A system and method for precisely detecting tubing flaws using a computer architecture that combines scalable processing power with an extensible array of detection and classification possibilities involving eddy current data analysis, as well as detection algorithms for pinpointing exact tubing regions and wherein these regions can be further divided into manageable segments for flaw analysis. Multiple classification tools utilized to discriminate detection and to precisely assign proper report codes to detect flaws repeatedly and accurately.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to automatic monitoring and analysis systems and more particularly to a system and method for precisely detecting tubing flaws using a computer architecture that combines scalable processing power with an extensible array of detection and classification possibilities involving eddy current data analysis, as well as detection algorithms for pinpointing exact tubing regions and wherein these regions can be further divided into manageable segments for flaw analysis.
2. Description of Related Art
In the field of automated monitoring and analysis systems and processes, there remains a need for an architecture that combines scalable processing power with an extensible array of detection and classification possibilities and especially where eddy current data analysis is required and where the need for quality of work performed must be verified. Where process tube flaws are involved, there remains a need for pinpointing exact regions of the tubing whereby such regions can be further divided into manageable segments which provide clear and precise regions for flaw analysis. There also remains a need for the use of classification tools which can be configured to discriminate detection and precisely proper report codes for detecting flaws repeatedly and accurately.
All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Methods for automated eddy current non-destructive testing analysis


Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for automated optimization of one or more pages for display by a mobile computing device. Based on an analysis of the series of actions taken by a number of different users when interacting with one or more pages, a system may group the users into two or more groups based on similarities in the users' action paths. The system may then generate an optimized page template for the group that includes identifiers of the portions of at least one page determined to be frequently accessed or otherwise of interest to the users in the group, and that excludes at least some other portions of the at least one page. This template may be subsequently used to generate a modified version of a page for display on a mobile computing device operated by a member of the group.

Generally described, computing devices and communication networks can be utilized to exchange information. In a common application, a computing device can request content from another computing device via the communication network. For example, a user at a personal computing device can utilize a software browser application to request a page from a server computing device via the Internet or another network. In such embodiments, the user computing device can be referred to as a client computing device and the server computing device can be referred to as a content provider.
From the perspective of a user utilizing a client computing device, a user experience can be defined in part in terms of the performance and latencies associated with obtaining network content over a communication network, such as obtaining a Web page, processing embedded resource identifiers, generating requests to obtain embedded resources, and rendering content on the client computing device. Latencies and performance limitations of a particular client computing device or network may diminish the user experience. Additionally, latencies and inefficiencies may be especially apparent on computing devices with limited resources, such as limited processing power, memory or network connectivity, which may occur on a mobile computing device like a tablet or smartphone. The user experience on certain mobile devices when viewing a given page may also be adversely affected by a limited screen size and/or limited input options (e.g., user interactions being limited to touches on a touchscreen instead of access to a keyboard and multi-button mouse).
For the above and other reasons, website operators or other network content providers will often design different versions of their pages for display on client mobile devices than for display on display monitors of traditional desktop or laptop computers. Pages designed specifically for mobile devices are often referred to as mobile friendly or mobile optimized pages. Relative to a standard version of a given page, a mobile optimized page may include, for example, a rearranged content layout, larger selectable options to account for imprecise touch gestures, and/or other changes. Developers and/or designers often spend substantial time designing mobile optimized pages and testing the usability and appearance of such pages on various mobile devices.

Network content layout using an intermediary system


The present invention provides a method for producing a catalyst for use in preferential carbon monoxide oxidation, which catalyst has a high preferential carbon monoxide oxidation activity and a high methanation activity with respect to the carbon monoxide contained in hydrogen gas, can thus stably reduce the carbon monoxide concentration to an extremely lower level and comprises porous inorganic oxide support particles and, on the basis of the mass thereof, 0.01 to 10 percent by mass of ruthenium and 0.01 to 1 percent by mass of platinum, loaded on the support. The method comprises (1) a step of loading 30 to 70 percent of the total amount of ruthenium to be loaded, on the support particles by a competitive adsorption method and (2) a step of loading the rest of the total amount of ruthenium to be loaded and the total amount of platinum to be loaded, on the ruthenium-loaded support particles produced in step (1) without using a competitive adsorption agent.

A fuel cell has characteristics that it is high in efficiency because it can take out electric energy directly from free energy changes caused by combustion of fuel. Furthermore, the fuel cell does not discharge any harmful substance and thus have been extended to be used for various purposes. In particular, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has characteristics that it is high in power density and compact in size and operates at low temperatures.
A fuel gas for a fuel cell generally contains hydrogen as the main component. Examples of the raw material of the fuel gas include hydrocarbons such as natural gas, LPG, naphtha, and kerosene; alcohols such as methanol and ethanol; and ethers such as dimethyl ether. However, carbon atoms in addition to hydrogen atoms are present in the aforesaid raw materials and thus carbon origin impurities can not be avoided from mixing in the fuel gas to be supplied to a fuel cell. Carbon monoxide in particular poisons a platinum group metal used as an electrocatalyst of a fuel cell. If carbon monoxide is present in a fuel gas, the fuel cell would not be able to obtain sufficient power-generating characteristics. In particular, the lower the operating temperature of a fuel cell is, the more carbon monoxide adsorb to a noble metal catalyst, and the more likely the catalyst is poisoned. It is, therefore, indispensable to decrease the concentration of carbon monoxide in the fuel gas for a system using a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
A typical example of the method for reducing the carbon monoxide concentration in fuel gas is a method, so-called "water-gas-shift reaction" wherein carbon monoxide in a reformed gas produced by reforming a raw material is allowed to react with steam to convert it to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. However, this method can normally reduce the carbon monoxide concentration only down to 0.5 to 1 percent by volume. The carbon monoxide concentration having been reduced to 0.5 to 1 percent by volume by the water-gas-shift reaction is, therefore, required to be further reduced.
A typical example of a method for further reducing the carbon monoxide concentration includes a method wherein molecular oxygen-containing gas is added to gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide to oxidize preferentially and convert the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide or to methanate the carbon monoxide. Alternatively, a two-step method has been proposed, in which carbon monoxide is methanated at the first step and then oxidized at the second step (see Patent Literature 1 below).
However, mere methanation of carbon monoxide causes the loss of hydrogen that will be used as fuel for a fuel cell and thus is not appropriate in view of efficiency. The aforesaid two-step method can not avoid the loss of hydrogen at the first step, either. It is, therefore, adequate to employ a method wherein carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide by preferential oxidation. The key point of this method is how a trace or small amount of carbon monoxide present in an enormously excess amount of hydrogen is preferentially oxidized to be reduced to a level that is preferable for a noble metal catalyst used in a fuel cell. As the result of a recent demand to improve the performance and durability of a fuel cell, the carbon monoxide concentration of a fuel gas has been required to be 5 ppm by volume or less. In contrary to this, it is difficult to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration to the aforesaid level or lower only by oxidation, and it is preferable to methanate carbon monoxide generated upon oxidation. That is, a catalyst is enhanced in not only preferential oxidation activity but also methanation activity with respect to carbon monoxide so that a trace amount of carbon monoxide remaining unreacted is removed by methanation. In this case, the loss of hydrogen due to methanation is little and does not cause any serious problem in efficiency.
A catalyst loading ruthenium or ruthenium and platinum on an inorganic support is known as a catalyst for use in preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide, and a study has been made, which has reported that the performances of the catalyst can be improved by adjusting the distribution of ruthenium and platinum in the support particles. For example, Patent Literature 2 discloses a catalyst wherein 50 percent or more of the value of integral of the total ruthenium concentration distribution is present in a region of ⅓ of the depth in the radius direction from the support particle surface. However, it does not disclose that platinum is further loaded on the catalyst. A catalyst loading only ruthenium but not platinum has a problem that it is difficult to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration to a requisite level (for example, 10 ppm by volume or less) when the molar ratio of molecular oxygen to carbon monoxide (O2/CO) is within a wide range. A catalyst having ruthenium localized on the outer surface of the support particle tends to be reduced in activity with time because the ruthenium is likely to agglomerate though it has a high initial activity.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a catalyst wherein ruthenium and platinum are localized within the range of 100 μm inwardly from the outer surface of an α-alumina support particle. However, when carbon monoxide in hydrogen is preferentially oxidized using such a catalyst, the concentration of the remaining carbon monoxide is reduced to the order of only several tens ppm by volume. This is assumed to be related to the use of the α-alumina support with a relatively small specific surface area. All of these conventional techniques intend to improve an activity for preferential carbon monoxide oxidation by localizing ruthenium (and platinum) in the vicinity of the surface of the support particle at a higher level.
The inventors of the present invention have filed a patent application for a catalyst comprising ruthenium in a specific distribution in the support particle and also loading platinum (see Patent Literature 4). However, a further improvement in catalyst performances has been demanded in conformity with the requests for the improved performances and prolonging the working life of a fuel cell system.

Method for producing catalyst for use in preferential oxidation reaction of carbon monoxide


A method identifies electric load types of a plurality of different electric loads. The method includes providing a self-organizing map load feature database of a plurality of different electric load types and a plurality of neurons, each of the load types corresponding to a number of the neurons; employing a weight vector for each of the neurons; sensing a voltage signal and a current signal for each of the loads; determining a load feature vector including at least four different load features from the sensed voltage signal and the sensed current signal for a corresponding one of the loads; and identifying by a processor one of the load types by relating the load feature vector to the neurons of the database by identifying the weight vector of one of the neurons corresponding to the one of the load types that is a minimal distance to the load feature vector.

1. Field
The disclosed concept pertains generally to electric loads and, more particularly, to methods of identifying electric load types of electric loads. The disclosed concept also pertains to systems for identifying electric load types of electric loads.
2. Background Information
Electricity usage costs have become an increasing fraction of the total cost of ownership for commercial buildings. At the same time, miscellaneous electric loads (MELs) account for about 36% of electricity consumption of commercial buildings. Effective management of MELs could potentially improve energy savings of buildings up to about 10%. However, power consumption monitoring and energy management of MELs inside commercial buildings is often overlooked. In order to provide the MELs' energy consumption conditions by load type to a building automation system (BAS), and, consequently, to manage the MELs and reduce energy consumption inside commercial buildings, there is a need to identify the MELs.
Lam, H. Y. et al., "A novel method to construct taxonomy of electrical appliances based on load signatures," IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. 53, no. 2, 2007, p. 653-60, discloses that a load signature is an electrical expression that a load device or appliance distinctly possesses. Load signatures can be applied to produce many useful services and products, such as, determining the energy usage of individual appliances, monitoring the health of critical equipment, monitoring power quality, and developing facility management tools. Load signatures of typical yet extensive loads are needed to be collected before applying them to different services and products. As there are an enormous number of electrical appliances, it is beneficial to classify the appliances for building a well-organized load signature database. A method to classify the loads employs a two-dimensional form of load signatures, voltage-current (V-I) trajectory, for characterizing typical household appliances. A hierarchical clustering method uses a hierarchical decision tree or dendrogram to show how objects are related to each other. Groups of the objects can be determined from the dendrogram, to classify appliances and construct the taxonomy of the appliances. The taxonomy based on V-I trajectory is compared to the taxonomies based on traditional power metrics and eigenvectors in prior studies.
In this taxonomy approach, only one set of load features is utilized, and the hierarchical structure of appliances, a dendrogram, is based on the selection of a distance value/threshold between the groups in each level, or the height of a cluster tree. In this approach, the selection of the distance/height will affect how the hierarchical tree is built.
It is known to capture the unique characteristics (e.g., without limitation, voltage; current; power of plugged loads at a power outlet or receptacle) of MELs.
The power usage monitoring of MELs by types in residential/commercial buildings provides an opportunity to effectively manage MELs and potentially improve energy savings of buildings. This needs an accurate and un-ambiguous identification of MELs that are plugged into power outlets.
To successfully identify MELs, the biggest challenge is to distinguish the loads with the most similarity, for example and without limitation, a DVD, a set-top box, and a PC monitor (e.g., without limitation, those using a standardized DC power supply, and current harmonic reduction techniques). It is believed that this difficulty has not been explicitly addressed and solved by known techniques.
Known proposals for detecting single-phase electric loads are based on voltage, current and/or power measurements, including, relative position in an active-reactive power plane (P-Q plane); variation in active and reactive power at different operating conditions; harmonic power contents and harmonic currents; steady-state two-dimensional voltage-current (V-I) trajectories; instantaneous power; instantaneous admittance; and power factor. However, it is believed that these proposals suffer from several serious disadvantages in their accuracy, robustness and applicability, including: (1) MELs with different voltage and current characteristics may be grouped together by the identifier if they consume approximately the same amount of active and reactive power; (2) MELs of same type may be grouped separately by the identifier if they have different power ratings; (3) steady-state operation is usually required for load detection, while many buildings' loads are dynamic in nature; and (4) MELs with similar current features cannot be distinguished, such as DVD players and set-top boxes, MELs with the same type of DC power supply, or other standardized power electronics interface circuits. These disadvantages together with the lack of an intelligent power outlet/strip capable of acquiring signals and processing algorithms have impeded the applications of these methods.
A self-organizing map (SOM) (also known as a self-organizing feature map (SOFM)) is a type of unsupervised artificial neural network that is trained using competitive learning to produce a relatively low-dimensional (typically two-dimensional), discretized representation of the input space of training samples, called a map. Self-organizing maps are different from other artificial neural networks in the sense that they use a neighborhood function to preserve the topological properties of the input space. This makes SOMs useful for visualizing relatively low-dimensional views of relatively high-dimensional data, akin to multidimensional scaling.
A self-organizing map consists of components called neurons (also known as nodes). Associated with each node is a weight vector of the same dimension as the input data vectors and a position in the map space. The usual arrangement of nodes is a regular spacing in a hexagonal or rectangular grid. The SOM describes a mapping from a relatively higher dimensional data (or input) space to a relatively lower dimensional map space. The procedure for placing a vector from the data space onto the map is to first find the node with the closest weight vector to the vector taken from the data space. Once the closest node is located it is assigned the values from the vector taken from the data space, and this node is also called a "winner-neuron". All the neurons within the winner's radius, defined by the neighborhood function, will update their weights as well. This method of training is called a "winner-takes-all" strategy.
A unified distance matrix (U-Matrix) is a common way to represent the information of the trained SOM. A U-Matrix value of a particular node is the average distance between the node and its closest neighbors. The number of the closest neighbor depends on its neighborhood topology. In a square grid for instance, the closest four or eight nodes (the Von Neumann neighborhood and Moore neighborhood, respectively) might be considered, or six nodes in a hexagonal grid. The distance between the adjacent neurons (or nodes) is presented with different colorings or gray scales. A dark coloring between the neurons corresponds to a relatively large distance and, thus, a gap between the vectors in the input data space. A light coloring between the neurons signifies that the vectors are relatively close to each other in the input data space. Light areas can be thought of as clusters and dark areas as cluster separators (or boundary regions). This way of representation is very helpful to find out clusters in the input data without having any a priori information about the clusters (e.g., in an unsupervised manner).
One of the biggest advantages of SOM is that it preserves statistical and topological information of the input data space, and classifies all training data into several groups by their inherent relationships, known as "clustering by nature". As it thereby compresses information, while preserving the most important topological and metric relationships, the SOM can also be considered to produce some degree of abstractions.
SOM is an ideal self-clustering tool, but is not believed to be an effective classifier for the purpose of load identification.
There is room for improvement in methods of identifying electric load types of electric loads.
There is further room for improvement in systems for identifying electric load types of electric loads.

System and method employing a self-organizing map load feature database to identify electric load types of different electric loads


A method and apparatus for tracking passengers at a travel facility and may include receiving captured facial recognition features of a passenger using a first facial recognition camera at a first known location, determining if the captured facial recognition features of the passenger are stored in a database, wherein if the captured facial recognition features of the passenger are not stored in the database, starting a timer, receiving captured facial recognition features of the passenger using a second facial recognition camera at a second known location, stopping the timer, determining the amount of elapsed time between the received captured facial recognition features of the passenger using the first facial recognition camera at the first known location and the receiving captured facial recognition features of the passenger using the second facial recognition camera at the second known location, outputting the determined amount of elapsed time to at least one or more.

1. Field of the Disclosed Embodiments
The disclosed embodiments relate to travel safety management through the use of facial recognition and monitoring.
2. Introduction
Facial recognition has been used for uniquely identifying individuals for some time. Typically, systems deploying Facial Recognition required individuals to stand still and look at the camera in order to have their facial image captured and processed by the system. While this is appropriate for gathering or enrolling necessary data, it has not been practical for use as a method in a more real-time scenario required for tasks such as queue time determination.

Method and apparatus for facial recognition based queue time tracking


An occupancy estimator calculates an occupancy estimate (x) of a region based on sensor data (z) provided by one or more sensor devices and a model-based occupancy estimate generated by an occupant traffic model (f). The occupant traffic model (f) is based on predicted movement of occupants throughout a region. The occupancy estimation system includes an occupancy estimator algorithm (20) that combines the sensor data (z) and the model-based occupancy estimate generated by the occupant traffic model (f) to generate an occupancy estimate (x) for the region.

The present invention is related to estimating occupancy of a region, and more specifically to estimating occupancy of people within the region based on a combination of sensor data and occupant traffic models.
Knowledge regarding the occupancy of a particular region can be useful in a variety of applications. For instance, knowledge of occupancy within a building can be used to improve the efficiency, comfort, and convenience of a building and in emergency situations to improve search and rescue efforts of first responders by providing information regarding the location of occupants. Typically, building occupancy is determined based solely on data provided by sensors. These occupancy estimates may result in the generation of errors due to loss of sensor data or accumulation of errors in the sensor data over time.

System and method for occupancy estimation


A media display system for a vehicle that includes a first image sensor, a second image sensor, and an electronic device. The first image sensor is inside the vehicle and the second image sensor is outside the vehicle. The electronic apparatus determines a direction-of-view of an occupant of the vehicle based on user information of the occupant. The electronic apparatus further controls the second image sensor to capture a portion of view surrounding the vehicle in the determined direction-of-view of the occupant. The portion of view comprises an object-of-interest of the occupant. The electronic apparatus further control display of an interactive content on a display medium based on a user input on the object-of-interest, wherein the interactive content comprises items related to the object-of-interest. The electronic apparatus further controls navigation through the object-of-interest and remote selection of the items in the interactive content.

Currently, development of automotive electronics for use in vehicles, for example, for autonomous and non-autonomous vehicles, is one the most active area in research. Various experiments are conducted to find new avenues to increase human comfort and in-vehicle user experience. In certain scenarios, during a drive, various objects, for example, road-side shops, bill boards, or sale offers, in the vicinity of a vehicle may seek a user's attention. In such scenarios, the user may either have to physically visit a specific store to view the object or search the desired object in online search platforms through a hand-held electronic device to gain understanding. Due to paucity of time and challenges to operate a device from within a vehicle, such buying and selling opportunity for a product of interest may be lost. Thus, an advanced system may be desired for display control to provide an enhanced in-vehicle shopping experience.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as set forth in the remainder of the present application and with reference to the drawings.

Display control of interactive content based on direction-of-view of occupant in vehicle


A message batching configuration may be determined for transmitting a message to recipients. The message batching configuration may include two or more message batches, a respective recipient count for each message batch, a respective time delay between each message batch, and a performance metric for evaluating the message. The message is transmitted in accordance with the message batching configuration. The transmission of subsequent message batches is halted when it is determined that the designated performance metric fails to meet a designated performance metric threshold.

"Cloud computing" services provide shared resources, applications, and information to computers and other devices upon request. In cloud computing environments, services can be provided by one or more servers accessible over the Internet rather than installing software locally on in-house computer systems. Users can interact with cloud computing services to undertake a wide range of tasks.
One use of a cloud computing system is a network-accessible database system. A database system associated with a cloud computing service provider may store information associated with various organizations accessing computing services via the service provider.
Another use of a cloud computing system is message distribution. An organization accessing computing services via the service provider may employ cloud computing resources to facilitate communication with a variety of entities or individuals, such as the organization's customers. Managing such communication presents significant technical problems. Accordingly, improved techniques for managing mass communication in a database system are desired.

Interspersed message batching in a database system


An object of the present invention is to efficiently compress a plurality of kinds of data series with different sampling rates. A data compression device has a grouping unit and a compression unit. The grouping unit groups a plurality of kinds of data series with different sampling rates. The compression unit compresses the data series grouped by the grouping unit.

The present invention relates to a data compression device and a data compression method.
As a technique to compress time-series data, there is a compression technique for a video. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 10 (1998)-42262 discloses a compression device having a video codec unit and an audio codec unit. In general, video data that is time-series data with a first sampling rate (frame rate) and audio data that is time-series data with a second sampling rate are compressed by different codecs. That is, a compression process is performed for each data series having the same sampling rate.

Data compression device and data compression method


A corner picture frame comprising an enclosed triangular compartment; a recessed hanging member at the apex of the triangular compartment; and a rectangular closure member connecting the sides of said triangular compartment and adapted to support a picture in the outer face thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the rectangular closure member is hinged to swing horizontally providing access to the interior of the triangular compartment. In such instance, at least one triangular shelf is positioned within the compartment to increase the utility of the unit. Also lights may be positioned either top or bottom or both to permit illuminating a translucent picture mounted in the closure member and additional translucent panels may be positioned as closures of the triangular box for decorative purposes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to picture frames and more particularly pertains a to frame device which may be mounted in the corner formed by two intersecting walls.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of corner picture frames is known in the prior art. More specifically, such frames heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of mounting in corners are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. Typical of such frames are those illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,727,815; 5,154,384; 4,712,761; and 5,094,421.
In this respect, the picture frame according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of ease of mounting and the possibility of multiple use of a corner picture frame.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved picture frames which can be corner-mounted. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An iron may autonomously set the appropriate ironing parameter by obtaining information about the garment to be ironed. Data may be received from an indicator located on a garment to be ironed. An indicator may include the actual type of fabric associated with a garment, or an information tag attached to a garment. The received data may be decoded to determine the ironing parameters for the garment to be ironed. Based on the determined ironing parameters, the associated settings may be automatically adjusted on an iron.

Many clothing irons have an interface that allows a user to manually select the iron's operating temperature and application of steam. The user must set the temperature manually based upon the user's knowledge of the type of fabric and appropriate temperature for that type of fabric. If the user misapprehends the fabric type or appropriate temperature, the garment may become damaged during ironing or else may remain wrinkled.

Automatic iron temperature setting based on sensor data


A magnetic read transducer is described with a magnetoresistive sensor that has a free layer, and an antiferromagnetically-coupled (AFC) soft bias layer for magnetically biasing the free layer. The free layer has a first edge in a track width direction along an air-bearing surface (ABS). At least a portion of the AFC soft bias layer is conformal to at least a portion of a second edge of the free layer, and situated to form a magnetic moment at an angle with respect to a center line of the free layer. The center line of the free layer extends in the same direction as the free layer first edge that is in the track width direction along the ABS.

Magnetic storage systems, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), are utilized in a wide variety of devices in both stationary and mobile computing environments. Examples of devices that incorporate magnetic storage systems include desktop computers, portable notebook computers, portable hard disk drives, digital versatile disc (DVD) players, high definition television (HDTV) receivers, vehicle control systems, cellular or mobile telephones, television set top boxes, digital cameras, digital video cameras, video game consoles, and portable media players.
A typical HDD includes magnetic storage media of one or more flat disks. The disks are generally formed of two main substances, namely, a substrate material that gives it structure and rigidity, and a magnetic media coating that holds the magnetic impulses or moments that represent data. A HDD also typically includes a read head and a write head, generally a magnetic transducer which can sense and/or change the magnetic fields stored on the disks. Perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) involves recorded bits that are stored in a generally planar recording layer in a generally perpendicular or out-of-plane orientation. A PMR read head and a PMR write head are usually formed as an integrated read/write head on an air-bearing slider. In a PMR reader, a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor is frequently employed in the read head.
A TMR sensor includes a patterned TMR structure or stack having two ferromagnetic layers separated by an insulating barrier layer (e.g., MgO). One ferromagnetic layer is magnetically oriented in a fixed direction (the "pinned layer") and the other ferromagnetic layer rotates in response to an external magnetic field (the "free layer"). The TMR sensor also typically includes a hard bias layer disposed on either side of the TMR stack. The hard bias layer includes a permanent magnetic material, such as cobalt platinum (CoPt), and provides a bias field along a direction perpendicular to layers of the TMR stack. The resistance of the device is dependent on the relative orientation between the two ferromagnetic layers. In a TMR read head, a sense current passes perpendicularly through layers of the TMR stack. The magnetic transitions between adjacent oppositely-directed magnetized regions cause changes in electrical resistance that are detected by the TMR sensor.
The amplitude of a readback signal of a PMR reader can be asymmetric. Readback signal amplitude asymmetry indicates that the amplitude of the pulses from magnetizations recorded in one direction (e.g., the "positive" direction) is different from the amplitude of the pulses from magnetizations recorded in the opposite direction (e.g., the "negative" direction). The amplitude asymmetry (AASY) measured in percent may be expressed as [(SP−SN)/(SP+SN)]*100, where SP represents the measured amplitude of the pulses from magnetizations recorded in one direction and SN represents the measured amplitude of the pulses from magnetizations recorded in the other direction. A high value of AASY is undesirable since it has a deleterious effect on the stability of the read head by causing a high bit error rate (BER) when the data is read back. AASY is partly a result of the construction of the reader. Spurious magnetic fields arising from the media background and other sources also contribute to amplitude asymmetry. There is a current demand for increasing track density, requiring decreasing reader track width. However, as reader track width is decreased, de-magnetic fields rapidly increase, and the increased de-magnetic field in turn causes reader stability degradation by increasing the AASY.
Conventionally, in an effort to improve reader stability, the thickness of the hard bias layer is increased. However, with increasing track density, there is a requirement to reduce a shield-to-shield spacing for the TMR sensor stack. Therefore, it is often neither desirable nor practical to increase the hard bias layer thickness to improve the AASY. In addition, an increase in the hard bias thickness causes a significant reduction in the reader amplitude.

Antiferromagnetically-coupled soft bias magnetoresistive read head, and fabrication method therefore


A card with a magnetic stripe when fed into a card reader can be illegally read by a read head unobtrusively attached to the outside of the card reader adjacent to the slot into which the card is fed. To defeat this illegal reading, movement of a card through the read head is interrupted thereby making it difficult for the illegal read head to read the stripe. This interruption occurs at the point where the proper read head inside the card reader is not reading the magnetic stripe. The interruption can be a brief stop or a brief reversal in direction. The interruption occurs once while the card is being fed into the card reader and once when the card is being fed out of the card reader.

The present invention relates to a magnetic card transaction apparatus having a magnetic card reader; more specifically, it relates to a magnetic card transaction apparatus having a function to prevent incorrect reading of a magnetic card.
A magnetic card reader is attached to a magnetic card transaction apparatus which performs various transactions using a magnetic card, such as an ATM found in a bank. At a card insertion area of a magnetic card reader, in general, one finds the following in order in the direction of a card to be inserted: a card slot through which a magnetic card is inserted or ejected; a card insertion detector which detects the magnetic card inserted therein; a guiding path which guides the magnetic card inserted from the card slot to the inside of the apparatus; and a shutter which opens and closes the guiding path.
When a user inserts a magnetic card into a card slot, a magnetic strip at the end of the inserted magnetic card is detected by a card insertion detector; then, a shutter is opened such that the magnetic card can be taken in. The inside of the shutter has a pair of card transferring rollers which forms a transferring means for a magnetic card; the inserted magnetic card is held to be taken in by the card transferring rollers.
In order to avoid undesired sensations, such as a sensation of the magnetic card being stuck, from being sensed by an user when a magnetic card is inserted, the shutter is opened while the pair of card transferring rollers are driven as soon as insertion of the magnetic card is detected by the card insertion detector; therefore, the magnetic card can be smoothly taken following insertion of the magnetic card by a user.
On the other hand, the amount of projection of the card from the card slot at the time of ejection is maximized in order for the user to readily remove the card from the card slot.
In a magnetic card reader described above, insertion of a magnetic card is such that the end of the magnetic card is inserted to a card slot then the card is transferred by a pair of card transferring rollers at an even speed. Similarly, ejection of a magnetic card is such that the magnetic card is transferred by the pair of card transferring rollers at a steady speed until the card is actually ejected from the card slot.
Therefore, when a magnetic head is attached to the outside of the card slot (in order to perform an illegal act), the magnetic card is transferred at an even speed along the position for detecting the magnetic head. Consequently, information recorded on the magnetic card can be read out by the magnetic head attached to the outside of the card slot.
The present invention intends to provide a magnetic card transaction apparatus which is configured such that a magnetic card inserted or ejected from a card slot cannot be read out by a magnetic head attached to the outside of the card slot.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A scanning tunnel microscope includes a piezo-actuator movable in a direction Z perpendicular to the surface of a sample and provided with a scanning probe projected downward from the bottom thereof. The scanning probe is moved in the direction Z by the piezo-actuator. The piezo-actuator includes a position measuring probe projected therefrom, parallel to the surface of the sample, from the lower end of one side thereof. A reference sample having concaves formed on a surface thereof at predetermined intervals is fixed to the piezo-actuator. When the scanning probe is moved in the direction Z, the position measuring probe is moved along the reference sample, so that tunnel current having a waveform which reproduces the shape of the concaved surface of the reference sample is detected. Thus, the moving distance of the scanning probe can be obtained from the waveform of tunnel current detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a micro-displacement detector device and, more particularly, a device for detecting the displacement of a probe, which device is used by the scanning probe microscope such as the scanning tunnel microscope (which will be hereinafter referred to as STM) and the atomic force microscope (which will be hereinafter referred to as AFM).
2. Description of the Related Art
In the case of the scanning probe microscope such as STM and AFM, the displacement of the probe relative to a sample is indirectly measured by detecting tunnel current flowing between the sample and the probe or atomic force acting between them.
These STM and AFM employ mainly a piezo-actuator to slightly move the probe. The piezo-actuator includes a piezo-element body and plural drive electrodes arranged round the piezo-element body. When the piezo-element body is expanded or contracted by voltage applied to the drive electrodes, the probe fixed to the piezo-actuator is moved slightly or on micro-basis. The position of the probe (or the amount of expansion and contraction of the piezo-actuator) can be therefore obtained in this case from the voltage applied to the drive electrodes.
It is however difficult to accurately determine the position of the probe from the voltage applied to the drive electrodes. One of the reasons resides in that the piezo-actuator moves not linearly but with hysteresis by the voltage applied to the drive electrodes, as shown in FIG. 7. In short, the piezo-actuator cannot return accurately to its original position even when voltage is stopped after it is applied to the drive electrodes. Another reason is that the piezo-actuator has creep phenomenon, when voltage is applied to the drive electrodes for a long time, therefore, the relation between the voltage applied and the amount of expansion and contraction of the piezo-actuator becomes out of order. A further reason resides in that when the probe comes quite near the surface of a sample, atomic force acts between the probe and the sample to separate the probe from the surface of the sample. As the result, the proportional relation between the voltage applied and the amount of expansion and contraction of the piezo-actuator is broken.
As described above, it is difficult to accurately measure the position (or displacement) of the probe on the basis of voltage applied to the drive electrodes for the piezo-actuator. It is therefore difficult for this piezo-actuator to measure micro-displacements on atomic basis.

Micro-displacement detector device, piezo-actuator provided with the micro-displacement detector device and scanning probe microscope provided with the piezo-actuator


An embodiment is a thin film transistor which includes a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer provided so as to cover the gate electrode layer; a first semiconductor layer entirely overlapped with the gate electrode layer; a second semiconductor layer provided over and in contact with the first semiconductor layer and having a lower carrier mobility than the first semiconductor layer; an impurity semiconductor layer provided in contact with the second semiconductor layer; a sidewall insulating layer provided so as to cover at least a sidewall of the first semiconductor layer; and a source and drain electrode layers provided in contact with at least the impurity semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer may consist of parts which are apart from each other over the first semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor and a manufacturing method thereof. Further, the present invention relates to a display device and an electronic device which include the thin film transistor and to which the manufacturing method of the thin film transistor can be applied.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, thin film transistors (TFTs) each including a thin semiconductor film (with a thickness of approximately several nanometers to several hundreds of nanometers) over a substrate having an insulating surface (e.g., a glass substrate) have been attracting attention. The development of TFTs, for example, as switching elements of a display device such as a liquid crystal display device and the like has been accelerated. For such TFTs, an amorphous semiconductor or a polycrystalline semiconductor is mainly used. In addition, TFTs in which a microcrystalline semiconductor is used are also known (e.g., Patent Document 1). In a display device, switching characteristics of the mounted TFTs have an influence on display quality, power consumption, and the like.
One of the parameters that determine switching characteristics of a TFT is an on/off ratio of current. The on/off ratio of current can be increased by increasing on-state current and reducing off-state current.
In this specification, the "on/off ratio" refers to a ratio of on-state current to off-state current in a transistor. Note that the "off-state current" refers to drain current at the time when the TFT is OFF while the "on-state current" refers to current flowing between the source and the drain when the TFT is ON. Further, in this specification, the "drain current" refers to current flowing between the source and the drain.
As a path of the off-state current, a path that is from one of the source electrode and the drain electrode to the other thereof through a semiconductor layer can be given. This off-state current can be reduced by provision of a sidewall insulating layer that is in contact with a sidewall of the semiconductor layer (e.g., Patent Document 2).
However, a favorable TFT cannot be obtained only by realizing a high on/off ratio. For example, it is also important to reduce light-induced leakage current. Here, light-induced leakage current refers to current which flows between the source and the drain due to a photovoltaic effect when light reaches a semiconductor layer of the TFT. Particularly, since a TFT which is used as a pixel transistor of a liquid crystal display device receives light from a backlight on a substrate side, light-induced leakage current should be sufficiently small. For this reason, there have been a lot of developments in a technique for shielding the semiconductor layer of the TFT from light (see Patent Document 3, for example).

Thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A system and method for controlling an appliance, such as an indoor ceiling fan, including a controller operatively connected to the appliance motor for controlling its speed and direction of rotation in response to command signals, a control switch adapted to be located remote from the appliance such as a on a wall to provide command signals in response to manual inputs, and a communication link such as the existing a.c. power line, for transmitting command signals from the control switch to the appliance controller. The control switch is characterized by a plurality of operator members such as a keypad each providing no more than one distinct primary function command when manually operated and a processor for converting function commands provided by the operator members into speed and direction command signals for use by the appliance controller. The appliance controller comprises a processor for converting command signals received by the controller into signals for controlling the supply of motor current. The command signals transmitted from the control switch to the appliance controller over the a.c. power lines are digital signals generated by a pulse code modulation method. The appliance can have a lamp associated therewith and means for controlling the brightness thereof in response to commands from the control switch. The system can include a plurality of appliances and associated controllers whereupon the control switch provides address information for selecting particular ones or groups of the appliance controllers.

This invention relates to the art of controlling the supply of electrical power to appliances, and more particularly to a new and improved system and method for controlling appliances in plural modes of operation from a remote location.
One area of use of the present invention is controlling indoor overhead ceiling mounted fans which have electrical lamps, although the principles of the present invention can be variously applied. The modes of operation of such fans include different speeds of rotation together with forward and reverse directions of rotation. The lamp modes of operation include various levels of brightness.
One disadvantage of control systems heretofore available is that they assign multiple primary functions to the wall switch control buttons, requiring the operator to memorize certain operating procedures such as multiple depressions of a button or pressing and holding a button down for several seconds. It would, therefore, be highly desirable to provide a control system for ceiling fans which eliminates multiple primary function wall switch buttons so that any user can operate the system immediately whether or not he is familiar with the system.
Another disadvantage of control systems heretofore available is that they require 3-wire cable between wall switch units in a 3-way hookup, and many which control both a fan and a lamp attachment require 3-wire cable from the wall unit to the fan. It would be highly desirable to provide a system requiring only 2-wire cabling throughout, with the added feature of no neutral required for enhanced simplicity of installation.
Additional advantageous features in such a control system include addressability of appliances or groups thereof by means of the wall switches, memory storage and recall of various operational settings, and safety features such as automatic power shut off when fan blade rotation ceases and in response to lamp burn-out, damage or other failure.


A method is disclosed that includes providing a semiconductor substrate having one or more device levels including a number of devices, and forming a number of wiring levels on a top surface of the one or more device levels, wherein one or more of the number of wiring levels includes one or more alpha particle blocking shields situated between at least one of the number of devices and a predetermined first location where a terminal pad will be formed in one of the wiring levels, the one or more alpha particle blocking shields placed at a second location, having one or more widths, and occupying a predetermined number of the wiring levels, sufficient to prevent a predetermined percentage of alpha particles of a selected energy or less expected to be emitted from an alpha particle emitting metallization to be formed adjacent and connected to the terminal pad from reaching the one device.

This invention relates generally to semiconductors and, more specifically, relates to reducing soft error rates in semiconductors.
Soft error rates in integrated circuits are caused by ionizing radiation, such as alpha particles passing through the semiconductor materials of the integrated circuit. Both logic and memory circuits may be affected. The errors are called "soft" because they generally only persist until the next cycle of the integrated circuit function. As an alpha particle passes through semiconductor material, a "cloud" of hole-electron pairs are generated in the vicinity of its path. Electric fields present in the integrated circuit can cause the holes and electrons to migrate in opposite directions, thus causing extra charge to reach particular circuit nodes and upset the function of the integrated circuit.
There are a few potential sources of alpha particles in a typical integrated circuit chip connected to its associated package using solder bumps (also known as controlled collapse chip connections or C4s). For example, in the case that the solder bumps are lead (Pb), tin (Sn) or a combination of Pb and Sn (or their alloys, such as Sn alloyed with silver, Ag), the solder bumps may contain radioactive polonium (Po) and Pb isotopes that may emit about 5.3 MeV (million electron-volt) alpha particles (that is, alpha particles having 5.3 MeV units of energy). While the quantities of radioactive Po and Pb may be in the parts-per-billion (ppb) range, the flux of alpha particles emitted may be sufficient to cause soft-error rates that exceed the allowable maximum for advanced integrated logic and memory circuits if the alpha particles are allowed to penetrate into the substrate or device levels of the integrated circuit. The substrate may include the silicon portions of active devices (examples of which include field effect and bipolar transistors) that can be sensitive to alpha particle-induced upsets, and device levels may include portions of the active devices above the surface of the substrate and containing semiconductor materials, such as polysilicon gates of field effect transistors.
As integrated circuit devices continue to be scaled, capacitor cell sizes and operating voltages continue to decrease while circuit density increases. This causes an increase in the probability of an integrated circuit experiencing a soft error. Therefore, there is a need for improved methods and structures for reducing soft error rates in integrated circuits.

Method and structure to reduce soft error rate susceptibility in semiconductor structures

International Business Machines Corporation


A socket and a plug for a high-speed connector configured to implement communication and transmission of multiple channels of high-speed signals are disclosed. The socket according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a shell and pins; the shell has an opening configured to accommodate a plug for the high-speed connector; the pins include upper-layer pins and lower-layer pins; the upper-layer pins are set at one side of an inner wall of the opening, the lower-layer pins are set at the other side of the inner wall of the opening corresponding to positions of the upper-layer pins, the upper-layer pins are arranged in at least two rows of pin groups, and the at least two rows of pin groups are distributed in a staggered manner along a length direction of the pins.

Small form-factor pluggables (SFP) high-speed interface connectors are widely used in communications products, and are important service interfaces. SFP high-speed interface connectors may be applied to: Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) interfaces, gigabit Ethernet (GE) interfaces, fast Ethernet (FE) interfaces, and so on. As the requirements for bandwidth of communications products grow continuously, an SFP connector supports only one channel of high-speed signal, and gradually cannot meet the requirements for bandwidth development of communications products.
To meet the requirements for multiple channels of high-speed transmission, a four-channel SFP (e.g., a Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP)) connector emerges in the prior art. The QSFP connector supports transmission of a maximum of four channels of high-speed signals. However, the pins of the socket of such a QSFP connector adopt single-row distribution in a straight line, resulting in a long interface end of the socket, and a large volume of the socket. In addition, a QSFP plug with the matching length is required.

Socket and plug for high-speed connector


An end effector for moving workpieces and replaceable parts within a system for processing workpieces. The end effector may include an arm portion extending between a first arm end and a second arm end along the axial direction. The end effector may further include a spatula portion extending between a first spatula end and a second spatula end, the first spatula end being adjacent the second arm end. Further, the end effector may include a first support member extending outwardly from the spatula portion, a second support member extending outwardly from the spatula portion, and a shared support member extending outwardly from the arm portion. The shared support member and the first support member together to support workpieces of a first diameter, and the shared support member and the second support member together support replaceable parts of a second diameter.

Processing systems which expose workpieces such as, semiconductor wafers or other suitable substrates, to an overall treatment regimen for forming semiconductor devices or other devices can perform a plurality of treatment steps, such as plasma processing, (e.g., strip, etch, etc.), thermal treatment (e.g. annealing), deposition (e.g., chemical vapor deposition), etc. To carry out these treatment steps, a system may include one or more robots to move workpieces a number of different times, for example, into the system, between various processing chambers, and out of the system. In semiconductor workpiece processing, it can be necessary from time to time to perform routine maintenance and/or preventative maintenance on processing systems. This can require, in certain instances, physical replacement of certain parts in the processing systems.

End effectors for moving workpieces and replaceable parts within a system for processing workpieces under vacuum

BEIJING E-TOWN SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD


The present invention provides a multiphase, ultra low k film which exhibits improved elastic modulus and hardness as well as various methods for forming the same. The multiphase, ultra low k dielectric film includes atoms of Si, C, O and H, has a dielectric constant of about 2.4 or less, nanosized pores or voids, an elastic modulus of about 5 or greater and a hardness of about 0.7 or greater. A preferred multiphase, ultra low k dielectric film includes atoms of Si, C, O and H, has a dielectric constant of about 2.2 or less, nanosized pores or voids, an elastic modulus of about 3 or greater and a hardness of about 0.3 or greater. The multiphase, ultra low k film is prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition in which one of the following alternatives is utilized: at least one precursor gas comprising siloxane molecules containing at least three Si—O bonds; or at least one precursor gas comprising molecules containing reactive groups that are sensitive to e-beam radiation. Electronic structures including the multiphase, ultra low k film are also disclosed.

The continuous shrinking in dimensions of electronic devices utilized in ULSI (ultra large scale integrated) circuits in recent years has resulted in increasing the resistance of the BEOL metallization as well as increasing the capacitance of the intralayer and interlayer dielectric material. This combined effect, in turn, increases signal delay in ULSI electronic devices. In order to improve the switching performance of future ULSI circuits, low dielectric constant (k) insulators and particularly those with k significantly lower than that of silicon dioxide are needed to reduce the capacitance. Specifically, low k insulators having a k value of less than 4.0 are needed. Unless otherwise noted, all k values mentioned in the present application are measured relative to a vacuum.
Dielectric materials that have low k values have been commercially available; for instance, one such material is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with a k value of 2.0. However, these dielectric materials are generally not thermally stable when exposed to temperatures above 300° C.˜350° C. which renders them useless during integration of these dielectrics in ULSI chips which require a thermal stability of at least 400° C.
Typical prior art low k materials that have been considered for application in ULSI devices include polymers that contain silicon (Si), carbon (C) and oxygen (O), such as methylsiloxane, methylsesquioxanes, and other organic and inorganic polymers. For instances, materials described in a paper "Properties of new low dielectric constant spin-on silicon oxide based dielectrics" by N. Hacker et al., published in Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., vol. 476 (1997) p25 appear to satisfy the thermal stability requirement, even though some of these materials propagate cracks easily when reaching thicknesses needed for integration in the interconnect structure when films are prepared by a spin-on technique. Furthermore, the precursor materials are high cost and prohibitive for use in mass production. In contrast to this, most of the fabrication steps of VLSI and ULSI chips are carried out by plasma enhanced chemical or physical vapor deposition techniques.
The ability to fabricate a low-k material by a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique using previously installed and available processing equipment will thus simplify its integration in the manufacturing process, reduce manufacturing cost, and create less hazardous waste. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,147,009 and 6,497,963 assigned to the common assignee of the present invention, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, describe a low dielectric constant material consisting of Si, C, O and H atoms having a dielectric constant not more than 3.6 and which exhibits very low crack propagation velocities.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,312,793, 6,441,491 and 6,479,110 B2, assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, describe a multiphase low k dielectric material that consists of a matrix composed of Si, C, O and H atoms, a phase composed mainly of C and H and having a dielectric constant of not more than 3.2.
Ultra low k films having a dielectric constant of less than 2.7 (and preferably less than 2.3) are also known in the art. A major problem with prior art ultra low k films is that when integrating such films in ULSI devices, the integrated films exhibit poor mechanical strength. Generally, ultra low k films have a much lower elastic modulus and hardness as compared with films with k values of approximately 2.7-3.
In view of the above drawbacks with prior art ultra low k films, there exists a need for developing PECVD processes that can produce ultra low k films that exhibit improved mechanical properties such as improved elastic modulus and hardness.


A master disk which simulates a tire and is used at the time of confirmation or correction of measurement accuracy of a geometry measuring device for measuring the surface shape of a tire, of a tire testing machine, includes: a simulated tire section simulating a tire; a lower tubular section having a cylindrical shape, in which the tip side thereof is connected to the lower end side of the simulated tire section so as to be coaxial with the simulated tire section and a guide surface inclined in a tapered shape so as to have a larger diameter toward the base end side is formed on the base end side of an inner peripheral surface; and a neck section and a flange section which are provided on the upper end side of the simulated tire section and detachably engaged with test rim moving and exchanging means of a tire holding device of the tire testing machine.

With respect to tires for a vehicle or the like, after manufacturing thereof, a shape inspection of inspecting the presence or absence of a defect by measuring a surface shape such as concavity and convexity or undulation is performed in a tire testing machine. As a geometry measuring device which is used for measurement of the surface shape of such a tire, for example, a geometry measuring device made so as to be able to inspect the presence or absence of a defect of the surface shape such as concavity and convexity or undulation of a tire by measuring the tire with a laser displacement meter or the like while irradiating the tire with a laser beam while rotating a spindle of a tire holding device of a tire testing machine, after the tire is held by a test rim mounted on the spindle, is known (refer to PTL 1 below).
In such a tire shape measuring device, if the above-described inspection is performed by a specified number of times or for a specified period of time in order to maintain measurement accuracy, confirmation or correction of the measurement accuracy is performed by mounting a tire-simulated master disk instead of the test rim on the spindle and measuring the surface shape of the master disk.

Master disk, master disk mounting method, and master disk removal method

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY SYSTEMS, LTD.


A modular loading dock that includes a planar ramp member with lower and upper ends. The upper end abuts a preexisting structure and the lower end has a lower edge with a lip, the lip is able to be activated between an extended/engaged position to contact a truck bed. The ramp member has an at least thirteen foot long hydraulically-adjustable ramp section with an integrated dock leveler, the entire length of the ramp section is able to be moved between an upward and downward position. The loading dock also includes a base with top and bottom surfaces, the top surface has an opening to receive a dock leveler into the opening and a dock housing consisting of a modular frame mounted onto the base in sections. The length and adjustability of the planar ramp member allows accommodation of large-sized trailers as well as smaller-in-size delivery trucks and vans.

A variety of loading docks both with and without surrounding structural frames have been devised to adjust the height of different trailers to properly match the deck of the trailer to the height of the dock. By aligning the height of the trailer and the dock the loading and unloading of cargo is facilitated.
One such device is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,446 to Gould which discloses a reinforced platform pivotally mounted to the ground at one end and includes a support assembly having hydraulic cylinders. In operation the rear wheels of a truck trailer are backed onto the platform and then the non-mounted end of the platform is lifted by the hydraulic cylinders until the deck of the trailer is equal to the height of the dock.
A similar device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,792 to Cherry, et al. which also discloses a pivotally-mounted and hydraulically-raised platform. In addition to the disclosure of Gould, the device includes mounting the hydraulics inwardly from the non-mounted end of the platform and an aperture in the non-mounted end of the platform to accommodate a truck restraining device.
Another design is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,368,043 to Leum, et al. which teaches a low-profile truck leveler. In this design a low-profile leveler is enabled through the use of a raised rear beam and two lateral beams that extend above the upper surface of the platform. In addition, a central beam adds further to the leveler's strength and rigidity.
Some loading docks of the prior art include surrounding frame structure, however, none of these loading docks include a hydraulically adjustable long ramp section with a dock leveler installed at the end. It is to this need that this invention is drawn.
This device overcomes certain problems and shortcomings in the prior art, including those mentioned above and others, and provides advantages for a loading dock not previously provided.

Modular loading dock with integrated leveler


In a file transfer system, a file stored in a server computer is transmitted to a client computer through a network. A portable mobile apparatus also connectable to the network has a transmission requesting means for requesting the server computer that the user of the mobile apparatus be authenticated and a desired file be transmitted from the server computer to the client computer. The server computer has a communication control unit for transmitting the desired file requested by the mobile apparatus to the client computer after authenticating the user of the mobile apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to a method of transferring a file through a network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and a program, which are used for making an access to a file stored in a protected server computer, from any computer connected to the wide area network.
2. Detailed Description of Related Art
Recently, due to the popularity of technologies such as the WWW (World Wide Web), information stored in a server computer can be transferred to any place for use at the place.
In addition, due to the popularity of a wireless/mobile communication means such as a hand phone and the popularity of a mobile apparatus such as a PDA (Personal Data Assistant) as well as the popularity of a small notebook personal computer, it is possible to establish a connection to a server computer of a desired network by being not restricted by the place at which the connection is established.
Because of the capabilities described above, there is a rising demand for a capability of storing a personal file or other information used in a work of the user itself in the server computer and a capability of transferring the personal file or the other information from the server computer to a place desired by the user itself for use at the place. Given such capabilities, however, it is also necessary to prevent an illegal access to the server computer from being made by another unauthorized user or a program for malicious purposes.
With the conventional technology, if it is desired to store a personal file or other information used in a work of the user itself in the server computer and to transfer the personal file or the other information from the server computer to a place desired by the user itself for use at the place, there are 3 methods to prevent an illegal access to the server computer from being made by another malicious user or a program for illegal purposes. Any of the methods are explained by referring to FIG. 20. A file, which the user wants to transfer, is a file 350 shown in FIG. 20.
First, the first method is explained. This method is used by the user for transferring the file 350 from a server computer 302 to a mobile apparatus 303 carried by the user.
Concretely, first, the user operates the mobile apparatus 303 to establish a communication with the server computer 302 through a network 301. The server computer 302 is capable of verifying that the user is a user having a right to use the file 350. The operation carried out by the user on the mobile apparatus 303 is normally called a sign-on or login operation or an operation with another name and generally requires a password.
After the sign-on operation is carried out, the server computer 302 transfers the file 350 to the mobile apparatus 303. When the mobile apparatus 303 receives the transferred file 350, the user is capable of using the file 350 through an input unit 311 and an output unit 312, which are employed in the mobile apparatus 303.
The second method is used by the user to carry out a sign-on operation in order to use a file from a client computer 304 placed at a location close to the present location of the user. More concretely, the client computer 304 is typically a computer installed at a public location. The user operates the client computer 304 to establish a communication with the server computer 302 through the network 301 in order to carry out a sign-on operation.
After the sign-on operation is completed, the server computer 302 transfers the file 350 to the client computer 304. When the client computer 304 receives the transferred file 350, the user is capable of using the file 350 through the input unit 321 and the output unit 322.
The third method is used by the user for transferring the file 350 to a mobile apparatus 303 carried by the user and then further transferring the file 350 from the mobile apparatus 303 to a client computer 304 placed at a location close to the present location of the user.
More concretely, the user operates the mobile apparatus 303 to establish a communication with the server computer 302 through the network 301 in order to carry out a sign-on operation.
After the sign-on operation is completed, the server computer 302 transfers the file 350 to the mobile apparatus 303. When the mobile apparatus 303 receives the transferred file 350, the user transfers the file 350 from the mobile apparatus 303 to the client computer 304. Then, the user utilizes the file 350 through the input unit 321 and the output unit 322, which are provided on the client computer 304.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,876 discloses another system for rendering information services and the like by using a server for users of remote terminals. A pager system is used for authenticating the user and for transmitting information for notifying the user of a response code used for receiving a service.
However, the conventional methods described above have the following problems.
First, with the first method described above, only the input unit 311 and the output unit 312 can be used to utilize a file. In general, the sizes of the input unit 311 and the output unit 312, which are provided on the mobile apparatus 303, are small in comparison with a stationary computer's input unit and output unit respectively. An example of the stationary computer is the so-called desktop computer. The input unit in a stationary computer includes a keyboard and a mouse whereas the output unit thereof includes a display unit. In addition, for the mobile apparatus 303, there are limitations on the input method and the area of the display screen. For these reasons, it is difficult to operate the file in a comfortable manner by using the input unit 311 and the output unit 312.
In addition, in the case of the second method, the user must enter information (such as a password) required for a sign-on operation to the client computer 304 in order to complete the sign-on operation. Thus, if the client computer 304 happens to execute a malicious program by any chance, the program may fetch the information, which is entered by the user and required for the sign-on operation, and information required for transferring the file 350 from the server computer 302 to the client computer 304 after the sign-on operation. The latter information is referred to as credentials, which are stored in a storage unit in the client computer 304 at completion of the sign-on operation. As a result, it is feared that an illegal access to the client computer 304 is made when the user is using the client computer 304 or after the user uses the client computer 304. An illegal access includes the following two cases.
First, one or more files other than the file 350 may be stolen from the server computer 302, or one or more files including the file 350 may be falsified. By using the information entered by the user to the client computer 304 or the credentials stored in a storage unit in the client computer 304 at completion of the sign-on operation, a malicious user or a malicious program is capable of completely becoming the authorized user capable of transferring all files from the server computer 302, deleting the files and rewriting them. These illegal operations are each generally referred to as a break-in operation.
In the second place, it is quite within the bounds of possibility that an illegal access is made during or after use of the client computer 304 so that a sign-on operation can no longer be carried out. Normally, if a plurality of sign-on operations carried out by the same user consecutively all end in a failure, in many cases, the server computer 302 executes a function to disable subsequent sign-on operations carried out by the user. By using the information entered by the user to the client computer 304, the malicious user or the malicious program is capable of deliberately carrying out consecutively sign-on operations that each end in a failure a plurality of times. Thus, even when the user carries out a sign-on operation correctly later on, the sign-on operation has been disabled by the server computer 302. The disability to carry out a sign-on operation is normally referred to as a denial of service attack.
In addition, the client computer 304 is generally a computer open to the public. Thus, a malicious user can execute a malicious program on the client computer 304 with ease in such a way that the user is not aware of the malicious program execution.
Also in a case where the system configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,876 cited above is applied to an access to a file from a remote terminal, there is raised a problem that it is quite within the bounds of possibility that a response code transmitted to the remote terminal for the access is fetched by a malicious user from the remote terminal and abused later.
Furthermore, as for a problem of the third method described above, data is transferred from the server computer 302 to the mobile apparatus 303 generally by using a radio/mobile communication technique, which has a low data transmission speed and incurs a high cost for a transfer of data in comparison with a wired/fixed communication technique. Thus, if the size of a file to be transferred is large, there will be raised a problem of a long required transfer time and a high transfer cost.

File transfer system for secure remote file accesses


A medical assistance device, a system, and a method are provided for determining a deformation of a subject. Undisturbed image data of the subject and pose data of a robotic instrument are acquired. The medical assistance device is configured to determine the deformation of the subject due to a physical contact between the subject and the robotic instrument based on a biomechanical model. The undisturbed image data and a pose and/or motion of the robotic instrument are provided as input to the biomechanical model. The biomechanical model is predetermined or generated and/or updated based on a strain and/or a stiffness measured by a sensor.

With intra-body procedures or interventions, a need for a surgeon or physician to be able to reach and clearly see a region of interest is often at odds with the desire to minimize a trauma for a respective subject or patient. With procedures such as minimally invasive surgery, bronchoscopy, endovascular or gastro-intestinal endoscopy, and others the trauma for the patient may be minimized when compared to fully invasive open surgery. The techniques do, however, face the problem that a respective instrument or medical tool has to be navigated to a region of interest that may not be directly observable by the surgeon. Past approaches to the problem include acquiring a pre-operative or pre-operational dataset of the respective patient as a basis for planning a path of the respective instrument or medical tool, and/or monitoring a progress of the instrument or medical tool during the procedure with live imaging techniques, such as fluoroscopic guidance.
The approaches still face multiple problems. For example, there may be anatomical deformation and shifting or displacement of parts of the anatomy, for example due to a respiratory motion, a heartbeat, and/or due to contact between the patient and the instrument or medical tool itself. Contact may be when the patient's anatomy and the instrument or tool physically interact with each other. As a consequence, the intra-body path for the instrument, for example to reach a lung lesion to perform a biopsy, based on pre-operative data may be highly inaccurate and may lead to several unsuccessful attempts to reach the respective region of interest and/or to a failure of the entire procedure. This is the case, because at any time, when the procedure or intervention is performed, an insertion of the instrument and guiding the instrument through the patient, in addition to the deformation due to the breathing motion and/or heartbeat causes a tissue deformation or displacement that is not accounted for in the pre-operative dataset, for example, a pre-op CT-image. Therefore, the planned or pre-computed path for the instrument may not reflect the intra-procedural patient anatomy. Specifically, the position of the respective region of interest, for example a position or location of a lesion, may change.
A navigation of an instrument through the airways is challenging since no contrast agent may be used during the respective procedure or intervention that makes the airways essentially invisible under fluoroscopic imaging. Since there is no live reference, such as a highly contrasted vessel tree, available during navigation through the airways, traditional approaches, such as providing an overlay of a structure of the anatomy or the region of interest may be challenging to achieve with correct relative positioning. An obsolete or inaccurate overlay or positioning of the overlay may also lead to multiple tentative navigation attempts during the insertion or navigation of, for example, a bronchoscope, and overall does not support a surgeon or physician or medical personnel in effectively and efficiently reaching or navigating to a region of interest, such as a peripheral lesion.
One approach is detailed in the publication "Surrogate-Driven Estimation of Respiratory Motion and Layers in X-Ray Fluoroscopy" by Peter Fisher at al., published under DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-24553-9_35. To attain plausible motions, prior information for each motion layer is included in the form of a surrogate signal. A respiratory signal is extracted from images using manifold learning. The respiratory signal is then used to define a surrogate-driven motion model that is incorporated into an energy minimization framework with smoothness priors to enable motion estimation. The approach does, however, require the estimation of a motion model from a breathing cycle and does not account for any deformations or anatomical shifts due to an inserted instrument or tool, and relies on a regularity of the breathing that cannot reliably be ensured in most patients.

Medical assistance device, system, and method for determining a deformation of a subject, computer program, corresponding computer-readable storage medium


To provide a bump stopper (1) having constricted parts (2A, 2B) in the circumferential surface and exhibiting buffering action by deforming resiliently when an annular distal end portion (3) collides against a partner member (61) in a state that a bump stopper central axis (0) is inclined to a collision surface (62), without sliding on the collision surface (62), thereby generation of noise being suppressed, the distal end portion (3) has a outside diameter and an inside diameter which expand toward the end, a diameter d1 at a collision start point (4) at the most distal end of the inner diameter surface is set substantially equal to or larger than the outside diameter d2 of the constricted part (2A) located just above it, and the distal end portion (3) deforms to tilt further to the outer diameter side through action of moment at the time of collision.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bump stopper used in a vehicular suspension, a shock absorber or the like.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
In a vehicular suspension apparatus supporting a knuckle rotatably supporting a wheel to a vehicle body via a suspension arm so as to be movable up and down, a bump stopper is used in a vehicle body side. In other words, the bump stopper is installed to the vehicle body side, and opposes to a collision surface provided in an upper surface of the suspension arm in a contactable manner. When the vehicle body bumps largely while compressing a suspension spring, that is, when the vehicle body moves down in a direction of coming close to a road surface, the bump stopper comes into contact with the collision surface of the arm, thereby regulating a maximum bump amount of the vehicle body.
A bump stopper 51 having the function mentioned above is formed in a cylindrical shape by a rubber-like elastic body as shown in FIG. 5A, is provided with a constricted part 52 in a circumferential surface so as to be formed as a bellows shape, and is elastically deformed at a time of coming into collision with a collision surface 62 of an arm 61 by an annular distal end portion 53 in an axial direction so as to achieve a buffering action. The bump stopper distal end portion 53 has an outside diameter becoming smaller toward a distal side and is formed in a thin shape for buffering a primary shock.
Further, there are the bump stoppers for a front side and a rear side. Among them, since the front bump stopper is supported by a rod of an absorber, it comes into collision in such a state that a central axis of the bump stopper is orthogonal to the collision surface. However, since the rear bump stopper 51 is not supported by another part, it comes into collision in such a state that a bump stopper central axis O is inclined with respect to the collision surface 62 of the arm 61 as illustrated.
Accordingly, in the latter rear bump stopper, since a collision start point 54 of the bump stopper distal end portion 53 is positioned at the inclined side with respect to a bump stopper thickness, the bump stopper distal end portion 53 starts slipping on the collision surface 62 of the arm 61 from the collision time as shown in FIG. 5B (an arrow A), the slip is promoted together with the compression of the bump stopper 51, and there is a disadvantage that a noise (an abnormal noise) is generated at this time.
Reference is made to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-69463, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-79305, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-52505.


The method allows the transmission protocol and/or the transmission path to be changed during the transmission and without an interruption. This is done by a central decision system, as a function of requirements which are either entered or changed by the subscriber during the transmission, or as a function of limit values which are defined before or during the transmission.

Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the telecommunications field. More specifically, the invention pertains to a method for transmitting information such as data, voice, etc.
In order to transmit information, a telecommunications subscriber must explicitly select a transmission path, and thus a transmission protocol, before the transmission of information may start.
A user of a conventional telephone system may make a selection between various telephone network providers. For example, an additional dialing code, which is dialed before the actual telephone number (so-called xe2x80x9cpreselectionxe2x80x9d), is used to select a network provider for the entire call. The choice of the provider is thereby made by the subscriber on the basis of information such as tariff details available to him or her.
PC-users, as well, have a number of options for making a transmission to a destination apparatus. This extends from direct transmission by means of a modem and telephone line to use of so-called on-line service providers (such as AOL(copyright), CompuServe(copyright)) or an Internet Provider.
If the transmission quality deteriorates severely during the call, the call is, however, interrupted.
If the subscriber requirements change during the transmission, then the user""s only option is to terminate the call, and to set up a new call that meets the changed requirements.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method of changing from a first transmission path and/or transmission mode to a second transmission path and/or transmission mode, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a transmission method with which it is possible to change from a first transmission path and/or transmission mode to a second transmission path and/or transmission mode without interrupting the transmission. The method comprises the following steps:
selecting, with a decision system, a first transmission path and/or a first transmission mode in dependence on at least one limit value;
during the transmission, checking the selection of the transmission path and/or the transmission mode at least once;
if the limit value is found to be undershot or exceeded during the transmission, selecting a second transmission path and/or transmission mode with the decision system; and
changing over to the second transmission path and/or transmission mode without interrupting the transmission.
In an alternative, user-requested changeover, the transmission method comprises the following steps:
selecting, with a decision system, one of a first transmission path and a first transmission mode in dependence on at least a first limit value;
during the transmission, signaling a change in the first limit value or a second limit value;
checking the transmission path and/or the transmission mode and, if the changed limit value is found to be undershot or exceeded during the transmission, selecting a second transmission path and/or transmission mode with the decision system; and
changing over to the second transmission path and/or transmission mode without interrupting the transmission.
In other words, the method allows the transmission protocol and/or the transmission path to be changed during the transmission. This is done as a function of requirements which are either entered or changed by the subscriber during the transmission, or as a function of limit values which are defined before or during the transmission.
The subscriber who wishes to make a transmission first of all sets up a transmission path with the aid of an intelligent decision platform. A first path is defined, and the transmission is started, on the basis of previously stored service requirements for the subscriber.
If either the subscriber requirements or the quality of the transmission now change or changes during the transmission, then the decision platform is informed of the necessity to define a second transmission path.
This procedure results in the optimum transmission protocol for the application, and the appropriate transmission path, being selected at the start of the transmission. Furthermore, the automatic use of an optimum protocol is maintained during the transmission as well, if a change in the transmission protocol is initiated by an intelligent decision platform as a result of specific limit values being exceeded or undershot.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the checking step comprises comparing a transmission quality during the transmission with a limit value. It is also possible, to compare an available bandwidth with a limit value. Furthermore, it is possible to compare an available privacy level with a limit value during the transmission.
The requirements and limit values on the basis of which the intelligent decision platform makes path selection decisions and defines transmission paths relate to so-called service quality parameters for the transmission, such as the available bandwidth, the transmission security, the transmission rate or the costs. Other factors may play a role in package-switched data transmission, for example the frequency of repetitions (that is to say how many packets reach the receiver) or else the transmission security, that is to say the privacy level of the transmission path.
If, for example, the intelligent decision platform measures the bandwidth provided by the selected transmission path during the transmission, and in the process optimizes the costs of the transmission, then a change to the transmission protocol and/or path can be initiated if this bandwidth falls below a specific limit value. This is worthwhile if, for example, the nature of the transmission requires a minimum bandwidth, for example a video transmission.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the intelligent decision system has stored information suitable for producing a limit value for the transmission, and the limit value is accordingly defined with the decision system. The stored information is preferably communication-subscriber specific information.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the communication subscriber is automatically identified, using identification tags supplied prior to the transmission.
The intelligent decision platform can automatically decide on the optimum transmission path by using information which it has already stored in advance. This information may be entered in the form of a service profile or a service requirement by a subscriber, in advance, or may be stored in a subscriber profile on the basis of transmissions which had been required in the past.
The identity of the subscriber can be determined at the start of transmission. In the telephone network, this is done in the form of the xe2x80x9cCalling Party Addressxe2x80x9d (CgPA). On the Internet, this is done by the Internet address and, for example, the xe2x80x9cloginxe2x80x9d name of the subscriber.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in method for changing from a first transmission path and/or transmission mode to a second transmission path and/or transmission mode, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

Method of changing from a first transmission path and/or transmission mode to a second transmission path and/or transmission mode


A system includes an illumination source, a camera arranged to detect illumination from the illumination source, and a computer communicatively coupled to the illumination source and the camera. The computer is programmed to detect an object in image data from the camera, identify landmarks of the object in the image data, determine a distance from the camera to the object based on a pixel distance between the landmarks in the image data, and adjust a brightness of the illumination source based on the distance.

Vehicles are often equipped with cameras. The cameras detect electromagnetic radiation in some range of wavelengths. The wavelengths can be visible light, infrared radiation, ultraviolet light, or some range of wavelengths including visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet light. The cameras include image sensors such as charge-coupled devices (CCD), active-pixel sensors such as complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, etc.
For situations in which the ambient environment is insufficiently illuminated for the cameras, vehicles are equipped with illumination sources. The illumination sources are arranged to illuminate areas in the fields of view of the cameras. The cameras thereby receive illumination from the illumination sources reflected from features of the environment.

Illumination control for vehicle sensors