A data processing apparatus comprising a plurality of data processors, each data processor comprising: first logic operable in a first clock domain and further logic operable in a second clock domain, said first and second clock domains being asynchronous with each other; a synchronizer operable to synchronize a signal processed by said first logic to produce a signal synchronized to said second clock domain; a synchronized signal output operable to export from said data processor said synchronized signal output from said synchronizer; and a signal input operable to import a signal to said data processor, said data processor being operable to route said imported signal to said further logic; wherein said plurality of data processors are arranged to operate in parallel with each other and said data processing apparatus further comprises: combining logic arranged to receive said exported synchronized signals from each of said plurality of data processors and to combine said exported synchronized signals to produce a resultant signal, said resultant signal being routed to each of said signal inputs of said plurality of data processors.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of data processing systems. More particularly, this invention relates to the field of synchronising signals within processors having asynchronous logic.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In some circumstances it may be desirable to use more than one clock within a data processor. However, this can produce its own problems of synchronisation of signals passing between the different clock domains. One example of this is in a system which can respond to a WFI or wait for interrupt signal. Such a signal is used to power down at least a portion of a processor during an inactive period and thereby reduce power consumption, the processor being restarted in response to receipt of an interrupt signal.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a processor 10 of the prior art processing such a WFI signals. In such a system it is desirable for the clock (clkin) that clocks the pipeline to be turned off in response to the WFI. The processor 10 has a "standby" output 43 indicative of when the processor enters this low power mode. This clock clkin therefore needs to be separate from the clock (freeclk) that clocks logic 26. Logic 26 comprising a gate 25 that turns the clkin off and on, interrupt processing logic 20 which processes the WFI and receives the interrupt that will restart the processor and synchronisers 30. Clock clk, clocking the pipeline 15 has a clock tree 17 comprising buffers within its feed line operable to insert delays in the line in various places in order to synchronise the clock across the processor. As these buffers consume power it is desirable for the clock passing through them to be turned off in response to the WFI signal. Therefore in order to save power the freeclk does not have buffers and is not synchronised with the clkin. As the freeclk is not synchronised with the clkin synchronisers 30 are needed on the line transmitting the WFI signal to the interrupt processing logic 20 in order to synchronise this signal with respect to the freeclk.
In safety critical applications it may be desirable to run two (or more) processors in parallel, any difference in their outputs being indicative of an error. In such systems it is important that no false errors are generated. In systems using asynchronous logic such as the one described above, it is possible for a false error to be generated due to very slight timing differences in the clocks of the two processors. FIG. 2 shows two processors 40, 50 similar to those illustrated in FIG. 1 operating in parallel. Outputs 45, 55 from the two processors are compared by comparator 70 (which in this example is an exclusive OR gate) and any difference in the two signals generates an error signal.
In the case of a WFI instruction being used in processors 40 and 50 of FIG. 2, a problem can occur due to synchronisation and a false error may result.
FIG. 3 shows a timing diagram illustrating how a slight difference in clock signals clk2-1 and clk2-2 can result in a false error signal when the wait for interrupt signal is received at or near a clock edge. In this figure the clock signals for processor1 40 and for processor2 50 are shown as clk2-1 and clk2-2 respectively. As can be seen, clk2-2 has a slight delay over clk2-1. It should be noted that this is magnified in this figure and would in reality be much less.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the WFI-now signal is asserted just before the rising edge of clk2-2 but just after the rising edge of clk2-1. Thus, the first synchronisation register of synchroniser 30 does not transition to the new WFI value in clock cycle 2 for async1 but it does for async2. There is therefore a whole clock cycle difference between the two signals WFI-now-s output from the first register X of synchroniser 30 of FIG. 2.
Although the example given relates to WFI instructions, it should be noted that the problem of false errors being generated in processors operating in parallel is one that may arise for any such processors having asynchronous logic.

Synchronisation of signals between asynchronous logic


A touch panel and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device are provided. The touch panel includes a base substrate, the base substrate includes a touch area and a lead end area; the touch area is provided with a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, and the second electrodes are intersected with and insulated from the first electrodes; a plurality of leads, electrically connected with the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes respectively, and connected to the lead end area (120), and the plurality of leads include a transparent conductive layer lead.

Currently, touch panel technology generally has the following types: capacitive type, resistive type, optical type, electromagnetic type, ultrasonic type and so on. In general, a capacitive touch panel includes a self-capacitive touch panel and a mutual-capacitive touch panel. The self-capacitive touch panel includes a touch electrode array made of a transparent conductive material on a base substrate, these touch electrodes respectively form the capacitance with the ground. Upon a finger touching the self-capacitive touch panel, the capacitance of the finger will be superimposed on a corresponding touch electrode. A touch detection chip can determine a touch position by detecting the change of a capacitance value of each of the touch electrodes in a touch time period. The mutual-capacitive touch panel includes a horizontal electrode and a vertical electrode which are insulated from each other and made of a transparent conductive material on a base substrate, and a capacitance is formed on a position where the two electrodes intersect with each other. Upon a finger touching the touch panel, a coupling between the two electrodes near a touch point is affected, thereby changing a capacitance value between the two electrodes. A touch detection chip can determine the touch position by detecting the change of the capacitance value in a touch time period.
In general, the touch display device can be divided into two types, such as an on-cell type and an in-cell type, according to a relationship between the touch structure and a display panel. A typical one glass solution (OGS) touch panel belongs to an on-cell type touch panel, and is a technology that directly forming an indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive film and a sensor on a protective glass, wherein one glass simultaneously plays a dual role of protecting the glass and the sensor.

Touch panel and manufacturing method thereof, display device

Beijing BOE Technology Development Co., Ltd.

Hefei Xinsheng Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


The present invention concerns the preparation of substantially purified agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies or isolated monoclonal antibody fragments or antigen binding portions or fragments thereof. The invention further relates to isolated agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies or isolated monoclonal antibody fragments or antigen binding portions or fragments thereof as well as their use in the treatment of X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and tooth agenesis. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said isolated agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies or isolated monoclonal antibody fragments or antigen binding portions or fragments thereof and to a method of treating X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and tooth agenesis. Finally, the present invention concerns a pharmaceutical kit comprising said isolated agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies or isolated monoclonal antibody fragments or antigen binding portions or fragments thereof.

The ectodermal dysplasias (EDs) are congenital, diffuse, and nonprogressive. The EDs comprise a large, heterogeneous group of inherited disorders that share primary defects in the development of 2 or more tissues derived from embryonic ectoderm. To date, more than 192 distinct disorders have been described. The most common EDs are X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (Christ-Siemens-Touraine syndrome) and hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (Clouston syndrome). The X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is also known and hereinafter referred to as XLHED.
The tissues primarily involved are the skin, hair, nails, eccrine glands, and teeth. A reduction in the number of hair follicles in conjunction with structural hair shaft abnormalities may be seen.
Structural hair shaft abnormalities may result from aberrations in hair bulb formation and include longitudinal grooving, hair shaft torsion, and cuticle ruffling. Hair bulbs may be distorted, bifid, and small.
Eccrine sweat glands may be absent or sparse and rudimentary, particularly in patients with hypohidrotic ED.
Hypoplasia of the salivary and lacrimal glands may occur. In some patients, mucous glands may be absent in the upper respiratory tract and in the bronchi, esophagus, and duodenum.
Abnormal morphogenesis or absence of teeth may occur.
Abnormal nail plate formation may result in brittle, thin, ridged, or grossly deformed nails.
The mortality rate in early infancy (below 2 years old) approaches 30%. Morbidity and mortality is related to the absence or dysfunction of eccrine and mucous glands. Beyond early childhood, life expectancy ranges from normal to slightly reduced.
An activator protein, the ectodysplasin isoform A1 (Eda-A1, hereinafter referred to as EDA1) which is required for normal development of several ectodermally derived organs in humans and mice has been identified. This molecule is coded by the ectodysplasin gene (EDA) and belongs to the tumor necrosis factor family. The ectodysplasin gene codes for 2 proteins isoforms, EDA1 and EDA2, which bind to and activate two different receptors, EDA1 receptor (EDAR) and X-linked EDA1 receptor (XEDAR), respectively. The EDA1 receptor is hereinafter referred to as EDAR.
XLHED is characterized by the absence or the functional deficiency of EDA1, the ligand of EDAR.
Studies have been performed to characterize the origin of XLHED and to find appropriate treatments. Most of these studies have been done on Tabby mice which share many symptoms with human XLHED patients. The phenotype of Tabby mice, like in human XLHED patients, is caused by mutations in the EDA gene located on the X chromosome.
Different approaches have been studied to treat XLHED.
One of these approaches is the use of recombinant proteins containing the receptor-binding domain of Eda-A1 fused to the C-terminus of an IgG1 Fc domain. The publication "Permanent correction of an inherited ectodermal dysplasia with recombinant EDA", O. Gaide et al., Nature Medicine, vol. 9, number 5, pp 614-618, May 2003, describes the administration of recombinant EDA1 to developing embryos and newborn Tabby mice in order to correct the phenotype and provide a basis for a possible treatment of XLHED.
Such an approach is also described in US Patent 2005/152,872 (Gaide et al.). In particular this document discloses a recombinant fusion protein containing an amino-acid sequence which comprises: (a) the Fc section or part of an Fc section of an immunoglobulin as component (A) or a functional variant of component (A); (b) the extracellular part of a TNF ligand or a partial sequence of the extracellular part of a TNF ligand as component (B) or a functional variant of component (B); and optionally (c) a transition area between component (A) and component (B), containing a linker.
Another approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,782 (Zonana et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,555 (Zonana et al.). In these documents a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human EDA1, methods and compositions for increasing or decreasing the development of cells or tissues of ectodermal origin, such as hair, teeth, skin, and/or sweat glands, by altering EDA1activity in a cell or tissue are described. EDA1 activity can be increased or decreased using the EDA1, dl and DL gene, cDNA and protein sequences (and variants, polymorphisms and mutants thereof), as well as anti-sense molecules and specific binding agents disclosed herein alone or with a pharmaceutical carrier.
Considering that antibodies are the most widely used type of therapeutic proteins, that the safety, long half-life, good bio-availability, ease of production and controlled cost of manufacturing for the antibodies are apparently well established, such an approach was envisioned in US 2003/0023991 (Zonana et al.). In particular this document describes DNA and amino acid sequences for the protein ligand (EDA1-II) and receptors (dl and DL) involved in ectodermal dysplasia. Also disclosed are variant DNA and amino acid sequences, and therapeutic applications of the ligands and receptors. Also described are different potential applications in which administration of antibody against EDAR (dl/DL) may be used. This application in particular describes the use of antagonists against dl/DL (EDAR receptor). According to this application, these antagonists can be used to reduce hair growth, for example in the treatment of hirsutism, to inhibit tooth development, such as ectopic teeth, to selectively eliminate sweat glands, for example on the upper lip or under the arm, and to inhibit breast epithelial cell proliferation, for example in the treatment of breast cancer or other trauma of the skin. Finally, the production and use of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies are envisioned. However, no specific sequences of antibodies against EDAR either agonists or antagonists are described in this document. No working examples are provided in order to evidence that monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies are biologically active, effective and functional.
It might be stated that the selection of monoclonal antibodies is a routine work for a person skilled in the art. However, one cannot acknowledge that the preparation and obtainment of isolated agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies was routine and does not involve inventive step. For example, the CH11 monoclonal antibody directed against human Fas, another TNF receptor family member, was obtained by immunization of mice with membranes of FS-7 human fibroblasts (Yonehara et al, 1989, J. Exp. Med 169. 1747-1756). CH11 is an IgM. When an IgG1 recognizing the exact same epitope (mAb ZB4) or a divalent Fab′2 of CH11 was used, there was no agonist activity (Fadeel et al, 1997, Int Immunol 9, 201-209). A second example of an agonist monoclonal antibody against human Fas is APO-1. The APO-1 monoclonal antibody against human Fas was obtained by immunizing mice with plasma membrane of the human SKW 6.4 cell line (Trauth et al, 1989, Science 245, 301-305). This antibody is an IgG3. Upon isotype switch, this antibody looses its agonist activity (Dhein et al, 1992, J. Immunol 149, 3166-3173), although the Fas-binding portion of the antibody remains the same. This result was tentatively explained by the propensity of IgG3 to self-aggregate. These two examples indicate that the obtainment of agonist monoclonal antibodies against a TNF receptor family member is absolutely not trivial to a skilled in the art.
In the context of the present invention, Applicants had to face several problems as follows:                Commercial polyclonal anti-EDAR antibodies (raised in the goat, from R&D Systems) failed to induce death of EDAR:Fas-transduced Jurkat cells. One could believe that the polyclonal antibody preparations were made of a mixture of antibodies with various activities (agonist, antagonist, etc.). It was therefore Applicant's disappointment to observe that the cell-based assay did not reveal any agonist activity, even when using a large quantity of antibody. These results were not encouraging for the development of agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies.        The development of an EDA1-dependent biological assay was found difficult for several reasons. First, there are only few cell lines, which endogenously express EDAR (one example is the human keratinocyte cell line HaCat). Several human, mouse and rat keratinocyte cell lines were screened for EDAR expression. This was done by staining cells with Fc-EDA1 and the anti-EDAR mAb, as detected by flow cytometry. None of the cell lines was found to express detectable levels of EDAR. Second, an NF-κB-dependent read-out system was found not satisfying (phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα), because it was neither quantitative, nor fully reproducible. In order to overcome these limitations, it was finally attempted to introduce in EDAR-transfected fibroblasts a reporter gene (e.g. luciferase) under the control of the NF-κB promoter. However, this system was also found not to result in a biological activity assay working properly (low signal to noise ratio and low sensitivity). Therefore the use of the techniques known to the skilled in the art was not found satisfactory.        The naturally occurring soluble EDA1 protein is probably a multimer of trimers (Swee et al, J. Biol. Chem. 284:27267-76, 2009), and Fc-EDA1 is an hexameric ligand. As it has been extensively documented for Fas, the Applicants have obtained evidence that the simultaneous engagement and clustering of multiple EDAR receptors was necessary for biological activity (Swee et al, J. Biol. Chem. 284:27267-76, 2009). By contrast, anti-EDAR antibodies are only divalent. It was therefore not likely that this molecular format would be as biologically active as Fc-EDA1.        No convenient animal model was available. Without the identification of a convenient strain of mice (EDAR-deficient mice), the development of antibodies according to the invention would have been considerably hampered. It is assumed that in the absence of Applicant's proposed animal model and specific preparation process, anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies with agonist properties would have not been obtained (i.e. because they would have had distinct binding sites on EDAR).
However, there is a need for more effective treatment for XLHED and for increasing the quality of life of those suffering from this disease. In particular no curative treatment of children, young adults or adults suffering from ectodermal dysplasia such as XLHED or tooth agenesis is presently available.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a new process for the preparation of substantially purified and isolated agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies that are biologically active, effective and functional. The present invention also allows to rapidly discriminating the best agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies. The present invention also demonstrates that the use of agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies represent drug candidates for the treatment of the XLHED or related diseases.
These and other objects as will be apparent from the foregoing have been achieved by the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Preparation of isolated agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies


A large rolling tool chest includes a generally rectangular body with a hollow interior, a plurality of wheels, and an adjustable handle to facilitate organization, storage, and transportation of numerous tools of various sizes. The handle pivots to allow a user to keep it out of the way when not in use. The tool chest also includes a large pouch to hold items which are frequently used. The top of the tool chest includes two horizontally extendable drawer assemblies that fold outward and open in sections.

Rolling toolboxes do an ideal job of organizing large numbers of small tools. Their mobility allows the tools to be rolled directly to the worksite, where time can be saved by eliminating frequent trips back and forth. However, their design is optimized for use with hand tools that fit into drawers. This approach does not work well with large tools or power tools such as drills and circular saws. Likewise, small tools or supplies such as screws and nails tend to get lost and fall to the bottom. Thus, while hand tools can be taken right to the job site, tools that are very large, or items that are very small require frequent trips back and forth, wasting time and money.


Some embodiments comprise dietary supplements for treating or preventing traveler's diarrhea comprising: (a) about 1000 mg green tea extract comprising at least 90% (w/w) catechins; (b) about 4 g partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG); (c) about 100 mg L-theanine; and (d) about 5 g non-sugar sweetener, wherein the sweetener does not contain a polyol. Some embodiments comprise dietary supplement for treating or preventing traveler's diarrhea comprising: (a) from about 250 mg to about 1,500 mg green tea extract comprising at least 90% (w/w) catechins; (b) from about 1 g to about 8 g partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG); and (c) from about 15 mg to about 250 mg L-theanine. Some embodiments comprise methods for treating or preventing traveler's diarrhea, the method comprising: administering to a subject in need therefore a dietary supplement comprising (a) from about 250 mg to about 1,500 mg green tea extract comprising at least 90% (w/w) catechins; (b) from about 1 g to about 8 g partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG); and (c) from about 15 mg to about 250 mg L-theanine.

Traveler's Diarrhea (TD) is believed to be caused by microorganisms such as bacteria and/or virus. TD can be associated with dietary changes that occur during international travels, or associated with consuming fresh, raw, and/or undercooked foods. TD can occur in more than 50% of individuals traveling to "high risk" regions of the world (e.g., tropical or semitropical areas, Latin America, the Caribbean, Southern Asia, Africa), resulting in up to 40 million cases of TD per year.
TD is commonly treated with antibiotics, though antibiotics can be associated with adverse side effects and are not effective for treating TD in all subjects.
There remains a need for improved therapeutic and preventative compositions and methods for TD.

Compositions and methods for treating traveler's diarrhea


Disclosed is a personal care composition comprising: a) particle comprising chitosan salt at the outer surface of the particle; and b) silicone component selected from dimethicone, aminosilicone or a mixture thereof, wherein the silicone component has a viscosity of at least 5,000 cSt at 25° C.

Many personal care products seek to deliver benefit agents to substrates such as hair, and/or skin. To achieve a long-lasting benefit agent release performance, encapsulation of the benefit agent in particles has been proposed as a means, in particular for the perfume. When applied, the microcapsule may be deposited onto the substrates, for example onto hair, and broken by action of pressure and/or rubbing when consumers wash their hair. The perfume is then released and brings superior sensory to the consumers.
The delivery of the particles is very important for the delivery of the encapsulated benefit agents. However, when the particles are incorporated into a personal care composition, the performance of the composition per se may be compromised due to the existence of particles. For example, the silicone deposition efficiency may be affected in a hair care composition.
Thus, we have recognized a need to develop a personal care composition which the performance of the composition per se was not compromised. Therefore we developed a person care composition comprising particle comprising chitosan salt at the outer surface of the particle. It was found that when including the particles of the present invention and certain silicone of the present invention into the personal care composition, the deposition of silicone onto hair was unexpectedly enhanced.

Personal care composition comprising particles


A prosthetic mitral valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent extending from an inflow end to an outflow end. A collapsible and expandable valve assembly is disposed within the stent. The valve assembly includes a plurality of anterior leaflets and one posterior leaflet. The posterior leaflet has a larger surface area than any of the anterior leaflets. When implanted in the native mitral valve annulus, the smaller size of the anterior leaflets and the corresponding smaller size of an anterior portion of the stent reduce the likelihood of interference with blood flowing through the native aortic valve, while also reducing the likelihood of ventricular fibrillation.

The present disclosure relates to prosthetic heart valves and, in particular, collapsible prosthetic mitral valves.
Prosthetic heart valves that are collapsible to a relatively small circumferential size can be delivered into a patient less invasively than valves that are not collapsible. For example, a collapsible valve may be delivered into a patient via a tube-like delivery apparatus such as a catheter, a trocar, a laparoscopic instrument, or the like. This collapsibility can avoid the need for a more invasive procedure such as full open-chest, open-heart surgery.
Collapsible prosthetic heart valves typically take the form of a valve structure mounted on a stent. There are two types of stents on which the valve structures are ordinarily mounted: a self-expanding stent and a balloon-expandable stent. To place such valves into a delivery apparatus and ultimately into a patient, the valve must first be collapsed or crimped to reduce its circumferential size.
When a collapsed prosthetic valve has reached the desired implant site in the patient (e.g., at or near the annulus of the patient's heart valve that is to be replaced by the prosthetic valve), the prosthetic valve can be deployed or released from the delivery apparatus and re-expanded to full operating size. For balloon-expandable valves, this generally involves releasing the entire valve, assuring its proper location, and then expanding a balloon positioned within the valve stent. For self-expanding valves, on the other hand, the stent automatically expands as the sheath covering the valve is withdrawn.
Prosthetic valves, particularly those for replacement of a native aortic valve, often contain three coapting leaflets as part of a valve assembly having a substantially circular or cylindrical shape, the valve assembly being supported by a substantially cylindrical stent. Although this type of prosthetic valve can be used to replace a native mitral valve, problems may arise from such use. For example, upon implantation in the native mitral valve annulus, a prosthetic heart valve with a cylindrical stent and cylindrical valve assembly having three leaflets may deform substantially to fit the elliptical geometry of the native mitral valve annulus. This deformation may prevent the three leaflets from properly coapting with one another to form a seal, which in turn may result in a greater degree of regurgitation (i.e., retrograde blood flow through the prosthetic valve). For this and other reasons, it would be desirable to have a prosthetic mitral valve better suited to the geometry of the native mitral valve.

St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.


A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate, a diaphragm, an electromechanical transducer element, and a characteristic fluctuation suppressor. The nozzle plate has a nozzle orifice communicated with a chamber to discharge a discharge liquid stored in the chamber. The diaphragm divides a part of the chamber. The transducer element is disposed on the diaphragm and includes a lamination of a lower electrode, an electromechanical transducer film, and an upper electrode. The suppressor applies a characteristic fluctuation suppression voltage to suppress characteristic fluctuation of the transducer element in a section between a drive waveform applied to the transducer element and a subsequent drive waveform. The suppressor sets the suppression voltage to be larger than a negative coercive electric field of the transducer film and smaller than a positive coercive electric field of the transducer film and have a waveform that does not discharge the liquid in the chamber.

Technical Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge device, and a liquid discharge apparatus.
Related Art
An inkjet liquid discharge head (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "liquid discharge head") has been employed for an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a facsimile, or a copying apparatus. Such a liquid discharge head includes, for example, nozzles to discharge ink droplets, a pressurizing chamber to communicate with the nozzles, an electromechanical transducer element to pressurize ink in the pressurizing chamber, a diaphragm to form a wall surface of an ink channel, and an energy generator formed of an electrode facing the diaphragm. In the liquid discharge head, the electromechanical transducer element is driven by the energy generated with the energy generator to pressurize the pressurizing chamber, thus discharging ink droplets from the nozzles.
As the liquid discharge head, two types of heads are known that employ an electromechanical transducer actuator having a vertical vibration mode to extend or contract in an axial direction of the electromechanical transducer element and a head employing an electromechanical transducer actuator having a flexural vibration mode. Of the above-described two modes, formation of the head employing an electromechanical transducer actuator having a flexural vibration mode is as follows. That is, the head is formed by forming a uniform electromechanical transducer material layer on an entire surface of a diaphragm by a film formation technology, and dividing the electromechanical transducer material layer so as to be independent corresponding to each pressurizing chamber by a lithography method.
In the above-described electromechanical transducer film, extension or contraction occurs effectively in accordance with increase or decrease of an electric field application intensity when a vector component of a spontaneous polarization axis of the electromechanical transducer film is equal to an electric field application direction. Accordingly, a large electromechanical transducer constant is obtained, and the spontaneous polarization axis of the electromechanical transducer film is preferably completely equal to the electric field application direction.
In the above-described liquid discharge head, a displacement of the electromechanical transducer element fluctuates according to repeated drive of the electromechanical transducer element, and a liquid discharge characteristic, such as a liquid discharge amount or a liquid discharge-speed, may not be stable. In particular, in an initial stage just after a drive operation is started, the displacement of the electromechanical transducer element may fluctuate significantly.
Hence, in a technology, an aging step (also referred to as "polarization processing" by paying attention to a polarization state) to drive an electromechanical transducer element by applying a drive signal with a higher voltage and a higher frequency than a real drive voltage to the electromechanical transducer element with a predetermined pulse number is performed. In addition, a technology is known in which fluctuation is suppressed by introducing a voltage waveform different from a real drive voltage waveform.

Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus


A LCD is adapted to reduce the number of data lines and drive circuits. The LCD can be driven in a dot inversion manner, using a data driver employing column inversion. A gate driver sequentially supplies first and second gate signals to gate lines. First and second switching parts are located in an ith horizontal line and supply video signals from data lines to LC cells by the control of an ith gate line. Third switching parts supply video signals to the cells located in the horizontal line, and are connected to the same data line as the second switching part, and are controlled by the ith and an i−1th gate lines. Fourth switching parts supply video signals to the cells located in the horizontal line and are connected to the same data line as the first switching part, and are controlled by the ith and i−1th gate lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and more particularly to a liquid crystal display that is adapted to reduce the number of data lines and data drive integrated circuits corresponding to the data lines. The liquid crystal display of the present invention can be driven by a dot inversion system, using a data driver employing a column inversion method.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display controls the light transmittance of liquid crystal materials by using an electric field to display a picture. To this end, the liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel having a pixel matrix and a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel. The driving circuit drives the pixel matrix, so that picture information can be displayed on the display panel.
FIG. 1 illustrates a liquid crystal display, in accordance with the background art. In FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel 2. A data driver 4 drives data lines DL1 to DLm of the liquid crystal display panel 2. A gate driver 6 drives gate lines GL1 to GLn of the liquid crystal display panel.
The liquid crystal display panel 2 includes a thin film transistor (TFT) formed at each intersection of the gate lines GL1 to GLn and the data lines DL1 to DLm. The liquid crystal display panel 2 also includes liquid crystal cells connected to the thin film transistors and arranged in a matrix.
The gate driver 6 sequentially applies gate signals to the gate lines GL1 to GLn, in accordance with control signals from a timing controller (not shown). The data driver 4 converts data relating to the colors to be displayed, red (R), green (G) and blue (B), supplied from the timing controller, into video signals as analog signals. The data driver 4 applies the video signals for one horizontal line portion to the data lines DL1 to DLm, for every horizontal period as the gate signals are applied to the gate lines GL1 to GLn.
The thin film transistor (TFT) applies the data from the data lines DL1 to DLm to the liquid crystal cells in response to the gate signals from the gate lines GL1 to GLn. The liquid crystal cell is composed of a pixel electrode connected to the TFT and a common electrode, facing each other with liquid crystal therebetween. Thus, the arrangement is equivalent to a liquid crystal capacitor Clc. Such a liquid crystal cell includes a storage capacitor (not shown) connected to a previous gate line in order to sustain the data voltage charged in the liquid crystal capacitor Clc until the next data voltage is charged.
In this way, the liquid crystal cells of the liquid crystal display panel are located at intersections of the gate lines GL1 to GLn and the data lines DL1 to DLm, respectively. Thus, the number of vertical lines equals the number of data lines DL1 to DLm, i.e. there are m-number of vertical lines. In other words, the liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix to form m-number of vertical lines and n-number-of horizontal lines, corresponding to the number of the data lines DL1 to DLm and the gate lines GL1 to GLn, respectively.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, m-number of data lines DL1 to DLm are required to drive the liquid crystal cells formed into the m-number of horizontal lines. Accordingly, there is a disadvantage that a lot of processing time is spent because m-number of data lines (DL1 to DLm) are required to drive the liquid crystal display panel 2 of the background art. Moreover, there is a disadvantage that a lot of fabrication and design costs are required to manufacture the m-number of data lines (DL1 and Dlm) and the associated data driver integrated circuits (ICs) for driving the data lines DL1 to DLm.
In order to drive the liquid crystal cells on the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display device can employ an inversion driving method. Inversion driving methods include a frame inversion system, field inversion system, line (column) inversion system, and dot inversion system. In the frame inversion system, the polarity of the video signal applied to the liquid crystal cells on the liquid crystal display panel are inverted whenever the frame is changed.
In the line in-version system driving method of the liquid crystal display panel, the polarities of the video signals applied to the liquid crystal display panel are as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The horizontal lines are inverted for each gate line of the liquid crystal display panel and for each frame. Such a line inversion system has a disadvantage in that flickers, such as stripe patterns, are generated between horizontal lines. The flickers occur because crosstalk exists between pixels in a horizontal direction.
In the column inversion system driving method of the liquid crystal display panel, the polarities of the video signals applied to the liquid crystal display panel are as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The vertical or column lines are inverted for each data line of the liquid crystal display panel and for each frame. Such a column inversion system has a disadvantage in that flickers, such as stripe patterns, are again generated between vertical lines. Again, the flickers occur because crosstalk exists between pixels in a vertical direction.
In the dot inversion system driving method of the liquid crystal display panel, the polarities of the video signals applied to the liquid crystal display panel are as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. A video signal with its polarity contrary to those of the liquid crystal cells, which are adjacent thereto in a vertical and a horizontal direction, is applied to each liquid crystal cell. The polarities of the video signals are inverted for each frame.
In the dot inversion system, FIG. 4A illustrates when video signals of an odd-numbered frame are displayed. The video signals are supplied to the liquid crystal cells, respectively, for a positive (+) polarity and a negative (−) polarity to appear alternately as it progresses from top-left to right and down to the bottom in the liquid crystal cells. FIG. 4B illustrates when video signals of an even-numbered frame are displayed. The video signals are supplied to the liquid crystal cells, respectively, for the negative (−) polarity and the positive (+) polarity to appear alternately as it progresses from top-left to right and down to the bottom in the liquid crystal cells.
The dot inversion driving method causes the flickers, occurring among pixels adjacent in the vertical direction and adjacent in the horizontal direction, to offset each other. By this arrangement, pictures of better quality than the other inversion systems can be displayed.
However, in the dot inversion driving method, since the polarity of the video signal applied from the data driver to the data lines is inverted in a vertical and a horizontal direction, there is a disadvantage that the data driving method requires more power consumption than the other inversion systems. More power is required because of the amount of the change of a pixel voltage, that is, a high frequency of the video signal.


A data transfer system including a first memory and a processor includes a second memory and a DMA controller. The processor performs RMW on data which has a size less than a cache line size and in which a portion of a cache line (a unit area of the first memory) is a write destination. Output target data is transferred from an I/O device to the second memory. Thereafter, the DMA controller transfers the output target data from the second memory to the first memory in one or a plurality of transfer unit sizes by which the number of occurrences of RMW is minimized.

The present invention generally relates to a technique for transferring data output from an input/output (I/O) device.
In a case where the size of data output from an I/O device is different from the size of a unit area of a transfer destination memory of the data, read-modify-write (hereinafter, RMW) is performed. RMW includes: reading data from a unit area, which is a write destination; modifying a portion of the data to data to be written; and writing the modified data in the unit area, which is a write destination.
When RMW occurs frequently, data transfer performance deteriorates.
As a data transfer technique for reducing the frequent occurrence of RMW, for example, a technique disclosed in Reference 1 is known. According to Reference 1, in a case where the size of data to be transferred is different from an integer multiple of the width of data to be written into a memory, a DMA controller adds dummy data and transfers the data, so that the size of the entire data to be transferred is defined as a data width unit.
Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-182538


A graphical user interface allows a user with little or no knowledge of XML to compose and manage automated tests for a target testing platform and testing framework. An example system opens an XML file storing test parameters and converts the test parameters to fields in a graphical user interface for presentation to a user. The system receives, from the user, input via the graphical user interface to modify the test parameters to yield modified test parameters, and outputs the modified test parameters, in XML format, for use with a testing framework which is configured to perform automated tests on a target test platform based on the modified test parameters.

Automated testing tools often take eXtensible Markup Language (XML) files as input to guide the automated testing. XML is a commonly used markup language that encodes information in a single human-readable and machine-readable format. However, even though XML is generally designed to be human-readable, many users are not familiar with the specific details of writing XML code. Thus, users who are not familiar with or conversant in XML are unable to quickly or easily create XML files for automated testing, or are completely unable to create such XML files.
Even users who are familiar with XML and who can author such XML files for automated testing purposes are prone to manually introducing flaws which are not detected until the XML file is supplied to an automated testing tool and the automated testing tool fails or throws an error. Such flaws can include typographical errors or logic deficiencies. Manual editing of XML files is also time consuming, leading to increased costs in configuring and running automated tests, or leading to reduced automated test coverage.

User interface for composing test scenarios


Method and apparatus for remotely disabling a vehicle using modulated microwave energy. The modulation characteristics are preferably tailored for different types of vehicles. This approach enables the use of a low power radiation source, which minimizes injury to people and property and which enables the use of portable devices, such as for use on law enforcement or military vehicles.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for remotely stopping vehicle engines, preferably by using microwaves with frequency and modulation characteristics that are matched to susceptibilities of specific vehicle engine control systems (ECS).
2. Background Art
Note that the following discussion refers to a number of publications and references. Discussion of such publications herein is given for more complete background of the scientific principles and is not to be construed as an admission that such publications are prior art for patentability determination purposes.
Modern vehicle engines typically rely on computer control for such things as timing and air-fuel mixture. This control requires sensory input, and if interference can be added to the normal signals from these sensors, inaccurate feedback is provided to the ECS. If the difference between the actual signal and the "normal" signal is large enough, the ECS might simply ignore it, analogous to running in open loop mode. On the other hand, if the false signal is processed by the ECS and results in issuance of commands to change timing advance, air-fuel mixture, etc., the engine will potentially run poorly or stop.
Radiated microwave energy has been shown to stop modern internal combustion engines by disrupting the normal functions of the engine control unit (ECU) computer that controls the timing of the ignition and/or fuel delivery systems. Microwaves can couple into engine compartments via diffusion through the hood, slots, or from large gaps on the bottom. Of these coupling mechanisms, the first is insignificant because the attenuation of microwaves as they pass through the hood renders the signal on the other side extremely small. The other two mechanisms are rather frequency selective, depending heavily on the physical structure of the car. The distribution of microwave energy inside the engine compartment is likewise strongly dependent on frequency due to the physical layout of the various components. Because of this variance in the physical location, orientation, and interconnection of components within the ECS, in addition to the differing types of affected sensors, a particular narrow-band microwave signal which stops one vehicle is unlikely to stop another. Exceptions exist for obvious cases where the make and model of one vehicle bear much similarity to another due to manufacturer relationships (e.g. Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan).
One significant drawback of microwave-based engine-stopping devices is the large size required, typically compared to available storage in a typical car, particularly a police squad car. These devices utilize high power and/or high bandwidth, so the required microwave source is large. Furthermore, the requirement for some directivity and relatively low microwave frequencies necessitates the use of large antennas. Also, the high power can permanently damage an ECU, and may result in collateral damage to other vehicles and people, such as bystanders using personal pacemakers.

Method and apparatus for remotely disabling vehicles


A guidewire having a centrally located core wire about which is mounted a single outer helical coil spring. The core wire is typically longer than the outer helical coil spring, with the helical coil spring and core wire having common distal ends. The spring is brazed at both its distal and proximal end to the core wire. The distal brazing of the core wire and helical coil springs is rounded. A second small radiopaque helical coil spring is fitted in the distal end of the outer helical coil spring and may be brazed to the core wire and outer helical coil spring.

The present invention is directed at the field of guidewires. Specifically, the present invention concerns a guidewire having a radiopaque tip.
Generally, guidewires include one or more coil springs fixed about a solid or tubular central core wire. Usually, the distal end of the guidewire is shapeable. This shapeability allows the surgeon to bend the distal end before insertion in the vascular system in conformance with the tortuous pathway of the desired vascular system segment through which the guidewire is being manipulated.
Guidewires are principally used for manipulating catheters through a patient's vessels, i.e. blood vessels. One specific application is the proper placement of a catheter in a patient's vascular system for a procedure known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
A typical PTCA procedure involves percutaneously inserting a guiding catheter distal tip into the cardiovascular system of a patient and advanced therein until the distal tip thereof is in the coronary artery. A guidewire is introduced through the guiding catheter and advanced into the patient's coronary vasculature until the distal end of the guidewire crosses the lesion to be dilated. A dilatation catheter having an inflatable balloon on the distal portion thereof is advanced over the previously introduced guidewire, with the guidewire slidably disposed within an inner lumen of the dilatation catheter, until the dilatation balloon is properly positioned across the lesion. Once in position across the lesion, the balloon is inflated to a predetermined size with radiopaque liquid at a relatively high pressure to compress the atherosclerotic plaque of the lesion against the inside of the artery wall. The balloon is then deflated so that the dilatation catheter can be removed and blood flow resumed through the dilated artery.
Examples of guidewire designs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,545,390, issued to Leary on Oct. 8, 1985; 4,538,622, issued to Samson on Sep. 3, 1985; 3,789,841, issued to Antoshkiw on Feb. 5, 1974; 4,815,478, and 4,813,434, both of which issued to Buchbinder et al on Mar. 28, 1989 and Mar. 21, 1989, respectively; 4,922,924, issued to Gamble et al on May 8, 1990; 4,763,647, issued to Gambale on Aug. 16, 1988; 4,846,186, issued to Box on Jul. 11, 1989; and 4,886,067, issued to Palermo on Dec. 12, 1989, with the disclosures of such references concerning the description of the guidewire being incorporated herein by reference.
Numerous workers have devised guidewires to increase the steerability through the coronary system. For example, the tips are made more flexible by terminating the distal end of the core wire short of the distal end of the helical coil spring. A second inner helical coil spring is brazed at one end to the distal end of the core wire and at its opposite end to the distal end of the outer helical coil spring, see Gambale U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,647 and Palermo U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,067.
Steering of the guidewire through the patient's coronary system is usually accomplished by viewing the guidewire via X-Ray. Visibility of the guidewire is achieved by forming at least a portion of the guidewire from a radiopaque material. This may be accomplished by many different ways. For example, a radiopaque spring is mounted to the end of the guidewire as disclosed in U.S. Pat, No. 4,538,622. Other examples include forming the entire guidewire from a radiopaque spring.
While existing guidewires provide adequate steerability and radiopaqueness, further improvements are desirable.

Dual coil guidewire with radiopaque distal tip


Embodiments of the present invention may provide a system and method for business data provisioning for a pre-emptive security audit. In one aspect, a method embodiment may comprise the steps of identifying the business resources as expressed in business terms, ensuring that applications dealing with (parts of) the business resources are aware of the link to the resource, transmitting the information about the used business resources throughout the call stack up to the UI, making use of the highest access enforcement point possible where it can be ensured that access to the protected resource is only done through either authorized users or trusted code, and having this access enforcement point taken over by a framework to ensure adequate protection even in extensibility scenarios.

Computer security is imperative in this information age. Protecting sensitive computer data from unauthorized access is one of the most important and daunting tasks faced by computer experts, businesses and government agencies. One way of protection is checking access to a specific application area. For example, checking access to a table, a form, a web resource or a business transaction. Existing systems sometimes provide a framework to govern the access to the application while the frame has no knowledge about the protected application, its sensitivity or business relevance. Another way of protection is implementing security controls in applications to require a user to possess certain authorizations to access data (e.g., the user is required to be in a certain role or has a specific authorization object.
However, not all applications in a computer system are protected and the level of protection of different applications are different. In particular, custom built applications need to follow the same steps in order to ensure an adequate level of protection. But the development process is mostly tedious and not always documented. Further, there is a gap between the authorization enforcement point and the business resource to be protected. While this link is missing, there is also no way to link the enforced authorizations with the users' responsibilities. In essence, it is impossible to technically verify that the actions performed by a user are in correspondence to the user's business responsibilities. Another consequence is that it is not possible to reliably determine the minimal authorizations that are to be assigned to a user, in order for this user to perform a specific business function.
Moreover, nested applications (layers of applications) brings further complications. In one approach for the nested application, the authorizations are enforced only on the entry level of the application; the consequence is that the knowledge about the resources accessed in the deeper level of the nested applications is lost. In another approach, the authorizations are enforced in all levels of the nested application; in this case the user needs extensive authorizations, which both make administration tedious and endanger the system security, because the user might directly access resources that should only be modified as reaction to the change of another resource (e.g., the application log or change documents).
Traditional computer security audit does not help to link the authorization enforcement point and the business resource to be protected. A computer security audit has been the traditional way to assess adequacy of security protections of a system or application. The security audit can be manual or automated. The manual assessments often include interviewing staff, performing security vulnerability scans, reviewing application and operating system access controls, and analyzing physical access to the systems. The automated assessments, or Computer Assisted Auditing Techniques (CAAT), often include system generated audit reports or using software to monitor and report changes to files and settings on computer systems (e.g. personal computers, servers, mainframes, network routers, switches) or software applications (e.g., web services, database servers).
One way of a security audit is implemented by an extensive analysis of the various log files reflecting the access history to a system. In fact, provided there is any central authorization enforcement authority in the system, the easiest way to generate a security relevant trace is to record all authorization decisions undertaken by this central authority. But this approach is backward oriented, and can give only limited information about the potential risk state of the system. The fact that no business data misuse has taken place does not necessarily mean that this is not possible in a given system or application setup. This approach cannot mitigate the gap between the authorization enforcement point and the business resource to be protected.
Another approach of security audit is to systematically assess the organization's security policy and of the way it is applied at a specific site. However, using this approach, security auditors typically require full knowledge of the organizational structure, of the processes employed and of the resources to be protected. Often, considerable inside information is required in order to understand the processes involved in accessing the business data. Further, auditors and systems speak different languages. The auditors have a thorough understanding of the resources to be protected. This understanding is expressed in business terms, like general ledger, financial account, and customer data. The exigencies of efficient data storage and access lead to this data never being directly and entirely mapped to some dedicated identifiable database element. On the other side, identifying the access paths to this data is required in order to be able to judge its efficient protection during an audit. Given the dynamic nature of computer configurations and information storage, this means that the auditor must keep up with the internal makings of every audited application, just in order to identify the paths for accessing the resource. Although an audit can verify that each user is assigned to authorizations commensurate with their job responsibilities, it is difficult to decide which authorizations are required for performing a job. This approach cannot mitigate the gap between the authorization enforcement point and the business resource to be protected, either.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that provides a mechanism to translate the business data to assignable authorizations.

System and method for a business data provisioning for a pre-emptive security audit


A device includes structure that can support the device on a weapon. One version of the device includes a first sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition, and a second sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from the first munition. A different version includes first and second sights that each facilitate weapon orientation, and an electronic control portion that is operatively coupled to and simultaneously exerts control with respect to each of the first and second sights, the first and second sights each displaying targeting information generated electronically by the electronic control portion.

Over the years, various techniques and devices have been developed to help a person accurately aim a weapon such as a rifle. One common approach is to mount a sight or scope on the weapon. A person then uses the sight or scope to view an intended target in association with a reticle, often with a degree of magnification. Although existing weapon sights have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been satisfactory in all respects.
For example, it is very common for a solder to carry both a rifle and a grenade launcher. The grenade launcher is detachably coupled to the rifle, thereby effectively giving the soldier an integrated weapon that can selectively deliver either of two different types of munition. Typically, however, one sight is provided for the rifle, and a physically separate sight is provided for the grenade launcher. Further, these sights are configured so that, at any given point in time, each sight can be used with only a single type of munition. Moreover, the sight for the grenade launcher is often mounted near the outer end of the rifle barrel, thereby adding weight at a location spaced from the center-of-mass of the overall weapon, and thus necessitating greater effort by a soldier to swing the weapon to bear and then hold it on a target.
A further consideration is that, where a soldier has a grenade launcher mounted on a rifle, the soldier may be able to selectively use different bullets of the proper caliber in the rifle, or selectively use different types of grenades with the grenade launcher. Moreover, it may be a simple matter for the soldier to detach one type of grenade launcher from the rifle and quickly attach a different type of grenade launcher. Existing weapon sights provide little or no capability for quick and accurate adjustment in the field to accommodate changes in munition type and/or weapon type.
To the extent some existing weapon sights include electronic circuitry that can provide a user with electronically calculated information to assist in aiming the weapon, this information is often not visible within the same field of view in which the target is visible, and is often presented digitally in the form of alphanumeric characters that are sometimes difficult to understand and use. A further consideration relates to the extent to which calculations based on a particular target ranging event remains available for use by a user.
Still another consideration is that some weapon sights include a laser rangefinder. However, in order to achieve a high transmission efficiency for both the outgoing pulse and the reflected energy, these laser rangefinders typically have a first aperture for the outgoing pulse, and a separate second aperture for the reflected energy. Other existing laser rangefinders use a single aperture, but in association with a beam splitter having a transmissivity of approximately 50% for the laser wavelengths involved, resulting in approximately a 50% loss for the energy of the transmitted pulse, and another 50% loss for the reflected energy. This is undesirable, because it reduces the maximum range that can be measured by the rangefinder. Moreover, this is highly inefficient, which makes it undesirable for a battery-operated weapon sight, where any waste of energy reduces the amount of time that the weapon sight can operate before the battery becomes discharged.

Device with multiple sights for respective different munitions


A method and system for multi-level power management in an optical network is provided. They include three levels of power equalization. The first level of power management equalizes the powers of channels in a band of channels. The second level of power management equalizes the average powers of bands of channels on a fiber. The third level of control equalizes the powers of bands of channels on working and protection fibers for a path in the optical network. As a result, this multi-level power management in the network provides a dynamic, automatic method for the network to adjust to changing operating conditions and configurations and to maintain relatively stable network powers. Each level of power management may be implemented jointly or independently, and operates autonomously so that, for example, one modification comprises continuous first level control and only periodic second level control.

Optical telecommunications networks are growing increasingly complex, developing beyond simple passive transport of signals to dynamic routing of the signals. A main objective of power management in these dynamic networks, for example metropolitan area networks (MANs), is the management of network power levels during adding and dropping of channels, network upgrades and reconfigurations. Several methods of such power monitoring and management in optical networks are currently available.
The U.S. patent application No. 20030053163 to Li et al. dated Mar. 20, 2003 and entitled "Analogous Channel Method for Performance Monitoring and Equalization in Optical Networks", discloses a method of monitoring and equalizing dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical links by adjusting input power. In this method, the input power is adjusted to optimize optical network parameters such as optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) and bit error rate (BER). This requires the complex and costly monitoring of the optical network parameters.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,347 to Beine et al. issued Oct. 16, 2001 and entitled "Optical Power Management in an Optical Network", discloses a method of managing power levels in a network by providing the nodes of the network with parameters to configure the node. The input powers to each node are maintained at a constant level by adjustment of the node configuration parameters. Thus, this patent provides management of network power by strictly maintaining constant power levels at specific points in the network, requiring many monitored points and the exchange of information between network components.
The U.S. patent application No. 20030133713 to Ng et al. dated Jul. 17, 2003 and entitled "Method and System for Multi-Level Power Management in an Optical Network", discloses a method of managing power levels in a network through multi-level control of amplifier gain settings. This patent is concerned only with the effects of amplifiers on variation of signal power levels and does not correct for power variation due to any other effects.
Therefore, there is a need in industry for the development of an improved method for simple yet comprehensive power management in an optical network.

Method and system for multi-level power management in an optical network


A planting container is suitable for forming planting columns by using ones with the same structure three-dimensionally stacked. The planting columns are arranged around a center line parallel to the gravity direction to set up a planting tower. The planting container includes a bottom wall and a side wall. The side wall extends from the peripheral of the bottom wall and both walls define a containing space. The side wall has a planting opening communicating with the containing space. The side wall has a top end and a bottom end. When two containers with the same structure are three-dimensionally stacked by each other, the bottom end of the upper container engages with the top end of the lower container. The side wall laterally tilts towards the center line relatively to the bottom wall, so that the planting column tilts towards the adjacent column and tilts towards the center line.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to a planting container and a planting tower. applied in three-dimensional planting.
2. Related Art
Modern agricultural techniques steadily increase the level thereof to advance the quality and quantity of agricultural products. In order to improve the productivity of the agricultural products, in a limited planting area, in addition to improve the planting varieties, another way is to change the way of planting. In the planting regions with short sunshine and with smaller areas available for planting, a useful two-dimensional planting mode can be changed into a three-dimensional planting mode, which helps to improve the utilization of sunlight and increase the utilization of planting area. Therefore, for the planting regions with short sunshine and with smaller areas available for planting, there is a high demand for three-dimensional planting tools.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A system and method for determining the load in a material handling system is disclosed. The load weight detection system measures torque at four operating conditions both at constant speed and during acceleration. The level of torque generated by the motor under each of these operating conditions is stored in the motor drive. The motor drive also receives a signal corresponding to the speed of the hoist motor. Based on the measured torque, as well as the expected torque at no load and at rated load for the measured speed, the motor drive then determines the load present on the hoist. In some systems, two or more hoists are required to operate in tandem to lift a load. Each motor drive determines the weight of the load supported by its respective hoist motor and determines a total weight of the load based on the weights determined by each motor drive.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to measuring the load in a material handling system. More specifically, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the load in a material handling system using one or more motor drives to lift a load, where each motor drive controls operation of a hoist motor.
Material handling systems are widely used to lift heavy loads, weighing up to hundreds of tons. A typical material handling system includes at least one motor used to raise and lower the load and at least one additional motor to position the material handling system over the load to be moved. Common applications include manufacturing facilities, in which large components may be positioned for assembly and/or the final assembly may be moved for shipping. Further, material handling systems are often required to handle loads of varying sizes. It is known that electric motors are capable of producing rated torque up to rated speed. Therefore, it may be desirable to verify that the weight of the load the system is attempting to move is less than or equal to the rated capacity of the system, such that the operator may safely raise/lower and position the load.
It is known that this weight measurement may be performed by the addition of an external weighing device, such as a load cell. However, external weighing devices have not been realized without certain disadvantages. External weighing devices add expense in both material and commissioning costs. They load cell is typically mounted to a mechanical component of the material handling system that is subject to a degree of strain or deflection as a result of lifting the load. Consequently, the load cell may need to be mounted on the hook or another movable member of the material handling system. The feedback signal from the load cell must then be wired or wirelessly communicated to a controller. The feedback signal may also need calibration to the load.
As is understood in the art, weighing devices measure forces applied to the device. The force applied as a result of gravity acting on the load corresponds to the weight of the object; however, in a material handling system, other forces are similarly applied to the weighing device. For example, the torque required to accelerate a load when raising the load or to decelerate a load when lowering the load provides an additive force on the weighing device. Similarly, deceleration when raising or acceleration when lowering is assisted by gravity, resulting in a reduced weight being measured by the weighing device. In order to obtain an accurate measurement of the weight of the load, therefore, the motor either raises and suspends the load at zero speed or operates for a short period at a constant speed when measuring the load.
Other systems have been introduced to obtain a measurement of the load as a function of the current provided to the motor. However, these systems have similarly not been realized without certain disadvantages. Although the current provided to the motor is a function of the weight of the load, the current is also a function of the torque applied to the load. Therefore, the magnitude of the current also varies during acceleration or deceleration of the motor. Consequently, current measurement systems may also require the motor to either raise and suspend the load at zero speed or operate for a short period at a constant speed when measuring the load. As a result of the limitations on obtaining accurate measurements, systems that employ either a load cell or current measurement may perform an initial test of the weight of the load, but make no further checks as a load is raised or lowered.
However, in some applications, the weight of the load may vary as the load is raised or lowered. In some instances, the variation in weight may be unexpected. For example, in the shipping industry, containers are loaded and unloaded between storage facilities, trucks, trains, and ships. The containers are often stacked several layers high and in close proximity to each other or to walls, for example, within a hold of a ship. As the container is raised or lowered, it may sway, for example, due to the wind, or the other containers may move, for example, as the deck of a ship moves. In either instance, the container may contact or become snagged on an adjacent container, causing a change in the weight of the load. In other instances, the variation in weight is part of the application requirements. For example, bulk materials such as sand or salt may require a bucket, or clam shell, attachment. The clam-shell is lowered in an open position and closed to scoop up a load of the bulk material. As the operator begins to raise the clam-shell, there may be some initial slack in the cable. The weight of the load may be significantly lower or even near zero during the period at which the load is measured. The load may, therefore, be initially determined as safe but may subsequently exceed the rated capacity of the material handling system.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a system configured to periodically monitor the weight of the load throughout a run without requiring external load measurement devices.
In still other applications, a load may require multiple hoists for lifting due, for example, to the weight and/or size of the load. In one application, a single bridge may include two or more hoists mounted to a single bridge. In another application, multiple bridges may be included on a single set of rails and each bridge includes a single hoist. In either application, multiple hoists may be utilized to lift the single load.
When multiple hoists are used for lifting a load, the overall system load ratings must be considered. Although each hoist has a rated capacity, the bridge and rails also have load ratings which cannot be exceeded. When lifting a load with multiple hoists, each hoist may be operating within its rated capacity however the combined weight of the load on a single bridge or on a set of rails may exceed the load rating for the bridge or rails.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a system to determine a total weight of a load when multiple hoists are used to lift the load and to compare the total weight to the ratings of the bridge and/or rails on which the hoists are located.

System and method for determining a load in a material handling system


The present disclosure discloses an electric-machine housing structure, wherein the electric-machine housing structure includes an outer housing, an inner housing and a plurality of intermediate pieces provided between the outer housing and the inner housing; and the intermediate pieces are overall hollow arcuate structures or annular structures, upper surfaces and lower surfaces of the intermediate pieces are provided with a plurality of protrusions and/or grooves, the protrusions and/or grooves of the upper surfaces match with and are fixed to grooves and/or protrusions on an inner circumferential face of the outer housing, and the protrusions and/or grooves of the lower surfaces match with and are fixed to grooves and/or protrusions on an outer circumferential face of the inner housing.

Along with the development of the automobile industry, the NVH performance of vehicles has become a comprehensive technical index for quality evaluation of modern car manufacturing. NVH is the abbreviation of Noise, Vibration, Harshness. NVH influences the user experience of the vehicle users most directly and most surficially. The NVH problem of vehicles is one of the issues that gain the attention of large manufacturing enterprises of entire cars and component parts in the global car industry. Statistical data show that approximately ⅓ of the malfunctions of the entire car is related to the NVH problem of vehicles. The main energization sources that influence the magnitude of internal car noise include the components such as the engine, the electric motor, the reducer and the tyre. Regarding electric vehicles, the main energization source is from the electric motor. A vehicle uses many electric motors, so the study on the noise and vibration of electric motors has become increasingly more important. In conventional built-in damping-type electric machines, because the damping structure and the electric-machine housing are integral, such a type of electric-machine housings have the problems of a high difficulty in manufacturing, a long processing cycle, a high manufacturing cost and incapacity of mass production. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Jing-Jin Electric Technologies Co., Ltd.


A process for purifying and refining gold from wastes and ores is disclosed. The gold to be refined is made the anode in an electroytic cell against an inert cathode. The electrolyte, essentially consists of an impregnated ammonium chloride solution. The impregnant is a nascent-oxygen source for leveling the gold overvoltage at the anode. The cathode is isolated from the gold-containing liquidus by a semi-permeable membrane. The ammonium chloride electrolyte serves as a solvent for the dissolved gold and also complexes with any silver and/or copper commonly found in the impure anode gold. The precipitation of the pure gold at 99.5'% purity is described. The anode is enclosed in an ion permeable bag for collecting any impurities which are insoluble in the gold-containing electrolyte. The pregnant electrolyte, the method and an apparatus for practicing the invention are described.

In my U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,093, issued Sept. 16, 1986, I described my discovery of a gold recovery process based on a novel "pregnant" electrolyte, comprising a halide solution impregnated with a nascent oxygen source. This process is practiced in an electrolytic cell, wherein the gold to be recovered is the anode. The cell cathode is an inert electroconductive substance isolated from the major portion of the electrolyte by a semipermeable membrane. This membrane is permeable to Na ions but not to the electrolysis-dissolved gold contained in the electrolyte. Thus, the gold does not deposit on the cathode but remains in solution. Portions of the electrolyte with the gold solution are removed from the cell and the gold is selectively precipitated by chemical reduction.
Any silver present in the original anode is precipitated as silver chloride. This insoluble compound precipitates in the vicinity of the anode and may be recovered as AgCl.
Any of the platinum group metals commonly used as gold alloying atoms remain in solution after the gold is chemically precipitated from the electrolyte. They can be recovered from the residual solution.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,093 any silver present precipitates at the anode and may be filtered from the gold-containing pregnant electrolyte. In practice, the "pregnant" sodium chloride process is useful when handling small amounts of gold to be electrolyzed over short periods of time. I have found that when the concentration of gold in the electrolyte exceeds about 2-3 oz. per gallon of pregnant electrolyte, the rate of dissolution of the gold in the electrolyte decreases. In fact, even if the gold in the electrolyte is reduced by circulating the electrolyte from the cell and externally precipitating the gold, the rate of gold dissolution at the anode is markedly reduced. I have found that this reduction of gold solution is caused by an accumulation of a film of silver chloride at the surface of the anode. The formation of silver chloride at the surface of the anode physically separates the gold from the solution, slowing dissolution of the gold.
Also, during the use of alkali salts over extended periods, the alkali ions, together with the hydroxyl ions released at the cathode, form alkali hydroxides, such as NaOH in the case of the NaCl pregnant electrolyte, which slowly raise the pH of the electrolyte to such a degree that precipitation of hydroxides of the non-gold metals is encouraged. These extraneous hydroxides often contaminate the gold recovery from the electrolyte in the practice of the previous invention. Further, these precipitates foul the pores of the semi-permeable membrane and thus, over time, reduce the efficiency of the apparatus of that invention.


A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving, via a first node of a plurality of nodes, data for storage in a storage system. The data may be written, via the first node, to one or more data pages of a log buffer of the first node. One or more page descriptors associated with the one or more data pages may be generated via the first node. The one or more page descriptors may be sent to a second node concurrently with the writing of the data to the one or more data pages of the log buffer of the first node.

Storing and safeguarding electronic content may be beneficial in modern business and elsewhere. Accordingly, various methodologies may be employed to protect and distribute such electronic content.
Multiple storage nodes of a storage cluster may be configured in an active/active configuration where processing of data by one storage node may be synchronized to the other storage node(s). However, conventional approaches to journaling data in a storage cluster require serialized actions. IO latency of these approaches is sum of time intervals that each separate action takes. Moreover, each step of these conventional approaches may involve waiting for available CPU cores and/or rescheduling of these actions. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure may reduce IO latency with parallel journaling in the storage cluster.

System and method for parallel journaling in a storage cluster


A method of filling structures on a substrate uses a semi-dynamic reflow process. The method may include depositing a metallic material on the substrate at a first temperature, heating the substrate to a second temperature higher than the first temperature wherein heating of the substrate causes a static reflow of the deposited metallic material on the substrate, stopping heating of the substrate, and depositing additional metallic material on the substrate causing a dynamic reflow of the deposited additional metallic material on the substrate. RF bias power may be applied during the dynamic reflow to facilitate in maintaining the temperature of the substrate.

A semiconductor device such as an IC (integrated circuit) generally has electronic circuit elements such as transistors, diodes, and resistors fabricated integrally on a single body of semiconductor material such as a wafer or substrate. The various circuit elements are connected through conductive connectors to form a complete circuit which can contain millions of individual circuit elements. Interconnects provide the electrical connections between the various electronic elements of an integrated circuit and form the connections between the circuit elements and the device's external contact elements, such as pins, for connecting the integrated circuit to other circuits. The interconnects may be constructed throughout multiple layers and connected within/between layers by trenches/vias. As the push for smaller and smaller form factors continues, the interconnects must also be scaled down to enable the smaller form factors of semiconductor devices. Trenches/vias with 5 nm node structures and beyond pose challenges during formation due to the small sizes. Static reflow processes are often used as a method to fill in the trenches/vias. The inventors have found, however, that the static reflow processes require multiple cycles that dramatically decrease the throughput of the wafers.
Accordingly, the inventors have provided improved methods and apparatus for increasing the throughput of wafers that require gap filling processes.

Methods and apparatus for semi-dynamic bottom up reflow


An implantable microphone is disclosed having an external diaphragm and housing that forming chamber capable of being pressurized by deformational movement of the diaphragm induced by pressure waves (e.g., acoustic signals) propagating through overlying tissue. The chamber is shaped such that the volume of the chamber upon deflection of the diaphragm is reduced compared to a static volume of the chamber (i.e., volume of the chamber with no diaphragm deflection). As a result, the change in pressure within the chamber for a given diaphragm displacement is greater than it would be within a chamber having a cylindrical volume, leading to greater microphone sensitivity. In one arrangement, the chamber is shaped such that it is deeper at its center than at its edges, for example, to form a conical or paraboloidal volume.

In the class of hearing aids generally referred to as implantable hearing instruments, some or all of various hearing augmentation componentry is positioned subcutaneously on, within, or proximate to a patient's skull. Generally, implantable hearing instruments are divided into two sub-classes, namely, semi-implantable and fully implantable. In a semi-implantable hearing instrument, one or more components such as a microphone, signal processor, and transmitter may be externally located to receive, process, and inductively transmit an audio signal to implanted components such as a transducer. In a fully-implantable hearing instrument, typically all of the components, e.g., the microphone, signal processor, and transducer, are located subcutaneously. In either arrangement, an implantable transducer is utilized to stimulate a component of the patient's auditory system (e.g., tympanic membrane, ossicles and/or cochlea).
By way of example, one type of implantable transducer includes an electromechanical transducer having a magnetic coil that drives a vibratory actuator. The actuator is positioned to interface with and stimulate the ossicular chain of the patient via physical engagement. (See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,342). In this regard, one or more bones of the ossicular chain are made to mechanically vibrate causing stimulation of the cochlea through its natural input, the so-called oval window.
As may be appreciated, implantable hearing instruments that utilize an implanted microphone require that the microphone be positioned at a location that facilitates the receipt of acoustic signals. For such purposes, such implantable microphones are most typically positioned in a surgical procedure between a patient's skull and skin, often at a location rearward and upward of a patient's ear (e.g., in the mastoid region). Because the diaphragm of an implantable microphone is covered by tissue (e.g., skin), ambient acoustic signals are attenuated by this tissue. Accordingly, it is desirable that the acoustic sensitivity (e.g., pressure sensitivity) of an implanted microphone be enhanced to allow for detection of low amplitude/magnitude ambient acoustic signals.

Implantable microphone with shaped chamber


An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a head tank, a main tank, a liquid feed device, a measurement unit, and a supply controller. The head tank includes a liquid storage portion, a liquid level detection member, and an air release unit. When the feed device feeds liquid from the main tank to the head tank with an interior of the storage portion opened relative to an atmosphere and the detection member does not detect a liquid level of the liquid after a threshold time, the supply controller controls the air release unit to close the interior of the storage portion and determines whether a measurement value of a consumption amount of the liquid is a threshold value or lower. When the measurement value is the threshold value or lower, the supply controller performs a reverse feed control to drive the feed device to feed the liquid in reverse.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, and more specifically to an image forming apparatus including one or more recording heads for ejecting droplets.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses are used as printers, facsimile machines, copiers, plotters, or multi-functional devices having two or more of the foregoing capabilities. As one type of image forming apparatus employing a liquid-ejection recording method, inkjet recording apparatuses are known that use one or more recording heads (liquid ejection head or droplet ejection head) for ejecting droplets of ink or other liquid.
Such a liquid-ejection type image forming apparatus may have a head tank (also referred to as sub tank or buffer tank) to supply liquid to a recording head and a liquid supply system to supply liquid to the head tank via a supply tube (supply passage) from a main tank (ink cartridge) removably (replaceably) mounted on an apparatus body.
For such a liquid supply system, if the liquid feed pump continues to be driven to feed liquid with the ink cartridge empty, the internal pressure of the ink cartridge and the supply passage becomes a negative pressure. When the ink cartridge is removed from the apparatus body for replacement, air intrudes into the supply passage. Such air is delivered as bubbles from the head tank to the recording head, thus causing ejection failure.
Hence, for example, an inkjet recording apparatus may have a reversible pump as the liquid feed pump. If the liquid feed pump feeds ink from the main tank to the head tank with the main tank being short of ink, the liquid feed pump feeds ink in reverse from the head tank to the main tank to prevent air from intruding into the supply passage (see JP-2011-051294-A and JP-2010-155446-A).
However, if the liquid feed pump is driven for reverse rotation to feed ink in reverse with the remaining amount of ink in the head tank being small, air may be inhaled into the supply passage. Hence, JP-2011-051294-A proposes an inkjet recording apparatus having a liquid level detection member to detect the height of the liquid level of ink in the head tank. Even in a case in which the liquid feed pump feeds ink from the main tank to the head tank with the main tank being short of ink, when the height of the liquid level of ink in the head tank is a threshold height or lower, in other words, the liquid level detection member does not the liquid level, the liquid feed pump does not perform reverse rotation feeding to prevent air from being inhaled from the head tank into the supply passage connected to the main tank.
However, the inventor has recognized that, for a configuration in which a supply port member of the supply passage is located at a position lower than the liquid level detection member in the head tank, if the liquid feed pump is controlled so as not to feed ink in reverse when the liquid level detector does not detect the liquid level as described in JP-2011-051294-A, a situation occurs in which the liquid feed pump does not feed ink in reverse in spite of being able to feed ink in reverse, thus resulting in an increased risk of air bubble intrusion on replacement of the main tank.

Image forming apparatus including recording head for ejecting droplets


A system for maneuvering a plug in and out of a tubing hanger mounts to a subsea wellhead assembly. The system includes a tractor and an end effector that are sheltered in a housing. A control cable spools from a reel mounted on the housing and attaches to the tractor. The control cable provides communication from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to the tractor and end effector so that commands from the ROV via the control cable control the tractor and end effector. After the housing connects to the wellhead assembly, control signals from the ROV activate the tractor to drive the end effector into the wellhead assembly and command the end effector to set the plug in the tubing hanger, or to remove the plug from the tubing hanger.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to a system and method for handling a plug assembly. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for installing and/or removing a plug assembly from a tubing hanger subsea.
2. Description of Prior Art
Subsea wellhead assemblies typically have a high pressure wellhead housing supported in a lower pressure wellhead housing and secured to casing that extends into the well. Usually one or more casing hangers land in the wellhead housing, where the casing hanger being located at the upper end of a string of casing that extends into the well to a deeper depth. A string of tubing generally extends through the casing for producing fluids from the well. Most assemblies include a production tree mounted to the upper end of the wellhead housing for controlling the well fluid. Production trees are typically large and heavy, having a number of valves and controls mounted thereon.
One type of tree, which is sometimes referred to as a "conventional" tree, includes a bore for production fluids and a tubing annulus access bore. Wellhead assemblies having conventional trees are formed by landing the tubing hanger in the wellhead housing. Tubing hangers in convention trees generally have a production passage, and an annulus passage that communicates with the tubing annulus surrounding the tubing. A flow circuit is defined through the tubing annulus and production tubing, circulating fluid through the circuit can be used to kill the well or to circulate out heavy fluid during completion.
Trees that are sometimes referred to as "horizontal" trees have a single bore in the tree, which is typically the production passage. A horizontal tree is landed before its corresponding tubing hanger is installed, then the tubing hanger is lowered and landed in the tree. The tubing hanger is lowered through the riser, which is typically a drilling riser. In another common type of wellhead system, a concentric tubing hanger lands in the wellhead housing in the same manner as a conventional wellhead assembly. The tubing hanger has a production passage and an annulus passage. However, the production passage is concentric with the axis of the tubing hanger, rather than slightly offset as in conventional tubing hangers and the tree does not have vertical tubing annulus passage. Tubing hangers in vertical trees are usually installed before the tree is landed on the wellhead housing. The tubing is typically run on a landing string through the drilling riser and BOP. Before the drilling riser is disconnected from the wellhead housing, a plug is installed in the tubing hanger as a safety barrier. The plug is normally lowered on a wireline through the landing string. Subsequently, after the tree is installed, the plug is removed through an open water riser that may be used to install the tree.