An image processing device of the present invention includes a management section for storing an authentication level set in accordance with the volume of image processing which is predicted in accordance with at least one of day and time. When a request for image processing to image data is made, an authentication section changes the authentication level for user authentication in accordance with at least one of day and time. Then, in accordance with this authentication result, requested image processing is performed.

Conventionally, for ensuring the confidentiality of information such as secret information, various approaches to security have been proposed. For example, secret information is encrypted, and the encrypted secret information is managed with the addition of authentication information such as password thereto. When the browse and use of the secret information is needed, user authentication is performed by a predetermined authentication method using a password or the like. When this authentication confirms user's validity, the encrypted secret information is decrypted to permit the browse and use of the secret information. In such a manner, user authentication of secret information is performed through authentication information such as password to protect secret information against leakage of secret information, tampering of secret information, interference with use of secret information, and other risks, thereby strictly managing secret information.
In recent years, there has been a tendency to the emphasis on security to digital multifunction devices used by a unspecified number of users, such as digital multifunction devices with such functions as copy, fax, printer, and scanner, which are installed in offices and other places. That is, when data processing such as image processing is performed with a digital multifunction device, data are protected against data leakage and data tampering, and other risks, thereby strictly managing secret information. More specifically, as in the case of the above secret information, data is encrypted, and authentication information is added to the encrypted data. When data processing for the data is requested to the digital multifunction device, user authentication is performed in accordance with the authentication information added to the data. When this authentication confirms the identity of a user, the encrypted data are decrypted to permit a predetermined data processing with the digital multifunction device.
One example of such a digital multifunction device with a security system is a printing device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 28850/1999 (Tokukaihei 11-28850; published on Feb. 2, 1999). The printing device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 28850/1999 is arranged so that printing of a confidential document and a private document is carried out after receiver authentication for the confidential document and the private document is performed through receiver's input of an ID and a password as authentication information.
Moreover, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 293036/1997 (Tokukaihei 9-293036; published on Nov. 11, 1997; counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,383 (issued on Dec. 19, 2000)) discloses a printing device that performs user authentication in accordance with authentication condition, which are attached previously to data to be printed, for authenticating a user of the printing device. In this printing device, the authentication condition attached to the data includes authentication levels set in accordance with desired security levels such as level of data importance. Therefore, user authentication based on the authentication condition is performed in accordance with the set authentication levels, and the user authentication is performed strictly or leniently in accordance with the security levels.
Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-306173 (Tokukai 2001-306173; published on Nov. 2, 2001) discloses an information processor that performs user authentication with authentication levels changed in accordance with an amount of power consumption and an installation location of the information processor. Specifically, the authentication levels are changed by changing complexity of a password inputted when user authentication is performed. That is, the information processor performs user authentication by automatically changing the password in accordance with the possibility of unauthorized use by a third party in such a manner that a complex password is used in a situation in which there is a high possibility of unauthorized use, and an easy password is used in a situation in which there is a low possibility of unauthorized use. This makes it possible to change a security level in accordance with an environment in which the information processor is used.
As described above, digital multifunction devices and information processors with various security systems have been proposed.
However, the conventional printing devices have the problem that slowdowns of data processing such as image processing may be caused in the printing devices due to too much emphasis on the security aspect. That is, in the conventional printing device, regardless of the volume of data processing in the print processing device, consideration is given to ensuring of security including the protection against data leakage, data tampering, and other risks. On this account, even when the large volume of data processing rushes to the print processing device, user authentication is performed at a predetermined authentication level which is set in accordance with importance of data. As a result, it takes much time to authenticate users, thus causing slowdowns of data processing in the printing device.
Furthermore, this problem would also occur when the security system carried out in the information processor disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-306173 is applied to a printing device. That is, in the case where the security system of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-306173 is applied to a printing device, the user authentication level changes in accordance with the possibility of unauthorized use of data in the printing device, not the volume of data processing in the printing device. In other words, the user authentication level does not change in accordance with the volume of data processing requested to the printing device. Therefore, in the case where the large volume of data processing is required to handle, it takes much time to authenticate users. This might cause slowdowns of data processing in the printing device.
Besides, unlike the information processor disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-306173, a printing device is installed at a predetermined location and used by an unspecified number of users. On this account, it is difficult to determine the possibility of unauthorized use by a third party and change an authentication level in accordance with power consumption and installation location of the printing device.
Thus, the conventional printing devices do not change a user authentication level in accordance with the volume of data processing requested to the printing devices. In other words, in the conventional printing devices, regardless of the volume of data processing in the print processing devices, data security is ensured only in accordance with level of data importance. Therefore, a requested large amount of data processing might cause a decrease in processing power of the printing device. Further, such a decrease in processing power of the printing device results in reduction in the commercial value of the printing device.

Image processing device, image processing method, image processing program, and computer-readable recording medium storing the same therein


A magnetic amplifier includes a saturable core having a plurality of legs. Control windings wound around separate legs are spaced apart from each other and connected in series in an anti-symmetric relation. The control windings are configured in such a way that a biasing magnetic flux arising from a control current flowing through one of the plurality of control windings is substantially equal to the biasing magnetic flux flowing into a second of the plurality of control windings. The flow of the control current through each of the plurality of control windings changes the reactance of the saturable core reactor by driving those portions of the saturable core that convey the biasing magnetic flux in the saturable core into saturation. The phasing of the control winding limits a voltage induced in the plurality of control windings caused by a magnetic flux passing around a portion of the saturable core.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to devices in which electrical signals control the flow of electrical power and, more particularly, to devices that control reactance through the application of a control current.
2. Related Art
Some saturable reactors control current flow through changing reluctance (magnetic resistance). The core of these reactors may be magnetically saturated in which the magnetic domains of the core are lined up with a magnetizing force.
Before reaching saturation, the reactor's magnetic permeability and impedance to a winding with an alternating current may be large, limiting alternating current flow. As the core reaches saturation, its reactance (impedance) may be significantly smaller. Once saturated, the core may simulate an air core.
In power applications, such as applications that may convey megawatts of power at kilovolts voltage levels to a load, significant amounts of biasing current and a very low resistance might be needed to bias a core into saturation. Superconductive windings and cryogenic equipment are required to lower the resistance and power consumption of a biasing circuit. And, a significant biasing source would also be required to drive the core into saturation.

Power flow control using distributed saturable reactors


An exercise device and method to strength muscles and develop Chi by pushing a movable stick, in a guide housing (body) about a pivot. Resistance may be added to increase the force required to move the stick member along a path.

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to an exercise device and method of use. More specifically, to a stick member movable on a pivot.
2. Background Art
Tai Chi is a system of controlled movements which when properly executed is believed by practitioners to develop the internal life energy or "Chi" of the practitioners. Tai Chi is suitable for all age groups, is non-jarring and can build stamina and strength. Tai Chi movements derive from a concept of "yin" and "yang" which roughly means opposing forces, smooth fluid controlled movements are a hallmark of Tai Chi. Learning the controlled Tai Chi movements is accomplished through repetitive practice.
Practitioners may engage in a practice known as push-hands in which two practitioners engage in hand to hand pushing contact movement. Benefits of push hands against another force is to develop greater balance and Chi. Tai Chi also provides aerobic exercise, strengthening and muscle development.
It would be useful to engage in push hands type training and exercise without the need for a partner. It would also be a desideratum to have a resistive device to move against while practicing Tai Chi movements.


An opening of an upper surface of an air cleaner main body has an air cleaner upper cover mounted thereon, and is closed by the air cleaner upper cover fastened by bolts via a seal member, and air cleaner bottom plates are fastened to the air cleaner main body via seal members in openings of a bottom surface of the air cleaner main body. Passage holes connecting an engine combustion chamber and the air cleaner main body are provided on the air cleaner bottom plates; and an opening of a front surface of the air cleaner main body is inserted into intake ducts of vehicle body frames via seal members, and configured as an air introduction port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention typically relates to, in a motorcycle in which an engine is mounted on vehicle body frames extended diagonally rear downward from a steering head pipe, a structure of an air cleaner disposed above the engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a vehicle such as a motorcycle, if an openable/closable opening is provided on an upper portion of an air cleaner mounted above an engine, it is possible to perform a maintenance in the air cleaner. Further, in a case where vehicle body frames from which an air cleaner cannot be detached are employed, a maintenance and the like cannot be conducted unless an engine is one dismounted from the vehicle body frames.
For example, in a motorcycle having a monocoque frame disclosed in Patent Document 1, inspection windows (41) for performing inspection and cleaning in the inside of air cleaner are formed, and covers (42) are attached to the inspection windows in an openable/closable manner.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-16369
Meanwhile, for conducting a maintenance and the like of throttle bodies positioned at a lower side of an air cleaner, there is a need to remove the air cleaner from a vehicle. In Patent Document 1, although the maintenance in the air cleaner can be conducted from the openings of an upper portion of the air cleaner, an engine has to be dismounted for conducting a maintenance of throttle bodies disposed at a lower side of the air cleaner.


An approach is described for the compression of input data, and particularly one which is suited for providing a lossless method for compressing random input data. Both a compression algorithm is described, as well as a decompression algorithm for restoring the original uncompressed data. The decompression algorithm allows for its parameters to be adjusted to suit one's needs as they relate, for example, to the ratio of compression as a function of the decompression speed.

Data compression schemes are widely employed in many areas including the fields of communication systems and computer systems. Where communication systems are concerned, for example, one way to improve communication bandwidth is to transmit data in a compressed format. This permits the data to travel efficiently along data networks, such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and the like without unduly constraining network resources. In this regard, innovative data compression and decompression schemes have evolved to improve upon communication bandwidth. In the field of computer systems, it is also desirable to compress data as this offers greater storage capabilities. Thus, for a storage device of a given capacity, more information can be stored in a compressed format compared to an uncompressed format.
The primary objective of data compression technologies is to minimize the amount of data transmitted or stored. Most compression schemes operate by detecting repeatable patterns or redundancies in the data and leveraging these patterns to compress the data. Generally speaking, the greater the redundancy the more efficient the compression scheme because redundant data may be represented with fewer bits, thereby reducing the total number of bits necessary to represent the information.
While there are a variety of compression schemes known in the art, they can all be considered to fall within one of two major categories: "lossless" or "lossy". A "lossless" data compression technique is employed when it is imperative that the restored data be identical to the original data—that is, when one can ill-afford to lose a single bit of data during the compression/decompression process. Situations in which a lossless technique is necessary include, for example, the compression of executable code, word processing files, tabulated numbers, etc. On the other hand, if absolute data integrity is not essential and some degradation from the original data can be tolerated, then a "lossy" compression technique may be preferred. Lossy compression methods, such as those promulgated by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) and the Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) are commonly used to manipulate digitized video and voice data, image files and the like, while lossless compression techniques are commonly used in computer systems to maximize the storage capacity of media such as hard disks. To this end, well known lossless compression methodologies which are both statistical and dictionary-based include Huffman coding (symbol-entropy-based), run-length encoding (RLE) or a modified form of RLE such as the Lempel-Ziv-Welch (LZW) algorithm (dictionary-based), or string table compression.
Designing compression and decompression algorithms that will excel in most situations is exceedingly difficult. Often, the best approach is to identify the type of data to be compressed and design an algorithm particularly suited for that data type, with the understanding that the algorithm will likely fail if applied to data of a different type. This concept can be appreciated, for example, when compression schemes such as PKZip and Bzip are applied against data which has been previously encrypted.
In the past, various approaches have been taken to compress both patterned (or redundant) data, as well as random data. For example, the lossless LZW method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,302 to Welch. Another example of a lossless compression approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,435 to Remillard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,364 to Cole relates to a recursive data compression approach in which data is reconfigured in a manner that increases bit redundancy and thereafter compressed in an iterative or recursive manner until the desired compression ratio is obtained.
Not surprisingly, compression of random or encrypted data is inherently more difficult than patterned or redundant data since there are usually no patterns to be found. Randomized digital data of this nature, thus, cannot typically be compressed by normal compression algorithms. U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,826 also to Remillard employs entropy adjustment in connection with the compression of randomized digital data, irrespective of whether a prior compression technique has been applied to the information. Entropy is a term which relates to the randomness of the information. U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,051 to James discusses a variety of data compression approaches, one of which appears to be particularly directed to compacting a stream of randomly distributed data. According to this particular scheme, the data stream is divided into a plurality of blocks of randomly distributed data, at least one of which is selected and divided in the first and second portions. The occurrences of a pre-determined word within the first portion of the block is counted and the data within the second portion is compressed.
Unquestionably, a great deal of research has been conducted in attempts to compress random or encrypted data, as well as data which has previously been compressed. The above-mentioned patents provide some evidence of the amount of work performed in these areas. Aside from patented technology, information also periodically percolates in the field making lofty claims of compression capabilities, but it can sometimes be difficult to validate the veracity of such claims, or even the existence of programs which reportedly achieve them.
The pervasive nature of compression/decompression schemes illustrates the continuing need to provide improved approaches for effectively compressing and decompressing data. While various compression (and decompression) algorithms exist which are suitable for use with patterned data, a need particularly remains for a compression algorithm which will also reliably compress random data. Along these same lines, it is desirable to have both a compression and decompression scheme for use with random data, and particularly one which is flexible in nature to allow a user to selectively tailor various parameters to suit his/her particular needs.
The foregoing examples of the related art and its/their related limitations are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations may become apparent to those practiced in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

Methods, systems and computer-readable media for compressing data


The present invention relates to an analog voltage-signal selector device of the type comprising at least one plurality of comparator circuits operating in parallel and each having at least a first and second input terminals and designed to receive respectively an analog voltage-comparison signal and analog voltage signals of predetermined value and at least one output terminal for digital voltage signals. This selector device also comprises at least one logic circuit having a plurality of input terminals each connected to a corresponding output terminal of the comparator circuits and at least one output terminal. Finally the selector incorporates at least one plurality of latches each having at least one input terminal connected to the output terminal of a corresponding comparator circuit and at least one drive terminal coupled to the output terminal of the logic circuit with each of the memory circuits having at least one output terminal corresponding to an output of the selector.

As known, the majority of these devices, which are known in the literature as "Winner Take All" (WTA), are provided by means of architectures which exhibit a voltage-follower configuration and make use of inhibitor mechanisms operating among the calculation elements included in them.
A first known technical solution, shown in FIG. 1 and described in the article "Winner Take All Networks of O(N) Complexity," J. Lazzaro et al., Neural Inform Proc. Syst. 1:703-711, Denver, Colo., 1989, calls for the use of a selector device 1 comprising a plurality of circuit branches 2 operating in parallel and each including a first voltage follower transistor T1i and a second local positive feedback transistor T2i, where i=1,. . . j, . . . n.
The device I also comprises a total feedback line LN common to all the circuit branches 2.
Operation of the selector device 1 is as follows.
Each circuit branch 2 receives the input of a one-way current Ii and supplies output of a voltage Vi which represents the result of the selection process.
When the current Ii=max (Il,. . . In), the voltage Vi coincides with a logarithmic function of Ii, and if the current Ij<<Ii, the voltage Vj.about.0.
Although advantageous in some ways, this first solution exhibits diverse shortcomings.
Indeed, the device 1 does not provide any offset compensation and has a calculation time which depends on the number of elements making it up.
A second known technical solution is described in the article "A Scalable High-Speed Current-Mode Winner Take All Network for VLSI Neural Applications," Sean Smedley et al., IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems-I: Fundamental Theory and Applications 42(5), 1995 which proposes a tree-structured circuit comprising a plurality of cells provided by using bipolar transistors integrated with a BICMOS technology.
Each cell receives at input two current signals I1 and I2 which are compared with each other to select the highest one.
The latter represents the input for a cell included in a subsequent layer of the tree structure and so on until there is obtained at output the higher input current signal.


In the disclosed embodiments, vacuum casting of metal ingots is effected by melting metal in a hearth, directing molten metal from the hearth through a hearth outlet to one of a series of mold segments positioned on the periphery of a rotatable drum, and directing an energy beam from an electron gun or plasma gun toward the surface of the molten metal being poured into the mold segment to control solidification of the ingot. After the mold segment has been filled, the drum is indexed to position an adjacent mold segment beneath the hearth outlet. The energy beam is directed toward the surface of the completed ingot in the adjacent segment as well as toward the mold segment being filled to form a smooth surface on the solidified ingot.

This invention relates to casting of molten metal into ingot form and, more particularly, to static vacuum casting of ingots.
Vacuum refining and casting of ingots, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,340 to Entrekin et al. and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,932,635 and 4,936,375 to Harker, has been completed by pouring molten metal into a vertically disposed water-cooled mold in which an ingot is formed and solidified and drawn downwardly as molten metal is added to the top of the mold. Because of the relative motion between the metal being solidified and the adjacent cold surface of the mold, laps and cold shuts tend to be formed, producing an ingot with a rough surface which must be ground or otherwise treated if a smooth-surfaced ingot is desired. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the ingot must be uniform throughout its length since it is determined by the cross-sectional configuration of the mold.
The patent to DeWeese et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,809, discloses a continuous casting device in the shape of a continuously rotating drum having water-cooled molds at its peripheral surface into which molten metal is poured as the drum is rotated. Such continuous casting into separate mold elements followed by rapid cooling and solidification leads to shrinkage porosity within and at the surface of the molded ingots and may result in solidified metal bridges which physically connect adjacent ingots and makes it difficult to separate the ingots from the mold.
Furthermore, such casting arrangements rely on high metal casting rates to maintain a steady stream of metal into a mold and minimize the time for heat loss from the source to the mold. However, if the melting, refining and casting processes are in line, this can require flow rates above the desired or possible melting and refining capabilities of the system. Moreover, a high casting rate requires a correspondingly high solidification rate, resulting in porous castings.


An array substrate for use in an in-plane switching liquid crystal display device has a plurality of common electrodes and a plurality of pixel electrodes. One of the common electrodes is formed at the same time with the plurality of pixel electrodes using a transparent conductive material. This transparent common electrode is connected to other common electrode through a common electrode connector. Therefore, aperture ratio can be increased. Further in the present invention, a capacitor electrode is disposed over the common line and then forms a first storage capacitor with a portion of the common line, and a pixel electrode connector is disposed over the gate line and then forms a second storage capacitor with a portion of the gate line. As a result, the IPS-LCD device can obtain an improved and stable capacitance from the two storage capacitors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid crystal display devices. More particularly it relates to liquid crystal display devices implenting in-plane switching (IPS) where an electric field to be applied to liquid crystals is generated in a plane parallel to a substrate.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display device uses the optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystal molecules to produce an image. Liquid crystal molecules have a definite orientational alignment as a result of their long, thin shapes. That alignment direction can be controlled by an applied electric field. In other words, as an applied electric field changes, so does the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules. Due to the optical anisotropy, the refraction of incident light depends on the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules. Thus, by properly controlling an applied electric field, a desired light image can be produced.
Of the different types of known liquid crystal displays (LCDs), active matrix LCDs (AM-LCDs), which have thin film transistors (TFTs) and pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form, are the subject of significant research and development because of their high resolution and superiority in displaying moving images.
LCD devices have wide application in office automation (OA) equipment and video units because they are light and thin and have low power consumption characteristics. The typical liquid crystal display panel has an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The upper substrate, commonly referred to as a color filter substrate, usually includes a common electrode and color filters. The lower substrate, commonly referred to as an array substrate, includes switching elements, such as thin film transistors and pixel electrodes.
As previously described, LCD device operation is based on the principle that the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is dependent upon an electric field applied between the common electrode and the pixel electrode. Thus, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled by the application of an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. When the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is properly adjusted, incident light is refracted along the alignment direction to display image data. The liquid crystal molecules function as an optical modulation element having variable optical characteristics that depend upon polarity of the applied voltage.
In a conventional LCD device, since the pixel and common electrodes are positioned on the lower and upper substrates, respectively, the electric field induced between them is perpendicular to the lower and upper substrates. However, the conventional LCD devices having the longitudinal electric field have a drawback in that they have a very narrow viewing angle. In order to solve the problem of narrow viewing angle, in-plane switching liquid crystal display (IPS-LCD) devices have been proposed. The IPS-LCD devices typically include a lower-substrate where a pixel electrode and a common electrode are disposed, an upper substrate having no electrode, and a liquid crystal interposed between the upper and lower substrates. A detailed explanation about operation modes of a typical IPS-LCD panel will be provided referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a concept of a related art IPS-LCD panel. As shown in FIG. 1, upper and lower substrates 10 and 20 are spaced apart from each other, and a liquid crystal layer 30 is interposed therebetween. The upper and lower substrates 10 and 20 are often referred to as an array substrate and a color filter substrate, respectively. On the lower substrate 20 are a common electrode 22 and a pixel electrode 24. The common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24 are aligned parallel to each other. On a surface of the upper substrate 10, a color filter layer (not shown) is commonly positioned between the pixel electrode 24 and the common electrode 22 of the lower substrate 20. A voltage applied across the common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24 produces an electric field 26 through the liquid crystal 32. The liquid crystal 32 has a positive dielectric anisotropy, and thus it aligns parallel to the electric field 26.
FIGS. 2A and 2B conceptually help illustrate the operation of a related art IPS-LCD device. When no electric field is produced by the common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24, i.e., off state, as shown in FIG. 2A, the longitudinal axes of the liquid crystal (LC) molecules 32 are parallel and form a definite angle with the common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24. For example, the longitudinal axes of the LC molecules 32 are arranged parallel with both the common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24.
On the contrary, when a voltage is applied to the common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24, i.e., on state, as shown in FIG. 2B, an in-plane electric field 26 that is parallel to the surface of the lower substrate 20 is produced because the common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24 are on the lower substrate 20. Accordingly, the LC molecules 32 are re-arranged to bring their longitudinal axes into coincidence with the electric field. However, the first LC molecules 32a positioned corresponding to (e.g., above) the common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24 do not change their orientation, while the second LC molecules 32b positioned between the common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24 are arranged perpendicular to the common and pixel electrodes 22 and 24. Therefore, the result is a wide viewing angle that ranges from about 80 to 85 degrees in up-and-down and left-and-right sides from a line vertical to the IPS-LCD panel, for example.
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating one pixel of an array substrate according to a related art IPS-LCD device. As shown, gate lines 40 are transversely arranged and data lines 52 are disposed substantially perpendicular to the gate lines 40. A common line 42 is also transversely arranged parallel with the gate line 40. The gate line 40, the common line 42 and a pair of the data lines 52 define a pixel region P on the array substrate. An island-shaped semiconductor layer 46 is positioned near the crossing of the gate and data lines 40 and 52, thereby forming a thin film transistor (TFT) T with a source electrode 48 and a drain electrode 50. A portion of the gate line 40 near the crossing acts as a gate electrode in the TFT T.
In each one pixel, three common electrodes 44 extend from the common line 42, and two of the common electrodes 44 are disposed next to the data lines 52, respectively. A capacitor electrode 54 is disposed over the common line 42, and connects pixel electrodes 56 that are disposed between the common electrodes 44 parallel with the data lines 52. One of the pixel electrodes 56 is electrically connected to the drain electrode 50 of the TFT T. The common line 42, the common electrodes 44 and the gate lines 40 are made of the same opaque material, which has low specific resistance, and maybe formed by the same process. The capacitor electrode 54 and a portion of the common line 42 form a storage capacitor Cst with a dielectric layer interposed therebetween.
In the IPS-LCD device shown in FIG. 3, it is very important that the common electrode 44 should be disposed between the data line 52 and the pixel electrode 56. That is, because an electrical field occurring in the data line 52 affects the pixel electrode 56, cross talk can occur between the data line 52 and the pixel electrode 56 if the pixel electrode 56 is disposed next to the data line 52. The electrical interference between the data line 52 and the pixel electrode 56 causes a decrease of the image quality in the IPS-LCD device.
As mentioned before, the TFT T includes the island-shaped semiconductor layer 46 and the source and drain electrodes 48 and 50 over the semiconductor layer 46. The TFT T also includes the portion of the gate line 40 as a gate electrode. The source electrode 48 extends from the data line 52 and the drain electrode 50 is spaced apart from the source electrode 48. The island-shaped semiconductor layer 46 can be disposed under the gate line 40 in order to protect the island-shaped semiconductor layer 46 from incident light. In the IPS-LCD device shown in FIG. 3, the thin film transistors of the up-and-down neighboring pixel are adjacent to each other and possess the same source electrode jointly. Thus, the source electrode extending from the data line 52 has a "T" shape to be jointly used for the up-and-down neighboring thin film transistors. Semiconductor pattern 47 in the crossing of the data line 52 and the gate lines 40 prevents a short between the data line 52 and each gate line 40. Likewise, the semiconductor pattern 47 in the crossing of the data line 52 and the common line 42 prevents a short between the data line 52 and the common electrode 44.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV—IV of FIG. 3 and illustrates lower and upper substrates of the related art IPS-LCD device. As shown, lower and upper substrates 60 and 70 are spaced apart from and face to each other. A liquid crystal layer 90 is interposed between the lower and upper substrates 60 and 70. The pixel region P is defined with respect to the lower substrate 60 and an aperture PP that is substantially the display area is defined with respect to the lower and upper substrates 60 and 70.
On the lower substrate 60, a plurality of common electrodes 44 are disposed in the pixel region P on a transparent substrate 1. A gate insulation layer 45 is formed on the transparent substrate 1 while covering the plurality of common electrodes 44. The data line 52 is disposed on the gate insulation layer 45 between the common electrode 44 of one pixel region and the common electrode 44 of the other pixel region. A plurality of pixel electrodes 56 are formed on the gate insulation layer 45, and each pixel electrode 56 is disposed between two common electrodes 44. The common electrodes 44 and the pixel electrodes 56 are located in an alternate manner in the pixel region P. A passivation layer 57 is formed on the gate insulation layer 45 to cover the data line 52 and the plurality of pixel electrodes 56.
On the upper substrate 70, a black matrix 72 is disposed on the rear surface (the side facing the lower substrate) of a transparent substrate 1 in a position corresponding to the data line 52 and the adjacent common electrodes 44. A color filter layer 74 having red, green and blue colors is disposed on the rear surface of the transparent substrate 1 to cover portions of the black matrix 72. An overcoat layer 76 is disposed on the color filter layer 74. The overcoat layer 76 planarizes the rear surface of the upper substrate 70 and protects the liquid crystal layer 90 from the dye or pigment included in the color filter layer 74.
Lower and upper orientation films 58 and 77 are disposed on the inner surfaces of the lower and upper substrates 60 and 70, respectively, in order to align the liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer 90. Thus, the lower orientation film 58 is between the passivation layer 57 and the liquid crystal layer 90, and the upper orientation film 77 is between the overcoat layer 76 and the liquid crystal layer 90. Furthermore, lower and upper polarizers 59 and 78 are formed on the outer surfaces of the lower and upper substrates 60 and 70, respectively.
However, the related art IPS-LCD device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has some problems. Since the common electrode 44 disposed in the center of the pixel region P is made of the opaque metal, the aperture ratio is low. Further, since the capacitor electrode and the portion of the common line only form the storage capacitor, the capacitance of the storage capacitor is too low to be enough.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of fabricating an in-plane switching liquid crystal display device


A single-number service for providing integrated wireless and wireline communication networks for forwarding a call incoming to a subscriber's designated single telephone number to a routing destination number based on the subscriber's current location is provided. The single-number service includes storing subscriber mobile registration status in a wireline location register (WLR) of the wireline communication network. The subscriber mobile registration status is retrieved upon receiving the call incoming to the subscriber's designated single telephone number. The call is routed to a wireline destination stored in the WLR in response to the subscriber mobile registration status indicating that the subscriber is wireline registered. A subscriber location request is sent from the WLR to the Home Location Register (HLR) of the wireless network in response to the subscriber mobile registration status indicating that the subscriber is wireless registered. A routing request is sent from the HLR to the MSC where the subscriber is registered in response to receiving the subscriber current location request. A wireless routing destination number (TLDN) is communicated from the MSC to the WLR. The call incoming to the subscriber's directory number is routed by the WLR to the wireless routing destination number (TLDN).

Today, wireless and wireline services operate completely independent of each other, each supported, respectively, by a wireless and wireline network. Each network provides the subscriber with a separate telephone number and separate services, as well as separate subscriber interfaces. Such service bifurcation has resulted in duplicate transport, switching, operations and billing for each network. Current communication between the wireless and wireline networks is limited to internetwork call delivery. Internetwork call delivery occurs when a wireless (or "mobile") subscriber calls a wireline directory number (DN) or when a wireline subscriber calls a wireless mobile identification number (MIN).
Personal Communication System (PCS) development creates an opportunity for traditional carriers to enhance wireline services by augmenting them with wireless capabilities. These capabilities provide services which enable subscribers to simultaneously enjoy the benefits of wireless and wireline technology integrated within a common service context. These services, however, are not presently capable of providing a single-number service which allows a subscriber to receive and make calls on either a wireless or wireline telephone using a common telephone number.
However, since wireline and wireless networks have evolved from different architectural foundations using different databases and protocols for call processing, no internetwork interfaces exist between wireless and wireline networks to support development of hybrid wireless/wireline services. This in turn makes the creation of an integrated network, with services such as the single-number service, complicated due to the lack of internetworking interfaces between the wireless and wireline domains. Wireline networks use Line Information Databases (LIDB) and Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocols for call processing, whereas wireless networks use Home Location Register/Visitor Location Register (HLR/VLR) databases and IS-41 architecture protocols.
Another impediment is that both types of networks manage calls independently without provisions for handing-off calls from one domain to the other depending upon subscriber location. For example, the wireline architecture assumes that a subscriber is always reachable via a directory number (DN) and the wireless architecture assumes that a subscriber is always reachable via a mobile identification number (MIN).
Furthermore, development of single-number wireless/wireline call service requires timely network status information exchange between the wireless and wireline networks, in order to perform efficient single-number wireless/wireline call routing. Wireless communications are of great value to subscribers who roam large geographic areas. However, some of these wireless subscribers may desire to be accessed via a wireline telephone number. Currently, no such wireless/wireline internetworking interface exists which is capable of supporting efficient network status information exchange and routing between the wireless and wireline networks.
Internetworking functions must also support the processes of updating location status information concerning subscriber movement between wireline and wireless networks and then routing single-number calls to the appropriate network based upon current subscriber location. Robust single-number service requires interaction between the wireless and wireline networks so that when the mobile handset associated with the MIN is activated, the wireless network informs the wireline network. Thus, to satisfy a subscriber who is roaming in the cellular network and would like calls incoming to his directory number delivered directly to him, requires coordination between the two networks. No current mechanism exists to allow internetworking.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,331 issued to Emery et al discloses a personal communications service using wireline/wireless integration. However, in this system, a traditional wireless feature --the Home Location Register--is located in a traditional wireline feature, the Integrated Service Control Point (ISCP). This approach means that the two networks are combined and controlled from the wireline ISCP. In effect, the ISCP acts like a mobile service controller for the subscriber when the subscriber is roaming. Thus, under this disclosure, the two networks are actually a single entity.
Consequently, a need has developed to provide a method and system for providing an improved method of interface to act between the separate wireless and wireline networks which permits the coordination and cooperation needed for a single-number service. This interface method incorporates enhanced IS-41 architecture and protocol extensions to provide support for a new architectural entity, a Wireline Location Register (WLR), which is a database located in the Service Control Point (SCP) of the wireline network. The WLR is able to communicate with the HLR for exchange of wireless/wireline network status information. Development of these extensions will allow users to simultaneously enjoy the benefits of wireless and wireline technologies integrated within a single-number service concept.

System and method for a wireline-wireless network interface


Network devices such as intrusion detection systems, routers, firewalls, servers, and other network devices are monitored to aggregate all event data generated by monitored devices to provide a threat ranking of all network activity. A threat level for a given host is determined by a threat weighting assigned to that host and a threat weighting assigned to that host's netblock. In addition, a vulnerability for a given event is determined by the event's destination threat associated with a vulnerability value indexed by the event's destination and the event's type.

There are numerous sensor products available on the market today that provide network event and security reporting. For example, many firewall, intrusion detection system (IDS), server, switch and router products have the capability to log and present network events to a network security administrator. In general, the network event log from such devices is non-standardized and unique to the product manufacturer. Therefore, there is no centralized presentation or reporting capability for these products. Instead, the network event record and any detected security alerts must be viewed with the user interface of each individual device hosting the product to determine the nature of any security incident. It would be desirable to provide a network security system, apparatuses, methods, and articles that provide the capability of accepting network event data from different sensors, and generating a uniform, integrated presentation from the event logs of multiple products. This would provide a network security administrator with a unified and readily comprehensible view of a network event or series of events that represent an attack on a network resource, even though the reported network events may originate from different types of sensors.
Although many firewalls, IDSs, servers, switches, routers or other sensors may have the capability to detect an event representing a possible security incident, there is no known effective way to rate the severity of a network attack. An ′attack′ can be in the form of a network intrusion event, unauthorized access to or use of a network resource, damage or destruction of a network resource, or a denial-of-service attack. Regardless of the form of an attack, existing security products cannot generally rate the severity of an attack, particularly one involving multiple devices. For example, the destination of the attack may be a network resource that is particularly vulnerable to attack or whose impairment or loss would greatly impact the ability to use the network. Alternatively, a particular source of attack may pose a greater danger than others. For example, if the source of the attack is a person known to have attacked a network in the past, then the attack may be considered to be more severe than other attacks. It would be desirable to provide a system, apparatuses and methods that can rate an attack according to its severity.
In a network security system, numerous devices may be reporting security events or incidents. If numerous attacks are occurring simultaneously, the network security administrator must generally rely upon experience to determine the security events posing the greatest threats. It would be desirable to provide a system, apparatuses, methods, and articles that provide a more exact assessment of the comparative risk associated with network attacks relative to human reckoning. Using this capability of the system, apparatuses, methods and articles of the invention, an attack can be detected and assessed more quickly as to relative severity, allowing a network administrator to allocate security resources to those attacks most requiring attention.
With existing network security products, as previously mentioned, there is no integrated approach to evaluating or correlating events from different sensors to detect and generate an overall assessment of the threat level posed by a network attack or series of attacks. Moreover, there is no way to customize such an integrated network security system to reflect existing network realities to generate threat level data or alerts based upon criteria or rules set by the administrator. For example, if a network has only one web server with no back-up capability and many users are known to require access to the World Wide Web in the performance of their work functions, then a network administrator may rate an attack on the web server as particularly threatening. It would be desirable to provide a network security system, apparatuses, methods, and articles with the capability to adjust threat levels associated with certain attacks customized to the nature of the network and its devices in a particular implementation. Moreover, it would be desirable to permit the network administrator to set the threat level and/or logic resulting in generation of alerts associated with network events to provide automated detection of security incidents.

Determining threat level associated with network activity

International Business Machines Corporation


A sensor pad that is adapted to be positioned on a patient's bed or chair as part of a monitoring system that provides a signal to a caregiver when the patient rises from the bed or chair also indicates when the pad is near failure. The sensor pad includes specialized contact plate patterning that creates zones on the sensor pad.

The present disclosure relates to a sensor pad, in particular, a pad for detecting when an individual exits a chair or a bed.
A serious problem encountered by operators of hospitals, nursing homes, retirement centers, and other facilities that care for patients with limited mobility is that patients who leave their beds without assistance may subsequently trip or fall. Patients that are heavily medicated or sedated are particularly susceptible to falls. For these reasons, much consideration has been given to systems for monitoring patients and providing a warning that a patient is rising from or has left his or her bed.
One type of patient monitoring system includes a sensor pad positionable on a mattress of a bed or seat of a chair. The sensor pad is communicatively coupled to a monitoring device, such as a nurse call system. When pressure on the sensor pad is removed, such as when the patient removes himself or herself from the bed or chair, the sensor pad sends a notification to the monitoring device which provides a notification to a caregiver that the patient is no longer in bed or seated in the chair.
Currently, most of the sensor pads used in patient beds wear out over time and must be replaced before the sensor pads completely fail. However, the ability to precisely predict the lifetime of sensor pads is elusive. Factors such as the frequency of use, the weight of the patient on the sensor pad, and the amount of movement of the patient are variables that affect the speed with which a sensor pad wears out. Failure due to wear or other factors, including dampness in the sensor pad, can cause the sensor pad to indicate that a patient is in bed or in a chair when the patient has in fact gotten up, and as a result, the caregiver is not aware of the patient's change in location.


A medical device (10), for use in an operating room, has a basic body (20) with a mechanical ceiling interface (22) for mounting on a mounting bracket (210) of a ceiling mounting system (200). The basic body (20) has a mechanical frame interface (24) for mounting on a floor-mounted frame (100).

It is known, in principle, that medical devices may be used in various use situations. These are especially the floor-mounted mode of use and the ceiling-mounted mode of use in an operating room. For example, floor-mounted and movable frames are known, on which the medical devices are arranged and thus can be moved about in the operating room. Further, it is known that ceiling suspension systems, to which the medical devices can be fastened, are present in operating rooms. Thus, such ceiling-mounting systems often have a mounting bracket, on which a mechanical connection can be made available at a corresponding interface of the medical device. The media supply, e.g., with medical gases, is also known via such interfaces.
The drawback of prior-art solutions is that the frame remains at the medical device in case of conversion from a floor-mounted device into a ceiling-mounted device. Thus, the medical device is pushed with the movable frame into the operating room in prior-art solutions and a mechanical connection is established there between the ceiling interface and the mounting bracket of the ceiling mounting system. The medical device with the floor-mounted frame can be subsequently raised via the mounting bracket. This leads to an additional need for installation space for the entire medical device system. It is possible, in particular, that the frame of the medical device gets disturbingly caught, so to speak, in the area of the operating room. Carrying out maintenance on the medical device is very complicated in prior-art solutions in which a floor-mounted frame is eliminated. Since such devices usually have a weight of up to 100 kg and more, this leads to several people being required to remove the medical device from the mounting bracket of the ceiling mounting system. The ceiling mounting system can correspondingly be removed and then moved into a service room with great effort only.

Medical device system, medical device and floor-mounted frame for a medical device


A magnetic recording medium comprising a glass or glass-ceramic substrate is formed by sequentially depositing thereon a partially oxidized NiP seed layer, an underlayer and a magnetic layer. The partially oxidized NiP seed layer is formed by reactive sputtering in a gas mixture of argon and oxygen. The resulting magnetic recording medium exhibits low medium noise and high coercivity rendering it suitable for high density magnetic recording.

The requirements for high areal recording density impose increasingly greater requirements on thin film magnetic recording media in terms of coercivity, remanent squareness, low medium noise and narrow track recording performance. It is extremely difficult to produce a magnetic recording medium satisfying such demanding requirements, particularly a high density magnetic rigid disk medium for longitudinal recording.
The linear recording density can be increased by increasing the coercivity of the magnetic recording medium. However, this objective can only be accomplished by decreasing the medium noise, as by maintaining very fine magnetically noncoupled grains. Medium noise is a dominant factor restricting increased recording density of high density magnetic hard disk drives. Medium noise in thin films is attributed primarily to inhomogeneous grain size and intergranular exchange coupling. Therefore, in order to increase linear density, medium noise must be minimized by suitable microstructure control.
A conventional longitudinal recording disk medium is depicted in FIG. 1 and typically comprises a non-magnetic substrate 10 having sequentially deposited thereon a plating 11, such as a plating of amorphous nickel-phosphorous (NiP), and underlayer 12, such as chromium (Cr) or a Cr-alloy, a magnetic layer 13, typically comprising a cobalt (Co)-based alloy, and a protective overcoat 14, typically containing carbon. Conventional practices also comprise bonding a lubricant topcoat (not shown) to the protective overcoat. Underlayer 12, magnetic layer 13 and protective overcoat 14 are typically deposited by sputtering techniques. The Co-base alloy magnetic layer deposited by conventional techniques normally comprises polycrystallites epitaxially grown on the polycrystal Cr or Cr-alloy underlayer.
A substrate material conventionally employed in producing magnetic recording rigid disks comprises an aluminum-magnesium (Al--Mg) alloy. Such Al--Mg alloys are typically electrolessly plated with a layer of NiP at a thickness of about 15 microns to increase the hardness of the substrates, thereby providing a suitable surface for polishing to provide the requisite surface roughness or texture.
Werner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,397, proposed the use of Radio Frequency (RF) sputter etching to remove surface deposits on a conventional NiP coating of Al-alloy substrates, followed by oxidization, to improve adhesion of a Cr underlayer. Doerner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,434, found it difficult to obtain high coercivity on superpolished untextured NiP coated substrates, and proposed annealing in air to form a nickel oxide film on the surface of the NiP coating for enhanced coercivity. The smooth surface of the polished NiP layer was maintained through subsequent layers. The nickel oxide film was also said to reduce modulation by altering the crystallographic orientation of the underlayer and magnetic layer.
Other substrate materials have been employed, such as glasses, e.g., an amorphous glass, and glass-ceramic materials which comprise a mixture of amorphous and crystalline materials. Glass-ceramic materials do not normally exhibit a crystalline surface. Glasses and glass-ceramics generally exhibit high resistance to shocks. The use of glass-based materials, such as glass-ceramic materials, is disclosed by Hoover et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,834.
Conventional methods for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium with a glass or glass-ceramic substrate comprise applying a seed layer between the substrate and underlayer. Such magnetic recording media with glass or glass-ceramic substrates are commercially available from different manufacturers with different seed layer materials to reduce the effect of high thermal emissivity of such glass and glass-ceramic substrates, and to influence the crystallographic orientation of subsequently deposited underlayers and magnetic layers. Such conventional seed layer materials also include NiP which is typically sputter deposited on the surface of the glass or glass-ceramic substrate at a thickness of about 500 .ANG.. Conventional magnetic recording media comprising a glass or glass-ceramic substrate having NiP sputtered thereon also comprise, sequentially deposited thereon, a Cr or Cr-alloy underlayer at an appropriate thickness, e.g., about 550 .ANG., a magnetic layer such as Co--Cr-platinum (Pt)-tantalum (Ta) at an appropriate thickness, e.g., about 350 .ANG., and a protective carbon overcoat at an appropriate thickness, e.g., about 150 .ANG.. Conventional Cr-alloy underlayers comprise vanadium (V) or titanium (Ti) . Other conventional magnetic layers are CoCrTa, CoCrPtB, CoCrPt and CoNiCr. The seed layer, underlayer, and magnetic layer are conventionally sequentially sputter deposited on the glass or glass-ceramic substrate in an inert gas atmosphere, such as an atmosphere of pure argon. A conventional protective carbon overcoat is typically deposited in a mixture of argon with nitrogen, hydrogen or ethylene. Conventional lubricant topcoats are typically about 20 .ANG. thick.
Magnetic films exhibiting a bicrystal cluster microstructure are expected to exhibit high coercivity, low noise and high remanent squareness. In co-pending application Ser. No. 08/586,571 filed on Jan. 16, 1996, a magnetic recording medium is disclosed comprising a glass or glass-ceramic substrate and a magnetic layer exhibiting a bicrystal cluster microstructure. The formation of a bicrystal cluster microstructure is induced by oxidizing the surface of a seed layer so that the underlayer subsequently deposited thereon exhibits a (200) crystallographic orientation which, in turn, induces a bicrystal cluster microstructure in a magnetic alloy layer deposited and epitaxially grown on the underlayer.
Co-pending application Ser. No. 08/586,529 filed on Jan. 16, 1996, discloses a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium comprising a glass or glass-ceramic substrate and a magnetic layer exhibiting a bicrystal cluster microstructure. The disclosed method comprises sputter depositing an NiP seed layer on a glass or glass-ceramic substrate and subsequently oxidizing the deposited NiP seed layer. The oxidized upper seed layer surface induces the subsequently deposited underlayer to exhibit a (200) crystallographic orientation which, in turn, induces the magnetic alloy layer deposited and epitaxially grown on the underlayer to exhibit a bicrystal cluster microstructure. The magnetic recording media disclosed in co-pending application Ser. Nos. 08/586,571 now pending and 08/586,529 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,370 exhibit high coercivity, low magnetic remanence (Mr) x thickness (t) and low noise, thereby rendering them particularly suitable for longitudinal recording. The entire disclosures of co-pending application Ser. Nos. 08/586,571, now pending and 08/586,529, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,370, are incorporated by reference herein.
There exists, however, a need to produce a magnetic rigid disk media for longitudinal recording exhibiting low medium noise and high coercivity in an efficient, cost-effective manner with high production throughput.

Magnetic recording medium with partially oxidized seed layer


An objective lens actuator including an objective lens holding body for holding an objective lens, and a sheetlike drive coil arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the objective lens holding body. The objective lens holding body is rotatable about a shaft and slidable along the shaft, and a vibration absorbing member is interposed between a portion of the objective lens holding body and the sheetlike drive coil, the portion being opposite to the objective lens with the shaft interposed therebetween.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to objective lens actuators.
2. Related art
Conventionally, an optical recording and reproducing apparatus, such as an optical disk device using an optical disk as a recording medium, employs an optical pickup for writing data signals to and reading the data signal from the disk. An objective lens actuator is employed in this optical pickup to correctly converge a laser beam onto a data bit on the disk. FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of such an objective lens actuator.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show the objective lens actuator recited in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei. 3-165331. As shown in FIG. 6, an acrylate resin member 140 is arranged along the entire circumference between an objective lens holding body 131 and control coils 134, 135, so that this acrylate resin member 140 can increase the damping ratio of a movable part to thereby control resonance peaks to low values.
In FIGS. 6 and 7, a circular recess 121 is formed on a base 120. An optical beam through hole 122 is formed in a part of this recess 121 so as to pass the optical beam from a light source therethrough. A mounting hole 124 for securing a support shaft 123 is arranged at the center of the recess 121. A rubber spring 125 is arranged inside the recess 121 on a side opposite to the optical beam through hole 122 with the mounting hole 124 interposed therebetween. Further, arcuate magnet holding strips 126a, 126b are arranged inside the recess 121 so as to project upward at such positions as to confront each other while interposing a line connecting the center of the optical beam through hole 122 to the center of the support shaft 123 therebetween. Similarly arcuate magnetic path strips 127a, 127b are formed on outer circumferential sides of the magnet holding strips 126a, 126b outside the recess 121.
A bearing 128 that is rotatable about and vertically movable along the axis of the support shaft 123 is fitted into the thus fixed support shaft 123. The central portion of a substantially rectangular objective lens holding body 131 is coupled to the bearing 128. An objective lens 129 is set into an upper portion of an optical beam injection hole 139 arranged in this objective lens holding body 131. The objective lens 129 is set into the objective lens holding body 131 at a position corresponding to the optical beam through hole 122, and a balancer 130 is set into the objective lens holding body 131 at a position corresponding to the rubber spring 125. A holding pin 132 provided at the bottom of the balancer 130 is coupled to the rubber spring 125. The coupling of the holding pin 132 to the rubber spring 125 allows the objective lens holding body 131 to return to a predetermined position at all times every time the objective lens holding body 131 rotates or moves vertically. Arcuate magnets 133a, 133b are secured to the outer circumferences of the magnet holding strips 126a, 126b, respectively. A gap is provided between the outer circumferences of the magnets 133a, 133b and the magnetic path strips 127a, 127b.
A ringlike wound focusing control coil 134 is secured to the outer circumference of the objective lens holding body 131 through the acrylate resin member 140. On the outer circumference of the focusing control coil 134 is the tracking control coil 135, which is formed by coupling four arcuately shaped coils to one another at a predetermined interval. Both coils 134 and 135 are placed in a magnetic field formed between the magnets 133a, 133b and the magnetic path strips 127a, 127b.
A cover 136 is put over the whole body of the thus set components. Windows 137, 138 are formed at positions corresponding to the objective lens 129 and the bearing 128 as well as to the balancer 130 on the upper surface of the cover 136. The window 137 functions not only as a member for transmitting an optical beam past the objective lens 129 but also as a member for preventing the bearing 128 from interfering with the cover 136 when the bearing 128 makes an upward movement together with the objective lens holding member 131.
In the aforementioned construction, an optical beam is injected from the light source, and the injected optical beam is converged on a data recording medium through the objective lens 129 so that optical beam spot displacement as well as track groove displacement on the recording medium surface are detected. Then, currents corresponding to the detected displacements are applied to the focusing control coil 134 and the tracking control coil 135, respectively, to utilize magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit formed by the magnets 133a, 133b and the magnetic path strips 127a, 127b, so that the objective lens is moved in the focusing direction as well as in the tracking direction by causing the objective lens holding body 131 to either vertically move along or rotate about the axis of the support shaft 123, the objective lens holding body having both coils being secured to the outer circumference thereof.
Since the acrylate resin member 140 is interposed between the focusing control coil 134 and the objective lens holing body 131 in this case, the damping ratio of a movable part consisting of the objective lens 129, the objective lens holding body 131, the bearing 128, the acrylate resin member 140, the focusing control coil 134, the tracking control coil 135, and the balancer 130 can be increased, so that it is not likely to increase resonance peaks at high resonant frequencies of the movable part in the focusing direction and in the tracking direction, nor is it likely to impair the stability of the servo motor.
However, the objective lens actuator disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei. 3-165331 has the following problems.
The acrylate resin member 140 is interposed between the magnets 133a, 133b and the magnetic path strips 127a, 127b, and the presence of the acrylate resin member 140 leads to an increase in the distance between the magnets 133a, 133b and the magnetic path strips 127a, 127b, which in turn imposes the problem of reduction in magnetic characteristics.
Further, this acrylate resin member 140 does not provide sufficient damping, and the operation of mounting the acrylate resin member 140 is cumbersome, which is another problem. This problem is likewise encountered when, e.g., an adhesive member or the like is used as a resonance damping means other than the acrylate resin member 140.

Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho


A method for making a sample for evaluation of laser irradiation position and evaluating the sample, and an apparatus which is switchable between a first mode of modification of semiconductor and a second mode of making and evaluating the sample. Specifically, a sample is made by irradiating a semiconductor substrate for evaluation with a pulse laser beam while the semiconductor substrate is moved for evaluation at an evaluation speed higher than a modifying treatment speed, each relative positional information between pulse-irradiated regions in the sample is extracted, and stability of the each relative positional information between pulse-irradiated regions is evaluated. The evaluation speed is such a speed that separates the pulse-irradiated regions on the sample from each other in a moving direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a making method of sample for evaluation of laser irradiation position and a making apparatus thereof. In the method and apparatus, while a semiconductor substrate is sequentially irradiated with a pulse laser beam, a portion to be irradiated with the laser beam, of the semiconductor substrate, is moved in a predetermined moving direction at a modifying treatment speed to continuously increase regions irradiated with the pulse laser beam on the semiconductor substrate. In addition, the present invention relates to an evaluation method of stability of laser irradiation position and an evaluation apparatus thereof. In the method and apparatus, stability of laser irradiation position is evaluated on the basis of the sample for evaluation of laser irradiation position, which is obtained by the making method of sample for evaluation of laser irradiation position or the making apparatus thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modification of semiconductor with laser irradiation means that an amorphous semiconductor is crystallized with laser irradiation; a size of crystal grains of crystal semiconductor is increased with laser irradiation; defects in crystal grains of crystal semiconductor are reduced with laser irradiation; amorphous portions among crystal grains of crystal semiconductor are crystallized with laser irradiation; or an effect combining the above effects is obtained with laser irradiation. FIG. 12A illustrates a structure of a laser irradiation device 40 which performs modifying treatment of semiconductor. FIG. 12B is a view viewed along arrows B-B in FIG. 12A. In modification of semiconductor, as illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a portion to be irradiated with a pulse laser beam, of a semiconductor substrate 1 is moved in a predetermined moving direction at the modifying treatment speed while the semiconductor substrate 1 is sequentially irradiated with the pulse laser beam at a predetermined repetition rate by the laser irradiation device 40 so that regions irradiated with the pulse laser beam on the semiconductor substrate 1 are continuously increased. In general, a pulse laser beam is adjusted so that a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the moving direction of the laser beam is long (for example, rectangular or linear) like a shape represented by dotted lines in FIG. 12B by a laser shape adjusting optical system 41, and the semiconductor substrate 1 is irradiated with the pulse laser beam. Therefore, a shape of a portion to be irradiated with the laser beam is also long. Movement of a region irradiated with the pulse laser beam is, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, performed by moving a stage 42 on which the semiconductor substrate 1 is put in the moving direction by a moving device 43 while the semiconductor substrate 1 is irradiated with the pulse laser beam. Accordingly, a desired range of the semiconductor substrate 1 is irradiated with the pulse laser beam. Such a laser irradiation device (laser annealing device) is described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2002-158186), for example.
In some cases, a semiconductor substrate which is irradiated with a pulse laser beam by the above-described laser irradiation device has irradiation unevenness. The term "irradiation unevenness" means that the number of irradiation of pulse laser beam is different from region to region on the semiconductor substrate. For example, in FIG. 13, the region with a dark color shows a region irradiated with the pulse laser beam many times, and the region with a light color shows a region irradiated with the pulse laser beam far fewer times than the region with a dark color.

Making method of sample for evaluation of laser irradiation position and making apparatus thereof and evaluation method of stability of laser irradiation position and evaluation apparatus thereof

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method for the inhibition and removal Of ammonium chloride deposition in hydrocarbon processing units comprising adding to the hydrocarbon liquid an amide selected from the group consisting of dimethylformamide and 1,3-dimethyl-2-thiourea.

A frequent source of operating problems in refining and hydrocarbon processing units is the formation of deposits throughout those units resulting in a drop in pressure, decrease in efficiency, increase in energy consumption, loss of operating time, and other well-known difficulties. These deposits include salts of ammonia, inorganic contaminants that enter the process in the feed, and deposits that develop as by-products from corrosion of the processing unit including metal sulfides, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, and other metal salts. These deposits alone or in combination with other hydrocarbon polymers and decomposition products often form deposits that are difficult to remove from the internal surfaces of the processing units.
During the processing of hydrocarbon liquids, such as crude oil, under the elevated temperature conditions of a refinery, small amounts of water emulsified or otherwise entrained in the hydrocarbon will first vaporize and then later condense on the metallic surfaces of the equipment overhead of high temperature units, such as distillation columns. This water contains acidic elements, predominantly hydrochloric acid (HCl), which will corrode the surfaces of the overhead equipment at locations where condensation occurs.
In an attempt to minimize this corrosion, hydrocarbon processors will add chemical compounds to the hydrocarbon prior to elevated temperature processing for the purpose of neutralizing the acid, e.g., HCl. The compound most frequently employed is ammonia. The ammonia will neutralize the HCl by forming ammonium chloride.
The neutralization of HCl by ammonia mitigates against the problems of corrosion but the formation of ammonium chloride causes others. The ammonium chloride, which is vaporized during elevated temperature processing, is sublimed onto the surfaces of the overhead equipment. Sublimation, as herein defined, is intended to mean that the ammonium chloride passes directly from the vapor state to its solid crystalline form, bypassing its liquid phase. Crystalline ammonium chloride builds up on these surfaces resulting in the operational problems previously discussed.
It is an object of the present invention to inhibit the growth of ammonium chloride deposits on the surfaces of the overhead equipment in a hydrocarbon refinery. The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention which discloses a method for the complete removal and/or prevention of the formation of deposits of ammonium chloride.

Method for the inhibition and removal of ammonium chloride deposition in hydrocarbon processing units


Disclosed is an apparatus for preventing image sticking of a video display appliance and method thereof that can effectively remove a black display region appearing on a border part of a display screen of the video display appliance when an image sticking function is performed. The apparatus includes a control unit for outputting a control signal for zooming an input video signal at a predetermined zooming rate and performing the image-sticking prevention function if an image-sticking prevention mode is set, and a video processing unit for zooming the video signal at the predetermined zooming rate and processing the zoomed video signal to display the zoomed video signal on a display screen according to the control signal from the control unit. By zooming the video signal at the predetermined zooming rate and then by repeatedly performing a slight movement of the zoomed video signal being displayed on the display screen left/right/upward/downward, the black display region can be removed from the display screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a video display appliance, and more particularly to an apparatus for preventing image sticking of a video display appliance and a method thereof that can effectively prevent or remove the image sticking occurring during the display of an image on the video display appliance.
2. Description of the Related Art
A television receiver (TV), which is a kind of video display appliance, selects a broadcasting signal of a channel selected by a user among broadcasting signals transmitted from broadcasting stations, demodulates the selected channel broadcasting signal, and separates the demodulated broadcasting signal into video and audio signals. Then, the TV processes the video and audio signals, and outputs the video and audio signals through a display screen and a speaker, respectively.
Generally, TVs are classified into CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TVs that have most widely been used, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) TVs, PDP (Plasma Display Panel) TVs, etc., that have the characteristics of a high picture quality and large scale screen.
In particular, the PDP TV has a fairly small thickness in comparison to the existing CRT TV according to its structural characteristic, and has a superior luminance characteristic in comparison to the LCD TV. Additionally, the PDP TV has an excellent layout characteristic such as wall mounting, and thus has been spotlighted as the next-generation TV.
However, in the case of the LCD TV, if a specified still image is displayed on the display screen for a long time or if an image the aspect ratio of which has been converted from 16:9 to 4:3 is displayed on the display screen for a long time, a residual image, i.e., image sticking, remains on a boundary part of the screen for a considerable time. Meanwhile, in the case of the PDP TV, the cell deterioration occurs, and this may cause the TV to suffer fatal damage.
In most video display appliances, voltage inversion is provided by lines or by pixels, and this causes the voltage inversion to be separately provided by fields. In this case, some voltage difference is actually produced among common voltages, and this voltage difference and the external environments cause the image sticking and the deterioration of pixels to occur. Additionally, if a still image is displayed on the display screen for a long time, the image sticking or the pixel deterioration may occur.
In order to properly cope with the above-described phenomenon, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a method of slightly moving the whole image displayed on the screen for a predetermined period to an extent that the user cannot recognize such movement has been proposed and used. According to his method, the movement of the image may repeatedly be performed in the order of left→downward→right→upward to make a circle or in the order of left→right only.
According to the conventional image sticking prevention method, however, the image displayed on the large scale screen repeatedly moves in the order of left, downward, right and upward, a black display region having a width of about one centimeter and corresponding to a non-signal section appears on the right, upper, left or lower border part of the screen in order, and this causes the user inconvenience in viewing the TV.

Apparatus for preventing image sticking of video display appliance and method thereof


A base station is configured including an internal bus to connect a terminal section, transceivers that perform control and management of information to be transmitted or received and carries out radio communication at a predetermined radio frequency and on a predetermined communication method, and a controller connecting section that executes communication with a base station controller. The transceivers each comprise a transmitter/receiver section that transmits and receives radio waves at a predetermined radio frequency and using a predetermined communication method, and a logical control unit that performs control of the transmitter/receiver section and interference detection. The base station further comprises a high-frequency section that carries out radio communication with mobile stations, and a base station main control unit that collectively controls processing to be conducted in the base station, thereby collectively executing the processing involved in a radio communication with the mobile stations. The base station controller on the other hand collectively performs line communication processing. By distributing necessary functions in this manner, the number of times communication between the base station and the base station controller is carried out is minimized. Thus, a base station system suitable for microcells is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a base station system carrying out a radio communication with automobile telephones, portable telephones, etc., in a mobile communication system, and more particularly to the form of a base station constituting the base station system and covering a cell having a small radius, a so-called microcell, and suitable for the microcell.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In a mobile communication system utilizing mobile vehicle-carrying communication apparatuses or mobile portable communication apparatuses (hereinafter referred to generally as mobile stations) typically called automobile telephones or portable telephones, a plurality of radio base stations are placed in a service area allowing communications to provide communication service. Each radio base station (hereinafter referred to simply as a base station) carries out radio communication with mobile stations lying within a cell which that base station covers. Various inventions have been hitherto filed which pertain to the system structure and communication apparatuses such as base station or mobile station. The following are examples of such applications.
1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,633 entitled BASE STATION FOR WIRELESS DIGITAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM filed on Aug. 14, 1987.
2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,905 entitled MOBILE RADIO TRANSMISSION SYSTEM USING PREFERRED HOME SERVICE AREA filed on Feb. 7, 1990.
3. U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,737 entitled CORDLESS TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAVING BASE STATIONS WITH MEMORY FOR QUICK ACCESS TO INFORMATION filed on May 12, 1993.
Referring now to FIG. 9 of the drawings there is illustrated a schematic configuration of a base station system disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,633. The conventional base station system comprises a plurality of base stations 1 each carrying out radio communication with mobile stations 8, and a base station controller 10 connected to a service supplier 2 and serving to control the plurality of base stations 1.
The base station 1 includes a plurality of transceivers provided for each channel, and consisting of a combination of a channel control section 3 and an amplifier 4, a plurality of multiplexers (MUX) 5 distributing information from the base station controller 10 to the transmitter receivers, a timing control section 6 executing timing control of the multiplexers 5, and a radio processing section 7 carrying out radio communications between the transmitter receivers and the mobile stations 8.
The base station controller 10 includes a communication processing section 11 carrying out line communication with the service supplier 2 and carrying out communication with the base stations, a base station control section 12 serving to control base station to base station communication, an interface 13 disposed between the communication processing section 11 and the base station control section 12, and a plurality of echo cancelers 14 corresponding to the MUXs 5 of the base station 1.
The base station 1 in the conventional base station system having the above configuration distributes multiplexed data sent out from the base station controller 10 to the transmitter receivers by use of the MUXs 5. Each transmitter receiver places data into a time slot and carries out radio communication with a predetermined mobile station 8 using a TDMA method. The transmitter receivers are each able to perform simultaneous communication with a plurality of mobile stations 8. On the contrary, information from the mobile stations 8 received by the base station 1 is sent intact to the base station controller 10 for predetermined processing. The base station controller 10 in the conventional base station system performs not only line communication processing associated with the service supplier 2 but also collective management of communication control associated with the base station 1. This means that the base station controller 10 takes charge of control of radio processing between the mobile stations 8 and the base stations 1.
In this manner the conventional base station system causes the base station controller 10 to execute both line communication processing and processing involved in radio communications with the mobile stations 8. This will result in a configuration of a so-called base station controller leading type in which the base station controller predominates over the base stations. For this reason, the scale of the base station controller 10 configuration is enlarged, resulting in a form of system suited to a wider range of cell, a so-called macrocell, for an automobile telephone system and the like. Due to its large-scale configuration, the base station controller 10 is ordinarily constituted of custom-made items.
In order to ensure application over a wider range such as the automobile telephone system, the conventional mobile communication systems elongated the radius of a cell that one base station covers. In recent years, however, it has become desired to reduce the cell radius into a smaller cell, that is, a microcell, and to save the power consumed by transmission and reception, so as to ensure service by the mobile communication system within a restricted range such as underbuilding shopping centers and not to interfere with the action of the other radio apparatuses. A smaller cell will contribute to power saving of each base station, and hence to downsizing of the apparatus.
However, the conventional base station system has a configuration suitable for the macrocell, so that even if it is successfully applied to the microcell by reducing the specifications of the large-scale system, the line service charge will increase since the base station system collectively controls the base stations resulting in frequent communications between the base stations and the base station controller. Because of the fact that the number of base stations increases accordingly as the cell radius is reduced, this will impractically lead to an even greater line service charge.

Base station system suitable for microcells

Mitsubishi Wireless Communications, Inc.


An X-ray inspection device (10) for detecting a specific material of interest in items of various sizes and shapes (24A, 24B, 24C) includes an X-ray source system located at an inspection region and constructed to expose the examined item to at least one beam of X-ray radiation, and one or more X-ray detection systems (60, 80, 100). The X-ray inspection device also includes one or more dimension detectors (120) constructed to measure a selected dimension of the examined item, an interface system connected to receive X-ray data and dimension data, and a computer programmed to utilize the data for recognition of the specific material of interest and to indicate its presence in the examined item. Each detection system includes one or more arrays of X-ray detectors arranged in a linear, circular or semi-spherical geometry.

Over the past several years, X-ray baggage inspection systems have evolved from simple X-ray imaging systems that were completely dependent on interpretation by an operator to more sophisticated automatic systems that can automatically recognize certain types of contraband. The more sophisticated inspection systems have employed single energy or dual energy X-ray radiation transmitted through the examined baggage. Some systems have used a single view source detector arrangement, others have utilized a dual view or multi-view arrangements. The single or dual view systems usually scan baggage, as it moves on a conveyor, using a fan beam or a scanning pencil beam of X-rays to provide projection images. The multiview, CT type systems generally scan stationary baggage and process data corresponding to absorption of X-rays to reconstruct a cross-sectional view of the contents of the baggage. These systems usually display their decision by highlighting objects or regions in the examined baggage in different colors.
The dual energy inspection systems may also use the ratio of the attenuation values at the two energies to discriminate between low Z materials (e.g., plastics) and high Z materials (e.g., metals). However, many inspection systems cannot distinguish contraband when covered by a high density material, such as a sheet of metal.
To locate a low density material in baggage, some inspection systems employ both transmitted and scattered radiation. Such systems use an X-ray source located on one side of an inspection region and a detector located on the other side of the inspection region. The X-ray source emits a fan beam or a scanning pencil beam of X-rays that are transmitted through the examined baggage and detected by the detector. These systems may also employ an X-ray forward-scatter detector disposed near the X-ray transmission detector to detect photons scattered by the illuminated object out of the path of the transmitted beam. A back-scatter detector is usually disposed on the same side as the X-ray source and detects photons back-scattered out of the beam path by the object. The systems may display a transmission image and both scatter images for an operator, who then decides whether contraband is located in the baggage based on the shape and location of the imaged items. These systems may also digitally manipulate the scatter image and produce a selected parameter associated with a particular contraband, e.g., a histogram that is then compared to a predetermined characteristic of the probed contraband. The systems can also sound an alarm if the contraband is detected.
In general, many X-ray transmission systems are not able to effectively detect low Z materials (such as plastics or plastic explosives), especially when shaped into objects of thin cross-section, since they cause relatively small attenuation of X-rays. On the other hand, some X-ray scatter systems are not able to consistently identify weapons, explosives or drugs located deep inside baggage. Some X-ray systems have too low a throughput for use as an in-line inspection device at the airport. There is a need for a high speed X-ray inspection device that can reliably detect weapons, various explosives (or other contraband) having different shapes and sizes and being located anywhere in the examined baggage.

Identifying explosives or other contraband by employing transmitted or scattered X-rays


The Core Network Management Object Model of the present invention generically models the physical and logical objects in a configuration management system. The present invention also models the generic action objects required to manipulate the network objects. Unique object level information is isolated at the leaf level of the object model and is not proliferated to other generic parts of the model. The action objects all model different actions that need to be performed in a configuration application architecture and insulates the network objects from having any knowledge of session and event information. Leaf objects and actions are specialized to perform any configuration related actions. In the Core Network Management Object Model an Object Factory creates the unique object and an Action Factory creates the unique action. The action shall then be performed on the unique object to get, set and modify device information through SNMP and also to store the information in the database. This makes the object model for both the network objects and actions re-usable, scalable, and extendable. Use of the present invention drastically reduces development time and effort so that the same objects can be re-used in different applications and solutions.

The Network Management Configuration Domain for Telecommunication Systems suffers from not having a generic object model that addresses the issues of modeling telecommunications physical and logical components and devices. Different Network Management vendors have proprietary modeling schemas that reflect object models that are similar to their device structure. These proprietary models, however, are difficult to re-use and extend to build a generic Network Management Configuration object model. The problem of not having a Core Network Management object model that is generic and re-usable translates into having to re-architect the object model multiple times which consumes valuable design and implementation time, energy and cost.
Existing Network Management System (NMS) configuration object models have various shortcomings including not having isolation of business logic in just the specific leaf objects, but rather being proliferated throughout the object model; not distinguishing properly between Network Management Action objects that are required to manipulate specific core objects; and lacking an interaction mechanism to make the objects completely unaware of session and event information. In addition, prior art NMS configuration object models lack abstraction so as to be generically applicable to any network management object model and are not easily re-usable.
Accordingly, a need exists for a generic and re-usable core network management object and action model will solve the above problems.

Core object model for network management configuration applications in telecommunication systems


A semiconductor device includes: a seal portion; a first electronic element; a first lead terminal; a second lead terminal having one end that is disposed to be close to the one end of the first lead terminal within the seal portion, and another end that is exposed from another end of the seal portion, the other end of the seal portion being along the longitudinal direction; a first connecting element disposed within the seal portion, and having one end that is electrically connected to the first electrode disposed on the first electronic element, and another end that is electrically connected to the one end of the second lead terminal; and a conductive bonding agent.

Inverter devices configured to convert DC power that is inputted from a DC power supply to AC power have conventionally been known as an example of semiconductor devices such as electronic modules.
Such an inverter device is used, for example, to convert a DC voltage to a three-phase AC voltage to drive a three-phase motor. For example, in a conventional semiconductor device, an input/output electrode (source electrode) and a lead terminal (lead frame) of high-side and low-side electronic elements (MOSFETs) are connected with each other with a connecting element (source clip) (for example, see Patent Document 1).
One end of the connecting element is connected to the input/output electrode (source electrode) of the electronic element, and the other end is inserted into a recessed portion formed at one end (island portion) of the lead terminal, and connected with a conductive bonding agent (soldering material).
In the conventional semiconductor device, the conductive bonding agent used in the connection is not blocked and prevented from flowing toward the electronic element. Therefore, if the conductive bonding agent is not melt and solidified at a predetermined position, it may contact the electronic element.
If the conductive bonding agent contacts the electronic element, an electric connection failure occurs, which degrades the reliability of the electronic element.
Furthermore, in order to improve the reliability of the semiconductor device, the semiconductor device needs to be appropriately sealed.

SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.