A modified system causes the REQ64# signal to be asserted when the adapter is in reset on a 64-bit slot. This allows the adapter to see that it is in a 64-bit slot at the beginning of reset, preventing the adapter from driving the 64-bit extension pins. The above-described modification must be made to all the 64-bit slots on a system. When the reset signal is active, it will cause the buffer to drive the REQ64# signal low. This will synchronize reset and REQ64#, eliminating the possibility for bus contention. No modification is necessary for 32-bit slots. This modification will not affect the normal operation of the bus, since it is only used during reset.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an improved data processing system and, in particular, to an improved peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus architecture. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for allowing a 64-bit PCI adapter to determine whether it is in a 32-bit or 64-bit slot during reset.
2. Description of Related Art
According to the PCI specification, version 2.1, a 64-bit adapter can operate in either a 64-bit slot or a 32-bit slot. To determine the data width of the slot in which the adapter is located, the adapter samples the REQ64# signal. A signle-line bus provides the REQ64# signal to adapters in 64-bit slots. When asserted by the system host bridge, the REQ64# signal indicates that the slot is a 64-bit slot. When asserted by an adapter located in a 64-bit slot, the REQ64# signal indicates that the adapter is operating at a 64-bit data width. As discussed below, problems arise during reset, when the REQ64# signal is not properly established. During reset, when the reset signal (RST#) is asserted, a 64-bit adapter must determine whether it is located in a 32-bit slot or a 64-bit slot. To determine the data width of the slot in which the adapter is located, the adapter samples the REQ64# signal at the end of reset, just prior to RST# being deasserted. The adapter may have no way of knowing if it is located in a 32-bit or 64-bit slot before the end of reset, because the REQ64# signal is not required to be in the proper state until ten clock cycles before the end of reset. This sequence is stated in the PCI 2.1 specification: xe2x80x9cat the end of reset, the central resource controls the state of REQ64# to inform the 64-bit device that is connected to a 64-bit bus. If REQ64# is deasserted when RST# is deasserted, the device is not connected to a 64-bit bus. If REQ64# is asserted when RST# is deasserted, the device is connected to a 64-bit bus.xe2x80x9d See PCI 2.1 specification, section 3.10.
The PCI specification also states that when a 64-bit device is in a 32-bit slot, the xe2x80x9cPCI component is responsible to insure that its inputs do not oscillate and that there is not a significant power drain through the input buffer. This can be done in a variety of ways: e.g., biasing the input buffer; or actively driving the outputs continually.xe2x80x9d See PCI 2.1 specification, section 188.8.131.52. This means that when a 64-bit adapter senses that it is in a 32-bit slot, it is responsible for not allowing the upper thirty-two bits to float. The floating pins would cause a power drain, which will result in the drivers being damaged in most cases depending on exposure time. However, the specification does not address the steps the 64-bit adapter should perform before it has a chance to determine the data width of the slot in which the adapter is installed. When the adapter is in a 32-bit slot and the adapter does not bias or drive its 64-bit extension pins bits, they will be floating during reset.
Some adapters attempt to remedy the above-mentioned problems by sampling REQ64# throughout reset. As a result, the adapter knows the data width of the slot in which it is located at the beginning of reset. However, one situation that may cause problems is when a 64-bit adapter is installed in a 64-bit slot. The 64-bit adapter could see the REQ64# signal deasserted at the beginning of reset, and the 64-bit adapter will drive its 64-bit extension pins as if it were in a 32-bit slot. However, the system host bridge is required to drive the bus during reset, so two devices would be driving the bus at the same time. The bus is referred to as being in contention if the adapter and the system host bridge are driving at different levels. Bus contention results in xe2x80x9ccrowbarring,xe2x80x9d which causes a large amount of current to flow through the bus, increasing the potential for device failure due to over-current component driver stress.
Hence, it would be advantageous to allow 64-bit PCI adapters to determine the type of slot in which it is installed from the beginning of reset.
The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by modifying the planar on systems that have a REQ64# signal to indicate 64-bit slots on a bus. The present invention causes the REQ64# signal to be asserted when the adapter is in reset on a 64-bit slot. This allows the adapter to see that it is in a 64-bit slot at the beginning of reset, preventing the adapter from driving the 64-bit extension pins.

System solution to allow 64-bit PCI adapters to determine state during reset

International Business Machines Corporation


A fan for a drive clutch includes a disk having several vanes that can attach to a drive clutch to direct air toward the clutch to cool the clutch and belt of a CVT transmission. The disk can be injection-molded or otherwise formed and can be bolted onto a clutch drive with the vanes facing toward the clutch drive. An inward-facing surface can be concave to direct air toward the clutch. The disk can attach to the clutch drive using preexisting bolts of the clutch drive.

Snowmobiles and ATVs generally employ a continuously variable transmission ("CVT") having opposing sheaves and a belt that drives a driven shaft as part of the power transmission. CVTs include a drive clutch and a driven clutch that receives power from the drive clutch. As with many other components of an engine, these components generate heat that can harm engine components. For example, heat is generated due to the friction between the belt and the clutch sheaves. The problem is especially acute with high engine speeds and relatively low vehicle speeds, such as when a mountain snowmobile is riding through deep powder snow or when a utility snowmobile is performing a chore with engine time at idle or slow vehicle speeds. A driven clutch may have cooling vanes that move air to cool the belt as the vanes move. However, the driven clutch does not move when the vehicle idles and moves slower than the drive clutch with a load on the system. Clutch belts can lose strength and optimum stiffness and can even rupture at high temperatures. Running a powered fan is not typically a viable solution for various reasons. Space in an engine compartment is limited, so most engine compartments simply do not have room for a bulky fan and motor. In addition, a motored fan will generate heat itself, which may lessen the overall effect of such a system. Perhaps most importantly, an electric fan would add excessive weight to snowmobiles that manufacturers painstakingly try to keep light. Accordingly, there is a need for a system or method of cooling a CVT belt within certain spatial constraints and without generating additional heat loads.


An MRAM structure is disclosed where the distance from a bit line or word line to an underlying free layer in an MTJ is small and well controlled. As a result, the bit line or word line switching current is reduced and tightly distributed for better device performance. A key feature in the method of forming the MRAM cell structure is a two step planarization of an insulation layer deposited on the MTJ array. A CMP step flattens the insulation layer at a distance about 60 to 200 Angstroms above the cap layer in the MTJ. Then an etch back step thins the insulation layer to a level about 50 to 190 Angstroms below the top of the cap layer. Less than 5 Angstroms of the cap layer is removed. The distance variation from the free layer to an overlying bit line or word line is within +/−5 Angstroms.

A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device is generally comprised of an array of parallel first conductive lines on a horizontal plane, an array of parallel second conductive lines on a second horizontal plane spaced above and formed in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive lines, and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) formed at each location where a second conductive line crosses over a first conductive line. A first conductive line may be a word line while a second conductive line is a bit line or vice versa. Alternatively, the first conductive line may be a sectioned line which is a bottom electrode. There are typically other devices including transistors and diodes below the array of first conductive lines and at least one additional conductive layer comprised of an array of second word lines or second bit lines above the array of second conductive lines.
The MTJ consists of a stack of layers with a configuration in which two ferromagnetic layers are separated by a thin non-magnetic dielectric layer. One of the ferromagnetic layers is a pinned layer in which the magnetization (magnetic moment) direction is fixed by exchange coupling with an adjacent anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer. The second ferromagnetic layer is a free layer in which the magnetization direction can be changed by external magnetic fields. The magnetization direction of the free layer may change in response to external magnetic fields which can be generated by passing currents through the conductive lines. When the magnetization direction of the free layer is parallel to that of the pinned layer, there is a lower resistance for tunneling current across the dielectric layer than when the magnetization directions of the free and pinned layers are anti-parallel. The MTJ stores information as a result of having one of two different magnetic states.
In a read operation, the information is read by sensing the magnetic state (resistance level) of the MTJ through a sensing current flowing through the MTJ, typically in a current perpendicular to plane (CPP) configuration. During a write operation, the information is written to the MTJ by changing the magnetic state to an appropriate one by generating external magnetic fields as a result of applying bit line and word line currents.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional MRAM device 1 comprised of two adjacent MRAM cells with two MTJs 4 is depicted. There is a substrate 2 with a first conductive layer that in this example includes bottom electrodes 3 formed therein. Each bottom electrode 3 contacts an overlying MTJ 4 which is enclosed on the sides by an insulation layer 5. In this example, there is a bit line 6 in a second conductive layer that contacts the top of the MTJs 4. Typically, a second insulation layer 7 is deposited on the second conductive layer including bit line 6. A third conductive layer 9 which may be an array of word lines is formed within a third insulation layer 8 on the second insulation layer 7. There are other circuits such as circuits in a peripheral area that are used to select certain MTJs for read or write operations.
Referring to FIG. 2, a typical MTJ 4 is shown which is a stack of layers including one or more bottom seed layers 10 such as NiFeCr formed on a bottom electrode 3. Next, an anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer 11 that may be PtMn, for example, is deposited on the seed layer 10. There is a ferromagnetic "pinned" layer 12 on the AFM layer 11 that may be a composite of multiple layers including CoFe layers. The tunnel barrier layer 13 above the pinned layer 12 is generally comprised of a dielectric material such as Al2O3. Above the tunnel barrier layer 13 is a ferromagnetic "free" layer 14 which may be another composite layer that includes NiFe, for example. At the top of the MTJ stack is one or more cap layers 15. In configurations where only one cap layer is employed, the cap layer 15 is comprised of conductive material such as Ta for making an electrical contact to the subsequently formed bit line 6. When two cap layers are used, the top cap layer is a conductive layer. This MTJ stack has a so-called bottom spin valve configuration. Alternatively, an MTJ stack may have a top spin valve configuration in which a free layer is formed on a seed layer followed by sequentially forming a tunnel barrier layer, a pinned layer, an AFM layer, and a cap layer.
Referring to FIG. 3, the MTJs 4 are comprised of a cap layer 15 and a composite layer 4a that represents the remaining layers in the MTJ stack. A conventional fabrication process involves stripping the mask (not shown) used for patterning the MTJ stack and then depositing an insulation layer 5 such as silicon oxide or Al2O3 which covers the MTJs. Note that the deposition forms an uneven insulation layer 5 in which the surface region 16 above the cap layer 15 is at a higher level than the surface region 17 not directly above the cap layer. When fabricating high density MRAM chips, it is desirable to have essentially flat topography after each layer is finished. A CMP process is preferred for planarizing the insulation layer 5 so that the top surface of the cap layer 15 is exposed as an electrical contact point for a subsequent second conductive layer.
Referring to FIG. 4, the insulation layer 5, adjacent cap layer 15, and composite layer 4a are shown after the CMP process is complete. Unfortunately, two major issues lead to a degradation of device performance. First, the cap layer 15 has a significant thickness loss during the polishing process. As a result, the cap layer 15 which initially has a thickness t1 is eroded and the thickness loss t2 typically varies across a wafer and from wafer to wafer due to CMP process nonuniformity and other variations. Thus, the distance (t1−t2) between a subsequently formed bit line (not shown) and the free layer which is at the top of the composite layer 4a varies significantly and cannot be adequately controlled. Because the magnetic field strength generated by the bit line or word line current at the free layer strongly depends on the distance (t1−t2), the inability to control this parameter directly translates to a failure to control the switching magnetic field at the free layer and thereby leads to poor device performance.
A second problem is that the CMP process often forms an MTJ 4 that protrudes above the surrounding insulation layer 5 by a distance d. The protrusion distance d varies across a wafer and from wafer to wafer because of the same nonuniformities mentioned previously. The magnitude of d is often larger than 400 Angstroms and in some cases may be similar or larger than the entire thickness of the MTJ stack. Although the thickness of the capping layer 15 can be increased to compensate for CMP process variations, a better method is needed to controllably form an insulation layer 5 that is planar and with less cap layer thickness loss.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,482, a method for fabricating a uniform dielectric layer is described that involves depositing a first etch stop layer on a raised metal pattern followed by depositing a dielectric layer and then a second etch stop layer on the dielectric layer. The etch stop layers have a lower polish rate than an oxide dielectric layer in a CMP process and prevent erosion on the top surface of the metal pattern.
A method is disclosed for a CMP process involving an MRAM cell in U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,675 in which a WN or TaN layer is used as a cap layer on an MTJ and also functions as a series resistor or as a CMP stop layer. Other materials such as oxides, nitrides, or amorphous carbon may be used as a CMP stop layer.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,737, MTJs are formed on a planar conductive layer. A dielectric layer is deposited on the MTJs and is etched to define holes to the MTJs. A second conductive layer is deposited in the holes to form conductive lines.
A method for forming an MTJ stack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,953 in which a second insulation layer is formed on an MTJ without a cap layer. The second insulation layer is planarized to expose the top surface of the free layer before a bit line is formed on the free layer. However, the planarization method is not described.

MRAM cell structure and method of fabrication


Mechanisms for controlling an operation of one or more cores on an integrated circuit chip are provided. The mechanisms retrieve, from an on-chip non-volatile memory of the integrated circuit chip, baseline chip characteristics data representing operational characteristics of the one or more cores prior to the integrated circuit chip being operational in the data processing system. Current operational characteristics data of the one or more cores are compared with the baseline chip characteristics data. Deviations of the current operational characteristics data from the baseline chip characteristics data are determined and used to determine modifications to an operation of the one or more cores. Control signals are sent to one or more on-chip management units based on the determined modifications to cause the operation of the one or more cores to be modified.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to an on-chip non-volatile storage of a test-time profile for use in efficiency and performance control of the chip resources.
Microprocessor chip reliability and efficiency are of primary importance in current processor design. Increasingly, sophisticated on-chip resource management units, controllers, and storage units are dedicated to improve the chip efficiency and reliability at runtime. Most of these on-chip controllers and dedicated resource management units start with the basic assumption that the underlying chip hardware is ideal, or so close to ideal that it can be safely assumed to be ideal. However, there are a number of research studies that indicate that this assumption is far from reality.
Most chips exhibit significant variation in the form of performance variation, power consumption, and temperature variation, as well as differences in operating corners and the like. Since the on-chip resource management units are oblivious to such variations, they are not fully capable of improving efficiency and reliability of the on-chip resources. That is, the on-chip resource management units assume that all of the computational cores, processors, and/or functional units operate identically across the chip.
For example, if a chip has inherent heating tendencies in a set of computational cores, e.g., due to increased leakage power, process variation (differences in the operation of a core due to variations in the manufacturing or forming of the core), or the like, such inherent heating tendencies are not taken into account by the on-chip resource management units. To the contrary, because the on-chip resource management units are oblivious to such inherent tendencies, the heating causes undesirable hot-spots to be generated on the chip.
There are various tests that are utilized at the manufacturer site to profile the on-chip resources including corner tests for multi-core architectures, functional tests, etc. The information gathered during such tests is not stored to improve the efficiency of the chip during regular operation, however. To the contrary, these tests are typically used to determine whether a chip passes or fails in order to determine whether the chip needs to be discarded or not. Moreover, this information is not stored for improved efficiency because there are major complications with the flow of this information. For example, chip manufacturers may be unwilling to provide such information since it may indicate weaknesses of the chip. Moreover, there has been no real appreciation of the potential use of such information during operation of the chip. Furthermore, even if the information flow were more free, the on-chip resource management units do not having the ability to maintain such information when the chip is powered down.

On-chip non-volatile storage of a test-time profile for efficiency and performance control

International Business Machines Corporation


A shredding and feeding system for an incinerator wherein a shredding chamber is isolated from atmosphere by means of an airlock through which material to be incinerated passes into the shredding chamber. The oxygen content of the shredding chamber is maintained below a predetermined level to minimize risk of explosions and premature incineration of material.

The present invention is generally directed to systems for pyrolysis of hazardous materials. More specifically, the invention is directed to systems for feeding hazardous materials to a combustion chamber or kiln.
The incineration of hazardous waste materials within the United States is closely controlled and monitored by the United States Environmental Protectional Agency. In connection therewith, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued strict guidelines for the construction of hazardous material incinerators and systems for feeding such material to the incinerators. As a result, a variety of systems have been developed for feeding such material to the incinerators.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,654, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses an apparatus for the pyrolysis of solids containing carbonatious materials including a cylindrical substantially horizontal pyrolysis vessel together with solids input and removal means communicating with the vessel. Solids are conveyed through the pyrolysis vessel by means of an auger-type conveyor. Heating means are provided for heating solids between the input and removal means. Gas input and withdrawal means permit the input and removal of gas from the pyrolysis vessel, and gas delivery means are provided for delivering gas to subsequent processing equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,545 discloses a furnace with a conveyor installation with a screw conveyor. The screw conveyor is used for transporting solid combustible materials such as wood waste into the furnace.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,334 discloses a seal arrangement for a rotary drum assembly. A first cylindrical drum member having an inlet portion for receiving materials to be treated, such as preheated coal and char includes a longitudinal axis in an outward portion through which the treated materials are discharged into the inlet portion of a second cylindrical drum member. The second drum member is independently supported for rotation relative to the first drum member and has a longitudinal axis co-planarly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first drum member such that the drum members are concentrically positioned in tandem. A sealing assembly is connected to the first and second drum members for longitudinal movement with the drum members during expansion and contraction of the drum members as they are subjected to different temperatures. The sealing assembly includes a running seal member that is secured to the periphery of the respective drum members and a static seal ring assembly that is movably positioned on the outer cylindrical surface of an annular support member that supports the respective drum members. A plurality of piston cylinder assemblies surround the annular support member, and each includes a piston rod arranged in abutting relation to the static seal ring assembly to maintain the seal ring assembly in sealing relation with the running seal upon longitudinal movement of the first drum member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,573 discloses a metering feeder for delivery solid fuels, such as municipal or industrial refuse, for combustion. The metering feeder includes a pair of generally vertically arranged hoppers. An upper hopper containing relatively compacted or intertangled fuel discharges metered amounts of fuel into a lower hopper through the action of a ram-type pusher. Fuel discharged from the upper hopper is dropped into the lower hopper to develop sufficient kinetic energy to decompact the fuel. An upwardly inclined conveyor includes fuel from the lower hopper at an independently metered rate under optional control of a combustion control system. The action of the inclined conveyor further decompacts the fuel by underraking and mixing, thereby providing a well controlled, uniform, loose density fuel for combustion. The conveyor has a closed course of cleats with cyclically moves to remove fuel. The cleats extend in acute angular relation to the direction of movement for improved performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,031 discloses a combustor feeding arrangement for feeding material to the open end of a combustor including a vertical chute leading to doorway to the combustor which is normally closed by a biased door. The system further includes a stepped ram reciprocating at the bottom of the chute for feeding material through the door and into the combustor. The chute is opened to atmosphere and lacks an urging device to convey feed material toward the next function.
In all of the above-identified systems, there is the possibility that the material to be incinerated can prematurely combust and cause fires, explosions, and the like. This can damage the equipment and can be a safety hazard to supervisory personnel.


A method and system for storing and retrieving extensible multi-dimensional display property configurations. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for the display of content that is configurable to a variety of contextual environments by reading a plurality of settings that are associated with an electronic device requesting content. The plurality of settings defines the contextual environment of the electronic device. The method continues by incorporating the plurality of settings as values in the list of filter criteria. The list of filter criteria is organized in a hierarchical order and specifies the format within which to present the content to be displayed at the electronic device. Thereafter, the method continues by matching the list of filter criteria with a resource to be displayed with the content. The resource is retrieved from memory for ultimate delivery to the electronic device for display.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of web portals. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the storing and retrieving of multi-dimensional display configurations that are extensible.
2. Related Art
Delivering content over a network, such as, the Internet, takes into account various contextual parameters. For instance the retrieval and the storage of resources by an electronic device associated with an end user is based on a set of criteria that sets up the context from which the end user is operating.
A typical set of criteria may include language, geographic region, web browser, and device. The language criterion sets up the language the content is presented to the end user. The geographic region establishes from what region the end user is associated, and can be used to further qualify the language criterion. For instance, two slightly different versions of the French language are spoken in France and Canada, namely, native French and Canadian French. The device criterion establishes from which device the end user is using to view the displayed content.
Previously, developers of web content were only concerned with one primary contextual environment. Nearly everyone accessing web content over the Internet was using a desktop computer enabled with one of two major web browsers. As such, web content could easily be developed to support this primary contextual environment. That is, developers needed only to develop web content for delivery using hypertext markup language (HTML) that was suitable for viewing by a desktop computer in a particular geographic region. Specifically, the name value pairs in the HTML language need not be changed to support various contextual environments, since there was only one environment of concern.
However, with the advent of mobile access and wireless communication, many variations of contextual environments were suddenly created. As a result, web content that was suitable for delivery to a desktop computer was not suitable for delivery to a wireless electronic device. For instance, web content designed for presentation on a desktop display could not easily be delivered and presented on a much smaller display for a mobile device, such as, a mobile phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).
Moreover, translation of HTML formatted to deliver content to a desktop computer environment to a suitable wireless protocol for delivery of web content to wireless devices is difficult. The two contextual environments are sufficiently different to prevent an easy translation. For instance, text designed for display on a large desktop display can include hundreds of characters per line. On the other hand, a small display associated with a wireless device may only be able to support text of a few characters in length. A straight translation from HTML to a wireless protocol would require the end user to endlessly scroll through the text a few characters at a time.
Also, many wireless devices exist. Each of these wireless devices may present a unique format for display. That is, there may be corresponding and unique display formats for each of the wireless devices. As can be imagined, a logistical nightmare would exist for a content provider to develop content that is fully supportable by each of the varying formats. That would prove to be prohibitively expensive, as each format would require its own team of web designers to display the content appropriately.
In addition, a typical set of criteria was not extensive, since the contextual environment previously did not vary. The typical contextual environment of the prior art described an end user operating from his or her home with a desktop computer within a specific geographic location. As such, the typical set of criteria did not include other contextual environments, such as, mobile access, access from the office, access from the home, access from a wireless device, access from other geographic locations, access using other languages, etc.
As a result, stringent development of web content for a specific contextual environment, namely a desktop computer using a major browser in a particular geographic region, is not capable of delivering web content to a variety of contextual environments, including a variety of wireless mobile access environments. Specifically, previous development of web content for a particular contextual environment did not allow for extending the contextual environment within the markup language used to deliver the content to include other contextual environments.

Method and system for storing and retrieving extensible multi-dimensional display property configurations


A fabric inspection device includes a sheet conveying portion, an image reading portion, a timing control portion, a storage portion, a comparing control portion, and a display portion. The image reading portion reads a plurality of images of the same pattern recorded repeatedly with a predetermined pitch on a recording sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying portion. The timing control portion regulates the timing of image reading by the image reading portion. The storage portion stores the plurality of images read by the image reading portion. The comparing control portion takes, out of the plurality of images stored in the storage portion, part of an image continuously recorded on the recording sheet corresponding to the forefront one pitch as a reference image and compares the image data of a comparison image recorded later than the reference image with image data of the reference image to check for image defects.

The present disclosure relates to a fabric inspection device that detects defects in images of the same pattern recorded repeatedly with a predetermined pitch on a continuous recording sheet, and to an ink-jet printing device incorporating such a fabric inspection device.
As a method for printing on continuous cloth, there are known a direct printing method, in which an image is printed directly on a material on an ink-jet printer, and a transfer printing method, in which an image is printed on special paper (transfer paper) on an ink-jet printer having disperse dye ink (sublimation ink) and then the ink on the transfer paper is evaporated on a thermal transfer device so that only the ink permeates a material (mainly polyester).
The cloth having undergone printing processing as described above is usually passed through an inspection step to check for image defects. Although, on conventional fabric inspection devices, the cloth having undergone printing processing is conveyed automatically, inspection is carried out visually; that is, there is no device available for checking image defects automatically with respect to the whole range of cloth. Thus, image defects are overlooked, resulting in output of low quality printed articles.
To avoid that, there have been proposed methods for automatically checking defects on cloth. For example, there is known an automatic fabric inspection device that determines, when a woven fabric as an inspection target is imaged with an imaging means and the level of the image signal acquired as the result of the imaging is out of the permissible range, that there are defects on the woven fabric. There is also known a correction value acquiring method that acquires correction values for individual recording elements by use of a reading device having a resolution lower than the resolution of the recording elements.
There is also known an image inspection device that stores a reference image and an inspection image and that detects a difference based on color differences of an RGB image while performing image inspection processing with first data of the reference image and second data of the inspection image associated with each other at the pixel level.

Fabric inspection device and ink-jet printing device therewith


Considering a case that a device requiring electric power is arranged in a room where an actuator such as an automatic driving device is disposed, a power cable, a control signal cable, and an electric power cable for the actuator are arranged in parallel and extended in one direction, and thereby a flat part is formed. In a cable side connector provided at both ends of the flat part, a connection terminal of the control signal cable is held at a position where a connection terminal of the electric power cable is put between the connection terminal and a connection terminal of the power cable.

In a system provided with an actuator as a vehicle test system provided with an automatic driving device for testing power performance, etc. of various kinds of vehicles (for example, a passenger car, a truck, etc.), a power cable and a control signal cable for moving the actuator are used. Furthermore, a structure as described in Patent Document 1 is known. In the structure, each of cables is laid so that one end of each cables is connected to the actuator and so that the other end of each cables is connected to a controller of the actuator (for example, in case of a vehicle test system, a controller, etc. relating to a chassis dynamometer, an automatic driving device, etc.), and thereby the actuator is enabled to be moved by a remote operation.
In the power cable, a noise is caused when an output current changes depending on an operation of the actuator. Therefore, in the power cable and the control signal cable, for example, it is considered that influence caused by the noise is suppressed by using a cable which is made to have a shielding function (an electromagnetic shield, etc.) by forming a conductive shielding body on an outer peripheral side of a wire.
In case of using various equipment in addition to the actuator, for example, in case of using equipment for measuring circumstances around the actuator, etc. together (for example, in case of a system in which the actuator is arranged in a vehicle room, measuring instrument which measures circumstances, etc. in the vehicle room is used together and arranged), it is necessary to properly increase the number of the laid cables.


A method and apparatus for activating a vehicle entry power system using structured light detection are described herein. The method may include waking up the vehicle entry power system utilizing keyfob detection, waking up a smart camera, turning on, by the smart camera, a laser diode, wherein the laser diode projects a light pattern on the ground for a predetermined period of time, stepping, by a user, on the light pattern, detecting, by the smart camera, a shape change in the light pattern, and signaling to the vehicle entry power system to activate a lift gate opening.

Vehicles have a number of power entry systems which may include automatic power lift gates, trunk lids or hoods, sunroofs, sliding doors, and doors. Users may want to use a touch-less activation of the power entry systems upon approaching the vehicle or when they are in the vehicle due to security or convenience reasons.
Most of the newer vehicles are also equipped with a Radio Frequency (RF) system that is able to detect and verify if a keyfob/transponder associated with the vehicle is in the immediate proximity of the vehicle and "wake-up" the vehicle.

Vehicle power systems activation based on structured light detection


A method includes a burning step, a cleaning step, a drugging step, a covering step, and a sealing step to effectively exterminate insect pests inside and outside an ant mound. Specifically, the ant mound is intermittently burnt with flame to kill the insect pests that run out of the ant mound in batches. The ant mound is then removed to expose outlets of ant channels. Next, pharmaceuticals are placed in and surround the outlets of the ant channels. A container is then placed on top of and covers the outlets of the ant channels. The container is sealed to isolate the interior of the container from the exterior of the container, avoiding leakage of gasified pharmaceuticals and preventing entrance of ambient fresh air into the container. Sunlight transmitting the container gasifies the pharmaceuticals in the container, and gasified pharmaceuticals flow into deep channels to kill the insect pests.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for exterminating insect pests and, more particularly to a method for exterminating insect pests inside and outside a mound built by the insect pests.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mound-building insect pests cause tremendous damage to agriculture and the environment. Conventional methods for exterminating insect pests such as fire ants involve use or not use of chemical pharmaceuticals. Methods not using chemical pharmaceuticals involve boiling water, drowning, and biological pest control, all of which are intended to reduce impact to the environment. According to official record, soaking the area of fire ants by boiling water could only obtain 60% control effect of fire ants with the side effect of damage to surrounding plants. The drowning method requires submerging the whole ant mound in a bucket filled with detergent for more than 24 hours, which does not allow handling of ant mounds of a large area. Furthermore, attack from and escape of fire ants are inevitable while digging and handling the ant mound. The biological pest control utilizes Thelohania solenopsae or parasitic flies to reduce advantages of fire ants, yet this method is still not mature. Two stages are involved when exterminating fire ants with pharmaceuticals. In the first stage, three kinds of pharmaceutical baits approved by the Advisory Council on Agriculture were placed in the feeding area to lure fire ants. In the second stage which began after 10-14 days of the first stage, six kinds of pharmaceuticals approved by the Advisory Council on Agriculture were poured by a machine into channels in the ant mound. According to official record, 98% control effect was achieved. However, success of this method relies on the weather. Specifically, it must not rain in 12 hours after placing the pharmaceutical baits.


A method is provided for operating a device that is usable for printing the respective lateral surface of hollow objects. The device comprises at least one mandrel wheel for holding the hollow objects on projecting expanding mandrels, and a transfer wheel for transporting the hollow objects, which transfer wheel is arranged downstream of the mandrel wheel in a transport direction of the hollow objects. The mandrel wheel and the transfer wheel are each rotatably arranged in a laterally offset manner, with respect to one another, in two different planes that are parallel to one another. Hollow objects, which are printed during ongoing printing production, are transferred from the work arbors of the mandrel wheel to the transfer wheel. During a modification of the device, from a first production of hollow objects having a first height, to a second production of hollow objects having a second height, a lateral offset between the mandrel wheel and the transfer wheel is adapted to the height of the hollow objects to be printed in the second production by automatically changing the axial position of the transfer wheel relative to the position of the mandrel wheel.

As is known from WO 2012/148576 A1, for example, multiple printing units are typically used in the packaging industry in a device for decorating hollow objects that each have a cylindrical lateral surface. Each of these printing units transfers a respective printing ink onto a printing blanket used jointly by these printing units. The lateral surface of the hollow object in question is then decorated with an, e.g., multi-color print motif by a relative movement between the lateral surface of the hollow object in question and the previously inked multi-color printing blanket, in particular in multiple colors, in particular by way of a rolling motion of the lateral surface of the hollow object in question on this printing blanket.
Such a device for printing or for decorating hollow objects that in each case, in particular, have a cylindrical lateral surface is used, e.g., in conjunction with a production system that generally comprises multiple work stations to manufacture and further process such hollow objects, wherein the printing or the decorating of the hollow objects takes place by way of a printing method that is carried out, or at least can be carried out, industrially, which is why these hollow objects can, generally speaking, also be referred to as printed products. In such a production system, the hollow objects to be printed are manufactured in a large-scale production operation in volumes of, e.g., several hundred or even several thousand pieces per minute, e.g., between 1,500 and 2,500 pieces per minute, particularly preferably between 1,800 and 2,200 pieces per minute. Such hollow objects are, e.g., made of metal, in particular steel or aluminum, or of a plastic material. Such hollow objects made of metal are used, e.g., as beverage cans or as aerosol cans. Such hollow objects made of plastic are produced, e.g., in the form of thermoplastic molded objects and are used, e.g., as cups for packaging, e.g., liquid or pasty foodstuffs, in particular dairy products or beverages. Another type of hollow objects to be printed in an aforementioned device can be preferably cylindrical containers or vessels made of glass, e.g., bottles or vials.
Beverage cans are preferably made of aluminum and are, in general, so-called two-part cans in which a circular bottom, together with a preferably straight cylinder shell, are in each case produced from a single workpiece, i.e., from a so-called slug or from a round blank, i.e., a circular disk, in a forming process, e.g., in a cold extrusion process or in a tensile-compression forming process, preferably by way of deep drawing, in particular by way of deep-drawing and ironing, to form a hollow object that is open on one side, e.g., to form a so-called can blank, and wherein, during a manufacturing step carried out at the end of production, a circular lid is placed onto the cylinder shell and joined in an air-tight manner to the cylinder shell by way of flanging.
An aerosol can, which can also be referred to as a pressurized can or spray can, is a metal can for spraying liquids. In an aerosol can, the added liquid is pressurized, wherein, e.g., propane, butane, dimethyl ether or mixtures thereof, or also compressed air or nitrogen, are used as propellants for discharging the liquid in question from the can in question.
Commercially available beverage cans are configured for a fill volume of, e.g., 330 ml or 500 ml. Beverage cans that have a fill volume of 330 ml or 500 ml in each case usually have a diameter of approximately 67 mm. The height of the 330-ml variant is generally 115 mm, and that of the 500-ml variant is generally 168 mm. From this follows that the printable lateral surface of these hollow objects has a dimension of approximately 210 mm×115 mm, or approximately 210 mm×168 mm, respectively. This makes it indispensable to adapt the printing devices in the production system. To be even more flexible and to be able to print hollow objects having other formats, e.g., having a different diameter in the range of 50 mm to 100 mm and/or, in particular, having a different height in the range of 100 mm to 200 mm, in the same production system, extensive modification measures have thus far been necessary on the production system in question. When, e.g., two people carry out such a modification of the production system to accommodate a different height of the hollow objects to be printed, each of them requires, e.g., eight or more hours. Since such a long idle time of the production system is generally not tolerable, such production systems are thus far frequently only operated for a single, fixed format of hollow objects; however, this is extremely inflexible and no longer compatible with today's market needs.
The aforementioned WO 2012/148576 A1 describes a device for decorating cans, wherein a system composed of multiple printing units, each having an inking unit, is provided for the multi-color decoration of a multiplicity of cans. Each of the inking units forming part of the printing units comprises a respective ink fountain for supplying printing ink, wherein in each ink fountain a respective ink fountain roller is provided for receiving printing ink from the ink fountain in question. A respective duct roller is provided in each inking unit, wherein each duct roller receives printing ink from the ink fountain roller in question, wherein multiple oscillating inking rollers and multiple ink transfer rollers, which each cooperate with at least one of the oscillating inking rollers, are provided in a roller train arranged downstream from the respective duct roller in the inking unit in question. A respective printing plate cylinder including at least one printing plate is present for each inking unit, wherein in each case only a single ink application roller cooperates with the respective printing plate cylinder to apply the printing ink.
A device for decorating cans is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,266 A, comprising multiple inking stations and plate cylinder devices, wherein each of the plate cylinder devices is driven separately by a main gear unit, wherein the main gear unit is assigned to a print roller device so as to be completely independent from the roller drive device of each inking station.
A continuous motion device for decorating cylindrical containers is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,805 B1, wherein the device comprises: a decorating section and a conveying section, which conveys containers through a decorating zone in which decorations are applied to the containers, wherein the conveying section comprises: a carrier rotating steadily on a carrier axis, wherein the carrier comprises: a forward-facing side, multiple mandrel subassemblies, which are attached to the carrier at identical angular distances between adjoining subassemblies, wherein each of the subassemblies is attached so as to move back and forth along a single path, which is radially arranged with respect to the carrier axis as a center, wherein each of the subassemblies comprises: an extended support arm, which extends along a single one of the paths, an axis which extends forward from the arm and, in general, is parallel to the carrier axis, and a rail, which is attached to the arm and extends longitudinally therefrom, the axis comprising a spindle section for mounting a rotatable mandrel which conveys containers through the decorating zone, wherein the axis also includes a fastening section behind the spindle section, wherein the fastening section is connected to the arm at a radially outer end of the arm; for each of the subassemblies at least one slide unit being attached on the side of the carrier which faces forward and being operatively connected to the rail to slidingly mount the subassembly when it moves back and forth radially; and each of the rails including at least one bearing surface, which in each case is engaged with another group of bearing elements of the at least one slide unit.
A mandrel system for a can coating or decorating machine or the like is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,788 A, comprising a ceramic sleeve element for supporting a workpiece and a sleeve support core element for supporting the ceramic sleeve element, and at least two axially spaced bearing units, which are supported by the sleeve support core element and/or the support core element.
A decorator comprising a mandrel wheel, a segmented wheel, a transfer wheel, and a transport chain is known from WO 2018/013465 A1, wherein the mandrel wheel, the segmented wheel, the transfer wheel, and the transport chain each comprise a motor and a decoder, wherein a controller is provided, wherein the controller adjusts or sets the respective speed of the mandrel wheel, the segmented wheel, the transfer wheel and the transport chain based on information received from the decoders.
A device for printing hollow objects is known from DE 10 2018 201 033 B3, comprising a segmented wheel and a unit for sequentially feeding the hollow objects to the periphery of the segmented wheel, wherein this unit comprises at least one conveyor wheel and a mandrel wheel, wherein first the conveyor wheel, then the mandrel wheel, and thereafter the segmented wheel are arranged in the transport direction of the hollow objects, wherein multiple drivers are arranged around the circumference of the conveyor wheel and multiple holding devices are arranged around the circumference of the mandrel wheel, each for receiving a respective hollow object to be printed in cooperation with the segmented wheel, wherein the mandrel wheel and the conveyor wheel each comprise a dedicated drive that is separate from the drive of the segmented wheel, wherein the drive of the segmented wheel and the drive of the mandrel wheel and the drive of the conveyor wheel are connected to one another by a shared data bus.

Method and device for printing the respective lateral surface of hollow objects


A method, system, and program product for implementing automated feedback validation is provided. The method includes monitoring an Internet search associated with locating preferred user attributes associated with a specified geographical location. Results of the Internet search are analyzed and the preferred user attributes are verified for accuracy. Discrepancies between the preferred user attributes and attributes associated with the specified geographical location are determined and a resulting a confidence factor is applied to the preferred user attributes with respect to a level of accuracy of the preferred user attributes. A notification indicating a confidence rating applied to the preferred user attributes with respect to the level of accuracy is transmitted to the user.

The present invention relates generally to a method for validating automated feedback and in particular to a method and associated system for improving software and Internet technology associated with monitoring and analyzing Internet searches for detecting user attributes and determining a confidence level of the user attributes with respect to a level of an associated accuracy.


The present invention provides a method of treating an Hsp70 dependent cancer, including: providing at least one Hsp70 dependent cancer cell; contacting the at least one cell with a sub-effective concentration of a dihydropyrimidinone compound; and contacting the at least one cell with a sub-effective concentration of a proteasome inhibitor, wherein the sub-effective concentration of the dihydropyrimidinone compound and the sub-effective concentration of the proteasome inhibitor have a synergistic effect upon the at least one cell.

Many forms of cancer remain fatal despite advances in medical research and treatment. For example, multiple myeloma (MM) is a type of bone cancer that, despite advances in medical treatment, remains fatal.
Although there are several treatments for the disease, MM has proven difficult to acquire long-term remissions, and patients have an overall median survival of three to five years. One treatment method in current use is proteasome inhibition therapy, using, for example, Bortezomib (clinically Bortezomib, in the lab MG-132). While Bortezomib treatments have shown clinical effects on some patients diagnosed with MM, up to 12% of patients treated show no response to Bortezomib. Also, up to 30% of patients treated with Bortezomib exhibit neuropathy. Furthermore, MM has a high refractory and relapse nature and anywhere from 20% to 60% of relapsed patients who were previously treated with Bortezomib do not respond to subsequent therapies. Research has shown that some cancers, including, for example, MM, are resistant to anti-cancer effects of Bortezomib due to various mechanisms that include an increase in production of the heat shock proteins within cancer cells which can mitigate the effects of Bortezomib. Therefore, cancer cells may be initially unresponsive or eventually grow resistant to Bortezomib treatment by mechanisms that involve heat shock protein production within these cells.
Patients typically cannot be given high doses of Bortezomib in order to improve the response, as the drug is highly toxic. Also, increased dosages may induce drug resistance and/or refractiveness to treatment in cancer patients. Due to the prognosis and projected life span of current MM patients, the long-term toxicity issues to patients undergoing proteasome inhibitor treatment are a secondary concern to surviving the cancer. Thus, Bortezomib, although an excellent agent to induce some response in MM patients, lacks important properties to be used as an effective long term agent to prolong survival and achieve cure in the treatment of MM. Inadequate treatment currently exists for other types of cancer sharing one or more characteristics with MM.

Methods for heat shock protein dependent cancer treatment

The Research Foundation of State University of New York

University of Pittsburgh—of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education


Several preferred embodiments are disclosed for a tool-less blade clamping apparatus for a reciprocating tool of the type which has a reciprocating plunger which has a tool attachment receiving slot for receiving a tool attachment of the type that has a shank portion. The clamping apparatus has an unclamped position and a clamped position. In the unclamped position, a tool attachment can be easily inserted and when it is in its clamped position, the tool attachment is securely retained. The preferred embodiments have at least one spring biasing the apparatus toward the clamped position, a releasable retaining mechanism for holding the apparatus in its unclamped position after being placed in that position. When the blade shank portion is inserted into the slot a predetermined distance, the shoulders of the shank portion release the retaining mechanism to move it to its clamped position. When a blade is to be removed, the clamping apparatus needs only to be moved to its unclamped position by manually rotating the outer sleeve or collar, and the blade is normally ejected from the mechanism by contact with the blade shoulders as it reaches its unclamped position.

The present invention generally relates to tools. More particularly, it relates to mechanisms for clamping tool attachments to such tools.
While reciprocating tools such as jigsaws, saber saws and other reciprocating tools, including medical and surgical instruments, have been used for decades, the mechanisms for attaching a tool attachment to the reciprocating portion has evolved from various attachment mechanisms that required separate tools of one kind or another, typically screwdrivers, wrenches or levers, to attach the tool attachment to a reciprocating member by tightening screws or the like. Because such attachment mechanisms are often located in a confined space in the tool, it is often inconvenient to attach or remove the tool attachment, which can comprise a cutting blade, a saw blade, an abrasive, polishing or smoothing member or the like from the tool. Moreover, since special tools were often required, it was necessary to have such tools available during use in the event the tool attachment breaks or otherwise needs to be changed because it is worn out or a different type of tool attachment is needed.
There has been a concerted effort in recent times to develop new kinds of attachment or clamping mechanisms that do not require the use of tools to mount and remove tool attachments from the tool. While mechanisms are known in the prior art that have this capability, the various known designs have varying degrees of effectiveness in securely holding the tool attachment in the tool, or in the ease and convenience of operation in mounting or removing tool attachments from the tool or in the degree of complexity and therefore cost of manufacture.
It is a continuing goal of designers to develop clamping mechanisms for such reciprocating tools which have superior design features, are effective to provide the desired amount of force to clamp the tool attachment, are easily operated, and have a minimum number of parts that are easily manufactured and assembled to thereby minimize the cost of manufacture.

Tool-less blade clamping apparatus for a reciprocating tool


A seat reclining device for a vehicle is configured such that an operating surface section and a projection of a pole are disposed at locations separate from each other along the radial direction of a body surface section, and are half-punched from the body surface section in one direction along the axial direction so as to form projections. A pressed surface section of the pole is provided on an edge surface of the body surface section formed on the other side in the axial direction of the operating surface section along with the half-punched projection of the operating surface section.

As a vehicle seat reclining device of related art, there is known a device including a stepped lock mechanism capable of adjusting a backrest angle of a seat back at a constant pitch angle (Patent Literature 1). The vehicle seat reclining device described above is configured as a joint device that connects the seat back to a seat cushion in a state where the backrest angle can be adjusted. Specifically, the vehicle seat reclining device described above includes a ratchet and a guide which are made of substantially disc-shaped metal members and which are assembled so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and a lock mechanism that locks the relative rotation thereof.
The lock mechanism described above is configured to lock relative rotation between the ratchet and the guide by pressing a plurality of poles set in the guide against inner peripheral teeth formed on an outer peripheral portion of the ratchet by biasing and meshing with each other. Specifically, in a rotation region of the ratchet with respect to the guide, the ratchet described above is set with a lock region where the meshing of each pole is allowed, and a free region where each pole can ride to be prevented from meshing. Further, each pole described above is formed with a pressed surface portion to be pressed from the inner side in the radial direction by a cam set in a central portion of the guide, a riding protrusion which is a riding portion to the free region described above, and a pull-in operation surface portion that is operated to be pulled inward in the radial direction by the cam described above. The pressed surface portion, the riding protrusion, and the pull-in operation surface portion are formed by half blanking on each pole.


A rotating disc propelled omni-directional vehicle operable on multi-surfaces which has a disc (20) in an eliptical or dish-shape in contact with the surface upon which it rests. A platform (26) is rotatably mounted on the disc and is capable of supporting human weight, such as a driver or a static cargo payload. A power source (40) is located on the platform and supplies mechanical energy to drive the disc. This energy is transmitted by a transmission to a flywheel (58), or flywheels (62), which either directly engage the disc or are separated by clutches (64) and (66). In an embodiment utilizing two flywheels, the torque developed by the power source is transmitted to one of the flywheels then disconnected and transferred to the disc. The other flywheel is brought up to speed and the pair are sequentially cycled allowing the flywheel to drive the disc without direct connection with the power source. Control and steering is accomplished by a combination of rotational speed and angular disposition of the platform created by a weight shift on the platform in combination with the use of a brake (60). Various power sources may be utilized and methods of actuating the clutches to transfer torque from one flywheel to the other.

Vehicles have been driven by many types of wheels, the basic "round" wheel has been known almost since the beginning of civilization. Variations of multiple wheels have been utilized in an endeavor to provide propulsion including rollers or annular shaped wheels in pairs or multiples. From the prior art discovered, the use of a disc that revolves thereby providing the propulsion means for moving a platform has been lacking.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention however, the following U.S. patents were considered related:
______________________________________ PATENT NO. INVENTOR ISSUED ______________________________________ 4,733,737 Falamak 29 March 1988 4,519,466 Shiraishi 28 May 1985 4,237,990 La 9 December 1980 3,700,058 Kuwahara 24 October 1972 ______________________________________
Falamak teaches a drivable, steerable platform containing a number of wheel assemblies that are drivingly rotated and steered. The wheels are powered by a motor for unilateral steering and a separate motor with connecting shafts and gear trains drives the wheels to coordinate the steering and propulsion direction. The device may be turned 360.degree. thereby steering the platform. The preferred embodiment is housed in a hollow sphere allowing the platform to move about on radically uneven terrain or even climb steps up to a height equal to approximate one-half of the spheres diameter.
Shiraishi employs a pair of inclined annular or doughnut-shaped wheels having a partially spherical surface of rubber or other elastic material arranged at an angle relative to the surface on which the drive system operates. The wheels are both driven in rotation by motors or the like and a similar motor changes the tilt angle which causes an omnidirectional movement of the system. A follower unit is arranged to follow the movement of the wheels and allows support for the system and may be in the embodiment of a caster or the like. The driven body is supported either jointly by the drive wheels and followers or solely by the followers (casters). The purpose of the system is to provide omnidirectional 360.degree. movement simulating the ambulatory movement of a human being.
La utilizes three wheels disposed at the corners of a triangle with one of the wheels having an axis which is at an angle to the others such that the axis is parallel to the surface engaged by the rollers. No two-wheels are aligned or parallel to each other. Each wheel consists of a plurality of rollers rotating on their respective axis. The vehicle is therefore omnidirectional as every given set of wheel rotational speeds and directions produces only one possible vehicle motion with no conflict between wheels. The wheels are rotated by an electric motor or the like attached individually to each wheel. There is some bouncing as the wheels rotate from one roller to the other, however, the greater number of rollers, the less the bounce.
Kuwahara again uses a combination of three wheels on the periphery, however, a steerable drive wheel is located in the center. The three wheels are the caster type and swivel freely while the driving wheel extends below an imaginery plane of the casters, allowing the drive wheel to change direction of movement in response to changes in the manner in which the weight of the person riding on the car is distributed. A steering wheel is provided to change the direction of the drive wheel and a motor with a battery provides the rotational force to propel the vehicle. A grip wheel directly below the steering wheel provides a surface for riders to support themselves. It is indeed apparent that large surface rotating disks have not been employed in vehicles for propulsion even though the principle of shifting weight is known to control steering.


A robotic surgical system includes a master controller with an input handle and robotic manipulator assemblies including a surgical end effector and an endoscopic camera. The input handle is translatable to provide a position and rotatable to provide an orientation. A control system couples the master controller to the first and second manipulator assemblies. The control system moves the surgical end effector in response to the position and orientation of the input handle. The control system moves the input handle to orient the input handle to correspond to an orientation of the surgical end effector from a viewpoint of the endoscopic camera during the repositioning of at least one of the input handle position, the end effector, or the endoscopic camera. The control system may move the surgical end effector only in a first mode and orients the input handle only in a second mode.

1. Field
This invention relates to data input devices, and more particularly, to a master controller which may be used for directing movements of a robot and which is particularly useful for robotically enhanced surgery.
2. Background
In robotically assisted surgery, the surgeon typically operates a master controller to remotely control the motion of surgical instruments at the surgical site. The master controller may be separated from the patient by a significant distance (e.g., across the operating room, in a different room, or in a completely different building than the patient). Alternatively, a master controller may be positioned quite near the patient in the operating room. Regardless, the master controller will typically include one or more hand input devices.
These hand input devices are coupled by a servo mechanism to the surgical instrument. More specifically, servo motors move a manipulator or "slave" supporting the surgical instrument based on the surgeon's manipulation of the hand input devices. During an operation, the surgeon may employ, via the robotic surgery system, a variety of surgical instruments such as tissue graspers, needle drivers, electrosurgical cautery probes, etc. Each of these structures performs functions for the surgeon, for example, holding or driving a needle, grasping a blood vessel, or dissecting, cauterizing, or coagulating tissue.
To deliver the full potential of this new form of surgery, the robotic system will preferably allow movement of the surgical end effector in both position and orientation. Directing such robotic input is much easier when the surgeon is able to move the hand input device with motions that correspond to the desired motions of the end effector. In particular, it is desirable to maintain a substantial correspondence between the orientation of the hand input device and the end effector.
One obstacle to maintaining a substantial correspondence between the orientation of the hand input device and the surgical end effector is the need to reposition elements of the robotic surgical system during surgery. For example, it may be necessary to reposition an endoscopic camera to gain a better view of the surgical field. Repositioning the camera will change the perceived orientation of the surgical end effector and thus end the substantial correspondence between the orientation of the hand input device and the end effector as seen by the surgeon in a visual display at the master controller.
Existing robotic surgical systems may provide a first mode in which the hand input device controls the surgical end effector and a second mode that allows elements to be repositioned. The orientation of the hand input device may be adjusted when changing from the second mode to the first mode to restore the substantial correspondence between the orientation of the hand input device and the end effector. While this is effective, adjusting the orientation of the hand input device may take a significant amount of time because it is undesirable to move the hand input device abruptly. In many surgical procedures it is desirable to reposition elements of the robotic surgical system fairly frequently. Thus adjusting the orientation of the hand input device may consume a substantial amount of time and disrupt the progress of the surgical procedure.
In light of the above, it would be desirable to provide an improved apparatus and method for orienting an operator input device for a robotic surgical system when elements of the system are repositioned.

Operator input device for a robotic surgical system


Conveyor apparatus and methods of conveying a foodstuff. A foodstuff conveyor apparatus may include a foodstuff inlet, a foodstuff outlet, and a conveyor chamber coupling the inlet to the outlet. A conveyor screw having an axis oriented longitudinally in the conveyor chamber may be configured to urge the foodstuff from the inlet towards the outlet. The conveyor screw may have a spindle at each end, with a spindle free portion between the spindles. The screw may be positioned in the conveyor chamber so that one spindle is near the outlet, and the other spindle is near the inlet. The spindles may be configured so that the pitch of the screw near the outlet is less than the pitch of the screw near the inlet to provide a mixing and compacting effect as the foodstuff is conveyed from the inlet to the outlet.

The present invention concerns a foodstuff conveyor apparatus, in particular for meat or pasta products, comprising a foodstuff inlet, a foodstuff outlet, a conveyor chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet, and a conveyor screw extending in the conveyor chamber.
Conveyor apparatuses of the above-mentioned kind are used for automated production and processing of pasty foodstuffs such as sausage meat, dough, or pasta. Hereinafter the term 'product' is also used synonymously for foodstuff. In the sector of the foodstuffs industry, there is on the one hand a high level of cost pressure, while on the other hand the demands on product quality are high. When conveying and processing pasty foodstuffs, the presence of gases that occur in the form of gas bubbles in the product flow assumes a great influence on the appearance of the product, and on the processing quality. Processing businesses and manufacturers of apparatuses for conveying foodstuffs are increasingly endeavouring to afford a high product quality with an appearance that is as good as possible.
In this respect, great significance is attributed to degassing. That is to say, the elimination of large gas bubbles from the product flow. Known apparatuses and methods use nozzles for reducing the size of gas bubbles in the product flow, the nozzles being introduced into the product flow downstream of conveyor apparatuses. By means of a reduction in the cross-section of the product flow being conveyed, these nozzles lead to a compacting effect whereby the flow speed rises downstream of the nozzle, and the gas bubbles in the product flow are torn open. Although the procedure for eliminating in particular large gas bubbles in such apparatuses and methods generally operates satisfactorily, the product is subjected to high shearing forces in the nozzle. These large shearing forces lead to product stressing, which is considered to be a disadvantage. In addition, large and/or shearing-sensitive constituents that are to be added cannot be conveyed through a nozzle, or the nozzle diameter has to be adapted to the constituent size, which influences optimum functioning of the nozzle.
With this background in mind, the object of the present invention is to provide a foodstuff conveyor apparatus that makes it possible to eliminate large gas bubbles in the foodstuff being conveyed, with a lower level of product stressing.

Foodstuff conveyor apparatus and method of conveying a foodstuff


The present disclosure relates to methods of assessing a sample of guide RNAs (gRNAs).

CRISPRs (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) evolved in bacteria and archaea as an adaptive immune system to defend against viral attack. Upon exposure to a virus, short segments of viral DNA are integrated into the CRISPR locus. RNA is transcribed from a portion of the CRISPR locus that includes the viral sequence. That RNA, which contains sequence complementary to the viral genome, mediates targeting of an RNA-guided nuclease protein such as Cas9 or Cpf1 to a target sequence in the viral genome. The RNA-guided nuclease, in turn, cleaves and thereby silences the viral target.
CRISPR systems have been adapted for genome editing in eukaryotic cells. These systems generally include a protein component (the RNA-guided nuclease) and a nucleic acid component (generally referred to as a guide RNA or "gRNA"). These two components form a complex that interacts with specific target DNA sequences recognized by, or complementary to, the two components of the system and optionally edits or alters the target sequence, for example by means of site-specific DNA cleavage.
Guide RNA (gRNA) targeting sequences can govern on- and off-target genome editing activity of CRISPR systems. Current methods for assessing a sample of gRNAs include mass spectrometry methods that rely on mass information from predetermined gRNA sequences. However, such techniques can fail to identify presence of contaminants, such as nucleotide substitutions, insertions, or deletions, in a sample of gRNAs, which may cause off-target effects and hinder clinical applications.

Methods and systems for analyzing guide RNA molecules