The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for an automatic synthesis of distributed embedded systems, wherein the tasks to be processed by the system are mapped to a hardware structure having a plurality of processing units such that predefined time limits of the tasks are met, comprising the steps of (a) assigning the tasks to the plurality of processing steps, with the following substeps: (aa) assigning a task to a processing unit; (bb) determining the outgoing event densities; (cc) comparing the output density towards the next task with a predefined threshold and assigning the next task to the same processing unit if the event density is below the threshold or assigning the next task to any other processing unit if the event density is smaller than the threshold; (dd) repeating steps (aa) to (cc) until all tasks are assigned to the processing units; (b) checking whether the costs of the given task assignment to the processing units satisfy a predefined solution criterion; (c) repeating steps (a) to (b) with a new task assignment to the processing units until the task assignment fulfills the predefined solution criteria; (d) assigning the tasks to the processes of the operational systems of the processing units assigned to the tasks; (e) checking whether the given task assignment to the processes of the operational systems of the processing units satisfies the predefined time criteria of the tasks; (f) calculating the costs associated with the given task assignment to the processes of the operational systems of the processing units if the predefined time criteria of the tasks are satisfied; (g) repeating steps (a) to (c) with a new task assignment to the processing units or repeating steps (d) to (f) with a new task assignment to the processes of the operational systems of the assigned processing units until the costs of the current solution satisfy a predefined solution criterion.

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for an automatic synthesis of distributed embedded systems, wherein the tasks to be processed by the system are mapped to a hardware structure having a plurality of processing units such that predefined time limits of the tasks are met.
Methods for an automatic synthesis of distributed embedded systems have long been researched. F. Slomka: Mehrkriterienoptimierung verteilter Echtzeitsysteme mit Tabu-Search, doctoral thesis, engineering department of the university of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Fortschritt-Bericht VDI, series 20, no. 353, VDI-Verlag, Dusseldorf, 2002, gives an overview over this research. It is the object of such a system synthesis to map individual tasks to be processed by the system to a hardware architecture. Thus, it has to be decided which tasks have to be implemented by which processor. It is the object of the synthesis to have the given amount of tasks processed by a minimal hardware structure. Most of the time, the tasks have to meet predetermined time limits, which may also be specified by a series of tasks. It must be possible to implement the hardware architecture, including the infrastructure for the software tasks, the operating system, in view of this boundary condition and any further boundary conditions to be specified, such as energy consumption, electrical power consumption and operating temperature at minimal costs, which is mostly expressed by the chip area. For most jobs, the tasks are assigned to the processors by exact or heuristic optimisation methods, whereupon it is checked whether the specified boundary conditions are met. The assignment of the tasks to the processors is systematically changed by the optimisation method until a sufficiently minimal hardware architecture is found or the search may be terminated.
Car manufacturers (OEM) model the different tasks in the field of electricity and electronics as functional diagrams. A functional diagram consists of blocks, wherein each block determines a specific function. Each block may realise a task. The data inputs and outputs of the blocks are interconnected, which shows the data flow between the blocks. For functional correctness, it is important that the blocks are chronologically processed and the stipulated time limits are met. In a first step, the car manufacturer distributes the blocks to control devices without having detailed knowledge of the system architecture (such as number and type of CPUs and peripheral devices, memory size) of the control device, in particular the software architecture (such as scheduling methods, process number, interrupt service routines (ISR), ISR/process priorities). On account of the complexity and the historical restrictions to the block distribution to control devices, this optimisation often yields suboptimal solutions. The time limits are not sufficiently taken into account. In a second step, it is the object of the supplier of a control device to devise a system architecture of the control device which particularly meets the stipulated time limits. If the distribution in the first step is incorrectly selected: first, the real-time criteria of a control device cannot be satisfied. Second, the development of the necessary optimisation measures for achieving real-time capability is quite complex. Third, a hardware oversizing is necessary in view of an optimal solution in the first step. The first item might lead to product recalls and thus to a loss of prestige, whereas the second and third items increase the costs.

Method for generating an optimised hardware/software partitioning of embedded systems using a plurality of control appliances


A system and method are used to feed a flexible substrate through a patterned beam to be exposed at target portions by the pattered beam. In one example, the flexible substrate is passed over a chuck (e.g., a vacuum chuck). In one example, the chuck can bias the flexible substrate against a chuck surface during alignment, focus, and exposure operations. By biasing the flexible substrate, the flexible substrate can continuously move while being held against the chuck. In one example, the flexible substrate is fed onto the vacuum chuck from a supply roller and fed off the chuck and wrapped on to a take-up roller. The supply and take-up rollers are rotated to follow the scanning motion, which minimizes or substantially eliminates tension on the flexible substrate during the exposure period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a lithography system.
2. Background Art
Recently, the electronics industry has developed method of creating integrated electronic devices that can be manufactured on a continuous strip, web, film, etc. of flexible material, such as polyester or MYLAR® (e.g., a flexible substrate). The flexible material typically has a thickness of only about 25 microns to about 150 microns, which can lead to stretching of the material. Stretching can cause distortion problems. Also, the flexible substrate is typically stored by rolling the flexible substrate up on spools. This type of operation is not compatible with existing lithography tool designs because feeding a continuous strip of material onto a precision substrate stage can interfere with the accuracy of the substrate stage's motion, inhibiting the achievement of overlay and imaging tolerances. Further, the flexibility of the flexible substrate and its dimensional stability can become more of a problem when micron size features are being patterned with quarter micron overlay.
Finally, the flexible substrate thickness also lends itself to variation with temperature variations.
Therefore, what is needed is a lithography system and method that allow for better control during lithographic processing of a flexible substrate, e.g., to unroll and roll the flexible substrate onto the machine so as not to interfere with precision scanning motions of a carriage holding a pattern generator when the flexible substrate is proximate an exposure area of the carriage.

System and method for patterning a flexible substrate in a lithography tool


One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for testing a client for audio/video/subtitle playback capabilities. A computing device is configured to receive a virtual machine data file that includes an operating system, a web server, a content playback application, and a test program. The virtual machine data file is executed to cause the operating system and web server to initialize. The web server detects a communications connection to the client, transmits the content playback application to the client for execution, and transmits one or more tests included in the test program to test the audio/video playback capabilities of the client. The computing device is further configured to receive, from the client via the web server, test results associated with the one or more tests, and to store the test results in a memory.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to digital media and, more specifically, to testing digital content players for compatibility with a set of standards.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital content distribution systems conventionally include a content server, a content player (also referred to herein as a "client"), and a communications network connecting the content server to the content player. The content server is configured to store digital content files, which can be downloaded from the content server to the content player. Each digital content file corresponds to a specific identifying title, such as "Gone with the Wind," which is familiar to a user. The digital content file typically includes sequential content data, organized according to playback chronology, and may comprise audio data, video data, or a combination thereof. The content player is configured to download and play a digital content file, in response to a user request selecting the title for playback. Playback typically involves a technique known in the art as "streaming," whereby the content server sequentially transmits the digital content file to the content player, and the content player plays the digital content file while content data is received that comprises the digital content file. Importantly, proper playback of digital content files requires that both the content server and the content player operate according to a set of standards.
Typically, a small number of content servers provide the digital content files to a large number of content players that are manufactured using various hardware and software platforms, e.g., television systems, cable box systems, and video game systems. To maintain uniform functionality across these various content players, manufacturers are often required to certify that their device is compatible with the set of standards before being sold to consumers. However, proving compatibility requires rigorous testing of the content player and, further, requires high-bandwidth internet access that is often expensive, e.g., in areas where internet availability is scarce. For example, if one standard requires that the content player avoids memory overflows, an effective test is to stream large amounts of content, e.g., hundreds of full-length movies, to the content player.
As the foregoing illustrates, what is needed in the art is an efficient approach for testing compatibility of a content player with one or more standards.

Test environment for audio/video playback


A display system includes a substrate guided relay and a scanning projector. The scanning projector exhibits a brightness variation on a resonant scanning axis, and the substrate guided relay exhibits a brightness variation along a length of an output coupler. The scanning projector includes a brightness compensation circuit to compensate for both the brightness variation caused by the resonant scanning and the brightness variation along the length of the output coupler.

In the field of substrate-guided optical image relays, reflective or diffractive elements may cooperate with the surfaces of a relatively thin substrate to guide image rays along the substrate to produce a viewing region. This may be used for example to couple an image produced by a scanning projector to the eye of a viewer in a near-to-eye display and/or to provide a thin form-factor such as a flat panel display.

Substrate guided relay with image compensation


A computer system comprising a graphics processor, a frame buffer, a display device, a system agent operable to detect an absence of active software applications and system configurations capable of rendering a disruptive user experience during system suspend, and a memory for storing instructions, that when executed perform a method of entering a power conservation state. The method comprises detecting a system idle event, activating the frame buffer, and storing display information in the frame buffer from the graphics processor. The method further comprises initiating a power reduction state for the graphics processor, self-refreshing the display device during the power reduction state with the display information stored in the frame buffer, and initiating a system suspend comprising a power reduction state for the computer system provided the system agent detects the absence of disruptive software and system configurations.

Computer systems continue to evolve, with ever faster processing speeds, greater data handling capabilities, and increasing storage capacity. Computers have also been steadily reduced in size. This size reduction is most apparent in the laptop, notebook, tablet and hand-held computer markets. While desiring to continuously decrease the size and weight of laptops, notebooks, and hand-held computers, manufacturers have also steadily reduced the size and weight of on-board batteries. Because battery-life in laptops, notebooks, and hand-held computers is such a strong consideration, power management methods are utilized to increase battery-life.
Conventional computer systems can provide the user with a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the user to define characteristics of system power management. In one exemplary embodiment, to save power in an idle mobile or notebook computer, a phased sleep process is provided after a detected period of inactivity. For example, the phased sleep process can begin by dimming a display device, such as a display panel, which reduces power consumption by turning down the backlight after the computer system has been idle for a prescribed length of time. A next phase can include turning the display panel off after a second prescribed length of time (e.g., display device in D3). A further phase can put the computer system into a sleep state after a third prescribed length of time (e.g., suspend in S3). Lastly, the computer system can be shut down in a hibernation step after a fourth prescribed length of time (e.g., hibernate in S4). Each of these steps in a phased sleep process can save progressively more power with a primary difference between the steps being the amount of power and the latency to enter or exit the state. To undim or wake-up the display or turn the display back on, a user needs to interact with the computer system (e.g. move the mouse or make contact with a touch pad or keyboard). Such interaction with the computer system will result in the display panel exiting the current phase of the phased sleep process, from as simple a step as undimming the display panel to resuming from a sleep state.
While many activities carried out on a computer system can be performed without interference or disruption from such power conservation states, passive or semi-passive activities will often be interpreted as computer system inactivity, resulting in the undesirable steps such as dimming the backlight or disabling the display entirely. Such passive or semi-passive activities include for example, the reading of text found in eBook reader programs, word processing programs, reading web pages, and other modes of use wherein the computer user spends the majority of the time viewing the computer screen with minimal mouse, keyboard or other system interaction. Other user activities can also potentially result in the display device undesirably dimming or powering down while it was being used. While the display can be re-enabled, and backlight can be easily restored to the desired level, by the user merely moving the mouse, touching the keyboard, or interacting with another input device, it requires a continuing pattern of user interactions with the computer system. Requiring such distracting, repeated and annoying interactions can often result in user frustration, and the user selecting power management timer settings that are so long (before dimming or powering down the display panel) that they defeat the purpose of power management. For example, to prevent the annoyance of the display device from undesirable disabling while the user is verbally presenting content on the screen or occasionally reading email while in a meeting, the user may select a maximum length of time before display disabling takes place, or even worse, turn off power conservation entirely. This dramatically shortens the battery-life and results in user complaints on the inability to achieve the product's original stated battery-life.

Method and apparatus to optimize system battery-life while preventing disruptive user experience during system suspend


The present invention provides a locked loop circuit in which the input clock signal is delayed according to a saw-tooth signal in order to output a range of frequencies not necessarily equal to an integer multiple of the input clock signal. The absolute value of the delay (i.e. the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the saw-tooth delay) can be calibrated by detecting the value of the circuit phase detector at the wrap point of the saw-tooth.

A phase locked loop (PLL) is a well known circuit for generating signals having a predetermined frequency relationship with a reference signal. In its most basic form, a PLL comprises an oscillator that is controlled by means of a feedback loop. The feedback loop takes the output of the oscillator, compares it to the reference signal and adjusts the oscillator accordingly. The PLL may comprise a phase comparator for comparing the phase of the output signal with that of the reference signal, and a control means, such as a charge pump, for outputting a signal which either increases or decreases the frequency of the oscillator in dependence on the comparison. A low-pass filter can be used to suppress spurious noise created by the control means before it reaches the oscillator.
The feedback loop may also comprise a divider for dividing the output signal before it reaches the phase comparator, and in this way the PLL can be controlled to generate signals having frequencies which are integer multiples of the reference signal frequency. Some PLLs are able to generate output signals which are non-integer multiples of the reference signal frequency by applying a non-integer divider in the feedback loop. For example, a sigma-delta circuit can be used in the feedback loop to apply varying integers which nonetheless average to the required fraction. One example of a frequency locked loop (FLL) according to this type is shown in US patent publication no 2009/0033376.
However, the divider in such PLLs (whether integer or fractional) tends to be power hungry, and therefore they are not suitable for all applications. An alternative method of generating signals is required.


A disk drive system includes a servo system for driving mechanical parts, including a read/write head, to a desired track on a disk. The mechanical parts undesirably resonate at a frequency f, where f is a function of a temperature t of those mechanical parts. The servo system includes a notch filter responsive to an indication of temperature t, to attenuate the amplitude of frequency f in a broadband control signal that is applied to move the mechanical parts.

A computer disk drive typically employs a servo system containing means to position a read/write head relative to a data-containing disk. The disk has data arranged in tracks which also contain a track following signal. When it is desired to move the read/write head to a new track, a broadband signal is applied to the positioning means to drive the read/write head to the desired track.
As the read/write head nears the desired track, a reverse polarity signal is applied to the positioning means, causing it to act like a brake and ideally stopping the read/write head over the desired track, centered over the track following signal. During this process, considerable but variable heat is generated. Furthermore the mechanical structure of the positioning means has a natural resonance at a frequency f, the value of which is a function of temperature. Thus frequency f may range from a low of f1 to a high of f2.
The prior art solution to the problem involved attenuating the broadband signal over the entire range of possible resonant frequencies, i.e., the creation of a notch in the frequency spectrum of the broadband signal. Any such attenuation also affects the broadband signal at frequencies away from the notch, and results in a less than ideal behavior. By widening the notch to account for the changes in frequency of the resonant mode due to temperature, this effect is increased. Further, as the depth of the notch is not constant with frequency (that is, every notch is more effective at some frequencies than others), the behavior of the system can change as temperature changes move the frequency of the resonant mode.
In summary, the problems with the prior art solution are (1) the notch needs to be wide to account for the change in frequency of the resonant mode with temperature, and (2) the behavior of the system can change as temperature changes move the frequency of the resonant mode.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for control of a read/write head positioning means under conditions of varying temperature.

Servo system responsive to temperature changes

International Business Machines Corporation


Embodiments of hair care apparatus and methods are provided generally comprising a location to provision hair care product, an applicator and a manipulator configured to enable concurrent product application and hair manipulation, and may comprise a product heater, configured to heat product provisioned therein, or be configured for use with an external heating source such as a microwave oven, and provide application of heated product at temperatures both safe for hair health and enhanced absorption. Apparatus may comprise a source of pressure, such as a pump or piston, to generate hair product flow through an applicator, and may be configured to receive product in user fillable or prepackaged product cartridges usable in the apparatus, a product chamber within the apparatus or a removable product reservoir useable in the apparatus. An apparatus may further be configured to support a plurality of manipulators, active applicators and passive applicators.

The subject matter of this disclosure generally relates to apparatus and methods for hair care, and more specifically relates to apparatus and methods for enhanced hair product application with concurrent styling.
There has been a growing trend among women of African descent to wear their hair in its natural state (hereinafter referred to as "natural hair") choosing to eliminate the use of treatment and styling methods such as relaxing curls and straightening. Women within this growing consumer segment are choosing to preserve and enhance the natural curls present in natural hair. Natural hair requires care routines specifically designed to address the unique characteristics of natural hair. Morphological differences in natural hair comprising texture, shape, strength, elasticity, and thickness complicate the cleansing and styling process and effect the natural hair's ability to retain moisture and maintain health. Furthermore, natural hair is particularly sensitive to treatment and styling processes involving elevated heat. Because natural hair tends to be stiffer, drier, and highly susceptible to breakage, many consumers in this segment expend considerable effort and expense to apply products to care for their hair in ways comprising nourishing their hair, conditioning their hair, repairing damage present in their hair, moisturizing their hair and sealing moisture within their hair. Styling natural hair requires further considerable effort to detangle, enhance and care for ubiquitous amounts of curls.
The process for applying hair products to and styling natural hair is painstaking, messy and lengthy involving multiple separate steps comprising detangling a section of the hair using combs and/or brushes and applying hair product into the sectioned hair. This process is repeated section by section and further comprises manipulating the hair to achieve the desired style. The person applying product and manipulating the hair has to frequently pickup and put down hair product and pick up and put down combs and/or brushes. Furthermore, it is difficult to control the application of hair products, particularly low viscosity hair products, resulting in hair product being wasted through runoff and dripping, and requiring cleanup during and after hair product application.
Absorption of hair product into the hair is expedited and enhanced by the introduction of heat. As a result, methods for caring for natural hair ideally include heated hair product, such as heated oil treatments, which require preheating, thereby reducing the viscosity, and applying the heated product using the current process discussed above, thus making heated product treatments particularly time consuming, unwieldy and prone to mess and waste. Furthermore, maintaining a temperature level which is safe for natural hair yet high enough to result in effective and enhanced absorption throughout a lengthy hair care process is extremely difficult and commonly not achieved. Lastly, moisture in hair has a plasticizing effect which is beneficial in natural hair through the softening of an aforementioned brittle characteristic common therein, and through the provision of elasticity which, in moderation, reduces stress and breakage during manipulation. However under increased levels of a plasticized condition, natural hair begins to lose internal structuring which supports and maintains curls, and furthermore, natural hair will eventually become too elastic and too easily stretched, and thereby prone to stress and damage during manipulation. In the presence of excess moisture, such as that provided by hair products and potentially also provided by recent cleaning of the hair, the rate of plasticization is increased with temperature and the degree of plasticization increases over time. For hair types other than natural hair, where a goal of a hair care procedure may be to add curls to otherwise characteristically straight or wavy hair, the process may be best achieved by first reaching a sufficient degree of plasticization to weaken hair structure , organizing the hair in its desired curl and shape, and then removing moisture, typically assisted with a high level of heat, to remove the plasticized state, thereby returning a supporting structure, or, in terms commonly used in hair care, "set the hair". As such, many of the procedures which are promoted and used to provide for curls, are in fact detrimental to curls when caring for natural hair. For natural hair, there is a significant departure needed from the hair care procedures used in other hair types. Natural hair should ideally be nourished, moisturized, and plasticized to a first level that overcomes a characteristic brittleness, all through product absorption at temperatures and durations that do not cause plasticization of a second level that results in excessive weakening of hair structure, and furthermore, through product absorption at temperatures and durations that do not cause heat related stress.
Caring for natural hair outside of the home is problematic and requires a supply of hair product and styling equipment such as combs and/or brushes be present and the process described above to be performed away from home. This results in many women avoiding exercising, swimming and other desirable activities in order to avoid carrying cumbersome hair care equipment and products, followed by washing and a painstaking, messy and lengthy hair care process in a remote location.
While the above discussion is directed towards natural hair, care of other hair types are associated with the challenges described above.

Enhanced hair product application with concurrent styling


A data modulating device includes: an LDPC encoding unit configured to execute LDPC encoding; and a balance encoding unit configured to input a data string subjected to encoding by the LDPC encoding unit as data to be encoded, and convert k bits of this data to be encoded into balance code made up of m-bit block data; with the balance encoding unit executing balance encoding of said data to be encoded using a data conversion table subjected to mapping so that a set of the k-bit data patterns of which the Hamming distance is 1 corresponds to a set of block data of which the Hamming distance is 2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data modulating device and method thereof for obtaining recorded modulation code using block data by performing balance encoding after LDPC encoding.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hologram Recording/Reproducing Method
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-79438 for example, a hologram recording/reproducing method for executing recording of data using a hologram format has been in common use. Other examples of the related art include that disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007-188576 and 2005-302079. With the hologram recording/reproducing method, at the time of recording, signal light to which spatial light intensity modulation (intensity modulation) has been applied according to data to be recorded, and reference light to which a predetermined light intensity pattern is given, are generated, and these are irradiated on a hologram recording medium, thereby forming a hologram on a recording medium to execute recording of data.
Also, at the time of reproducing, the reference light is irradiated on a recording medium. Thus, the same reference light as at the time of recording (having the same intensity pattern as at the time of recording) is irradiated on the hologram formed according to irradiation of signal light and reference light at the time of recording, thereby obtaining diffracted light according to a recorded signal light component. That is to say, the reproduced image corresponding to data thus recorded (reproduced light) is obtained. The reproduced light thus obtained is detected by an image sensor, for example, such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, or the like, thereby reproducing recorded information.
Also, as such a hologram recording/reproducing method, the so-called coaxial method has been in use wherein reference light and signal light are disposed on the same optical axis, and these are irradiated on a hologram recording medium via an objective lens.
FIGS. 38, 39A, and 39B are diagrams for describing hologram recording/reproducing by the coaxial method, wherein FIG. 38 schematically illustrates a recording technique, and FIGS. 39A and 39B schematically illustrate a reproducing technique. Note that FIGS. 38, 39A, and 39B exemplify a case where a reflection-type hologram recording medium 100 includes a reflection film.
First, with a hologram recording/reproducing system, an SLM (Spatial Light Modulator) 101 is provided to generate signal light and reference light at the time of recording, and reference light at the time of reproducing, such as shown in FIGS. 38 and 39A. This SLM 101 includes an intensity modulator for executing light intensity modulation as to incident light in increments of pixels. This intensity modulator may be configured of a liquid crystal panel, for example.
At the time of recording shown in FIG. 38, signal light to which the intensity pattern corresponding to data to be recorded is given, and reference light to which a predetermined intensity pattern is given are generated according to intensity modulation of the SLM 101. With the coaxial method, spatial light modulation as to incident light is executed so that signal light and reference light are disposed on the same optical axis such as shown in the drawing. At this time, it is common for the signal light to be situated at the inner side, and reference light at the outer side thereof, such as shown in the drawing.
The signal light/reference light generated at the SLM 101 is irradiated on the hologram recording medium 100 via an objective lens 102. Thus, a hologram in which data to be recorded is reflected is formed with an interference pattern between the above signal light and the above reference light. That is to say, recording of the data is executed with formation of this hologram.
On the other hand, at the time of reproducing, such as shown in FIG. 39A, reference light is generated at the SLM 101 (at this time, the intensity pattern of reference light is the same as at the time of recording). Subsequently, this reference light is irradiated on the hologram recording medium 100 via the objective lens 102.
Thus, in response to reference light being irradiated on the hologram recording medium 100, such as shown in FIG. 39B, diffracted light according to the hologram formed on the hologram recording medium 100 is obtained, and thus, a reproduced image (reproduced light) regarding recorded data is obtained. In this case, the reproduced image is guided to an image sensor 103 via the objective lens 102 as the reflected light from the hologram recording medium 100, such as shown in the drawing.
The image sensor 103 optically receives the reproduced image guides as described above in increments of pixels to obtain the electrical signal corresponding to the light-receiving quantity for each pixel, thereby obtaining a detection image regarding the above reproduced image. Thus, the image signal detected by the image sensor 103 becomes a readout signal regarding recorded data.
Note that, as can be understood from the description in FIGS. 38, 39A, and 39B, with the hologram recording/reproducing method, data is written in/read out in increments of signal light. That is to say, with the hologram recording/reproducing method, a sheet of hologram formed with one-time interference between signal light and reference light (referred to as "hologram page") is the minimum increments of writing in/reading out.
Balance Code
Now, as can be understood from the above description, with the hologram recording/reproducing system, data (channel data) to be recorded finally in a recording medium is in a state of being arrayed two-dimensionally.
Thus, with the hologram recording/reproducing system for arraying channel data two-dimensionally to execute recording, so-called balance code is preferably used, wherein a data pattern is represented with a block made up of vertical multiple bits×horizontal multiple bits.
Balance code is recorded modulation code satisfying a condition wherein l bit of m bits making up the above block is "1", and the remaining m−l bits are all "0", and a data pattern is represented with a combination between a position where bit "1" is disposed and a position where bit "0" is disposed within the block.
For example, if encoding parameter E(m, l, k) is E(16, 3, 8), 8 bits of a data string to be processed (let us say that this is simply user data) are converted into 16-bit (4×4) balance code. At this time, i=3, and accordingly, the number of data patterns that can be represented with balance code in this case is 560 kinds since a combination where 3 bits are selected from 16 bits is 16C3.
Here, data patterns that can be represented with user data of k=8 bits are 28, and accordingly, 256 kinds. That is to say, in this case, 256 patterns of the above 560 kinds of balance code patterns are correlated to each of 256 kinds of data patterns that can be represented with 8-bit user data, whereby encoding/decoding of balance code can be executed.
At this time, the number of data patterns that 9-bit user data can represent is 29, i.e., 512 kinds. Accordingly, according to balance code of m=16 and l=3 that can represent 560 kinds of data patterns as described above, up to k=9 bits can be handled.
However, with the hologram recording/reproducing system, parameter E(m, l, k) of encoding is set intentionally so as to generate a redundant balance code pattern. This is for enabling the following.                Reduction of check errors is realized by narrowing down patterns to be used for encoding to patterns of which the similarity of mutual patterns is low.        Only patterns where "1" does not continue horizontally and vertically within the block are used for encoding to reduce the low-frequency component of special frequency within a read signal (image).Identification of Channel Data
In order to execute decoding of balance code described above, identification of bit "0"/"1" has to be executed from the amplitude of a read signal for each pixel. That is to say, this is data identification. With the hologram recording/reproducing system, a technique called "sorting check" and "correlation check" is preferably used for identification of channel data.
Here, "threshold check" is the easiest to use technique, wherein bit "1" is identified when the amplitude of a read signal is greater than a predetermined threshold, and bit "0" is identified when the amplitude of a read signal is smaller than a predetermined threshold. However, with the hologram recording/reproducing system, change in the amplitude of a read signal within a page is relatively great, and setting of a threshold for "threshold check" is very difficult. That is to say, from this point of view, using threshold check with the hologram recording/reproducing system causes increase in data identification errors, and it is very difficult to execute suitable data identification.
From such, a technique such as "sorting check" or "correlation check" such as described below is preferably used as an identification method of channel data with the hologram recording/reproducing system.
The procedure of "sorting check" will be shown below.
1) m bits (pixels) making up one balance code block are represented by numbers of #1 through #m in descending order of the amplitude values of read signals (ranking).
2) The bit values of the upper l pixels (#1 through #l) are determined to be "1", and the bit values of other pixels (#l+1 through #m) are determined to be "0".
On the other hand, "correlation check" is a technique wherein correlativity between an actually obtained read signal and each of 2k kinds of possibly-recorded balance code patterns is checked, and a pattern correlated most with the read signal is output as an identification result.
For example, if we say that the amplitude of a read signal has been A/D-converted into 8 bits (0 through 255), the procedure of "correlation check" will be shown as below.
1) With regard to each of 2k kinds of possibly-recorded balance code patterns,                The amplitude reference value of a pixel of which the bit value is "1" is set to 191, and the square of difference between this amplitude reference value and the amplitude value of the corresponding pixel within the read signal is computed.        The amplitude reference value of a pixel of which the bit value is "0" is set to 64, and the square of difference between this amplitude reference value and the amplitude value of the corresponding pixel within the read signal is computed.        The sum of this squared error is calculated each for m pixels.
Thus, 2k evaluated values are obtained, which represent correlativity between each of 2k kinds of possibly-recorded balance code patterns and an actually obtained read signal.
2) The evaluated values regarding each of the balance code patterns computed in the above 1) are compared, and the most reliable pattern, i.e., the pattern where the above evaluated value becomes the minimum is output as an identification result.
The technique such as the above "sorting check" or "correlation check" differs from the technique of "threshold check", and has a great advantage wherein amplitude fluctuation within a page is hardly influenced. In particular, sorting check is a technique only for determining that the upper l pixels having a great amplitude are determined to be "1", and pixels other than those are determined to be "0", and accordingly, has an advantage wherein the processing load is small, and the circuit scale can be reduced to a small scale. However, on the other hand, sorting check determining bit "1" or "0" in accordance with simply amplitude rank order includes a problem in that there is concern wherein an identification result that is not a code word may be obtained.
On the other hand, correlation check is the most reliable check technique wherein the most reliable code word is selected from possibly-recorded code words as an identification result, and accordingly, there is no concern that an identification result that is not a code word might be obtained, and identification performance is markedly advanced. However, the evaluated value of reliability has to be computed regarding all the possibly-recorded patterns, which causes a problem wherein the processing load becomes great, and the circuit scale also becomes great.
LDPC Code
While there has been such hologram recording/reproducing technology as described above, LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code (low-density parity check code) has also been in use as one kind of error correction code. LDPC code is code belonging to a linear code category similar to error correction code according to the related art such as Reed-Solomon code or the like, which is a generally recognized fact. A check bit string generated in accordance with a certain rule is suitably added to transmission information (recorded information), whereby information can be decoded with high probability from a signal deteriorated due to influence of noise over a communication path (recording/reproducing channel).
LDPC code has powerful error correction capability, but practical realization has been thought to be difficult due to the sheer number of calculations involved. However, with the advent of turbo code serving as repetitive correction code, it has been found that implementation as a high-performance high-speed circuit is feasible, and in recent years, this has received attention.
An outline of LDPC encoding/decoding will be described with reference to FIGS. 40A and 40B. FIG. 40A schematically illustrates an outline of processing to be executed on the information transmission (recording) side (LDPC encoding processing). First, with LDPC, a bit to be encoded is generally called "information bit". Also, a predetermined check matrix (represented by H) is determined at the time of executing LDPC encoding.
With encoding, first a "check bit string" (i.e., parity) is generated based on an input information bit string and the above check matrix H. This "check bit string" is generated and added for every certain number of information bits. In the drawing, a case is exemplified wherein "check bits" are generated and added for every 8 bits of information bits. At this time, data increments to which check bits are added, i.e., increments of "information bits+check bits" become "one LDPC block" that is the minimum increments of LDPC encoding/decoding.
Thus, data LDPC-encoded (LDPC code string) is transmitted (or recorded in a recording medium) to the communication path. It should be noted that with actual encoding, the number of bits of one LDPC block is greater, for example, for information bits of around several thousand bits, around several thousand check bits (parity) are also added.
FIG. 40B schematically illustrates outline of processing (decoding processing of LDPC code) on the information reception (recording) side.
With decoding of LDPC code, first such as shown in <1>, the "log likelihood ratio" of each bit making up a LDPC code string is computed from the amplitude value of each bit of a reception (read) signal. This "log likelihood ratio" is used as information representing the likelihood of the value of each bit ("0" or "1"), which is a generally recognized fact.
Now, the above log likelihood ratio will be roughly described with reference to FIG. 41. The log likelihood ratio becomes a value depending on a communication path model, which is a generally recognized fact. For example, in the case of a memoryless communication path (a communication path wherein there is no correlation between transmission errors of transmission bit strings), if we say that a transmission signal is xn, and a reception signal is yn, the log likelihood ratio (represented by λn) can be computed according to conditional probability P(yn|xn) of a known communication path as follows.λn=loge(P(yn|xn=+1)/P(yn|xn=−1)
FIG. 41 exemplifies LDPC encoding and decoding models in the case of assuming a common AWGN (Addition White Gaussian Noise) communication path. In the case of the AWGN communication path, the conditional probability of the communication path can be replaced as follows.P(yn|xn=b)=1/√(2πσ2)exp(−(yn−b)2/(2σ2))where σ2 is distribution of Gaussian noise.
Here, b in the above expression takes values of +1 and −1. Accordingly, upon computing loge(P(yn|xn=+1)/P(yn|xn=−1), the log likelihood ratio λn in this case is as follows.λn=2yn/σ2
Hereafter, the log likelihood ratio will be abbreviated as LLR. Also, LLR for each bit will be represented by as λ(n).
Returning to FIG. 40B, computing LLR (λ(n)) of each bit from the reception (read) signal, such as shown in <2>, based on λ(n) and a predetermined check matrix (H), estimates each bit value of information bits for each LDPC block (LDPC decoding). That is to say, such as shown in FIG. 41, after LLR (λ(n)) of each bit is computed from the reception (read) signal, each value of information bits within one LDPC block is estimated (decoded) according to the LDPC decoding algorithm based on λ(n) and the predetermined check matrix H.
Here, the LDPC decoding algorithm is an algorithm based on a so-called MAP decoding method. With the MAP decoding method, a conditional probability representing a probability wherein when transmitting a code word x, a reception word y is received (the previous P(yn|xn); also referred to as posterior probability) is computed, and a symbol of "0" or "1" where this conditional probability P is the maximum is taken as an evaluated value thereof. As a result thereof, there is a feature in that error after decoding becomes minimal, and regarding the point of bit error rate, this method is an optimal decoding technique.
However, in the case of executing a procedure for computing posterior probability for each bit by adding the value of posterior probability P(yn|xn) regarding all the code words in accordance with a definition without change, the amount of computations becomes an astronomical figure, and practical realization is very difficult. Therefore, as an LDPC decoding algorithm for reducing this computation amount, for example, a sum-product algorithm has been proposed. This sum-product algorithm can be regarded as an algorithm approximate to the MAP decoding method, and markedly reduces the amount of calculations by sacrificing some computational precision of posterior probability for each bit. Specifically, with the sum-product algorithm, computation relating to posterior probability is classified into two processes of "variable node processing" and "check node processing", and repetitive processing is executed therebetween. Improvement in estimation precision is realized by repeating such repetitive processing.
FIG. 42 illustrates a diagram schematically describing the content of the LDPC decoding processing by the sum-product algorithm, wherein (a) in FIG. 42 illustrates a flowchart illustrating the content of the decoding processing, and (b) in FIG. 42 illustrates a conceptual diagram regarding variable nodes and check nodes.
Here, "A(m)" in (b) in FIG. 42 represents a variable node group to be connected to a check node m. Also, "A(m)\n" represents a group difference obtained by removing n from the group A(m). Similarly, "B(n)" represents a check node group to be connected to a variable node n, and "B(n)\," represents a group difference obtained by removing m from the group B(n).
Also, a function f(x) is a function defined as f(x)=loge(ex+1/ex−1) such as shown in the drawing, and f·f has a feature serving as identity mapping. A function sign(x) is a code function wherein a value of +1 is taken when x is positive, a value of −1 is taken when x is negative, and a value of 0 is taken when x is 0.
Note that though not clearly illustrated in this drawing, with the decoding processing in this case, computation is started with the initial values of both of "a message αmn from a check node m to a variable node n" and "a message βnm from a variable node n to a check node m" as "0".
In (a) in FIG. 42, processing in step S1001 is processing called check node processing. Also, processing in step S1002 is processing called variable node processing.
Here, Ln computed in step S1003 (estimated bit determining processing) is an approximate value of amount called "log posterior probability ratio" relating to the above posterior probability P. The absolute value of this Ln represents the reliability of estimation, and represents that the greater this value is, the higher the reliability of estimation. As shown in the drawing, "0" is determined to be the value of an estimated bit in the case that the value of this Ln is positive (0(Ln>0)). Also, "1" is determined to be the value of an estimated bit in the case that the value of this Ln is negative (0(Ln<0)).
According to the flowchart in (a) in FIG. 42, the value of LLR (λn in the drawing) of each bit computed from the reception (read) signal can be found to be used for computation of the value of Ln. Also, the value of LLR is also used for computation of the value of βnm in step S1002.
Also, parity check processing in step S1004 following the estimation bit determining processing in the above step S1003 is processing determining whether or not the determined estimated bit series satisfy parity check conditions. With the parity check processing in step S1004, a predetermined check matrix H is used.
In the case that the estimated bit series satisfy the parity check conditions, the estimated bit series are output as the estimated values of transmitted (recorded) information bit series (S1005). On the other hand, in the case that the estimated bit series do not satisfy the parity check conditions, from the check node processing in step S1001 to the estimated bit determining processing in step S1003 is executed again.
Thus, with the decoding processing by the sum-product algorithm, the check node processing, variable node processing, and estimated bit determining processing are taken as one round of processing, and this round of processing is repeated until the estimated bit series determined in this round of processing satisfy the parity check conditions.
Note that the LDPC decoding algorithm including such a sum-product algorithm is a technique in general use. For detailed content of the LDPC decoding algorithm, refer to "Practical Configuration Method of LDPC Code (First)", NIKKEI ELECTRONICS, Aug. 15, 2005, pp 126-130, and "Practical Configuration Method of LDPC Code (Second)", NIKKEI ELECTRONICS, Aug. 29, 2005, pp 127-132, and the like.
Here, it is important that at the time of decoding of LDPC code, the log likelihood ratio (LLR) of each bit making up LDPC code should be obtained from the reception (read) signal. That is to say, in the event that the LLR of each bit of LDPC code is thus obtained from the reception (read) signal, decoding processing in accordance with the LDPC decoding algorithm such as the above sum-product algorithm or the like is executed using a predetermined check matrix (known information), whereby the values of information bits can be decoded.

Data modulating device and method thereof


Automatic test equipment (ATE) for post-production testing of multi-pin integrated circuits (ICs). Each pin is assigned to a pin card having a pin driver and an active load with the latter including both a current source and a current sink. The pin driver and active load are connectable alternatively to the IC pin in response to complementary inhibit signals. Within the active load, the source and sink and connected/disconnected by respective pairs of matched transistor switch circuits the individual switches of which are alternatively activatable by differential control means. Both switch circuits of each pair are supplied from a single current source. One switch circuit of each pair, when activated, directs the current from the single current source to (from) the IC pin, while the other switch circuit, when activated, directs the current to (from) a return line. All of the switch circuits include Darligton-connected transistors and an additional transistor to draw base charge from the principal Darlington transistor when the switch is turned off.

Automatic test equipment has been used for many years to evaluate the performance of ICs prior to shipment to customers. With the steadily increasing complexity of ICs, there has been a corresponding need for higher speed test equipment, so that the overall time for testing can be kept within reasonable limits. Recently, ICs have become so complex (e.g. with 500 or so pins per chip) that the test equipment must be able to operate at a toggle rate as high as 200 MHz. At that rate, each test cycle must be completed within the 5 nano-second (5.times.10.sup.-9 seconds) cycle time of the test sequencing.
Such automatic test equipment includes a large number of "pin cards" carrying circuitry for communicating with a corresponding pin of the device under test. Each pin card includes a so-called "pin driver" which is connectable to a corresponding pin of the device under test to supply a test signal thereto. The output voltages at one or more other pins of the device are monitored during the test period, and are compared to programmed voltages to determine whether applicable specifications have been met. During the test period, the pin being monitored also must be connected to an active load which forces a predetermined current into (or out of) the pin, to insure that proper test conditions are maintained at the time of testing. During each test period, each pin will be connected to either a pin driver or to an active load, depending upon whether the pin is to receive a test signal, or whether its output response is to be measured.
As the test program proceeds, many of the pins must be sequentially switched between the pin driver and the active load of the corresponding pin card. Thus, the pin driver and the active load must be capable of being connected and disconnected from the corresponding pin at very high speed so as to achieve proper test conditions within each test period. Most importantly, when the active load is being turned off (in response to an "inhibit" signal), extremely fast switching for the turn-off is essential in order to be sure that the current into or out of the active load does not affect the pin driver which is being turned on at about the same time.

Automatic test equipment with active load having high-speed inhibit mode switching


A method of cutting a sheet 1 with a tool controlled by a computer system and in accordance with a cutting program that may depend on certain particularities of the sheet. The computer system examines the sheet by scanning it with a video camera. Prior to scanning an operator marks certain of the particularities directly on the sheet using a fluorescent marker, the marking being in the form of distinctive symbols 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 which are detectable by the camera and which are interpretable as being constraints on cutting to be taken into account by the cutting program. The sheet is illuminated by ultraviolet light while it is being scanned by the camera, and the scanning speed of the camera is adjusted as a function of the required sensitivity. The scanning speed lies in the range 10 to 40 images per second, and is preferably about 25 images per second.

When cutting an object, for example an animal skin, using a tool controlled by a computer system, it is necessary to previously define a cutting program, and said program must take account of certain particularities of the skin to be cut, for example its shape and its orientation relative to said tool, and also possible defects therein. In order to cut pieces out from an animal skin having predetermined shapes, templates having said shapes may be placed manually on the skin and the computer may be required to read the positions of the templates relative to the position of the skin and to store them in memory for cutting-out purposes. A competent operator is capable of placing templates on the skin in such a manner as to take account of possible defects therein. It is also possible to place the templates interactively using the screen of a computer terminal which includes an inputting accessory such as a keyboard associated with a digitizing table and a screen which displays an image of the skin together with the templates; however most defects do not then appear on the screen because of the poor sensitivity of the cameras currently in use, and as a result these defects cannot be taken into account when defining a cutting-out program.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a method of cutting out pieces from an object, in particular an object in sheet form, by means of a tool which is controlled by a computer system in accordance with a cutting program that may depend on certain particularities of said object, and in particular on defects therein, without it being necessary to manually place templates having the shapes of said pieces, i.e. the invention seeks to define the cutting program directly on said object.

Method of cutting an object as a function of particularities of said object

Manufacture Francaise des Chaussures Eram


Imidazole derivatives of the formula (1) or salts thereof, pharmaceuticals containing the derivatives or the salts, and intermediates for the synthesis of the derivatives or the salts (wherein R1 is lower alkyl; R2 is alkyl or aralkyl; and X1 is halogeno). These compounds exhibit G-CSF-like activities and can be substituted for G-CSF preparations.

The present invention relates to novel imidazole derivatives exhibiting cytokine-like activities; in particular, activities analogous to those exhibited by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cG-CSFxe2x80x9d).
G-CSF drugs have been found effective in therapy of immune diseases which accompany reduction in neutrophils caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy of cancer. In clinical settings, a human gene recombinant G-CSF injection (Sankyo Co., Ltd.) or similar products are currently employed as G-CSF drugs. However, the G-CSF injection involves drawbacks; namely, it produces problematic side effects, such as inflammation, bone pain, fever, and chill, and upon oral administration it is rapidly degraded, because it is composed of glycoproteins. Therefore, in order to solve these problems, there remains need for development of a low-molecular weight compound which exhibits G-CSF-like activity and which can serve as a substitute for G-CSF drugs. However, presently, very few compounds, such as those described in WO97/44033, are known to exhibit G-CSF-like activities.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel low-molecular-weight compound exhibiting cytokine-like activities, particularly G-CSF-like activities.
Numerous studies have been carried out on imidazole compounds for possible application as agrochemicals or pharmaceuticals. Of the imidazole compounds, those having a 2-alkoxyphenyl group are reported in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) Nos. 63-146864 or 61-267557. However, these publications fail to mention whether or not those compounds exhibit cytokine-like activities. Moreover, a 2-alkoxyphenyl derivative having a halogen group at the 5-position of the phenyl group has not yet been reported.
Under the above circumstances, the present inventors performed screening tests on a variety of compounds, in search of low-molecular-weight compound having G-CSF-like activities, and have found that a novel class of imidazole derivatives (1) having a 2-alkoxy-5-halogenophenyl group exhibits cytokine-like activities; in particular, G-CSF-like activities, thus leading to completion of the invention.
The present invention provides an imidazole derivative represented by the following formula (1):
(wherein R1 represents a lower alkyl group, R2 represents an alkyl or aralkyl group, and X1 represents a halogen atom) or a salt thereof, and an intermediate for the synthesis of the derivative or the salt.
The present invention also provides a drug containing an imidazole derivative of formula (1) or a salt thereof as an active ingredient.
The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing an imidazole derivative of formula (1) or a salt thereof, and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier.
The present invention also provides use of an imidazole derivative of formula (1) or a salt thereof in manufacture of a drug.
The present invention further provides a method of treating an immune disease accompanying reduction in neutrophils, the method comprising administration of an imidazole derivative of formula (1) to a patient in need thereof.


A hopping play ball comprises a pair of elongated grips or handles adjacent to each other and extending radially outward from the surface of the ball. The ball may also comprise an array of mammillated protrusions on the lower surface, opposite the handles, to improve the stability during bouncing on a soft or elastic surface, such as a trampoline rebounding mat. In other embodiments, the ball has one or more water reservoirs in fluid communication with squirt nozzles disposed on either the surface of the ball or an outward facing portion of the handles. The squirt nozzles are activated by the player via the handle grips, and may pump or squirt water in response to each bounce or may be triggered independent of the players bouncing movement. The mammillated surface aids in preventing slippage of the balls during such types of wet play with multiple players.

The present invention relates to a play ball, particularly one having handles and suitable for hopping by a player seated thereon.
Oversized play balls are known in the art, in particular those of sufficient size to seat a player. The player grasps handles that are affixed to and extend from ball while they sit on the ball, and uses their legs to make repeated hops.
However, the well-known hopping ball has several disadvantages. In the first instance, the type of play is limited to hopping or bouncing. In another instance, the handles while necessary for the players to balance themselves on the ball, can present a hazard by trapping the hands or wrists when the player loses balance and falls off the ball. Many of these balls use inverted U-shaped handles that could easily trap a hand or arm and cause injury to it as the ball rolls over with the force of the bouncer's weight, especially when used with a trampoline whereon a bouncer can jump higher, generating more impact force. Further, when such balls are deployed on a trampoline rebounding surface they exhibit a tendency to slide or slip around, giving the bouncer less control.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system for processing a multiband image, including digital computer memory for storing a multiband image having multiple bands of image data; and processing circuitry for processing the multiband image, wherein the processing circuitry (a) determines pixel locations in the bands of the multiband image having values above the band-specific white value threshold for each of the bands of the multiband image, (b) determines a band-specific correction factor for each of plural bands of the multiband image based on the determined pixel locations, and (c) applies the corresponding band-specific correction factor to the respective plural bands of the multiband image to produce a corrected image.

Known systems utilize image processing techniques where a set of statistical functions are applied to an image (e.g., a satellite image) to generate compensation for band-specific gains. One such technique utilizes statistical analysis to determine where a number of the highest values for each of the bands are selected, and those number of values are treated as being indicative of how the gains of the bands are interrelated. However, such a process of determining gains can result in unintended colored shadows or colored highlights. One such reason for this is that in order for neutral objects to be represented correctly in an image, the digital count values at the spatial location (for each channel) representing neutral objects (e.g. clouds, roads, etc) need to be equivalent (e.g., R=G=B). In known techniques, there are no assurances that pixels treated as neutral are actual neutral objects as seen by the human observer. Also, depending on the linearity of the channel and how sensitive the channel is from an exposure perspective, clipping may occur in the highlight regions or shadow regions, in which the processing in current methods could result in severe coloration in the highlight or shadow regions.

Band dependent linearization for multiband remotely sensed and aerial imagery


A method of making an asymmetric end-functionalized carbon nanotube film is described. The method includes providing a carbon nanotube film having a first end and a second end; contacting the first end of the carbon nanotube film with a first reactive medium; reacting the first end of the carbon nanotube film with the first reactive medium by a first physicochemical process; contacting the second end of the carbon nanotube film with a second reactive medium, wherein the first reactive medium is different from the second reactive medium; and reacting the second end of the carbon nanotube film with the second reactive medium by a second physicochemical process.

The use of carbon nanotubes for many practical applications often requires a precision landing of individual nanotubes into various functional structures and devices. In this regard, the synthesis of aligned and/or micropatterned carbon nanotubes has played a critical role in facilitating the integration of carbon nanotubes into certain useful devices (e.g. electron-emitters, transistors etc.). However, a more general self-assembling approach would allow the construction of individual nanotubes into various functional structures with a molecular precision. For this purpose, the site-selective chemical modification of carbon nanotubes is essential. Recently, judicious application of site-selective reactions to non-aligned and aligned carbon nanotubes for selectively modifying nanotube tips, inner and/or outer walls has opened a rich field of carbon nanotube chemistry. It has been demonstrated that the sidewalls of carbon nanotubes are rather unreactive due to the seamless arrangement of hexagon rings without any dangling bonds, and that the fullerene-like tips of carbon nanotubes are more reactive than the sidewalls for chemical attaching with various chemical reagents. However, the asymmetric functionalization of carbon nanotubes with each of their two end-tips attached by different chemical reagents remains a challenge. The asymmetric end-functionalization, if realized, should significantly advance the self-assembling of carbon nanotubes into many new functional structures with a molecular-level control.
Therefore, there is a need for asymmetric functionalized carbon nanotubes, and for methods of preparing them.

Asymmetric end-functionalization of carbon nanotubes


What is proposed is a variator disk for a toroidal variator, in particular for a motor vehicle toroidal transmission. The variator disk has a curved running surface which is oriented coaxially with respect to a variator axis and on which rollers of the toroidal variator can roll. The variator disk having furthermore at least two partial disks which are designed as a traction disk, on which the running surface is formed, and as a supporting disk, respectively. The supporting disk is designed for supporting axial forces applied to the running surface. The traction disk is supported on the supporting disk in the radial direction to the variator axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variator disk for a toroidal variator and to a variator of this type which is suitable for a motor vehicle toroidal transmission.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of transmissions for motor vehicles, there is a trend toward continuously variable transmissions. Continuously variable transmissions make it possible, in general, to operate the series connected internal combustion engine in motor vehicles within a favorable rotational speed range independently of the respective motor vehicle speed. This improves the efficiency of the drive train formed by the internal combustion engine and by the continuously variable transmission. Furthermore, continuously variable transmissions afford a particularly high degree of driving comfort.
Among continuously variable transmissions, toroidal transmissions, as they are known, are especially important, specifically, in particular, owing to their higher torque capacity, as compared with belt type continuously variable transmissions (CVTs).
Among toroidal transmissions, the Torotrak™ system has particular significance (cf. www.torotrak.com).
A typical toroidal transmission of this type has a variator arrangement with two variators. Each variator has two variator disks. The disks have annular traction or running surfaces facing one another which in each case define a toroidal space. The toroidal spaces are arranged coaxially with respect to a variator axis. Within the toroidal spaces, rollers are in each case arranged, which come into engagement with the variator disks in order to transfer a torque from one variator disk to the other variator disk. The rollers are arranged so as to be distributed over the circumference of the toroidal space and can be adjusted spatially within the toroidal space, in order to adjust the transmission ratio of the variator continuously.
In the prior art, the variator disks are connected to an assigned variator shaft, as a rule via toothings in the hub region.
Furthermore the variator disks known hitherto are supported axially on the variator shaft via a collar. This collar is small in comparison with the diameter of the variator disks. This gives rise to a high bending moment. High stresses are generated within the component as a result of the bending moment. These can be absorbed only by means of a high-mass type of construction.
The high-mass type of construction of the variator disks leads to a high weight, to a high mass moment of inertia and to an enlargement of the overall construction length of the transmission. The high mass moment of inertia reduces the dynamics of the vehicle. Due to the high weight, high material costs are incurred, since the disks are produced as a rule, from high-quality material.
The high axial pressure forces, particularly also during an adjustment of the rollers, result in a high load on the variator disks in the vicinity of the toothing. This may lead to excessive stresses and consequently cause failure.
The manufacture of the toothings is cost-intensive, particularly since the material of the known variator disks is, as a rule, a high-strength rolling bearing steel.
So that the high axial forces can be absorbed more effectively, one variator disk may be assigned a supporting disk which is arranged on that side of the variator disk which lies opposite the running surface. By virtue of the supporting disk, it is possible to produce the variator disk with a lower mass and lower weight. Costs are thereby saved. In other words, in this embodiment, the variator disk is formed by at least two partial disks which are designed as a traction disk, on which the running surface is formed, and as a supporting disk, respectively. The supporting disk is designed for supporting axial forces applied to the running surface.
Furthermore, as a rule, the supporting disk is connected to the shaft positively in the circumferential direction. This may take place via a toothing. However, the supporting disk may also be produced in one piece with the shaft.
Although it is conceivable, even when a supporting disk is used, to connect the traction disk to the shaft via a toothing in the hub region, it is nevertheless preferable to cause the transfer of torque from the traction disk to the shaft to take place via the supporting disk.
This may take place in general by means of nonpositive or frictional connection. This is because the high axial pressure forces can be utilized for torque transfer if the axial bearing surfaces on the supporting disk, on the one hand, and on the traction disk, on the other hand, are suitably designed. In this case, the coefficient of friction of steel/steel is utilized in the bearing region.
However, the transfer of the torque from the traction disk to the supporting disk may also take place positively. In this case, it is conceivable, in general, to connect the traction disk positively in the hub region of the supporting disk. In order to reduce the circumferential forces, however, it is more beneficial to implement the torque transfer in the region of the outer circumference of the supporting disk or of the traction disk.
In this case, it is likewise conceivable, in general, to provide a toothing in the circumferential region. It is considered more favorable, however, to insert positive elements, such as, for example, balls, into corresponding radial recesses of the supporting disk, on the one hand, and of the traction disk, on the other hand.
These approaches have in common the fact that excessive stresses due to the notch effect may occur in the region of positive connection of the traction disk and supporting disk.
The object of the present invention is to specify an improved variator disk, in particular a variator disk which possesses a low weight and requires a small construction space.

Variator disk and variator for a toroidal transmission

GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengeselllschaft


An image measuring method comprises making no stop of an imaging means relative to a measurement stage at measurement positions (MP1-MP3), and capturing instantaneous images to acquire information required for measurement. A first direction to a measurement position (MP1) to be measured next and a second direction from the measurement position (MP1) to a next measurement position (MP2) form an angle therebetween. If this angle exceeds a certain angle, an overshoot path is formed at a location beyond the measurement position (MP1) in the first direction. The larger the angle formed between the first direction and the second direction, the lower the measurement speed at the measurement position (MP1) is made.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image measuring method, image measuring system and image measuring program, having a non-stop measurement mode for image measurement, in which an imaging means moves relative to a measurement target supported on a measurement stage and captures instantaneous image information at designated measurement positions without making a stop.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional CNC image measuring machine comprises a measurement stage, which is moved relative to an imaging means such as a CCD camera and stopped at a measurement position as shown in FIG. 8. Then, the amount of illuminating light is adjusted to acquire image information about a measurement target. To the acquired image information, image processing such as setting of a measuring tool and edge detection is applied, thereby executing a measurement at one measurement position. This measurement is repeated as Measurement 1, Measurement 2, . . . and so on for all measurement positions to achieve measurements at required positions (hereinafter, such the measurement mode is referred to as a "standard measurement mode").
In contrast, for the purpose of improving the throughput of measurement, a measurement may be performed without making a stop of the measurement stage relative to the imaging means even at a measurement position in a measurement mode (hereinafter, such the measurement mode is referred to as a "non-stop measurement mode"). An image measuring machine having such the non-stop measurement mode has been proposed (see JP-A 2004-535587, paragraphs 0005-0006, FIG. 2). This image measuring machine irradiates the measurement target with strobe illumination, as shown in FIG. 9, without making a stop of the measurement stage at measurement positions. Alternatively, it captures instantaneous image information imaged using a shuttered CCD camera, for image measurement. In the image measuring machine, the CCD camera is roughly positioned in a measurement region at high speeds and then decelerated to capture images within a predetermined constant speed region.
The above-described conventional image measuring machine has no problem if multiple positions to be measured are arranged in a straight line. In contrast, if the multiple positions are not arrayed in a straight line, on measurement in a non-stop measurement mode, a measurement position may appear at a folded point on a movement path of the imaging means. Therefore, a movement mechanism is overloaded and a problem may arise associated with a blown protective fuse depending on the case. In addition, the movement mechanism may cause vibrations and worsen the measurement accuracy as a problem.

Image measuring method, image measuring system and image measuring program


The invention relates to a welding robot for resistance welding, which exhibits a welding tongs (21), a welding current generator (1) connected to the welding electrodes (24, 25) of the welding tongs (21), for supplying the welding electrodes (24, 25) with electric energy during the resistance welding, and an industrial robot. The industrial robot comprises a robot arm (2) and a robot control device (9) for moving the robot arm (2). The welding tongs (21) is connected to the robot arm (2) and the robot control device (9) is connected to the welding current generator (1) and a tongs drive (26, 27) of the welding tongs (21).

DE 31 15 840 A1 discloses that with resistance welding, wherein, during the welding, the electric resistance between two welding electrodes is automatically adjusted through a change of the contact force of the electrodes in a reference resistance curve, and in addition, the electric potential at the welding electrodes is adjusted to a reference potential curve.
EP 1 508 396 B1 discloses a welding robot, comprising an industrial robot and a welding tongs, which is attached to the robot arm of the industrial robot. The welding tongs, which can be moved by means of the robot arm, comprises two electrode arms, an electric motor for moving the electrode arms, and force sensors for determining the contact force applied by the electrode arm. The welding device further comprises a regulating device, which is configured, due to the deviation of the actual contact force from the target contact force, to generate a correction variable for the motor position of the electric motor.


Methods, apparatuses and articles for testing security of a mapping function—such as a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF)—of an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. In various embodiments, one or more tests may be performed. In various embodiments, the tests may include a predictability test, a collision test, a sensitivity test, a reverse-engineering test and an emulation test. In various embodiments, a test may determine a metric to indicate a level of security or vulnerability. In various embodiments, a test may include characterizing one or more delay elements and/or path segments of the mapping function. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

An Integrated Circuit (IC) with compromised hardware security may reveal sensitive information. Conventional hardware security techniques may use cryptographic protocols to provide security. In cryptographic protocols, secrecy may be provided by trapdoor mathematical functions and digital keys, which may make the protocols resilient to algorithmic attacks. However, digital hardware security keys may be attacked in a number of ways including side-channel, electromigration, imaging, and fault injection.
Physically unclonable functions (PUFs) may be used in a number of security tasks. In PUF-based security, the underlying identification may not be in a digital format; instead, the identifiers may be analog variations of the phenomena. This may result in physical systems with behavior that is stable and that is very difficult to physically replicate in another PUF—even another PUF of the same design—due to their complex analog structure. In practical implementations, PUFs may take the form of a separate circuit within an IC.


A truncated transmission line probe for Nuclear Magnetic and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging is disclosed. The truncated probe includes an inner and an outer conductor both of which have first and second ends. The second ends of the inner and outer conductors are electrically short circuited to one another. A portion of the outer conductor is removed in the vicinity of the short circuited ends to expose a portion of the inner conductor. A microwave or radio frequency pulse is transmitted along the inner conductor to the short circuited end and reflected back. A radio frequency magnetic field is emitted from the inner conductor and the area of the emitted magnetic field conforms to the opening in the outer conductor. Sample material placed adjacent the opening in the outer conductor is irradiated by the magnetic field and the nuclear magnetic or electron paramagnetic response of the sample material is received by the inner conductor. The inner conductor transmits the response of the sample material to a conductor in a connector mounted at the first end of the inner conductor. The connector may be coupled to image generating circuitry to create an image based on the nuclear magnetic or electron paramagnetic response of the sample material. A novel catheter probe is also disclosed which may be used for the imaging of corpuscular vessels or the like.

Imaging techniques that use the magnetic field response of an atom's nuclear spin or of its unpaired electron spin are known. These images depend on the responses generated by a sample placed within or contiguous to a probe both of which are located in a strong, static magnetic field. A number of electrical conductors comprise part of the probe and these conductors are typically arranged in a "birdcage" manner. A radio frequency signal is pulsed through the electrical conductors to generate a corresponding magnetic field that excites the nuclear spins of a group of protons that are aligned with the static field. As the group of excited protons return to the state in which they were prior to being excited by the magnetic field generated by the radio frequency, they produce a magnetic field response that induces electrical signals in the electrical conductors of the probe. This signal is picked up by image producing circuitry and is used to generate an image of the sample.
Through the application of specially modulated RF pulses and specifically modulated magnetic field gradients, the induced electrical signals produced by the magnetic field responses of the group of excited protons are indicative of the physical locations and chemical natures of the sample material under investigation. The presentation of the data as pixels (locations) of given brightness (signal intensities) provide an image of features within the sample. Similar imaging is also possible by using the responses of the unpaired magnetic moments (spins) of electrons of atoms to the radio frequency magnetic field produced by the radio frequency signal. This imaging is known as Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging.
A commonly used probe type for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging usually comprises one or more electrical conductors mounted about a sample cavity within a cylindrical body so the conductors enclose the cavity. The conductors are located in an ordered fashion in the vicinity of the sample cavity. Because a number of conductors are adjacent to each other, they possess an electrical mutual inductance that affects the electrical characteristics of the probe. For example, the mutual inductance of the conductors affects the impedance of the probe and the corresponding resonant frequency of the probe as a result. The resonant frequency of the probe is that frequency at which the capacitive and inductive attributes of the probe cancel one another so no phase shift occurs in an electrical signal transmitted through the probe. Capacitive tuning circuits may be used to tune the probe to a particular resonant frequency for the inherent inductance of the particular arrangement of conductors.
The typical nuclear magnetic resonance probe suffers from a number of limitations. For one, they are only effective at the resonant frequency or a few resonant frequencies for which the probe can be tuned. Second, the sample within or proximate to the sample cavity may also affect the electrical characteristics of the probe and alter the resonant frequency and/or the quality of the induced signals in the conductors of the probe. To return the probe to the selected resonant frequency, the probe must be retuned to the resonant frequency with the sample in the sample cavity. Another limitation of these imaging probes is the requirement that the sample fit within the sample cavity.
Other probes that are used in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are used at local surfaces. These include individual loops of wire or coils of wire placed adjacent to the material being imaged. These probes also require tuning to a particular resonant frequency through manipulation of their capacitative and inductive attributes to generate an effective image.
Another type of probe developed for NMR imaging is a catheter probe for imaging the walls of arteries and the like. Such a probe includes a dielectric material such as Teflon.RTM. about which electrical conductors are coiled. The electrical conductors are covered with a shrink sleeve to prevent contact of the vascular tissue in the artery with the electrical conductors. Because the electrical conductors are typically mounted about a cylindrical dielectric, they can be placed within an artery and maneuvered proximate a location of interest such as an arterial blockage. Once in place, a static magnetic field is produced to align the protons of the nuclei of the surrounding tissue and a radio or microwave frequency pulse is transmitted through the electrical conductors to produce the nuclear magnetic field response. In this manner, tissue surrounding a catheter probe can be imaged.
The catheter probe discussed above has a number of problems. For one, the inductance of the electrical conductors of the probe require a capacitive tuning circuit so the probe may be tuned to a resonant frequency. Moreover, the composition of the tissue surrounding the electrical conductors also affects the electrical characteristics of the probe and the tuning circuit may require adjustment for effective imaging. Finally, the field of view of the catheter probe is a function of the size of the coiled portion of the electrical conductors, and, for a given resonance frequency, the range of the capacitance needed to tune the probe can change with the length of the resonant portion.
What is needed is an imaging probe that can be used tier Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging which is not limited to a resonant frequency and which has an adjustable field of view and an adjustable depth of view.

Truncated nuclear magnetic imaging probe


4-Phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthalenamine derivatives have been found useful for the treatment of psychosis, inflammation and as immunosuppressants.

The present invention relates to the use of 4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthalenamine derivatives in the treatment of psychosis, inflammation and as immunosuppressants.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,518 discloses cis-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthalenamine derivatives useful as antidepressants.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,676 discloses trans-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-napthalenamine derivatives useful as antidepressants.
It has now been discovered that the compounds disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. patents have sigma receptor binding activity and are therefore useful in the treatment of psychosis, inflammation and as immunosuppressants.

Use of 4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthalenamine derivatives in the treatment of psychosis, inflammation and as immunosuppressants


The system of the present invention senses and compares the unique Infra-Red (IR) image pattern from an individual's finger to another IR image pattern of the same finger stored within memory components of the system. Special purpose processors within the system compare the two image patterns and determine if one pattern is a duplicate of the another. If so, the system becomes "enabled", verifying an individual attempting to use the transaction media is the only one having authorization to do so.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an identity verification device for use with transaction media. More specifically, the system of the present invention eliminates the mechanism used to perpetrate fraudulent and unauthorized use of transaction systems.
The illegal use and receipt of services from a transaction system constitutes a type of criminal offense commonly referred to as transaction fraud. As a national problem, transaction fraud costs consumers, financial institutions, federal, state, and local governments many billions of dollars each year. Eventually, all these costs are passed back to the consumer in the form of higher prices, higher interest rates, and increased taxes.
The principle mechanism used to perpetrate transaction revolves around the use of transaction media. Transaction media are supposed to identify the individual in possession of the media and confirm they have authorization to exchange services from a particular transaction system. Stated another way, transaction media are supposed to answer both parts of the question, "Are you who you say your are and do you have authorization to use this transaction system?".
The appearance of most transaction media will normally exhibit some measure of authority for an individual to use a transaction system. Common forms of transaction media will identify the specific transaction system (e.g. Visa, American Express, etc.), an individual's name, and an account number, at a minimum. By doing so, the appearance of the transaction media will, as a minimum, exhibit an answer to the latter portion of this question.
However, the mere possession of a transaction media will seldom, if ever, exhibit an attribute of personal uniqueness sufficient to confirm the identity of an individual in possession of the media. This leaves the first part of the question unanswered and, in turn, prevents the latter portion of the question to be answered with certainty. The mechanism for perpetrating transaction fraud revolves around this uncertainty in identity verification as demonstrated by transaction media.
A solution to the problem of transaction fraud involves eliminating this mechanism. This requires finding means to verify the individual in possession of a transaction media is, in fact, the same person who has been given authorization to use the media. But, unless the identity verification is also used for enabling the transaction media to interface with a corresponding transaction device, the mechanism for perpetrating transaction fraud will remain intact.
Many innovations from the prior art have suggested methods for solving the problem of transaction fraud. These innovations have included, among others, the use of secret codes, Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), fingerprints, and photographs with transaction media. Some of these solutions have proven to be either too expensive or too cumbersome for implementing on a large scale. Others have simply made the crime of transaction fraud more difficult to perpetrate. Few, if any, have yet to succeed in eliminating the problem altogether.
Secret codes and PIN numbers for one individual, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,081, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,455, as examples, can be stolen, given away, discovered, bought, or even sold to someone else. In many instances, the PIN or secret code belonging to one individual can be guessed and used by another person having illegally acquired the transaction media belonging to someone else. Consequently, innovations of this sort do not require a linkage between personal uniqueness and identity verification with an authorization to use a transaction system. As a result, secret codes and PIN numbers have not eliminated the mechanism used for perpetrating transaction fraud.
Personal photographs on transaction media, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,526, do address the issue of personal uniqueness. However, photographs do not always reflect the current appearance of an individual and can often be altered or exchanged directly on the media itself. Like secret codes and PIN numbers, photographs also do not establish a linkage between identity verification and authorization to use a transaction system, especially in the case of automated transaction systems. Consequently, and although using personal photographs on transaction media may serve to mitigate the crime of transaction fraud, photographs will not eliminate the mechanism used to perpetrate transaction fraud.
Fingerprints are most often regarded as the method of choice for verifying personal identity in conjunction with the use of transaction media. The prior art contains several variations on the theme of using fingerprint identification systems. U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,622, U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,036, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,363 are typical examples of such innovations.
Automated fingerprint identification systems, however, are expensive to procure, use, and maintain for large population segments. In addition, consumers are opposed to allowing such personal information as their fingerprints to reside within some non-criminal or non-security related system. This is considered to be an invasion of personal privacy.
Other analysis of innovations from the prior art reveals similar themes toward the inclusion of methods that remain specific to the transaction media but not unique to the individual in possession of the media. Still further analysis of the prior art reveals these innovations neglect to consider the transaction media to transaction device interface. A solution to the problem of transaction fraud must consider not only these deficiencies in the prior art but also a range of other requirements necessary to both eliminate the mechanism used to perpetrate this type of crime and do so in a cost effective manner. A summary of these requirements are as follows:
1. An attribute of personal uniqueness must be used with the transaction media that cannot be duplicated, given away, forgotten, stolen, worn off, tampered with, transferred, or used by any other individual. PA1 2. A solution must control the transaction media to transaction device interface based upon the identity verification process, not upon the action of an individual in possession of the transaction media. PA1 3. A solution must be simple to operate, be accurate, and reliable. PA1 4. A solution must not inconvenience the consumer or portend to be an invasion of the consumer's personal privacy. PA1 5. A solution must be affordable and flexible enough to be used in a variety of transaction media and with a variety of corresponding transaction device and system configurations.
The form, fit, and function of the present invention is designed to meet the requirements stated. Herein also lies the essential differences between innovations from the prior art and the present invention as heretofore described.

Infra-red imaging and pattern recognition system


Eyewear having radiation monitoring capability is disclosed. Radiation, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, infrared (IR) radiation or light, can be measured by a detector. The measured radiation can then be used in providing radiation-related information to a user of the eyewear. Advantageously, the user of the eyewear is able to easily monitor their exposure to radiation.

It is common for people to be exposed to various types of radiation. Often excessive exposure to radiation can be hazardous to one's health. One type of radiation that frequently raises a health concern is ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation is subdivided into three types: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-C radiation has wavelengths in the range of 200 to 285 nanometers (nm) and is totally absorbed by the earth's atmosphere. UV-B, from about 285 to 318 nm, is known to cause skin cancer in humans. UV-A, from about 315 to 400 nm, is mostly responsible for tanning. However, UV-A has also been found to play some role in skin cancer and is the cause of eye cataracts, solar retinitis, and corneal dystrophies.
Although several UV radiation measuring and warning instruments have been developed and made commercially available, these instruments are disadvantageous for various reasons. One disadvantage is that the instruments are often a stand alone, special purpose device. As a result, a user must separately wear the special purpose device, which can be intrusive and often inconvenient. Another disadvantage is that those instruments, even if separate but attachable to other devices, hinder or impede the design for the devices. Thus, there is a need for improved approaches to measure and inform persons of UV radiation levels.