text:
(1960) Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York a …
Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 courtroom drama film adapted by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. The film tells the story of a married couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple's young … see full wiki
Though movies can be great ways to view how people viewed the world in the past, where movies can falter in this is the "this movie was ahead of it's time" film. Mainly because, I feel, these movies tend to have more cracks in them then a later movie that fully understood the situation would. "Kramer vs. Kramer" is film that was released to wide approval during the second-wave feminism, where the meanings behind motherhood and fatherhood was changing. The movie revolves around Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman in an Oscar winning performance), a work-a-holic father who loves his job and his family. Though he loves his family he is unable to relate to his wife Joanna (Meryl Streep in an Oscar winning performance), who tells him one night that he is leaving him and their son Billy (Justin Henry in an Oscar nominated performance) to "find herself."
Ted is furious of course because he feels Joanna has abandoned her child. Joanna's friend Margaret (Jane Alexander in an Oscar nominated performance) tries to explain to Ted about how Joanna didn't feel like a real person anymore, but Ted won't hear of it. He's now stuck raising his son, a son who doesn't connect to him much. Though the movie has been remembered as a film that questioned the roles of society, the film is really a father and son bonding film, as a majority of the time is spent with Ted getting to know his son and take care of him. In the process he loses his job because he can't be at work all the time, and Ted starts to understand what his wife went through while they were married. Sympathy doesn't go very far though, as Joanna shows up again one day and wants her son back.
This begins the now famous courtroom trial where the courts are ultimately more willing to side with the mother, regardless how much better of a parent Ted is. Though praised at the time for being impartial to each side, years later prove that the movie is ultimately arguing in Ted's favor, as Joanna comes off as being irresponsible and mean. While Ted doesn't want the case to get to the point where little Billy is called to the stand, Joanna seems less concerned about that then winning custody. We also sympathize with Ted more because he had to change his lifestyle because he was forced to, where Joanna chose to leave, made him change his lifestyle for their son, and now wants the kid back. She comes off as being unfair. What's worse is that just because she's the mother she gets special priority from the courts.
Once you get around the politics of the film though what you get is, essentially, a wonderful drama about a father and son bonding. It's this bond that helps the movie work despite itself. The world has come a long way since this came out, and since then woman do just about everything men do, and because we are in that position we can looking at this movie and realize that it wasn't really as partisan as we initially thought it to be. Never-the-less, the good outweighs the bad, and it will remain an interesting film to study in film and social studies.
What did you think of this review?


text:
List and briefly describe each of the administrative issues that needs to be addressed in the planning stage of external recruiting.
List and briefly describe each of the administrative issues that needs to be addressed in the planning stage of external recruiting.
One administrative issue is the requisition process. The act of preparing and issuing a requisition is the step that identifies the specifications for the hire (in terms of KSAOs, salary and other details of the hire) and requests top management to proceed with the hire. The recruitment specialist then determines the number of contacts to be made, which can be estimated from yield ratios if proper records have been kept so that ratios can be calculated based on past history. It is also necessary to determine the types of contacts that will have to be made. This involves identifying the qualifications needed to perform the job, which can be taken from the job requirements matrix. Type of contacts also involves deciding how job applicants search for the focal position and how the organization should proceed to make contact with potential applicants. As with all administrative functions, recruitment has costs, so the recruitment process should be conducted within the guidelines of a recruitment budget. The budget can be established by a top-down method, whereby top management sets the budget on the basis of the business plan for the organization and on the basis of projected revenues. Alternatively, a bottom-up approach can be used. This is a method that starts by costing out the budget based on the specific needs of each business unit. At this point in the process, the recruiters are selected. They are trained and provided with an appropriate reward system. A highly useful management tool for recruitment is the recruitment guide, which is a formal document that details the process to be followed, based on the organization's staffing flowcharts. The guide clarifies expectations and operational-steps for the recruiter, and the requesting department, and is essential for controlling costs, ensuring legal compliance, and conducting efficient management of the recruitment process.
Chegg is one of the leading providers of homework help for college and high school students. Get homework help and answers to your toughest questions in math, calculus, algebra, physics, chemistry, science, accounting, English and more. Master your homework assignments with our step-by-step solutions to more than 3000 textbooks. If we don't support your textbook, don't worry! You can ask a homework question and get an answer in as little as two hours. With Chegg, homework help is just a few clicks away.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A method and apparatus for characterizing tissue of epithelial lined viscus in vivo including, for example, the endocervical canal. The method comprises illuminating an interior surface of the viscus with electromagnetic radiation wavelengths to produce a plurality of fluorescence intensity spectra, detecting a plurality of emission wavelengths from the fluorescence intensity spectra, and characterizing the epithelial viscus tissue as a function of the emission wavelengths. The apparatus includes a light source of emitting a plurality of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths, an optical probe connected to the light source, the probe being adapted to apply the plurality of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths to an interior surface of epithelial viscus tissue under test and to gather fluorescence emitted from the tissue, a detector connected to the probe for detecting at least one fluorescence spectrum emitted from the tissue under test and a programmed computer connected to the detector for processing the at least one fluorescence spectrum according to a predetermined algorithm to characterize the tissue under test.
1. A ring probe for applying a plurality of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths to an interior surface of endocervical canal tissue under test and for gathering fluorescence emitted from the tissue under test, the probe comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers coaxially arranged in a ring shape;
a reflector in operative relationship with the plurality of optical fibers, said reflector adapted to direct light from the probe in a substantially elliptical pattern; and
a flushing channel extending through said probe, said channel adapted to flush the tissue under test.
2. The probe of
3. The probe of
4. The probe of
5. The probe of
6. The probe of
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/693,471, filed Jun. 22, 1999 (now abandoned).
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for investigating epithelial lined viscus, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for characterizing normal and dysplastic tissue of the endocervical canal.
The most prevalent of preinvasive conditions of the female lower genital tract is cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The traditional definition calls it a spectrum of intraepithelial changes that begins as a generally well differentiated intraepithelial neoplasm, which has traditionally been classified as a very mild dysplasia, and ends with invasive carcinoma. Neoplastic changes are confined to the squamous epithelium and include nuclear pleomorphism, loss of polarity, and presence of abnormal mitoses. CIN is graded 1 to 3, based on the amount of undifferentiated cells present from the basement membrane to the surface epithelium. When one third of that distance is involved, the grade is 1; when more than one third and up to two thirds is involved, the grade is 2; when more than two thirds is involved, the grade is 3. Full-thickness involvement from the surface epithelium to the basement membrane is referred to as carcinoma in situ (CIS). The median transit time from CIN to CIS depends on the grade of CIN: for grade 1 CIN, the time is approximately 6 years; for grade 2 CIN, approximately 2 years; and for grade 3, approximately 1 year. Despite some debate in the past about CIN and CIS representing two distinct entities, it is currently believed that CIN and CIS are part of a spectrum of disease that leads to invasive cancer of the cervix. The diagnosis and treatment of CIN are thus part of the prevention of invasive cervical cancer. An accepted method to classify cervical tissues is the new Bethesda system as presented in Wright et al. , "Pathology of the Female Genital Tract," 156-177, Springer-Verlag, (1994). In accordance with that system, lesions with HPV and CIN are classified as squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) where they may be further separated as high grade SIL (CIN II, CIN III, CIS) and low grade SIL (CIN I, HPV). Normal, metaplastic and non-specific inflammation tissues are classified as non-SILs.
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is usually detected by screening Pap smears from asymptomatic women. Patients with abnormal Pap smears are referred for colposcopy and possibly biopsy. Acetic acid is applied to the cervix, and areas with abnormal DNA content, such as those with CIN, turn white. The colposcope, a mounted magnifying lens, is used to direct biopsies of the abnormal white areas. Abnormal configurations of blood vessels, called vascular atypia, signal disordered growth and help the clinician know which other areas require biopsy. An appropriate evaluation of the abnormal Pap smear involves review of the referral and repeat Pap smears, endocervical curettage, and multiple biopsies of the aceto white areas; the results of such analysis will indicate whether the patient has CIN.
While the predictive accuracy of colposcopy is a matter of debate in the field with some researchers finding excellent overall accuracy with others finding accuracy to be poor for CIN but good for condyloma.
Recently, there has been intensive research to explore the use of optical spectroscopy for the diagnosis of disease in human tissue. Several studies have successfully demonstrated the use of fluorescence, infrared absorption and Raman spectroscopies for disease diagnosis in various organ systems. Auto and dye induced fluorescence have shown promise in recognizing atherosclerosis and various types of cancers. Many groups have utilized autofluorescence for differentiation of normal and abnormal tissues from the human breast and lung, urinary bladder and gastrointestinal tract.
Copending application Ser. No. 08/666,021, filed Jul. 19, 1996, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, discloses a system that uses fluorescence spectroscopy to discriminate diseased (pre-cancerous and cancerous) from non diseased (normal tissues and inflammation) tissue as well as differentiate cancer and high grade pre-cancers from low grade precancerous lesions of the human cervix in vivo. This system provides more effective patient management, as 1) fluorescence measurements, and hence diagnostic information, can be obtained in real time and 2) the technique is non-invasive. In vitro studies in which fluorescence was measured from cervical biopsies over the UV and visible regions of the spectrum have shown that the fluorescence intensity of histologically abnormal cervix is significantly lower than that of the normal cervix from the same patient. In accordance with the above-referenced copending application, the system includes a fiber optic probe, illumination source and optical multi channel analyzer. The probe is inserted through the vaginal canal until its tip is flush with the surface of the cervix. The probe delivers light at specific excitation wavelengths and collects fluorescence from the entire emission wavelength range from a predetermined area of the cervix. During colposcopy, spectra are collected from each colposcopically abnormal area of the cervix prior to biopsy and from 1 to 4 colposcopically normal areas. Using this system, laser induced fluorescence acquired from human cervical tissues in vivo at 337, 380 and 460 nm excitation is analyzed to identify cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).
A limitation of previous colposcopic and fluorescence spectroscopic systems is that they are not capable of sampling the endocervix. It is known that atypical colposcopic tissue patterns occur with some frequency at the transformation zone between the squamous and columnar epithelium in the endocervical canal. See, Burke L, Antonioli D A and Ducatman B S. Colposcopy, Text and Atlas, pp. 47, 48, 61 and 62, Appleton and Large, Norwalk Conn. (1991) This transformation zone (also known as the squamocolumnar junction) is often located well within the endocervical canal and is not easily subjected to colposcopy or fluorescence spectroscopy using existing systems which are intended primarily to assess the ectocervix. In addition, cervical lesions that exist on the ectocervix often extend into the endocervical canal, and characterization of the lesion within the endocervical canal is often an important matter.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a means to subject the endocervical canal, including the transformation zone, to fluorescence spectroscopy.
The present invention avoids the above noted drawbacks of the prior art by providing a method and apparatus for characterizing tissue of epithelial lined viscus including, for example, the endocervical canal. In particular, in accordance with a method embodying the present invention, endocervical canal tissue is characterized in vivo, by illuminating endocervical canal tissue in vivo with electromagnetic radiation wavelengths to produce a plurality of fluorescence intensity spectra, detecting a plurality of emission wavelengths from the fluorescence intensity spectra, and characterizing the endocervical canal tissue as a function of the emission wavelengths. The characterizing step may distinguish squamous epithelium and columnar epithelium tissue, normal squamous and abnormal tissue, normal columnar epithelium and abnormal tissue, inflamed and abnormal tissue, low grade SIL and high grade SIL tissue, or normal and high grade SIL tissue.
In addition, the illuminating and detecting steps may comprise, illuminating a substantially cylindrical area of the endocervical canal tissue, and detecting the plurality of emission wavelengths from selected portions of the cylindrical area. The illuminating and detecting steps may further comprise illuminating an area of the endocervical canal in a vicinity of a single pixel, and detecting the plurality of emission wavelengths from the single pixel, and repeating the illuminating and detecting steps to substantially cover the cylindrical surface. In another embodiment, the illuminating and detecting steps may further comprise illuminating a substantially ring-shaped area of the endocervical canal, detecting the plurality of emission wavelengths from the substantially ring-shaped area, and repeating the illuminating and detecting steps to substantially cover the cylindrical surface. In yet another embodiment, the illuminating and detecting steps may further comprise, illuminating a substantially line-shaped area of the endocervical canal, detecting the plurality of emission wavelengths from the substantially line-shaped area, and repeating the illuminating and detecting steps to substantially cover the cylindrical surface.
In addition, the electromagnetic radiation wavelengths used to practice the method of the present invention may be in the ranges of 317-357 nm, 360-400 nm and 440-480 nm.
In addition, an apparatus embodying the present invention for characterizing endocervical tissue, comprises, a light source for emitting a plurality of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths; a probe connected to the light source, the probe adapted to apply the plurality of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths to an interior surface of endocervical canal tissue under test and to gather fluorescence emitted from the tissue under test; a detector, connected to the probe, for detecting at least one fluorescence spectrum emitted from the tissue under test, and a programmed computer connected to the detector means, for processing the at least one fluorescence spectrum according to a predetermined algorithm to characterize the tissue under test.
The light source may be a laser light source or a filtered white light source and the plurality of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths may be about 337 nm, about 380 nm and about 460 nm. The probe may include excitation optical fibers for applying the plurality of electromagnetic wavelengths to an interior surface of the endocervical tissue under test, and collection optical fibers for gathering the fluorescence emitted from the endocervical tissue under test.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in this art with reference to the following detailed description.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary apparatus in accordance with the present invention usable to perform the method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is another exemplary apparatus in accordance with the present invention usable to perform the method of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate various states of the endocervical canal.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are an exemplary single pixel probe usable in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is another exemplary embodiment of a single pixel probe usable with the present invention.
FIGS. 6-11 are various exemplary embodiments of a ring probe useable in the present invention.
FIGS. 12A and 12B are an exemplary embodiment of a line probe useable in the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a graphical representation of a study of endocervical canal size.
FIGS. 14 and 15 are graphs showing the optical transmission and excitation emission of cervical mucus.
FIGS. 16 and 17 are graphs showing the optical transmission and excitation emission of fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP).
FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 are exmplary fluoresence spectra obtained from endocervical canal tissue.
Measurement Apparatus
FIGS. 1 and 2 present exemplary embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention which are useable to practice the method of the present invention.
Referring first to FIG. 1, an apparatus is disclosed using a single pixel optical probe. Exemplary embodiments of the single pixel probe are presented in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The apparatus includes endocervical probe 11 which, as described below in more detail, incorporates a number of optical fibers including excitation fibers 12, 13 and 14 and collection fiber 16. The excitation fibers are connected to an illumination source which may be, for example, two nitrogen lasers 17,18 (LN300C, Laser Photonics) with a dye module. Other illumination sources, for example a Xenon lamp and filter wheel (disclosed in more detail with reference to FIG. 2), may also be used. Other illumination sources may also be acceptable, including, for example, various types of lasers (for example, HeCd or Ag lasers) used with or without dye modules, and various types of so-called-white light sources (for example, Xe, Hg, or XeHg lamps) used with filter wheels. This illumination source produces light at frequencies that have been selected for their ability to produce fluorescence in tissue that permits characterization of the tissue, For example light at approximately 337, 380 and 460 nanometers has proven useful. This light is coupled into excitation fibers 12, 13, 14. For coupling, standard Microbench components (Spindler Hoyer) and planoconvex lenses 19 were used. The light coming out of the two dye modules is bandpass filtered by bandpass filters 21 to minimize fluorescence from the dye being coupled into the excitation fibers 12, 13 and 14. Collection fiber 16 collects the fluorescence which is projected through a coupling optics 22 (for example, Microbench, magnification 50/30) into a detector 24, for example an F/3.8 spectrograph (Monospec 18, Thermo Jarrel Ash, Scientific Measurement Systems, Inc.). In the coupling optics 22, longpass filter 23 (for example, color glass filters, Schott) block the reflected excitation light from entering the detector. The spectrograph disperses the light onto an intensified diode array 26. Exemplary diode array 26, electronics and controller 27 are manufactured by Princeton Instruments. The system also includes gate pulser 28 which is used to control the operation of lasers 17 and 18. Lasers 17 and 18 may be controlled, for example at a 30 Hz repetition rate with a 5 nanosecond pulse duration, but other repetition rates and pulse durations may also be acceptable.
The apparatus also includes programmed computer 29 which operates to energize lasers 17 and 18 and to analyze the fluorescence spectra collected by collection fiber 16 in order to characterize the tissue sample under study. Details of this control and analysis may be found in copending application Ser. No. 08/666,021, filed Jul. 19, 1996, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to FIG. 2, an apparatus embodying the present invention is disclosed using a multiple pixel optical probe. Exemplary embodiments of multiple pixel optical probes are presented in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 6-12. The apparatus includes a multiple pixel optical probe 21 which incorporates excitation optical fibers 22 and collection optical fibers 23. Excitation optical fibers 22 are connected to receive light from illumination source 24 which may be, for example, a Xenon lamp 26 in combination with a filter wheel 27. Once again, other illumination sources, including for example, the laser source disclosed with reference to FIG. 1, would also be acceptable. As with the apparatus of FIG. 1, illumination source 24 produces light at frequencies that have been selected for their ability to produce fluorescence in tissue that permits characterization of the tissue.
Collection fibers 23 from probe 21 are connected to detector 28 which includes, for example, an imaging spectrograph 29 (for example, a Chromex 250 IS), and a CCD array 31 (for example, a thermoelectric cooled CCD Princeton Instruments EV 578x384). The output of detector 28 is applied to computer 32 which is programmed to control illumination source 24 and to analyze the fluorescence spectra collected by collection fibers 23 and detected by detector 28 using, for example, the analysis methods disclosed in the aforementioned copending application.
Endocervical Canal Morphology
Referring now to FIGS. 3A-F, shown are simplified representations of the cross section of the os of the endocervical canal and surrounding tissue illustrating the locations of the squamous epithelium (SE), columnar epithelium (CE) and transformation zone (TZ) of the uterus at various stages of maturity and for various medical conditions. Specifically, FIG. 3A shows the neonate uterus, FIG. 3B shows the premenarchal uterus, FIG. 3C shows the menarchal uterus, FIG. 3D shows the menstruating uterus, FIG. 3E shows the menopausal uterus and FIG. 3F shows the postmenopausal uterus. As can be seen, the transformation zone TZ can appear on the ectocervix (for example, menstruating, FIG. 3D), or well within the edocervical canal (for example, postmenopausal, FIG. 3F), or anywhere in between. Since the most common location for CIN and metaplasia is at or near the transformation zone, it is critical that the transformation zone be imaged when conducting fluorescence spectroscopy. This is of particular importance in menopause and postmenopause because most cervical carcinomas occur at this age, and this is when the transformation zone is most deeply within the endocervical canal.
Other general observations of the morphology of the endocervical canal are worthy of note. After the external os, which follows a funnel type opening, the endocervical canal enlarges and gets smaller again at the inner os. The uterus opens to its full size after the internal os by a small angle. The canal can be filled inside with non-neoplastic additional tissue like polyps and synechia. Polyps may fill the canal. Atrophy may be present, which results in an abnormal form of the wall (missing folds). In addition, It is known that stenosis may occur after LEEP treatments.
The folds of the columnar epithelium may typically be several centimeters deep with varying shapes. For example, in one uterus that was studied after removal by hysterectomy, the folds were a maximum of 7.83 mm with a mean depth of 3.38 mm. The folds were observed to have two main directions: axial and with an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the axis of the canal. The top of this pine tree-like form points outwards the canal. The folds are filled with mucus that sticks strongly to the tissue. Flushing with saline solution will not remove the mucus. A study of the fluorescence characteristics of cervical mucus are presented below with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.
Optical Probes
FIGS. 4A and 4B are a single pixel probe 11 that may be used in the apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4A, optical probe 11 includes a bundle of optical fibers 41 which are packed in a fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP) tubing 42 that is substantially transparent to visible light and that also transmits in the ultraviolet. The FEP tubing 42 containing the fibers 41 is flexibly mounted within a second tubing 43 which may also be made of FEP. The outer diameter of tubing 43 is preferably less than 2 mm, however other dimensions may be used. The outer diameter of tube 43 is determined primarily by anatomical constraints of the endocervical canal, and is discussed in more detail below with reference to FIG. 13. This dimension allows the passage of the probe through an endocervical canal with a stenosis at the outer os. The fiber 41 within tubing 42 may be rotated and axially displaced within tubing 43 in order to permit the testing of several tissue sites without moving tubing 43.
Although FEP has proven useful for use as the material for the tubings used in the optical probes of the present invention, other materials may also be acceptable, including, for example, other plastics such as polytetrafluorethylen (PTFE), glass and quartz.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 4A and B, a short piece of a large diameter fiber 45 is used. as a reflector and the end surface 47 of fiber 45 is polished with an oblique angle (for example, 40°) relative to the axis of probe 11. Reflection of light emitted by fibers 41 toward the tissue sample under study (downward in FIG. 4A) and reflection of light emitted by the tissue sample back toward fibers 41 occurs because of total internal reflection. An alternative reflector may be made using an angled mirrored surface of polished metal, glass, sapphire, or the like.
FIG. 4B is a cross section through section 4B—4B of FIG. 4A, and shows the configuration of fibers 41. In the exemplary embodiment there are seven fibers 41, six illumination fibers 48-53, and one collection fiber 54, however any number of fibers may be used. In the exemplary embodiment, illumination fibers 48 and 51 are used for 337 nm, fibers 49 and 52 are used for 380 nm and fibers 50 and 53 are used for 460 nm. and collection fiber 54 provides a single pixel collection for fluorescence spectroscopy. It should be noted that any combination of illumination and collection fibers may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, three illumination fibers and one collection fiber may be used, three illumination fibers and three collection fibers may be used., one illumination fiber and one collection fiber may be used, one fiber used for the combined purpose of illumination and collection may be used, and so forth. Fibers 48-54 may be, for example, type SFS320/385T optical fibers, and fiber 46 may be a type SFS1500/1650N optical fiber, both available from Fiberguide Industries, however other types may also be used. The single pixel embodiment results in a single substantially elliptical measurement and illumination spot, or pixel.
The part of probe 11 that extends outside the vagina preferably has a rigid tube with markings which may be used as an aid in positioning the probe both axially and rotationally. Saline solution may be flushed though the openings 61 in tip 62 of probe 11 before or during a testing procedure.
FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the single-pixel probe of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, probe 11 includes fiber bundle 41 like that of the embodiment of FIG. 4A. light emitted from the end of fibers 41 is focused by lens 66 and reflected by reflecting surface 67 toward a tissue sample 68 under study. Similarly, light emitted by a tissue sample 68 is focused by lens 66, and reflected by reflective surface 67 back toward fibers 41. Other structural details remain substantially as in FIG. 4A.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a ring optical probe 21 is disclosed that may be used in the apparatus of FIG. 2 Probe 21 includes a number of optical fibers 72 coaxially arranged in a ring shape. In one embodiment every other one of fibers 72 are used for illumination, with the remaining fibers being used for collection. Alternatively, each fiber 72 may be used for both illumination and collection. In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, reflection of both illuminating light and collected light is done by a metal plug 73 with a polished reflecting surface 74 Alternately, a sapphire tip 81 may be used as shown in FIG. 8. In yet another embodiment, the ends of fibers 72 may be cleaved and polished as shown in FIG. 9. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, every other fiber may be used as an illumination fiber with all remaining fibers being collection fibers. This would result in adjacent fibers (for example, fibers 72′ and 72″) acting together to illuminate and detect from a single tissue area 77. Alternately, each of fibers 72 may have the combined function of illumination and collection. It should be noted that for the sake of clarity, the surrounding tube is not shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9.
In all embodiments of the ring probe 21, light is reflected from fibers 72 toward a tissue sample located adjacent the exterior wall of probe 21 and light emitted by the tissue sample is reflected back toward fibers 72. This results in a plurality of substantially elliptical measurement and illumination spots, or pixels distributed in a ring shape.
In the ring probe 21 embodiment of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, channel 76 may be included to permit the flushing of the tissue under test with saline either before or during a test . . . The diameter of probe 21 may be, for example, approximately 2.8 mm, however other diameters may also work.
Referring now to FIGS. 12A and 12B disclosed is yet another embodiment of optical probe 21 usable in the apparatus of FIG. 2. The optical probe 21 of FIGS. 12A and 12B is a line probe. The probe 21 includes of an illuminator that serves to illuminate a tissue sample under study, and a collector that serves to collect light emitted by the tissue sample under study. The collector in the exemplary embodiment is made of 19 100 micrometer optical fibers 122 (type SFS100/110T available from Fiberguide Industries), however, any number of optical fibers may be used. In the disclosed embodiment, The collection of the fluorescence occurs every 1.5 mm with one of the collection fibers 122. The collection fibers 122 are polished at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the fiber 122 (for example, 40°). The ends 123 of the collection fibers 122 are positioned at different axial locations along the probe as shown in FIG. 12A. In the exemplary embodiment this results in a simultaneous collection every 1.5 mm along a line approximately 2.5 cm. long. The diameter of the line probe 21 of FIG. 12A is approximately 3 mm, however other diameters would also be acceptable
The illuminator of probe 21 in FIG. 12A includes a diffuser 124. Diffuser 124 is mounted on the top of a bundle of fibers 127. Fibers 127 may be for example type SFS200 200 micrometer optical fibers available from Fiberguide Industries, however other types of fibers may be acceptable. A reflective coating 128 over 270 degrees of diffuser 124 allows a directed illumination over approximately 90 degrees of the circumference. of probe 21. The diffuser 124 is available, for example, from Rare Earth Medical.
The diffuser 124 is packed in a FEP tubing 131 that is substantially transparent in the visible and also in the ultraviolet. Included within tubing 131 is the collection bundle 122, the diffuser 124 and flushing channels 132 used to carry saline to ports 133 in probe 21 thus permitting flushing of the tissue either before or during testing. The outer diameter of tubing 131 is preferably less than 3 mm, however, other diameters may also be acceptable. This allows the passage of the probe through most endocervical canals.
The probe is manually placed into the endocervical canal. Because of its stiffness the whole probe can be pressed against the walls of the endocervical canal while still keeping a minimal bendability.
Because 100 micron fibers 122 are used for collection the size of each measured spot or pixel in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 12A will be smaller than approximately 0.5 mm. The diameter depends on the distance of the collection fiber 122 to the tissue. This distance may not be constant for all fibers and typically varies from approximately 0.3 to 1 mm.
The illumination light passes perpendicular through the collection fibers 122. Therefore the jacket of these fibers 122 should be removed. Collection fibers 122 will then act as cylindrical lenses.
Referring now to FIG. 13, presented in graphical form are the results of a study of cervical size. Because the design of the probe used in the present invention depends on the canal properties the geometrical aspects of the endocervical canal were studied. A database of 362 patients at the MD Anderson Cancer Center contained measurements of the diameter of the external os. The obtained diameter is based on the size of a dilator used at MD Anderson to measure the endocervical canal prior a LEEP or LEEP cone treatment. In a following checkup visit the canal is checked again to assure no stenosis occurred. This parameter was measured in another series of 22 patients with similar results.
From FIG. 13 it can be seen that the endocervical canal has a mean diameter at the outer os of 5 mm. In most patients the outer os is larger than 3 mm and smaller than 7 mm. The length of the canal was estimated from a uterus removed by hysterectomy. The endocervical canal was measured to be approximately 4 cm long. These mechanical dimensions may then be considered in determining a size of the optical probes used in the present invention. For example, the study reflected in the graph of FIG. 13 indicates that the optical probe should preferably be less than 3 mm in diameter if a single sized probe is to be used for all patients. Of course, probes of different sizes may also be used.
In addition, in order to determine the possible effects of mucus in the endocervical canal, the transmission and fluorescence of several samples of mucus was measured, and the results are presented in graphical form in FIGS. 14 and 15. To produce these graphs, small amounts of mucus were diluted in 10 ml of normal buffered saline solution and placed in a 1 cm pathlength.
As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the strongest emission of mucus is at 340 nm emission with an excitation at 280 nm. This will not interfere with the measurements performed by the disclosed exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
In addition, the transmission and fluorescence of FEP tubing (the presently preferred material for use as the housing for the probes of the present invention) was measured and the results are presented in FIGS. 16 and 17. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, the fluorescence of the FEP tubing is low. However the autofluorescence of the FEP tubing is about {fraction (1/10)} of the tissue fluorescence at 337 nm excitation. There is a main emission peak at 400 nm with 320 nm excitation. It was determined that this contribution could be accommodated during a probe calibration procedure, discussed in more detail below.
Clinical Procedure
In a clinical application, the present invention has as its purpose the characterization of epithelial viscus tissue, such as, for example, tissue of the endocervical canal. In general, when applied to the characterization of endocervical tissue, the present invention has as its purposes to: a) identify lesions extending from the ectocervix into the endocervical canal; b) detect the position of the transformation zone if present inside the endocervical canal; and c) identify squamous lesions with columnar involvement inside the endocervical canal. In general, these purposes are accomplished by measuring fluorescence spectra at spatially resolved locations inside the endocervical canal over a substantially cylindrical area of the interior surface of the tissue of the canal, and using mathematical models to characterize that tissue as a function of the measured spectra.
Before beginning a clinical procedure, the measuring apparatus should be calibrated. To calibrate the present invention (as shown, for example in FIGS. 1 and 2), the background signals are obtained without any excitation which reflects the dark current of the device. This background is stored and is automatically subtracted from any fluorescence measurement. Next, the autofluorescence of the probe is determined, for example, by placing the probe in a brown bottle containing sterile H2O and measuring fluorescence spectra with the excitation light on. This signal is not subtracted from the tissue fluorescence, however it may be subtracted if desired. In order to confirm calibration, a standard rhodamine solution (OD 0.446725, (=550 nm, 1 cm pathlength) may be measured. Based on previous clinical work, Rhodamine has been shown to have approximately twice the intensity of squamous cervical tissue fluorescence.
During spectral measurement of tissue, if improvement in the signal to noise ratio is desired, the spectra may be accumulated 100 and 200 times, respectively at 380 and 460 nm At 337 nm 50 accumulations have proven sufficient. However, other methods to improve the signal to noise ratio may also be used. For all three wavelengths a different background subtraction file may be used with the corresponding accumulations.
During a clinical procedure, it is desired to obtain fluorescence spectra at 3 excitation wavelengths along the substantially cylindrical surface of the entire endocervical canal with a spatial resolution of approximately 1.5 mm. This may be accomplished by use of either of the apparatus of FIG. 1 or 2, using any of the optical probes of FIGS. 4-12. During a procedure, the outer housing of the probe is placed and advanced to the internal os of the endocervical canal. Fluorescence measurement are then started. In the case of the single pixel probe (FIGS. 4 and 5), the single measuring pixel is advance both axially and angularly within the housing in order to image a sufficient number of pixels over the substantially cylindrical tissue surface. When using the ring probe (FIGS. 6-11), the measuring ring of pixels is advance axially in order to image a sufficient number of pixels over the substantially cylindrical tissue surface. Finally, when using the line probe (FIG. 12), the measuring line of pixels is incremented angularly in order to image a sufficient number of pixels over the substantially cylindrical tissue surface For example, when using the line probe, four individual measurement may be taken, one each at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock (i.e., every 90°). This procedure takes approximately 3 minutes to complete.
Either before or during a procedure, saline solution may be flushed over the tissue in order possibly to improve measurement accuracy by removing mucus or blood or loose tissue form the measurement site.
In general, if the margin of the first specimen at the endocervical side is free of dysplasia or cancer and the second specimen shows no changes it may be assumed that the canal is in a normal condition. If this margin is involved with changes it may be assumed that the first 5 mm of the canal are in an abnormal state. If the margin of the endocervical specimen contains no changes it may be assumed that the margins extend no deeper than 2 cm. If this specimen shows abnormal cells it may be assumed that the measurements in the canal were abnormal even after 5 nm. If the second specimen is marked as metaplasia it may be assumed that the transformation zone is inside the endocervical canal. If the first specimen shows metaplasia the transformation zone is located around the os or on the ectocervix.
FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 present groups of normalized fluorescence intensity spectra obtained in vivo from endocervical canals of several different patients using the method and apparatus of the present invention In particular, FIG. 18 is a group of normalized fluorescence intensity spectra obtained with 337 nm excitation, FIG. 19 is a group of fluorescence intensity spectra obtained using 380 nm excitation, and FIG. 20 is a group of normalized fluorescence intensity spectra obtained using 460 nm excitation.
Based upon the foregoing disclosure, these and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in this art and it will be appreciated that additions, deletions and changes nay be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplary experimental details or other information supplementary to that set forth herein, are incorporated by reference:
1. Wright T C, Kurman R J, and Ferenczy A in Pathology of the Female Genital Tract (eds. A. Blaustein), 156-177, Springer-Verlag, New York (1994).
2. Barron B A, Richart R M, "Statistical model of the natural history of cervical carcinoma: II. Estimates of the transition time from dysplasia to carcinoma in situ," JNCI 45: 1025-1030 (1970).
3. Burke L, Antonioli D A and Ducatman B S., Colposcopy, Text and Atlas, Appleton and Large, Norwalk Conn. (1991).
4. Mitchell M F, "Diagnosis and Treatment of Preinvasive Disease of the Female Lower Genital Tract" The Cancer Bulletin. 42: 71-76 (1990).
5. Reid R, Stanhope C R, Herschman B R, Crum C P, Agronow S J, "Genital warts and Cervical cancer," Am J Obstet Gynecol, IV: 815-823 (1984).
6. Reid R, Scalzi P, "Genital Warts and Cervical Cancer," Am J Obstet Gynecol, 153(6): 611-618 (1985).
7. Barrasso R, Coupez F, Ionesco M, DeBrux J, "Human Papilloma Viruses and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: The Role of Colposcopy," Gynecologic Oncology, 27: 197-207 (1987).
8. Alfano R R, Pradhan A and Tang C G, "Optical spectroscopic diagnosis of cancer in normal and breast tissues," J Optic Soc Am B, 6: 1015-1023 (1989).
9. Andersson E S, Johansson J, Svanberg K and Svanberg S, "Fluorescence imaging and point measurements of tissue: applications to the demarcation of malignant tumors and atherosclerotic lesions from normal tissue," Photochem Photobiol, 53: 807-14 (1991).
10. Richards-Kortum R R, Rava R P, Petras R E, Fitzmaurice M, Sivak M V and Feld M S, "Spectroscopic diagnosis of colonic dysplasia," Photochem Photobiol, 53: 777-786 (1991).
11. Rava R P, Richards-Kortum R R, Fitzmaurice M, Cothren R M, Petras R E, Sivak M and Feld M S, "Early detection of dysplasia in colon and urinary bladder tissue using laser-induced fluorescence", Optical methods for tumor treatment and early diagnosis: mechanisms and technique, SPIE 1426: 68-78 (1991).
12. Wong P T T, Wong R K, Caputo T A, Godwin T A and Rigas B, "Infrared spectroscopy of human cervical cells: Evidence of extensive structural changes during carcinogenesis," Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 88: 10988-10992 (1991).
13. Alfano R R, Lui C H, Sha W L, Zhu H R, Akins D L, Cleary J, Prudente R and Cellmer E, "Human breast tissues studied by IR fourier transform Raman spectroscopy," Lasers in Life Sc, 4: 23-28 (1991).
14. Baraga J J, Feld M S and Rava R P, "Rapid near-infrared Raman spectroscopy of human tissue with a spectrograph and CCD detector." Appl. Spectr, 46: 187-190 (1992).
15. Schomacker K T, Frisoli J K, Compton C C, Flotte T J, Richter J M, Nishioka N S and Deutsch T F, "Ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence of colonic tissue: Basic biology and diagnostic potential," Lasers in Surg Med, 12: 63-78 (1992).
16. Mahadevan A, Mitchell M F, Thomsen S, Silva E and Richards-Kortum R R, "A study of the fluorescence properties of normal and neoplastic human cervical tissue," Lasers Surg Med 13:647-655, (1993).
17. Ramanujam N, Mitchell M F, Mahadevan A, Thomsen S, Malpica A, Wright T C, Atkinson, N and Richards-Kortum; In Vivo Diagnosis of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Using 337 Excitation, PNAS 91:10193, 1994.
18. Ramanujam N, Mitchell M F, Mahadevan A, Thomsen S, Richards-Kortum R R, "Spectroscopic Diagnosis of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) in vivo Using Laser Induced Fluorescence Spectra at Multiple Excitation Wavelengths," Lasers Surg Med, (in press) (1996).
19. Brookner C K, Agrawal A, Trujillo E V, Mitchell M F and Richards-Kortum R R, "Relative Risk of UV-Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Endoscopy are comparable," 24th. Annual Meeting of the American Society for Photobiology, Photochem Photobiol Supp. (in press) (1996).
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
Referenced by
Legal Events
Original Image


text:
Buy Item $11.99 Retail:
Save 20% ($3.00)
Add To Cart
Add To Wishlist
|Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 160
Vendor: B&H Books
Publication Date: 2008
Dimensions: 10.50 X 8 X 0.19 (inches)
Availability: In Stock
Ages: 8-12
Primary Audience
Girls 8-12 who are beginning to struggle with issues of self-esteem, peer pressure and relationships. Parents who want their daughters to have an alternative to the mainstream lifestyle and fashion magazines directed toward teens. Youth leaders who recognize the books as a way to teach young girls spiritual truth in a format they will find appealing.


text:
Glasgow 2014 Baton Relay
In this handout image provided by Glasgow 2014 Ltd, The Glasgow 2014... News PhotoArrival,Commonwealth Games 2014,Edinburgh - Scotland,Edinburgh Castle,Gun,Horizontal,Human Interest,Image,Queen's Baton Relay,Saluting,Scotland,Sport,UKPhotographer HandoutCollection: Getty Images Sport 2014 Glasgow 2014 LtdEDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 14: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES) In this handout image provided by Glasgow 2014 Ltd, The Glasgow 2014 Queen's Baton arrives at Edinburgh Castle for a 21 gun salute on June 14, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland. England is nation 69 of 70 nations and territories the Queen's Baton will visit. (Photo by David Cheskin/Glasgow 2014 Ltd via Getty Images)


text:
M.T. Shiva Kumar
Hundreds of bullets they bought are unaccounted for
Govardhan Murthy, brothers bought over 700 bullets
Police to probe whether ammunition was misused
BANGALORE: Film producer Govardhan Murthy, who was arrested for allegedly shooting actor Vinod Kumar, had bought 240 bullets for his licensed pistol. In 10 months he fired nearly 200 of them. Two of his brothers also obtained gun licences and purchased over 500 bullets.
With hundreds of those bullets unaccounted for, the Sampigehalli subdivision police have decided to conduct an inquiry into the possible misuse of bullets by Govardhan Murthy, and his brothers, Channakeshava and Sampangi, to whom notices have been issued asking them to produce their weapons and bullets. "Govardhan applied for a gun licence in 2007, and he was permitted to purchase a .32 pistol. According to the Indian Arms Act, 1959, license-holders should register themselves with the Deputy Commissioner of the district in order to purchase bullets. Also, the bullets should not be misused. The licence-holders should produce documents to the district administration or the Police Department whenever they are instructed to," a Deputy Commissioner of Police told The Hindu.
"We recovered two weapons, including an unlicensed one, from the accused after he was arrested in Kundanur village in Kerala. During the investigationwe were able to recover just 40 of the 240 bullets that he had bought. In 10 months he had fired around 200 bullets," the officer said.
Murthy, a resident of Bilishivale Doddagubbi near Bagalur, has three brothers. All of them deal in land and property development. Mr. Channakeshava and Mr. Sampangi have obtained gun licences and bought 500 bullets from licensed weapons dealers. Except Mr. Channakeshava, there are several criminal charges against the other three brothers. Another officer said that the ongoing investigation had revealed that Govardhan threatened farmers and other landowners at gunpoint to sell their property, around Bagalur and Hoskote, to him.
Yet another officer said that Govardhan used to show off his 'marksmanship' in front of employees and friends. Even when drunk Govardhan used to fire randomly. The Sampigehalli subdivision police have received several complaints against his two of Govardhan's brothers. "We are investigating the criminal antecedents of the accused Govardhan and his brothers. We issued notices to Channakeshava and Sampangi and ordered them to produce their weapons and bullets," he said.


text:
In the In the wake of the Yuletide holiday bustle, after the barrage of commercialism and awful big band arrangements blaring over every store intercom, in the aftermath of a stolen holiday...
Well, sweetlings, we have a special surprise gift for you this year. With a little dark holiday magic of our own, we have summoned you a night of winter frolic, featuring DJ's Xibalbalola, Dammerung, and K.0ss rocking the decks with all the sinister and stompy sounds you need to vent and recover from all that good will and Xmas cheer.
We've also secured two of the city's most skilled and sensual performers to scintillate and scandalize you:
-Mercy Histrio will be bringing out a HOT new act that is certain to knock your socks in your watchpockets.
-Satyricon will be conjuring up his own variation on the black mass with his usual irreverent style.
These artists have made unique splashes on the local arts scene as alt performers, and have both recently been selected for The Southwest Burlesque Showcase. Prime talent on stage, our present to you!
Join us this year as we say "To Hell with silver bells!" and celebrate the season in our own fashion, with a proper tribute to the darkness of midwinter.
***As per usual,we'll have some fabulous gifts and giveaways of our own to stuff your stripey stockings with.
***Additionally, we will be celebrating Arcane's birthday and the fact that he has managed not to get dead this year despite all odds.
~~~~ +++++++~~~~
As usual, please share this event/updates and invite your friends. FB regularly chokes our ability to reach our fans. We need your help to get the word out!
~~~~ +++++++~~~~
:::Merry Blackmass:::
December 26th
618 Central Ave


text:
A display screen shows a number of alphanumeric characters in accordance with computer originating signals. These signals are fed to a liquid crystal panel which responsively vaires its opacity and, preferably, tapered fiber optics extend from one side of the liquid crystal panel to the screen. In one mode light originating from a high intensity source behind the screen is transmitted through the fiber optics. In another mode light from the front of the screen is reflected from a reflector surface behind the liquid crystal panel to the display screen. Either mode of operation allows the fabrication of a matrix of a number of liquid crystal panels and their associated fiber optics to provide an expanded display screen. Thus, an expanded visual presentation is read out from a computer or similar source of controlling signals to assure that several observers are reliably informed.
1. In an apparatus having a reflective surface on one side of a liquid crystal panel to function in a reflective mode through a diffuse screen for displaying a plurality of alphanumeric characters and graphic information thereon, an improvement therefor is provided comprising:
a plurality of liquid crystal cells located behind the screen, the liquid crystal cells being adjacent to thin film transistor layers to form liquid crystal panels, and
a fused block of tapered optical fibers extending between each liquid crystal panel and the diffuse screen, the fused blocks of tapered optical fibers form the front plates of the liquid crystal cells and the light is transmitted through the fused blocks of tapered optical fibers, through the liquid crystal cells, then is reflected by the reflecting surface and then is transmitted back through the liquid crystal cells, the fused blocks of tapered optical fibers and the diffusing screen for transmitting lighted alphanumeric and graphic information to effect an expansion of the information.
2. An improvement according to claim 1 in which there are provided a plurality of sets of the liquid crystal panels including fused blocks of optical tapered fibers.
3. An improvement according to claim 2 in which the plurality of sets of liquid crystal panels including the fused blocks of optical fibers are arranged in a matrix of greater than two by two sets of the liquid crystal panels including fused blocks of optical fibers to provide an uninterrupted large screen.
Large screen displays of information in alphanumeric and graphic form are being used by management and the technical sector to a much greater degree than before. Large screen displays enable a number of users to simultaneously extract information so that responsive action may be taken. Movie projectors and opaque projectors have been successfully used and are particularly useful at symposiums, lectures, etc., where a large audience is gathered in a spacious auditorium or projection room.
Unfortunately, where space at a premium and where several people must function in synchronization, there simply is not room for the movie or opaque projectors. Particularly in the close confines of a submersible or an instrument laden aircraft, scientists and technicians must act on simultaneously presented data and coordinate their work. Conventional projectors can't be used since they take up too much space, impose a rather large power consumption, are relatively delicate and have high maintenance requirements.
Later developments use electroluminescent panels and arrays of light emitting diodes. However, these tend to be ineffective from a cost standpoint and are susceptible to washout by the ambient light. Size constraints and electronics' requirements have also diminished the appeal of these designs.
A more recent display device relies upon a liquid crystal panel actuated by a thin-film transistor gate. An instantaneous response from a computer, for example, actuates the liquid crystal panel for responsive readouts.
There is a continuing need in the state-of-the-art for a cost effective display panel having the capability for providing a clear readout which is compact and reliable enough for use in submersibles and aircraft.
The present invention is directed to providing an improvement for a display panel having a high intensity light source for projecting a plurality of alphanumeric characters on the screen of the display panel. A liquid crystal panel is interposed between the light source and the screen for changing its transmissivity in response to control signals generated in a computer. A multitude of tapered optical fibers provide an expanded readout on the screen as they transmit light from the back wall of the liquid crystal panel to the screen. A modification relies on light in front of the screen to reflect off the liquid crystal, through tapered blocks of fibers and through the screen. A number of such blocks arranged in a matrix can provide an expanded, noninterrupted display.
It is a prime object of the invention to provide an improved display panel readout.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a display panel employing tapered optical fibers and at least one liquid crystal panel.
Yet another object is to provide a high resolution display panel having optical fibers with first ends adjacent a liquid crystal panel and the other ends terminating in the display panel.
Yet another object is to provide a live (on line) display for passing light from a high intensity source to a screen.
A further object is to provide tapered optical fibers to enlarge the display.
Another object is to provide a display operating both in the transmissive mode or the reflective mode, depending where the light source is situated. This is called transflective.
Another object is to provide for expanded, uninterrupted displays fabricated from a number of liquid crystal panels and associated tapered blocks of optical fibers.
A further object is to provide a display including selective filters to provide color changeability.
Another object is to advantageously employ ambient light when employed in the reflective mode.
Still another object is to provide a display panel potted in a manner to better withstand environmental effects.
A further object is to provide a highly reliable, low maintenance and low production cost display.
These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing description when taken with the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic, isometric depiction of the one embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 2a and 2b show cross-sectional variations of the invention taken generally along lines 2--2 in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 3a and 3b are representations of another detail and variations thereof in the invention.
FIG. 4 is an isometric depiction of another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 shows in greater detail a constituient component of the embodiment of FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a display unit 10 is in the process of providing a number of the viewers with a visual presentation of alphanumeric characters, figures, etc. The information of the display originates from a signal source 11 which optionally is a computer readout, sensor array, signals, or an otherwise suitable signal source for driving a modulator unit 12.
The makeup of the modulator unit 12 will be elaborated on below; however, let it suffice to say at this point that it serves to selectively change its transmissivity so that high intensity light emanating from a light source 13 and reflected by a concave reflector 14 is channeled through the unit and into a multitude of tapered optical fibers 15.
The tapered fibers are well known in the art. Tapered fibers, or individual high attenuation fibers only tapered at ends may be employed since they need not extend more than several inches. They have their smaller ends located adjacent the modulator unit and their larger ends coupled to a diffuse plate 16 which forms a display screen.
Noting FIGS. 3a and 3b, two typical ways are shown by which the fibers and plate are coupled. Fibers 15a are flared outwardly and cemented to the diffuse plate. Fibers 15a are inserted into holes provided in the plate and heat treated in place. In either case, the diffuse plate is frosted or otherwise fabricated to scatter the light transmitted by the fibers and enhance the image.
The light source is selected to have a high intensity. A short arc xenon lamp of at least 75 watts has been found to be a suitable light source, although a standard 100 watt light bulb has been used with satisfactory results. The concave reflector 14 is a highly polished surface and has a radius of curvature to assure that the exposed area of the modulator unit is more or less uniformly illuminated.
Looking to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the heart of modulator unit is a liquid crystal panel 17. The matrix addressing panels of this type are well established in the art and have the property of varying the transmissivity in a matrix of cells when an electric field is impressed across them. The electronics for switching the electric fields varies from one manufacturer to another. Recently, some simplified, compact designs have included thin-film transistor circuitry as an integral part of their panels to effect the field switching operation. Typically, a panel manufactured by the Westinghouse Corporation under the designation of Liquid crystal-Thin film Transistor (LC-TFT) panel has properties suitable for this embodiment.
In the typical panel an individual liquid crystal cell is approximately 30 by 30 mils so that the actual light modulating portion is approximately corresponds to an area measuring 25 by 25 mils. The field effect, twisted nematic liquid crystals (LX FE-09) yields better than a 25% transmission through the cells (light valves) with a good on-off contrast of about 30 to 1. The liquid crystal panel has a birefringent liquid (about 10 microns thick) sandwitched between transparent electrodes.
A filter 18 is interposed between the liquid crystal panel and the light source. The filter functions to block heat due to IR radition.
On the other side of the liquid crystal panel, the multitude of tapered fibers are brought in as close a proximity to the liquid crystal as possible. This is done primarily to avoid the problems associated with excessive scattering and refraction of the light as it passes through the crystal into the tapered fibers. For that reason, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2a, a thin transparent sheet of glass or clear plastic 19 covers the one side of the liquid crystal panel. The thin plate is bonded onto the liquid crystal and functions as a wall of the crystal. The narrow ends of the tapered fibers 15 are polished flat and cemented by a suitable optical cement to the exposed surface of the thin plate. The individual fibers are arranged in alignment with individual ones of the cells of the liquid crystal. The flared ends of the fibers are arranged on the display panel to provide a readout in accordance with proven techniques. A modification appears in FIG. 2b. The ends of the fiber optics are bonded or fused together to form a closure for the liquid crystal. Scattering is further reduced.
Fibers having a 20 mil outer diameter are common in this application and flare outwardly to a dimension of at least 100 mils by the time they reach the diffuse plate. Looking once again to FIG. 3a, fibers 15a, are configured so as to flare outwardly where they are cemented to the diffuse plate. Alternately, fibers 15b are inserted in holes in the diffuse plate where they are spot heated and fitted in the holes. Irrespective of which method is chosen to anchor the fibers in the diffuse plate, the effect is much the same, that is, there is an increased area where light passes to result in an increased dimensional presentation of the information presented in smaller scale on the liquid crystal. A further enlargement or an enhancement of the transmitted image is assured by the diffuse plate itself, that is, the plate is a thin layer of mylar which will diffuse light or it can be an ordinary glass or plastic plate having been treated with a solution of hydrofluoric acid to give it a frosted appearance.
The described display unit has a capability for permitting a number of observers to simultaneously benefit from the information contained in a computer or sensors so that immediate responsive action may be taken. Signals from the signal source actuate the liquid crystal in accordance with well established techniques and high intensity light from source 13 is directed toward the liquid crystal. Suitable ones of the individual cells are actuated so as to pass light from the source to the diffuse plate via the tapered fiber optics. This results in an immediate expanded presentation of computer originating information.
For example, the information that actuates a six by six inch high resolution (200 lines per inch) liquid panel can be transmitted to a four by four foot (25 line per inch) display via the fiber optic image expanders. This information can be immediately changed or updated in accordance with signals originating from the source. Several such display units can be contiguously arranged to cover, if wanted, the entire wall. Such a display resists the effects of washout from ambient sources.
Another embodiment of the invention differs from the aforegoing design in that this embodiment relies on the optical display of information by a reflective mode of operation whereas the former relied on a transmissive mode. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the display panel 20 is fabricated from a number of display units, 10', each driven by a suitable signal source 11', only two display units being shown connected to the source to avoid cluttering the drawings. The source can be a computer originating signal source or a sensor readout or any one of a variety of driving devices capable of actuating a liquid crystal display unit.
Each display unit includes a modulator unit 12'. The modulator unit has a flat reflecting surface 21 connected to suitable color filters 22. A block 24 of tapered optical fibers physically replaces the front glass plate of each of the liquid crystal cells and serves to magnify the information that has been programmed onto the liquid crystal by the signal source. The tapered optical fiber block can be no more than a bundle of fibers fused together for convenience in handling, among other things. Such tapered fiber optic blocks are commercially marketed, one such model being offered by the Galileo Electro-Optics Corporation at Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The flared out ends of the tapered optical fiber blocks are cemented or otherwise suitably affixed to a diffuse plate 16' which has its surface frosted or otherwise prepared to enhance the reflected image.
In this reflecting mode, light coming from the screen side of the display panel shines down through the tapered fibers and onto the liquid crystal. When the liquid crystal is suitably actuated (on condition) to allow all or portions of the light to pass through it, these portions impinge upon the reflector chip where information is reflected back through the color filter, the aligned liquid crystal, through the fibers and onto the diffuse plate where observers can discern the information content programmed into the liquid crystal.
A novel feature of this embodiment, and for that matter, the first embodiment, is that an expanded display screen can be fabricated by placing display units 10 or 10' adjacent one another (mosiac approach) in a contiguous relationship until the desired matrix is formed. Contemporary displays using liquid crystals alone and not using tapered fibers to expand or enhance the image are limited to a 2 by 2 matrix since the drivers and connectors for each of the liquid crystal chips create a peripheral separation or a discontinuity when a more than 2 by 2 display is desired. This discontinuity is distracting to observers and has imposed size restrictions for employing several small panels to make a larger one.
Such a limitation does not hamper the design of a continuous expanded display employing the display units of the present invention. The drivers, scanners, and the connectors of the smaller liquid crystals of the present invention are masked off and actually are located behind the actual display surface provided by the expanding tapered fiber optics. A continuous expanded screen is therefore free of any interruptions which would otherwise distract an observer.
Both the embodiments can be fabricated to have no more than a few inches in depth. When these designs are potted in an epoxy type resin 25, a compact, rugged and highly reliable display is created, the lateral size and uses of which are limited only by imagination and ingenuity of the user.
Obviously, many other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
Referenced by
Original Image


text:
Remove Ads x
Preview is not available;
andi liani _sanggupkah aku - download at 4shared. andi liani _sanggupkah aku is hosted at free file sharing service 4shared.
Share Add to my account
Is owner
View only
Upload & Edit
Members may only view items in this folder.
Members may view, add, edit and delete items in this folder.
Checked by McAfee. No virus detected.
0 comments Add new comment
Wrong code entered. Please, try again.
Enter the code above to post message:
Remove Ads x
andi liani _sanggupkah aku.mp3File QR Code


text:
Media Images of Hispanics
In 2010, Hispanics, also called Latinos, became the largest minority in the United States, with 15.8 percent of the population, or 47.4 million people. It is expected that that percentage will nearly double by the middle of the 21st century. The importance of how they will be portrayed by the media will grow as their population grows. Most of what the public learns or perceives about Hispanics comes from the news media. A recent study has found that these perceptions do not come from focused straight reporting and coverage about the life and time of the Hispanics, but rather from event-driven news items in which Hispanics are the focus of the story. Most reporting tells of crimes perpetrated by Hispanics and this leads to the stereotyping of Hispanics.
The media, especially television, do not represent Hispanics in a very positive light. Hispanics are often portrayed in scenarios that are connected to crime, or they are participating in conversations about the preparation for or participation in violence or crime. They are portrayed as people who are uneducated, unintelligent, strong-accented and inappropriately dressed. Various Hispanic characteristics are displayed along gender lines. Hispanic men are hot tempered with a short fuse and women are characterized as aggressive, lazy and having very bad work ethics.
In the fast-moving world of the 21st century, the news media play a pivotal role in helping to shape the opinions of the masses. Images that are constantly transmitted, and opinion polls that are broadcast, influence and shape public opinion and perceptions that guide the nation. Among the most influential media that help shape opinions is the entertainment media. It is quite difficult to get into that industry and networks are very secretive about how they choose those who can be admitted. Most of the time, it is a matter of having the right connections and knowing the right people. As there are very few Hispanics in the entertainment industry, the chances of a Hispanic getting a job in any capacity in the business are very slim. When writing for media programs, writers usually write about what they know and what they are exposed to. Since there are so few Latino writers, who would be able to portray a positive image, what is left is an image that comes from the writers who use stereotyped information.
In 2003 the National Association of Hispanic Journalists reported its findings. These include the following items:
66 percent of all network news stories reported about Latinos involved terrorism, poverty, rapes, crime, illegal immigration, welfare fraud, car thefts, etc. Though Latinos are a major percentage of the United States population, less than 1 percent of news stories or special programming involved Latinos.
When Jose Padilla was arrested for allegedly trying to detonate a dirty bomb, the networks carried the story a disproportionate number of times. It was reported in great length for a quite a long time.
A favorite topic among the networks is illegal immigration. The networks focus on that topic by reporting in great detail all that occurs on the U.S.-Mexican border.
What people hear on the radio, what they see on television and movies and what they read in the news media has a great influence on the attitudes that are shaped and molded. How Asian Americans, Hispanics and African Americans are portrayed can bolster any stereotypes or negative images one may have toward that ethnic group. With little or no diversity in the media those negative images are reinforced. There are very few members of ethnic minorities in the media profession to give a balance to the reporting.
A study conducted by Children Now showed that in particular the television viewing hour between 8 and 9 p.m., known as "family hour," contained almost no ethnic diversity. The portrayal of the Hispanic minority was very stereotypical and sent the wrong message to children. The Screen Actors Guild reported that the number of actors of Asian-American, African-American and Hispanic origin actually began to decline since 1998, even though their percentage of the population has increased.
Media Images of Hispanics: Selected full-text books and articles
Isabel Molina-Guzmán.
New York University Press, 2010
Steven W. Bender.
New York University Press, 2003
John W. Cones.
Algora, 2012
Myra Mendible.
University of Texas Press, 2007
Clara E. Rodríguez.
Westview Press, 1997
Etzioni, Amitai.
Nieman Reports, Vol. 60, No. 3, Fall 2006
Hoffman, Donald.
MELUS, Vol. 22, No. 2, Summer 1997
Markert, John.
Bilingual Review, Vol. 28, No. 2, May 2004
Daniel Bemardi.
University of Minnesota Press, 2001
Alfred Charles Richard Jr.
Greenwood Press, 1992
Szasz, Ferenc Morton.
Journal of the Southwest, Vol. 48, No. 3, Autumn 2006
Holling, Michelle A.
Western Journal of Communication, Vol. 70, No. 2, April 2006
Tsubata, Kate.
The World and I, Vol. 19, No. 01, January 2004
Ford, William J.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Vol. 26, No. 13, August 6, 2009


text:
Brent Suyama, Staff Writer
Ferre Dollar/CNN
NBA star Kevin Durant got paid big bucks for making 24 steals this season. But prosecutors have called a foul on two New York airport employees who allegedly swiped 24 not-yet released sneakers from his Nike collection.
A U.S. citizen held in Egypt for his role in demonstrations in support of ousted former president Mohammed Morsi has been freed and is on his way back to the United States, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo said Saturday.
A jury has found actor Dustin Diamond not guilty of one felony charge in a Christmas Day bar stabbing last year.
But it found him guilty of two misdemeanor charges, according to court documents released Friday.
The Wisconsin court determined that Diam...
No email address was supplied by
To complete your registration on this site, please supply an address.
Please confirm or modify the email address to which you will have subscription offers sent.
For a more personalized experience, please supply the following optional information.


text:
Rod Millen showdown with Monster Tajima in Electric division highlights the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Millen will enter the unlimited division in 2012 in a new rear-drive Hyundai. Six-time champion Paul Dallenbach will drive Millen's Genesis Coupe that set an all-time record last year.
The postponement was connected to Waldo Canyon fire. Barring any further threats to safety, the Race to the Clouds will run on August 12th.
Safety concerns and the fires near Colorado Springs has forced the postponement of the race to the clouds. A new date this summer will be sought
Romain Dumas Press


text:
The OPERS staff supports the vision and mission by exemplifying the following core values when they serve the membership and interact with co-workers.
The board schedule, agendas and summaries are right here.
A wealth of information about the state's largest pension system is at your finger tips -- from legal, government and corporate matters to vendor and employment opportunities. A snapshot of OPERS is provided at history & background.
To be your trusted retirement partner delivering responsive high-quality service every time, all the time.
To provide secure retirement benefits for our members.


text:
35 People Who Should Be Banned From Using The Internet Forever
Sometimes people and technology just don't mix.
1. The guy who's gawn.
2. All these geniuses.
3. This embarrassed American.
4. This disgusted Onion reader.
5. And this one…
6. This genius.
7. This Geography major.
8. This cold biologist.
9. This music student.
10. This Wikipedia enthusiast.
11. These gaming geniuses.
12. This day dreamer.
13. This knight in shining armor after his friend has her haircut.
14. This multilingual YouTuber.
15. This music fan who has spent too long in the space time continuum.
16. This victim of racial discrimination.
17. This angry, bitter person.
18. This confused Republican.
19. This very heavy sleeper.
20. This early adaptor.
21. This guy who accidentally shared his code.
22. This over-sharing physics teacher.
23. And this ultimate over-sharer.
24. This kid who got rumbled by his mom.
25. This driver taking on the law and winning.
26. This poignant memorial.
27. This misinformed tweeter.
28. This (slightly) secondhand goods saleswomen.
29. This adventurous eater.
30. These crazy young lovers.
31. This curly haired camper.
32. This boastful reader.
33. This hard-working student.
34. This proud Mommy moment.
35. And this, on so many levels.
Preview Your Response


text:
Love you too!
Added to Bag!
We'll let you know if it's back in stock!
Added to Wishlist!
Snooze Anchor Pillow Sham Set
$29.99 $8.9970% off!
Details & Measurements
Details & Measurements
Before you drift off to dreamland, slip this anchor-printed pillow sham set - a ModCloth exclusive - over your plush pillows. These pillow covers' soft cream-colored weave is adorned by a navy and red anchor print - darling details that will really float your boat. These shams will inspire a wave of delight each time you crash in bed!
Final Sale: This item cannot be returned or exchanged.
- 100% Cotton.
- Pillow shams measure 29 x 23 inches.
- Machine wash.
- Includes two shams.
- Imported
Need style advice? Make a date with a ModStylist »


text:
100% ALLEGED Showbiz, Blind Items and Gossip Thread (Part 4)
View Single Post
16-09-2013, 16:09
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,384
Originally Posted by
it was a mere suggestion, and maybe if you had taken the time to read my post and link you would have seen i acknowledged they werent well known over here, in a public forum its surely nicer to thank and be grateful for peoples contribution or say nothing at all rather than bitch about how stupid you think they are...if only you knew !!!
But whats the point of everyone just plucking guesses from the air ....the point of this forum is surely to make an informed guess using the clues from the Blind Item ? if you're going to wilfully ignore the clues then you will just sound silly.
"if only you knew " do you have an IQ above 200 or something ..care to elaborate ?
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by Blockz99


text:
During manufacturing of optical disks, mastering equipment inserts marks ("high frequency wobble marks" or "HFWMs") into the wobble of the groove on optical disks to store data. The presence of a HFWM at a zero crossing of the wobble indicates an active bit and the absence of the HFWM indicates an inactive bit. The zero crossing is, for example, a negative zero crossing. A matched filter is used to detect the shape of the HFWMs. If a HFWM is detected during a wobble cycle, an active bit is saved in a register or a memory. If a HFWM is not detected during a wobble cycle, an inactive bit is saved in a register or a memory. The active and inactive bits may be coded bits that must be decoded to data bits. The data bits include information such as a synchronization mark, a sector identification data, and an error detection code.
1. A spiral groove in an optical disk comprising:
a wobble, the wobble being a sinusoidal deviation from the centerline of the groove; and
a first plurality of sinusoidal marks located at zero crossings of the wobble, each sinusoidal mark being formed from a sinusoidal deviation of the groove;
wherein the presence of one of the first plurality of sinusoidal marks at one of the zero crossings represents an active bit and the absence of one of the first plurality of sinusoidal marks at one of the zero crossings represents an inactive bit, a plurality of the active bits and the inactive bits encoded to form an information field including at least address information.
2. The groove of
3. The groove of
4. The groove of
5. The groove of
6. The groove of
7. The groove of
8. The groove of
9. The groove of
10. The groove of
11. The groove of
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method to store data on writeable optical disks, and more particularly to the use of marks in the wobble of the groove to store data.
2. Description of Related Art
To determine the linear velocity of the tracks, the tracks in the writable area contain a deviation from the averaged centerline of the groove called "wobble."
Writable optical disks must have a reliable method for reading radial and rotational positions of the tracks so that optical drives can read from and write to the appropriate locations in the tracks. Radial and rotational information may be communicated through prewritten data in the tracks called pre-embossed headers. In this addressing scheme, the mastering equipment creates the optical disks with radial and rotational information written in the groove during the manufacturing of the optical disks. This addressing scheme displaces some storage area that can be otherwise used to store user data in order to store radial and rotational information. For further details, see for example Standard ECMA-272 from ECMA located at 114 Rue du Rh�ne —CH-1204 Geneva Switzerland ("ECMA"), which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Radial and rotational information may also be communicated by modulating the frequency of the wobble. The wobble frequency is modulated between a first frequency and a second frequency to communicate an active or inactive bit (e.g., a "1" or a "0" bit). This addressing scheme is inefficient because multiple wobble cycles are required to convey an active or inactive bit. As
Radial and rotational information may further be communicated through a series of pits ("land pre-pits") on the land areas between the tracks. Land pre-pits create cross talk into the data because optical drives detect the land pre-pits in the land areas between the tracks. Closely aligned land pre-pits in adjacent tracks also create cancellation problems as their presence cancels their detection by optical drives. Land pre-pits further require a 2-beam mastering system that can generate the groove and the land pre-pits simultaneously during the mastering of the optical disks. For further details, see for example Standard ECMA-279 from ECMA, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
A master optical disk is formed by coating a glass substrate with a photoresist, exposing the photoresist to a laser beam recorder, developing the photoresist, removing the photoresist, and coating the remaining material with a thin seed-layer of metal to form the master optical disk. These steps are known as "mastering". A stamper is made by electroplating nickel onto the master and removing the nickel from the master to form the stamper. These steps are known as "electroforming". Optical disks are produced from the stamper by placing the stamper in a mold cavity of an injection molding press and injecting molten plastic into the mold. The resulting molded disks have an imprint of the stamper. These steps are known as "molding". The molded disks are then coated with a variety of thin films (e.g., reflective layers, active layers, overcoats) depending on their type. The molded disks can be coated by a variety of methods, such as sputtering, spin coating, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Manufacturers of optical disks include Ritek of Taiwan, Sony of Japan, Matsushita of Japan, and Imation of Oakdale, Minn.
Marks ("high frequency wobble marks" or "HFWMs") in the wobble of the groove on an optical disk are used to store data. The presence of a HFWM at a negative zero crossing of the wobble indicates an active bit while the absence of a HFWM at a negative zero crossing of the wobble indicates an inactive bit. Alternatively, the presence of a HFWM at a positive zero crossing of the wobble indicates an active bit while the absence of a HFWM at a positive zero crossing of the wobble indicates an inactive bit. A matched filter outputs an active signal to a decoder logic when the matched filter detects the shape of a HFWM. The decoder logic records an active bit when it receives an active signal from the matched filter. If the logic device does not receive an active signal from the matched filter within a wobble cycle, the logic device records an inactive bit. The stored bits include information such as a synchronization mark used for timing, physical sector information including a physical sector address, and an error correction code for correcting misread of the physical sector information.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the presence of a mark in a wobble cycle ("high frequency wobble mark" or "HFWM") indicates an active bit (e.g., a "1" bit") and the absence of a HFWM indicates an inactive bit (e.g., a "0" bit). The active and inactive bits ("HFWM bits") are decoded to generate data bits. During the manufacturing of an optical disk, a conventional mastering equipment inserts the HFWMs in the wobble of the tracks to save data such a synchronization mark, physical sector information, and an error correction code. The conventional mastering equipment can make a conventional disk stamper from the above-described optical disk and use the conventional disk stamper to make optical disks in large quantity. The optical disk includes, for example, a small optical disk 32 mm in diameter. Optical drives read the synchronization mark and the physical sector information from optical disks to determine the appropriate sectors for read and write operations. Optical drives read the error correction code to detect and correct errors from the reading of the physical sector information.
In one embodiment illustrated in
In one implementation illustrated in
In another implementation, the mastering equipment inserts HFWMs at points on the optical disk where the wobble would cross the centerline of the tracks from a region closer to the outer diameter to a region closer to the inner diameter ("positive zero crossings"). In this implementation, the absence of HFWMs at positive zero crossings indicate inactive HFWM bits. In this implementation, optical drives detect the negative zero crossings of the wobble to determine the wobble cycles, wobble frequencies, and the linear velocities of the tracks.
The HFWMs may have a frequency, for example, three to five times the frequency of the wobble. It is preferred to choose a frequency that is far from the frequencies of the data so there is less cross talk between HFWM detection and data detection. The HFWMs cannot have the same frequency as the wobble because optical drives will not be able to detect the zero crossings of the wobble to determine the wobble cycles, the wobble frequencies, and the linear velocities of the tracks. The HFWMs cannot have a frequency that is too large because the mastering equipment may not have the precision to generate the shape of such HFWMs. The frequency limit of the mastering equipment is, for example, 106 Hz. Furthermore, optical drives may not have the precision to detect such HFWMs.
In one implementation, each HFWM is in phase with the HFWMs in adjacent tracks. Since the amplitude of the HFWMs is no greater than the amplitude of the wobble, the cross talk between HFWMs in adjacent tracks is no greater than the cross talk between the wobbles of the tracks. Using HFWMs that are in phase allows simpler manufacturing processes as compared to using marks that are not in phase with adjacent marks.
A direct current coupled amplifier 30 adds currents Ia and Ib and outputs current I1. A direct current coupled amplifier 31 adds the currents Ic and Id and outputs current I2. A direct current coupled amplifier 28 adds currents I1 and I2 and outputs a current I3, which represents the data that is stored on a track. A direct current coupled amplifier 29 subtracts current I2 from current I1 and outputs a current I4, which represents the wobble of the track. The output of direct current coupled amplifier 29 is coupled to an analog-to-digital converter 41. Analog-to-digital converter 41 converts the amplitude of current I4 to discrete values at a specified interval, thereby creating a stream of digital values. Analog-to-digital converter 41 passes these values to a matched filter 32, a wobble detector 34, and a synchronization detector 40.
Matched filter 32 processes the stream of digital values to look for a HFWM mark. When matched filter 32 finds a HFWM mark, matched filter 32 outputs an active signal (e.g., a pulse) to a logic 33 (described later) for conversion to a HFWM bit. Matched filter 32 is known to one skilled in the art and is for example described in "Digital and Analog Communication Systems" by Leon W. Couch II, 1990, p. 497 to 508.
Wobble detector 34 processes the stream of digital values to extract the wobble frequency. Wobble detector 34 phase locks to the wobble frequency and generates a square wave clock signal. Wobble detector 34 passes this clock signal to logic 33, which uses the clock signal and the signals from matched filter 32 to extract the HFWM bits (described later). A decoder 43 also uses this clock signal to divide the HFWM bits into frames of encoded bits that decoder 43 decodes to data bits according to the coding scheme described below in reference to Tables 1 and 2.
Synchronization detector 40 processes the input digital stream to look for the synchronization pattern that is encoded at the start of each information field (described later). When synchronization detector 40 finds the synchronization pattern, it outputs an active signal (e.g., a pulse) to decoder 43, indicating to decoder 43 to start decoding the HFWM bits to data bits, build the resulting data bits into data bytes 42, and store data bytes 42 in a memory 35 for later use by a system microprocessor.
D flip-flop 45 also has a reset input terminal 49 coupled to the wobble clock signal from wobble detector 34, which is delayed by a buffer 54. Thus, a delayed active wobble clock signal resets D flip-flop 45. Once reset, D flip-flop 45 outputs an inactive signal (e.g., a "0") until it receives another active signal at its clock input terminal 48 from matched filter 32.
Output line 47 of D flip-flop 45 is coupled to a data input terminal 51 of a D flip-flop 50. On receipt of an active wobble clock signal from wobble detector 34 on clock input terminal 53, D flip-flop 50 outputs the data it receives on terminal 51 from D flip-flop 45 to an output line 52 to decoder 43. Decoder 43 decodes the data it receives from D flip-flop 50 to data bits.
Each time matched filter 32 detects a HFWM mark in the wobble, matched filter 32 outputs an active signal. For example in cycle 2, matched filter 32 outputs an active signal 57 when it detects HFWM 56. Each time logic 33 receives an active wobble clock signal, logic 33 outputs an active signal if it has received an active signal from matched filter 32 in the last wobble cycle. For example in cycle 2, D flip-flop 45 of logic 33 (
The system microprocessor that controls optical drive 20 reads data bytes 42 in memory 35 to read physical sector information 37. The system microprocessor uses the detection of synchronization mark 36 and the read of physical sector information 37 to read from and write to the appropriate sectors on optical disk 26. The system microprocessor uses the error correction code to detect and correct errors from the read of the physical sector address. Alternatively, a hardware instead of the system microprocessor can be used to detect and correct errors in physical sector information 37.
In one implementation, a data bit is encoded in two consecutive HFWM bits (e.g., a 2-bit frame of HFWM bits) in accordance with Table 1.
In another implementation, mastering equipment uses an encoding scheme to change each 4 data bits to 15 code bits (e.g., a 15 bit frame of HFWM bits) where the 15 code bits are selected from a maximum length binary sequence (MLBS) generated from a four bit primary polynomial of "1001". MLBS is known to one skilled in the art and is for example described in "Error-Correcting Codes" by Peterson et al., 1991, p. 222 to 223. By using 15 code bits selected from a MLBS, the chances of reading error are reduced as the 15 code bits are distinctly different from one and another. Table 2 illustrates frames of code bits generated from the MLBS and the data bits they represent. A negative sign before the code name designates a frame of code bits generated by inverting the frame of code bits of a corresponding positive code name.
During manufacturing of optical disks, the mastering equipment uses code bits from Table 2 to encode HFWM bits for identification data 37 and error correction code 38 in the wobble. In one implementation, a 63 bit MLBS is generated from a six bit primary polynomial of "100001". This 63 bit MLBS is used as synchronization mark 36. The 63 bit MLBS is, for example, "010101100110111011010010011100010111100101000110000100000111111". By using a different MLBS for synchronization mark 36, the encoded identification data 37 and error correction code 38 are less likely to be read as synchronization mark 36. One skilled in the art will recognize that other MLBS may be used. Furthermore, other encoding schemes may be used to decrease the chances of reading error.
In one implementation illustrated in
Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, the description is only an example of the invention's application and should not be taken as a limitation. In particular, other waveforms of HFWMs can be used. In addition, other types of encoding schemes may be used to encode the data. Various other adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
Referenced by
Legal Events
Original Image


text:
May 28, 2015
FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2009, file photo Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Senate Majority Leader Reid said Tuesday, April 16, 2013, that letter with ricin or another poison was sent to Wicker. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -- A man in Mississippi has been arrested and accused of sending letters with suspected ricin poison to President Barack Obama and other leaders.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen said the man was arrested Wednesday. His name wasn't immediately released publicly.
Authorities still waited for definitive tests on the letters to Obama and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., which had raised concern Wednesday at a time when many people were jittery after the Boston bombings.
An FBI intelligence bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said those two letters were postmarked Memphis, Tenn.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


text:
Technology News Archive - January 07, 2010
DALLAS, DUBLIN and LONDON, Jan.
AMSTERDAM, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- FrieslandCampina, one of the world's leading dairy cooperatives, has chosen Verizon Business to provide an Internet-protocol-based wide area network enabling the organization to maximize the benefits of a secure, streamlined data communications platform.
SAN MATEO, Calif., Jan.
WESTLAKE, Ohio, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- AspDotNetStorefront, the leader in Microsoft ASP.NET eCommerce shopping cart software is proud to announce a partnership with eBridge Software, a world leading provider of accounting software integration solutions.
LAS VEGAS, Jan.
LONDON, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The new app from visual voicemail innovator HulloMail(TM) (www.hullomail.com) optimized for the iPhone makes it long-awaited debut for mobile consumers in the U.K. and U.S. markets - and the new technology, on all counts, was worth the wait.
TOKYO, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- NTT Communications (NTT Com) announced on January 7 plans to launch online educational services in Japan following its acquisition of a 29.7 percent stake in goFLUENT Group S.A. (goFLUENT), a provider of online English-language instruction.
ALTRINCHAM, England, January 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, specialist IT provider Maxatec announces that TouchStar technologies has selected its Advantage LX barcode printer ( http://www.maxatec-europe.com/content/pages/products/barcode/ ) product for its TouchPC range of mobile IT systems, provided to the fuel distribution, transport, retail and manufacturing industries.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Now more than ever, online tax filers want their refunds fast and easy.
LONDON, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Command and control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) equipment, the core requirements for first responders, help provide vital services during a crisis.
- The horn of a unicorn considered as a medical or pharmacological ingredient.
- A winged horse with a single horn on its head; a winged unicorn.