A computer implemented method by which a user edits and delivers a print job in a computer system, the method including providing a printing software object as a COM component for editing and delivering a print job and providing job data of the print job to the printing software object, by a print job creator, in the form of references to pages. The references to pages are used by the software printing object, to call and display the pages on a need basis. The user edits the job data of the print job based on the displayed pages and the print job is delivered for processing in accordance with the edited job data.

This invention relates generally to the field of software for editing and delivering printer jobs and more particularly to a method and system by which a user can edit and deliver a print job in a computer system where the print job can originate from different applications and platforms.
A new class of printing software has coming into use recently. This class of printing software allows jobs to be edited outside of a printer driver. This class of software is of particular interest because it makes printing features provided by a printer visible to a user. On the Microsoft Windows platforms (xe2x80x9cWindowsxe2x80x9d), the predominant platform for home and office printing, the only user interface related to printing that most users interact with comes from the application. This user interface (i.e. print dialog box) often does not expose capabilities that differentiate the different printer products. Consequently, investment in new hardware, firmware, and software technologies for printer products goes largely unnoticed and unused by the majority of the users.
For the purposes of this application this new class of printing software is referred to as job editing and delivery systems. These systems capture a job from an application and provide the user with the opportunity to interactively modify the job settings. Users can choose options like n-up (xe2x80x9cnxe2x80x9d images on one sheet), watermarks, and booklet printingxe2x80x94among others. After the user has finished choosing the desired settings, the job is then sent to a printer of the user""s choice. Some job editing and delivery systems track the job""s status with varying degrees of success.
There are several commercial examples of job editing and delivery systems in existence today. A non-exhaustive list of these types of systems include:
(i) FinePrint by Single Track Software (www.sinciletrack.com);
(ii) printChef by MindGate (www.mindgate.com);
(iii) HandyPrint; or
(iv) Power PrintCache by LaserTools.
All of these job editing and delivery systems are implemented as a monolithic, non-reusable system. Although they are reusable in the sense that they can capture and process print jobs from most Windows applications, they are non-reusable in the sense that they cannot be used to capture and process jobs from non-Windows applications that are used by Windows end-users. For example, it would require a significant design change for any of the current products, such as those mentioned above, to support a Windows client printing from a UNIX host. Accordingly, a problem with the current systems is that a Windows end-user does not have the same rich printing experience regardless of which system the print job originates from.
These job editing and delivery systems are also non-reusable because they cannot be more tightly integrated into applications. In order to capture job information, they require the application to pass job information to the Windows or other operating systems"" printing system. Before they can offer a print preview, this information must pass through the printing system, which causes a significant delay.
Furthermore, the prior art systems are not well integrated into the applications and, therefore, can not be easily modified by the applications. That is, prior art job editing and delivery systems are not easily configurable by applications.
FIG. 1 shows the operation of a typical prior art job editing and delivery system 10 similar to the ones mentioned above. It is important to note that the figure is based entirely on a functional examination of the behavior of the existing systems and an examination of a Windows system after installing a prior art job editing and delivery system, without performing a disassembly of program instructions. In FIG. 1, the prior art system 10 captures the job using a custom printer driver 11. This printer driver 11 passes the job information to a 32-bit processing module 12, which in turn displays the job information so that a user may edit this job information. In the obvious implementation, job information (including imaging information) is passed into the prior art 32 bit processing module 12 and processed directly by the prior art system 10. This makes the prior art 32 bit processing module 12 (or any similarly implemented job editing and delivery system) impractical to reuse.
Reusing a job editing and delivery system is desirable because job information may come from many sources. For instance, job information may be supplied from an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application from vendor such as SAP (which is the market leader in providing ERP applications). Although SAP jobs typically originate on a server machine, the end-user often issues the print command from client software running under Windows. Therefore, the user is unable to interact with their familiar Windows-based job editing and delivery system when they print from SAP (or other similar client/server applications).
To enable the prior art job editing and delivery system to be used when printing from SAP, it would be necessary to transmit the job from SAP to the end-user""s PC, then funnel this information into the job editing and delivery system. Funneling the job information into a job editing and delivery system would be likely to involve the following steps:
(i) converting the job data into the intermediate representation used by the job editing and delivery system and thereby severely impact performance; and/or
(ii) sending job data across process boundaries (requiring a copy), which also severely impacts performance.
Therefore, none of the known job editing and delivery systems appear to support re-use and there is no evidence that it is practical to re-use their printing software objects or modules.
Therefore, it is a general objective of the invention to alleviate the problems and shortcomings identified above.
One of the objectives of one aspect of the invention is to provide a reusable job editing and delivery system that permits a Windows user to edit and transmit a print job irrespective of the origin of the print job.
An objective of another aspect of the invention is to provide a reusable job editing and delivery system that makes use of standard component technologies so that the job editing and delivery system can be used by a different applications on different platforms.
An objective of another aspect the invention is to provide a printing software object that can be directly used by an application that originates a print job.
An objective of another aspect of the invention is to provide a printing software object that can be used by a printer driver conduit host that captures the print job data from the printing subsystem of an operating system.
An objective of another aspect of the invention is to provide a printing software object that can be used by a server conduit host that captures print job data from a server system which originates the print job.
These and other objectives are achieved by providing a computer implemented method by which a user edits and delivers a print job in a computer system, the method including the steps of: providing a printing software object as a Component Object Model (xe2x80x9cCOMxe2x80x9d) component for editing and delivering a print job; providing the job data of the print job to the printing software object, by a print job creator, in the form of references to pages; using the reference to pages, by the software printing object, to call and display the pages on a need basis; editing the job data of the print job by a user based on the displayed pages; and delivering the print job for processing in accordance with the edited job data.
Also provided is a printing software object as an in-process COM component.
Also provided is a method in which the printing software object is used directly by an application that is the print job creator.
Further provided is a computer implemented method in which the printing software object is used by a printer driver conduit host that captures print job data from the printing subsystem of the OS.
Also provided is a computer implemented method in which the software printing object is used by a server conduit host that captures print job data from a server system in which the print job data is created.
Further provided is a computer readable data storage medium having program code recorded thereon for a user editable print job editing and delivery system, the program code including: a first program code that provides a printing software object as a COM component for editing and delivering the print job; a second program code that provides job data of the print job to the printing software object, in the form of references to pages; the printing software object uses the reference to pages to call and display the pages on a need basis and edits the job data of the print job based on the user""s response to the displayed pages; and a third program code that delivers the print job for processing in accordance with the edited job data.

Reusable job editing and delivery system

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An imager temperature sensor and a current correction apparatus are provided which use dark pixel measurements from an imager chip during operation together with a fabrication process constant as well as a chip dependent constant to calculate chip temperature. The chip temperature may be used to generate a current correction signal. The correction signal is used to tune a current on the imager chip to correct for temperature variations.

Imaging sensors are used to capture visible light or other types of incident radiation emissions and produce an image in a variety of applications. Many parameters of an imaging sensor are temperature dependent. It is therefore desirable to be able to determine image sensor temperature and use the temperature data in a variety of ways including compensation for the effects of temperature.
For example, in CMOS active pixel sensors (APS), overall analog power consumption is primarily the sum of the bias currents of each of the individual analog circuits. These bias currents are proportional to the master current Iref, generated by a dedicated analog cell commonly referred to as the master current reference. In many cases, the master current reference cell has a positive thermal coefficient (PFAT) proportional to changes in absolute temperature, that is, as temperature increases, the master current increases, leading to a higher power consumption. On the other hand, as the temperature decreases, the reference current decreases leading to a reduction of the bias current for the analog circuits. With respect to its room temperature nominal value and within the temperature range of −20° C. to +65° C., it has been observed that the master current linearly varies from −15% to +15% from a nominal value. Furthermore, at room temperature the distribution of master current values in a population of CMOS chips is gaussian shaped with a standard deviation (sigma) of ˜7% of the mean value. Chip-to-chip variations in master current values originate from manufacturing process variations and can typically only be corrected by individual trimming of the master current reference cell output. When process and temperature variations are combined together, temperature drift or changes cause variations of the master current Iref causing erroneous operation or possibly chip failure if the chip temperature changes too much.
Contemporary CMOS imager chips lack an optimal system for automatically compensating for variations in temperature in large measure because sensing of imager temperature requires dedicated circuitry which adds to design cost. Thus, a new approach is needed to provide a simplified temperature sensing system for CMOS imaging operations.

Method for determining temperature of an active pixel imager and automatic correcting temperature induced variations in an imager


Various embodiments of systems and methods to visualize measuring and dosing operations are described herein. In various embodiments, a computer user interface including a gauge bar, a progress bar, and a target value in combination with a weighing device may be used to measure and dose elements. In one embodiment the method ensures precise and fast dosing when weighing an element. In various embodiments, configuring a mapping function allows numerous combinations of a speed of progress of a progress bar when weighing an element. A progress bar, in combination with acceptable weight values, such as a target value, a primary minimum value, and a primary maximum value allows for color representation when a progress bar enters and exits acceptable weight values. Configuring a set or a plurality set of secondary minimum and maximum values is possible for additional acceptable weight values.

Measuring and dosing elements are ubiquitous in production, particularly in process industries. A typical task involves measuring, dosing, and weighing predefined amounts of a specific element on a weighing instrument. Precision is important in measuring the quantity of an element to achieve accuracy and so is speed in order to achieve efficiency. For example, a chemical operator has the responsibility of measuring the proper dosage of acetylsalicylic acid and corn starch in order to meet predetermined specifications for batch production of aspirin in the pharmaceutical sector. Such a job requires accuracy in order to reach a target amount so that one may continue onward to the next production batch.
Measuring and dosing devices often provide visual assistance to facilitate the measurement and dosing process. A gauge bar is a frequent form of visual aid that is provided to display measurement values. Each gauge bar may have a target marker that is visible to indicate the target amount that is needed for the current process. As an element is added to a weighing instrument, a progress bar that tracks the process of measurement fills the gauge bar until the target amount has been reached. Once reaching the target amount the process in complete and another element is placed onto the weighing device for the next production batch.
Common measuring and dosing user interfaces use a two level gauge bar approach. A first scale is used to visually represent weight values and a second scale that may be located above the first scale is used to display a magnified portion of the first scale as the progress bar reaches a target value. This type of visualization is cumbersome as a user must focus on one location, while weighing and then shift focus to the second linear gauge to acquire the target value. Furthermore, the gauge bar has different linear scales resulting in a slow speed of the progress bar in the first scale and a faster speed of the progress bar in the second scale. Such scaling complicates the task at hand as it becomes much more difficult to acquire a precise target value and needs much space for displaying two progress bars. A single gauge bar may also be used to measure and dose elements, but this would be even more difficult as the scale factor would be too small to show the details of the target value, thus making it close to impossible to reach a precise target value.

System and method to visualize measuring and dosing operations


In a preferred embodiment, a liquid container (30, 200), including: a bottom (32, 230; a reservoir tube (34, 232) disposed in the bottom (32, 200); a capillary (38, 212) disposed in contact with the reservoir tube (34, 232); a middle portion (36, 210) disposed on the bottom (32, 200); and the capillary (38, 230) having an upper portion (62, 222) extending from an upper opening of the middle portion (36, 210).

Liquid containers are available in a wide variety of configurations. The present invention addresses two uses of liquid containers. One is the use of a liquid container for sterilization, such as sterilizing the diaphragm and chestpiece and/or earpieces of a stethoscope, or acupuncture needles, or diabetes needles, for example. The other is the use of liquid container for the application of a liquid cosmetic or other liquid material, such as nail polish remover, a cosmetic, or an insect repellant, for example.
The manufacturers of stethoscopes recommend that stethoscopes be disinfected often to prevent possible cross-contamination between patients. Unfortunately, the means to disinfect stethoscopes are not readily available to the user of the stethoscope and, as a result, stethoscopes often are not disinfected for fairly long periods of time, with the concomitant possibility of cross-contamination. Acupuncture needles and diabetes needles are obviously in need of sterilization between uses, particularly if a different person is to use the needles.
Liquid cosmetics are often applied by shaking a small quantity from a container with a narrow opening or by spraying from a container. In either case, such application is relatively messy and can waste the liquid. The same is true of other liquid materials.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a liquid container for a disinfectant, such as alcohol, or to provide a container for another type of liquid material, such as a cosmetic, that is easy to use.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a liquid container and method of use that is economical.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a liquid container that can be economically manufactured.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a liquid container that can be conveniently mounted.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide such a liquid container that can be unobtrusively mounted on a stethoscope.
It is yet an additional object of the invention to provide such a liquid container and method of use that conserve the contents of the liquid container.
Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.


Agricultural machinery and procedure for an agricultural machinery (11) that comprises metering devices (B1, B2, Bn) placed laterally in the agricultural machinery so as to provide a number of parallel metering rows (n), each one of the metering devices (Bn) being connected to at least one control unit (22) for the individual control of each metering device, the control unit (22) receiving a first signal, which acts on the control unit (22) to either start or stop the metering from the laterally outermost positioned and activated metering devices (B1), the control unit (22) receiving a second signal, which acts on the control unit (22) to either start or stop the metering from at least one of the laterally activated second outermost positioned metering devices or groups, the calculation unit, with the aid of the instant of time of the first signal and the instant of time of the second signal as well as the speed of the agricultural machinery, calculating the individual instants of time of start or stop of the metering from each one of the remaining metering devices.

In many "planters", i.e., planters that are provided with singulation devices for metering separate seeds, it is today possible to sow seeds, dispense fertilizer and to dispense biocide agent. For each one of these, there is some form of container, a driven metering device, and outlet. For seeds, and most often for fertilizer, there is also some form of "furrow-creating" means such as a disc share. The containers may be individually arranged for each drill row or centrally arranged for the supply to several drill rows.
It is known to drive the metering electrically or hydraulically. It is possible to have a common driving device for all metering devices. Individual driving of each individual seed metering device is known by EP1415523 and GB2217043.
Upon shut off of the metering in case of, for instance, end of a field, all units are shut off simultaneously. Since these physically are at different positions in the agricultural machinery and accordingly in the field, this entails deviations of the relation between fertilizer, seeds and biocide agent at the end of the respective row. Conversely, this also applies upon initiation. Manual disabling of each function in a time-displaced way does not feel practically possible or realistic considering that an agricultural machinery may have over 40 drilling units, which implies over 100 metering units if units for fertilizer and biocide agent also exist.
In certain cases, the passages can be terminated with a wedge-shaped sector depending on how the geometries of the field allotments in question look like. If several rows then are shut off simultaneously, either areas with double or no metering are received, in addition to the problems mentioned above at row ends that also occur. No one of these cases is desirable. In double metering, overdosage results, which often causes inferior emergence and increased cost. In the absence of metering, the emergence does not occur at all.

Agricultural machinery and procedure for such


A twin compartment squeeze bottle is made of plastic material so that the contents of the compartments can be expressed by manual squeezing of the compartments without having to invert the bottle. The compartments are integrally connected by a vertical web and each has its own upper neck outlet and individual cap. The bottom of the compartments are flat so that the bottle is self-standing.

Single bottle structures with more than one compartment or chamber are well known in the art. Such bottles are commonly used to house ingredients which might be used together or in sequence. For example, one compartment in the bottle could hold shampoo while the other compartment held hair conditioner. In other instances, the ingredients might constitute chemicals to be used together but normally held in a separated state until such actual use. An example would be epoxy glues wherein a resin and catalyst are initially held in separate compartments but then mixed when they are to be used.
Representative examples of twin compartment bottles used over the years are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,013,382 issued Sept. 3, 1935 to Garwood; 3,076,573 issued Feb. 5, 1963 to Thomas; and 4,196,808 issued Apr. 8, 1980 to Pardo. The containers in each of these patents constitute hard material such as glass so that in order to express the contents, the bottles must be tilted. The specific inventions in the patents relate mostly to the closure members for the compartments themselves.


To provide a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle which enables it to easily change shift position with a simple operation of moving a speed change lever in one direction. A speed change lever 15 having a substantially vertical axis of rotation C is provided below the fuel tank 2, while the speed change lever 15 has a first arm 18 extending outwardly from the axis and a second arm 19 extending upward along a side of the fuel tank 2 continuously from the first arm 18, so that shift between forward, neutral and reverse positions and selection of high speed or low speed can be done by swinging the first arm 18 in a substantially horizontal plane, and a first rod and a second rod are provided for locking the speed change lever at a selected shift position. The speed change lever 15 is connected to a gear type speed change apparatus 61 with a rod R, while the gear type speed change apparatus 61 has shifters 6, 7 which move, on a shaft whereon a speed change gear train is arranged, in the direction of the shaft to disengage the speed change gears and the shaft. Shift forks engage with the shifters to move the shifters in the direction of the shaft. A change plate 12 having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of a shift rod 10 supporting the shift forks and cam guides 14a, 14b which change in the radial direction corresponding to the angle of rotation around the axis of rotation, and engagement pins 15, 16 having needle bearings which engage with the cam guides freely slidably, wherein the shift forks are moved in the axial direction of the shift rod by rotating the change plate.

In a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle equipped with a belt type automatic transmission apparatus of the prior art, when the vehicle is driven by selecting the forward gear position from forward, neutral and reverse positions by means of a gear shift apparatus, speed change ratio is automatically changed by the belt type transmission apparatus according to the vehicle speed. However, when the operation depends on automatic transmission only, such troubles may be encountered as the maximum speed is restricted to a low level or, on the contrary, the speed becomes too high, and therefore it is common to provide a speed change apparatus for selecting high speed or low speed, in addition to the gear shift apparatus.
However, it is inconvenient to operate the speed change apparatus for selecting high speed or low speed and the gear shift apparatus separately. In order to overcome this problem, for example, Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 8-337131 discloses a speed change mechanism which allows it to shift between forward, neutral and reverse positions and select high speed or low speed by means of a single speed change lever.
This speed changing mechanism has a guide gate for guiding and positioning the speed change lever housed in a casing installed below a fuel tank cover on one side of the vehicle body. With this configuration, shift between forward, neutral and reverse positions and selection of high speed or low speed are carried out by operating the single speed change lever along the guide gate. The guide gate consists of a lateral slot and a longitudinal slot, so that the speed change lever is moved along the lateral slot when shifting between forward, neutral and reverse positions and along the longitudinal slot when changing the speed. That is, the rider moves the grip of the speed change lever along the lateral slot when selecting high speed or low speed, and along the longitudinal slot when shifting between forward, neutral and reverse positions.
Meanwhile, a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle is generally small in size. Particularly because the rider sits astride a seat, places available for the installation of operating means except for a steering handlebar are limited. Moreover, the rider is required to quickly carry out shift changing operation while sitting astride the seat and holding the handlebar. Thus it is inconvenient to operate even a single speed change lever longitudinally and laterally , and it is also inconvenient to operate a speed change lever when the lever is installed away from the rider's hand position. Also another drawback is that the shift positions of the change lever are hard to recognize. Even with a lever operating mechanism which does not require it to operate the speed change lever laterally and longitudinally, it becomes inconvenient to operate the change lever and the speed change lever may interfere with the rider's leg, in case the location of the speed change lever exposed to the outside of the vehicle body is not proper, or in other case the speed change lever swings in a significantly large stroke.
For a speed change apparatus provided on a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle of the prior art, there is one configuration which employs a change drum similarly to a speed change apparatus for motorcycles disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Kokoku Publication No. 1-7883, which allows it to change the speed by operating in one direction with a simple construction. The change drum has a plurality of cam grooves formed thereon, with a pin of a shift fork for operating a shifter being engaged in each cam groove. Therefore, rotating the change drum causes the shift fork to move the shifter thereby changing the gear position.
In the case of a motorcycle, operation of such a speed change apparatus is carried out by the rider stepping on or returning a change pedal with a foot thereby to rotate the change drum, repeating the similar operation on the change pedal which has returned to an initial position by a spring force, so that the shift fork moves to attain the desired speed change ratio. Therefore, a plurality of change pedal operations are required to attain a desired speed change ratio.
In the case of a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle equipped with a belt type automatic transmission apparatus, the change drum is rotated by operating a speed change lever installed near the rider's hand position thereby pushing and pulling a tie rod or a push-pull cable. In this case, however, operating stroke of the speed change lever must be large in order to rotate the change drum so that all the speed change ratios available are covered. It is not desirable to install a speed change lever having a long stroke on a vehicle having a narrow space around the driver's seat such as a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle.
There is also such a problem that, in order to secure a preferable operating stroke of the speed change lever, the change drum becomes larger thereby occupying a significant portion of the inner space of the speed change apparatus. This results in an increased size of the speed change apparatus which poses another disadvantage in terms of weight.
The present invention has been accomplished to solve such problems as described above.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle having a speed changing mechanism which allows a rider easily to change between forward, neutral and reverse positions and to select high speed or low speed by operating a single speed change lever in one direction and to easily recognize shift positions. It is another object of the present invention to provide a speed change apparatus having a light-weight, compact and simple speed changing structure suitable for four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle, which allows it to change forward, neutral and reverse position, and to select low speed and high speed by continuously operating a speed change lever over a short stroke in one direction.

Four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle and speed change apparatus used for the same


A vacuum chuck has at least one suction assembly that pulls a wafer surface toward a chucking surface. The suction assembly may be used with a wafer that is warped. A suction force engages a pad of a suction assembly with the wafer surface and retracts a bellows of the suction assembly. As the bellows retracts and draws the wafer surface closer to the chucking surface, the suction force provided by the vacuum chuck can pull the wafer flat.

Vacuum chucks are commonly used to hold wafers. For example, vacuum chucks can be used to hold semiconductor wafers during inspection or during other periods of wafer manufacturing. Vacuum chucks typically have a chucking surface that contacts the wafer. One or more vacuum grooves extend through this chucking surface. Suction forces retain a wafer on the vacuum chuck when air or another gas is evacuated through the vacuum groove or grooves. A pressure difference between the chucking surface and opposing wafer surface holds the wafer in place during processing or can flatten the wafer against the vacuum chuck.
Not all wafers are perfectly planar. Wafers can become warped. This renders the surface of the wafer curved or otherwise irregular (i.e., non-planar). For example, a point on the surface of a warped wafer can deviate from a reference plane relative to a circumference of the surface. Such warpage may be a result of wafer processing or a result of stress or strain to the wafer. For example, layers or films on the wafer can cause stress or strain that leads to warping.
Sufficiently securing a warped wafer to a vacuum chuck can be difficult. The flatness of the wafer surface affects how well a vacuum chuck can secure a wafer. A vacuum chuck is less effective at securing or flattening a wafer as the distance between the vacuum chuck and the wafer surface increases. Thus, if part of the wafer surface is farther away from the vacuum chuck due to warpage, this part of the wafer surface may not be secured or flattened using the vacuum chuck. An unsecured wafer or wafer that is not properly flattened can affect wafer manufacturing.
In semiconductor applications using metrology systems, some wafers are warped to such a degree that these warped wafers cannot normally be processed or handled by an inspection system. Such wafers may be warped as a result of upstream manufacturing processes (e.g., metal deposition) that change the planar flatness and cause these wafers to be bowl-shaped, dome-shaped, or asymmetrical (twisted). Metrology tools, such as bright field tools, often require substantially flat wafers. Wafers are typically clamped with a chuck to flatten them for metrology or processing. Warped wafers often cannot be clamped on a vacuum chuck to flatten them sufficiently for inspection in a metrology system. Consequently, a significant loss of yield through the metrology system can result from the warping of the wafers.
Vacuum chucks typically can secure a wafer with warpage of up to 0.1 mm. In spite of the 0.1 mm warpage, the wafer can be pulled flat against the chucking surface and sufficiently retained using just the suction force of a vacuum chuck. Chucking of warped wafers with warpage from 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm on a vacuum chuck may be possible in some instances, but this may be limited to particular warpage orientations or wafers with specific backside surface finishes. However, some wafers have warpage greater than 0.8 mm. For example, some wafers have warpage up to approximately 5 mm or 6 mm. Wafers that are warped to such a degree cannot be sufficiently secured to existing vacuum chucks. Therefore, what is needed is a new apparatus and method to chuck warped wafers.


A catch flow restrictor plate to control surcharging of water in a sewer system. The restrictor plate is to be placed in a catch basin and consists of a tray, which comprises an upper edge, downwardly sloping walls descending from the upper edge, the walls merging into a central portion. The central portion has a plurality of concentric calibration lines formed therein enabling to form an opening of a selected size by removing part of the central portion along a selected calibration line. A plurality of vertical fins are provided that radially extend from the central portion to the upper edge. The upper edge is arranged to hold the tray within a frame of the catch basin.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a catch flow restrictor plate which can be used to control surcharging of sewage in a sewer system. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a device that can be placed within the frame of a catch basin and just below the grating thereby causing a restriction of the amount of water entering the catch basin.
(b) Description of Prior Art
During any major storm a surcharged sewer may back up into foundation drains (or basement drains in combined sewer systems). The street or parking lot is used therefore, as a temporary reservoir and takes the pressure off an overtaxed sewer system.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 630,633 and 1,363,792 show configurations which could be used as some kind of flow restrictors. A component of plastic material that can be placed beneath a grate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,541. U.S. Pat No. 3,469,698 shows a weir to control the amount of water flow. Other Patents disclosing flow restrictors include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,666,104; 4,107,929 and 4,683,685. However, none of the devices disclosed in the prior art teach the possibility of adapting the restrictor to a predetermined flow and to control suspensions found in the water being sent to the sewer system.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a catch flow restrictor plate which allows easy access for storm water to enter the drainage system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which restrict water flows and has a plate opening which is calibrated to specific communities flow charts, allowing a synchronization of water drainage and drainage system flow rate.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flow restrictor in which obstruction control is provided by a plurality of fin design, preferably molded onto the restrictor plate surface, the fins suspending the debris to allow an unobstructed controlled flow.

Catch flow restrictor with opening calibrated to flow and head chart


Line system design techniques are provided for use in performing routing and coloring operations associated with one or more demands. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for designing a line system comprises the following steps/operations. A set of one or more demands is obtained for use in computing the line system design. The line system design is then represented as a graph in accordance with a graph coloring operation wherein colors represent bandwidths such that bandwidths are assigned and the one or more demands are routed so as to attempt to achieve a minimum total design cost. The line system being designed may be an optical line system.

Over the last several years, there has been a tremendous growth in data traffic spurred primarily by the World Wide Web/Internet. This growth has resulted in a need for a large amount of bandwidth in the core networks of the Internet.
Optical wavelength division multiplexing networks with terabits of bandwidth per fiber form the back-bone of the current generation of the optical Internet. A dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system partitions the bandwidth of an optical fiber into multiple channels of data rates in tens of gigabits per second (Gbps), each operating at a distinct wavelength.
FIG. 1 illustrates an optical line system. Wavelengths are multiplexed at one end of the line system 100 and demultiplexed at the other end using what are called end terminals (e.g., 102-1 and 102-2). Wavelengths are selectively added or dropped at intermediate points, using devices called optical add-drop multiplexers or OADMs (e.g., 106-1 and 106-2). As the signal travels over the fiber, the signal loses its power level due to noise and fiber impairments. Optical amplifiers (e.g., 104-1 through 104-4) are placed at the intermediate points between the end terminals to boost the power level of the signal. It is to be understood that an optical line system may include a different number of amplifiers, OADMs, and terminals than are shown in FIG. 1.
Nonetheless, after some point, the quality of the signal gets so degraded that the signal has to be regenerated. This is done by demultiplexing the wavelengths, converting the optical signal to an electrical signal and then back to an optical signal (known as optical-electrical-optical or OEO conversion) using a device called a ring terminal (not expressly shown). A ring terminal is comprised of end terminals placed back to back. Wavelength conversion takes place during this regeneration operation.
Demands for a line system originate (or terminate) at the end terminals or at the OADMs. Each demand requires a wavelength, and multiple demands that go through any common part (segment) of a fiber are allocated or assigned different wavelengths.
Thus, a need exists for line system design systems with effective and efficient routing and bandwidth assignment techniques.

Methods and apparatus for line system design


A semiconductor device in which improvement of a property of holding stored data can be achieved. Further, power consumption of a semiconductor device is reduced. A transistor in which a wide-gap semiconductor material capable of sufficiently reducing the off-state current of a transistor (e.g., an oxide semiconductor material) in a channel formation region is used and which has a trench structure, i.e., a trench for a gate electrode and a trench for element isolation, is provided. The use of a semiconductor material capable of sufficiently reducing the off-state current of a transistor enables data to be held for a long time. Further, since the transistor has the trench for a gate electrode, the occurrence of a short-channel effect can be suppressed by appropriately setting the depth of the trench even when the distance between the source electrode and the drain electrode is decreased.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention disclosed in this specification relates to a semiconductor device using a semiconductor element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Storage devices using semiconductor elements are broadly classified into two categories: a volatile device that loses stored data when power supply stops, and a non-volatile device that retains stored data even when power is not supplied.
A typical example of a volatile storage device is a DRAM (dynamic random access memory). A memory cell which is a key component in a DRAM includes a read and write transistor and a capacitor.
Circuit patterns for DRAMs, like those for other semiconductor integrated circuits, have been increasingly miniaturized in accordance with the scaling law. However, in a transistor having a channel length of 100 nm or less, a punch-through current is likely to flow due to a short-channel effect and the transistor becomes incapable of functioning as a switching element, which has been considered to be a problem. In order to prevent a punch-through current, a method in which a silicon substrate is doped with an impurity at high concentration is given. This method makes a junction leakage current likely to flow between a source and the substrate or between a drain and the substrate and eventually causes deterioration of memory retention characteristics. Therefore, the method is not an appropriate solution to the problem.
Against such a problem, a method has been considered for reducing the area occupied by one memory cell and also maintaining an effective channel length so as not to cause a short-channel effect by forming a three-dimensional transistor in the memory cell. Disclosed is one example of a structure in which a U-shaped vertically long groove is formed in a region where a channel portion of a transistor is formed, a gate insulating film is formed along a wall surface in the groove, and a gate electrode is formed so as to fill the groove (see Non-Patent Document 1).
A transistor having a channel portion of such a structure has a long effective channel length because a current flows between a source region and a drain region via an indirect route across the groove portion. This provides an advantageous effect of reducing the area occupied by a transistor in a memory cell and suppressing a short-channel effect.
However, a conventional DRAM needs to be refreshed at an interval of several tens of milliseconds to hold data, which results in large power consumption. In addition, a transistor therein is frequently turned on and off; thus, deterioration of the transistor is also a problem. These problems become significant as the memory capacity increases and transistor miniaturization advances.
Further, a typical example of a non-volatile memory device is a flash memory. A flash memory includes a floating gate between a gate electrode and a channel formation region in a transistor and stores data by holding electric charge in the floating gate. Therefore, a flash memory has advantages in that the data holding time is extremely long (almost permanent) and refresh operation which is necessary in a volatile storage device is not needed (e.g., see Patent Document 1).
However, a gate insulating layer included in a storage element deteriorates by tunneling current generated in writing, so that the storage element stops its function after a predetermined number of writing operations. In order to reduce adverse effects of this problem, a method in which the number of writing operations for storage elements is equalized is employed, for example. However, a complicated peripheral circuit is needed to realize this method. Moreover, employing such a method does not solve the fundamental problem of lifetime. In other words, a flash memory is not suitable for applications in which data is frequently rewritten.
In addition, high voltage is necessary for holding of charge in the floating gate or removal of the charge, and a circuit for generating high voltage is also necessary. Further, it takes a relatively long time to hold or remove charge, so that it is not easy to increase the speed of write and erase operations.

Oxide semiconductor device including gate trench and isolation trench

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


In a magnetic disk apparatus, mounting of plural heating elements to a magnetic head slider is permitted. Thermally assisted magnetic recording from inner to outer surface is permitted at a small amount of power consumption. In one embodiment, the magnetic disk apparatus has a magnetic disk on which magnetic information is recorded, a magnetic head slider having an air bearing surface for floating from the magnetic disk in proximity thereto, and a rotary actuator moving over the disk arcuately while supporting the magnetic head slider by a suspension. A recording element acting to record magnetic information on the magnetic disk, a playback element acting to play back the magnetic information recorded on the magnetic disk, and plural heating elements acting to locally heat the magnetic disk are carried on the magnetic head slider. A circuit for switching energization to the plural heating elements and according to information about the direction of a DC power supply VH, frequency contained in an AC power supply, or the like is formed.

The present invention relates to a magnetic disk apparatus fitted with a magnetic head slider and is especially adapted for a magnetic disk apparatus fitted with a magnetic head slider of the thermally assisted type which locally reduces the coercive force of a magnetic disk by a heating element and makes a magnetic recording at this location using a recording element.
To realize a magnetic disk apparatus of high recording density, it is necessary to make small recording particles on a magnetic disk. And, to permit small magnetization patterns to exist stably, it is necessary to enhance the coercive force of the magnetic disk. However, it has become more difficult to rewrite small recording particles of high coercive force without erasing data in adjacent tracks, using only recording elements.
To solve this problem, a magnetic recording method known as thermally assisted recording has been proposed. This thermally assisted magnetic recording adopts a magnetic disk whose coercive force at room temperature is higher than conventional. During recording, the magnetic disk is locally and momentarily heated. The moment the coercive force decreases, magnetic recording is made. The thermally assisted magnetic recording is adapted for vertical (perpendicular) magnetic recording, as well as for longitudinal magnetic recording. It is said that this is a technique necessary to dramatically improve the recording density of a magnetic disk apparatus in future. As a method of heating a magnetic disk, a Joule heating system of a simple structure using heating elements (heater) is being discussed along with the laser-heating type.
A cited problem with the thermally assisted magnetic recording is that the yaw angle varies when a magnetic head slider carrying record/playback elements thereon is driven by a rotary actuator and moves arcuately over a magnetic disk.
This point is described using FIG. 13. If recording is not done in a short period of the order of 10 microseconds from heating of a medium, heat will propagate to the surroundings and the temperature will drop. Therefore, it is impossible to make recording after waiting for several milliseconds in which the disk rotates once. Accordingly, a heating element 4 and a recording element 2 must be disposed on a straight line of a track (data row arrayed in a circumferential direction) on which recording is to be made. If the magnetic head slider 1 is placed in position using the rotary actuator 16, in a case where the recording element 2 and heating element 4 are over the same track in a track T1 lying in some radial position of the magnetic head slider 1, the center lines of movement of the heating element 4 and recording element 2 deviate at a track T2 in a different radial position. They are not located over the same track. If so, it is impossible to prewarm the area of the magnetic disk 1 to be recorded by the heating element 4. Since playback is done after being placed in position again, no problems will take place if the radial positional relation between the playback element 3 and other element deviates.
In order to solve the problem of the track deviation between the heating element and the recording element due to variation of the yaw angle as described so far, four countermeasures have been heretofore proposed. First, as shown in FIG. 14, a linear actuator is adopted such that the heating element and recording element are kept over a track regardless of whether the track is the outer track T1 or the inner track T2. Secondly, as shown in FIG. 14, the dimensions of the heating element are increased such that the heating element and recording element are kept over a track regardless of whether the track is the outer track T1 or the inner track T2. Thirdly, as shown in FIG. 14, a means for moving the heating element is provided to maintain the heating element and recording element over a track regardless of whether it is the outer track T1 or the inner track T2. Fourthly, a plurality of heating elements are provided and electrically switched in a corresponding manner to variation in the yaw angle. Thus, the heating elements and recording element are kept over the track regardless of whether it is the outer track T1 or the inner track T2. The third and fourth countermeasures are disclosed in JP-A-2004-134051 (Patent Reference 1).
The first countermeasure is a countermeasure capable of certainly solving the track deviation between the heating element and the recording element. However, a linear actuator is expensive and large in size. It is quite difficult to use it in the present magnetic disk that is inexpensive and small in size.
With respect to the aforementioned second countermeasure, power consumption generating heat within the magnetic head slider 1 increases. If generation of heat within the magnetic head slider 1 is large, temperature rise of the playback element portion affects the life and reliability of the playback element. Another problem is that the contact possibility between the magnetic head slider 1 and magnetic disk is affected by thermal expansion known as thermal protrusion.
The aforementioned third countermeasure involves a complex structure and has a movable portion. Therefore, there remain elements to be developed in the future. Furthermore, this third countermeasure needs 2 lead wires of 1 system for driving, in addition to 6 lead wires of 3 systems for recording, playback, and heating. An increase in the number of lead wires results in an increased price. Additionally, there is the problem that it is difficult to mount them. Especially, in a small-sized slider (having a length of 0.85 mm, 0.7 mm, and a thickness of 0.23 mm) of a standard known as a femto slider, an area that can be used for electrical connection with a suspension is small. Realistically, only 6 lead wires of 3 systems can be mounted at best. It is quite difficult to mount 8 lead wires of 4 systems as in the third countermeasure.
With the aforementioned fourth countermeasure, 7 or more lead wires including record/playback elements in the case of two heating elements are necessary in order to supply power supply for all of plural heating elements independently from outside the slider into the slider. In the case of three heating elements, 8 or more lead wires are necessary. Therefore, the fourth countermeasure has the problem that an increase of the number of lead wires increases the price and makes it more difficult to mount them. Especially, it is quite difficult to mount them to a femto slider. Patent Reference 1 makes a mention of a configuration having a circuit that switches the used heating element inside a magnetic head slider. A lead wire or interconnect for a signal for selecting a heating element is connected with the switching circuit independently. Mounting of 6 lead wires of 3 systems is not achieved.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


In order to improve the learning performance of a neural network model, this image recognition model generating device is provided with an input image patch determining unit, a similar patch searching unit, a pixel value generating unit, and a convolution processing unit. The input image patch determining unit determines an input image patch containing a border region in contact with the outside of a boundary line of an input image. The similar patch searching unit searches for a similar patch that is similar to the input image patch. The pixel value generating unit generates a pixel value complementing the border region, on the basis of the similar patch. The convolution processing unit performs a convolution process from the generated pixel value and pixel values of the input image.

Recently, various image processing and image recognition methods have been developed. Particularly in recent years, a method called deep learning has become widespread. The deep learning is known as a methodology of machine learning using a neural network. One of the deep learning is convolutional neural networks. In the convolutional neural networks, there is a known issue that a size of an output image becomes smaller than a size of an input image due to convolution processing.
PTL 1 discloses one example of a method of complementing a pixel value of a border of an image with a value of zero and performing learning of the convolutional neural networks by using the complemented image. NPL 1 discloses a method of complementing a pixel value of a border of an image by folding the image on four sides.

Image recognition model generating device, image recognition model generating method, and image recognition model generating program storing medium


A horse blanket has a back portion and side portions that extend down from the back portion. A neck opening is located between a neck end of the back portion and a chest area. A fleece portion lines an edge of the neck opening, with the fleece portion located so as to be aligned with the mane of a horse wearing the blanket. The fleece portion is removably coupled to the neck opening edge. This allows the fleece portion to be removed from the blanket and cleaned separately from the blanket and also allows the replacement of the fleece portion when worn or soiled.

During the winter months, horses are turned out to pasture to feed on grass and hay and to exercise. In order to keep their horses warm and dry, many owners provide turnout blankets (also known as European or English-style blankets). The blanket covers the back of the horse, from the neck to the tail and drapes down along the sides of the horse. The belly of the horse typically remains exposed, while the chest area, beneath the front of the neck, is typically covered. The horse blanket has an opening for receiving the horse's neck. A horse wearing a turnout blanket has some freedom of movement and can comfortably exercise in a pasture.
In addition, in some locales, a blanket is provided for a horse in a barn or stable as many barns are unheated. These are known as stable blankets and are contoured or tailored to fit the horse more snuggly than a turnout blanket. A stable blanket typically has a seam along the back.
Conventional horse blankets cause wear to occur on a horse's mane and tail. Conventional blankets have synthetic webbing around the blanket edges. The webbing is abrasive and can rub off the hair where there is pressure. When a blanket is placed on a horse, gravity creates a pressure point across the top of the neck where the mane is located.
As a preventative measure, some horse blankets have a cushion of synthetic or natural fleece at the top of the neck opening. This fleece protects the mane. Unfortunately, the fleece is susceptible to picking up dirt and mud. For example, many horse owners put their horses in paddocks or pastures during the day for exercise. If the weather is cold or wet, the horse wears a blanket. Horses will roll on the ground, scratching their backs. This causes the fleece to pick up dirt or mud. When the mud dries, the collar becomes abrasive and can rub the hair off. The blanket can be washed to clean the fleece, but the horse is unable to wear the blanket during the washing and drying process. In addition, washing and drying the blanket is a laborious and time consuming process.


Two spaced bodily tissues are approximated with a surgical tensioning device comprising a resilient member and a pressure locking device. The method comprises a step of routing one end of a length of suture through both spaced bodily tissues and inserting the suture end into and through the pressure locking device. The suture is then tensioned by pulling on the suture end passing through the pressure locking device. Responsive to tension changes in the suture, the pressure locking device is actuated by moving at least one surface in the pressure locking device to clamp the suture in position.

The present invention is related to the general surgical repair of separated body tissues, and more particularly to internally fixating and stabilizing such body tissues, specifically bones.
In the present state of the art, there are a number of systems available to repair biological tissues separated in surgery or by injury. These products serve to approximate and stabilize the tissues so that healing may commence and provide compression in the interface to promote healing. Compression and stability are critical for proper anatomical healing of tissue. With the correct amount of compression applied to the interface of the tissue portions to be joined, signals are sent to the tissue, thus allowing the tissue to remodel in proper anatomical position. The amount of compression applied to the tissue interface needs to be appropriate to the type of tissue that is being healed.
A common problem in using suture is the variable nature of the residual tension realized after the knot is tied. Hand tied knots usually supply only a fraction of the residual tension for which the suture is capable. There are various procedures where the residual tension in a hand tied knot is insufficient to approximate and generate the compression needed for healing between tissues. Moreover, knot stacks can interfere with the natural movement of surrounding tissues.
There are times when high tension may cause suture to cut into tissue at points of stress concentration. This suture cutting may not happen immediately. It can take place as the tissue degrades or relaxes, or sometimes there are external forces that cause the suture to cut into the tissue. This cutting action releases tension in the suture and adversely affects the quality and durability of the repair.
Additionally, the use of wires can cause damage to adjunctive tissues because of penetration by the sharp ends of the wires.
What is needed, therefore, are devices and techniques for holding two tissue portions in a state of compression and tension beyond that which is commonly achieved using hand-tied sutures.

Knotless dynamic suture tensioning device and methods


The invention relates to, novel peptide derivatives with the formula: R.sub.1 -A.sub.1 -A.sub.2 -A.sub.3 -A.sub.4 -R.sub.2 or its salt, wherein R.sub.1 =H or a protective group, A.sub.1 =H, Ile, Leu or Val, A.sub.2 =Glu, Asp, Ser, Thr; A.sub.3 =Gly or Glyc; A.sub.4 =Arg or Lys; R.sub.2 =4-nitroaniline with the proviso that A.sub.3 is Gly when A.sub.4 is Lys and that A.sub.3 is Glyc when A.sub.4 is Arg. The invention also discloses the process for the preparation of the peptide derivatives, the method for the determination of the bacterial endotoxins by the use of the invented peptide derivatives and the use of these derivatives for determination of bacterial endotoxins.

Bacterial endotoxins are produced by Gram negative bacteria and are considered by most investigators to be a very important factor in the development of septecemia. Several methods for determination of endotoxin have been described based on the observation by Levin and Bang (1956)that endotoxins specifically activate the clotting system of Limulus Potyphemus. In the beginning a test, in which Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL)in contact with endotoxins containing sources, produce a specific gelation, had been developed. More recently chromogenic and fluorogenic methods based on the above observation have been developed and can rapidly detect small amounts of endotoxins (H. C. Hemker: Handbook of Synthetic Substrates, 1983, Martinus Nijhoff Publisher, Boston).


A moving-picture processing device distributing moving-picture data to an information processing terminal includes: a division processing unit for generating a plurality of divided moving-picture data obtained by dividing moving-picture data, a moving-picture processing unit for subjecting each data item of said plurality of divided moving-picture data to a distribution process for distributing moving-picture data, and a distribution processing unit for sequentially distributing, by each arbitrary data amount as distribution data to the information processing terminal, each data item of said plurality of divided moving-picture data that have undergone the distribution process. The moving-picture processing unit executes the distribution process in parallel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a moving-picture processing device and a moving-picture processing method for distributing moving-picture data to an image-processing terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, portable telephones include functions for receiving the distribution of moving-picture data by way of radio communication and reproducing the received moving-picture data. Corresponding to these functions, a moving-picture distribution server that distributes moving-picture data converts moving-picture data to a format that can be reproduced on a portable telephone that is the distribution destination and distributes the result, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. The size and other attributes of moving-picture data that can be reproduced vary according to the type of portable telephone. As a result, a distribution server converts the format of the moving-picture data in accordance with the type of portable telephone.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2004-222124
The moving-picture distribution server in the technology disclosed in the above-described Patent Document 1 fetches information about the portable telephone from the portable telephone and then converts moving-picture data such that appropriate reproduction is possible in that portable telephone. This conversion of the moving-picture data takes time, and a delay is therefore produced from a request for the distribution of moving-picture data until the reproduction of the moving-picture data on the portable telephone. This delay occurs not only when a portable telephone is used but can also occur in any information-processing terminal that receives the distribution of the moving-picture data.
This delay may cause a problem in which the user of an information-processing terminal will experience some dissatisfaction in viewing the moving-picture data that is distributed.

Moving-picture processing device and moving-picture processing method


A method of retrieving information from a health report through a machine assisted interrogation process consists of a personal assistance device, a reporting system, a knowledge-graphing system, and a query-interrogation system. A user utilizes the personal assistance device to submit a query that retrieves information from the reporting system via the query-interrogation system. The knowledge-graphing system, which is generated using artificial intelligence modules, natural language understanding modules, and machine learning modules, is utilized to provide accurate results to the user. An administrative system monitors the validity of a plurality of health reports of the reporting system.

Generally, a health report consists of a set of healthcare related terms and numerical data that is unfamiliar to an individual not related to the healthcare field. Thus, understanding a health report requires a considerable amount of time and effort.
The lack of communication between a healthcare professional and a consumer can lead to many unfavorable circumstances. As an example, if the consumer is within a dangerous range for a specific health condition, and the consumer is unable to understand the situation by looking at the health report, the health of the consumer can be in serious risk. Therefore, the need for a method that can clearly communicate the vital information of a health report is clearly seen.
Another disadvantage of existing health report is the lack of providing relevant information. For instance, if a consumer is undergoing a certain health condition, current health reports only show the relevant data. The health report does not provide information on what resulted in a certain health condition or on what can be done to get rid of the condition.
The objective of the present invention is to address the aforementioned issues. To do so, the present invention introduces a method of interrogation that allows the user to understand the content of the health report. The present invention utilizes a set of systems and personal-computing devices that allow the user to directly interact with the present invention. Overall, the present invention intends to simplify the process of understanding a health report.

Method of retrieving information from a health report through a machine assisted interrogation process


An RF magnetic flux measuring circuit uses a SQUID fluxmeter of which the input and output characteristics establish a periodic function, and in which a pick-up coil for picking up desired RF magnetic flux and an input coil of the SQUID fluxmeter are connected to form a closed loop which is a superconducting loop for transferring the magnetic flux to the SQUID. There is also provided an inductance adjusting device which adjusts the inductance of the superconducting loop to limit the magnetic flux that crosses the SQUID fluxmeter within a range of a single-valued function in said input and output characteristics.

The present invention relates to a magnetic flux detecting circuit which uses a SQUID fluxmeter, and more particularly to a magnetic flux detecting circuit adapted to detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals.
In recent years, it has been attempted to use a SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) fluxmeter as a magnetic flux detector for a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. An example which is applied to the MRI apparatus has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-143752 (1985).
In the conventional art, the generated MRI signals are detected by a magnetic flux detecting coil of a quadratic differentiation type, and are sent to a SQUID via a transfer circuit made of normally conducting matter.
The SQUID used in the conventional art is called dc-SQUID and its V-.phi. characteristics establish a periodic function in relation to .phi. as shown in FIG. 8, where symbol V denotes an output voltage of the SQUID and .phi. denotes a magnetic flux input to the SQUID.
The SQUID fluxmeter of the above prior art uses a FLL (flux locked loop) in order to impart linearity to the relationship between the magnetic flux and the voltage.
Theoretically, the magnitude of magnetic flux signals of MRI and NMR varies in proportion to the square of the frequency of the signals. Further, the frequency of the signals vary in proportion to the intensity of a static magnetic field applied to a body or a sample to be tested. In order to improve the S/N ratio .of signals by increasing the magnitude of signals, therefore, it is necessary to intensify the static magnetic field and to increase the resonance frequency. With the conventional SQUID fluxmeter using FLL, however, it was not able to detect magnetic flux signals of a frequency in excess of 100 KHz due to limitation on the response characteristics of the FLL.
Magnetic flux detecting circuits based on the SQUID without using FLL have been disclosed in, for example, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 47(6), pp. 637-639 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,010 having some of the same inventors as the present application. The former example teaches an art in which a capacitor is inserted in a superconductive loop that couples a pick-up coil to the SQUID such that the loop works as a resonance circuit, and in which a Q spoiler is further inserted in the loop. The latter example teaches an art in which part of the superconductive loop is rendered to be normally conductive during the periods other than a period in which a desired signal is generated, in order to suppress undesired noise signals by the resistance.

Superconductor type radio frequency with adjustable inductance magnetic flux measuring circuit


The present embodiments provide an endoluminal prosthesis, comprising a prosthetic trunk and a prosthetic branch, each comprising proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween. The proximal end of the prosthetic branch is secured around an aperture formed in a side surface of the prosthetic trunk. A support structure is coupled to the prosthetic branch. In certain embodiments, a proximal end of the support structure comprises a first width, and a distal end of the support structure comprises a second width, wherein the first width is less than the second width.

The present embodiments relate generally to medical devices, and more particularly, to prostheses having branching portions.
The functional vessels of human and animal bodies, such as blood vessels and ducts, occasionally weaken or even rupture. For example, the aortic wall can weaken, resulting in an aneurysm. Upon further exposure to hemodynamic forces, such an aneurysm can rupture. One study found that in Western European and Australian men who are between 60 and 75 years of age, aortic aneurysms greater than 29 mm in diameter are found in 6.9% of the population, and those greater than 40 mm are present in 1.8% of the population.
One surgical intervention for weakened, aneurysmal, or ruptured vessels involves the use of an endoluminal prosthesis such as a stent-graft. Such a prosthesis may provide some or all of the functionality of the original, healthy vessel and/or preserve any remaining vascular integrity by replacing a length of the existing vessel wall that spans the site of vessel failure. It is preferable for the prosthesis to seal off the failed portion of the vessel. For weakened or aneurysmal vessels, even a small leak in the prosthesis may lead to the pressurization of or flow in the treated vessel which may aggravate the condition that the prosthesis was intended to treat.
In many cases, such a damaged or defective portion of the vasculature may include a branch vessel. For example, the celiac, superior mesenteric, left common carotid, and renal arteries are branch vessels of the aorta, and the internal iliac artery is a branch vessel of the common iliac artery. If the branch vessel is blocked by the prosthesis, the original blood circulation is impeded, and the patient can suffer. If, for example, the celiac artery is blocked by the prosthesis, the patient can experience abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, bloating, and loose stools associated with mesenteric ischemia. The blockage of any branch vessel is usually associated with unpleasant or even life-threatening symptoms. Hence, it has been proposed to provide a prosthesis having a side branch which, when deployed, is positioned over the opening to a branch vessel. For example, the iliac branch of a bifurcated aortic prosthesis can be designed to extend into and/or provide flow to the corresponding internal iliac artery. Such a prosthesis is commonly referred to as an iliac branch device (IBD).
Various devices have incorporated a circumferential stent around the location of the coupling of the branch portion and trunk portion of a prosthesis. For example, a stent may encircle the trunk portion and then extend external to the branch portion, which is a general approach to keeping both the trunk and branch portions open at the same time.

Support structures for prostheses with branching portions


Phenol-organopolysiloxane chainstoppers are phosgenated in combination with a bisphenol to make flame retardant organopolysiloxane-polycarbonate triblock copolymers. The phenol-organopolysiloxane chainstoppers can be made by effecting addition between an aliphatically unsaturated phenol and a silicon-hydride organopolysiloxane.

The present invention relates to flame retardant organopolysiloxane-polycarbonate triblock copolymers which can be made by phosgenating a mixture of a phenol-organopolysiloxane chainstopper and a bisphenol. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of phenol-organopolysiloxane chainstoppers which can be made by effecting a platinum catalyzed addition reaction between an aliphatically unsaturated phenol and a polyorganosiloxane terminated with a condensed diorganohydrogensiloxy unit.
Prior to the present invention, as shown by copending application Ser. No. 07/455,122, phenol-siloxane macromers were synthesized and used to make flame retardant silicone-polyphenylene ether graft copolymers. There also is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,194, flame retardant aromatic polycarbonate compositions based on the use of certain poly(arylsilicon) materials in combination with aromatic polycarbonate. Flame retardant thermoplastics and methods for making such materials are constantly being evaluated by the construction and automotive industries to satisfy their requirements for flame retardant injection moldable materials.

Flame retardant organopolysiloxane-polycarbonate triblock copolymers


The present application provides compounds, including all stereoisomers, solvates, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof according to Formula I

Several lines of pharmacological and genetic evidence support the role of Melanin Concentrating Hormone Receptor-1 (hereafter "MCHR1") as a modulator of food intake and body weight. Central administration of MCH increases food intake and body weight in both rats and mice. Chronic ICV infusion of MCH causes increased food intake and ultimately obesity in mice, while infusion of an MCH peptide antagonist blocks MCH-induced food intake and results in weight loss and decreased feeding in diet-induced obese mice.
The expression of both the MCH peptide and receptor are modulated by nutritional status. MCH mRNA is upregulated both in hyperphagic obese mice (ob/ob), and fasted animals. Targeted disruption of the gene for MCH peptide results in hypophagia and leanness. Disruption of the MCHR1 gene causes leanness, altered metabolism, and hyperlocomotion accompanied by mild hyperphagia. Conversely, over-expression of MCH peptide results in hyperphagia, obesity and diabetes. Small molecule MCHR1 antagonists have been shown to cause weight loss in rodent weight and feeding models after both oral and intraperitoneal administration; Eur. J. Pharmacol., 438:129-135 (2002); Nat. Med., 8:825-830 (2002); Eur. J. Pharmacol., 497:41-47 (2004).
Kokkotou, E. et al., "Melanin-concentrating hormone as a mediator of intestinal inflammation", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 105(30):10613-10618 (Jul. 29, 2008) discloses that the intestinal melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCHR1) play a key role                "in the pathogenesis of acute experimental colitis and possibly human IBD [inflammatory bowel disease]. We showed that MCH immunoneutralization is an effective treatment for TNBS-induced colitis . . . " (page 10616, 1st column).

Pyrrolone melanin concentrating hormone receptor-1 antagonists

Abstract: wherein R1,

Abstract: R4, R5,

Abstract: R3, R3a, W, D, R2a, R2b and R2c are defined herein.

Abstract: Additionally, the present application provides pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one compound according to Formula I and optionally at least one additional therapeutic agent. Finally, the present application provides methods for treating a patient suffering from an MCHR-1 modulated disease or disorder such as, for example, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety or intestinal inflammation, by administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a compound according to Formula I.


An electronics module is attachable to an exterior mirror of a vehicle and supports a camera and/or a display. The electronics module may be an add-on device that is retrofittable to the exterior mirror. The display may be arranged to display an indication of a distance between a back of the vehicle and an object.

Exterior rear view mirrors are mounted to one or both sides of a vehicle such as an automobile, truck, sports utility vehicle, recreational vehicle, etc. Such mirrors permit the operator of the vehicle a rearward and sideward view from the vehicle.
An exterior rear view mirror typically includes a mirror housing and a mounting arm that is arranged to attach the mirror housing to a door or other exterior portion of the vehicle. Normally, the mounting arm supports the mirror housing on the vehicle such that the mirror housing extends away from the vehicle. However, the mirror housing may be foldably attached to the mounting arm such that the mirror can be folded to a position where the mirror housing extends along a side of the vehicle.
An exterior rear view mirror also typically includes an actuator within the mirror housing. The actuator is controlled in accordance with control signals originating from a control panel within the vehicle's interior to remotely drive the mirror to a desired viewing position. Thus, the control panel typically allows the vehicle operator to adjust the mirror up, down, right, and left.
It is further known to provide exterior rear view mirrors with accessories. For example, it is known to provide security and signal lights in the mirror housing of the rear view exterior mirror. The security light, when energized, lights up the exterior of the vehicle near the doors of the vehicle. The signal light may be used to indicate that the driver intends to execute a turn or lane change and may also be arranged to indicate that the driver has applied the brakes of the vehicle.
It has also been suggested to provide other accessories in the mirror housing of the rear view exterior mirror. Such other accessories can include a temperature sensor, a variable electrochromic reflective element, and a camera.
The present invention is directed to accessory features for mirrors that are not known or suggested in the prior art.


A method of testing a primary device for two-way communication between the primary device and one or more other devices in communication therewith in a network is disclosed. The method includes inserting into an echo packet an originating device identifier in an originating device field and a primary device identifier in a primary device field, and transmitting the echo packet from the primary device. Two-way communication is detected if a reply packet received at the primary device contains the originating device identifier in the originating device field and the primary device identifier in the primary device field. A system for testing a primary device for two-way communication between the primary device and neighbor devices coupled to the primary device is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for detecting system configuration errors within a network, and more specifically, to methods and apparatuses for detecting unidirectional links between devices configured for communication with one another in the network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a network of coupled devices, or a collection of such networks, devices are arranged for two-way communication with neighboring devices to send frames to and receive frames from the neighboring devices. A one-way (unidirectional) connection between devices may result from a faulty transmitting or receiving line, miswiring of fiber strands (FIG. 1), port interface malfunctions (FIG. 2), or physical media converter failures, for example. A single unidirectional error between two devices can lead to errors such as spanning tree loops, which may affect the entire network.
An example of a unidirectional connection is shown in FIG. 1. The transmitting line TX correctly goes from device X to device Y. The receiving line, however, is miswired. Rather than providing a communication link directly from device Y to device X, the receiving line goes from device Y to device Z and then through device Z to device X. In this configuration, each device can properly send a packet to a neighboring device but it cannot receive a packet from the same device to which it transmitted the packet. This lack of mutual identification among the neighboring devices can result in an incorrect assumption by the transmitting device that the transmitter and receiver at the other end are in two-way communication. This type of miscommunication can lead to problems in the operation of the spanning tree protocol and generate a flooding of packets on the network.
Network systems typically check for miswiring or unidirectional problems at the physical layer of an OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model. The physical layer defines the actual physical components such as connectors and cables. A unidirectional link test at the physical layer only checks for open lines or port malfunctions and would not detect a miswired system as shown in FIG. 1. One example of a physical layer unidirectional check is an auto-negotiation start-up protocol. In operation, a local device begins the test by transmitting its link code word with an acknowledge bit not set. Once three consecutive, consistent link code words have been received at the local device, the auto-negotiation system looks for three consecutive, consistent link code words which have the acknowledge bit set to 1. After a period of time the auto-negotiating system is then able to transmit and receive data, assuming the partner device also received three consecutive, consistent link code words followed by three consecutive, consistent link code words with the acknowledge bit set to 1. If the start-up protocol does not succeed, no communication is established between the neighbors.
As can be observed from the above description, the auto-negotiation protocol only checks whether the device receives an acknowledgement back after transmitting data. It does not identify the device from which it received the acknowledgement or confirm that the device the data was received from and the device the original link code word was transmitted to, are the same device, since the physical layer has no addressing. In the example of the miswired network shown in FIG. 1, no error would be detected at the physical layer since each line is connected to a computer at the input and output ports with a continuous link from the output port of device Y to the input port of device X, even though it is through a separate device. As discussed above, this type of unidirectional error can lead to malfunctions in critical system protocols.
There is, therefore, a need for a unidirectional link detection protocol which provides for the identification of logical one-way miscommunication between neighbors even when the physical layer has identified the transmission media as bidirectional.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for detecting unidirectional links


A light-conducting device for an endoscope for conducting observation light from a proximal end of the endoscope to a distal end of the endoscope includes a number of optical fibers. Each optical fiber includes a proximal end with a light inlet surface, which is provided for positioning on a proximal end of an endoscope, and a distal end with a light outlet surface, which is provided for positioning on a distal end of an endoscope. Each of the number of optical fibers including in a proximal region a first cross-section with a first surface area, and in a distal region a second cross-section with a second surface area. The first surface area is larger than the second surface area.

In medical and technical endoscopy, as a rule it is necessary to illuminate the object under observation. To generate illuminating light with a high light beam and desired spectral properties, in particular good color reproduction, use is often made of separate light source devices with high-pressure gas discharge lamps, halogen bulbs or other light sources. The light source device is connected with the proximal end of the endoscope by means of a flexible light-conducting cable. The illuminating light is transmitted from the proximal end to the distal end of the endoscope by means of one or more bundles of light-conducting fibers.
Considerable effort is required in constructing and manufacturing endoscopes for precise arrangement of the light-conducting fibers, in particular their proximal and distal ends. A further difficulty in construction and manufacture is the fact that, between the light-conducting cable and the light outlet surfaces on the distal end of the endoscope, the divergence or angular distribution of the illuminating light needs to be adjusted to the visual field (in the sense of a solid angle) that is to be illuminated. Often used here is a so-called fiber cone, which is produced as a separate component and mounted on the proximal end of the endoscope. A fiber cone includes a short bundle of light-conducting fibers whose cross-sections change from the light inlet surface to the light outlet surface, in particular becoming smaller. The light outlet surface of the fiber cone and the light inlet surface of the bundle of light-conducting fibers must be combined with one another in such a way that a low-loss optical coupling is durably ensured.
There is a clear tendency to produce constantly thinner endoscope shafts. Conventional concepts are reaching their limits in terms of increasing miniaturization, but have proved themselves in wide applications over time and have been considerably optimized. It is therefore especially difficult to predict, in the case of endoscopes, which aspects of conventional concepts can be further developed and exploited and which aspects lend themselves to fundamental new departures. The present invention focuses on selected aspects of the illuminating beam path.

Light-conducting device for an endoscope


P-type MOSFETs (PMOSFETs) are formed by encapsulating the gate with an insulator and depositing a germanium containing layer outside the sidewalls, then diffusing the germanium into the silicon-on-insulator layer or bulk silicon by annealing or by oxidizing to form graded embedded silicon-germanium source-drain and/or Extension (geSiGe-SDE). For SOI devices, the geSiGe-SDE is allowed to reach the buried insulator to maximize the stress in the channel of SOI devices, which is beneficial for ultra-thin SOI devices. Graded germanium profiles provide a method to optimize stress in order to enhance device performance. The geSiGe-SDE creates a compressive stress in the horizontal direction (parallel to the gate dielectric surface) and tensile stress in the vertical direction (normal to the gate dielectric surface) in the channel of the PMOSFET, therebyforming a structure that enhances PMOSFET performance.

The present invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor manufacturing and of integrated circuit fabrication. More particularly, the present invention relates to complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) field effect transistors (FET) with strained silicon for high performance and a method for manufacturing the same.
Since it has become increasingly difficult to improve metal-oxide-semiconductor-field-effect transistor (MOSFET) performance through continued scaling, methods enhancing performance of MOSFETs without scaling have become important. Strained silicon (Si) has shown enhancement of mobility for both electrons and holes. Therefore, in contemporary CMOS technology, there is significant interest and work in the use of strained material for the FET channel.
In one approach, silicon-germanium alloy (SiGe) is used to form a surface channel strained Si/relaxed SiGe n-type MOSFET (NMOSFET or NFET). In that approach, biaxial tensile strain is induced in a very thin epitaxial Si layer. The tensile strain reduces the effective mass of the electrons, which results in enhancement of electron mobility.
In the case of a p-type MOSFET (PMOSFET or PFET), the germanium (Ge) concentration must be greater than about 30% in order to have an effective increase in hole mobility.
This approach has the following drawbacks: 1) The strained silicon is grown on relaxed SiGe, and therefore it is difficult to control the leakage of devices.
2. The requirement for enhanced performance of more than 30% germanium concentration further increases the defect density.
3. The high diffusivity of dopant, such as arsenic and phosphorus, in SiGe makes it difficult to form shallow p-n junctions. For sub-micron or deep-sub-micron MOSFETs, shallow junctions are required to scale devices.
Thus, the art has a need for a method of making circuits having the benefits of strained silicon without the low yield characteristic of the prior art.

Structures and methods for manufacturing p-type MOSFET with graded embedded silicon-germanium source-drain and/or extension

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided herein is a system and method that detects an airborne object and determines a driving action based on the airborne object. The system comprises one or more sensors; one or more processors; a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform detecting an airborne object within a detection radius of a vehicle. In response to detecting the airborne object, the system performs tracking the airborne object to obtain 3-D coordinate information of the airborne object at distinct times, determining a probability that the airborne object will collide with the one or more sensors based on the 3-D coordinate information, determining whether to take an action of the vehicle based on the determined probability, the action being one of actuating a shield to block the airborne object or activating an air curtain; and performing the action in response to determining to take the action.

On-board sensors in vehicles, such as autonomous vehicles (AVs), supplement and bolster the vehicle's field of vision by providing accurate sensor data. Sensor data is used, for example, in applications of blind spot detection, lane change assisting, read end radar for collision warning or collision avoidance, park assisting, cross-traffic monitoring, brake assisting, emergency braking, and/or automatic distance controlling. Examples of on-board sensors include, for example, passive sensors and active sensors. On-board sensors include camera, Lidar, radar, GPS, sonar, ultrasonic, IMU (inertial measurement unit), accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and FIR (far infrared) sensors. Often, on-board sensors are exposed to harsh environmental elements (e.g., large temperature swings, ultra violet radiation, oxidation, wind, moisture, etc.), which can prematurely shorten the sensors' lifetimes. Furthermore, mounting the sensors exterior to the vehicle subjects the sensors to an increased risk of impact from road debris and airborne objects such as birds, insects, and leaves that would damage the sensors. A sensor enclosure to house the sensors may partially reduce a risk of collision with road debris and airborne objects. However, an object colliding with the sensor enclosure may still damage the sensor enclosure and reduce a field of view of the sensor enclosure. These shortfalls are addressed by the present inventions, which provides an efficient and effective system and method to protect sensors on a vehicle from airborne objects, or prevent the vehicle from harmful collisions with airborne objects.

System and method for deflecting airborne objects