A heat exchanger apparatus includes an inlet header, an inlet connection connected to the inlet header, an outlet header, an outlet connection connected to the outlet header and a plurality of serpentine tube bodies. The plurality of serpentine tube bodies interconnect and are in communication with the inlet header and outlet header. Each serpentine tube body has a plurality of straight tube sections and a plurality of U-shaped return bend sections. Each one of the straight tube sections and each one of the return bend sections have an elliptically-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The plurality of serpentine tube bodies are arranged in a juxtaposed manner with consecutive ones of the serpentine tube bodies contacting each other at a point defining a series of stacked common planes disposed parallel with one another.

Commonly known in the art in the fabrication of the heat exchangers, straight tubes are bent in an approximate range of bend angles of 170° and 190° so as to form a unitary construction of two straight tube sections integrally connected with a return bend formed at a selected bend angle. A skilled artisan would appreciate that if the straight tube is bent precisely 180°, the two straight tube sections would extend parallel to one another while if the straight tube is bent at a selected bend angle anywhere in the approximate range other than 180°, the straight tube sections would extend generally parallel with one another. For simplicity, the term "generally parallel" shall refer to the relationship of the two straight tube sections after the straight tube is bent at any selected angle in the approximate range of 170° and 190° including the precise bend angle of 180°.
By way of example only, variations of a conventional heat exchanger are illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. Although not by way of limitation, a conventional heat exchanger 100 in FIG. 1 includes an upper inlet manifold 102 and a lower outlet manifold 104. A skilled artisan would appreciate that the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold can switch locations such that the inlet manifold is located at the bottom of the conventional heat exchanger 100 and considered a lower inlet manifold while the outlet manifold is located at the top of the conventional heat exchanger 100 and considered an upper outlet manifold. The manifolds 102 and 104 are held in place by a bracket 106a on a side wall 108a. Inlet and outlet fluid conduits 110 and 112 extend through the side wall 108a and communicate with the upper and lower manifolds 102 and 104 respectively. A plurality of serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 are connected between the upper and lower manifolds 102 and 104. The serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 are arranged relative to each other in a vertically-staggered array as illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 3A and 4.
Each serpentine heat exchanger tube 114 includes a plurality of straight tube sections 116 and a plurality of return bends 118. The plurality of straight tube sections 116 are arranged in a plurality of generally parallel rows and disposed in a common plane as is known in the art. The plurality of return bends 118 are connected to the plurality of straight tube sections 116 in a manner such that a respective one of the return bends 118 connects sequential ones of the plurality of straight tube sections 116 to form a serpentine configuration. To support the serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114, horizontally extending support rods 120 are mounted on brackets 106a and 106b. A respective one of the brackets 106a and 106b is mounted on respective ones of the side walls 108a and 108b.
Various cross-sectional configurations of the serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 as is known in the prior art and any selected ones of the various cross-sectional configurations can be employed as shown in FIGS. 2A-6. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the cross-sectional configuration of the serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 is circular. Specifically, both the straight tube sections 116 and the return bends 118 are circular in cross-section. By way of example, the circular cross-sectional serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 occupy an imaginary heat exchange box B. As best shown in FIG. 2B, consecutive ones of the serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 contact each other at juxtaposed return bends 118 at respective points Pt.
In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the cross-sectional configuration of the serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 is partially circular and partially elliptical. Specifically, the straight tube sections 116 are elliptical in cross-section and the return bends 118 are circular in cross-section. As shown in FIG. 3B, consecutive ones of the serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 contact each other at juxtaposed return bends at respective points Pt.
In FIGS. 4-6, the cross-sectional configuration of the serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 is generally circular. Specifically, the straight tube sections 116 are circular in cross-section and the return bends 118 are primarily circular in cross-section. The return bends 118 are considered primarily circular because each return bend includes at least one dimple 122 that defines a recess 124 formed into the return bend 118 as best shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 4, the recess 124 is sized to receive a portion of the adjacent return bend 118 in such a manner that surface-to-surface contact is made between contacting return bends. Such surface-to-surface contact slightly reduces heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger incorporating this structure and might result in corrosion at a level greater than point contact between contacting return bends. However, this design provides a higher density of packing of the serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 into an identical space of the heat exchanger packed with circular serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114. By way of example, the circular cross-sectional serpentine heat exchanger tubes 114 in FIG. 2A occupy and define the imaginary heat exchange box B. In FIG. 4, the four heat exchanger tubes 114 are packed in the imaginary heat exchange box B sized identically as the one in FIG. 2B. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the structure in FIG. 4 is more densely packed into the imaginary heat exchange box B because the recesses 124 formed by the dimples 122 in the respective return bends 118 receive the juxtaposed contacting one of the return bends 118.
Because the heat exchanger tubes 114 are more densely packed in the imaginary heat exchange box B, more heat exchanger tubes can be added to an identically-sized heat exchanger thereby increasing heat exchange capacity.
It would be advantageous to provide a heat exchanger incorporating serpentine heat exchanger tubes that result in a densely-packed heat exchanger. It would be advantageous to provide a heat exchanger incorporating serpentine heat exchanger tubes that provides point contact with consecutive ones of the return bends while simultaneously providing a densely packed heat exchanger. The present invention provides these advantages.

Heat exchanger apparatus incorporating elliptically-shaped serpentine tube bodies


The present disclosure relates to importing license data from a license metric tool server (LMTS) into a configuration management database (CMDB). License records are requested and received from the LMTS and are subsequently imported as into the CMDB of a client instance as configuration item (CI) data. In certain circumstances, a license record may have an identifier field (ID) value that does not correspond to a CI of the CMDB, resulting in the license record failing to import. The disclosed process involves flagging license records that fail import, and then clustering the flagged license records into suitable groups. The flagged license records are then re-pulled from the LMTS in groups, rather than using individual requests for each flagged license record. By effectively clustering of the flagged license records into groups, the disclosed importation process enables a reduction in processing, memory, and/or communication overhead, improving operation of the client instance.

The present disclosure relates generally to software license management and, more specifically, to importing license data from a license metric tool server (LMTS) into a configuration management database (CMDB).
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Organizations, regardless of size, rely upon access to information technology (IT) and data and services for their continued operation and success. A respective organization's IT infrastructure may have associated hardware resources (e.g. computing devices, load balancers, firewalls, switches, etc.) and software resources (e.g. productivity software, database applications, custom applications, and so forth). Over time, more and more organizations have turned to cloud computing approaches to supplement or enhance their IT infrastructure solutions.
Cloud computing relates to the sharing of computing resources that are generally accessed via the Internet. In particular, a cloud computing infrastructure allows users, such as individuals and/or enterprises, to access a shared pool of computing resources, such as servers, storage devices, networks, applications, and/or other computing based services. By doing so, users are able to access computing resources on demand that are located at remote locations, which resources may be used to perform a variety of computing functions (e.g., storing and/or processing large quantities of computing data). For enterprise and other organization users, cloud computing provides flexibility in accessing cloud computing resources without accruing large up-front costs, such as purchasing expensive network equipment or investing large amounts of time in establishing a private network infrastructure. Instead, by utilizing cloud computing resources, users are able redirect their resources to focus on their enterprise's core functions.
In certain situations, a client instance hosted by the cloud computing service may request and receive information from other systems or platforms. For example, a server may store information that pertains to configuration items (CIs) stored in a configuration management database (CMDB) hosted by the client instance. As such, it may be beneficial for the information that is separately stored by the server to be imported into the CMDB. However, it is recognized that there is an overhead associated with each request and receipt of information from the server in terms of processor usage (e.g., computing time, number of processors), storage usage (e.g., primary and/or secondary storage usage), and communication usage (e.g., network traffic, bandwidth). As such, it is desirable to design importation processes that limit this overhead to improve the efficiency and operation of the client instance, as well as the cloud computing service.

Systems and methods for importing software license metric data into a configuration management database (CMDB)


A method for printing a structure, the structure including a plurality of pillars. The method for printing can include ejecting only a first drop of a print material such as a liquid metal sequentially at each of a plurality of pillar locations, then ejecting only a second drop of the print material sequentially onto the first drop at each of the plurality of print locations. Additional drops can be ejected at two or more of the pillar locations to form the plurality of pillars. Ejecting only a first drop at each pillar location allows the first drop to cure (i.e., cool or dry) before ejecting the second drop. The printer continues printing while the drops cure, thus improving processing efficiency and increasing production throughput.

Techniques for printing three dimensional (3D) structures currently include Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), which typically prints an extruded polymer, Stereolithography (SLA), which uses a laser to cure or harden a liquid resin, and Selective Laser Sintering, which uses a laser to sinter a powdered polymer material. Three dimensional printing requires the printing of structures and surfaces at all orientations. Some orientations include a surface that forms an unsupported overhang that may extend for a considerable distance. For some printers, a removable second material that is a different composition from the material that forms the overhang of the final structure is printed, where the second material supports the overhang during subsequent fabrication. The second material is removable without damaging the overhanging structure or other features of the printed part. In some cases, the removable material is a powder that supports the feature during printing and, once printing is completed, the powder is removed to leave a gap that the printed feature overhangs. Other techniques include printing of weak support structures from the same material as the completed structure, where the weak support structures can be separated and removed from the printed part after printing has been completed. For metal drop printing the printing of weak support structures can be a slow process that is difficult to control, for example, because of a delicate thermal balance of printing speed and drop size.
A method for printing structures that overcomes the problems of conventional 3D printing methods would be a welcome addition to the art.

Method for supporting three dimensional (3D) printed features


An airbag apparatus with adaptive inflation characteristics vents inflation gas prior to full airbag deployment to afford proper protection for an out-of-position occupant. A vent opening in the casing is controlled by a movable control section of the airbag itself. The control section has a control opening that is registered with the vent opening when the airbag is uninflated, or when it is partially inflated, such as when the airbag encounters an out-of-position occupant. For a properly positioned occupant, the control section moves to cover the vent opening as the airbag becomes fully inflated to block the escape of gas from the casing.

The present invention relates to an airbag device for protection of a vehicle occupant and, more particularly, to an airbag that is inflatable in front of a vehicle occupant.
Airbags are employed in various locations in vehicles as secondary restraint mechanisms to operate in conjunction with seat belts in order to provide enhanced protection for vehicle occupants during an impact event. A front impact airbag typically is designed to inflate over a 15-40 millisecond time frame, and to deflate in a controlled manner as the occupant moves forwardly against the inflated airbag to absorb kinetic energy.
Some front airbags are designed to inflate partially in the case of an out-of-position occupant, such as an occupant who at the time of the impact event is leaning forwardly, or in other situations where the occupant is too close to the airbag module for proper airbag deployment. Such arrangements are intended to reduce the inflation force so that the closely positioned occupant is not injured by the expanding airbag. Examples of such devices are mentioned briefly below.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,709,405, 6,161,866, 6,199,895 and 6,746,044 disclose airbag devices in which an electronic control system operates a mechanical vent valve. Valve actuation is governed by an occupant position sensor. When an out-of-position occupant condition is detected, a portion of the inflation gas is vented from the casing of the device to moderate the degree of airbag inflation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,953 discloses an airbag having side vents that are progressively closed by a tether-actuated sliding flap as the airbag inflates. The degree of vent closure depends on the displacement of the airbag toward the fully deployed position.
US patent publication No. US 2004/0188990 A1 discloses various tether-actuated valve arrangements that close a gas vent channel in the airbag module casing as the airbag approaches the fully deployed position.

Airbag apparatus with adaptive inflation


It is an object of the present invention to provide equipment, particularly a display, capable of easily corresponding to two or more types of remote controllers (for example, remote controllers of different manufacturers) while restraining cost increases as far as possible.

The present invention relates to equipment capable of remote control using plural types of remote controllers (hereinafter, abbreviated to remote controllers) for transmitting signals modulated through, for example, infrared-rays or the like, and more particularly, to a display capable of remote control in response to each of plural types of remote controllers manufactured by different manufacturers.
In recent years, displays such as computer monitors and television receiving sets have been developed in larger scale in order to cope with the trend toward higher performance and digitizing of broadcasting, and two or more manufacturers may develop in cooperation. In such a case, display sets of different brands generally use their respective corresponding remote controllers to avoid misoperation in over-the-counter display or the like. In view of circumstances of maintenance and various adjusting operations, however, a display set of a certain brand can be preferably used in common through a remote controller of different brand. In order to cope with this, for example, the following methods are generally used:
(1) The display sets have the same structure, and microcomputers having ROMs which are different in program portion for analyzing the code of an infrared remote controller are prepared for each brand, and display sets with different microcomputers mounted are used.
(2) Microcomputers are mounted with program portions for analyzing the code of the infrared remote controller for plural brands, and initialization of these microcomputers is fixed for each brand prior to shipment. As the fixing method, there are the following methods:
(a) Hardware initializing method such as switching of a voltage value given to the input port of the microcomputer.
(b) Software initializing method for designating a usage range or the like for the code analysis unit to the microcomputer.
In the case of using the method (1) described above, it is necessary to prepare a different microcomputer for each brand, and there is a problem that cost increases cannot be avoided. Also, in the case of (2) (a), there is a problem of cost increases caused by change in pattern or the like for the substrate for mounting a microcomputer for each brand and addition of an Input/Output port. Also, in the case of (2) (b), it is named as a problem that in order to initialize the data, there is a need to initialize at production line and to take countermeasures to latch-up of microcomputers caused by discharge or the like within the television sets. Further, in either method (1) or (2), there is the cumbersomeness that remote controllers corresponding to each brand must be prepared during service adjustment for performing adjustment such as repair in the market, and it is also a problem to eliminate the cumbersomeness.
Also, aside from each method described above, there is also known a method, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No.7-99689, in which a selection instructing signal is transmitted to thereby allow two types of remote controllers to correspond respectively. However, this method has a problem that a remote controller which is capable of reception must be used to transmit a selection instructing signal, and without this remote controller, it is not possible to switch to a desired remote controller.
Also, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No.4-245895, there is known a method in which it is an object to construct a control system using remote controllers by simply connecting between control equipment in which plural equipment are made controllable through a remote control signal received and other equipment. However, this method has a problem that only a specified remote controller can operate the control equipment, remote control signals from other remote controllers are transferred to other equipment, and are not capable of controlling the control equipment.
The present invention has been achieved in the light of the above-described problems, and is aimed to provide such equipment, particularly a display as to be able to easily correspond to two or more types of remote controllers (for example, remote controllers manufactured by plural manufacturers) with restraining cost as far as possible.
In order to achieve the above-described object, a display which is operable by plural types of remote controllers according to the present invention is characterized by the following structure. The display comprises: a display portion; switching means for switching so as to be operated by any one of the plural types of remote controllers; and displaying means for displaying, on the display portion, the switching information on switching in the switching means.
Also, the switching information is characterized by the fact that it is information indicating the types of the remote controllers, for example, information indicating the brand or manufacturer of the remote controller.
Also, the switching means is characterized by the fact that it switches on the basis of a transmission signal from the remote controller.
Also, the display is characterized by the fact that it has selecting means for determining whether or not the switching of the switching means is permitted and the switching means is adapted to be switchable only when the selecting means has given the permission. The selecting means is provided so that it is not exposed from the outer surface portion of the display.
Also, the selecting means is characterized by the fact that it is used also as adjusting means used when the display is adjusted. The adjustment is characterized by being performed using the remote controller. Also, the adjustment is characterized by the fact that it is convergence adjustment.
Also, the display comprises audio signal generating means for notifying by voice that the switching has been performed by the switching means.
Also, the display is characterized by the fact that it is a television set.
Or, in order to achieve the object, equipment according to the present invention adopts the following structure. The equipment comprises: initializing means for initializing so that it can be operated by any one of plural types of remote controllers; and switching means for switching the initializing means, so that the equipment can be operated by an arbitrary remote controller of the plural types of remote controllers, by using the arbitrary remote controller.
Or, the following structure is adopted. The display is characterized by the fact that it has at least a first mode in which the operation is performed in response to a command contained in a transmission signal from a first remote controller, and a second mode in which the operation is performed in response to a command contained in a transmission signal from a second remote controller, and that on the basis of the transmission signal received, either the first or second mode corresponding to the first or second remote controller which has transmitted the transmission signal is made initializable.
Also, the display is characterized by the fact that it comprises: a photoreceptor device for receiving a transmission signal from a remote controller to convert it into an electric signal; and control means for controlling, on the basis of an electric signal converted by the photoreceptor device, so that a command contained in the electric signal is executed, that the control means is provided with a first control mode in which control is performed in response to a command contained in a transmission signal from the first remote controller, and a second control mode in which control is performed in response to a command contained in a transmission signal from the second remote controller, and on the basis of the transmission signal received, it is distinguished whether the remote controller which has transmitted the transmission signal is either the first or second remote controller, and that in response to the discrimination result, either the first or second control mode is made initializable.
The above-described mode may be initialized on the basis of a ID code signal representing the type (manufacturer) of the remote controller contained in a transmission signal from the remote controller, for example, a header signal. Also, it is preferable to further provide the above-described structure with selecting means so that the above-described mode can be initialized only when the selecting means is in the ON condition.
Also, if the above-described equipment is a display, it may be possible to display the discrimination result of the remote controller by the control means on a screen.
Further, it may be possible to constitute the control means by at least first and second microcomputers which have different control objects from each other, to discriminate the remote controller by the first microcomputer, and to initialize the control mode of the first and second microcomputers in response to the result.
Further, it may be possible to control video signal processing means for processing a video signal inputted by the first microcomputer, to control synchronous signal processing means for processing a synchronous signal inputted by the second microcomputer, and to connect the first and second microcomputers together through a bus for transmitting and receiving information containing the discrimination result of the remote controller.
Further, it may be possible to exert, using the first microcomputer, control for convergence correction and control for displaying the discrimination result of the remote controller on a screen, to exert, using the second microcomputer, control for converting a video signal digitized into an analog video signal, and to connect the first and second microcomputers together through a bus for transmitting and receiving information containing the discrimination result of the remote controller.
Further, it may be possible to connect the selecting means for initializing the mode to the first microcomputer so that the first microcomputer discriminates the remote controller when the selecting means is in the ON condition.
The above-described structure has the following effect. By initializing so that the display corresponds to any one of the remote controllers using the above-described initializing means, it is possible to prevent wrong operation due to other remote controllers. Also, by switching the initializing means by using any remote controller, switching can be performed if only a desired remote controller is available.
Also, the display of the above-described switching information on a display portion enables the user to know that the switching has been performed. The display of the type of the remote controller such as, for example, the brand or manufacturer enables the user to know that the switching has been performed to correspond to which remote controller.
Also, if the switching is performed on the basis of a transmission signal from the remote controller, the switching can be performed by the remote controller itself.
Also, if it is made switchable only when the selecting means is in the ON condition, it will be possible to prevent erroneous switching. Also, with the provision of the selecting means within the display, it is possible to prevent the selecting means from being erroneously turned on. Also, the selecting means is used also as the adjusting means to thereby restrain cost increases.
Also, by adjusting using a remote controller, it is possible to adjust the display at a distance therefrom. Particularly, on performing convergence adjustment, it is necessary to adjust it while viewing the entire display portion at a distance from the display, and therefore, the user""s usability is improved by adjusting using the remote controller.
Also, with the provision of the audio signal generating means, the user can know that the switching has been performed even with equipment without any display portion or a display with a small display portion.
Also, if the control modes of the first and second microcomputers are initialized in response to the discrimination result of the remote controller in the first microcomputer, a program for discrimination can be stored in any one of the plurality of microcomputers in advance.

Abstract: Equipment according to the present invention comprises: initializing means for initializing so as to correspond to any one of plural types of remote controllers; and switching means for switching the initializing means so as to correspond to the remote controller using any one of the plural types of remote controllers. Thereby, the equipment is initialized so as to correspond to any one of the plurality of remote controllers, and it is possible to prevent misoperation due to other remote controllers. Also, by switching the initializing means by using any remote controller, switching can be performed if only a desired remote controller is available.

Hitachi Video and Information Systems, Inc.


A method and apparatus are provided for performing entropy encoding on a fine granular scalability layer. A method of entropy encoding on a plurality of current coefficients of a quality layer among a plurality of quality layers of an image block divided into the plurality of quality layers, includes determining a coding pass with respect to each of the current coefficients, selecting a context model with respect to each of the current coefficients using at least one lower coefficient corresponding to each of the current coefficients if the coding pass is a refinement pass, and performing arithmetic encoding a group of coefficients having a same selected context model among the current coefficients by using the selected context model.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to video compression, and more particularly, to increasing encoding efficiency when performing entropy encoding on a fine granular scalability layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of information communication technology including the Internet, video communication as well as text and voice communication has increased. Conventional text communication cannot satisfy users' various demands, and thus, multimedia services that can provide various types of information such as text, pictures, and music have increased. However, multimedia data requires a large-capacity storage medium and a wide bandwidth for transmission because the amount of multimedia data is usually large. Accordingly, a compression coding method is requisite for transmitting multimedia data including text, video, and audio.
A basic principle of data compression is to remove data redundancy. Data can be compressed by removing spatial redundancy in which the same color or object is repeated in an image, temporal redundancy in which there is little change between adjacent frames in a moving image or the same sound is repeated in audio, or mental visual redundancy which takes into account human eyesight and its limited perception of high frequency. In a general video coding method, the temporal redundancy is removed by temporal filtering based on motion compensation, and the spatial redundancy is removed by spatial transform.
Lossy encoding is performed on the result obtained by removing data redundancy according to predetermined quantization steps through a quantization process. Lossless encoding is finally performed on the quantized result through entropy encoding.
Currently, in the scalable video coding (SVC) standard that is being conducted by a joint video team (JVT), which is a meeting between video experts of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electro technical Commission (ISO/IEC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), research on a multi-layer based scalable video coding technique based on the conventional H.264 standard has been actively made. In particular, an FGS technique is used to improve quality or bit rate of one frame.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the concept of a plurality of quality layers 11, 12, 13, and 14 that form one frame or slice 10 (hereinafter, referred to as "slice"). The quality layers are data that is obtained by dividing one slice and being recorded so as to support signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) scalability. An FGS layer is a representative example for the quality layer, but the invention is not limited thereto. The plurality of quality layers may include one base layer and one or more FGS layers 11, 12, and 13. Video quality measured by a video decoder becomes improved in order of when only the base layer 14 is received, when the base layer 14 and the first FGS layer 13 are received, when the base layer 14, the first FGS layer 13, and the second FGS layer 12 are received, and when all of the layers 11, 12, 13, and 14 are received.
In the SVC draft, the coding is performed using correlation between the respective FGS layers. That is, another FGS layer is coded using coefficients of one FGS layer according to separated coding passes (the concept including a significant pass and a refinement pass). At this time, when coefficients of all of the corresponding lower layers are zero, coefficients of the corresponding current layer are coded by the significant pass. When one or more coefficients of the corresponding lower layers do not have values of zero, the coefficients of the corresponding current layer are coded by the refinement pass. As such, predetermined coefficients of the FGS layers are coded by the different passes because probability distributions of the coefficients are clearly differentiated from each other according to the coefficients of the corresponding lower layers.
FIG. 2A is a graph illustrating probability of when a zero occurs with respect to corresponding coding passes when coding passes of the first FGS layer are selected by using coefficients of the discrete layer In FIG. 2A, SIG denotes a significant pass, and REF denotes a refinement pass. Referring to FIG. 2A, a probability distribution, in which a zero occurs in the coefficients of the first FGS layer that are coded by the significant pass because the corresponding coefficients of the discrete layer are zero, is clearly differentiated from a probability distribution, in which a zero occurs in the coefficients of the first FGS layer that are coded by the refinement pass because the corresponding coefficients of the discrete layer are not zero. As such, when probability distributions, in which a zero occurs, are clearly differentiated from each other, the coding efficiency can be improved by performing the coding according to the different coding passes, that is, according to different context models.
FIG. 2B is an exemplary graph illustrating probability of when a zero occurs with respect to corresponding coding passes when the coding passes of the second FGS layer are selected by using the coefficients of the discrete layer and the first FGS layer. Referring to FIG. 2B, unlike the FIG. 2A, probabilities of when a zero occurs between the coefficients of the second FGS layer, which are coded by the refinement pass, and the coefficients of the second FGS layer, which are coded by the significant pass, are not differentiated from each other, but the probabilities are mixed. That is, the coding method according to coding passes, which is disclosed in the SVC draft, is considerably efficient for the coding of the first FGS layer. However, when the coding is performed on the second FGS layer or upper layers, the efficiency may be reduced. The reduction in efficiency may be caused by the fact that probable correlation between adjacent layers is high but probable correlation between layers, which are not adjacent but slightly distant from each other, is low.

Method and apparatus for entropy encoding/decoding


An implant for soft tisse (e.g., subcutaneous, perivascular, adipose), particularly a mass transfer device having a fluid diffusing or transmitting surface in contact with the soft tissue, in which the surface of the device in tissue contact is textured to provide a regular pattern of micropillars at least 100 microns in height with transverse dimensions and interpillar spacing each no greater than 5000 microns.

It is known that the implantation of an article or material into soft tissue initiates a sequence of physiological events in which the body attempts to remove or isolate the foreign entity. Macrophages at the site endeavor to ingest the foreign body, in some cases coalescing to form multinuculated giant cells. The presence of an implant may lead to the formation of a collagen layer of increased density as part of the host's attempt to isolate the foreign body. Such layer is commonly referred to as the "fibrous capsule" and its formation is dependent on a multiplicity of factors including surgical procedure, implant shape and size, relative movement between the implant and surrounding tissue, and surface charge and morphology.
The "classical" tissue response, as it has come to be known, is depicted somewhat schematically in FIG. 1. That figure represents a typical histological section, taken through a tissue block removed at four weeks from a dorsal implant in a Sprague-Dawley rat, of a cast silicone rubber disc 10 approximately 1 centimeter in diameter and 0.1 centimeter in thickness. It is characterized by the presence of macrophages and multinucleated giant cells 11 adjacent to the polymer surface 10a, a relatively thick fibrous capsule 12 (an average of 106 microns measured in 20 rat implants), and a layer of fat cells 13 that contain a minimal number of blood vessels and capillaries 14. In addition, the vascularity is spaced a substantial distance from the implant surface 10a.
It has been observed by investigators that the surface morphology of an implant may alter this response, as where the surface is provided with a multiplicity of projections or micropillars. In such a case, the fibrous capsule covering the micropillars has been found to be notably thinner in comparison with a fibrous capsule extending over a smooth-surface implant of the same material. Micropillars have also been found to influence the density, vascularity, and cellularity of the capsule, with such alterations being thought dependent more on the height of the pillars (at least 100 microns) than on their width. Picha, G.J., and Gibbons, D.F., "Final Report of the Effect of Controlled Surface Morphology on the Subcutaneous Tissue Response," NASA Report CR-165319, Section III, p. 2, Mar. 1981.
One aspect of this invention lies in the discovery that the width of such pillars and the distance between them, and the site of implantation in soft tissue, are also of significance in achieving an implant that yields a "non-classical" tissue response, and further, that such a response is highly significant if the implant is a mass-transfer device such as, for example, a sensor or a drug infusion device. If the width and spacing of the micropillars are both below 5000 microns, preferably below 3000 microns, and if the pillars exceed 100 microns in height, then a number of phemomena are found to occur. The thickness of the fibrous capsule is less than it would otherwise be if the surface of the implant were smooth rather than textured, with the result that the apertured or membrane-covered micropillars may protrude through the fibrous capsule into the tissue layer containing fat cells and blood vessels. Also, surprisingly, an increase in the vascularity of the tissue layer occurs. Such increased vascularity in close proximity to the ends of the pillars improves mass transfer of circulating organic substances between the vasculature and the implant.
In brief, the mass-transfer device takes the form of a supporting member or substrate having a surface textured to define a regular array of micropillars and valleys, and either a thin continuous diffusion membrane of substantially uniform thickness covering the micropillars and valleys and conforming with the surface texture of the member or, alternatively, microscopic apertures formed in the ends of the pillars through which a drug solution is slowly discharged into the surrounding tissue. Each micropillar, whether membrane covered or not, has a height no less than 100 microns and a width no greater than 5000 microns, with adjacent micropillars of the array being spaced apart a distance no greater than 5000 microns.
The micropillars may be generally rectangular (square) in section, or may be cylindrical in shape in any case preferably having a width within the range of about 25 to 3000 microns and being spaced apart a distance within the range of about 25 to 3000 microns. Where the implant takes the form of a sensor, such as a blood glucose sensor, the member or substrate may be electrically conductive and include in its composition a material capable of catalyzing a reaction with a selected blood analyte diffusible through the continuous membrane cover. Alternatively, if the implant is a drug infusion device, then the member or substrate may provide a reservoir containing an aqueous solution of the therapeutic agent and a multiplicity of passages leading from the reservoir and terminating in discharge apertures at the ends of the pillars. The drug may be discharged into the soft tissue directly through such apertures or may diffuse through a continuous membrane extending over the pillars and conforming to the contour of such pillars and the valleys between them.
Other features, advantages, and objects of the invention will become more apparent from the specification and drawings.

Biological implant with textured surface


An improved sensor array and illumination scheme for a bar code scanner use a modified Scheimpflug arrangement optical system that simplifies signal processing. The preferred embodiment includes a detector array comprising a multi-element array of photosensors positioned in one Scheimpflug plane and an illumination beam in the form of a sheet of light along the other Scheimpflug plane. The detector array has a plurality of elements having a long axis and a short axis, with the long axis of the elements arranged substantially perpendicular to the image of the illuminated strip of the bar code tag. The projection of the long axis of the elements of the array onto the other Scheimpflug plane defines the working range of the optical system. So long as the bar code tag intersects the illumination beam within the working range, the image of the illuminated strip of the bar code tag will be substantially in focus across the elements of the detector array. Filtering allows substantially only the light from the illuminated strip to reach the detector array. Thus, substantially all of the light that reaches the detector array is useful signal, and all the output data from the array during a bar code scan is relevant. The output signal from the array can be processed with conventional digitizing and decoding circuitry with audio signal processing techniques.

The invention relates to an optical system for a bar code reader, and in particular to an improved sensor array and illumination method adapted for use with a bar code reader optical system using a modified Scheimpflug arrangement.
The optical system of a bar code scanner comprises apparatus for illuminating the bar code tag and apparatus for detecting the reflected light from the bar code tag. An optical system images the light reflected from the bar code tag onto a detector which produces an electronic signal that represents the light and dark areas of the bar code.
An ideal bar code scanner would have a large working range, while being capable of reading bar codes with very narrow bars and spaces. However, the optical requirements for these two goals conflict. Maximizing the working range requires a small lens aperture (a large f/#), while maximizing resolution requires a large lens aperture because of diffraction effects.
One type of scanner optical system, referred to as a "detector resolved" optical system, forms an image of the bar code tag on the detector, which produces an electrical signal corresponding to the dark and light pattern of the bars and spaces in the bar code. The operation of this type of scanner is limited by the ability of its detector to resolve the optical image of the bar code into an electronic signal.
The detector may be a single element photodetector, or a multiple element photodetector array that spans the image of the bar code. In a single element system, an optical scanning mechanism, such as a rotating mirror, sweeps the image of the bar code across the detector element to produce the signal. This sweep produces a serial image of a "scan line", a line through the bar code perpendicular to the bars and spaces. In a multiple element system, the detector array is electronically scanned.
The working range of a typical detector resolved optical system is the range of distance from the lens over which the image of the bar code tag remains sufficiently focused for the detector array and processing electronics to recognize bars from spaces and to measure the widths of the bars and spaces accurately. The working range is a function of the aperture of the lens system (the f/#) and the resolution of the bar code being read.
One proposal to overcome many of the problems of conventional detector resolved optical systems is described in a copending application OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR A LARGE DEPTH-OF FIELD BAR CODE SCANNER, assigned in common with this application. The desired working range is imaged onto the detector array using a modified Scheimpflug arrangement, with the array tilted with respect to the optical axis of the lens. Thus, the working range is not determined by the lens aperture, but by the dimension and orientation of the detector array. The lens aperture can be as large as desired to maximize resolution and minimize illumination needs, and thus power consumption, without adversely affecting the working range. For a high resolution bar code tag, the practical working range is about 12.5 cm to 50 cm. This is about twice as large as the working range of the best scanners with conventional optical systems.
In one embodiment, a two dimensional grid detector array is imaged over the working range in one dimension and over the width of the bar code tag in the other dimension. The array is similar to the kind of arrays used in video applications, having a large number of pixels in both dimensions. The data output rate is about 4,000,000 pixels per second, with most of the data discarded. Video signal processing techniques are used to reconstruct the in-focus image of a section of the bar code, and to produce a suitable output signal.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved sensor array and illumination scheme for a bar code scanner using a modified Scheimpflug arrangement optical system that has simplified signal processing.
This and other advantages are realized by the preferred embodiment of the invention which includes a photodetector comprising a multi-element array of photosensors positioned in one Scheimpflug plane and an illumination beam in the form of a sheet of light along the other Scheimpflug plane. The elements of the detector array have a long axis and a short axis, with the long axis of the elements arranged substantially perpendicular to the image of the illuminated strip of the bar code tag. The projection of the long axis of the elements of the array onto the other Scheimpflug plane defines the working range of the optical system. So long as the bar code tag intersects the illumination beam within the working range, the image of the illuminated strip of the bar code tag will be substantially in focus across the elements of the detector array. Filtering allows substantially only the light from the illuminated strip to reach the detector array. The output signal from the array can be processed with conventional digitizing and decoding circuitry with audio signal processing techniques.
An important aspect of the invention is that substantially all of the light that reaches the detector array is useful signal, and all the output data from the array during a bar code scan is relevant. The cooperation of the illumination system, the Scheimpflug optics and the bandpass filter makes this possible. Referring to FIG. 1, the sheet of light from the illumination section 113 illuminates only a thin strip across the bar code tag. The modified Scheimpflug optical arrangement guarantees that this illuminated strip will form a focused image on the detector array 131. The bandpass filter 137 rejects substantially all other light. As a result, substantially all of the light that reaches the detector array 131 is useful signal.
The elements of detector array 131 are constructed to take advantage of this. The detector array of the present invention has significantly fewer elements than a two dimensional grid type array. This makes the array less expensive to build and results in lower power consumption.
The detector array also has several advantages from the signal processing point of view. All the output data from the array during a bar code scan is relevant, in contrast to the output data from a grid type array in which the data from the few lines of elements that receive a focused image must be selected from the data stream. The array data output rate is about 40,000 pixels per second to produce a scanning rate equivalent to that of bar code scanners currently available. This rate is 100 times lower than the grid type array data rate, so analog processing with audio techniques is adequate.

Sensor array and illumination system for a large depth-of-field bar code scanner


A damping control system for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame includes at least one adjustable shock absorber having an adjustable damping profile and a driver actuatable input. The driver actuatable input may be positioned to be actuatable by the driver in the absence of requiring a removal of either of the hands of the driver from a steering device of the vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to improved suspension for a vehicle and in particular to systems and methods of damping and/or rebound control for shock absorbers.
Currently some off-road vehicles include adjustable shock absorbers. These adjustments include spring preload, high and low speed compression damping and/or rebound damping. In order to make these adjustments, the vehicle is stopped and the operator makes an adjustment at each shock absorber location on the vehicle. A tool is often required for the adjustment. Some on-road automobiles also include adjustable electric shocks along with sensors for active ride control systems. The system of the present disclosure allows an operator to make real time "on-the-go" adjustments to the shocks to obtain the most comfortable ride for given terrain and payload scenarios.
Exemplary systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,010,768 and US Published Patent Application No. 2016/0059660, both assigned to the present assignee and the entire disclosures of each expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Vehicles often have springs (coil, leaf, or air) at each wheel, rack, or ski to support a majority of the load. The vehicle of the present disclosure also has electronic shocks controlling the dynamic movement of each wheel, ski, or track. The electronic shocks have one or more valves that control the damping force of each shock. This valve may control compression damping only, rebound damping only, or a combination of compression and rebound damping. The valve(s) may be connected to a controller having a user interface that is within the driver's reach for adjustment while operating the vehicle.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a damping characteristic of an adjustable shock absorber of a vehicle being operated by a driver, the driver steering the vehicle by holding a steering device with the hands of the driver, is provided. The method comprising the steps of (a) electronically controlling with at least one controller the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on a plurality of inputs from a plurality of sensors supported by the vehicle at a first time; (b) receiving at a second time subsequent to the first e a driver initiated request to alter the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber through an driver actuatable input; (c) altering with the at least one controller, at a third time subsequent to the second time, the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the received driver initiated request; and (d) automatically altering with the at least one controller, at a fourth time subsequent to the third time, the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
In an example thereof, the vehicle maintains a ground speed of greater than zero from the first time through the fourth time. In another example thereof, the damping characteristic at the fourth time is based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors supported by the vehicle at the fourth time.
In yet another example thereof, step (c) of the method includes the steps of deviating a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors. In a variation thereof, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber is held at a deviated level between the third time and the fifth time. In another variation thereof, the step of altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the fifth time includes the step of linearly altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber from the deviated level to the current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors. In yet another variation thereof, the step of altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the fifth time includes the step of linearly altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber to the current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
In yet another example, the vehicle includes a plurality of ground engaging members; a frame coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members through a plurality of suspensions, a first ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a first suspension, the first suspension including a first adjustable shock absorber of the at least one adjustable shock absorber, a second ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a second suspension, the second suspension including a second adjustable shock absorber of the at least one adjustable shock absorber, and a third ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a third suspension, the third suspension including a third adjustable shock absorber of the at least one adjustable shock absorber; and a driver seat supported by the frame and having a seating surface positioned rearward of the steering device, the first adjustable shock absorber and the second adjustable shock absorber being positioned forward of the steering device and the third adjustable shock absorber being positioned rearward of the steering device, wherein in step (c) the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber and the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber are altered. In a variation thereof, step (c) of the method includes the steps of deviating a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber at the first time and deviating a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors and altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
In still another example, step (c) of the method includes the steps of deviating a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber, wherein the fifth time is a predetermined time delay period from the third time. In a variation thereof, the step of altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber includes altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors. In a further variation thereof, the driver initiated request corresponds to an actuation of the driver actuatable input from a first configuration to a second configuration and the method further comprises the step of initiating the predetermined time delay period upon the actuation of the driver actuatable input to the second configuration. In yet another variation thereof, the driver initiated request corresponds to an actuation of the driver actuatable input from a first configuration to a second configuration and the method further comprises the step of initiating the predetermined time delay period upon a detection of the driver actuatable input returning towards the first configuration. In yet still another variation, the driver initiated request corresponds to an actuation of the driver actuatable input from a first configuration to a second configuration and the method further comprises the steps of initiating the predetermined time delay period upon one of the actuation of the driver actuatable input to the second configuration and a detection of the driver actuatable input returning towards the first configuration; receiving at a sixth time subsequent to the third time and prior to the fifth time, a second driver initiated request to alter the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber through the driver actuatable input; and delaying the fifth time by resetting the predetermined time delay based on the second driver initiated request. In still a further variation, the driver actuatable input is a brake pedal and the step of receiving at the second time subsequent to the first time the driver initiated request includes the step of detecting a tapping of the brake pedal.
In yet still another example, the driver actuatable input is actuatable by the driver in the absence of requiring a removal of either of the hands of the driver from the steering device. In a variation thereof, step (c) of the method includes the steps of increasing a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, reducing the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors. In a further variation, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber is held at a constant level between the third time and the fifth time. In still a further variation, the step of reducing the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the fifth time includes the step of linearly reducing the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber from the constant level to the current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle for operation by a driver is provided. The vehicle comprising a plurality of ground engaging members; a plurality of suspensions supported by the plurality of ground engaging members, the plurality of suspensions including a plurality of adjustable shock absorbers; a frame coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members through the plurality of suspensions, a first ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a first suspension, the first suspension including a first adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers, a second ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a second suspension, the second suspension including a second adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers, and a third ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a third suspension, the third suspension including a third adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers; a steering system supported by the frame and including a steering device operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members to steer the vehicle; a driver actuatable input which is positioned to be actuatable by the driver; a driver seat supported by the frame and having a seating surface positioned rearward of the steering device, the first adjustable shock absorber and the second adjustable shock absorber being positioned forward of the steering device and the third adjustable shock absorber being positioned rearward of the steering device; a plurality of sensors supported by the plurality of ground engaging members; and at least one controller operatively coupled to the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers and the plurality of sensors. The at least one controller configured to (a) determine a damping characteristic of at least one of plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on a plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors; (b) receive a driver initiated request to alter the damping characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers from the driver actuatable input; (c) alter the damping characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers in response to the received driver initiated request for a first period of time, and (d) subsequent to (c), automatically alter the damping characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers again based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors at an expiration of the first period of time.
In an example thereof, the driver actuatable input is supported by the steering device. In a variation thereof, the steering device further supports a suspension damping ride mode configuration driver actuatable input.
In another example, the steering device is a steering wheel. In still another example, the steering device is a handlebar.
In still a further example, the driver actuatable input is positioned lower than the steering device. In a variation thereof, the driver actuatable input is a foot actuatable input device. In a further variation thereof, the foot actuatable input is a brake pedal.
In still yet a further example, a driver engageable surface of the driver actuatable input is positioned lower than the seating surface of the driver seat. In a variation thereof, the driver actuatable input is a foot actuatable input device. In a further variation thereof, the foot actuatable input is a brake pedal.
In still another example, the at least one controller permits the vehicle to have a ground speed of greater than zero while the at least one controller executes (a) through (d).
In a further still example, the at least one controller in (c) deviates a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers for a first portion of the first time period and subsequently alters the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers for a second portion of the first time period. In a variation thereof, the at least one controller holds the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers at a deviated level during the first portion of the first time period. In another variation thereof, the at least one controller linearly alters the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers during the second portion of the first time period.
In yet a further still example, the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers includes the first adjustable shock absorber and the second adjustable shock absorber. In a variation thereof, the at least one controller in (c) deviates the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber and the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber for a first portion of the first time period and subsequently alters the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber and the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber for a second portion of the first time period. In a further variation thereof, the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber and the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber is altered linearly during the second portion of the first time period.
In yet a still further example, the driver actuatable input which is positioned to be actuatable by the driver in the absence of requiring a removal of either of the hands of the driver from the steering device.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of various features and components according to the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure.


Techniques for compressing and decompressing images captured from viewpoints throughout an n-dimensional space. As opposed to conventional approaches, these techniques exploit image coherence over the entire n-dimensional space, providing quick access to images along arbitrary contiguous viewpoint paths during computer graphics applications. This is accomplished by combining a hierarchical data structure with a compression methodology. Such techniques provide for generating and arranging reference images and residual images into a spatial image hierarchy such as a binary tree structure. Images and residuals may be encoded using intra-image compression. A captured image is extracted via a sequence of image warping and addition operations.

The ability to capture, store, and reconstruct images of large three-dimensional (3D), real-world environments is becoming increasingly important in a variety of applications, such as interactive walkthroughs, telepresence, and educational tourism. In recent years, the field of image-based rendering (IBR) has attempted to find solutions that enable these applications by capturing large collections of images (i.e., thousands of images). These images are re-sampled to create photorealistic novel views of the environment without necessarily reconstructing a detailed 3D model or simulating global illumination.
For interactive walkthroughs, which are computer graphics applications where an observer moves within a virtual environment, image access cannot be limited to coincide with the viewpoints or paths along which images are captured, but instead requires access along arbitrary contiguous viewpoint paths through the environment. Furthermore, disk-to-memory bandwidth limitations require algorithms that reduce both the size of the images on disk and the amount of data that must be transferred to main memory as an observer navigates through a captured 3D environment.
Image compression techniques, such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), two-dimensional (2D) wavelets, and JPEG2000, exploit intra-image redundancy to reduce image size but they do not take advantage of inter-image redundancy. Video compression techniques, such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), use complex motion-estimation algorithms to exploit inter-image coherence, achieving a significant improvement in overall compression performance. However, motion-estimation is intended for linear sequences of images, making it ill-suited for image access along arbitrary viewpoint paths.
Thus, there exists a need for techniques that overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing improved techniques for compressing and decompressing images of real-world environments.

Method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing images captured from viewpoints throughout N-dimensional space


A method for optimizing the yield of light olefins in a process for the conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon stream to aromatics and light olefins by contacting the heavy hydrocarbon stream with a zeolite catalyst along with the controlled introduction of a paraffin stream co-feed.

The present invention relates to the field of hydrocarbon upgrading processes. In another aspect, the invention relates to the conversion of heavy hydrocarbon streams to aromatics and ethylene, propylene and butylene.
Developments in zeolite catalysts useful in hydrocarbon conversion processes have led to the use of zeolite catalysts for the conversion of heavy hydrocarbon streams containing heavy olefins to aromatics without the addition of hydrogen. The conversion of C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkanes and alkenes to produce aromatics using zeolite catalysts was found to be an effective process by both Cattanach (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,760,024 and 3,756,942) and Yan et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,150). Nemet-Marrodin et al. have added to the understanding of the conversion of heavy hydrocarbon streams containing heavy olefins to aromatics using zeolite catalysts by suggesting the use of a purified recycle stream in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,908. Other patents representative of aromatization of heavy hydrocarbon streams containing heavy olefins using zeolite catalysts include Young, U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,338, which discloses reducing coke formation on zeolite catalysts by treating the catalyst with phosphorus and steam, and Tabak et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,338, which discloses continuous catalyst regeneration and the recycle of C.sub.5 + aliphatics in a fluidized bed.
These processes are effective in preferentially converting heavy hydrocarbons to aromatics at the expense of light olefin yield. Also, there is limited flexibility in these processes to shift the conversion of heavy hydrocarbons from aromatics to light olefins. Therefore, development of a process for converting heavy hydrocarbons to aromatics and light olefins wherein the yield of light olefins is enhanced would be a significant contribution to the art and to the economy by allowing the flexibility to preferentially convert heavy hydrocarbons to either aromatics or light olefins depending on market conditions.

Conversion of heavy hydrocarbon to aromatics and light olefins


Systems and methods for creating high-pressure mixtures of steam and one or more noncondensable gas species, which may be injected into deep, high-pressured oil reservoirs to supply heat and aid oil recovery. These systems and methods may include generating these mixtures, also referred to as a combined stream, controlling the total pressure of the combined stream, controlling the partial pressure of steam within the combined stream, supplying the combined stream to a subterranean formation that includes hydrocarbons, such as viscous oil, reducing the viscosity of the oil, and/or producing oil from the subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the total pressure of the combined stream may approach or even exceed the critical pressure of water while still retaining significant amounts of latent heat for delivery. In some embodiments, the partial pressure of steam may be less than the critical pressure of water.

The production capacity of a liquid hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation may be related to a wide array of factors, including the quantity of hydrocarbons present in the formation, the porosity and permeability of the formation itself, the pressure within the formation, the temperature within the formation, the viscosity of the hydrocarbons contained within the formation, the length of the wellbore that is exposed to the hydrocarbon-bearing strata, the presence of water, gas, and/or other materials within the formation, and a host of additional variables. Due to the variety of potential interactions among these various factors, the presence of hydrocarbons within a subterranean formation does not, in itself, indicate that the hydrocarbons may be economically recovered.
Historically, reservoirs containing conventional oil reserves that may be economically produced using traditional techniques have been the first to be developed. Many of these reservoirs are currently in a state of decline and/or have been depleted, at least with respect to oil that may be recovered with traditional techniques. Even when these reservoirs contain a large quantity of conventional oil, this oil may only make up a fraction of the total hydrocarbons contained within the well. In addition, conventional oil reserves only make up a fraction of the total, worldwide oil reserves. Thus, a wide variety of techniques have been developed to increase the overall recovery of conventional oil from a subterranean formation, as well as to facilitate the recovery of unconventional oil. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of such methods include water injection, which may increase the pressure within the formation, and steam injection, which may increase both the pressure within the formation and the temperature of the oil contained therein, thus decreasing the oil's viscosity and allowing it to flow more readily. Other techniques include advances in well design and construction, such as the development of horizontal drilling technology, and the use of solvents to dissolve high-viscosity oil.
In the case of steam injection, high-pressure steam may be injected into the subterranean formation. As stated above, this steam may increase the pressure within the formation, increasing the driving force for oil flow out of the formation through a well. In addition, the steam may carry a significant amount of thermal energy, both sensible and latent, into the well. As the steam cools, it may release both sensible and latent heat and increase the temperature of the oil within the formation. As the oil temperature increases, its viscosity may decrease, allowing it to flow more easily from the formation and thereby increasing the overall oil recovery. Steam injection may be accomplished utilizing a variety of known techniques. For example, see: S. M. Farouq Ali, "Heavy Oil—Evermore Mobile," Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 37(1), pp. 5-9, February 2003. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of such techniques include steamflooding, steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), cyclic steamflooding, steam soak, and/or cyclic steam stimulation (CSS). While steam injection may be quite effective under certain conditions, it also has inherent limitations.
For example, as the pressure of steam is increased, its latent heat of vaporization decreases. At pressures approaching the critical pressure (3200 pounds per square inch absolute pressure (psia) (22 MPa) for pure water), the latent heat of vaporization of steam approaches zero. This decrease and/or elimination of the latent heat of vaporization at high pressures translates to a significant decrease in the ability of a given volume of near-critical and/or supercritical steam stream to transfer thermal energy to a subterranean formation and thus to oil within the formation. In addition, the density of this high-pressure steam may become liquid-like, and the volume change upon cooling may decrease as the pressure approaches the critical pressure, thereby decreasing the pressure increase within the formation for a given mass of steam injected. While this may be at least partially compensated for by a corresponding increase in the steam temperature, doing so may result in operating temperatures that may be in excess of the temperatures desirable for steam injection. Thus, at high pressures, traditional steam injection may become much less beneficial.
As a general rule of thumb, the pressure within many undisturbed reservoirs may be considered to increase by approximately 0.5 psia for each additional foot of reservoir depth (11 kPa for each additional meter of reservoir depth). Thus, the ambient pressure of deep oil reservoirs may approach and/or exceed the critical pressure of pure water and may preclude the efficient use of traditional steam injection methods for the reasons discussed herein. However, since steam injection is a well-established and generally cost-effective method for shallower reservoirs, systems and methods to extend steam injection to deep viscous oil reservoirs are of interest and would be of utility.
Traditional steam injection techniques have been modified in a variety of ways. One such modification is through coinjection with a noncondensable gas species. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of these modifications are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,324,291 and 4,565,249, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference. Additional illustrative, non-exclusive examples are disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 1,228,020, the 1984 SPE Paper 11702 by K. C. Hong and J. W. Ault, which is entitled "Effects of Noncondensable Gas Injection on Oil Recovery by Steamflooding," and the 1998 SPE Paper 30297 by N. P. Freitag and B. J. Kristoff, which is entitled "Comparison of Carbon Dioxide and Methane as Additives at Steamflood Conditions," the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference. However, these modifications have been made to aid sweep efficiency, to act as a solvent to reduce oil viscosity, and/or to act as an insulating blanket by forming a gas cap, and not to increase the depth at which steam injection may be effectively utilized.

Deep steam injection systems and methods


The present invention provides a method of calibrating gamma-ray and photon counting detectors, including, but not limited to, monolithic crystal detectors. The method of the present invention is based on the observation that measurement of fan beam datasets allows the synthesis of collimated beam data to derive MDRFs by use of an algorithm that finds the common or intersecting data subsets of two or more orthogonal calibration datasets. This makes the calibration process very efficient while still allowing the full benefits of maximum-likelihood event-parameter estimation that incorporates the statistical nature of the light sensor measurements.

Monolithic-crystal gamma-ray detector designs are the simplest approach to imaging gamma rays. They can yield good planar (X, Y) spatial resolution and in some cases 3D (i.e., X, Y, Z) spatial resolution together with good energy and timing resolution. Such detectors are widely used in modern single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems and positron emission tomography (PET) systems. FIG. 1, panel a, shows a basic geometrical configuration of a typical monolithic scintillation crystal detector.
If a gamma-ray is absorbed at a specific location inside the scintillation crystal of the monolithic crystal detector, energy from the gamma-ray will be converted into a burst of secondary visible photons, called the scintillation photons. The scintillation photons will travel inside the monolithic crystal detector, until either detected by light sensors or absorbed somewhere inside the detector. If the interaction position is close to a light sensor, the light sensor will produce a larger signal. In contrast, if the interaction position is farther away from the light sensor, the light sensor will produce a smaller signal. The relative signal strengths of the light sensors are then used to estimate the position and energy attributes of each gamma-ray interaction. Similar methods are used in detectors for particles and detectors for other forms of electromagnetic radiation, such as X-ray detectors.
Anger-arithmetic methods consisting of simple linear combinations of signals are conventionally used to estimate gamma-ray interaction position for monolithic-crystal gamma-ray detectors (Peterson and Furenlid 2011, "SPECT detectors: the Anger Camera and beyond," Physics in Medicine and Biology, 56(17): R145-R182). Although such methods are relatively simple and fast to use, significant performance is sacrificed in that images are extremely distorted. Heuristic position corrections are traditionally made to correct for the distortion, but at the expense of introducing correlations in the data that can yield artifacts in final reconstructed tomographic images. Anger arithmetic also does not work near detector edges, resulting in a significant loss of usable detector area.
In order to utilize the full potential of monolithic crystal detectors for the detection of gamma-rays, X-rays, other forms of electromagnetic radiation, and particles, reference-data-based methods such as least-mean-square error (LMSE), contracting-grid search and vector searching, k nearest neighbor (KNN) or maximum-likelihood estimation (MLE) can be used, which yields an improved spatial resolution with almost no distortion (bias) and permits use of virtually the entire detector area.
However, in order to apply these methods, detector calibration is necessary to determine the detector sensors response as a function of gamma-ray interaction position (or other form of electromagnetic radiation interaction position or particle interaction position). That is, it is necessary to make measurements of each light sensor's signal response as a function of the interaction position. If measurements are combined from many events in a given area into an average value, these response functions are called the "mean detector response functions (MDRFs)."
For example, if there are 20 light sensors, there will be 20 MDRFs. Each MDRF represents one light sensor's mean signal response as a function of gamma-ray, X-ray, or particle interaction position. If the detector is a 2D detector, the MDRF is a 2D function; however, if the detector is a 3D detector in which the depth of interaction (DOI) can also be determined, the MDRF is a 3D function. For some estimation algorithms such as KNN, all the events at each calibration location are retained individually in a list to form a reference dataset. The invention described herein is equally applicable to these methods.
After the calibration procedure is complete and the detector is being used for imaging experiments, each gamma-ray (or other form of electromagnetic radiation or particle) event's corresponding set of light sensor signals (signal vector) can be compared with the MDRFs to estimate the interaction position (where the mean-square error is minimum, or likelihood is maximum). Accurate measurement of the calibration data is a key part to use these methods and thereby improve the imaging performance of existing and new monolithic-crystal scintillation detectors.
Five existing methods are primarily used to calibrate detectors: 1) scanning with a thin collimated beam, 2) scanning with a grid of thin collimated beams, 3) simulate MDRFs through modeling, 4) calibration using un-collimated sources, and 5) fan beam calibration. However, each of these methods has significant disadvantages, such as being very time consuming or being unable to calibrate depth of interaction information. Accordingly, what is needed is an improved method for detector calibration.

Calibration method and system for photon or particle counting detectors

Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona


A gas turbine airfoil has an external surface and an internal passage therethrough. The internal passage is selectively coated by providing a source of a flowable precursor coating material in contact with the internal passage of the airfoil, and providing a coating prevention structure overlying at least a portion of the external surface. The flowable precursor coating material is flowed from the source of the flowable precursor coating material and through the internal passage of the airfoil. The coating prevention structure prevents contact of the flowable precursor coating material with the external surface of the airfoil.

In an aircraft gas turbine (jet) engine, air is drawn into the front of the engine, compressed by a shaft-mounted compressor, and mixed with fuel. The mixture is burned, and the hot exhaust gases are passed through a turbine mounted on the same shaft. The flow of combustion gas turns the turbine by impingement against an airfoil section of the turbine blades and vanes, which turns the shaft and provides power to the compressor and fan. The hot exhaust gases flow from the back of the engine, driving it and the aircraft forward.
The hotter the combustion and exhaust gases, the more efficient is the operation of the jet engine. There is thus an incentive to raise the combustion and exhaust gas temperatures. The maximum temperature of the combustion gases is normally limited by the materials used to fabricate the turbine vanes and turbine blades of the turbine, upon which the hot combustion gases impinge. In current engines, the turbine vanes and blades are made of nickel-based superalloys, and can operate at temperatures of up to about 1900-2100.degree. F.
Many approaches have been used to increase the operating temperature limit of the turbine blades and vanes to their current levels. For example, the composition and processing of the base materials themselves have been improved.
Physical cooling techniques may also be used. In one technique, internal cooling passages through the interior of the turbine airfoil are present. Air is forced through the cooling passages and out openings at the external surface of the airfoil, removing heat from the interior of the airfoil and, in some cases, providing a boundary layer of cooler air at the surface of the airfoil. To attain maximum cooling efficiency, the cooling passages are placed as closely to the external surface of the airfoil as is consistent with maintaining the required mechanical properties of the airfoil, to as little as about 0.020 inch in some cases.
In another approach, a protective layer or a ceramic/metal thermal barrier coating (TBC) system is applied to the airfoil, which acts as a substrate. The protective layer with no overlying ceramic layer (in which case the protective layer is termed an "environmental coating") is useful in intermediate-temperature applications. The currently known protective layers include diffusion aluminides and MCrAlX overlays. A ceramic thermal barrier coating layer may be applied overlying the protective layer on the external airfoil surface, to form a thermal barrier coating system (in which case the protective layer is termed a "bond coat"). The thermal barrier coating system is useful in higher-temperature applications. The ceramic thermal barrier coating insulates the component from the combustion gas, permitting the combustion gas to be hotter than would otherwise be possible with the particular material and fabrication process of the substrate.
The surfaces of the internal cooling passages may be protected with a diffusion aluminide coating, which oxidizes to an aluminum oxide protective scale that inhibits further oxidation of the internal surfaces. Although techniques are known for depositing an aluminide protective coating on an internal passage, the present inventors have observed that the available techniques suffer from the shortcoming that they may adversely affect the protection and the repair of the external surface of the airfoil. There is a need for an improved approach to the protection of the internal cooling passages of gas turbine airfoils, which approach does not adversely affect other portions of the airfoils. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Apparatus and method for selectively coating internal and external surfaces of an airfoil


An automated method begins by receiving a list of numbers that have been de-activated by a carrier. Periodically, and for each number, a request is made to identify a current carrier for the number. If the current carrier matches the carrier that provided the de-activation information, the mobile number is considered to be in a first state, i.e., shut off and returned to a pool of numbers that are available to this same carrier. Upon a determination that the number is in the first state, the provider issues a request to any opt-in database to delete any express consent or other similar data associated with the number. If, however, the number does not match the carrier of deactivation, the number is considered to be in a second state, i.e., likely to have been ported by the same user to a new carrier. This state is logged in an audit trail.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to telephone number identification.
2. Description of the Related Art
Under the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) "local number portability" (LNP) rules, as long as a user remains in the same geographic area, he or she can switch telephone service providers yet retain his or her existing phone number. Currently, upon mobile number deactivation, there is no easy way to tell whether a mobile number has been transferred from one carrier to another in this manner (i.e., via number portability) or, rather, has merely been recycled by the carrier and is now being, or soon will be, used by a different individual. The inability to identify whether a mobile number has been ported or is being recycled also has implications for maintaining valid express consent according to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which generally prohibits the making of a call with an automatic dialer or pre-recorded voice to any phone number unless there is an emergency purpose, or the caller has the prior express consent of the "called party."
For companies (such as customer communications providers) concerned about messaging or calling a recycled mobile number, such entities may choose to lower their risk by not sending any messages or calls to mobile numbers just to be on the safe side. In such case, these companies would be giving up the benefit they had anticipated initially from making these calls and sending these messages, and mobile phone subscribers would be denied the benefit anticipated by receiving these calls and messages.
Thus, there is a need in the art to provide automated techniques for identifying recycled (as opposed to ported) mobile numbers.


The invention relates to a sub-ceiling with a supporting framework in the form of a grid of insecting bearing rails (1), which is able to be suspended at points of intersection of the bearing rails (1), formed by the nodal elements (2), and the open regions (34) of which are able to be secured in an air-tight and dust-tight manner on the peripheral edges by insert members which may take the form of coffers, lighting elements, air-supply devices or air-outlet devices. The insert members rest in a sealing manner on a sealing means on the bearing rails (1), whereby in order to simplify manufacture, construction and assembly and to fulfill the requirements of clean-room conditions, the bearing rails (1) are attachable in an air-tight and dust-tight manner to the nodal elements (2), with the bearing rails (1) having angular supporting flanges (3) on their end walls (15) and the respective nodal element (2) has bearing surfaces (18) cooperating with the supporting flanges (3) to support the bearing rails (1).

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a ceiling structure and more particularly to a sub-ceiling with a supporting framework in the form of a grid of intersecting bearing rails which support suspended panels is in a sealed manner.
2. Description of Related Art
Such a sub-ceiling is known, for example, from DE 28 58 140 C2. Longitudinal or horizontal bearing rails with T-shaped cross-sections of aluminium are used as bearing rails in the ceiling disclosed in this application. The longitudinal and horizontal rails are connected to each other by means of a connecting element. The disadvantage in this method of construction is the expensive manufacture of the special profiles and the lack of adaptability to various constructional axis dimensions. In addition the assembly of the relatively long longitudinal bearing rails is problematic. The connecting joints between the longitudinal and horizontal bearing rails can easily develop leaks, which should be avoided in clean-rooms used for industrial manufacture of electric or electronic components.


An operation management device includes a state acquiring unit that acquires a measurement value of a first state amount indicating an operation state of a power generation plant, a state updating unit that updates an estimation value of a second state amount, which indicates the operation state of the power generation plant and is a state amount different from the first state amount, based on the measurement value of the first state amount, and a managing unit that manages the operation state of the power generation plant based on the estimation value of the second state amount.

When a facility of a power generation plant is operated for a long period of time, the efficiency of configuration elements configuring the facility reduces. In order to estimate a secular change of each of the configuration elements, a method of correcting control parameters of the facility according to the efficiency of the facility and a change in operation conditions and automatically adjusting a mathematical model representing the facility is under consideration.
For example, a method of generating a model correction coefficient through a Kalman filter with the use of a difference between a gas turbine model and an operation parameter and automatically adjusting a mathematical model is disclosed in PTL 1.

Operation management device, power generation plant, and operation management method for power generation plant


A system and method for dynamic caching by a client device having remote memory access to a server. The system includes: a processing circuitry; and at least one memory, the at least one memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, configure the system to: configure a network interface of the client device to: request a memory allocation of at least a portion of a storage of the client device; receive, in real-time, the requested memory allocation of the client device storage; and store, in the allocated at least a portion of the client device storage, at least a first portion of cached metadata, wherein the cached metadata corresponds to at least an access operation between the client device and the server.

Network accessible storages have and continue to become increasingly prevalent. Network accessible storages provide access to files and data without requiring local storage. A particular method for providing access to storages available over a network is remote direct memory access. Remote direct memory access allows for direct access of the memory of one computer by the memory of another directly and without involving either computer's operating system. This direct access permits high-throughput, low-latency networking as compared to less direct methods of remote access, especially when utilized in massively parallel computer clusters.
A challenge faced by network accessible storage devices is that such devices are typically slower to access than local storages. Further, aggregations of slowed accesses can result in severe underperformance when utilizing remote storage access than for local storage access, particularly when scaling up to incorporate a high number of computers accessible over a network. Thus, even when remote direct memory access is utilized, remote access may be significantly less efficient than local access.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that would overcome the challenges noted above by improving communications with network accessible storage devices.

Techniques for dynamic cache use by an input/output device