in a formal language supported by the database management system (DBMS). In a relational database, the schema defines the tables, the columns in each table, and the relationships between columns and tables.
"Master database" is a logical database in a database synchronization system that contains the official version of synchronized/distributed data, such as for example data about significant financial transactions. The master database can have multiple replica databases in the network.
"Replica database" is a logical database in a database synchronization system that contains a full or partial copy of the master data.
"Synchronization" is the operation between replica and master database catalogues in which changed data is exchanged between the catalogues. In one known embodiment, this means propagation of Intelligent Transactions from replica to master and subscribing to at least one publication to download changed data from master to replica, [1].
"Push synchronization" is synchronization between replica and master database catalogues initiated by the master database server.
"Publication" is a set of data in a database catalogue that has been published in master database for synchronization to one or multiple replica databases. A publication can contain parameters that are used to filter data of the publication.
"Transaction" is a plurality of database operations acting on the data pieces or elements. A transaction is an atomic operation that is completed or discarded as a whole. A transaction can also comprise further transactions. A transaction may be for example a financial transaction.
There are presently many different ways for auditing or verifying health of a database. One of the typical ways to audit the databases is to use a separated application that analyses the consistency of the database. According to prior art solutions audit information for database updates and the status of transactions in process is often sequentially written in audit records in an audit file. The audit file is typically used to restore the database to a consistent state following a system failure.
These audit files can also be used for verifying that the content of a database matches with the combined effect of transactions that have been committed in that database. A mismatch between these two may indicate a security breach, technical malfunction, error in application program or user error.
There is disclosed a prior art solution in U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,824 [4] which features an audit module that may validate the enforcement of the data privacy parameters in a database management system, by ad hoc queries or otherwise.
An even further prior art publication is featured in U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,890 [3] where a remote monitor computer connected to distributed computers detects fraudulent data update. "The monitor computer collects initial data of the databases of the distributed computers via the network to generate parities for data". Parities are later compared to detect an inconsistency.
There is disclosed a prior art solution in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,150 for auditing of the databases, where a migratory application processes the audit trail files of the remote computer or database to create a database of change. According to the publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,150 the migratory application processes the audit until the database of change reaches a size of threshold, when the data extract and transfer application shuts down the migratory application, processes the database of change and restarts the migratory application to begin to creation of another database of change.
However, there are some disadvantages in the prior art methods for auditing of the databases in a trustworthy manner and securely. Most importantly, there is no automated method for securely auditing databases of distributed systems that would be able to audit a replica database with an unpredictable audit logic. An audit of the databases is performed in prior art by using separated audit application logic, whereupon there arises uncertainties about security and integrity of the system. In addition according to the prior art solutions the database server may prepare the desired results of the audit of the database beforehand taking advantage of the data or instruction for performing the audit situated in the database server and thus falsify the results of the audit of the database. Not only falsification, but the possibility of incompleteness in inspection are aspects of the prior art. When only data privacy parameters are enforced by inspecting them regularly it is still possible to corrupt the database by those parties that do not violate the data privacy. Parity inspection is a very limited method of inspection, and requires continuous surveillance in order to guarantee inspection reliability. A possibility exists that a corrupting action will change an even parity to an odd parity but then to an even parity again in between inspections.
Additionally, relying on the cryptography or other security mechanism alone to enforce data integrity is not always sufficient because any cryptography-based security system can be cracked if "unlimited" amount of computer processing power is applied or hacker finds a loophole from the security system.

Method and arrangement for providing an audit of a replica database


A rack for digital media containers such as compact disc jewel boxes. The unit contains a base and opposed sides, between which a plurality of tubular members are provided to hold the containers. Dividers are provided between adjacent tubular members and have attachment means at least one end formed from two arc like members, supported on a resilient support to the divider and having a pivotal connection between the points of support from the divider so as to be able to assume an open and a closed stable position.

Digital media container racks come in a variety of forms. They are generally configured to hold a number of generally standard-sized thin rectangular prism-shaped holders for compact disks, digital video disks, video compact disks, mini-disks or similar.
Amongst the variety of forms are racks that provide a generally upright rack having a plurality of substantially horizontal tubular cross members onto which the digital media containers can reside. There may be a desire to place vertical dividers between adjacent tubular members to either separate different sets of containers or to further support the tubular members themselves.
The difficulty in providing such dividers is that they need to be easily movable along the tubular members or even entirely removable from the rack while sufficiently stable and secure when attached to provide some form of support. Current mechanisms generally provide static dividers at fixed points or easily movable dividers that are not secure once attached to the tubular members.


The invention enables the rooftop cultivation of turf which can both be walked upon and which also helps prevent temperatures from rising in rooms below the roof by shielding it from the sun. The structured cultivation medium itself comprises three layers of synthetic plastic material, a top layer for turf cultivation, a middle layer to protect the roots and a bottom layer to drain water away. A root blocking waterproofing layer is laid on the surface of the roof slab to waterproof the building and to guard against the downward encroachment of roots. A net is also laid on top of the turf both to prevent it from being damaged by wind and also protect it against concentrated loads.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the provision of a structured medium suitable for the soil-free cultivation of turf and other greenery on the roofs of buildings such as offices or apartment blocks, thereby improving the appearance of said buildings while at the same time providing lawns on which people are free to stroll and relax. Reference is also made to a system for the waterproofing of buildings on which said medium is installed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The roofs of buildings have for long now been fitted with systems of one sort or another to protect them from water damage. These systems can be divided into two broad types, namely the "protecting concrete" type of system and the "exposed waterproofing" type of system. The use of a protecting concrete type of system involves the laying first of an asphalt waterproofing course and then of the placing a layer of concrete over this in such a way that the asphalt waterproofing course cannot easily be damaged by the application of a concentrated load in any one place. This in turn makes it possible to walk on the roof. The use of the exposed waterproofing type of system, on the other hand, involves the laying of an asphalt waterproofing course only without the addition of a protective concrete covering with the result that the waterproofing course can easily be damaged by the application of a concentrated load. This type of roof covering is not, therefore, suitable for walking on. Bearing in mind the cost of land in urban centers, however, a comparison of these two types of system suggests that better value may be gained from the use of a protecting concrete system which can be walked on on a daily basis. However, the use of a protecting concrete system also necessitates the incorporation of expansion joints into the concrete layer as a means of allowing for thermal expansion and this also, of course, means substantial additional installation time and cost. Repair of the waterproofing layer also necessitates the prior removal of the concrete covering which creates a considerable job management headache of its own.
Moreover, for those living or working on the top floor of a building, the use of either the protecting concrete system or of the exposed waterproofing system gives rise to a similar environmental problem in that when the weather is very hot and the sun causes the roof itself to become extremely hot, the radiant heat heats the roof slab itself and the resultant heat is transferred into the room below. When this occurs there is invariably a most unpleasant sensation of heat radiating from the ceiling even with the air conditioning system running at full power. Artificial turf is also sometimes laid on roofs but this simply serves to improve the appearance of the roof area and has not been found effective in solving the problem of heat. Moreover, even is the roof slab is fitted with some sort of thermal insulation, this cannot completely prevent the conduction of heat into the room below and once the heat has built up inside the room in this way, the thermal insulation materials will then serve only to impede its emission back out of the building during the night.
It is thus currently the case that roofs and other upper areas of buildings are rarely used as anything other than convenient spots for the installation of cooling towers or for the drying of laundry. However, with the proliferation of high rise buildings we have also begun to see more interest being taking in improving the appearance of roof and balcony areas through, example, the laying of turf and the cultivation of flowering plants and shrubs in order to improve the environment by adding to the amount of greenery we are able to enjoy during the course of our daily lives. There are currently two main ways of growing grass and other plants on the roofs of buildings. One of these involves the laying of earth on the roof of a building in order to create a sort of artificial bedding soil. An alternative method involves the use of either rock wool or polyurethane foam for the creation of beds for the cultivation by hydroponic means, for example, of vegetables or flowering plants (for example, Japanese Patent Laying Open No. S55-9739 and S61-25408). However, with the first method outlined above, it is necessary to build up the basic soil bed to a depth of between 10 cm and 20 cm if it is to be possible to walk or sit on and around the turf, plants and shrubs which are eventually grown in this soil. It is also important to take steps to guard against the impairment of the roof waterproofing course through the encroachment of roots into the roof slab and to deal with water leaks. The laying of soil to a depth of 10 cm on the roof will also result in the application of an additional load of approximately 170 kg/m.sup.2 to the roof slab which will consequently require adequate reinforcement. Japanese building standards provide for a maximum permissible live load on roofs or balconies of 180 kg/m.sup.2 and it is clear, therefore, that the regulatory limit could easily be exceeded simply by walking on a roof or balcony covered with this thickness of soil. Soil may also easily be dislodged during rainfall and subsequently come to create a blockage in drainage channels. In the case of the second method outlined above, although there is little chance of the sort of overload problem encountered with the first method, the purpose is hydroponic cultivation which means that it also offers little scope for strolling or even just lying down amidst the greenery.
When considering the addition of greenery to roofs and balconies in the sorts of ways outlined above, it is, of course, also important to find ways of protecting the whole building from damage by water.

Structured medium for the cultivation of greenery and a waterproofing system to facilitate the installation of said medium on buildings


A signal processing apparatus in which an LSI includes a memory and a plurality of blocks for making access to the memory is provided with a trace control block 170 for tracing in a specific region of the memory the history of access by a required memory access block based on a setting by a microcomputer 110 so as to allow easy analysis of the cause in the event a trouble. Also, a quasi mediation block 180 is provided in a mediation block 150, which accepts a memory use request signal from other memory access block while tracing of access history is being performed and sends back a memory use approval signal without actually making access to an internal memory 160. In the event of a trouble, an analysis of the cause can be easily made by reading a specific tracing region of the internal memory 160 out from outside.

The present invention relates to a signal processing apparatus in which a large scale integrated circuit (LSI) includes a memory.
In prior art signal processing apparatuses, bus information, such as data that appear in a bus accompanying system operation in the event of a trouble of the system and address, is stored using an analyzing apparatus such as a logic analyzer, or a tracing mechanism is incorporated in the system such as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Hei 6-187256.
With recent advances in the semiconductor technologies, LSI""s in which various functional blocks and memories have been integrated on a large scale on a single chip have been developed; however, it is impossible to connect an analyzer as no memory interface signal is produced as an output from an LSI chip in the prior art signal processing apparatus configuration, thus suffering a problem of being unable to obtain information necessary for analysis of the operation in the event of a trouble. Also, incorporation of a tracing mechanism inside an LSI will require a control circuit dedicated to trouble analysis and a dedicated trace memory, thus presenting a problem of an increase in the LSI area and cost.
To address the above problems, the signal processing apparatus of the present invention wherein an LSI includes a memory and a plurality of blocks for accessing the memory comprises a mediation block for mediating the right of using a memory by inputting each memory use request signal produced by a memory access block and makes access to the memory, and a trace control block for producing a memory request signal for storing in the memory access history of the memory based on the result of mediation, and has a quasi mediation function of mediating, during a period in which a memory request signal for writing access history is being approved in the mediation block on the assumption that a memory request signal from other memory access blocks for writing access history has not been approved, and sending back an approval signal. It does not require a control circuit dedicated to trouble analysis or a dedicated trace memory and is capable of preventing an increase in LSI area and cost. The present invention provides a signal processing apparatus in which trouble analysis in the event of a trouble can be easily performed.
First exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a signal processing apparatus in which an LSI has a memory and a plurality of memory access blocks for making access to the memory, which comprises a mediation block for mediating right of use of the memory by inputting each memory use request signal produced by a memory access block, and a trace control block for producing as an output a memory request signal for storing in the memory access history of the memory based on the result of mediation, and which has a quasi mediation function of mediating, during a period in which a memory request signal for writing access history in the mediation block is being approved, assuming that a memory request signal from other memory access block for writing access history has not been approved and sending back an approval signal. It has a function in which a trace control block traces memory access history in the memory based on the result of mediation by the mediation block.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A t-bevel plumb tool configured for identifying and placing a plumb line has the components typical of a t-bevel, namely a handle and a blade that pivotally attaches to the handle, and a plumb indicator that, in one embodiment, removably attaches to one end of the blade. In this embodiment, a locking mechanism secures the blade to the first end of the handle and a plumb locking member attaches the plumb indicator to the second end of the blade during use as a plumb tool. When the plumb indicator is not being used for finding a plumb line, it attaches to an extension member at the second end of the handle. In another embodiment, the plumb indicator is incorporated into the locking mechanism that secures the blade relative to the handle and a separate level indicator is also incorporated into the handle.

A. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to hand tools utilized during construction activities. More specifically, this invention relates to tools utilized to configure structural components to be plumb and level. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to adjustable, collapsible hand tools having one or more components thereon to assist the user with finding plumb and level conditions and determining angle measurements.
B. Background
During the construction of a structure or structural components, including roofs, cabinets and other structures, the user is often required to cut, attach, install or otherwise manipulate materials so that they are in a plumb or level condition. For instance, when constructing a roof for a building the rafters, which are the series of structural members that run up and down the roof slope that are configured to support the roof load, typically extend past or have an extension portion that extends past the side of the structure to form an overhang or soffit area. The overhang portion of the rafter is generally referred to as the rafter tail. Most modern homes and other buildings attach a fascia, which is a vertically configured board that faces outward from the structure, to the ends of the rafter tails to provide a more finished look to the roof. Proper installation of the fascia requires cutting rafter tails in a uniform and plumb manner such that the fascia plate is substantially vertical and does not have a wave-like or other undesirable look along its length. Typically, the plumb cut at the end of the rafter is found by using the rise and run figures of the common rafter with a variety of hand tools, such as a steel square, chalk line, tape measure and level. The use of all of these tools can be time consuming and awkward. The need to utilize various measurement, level and plumb tools also arises during the installation and/or construction of cabinets, siding and various other structural components of a building or other structure.
A very common hand tool that is utilized in the construction industry to measure and reproduce angles is the sliding t-bevel. The typical t-bevel has a handle portion and a slotted blade portion that is slidably attached through the slot to one end of the handle portion. A locking member, such as a locking wing nut or other type of locking screw, interconnects the slot portion of the blade to the handle and is utilized to set the angle of the blade relative to the handle and the amount which the blade extends on either side of the handle. In its non-use condition, with the blade and handle placed in a linear condition, the handle is configured with an opening such that part of the blade will be disposed inside the handle. The typical handle portion is four to six inches long and the typical blade portion is seven to ten inches long. Utilizing the t-bevel, the user can set an angle by locking the t-bevel's blade relative to its handle at the desired angle in order to maintain that angle when marking materials for cutting or positioning materials for installation. The user can also utilize the t-bevel to measure the angle of an existing component, such as the pitch of a roof, by placing the handle and blade portions of the t-bevel in alignment with the component, locking the portions in place relative to each other and then placing the t-bevel on a protractor or other angle measuring device.
Another common hand tool utilized in the construction industry to install structural components in their proper and/or desired manner is the straight edge level. The typical level is an elongated tool having one or more straight edges and one or more "bubble" vials configured to indicate whether the edge of the tool, which is placed against the structural component of interest, is level or not. A common configuration for a level is to have three or more vials, one each to determine plumb, level and 45 degrees. Levels are typically configured out of aluminum, fiberglass, plastic or other lightweight materials with a plurality of acrylic vials disposed in the level between its parallel straight edges. Levels may also be configured with one or more openings for hand grips.
Although a variety of tools are available for use in the construction industry to measure and layout angles in order to obtain a plumb cut, none of the presently existing tools do so in a convenient and easy to use manner. For instance, the process of marking rafter tails to cut the end plumb for installation of the fascia board requires multiple tools and measurements due to the uneven nature of the various rafters. What is needed is a single hand tool that simplifies and increases the accuracy of measuring and laying out of angles during the construction and/or installation of structural components, such as roofs, cabinets, siding and the like. The preferred measuring and laying out tool is a t-bevel plumb tool that allows the user to measure or set an angle relative to the plumb condition. The preferred t-bevel plumb tool should be configured with the standard, familiar components of a t-bevel (namely a handle, blade and locking mechanism) with the addition of a bubble vial component so the user can be sure that the measurement or layout is plumb. Preferably, the bubble vial component is disposed on the t-bevel so as to not interfere with the normal or non-plumb operation of the t-bevel and to allow the blade portion to be partially disposed inside the handle during non-use. It is also preferred that the t-bevel be configured to have a longer handle and blade lengths than the standard t-bevel to better facilitate its use for plumb purposes.


A process of producing a highly stable liquid crystal emulsion composition with improved qualities, in which a conventional complicated and costly process that requires specific equipment is streamlined into a simple and less costly process. A method of producing a liquid crystal emulsion composition having liquid crystal structure, comprising the steps of admixing 3 to 8 parts by weight of a hydrophilic surfactant which is a polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether having an HLB of 10 to 20 with 2 to 6 parts by weight of a lipophilic surfactant; admixing 5 to 10 parts by weight of the resulting admixture with 5 to 30 parts by weight of an oil component; admixing the obtained admixture with a mixture of 40 to 80 parts by weight of a water-soluble polyvalent alcohol and 8 to 40 parts by weight of water; and heating, homogeneously mixing and then cooling the thus obtained admixture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of producing a liquid crystal emulsion composition whose stability is improved so that the liquid crystal structure is not destroyed by dilution, with ease without applying shear force and without using specific equipment.
Further, the present invention relates to a method of producing a liquid crystal emulsion composition having an excellent stability by using hydrophilic surfactants having specific molecular structures with which specific components are admixed in specific mixing ratios.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, utilization of a liquid crystal phase for emulsification has been known. Examples of utilizable liquid crystals include lamellar liquid crystals, reverse hexagonal liquid crystals, and cubic liquid crystals and all of them produce characteristic emulsification systems. Among liquid crystal emulsion compositions, the liquid crystal structure with the use of higher alcohols has also been known; however the resulting products are extremely unstable and a base material for external application with the use of higher alcohols alone causes problems such as poor moisture tolerance, deposition of crystals, and reduction in viscosity. In order to ameliorate these problems, for example, the admixing of the higher alcohols with fatty acids-lipophilic nonionic surfactants, hydrophilic surfactants, polyvalent alcohols, and water has been proposed in the production of liquid crystal-type base material for external application (Patent Reference No. 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 287718/1988); however, a process of applying stirring shock with the use of a homomixer, an ultrasonic emulsifier, a Manton Gaulin emulsifier, or the like is essential upon admixing these compounds to obtain the liquid crystals and thus an additional equipment cost is required.
Further, as for liquid crystal compositions, technology with the use of surfactants has been known. For example, complexes having liquid crystal structure with dipolar surfactants and/or semipolar surfactants, higher fatty acids, and water have been known (Patent Reference No. 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open 217633/1996). Further, it has also been known that a liquid crystal emulsion can be obtained with the use of ceramides which are present in a very small amount in the epidermis of mammals, in which cholesterols and fatty acids are admixed with ceramides in an oily agent, after which water-soluble polyvalent alcohol is added and the resulting admixture is mixed in an aqueous medium and then cooled (Patent Reference No. 3: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 124432/1997). However, stirring shock by a Manton Gaulin has been required also in these known technologies.
Since the liquid crystal composition with the use of higher alcohols is extremely unstable and has many disadvantages as mentioned above, the admixing of oil components which are solid at room temperature, such as paraffin and Vaseline, while reducing the admixing ratio of higher alcohols, or the use of water-soluble polymers such as gum arabic, carboxyvinyl polymers, and hydroxypropyl cellulose has been proposed to solve these disadvantages; however, the resulting liquid crystal compositions are clouded, lose transparency that is unique to liquid crystals or have increased stickiness and lack the clean texture of liquid crystals.
The abovementioned Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 287718/1988 (Patent Reference No. 1) has also disclosed the use of decaglyceryl fatty acid esters, POE addition polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, or POE addition hydrogenated castor oil as the hydrophilic surfactants in liquid crystal compositions; however, liquid crystals cannot be formed with these material components unless high shear force such as with a Manton Gaulin is applied.
Further, fatty acid glycerides having an HLB of 7 or less have been used as lipophilic surfactants. However, the process of the production is complicated, in which oil phase components and water phase components are separately admixed and heated and then the oil phase components are added to the water phase components to be pretreated using a homomixer, after which high shear force is applied by a Monton Gaulin or Manton Gaulin homogenizer. Since the hydrophobic bonding of the liquid crystals is weak, the liquid crystal structure is destroyed by dilution with water or the like to form white emulsified particles, which results in the formation of poorly stable liquid crystals.
Further, according to Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 212716/2003 (Patent Reference No. 4), an improved liquid crystal emulsion composition using oil components, higher alcohols, higher fatty acids, hydrophilic surfactants, lipophilic surfactants, water-soluble polyvalent alcohols, and water has been proposed. Here, the composition is composed of oil components, higher alcohols, higher fatty acids, nonionic surfactants, water-soluble polyvalent alcohols, and water and the liquid crystals are formed by setting the ratio of the oil components to nonionic surfactants to from 1:1 to 3:1 and the number of carbon atoms of the higher alcohols to from 12 to 24 and applying stirring shock. Application of high shear force using a homomixer and then a Manton Gaulin homogenizer or a Microfluidizer is required also in this technology.
As mentioned above, in conventional methods of producing liquid crystal compositions, processes of the production are complicated and costly since high shear force is applied to form liquid crystal structure and moreover, the resulting liquid crystals are poorly stable since the liquid crystal structure is destroyed by dilution with water or the like to change the liquid crystals from the transparent state to the state of opaque emulsified particles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of producing liquid crystal emulsion compositions


The present invention relates to a method and system for estimating the quality of encoded video data without gaining access to the source data. The system is configured to decode compressed video data using an MPEG/H.263 decoder to produce decompressed video data. The decoded data is subject to a discrete cosine transform (DCT) to produce a set of DCT coefficients of the decompressed video data is determined to be intra-coded. Meanwhile, the quantization matrix including a quantizier step size for each block of the decompressed video data are extracted. Following this, statistical properties of the DCT coefficients are extracted from the decoded video. Then, an average quantization error for both AC and DC coefficients is determined using information regarding the quantization and the statistical properties. Finally, this estimated quantization error is used for in computing a peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for evaluating the quality of compressed video and image data and, in particular, to a method and system for estimating the objective quality of pictures, namely the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), without referring to the source video or image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is the ultimate goal of the video experts to provide most perceptually appealing video images to viewers. One way to determine whether the resulting image quality is good or poor is to ask a panel of viewers to watch certain video sequences to provide their opinions. Another way to analyze video sequences is to provide an automated mechanism to evaluate the excellence or the degradation of the video quality. This type of procedure is known as "objective video quality assessment."
A common approach to measuring the picture quality of a compression process is to make a comparison between the processed image and the unprocessed source images (hereinafter referred to as "double-ended measurement"). Various metrics are used, i.e., Block Artifact Metric (BAM), PSNR, Perceptually Weighted PSNR, etc., to evaluate an objective picture-quality measure. In particular, the PSNR is the most commonly used parameter for measuring any picture quality, especially in evaluating an MPEG-2 video bitstream. However, the double-ended measurement has some drawbacks in that access to both the processed picture and the source picture is not feasible if the source data or the alignment between the source and processed pictures is unavailable. In order to overcome this problem, a "single-ended measurement" has been proposed to monitor the video quality when the source is neither available nor controllable. Unlike the double-ended measurement, the single-ended measurement technique operates on the compressed picture without access to the source picture when evaluating video quality.
Many user-end applications require an estimate of coded video or image (herein referred to as pictures) quality. For instance, the user-end might need to enhance or post-process the pictures. In such a scenario, a measure of quality is essential in the control loop. Accordingly, the present invention proposes an improved objective quality assessment using the PSNR metric to evaluate the objective quality of compressed pictures without utilizing the source data.

Method and system for estimating no-reference objective quality of video data


A threading device of a sewing machine includes a thread inserting base formed with a thread path hole having a thread inserting port opened toward an outer side of a sewing machine frame, and further formed with an air path hole which joins the thread path hole in the vicinity of the thread inserting port, an air supply device coupled to the air path hole to supply compressed air, and illuminating means provided on the sewing machine frame to irradiate a joining portion of the thread path hole and the air path hole. The thread inserting base includes a transparent member through which at least the joining portion of the thread path hole and the air path hole can be visually recognized.

A threading device of a sewing machine inserts a thread into a thread hole of a looper which forms a seam by cooperating with a needle. In the threading device, there is known a technique in which an opening portion is provided on an outer side of a sewing machine frame, and compressed air is sprayed toward an inner part of a threading tube which is a path for a thread to pass through an inner side of the sewing machine frame, whereby the thread is fed toward the looper (see, e.g., Japanese Patent No. 2865470).
In this threading device, the air is compressed by an air pump interlockingly with a manual operation of a lever (see FIG. 5), and is discharged from a tip of a nozzle attached obliquely to a side surface of the threading tube, whereby the air is supplied toward the inner part of the threading tube.
The nozzle is obliquely attached at a position slightly on a downstream side from the opening portion of the threading tube so that the air is discharged from the tip at a position slightly on an inner side of the threading tube, i.e., the downstream side from the opening portion from which the thread is inserted. When inserting a tip end of the thread supplied from a thread supply source from the opening portion through the threading tube, the tip end of the thread is inserted until it reaches the downstream side of the tip of the nozzle, and the air is discharged by operating the lever, the thread is efficiently fed toward the downstream side of the thread path.
In the field of the sewing machine, moreover, there is known a technique to provide a transparent member on a thread path (see, e.g., JP 8-280965 A).
In the sewing machine disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2865470, a thread inserting base which supports the threading tube is formed of an opaque member. Therefore, it is difficult for a user to visually check an amount of the thread inserted into a thread inserting port from the outer side of the sewing machine frame. Accordingly, in the event that the amount of the thread inserted into the thread inserting port is insufficient, there is a problem that the compressed air cannot be sprayed directly toward the thread so that the thread cannot be fed smoothly even if the lever for the air pump is operated repetitively. Consequently, there is a problem that the lever is uselessly operated many times, resulting in a decrease in working efficiency.
Even if the technique disclosed in the JP 8-280965 A is utilized to provide a transparent member for the thread path portion so that the thread inserting port is formed of the transparent member, there is a problem that, because threads to be used in the sewing machine are thin and have light colors such as white in many cases, it is difficult to see an inner side of the transparent member, resulting in a deterioration in workability.


The present invention provides the lighting apparatus cable that allows it to easily attach the lighting module and enables it to improve the productivity. A flat cable used in a lighting apparatus having a plurality of lighting modules disposed in series, for connecting the lighting modules in such a manner that colors and/or luminous intensities of emitted lights of the lighting modules can be controlled, the flat cable comprising: at least four conductors disposed in parallel which include two signal conductors disposed at both sides of the cable and two power feeding conductors; a sheath member covering the at least four conductors to integrate; and notches formed on both sides of the cable so as to cut the signal conductors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus cable and a lighting apparatus that uses the same, and particularly to a cable used in a lighting apparatus for illumination consisting of a plurality of light sources connected together, and the lighting apparatus that uses the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An illumination consisting of a plurality of LEDs connected together consumes less power and does not have the problem of burnout in comparison to an illumination consisting of the conventional electric bulbs, and is therefore used widely for outdoor illumination purposes. Such an illumination that is constituted from a plurality of LEDs connected with each other by flexible electric cables in either linear or network configuration, may be secured on a structure such as roadside tress or the wall of a building and then is lighted.
For connecting the plurality of LEDs, such a method is known as two electrically conducting terminals having pointed ends are pierced through a sheath that covers two power feeding conductors of positive and negative poles, so that the electrically conducting terminals are electrically connected to the power feeding conductor of positive and negative poles to supply power to the LEDs via the electrically conducting terminals (refer to, for example, Published Japanese Translation No. 2005-515481 of the PCT Application and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-103383). This method makes it possible to connect the LEDs to the power feeding conductors at any desired point without need to strip the sheath of the power feeding conductors or to solder the power feeding conductors and the electrically conducting terminals together.
A lighting system in which lighting module comprising LEDs and a controller is connected to a conduit that includes two power feeding conductors of positive and negative poles and one signal conductor is also known (refer to, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,891). Cutting contacts may be used to connect the lighting module, the power feeding conductors and the signal conductor. The cutting contacts allow it to penetrate into the conduit and electrically connect the power feeding conductors or the signal conductor, so as to supply electric power and signals to the lighting module via the cutting contacts. In the constitution described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,891, the conduit has a through hole formed to cut the signal conductor, and the cutting contacts are pierced to each end of the signal conductor that has been cut. This constitution enables electric signals sent to the signal conductor to propagate through the lighting module.
Such an illumination as described above requires it to connect positive electrode and negative electrode of the LED correctly to the power feeding conductors of positive and negative poles, respectively, when attaching a plurality of LEDs to one cable. It is also necessary to attach the plurality of LEDs to one cable at predetermined intervals. Moreover, it is also required to attach the LEDs efficiently in order to improve the productivity of manufacturing the illumination.
The technologies described in Published Japanese Translation No. 2005-515481 of the PCT Application and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) 2004-103383 involve the possibility of incorrectly connecting the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the LED to the power feeding conductors, and these patents do not disclose any means for setting the distance between the LEDs to the predetermined interval. As a result, it takes extensive attention and labor to attach the LEDs at the predetermined intervals while ensuring the correct pole, and therefore it is difficult to improve the productivity.
The technology described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,891 involves not only the possibility of incorrectly connecting the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the LED to the power feeding conductors, but also it is highly probable that the cutting contacts may be incorrectly connected because there exist the cutting contact for feeding power and the cutting contact for sending signals in a mixed state. The lighting module may be easily positioned at the predetermined intervals by providing the lighting module with locating pins that enable it to fit into through holes formed on the signal conductor. However, orientation of the lighting module cannot be determined by the locating pins. As a result, great care is required when attaching the LEDs to ensure the correct pole, and therefore it is difficult to improve the productivity.

Lighting apparatus cable and lighting apparatus using the same


Embodiments of the present application provide an array substrate, a chip on film and an alignment method. The array substrate includes a first pin correspondingly connected with a second pin on a chip on film; a first alignment mark located in a preset alignment range of the first pin and aligned with a second alignment mark on the chip on film; and a first offset mark located in the preset alignment range of the first pin, obtained according to the first alignment mark and the second alignment mark and configured to indicate an alignment deviation between the first pin and the second pin.

A flexible display device refers to a display device in which a display panel is capable of being bendable and deformable. As a new generation of display devices, the flexible display device, because of a plurality of advantages such as thinness and lightness, high contrast, fast response, wide angle of view, high brightness and full color, has a wide application prospect in mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, car-mounted displays, notebook computers, wall-mounted televisions and the military fields.
A pin or a terminal or an electrode disposed on a Chip On Film (COF) of the flexible display device may be aligned with a pin on a screen. However, due to improvement of integration and an environmental factor such as temperature and humidity and so on, alignment accuracy between the existing COF and the screen is not high.

Array substrate, chip on film, and alignment method

KunShan Go-Visionox Opto-Electronics Co., Ltd.


Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) and barium zirconate (BaZrO3) are made into a solid solution at a predetermined ratio. Specifically, a dielectric ceramic composition is represented by a basic composition (SrTiO3)(1-x)(BaZrO3)x (in the formula, X satisfies 0.63≦X≦0.95). More preferably, X satisfies 0.67≦X≦0.90 in this range. Such a dielectric ceramic composition may be integrated with alumina to form a composite ceramic structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dielectric ceramic composition and a composite ceramic structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Devices by utilizing creeping discharge, e.g., a creeping discharge ozonizer, have been known previously. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a creeping discharge element in which a linear discharge electrode is disposed on an inside surface of alumina ceramics (insulator) formed into a cylindrical shape and a sheet-shaped induction electrode is disposed in the inside or on an outside surface thereof. Also, a creeping discharge type ozonizer which generates ozone by applying a high-frequency high voltage to such a creeping discharge element and, thereby, generating creeping discharge is disclosed.

Dielectric ceramic composition and composite ceramic structure


A method of and apparatus for two-way radio meteor scatter communication amongst mobile transceiver-equipped terminals and fixed meteor scatter base terminal(s) that comprises communicating high volume point-to-point inbound information from the mobile terminals to the base terminal(s) and outbound information from the base terminal(s) to particular mobile terminals by radio meteor scatter, and broadcasting outbound information from the base terminal(s) to many mobile terminals by supplemental Loran communications short messages modulated upon Loran radio positional and navigation transmissions.

In meteor scatter communications systems, it is advantageous to employ two-way communications, so as to acknowledge when a meteor scatter message was received at the base from a mobile terminal and so as to control communications within a network. As before stated, the current invention involves a two-way mobile communication system based on a synergistic use of the Loran broadcasts and of such meteor scatter communications, wherein the Loran navigation signal transmissions are supplemented with a communication capability for transmitting a small amount of information at a time; and wherein such communication capability can be used to broadcast to many users, and be generally available without waiting for specific propagation conditions unlike in prior meteor scatter systems. The availability of a return signal via meteor scatter communication from remote sites also permits a central site ("the base" or "base station") to receive position data from the remotes and determine what position corrections are necessary and to monitor and display the location of the mobiles.
It is well known that the outbound Loran broadcast from a group of synchronized Loran base stations can be used to allow mobile stations, or more generally remote stations distributed over an area, receiving the Loran signal, to fix their position from the knowledge of the positions of the fixed base Loran sites and from the differential times of Loran signal arrival. Suitable transmitters for Loran-C broadcasting are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,711,725; 3,889,263; 4,001,598; 4,151,528; and 4,423,419 of one of the common assignees of the present invention; and typical suitable receivers, as for mobile users (boats, aircraft, ground vehicles), in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,736,590; 3,774,210; 3,921,076; 4,392,138; and 4,482,896.
Not so well known, but now proven, is the fact that the Loran navigation signal broadcasts can also be modified simultaneously to communicate data outbound to the mobile users by suitable supplemental modulating of the Loran navigation signal to send up to between, for example, 20 and 100 bits per second of communications data to ranges of up to 1000 kilometers without affecting the basic navigational function of the Loran signal. Such techniques are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,800,391 and 4,821,038 of said common assignee.
While such communications use of the Loran broadcast is limited, it is, for example, entirely adequate to advise a particular mobile terminal, in a specified network of terminals, that a meteor scatter link is to be established, or to acknowledge successful receipt of its message to the base via meteor scatter. This new capability permits the base station to address mobile terminals individually and in groups and obviates previous problems associated with the control of meteor scatter communications between a mobile terminal in the net and the base. Without such outbound communication, mobile terminals have to follow a very strict protocol of who reports when, in order to avoid having several mobile terminals reporting at the same time, thus interfering with one another.
In turn, meteor scatter communications from mobile terminals can be used to provide an inbound link to the fixed Loran sites, which Loran communications alone, being one-way (outbound), cannot provide. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a mobile terminal can readily report its location and status to the meteor scatter base station, which can thus track the reporting terminals. With the present invention, the inbound link becomes more efficient, because of the availability of acknowledgment by Loran, particularly since the base may not be able to use the same meteor trail outbound to acknowledge the receipt of the inbound message. In addition, meteor scatter communications can now also be used for a particularly efficient transfer of short messages from one user outbound to other mobile users in the same net via the base.

Method of and apparatus for two-way radio communication amongst fixed base and mobile terminal users employing meteor scatter signals for communications inbound from the mobile terminals and outbound from the base terminals via Loran communication signals