The invention provides an interferometric system and method for quadrature detection of optical characteristics of a sample. The system includes a Mach-Zehnder interferometer providing a variable optical delay between light collected from the sample and reference light. The Mach-Zehnder interferometer has an output M×N coupler with N≧3 output ports. Two differential detectors, each having two input ports coupled to a different two of the N output ports of the M×N coupler, produce first and second electrical signals having an interferometric phase shift. A processor is provided for computing real and imaginary parts of a complex refractive index of the sample from the first and second electrical signals by using complex deconvolution.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry (OLCR) are interferometry-based techniques that have been successfully used in non-invasive and non-destructive analysis and imaging of structures in turbid media, especially in biological tissues. OLCR is a one-dimensional optical ranging technique where the amplitude and longitudinal delay of broadband light scattered from a sample is resolved using a low-coherence interferometer. OCT constructs a two-dimensional transverse image of the sample from a series of one-dimensional scans; it is a non-invasive, non-destructive and non-contact imaging method that typically uses a low coherence interferometer to extract depth-resolved sample information, and a scanning system to build a 2D image. Recently, Fourier-domain OCT techniques such as swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) that utilizes a narrow-line swept-wavelength laser source have also been disclosed. Both OCT and OLCR techniques allow the localization of reflecting sites within a transparent or semi-transparent sample with a micrometer spatial resolution.
In both of these interferometric techniques, broadband or swept-frequency light traveling a reference path is mixed on the surface of a single or multiple detectors with light returning from or traversing a sample. With a broad-band light source, a variable delay line in the reference arm is used to select a small range of depth, conventionally referred to as the "coherence gate", within the sample wherefrom the reflected or scattered signal results in interferometric fringes that can be detected and processed. The position of the coherence gate is defined and controlled by matching the optical path in two interferometer arms using the variable delay line.
Particular OCT implementations may take the form of a time-domain OCT or frequency domain OCT. Time-domain OCT is based on heterodyne interferometry, wherein light from the sample is combined with frequency shifted reference light, with the frequency shift resulting either from passing through an optical modulator located in the reference arm, or from the Doppler effect when the reference light is reflected from a moving reference mirror. Mixing of the sample and reference light in a square-law detector results in an electrical signal having DC and AC frequency components. The AC frequency component, which is caused by the interference of the sample light with the time-delayed reference light, is processed to extract sample information.
In the Fourier domain OCT the reference mirror position is fixed during the measurement, and the OCT setup is based on homodyne interferometry. The complete interferometric signal consists of DC components arising from non-mixing light from each of the arms, and interferometric components arising from mixed light.
The central part in both homodyne and heterodyne OCT systems is an interferometer, typically of a Michelson or a Mach-Zehnder type, illuminated for example by a low coherence light source. FIG. 1 illustrates a prior-art Mach-Zehnder-based OCT system 100 that is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,657,727 issued to Izatt et al, which is incorporated herein by reference; this interferometer can be implemented using inexpensive semiconductor light sources, e.g. wide-band LEDs, commercially available detectors, and flexible single-mode optical fibers suitable for remote imaging through minimally invasive diagnostic instruments.
In the OCT system 100, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer formed using two 2×2 couplers 102 and 104 is illuminated by a broadband light source 106; a sample 114 under examination is placed in a sample arm 108. A reference arm 110 includes a reflective delay line formed using a movable mirror 118, which is inserted into the reference arm 110 through a circulator 116. The sample arm 108 includes another circulator 112 which serves to illuminate the sample 114 with light coupled into the sample arm 108 by the coupler 102, and to direct light reflected from the sample 114 into the output coupler 104, wherein it is combined with light from the reference arm 110 and passed via its two output ports onto a balanced receiver 120, which includes two photo detectors D1 and D2 with differentially connected outputs. Due to the limited coherence length of the source, typically 10-15 microns, light transmitted through the reference arm 110 and light backscattered by internal sample reflections interferes constructively or destructively only when the interferometer arm optical path lengths are matched to within the source coherence length. Scanning the reference arm 110 length through a position corresponding to the depth of a reflecting site within the sample generates a localized interference pattern, which is recorded as a localized modulation of the detector current as a function of the reference arm position. The balanced receiver 120 current generated by a sample containing multiple reflecting sites distributed along its depth, such as biological tissue, contains the sum of multiple, overlapping copies of this interference pattern. A map of tissue reflectivity versus depth, which is conventionally referred to as an A-Scan, is obtained by scanning the reference mirror 118 at constant velocity, while recording the envelope of the detector current, e.g. by demodulating the detector current at the resulting Doppler frequency. Cross-sectional images of the sample backscatter, typically referred to as "B-Scans", may be acquired by obtaining sequential A-scans while scanning the probe beam across the tissue surface using a lateral scanning optic device. The resulting two-dimensional datasets are plotted as gray-scale or false-color images.
When the optical path difference for light raveling in the reference and sample arms of a low-coherence interferometer is zero, the OCT receiver 120 generates a signal which has an interferometric component Is max. As the optical path difference increases far beyond the coherence length of the used source, the receiver generates a noise signal which is conventionally characterized by the standard deviation σi of the receiver photocurrent. The signal to noise ratio (SNR) Is max2/σi2 is an important characteristic of an OCT interferometer, which defines the image contrast for the sample.
To obtain a high-contrast image from a turbid medium, such as a biological sample, an imaging system should have a high SNR. A significant advantage of using a low-coherence interferometer, such as the interferometer 100, for signal detection is that the mixing of the reference light with the light scattered from the sample at the square-low detector provides a dramatic increase in the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and the dynamic range, as compared to direct detection of the scattered light. Indeed, since the interferometric component of the detector current is proportional to the product of the electric field amplitudes returning from each arm, the detected envelope signal is proportional to the square root of the sample reflectivity; as the result, very small reflections in the sample on the order of 10−11 of the incident power can be detected in A-scans recorded in a fraction of a second.
The Mach-Zehnder based interferometric system 100 shown in FIG. 1 provides additional SNR gain by optimizing the power splitting ratio α1 of the optical coupler 102, and by using a balanced differential receiver 120 instead of a single photo detector. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,657,72, the dual-balanced detection has two advantages: first, the light intensity incident on detectors D1 and D2 as a function of reference arm delay is 180° out of phase due to a known property of a 2×2 coupler, so that the envelope of difference signal between the two detector currents is equal to twice the amplitude of the AC component of the photocurrent of each detector; and, secondly, any excess noise originated from the low-coherence source 106 will be common to both detectors and therefore will be eliminated by the difference operation.
The interferometric component of the receiver 120 signal depends sinusoidaly on the optical path length difference between the arms of the interferometer, and also on any additional phase delay between the reference and sample arm fields. When this phase term is zero, the interferometric signal varies as a cosine of the optical path length difference between the arms, and when the phase term is 90 degrees, the interferometric signal varies as a sine of the path length difference. The zero and 90 degree phase delayed versions of the interferometric signal are commonly referred to as the real and imaginary components, or zero and 90 degree quadrature components, of a complex interferometric signal I.
A limitation of the interferometric system 100, as well as many other prior-art interferometric systems used in Fourier domain OCT imaging, is that it provides only one of two quadrature components of the interferometric signal resulting from the mixing the sample and reference light, or, equivalently, only a real part of a complex interferometric signal, so that information carried by the imaginary part of the signal is lost. One drawback resulting from this limitation of conventional single-channel OCT systems is the appearance of the co-called complex conjugate artifact, due to which positive and negative distances in an OCT scan are not resolved, so that only half of the potentially available imaging depth can be realized.
Another drawback of the prior-art single-channel OCT systems is that the detected interferometric signal typically depends on both the refractive and absorptive properties of the imaged sample, and it becomes difficult to separate them and obtain refractive and absorptive properties of the imaged sample individually. Prior-art attempts at such separation have been based on so-called Kramers-Kronig (KK) relations, which connect frequency dependencies of real and imaginary parts of a complex refractive index in one integral relationship. This, however, requires first acquiring, for example, the absorption coefficient of a sample in a wide spectral range, before the refraction coefficient of the sample at a given frequency can be computed. This approach has considerable drawbacks, since it requires expensive widely-tunable sources of light for performing OCT measurements over a wide wavelength range, for example from 200 nm to 1000 nm, with a relatively small frequency step, and the results of KK-computations are very sensitive to the accuracy of the initial absorption spectra measurements. An example of such approach is disclosed, for example, in an article entitled "Oxygen Saturation-Dependent Absorption and Scattering of Blood", by Dirk J. Faber et al, published in Phys. Rev. Letters, V. 93, No 2, 9 Jul. 2004.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,019,838 to Izatt et al, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses an OCT system that is enhanced for simultaneous acquisition of both quadrature components of the complex interferometric signal; the system, which is shown in FIG. 2 corresponding to FIG. 9 of the '838 patent, is based on a 3×3 optical coupler 40 used as a beamsplitter in a Michelson interferometer configuration, and uses specific optical properties of optical couplers having more than 2 optical ports. In particular, light entering a 3×3 optical coupler via two of its input ports will exit the coupler with a phase shift of 120°, or 2π/3, between light intensity outputs from any two of the three ports, provided that the coupler evenly splits the light between the output ports. In the shown configuration, the broadband light from the source 20 is coupled into one input port of the coupler 40 via a circulator 21. The coupler 40 splits the light along fibers F1 and F2 which respectively lead to the reference and sample arms. The reference arm terminates with a reflector providing a variable optical delay; the sample shown as a fly serves as the reflection source of the other arm. Light beams reflected from the reference and sample arms are re-combined in coupler 40. Two portions of this re-combined light are then detected by detectors D2 and D3, and a third portion of this light is input into coupler 2, where it is detected by detector D1. Each channel of the interferometer, i.e. each of the detectors D1-D3, measures an output signal with a phase shift of 120° relative to the other two output channels. Using the output signals of any two channels, the real and imaginary components of the complex ac interferometric signal can be obtained.
One drawback of the OCT system shown in FIG. 2 is that it lacks balanced detectors that enable to eliminate common mode noise in system 100 shown in FIG. 1, and the description in '838 patent does not provide any clear way how the differential detection can be realized in the system described therein. Another drawback of this system is that it is based on a Michelson configuration with a single coupler 40 functioning both as a beam splitter and a beam combiner, which does not allow the same flexibility as a Mach-Zehnder configuration in optimizing optical power splitting between the reference and sample arms. In a further disadvantage, about one third of the optical power of the source 20, which is directed along fiber F3, does not contribute in the interferometric signal. Also, the '838 patent does not provide a way to obtain refractive and absorptive properties of the sample using the disclosed system.
An object of the present invention is to provide an interferometric system that employs differential detection to obtain both quadrature components of a complex interferometric signal with enhanced SNR.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an interferometric system and method to generate refraction and absorption properties of a sample simultaneously by utilizing both quadrature components of a complex interferometric signal that is obtained using differential detection.

Interferometric system for complex image extraction


The present invention provides a process for producing protein food materials which comprises heating a solution containing whey protein as the major component, and freezing the solution in a stationary state to obtain textured protein food materials.

The present invention relates to a process for producing protein food materials that a solution containing whey protein as the major component can be textured in accordance with the purposes to obtain analogues of food materials of fruit, meat or fish.
Conventionally, when the whey protein which is obtained as a by-product of cheese or casein is used as food materials, the use is limited to additive materials in the field of food processing. The other hand, when the whey protein is used as main materials of food, it is proposed that the whey protein is textured by heating and pressing with an extruder (Japanese Publication of Unexamined Patent Application NO. 62-14747). However, the method is limited to meat imitations.

Process for producing textured protein food materials


A wearable device for automatically counting and timing the repetitions or laps during an athletic activity. The device preferably is worn either on the palm of the hand or the ball of the foot and comprises a raised, pressure-sensitive area which is depressed automatically through contact with a solid surface as part of the user's natural action in completing a lap or repetition. The device preferably also comprises a watertight case enclosing a microprocessor circuit which records and calculates various information for the user and displays this information on a liquid crystal display. Selecting means are provided on the case for selecting the information appearing on the display such as laps completed, total distance traveled, time to complete each lap, average lap time, average speed, total elapsed time, real time, and best lap time. An adjustable strap holds the device to the user's body.

This invention relates to devices for counting and timing and, more particularly, to devices for counting and timing repetitions or laps in an athletic activity.
Devices for counting and timing repetitions or laps in an athletic activity fall into three broad categories:
(1) devices that are permanently fixed to, e.g., starting blocks or a pool wall such as the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,214; PA1 (2) devices which are portable and placed for use by a participant in the activity at an appropriate location such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,369; and PA1 (3) devices which are worn by the participant and are activated by him or her, or which activate automatically, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,105.
There are problems and limitations with all of these devices. Fixed devices are costly and must be maintained by individuals other than the athletic participant. Also, such devices generally cannot be used by more than one person at a time, a problem which, for recreational swimmers, is significant because they usually share lanes with other swimmers.
Although portable devices are individually maintained and located by the participant, they must be touched to register the completion of a lap or repetition. Thus, the participant's natural athletic motion must be altered to bring a portion of his or her body into contact with a target area on the device. This altered motion is particularly significant for swimmers executing a "flip turn" because their feet must contact the target area while simultaneously executing the turn under water. Also, the target area may be blocked by other swimmers or runners, or other swimmers or runners may accidentally contact the target area. These devices also require time to set up and may be stolen easily.
Devices worn by the participant also can interrupt natural athletic motion because after each lap or repetition, the participant must activate the device, generally by pushing a button or taking some other affirmative action. Generally, such devices are worn on the wrist, and the opposite hand is used to depress the button. This action is disruptive, and the participant often forgets to push the button after completing a repetition. Although devices which activate automatically through detecting a change in direction have been disclosed, they are inaccurate and can be activated inadvertently by turning the body. Also, when used for swimming, the completion of a lap is not recorded when the participant touches the pool wall but rather only after a change in direction. For an event in which there is no change in direction, the lap's completion is not recorded at all. Also, a swimmer cannot wear such a device on his or her wrist because the natural motion of a stroke registers the completion of a lap. Although such a device could be fixed to the swimmer's goggles with the display portion mounted in the lens, viewing of the display is difficult, especially for swimmers whose vision requires correction.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for counting and timing repetitions or laps in an athletic activity which overcomes or greatly alleviates the foregoing problems and shortcomings of prior devices.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an inexpensive, accurate device for counting and timing repetitions or laps which is portable and can be worn by an athletic participant.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a device for counting and timing repetitions or laps which can be activated by the participant without interrupting his or her natural athletic activity.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a device for counting and timing repetitions or laps which can be worn comfortably on the hand or foot, provides little resistance to air or water and which can be triggered on any fixed object during the natural motion of an athletic activity, such as swimming or running, without the necessity of touching or contacting a specific target area.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device for counting or timing repetitions or laps which can be used easily and effectively during an athletic activity with other participants and which does not require the involvement of other individuals to set up or maintain.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a device for counting or timing repetitions or laps which is highly accurate, versatile and does not require the participant to change direction, or to locate and touch a specific part or area on the device, to register the completion of a lap or repetition, or to initiate or terminate timing.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a device for counting or timing repetitions or laps which can calculate and clearly display to the participant the number of repetitions or laps completed, total distance traveled, time to complete each repetition or lap, average repetition or lap time, average speed, total elapsed time, real time, and best repetition or lap time.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device for counting and timing repetitions or laps which is easily worn and read by the participant.

Passively activated lap counter and timer


An auto-positioning hydraulic pneumatic fixture contains a base, at least one locking device, multiple pistons, multiple positioning modules, and multiple platforms. The base includes at least one installation zone for fixing at least one locking device. A respective one locking device includes a fixing module and a clamping module. The fixing module has a body, a connection segment, and an affix portion. The clamping module includes a positioning bolt and a pair of clamp units, and each clamp unit has a clamping face. The affix portion has a defining groove and a linear slot. The body has at least one tilted rail, and a respective one positioning module has a mounting unit and at least one locating unit. The mounting unit has two oblique faces and multiple fringes, and s respective one platform is configured to fix the respective one workpiece.

In automatic machining process, it is troublesome to fix a workpiece easily and securely. For example, when fixing or removing the workpiece manually, the workpiece cannot be fixed with even exert force. When the workpiece is fixed with insufficient exert force, the workpiece removes from the fixture. When fixing the workpiece with excessive exert force, the workpiece is deformed. To overcome aforesaid-mentioned problem, the fixture is driven pneumatically or hydraulically via a medium.
To machine the workpiece accurately, at least one movable positioning unit is arranged on the fixture so as to fix the workpiece on the fixture, thus machining the workpiece. However, before machining the workpiece, the at least one movable positioning unit has to be removed. When the at least one movable positioning unit is not removed before machining the workpiece, it interferes the machining process.
In addition, it is time-consuming to align the fixture with the at least one movable positioning unit, thus increasing fabrication cost.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Auto-positioning hydraulic pneumatic fixture


This is a method and kit for making window coverings and frames and the like in which a multiplicity of frame members are held in position in a geometric shape and distorted inwardly towards a center of the frame by a distorting force after which a covering is adhered to the frame. When the covering is firmly adhered, the distorting force is released causing tension to be applied to the covering and insuring that the covering is taut and wrinkle free.

There are no Pending Patent Applications Filed by me related to the within Application.
I. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the general field of protective and/or insulating devices and/or coverings for windows, panels, and segments, or the like in buildings and methods of manufacture and placement of such;
The invention is even more particularly in the fields of unique, novel, and useful tools, jigs, fixtures and the like for such devices and for the practice of the methods;
The invention is most particularly in the fields of such devices, methods, tools and the like which are usable by unskilled individuals and without special training.
II. Description of the Prior Art
I have searched through publications, commercial publications, technical works, builders supply facilities and patent files.
I know of no prior art which truly accomplishes the advantages and purposes of my invention as will be detailed below. Until now, there have been some efforts to make window coverings and the like by fastening a film or the like to a framework by the well known spline/groove system wherein attempts are made to fasten film into a frame having a groove into which an edge of a panel of covering material such as screen or other covering is forced into a groove around a frame by a tightly fitting bead of material. This generally results in an unsightly product which is wrinkled and with imperfect holding of the film by the spline in the groove. Another attempt which is sometimes made is the use of complex interlocking systems. All such systems are very labor intensive, costly, and unattractive.
I have studied publications, commercially available systems and materials, builders guides, patent files, and installed windows and the like and I have been unable to find any prior art which suggests or anticipates my present inventions.
My system which is described below approaches the problem in an innovative and novel manner which is not suggested nor anticipated in any way and results in the most economical, practical, innovative, novel, useful and attractive product for covering windows and the like and for the purposes set forth.
During cold weather homeowners and others are uniformly presented with the need to prevent heat within a house or other building from escaping. During warmer weather the same persons are presented with the reverse problem of preventing heat from entering the building.
Such persons do many things to try to conserve the energy which is lost in maintaining desirable temperatures within their buildings. Insulation is installed within walls and in attics and the like, double pane windows and insulated doors are utilized, and various other attempts are made which are known to those skilled in the art. No matter what is tried, even when double pane windows are used, there is serious loss of energy through windows, some panels, decorative features, and the like.
I have mentioned above the attempts to provide coverings for windows and the like, which attempts are unsatisfactory for the reasons indicated.
Because the problem is so important, I devoted a great deal of time and money in attempts to alleviate the heat transfer problems at windows and the like. I came to the conclusion that the only way to accomplish the desired results was with a frame having a properly sealed attractive transparent covering.
On studying frame materials available I found that hollow extruded frame material usually has a natural bow of a few degrees. Using this knowledge I concluded that I might utilize that natural bow by reversing it and holding it formed into a rectangular frame, firmly attaching a film or the like to the frame and then releasing the hold on the frame to allow the frame members to attempt to revert to the natural bow, thus stretching the film tightly.
I then proceeded to make special fixtures to hold the frame material properly so that was a reverse bowing action whether or not the extruded material had a natural bow. I then applied double stick adhesive tape to the frame material, placed film over the tape, trimmed the film, released the frame from the fixtures, and found that I had the perfect window covering to accomplish the desired result of an attractive, efficient, economical thermal barrier.
I found a further use for this system in that I have now been able to apply the basic principles to window screens and the like. This allows anyone, whether skilled or not, to economically make perfect window coverings of virtually any type and for any purpose.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method of forming attractive and useful thermally insulating widow coverings and the like;
Another object is to provide thermally insulating window coverings which are easily installed;
Another object is to provide such window coverings which can be made by an unskilled person;
Another object is to provide a kit which enables a homeowner or the like to make such window coverings on site;
Another object is to provide such window coverings which remain rigid and taut due to natural tensions built into them.


It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device in which images can be seen under a dark place to intense external light. In the display device, display is performed by changing the gray scale number depending on external light intensity, and display modes can be switched depending on contents displayed on the screen. An analog mode and a digital mode are switched depending on external light intensity. In an analog digital switching circuit, when a video signal is an analog value, a signal is outputted to a pixel array without any change and, when the video signal is a digital value, the signal is outputted to a circuit that performs a digital operation such as a latch circuit. Consequently, display gray scales of a pixel are changed appropriately. Accordingly, a clear image can be displayed. For example, it is possible to ensure visibility in a wide range of a dark place or under indoor florescent light to outdoor sun light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device equipped with a screen that displays a character, a still image, a moving image, or the like and relates to a technique to improve visibility of a display screen in various environments where the display device is used.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a so-called self-luminous type display device having a pixel that is formed of a light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode (LED) has been attracting attention. As a light-emitting element used for such a self-luminous type display device, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) (also called an organic EL element, an electro luminescence: EL element, and the like) has been drawing attention and used for an EL display (for example, an organic EL display or the like). Since a light-emitting element such as an OLED is a self-luminous type, it has advantages such as higher visibility of pixels than that of a liquid crystal display, and fast response without requiring a backlight. The luminance of a light-emitting element is controlled by a current value flowing through it.
As a driving method for controlling a light-emitting gray scale of such a display device, there are a digital gray scale method and an analog gray scale method. According to the digital gray scale method, a light-emitting element is turned on/off in a digital manner to express a gray scale. Meanwhile, the analog gray scale method includes a method for controlling the light-emitting intensity of a light-emitting element in an analog manner and a method for controlling the light-emitting time of a light-emitting element in an analog manner.
In the case of the digital gray scale method, there are only two states: a light-emitting state and a non-light-emitting state. Therefore, only two gray scales can be expressed if nothing is done. Accordingly, another method is used in combination to achieve multiple gray scales. A time gray scale method is often used as a method for multiple gray scales (see Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-324958 and Reference 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-343933).
As a display for controlling a display state of a pixel in a digital manner and expressing a gray scale in combination with a time gray scale, there are some displays as well as an organic EL display using the digital gray scale method. As an example, there is a plasma display or the like.
The time gray scale method is a method for expressing a gray scale by controlling the length of a light-emitting period or the frequency of light emission. In other words, one frame period is divided into a plurality of sub-frame periods, each of which is weighted with respect to the frequency of light emission and a light-emitting period, and then the total weight (the sum of the frequency of light emission and the sum of the light-emitting period) is differentiated for each gray scale, thereby expressing a gray scale.
In the meantime, an apparent image quality is emphasized even in such a display panel and many display panels provided with a function to adjust brightness or contrast automatically or manually prevails widely. For example, a liquid crystal display device provided with adjustability to improve visibility of a gray scale by changing transmittance of a liquid crystal without increasing luminance of a backlight of a liquid crystal panel is known (see Reference 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-186455).
However, although a liquid crystal display panel has preferable visibility in an indoor environment of 300 to 700 luxes, there is a problem that the visibility is deteriorated significantly in an outdoor environment of 1,000 luxes or more. There is a liquid crystal panel having a structure where external light is reflected by a pixel electrode, which is referred to as a reflective liquid crystal panel; however, the image quality is rather deteriorated under indoor florescent light; thus, the problem is not solved fundamentally. In other words, it is not solved to ensure visibility in wide range of under dark or indoor florescent light to outdoor sun light.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method for comparing geometric shapes to each other is disclosed. The method includes determination of a rotational variation metric. The shapes to be compared are scaled so that their lengths are equal and tangent vectors at corresponding locations along the geometric shapes are determined. The angle between each pair of corresponding tangent vectors for each of these locations is then plotted as a function of the length along the geometric shapes. The variation around the mean angle between the tangent vectors for the locations along the geometric shapes being compared is the rotational variation coefficient. This process defines a rotational variation metric which indicates how closely the two geometric shapes match. The rotational variation metric can be used in various geographic applications, including vehicle positioning, sign recognition, and evaluating geographic database accuracy.

The present invention relates to data representations of geographic features and more particularly, the present invention relates to a way to measure how closely one geometric shape matches another geometric shape.
The need to compare geometric shapes arises in various applications relating to the use of data representations of geographic features. Some of these applications include vehicle positioning, measuring geographic database accuracy, and road sign recognition. For instance, in a vehicle positioning application, one way to determine the position of a moving vehicle with respect to a map database that represents the road network upon which the vehicle is traveling is to find the best match between the vehicle""s path, as determined by processing sensor data, and the data representation of the roads that form the road network upon which the vehicle is traveling.
One standard method for determining geometric distortion (i.e., how much one geometric shape is different from another geometric shape) involves finding the area between the two shapes. FIG. 1 illustrates this standard method. FIG. 1 shows a geometric shape labeled xe2x80x9cshape Axe2x80x9d and another shape labeled xe2x80x9cshape B.xe2x80x9d In order for this standard process to yield a true measure of distortion, it is required that the shapes be aligned to minimize the area. This alignment is shown in FIG. 1 by the line labeled xe2x80x9cShape B aligned with Shape A.xe2x80x9d However, it is not always clear how to perform this alignment, especially automatically. An alternative is to compute the area for all translations and rotations of the two geometric shapes. The minimum area computed is a measure of the geometric distortion between the two shapes. This process can be time consuming and computationally intensive.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved way to compare one geometric shape to another geometric shape.
To address these and other objectives, the present invention provides a method for comparing geometric shapes to each other. The method includes determination of a rotational variation coefficient. Tangent vectors at corresponding locations along the geometric shapes to be compared are determined and the angle between pairs of tangent vectors for each of these locations is plotted as a function of the distance along the shapes. The variance of the plot around the mean value is the rotational variation coefficient. This process defines a rotational variation metric which indicates how closely the two geometric shapes match.
The rotational variation metric can be used in various applications that use geographic data. The rotational variation metric can be used in vehicle positioning. By using the rotational variation metric to compare the vehicle trajectory determined from sensors to the paths of roads as represented in a map database, the location on the road on which the vehicle is likely to be located can be determined.
The rotational variation metric can be also be used for road sign recognition. The outline of an object in a detected image is compared to a plurality of different road sign shape templates. Using the rotational variation metric, the sign shape template that most closely matches the outline of the object in the detected image indicates the most likely sign.
The rotational variation metric can also be used for evaluating geographic database accuracy. The shapes of data representations of geographic features represented in a geographic database are compared to the ground truth representations of the actual features. The rotational variation metric indicates how closely the geographic database representation of each geographic feature matches the actual geographic feature.

Shape comparison using a rotational variation metric and applications thereof


A reusable miniaturized detector that utilizes magneto-optic elements to detect the occurrence of an electrostatic discharge during the manufacture or handling of electrostatic discharge sensitive electronic components and circuit boards. The device may also be used to determine the polarity and magnitude of the electrostatic discharge. The device may be manually or automatically read, either by removing the device from the environment being monitored or continuously monitoring in situ. The device can also be configured to provide protection to some electrostatic discharge events which could damage sensitive components being monitored.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to new and improved devices for detecting electrostatic discharge (ESD) events occurring in electronic components and electronic assemblies and, more particularly, to reusable detectors which can be positioned directly on or closely adjacent to miniature electronic components and printed circuit board assemblies to detect the occurrence, polarity and approximate magnitude of an ESD event. The invention also relates to devices to protect electronic components and circuits from static discharge, in that the invention can be connected to an electrostatic discharge sensitive device so that ESD events above a predetermined magnitude would result in the destruction of the apparatus of the invention, rather than the ESD sensitive device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Static charges nay accumulate on the surfaces of non-grounded conductors and non-conductive surfaces such as most plastics and textiles. These charges will usually remain on the surfaces because there is no path to ground. When a non-grounded conductor comes close to a grounded plane, a spark of high voltage, and potentially destructive low current, will "leap" from a point on the non-grounded conductor to the grounded object, causing an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. When a charged non-conductor comes close to a conductive object, the charge can be induced onto the conductor, which can then rapidly discharge to other conductors.
Electrostatic discharge occurs in many industrial situations, such as manufacturing and assembly processes, electronic testing processes and the like. For example, in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, electrostatic charges may build up and become discharged during various human or machine handling operations wherein semiconductor wafers are processed, tested and packaged. The amount of electrostatic charge accumulated and discharged during handling of work pieces can be sufficiently high to cause a significant number of component failures, reducing the yield of the various manufacturing, testing and packaging operations and thereby increasing the overall cost of the device.
Static electricity can create a wide variety of problems for electronic manufacturers. An ESD event can cause a rapid electron movement through the microscopic conductive paths within a device and generate a heat spike which can cause damage to the gates or other insulating parts of the electronic device. If the discharge is large enough, a portion of the device will be destroyed and the defect will be found during testing. While high levels of electrostatic discharge will result in the immediate destruction of the device, which can be readily discovered during subsequent testing, low level electrostatic discharge may cause latent damage to the device, which may not be detected during initial testing. This latent damage may later result in reduced performance and/or premature product failure.
At present, efforts have been directed toward prevention of ESD events during manufacturing, since there are few known methods to monitor actual events. Knowing where, how large, and when an event occurs is useful in evaluating ESD induced failures so that appropriate preventive measures can be taken to eliminate the source of the ESD event.
Improvements in the manufacture of semiconductor devices have resulted in devices having vastly increased circuit density, reduced active element size and reduced conductor widths. These improvements have increased the overall performance of the devices, but have simultaneously increased the susceptibility of the devices to damage from electrostatic discharge. As a result, electronic devices are potentially susceptible to damage from discharge events as low as 50 volts. Thus, semiconductive devices in routine manufacture and use today are more susceptible than humans, who normally can not feel an electrostatic discharge of less than approximately 3500 volts.
A variety of instruments have been designed and developed to measure electrostatic phenomena in semiconductor device assembly areas. Some of these devices are connected directly to the circuit boards, while other instruments have antennas or other sensors that detect electromagnetic radiation resulting from an electrostatic discharge. In general, these instruments suffer from one or more disadvantages that limit their acceptance and use in the electronic industry, and similar industries. These disadvantages include being too large or expensive, difficult to monitor in real time, and non-reusable, or some combination of these drawbacks. These prior art instruments also generally fail to provide sufficient information to assist in the detection of devices that are damaged or destroyed, including information leading to the detection and elimination of the incipient environmental causes of the ESD events.
One prior art device used to detect ESD events utilizes a silicon Field Effect Transistor (FET) which is destroyed in the process. This device is monitored by first removing it from the circuit board and then inserting it into an external reader. This device has inherent disadvantages which include its inability to be reused, the requirement that it be removed from the circuit to be tested, its inability to measure polarity, and its limited range of one ESD sensitivity level per device.
Other prior art detection devices are known which utilize a liquid crystal display as an indicator and has a clip lead which can be connected to the particular position of interest, e.g., input to an ESD sensitive device. This particular device has a built-in antenna which senses the ESD event and includes hardware for mounting and protecting the device while in use. This device also has inherent disadvantages which include the large size of the unit, its low operating/storage temperature range, its ability to detect only one transient voltage, and the high cost in manufacturing the unit. Additional disadvantages include incompatibility with automatic insertion equipment and the inability of the device to measure polarity.
What has been needed, and heretofore unavailable, is a reliable, low cost, rugged, miniature, reusable device for accurately and economically detecting the occurrence, polarity and magnitude of electrostatic discharge events, including relatively low level events, which can also provide protection to semiconductive devices from large electrostatic discharges. Such a device should be capable of memory retention, so that the occurrence of an ESD event can be detected anytime after it happens. The present invention satisfies these and other needs.

Static event detection/protection device


Fibrous structures containing a surface care composition, and more particularly dry fibrous structures containing a surface care composition comprising one or more bacteriophage, methods of making same, and methods for treating surfaces using same are provided.

Among surfaces in our homes and public establishments that people frequent, such as restaurants, hospitals, manufacturing facilities, retail stores, and grocery stores, kitchen and bathroom surfaces, such as floors, countertops, appliances, sinks, faucets, shower walls, tubs, toilets, and trash cans, are among the most heavily colonized by bacteria, and these spaces are likely where humans and our companion animals are the most exposed to the broadest diversity of bacteria. Microbial exposure can arise both directly, for example from handling, preparing, and eating food, as well as indirectly, from contact with surfaces that harbor bacteria derived from a range of potential sources. Kitchen and bathroom surfaces can harbor pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia, Salmonella, Listeria, and Staphylococcus. In fact, the kitchen has been implicated in having a number of surfaces highly susceptible to pathogenic bacterial contamination, including sink drains, sink basins, microwave interiors and exterior displays, garbage cans and disposals, faucet, refrigerator, oven, and microwave handles, oven doors, countertops, floors (particularly near sinks), produce and meat drawers (as well as other surfaces) within the refrigerators, stovetops, sponges, towels, and other dishcloths, and a variety of other kitchen surfaces (Flores et al., "Diversity, Distribution and Sources of Bacteria in Residential Kitchens," Environmental Microbiology, Volume 15, Issue 2, pp. 588-596 February 2013 (first published online November 2012, DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12036)). Bathrooms are also problematic, having a tendency to harbor the foregoing pathogenic bacteria on surfaces such as toilets, including flush handles, faucet handles, sinks, bathtubs (including drains), showers, floors, and any other type of bathroom surface.
Other surfaces, such as skin or epithelial tissue, can colonize pathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus, Escherichia, Salmonella, Listeria, Shigella, Campylobacter, Clostridium, and Staphylococcus, and particularly Streptococcus, Escherichia, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. Pathogenic bacteria can result in any of a variety of infections such as dermatitis, diaper rash, and impetigo, commonly caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, in which the elderly, infants, and pre-school children are particularly susceptible. Other pathogenic conditions include other bacterial skin conditions such as urinary tract infections commonly suffered by women.
Even further, moist surfaces such as kitchen and bath sponges or other cleaning implements are generally most susceptible to the colonization of these and other bacteria. Unfortunately, consumers often use these contaminated implements in an attempt to clean and/or treat and/or disinfect surfaces, particularly those in the kitchen and bathroom, not realizing that such attempts are counter-productive and often result in introducing further bacterial contamination instead of disinfection. Moist skin surfaces, such as skin susceptible to diaper rash in infants and pre-school children are also particularly susceptible.
Unfortunately, in addition to counter-productive techniques such as using contaminated cleaning devices such as sponges, other techniques have limited efficacy. Diaper rash and other infections on skin are still common problems that are difficult to manage. Improved technologies are necessary to infect, lyse, destruct, disrupt, kill, inhibit the growth of, or otherwise reduce or eliminate these bacteria on surfaces.
One attempt by formulators to produce a fibrous structure that is more effective and/or efficient at reducing and/or eliminating bacteria from surfaces is a fibrous structure comprising a liquid composition comprising a bacteriophage. However, such a fibrous structure may require special packaging to maintain the effectiveness of the bacteriophage. Furthermore, fibrous structure comprising a liquid composition will require special packaging to prevent the liquid composition from drying out during distribution of the product from the manufacturer to the consumer.
Another attempt by formulators to produce a fibrous structure that is more effective and/or efficient at reducing and/or eliminating bacteria from surfaces is a fibrous structure that is contacted at the time of use with a liquid composition comprising one or more bacteriophage. However, such a system might require special packaging or bottling of the liquid composition comprising the bacteriophage to maintain the effectiveness of the bacteriophage until application of the liquid composition to a fibrous structure at the time of use. One problem with the known fibrous structures is that they might require the use of a liquid composition comprising bacteriophage, which necessitates the use of special packaging to maintain the effectiveness of the bacteriophage until use or during distribution and storage of the liquid composition. Furthermore, consumers find it inconvenient to have to have both a liquid composition comprising bacteriophage and an appropriate fibrous structure to reduce or eliminate these bacteria on surfaces. It would be more convenient to not have to seek both components when one desires to reduce or eliminate these bacteria on surfaces.
In addition to the described problems, bacteriophage are prone to have decreased activity or potency upon exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) light. Such exposure has a damaging effect on the bacteriophage, decreasing lytic ability. Fibrous structures comprising bacteriophage might also be susceptible to such decreased bacteriophage activity upon exposure to sunlight or UV light. Accordingly, there is a need for a fibrous structure manufacturer to devise approaches or means for maintaining the activity of bacteriophage containing fibrous structures during distribution of the fibrous structure from the manufacturer, to the retailer, to the consumer, and finally while being stored before use in the consumer's dwelling.
Another problem with incorporating surface care agents, such as bacteriophage into fibrous structures is that consumers of rolled tissue products, such as bathroom tissue and paper towels, generally prefer firm rolls. A firm roll conveys superior product quality and conveys sufficient fibrous structure material is present on the roll and consequently provides value for the consumer. A firm roll is one with a lower % compressibility value. From the standpoint of a fibrous structure manufacturer, however, providing a firm roll or one with a low compressibility after a surface care agent, for example a bacteriophage, is incorporated into the fibrous structure is a challenge.
Further, in order to provide a target roll diameter, while maintaining an acceptable cost of manufacture, the fibrous structure manufacturer must produce a finished fibrous structure roll having higher roll bulk. One means of increasing roll bulk is to wind the fibrous structure roll loosely. Loosely wound rolls however, have low firmness or high compressibility and are easily deformed, which makes them unappealing to consumers. The fibrous structure manufacturer's challenge becomes even greater as adding a surface care composition, especially an aqueous surface care composition, can decrease the bulk of the fibrous structure sheet and consequently decrease achievable roll bulk. As such, there is a need for fibrous structure rolls having high bulk as well as good firmness (low % compressibility) even after the fibrous structure has been modified to comprise a surface care composition. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a rolled fibrous tissue product with high roll bulk and low % compressibility while comprising a high basis weight fibrous structure sheet spirally wound on the roll where the fibrous structure sheet provides greater absorbency, strength, and hand protection in use while simultaneously delivering surface care compositions to surfaces being treated or wiped.
Although it is desirable to provide a fibrous structure having high basis weight, greater absorbency, strength, spirally wound on a roll having high bulk and good roll firmness, while also comprising a surface care composition, improvement of one of these properties typically comes at the expense of another. For example, as the basis weight of the fibrous structure sheets is increased, achieving high roll bulk becomes more challenging since much of the bulk of the fibrous structure is achieved by molding of the embryonic fibrous structure web into the paper-making fabric and this bulk is decreased by increasing the basis weight of the fibrous structure sheet. Another example is that the bulk of the fibrous structure might be decreased by the addition of the surface care composition and then consequently have a negative impact on roll bulk, fibrous structure strength, and roll firmness.
Finally, in addition to the high roll bulk and good roll firmness (low % compressibility), consumers also often prefer multi-ply fibrous structures for the softness and absorbency characteristics inherent to multi-ply fibrous structures. Hence the fibrous structure manufacturer needs to strive to economically produce a fibrous structure roll delivering fibrous structures with surface care compositions that meet these often-contradictory parameters of large diameter, good firmness, with high quality fibrous structure sheets comprising high strength, absorbency, and softness, all at an acceptable cost.
Accordingly, there is a need for a rolled fibrous structure product with a firm roll, where a fibrous structure comprising a surface care composition is spirally wound on the roll. Furthermore, there is a need for a rolled fibrous structure product with a firm roll and also high roll bulk, where a fibrous structure comprising a surface care composition is spirally wound on the roll. There is also a need for such a fibrous structure roll where the surface care composition comprises a one or more bacteriophage such that the negatives or tradeoffs associated with known fibrous structures are avoided, methods of making such fibrous structure rolls, and methods for using such fibrous structure rolls for treating surfaces in need of treatment, such as surfaces that are susceptible to bacterial contamination.
Accordingly, there is a need for a dry fibrous structure comprising a bacteriophage composition comprising one or more bacteriophage such that the negatives associated with known fibrous structures are avoided, for example such that the dry fibrous structure does not need special packaging to maintain the effectiveness of the bacteriophage, methods of making such fibrous structures and methods for using such fibrous structures for treating surfaces in need of treatment, such as surfaces that are susceptible to bacterial contamination.
There is also a need for fibrous structure comprising surface care compositions, for example a surface care composition comprising bacteriophage, wherein the fibrous structure is capable of treating a one or more surfaces in need of treatment (for example a bacteria-contaminated surface) without negatively impacting the fibrous structure's physical properties such as strength, absorbency, roll bulk, % compressibility, modulus, elongation, and others.
Further, there is a need for fibrous structures comprising a surface care composition comprising one or more bacteriophage such that when such fibrous structures are used to treat surfaces, they provide efficacy against pathogenic bacteria in a variety of settings including in our homes, on skin and other epithelial tissue, and on any of a variety of other surfaces such as such as manufacturing plant surfaces and hospital surfaces.

Fibrous structures comprising a surface care composition and methods for making and using same


The disclosed technologies include functionality for managing Multiple Physical Function NVMe Devices (“MFNDs”) and the physical functions (“PFs”) provided by MFNDs. For example, host devices can discover MFNDs, query the capabilities of MFNDs, and change the operating mode of an MFND between a user mode and a super administrator mode. Hosts can also utilize the disclosed technologies to create and delete individual child PFs on MFNDs. The disclosed technologies also include functionality for managing the settings associated with individual PFs of MFNDs. For example, hosts can query and modify the settings associated with individual child PFs of an MFND. The disclosed technologies also include functionality for managing the QoS provided by individual PFs of a MFND. For example, hosts can also query and modify the QoS provided by individual child PFs of an MFND.

Non-Volatile Memory Express ("NVMe") is an open host controller interface and storage protocol specification for accessing non-volatile storage devices attached via a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express ("PCIe") bus. Certain devices can expose multiple PCIe physical functions ("PFs"), such as independent NVMe controllers. These types of devices might be referred to herein as multiple physical function NVMe devices ("MFNDs").
In a MFND, one PF, which might be referred to herein as a "parent PF," can act as a parent controller to receive and execute administrative commands. Other physical functions on a MFND, which might be referred to herein as "child PFs" or "children PFs," can act as child controllers that behave similarly to standard NVMe controllers. Through this mechanism, a MFND can enable the efficient sharing of input/output ("I/O") resources between virtual machines ("VMs") or bare metal instances. For example, child PFs can be directly assigned to and utilized by different VMs through various direct hardware access technologies, such as HYPER-V NVMe Direct or Discrete Device Assignment ("DDA").
Through the mechanism described above, the child PFs exposed by a single MFND can appear as multiple, separate physical devices to individual VMs. This allows individual VMs to directly utilize a portion of the available storage space provided by a MFND with reduced central processing unit ("CPU") and hypervisor overhead.
Existing MFNDs, however, have limitations that restrict aspects of their functionality when used with VMs in the manner described above. As one specific example, quality of service ("QoS") levels are typically fixed for the lifetime of current MFNDs. As another example, current MFNDs cannot provide detailed information regarding the state of the child PFs to a host computing device. Current MFNDs can also suffer from other technical limitations, some of which are described in detail below.
It is with respect to these and other technical challenges that the disclosure made herein is presented.

Management of multiple physical function nonvolatile memory devices


A customizable firearm is disclosed. The firearm can perform one or more functions, including firing a bullet, firing a less-than-lethal projectile, and/or providing light. In some cases, the firearm includes a main frame component having an inner cavity, wherein a barrel is slidably received within the cavity so as to selectively slide back and forth within the cavity. In some cases, a proximal end of the barrel comprises a bullet chamber. In such cases, the barrel fires the bullet by carrying the bullet proximally and striking it against a stationary firing pin. In other cases, a firing pin is attached to a distal end of the barrel. In such cases, the barrel discharges the firearm by moving the firing pin distally and striking a cartridge at a distal end of the main frame. In some cases, the barrel rotates between a safe and a fire alignment. Other implementations are described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to firearms. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for making and using a firearm that can be customized to perform one or more functions, such as firing a bullet, firing a less-than-lethal projectile, and/or providing light.
2. Background and Related Art
Guns currently exist that have characteristics to make them more practical or better suited for certain uses. For example, while some guns are specially configured for use in hunting, other guns are designed to be used in combat and tactical situations. Similarly, while some guns have longer barrels to increase their accuracy and bullet velocity, other guns have shorter barrels to make them easier to conceal. As a general rule, guns that are mounted against a user's shoulder, such as rifles and shotguns, are called long guns, while guns that can be held and operated with a single hand, such as pistols and revolvers, are called handguns.
Handguns can be useful for a variety of purposes. For instance, because some handguns are relatively small, they may be more practical than some long guns for use indoors and in situations where the object being shot at is relatively close to the shooter. Additionally, because some handguns can easily be hidden on a user's person or in a user's bag, the user can carry such a gun without calling attention to that fact. As a result, the user can carry the handgun without causing unnecessary fear or anxiety to bystanders.
Despite their utility, handguns are not necessarily without their shortcomings. Some handguns are intended to be readily fired, so the safety mechanisms on such guns can be relatively easily to disengage or even be non-existent. Accordingly, some such handguns may discharge unintentionally—potentially causing damage to property and even injury or death to the guns' users or to others.
While techniques currently exist that are used to provide handguns for a variety of purposes, challenges still exist. Accordingly, it would be an improvement in the art to augment or even replace current techniques with other techniques.

Systems and methods for providing a customizable firearm


The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning outdoor debris such as leaves and lawn clippings. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus comprises a resistant, pliable mat and wall element. The present invention can be secured in place through stakes or posts and is configured to allow a user to directly push debris onto the mat, without having to hold the apparatus in place. The wall element retains the debris in place once debris has been collected on the mat. The pliable nature of the mat allows the user to lift and transport the apparatus more easily when filled with a load. The user can also fold the apparatus into a compact configuration for easy storage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the cleanup and removal of leaves and outdoor debris. Specifically, the invention provides for an improved means to collect and gather outdoor debris and easily dispose of such waste.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art patents directed at outdoor cleanup primarily focus on attachments for conventional waste disposal bags that facilitate the ability to sweep debris directly into waste disposal bags.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,046, titled "Manual Scoop and Rake System for Collecting Leaves and Other Light Debris" discloses a funnel like attachment for a disposal bag. The ensemble is placed on the ground and the user pushes debris directly into the system. While the apparatus allows the user to fill a disposal bag without having to hold the disposal bag open, it does not allow the user to push large volumes of debris into the bag. The user is limited in the volume of debris that can be pushed in the disposal bag in one motion due to the limited opening provided by the funnel like attachment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,990, titled "Leaf Ramp and Bag Holder Apparatus" teaches an apparatus whereby a user gathers debris with a rake and pushes it up a ramp, where it is deposited in a waste receptacle. The upward movement of debris requires that the user assume an awkward position, causing discomfort with prolonged use. Additionally, because the user must push debris in an upward direction, the volume of debris that can be placed in the waste receptacle in one motion is severely limited, as gravity forces much of the debris falling outside the rake away from the waste receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,965, titled "Manual Scoop and Rake System for Collecting Leaves and Other Light Debris" teaches a frame that can be inserted and attached to the opening of a standard waste disposal bag so that a waste disposal bag can remain in a fully opened position. Similar to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,046 Patent described above, the user is limited in the volume of debris that can be pushed into the disposal bag in one motion. This is due to the limitations placed by the enclosed opening of the disposal bag.
The shortcoming of the prior art described above is that the devices do not facilitate the cleanup of large volumes of leaves. Prior art apparatus require that the user directly push leaves into enclosed bags or receptacles. Because the user must create piles that are small enough to fit through the openings of the enclosed openings of the prior art apparatus, these apparatus do not facilitate the disposal of large volumes of debris in one motion. These types of apparatus are impractical for large volumes of leaves and debris.
The present invention provides for an efficient means of quickly directing large volumes of leaves and debris in one motion onto a disposal mat, where the user can easily gather the debris and dispose of it.


A brake fluid pressure control device for a includes a wheel speed acquisition device that acquires a wheel speed, a slippage amount calculation device that calculates a wheel slippage amount, and a bad road determination device that determines whether a road surface of travel is a bad road. The bad road determination device determines whether the road surface of travel is a bad road using a bad road determination threshold value, and a value that relates to wheel behavior that is calculated based at least upon the wheel speed. The bad road determination threshold value is modified according to the wheel slippage amount. The present invention can appropriately set a bad road determination threshold value that is in accordance with a slippage amount, which corresponds to braking power, and can improve bad road determination precision without depending on variation in change of wheel speed.

An anti-lock brake system (ABS) is a device that prevents wheels from being locked. There is a known technique, disclosed in, for example, PTL 1, that determines whether the state (concavo-convex road surface) of a traveling road surface is bad in, for example, a motorcycle.
The technique in PTL 1 determines that the road state is bad when the number of times the wheel acceleration becomes equal to or more than a predetermined level (L1) is equal to or more than a predetermined number (KN1).
By the way, change of wheel speed during travel on a bad road is likely to vary depending on the magnitude of a braking power. However, since determination conditions are constant in the technique in PTL 1, further improvement of determination precision has been desired.

Brake fluid pressure control device for vehicle


A method for producing a food product comprising the steps of providing a base layer of cheese; covering the base with a layer of previously popped popcorn; adding a second layer of cheese on top of and in the interstices of the popcorn layer; heating to melt the cheese and to bond the second layer of cheese and popcorn to the base, thereby forming a structure having a plurality of layers; freezing the structure to form a frozen structure; and freeze-drying the frozen structure; and the resulting food product.

This invention relates generally to a food product and the method for making such a food product. It is specifically concerned with a snack that is crunchy, yet made without frying or baking and without any additional fats or oils.
In the snack food product art, it is known to use both cheese and popcorn as snacks. It also is known to use cheese-flavored popcorn as a snack. Furthermore, it is known in the snack food product field that pizzas are a common and desired product.
It also is known to use the technology of freeze-drying to preserve food products, such as beef stew, for later use. The freeze-drying process is used to remove the moisture from a product. Currently, such freeze-dried products are sold with the intention that the moisture will be replenished to the freeze-dried product by reconstituting the product with a liquid before consumption.
It also is known in the art that crunchy and salty-tasting foods are desirable as snack food products. Normally, in the snack food art, the crunchy texture of products is derived by frying, commonly in an oil, fat or other shortening, in order to achieve a crunchy texture. Such preparation can add to the fat content of the final product. Further, exposure of fats to the high temperatures encountered in frying oxidizes the fats, resulting in products less desirable in today's health-conscious society.
The existing food products, however, do not provide a crunchy, salty snack food which is a blend of both cheese and popcorn, which requires no refrigeration or preparation, and appears pizza-like.

Food product and method for making the same


A plasma processing apparatus includes a microwave introducing module provided at a ceiling portion of a processing chamber and configured to introduce a microwave for generating plasma of a gas into the processing chamber; and a plurality of gas supply holes formed at the ceiling portion of the processing chamber and configured to introduce the gas into a plasma processing space. Each of the plurality of gas supply holes includes a fine hole and a cavity that is expanded from the fine hole and opened to the plasma processing space. A diameter of the cavity on the plasma processing space side is 3 mm or more and is ⅛ or less of a wavelength of a surface wave of a microwave in the plasma.

A plurality of gas supply holes is provided at a ceiling portion of a plasma processing apparatus. Gas is supplied in a shower shape from a gas supply source into the plasma processing apparatus through the gas supply holes (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009-228054, 2016-119325 and 2007-221116)
In a microwave plasma processing apparatus, a surface wave of a microwave propagates on a surface (inner wall surface) of the ceiling portion of a chamber to which the microwave is supplied. Therefore, in the microwave plasma processing apparatus, the electric field intensity of the surface of the ceiling portion is increased by the surface wave of the microwave propagating on the surface of the ceiling portion, compared to that in a parallel plate type plasma processing apparatus, e.g., a CCP (Capacitively Coupled Plasma) processing apparatus or the like. Due to the high electric field intensity of the microwave, discharge is likely to occur at the gas supply hole opened on the surface of the ceiling portion. Therefore, arc discharge (abnormal discharge) may occur at the gas supply hole so that the member forming the gas supply hole melts to clog the gas supply hole.
To prevent the abnormal discharge due to the surface wave of the microwave entering the gas supply hole, embedding a porous dielectric material in the gas supply hole and allowing the gas to pass through the porous dielectric material is considered. In that case, however, due to the presence of the porous dielectric material embedded in the gas supply hole, the number of components is increased. Further, due to a process of embedding the porous dielectric material into the gas supply hole and adhering the porous dielectric material to the gas supply hole by baking and bonding it to the ceiling portion, the number of manufacturing processes is increased.


A dielectric fitting includes a nut having inner threads and an axial compression surface, and a hole having a first diameter. A mating component includes outer threads that engage with the inner threads including a second axial compression surface. A first fitting includes a circumferential flange captured between the first axial compression surface and the second axial compression surface, the first fitting having a first wall that extends axially and passes through the first hole and includes first fitting threads. A second fitting includes second fitting threads that engage with the first fitting threads, the second fitting having a second wall and a bulge portion that radially projects to a second diameter and includes an O-ring. The nut and the mating component are dielectrically isolated from the first fitting and the second fitting, and the second diameter is larger than the first diameter.

Fittings, or unions, are commonly used in the plumbing industry to join pipes together. The pipes thereby form a flow path through which liquids, such as water, flow. Applications may include water heaters, water softeners, sinks, and other piping for residential and commercial applications.
Oftentimes, pipes to be connected in plumbing applications are of dissimilar metals, which can cause galvanic corrosion. Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical process in which one metal corrodes when it is in electrical contact with another metal in the presence of an electrolyte. An electrolyte is commonly known as a substance that produces an electrically conducting solution when dissolved in a solvent. The dissolved electrolyte separates into cations and anions, which can thereby conduct electrical current when an electrical potential is applied. Water and other fluids passed in residential and commercial pipe systems are thereby electrolytes because they include sufficient impurities to be electrically conductive.
An electrical potential is naturally formed between dissimilar metals, and when the dissimilar metals are joined to form a fluid flow path (such as pipes in a piping system), one metal acts as an anode and the other acts as a cathode. Metal ions thereby exchange between the cathode and the anode, with typically the anode metal dissolving into the electrolyte and resulting in corrosion.
Many solutions have been employed to mitigate the effects of corrosion in plumbing and other fluid conveyance systems. For instance, sacrificial anodes may be galvanically coupled to the plumbing system, the sacrificial anode having a greater propensity to corrode than the other metals in the system. Another solution may include corrosion inhibitors. Still another solution may include a thread seal tape or Teflon® tape or a sealing compound that electrically isolates the dissimilar materials from each other.
Such measures, however, may be impractical or too expensive to implement, may be subject to installation error (such as Teflon® tape not being sufficiently applied), they may not provide sufficient protection for the expected life of the system, or such measures may not comply with building codes.
As such, in many applications, manufacturers have developed dielectric joints or unions that connect dissimilar metals to each other while maintaining electrical isolation between components. Typically, such as in a residential plumbing application for a water heater, a dielectric fitting may be used to connect copper piping to an iron-based metal such as galvanized steel or stainless-steel. To prevent galvanic corrosion, the dielectric fitting includes a copper end that is connected to copper pipe, and a threaded stainless-steel end that connects to stainless-steel pipe.
In one such design, the copper and iron-based metal in the dielectric fitting are electrically isolated from one another via dielectric materials. Typically, a copper portion of the dielectric fitting includes a flange that is captured axially by two threaded stainless-steel, or more generally, iron-based components. The two iron-based metal components are screwed together in a fashion that captures the flange of the copper portion, containing the copper portion and providing a fitting that includes the copper portion projecting outward in one axial direction, and a threaded inner portion of iron-based metal on the other end. The copper portion is thereby connected to a copper pipe, and the threaded iron-based metal pipe is screwed into the threaded iron-based metal component of the dielectric fitting.
To effect dielectric isolation in the components of the dielectric fitting, dielectric gaskets are positioned to either side of the flange of the copper portion. Thus, when the iron-based metal components are screwed together to capture the flange of the copper portion, the iron-based metal components compress against the dielectric gaskets and the iron-based metal components do not contact the copper flange or the copper portion. The components are thereby sufficiently isolated from one another. Accordingly, when the dielectric fitting is installed into a plumbing system, galvanic corrosion is avoided because the iron-based metal portion of the fitting is in contact only with iron-based metal of the plumbing system, and because the copper portion of the fitting is in contact only with copper of the plumbing system.
Oftentimes the copper portion of the dielectric fitting includes an O-ring that is positioned to engage against an outer surface of the copper piping from the plumbing system. That is, the piping from, for instance for a residential water system, will include a copper pipe that is inserted into the copper portion of the dielectric fitting, and the O-ring serves as a fluidic seal against an outer surface of the copper pipe.
However, to fit the O-ring into the copper portion of the dielectric fitting, a bulged portion may be included that forms a groove for the O-ring in the copper portion, so that the O-ring can seat properly against the outer surface of the copper piping. The bulge in the copper portion of the dielectric fitting manifests itself as a relatively large radial bulge so that the O-ring can fit within the groove. Thus, the bulge about the circumference of the copper portion can be significantly larger than the portion of the copper portion that is required to merely fit the copper pipe itself.
This is significant because, during assembly of the copper portion into the iron-based metal components, the bulge of the copper portion passes through a hole within the iron-based metal portion that is sized to capture the flange of the copper portion. Thus, the flange is typically larger, radially, than the bulge that is used to provide space for the O-ring. As such, dielectric fittings can be much larger and bulkier than otherwise necessary to provide a flange that can be captured on either side with dielectric materials.
Or, more generally, to provide a sufficiently large bulge to make room for the O-ring, the flange is thereby radially larger than the bulge, which enables the components to be assembled when installed in their application. The dielectric fittings are thereby larger than necessary to simply connect to the copper pipe, which adds not only bulk, but cost as well, to the dielectric fitting.
In addition, dielectric fittings may be repaired on occasion, such as with a fitting that has aged and corroded despite its having dielectric materials therein. Known dielectric fittings may thereby need to be separated from their components (such as a fused attachment to a copper fitting, for example), which may be costly and inconvenient.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved dielectric fitting.


Techniques described herein generally relate to etching graphene. The techniques can include disposing graphene on a patterned substrate, applying a resist to the graphene on the patterned substrate, curing the resist, and etching exposed portions of the graphene. Graphene composites including patterned substrates, graphene disposed on the patterned substrate, and a resist disposed on the graphene, are disclosed. Systems configured to perform the methods and/or make the graphene composites are also disclosed.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Graphene and graphene derivatives have potential applications in a variety of areas, such as electronic components. However, known methods of nanoscale fabrication of graphene for use in electronics can be slow and cannot be scaled to a requisite production level for manufacturing. Moreover, the methods may require heating to high temperatures such as between 500° C. to 1000° C., which can be inconvenient, energy intensive, and potentially incompatible with other materials that may accompany the graphene fabrication.

Graphene etching methods, systems, and composites


Embodiments of the present invention provides a method for managing a high frequency connection in a high frequency network. The method comprises receiving, by a terminal, a connection request message from a low frequency base station, the connection message includes a request for connecting the terminal with a high frequency base station; generating, by the terminal, a response message based on the request and at least one parameter of the terminal; transmitting, by the terminal, the generated response message to the LF base station, wherein the response message is used to determine whether to establish a connection with the HF base station.

With the development of wireless technologies, broadband wireless technologies develop rapidly. Especially, the development of Long Term Evolution (LTE) promotes the development of intelligent terminals in an all-round manner, and the intelligent terminals are not limited to smartphones and also include increasing machine intelligent terminals. The machine type intelligent terminals are complex and diversified, which imposes different requirements for a network. As a result, an existing LTE network cannot meet massive machine type communication (mMTC) services in the foreseeable future. In addition, future services, for example, virtual reality, have higher requirement for bandwidth and delay, and bandwidth of an existing wireless network cannot meet requirements for this type of applications. Therefore, to adapt to future services, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is formulating requirements for 5G technologies and related technical standards, so as to meet requirements for massive machine communication and high-bandwidth services in the futures.
To support high bandwidth, available bandwidth on low frequency band is almost exhausted currently. Therefore, to meet the requirements for higher bandwidth in the future, a higher frequency band needs to be used, for example, 6-100 GHz spectrums. Currently, high frequency (HF) bands that are being considered by the 3GPP are 30-40 GHz and 70-80 GHz frequency bands. According to the latest progress of standard, the determined 5G HF supports two deployment scenarios, i.e. low frequency (LF) assisted HF mode (also named non-standalone mode) and independent HF mode (also named standalone mode).
HF transmission has very low diffraction which leads to high path loss, and may be easily affected by an environment such as blockage, thereby may easily causing link outage. Therefore, a gain antenna is generally used for HF transmission. The gain antenna generally forms many beams, and each beam covers a narrow area. For cost considerations, an analog array antenna or a hybrid (analog and digital) array antenna is generally used. On the base station side, different beams are formed by using an antenna array. Because a quantity of simultaneous beams require amount of analog antenna which will lead to high cost, multiple simultaneous beams, i.e. hybrid beam will be generally used. Due to this limitation, beam sweeping method needs to be used in order to provide comparable coverage as legacy.
During HF transmission by using a beam, the terminal and base station can communicate with each other only when beam alignment is kept between them. Beam alignment is implemented by means of beam sweeping. Therefore, the terminal needs to scan all possible beams of the base station, so as to determine a best or multiple useful paired beams and use them for transmission.
It can be learned that the beam sweeping method makes an HF system more complex relative to a low frequency (LF) system. Compared with LF system, an HF system will cause higher power consumption.

Method for managing a high frequency connection a terminal and a base station