Showing papers by "Panasonic published in 2012"

Polymer-bound pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone for fast-charge and -discharge lithium-ion batteries with high capacity.

Abstract: Organic rechargeable batteries have received significant research interest from the viewpoints of structural diversity and sustainability of electrode materials. We designed core structures of organic cathode materials for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which indicated that six-membered cyclic 1,2-diketones serve as excellent core structures because of the high redox energy change resulting from favorable coordination of the oxygen atoms to Li and the aromaticity of the reduced form. Here, we show that the Li-ion battery composed of pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone (PYT), which has two six-membered cyclic 1,2-diketone units, bound to polymethacrylate exhibits remarkable charge–discharge properties with a high specific capacity of 231 mAh/g, excellent rechargeability (83% of the capacity retained after 500 cycles), and charge–discharge ability (90% of the capacity at 30 C as compared to 1 C) in the LiNTf2/tetraglyme ionic-liquid system.

HEVC Deblocking Filter

Abstract: This paper describes the in-loop deblocking filter used in the upcoming High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard to reduce visible artifacts at block boundaries. The deblocking filter performs detection of the artifacts at the coded block boundaries and attenuates them by applying a selected filter. Compared to the H.264/AVC deblocking filter, the HEVC deblocking filter has lower computational complexity and better parallel processing capabilities while still achieving significant reduction of the visual artifacts.

An 8 Mb Multi-Layered Cross-Point ReRAM Macro With 443 MB/s Write Throughput

Abstract: Nonvolatile memories with fast write operation at low voltage are required as storage devices to exceed flash memory performance [1–3]. We develop an 8Mb multi-layered cross-point ReRAM macro with 443MB/s write throughput (64b parallel write per 17.2ns cycle), which is almost twice as fast as existing methods, using the fast-switching performance of TaO x ReRAM [4] and the following three techniques to reduce the sneak current in bipolar type cross-point cell array structure in an 0.18μm process. First, memory cell and array technologies reduce the sneak current with a newly developed bidirectional diode as a memory cell select element for the first time. Second, we use a hierarchical bitline (BL) structure for multi-layered cross-point memory with fast and stable current control. Third, we implement a multi-bit write architecture that realizes fast write operation and suppresses sneak current. This work is applicable to both high-density stand-alone and embedded memory with more stacked memory arrays and/or scaling memory cells.

Puncture needle cartridge and lancet for blood collection

Abstract: A lancet is pressed against a puncture needle cartridge while fitting a puncture needle loading inlet of the lancet to the axis of a puncture needle on the puncture needle cartridge In order to facilitate the operation, one of plural puncture needles, arranged in parallel, is tilted up from its initial position at a predetermined angle, and the puncture needle is guided into a puncture needle holding rod of the lancet Simultaneously, the puncture needle is pressed up to a position where the rear end part of the needle pushes the bottom surface of a puncture needle loading chamber of the puncture needle holding rod, whereby the puncture needle is loaded When discarding a used puncture needle, the puncture needle is inserted into a lancet guide member of the puncture needle cartridge, whereby the puncture needle is reliably captured to be discarded

Relaying operation in 3GPP LTE: challenges and solutions

Abstract: With the ever growing demand of data applications, traditional cellular networks face the challenges of providing enhanced system capacity, extended cell coverage, and improved minimum throughput in a cost-effective manner. Wireless relay stations, especially when operating in a halfduplex operation, make it possible without incurring high site acquisition and backhaul costs. Design of wireless relay stations faces the challenges of providing backward compatibility, minimizing complexity, and maximizing efficiency. This article provides an overview of the challenges and solutions in the design of relay stations as one of the salient features for 3GPP LTE advanced.

Organic electroluminescence device

Abstract: An organic EL device includes a metal layer which is provided with a nano-order-sized unevenness on one surface and plural organic layers which include a light emitting layer provided on the one surface side of the metal layer, and a height of each unevenness at respective interfaces in the organic layer is made smaller than an unevenness provided on the metal layer According to the above configuration, the unevenness on one surface of the metal layer changes a surface plasmon to a propagation light and a light loss can be suppressed, and moreover, each unevenness of respective interfaces of the respective organic layers is made smaller than the unevenness on the surface of the metal layer, so that a short circuit inside the device can be suppressed

Power transmitting apparatus, power receiving apparatus, and power transmitting method

Abstract: Provided is a electric power transmitting apparatus ( 300 ) that has sub-electric power transmission mode, and main electric power transmission mode for transmitting power larger than that transmitted in the sub-electric power transmission mode. A power transmitting unit ( 310 ) transmits power in a wireless manner. A electric power transmission control unit ( 320 ) controls, in sub-electric power transmission mode, power to be transmitted by means of the power transmitting unit ( 310 ) and transmission timing of the electric power transmission such that at least power that the electric power receiving apparatus needs to transmit power request notification is transmitted at random intervals. A electric power transmission control unit ( 320 ) performs switching to the main electric power transmission mode, in the cases where a communication unit ( 350 ) acquired the power request notification transmitted from the electric power receiving apparatus.

Statistical Voice Conversion Techniques for Body-Conducted Unvoiced Speech Enhancement

Abstract: In this paper, we present statistical approaches to enhance body-conducted unvoiced speech for silent speech communication. A body-conductive microphone called nonaudible murmur (NAM) microphone is effectively used to detect very soft unvoiced speech such as NAM or a whispered voice while keeping speech sounds emitted outside almost inaudible. However, body-conducted unvoiced speech is difficult to use in human-to-human speech communication because it sounds unnatural and less intelligible owing to the acoustic change caused by body conduction. To address this issue, voice conversion (VC) methods from NAM to normal speech (NAM-to-Speech) and to a whispered voice (NAM-to-Whisper) are proposed, where the acoustic features of body-conducted unvoiced speech are converted into those of natural voices in a probabilistic manner using Gaussian mixture models (GMMs). Moreover, these methods are extended to convert not only NAM but also a body-conducted whispered voice (BCW) as another type of body-conducted unvoiced speech. Several experimental evaluations are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. The experimental results show that 1) NAM-to-Speech effectively improves intelligibility but it causes degradation of naturalness owing to the difficulty of estimating natural fundamental frequency contours from unvoiced speech; 2) NAM-to-Whisper significantly outperforms NAM-to-Speech in terms of both intelligibility and naturalness; and 3) a single conversion model capable of converting both NAM and BCW is effectively developed in our proposed VC methods.

Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Using a Copper Rubeanate Metal Organic Framework

Abstract: We synthesized a copper rubeanate metal organic framework (CR-MOF) which has the potential to improve the catalytic activity of electrochemical reduction of CO2 due to its characteristics of electronic conductivity, proton conductivity, dispersed reaction sites, and nanopores. Synthesized CR-MOF particles were dropped on carbon paper (CP) to form a working electrode. The onset potential for CO2 reduction of a CR-MOF electrode was about 0.2 V more positive than that observed on a Cu metal electrode in an aqueous electrolyte solution. Our analysis of the reduction products during potentiostatic electrolysis showed formic acid (HCOOH) to be virtually the only CO2 reduction product on a CR-MOF electrode, whereas a Cu metal electrode generates a range of products. The quantity of products from the CR-MOF electrode was markedly greater (13-fold at −1.2 V vs. SHE) than that of a Cu metal electrode. Its stability was also confirmed.

Short message transmission and handover procedures

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for handover of a mobile node from E-UTRAN to UTRAN in a scenario where SMS is the only service of the mobile node. The improved handover method allows saving radio resources by establishing the signalling connection for SMS exchange in the target network, and avoiding the data connection in the target network, since it is not used. The MME takes the decision to establish or not the data connection in the target UTRAN, and accordingly instructs the SGSN and UE to set the corresponding PDP contexts for the data connection to a “preserved” state, so as to avoid the establishment of same. Embodiments further relate to improved SMS delivery for IDLE mode UEs that activate ISR so as to avoid the involvement of the MSC server. Instead, packet-switched domain nodes are to be involved only.

Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an isolation region (11a) formed in a semiconductor substrate (10), an active region made of the semiconductor substrate (10) surrounded by the isolation region (11a) and having a trench portion, a MIS transistor of a first-conductivity type having a gate electrode (13) formed on the active region, a first sidewall (19) formed on a side surface of the gate electrode between the gate electrode (13) and the trench portion as viewed in the top, and a silicon mixed crystal layer (21) of the first-conductivity type, the trench portion being filled with the silicon mixed crystal layer (21) of the first-conductivity type, a substrate region provided between the trench portion and the isolation region (11a, 11b) and made of the semiconductor substrate (10), and an impurity region (22) of the first-conductivity type formed in the substrate region The silicon mixed crystal layer (21) generates stress in a channel region of the active region

Power supplying module for contactless power supplying device, method for using power supplying module of contactless power supplying device, and method for manufacturing power supplying module of contactless power supplying device

Abstract: Coil units equipped with primary coils having the same specification are provided in a power feeding module. Coil-unit intermeshing recess sections are formed on a printed circuit board to match each of the coil units. Pads for joining together with electrodes formed on the coil units are formed on the bottom faces of each of the coil-unit intermeshing recess sections. A plurality of coil units can be mounted onto the printed circuit board easily, by fitting each of the coil units into each of the coil-unit intermeshing recess sections and joining them together, which will enable manufacturing efficiency to be improved.

Image rendering device, image rendering method, and image rendering program for rendering stereoscopic panoramic images

Abstract: An image rendering device realizes stereoscopic viewing of composite images generated by compositing background three-dimensional models and foreground three-dimensional models each defined in three-dimensional modeling space A texture mapping unit converts background image data into two or more viewpoint textures and maps each viewpoint texture to a background three-dimensional model in the three-dimensional modeling space A viewport conversion unit extracts, for each of the two or more viewpoint textures, a viewport image from the background three-dimensional model mapped with the viewpoint texture and from the foreground three-dimensional model By comparing a parallax of the foreground three-dimensional model occurring in stereoscopic playback with a parallax of the intra-texture object occurring in stereoscopic playback, the device determines depth relationship between the foreground three-dimensional model and the intra-texture object and adjusts positional relationship between the foreground three-dimensional model and the intra-texture object based on a result of the determination

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract: A semiconductor device having trench gates in element regions R1 formed in a semiconductor substrate. Second trenches T2 having the same depth as that of first trenches T1 making up the trench gates are provided along a marginal area of the semiconductor substrate.

Light source apparatus and image display apparatus using the same

Abstract: A light source apparatus includes: an excitation light source including a laser light source; a first wheel that is controlled to rotate, and includes, in a part of a surface thereof to be illuminated by excitation light emitted from the excitation light source, a phosphor layer to be excited by the excitation light; a dichroic mirror that guides fluorescence emitted from the phosphor layer of the first wheel and the excitation light to an illumination optical system; and a second wheel that is controlled to rotate, and includes a dichroic filter that transmits light having a desired wavelength component of each of the fluorescence and the excitation light output from the dichroic mirror.

Imaging apparatus and imaging system

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor configured to capture an image of a subject; an identification information storage unit configured to store a particular subject and a terminal device corresponding to the particular subject; a face detection unit and a face recognition unit configured to detect the particular subject stored in the identification information storage unit in the image captured by the image sensor; and a microcomputer configured to notify, when the face detection unit and the face recognition unit detect the particular subject, the terminal device which is stored in the identification information storage unit and corresponds to the detected particular subject that the particular subject is detected.

Continuous Wave Operation of GaN Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers at Room Temperature

Abstract: We report on continuous wave lasing characteristics of GaN vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). The VCSEL operates at room temperature under current injection by using highly reflective distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) made up of transparent ${\rm ZrO}_{2}$ and ${\rm SiO}_{2}$ film stacks. Together with high reflectivity and the wide stop band of the DBR, the long cavity of 6 $\mu{\rm m}$ allows multimode lasing oscillation with narrow mode spacing of 2.9 nm. In addition, a short cavity structure of 2 $\mu{\rm m}$ is fabricated and shows quasi-single mode operation. The spacing of the lasing modes shows a clear dependence of the actual cavity lengths with fairly good agreement to theory taking account of the refractive index dispersion.

Image encoding method, image decoding method, image encoding device, image decoding device, and image encoding/decoding device

Abstract: The image decoding method includes: determining a context for use in a current block, from among a plurality of contexts (S204); and performing arithmetic decoding on a bit sequence corresponding to the current block, using the determined context (S210), wherein in the determining (S204): the context is determined under a condition that control parameters of neighboring blocks of the current block are used, when the signal type is a first type, the neighboring blocks being a left block and an upper block of the current block (S206); and the context is determined under a condition that the control parameter of the upper block is not used, when the signal type is a second type (S207), and the second type is "inter_pred_flag".

Organic electroluminescence element

Abstract: The organic electroluminescence element in accordance with the present invention includes: a light-emitting layer; a first electrode layer on a first surface in a thickness direction of the light-emitting layer; a second electrode layer on a second surface in the thickness direction of the light-emitting layer; an electrically conductive layer; and an insulating layer. The light-emitting layer is configured to emit light when a predetermined voltage is applied between the first and second electrode layers. The second electrode layer includes an electrode part covering the second surface and an opening part formed in the electrode part to expose the second surface. The electrically conductive layer is designed to allow the light to pass therethrough, and is interposed between the second surface and the second electrode layer to cover the second surface. The insulating layer is interposed between the second surface and the electrically conductive layer to overlap the electrode part.

Video encoding method and video decoding method

Abstract: Provided is a video coding method and a video decoding method increasing the resolution and quality of images while suppressing an amount of data required for increasing the resolution. A video coding apparatus includes a first orthogonal transformation unit performing discrete cosine transform on an input picture signal, a low-pass filter performing low-pass filtering on the input picture signal, a downsampling unit downsampling the resolution of a low-frequency image signal, a coding unit compressing and coding a reduced image signal, a local decoding unit decoding a coded bit stream, a second orthogonal transformation unit performing discrete cosine transform on a decoded image signal, and a modification information generation unit generating, based on input image DCT coefficients and decoded image DCT coefficients, coefficient modification information used for modifying orthogonal transformation coefficients obtained by performing orthogonal transformation on a decoded video signal obtained from a coded bit stream.

Hierarchical matching with side information for image classification

Abstract: In this work, we introduce a hierarchical matching framework with so-called side information for image classification based on bag-of-words representation. Each image is expressed as a bag of orderless pairs, each of which includes a local feature vector encoded over a visual dictionary, and its corresponding side information from priors or contexts. The side information is used for hierarchical clustering of the encoded local features. Then a hierarchical matching kernel is derived as the weighted sum of the similarities over the encoded features pooled within clusters at different levels. Finally the new kernel is integrated with popular machine learning algorithms for classification purpose. This framework is quite general and flexible, other practical and powerful algorithms can be easily designed by using this framework as a template and utilizing particular side information for hierarchical clustering of the encoded local features. To tackle the latent spatial mismatch issues in SPM, we design in this work two exemplar algorithms based on two types of side information: object confidence map and visual saliency map, from object detection priors and within-image contexts respectively. The extensive experiments over the Caltech-UCSD Birds 200, Oxford Flowers 17 and 102, PASCAL VOC 2007, and PASCAL VOC 2010 databases show the state-of-the-art performances from these two exemplar algorithms.

Moving object detection apparatus and moving object detection method

Abstract: To provide a moving object detection apparatus which accurately performs region extraction, regardless of the pose or size of a moving object. The moving object detection apparatus includes: an image receiving unit receiving the video sequence; a motion analysis unit calculating movement trajectories based on motions of the image; a segmentation unit performing segmentation so as to divide the movement trajectories into subsets, and setting a part of the movement trajectories as common points shared by the subsets; a distance calculation unit calculating a distance representing a similarity between a pair of movement trajectories, for each of the subsets; a geodesic distance calculation unit transforming the calculated distance into a geodesic distance; an approximate geodesic distance calculation unit calculating an approximate geodesic distance bridging over the subsets, by integrating geodesic distances including the common points; and a region extraction unit performing clustering on the calculated approximate geodesic distance.

Effect of mental fatigue on the central nervous system: an electroencephalography study

Abstract: Fatigue can be classified as mental and physical depending on its cause, and eachtype of fatigue has a multi-factorial nature. We examined the effect of mentalfatigue on the central nervous system using electroencephalography (EEG) in eighteenhealthy male volunteers. After enrollment, subjects were randomly assigned to two groups in a single-blinded,crossover fashion to perform two types of mental fatigue-inducing experiments. Eachexperiment consisted of four 30-min fatigue-inducing 0- or 2-back test sessions andtwo evaluation sessions performed just before and after the fatigue-inducingsessions. During the evaluation session, the participants were assessed using EEG.Eleven electrodes were attached to the head skin, from positions F3, Fz, F4, C3, Cz,C4, P3, Pz, P4, O1, and O2. In the 2-back test, the beta power density on the Pz electrode and the alpha powerdensities on the P3 and O2 electrodes were decreased, and the theta power density onthe Cz electrode was increased after the fatigue-inducing mental task sessions. Inthe 0-back test, no electrodes were altered after the fatigue-inducing sessions. Different types of mental fatigue produced different kinds of alterations of thespontaneous EEG variables. Our findings provide new perspectives on the neuralmechanisms underlying mental fatigue.

Time- and Field-Dependent Trapping in GaN-Based Enhancement-Mode Transistors With p-Gate

Abstract: This letter describes an extensive analysis of the time- and field-dependent trapping processes that occur in GaN-based gate injection transistors exposed to high drain voltage levels. Results indicate that-even if the devices do not suffer from current collapse-continuous exposure to high drain voltages can induce a remarkable increase in the on-resistance (Ron). The increase in Ron can be recovered by leaving the device in rest conditions: Temperature-dependent analysis indicates that the activation energy of the detrapping process is equal to 0.47 eV. By time-resolved electroluminescence characterization, we show that this effect is related to the capture of electrons in the gate-drain access region. Finally, we show that charge emission can be significantly accelerated through the injection of holes from the gate.

Urinary volatile compounds as biomarkers for lung cancer.

Abstract: Lung cancer is a leading cause of deaths in cancer. Hence, developing early-stage diagnostic tests that are non-invasive, highly sensitive, and specific is crucial. In this study, we investigated to determine whether biomarkers derived from urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be used to discriminate between lung cancer patients and normal control patients. The VOCs were extracted from the headspace by solid-phase microextraction and were analyzed by gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Nine putative volatile biomarkers were identified as elevated in the lung cancer group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was also performed, and the markers were found to be highly sensitive and specific. Next we used principal component analysis (PCA) modeling to make comparisons compare within the lung cancer group, and found that 2-pentanone may have utility in differentiating between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas.

Direction and holding-style invariant, symmetric design, and touch- and button-based remote user interaction device

Abstract: A remote control unit selectively transmits a control signal for remotely controlling an electronic device. The unit defines an imaginary cut plane that substantially bisects the unit. The unit includes a plurality of input features collectively disposed symmetrically with respect to the imaginary cut plane. The input features include a first and second input feature. The first and second input features are disposed on opposite sides of the cut plane. Furthermore, the unit includes a sensor that detects a first and second holding position of the unit. The first holding position and the second holding position are substantially opposite to each other. Moreover, the unit includes a controller that associates the control signal with the first input feature when the sensor detects the first holding position, and the controller associates the control signal with the second input feature when the sensor detects the second holding position.

Non-contact wireless communication coil, transmission coil, and portable wireless terminal

Abstract: A chargeable communication module is provided, which includes: a wireless power charging coil; a wireless communication coil being electrically isolated from the wireless power charging coil; and a magnetic body. The wireless power charging coil is disposed on a surface of the magnetic body. The wireless communication coil is arranged peripheral to the wireless power charging coil. A center of the wireless power charging coil is offset from a center of the wireless communication coil.

A 76 GHz Multi-Layered Phased Array Antenna Using a Non-Metal Contact Metamaterial Waveguide

Abstract: A 76 GHz phased array antenna (PAA) using waffle-iron ridge waveguides with non-metal contacts has been developed. The non-metal contact technology has the advantage of avoiding losses due to imperfect metal contacts, and also facilitates the fabrication of small-size and multi-layer stacked structures. The principle and results of the developed phase shifter, radiator and feed network are presented. For the feed network, it is shown that the phase differences between adjacent radiators are the same, which confirms the validity of the fundamental operation of the PAA. A PAA combining the feed network and 16 radiators with a size of 62 mm × 62 mm × 25 mm was realized. The characteristic of the PAA was evaluated by calculating the directivity using measured data from the radiator and the feed network. From these considerations, the PAA was found to have the capability of providing a beam tilt angle of ±18° while maintaining a gain of more than 32 dBi.

Control apparatus and control method for robot arm, robot, control program for robot arm, and robot arm control-purpose integrated electronic circuit

Abstract: Motion information of a robot arm stored in a motion information database is acquired. A person manipulates the robot arm, and correction motion information at the time of the motion correction is acquired. An acquiring unit acquires environment information. A motion correction unit corrects the motion information while the robot arm is in motion. A control rule generating unit generates a control rule for allowing the robot arm to automatically operate based on the corrected motion information and the acquired environment information. The motion of the robot arm is controlled based on the generated control rule.