A single-walled carbon nanotube separation apparatus includes: a separation tank accommodating a single-walled carbon nanotube dispersion liquid containing: metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes; and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes; a first electrode and a second electrode that are installed in the separation tank; and a partition wall installed between the first electrode and the second electrode in the separation tank and below the separation tank in a height direction thereof.

In recent years, nanocarbon materials which are carbon materials having a nanometer size structure such as fullerene, carbon nanotubes, and graphene have attracted attention. Among these, carbon nanotubes particularly have attracted attention because carbon nanotubes exhibit electrically and mechanically unique properties.
Carbon nanotubes have a structure in which a uniform planar graphene sheet is rolled into a cylindrical shape. Among carbon nanotubes, carbon nanotubes constituted of a single cylinder are referred to as single-walled carbon nanotubes. On the other hand, among carbon nanotubes, carbon nanotubes constituted of a plurality of cylinders coaxially overlapping each other are referred to as multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Single-walled carbon nanotubes are extremely thin in the order of nanometers in diameter so that quantum size effects appear prominently.
Single-walled carbon nanotubes are classified into metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes exhibiting metallic properties and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes exhibiting semiconducting properties in accordance with differences in a winding manner (chirality) of a cylinder.
Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes can modulate electrical conductivity from outside using an electric field effect and a doping effect. Furthermore, semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes can be used as a semiconductor ink by dispersing semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes in a dispersion medium. For this reason, it is expected that will be application of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes in thin film transistors and sensors that can be manufactured by printing and coating processes.
However, in current methods of synthesizing single-walled carbon nanotubes, the selective formation of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes are not realized. That is to say, single-walled carbon nanotubes obtained using the current methods of synthesizing single-walled carbon nanotubes are a mixture of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes. Therefore, in order to apply single-walled carbon nanotubes to the field of electronics, a separation technique of synthesizing single-walled carbon nanotubes and then separating metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes is required.
In order to solve such problems, a method of separating metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes has been proposed.
Examples of a method of separating metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes include a separating method using direct current electrophoresis (for example, refer to Patent Document 1), a method of separating metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes using a dielectrophoresis method (for example, refer to Non-Patent Document 1), a separating method using density gradient centrifugation (for example, refer to Non-Patent Document 2), a separating method using ion adsorption chromatography using DNA wrapping (for example, refer to Non-Patent Document 3), a separating method using gel electrophoresis (for example, refer to Patent Document 2), a method of separating metallic/semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes using adsorption to a gel, a method of separating metallic/semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes using a carrier-free electrophoresis method (for example, refer to Patent Document 3), and the like.

Single-walled carbon nanotube separation apparatus and single-walled carbon nanotube separation method


A method for transmitting information in a mobile communication system using HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) service. When an RNC (Radio Network Controller) generates or changes HSDPA service-related information, it transmits the generated or changed information to a Node B and a UE along with an indicator indicating the change in the HSDPA service information. Therefore, the Node B and the UE simultaneously operate by receiving the generated or changed information, resulting in an increase in the HSDPA service efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile communication system using an HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) service, and in particular, to a method for notifying all UEs (User Equipments) being provided with an HSDPA service of a change in HSDPA service information when the HSDPA service information is changed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, HSDPA refers to a technique for transmitting data including HS-DSCH (high-speed downlink shared channel) related control channels in a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) communication system. In order to support the HSDPA technique, an AMC (Adaptive Modulation and Coding) technique, a HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Request) technique, and an FCS (Fast Cell Select) technique have been proposed. The AMC, HARQ and FCS techniques newly proposed to support the HSDPA technique will be described in detail herein below.
1) AMC Technique
The AMC technique is a data transmission technique for adaptively determining a modulation mode and a coding mode of different data channels according to a channel condition between a specific Node B and a UE (User Equipment), thereby increasing the overall utilization efficiency of the Node B. Therefore, the AMC technique has a plurality of modulation schemes and a plurality of coding schemes, and modulates and codes data channels by combining the modulation schemes and the coding schemes. Generally, each of combinations of the modulation schemes and the coding schemes are called "MCSs (Modulation and Coding Schemes)", and there are a plurality of MCSs with level #1 to level #n according to the number of combinations of the modulation schemes and the coding schemes. In other words, the AMC technique adaptively determines a level of the MCS according to a channel condition between the Node B and the UE currently wirelessly connected to the Node B, thereby increasing the overall utilization efficiency of the Node B.
2) HARQ Technique
The HARQ, in particular n-channel SAW HARQ (n-channel Stop And Wait Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Request) technique, will now be described. For the HARQ technique, the following two plans to increase efficiency of an ARQ (Automatic Retransmission Request) technique have been proposed. In a first plan, the HARQ performs data retransmission request and response between the UE and the Node B. In a second plan, the HARQ temporarily stores errored data and then combines it with retransmission data of the corresponding data before transmission. In addition, the HSDPA technique has introduced the n-channel SAW HARQ technique in order to make up for the shortcomings of the conventional SAW ARQ (Stop And Wait ARQ) technique. The SAW ARQ technique transmits the next packet data only after receiving ACK (Acknowledgement) signal for the previous packet data. Therefore, in some cases, the SAW ARQ technique should await ACK, though it can presently transmit packet data. The n-channel SAW HARQ technique increases channel utilization efficiency by continuously transmitting a plurality of data packets before receiving the ACK for the previous packet data. That is, if it is possible to establish n logical channels between the UE and the Node B and identify the n channels according to time and channel numbers, the UE receiving the packet data can recognize the channel through which the received packet data was transmitted at a certain time, and take necessary measures by, for example, reassembling the received packet data in a desired order or soft-combining the corresponding packet data.
3) FCS Technique
The FCS technique rapidly selects a cell having a good channel condition among a plurality of cells, when a UE receiving an HSDPA service enters a cell-overlapped region, or a soft handover region. To be specific, if the UE receiving the HSDPA service enters a cell-overlapped region between an old Node B and a new Node B, then the UE establishes radio links to a plurality of the cells, i.e., a plurality of Node Bs. Here, a set of the cells, to which the radio links are established by the UE, is called an "active set". In the FCS technique, the UE receives HSDPA service packet data from only the cell maintaining the best channel condition among the cells included in the active set, thereby reducing the overall interference. Here, a cell transmitting the HSDPA service packet data for its best channel condition among the cells in the active set is called a "best cell". The UE periodically checks the channel conditions with the cells belonging to the active set. Upon detecting a cell having a channel condition better than that of the current best cell, the UE transmits a best cell indicator to all of the cells in the active set in order to replace the current best cell with a new best cell. The best cell indicator includes an identifier of the selected new best cell. Upon receiving the best cell indicator, the cells belonging to the active set analyze the cell identifier included in the received best cell indicator to determine whether the received best cell indicator is destined for them. The selected best cell transmits packet data to the UE using the HS-DSCH.
As mentioned above, in the HSDPA technique, the UE and the Node B are required to exchange the following new control signals in order to use the newly introduced techniques, i.e., the AMC, HARQ and FCS techniques. First, in order to support the AMC technique, the UE informs the Node B of information on the channel between the UE itself and the Node B, and the Node B informs the UE of an MCS level determined according to the channel condition based on the channel information received from the UE. Second, in order to support the n-channel SAW HARQ technique, the UE transmits ACK or NACK (Negative Acknowledgement) signal to the Node B. Third, in order to support the FCS technique, the UE transmits to the Node B a best cell indicator indicating a Node B providing a channel having the best channel condition, i.e., a best cell. In addition, when the best cell is replaced according to the channel condition, the UE informs the Node B of a packet data reception state at that time, and the Node B provides necessary information so the UE can correctly select the best cell.
Information Group #1
Information Group #1 defines information that is transmitted from the Node B to the UE in order to support the HSDPA service. Information Group #1 includes:
1) HSDPA indicator: indicates whether there is HSDPA data for the UE to receive.
2) MCS level information: indicates a transmission technique to be used for the HS-DSCH.
3) HS-DSCH channelization code information: information related to a channelization code to be used for a specific UE by the HS-DSCH.
4) HARQ processor number: indicates a channel transmitting specific packet data among logical channels for the HARQ, when the n-channel SAW HARQ technique is used. Here, the reason for indicating the HARQ processor number is as follows. The n-channel SAW HARQ uses as many HARQ processors as the number n of the channels, so the corresponding packet data is transmitted over a specified one of the channels, and when an error occurs in the transmitted packet data, it must recognize the HARQ processor number corresponding to the errored packet data. That is, the HARQ processor corresponding to the channel number performs a retransmission process on the errored packet data out of the packet data transmitted over the corresponding channel.
5) HARQ packet data number: the Node B informs the UE of a downlink packet data number so that the UE can inform the selected new best cell of a transmission state of the HDSPA data when the best cell is replaced in the FCS technique. Here, the packet data has a SN (sequence number), so it is possible to identify the packet data using the sequence number.
6) UE ID (identification): the Node B indicates whether HS-SCCHs (High-Speed Shared Control Channels) contain control information for the corresponding UE using the UE identification, when part of the above information is transmitted over one or more HS-SCCHs.
In addition to Information Group #1, information that should be transmitted from the Node B to the UE in order to support the HSDPA service includes an uplink transmission power offset value. In some cases, the UE increases the uplink transmission power by an offset so that the adjacent Node Bs belonging to the active set other than the current best cell correctly receive the best cell information transmitted by the UE. In this case, the Node B informs the UE of the uplink transmission offset value. Further, information that is transmitted from the Node B to the UE in addition to Information Group #1 in order to support the HSDPA service includes retransmission information in the HARQ operation, or the number of retransmissions.
The information that is transmitted for the HSDPA service is uniquely provided to the UEs, and this information is transmitted to the UEs before transmission of an HS-DSCH signal that is to be transmitted to a corresponding UE. This is because the information that is transmitted for the HSDPA service is information indispensable for the HSDPA service and the UEs must receive this information in order to normally receive the HSDPA service. Accordingly, there is a need for a method of transmitting the HSDPA service information before transmission of actual packet data. However, the current asynchronous mobile communication system does not have information that is shared by all of the UEs and information on the changed contents that must be simultaneously applied by the UEs and the Node B. like the information used in the HSDPA technique. Thus, there is a demand for a method of transmitting changed information to the Node B and all of the UEs in order for all of the UEs and the Node B to simultaneously equally apply the changed contents in using the HSDPA technique.

Method for transmitting HSDPA service information in a CDMA mobile communication system


The image processing method and apparatus perform data conversion so as to adapt a color image input from image input means to a predetermined output medium when the color image is to be output as a hardcopy by image output means to the predetermined output medium. The method and apparatus use data of a brightest point in the image output means for a chromatic color part of input image data while using data of a chromaticity point allowing achievement of a preferred whiteness in the image output means, for an achromatic color part of the input image data, and thereby perform the data conversion on the input image data The program executes the image processing method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processor, an image processing method, and a program for executing the method, and more particularly to color processing and drawing techniques in a reflective color image production method for producing a color image as a hardcopy print.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a so-called color print system, which employs a printer utilizing digital exposure, that is, a digital photographic printer so that a photographic image is digitally output as a color hardcopy, has been commercially distributed and utilized. In this color print system, an image recorded on a photographic film such as a negative film or a reversal film is photoelectrically read out. The readout image is converted to a digital signal, which is then subjected to various image processing (digital signal processing) so as to obtain image data for recording. A photosensitive material is subjected to scanning exposure with recording light which is modulated in accordance with the obtained image data so as to record an image (latent image), thereby obtaining a (finished) print.
In such a system, the brightest part of image data is set so as to correspond to the minimum density of an output medium in order to widely set a reproduction range of the image Herein, the brightest part indicates a point where each of R, G and B has a value of 255 (255, 255, 255) in the case where one pixel of digital image data is represented by 8-bit data, for example. The minimum density of the output medium corresponds to a density of white in an unexposed part in the case where the output medium is a color paper, whereas it corresponds to a density of a base in its undrawn portion in the case where the output medium is an IJ (ink jet) paper.
As described above, the correspondence of the brightest part of the image data to the minimum density of the output medium is preferred in view of simplification of a printer output algorithm because such correspondence allows the individual control of three colors (R, G, B) on the one-dimensional table. In calorimetric description, the brightest point can be represented as a point where Y or L* (CIELAB) achievable on the output medium exhibits its maximum value.
However, some output mediums have a problem in that a tint is perceived in a blank part (brightest part) of the image due to correspondence of the brightest part of the image to the brightest point of the output medium as described above, resulting in insufficient final image quality.

Image processing apparatus, method, and program performing chromatic and achromatic data conversion for a preferred whiteness in an image output


The present disclosure relates to methods for efficient synthesis, cloning, transformation and screening of large diverse libraries of polynucleotide variants comprising well-defined nucleotide differences relative to a reference polynucleotide.

Various techniques of in silico and in vitro based directed evolution of protein function have allowed the generation of proteins with novel properties. For example, cytochrome P450 enzymes have been evolved to have activity against substrates not normally recognized by the naturally occurring enzyme (see, e.g., Landwehr et al., 2007, Chem Biol 14(3):269-78; Kubo et al., 2006, Chemistry 12(4):1216-20.). Typically, for generating such new enzymes, a polynucleotide encoding a reference polypeptide, such as a wild type enzyme, is subjected to mutagenesis to generate polynucleotides encoding polypeptide variants with changes in amino acid sequence. Screening of the variants for a desired property, such as an improvement in an enzyme stability or activity against new substrates, allows the identification of the amino acid residues associated with the changed property. However, not all combinations of the mutations will be present in the population of screened variants. For example, a mutation associated with thermal stability of an enzyme may not be found in association with a mutation associated with a change in substrate specificity. This bias in the population can arise from various factors, including, among others, the parental amino acid sequence encoded by the polynucleotide used for mutagenesis, possible selection against the combination during in vivo propagation of the polynucleotide, and the bias in the technique used for mutagenesis (e.g., use of polymerases to introduce errors).
Because the mutations at defined amino acid residue positions of a reference polypeptide sequence can provide a wealth of information about the polypeptide's biological activities, once mutations have been initially identified, it is desirable to prepare various combinations of the mutations not found in the initial set of screened variants that can be tested for the desired property. In silico based selection of defined mutations or sets of mutations provide a framework for generating a large number of possible mutation combinations. For example, mutations affecting substrate specificity can be combined with mutations affecting other enzyme properties, including, among others, enzyme activity, thermal stability, and inhibitor resistance. Typically, the approach to generating these polypeptides having novel combinations of mutations is to synthesize individual species (i.e., synthesis of each polynucleotide encoding the mutant gene). This can be accomplished by chemical and/or enzymatic synthesis of the polynucleotide in combination with standard recombination techniques. Such de novo synthesis techniques require whole gene synthesis of each polynucleotide variant and/or synthesis of large numbers of oligonucleotide primers which are then used to synthesize whole polynucleotide variant (e.g., via ION-PCR). These techniques require more oligonucleotide syntheses and result in lower yields of variants having the correct sequence. Consequently, if the data set of mutations is large, the cost and efficiency of generating the mutation combinations can limit the ability to screen a large number of novel combinations. Thus, efficient and cost effective methods of generating polynucleotides encoding combinations of defined mutations are desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Combined automated parallel synthesis of polynucleotide variants


An end-user computing device may utilize an imaging device to capture input from an electronic tag of a physical asset. The end-user computing device may generate supplemental digital data associated with the input. The end-user computing device may transmit the input and the supplemental digital data to an authentication and digital assets server. The authentication and digital assets server may authenticate the physical asset and transmit the authentication results to the end-user computing device, which may display the authentication results. If the authentication of the physical asset is successful, the authentication and digital assets server may select one or more digital assets and transmit the one or more digital assets to the end-user computing device. The end-user computing device may display the one or more digital assets.

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer generated user interfaces for using a plurality of factors, such as computer-readable indicia, to authenticate consumer products, such as articles of footwear, articles of apparel, athletic equipment, or any other type of consumer product. The present disclosure further relates to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer generated user interfaces for monitoring user-interactions with authenticated products and/or with elements related to the authenticated products, and providing various products and services to users based on the user-interactions. The present disclosure further relates to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer generated user interfaces for monitoring activities of a user via an image capturing device, and providing various products and services to the user based on the activities.
Recent years have ushered in dramatic advancements in electronic computing devices and their capabilities, including advances in radio wave based tracking devices. The present disclosure provides for an apparatus, system, and method for authenticating consumer products in part based on the use of these tracking devices. Prior methods of authentication generally relied on building specific design elements or labels into the product itself. The use of tracking devices in combination with one or more additional factors allows for efficient and affordable authentication, while also providing additional opportunities to increase interaction with the users of the consumer products.
The current disclosure is directed towards systems and methods to overcome one or more of the deficiencies above as well as others in the art.

Multi-factor authentication and post-authentication processing system


A frequency divider circuit includes: a first frequency dividing circuit configured to divide a first clock signal to generate a first frequency-divided clock signal; a second frequency dividing circuit configured to divide a second clock signal having the same frequency as the first clock signal and having a first phase difference with respect to the first clock signal to generate a second frequency-divided clock signal; a detection circuit configured to detect a phase relationship between the first frequency-divided clock signal and the second frequency-divided clock signal; and a selection circuit configured to select and output one of the second frequency-divided clock signal and an inverted signal of the second frequency-divided clock signal which are generated by the second frequency dividing circuit, based on the phase relationship between the first frequency-divided clock signal and the second frequency-divided clock signal detected by the detection circuit.

A frequency divider circuit divides an inputted clock signal by N and outputs a clock signal having a cycle of N times (a frequency of 1/N times). FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the frequency divider circuit. FIG. 7 illustrates, as an example, a frequency divider circuit that divides an inputted clock signal ICK by two and outputs a frequency-divided clock signal OCK having a cycle of two times.
The frequency divider circuit illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a D flip-flop circuit composed of two D latch circuits 701, 702, and an inverter 703. An output of the D latch circuit 701 is inputted into the D latch circuit 702, and an output of the D latch circuit 702 is inputted into the D latch circuit 701 via the inverter 703. Further, the output of the D latch circuit 702 is outputted as the frequency-divided clock signal OCK.
Each of the D latch circuits 701, 702 is driven by the clock signal ICK to transmit a data (signal) input to the output when a clock input is active (true) and to hold an output state when the clock input is inactive (false). More specifically, in FIG. 7, when the clock signal ICK is at low level, the D latch circuit 701 transmits the data input to the output and the D latch circuit 702 holds the output. Besides, when the clock signal ICK is at high level, the D latch circuit 701 holds the output and the D latch circuit 702 transmits the data input to the output.
Accordingly, in the frequency divider circuit illustrated in FIG. 7, the output of the D latch circuit 702 outputted as the frequency-divided clock signal OCK is inverted every time the clock signal ICK rises (changes from low level to high level). This generates the frequency-divided clock signal OCK made by dividing the inputted clock signal ICK by two.
Here, a case where the frequency divider circuit illustrated in FIG. 7 divides each of a first clock signal and a second clock signal having the same frequency as the first clock signal and having a phase difference with respect to the first clock signal is considered. The output of the frequency divider circuit illustrated in FIG. 7 has an uncertainty of 180 degrees in the phase of the frequency-divided clock signal by the logic at the time of reset, so that the phase relationship between the two frequency-divided clock signals obtained is not uniquely decided.
For example, the phase relationship between a frequency-divided clock signal OCKI and a frequency-divided clock signal OCKQ obtained by dividing the clock signal ICKI and a clock signal ICKQ having a phase difference of 90 degrees respectively may become a phase relationship illustrated in FIG. 8A or may become a phase relationship illustrated in FIG. 8B. In FIG. 8A, the frequency-divided clock signal OCKQ rises after the frequency-divided clock signal OCKI rises, and the frequency-divided clock signal OCKQ falls after the frequency-divided clock signal OCKI falls. Besides, in FIG. 8B, the frequency-divided clock signal OCKQ falls after the frequency-divided clock signal OCKI rises, and the frequency-divided clock signal OCKQ rises after the frequency-divided clock signal OCKI falls. In short, the phase relationship may be the same between the input and the output in some cases or the phase relationship may be opposite between the input and the output in some cases.
It is possible to control the frequency-divided clock signal OCKI and the frequency-divided clock signal OCKQ to have a desired phase relationship by control of the logic at the time of reset and control of the order of clock signals after releasing the reset. However, if the inputted clock signals ICKI, ICKQ become unstable such as being suddenly inverted due to influence of noise or the like during operation, the phase relationship between the frequency-divided clock signal OCKI and the frequency-divided clock signal OCKQ sometimes changes.
There is proposed a clock generating device that divides a single clock signal by a plurality of frequency divider circuits to generate a plurality of frequency-divided clock signals coincident in phase, in which when non-coincidence in phase between the frequency-divided clock signals outputted from the plurality of frequency divider circuits is detected, internal states of all of the frequency divider circuits are made into the same state at the same time to be forcibly coincident, thereby making the phases of the frequency-divided clock signals coincident (for example, Patent Literature 1). There is also proposed a method of frequency-dividing a phase difference pulse signal for dividing an input phase difference pulse signal composed of two input pulse train signals to generate two output pulse train signals having a longer frequency and the same phase relationship (for example, Patent Literature 2).    Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 63-306732    Patent Literature 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 4-127617

Frequency divider circuit, demultiplexer circuit, and semiconductor integrated circuit


The invention refers to a synergistic combination comprising a Sigma ligand of general formula (I), and a Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI), a medicament comprising said active substance combination, and the use of said active substance combination for the manufacture of a medicament, particularly for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of pain.

The treatment of pain conditions is of great importance in medicine. There is currently a world-wide need for additional pain therapy. The pressing requirement for a specific treatment of pain conditions is documented in the large number of scientific works that have appeared recently in the field of applied analgesics.
PAIN is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage" (IASP, Classification of chronic pain, 2nd Edition, IASP Press (2002), 210). Although it is a complex process influenced by both physiological and psychological factors and is always subjective, its causes or syndromes can be classified. Pain can be classified based on temporal, aetiological or physiological criteria. When pain is classified by time, it can be acute or chronic. Aetiological classifications of pain are malignant or non-malignant. A third classification is physiological, which includes nociceptive pain (results from detection by specialized transducers in tissues attached to A-delta and C-fibers), that can be divided into somatic and visceral types of pain, and neuropathic pain (results from irritation or damage to the nervous system), that can be divided into peripheral and central neuropathic pain. Pain is a normal physiological reaction of the somatosensory system to noxious stimulation which alerts the individual to actual or potential tissue damage. It serves a protective function of informing us of injury or disease, and usually remits when healing is complete or the condition is cured. However, pain may result from a pathological state characterized by one or more of the following: pain in the absence of a noxious stimulus (spontaneous pain), increased duration of response to brief stimulation (ongoing pain or hyperpathia), reduced pain threshold (allodynia), increased responsiveness to suprathreshold stimulation (hyperalgesia), spread of pain and hyperalgesia to uninjured tissue (referred pain and secondary hyperalgesia), and abnormal sensations (e.g., dysesthesia, paresthesia).
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are a class of antidepressant drugs used in the treatment of major depression and other mood disorders that increase the levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine by inhibiting their reabsorption (reuptake) into cells in the CNS (Central Nervous System). There have been numerous studies demonstrating the analgesic effect of antidepressants, providing evidence that antidepressants are beneficial in the treatment of so-called 'chronic pain'. The precise mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of persistent pain states are not fully understood, but there is growing recognition that the disinhibition and imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine in endogenous pain inhibitory pathways may contribute to persistent pain (Sussman, 2003; Marks et al., 2009).
Venlafaxine is the first and most commonly used SNRI. It was introduced by Wyeth in 1994. The reuptake effects of venlafaxine are dose-dependent. At low doses it acts only on serotonergic transmission, at moderate doses it acts on serotonergic and noradrenergic systems, whereas at high doses, it can also affect dopaminergic neurotransmission (Marks et al., 2009). Desvenlafaxine, Duloxetine, Milnacipram, Levomilnacipram, Sibutramine or Bicifadine are other known SNRIs, besides Venlafaxine.
Clinical indications of SNRIs include major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia and chronical musculoskeletal pain.
There have been reported a number of side effects associated with SNRIs. The most common include loss of appetite, weight, and sleep. There may also be drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, headache, increase in suicidal thoughts, emesis, nausea/vomiting, sexual dysfunction [including diminished interest in sex (libido) and difficulty reaching climax (anorgasmia)], and urinary retention. Elevation of norepinephrine levels can sometimes cause anxiety, mildly elevated pulse, and elevated blood pressure. People at risk for hypertension and heart disease should have their blood pressure monitored. Thus therapeutic utility of SNRIs is limited by undesirable adverse effects.
Two subtypes of Sigma receptors (Sigma-1 and Sigma-2 receptors) have been identified (Cobos et al., 2008). Confused with opioid receptors for many years due to the cross-reactivity of some ligands, the Sigma-1 receptor is a 24-kDa molecular mass protein of 223 amino acids anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membranes (Cobos et al., 2008; Maurice and Su, 2009). Sigma-1 receptor is a unique ligand-regulated molecular chaperone which is activated under stress or pathological conditions and interacts with several neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels to modulate their function. The effects reported preclinically with Sigma-1 receptor ligands are consistent with a role for Sigma-1 receptor in central sensitization and pain hypersensitivity and suggest a potential therapeutic use of Sigma-1 receptor antagonists for the management of neuropathic pain as monotherapy (Romero et al., 2012).
Pyrazole derivatives of general formula (I) according to the present invention are described in WO 2006/021462 as compounds having pharmacological activity towards the sigma (σ) receptor useful, inter alia, in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of pain.
Pharmaceutical compositions (WO 2011/064296 A1), salts (WO 2011/064315 A1), polymorphs and solvates (WO 2011/095579 A1), and other solid forms (WO 2012/019984 A1) of said sigma ligands of formula (I) have been also disclosed as well as combinations with other active substances such a with opioids or opiates (WO 2009/130310 A1, WO 2012/016980 A2, WO 2012/072782 A1) or with chemotherapeutic drugs (WO 2011/018487 A1, WO 2011/144721 A1).
As mentioned above, therapeutic utility of SNRIs is limited by undesirable adverse effects including cardiovascular and gastrointestinal toxicity. Thus, strategies aimed to reduce doses needed for SNRIs indications, especially for analgesia, are desirable in order to improve their therapeutic window and extend their use in clinics.

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and Sigma receptor ligands combinations


The present invention relates to tungsten rhenium compounds and composites and to methods of forming the same. Tungsten and rhenium powders are mixed together and sintered at high temperature and high pressure to form a unique compound. An ultra hard material may also be added. The tungsten, rhenium, and ultra hard material are mixed together and then sintered at high temperature and high pressure.

Various hard materials and methods of forming hard materials have been used to form cutting tools as well as tools used for friction stir welding. A tool used for friction stir welding includes a hard metal pin that is moved along the joint between two pieces to plasticize and weld the two pieces together. Because this process wears greatly on the tool, hard and strong materials are very desirable. As a results, hard metal compounds and composites have been developed to improve wear resistance.
Prior art hard materials include a carbide, such as tungsten carbide, bound with a binder such as cobalt or rhenium. Carbide-based hard materials have been produced with rhenium as the only binder, using conventional sintering methods. Tungsten-rhenium alloys have also been produced with standard cementing methods. Such tungsten-rhenium alloys can be used as alloy coatings for high temperature tools and instruments. However, materials with improved wear resistance are desired for use in cutting tools such as cutting elements used in earth boring bits and in other tools such as friction stir welding tools.

Tungsten rhenium compounds and composites and methods for forming the same


An objective adjusting device has a stationary housing, an adjusting ring with an internal thread and a tube, with an external thread, that is guided rectilinearly in an axial direction and carries optical active elements. The adjusting ring is rotatably supported in the housing, and the tube has at least one axially parallel opening with mutually parallel sliding surfaces in which a guide element connected to the housing engages. The guide element is designed as a lug with a sliding head which is adapted in width to the opening and is provided with a slot, of settable slot width, running in a radial direction.

The invention relates to an objective adjusting device having a stationary housing, an adjusting ring with an internal thread and a tube, with an external thread, that is guided rectilinearly in an axial direction and carries optical active elements, the adjusting ring being rotatably supported in the housing, and the tube having at least one axially parallel opening with mutually parallel sliding surfaces in which a guide element connected to the housing engages.
Such objective adjusting devices are used for focusing photographic objectives. It is known for this purpose to displace the focusing element in an axial direction along the optical axis of the objective. During the displacement, rotations of the lens elements are preferably to be avoided in order to exclude influences of centering errors which may be present. The rotary movement of a focusing ring is converted into a precise axial movement via a rectilinear guide running parallel to the optical axis and secured in terms of rotation. The axial movement of the focusing optics must be free from radial play in the event of strict requirements placed on optical accuracy. For this reason, but also in order to be able to implement large leads and thus large axial travel, the thread is designed as a helical thread. The rectilinear guide must run in the exactly axially parallel fashion in order to ensure that no overdetermination, which would result in a sluggishness of the axial movement, comes about in conjunction with the positively driven tube of this helical thread. The freedom from play of the guide element must likewise be ensured.
DE 198 04 472 C1 discloses a play-free rectilinear guide in a cylindrical mount in which the stationary guide track running parallel to the optical axis has on one side a stop strip, resiliently supported by a wave spring, as a running surface for the cylindrical guide element. Because of the pressure acting through the wave spring only on one side, the guide element, which is designed in a solid fashion as a cylindrical pin which can be screwed in, runs along the guide track under a permanent load on one side during the axial displacement movement. In the course of time, the biasing acting on the cylindrical pin varies owing to wear of the guide track and to fatigue of the wave spring, something which has a negative effect on the freedom from play.
DD 274 287 A1 discloses a rectilinear guide which comprises a bent guide part which engages in a guide groove running parallel to the optical axis, and is anchored on the body of a mount by two screws. In the case of this rectilinear guide, the guide part must be precisely fitted in the region of its axially parallel extent to the width of the guide groove, in order to avoid inverting images and inaccuracies in focusing. Very stringent requirements are to be placed on the parallelism of the guide part relative to the guide groove and to the optical axis, in order to avoid torsional stresses and uneven running of the tube supporting the optical active elements over the axial travel provided.

Rectilinear guide which can be set without play


This invention relates to a methods and a printing system in which queues across one or more printing devices, such as printers, copiers, and the like, are automatically kept synchronized. The queues are placed into one or more pools. In some embodiments, one queue in a pool is designated as a master queue. Changes to the queues in the pool are then controlled and propagated from the master queue. In other embodiments, various queues in a pool are designated as peers. Any change to a queue, such as a change to, a subset of print job parameters, in the pool is then propagated to its peers.

Network printing systems can now handle a variety of types and number of simultaneous print jobs. Because a printer can only process one print job at a time, each printer uses a print queue to hold other print jobs while printing a current print job. For example, a printer may comprise a memory that it uses as a print queue. Typically, network printing systems employ one or more print servers to feed the print jobs to the printers.
In addition to providing temporary storage, printer queues also provide job flow control and automated assignment of job processing instructions and job attributes. Examples of flow are controls on the ability to accept additional jobs into the queue and controls on the release of jobs already in the queue. Examples of automatic assignment of job processing instructions include assignment of default values for unspecified instructions and overriding existing values. Examples of job attributes include job name, job sender name, and processing priority. The number of job processing instructions and job attributes can be large.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to manage multiple print queues, especially when the printers of the printing system are based on different platforms, software, and/or hardware. For example, the queue settings between different print queues may vary greatly in regard to duplex printing, color printing, print quality settings, and the like.
Printing systems and management software are well known in the art. The known systems and software often includes features for centrally establishing and managing print queues for printers of a network printing system. Cloning of printers is one technique that can establish identical printer queues on multiple devices, but cloning does nothing to ensure continued equivalence of printer queues.
Unfortunately, the known systems and software have difficulty synchronizing print queues effectively. This is because it is not uncommon for network printing systems to have to support multiple operating systems, different hardware platforms, different print drivers, etc. Many of the printers in a network printing system will produce different outputs for the same print job. Therefore, conventional network printing systems are often incapable of ensuring that a pool of printers will output print jobs identically across different printers.
For example, if a print job on one printer fails, then many network printing systems will attempt to redirect that print job (and the other print jobs for that printer) to another printer. However, because of the differences between printers, the redirected print job will likely not result in the same output if it were processed by the original printer. As another example, a print job may be quite large and the network printing system may spread the print job across multiple printers. Ideally, the output from each of these printers would be identical. Therefore, it may be desirable for a network printing system to ensure that print jobs are output identically across different printers.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to manage multiple print queues of a network printing system. It may also be desirable to synchronize multiple queues. These queues may be implemented in a single printing device or across multiple printing devices so that print jobs can be output identically in a network printing system.

Method and system for queue synchronization


The invention relates to an improved four-quadrant squarer circuit based on the square-law characteristic of metal oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). According to the invention, a CMOS four-quadrant multiplier is provided which is arranged to keep the operating transistors fixed in the saturation region, so that they continuously operate according to the square law, and the circuit of the invention allows the transistors to operate in the saturation region with a wide input range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a four-quadrant multiplier circuit and a squarer circuit. In particular, the invention relates to four-quadrant multiplier and squarer circuits which have an improved input range and better frequency and improved frequency response by exploiting the squarer-law characteristics of MOS transistors biased in the saturation region.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Four-quadrant multipliers are well known circuits which are often used as building blocks in larger circuit arrangements, such as adaptive filters, frequency doublers, and modulator circuits. In 1974, B. Gilbert proposed a bi-polar junction transistor (BJT) based multiplier, employing Gilbert cells. The proposal issued in an article "A High Performance Monolithic Multiplier Using Active Feedback," IEEE Journal Of Solid State Circuits, SC 9, pp. 264-377. In 1982, D. C. Soo and R. G. Meyer used the Gilbert cell concept to design a n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) four-quadrant multiplier. However, Gilbert cells consume large amounts of power and provide a limited input range.
Accordingly, S. I. Liu et al. designed a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) four-quadrant multiplier, using squarer-law characteristics of metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) operating in their saturation region. This design was published in 1993 in the Electronics Letter, Vol. 29, pp. 1737-1738. In the same year, S. I. Liu et al. also described the design of a multiplier using the characteristics of MOSFETs in their linear region, in an article entitled "Non-Linear Circuit Applications With Current Conveyors," IEEE Proceedings-G, Vol. 140, pp. 1-6.
As discussed above, analog multipliers have been proposed which employ the characteristics of MOS devices operating in both the saturation and the linear regions. The use of MOS devices reduces power consumption, as compared to the use of bi-polar junction transistors. However, utilizing MOS transistors which are biased to operate in a linear region allows only a small input range, and provides poor frequency response. Therefore, traditional CMOS multipliers have only a narrow input range and poor frequency response, which must be improved without increasing power consumption or manufacturing costs of the multipliers.

Four-quadrant multiplier for operation of MOSFET devices in saturation region


A method and a handheld device for stabilizing an image captured by an optical lens of a micro camera integral with the handheld device, which may, for example, be a mobile phone. Motion sensors sense motion of the device and are used to cause movement of the micro camera to substantially compensate for the sensed movement so as to maintain a steady, focussed image to be displayed by a display on the handheld device or elsewhere, such as a remote display. The micro camera is moved by one or more motion actuators which move the camera in a horizontal plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the lens of the camera and/or move the camera so as to pivot the lens axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image stabilization, and, in particular, is directed to a method and hand held device for stabilizing an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Handheld devices such as mobile or handheld terminals provide enormous flexibility over traditional wired telephone handsets. These handheld devices enable the communication of data, voice and/or video at locations other than a residence, office or payphone. To enhance such communication of information, many handheld devices have included special components and features. For example, handheld devices include micro camera modules to process and provide video and imagery.
One problem in providing video and imagery is to stabilize a previously focused image if the handheld device moves slightly. Current image stabilization methods use a normal camera having several lenses or prisms. However, micro camera modules are generally small in size, e.g., they may be only a few millimeters, and, because of their size, are generally restricted to having a single lens. As such, current image stabilization mechanisms that require multiple lenses or prisms are not appropriate for use with handheld devices having micro camera modules. There is thus a need in the art to provide image stabilization for handheld devices with micro camera modules.

Image stabilizer for a microcamera module of a handheld device, and method for stabilizing a microcamera module of a handheld device


Method of determining a property of a sample from a correlogram obtainable by scanning of a surface of the sample through a focal plane of an objective using broad-band interferometry is provided. The correlogram may be displaying interference radiation intensity as a function of the scanning distance from the surface. The correlogram may be correlated with a secondary correlogram to obtain a cross correlogram or with the same correlogram to obtain an autocorrelogram. A property of the sample may be determined from the auto or cross correlogram.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for determining a property of a sample from a correlogram obtainable by scanning of a surface of the sample through a focal plane of an objective while applying broad-band interferometry, and more particularly to such a method including receiving a correlogram having interference radiation intensity as a function of the scanning distance from the surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
A correlogram displaying interference radiation intensity as a function of the scanning distance from the surface may be obtainable by broadband interferometry, for example with a Mirau, Michelson and/or Linnik interferometer apparatus.
Such apparatus for determining a property (e.g. height, film thickness, refractive index) of a sample may include:
a broadband illuminator for providing a broadband illumination beam;
a beam splitter for splitting the illumination beam in a reference beam for reflection on a reference reflector and a measurement beam for reflection on a surface of the sample;
a detector for receiving an interference signal from the reflected reference beam from the reference reflector and the reflected measurement beam from the surface of the sample;
a scanning means for changing the distance between the surface of the sample and the apparatus; and
a processing means for receiving a signal representing the interference radiation intensity received on the detector from the detector and a distance signal from the scanning means and combining both to a received correlogram displaying an interference radiation intensity as a function of the scanning distance from the surface.
US Patent Publications US2007/0046953 and US2006/0262321 disclose scanning interferometry to profile a surface of an object with a complex surface structure. A cross correlation between the scanning interferometry signal and a model signal having a shape corresponding to the complex surface structure can produce a peak at the coordinate corresponding to the surface height. A disadvantage may be that information of the complex surface structure is necessary to determine the model signal corresponding to the complex surface structure. Such information may not be present for a surface of a sample.
There may be a need for an improved method for determining a property of a sample from a correlogram obtainable by scanning of the surface through a focal plane of an objective using broad-band interferometry.

Method and apparatus for determining a property of a surface


In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an examination object, a control computer is provided with a designation of a first recording region, which is cuboidal. The computer automatically determines a second recording region that represents an adjustment of the first recording region such that the second recording region is cube-shaped. Magnetic resonance scan data are acquired from the entire second recording region. Magnetic resonance image data are reconstructed from the acquired magnetic resonance scan data. An image region of the magnetic resonance image data is supplied in electronic form from the computer.

Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a method for magnetic resonance imaging, a magnetic resonance apparatus, and to a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium encoded with programming instructions for implementing such a method.
Description of the Prior Art
In a magnetic resonance apparatus, also called a magnetic resonance tomography system, the body of an examination person, in particular a patient, to be examined is conventionally exposed with by a basic field magnet to a relatively high basic magnetic field, for example of 1.5 or 3 or 7 tesla. In addition, gradient switching operations occur with the use of a gradient coil arrangement. Radio frequency pulses, for example excitation pulses, are then emitted by a radio-frequency antenna arrangement by means of suitable antenna devices, and this leads to the nuclear spins of specific atoms, excited in a resonant manner by these radio-frequency pulses, being tilted by a defined flip angle with respect to the magnetic field lines of the basic magnetic field. When the nuclear spins relax, radio-frequency signals, known as magnetic resonance signals, are radiated that are received by suitable radio-frequency antennae and then processed further. Finally, the desired image data can be reconstructed from the raw data acquired in this way.
For a specific scan, a specific magnetic resonance sequence, also called a pulse sequence, is to be emitted that includes a sequence of radio-frequency pulses, for example excitation pulses and refocusing pulses, and appropriate gradient switching operations that are to be emitted in a coordinated manner in various gradient axes in various directions. At a time appropriate therewith readout windows are set, and these specify the periods in which the induced magnetic resonance signals are detected.
An important setting of the magnetic resonance sequence is the choice of a recording region from which the magnetic resonance signals for generating the magnetic resonance images are to be acquired. The recording region is typically manually chosen by a user via an input interface. The choice of recording region typically includes defining a position and/or geometry and/or dimensions of the recording region. The recording region is typically chosen on a topogram, known as a localizer image.

Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging


A breakaway coupling including a pair of sleeves, one sleeve fitting within the other, each sleeve having a hose connector secured therethrough, the first sleeve holding a metal annulus, the second sleeve securing a continuous magnetic annulus, so when the sleeves are brought together the magnetic annulus secures onto the metal annulus to hold the coupler in its connected position. The continuous metallic annulus includes a metal base, a spacer that holds a series of standard round magnets equally spaced around the approximate perimeter of the spacer and its base.

The dispensing of fuel at a service station, of a more recent vintage, substantially includes the dispensing and sale of gasoline through the self-service method of refueling one's vehicle. This has now been occurring for the last 30 years. Previously, when gasoline was dispensed, it was done by the service station attendant, who would locate the nozzle within the vehicle tank, dispense the gas, wipe the windows, and then replace the nozzle back into the dispenser, once refueling has been accomplished. Rarely was there ever a problem of causing damage to the dispensing equipment, because the attendant made sure everything was in order, and that the nozzle was reinstalled at the dispenser, with little or no chance of an inadvertent drive off, by the vehicle operator. But, since self-service has come into existence, it is a more frequent occurrence that once a driver has applied self-service to fill up his fuel tank, and either make payment at the pump, or to go inside the facility to pay by cash or credit card, it does more frequently occur that the location of the fuel dispensing nozzle, in the vehicle fill pipe, is forgotten, and the driver will sometimes drive off, pulling the nozzle and the fuel hose with him/her, resulting in substantial damage to the dispensing system and fuel spillage.
As a result of the foregoing, it has become a necessity to include a breakaway coupling within the fuel dispensing hose; usually they can be found high up on the hose near the dispenser, and readied for application when necessary. Thus, should a driver forget, and drive off with the nozzle still in the vehicle, while the hose may be stretched, once it reaches a specified force, such as approximately 100 pounds, the breakaway coupling will separate, its internal check valves will be released, into closure, and thereby preventing any further flow of fuel, and even stop any backflow of fuel from the nozzle through the separated hose, for spilling on the ground. By this time, the driver will be alerted to the fact that something is wrong, that the dispensing nozzle may have been left within the fill pipe, and therefore, immediately stops, in an attempt to remedy the problem. At this stage, the station attendant can look over the equipment, and if it does not appear that any damage has been sustained, he can simply reinstall the breakaway coupler, and place the dispensing system back into immediate service, as required.
The assignee of the current invention and patent application has received many United States patents upon various types of breakaway hose coupling devices.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,977 shows one such Breakaway Hose Coupling, which is generally held in position and coupled by means of detents that secure the coupling in its usable position. But, when an excessive force is encountered upon the fuel line hose, the detents separate from the coupling, and allow the pair of fittings to separate, to prevent further damage to the nozzle, or to the hose and dispenser with which it connects.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,973 shows another Break-Away Concentric Hose Coupling. It likewise is held into position through the use of fittings, and which coupling can be reconnected, after it has been inadvertently separated. The coupling also includes one or more check valves, which prevent the further flow of fuel, when decoupling occurs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,934 shows another Break-Away Concentric Hose Coupling. This coupling is held together through the use of a series of springs, that maintain the coupling in its usable condition, but which separates when excessive force has been encountered.
Another U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,695 shows a further Breakaway Coupling and Coupler Therefor. This one is held in its usable position through the use of a series of detent ball.
There is another U.S. Pat. No. 7,575,023, that shows a Disposable Breakaway Nozzle Connector, and in this instance, is a separable connector, that incorporates a pair of the check valves to prevent fluid discharge when an untimely decoupling of the connector occurs. These are all for application within a fuel line hose, connected to a fuel dispenser.
The applicant has other applications pending, as can be noted in the cross reference for this particular application.
Various other breakaway hose couplings can be seen in the United States patent to Carmack, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,131, upon a Breakaway Hose Coupling with Manual Rotational Separation, which attains its separation through a manual rotation of its two male and female tubular valve bodies.
Other breakaway couplings can be seen in the patent to Carmack, U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,683, which is a Breakaway Coupling for a Coaxial Fuel Supply Hose.
Of more recent vintage, is the use of magnets for holding the breakaway coupling together, and which coupling when subjected to a significant force, such as that 200 pounds of pressure as promulgated by various State Regulations, such as the California Air Resources Board, subjects that type of force to a breakaway coupling, the magnets separate the coupling and allow the standard internal check valves to close. This can be seen in the Carmack U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,112, which provides a Breakaway Hose Coupling with a Magnetic Connection. In this particular breakaway, the magnets used are arcuate permanent magnets, made of ferrous metal, and as can be seen in his FIG. 2, these magnets are held in position by means of locating within an annular groove, within its annular support member, to function as the means for engaging a strike member, to hold the connection, during routine usage. This device also defines the use of cover members, one that surrounds the other, in a telescopic relationship.
Another breakaway hose coupling utilizing magnets is also shown in the United States patent to Imler, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 7,487,796, upon a Breakaway Hose Coupling with a Magnetic Connection. This particular unit also uses a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate permanent magnets, which are recessed within an annular groove of its supporting member, to hold the coupling in place.
The use of telescoping sleeves in releasable fluid couplings can be seen in the early U.S. Pat. No. 3,317,220, in addition to U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,099. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,941 shows the use of sleeves within fluid couplings. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,733, in addition to U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,151, shows the use of sleeves within breakaway couplings.
With regard to the use of magnets for forming couplings, back as early as the 1960s, U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,895, shows annular magnets used in a quick connect magnetic coupling for a high pressure line. It can be seen that these are annular magnets.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,048, shows a magnetic coupling, of a quick-disconnect type. This patent describes the use of permanent magnets that encircle the body member of the coupling.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,110, discloses a vapor recovery nozzle that utilizes a permanent magnet to control its operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,712, shows a magnetically latchable liquid dispensing nozzle. The shown magnet is radially disposed about the nozzle spout.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,295, shows a magnetic coupling for metal tubes, wherein permanent magnets are used to provide for connection of the tubes that carry fluids, especially gases, during usage.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,474, shows the use of magnetic units for holding various components of a breakaway unit that provides a signal when a vehicle has inadvertently driven away with the nozzle in its fuel tank.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,230, shows the use of circular magnets to form a quick release adaptor for connecting an exhaust removal hose to a vehicle tailpipe using these magnets. These are round magnets, as shown.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,439, described as a frangible connector, shows the use of permanent magnets within a breakaway connection for a fuel line. These permanent magnets are provided in a circular array around the flow line. See its FIG. 59.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,511, shows the use of magnets for holding vapors within a vehicle fuel tank.
The patent to Krynicki, U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,354, discloses the use of magnets for holding a separable connector within a fluid passage line.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,753,079, discloses magnetic coupling for spray heads.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,104,088, discloses a quick disconnect coupling, utilizing magnets.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,912,263 shows an internal sleeve type pipe coupling with magnetically secured external sleeve means.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,793,057, discloses a magnetic hose coupling.
The patent to Busch, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 7,793,987, shows the use of circular magnets for providing a magnetic coupling assembly for coupling portions of a gas delivery system together. It shows a multiple array of round magnets located around the periphery of the gas flow delivery system.
These are examples of a full array of prior art materials that disclose the use of permanent magnets, even round magnets, for use for holding flow lines together, and even fuel flow lines, and which magnets have even been used in breakaway coupling mechanisms, to hold its components together, during their application and usage. Hence, the prior art is replete with the use of permanent magnets for providing couplings within pipes and passageway structures, as can be noted.
In fact, as previously alluded to, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) dictates that a breakaway connector must be able to resist pressures up to 100 pounds, but will separate at that magnitude of force, when a force of greater than 100 pounds of pressure is exerted upon the fuel flow line for the gasoline dispenser system.

Fuel line breakaway connector secured by plurality of individually spaced magnets


A coffee machine, for measuring and dispensing a desired quantity of coffee material, comprising a coffee bin, for holding coffee material, the coffee bin having a bin nozzle. A measuring disk is mounted below the bin nozzle, the measuring disk having a plurality of measuring cavities--each measuring cavity corresponding to a quantity of coffee material. A selector knob allows a user to align a specific measuring cavity directly below the bin nozzle. An upper solenoid selectively allows and prevents the flow of coffee material from the bin nozzle to the measuring cavity directly below the bin nozzle. A lower solenoid selectively allows the flow of coffee material from the measuring cavity directly below the bin nozzle, and prevents coffee material flow from that measuring cavity to allow it to fill with coffee material.

The invention relates to a quantity measuring coffee machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a coffee machine that allows a user to select and measure a desired quantity of coffee.
Conventional coffee machines make a fixed quantity of coffee. Coffee is wasted when more coffee must be prepared than is desired or necessary.
Most people will finish the coffee in a pot prior to making a fresh pot. Therefore, the first person has the luxury of having fresh coffee, while the latecomers are forced to drink "old" coffee.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,660 to Botto, discloses a measuring and dispensing canister having a plurality of measuring tubes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,737 to Borjesson, discloses a dispensing apparatus for dispensing goods such as coffee.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,648 to Contreras, discloses a coffee dispenser, for dispensing a predetermined amount of coffee.
While these units may be suitable for the particular purposes employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter disclosed.


Provided are a substrate polishing apparatus and a method of polishing a substrate using the same. The substrate polishing apparatus includes a substrate supporting member, a polishing unit, and a control unit. The substrate is seated on the rotatable substrate supporting member. The polishing unit includes a rotatable and swingable polishing pad to polish a top surface of the substrate. The control unit controls the substrate supporting member and the polishing unit during a polishing process to adjust a value of a polishing variable adjusting a polishing amount of the substrate according to a horizontal position of the polishing pad with respect to the substrate. Therefore, the substrate polishing apparatus may locally adjust the polishing amount of the substrate to improve polishing uniformity and product yield.

The present disclosure herein relates to an apparatus and method of manufacturing a semiconductor, and more particularly, to a substrate processing apparatus and method for polishing and cleaning a semiconductor substrate in a single wafer processing manner.
In a general, semiconductor device manufacturing process a plurality of unit processes such as a deposition process, a photolithography process, and an etch process should be repeatedly performed to form and stack a thin film. These processes are repeated until desired predetermined circuit patterns are formed on a wafer. After the circuit patterns are formed, a surface of the wafer is uneven. As semiconductor devices are now highly integrated and also multilayered in structure, the number of curvatures on a surface of a wafer and a height difference between the curvatures increase. As a result, due to the non-planarization of the surface of the wafer, defocus may occur in a photolithography process. Thus, to realize the planarization of the surface of the wafer, the wafer surface should be periodically polished.
Various surface planarization techniques have been developed for planarizing the surface of the wafer. Among these, a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technique is widely used because wide surfaces as well as narrow surfaces may be planarized with good flatness by using the CMP technique. A CMP apparatus is used to polish the surface of the wafer coated with tungsten or an oxide by using mechanical friction and chemical abrasives, and very fine polishing is possible using the CMP apparatus.
Also, as semiconductor devices are highly integrated and offer high density and high performance, circuit patterns of the semiconductor devices become minute. Thus, pollutants such as particles, organic contaminants, and metal impurities, which remain on a surface of the substrate, significantly affect device characteristics and product yield. Thus, a cleaning process for removing the various pollutants attached to the surface of the substrate is becoming very important in a semiconductor manufacturing process. Therefore, the substrate cleaning process is performed before and after each unit process.

Substrate polishing apparatus and method of polishing substrate using the same


To improve the usability of a vanity mirror of a sun visor for an automotive vehicle, the vanity mirror is removably housed within a mirror accommodating hollow space formed in a sun visor body, and further locked to or unlocked from the hollow space via a locking mechanism when the vanity mirror unit is a little pushed into the hollow space. Further, the removable vanity mirror unit comprises a storage cell (charged by a car battery when the mirror unit is housed in the sun visor body) and an illumination lamp, so that the removed mirror unit can be used as a portable illumination mirror.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a sun visor for an automotive vehicle, and more specifically to a sun visor provided with a vanity (toilet) mirror.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various sun visors provided with a vanity mirror for automotive vehicles have been proposed. In particular, Japanese Published Unexamined (Kokai) Utility Model Application No. 61-117722 discloses a sun visor provided with a vanity mirror and a lamp unit, in which the mirror is attached to the back surface of a sun visor body and two lamps are mounted on both the side portions thereof, and further, the mirror and the lamp unit are protected by a pivotal mirror cover.
In this prior-art sun visor provided with a vanity mirror, since the lamps are mounted on both the sides of the mirror and therefore the mirror is usable at night under illumination, this sun visor is convenient for the passenger. In this prior-art sun visor provided with a vanity mirror, however, since the sun visor is usually mounted at a relatively high position near the roof of a vehicle passenger compartment, when a passenger uses the vanity mirror attached to the sun visor, the passenger taking a vehicle seat must stretch himself or herself, thus resulting in a problem in that the vanity mirror of the sun visor is rather difficult to use. In addition, since the sun visor cover for covering the mirror and the lamp unit is pivoted open upward to expose the vanity mirror, and therefore the free end of the mirror cover projects toward the face of the passenger, there exists another problem in that, when kept open, the pivotal mirror cover is obstructive or dangerous to the passenger.


A device (10) for detecting irregular operation in a pressurized fluid vessel, such as leaks in a pipeline (20), includes a transducer (21) for measuring pipeline (20) instantaneous pressure, a microcomputer (23) and a wake-up timer (29). Microcomputer (23) performs several different tests upon the collected pressure data to reliably ascertain if a leak or break in pipeline (20) has occurred. The first test involves a comparison of rates of change of pressure at successive preselected timed intervals, referred to as timed interval comparisons. If any test is failed, an alarm (30) and/or actuator (31) for valve or system shut-down are operated. Once the timed intervals and testing are concluded, microprocessor (23) reverts to a powerdown mode to conserve power. Wake-up timer (29) resets microcomputer (23) at preselected intervals for additional pressure data collection and testing.

Leaks or breaks in a vessel, such as a pipeline, that can be transporting a fluid or gaseous material over long distances, must be detected in order to avoid loss of the material, and, in many cases, for safety and environmental considerations. Moreover, many such pipeline vessels are located in outlying areas with no on-site attendant, and therefore a reliable device and method for remote detection is necessary and desirable.
If, on the other hand, such devices and methods indicate erroneously that a leak or break has occurred, a false alarm is sounded. False alarms can be expensive to the pipeline operator, as they could cause false shut-downs of the pipeline and/or unnecessary repair trips by maintenance personnel. Therefore, while it is desirable to provide a device and method that is sensitive to detection of those vessel characteristics whose magnitude change upon the occurrence of a leak or break (such as pressure, flow and temperature), care must be taken to preclude false detection possibilities.
Currently available leak detection devices, such as the pressure based sensing device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,944, can be sensitive enough to detect most unacceptable operational conditions, but they do not have an accurate method of determining if the unacceptable condition results from something other than a leak or break, and therefore the potential for false alarms exists. Devices as this measure pressure and calculate both rate of pressure change and total pressure change, and from these measurements determine if a leak or break has occurred.
Moreover, most commercially available devices for detection of pipeline leaks or breaks are at least in part mechanical in nature, often giving rise to such problems as a lack of sufficient sensitivity, and greater susceptibility to corrosion, condensation and blockage.
Comparison of rates of change at successive preselected timed intervals has been found to greatly facilitate recognition of instances of false triggering and the avoidance of false alarms without the sacrifice of sufficient sensitivity to detect substantially all leaks and breaks, particularly when utilized in conjunction with known leak and break detection techniques. Also, this method of operation may be implemented wholly electronically, avoiding the difficulties that may plague devices with mechanical components, and using any desired characteristic, of course including the most common characteristic of pressure.

Device and method for detection of leaks in pressurized fluid vessels


Information associated with a user and a presentation made by the user is received. A presentation readiness of the user is dynamically detected. One or more of a presentation mode of a presentation software and a recording mode of the presentation software is initiated based on the received information and the dynamically detected presentation readiness.

The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic presentations, and more particularly to dynamically enabling a available modes for an electronic presentation.
Many companies today utilize software applications for hosting business meetings. These applications allow the companies to save travel expenses (e.g., air travel, lodging, meals, etc.) and meet with virtually anyone across the globe on almost a moment's notice (providing all of the involved parties have access to the Internet or a cellular network). The meetings include intra-company and inter-company meetings that range from informal department meetings within a company to critical sales meetings that involve several different companies. Participants can connect to a business meeting using any of a number of computing devices such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, and the like.

International Business Machines Corporation


In a cordless telephone system, a radio communication unit is detachably connected to a base unit of the cordless telephone system. While the radio communication unit is electrically and physically separated from the telephone base unit, and brought out from a home or a firm, a radio communication is established between the radio communication unit and a telephone mobile unit, but also between the telephone mobile unit and a telephone subscriber via the base unit. Thus, an outdoor type telephone mobile unit is available in the cordless telephone system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a cordless telephone system. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a cordless telephone system equipped with a detachable radio unit capable of achieving an outdoor telephone communication.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, a so-called "cordless telephone system" (namely, a system wherein wireless communication is available between a base unit (telephone receiver unit) and a remote mobile unit (cordless telephone handset) in a telephone set) has been widely utilized. That is, a base unit connected to a public telephone network has one or plural mobile units, and a radio telephone communication is available from this mobile unit via the base unit to an arbitrary telephone subscriber.
In the known cordless telephone system, wireless (radio) communications are available between one mobile unit and the base unit, and also between one mobile unit and the other mobile unit. However, since such a radio communication must be carried out via the base unit, there is a certain limitation in the communication route. That is, although the radio communication is available between two mobile units inside a housing, no radio communication is available between them outside the housing (outdoor radio communication), but also between the base unit installed inside the housing and the outdoor mobile unit.
Very recently, a so-termed "second generation cordless telephone system" has been proposed in which a private radio communication station is installed either in a housing, or a firm, and also a public radio communication station is installed outside the housing or firm, whereby a telephone communication can be established by using the home-use cordless telephone receivers (i.e., mobile units) not only within the home or firm, but also outside the home or firm. Also in the second generation cordless telephone system, the radio power outputs of the base unit and the mobile units are limited to those of the conventional cordless telephone system. Under such a circumstance, practically speaking, the radio communication is available only between the base unit and the mobile unit.

Cordless telephone system including detachable radio unit for communicating with a base unit and a mobile unit


A method of drying honeycomb structural bodies in which a dielectric drying is performed by moving the honeycomb structural bodies in a dielectric drying apparatus under a condition such that vapor is flowed in the dielectric drying apparatus, includes the steps of: covering a surrounding area of the honeycomb structural body by a sheet with a constant space; and performing the dielectric drying under such a condition.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of drying honeycomb structural bodies in which a dielectric drying is performed by moving the honeycomb structural bodies in a dielectric drying apparatus under a condition such that vapor is flowed in the dielectric drying apparatus.
(2) Prior Art Statement
Generally, when the honeycomb structural body formed from a batch containing water component is dried, a dielectric drying utilizing the dielectric drying apparatus is performed. Specifically, a dielectric drying is performed by moving the honeycomb structural body in the dielectric drying apparatus as follows. That is, the honeycomb structural body is set on a carrier in such a manner that one end portion of the honeycomb structural body is contacted to a surface of the carrier, and the carrier is moved under a condition such that vapor is flowed in the dielectric drying apparatus so as to prevent a cutout defect of an outer wall.
The method of drying the honeycomb structural bodies utilizing a known dielectric drying mentioned above is sufficient for drying the known honeycomb structural body with no defects in which a thickness of a rib is relatively thicker or in which a size (outer diameter, length) is small. However, in the case that a thin wall honeycomb structural body having a rib thickness of for example 2 mill or less, that is recently required, is dried, a so-called rib twist defect, in which the rib is not generated straight at the end portion of the honeycomb structural body as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, occurs frequently. If such a rib twist defect is generated, a strength of the honeycomb structural body is decreased, and it is not possible to obtain normal honeycomb structural bodies. Therefore, it is desired to develop a technique for preventing the rib twist defect.
An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above and to provide a method of drying honeycomb structural bodies in which defects such as rib twist and so on are not generated during a drying operation even if a thin wall honeycomb structural body is dried.
According to the invention, a method of drying honeycomb structural bodies in which a dielectric drying is performed by moving the honeycomb structural bodies in a dielectric drying apparatus under a condition such that vapor is flowed in the dielectric drying apparatus, comprises the steps of: covering a surrounding area of the honeycomb structural body by a sheet with a constant space; and performing the dielectric drying under such a condition.
In the present invention, since the surrounding area of the honeycomb structural body is covered by the sheet with a constant space during the dielectric drying operation, it is possible to increase humidity around an outer wall of the honeycomb structural body, and a wind flowing in the dielectric drying apparatus is not directly contacted to the outer wall. Therefore, a drying of the outer wall can be slow, and drying speeds at the outer wall and at inner portion of the honeycomb structural body are substantially same. In this manner, a drying balance of the honeycomb structural body can be achieved, and thus it is possible to prevent the defect generation such as rib twist and so on during the drying operation.
As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are following features such that: a Teflon(copyright) fluorocarbon resin sheet is used as the sheet; a dielectric drying is performed under a condition such that additional electrodes are set directly to both end portions of the honeycomb structural body on the carrier of the dielectric drying apparatus; and the space between the honeycomb structural body and the sheet is set to 20 -30 mm. In all the preferred embodiments mentioned above, it is possible to prevent the rib twist defect more effectively, and thus they are the preferred embodiments.

Method of drying honeycomb structural bodies


An arc discharge lamp which can be operated in any orientation without significant variation in performance includes an even number of electrodes at least equal to four, a discharge vessel including a spherical central portion and electrode mounting portions. The electrodes are mounted in the electrode mounting portions and have a substantially uniform three-dimensional distribution with respect to the central portion. The discharge lamp can be used in a lamp assembly including a switch apparatus for coupling electrical energy to a pair of the electrodes that is closest to a horizontal plane. An automatic switch apparatus includes orientation-sensitive switches, one having the same direction as each of the electrodes. The switches are interconnected such that electrical energy is coupled to a pair of electrodes in response to the orientation of the switch apparatus relative to a gravity field. The switch apparatus can be mounted in the base or within the lamp envelope of the lamp assembly.

Metal halide arc discharge lamps are widely used in commercial and industrial applications. A generally cylindrical arc tube contains a fill material including a starting gas, mercury and one or more metal halides. An electrode is located at each end of the arc tube. The arc tube is located within an outer envelope having a base for mounting the lamp and for connection to an electrical power source.
Metal halide lamps are sensitive to orientation. As a result, such lamps are usually designed either for vertical or horizontal operation. A metal halide lamp designed for vertical operation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,714 issued Mar. 14, 1989 to Keeffe et al. A metal halide lamp designed for horizontal orientation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,453 issued Aug. 18, 1987 to Lekebusch et al. In horizontal arc lamps, the arc arches upwardly due to an interaction between the arc and gravity. In practice, it is difficult to properly align these lamps.
When metal halide arc lamps, particularly those of 200 watts or greater, are operated at orientations other than the orientation for which they were designed, the operating life is typically reduced. Thus, it has been customary to take precautions to ensure that the lamp is installed with the proper orientation. It is sometimes inconvenient to operate a metal halide lamp in the orientation for which it was designed. In other cases, the lamp is inadvertently installed with the improper orientation, and the lamp life is reduced. It is thus desirable to provide, a metal halide arc lamp which is not sensitive to orientation.
Discharge lamps having more than two electrodes are known in the art. Metal vapor discharge lamps having three or more electrodes for operation from polyphase power are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No 2,265,323 issued Dec. 9, 1941 to Spanner and in British Patent No. 643,321 published Sept. 20, 1950. Operation from polyphase power is reported to reduce lamp flicker. A polyphase high pressure gas discharge lamp having a spherical lamp envelope and three electrodes is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 64-86442 published Mar. 31, 1989. A discharge lamp having 2n+1 electrodes to provide 2n discharge passages is disclosed in French Patent No. 959,659 published Apr. 3, 1950.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide improved arc discharge lamps.
It is another object of the present invention to provide arc discharge lamps which can be operated in any orientation in a gravity field.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide arc discharge lamps which have a long operating life.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide arc discharge lamps which can be operated at different power levels.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arc discharge lamp wherein operating power is automatically applied to a selected pair of electrodes.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an arc discharge lamp having an electrode configuration which permits operation in any orientation without substantial reduction in the operating life of the lamp.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide arc discharge lamps which are easily installed.

Omnidirectional metal halide arc discharge lamp


A dual-core self-centering buckling-restrained brace includes a core unit, a restraining unit clamping the core unit therein, a middle sleeve disposed around the an energy dissipating section of the core unit and the restraining unit and having an end welded to one end of the core unit, an outer sleeve disposed around the middle sleeve and having an end welded to the other end of the core unit, two inner plates disposed respectively at two ends of the restraining unit, two outer plates disposed respectively at two ends of each of the middle sleeve and said outer sleeve, at least one first tensing member connecting the first inner plate to the second outer plate, and at least one second tensioning element connecting the first outer plate to the second inner plate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a buckling-restrained brace, and more particularly to a dual-core self-centering buckling-restrained brace capable of increasing the amount in a change of the length of the apparatus and preventing buckling of a core unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
US 2012/0000147 discloses a dual-core self-centering energy dissipation brace apparatus, which includes a first core member configured as a rectangular steel tube, a second core member configured as a rectangular steel tube and disposed within the first core member, two inner abutment plates disposed respectively at two ends of the second core member, an outer sleeve disposed around the first core member and configured as a rectangular steel tube, two outer abutment plates disposed respectively at two ends of the outer sleeve, and two tensioning units. One of the tensioning units connects one of the inner abutment plates corresponding to one end of the outer sleeve to one of the outer abutment plates corresponding to the other end of the outer sleeve. The other of the tensioning units connects the other of the inner abutment plates to the other of the outer abutment plates. The first core member is provided with a plurality of energy dissipating plates. The outer sleeve is provided with angle steels connected to the energy dissipating plates by lock bolts for energy dissipating purposes.
When an external force is applied to the apparatus, it is transmitted from a building onto the first core member or one of the outer abutment plates, and is transmitted out along a path including one of the tensioning units, one of the inner abutment plates, the second core member, the other of the inner abutment plates, the other of the tensioning units, the other of the outer abutment plates, and the outer sleeve. During the transmission of the external force, relative movement occurs among the first and second core members and the outer sleeve, such that energy is dissipated through the energy dissipating plates, the angle steels, and the lock bolts. In addition, each of the tensioning units has an elongation amount δ, so that the first core member and the outer sleeve move relative to each other by a distance 2δ. Hence, the maximum allowable elongation amount of the apparatus when subjected to an earthquake is increased. In this manner, energy can be dissipated through friction.
Upon occurrence of an earthquake, the residue stress of the building can be eliminated by return force of the tensioning units. However, when the apparatus is subjected to a plurality of earthquakes, such energy dissipating members (including the energy dissipating plates, the angle steels, and the lock bolts) experience serious wear, which reduces their energy dissipating efficiency and results in a need for frequent replacement, maintenance, and repair.

Dual-core self-centering buckling-restrained brace


An example apparatus for aligning a pressure tapping tool includes a base having an engagement portion. The engagement portion engages a component to limit relative movement between the base and the component. At least one guide mounts adjacent the base. Positioning a pressure tapping tool against the guide aligns the pressure tapping tool for pressure tapping the component. An example method of pressure tapping a component includes limiting relative movement between a fixture and a component and guiding a tool along a fixture when pressure tapping the component. The example may include guiding the tool along different portions of the fixture to pressure tap different portions of the component.

This invention relates generally to a fixture for aligning a tool, and more particularly, to a fixture for aligning a tool for pressure tapping gas turbine engine components.
Gas turbine engines are known, and typically include a compressor for compressing air and delivering it downstream into a combustion section. A fan may move air to the compressor. The compressed air is mixed with fuel and combusted in the combustion section. The products of this combustion are then delivered downstream over turbine rotors, which are driven to rotate and provide power to the engine. Combustion generates thermal energy within the gas turbine engine.
Rotors, and other components within the gas turbine engine, may include cooling holes, which provide an airflow path for providing a protective film layer and removing thermal energy from the gas turbine engine. The holes are drilled in the component during manufacture by laser drill, electrodischarge machining or other techniques. Clogged holes may block flow moving through the component, which can result in undesirable thermal energy buildup. Additional manufacturing steps, such as coating the component, may partially or fully clog the holes or otherwise alter flow. Incorrectly drilled holes could also alter flow through the holes for example.
Testing the components identifies holes with altered flow. Some tests include pressure tapping some of the holes, but only a portion of the total holes within the component are typically pressure tapped. An operator may refer to a testing standard to identify the appropriate holes by number. Formerly, the operator manually counted to identify the appropriate holes.
Disadvantageously, pressure tapping an incorrect hole or misaligning the tool relative to the holes may result in erroneous readings. Formerly, the operator manually recounted holes to verify the appropriate hole was tested, which increases test time and labor costs.