A flow control method and system including an algorithm for deciding to transmit an arriving packet into a processing queue or to discard it, or, in the case of instructions or packets that must not be discarded, a similar method and system for deciding at a service event to transmit an instruction or packet into a processing queue or to skip the service event. The transmit probability is increased or decreased in consideration of minimum and maximum limits for each flow, aggregate limits for sets of flows, relative priority among flows, queue occupancy, and rate of change of queue occupancy. The effects include protection of flows below their minimum rates, correction of flows above their maximum rates, and, for flows between minimum and maximum rates, reduction of constituent flows of an aggregate that is above its aggregate maximum. Practice of the invention results in low queue occupancy during steady congestion.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to computer networks in general and in particular to congestion management in computer networks.
2. Prior Art
Computer networks are an important mode for communicating and disseminating information. Network administrators are demanding more tools and features to enable profitable services. The tools and features should be simple to understand and implement.
Even though computer networks are diverse entities, a typical one includes end user terminals or workstations coupled by an infrastructure which includes transmission network and interconnecting devices. The transmission network may include transmission media such as optical fiber, wireless, wired, or similar communication media. The infrastructure may be as elaborate as the WWW (Worldwide Web) better known as the Internet or as simple as a local area network (LAN) using ethernet or token ring technology. The public switch telephone network is also an infrastructure for network users. The interconnecting devices, providing access to the transmission media, may include switches, routers, bridges, network interface cards (NICs), or similar devices.
A switch is a network node that directs datagrams on the basis of Medium Access Control (MAC) addresses, that is, Layer 2 in the OSI (Open System Interconnect) model well known to those skilled in the art. A switch can also be thought of as a multiport bridge, a bridge being a device that connects two Local Area Network (LAN) segments together and forwards packets on the basis of Layer 2 data.
A router is a network node that directs datagrams on the basis of finding the longest prefix in a routing table of prefixes that matches the Internet Protocol (IP) destination addresses of a datagram, all within Layer 3 in the OSI model. A Network Interface Card (NIC) is a device that interfaces a network such as the Internet with an edge resource such as a server, cluster of servers, or server farm. A NIC might classify traffic in both directions for the purpose of fulfilling Service Level Agreements (SLAs) regarding Quality of Service (QoS). A NIC may also enforce security policies. Security policies might include dropping packets classified as malicious or as inappropriately directed. Security policies might also include limiting the bandwidth of some flows during congestion, for example, during a Denial of Service attack.
In order to manage data and provide for Quality of Service (QoS) in said network devices, data packets are placed into pipes or flows. A flow control mechanism controls the rate at which data packets are moved from flows into a service queue for further servicing.
A common prior art flow control of packets in computer networks is called Random Early Detection (RED). This function is positioned to be effective as packets arrive. A packet is called transmitted if the decision of flow control is to enqueue it in a buffer to await processing. A packet is called discarded if the decision of flow control is to delete it. Queue occupancy can be expressed as a fraction of total capacity, so 0represents no packets awaiting processing and 1represents complete use of the buffer to store packets. As queue length in the buffer grows from 0to a threshold Lo>=0, RED at first transmits all packets into the queue. As queue occupancy exceeds Lo and increases further, a decreasing fraction of packets is transmitted into the queue. Finally, if occupancy reaches or exceeds a threshold Hi<=1, RED completely discards all arriving packets. In general 0<=Lo<=Hi<=1. The value of queue length in the buffer relative to these thresholds determines whether RED transmits or discards offered packets. For queue occupancy Q that is between Lo and Hi, the fraction T of packets transmitted can be a linear function of the following form:T(Q)=1−(1−Tmin)*(Q−Lo)/(Hi−Lo); where * represents multiplication operator.Here Tmin is a minimum transmitted fraction reached as Q increases to Hi. Many variations on this theme are practiced in the prior art; for example, Q might actually be an exponentially weighted moving average of queue occupancy. As another example, Lo=Hi, the special case known as taildrop flow control. That is, taildrop flow control calls for transmitting all packets if Q is less than Lo=Hi, otherwise transmitting no packets.
The use of multiple thresholds (weights) is called Weighted RED (WRED).
The use of RED or WRED (including many variants) unfortunately can imply some undesirable consequences including:
1. RED and WRED ignore rate of change of queue (queue going up, down)
2. High thresholds can cause high latency and lack of headroom for bursts
3. Low thresholds can cause burst-shaving (low utilization)
4. There is no direct relationship between thresholds and performance
5. Administrative input can be needed to retune thresholds as offered loads change
6. Hand-tuning thresholds is widely recognized as difficult
7. Little or no guidance appears in vendor documents.
8. Bandwidth allocation for hierarchies of bandwidth limits cannot be easily provided
9. Bandwidth allocation that respects piority cannot be easily provided.
A drawback of prior art techniques is that the decision to transmit or discard an arriving packet is made in the device based upon heuristically determined threshold or functions. A queue threshold has little or nothing to do with key characteristics of flows. Threshold flow control systems can also be subject to high queueing latency during even a small degree of oversubscription.
In view of the above RED or WRED does not give a network administrator sufficient control to manage a computer network efficiently. As a consequence a system and method are required to provide the necessary control.

Method and system for managing traffic within a data communication network

International Business Machines Corporation


Various embodiments may be generally directed to techniques and an apparatus to generate a plurality of rate indices from the historical rate information for one or more products, each of the rate indices associated with a different lead time, and determine a rate index from the plurality of rate indices associated with an optimal lead time based on a maximum correlation between the rate index and a reputation index, the reputation index based on the historical reputation information for the one or more products. In addition, a multiple linear regression model comprising one or more parameters may be generated using the rate index, the reputation index, and one or more indicator values, the multiple linear regression model may be used to determine a reputation impacted rate for a product.

Online reputation systems may be used by consumers to generate and publish ratings and reviews for a variety of products, goods and/or services. Other consumers use these ratings and reviews to facilitate decision-making when considering a product, good or service to purchase. For example, hotel ratings may allow a consumer to filter the set of hotels to be considered during an online hotel booking. Ratings and reviews may also be used by a consumer when renting a rental car, purchasing an airline ticket, reserving a table at a restaurant, and so forth.

Online reputation impacted information systems


A nucleotide sequence coding for a repressor protein for regulating gene expression that comprises about a 687 bp nucleotide region beginning about 81 bases upstream from the 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase structural gene shown in FIG. 3. The repressor protein comprises about 229 amino acids. The nucleotide sequence is useful for regulating gene expression in recombinant expression vectors. The vectors and E. coli cells transformed with the vectors are useful for preparing Pseudomonas cepacia 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase.

Soil bacteria metabolize dialkylglycines such as 2-methylalanine via oxidative decarboxylation catalyzed by the vitamin B-6-dependent dialkylglycine decarboxylase (Aaslestad et al., 1984; Bailey et al., 1967; Lamartiniere et al., 1971; Sato et al., 1978).
The 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas cepacia was first reported by Aaslestad and Larson (1964) and was later investigated in several laboratories (Bailey and Dempsey, 1967; Bailey et al., 1970; Lamartiniere et al., 1971; Honma et al., 1972; Sato et al., 1978; and Keller and O'Leary, 1979). This pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme catalyzes decomposition of substrate amino acids such as 2-methylalanine and isovaline in two steps: (i) release of carbon dioxide and ketone with transfer of the amino group to the cofactor to give enzyme-bound pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate and (ii) amino transfer from cofactor to pyruvate forming L-alanine and regenerating the cofactor in the aldehyde oxidation state. The decarboxylation step is analogous to the so-called abortive decarboxylation catalyzed by several pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent amino acid decarboxylases, which competes with the normal hydrogen for carboxylate replacement reaction (Sukhareva, 1986). The dialkylglycine decarboxylase is of interest because it normally catalyzes both decarboxylation and amino transfer. Therefore, the question arises whether this enzyme is an aminotransferase that through evolution has added a decarboxylase capability or is a decarboxylase that has evolved an amino transfer capability. I provide a preliminary answer to this question by showing that the dialkylglycine decarboxylase primary structure is homologous to several aminotransferases but not to decarboxylases.
While the dialkylglycines, 2-methylalanine and isovaline (2-ethylalanine), which are substrates for the enzyme and induce dgdA gene expression, are present in low concentrations in soils, dialkylglycine decomposition is the most likely function of these genes. However, only the dialkylglycines, but no other small- and medium-sized protein-derived amino acids, induce dgdA gene expression. Dialkylglycines may have been introduced into soils by carbonaceous meteorites (Engel et al., 1990) or, at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, by asteroid impact (Zhao et al., 1989). Another source of these amino acids may be soil fungi, such as Trichodema reesii, which produce peptide antibiotics, such as alamethicin, that contain 2-methylalanine and isovaline (Bruckner et al., 1984). Whatever the source, the dialkylglycines are rare in the soil environment. Consequently, tight control over biosynthesis of the decarboxylase appears necessary.
The biological role of the dialkylglycine decarboxylase remains unclear. The substrates 2-methylalanine and isovaline occur naturally as major constituents of cytotoxic peptides produced by soil fungi such as Trichoderma viride (Bruckner et al., 1980; Bruckner and Pryzbylaki, 1984; Schmitt and Jung, 1985) and as organic components of carbonaceous meteorites (Kvenvolden et al., 1971). Racemic isovaline and 2-methylalanine have been found recently in an iridium-rich Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary layer, further supporting an extraterrestrial source for this material (Zhao and Bada, 1989). Thus, the enzyme may have evolved to use the rare dialkylglycines of cosmic origin, or it may be a part of a metabolic pathway for breaking down cytotoxic peptides and the constituent amino acids.
The available structural information about the 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase is sparse. Lamartiniere et al. (1971) showed by equilibrium sedimentation that a dialkylglycine decarboxylase isolated from P. cepacia has a molecular mass of 188 kDa with four identical 47 kDa subunits. They also reported a peptide map and amino acid composition data consistent with a 47 kDa subunit. Sato et al, (1978) also studied the P. cepacia dialkylglycine decarboxylase, showing by gel electrophoresis that the 180 kDa holoenzyme contained four identical subunits of approximately 45 kDa and presenting chemical labeling evidence for a catalytically important histidine residue.
Biochemical interest in 2-methylalanine- and isovaline-binding proteins is based in part on the ability of these proteins to discriminate between the stereoisomers of amino acids with small alpha-alkyl substituents such as alanine, isovaline, and 2-methylnorvaline. The amino acid binding sites of the dialkylglycine decarboxylase and the decarboxylase gene repressor may have some common structural features, since they both bind 2-methylalanine and related amino acids. Another enzyme, hog kidney aminoacylase, which hydrolyzes N-acyl-2,2-dialkylglycines with greater than 99% enantioselectivity (Baker et al., 1952; Keller et al., 1986; Jones et al., 1991), may have evolved similar structural features.

Repressor protein and operon for regulating expression of polypeptides and its use in the preparation of 2,2-dialkyglycine decarboxylase of Pseudomonas cepacia


A method to control an internal combustion engine includes operating the engine with a fuel blend of a first fuel and a second fuel, monitoring a value of a first combustion parameter during engine operation, monitoring a first value for a second combustion parameter during engine operation, determining a second value for the second combustion parameter in accordance with a predetermined correspondence among the first combustion parameter, the second combustion parameter, and a predetermined fuel blend of the first fuel and the second fuel, determining the fuel blend based upon a difference between the first and second values for the second combustion parameter, and controlling the engine based upon the fuel blend.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art.
Diesel engines can operate on a 100% diesel supply of fuel. Additionally, diesel engines can be configured to operate partially or fully on a biodiesel supply of fuel. A biodiesel blend ratio can be identified. B0 fuel is identified as a 100% diesel supply of fuel. B100 fuel is identified as 100% biodiesel supply of fuel. Bx fuel can be identified with x % biodiesel composition and (100%-x %) diesel composition. For example, B40 fuel is a 40% biodiesel and 60% diesel composition.
Diesel fuel and biodiesel fuel include different properties. Diesel fuel has a higher energy density than biodiesel fuel. As a result, in order to achieve a substantially identical result in combustion, a greater mass of biodiesel needs to be injected than would be required of diesel under the same circumstances. Use of fuel in combustion can be adjusted based upon the biodiesel blend ratio.

Robust estimation of biodiesel blend ratio for alternative fuel combustion


The invention relates to an ironing system comprising a steam generating device comprising a steam chamber provided with a coating (11) comprising a coating base material (15) with metal particles (25) at least partly embedded in the coating base material (15), wherein the coating base material (15) comprises a mixed metal silicate compound, wherein the mixed metal silicate compound comprises an alkali metal element and a first metal element, wherein the metal particles (25) comprise a second metal element, and wherein the first metal element and the second metal element are the same chemical element of the periodic table of the elements.

Steam generating devices comprising coatings are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,942, e.g., describes a coating composition containing sodium silicate and hydrated alumina that is deposited on a surface of the flash evaporation chamber in a steam ironing device. The coating is heated, most conveniently by application to an already heated surface and preferably heated to at least about 375° F., to convert it to a more insoluble form.

Ironing system with steam promoter coating


A computer-implemented method includes applying a filter to input data based on an initial set of parameters to generate an initial feature map. The filter is configured to activate a filter function that involves a periodic function. The method includes performing a first linear transform on the initial feature map based on a subset of a first set of parameters to generate a first linear transform. The method includes applying the filter to the input data based on another subset of the first set of parameters to generate a first feature map. The method includes performing a multiplicative operation on the first linear transform and the first feature map to generate a first product. The method includes performing a second linear transform on the first product based on a subset of a second set of parameters to generate a second linear transform. The method includes generating output data that takes into account at least the second linear transform. The output data is a quantity of interest that is generated with high fidelity. The output data is specified by the input data over a space that defines the output data.

In general, artificial neural networks are configured to perform tasks. However, most artificial neural networks are not well suited to handle tasks that involve representing complex natural signals and their derivatives. In this regard, the task of learning and representing signals in fine details is slightly different than the usual classification tasks and/or regression tasks for which most artificial neural networks are known to handle. In this regard, for instance, the task of learning and representing signals may involve obtaining spatial coordinates or spatial-temporal coordinates and providing quantities of interest at those coordinates.
Although there is a sinusoidal representation network (SIREN) that is able to perform such tasks, the SIREN has a number of drawbacks. For example, the SIREN has a neural network architecture that includes many sine activation layers, where one sine activation layer feeds directly into another sine activation layer, which feeds directly into yet another sine activation layer and so forth for all of its sine activation layers in a manner that may negatively affect its speed and/or performance in certain instances. Moreover, the SIREN performs these sine activation operations in a manner that does not have an intuitive interpretation within the context of signal processing.


A circuit and method for selectively coupling redundant components into an integrated circuit. Global I/O lines are coupled to local I/O lines through a number of multiplexors. Bitlines are grouped into blocks of bitlines. A fuse bank couples to the number of multiplexors through a logic/select circuit. When at least one fuse's state indicates that the associated I/O line is inoperable, the logic/select circuit switches the coupling to connect the global I/O line with a redundant local I/O line. The redundant local I/O's are configured to access the original block of bitlines. The arrangement conserves precious chip space and preserves uniform timing between normal and redundant data.

An integrated circuit is a complete electronic circuit, containing transistors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors, along with their interconnecting electrical conductors, e.g., input/output (I/O) lines, contained entirely within a single chip of silicon. Integrated circuits continue to decrease in size, and the circuits they contain continue to increase in complexity. This increases the chances of defective chips resulting from a failed element or a defective conductor.
One way to reduce semiconductor scrap is to provide redundant elements on the integrated circuits. That way, if a primary element is defective a redundant element can be substituted in its place. One area which can benefit from the use of redundancy is with I/O lines of, for example, a memory circuit. Typical memory circuits comprise millions of equivalent memory cells arranged in addressable rows and columns. Modern memory blocks can include as many as 128 or more pair of I/O lines accessing a four (4) mega-bit block of memory. If one or more of these pairs of I/O lines is inoperable, then usable memory space becomes un-accessible.
Early techniques to ameliorate this situation included global re-routing to another location on or off the memory circuit chip. Global re-routing is achieved by using a replacement pair of I/O lines to address a replacement portion of memory. Replacing the defective I/O pair typically comprises opening fuse-type circuits to `program` a redundant I/O pair to respond. However, the replacement I/O and the replacement portion of memory require chip space. The cost of the chip space required by global re-routing was acceptable when I/O lines addressed a smaller number of columns. Now, however, providing additional memory blocks at other locations on or off the chip is very costly. Additionally, the timing between addressing sequences must be adjusted for the re-routing delay. This slows the operation of the memory. Thus, the global re-routing scheme requires circuitry which adversely effects the available real estate and slows the operation of the memory.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for circuits and methods to replace inoperative I/O lines without consuming valuable chip space or creating an operating time penalty.

Circuits and methods for selectively coupling redundant elements into an integrated circuit


A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing perspective-based media playback is presented. A recording of each of a plurality of parties participating in a communication session is acquired. A user is allowed to select a perspective of one of the parties participating in the communications session. At least a portion of at least one of the recordings related to the perspective selected by the user are then played back.

Reviewing of media recorded from communications systems is not a new field, and has been addressed by others. The recording may be used for multiple purposes, including their use as a tool to monitor a user experience, for example for a user calling into a contact center. The recordings can be also be used to provide an indication of the quality of service a particular customer was provided, to determine how a particular call agent is performing, and to evaluate an overall level of quality of service provided by the contact center. Certain media recording systems cull together associated conversations into the same interaction, and therefore encounter the issue of potentially several or more separate conversation streams occurring simultaneously within the same interaction with the communications system.


A deflation control system for the pressurized cuff of an automatic blood pressure gauge uses a pressure sensor to control solenoid valves. The solenoid valves are responsive to respective pulse signals having variable duty cycles to change their time-apertures and, thus, their flow rates. The duty cycles of the pulse signals are controlled to maintain a desired constant rate of pressure reduction in the cuff. A microprocessor generates a control value which determines the duty cycles of the pulse signals. This value is proportional to the initial volume of fluid in the cuff and to a predictive term which is provided from a table that is indexed by cuff pressure. This value is then augmented by a feedback term, generated by a feedback control loop to ensure an accurate deflation rate. The gain of the feedback loop is selected so that the feedback correction signals do not interfere with pulse signals modulating the pressure signal. The feedback term is normalized by the initial volume measurement. In addition, any new valve setting is applied in small steps over a time interval to further ensure smooth changes in the flow rate.

The present invention is directed to apparatus and a method for automatically measuring the blood pressure of an individual and specifically to apparatus and a method for deflating a pressurized cuff to achieve a substantially constant rate of pressure reduction.
A conventional automatic blood pressure gauge includes a resilient inflatable cuff and an electric pump. The pump is controlled by a microprocessor to inflate the cuff with a fluid, such as air, to a preset pressure. In addition, this automatic gauge includes a pressure transducer that measures the instantaneous air pressure levels in the cuff. The pressure signal produced by the transducer is used to determine both the instantaneous air pressure of the cuff and the blood pressure pulse of the individual. This pressure signal is generally digitized and processed by the microprocessor to produce values representing the systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements of the individual.
In operation, the cuff is affixed to the upper arm area of the patient and is then inflated to a pressure greater than the suspected systolic pressure, for example, 150 to 200 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). This pressure level collapses the main artery in the arm, effectively stopping any blood flow to the lower arm. Next, the cuff is deflated slowly and the transducer pressure signal is monitored to detect variations in cuff pressure caused by the patient's pulse, which is coupled into the cuff.
In general, the pulse component of the pressure signal has a relatively low amplitude, on the order of one percent of the total signal. A low level blood pressure pulse signal is first detected when the cuff pressure is released to a level which allows some blood flow into the collapsed artery. As the cuff deflation continues, the pulse signal rises in amplitude as more of the collapsed artery is allowed to expand in response to the pumping action of the heart. At some point, however, the pulse signal reaches a maximum amplitude level and then begins to decrease. This reduction in amplitude occurs as the artery becomes more fully open, the pumped blood flows without significantly expanding the artery, and the degree of mechanical coupling between the cuff and the arm of the patient is reduced.
In many automatic blood pressure measuring systems, the systolic and diastolic pressures are determined based on the pressure at which the pulse signal exhibits maximum amplitude. Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,213 entitled DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE, which is hereby incorporated by reference for its teaching on automatic blood pressure gauges. In this system, the diastolic blood pressure is determined as the pressure, after the maximum pulse amplitude has been measured, at which the amplitude of the pulse signal is 70% of its maximum value.
Another exemplary system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,710 entitled METHOD OF ARTIFACT REJECTION FOR NONINVASIVE BLOOD-PRESSURE MEASUREMENT BY PREDICTION AND ADJUSTMENT OF BLOOD-PRESSURE DATA, which is hereby incorporated by reference for its teaching on automatic blood pressure gauges. In this system, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels are determined as the respective pressures corresponding to the amplitude of the pulse signal being 60% of the maximum value, prior to reaching the maximum value; and 80% of the maximum value, after reaching the maximum value.
FIG. 1a is a plot of the pressure signal versus time for a conventional automatic blood pressure gauge. This exemplary signal is generated by the cuff being quickly inflated to a preset initial pressure, greater than the systolic pressure, linearly deflated to a pressure below the diastolic pressure and then quickly deflated the rest of the way. The pulse signal is shown as a waveform superimposed on the linear deflation portion of the pressure curve. For clarity, the relative amplitude of this signal is exaggerated in the FIGURE.
FIG. 1b is a plot of the pulse signal shown in FIG. 1a, separated from the linearly decreasing pressure signal. FIG. 1c is a plot of the peak-to-peak amplitude of the signal shown in FIG. 1b. As illustrated by FIG. 1c, the amplitude of the pulse signal increases gradually until a time S, at which the linearly decreasing cuff pressure is the same as the systolic pressure of the patient. The amplitude of the pulse signal then increases at a greater rate from time S to time M at which the maximum amplitude is reached. The blood pressure level corresponding to this maximum pulse amplitude is commonly referred to as the mean arterial pressure (MAP). From this maximum amplitude, the pulse signal decreases rapidly to a time D, at which the cuff pressure is the diastolic pressure. The signal amplitude decreases from the point D until the cuff is entirely deflated.
In the second patent referenced above, a microcomputer is used to collect pressure data for a stepped reduction of cuff pressure. At each step, the cuff pressure is held constant and the signal provided by the pressure transducer is monitored for variations representing the blood pressure pulse signal. This data is then filtered to obtain a data value corresponding to a peak on the curve shown in FIG. 1b. The peak points collected over many pressure steps are fit to a curve, such as the one shown in FIG. 1c, which represents the peak-to-peak amplitudes of the waveform shown in FIG. 1b. The maximum pulse amplitude is determined from this curve.
In the referenced patent, the systolic blood pressure value is determined by locating the point S on the curve shown in FIG. 1c, prior to the occurrence of the maximum value, at which the pulse amplitude is 60% of the maximum value. The cuff pressure value which corresponds to this point is defined as the systolic pressure. Similarly, the diastolic pressure value is determined as the pressure value which corresponds to the time D in FIG. 1c. As described above, this time is after the occurrence of the maximum value of the pulse signal, when the amplitude of pulse signal is 80% of the maximum value.
In order to accurately determine the systolic and diastolic pressures of the patient, it is important to ensure that the sampling density of the points which define the curve 1b is substantially constant over the entire time that the blood pressure pulse signal is sampled. A relatively high sampling density is preferred to provide for accurate interpolation between samples and to decrease the effect of spurious "noise" pulses on the measured values. It is desirable to complete this task in a relatively short time period, so as to provide quick results and to minimize patient anxiety and discomfort. Yet, this task is complicated by differences in blood pressure from person to person and in one person within a single day. For example, the systolic blood pressure of an individual may range between 90 mmHg and 180 mmHg in a single day between periods of sleep and periods of exercise. At the same time, the diastolic pressure may range between 50 mmHg and 110 mmHg. Furthermore, the blood pressure range of children and neonates is to be considered. Consequently, to ensure that accurate measurements are made for everyone who may be tested, it is desirable for the blood pressure gauge to release cuff pressure over a wide range of cuff pressure values in a relatively short time, either in controlled steps, such as in the second referenced patent, or at a substantially constant rate, such as in the first referenced patent.
The deflation of a fixed volume container through a fixed orifice area generates a pressure deflation curve which approximates a decaying exponential. One method to obtain a linear deflation rate is to use a valve having a controllable orifice area, for example, a needle valve which can be mechanically actuated to change its orifice area. Valves of this type, however, can be difficult to control.
The size of the valve orifice may be controlled using a closed loop control system, which changes the orifice area of the valve in a manner which holds the first derivative of the measured cuff pressure value substantially constant. To minimize errors and to ensure a short settling time from pressure transients caused, for example, by patient motion, it is desirable to use a control loop having a relatively short time constant.
This type of system, however, may affect the measurement of the blood pressure pulses. It may interpret the pulse signal as a transient pressure change and attempt to compensate for it in order to maintain a constant deflation rate. This action may undesirably reduce the amplitude of some of the pulses, thus changing the shape of the pulse amplitude curve shown in FIG. 1c.
One method for overcoming this problem is disclosed in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,710. In this patent, a microprocessor conditions a valve to reduce cuff pressure in predefined steps. At each step, multiple pulse amplitude measurements are taken. These measurements are processed to remove artifacts and the resulting values are used to generate an interpolated curve of pulse amplitude versus cuff pressure.
The deflation process is controlled by an algorithm which predicts a range of values that indicate valid pulse amplitudes. Based on a calculated pulse amplitude curve and the measured pulse amplitude at each step, this algorithm predicts the pulse amplitude for the next step. Any detected error between the actual and predicted pulse amplitude values for the next step indicates an artifact and the erroneous pulse is ignored.
Although the referenced patent includes a predictive algorithm, it is not used to control the deflation process directly, rather it is used for artifact detection.

Air flow control apparatus and method for an automatic blood pressure gauge


A push-to-talk assembly includes a metal ring defining an interior aperture and including at least one exterior protrusion configured to couple the metal ring to a surface of the portable communication device. The push-to-talk assembly further includes a button coupled to the metal ring and including a flexible polymer material disposed within the interior aperture and co-molded to the metal ring. The button includes a first side configured to be contacted and pressed, and a second, opposite side configured to face an interior of the portable communication device. The push-to-talk assembly further includes a metal backing plate coupled to the second side of the button.

Portable communication devices such as, for example, two-way radios, land mobile radios, hand-held telephones and the like often include push-to-talk assemblies. Push-to-talk is a means of communication commonly employed in wireless communication services that controls the switching between voice transmission and voice reception modes. These assemblies typically include buttons that when pressed allow a user to speak to another portable communication device.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Button assembly for a portable communication device


Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses that use counter based phase signaling to transmit digital data. The counter based phase signaling uses a reduced number of transitions to transmit a large number of bits. A method of counter based phase signaling includes transmitting a reference transition to start multiple-bit data block transmissions from a transmitter module to a receiver module, starting a first counter to count in accordance with a first clock of the transmitter module, and transmitting a first data transition corresponding to transmitting a first multiple-bit data block from the transmitter module to the receiver module when a counted number by the first counter corresponds to the first multiple-bit data block. The first clock has a same frequency as a second clock in the receiver module.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Various techniques are used for transmitting information. For example, modulation techniques, such as amplitude modulation, phase modulation, frequency modulation, and the like, are suitably used in communication systems to transmit information. From another aspect, a communication system can suitably use parallel transmission or serial transmission to suit its needs. In an example, a communication device transmits information internally in a parallel format, and transmits information externally in a serial format. The communication device can include a serializer/deserializer (SerDes) that converts data format between the parallel format and the serial format.

Method and apparatus for phase signaling


Organic polymers for use in laminates including capacitors, wherein the polymer includes repeat units of the formula:

Organic polymeric materials, such as organic dielectrics, are used in a wide variety of electronic devices, including optoelectronic devices. Examples include transistors, diodes, capacitors (e.g., embedded capacitors), resistors, which can be used in various arrays to form amplifiers, receivers, transmitters, inverters, and oscillators, for example. The organic polymeric materials can be used in printed circuit boards and integrated circuit (IC) packages.
Organic semiconductors, such as tetracene, pentacene, and sexithiophene, are currently of great interest for a variety of electronic applications as well. One of the key benefits to using organic semiconductors, versus standard silicon-based materials, is the potential to use solution deposition techniques. However, in order for this benefit to be fully realized, all components of the device should be deposited from solution, including the dielectric layer.
Furthermore, in order to obtain useful devices (e.g., transistors), it is important to have a reasonable charge carrier mobility within the device, preferably greater than 1.0 cm2/V·s. Historically, organic polymer dielectrics have produced devices with low mobilities. However, an advantage of using organic polymer dielectrics is that they are solution processible and photopatternable. Thin layers of organic polymers have been shown to improve mobilities in devices prepared on inorganic oxides, such as Al2O3 or SiO2, which have dielectric constants that are higher than most organic polymers.
A number of organic polymers have been considered as dielectric materials. These include polyimides, parylene C, crosslinked benzocyclobutene, and cyanoethylpullulan. See, for example, C. D. Sheraw et al., "Spin-on polymer gate dielectric for high performance organic thin film transistors", Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings v 558, Materials Research Society, Warrendale, Pa., USA, pages 403-408 (2000); U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,243 (Katz et al.); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,144 (Garnier et al.). Mobilities measured in devices prepared using these polymers, however, are typically no higher than 0.7 cm2 /V·s.
In addition, a high dielectric constant is desirable to permit the use of relatively thick films, which have a relatively lower probability of pinhole defects than thin films. Also, a high dielectric constant is desirable to lower the operating voltages of devices while maintaining the same charge polarization.
Thus, organic polymers are desired for a variety of electronic devices (e.g., transistors, capacitors, etc.). Particularly, organic polymers are desired that combine relatively high observed device mobilities with relatively high dielectric constants and that are preferably capable of being solution-deposited, e.g., by spin-coating or similar techniques.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Organic polymers, laminates, and capacitors

Abstract: wherein: each R1 is independently H, an aryl group, Cl, Br, I, or an organic group that includes a crosslinkable group; each R2 is independently H, an aryl group or R4; each R3 is independently H or methyl; each R5 is independently an alkyl group, a halogen, or R4; each R4 is independently an organic group that includes at least one CN group and has a molecular weight of about 30 to about 200 per CN group; and n=0-3; with the proviso that at least one repeat unit in the polymer includes an R4.


Interferometric method(s) and apparatus for accurately measuring aspherical surfaces and transmitted wavefronts, particularly of the type having relatively large diameters and departure employed in lithographic applications used in the fabrication of integrated circuits and the like. An interferometer, preferably of the Fizeau type, is provided with at least one aspherical reference surface that is positioned adjacent the test optic. The test optic can be either rotationally or non-rotationally symmetric, a reflecting aspherical test surface, or a refracting system that is illuminated by an aspherical wavefront or produces a transmitted aspherical wavefront. In any case, the departure of the test optic from its intended performance is ultimately determined. The aspherical reference surface is illuminated by an aspherical wavefront provided by upstream optics structured so that the incident aspherical wavefront propagates normal to the aspherical reference surface across its entire surface. The illuminating aspherical wavefront is partially reflected and partially transmitted by the reference surface to provide an aspherical measurement wavefront that is incident to the test optic and has a shape nominally the same as that of the test surface in the reflective case or of the design transmitted wavefront in the refractive case. The aspherical test surface reflects the incident aspherical wavefront and it combines with the reference aspherical wavefront to provide an interferogram containing phase information indicative of the shape of the wavefront generated by the test optic. The interferogram is imaged onto a preferably two dimensional photodetection system that provides an output signal that is analyzed to extract the relevant phase information and convert it to numerical and display form. Phase shifting interferometric techniques are preferably used in the performance of the analysis along with alignment apparatus and procedures for assuring accurate measurement of the test optic.

This invention generally relates to the field of interferometry and, in particular, to apparatus and method(s) for the high accuracy measurement of aspherical optical surfaces and wavefronts using the interference of light.
A single aspherical optical surface can be used to replace several conventional spherical or plano optical surfaces or elements in an optical system to improve the system""s optical performance by reducing optical aberrations and increasing optical transmission, for example. In lithography tools where use is made of shorter wavelengths to make integrated circuits, the limited choice of materials from which refractive optical elements can be made necessitates the use of refractive and reflective aspherical optical surfaces to achieve the ever increasing performance demands for this application. Surface errors for optical surfaces needed for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools operating at wavelengths of 13.6 nm, for example, must be less than 0.1 nm for reflective aspherical surfaces. Not only are the tolerances for the measurement accuracy increasing, but the magnitude of the aspherical departure from a reference sphere is increasing, for example, to nearly 1000 micrometers for some applications. As the integrated circuit line widths shrink, the size (diameter) of the optical elements is increasing to nearly 500 millimeters.
The measurement of aspherical surfaces and wavefronts has been very difficult because of the large departure from a best-fit reference sphere thereby producing an interferogram with many fringes that are very closely spaced. Prior art techniques have used some sort of aspherical null to mitigate this problem. Also, the Nyquist condition which requires at least two pixels per fringe, imposes a severe limit on what can be measured with available 2-D cameras. Since fringe spatial density is proportional to the slope of the aspherical surface, or wavefront, even weakly aspherical surfaces and wavefronts will violate the Nyquist condition. Typically, prior art systems are limited to surfaces with no more than 10-20 waves of aspherical departure.
In addition, for many of the prior art techniques, the wavefront difference measured in the interferogram is not simply the difference between the test and reference wavefronts. An aspherical measurement system requires that the entire interferometric measurement system, including all of the interferometer""s optics, be ray traced for the aspherical surface under test. This requirement understandably complicates the calibration of the measurement system and also reduces the accuracy of the measurements.
While high accuracy aspherical optical surfaces have been difficult and expensive to make, thereby limiting their use, there have been improvements in the fabrication of aspherical surfaces which will make them more prevalent. With fabrication improvements in, for example, magneto-rheological finishing, ion figuring, and computer controlled polishing, there is a concomitant need for improved aspherical measurement methods and apparatus to provide the error maps for these manufacturing methods to enable them to produce the aspherical optical surfaces needed to meet the requirements of integrated circuit lithography tools such a steppers and scanners operating at wavelengths of 193 nm, 157 nm, and 13.6 nm, for example.
There are many methods and apparatus in the prior art for measuring aspherical optical surfaces, for example: 1. Contacting and non-contacting stylus based profilers; 2. Contacting and non-contacting stylus based coordinate measuring machines; 3. Spherical wavefront interferometers; 4. Lateral and radial shearing interferometers; 5. Interferometers with null lenses in the measurement path; 6. Scanning spherical wave interferometers; 7. Scanning white light interferometers; 8. Sub-aperture stitching interferometers; 9. Interferometers using computer generated holograms-CGHs; 10. Point diffraction interferometers-PDIs; 11. Longer wavelength interferometry; and 12. Two wavelength interferometry. While these techniques have utility for many applications, they are limited in their operational capabilities or precision compared with those needed for today""s evolving lithography applications.
Contacting and non-contacting stylus based profilers mechanically scan the aspherical surface under test and, therefore, are slow because they measure only a few data points at a time. Slow techniques are very susceptible to measurement errors due to temperature variations during the measurement. The same limitations apply to contacting and non-contacting stylus based coordinate measuring machines.
Spherical wavefront interferometers usually require the spacing between the element generating the spherical wavefront and the aspherical surface under test to be scanned thereby increasing the measurement time for the entire surface under test thus introducing another parameter which must be measured, usually by another measurement device, and means, commonly known as stitching, for connecting the data from the various zones which fit as the spacing is scanned.
Scanning white light interferometers have many of the same limitations as spherical wavefront interferometers. Lateral and radial shearing interferometers usually measure the slope of the surface under test and thereby introduce measurement errors during the reconstruction of the surface under test via integration of the slopes. This latter type of limitation applies to differential types of profiling techniques as well.
Sub-aperture stitching interferometers introduce serious measurement errors in the stitching process. Interferometers using computer generated holograms are susceptible to errors introduced by the CGH and stray Moirxc3xa9 patterns. It is also difficult to calibrate, i.e., know the calibration of the CGH. Point diffraction interferometers are a class of spherical wavefront interferometers, and therefore, have many of the same limitations, as well as poor lateral spatial resolution.
None of the prior art approaches is entirely satisfactory since each involves a trade-off that places long lead times on the design of the measurement apparatus and method, requires additional fabrication, increases the difficulty of using and calibrating the measurement apparatus, decreases the accuracy and precision, and greatly increases the cost and delivery time of the aspherical optical element
Consequently, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for the high accuracy measurement of aspherical optical surfaces and wavefronts.
It is another object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring surfaces and wavefronts with large aspherical departures and surface slopes.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces and wavefronts with large diameters (clear apertures).
Still another object of the present invention is to provide interferometric methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces and wavefronts with no refractive optics in the interferometer (measurement) cavity.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces and wavefronts with reduced sensitivity to temperature changes.
It is yet another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces and wavefronts with reduced sensitivity to turbulence of the gas in the interferometer (measurement) cavity.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces and wavefronts with high speed.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces and wavefronts while meeting the Nyquist condition for the most challenging applications
And another object of the present invention is to provide high spatial data density methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces and wavefronts.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces while having a relaxed tolerance to which the position on the aspherical surface from which the measurement data is gathered.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces and wavefronts while having relaxed tolerance for ray tracing the interferometer""s optical system.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces and wavefronts while providing an error map used in the production of aspherical optical surfaces and their assembly into lens systems.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for measuring aspheric wavefronts.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for accurately measuring aspheric surfaces in the volume production of aspherical optical surfaces and their assembly into lens systems.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
This invention relates to interferometric methodologies for the accurate measurement of aspherical surfaces and wavefronts. Method(s) and apparatus of the invention are provided for measuring aspherical optical surfaces and wavefronts that may be of large diameter and include substantial aspheric departures. The apparatus of the invention in one aspect comprises an interferometer, preferably a Fizeau interferometer, having an optical system which contains an aspherical reference surface which is illuminated by an incident aspherical wavefront generated by either refractive or diffractive optics located upstream of it. The incident aspherical wavefront is normal to the aspherical reference surface. The aspherical reference surface acts as both a beamsplitter and a reference surface for the interferometer. The aspherical reference surface reflects a portion of the incident aspherical wavefront into a reference wavefront and transmits a portion of the incident aspherical wavefront into an aspherical measurement wavefront. The aspherical reference surface and the aspherical surface under test are preferably separated by a small distance, d, so as to minimize environmentally induced measurement errors and noise. The aspherical measurement wavefront propagates normal to and is reflected by the aspherical surface under test, and the reflected aspherical measurement wavefront is recombined with the reference aspherical wavefront to form an interferogram which is indicative of the shape of the aspherical surface under test. The phase of the resulting interferogram is modulated, preferably by wavelength modulation, using any of the well known techniques for this purpose. In the instant invention, angular and positional alignment of the aspherical surface under test to the aspherical reference surface is done by analysis of the interferogram. The aspherical surface under test can then be mechanically aligned with coarse and fine positioning actuators which can be either under manual or computer control. Analysis of the final interferogram provides values of any residual misalignments.
In another aspect of the apparatus of the invention, aspheric wavefronts from one or more refractive elements are measured to determine the departure of their transmitted wavefronts compared with those anticipated.
In yet another aspect of the invention apparatus and methods are provided for aligning the aspheric reference surface with the aspheric wavefront illuminating it.

Apparatus and method for measuring aspherical optical surfaces and wavefronts


Provided are compositions and methods for the treatment of macular edema, in particular that results from central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), age related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetes, or eye surgical procedures. The composition strengthens retinal health through the prevention, stabilization and/or treatment of macular edema. The composition can include polyphenolic compounds extracted from natural plants, an alpha lipoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and/or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and ubiquinone.

The leading causes of vision impairment (e.g., low vision and blindness) in older Americans include macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy. Age-related visual impairment is second only to arthritis/rheumatism as a cause of disability. Vision loss ranks third below arthritis and heart disease as a top cause of impaired daily functioning in people over the age of 70. The projections are that, by 2020, as many as 5.5 million Americans will suffer from low vision or blindness.
Macular edema occurs when fluid and protein deposits collect on or under the macula of the eye, causing it to thicken and swell. It contributes to vision loss by altering the functional cell relationship in the retina and promoting an inflammatory reparative response. Macular edema may be intracellular or extracellular. Extracellular accumulation of fluid, which is more frequent and clinically more relevant, is directly associated with an alteration of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB).
Macular edema may be caused by retinal vein occlusions (RVOs). RVOs are known as retinal vascular disorders characterized by engorgement and dilatation of the retinal veins with secondary, mostly intraretinal hemorrhages and mostly intraretinal (and partially subretinal) edema, retinal ischemia, and macular edema. RVOs include central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
Various approaches have been documented in attempting to manage CRVO. Grid laser treatment has shown poor efficacy in treating CRVO. Intravitreal injection of steroids led to several undesirable side effects such as cataract or secondary ocular hypertension. Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents has shown promises in treating macular edema of different origins. However, such intervention is considered invasive. Furthermore, patients may need regular injections. In many cases, moreover, they need to continue to receive such treatments for the rest of their lives.
Diabetic macular edema (DME), a retinal thickening involving the center of the macula, represents the most common cause of vision loss in patients affected by diabetes mellitus. DME occurs in approximately 14% of diabetics. The incidence of diabetic macular edema is closely associated with the degree of diabetic retinopathy and the duration and type of the disease. Diabetic retinopathy results from the inner blood-retinal barrier being compromised, which leads to leakage of plasma constituents in the surrounding retina. Vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy may result from several mechanisms. Macular edema or capillary nonperfusion may directly impair central vision.
Fewer than 10% type II diabetic patients have DME five years after the diagnosis of diabetes, while close to 30% suffer from DME 20 years after the diagnosis. For type I diabetic patients the incident of DME is low in the first five years but is close to 30% 20 years after the diagnosis. Patients treated with insulin have a higher risk of developing macular edema. Photocoagulation is the standard of care for diabetic macular edema. However, many patients are unresponsive to laser therapy and fail to improve after photocoagulation. Current interventions also include the intravitreal administration of steroids. However it may lead to a significant increase in intraocular pressure.
Patients with diabetic macular edema have been found to have increased levels of VEGF in the vitreous. Thus, potent and specific anti-VEGF drugs have become common treatment of diabetic macular edema. On the other hand, the frequent injections for a presumably extended period that may be required with the currently available anti-VEGF drugs, make injection-related complications such as infectious endophthalmitis a drawback.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central blindness or low vision among the elderly in industrialized countries. In the US alone, there are close to 10 million patients suffering from AMD, close to 2 million have advanced AMD, which is also called wet AMD. The other form of AMD is called dry AMD, which is an early stage of the disease and may result from the aging and thinning of macular tissues, depositing pigment in the macula, or a combination of the two processes.
For generalized health problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure, it is evident that systemic medical therapy should be considered first and foremost. However, systemic approach has fallen to the sideline when it comes to treating retinal disorders. This is simply due to their poor bioavailability in retina when products are taken systemically. In addition, in order to have a therapeutic level of product in retina, higher dose must be taken which may lead to systemic toxicity.

Compositions and methods for treating macular edema


A relay station 130 includes a base station communication unit 350 which performs radio communication with a radio communication terminal, a terminal communication unit 354 which performs radio communication with the base station 120, a command transmission unit 356, 556 which transmits a command to alternate communication and non-communication per a predetermined number of frames to the base station through the terminal communication unit; and a communication switching unit 358, 558 which makes the base station communication unit and the radio communication terminal be in communication while the terminal communication unit and the base station are in non-communication based on the command, and making the base station communication unit and the radio communication terminal while the terminal communication unit and the base station are in communication based on the command.

In recent years, radio communication terminals such as PHSs (Personal Handy phone System), portable telephones, and the like have been widely available, and it has been possible to make calls or obtain information anywhere and anytime. In particular, lately, as an amount of available information has shown steady growth, high speed and high quality radio communication systems have been introduced to download a large amount of data.
As one of the high-speed digital radio communication systems, there is an OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Access) system such as IEEE802.11 or WiMAX (e.g., "Mobile WiMAX-Part I: A Technical Overview and Performance Evaluation" prepared on Behalf of the WiMAX Forum, Feb. 21, 2006). The OFDMA system is one of data multiplexing systems, which effectively uses a frequency band by using a plurality of carriers on a unit time axis and making phases of signal waves orthogonal between adjacent carriers to partially overlap bands of the carriers. In addition, compared to an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) system, which assigns sub-channels in time division to individual users, the OFDMA system allows a plurality of users to share all sub-channels and assigns sub-channels having the highest transmission efficiency to each user.
If the above-described next-generation high-speed radio communication method, such as WiMAX, uses high frequency range of 2.5 GHz or higher, communication coverage for one base station is reduced in an area where the radio wave state is poor due to many obstacles or other causes. Thus, in order to cover all environments, a plurality of base stations need to be installed. In addition, since detouring of radio waves is suppressed, it is highly likely that the inside of a building is out of the communication coverage.
Accordingly, the technology for reducing a range of a service area, where communication with a base station is not available due to an effect of shadowing, which occurs from hiding by obstacles such as a building, or other causes, by installing a relay device for relaying the base station and a radio terminal device is disclosed (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-74325). In addition, the technology, in which a relay station effectively controls the time of transition from reception to transmission by defining a plurality of transmission windows in a transmission frequency band, is disclosed (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-136201).
The relay station is installed and fixed in a building or a tower, and furthermore, may be installed in moving objects, into which a person can take, such as buses or subways. The relay station installed in a moving object is capable of maintaining the relative position relationship to a radio communication terminal, so that stable communication of the radio communication terminal can be secured.

Relay station and radio communication relay method


A liquid discharge head includes nozzles discharging liquid droplets; liquid chambers in communication with the nozzles; liquid supply paths in communication with the individual liquid chambers; and a common liquid chamber in communication with the liquid supply paths. Further, liquid is supplied from a direction from the common liquid chamber to the liquid supply paths, the direction crossing a direction of liquid flowing in the liquid supply paths, and in a wall surface of the common liquid chamber on a side closer to the individual liquid chambers, an inclined surface is formed in a direction orthogonal to a nozzle array direction in a manner that the common liquid chamber gradually expands as the common liquid chamber approaches the liquid supply paths.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a plotter, and a multi-function peripheral, there has been known, for example, an inkjet recording medium that employs a liquid discharge recording method using a recording head including a liquid discharge head (liquid droplet discharge head) discharging liquid droplets.
For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-025663 discloses a liquid discharge head including a plurality of nozzles discharging liquid droplets, a plurality of respective liquid chambers in communication with the nozzles, a plurality of liquid supply paths supplying liquid to the respective liquid chambers, and a common liquid chamber in communication with the liquid supply paths, in which liquid is supplied from the common liquid chamber to the liquid supply paths in the direction orthogonal to the direction parallel to the liquid flow direction in the liquid supply paths, and a filter member is disposed between the common liquid chamber and the liquid supply paths.

Liquid discharge head and image forming apparatus


Disclosed are a CMOS image sensor capable of improving the focusing capability of light and a method for manufacturing the same. The CMOS image sensor includes a plurality of first micro-lenses formed in the upper part of the planarization layer, each of the first micro-lenses arranged over a corresponding photodiode, and a plurality of second micro-lenses formed on the planarization layer, each of the plurality of second micro-lenses wrapping a corresponding first micro-lens respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sensor, and more particularly, to a CMOS image sensor capable of maximizing the focusing efficiency of light and achieving an improvement in performance thereof, and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Image sensors are semiconductor devices for converting an optical image into an electric signal. Image sensors are basically classified into charge coupled devices (CCD) image sensors and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors.
A CMOS image sensor includes a matrix of photodiodes that sense light irradiated thereto, and a CMOS logic circuit unit to convert the sensed light into electric signals for data collection. The greater the light reception of the photodiodes, the better the photo-sensitivity of the image sensor.
In order to enhance the photo-sensitivity of the image sensor, there have been efforts to increase the ratio of an area of the photodiodes to the entire area of the image sensor, i.e. to increase a fill factor. In another conventional technology, the paths of light rays incident on regions other than the photodiodes are changed, so that the light rays are focused onto the photodiodes.
A representative example of the focusing technology as stated above is forming convex micro-lenses by use of a high light-transmitting material. The micro-lenses are located over the photodiodes to refract the paths of incident light rays, thereby allowing a greater amount of light to reach the photodiodes.
The micro-lenses refract light rays running parallel to an optical axis of the micro-lens to a predetermined focal point on the optical axis.
A prior art CMOS image sensor is explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of a prior art CMOS image sensor.
As shown in FIG. 1, the prior art CMOS image sensor includes: one or more photodiodes 11 formed on a semiconductor substrate (not shown) to produce electric charges based on the amount of incident light; an inter-insulation layer 12 formed on the overall surface of the semiconductor substrate including the photodiodes 11; a protective layer 13 formed on the inter-insulation layer 12; red, green, and blue color filter layers 14 arranged on the protective layer 13 side by side, each to transmit light of a particular wavelength; a planarization layer 15 formed on the color filter layers 14; and one or more convex micro-lenses 16 having a predetermined curvature, the micro-lenses being formed on the planarization layer 15 for focusing light of a particular wavelength onto the photodiodes 11 by transmitting the light through a corresponding one of the color filter layers 14.
Although not shown in the accompanying drawings, the inter-insulation layer 12 contains an optical shielding layer to prevent light from reaching regions other than the photodiodes 11.
Instead of the photodiodes, as can be easily expected, photo gates may be used as devices for sensing light.
In the prior art, the curvature and height of the micro-lenses 16 are determined in consideration of various factors, such as a focal point of the focused light. Mainly, the micro-lenses 16 are made of a polymer based resin, and are fabricated via deposition, patterning, and reflow processes.
Specifically, the micro-lenses 16 must have an optimal size, thickness, and radius of curvature, which are determined by the size, position, and shape of each unit pixel, the thickness of the light sensing device, and the height, position, and size of the light shielding layer.
The height and radius of curvature of the micro-lenses 16 are determined in consideration of various factors, such as a focal point of the focused light, as stated above. A photosensitive resist layer is typically used to form the micro-lenses 16. After coating the photosensitive resist layer, the photosensitive resist layer is selectively patterned via photo-exposure and development processes, to form a photosensitive resist pattern. Subsequently, the photosensitive resist pattern is subjected to a reflow process.
The profile of the photosensitive resist pattern varies in accordance with a photo-exposure condition including a focal point.
For example, a process performing condition varies in accordance with forming requirements of thin sub-layers, resulting in a variation in the profile of the micro-lens.
Consequently, in a process for manufacturing the prior art CMOS image sensor having the above-described configuration, the micro-lenses 16 provided to enhance the focusing power of light are an important factor for determining the property of the image sensor.
If natural light is irradiated, the micro-lenses 16 serve to focus a greater amount of light onto the photodiodes 11 as light of a particular wavelength is transmitted through a corresponding one of the color filter layers 14.
Specifically, if light reaches the image sensor, the incident light is collected by the micro-lenses 16, and subsequently, is filtered while passing through the color filter layers 14, so that it is finally focused onto the photodiodes 11 arranged beneath the color filter layers 14 in a one-to-one ratio.
The light shielding layer serves to prevent the incident light from running along paths other than the predetermined paths.
The prior art method for manufacturing the CMOS image sensor as stated above, however, has a problem in that the patterning condition of the photosensitive resist pattern is very unstable. This degrades the focusing efficiency of light, resulting in a reduction in the operational performance of the CMOS image sensor.

CMOS image sensor and method for manufacturing the same


Broken links in a sensor network are avoided by representing the network as a DODAG. A rank associated with each node defines a position of each node relative to other nodes, and the rank is in a form of a proper fraction, and the rank of each node never increases to enable loop-free routing.

Smart meters monitor the use of utilities, e.g., electricity, heat, gas and water, by a consumer. Typically, the smart meter communicates with a utility provider via network or grid, which can include, perhaps, millions of smart meters. Smart meters can turn utilities on or off, record usage information, detect service outages, unauthorized use, control utility consumption, and manage payments.
Smart meters must reliably and securely communicate with utility providers. Wired or wireless mesh network can be used. A number of protocols are known, e.g., ANSI C12.18, ANSI C12.19, and ANSI C12.21 for optical communications, as well as IEEE 802.15.4, IEEE P1901.2, and 802.11. The European Union uses IEC 61107 and IEC 62056. In Japan, the Energy Conservation is involved in promoting smart metering, as well as public and private utilities.
Smart meters can be connected to utility providers via one or more concentrators. The concentrators receive metering information from the smart meters, and forward the information to the providers for controlling or monitoring the utilities. The concentrator can also transmit control packets to smart meters for management purposes.
Smart meters can be equipped with lower power and lossy transceivers, such as ZigBee radios, and are deployed in a relatively large geometric region, e.g., entire counties. Therefore, smart meters and concentrators form a large scale wireless network, in which the concentrators maintain the network.
In such a large scale wireless network, data packets have to be relayed from a source node (source) to a destination node (destination) by multiple hop communications unless the source and the destination node are one-hop neighbors. Therefore, optimal routing of the packets is of primary importance, because the network requires high reliability and low latency for both metering information and control packet transmission.
A number of routing methods in mobile ad-hoc networks and wireless sensor networks are known. However, most methods are designed for point-to-point communications in relatively small networks, and therefore are not suited for smart meter networks in which there are only a few dedicated data concentrators.
One routing method is the Routing Protocol for Low Power and Lossy Networks (RPL), which is under development by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). RPL is designed for large scale low power and lossy networks, such as smart meter networks.
In RPL, nodes are organized into one or more Destination Oriented Directed Acyclic Graphs (DODAG). Within a DODAG, a single destination node is the root of DODAG, and the DODAG root node (concentrators) collects the information generated in the network, and routes the information outside of the network, when necessary. RPL constructs and maintains the DODAG structure using DODAG Information Object (DIO) packets, which specify necessary parameters as configured from, and controlled by a policy at the DODAG root.
A rank is one of parameters in the DIO packet for DODAG construction and maintenance. The rank of a node defines a position of the node relative to other nodes with respect to a DODAG root. Each node maintains its own rank. The DODAG root node has the lowest rank of all the node's in the DODAG. Nodes maintain their ranks based on a parent-child relationship in which a child must have a rank strictly greater than all ranks of its parents. The DODAG root node has no parent.
A node can receive multiple DIO packets from neighboring nodes within the same DODAG.
To join a DODAG, the node selects a subset of the DIO packet transmitters as its parents, and determines its rank using an objective (cost) function. Among all its parents, the node selects one parent as its preferred parent to be used as the next hop node along upward routes to the concentrators.
It is assumed that smart meters are not energy-constrained. Instead, electric meters have hardware and communication capacity constraints that are primarily determined by cost, and secondarily by power consumption. As a result, deployments can vary significantly in terms of memory size, computation power and communication capabilities. For this reason, the use of RPL storing or non-storing mode is deployment specific.
When smart meters are memory constrained and cannot adequately store the route tables necessary to support hop-by-hop routing, RPL non-storing mode is preferred. If the nodes are capable of storing such routing tables, then the use of the storing mode may lead to reduced overhead and route repair latency. However, in high-density environments, storing routes can be challenging.
Therefore, RPL support of downward routes is determined by a Mode of Operation (MOP) in the DIO packet. The MOP is configured by the DODAG root, and cannot be changed by other nodes.
The MOP has three options so that the RPL cannot allow downward route or support downward routes with storing mode in which downward routes using in-network routing tables or support downward routes with non-storing mode in which downward routes using source routing from DODAG roots.
The directed acyclic structure is the key in the RPL. The acyclic structure is guaranteed as long as the rank of any node is strictly greater than all ranks of its parent nodes. It is safe for a node to decrease its rank, as long as its new rank remains greater than all ranks of its parents. However, increasing the rank can cause routing loops within the DODAG.
In conventional networks, a broken link can cause a loop. After the broken link detected, a node can advertise a rank of infinity. If this infinity rank advertisement is lost, then other nodes do not receive the advertisement and a packet circulates through the loop ad infinitum.
Though RPL provides a mechanism for resolving loops; it is known that the mechanism can cause even greater problems than the routing loop itself.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a rank computation method for loop-free routing in smart meter networks with broken links. It is also desirable to provide a local DODAG repair method that does not create any loop.

Avoiding broken links in smart meter networks for loop-free routing of packets

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


The present invention relates to engineered outer domain (eOD) immunogens of HIV gp120 and mutants thereof and methods of making and using the same. The present invention also includes fusions of eOD to various protein multimers to enhance immunogenicity. The mutant eODs bind to neutralizing antibody precursors. The mutant eODs can activate germline precursors on the pathway to eliciting a broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) response. The invention also relates to immunized knock-in mice expressing germline-reverted heavy chains. Induced antibodies showed characteristics of bnAbs and mutations that favored binding to near-native HIV-1 gp120 constructs. In contrast, native-like immunogens failed to activate precursors. The invention also relates to rational epitope design that can prime rare B cell precursors for affinity maturation to desired targets.

AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is characterized by several clinical features including wasting syndromes, central nervous system degeneration and profound immunosuppression that results in opportunistic infections and malignancies. HIV is a member of the lentivirus family of animal retroviruses, which include the visna virus of sheep and the bovine, feline, and simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV). Two closely related types of HIV, designated HIV-1 and HIV-2, have been identified thus far, of which HIV-1 is by far the most common cause of AIDS. However, HIV-2, which differs in genomic structure and antigenicity, causes a similar clinical syndrome.
An infectious HIV particle consists of two identical strands of RNA, each approximately 9.2 kb long, packaged within a core of viral proteins. This core structure is surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer envelope derived from the host cell membrane that also includes virally encoded membrane proteins (Abbas et al., Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 4th edition, W.B. Saunders Company, 2,000, p. 454). The HIV genome has the characteristic 5′-LTR-Gag-Pol-Env-LTR-3′ organization of the retrovirus family. Long terminal repeats (LTRs) at each end of the viral genome serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulatory proteins from the host and regulate viral integration into the host genome, viral gene expression, and viral replication.
The HIV genome encodes several structural proteins. The gag gene encodes structural proteins of the nucleocapsid core and matrix. The pol gene encodes reverse transcriptase (RT), integrase (IN), and viral protease (PR) enzymes required for viral replication. The tat gene encodes a protein that is required for elongation of viral transcripts. The rev gene encodes a protein that promotes the nuclear export of incompletely spliced or unspliced viral RNAs. The vif gene product enhances the infectivity of viral particles. The vpr gene product promotes the nuclear import of viral DNA and regulates G2 cell cycle arrest. The vpu and nef genes encode proteins that down regulate host cell CD4 expression and enhance release of virus from infected cells. The env gene encodes the viral envelope glycoprotein that is translated as a 160-kilodalton (kDa) precursor (gp160) and cleaved by a cellular protease to yield the external 120-kDa envelope glycoprotein (gp120) and the transmembrane 41-kDa envelope glycoprotein (gp41), which are required for the infection of cells (Abbas et al., Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 4th edition, W.B. Saunders Company, 2,000, pp. 454-456). gp140 is a modified form of the Env glycoprotein, which contains the external 120-kDa envelope glycoprotein portion and the extracellular part of the gp41 portion of Env and has characteristics of both gp120 and gp41. The nef gene is conserved among primate lentiviruses and is one of the first viral genes that is transcribed following infection. In vitro, several functions have been described, including down-regulation of CD4 and MHC class I surface expression, altered T-cell signaling and activation, and enhanced viral infectivity.
HIV infection initiates with gp120 on the viral particle binding to the CD4 and chemokine receptor molecules (e.g., CXCR4, CCR5) on the cell membrane of target cells such as CD4+ T-cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. The bound virus fuses with the target cell and reverse transcribes the RNA genome. The resulting viral DNA integrates into the cellular genome, where it directs the production of new viral RNA, and thereby viral proteins and new virions. These virions bud from the infected cell membrane and establish productive infections in other cells. This process also kills the originally infected cell. HIV can also kill cells indirectly because the CD4 receptor on uninfected T-cells has a strong affinity for gp120 expressed on the surface of infected cells. In this case, the uninfected cells bind, via the CD4 receptor-gp120 interaction, to infected cells and fuse to form a syncytium, which cannot survive. Destruction of CD4+T-lymphocytes, which are critical to immune defense, is a major cause of the progressive immune dysfunction that is the hallmark of AIDS disease progression. The loss of CD4+ T cells seriously impairs the body's ability to fight most invaders, but it has a particularly severe impact on the defenses against viruses, fungi, parasites and certain bacteria, including mycobacteria.
Viruses have evolved a variety of mechanisms to escape antibody recognition, many of which involve features of the viral surface proteins, such as high variability, steric occlusion, and glycan coating. For HIV, the dense shield of glycans that decorate the viral Env protein was once believed to be refractory to antibody recognition, shielding conserved protein epitopes of important functional significance whose greater exposure would result in increased susceptibility to antibody neutralization.
The outer domain (OD) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 gp120 represents an attractive, if difficult, target for a beneficial immune response to HIV infection. Unlike the entire gp120, the OD is structurally stable and contains the surfaces that interact with both the primary and secondary cellular receptors. The primary strain-specific neutralizing target, the V3 loop, lies within the OD, as do epitopes for two cross-reactive neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), b12 and 2G12, and the contact sites for a number of inhibitory lectins. The OD is poorly immunogenic, at least in the context of complete gp120, but purposeful OD immunization can lead to a substantial antibody response.
An effective vaccine against HIV has not been generated despite its identification more than 30 years ago. An effective HIV vaccine most likely will need to elicit antibodies capable of neutralizing the majority of the diverse strains circulating in the population. A minority of HIV infected individuals eventually do develop such bnAbs, but generally only after years of protracted viral/antibody co-evolution (1, 2). Although they fail to control virus in the individuals themselves, passive transfer of recombinant forms of such bnAbs can prevent infection in animal models (3-8). Hence, there is an expectation that successful elicitation of bnAbs by vaccination prior to infection will be protective in humans, and developing such a bnAb-based vaccine is a major research goal.
The CD4 binding site (CD4bs) antibody VRC01 (9) and other VRC01-class bnAbs identified in at least seven different donors represent a response with distinguishing features that might be amenable to reproducible vaccine elicitation (10-15). In particular, VRC01-class bnAbs share a mode of binding that uses the immunoglobulin heavy (H) chain variable (V) gene segment VH1-2*02 to mimic CD4, in contrast to many antibodies that rely on the CDRH3 loop (10, 14, 16). The VH1-2*02 gene or suitable alternative alleles are present in ˜96% of humans (17), and these genes are employed frequently, in ˜3% of all human antibodies (18, 19), suggesting that the B cell precursors for a VRC01-class response are generally available for vaccine targeting.
However, several key challenges must be met to induce VRC01-class bnAbs. First, as is true for some but not all classes of HIV bnAbs, the predicted germline precursors of VRC01-class bnAbs lack detectable affinity for native HIV Envelope glycoproteins (Env) (10, 12, 17, 20-22). Therefore, "germline-targeting" immunogens capable of binding and activating VRC01-class precursor B cells in vitro were designed (17, 21). Whether these immunogens can activate precursors in vivo is an open question. Second, VRC01-class bnAbs carry light (L) chains with unusually short CDRL3s composed of 5 amino acid (aa) residues, typically within a CQQYEFF motif (SEQ ID NO: 62) (14, 16). The short CDRL3 length is required to avoid clashing with gp120 Env loop D and V5, and amino acids within this motif make specific interactions to stabilize the antibody and to contact gp120 (10, 14, 16). CDRL3s with this length occur in only 0.6-1% of human kappa antibodies (14, 16) and in 0.1% of mouse kappa antibodies, and the specific amino acid requirements will reduce the frequency of useful light chains further. Therefore, a germline-targeting immunogen must be capable of activating relatively rare VRC01-class precursors in the repertoire. Third, VRC01-class bnAbs, like most other HIV bnAbs, are heavily somatically mutated, as a result of chronic stimulation of B cells by successive HIV variants (9, 11, 12, 23). While engineering approaches can be used to develop less mutated bnAbs (24, 25), it is unknown whether vaccine induction can induce relatively high mutation levels. This may be achieved by a sequence of different immunogens that successively returns B cells to germinal centers to undergo repeated rounds of affinity maturation (1, 10, 11, 17, 21, 26-29). In this view, each immunogen in the sequence, while naturally inducing antibodies of increasing affinity to itself, must induce maturation in memory B cells that enables weak binding to the next immunogen in the sequence.
Thus, there is a need for germline precursor immunogens capable of activating relatively rare precursors on the pathway to producing bnAbs and boosting immunogens capable of enhancing affinity maturation.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.

Engineered outer domain (eOD) of HIV GP120, mutants and use thereof


A fill valve system with a float nested in a container connected to the fill valve and a siphon device passing water out of the container into the toilet tank, with the siphon device having an air vent dimensioned such that: (i) tank refilling is delayed until after the flush valve closes; (ii) the fill valve is not turned on by small leaks in the tank; and (iii) the fill valve turns off when it encounters large leaks in the tank.

A disadvantage of existing fill valves is that they typically turn on (and start refilling the tank) at exactly the time when the water level first drops and the flush starts. The disadvantage with this approach is that the tank refilling starts while the flush valve is still open (and the water is still draining out of the tank). Although the flush valve closes quickly when the tank finally empties, all of the water supplied into the tank by the fill valve during the time when the flush valve is open is simply lost. It would instead be desirable to delay the start of the refilling until after the fill valve has fully closed. This would conserve water resources.
Unfortunately, current systems that try to delay the turning on of the fill valve until after the flush valve has closed have various disadvantages. For example, they tend to have too short a delay, or they have complex moving parts that can get fouled with hard water deposits and become ineffective over time. It would instead be desirable to provide a simpler refill delay solution that does not rely on complex mechanical linkages and moving parts.
Yet another problem common to existing fill valves is small leakage in the tank. Leaks can be small or large. A small leak in the tank will cause the water level in the tank to slowly drop. Unfortunately, this slight drop in water level immediately turns the fill valve on. Since only a partial re-filling is needed, the fill valve will then quickly shut itself off. Between flushes, the tank is almost completely filled. As a result of the tank being ostensibly filled, a user may not be able to recognize that the flush valve is leaking. A leaky flush valve that goes unrepaired will waste water which is of particular concern in an age when water has become increasingly scarce and expensive. To save water, and to reduce fill valve operation times, it would instead be desirable to permit small leaks without having to turn on the filling valve.
Conversely, large leaks are also a problem. Large leaks can be caused by a stuck (open) flush valve or by a cracked tank. When the refill rate of the fill valve is less than the leak rate from the tank, the fill valve will remain on, but the water will simply drain down into the toilet bowl, with the tank never re-filling. This situation can waste a huge volume of water, and cause a homeowner to suffer considerable expense. Current systems do not effectively deal with this problem at all. Therefore, there is a need for a fill valve that turns itself off when a large leak in the tank occurs.


In order to decrease the number of handling components of a parking brake unit without increasing a length of a wheel base, there is provided a forklift including a main input shaft which is rotationally driven by a hydraulic motor, a differential input shaft which rotates by the rotation of the main input shaft, and a differential mechanism which is provided between the differential input shaft and a front axle, the forklift being configured to run by transmitting power of the hydraulic motor to the front axle through the main input shaft, the differential input shaft, and the differential mechanism, wherein an idle shaft is disposed so as to be parallel to the differential input shaft, a power transmission mechanism obtained by meshing gears and is interposed between the differential input shaft and the idle shaft, and then a parking brake unit is provided in the idle shaft.

As a parking brake unit of a forklift, there is a parking brake unit provided in a power train provided between a transmission and a differential mechanism (for example, see Patent Literature 1). It is desirable that the parking brake unit brakes a plurality of wheels, but a parking brake unit provided for each wheel is disadvantageous from the viewpoint of the assembling operation or the manufacture cost. In contrast, as described above, when the parking brake unit is provided in the power train reaching the differential mechanism, the plurality of wheels may be braked even by a single parking brake unit. Accordingly, compared to the case where each wheel is provided with the parking brake unit, the number of handling components may be decreased, and hence the manufacture operation may be facilitated or the manufacture cost may be decreased.