Apparatus and methods are disclosed for use within an image-guided surgical navigation system for facilitating the combined positioning and orientation of multiple surgical implements. A tool guide having multiple cannulas is tracked by a surgical navigation system in real time. Position data of the tool guide is registered and combined with pre-acquired images by the navigation computer. Concurrent graphical representations of the plurality of cannulas are superimposed over the images and displayed. The display allows the surgeon to place the tool guide into the patient""s body and position and orient the plurality of cannulas which are then used to place each of the implements.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is directed generally to image-guided medical procedures, and more particularly, to instrumentation for the optimal placement of multiple surgical implements using image-based surgical guided navigation systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many surgical procedures include a surgeon placing multiple implements within a patient""s body. Some of these procedures dictate implement placement in a specific geometry to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment. Certain factors, such as the characteristics of the patient""s anatomy, can also influence the desired relative placement of the multiple implements. Some procedures place the implements at a specified angle relative to each other, while others may use a parallel arrangement. One such procedure which utilizes a parallel configuration is the fixation of a femoral neck fracture. Typically, this type of fracture is stabilized utilizing three parallel cannulated screws. Each screw is placed perpendicularly to the fracture site and in such a manner that the distance between each screw is equal, thus forming an equilateral triangle. Parallel placement of the screws is desired so that the bones are properly pulled together. If the screws are not placed in such a parallel manner, shearing forces at the fracture site can prevent proper healing. Furthermore, the triangular screw arrangement increases the stability of the fracture fixation and prevents rotation between the bone fragments. Studies have suggested that three screws are an optimal number since additional implements provide no strength advantage and additional screw penetration increases risk. Femoral neck fracture stabilization using this method can be performed percutaneously while the patient is under regional anesthesia, thus reducing risk associated with more invasive procedures.
Traditional techniques to accurately position and orient implements have included the use of x-ray images to localize the position of the implement tool guide. Through the continuous acquisition of x-ray images during the medical procedure, real-time placement of the tool guide relative to the patient""s anatomy can be displayed. More recently, fluoroscopically-based surgical navigation systems have been employed for tool guide positioning by tracking the tool and superimposing its representation onto pre-acquired images without requiring x-rays to be continually taken during the actual surgical procedure.
Current practice for multiple implement placement utilizing image-based surgical navigation systems typically employs tracked guides which contain a single cannula. As used herein, the term cannula refers to a tubular member having at least one hollow channel (i.e., lumen), for insertion in and/or placement adjacent to a patient""s body. Such an instrument could be used to place implements in and/or adjacent to a patient by positioning the cannula in the region of interest, and then placing the implement in the region by means of the channel. As used herein, the term implement refers to a surgical tool or device for performing medical procedures. An implement could be a drill, a guide wire, or implants such as screws, nails, etc.
Those skilled in the art should recognize that there are many different types of cannulas and many different ways in which cannulas could be used. For example, a cannula could be rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible and could be configured in any number of different forms, such as a catheter, needle, endoscope, implement inserter, etc.
Utilizing a single cannula means the surgeon typically will position each implement individually. The procedure usually starts by attaching a reference tracking frame to the surgical anatomy. X-ray images are then taken utilizing a fluoroscopic imager which is also tracked by the navigation system. The surgeon then positions the tracked guide for the first implement with the aid of the navigational system display. Once the tool guide is properly positioned, the cannula is used to place the guide wire and subsequent implement into the desired anatomical site. The next implement is then placed relative to the first, and so on. In order for the surgeon to properly place the subsequent implement relative to the previous, new images are taken with the previous implement in place.
One difficulty of the current practice is in achieving relative accuracy of the implement placement. To achieve the desired relative implement geometry, the surgeon estimates each trajectory individually based upon the prior implements. Thus, the relative accuracy is based on the physician""s estimate. Furthermore, each implement may involve generating a new set of images of the patient""s anatomy before the subsequent implement can be placed, which can increase the time of the procedure and radiation exposure to both the patient and operating room personnel.
The present invention is directed generally to image guided medical procedures, and, particularly, medical procedures which utilize surgical implements. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the combined positioning of multiple implements, especially those that may be placed in a specific relative geometry.
As embodied and broadly described herein, certain aspects of the invention are directed to a multiple cannula tool guide for use in conjunction with image-guided surgical navigation systems.
In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for use in image guided surgery is presented. The apparatus comprises: an instrument location system for detecting position, where the instrument location system includes a computer processor; a tool guide comprising a plurality of cannulas; and at least one trackable marker provided on the tool guide for detection by the instrument location system; a memory coupled to the computer processor stores: at least one pre-acquired image of a patient having an image space, and instructions, to be executed by the computer processor, to align the image space to a detector space, to track a three-dimensional position of the tool guide in the detector space, and to compute a projection of the tool guide into the at least one pre-acquired image.
In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for the placement of surgical implements is presented. The apparatus comprises: a plurality of cannulas coupled to a fixture, where at least one trackable marker associated with the cannulas; a plurality of surgical implement receivers provided on the fixture for receiving surgical implements; and at least one of the plurality of receivers being substantially coaxially aligned with a respective one of the plurality of cannulas.
In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for the placement of surgical implements, is presented. The apparatus comprises: a plurality of cannulas, where at least one of the plurality of cannulas is adjustable to vary its length; a fixture coupled to the plurality of cannulas, where the fixture can accommodate at least one of the plurality of cannulas being individually adjustable to vary at least one of its angular position; and at least one trackable marker associated with the cannulas.
In another aspect of the invention, a method for guiding a medical instrument for use in image guided surgery is presented. The method comprises: providing at least one pre-acquired image of a patient, the at least one image having an image space; aligning the image space and a detector space; tracking a three-dimensional position of a tool guide in the detector space, using at least one trackable marker provided on the tool guide, where the tool guide includes a plurality of cannulas; and relating the position of the cannulas with the at least one pre-acquired image.
Combined positioning of surgical implements may mitigate the amount of estimation a surgeon performs when positioning implements individually. This can result in improved placement efficiency and reduced surgical procedure time. Additional savings in time may also be realized by reducing the number of pre-acquired images generated during a surgical procedure.

Multiple cannula image guided tool for image guided procedures


Systems and methods of event driven recovery management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of providing event driven recovery management includes continually copying one or more data blocks that are generated from a computing device, associating at least one event marker with the copies of the one or more data blocks, and allowing access to the copies of the one or more data blocks according to the at least one event marker in order to provide event driven recovery. For purposes of this disclosure, an event marker, a book mark, an application consistency point, and/or a business event are interchangeably used, depending on the context.

Recovery management may be performed by storing backup data on a schedule and/or by subjective timing standards. Such storage methods may fail to store data that may be useful for later recovery if the data is altered before a copy is stored. The storage of data based on a schedule may also result in additional storage operations performed on a more frequent basis than necessary, which may require additional storage space for less useful data and/or duplicate copies of the same data. Storage of data based on a schedule and/or by subjective standards may also require additional information from users of a system to determine whether desirable information was available at a particular time. Accordingly, the recovery of data may be hindered, and additional time and expense may be required before useful data is recovered. Performing recovery management by storing backup data using a schedule and/or subjective timing standards may therefore result in a failure to store useful data, additional cost and resource expenditure for storing less useful data, and increased time and effort to recover useful data if it was successfully stored.


Method and apparatus for combining a first video signal and a second video signal. The method comprising the act of replacing data in the second video signal with corresponding, in respect of a position within an image, data from the first video signal when said data in the second video signal represent a predefined repetitive pattern. The apparatus comprising a first input for input of the first video signal; a second input for input of the second video signal; an output for output of a third video signal; a keying-pattern detector connected to said second input for detecting a predefined repetitive pattern, wherein said keying-pattern detector comprises a means for receiving and/or storing a representation of the predefined repetitive pattern, and an output that is arranged to provide a signal indicating whether said predefined repetitive pattern is detected or not; and a video switch connected to said first input, said second input, said output and said output of the keying-pattern detector for continuously selecting a video signal from one of the first and second input to be represented in a third video signal, said selection being controlled by a signal from the output of the keying-pattern detector.

Means for combining or merging two or more video signals into one video signal is known in the art. For instance, such technique is normally used in motion pictures or in television recordings for placing a foreground object or person in an environment that is different from the environment of the recording of the object or person.
Normally, such prior art means utilises a technique called colour-keying. In a simple form of colour-keying the foreground object or person is recorded, foreground recording, in front of a screen that is coloured by a single colour, usually blue or green. A second recording of the desired background is also made. Then, by checking the colour of the foreground recording, switching between two video signals representing the two recordings, respectively, may be performed based on the colour information of the foreground recording in order to combine the two recordings. When the colour of the screen in the foreground recording is detected the background video signal is switched into the video signal representing the combined video signal and when the colour of the screen is not detected in the foreground recording, the foreground video signal is switched into the video signal representing the combined video signals.
Colour-keying is a widely spread technique for combining two video signals and it may be used both on recorded and live video.
However, a colour-keying system requires that a specific colour in the foreground video signal is reserved as a replacement signal. Thus, this reserved colour may not be present in any part of the foreground that is not to be replaced by the background recording. This limits the number of allowed colours in the foreground recording and results in that a user has to make arrangements to prevent the reserved colour from turning up in the portions of the recording that should not be replaced.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,251, describing a system for deriving a composite video image by merging video image data from a plurality of separate video signal sources, a technique different from colour-keying is used. In said system an operator designates an arbitrary target pattern, for example a logotype pattern on a billboard, in one video sequence. The system then monitors that video sequence continuously and in every video image of the video sequence that the logotype pattern is found the system replaces the logotype pattern with a video image data from another video signal source.
More specific, the system according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,251 searches for the logotype pattern and when found estimates the orientation, scale, perspective distortion etc. of the logotype pattern. These estimates are then applied to the video image data from the other video signal source in order to make the video image data of the other video signal source appear in the composite video image in a way corresponding to the appearance of the logotype pattern.
This system is very complex to implement and requires a lot of processing in order to detect the arbitrary logotype pattern and to estimate the orientation, scale, perspective distortion etc.

Method and apparatus for combining video signals to one comprehensive video signal


Testing a system under test (SUT) having a service-oriented architecture includes generating a first test plan for an inbound interface for each service model, generating a second test plan for an outbound interface of each service model, and generating a third test plan for information consumed by the service models using a processor. Testing the system further includes generating a fourth test plan for a process model, wherein the process model utilizes the service models, generating a fifth test plan that maps service models and the process model to executables of the system, and concatenating the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth test plans into a complete test plan for the SUT using the processor.

Within a computer-based system, a Service-Oriented Architecture refers to a business-centric architectural approach to system design that is based upon service-oriented principles. An SOA, in general, relies upon one or more processes that link together a variety of services. Each service performs a repeatable business task.
Within computer-based systems, each architectural style is typically characterized by its organizing principles. In some cases, these principles determine how testing activities are planned and executed. In a non-SOA type of system, the organizing principle for testing activities is the set of requirements for a given solution to be achieved. For a non-SOA type of system, the requirements do not map cleanly to particular components of the solution, cannot be easily organized in hierarchies, and do not involve pre- and post-conditions for cross domain invocations. As such, applying testing principles for non-SOA type systems to SOA-type systems often results in inefficient and redundant testing.

Generating test plans and test cases from service-oriented architecture and process models

International Business Machines Corporation


An inductor comprises a ferromagnetic core, a litz wire conductor encircling the ferromagnetic core, a housing, a bobbin, a conductive pin, and a seal assembly. The housing encloses the ferromagnetic core and the litz wire conductor. The conductive pin is conductively attached to the litz wire conductor, and extends therefrom to form an external electrical contact. The bobbin supports the litz wire conductor and positions the conductive pin in alignment with an aperture in the housing which is sealed against fluid egress by the seal assembly.

The present invention relates generally to ferromagnetic core inductors, and more particularly to a sealed connection to inductor coils in a sealed housing.
Inductors are passive electronic components which store electrical energy in magnetic fields. Ferromagnetic core inductors have two principal components: a rigid core of ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material, and a conductor, usually wound about the core in one or more turns. Some inductors include multiple coils dedicated to distinct voltage phases. Inductors are characterized by an inductance L which resists changes in current through the conductor. According to Faraday's law, the magnetic flux induced by changing current through the conductor generates an opposing electromotive force opposing the change in voltage. For a ferromagnetic inductor with a rectangular cross-section toroidal core,
  L  =      0.01170                                N      2            h                                log      10                          ⅆ        2                    ⅆ        1            Where L=inductance (μH), μ0=permeability of free space=4π*10−7 H/m, N=number conductor turns, h=core height (in), d1=core inside diameter (in), and d2=core outside diameter (in).
Many inductors use conductors formed of litz wire. Litz wire is made up of bundles of individually insulated wires. A single litz wire may comprise hundreds of these individually insulated parallel wires.
Real-world inductors are not perfectly energy efficient. During operation, ferromagnetic core inductors radiate heat both from core losses, and from series resistance. Accordingly, inductors in commercial or industrial applications may be cooled utilizing liquid or immersion cooling. Liquid and immersion cooling configurations house the inductor within a sealed housing containing a coolant fluid. At least one connection with the conductor extends through the housing, allowing the inductor to be contacted externally.
Litz wires are difficult to seal when utilizing liquid or immersion cooling. Because each litz wire is made up of many individually insulated wires, a litz wire connection through a sealed inductor housing may allow coolant fluid to leak between individually insulated wires.

Sealed inductor connection using litz wire


An improved contactor/separator process is presented where one or more stages of contact and separation is achieved by providing one or more shroud and disengagement device combinations within a vessel, where the disengagement device is connected to the top of the shroud that contains vertically hanging fibers. A liquid admixture of immiscible fluids is directed co-currently upward through the shroud at flooding velocity or greater, where all of the admixture exits the disengagement device through a coalescing material. Tray supports are used to stack additional shroud and disengagement combinations vertically within the vessel. Each tray allows less dense liquids exiting one disengagement device from a lower shroud and disengagement device combination to enter the bottom of a shroud of a shroud and disengagement device combination position vertically above the lower shroud and disengagement device combination.

In hydrocarbon treatment processes, it is often necessary at some point in the process to contact and then separate two or more liquids from each other based on density differences. One approach is to use Merichem Company's FIBER FILM® contactor technology in combination with a horizontal settling vessel. These fiber-film type separators/contactors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,758,404; 3,977,829 and 3,992,156, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The basic design of a fiber-film type contactor/separator comprises a plurality of vertical hanging fibers contained either totally or partially within a vertical shroud. This shroud is configured to maintain the liquids introduced at the top of the shroud within the inside of the shroud and in contact with the hanging fibers as the liquids flow downward. i.e., downward flow that is parallel to the vertical axis of the fibers and shroud. Once the liquids exit the shroud they enter a separation section that is located below the shroud, typically a horizontal settler, where gravity separates the phases, with the lower density liquids forming an upper layer and the higher density liquids forming a lower layer. Each layer can then be selectively removed from the separation section of the apparatus.
Using the above-described known contacting scheme, refiners have treated low density liquid hydrocarbon feeds with higher density aqueous treating liquids, where both liquids are introduced at the top of the hanging fibers as an admixture such that gravity pulls the liquid admixture vertically down the hanging fibers that are contained within the shroud. Although such contacting schemes have found some amount of success, there is room for improvement, specifically with regard to flexible process configuration that lead to cost savings in new plant construction and old equipment modification. The present invention provides such an improvement over traditional standalone down flow contactors that require more piping, level control instruments, control valves, and more plot space to achieve the same functionality, especially in two-stage configurations. These and other improvements of the present invention will become evident from the following description and accompanying drawings

Contactor and separation apparatus and process of using same


A blood pressure measurement device is equipped with a pressing surface which is formed with pressure sensors, an air bag for pressing the pressing surface toward a radius artery that runs under a skin of a living body; an air bag drive unit for controlling the pressing force of the air bag, and a control unit for calculating blood pressure values in the radius artery on the basis of pressure pulse waves that were detected by all of the pressure sensors in a process that the pressing force was increased or decreased.

Living body information measurement devices are known which can measure living body information such as a pulse rate and a blood pressure using information that is detected by a pressure sensor in a state that the pressure sensor is in direct contact with a living body part where an artery such as a wrist radius artery runs (refer to JP-2004-113368-A, JP-H02-261421-A, JP-H07-124130-A and JP-H01-242031-A, for example).
In the blood pressure measurement device disclosed in JP-2004-113368-A, blood pressure values in a part that is different from a living body part to which a pressure sensor is brought into contact are calculated using a cuff and calibration data is generated using the calculated blood pressure values. Blood pressure values are calculated for each beat by calibrating a pressure pulse wave detected by the pressure sensor using the calibration data.
JP-H02-261421-A, JP-H07-124130-A and JP-H01-242031-A disclose blood pressure measurement devices which measure a blood pressure for each beat without using a cuff, that is, using only information detected by a pressure sensor that is set in contact with a wrist.
As disclosed in JP-H02-261421-A, JP-H07-124130-A and JP-H01-242031-A, measuring a blood pressure using only information detected by the pressure sensor that is set in contact with a living body makes it possible to miniaturize the device. The devices disclosed in JP-H02-261421-A and JP-H07-124130-A are such that a blood pressure is calculated by calibrating or correcting a pressure pulse wave that is detected by the pressure sensor in a state that the pressure sensor is pressed by an optimum pressing force.
To determine the optimum pressing force, it is necessary to execute a process in which the pressing force of the pressure sensor is varied continuously. A blood pressure calculation is enabled only after this process is finished and a state that the pressing force of the pressure sensor is controlled to an optimum pressing force is established.
As a result, in these devices, it is necessary to execute processes of pressing the pressure sensor against a living body part, canceling the pressing, and pressing the pressure sensor in such a manner that its pressing force is set equal to the optimum pressing force. Repetition of these processes is troublesome to the user.
On the other hand, in the device disclosed in JP-H01-242031-A, blood pressure values can be calculated on the basis of a variation of the amplitude of a pressure pulse wave that is detected in a process that the pressing force of the pressure sensor is varied continuously. As a result, a blood pressure can be measured in a short time without causing a user to feel troublesome.
However, in the process that the pressing force of the pressure sensor is varied continuously, the position of the artery being pressed may vary. In the method disclosed in JP-H01-242031-A, such a variation may disable an accurate measurement of a blood pressure.


An apparatus and method for CO2 reduction using an Au25 electrode. The Au25 electrode is comprised of ligand-protected Au25 having a structure comprising an icosahedral core of 13 atoms surrounded by a shell of six semi-ring structures bonded to the core of 13 atoms, where each semi-ring structure is typically —SR—Au—SR—Au—SR or —SeR—Au—SeR—Au—SeR. The 12 semi-ring gold atoms within the six semi-ring structures are stellated on 12 of the 20 faces of the icosahedron of the Au13 core, and organic ligand —SR or —SeR groups are bonded to the Au13 core with sulfur or selenium atoms. The Au25 electrode and a counter-electrode are in contact with an electrolyte comprising CO2 and H+, and a potential of at least −0.1 volts is applied from the Au25 electrode to the counter-electrode.

The chemistry of gold (Au) surfaces and Au nanoparticles has been the focus of intense study, but recent synthetic advances have introduced a new class of "small" ligand-protected Au clusters with unique chemical and electronic properties. Ousters smaller than ˜2 nanometers (nm) in diameter differ from larger nanoparticles because their energy levels become quantized and they develop molecule-like electronic structures. Crystallographic efforts have confirmed that such small Au clusters form into atomically precise structures, and that some species, such as ligand-protected Au25 clusters, possess an inherent anionic (negative) charge. Ligand-protected Au25 clusters are a unique platform to study catalytic reactions because they bridge the size gap between molecules and larger nanoparticles, they possess an anionic charge, and their surface structure is precisely known. Despite these features, the catalytic activity of Au25 and similar atomically precise clusters have only been investigated experimentally for a handful of reactions, such as the oxidation of styrene and cyclohexane, the hydrogenation of aldehydes and ketones, and the electrochemical reduction of O2. One particularly appealing catalytic challenge to consider for the negatively charged Au25 cluster is the reduction of carbon dioxide. Not only is CO2 an important greenhouse gas, but it also represents an abundant starting material for the generation of fine chemicals and fuels.
These and other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the accompanying description and claims.

Efficient electrocatalytic conversion of CO


A moving picture recording and reproduction apparatus and method as well as a medium are disclosed by which, upon recording of a television program, representative pictures from which contents of a program can be grasped can be recorded. Frame pictures are extracted from moving pictures being recorded, and accuracy values with which a character is present in the frame pictures are calculated. Further, accuracy values with which the phase of a person is present in the frame pictures are calculated, and the levels of an audio signal corresponding to the frame pictures are detected. Then, evaluation values are calculated using results of the calculations and the detection, and a maximum one of the evaluation values is detected. Thereafter, the frame picture corresponding to the maximum evaluation value is reduced in size and recorded onto a recording medium so that it may be used as an index upon playing back of the recording medium.

This invention relates to a moving picture recording and reproduction apparatus and method as well as a medium, and more particularly to a moving picture recording and reproduction apparatus and method as well as a medium wherein index information for moving pictures is used.
Conventionally, a video cassette recorder (VCR) is known which is used to record a television broadcast and has a function of recording index information such as a broadcasting hour, a channel and a genre of a recorded program at the top of a video cassette tape.
With a VCR having the function described, a user can recognize index information of programs recorded on a video cassette tape only if the top of the video cassette tape is played back. However, detailed contents of the programs recorded cannot be grasped unless the video cassette tape is played back from the top to the last end thereof.
In order to allow a user to grasp detailed contents of programs recorded on a video cassette tape without playing back the entire video cassette tape, for example, the following method may be used. In particular, upon recording, a still picture (or thumbnail picture) is extracted at each fixed time interval from a moving picture signal of a program being recorded, and the still pictures thus obtained are recorded collectively at a predetermined position of the video tape. Then, in order to confirm the contents of the program recorded on the cassette tape, only the predetermined position of the video cassette tape is played back.
Meanwhile, in recent years, increase in capacity and reduction in cost of recording media such as hard disks and increase in speed of processing for compression coding of an AV signal (a moving picture signal and an audio signal) have been and are being proceeded. Various electronic apparatus have been developed making use of such techniques so that an AV signal of a television program can be compression coded and recorded and then reproduced.
Since an electronic apparatus of the type described can record an AV signal of a great number of programs onto a recording medium of a large capacity, it preferably has such a function of extracting still pictures from a picture signal of a program being recorded and recording the still pictures onto a recording medium as described above so that a user can readily grasp AV signals of a plurality of programs recorded on the recording medium.
However, if a still picture is extracted at each fixed time interval from a moving picture signal of a television broadcast as described above, then a still picture which is not suitable to grasp contents of the program (for example, a commercial still picture or the like) may possibly be recorded. Thus, there is a subject to be solved in that still pictures suitable to grasp contents of a program cannot be extracted with certainty.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a moving picture recording and reproduction apparatus and method as well as a medium by which, upon recording of a television program, representative pictures from which contents of a program can be grasped can be recorded.
In order to attain the object described above, according to the present invention, when a moving picture signal of a television program is recorded onto a recording medium, still pictures which characterize contents of the television program and therefore allow contents of the television program to be specified are determined based on a predetermined algorithm and recorded in a reduced size onto the recording medium together with the moving picture signal so that they can be used as indices of the recording medium.
More particularly, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a moving picture recording and reproduction apparatus, comprising recording means for recording a moving picture signal inputted thereto onto a recording medium, extraction means for extracting still pictures at a predetermined sampling rate from the moving picture signal, calculation means for calculating evaluation values of the still pictures extracted by the extraction means using pixel values of the still picture, detection means for detecting a maximum one of the evaluation values calculated by the calculation means, representative picture production means for reducing the size of the still picture corresponding to the maximum one of the evaluation values detected by the detection means to produce a representative picture, recording means for recording the representative picture produced by the representative picture production means onto the recording medium, reading means for reading out a representative picture or pictures from the recording medium, and table production means for applying the representative picture or pictures read out by the reading means to produce a representative picture table.
The detection means may detect a maximum evaluation value from among an arbitrary number of evaluation values per unit time.
The calculation means may use the pixel values of the still picture extracted by the extraction means to determine an accuracy with which a character is present on the still picture and use the accuracy to calculate the evaluation value.
As an alternative, the calculation means may use the pixel values of the still picture extracted by the extraction means to determine an accuracy with which the face of a person is present on the still picture and use the accuracy to calculate the evaluation value.
As another alternative, the calculation means may detect a level of an audio signal corresponding to the still picture extracted by the extraction means and use the level of the audio signal to calculate the evaluation value.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a moving picture recording and reproduction method, comprising a recording step of recording an inputted moving picture signal onto a recording medium, an extraction step of extracting still pictures at a predetermined sampling rate from the moving picture signal, a calculation step of calculating evaluation values of the still pictures extracted by the extraction step using pixel values of the still picture, a detection step of detecting a maximum one of the evaluation values calculated by the calculation step, a representative picture production step of reducing the size of the still picture corresponding to the maximum one of the evaluation values detected by the detection step to produce a representative picture, a recording step of recording the representative picture produced by the representative picture production step onto the recording medium, a reading step of reading out a representative picture or pictures from the recording medium, and a table production step of applying the representative picture or pictures read out by the reading step to produce a representative picture table.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium for causing a computer to execute a program which comprises a recording step of recording an inputted moving picture signal onto a recording medium, an extraction step of extracting still pictures at a predetermined sampling rate from the moving picture signal, a calculation step of calculating evaluation values of the still pictures extracted by the extraction step using pixel values of the still picture, a detection step of detecting a maximum one of the evaluation values calculated by the calculation step, a representative picture production step of reducing the size of the still picture corresponding to the maximum one of the evaluation values detected by the detection step to produce a representative picture, a recording step of recording the representative picture produced by the representative picture production step onto the recording medium, a reading step of reading out a representative picture or pictures from the recording medium, and a table production step of applying the representative picture or pictures read out by the reading step to produce a representative picture table.
With the moving picture recording and reproduction apparatus, the moving picture recording and reproduction method and the program of the medium, an inputted moving picture signal is recorded onto a recording medium, and still pictures are extracted at a predetermined sampling rate from the moving picture signal. Then, evaluation values of the still pictures thus extracted are calculated using pixel values of the still picture, and a maximum one of the evaluation values thus calculated is detected. Thereafter, the size of the still picture corresponding to the detected maximum evaluation value is reduced to produce a representative picture, and the representative picture thus produced is recorded onto the recording medium. Further, a representative picture or pictures are read out from the recording medium, and the representative picture or pictures thus read out are applied to produce a representative picture table. Consequently, when a television program is recorded, a representative picture or pictures from which contents of the program can be grasped can be recorded onto a recording medium.

Moving picture recording and reproduction apparatus and method as well as medium


A transcranial magnetic stimulator according to the present invention includes fixing means for detachably fixing a magnetic field generating means and contains a fixture of a head which covers a head of an examinee to be fixed engaged with a shape of the head that is inherent to an examinee; and characterized in that: a relative position of the magnetic field generating means with respect to the head of the examinee is held constant so that the highest point of an intensity of an electric current to be induced by a magnetic field to be generated by the magnetic field generating means is constantly arranged on a target spot of a diameter not more than 10 mm, which depends on each of the examinees and is located within a cranium, by fixing the magnetic field generating means to the fixing means and a direction of a magnetic field to be generated by the magnetic field generating means and a direction of the target spot are made into a fixed relation.

In recent years, it has been informed that a pain reduction effect against deafferentation pain, which is identical with an electric stimulation, can be obtained by a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to stimulate a brain cortex neuron (refer to, e.g., Non-Patent Document 1). The repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a method to generate a weak magnetic field and electric currents in a brain cortex neuron using a principle of an electromagnetic induction by instantaneously passing a current through a coil (see FIG. 6) and stimulate the brain cortex neuron noninvasively.
FIG. 9 shows a conventional transcranial magnetic stimulator for carrying out a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. The conventional transcranial magnetic stimulator is schematically configured by a magnetic stimulation control device 10′, magnetic field generating means 8′ including a coil, and a cable 7′ to connect them. The magnetic stimulation control device 10′ generates an electric current pulse of a relatively high frequency (for example, 5 Hz to 20 Hz) continuously or intermittently. The magnetic field generating means 8′ includes a coil, through which electric current pulse from the magnetic stimulation control device 10′ passes, therewithin. A magnetic field to be generated by this coil is applied from the outside of a cranium of an examinee to the brain cortex neuron so as to stimulate the brain cortex neuron. Non-Patent Document 1: "Reduction of intractable deafferentation pain with navigation-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the primary motor cortex", A. Hirayama, Y. Saitoh et al., PAIN 122: 22-27, 2006

Fixture of the head for transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulator


Systems, devices, and methods of managing short addresses in a wireless communication system include receiving reservation requests on a random access channel from subscriber units at a radio frequency (RF) site such that the reservation requests includes a minimum number of requested time slots for data transmission between a subscriber unit and the RF site, and a subscriber long address. Further, for each of the reservation requests, the RF site selects a subscriber short address for the respective subscriber unit as well as transmitting the selected subscriber short address to the respective subscriber unit on a RF site channel. In addition, the RF site determines a short address transmission schedule for the subscriber units as well as transmitting a schedule message to the subscriber units on a schedule channel such that the schedule provides slot assignments for data transmissions by subscriber units according to their assigned short addresses.

Communication systems use different addressing schemes to identify end point devices in a network. Such end point devices may include two-way radios and mobile telephones, as well as tablet, laptop, and desktop computers. Intermediate devices that are located between end point devices may route data messages to the end point devices based on end point device addresses. In some communication systems, the address for each end point device may be 32 bits or 24 bits long. Further, in these communication systems, the bandwidth or data rate available for data communication may be limited (e.g. 12 kbps/s or lower). Thus, these communication systems may use a short addressing scheme to reduce the signaling overhead for data transmission and to increase data throughput. That is, a temporary short address (e.g. 10 bits long or less) may be assigned to an end point device by an intermediate device. Further, an intermediate device manages the assignment of the temporary short address. However, there is a challenge in the current state of the art to manage the assignment and then the release of the short addresses assigned to end point devices. Such challenges include the intermediate device having a timer that is too long to release the assignment of the short address thereby reducing the number of available short addresses to be assigned to other end point devices. Another challenge is that the timer of the intermediate device is too short in releasing the assignment of the short address thereby wasting bandwidth by having end point devices requesting for short addresses too often. A further challenge may be the timer of the intermediate device and the timer of the end point device are not synchronized. Consequently, the timer of the intermediate device may be shorter than the timer of one end point device such that two end point devices may be assigned the same short address by the intermediate device thereby interfering each other when transmitting data messages to the intermediate device.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems, devices, and methods for improving data capacity in a communication system by managing short addresses.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Systems, devices, and methods for improving data capacity in a communications system by managing short addresses


A stabilizer pad assembly including a reversible stabilizer pad and a pad limit stop designed as an attachment to a positionable support arm of an earth moving apparatus such as a loader/backhoe. The pad limit stop is configured to wedge between the stabilizer pad and a distal end of the support arm in a manner limiting movement of the stabilizer pad between alternate positions and thereby inhibiting damage to a driver used to control the position of the support arm.

An earth moving apparatus such as a loader/backhoe is relatively small and is extensively used in the construction industry. The backhoe of such an apparatus is used for digging trenches and the like. Such an apparatus is typically provided with support arms which extend outwardly from opposite sides of a frame to support the apparatus during operation of the backhoe. Each support arm is connected at its inner end to the frame and is provided with a stabilizer pad at its distal end to facilitate stabilization of the apparatus during operation of the backhoe.
Each support arm is vertically movable about its connection to the frame between raised and lowered positions under the influence of a linearly distendable driver. The driver typically includes an oversized hydraulic cylinder capable of developing the force necessary to facilitate stabilization of the apparatus. The oversized cylinder extends above and generally parallel to the support arm. A cylinder end of the driver is usually connected to the frame of the apparatus and a piston-rod end of the driver is connected near the distal end of the support arm.
To enhance the versatility of the loader/backhoe, some stabilizer pads are movable between alternate positions. Such reversible stabilizer pads facilitate supporting the loader/backhoe on ground surfaces of different textures. A reversible stabilizer pad is typically provided with a resilient support surface on one side for supporting the loader/backhoe on rigid, non-resilient ground surfaces, i.e., asphalt, concrete, etc., and a flanged support surface on the other side for supporting the loader/backhoe on a more yielding ground surface, i.e., gravel, sand, loose dirt, etc.
In view of its intended use, the stabilizer pad is constructed for ruqged and abusive treatment. To readily allow reversal between alternate positions, the stabilizer pad is connected to a distal end of the support arm for pivotable rotation through about 180 degrees.
As will be appreciated, and depending on the texture of the ground surface, the operator of the earth moving apparatus forcefully moves the stabilizer pad about its pivot between alternate positions without significant concern for damage to the pad or to the apparatus as a whole. The stabilizer pad is configured with a generally U-shaped design allowing for free rotation about its connection to the support arm so that one or the other support surface may engage the ground surface.
The U-shaped design of the reversible stabilizer pad includes a cross-member extending laterally across the support arm. When the stabilizer pad is forcibly rotated such that the flanged support surface of the pad is arranged to engage the ground surface, the cross-member on the stabilizer pad presents a problem. The problem results from the cross-member on the stabilizer pad hitting and causing damage to the piston-rod end of the driver. Because of its forceful movement between positions, contact between the stabilizer pad and piston-rod end of the driver typically results in sufficient damage to the driver to require replacement of the oversized driver.
Another problem with reversible stabilizer pads has been observed when the support arm is moved to its fully raised position. With the support arm in a fully raised position, the stabilizer pad rotates about its connection to the support arm and has a tendency to assume an improper posture when the support arm is returned to a lower position. The improper posture of the stabilizer pad forces the operator to temporarily cease operation and properly orientate the stabilizer pad.
A proposed solution to these problems is to configure the support arm with a stationary stopping surface which engages and limits stabilizer pad movement. Notably, not all loader/backhoes are equipped with reversible stabilizer pads. Those loader/backhoes not so equipped do not require a limit stop for the stabilizer pad provided thereon. As will be appreciated, to manufacture and stock different support arms dependent on the type of stabilizer pad to be associated therewith is problematical and costly.
Another proposed solution involves the provision of a stop at the distal end of the support arm. It is known to provide a stop which includes a lever with a stop pin transversely extending therefrom. The lever extends outwardly from and is welded to the support arm. The stop pin extends from a free end of the lever and is positioned in the path of the stabilizer pad for preventing complete 360-degree rotation thereof.
In addition to its weight, the momentum of the stabilizer pad moving toward the driver imparts a significant force to the stop when it impacts thereon. Should either the stop pin or the weld securing the lever to the support arm fail as a result of such impact forces, the stabilizer pad will impact against the piston-rod end of the driver, ultimately causing damage thereto. Because of its size, the driver is both difficult and costly to repair or replace. Moreover, careful positioning and welding of the lever to the support arm is required to properly position the pin and increases fabrication costs of the stop and, thereby, the overall cost of the loader/backhoe.

Stabilizer pad assembly for an earth moving apparatus


Thermoacoustic devices are disclosed wherein, for some embodiments, a combustion zone provides heat to a regenerator using a mean flow of compressible fluid. In other embodiments, burning of a combustible mixture within the combustion zone is pulsed in phase with the acoustic pressure oscillations to increase acoustic power output. In an example embodiment, the combustion zone and the regenerator are thermally insulated from other components within the thermoacoustic device.

The present disclosure relates generally to the fields of thermoacoustics and combustion and, more particularly, to thermoacoustic devices.
Thernoacoustic devices have been used as heat engines and heat pumps. As shown in FIG. 1, one mechanism for manipulating thermoacoustic waves is a conventional traveling wave thermoacoustic driver 100 having a hot heat exchanger 130 and a primary cold heat exchanger 140, which are used to generate a temperature gradient across a regenerator 120. The conventional thermoacoustic driver 100 contains a compressible fluid that is capable of sustaining acoustic oscillations. To convert thermal energy into acoustic energy, acoustic traveling waves are introduced through the top of the conventional thermoacoustic driver 100. At substantially the same time, the primary cold heat exchanger 140 is cooled by passing an ambient temperature (or externally chilled) fluid 180 through pipe 160, and the hot heat exchanger 130 is heated by passing externally heated fluid 170 through pipe 150. The hot heat exchanger 130 and the primary cold heat exchanger 140 set up a temperature gradient in the regenerator 120, which is interposed between the hot heat exchanger 130 and the primary cold heat exchanger 140. The regenerator 120 comprises packing material that is fine enough so that the working fluid in the regenerator 120 is essentially in thermal equilibrium with the packing around it, but not so fine as to prevent the passage of acoustic waves through the regenerator 120.
Pressure oscillations produced by the acoustic traveling wave induce the compressible fluid in the regenerator to move down towards the hot end of the temperature gradient, or up towards the cold end of the temperature gradient. Consequently, when the compressible fluid moves down, the hotter regenerator packing heats and expands the compressible fluid; when the compressible fluid moves up, the colder regenerator packing cools and contracts the compressible fluid. As the acoustic traveling wave passes through the compressible fluid, it imparts time-dependent pressure and velocity oscillations to a small volume of the fluid at the wave""s location. Since traveling waves are intrinsically phased such that the peak velocity and the peak pressure occur at substantially the same time, the processes undergone by the small volume of the fluid in the regenerator mimic the thermodynamic cycle of a Stirling engine. The thermodynamic cycle, therefore, results in conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy. In other words, the traveling wave causes the compression, expansion, and fluid movement, which adds pressure and momentum to the waves, thereby amplifying the acoustic traveling wave as it passes through the regenerator.
As is known in the art, if the direction of the acoustic traveling wave is reversed from the hot heat exchanger 130 to primary cold heat exchanger 140, then the conventional thermoacoustic driver 100 may be used as a heat pump for refrigeration, air conditioning, or other cooling or heating applications. Since the operation of the conventional thermoacoustic driver 100 is known in the art, further discussion of the conventional thermoacoustic driver 100 is omitted here.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional view of a thermoacoustic Stirling heat engine (TASHE) 200 having a conventional thermoacoustic driver. As shown in FIG. 2, the TASHE 200 comprises a resonator 220, a variable acoustic load 210, and a thermoacoustic driving section 300. In one working example, the TASHE 200 is filled with helium at approximately thirty bars mean pressure. The use of high-pressure helium increases the acoustic power density of the TASHE 200, which permits acoustic effects to prevail over heat conduction losses.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing, in greater detail, the thermoacoustic driving section 300 of the TASHE 200 from FIG. 2. The thermoacoustic driving section 300 of the TASHE 200 comprises a toroidal acoustic feedback loop (or torus) 315 having a regenerator 330 interposed between a primary cold heat exchanger 325 and a hot heat exchanger 335. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the primary cold heat exchanger 325, the regenerator 330, and the hot heat exchanger 335 are configured to amplify acoustic traveling waves that propagate clockwise through the torus 315. At the junction 350, a portion of the amplified acoustic energy travels to the right towards the resonator 220 and the acoustic load 210, while the remainder is fed back, through the torus 315, to the cold end of the regenerator 330 to be amplified within the regenerator 330. Thus, when the acoustic traveling waves propagate clockwise through the torus 315, the thermoacoustic driving section 300 functions as a heat engine. Conversely, a counter-clockwise propagation of acoustic traveling waves through the torus 315 attenuates the acoustic traveling waves, thereby resulting in a heat pump configuration in which heat is pumped from the primary cold heat exchanger 325 to the hot heat exchanger 335.
Additionally, the torus 315 contains an inertance section 305 and a compliance section 310. These sections 305, 310, along with the regenerator 330, define the properties of the acoustic waves in the thermoacoustic driving section 300. Each of these components 305, 310 and 330, are much shorter than an acoustic wavelength, though their specific geometries create the traveling wave acoustic phasing within the regenerator 330. They are also geometrically configured to reduce the acoustic velocity within the regenerator 330, thereby reducing viscous losses that would normally accompany the passage of an acoustic traveling wave through a conventional thermoacoustic driver 100, as shown in FIG. 1.
The thermoacoustic driving section 300 of the TASHE 200 further comprises a secondary cold heat exchanger 345, which, in conjunction with the hot heat exchanger 335, defines a thermal buffer tube 340. The thermal buffer tube 340 provides thermal isolation between the hot heat exchanger 335 and the rest of the TASHE 200 beyond the cold heat exchangers 325, 345. Since the TASHE 200 is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,464 to Swift et al., further discussion of the TASHE 200 is omitted here.
One drawback of the TASHE 200 is that acoustic streaming in the thermoacoustic driving section 300 results in a convection current that travels clockwise around the torus 315, carrying thermal energy away from the regenerator 330 and out the secondary cold heat exchanger 345. Since this degrades the performance of the engine, it is desirable to eliminate or minimize any clockwise mean flow around the torus 315 and through the regenerator 330. As a result, the thermoacoustic driving section 300 of the TASHE 200 comprises a hydrodynamic mass-flux suppressor (or jet pump) 320 that is adjustable to minimize or eliminate any net flow of the compressible fluid around the torus 315. The operation of the mass-flux suppressor 320 relies on turbulence and the viscous dissipation of kinetic energy, so its use in suppressing the clockwise convection current is also accompanied by some dissipation of acoustic energy.
Also, in the TASHE 200, conduction of heat through the walls of the torus 315 can result in significant energy losses. These energy losses are due to heat conduction radially through the walls into the insulation or atmosphere surrounding the torus 315, and also due to axial heat conduction along the walls of the torus 315 between the hot heat exchanger 335 and the cold heat exchangers 325, 345, essentially bypassing the regenerator 330. For higher internal gas pressures as are typically present in the TASHE 200, greater wall thickness is required, which results in greater axial conduction losses. Additionally, cross-flow heat exchangers 325, 335, 345, which are typically used due to geometric constraints, result in sub-optimal heat transfer and potentially enormous thermal stresses, especially in the hot heat exchanger 335.
Given these inefficiencies, a need exists in the industry for more efficient traveling wave thermoacoustic devices.
The present disclosure provides systems for manipulating acoustic energy.
Briefly described, some embodiments of a system comprise a thermoacoustic driver and a feedback path. In some embodiments, the thermoacoustic driver comprises an inlet conduit, a combustion zone, a regenerator, a cold heat exchanger, and an exhaust port. The inlet conduit is adapted to admit a compressible combustible mixture. The combustion zone is configured to receive the compressible combustible mixture and bum the compressible combustible mixture to generate hot compressible combustion products. The regenerator has a cold side and a hot side, which generate a temperature gradient across the regenerator. The cold side of the regenerator is coupled to the cold heat exchanger. The hot compressible combustion products are directed to the hot side of the regenerator and through the regenerator to produce cold compressible combustion products. The cold compressible combustion products are expelled by the exhaust port. This configuration permits amplification of traveling acoustic waves that propagate through the regenerator from the cold side of the regenerator to the hot side of the regenerator. The feedback path returns a portion of the acoustic energy from the hot side of the regenerator to the cold side of the regenerator for further amplification, and is thermally insulated from the regenerator and the combustion zone.

Traveling-wave thermoacoustic engines with internal combustion


An organic light emitting diode display device is provided. The organic light emitting display device includes at least one capacitor, at least one transistor, and an organic light emitting element connected to the capacitor and the transistor. The transistor includes a first structure and a second structure disposed on the first structure with a first insulating layer therebetween. The capacitor includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the first electrode with the insulating layer therebetween. A distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in at least a region, is less than a distance between the first structure and the second structure.

1. Field
The following description relates to organic light emitting diode display devices, and more particularly, to organic light emitting diode display devices capable of increasing aperture ratio and reducing error rate.
2. Description of Related Art
An organic light emitting display device includes an organic light emitting element disposed in each of pixels. The organic light emitting element includes an organic light emitting layer for emitting light and electrodes for applying a driving voltage to the organic light emitting layer.
Additionally, each of the pixels includes a switching transistor, a driving transistor, and a capacitor. The switching transistor outputs a data signal in response to a gate signal. The driving transistor provides the driving voltage to the organic light emitting element. The capacitor maintains the driving voltage applied to the organic light emitting element for one frame duration.
The pixel has a multi-layered structure for the formation of the transistors and the capacitor. The capacitor having a set or predetermined capacitance occupies a set or predetermined area in the pixel. Since the property (e.g. dielectric constant) of an insulating layer used as the dielectric of the capacitor has a set value, it may be difficult to form the capacitor having a desired capacitance in a limited area. Also, if an area of the capacitor increases, an area of the organic light emitting element is reduced, so that aperture ratio is reduced.


Embodiments of the present application disclose a linear plasma source applied to the field of solar cell production. A linear plasma source comprising a housing which forms a reaction chamber having an outlet; a gas intake system comprising an internal pipeline which is mounted on the housing and located inside the reaction chamber for releasing reaction gas into the reaction chamber; an electrode system comprising at least two electrode plates which are mounted on the housing and located around the internal pipeline within the reaction chamber; and an electromagnetism system comprising an electromagnetic coil, and the electromagnetic coil is mounted at the outlet of the reaction chamber of the housing and has a plasma outlet. The embodiments of the present application have a simple structure, a low production cost, a good uniformity and a high film compactness.

With the advancement of technology, the application of solar cells is more and more widely, and in the process of film deposition or etching on silicon wafer of the solar cell, a linear plasma source is used to generate plasma for film deposition.
In the prior art, linear plasma source mainly includes hollow cathode plasma source, microwave linear plasma source and so on. The microwave linear plasma source in the prior art has a duct connected to a device generating microwave, the duct is located in a reaction chamber, a device generating magnetic field is mounted in the reaction chamber, the reaction chamber is preloaded with reaction gas, the duct guides microwave into the reaction chamber, such that the reaction gas in the reaction chamber forms plasma, then the reaction gas is discharged outwardly through a plasma outlet under the action of the magnetic field device.
However, the linear plasma source in the prior art has disadvantages that the production cost is high, the process is complicated and the uniformity of the plasma can not be ensured.

SHENZHEN JT AUTOMATION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD


An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag reader is described. The wireless tag reader is configured to be located in a first position to read wireless tags associated with consumables when the consumables are inserted into, stationary in, or removed from the image forming apparatus, and in a second position to read wireless tags outside of the image forming apparatus.

A known image forming apparatus may be configured to read information stored in a wireless tag attached to a toner container. The image forming apparatus includes a main body including a cover, a toner container, a wireless tag attached to the toner container, and a reader configured to read information of the wireless tag. The image forming apparatus may prevent the reader from reading the information of the wireless tag when the cover is opened, and allow the reader to read the information of the wireless tag when the cover is closed.
The image forming apparatus only controls reading of the information of the wireless tag attached to the toner container accommodated inside the image forming apparatus. The reader cannot read a wireless tag which is located outside of the image forming apparatus.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Image forming apparatus with a movable tag reader for sensing tags at various locations


A camera includes a finder optical system having an objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system, independent of a photographic optical system, and a range measuring optical system. A path splitting member Is disposed in the optical path of the objective optical system to make an optical axis of incident light introduced from the objective optical system into the eyepiece optical system coincide with an optical axis of the range measuring optical system, and satisfies conditions: EQU 650 nm.ltoreq..lambda.(R.sub.0).ltoreq.850 nm EQU R.sub.0 =[R(550 nm)+R(900 nm)]/2. where .lambda.(R.sub.0) is the wavelength at which the reflectance of the path splitting member regarding an axial ray changes to R.sub.0, and R(550 nm) and R(900 nm) are the reflectances of the path splitting member where the wavelengths of axial rays are 550 nm and 900 nm, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera having a finder optical system disposed independent of a photographic optical system, and in particular, to an active autofocusing type rangefinder camera which projects a beam of light coming from a light source, through a part of the finder optical system, on an object and receives the light beam reflected from the object, thereby measuring automatically an object distance to drive a lens to a focused point.
2. Description of the Related Art
Range measuring devices used in compact cameras make use of an infrared projecting, active autofocusing type trigonometrical range finding technique. This technique is such that Infrared light emitted from an infrared-emitting diode (which is hereinafter abbreviated to IRED) is projected through a projection lens on an object, and reflected light from the object Is received, through a light-receiving lens, by a semiconductor position sensor device (which is hereinafter abbreviated to PSD) disposed at the distance of a base length from the projection lens so that the object distance is measured in accordance with the position of incidence of the light. Since the projection lens is usually provided independence of the finder optical system, parallax is produced between tile optical axes of the projection lens and the finder. Consequently, a focus frame indicative of a range measuring area in the finder and the actual position of spot light caused by the projection lens may vary with the object distance.
An arrangement for obviating such inconvenience is set forth, for example, in Japanese Patent Preliminary Publication No. Sho 57-64217. This arrangement is made so that one optical path on the object side is divided by a path splitting member into two, one taken as a projection lens system and the other as a finder optical system, and the optical axis of emergence of the projection lens system is made to coincide with that of incidence of the finder optical system for parallax correction.
If, as the path splitting member, a wavelength selective mirror is used which transmits infrared Light and reflects visible light to reduce the loss of the amount of light, the characteristic of wavelength after the optical path has been split will change with the angle of incidence of a ray of light because the path splitting surface of the wavelength selective mirror is constructed with a multilayer thin film.
Since in general the finder optical system has a wide angle of view, the angle of incidence of light on the path splitting surface also changes in a wide range. Hence, where the light split by the wavelength selective mirror is viewed through the finder, the wavelength characteristic varies with the position of a finder picture, namely the angle of incidence of light on the wavelength selective mirror, with the resultant problem of causing coloring to an image.


Automated checking of test cases when the underlying test model has been modified includes verifying the structure of the original test cases against the new (modified) test model. Verified test cases are assessed by manipulating the new test model to produce corresponding manipulated test models. A test case is still valid for the new test model if a test case can be generated from its corresponding manipulated test model.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Software development and testing of complex software systems may require dedicated methods to tackle special features of the software. Consider, for example, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Manual testing is generally not practicable to systematically test ERP systems due to the involved complexity. Accordingly, an efficient testing approach should be automatic. Model-based testing (MBT) has the potential to enable a high degree of automation in the test design.
MBT solutions put test models into the center of the overall testing process. When the behavior changes from one system version to the other, MBT approaches change the model and re-run the automatic test generation, which often results in major changes in the test suite from version to version. Since state of the art model-based test generators optimize the test cases towards criteria like minimal number of executed test steps or minimal number of test cases, even minimal changes to the original test model can result in a completely different generated test suite.

Automated validation of generated test cases following changes to the underlying test model


A method for calibrating a thermometer is disclosed. The thermometer comprises a primary temperature sensor for determining the temperature of a target. The thermometer also comprises a reference temperature sensor positioned proximate to the primary temperature sensor and being responsive to an extraneous temperature affecting the primary temperature sensor. One calibration method calibrates the reference temperature sensor. This calibration can utilize a non-electrically conductive liquid bath for temperature control. Another calibration method calibrates the reference temperature sensor and the primary temperature sensor.

The diagnosis and treatment of many body ailments depends upon an accurate reading of the internal or core temperature of a patient's body temperature reading, and in some instances, upon comparison to a previous body temperature. For many years, the most common way of taking a patient's temperature involved utilization of Mercury thermometers. However, such thermometers are susceptible to breaking and must be inserted and maintained in the rectum or mouth for several minutes, often causing discomfort to the patient.
Because of the drawbacks of conventional Mercury thermometers, electronic thermometers were developed and are now in widespread use. Although electronic thermometers provide relatively more accurate temperature readings than Mercury thermometers, they nevertheless share many of the same drawbacks. For example, even though electronic thermometers provide faster readings, some time must still pass before an accurate reading can be taken. Moreover, electronic thermometers must still be inserted into the patient's mouth, rectum or axilla.
Tympanic thermometers, those thermometers that sense the infrared emissions from the tympanic membrane, provide nearly instantaneous readings of core temperature without the undue delay of other thermometers. The tympanic thermometer is generally considered by the medical community to be superior to oral, rectal, or axillary sites for taking a patient's temperature. This is because the tympanic membrane is more representative of the body's internal or core temperature and more responsive to changes in core temperature.
Conventional tympanic thermometers typically include two sensors. One sensor is a primary temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the tympanic membrane. In one conventional tympanic thermometer, the primary temperature sensor is an infrared sensor, such as a thermopile. The thermopile is adapted to measure the emitted radiation of the tympanic membrane to determine the temperature of the membrane, without contacting the membrane. The other sensor is a reference temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the primary temperature sensor, or thermopile. In one conventional tympanic thermometer, the reference temperature sensor is temperature-dependent resistor, such as a thermistor or a polysilicon resistor, mounted on the cold junction of the thermopile. Because the response of the thermopile is dependent upon the temperature of the thermopile itself, the ambient temperature of the resistor may be utilized to estimate the temperature of the thermopile to compensate for the thermopile's temperature dependency.
Typically, tympanic thermometers require calibration at the factory during manufacturing in order achieve the quick and accurate temperature reading capability noted above. Calibration of the tympanic thermometer at the factory requires individual calibration of each thermometer unit so that the proper calibration parameters of each individual thermometer can be written to the memory (e.g., EEPROM) of each thermometer's microprocessor. These calibration parameters involve determining the proper values for variables representing the sensors within each thermometer and any parameters related to the optical system, such as the geometry of the primary temperature sensor with respect to the ear canal and the device housing. Once these calibration parameters are determined and written to the memory of each thermometer, calibration is complete and the unit is shipped for sale. Unfortunately, known techniques for calibrating the tympanic thermometer fail to account for differences (e.g., manufacturing differences) in reference temperature sensors and assume that each of the reference temperature sensors responds in the same manner to a given input. Other known techniques may also rely upon the calibration of the primary temperature sensor to provide sufficiently accurate data to extract parameters of the reference temperature sensor. Aspects of the present invention involve a calibration process whereby both the reference temperature sensor and the primary temperature sensor are calibrated.
In addition, conventional methods for calibration often utilize a temperature-controlled water bath to control the temperature of the thermometer, or its components, during calibration. Because water is a conductor of electricity, the thermometer or its components are typically placed into a bag before immersion in the water bath. The bag acts as a barrier to block the water from contacting the thermometer or thermometer components while immersed in the bath. Utilizing such a bag creates various issues, including additional bag loading and bag unloading steps, potential bag leaks, condensation within the bag, an air gap between the bag and the thermometer or thermometer components, and increased calibration time due to temperature control of the bag and air gap. Aspects of the embodiments of the present invention invoke a process whereby the user of such bags is avoided.


A vane structure for a gas turbine engine includes a multiple of CMC airfoil sections integrated between a CMC outer ring and a metal alloy inner ring.

The present disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine, and more particularly to hybrid Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) turbine components therefor.
Components in sections of gas turbine engines which operate at elevated temperatures in a strenuous, oxidizing type of gas flow environment are typically manufactured of high temperature superalloys. CMC materials possess a capability to withstand the strenuous, oxidizing type of gas flow environment under compression, but may not be as tolerable in tensile and inter-laminar conditions. These capabilities result in design requirements which may heretofor tend to increase weight, cost and complexity.

Hybrid Ceramic Matrix Composite vane structures for a gas turbine engine


A method for transmitting a signal for cell searching in a mobile communication system having a multi-cell environment includes transmitting the signal to one or more receiving party devices within a cell, wherein the signal is used for a synchronization of the one or more receiving party devices within the cell, the signal is defined by a combination of a first code sequence derived from a first index and a second code sequence derived from a second index, and an identity of the cell is used for defining the combination of the first code sequence and the second code sequence.

Generally, in a mobile communication system, a mobile station uses a preamble which is broadcasted and used for searching for a cell to which the mobile station itself belongs. In order to effectively search cells using the preamble, various codes are used, which can be implemented by putting a limitation on a frequency or a spreading code, or the like that is to be used.
In the above methods, a cell search performance depends on a sequence itself. As an example of a sequence having a good autocorrelation characteristic and peak to average power ratio (hereinafter abbreviated PAPR), there is CAZAC (constant modulus and zero autocorrelation) sequence. A mobile station is able to effectively search a cell using the CAZAC sequence. However, in an environment where other neighbor cells are simultaneously detected like a cell boundary area, the mobile station is unable to search a neighbor cell with simple algorithm but has to perform a full search by calculating correlation for a sequence corresponding to the entire cells.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a cell search process according to a related art. Referring to FIG. 1, a cell transmits a preamble 11 to enable mobile stations to discriminate cells before transmitting data or control information. In case that a mobile station attempts to communicate with the cell, it receives the preamble 11 transmitted from the cell and then carries out channel estimation using the received preamble 11.
In order to discriminate cells by receiving a preamble, the mobile station is provided with a code set consisting of codes respectively corresponding to the cells and performs a cell search using signals transferred by a correlator 13 and correlation values. In the above cell search method, cell search algorithm should be simple to effectively perform the cell search.
FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a frame applied to a communication system. First of all, assuming that a preamble code set transmittable by a cell is named Cp and that a preamble code assigned to a jth cell is named Cj, the cell transmits the preamble code before broadcasting control information or data and then additionally transmits information for enabling precise channel estimation or synchronization.
A receiving side obtains signals of a received preamble part and then checks a correlation value with a preamble set provided to the receiving side. Equation 1 related to a correlation value checking method.
                                          J            k                                          (            τ            )                          =                              ∑                          τ              =              0                                      N              -              1                                                                    c              k                              n                *                                                                c              j                              n                -                τ                                                                        [                  Equation                                                              1                ]
In Equation 1, ck indicates an arbitrary code existing in a code set, N indicates a code length, and τ indicates a delay component of autocorrelation. In this case, a cost JMk(τ) for ck can be expressed as Equation 2.
                              JM          k                =                              max                                          τ                =                0                            ,                                                                        …                                                                        ,                              N                -                1                                                                                J              k                                                  (              τ              )                                                          [                  Equation                                                              2                ]
If the cost is calculated for each code constructing the code set and if a code having a maximum value among the calculated costs is selected, it is able to search a cell corresponding to the selected code. A cell search method using the cell cost is represented as Equation 3.
                              K          *                =                  arg                                              max                                                k                  =                  0                                ,                                                                                …                                                                                ,                                  N                  -                  1                                                                                JM              k                                                          [                  Equation                                                              3                ]
In case that a code itself fails to have any configuration, all the codes configuring the code set should be searched. Yet, in case that a code itself has a specific pattern, it is able to efficiently search a cell using it. For instance, in case that CAZAC sequence is used as a preamble code, it is able to use a linear frequency increase characteristic of the CAZAC sequence. The frequency increase characteristic shows a single frequency component if a progression of differences of a phase is calculated, if the calculated progression of differences is converted to an exponential function value, and if discrete Fourier transform (hereinafter abbreviated DFT) is performed on the exponential function value. Yet, a result of the DFT in the characteristics of the CAZAC sequence is totally changed according to the influence made by a different CAZAC sequence coming from another cell in the vicinity of a cell boundary. Accordingly, in case of using such a sequence as CAZAC, it is able to obtain a transmitted preamble code through simple algorithm if a peripheral interference signal does not exist. If an interference signal however exists, the characteristics of the CAZAC sequence are ruined. Accordingly, it is difficult to detect the preamble through simple algorithm.
In particular, in case that a mobile station searches all possible code combinations, it is unable to efficiently search a code sequence. In case of such a sequence having a specific characteristic as a CAZAC sequence, if interference signals considerably exist around a cell boundary, it is unable to search a code sequence using simple algorithm.

Method of searching code sequence in mobile communication system


A photoresist composition comprises a polymer of the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group or --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --SiR.sup.3 wherein R.sup.3 is a methyl or ethyl group and p is equal to 0 or 1, R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or methyl group, t-Bu is a tertiary-butyl group, and n/(m+n) is in the range of from 0.1 to 0.9.. The polymer of formula (1) can form a positive working two-component photoresist composition with a photoacid generator. The polymer of formula (1) can also be used as an alkali soluble resin and in this regard, form a positive working three-component photoresist composition with a photoacid generator and a dissolution inhibitor having at least one group which is unstable to acid. Alternatively, the polymer of formula (1) can be used as a dissolution inhibitor and in this regard, form a positive working three-component photoresist composition with another alkali soluble resin and a photoacid generator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a photoresist composition and more particularly, to a photoresist composition of the chemical amplification type suitable for forming fine patterns in the manufacture of super-large scale integrated microcircuits.
2. Prior Art
Photoresists are important materials for the fabrication of integrated circuits. These materials are employed for the transfer of a pattern onto a silicon wafer which allows the selective deposition and removal of materials necessary for the construction of the elements which become the circuit. Today, an important goal in integrated circuit fabrication consists of reducing the size of the discrete devices contained in an integrated circuit by as much as possible to incorporate as many devices as possible per unit area. In memory chips this means that a higher density of data can be stored in a smaller area and that ultimately, the size of the electronic device can be further reduced.
To achieve this goal, photoresists with higher sensitivities and resolution capabilities must be developed. Ultimately, the physics of the optics and the irradiating light which are used in imaging are the main limiting factors on the minimum size of the features which can be imaged. Based on these considerations, it has been found that the highest resolution in optical imaging is obtained using the shortest wavelengths of light. This implies that light in the deep ultraviolet region of the spectrum (i.e., 190-300 nm) must be employed to provide optimal resolution capabilities for the next generation of photoresists which are targeted at a feature size of 0.25-0.5 .mu.m. At the present time, no adequate photoresists are commercially available which operate in this region. Similarly, the sensitivity of the photoresist should be less than 15 mJ/cm.sup.2 since typically irradiation sources in the deep UV are relatively weak. To achieve good definition of the imaged patterns and to permit optimal etching and deposition processes, the photoresist should have as high a contrast as possible.
Considerable efforts are currently being expended to develop deep UV sensitive photo-resists which meet the above criteria. The most successful of these efforts have depended on the use of chemically amplified systems. By the term "chemical amplification" it is meant that the photoresist contains a photosensitive element which on irradiation releases a catalytic agent. The catalytic agent then induces a specifically desired image forming chain reaction that results in a photo-multiplication effect which increases the sensitivity. An example of this principle is shown in the equation below. ##STR2## When poly(4-t-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene) is irradiated in the presence of either a diaryliodonium salt or a triarylsulfonium salt, an acid (HX) is produced from the salt which catalytically deblocks the polymer to give isobutylene and poly(4-hydroxystyrene). See H. Ito and C. G. Willson, "Polymers in Electronics", ACS Symp. Ser., 242, 11 (1984). Whereas the initial polymer is insoluble in aqueous basic solution, the deblocked polymer is very soluble in aqueous base. Thus, if films of poly(4-t-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene) are subjected to imagewise exposure through a mask, only those portions of the film which are exposed to light become soluble and are removed when immersed in aqueous base. In this way, a positive reproduction of the mask is obtained.
An additional example of a similar technology is shown in the following equation. See D. A. Conlon, J. V. Crivello, J. L. Lee and M. J. O'Brien, Macromolecules, 22, 509 (1989). ##STR3##
In this case, the poly(4-t-butoxy-styrene) is effectively and catalytically converted to the polyphenol by a small amount of acid generated from the photolysis of the onium salt. Again, the starting polymer is insoluble in aqueous base while the deblocked polymer is readily soluble. This system also may be considered a positive working photoresist.
The aforementioned photoresists based on poly(4-t-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene) and poly-(4-t-butoxystyrene) form the mainstream of chemical amplification type photoresist since they have high sensitivity. These photoresists are used in the deep UV region unlike conventional diazonaphthoquinone-novolak resins which are commonly used as photoresists for the 436 nm and 365 nm portions of the UV spectrum.
A number of positive working photoresist materials of the chemical amplification type heretofore proposed, however, suffer several problems which must be overcome before they can be used in practice. There is a need for improved positive working photoresist materials of the chemical amplification type.

Photoresist composition comprising a copolymer having a di-t-butyl fumarate


A method of treating solid containing material derived from effluent or sludge from a plant for deinking paper, the material containing calcium in the form of one or more insoluble calcium compounds, the method including the steps of treating the material with an acid to cause dissolution of the calcium thereby forming a calcium ion-containing solution in which insoluble solids are suspended, separating the solution from the insoluble solids and incinerating the separated solids. The solution containing calcium ions may be treated by adding one or more reagents to form a calcium compound precipitate, eg calcium carbonate. The particulate solids produced following the incineration step and following the precipitate formation may be employed as pigments or fillers in paper making or paper coating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the treatment of solid containing material derived from effluent, especially to recover useful materials therefrom.
In particular, this invention is concerned with a method for recovering useful materials from what has hitherto been regarded as the waste material produced by an industrial plant for treating paper, especially for de-inking waste paper.
Paper and paperboard products are generally made by preparing a dilute aqueous suspension containing cellulosic fibres derived from wood or from some other suitable fibrous material, and de-watering the suspension on a moving wire mesh belt to form a sheet material. The suspension may also contain a proportion of a mineral filler material which improves the brightness and opacity of the finished paper or board. Natural cellulosic fibrous materials are generally expensive, and the trees or other plants from which they are obtained must be replaced if the balance of the environment is not to be disturbed. It is therefore desirable to incorporate in the aqueous suspension from which the sheet material is made a substantial proportion of cellulosic fibrous material which has been recovered from waste paper. Most waste paper which is recycled has been printed on at least one of its surfaces, and it is necessary to separate the printing ink residue from the cellulosic fibres if the recovered material is to be suitable for use as a starting material in a paper making process. If the ink is not separated, the fibrous material will generally be unacceptably dark in colour. Generally, printing ink contains elemental carbon (carbon black) and other dark material which causes the dark coloration.
Commercially operated processes for de-inking waste paper generally comprise a pulping stage in which the waste paper is subjected to mechanical agitation in water which also contains sodium hydroxide which causes the fibres to swell, and which breaks down most ink vehicles by saponification or hydrolysis, sodium silicate which acts as a pH buffer and agglomerates detached ink particles to a convenient size, and a surfactant which wets the ink particles and helps to keep them in suspension. The suspension formed in the pulper is passed through a primary screening system in which heavy foreign bodies, such as staples, paper clips and pieces of grit are removed. The suspension passing through the screens is then fed to a treatment plant comprising one or more froth flotation cells, or one or more washing units, or a combination of washing units and flotation cells. The froth flotation cells are each provided near the bottom with a rotating impeller and means for admitting air under pressure in the form of fine bubbles in the region of the impeller. It may also be advantageous to add to the suspension, before it enters the flotation cell, a reagent known as a collector which attaches itself preferentially to the ink particles and increases their affinity with air relative to that with water. As a result, the ink particles are preferentially lifted by the air bubbles to the surface of the suspension in the flotation cell, where they are discharged in a froth product.
In the washing units the pulp is subjected to agitation in fresh or recycled water, optionally containing a dispersing agent, and the washed pulp is then drained on a screen of aperture size such as to retain the relatively long cellulosic fibres, while allowing to pass the mineral and organic particles and the fine fibre fragments.
The suspension which is discharged from the bottom of the flotation cell, and/or the suspension which passes the screens of the washing steps, is de-watered and the de-watered material, which consists of substantially de-inked cellulosic fibre material, may be subjected to further purification steps before being finally de-watered and dried for re-use in a sheet forming process.
The de-inking treatment plant reject consists of an aqueous effluent or sludge which is produced in large volumes. The reject from some plants is discarded and transferred to a waste disposal site, eg a landfill site. The reject from other plants is incinerated and this beneficially reduces the volume of the reject and generates useful heat energy from the combustion of organic components. The ash from the incineration is subsequently disposed of. However, in both cases, there is an undesirable cost and environmental impact associated with disposal. Also, potentially useful materials are wasted by the disposal process. The de-inking treatment plant, reject generally contains, in addition to the ink particles and various additives employed in paper, a substantial proportion of the inorganic filler particles which were originally present in the waste paper. These filler particles usually consist predominantly of a mixture of kaolin clay and calcium carbonate in various proportions, although other inorganic filler particles such as silicates, talc, calcium sulphate or titanium dioxide may also be present in minor proportions.
2. Related Prior Art
In the prior art, various patent specifications have been published which describe processes for incinerating waste solids from de-inking sludge. In some of these processes the ash produced following incineration is further treated to render the particulate material contained in the ash suitable for re-use in a paper making process. Examples of specifications describing such processes include WO96/32354. Where the sludge solids treated include calcium carbonate this can react with kaolin present to produce a glassy composite phase which causes the particulate product to be abrasive. As described in EP798268-A1, the incineration temperature may be controlled so as to minimise formation of the glassy phase, but this procedure can be relatively complicated and expensive to operate and may cause the resulting particulate product to have inferior optical properties, eg a reduced brightness.

Treatment of solid containing material derived from effluent