In a particular illustrative embodiment, a circuit device that includes first logic and second logic is disclosed. The first logic receives a clock signal and a first portion of a memory address of a memory array, decodes the first portion of the memory address, and selectively applies the clock signal to a selected group of wordline drivers associated with the memory array. The second logic decodes a second portion of the memory address and selectively activates a particular wordline driver of the selected group of wordline drivers according to the second portion of the memory address.

I. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to memory arrays, and more particularly, to dynamic wordline drivers and decoders for memory arrays.
II. Description of Related Art
In general, memory systems with a traditional dynamic/static circuit structure may place a heavy load on the clock. For example, in a memory structure having a plurality of wordline drivers, a single clock may drive multiple drivers and multiple address decoders, placing a large electrical load on the clock.
Additionally, each wordline driver may have its own decoded address input, which may place a large load on the decoder and which may utilize a large area of the circuit substrate, increasing complexity and power consumption. Moreover, when the clock signal is provided to multiple wordline drivers, capacitive noise coupling between the wordline driver outputs may introduce additional design complexities. Hence, there is a need for improved wordline drivers.

Dynamic word line drivers and decoders for memory arrays


An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an optical image formed on an image pickup plane via an image pickup optical system and outputting a picked-up image signal, a variable optical system for shifting the optical image on the image pickup plane of the image pickup element, a control part for controlling the variable optical system and the image pickup element to pickup a predetermined field of view larger than the image pickup plane of the image pickup element by causing the image pickup element to pickup a plurality of optical images at a plurality of shifting positions of the variable optical system, respectively, an A/D converter for converting picked-up image signals outputted from the image pickup element into digital image signals, a memory for storing the digital image signals outputted from the A/D converter, and a signal processor for combining the digital image signals corresponding to the plurality of the optical images stored in the memory and producing an image signal corresponding to the predetermined field of view.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus using a solid-state image pickup element, such as a CCD.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, solid-state image pickup elements, such as CCDs, are presently used as light receiving elements of image pickup apparatuses. In the field of HDTV (High Density Television) or the like, it has been required to improve the image quality of such a solid-state image pickup element to meet a demand for increasing the resolution of TV signals, and there have been attempts to improve the image quality by increasing the number of pixels of the solid-state image pickup element. Although such an attempt needs further improvement of manufacturing techniques, it is impossible to improve them to an unlimited extent.
In such a situation, it has recently been proposed to provide a system for improving the resolution of an image by swinging a solid-state image pickup element to temporarily vary a relative positional relation between an incident optical image and individual pixels and increasing a spatial sampling ratio (the Journal of the Institute of Television Engineers of Japan, Vol. 41, No. 11 (1987)).
Various methods for producing a panoramic video image have heretofore been known, and one proposed method is described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 54-3526. This method includes the steps of photographing a subject about the optical axis of a photographic lens of a camera by means of a rotating mirror disposed on a subject side of the camera coaxially to the photographic lens with its reflecting surface opposed to the camera, processing the exposed film to form an intermediate image representative of a panoramic subject image which is recorded in compressed form, loading the film which carries the obtained intermediate image into an enlarger, and projecting the intermediate image on an enlarged scale onto a photosensitive member formed cylindrically around a rotating mirror, by means of the rotating mirror which is disposed coaxially to the enlarging lens and is of the same kind as the aforesaid rotating mirror, thereby producing a panoramic subject image.
However, there are a number of problems in the above-described system for improving the resolution of an image, which adopts an arrangement in which the solid-state image pickup element is made to vibrate periodically by a small amount by a piezoelectric element. For example, highly accurate positioning is needed to incorporate such an arrangement into an optical system, but this positioning is difficult to conduct and is disadvantageous in terms of productivity. In addition, a package having a special structure which involves a great increase in cost is needed to mount the solid-state image pickup element.
The above-described conventional method for producing a panoramic video image has the problem that it is necessary to incorporate a complicated mechanism in the camera since photography is performed by means of the rotating mirror disposed coaxially to the photographic lens on the subject side thereof. In addition, if a panoramic video image is to be actually produced, it is necessary to modify an existing enlarger.

Image pickup apparatus capable of high resolution imaging


A movable wall system for athletic courts makes the same court suitable for both racquetball, handball and squash play. The system disclosed includes a movable wall assembly between the front wall and back support structure at the back. Extensible and retractable side linkage assemblies connect between the movable wall assembly and back support structure that will stabilize the wall during movement. Side rollers and bottom rollers on the wall assembly facilitate sliding movement. Slide bolt catches hold the wall against movement in either the retracted or extended positions and latching mechanisms hold the wall assembly to the back wall in the retracted position.

The distance the back wall is from the front wall of a squash court and racquetball/handball courts differ. The back wall is spaced at 40 feet from the front wall for a racquetball/handball court and 32 feet for a squash court. In the past, separate rooms were required to play both games. The present invention allows the same court to be used for either playing racquetball/handball or squash by allowing the back wall to be moved to one of two set positions.
Prior attempts to provide a movable wall system for athletic courts have utilized tracks and/or grooves in the wall which is costly and impairs the game to some extent. Another system utilizes A-frames at the base of a movable wall but the movable wall is not stable and tends to tip over during movement.


This invention relates to a novel beidellite clay, a process for preparing the clay and processes using the clay. The clay has the empirical formula EQU A.sub.x (Al.sub.4)(Si.sub.8-x Al.sub.x)(O.sub.20)(OH.sub.4-u F.sub.u). where A is a cation, x is the moles of A and varies from about 0.1 to about 2, and u varies from about 0.1 to about 3.5. The clay is prepared from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of aluminum and silicon, a cation salt, a fluoride source and water. The mixture is reacted at a pH of about 4 to about 9, a temperature of about 150.degree. to about 300.degree. C. for a time of about 1 to about 20 days. The clay composition may be used as is or after pillaring to catalyze hydrocarbon conversion processes such as alkylation.

Naturally occurring clays such as dioctahedral smectites are composed of semicrystalline aluminosilicate layers (lamellae) held together by Van der Waals and electrostatic forces. Anionic charges on the siliceous layers are neutralized by cations in the interlamellar spaces. These cations are usually sodium, calcium, or potassium. When these cations are large oligomers of inorganic cations such as Fe.sup.+3, Cr.sup.+3 or when they are metal hydroxy polymer cations such as (Al.sub.13 O.sub.4 (OH).sub.24 (H.sub.2 O).sub.12).sup.7+ or (Zr(OH).sub.2.4H.sub.2 O).sub.4.sup.8+, they act as pillars, propping the clay layers apart to afford a pillared layered clay. Upon heating, these oligomers or polymers are converted to the metal oxide, thus preventing the collapse of the clay layers and thus pillaring the clay.
Smectite clays are a family of clays which include as its members montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, saponite, hectorite and sauconite. Of these materials beidellite, hectorite and saponite have been prepared synthetically. Saponite contains magnesium, aluminum and silicon and is represented by the formula EQU A.sub.x (Mg.sub.6)(Si.sub.8-x Al.sub.x)(O.sub.20)(OH.sub.4)
where A is a cation such as an alkali metal cation. In contrast, beidellite contains only silicon and aluminum and has the formula EQU A.sub.x (Al.sub.4)(Si.sub.8-x Al.sub.x)(O.sub.20)(OH.sub.4)
There are also reports that saponite can be prepared by substituting fluoride ions for the hydroxyl ions. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,147 discloses a process for preparing a saponite material where a fraction of the hydroxyl groups are replaced by fluorides. Similarly U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,458 discloses a saponite derivative in which some of the magnesium has been replaced by a divalent metal ion and some of the hydroxyl groups have been replaced by fluorides. Finally, European Patent Publication 317,006A2 discloses the preparation of a saponite in which fluorides are used instead of hydroxyl.
In contrast to the above, applicant has prepared a fluorided beidellite. Applicant's process reacts a mixture containing reactive sources of aluminum, silicon, a cation salt and a fluoride source. This process differs from those disclosed in the art in that it is carried out at a pH of about 4 to about 9, at a low temperature and uses a fluoride source. Thus, applicant is the first to synthesize a fluorided beidellite clay.

Fluorided beidellite clay and process for preparing the clay


A bicycle includes a bicycle body, an electric generator disposed in a saddle area of the bicycle body and an electronic device connected to the electric generator to be powered by the latter. The electric generator includes a piezoelectric transducer, a storage battery and an electric power output port connected to the piezoelectric transducer and the storage battery. The piezoelectric transducer is configured to transform mechanical vibration energy available on the saddle area into electricity during cycling. The storage battery is coupled to the piezoelectric transducer for storing the electricity generated by the piezoelectric transducer. The electronic device is connected to the electric power output port to be powered by either the piezoelectric transducer or the storage battery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bicycle, and more particularly to a bicycle equipped with an electric generator to power an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices on a bicycle, either front or rear lamp for lighting at night, are fed almost exclusively via a dynamo or by batteries. Both power system has disadvantages. With the dynamo, the cyclist is obliged to provide more effort than necessary for the movement, since it takes an extra effort to compensate for the friction of the dynamo. The use of the battery can be restrictive and not eco-friendly. Accordingly, there exists a need for powering the electronic devices without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need.

Bicycle equipped with electric generator at saddle area


The present invention comprises a means for the manual placement of a jejunal feeding tube within the small intestine comprising the insertion of a single lumen tube within the jejunal feeding tube. The placement tube has an inflatable stylet located at the distal end thereof. Once the tube is placed in the stomach of the patient by way an ostomy, the placement device is passed through until the inflatable stylet exits the distal end of the feeding tube. A syringe is attached to the placement device using a luer hub stopcock and the inflatable stylet is inflated like a balloon with air, water or other suitable material. The surgeon may then manually grasp the inflated stylet and by moving it place the end of the feeding tube at the desired position in the small intestine. The stylet may then be deflated and the placement device withdrawn from the feeding tube once the tube is properly placed.

The use of enteral feeding tubes which supply nutritional requirements of a patient directly to the stomach or other location in the digestive tract is often required when the patient for one reason or another cannot swallow, is unable to chew his or her food, or is unable to ingest enough food to meet the body's caloric requirements. Burn victims, the chronically ill, those inflicted with Alzheimer's disease and cancer patients are prime examples of these types of individuals. Enteral feeding usually employs a nasogastric tube to transport the liquid nutritional products through the nasal cavity and pharayrx and into the stomach.
Gastrostomy tubes may either be placed through the surgical creation of an ostomy while the patient is under general anesthesia or by means of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) which involves a non-invasive creation of an opening or stoma in the stomach through the abdominal wall. The endoscope is passed down the throat until its terminus contacts the interior of the stomach. A needle with a stylet is inserted into the stomach wall until it passes therethrough. The stylet of the needle is retracted and a guidewire inserted through the cannula of the needle.
Using an endoscope, the end of the guidewire is grasped and pulled up through the throat. A permanent or primary gastrostomy tube is then put in place with its terminus within the stomach so as to form a direct enteral feeding conduit to the gastric system of the patient. However, there are often instances in which it is preferable to introduce the patient's nutritional requirements in the form of a liquid formula to the jejunum portion of the small intestine rather than the stomach. Some patients for example, when fed directly to the stomach, encounter a problem with such delivery known as reflux. In reflux, digested gastric residue is vomited up out the stomach and into the esophagus. Chronically ill or bed-ridden patients who are unable to swallow normally may inhale the gastric reflux inadvertently into the lungs resulting in asphyxiation or pneumonia. The tube itself can be forced out of the stomach as well. These situations in particular call for jejunal delivery of the nutritional formula.
It has been found in these instances that more efficatious feeding can be achieved if the feeding tube is passed through the pyloric area, and formula is passed directly into the patient's small intestine, rather than the patient's stomach. It has been further noted that when the feeding tube is installed so that the distal end is past the patient's pyloric valve, the tendency for the tube to be refluxed up to the esophagus is significantly reduced.
The jejunal feeding tube is introduced either through a surgically created ostomy or through the nasopharynxal passageway and passes through the stomach, the pylorus and then enters the small bowel, the duodenum and jejunum. Generally, with the patient sedated under general anesthesia, the surgeon guides the distal end of the tube through an ostomy to the jejunum. The lubricous and slippery environment of the lower abdomen however, makes grasping and manipulating the otherwise smooth and flexible tube considerably difficult.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,378 to Piontek et al. discloses and claims a replacement gastrostomy tube for jejunal feeding in which an expandable component of the tube is located at the distal end thereof. Fluid is passed through a fluid flow channel which enters the expandable component and inflates it like a balloon. In this fashion, the balloon and an adjacent retention device are pressed against the wall of the stomach, securing the feeding tube in the stoma.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,756 to Quinn et al. discloses an improved enteral feeding tube in which a bulbous extension member is attached to the distal end of the feeding tube. The extension is comprised of a stem portion that projects beyond the end of the tube parallel to the axis of the tube and forms a large spherical tip at its end. In this manner, the stem extension can be more easily grasped by forceps for surgical placement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,384 to McBrian et al. discloses a device for percutaneous intubation in which the feeding tube comprises an inflatable lumen that expands as a water swellable foam material contained therein absorbs water from the gastro-intestinal cavity after intubation. A wire or suture loop is disposed at the terminal end of the feeding tube lumen for attachment to a wire used in pulling the tube through the esophagus and stomach during the intubation procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,387 also to Quinn et al. discloses a method for positioning an enteral feeding tube within a patient's body and a tube for use therein comprising a flexible polyurethane tube and a rigid stem portion at the distal end thereof that forms an outlet from which the nutritional fluid flows. The stem itself ends in a spherical tip or ring which prevents the possibility of a puncture of the gastro-intestinal tract as the enteral feeding tube is pulled.
None of these prior art gastrostomy tubes provide an easy and effective means to enable the surgeon to quickly and safely place the end of the tube within the jejunum. Moreover, none of the prior art methods or devices allow the surgeon to safely locate and grasp the distal end of the feeding tube without posing a risk of injury to the organ walls and fascia. Nothing suggests a means whereby despite the slippery and lubricous environment of the gastro-intestinal tract, the tube can be firmly grasped and directed into the jejunum without the risk of getting caught within the pyloric valve or duodenum.


An electrostatic air precipitator for emission remediation including, a grounded frame connected to a housing having an upstream direction and a downstream direction with a first ionizing section, having at least a first set of ionizing members and a second set of ionizing members, where the ionizing members of the first set and the second set are electrically isolated from each other and electrically isolated from the grounded frame. Also, the ionizing members of the first set and the ionizing members of the second set are powered by separate power supplies and at least a first collector section is located downstream of the first ionizing section, and the first collector section has at least a first plurality of collector plates.

The emission profile from commercial cooking operations has been well studied and shown to consist of particles (aerosols), semi-volatile organic compounds (sVOCs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inorganic volatile species. The particles give rise to visual smoke and the sVOCs and VOCs give rise to odors, all undesirable components of any industrial size kitchen.
The mass, size distribution, and organic chemistry profile of the emissions can vary widely and are primarily functions of the type of cooking apparatus and the chemical and structural composition of the raw food being cooked. The most severe challenge to cooking emission remediation has been demonstrated repeatedly to be the emissions generated by gas char broiling of ground beef patties, with the severity of emissions being proportionately related to the fat content and the degree of well doneness of the beef patties. Of particular note is that the aerosol and chemical profiles of char broiled ground beef have been characterized and shown to not be dissimilar from the emission profile of diesel exhaust. Of particular concern are the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and EPA Title V air toxics that are released. These include but are not limited to: PM2.5, PAH (poly aromatic hydrocarbons), butadienes, other toxic VOCs and ozone precursors. Indeed, air quality management districts in California are currently in the process of generating cooking emission remediation standards for charbroiling of beef, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has already promulgated such regulations.
Historically, there are two established ways of remediating the particulate (aerosol) cooking emissions: removal from the airstream by electrostatic deposition onto alternatively charged plates or mechanical removal of the aerosols by passing the airstream through a series of progressively more efficient media filters. Established known mechanical filtration properties include impaction, interception, and interference.
Both technologies have been proven to be highly effective and there are advantages to choosing one over the other. One main advantage of electrostatic precipitators is that the pressure drop through the filters is 50-75% less than through clean mechanical filters, with that difference becoming more pronounced as the mechanical filters load. For an electrostatic precipitator the pressure drop remains constant, whereas, as mechanical filters load, the resistance to airflow increases, thus decreasing the total air that can be exhausted in the kitchen hood. This is a concern for modern day low flow hoods. This condition often mandates a constant flow control system and/or filter change warning mechanisms. Another advantage is that the electrostatic precipitators can be programmed for nightly washing, thus removing the grease from the duct pathway and decreasing the risk of fire presented by accumulated grease in the ducted system.
Electrostatic precipitators (ESP) comprise one type of filtration technology that is used for particulate removal in various industries and under various conditions. Though ESP designs and their applications vary widely, they all involve the fundamental principle of imparting an electric charge to a particle and then exploiting that now charged particle's attraction and/or repulsion to an electrostatic field to collect that particle and remove it from the air. Historically, there have been single stage (Claudius) ESPs and two stage (Penny) ESPs, with the latter performing better when the airflow through the collecting plates being of a laminar nature. ESPs have been utilized for the control of greasy emissions from cooking operations. To invent an enhanced performing (i.e. greater collection efficiency at higher airflows) for this specific application requires a thorough understanding of: 1) the chemical and physical characteristics of the particulate to be removed 2) the physical principles of high voltage ionizer and collector array designs and 3) fluid dynamics and flow through the machines. Further, design attention to how effectively the collected particulate is washed from the collection surfaces and other machine serviceability issues such as removable filtering component weights and durability may also be considered an improvement.
The greasy particulates generated in cooking in general and meat char broiling in particular vary in aerodynamic diameter from 0.1 μm to 10 μm. In the case of meat char broiling particle size nodes exist at the 0.2 μm and 5 μm particle diameters. Their chemical composition consists of C4-C28 carbon chain molecules with various moieties attached. The particles formed during the combustion process may consist of a solid material or an oily liquid or liquid coating on elemental carbon particles or a mixture of solid material and liquid. The main chemical property of the particulate of concern to the ESP design is its resistivity which governs both how much charge it can acquire as well as how it potentially negatively affects the voltage density at the collector plate surface in the form of spark overs and back coronas.
Once the physical and chemical nature of the particles to be collected are determined, a consideration of the governing dynamic equations of particle charging and drift velocity of a charged particle in an electric field are taken under consideration to design a machine. Attention must be paid to the type, configuration, voltage and polarity of the both the ionizing source and collector surfaces. The hardest particles to capture are those that are the smallest because 1) they typically do not pick up as much charge do to their small size and 2) their momentum in the airstream is more difficult to overcome with the established electrostatic force of the collector surface system.
The electrostatic force acting on charged particles is governed by Coulomb's law which describes the force interacting between static electrically charged particles. The force of interaction between the charges is attractive if the charges have opposite signs (i.e., F is negative) and repulsive if like-signed (i.e., F is positive).
Turbulence of the airstream is also a significant consideration as it can affect the probability of a particle getting deposited by electrostatic forces only. Ideally, collector plate systems operate under laminar flow conditions. The determination of whether or not laminar flow conditions exist may be assessed by determining the Reynolds number. Experimental studies finding laminar flow to be at around a Reynolds number of below 2500.
It has been observed in field units that were equipped with real time voltmeter and ammeters in series with high voltage power supplies operating under real world conditions that in the ESP process of charging and/or removing charged particles from the airstream by electrodeposition, there is intermittent arcing between the energized surfaces in the unit. Both the voltage and amperage readouts of the power supplies were observed to decrease for periods between 10 and 100 milliseconds. This was also confirmed by observing flickering of high voltage power supply lights in other ESP units without said monitoring equipment. It is reasonable to conclude that during these brief losses of power, the strength of the ionizing and collecting electrostatic fields are briefly diminished and during that diminish time period less or possible no charging of particles or collection of particles occurs.
At airflow rates of 400-600 feet per minute, a 100 millisecond time represents a travel distance of 1 foot, which is longer than the collector plate length in most two stage Penny type precipitators. Further, all of the particles passing the ionizer during that 100 millisecond period would acquire no or less electric charge had the ionizing field not been diminished. Thus the probability of collecting this cohort of particles is diminished. Two factors imply a solution: the ground short is most often affected by collector plate arcing and the charged particles are collected on ground surfaces. Thus at any point in time, the chance of particles not being charged is infinitesimal and most of the time the particles are picking up more charge because of the even offset of the first and second ionizer. This increased charge to mass ratio greatly helps in the collection efficiency in electrostatic precipitators.
Careful design attention must be paid to ionizer design with regards to configuration and spacing, ionizing and insulating materials, voltage density and ruggedness. Likewise collector plate cells are designed for configuration and spacing, weight and handling, wash ability, insulator material and design and cell to cell connectors. After classical formulas were utilized to predict electric field strengths, deposition velocities, and laminar flow paradigms; the theoretical designs were engineered to the theoretical specifications and tested both on the bench and then in the actual ESP unit under airflow and both surrogate and real cooking test challenges.
The interplay between ionizing voltage, ionizer type, collector plate length and spacing and air velocity through the ESP to determine a particle's size specific removal efficiency. This in turn determines how fast the smallest particles can move through the collector plates and still be driven to the collector plate by the specified voltage gradient. If plates are spaced too closely, arcing can occur which discharges the entire electrostatic capacitance and eliminates the voltage density. Any air passing through the plates during such a discharge period is not subject to collection by electrostatic deposition.
A broad survey of the existing and obsolete ESP designs that have been utilized in the food service industry reveal a fairly common ESP design. Firstly, they are fairly large in all three dimensions of length, width and height which is due to typically low air velocities that are required to achieve greater than or equal 95% efficiency removal of 0.3 μm. They are normally operated dry (except during wash cycles), and consist of a single planar array of ionizer elements immediately followed by single planar array of alternating collector plates and grounded plates. The collector plate lengths typically cover two ranges: specifically less than or equal to 6 inches or greater than or equal to 10 inches. Likewise, the plate spacing (between alternatively charged and grounded plates) is either precisely 0.25 inches or 0.29 inches. No ESP collector cells are known to have dimensions that fall outside of these specific dimensions, even though Reynolds number evaluation theoretical electro deposition calculations for laminar airflow regimes indicate that they should be.
A need in the industry exists for an ESP that is able to fit into tight spaces within restaurant kitchens, by limiting the sizing of the components and the spacing there between, but be capable of removing a maximum amount of particulate at a reliable and rate at the same time, by ensuring that a maximum amount of particles have a charge applied to them, by improving on flow characteristics through the ESP.

Electric precipitator air pollution control device


The base of a security/prevention system is an electronic device which has the capability of joining the performance of two functions, i.e. prevention of road accidents and theft protection of vehicles, using the principle of joint use of frequencies, whereby interference with the device's operation is prevented. The invention allows, on the one hand, such application in road traffic prevention in which an electronic security device installed in a vehicle provides passive or active warning of participants in the traffic as to possible momentary dangers requiring quick reaction of the driver. On the other hand, the invention allows such application in road traffic safety in which an electronic security device protects vehicles against theft; the device comprises three base units, i.e. an electronic security device, which is installed in the vehicle and intended for transmitting messages about theft, a pocket receiver, and a network of receiver devices distributed at all locations of importance to the reception of the transmitted messages.

1. Field of the Invention
The base of the security/prevention system is an electronic device which has the capability of joining the performance of two functions, i.e. prevention of road accidents and theft protection of vehicles, using the principle of joint use of frequencies, whereby interference with the device's operation is prevented.
The invention allows, on the one hand, such application in road traffic safety, in which an electronic security device installed in a vehicle provides passive and active warning of participants in the traffic as to momentary dangers requiring quick reaction of the driver.
On the other hand, the device allows such application in road traffic safety, in which an electronic security device protects the vehicles against theft; the device comprises three base units, i.e. an electronic security device, which is installed in the vehicle and intended for transmitting messages about theft, a pocket receiver, and a network of receiver devices distributed at all locations of importance to the reception of the transmitted messages. The invention belongs to classes G01S 5/00, 5/02, 5/14, 3/50, G08G 1/01, 1/09, 1/16, 1/127, G08B 25/01, 25/10 of the International Patent Classification.
2. Description of the Related Art
From the PCT document 91/04081, a system is known for the exchange of information--over RF signals--between stationary stations and moving vehicles. It offers the possibility of changing the data stored in the memory of a device installed in vehicles, while they are moving. The stationary devices trigger the devices installed in the vehicles which are passing by, and get the required data from them. A drawback of this system is the small range of the device.
The PCT document 92/06698 describes bidirectional exchange of data over radio (using one half-duplex frequency) between vehicles and fixed stations which make up a network and which are linked with a center. Interference suppression on the channel is carried out by means of a time-division multiplex and by spread centrum technology. The accent is on the methods of locating the position of a vehicle with respect to the receivers in the network.
In the EP document No. 290 635, a device is described which would prevent collisions of vehicles, especially at crossroads, and also elsewhere on the road. It would provide identification of crashes, even outside the field of vision, by equipping each vehicle with one transmitter and two receivers. The signals would be optical, and the system would provide an additional system for road marking with special signs.
In the EP patent document No. 441 576, a device is described which comprises a transmitter and a receiver part linked into a system with sensors of collision and acceleration. The frequency of the transmitter and the receiver is not specified, and an aerial is provided which is oriented only in the driving direction. The system would be able to make out whether the vehicle approaches or moves away from the transmitter, on the basis of Doppler effect, or on the change of power of the received signal.
The EP document No. 514 996 describes a system of theft protection of vehicles. In the case of theft, the system would emit a code identifying the vehicle. Roadside receiver & coordination stations would receive the code and send it to a centre where the position of the vehicle could be calculated. The system operates at a frequency of 10-15 MHz and 10-15.6 GHz (communication with a satellite). The calculation of the position is made possible by means of the time delay between the signals received at different receiver stations. It also uses a gyroscope.
In the EP document No. 446 985, a system of information within existing RDS system is described, where data are transmitted beside the signal of a commercial radio station. The system provides the breaking down of information by areas. It is evident from the code of a message which area is involved. The receiver is capable of identifying the code and it only receives the desired data. Data are grouped, and each group has its own delay frequency, while the user can select the reception.
In the PCT document No. 90/05349 a system for transmitter position identification is described. The system comprises two parts, i.e. a part which is installed in vehicles and comprises three transmitters and a receiver, and a part which is installed in fixed control centres and has three receivers and a transmitter. The system is based on the principle that each of the three transmitters has its own frequency and a different power. This makes the first transmitter audible within a radius of 50 km, the second within a radius of 25 km, and the third within a radius of 1 km. A control system on a fixed frequency requests the transmission and gives the desired frequency. Depending on the frequency that "hears" it, it defines the distance and transmits the desired data to it.
So far, drivers have only had the possibility of audible (horn or siren) or visual signalling (lights, blinkers or blinking signal lights). Also, in prior art solutions, the given technical problem has not been solved completely and in a complex way, but only partially. There exists, for example, a possibility of calling the driver's attention upon the dangers in traffic over a radio receiver, however, only for certain types of traffic information (road-blocks, hold-ups or traffic jams, queues, slippery road, fog . . . ). For momentary dangers, every driver may find himself in, however, this way of alerting is not sufficient. A similar situation is that with vehicles on urgent ride, which only alert by blowing the horn, and are often not heard by the participants in traffic, or they are heard only at a place where it is impossible to give way.

Security/prevention system with related device


A system for determining performance characteristics of a combustion heating process. The system uses input parameters that are controllable by an operator or control system to determine a set of controllable loss components. The controllable loss components may be summed to produce an efficiency index value.

Utility companies in the field of electric power generation are being impacted by deregulation and increasing competition. Thus, cost containment and the ability to generate electricity at the lowest possible cost have become increasingly important issues. Improving efficiencies in the electric power generation process can reduce fuel costs, thereby reducing electricity production costs. To this end, improvements in "heat rate" and thermal performance can result in significant fuel cost savings. As used herein, "heat rate" refers to the number of units of total thermal input (i.e., fuel heat input) required to generate a specific amount of electrical energy (i.e., electrical power output). Heat rate provides a measure of thermal efficiency and is typically expressed in units of Btu/kWh in North America. Fuel heat input can be estimated by multiplying the fuel input flow rate times the fuel heat content. Fuels for electric power generation include, but are not limited to, coal, oil, natural gas and other combustible fuels.
In a conventional fossil fuel-fired (e.g., coal-fired) power plant a fossil fuel/air mixture is ignited in a boiler. Large volumes of water are pumped through tubes inside the boiler, and the intense heat from the burning fuel turns the water in the boiler tubes into high-pressure steam. The high-pressure steam from the boiler passes into a turbine comprised of a plurality of turbine blades. Once the steam hits the turbine blades, it causes the turbine to spin rapidly. The spinning turbine causes a shaft to turn inside a generator, creating an electric potential. A combustion turbine can run on natural gas or low-sulfur fuel oil. Air enters at the front of a turbine and is compressed, mixed with natural gas or oil, and ignited. The hot gas then expands through turbine blades to turn a generator and produce electricity. It should be understood that in some boiler configurations, a portion of the generated steam is re-routed to a heat exchanger or to a process. This re-routed steam does not pass through the turbine.
For boilers, there are two primary types of boiler efficiency optimization. The first is the on-going optimization of operation that is primarily under the direction of an operator through operator-controllable input parameters. The second is the periodic optimization that is under the direction of a performance engineer and a maintenance department. Of these two, the on-going optimization by the operator has the potential for a real-time positive impact on the performance of the steam generation unit.
A neural network optimization system requires a goal that is reliable and repeatable. Reliable meaning that a value is not prone to physical faults in the sensing. Repeatable meaning that a given operating point results in the same output. If the goal is better efficiency, then an efficiency-based value is required that is reliable and repeatable. Efficiency is a calculated value from many different sensor inputs. This calculation may require manual input from the operator. Manual inputs must be updated accurately and in a timely fashion or else the result of the calculation will be erroneous.
Existing performance calculations for utility boilers calculate performance based on many parameters from the boiler, turbine, as well as the balance of the power plant. These existing performance calculations are designed to compute an overall efficiency for conversion of coal or gas, or other fuel input into electricity. Plant operators may use performance calculation results to adjust boiler operation, engineers may use performance calculation results to identify performance problems, and plant management may use performance calculation results as a performance evaluation criteria for the facility.
Commonly, a value for heat rate is determined, and used as a performance indicator for a power plant. Input parameters to the existing heat rate calculations are comprised of two groups of parameters. The first set of parameters can be controlled or altered by operators or control systems (i.e., controllable input parameters). The second set of parameters are outside the immediate control or alteration by operators and control systems (i.e., non-controlled input parameters). The non-controlled input parameters include, but are not limited to, fuel composition/quality, equipment condition, weather conditions, extracted steam or energy, non-fuel additives, non-controlled process pressures and pressure imbalances, non-controlled non-compensated fluid flows, non-controlled back pressures or gas stream restrictions, parameters originated at post-combustion equipment (including, but not limited to, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems), Fluidized Gas De-Sulphurization (FGD), heat exchangers, and Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) parameters), originated at pre-combustion equipment (including, but not limited to, coal blending apparatus and fuel analyzer), instrument signal drift, and non-repeatability of sensor inputs.
Calculations of heat rate can be as simple as making an estimate of the fuel heat input (i.e., fuel input flow rate times fuel heat content) and dividing this by the net electrical power output. Calculations for heat rate can also be as complex as doing full heat balances around an entire power plant, utilizing temperatures, pressures, flows, fuel analysis data, flue gas analysis, ash analysis, ambient air analysis (humidity), etc., while also using the net or gross generator electrical output. The computational procedure varies with the amount of detailed information and instrumentation that is available for a particular boiler.
Heat rate is a measure of end-to-end thermal efficiency (related to the reciprocal of the overall thermal efficiency). Most often, the overall thermal efficiency is broken down into terms of boiler efficiency and turbine/generator efficiency. The boiler efficiency rates how much of the input heat is put into heating water, evaporating water and superheating the steam produced, whereas the turbine/generator efficiency rates how effectively the heat captured by steam is converted into electricity.
A common method in the industry for defining boiler efficiency is the ASME losses method, also known as the "heat loss method." The heat loss method accounts for various efficiency losses in the boiler on an individual basis. These losses can usually be quantified by observing a limited number of plant operating parameters.
The current problem with calculating an overall heat rate is that inputs can be noisy, or non-repeatable, making it difficult for calculations that are actionable by operators. Even with time averaging or other statistical manipulation, a typical 10 minute average will often have an error band of +/−2%, which is often greater than the improvements operators or control systems can adjust or resolve. In other words, the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio presents a difficult situation for evaluation.
The long term, effects of non-controlled input parameters, can make it difficult to ascertain if operators are maintaining good practices for heat rate minimization. For automated systems, such as a combustion optimization system (COS) that automatically tune a combustion environment, these data errors exhibit themselves in poor quality models and in a delay time to take action because of a need to await statistical management of problematic data.
The present invention provides a system for determining performance characteristics based on input parameters that are controllable by an operator or control system (e.g., a combustion optimization system) and can affect overall heat rate.

System for optimizing a combustion heating process


A multi-port memory device with stacked banks is provided. The multi-port memory device includes a number of ports, and a plurality of stacked banks, two or more of which share one data line sense amplifier. Each stacked bank includes a plurality of memory cells. Data line sense amplifiers are connected respectively between the stacked banks and read buffers to sense data read from memory cells of a selected bank among the stacked banks. The read buffers are connected respectively to the ports, store memory cell data output from the data line sense amplifiers, and output the stored data to the ports. Read data lines connect the data line sense amplifiers with the read buffers, respectively. Write buffers are connected respectively to the ports, and convert and store write data received in serial through the ports in a parallel form. Write data lines connect the data line drivers with the write buffers, respectively. Accordingly, since a plurality of stacked banks can be accessed independently and can perform reading and writing operations independently, a data throughput increases and a data reading speed and data writing speed are improved.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-35606, filed on Jun. 3, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a multi-port memory device, and more particularly, to a multi-port memory device in which each of stacked banks is operated independently.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a general dual-port memory device, a pair of data is read from a memory cell array through an output port and simultaneously is written to the memory cell array through an input port. Such a dual-port memory device can be used as a video memory device for video cameras, etc. However, since the dual-port memory device has a limited number of ports allowing simultaneous access, a multi-port memory device capable of reserving a required number of ports as necessary is required to achieve high-functionality and high definition.
The multi-port memory device performs a bank access operation independently through a multi-channel. An operation speed of the multi-port memory device is dependent on the independent bank access operation and independent reading and writing operations. The independent reading and writing operations are closely related to a data line structure in the multi-port memory device.
FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an internal structure of a conventional multi-port memory device. Referring to FIG. 1, a multi-port memory device 10 includes a number of banks bank0 100, bank1 101, bank2 102, and bank3 103; data line sense amplifiers IO SA 110 and IO SA 112; data line drivers IO DRV 120 and IO DRV 122; write buffers 130, 132, 134, and 136; read buffers 140, 142, 144, and 146; and a number of ports port0 150, port1 152, port2 154, and port3 156. The bank0 100, bank1 101, bank2 102, and bank3 103 form a stacked bank structure. Multi-bit data, for example, 512 bit data is input or output through the ports 150, 152, 154, and 156.
The bank0 100 and bank1 101 are connected to a first data line sense amplifier 110 or a first data line driver 120 through first global data lines GIO<i>, i=0, 1, 2, . . . , 511. The bank2 102 and bank3 103 are connected to a second data line sense amplifier 112 or a second data line driver 122 through second global data lines GIO<j>, j=0, 1, 2, . . . , 511. The data line sense amplifiers 110 and 112 are connected to the read buffers 140, 142, 144, and 146 through read data lines RDL. The read buffers 140, 142, 144, and 146 are connected to the ports 150, 152, 154, and 156, respectively. The data line drivers 120 and 122 are connected to the write buffers 130, 132, 134, and 136 through a write data line WDL. The write buffers 130, 132, 134, and 136 are connected to the ports 150, 152, 154, and 156, respectively.
The reading and writing operations of the multi-bank memory device 10 having the above-described structure are described below. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a read data path of the multi-bank memory device 10. Referring to FIG. 2, 512 bit memory cell data read form the bank0 100 and bank1 101 is transferred to the first data line sense amplifier 110 through first global data lines GIO<0>, GIO<1>, GIO<2>, . . . , GIO<511>. 512 bit memory cell data read from the bank2 102 and bank3 103 is transferred to the second data line sense amplifier 112 through the second global data lines GIO<0>, GIO<1>, GIO<2>, . . . , GIO<511>. The first data line sense amplifier 110 and the second data line sense amplifier 112 share read data lines RDL<0>, RDL<1>, RDL<2>, . . . , RDL<511>.
Since the first and the second data line sense amplifiers 110 and 112 share the read data lines RDL, only one of the first and the second data line sense amplifiers 110 and 112 is selectively connected to the read buffers 140, 142, 144, and 146. If the first data line sense amplifier 110 is connected to the read data lines RDL<0>, RDL<1>, RDL<2>, . . . , RDL<511>, the 512 bit memory cell data selected in the bank0 100 and bank1 101 is sensed and amplified by the first data line sense amplifier 110 and is stored in one of the read buffers 140, 142, 144, and 146. For example, it can be stored in the first read buffer 150 through the read data lines RDL<0>, RDL<1>, RDL<2>, . . . , RDL<511>. The 512 bit data stored in the first read buffer 140 can then be sequentially output through the port0 150.
Here, while the memory cell data read from the bank0 100 and bank1 101 is accessed and is output through the read buffer 140 and the port0 150, memory cell data of the bank2 102 and the bank3 103 cannot be accessed.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a write data path of the multi-port memory device shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, similar to the read data path of FIG. 2, for example, write data received through the port0 150 is sequentially stored in a first write buffer 130 and constructs 512 bit data. The 512 bit data stored in the first write data buffer 130 is transferred, for example, to a first data line driver 120 through write data lines WDL<0>, WDL<1>, WDL<2>, . . . , WDL<511>. The first data line driver 120 is connected to the bank0 100 or bank1 101 through the global data lines GIO<0>, GIO<1>, GIO<2>, . . . , GIO<511>, and stores the write data in a selected bank, for example, in the 512 memory cells of the bank0 100.
Similar to the read operation, while the write data received through the port0 150 and the write buffer 130 is accessed to the memory cells of the bank0 100 or the bank1 101 and is stored therein, the write data cannot access the memory cells of the bank2 102 and bank3 103.
As described above, since in the conventional multi-port memory device 10, the stacked bank0 100 and bank1 101, and the bank2 102 and bank3 103 cannot be accessed independently, a limitation exists in a data read speed and data write speed. For this reason, a multi-port memory device having a stacked bank structure allowing independent access and capable of performing independent reading and writing operations is necessary.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other limitations in the prior art.

Multi-port memory device with stacked banks


The present invention provides a full-bridge driving controller and a full-bridge converting circuit, which have the function of soft switch, to provide a DC output voltage. The present invention employs a resonant unit to oscillate the current flowing through the converting circuit at a resonant frequency. The full-bridge driving controller switches four full-bridge transistor switches at an operating frequency higher than the resonant frequency, so as to achieve the function of soft switch.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a full-bridge driving controller and a full-bridge converting circuit, and more particularly relates to a full-bridge driving controller and a full-bridge converting circuit having the function of soft switch.
2. Description of Related Art
Types of conventional DC to DC converting circuit comprise a step-up converting circuit, a step-down converting circuit, a flyback converting circuit, a forward converting circuit, a half-bridge converting circuit and a full-bridge converting circuit, etc.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional full-bridge converting circuit. The full-bridge converting circuit comprises a first transistor switch M1, a second transistor switch M2, a third transistor switch M3, a fourth transistor switch M4, a transformer T, a first rectification diode D1, a second rectification diode D2, an inductance L and an output capacitance Co. Each of the first transistor switch M1 and the third transistor switch M3 has one terminal coupled to an input power source VIN and another terminal coupled to two terminals of a primary side of the transformer T respectively. Each of the transistor switch M2 and the fourth transistor switch M4 has one terminal grounded and another terminal coupled to two terminals of the primary side of the transformer T respectively. Two terminals of a secondary side of the transformer T are coupled to the first rectification diode D1 and the second rectification diode D2, thereby storing rectified electric power in the inductance L and the output capacitance Co. The switching operations of the aforementioned four transistor switches M1, M2, M3 and M4 are controlled by a first control signal S1, a second control signal S2, a third control signal S3 and a fourth control signal S4 respectively. FIG. 2 is a schematic switching timing diagram of the transistor switches of the full-bridge converting circuit shown in FIG. 1. A phase of the first control signal S1 is equal to that of the fourth control signal S4, and a phase of the first control signal S2 is also equal to that of the fourth control signal S3. Therefore, the first transistor switch M1 and the fourth transistor switch M4 are turned on at the same time to provide a conduction path from the input power source VIN through the first transistor switch M1, the primary side of the transformer T, and the fourth transistor switch M4 to the ground. At this time, the secondary side of the transformer T generates an induced current flowing from the first transistor D1 through the inductance L to the output capacitance Co, and thus an electric power is stored in the inductance L and the output capacitance Co. When the second transistor switch M2 and the third transistor switch M3 are turned on, another conduction path is also provided from the input power source VIN through the third transistor switch M3, the primary side of the transformer T and the second transistor switch M2 to the ground. At this time, the secondary side of the transformer T generates an induced current flowing through the second transistor D2, the inductance L and the output capacitance Co for storing electric power.
Although a conversion efficiency of the switching converting circuit is high, yet a conduction loss or a switching loss, etc. still occurs in an actual operation. Under the global trend of energy-saving and carbon reduction in the current stage, many countries have legislated energy efficiency regulations or announced energy efficiency certifications, such as 80 plus certification in U.S. The requirements for conversion efficiency in the regulations or certifications are hard to be complied by the conventional converting circuits. Therefore, how to increase the conversion efficiency of the switching converting circuit is one of the most important issues presently.

Driving controller and full-bridge converting circuit


A sewing apparatus is provided with: a stitch forming device; a driving device for driving the stitch forming device; a controller for controlling the driving device; a displaying device including a plurality of display segments, each of which indicates information to control a sewing process through the controller, on a surface of the displaying device, the display segments being divided into a plurality of segment groups, each of which includes at least one of display segment, on the basis of a predetermined criterion; and a display controlling device for controlling the displaying device to display thereon all of the at least one segment belonging to one of the segment groups and all of the at least one segment belonging to another of the segment groups so as to be visually differentiated from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sewing apparatus including a sewing machine, which is provided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and which can electronically perform information processing, such as a selection of a pattern to be sewn, and automatically perform a sewing process.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a sewing apparatus including a so-called embroidery sewing machine, which is provided with a built-in microcomputer containing a CPU or which is connected with an external computer so as to control the sewing machine by using the external computer, so that the sewing machine can perform various processes, such as an automatic sewing operation of a desired embroidery, for example, just by selecting a pattern to be embroidered by the use of a touch panel etc., on the sewing machine or by selecting it on the external computer.
In the above mentioned sewing apparatus having the touch panel, all switches, keys, buttons or the like on the touch panel are displayed with a single color (or a monochrome) when the pattern to be embroidered and a position of a sewing needle (that is, a position where the embroidery or the like is actually sewn) are selected or set on the touch panel, for example.
In the above mentioned sewing apparatus controlled by the external computer, all switches, keys, buttons or the like used for the control on a display picture plane on the external computer for the control of the sewing machine are displayed with the single color (or the monochrome).
However, if the selections of the embroidery and the like are executed by using the touch panel, on which the switches etc., are displayed with the single color, since all of the colors of the switches etc., are same to each other, it is difficult to identify the switches etc., corresponding to the different kinds of sewing patterns. Hence, the operability is certainly degraded, and there is a probability that a switch etc., for a sewing pattern which is not desired by the user may be erroneously operated and that the undesired pattern is sewn.

Sewing apparatus having color display controlling device


Provided is an air conditioner for performing heating operation through supply of a current to a heating portion including a plurality of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters to be connected to a power supply section, the air conditioner including: a heater output control section for controlling an output of the heating portion; and a plurality of pulse signal generating sections provided correspondingly to the plurality of PTC heaters, each for generating a predetermined pulse signal when a corresponding one of the plurality of PTC heaters is supplied with the current, in which the plurality of PTC heaters are subjected to detection as to whether each of the PTC heaters is in a connected state or in a non-connected state based on presence/absence of the predetermined pulse signal, and the heater output control section subjects the heating portion to output control which is adjusted according to the number of the PTC heaters in the connected state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air conditioner including a plurality of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional air conditioner is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 08-152179. The air conditioner has an integrated structure in which an indoor unit to be placed indoors is disposed in the front and an outdoor unit to be placed outdoors is disposed in the rear. In the outdoor unit, there are disposed a compressor for operating the refrigeration cycle and an outdoor heat exchanger connected to the compressor. The indoor unit has an inlet and an outlet opened therein. Inside the indoor unit, there are disposed an indoor heat exchanger connected to the compressor via a refrigerant pipe, and a heating portion including a plurality of PTC heaters.
When the temperature of the PTC heater exceeds the Curie point, the PTC heater increases in resistance, and hence a current value and a heating amount thereof are reduced. Accordingly, a stable amount of heating in a heating portion is obtained, which makes it easy to generate warm air of a predetermined temperature while preventing overheating. In this case, the resistance of the PTC heater changes depending on ambient temperature or an air flow rate. Therefore, predetermined control is carried out so as not to exceed power capacity, by monitoring a current value of the heating portion from the time of start-up of the PTC heater, when the resistance is low, until the PTC heater enters a stable state with high resistance.
When starting cooling operation, the refrigeration cycle is operated by the drive of the compressor, and the indoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator on the low temperature side in the refrigeration cycle while the outdoor heat exchanger serves as a condenser on the high temperature side in the refrigeration cycle. The air in a room flows into the indoor unit from the inlet to be subjected to heat exchange with the indoor heat exchanger so that the air thus cooled is delivered to the room from the outlet. This way, cooling in the room is performed.
When starting heating operation, the refrigeration cycle is operated by the drive of the compressor, and the indoor heat exchanger serves as a condenser on the high temperature side in the refrigeration cycle while the outdoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator on the low temperature side in the refrigeration cycle. The air in a room flows into the indoor unit from the inlet to be subjected to heat exchange with the indoor heat exchanger and is thereby heated. The air flowing into the indoor unit is further heated by the drive of the heating portion. The air thus heated is delivered to the room from the outlet, to thereby perform heating in the room.
The heating portion has different power capacity depending on where to install the air conditioner. At the installation, the number of the PTC heaters to be connected is adjusted according to a current value of the PTC heater in the stable state. In this case, depending on the number of the PTC heaters in a connected state, different control is carried out on the heating portion from the start-up until the stable state. Specifically, when the number of the PTC heaters in the connected state is large, the power capacity is high and hence the heating portion is controlled with an upper limit of the current value set high. On the other hand, when the number of the PTC heaters in the connected state is small, the power capacity is low and hence the heating portion is controlled with the upper limit of the current value set low. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the number of the PTC heaters in the connected state.
In a case where the number of the PTC heaters to be connected is set by an installation worker, an erroneous input is liable to happen. As a countermeasure, a plurality of current detecting circuits are provided correspondingly to the PTC heaters so as to detect the number of the PTC heaters in the connected state based on respective current values of the PTC heaters.
However, the current detecting circuit is expensive, leading to a problem of high cost of the air conditioner. Further, the current detecting circuit requires a large space for parts on a control board, which increases the size of the control board, leading to another problem of increased size of the air conditioner.

Air conditioner with positive temperature coefficient heaters


An image reading apparatus for optically reading an image comprises an LED for lighting a predetermined region including an object to be read, an image pickup element for receiving reflected light from the predetermined region lit by the LED and outputting an corresponding image pickup signal, a CPU for controlling an amount of light emitted by the LED in a predetermined range such that the image pickup signal output from the image pickup element is at the proper level, and a dark image pickup detecting circuit for determining a dark image pickup state on the basis of the image pickup signal output from the image pickup element. When the dark image pickup detecting circuit determines the dark image pickup state, the CPU controls an amount of light emitted by the LED to be low.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for optically reading an image such as characters, patterns or the like, or an image such as a coded image represented by a one- or two-dimensional bar code, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various image reading apparatuses have been known as apparatuses for optically reading an image such as characters, pattern or the like, or an image such as a coded image represented by one- or two-dimensional bar code, or the like.
Some of these apparatuses light a predetermined region including an image to be read by lighting means which have a light source such as an LED, and receive light refracted by the predetermined lighted region, thereby reading the image.
For example, an apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,364 is one of such type.
The image reading apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,364 is configured to detect the maximum value of the image pickup signal supplied from the image pickup means, including image pickup elements such as a CCD, MOS or the like, and perform feedback control on the amount of light generation by the lighting means. More specifically, the apparatus is configured, when the amount of receiving light in image reading is small, to increase the amount of light generation if the light means does not generate light at the maximum. On the other hand, when the amount of receiving light is so high as to exceed the dynamic range of the image pickup element, the apparatus is configured to reduce the amount of light generated if the light means does not generate light at the minimum.
FIG. 1 shows a partial circuit arrangement relating to control of the lighting in the reading apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,364.
When an operator operates a reading switch 1, an operation start signal is input into a CPU 2. In accordance with the input signal, the CPU 2 starts an LED driving circuit 3 so as to cause a LED 4 to emit pulsed light. The start of the emission of the each pulse is synchronized with a perpendicular synchronous signal 6 to be output from an image pickup element 5.
The image pickup element 5 receives the reflected light from a predetermined region lit by the LED 4 and including, for example, an image to be read on paper, through an optical system such as a lens 7 or the like. And then, the element 5 photoelectrically transduces the received light and outputs an image pickup signal, corresponding to the input light, to a maximum value detecting circuit 8.
The maximum value detecting circuit 8 detects the maximum value of one frame and outputs it to the CPU 2. The maximum value detection is renewed for each frame.
The method of the CPU 2 uses to control the amount of light generated will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.
Immediately after the start of image pickup, the CPU 2 causes the LED 4 to emit light at the minimum for performing a proper exposure (Step S1).
Then, the maximum value of the input image at the emitting of the LED 4 is detected (Step S2).
After that, on the basis of the detected maximum value, the optimal exposure time is calculated from a table prepared in advance (Step S3), and the LED 4 is caused to emit light in accordance with the optimal exposure time (Step S4). The control of the amount of light generated by the LED 4 is performed by controlling, for example, the pulse width or pulse height of the generated light.
These operations S2 to S4 are repeated in units of image pickup frames.
With such a structure, it is possible to eliminate variations in the amount of receiving light incident on the image pickup element 5 owing to variations in the LED 4, or variations in operation, such as floating-up of the reading apparatus or the like, and thus it becomes possible to attain an image pickup output having a good S/N ratio and being close to the upper-limit of the dynamic range.
However, in the above-mentioned reading apparatus, when the maximum value of the image pickup signal from the image pickup means is small, the apparatus is configured to emit light at the maximum amount. Therefore, for example, when the reading apparatus is not directed at the image to be read, and instead points midair, no light is reflected back. Thus, the output from the image pickup element 5 becomes very small.
In particular, with respect to what is known as a manually-operated scanning device, such as a reading apparatus which is configured to set an iris small so as to set the depth of field in order to always come into focus on an image pickup plane 9 even though a certain distance exists between the image pickup plane 9 and the apparatus, and is configured to scan and read an object to be read by a manual scanning operation, when it picks up no definite image in such a manner, the incident light is smaller than that of the other type. Thus, an output from the image pickup element 5 can be seldom attained.
As a result, in this case, the LED driving circuit 3 controls the LED 4 to emit light at the maximum in order to attain output from the image pickup element 5.
It can be considered that the output from the image pickup element 5 cannot be attain as, basically, a period where information of an object image to be read is not input. Therefore, it is not preferable to emit light at the maximum at that period since electricity is wasted. Particularly, most portable image reading apparatuses are driven by batteries, and therefore, a problem arises in that the battery life is unnecessarily shortened.

Image reading apparatus for optically reading an image


A long-term outdoor storage container is provided to store items at a wildlife or game observation or hunting location, optionally adjacent a treestand or other elevated platform. The storage container can include a closure panel hingedly secured to a housing having integral legs that stabilize and/or space the container relative to a tree or other support, latches to securely close the panel relative to the housing, optionally in a waterproof sealed manner, an insert in an internal compartment of the container to stow items therein, and retention strap flanges to retain a retention strap that secures the container to a tree. The container can include flanges or loops to accommodate a lock and cable, thereby securing the container against theft. The container can include a display to display time, temperature, barometric pressure and other information.

The present invention relates to outdoor products, and more particularly to a long-term storage enclosure configured to mount to a tree or other object in the environment.
A variety of outdoor activities are conducted in remote areas. Some such activities are wildlife watching or hunting, where individuals sometimes trek a long distance into the wilderness or away from human activity to view or pursue wildlife living in those remote areas. In a hunting scenario, a hunter may carry a backpack loaded with, gear and other equipment, to a remote location. There, they may set up a treestand, high in a tree, with steps leading from the ground to the treestand. The hunter also will typically haul their gear, for example, binoculars, rangefinders, wind checkers, tools, grunt calls, rattle bag, bleat can, scents, hand warmers, flashlight, knife, spare batteries, and extra ammunition, up to the treestand in the backpack. The hunter can use these items during the hunt, retrieving them from the backpack, which can be accessed multiple times for this purpose. After hunting in the treestand, the hunter usually will carry their backpack loaded with the gear back to their vehicle, hauling it out and then back in the next time they sit in the treestand.
Where the hunter will sit in the same treestand in a remote location multiple times over a period, all this transport of their gear can become burdensome, and can make navigating terrain a bit more difficult. There also is the risk of making noise trying to carry all the gear back and forth and/or accidently forgetting a key item back at camp or even dropping it on the trek to a stand. Therefore, some hunters will leave their backpack up in the tree, near their treestand, particularly when the hunter will return the next day. This can present issues in inclement weather, during which the backpack and associated gear may get wet. If the backpack is not waterproof, electronics can be damaged, or mold can grow, both of which can be costly problems or can ruin a hunt. In addition, if inquisitive animals such as raccoons, squirrels or the like, smell something on or in the backpack, they can sometimes get into it or destroy the backpack and its contents. Further, although the hunting location may be remote, others may come across the treestand and remove the backpack with all its valuable gear from the site. All of the above can be extremely frustrating to the hunter when climbing into this treestand, usually in the dark, only to find their gear damaged, partially missing or completely gone.
Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in the field of outdoor storage containers to adequately protect gear and equipment stored at remote hunting or wildlife watching sites, so that a user need not repeatedly haul those items back and forth to the sites.


A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor having a compound semiconductor with oxygen as a semiconductor layer and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display having the thin film transistor include: forming a gate electrode on an insulating substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; forming a semiconductor layer including oxygen ions on the gate insulating layer, and including a channel region, a source region, and a drain region; forming a source electrode and a drain electrode to contact the semiconductor layer in the source region and the drain region, respectively; and forming a passivation layer on the semiconductor layer by coating an organic material, wherein a carrier density of the semiconductor layer is maintained in the range of 1E+17 to 1E+18/cm3 to have stable electrical property.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display having the thin film transistor, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor having a compound semiconductor containing oxygen as a semiconductor layer and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display having the thin film transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a thin film transistor includes a semiconductor layer including a channel region and source and drain regions, and a gate electrode formed on the channel region and electrically insulated from the semiconductor layer by a gate insulating layer. The semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor configured as above is generally formed of amorphous silicon or poly-silicon. However, if the semiconductor layer is formed of amorphous silicon, charge mobility in the semiconductor layer is low and causes difficulties in implementing a driving circuit to be operated at high speeds. If the semiconductor is formed of the poly-silicon, charge mobility in the semiconductor layer is high whereas threshold voltage in the semiconductor layer becomes uneven and results in additional use of a separate compensation circuit.
Also, a method of manufacturing a typical thin film transistor using low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) involves high-cost processes such as laser annealing, etc., and control of its property is difficult, and leads to a difficulty in applying the technique to a large area substrate.
In view of the above problems, a study is under way to use the compound semiconductor as the semiconductor layer. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-273614 discloses a thin film transistor using zinc oxide (ZnO) or a compound semiconductor using zinc oxide (ZnO) as a main ingredient as the semiconductor layer.
However, if the compound semiconductor is used as the semiconductor layer, a problem arises in that conductivity is reduced due to infiltration of hydrogen (H) when exposed to air. The hydrogen infiltrated into a surface part of the compound semiconductor layer acts as a shallow donor to reduce the conductivity of the semiconductor layer, and such a reduction of the conductivity intensifies according to the exposed time thereof. Therefore, owing to the reduction of the conductivity on the channel region, the electrical property of the thin film transistor is deteriorates, thereby leading to an increase in a leakage current, etc.
Regarding the reduction of the conductivity of the semiconductor layer due to infiltration of hydrogen, a thesis titled, "Role of Intentionally Incorporated Hydrogen I Wide-Band-Gap ZnO Thin Film Prepared by Photo-MOCVD Technique", cP772, Physics of Semiconductors; 27th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors may be referred to.

Method of manufacturing thin film transistor and method of manufacturing organic light emitting display having thin film transistor


A method of alignment which can reduce a rotation error and a magnifying rate error of a shot is provided. According to the method of alignment, alignment in the third step (step D) is performed through correction by determining the shot error based on data in X and Y directions in the first step (step B), as well as through correction by determining the array error based on at least one of the data of the alignment marks in X and Y directions in the second step (step C).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of alignment, and more particularly relates to a method of alignment for an exposure step in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Background Art
An exposure apparatus has been known in which a circuit pattern on a photomask or reticle is superimposed on and transferred onto a circuit pattern formed on a semiconductor wafer in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The exposure apparatus is usually referred to as a stepper. The stepper demagnificates a pattern layer formed on the reticle using a projection lens and successively exposes it onto each shot region on one piece of wafer, moving the wafer step by step under the projection lens. FIG. 2 is a flow chart schematically showing an exposure sequence according to the conventional enhanced global alignment (EGA) method. The flow chart is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 61-44429.
With reference to FIG. 2, according to the alignment method, prealignment of a wafer is first performed using an orientation flat of the wafer (step D10). The entire wafer is thereafter corrected by rotation utilizing wafer global alignment (WGA) marks formed in each shot region (step D11). The WGA mark is an alignment mark for the alignment of the entire wafer.
A wafer stage is then displaced based on a design value of a chip array. In a plurality of shot regions set for detecting an error, positions of laser step alignment (LSA) marks of a pattern printed on the region are detected by an LSA optical system. The LSA alignment mark is for the alignment of the shot in the wafer provided in order to allow finer alignment compared to above mentioned WGA mark.
Position of the wafer stage is detected by a laser interference system simultaneously with the detection of the position of the LSA alignment mark. Based on a detected value, a registration error between the printed pattern on the wafer and the reticle pattern is detected (step D12).
A deviation is determined from the registration error in each shot region and a position coordinate of the wafer stage (coordinate of the printed pattern). An average value of the deviation is determined as a correction value (error parameter) (step D13).
A chip array map in which the error is corrected is formed from the error parameter and the design value (step D14). Six of the error parameters, X offset, Y offset, X scaling, Y scaling, X rotation, and Y rotation, are used. The X offset and the Y offset are respectively amounts of shift in an X axis direction and a Y axis direction in orthogonal XY axes. The X scaling and the Y scaling are amounts of shift due to expansion and contraction in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction, respectively. The X rotation and the Y rotation are amounts of shift due to rotation of the X axis and the Y axis, respectively. The position of the wafer stage is determined by the step and repeat approach according to the chip array map formed from the error parameters and the design value (step D15). Each shot region is thereafter exposed (step D16).
The alignment has conventionally been conducted using the six error parameters as described above. In order to make the conventional method more precise, a method of correction using additional error parameters is proposed.
According to the proposed method, a shot rotation error and a shot magnifying rate error, that are error parameters in the shot region, are further utilized in addition to the above described six error parameters. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a positioning procedure (alignment sequence) according to the proposed method. With reference to FIG. 3, according to this method, alignment in a step B is performed based on step A, and alignment in a step C is performed based on the step B. Alignment in a step D is carried out based on an alignment mark in the X axis direction in the step B, as well as an alignment mark in the Y axis direction in the step C. At the time of alignment for respective steps B, C, and D, the alignment is achieved by determining a correction value using the six error parameters (array error) and the rotation and magnifying rate errors of the shot (shot errors).
A problem in the method of alignment shown in FIG. 3 is difficulty in making the correction of the shot error properly. More specifically, although the array error can be corrected independently in the X and Y axes directions, independent correction of the shot rotation error and the magnifying rate error is impossible since the errors in the X and Y axes directions are related to each other. A problem when the alignment marks in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction are superimposed on corresponding marks in separate steps as the case of the step D, is that shift of the position is increased if correction is made using the shot rotation error and magnifying rate error. This is further described with reference to FIGS. 4-19.
FIGS. 4-19 show the rotation error only. Referring to FIG. 4, a representative rotation error in a shot is described. The shot rotation error is constituted by the sum of a constant error (b) and a dispersive error (.DELTA.b). In this case, the constant error (b) is considered a fixed value, so that the range of the shot rotation error is b.+-..DELTA.b.
FIG. 5 is a systematic diagram showing a pattern in which a shot rotation error is generated in the steps B, C and D steps shown in FIG. 3. With reference to FIG. 5, the maximum error at the time of alignment performed in the step C with respect to the step B is b+.DELTA.b (in the case of 2), and the minimum error is b-.DELTA.b (in the case of 1). When the alignment in the step D is performed for the maximum error 2 and the minimum error 1 respectively, further maximum errors (1-2, 2-2) as well as further minimum errors (1-1, 2-1) are generated respectively for the cases of 1 and 2. FIG. 6 shows the case of 1 in FIG. 5, FIGS. 7-9 show the case of 1-1 in FIG. 5, FIGS. 10-12 show the case of 1-2 in FIG. 5, FIG. 13 shows the case of 2 in FIG. 5, FIGS. 14-16 show the case of 2-1 in FIG. 5, and FIGS. 17-19 show the case of 2-2 in FIG. 5. When the alignment in the step D is performed, the step D is usually performed between the steps B and C.
With reference to FIG. 6, in the case of 1 shown in FIG. 5, the error in the step C with respect to the step B is b-.DELTA.b. The alignment in the step D is desirably performed between the steps B and C. In this case, if the rotation error in the step D with respect to the step C is .alpha., and the rotation error in the step D with respect to the step B is .beta., .alpha. and .beta. are expressed by following expressions (1) and (2). Here, b>0, b>.DELTA.b, and the clockwise direction from D is assumed to be positive. EQU .alpha.=(-1)(b-.DELTA.b)/2 (1) EQU .beta.=(b-.DELTA.b)/2 (2)
With reference to FIGS. 7-9 next, .vertline..alpha..vertline., .vertline..beta..vertline., .vertline..gamma..vertline., .vertline..omega..sub.c .vertline., .omega..sub.c, .vertline..omega..sub.b .vertline., and .omega..sub.b are respectively expressed by the following expressions (3)-(9). EQU .vertline..alpha..vertline.=(b-.DELTA.b)/2 (3) EQU .vertline..beta..vertline.=(b-.DELTA.b)/2 (4) EQU .vertline..gamma..vertline.=b-.DELTA.b (5) ##EQU1## Since D is in a counterclockwise direction with respect to C as shown in FIG. 7, following expressions are derived. EQU .omega..sub.c =-(b-.DELTA.b)/2 (7) ##EQU2## EQU .omega..sub.b =-(b-.DELTA.b)3/2 (9)
Referring to FIGS. 10-12 next, .vertline..alpha..vertline., .vertline..beta..vertline., .vertline..gamma..vertline., .vertline..omega..sub.c .vertline., .omega..sub.c, .vertline..omega..sub.b .vertline., and .omega..sub.b in the case of 1-2 in FIG. 5 are respectively expressed in the following expressions (10)-(16). EQU .vertline..alpha..vertline.=(b-.DELTA.b)/2 (10) EQU .vertline..beta..vertline.=(b-.DELTA.b)/2 (11) EQU .vertline..gamma..vertline.=b+.DELTA.b (12) ##EQU3##
As shown in FIG. 11, D is in the counterclockwise direction with respect to C, following expressions are derived. EQU .omega..sub.c =.vertline..omega..sub.c .vertline. (14) ##EQU4## EQU .omega..sub.b =.vertline..omega..sub.b .vertline. (16)
With reference to FIG. 13, in the case of 2(b+.DELTA.b) in FIG. 5, error in the step C with respect to the step B is b+.DELTA.b. In this case, the alignment in the step D is desirably performed between the step B and the step C. Assuming the rotation error in the step D with respect to the step B is a, and the rotation error in the step D with respect to the step C is .beta., .alpha.and .beta.are expressed by the following expressions (17) and (18). EQU .alpha.=(-1) (b+.DELTA.b)/2 (17) EQU .beta.=(b+.DELTA.b)/2 (18)
Next with reference to FIGS. 14-16, .vertline..alpha..vertline., .vertline..beta..vertline., .vertline..gamma..vertline., .vertline..omega..sub.c .vertline., .omega..sub.c, .vertline..omega..sub.b .vertline., and .omega..sub.b in the case of 2-1 in FIG. 5 are respectively expressed by the following equations (19) to (25). EQU .vertline..alpha..vertline.=(b+.DELTA.b)/2 (19) EQU .vertline..beta..vertline.=(b+.DELTA.b)/2 (20) EQU .vertline..gamma..vertline.=b-.DELTA.b (21) ##EQU5##
As shown in FIG. 15, D is in the counterclockwise direction with respect to C, so that the following equations are derived. EQU .omega..sub.c =-(3b/2-1.DELTA.b/2) (23) ##EQU6## EQU .omega..sub.b =-(1b/2-3.DELTA.b/2) (25)
Referring to FIGS. 17-19, .vertline..alpha..vertline., .vertline..beta..vertline., .vertline..gamma..vertline., .vertline..omega..sub.c, .omega..sub.c, .vertline..omega..sub.b .vertline., and .omega..sub.b in the case of 2-2 in FIG. 5 are respectively expressed by the following equations (26) to (32). EQU .vertline..alpha..vertline.=(b+.DELTA.b)/2 (26) EQU .vertline..beta..vertline.=(b+.DELTA.b)/2 (27) EQU .vertline..gamma..vertline.=b+.DELTA.b (28) ##EQU7##
As shown in FIG. 18, since D is in the clockwise direction with respect to C, following equations are derived. EQU .omega..sub.c =.vertline..omega..sub.c .vertline. (30) ##EQU8## EQU .omega..sub.b =.vertline..omega..sub.b .vertline. (32)
Referring to above expressions (1) to (32), there are four patterns of the shot rotation error (.omega..sub.c, .omega..sub.b) in the case of 1-1, 1-2 in FIG. 5, according to the expressions (7), (9), (14) and (16), that is, -(b-.DELTA.b)/2, -(b-.DELTA.b)3/2, 3b/2+1.DELTA.b/2 and 1b/2+3.DELTA.b/2. There are also four patterns of the shot rotation error (.omega..sub.c, .omega..sub.b) in the case of 2-1, 2-2 in FIG. 5, according to the expressions (23), (25), (30) and (32), that is, -(3b/2-1.DELTA.b/2), -(1b/2-3.DELTA.b/2), (b+.DELTA.b)/2, and (b+.DELTA.b)3/2.
The maximum absolute value of the amounts of error in above eight expressions is (b+.DELTA.b)3/2 derived from the expression (32).
On the other hand, as for errors generated when the shot is not corrected by rotation, the maximum error in the step C with respect to the step B is .DELTA.b, and the maximum error in the step D with respect to the step B is .DELTA.b assuming that the constant error b is 0 in FIG. 5. As a result, the maximum error in the step D with respect to the step B becomes 2.multidot..DELTA.b. The value of the dispersive error (.DELTA.b) and the average value of the errors (b) are usually at the same level, and as a result of comparison between (b+.DELTA.b)3/2 and 2.multidot..DELTA.b, 2.multidot..DELTA.b is smaller than (b+.DELTA.b)3/2 by 3/2b-1/2.DELTA.b. This result indicates that the error is increased by 3/2b-1/2.DELTA.b in the case of the expression (32) in FIG. 19 compared with the case in which the shot is not corrected by rotation.
As described above, when the alignment in the step D is performed using data from separate steps regarding the X axis direction and the Y axis direction as shown in FIG. 3, the error is disadvantageously increased if the shot is corrected by rotation, compared with the case in which the shot is not corrected by rotation.

Method of alignment in exposure step through array error and shot error determinations


The present disclosure is directed to an automated apparatus and method for testing a crowbar circuit of power converter. The crowbar circuit includes an anti-parallel diode and a voltage-controlled switching element, e.g. a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). The method includes implementing a first test sequence for testing operability of the diode and a second test sequence for testing operability of the voltage-controlled switching element. More specifically, the first test sequence determines a first current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the diode and the second test sequence determines a second current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the voltage-controlled switching element.

Renewable energy power systems, such as wind energy power systems and solar energy power systems, often include a power converter with a regulated DC link. For example, wind power systems, such as wind driven doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) systems or full power conversion systems, can include a power converter with an AC-DC-AC topology. Solar power systems can include a power converter that has a DC-DC-AC topology.
An energy storage system can be coupled to the DC link of a power converter in a renewable energy system. The energy storage system can be used, for instance, to apply power to the DC link of the power converter during transient conditions. A switching power supply can be provided to transfer energy back and forth between the DC link of the power converter and the energy storage device. For instance, the switching power supply can include a DC-DC power converter configured to convert a first voltage on the DC link to a second voltage at the energy storage device, and vice versa. It can be desirable for the switching power supply to be bi-directional to allow not only for power flow from the energy storage device to the DC link during transient conditions but also to allow power flow from the DC link to the energy storage device, for instance, to charge the energy storage device.
Certain power converters, however, may have complex systems built around a certain topology, e.g. a DC-DC power converter. For example, standard DC-DC power converters may include a bridge circuit and a power filter. In certain embodiments, the power filter may also include a crowbar circuit. Thus, interconnection and characteristics of the components of the power converter need to be tested to ensure proper performance of the converter and proper connection with the energy storage system. In addition, in various instances, the converter and its components may need to be re-tested, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Such instances may include, for example, after troubleshooting a malfunction in the power converter, after repairing the power converter, or after subjecting the power converter to one or more structural modifications.
Accordingly, a method and apparatus that addresses the aforementioned problems would be welcomed in the technology. More specifically, a method and apparatus that automatically tests various electrical components of the power converter, e.g. the crowbar circuit, to ensure proper connection between the converter and the existing power conversion assembly would be desired in the art.

Automated method and apparatus for testing a crowbar circuit of a power converter


The present invention is directed towards a container for transporting of valuables in a first compartment; particularly towards a container having a second compartment containing an alarm system. The alarm system includes an air bladder, i.e. airbag, for instantaneous and rapid deployment when triggered by a remote activator or other devices present on the container. After being triggered the air bladder inflates to a volume much greater than the second compartment and the container, such that the thief cannot easily transport the container into a car or through a doorway, or at the very least without being noticed.

Numerous systems and devices have been developed for the protection of valuables inside of or in the proximity of a building, including fortified vaults and enhanced surveillance equipment. However, little protection is provided to persons transporting jewelry, money or important documents between secure locations, when such valuables are at their most vulnerable. The majority of robberies perpetrated upon delivery persons are low-tech and nonviolent. For example, a thief will generally wait until a jewelry distributor is in their vehicle on route to or from a jewelry store. Often, the robber will utilize some means to coerce the distributor from the road and confiscate their merchandise. Since the merchandise, while immensely valuable, is usually small and compact, a representative can easily be robbed of thousands, or possibly millions, of dollars of merchandise in a fairly unobtrusive manner. This can result in them becoming uninsurable and can affect their future livelihood.
What is needed is a security case that will prevent the unobtrusive confiscation of valuables by creating such a scene and/or obstacle that a thief could not possibly take possession of the case without drawing attention.