Semiconductor wafers are treated in a liquid container filled at least partly with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, such that surface oxide dissolves, are transported out of the solution along a transport direction and dried, and are then treated with an ozone-containing gas to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein part of the semiconductor wafer surface comes into contact with the ozone-containing gas while another part of the surface is still in contact with the solution, and wherein the solution and the ozone-containing gas are spatially separated such that they do not come into contact with one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for the treatment of a semiconductor wafer with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, and drying and subsequent oxidation of the surface of the semiconductor wafer with an ozone-containing gas.
2. Background Art
A series of cleaning methods have been developed for cleaning semiconductor wafers, e.g. silicon wafers. One of these cleaning methods is based on the treatment of the wafer surface with an aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride (HF) and subsequently with ozone (O3). During the treatment with HF, the native oxide is removed from the surface. A new oxide layer is thereon formed by the treatment with ozone. Fixedly adhering particles and other impurities can thereby be removed from the wafer surface. The acidic treatment in HF also brings about a very effective removal of metal ions from the wafer surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,203 describes a method in which a silicon wafer is drawn into an ozone gas atmosphere directly from a liquid tank filled with an HF solution. In this case, the silicon surface is completely freed of the surface oxide in the HF solution, and when the silicon wafer is withdrawn into the ozone atmosphere, the silicon wafer is simultaneously dried and hydrophilized, that is to say that a new oxide layer is produced on the surface. Therefore, the silicon surface outside the liquid tank is always protected by an oxide layer. The method has the disadvantage that it can only be used once or a few times when used within a complete bath cleaning installation with different cleaning solutions, since otherwise the process costs become too high (costs of the additional tanks and cumulative process times). This cost disadvantage becomes even more relevant in the case of silicon wafers having diameters of greater than 300 mm. A further disadvantage is that the undesirable binding of fluorine to the silicon surface occurs in this method. Moreover, this method leads to an increased microroughness and to the formation of haze and light scattering defects (so-called "localized light scatterers", LLS).

Method for the treatment of a semiconductor wafer


The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the combination of (i) at least one biocompatible nanoparticle and (ii) at least one carrier comprising at least one pharmaceutical compound, to be administered to a subject in need of such a pharmaceutical compound, wherein the combination of the at least one biocompatible nanoparticle and of the at least one carrier comprising the pharmaceutical compound(s) potentiates the compound(s) of interest effectiveness in therapy, prophylaxis or diagnosis. The invention also relates to such a composition for use for administering the pharmaceutical compound(s) in a subject in need thereof, wherein the at least one biocompatible nanoparticle and the at least one carrier comprising the at least one pharmaceutical compound are to be administered separately in a subject in need of said pharmaceutical compound, typically between more than 5 minutes and about 72 hours one from each other.

The use of nanotechnologies to deliver therapeutic and diagnostic agents in a safer and more efficient manner to patients has led to an increased interest in the field during the last decades. Drug delivery systems, typically carriers such as liposomes, emulsions or micelles, intended to maximize the therapeutic efficacy of drugs thanks to the control of their biodistribution profile have emerged. Those systems offer the possibility to encapsulate a poorly soluble drug, to protect a drug from destruction or elimination, and/or to modify the blood circulation and distribution of a drug.
The observed rapid blood clearance of the first generation of drug delivery systems (DDSs) (due to their capture by the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS)) has prompted the development of a second generation of DDSs exhibiting a surface modified by sterically stabilizing agents selected to bring "stealth" properties to the DDS when attached to its surface. These agents are typically flexible and/or hydrophilic polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers and typically may bring surface charges that are slightly negative or positive. Steric stabilization prevents non-specific binding of the DDS's surface to blood components and reduce its rapid uptake and clearance in vivo by cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS), leading to prolonged DDS blood circulation times [Jain K. R. and Stylianopoulos T. Delivering nanomedicine to solid tumors. Nature Reviews. Clinical Oncology 2010, 7, 653-664]. Liposomal long-circulating nanoparticulate pharmaceutical drug delivery systems (NDDSs) are the most frequently studied type of NDDS; however, synthetic amphiphilic polymers have also been used to sterically stabilize other types of NDDS to alter their biodistribution [Torchilin V. P. Multifunctional, stimuli-sensitive nanoparticulate systems for drug delivery. Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery 2014, 13, 813-827].
Despite of this increased blood circulation time (i.e. enhanced blood transportation), which was thought as beneficial for the delivery of the therapeutic compound to its target site, the flexible and/or hydrophilic polymer coating, typically the PEG coating, was found to compromise the intracellular delivery of the pharmaceutical compound (i.e. the release of the compound at its target site), which ultimately resulted in a loss of activity for the delivery system. A way to overcome this limitation is to use cleavable PEG systems. However, the increase complexity in the design of such carriers may generate difficulties in the reproducibility of the carrier surface properties, resulting in batch-to batch unacceptable variability. Moreover, the extent of exposure of those "stealth" DDS has been related with more adverse events. DOXIL, a PEGylated liposomal formulation comprising doxorubicin, was for instance found to produce serious adverse events, such as the hand-foot syndrome or mucositis. The hydrophilic coating of the liposomes was questioned as perhaps facilitating their accumulation in ecerine sweat gland in palms and planta [Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin-related palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia ('hand-foot' syndrome). D. Lorusso et al. Annals of Oncology. 2007; 18, 1159-1164].
WO2005/063305 relates to an assembly comprising a gas-filled microvesicle (with a size typically of at least 0.5 μm) and a component (with a size about below 100 nm) associated to said microvesicle. The resulting assembly is to be used as a pharmaceutically active component in diagnostically and/or therapeutically active formulations. The two components, i.e. the gas-filled microvesicle and the microvesicle associated component, are administered simultaneously typically for enhancing the imaging in the field of ultrasound contrast imaging, including targeted ultrasound imaging, ultrasound-mediated drug delivery and other imaging techniques.
As apparent from the prior art and despite of a long medical need, the safe and efficient delivery of pharmaceutical compounds (including therapeutic, prophylactic as well as diagnostic compounds) to their target site(s) remains a concern. There is a clear need to improve the compound's efficacy and safety, or in other words the pharmaceutic compound's transport and release, in order for said compound to reach its target site in a subject in the necessary and sufficient quantity to get the desired diagnostic, therapeutic or prophylactic effect.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods of improving delivery of compounds for therapy, prophylaxis or diagnosis


In an embodiment, a method is disclosed to increase the activity of an ionic liquid catalyst comprising contacting an ionic liquid catalyst with oxygen. In another embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising introducing into a reaction zone a monomer feed and an ionic liquid catalyst and controlling the amount of oxygen present in the reaction zone to maintain a conversion reaction of the monomer. In another embodiment, a polyalphaolefin oligomerization system is disclosed comprising a reactor configured to receive and mix monomer, ionic liquid catalyst, and oxygen; and a controller coupled to an oxygen source and configured to control the amount of oxygen present in a catalyzed reaction zone to maintain a conversion reaction of the monomer.

Ionic liquid catalysts may be used to catalyze a variety of chemical reactions, for example the oligomerization of alpha olefins to produce polyalphaolefins (PAO). A polyalphaolefin is a synthetic hydrocarbon liquid that is typically manufactured from the oligomerization of C6 to C20 alpha olefins. Polyalphaolefins are used in various industries as lubricants in gear oils, greases, engine oils, fiber optic gels, transmission oils, and various other lubricant applications. Ionic liquid catalysts used to produce PAO can be quite costly. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method to increase the efficiency of an ionic liquid catalyst, for example to increase the ionic liquid catalyst activity and still maintain the desired conversion with a lesser amount of catalyst, thereby improving economics of a process.

Method and system to contact an ionic liquid catalyst with oxygen to improve a chemical reaction


A laser stand for supporting a laser leveling device during construction involving metal studs and leg tracks provides a planar shelf including a first end and a second end, at least one first leg depending from the first end, at least one second leg depending from the second end, and a magnet enclosure mounted to the second leg and including at least one magnet for supporting the leveling device while attached to the metal stud. The shelf is configured for pivotably accommodating the leveling device and the stand is configured for supporting the leveling device when placed over the leg track on a substrate or attached to the metal stud.

The present invention relates generally to laser alignment devices, and more specifically to supports for such devices used in construction environments.
Laser alignment devices are widely used in fields such as building construction and home decorating. For example, alignment is necessary for transferring plumb points from the floor to the ceiling for wallboard leg track layout and lighting installation. Additional applications for laser alignment devices include facilitating proper pre-installation positioning for shelving, electrical outlet and wall ornamentation. In certain applications, such as positioning wallboard track, the laser alignment devices are positioned on a substrate over a metal leg track. Such metal tracks are typically 1-2 inches in height. In other applications, the laser alignment devices are positioned on a vertically oriented metal stud.
A conventional laser alignment device used for such applications is known in the art as a crossline laser. A typical crossline laser includes a line laser that projects two self-leveling laser beams that are perpendicular to each other and form a cross. The device also includes a point laser that projects two self-leveling vertical or plumb laser points. In certain applications, the crossline laser simultaneously emits both a vertical laser and a horizontal laser. A common problem incurred by users of such devices on construction sites is finding a stable location to place the laser so that an accurate display can be obtained.
Accordingly, conventional systems are designed to support crossline laser devices. For example, a conventional laser device includes a magnetic support bracket for mounting the laser to a metal stud. However, when the device is not mounted to the stud, it rests directly upon a floor or substrate and as such, is prone to unstable positioning. Such a bracket is also difficult to use when trying to obtain a plumb line over a wallboard track. Further, the magnet support bracket is designed to only support a specific corresponding leveling device.
In another conventional laser device assembly, a stand is provided for supporting the device when positioned on a substrate over a steel track. However, such a device is difficult to mount on a vertically orientated metal stud. Additionally, the stand is designed to only support a specific type laser device and is prone to unstable positioning from dirt or debris that may be encountered on the substrate.

Laser alignment device magnetic support stand


A stringed instrument having a flex action tremolo. The assembly includes a neck of the stringed instrument that is capable of pivoting to cause the stings of the instrument to slack or tighten depending on the movement of the neck. A metal bar extends across a portion of the hollow portion of the body and is connected to the neck. There is at least one spring-loaded connection between the metal bar and the inside surface of the hollow portion of the body. This allows the metal bar and neck to pivot at one or more angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck, while maintaining the tuning of the guitar when the neck is returned to a neutral position.

In the field of musical instruments a tremolo is defined in the Oxford dictionary as "a wavering effect in a musical tone, typically produced by rapid reiteration of a note, or sometimes by rapid repeated variation in the pitch of a note or by sounding two notes of slightly different pitches to produce prominent overtones. Compare with vibrato." Guitars, in particular electric guitars use a tremolo arm or bar which is defined in the Oxford dictionary as "[a] lever on an electric guitar producing a tremolo," while other known definitions include "[a] mechanism in an organ producing a tremolo."
Tremolo (also called a "whammy") bar can be found on certain types of guitars (e.g., electric guitars) and are generally used, at least in part, to change the pitch of sounds produced by such guitars. Typically, tremolo bars are attached to a bridge section of a guitar (comprising a bridge assembly that anchors strings to the body of the guitar) and are capable of pivoting in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction with respect to the body of the guitar and capable of being pushed towards the body of the guitar using a grip known as a whammy or tremelo bar. In one application, the pitch of sounds produced by the guitar can be changed by applying a force to the tremolo bar in a direction away from the body of the guitar (e.g., for Stratocaster® style guitars having a "floating bridge" arrangement). In another application, the pitch can be changed by applying a force to the tremolo bar in a direction towards the body of the guitar (e.g., for Stratocaster® and Bigsby® style guitars). Conventionally, in order to access and use the tremolo bar, a user may need to switch positions of his or her hands from the strings of the guitar to the tremolo bar, which can result in undesirable interrupted play.
It is desirable to provide an assembly (or improved tremolo bar) that is capable of taking advantage of the position of a user's body (hand, wrist, or otherwise) with respect a guitar such that the user does not need to switch positions of his or her hands from the strings of the guitar to the assembly, thereby providing an improvement over the whammy bar found on many electric guitars.
Also tremolo bars are typically found on guitars but are not always on other instruments, especially larger instruments such as bass instruments, pianos or instruments requiring more difficult hand positioning such as violins, fiddles, lap steels, harpsicords or autoharps.
In another aspect stringed instruments having a neck for providing frets such as guitars, violins, fiddles, cellos, basses, banjos allow for different notes to be played when a musician presses a string against a desired fret causing a different sound or note to be emitted from the string when it is played. One problem that can occur is that the amount of pressure that has to be applied to a string to hold it against the fret can be quite high and difficult for some users having physical limitations such as poor muscle strength in their hands, arthritis, smaller or missing fingers etc. It is therefore desirable to provide a stringed instrument where the neck is adjustable to position the strings closer to the frets on the neck depending on the musician's physical requirements or playing style.
In a final aspect stringed instruments such as guitars, violins, fiddles, cellos, basses, banjos, pianos, harps harpsicords or autoharps and the like typically have a hollow body that is made of wood or similar fibrous material that serves as a sound amplifier. Harder housing materials such as metal are not used because they are too difficult to achieve the desired tuning or amplification to be used. The present invention provides a metal housing for a stringed instrument that includes an independent adjustment that achieves desirable tuning and amplification.

Flex action tremolo system and metal housing string instrument


A preparation method of a fully adaptive modified nanographene plugging type anti-collapse drilling fluid is disclosed. A modified nanographene slurry anti-collapse agent and a water-based drilling fluid containing the modified nanographene slurry anti-collapse agent are disclosed. The preparation method includes subjecting a nanographene and a mixed acid to a first contact to obtain a mixed liquid, dropwise adding potassium chlorate into the mixed liquid under the condition of ice-bath pan to carry out a modification treatment, so as to obtain a modified nanographene, and subjecting the modified nanographene to a second contact with water to prepare a modified nanographene slurry.

The existing techniques for preventing collapse of borehole walls in water-based drilling fluids have two aspects of chemical inhibition and physical plugging. Although the hydration and swelling of a portion of stratum can be solved by adding an inhibitor, so as to prevent an occurrence of the accident such as borehole wall collapse, the existing inhibitors are usually toxic and environmentally unfriendly, and may change the density and rheology of the drilling fluid system and influence the drilling rate. Basalt has a weak water sensitivity but contains many micro-fractures, it has a hard and brittle lithology and is susceptible to structural damage by external forces such as mechanical vibrations. The mechanism of borehole instability is mechanical instability, requiring a strong plugging capability of the drilling fluid and increasing the pressure bearing capacity of the whole wellbore according to the "stress cage" theory, thereby preventing the drilling process from fall-block, borehole collapse and other problem.
The average particle size and shape of the current plugging material are difficult to match with those of the micro-nano fractures, on the other hand, the entrance of moisture cannot be favorably plugged merely by means of the characteristics of the nanometer material itself having a very small average particle size, thus the dispersion and stability of the existing nanometer material are difficult to satisfy the plugging requirements of the basalt formation.
Accordingly, it has important significance to research and develop an anti-collapse agent.

Preparation method of fully adaptive modified nanographene plugging type anti-collapse drilling fluid and use thereof


Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, application delivery controller (ADC) apparatuses, and network traffic management systems that receive a request including an Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 (IPv6) source address and an IPv6 destination address. A client IP version 4 (IPv4) address of a client from which the request originated and a server IPv4 address of a server are determined from one or more extracted portions of one or more of the IPv6 source address or the IPv6 destination address. The request is modified to include an IPv4 source address and an IPv4 destination address. The IPv4 source address and the IPv4 destination address include the client IPv4 address and the server IPv4 address, respectively. The modified request is sent to the server based on the server IPv4 address included in the IPv4 destination address of the modified request.

Network attacks including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are increasing in scale and complexity. On-premises attack prevention devices are often employed by enterprises, but require resources of an enterprise network and do not prevent malicious network traffic from entering the enterprise network. Accordingly, enterprises are increasingly employing cloud-based scrubbing services capable of identifying network attacks in order to prevent such attacks from reaching enterprise networks.
Employing a cloud-based scrubbing service requires routing or steering of network traffic originating from clients to the scrubbing service, from the scrubbing service to servers in an enterprise network, for example, and then asymmetrically to clients from the servers. Currently, Secure Network Address Translation (SNAT) can be utilized to facilitate such traffic routing. However, utilizing SNAT results in losing the true client device address and does not comply with some HyperText Transfer Protocols (HTTPs).
Accordingly, another method referred to as Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunneling is commonly used to route traffic between a scrubbing service and an enterprise network. With GRE tunnelling, a GRE tunnel is established between a scrubbing service device and a data center edge router, for example, in order to tunnel a request packet received from a client. However, GRE tunneling requires utilization of packet payloads to maintain the tunneled packet, and introduces fragmentation, latency, and connection interruption issues into the traffic flow, which is undesirable.
Moreover, current routing methods, including SNAT, do not prevent attackers from circumventing the scrubbing facility in order to maliciously access servers or other devices in an enterprise network. Accordingly, current asymmetric routing techniques have significant deficiencies and leave enterprise networks susceptible to network attacks.

Methods for improved network security using asymmetric traffic delivery and devices thereof


A method of generating channel estimates of a communication channel in an OFDM system includes receiving references symbols from at least one time frequency observation block of a predetermined block size in frequency and time; generating subspace-transformed reference symbols from the received reference symbols; and subspace filtering the subspace-transformed reference symbols to generate a channel estimate for a communication channel target time; wherein a latency between a communication channel time instant of a currently received reference symbol and the communication channel target time is smaller than the observation block size in time.

In communication system, the mobile user equipment (UE) is faced not only with varying channel conditions but also multiple interfering cells whose signals and channels likewise exhibit time/frequency-selective behavior. Therefore, channel estimation (CE) is key to the proper receiver operation. CE is also one of the most complex receiver functions in terms of computational load and memory footprint.
LTE/NR cellular devices are required to process ever-increasing data rates (Gbit/s) and bandwidths (hundreds of MHz). To master these increasing demands, novel concepts to reduce CE computational load and memory footprint are sought. Nevertheless, performance and latency must not be compromised.

Method, software and device for generating channel estimates


Disclosed are an immunoassay method which can measure an antigen with high sensitivity and accuracy; and a reagent therefor. In the immunoassay method, an antigen-antibody reaction and/or a measurement is(are) carried out in the presence of a polycarboxylic acid type surfactant. The immunoassay reagent for use in the method is characterized by comprising the polycarboxylic acid type surfactant. By employing such a simple means that the polycarboxylic acid type surfactant is allowed to be present in the reaction and/or measurement system, non-specific reactions can be suppressed effectively even in a highly sensitive immunoassay, and an antigen can be measured accurately and specificity can be improved in the immunoassay.

Immunoassay methods have been widely used in clinical tests of serum, plasma, urine, feces, spinal fluid and the like. In recent years, owing to the capability to carry out simple and rapid measurements, automatic analyzers carrying out procedures during from a reaction to a measurement collectively and automatically have been widely used.
The immunoassay methods are known to be measurement methods utilizing antigen-antibody reactions and showing high specificity. However, this method had a problem that non-specific reactions such as a false positive reaction and a false negative reaction may occur depending on samples. For example, factors which recognize and react with the antibody may be present in samples, and in such a case, even though an antigen to be measured is not present in the sample, the measurement gives a positive result. On the other hand, factors which interfere with the antigen-antibody reaction may be present in the sample, and in such a case, even though an antigen to be measured is present in the sample, the measurement gives a negative result. Thus, it had a problem that the measurements give different results from real value.
As a means for suppressing non-specific reactions, it had been known that a human IgM native antibody or a polymer obtained by polymerizing aromatic monomers having sulfone groups or salts thereof was added (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, these additives are not sufficient in some cases, and in particular, it was difficult to suppress non-specific reactions in the low concentration range. Further, reagents with improved sensitivity are likely to cause non-specific reactions because the reactivity of the antibodies is improved.

Immunological analysis method and reagent


Various embodiments may provide a method of forming a semiconductor packaging structure. The method may include forming a plurality of semiconductor packages, each semiconductor package including a semiconductor die and a mold encapsulation structure. The method may also include arranging the plurality of semiconductor packages to form a vertical stacked arrangement with a mold portion including a plurality of mold encapsulation structures, the mold portion extending from a first side to a second side of the vertical stacked arrangement opposite the first side. The method may additionally include forming a first via on the mold portion at the first side of the vertical stacked arrangement, forming a second via on the mold portion at the second side of the vertical stacked arrangement, and forming an electrically conductive filled via extending through the mold portion from the first side to the second side of the vertical stacked arrangement.

Handheld consumer electronics require packaging technologies which are able to provide more compact sizes, higher performance, and/or low costs. These market requirements motivate the transition of the die placement from side by side to die stacking. Also, these requirements encourage the switching of interconnection technologies from wire bonding to vertical interconnections using Through Silicon Vias (TSVs). FIG. 1A is an image 100a showing wirebond stacking. FIG. 1B is an image 100b showing through silicon via (TSV) stacking.
TSV technology has been considered as a promising platform for 3D stacking as well 2.5D interposer to accommodate high input/output (I/O) and smaller form factor. However, this technology may still be considered as a high cost process due to relative expensive front-end process such as dual damascene, deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) etching, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) etc.
FIG. 2 is a schematic 200 showing process flow of through silicon via (TSV) die stacking. "FEOL" refers to Front End of Line and "BEOL" refers to Back End of Line. "C4 bump formation" refers to controlled collapse chip connection bump formation or flip chip bump formation. The process flow may include 3 main processes: fab wafer process, post fab wafer process, and assembly and packaging process. The conventional die stacking process using TSV includes Back End of Line (BEOL) processing methods such as deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE), chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and plating, as well as packaging methods such as bumping, backgrinding, Temporary Bonding Debonding (TBDB), and thermal compression bonding.

Semiconductor packaging structure and method of forming the same

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


A radio frequency combining system is disclosed that uses commercially available quadrature hybrid couplers configured in a unique manner to combine any radio frequency sources such as transmitters into a single load such as an antenna. The radio frequency combining system is bidirectional and can be used in the receive mode to combine the output of a receive antenna with outputs from an interference canceller to then supply received signals to a multiple receiver system.

This invention relates to radio frequency (RF) communications systems and specifically to multiple RF communications systems collocated on airborne, marine, or ground platforms.
Present airborne, marine, or ground platforms with three or more collocated RF communications systems utilize one or more antennas for each system. Multiple antennas require space in short supply on most platforms, increase drag on aircraft, present unwanted unique platform signatures both visibly and on radar, and interact with each other to distort radiation patterns and degrade communications system performance. All platform users desire to reduce the number of antennas on the platform.
Present systems and methods used to reduce the number of antennas have many deficiencies. One type of system, referred to as a multicoupler, employs agile high power filters for the transmitters and preselectors for the receivers. Also used are signal cancellation techniques. These systems are high cost, large in physical size, have high losses of RF energy, offer poor isolation between ports, have interaction between circuit elements causing producibility and maintenance problems.


The receptacle includes a coin insertion slot (32). The slot (32) may be closed by a flap (40) which is fixed to a bolt (34) having one end (46) capable of moving out from the receptacle in order to lock the receptacle in a slot machine. The bolt (34) is capable of being moved by means of a knob (42), and a latching mechanism (52) holds the bolt in its retracted position with the coin slot (32) closed by the flap (40) after the bolt has once been moved out into its locking position, thereby ensuring that the coin slot of a full coin receptacle remains locked until the receptacle is itself unlocked by a person authorized to do so, e.g. by means of a key.

It is necessary to provide a receptacle in slot machines for storing the machine-actuating coins inserted therein over a period of time until a person employed to maintain the machines comes and collects the coins stored in this way.
Two main types of receptacle can be envisaged: those which are fixed relative to the machine and those which are removable. Fixed receptacles are provided with a coin collecting orifice which is normally closed by a shutter. Coins are collected by moving the shutter in order to open the coin collecting orifice. When removable receptacles are used, coin collection is performed by extracting a receptacle full of coins and replacing it with an empty receptacle. The present invention relates to removable receptacles.
In order to provide full security, such receptacles must satisfy various conditions. While the receptacle is being transported, it is necessary to keep closed the slot via which the receptacle receives coins and for it to be impossible for the person doing the collection to open the slot. In addition, when a receptacle is inserted in the corresponding compartment in a slot machine, it is important that the operation which serves to open the coin insertion slot in the receptacle should also lock the receptacle to the machine.
An object of the invention is to provide a removable coin receptacle satisfying the above conditions, and which is both simple and robust in construction in order to provide security during receptacle utilization.

Removable coin storage receptacle for slot machines


A method is disclosed to detect the voltage of a limit switch in an optical disc drive. The method includes following steps: loading an optical disc when the voltage of the limit switch is at a high level, completing the disc loading process when the voltage is changed to a low level, sampling the voltage of the limit switch predetermined times when the voltage is changed to the high level again, detecting the sampling voltages, completing the disc ejecting process when the sampling voltages are all at the high level, and determining a voltage bouncing to maintain the disc loaded status to avoid disc ejection misjudgment of the optical disc drive when the sampling voltages are not all at the high level.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical disc drive, and more particularly, to a detecting method that checks if a voltage of a limit switch of an optical disc drive is changed to a high/low level to detect the action of the limit switch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An optical disc drive accesses data of an optical disc by rotating the optical disc with high speed. To avoid damaging the optical disc, it is necessary to judge correctly that the loaded optical disc has arrived at the right position before rotating the optical disc. Moreover, to ensuring the safety in use, it is also necessary to confirm that the optical disc drive is ready for disc ejection before allowing the optical disc drive to eject the loaded optical disc.
Please refer to FIG. 1 together with FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of a conventional optical disc drive 1. Sub-diagrams in FIG. 2 illustrate voltage variations of a limit switch of the conventional optical disc drive 1. A tray 3 is disposed inside a hollow enclosure 2 of the conventional optical disc drive 1, a panel 4 is disposed in front of the tray 3 to shield an opening of the enclosure 2, and an ejection button 5 is disposed on the panel 4. An optical disc 6 is loaded on the tray 3, and the tray 3 may slide in or slide out through the opening of the enclosure 2. A spindle motor 7 is disposed in the center of the tray 3 to clamp and rotate the optical disc 6, and a pick-up head 8 is also disposed for moving back and forth along the radial direction of the optical disc 6 for accessing data of the optical disc 6. One end of a cable 9 is connected to the back of the tray 3, and the other end of the cable 9 is connected to a motherboard 10 disposed at the back of the inner side of the enclosure 2. A limit switch 11 is disposed on the motherboard 10. An elastic element 12 is disposed at the back end of the tray 3, and a locking device 13 is disposed at the lower edge of the front end of the tray 3. An electrical valve 14 is linked to the locking device 13 for hooking or releasing a latch 15 disposed on the enclosure 2.
When a disc loading process begins, the tray 3 carries the optical disc 6 and moves into the enclosure 2, and then the back end of the tray 3 presses the elastic element 12 such that the locking device 13 hooks the latch 15 and the tray 3 is locked in the enclosure 2. Meanwhile, the bottom of the tray 3 presses the limit switch 11 and then activates the limit switch 11. As shown in the sub-diagram (a) in FIG. 2, a voltage of the limit switch 11 is changed from a high level representative of a release status to a low level representative of an action status. Upon detecting that the voltage of the limit switch 11 is at the low level, the disc drive 1 confirms that the optical disc 6 has arrived at the right position, and then completes a disc loading process. Regarding a disc ejecting process, a user may manually push the ejection button 5 to make the voltage of the limit switch 11 changed from the low level to the high level, or the optical disc drive that completes an access command may automatically make the voltage of the limit switch 11 changed from the low level to the high level. As the optical disc drive 1 detects that the voltage of the limit switch 11 is at the high level and thus confirms that ejecting the loaded disc is needed, the disc ejecting process is completed. Meanwhile, the electrical valve 14 makes the linked locking device 13 released from the latch 15, and allows the elastic element 12 to eject the tray 3 from the enclosure 2. As a result, the bottom of the ejected tray 3 releases the limit switch 11, and the voltage of the limit switch 11 maintains the high level.
However, the limit switch 11 of the conventional optical disc drive 1 is very likely to be contaminated or oxidized by the suspended particles in the air, resulting in an abnormal voltage bouncing phenomenon of the voltage of the limit switch 11, as shown in sub-diagram (b) in FIG. 2. The voltage bouncing phenomenon occurs more often when the optical disc drive operates in the high temperature/humidity environment, or in a car driving environment with violent shaking. When the voltage of the limit switch 11 bounces, the optical disc drive which has completed the disc loading process misjudges that it needs to eject the loaded optical disc once detecting the voltage of the limit switch of the optical disc drive changed to the high level, and then stops disc access immediately to begin the disc ejecting process, which makes the optical disc drive load and eject the optical disc frequently and affects the access reliability and efficiency of the optical disc drive. Therefore, detection of the voltage status of activation or release of the limit switch in the conventional optical disc drive still has problems to be solved.

Detecting method for limit switch of optical disc drive by sampling voltage of limit switch predetermined times


A method, computer program product, and system for specifying and processing composed patterns. A method may include receiving, by a pattern process executing on a computing device, a first pattern definition including one or more outputs. The method may further include receiving, by the pattern process executing on the computing device, a second pattern definition including one or more inputs. The method may also include creating, by the pattern process executing on the computing device, a map between at least one of the one or more outputs and at least one of the one or more inputs if a type of the at least one of the one or more outputs matches a type of the at least one of the one or more inputs.

This disclosure relates to specifying and processing composed patterns and, more particularly, to methodologies for facilitating the combination of composed software patterns in a development environment.
Developing reliable information technology software may pose a challenge to business organization and the software industry. A variety of functional and nonfunctional requirements may need to be met in projects which may have tight resource and schedule constraints. Combining software patterns may rely on architects to document steps of applying multiple patterns in a recipe. The project team may manually follow the recipe to create a solution appropriate to a domain.
This manual approach may be time consuming. Further, the manual approach may be error prone. It may also require practitioners to have a high degree of skills. As such, there may be a need to improve ways in which software patterns are combined.

Specifying and processing composed patterns

International Business Machines Corporation


A three dimensional memory module and system are formed with at least one slave chip stacked over a master chip. Through semiconductor vias (TSVs) are formed through at least one of the master and slave chips. The master chip includes a memory core for increased capacity of the memory module/system. In addition, capacity organizations of the three dimensional memory module/system resulting in efficient wiring is disclosed for forming multiple memory banks, multiple bank groups, and/or multiple ranks of the three dimensional memory module/system.

The area occupied by an integrated circuit device is desired to be minimized for being used in smaller portable electronic devices. Accordingly, a three dimensional stacked memory device is formed in the prior art for minimizing the area occupied by the memory device.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,640 to Leedy discloses a memory device with multiple memory cell arrays stacked on top of a memory controller. However, Leedy just discloses one three dimensional memory device and not a three dimensional memory module/system.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,768,163 to Tanaka et al. discloses a first semiconductor substrate with a memory cell array stacked on a second semiconductor substrate having a word line control circuit to control the word lines of the memory cell array. Tanaka also discloses one three dimensional memory device and not a three dimensional memory module/system.
In addition, Tanaka discloses the integrated circuit package with the stacked semiconductor substrates having vertical terminals disposed on the outside periphery of the substrates. Such vertical terminals disposed on the outside periphery of the substrates disadvantageously increase the area occupied the three dimensional memory device of Tanaka.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,497 to Matsui et al. discloses multiple DRAM (dynamic random access memory) chips stacked on top of an IO (input output) chip. TSVs (through semiconductor vias) are formed through such chips for interconnection among such chips. TSVs are vertical electrical connections formed to pass completely though the semiconductor substrate of the stacked chips. However, Matsui is directed to using the IO chip only for conversion of data width and transfer rate during transfer of data to/from the DRAM chips.


The present specification relates to a composition containing a tea extract with an increased specific ingredient content for prevention or alleviation of lipid metabolism disorders. The use of a preparation method and a composition according to the present specification can effectively prevent and treat lipid metabolism disorders including obesity without side effects, thereby meeting related demands and promoting the development of corresponding industries.

Obesity occurs when fat tissues in the body are in excess and the amount of calorie ingested is greater than the amount of calorie consumed, and also occurs for various causes such as mental and social factors, genetics, diseases, and drugs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010, it was reported that the overweight adult population was estimated at about 1.6 billion worldwide and the number of obese people was estimated at about 400 million, and 2.6 million people die from obesity or overweight every year. Even in Korea, according to the reports by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, adult obesity rates have continued to increase, and were shown to be 30% (36.3% male, 24.8% female) based on the year 2010. As described above, the obese population continues to increase worldwide, and the burden of medical expenses is also increasing. Obesity has become one of the most common diseases for modern people.
Obesity may be managed through lifestyle changes such as behavioral therapy along with dietary therapy and regular exercise, and drugs such as appetite suppressants and fat absorption inhibitors. Since obesity is a chronic disease, long-term use of medication is required when drug therapy is attempted, and currently, products that have been approved for long-term use in Korea for three or more months include sibutramine as an appetite suppressant and orlistat as a lipolytic enzyme inhibitor. However, since a considerable number of these drugs for treating obesity are psychotropic drugs that act on the central nervous system to regulate appetite, these drugs are accompanied by side effects such as headache and vomiting, and have problems such as concerns of abuse. As the demand for drugs and foods capable of treating obesity effectively without side effects continues to increase, there is an urgent need for finding products derived from nature, which are capable of preventing and treating obesity.

Method for preventing or alleviating lipid metabolism disorders using composition containing green tea extract with increased specific ingredient content


A display device includes: a main LCD; a SW LCD, disposed on an optical path of light transmitting through the main LCD, for electrically switching a visible image between a single image display mode and a multiple image display mode; a first polarizer; and a second polarizer. The major axis direction of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer of the SW LCD is always substantially parallel to the polarization direction of light after transmission through the first polarizer when projected from the normal to the substrates. At least some of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are controlled in terms of alignment direction so that the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules is substantially parallel to the substrates in the single image display mode and tilted from the substrates in the multiple image display mode.

Recent developments of lightweight electronic devices have enabled users to take electronic devices with a display, such as mobile phones and personal computers, out of home and use in public places. A problem arises here that people near the user can view confidential documents and information meant for private browsing.
To address the problem, a display device is being proposed which normally operates in wide viewing angle display mode and when used in public places, can be switched to narrow viewing angle display mode. In the narrow viewing angle mode, the user, who is right in front of the display device, can view a normal display, but other people who are in oblique directions can see only a solid color or another image. Also, the capability to switch to the wide viewing angle display mode enables many people to view a captured image together or otherwise enables the user to use the device in situations where the wide viewing angle is needed.
A component realizing such a display is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 9-105958/1997 (Tokukaihei 9-105958; published Apr. 22, 1997), for example. The viewing angle varying element disclosed there includes a liquid crystal layer between a pair of substrates. The element achieves the narrow viewing angle mode by aligning liquid crystal molecules vertical to the substrates and achieves the wide viewing angle by aligning them parallel to the substrates. Another component is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2004-62094 (Tokukai 2004-62094; published Feb. 26, 2004). The disclosed viewing angle varying means varies alignment of liquid crystal between two glass plates to change the viewing angle of information display means.
There are also display devices divided into some sections which differ, for example, in the direction of alignment of liquid crystal. This particular structure enables a narrow viewing angle mode in which observers who are not in front of the display device will see a different image from the one perceived by a user in front of the display device. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2001-264768 (Tokukai 2001-264768; published Sep. 26, 2001) discloses a liquid crystal display device containing aligning films which sandwich a liquid crystal layer are divided into multiple regions, the alignment direction differing between adjacent regions. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2004-38035 (Tokukai 2004-38035; published Feb. 5, 2004) discloses a liquid crystal display device containing first liquid crystal cells and second liquid crystal cells having different viewing angle directions, the first and second liquid crystal cells being arranged alternately.
The Tokukaihei 9-105958 structure realizes the narrow viewing angle mode by vertically aligning liquid crystal molecules to change the refractive index. It is however difficult to retain image display quality with control of viewing angle through the refractive index.
Tokukai 2004-62094 does describe the control of the viewing angle of the display device through changes in liquid crystal alignment. The document however does not give any description on how to change the liquid crystal alignment, failing to realize the viewing angle control.
The Tokukai 2001-264768 structure is described to show a fixed pattern, no matter what the display signal, to observers who are not in front of the display device. Structurally, however, the display image cannot be hidden well from those observers who are not in front of the display device because the pattern appears reversed in gray levels when viewed from the right and from the left. Specifically, if the structure contains many regions which are non-transmissive when viewed from the right, many regions are transmissive when viewed from the left. So, the screen can be hidden from both the left and right sides only by superimposing an image, like hound's tooth checks, which consists of the same number of transmissive and non-transmissive regions.
The Tokukai 2004-38035 structure contains many small liquid crystal cells arranged on a plate. The liquid crystal display device involves a complex structure and difficult to manufacture.
As described in the foregoing, no known display device has high display quality, is capable of switching to a mode in which the display image is appropriately hidden when viewed from an oblique direction, and has a simple structure.

Display device, viewing angle control device, electronic display device, and multiple image display device


A storage device includes a cross-point non-volatile memory (NVM) device that includes a first subset of cells. Cells of the first subset of cells may share either a bitline or a wordline. There may be at least one buffer cell on a respective bitline or wordline between each adjacent pair of cells from the first subset of cells. The storage device includes a control module. The control module is configured to receive a set of I/O operations. The control module is configured to execute a first subset of the set of I/O operations in parallel across the first subset of cells of the cross-point memory component. The control module may execute the first subset of the set of I/O operations such that I/O operations are not executed at the respective buffer cells.

Solid State Devices (SSDs) may utilize non-volatile memory (NVM) devices, such as flash memory, phase change memory (PCM), resistive random access memory (ReRAM), magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM), programmable metalization cell (PMC, otherwise known as conductive-bridging random access memory, or CBRAM®), or the like. Some of these devices, such as PCM and ReRAM, utilize forms of cross-point memory architecture. Cross-point memory architecture can include the use of memristors. Memristor technology may store data based on the electrical resistance of respective memristors. Memristors may change between a high-resistance state and a low-resistance state based on an amount and direction of electrical current to which the memristor was most recently exposed. Write operations to devices with cross-point memory architecture may include setting or altering the electrical resistance state of the respective components that hold such resistance states.

Block erase schemes for cross-point non-volatile memory devices


Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media providing medical personnel artificial intelligence (AI)-derived data regarding a patient presenting neurological indications includes a guidance server. Preferably, the guidance server receives three or more of: (i) natural language input from medical personnel, (ii) real-time vital signs telemetry data, (iii) neurosurgical treatment database information, (iv) neurosurgical treatment guideline information, (v) clinical laboratory testing results, (vi) patient historical data, and (vii) patient imaging information. An imaging post-processor receives (i) patient imaging history information, (ii) and real-time patient imaging data, and provides to the guidance server the patient imaging information. The guidance server then provides one or more alerts (or other guidance) to the medical personnel.

The present invention generally relates to utilizing artificial intelligence to assist Doctors and other care-givers to quickly assess and determine care-protocols for patients who may have neurological impairments (often while presenting with other physical impairments).
There were 5273 Emergency Rooms (ERs) in the US in 2015, over 5700 hospitals, and less than 3700 neurosurgeon covering a US population of 326 million. To serve this population, the U.S. has only approximately 3,500-4,000 neurosurgeons. Of course, the number of neurosurgeons immediately available to any of these ERs for an emergency consultation is much smaller at any one point in the day at any given location. See, for example, the article entitled: "Neurosurgical Coverage. Essential, Desired, or Irrelevant for Good Patient Care and Trauma Center Status", Thomas J. Esposito, et al., ANNALS OF SURGERY, September 2005, 242(3): 364-374. Note the teaching in the Summary: "The availability of neurosurgeons for trauma patients is increasingly sparse". The 213,000 or so reported head injuries form only a portion of the emergencies requiring a neurosurgical consultation or intervention. Presentations of other neurological impairments requiring an emergent neurosurgical consultation or intervention abound; decompensating tumors, hemorrhagic and large ischemic stroke, post-operative decompensation, and others.
See also the phrase "Time is brain/spinal cord" in the Article "Time is Brain-Quantified", Jeffrey L. Saver, STROKE, 2006, 37: 263-266. This article also teaches that saving time will save costs, greatly reduce permanent tissue damage, and enhance near and long term quality of life. Saving time will also save lives. The Article shows us that: "Quantitative estimates of the pace of neural circuitry loss in human ischemic stroke emphasize the time urgency of stroke care. The typical patient loses 1.9 million neurons each minute in which stroke is untreated." Similarly, regardless of etiology, increased intracranial pressure (ICP) as a result of the primary injury or delays in treatment may lead to secondary (preventable) brain injury. The same applies for spinal cord compression and permanent cord injury.
Often times, a considerable amount of time elapses before the ER physician first recognizes a neurosurgical emergency in one of his/her patients, and even upon recognition, it takes a while to reach a neurosurgeon and present the case. Often times this case presentation is incomplete or inaccurate due to the inexperience of dealing with such cases. Secondary transfer of the patient to a neurosurgical center often further delays optimum non-operative immediate care. Often times in a neurosurgical emergency the precious minutes or hours lost means the difference between acceptable outcomes and permanent brain injury or spinal cord damage and a lifetime of attendant costs or early or even immediate death.
In addition, in head injured trauma, the patient often presents confounding issues with multiple other damaged organ systems (for example a splenic or liver laceration or a long-bone fracture or major peripheral vascular injury), and the trauma surgical or orthopedic or other specialty team is urgently awaiting appropriate neurosurgical clearance at continuing danger and detriment to the patient. Neurological analysis and guidance need to be much faster and more accurate.
Conversely, on occasion, neurosurgical issues are misjudged prior to proper neurosurgical consultation and the patient is rushed for emergency treatment of non-neurosurgical issues without neurosurgical clearance. In the unconscious head injured patient with no intracranial monitoring for fluctuating or raised ICP (intra-cranial pressure), this presents a considerable danger of raised untreated intracranial pressures for prolonged periods and the resultant brain injury.
In summary then, current problems and issues in neurological analysis and guidance include: Large population, many ERs, very few neurosurgeons who are not easily available; ER MDs often unfamiliar with neurosurgical case presentation to a neurosurgeon or confident about super early management, especially when there are competing emergent problems to be managed; The neurosurgeon, when reached, does not often have the information/data readily presented; Often, delays of recognition, early management, initiation of transfers to neurosurgical center occur.

Method, apparatus, and computer readible media for artificial intelligence-based treatment guidance for the neurologically impaired patient who may need neurosurgery


A color management system is provided for enabling imaging of selected colors called spot colors that document dynamically adjusting the normal printer gamut to achieve extended colors. Developed mass may be increased or decreased by changing set points such as a photoreceptor roll charge, development bias or raster output scanner laser power.

To meet customer demand, the commercial printing industry requires the capability of producing spot colors accurately and consistently. Spot colors can be defined as a fixed set of colors which may be Pantone® colors, customer logo colors, colors in a customer's proprietary marked patterns, or customer defined colors in the form of an index color table. Spot colors are often used, or can be used, for large background areas, which may be the most color critical portion of a particular page. Consistent color in these areas may determine the difference between success and failure in meeting customer requirements. Customer demands for color accuracy and consistency are typically much tighter for spot colors than for colors within images.
The color gamut of a printer is a multi-dimensional space of a given volume with the axes of the space being set or defined initially by the pigments used in the colorants of the primary colors such as, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In forming multi-color output images on an image-receiving medium, each of the primary colors is transferred to the image-receiving medium in turn. The color gamut is defined by the interaction of the primary colors, and is limited by a total amount of toner in any combination that can be effectively deposited on the image-receiving medium. For each system, the toner deposited on the image-receiving medium, such as a photoreceptor, is referred to as DMA (Developed Mass per unit Area). Otherwise, toner transfer to the image-receiving medium will be affected, and the quality of the produced images will be reduced.
In Image-on-Image printers, the actual available color gamut for a particular image forming device not only depends on colorants of the pigments but it is also a function of DMA. The DMA depends on the set points for certain process parameters of each of the separations. The process parameters are, for example, photoreceptor voltages (charged and/or discharged voltages), donor and/or magnetic roll voltages, toner concentrations and the like.
Combinations of set points affect DMA levels thereby defining limits to the color gamut by limiting the developed color combinations that are available from specific mass levels of each of the primary colorants. These set points are developed in sets, the sets of set points and associated color rendition dictionary (CRD) by which images may be produced by the image forming device. CRDs, and their associated set points, are generally experimentally derived for a given image forming device or system. CRDs are appropriately nominalized in order that the CRD and associated set of set points programmed into an image forming device, or family of image forming devices, substantially ensures that the color gamut produced by that image forming device covers, as broadly as possible, an available nominal color spectrum. Typically then, image forming devices are delivered with a single CRD available in the image production system which is defined by the associated set points adjusted in order to center the color gamut. Such a color gamut is referenced herein as the "normal" color gamut.
Occasionally, customers or other end-users of an individual image forming device, or family of image forming devices, may desire to produce and/or reproduce, on a recurring basis, a color or set of colors that lies outside the nominal color gamut available based on the single CRD that comes pre-stored in the image forming device, i.e. the memory or spot colors. CRDs and individual process parameter set points are not, however, user adjustable. Where a user is provided access to a capability in an image forming device to adjust individual set points, predetermined CRDs would be rendered invalid. A likely outcome would be that the color gamuts available to produce output images would be adversely affected.
Producers and suppliers of image forming devices have a capability to experimentally bias and/or skew the color gamut available in their products. Through experimentation, a new CRD may be defined based on a modified set of set points to adjust the color gamut of an image forming device. In such a case, the total volume of the color gamut available from the image forming device is not increased, but it is shifted or skewed. The library of available colors, however, is modified in order that a different or more vibrant single color-based output set of hues (e.g., vibrant red or vibrant blue) may be made available at the expense of potentially available pallets of other hues, (e.g., green and blue hues) to be produced and/or reproduced within the skewed color gamut defined by this modified color rendition dictionary. Using such a skewed gamut at multiple sets of set points, effective color gamut is increased or extended beyond the nominal gamut.
There is a need for spot color printing with such non-standard gamuts achievable by adjustment of the previous set points when such a spot color is beyond the normal color gamut of the printer as set by the primary color pigment colorants, e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
It would be advantageous to provide a capability within an image forming device, or family of image forming devices, to select from among a plurality of CRDs resulting in temporary selection of an other-than-nominal, individually determined set of set points. Such selection may skew the color gamut available in the image forming device for a particular image production and/or reproduction job or for a particular page including the spot color, in which the customer and/or end-user desires a specifically biased color set at the expense of certain other colors within a color gamut.
There is thus a need for a method to achieve the extended gamut colors by first identifying critical colors/areas from the image that need extension and then running the color control and process control loops in a non-standard print mode to achieve the desired extensions.
For printers that use multiple marking engines for integrated parallel or serial printing, there is also a need for associated control to assure that non-standard gamut spot colors are consistent among a plurality of the engines.

Spot color printing with non-standard gamuts achieved with process set point adjustment


A compressor assembly may include a hermetic shell, a base and a mounting assembly. The hermetic shell may include a lower cover defining a first aperture. The base may define a second aperture. The mounting assembly may include a first isolation member and a fastener. The first isolation member may define a third aperture and may be located on a first side of the base. The third aperture may have a first portion defining a first inner diameter. The fastener may extend through the first, second and third apertures. The fastener may include a shank having a first radial protrusion defining a first outer diameter greater than the first inner diameter.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Compressor assemblies may include mounting assemblies for coupling the compressor assembly to a mounting structure. The mounting assemblies may include fasteners and isolation members that must be positioned relative to the compressor assembly and mounting structure to couple the compressor assembly to the mounting structure. The mounting assemblies may require the different components of the compressor assembly to be shipped as separate components and may additionally require significant assembly times during installation.

Compressor mounting structure and assembly method


Devices and methods are provided for replacing buried utility piping while eliminating the need to perform a complete trench excavation to expose and remove the buried utility piping.

This disclosure relates generally to techniques for replacing existing utility piping, such as electrical conduit, gas piping, water supply lines, etc., which is buried under ground. Conventional methods for replacing buried utility piping include open trench excavation methods which require excavating the ground to form a deep trench along an entire length of the buried pipe to thereby expose the buried pipe that is to be replaced. Once exposed, the existing buried pipe is removed and replaced with new pipe. Following installation of the new pipe, the trench is backfilled with the proper material (e.g., sand, dirt, etc.) and the ground is repaired as needed, e.g., restore top soil, grass, cement sidewalk panels, road pavement, etc., to fix the damage caused by the open trench excavation.

Devices and methods for replacing existing utility piping


An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following elements: a detection unit configured to detect an amount of change in position of an image data item that is displayed on a display screen; and a processing unit configured to perform image processing on the image data item in accordance with a detection result that is obtained by the detection unit, and to perform audio processing on an audio data item corresponding to the image data item in accordance with the detection result that is obtained by the detection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for performing processing on an image data item and an audio data item corresponding to the image data item in accordance with an amount of movement of the image data item on a display screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, as a method for outputting audio data items when a plurality of image data items (including still image data items) are displayed, a method for selecting one image data item from among the displayed image data items, and for outputting only an audio data item corresponding to the image data item has been known.
For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-19729, a technology is disclosed, in which the sound volume of audio data items corresponding to image data items is adjusted in accordance with the size of the image data items and overlaps among the image data items on a screen, and in which the audio data items are combined together and output.
Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-49763, a technology is disclosed, in which filter processing is performed on audio data items corresponding to image data items in accordance with the size of the image data items and overlaps among the image data items on a screen, and in which the audio data items are combined together and output.
Additionally, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-69391, a technology is disclosed, in which the sound volume and sound field of audio data items corresponding to image data items is adjusted in accordance with the size and position of the image data items on a screen, and in which the audio data items are combined together and output.
Conventionally, a method has been employed, in which the balance between an audio data item that is heard from a left speaker and an audio data item that is heard from a right speaker is adjusted, the audio data items corresponding to image data items. However, there is a problem that the method has a low directivity, and that it is difficult to distinguish a plurality of sounds from one another using the method.
Furthermore, there is also a problem that, when image data items are moved, it is difficult to determine, simply by adjusting the sound volume and sound field of the image data items, which image data item is moving.

Information processing device, control method therefor, and program


Various embodiments of the invention relate to a multi-function handheld user device that may have multiple selectable modes of operation for different areas of the user's life, each mode with its own database, applications, preferences, operational restrictions, and access limitations. Various mechanisms may be provided for switching between modes. Within each mode, context awareness and situational awareness may be used to obtain additional information or perform additional functions not directly requested by the user.

As the wireless industry grows, different types of handheld devices, with different capabilities, are used for different purposes. Cell phones allow verbal communication and texting, personal data assistants allow the user to organize his/her schedule and access email, music players provide for portable music enjoyment, netbook computers enable full internet access, etc. Although some consolidation has occurred, the typical user must still carry around multiple devices to satisfy his/her needs. Further, none of these devices is context aware—that is, the device cannot adapt to the user's environment because the device is not aware of that environment. In addition, a user may wish to use the same device in different areas of his/her life (i.e., work, personal, family, travel, etc.), with different requirements in each for things such as security levels, available functionality, contact information, etc. Again, current devices cannot satisfy this demand because they cannot distinguish between the different areas of the user's life.

Multi-mode handheld wireless device with shared mode to support cross-mode communications


A method for processing security events by applying a rule-based alarm scheme may be provided. The method includes generating a rule index of rules and an indicator of compromise index for each of the rules. The method includes also processing the incoming security event by applying the rules, increasing a current rule counter relating to a triggered rule, and increasing a current indicator of compromise counter pertaining to the triggered rule. Furthermore, the method includes generating a pseudo security event from received data about known attacks and related indicators of compromise, processing the pseudo security events by sequentially applying the rules, increasing a current rule counter of pseudo security events, and increasing a current indicator of compromise counter for pseudo security events, and sorting the rules and sorting within each rule the indicator of compromise values in the indicator of compromise index.

The invention relates generally to Security Information and Event Management (hereinafter "SIEM"), and in particular, to a method for processing security events by applying a rule-based alarm scheme, a related SIEM system for processing security events by applying a rule-based alarm scheme, and a computer program product.
Information technology (hereinafter "IT") security is a top priority list of IT executives. Most current Security Information and Event Monitoring (hereinafter "SIEM") solutions available require a set of complex correlation rules to be deployed, monitored and tuned manually, to effectively identify and detect potential security threats which may lead to security incidents impacting an organization.
A SIEM correlation rule engine usually demands high system resource consumptions (CPU and memory), as correlation rules using comparison operations, filters and thresholds to match a set of conditions and to be evaluated in real-time in light of a massive number of ingested security events.
On average, security events and logs produced in a typical enterprise IT environment, as well as by security solutions and devices, may vary between 1,000 events per second (hereinafter "EPS") to 100,000 EPS and may need to be correlated across a set of approximately an average of 100-400 distinct rules. Hence, most of the traditional SIEM technologies generate a heavy load on computing systems.
A security event (e.g., a log entry) is parsed by a static rule set. Static means that the rules are developed by humans and arranged in a fixed order. Each event passes through the rule set, either by passing through all the rules without raising any security incident or until a rule generates a security incident (aka offense), which typically makes further processing of this particular event no longer necessary as a security incident is from now on further enriched and processed.
Many rules with many conditions, i.e., large amount of required comparison operations when dealing with long lists of Indicators of Compromise (hereinafter "IoC"), e.g., list of malicious internet protocol (hereinafter "IP") addresses, must be evaluated before an offense is created. Consequently, computational resources may be wasted if rules with static IoC lists are processed in a static order. A processing of important events may be delayed, e.g., if a savvy hacker floods the SIEM system with many decoy events.
There are several disclosures related to a method for processing security events by applying a rule-based alarm scheme.
In light of the known technologies and the problems sketched above, a new approach may be required to generate security incidents requiring less computational efforts and increase the detection rate of security attacks at the same time.

System and method for SIEM rule sorting and conditional execution


Simplified methods to produce recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors are described. The methods involve the use of chimeric plasmids which incorporate the Epstein Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) gene, the latent origin of replication of Epstein Barr virus (oriP), and a rAAV genome. The chimeric plasmids themselves are also a part of the present invention. These plasmids are maintained as multicopy extra-chromosomal elements in cells, such as human 293 cells. Permanent cell lines carrying these EBV/AAV plasmids are induced to produce large amounts of rAAV upon addition of wild-type, adeno-associated virus helper functions. Vectors produced in this manner are capable of transducing exogenous genes into other human cell lines and exhibit the attributes of vital elements produced by conventional methods.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a single-stranded DNA parvovirus which is endogenous to the human population. Although capable of productive infection in cells from a variety of species, AAV is a dependovirus, requiring helper functions from either adenovirus or herpes virus for its own replication. In the absence of helper functions from either of these helper viruses, AAV will infect cells, uncoat in the nucleus, and integrate its genome into the host chromosome, but will not replicate or produce new vital particles.
The genome of AAV has been cloned into bacterial plasmids and is well characterized. The viral genome consists of 4682 bases which include two terminal repeats of 145 bases each. These terminal repeats serve as origins of DNA replication for the virus. Some investigators have also proposed that they have enhancer functions. The rest of the genome is divided into two functional domains. The left portion of the genome codes for the rep functions which regulate viral DNA replication and viral gene expression. The right side of the viral genome contains the cap genes that encode the structural capsid proteins VP1, VP2 and VP3. The proteins encoded by both the rep and cap genes function in trans during productive AAV replication.
AAV is considered an ideal candidate for use as a transducing vector, and it has been used in this manner. Such AAV transducing vectors comprise sufficient cis-acting functions to replicate in the presence of adenovirus or herpes virus helper functions provided in trans. Recombinant AAV (rAAV) have been constructed in a number of laboratories and have been used to carry exogenous genes into cells of a variety of lineages. In these vectors, the AAV cap and/or rep genes are deleted from the viral genome and replaced with a DNA segment of choice. Current vectors can accommodate up to 4300 bases of inserted DNA.
To produce rAAV, plasmids containing the desired viral construct are transfected into adenovirus-infected cells. In addition, a second helper plasmid is cotransfected into these cells to provide the AAV rep and cap genes which are obligatory for replication and packaging of the recombinant vital construct. Under these conditions, the rep and cap proteins of AAV act in trans to stimulate replication and packaging of the rAAV construct. Three days after transfection, rAAV is harvested from the cells along with adenovirus. The contaminating adenovirus is then inactivated by heat treatment.
Although the individual procedures currently used to make rAAV vectors are relatively simple, the processes suffer two drawbacks. Repeated transfection with the rAAV plasmid is required each time recombinant virus is to be made. Moreover, the production of rAAV virus is relatively inefficient due to the inherent inefficiency of cotransfecting two plasmids into a large proportion of cells. Accordingly, new procedures for the production of rAAV vectors are highly desirable.

Production of recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors


A radio frequency, RF, switch device includes a plurality of switch units, wherein the switch units are coupled in series between a first series terminal and a second series terminal to establish a switchable RF path; and a plurality of ballasting capacitor units, wherein each ballasting capacitor unit is coupled in parallel to a respective switch unit, to provide a selectable capacitance in parallel to a signal path of the respective switch unit, wherein each ballasting capacitor unit includes at least one ballasting capacitor switch element to switch the capacitance of the ballasting capacitor unit between a first capacitance value and a second capacitance value, wherein the second capacitance value is larger than the first capacitance value.

A radio frequency, RF, switch, e.g., for a wireless antenna, may comprise a plurality of switches coupled in series. An RF peak voltage (which may reach 80 V in some cases) can lead to the creation of an unwanted conductive path between the terminals of the switches and other elements, such as ground metal lines. In particular, the switches closer to the high-voltage terminal tend to experience a higher voltage drop than the switches at the low-voltage terminal. In general terms, the more the stacked switches and/or the larger the parasitic capacitance of each switch to the ground, the more the effect is pronounced. Therefore, among the switches, unequal voltage drops are caused.
Each switch (which may be a transistor, such as a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, MOSFET) has in general a low voltage-handling capability, and, therefore, different voltage drops at different switches are unwanted. In an attempt to equalize the voltage drops at the different switches of the series, a technique has been proposed, according to which capacitors are connected in parallel to the switches. Capacitors with high capacitance have been associated to switches closer to the high-voltage terminal, while capacitors with low capacitance have been associated to switches closer to the low-voltage terminal.
This technique defines a unique direction in the series and is only advantageous for the applications in which it is determined a priori which of the terminals will be the high-voltage terminal of the series. In applications for which, for example, the series is operated at the opposite voltage, the capacitors will have the unwanted effect of increasing the inequalities between the voltage drops.


A slip joint connector for joining first and second structural elements together. The connector has a first body member attachable to the first structural element and a second body member attachable to the second structural element. The first body member has a male protuberance including a conical portion and the second body member has a conical receptacle for cooperatively receiving the conical portion of the protuberance. The protuberance includes a bridging portion for spacing the conical portion from the remainder of the first body member and the second body member has a well communicating with the conical receptacle for receiving the bridging portion. The conical male portion internally carries a nut while the second body member may receive a bolt through the receptacle to be threadedly received by the nut to secure the first and second body members tightly together.

This invention relates to a slip joint connector and more particularly to a joint that may be readily assembled and disassembled by a robot or an astronaut so that it may be used for connecting and disconnecting truss members or the like in space.
Structures, such as a truss, may be required to be assembled, fabricated or constructed by robots or astronauts in space. Such structures must therefore include readily connectible members such that the structures may be assembled or disassembled effectively with minimum effort. Structures presently envisioned include truss members having pipe ends, and it is therefore necessary to have connectible joint forming elements attachable to the pipe ends which may be readily interconnected together to form a joint between a pair of such pipe ends.

The United States of Americas as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A method and apparatus for providing location based vendor information to a wireless mobile terminal is provided. The method includes receiving subscriber provisioned response criteria from a subscriber, receiving a request for location based vendor information from a subscriber mobile terminal, determining the location of the subscriber mobile terminal, retrieving location based vendor information for the mobile terminal's location, and sending the location based vendor information in a response satisfying the subscriber provisioned response criteria to the subscriber mobile terminal.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing location based vendor information in response to a request from subscriber using a mobile terminal.
While the invention is particularly directed to the art of wireless telecommunications networks, and will be thus described with specific reference thereto, it will be appreciated that the invention may have usefulness in other fields and applications.
By way of background, wireless telecommunications have come into widespread use. Today, a large percentage of the population communicate with others using mobile terminals, also known as mobile phones, wireless phones, cellular phones, etc. Wireless telecommunications networks now provide coverage for such large areas that people can have the freedom to move about at will while still being able communicate with each other using these mobile devices.
Wireless telecommunications service providers have sought to increase the number of people who use their networks by providing a wide range of services to their customers, also known as subscribers. Mobile terminals can now send and receive data and text messages in addition to providing voice communications. These terminals can also provide geolocation information that can be used to determine the location of the terminals. For example, geolocation information is used for determining the location of mobile terminals when dialing the emergency 911 number.
Wireless telecommunications service providers are always looking for new ways to accommodate the needs of their subscribers, given the ever increasing sophistication of mobile terminals. U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,902 to Richton assigned to Lucent Technologies which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes using the geolocation providing ability of mobile terminals to provide location based information to the terminal when the terminal's location satisfies a geographically based criteria. Richton teaches continually monitoring the location of mobile terminals and automatically providing them with location based information when they get near pre-defined geographic locations. However, this can create huge resource overhead problems involved with monitoring a large number of wireless terminals.
It is desirable to provide a simpler solution for providing location based information which does not require the continual monitoring of a mobile terminal's location. The present invention contemplates a new and improved that resolves the above-referenced difficulties and others.

Method and apparatus for providing location based vendor information to a wireless mobile terminal


A compact scanning optical system for effecting a superior tilt surface correction and for reducing a field curvature. The system is provided with a focusing optical system which is composed of a first single lens and a second single lens, wherein the first single lens, with a positive refracting power in a plane of scan, has a toric surface from an image plane and the second single lens, with a negative refracting power in the scan plane, has an aspherical lens.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical scanning system for correcting the tilt of a reflecting surface, as employed in a laser beam printer or a laser engraving process and, more particularly, to an optical scanning system with a tilt correction function for correcting nonuniformity in the pitch between the scanning lines, due to the inclination of a deflecting surface of a polygon mirror, which acts as a beam reflector in the optical scanning system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, a scanning optical system for effecting a beam scanning over an image plane has widely been known, wherein a light beam from a light source such as a laser beam collimated by a first focusing optical system is caused to mechanically scan or an image plane through a second focusing optical system which focuses the scanning beam onto the image plane.
The deflecting surfaces or facets of the rotating polygon mirror may sometimes be tilted relative to the axis of rotation, or the axis of mounting, of the polygon mirror, in spite of the fact that the deflecting surface and the mirror are originally intended to be aligned parallel to each other. Therefore, such a tilt in the deflecting surface during the scanning, which is commonly called a tilt surface problem, results in nonuniform pitches between the lines on the image plane in the direction (hereinafter referred to as a sub-scan direction) perpendicular to the direction of the main scan, thereby adversely affecting the quality of the image formed by the scanning.
In order to optically correct the tilt of the deflecting surface and enhance the quality of a final image, there have been proposed various optical systems, in which a deflecting surface and an image plane are positioned in a conjugate plane that is perpendicular to the scan plane.
Examples of such an optical system include that shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 48(1973)-98844 which utilizes an optical system positioned between a deflecting surface and an image plane, composed of, from the deflecting surface, a spherical lens which has the distortion characteristics for achieving a uniform scan and a lengthy cylindrical lens.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61(1986)-84620 is illustrative of an optical system including a cylindrical mirror instead of the lengthy cylindrical lens.
Moreover, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 56(1981)-36622, 57(1982)-35823, 63(1988)-50814 disclose an optical system using a lens, which has a toric surface for correcting distortions due to the tilt of the reflecting surface, as an element in the system that has distortion characteristics for effecting a uniform scan.
However, the arrangement of the lenses disclosed in the foregoing Publication No. 48(1973)-98844, i.e., consisting of the spheric lens system and the lengthy cylindrical lens, requires the cylindrical lens to be positioned in proximity to the image plane in order to correct a field curvature. Hence, the cylindrical lens becomes longer as the increase of the scan range, thereby deterring a reduction, in size, of the optical system.
Meanwhile, the optical system disclosed in the Publication No. 61(1986)-84620 seems to have attained nominal improvements in view of the amount of field curvature as compared with the optical system using the cylindrical lens.
This optical system also permits the cylindrical mirror to be positioned at a greater distance from the image plane when compared with the optical system employing the cylindrical lens, whereby it is believed that the optical system may be reduced in dimensions. However, this optical system is restricted in arrangement because of the deflection of light beam by means of the cylindrical mirror.
The optical lens systems shown in the Publication Nos. 56(1981)-36622, 57(1982)-35823, 63(1988)-50814 are reduced in size by use of a lens, as an element in the optical system, having a toric surface which corrects distortions due to the tilt of the surface, thereby obviating the need for the lengthy cylindrical lens or the lengthy cylindrical mirror set forth in the above.
However, according to this optical system, the arrangement of the system that comprises two single lenses renders the back focus of the lens system longer in the scan plane than its focal length. The two lenses are, from the deflecting surface, a first single lens having either a spherical or cylindrical surface and a second single lens having a toric surface and a positive refracting power in the scan plane. Therefore, as a whole, the optical system cannot expect much reduction of its size by shortening the optical path between the optical scanning system and the image plane.

Optical scanning system with tilt correction function