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Software and Hardware Technologies for High-Quality Moving Images on LCD TVs ITOH Goh/MISHIMA Nao/OHWAKI Kazuyasu The picture quality of liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs greatly depends on motion sharpness. Previously, the overdriving method was an effective means of improving motion sharpness when the response of liquid crystals was not so fast. Currently, however, the response time of liquid crystals has become so fast that it is shorter than a single frame period (16.7ms), so that a motion blur attributable to the characteristics of human vision is produced in the hold-type display method where a picture is held still during the frame period. Two methods are known to reduce motion blur: the impulse driving method and the double-rate driving method. For the former method, Toshiba has developed a display time control system for black frame insertion whose exact time is given by the characteristics of the input picture. For the latter method, we have developed a technique for high-quality interpolation between two successive frames displayed at a refresh rate of 120Hz. By applying these two driving methods, we have successfully accomplished high-quality moving images on LCD TVs. Semiautomatic Production Planning System for Semiconductors NARIMATSU Katsumi/INOUE Kenichiro/SHIRASU Yoshinori Toshiba has developed a semiautomatic production planning system for 200 mm wafer fabrication at its Oita Operations facility. As the dominant products of this fabrication line are system large-scale integrated circuits (system LSIs), which usually require a longer production lead time than the customer’s order lead time, the general “demand-pulled” type planning system is not useful and human coordination is essential for the preparation of production commencement plans. In addition, the personnel in charge of production planning are also skilled in increasing production efficiency, which is not offered by the general demand-pulled type planning system. The semiautomatic production planning system was developed to assist these planning personnel. It has successfully reduced planning operation times by half and also significantly reduced planning workloads while maintaining the equivalent quality. PORTEGE G500/G900 Windows Mobile® Phones NISHIYAMA Kaoru/NODA Motoji Toshiba has developed a new third-generation (3G) smartphone and personal digital assistant (PDA) type phone that handle four bands: W-CDMA (2100MHz) and GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1,800/1,900MHz). The PORTEGE G500 and G900 models use Microsoft Windows MobileR as their operating system, permitting easy cooperation between the handsets and a PC. Document, image, and music data on the PC can be transferred to the handsets, and played and edited on the handsets as well. The G500 and G900 models have a 2 megapixel camera, fingerprint sensor, universal serial bus (USB) client and host function, miniSD memory card, BluetoothR capability, wireless LAN, and many other functions. Furthermore, the G900 has a 3-inch Wide VGA (480 x 800 dots) liquid crystal display (LCD), providing a large, high-resolution screen suitable for Internet and document browsing. Controlled Switching System for Circuit Breakers Using Digital Control and Network Computing Technologies SAITO Minoru/MAEHARA Hiroyuki/KOSAKADA Masayuki Toshiba delivered Japan's first controlled switching system for 275kV systems in 1989. Since then, we have acquired abundant experience in switching control technologies. We have now developed a new switching controller for the new generation of systems, using the latest digital control and network computing technologies. This controller attains both high accuracy and high reliability in controlled switching, while also offering instant operation and easy maintenance with its user-friendly web browser interface. The results of both synchronized opening and closing control tests confirmed the good performance of this switching controller. TOPEMSTM Optimal Operation System for Energy Saving in Manufacturing Plants YAMADA Toshihiro/KAMITO Akinori/TSUKAHARA Hideki Toshiba has developed an innovative operation system for manufacturing plants called TOPEMSTM, which determines the optimal mode of operation to achieve cost reductions and energy savings in energy supply equipment such as boilers, refrigerators, and in-house power generators. TOPEMSTM automatically ensures that such equipment is in the optimal running condition at all times. This system is designed to forecast the energy demand for supplying electricity, steam, chilled water, and hot water in the plant, and to create the optimal running schedule for individual energy-supply equipment. When applied, the system realizes energy savings of about 1% to 5%. Moreover, since the system automatically manages the running control of energy-supply equipment, it also achieves significant savings in labor because fewer operators are required. Development of High-Efficiency Photovoltaic Inverter for Residential Use SHINOHARA Hirofumi/MAKISHIMA Kenji/MOCHIKAWA Hiroshi Residential photovoltaic power generation systems are now becoming established as power sources for low-voltage electric power facilities. Engineers are making additional efforts to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of such systems. Toshiba has developed an advanced photovoltaic inverter that has a conversion efficiency of 97%.
Hybrid Inverter System for Railway Substations MIYAJIMA Hiroki/ITO Fusao Electric power has recently been more effectively utilized by applying inverter equipment, which converts DC power to AC power, to electricity substations for DC traction service where rectifier equipment is installed. Toshiba has utilized insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) to develop a hybrid inverter system that reduces the harmonics current and improves the power factor compared with conventional regeneration inverters. The first hybrid inverter system using IGBTs was delivered to the Tenjingawa Substation of the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau. This system realizes an environmentally harmonious substation by utilizing equipment that takes reduction of the environmental load into consideration. Large-Scale 3D Ultrasonic Inspection System ARAI Ryoichi/YAMANE Noriyuki/ISOBE Hideo/HAMAJIMA Takayuki The use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) in aircraft, rocket, and automotive parts has recently been a focus of attention because of their light weight, high strength, high durability, and excellent fatigue performance. However, an effective nondestructive inspection system for large and three-dimensionally curved CFRP parts has not yet been fully developed, although single type and phased-array type mechanical scanning ultrasonic probes have been studied. Toshiba has developed a new type of large-scale 3D ultrasonic inspection system based on our proprietary 3D ultrasonic inspection technologies combined with machine and tool control technologies as well as image-processing and analysis technologies. This system can instantly execute the inspection of large CFRP parts having complex shapes.
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