Author: claimsbot

1. A gaze-based three-dimensional (3D) interaction system, comprising:
a display unit configured to display a 3D image having objects with different depths;
two light sources respectively aligned at both sides of said display unit to provide lights;
an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of both eyes of an operator gazing at the 3D image, the image of the both eyes of the operator showing glints formed by the lights provided from said two light sources and two pupils in the both eyes;
a first signal processing unit configured to calculate a gaze direction to which the operator is gazing at the 3D image based on positions of two glints and a pupil at one of the eyes on the image of the both eyes and a gaze depth at which the operator is gazing at the 3D image based on a distance between the two pupils in the image of the both eyes;
a second signal processing unit configured to determine a gaze of the operator on said 3D image based on the gaze direction and the gaze depth; and
a third signal processing unit configured to execute a command the operator intended according to the determined gaze.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light sources are infrared light emitting diodes (LED).
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the image capturing unit is a digital camera having an infrared filter attached thereto.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second signal processing unit selects a region corresponding to a depth related to the distance between the pupils shown by the image of the operator’s both eyes and determines the gaze of the operator within the selected region based on the gaze depth and the gaze direction.
5. A gaze-based three-dimensional (3D) interaction method, comprising:
displaying a 3D image having objects with different depths;
providing lights on both eyes of an operator gazing at said 3D image by using two light sources;
capturing an image of both eyes of the operator, the image of both eyes of the operator showing glints formed by the lights provided from said light sources and two pupils in both eyes;
calculating a gaze direction to which the operator is gazing at the 3D image based on positions of two glints and a pupil at one of the eyes on the image of both eyes and a gaze depth at which the operator is gazing at the 3D image based on a distance between the two pupils in the image of the both eyes;
determining a gaze of the operator on said 3D image based on the gaze direction and the gaze depth; and
executing a command the operator intended according to the determined gaze.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein a region corresponding to a depth related to the distance between the pupils shown by the image of the operator’s both eyes is selected, and the gaze of the operator is determined within the selected region based on the gaze depth and the gaze direction.
7. A three-dimensional (3D) gaze tracking system, comprising:
a display unit configured to display a 3D image having objects with different depths;
two light sources respectively aligned at both sides of said display unit to provide lights;
an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of both eyes of an operator gazing at a 3D image, the image of both eyes of the operator showing glints formed by the lights provided from the two light sources and two pupils in the both eyes;
a first signal processing unit configured to calculate a gaze direction to which the operator is gazing at the 3D image based on positions of two glints and a pupil at one of the eyes on the image of the both eyes and a gaze depth at which the operator is gazing at the 3D image based on a distance between the two pupils in the image of the both eyes; and
a second signal processing unit configured to determine a gaze of the operator on said 3D image based on the gaze direction and the gaze depth.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the light sources are infrared light emitting diodes (LED).
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the image capturing unit is a digital camera having an infrared filter attached thereto.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the second signal processing unit selects a region corresponding to a depth related to the distance between the pupils shown by the image of the operator’s both eyes and determines the gaze of the operator within the selected region based on the gaze depth and the gaze direction.
11. A three-dimensional (3D) gaze tracking method, comprising:
displaying a 3D image having objects with different depths;
providing lights on both eyes of an operator gazing at said 3D image by using two light sources;
capturing an image of both eyes of the operator showing glints formed by the lights provided from said two light sources and two pupils in the both eyes;
calculating a gaze direction to which the operator is gazing at the 3D image based on positions of two glints and a pupil at one of the eyes on the image of the both eyes and a gaze depth at which the operator is gazing at the 3D image based on a distance between the two pupils in the image of the both eyes; and
tracking a gaze of the operator on said 3D image based on the gaze direction and the gaze depth.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein a region corresponding to a depth related to the distance between the pupils shown by the image of the operator’s both eyes is selected, and the gaze of the operator is tracked based on the gaze depth and the gaze direction.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A boost circuit having an output terminal for providing an output voltage, comprising:
a first level shifter for selectively outputting either the output voltage or a first bias voltage according to a boost control signal, wherein the first bias voltage is smaller than the output voltage;
a switch circuit for determining whether to transmit a second bias voltage to the output terminal according to an output of the first level shifter, wherein the second bias voltage is greater than the first bias voltage;
a capacitance equivalent circuit having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is electrically coupled to the output terminal; and
a second level shifter for selectively outputting either a third bias voltage or the first bias voltage to the second terminal of the capacitance equivalent circuit according to the boost control signal, wherein the third bias voltage is greater than the first bias voltage.
2. The boost circuit of claim 1, wherein the switch circuit comprises a PMOS transistor having a first sourcedrain receiving the second bias voltage, a gate receiving the output of the first level shifter, and a second sourcedrain electrically coupled to the output terminal.
3. The boost circuit of claim 1, wherein the capacitance equivalent circuit comprises an NMOS transistor having a gate electrically coupled to the output terminal via the first terminal, the first sourcedrain and the second sourcedrain are short circuited with each other and receiving an output of the second level shifter via the second terminal.
4. The boost circuit of claim 1, wherein the second bias voltage is provided by a pump circuit.
5. The boost circuit of claim 1, wherein a potential of the first bias voltage is equal to a ground potential.
6. The boost circuit of claim 1, wherein when the boost control signal is enabled, the first level shifter outputs the output voltage, and when the boost control signal is disabled, the first level shifter outputs the first bias voltage.
7. The boost circuit of claim 1, wherein when the boost control signal is enabled, the second level shifter outputs the third bias voltage, and when the boost control signal is disabled, the second level shifter outputs the first bias voltage.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for pumping a working fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a. a suction and pumping assembly comprising:
i. a first vertical chamber and a second vertical chamber connected using an intermediate horizontal chamber,
ii. liquid metal partially filling the vertical chambers of the suction and pumping assembly, and
iii. an AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump for driving the liquid metal in the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly in an oscillatory manner;

b. at least one inlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the inlet conduit allowing the working fluid to be sucked into the suction and pumping assembly, the working fluid being sucked in due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal;
c. at least one outlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the outlet conduit allowing the working fluid to be pumped out of the suction and pumping assembly, the working fluid being pumped out due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal; and
d. a plurality of valves in the inlet and outlet conduits for controlling the inlet and outlet flow of the working fluid.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the suction and pumping assembly is U-shaped.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the working fluid is a non-conductive fluid.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of valves is a one-way valve.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of valves is a Tesla valve.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises only one inlet conduit and only one outlet conduit.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit have one valve each.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein the inlet conduit is connected to the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly and the outlet conduit is connected to the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the liquid metal partially fills both the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly and the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the pumping is achieved by:
a. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving down the liquid metal in the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during one half of the AC cycle, the driving down of the liquid metal causing the sucking in of the working fluid into the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through the inlet conduit and the pumping out of the working fluid through an outlet conduit of the suction and pumping assembly;
b. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving up the liquid metal in the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during the other half of the AC cycle, the driving up of the liquid metal causing the working fluid to be transferred from the first vertical chamber to the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through an intermediate conduit, the intermediate conduit connecting the first vertical chamber and the second vertical chamber.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the intermediate conduit contains a valve to control the transfer of the working fluid between the first vertical chamber and the second vertical chamber.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein both the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are connected to the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the liquid metal partially fills the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly and completely fills the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly is connected to a reservoir of inert fluid.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein the pumping is achieved by:
a. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving down the liquid metal in the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during one half of the AC cycle, the driving down of the liquid metal causing the sucking in of the working fluid into the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through the inlet conduit;
b. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving up the liquid metal in the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during the other half of the AC cycle, the driving up of the liquid metal causing the pumping out of the working fluid through the outlet conduit of the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.
16. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises two inlet conduits and two outlet conduits.
17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the inlet conduits and the outlet conduits have one valve each.
18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein one inlet conduit and one outlet conduit are connected to the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly, the other inlet conduit and the other outlet conduit are connected to the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.
19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein the liquid metal partially fills both the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly and the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.
20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the pumping is achieved by:
a. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving down the working fluid in a vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during one half of the AC cycle, the driving down of the liquid metal causing the sucking in of the working fluid into the corresponding vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through the corresponding inlet conduit;
b. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving up the working fluid in a vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during the other half of the AC cycle, the driving up of the liquid metal causing the pumping out of the working fluid from the corresponding vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through the corresponding outlet conduit;
21. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of suction and pumping assemblys connected in parallel.
22. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is used as a pump in a two-phase cooling system
23. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is used as a compressor in a vapor compression system.
24. A system for two-phase cooling of a hot source, the system comprising:
a. an evaporator placed adjacent to the hot source, the evaporator absorbing the heat from the hot source causing the evaporation of a coolant circulating over the hot source;
b. a first conduit connected to the evaporator for the transfer of the vapor formed as a result of the evaporation of the coolant;
c. a condenser connected to the first conduit for liquefying the vapor;
d. a second conduit connected to the condenser for transfer of the liquid formed as a result of liquefying the vapor.
e. a fluid pump connected to the second conduit, the fluid pump comprising:
i. a suction and pumping assembly comprising:
1. a first vertical chamber and a second vertical chamber connected using an intermediate horizontal chamber,
2. liquid metal partially filling the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly, and
3. an AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump for driving the liquid metal in the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly in an oscillatory manner;

ii. at least one inlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the inlet conduit allowing the liquid to be sucked into the suction and pumping assembly, the liquid being sucked in due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal;
iii. at least one outlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the outlet conduit allowing the liquid to be pumped out of the suction and pumping assembly, the liquid being pumped out due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal; and
iv. a plurality of valves in the inlet and outlet conduits for controlling the inlet and outlet flow of the liquid; and
v. a third conduit connected to the fluid pump for transfer of the liquid back to the evaporator.
25. A system vapor compression, the system comprising:
a. an evaporator for evaporation of a refrigerant at low pressure;
b. a first conduit connected to the evaporator for the transfer of the low pressure vapor formed as a result of the evaporation of the refrigerant;
c. a compressor connected to the second conduit, the compressor converting the low pressure vapor into high pressure vapor, the compressor comprising:
i. a suction and pumping assembly comprising:
1. a first vertical chamber and a second vertical chamber connected using an intermediate horizontal chamber,
2. liquid metal partially filling the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly, and
3. an AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump for driving the liquid metal in the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly in an oscillatory manner;

ii. at least one inlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the inlet conduit allowing the low pressure vapor to be sucked into the suction and pumping assembly, the low vapor being sucked in due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal;
iii. at least one outlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the outlet conduit allowing the high pressure vapor to be pumped out of the suction and pumping assembly, the high pressure vapor being pumped out due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal; and
iv. a plurality of valves in the inlet and outlet conduits for controlling the inlet and outlet flow of the vapor;

d. a condenser connected to the first conduit for liquefying the high pressure vapor;
e. a second conduit connected to condenser for transfer of the high pressure refrigerant formed as a result of liquefying the vapor;
f. a valve connected to the second conduit for converting the high pressure refrigerant to a low pressure refrigerant; and
g. a third conduit connected to the valve to enable the circulation of the refrigerant.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An antenna sharing device comprising:
a first elastic wave filter as a ladder-type filter for passing a signal of a first frequency band, the first elastic wave filter including:
a first series resonator including:
a first IDT electrode having a plurality of electrode fingers; and
a first dielectric film that covers the first IDT electrode and has a first projection above the electrode fingers; and

a second series resonator having an antiresonant frequency point higher than that of the first series resonator, the second series resonator including:
a second IDT electrode having a plurality of electrode fingers; and
a second dielectric film that covers the second IDT electrode and has a second projection above the electrode fingers; and
a second elastic wave filter for passing a signal of a second frequency passband that is higher than the first frequency passband,
wherein, the first projection in an excitation direction of an elastic wave of the first series resonator has a cross-sectional area larger than a cross-sectional area of the second projection in an excitation direction of an elastic wave of the second series resonator.
2. The antenna sharing device according to claim 1, wherein the first projection in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the first series resonator has a width larger than a width of the second projection in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the second series resonator.
3. The antenna sharing device according to claim 1, wherein the first projection in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the first series resonator has a height larger than a height of the second projection in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the second series resonator.
4. The antenna sharing device according to claim 1, wherein the first projection of a trapezoidal shape in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the first series resonator has a gradient angle larger than a gradient angle of the second projection of a trapezoidal shape in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the second series resonator.
5. An antenna sharing device comprising:
a first elastic wave filter for passing a signal of a first frequency band; and
a second elastic wave filter as a ladder-type filter for passing a signal of a second frequency band that is higher than the first frequency band, the second elastic wave filter further including:
a first parallel resonator further including:
a third IDT electrode having a plurality of electrode fingers; and
a third dielectric film that covers the third IDT electrode and has a third projection above the electrode fingers; and

a second parallel resonator having an antiresonant frequency point lower than that of the first parallel resonator, the second parallel resonator further including:
a fourth IDT electrode having a plurality of electrode fingers; and
a fourth dielectric film that covers the fourth IDT electrode and has a fourth projection above the electrode fingers,
wherein, the third projection in an excitation direction of an elastic wave of the first parallel resonator has a cross-sectional area larger than a cross-sectional area of the fourth projection in an excitation direction of an elastic wave of the second parallel resonator.
6. The antenna sharing device according to claim 5, wherein the third projection in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the first parallel resonator has a width larger than a width of the fourth projection in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the second parallel resonator.
7. The antenna sharing device according to claim 5, wherein the third projection in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the first parallel resonator has a height larger than a height of the fourth projection in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the second parallel resonator.
8. The antenna sharing device according to claim 5, wherein the third projection of a trapezoidal shape in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the first parallel resonator has a gradient angle larger than a gradient angle of the fourth projection of a trapezoidal shape in the excitation direction of the elastic wave of the second parallel resonator.