A method of organizing time sequential application data in an IC card, and an IC card having a structure for organizing such time sequential data. The IC card has an onboard microprocessor and an onboard semiconductor memory. Information is recorded in addressable application blocks defined for the purpose of receiving and recording application data. So long as unrecorded information blocks remain available, new application data is recorded in time sequential locations in those blocks and a record is kept of the sequence of recordation along with the block address at which the data is recorded. When all of the application blocks are filed, the last mentioned record is searched to determine the oldest data recorded in an application block, the new data is overwritten over that data, and the time sequential record updated. The time sequential record of data allows the onboard microprocessor to determine locations in its associated memory where data is to be stored independently of the application program while still allowing the application program to access the data at locations which are, in effect, unknown to the application program.

IC cards are known and have evolved to include an onboard microprocessor and an onboard nonvolatile memory embedded in the IC card. In the advanced IC cards, the nonvolatile memory is rewritable, and such a feature allows recorded information to be updated. As a result, such cards can be used as transaction cards, in which data relating to a transaction can be recorded when the transaction is made and later read out for the purpose of updating the account of the card holder.
In such cards, when a series of transaction data is to be recorded, there is typically a section of semiconductor memory set aside for recording transaction data, and that section of memory is divided into separate blocks, each adapted to hold data relating to a single transaction. For example, if information to be recorded in the IC card relates to commercial transactions, data representing the time and details of each transaction are recorded in the respective blocks, preferably in time sequence. In general, it is very convenient to handle such time-series data in the order in which the data is generated. Typically, the oldest data is the first to lose its usefulness, and thus when it becomes expendable the locations in which the oldest data is recorded can be overwritten, allowing the IC card to be used for many more transactions than would be possible based on a limit set by the number of application blocks in the limited memory. When all of the allocated blocks are filled, however, it is necessary to make previously recorded blocks available for recording new information. The blocks which can be made available are those containing the oldest information which has already been read out by the application program so that it is no longer needed.
Since it is the application program which has a need to store and later relocate the data, it has been the practice for the application program itself to define an address in the onboard semiconductor memory, so that the application program has the address information for later retrieval of that data. But, if the application program is solely charged with determining the oldest data to provide new locations for recording new data, each time it is desired to record a new element of data, it is necessary for the application program to read out and examine all of the data in all of the blocks to isolate the oldest data record before it can record the new data record. Considering the fact that a complex network can include many IC cards used randomly in a variety of widely dispersed terminals, it will be appreciated that a considerable load can be placed on the application program if it solely has to determine the oldest data in order to record new data for each transaction.

IC card and method of recording data therein


A security file for use in a van-style vehicle, which file includes a lid cover of a lockable lid assembly pivotally movable between open and closed positions and also slidable between a rearwardly closed position and a forwardly partially open position, which forwardly partially open position facilitates use of the lid cover as a flat writing surface for a person seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

Many van-style vehicles are utilized as commercial vehicles for such purposes as delivery vans or portable work sites. When used in this fashion, there is often a need for a file cabinet to be located internally of the van for storing work orders, invoices, etc. There is also often a need for a miniature desk at which a driver or workman using that van may do the paperwork associated with the use of the van.
There have been vehicles which contained storage cabinets, but those cabinets have, for the most part, not been useful as file cabinets because of their size and shape. Those cabinets have also been inappropriate as desks or writing surfaces because of their size, contours and location. Examples of such vehicles containing storage cabinets may be found in Daniels U.S. Pat. No. 3,177,033; Daniels U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,107; Belsky U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,409; and Kathiria U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,759. But, the storage boxes disclosed in these patents, while suitable for storing objects, are not suitable as either filing cabinets or as desk writing surfaces.
Wynn U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,126 discloses a lockable security compartment mounted on the front console of a van-type vehicle, but the security compartment of this patent is again, because of its size, shape and location, not particularly appropriate as a file cabinet or as a desk writing surface.


A multi-task capable work assist vehicle is designed for transporting an operator and items to be handled by the operator and for elevating the operator with such items supported upon a load tray elevated with the operator. Preferably the load tray is mounted for positioning along a telescoping mast which supports and elevates the operator. A load deck or load platform is provided on a body of the vehicle in addition to the load tray so that items such as packages, tools, parts, merchandise and the like can be carried by the vehicle. Load shelves may also be provided adjacent the load deck to add flexibility and capacity to the load carrying capability of the vehicle. Uses of the vehicle include order picking, in-house service maintenance, stock management, cargo delivery and the like. It is designed to be compact in size and highly maneuverable for use in narrow storage aisles and tight quarters.

The present invention relates in general to electric powered personnel carrying vehicles that are particularly useful in transporting items retrieved from shelves in a warehouse, or as a work platform which allows an operator to be raised approximately six feet or more into the air, for example to retrieve or place items of merchandise on shelves of a retail store and, more particularly, to load trays which can be utilized on such vehicles to support items to be handled by operators utilizing such vehicles.
Small parts picking is commonly done by personnel manually pushing carts equipped with several shelves and a low level ladder which the operator climbs for reaching stock items up to nine feet high. Higher elevation picking, up to 12 feet, is accomplished with large manual push-in-place mobile ladder stands. Both the carts and mobile ladder stands require the operator to climb up and down while manually holding the goods.
A compact aerial lift vehicle which can be used for parts picking is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,132. The vehicle is separable into several parts for storage and can be controlled by an operator supported upon a platform which can be elevated along a vertical post member removably mounted upon a body of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the aerial lift vehicle of the '132 patent is of limited utility since only a small-sized basket is provided for the operator such that the operator must still manually hold items too large to fit into the basket. Further, there is no provision for supporting items on the body of the vehicle for transportation of those items utilizing the vehicle.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved personnel carrying vehicle which includes a load tray mounted on and movable with an expandable mast of the vehicle so that an operator of the vehicle does not need to manually hold any items which can be handled by the operator utilizing the vehicle. Alternately, or preferably in addition to the mast mounted load tray, the vehicle would include a load deck or load platform for carrying items on the vehicle for transportation of the items.

Load trays for personnel carrying vehicles


An information retrieval apparatus having a CPU which causes retrieval conditions entered through an input device to be stored in a memory together with titles entered through the input device. The CPU also calls titles of the retrieval conditions stored in the memory to cause a list of the titles to be displayed on a display unit, so that required titles can be selected from the title list for retrieval condition setting.

The present invention relates to an information retrieval apparatus for retrieving, on the basis of retrieval conditions, primary information registered together with such secondary information which can provide the retrieval conditions when retrieval is required.
A conventional retrieval apparatus of this type includes a CPU (central processing unit), a register unit for entry of primary information together with relevant secondary information, an input device for inputting data such as retrieval conditions, etc., and a display unit which displays a list or the like of pieces of secondary information searched on the basis of retrieval conditions inputted by the input device and which performs the following steps of retrieval operation according to a flow chart as shown in FIG. 22.
At step S1, initialization is executed for the display of lists, etc.
At step S2, retrieval condition setting is executed to set conditions for retrieval of primary information.
At step S3, retrieval is executed on the basis of the retrieval conditions set at step S2.
At step S4, a secondary information list conforming to the retrieval conditions is displayed on the display unit.
At step S5, a specified piece of secondary information is selected for input from the secondary information list displayed on the display unit. Thereupon, primary information with the inputted secondary information is selected and displayed on the display unit.
Now, in conjunction with the above procedure, a subroutine for setting retrieval conditions at aforesaid step S2 will be explained according to a flow chart given in FIG. 23.
At step S21, the next operation to be executed is specified as either setting of contents for retrieval items or operation ending. For this purpose, a cursor is moved to a desired position, either the "END" or "SEARCH ITEMS" position on the retrieval condition setting screen on display to input "END" or "SEARCH ITEMS".
At step S22, it is determined whether or not the input at step S21 is "END". If YES, the retrieval condition setting operation is terminated and the program returns to the main routine of FIG. 22; otherwise, the program proceeds to step S23.
At step S23, the contents of "SEARCH ITEMS" inputted at step S21 are set at given positions on the display, and then the program returns to step S21.
However, the above described prior art information retrieval apparatus has a difficulty in that since a secondary information list is displayed on the display unit after a secondary information retrieval is carried out on the basis of retrieval conditions set at step S2, there may be cases in which when, after a primary information retrieval is made, it is necessary to retrieve the same primary information again. If retrieval conditions different in part from those previously applied, are inputted by an operator who may have forgotten the previously applied conditions, the previously considered primary information can not be it will result that primary information identical with obtained. Another difficulty is that various retrieval conditions previously applied have to be inputted again when such repetition of retrieval is required, which is very troublesome indeed.

Information retrieval apparatus with user interface for displaying and printing of retrieved data in different selected sequences


A method for molecular haplotyping of a subject is disclosed. The method comprises: randomly selecting a set of chromosomes in each of a plurality of lyzed diploid cells of the subject, collecting the selected chromosomes from said plurality of cells into a plurality of sample tubes, wherein each sample tube contains chromosomes selected from one or more cells, genotyping genomic DNA in each sample tube, and determining haplotype of the alleles based on allele nucleotide sequence information and corresponding nucleotide signal intensities from genotyping data. Other methods for molecular haplotyping using single cell lysate or single cell microdissection are also disclosed.

Normal human somatic cells are diploid (i.e., having two copies of genome: a paternal set of chromosomes and a maternal set of chromosomes in each nucleus). Within each individual, these two sets of chromosomes have different nucleotide sequences (single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)) at multiple loci. Conventional genotyping assays analyze a mixture of these two sets of chromosomes, which leads to uncertainty and complexity. For example, for any two SNP loci that are both heterozygous, there will be four possible haplotypes between these two SNPs. However, since the phase information was erased when doing the single SNP genotyping using the conventional platforms, none of these four possible haplotypes can be eliminated. One way to solve this problem is to find a reliable method to re-establish or retract the phase information. Another way is to extract the phase information before doing genotyping.
The skilled artisans in this field used the various statistical algorithms to re-establish the phase information. These algorithms include Clark's algorithm, expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, coalescence-based algorithms (pseudo-Gibbs sampler and perfect/imperfect phylogeny), and partition-ligation algorithms implemented by a fully Bayesian model (Haplotype) or by EM (PLEM) (Liu N, et al., Advances in Genetics, 60: 325-405, 2008). Statistical configuration of haplotypes based on unphased genotype data usually gives a large number of uncertain haplotypes, which significantly reduces the power in genetic applications. In addition, it is still controversial as to whether the configured haplotypes should be treated as objective observations of genotypes and phenotypes in these studies. While genotypes from family members can often help to determine the haplotypes, haplotype inference from family data is often limited by uninformative or missing data. Moreover, late-age onset for most of the common human diseases can preclude collection of DNA samples from previous generations. Therefore, these methods are not suitable for the molecular diagnosis in personalized medicine in the future.
In parallel, some researchers developed experimental methods to extract the phase information in the genomic DNA samples before genotyping. These methods are all based on the physical separation of two homologous genomic DNAs before genotyping. The challenge is how to separate two almost identical copies of chromosomes in diploid cells. Several strategies/technologies have been developed for separating diploid samples into their haploid components, such as 1) Long-range allele-specific genomic PCR (Michalatos-Beloin S, et al., Nucleic Acids Res 24: 4841-4843, 1996; and Yu C E, et al., Genomics 84: 600-612, 2004); 2) Haplotype-Specific Extraction (HSE) (Nagy M, et al., Tissue Antigens 69: 176-180, 2007); 3) Generation of somatic haploid cells, such as GMP conversion (Douglas J A, et al., Nat Genet 28: 361-364, 2001); 4) Polony (Mitra et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100: 5926-5931, 2003; Zhang K, et al., Nat Genet 38:382-387, 2006); 5) Clone-based systematic haplotype (CSH) (Burgtorf C, et al., Genome Res 13: 2717-2724, 2003); 6) single molecule dilution (SMD) (Ding C, et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100: 7449-7453, 2003); and 7) Sperm typing.
Long-range Allele-Specific Genomic PCR uses specifically designed PCR primers to selectively amplify the target region from only one of the sister chromosomes. Selective amplification is achieved by designing a primer that will match/mismatch to one of the alleles at the 3′-end of the primer. Thus, the primer cannot amplify the unmatched chromosomal DNA template efficiently. Genotyping will be done subsequently on the amplification products. Because these PCR products are obtained from only one of the chromosomes, the alleles of different SNPs along these PCR products reveal the haplotype.
In this method, the maximal distance of the genetic markers in the haplotype is determined by the maximal length that PCR can reach and the chromosome integrity in DNA preparation. Therefore, the haplotype length is restricted by the PCR capacity, which is about 40 kb for long PCR. This method is often technically challenging and requires extensive optimization of PCR conditions for every primer pair to improve the amplification efficiency of long PCR. Different combinations of several primer pairs and buffers are usually recommended to optimize PCR condition. However, this method is not applicable to high throughput analysis of haplotypes.
Haplotype-Specific Extraction (HSE) uses specifically designed probes to selectively capture the fragments from only one of the sister chromosomes. Selective binding is achieved by designing a probe that specifically recognizes one allele of a SNP. If an individual is a heterozygote, when this probe is added into the denatured genomic DNA samples, the probe will seek and bind only to the genomic DNA fragments containing its target allele. Therefore, the probe-bound DNA fragments are captured by immobilized magnetic beads and the unbound DNA fragments with the other allele of this SNP will be washed away. Now the genomic DNA in diploid state is reduced to haploid state and ready for all subsequent analysis including genotyping/haplotype. Because distinct polymorphic differences always exist between two parental chromosomes, HSE can distinguish and separate the two parental copies for any chromosomal segments.
In this method, the maximal distance of the genetic markers in haplotype is determined by the chromosome integrity in DNA preparation and the DNA denaturation. This method can resolve haplotypes within a distance of <50 kb so far. If molecular haplotypes over extended distances are needed, multiplexed haploseparations have to be carried out.
GMP Conversion Technology is built upon constructions of cell hybrids from viable human cells (typically lymphocytes or fibroblasts) and a rodent cell line. Because these hybrid cells retain only a subset of human chromosomes, they can be either null, monosomic or disomic for each pair of human chromosomes. Those monosomic cells are haploid for the corresponding chromosomes and ready for subsequent genotyping assays for determination of haplotype.
In this technology, cells are electrofused and then propagated under a selective condition, for example, using the HPRT1/HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine) system. After 2-4 weeks of growth, fused clones are harvested, and DNA is prepared for analysis. The monosomic clones can be identified by genotyping a few, highly polymorphic markers per chromosome, which minimally requires a single heterozygous genotype. Nonetheless, there are still some technical challenges on conversion-based haplotyping, including low DNA concentrations, preferential amplification, and insertions or deletions of chromosomal segments (Douglas J A et al., Nat Genet 28: 361-364, 2001).
It has been observed that whole chromosomes rather than chromosomal fragments are generally retained in the hybrid cells (Supra Douglas 2001). Therefore, this method does not have any restrictions on the distance of SNPs in a haplotype. The application of GMP Conversion Technology is restricted to a very limited number of subjects and chromosomal regions because of the inefficiencies and variations in fusion and selection conditions. Numerous cell lines are required for each individual. Conversion-based haplotyping is still very time-consuming and very costly.
Polony Technology uses a polyacrylamide gel to work on an in situ single molecule of chromosomal DNA. In this technology, genomic DNA from an individual is first diluted to a very low concentration, and then mixed with acrylamide and spread onto a glass microscope slide to form a thin DNA-containing polyacrylamide gel. Because the DNA concentration is so low, the DNA molecules are well separated from each other. An in-gel PCR is then performed directly on this gel, with 2 pairs of PCR primers to amplify two loci of the SNPs of interest from a single DNA molecule. Because the acrylamide matrix restricts the diffusion of linear DNA molecules, PCR products accumulate around their amplification template forming two overlapping PCR colonies (polony). The genotypes of these two SNPs are determined in situ by single-base extension (SBE) assay separately for these two SNPs and the gels are read by a laser scanner. After overlaying the two SBE images, the alleles observed on the same spot indicate the allele combination (haplotype) of these two SNPs of this patient sample.
The maximal haplotype length of Polony is determined by the DNA fragmentation or degradation before, during and after the acrylamide polymerization. It is reported that this method has measured the haplotype as long as 45 kb so far (Mitra, et al., PNAS USA 100: 5926-5931, 2003; Zhang K, et al., Nat Genet 38:382-387, 2006).
There are several inherent caveats in the Polony method. One major limitation of Polony haplotyping is that it is not efficient for scaling up the number of SNPs. But it is often desirable to haplotype a large number (100-10,000) of SNPs along a chromosome. Second, the DNA molecules may overlap in the gel. Therefore, the DNA concentration and plating condition is critical. Third, the PCR coamplification efficiency is low (4-15% for samples from buccal swabs, 15-34% for samples from the other collection methods). The coamplification efficiency is related to the presence of ungelled acrylamide in the Polony gel during thermal cycling and DNA fragmentation or degradation. Technical optimization (such as degas and polymerization condition) may be required. Lastly, this technology requires metaphase cells.
Clone-based Systematic Haplotyping (CSH) uses fosmid/cosmid cloning to isolate a single copy from diploid chromosomes. Because each vector molecule can hold only one insert molecule, each colony derived from successful vector-insert ligation will hold only a haploid chromosomal segment. By screening the colony library, the clones that contain the target chromosomal segments will be obtained for subsequent haplotyping analysis. Because the vector cannot successfully accept inserts with a very large size beyond their maximal cloning capacities, CSH can separate a haploid fragment of ˜50 kilobases. In addition, this method is very time-consuming and costly.
Single Molecule Dilution (SMD) is built upon the idea that a single molecule is certainly a haploid fragment because diploid chromosomes are a pair of copies and require two DNA molecules to constitute a diploid. To obtain a single molecule in each reaction tube, genomic DNA samples are diluted to an extremely low concentration. We have known that each diploid genome of human is ˜6.7 pg, so if a tube contains only ˜3.3 pg of genomic DNA, it must have single molecules for some chromosomal regions because the DNA amount is not sufficient for every chromosomal region to have two copies in that tube. This very low DNA concentration is achieved by serial dilutions. After serial dilution, for any given chromosomal segment, each tube may contain no DNA, one molecule of DNA for that region, or two molecules of DNA for that region. The tiny amount of DNA samples in these tubes is then amplified and genotyped; allele drop-out at previously identified heterozygous SNP loci of this individual is used to screening out the "single-molecule" tubes for further experiments. The caveat of this method is that it relies on statistical isolation of single DNA molecules, so there is no experimental guarantee for its success.
In this method, due to frequent shearing in serial dilutions, genomic DNA is broken down. The maximal distance is so far reported to be 24 kb in haplotyping distance (Ding C, et al., PNAS USA 100: 7449-7453, 2003).
Sperm Typing is built upon the fact that a sperm is a product of meiosis and only contains a haploid genome. Despite sperm being haploid, sperm haplotypes are not simply equal to the donor's haplotype. The sperm haploid genome is not any one of parental chromosomes of this individual. However, by genotyping several sperms from one individual and then analyzing the haplotype data from these sperms, the haplotypes of this individual can be inferred. Therefore, sperm typing is different from the above molecular haplotyping methods because it is not a direct haplotyping.
Different sperms have gone through different crossing over events in meiotic recombination, so sperms from the same individual will have different haplotypes. In crossing over, two chromatids exchange their distal arms of chromosomes; usually this distal end of the chromosomes are exchanged only once in humans, sometimes twice or more times. Therefore, it is possible to infer the haplotypes of the original patient from a number of sperm under the assumption that only one crossing over event occurred in the studied sperms. However, since sperm typing is limited to male only, the procedure is tedious and costly, and the haplotypes are inferred results, not direct observations; sperm typing is not widely used for molecular haplotyping.
In summary, the currently available experimental methods for chromosome separation often cause the chromosome breakdown so they cannot obtain the long-range haplotypes. In addition, they are extremely time-consuming and labour-intensive, so they are not practically feasible in researcher laboratories and clinics. There still exists a need for a haplotyping method that can be performed quickly at low cost.

Methods for determination of haplotype dissection


A latchable voltage level shifter is provided. The latchable voltage level shifter comprises: a voltage level shifter receiving an original input signal and generating a high voltage signal according to a timing sequence of a first phase control signal; and a high voltage flip-flop, coupled to the voltage level shifter, receiving the high voltage signal and a second phase control signal, the high voltage flip-flop latching the high voltage signal according to a timing sequence of the second phase control signal and outputting a high voltage output signal. The latchable voltage level shifter can be used in a source drive circuit so as to reduce the layout area and production cost.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a voltage level shifter, and more particularly to a latchable voltage level shifter with a high voltage flip-flop.
2. Description of Related Art
The electronic circuits usually have to latch the data into the flip-flop according to the predetermined timing sequence and then shift the voltage level of the latched data for subsequent processing. The source drive circuit of the liquid crystal display (LCD) is one example.
FIG. 1 is the block diagram of a traditional LCD source drive circuit. Referring to FIG. 1, the driver circuit is one of the source drive circuits in the LCD. After by the source drive circuit 100 processes the display data DATA, the source drive signal 151 will be obtained. The source drive signal 151 will be sent to one of the source channel of the LCD panel (not shown). The LCD panel receives the source drive signals from each source channel to display the image.
Generally, to correctly latch the display data of the source channels, the line latch 100 will latch the display data DATA according to the first timing sequence DIO to obtain the display data 111. To make sure that the source drive circuit of each source channel can output the source drive signal 151 simultaneously, the prior art uses line latch 120 to latch the display data 111 according to the timing sequence LD to obtain the display data 121; then the voltage level shifter 130 shifts the display data 121 with a lower voltage level of to become the display data 131 with a higher voltage level. The D/A converter 140 converts the digital display data 121 to an analog source drive signal 141. To enhance the driving ability of the source drive signal 141, the operational amplifier 150 amplifies the source drive signal 141 and outputs the source drive signal 151.
However, when designing the traditional voltage level shifter, the designer has to consider the channel length/width ratio of the MOSFET. Because the drafting effect in the semiconductor manufacturing process is almost unavoidable, it becomes difficult to control the channel length/width ratio. In addition, in the traditional design, the designer has to take the line latch and the voltage level shifter into account, which causes that the source drive circuits of the LCD with multi-channels occupy more layout areas and thus increase the power consumption and the production cost.


In general, increased video image contrast is achieved by reducing light transmission through an antistatic/antireflective (ASAR) coating disposed on the surface of the display screen of a cathode ray tube (CRT) by adding an organic dye to the coating. A silane coupling agent is added to the coating to prevent diffusion of the dye out of the coating which gives rise to undesirable water marks on the display screen. However, the silane coupling agent at the required concentrations weakens the mechanical strength of the coating, reduces its electrical conductivity, and changes its light reflective index. To avoid this, two or more different silane coupling agents are added to the ASAR coating with the plural silane coupling agents having an additive, or combining, effect which allows for the use of reduced amounts of the coupling agents and avoids the aforementioned problems. One agent is hydrophobic, while the other bonds to the organic dye.

This invention relates generally to the display screen of a cathode ray tube (CRT) and is particularly directed to an antistatic/antireflective coating disposed on the outer surface of a CRT""s display screen.
Self-emitting display devices, such as of the CRT type, provide a video image by the bombardment of phosphor elements disposed on the inner surface of the device""s display screen by high energy electrons. The phosphor elements are generally of three types in producing the primary colors of red, green, and blue in providing a color video image on the display screen. For optimum color purity, the three groups of color phosphors should emit light characterized by three discrete spectra, with no overlap between adjacent spectral components. In practice, however, there is always some overlap between adjacent spectral components. However, by minimizing adjacent color overlap, color contrast is improved to provide a more visually pleasing video image. A high level of contrast is normally obtained by reducing the light transmission characteristic of the coating.
There are currently two approaches to increasing the color contrast of a video image on the display screen of a CRT. One approach involves the addition of organic dyes in a surface coating disposed in the form of a thin layer in the outer surface of the CRT""s display screen. The other approach to increasing video image color contrast is through the use of inorganic pigments in the display screen""s outer surface coating. Unfortunately, inorganic pigments are characterized as having only limited solubility and are difficult to disburse in organic solvents. Thus, the use of organic dyes in the display screen""s surface coating is the more commonly used approach for increasing color video image contrast.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,338 to Itou et al. discloses an antistatic/antiglare coating in the form of a single layer to which an organic dye is added. This approach is not particularly desirable because the organic dye is subject to bleaching out of the coating when the face plate is wiped with a wet cloth containing either water or alcohol. U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,097 to color Kawamura et al teaches the addition of an organic dye to the inner antistatic layer of a double-layer layer antireflective/antistatic coating on the outer surface of the CRT""s display screen. The inner antistatic layer containing the organic dye is then covered with the outer antireflective layer. Even with the inner antistatic layer covered by a protective outer antireflective layer, the organic dye has been observed to diffuse outwardly from the inner antistatic layer and through the outer antireflective layer with the organic dye eventually bleaching out of the antireflective/antistatic coating on the faceplate through repeated wiping of the faceplate with either a dry or wet cloth. This results in undesirable water marks on the surface. Washing out of the dye from the display screen""s outer surface coating is a particularly serious problem in a high temperature and high humidity environment.
In the past, a silane coupling agent has been added to the antireflective solution to bond to the dye and prevent its bleaching out. This approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,114 wherein one end of the silane coupling agent links to the dye and its other end links to SO2. Unfortunately, the large amounts of silane coupling agent required to reduce washing out of the dye also tends to weaken the mechanical strength of the coating and change its light refractive index. In addition, large amounts of silane coupling agent lower the coating""s electrical conductivity due to the relatively high content of nonconductive compounds. In some cases, a water soluble polymer having a structure similar to that of a dye as well as to that of a silane coupling agent is added to the antireflective coating. The dye is stabilized by linking the Si end of the polymer with the SiO2 in the antireflective coating.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned problems encountered in the prior art by providing an outer layer surface coating for the outer surface of a CRT display screen which includes a first silane coupling agent which reacts with the silica in the glass display screen to provide a high degree of adherence and a second silane coupling agent which is hydrophobic for preventing moisture from permeating into the coating layer at high humidities. This combination of silane coupling agents provides the display screen""s surface coating with a high degree of hardness, increased electrical conductivity, and reduced reflectivity.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved antistatic and/or antireflective coating for the outer surface of the display screen of a cathode ray tube (CRT) which provides a high level of color video image contrast without reducing the mechanical strength, changing the refractive index, or increasing the reflectivity of the display screen coating.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an antistatic and/or antireflective coating for a CRT display screen which retains its mechanical properties and stability at high temperatures and humidity levels, transmits reduced light for improved video image contrast, and maintains high electrical conductivity for effective electrostatic discharge.
A further object of the present invention is to improve the mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, and optical characteristics of an antistatic and/or antireflective coating for the surface of a display screen of a self-emitting color display device by adding reduced amounts of silane coupling agents to the coating.
The present invention contemplates for use on an outer surface of a glass faceplate of a self-emitting display device, wherein the glass faceplate includes a phosphor coating on an inner surface thereof, and wherein the phosphor coating is responsive to energetic electrons incident thereon for providing light for presentation of a video image on the glass faceplate, a coating comprising: an antireflective layer disposed on the outer surface of the faceplate; an organic dye disposed in the antireflective layer for increasing color purity and contrast of the video image presented on the glass faceplate; a first binding agent disposed in the antireflective layer for bonding to the dye and preventing diffusion of the dye out of the antireflective layer; and a second binding agent disposed in and bonded to the antireflective layer for providing the antireflective layer with increased water resistance for preventing washing out of the dye from the antireflective layer.

High contrast, moisture resistant antistatic/antireflective coating for CRT display screen


Methods for preparing selective catalytic metal microstructures and nanostructures having at least one surface ligand. The methods include providing a preliminary metal microstructure or nanostructure having at least one preliminary surface ligand, and replacing the preliminary surface ligand with at least one surface ligand to provide the catalytic metal microstructure or nanostructure.

Metal microstructures and nanostructures are often employed in various catalytic fields. For example, metal nanoparticles are frequently studied for use as catalysts in carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction reactions. The surface chemistry of such structures is a critical aspect of these studies, as surface chemistry may affect the structures' synthesis and their potential application in catalytic fields. For example, the morphology and size of metal nanoparticles may be controlled by choosing proper organic ligands to cap specific facets of the nanoparticles, as these ligands will alert the nanoparticle's nucleation and growth rate during solution synthesis.
However, while ligands are often critical for tuning the shape and size of metal microstructures and nanostructures during synthesis, many known ligands are detrimental to the resulting structures' use in catalytic fields, as the ligands often block access to catalytic sites on the structures' surface. Moreover, longer ligands often affect the conductivity of the metal comprised by the structures.
To alleviate these problems, UV-Ozone irradiation, thermal annealing, and acid washing have recently been used for catalyst surface cleaning and surfactant removal. However, these methods often cause catalyst aggregation and induce size and morphology changes. There is thus a need in the art for a method for preparing catalytic metal microstructures and nanostructures having acceptable catalyst activity and product selectivity without inducing structure changes and aggregation.


Token detection at a single computing platform may be linked with a user identification to unlock content and/or effectuate modifications in virtual space instances presented via multiple computing platforms, in accordance with one or more implementations. Exemplary implementations may enhance consistency in a user's experiences of a virtual space across multiple computing platforms.

Conventionally, unlocking content and/or effectuating modifications in a virtual space may be limited to a single instance of the virtual space configured for presentation via a specific type of computing platform. As such, a user's experience may be inconsistent when the user accesses different instances of the virtual space via different types of computing platforms. For example, certain unlocked content and/or modifications may be realized in an instance of the virtual space presented via a game console, but not in an instance of the virtual space presented via a mobile device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Linking token detection at a single computing platform with a user identification to unlock content in virtual space instances presented via multiple computing platforms


A center mechanism (10) for manipulating a bladder (20) in a tire curing press (12) includes a lower plate ring (28) for carrying a lower bead (22) of the bladder (20), and an upper plate ring (60) for carrying an upper bead (24) of the bladder (20). The center mechanism (10) may also include a first piston chamber (45) and a second piston chamber (105) positioned radially interior from the first piston chamber (45). An outer piston assembly (37) is operative to selectively raise the lower plate ring (28) and an inner piston assembly (71) is positioned inside the outer piston assembly (37) and is operative to selectively raise the upper plate ring (60) relative to the lower plate ring (28). A guide (120) is coupled to the outer piston assembly (37) and is adapted to slidingly contact the inner piston assembly (71) to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Operating fluid is provided through a single port (52) to selectively raise the outer piston assembly (37) and the inner piston assembly (71). The port (52) is fluidly connected to the first chamber (45) and the second chamber (105).

Typical tire curing presses include a center mechanism which provides the primary interaction between the press and a green tire being processed by the press. While various types of center mechanisms have been developed over the years, the most common include a flexible, generally cylindrical bladder that is secured to the press and insertable within a green tire. These bladders may be radially distended in order to apply shaping and curing pressure as well as heat to the interior of the green tire. These center mechanisms are also capable of stripping the bladder from the tire after the curing process is completed.
In the past, the operation of a center mechanism bladder in conjunction with conventional bias-ply tires was relatively simple due to the cylindrical form of the uncured tire. Radial-ply tires, however, require more complex bladder manipulation. Green radial tire carcasses must be at least partially preformed before the breaker ply is positioned and affixed. Thus, prior to cure, the green tire approximates, to a substantial extent, the configuration of the cured tire. As a result, the bead-to-bead interior profile dimension of a green radial tire substantially exceeds the axial distance between the beads. Therefore, a bladder or bag that has an axial extent that approximates the bead-to-bead dimension will project a substantial distance above the upper bead of the tire when extended axially upwardly to receive the green tire. In such instances, controlled movement and positional monitoring of the upper and lower bead area of a bladder is significant in accurately concentrically locating the bladder within the tire to complete shaping and curing of a green radial tire.
Accurate placement and positional control of the bladder within a green tire is important to the eventual uniformity and performance of the resulting cured tire. It is advantageous to control not only the vertical axial positions of the bladder beads, but also the relative angular or rotational movement therebetween. Prior art center mechanisms fail to inhibit relative angular or rotational movement between the bottom and top bladder beads, which can lead to nonuniformity and other quality issues. Still other weaknesses in prior art center mechanisms include inaccurate positional measurement of the top and bottom bladder bead rings, which is, of course, critical information when receiving and removing tires therefrom. Further, prior art positional measurement devices are often bulky external devices that take up excess space and are susceptible to damage. Still further, prior art center mechanisms often require multiple pressure sources to drive individual pistons for both the lower bladder bead and the upper bladder bead. This configuration inherently adds complexity and cost to the center mechanism. Thus, existing center mechanisms have all involved at least a built-in or potential disadvantage that can materially affect tire quality and uniformity.


An assembly having an umbrella and a mounting bracket for mounting the umbrella to a vertical object. The mounting bracket engages the top of the umbrella, thereby suspending the umbrella from a position above the umbrella. The umbrella has a finial cap at the top of the umbrella. Part of the finial cap extends out above the canopy of the umbrella. This portion of the finial cap is selectively received by the shaped head of the mounting bracket. The finial cap is annular and defines a central opening through which the support post of the umbrella can pass. When the umbrella is opened, the support post extends out through the finial cap above the canopy. The result is a mounting umbrella with nothing protruding below the umbrella.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to umbrellas and structures used to support umbrellas. More particularly, the present invention relates to umbrella designs that are specifically designed to mount to a tree or similar vertical structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is replete with different types of umbrellas. Typically, prior art umbrellas include a circular canopy supported by a central post that descends downwardly from the center of the canopy. This umbrella structure works well when a person has a free hand to hold the post of the umbrella and is capable of standing under the center of the umbrella. However, there are many circumstances that exist where an umbrella is needed, yet a person cannot hold the umbrella and cannot stand under the center of the umbrella. One such circumstance is when a person is hunting in a tree stand that is supported in a tree.
Tree stands are structures that are built in a tree or mounted to a tree to enable a hunter to comfortably stand or sit. Although some hunters build tree stands, many hunters prefer to use portable tree stands that can be moved from tree to tree as desired. Portable tree stands typically strap or otherwise mount to the trunk of a tree. As such, when a hunter is in the tree stand, the hunter is standing immediately adjacent to the trunk of the tree. A hunter in a tree stand is typically holding a weapon, binoculars or other equipment. As such, a hunter positioned in a tree stand typically does not have a free hand available to hold an umbrella.
There are many mounting devices that are used to mount umbrellas to a variety of objects. For example, there are umbrella mounting devices used to mount umbrellas to deck rails, beach chairs and picnic tables. However, in a tree stand, there is typically nothing, other than the tree, that is available to mount an umbrella.
Umbrellas, however, are very desirable to have in a tree stand. Hunters can stand or sit in a tree stand constantly for many hours. During inclement weather, an umbrella can keep a hunter and the hunter's equipment dry. Even during good weather conditions umbrellas are advantageous to have in tree stands. Umbrellas shield a hunter from the sun and help camouflage a hunter from sight. Many hunters also use umbrellas to support camouflaged blinds that protect the hunters from being observed by their prey.
Mounting an umbrella over a tree stand is not an easy endeavor. Since the trunk of a tree is typically immediately adjacent the tree stand, a traditional umbrella cannot be opened directly over the tree stand. This is because the tree interferes with the open canopy of the umbrella. It is for this reason that specialty umbrellas have been designed for use in tree stands.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,785 to Poulson, entitled Hunter's Canopy, discloses a semicircular umbrella canopy that connects directly to the tree trunk so that the canopy radially extends from the tree trunk. In such prior art constructions, a full round canopy is not used, thus the area covered by the canopy is limited. Furthermore, such prior art devices can only be used along portions of a tree that are smooth, straight and lack lateral branches.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,095 to Norton, entitled Top-erected Umbrella With Cantilevered Support, shows a circular umbrella canopy that is supported at the top of the canopy by a flexible cord. Although the umbrella is designed to be mounted in a tree, the canopy is only supported by a flexible cord. As such, the canopy can move in the wind. This is highly undesirable for a hunter, because such movement gives away the position of the hunter to approaching prey. Furthermore, since the Norton umbrella is suspended from a flexible cord, the canopy of the umbrella only hangs straight down and cannot be angled to block rain or sun that is falling upon the hunter at an angle.
A need therefore exists for an umbrella assembly that can be used on a tree stand, wherein the umbrella assembly provides full coverage of the tree stand, does not obstruct the movements of the hunter, and can be selectively angled to block blowing rain and sun. These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

Tree mounted umbrella assembly and method of application


A circuit assembly with circulation of coolant. A plurality of chips of integrated circuit are arranged on a substrate separately from each other in rows and columns. A circulating unit disposed on the substrate and having a planar shape circulates coolant therethrough. The circulating unit has within its bottom side a plurality of cells arranged in rows and columns correspondingly to the plurality of chips. Each individual cell is thermally connected to the corresponding individual chip so as to receive therefrom heat generated thereby. The circulating unit includes a distributor for distributing to the respective cells the circulated coolant effective to absorb the heat received in the respective cells.

The present invention relates to cooling structure of integrated circuit elements which constitute electronic units of information processing apparatus etc., and specifically relates to cooling structure of the type in which cooling fluid such as water is circulated around integrated circuit elements such that heat generated in the integrated circuit elements is transferred to the cooling fluid to thereby cool the integrated circuit elements.
Conventionally, such type of the cooling structure has a structure shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and disclosed in IBM J. RES DEVELOP Vol 26 No. 1 Jan. 1982 "A Conduction-Cooled Module for High-Performance LSI Devices" authored by S. Oktay and H. C. Kammerer. As shown in FIG. 1, an integrated circuit 101 (mounted on a lead pattern board 102 having I/0 pins 103) is placed in contact with a piston 104 biased against the integrated circuit 101 by means of a spring 105 to absorb heat from the integrated circuit 101, and the heat is transferred through a space 110 filled with helium gas to a hat 106 and an intermediate layer 107 and to a cooling plate 108 in which the heat is dissipated into cooling fluid 109.
However, in the conventional cooling structure of integrated circuit shown in FIG. 1, the piston is made contact with the integrated circuit by means of the spring to continuously apply force thereto, causing bad influence for the reliability of connection between the integrated circuit and the circuit board. In addition, in order to allow the piston to follow variation of hight and inclination produced when the integrated circuit is mounted on the circuit board, a contact portion of the piston to the integrated circuit is shaped spherical and a gap is provided between the hat and the piston. However, such structure reduces the effective heat-transfer area to thereby decrease the cooling efficiency. Moreover, since a cooling fluid passing in the cooling plate is formed for the purpose of heat transfer due to forced convection, the obtained heat-conduction coefficient is in the order of 0.1 to 0.5W/cm.degree. C. insufficient to cool the integrated circuit of high integration density having greater power consumption.
Further, Japanese laid-open patent application publication No. 160150/1985 discloses an cooling device of the type utilizing striking stream of cooling fluid. Namely, as shown in FIG. 2, heat generated by a chip 201 mounted on a printed circuit board 202 is transferred successively to a heat-conducting substrate 203, elastic heat-conducting material layer 204 and a heat-conducting plate 205. A nozzle 206 injects cooling fluid onto the heat-conducting plate 205 to cool the same. A tip of the nozzle 206 is sealed by the heat-conducting substrate 203, a cooling header 208 and bellows 207.
However, in the prior art structure of FIG. 2, since the bellows have a relatively small thickness, the bellows may be broken to form holes due to its corrosion to thereby leak out the cooling fluid.
There is another type of the conventional cooling structure of integrated circuits comprised of a cooling plate disposed in contact with top surfaces of integrated circuits, and a cooling container which constitutes pass of cooling fluid, in which these components are divided into two parts. This conventional cooling structure is, for example, disclosed in the Japanese patent application No. 183889/1985.
The above described conventional cooling structure of integrated circuits has a drawback that flow rate of cooling fluid must be regulated in proportion to heat amount generated by semiconductor chips of integrated circuits. Further, there is another drawback that the cooling plate in contact with the integrated circuits and the cooling container which forms pass of the cooling fluid are divided into two parts, thereby increasing thermal resistance to the integrated circuits.

Flat cooling structure of integrated circuit


A housing for an electrical connector is disclosed. The housing has a base member and at least one wall element produced from a more wear-resistant material than the base member and including a positive-locking element. The wall element is connected to the base member.

When connectors are connected to mating connectors, positive-locking elements are often used to produce the mechanical connection between the connector and the mating connector. For example, teeth or recesses on the connector may be used for connection with corresponding teeth on the mating connector. Such positive-locking elements are in most cases subjected to high levels of mechanical loading. The housings are thus produced from a mechanically loadable and consequently comparatively expensive material whose processing is frequently more complex than the processing of other materials.


A reactor includes: a molded coil including two coils integrally molded with resin; and two U-shaped cores each having core insertion portions inserted in the coils in a coil axial direction, and the cores being joined in a track-like form by interposing gap elements between them to form a core assembly. The molded coil has a substantially hexahedral shape, each of the cores includes a core outer portion joining the core insertion portions, a resin layer made of magnetic-metal containing resin consisting of binder resin and magnetic metal powder mixed therein is formed on outer surfaces of the core outer portions, the molded coil includes a fastening retaining part for holding and fixing the reactor to a cabinet with a fastening member so that the cabinet supports the reactor, and the molded coil is held apart from the cabinet by the fastening member and the fastening-member retaining part.

Conventionally, a drive control system of a hybrid vehicle and others mounts therein such a reactor as disclosed in for example Patent Document 1 to increase the voltage of the system. FIG. 11 is a view to explain the reactor disclosed in Patent Document 1.
A reactor 110 of Patent Document 1 includes a coil 120 and cores 130 as shown in FIG. 11. When a state of current flowing in the coil 120 is changed, inductance is changed as magnetic flux density varies in a magnetic circuit generated in the cores 130, thus generating an electromotive force.
The conventional reactor structure such as the reactor 110 shown in Patent Document 1 will be explained below referring to FIGS. 12 to 14. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of an example of the conventional reactor structure. FIG. 13 is a plan view of FIG. 12 seen from a side C, schematically showing a main part of the reactor shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG. 12 seen from a side D.
As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, a reactor 210 is configured such that two coils 221 electrically connected in series, two U-shaped cores 230 are inserted in each coil 221 from their both ends in a coil axial direction (right upper-left lower direction in FIG. 12) to face each other, and the cores 230 are joined in a track-like form while interposing gap elements 235 therebetween.
Inside the wound coils 221, core insertion portions 230A on both sides of each core 230 are inserted to extend along the coils 221 while keeping constant clearance with respect to the coils 221. At coil ends on both sides of each coil 221 in its axial direction (upper and lower sides in FIG. 13 and left and right sides in FIG. 14), the coils 221 and the cores 230 do not face each other in the coil axial direction.
In the reactor 210, the cores 230 and thin plates are integrally formed. The thin plates are partially bent and deformed into stays 225 located at four positions near both coil ends of the coils 221. By inserting bolts in through holes 225H of the stays 225, the reactor 210 is positioned and fixed to a cabinet not shown with the bolts.


A request for obtaining a space allocation descriptor is received by a block control layer of a storage system. The space allocation descriptor is indicative of one or more logical blocks free for allocation within a range of logical addresses. The range of logical addresses is included within a logical address space related to an upper layer application which has issued the request. The space allocation descriptor is provided by using a data structure included in the block control layer and operative to map between the logical address space and allocated storage blocks within a physical storage space, managed by the block control layer.

Free-space management of storage-based applications is required for reusing the space freed when objects are deleted, for new objects or for new data of existing objects. Low level volume management involves handling fixed size blocks that compose the volume, which makes space allocation easier to handle. However, free-space management becomes more complicated when the managed storage consists of variable sized objects as usually happens in upper layer storage applications, such as filesystems that manage variable sized files, databases that manage tables and indexes of various sizes and the like.
Free space is managed using various types of data-structures, some of which are described below.
A file system is required to keep track of allocated and free blocks within a logical volume that contains objects of the file system. The simplest solution often used is an allocation bitmap that represents allocated and free space, wherein each bit in the bitmap represents a block in the volume and indicates whether the specific block in a volume is allocated or free. When the file system needs to allocate additional blocks, it refers to the bitmap to identify which blocks are available. However, it is extremely inefficient to search through a bitmap to find large contiguous chunks of free space, particularly when large volumes are involved.
Bitmaps of the whole volume can become quite large for high capacity volumes and need to be saved in the disk and to be read to the cache memory upon allocation change and then be written back to the disk.
Extent lists are the most common alternative to bitmaps. Extent lists are data structures that organize free space into contiguous regions described by location in storage and length of available blocks. Extent lists are sometimes preferred for compression, representing free space using less memory and storage. However, they can grow to be larger than bitmaps, particularly when storage is heavily utilized by small allocations.
One of the problems of bitmaps is de-allocation of blocks. Space allocation algorithms can control the locality of allocations, by deciding which area of the volume is currently dedicated for allocation of new data, but there is no control over the locality of frees, as portions of a file that were allocated in different times can be spread all over the volume. As an example of a worst case, removing 4 GB of object data (a million 4K blocks) could require million bitmaps (of 4K bit each) to be read, modified, and written back again.

System and methods for managing storage space allocation


A control unit 3 of a flow rate control system 1 comprises: a recording unit 31 for recording measured values of a pressure sensor P and a temperature sensor T, a storage unit 32 for storing volume data between a first valve V1 and a second valve V2 corresponding to the measured value of the pressure sensor P, and an arithmetic unit 33 for calculating a flow rate based on a first pressure value P1 and a first temperature value T1 measured after opening the first valve V1 and the second valve V2 to flow a gas and then closing the first valve V1 and the second valve V2 simultaneously in a state where the gas is flowing; a second pressure value P2 and a second temperature value T2 measured after opening the first valve V1 and the second valve V2 to flow a gas, closing the second valve V2 in a state where the gas is flowing, and then closing the first valve V1 after a predetermined time Δt has elapsed; and a volume value V between the first valve V1 and the second valve V2 which corresponds to the second pressure value P2.

In a semiconductor manufacturing equipment, a chemical plant, or the like, it is required to supply gas with high accuracy. As a gas flow rate control device, a mass flow rate controller (thermal mass flow rate controller) or a pressure-type flow rate control system is known.
In these flow rate control systems, the flow rate must be managed with high accuracy, so it is preferable to perform the confirmation and calibration of the flow rate accuracy at any time as necessary. As a flow rate measurement method, generally a flow rate measurement by a build-up method is used. The build-up method is a method of measuring the flow rate by detecting a pressure per unit time flowing into a known capacity (build-up capacity).
By flowing gas into a pipe or a tank having a constant volume (V) provided downstream of the flow rate controller, and measuring the pressure rise rate (ΔP/Δt) and temperature (T) at that time, the build-up method obtains a flow rate Q from, for example, Q=22.4×(ΔP/Δt)×V/RT, where R is a gas constant.
Patent Document 1 describes a gas supply apparatus in which an example of the flow rate measurement using the build-up method is disclosed, and Patent Document 2 discloses a flow rate calculation method relating to a calibration method of a flow rate controller using the build-up method.

Flow rate control system and flow rate measurement method


A system may include: a server comprising a rule cache; a user device communicably coupled to the server; a computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause the server to: monitor a plurality of third-party data sources; obtain, via a queueing service, a plurality of pieces of content from the plurality of third-party data sources; for each piece of content, fetch a rule ID from a list of rule IDs on the user device, wherein the rule ID is fetched based on the content and a pre-selected setting on the user device; use the rule ID to fetch a rule from the rule cache, the rule comprising a script, the script comprising executable code; execute the script on the piece of content to determine if the piece of content matches the rule; and in response to determining that the piece of content matches the rule, send an alert to the user device.

As threats continue to grow on social media and other digital platforms, such as mobile apps and the dark web, security teams representing organizations or companies face the need to monitor and detect these threats. Oftentimes the safeguard of an organization, brand, people, and even locations can depend on quickly and reliably detecting digital and social media threats online.
Organizations attempting to detect online threats can face a plethora of issues including how to deal with the massive volumes of ingested data, how to determine what actually constitutes a risk, and how to effectively deal with the diversity of risks out there. Risks can range from the impersonation of social media accounts to violent threats, scams, offensive content, publication of PII (personally identifiable information), and compliance violations. However, different organizations rarely have the same definition of what constitutes a "threat." For example, a large bank may determine that identifying the publication of PII may be of utmost importance but may not deem offensive content on social media to be critically harmful.

Configurable system for detecting social media threats


Digital cameras and methods that provide improved image alignment for panorama image capture. The present invention identifies features that will likely be used by a stitching algorithm, and highlights those features for a user by superimposing them on top of a “liveview” image presented on a display of the digital camera. By applying an edge detection algorithm to the previously captured image, the user can select and display those features of the previous image that are relevant to aligning the camera for the subsequent image.

Newer model digital cameras have included a "panorama" feature, which allows a user of the digital camera to capture multiple adjacent images that are "stitched" together into a single image at a later time. In order for a stitching algorithm to succeed, there needs to be a substantial overlap between adjacent images so that the stitching algorithm can find features common between the two adjacent images.
The most common existing solutions for providing image alignment feedback to the user consist of one of two techniques. The first technique displays a portion of the previously captured image (usually 33% or 50% of the previous image) adjacent to a reduced-size liveview image. This technique requires the liveview image to be reduced in size, meaning that fewer visual features will be available to the user. This technique is used in Canon digital camera models S30, S40, and S45.
A second technique is to overlay a portion of the previous image opaquely over a full-screen liveview image. While this approach does not reduce the liveview image, it conceals up to half of the liveview by obstructing a substantial portion of the previous image. The disadvantage of this approach is that the user is unable to see any changes in the image composition that takes place in the portion of the liveview image that is obstructed by the overlaid previous image.

Method for providing image alignment feedback for panorama (composite) images in digital cameras using edge detection

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for communication, including distributing over a communication network multiple channels of digital content, which are encrypted using different, channel-specific control words, and transmitting over the communication network, different, channel-specific entitlement control messages from which the control words are derivable such that each of the different channel-specific control words is derivable from any of the different channel-specific entitlement control messages by authorized receivers of the channels on the communication network. Related methods and apparatus are also included.

Many digital video systems use conditional access (CA)in order to limit access to content consumption, for example, but not limited to, pay TV environment. CA generally requires the receiver to meet certain criteria before being able to decrypt and display a given content channel. The data stream transmitted for each channel is encrypted using a secret key, known as a control word (CW), which changes several times per minute. (This sort of encryption is commonly referred to as "scrambling.") The CW itself is provided by entitlement control messages (ECMs), which are transmitted several times per minute from the system head-end to receivers of the channel. The CA subsystem (such as a secure smart card) in each receiver processes the ECM to recover the CW for a given content channel, but only when the receiver is authorized by an entitlement management message (EMM) for the given channel. EMMs are typically transmitted periodically (for example, once per month) to the CA subsystem, depending on the subscriber's service plan.
As digital television transmission has replaced analog broadcasts, viewers have found that the advantages of the newer mode are offset by a relatively long latency period when changing channels, as compared to the nearly instant response of a traditional analog tuner. This latency is largely a consequence of motion-compensated video encoding schemes, such as MPEG-2. When the transmitted content is encrypted, as is common in satellite and cable television systems, CA-related operations carried out by the receiver for each new channel can add further latency.
A number of attempts have been made to address this issue. For example, PCT International Publication WO 2010/079219 describes a method for delivery of conditional access (CA) data to a receiver that is able to connect to a plurality of scrambled programs. Conditional access for a current channel is handled using standard ECMs delivered with the channel. In parallel, the receiver retrieves an ECM for a separate stream comprising control words for every channel. The control word of this ECM is used to descramble the separate stream to access the control words for every channel. Upon channel change, the relevant retrieved control word is used to descramble the new channel. This approach is said to enable a reduction or removal of the CA delay when switching between channels.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,668,311 describes a method for transmission of decrypting information using a combination of authorization information for a channel (ECM), which is encrypted by a fast algorithm, with authorization information (MECM) for a group of channels, which is encrypted by a high-security algorithm. At the moment of change from one channel to another, the information contained in the mono-channel authorization message (ECM) suitable for the new channel is combined with the information contained in the multi-channel authorization message (MECM) already in the cryptographic unit, which is common to the two channels.
US Patent Application 2009/0285401 of Moroney, et al. describes conditional access using EMMs and ECMs.


An image recording apparatus having a first exposure unit for forming a latent image corresponding to an original image on a photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium, and a second exposure unit for electrostatically forming a developer particle image. The developer particle image is transferred onto the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium, and the thus transferred developer particles are reacted with chromogenic material of the photosensitive recording medium at a pressure developing unit so that a visible image is provided on another sheet medium. A method for recording the image includes the steps of effecting a first exposure for forming the latent image, effecting a second exposure for forming the developer particle image, electrostatically transferring the developer particle image onto the recording medium, and pressure developing the image to provide a visible image on a separate plane paper.

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and a method for recording an image for recording an output image on a random sheet. More particularly, the invention relates to the apparatus end the method in which developer particles are applied onto a photosensitive recording medium which carries a latent image, and the developer particles are transferred onto the random sheet for providing the output image thereon.
Conventional transfer type image recording mediums are disclosed in Japanese Pat. application Kokai Nos. 61137749, 61-143738, and 61-173981. In the recording mediums, prepared is photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium and a developer medium which is on market by a paper manufacturing company. The developer medium carries a developer material. The photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium carries microcapsules which encapsulete therein chromogenic material or dye precursor. These microcapsules are photo cured upon light irradiation and the light exposed microcapsules have increased mechanical strength, whereas the non-exposed microcapsules have low mechanical strength so that the latter can be ruptured upon pressure.
The photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium is subjected to light exposure to provide a latent image thereon, and the recording medium is superposed with the developer medium and undergoes pressure developing operation. Therefore, the microcapsules having low mechanical strength are ruptured during the pressure developing operation, so that the chromogenic material flows from the microcapsules to react with the developer material, whereupon an output image is provided on the developer medium.
The developer medium is prepared by dispersing the developer materials in an aqueous solution and coating the dispersed solution on a random sheet medium. Therefore, the developer medium requires a base substrate for making the developer material layer thereon. Further, it would be difficult to coat the dispersed aqueous solution onto a specific portion of the base substrate by means of a wet type coating method in view of the maintenance to the coating machine.
Further, in the case where an original image has a pure white color, it would be rather difficult to obtain a pure white color output image, since the developer materials are uniformly provided on the developer medium, and minute chromogenic reaction may occur between the microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium and the developer materials.

Image recording apparatus and method for recording image


Embodiments of the present invention provide an information providing method, a home gateway, and a home network system. The method includes: obtaining an IPv6 address or an IPv6 prefix of a client and a service type of the client; establishing a mapping between the IPv6 address or the IPv6 prefix of the client and the service type of the client; sending the mapping between the IPv6 address or the IPv6 prefix of the client and the service type of the client to a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS), so that the BRAS dispatches and manages a service of the client according to the mapping between the IPv6 address or the IPv6 prefix of the client and the service type of the client.

In an existing telecommunication network, home management demands exist, for example, it is required to manage specific services of a home network on a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS), so as to provide differentiated types of control, including bandwidth control and right control, based on different services.
In an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) home network system, the client may be connected to the BRAS through a home gateway (Customer Premise Equipment (CPE)), where the client may include terminals at home, for example, terminals providing services, such as Voice over IP (VoIP), IP Television (IPTV), and High Speed Internet (HSI). In the IPv6 home network system, the CPE applies to the BRAS for a network segment of a home network, and then a terminal providing a specific service in the home network system applies to the CPE for a specific address in the network segment.
During the implementation of the present invention, the inventor finds that the prior art has at least the following problems. In the existing IPv6 home network, the procedure of allocating the specific address to the client is invisible to the BRAS. Therefore, the BRAS cannot sense the service type required by the client, for example, VoIP, IPTV, and HSI, so that the BRAS cannot dispatch and manage different services of the client, thereby affecting normal operation of the service of the client.

Information providing method, home gateway, and home network system


A method for determining a mismatch involving the availability of a dye donor supply and a dye receiver supply in a thermal printer when a particular print size and print quantity are selected, comprises: comparing a remaining number of similar-size donor patches available on the dye donor supply with a remaining number of like-size donor patches required for the selected print size and print quantity, and should the former number be less than the latter number providing a warning; and comparing a remaining length of dye receiver available on the dye receiver supply with a remaining length of dye receiver required for the selected print size and print quantity, and should the former length be less than the latter length providing a warning.

The invention relates generally to thermal printers, and in particular to one in which a mismatch involving the availability of a dye donor supply and a dye receiver supply can be determinedxe2x80x94in which case the printing operation should be suspended and the short supply replenished to establish a match.
A typical dye donor web that is used in a thermal printer includes a repeating series of three different primary color sections or patches such as a yellow color patch, a magenta color patch and a cyan color patch. Also, there may be a transparent colorless laminating section or patch after the cyan color patch.
To make a color image print using a thermal printer, respective color dyes in a single series of yellow, magenta and cyan color patches on a dye donor web are successively heat-transferred, one over the other, onto a dye receiver sheet. Then, optionally, a transparent laminating material on a laminating patch of the web is heat-transferred onto the color image print. The dye transfer from each color patch to the dye receiver sheet is done one line of pixels at a time via a bead of selectively used heating or resistor elements on a thermal print head.
One example of a color image print-making process using a thermal printer is as follows.
1. A dye donor web and a dye receiver sheet are advanced forward in unison, with a yellow color patch of the donor web moving in contact with the receiver sheet longitudinally over a stationary bead of heating elements in order to effect a line-by-line yellow dye transfer from the yellow color patch to the receiver sheet. A web take-up spool draws the dye donor web forward over the bead of heating elements, and a pair of pinch and drive rollers draw the dye receiver sheet forward over the bead of heating elements. A platen roller holds the dye receiver sheet in a dye receiving relation with the dye donor web at the bead of heating elements.
2. Once the yellow dye transfer is completed, the platen roller is retracted from adjacent the print head to allow the pair of pinch and drive rollers to return the dye receiver sheet rearward in preparation for a second pass over the bead of heating elements.
3. Then, the platen roller is returned to adjacent the print head, and the dye donor web and the dye receiver sheet arc advanced forward in unison, with a magenta color patch of the donor web moving in contact with the receiver sheet longitudinally over the bead of heating elements in order to effect a line-by-line magenta dye transfer from the magenta color patch to the receiver sheet. The magenta dye transfer to the dye receiver sheet is in the same area on the receiver sheet as was subjected to the yellow dye transfer.
4. Once the magenta dye transfer is completed, the platen roller is retracted from adjacent the print head to allow the pair of pinch and drive rollers to return the dye receiver sheet rearward in preparation for a third pass over the bead of heating elements.
5. Then, the platen roller is returned to adjacent the print head, and the dye donor web and the dye receiver sheet are advanced forward in unison, with a cyan color patch of the donor web moving in contact with the receiver sheet longitudinally over the bead of heating elements in order to effect a line-by-line cyan dye transfer from the cyan color patch to the receiver sheet. The cyan dye transfer to the dye receiver sheet is in the same area on the receiver sheet as was subjected to the yellow and magenta dye transfers.
6. Once the cyan dye transfer is completed, the platen roller is retracted from adjacent the print head to allow the pair of pinch and drive rollers to return the dye receiver sheet rearward in preparation for a fourth pass over the bead of heating elements.
7. Then, the platen roller is returned to adjacent the print head, and the dye donor web and the dye receiver sheet are advanced forward in unison, with a transparent colorless laminating patch of the donor web moving in contact with the receiver sheet longitudinally over the bead of heating elements in order to effect a line-by-line laminating material transfer from the laminating patch to the receiver sheet. The laminating material is applied to the dye receiver sheet on top of the yellow, magenta and cyan dye transfers to that sheet.
8. Once the laminating material transfer is completed, the platen roller is retracted from adjacent the print head to allow the laminated dye receiver sheet to be returned rearward in preparation for exiting the printer.
9. Finally, the pair of pinch and drive rollers advance the laminated dye receiver sheet forward to an exit tray.
Instead of a dye receiver sheet, the print-making process can involve a dye receiver roll. In this case, each sheet must be cut from the roll.
According to one aspect of the invention, a method for determining a mismatch involving the availability of a dye donor supply and a dye receiver supply in a thermal printer when a particular print size and print quantity are selected, comprises:
comparing a remaining number of similar-size donor patches available on the dye donor supply with a remaining number of like-size donor patches required for the selected print size and print quantity, and should the former number be less than the latter number providing a warning; and
comparing a remaining length of dye receiver available on the dye receiver supply with a remaining length of dye receiver required for the selected print size and print quantity, and should the former length be less than the latter length providing a warning.
According to another aspect of the invention, apparatus is provided for performing the foregoing method.

Apparatus and method for determining mismatch involving availability of dye donor and receiver supplies in thermal printer


An absorbent liquid having an improved absorption capacity for acidic gaseous compounds due to the presence of an activator of tertiary alkanolamines. The activator is butylmonoethanolamine (BMEA). A process utilizing the absorbent liquid to remove acidic gaseous compounds from a gas.

The invention relates to a liquid absorbent of acidic gaseous compounds containing a mixture of one or more tertiary alkanolamine components and an activator of the tertiary alkanolamine(s). It also relates to a process of utilizing the absorbent liquid to deacidify gases containing CO.sub.2 and other acidic gaseous compounds such as H.sub.2 S and/or COS.
It is known that it is possible to rid gases of undesirable acidic gaseous compounds or acidic gases, especially CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S and COS, which they contain by subjecting the gases to scrubbing by means of regenerable absorbent liquids. These liquids have contained organic solvents or aqueous solutions of organic solvents, which retain the acidic gaseous compounds. On an industrial scale, there are chiefly two categories of absorbent liquids employed for scrubbing gas containing acidic gaseous compounds. On the one hand, there are absorbent liquids with physical action, such as sulpholane, N-methylpyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether, methanol or propylene carbonate, which absorb acidic gaseous compounds such as mentioned above without any chemical reaction. The major disadvantage, however, is that of simultaneously absorbing large quantities of hydrocarbons. On the other hand, there are absorbent liquids with predominant chemical action. Examples are aqueous solutions of alkanolamines such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, diglycolamine, diisopropanolamine, triethanolamine or methyldiethanolamine, which fix acidic gaseous compounds such as CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S and COS. A chemical reaction proceeds forming compounds which are capable of being decomposed by heating. This allows the absorbent liquid to be regenerated. Primary alkanolamines such as monoethanolamine, or secondary alkanolamines such as diethanolamine are generally suitable for highly exhaustive removal of CO.sub.2. However, these amines have the disadvantage of requiring a large expenditure of energy for regeneration.
With tertiary alkanolamines, especially methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and triethanolamine, the consumption of energy required for regeneration is lower. However, the treated gas resulting from the scrubbing operation using these tertiary alkanolamines still has CO.sub.2 contents ranging from a few thousand ppm to as much as a few per cent. This is due to the fact that tertiary alkanolamines do not react directly with CO.sub.2. The resultant kinetics of absorption of CO.sub.2 by the absorbent liquid containing such tertiary alkanolamines are much slower than the kinetics of absorption of CO.sub.2 by an absorbent liquid based on primary or secondary alkanolamines. The rate of absorption of H.sub.2 S is substantially the same for whatever alkanolamine is employed in the absorbent liquid.
It has been disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 07,460,958 that it is advantageous to add to an absorbent liquid containing a tertiary alkanolamine, a small activating amount of an activator for the tertiary amine.
Most noteworthy of these advantages is increased CO.sub.2 absorption by the activated tertiary amine. As discussed above, tertiary alkanolamine-based absorbent liquids require less energy for regeneration. This energy saving is also retained during the regeneration of the absorbent liquid which additionally contains the activator.
It has been disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 07,460,958 that four groups of amines are effective activators of CO.sub.2 absorption by tertiary alkanolamines. One of these groups of activator amines is a secondary amine represented by the general formula: R.sub.1 --NH--(C.sub.p H.sub.2p)--OH, wherein R.sub.1 is a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkyl group and p is an integer ranging from about 1 to 6.
The alkyl group can be straight or branched, such as ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, isopentyl and hexyl. Typical amines are the following: propylmonoethanolamine, isopropylmonoethanolamine, butylmonoethanolamine, isobutylmonoethanolamine and pentylmonoethanolamine.
A particularly preferred amine disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 07,460,958 within this generic formula is ethylmonoethanolamine (EMEA).
It has now been discovered that another amine within the generic formula above is unexpectedly superior to EMEA in activating CO.sub.2 absorption by one or more tertiary alkanolamines such as MDEA. The amine is butylmonoethanolamine (BMEA).

Liquid absorbent for acidic gases and process of deacidification of a gas

Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine Production


A suspension bump stop device that provides an upper bearing cap that contacts an upper bearing seat outside of the device, and a lower support cap and at least one bearing arranged between the caps. The upper bearing cap provides a latching means that cooperates with the upper bearing seat to axial secure the bearing seat.

Such a suspension bump stop device generally comprises a rolling bearing forming an axial thrust bearing and upper and lower caps forming a housing for the rings of the rolling bearing and providing the interface between the said rings and the neighbouring elements. Preferably, the rolling bearing is of the angular contact type in order to take up both the radial loads and the axial loads exerted on the device.
The bump stop device is generally arranged in the upper part of the suspension strut between a suspension spring and an upper bearing seat secured to the bodyshell of the vehicle. The suspension spring is mounted around a shock absorber piston rod the end of which is connected to the bodyshell of the vehicle. The suspension spring, of the helical spring type, bears axially, directly or indirectly, on the lower cap of the suspension bump stop device. The bump stop device makes it possible to transmit axial and radial loads between the suspension spring and the bodyshell of the vehicle while allowing a relative rotational movement between the lower cap and the upper bearing seat arising from a turn of the steering wheels of the vehicle and/or from the compression of the suspension spring.
Generally, the upper cap of the bump stop device comprises bosses on its outer surface which bear radially against the upper bearing seat. These bosses enable the bump stop device to be fitted and centred by radial contact with respect to the bearing seat.
Before the assembly formed by the bump stop device and the upper bearing seat is mounted in the strut of the vehicle, the radial frictional contact between the bosses of the upper cap and the bearing seat provides for relative axial retention of the said seat and the device.
However, during handling, transport and mounting of this assembly, there is a risk of the bump stop device and the upper bearing seat becoming detached.
The present invention aims to overcome this disadvantage.

Suspension bump stop device with latching means


A display device includes: a monitor and receiving set having a video signal receiving section, a display section, an image quality control section, a first control signal transceiver, and a first control section; and a control and transmission set having a television broadcast receiving section, a video signal input section, a video signal transmitting section, a second control signal transceiver, a key input section, and a second control section. The Power consumption of a first radio transmission path formed by the video signal transmitting section and the video signal receiving section is larger than that of a second radio transmission path formed by the first and second control signal transceivers. A control signal for a user interface is communicated by the first and second control signal transceivers. Only the second radio transmission path of the first and second radio transmission paths is communicable in a standby state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device and a radio transmission control method applicable to a television display device which can be mounted on a wall, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, it has become possible to mount video display panels, such as liquid crystal display panels and organic EL (electroluminescent) panels, on a house wall as the panels become thin and light. However, it spoils the appearance given that the cable extrudes from the wall-mounted display panel. This is a cause of restriction on where the installation takes place. It has already become practical to transmit a video signal and the like necessary to a display panel without using a cable.
Radio transmission of the video signal is performed by using a wireless LAN with a relatively high transmission rate. The wireless LAN, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11b, in which a 2.4 GHz band is used and the transmission rate is 11 Mbps, and IEEE 802.11a, in which a 5 GHz band is used and the transmission rate is 54 Mbps, are known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-304412 discloses the technique of transmitting a signal by radio transmission using the 5 GHz band when a digital television signal to be wirelessly transmitted is a high-definition signal and of transmitting a signal by radio transmission using the 2.4 GHz band when the digital television signal to be wirelessly transmitted is a standard-definition signal.

Display device and radio transmission control method


A fibre optic sensor, particularly for ascertaining fluid levels, utilizes two cylindrical lightguides with regular perturbations to emit and/or accept light in a radial direction. Each waveguide is coupled to one (or more) light source and/or to one (or more) light detector. A light source such as a light emitting diode or laser diode is coupled to the lightguide which emits radially, illuminating a planar dielectric surface, which in the presence of a fluid with a low index of refraction, e.g. air, behaves as a mirror, coupling light via total internal reflection to the lightguide which accepts this light radially and channels the light to a light detector. In the presence of a fluid with a high index of refraction, for example water, at the planar dielectric surface the fluid dielectric interface becomes primarily transmissive, with relatively little light being coupled to the lightguide which accepts light radially. The optical signal received at the light detector is thus related to the depth of the planar dielectric surface which is immersed in liquid. Several different embodiments to achieve liquid level sensing, as well as a scheme for eliminating sensitivity to optical signal changes induced in the lead fibre, are disclosed.

Conventionally, the level of a liquid in a vessel is detected using a float with a mechanical or magnetic coupling to an external gauge, an ultrasonic or optical transducer which measures time of flight to deduce the liquid level, or a parallel wire capacitance sensor which monitors the change in the dielectric constant between the wires associated with a change in liquid level.
The application of fibre optics to level sensing in liquids is well documented. The principal advantages of this type of level sensor are its passivity, i.e. no moving or mechanical parts, and its intrinsic dielectric properties which mean no spark hazard when used with combustible fluids and virtually zero susceptibility to electromagnetic interference. The more common implementations use small prisms mounted at the end of two optical fibres, a conically shaped optical fibre tip, or a U-shaped bent optical fibre [Canadian Patent 1102151] (devices of these types are described for example in the article "Experimental Investigations on Fibre Optic Liquid Level Sensors and Refractometers" by K. Spenner et al--IEE OFS 221 pages 96-14 99). In all instances, the optical fibre probe or sensor is suspended or made to protrude into the vessel, and the potentially fragile sensor is exposed to damage by floating debris, vibration, and dynamic effects during filling. The potential for damage is increased if routine maintenance of the sensor is required due to biological or chemical fouling of the optical surface.
A more rugged point type fibre optic level sensor is described in U.S. patent application No. 07/168,481, Alpert and Snow, filed Mar. 15, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,292, wherein the source and detector fibres are embedded in an optically transparent substrate material, thereby providing protection for the sensor and a suitable window for cleaning.
The fibre optic sensors just described are primarily for discrete level measurement, e.g. to sense whether the vessel is empty or full or at some intermediate point. A multiplicity of such point sensors generally represents an impractical configuration for a continuous liquid level measure. A continuous measure is desirable for improved resolution in many applications. Consider the case of an aircraft fuel gauging system. The dielectric properties of the optical fibre sensor are desirable from the point of view of safety with respect to spark hazard and lightning strikes but high resolution and accuracy are also desirable so that excess fuel quantities would not have to be carried. This reduction in aircraft fuel level sensors are generally capacitance type sensors which lose accuracy when the fuel becomes laden with water and the dielectric constant is changed significantly.
Only three continuous fibre optic liquid level sensors have been found reported thus far. The first is "Fibre Optic Fluid Level Sensor" by M. Belkerdid, N. Ghanderharioun, and B. Brennan in the Proceedings of SPIE Conference 566 Fibre Optic and Laser Sensors III (1985) pages 153-158. Based on the bending or cladding loss principle, it consists of large loops of a single fibre, the loops being of ever increasing diameter, which are suspended in the liquid. Here again, the sensor packaging is not sufficiently robust for most applications.
The second is U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,292, Alpert and Snow, which uses a fluorescent doped detector fibre to collect light reflected from a source fibre in the presence of air; the light is refracted away when a fluid of higher refractive index is present. Hence the output signal is related to the fluid level.
The third is disclosed in U.S. patent application No. 07/292,111 of Dec. 30, 1988 by P. Colbourne, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,306. This invention uses a fluorescence doped fibre embedded in a cylindrical waveguide. The waveguide conducts light only in the absence of liquid, and hence the length of fluorescent fibre illuminated is equal to the length of the waveguide which is not immersed. The optical signal from the fluorescent fibre is thus related to the liquid level.

Fiber optic continuous liquid level sensor