Optical lens attachments and cameras are disclosed. The attachment comprises a coupling mechanism for mating engagement with at least one of a camera and an optical lens. A barrel is coupled at one end to the coupling mechanism. A negative lens unit is coupled to the other end of elongated barrel. A diopter lens is disposed between the barrel and the coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism, the diopter lens, and the barrel are aligned with an optical axis. Also disclosed is a double swivel optical system, comprising a negative lens unit, a mirror oriented at an angle to the optical axis of the negative lens unit, a roof prism for rotating incident light rays by 90 degrees and inverting an image, a rotation mechanism permitting rotation of the negative lens unit about a vertical axis, an image rotator comprising a prism that can invert an image, the prism disposed within the image rotator, and another rotation mechanism permitting rotation of the roof prism about an optical axis of the image rotator.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,236 that issued to Frazier on 10 Mar. 1998 describes an optical system that has the features of a wide angle lens, a deep field lens and a close focusing lens. The optical system aims to achieve a deep focus image, i.e. to make it possible to film macro subjects in focus in the foreground, while holding infinity also in focus.
The system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,236 comprises an objective lens, a field lens and a relay lens aligned sequentially on an optical axis and arranged in a lens cylinder or barrel.
The objective lens forms an intermediate image at or near the field lens, either in front or in back of the field lens. The objective lens may be fixed at infinity focus and have a wide open aperture for forming the intermediate image of a larger size than is otherwise normal for an objective lens of that focal length. The field lens and relay lenses transmit that same image to a smaller final image at a film plane. The relay lens is a macro lens and may have an iris and focusing mechanism, so that the objective and field lenses are not required to be used for aperture control and focusing. A Pechan prism, a roof prism, and a mirror for inverting and reversing (reverting) the intermediate image are provided in the barrel between the field and relay lenses. The Pechan prism, the roof prism, and the mirror ensure that the final image at the film plane has the normal orientation of the final image (instead of being inverted and reversed). Such an optical system requires a substantial amount of light to provide good depth of field. Also, the optical system has a substantial number of optical surfaces (i e., air to optical media surfaces). Every time a light ray has to travel from air to glass to air again, there is some degradation of the image. There may be as many as 50 air-to-glass surfaces in such an optical system. Further the Pechan prism or its optical equivalent and the roof prism are bulky and heavy making the optical system larger and heavier than otherwise would be the case.
Snorkel-type lenses have been used for some time, but all types have necessitated alteration of the camera setup and separately attach the lens systems directly to the camera body. Snorkel lenses allow access to difficult to photograph situations, including table-top photography or ground-level access photography. The depth of field is basically the same as with normal lenses.
Disadvantageously, such lenses require removal of a zoom lens from the camera. Further this requires time to set up the camera Still further, such snorkel-type lenses require higher light levels and consequently have greater lighting costs.
Double-axis swivel optical lens systems with image rotators have been used to deal with the placement and filming of difficult situations. The image rotator corrects image orientation to correct camera geometry, even if the camera is upside down or sideways oriented. The swivel tip of the optical lens system allows low, ground level shots to be easily accessed by keeping the camera off the ground, or either underslung or overhead shots, while the camera remains in a horizontal orientation.
Disadvantageously, however, such double-axis swivel optical lens systems are expensive to produce because such systems have a large number of lens elements and prisms. Typically, such systems have up to 15 or so objective lenses for handling different angles of acceptance. Further, such optical lens systems place a zoom lens on the front of the system. The various lenses add a significant amount of weight to the front end of a camera to which the lenses are attached and extend the overall length, with the swivels being too far back. This makes the optical lens system and camera awkward to use. Therefore, such lenses are difficult to manufacture economically and are cumbersome to use. Further, a large amount of light is required to operate such lenses. Typically, the optical lens system has an F stop of F 5.6 or smaller (e.g., F 8).


A power use circuit breaker includes an arc generating switching unit which adds an electrical resistance in a circuit during current interruption to attenuate a current to be interrupted, a vacuum bulb which is electrically connected in series with the arc generating switching unit and interrupts the attenuated current and a current conducting switching unit connected in parallel with the series circuit of the vacuum bulb and the arc generating switching unit. For current conduction the current conducting switching unit is closed after the vacuum bulb and the arc generating switching unit are closed, and for current interruption after opening the current conducting switching unit, the vacuum bulb and the arc generating switching unit are opened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power use circuit breaker and an electrical circuit arrangement for an electrical power generating plant using such power use circuit breaker.
2. Conventional Art
A power use circuit breaker, which interrupts a fault current flowing at a time of electric power system accident and protects the electric power system, is required to instantly interrupt a large fault current. In particular, a power use circuit breaker disposed between an electric power generator and a main power transformer, which is opened and closed at the time of starting and stopping of the electric power generator and further interrupts a large power generator fault current flowing at the time of accident, is required to have a capacity of interrupting a large current from several ten thousand to several hundred thousand amperes (A) containing a DC component.
A power use circuit breaker such as a puffer type gas circuit breaker and a vacuum circuit breaker which have been used to interrupt such large current has the following drawbacks.
(a) Puffer Type Gas Circuit Breaker
It is required a gas pressure of more than several hundred thousand atmospheric pressure which is to be blasted to a large current arc generated between contacts during current interruption to extinguish the arc for interrupting current of several ten thousand amperes, therefore, if a bellows having an operating stroke of 100xcx9c300 mm in order to obtain the above high pressure gas, an operating force of about hundred thousand-several tens of tons is required which increases the size of the machine.
(b) Vacuum Circuit Breaker
When interrupting a current containing a DC current component with a vacuum circuit breaker, it is impossible to attenuate the DC current component by making use of an arc resistance, because an arc voltage generated between contacts in the vacuum circuit breaker during current interruption is low, therefore, it is difficult to apply a vacuum circuit breaker for interrupting current in an electric power generator main circuit containing a large DC current component. Further, since a current conducting capacity of a vacuum circuit breaker is small, it is difficult to use a vacuum circuit breaker in a circuit in which current more than 4000 A flows.
An object of the present invention is to provide a small sized power use circuit breaker which realizes current conduction and interruption of a large current containing a DC current component.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a small sized power use circuit breaker which surely performs current interruption of a large current containing a DC current component with a small operating force.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electric circuit arrangement for an electric power generating plant which permits a size reduction of the concerned house installation by making use of a small sized power use circuit breaker.
A power use circuit breaker according to the present invention which is connected in an electric circuit and operates to interrupt current flowing through the electric circuit, is characterized by being provided with an electrical resistance generating unit which adds an electrical resistance in the electric circuit during interruption of current and causes to attenuate current to be interrupted and a vacuum circuit breaker which is connected in electrically series with the electrical resistance generating unit and operates to interrupt the attenuated current.
Further, a power use circuit breaker according to the present invention including a current interrupting circuit which is connected in an electric circuit and operates to interrupt current flowing through the electric circuit and a current conducting circuit which is connected in parallel with the current interrupting circuit and is opened prior to the current interrupting circuit during interruption of current so as to transfer conducting current to the current interrupting circuit, is characterized in that the current interrupting circuit is provided with an electrical resistance generating unit which adds an electrical resistance in the electric circuit during interruption of current and causes to attenuate current to be interrupted and a vacuum circuit breaker which is connected in electrically series with the electrical resistance generating unit and operates to interrupt the attenuated current.
Further, it is characterized that the electrical resistance generating unit is an arc generating switching unit which is closed during current conduction to show a substantially negligible small value of electrical resistance and is opened during current interruption so as to generate an arc and to form an arc resistance circuit.
Further, it is characterized that the electrical resistance generating unit is provided with a container which contains gas of which pressure is raised by heating through arcing and the pressurized gas is blasted toward the arc.
Further, it is characterized that the current conducting circuit is provided with a current conducting switching unit, and the vacuum circuit breaker and the current conducting switching unit are coupled through an operating mechanism having a dead band with regard to operation stroke so as to open the vacuum circuit breaker after having opened the current conducting switching unit which permits an interlocked switching operation of the current conducting switching unit and the vacuum circuit breaker with a single driving unit.
Further, it is characterized in that the current conducting circuit is provided with a current conducting switching unit, and the vacuum circuit breaker, the arc generating switching unit and the current conducting switching unit are coupled through an operating mechanism having a dead band with regard to operation stroke so as to open the arc generating switching unit to generate an arc after having opened the current conducting switching unit and thereafter to open the vacuum circuit breaker which permits an interlocked switching operation of the current conducting switching unit, the arc generating switching unit and the vacuum circuit breaker with a single driving unit.
Further, it is characterized in that the current conducting switching unit and the arc generating switching unit are interlocked like a unitary body.
An electric circuit arrangement for an electric power generating plant according to the present invention, is characterized in that a power use circuit breaker according to one of those explained above is connected between an electric power generator and a main power transformer so as to permit separation of the main power transformer and a house transformer from the electric power generator.

Power use circuit breaker and electrical circuit arrangement for electric power generation plant


Within one or more instances of a computing environment where an instance is a self-contained architecture to provide at least one database with corresponding search and file system. User information from the one or more instances of the computing environment is organized as zones. A zone is based on one or more characteristics of corresponding user information that are different than the instance to which the user information belongs. User information is selectively obfuscated prior to transmitting blocks of data including the obfuscated user information. The selective obfuscation is based on zone information for one or more zones to which the user information belongs.

Data replication generally refers to the process of copying data. Data replication is a common technique to provide data synchronization as well as other advantages. Data replication is usually an ongoing process in which transactions or other data sets are copied and stored in multiple locations. However, there are conditions under which certain data should not be replicated in the standard manner. This has been a complex situation that has been difficult to solve in a clean and efficient manner.

Techniques and architectures for selective obfuscation of personally identifiable information (PII) in environments capable of replicating data


A paint brush that contains a hollow handle that attaches to a water source. A tube within the hollow handle that provides a passage for the water running through the hollow handle. A hollow brush head is attached to the hollow handle, and is comprised of two opposing walls curved at their ends for connecting to each other. A bristle bar containing a plurality of bristles is attached to the hollow head. Within the bristle bar there are orifices through which the water flows. The hollow brush head contains at least one diverting bar disposed within that controls the flow of water through said bristles. Wherein the water source is attached to the hollow handle, and water flows through the tube, through the hollow head, over the diverting bars, through the orifices and through the plurality of bristles for easy cleaning.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a self cleaning paint brush. More specifically, the invention relates to a paint brush that has a hollow handle for attaching to a water source, and a hollow head that contains water diverting bars therein to control the flow of water through the bristles.


The present disclosure relates to a composition for dyeing human keratin fibers, comprising at least one cationic direct dye of formula (I), described herein, and at least one cosmetic agent chosen from thickening agents and surfactants. Also disclosed herein is a dyeing process comprising applying a composition of the present disclosure to keratin fibers, in the presence or absence of an oxidizing agent. Further disclosed herein is a multi-compartment device comprising at least one first compartment containing a dye composition of the present disclosure and at least one second compartment containing at least one oxidizing composition.

It is known practice to dye human keratin fibers, such as the hair, with dye compositions comprising oxidation dye precursors, which are generally known as oxidation bases and couplers. These oxidation bases and couplers are colorless or weakly colored compounds, which, when combined with oxidizing agents such as peroxides, for example, hydrogen peroxide, give rise to colored compounds by a process of oxidative condensation.
The colorations resulting therefrom are permanent, strong, and resistant to external agents, such as light, bad weather, washing, perspiration, and/or rubbing. This process, which is generally applied at basic pH, makes it possible simultaneously to dye and lighten the fibers, which is reflected in practice by the possibility of obtaining a final coloration that is lighter than the original color. In addition, lightening of the fiber may have the advantageous effect of generating a unified color in the case of grey hair, and of bringing out the color, i.e., making it more visible, in the case of naturally pigmented hair.
It is also known practice to dye human keratin fibers with a direct dye. The process conventionally used in direct dyeing comprises applying direct dyes to the keratin fibers, which are colored and coloring molecules that have affinity for the fibers, leaving the dyes on the fibers, and then rinsing the fibers.
It is known practice, for example, to use direct dyes chosen from nitrobenzene, anthraquinone, nitropyridine, azo, xanthene, acridine, azine, and triarylmethane direct dyes.
The colorations resulting therefrom are particularly chromatic colorations, but are, however, temporary or semi-permanent since the nature of the interactions linking the direct dyes to the keratin fiber, and their desorption from the surface and/or core of the fiber are generally considered responsible for their poor dyeing power and their poor fastness with respect to washing and/or perspiration. These direct dyes are also generally light-sensitive due to the poor resistance of the chromophore with respect to photochemical attack, and often lead, over time, to fading of the coloration of the hair. In addition, their light-sensitivity is dependent on their uniform distribution or their distribution as aggregates in the keratin fiber.
The direct dyes may be combined with oxidizing agents. However, the direct dyes are often sensitive to the action of oxidizing agents and reducing agents, which makes them generally difficult to use in lightening direct dyeing compositions based on aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution and based on a basifying agent, or in oxidation dye compositions in combination with precursors such as oxidation bases or couplers.

Dye composition comprising at least one cationic hydrazone direct dye, dyeing process, and multi-compartment devices


A method, system, and computer program product for automated evaluation of information retrieval systems are provided. The method accesses a natural language query from a set of natural language queries. The natural language query is associated with a query difficulty level. The method generates one or more natural language responses to the natural language natural language query. Each natural language response is associated with at least one facet of the plurality of facets. The method generates a set of feedback cues. A set of search results for the natural language query are returned. The set of search results include a highest ranked natural language response of the one or more natural language responses. The method generates an evaluation result for the HCIR system for the query difficulty level based on the one or more natural language responses, the set of search results, and the set of feedback cues.

Databases and data resources use information retrieval systems to surface information being sought by users. Human-computer information retrieval (HCIR) includes systems and techniques for information retrieval that involves humans in a search process. HCIR combines fields of human-computer interaction (HCl) and information retrieval (IR). HCIR systems often take into account a human context of search functionality for databases and data resources. HCIR systems may employ multi-step search processes to provide opportunities for human feedback.

Automated evaluation of information retrieval

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a corrosion resistant member comprising a sintered material having an α-Al2O3 crystal and an YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet) crystal. The corrosion resistant member contains metal elements, 70 to 98% by mass (inclusive) of Al in terms of Al2O3 and 2 to 30% by mass of Y in terms of Y2O3. The corrosion resistant member has a peak intensity ratio I116/I104 within the range from 0.94 to 1.98, preferably. 2.21 or higher, wherein I116 and I104 represent peak intensities attributed to the (116) face and the (104) face, respectively, of an α-Al2O3 crystal as measured by X-ray diffractometry on its surface layer.

In recent years, plasma treatment techniques have widely been used to treat objects in an etching process and a deposition process in the production of semiconductors and liquid crystals. A reactive and corrosive gas containing a halogen element, such as fluorine or chlorine, has frequently been used in an etching process and a deposition process. High corrosion resistance is therefore required for members having a corrosion-resistant surface, which comes into contact with a corrosive gas or its plasma in treatment apparatuses, such as etching apparatuses and coating apparatuses, for use in the production of semiconductors and liquid crystals. Members having such a high corrosion resistance (corrosion-resistant members) have been formed of a ceramic, such as sintered alumina.
Recently, sintered yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) has received attention as a sintered ceramic having a corrosion resistance higher than that of sintered alumina. Although the sintered YAG has a corrosion resistance higher than that of sintered alumina, however, the sintered YAG generally has much lower mechanical properties, such as the bending strength and the fracture toughness, than sintered alumina. The sintered YAG is therefore difficult to apply to corrosion-resistant members that require excellent mechanical properties as well as a high corrosion resistance. Thus, sintered bodies that contain alumina and YAG and have mechanical properties superior to that of sintered YAG and a corrosion resistance higher than that of sintered alumina have received attention as corrosion-resistant members (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a ceramic composite that has a uniform sea-island structure containing a polycrystalline α-Al2O3 as the sea and polycrystalline YAG as the island. This ceramic composite has no colony and has a three-point bending strength of at least 500 MPa at 1500° C. in the air. Such a ceramic composite may be formed as follows: first, an α-Al2O3 powder and an Y2O3 powder are dry-blended or wet-blended at a desired ratio to prepare a mixed powder, the mixed powder is then melted in a known melting furnace, such as an arc melting furnace, at a temperature, for example, in the range of 1800° C. to 2500° C., and the melt is directly poured into a crucible, and is solidified in one direction to form the ceramic composite described above.
Patent Document 2 discloses a plasma-resistant sintered alumina. A main component Al2O3 has a particle size in the range of 10 to 40 μm, and YAG in the Al2O3 has an average grain size in the range of 0.1 to 1 μm. The number of YAG crystal grains is at least 20 in a 10 μm×10 μm area. This plasma-resistant sintered alumina is formed by molding and firing a raw material containing 100 parts by weight of Al2O3, 1 to 10 parts by weight of Y compound in terms of Y2O3, and 0.01 to 0.1 parts by weight of Mg compound in terms of MgO. The raw material is heated to 1600° C. at a heating rate in the range of 10° C. to 100° C./h, and is fired at a temperature in the range of 1600° C. to 1850° C. in a reducing atmosphere. The Y compound is an yttrium oxide precursor, such as yttrium chloride, yttrium acetate, or yttrium nitrate. The Mg compound is magnesium sulfate or magnesium nitrate. Use of these compounds allows Y or Mg to disperse well in the alumina composition, can prevent the selective corrosion of Al2O3 and deterioration in mechanical properties of a sintered body, and can improve the plasma resistance.
Patent Document 3 discloses a high-strength sintered alumina that contains 50% to 97% by weight of alumina and 3% to 50% by weight of YAG. The alumina has an average grain size in the range of 2 to 10 μm. The YAG has an average grain size in the range of 1.5 to 5 μm. The ratio of the average grain size of the alumina to the average grain size of the YAG is more than one and less than seven. The high-strength sintered alumina is produced by firstly mixing 50% to 97% by weight of alumina powder and 3% to 50% by weight of YAG powder. The alumina powder has a purity of at least 95%, an average particle size in the range of 1 to 15 μm, and a BET specific surface area in the range of 1 to 4 m2/g. The YAG powder has an average particle size in the range of 0.6 to 1.2 μm and a BET specific surface area in the range of 2 to 5 m2/g. The mixed powder is then mixed with an organic binder. The mixed powder is then granulated, molded, and fired to form the high-strength sintered alumina.
Patent Document 4 discloses a high-strength and high-hardness alumina ceramic that contains 0.5% to 12% by weight of YAG particles and the remainder substantially composed of alumina. YAG crystals have an average grain size in the range of 0.05 to 1.5 μm. The alumina has an average grain size in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 μm. YAG crystal grains are dispersed within a grain boundary of a sintered body and within an alumina particle. The alumina ceramic may be formed as follows: first, a water-soluble aluminum salt and a water-soluble yttrium salt are dissolved in water to prepare a solution, an alumina powder is then added to the solution, the solution is subjected to a neutralization reaction with ammonia to form a mixed powder composed of Al—Y hydroxide and alumina, the mixed powder is then calcined at a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 1000° C. to produce an alumina powder in which YAG particles are dispersed, and the alumina powder is granulated, molded, and fired to form the alumina ceramic described above.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-81257    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-37660    Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-255634    Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-335159

Corrosion-resistant member, treatment apparatus and sample treatment method using the member, and method for manufacture of corrosion-resistant member


A display device includes a light emitting functional layer disposed between a first and second substrates; a first pixel which emits light to the second substrate and has a first pixel electrode disposed between the light emitting functional layer and the first substrate, a second electrode disposed between the light emitting functional layer and the second substrate, and a first reflecting layer disposed between the first pixel electrode and the first substrate; a second pixel which emits light to the first substrate side and has a second pixel electrode disposed between the light emitting functional layer and the first substrate, a second electrode disposed between the light emitting functional layer and the second substrate, and a second reflecting layer disposed between the second electrode and the second substrate; and a driving element which drives the first and second pixel electrodes is disposed above first substrate.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a display device.
2. Related Art
Organic EL (electroluminescent) devices, which use an electroluminescence phenomenon where light is emitted due to applying of an electric current, are increasingly being used as display devices. As a new use application in recent years, there has been considered a use method where both front and back surfaces can be seen at the same time. As a double-sided display organic EL device corresponding to this use application, in JP-A-2000-58260, for example, a configuration is proposed where light emitting functional layers including at least an electroluminescence layer are formed on both sides of a cathode. Also, in JP-A-2001-332392, a configuration is proposed where a part of a cathode is formed of a transmissive member, and in JP-A-2002-252089, a configuration is proposed where electrodes with a light emitting functional layer interposed therebetween, that is both an anode and a cathode, are formed of transmissive members.
However, in the configuration where light emitting functional layers are formed on both sides of a cathode, there may be an increase in manufacturing cost. Also, forming both an anode and a cathode of a transmissive member narrows the width of selection of electrode materials so that there may be an impact on the light emitting characteristics and the like. In addition, in a more advanced use application, a use method is also proposed where a plurality of people faces each other with a display device therebetween and meetings or the like are carried out while looking at each other and at the display device. For this use application, it is necessary that a transmissive region is provided in the display device. In addition, in order for the plurality of people who are facing each other to see an image which is not reversed left and right, it is necessary that an image on one side of the display device and an image on the other side are each formed independently.


Methods and apparatus for facilitating the sharing of graphics rendering operation implementations between different pixel formats. A lookup table is generated that stores the descriptions of the various rendering operation implementations. A plurality of chains of inherited object descriptors allows traversal from specific to more general descriptions of pixel formats and composition operations. Using these chains, the lookup table can be searched for a rendering operation implementation that best matches the specified criteria.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to object oriented computer graphics and imaging. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for facilitating the sharing of computer graphics operations in an object oriented computer system.
2. Background Information
The proliferation of computers, and particularly in conjunction with the explosion of computer software and the Internet, has led to a rise in the complexity and variety of computer software applications. A prominent feature of many software applications is the ability to display and manipulate computer graphic images. Given the variety and number of different software applications, computer graphic images can vary a great deal and are often stored in a wide variety of pixel formats. As a result, computer software applications need to support many different pixel formats and many different graphics or rendering operations.
Computer graphic images may be stored in many different pixels formats such as 32-bit integer RGB (Red-Green-Blue) values or 32-bit BGR integer (Blue-Green-Red) values. Presently known systems typically customize their computer graphics rendering operations (e.g., DrawLine, FillRect, etc.) for each specific pixel format. This is necessary as the same implementation of a particular rendering operation may not work on different pixel formats. For example, the implementation of FillRect (i.e., fill a rectangle with specific attributes such as color, shade pattern, etc.) for a 32-bit integer RGB pixel format would not work for a 1-bit black and white (B/W) pixel format.
However, an implementation of a particular rendering operation may be shared in certain instances. For example, the FillRect implementation for a 32-bit integer RGB pixel format may be shared by the FillRect implementation for a 32-bit integer BGR pixel format as both implementations use a 32-bit integer value to generate the fill value for the rectangle. However, presently known systems are limited in their ability to recognize when an implementation of a particular rendering operation may be shared, as there is no implicit detection of the similarity between pixel formats. The computer software has to have source code that identifies the two pixel formats and the particular rendering operation, whereupon xe2x80x9chard-codedxe2x80x9d logic directs the sharing of the rendering operation implementation between the two pixel formats.
Alternatively, the xe2x80x9chard-codedxe2x80x9d logic could be omitted, and instead the implementation of the common rendering operations for the different pixel formats could be duplicated for each pixel format. However, this necessarily leads to software that is complex and more apt to have xe2x80x9cbugsxe2x80x9d, and thus is more expensive to maintain and enhance, as bug fixes and enhancements have to be duplicated for the different implementations of the rendering operations. In addition, duplicating the rendering operations produces larger software executables which require more disk space and memory in order to function properly.
One popular approach to identifying pixel formats is that taken by platform independent application programming interfaces (APIs) such as OpenGL and QuickDraw 3D. These APIs provide a robust set of platform independent graphics primitives for various rendering operations from drawing lines, polylines, and polygons, to Gouraud and flat shading and the like. However, these APIs are limited in their ability to share implementations of common rendering operations among different pixel formats as the descriptors for the pixel formats are constants and do not support inheritance to derived or related pixel formats. Thus, these APIs must use hard-coded logic in order to share implementations of rendering operations for different pixel formats.
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for facilitating the sharing of implementations of rendering operations among different pixel formats. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a lookup table is generated having a plurality of software algorithm implementation descriptions. Each description may correspond to a rendering operation implementation or other type of software algorithm implementation. Each description comprises at least one attribute and may have a plurality of attributes such as a rendering operation type, a destination drawing surface data type, a source drawing surface data type, and a composition algorithm type. In addition, chains of a plurality of objects that are linked together are also generated. The objects can be implemented as C++ or Java objects having attributes and methods. The chains may comprise a chain of surface objects representing source or destination drawing surfaces. The chains may also comprise a chain of composition objects. Within each chain, the objects are linked together so that the supertype for a particular object can be easily accessed.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the lookup table may be searched for a particular combination of attributes. The combination of attributes may comprise a specific rendering operation type and a specific destination drawing surface data type. If the specific combination of attributes is not found in the lookup table, then the chain of destination drawing surface objects may be traversed to find a supertype or more general description for the specified destination drawing surface data type. The lookup table may now be searched with the new combination of the specific rendering operation type and the supertype or more general destination drawing surface data type. This process can be repeated until a match is found or the chain of surface objects is fully traversed.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the lookup table may be searched for a combination of attributes that includes a rendering operation type, a destination drawing surface data type, a source drawing surface data type, and a composition algorithm type. Linked chains of objects may be generated where the objects represent destination drawing surfaces, source drawing surfaces, and composition algorithms. If a match is not found in the lookup table for a specified combination of attributes, then the linked chains of objects may be traversed to obtain a supertype or more general description for one of the attributes. The lookup table can be searched again by substituting the supertype for one of the attributes. In this way, the lookup table can be iteratively searched until a match is found or the linked chains of objects are fully traversed.

Methods and apparatus for facilitating the sharing of computer graphics operations


A method for manufacturing a collimating device is disclosed herein. In one embodiment the method includes a step of constructing a reflective layer. After the reflective layer is constructed, a step of constructing an optical element layer follows, including a step of forming an array of microstructures in the optical element layer. Next, the array of microstructures is abutted against the reflective layer. Heat and pressure are then applied to the optical element layer to puncture the reflective layer and penetrate a predetermined distance through the reflective layer. Sub-assemblies are also defined, wherein optical elements are coupled to prevent light loss.

Light collimating films, sometimes known as light control films, are known in the art. Such films typically have opaque plastic louvers lying between strips of clear plastic. U.S. Pat. No. Re 27,617 teaches a process of making such a louvered light collimating film by skiving a billet of alternating layers of plastic having relatively low and relatively high optical densities. After skiving, the high optical density layers provide light collimating louver elements which, as illustrated in the patent, may extend orthogonally to the surface of the resulting louvered plastic film. U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,416 discloses a process whereby the louver elements may be canted with respect to the surface of the light collimating film. U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,559 teaches a process for attaining a gradual change in the angle of cant of successive louver elements.
Such light collimating films have many uses. U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,722 teaches the use of such films in lenses for goggles to be worn where high levels of illumination or glare are encountered. Such films also may be used to cover a backlit instrument panel, such as the dashboard of a car, to prevent undesired reflections in locations such as the windshield, or a backlit electronic device (e.g., a LCD computer screen or LCD TV).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,160 discloses light collimating films that are formed from a plastic film with a series of grooves formed therein. The grooves are filled with a light absorbing material or the sides and bottoms of the grooves may be painted with a light absorbing ink.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0259198 discloses light collimating devices and transflecting devices that include a layer having a plurality of three dimensional optical elements and a reflective layer. The reflective layer has apertures corresponding to the position and shape of the ends of the three dimensional optical elements.

Method for making collimating or transflecting film having a reflective layer


Provided is an implant for sternum replacement including an upper face, a posterior face, extensions for fitting with the ribs and extensions for fitting with the manubrium, wherein that implant is manufactured in a single piece with high performance engineering polymers, with an anatomical adjustment tailored to each patient, which guarantees the reduction of the number of elements in contact with the patient, facilitating and speeding up the surgical procedure, at the same time, the required mechanical and flexibility properties, are guaranteed.

In some cases of infection, accidents, heart surgeries or the presence of cancer tumors, it is necessary to practice a total sternotomy, that is, the extraction of the sternum bone, which is a flat, odd, central and symmetrical (usually) chest bone, consisting of several welded parts. The sternum helps protect the heart and lungs. At the back of it is the mediastinum, which includes the extrapleural anatomical complement located in the center of the chest, between the left and right lungs.
To replace the sternum, a series of implants made with different materials have been used, among which the titanium metal plates, ceramic alumina plates, and in some cases in which the sternum is not completely replaced, high performance engineering polymers. However, normally this type of implant meets standard geometries and requires a large number of additional elements for fixation and complementary elements to guarantee the correct performance of the implant, hindering the surgical process and increasing the risk of infections and complications.
Thus, in the state of the art there are a plurality of disclosures related to implants or plates for total or partial sternum replacement, with different geometries and materials, among which is the document US2018177914, refers to an implant for sternum replacement comprising an alumina ceramic, where the alumina ceramic has a volume porosity of 45 to 75% and a pore size of 200 to 600 μm.
However, embodiments of the invention defined herein has the disadvantage that it is not custom made for the patient, at the same time it does not show an implant developed in high performance engineering polymers.
On the other hand, there is also document CN109077831A, in which provides a type of prosthetic sternum devices, which includes a sternal part; multiple rib cage portions located on the sternal side. The interior of one or more portions of the rib cage is disposed in the prosthetic fusion portion. Wherein said prosthetic fusion portion allows growth during the rib cage portion with the bone fusion to grow integrally, eventually grow to a relatively stable level and biologically active support construction, while this support construction may also cause stimulation transported to the peripheral blood, promoting the repair of damaged cartilage.
However, embodiments of the invention defined herein has the disadvantage that it is not custom made for the patient, at the same time it does not show an implant developed in high performance engineering polymers.
In the state of the art, there is also document WO2018/132179, which presents an implant for a human sternum and ribs that includes a sternal implant and a rib link. The sternal implant can be attached to the sternum. The rib bond may include a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a strut. The distal portion can be attachable to a rib. The proximal portion may be attachable to the sternal implant. The strut can connect the distal portion to the proximal portion. The strut can be configured to flex so that the distal portion can align with the rib.
However, embodiments of the invention defined herein has the disadvantage that it is not custom made for the patient in a single piece, at the same time it does not show an implant developed in high performance engineering polymers.
On the other hand, have document CN209136987U, which discloses a type of artificial sternum bone made of carbon/carbon composite material, including the main body of the sternum, and the integral structure of the branch is connected to the rib cage, and the connecting branch of the rib cage is distributed in the sternum on two sides. The artificial sternum bone has three layers, and the intermediate layer is a base layer of carbon/carbon composite material, and the upper epidermis is a coating High porosity carbon, and the layer is a pyrocarbon coating, a silicon carbide layer, or a pyrolytic carbon/silicon carbide mixed layer. Artificial sternum bone has many advantages, such as that light weight, specific resistance is high, histocompatibility is good, easy to use.
However, embodiments of the invention defined herein has the disadvantage that it is not custom made for the patient, at the same time it does not show an implant developed in high performance engineering polymers.
Finally, Document FR3032876A1 refers particularly to an implant for sternal closure after a sternotomy that is comprised of a central block comprised of a superior and an inferior face that comprises a first module and a second module. This first module is meant to be attached to one part of the sternum and has a medial face that is meant to be positions right in front of the medial side of the second module that is located in the other part of the sternum. Said implant has at least one means to join the two medial faces of the modules and at least one means of blocking the removable device that goes through at least one of the modules. Said means of blocking is accessible from the frontal side of the implant.
However, embodiments of the invention defined herein has the disadvantage that it is not custom made for the patient in a single piece.
In accordance with the previous statements, it is clear that in the state of the art there is a need to design an implant for sternum replacement tailored to the patient, which has a geometry that adjusts to the ribs, the mediastinum and the manubrium, that is developed in a single piece in a material that guarantees flexibility for its correct operation.
Additionally, it is necessary that those implants have properties of high resistance, light weight, biocompatibility, and that allow avoiding the risk of infections, facilitating and expediting surgical interventions.

Sternum replacement plate made in one piece


A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a pixel area in which pixels each having at least a photoelectric conversion unit and an amplification transistor for amplifying and outputting a signal of the photoelectric conversion unit are two-dimensionally arranged in horizontal and vertical directions, wherein a power supply wiring, which extends in a vertical direction along pixel boundaries of horizontal and vertical directions while meandering, is arranged on one of two pixel lines adjoining to each other in the horizontal direction in the pixel area, and the power supply wiring is connected to one of a source and a drain of the amplification transistor on each of the two pixel lines. Thus, it is possible to provide a high-sensitivity and high-image-quality amplified solid-state image pickup apparatus in which a difference of sensitivities at one-line intervals is small.

In recent years, a solid-state image pickup apparatus is approximately classified into a type of CCD (charge coupled device) and a type of amplified solid-state image pickup apparatus in which each pixel has a signal amplification function. More specifically, in various amplified solid-state image pickup apparatuses, a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor has been rapidly in practical use because a technique of reducing noises of the CMOS sensor was developed and the CMOS sensor excellently matches with a CMOS process. As a result, the CMOS sensors and the CCDs come to substantially divide the whole of the various solid-state image pickup apparatuses in two.
However, since the number of transistors which constitute the pixels of the CMOS sensor is extremely large, numerous wirings for controlling these transistors are necessary, whereby a multi-layer wiring must be adopted. For this reason, in the reduced-size pixel, the height of the opening of the wiring from the surface of a photodiode is high, and further the area of the opening is narrow. As a result, there is a problem that sensitivity of the CMOS sensor degrades.
In order to solve the above-described problem of the CMOS sensor, there are several proposals which concern the constitution of the pixel. One of these proposals is disclosed in the patent document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-046596). More specifically, the patent document 1 discloses that plural photodiodes share transistors constituting a pixel so as to reduce the number of transistor elements for each pixel. Besides, another proposal is disclosed in the patent document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-112018). More specifically, the patent document 2 discloses that the use of transistors for selection is eliminated.
Further, another proposal is disclosed in the patent document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-097662). More specifically, FIGS. 2 and 4 of the patent document 3 respectively disclose pixel wirings. That is, in the patent document 3, a power supply wiring for an amplification transistor and a pixel output wiring are constituted as vertical lines extending in a column direction. Further, driving wirings to be connected to the gates of pixel transistors such as a transfer transistor, a reset transistor and the like are constituted as horizontal lines extending in a row direction. By constituting a pixel as above, an opening can be made wider as much as possible.
Under the circumstances, in order to further reduce the number of wirings in the pixel of the CMOS sensor, it is conceivable that the pixels of two lines share a single power supply line so that one power supply wiring is provided for the two pixels lines. In this connection, the patent document 4 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-230055) discloses in FIG. 15 and the corresponding description that pixels of two lines are set to be symmetrical in regard to the boundary thereof, and that a power supply line is provided on the relevant boundary. According to such a pixel constitution of a CMOS sensor, since the area of an opening of a wiring can be widened, sensitivity of the CMOS sensor can be improved.
However, it should be noted that the following problem concerning image quality occurs in the constitution disclosed in the patent document 4. More specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates a wiring layout in 2×2 pixels according to the constitution disclosed in the patent document 4. In FIG. 6, numeral 16 denotes one pixel frame, and the four pixel frames 16 are arranged in the form of 2×2. Besides, a power supply wiring 6, a left-line pixel output wiring 7-1, and a right-line pixel output wiring 7-2 are arranged.
As can be seen from FIG. 6, in the symmetrical two pixel lines, it is believed that the left-line pixel output wiring 7-1, the right-line pixel output wiring 7-2 and the power supply wiring 6 are arranged on the pixel boundary in the vertical direction of the two pixel lines. For this reason, since the center of the wiring opening is shifted to closer one of the right and left ends of the two pixel lines, sensitivity of the right-line pixels in regard to oblique incident light is different from sensitivity of the left-line pixels in regard to oblique incident light.
In other words, the left-line pixels tend to have higher sensitivity in regard to right oblique incident light as compared with left oblique incident light, while the right-line pixels tend to have higher sensitivity in regard to left oblique incident light as compared with right oblique incident light. The solid-state image pickup apparatus receives light sent from a condensing lens. Here, in the solid-state image pickup apparatus, with respect to the pixel receiving the light transmitting through the center line of the lens, the left oblique incident light and the right oblique incident light have the same weight. However, with respect to the pixel apart from the center line of the lens, for example, the pixel apart from the center line of the lens in the left direction, an amount of the oblique incident light from the right is larger as compared with an amount of the oblique incident light from the left. Consequently, at that position, the sensitivity of the left-line pixel is high but the sensitivity of the right-line pixel is low. For this reason, even if uniform incident light is irradiated onto such a portion, pixel outputs vary at one-line intervals. Here, it should be noted that the pixels positioned apart from the center line of the lens in the right direction show a tendency opposite to that of the pixels positioned in the left direction. Consequently, even if uniform incident light is irradiated onto the pixel area, a difference between the output of the left-line pixel and the output of the right-line pixel becomes large according to the pixels positioned closer to the end of the pixel area in the horizontal direction. As a result, image quality deteriorates.
One reason of such a problem is that the numbers of the wirings to be arranged on the boundaries of the pixel lines are "0", "3", "0", "3", . . . in due order. Further, even if the pixel output wirings are arranged respectively at the left and right ends of the pixels of two pixel lines, the numbers of the wirings at the boundaries of the pixel lines are "2", "1", "2", "1", . . . . Thus, the wirings having the certain same number cannot be acquired at the boundaries of the respective lines, whereby the above problem cannot be solved. In addition, another reason of the above problem is that a photoelectric conversion unit itself formed on a semiconductor is symmetrical in regard to the boundary between the two pixel lines.
The above problem becomes more acute in case of a color image pickup apparatus. More specifically, an amplified solid-state image pickup apparatus often adopts a Bayer-arrangement color filter in which green pixels obliquely adjoin. In this case, a luminance signal of the sensor is controlled by a green-pixel signal. Here, even if the luminance of the light transmitted through a condensing lens is even throughout the pixel area as described above, a difference of the luminance signals at one-line intervals becomes large according to the pixel position closer to the end of the pixel area in the horizontal direction. As a result, image quality deteriorates.
Besides, in an image pickup apparatus which is applied to a color image pickup apparatus such as a three chips camera not adopting a color filter, a sensor signal is generally output by adding the signals of the above and below adjoining pixels through an interlacing operation. In such an example, both the centers of the openings of the above and below adjoining pixels are being shifted similarly in regard to the center of the pixel. For this reason, a difference of the added signals at one-line intervals becomes large according to the pixel position closer to the end of the pixel area in the horizontal direction. As a result, image quality deteriorates likewise.

Solid-state image pickup apparatus and camera with two-dimensional power supply wiring


The present invention encompasses an amino acid composition for stimulating muscle protein synthesis. Further, the present disclosure relates generally to the use of an anabolic amino acid composition for the stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. In particular, disclosed are compositions and methods of using the same for the prevention and/or treatment of a loss of any one of muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle function, and physical function, or any combination thereof, in a mammal, especially an adult mammal. Also provided are kits comprising a composition for the stimulation of muscle protein synthesis and, in certain embodiments, instructions for administration.

Large dosages of dietary protein are required to stimulate muscle protein synthesis. The anabolic effects of nutrition are principally driven by the transfer and incorporation of amino acids captured from dietary protein sources, into skeletal muscle proteins. The purpose of this is to compensate for muscle protein that is lost in fasted (postabsorptive) periods due to, for example, amino acid oxidation and/or carbon donation for liver gluconeogenesis. However, as humans age the body's ability to digest protein becomes less efficient. Muscle mass loss starts from the age of 30 years at a rate of 3-8% per decade and accelerates from 60 years of age. This loss reaches up to 35-40% in elderly over 70, and hence, sarcopenia is especially prominent in elderly. Consequently, age associated progressive loss of muscle mass increases the risks of injury and disability.
Thus, there is a need for a nutritional supplement to expedite rate of muscle protein synthesis to a greater extent that would be expected from consumption of dietary protein.

Use of amino acid supplementation for improved muscle protein synthesis


A floor/ceiling 10 has downwardly extending ribs (14) separated by downwardly opening channels (16). The floor/ceiling member (10) sits down on a horizontal header (32) that is on top of a building wall that extends perpendicular to the ribs (14) and the channels (16). A preformed wall panel (24) has a lower strip portion (26) that is connected to a side flange (36) on the header (32). Preformed wall panel (24) has upwardly directed peaks (28) and upwardly opening valleys (30). The peaks (28) are sized and shaped to snuggly fit within the ceiling channels (16). The valleys (30) are sized and shaped to snuggly receive the ribs (14) when the peaks (28) are in the channels (16). A continuous lower strip portion of the preformed wall panel (24) is connected to the flange (36) of the header (32), below the ribs (14). The peaks (28) extend into and block or close off the channel openings formed in and by the channel (16) above the web (38).

A common building construction utilizes corrugated sheet metal members between floors. A layer of concrete is poured on top of the corrugated member to form a floor for the upper level. The ribs and channels on the under side of the corrugated member form a ceiling for the lower space. The corrugated sheet metal member may, for example, be eighteen gauge galvanized steel. The channels that are defined in the under side of the member are typically about three inches deep and either four or six inches wide. Some interior walls extend transversely across the ribs and channels of the ceiling. Tunnel openings having cross-sectional areas equal to the areas of the channels are formed above the top frame member (header) of the interior wall. These tunnel openings extend across the top of the wall, from one side to the other. A fire can travel through the tunnel openings unless they are closed off or blocked.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,788, granted Jun. 12, 1999, to Thomas R. Herren, discloses several ways of blocking the tunnel openings to prevent a fire from spreading from one side of the wall to the other side. There is a need for providing a better way of blocking the tunnel openings that is less time consuming and less labor intensive than the known ways of blocking the tunnel openings. The primary object of the present is to fill this need.


Detecting a failure mode of a fluid flow controller configured to control fluid flow between first and second chambers of a downhole positive displacement pump and a flow line, wherein the positive displacement pump comprises a piston moving in an axial reciprocating motion, and subsequently adjusting operation of the downhole positive displacement pump based on the detected failure mode such that the downhole positive displacement pump piston operates differently in different axial directions.

Wells are generally drilled into the ground or ocean bed to recover natural deposits of oil and gas, as well as other desirable materials that are trapped in geological formations in the Earth's crust. Wells are typically drilled using a drill bit attached to the lower end of a drill string. Drilling fluid, or mud, is typically pumped down through the drill string to the drill bit. The drilling fluid lubricates and cools the drill bit, and may additionally carry drill cuttings from the borehole back to the surface.
Reservoir production and testing may involve drilling wells and monitoring various subsurface formation parameters. When drilling and monitoring, downhole tools having electric, mechanical, and/or hydraulic powered devices may be used. In some implementations, pump systems may be used to draw and pump formation fluid from subsurface formations. A downhole string (e.g., a drill string, coiled tubing, slickline, wireline, etc.) may include one or more pump systems depending on the operations to be performed using the downhole string, or the string may have fluids pumped therein from a surface of the formation.
One such pump system is a positive displacement pump. A positive displacement pump causes a fluid to move by trapping a fixed amount of it then forcing (displacing) that trapped volume through a discharge. Such a pump system usually produces the same flow at a given speed (RPM) regardless of the discharge pressure.
Commonly, multiple moving parts involved in any formation testing tool, such as pump systems in either wireline or measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tools, can result in equipment failure or less than optimal performance. Further, at significant depths, substantial hydrostatic pressure and high temperatures are experienced, thereby further complicating matters. Still further, formation testing tools are operated under a wide variety of conditions and parameters that are related to both the formation and the drilling conditions.

Adaptive pump control for positive displacement pump failure modes


A printed circuit board capable of receiving an on-board battery from multiple orientations is disclosed. The movement of the on-board battery on the printed circuit board is directed via one or more guide tabs on the on-board battery that fit within one or more guide rails attached to the printed circuit board. A cam lever is attached to the on-board battery and enables a user to utilize mechanical advantage to install and/or remove the on-board battery on the printed circuit board. A pull tab attached to the on-board battery provides additional surface area to distribute the force when a user removes the on-board battery. The on-board battery can be installed and/or removed orthogonally and/or horizontally to the printed circuit board during the operation of the printed circuit board.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to printed circuit boards in general, and more particularly, to printed circuit boards having on-board batteries. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a printed circuit board capable of receiving an on-board battery from multiple orientations.
2. Description of Related Art
Computer systems typically include multiple printed circuit boards, each of which provides different functions for the computer system. Depending on the size of a printed circuit board and the space available within the chassis of a computer system, some printed circuit boards are designed to be installed in the computer system vertically while other printed circuit boards are designed to be installed in the computer system horizontally.
Absent any specific design requirements, it is generally preferable to have various printed circuit boards to be situated as close to each other as possible within a computer system for compactness. However, some printed circuit boards include on-board batteries for providing additional power and/or serving as independent power sources, and replacing on-board batteries can be very difficult in tight spaces. Auto-docking connectors may reduce on-board battery replacement times, but they tend to require relatively high physical connection/disconnection force. Other simple and cost-effective solutions, such as providing a pull tab for an on-board battery, may increase the leverage utilized by extraction forces but they do not provide any mechanical advantage during battery installation.
Since quick and easy replacements of on-board batteries are paramount for computer systems that require high user-availability, such as computer servers, it would be desirable to provide an improved printed circuit board with such a feature.

Printed circuit board capable of receiving an on-board battery from multiple orientations


A database construction apparatus and method which construct a tree structure database are provided. First of all, consecutive node numbers are assigned to nodes for each layer, from an upper layer to a lower layer in a tree structure, in the order of the node numbers of parent nodes. Thereafter, the respective nodes are assigned child node relative numbers representing relative values between the node numbers and the node numbers of corresponding child nodes.

In speech recognition or language analysis, a tree structure dictionary containing phonemes or phoneme sequences as nodes is used to quickly search for the information of a word. For example, in speech recognition, features are extracted from input speech, and the output probability of an acoustic model forming each word is obtained in accordance with the words and acoustic models written in a recognition dictionary. A search method such as Viterbi search is then used to search for the likelihood of each state of a word or each of phonemes constituting the word, thereby performing speech recognition. U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,815 discloses a technique of decreasing the likelihood calculation count for a portion which can be shared by words by using a tree structure dictionary in order to decrease the computation amount of likelihood calculation for each phoneme of a word in each time interval of input speech.
FIG. 9 shows an example of a conventional tree structure dictionary used for speech recognition. Referring to FIG. 9, reference numeral 901 denotes a node formed by a phoneme or phoneme sequence of a word. Such nodes are shared by a plurality of words to form a tree structure. Reference numeral 902 denotes a link for establishing a parent-child relationship between nodes; 903, a node number serving as the identifier of the node; and 904, data stored in a tree structure dictionary. When the tree structure is traced from the node at the top (root node) to a node at the bottom (leaf node), the phoneme sequence contained in the traced nodes represents a word, and the data 904 of the word can be acquired from the leaf node.
Likelihood calculation in speech recognition basically needs to be performed for each phoneme in each node. In the case of a tree structure dictionary, however, as described above, since a node is shared by a plurality of words, likelihood calculation for a phoneme in the shared node can also be shared. For example, referring to FIG. 9, likelihood calculation for "k" with node number 2 can be shared by four words "kawano", "kimura", "kimoto", and "kijima". For this reason, likelihood calculation needs to be performed only once, and hence high-speed operation can be realized unlike the case without any tree structure dictionary, in which likelihood calculation must be performed four times when the likelihood of each word is to be calculated.
In order to form a tree structure dictionary, each node 901 needs to have the information of each child node to which a transition is made from the node. FIG. 10 is a view showing the node information which each node of the tree structure dictionary has, and more specifically, showing the node information of a node 14 and that of a node 17 in FIG. 9 as typical examples. As shown in FIG. 10, node information includes the information of "phoneme count", "phoneme", "child node count", "child node number", "data count", and "data number". In this case, "phoneme count" and "phoneme" are pieces of information necessary to perform likelihood calculation for each node. The pieces of information of "child node count" and "child node number" are pieces of information necessary for node transition. "Data count" indicates the number of data linked to the corresponding node, i.e., the number of words with identical phoneme sequences. Note that a data count of 0 indicates that the corresponding node is not a leaf node. In addition, "data number" is information necessary to acquire the information of the corresponding word from the leaf node representing the word end.
When a tree structure dictionary is to be implemented in hardware, a problem arises in terms of the storage capacity required for node information. That is, as the number of words registered in a tree structure dictionary increases, the number of nodes increases, resulting in an increase in data amount necessary for the storage of node information. There is a requirement for a reduction in storage capacity necessary for node information.

Database construction apparatus and method


A cosmetic container for containing a bar-shaped cosmetic material, wherein a helical body is provided having on the top hereof a portion to which the bar-shaped cosmetic material is attached, said helical body being contained in a guide cylinder so that it does not rotate but only freely slides in the axial direction, and wherein a rotary rod having sliders slidably engaging with the helical groove of said helical body is coaxially placed within said helical body and provided so that it does not axially travel relative to said guide cylinder, whereby a feed motion is applied by rotation of the rotary rod on the helical body through the sliders to upwardly and downwardly move the cosmetic material along the inner periphery of the guide cylinder.

This invention relates to a container for a cosmetic material, and specifically to an improvement of a container for containing a bar-shaped cosmetic material such as a lipstick or an eyeliner.
In general, a feed mechanism is provided inside the container for a lipstick or the like, and the cosmetic material is fed out along the inner periphery of a guide cylinder when the container is rotated. Since a helical thread is used as the feed mechanism in the container, there are two types: a type wherein the cosmetic material is fed out by rotation of the container while it is rotating within the guide cylinder, and a type wherein the cosmetic material is fed out straightly without its relative rotation to the guide cylinder.
In the type wherein the cosmetic material is fed out while it is rotating, the outer periphery of the cosmetic material can be damaged if no gap is provided at the inner periphery of the guide cylinder, and therefore, for attaching the cosmetic material to the container, a method of solidifying the cosmetic material after it is directly filled in the container can not be employed.
Accordingly, the method of directly filling a fluid cosmetic material in a container and solidifying it in the container deals with a container of a structure in which the cosmetic material does not rotate relative to the guide cylinder. Of course, since this type also allows the attaching of a cosmetic material which was previously solidified in the shape of a bar, it is increasingly used for recent cosmetic containers.
These cosmetic containers have a helical thread directly formed in the inner periphery of the container main body, and in plastic containers, they are integrally formed by molding a synthetic resin. However, with the structure in which such helical thread for feeding out the cosmetic material is formed integrally with the container main body, the metal mold for molding the synthetic resin becomes very complex, and the manufacturing cost also becomes very expensive.
Additionally, if the container main body is formed of a light metal or the like rather than a plastic, it is difficult to form a helical thread in the inner periphery thereof, and if the helical thread is formed as a separate member and built in, the assembly of these is a cumbersome task and the productivity is also remarkably reduced.


The invention provides a piezoelectric actuator having a stack body comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each element having a positive and negative electrode pair which are electrically isolated from one another by the piezoelectric elements, the electrode pairs being arranged in groups of one or more electrode pairs, each group having a conducting arrangement in electrical connection therewith. The piezoelectric actuator further comprises a distribution electrode arrangement for connecting the conducting arrangement to a power supply, in use, wherein the distribution electrode arrangement includes a fuse arrangement. In the event of a short circuit between electrodes of a pair within one of the groups, the fuse arrangement breaks the electrical connection between the power supply and the conducting arrangement.

Piezoelectric fuel injectors generally employ piezoelectric actuators comprised of a stack of piezoelectric elements, arranged mechanically in series, to open and close an injection valve in order to inject fuel into a combustion space. Typically, a piezoelectric actuator is located in a chamber, defined by an injector housing, which contains fuel at injection pressures. The piezoelectric actuator controls movement of the injection valve either by means of a mechanical or hydraulic coupling. An example of one such piezoelectric fuel injector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,423.
A typical multi-layer piezoelectric actuator or stack is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a stack body 12, which is generally rectangular in cross section, having first and second opposing outer faces 14, 16. The opposing faces 14, 16 of the stack body 12 are provided with first and second conductors or distribution electrodes 18, 20 respectively. The stack body 12 comprises a plurality of relatively thin piezoelectric ceramic layers or elements 22, each of which is spaced from adjacent elements 22 by an internal electrode 24. Alternate ones of the internal electrodes 24 are electrically connected to the first distribution electrode 18 and second distribution electrode 20, respectively, to form two groups of electrodes, whereby the electrodes of one group are interdigitated with the electrodes of the other group.
With reference to FIG. 2, a voltage is applied, in use, across the two distribution electrodes 18, 20 whereby an adjacent pair of internal electrodes 24 sandwiching a piezoelectric element 22 become mutual conductors of opposite polarity and apply an electric field to the intermediate element 22. Put another way, the distribution electrodes 18, 20 serve to distribute charge to each group of the internal electrodes 24 to which they are connected. When an electric field is applied to the distribution electrodes 18, 20, the piezoelectric actuator will elongate (if the piezoelectric actuator is of the energise-to-extend type) or contract (if the piezoelectric actuator is of the de-energise-to-extend type) along its longitudinal axis.
It will be appreciated that each piezoelectric element 22 is a dielectric material, such that it is a poor conductor of electrical charge and, therefore, serves to insulate opposing internal electrodes 24 whilst supporting electric fields generated therebetween. Typically, each piezoelectric element 22 has a thickness of around 100 μm, so a sufficient electric field strength of, for example, 2 kV/mm can be attained between the internal electrodes 24 by way of a relatively low applied voltage of 200V, whilst still obtaining the required elongation or contraction of the actuator stack. However, if the voltage across a piezoelectric element 22 becomes too great, that is to say if the electric field becomes too intense, the dielectric material will begin to breakdown and so will conduct electric current.
Dielectric breakdown of the piezoelectric elements in multilayer stack-type actuators severely affects actuator functionality. For instance, dielectric breakdown of just one piezoelectric element will cause a low resistance (short circuit) path between two opposing internal electrodes 24. Since the internal electrodes 24 are connected in parallel with the distribution electrodes 18, 20, the electric field in each element 22 will dissipate as charge is no longer distributed to the unaffected internal electrodes 24. Therefore, the piezoelectric actuator is rendered inoperative.
Dielectric breakdown also causes permanent structural damage to the piezoelectric actuator. This is due to the high current flowing through the short circuit path elevating the temperature of the surrounding ceramic material to such an extent as to cause melting of the ceramic elements 22 and the internal electrodes 24 of the piezoelectric actuator.


An attachment for use with a bucket of a prime mover comprises a base member having fixed shape in a longitudinal direction of the base member between first and second ends with first and second pivoting members pivotally connected at the first and second ends of the base member, each actuated for pivotal movement about a respective transverse axis by a distinct actuator. The second pivoting member forms a base for releasably receiving different attachment ends such as a secondary arm member carrying a respective pivoting member independently actuated of the base member's pivoting members that is disposed on a secondary arm member end distal to a connection end thereof for connecting to the base member, an extension member without any actuators and pivoting members, and a tool section which is designed for carrying out a specific function.

Various attachments for prime movers such as skid steers are known in the art, which cooperate with the bucket to perform various tasks. For example, an operator of the prime mover may wish to grasp brush, rocks, or debris, which can be raised and carried by the prime mover from one location to another in a manner being clamped between the bucket and the attachment movable relative thereto.

Attachment for a bucket of a prime mover


A flexible container for packaging liquid and powder components that are to be mixed within the container to form a bone cement comprises a divider for dividing the container into first and second compartments and for isolating the components from one another, the first compartment containing the liquid component and the second compartment containing the powder component under vacuum, and a vacuum reservoir in communication with the second compartment, the vacuum reservoir being of sufficient size to receive substantially all residual interstitial gases from the powder component and thereby ensure thorough admixing of the liquid and powder components upon release of the divider. In an exemplary embodiment, the reservoir comprises an elongated cylinder which is either hollow and closed at least at one end by a respective filter element or formed of an open-cell foam, the interior of the hollow cylinder or the open-cell foam being of sufficient free volume to receive and hold under reduced pressure the interstitial air.

The present invention pertains to an apparatus and a method for packaging, mixing and delivering bone cement. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for intimately mixing at least two components of bone cement wherein the components are initially kept in separate compartments of a flexible package.
The natural joints of the human body often undergo degenerative changes due to various etiologies. When these degenerative changes are advanced, irreversible and unresponsive to non-operative management, it may ultimately become necessary to replace the natural joint with a prosthetic device. When such replacement becomes necessary, the prosthetic device which is implanted is often secured to the natural bone by using bone cement.
Bone cement that is used to secure prosthetic devices to bone is comprised of a liquid monomer component that polymerizes about a polymeric powder component. In this regard, bone cement is generally formed from a methyl methacrylate monomer and poly (methyl methacrylate) or methyl methacrylatestyrene homo- or copolymer. The polymeric powder component of bone cement usually comprises particles composed of spherical beads that may be obtained by a suspension polymerization process. The beads are generally sieved to comply with particular size specifications. The powder component may also comprise particles that have been milled or crushed.
The preparation of bone cement generally involves mixing the polymer and monomer components in a suitable reaction vessel to form the bone cement. Generally, it is necessary that the components of bone cement be uniformly and thoroughly mixed so that a homogenous product is obtained. Increased homogeneity of the blend and minimal porosity are particularly desirable in providing a cement mixture that is easy to work with, yet maintains satisfactory mechanical properties. In producing bone cement it is crucial to maintain the liquid and the powder components separate until just prior to use and to avoid exposure of the components to the atmosphere because of the potentially malodorous nature of volatilized components of the bone cement.
There have been several approaches heretofore pertaining to the packaging and admixing in situ of a plurality of reactive components, also for cement products wherein the temporarily separated particulate solid component and liquid component are first combined, and then admixed in the packaging, without exposure to the atmosphere just prior to use. Representative approaches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,874,830; 3,082,867; 4,041,214; 4,973,168; 4,463,875; and 5,114,240; and in PCT WO 86/06618.
The packaging systems proposed heretofore for use in the manufacture of bone cement products have often been found to have serious disadvantages when tested for commercialization. Quite often the packaging is overly complicated and expensive.
Some suggestions include the incorporation of diverse mechanical mixing devices into the packages in effort to attain the desired homogeneity and reduced porosity. Such devices are not only cumbersome, but the results obtained from using such devices are dependent on the skill and care of the individual performing the mixing operation. In this regard, the quality of the resulting bone cement in terms of porosity and homogeneity depends on the accuracy of transfer of the components, the mixing time, the mixing pattern and mixing speed, and if vacuum is used, on the time and pressure as well as the degree of mixing occurring under vacuum. All of the aforementioned parameters are determined by the individual operator and, as a result thereof, the homogeneity and the extent of polymerization (i.e., rheology of the cement during application) are neither consistent nor readily reproducible.
Accordingly, a need exists for a simple and inexpensive bone cement packaging system which will allow mixing of two or more components while avoiding the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Flexible package for bone cement components


The invention relates, according to one embodiment, to a graft syringe assembly for delivering bone graft material is disclosed. The graft syringe assembly comprises a syringe subassembly including a syringe barrel having an inner chamber adapted for receiving bone graft material, a plunger adapted for expelling bone graft material from the inner chamber, the plunger slidably received within the inner chamber, and a syringe adapter coupled to the syringe barrel. The graft syringe assembly further comprises a connection subassembly coupled to the syringe adapter, and a delivery tube subassembly coupled to the connection subassembly, wherein the connection subassembly is configured to allow the delivery tube subassembly to rotate relative to the syringe subassembly.

The invention relates generally to a graft syringe assembly, and method of using same, for the delivery of bone graft material to treat a surgical site.
In the surgical field, it is not uncommon for surgeons to provide bone graft material to anatomical structures affected during surgical procedures to aid in the bone regeneration process and to promote healing. Unfortunately, the current state of the art for devices designed for delivering such material suffer from many disadvantages. These disadvantages include not being able to mix bone graft material and other fluids in the device, not offering flexibility with the delivery point of bone graft material once the device is inside the patient's body where movement is limited, not being able to fit fixtures of varying size and shape for delivering different amounts of bone graft material, not providing a visual indicator of the amount of bone graft material being delivered, not providing a visual indicator of the amount of fluid that is mixed in the syringe device.
Accordingly, the invention provides various embodiments of devices, methods of use, and kits, for the delivery of bone graft material to treat affected anatomical sites, that overcome the disadvantages of known devices and methods while offering features not present in known art. Although certain deficiencies in the related art are described in this background discussion and elsewhere, it will be understood that these deficiencies were not necessarily heretofore recognized or known as deficiencies. Furthermore, it will be understood that, to the extent that one or more of the deficiencies described herein may be found in an embodiment of the claimed invention, the presence of such deficiencies does not detract from the novelty or non-obviousness of the invention or remove the embodiment from the scope of the claimed invention.


A method for accessing a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) disk is provided. The method includes: receiving, by the server, a data operation request, where the data operation request includes address information of target data; determining, according to the address information, a target storage zone in the SMR disk that corresponds to the target data; determining that there is write pointer information of the target storage zone in a cache, and obtaining the write pointer information from the cache, where the write pointer information is address information of latest stored data in the target storage zone; generating a data operation instruction according to the write pointer information and the address information of the target data, where the data operation instruction is used to perform an operation on the target data; and sending the data operation instruction to the SMR disk. Embodiments of the present disclosure are applied for a server to access an SMR disk.

The shingled magnetic recording (SMR) technology is a hard disk storage technology. When data is sequentially written into an SMR disk, a distance between magnetic tracks in which a write head performs writing is narrower, so that data recording density increases, and a hard disk capacity increases accordingly.
According to definition in a current standard, when accessing an SMR disk, a server needs to support five zone instructions. The five instructions are respectively an open zone instruction used to open a storage zone, a finish zone instruction used to indicate a read/write operation success, a close zone instruction used to close a storage zone, a report zone instruction used to obtain a write pointer (WP), and a reset write pointer instruction used to delete data from a storage zone. When a zone on the SMR is read/written, a WP needs to be first obtained by using the report zone instruction. Then, data read/write is performed by using the open zone instruction. After data is fully written, the zone may be closed by using the finish zone instruction and the close zone instruction. If the data in the zone needs to be deleted, the reset write pointer instruction may be used.
According to a feature of an SMR disk that sequential write needs to be performed in a zone, before reading/writing data in a zone each time, a server needs to first obtain a WP of the zone, and the WP is an address of data currently stored in the zone. After obtaining the WP, the server can encapsulate an operation instruction to perform a data operation on the zone. In the prior art, when performing a data operation on a zone each time, a server needs to send an open zone instruction and a report zone instruction to an SMR disk to obtain a WP of the zone. Consequently, efficiency of accessing the SMR disk by the server is low.

Method for accessing shingled magnetic recording SMR disk, and server