A method for stimulating a predetermined body part such as a nerve using a stimulation device including an external non-implantable transmitting device powered by a power source and generating an electrical waveform signal. A surface electrode applies the generated electrical waveform signal transcutaneously. An implantable piezoelectric element receives the applied electrical waveform signal generated transcutaneously and, in turn, causes mechanical deformation resulting in mechanical vibration of the implantable piezoelectric element sufficient to stimulate the predetermined body part. The electrical waveform signal may be either a high frequency continuous waveform or high frequency burst packets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to piezoelectric stimulation of a predetermined body part, e.g., a nerve.
2. Description of Related Art
Nerve and muscle cells have membranes that are composed of lipids and proteins, and have unique properties of excitability such that an adequate disturbance of the cell's resting potential can trigger a sudden change in the membrane conductance. A neuronal process can be divided into unit lengths, which can be represented in an electrical equivalent circuit. Each unit length of the process is a circuit with its own membrane resistance, membrane capacitance and axonal resistance.
A nerve cell can be excited by increasing the electrical charge within the nerve, thus increasing the membrane potential inside the nerve with respect to the surrounding extracellular fluid. This fundamental feature of the nervous system i.e., its ability to generate and conduct electrical impulses, can take the form of action potentials (AP), which are a single electrical impulse passing down an axon. This action potential (nerve impulse or spike) is an "all or nothing" phenomenon. That is, once the threshold stimulus intensity is reached, an action potential will be generated.
Nerve stimulation may be realized by applying electrical pulses having different frequencies, amplitudes and waveforms. Stimulating electrical signals may be generated by electrodes disposed close to the target nerve or tissue of interest. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) produce an electrical signal at frequencies up to approximately 200 Hz to stimulate nerves for relatively small periods of time. TENS use a small electrical device to deliver low frequency (10 Hz to 100 Hz) electrical impulses through the skin via electrode pads affixed to the skin. Electrodes are located at selected locations on the patient's skin and the electrical energy is transferred between the two electrodes. Electrical energy is generally applied in the form of low frequency electrical impulses. The impulses pass through the skin and interact with the nerves that lie beneath the skin. A typical TENS device includes a stimulator, lead wires and electrodes attached to the surface of the skin of the patient. The stimulator is an electrical pulse generator that delivers electrical pulses at a predetermined or selectable frequency. TENS devices are only effective in treating nerves very close to the surface of the skin because the low frequency electrical impulses diminish in strength very quickly due to tissue impedance and thus are not sufficient in intensity to stimulate nerves deep beneath the skin. As an alternative to surface electrodes, implantable electrodes may be surgically implanted proximate a target nerve or tissue of interest to be stimulated. The need for invasive surgery makes such implanted electrodes undesirable.
Aside from electrical stimulation, a nerve cell can also be excited by mechanical vibration which increases the membrane potential inside the nerve with respect to the surrounding extracellular fluid. This mechanical vibration or resonance can be detected by nerve endings if above a certain threshold frequency; that is, a minimum threshold level of stimuli is required before the action potential is triggered or fired. If the threshold stimulus intensity is reached an electrical signal is passed along the axon of the nerve and an action potential is fired.
PCT International Publication WO 2005/079909 discloses a method and apparatus for the detection and treatment of respiratory disorders using implanted devices to mechanically stimulate afferent nerves so as to indirectly cause an increase of the tone of upper airway muscles normally involved with maintenance of upper airway patency. The tone of the upper airway muscles typically decrease during Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OBS), contributing to a collapse and obstruction of the airway. During wakefulness reflexes work to maintain tone in upper airway muscles thereby preventing airway collapse. This reflex mechanism is substituted or enhanced during sleep to restore or maintain airway patency by the application of electrical or mechanical stimulation applied to the afferent nerves. In the case of mechanical stimulation a mechanical element, for example, a piezo-electric element, is implanted at a site in the vicinity of the upper airway, for example, within or adjacent to the base of the genioglossus muscle. A controller sends an electrical signal to the piezo-electric element thereby eliciting a vibration. Vibration of the element elicits stimulation of mechanoreceptor afferent nerve endings within the upper airway. The amplitude, frequency and duration of the mechanical stimulation are controlled such that sufficient stimulation of afferent nerves is achieved without sensory stimulation sufficient to cause arousal from sleep. The mechanical stimulation of afferent nerves would typically be achieved by a period of several seconds of vibration at frequencies in the range of 10-50 Hz, and is tuned to the frequency at which the target receptors are most sensitive. As is evident from the required low frequency range stimulus of 10-50 Hz, the electrical signal used to invoke the mechanical vibrations must inherently be produced by an implanted pulse generator. Otherwise, transcutaneous delivery of such a low frequency electrical signal generated by a non-invasive signal generator would not be sufficient in strength or intensity to trigger stimulation of the afferent nerve beneath the skin as most of the energy would be dissipated at the level of the skin. As noted above, such a pulse generator that generates only low frequency would require surgery to be implanted. It is therefore, desirable to develop a piezoelectric neurostimulator implanted in proximity to a nerve of interest and employing a non-invasive signal generator to cause electrical stimulation of the piezo element resulting in mechanical vibration/resonance of the piezo element thereby stimulating the nerve.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0167500 discloses a neurostimulator using an implanted piezo-electric chip as an electrode. The neurostimulator includes driving circuitry connected to an ultrasound transducer and at least one piezoelectric chip located proximate a nerve fiber. The ultrasound transducer is positioned to create a pressure wave that is incident on the piezoelectric chip. The excitation of the piezoelectric materials in the piezoelectric chip generates an electric current that can then be used to stimulate an action potential or inhibit the creation of an action potential in the nerve. Here a mechanical signal is transmitted through the skin and is converted to an electrical signal by the piezoelectric chip.
It is therefore desirable to develop a neurostimulator in which a high frequency electrical signal is generated externally and transmitted through the skin causing a mechanical disturbance in an implanted piezoelectric element disposed in proximity to a nerve of interest of sufficient intensity to cause firing of an action potential in the nerve.


A method of growing commercially valuable crops to improve crop production is disclosed. The method comprises creating a hole in the earth, preparing the hole to influence the downward growth of the root system of a tree planted therein, planting a tree in a rooting medium in the hole, growing commercially valuable crops on the tree by providing water and nutrients to the tree, and harvesting commercially valuable crops from the tree.

Field-grown terrestrial vegetation, such as plants grown in orchards and arbors, as well as other woody and herbaceous plants, is managed today in a manner that has changed little over the past several centuries. This is primarily due to the management requirements of the naturally distributed root system, which tends to be horizontal and near the soil surface (i.e., primarily in the top 2 to 4 feet of the soil profile), which is shown in FIG. 1. Horizontal root distribution requires that much care and management go into ensuring the uniform distribution of water, chemicals and nutrients so that all of a plant's root system can benefit. Even with the advent of sprinkler irrigation and chemical sprays, the horizontal root distribution pattern of woody plants requires large areas for development and, along with top growth, helps dictate plant population density.
Plant establishment and growth can be affected by root zone management. Weeds and other vegetation competing for water and nutrient inputs is one of the critical obstacles to plant establishment and growth after planting. Considerable cost and effort is provided to overcome the negative impact of this competition. Failure to limit this competition typically results in poor establishment and growth of a plant.
Crop production, both quality and quantity can also be affected by root zone management. For example, in citrus trees, only the outer 3-foot layer of the canopy is productive. Of the inner layer, productivity is limited by the shading of the outer layer. As a result, trees with larger diameter canopies take up more space but are less productive on a per unit area basis. In recent years, researchers have been exploring methods to increase plant populations of citrus groves. One method is to plant more trees and aggressively prune the top growth of the tree to prevent the canopies from developing large diameters. Other methods have studied root pruning by physical and chemical means to help limit the canopy diameter. Again, the primary reason for trying to limit the canopy diameter and increase plant populations in these situations is to increase crop productivity.
Management and production of arbors, such as grapes, can also be difficult for a number of reasons. Heavy rainfall at inopportune times, such as during the critical pre-harvest period, can cause the fruit to become gorged with water and split, potentially spoiling much of the value of the crop. In addition, much attention has been directed to the spreading of soil-born diseases such as Armillaria mellea throughout vineyards up and down the California coastline. At the same time, this multi-billion dollar industry is under increasing pressure ranging from the ban on soil fumigants, growing competition for water and the need to limit pollution. For example, the ban of the soil fumigant methyl bromide in 2005 is anticipated to have severe economic implications for growers, and the demand for an alternative product or method is great.
Another limitation to productivity caused by a naturally developed horizontal root system is the common need to allow the land to lie fallow for a period of time after the removal of dead or diseased trees and before replanting new trees can occur. This is primarily caused by the necessity to either eliminate pathogens in the soil or reduce the phytotoxic effects on the new root system by the old root system. As a result, land may be unproductive for up to five years and may require significant management during that same period.
Beyond productivity, environmental pollution caused by the runoff and leaching of chemicals and nutrients into the groundwater is also of major concern in some areas. Even with tightly controlled irrigation programs that would limit the potential for chemical leaching, uncontrolled rainfall events can flush chemicals out of the root zone, through the soil profile, and into the groundwater, potentially allowing the chemicals to be washed or eroded from the soil surface into public waterways.
These and other issues associated with the management of horizontal root systems can be mitigated through the application of deep rooting technology. This technology can be utilized to develop columnar-like root distribution where inputs such as irrigation, chemicals and nutrients can be tightly controlled.


A word processor, including a keyboard through which characters can be inputted, a memory device for storing inputted character arrays and a display device capable of multi-color displays, is so programmed that corrections and additions are automatically displayed in a different color from the rest for the convenience of editing. Codes for indicating the color of display can be also stored in the memory device. When a completed document is finally stored in a document file, however, such color codes are deleted such that the document can be outputted in one color.

This invention relates to a word processor and more particularly to a word processor which uses a color liquid crystal element as its display device.
Of the type of word processors provided with input means for inputting characters and sentences, memory means for recording and storing input data and means for displaying and printing composed sentences, those which are relatively compact and inexpensive usually use as their display means a liquid crystal element capable of displaying only a limited number of lines and display characters and symbols only in one color such as black. As more sentences are inputted with such a word processor, the display on its screen keeps changing (by scrolling) and it is not a simple matter to go back and locate a particular sentence or a particular character array which was entered earlier. The user may use an underline or change the print type as an indicator but such indicators are not easily detectable.
After the user goes back to a sentence entered earlier and makes a correction therein, the corrected sentence is recorded and stored in the memory means but, unless the user leaves there a mark of some kind, it is extremely difficult later to identify the positions where corrections were made.


To avoid a locomotive from travelling with a disabled sanding system, a method and system are provided for ensuring that the sanding system is not disabled if a primary speed reference used to detect the locomotive's speed is faulty. The method comprises determining a first speed measurement from a primary speed source; if the first speed measurement is below a setpoint, determining a second speed measurement from a secondary speed source; and if the second speed measurement is below the setpoint, disabling the automated and/or emergency initiated sanding control system on the locomotive.

Large traction vehicles such as locomotives are typically powered by electric traction motors coupled to axles of the vehicle. For example, a locomotive commonly has at least four sets of axles, typically six, and corresponding wheels per vehicle, with each set being connected via appropriate gearing to the drive shaft of an electric motor, referred to in the art as a traction motor. Traction motors, when operable, are supplied with electric current from a controlled source of power, commonly a traction alternator driven by the locomotive's engine. The traction motors apply torque to the locomotive's wheels, which in turn exert tractive effort on the rails on which the locomotive is travelling.
Locomotives are normally expected to produce high tractive efforts. Good adhesion between each wheel and the surface of the rail contributes to the efficient operation of the locomotive. The ability to produce high tractive efforts depends on the available or achievable adhesion between the wheel and rail. Certain rail conditions such as being wet or covered in ice/snow may require the application of a friction enhancing agent such as sand to be applied to the rails to improve the adhesion of the wheel to the rail. To achieve this, locomotives are equipped with sand boxes on either end of the unit and nozzles to dispense the sand to the rail on either side of the unit.
Locomotives may improve adhesion by initiating a flow of sand from the sand boxes to the rail surface. The flow of sand may be initiated in response to certain conditions being met, such as one or more wheel axles slipping. When one or more of these conditions is/are met, typical sanding systems will activate a flow of sand through sand applicators located at the appropriate wheels based on the direction of travel. Sand is normally dispensed at a fixed rate each time there is a demand for sanding from the locomotive control system. Sanding may also be applied manually by the operator. Manual application of sand may be used whenever the operator feels that it will assist in the performance of the locomotive.
An emergency sanding switch (ESS) may be activated whenever the locomotive's pneumatic brakes are placed into a penalty or emergency status. Both situations are used when a fast train stop is requested by the operator. As a safety requirement, all trains, once properly connected, in the correct sequence, and thus ready to move (i.e. "made up"), undergo complete testing of the brake systems to ensure that all brake cylinders on the whole train are functional. Some of the tests include placing the brake system into penalty application as well as emergency, both cases resulting in the ESS being activated.
In both cases, with the locomotive being at a standstill, a significant amount of sand is wasted, which is both costly and without real benefit, since the sand is not needed when the locomotive is not moving. Moreover, the sand that is dispensed during such testing may foul up the tracks and thus when the locomotive begins to move again, the attached cars would ride over the sand, which adds unnecessary wear to the train's components and drag to the pulling locomotives.

Method and apparatus for controlling sanding on locomotives


Methods and systems obtain profile information from individuals using automation to select and provide the questions that are given to the individual. The answers the individuals provide to the questions can then be used to generate the profile information. Subsequent questions are selected and presented according to analysis of the previous answers. The exchange of the questions and answers occurs over a communications network and may take the form of emails, web page interfaces, wireless data messages, or verbal communication over a voiced call. The answers are analyzed to determine certain characteristics, such as the personality type, mood, and gender of the individual. The subsequent questions are selected based on the characteristics that are found from the answers to facilitate the information exchange between the automated system and the individual.

Various automated services may be provided for individuals that are specialized for the particular preferences and situation of each individual. For example, an automated system may assist in making purchases for an individual such as automatically purchasing flowers each year on a birthday through an electronic transaction. As another example, an automated system may assist in setting up a dinner reservation for an individual through an electronic transaction. For these transactions, individual specific information must be known, such as the date and type of flowers to purchase or the time and place to schedule the reservation as well as the smoking preference.
Profile information for individuals may specify the preferences and factual scenarios such as birthdays of interest for an individual. This profile information may be accessed by automated systems when assisting with purchases, scheduling, etc. so that the individual is not required to provide this information for each task being performed. However, this profile information must be acquired from the individual before it can be put to use by the automated systems.
Acquiring such profile information can be a tedious task. An individual could be asked to complete a questionnaire. However, the information that is relevant to services to be provided for a particular individual at any given time may be difficult to anticipate such that a script of questions intended to elicit that information cannot be prepared in advance. Furthermore, the amount of information may be lengthy such that the individual is required to remain focused on answering numerous questions for an uncomfortable period. As a result the individual may become agitated and may provide hasty answers that are not useful to building the profile for the individual.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and systems for obtaining profile information from individuals using automation


A manual valve actuator for a medical fluid delivery set is disclosed. The manual valve actuator comprises a holder adapted to removably receive a valve mechanism of the medical fluid delivery set, a valve driver, and a handle for rotating the valve driver and thereby the valve rotor when the valve mechanism is received in the holder. Also disclosed is a method for rinsing a medical fluid delivery set utilizing the manual valve actuator.

Administering fluids containing medicine or nutrition to a patient is well known in the art. Fluid may be administered to the patient by a medical fluid delivery set loaded on a flow control apparatus, which automatically delivers fluid at a controlled rate.
The delivery set comprises tubing that delivers fluid from a fluid source to a patient. A valve mechanism is typically located on the tubing for permitting or preventing fluid flow through the delivery set. When the delivery set is loaded on the flow control apparatus, the valve mechanism is automatically moved to alternate positions that either prevent or permit fluid flow through the tubing.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,462,170, which is assigned to Covidien A G, discloses a flow control apparatus comprising a peristaltic pump and an automatic valve controller. When a delivery set is loaded on the flow control apparatus, the peristaltic pump moves fluid through the tubing, and the valve controller automatically actuates a valve rotor of the valve mechanism to prevent or permit fluid flow though the delivery set.
The valve rotors of such valve mechanisms are typically relatively small and difficult to turn by hand. Users simply cannot impart sufficient rotational force on the rotor by hand to overcome its rotational resistance. Moreover, for safety reasons, the valve mechanisms may purposely be designed to impede users from turning the valve rotor by hand.
In certain circumstances, however, it is desirable that users have the ability to manually actuate the valve rotor to prevent or permit fluid flow through the delivery set. For example, after delivery of a medical fluid to a patient, the delivery set may require cleaning. Users may remove the delivery set from the flow control apparatus to clean the set by hand. In another example, a user may remove the delivery set from the flow control apparatus to flush a clogged tube. To actuate the valve rotor without the automatic valve controller, the user must be able to manually actuate the valve rotor. Therefore, there is a need for a manual valve actuator for a medical fluid delivery set.

Manual valve actuator for medical fluid delivery set


A structural health management system is disclosed. The structural health management system comprises a zone of sensors. A first sensor data collector is coupled to a first subset of the sensors in the zone; and a second sensor data collector coupled to a second subset of the sensors in the zone. In the present invention, loss of a sensor data collector does not result in the loss of ability to perform nondestructive testing in an entire zone.

Nondestructive testing is a procedure for determining the quality or characteristics of a structure without permanently altering the structure or the structure's properties. Examples include ultrasonic and radiographic inspection. In the avionics field, nondestructive evaluations of airplane components are done to insure the structural integrity of the airplane. In typical nondestructive testing schemes, a certified inspector performs one or more nondestructive tests at the aircraft. This process may be repeated at regular intervals to monitor the structural health of the aircraft.
While this type of nondestructive testing scheme can be effective, it has several drawbacks. First, the test typically needs to be conducted by trained inspectors, which can incur significant costs, including the potential loss of operational revenue, when having an inspector perform the tests on site. Second, to enable efficient analysis and repetitive comparison over time, a non-subjective decision process driven by inspection data, inspection method parameters, location, decision criteria, and material properties within the context of the structure being inspected may be required. Current inspection approaches may not preserve these necessary components. Although each inspection can be analyzed individually, a collection of inspections may not be analyzed in toto.
To resolve some of the drawbacks of current nondestructive schemes, other structural health management schemes have been developed. In one structural health management technique, ultrasonic transducers can be placed, for example, on the fuselage of the aircraft to be tested. The ultrasonic transducers are then coupled to an onboard testing computer. The testing computer can be used to run nondestructive tests when needed by using the installed ultrasonic transducers.
The above-described system allows for nondestructive testing to be done without having an inspector bring equipment to the aircraft. Additionally, the automated inspection and determination of the state of the inspected material preserves accurate location data, as well as the associated data used to perform the inspection and make the determination. This allows multiple self-referential inspections of an area over an extended period of time, enabling correlation, trending and other sophisticated analysis of the inspection data across vehicles and over time.
In complex systems, multiple sensors may be required. These sensors provide data directly to a processor for analysis. A drawback to this arrangement is that for a system with many sensors, the amount of wiring can be very large. This is a particular concern when the system is deployed in an environment where the weight of the excess wiring can have a detrimental effect. What is needed is a structural health management system that reduces the amount of wiring and enhances the availability and integrity of the system.

Structural health management system and method for enhancing availability and integrity in the structural health management system


The present invention is directed to a displacement detector which can compensate a change in temperature coefficient of impedance of a coil to a displacement of a core. The detector comprises a constant-current supply unit for outputting a constant current including an alternating current, a coil portion, to which the constant current is supplied, a magnetic core supported to be movable relative to the coil portion in a movable range, and a signal processing circuit for determining a displacement of the core to the coil portion according to a change in output voltage of the coil portion under the supply of the constant current to the coil portion, characteristic-value extracting unit for extracting a characteristic value(V1) from the output voltage of the coil portion, and a level shift circuit for adding a level shift voltage (Vsh) to the characteristic value. A fluctuation width of temperature coefficient of a total (V2) of the characteristic value (V1) and the level shift voltage (Vsh) in the movable range is smaller than the fluctuation width of temperature coefficient of the characteristic value (V1) in the movable range.

In the past, a displacement detector has been proposed to detect a change in impedance of a coil portion caused by inserting a core into the coil portion, thereby providing a signal indicative of position data of the core relative to the coil portion.
This kind of displacement detector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,003,258, 4,864,232, and 5,893,300. For example, as shown in FIG. 43, in a position detector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,258, a coil portion 2 is formed such that a change in impedance Z (inductance component) with respect to temperature resulting from a magnetic material 21 of a core 1 is cancelled by a change in impedance Z (eddy current component) with respect to temperature resulting from a nonmagnetic material 22. That is, against a problem that a temperature coefficient of the impedance Z of the coil portion depends on displacement of the core 1, the dependency of the temperature coefficient of the impedance Z on the displacement is reduced by modifying structures of the coil portion and its circumference. However, it leads to an increase in the total number of parts, and makes difficult to carry out the positioning of the parts. In addition, there are problems of a reduction in degree of freedom of design of the coil portion, increase in cost performance, and deterioration in versatility.
In addition, as another prior art, Japanese Patent Early Publication [kokai] 2000-186903 discloses a non-contact type position sensor using high-frequency magnetic field. As shown in FIG. 44, this position sensor is provided with a rotating shaft 201 rotated in conjunction with an object to be detected, arc-shaped, movable metal body 202 coupled with the rotating shaft 201 through a coupling member 202c to be moved on the circumference of a circle having the axis of the rotating shaft 201 as its center in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft, a pair of sensor coils 203 (203a, 203b) fixed on the circumference of the circle, and having a center axis curved such that arms (202a, 202b) of the movable metal body 202 can come in and go out of through holes of the respective sensor coils to change an occupied area in a magnetic path, a sensor circuit for detecting a magnetic change caused depending on the occupied area of the arms 202a, 202b in the sensor coils 203a, 203b by activating those sensor coils to generate a RF modulated magnetic field, and resistances 205a, 205b for detecting coil currents flowing in the sensor coils 203a, 203b. According to this sensor, since the arms 202a, 202b of the movable metal body 202 are complementarily inserted in the sensor coils 203a, 203b, and the sensor circuit 204 detects a change in impedance of each of the sensor coils 203a, 203b, there is an advantage that accurate positioning is not needed.
However, in an angle status where the arms 202a, 202b of the movable metal body 202 are not inserted in the sensor coils 203a, 203b, the coil impedances of the sensor coils 203a, 203b are only the impedance of the coil wire. Therefore, temperature characteristics (temperature coefficients) thereof depend on only a factor of the coil wire. On the other hand, in an angle status where the arms 202a, 202b are inserted in the sensor coils 203a, 203b, the coil impedance of the sensor coils 203a, 203b has an increase in coil impedance (an increase in inductance, eddy current loss, hysteresis loss, and so on) caused by the insertions of the arms 202a, 202b, in addition to the impedance of the coil wire. In this case, since the temperature coefficient is determined by a sum of different temperature coefficients of the factors causing the increase in impedance, it is different from the temperature coefficient in the angle status where the arms 202a, 202b are not inserted in the sensor coils 203a, 203b. This means that the temperature coefficient changes depending on the insertion amount (angle). Even if digital trimming is performed to achieve a temperature compensation by a compensation circuit 210 of the sensor circuit 204, there is a problem that an accurate output can not be provided to ECU unless a complicated compensation for changing an amplification rate in response to the angle is performed. Thus, the conventional sensor still has room for improvement.


A manager interfaces with communications systems such as a telecommunications and/or data network. The manager allows a user to participate in, keep track of, log, monitor, and engage or direct activities relating to communications. The manager may include user data and keep it current, receive and display data on a user's communications, and respond to communications with a standard or selected response. The manager may make information related to the data or the received communications available and include a message log with entries on communications of the user including instant or chat room messages, and unanswered calls. The manager may include a directory that is kept current using data on received communications and may include a calendar with scheduled activities.

To stay in touch with others, a user may accumulate a number of communications devices, services, and a variety of information resources. With respect to devices, a user may have a telephone (also referred to as a wireline or landline unit). The user also may have a wireless unit such as a mobile telephone or cell telephone. Each of the telephones (wireless or wireline) may have one or more voice mail services, messaging systems, or accounts associated with it. In addition, the user may have one or more other devices or units for specific types of communications such as a pager (including an interactive pager (ipager)) for pages and other communications. Plus, a user may have a facsimile (fax) machine(s) for faxes. Further, a user may have a computer or other device including an electronic mail (e-mail), an instant messaging, or other communications services. The computer or other device may be used for communications over local or global networks, and may allow the user to participate in chat rooms, to conduct research, to receive news and updates, and to engage in similar activities. Thus, it is not unusual for a user to have eight or more communications devices and one or more communications services associated with each device. Of course, other factors (such as the user's family, friends, communications style) may increase or decrease the number of the user's communications devices and services.
To stay in touch with others, with respect to information resources, a user has much more available to him or her than just telephone directories or information from the local library. In fact, information from telephone directories, libraries, and other sources may be accessible in many ways such as through the use of directory assistance, fax delivery, or computer on-line services. A user may obtain a vast amount of information on myriad topics from a data network or through a global information data network such as the Internet.
Given the many communications devices a user may accumulate, the many communications services the user may access, and the vast amount of information available to the user through various sources, a user may find it overwhelming to efficiently organize and utilize the devices, services, and information resources. Accordingly, there is a need for methods and systems that manage a user's communications and information resources.

Methods and systems for a communications and information resource manager


Implementations of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and computer-readable storage mediums for user confirmation of actions to be performed by a web application hosted on one or more servers. Actions can include receiving user input indicating a request directed to the web application, the user input being received through a mobile web browser, determining that the user input is requesting execution of an authorized action, and in response, providing data associated with the request for processing by a mobile authenticator application, providing a user interface generated by the mobile authenticator application based on the data, and receiving user confirmation of the authorized action through the user interface, and in response: providing a signed response by the mobile authenticator application, and transmitting the signed response to the one or more servers to initiate execution of the authorized action.

Over the past several years, mobile computing devices, such as smartphones and tablets, have become first class citizens in the world of computing. Advances in energy consumption, mobile processing power, and display quality have enabled mobile computing devices to handle common computing tasks as readily as more traditional computing devices, such as desktop and laptop computing devices. However, while the computational power of mobile computing devices can be comparable to desktop and/or laptop counterparts, other differences persist. Such differences include, for example, screen size, user interface (UI) paradigms, and limitations induced by mobile operating systems.
The above-identified differences, among others, can impact security characteristics of mobile computing devices. For example, reduced screen size can result in less space for visual security indicators that could help combat attacks, e.g., phishing attacks. As another example, UI paradigms of mobile computing devices allow for variants of attacks, e.g., clickjacking attacks. As another example, virtual keyboards on mobile computing devices can result in users choosing insecure passwords, e.g., as a result of necessary, uncomfortable context switches between letters, numbers, and special characters. As still another example, current restrictions in mobile operating systems and the lack of an extension model for mobile web browsers render attack mitigation tools ineffective or unusable in the mobile context.

Trusted user interface for mobile web applications


A method for medical image enhancement based on image transform resonance. A novel method for Stochastic Resonance of medical image enhancement device based on the Integral Transform of the image, comprising: generating specific types of integral transforms like radon transform for CT, Fourier transform for MRI with image transform component; preparing stochastic perturbation waveform, with perturbator component performing the stochastic resonance on the image transform, with stochastic resonator component; characterizing the image enhancement factor of the SR-processed image with performance monitoring component; adjusting and controlling the bistability parameters of the double-well system that induces stochastic resonance with control component; arranging the provisional display of the array matrix of the SR-enhanced images, as the bistability parameters are varied with matrix display component; subjecting the final image to the step of display with final image display component.

It may be remarked that earlier investigators have proposed procedures for upgradation of medical image to some extent, such techniques encompassing histogram equalization, adaptive filtering, or filtering approaches using multiple subimage schemata. However, the procedures are generally not adaptable to variable tissue intensities, and hence cannot give optimal enhancement. Moreover, none of the existing image enhancement technique is able to enhance different kinds of image modalities. Recently wavelet-based approach has been used to explore the possibility of selective image improvement, but here there are many more variables involved. In the latter case, the problem is that one has to tune, in advance, to some arbitrary scale-specific or scale-dependent parameters of the wavelets, which may be suboptimal.
The drawbacks and limitations on the existing techniques are that there is usually loss of information as basically a filtering operation is used on the image to filter out energy power residing in the stochastic noise component of the image. These filters lose some content of the image or may cause artifacts, both of which may hamper the diagnosis.
Furthermore, the majority of the above procedures are not tissue-selective nor tissue-adaptive, since, in general, the various structures in the image are enhanced evenly and monotonously together, as mentioned earlier. The existing techniques do not produce variegated contrast level among different regions, however such variegation is much desirable for proper perception of images.
There is actually a topical need of a proper medical image enhancement technique that can operate adaptively on the variegated texture of heterogeneous tissue image. With this desirability in mind, it may be mentioned that the principal of Stochastic Resonance (SR) has been studied by scientists for various applications to physical or biological systems, such as enhancement of sound detection or optical scattering. However, there in no literature available on SR application for medical image enhancement. Of course, the present invention is the first application of SR for diagnostic medical imaging system.
The SR technique of the present invention has proven effective and overcomes certain limitations in the existing techniques as information loss and unwanted artifacts due to filtering. The SR procedure of the present invention administers extra quality to the contrast of an image through the added stochastic fluctuations, and there is minimal power dissipation or information loss in the image.
The SR technique of the present invention is also lesion specific as the image processing operation, namely the stochastic integral transform (SIT), can be adapted locally to enhance the suspicious regions of tissue. The nature of the pixel-adaptive SIT mapping is such that it provides varying contrast in different regions, so that the entire image is neither enhanced equally nor monotonously. Further, the SR technique of the present invention can enhance different kinds of image modalities and has been tested on various lesions and tumours, under different imaging modalities as CT, MRI, etc. and imparts an excellent opportunity to clinicians and radiologists to enhance and diagnose the unclear or latent lesions in an image.
Although some procedures for image upgradation have been proposed, none of the existing techniques promises enhancement without information loss. The SR technique of the present invention enhances the edges of the lesion, delineates the edema segments more clearly, and demarcates the latent structural brain lesions, along with aiding more efficient discrimation of the different zones of the lesion. Furthermore, the SR technique of the present invention is also useful in broad-ranging image processing applications of a general nature.
The SR technique of the present invention enhances medical diagnostic images such as CT and MRI, and also upgrades such images when they are noisy or indistinct. This improvement of the image would help radiologists/clinicians to perform improved diagnosis.
The SR technique of the present invention also provides a general image enhancement technique that can be adapted locally to enhance suspicious regions of tissue.
The SR technique of the present invention also provides varying contrast in different regions, so that the full image is not enhanced equally and monotonously, but there are differential levels of contrast in different regions of the image, thereby leading to increased discriminability.
The SR technique of the present invention also:
counters noise and enhances medical diagnostic images;
delineates edges of a tumour or lesion, the oedema region and the infarction region;
discriminates various structures and zones in the lesion and in the surrounding areas;
is applicable to any imaging modality;
displays increased structuration of the image; and
offers more accurate estimate of the location and degree of the abnormality in the tissue.

Medical image enhancement technique based on image transform resonance


A pseudomorphic MODFET structure suitable for microwave frequency large signal applications. This structure is able to improve the transconductance, g.sub.m, at high gate bias and, thus, improve the linear power performance of the MODFET. A modified single quantum well InGaAs channel pseudomorphic MODFET structure replaces the conventional n+ AlGaAs or n+ AlInAs top carrier supply layer with an n+ GaAs carrier supply layer. Much flatter/broader g.sub.m and, hence, f.sub.t and f.sub.max versus gate voltage curves are obtained due to the improved parallel transport in the n+ GaAs layer. Consequently, improved R.sub.1dB and G.sub.1dB are achieved at microwave frequencies, which makes this MODFET structure advantageous for microwave linear power applications.

This invention relates to semiconductor devices operative at relatively high frequencies and, more particularly, to a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) semiconductor device structure for achieving both high gain and high linear power operation at such frequencies. Specifically, the invention is directed to a pseudomorphic MODFET having an HEMT structure which preferably comprises an n+ GaAs layer as the carrier supply layer, instead of a conventional n+ Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As or n+ Al.sub.x In.sub.1-x As carrier supply layer. The MODFET in accordance with the invention exhibits improved transconductance, g.sub.m, at high gate bias and provides improved large signal linear power performance.
During the past several years, MODFETs having various structures have been studied extensively due to their high frequency performance relative to other semiconductor devices. MODFETs can achieve very high P.sub.sat due to their high carrier density and carrier velocity. However, the large signal linear power performance of MODFETs, such as their power at a -1 dB gain compression point, P.sub.1db, and their harmonic/intermodulation power levels, is typically less than desired. See, for example, B. Kim, et al., "mm-Wave AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs Quantum Well Power MISFET", IEDM Tech. Dig., December 1988, pp. 168-171, and L. F. Lester, et al., "High Efficiency 0.25 .mu.m Gate-Length Pseudomorphic Power Heterostructure FET's at mm-Wave Frequencies", 47th DRC Tech. Dig., June 1989, IVB-4.
FIG. 1 shows the small signal level equivalent circuit model for an FET. Under large signal levels, however, the values of almost all of the equivalent circuit parameters vary as functions of the gate bias, V.sub.gs, and the drain bias, V.sub.ds. Those variations cause gain compression, as well as increase the harmonic power levels, as the input power increases. See S. M. Perlow, "Basic Facts About Distortion and Gain Saturation", Applied Microwave, May 1989, pp. 107-117. FIG. 2 shows the output power and gain compression for a typical MODFET as the input power level increases. The major sources of nonlinear behavior in FETs under large signal conditions have been identified as g.sub.m, g.sub.o, and C.sub.gs variations as functions of the biases. See G. Lambrianou, et al., "Power Characterization of a MESFET Amplifier Using Small Signal Measurement and Volterra Series", IEEE MTT-S Digest, 1985, pp. 409.varies.412, and R. E. Williams, et al., "Graded Channel FET's: Improved Linearity and Noise Figure", IEEE Trans. on Elect. Dev., Vol. ED-25, No. 6, June 1978, pp. 600-605.
g.sub.m variation as a function of the gate voltage swing relates to the output power linearity of the FET. Consequently, the power/gain saturation curve for a conventional MODFET is usually soft, and P.sub.1db is not very high despite high saturation power due to maximum drain current. Also, the donors in the carrier supply layer can become partially ionized at high gate bias due to the relatively low donor energy level in the material. This partial ionization, together with the presence of the DX centers in the heavily doped AlGaAs or AlInAs material, limits the total carrier concentration in the device and degrades the modulation efficiency. See P. M. Mooney, et al., "The Role of DX Centres in Limiting the Free Carrier Density in GaAs", Proc. of Int. Symp. GaAs and Related Compounds, 1987, pp. 359-362, and M. C. Foisy, et al., "The Role of Inefficiency Charge Modulation in Limiting the Current-Gain Cutoff Frequency of the MODFET", IEEE Trans. on Elect. Dev., Vol. 35, No. 7, July 1988, pp. 871-878.
Degradation in g.sub.m at high gate bias has been found to be the dominant limiting factor for the power/gain saturation performance in MODFETs. See M. R. Weiss, et al., "An Investigation of the Power Characteristics and Saturation Mechanisms in HEMT's and MESFET's", IEEE Trans. on Elect. Dev., Vol. 35, No. 8, August 1988, pp. 1197-1206. This g.sub.m degradation also limits the digital applications of MODFETs, where the signal swing is always large.
The g.sub.m degradation at high gate bias occurs because almost all of the MODFET structures on GaAs substrates utilize an n+ AlGaAs or n+ AlInAs layer as the carrier supply layer. This carrier supply layer becomes conducting at high gate bias. See K. Lee, et al., "Parasitic MESFET in (Al, Ga)As/GaAs MODFET's and MODFET Characterization", IEEE Trans. on Elect. Dev., Vol. ED-31, No. 1, January 1984, pp. 29-35. Such a parasitic conduction, in parallel with the 2-D channel conduction, is undesirable, because the inferior transport property in the carrier supply layer results in low carrier mobility and velocity, which in turn cause low g.sub.m, hence, low f.sub.T and f.sub.max at high gate bias according to Eq. 1 and Eq. 2, respectively: ##EQU1## where C.sub.gs is the gate capacitance, .nu..sub.s is the average saturation velocity, L.sub.g is the gate length, g.sub.o is the drain-source conductance, and R.sub.in is the input resistance of the MODFET.
Efforts have been made to achieve a more constant g.sub.m profile by providing a multiple quantum well structure (MQW) or doped channel MISFET structure. However, the MQW structure typically has lower gain, possibly due to the poor material growth compatibility; while the MISFET structure suffers low gain due to the degraded carrier velocity in the heavily doped channel. See G. W. Wang, et al., "A High-Current Pseudomorphic AlGaAs/InGaAs Double Quantum-Well MODFET", IEEE Elect. Dev. Lett., Vol. 9, No. 1, January 1988, pp. 4-6, and P. Sannier, et al., "A Double-Heterojunction Doped-Channel Pseudomorphic Power HEMT with a Power Density of 0.85 W/mm at 55 GHz", IEEE Elect. Dev. Lett., Vol. 9, No. 8, August 1988, pp. 397-398.

Pseudomorphic MODFET structure having improved linear power performance at microwave frequencies


A method and system are provided for manufacturing a physical dental model. A virtual model is provided representative of at least a portion of the intra-oral cavity including at least one dental implant implanted therein, and the virtual model includes a virtual portion representative of each dental implant. The virtual spatial disposition of each such virtual portion is determined with respect to the virtual model, corresponding to a real spatial disposition of the respective implant with respect to the intra oral cavity. A physical model is then manufactured based on the virtual model, the physical model including a physical analog corresponding to each implant at a respective physical spatial disposition with respect to the physical model corresponding to the respective virtual spatial disposition of the respective virtual portion with respect to the first virtual model as already determined. In some embodiments, a jig is provided configured for maintaining a desired physical spatial disposition between the physical analog and a cavity of the physical dental model at least until the physical analog is affixed in the cavity.

Dental implants are widely used as artificial substitutes for the root portion of missing teeth, and allow a tooth prosthesis to be securely anchored to the jaw via a permanent abutment mounted to the implant. Endosseous implants generally comprise an externally threaded body, often self-taping into the bone tissues, and further comprise an internal chamber that is configured, typically internally threaded, for receiving and securing therein the anchoring stem of a permanent abutment therein.
Following implantation of an implant in the intra oral cavity and healing of the surrounding tissues, a physical model of the intra oral cavity is produced for facilitating design and manufacture of the permanent abutment and prosthesis or other restoration that is to be eventually mounted onto the implant. In one procedure, an impression abutment is mounted to the implant so that it projects into the intra oral cavity, and an impression is then obtained of the intraoral cavity using well known techniques and impression materials, for example PVS. The impression abutment may be of the pick-up type, to be embedded with the impression material and retained therein after the impression tray is removed. Alternatively the impression tray is removed without the impression abutment attached thereto, but nevertheless having a recess formed therein complementary to the outer shape of the impression abutment, enabling the transfer-type impression abutment to be mounted therein at a later time. Subsequently an analog, corresponding to the particular implant that is implanted in the patient, is attached to the abutment, which is in situ in the impression material, and plaster is poured into the impression tray including the analog to produce a positive plaster model of the intraoral cavity with the analog embedded. The analog, in particular the internal passage thereof which is substantially identical to the internal passage of the implant that is designed to receive, engage and secure the permanent abutment, is in a position and orientation in the plaster model corresponding to the position and orientation of the implant in the patient's intra oral cavity. The dental technician can now attach a permanent abutment, or custom design a permanent abutment to fit the implant, build a coping or bridge framework or prosthesis to fit into the intraoral cavity of the patient.
By way of general background, the following publications relate to implants:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,052 discloses a dental implant system and method for effecting a dental restoration using the same. The dental implant system having an implant fixture adapted to be deployed in a bone; an impression coping adapted to be selectively deployed on the implant fixture and in a dental impression; a laboratory analog adapted to be selectively deployed on the impression coping and in a dental cast; a spherical abutment adapted to be selectively deployed on the laboratory analog; and a multiaxis abutment adapted to be adjustably deployed on the spherical abutment; wherein the spherical abutment and the multiaxis abutment are used to generate a cast permanent abutment which may be received by the laboratory analog and the implant fixture.
US 2008/032262 discloses a dental implant system comprising an implant member, an abutment member and a transfer key with cooperatively engaging structures for ensuring proper alignment and orientation of an abutment assembled on the implant member and for preparing an accurate dental impression and mold which represents the implantation site and its relationship to adjacent teeth structures. A dental reconstruction method utilizing the dental implant system of the present invention is also disclosed.
US 2006/183078 discloses a one-piece, screw-receiving, externally-threaded endosseous dental implant that includes a body portion with external threading and, at its proximal end, an unthreaded, cylindrical portion including a retentive groove for engaging a complementary transfer component or comfort cap; a one- or two-piece screw-receiving implant abutment for attachment to a one or two-piece implant, including a retentive groove for engaging a complementary transfer component or comfort cap; and a fixture mount for insertion in a one-piece implant, that can be sectioned with the distal end used to extend the implant height.

Methods, systems and accessories useful for procedures relating to dental implants


A storage phosphor plate for the storage of X-ray information, including a storage phosphor layer which stores the X-ray information and can be stimulated by stimulation light into emitting emission light, and a support layer on which the storage phosphor layer is located, the support layer being partially transparent for the stimulation light, and having a thickness d and an absorption coefficient for the stimulation light, where (k times d)≧0.2.

Generic storage phosphor plates and devices are used, in particular for medical purposes, in the field of computer radiography (CR). Here, X-rays are recorded in so-called storage phosphor layers, whereby the X-ray radiation passing through an object, for example a patient, is stored as a latent picture in the storage phosphor layer. In order to read out the stored picture, the storage phosphor layer is irradiated with stimulation light, and so stimulated into emitting emission light, the intensity of which is dependent upon the respectively stored picture information. The emission light is collected by an optical detector and converted into electric signals which can be further processed as required and shown on a monitor or on a corresponding display unit, such as eg. a printer.
In certain applications, the storage phosphor layer is applied to a support layer which is partially transparent for the stimulation light so that the storage phosphor layer can be stimulated by irradiating with stimulation light from the side of the support layer.
The problem can arise here that part of the stimulation light in the region of the upper boundary surface between the support layer and storage phosphor layer is reflected or dispersed back into the support layer by reflection and/or dispersion and reflected back in the direction of the storage phosphor layer on the lower boundary surface of the support layer. In such cases, in particular with support layers with a large thickness, regions of the storage phosphor layer are stimulated which are so far away from the region of the storage phosphor layer currently to be read out that the emission light emitted from them can no longer be collected. The consequence of this so-called advance read-out of individual regions is that with a subsequent, actual read-out of these regions, a reduced intensity of the emission light is obtained, and this leads overall to a detrimental effect upon the picture quality.
It is the objective of the invention to provide a storage phosphor plate and a corresponding device and a radiography module for reading out this type of storage phosphor plate with which an improved picture quality can be achieved.

Storage phosphor plate for the storage of X-ray information and a corresponding system for reading out the X-ray information


A vehicular lamp fitting comprising a front lens body, a rear lens unit, and a light source that emits light, which passes through the rear lens unit and the front lens body, to form a low beam light distribution pattern, wherein the rear lens unit is a lens unit configured to condense, in a first direction, the light coming from the light source, and includes a first entry surface, and a first exit surface, the front lens body is a lens unit configured to condense, in a second direction, the light coming from the rear lens unit, and includes a second entry surface, and a second exit surface, the front lens body is disposed in an attitude that is inclined, and a curvature of the first exit surface in the longitudinal section or a curvature of the second entry surface in the longitudinal section is different in each longitudinal section.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional vehicular lamp fitting 100. FIG. 16 is a lateral sectional view of the vehicular lamp fitting 100 illustrated in FIG. 15 (portions other than the major optical surface are omitted).
Conventionally a vehicular lamp fitting 100 is known, which includes: a front lens body 101; a rear lens unit 102 disposed behind the front lens body 101; and a light source 103 that is disposed behind the rear lens unit 102, and that emits light, which passes through the rear lens unit 102 and the front lens body 101 in this order, and is irradiated forward, so as to form a predetermined light distribution pattern (e.g. low beam light distribution pattern), as illustrated in FIG. 15 (e.g. see WO 2015/178155 (FIG. 32)). The rear lens unit 102 is a lens unit configured to condense light in a first direction (e.g. direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 15), and the front lens body 101 is a lens unit configured to condense light in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction (e.g. vertical direction in FIG. 15).
The rear lens unit 102 includes a first entry surface 102a, a first exit surface 102b disposed on the opposite side of the first entry surface 102a, an edge 102c disposed between the first entry surface 102a and the first exit surface 102b (disposed on a focal point F), and a reflection surface 102d which extends backward from the edge 102c. A curvature of the first exit surface 102b in the longitudinal section is the same in each longitudinal section.
The front lens body 101 includes a second entry surface 101a and a second exit surface 101b disposed on the opposite side of the second entry surface 101a.
The front lens body 101 and the rear lens unit 102 are connected by a connecting unit 104. The connecting unit 104 connects an upper part of the front lens body 101 and an upper part of the rear lens unit 102 in a state of forming a space Sa between the front lens body 101 and the rear lens unit 102.
The front lens body 101, the rear lens unit 102 and the connecting unit 104 are integrally molded by injecting such transparent resin as polycarbonate and acrylic into a die.
In concrete terms, the front lens body 101, the rear lens unit 102 and the connecting unit 104 are formed by a die of which extracting direction is the opposite from the connecting unit 104 (see the arrow mark AR in FIG. 15). To smoothly extract the die, the second entry surface 101a of the front lens body 101 is formed as a plane.
The second exit surface 101b of the front lens body 101, on the other hand, is configured as a semicircular cylindrical surface (cylindrical surface), of which cylindrical axis extends in a first direction (linearly), in order to condense the light coming from the light source 103, which exits through the second exit surface 101b, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
In the vehicular lamp fitting 100 having the above mentioned configuration, when the light source 103 is turned ON, the light coming from the light source 103 enters the rear lens unit 102 through the first entry surface 102a, is partially shielded by a reflection surface 102d, and exits through the first exit surface 102b, together with the reflected light coming from the reflection surface 102d. At this time, the light coming from the light source 103, which exits through the first exit surface 102b, is condensed in the first direction by a function of the first exit surface 102b. Then the light coming from the light source 103, which exited through the first exit surface 102b, passes through the space Sa between the rear lens unit 102 and the front lens body 101, further enters the front lens body 101 through the second entry surface 101a, exits through the second exit surface 101b, and is irradiated forward. At this time, the light coming from the light source 103, which exits through the second exit surface 101b, is condensed in the second direction by a function of the second exit surface 101b. Thereby the predetermined light distribution pattern (the low beam light distribution pattern in this case) is formed.


A navigation system for vehicles, capable of exactly and quickly showing guide information to a driver when two intersections to be negotiated are close to each other, is provided. A destination is input by an input part and a route to the destination is calculated from a present position of a vehicle, calculated by a present position determiner, by a route calculator included in a calculation section. The calculated route is stored in a route memory. A route guide controller included in the calculation section reads map information around the vehicle, stored in a guide information memory within a map information storage section and superimposes the map information with the present position of the vehicle, a traveling direction and the route stored in the route memory to display the superimposed information on a display. When the vehicle approaches the intersection, the screen is changed with an intersection map, but, when a next intersection map is required, the next intersection map is drawn on the back screen and is displayed by changing the two screens after the vehicle passes through the first intersection.

i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation system for vehicles, and more particularly to a mutual screen change between a block guide map and an intersection guide map in a navigation system for vehicles.
ii) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in order to reduce a driver's load, various devices have been developed and mounted on a vehicle. A navigation system for guiding a vehicle to a destination along a route has been proposed.
In such a navigation system, the destination is input and a guide start switch is operated to search for a route to the destination from the present position. The route obtained in the search is displayed so that it can be shown to the driver. Further, the navigation system has another function for detecting the present position of the vehicle and during the driving, the route obtained in the search and the detected present position are displayed to carry out navigation of the vehicle.
When the vehicle reaches an intersection to be negotiated, the screen is changed from a block guide map to an intersection guide map, and after turning to the left or right, the screen is changed again to the block guide map from the intersection guide map to display and guide along the route.
However, in the conventional navigation system, when it is determined that the vehicle is approaching an intersection to be negotiated while the block guide map is displayed on the screen, the screen is changed from the block guide map to the intersection guide map. In particular, when there is another intersection to be negotiated in the vicinity of the previous intersection while the intersection guide map is displayed on the screen, it is often too late to change the screen from the previous intersection guide map to a new intersection guide map after it is discriminated that the vehicle is approaching another intersection to be negotiated and it is impossible to exactly and quickly show the information of the new intersection to the driver.


There is provided a solid-state image pickup device including ADCs that can be arranged in a limited space. The potential of a pixel signal outputted through a vertical readout line is held at a node. A plurality of capacitors are capacitively coupled to the node at which the pixel signal is held. The potential of the node is decreased in a stepwise manner by sequentially switching the voltages of the counter electrodes of the capacitors by the control of transistors. A comparator compares the potential of the node with the potential of the dark state of the pixel, and determines the upper bits of a digital value when the potential of the node becomes lower than the potential of the dark state. Following this, the conversion of the lower bits of the digital value is started. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the configuration of each ADC and arrange each ADC in a limited space.

The present invention relates to a solid-state image pickup device incorporating an analog/digital converter (hereinafter referred to as ADC), and in particular, relates to a solid-state image pickup device incorporating an ADC that can be arranged in a limited space.
Although film-type cameras have been mainstream in conventional cameras, digital cameras have recently been replacing them. Further, the enhancement of the image quality of digital cameras is remarkable, and the latest models of digital cameras perform better than film cameras. The types of digital cameras include CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensors. In terms of enhancing the performance of cameras, there is increasing attention to the CMOS image sensor in which CMOS devices are more easily mounted.
The CMOS image sensor includes two types of image sensors which are an analog image sensor and a digital image sensor. Although each image sensor has its merits and demerits, there are large expectations for the digital image sensor in terms of data processing speed. Specifically, the use of the digital image sensor enables not only moving image shooting but also various applications in combination with image processing of a subsequent stage.
For example, in the case of photographing at the moment when a ball hits a tennis racket or the close-up face of a child who crosses the finish line running around a playground at an athletic meet, by simply pointing a camera toward it the camera can automatically determine a photo opportunity and automatically trigger the shutter. In order to achieve such processing, it is necessary to transfer a shot image to an image processing IP (Intellectual Property) in an instant and to convert shot information (analog information) into image processing information (digital information).
Under such circumstances, ADCs for digital cameras have been actively researched and developed. The biggest problem with the CMOS image sensor is that the conversion of all pixel information into digital values requires a large amount of data processing. For example, if 10 million pixels are processed simply by one ADC at a typical moving image processing rate of 30 fps (frames per second), one-pixel information needs to be A/D-converted and transferred within 3 ns, which is unrealistic. For this reason, the signals of pixels arranged in a matrix are captured in ADCs through vertical readout lines arranged in respective columns, and the signals of pixels of a selected row are sequentially A/D-converted. Related techniques are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-098722 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-352597 as follows.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-098722 discloses a technique for enabling high-speed, high-resolution AD conversion in a CMOS image sensor in which column-parallel ADCs are mounted. In the CMOS image sensor in which column-parallel ADCs are mounted, with reference voltages Vref1 to Vref4 and a reference voltage Vref5 having different slopes, a column processing circuit includes a comparison circuit for comparing an output voltage Vx of a unit pixel with the reference voltages Vref1 to Vref4 and a comparison circuit for comparing the reference voltages Vref1 to Vref4 with the reference voltage Vref5. The operations of the two comparison circuits and an up/down counter enable high-resolution AD conversion to be performed at high speed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-352597 discloses a technique developed by focusing on the point that an AD conversion time is dependent on a count period, particularly the second count period, which occupies most of the AD conversion time, thus making it difficult to reduce the AD conversion time. In a CMOS image sensor in which column-parallel ADCs are mounted, before the second AD conversion a signal voltage Vx of a column signal line is level-determined using a plurality of determination voltages in the AD conversion range, and based on the determination result, from among a plurality of reference voltages RAMP1 to RAMPn a reference voltage RAMP suitable for the signal voltage Vx of the column signal line is selected for AD conversion, thereby reducing the second AD conversion time.

Analog to digital converter for solid-state image pickup device


A status notification application displays a status of a peripheral device, and a bidirectional communication module operates as a service application and is capable of performing bidirectional communication with the peripheral device, and the status notification application issues a request to obtain a status of the peripheral device together with a name of the peripheral device to the bidirectional communication module, and the bidirectional communication module specifies a target peripheral device from which to obtain the status based on the name of the peripheral device, and transmits a request to obtain the status to the target peripheral device, and transmits to the status notification application the status sent back from the peripheral device in response to the request to obtain.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a method of controlling the same, an information processing system, and a storage medium.
Description of the Related Art
Generally, a user checks a display of an operation panel of a printer apparatus if the user wishes to know what the status (state) of the printer apparatus is. Meanwhile, if a sufficient user interface is not equipped in a printer apparatus as with a host-based printer apparatus, a user can check a status of the printer apparatus on a host PC connected to the printer apparatus. In such a case, by a status notification application executed on the PC, it is possible to perform device settings, status display and the like of the printer apparatus connected to the PC.
An architecture called V3 driver (V3 printer driver) is known as an architecture for printer drivers that Windows (registered trademark) of Microsoft Corporation provides. V3 drivers are equipped with a language monitor for realizing bidirectional communication between a print spooler and a printer apparatus. Also, a vendor of each printer apparatus, by customizing the language monitor, obtains status information of a printer apparatus according to a PC and controls the printer (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-79138). In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-79138, a PC performing bidirectional communication as an RPC server with a language monitor in order to obtain status information of a printer apparatus is described.
An architecture called V4 driver, which is the architecture subsequent to V3 driver, has been supported from Windows 8 (registered trademark). In the V4 driver, customization of the language monitor is not permitted. For this reason, customizing the language monitor to perform bidirectional communication with a printer apparatus ceases to be possible. Thus, an interface for performing bidirectional communication between a PC and a printer apparatus without relying upon customization of a language monitor is provided from the OS. However, the provided interface has the restriction that it cannot be executed during printing. Therefore, it is impossible to realize obtainment of information by bidirectional communication as with the V3 driver.

Information processing apparatus that requests and displays status of a peripheral device, method of controlling the same, information processing system and storage medium


A portable electronic apparatus includes a first casing having a display surface in its surface, a second casing having a display surface in its surface, a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the first casing and the second casing to each other to take at least two states which are a closed state where the display surface in the first casing is covered with a rear surface of the second casing and also the display surface in the second casing is exposed, and an open state where the second casing has been moved with respect to the first casing from the closed state, and the display surfaces in both the casings are exposed in the same plane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable electronic apparatuses constituted by a pair of casings coupled to each other.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, there have been known portable electronic apparatuses constituted by a pair of casings coupled to each other, such that both the casings are provided with respective display surfaces, thereby enabling both the display surfaces to offer larger amounts of information to users.
Such portable electronic apparatuses are adapted, for example, to allow both the casings to move with respect to each other, between a single-surface exposed state (a closed state) where the pair of casings are overlaid on each other, the lower casing (a first casing) is covered at its display surface (a first display surface) with the upper casing (a second casing), and only the display surface (a second display surface) in the second casing is exposed, and a double-surface exposed state where the second casing has been moved with respect to the first casing, and the display surfaces of both the casings are exposed.
In the double-surface exposed state, the second casing has been brought into an open state where the second display surface is flushed with the first display surface in the same plane.
In a portable electronic apparatus constituted by a first casing, a second casing and a coupling mechanism which couples the first and second casings to each other as described above, electronic components incorporated in the first casing and electronic components incorporated in the second casing are electrically connected to each other through a flexible lead.
In this case, the flexible lead extends from the inside of the first casing to the inside of the second casing through the inside of the coupling mechanism.
When both the casings are moved with respect to each other to take an open state and a closed state, the flexible lead extending to the inside of the second casing through the inside of the coupling mechanism is pulled along with the sliding of the second casing.
Therefore, a certain degree of leeway is provided in the length of the flexible lead, in order to prevent excessive forces from being exerted on the flexible lead. However, this increases the length of the flexible lead by an amount corresponding to the leeway, which may cause the flexible lead to be loosened more than necessary.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic apparatus including a first casing, a second casing and a coupling mechanism which couples the first and second casings to each other to take a closed state and an open state and, further, including a sliding mechanism interposed between the coupling mechanism and the second casing for enabling the second casing to slide toward the first casing in the open state, the portable electronic apparatus being adapted to eliminate the necessity of providing a flexible lead extending from the inside of the first casing to the inside of the second casing through the inside of the coupling mechanism with looseness more than necessary.


A seat reclining apparatus includes a lower arm, an upper arm, plural pawls being movable in a radial direction along guide walls of the lower arm therewithin and including external teeth being engageable with and disengageable from internal teeth of the upper arm, a cam contacting and pressing the pawls in a direction of meshing the external teeth with the internal teeth when the cam is rotated in a locking direction, a biasing member, whose first and second end portions are engaged with an accommodating portion and the cam, respectively, biasing the cam in the locking direction, a restricting protrusion portion formed on a surface of the cam facing the lower arm and slidably contacting an inner surface of the accommodating portion in order to avoid an eccentricity of the cam, and an engagement protruding portion provided on the surface at a position radially inwardly of the restricting protrusion portion.

Examples of a known seat reclining apparatus are disclosed in JP2002-282078A and in JP2002-101996A. The seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-282078A includes a lower arm, an upper arm and a lock mechanism. The lower arm is retained by a seat cushion and includes two pawls, each of which has external teeth at an end portion thereof. The upper arm is rotatably supported by the lower arm and is fixed at a seat back. Furthermore, internal teeth are formed at the upper arm so as to be engageable with and disengageable from the external teeth of each of the pawls. The lock mechanism includes a cam and a spring for locking the engagement between the upper arm and each of the pawls.
In order to adjust an inclining angle of the seat back, a user needs to pull up an operation lever in order to rotate the cam in an unlocking direction so as to resist against a spring force of the spring to displace the pawls in a radially inward direction of the lower arm and disengage the external teeth of the pawls from the internal teeth of the upper arm. As a result, the engagement between the upper arm and each of the pawls is unlocked. Then, after the inclining angle of the seat back is adjusted, the cam rotates in a locking direction by the spring force of the spring in order to displace the pawls in a radially outward direction of the lower arm, thereby engaging the external teeth of the pawls with the internal teeth of the upper arm. As a result, the engagement between the upper arm and each of the pawls is locked. A pair of supporting portions, each of which is formed in an arc shape when being viewed from front and each of which protrudes in a direction corresponding to a rotational axis, is formed at an intermediate portion of the lower arm so as to face each other in a radial direction of the lower arm. The cam includes a pair of elongated grooves, each of which is formed in an arc and into which the corresponding supporting portions are freely engaged. Accordingly, the cam is allowed to rotate while avoiding an eccentricity thereof by the pair of the supporting portions.
The seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-101996A includes a lower arm, an upper arm and a lock mechanism, which are similar to the lower arm, the upper arm and the lock mechanism of the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-282078A. The seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-101996A differs from the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-282078A in that the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-101996A includes three pawls. Three guide portions, each of which is formed in a trapezoidal shape when being viewed from front and each of which protrudes in a direction corresponding to a rotational axis, are formed at the lower arm while keeping an equal angular distance (approximately 120 degrees) between the neighboring guide portions about the rotational axis. The guide portions guide a movement of the pawls in a radial direction at wall surfaces, which extend in the radial direction, of the corresponding guide portions. Furthermore, the guide portions normally guide an outer circumferential surface of the cam at arc-shaped inner wall surfaces of the corresponding guide portions. Accordingly, the cam is allowed to rotate while avoiding an eccentricity thereof.
For example, a seat reclining apparatus, which has a high engagement strength of the pawls relative the lower arm and whose size and weight is relatively small, is required for a vehicle seat. In order to increase the engagement strength of the pawls relative to the lower arm, for example, a number of pawls may need to be increased (i.e. additional pawls may be added to the seat reclining apparatus). However, according to the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-282078A, the supporting portions for restricting the eccentricity of the cam need to be provided at the lower arm and the grooves into which the corresponding supporting portions are inserted need to be formed at the cam. Therefore, a size of the cam in the radial direction thereof needs to be enlarged in order to ensure a rigidity of the cam, which may result in an increase of the seat reclining apparatus, specifically, a size of the seat reclining apparatus may be increased in a rotational radial direction. Furthermore, the arc-shaped elongated grooves, into which the corresponding supporting portions are freely engaged, need to be formed at the cam. Therefore, in the case where the number of the pawls is increased, the number of elongated grooves also needs to be increased, which my result in decreasing the rigidity of the cam. As a result, the engagement of the pawls relative to the lower arm may not be maintained. On the other hand, according to the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-101996A, the eccentricity of the cam is avoided in a manner where the outer circumferential surface of the cam slides against a surface of protrusions, which face the axis of the seat reclining apparatus and which are formed at the lower arm. Therefore, the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-101996A does not need to include the supporting portions and the groove portions of the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-282078A at the lower arm and the cam, respectively. Accordingly, the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-101996A may not cause a reduction in the rigidity of the cam or an increase of a size of the seat reclining apparatus in the radial direction.
However, according to the seat reclining apparatus disclosed in JP2002-101996A, in a case where, for example, a number of the pawls is increased to four from three within a limited space, four guide portions, each of which is formed in a triangle shape when being viewed from front, need to be formed at the lower arm so as to protrude in the direction extending along the rotational axis while keeping an equal angular distance (approximately 90 degrees) between the neighboring guide portions about the rotational axis because of the limited space. The guide portions may guide the movement of the pawls in the radial direction by the wall surfaces of the corresponding portions extending in the radial direction. However, an inner circumferential wall surface of each of the guide portions for guiding the rotation of the cam is positioned at a corner of the triangle shape thereof. Therefore, an area of the arc-shaped wall surface of each of the guide portions for guiding the outer circumferential surface of the cam may be reduced. As a result, the guide portions may not normally restrict the eccentricity of the cam when rotating. In order to normally restrict the eccentricity of the cam when rotating, an additional and separate eccentricity restricting member may need to be provided at the seat reclining apparatus. However, providing the additional and separate eccentricity restricting member may lead to an increase of a size and a weight of the seat reclining apparatus, which may further result in an increase of manufacturing costs of the seat reclining apparatus.
A need thus exists to provide a seat reclining apparatus which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.


A converter circuit includes first and second input terminals, first and second capacitors, the second capacitor having a first terminal connected to the second input terminal and a second terminal forming a positive voltage node, first and third semiconductor components connected in series between the first input terminal and the positive voltage node, the midpoint between the series connection forming a first node, and a series connection of a first inductive component, a diode and a second inductive component. The series connection is connected between the second input terminal and the node. The diode's polarity allows current to pass from the direction of the second input terminal. A second node is formed between the first inductive component and the diode, and a third node is formed between the diode and the second inductive component. A third capacitor is connected between the first input terminal and the third node.

Converters are common electric apparatuses that are used for converting electricity from one form to another. Converters are used for rising or lowering voltage or current levels to adapt the voltage of a source to the voltage of the load.
Converters are also used in connection with photovoltaic (PV) panels for supplying the power available from the panels. The power may be supplied directly to an alternating voltage network, to a DC-voltage bus or to a power consuming load. Depending on the amount of PV cells or panels connected for supplying power, the voltage is either raised or lowered for supplying the load with appropriate voltage.
In connection with the PV systems, the converter system also keeps the operating point of the panel at its maximum power point. A PV panel has a certain operating point at which the extracted power has its maximum. A maximum power point tracker (MPPT) calculates the operating point from the measured current and voltage of the panel and gives a reference value for either output voltage or current of the panel. The control system of the converter controls the actual output value of the panel to the reference, and the maximum available power is obtained from the panel. The MPPT calculates continuously the reference value and the control system adapts to this situation enabling continuous operation in the maximum power point regardless of the varying operating conditions.
Converter topologies can be roughly divided into current fed and voltage fed converters. In voltage fed converters, the power source feeds a voltage to the input of the converter. In current fed converters, the source feeds current to the input. Due to the constant-current nature of PV panels, the optimal interfacing of the panels can be implemented by using current fed converters. A current fed converter can operate within the whole range of the UI curve of the panel from the short-circuit to open-circuit conditions. In voltage-fed converters, the operation can only be carried out at the voltages equal or higher than the maximum power point voltage.


Systems and techniques for locating stored goods. A plurality of fixed contactless identification devices are deployed in an area. Each fixed device exhibits a fixed device identifier that can be read from a distance. Locations within the area are identified through mapping to combinations of fixed device identifiers detected at the location. In addition, a plurality of movable contactless identification devices are associated with goods to be stored and retrieved. Each movable device exhibits a movable device identifier, and movable contactless identification devices are located by identifying a combination of fixed device identifiers received when a movable device identifier is received. The location information may be used independently, or as a supplement to expected location information obtained through other means.

Warehousing operations frequently involve stowage and retrieval of identified platforms or containers, with each platform or container being associated with identified goods placed or packed on the platform or stored in the container. One commonly used platform for stowage and retrieval of goods is a pallet. Identification of each of a plurality of pallets is stored and when goods are loaded onto the pallet, identification of these goods is associated with the stored identification of the pallet. When goods are removed from the pallet, the association of the goods with the pallet is also removed. In this way, tracking of the location of goods is accomplished by tracking of the locations of the pallets onto which the goods are loaded.
Records of locations of pallets are stored in a database. When a pallet is needed, a forklift or other retrieval and transporting device is dispatched to the expected location of the pallet. If the pallet is not in the expected location, a search must be conducted. In typical operations in a warehouse, retrieval and replacement of pallets is continually occurring. Therefore, placement of pallets in incorrect locations, or incorrect recording of locations of pallets, is likely to occur with some frequency so that considerable effort and expense must be devoted to correcting location information for pallets and finding and relocating incorrectly placed pallets. Even if substantial effort is devoted to maintaining proper records of locations of pallets and placing pallets in their proper locations, incorrect storage of pallets and incorrect recording of the locations of pallets is likely to occur.
Warehouse systems frequently employ bar codes to label pallets and locations in which pallets may be placed. Accurate management of pallet location information in such a system typically requires that a pallet label and a location label be scanned whenever a pallet is placed, retrieved, moved, or replaced. If scanning is neglected, or if a scan fails to read a pallet's bar code without the failure being noticed, location information will be incorrect. In addition, bar code systems do not in and of themselves provide easy and convenient notification to an operator when the operator is approaching a location from which a pallet is to be retrieved or to which a pallet is to be restored, and they do not serve to guide an operator to a location.

Methods and apparatus for managing location information for movable objects


A system and method are disclosed for removing horizontally oriented substrates from a cassette. A substrate lifter has an engagement end for engaging a substrate and an adjustment end for engaging an adjustment assembly. The engagement end includes a recess having first and second arcuate sidewalls configured to engage an OD of the substrate, and a circular protrusion positioned between the first and second arcuate sidewalls. The circular protrusion allows lateral movement of the substrate up to a predetermined amount and prevents lateral movement of the substrate in excess of the predetermined amount. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments relate to the field of device manufacturing. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an improved method and apparatus for lifting a horizontally-oriented substrates from a cassette.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Attempts have been made to automate the handling and transfer of thin substrates during ion implantation, sputter coating and other processes both for preventing contamination, abrasion or damage to the substrates and for achieving a high throughput in terms of the number of substrates processed per unit time. Often, substrate cassettes are provided to hold a plurality of discs in vertically facing alignment.
The cassette can be a generally rectangular frame having a pair of parallel side walls which stand facing each other and are grooved so that standard-sized disk-shaped substrates can be held edgewise. The grooves on the side walls of the cassette are vertical and parallel to each other so that the substrate can be moved into and out of the cassette while maintaining its upright vertical position.
An automated substrate transfer system may be used to remove substrates from the cassette. For example, a movable picker can pass through the cassette to engage a substrate and remove it from the cassette. The substrate can then be transferred to processing chamber where one or more deposition, implantation or other treatment processes can be performed. The substrate may remain engaged with the picker throughout the transfer and processing steps, or it may be transferred to a separate carrier for either or both of the transfer and processing steps. Once processing is complete (or a desired processing step is complete), the picker may return the substrate to the cassette or other carrier, where the processed substrates remain while the movable picker removes a next substrate to be processed. This continues until all the substrates have been processed.
A problem with current substrate transfer arrangements is that the picker can contacts the substrate face, which understandably can damage the substrate. Thus, there is a need for an improved system and method for removing substrates from a cassette. The system and method should provide consistent and reliable engagement of a substrate to minimize the chance for damage to occur to the substrate, either through dropping, through contact with of the substrate face, or through engagement with other substrates.

Method and apparatus for lifting a horizontally-oriented substrate from a cassette

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.